G-VEGAS MAGAZINE JULY 2016

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ON THE COVER

10 YEARS

OF EMERALDS 2016-2017 EMERALDS OF THE CITY CALENDAR CONTEST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CASH AND PRIZES! G-Vegas Magazine presents the 10th annual Emeralds of the City Bikini Calendar Contest! The Emeralds of the City Bikini Calendar is “THE” bikini calendar of Eastern North Carolina and you will want to be a part of it! Each year, G-Vegas Magazine searches Eastern North Carolina for the area’s most beautiful women.

Over the course of the bikini contests, girls are chosen to be a part of the Emeralds of the City Calendar.

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JULY2016 1 On The Cover

THEG-VEGASMAGAZINE

HARDWORKINGSTAFF

Editor-In-Chief Kevin Howard - gvegasmagazine@hotmail.com Design

Eduardo Vargas - www.volkanorocks.com

evargas@vargas-design.com Photography

3 Vibedration 5 Beat The Heat This Summer

Trey Singletary - treyfromecu@aol.com Randy Moore - rpmoore1@wmconnect.com Mark Manna - mrmannaphotography@yahoo.com

7 Party Pictures

Kelvin Andrews - impressionable.imagez@gmail.com

8 Party Pictures

Contributors/Writers Mick & Blando - blando@99thex.com Arran Wright - oncuepr0m0ti0ns@yahoo.com Brian Goings - poet_antidote@yahoo.com Nathan Black - nblack252@gmail.com Randy Moore - rpmoore1@wmconnect.com Travis Jones - jonestra12@students.ecu.edu Christina Rendano - rendano@whereuparty.com Brittany Taylor - tbrittany83@yahoo.com Junius Smith - thedifference910@gmail.com

1

ON THE COVER

9 Independence Day: Resurgence of the Campfire Story

3

VIBEDRATION

INDEPENDENCE DAY

9

FIRE FROM THE GODS

11

11 Fire From The Gods

G-VEGAS Magazine

1100 Charles Blvd., Greenville, NC Office: (252) 227-4313 Sales: (252) 258-7900

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14 Venues

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FASHION

VIBEDRATION

BY ARRAN WRIGHT

The Coolest Way to Stay Hydrated This Summer Whether you’re hiking, biking, beaching, or just relaxing, summer has one thing in store for all of us…HEAT!!!

You see people constantly chugging bottled water just for a sense of relief for the sun we’ve been begging for all winter long. As an avid festival goer, I am always looking for ways to stay cool and hydrated while I dance my ass off in the sunshine. Everyone I see around me carries Camelbaks, which are great, but what a new company called “Vibedration” did is make them much better and a lot more fun.

Vibedration’s co-founders are outdoor enthusiasts and fellow music festival lovers (where I discovered their awesomeness). They started designing hydration backpacks geared more toward creative and edgy designs.

Their affordable and fashionable hydration packs have become increasingly popular amongst the festival crowd with designs like tie-dye, animal prints, 420 inspired, and Hawaiian prints to name a few.

Be sure to get your Vibedration Hydration Pack today at almost any festival or online at vibedration.com. After all….life’s a part…stay hydrated!

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LIFE

BEAT THE HEAT THIS SUMMER

BY RANDY MOORE

No, it’s not your imagination — it is definitely getting hotter. Staying cool this summer doesn’t necessarily mean you have to pay a fortune to keep the air-conditioning running. Heat is a major killer and those at the greatest risk are infants, children, seniors and individuals who have long-term medical conditions.

additional water during summer and through periods of high heat.

Drink at least one 8-ounce glass of water before exposure to the heat. Consume 1-1/2 to 2 cups of water every 20 minutes during prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Don’t just wait until

According to the National Weather Service, heat is responsible for more deaths in the USA than any other weather-related cause between 2010 and 2015. In that period of time, there were 1,185 heat related deaths compared to 1,139 from hurricanes and 1,075 from tornadoes. Listed below are eight tips that’ll help keep you cool

4. GO OUTSIDE

and safe during the intense heat of the summer.

1. COOK SMART

Appliances generate heat. An oven can easily raise the room temperature 10 degrees. Save cooking with heat for cooler hours during the day, or cook outdoors on your grill. It is also a good idea to run the dishwasher and clothes dryer at night.

2. EAT SMALLER MEALS

Refuel to aid the body’s energy levels and natural cooling system by eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. Foods’ high sugar levels can increase the body’s core temperature.

3. STAY HYDRATED

Dehydration is common, even in cool weather. You need to drink

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you’re thirsty!

Spend your time outside, both in the sun and in the shade. Read a book, nap or have a picnic in the shade between activities in the sun. Don’t stay in an unprotected area with high temperatures for extended periods of time.

5. STAY SOBER

Avoid alcohol, caffeine and drinks with high sugar content. Sugar and caffeine act as a diuretic, which will cause fluids to be depleted more rapidly from your body.

6. LOOK COOL

Choose garments made from natural fibers, such as cotton, which is breathable. Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing that will allow air to circulate while you are out in the heat. Synthetic fibers will keep additional heat in and prevent the natural cooling process of evaporation.

Remember, stay cool and have a great summer!!

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MOVIES

Independence Day: Resurgence of the Campfire Story

BY NATHAN BLACK

I remember when Independence dropped back in 96’.

It was a time when everyone was looking for the next big summer blockbuster and at the initial release of the film it was fair to call it that. This would still have been in the heyday of action heroes, the rise of CGI, and even could be called the height of Will Smith’s career as an actor. The original had all the trimmings of a summer blockbuster, and when it peaked at number one for several months, it was almost destined to go down as one of the greats, right? I mean come on, Randy Quaid defeats the aliens by yelling, “up your’s!” What’s not to love? So what in the wide world of sports could’ve kept them from making a sequel?

After its debut, Independence Day seemed like surefooting for Roland Emmerich’s career, as he went on to make such other masterpieces like 10,000 BC, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012, The Patriot, and the riveting, tour de force that is Godzilla (1998). Meanwhile, I still had hope that somewhere behind all these other strokes of genius we would get the magnum opus we had all been waiting for since our dad’s took us to see the original. And somewhere inside the child that had held on to hope despite all these other ne’er do well, impostures, this forthcoming sequel would be our dream come true.

Finally, the time came. That glorious day when I got to see the new Independence Day movie that my inner child had been dying to see. And just like peeking at your Christmas presents too early, the truth came to you that a few of those packages GVM | 9

were gonna be clothes, probably socks. This sense of incoming disappointment definitely is the feeling I got when watching Resurgence. The anticipation set around this movie was great, even if it was too little, too late; or, to be more precise, too much, too late.

It borderlined on doing too many call backs to the original, which is often a kiss of death for some movies when you’re trying to shape a new story and especially when you secretly realize that the current generation cast just doesn’t quite have the same panache as the original. Jessie Usher’s performance as Dylan Hiller speaks well to this fact as he is established as the son of Will Smith’s character, Captain Steven Hiller. Yet Usher carries none of the same screen presence or charisma of Smith to suggest a connection.

Even more disappointing is the obvious sense of humor that Emmerich tries to revive from the original in order to form a connection to the first movie yet again. The humor falls somewhere between unsure if it’s joking or not, and just making stereotypical jewish mannerisms over and over again. I found myself laughing a few times, but more out awareness for how silly the plot and action scenes became.

The major problem in this movie is pacing, which unlike a Bergman film’s snail movement, Resurgence tells a titanic level story in what feels like several short gasps back-to-back until absolutely all suspense and character development has been sucked out or

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MOVIES

bypassed. Get to the freakin’ alien battles already! I could almost feel those words being screamed across the screen as certain plot points were sped through like a terms and conditions page. Just give us the thing that we paid for!

Resurgence definitely does deliver the things I hoped for: big alien battles, intense city destroying scenes, somewhat slapstick friendship banter, the goofy charm of Jeff Goldblum, etc. All of these should be noted as positives, even though they sped through Brent Spiner’s parts and ruined any chance of feeling a real romantic connection between Liam Hemsworth and Maika Monroe’s characters. I suppose when you just say they’re engaged and they share a few starry eyed glances that’s all it takes.

Let’s not draw this honeymoon out any longer than we need to, we’ve got aliens to battle! The few new characters that they managed to squeeze in were rather interesting too, these were the characters outside the the soldiers that were sent out to fight the aliens.

A few of these characters got just enough screen time to appear as wooden hand puppets. The idea of fighting the aliens on ground level was introduced here too, an idea that seemed long overdue by the time they get to it. Still it is worked in and I got that feeling that the fight wasn’t just a battle of air superior-

ity but of ground tactics, also. These were all improvements on the original and should be cited as points to consider in future movies. The future films will have to remember to come into their own and not rely so heavily on the past. Remember Robert Loggia in the first movie? He died last year. Regardless, somehow he still shows up here. Somehow they managed to get a guy who’s been dead for the past year and yet they couldn’t convince Will Smith to pop in for a “what’s up?” at the very least. I would conclude this is the best way to describe this movie, a hunky sequel with all the updated tech of the former generation, with absolutely none of the commanding presence of its predecessor.

Resurgence not only stands on the shoulders giants but tries to dress and speak like them too completely to no avail.

Despite this, in true Emmerich style, I am still left wondering what the next movie will yield, which is an obvious considering the somewhat cliffhanger ending and how many bombs he has dropped and yet has still not been deemed a threat. Here in lays the magic of his continued career. Resurgence appears more as a half bomb and probably will shake up just enough momentum to bring out another in the series. I have a feeling the kid inside of us is ready to grow up at this point, though.

Final Grade: C+

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SOUND

FIRE FROM THE GODS Fire from the gods june 2016 Austin, TX quintet Fire From The Gods will release Narrative, their Rise Records debut, on August 26.

To coincide with the launch of pre-orders, a music video is premiering for the track “Excuse Me” which can be viewed here.

Vocalist AJ Channer says, “This album is the personal narrative of a minority man living in major cities and being American,” he explains.

“There’s a socio-economic theme throughout the whole record that carries from each song to song. It’s all about the underdog. We’ve all had to fight for everything we have in this band. The political climate in our country is quite racially and socially charged. There are a lot of issues and energy people are expressing along with misguided hate and anger. I want to channel this in music that can resonate. This is where we come from and who we are as a band.” In order to properly capture this vision, the boys retreated to House of Loud Studios in New Jersey to record with David Bendeth [Paramore, Of Mice & Men, Breaking Benjamin]. They spent a month in the winter of 2016 tracking what would become Narrative.

“There’s no crying in Bendeth’s dojo,” laughs AJ. “He really pushed us, and we grew in a short period of time. The band takes on a life of its own with this record.”

Fire From The Gods have quietly built a rabid fan base through tireless touring across the United States. They’ve shared national bills with the likes of August Burns Red and festival stages alongside Slipknot, Bring Me The Horizon, Judas Priest, Killswitch Engage, and more at KNOTFEST two years in a row and with Motionless In White and Underoath at South By So What. Now, their Narrative is on display in 2016.

Heavy music deserves a heavier message.

That’s what Fire From The Gods deliver on their Rise Records debut, Narrative. Speaking from a platform cast in heavy metal power, hiphop consciousness, and even a little reggae spirit, the Austin, TX quintet—AJ Channer [vocals], Jameson Teat [guitar], Drew Walker [guitar], Bonner Baker [bass], and Richard Wicander [drums]—urge for change through conveying a story that’s both personal and universal.

That story stems directly from AJ’s life. Born in the Bronx to a single mother of Jamaican descent, he spent his childhood moving between London, New York City, Los Angeles, Norfolk, and even Ghana where he attended middle school. Drawing from this diverse experience, he speaks with unmitigated honesty about the state of the world.

OFFER VALID UNTIL JULY 31.

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SOUND

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT OF THE MONTH:

BASSNECTAR

BY ARRAN WRIGHT

There are certain artists in music history that have had the ability to create their own cultural following: The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Madonna, some new millennium pop stars had it for minute, and then there’s the Bass God himself, Bassnectar. With his loyal fans, also known as Bass Heads, going just about anywhere to catch one of his shows, Bassnectar continues to be one of music’s most imaginative heroes.

If you haven’t heard of him, you have yet to discover 15 years of musical genius in the form of California-Native Lorin Ashton. And with his 12th full-length album, Unlimited, getting released just weeks ago, it is clear that there is no end in sight for the growth of this brilliant artist.

If you HAVE heard of Bassnectar but have yet to see him live, this is where his true magic lies. His incredible live sets featuring enchanting visuals create a nearly trance-like and euphoric state. With bass so heavy that you think it will rip right through you…and furthermore…you don’t care if it does. There is no question as to why this genre-transcending master of production and sound is called the Bass God.

Make sure you check him out at nearly every music festival coming up including Moonrise Festival, Summer Set Festival, and Life Is Beautiful, and his own headlining festival call Bass Center. Also, be sure to go check out his new album, Unlimited. It is a brilliant piece of artistry for the Bass Head in us all.

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VENUES List of entertainment venues, Restaurants, and nightclubs In Greenville NC. ■ Tavern on 4th

110 E 4th Street Greenville, NC 27858

■ Dickinson Avenue Public House 703 Dickinson Ave, Greenville, NC 27834 (252) 689-6388

■ Scullery

431 South Evans Street Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 321-1550

■ Winslow’s Tavern

120 West 5th Street, Greenville, NC (252) 364-892 www.winslowsdeli.com

■ Buffalo Wild Wings 426 E Arlington Blvd Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 758-9191 ■ Tie Breakers

1920 B Smythewyck Dr. Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 439-0555

■ Buccaneer Music Hall 2120 East Fire Tower Road Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 756-8474

■ A.J. McMurphy’s

120 East 5th Street, Greenville, NC (252) 757-3034

1914 Turnbury Drive Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 355-7956 www.ajmcmurphys.com

■ Chico’s

■ Hooters

■ Club 519

■ Crossbones Tavern

■ Satellite Pizza & Grill

■ Christy’s Euro Pub

■ The Way

■ Grumpy’s

■ Pantana Bob’s

■ The Blackened Kraken

■ Stilllife

■ Trollingwood Taproom & Brewery

■ 5th Street Distillery

521 Cotanche Street Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 757-1666 www.chicosrestaurant.com

519 Cotanche Street, Greenville, NC (252) 752-4313

200 E. 5th Street Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 689-6465

218 E. 5th Street Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 689-6750

513 Cotanche Street Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 757-3778

511 Cotanche Street Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 329-9991

■ Sup Dogs

213 East 5th Street Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 752-7682 www.supdogs.com

316 Greenville Blvd SW Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 353-5995 www.hooters.com

114 E 5th St, Greenville. NC (252) 689-6199

301 S Jarvis Street Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 758-2774

111 East 5th Street Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 758-2774

123 East 5th Street Greenville, NC 27858 252.215.8822

707 Dickinson Ave, Greenville, NC 27834 (252) 210-6295

■ Tapped

650 E Fire Tower Rd, Winterville, NC 28590 (252) 689-6455