2
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 3
SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2015 • VOLUME 46 NO 10
Dedicated to Free Times founder Richard H. Siegel (1935-1993) and Scene founder Richard Kabat Publisher Chris Keating Associate Publisher Desiree Bourgeois Editor Vince Grzegorek
Upfront
6
Framed
10
Feature
15
Tremont carjackers indicted, Crain’s looks to diversify, and more
Editorial Managing Editor Eric Sandy Music Editor Jeff Niesel Staff Writer Sam Allard Web Editor Alaina Nutile Dining Editor Douglas Trattner Contributing Dining Editor Nikki Delamotte Stage Editor Christine Howey Visual Arts Editor Josh Usmani Interns Caitlin Summers, Dana Hetrick, Alexandra Hintz, Xan Schwartz
All the best photos we’ve shared with you this week
Advertising Senior Multimedia Account Executive John Crobar, Shayne Rose Multimedia Account Executive Kiara Hunter-Davis, Joseph Williamson, Savannah Drdek, Kelsey Cullen Classifi ed Account Executive Alice Leslie
Some think sports talk radio in Cleveland is dying. Truth is, it’s already dead.
Marketing and Events Jenna Conforti, Gina Scordos
Get Out!
Creative Services Production Manager Steve Miluch Layout Editor/Graphic Designer Christine Hahn Staff Photographer Emanuel Wallace
27
Dozens of events spanning the next week in Cleveland
Business Asst. To The Publisher Angela Lott Sales Assistant/Receptionist Megan Stimac
Art
36
Stage
37
Film
39
Dining
41
Copyright The entire contents of Cleveland Scene Magazine are copyright 2015 by Euclid Media Group. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be mailed to the address listed above.
Music
49
Subscriptions $150 (1 yr); $ 80 (6 mos.) Send name, address and zip code with check or money order to the address listed above with the title ‘Attn: Subscription Department’
Savage Love
Circulation Circulation Director Don Kriss Euclid Media Group Chief Executive Offi cer Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Offi cers Chris Keating, Michael Wagner Chief Financial Offi cer Brian Painley Human Resources Director Lisa Beilstein Digital Operations Coordinator Jaime Monzon
15 years of Jake Kelly’s illustrated fliers collected in one massive book
Local theater in the next few months promises lots of meet-ups with interesting characters
www.euclidmediagroup.com National Advertising Voice Media Group 1-800-278-9866, voicemediagroup.com Cleveland Scene 737 Bolivar Rd, #4100 Cleveland, OH 44115 www.clevescene.com Phone 216-241-7550 Retail & Classifi ed Fax 216-241-6275 Editoral Fax 216-802-7212 E-mail scene@clevescene.com
Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine exposes company’s dark side
Cleveland Scene Magazine is published every week by Euclid Media Group. Verifi ed Audit Member Cleveland Distribution Scene is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader
Printed By
37
CONTENTS
A look at the two new spots Steve Schimoler opened in the Flats this week, and more
O.A.R. revisits its early days on its most recent album, and more
...The story continues at clevescene.com Take
SCENE with you with our iPad app!
68
Fitting into the (lack of) asexual stereotype
“Cleveland Scene Magazine” COVER ILLLUSTRATION BY JOHN G.
248-620-2990
Enroll now! Lowest college tuition in Northeast Ohio Easily transfer your credits to a four-year university
Courses in health care, business, IT, manufacturing, culinary arts, creative arts ...and everything in between
www.tri-c.edu/programs 216-987-6000
Conveniently located 14-4324
14-4341
4
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 5
UPFRONT TREMONT CARJACKERS INDICTED Photo courtesy of Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office.
neighborhood is one of my primary concerns. I don’t want any of us to have to live in fear of taking a walk at night.”
WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS AT CRAIN’S
Palmer
RICE) that seem to be dragging on for ages. McGinty responded that because of the successful investigation in this case, which included confessions and video evidence, the decision for the grand jury was easy. “This is a direct product of great police work,” McGinty said, and added that he and the police working the case won’t be satisfied until the robberies have been solved “100 percent.” Relatedly, residents and business owners have been in conversation with City Councilman Joe Cimperman and the cops over their concerns about these crimes and, most recently, are trying to take steps to do something themselves. Paul Duda, who runs the Paul Duda gallery on Professor Avenue, launched a GoFundMe page last week seeking donations to install security cameras around the neighborhood and to solicit business owners willing to have the cameras installed on their properties. “We need to do something to stem the rise in crime in our neighborhood,” he told Scene. “Well placed security cameras have proven to be an effective deterrent and tool to identify perpetrators. As a Tremont home and business owner, the safety of our
POO-TEE-WEET
THIS WEEK
TREMONT VIGILANTES, REST easy. Five of the principal culprits in the carjackings that have rocked Cleveland’s artsiest enclave this summer have been indicted by a grand jury. Timothy McGinty announced Monday that four of the five have been arrested, but one remains at large. Kenneth Jackson, 18; Antowine Palmer, 22; Tervon’tae Taylor, 22; D’Wan Dillard, 18; and Calvin Rembert, 22; in various groupings, were responsible for five armed robberies in Tremont throughout July and August, including the pistol-whipping of a Barrio employee, the robbery of a Toyota Corolla a few days later, and the robbery of a Jeep Grand Cherokee in early August. McGinty said police suspect the robberies were gang-related and that “lucrative rewards” will be offered for information about Calvin Rembert, who remains at large, and for other information pertinent to the investigation. He said detectives from Cleveland Police, the County Sheriff’s Department, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and the FBI worked collaboratively and with great focus to see that justice was served. “It’s the most impressive series of [gang-related] arrests I’ve ever seen in my career,” McGinty said, during a brief Q&A. Police will continue to investigate the crimes, but McGinty said the criminals haven’t been doing themselves any favors. “These are not the Napoleons of criminals,” he said. “They’re not quite idiots, but they’re pretty damn close. We look forward to putting these individuals away until they’re old men.” One reporter asked how the Grand Jury managed to indict them so quickly, especially in light of other cases (read: TAMIR
SMOKE UP, JOHNNY
6
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
ResponsibleOhio debuts new mascot “Buddie,” which is a heady nug of kind bud dressed up like a superhero. He does children’s parties, but the little ones have to bring their own dabs.
Friday, Crain’s Cleveland Business’ announced the recipients of its 24th Annual Forty Under 40 Awards. Forty individuals under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions in the business or civic sectors will be honored at the Music Box Supper Club in a November ceremony. As always, there were some familiar newsmakers on the list: Ken Babby, the owner of the Akron Rubber Ducks; Brandon Chrostowski, whom Scene has also celebrated for his”incredibly admirable” work at Edwin’s Restaurant; Richey Piiparinen, who has become the region’s go-to guy for demographic stats, and in fact runs the center for “Population Dynamics” at CSU. There were also, for the second straight year, quite a few women. Sixteen in fact, ranging from nonprofit professionals, (Sheri Dozier, who oversees economic development at Cleveland Neighborhood Progress); to academics, (CSU physics prof Xiang Li); to representatives from Crain’s more traditional beats, corporate law and real estate (Carolyn Blake, of Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis, and Kristy Hull, of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, respectively). On last year’s roster, 18 women were honored. But in the four years prior, female representation was considerably lower — 11 in 2013, 13 in 2012, 10 in 2011, 11 in 2010 — so what changed? Answer: Among other things, Editor Elizabeth McIntyre. McIntyre joined Crain’s in April,
Indians President Mark Shapiro leaves Cleveland to take top post with Toronto Blue Jays. When asked why, Shapiro said he likes the “cute wittle birdie” on their baseball caps.
DENYING DENALI University of Akron President Scott Scarborough toying with idea of changing school name. At urging of state Republicans, Scarborough now considering “University of Mount McKinley.”
2014, only three months after it published a list of predictions for the upcoming year by 32 of the region’s top business leaders. On that list, every single person was white, and only two of them were female. Joy Roller, then the President of Global Cleveland wrote a letter to the editor expressing her dismay. And to Crain’s credit, the message seems to have been received. Publisher John Campanelli, in his column the following week, offered a prediction of his own: Crain’s would “do better” at diversity. “We pride ourselves on being the “premier source of business news in Northeast Ohio,” but we cannot hold that lofty title if we overlook large portions of our region. It’s our obligation to cover all of Greater Cleveland’s business community,” Campanelli wrote. “I’m not just talking about women and minorities; I’m talking diverse age groups, differences in experience, viewpoint and culture. It means covering small businesses as well as large ones, for-profits and nonprofits, established companies and start-ups, in all relevant sectors.” Campanelli wasn’t just paying lip service. In April of that year, he hired McIntyre, who had enjoyed an illustrious career at the Plain Dealer, and formed a Minority Advisory Board to “provide objective, constructive input on minority-based issues — a historic weakness in Crain’s coverage and a recent flashpoint due to the lack of minority representation in a highprofile January feature.” Under McIntyre’s leadership, there has been a renewed commitment to covering both women and people of color in Cleveland’s business community. And you can see the difference in
YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE A long weekend means more time for tacos.
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 7
UPFRONT lists like the 40 Under 40. McIntyre was working on a tight print deadline Friday, but she did respond to a few of Scene’s questions via email. She praised the leadership and focus of Campanelli and said that the publication is always trying to improve. “I believe we’ve made some strides in better reflecting the diversity of the Northeast Ohio business community in what we do in print and online – and that’s thanks mainly to the work of our staff and the input from our Business Diversity Council,” she wrote. In July, the American Society of News Editors released a newsroom census which showed that of the 32,900 full-time journalists working at daily newspapers, only about 12 percent are people of color. Sixty-three percent have a woman among their top three editors. If McIntyre and Crain’s teach us anything, it’s that having diversity on staff, and indeed, in positions of leadership, can meaningfully change the direction and priorities of a publication. And making inclusion a consistent editorial priority can yield positive results, even if they’re only small steps in the right direction.
field-sized footprint, replaces the outdated vocational high school on Detroit and West 45th. Big, gleaming workshop bays line the main hallway. In those rooms, students will dive into particular trades, like welding, plumbing, wiring, auto repair, etc. In fact, the whole building very much has a “workshop” feel to it, with exposed pipes and wires filling out the aesthetics of the hallways, just above the newly minted rows of lockers. Practically speaking, the school’s layout is a step in the right direction. (Students and teachers had to send cars up an elevator to the second floor for work in the old Max Hayes building.) With a graduation rate
that leaves something to be desired districtwide, this high school is expected to galvanize the westside student base and push future grads closer to applicable job skills. Max Hayes High School -- located on West 65th Street just south of the I-90 overpass -- is joined by John Marshall High School ($47 million total cost) and the Cleveland School of the Arts ($40 million total cost) as the trio of new high schools opening this fall.
BAINBRIDGE LEADERS CONSIDERING MEIJER PLAN FOR GEAUGA PARK LAND You can stop with the Kickstarter campaigns and Photos by Eric Sandy
CMSD SHOWS OFF NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS
DIGIT WIDGET
There’s something enticing about that “new school” smell, what with all the empty classrooms, desks and lockers awaiting the bustle of education. The new Max Hayes High School opens for business this week, and the public got a chance to look at the building Monday during an open house-style event. The $48-million school is among the crown jewels of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s construction plan, which began more than a decade ago. The building, an almost entirely onefloor affair planted on a football
8
$17 MILLION
Gift to the Agnon School in Beachwood from the Joseph and Florence Mandel Family Foundation, one of the largest gifts to a Jewish Day School in history. The school will now bear the Mandel Family Foundation name.
Large workshop bays line the high school’s main hallway.
280
Projected units in a proposed luxury residential building in University Circle, on which construction could begin as early as January. High-rise apartments are coming back to Cleveland in a big way.
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
220
Estimated number of housing units in Cleveland at which lead hazards will be assessed and abated, thanks to a $3.3-million HUD grant.
Throwback Thursdays now. It looks like Geauga Lake Amusement Park will truly never return. Michiganbased superstore Meijer put the last nail in the beloved park’s coffin by offering to buy 41 acres of the roller coaster graveyard in Bainbridge. After thriving for 120 years as an amusement park, Geauga Lake called it quits in 2007. Since then the property, owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment, has been pursued by movie theater chains, megamarts and theme parks. Now it seems as though Meijer is the first business to seal the deal by submitting its application to build to the city’s zoning committee. The corporate retailer is known for selling everything from groceries to home goods and is in the last steps of getting approved to build by the city. The proposed store would look something like a miniature Crocker Park with a coffee shop, gas station and several other small Meijerowned businesses. While the proposition looks quaint, the big corporation has had no problem letting Bainbridge know it isn’t a mom-and-pop shop. Meijer submitted demands to the city to ban a string of businesses from buying up the rest of Geauga Lake. If the list is approved, movie theaters, gas stations, coffee shops, pharmacies and a host of other viable shops would be prohibited from buying or building within 200 feet of Meijer. Zoning inspector of Bainbridge Karen Elders said it’s unlikely the retail giant will get its wish to ban other businesses from the area. However, the city is still negotiating. To sweeten the pot and maybe to soften the blow of banning businesses, Meijer has offered to build a road as well as a sidewalk to its proposed location and turn it over to the city once completed.
scene@clevescene.com t @cleveland_scene
1,377
Days since University of Michigan has beaten The Ohio State University in a football game, as relayed by our friends at the Columbus Dispatch.
T:12 in B:12 in
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 9
S:11.25 in
© 2015 Goose Island Beer Company, Chicago, IL. Enjoy responsibly. Great American Beer Festival® Awards (Category: English Style India Pale Ale): 2012 Gold (India Pale Ale), 2009 Silver (IPA), 2007 Silver (India Pale Ale), 2004 Silver (Goose Island India Pale Ale), 2001 Bronze (India Pale Ale), 2000 Gold (Goose Island IPA).
B:9.25 in T:9.25 in S:8.5 in
FRAMED!
our best shots from last week Photos by Emanuel Wallace, Caitlin Summers*, Joe Kleon**, Scott Sandberg***
SomeBODY once told me.. @ Scene Pig and Whiskey
Cheers! @ Scene Pig and Whiskey
Tall mugs @ PechaKucha at Hofbräuhaus
Speaking engagement @ PechaKucha at Hofbräuhaus
New kicks @ X-001 Collection Release at Xhibition
Striking a pose @ X-001 Collection Release at Xhibition
All-star @ Carlos Jones at US Bank Plaza*
Music after dark @ Burning River Fest*
The Big Show @ One Direction at FirstEnergy Stadium**
Which one is he? @ One Direction at FirstEnergy Stadium**
The beards and Frank Beard @ ZZ Top at Hard Rock Live***
Billy @ ZZ Top at Hard Rock Live***
No bull @ Scene Pig and Whiskey
Staying busy grillin’ @ Scene Pig and Whiskey
Stage party @ Scene Pig and Whiskey
Never miss a beat! See more pics @ clevescene.com Good eats @ Scene Pig and Whiskey
10
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
Share your best shots with SCENE – just tag or mention us! ™ @ clevescene t @ cleveland_scene ` @ ClevelandScene • #clevescene
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 11
BREAKING NEWS. HOT OFFTHE
Come Explore! Our Inventory Changes Daily. Jewelry, Art, Furniture, Books, Vintage Clothing, Modernism, Curiosities, and More!
3000 Sq. Ft. on 2 Levels
INTERNET PRESS.
1771 Coventry Road Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Open 11:30-5:30 Mon thru Sat. 216-321-2515
Only at clevescene.com SCENE
www.AttensonsAntiques.com
The First Comic Shop In Cleveland Heights in Over 20 years!!!
Imaginary Worlds Comics & Collectables
13446 Cedar Rd. Cleveland HTs. Ohio 44118 (216) 273-7423 acebook.com/IWComics
imaginaryworldscomics@yahoo.com
- Buy - Sell - Trade -
-Collections include 40’s Thru Current subscription service available -pull list Discounts -20% off graphic novels
5 OFF
With Any Purchase over $25 or more!
We Support Local Glass Artists
ONE COUPON PER VISIT!
When it’s gone, it’s gone. Valid with coupon only. Excludes certain vaporizers & tobacco. Must be used by Sept. 17, 2015. MV PROMO CODE: 23
This Is
HOW We
Roll!
Mayfield Heights Mentor Akron 5890 Mayfield Rd. 7488 Mentor Ave. 1091 E. Tallmadge Ave.
440-683-4298
440-571-4310 330-794-7856
www.TwistedHeadz.com
• DIGITAL SCALES • E-JUICE • GRAV LABS • DETOX
WILDBERRY INCENSE • PAX • E-CIGARETTES • G-PEN •
We Are Your One-Stop…Vape Shop! $
FORMULA 420 • VAPORIZERS • TOBACCO PIPES • HOOKAHS • QUICK FIX 12
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 13
14
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
y l e r a B
Say NothiNg
Some think sports talk radio in Cleveland is dying. Truth is, it’s already dead. By Daniel McGraw Tony Rizzo, Jim Donovan anD Andy Baskin walk into a bar. It’s not the start of a joke, but a hypothetical of sorts used by one close observer of local media to illustrate the landscape of sports talk radio in Cleveland. One hundred people would probably gather around Rizzo, they said. Ten or so might gather around Donovan. And Baskin would be one of the hundred people around Rizzo. Rizzo, of course, is the longtime Fox 8 veteran and homer-ific host of The Really Big Show on WKNR 850 AM. He’s also the most popular sports talk radio personality in town, and for good reason ... by comparison. He’s combined decades of experience with a willingness to show some semblance of personality in a business that often finds itself deliberating on the seriousness of a groin pull. More than that, however, and in a much more accurate way of describing Rizzo’s talent, he’s the most successful infomercial host in Cleveland. Guy can flat out hawk
product. Bee pollen wonder pills, windows, cars, jewelry, steaks — you name it, he can sell it. Ron Popiel is in awe of Uncle Rizzy’s versatility. The creator of the aforementioned bee pollen pills, JoeBees, can probably afford to retire thanks to all the men in Northeast Ohio Rizzo’s convinced to buy them.
— August 25 — Rizzo kicked off the rundown by saying that they didn’t really have any guests for the day. The show would be carried by Rizzo along with his co-host, former NFL player Je’Rod Cherry, who doesn’t get to talk all that much but mentions that he won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots when he
The JoeBees live-read ad gets prime placement every morning at the beginning of Rizzo’s perpetual audition tape for QVC, which is also when he tends to run down what the show will be covering when it takes the occasional break from ads to talk sports. On one recent Tuesday morning
does; and the show’s two producers, Casey and Matt, who we can’t tell apart and who mainly take turns trying to impress Rizzo. There’d also be former Plain Dealer reporter and current ESPN Cleveland Browns beat writer Tony Grossi, who was scheduled for his usual segment discussing the latest
Browns training camp news and who usually does so on a phone that sounds like it was most recently used to dial BUtterfield 8. But other than that, not much. You’d be forgiven for assuming no one was listening, which is what we assume the hosts were also thinking. First they started with the timetested debate of whether Johnny Manziel should play more in preseason games or learn by holding a clipboard. It turned into a shouting match, with the two-headed yukmonster advocating for learning on the sideline and Rizzo going out on a limb by saying, “This playing-fornext-year crap has to stop.” This goes on for about an hour. Then Rizzo dips into the bythe-book time filler of examining the entire Browns schedule, game by game, and getting everyone’s prediction on all 16 matchups. Just about every sports talk show host worth his pittance of a salary does this when they’re not asking listeners to grade the GM or coach. All right, guys, week 12 against
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 15
NEWEST PATIO IN PARMA HTS.
BROWNS AT BEARS THURS. SEPT. 3 AT 8PM
OHIO STATE AT VIRGINIA TECH
CHECK OUT OUR NEW GAME ROOM
FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS DURING ALL GAMES!
TAILGATE WITH US
MON. SEPT. 7 AT 8PM
SAT. SEPTEMBER 12
60+ BEERS
DURING EVERY HOME GAME IN THE 2nd MUNI LOT
THE BREAKFAST CLUB
SATURDAY/SUNDAY BRUNCH
6395 Pearl Rd Parma Hts (440) 345-5815 brewhousecleveland.com
850 Euclid Ave St. 110
AND BLOODY MARY BAR
(8th St. Alley between Prospect and Euclid)
16826 LAKESHORE BLVD | CLEVELAND, OH 44110 | 216.273.5111
SIDEWALK CAFE & OUTDOOR PATIO FULL MENU:
BREAKFAST LUNCH • DINNER DINE IN • CARRY OUT • DELIVERY
MELLO MONDAYS 50¢ WINGS / LUNCH THROUGH CLOSING TWO DOLLAR TUESDAYS CORONA BEER $2 ALL DAY LADIES NIGHT WEDNESDAY $5 MARGARITAS DRAFT DAY THURSDAYS $1 OFF ALL DRAFT BEERS
HAPPY HOUR! MONDAY-FRIDAY 2:00-6:00PM
EVERYTHING $2.00-$6.00
$2.00 BOMBS • $3.00 16oz. CANS
$4.00 GREAT LAKES
21 BOURBONS AVAILABLE
JUST $4.00
6.00
$
ANGUS BURGER & FRIES JUMBO WINGS & FRIES
216-685-9464 21lounge.com 2123 E 2nd St. Cleveland
16
LARGEST SCREEN
IN LAKEWOOD!! 12 FEET OF HD BLISS WITH FULL VOLUME!!
OHIO STATE GAMES
5 FOR $10 COORS LIGHT BUCKETS & $2 FIREBALL SHOTS
NFL GAMES
5 FOR $10 MILLER LITE BUCKETS & $2 FIREBALL SHOTS
★ FOOD SPECIALS ALL DAY ★ 18206 Detroit Ave. | Lakewood, OH 44107
216.228.1442
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
HAPPY HOUR, EVERY HOUR! $2 SHOTS, $2 BEERS, $2 FOOD MENU 60oz PITCHERS $8 + SPECIAL SUNDAY FOOTBALL MENU North Olmsted | Avon | Middleburg Hts Parma | Mayfield Hts | Eastlake
Searching for somewhere decent to watch the game? Sick of the same old sports bars? Look no further than Blue Breeze on Lakeshore Boulevard. The homey space is in no shortage of typical bar food: wings, loaded nachos and jalapeno poppers. However, unlike other dives, Blue Breeze has a menu chock-full of eclectic, finger-licking comfort dishes. From deep-fried delights like its catfish nuggets and steak-smothered fries to its signature pita pizzas and Blue Breeze burger, over-loaded with corned beef and cheese, Blue Breeze will make sure you don’t leave game day hungry. Stop in Monday night to
watch the game on one of the bar’s big screen televisions and chow down on Blue Breeze’s 50 cent wing specials and $3 Blue Moons. Check in again on thirsty Thursday for $2.50 Coors and Budlight drafts to drown your disappointment in the Browns undoubted loss. Even after the Browns play, Blue Breeze offers tons for the sports-loving Clevelander. Every night offers new food and beer specials, while the pool tables are always open for a few buddies to start up a match. Cleveland’s breeziest sports bar is located at 16826 Lakeshore Blvd. And don’t forget: Happy Hour runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
SCENE’S
216.802.7241
SPECIALS ON 100oz. BEER TOWERS GOURMET HOT DOG SPECIALS & $4 SELECT APPS. BAR OPENS AT 9 A.M.
17103 Detroit Ave. Lakewood (216) 303-9700 www.gameonlakewood.com
11111 Euclid Ave Inside The Thwing Center @ CWRU 216.368.0090 FOLLOW US ON
• C E L E B R AT E •
CLEVELAND Sports! Bring in this ad and we’ll
BUY YOU A BEER!
16826 LAKESHORE BLVD. CLEVELAND, OHIO 44110
2.00
$
WEEKLY
CONTACT US AT
$2.50 16 OZ DOMESTIC CANS $10 BUD/BUD LIGHT BUCKETS
NOW OPEN!
TO BE PART OF
GAME DAY PAGE
NFL PACKAGE
SIDEWALK CAFÉ AND OUTDOOR PATIO FULL MENU:
Domestic Bottles Every Night!
Come Check Out The Best Patio In Fairview Park!
PATIO NOW OPEN DAILY FOR LUNCH 11AM
BEST HAPPY HOUR 7 DAYS/WEEK - TILL 9PM DOMESTIC BOTTLES ONLY $1.75 22OZ. ONLY $2.25 | $2 WELLS KITCHEN CLOSES AT 2AM DAILY 22811 Lorain Rd. Fairview Park 440-734-3276
BREAKFAST LUNCH
Browns/Buckeyes Game Day Specials 42¢ WINGS $4 LABATT PITCHERS $2 CHERRY/GRAPE BOMBS $1 HOT DOGS $1 HAMBURGERS TV’S WITH SOUND ON! 6249 PEARL RD. PARMA HTS. (1/4 MILE NORTH OF YORK)
440-345-5881
DINNER DINE IN
*
CARRY OUT
*
DELIVERY
MELLO MONDAYS - $.50 WINGS, LUNCH THROUGH CLOSING TWO DOLLAR TUESDAYS – CORONA BEER $2 ALL DAY LADIE’S NIGHT WEDNESDAYS - $5 MARGARITAS DRAFT DAY THURSDAYS - $1 OFF ALL DRAFT BEERS
216–273–5111
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 17
FEATURE
161 E 201 St., Euclid $112,475 Nestled in a thriving lakeside Beach club community, Cape cod is in immaculate move right in condition. 3 Bedrooms, 2 full and 1 half baths. Gorgeous wood floors. New eat in kitchen in 2010 with granite counters & updated cabinetry. 1st flr bedroom steps out to rear deck and could be Family room or office. 2.5 car garage with opener
Lenny Vaccaro Howard Hanna 440.951.4445 vaccaroteam.com
(440) 665-3768
Visit us online to book your next event @ProperPigBBQ Properpigsmokehouse
North East Ohio’s Best Award Winning BBQ Food Truck and Catering! Specializing in slow smoked Texas style BBQ (Pulled Pork, BBQ Brisket, Hot Links & our FAMOUS Maple Brown Sugar Bacon on a Stick)
18
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
the Bengals, what do you got? Oh, I think they’ll lose. Oh, I think they’ll win, but it’ll be close. Is Johnny playing by this point? He’s gotta be playing by then! Dalton’s a bum! But they might lose. All right, week 13 …. Invariably, one guy has the team at 16-0 and the other has them at 0-16. The Really Big Show broke tradition in that regard: Rizzo came in with two wins, Cherry had the Browns with eight, and Matt/Casey had a total of 12 wins between them. They sort of acted like their predictions were serious and meaningful. They killed more time with calls about their hot Johnny Manziel takes. One of the Kardashians’ asses was analyzed at some point. Then it all really fell apart, and it happened in the very insular and pro-Cleveland content reaction that the sports media in this town has fallen into over the past few years. Sports Illustrated writer Emily Kaplan had written the timeworn puff piece on how Cleveland Browns fans were very dedicated after all these years of losing. It was all hearts and flowers, with Browns tackle Joe Thomas sharing with Kaplan that Lake Catholic grad and former Browns receiver Joe Jurevicius told him when he was a rookie in 2007 that what Browns fans “care about most is that you bust your ass every day.” It was innocuous, and anyone who has ever worked in the media could easily see that. But not the Rizzo gang. They seemed angry that Ms. Kaplan interviewed Browns fans in an East Cleveland bar at 2 the afternoon (she interviewed lots of Browns fans in other places too) and that East Cleveland afternoon drinkers at the Club Dew Drop at Euclid Avenue and Ivanhoe Road did not give a fair and positive portrayal of the city. And the comments then gushed forth about how this sports writer didn’t praise Cleveland as she should. “Man, Cleveland is a great place to live and raise a family,” Rizzo said. “Wow! We have the RNC next year.” “If you’re in downtown Cleveland, you feel like you’re in New York or Chicago,” said either Matt or Casey. But then Cherry topped them all for what Sport Illustrated missed about how great Northeast Ohio is. “I live 30 minutes from two zoos,” he said.
And 17 Acme Fresh Supermarkets, Je’Rod. Don’t forget that. Let’s get this out of the way: Everyone working in the Cleveland sports radio market thinks things are great. Well, everyone in management, anyway. The business is great, the ratings are the highest ever, the people of Cleveland love their sports like no other, there is more than enough room for two and a half stations talking sports from morning to night, maybe more, and the guys employed to do it now are the right guys to be doing it. The millennials all listen to terrestrial radio sports talk through apps on their phones, the old timers sit on lawn chairs in their garages and drink beer and call in, the hosts have great personalities, and none of the teams ever complain to the bosses if a host says they think the team is more shitty than usual. In reality, they have a steady but aging listenership, and they do make a little money if they keep their costs down. But because there is little to gain by trying new things, and the profits razor thin anyway, it’s best not to do something that offends the old farts who have nothing to do in the afternoon. That’s why a four-hour show will usually get programmed like this: a few recordings of gangbang interviews from a locker-room (whether they say anything or not), a short interview with the station’s team expert (like ESPN’s Tony Grossi, on the high end, or a salesperson turned de facto beat writer, on the low end), a chat with a national blogger or an NFL Network guy who tweets vaguely about nothing quite often, and maybe Mary Kay Cabot dropping by to talk about what other people wrote. Fill in the time with the two hosts talking to each other and taking some calls that seem to come from the same few people who call all the shows. Rinse, repeat, see you back here at the same time tomorrow. What do you think the Browns record will be? Should Johnny be playing more? Cleveland was at one time the center of sports talk experimentation. Pete Franklin pretty much invented the format in 1967, and people found him berating caller after caller entertaining. In the mid-1990s, WHK-1420 AM had a dedicated following that thought it was in a private club and the term “mother scratcher” was the password. And that history in Cleveland helped ingrain sports talk radio nationally as a male tradition —
Dustin Fox and Adam the Bull, looking enthralled.
killing time with nonsense, but nonsense men liked — and it became the place where guys hung out. Call it the man cave or the tree house or the he-man-woman-hater’s-club, but sports talk became a gathering place. “We thought being funny and intelligent was more important than just breaking down a defense,” said Les Levine, who was the lynchpin at WHK for its brief three-year existence. The station was there when Browns coach Bill Belichick benched Bernie Kosar and the Browns left, and joked and cried through it all. The station ended quickly because of a sale of its parent company, not bad ratings. But hardly anyone has tried to be the least bit clever since. Some say that wouldn’t work because Cleveland loses too much, and the fans aren’t in the mood for any sports hilarity or content that requires more than a sixth-grade education. And Cleveland seems to be in one of its moods where any putdowns of the teams or the players or the city — even done smartly and by locals — is not well received. And god forbid if the criticism comes from an outsider. Rizzo, more than anyone else in the market, attempts, or attempted at one point, to have fun. It’s why The Really Big Show with ESPN Cleveland — which has led the station’s line-up since 2007 — has the following that it does and serves as WKNR’s cash cow. The dial is otherwise filled with some talented people, some not, and a whole lot of the same, indistinguishable except when the stations’ call letters are uttered. Rizzo, for his part, offered to chat
for this article but never ended up following through. A handful of hosts were offered up by 92.3 The Fan. Top men at both stations did chat, and they’re pretty damn proud. “We have great talent who understand the fans here in Cleveland, and we are very satisfied with where we are,” says Keith Williams, vice president and general manager for Good Karma Broadcasting, which owns ESPN 850. “This is a football town, and we have the best coverage of the Browns.” Tom Herschel, senior vice president and market manager for CBS Radio in Cleveland, which owns 92.3 The Fan, echoes his competitor’s sentiments. “One of the reasons we built and launched The Fan four years ago is the incredible enthusiasm and sports in this area.” Both Herschel and Williams say the Northeast Ohio market is not oversaturated with sports programming, they both think that the interest in sports in the Cleveland market is very high right now, and they don’t expect any changes to their line-ups in the near future. And Chucky Booms thought he was going to be around long after Kevin Kiley croaked. (As for the recent stability/ instability of the line-ups: WKNR went through an almost complete reshuffling not that long ago, sending Michael Reghi and Kenny Roda packing and shifting hosts in different timeslots or with new partners; Booms, as well as onetime weekend host Joe Lull, are the two most recent changes at The Fan. Kevin Kiley, whose disdain for sports, and Cleveland sports
CLEVELAND’S ORIGINAL SMOKESHOP SINCE 1975
Not Your Average Smokeshop... • vaporizers & vapermate • DaB sUppLies & riGs • smokinG accessories • t-shirts & Bajas • BoDY jeweLrY • posters, carDs • smoke oDor canDLes & incense & mUch mUch more!
BaCK tO SCHOOl SPECial
10 off
$
a PuRCHaSE Of $40 OR MORE ExPiRES 9/10/15
6627 MayfiEld Rd,
423 E. Main St,
(440) 442-5474
(330) 673-5270
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
Kent, OH 44240
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 19
FEATURE in particular, is palpable, is widely expected to leave sometime in the not so distant future.) Optimism is one thing, as is the general feel-goodiness about their performance, but despite what the program directors say, it is now nearly impossible to know how many and who are tuning in to any given show. Because Arbitron measures the radio signals a person is tuned into, and doesn’t factor in the Internet or mobile phone connections, the ratings are somewhat meaningless. WKNR 850 doesn’t do Arbitron anymore; 92.3 does. And stations have long learned how to fudge their numbers so they look good. Like they might say they have 50 percent of the 25 to 54 male audience, the best of all stations. When you press them, they’ll say they have 50 percent of the 25 to 54 male audience with one leg. When you ask how many one-legged men there are in that group, they’ll say 12. But they have six of them. Ratings, of course, are still important. WKNR relies on them less as a barometer of success, and the station’s business model — partners, partners, partners and their staff’s ability to sell the shit out of them — means that they’re not as beholden to the numbers as others. (And by all accounts, that partner-driven model works for them. If they have six onelegged males age 25 to 54 listening, as long as all six of those guys buy JoeBees, they’re happy.) But it’s likely they also don’t want to get into numbers because they’re getting beaten. And badly. Baskin and Phelps host 92.3 The Fan’s lunchtime show. It’s four hours of harmless radio that few would point to as the best of what both stations try to do. Nevertheless, that show has routinely topped Rizzo’s ratings the past four months or so, an astounding comparison given our opening bar hypothetical. Which isn’t entirely their fault. FM stations will almost always trounce AM stations in listeners (and 92.3’s ratings are nothing to crow about), so the platforms themselves help explain away the Baskin/ Phelps oddity. Fewer and fewer true millenials even know what the hell AM radio is. (National sports talk host Colin Cowherd, speaking on a podcast back in May, had this to say about the prospects: “I think terrestrial [radio], AM especially, is done in five years.”) Professional teams are signing deals on FM,
20
Ken Carman with Cleveland listener Chris Barcik at The Fan’s fourth birthday celebration.
not AM. Listeners are finding Grantland podcasts if they want to hear someone talk about basketball in an educated fashion, not tuning into someone whose grasp of their free hot-dog lunch is firmer than his grasp of the NBA salary cap. (They also tune into ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on KNR, whether they love him or hate him.) But basketball is second fiddle to football here. (Baseball, for various reasons, doesn’t even get a fiddle.) As the station’s bosses noted, Cleveland’s insatiable appetite for Browns coverage must be fed. Both stations back up the feed truck, and both are now the flagship stations for the Cleveland Browns. But while they coordinate and combine on gameday coverage, only WKNR is forced to air Cleveland Browns Daily, an astoundingly vacuous two-hour show each afternoon recorded by the Browns for the Browns. It’s hosted by Nathan Zegura, a fantasy football expert and all around affable personality who we imagine seals himself in a hyperbaric chamber after it wraps up each day, the only solace possible to recover from talking about things like the Browns’ third-string safety in March. Cleveland Browns Daily is filled with team-approved hyperbole like, “With a better arm, Connor Shaw could be one of the great quarterbacks in the game,” a real thing that was said on the air back in May. More recently, co-host Matt Wilhelm misappropriated a bit of elementary school-level history in calling the Cleveland media Uncle Toms for their negative coverage
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
of the team. “Do you think a lot of people are going to lose their jobs when this team starts winning?” Wilhelm asked no one in particular. The flagship deal comes with its fair share of back and forth, but several hosts have told Scene that station higher-ups have come into the studios and told them to start talking Browns. And there’s this: The deals are loss leaders in more real terms. The Browns sell ads on the radio “network” that has the weekly prepost- and game itself programming, meaning there are many companies the stations can’t even approach for ads because the Browns have already locked them up. In effect, the stations are paying the Browns to run the games and then competing against the team for ad sales. It used to be that sports talk radio was based on the host, where the personalities were just as important as the topic. Bruce Drennan, who has been in Cleveland sports talk for 46 years and is now on Fox Sports Ohio, had, and still has, a fiery personality of sorts. “What bugs me about sports radio these days is they are nothing but talking heads, they don’t really take many calls much, and they just babble at each other without saying much,” he says. Ken Carman, the talented 29-yearold who replaced Booms on 92.3’s morning drive show after building a strong following during the evening slot, likes taking calls and shows how working them into content can be fun radio at times. “When Rick in Parma calls, for that two minutes I’ve
got to treat that person with respect, but also find out why they feel the way they feel,“ he says. “We’ve gotten to a point in this business where there are a lot of radio hosts who want to use callers but don’t make a connection. But disagreeing and still having respect and a connection can be great radio.” The problem is that the sports media has been upended, and social media has made the hosts’ personalities less important for the programmers. It used to be that the local print reporters broke sports stories — trades, benchings, free agent signings — and the TV and radio hosts sorted through what was important each day and put their spin on things. What they said wasn’t important, but how they said it. Now everyone has everything all at once — and the problems that causes. Like last month when an Atlanta TV station accidently tweeted that Browns’ suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon had gotten a DUI. It was an old tweet (a tech malfunction was the explanation for it), but all the stations ran with it, then backpedaled and tried to point out how they found out the tweet was wrong before the other station did. “In the end, I think there is a constant pressure when you host a sports talk show to be on top of every little topic and every little nuance,” says WKNR afternoon host Aaron Goldhammer. “We have to report what has been reported, but we also have to be vigilant to make sure we are right.” It’s not just wrong news that gets covered by both front to back, it’s no news. The stations run press conferences live even if nothing is said. As 92.3 The Fan afternoon host Adam the Bull says, “You have to run them just in case they do say something important.” The problem with that is simple: Players and coaches almost never say anything. Time filler itself then becomes fodder for more time filler as everyone discusses the nothing that was said. Case in point: A few weeks ago at Browns training camp, running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery said one of the team’s three young running backs needed to step up and grab the starting job. He didn’t name anyone specifically, but expressed his slight disappointment that none of the three had distinguished themselves as yet. So all the radio sports shows chimed in and killed multiple segments on Montgomery throwing down the gauntlet on these juvies.
Add Some Personality To Your Ponytail. w/New Hair Color, Whisper Trim w/ Bangs, Hair Jewelry or a New Scrunchie
THE BACK PAGE
IS BACK!
RATES START AT $75 & UP
216.802.7229
Coming Soon!
JuSt announCed :
The numbers Band 45th anniversary Concert
chARLie mUSSLewhiTe 9/11
10/3
Acoustic Alchemy 11/3
Upcoming ShowS
Randy & mr. Lahey (of Trailer park Boys) ..........................................9/17 Spyro gyra .......................................................................................... 9/18 Rhiannon giddens ............................................................................. 9/19 Zappa plays Zappa ............................................................................ 9/22 hot Tuna Acoustic .............................................................................. 9/23 Joshua Davis ...................................................................................... 9/25 over The Rhine .................................................................................... 9/26 hey mavis with hal walker ............................................................... 9/27 wood Brothers .................................................................................... 9/29 Saul williams......................................................................................10/01 Aaron neville .....................................................................................10/07 Sklar Brothers .....................................................................................10/08 wand hunt Band Farewell concert .................................................10/10
• LORAIN PALACE THEATRE •
Arlo Guthrie’s 50th Anniversary
of Alice’s Restaurant Sat., Oct. 3 • 8 P.M
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 21
FEATURE Fine. That’s what sports talk shows do. But they played the interview over and over again, and analyzed Montgomery’s vague comments for deeper meaning. But none of the hosts on either station joked about this, ’cause this was serious Browns business. A few days later, the business got more serious — and much more stupid. Browns second-year running back Isaiah Crowell was trotted out by the Browns PR staff for an interview with print and radio and TV after practice. The gaggle of media asked Crowell over and over for his views on Montgomery’s comments for six minutes, and 15 times Crowell answered with some version of, “I have to work harder.” In the old days, TV and radio would pick out the best answer and just use that if they used anything at all. No one would print all the answers; no radio or TV station would play the whole interview. Someone would say, “That sure was a waste of time.” And now? Cleveland.com put the whole six-minute interview on its website. Both stations ran it in its entirety several times and then analyzed its deeper meaning. This isn’t to say the stations should have ignored Crowell and Montgomery’s comments, but maybe just play, “I have to work harder,” three times instead of 15. The “they’re doing it so we’re doing it” sentiment runs deep, which means listeners got the soundbite not 15 times but 30. (Sports talk radio isn’t alone here: Newspapers and blogs are in the same boat, recycling the same news, the same takes.) And that makes it hard to pull big audiences, let alone distinguish yourself from the competition. Far and few between are the radio reporters who would follow up with anything except, “Isaiah, talk about Coach Montgomery’s comments.” What about: “Is it the quality of your work that you have to work on, or the quantity, the number of hours you need to put in?” Or: “How many zoos do you live close to?” The problem of everyone having the same nothing at once is exacerbated by the fact that in many cases, 92.3 The Fan is reliant on other media not just for its newsy talking points but for its content, period. The station has shown a wanton
22
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
disregard for spending money even as CBS Radio in Cleveland has shed expensive contracts. 92.3 didn’t send any reporters to cover Ohio State’s national championship run last year, for example, nor did it send any talent on the road to cover the Cavs’ run to the NBA Finals. No trips to Boston, Chicago or Atlanta, let alone Oakland. If the wine and gold had taken the series against Golden State to a game seven, 92.3 would have been sitting in Cleveland relying on every other outlet’s material being gathered on the ground in California — including WKNR, which had a team on the West Coast.
“I don’t think it matters anymore what’s on the air. I don’t know that it ever did, actually. But today, more than ever, it doesn’t really matter.” — Former 92.3er, Joe Lull And for a flagship station, one that trumpets its coverage of Cleveland’s most popular team, it’s embarrassing that 92.3 doesn’t even send a reporter on the road with the Browns unless the game’s in Pittsburgh or Cincinnati. (WKNR, meanwhile, sends Tony Grossi just about everywhere, including the owner’s meetings.) As one host told Scene, “It’s not anything a podcaster couldn’t do sitting at home.” Home of the Browns, indeed. “The problem is that the sports talk radio stations in Cleveland don’t have any content of their own, content that would make them a destination listening place, mostly because they don’t want to have original content,” says John Gorman, longtime Cleveland radio icon who was program manager at WHK in it sports talk days and now operates WOW Media, which tries to recreate WMMS in its heyday, which Gorman also ran. The sad state of affairs is that the stations don’t believe that, and that attitude trickles down to employees, and that whether or not you have original content, it doesn’t much make a difference. “I don’t think it matters anymore what’s on the air,” says former 92.3er Joe Lull. “I don’t know that it ever did, actually. But today, more than ever, it doesn’t really matter. Look at the dismissal of Booms,
who, like it or not, was one of the most polarizing figures in Cleveland media, and he was just tossed to the curb. And the station is just ‘onward and upward.’ I largely believe that with the exception of a few people, sports talk is just white noise. And if you look at some of the people on air who aren’t necessarily engaging personalities but rather just people who’ve been in sports, that speaks to it. The stations don’t try to be cutting edge. They’re very conservative. The Fan doesn’t invest in covering things, but I don’t think that necessarily matters. You’re not going to have more or less people listen to the radio station because you do or don’t send someone to cover the national championship game.” Which ties into something else we heard: That it doesn’t really matter who’s hosting a show. It could be a fill-in or the regular host. The ratings stay the same. It’s a built-in, ready-made audience. “I’ve heard shows where callers call in and they don’t even know what host they’re talking to. I don’t know why people listen but I’m guessing it’s because it’s voices talking about Cleveland sports,” says Lull. “It doesn’t matter to the people making decisions and unfortunately it doesn’t matter to the listener either. I don’t think either station is in a position where they have to worry much about the quality of the product. You’d think persona-based radio would be in higher demand given the saturation, but I think they’re comfortable having voices on the radio. What those voices are is irrelevant. I don’t think that’s just Cleveland sports talk. It’s sports talk in general. You don’t get encouragement to develop. And if you want to take a full-time job at a Cleveland radio station, you shouldn’t be taking a pay decrease from what you’re doing today. The reality is, there are gas station attendants making more than parttime employees at The Fan. But they don’t want you to know that because it undermines this image of the big voice on the radio.” The teams, according to the hosts, are partly to blame as well. Almost everyone interviewed for this article said the Cleveland Cavaliers were notorious for not providing athletes for interviews on the stations, and that the Browns and Indians were not much better. Original takes are generally frowned upon, not least of all because denial of future access for hypothetical interviews or credentials is always a threat. And even when a station gets somebody on the line, it’s hit or miss.
“Most athletes are not great interviews,” Adam the Bull says. “If we can get a player the fans have heard of we’ll try, but we aren’t just going to go get anyone so we can say we have a player on. And you have to play things carefully with the teams, not asking for a player every day and abusing the relationship.” It isn’t that sports talk has to be intellectual vibrant or always doing something important. But thinking that all your listeners are brain dead, that they don’t care what you serve them up, is not a good way to program content that tries to gain listeners, not push them away. Not being serious intellectually does not mean one has to be intellectually vapid either. We get enough of that through social media. It leads to some very odd choices, both media-wise and culturally. The radio stations all go on and on about how Ray Rice and the other wifebeater athletes should not be allowed to play anymore, that being a proathlete is a privilege and not a right of employment. Yet WKNR had Tony Rizzo on the air the very morning he got out of jail in December of 2013 after being arrested for spousal abuse. The news hadn’t even broken yet, and Rizzo was hosting the show like nothing had happened. And when reports surfaced mid-program, Rizzo was allowed to use the station’s airwaves to make his defense. (Those charges were eventually dropped and Rizzo pleaded no contest to persisting disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, in March 2014. The prosecutor said at the time that Rizzo’s then-wife told authorities the day after his arrest that “she initiated the argument and struck him with a wine glass” and didn’t want to press charges. The details of the case are not the debate here; it’s Good Karma’s decision to let Rizzo host the show that day at all.) Donald Trump is being railed in some quarters for being insulting to women, yet ESPN Cleveland’s Golden Boyz (Aaron Goldhammer and Emmett Golden) recently debated whether tennis star Serena Williams was hot. (Both determined she was not.) It’s so overblown, such mailit-in material, such low-hanging boys’ club fruit, like the debate over whether Michael Jordan could beat LeBron James one-on-one, another scintillating topic explored on the show a few weeks ago. It’s the man cave taken to its logical if maddening conclusion. Fine enough to keep the people who’ve always listened around. But probably not fine enough for a twentysomething who would
4630 Ridge Road Brooklyn, Ohio 44144
216-749-5509 MONTHLY WiNes TasTiNg
OHiO WiNes
Thursday, Sept. 17th @7pm Five Wines with Five Courses for $35 per person!
CLaM Bake
SIGN UP TODAY FOR:
CHILDREN’S SHAOLIN KUNG FU ADULT SHAOLIN KUNG FU TAI CHI SHAOLIN KICK BOXING
ONE WEEK FREE!
FEATURING
FasTLaNe! (Eagles Tribute Band)
Saturday, Sept. 26th @7pm A delicious fall tradition for $25 per person!
Sit down with your guests. Advertise with SCENE. Call 216-241-7550 for more information.
CLEVELAND 4264 Pearl Rd. 216.749.3440
EASTLAKE
32888 Vine St 440.942.8668
LORAIN
823 Broadway 440.242.4080
MANSFIELD
522 Park Ave West 419.522.1695
STRONGSVILLE 19097 Drake Rd. 440.572.8287
GIRARD
16 N. State St. 330.545.8131
BARBERTON
536 W Tuscarawas 330.753.0500
AKRON
1004 Kenmore Blvd 330.753.3600
SEE OUR AD ON THE BACK INSIDE COVER magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 23
YEARS OF COOL EYEWEAR! Downtown Cleveland
Are You Seeing Clearly?
Eyes Examined • Stephen Sasala, OD
800 Huron Road, Downtown Cleveland • (216)781-7900 • www.jeroldoptical.com
Sunday, September 6th, 1-7pm Brother’s Lounge • 11609 Detroit Ave. • Cleveland Six psychics and vendors will be on hand; angel card, astrology and tarot card readings with merchandise — jewelry, bath oils, teas, etc.
25 per reading 330.405.3045 • www.cesearsforum.com $
24
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
FEATURE rather not hear whether or not you think Serena Williams is fuckable. Dustin Fox is a fairly well spoken former Ohio State football player who had a brief swim through the NFL. He currently co-hosts the afternoon show on 92.3 The Fan with Adam the Bull. Most of the time he brings a decent spin on what NFL players are thinking about as they go through the season, and he stands up to the Bull’s frequent pontificating rants. At times, it can be good radio. Last week, they brought on journalist Gilbert Gaul to talk about his new book, Billion-Dollar Ball: A Journey Through the Big Money Culture of College Football. Gaul has won two Pulitzer Prizes, worked for both the New York Times and Washington Post and, to justify his sports cred, was a New Jersey state high-school champion in the javelin many years ago. Gaul’s book is about how some colleges are increasing general student fees and cutting academic and other programs to prop up football which, in all but a few big programs, has become a cash drain for the schools. He cites the University of Akron specifically in his tome, which is a timely local tie given Akron’s recent budget moves like cutting its baseball program and laying off faculty, in part because football costs so much. Fox regularly weighs in on the importance of college football programs based on his OSU experience: how tutors are important for the athletes, how the programs are worth the cost, how they bring pride to students and provide good marketing for the schools in more than just sports. Fox started the interview by thanking the author for sending him a copy of the book a few weeks ago and then noting that he hadn’t read it. Now, many media members do not read every book that comes across their desk — there can be a mountain at times — but this was right up Fox’s alley. After Gaul explained how IRS tax deductions were given to college football donors, how the costs of tutoring athletes were passed on to the general student body with fees, how the highest paid public official in most states was a university football coach, and how Akron had undermined the entire university budget by building a costly new
football stadium, Fox asked Gaul this: “What’s the biggest problem you found with big-time college football?” Then Fox opined that perhaps the problem in Akron was with the success of its football program. If they had won eight or nine games — instead of five games under Terry Bowden (who makes $400,000 coaching at Akron, plus $1.4 million in related “services”) — Fox figured Akron’s program would be a good thing for all concerned. Not that maybe schools like Akron might be better off getting out of the football business. Fox then politely thanked Gaul for
being a guest on the show and said that he thought the book was “well done.” Yep, a book he hadn’t read. “Ever do five hours of radio a day? We prepare our ass off, but I don’t read every book of every guest,” Fox told us last Friday. “We’ve brought on comedians as guests that I have never heard. Maybe me saying his book was ‘well done’ even though I hadn’t read it was me just being nice to a guest.” This is not to bag on Dustin Fox here. He didn’t have to say he hadn’t read the book. He probably could have faked his way through the interview as if he had. But he didn’t
think it was important for his job as a sports talk show host to read it, and he figured his audience didn’t think it was important that he did either. But, then again, why should it be? This is Cleveland, and being a sports fan is all about killing time between years of losing. It’s wait until next year. And wait until next show. Same result, though.
scene@clevescene.com t@cleveland_scene
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 25
Baseball’s greatest heroes CHANGED THE GAME. DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO LEARN THEIR STORIES.
THROUGH SEPT. 7 Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American was organized by the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia and made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence. ORGANIZED BY:
SPONSORED BY:
THE TREU-MART FUND
2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, OH 216.593.0575 I @maltzmuseum I maltzmuseum.org
WE WENT OUT WHEN YOU COULDN’T.
GENEVA
On-the-Lake
Where Our Lake Awaits...
CATCH UP ON LAST NIGHT WITH SCENE’S EVENT SLIDESHOWS. ONLY AT CLEVESCENE.COM
Home to...The Grand River Valley & Lake ErieWine Regions 18 Covered Bridges or Call...
800.3.DROP-IN
Check the website for event details & mark your calendar for...
Thunder on the Strip Sept 10-13
Halloween Crawl & Adult Hay Ride Leaves High Tide Tavern at 2pm Oct 10 & 11 Find us on:
www.VisitAshtabulaCounty.com
SCENE
UNLEASH YOUR INNER CHILD WITH ADULT BEVERAGES.
Detroit Ave, Lakewood + 16-BitBar.com
26
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
everything you should do this week
GET OUT WED
Photo by Emanuel Wallace
09/02
COMEDY
Mike Cheselka A Cleveland native, comedian Mike Cheselka has had an interesting career as an entertainer. After a 15-year run that included multiple headlining tours and performing with the likes of Robin Williams and Jerry Seinfeld, Cheselka returned to Cleveland to become a lawyer. But that hasn’t stopped him from taking the comedy stage in venues all over Cleveland. He peforms tonight at 8 at Hilarities. Tickets are $13 to 18. (Dana Hetrick) 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com. ART
Drink & Draw Social Club Twice every month, Great Lakes Brewing Company hosts Cleveland’s Drink & Draw Social Club. The event is organized by the Rust Belt Monster Collective and sponsored by Carol and John’s Comic Book Shop. Drink & Draws are an opportunity for artists of all levels of experience to drink, draw, socialize/network and collaborate in a very relaxed and welcoming environment. Events take place on the first and third Wednesday of every month. At the end of each Drink & Draw, prizes are awarded for various superlatives. It’s free. (Josh Usmani) 2516 Market Ave., 216-771-4404, greatlakesbrewing.com. SPOKEN WORD
Keep Talking Keep Talking is an exciting storytellers program where locals can share their real-life experiences on a theme. This month’s theme is “Fighting.” Stories range from the insightful and sad to the funny and bizarre. Held in the Happy Dog’s basement, the Underdog, the series is your chance to grab a drink and a dog while listening to some of your Cleveland neighbors amuse you with their tales. Tonight’s edition starts at 8 and costs $5. (Patrick Stoops) 5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com. FILM
On a Technicality Based on a real story and filmed locally at Jack’s Deli, the short film On a Technicality recounts a test of friendship between the members of a group of guys who make a wager on which of them will die first. The film screens tonight at 7 at the
Oktoberfest returns to Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. See: Friday.
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage. The screening will include a Q&A session with the director and cast. Actor/writer/producer Jeff Grover and director of cinematography/ producer Steven Hacker will provide a sneak peek at their new baseballfocused short film Between the Lines. Admission is $5. (Jeff Niesel) 2929 Richmond Rd., Beachwood, 216-593-0575, maltzmuseum.org. FILM
Seeds of Time The climate change debate has been at the forefront of scientific controversies for the past 40 years. The documentary Seeds of Time follows global conservationalist Cary Fowler as he works to protect a world at risk of global starvation as a result of climate change and crop extinction. The film sheds light on the need to protect crop diversity, a topic many are aware of but very few understand. It screens tonight at 7 at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Tickets are $9. (Hetrick) 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org. FILM
Turbo Kid Like Mad Max with BMX bicycles, Turbo Kid offers a decidedly dystopic look at the future. The movie centers on two young teens who have a run-in with the overlord of the Wasteland where they live. While the film’s costumes and special effects won’t rival those of Mad Max, the the movie has gotten positive reviews since premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. It screens tonight at 7:30 at the Capitol Theatre. Tickets are $9.50. (Niesel) 1390 West 65th St., 216-651-7295, clevelandcinemas.com.
THUR
09/03
COMEDY
Jeff Blanchard Comedian Jeff Blanchard has attitude to spare, and nothing is out of bounds for him. Topics of humor include kiddie porn, some pretty hilarious John McCain impressions, ragging on the Browns and the lovely town of Elyria. Some of the things he says are slightly offensive, but it’s all in good fun as this Cleveland native brings in that trademark ironic sense of humor. (You have to be tough, after all.) He takes the stage tonight at 7:30 at the Improv, and tickets are $12. (Liz Trenholme) 1148 Main Ave., 216-696-IMPROV, clevelandimprov.com. FILM
Gueros Set in Mexico City in the late ’90s, the coming-of-age film Gueros centers on two teenage gueros (light-skinned Mexicans) who must find something to do with their lives when a student strike takes place. They wind up following the strike’s leader as she goes in search of a ’60s folk singer who allegedly made Bob Dylan cry. A tribute to the early films of the French New Wave, the movie was shot in black and white and features some stunning cinematography. It makes its Cleveland premiere tonight at 8:40 at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. It screens again at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $9. (Niesel) 11610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7450, cia.edu. COMEDY
Jo Koy Comedian Jo Koy defies Asian stereotypes. He isn’t good at math, and he’s a decent driver. But all that doesn’t
stop him from talking in outrageous Asian accents and exploiting the natural comedy that ensued from his Asian-American upbringing. Since performing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Koy has been gaining momentum with two HBO specials. He also landed on Variety Magazine’s “top 10 comics to watch” list. Just hearing Koy’s stereotypical accents for the first time is gutbusting. Combine that crude delivery with insightful observations about race and social interactions and you have one hilarious comedy act. He performs tonight at 8 at Hilarities and has shows scheduled through Saturday. Tickets are $53 to $55. (William Hoffman) 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com. MUSIC
Labatt Blue Light Lime Concert Series Local indie rockers Welshly Arms got a big break in 2013 when the group’s songs were used in TV promo ads. Tonight they headline the Labatt Blue Light Lime Concert Series. The event takes place at 5 p.m. at the U.S. Bank Plaza across from Playhouse Square, and admission is free. These hometown rock stars are worth the listen. (Alexandra Hintz) East 14th Street and Euclid Avenue, 216-771-4444, playhousesquare.org. FILM
Roar The thing about Roar, a bizarre bigcat film from 1982 that screens at 6:45 tonight and 9:35 tomorrow night at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, is that the horrific production notes are more entertaining than the film itself. Starring Noel Marshall and Hitchcock alum Tippi Hedren (husband and wife at the time), this story of a zoologist in Africa living on a plantation overrun with lions, tigers, jaguars, cheetahs and elephants has been dubbed “the most disaster-plagued film in the history of Hollywood.” Tickets are $9. (Sam Allard) 11610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7450, cia.edu. DINNER
Rooftop Wine Dinner The Cleveland National Air Show is back in town this weekend and, to kick things off in style, Music Box Supper Club will host a Rooftop Wine Dinner where you can win tickets to the air show. Some 20 tickets will be given away and patrons can take home a bottle of wine at retail price. The menu includes chipotle bisque, flying fish
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 27
A SCENE MAGAZINE EVENT
GET OUT filets and jet-puffed s’mores creme brule. Tickets cost $75 and the event begins at 7 p.m. (Niesel) 1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com. ART
Take a Joke, And Enjoy A Drink Take a Joke, And Enjoy A Drink is a group exhibition curated by Chicagobased artist Tony Lewis. It showcases four artists and art educators: Greg Bae, Troy Briggs, Rashayla Marie Brown and Matt Morris. Tonight’s opening reception, complete with artists’ remarks, takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibition is a collaboration between Bellwether (an open-ended series of discussions and events that aims to “discover the possibilities and limitations of art as a transformative tool in Cleveland’s post-industrial context”) and MOCA Cleveland. It remains on view for the next two weekends, through Sept. 13. It’s free. (Usmani) 1555 East 40th St. (entrance on Cooper Street), 216-707-2403, bellwether.clevelandart.org.
from the region’s many art programs; it features painting, prints, mixed media, sculpture, fiber, glass and site-specific installations. The second exhibition is Spotlight: Brenda Fuchs, featuring seven abstract and figurative paintings by the noted Cleveland artist and former Murray Hill gallery owner. Tonight’s reception, exhibitions and grand reopening celebration are free. (Usmani) 2175 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3457, heightsarts.org. SPOKEN WORD
Reassessing The Golden Girls A popular TV sitcom from the late ’80s and early ’90s, The Golden Girls didn’t just offer easy laughs courtesy of its senior cast. Rather, it addressed significant social issues. Tonight at 7:30 at the Euclid Tavern, Elizabeth Yuko, a bioethicist from Fordham, will reassess the program in her talk, Everything I Know About Bioethics, I Learned from Watching The Golden Girls. The lecture will serve as “an introduction to and discussion of bioethics through clips and case studies” from the series, as Yuko celebrates the 30th anniversary of the show’s pilot episode. It’s free. (Niesel) 11625 Euclid Ave., 216-231-5400, happydogcleveland.com. FILM
FRI
09/04
FESTIVAL
COCK TAIL
EXPLORE YOUR FASCINATION
A 60’S INSPIRED COCKTAIL PARTY 2.OCT.15 CORNER ALLEY UPTOWN
28
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
Cleveland Oktoberfest It’s a tradition in these parts to celebrate Oktoberfest over Labor Day weekend. The annual event, which takes place at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, features German food, beer and music over the long weekend. At the Sausage Autobahn, you can chow down on pierogies, cabbage, noodles and potato pancakes. A variety of musical acts will perform too. Stone Pony pays tribute to Springsteen tonight while the Spazmatics play hits from the ’80s tomorrow night. Some 18 microbreweries will compete in the Micro-Brew Competition. Admission is $12 for adults; children 12 and under are free. A four-day pass will set you back $25. Today’s hours are 4 p.m. to midnight and the event runs through Sunday. (Niesel), 19201 East Bagley Rd., Berea, 440-781-5246, clevelandoktoberfest.com. ART
Heights Arts Reopening After spending the summer making significant gallery renovations, Heights Arts reopens its exhibition space tonight with two new shows and a special reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Emergent 2015 is a new annual exhibition designed to showcase recent graduates
Tap World Make your way to the Cleveland Museum of Art for the Cleveland premiere of Tap World. The dance documentary explores the evolution and cultural significance of tap dancing across the globe through the perspective of the performers who bring the dance to life. It shows at 7 tonight and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the Morley Lecture Hall. Tickets are $9. (Hetrick) 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org. MUSIC
Summer Jam Each year, the local hip-hop radio station Z 107.9 hosts Summer Jam, a huge blowout concert. This year’s event comes toward the end of summer so maybe it’s more apt to call it Fall Jam. Regardless, the event features performances by hiphop/R&B artists such as Future, August Alsina, Rich Homie Quan, Dram, Ray Jr.. K Camp and Young Dro. The concert begins at 7:30 tonight and tickets are $35 to $65. (NIesel) 1 Center Ct., 216-420-2000, theqarena.com. MUSIC
Summerdance 2015 The preeminent end-of-summer jam returns to Nelson Ledges this weekend, with Lotus holding down dual Saturdayand Sunday-night headlining slots. The rest of the line-up is fleshed out with
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 29
GET OUT the likes of BoomBox, Moon Hooch (two saxophones and a drum set; these guys are incredible), Broccoli Samurai, Luke the Knife and Thunder St. Clair. And that’s just the musical offerings. It’s Labor Day weekend, and the season’s quiet slumber is upon us. Summerdance is the only spot to celebrate the day in all its glory. Can’t we live while we’re young?! Tickets are $50 to $100 advance, $60 to $120 at the door. (Eric Sandy) 12001 State Route 282, Garrettsville, 440-548-2716, nlqp.com. FILM
Tom at the Farm A young gay man (Xavier Dolan) goes to the heart of Canada to attend his partner’s funeral and discovers that the man’s mother didn’t know about his sexual orientation. Time Out London has called Tom at the Farm “taut, creepy, compelling and sexy” and it’s received generally positive reviews since making its way to arthouse theaters earlier this year (it recently played at the Capitol Theatre). It screens at 7:30 tonight at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. Tickets are $9. (Niesel) 11610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7450, cia.edu.
is set for the hilariously glamourous A Comedy of Tenors. Cleveland Playhouse begins its 100th season with performances of Ken Ludwig’s sequel to the wildly successful Lend Me a Tenor. (But have no fear: A Comedy of Tenors follows the same characters, so there’s no need to have seen Lend Me a Tenor to understand it.) The play opens tonight at 7:30 at the Allen Theatre and runs through Oct. 3. Tickets are $20 to $80. (Hetrick) 1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org. LOOK UP
Cleveland National Air Show Last year, the Cleveland National Air Show celebrated its 50th anniversary, a major feat considering how often annual events tend to come and go. This year’s air show, which takes place today through Monday at Burke Lakefront Airport, features the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, who’ll give tactical demonstrations in the airspace above the airport and lake. On the ground, you can climb into various cockpits and visit educational displays from the NASA Glenn Research Center. Gates open each day at 9 a.m. Adult tickets cost $21 in advance, $23 the day of the event. Ages 5 and under are free. (Niesel) clevelandairshow.com. FILM
ART
••
Walk All Over Waterloo September’s Walk All Over Waterloo is as eventful as ever. Waterloo Arts hosts two special events from 5 to 9 p.m. In the gallery, join an in-process viewing of Bottled Water: An Evolving Art Installation, including work by local artists Ash Fiasco, Jordan Fine, June Hund, Jonah Jacobs and Rachel Yurkovich. Meanwhile, Waterloo Arts is also partnering with its neighbor, Praxis Fiber Workshop, for a special Salute to Summer. Waterloo Road will be closed between East 156th and East 157th streets for a neighborhood block party featuring live music, food vendors, ice cream and art making. A number of Waterloo’s other art galleries will host opening receptions too, including Scott Goss’ Incoherent Spaces at Maria Neil Art Project, Jake Kelly at Gallery One Sixty and From the Dust at Article Gallery. Admission is free. (Usmani) waterlooarts.org.
SAT
09/05
COMEDY
A Comedy of Tenors Paris in the 1930s. Posh, right? Throw in three Italian opera singers, a lush hotel suite and the promise of the performance of a lifetime, and the stage
30
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
Cult Classics The Melt Bar & Grilled Late Shift at Cleveland Cinemas regularly offers late-night screenings of cult classics. Tonight, the Cedar Lee hosts two separate events, both of which have plenty of appeal. At 9:30 and midnight, the theater will screen Teeange Mutant Ninja Turtles. The campy flick was originally geared toward children but adults can find humor in the crime fighting turtles’ antics. Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas and Sam Rockwell star. And because it’s the first Saturday of the month, the theater will also host a midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the 1975 film that still draws an exuberant, costumed crowd that likes to throw rice and dry toast and sing along to the songs in the movie. Tickets to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cost $6 and tickets to The Rocky Horror Picture Show are $9.50. (Niesel) 2163 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, 440-717-4696, clevelandcinemas.com. FESTIVAL
Festival of Beers Craft beer is more popular than ever and has even made its way into baseball parks. Today from 4 to 7 p.m., the Festival of Beers takes place at Canal Park in Akron. It marks the second time the stadium has hosted a beer fest. Goose Island, the Chicago-based brewery that’s
ING_Scene_Ad_1.1.A.pdf
1
8/28/15
2:10 PM
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 31
GET OUT been making a big push into Northeast Ohio, is the official sponsor. For $30 advance, $35 at the gate, you’ll get 15 drink tickets and a sampling glass. Concession stands will be open and the outfield will be utilized as a tasting area. (Niesel) 300 South Main St., Akron, 330-762-8451, akronrubberducks.com.
Halloween. The local burlesque group Le Femme Mystique Burlesque kicks off what it calls “the season of spookiness” with Oddi-Tease, a show that features acts such as Vita DeVoid, Gigi DeLuxe, Discord Addams and Noella DeVille. Abby Downton serves as the host. Local burlesque promoter and dancer Bella Sin rounds out the bill. Tickets are $15 to
and interviews. Never released because of differences between Russell and director Les Blank, the film is, as Hollywood Reporter puts it, “a time capsule capturing the flavor of early ’70s bohemian life.” It screens at 6:45 p.m. today and 8:15 p.m. tomorrow at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. Tickets are $9. (Niesel)
#SonicSesh
Since his teaching days, Jackson has become a jack-of-all trades in the comedy world with television and radio appearances, and of course the performance of his very own standup routine. Jackson will provide the laughs with his account of taking on the PTA and his recounts of some of the crazy classroom antics of his students. He performs tonight at 7 at Hilarities. Tickets are $13 to $18. (Hetrick) 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
MON
FILM
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire The continuation of heroine Katniss Everdeen’s quest to protect herself and her loved ones from the annual Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire centers on Katniss as she’s brought back for another consecutive year to fight for her district. Intense and captivating, the film is part of one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises. It screens tonight at 8 at U.S. Bank Plaza as part of Playhouse Square’s Summer Movie Series. Admission is free. (Hetrick) East 14th Street and Euclid Avenue, 216-771-4444, playhousesquare.org.
09/07
FESTIVAL
8 PM Doors 9 PM Show
WEDNESDAY OCT. 7, 2015
MUSIC
The Music of John Williams Composer John Williams has scored nearly 80 movies, including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, E.T., Harry Potter, Superman, Jaws, Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List. Tonight and tomorrow night at Blossom, the Cleveland Orchestra pays tribute to the man by performing selections from several of his most famous movie scores. Richard Kaufman will conduct. Fireworks follow. Tickets start at $26. (Niesel) 1145 West Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Kosher Rib Burn-Off Just about everyone loves ribs, so the opportunity to eat kosher ribs isn’t something that should be taken lightly. The 23rd Annual Kosher Rib Burn-Off, which takes place today from noon to 4 p.m. at the parking lot of Gross Schechter Day School, offers kosher foods, games and entertainment. Ribs will be prepped at Gross Schechter Day School the week leading up to the event with Mashgiach Rabbi Aryen Spero overseeing the process. The day of the Rib Burn-Off, the kosher beef ribs will be grilled by various teams as part of a friendly competition which is judged by a panel of local celebrities. The winner will receive the Grill Master Title and Trophy at the conclusion of the event. An all-expense paid trip for two to the 2016 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, will be raffled off. Raffle tickets are $100 each and no more than 250 will be sold. Admission is free. (Niesel) 27601 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike, 216-763-1400, grossschechter.org/RBO.
TUES
09/08
FILM
BOOKS
Nothing Lasts Forever The self-proclaimed “best movie ever produced,” Tom Schiller’s sci-fi flick Nothing Lasts Forever never actually received theatrical release because it was just too weird. The film features some pretty cool cameos from actors such as Zach Galligan, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Mort Sahl. The film centers on an art student who goes to work in New York’s Holland Tunnel but inadvertently winds up on a bus to the moon. It screens at 5 p.m. today and at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. Tickets are $9. (Niesel) 11610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7450, cia.edu.
An Evening with D.M. Pulley First novels can be rough. But D.M. Pulley’s first novel, The Dead Key, was selected as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. She’ll be on hand tonight at the Happy Dog for a discussion about the novel, a mystery that weaves together the stories of Beatrice Baker, who begins work at the First Bank of Cleveland shortly before its collapse in 1978, and Iris Latch, the civil engineer hired to survey the building two decades later. Pulley currently lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband; she has started writing her second novel and will discuss its progress at tonight’s event, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. (Niesel)
NIGHTLIFE
Oddi-Tease It’s never too early to start celebrating
32
with Lives of the Saints
On sale now:
tickets.rockhall.com 1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44114 • rockhall.com
$25. The show begins at 8:30 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom. (Niesel) 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com. FILM
A Poem is a Naked Person An icon in the rock world, singersongwriter Leon Russell finally got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in 2011. A documentary shot between 1972 and 1974, A Poem is a Naked Person features live performances, rehearsals
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
11610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7450, cia. edu.
SUN
09/06
COMEDY
Al Jackson What’s funnier than kids? Cleveland native Al Jackson began his professional career as a middle school teacher (and had to entertain children), but has since used this experience to craft an absolutely hilarious standup routine.
Find more events @clevescene.com t@cleveland_scene
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 33
ART FLYING HIGH
15 years of Jake Kelly’s illustrated fliers collected in one massive book By Josh Usmani DESPITE NOT HAVING A SOLO gallery exhibition in 10 years, Cleveland artist Jake Kelly is easily one of the most prolific artists in the region. Perhaps he doesn’t need a solo show: His work can be seen all over town, in murals at the Grog Shop, Melt Bar and Grilled and Blue Arrow Records, as well as in thousands of concert fliers and his collaborative comic book, The Lake Erie Monster. He may not need an exhibition, but he’s getting one anyway. And we’re all going to be better for it. “I’ve known Jake for a long time, and I’m really excited to have him here at Gallery 160,” says gallery owner Bryon Miller. “His work is somewhere between a dream and a nightmare.” Jake Kelly’s A Heavy, Humid World opens with a reception from 6 p.m. to midnight during September’s Walk All Over Waterloo. The exhibition includes recent works on paper, larger paintings, painted furniture and a new, self-published book showcasing fliers from the past 15 years in 420 pages of black-and-white glory. “The work in this show doesn’t all fall neatly under any particular theme, but it does deal heavily with my interests: cults, ’70s radical terrorism, sex, drugs and monsters,” he says. “So you’ll see all of those things in various combinations, filtered through a psychedelic comicbook sensibility, in color and black and white, some with funny captions. Some of the work is meant to elicit
through” explains Kelly. “I’ve got a couple thousand sitting in a cabinet collecting dust, so why not?” He reflects, “I started making fliers for my high school bands in the mid-’90s, so it really started out of necessity. Other people in bands started asking me to do fliers for their bands, which was nice and very flattering. I’d do the odd flier when I was living at Speak in Tongues, but I really started doing them constantly and, ahem, ‘professionally’ around 2000. My girlfriend at the time pushed me to try and do some fliers for the Grog Shop and the Beachland, and not wanting to let her down, I gave it a shot. Both venues said yes, and the rest is history.” Aside from fliers, Kelly is also well known for his large murals around
A HEAVY, HUMID WORLD THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER 16008 WATERLOO RD., 440-715-0603 GALLERYONESIXTY.ORG
laughter, but some of it is really gross and unpleasant. Some of it is somewhere in the middle.” Fliers: 2000-2015 is a collection of Kelly’s favorite fliers from the past 15 years. He started making fliers in high school and has made thousands since. “I’ve done so many fliers and they only see the light of day for a few weeks or a month at most, so I thought it’d be nice to have a few hundred bound together in a book that people could look
34
town, as well as his comic, The Lake Erie Monster, which he co-created with fellow Cleveland-based artist John Greiner (perhaps better known as John G.). He and John G. also co-founded Genghis Con, Cleveland’s annual small press and independent comics convention. The two have known each other for a long time. They attended Fairview High School together, and John G. helped Kelly create his new Fliers book. “I’m lucky enough to have the brilliant John G. as a friend and
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
A sample of Kelly’s illustrations.
artistic collaborator, and as my technical wizard,” Kelly says. “After I spent all day at the Cleveland Heights library scanning a giant stack of fliers, he stitched it together and helped design the cover. He’s the best!” A Heavy, Humid World includes 20 flier-sized drawings on paper, four larger drawings on paper (18-by-24 inches), two 42-by-48-inch paintings on wooden panels, two 48-by-96inch paintings on Eucarboard, the Fliers book and a collection of Kelly’s unique, hand-painted furniture. “In the show I have a few tables, a large bench, and a new thing I came up with: these ‘monsters’ painted on tables with painted globes for heads. These are the things you come up with when you have a house full of tables and globes,” Kelly quips. “I started painting on furniture a few years ago. I’d see these interesting tables at thrift stores and just decided to grab a few and see what would happen. There wasn’t a big risk because they were always pretty cheap. I started with these ’70s-era two-tiered tables and realized I could do these interesting two-panel comic narratives, tell a tiny part of some creepy little story.” With just 100 copies of the book available, it is selling very quickly. Fear not, however, as Kelly promises
that if you want a copy, you’ll get a copy. “Low print runs with me are firstly a financial issue, but also no one wants their tomb to be made of unsold copies of their weird book,” jokes Kelly. “I try to print as many as I imagine might sell, then work from there. When John G. and I printed the first issue of The Lake Erie Monster, we did a low print run and had resigned ourselves to having unsold copies around for the rest of our lives. It was a pleasant surprise when we had to do a second printing, and certainly if the flier collection sells out and there are still people wanting, we can print more. A second edition is always possible, and if you want a copy, you will get a copy.” Stop by Gallery One Sixty this Friday to meet Kelly, see more of his work and grab your copy of his book. There’s plenty more to see throughout Collinwood’s historic Waterloo Arts District too. The exhibition remains on view through the end of October. Additional viewing hours are available Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. and during October’s Walk All Over Waterloo, set for Friday, Oct. 2.
jusmani@clevescene.com t@cleveland_scene
OH, THE PEOPLE YOU’LL MEET!
Courtesy Dobama Theatre
STAGE
The next few months promise lots of meet-ups with interesting characters By Christine Howey Look at that upholstery!
FROM NOW UNTIL CHRISTMAS, area theaters are trotting out shows studded with interesting characters who may reside in your memory for quite a while. So here’s a look at the shows coming at us, with an emphasis on the folks who will appear on the other side of the footlights. September: Aphra, Martha, Tito and Willy Aphra Behn was a 17th-century British female poet and playwright. In Or, an off-beat comedy by Liz Duffy Adams, Behn’s life — including her excursions as a spy for Charles II — is explored (opens Sept. 4, Dobama Theatre). Martha is one half of the disastrous couple that plays nasty games in Edward Albee’s classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (opens Sept. 18, Lakeland Community College). Tito, the opera singer nicknamed “Il Stupendo,” maybe for not-so-subtle reasons, is back in Ken Ludwig’s A Comedy of Tenors, a revisiting of some of the comical folks from his popular play Lend Me a Tenor (opens Sept. 5, Cleveland Play House). Willy carries the symbolically Beck Center, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-2540, beckcenter.org Blank Canvas Theatre, 78th Street Studios, West 78th St., 440-941-0458, blankcanvastheatre.com Cesear’s Forum, 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, cesearsforum.com Cleveland Play House, 1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, clevelandplayhouse.org Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave., 216-631-2727, cptonline.org convergence-continuum, 2438 Scranton Rd., 216-687-0074, convergence-continuum.org Dobama Theatre, 2340 Lee Rd.,
loaded surname of Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. This enduring staple of American theater features many other indelible characters (opens Sept. 18, Ensemble Theatre). Other memorable characters showing up in September are lead singer Effie in Dreamgirls (opens Sept. 18, Karamu House); Mary, the young orphan in The Secret Garden, a mystical, melodious musical based on the children’s classic (opens Sept. 25, Great Lakes Theater); former political prisoner Paulina in Death and the Maiden (opens Sept. 17, Mamai Theatre); and female ex-con Percy in the musical The Spitfire Grill (opens Sept. 18, Beck Center). October: Stan, Cheech, Edgar and The King Stan is just one of a number of people who are tangled up in their romantic underwear in The Happy Sad, a play about gay and straight sexual confusion ... with songs! (Opens Oct. 2, convergencecontinuum.) Cheech isn’t the other half of Chong, but a gangster with a savantlike ability to brilliantly revise play Cleveland Heights, 216-932-3396, dobama.org Ensemble Theatre, 2843 Washington Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-2930, ensembletheatrecle.org Great Lakes Theater, 2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, greatlakestheater.org Karamu, 2355 East 89th St., 216-795-7077, karamuhouse.org Lakeland Civic Theatre, Lakeland Community College Campus, 440-525-7034, lakelandcc.edu Mamai Theatre, 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, mamaitheatreco.org Theater Ninjas, 6706 Detroit Ave., theaterninjas.com
scripts in the backstage comedy Bullets Over Broadway (opens Oct. 6, Playhouse Square). Edgar is the name given to the half-boy, half-bat in the wacky Bat Boy, the Musical, a tuneful romp that has a taste for blood and gore (opens Oct. 16, Blank Canvas Theatre). The King is not Elvis, not Lebron, but the haunted regal presence in King Lear, the Shakespeare tragedy in which the head man in Britain tumbles into madness (opens Oct. 2, Great Lakes Theater). Other notable roles (and one place) appearing in shows opening in October include Betty Parris, the girl afflicted by “witches” in The Crucible (Oct. 10, Cleveland Play House); Dece, the conflicted African-American cop in Force Continuum (opens Oct. 30, Karamu House); Brandy, the selfdestructive clown in Tall Skinny Cruel Cruel Boys (opens Oct. 22, Theater Ninjas); Katharine Gerard, the mother of a young man who died of AIDS in Mothers and Sons (Oct. 9, Beck Center); and Auschwitz, the locus of the horrors in The Investigation by Peter Weiss (opens Oct. 16, Cesear’s Forum). November: Monty, Bob, Byron and the Loushes Monty is a cuddly serial killer who bumps off relatives to secure his family fortune in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (opens Nov. 3, Playhouse Square). Bob is the rags-to-riches title character in Bob: A Life in 5 Acts, which begins with his birth in a restroom stall in a White Castle restaurant (opens Nov. 20, convergence-continuum). Byron and his pal Ames are the aging fellows who make up the adversarial core of Ages of the Moon (opens Nov. 13, Ensemble Theatre).
The Loushes, Holly and Jolly, are back with a new exploration of potent cocktails, holiday songs and dick jokes in The Loush Sisters Love Dick’ns: Great Expectations (opens Nov. 27, Cleveland Public Theatre) Let’s not forget Ralphie, the kid who’s again trying to shoot his eye out in A Christmas Story (opens Nov. 27, Cleveland Play House). And then there’s old Ebenezer Scrooge, who spews his bile once more in A Christmas Carol (opens Nov. 28, Great Lakes Theater). December: Peter, Mary, Feefer and Reefer Peter is none other than Peter Pan in Peter and the Starcatcher, a prequel to the famous story about the boy who won’t grow up. This multiple Tony Award-winning play opens Dec. 4 at Dobama Theatre. Mary is floating around again via her aerodynamic bumbershoot in Mary Poppins (opens Dec. 4, Beck Center). Feefer is the single character in Feefer Rising, a play co-created and performed by Faye Hargate, telling a nuanced story of a girl’s sexual coming of age (opens Dec. 3, Cleveland Public Theatre). Reefer isn’t a character at all, but it rhymes with Feefer, so don’t harsh my mellow — which I’ve developed while thinking about Reefer Madness, a musical based on that infamous 1936 flick about the supposedly disastrous effects of puffing ganja (opens Dec. 4, Blank Canvas Theatre). And Langston Hughes will be represented again in Black Nativity at Karamu House, starting Dec. 4.
scene@clevescene.com t@christinehowey
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 35
HHHH Joe Neumaier,
INVITE YOU TO SPEND SOME TIME AT GRANDMA’S HOUSE Tuesday, September 8 7:30PM Cinemark Valley View
For your chance to win a pass to the screening, visit http://tinyurl.com/ TheVisitValleyView DUPLICATE ENTRIES WILL BE DELETED. One entry per name and email address. One pass per person. Each pass admits two. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Employees of all promotional partners and their agencies are not eligible. Entries must be received by 5pm on Sunday, September 6.
THE VISIT IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 11
EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS START FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
AKRON Regal Montrose CLEVELAND HEIGHTS Cleveland VALLEY VIEW Cinemark WESTLAKE Regal Crocker Movies Stadium 12 Cinemas Cedar Lee Theatre at Valley View & XD Park Stadium 16 & IMAX (844) 462-7342 #284 (440) 528-0355 (216) 447-8820 (844) 462-7342 #303
“BLINDINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND METICULOUSLY ASSEMBLED.” —JEANNETTE CATSOULIS
Cleveland Scene
“A MOVING TALE OF SUPER HUMAN PERSEVERANCE.”
Bold. Brilliant.WED Brutal. 09/02
—THE PLAYLIST
EXHILARATING. ALL.MSA.0902.CS AS MYSTERIOUS AS IT IS THRILLING. 4.42" X 2.63" 1/8PG
“
JL/JK ★★★★ #1
“BREATHTAKING.” —TOM KEOGH, THE SEATTLE TIMES
“SPECTACULAR! MERU WILL OPEN YOUR EYES.”
A definitive portrait of a man of contradictions.”
—KENNETH TURAN, LOS ANGELES TIMES
- INDIEWIRE
“A FASCINATING PORTRAIT.”
BELIEVE IN THE IMPOSSIBLE
- AMY NICHOLSON, THE VILLAGE VOICE
A FILM BY JIMMY CHIN AND ELIZABETH CHAI VASARHELYI
“A SATISFYINGLY DEEP DIVE INTO THE LIFE OF THE LATE APPLE CEO.”
merufilm.com
- JOHN ANDERSON, TIME
CLEVELAND SCENE WED: 9/2/15 4 COLOR 4.55” X 5.9 SS ALL.VST-P.0902.CLEVELANDSCENE
STARTS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4
GIBNEY IS CONVINCING ON EVERY FRONT.” “
2.13" X 4" WED 9/02 CLEVELAND SCENE DUE MON 9AM
- JOHN DEFORE, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Artist: Heather Emmett
© SOUTHPORT MUSIC BOX CORPORATION
HEIGHTS , CLEVELAND CEDAR LEE THEATRE 2163 Lee Road (440) 528-0355
AE: (circle one:) Angela Maria Josh
(circle one:)
Steve
Staci
Tim
Ronnie
Jane Deadline:
Confirmation #:
®
FROM ACADEMY AWARD WINNER ALEX GIBNEY DIRECTOR OF
GOING CLEAR: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF BELIEF
STEVE
NEVER MISS A BEAT WITH SCENE PODCASTS
JOBS THE MAN IN THE MACHINE
SOME LANGUAGE
STARTS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS CEDAR LEE THEATRE 2163 Lee Road (440) 528-0355
We’re hiring. CHECK OUT OPENINGS AT CLEVESCENE.COM
MAGPICTURES.COM/STEVEJOBSTHEMANINTHEMACHINE
36
SCENE
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
2.13” x 7" WED 9/02 CLEVELAND SCENE
ART APP AE APP CLIENT APP
MOVIES
in theaters
ROTTEN APPLE
Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine exposes company’s dark side By Jeff Niesel APPLE FOUNDER STEVE JOBS had a way of convincing people that they need the latest technology and that they couldn’t live without it. In press conferences announcing new products, he could barely control his enthusiasm. A ruthless businessman, he turned Apple into one of the most successful corporations in the world. With Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, a new documentary about Jobs and Apple that opens on Friday at the Cedar Lee Theatre, director Alex Gibney (Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief) takes a hard look at the man’s legacy. Gibney, who also narrates the movies, can’t help but editorialize as he exposes the ways in which Jobs & Co. often circumvented laws and morals to maximize profits. The film opens with Jobs’ death. We see news reports about how people responded to his passing,
and we see respected figures such as Al Gore talk about Jobs as “the one and only person in the world who could create technology products that people love.” Gibney, however, interrupts the eulogy to tell us that he could be “ruthless and cruel” behind the scenes. Gibney traces how Jobs and friend Steve Wozniak started working with blue boxes, a way to fool the phone system so you could call anywhere in the world for free. Then, in the early ’70s, Jobs worked for Atari where he enlisted Wozniak to help him build the game Breakout. With Apple, which he founded with Wozniak, he started to take on the giants, specifically IBM. We see the Superbowl ad from 1984 for the MacIntosh, which launched the concept of the personal computer as a form of empowerment. And yet, as Apple ascended, Jobs’ personal life was in turmoil. Michael Moritz, the former Time reporter
who broke the story about Jobs’ daughter Lisa, talks about Chrisann Brennan, and we hear from her how the two first met. “He had a lot going on inside him,” she says as she recalls telling him that she was pregnant and seeing him simply run out the door. Gibney tells us that after a paternity lawsuit, Jobs agreed to give her $500 a month at a time when he was making millions. The greed didn’t stop there, either. Gibney goes to China where we see crappy working conditions. The suicide rate is so high at the factory that Apple installs nets to prevent workers from jumping out of windows to their deaths. And we learn about various investigations into backdating stocks and tax evasion. It’s not a pretty picture.
SPOTLIGHT: A WALK IN THE WOODS ELDERLY ACTING DUO ROBERT Redford and Nick Nolte team up for a lightweight comedy based on the best-selling travelogue by Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods. Now showing areawide, the film should be a godsend to activity coordinators at regional nursing homes. Bill Bryson (Redford) is feeling restless after a few years without publishing a book. To make matters worse, his friends and neighbors are dying off. The signposts of mortality and complacency (signified, here, by grandchildren and a Volvo) have inspired America’s travel laureate to do something. Why not the Appalachian Trail? It’s only the 2,000-mile trek from Georgia to Maine that even young bucks in peak physical shape rarely have the stamina (and endless material resources) to complete. The headstrong Bryson commits to tackling the trail regardless, protests of his wife (Emma Thompson) be damned! He does consent to bring a pal along — articles about bear
maulings and trailside terrors, courtesy of Mrs. Bryson, have prompted that caveat — and after just about everyone in Bryson’s Rolodex laughs in his face, a hometown chum named Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte) volunteers his companionship. The film, then, follows the two older buddies as they gripe and grumble along the trail about aging and women and where their friendship went astray. They struggle with weather, lodging and supplies. But mostly, as the film suggests, they walk. Nolte, in spite of a very silly script, commands the screen as the gruff, down-home sidekick. His voice is gnarled and wheezy, his body warped and achy, his backpack loose and freighted with symbolic bourbon. Every time he talks — “There are only two men in the world that would sleep with her,” he says of a hefty local at a laundromat, “and here we are in the same damn town!” — you sort of marvel that he’s standing upright. Still, after Nolte’s
indelible turn as the violent father in 2011’s Warrior, every performance feels like an aftershock. Likewise with Redford, after his virtuoso solo act in 2013’s All is Lost. Here, he’s stale and staid, charmless next to both Thompson and Nolte. He’s so much the straight man that he can’t even rouse himself to laugh at the travails of his ridiculous comrade. The viewing audience will probably smile, but the laughs (when and if they come) will be low-grade chucklers. Which isn’t to say that the film is wholly unenjoyable. Director Ken Kwapis (The Office finale, He’s Just Not That Into You, Big Miracle) gives the Appalachian Trail itself a few moments to shine — the vistas are spectacular — and lets his white-haired leading men take the reins. It’s not as funny as the book, nor anywhere near as good as last month’s other film featuring two guys talking to each other (The End of the Tour), but if you’re a senior citizen or a hiking enthusiast, you could do a lot worse. — Sam Allard
In the end, Gibney presents a damning portrait of the man who’s often portrayed as a hero. The evidence is convincing, though we could have done without Gibney’s voiceover. The testimonials from friends and ex-coworkers provide sufficient proof that Jobs’ public persona clashed with his private one. Having Gibney tell us so isn’t necessary.
ALSO OPENING
Dragon Blade Jackie Chan, John Cusack and Adrien Brody star in this period piece about the battle over the Silk Road in China. A huge hit in its native China, the film cost a whopping $65 million to make. It opens on Friday at Tower City Cinemas.
Mistress America Writer-director Noah Baumbach helms this movie about a college freshman (Lola Kirke) and her soon-to-be-stepsister (Greta Gerwig) who helps her spread her wings in New York. It opens at the Cedar Lee Theatre on Friday.
The Transporter Refueled The fourth film in the Transporter franchise, The Transporter Refueled features a new cast as Ed Skrein has replaced action star Jason Statham as lead character Frank Martin. The movie opens areawide on Friday.
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 37
OHIO STATE AT VIRGINIA TECH Monday, September 7 at 8:00pm $5.50 Pitchers
CATCH ALL THE ACTION THIS SEASON! $5.50 Pitcher Specials During All Games
ROLL TRIBE!
$5.50 PITCHERS During All Games
HAPPY HOUR! Every Day Until 7pm Thursday:
BROWNS at BEARS 8pm Nathan Henry Saturday : Chris Purdy
Friday:
TUESDAY
HAPPY HOUR ALL DAY!
$4 SAM ADAMS DAILY FOOD SPECIALS TALL KONIG $5 FULL PATIO BAR
WING NIGHT WEDNESDAYS
50¢ Jumbo Wings
60 VARIETIES OF BEER, LIVE BANDS, CLEVELAND’S TOP DJ’s & 14 T.V.’s
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT | NO COVER THU 9/3 BROWNS AT BEARS | 8:00PM KICKOFF FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS! FRI 9/4 PIG ROAST (ON PATIO) MUSIC BY: EASY LISTENING 7PM MON 9/7 OHIO STATE AT VIRGINIA TECH 8:00PM KICKOFF | FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS! FRI 9/11 THOSE ABOUT TO DOCK SAT 9/12 THE BREAKFAST CLUB SAT 9/26 CLAM BAKE | MUSIC BY: 303 BAND
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH
THE BREAKFAST CLUB
Join Our VIP Text Club Text: Brewhouse to: 77948 6395 Pearl Rd Parma Hts | (440) 345-5815 | brewhousecleveland.com
38
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
EAT BUMPER CROP
A look at the two new spots Steve Schimoler opened in the Flats this week By Douglas Trattner
Crop Rocks
I’ve ever done,” says the chef-owner. “You don’t get two chances to get it right.” Roll-up windows turn the inside bar into an outside bar, where diners can grab an alfresco stool feet from the Cuyahoga River and dig into Schimoler’s playful take on “stoner food.” “We had a lot of fun with this menu, obviously,” he says with a grin. Start with some Friend of the
comfort classics like meatloaf and mashers, chicken and waffles, and a whole host of sandwiches. Next door, in the slightly smaller and more intimate Crop Sticks, modern takes on Asian cuisine are what’s for dinner. In place of walls covered with signed gold records are gold-threaded scrolls imported from the Far East. “My goal is to be the best Asianinfluenced restaurant in the city,”
Photo by Emanuel Wallace
WITH LESS THAN AN HOUR to go before the first guests start trickling in, Steve Schimoler is working his way from one end of the property to the other, which is a considerable amount of distance to cover given the scope of the project. On one end is Crop Sticks, a contemporary Asian bistro. On the opposite end is On-Air, a multi-media venue. And sandwiched in between is Crop Rocks, a rock-and-roll themed casual American restaurant. The two restaurants, the latest flush of new life in the Flats East Bank, opened their doors for dinner on Monday, August 31. The studio space will follow a few weeks down the road. “I’ve been pulling 30-hour days, if that’s possible,” Schimoler, clad in an electric-colored tie-dye T-shirt, says. Still, his enthusiasm for the project belies his work-induced exhaustion. As we begin exploring the cavernous spaces, which are falling into place right before our eyes, it’s easy to see why. From the wall of albums — 20,000 plucked from former Rock Hall president Terry Stewart’s private collection — to the cartoonishly outsized WMMS transistor radio, the eclectic interior is like a trippy stroll through rock and roll history. Besides the museum-like collection of rock memorabilia that plasters the walls, Crop Rock’s second most impressive feature is the glassed-in DJ booth, from which celebrity hosts like Stewart or Alan Cox will spin the soundtrack for dinner. It boasts a top-of-the-line sound system that fills the space with concert-quality audio courtesy of Altec Lansing Voice of the Theatre loudspeakers. Take a seat at the Crop Rocks bar and you’ll spot some of classic rock’s finest album covers, all entombed beneath a quarter-inch of crystal clear resin. The conversation-starting bartop stretches for 50 feet, with colorful KISS and Grateful Dead albums snuggling up to covers from Billy Joel and the Beatles. “It was the most freaked-out project
Crop Sticks
CROP ROCKS • CROP STICKS 1075 OLD RIVER RD., 216-696-2767
Devil-ed Eggs or Hell in the Bucket spicy fried chicken wings. We Built This City Chicken is a city chicken (aka pork) poutine with fries, gravy and cheese. The main dishes run from a platter of Phish and Chips (exactly like it sounds) on up to a bucket of King crab legs. In between are updated
Schimoler says The menu, like its sister eatery’s next door, has been in the R&D phase for the past year at Crop Kitchen, which has run many of the items as specials. Updated versions of egg rolls and pork-filled potstickers join fried-oyster steam buns and wasabi
deviled eggs in the starter category. For the main event there’s pad Thai, Crop pho, and a beef udon noodle bowl. Large plate options include Chinesespiced spare ribs with veggie fried rice, Korean-style short ribs with coconut steamed rice, and crispy basil duck with grilled bok choy. There’s even a concise roster of nigiri and rolled sushi, all prepared inhouse by chef Vince Griffith, who has worked at fine restaurants like Charlie Trotter and Greenhouse Tavern. Griffith’s style is the yin to Matt Anderson’s yang over at Crop Kitchen, where tradition, not innovation is the name of the game. One such “out there” example at Crop Sticks is a surf-and-turf roll filled with ribeye and lobster. While both Crop Rocks and Crop Sticks went live Monday night, On-Air will debut a few weeks down the road. The flexible 250-person venue can be used for everything from concerts and comedy to theater and fashion shows, all of it wired to stream real-time high-def video and sound to the World Wide Web. The 7,000-square-foot space features its own bar, stage, green room and fully equipped banquet and catering kitchen. Neither restaurant is easy to miss, located on the ground floor of the glitzy new Flats East Bank apartment building. But if you do need a helpful marker, just look for the baby blue VW bus, which is permanently parked directly out front. Look for both restaurants to begin lunch service in a few weeks.
dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 39
EAT SCENE’s
BEST SUSHI SUS SUSH HI HI in Cleveland 2014
ROCK THE CORE
Regional cider fest comes to Cleveland
THE (FOR CUBAN PIZZA A LIMITED TIME) Mustard Base with Mozzarella Cheese, Ham, Pulled Pork, Swiss Cheese, and Sliced Kosher Dill Pickles with a house-made Mojo Sauce
THE
CUBAN PIZZA
40
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
By Nikki Delamotte HARD CIDER, ONCE THE prevailing nectar of colonial days past, is having a renaissance. Though it was knocked off the radar in the mid-19th century, the recent interest in craft beer has taken artisanal cider along for the ride. And for hyper-local aficionados, there’s no lack of appeal when it comes to regional varieties of apples influencing flavors from batch to batch. Ohio is one of the nation’s top 10 apple producing states, so it’s no surprise a traveling cider-themed party like Rock the Core will land in Cleveland. On Sept. 12, Washington D.C. event group Drink the District (drinkthedistrict.com) brings its newest iteration of day drinking to Voinovich Park for two tasting sessions (1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.). The group has traveled around the country for the past four years showcasing craft brews from assorted cities, often taking Cleveland’s Great Lakes Brewing Company on the road. “It was a no-brainer to bring our first event to Cleveland,” says cofounder Steuart Martens. “The Ohio cider scene is exploding, and in other cities and in our home market in D.C., Ohio beers have been doing really well.” Attendees will be able to sample more than 30 ciders, including plenty of locals. Keys on Main, a Seattle dueling pianos band, will liven things up and food trucks like Cleveland’s Betty’s Bomb Ass Burgers, Barrio and Stuff Yourself will be on the grounds. Tickets are $35 in advance and $50 at the door. Promo code “RockIt” gets you a $10 discount. For beer drinkers, it’s a state-wide affair, with Akron’s Thirsty Dog, Cincinnati’s Rivertown Brewing
Company, Columbus’ Four String Brewing Co. and our own Buckeye Brewing Co. represented. Expect to see plenty of small batch ciders fresh-brewed from Ohio apples, like Columbus-based Mad Moon Craft Cidery, which has flavors like the county fair-inspired Unglued Caramel Apple. Redhead Ciderhouse brings its beverage from Berlin Heights, where apples are pressed, fermented and packaged on site at Burnham Orchards. Kentucky Pete’s will make the haul from Cincinnati to bring a cask apple cider and cherry cider aged in bourbon barrels. “Cider’s making a really big comeback nationwide; there’s an allure to it,” Martens says. “It has a lot of history and tradition in this country that I don’t think a lot of people know about. This is one of the ways we can share that.” Most recognizable to the Cleveland crowd will be Griffin Cider Works (griffinciderworks.com). Richard Read, who had been brewing since he was 14 in his native British countryside, longed for the cider back home and founded his company in 2010. Recently, he opened Lakewood’s Griffin Cider House. “The popularity of cider all goes hand in hand with the farm-toplate following,” says Read. “More and more people are conscious of where things are coming from. We care very much now about our local economies and a lot of people are paying attention to this and discovering all kinds of new foods and drinks, too.”
scene@clevescene.com t@cleveland_scene
HOURS: Tues-Sun 11:30am- 9:30pm Closed Monday
FEATURING VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE, SEAFOOD & VEGETARIAN DISHES
NOW OPEN!
15621 Madison Ave Lakewood, Ohio
Serving Authentic Sountern Indian Cusine
216-792-6996
14412 Detroit Ave. Lakewood 216.221.4800 namasteindiagarden.com
Serving Lunch Menu | 11:30am-3:00pm
tomorispizzandsubs.com
CHECK OUT OUR NEW MENU
OPEN LABOR DAY
1 56
4. 22 3
3
7AM - 2AM
W
.B
AG L
EY
ROA D, BEREA, OH
3 0.2 44 • 7 4401
happy hour
private parties
live DJ’s
m-f 4-8
2nd floor
f-sa 10-2
late kitchen m-th 12am f-sa 1am
15% Student diScount with college id Beer & wine Available Sunday Brunch 9am - 2pm
1307 Auburn Ave | Tremont | 216.589.9112
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 41
Sit down with your guests. Advertise with SCENE. Call 216-241-7550 for more information.
Indian Street Food Available In Cleveland! Serving Lunch & Dinner Seven Days a Week
( 216) 331-4598 | 20 4 4 E U C LI D AVE . C LE VE L A N D , OH 4 4115
THE BACK PAGE
IS BACK!
RATES START AT $75 & UP
• LIVE MUSIC •
216.802.7229
• FRIDAY •
DANCE & KARAOKE w/DJ DAGOTTI 9pm
• SATURDAY • GRUNGE DNA 9/5 BURNT RIVER BAND 9/12 • SUNDAY •
• THURSDAYS •
Jam Night
WITH
BUTCH ARMSTRONG & THE TOWER CITY BLUES BAND
THIS SAT. 9/5 5th ANNIVERSARY PARTY! WITH GRUNGE DNA
Sunday Afternoon Acoustic Show Starts at 5pm
BLUE COLLAR BAND 9/6 LABOR DAY PARTY!
ACOUSTIC ARTFORM ACOUSTIC JAM 9/13 • WEDNESDAY •
TRIVIA NIGHT WITH ‘THREE ROADS TRIVIA’
5455 STATE RD • PARMA, OH • 216.741.7200 • www.GrillersPub.com 42
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
OUR AUDIENCE.
ALL EYES ON YOU. ADVERTISE WITH SCENE 216-241-7550
EAT GET SET FOR CLEVELAND BBQ THROWDOWN By Douglas Trattner PERHAPS WALTER HYDE IS BEING a tad theatrical with the title, but he is hoping that the First Annual World Famous Cleveland BBQ Throwdown does grow into something pretty spectacular. After all, you gotta start somewhere. “We want this to be a yearly event with lots of chefs involved, and maybe even add Cleveland breweries paired up with chefs, but thought we should start off small and build it up every year,” says Hyde, who along with partner Scott Slagle runs the weekend barbecue ops in the Sterle’s Bier Garden. That’s precisely where this meaty competition will take place from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12. The barbecue battle will pit Hyde and Slagle against Melissa Khoury and Penny Barend of Saucisson and Adam Lambert of Ohio City Provisions. Each chef will prepare one main dish and one side dish, each of which will be blindly judged by an “expert” panel as well as the allimportant Peoples’ Choice. For $35, ticketed guests will receive one platter containing each of the three mains and sides, along with one beer, lemonade, ice tea and snacks. There also will be a pickle bar and sauce bar on hand. Guests can purchase additional beers from the bar after the first freebie. Hyde knows that Cleveland gets a bad rap for its barbecue scene, something he and Slagle have been attempting to remedy since their Fat Casual days. But he also knows that the talent is out there. “This whole thing came about while talking to other chefs about BBQ and how, for most people, it’s Carolinastyle or Texas-style,” he says. “Why not show off Ohio-style BBQ?”
management estimates will take place within the next two months or so. During the day, the Plum will operate as a neighborhood café with counter service. Coffee and pastries in the morning will give way to fresh soups, salads and sandwiches at lunch. Come 4 p.m., the Plum will convert to a full-service, farm-to-table
bistro serving seasonal American food. The occupancy is being kept to an intimate 50 seats, including the 15 stools at the bar, which fosters more interaction between host and guest. Chef-partner Brett Sawyer, who for the past two years has worked at Trentina and Greenhouse Tavern, is creating a menu filled with bar-
friendly snacks, shared plates and family-size meals like whole pan-fried white bass. There will be options in every price point, along with plenty of vegan and vegetarian dishes.
dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner
Plum Kitchen Inches Closer to Opening Day We first told you about Plum Café and Kitchen (4133 Lorain Ave.) one year ago, after we chatted with owner Jonah Oryszak about his plans to build an affordable café and bistro in Ohio City. Since purchasing a 150-year-old building on Lorain Avenue, he and his partner Nate Lobas have been gutting and rebuilding the poorly cared for structure. Now, with much of the heavy lifting behind them, the team can look forward to opening day, which
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 43
$1 pints $5 mules YAN R B E LUK KET TIC WAY A E V I G EPT 4 Y FRIDA
ST E B E H T LIVES! BAND
S
HAPPY HOUR
till 8p
m DAI
LY
BOOK YOUR PARTY TODAY FOR FREE. BACHELORETTE, CORPORATE, BIRTHDAY OR ANY OCCASION.
GO TO TIMEWARPBAR.COM FOR RESERVATIONS FRI, SEPT 4
JUKEBOX HEROES
SAT, SEPT 5
DISCO INFERNO
FOOD TRUCK WARS! FOOD TRUCKS WANTED
FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS
WILL RECEIVE MARKETING IN:SCENE MAGAZINE, 100.7 FM & 92.3 FM OHIO’S BEST BAND’S FOLLOWINGS WILL JUDGE THE BEST TRUCKS. TRUCKS WILL SET UP IN FRONT OF TIME WARP EACH WEEK.
CONTACT timewarpbar@gmail.com IF INTERESTED. SLOTS FILLING UP FAST!! 44
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
EXPANDED PARKING NOW AVAILABLE 65 PARKING SPOTS BEHIND RED, WINE & BREW
LIVE MUSIC AT RED, WINE & BREW! FRIDAY NIGHTS IN 2ND FLOOR LOFT
Starting Friday, Sept. 18th • 7-10pm Visit website or Facebook for Event Calendar
MY FATHER CIGAR EVENT Saturday, September 12th • 1-4pm • Meet Michael From My Father • Chances To Win Prizes • Food & Beverages Available For Order
FREE ADMISSION! Reserve your spot today.
OKTOBERFEST!
State Liquor Agency Carrying a full line of spirits • World-Class Wine • Huge Craft Beer Selection • Premium Cigars (walk-in humidor)
Wednesday, September 23rd • 6-9pm • Four Beers Paired w/ Oktoberfest Style Food Kellerweis, Nooner Pilsner, Oktoberfest, Kolsch
Guest Speaker: LAIRDY LEE • Giveaways
$35 PER PERSON | $40 At the Door Tickets available at the front desk!
BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY NOW! Host your event in our second floor loft. • Can Accommodate Up To 98 Guests • Full Bar & Fireplace • Catering Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or Dinner
For questions or booking please contact us at 440-210-0024
26179 Detroit Road |Westlake, Oh 44145
440.892.7096
3,000 BEER CHOICES • 9,000 WINE CHOICES 1,000 CIGAR CHOICES • LOUNGE & RESTAURANT
finewinewestlake@hotmail.com magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 45
46
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
MUSIC (DO GO BACK TO) ROCKVILLE O.A.R. revisits its early days on its most recent album By Jeff Niesel ONE OF O.A.R.’S EARLIEST songs, “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker,” originally came out on the band’s 1997 album The Wanderer. With its twangy first half in which singer Marc Roberge sings in a bit of a drawl about how he’s “gotta throw it all down and kiss it goodbye,” the song continues to be a fan favorite that the group always plays live. But to hear drummer Chris Culos describe it, the song had a rather convoluted and complex origin. “The first part of the song came about because our singer Marc [Roberge] and I had done a highschool abroad program,” he says via phone from a Norfolk tour stop. “We went to Israel for three months. We learned all the history from biblical times to modern-day affairs. It’s cool because we’d learn about something in the classroom and then go to the site where it happened. This is at an age when you’re seeing a different civilization. We were gathering all these ideas but Marc at the time was like, ‘I’m only 16. I don’t have that much to write about that people will think is honest,’ so he started telling stories in different characters’ eyes and writing about how we can learn from the mistakes we made.” Culos says the “general vibe” of the song started to come together then. When the two returned to the States and started working on the song with their bandmates, it became the tune that fans have come to know and love. “When we came home, we wrote the second part of the song where it goes to more of a reggae part,” he says. “I remember we had written the chorus, and it was like an anthem. We went to a buddy’s studio. It wasn’t a high-end studio. It was in a guy’s basement. We wanted to record our first CD, but we didn’t have enough money to have a producer and do takes and takes. We set up as a band and played live and [Roberge] freestyled our lyrics to the second half of the song. He was scatting and came up with freestyle lyrics off the top of his head. It’s amazing because those lyrics came off the top of his head and then they spread all across the country. It’s an awesome story, looking back on it. It stuck, but it’s the beginning of the story. Marc can now tell different stories within the same song. That
kind of spirit started what people like about the band.” The band, which first formed in Rockville, Maryland, in 1996, would relocate to Columbus after all the members decided to attend Ohio State University. The group thrived on the frat party circuit and picked up sax man Jerry DePizzo, a native of Youngstown, along the way. “We met him orientation weekend,”
says Culos when asked about how he first met DePizzo. “Our singer Marc met him. He was one of the first people we met in the dorms. It was one of those lucky moments. We had gone to Ohio State with another buddy from ours who was playing with Jerry in a band called Ordinary Peoples. We would play together all the time. Jerry would play different instruments with that band and he would sit in with us
and play sax and it became a vital part of the show. We had Jerry join the band. It’s funny how that coincidence happened like that.” DePizzo’s sax riffs give the music an “island-y vibe.” “Going back to our influences with Paul Simon and Genesis and having the horn section in there, it’s great,” says Culos. “But it’s not too funky. We love listening to Tower of Power Photo by Josh Goleman
All that’s missing from this trophy room is a Grammy.
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 47
MUSIC but he brings that island-y vibe. We’re not a reggae band, but it adds a whole different melodic element. We have our guitarist skanking on the upbeat and that’s more of a reggae thing, but you have the vocal melody behind it and the bass line driving everything, so there’s an open area for the sax to come in and elevate the song. It gives us other stuff to play off.”
“Marc wanted to pay tribute to what it was like when we were 16 years old; each song is a tribute to that.” — Chris Culos On its latest album, last year’s The Rockville LP, the group tries to write the kind of summery songs that inspired it in the early days. Roberge teamed up with songwriter Nathan Chapman, a guy best known for his work with Taylor Swift. They wanted Chapman to produce the album, but because of scheduling, he wasn’t able to produce the entire thing. As a result, the guys started working on it with him in Nashville and then finished it up in Maryland. “Marc wanted to pay tribute to what it was like when we were 16 years old,” says Culos. “Each song is a tribute to that. One song is simply
production-wise than just an organic rootsy, acoustic guitar driven song. We’re really good at that, but we can do stuff in the studio and surprise people. It pushes us. I’m not trying to brag. We want to get better as songwriters and as a band. We want the shows to get better. Those are good challenges to take on.” The band returns to narrative songwriting with “The Architect,” a breezy, horn-driven tune that starts with a reference to an encounter with a presumably homeless man on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. “Well, I’m not going to get into lyrics so much because people can interpret it differently,” says Culos when asked about the song’s origins. “The story I like about it is that it’s on the album because the audience wanted it and would not stop talking about it. It’s one of the only songs that the audience has ever heard from the past. Maybe we played some of the songs prepping for the album. We’ve had songs that have been around for five, 10, 15 years. People have come to us and said we need to put it on a record. What a great thing to do if we’re doing a throwback. I want to say it was written in 2004. It’s old. We didn’t write it in high school but it’s been around for a while.” The current tour, which includes a stop at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, supports the new single “Two Hands Up” which the band recently performed on Good Day New York and Live with Kelly and Michael. Originally on The Rockville LP, it’s a song that Roberge recently reworked with singer-songwriter Cody Simpson and Coca-Cola so it could become the theme song to the 2015 Special Olympics, featured on ABC News.
O.A.R., ALLEN STONE, BRYNN ELLIOTT 6:45 P.M. FRIDAY, SEPT. 4, 2014 SYCAMORE ST., 216-622-6557. TICKETS: $37.50, LIVENATION.COM
about listening to our favorite songs, driving around with the windows down blasting music. We still do that to this day. It’s a love letter to Rockville.” With blaring saxophone riffs and anthemic vocals, “Favorite Song” has a great feel to it. “I think we wanted the music to match what the lyrics are,” says Culos when asked about the track. “That doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, the lyrics are darker than the music, but that was one of those that pays tribute to the songs you just blast. We wanted to have energy and a modern twist
48
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
Culos says the band has started to sketch out some tracks for the next studio album too. “We’re always writing and we’re working on new things at soundcheck,” he says. “We played a few new songs live. We have songs in the vault that are easy to bring out. If it’s the right one at the right time, we’re going to do that. We’re writing some fun new stuff and the direction of the new project will be happening sooner rather than later.”
jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel
FOLLOW
308 EUCLID AVE. CLEVELAND, OH 44114 216.523.BLUE Complete listing at houseofblues.com/cleveland
US:
@HOBCLEVELAND
SEPTEMBER 11
SEPTEMBER 13
SEPTEMBER 12
w/u.s. elevator
w/buffalo killers ro om
SEPTEMBER 3
w/wanted (bon jovi tribute)
w/28 north
ca m br id ge
kiss tribute
w/lady lamb
SEPTEMBER 15
ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN
SEPTEMBER 16
SEPTEMBER 17 AT MASONIC AUDITORIUM
w/great peacock
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 21
the knotty costume ball
in association with
w/Marc Scibilia, The Young Wild
SEPTEMBER 23
w/cody simpson
YOUNG THUG SEPTEMBER 25
S E P T E M B E R 24
SEPTEMBER 22
w/good old war
SEPTEMBER 26
SEPTEMBER 30
OCTOBER 8
DECEMBER 2
GRACE POTTER
COMING SOON
sept. 14 oct. 9 oct. 10 oct. 13 & 14 oct. 15 Oct. 18 OCT. 22 oct. 23 oct. 25 oct. 26 oct. 28
BUY TICKETS AT
OCTOBER 4
ca m br id ge
OCTOBER 2
ro om
in association with
w/rayland baxter
OCTOBER 7
melanie martinez cambridge room SOLD OUT mac miller w/godlink • domo genesis wish you were here-the sight & sound of pink floyd hanson adventure club Raheem DeVaughn w/Leela James NERO ap tour ft. mayday parade w/real friends • this wild life • as it is collective soul family force 5 cambridge room sts9
oct. nov. nov. nov.
29 2 3 7
nov. nov. nov. nov.
7 11 13 14
nov. 19
andy mineo yellowcard & new found glory w/tigers jaw somo w/jordan bratton • kirko bangz kip moore w/michael ray at the masonic auditorium blind guardian w/grave digger timeflies with kalin & myles mega 80s - the ultimate retro party New Politics & Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness w/The Griswolds, Lolo parkway drive
Buy Tickets at houseofblues.com
Order By Phone: 800.745.3000 • House of Blues Box Office magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
49
Photo by Cameron Wittig
MUSIC A KRISTIAN FOLLOWING ‘Life and breakups’ inspired the Tallest Man on Earth’s new album By Jeff Niesel
BORN IN DALARNA, SWEDEN, singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson, who performs under the stage name the Tallest Man on Earth, says his teenage years weren’t that much different from a typical American teen’s. “We enjoy American culture a lot in Sweden,” he says via phone from New York where he was visiting friends. “Growing up on the countryside where I grew up, there’s a history of Swedish folk music, traditional music and fiddle music. It’s always around. Living on the countryside, I was in a bunch of bands. You just find some dudes to play with and it’s inspiring when you have to figure things out for yourself.” A set of introspective songs characterized by Matsson’s quivering vocals, Dark Bird is Home features fragile songs that suggest early Dylan or the late, great Elliott Smith. Initially, Mattson learned to play the recorder in school. He then took up clarinet. But because his mother played guitar, he gravitated to the instrument. “Guitar was always around,” he says. “Of course, guitar is cooler [than clarinet]. I fooled around with that. It wasn’t until my teens that I got my hands on an electric guitar and then I went through a big David Bowie phase and loved Lou Reed and glam rock.” He discovered the music of Bob Dylan in a rather roundabout manner.
50
“My parents listened to him,” he says. “When I was around 10 or 11, I listened to lots of Guns N Roses and heard them do ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.’ Then I realized he wrote it. This guy’s brother had his greatest hits album with the purple cover. I immediately enjoyed it when I heard it.” On his first album, 2008’s Shallow Grave, Matsson tracked his guitar and vocals together. As a result, he has to really emote to be heard and his voice even sounds stretched thin on songs such as “I Won’t Be Found” and “Honey Won’t You Let Me In.” Matsson says that he no longer takes that approach to recording.
he says when asked about his approach on Dark Bird. “I had a bunch of songs. I was writing songs like crazy. Things were happening in my life. I had an engineer and co-producer who came to my place in Sweden. I live in the countryside. I have a barn I turned into a studio. He came there and we just tracked all these songs for two weeks. I had some friends come over to play some drums and some bass. Other than that, I was running around from instrument to instrument. It needed to be different this time. I needed to let all the energy free. I was constantly rewriting lyrics, so I wanted to go somewhere else to record vocals and mix it. We went to a
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH, LADY LAMB 7 P.M. THURSDAY, SEPT. 3, HOUSE OF BLUES, 308 EUCLID AVE., 216-523-2583. TICKETS: $25-$32.50, HOUSEOFBLUES.COM
“In the beginning, I played small tiny venues sometimes without a microphone at all,” he explains. “I played pretty loud guitar. My voice had to be louder than that. It became kind of harsh and loud. When I recorded, they were glued together. It has changed, playing bigger venues and being able to calm down a little.” He began recording Dark Bird is Home in Sweden but finished the process in the States (Matsson says he regularly travels back and forth between Sweden and the U.S.). “I didn’t have a plan or a concept,”
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
studio in Wisconsin and did the vocals there. There were musicians around in the studio so we ended up with saxophones and horns and strings.” It might not sound like it from the song title, but “Darkness of the Dream” is an upbeat, happy sounding song that you can imagine will become a vibrant sing-along when Matsson sings it live. “I am very happy with that song,” he says. “It’s one of my most cynical songs for sure. What inspired it is life and breakups. I’ve been through a few of them. But it’s also about the
feelings surrounding a breakup. They aren’t quiet. It definitely tells the story of asking, ‘What the hell? Is this ever going to be easy?’ It’s a little bitter. Making this album and the time that passed doing it was figuring out that you could see past it in your life. For the first time in my life I felt calm about it. Maybe that’s just growing up. These things are going to happen to you for the rest of your life. You just have to learn to deal with it.” For the upcoming show at House of Blues, which he says will be his first-ever appearance in Cleveland, he’ll be backed by a band. He says it’s essential that he have a band to play the new songs. “It’s four people and they’re multiinstrumentalists,” he says of his band. “They’re really talented people. Parts of the show I do solo. It’s a very dynamic show, if I do say so myself. All the songs I wrote on a guitar or piano, but with ‘Darkness of a Dream’ you want to play with a band.” The album just came out this year and Matsson says he’s focused on touring. But given that he had a year off prior to the album’s release, he says he’s got the energy for it. “I’m in good shape physically and mentally, so it’s pretty easy,” he says. “I haven’t thought about what the next step will be, but I am definitely still writing songs because I just can’t stop.”
jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 51
Photo by Jeff Niesel
MUSIC
VINYL SOLUTION Newly opened Hollow Bone Records in Fairlawn to offer a wide selection of records on wax By Jeff Niesel Jerrod Woll quit the day job to open Hollow Bone Records.
IT’S MID-AUGUST WHEN WE stop by Hollow Bone Records in Fairlawn (2721 West Market St.), the new record store that Jerrod Woll was putting the finishing touches on. Woll’s MacBook Air sits open on the counter. He scrolls through a series of photos taken by his friend, professional photographer Chris Felver; there’s a candid shot of country singer Willie Nelson and a picture of moody rocker Lou Reed, who has a big smile on his face. Woll selected a few of the images that Felver sent his way to be blown up into prints and framed. The artwork represents just one unique feature of the store, which opened this week. It will stock used and new vinyl and cater to the discriminating record collector. At 7 p.m. Friday, the Akron rock group Run Thomas Run will play an acoustic set at the store. Woll says he began thinking about opening a record store some 10 years ago. At the time, he was living in Chicago. He had a chance to buy Sound Booth, a record store that focused on jam bands and stocked Phish and Grateful Dead bootlegs. But he was working for the family business in the plastics industry and wasn’t ready for a change of pace. “I sometimes think I should have done that,” he says.
52
After moving back to the Akron area nine years ago, he continued to work for the family business. His father sold the business in 2013. He stuck with the business for about 18 months. “I wanted to give it a try and see what big business was like,” he says, adding that it’s taken him about a year to find the spot in the Fairlawn strip mall that would become Hollow Bone. It used to be a women’s accessory store that sold handbags and jewelry. “They were nice people but I didn’t want to look back and see that I spent 20 years peddling plastic. It just wasn’t for me.” Stocked with new and reissued vinyl releases from a wide range of acts (including the hip-hop act De La Soul and post-punk rockers the Replacements), the store’s bins are now nearly full. “I’ve been bringing vinyl in since the first of July,” he says. “It’s been so much fun to order records. This is all about the vinyl culture. The CD market is done. Everything has gone digital. When you buy a record now, they throw the CD in it for free. With almost every Black Keys album that you get on vinyl, the CD just comes with it. There’s something about opening up the vinyl album and reading the lyrics and liner notes and seeing who played on the album. It provides an education
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
about the music. Having an art background, I love the artwork.” He’ll also sell products made from recycled vinyl. He has sunglasses that are made from recycled vinyl and clocks made from old albums too. A guy in California makes the sunglasses and a man who lives in Lithuania makes the clocks. The sunglass cases are made out of old album covers. And he’ll have vinyl jewelry made by a New York-based artist for sale too. “I wanted to find unique products made out of vinyl that represent music culture,” he says. “I wanted to find products I don’t see in this area. I’ve been collecting music my whole life. I’ve been to record stores all around the country. If I traveled for work, I went to a record store. Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis is one of my favorites. Electric Fetus in Minneapolis — I like what they do.” He’s built a small stage at the back of the store so that national and local acts will be able to perform. “I want this to be a place where people can come in with an acoustic guitar and do a one-hour session on a Friday or Saturday night,” he says. “I like the idea of trying to get some open mics happening here once or twice a month. I want it to be a cool place to hang out. [Singer-songwriter] Frank Turner
is touring record stores this fall. If he came here and played, that would be a dream. That’s the kind of thing that I would love. My wife and I have seen so many cool shows, I love that idea of seeing something in an intimate setting. I used to go to a place the size of my store here and see [Wilco singer-guitarist] Jeff Tweedy playing acoustic guitar and harmonica. There’s something really cool about that.” The place will be wired for sound and for TV. A big fan of music documentaries, Woll says he hopes to show videos while the store is open. “I will sell DVDs, but they need to be music related,” he says. Woll says opening the small store will be a dream come true. “I turned in my laptop and cell phone yesterday and wrote on Facebook, ‘A new adventure begins,’” he says. “I’ll be honest. I couldn’t stop smiling. I think I’m smart enough to make this successful but you have to wake up in the morning and be excited about what you do. You have to follow your dreams and take some risks. And if you’re passionate about something like I am about music and records in general, why not take that risk?”
jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel
P O H S G THE GRO
HTS ELAND P D, CLEVO .GS V L O B H S S T G H ID GR 2785 EUCL 216.321.5588
FRI 9/4
CARLOS JONES & WED 9/9 SAT 9/5 THU 9/10 THE P .L.U.S. BAND OLD MAN GLOOM SWERVEDRIVER ALBERT HAMMOND JR JR Blessington & the Straight Fiyah Dearly Beloved Mare • Skin Effects Prinze George WED 9/2
MON 9/21 THU 10/15
CHELSEA WOLFE Wovenhand
MEG MYERS EAGLES OFJesika DEATHVonMETAL Rabbit Jarryd James
TUE 9/22 THU 9/3 6PM PACKY MALLEY PRESENTS WORKINGMAN’S REGGAE WITH Liam Tracy
FRI 10/16
CANNIBAL OX
THE ARK BAND
KYLESA Inter Arma
Rhyme x Reason matthewmaticus
Indian Handcrafts Irata
SUN 9/6
THU 9/24 MON 10/19
BRO DYLAN Root Bottle
AN EVENING WITH MANShilpa MAN Ray JEN KIRKMAN
Noon
SAT 9/12 6PM FRI 9/25
WED 10/21
TOSSERS HIPPO CAMPUS THE Ramshackle Army
MASKEDTheINTRUDER Copyrights
American Wrestlers Gallows Bound Diverge Craic
Not Scientists
SAT 9/26 FREE SHOW THU 10/22
SAT 9/12 10PM
GROG SHOP ANNIVERSARY!
PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG Yosemight
TOTAL BABES RELAXER
SUN 9/13
BLACK MILK LMNTL
SUN 9/27
SAT 10/24
ELECTRIC SIX KY-MANI Wildlife MARLEY Yip Deceiver Soundz
SAINTSENECA The Sidekicks Yowler
Public Squares
TUE 9/15
WEDNESDAY 9.2 MUG NIGHT = $2 PBR Mugs DJ Noah Peele + Guests THURSDAY 9.3 DUB SIDE SELECT 9PM World, Reggae, Dub, Dance INTERNATIONAL STUDENT NIGHT $1 off Drinks w Student ID Selectors: Broken Keys + A/V FRIDAY 9.4 THE MOST 90s NIGHT in CLE DJ NuEra + Noah Peele 9PM Throwback Jams on 90s Bread FREE PLAY FRIDAY! SATURDAY 9.5 WELCOME BACK PARTY 9PM Discounts w Student ID w GOODLIFE MIKE No Cover // 21+ SUNDAY 9.6 INDIE DANCE NIGHT Hot Indie Dance Hits 9PM DJ White Rims + DJ Asamoto MONDAY 9.7 GeekCLE presents: TRIVIA 7PM >> BREAKROOM Industry Club Night 11PM House, Techno, Underground Local Guest Bartenders! TUESDAY 9.8 LYRICAL RHYTHMS 7:30PM Open Mic | Live Band | Drink Specials WEDNESDAY 9.9 MUG NIGHT $2 PBR Mugs DJ Noah Peele + Guests SPECIAL EVENTS: FRI 9.18 INNATEK ft Joe Nice, TUCKER’S BDAY SAT 9.26 DEATHCLUB ft DJ Earl of TEKLIFE
OVER 30 CLASSIC ARCADE AND PINBALL MACHINES!
WED 9/30 TUE 10/27
THE THURSTON MOORE BAND members of SONIC YOUTH + MY BLOODY VALENTINE
2875 EUCLID HEIGHTS BLVD CLEVELAND HEIGHTS Happy Hour Every Day until 9 PM
TELEKENESIS BELLFURIES Jessica Lea Wilkes SAY HI Oldboy
THE GROG SHOP PRESENTS AT
BEACHLAND BALLROOM
By Light We Loom
COBRA VERDE
WED 9/16
SAT 10/3 BUILT TO SPILL CROSSS THE INTERNET Marcus Alan Ward
FRI 10/30
BIG K.R.I.T. TWO SHOWS
CLARKE AND THE HIMSELFS
7 & 11PM
THU 9/17
BEST COAST
with LOVELY BAD THINGS
SUN 10/4 SAT 11/14
FRI 9/18
H2O MARITIME Wedding Dress Angel Du$t
JOYCE MANOR Cheap Girls
Thu 9/17 FIT FOR RIVALS • Trusting Obscurity Thu 10/8 Street Smarts presents UNDERGROUND KINGZ Fri 10/9 JACOB MOON • Brent Kirby Sat 10/10 WANYAMA • Drunken Sunday Sat 10/31 BROCCOLI SAMURAI • Vibe & Direct Fri 11/6 DUVALBY BROS • Banging Fragiles • Tinko Sat 11/7 JONNY TWO BAGS • Scott H. Biram • Jesse Dalton Wed 11/11 JULY TALK • Little Hurricane Sat 11/13 WINDHAND • DANAVA • Monolord
SAT 9/19 SUN 10/11
PENTAGRAM MARMOZETS Turbowolf ELECTRIC CITIZEN
Twin Atomic Satan’s Satyrs
SKINNY LISTER Beans on Toast House of Wills
TICKETS TO GROG SHOP EVENTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH
WED 10/14
THE DODOS Stems
GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR STARS with GEOGRAPHER SAT 10/10
Lawton Brothers Give
Tracks (Jason Anderson)
SUN 9/20
TUE 9/22
www.ticketweb.com LOOP • MUSIC SAVES • MY MIND’S EYE • RECORD REVOLUTION ERIE ST. GUITARS • THE RECORD SHOP • SQUARE RECORDS Or just get ‘em from the club! Call 216.321.5588
THE GROG SHOP PRESENTS AT
HOUSE OF BLUES
FRI 10/2
RIDE
THE GROG SHOP PRESENTS AT
CLEVELAND MASONIC AUDITORIUM WED 12/9
SLEATER-KINNEY with WAXAHATCHEE
THE GROG SHOP PRESENTS AT
THE AGORA
WED 12/9
THE SWORD
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 53
54
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
LIVEWIRE
all the live music you should see this week Photo by Joe Kleon
WED
John Hiatt & the Combo/The Taj Mahal Trio: John Hiatt’s 2014 album Terms of My Surrender finds the singer-songwriter at the top of his game, etching on-therun narratives onto deft pickin’ and thunderous percussion work. He’s the rare songwriter who’s aged with an edge and takes that arc of life experience deep into his lyrical mindset. For tonight’s show, another veteran — bluesman Taj Mahal — serves as the opening act. A terrific double bill. (Eric Sandy) 7:30 p.m., $39.50-$57.50. House of Blues. Chelsea Wolfe/Wovenhand: Singersongwriter Chelsea Wolfe mixes hazy guitar sounds with dark and mysterious lyrics. On her latest album, Pain is Beauty, she uses a wide range of instrumentation. The violin is prominent on the song “House of Metal,” and she regularly experiments with the guitar. Indie rockers Wovehand, a band that features former 16 Horsepower singer-songwriter David Eugene Edwards, opens the show. (Alexandra Hintz) 8:30 p.m., $14 ADV, $16 DOS. Grog Shop. 10 X 3 Hosted by Brent Kirby (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge. Fuck the Facts/MDFL/FEDS/BALL DVAR: 8 p.m., $5. Now That’s Class. Joe Rollin Porter/Blues Chronicles/ Runaway Dorothy: 6 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern. La Luz: 9 p.m., $8. The Euclid Tavern. Mac Sabbath/Fuck You Pay Me/ Queen of Hell: 8:30 p.m., $15. Beachland Ballroom. Megan Nicole/Sammi Sanchez/Alex Angelo: 8 p.m., $15. House of Blues Cambridge Room. Manuel Valera Groove Square Quartet: 7 p.m., $20. Nighttown. Ken Vandermark & Paal NilssenLove Duo/Oblique Orchestra: 8:30 p.m., $15. Beachland Tavern.
THUR
Jacobs Pavilion. Possessed by Paul James/Josh “Wolfboy” Ryan/Teasebox: 9 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Beachland Tavern. Terrain/Anita Keys & Friends/ George Foley & Friends: 5:30 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern. World Beats with DJ Neil Chastain: 5 p.m., free. Music Box Supper Club.
09/02
09/03
Bad Boys Jam: 9 p.m., free. Brothers Lounge. Chris Hatton’s Musical Circus (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge. Sam Hooper Group: 8:30 p.m., free. Beachland Tavern. Motown Night with Moss Stanley & Nightbridge (in the Supper Club):
SAT
Country singer Luke Bryan, seen here performing at Blossom, headlines FirstEnergy Stadium. See: Saturday.
8 p.m., $7. Music Box Supper Club. Packy Malley Presents Working Man’s Reggae Show with the Ark Band: 7 p.m., $5. Grog Shop. Roots Rock with Cats on Holiday: 5 p.m. Music Box Supper Club. Shadow Kingdom Riot/Temple of Void/Coven/Iron Man/Venomous Maximus/Tombstalker/Night Magic: 5 p.m., $15. Agora Ballroom. Spyder Stompers/Red Brick Rhoades/ Jaime Mills: 6 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern. Tallest Man on Earth/Lady Lamb: 8 p.m., $25 ADV, $27 DOS. House of Blues. Witch Beam/Dead Peasant Insurance/Lost Head: 9 p.m., free. Now That’s Class.
FRI
09/04
Sinatra Night with Michael Sonata (in the Supper Club): Canton native Michael Sonata has always been involved in plays and choirs and was a member of the University of Notre Dame Glee Club. In 2004, he auditioned for a role in a Sopranos spoof that required a character based on Frank Sinatra. Sonata got the part and has been imitating Ol’ Blue Eyes ever since. He includes some 90 songs in his repertoire
and covers all eras, including the Columbia and Capitol years. He even takes requests. (Jeff Niesel) 8 p.m., $7. Music Box Supper Club. Aircraft/Field Trip/The Green Escalators: 9 p.m. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Heaven Is In You Party with A/V/ MAZ/Ghost Noises/ADAB: 9 p.m., $5. Now That’s Class. Hells Headbash Part 2 with Satanic Warmaster/Archgoat/Profanatica/ Midnight/Inquisition/Acid Witch/ Destruktor/Black Witchery/ Cianide/Deiphago/High Spirits/ Deceased/Blood Feast/Shitfucker/ Demonic Christ/Nyogthaeblisz/ Perdition Temple/Nocturna: 12 p.m., $50-$135. The Agora Theatre. Honey: 9 p.m., $5. The Euclid Tavern. Miss Alexandra Huntingdon: 8 p.m., $12. BLU Jazz+. Jivviden CD Release Party/Fever Child/Bad Hounds: 9 p.m., $7. Beachland Ballroom. Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band/ J.R. Blessington & the Straight Fiyah: 9 p.m., $10. Grog Shop. Dennis Lewin: 10:30 p.m., free. Nighttown. Madison Crawl (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge. Moutin Factory Quintet: 8:30 p.m., $20. Nighttown. O.A.R./Allen Stone/Brynn Elliott: 6:45 p.m., $37.50 ADV, $42 DOS.
09/05
Allison Bencar/Maura Rogers & the Bellows/Myth and Company: Cleveland native Allison Bencar, having tapped into the spirit of rock ’n’ roll at a young age, has always been a singer. Her most recent album, last year’s First Call, shows off a wide range of songwriting chops: the delicate/ angry strain of lost love in “Sorry,” the meandering melody of “Broken Porch,” the upbeat opener “First Call.” Throughout it all, Bencar distinguishes herself from other Americana singers, opting for depth and richness in even her simplest lines. “Karen Carpenter was actually huge for me. She made me feel good about having a low voice. As a little girl I felt like she sang with her whole heart,” she has said. (Sandy) 8 p.m., $5. Beachland Tavern. Kick Up the Dust Tour with Luke Bryan/Florida Georgia Line/Randy Houser/Dustin Lynch: Georgiaborn singer-songwriter Luke Bryan isn’t exactly a newcomer: His career dates back to the late 2000s. But he’s recently become one of country’s biggest superstars and his ability to pack some 20,000 fans into Blossom last year was a testimony to his success. At that show, he ran the length of the stage with all the stamina of the Energizer Bunny, tossing his wireless microphone in the air, catching the sticks his drummer threw his way and putting some exaggerated pelvic thrusts into his performance of “Country Man.” At one point, he even pantomimed hitting a home run. The current tour comes in the wake of Kill the Lights, an eclectic collection of party anthems (“Kick the Dust Up”) and pensive love songs (the pianoballad “Strip it Down”). (Niesel) 5:35 p.m., $49.75-$89.75. First Energy Stadium. 2nd Annual Hank Williams Birthday
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 55
LIVEWIRE Bash Hosted by Hillbilly Idol and Friends (in the Supper Club): 8 p.m., $7. Music Box Supper Club. DJ Parker: 9 p.m., free. Now That’s Class. Heavenly Creatures/Gypsyspyt/ Lonesome Ranger: 9 p.m., $5. The Euclid Tavern. Hells Headbash Part 2 with Satanic Warmaster/Archgoat/Profanatica/ Midnight/Inquisition/Acid Witch/ Destruktor/Black Witchery/ Cianide/Deiphago/High Spirits/ Deceased/Blood Feast/Shitfucker/ Demonic Christ/Nyogthaeblisz/ Perdition Temple/Nocturna: 12 p.m., $50-$135. The Agora Theatre. Bill Lestock/Hot Djang: 8 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern. Christine Marie (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge. Old Man Gloom/Mare/Skin Effects: 9 p.m., $12 ADV, $14 DOS. Grog Shop. Todd Rundgren with the Akron Symphony Orchestra: 8 p.m., $12$127. Akron Civic Theatre. Slightly Stoopid/Dirty Heads/The Expendables: 6:30 p.m., $29.50 ADV, $32 DOS. Jacobs Pavilion. The Vegas Player: Jimmy Mulidore Quintet with Richie Cole and Tomoko Ohno: 7 p.m., $35. BLU Jazz+. Warrant/Firehouse: 8 p.m., $32.60$98.11. Hard Rock Rocksino. Jackie Warren: 10:30 p.m., free. Nighttown.
1
Rollins Towing Service
216-322-1184 / 216-860-8372
A Year-Round Boutique Acting School For Adults & Children.
We Offer Classes In Film & Theater Acting. All Experience Levels Welcome.
TOP $$$$ PAID
50% off first 3 months tuition! that is $105 for 12 classes if you mention you saw this ad in scene magazine!
www.actinghouse.org 216-584-6822 or 866-706-2242
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE
BOP STOP @THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT August 7th & 8th 8pm Jazz Heritage Orchestra Tribute to Wendell Logan Featuring Vanessa Rubin
CHASING DREAMS:
CLEVELAND Shaolin Kung Fu Academy 216-282-4ZEN 4189 Pearl Rd. 44109
PAGE K C A B THE
HAPPY HOUR!
PIG & WHISKEY AUGUST 29-31 scenepigandwhiskey.com
••
NEEDS CLEVELAND A Free Store with a mission to serve the community, help the community and give back to the community. Call us today to arrange a pick-up. 216- 400-8213 7710 Lorain Avenue 44102
The Cleveland Stage Alliance presents... “Electric Mayhem: A Musical Tribute to Jim Henson.” August 29th 8pm BOP STOP Reserve tickets today! themusicsettlement.org
ROCK HALL 1/2 MARATHON
GUITAR REPAIR
Presented by Second Sole. Sunday August 23rd. REGISTER TODAY www.rockhallhalfmarathon.com
All makes/ models & vintage repairs. Fret levels, pickup rewinds, set-ups 216-496-0994 Be A Sales SuperStar at
You are: experienced & have a full e-Rolodex. You’re committed to being the best. You’re up for a challenge and aren’t easily deterred.
oWOW is Cleveland’s Timeless Rock Music Station, playing the greatest music of the past and present.
If you’re the one, convince us; send resume & cover letter to: awesomejobs@owownow.com.
magazine | clevescene.com | August 5 - 11, 2015
E
Digital is the Future / The Future Is Now
oWOW seeks two Radio/Digital salespeople.
E CE S
TH
PRIN
Z.
..
CONSIGNMENT FURNITURE
Find yours today with our happy hour app. Available in the App Store & Google Play clevescene.com/happyhours
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
ST RATES 216.802.7229
GONZO* FOZZY* ROWLF
Northeast Ohio’s #1 Restoration Destination 2 Locations: Westside 30,000sqft Warehouse Eastside 16,000sqft Showroom 216-429-3631 (Donation Hotline)
! K C A IS BART AT $75 & UP
Baseball & Becoming American Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage 2929 Richmond Rd. 216-593-0575
72 56
SUN
JUNK CARS, TRUCKS, VANS, RV’S, SUV’S & BATTERY’S
“ Summertime brings to mind tye-dye, HUGE selection @ the Prince of Patchouli”
•Tobacco Pipes •Accessories •Detox Products •60’s memorabilia •Aromatherapy •Candles • Incense •Clothing • Posters & so much more
PRINCE OF PATCHOULI 2151 Broadview Rd, Cleveland • 216-799-9295
MON-FRI 10AM-8PM • SAT-SUN 10AM-6PM
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
09/06
Thee Oh Sees/The Blind Shake/ GoldMINES: Anchored by wideranging stylistic influences, San Francisco’s Thee Oh Sees have been maintaining firm footing on the gas pedal of psychedelia for years Rooted in punk, their music reminds listeners that all forward motion is progress and that there are always new sounds to discover. Back in May, the band released Mutilator Defeated at Last, their ninth album as Thee Oh Sees, and their 14th studio album overall. It’s a fast-moving sea of styles, frantic and engaging. Opener “Web,” like many songs here, hangs on Timothy Hellman’s groovy bass line, dodging manic blows from vocalist and guitarist John Dwyer. The band is touring with two drummers this year — Ryan Moutinho and Dan Rincon — which will keep that in-studio intensity high onstage. (Sandy) 8:30 p.m., $15 ADV, $17
DOS. Beachland Ballroom. Austin Walkin’ Cane & the Revolution Brass Band (in the Supper Club): 8 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Music Box Supper Club. Bog Trotters: 6 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern. Bro Dylan/Noon: 8:30 p.m., $5. Grog Shop. The Broadside of the Barn: 10th Anniversary Concert Featuring Mary Bridget Davies/Evelyn Wright/Becky Boyd/Jackie Warren/ Ki Allen/Caylen Bryant/Tracy Marie/Luca Mundaca/Emily Keener/Megan Constantine: 7:30 p.m., $25. Music Box Supper Club. Hells Headbash Part 2 with Satanic Warmaster/Archgoat/Profanatica/ Midnight/Inquisition/Acid Witch/ Destruktor/Black Witchery/ Cianide/Deiphago/High Spirits/ Deceased/Blood Feast/Shitfucker/ Demonic Christ/Nyogthaeblisz/ Perdition Temple/Nocturna: 12 p.m., $50-$135. The Agora Theatre. Irish Sundays Featuring the Portersharks: 3 p.m., free. Music Box Supper Club. Murderedman/Queen of Hell/Fertile the Drip: 9 p.m., $5. Happy Dog. Noise Lunch: 4 p.m., free. Now That’s Class. Mike Petrone (in the Wine Bar): 5:30 p.m. Brothers Lounge. Todd Rundgren with the Akron Symphony Orchestra: 8 p.m., $12$127. Akron Civic Theatre.
MON
09/07
Taylor Caniff: 5 p.m., $20. Agora Ballroom. Virgil Donati Band: 7 p.m., $25. Nighttown. George Foley & Friends/Deprator and Kearns: 8:30 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern. Schnauzer/Nekrodrunkz: 4 p.m., free. Now That’s Class. White Kyle: 9 p.m. Mahall’s 20 Lanes.
TUE
09/08
2 Set Tuesday with Jerry Popiel: 7 p.m. Brothers Lounge. Black and Broke/BJSR/Dave Zup: 7:30 p.m., $5. Beachland Tavern. Jackson Browne: 7:30 p.m., $33.50$76. Jacobs Pavilion. Bob Corlett/Little Steve-O/Sofia Talvik: 7 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern. Mushroomhead/Hed PE/Scare Don’t Fear/Unsaid Fate: 6 p.m., $22 ADV, $26 DOS. The Agora Theatre.
scene@clevescene.com t@cleveland_scene
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF PERFORMANCES AND SHOWTIMES, VISIT HRRNP.COM.
OHIO’S AWARD-WINNING GAMING, DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION
WITH SPECIAL GUEST FIREHOUSE
SEPTEMBER 5
SEPTEMBER 11
SEPTEMBER 17
SEPTEMBER 18
SEPTEMBER 19
SEPTEMBER 20
PRESENTS
Rockin, Country Nights SEPTEMBER 3 • 7PM
ll stile! s t ke ab ticavail
SEPTEMBER 4 - 6
SEPTEMBER 11 - 13
featuring Buckshot
featuring Travis Howze
featuring Will Jacobs
Live country music, DJ and line dancing instructors! FREE ADMISSION!
As seen on Last Comic Standing, Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, Chelsea Lately, The Late Late Show, MTV, VH1, TruTV, CBS, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon
As seen on Fox and Comedy Central, Frankie has been touring professionally across the country since 1990.
ROCKIN’ COUNTRY NIGHTS
ADAM HUNTER
FRANKIE PAUL
TICKETS AVAILABLE ON TICKETMASTER.COM AND AT THE ROCKSINO BOX OFFICE, OPEN DAILY FROM 1PM - 9PM. 10777 NORTHFIELD ROAD | NORTHFIELD, OHIO 44067 | HRRNP.COM | 330.908.7625 ALL SHOWS 21 & OVER
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. FOR FREE, CONFIDENTIAL HELP 24/7, CALL THE OHIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE AT 1.800.598.9966
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 57
Photo by Amanda McCarver
BAND OF THE WEEK
SLIGHTLY STOOPID By Jeff Niesel MEET THE BAND: Miles Doughty (vocals, bass, guitar), Kyle McDonald (guitar, bass, vocals), Ryan “Rymo” Moran (drums), Oguer “OG” Ocon (percussion), Daniel “Dela” Delacruz (saxophone), Paul Wolstencroft (keyboards), Andy Geib (trumpet, trombone) and Karl Denson (saxophone) BORN IN O.B.: The band formed in Ocean Beach, California in 1994. Doughty started the group when he was still in high school. He says watching old-school Motley Crue videos made him want to form a group. Bradley Nowell from Sublime then “discovered” the band and signed them to his Skunk Records; they’ve steadily recorded and toured ever since. “[Nowell] took us under his wing and let us record the first couple of records for his label,” says Doughty via phone from a Dallas tour stop. “It’s cool that someone you looked up to would take a chance on us. They showed us a lot in terms of recording. We’ll be forever grateful. We met him at a club they played at and got him to come back to the pad where we had this recording equipment. We started jamming and became friends.” A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING: The band has always played a wide range of music. “We play reggae, hip-hop, blues, funk, metal, whatever,” says Doughty. “You can’t really classify the band in any sort of genre. There’s something for everybody at a Slightly Stoopid show. With every record, there’s growth.” WHY YOU SHOULD HEAR THEM: The band’s new album, Meanwhile…
58
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
Back At the Lab, commences with the jazzy “Dabbington” and then embraces everything from funk to punk. “The Prophet,” a song that Doughty wrote years ago with the late Nowell, could even pass as a Sublime tune as it mixes reggae, pop and rock. “It’s just a song written back in the day,” says Doughty when asked about the track. “It’s about the struggles you see in the world growing up in the middle lower class and looking for a brighter future. It changed a little bit as we recorded for the new album. It changed to the times of how we are and where we are in our lives. A lot of the verses stayed the same. The song speaks for itself. It’s a basic story about life and what it is. I was playing acoustic guitar on my couch and that chorus came up. I never got to finish recording the track and I thought it was time to finish it.” The song’s music video includes cameos from the band’s influences and friends, including G-Love, Cypress Hill’s B-Real and Sen Dog, Don Carlos, Fishbone’s Angelo Moore, Sublime/Long Beach Dub Allstars’ Marshall Goodman, tattoo artist Opie Ortiz and MMA athlete Nate Diaz.
WHERE YOU CAN HEAR THEM: slightlystoopid.com WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM: Slightly Stoopid performs with Dirty Heads and the Expendables at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica.
jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 59
HAPPY HOUR
C-NOTES local music news
M-F • 3-7PM & ALL DAY SUN $1 OFF ALL DRINKS
Photo courtesy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
11609 DETROIT AVE CLEVELAND 216.226.2767 | brotherslounge.com LIKE US:
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Thurs. Sept 3
RAT PACK
CHECK OUT OUR MENU! ‘BEST OF THE WEST’ WINNER! STARTING MONDAY 9/14
SKATCH ANDERSSEN ORCHESTRA (BIG BAND JAZZ)
FRI 9/4 • 9:30
7:00-10:00 pm Fri. September 4
COLIN DUSSAULT
SHOCKWAVE
BLUES PROJECT
Motown Band 9:00 pm
Patrons at the Rock Hall check out a guitar display case.
STEVEN SAYS Rock Hall documentary to premiere Sept. 4 By Jeff Niesel
SAT 9/5 • 10:00
CARLOS JONES
& THE P.L.U.S. BAND FRI 9/11 • 9:30
THE OLD No. 7 BAND SAT 9/12 • 9:30
THAT ‘80s BAND
Sat. September 5
LABOR DAY CELEBRATION hosted by
GABY GUEZZ! Music by DJ XCLUSIVE 9:00pm
Fri., September 11
MON • WING NIGHT 5:00-10:00
DISCO INFERNO
CLOSED LABOR DAY MONDAY 9/7
TUE • SUSHI NIGHT 5:00-10:00 WED • $5 BURGER NIGHT 5:00-10:00 THURS • PRIME RIB 5:00-10:00
LADIES NIGHT
7:00PM-2:30AM $4 WINE • MARTINIS • CHAMPAGNE
BAD BOYS OF BLUES JAM NIGHT 9:00
SWING CITY
WINE BAR
7:30pm
FRI 9/4 • 8:00
MADISON CRAWL
SAT 9/5 • 8:00
CHRISTINE MARIE
EVERY SUNDAY • 5:30
MIKE PETRONE
CLOSED LABOR DAY 9/7★
TUES 9/8 2 SET TUESDAY • 7:00 & 9:00
JERRY POPIEL EVERY WEDNESDAY • 8:00 10 X 3 SINGER-SONGWRITER SHOWCASE W/BRENT KIRBY contact: harvesttownmusic@gmail.com
EVERY THURSDAY • 8:00
CHRIS HATTON’S MUSICAL CIRCUS
ALL GENRES • ALL STYLES
60
Tues. Sept. 15
BIG BAND Thurs. Sept. 17
HALFWAY TO ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Burke School of Irish Dance 7:00pm followed by Celtic/American Band
“HARP CITY”
8:00 pm. A continuation of the 16 year tradition at Stamper’s Bar in Fairview Park Great music, food and drink Book your special events with us. 1414 RIVERSIDE DRIVE LAKEWOOD 216-767-5202 • Voshclub.com
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
AS ITS TITLE SUGGESTS, Great Museums Television makes documentaries about museums. Its newest documentary, Sound Tracks: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, will have its worldwide premiere at 9 p.m. on Sept. 4 on WVIZTV Cleveland. Narrated by “Little” Steven Van Zandt, an actor and the lead guitarist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, the film showcases the Rock Hall and tells the story of rock’s origins. The documentary features interviews, histories and anecdotes by artists and rock pioneers including Graham Nash, the Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart, Heart’s Ann Wilson and Run D.M.C.’s Darryl McDaniels. Seymour Stein, founder of Sire Records, and Jann Wenner, founder of Rolling Stone magazine and co-founder of the Rock Hall, also contribute. “Within these walls lie the artifacts and stories of rock and roll, which is the most accessible art form of our time,” explains Greg Harris, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in a press release. “It is wonderful to roll out this documentary nationally on public television, and it makes it even more special that the premiere will air right here on WVIZ in Cleveland.” The film will repeat at 3 p.m. on Sept. 6 and 10 p.m. on Sept. 21.
OUT OF THE HEIGHTS A Cleveland Heights native, singersongwriter Renee Stahl has released a handful of albums as Renee & Jeremy, a duo that features her singing and songwriting partner Jeremy Toback. Now she’s just released Simpatico, a new album that features her songs sung by a range of guests, including
singer-songwriters Lisa Loeb and Glen Phillips, and actresses Maya Rudolph and Molly Shannon. Men at Work’s Colin Hay contributes as well — he reads a poem. The well-crafted mid-tempo songs (think Aimee Mann and/or Michael Penn) benefit from the collaborations. When it comes to singing, Stahl got an early start. When she was 7, she was in the Singing Angels. She went to Heights Youth Theatre camp for a few years and did musical theater; that’s where she met Molly Shannon. After moving to L.A. in the early ’90s, she pursued a singing and songwriting career. The new album found Stahl writing the songs with each of the collaborators. “It was really, really fun,” she says. “Every different person brought a different flavor. Molly [Shannon] brings fun to everything she does. I laugh so hard, I cry and have to hold my stomach. She’s just naturally fun. We did theater when we were younger but we took the show You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown to nursing homes around Cleveland. We just wanted to make old people feel good. She was Snoopy and I was Lucy. The song we sing is from that show and representative of our past.” While the album is intended for children, adults will undoubtedly like it too. “It’s music for everyone,” says Stahl. “You don’t want to tell everyone that. Years ago, I wrote a song with my friend Kevin about my cat. He said we shouldn’t tell anyone that. We wanted them to come up with their own idea of what the song means to them.”
jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel
LIVE MUSIC 09/4 H 9pM
MIDNIGHT TRAIL Country Line Dancing 09/5 H 9pM
DAVES pLANET RENT oUR BACk BAR foR ANy oCCASIoN w/ DJ oR BAND & STAff 440-571-4300
wED ... LEAGUE NITE THU .....LADIES NITE $2 DRINkS/DJ
fRI .. CoUNTRy NITE SAT ........ RoCk NITE SUN ..fooTBALL SpECIALS MoN . opEN SooN AfTER LABoR DAy TUE .... BURGER NITE BUy 1 GET 1 fREE
35700 Lakeland Blvd. Eastlake | 440-571-4300 WEDNESDAY Comedy Unhinged hosted by
DWAYNE DUKE Crafted Cocktail Specials
Labor Day WeekenD Sept. 4 Friday
Find your happy hour. Download SCENE’s official happy hour app! clevescene.com/happyhours
THURSDAY Talent Night Thursday hosted by
SUNDAY
SUNDAY BRUNCH
SONSHINE LA RAY
Monthly winner receives $100 sponsored by
at 10AM Endless Bar sponsored by
SchooL GirL cruSh 8pm-12am
Sept. 5 Saturday
catS on hoLiDay 1pm-5pm
eviL WayS 8pm-12am Sept 6 Sunday
cuStarD Pie 2pm-6pm out oF eDen (eagles trib.) 8pm-12am Sept 7 Monday
butch arMStronG 1pm-5pm 1st FRIDAYS
ODDI-TEASE PREVIEW SHOW
with Vita Devoid, Gigi DeLuxe, Discord Addams, Bella Sin and host SONSHINE LA RAY 11pm SHOWTIME $10 COVER
Saturday Showdown
PUERTO RICO vs. CLEVELAND
with Natasha Gibson, Patricia Laport, Tiana Glamout and host KARI NICKLES 11pm SHOWTIME $5 COVER
2814 DETROIT AVE, CLEVELAND, OHIO (216) 696-0831 .com/bouncenightclubhingelounge .com/bouncenightclubhingelounge
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 61
Tommy’s
ALL FIRED UP BURGERS • BEER BBQ
MONDAYS:
HICKORY SMOKED Ribs • Chicken • Brisket Salmon • Pulled Pork
TUESDAYS:
FIRE GRILLED Burgers • Steaks • Seafood Chicken & More
FREE POOL 5:30AM - 1:00AM LADIES NITE 7PM - 9PM WEDNESDAY:
DOLLAR DRAFTS 7PM - 9PM THURS & MON:
FOOTBALL ‘Bucket Of Beers’ 5 FOR 9
FRIDAY: JELLO SHOT SPECIALS
SIGN UP FOR BOWLING FOR DOLLARS
FOOTBALL!
ALL BROWNS GAMES
Large seLection of e-cigs and Liquid
Back Porch Party! FOOD & DRINK DEALS
EVERY GAME THIS SEASON
--------MUSIC MENU--------
FRI. 4
JOHN, JODY & GEORGE FROM HOLLYWOOD SLIM SAT. 5 BILLY FISHER FRI. 11 RICK & WENDY SAT. 12 WIXY 1260 LIVE STREAMING BROADCAST THU 1/2 WAY TO 17 ST. PAT’S WITH
POMPOUS ASS
sMoKe Zone ii
1325 Linda St. Rocky River 440-331-9687
13034 Lorain Avenue • Cleveland 216-251-3425
BoP sToP
MONDAY - FRIDAY
HAPPY HOUR 5:30AM - 6PM $1.75 Domestic & Bottom Shelf All Shots Free-Poured By Our Wonderful Wait Staff
Winner Of
2015 Scene Magazine Best Jazz Club & 2014 Fox 8 Best Nightspot
9pm | $10
Blu monsoon
8pm | $10
8pm | $5
9/14:
hoWie smiTh/ scoTT roBinson Duo
9/18: michael occhiPinTi’s sicilian Jazz ProJecT
8pm | $15
nir felDer Trio 8pm | $20
9/10:
alex levine
7:30pm | $10
8pm | $10
8pm | $10
9/9:
9/6:
Tia BrazDa
Jackie Warren Trio
8pm | $10
ogni suono + hasco 9/12:
9/4:
Tim mcDonalD QuarTeT
craig PeTers
9/24:
Like Us On
9/3:
9/2: Cleveland Comedy Festival presents:
9/5:
comeon PeoPle Dance ParTy 9pm | free 9/11:
Three for all 9pm | $10
9/16:
michelle Walker
8pm | $10
CD Release, “Love Misery”
8pm | $15 9/19:
BoBBy ferrazza 8pm | $10 10/18:
aaron Diehl 8pm | $20
9/17:
sun sPeak 8pm | $10
9/20:
BranDon coleman QuarTeT 7pm | $10 10/24:
DaviD lieBman’s “Expansions” 8pm | $20
Bar sales directly support The Music Settlement and its many programs. Food provided by Cleveland Culinary Launch and Kitchen!
62
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
Friday, September 11th at 7:30pm
RED SATIN CABARET FEATURING THE MUSIC OF
KRISTY KLINE Tickets $15
Saturday, September 19th At 8:00PM
‘STEP INTO THE FANTASY’ FEATURING
Siobhan Atomica & Cherie Blondell TICKETS $20 2017 E. 9th STREET CLEVELAND, OH 44115 For Tickets & Information please visit:
www.alextheatercleveland.com magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 63
barkingspider tavern.com
LIVE MUSIC
NO COVER
HAVE A PICNIC, RELAX & ENJOY
Thursday September 3 Jaime Mills 6:00 (singer/ songwriter) Red Brick Rhoades- CD Release Party 8:00 (Americana, singer/ songwriter) Spyder Stompers 10:00 (americana, blues)
Friday September 4 George Foley & Friends 5:30 (jazz) Anita Keys & Friends 8:00 (folk, rock) Terrain 10:00 (rock)
Saturday September 5 Hot Djang 8:00 (jazz, swing) Bill Lestock 10:00 (bluegrass, folk)
Sunday September 6 Nostalgia Factor 3:00 (jazz) Bog Trotters 6:00 (roots) 11310 JUNIPER RD., CLEVELAND • 216.421.2863
A SCENE MAGAZINE EVENT
COCK TAIL
EXPLORE YOUR FASCINATION
A 60’S INSPIRED COCKTAIL PARTY 2.OCT.15 CORNER ALLEY UPTOWN
64
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
2 Domestics $ 00
mon-sat 2-8pm open sundays @ 7pm
no Cover!
Full Kitchen open Daily
Great FooD! saturday 3-9pm
$5.99 steak Dinner 2 Drink Minimum • Dine In only
Join Your Favorite entertainer in our
Private vIP Lounge
12820 brookpark rd. @ w. 130th | 216-458-1131 open: mon-sat 2:00Pm-2:30am | sUnDaY 7:00Pm - 2:30am
OFF ONE FREE ANY10% DVD, GAME OR VHS
ADULT MOVIE RENTAL with 2 or more paid. Expires 9/12/15
purchase of $25 or more. Expires 9/12/15
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 65
66
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
SAVAGE LOVE THE ASEXUAL DOM By Dan Savage
Dear Dan, I’m confused about my sexuality. For many years, I thought I preferred heteroromantic asexual relationships. Exposure to select reading material—thanks to my gender-studies classes—has me convinced I’m an asexual t-type (i.e., “top,” but I prefer not to use such connotative terms) female who is attracted to slight and feminine men. I do not want to take off my clothes or engage in oral, anal, digital, or vaginal sex. Instead, I want to design sexual situations that comely young gentlemen will consensually enter: restraints, CBT, whippings, play piercings, fisting. To make matters worse, I’ve never been in a sexual situation or romantic relationship. I am 23 years old. Extremely low self-esteem and a lack of trust in other people—especially men who are attracted to women—prevented me from reaching out to others, let alone informing a potential partner about my unusual interests. Fortunately, extensive therapy sessions have improved my self-image and willingness to take risks. Developing a romantic friendship with a potential partner is essential. I doubt I will have much luck on the internet or at munches given that so many men doubt the existence of exclusively t-type females. I also don’t fit or wish to fit the stereotypical Bettie Page–esque image of a t-type female. Dressing up in PVC and playing Mistress is not my thing. Do you have any recommended how-to guides or communities for t-type females? —Beyond Envisioning Any Solutions T-type. P.S. I’m trapped in the closet. You should go to munches and put yourself out there on the internet, BEAST, because in both those places/spaces you’ll meet—I promise—other t-type/Dominant women and the men who want to worship them and suffer at their hands. Your knowledge of the BDSM/kink/fetish community seems pretty distorted, but I can assure you that there are men out there, some of them slight and feminine, who not only don’t doubt the existence of exclusively t-type/Dominant females but are actively seeking them. But you’re not going to find them under the rocks in your garden or at the back of your fridge. You’re going to have to enter kinky places/spaces to meet kinky guys. There’s another type of person you need to meet: mentors. It’s particularly important for someone with your interests—CBT, whippings, piercings, and fisting are not JV kinks—to be mentored by knowledgeable players. These are varsity-level kinks—they
are skill sets that take time to acquire. You’re going to need instruction from people with experience before you start torturing a guy’s balls or sticking (clean and sterile) needles through the head of his cock or his nipples, BEAST, as you could do serious and lasting damage to someone if you’re winging it. Munches are your best bet for meeting the players and educators in your area who take mentorship seriously. Be open about who you are (an asexual t-type female/Dominant woman), your ideal partners (slight and feminine sub guys who are into SM, not sex), and your experience level (nonexistent). Ask about classes, don’t do anyone/anything that makes you uncomfortable, and do the reading. (Check out Greenery Press for titles on female dominance, CBT, flogging, and other varsity kinks.) You know who else you’ll meet? Women who don’t fit stereotypical Bettie Page–esque images, don’t dress up in PVC, and don’t play Mistress games—but you’ll also meet women who enjoy doing all of those things, as well as women who could take or leave Bettie Page but who dress up because it turns on their partners and/or attracts the kind of men/women/SOPATGS they’re interested in restraining and torturing. When someone is indulging your thing (a slight and feminine guy is giving you his cock and balls to torture), it’s simply good manners to indulge his things (letting him call you “Mistress,” if that’s something he enjoys, or pulling on a little PVC). And give yourself permission to grow— or to continue growing. You used to think you were one thing (a hetero-romantic asexual), and now you realize you may be another thing entirely (an asexual t-type/ Dominant female who is attracted to slight and feminine men). Who knows what you’ll learn about yourself once you actually start having IRL experiences? (Also… most guys into hardcore BDSM—particularly hardcore masochists—regard CBT and whippings and piercings as sex. Not foreplay, not a substitute for sex, but sex. Something to think through before you have a slight and feminine guy’s balls in your hands: Your “victim” may experience your play as sexual even if you’re experiencing it differently, i.e., you may not feel like you’re having sex with them, BEAST, but they’re going to feel like they’re having sex with you. Is that okay with your particular flavor of/theories about asexuality?) P.S. You’re not trapped in the closet—that door locks from the inside. You can open it whenever you’re ready.
Find your happy hour. Download SCENE’s official happy hour app! clevescene.com/happyhours
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN
CHATLINE TM
216.377.6292
Try for FREE
Ahora en Español
For More Local Numbers: 1.800.926.6000 www.livelinks.com
Teligence/18+
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 67
100’s OF SEXY LATINO SINGLES
ADULT MASSAGE SET YOURSELF FREE WITH ME
Meet Hot Latin Locals! Get your FREE trial! 18+ 216.626.7777 440.325.7777 www.questchat.com
I will put you at ease. 38-d 5’8” 135IB 24/hr IN/OUT Alecia 216-240-3254
ADULT SERVICES
Hot Guys! Hot Chat! Hot Fun! Call FREE! 216-377-6300 or 800-777-8000 18+ www.guyspyvoice.com
ALL KINDS OF SINGLES
HOT LOCAL URBAN SINGLES!
Straight 216-912-2222 Curious 216-912-6000 FREE Code 3227, 18+
A MOUNTED “MAN TO MAN” MASSAGE *HOTEL DISCOUNTS*
Let a man rub you down like only a man can! Full Body/ Full Service “Man to Man” Massage given by hot naked masculine white dude. 24 HRS Hotel & house calls welcome or stop by my Massage Studio. Versatile any scene. 2 guys also available. Low Rates. Well equipped and ready to play... Call 216-491-4501
Gay & Bi Local Chat!
1-708-613-2103 Normal LD Applies 18+
Are looking to hook up now! Try it FREE! 18+ 216.367.1010 / 440.424.0303 www.metrovibechatline.com
CALL NOW, MEET TONIGHT! FREE to try! 18+ 216.626.7777 / 440.325.7777 Other Cities: 1.888.257.5757 www.questchat.com
EXPLICIT CHAT WITH SEXY LOCALS
Get your FREE TRIAL! 18+ CALL The Night Exchange NOW! 216.502.4388 / 440.499.6400 www.nightexchange.com
LOCAL LESBIAN SINGLES Reply to Ads FREE! 216-912-6000 FREE Code 2643, 18+
Make a Connection. Real People, Flirty Chat Call FREE! 216-377-6292 or 800-926-6000 www.livelinks.com 18+
FIND YOUR SOUL MATE!
ADULT HELP WANTED DANCERS WANTED
Call 216-377-6303 or 800-811-1633 Try FREE! www.vibeline.com
1335 Brittain Rd. Akron No tip outs for House Mom & DJ APPLY IN PERSON
PHONE LINES $10 Buck Phone Sex
Live 1 on 1 1-877-919-EASY (3279) 18+
MEET GAY & BI LOCALS
Browse & Respond FREE! 216-912-6000 Use FREE Code 2642, 18+
FREE PARTYLINE
712-432-7968 18+ Normal LD Applies
FUN SEXY SINGLES
Send Message FREE! 216-912-2222 Use FREE Code 3229, 18+
MEET LOCAL SINGLES FREE!
Meet Sexy Local Singles Tonight! Get your FREE TRIAL NOW! Must be 18+ CALL 216.902.3700 / 440.345.0015 www.lavalife.com
FREE TO LISTEN AND REPLY TO ADS Free Code: Cleveland Scene
FIND REAL GAY MEN NEAR YOU Cleveland:
(216) 912-6000
www.megamates.com 18+
Your premier choice for classy & fun entertainment providing firstrate entertainment for all occasion, including a wet & wild bachelor parties, divorce parties, birthday celebrations & retirement parties! Whatever the reason is that you request our services, rest assured that we have what you’re looking for! Our carefully selected adorable playmates cater to any occasion! We offer a diverse selection of exotic, classy, sophisticated & gorgeous ladies for you to choose from.
68
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
Akron:
(330) 315-3000 Canton:
(330) 437-0100
Check us out on
belle.maids@facebook.com (bellemaids77)
Nude Cooking, Nude Cleaning, Nude Massage
Now Hiring!
CALL 216-673-0909
INCALL FRI-SUN ONLY PLZ THIS IS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND NOT AN ESCORT SERVICE
PRIVATE CONNECTIONS TRY IT FREE! 1-708-613-2100 Normal LD Applies 18+
SEXY HOT SWINGER’S LINE! 1-800-785-2833 1-800-960-4328 EROTIC PLAYGROUND! 1-888-660-4446 1-800-990-9377 HOT LIVE SEXY CHAT!!! 1-888-404-3330 1-800-805-8255 18+
Chat With America’s Party Crowd!
See who’s online now!
FREE TRIAL
Discreet Chat Guy to Guy
216.626.0320
Heat Up Your Night On RedHot
“LIVEWIRE CHAT” 1-206-876-2929
Where Local Girls Go Wild!
Call 216-377-6290 or 800-700-6666 Try FREE! www.redhotdateline.com
WHERE SINGLES MEET
Listen to Ads & Reply FREE! 216-912-2222 FREE Code 3228, 18+
Club Voice M.A.L.E. (Ultra M4M Chat)
1-206-876-6669 Hot Sexy Amateurs Live 1 on 1
1-702-216-8888 Ld rates apply 18+
TRY FORE FRE
216.377.6290 More Local Numbers: 1.800.700.6666 18+ redhotdateline.com
Dating made Easy FREE
to Listen & Reply to ads. FREE CODE: Cleveland Scene
Cleveland
216.912.2222
For other local numbers:
18+ www.MegaMates.com
FREE TRIAL
Meet sexy new friends
who really get your vibe... Connect Instantly
216.377.6303 Get your local number:: 1.800.811.1633
FREE TRIAL
Discreet Chat Guy to Guy y
18+ www.vibeline.com
216.626.0320
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 69
HOME BUYERS!!!
FREE MONEY!!! DOWN PAYMENT PROGRAM*
BUY YOUR DREAM HOME!!! Plus Get Up To $100k + More* (for new kitchen, new roof, new carpet, appliances, paint, basement waterproofing, windows, heating & cooling)*
NEVER EVER EVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BUY A HOME!!! Great Low Fixed Interest Rates* When your dreams come true... our dreams come true!!!
440.342.7355 (SELL) To Buy...or Sell
Call Grizzell *Some restrictions may apply *for those who qualify... we consider...
Merchandise For Sale BIG FUN
Cleveland’s Best Toy Store. Cash for Old Toys, Legos Star Wars, GI Joes, Transformers, Hot Wheels, NINTENDO, Action Figs Rock Concert T-shirts 1814 Coventry Rd. Cleve Hts. 216.371.4386 WE BUY SELL TRADE
Professional Services AUTO INSURANCE
SR22/Bond Bad Driving Record BEST PRICES DAVID YOUNG INSURANCE 440-779-9800
UNCONTESTED DIVORCE $195 Plus Filing Fee, Attorney
good credit • bad credit • bankruptcy
216-.621.4100
Massage - Certified CARING MASSAGE
Days & Evenings, weekends. Warm candlelight atmosphere. Lakewood/West Suburbs Linda 216-221-5935
Bulletin Board WANTS TO PURCHASE
minerals and other oil & gas interests. Send details P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201
Professional Services THE OCEAN CORP.
10840 Rockley Road, Houston, Texas 77099. Train for a New Career. *Underwater Welder. *Commercial Diver. *NDT/Weld Inspector. Job Placement Assistance. Financial Aid available for those who qualify. 800-321-0298.
Rentals: West/Suburbs
BROOKSIDE OVAL APARTMENT Located on Park Fulton Oval near the Cleveland Metroparks! 216-351-6936 Choose from any of our newly remodeled 1 & 2 bdrm apartments, all w/ modern kitchens & bathrooms. All feature air-conditioning & Garage parking also available. Brookside is located close to I-480, I-71, and I-90, just minutes from downtown Cleveland. Come home to the beautiful park-like setting of Brookside Apartments! You’ll be happy to call Brookside home.
200 & Up
$
FOR ALL JUNK CARS We pay cash for junk or unwanted cars.
We tow them for free!
440-231-8114 Rich
CLIFTON
2 Br+ Beautiful Georgian Style large suite 7 minutes to downtown Cleveland. 1300 sq feet gas, water, and trash removal Included. Custom paint throughout fireplace. Extra large living room- refinished hardwood floors, formal dining room kitchen, all appliances bathroom new floors and fresh paint- additional den/sunroom- lots of closet space foyer storage laundry on premises, garage and parking space. Quiet building. Rent is $995+security. Call for appointment. 440-590-3975 or 440590-0704
Real Estate: East/Suburbs FOR SALE BY OWNER EUCLID
Nestled near 260th & Lakeshore this unique 1920’s historical property is perfect for the savvy investor. This beautiful 9 bdrm home features 3 full baths &a basement, & has a solid structure. New electric, roofing, siding & windows have recently been installed, newer lighting spacious and beautiful. Formerly zoned commercial now is zoned two family. Grants may be available for historical renovations. Asking $ 156,900. Please contact Barbara to view this unique property. Barbara 216-647-1973 babs4445@gmail.com
ELBUR AVE. APARTMENTS
13540 Detroit Ave. Spacious 1-2 bedroom apts Vintage Bldg Private tree lined street Off street parking Heat & Water included Park like setting New Energy Efficient Windows Cats & Small Dogs are welcome call 216-392-5384 for details ***some restrictions apply*****
LAKEWOOD CLIFFSAPARTMENTS
18900 Detroit Extension Newly Renovated 1-2 Bedroom Apts Heat & Water Included Updated Laundry on Site Off Street Parking Air Conditioning Secure Entry Lake and Park Views Call for our Specials 216-392-5384 *****some restrictions apply*****
CLASSIFIED ADS 216-802-7229
DEADLINE 4:30pm Mon.
737 Bolivar | Cleveland
Get fit. Get paid. For part-time Package Handlers at FedEx Ground and Home Delivery, it’s like a paid workout. The work’s demanding, but the rewards are big. Come join our team, get a weekly paycheck, tuition assistance and break a sweat with the nation’s package delivery leader.
Part-time PACKAGE HANDLERS Qualifications: • Ability to load, unload, sort packages •18 years or older • Part-time, 5-days week $10.10/hr plus benefits to start, scheduled raises •Must pass background check Sign Up For Sort Observafion
www.watchasort.com 330-659-2518 FedEx Ground 3201 Columbia Road, Richfield, OH 44286
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer (M/F/D/V) Commited To A Diverse Workforce.
Fedex.com/us/careers 70
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015
magazine | clevescene.com | September 2 - 8, 2015 71
Be A Sales SuperStar
..
CE
TH
PRIN
Z.
•Tobacco Pipes •Accessories •Detox Products •60’s memorabilia •Aromatherapy •Candles • Incense •Clothing • Posters & so much more
SE
E
“ Summertime brings to mind tye-dye, HUGE selection @ the Prince of Patchouli”
PRINCE OF PATCHOULI 2151 Broadview Rd, Cleveland • 216-799-9295
MON-FRI 10AM-8PM • SAT-SUN 10AM-6PM
at
Digital is the Future / The Future Is Now
Career Opportunity!! Window Nation
You are: experienced & have a full e-Rolodex. You’re committed to being the best. You’re up for a challenge and aren’t easily deterred.
Now hiring Outside Appointment Setters for our Cleveland and Twinsburg, Ohio locations. This is a Full Time 40 hours per week position, must be able to work weekends early shift. Base salary plus bi-weekly bonuses usually average 600$ to 900$ per week. Full Benefits (401K,medical, paid vacation and holidays)
If you’re the one, convince us; send resume & cover letter to: awesomejobs@owownow.com.
Call Bill at 216-903-1744 for immediate interview or email resume to Careers@windownation.com
oWOW seeks two Radio/Digital salespeople.
oWOW is Cleveland’s Timeless Rock Music Station, playing the greatest music of the past and present.
REAL Disability Lawyers
ATTORNEY KORDIC 33 years of Social Security experience. Representing clients in 40 states. ATTORNEY BRAUN 23 years of experience. Tenacious, determined and uncommonly successful.
No Fee ‘til You Win Social Security SSI • Private Insurance A T T O R N E Y S
A T
L A W
Gregory Kordic Katherine Braun
(216) 621- 6684
CONSIGNMENT FURNITURE
820 West Superior Avenue, Suite 100 Cleveland, Ohio 44113
• KIDS ACTIVITIES • FAMILY CAMPING • WORKSHOPS • FISHING
$50 FRI-SUN GATES OPEN FRI. 10AM
$30 SAT-SUN 12 & UNDER FREE!!!
PRICE INCLUDES
PARKING CAMPING w/VEHICLE MUSIC/BYOB