INsite Atlanta April 2015 Issue

APRIL 2015

INSITEATLANTA.COM

VOL. 23, NO. 9 FREE

MLB Season Preview

Springls a v i ef st 19

EARS ✦ 2 Y 3 2 ✦ 92

015

Shaky K

nees Fes

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o Dogw

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stiva e F d

tival

Shrine Circus

YOU RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S

WON’T

TM ©

WANT TO NOV 3 - 8, 2015

MISS THIS

TM & © New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. Illustration by Hugh Syme.

2015/2016 SERIES ON SALE NOW!

DEC 2- 6, 2015

MILESTONE MAR 1 - 6, 2016

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Add These Shows To Your Package To Customize Your Experience!

MAY 22-24, 2015

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND F R I - S U N AT P I E D M O N T PA R K FOR MORE INFO GO TO ATLANTAFESTIVALS.COM

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The Best Seats. The Best Value.

The Best Way to Experience Broadway.

BROADWAYINATLANTA.COM 800-278-4447

PG 2 • April 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

CONTENTS • APRIL 2015 • VOLUME 23, NO. 9 Atlanta’s

Entertainment Monthly

10 Jane Lynch 10 11 Robin Lord Taylor 15 Ruby Velle 17 Monique 17 Bangles 18 Cannibals 18 The Adolescents 18 Matt and Kim 20 Stars of Undateable

®

11

FEATURES

SASHA ALLEN AS LEADING PLAYER AND THE CAST OF THE NATIONAL TOUR OF PIPPIN. CREDIT TERRY SHAPIRO

INTERVIEWS

2013 TONY AWARD

08 Spring Patio Dining 12 Spring Festivals 22 MLB Preview

MAY 5-10

FOXTHEATRE.ORG/PIPPIN 855-285-8499

COLUMNS 04 05 06 07 11 15 16 19 21 21

Around Town On Tap On A Dime Events Under The Lights Station Control Road Warriors Album Reviews Movie Reviews Spring Fashion Home Releases

17

3rd ANNUAL

17

FRIDAY, MAY 8

www.insiteatlanta.com STAFF LISTING Publisher Stephen Miller steve@insiteatlanta.com Managing Editor Bret Love bret@insiteatlanta.com Art Director / Web Design Nick Tipton nick@insiteatlanta.com Sports Editor DeMarco Williams demarco@insiteatlanta.com Local Events Editor Marci Miller marci@insiteatlanta.com Music Editor Lee Valentine Smith lee@insiteatlanta.com

Follow us on the web!

Contributing Writers / Interns: Jon Latham, Ryan Loftis, Rodney Hill, Alex S. Morrison, Steve Warren, Dave Cohen, Jennifer Williams, Matt Connor, Ed Morales, Sacha Dzuba, David Weinthal, Benjamin Carr, Kalena Smith, Justin Patterson, John Moore, Amanda Miles, Patrick Flanary, Ian Coverdale

SATURDAY, MAY 9

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 76483 Atlanta, GA 30358 WEBSITE • insiteatlanta.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION (404) 308-5119 • ads@insiteatlanta.com Editorial content of INsite is the opinion of each writer and is not necessarily the opinion of INsite, its staff, or its advertisers. INsite does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor do the publisher or editors of INsite assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. No content, i.e., articles, graphics, designs and information (any and all) in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from publisher.

© Copyright 2015, Be Bop Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved

APRIL 2015

INSITEATLAN TA.COM

VOL. 23, NO. 9 FREE

MLB Season Preview

Spring 1992 ✦ 2

15 3 YEARS ✦ 20

SUNDAY, MAY 10

festivals Shaky

tival

Knees

Festiva

l

Shrine Circus

od Fes

Dogwo

Check out our Spring Festival Guide on page 12! insiteatlanta.com • April 2015 • PG 3

Around Town

Events and Performances taking place this Month

NOW THROUGH APRIL 30

APRIL 11

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Atlanta History Center

Atlanta Blooms!

Among the more than 51,000 new bulbs planted last fall, look for tulips such as electrifying pink "The Cure," yellow with a red flame "La Courtine" and orange "Teletubby." As part of the Daffodil Project — a worldwide effort memorializing children killed in the Holocaust — nearly 1,000 new Narcissus have been added to the Garden.

This is the fifth year for the bulb show, and nearly 300,000 bulbs will be featured. Visit atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Sheep to Shawl

Come on out to the Atlanta History Center on Saturday, April 11 from 10:30 am 4:30 pm as they host their annual Sheep to Shawl event. Guests experience the process of cloth making through demonstrations and activities ranging from sheep shearing and dying to spinning and weaving. Gather the entire family for a full day of fun that also includes open-hearth cooking, blacksmithing, candle making, and much more at Smith Family Farm. Check out atlantahistorycenter.com for details.

Georgia International Convention Center

Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless partners with the Georgia International Convention Center to host their annual Spring Jubilee Festival. The organization will offer a full day of entertainment as well as provide meals, clothing, beauty/barbering, and medical services to those in need.

Hosea Feed The Hungry and Homeless aims to serve over 10,000 families throughout the Atlanta community as the event will be covered by multiple media outlets who will bring national awareness. To learn more visit 4hosea.org.

PG 4 • April 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

APRIL 18

Earl Klugh

The Ferst Center for the Arts

CD Warehouse

APRIL 18

Earth Day Celebration Zoo Atlanta

It’s time to celebrate Mother Earth! Spend the night at a NightCrawler overnight at

MAY 1 - 3

Druid Hills Neighborhood

Record Store Day

Visit CD Warehouse on April 18 and celebrate Record Store Day. This national event recognizes the vinyl record and those great album covers. To honor this event CD Warehouse will be buying and selling vinyl records throughout the month. Find out more at CDwarehouse.com.

towards the fight against blood cancer. An estimated 2,000 runners will participate in this year's race and the finish line area will host a party with some of our local patient heroes. Register at lls.org.

Druid Hills Tour of Homes & Gardens

APRIL 18

APRIL 6

Spring Jubilee Festival

Zoo Atlanta. Learn about the wonders of our planet, find out how you can make a difference to our natural world, go behind the scenes to meet animal ambassadors, and much more during an unforgettable overnight adventure. To book your stay visit zooatlanta.org.

Earl Klugh the Detroit-born master of the acoustic-classical guitar has become one of the most imitated icons of the instrument.

He has 24 Billboard Top 10 jazz albums and has received 13 Grammy nominations. He appears at the Ferst Center this month in what is sure to be an incredible show. Tickets available at ferstcenter.org.

APRIL 25

Big Peach 5K Brookhaven

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is gearing up for the much anticipated 10th Annual Big Peach 5K Run/Walk for Blood Cancer on Saturday, April 25. Since 2006, this event has raised more than $150,000

The theme of this year's tour is "History Happens Here.” Druid Hills comes alive, featuring architecture from the renowned firm of Ivey & Crook, interior designers from the region, southern fare, local musicians, Georgia artists and Emory Village merchants. Now, as always, the community culture of Druid Hills is vibrant, inspirational, celebratory, and focused on preserving and extending the vision of the noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Visit druidhillstour.org

MAY 2

Kennesaw Craft Beer Festival The Depot Park, Kennesaw

Kennesaw Craft Beer Fest features 100 beers, wine, cider, live music, and food for sale in Kennesaw. General Admission tickets are $35 in advance and include beer samples and entertainment. Visit Kennesawcraftbeerfest.com

On Tap this Month MAJOR EVENTS COMING TO ATLANTA April 10: Turner Field

BRAVES OPENING DAY Head to Turner Field to watch the Atlanta Braves open their 2015 season against division rivals New York Mets on Friday, April 10. Following the game, fans will be treated to the sights and sounds of the #1 rated fireworks show in the Southeast featuring music by e Beatles. As Freddie Freeman prepares for his fifth full Major League season, he easily stands as the most imposing figure within their lineup. Visit braves.com

April 10 & 11: The Tabernacle

THE DECEMBERISTS

Portland's indie folk band e Decemberists returns to Atlanta for two nights at e Tabernacle. ey are touring to promote their latest album What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World. e album's title is in reference to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. While their lyrics often focus on historical incidents, e Decemberists are also well known for their eclectic live shows. Visit tabernacleatl.com.

April 11: Masquerade Music Park

HOGS & HOPS

Fri APR 17 Sat MAY 2

Bryan adams: reckless 30th anniversary Tour The dooBie BroThers . don Felder

Pat simmons, Jr.

Fri + Sat MAY 8 + 9 Zac Brown Band: Jekyll + hyde Tour Sun MAY 10 ZZ ToP & JeFF Beck Sat MAY 16 Tour de compadres: needToBreaThe

Ben rector . drew holcomb & The neighbors colony house

MAY 21

darius rucker

Brett eldredge . Brothers osborne . a Thousand horses

MAY 26 Fri JUN 12

summerland Tour 2015 presented by radio 105.7:

Sat JUN 13 JUN 24 Sun JUL 12

last summer on earth Tour 2015:

JUL 15 Fri JUL 17

wheels of soul summer Tour:

Atlanta Beer Festivals host the 4th Hogs and Hops at the Masquerade on April 11th. is year's event will feature tasty BBQ and complimentary foods, live music, and tons of fun. ey are expecting over 15 total food vendors and 50 plus different beer options. General Admission tickets will include all beer tastings, four food tickets, and entry at 1:00pm. Additional food tickets can be purchased. Visit hogsandhopsatlanta.com.

rush everclear . Fuel . Toadies . american hi-Fi BosTon . kansas david Gray . amos lee

Barenaked ladies . violent Femmes . colin hay rod sTewarT . richard marx Tedeschi Trucks Band sharon Jones & The daP kinGs . doyle Bramhall ii

BUY TICKETS NOW AT TICKETMASTER

Venue box office M-F: 10am-4pm / Closed Sat & Sun Check out the latest concert calendar & venue info at VZWAMP.COM

SUMMER

PRESENTS

April 17: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

BRYAN ADAMS

With his distinctive vocals and blue-collar songwriting skills, Canadian icon Bryan Adams’ take on rock ‘n’ roll basics found a niche that has lasted for over 30 years. As Canada’s best known ambassador, Bryan Adams has spent the last three decades making music history. He has sold upward of 65 million records, toured six continents and achieved #1 status in over 40 countries around the world. Visit vzwamp.com.

SERIES

2015 Al Jarreau

Night Ranger Boz Scaggs

May 1: The Fox Theatre

STEVE WINWOOD

For more than five decades, Steve Winwood has remained a primary figure in rock ‘n’ roll. A multi-instrumentalist, he can play keyboards, bass guitar, drums, guitar, mandolin, violin, and other strings. He has two US Billboard Hot 100 number ones; "Higher Love" and "Roll With It" and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic in 2004. Visit foxtheatre.org for tickets.

June 6 Grammy Award Winner

Peter Frampton & ...

May 9 May 2 Michael McDonald

KC and the Sunshine Band

... Cheap Trick

May 3: Centennial Olympic Park

FIESTA ATLANTA

Fiesta Atlanta is the largest Cinco de Mayo event in the southeast featuring a daylong celebration of Latino culture and heritage while featuring continuous live musical performances by international and national recording artists. Fiesta Atlanta celebrates Latino culture with mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing, arts and crafts, a 5K run/walk, and authentic Latin-American foods. Admission is free. Visit fiestaatlanta.com.

June 13

July 11

Also see our SPOTLIGHT CONCERTS! Go to: www.amphitheater.org or visit us on twitter and Facebook!

August 15 FOR TICKETS: www.amphitheater.org • 770.631.0630

The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater 201 McIntosh Trail • Peachtree City, GA 30269

G G

insiteatlanta.com • April 2015 • PG 5

EVENTS EVENTS HAPPENING HAPPENING FOR FOR SMALL SMALLCHANGE CHANGEININATLANTA ATLANTA

Know Know of of aa low low cost cost event event happening? happening?Event@AtlantaOnADime.com Event@AtlantaOnADime.com By ByMarci MarciMiller Miller

from your favorite operas. GTSO Principal three-day Jazz Fest.

JazzperFest Horn playerEmory Alexander LindOther will also shows with paid admission include Irvin form "Horn Concerto No.1" by Richard Month of February, 50% off Tickets MayfieldInand the New OrleansNabucco Jazz Or$5 Advanced Tickets Chattanooga Strauss. addition to Verdi's Tennessee Aquarium, chestra on February 7 and Regina Carter Fourth Ward Skate Park Meadow Overture as the concert opener, Slaten and tnaqua.org/college-days with the join Garythe Motley Trio Februarythe 13. beltlineboil.com Munson GTSO in on presenting last portion of Puccini's La Boheme.

College students, faculty and staff can take e Beltline Boil is a neighborhood festival advantage of special savings throughout HERITAGE WINTER CLASSICS: focused on the local community, urban ac- Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, 10 am the monthand of February at the Tennessee cessibility low country cookin!

Join JULES & THE GENTS BEAR ON THE SQUARE Aquarium, IMAX 3D eater and River thousands of neighbors for a day in the Sunday, February 15, 4:30pm – 6:30pm, Gorge Explorer. e Aquarium’s College Free admission most activities Fourth Ward Skate Park alongside the Belt- Heritage SandytoSprings $5 per Person Days Eastside DiscountTrail offers students, fac- Historic Square in Dahlonega line’s forcollege live music, local eats heritagesandysprings.org ulty cold and drinks! staff half-price admission to all bearonthesquare.org and

Saturday, April 4 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

COLLEGE DAYS DISCOUNT BLUE MOON BELTLINE BOIL

Saturday; April 18, 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.

Sunday; April 19, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. www.kennesawbusiness.org or 770-423-1330 Get Spring Looks for Less

Toco Hills Shopping Center 2927 N. Druid Hills Road Atlanta, GA 30329 (at the corner of Lavista Road and N.Druid Hills) www.nearlynewshopatl.org The Junior League of Atlanta’s Nearly New Shop NearlyNewATL

three attractions.

Saturday, April 11 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

e Heritage Winter Classics concert se-

Two days of bluegrass, mountain, and folk Jules & ries willworkshops, conclude with jazz group music, auctions, art, dancing, the Gents performing a selection of jazz ART ON THE CHATTAHOOCHEE UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS children’s activities, food and shopping in songs from the 20's-60's.

Atlanta resident Free Admission February 4 – March 1 the historic Public Square. A juried artists’ Julie Stein leads one-of-a-kind, the group whichhandmade integrates Jones Bridge Peachtree market features The Green LotPark, at Turner FieldCorners jazz standards from the greats like Louis gwinnettcounty.com Tickets start at $20; Discounts Available items from some of the mountain region’s Armstrong, Miles Davis, Antonio Jobim, best artists.

Performers include BlueBilly universoulcircus.com Art on the Chattahoochee (AOC) is a Fine Grit, BennyJohn Goodman, Coltrane and more.

Lilly, Front Country, Sons of Arts festivalconnects annually with held progressive, at Jones Bridge UniverSoul upBluegrass, and Buzzard Mountain Boys.

Park in Peachtree Corners. AOC will offer wardly mobile, urban pop cultures from RAG-O-RAMA DOLLAR SALE entertainment, demonstrations, artists, April 18 - 26 around the world with a stellar production commercial vendors, concession vendors, Little 5 PTS - February 21 & 22 that blends circus arts, theater and music. a kid’s zone (with games, crafts, and inflat- BUCKHEAD Sandy SpringsRESTAURANT - February 28 & March 1 It’s fresh, and hip approach to live fam- WEEK ables), andcool more. ragorama.com

ily entertainment has earned it a coveted spot as oneApril of Ticketmaster’s Saturday, 11 7:00 pm top ten most requested family attractions.

MALTS AND VAULTS $12 Adults; $6 Students FREE PARK DAY Oakland Cemetery February 14-16, 2015, FREE oaklandcemetery.com

$15, $25, $35 Get ready for Rag-O-Rama's biggest sale of Various Buckhead Restaurants the year, e Dollar Sale!

Shoppers never brwatlanta.com know what they will find for $1.00. Rag-OBuckhead is one of Atlanta’s Rama carries current, classic,most and prestivintage gious and home to some styles,neighborhoods men's & women's clothing and of acthe city’s topone-of-a-kind restaurants. For one and weekmuch this cessories, items Local national parks nationwide patrons getcan a chance to or dine at over What do a jousting match, exotic singing month more. Shoppers buy, sell trade gennps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm these acclaimed restaurants on a spebirds and the sun god Ra have in common? 20 tlyofused items.

Sale takes place during the priced tiered this menu.

Participating Answer: favorite malt beverage. final two weekends month.

Visit oneeveryone’s of Georgia’s national parks for cially restaurants include: e Big Ketch, Davio’s, Find out howPresident’s the sudsy Weekend. beverage connects free during Partici- Seasons 52, 10 Degrees South, Bistro Niko, these topics, and delve intoRiver Atpatingfascinating parks include Chattahoochee BLACK HISTORY PARADE Buckhead Diner, Eclipse di lanta’s long and vividArea, history of brewing Bricktops, National Recreation Chickamauga Luna, Mandarin Oriental, Public February 28, 12:00pm – Meehan’s 5pm, FREE during Historic Oakland Cemetery’s speand Chattanooga National Military Park, Historic Ocean Prime and Pricci.District MLK/Sweet Auburn cial guided walking tour, "Malts & Vaults of House, Cumberland Island National Oakland: Where Beer MeetsSeashore, History." Fort No blackhistorymonthparade.com Frederica National Monument beer will be served during the tour.and Fort April 26 11:00 am - 7:00 pm Pulaski National Monument. e BlackOF History Month Parade celebrates TASTE MARIETTA the culture, heritage, history and$1accomThursday, April 16 7:30 pm Free Admission; Tastings range - $5 African American plishments of Black/ JAZZ FEST: BIG BAND NIGHT NIGHT AT THE OPERA Historic Marietta Square people in the United States and from across February 14, 8:00pm, FREE tasteofmarietta.com Free Admission the world. e parade features marching Emory’s Schwartz Center Ferst Center for the Arts Taste of Marietta is an annual food festival bands, entertainers, dignitaries, civic arts.emory.edu ferstcenter.org that showcases Cobb celebrities, County restaurants groups, non-profits, corporate caterers.

It isexpressionist, the largest andentertainlongest Joined by soprano Elisabeth Slaten and and Come hear the Emory Big Band and Facgroups, artistic food Cobbfamily.

County and tenor Nathan Tech ulty Jazz Band Munson, for free asthe theyGeorgia close out the running ment and funfestival for thein whole Symphony Orchestra presents, "A Night at the Opera," featuring overture and excerpts

has become a favorite annual tradition among local residents.

RECEIVE UPDATED EVENTS WEEKLY. SIGN UP BY EMAILING SUBSCRIPTIONS@ATLANTAONADIME.COM Blue Moon Beltline Boil 4 • beltlineboil.com ENTER ON THE SUBJECT LINE: SIGNSaturday, ME UPApril INSITE!

RECEIVE UPDATED EVENTS WEEKLY. SIGN UP BY EMAILING SUBSCRIPTIONS@ATLANTAONADIME.COM ENTER ON THE SUBJECT LINE: SIGN ME UP INSITE! PG 6 • April 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

Under The Lights ON STAGE THIS MONTH

EDWARD FOOTE

Now playing through April 19 Alliance Theatre - Hertz Stage Box Office (404) 733-5000 AllianceTheatre.org/edwardfoote

Men. There are nine Blue Men who run each show. To create their invigorating percussion they go through 40 drumheads, 20 cymbals and 45 drumsticks each week.

This year offers a new sound set and video design creating a high-impact experience.

BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY

Edward Foote is a premier production by award winning playwright and author Phillip DePoy. The play is a Gothic murder mystery set to haunting Appalachian folk song. In Edward Foote a stranger comes to town looking terribly familiar to the residents of a tiny rugged Appalachian community in the 1930s. Could it be that Edward Foote, a drunken good-for-nothing father, has returned? A small community is forced to reveal its darkest secrets.

This world premiere noir features a captivating story told against the backdrop of shape note singing. “For quite some time now I’ve been interested in telling mythological narratives in new, unique ways,” said DePoy. “Ancient stories, like the one retold in Edward Foote, are living right beside us every day.”

BLUE MAN GROUP

April 7 - 12 The Fox Theatre Tickets (855) 285-8499 FoxTheatre.org/blueman

Blue Man Group brings its high-octane theatrical experience back to Atlanta for their return to the Fox Theatre. The unique show creates experiences that defy categorization however it is best known for multimedia performances that feature three bald and blue characters who take the audience on a journey that is funny, intelligent and visually stunning. A live band, whose haunting tribal rhythms help drive the show to its climax, accompanies the Blue

A timeless look at hopeful A timeless look at dreams in hopeless days hopeful dreams in during the twilight ofhopeless the days during the twilight of the Harlem Renaissance.

Harlem Renaissance, starring Crystal Fox.

ersAry v i n n A 2 0t h

April 15 - May 10 Alliance Theatre Box Office (404) 733-5000 AllianceTheatre.org/blues Harlem, New York, 1930. The harsh realities of the Great Depression have devastated the bright decade of the H a r l e m Renaissance.

Disease and poverty have overshadowed the creative euphoria that fueled a surge of AfricanAmerican artists, writers and luminaries. A story with a rich cast of characters, scrambling to survive and make sense of their overlapping personalities, politics, and love. A classic by Atlanta’s own Pearl Cleage, as timely today as its Alliance Theatre world premiere 20 years ago.

PIPPEN

May 5 - 10 The Fox Theatre Tickets (855) 285-8499 FoxTheatre.org/pippen Starring Crystal Fox

Experience the thrilling 2013 Tony Award winning musical Pippen for its debut at the Fox Theatre. Pippen is currently back on Broadway for the first time since it thrilled audiences 40 years ago. With a beloved score by Tony nominee Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), Pippen tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Will he choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory. Featuring Broadway standards including “Corner of the Sky,” “Magic To Do,” “Glory,” “No Time at All,” “Morning Glow,” and “Love Song.”

Ticketss a as low

$25

April 15–May 10

As a healthy young female

, you have the power to give the gift of life and love.

You can help a couple build the family they’ve dreamed of by donating your eggs...and receive $7,000 for doing it! Donation is completely confidential and health screening is provided at no charge. If you are a non-smoking female between the ages of 21 and 31 and are interested in more information about egg donation, please visit our website or e-mail us at

donor@ivf.com

Tickets @ 404.733.5000

alliancetheatre.org/blues | Groups 404.733.4690

By Atlanta’s own Pearl Cleage | Directed by Susan V. Booth Series on the Alliance Stage

Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs

insiteatlanta.com • April 2015 • PG 7

Spring Patio Guide

Twin Peaks Restaurant

3365 Piedmont Rd. 404.961.8946 TwinPeaksRestaurant.com

Where to Go when looking to Dine Al Fresco!

Raging Burrito & Taco

141 Sycamore St. Decatur 404.377.3311 RagingBurrito.co

Raging Burrito & Taco on Decatur Square offers one of the best patio scenes in the city. In spring as people in Decatur look for places to dine al fresco their patio comes alive. The menu features hearty burritos, tasty tacos, large salads, quesadillas and more. On weekdays they offer free chips & dip from 11am to 3pm. While relaxing on their patio, enjoy one of the 16 Craft Beers available on tap or try one of their 15 Tasty Margaritas. Also get a Sweetwater 420 and IPA pint for just $3.95 or pitcher for $13.95 Monday through Wednesday.

The Downwind Restaurant

Dekalb Peachtree Airport 2000 Airport Rd. #201 770.452.0973 DownwindRestaurant.com

The Downwind Restaurant & Lounge located off Clairmont Rd. at the Dekalb Peachtree Airport offers amazing views of the runway. While watch-

ing the planes take off and land enjoy the great food here. Their menu has many outstanding offerings for lunch and dinner including their award winning burgers and sandwiches. Downwind Restaurant is known as having some of the freshest seafood in Atlanta as it gets flown in each day. They offer a full bar and live music every Friday night from 7pm - close.

Downwind Restaurant is family friendly with an aviation themed playground for kids. They are open Monday through Saturday 11am-10pm and closed on Sunday.

Athens Pizza House

1341 Clairmont Rd. Decatur 404.636.1100 AthensPizzaAtlanta.com

raging

Voted #1 since 1996

Burrito Voted #1 Since 1996!

& taco

ON DECATUR FREE ValidatEdSQUARE! PaRking!

Enjoy onE of our 16 craft BEErs on tap or Margaritas on our HugE gardEn patio Decatur, GA •

ragingburrito.com • 404-377-3311

Soak up the sun!

PATIO SEATING Great Subs, Sandwiches, Salads & Wings Since 1980

(Mondays Only)

$7.95 Large Cheese Pizza!

Just off I-85 @ Clairmont (Corner of Briarcliff & Clairmont)

3109 Briarcliff Rd. • (404) 320-1258 PG 8 • April 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

Agave

242 Boulevard SE 404.588.0006 AgaveRestaurant.com

Twin Peaks, the mountain lodge-style sports restaurant in Buckhead and its beautiful Twin Peaks girls offer great views! All three patios: street level, second floor open air and lively rooftop are serviced by the outgoing Twin Peaks wait staff.

Twin Peaks Restaurant offers high-quality comfort food with a wide array of sandwiches and salads to choose from. Choose from an extensive selection of 29-degree draft beers on 32 taps while the girls pour and serve into huge ice-cold, frosted mugs.

Several rooms are available for private parties, corporate or holiday functions.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant

Coming up on 50 years, the Papadopoulos family has been serving delicious Greek and Italian cuisine to the Emory / Decatur area. Here you will find much more than great pizza; soups, sandwiches and all the popular specialty dishes with many of the recipes going back generations. In spring head out to their patio and dine al fresco.

Their patio is also a popular destination for groups and private parties. Athens Pizza is the recipient of various awards including Best Greek Cuisine in Atlanta.

Athens Pizza offers an extensive catering menu for parties of all sizes.

Biersch is tapping their new seasonal beer Maibock on April 15. This spring check out their new Small Plates menu featuring individual and shareable appetizers. Both locations offer large patios; Buckhead comes with outdoor fireplaces.

848 Peachtree Street 404.870-0805 3242 Peachtree Road 404.264-0253 GordonBierschRestaurants.com

Consistently voted the Best Southwestern Restaurant in Atlanta, Agave uses only the freshest ingredients to create chef inspired dishes with a authentic southwestern flare.

Agave’s menu is a unique blend of eclectic southwestern cuisine and extensive tequila bar that goes great with al fresco dining.

Start with their two for one appetizers at the bar; available from 5pm - 7pm seven days a week. Then head to your table on their romantic southwestern designed patio with fireplace. Try their new Chipotle Lime Marinated Chicken Tostadas, Grilled Zucchini and Squash, & Hatch Green Chile Pintos and pare with one of their award winning margaritas.

Savage Pizza

484 Moreland Ave. 404.523.0500 115 Laredo Dr. 404.299.5799 SavagePizza.com

Gordon Biersch is an upscale brewery restaurant specializing in handcrafted German lagers brewed in-house. They feature a made-from-scratch American menu with bold international flavors. Gordon

This eclectic neighborhood restaurant is a favorite hangout among residents of Little 5 and Avondale Estates. Both locations offer patio seating and are great places to go after heading to the festivals.

In addition to great pizza you'll find specialty subs, calzones and salads. Their

sauce is homemade and dough is made from scratch daily. Savage is open for lunch and dinner with delivery service to the area.

Tacos & Tequilas

650 Ponce de Leon Ave 678.705.5955 4279 Roswell Rd. 404.705.8225 TandTAtlanta.com

in NY Style pizza, which is thin in the middle and thick around the edges. The Cheshire Bridge location featured has daily lunch specials from just $6.85 and this spring is offering $5 pitchers of beer on Tuesdays and $1 PBR Drafts all week long.

So bring the family and meet up with friends as the Braves game is sure to be shown. Or come for Trivia on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Johnny’s restaurants offer dine-in, take-out and delivery.

The Flying Biscuit Cafe’

1655 McLendon Ave. 404.687.8888 1001 Piedmont Ave. 404.874.8887 Catering 404.849.2283 FlyingBiscuit.com

Tacos & Tequilas is a family-owned traditional Mexican restaurant offering recipes passed down through generations. Here you’ll find all your Mexican favorites – tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, burritos, quesadillas and more. The quality in their food is on par with the finest Mexican restaurants in the city but at very reasonable prices. At Tacos & Tequila everything is authentic including their drinks as they offer 100 different brands of tequila. Both Atlanta locations have large patios that are great places to head to this spring.

Mo’s Pizza

3109 Briarcliff Rd. (Clairmont Rd. corner) 404.320.1258 MosPizza.com

The Flying Biscuit serves great breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Their Piedmont location adjacent to the park allows for dining inside or on their corner patio offering great views of the bustling Midtown scene. The Candler location recently completed renovation of their patio. Both locations are offering new nightly dinner specials and beer and wine selections this spring.

Chicago’s Nancy’s Midtown

265 Ponce De Leon #A 404.254.5103 NancysPizza.com

Mo’s has been serving up great pizza in Atlanta for over 30 years! But the menu isn’t limited to pizza: sandwiches, subs, wings, nachos and salads ensure that anybody who comes here can find something they like. Check for daily lunch and dinner specials. Everything is made using the freshest ingredients including the dough built from scratch every day. In spring, their front deck is the place to be. Families and friends flock here to catch some rays, enjoy the food and watch the Braves on one of their many screens.

Johnny’s NY Style Pizza

Multiple Locations JohnnysPizza.com

Johnny’s Pizza is synonymous with great pizza and subs in Atlanta. They specialize

Your Neighborhood Pizzeria!

Chicago has some the best pizza in America and that great pizza can be found on Ponce in Midtown at Chicago’s Nancy’s.

The restaurant seats 70 inside and 25 on their patio. Besides great pizza they offer an assortment of sandwiches, appetizers, salads and new this spring - Barbecue!

Now offering Smokehouse BBQ Ribs tender to order and slathered with their special Memphis Sweet BBQ sauce. Order by the slab or half slab. See their ad on the Back Page for coupons offering $4 and $5 Off online orders. Nancy’s provides take-out and delivery to the area.

Live Music & Entertainment • Full Bar • Daily Specials • Takeout Available

Downwind Restaurant & Lounge at the Dekalb Peachtree Airport

BEST PIZZA! e Magazine sit

IN

’s

Best of Atlanta 2014

Mon-Fri 11am-10pm • Saturday Noon-10pm • Sunday Closed

770.452.0973 • 2000 Airport Rd. #201, Atlanta www.downwindrestaurant.com

&

WINNER!

Multiple Atlanta Locations: www.JohnnysPizza.com insiteatlanta.com • April 2015 • PG 9

COMEDY

GLEE-FULLY HAPPY GIRL

Jane Lynch Eliminates the Clutter and Finds Her Core

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

A

S TV’S GLEE CONCLUDED AN ultra-successful six-season run last month, Jane Lynch, who portrayed the stern but lovable Sue Sylvester on the popular series, was crisscrossing the country -including a stop at Atlanta’s Symphony Hall -- with her sassy, “anti-cabaret” show called “See Jane Sing.” The busy actress-singer-improv comic is also in the process of filming a new pilot for CBS as well as hosting the irreverent, award-winning celebrities-plus-alcohol gameshow Hollywood Game Night on NBC. Her resume of films is impressive to say the least, with featured roles in blockbuster ensemble comedy films from modern comedy geniuses Christopher Guest (“Best In Show,” “A Mighty Wind”) and Judd Apatow (“The 40 Year Old Virgin”). She recently spoke with INsite on a rare day off in Los Angeles.

If only the real world was like that.

Yes! But to contrast that, you have to have a ridiculously evil villain. And that’s where my character came in. I was very grateful to play that role.

People loved you for it.

Yeah, but that’s because she wasn’t dangerous. She was ridiculous and funny and of course, had a heart of gold and really wished that she could be in that choir room, too!

Your other series, Hollywood Game Night, follows in the sort of “anti” mode as well. It’s sort of the direct opposite of a regular game show.

That’s because when you combine alcohol and celebrities, you have anti-everything!

You’re in the middle of shooting a new pilot for CBS. Can How’s it going? you talk about it yet?

We are having a blast. We just shot our first one for the I sure can. But it’s just a pilot, I’m not touting it too new season, two nights ago. And we’re shooting more this much. It’s called Angel From Hell. It’s one of those things, weekend and we’ll have a total of ten. where you make it and if they deem it worthy, then they’ll pick it up. But I really That’s a lot of work!

WE’RE ALL love it, I’m playing a guardian angel, or It is, but it’s fast and it’s fun and it’s crazy.

LOOKING FOR A I love a person who is nuts, you never really it. know! My character is extremely odd and PLACE IN THIS extremely compassionate and the writing Seems like nothing bothers, or can really COLD, HARD is beautiful. We’re in the midst of preyou. And obviously your early WORLD WHERE derail production for that show right now. improv training helps!

PEOPLE ARE It does. Imporov training was probably Glee just ended an incredible run, and a the best training I had for life. I did a Home SOFT AND lot of people might take some time away show, many years ago, when it was TRUTHFUL AND Shopping from TV. You’re jumping right back into brand new, like in the late ‘80s, and I was it, with a brand new network project.

FUNNY. very young. They didn’t tell you what to say, Yeah! Well, it’s one of those things that’s they just threw up a product and you had a something I didn’t plan; as is almost everything I end up list of what the attributes of that product were - and you doing. Something will come my way. I don’t set goals, like, had to riff on it for twenty minutes! I learned so much, “I will not do television for a year,” but I didn’t think I’d be doing that. Then, after that, I auditioned for Second City going back so fast, either. I really love doing this cabaret in Chicago. You do, you really learn to roll with it, as show. I’ve booked myself into 2016, and I’m pretty excited indeed, as I roll with things in life, too. It’s very rare that about that. But if I go back on television, then that’s something stops me and makes me throw a fit. fantastic, too. It’s just a great project.

Including hosting the Emmys [in 2011].

You are always busy with a number of these, decidedly Exactly, yeah! But I must say, if I were to do it over again, cross-platform, projects.

I’d be much more relaxed. I was very nervous for that.

Well, I love to work. It’s kinda what I do. It’s what I’m doing, even when I’m relaxing, I’m still thinking about it.

Well, that’s a huge deal.

It is a big deal, and I think that if I were to do it again, Your “See Jane Sing” tour has been billed as an “antiI’d be more relaxed. Because I understand what it is now. I cabaret” type showcase of songs and comedy. know what the function is, and once you understand that, Yes, but of course, again, it’s not what I set out to do. it’s smooth sailing.

Back last winter, about this time, 54 Below, a cabaret space in New York, offered me four nights for my act. I said, “I’ll You might as well go for the Academy Awards next time! take those four nights, but I don’t have an act! I’ll put one Haha, well, we’ll see… together.” So we scheduled it off a bit in the future [June] and I went to work on the show.

Speaking of movies, I do want to ask you about working with [director and Saturday Night Live and “This Is Did you formulate a theme or a story for the show in Spinal Tap” alum] Christopher Guest. He also has a big the process? background in improvisional comedy. Is it true that your That’s the thing, there is no discernable theme! I even introduction to him was because of a cereal ad? say in the show: “Join me on a musical journey through a It’s true! Yeah, I was doing commercials and I showed world of songs that have very little to do with one another.” up for a call-back and the director was there. And it was Christopher Guest! He cast me in a Frosted Flakes Now that Glee is over, what, in your opinion, will be the commercial and then shortly after, [in 2000] he invited me lasting legacy of the show? to do “Best Of Show.”

It really resonates deeply with kids, and adults alike.

You are perfect in his ensemble comedies.

Why does it have such an across-the board appeal?

Well that’s my favorite way to work; I love ensemble.

I think it represents a place, in this made-up world, McKinley High, where a person can go to the choir room Does he just go, “Ok, do whatever you feel” or is he strict and be themselves, and to be celebrated for who they are. on set? What’s his style of direction?

And just raise your voice in song and make a joyful noise. I Yes, he’s exactly that. He’s not a task-master at all, in think we’re all looking for that in life. I think we’re all still terms of telling us what to do. As he says, he hires people in high school in that regard. We’re all looking for a place because he knows they’ll show up and do it. He gives very in this cold, hard world where people are soft and truthful little direction, he just rolls and rolls and rolls and rolls. and funny. And when you get made fun of, it’s goodThey’re long takes, but only a few, and we’re done very natured ribbing that helps you learn more about yourself. quickly. Then he goes into the darkness of his editing Everything is done with love. room and he puts together a piece of magic.

PG 10 • April 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

How does his style differ from working with someone more methodical, like Judd Apatow?

Well, there’s more of a script with the Judd stuff, but for “The 40 Year Old Virgin,” we improvised so much! He was really fun. The only difference, really, between the two of them, is that personality-wise, they are different guys, but I loved working for both of them.

You’ve done a lot of charity work in the past. What good causes are you working on these days?

I’ve kind of stepped back from being involved in, especially, political things. I just don’t see the point in it right now. I think the best way to affect change in the world is affect change in yourself. When you’re walking through the world, and you’re living from your own authenticity, I think that’s much more powerful. I’ve really cut down on things, including clutter.

Eliminating clutter - of any kind - from your life is usually a very liberating experience.

Oh my God, it is. I have drawers now, with two or three things in them. I used to feel this obligation to fill everything. And now I don’t. I’m not totally zen! Believe me, my closet is busting with clothes I don’t wear, but I’ve really cut down. And I’m driving a tiny little car now.

Everything’s just become so much more down to the bone and I’m so much happier.

You seem very happy and very relaxed.

Thank you! Well, I am a happy girl! I was talking with a friend last night, too, about how happy we are. I said, “You know, I’m not circumstantially happy.” I’m not happy because of this, that or the other thing, I’m just happy.

Which is a great thing, because if you take away “this, that or the other thing,” I’m still gonna be happy!

That’s so healthy, and so rare these days.

Yes, but I think it’s kinda what we’ve gotta do. It’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in the last, probably, two or three years.

Right, because otherwise life will dwindle down into misery, and who wants that?

Exactly. Misery and clutter. You’ll have a lot of things, but you won’t know what to do with them!

TV

TV

PERFECT PENGUIN

Robin Lord Taylor Reinvents the Classic Batman Character on GOTHAM

DEALING WITH TRAUMA

Netflix Offers Two Takes on the Issue

BY BENJAMIN CARR

A

DULTS ARE DEFINED BY WHAT they survive and how well they manage it. Trauma can turn an optimist into a pessimist or vice versa. In fiction stories of survival fascinate us because of the many turns such a path might take. The common thread of Netflix’s two newest original series - the great, dark drama Bloodline and the Tina Fey-written sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - is that they are both compelling looks at survivors of trauma.

Placed together, the two very different shows play out the consequences of how you choose to cope with the bad things that happen to you in your life.

BLOODLINE

BY BRET LOVE

E

MPIRE IS UNDOUBTEDLY the hottest new show of this TV season. But Gotham, which is set in Gotham City shortly after the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents, has consistently ranked in the Top 10 thanks to its gritty portrayals of the origin stories behind iconic characters from the Batman saga (Catwoman, The Riddler, The Joker, James Gordon, etc.). In fact it’s been so successful that FOX extended its first-season order from 16 to 22 episodes, and quickly renewed the show (which was created by Rome’s Bruno Heller) for a second season.

Although well-known actors such as Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue and Jada Pinkett Smith anchor the expansive ensemble cast, it’s relative newcomer Robin Lord Taylor who has proven its breakout star. The depth and layers he brings to Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a The Penguin, adds a rich, empathetic humanity to the slimy, power-mad character played by Burgess Meredith in the ‘60s and Danny DeVito in the ‘90s. Rave reviews from Esquire and the Wall Street Journal have signaled Taylor as a rising star to watch.

We recently chatted with the 36-year-old actor about his 10-year rise to stardom, his insight into the Cobblepot character, and how he’d like to see The Penguin’s storyline develop.

How did you find out about Gotham and what was your initial reaction to the project?

When I prepared for the audition, I didn’t know what it was. It was the “Untitled Warner Bros Project,” and it was a fake scene. The night before, my agent told me that it was the prequel to Batman, and that I was auditioning to play the Penguin. I thought, I’m just going to go in and do my thing and see what happens. When I got the callback I went to L.A. and read the pilot script, and it was one of the best pilots I’ve ever read.

What did you like about this particular take on the Batman saga?

The fact that we’re telling parts of the story that have not been told before. I also like that we’re seeing these iconic characters that we all know and grew up with, but we’re seeing them at a time in their life when they’re finding their way and discovering things about themselves and Gotham City that informs who they end up becoming.

When I read the pilot script, I was so impressed with how they were going for the humanity in these characters. As an actor, that’s what you want to play.

Were you a fan of the Batman comics growing up?

I had read some of the comics, but not a lot of them. I was always into the movies, and even the Adam West series. I watched it every day after school. I wanted to be part of that world– to be telling these stories that haven’t been told.

Tell me about your insight into Oswald’s character. How did you want to make yours different from previous portrayals?

I really responded to the character’s ambition, and his desire to be the smartest one in the room. He’s steps ahead of everyone else because he has this huge desire not to be a powerless person. I grew up in a small town in Iowa as an artistic kid, and it was like Friday Night Lights. The only thing that I wanted to make different than what we had seen before was to add a little bit more humanity– something that people could identify with in a deep way and understand his motivations and where he’s coming from.

Station Control

From the makers of Damages, Bloodline is, from the beginning, a tough, complicated show to watch.

It gives you frustrating, unlikeable and twisted characters played brilliantly by one of the best casts probably ever assembled - Sissy Spacek, Kyle Chandler, Linda Cardellini, Sam Shepard and Ben Mendelsohn. Every character is a damaged mess in a completely unique and believable way. It centers on the Rayburn family, who own a successful hotel in Islamorada, Fla., and are being honored by the town in the first episode. The ceremony brings all the Rayburn offspring together - including screw-up outcast Danny (Mendelsohn), whose father hates him for some reason. Danny, though, is a sympathetic character who appears to have endured years of abuse from his entire family.

Danny’s survival - and the hint at the end of the pilot that a family member might murder him -

drives the heart of the series. The show is slow to reveal all the past Rayburn secrets, which can be very frustrating, but Danny is a great character.

We see him rise and fall, knowing how it will end for him. And it makes the show unlike any other depiction of family dysfunction we’ve seen. It’s painful, complicated and almost unbearably sad.

UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT

In Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, the title character, played with unending, wonderful perk by Ellie Kemper, is freed from an underground bunker in Indiana where a deranged lunatic cult leader held her and three other women hostage for 15 years, convincing her that the world had ended in a nuclear holocaust. Kidnapped at 14, it is insinuated - in a ripped-from-the-headlines way - that Kimmy has endured all sorts of disgusting abuses. But through it all, she kept her hope, her spunk and refuses to allow what happened to her to shape the rest of her life.

At age 29, Kimmy leaves an interview with The Today Show and embarks on a new life in New York, where she finds an entire community of people also trying to change their stories from her hilarious gay, black roommate Titus Andromedon (Titus Burgess), who wants to be on Broadway, to her new boss Jacqueline (Jane Krakowski), a blonde, rich, superficial mother on the Upper East Side who is hiding the most bizarre of backgrounds.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt wants its characters and its viewers to embrace joy in all the possibilities that life has to offer. It’s a wonderful sentiment, and the show is delightful.

Villains always think they’re the good guys. How do you get inside that mindset and away from the stereotype of being a villain?

I feel like no matter what character it is, the actor has to find something inside of that character that resonates on a human level. You can’t really judge them, you just have to understand them. Oswald views the world, and Gotham City in particular, as a place where there is no black and white, no good or bad. It’s all shades of gray. In order to succeed, you always have to look out for number one, stand up for yourself and not be afraid to make very difficult choices.

You’ve been a professional actor for 10 years, and this is obviously a big role.

What was it like to read the Esquire and the Wall Street Journal reviews of your performance?

It’s insane! There’s really nothing that prepared me for that. I never expected to be part of something this big, and to get such great responses from reviewers is just incredibly validating. You spend so much time trying to get to a certain place in your career that it becomes your identity: “I’m a struggling actor.” Then you get your big break, and then what happens now? This kind of thing doesn’t really happen to a lot of people. You don’t want to expect that it will, but you hope it will. It’s like, “Holy crap, here we go!” It’s a crazy ride.

Please see Gotham on page 20 insiteatlanta.com • April 2015 • PG 11

APRIL

Springfestivals

Atlanta Dogwood Festival Piedmont Park APRIL 10 - 12

The Dogwoods are in full bloom, and hundreds of artists from around the country will set up their tents for the 79th annual event.

The festival will welcome more than 260 fine artists and hundreds of thousands of visitors to a three-day weekend of live music, international performances, gourmet and festival fare, the popular disc dog competition and more under blooming dogwood trees.

There is a Kids Village featuring huge inflatables, arts & crafts and face painting for all ages. Festival attendees will now have a chance to run in their inaugural 5K. For more information visit dogwood.org.

Spring Festival on Ponce Historic Olmsted Linear Park APRIL 11 & 12

The two-day fine arts event will feature over 125 displays of local and regional fine

Additional food tickets can be purchased.

Visit hogsandhopsatlanta.com.

art and crafts, utilizing the gorgeous landscape designed by one of America's most celebrated landscape architects, Fredrick Olmsted, Sr. In addition to the abundance of unique art, there will be a children's area, local gourmet food trucks, beverages and a small stage for acoustic musical performances. The event is free, open to all ages, and dogs are welcome. For more information, visit festivalonponce.com.

Hogs and Hops

Masquerade Music Park APRIL 11

Atlanta Beer Festivals hosts the 4th annual Hogs and Hops at Masquerade Music Park on Saturday, April 11th Noon - 6pm.

This year's event will feature tasty BBQ and complimentary foods, live music, and tons of fun. They are expecting over 15 total food vendors and 50 plus different beer options. General Admission tickets will include all beer tastings, four food tickets, and entry.

Georgia Renaissance Festival

I-85; Exit 61 - Fairburn / Peachtree City APRIL 18 - JUNE 7

2015

ing Earth Day offers be plenty of live music, food, and SweetWater beer. Over the three day event 45 bands will perform on 4 stages. Visit sweetwater420fest.com for ticket information and band listings.

Kennesaw Big Shanty Festival The Georgia Renaissance Festival returns for its 30th year on weekends and Memorial Day, from April 18 through June 7. Designed to help visitors imagine that they have time traveled back to Elizabethan England, the Georgia Renaissance Festival creates the fantasy with themed buildings and rides, costumed actors, and creative entertainment and interactive activities. The festival offers a full day of entertainment on 10 stages with hundreds of costumed characters performing in over 150 shows each day. The food is another fan favorite especially their 1.5 lb. turkey legge. Find out more at georgiarenaissancefestival.com.

Sweetwater 420 Fest

Centennial Olympic Park APRIL 17 - 19 The annual music and arts festival celebrat-

Downtown Kennesaw APRIL 18 - 19

The Superior Plumbing Kennesaw/Big Shanty Festival has activities for all ages.

Take time to wander through more than 250 booths featuring a vast array of oneof-a-kind and homemade crafts. The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History sits at the center of the festival reminding visitors of Kennesaw’s important role in the Civil War. There will be two entertainment stages, festival foods, Kids Zone and more.

A parade kicks off the weekend on Saturday at 9:30am. For more info visit kennesawbusiness.org.

Exquisite mexican food with a hint of tequila in every dish, friendly staff and a party atmosphere.

New Ponce Location!

Ponce de Leon: 650 Ponce de Leon Ave. ATL 30308 Buckhead: 4279 Rosweell Rd. Suite 103 ATL 30342

tandtatlanta.com

PG 12 • April 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

Artsapalooza

Lake Forrest Drive, Sandy Springs APRIL 18 & 19

Sandy Springs Artsapalooza is a two-day outdoor event with an emphasis on visual arts and handcraft. This festival will feature up to 150 local and regional artists representing disciplines in painting, ceramics, glass, woodwork, handcraft, mixed media and more. In addition to the beautiful selection of artwork, the festival will also include an amazing lineup of gourmet food trucks, live acoustic music, children’s activities, as well as free parking and free admission. In all, this festival is the perfect spring destination with activities for the entire family.

Visit sandyspringsartsapalooza.com

Atlanta Steeplechase

Kingston Downs in Rome, Georgia APRIL 18

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Atlanta Steeplechase currently held on the beautiful 435-acre Kingston Downs complex. The event appeals to all ages and offers an array of entertainment. Activities include an Air Show, Hat Contest, Jack Russell Terrier races, shopping, pony rides, wagon rides, a petting zoo, live music and steeplechasing.

Atlanta Steeplechase patrons enjoy the circuit’s best horses and jockeys showcased in five premier races throughout the afternoon. Visit atlantasteeplechase.org.

Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes APRIL 24 - 26

The Inman Park Festival is a neighborhood event featuring food, music, fun, the city's largest street market and it's most outrageous parade. The parade takes place on Saturday, April 24 and will be led by the Inman Park Butterfly and followed by floats, clowns, jugglers, and the legendary Kelly's Seed and Feed Marching Abominables. The parade begins at Edgewood and Euclid at 2:00 p.m. and runs to Austin Ave. at the foot of Little Five Points. Children's activities include a giant slide, obstacle course, relay races and more.

Admission to all festival events is free, except for the Tour of Homes, which requires a paid ticket. For more information visit inmanparkfestival.org.

Smyrna Spring Jonquil Festival The Village Green - Smyrna, Ga. APRIL 25 & 26

The Smyrna Spring Jonquil Festival presented by Superior Plumbing features over 175 Arts & Crafts booths, 15 food booths, an entertainment stage and a variety of children's activities. Artisans are from all over the southeast feature their own hand-made crafts, paintings, clothing, furniture, jewel-

ry and much more. The huge interactive children's area includes big and small inflatable activities, sand art, and more. Live entertainment will be provided with Peter Hart’s fan favorite puppet show and acoustic music by Scott Thompson.

Admission is free. For more information visit smyrnacity.com.

MAY

Saturday, April 25 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 26 Noon to 5:00 p.m.

Shaky Knees Music Festival Central Park, Midtown MAY 8 - 10

Shaky Knees Music Festival returns May 8 featuring bands across four outdoor stages as well as local food trucks, artisans and vendors.

The music lineup includes The Strokes, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, Pixies, Social Distortion, Ryan Adams, Tame Impala, Brand New, Mastodon, Old Crow Medicine Show and many more! Full lineup and ticket info online now at ShakyKneesFest.com, with single day and 3-day passes available.

Located at the beautiful Village Green 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna, GA 30080 For more information call 770-423-1330 or www.smyrnacity.com

Chastain Arts Festival Chastain Park, Buckhead MAY 9 & 10

The award-winning, two-day festival, (formerly called Buckhead Spring Arts & Crafts Festival) will be held in Atlanta’s beautiful Chastain Park. An estimated 40,000 visitors will attend this event with up to 185 displays of art and crafts, including many local and regional artists and artisans. In addition to the abundance of unique art, there will be a children's area in the adjacent greenspace, local gourmet food, beverages and a small stage for acoustic musical performances. This free event showcases painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craft persons, glass blowers, jewelers and more. Visit chastainparkartsfestival.com.

Open Daily for Lunch & Dinner • Dine In, Pick-up, Delivery ($12 minimum / limited area)

$3.00 Off

Any Medium or Large Specialty Pizza Not Valid with any other coupons

WWW.SAVAGEPIZZA.COM

Little Five Points • 484 Moreland Ave. (Next to L5P Pharmacy) • (404) 523-0500 Avonale Estates • 115 Laredo Dr. (Corner of Clarendon) • (404) 299-5799

Yarab Shrine Circus & Fair Jim R Miller Park, Marietta, Ga. MAY 15 - 25

The largest Shrine Circus and Fair in North America is back for its 73rd year! Packed with more excitement than ever, this year’s Tarzan Zerbini Circus features several new acts including Brian Miser, the Human Fuse, the Flying Cavallini Act and Daniel Weeks, Free Style Motocross. Back again this year for laughs and gasps will be Ringmaster Richard Curtis, Patricia Zerbini with her incredible Elephants and the always hilarious Red Devil Clowns. Wade Shows always provide fun affordable family entertainment with 35 amusement rides for all ages. Come be entertained while enjoying your favorite carnival foods. Visit 2015shrinecircus.com for more on performances, rides, food vendors, hours and ticket information.

Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes Bessie Branham Park MAY 16

Don't miss being part of the 13th Annual Kirkwood Spring Fling & Tour of Homes on insiteatlanta.com • April 2015 • PG 13

Saturday, May 16.

Celebrating the historic and eclectic intown neighborhood of Kirkwood, this family-friendly Festival offers a funfilled opportunity to enjoy the warmth of spring. Start the day off with their 5K, stroll through our Artist Market, catch some live music with a bite to eat from local vendors or the BBQ competition, and let the kids go wild in the Kids Area. Best of all, admission is free.

The one ticketed event is the ever-popular Tour of Homes. Visit kirkwoodfling.com.

Shaky Boots Music Festival KSU Sports and Entertainment Park MAY 16 & 17

The Inaugural Shaky Boots Festival kicks off at the KSU Sports & Entertainment Park May 16 & 17 with Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Dwight Yoakam & many more! There will be a huge variety of food trucks plus beer, wine and liquor stations inside the festival. Find out more along with ticket info online at ShakyBoots.com.

East Atlanta Beer Festival

East Atlanta Village, Brownwood Park MAY 17

The 12th Annual East Atlanta Beer Festival will be held in East Atlanta’s Brownwood Park. From a great beer

selection to early access VIP entry to rocking local music, the EABF is an event not to be missed.

Sample over 175 craft beers from across the globe and visit shops and restaurants in East Atlanta Village. Enjoy live local music on the festival's main stage and a wide array of food. Proceeds benefit the community. Visit Eabfonline.com.

Atlanta Jazz Festival Piedmont Park MAY 22 - 24

Celebrating 38 years of musical mastery, the festival returns to historic Piedmont Park with three days of music over Memorial Day Weekend. The Atlanta Jazz Festival is the perfect way to spend Memorial Day Weekend with family and friends.

Audiences will enjoy a wide spectrum of styles from traditional straight-ahead jazz, Latin jazz and swing to jazz flavored with neo-soul, hip-hop and R&B. Enjoy the sumptuous music of legendary artists Pharoah Sanders and Diane Schuur, the fresh sounds of The Rad Trads, and spicy stylings of some of Atlanta’s hottest local musicians. The festival offers music every day in May and culminates with the huge final weekend in Piedmont Park. Over Memorial Day Weekend a wide variety of food vendors will tempt your taste buds with BBQ, gyros, burgers, Caribbean foods and more.

The family-friendly atmosphere will include two KidZone areas with games, inflatables and fun activities. National and

international musicians will perform on two stages. Admission to the festival is free. Festival hours in Piedmont Park are Friday, May 22 from 6pm - 11 pm; Saturday, May 23 from 11am - 11pm and Sunday, May 24 from 11 am - 11 pm. Visit atlantafestivals.com.

Decatur Arts Festival Decatur Square MAY 22 - 24

Decatur's biggest arts event takes place over Memorial Day Weekend.

Get started F r i d a y evening, May 22, with the ArtWalk all around Decatur. The fun continues with the new dance festival, literary arts performances, musicians all day long on Decatur's community bandstand, a juried artists market, the fine arts exhibition, a special Kids and Teens Arts Festival and more. For additional info visit DecaturArtsFestival.com.

Rhythm and Brews

$5. For more information visit heritagesandysprings.org.

JUNE

Virginia-Highland Summerfest Virginia-Highland Neighborhood JUNE 6 & 7

Taking place the first weekend in June, the VirginiaHighland Summerfest offers an Artist Market featuring works of over 200 artists and craftsmen from all over the Southeast. The Kidsfest offers games, crafts and activities for children of all ages.

Live music will be held on stage and will feature a variety of local musicians along with nationally acclaimed singer songwriters. Over a 1,000 runners will compete in the Summerfest 5K on Saturday through the neighborhood streets of VirginiaHighland. Visit vahi.org for more info.

Atlanta Fringe Festival Downtown and East Atlanta JUNE 4 - 7

Heritage Green, Sandy Springs MAY 29

Rhythm & Brews is an open-air happy hour concert series that embraces regional roots, presenting four acts in a variety of musical genres. Each month features an unforgettable performance of both up-and-coming and established artists whose origins are deeply rooted in the region. May 29 features Blair Crimmins and The Hookers. Admission is

The 3rd annual Atlanta Fringe Festival brings adventurous local and national artists together for a four-day celebration of live performances from across the theatrical spectrum. Expect a wide variety of performances with everything from dance theatre, spoken word, circus performance, puppetry, comedic monologues, to traditional ensemble theatre. For more information visit atlantafringe.org.

FUN & RIDES FOr everyone!

See you at the circus!

73RD ANNUAL

YAARAB SHRINE CIRCUS OUNT DISCk s Tic7 –eMtay 25

REGULAR Ride Tickets AT THE GATE

1 ticket $1.25, 21 tickets $20 55 tickets $50, 120 tickets $100

Aprilll2Metro-Atlanta At a

Unlimited rides

$s2ad1m.is9sio5n SnS A P u irc A c , e missio l rides any on MEeG s gate ad iva er

Monday-Thursday, May 19-22 $18 per person does not include admission

d includ nlimited carn a nd un lose *10 es] and u en to c day op re free [no rid a

REGULAR ADMISSION AT THE GATE

Walgreens Discount Ticket Prices

Admission $7.00, 10 *includes & under FREE circus admission

Mega Pass : $21.95

Parking $5.00

*mega pass includes gate admission, circus admission and unlimited carnival rides any one day open to close *10 and under are free [no rides]

Admission Tickets : $3.50 21 Ride Tickets Strip : $11.00 *Rides require more than one ticket

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, 2015 May 15 − 25 Jim R Miller Park Marietta, GA th

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www.2015shrinecircus.com for more information call 404.419.6755

PG 14 • April 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

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Road Warriors

fronted by fantastic vocalist Kristen May, the Penatonix band is renewed and reinvigorated. Their latest album release Between the Stars is filled with songs that showcase bright and passionate vocals along with music that treads new sonic territory for the band.

This Month’s Hottest Shows

BY SACHA DZUBA

APRIL 3 & 4, 30, MAY 1 & 2 – 500 SONGS FOR KIDS Smith’s Olde Bar

APRIL 10 & 11 – 500 SONGS FOR KIDS

APRIL 14 – OK GO

The Buckhead Theatre

APRIL 17,18,23-25 – 500 SONGS FOR KIDS

APRIL 13 – THE TING TINGS

Terminal West The Ting Tings, a “sound of innovation on an open mind”, are a great pop rock duo out of England. They are certainly known for their huge hit “That’s Not My Name” as well as “Shut Up and Let Me Go”. The Ting Ting’s are back with a new album called Super Critical, exploring 70’s/80’s funk and disco sounds.

Characterized by slap bass, hand claps, pia-

The Tabernacle

nos, and vintage synths; these songs are sure to get you groovin’ on the dance floor.

The Earl

Vinyl Now in its eighth year, 500 Songs for Kids is the yearly concert series that draws over 500 musicians to perform the top 500 songs of all time; as chosen by Rolling Stone Magazine. Over the course of 12 days, the event schedules hundreds of known and unknown musical artists to perform their versions of only one song, each. However, the concert event isn’t about the musicians or the songs themselves, but rather the very worthy causes that are being supported. The Songs for Kids Foundation assists children’s hospitals and special needs children’s organizations. You never know who you might see; as the event has had appearances by many notable performers over the years.

APRIL 23 – HALESTORM

Possibly the world’s most creative band, OK Go is defined by a vision that eschews boundaries for boundless creativity. Bursting with infectious songs, OK Go explores endless creative endeavors: their elaborate and artistic videos have been seen the world over, immersive and surprising live performances, apps and a host of other ambitious and fun experiments. Their forthcoming album, Hungry Ghosts will be very diverse stylistically, encompassing a more electronic sound than previous efforts and influenced by 80’s acts including Prince, INXS, the Cure, and New Order.

APRIL 17 – BRYAN ADAMS RECKLESS 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

The Canadian born Bryan Adams reached the heights of fame in the 80’s and 90’s with incredible songwriting that touched the hearts of millions. He’s won countless awards for his music and was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Bryan Adams’ classic songs “Cuts Like A Knife”, “Summer of ‘69”, and “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” sparkle, shine, and foster the kind of touching emotion that brings a tear to the eye. This latest tour sees the 30th anniversary of Adam’s album Reckless, played in its entirety, along with other well-loved tunes.

APRIL 18 - ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA

Variety Playhouse Zappa Plays Zappa is the closest that you can get to a live performance by the late great Frank Zappa himself…without raising him from the dead and handing him a guitar. His son Dweezil Zappa created the band and tour in an effort to keep his father’s music alive and still within the realm of popular consciousness. This particular tour focuses on the 40th anniversary of the album One Size Fits All and they will be performing it in its entirety; along with a mix of other songs from the Zappalog

APRIL 19 – FLYLEAF

The Masquerade Hailing from Texas, hard rock band Flyleaf are characterized by melodic and harsh female vocals and chugging guitar riffs. Now

Prepare yourself for the incoming Halestorm!

The Hale siblings, drummer Arejay and vocalist/guitarist “Lzzy” Hale, bassist Josh Smith and guitarist Joe Hottinger have a Best Hard Rock/ Metal Performance Grammy under their belts and will blow your face away with their blend of hard rock and metal. These non-stop touring demons have performed as many as 250 shows a year. Their latest album, Into The Wild Life, features a wide range of material, anthemic cuts, pop ballads, and edgy metal tracks.

APRIL 24 – RICHARD CHEESE & LOUNGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

Center Stage Richard D. Cheese likes it sleazy and cheesy as America’s loudest lounge singer. Cheese and his band Lounge Against the Machine takes your favorite rock, rap, and Top 40 hits and “swankifies” them, turning them into swingin’ Vegas versions of the originals. With his snappy jazz crew, his tiger-striped tuxedo, and his enormous microphone; Richard Cheese presents the perfect mix of music, martini, and madcap.

MUSIC

A DEEPER SHADE OF SOUL

Ruby Velle & the Soulphonics Reinvent Classic Sounds for the 21st Century

BY BRET LOVE

I

T MAY HAVE TAKEN BRITS LIKE AMY WINEHOUSE and Adele to bring it back into fashion, but classic soul music originally took root in the Deep South via Georgia artists such as James Brown, Ray Charles, Little Richard and Otis Redding.

You can hear those early innovators’ influence in the sound of today’s finest Georgia soul bands, including Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings and Ruby Velle & the Soulphonics. We recently caught up with three members of the latter group– Ruby Velle, Spencer Garn & Scott Clayton– to discuss their history, the success of their 2012 debut, and the resurgence of classic soul.

I interviewed James Brown sideman Bobby Byrd once, and he said he had to perform in Europe and Asia to make money because the US didn’t care about soul music. Why do you think classic soul has experienced this resurgence in the last 10 years?

Scott: Everything recycles musically at some point, especially great music. Classic soul has always had a way of reaching people and making them feel!

Spencer: I guess it’s really timeless music, especially for those that really love soul music and other legit music (blues, old country, jazz). I don’t see why any roots-based style music would ever die out. It may never hit mainstream again, but there’s tons of people around the world who will always be into it, and new fans getting introduced to it, too!

You guys are celebrating your 10-year anniversary in 2015, but how did you I THINK PART OF From Otis Redding and James Brown to Sharon originally come together?

THE ARTISTRY Jones, Georgia has a storied history of amazing Spencer: We started in Gainesville, Florida artists. What do you think it is about the (as The Elements), then relocated to Atlanta. I IS GOING BACK soul state? Is it in the clay? already knew Scott from the local music scene, AND MAKING IT Ruby: I will say that the earth in Atlanta, and and when we met Ruby we formed our early in Georgia as a whole, is laden with soul. There BETTER. songs, which I recorded on 8-track in my living is a certain energy here that has captured our room. We kept going step by step from there. attention and is expressed through our music. We Scott: We realized early on that the soul revue thing was a are grateful to share in the fabric of soul that exists in the south. cookie-cutter approach, so we focused on the band and Ruby as a unit, and what unique sounds could come from it. Then she began writing songs that had been poems, which evolved into the What are the challenges of crafting your own original sound, paying tribute to a style that’s been around 60+ years, and lyrical content for our early tunes. somehow making it relevant to modern audiences?

Ruby: I think part of the artistry is going back and making it Classic soul is obviously at the core of your sound, but were better.

It’s important that you don’t rush the process because there other common interests– musical or otherwise– that we do closely toe the line between something done before and helped the ensemble bond? exploring what is new to be done by using soulful tones and Scott: We all listened to a lot of music over the years, classic sounds. We are always looking forward to the new explorations. rock, blues, folk, jazz... I think we’ve bonded over the years on many levels, musical and non-musical. (Scott) Has your sound or songwriting process changed as you record your sophomore album?

Spencer: The sound has developed, and you’ll have to check it out once it’s released! But the process has not changed a whole lot. We’ve grown as writers and collaborators, and I think our own critiques of our older songs have helped us to write the new batch of tunes.

What are the secrets to keeping a band like this together for 10 years?

Spencer: We put a first album out that didn’t fail, so I think that helped keep everything alive. I don’t know if there are many secrets, just a lot of work and time spent making sure the product is what you want it to be.

What are your goals for the future of the band? Fame and fortune? Awards? How do you define success in the crazy-ass music industry of today?

Scott: All of the above, please. The immediate goal is to keep writing and recording with the intention of a sophomore release this fall. I think we all just want to make a living doing what we love, and feel that our music is enjoyed and appreciated. insiteatlanta.com • April 2015 • PG 15

MUSIC

Album Reviews

REVIEWS BY BRET LOVE, LEE VALENTINE SMITH AND JOHN B. MOORE

The Who

The Who Hits 50! (Geffen/Universal)

way beyond the obvious pop punk clichés to deliver an even dozen tracks that sound like nothing else being put out right now. They transition easily from an electrically frantic song like “On a Wire” to a mellower, but just as solid track like “Roller Coasters”.

Full of swagger, with the talent to back it up, Toy Guitar has turned in what will easily be one of the best debuts of the year. A– John Moore

Mike Pace & The Child Actors

Best Boy (The Self-Starter Foundation)

The March Divide

+1 EP (Self-released)

The joke goes that The Who have more greatest hits compilations than actual albums. And yes, it’s hard to believe that in five decades, they’ve only released eleven studio albums. But quality work (and endless recycling of their rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia) takes a great deal of time.

Thus, to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary, the legendary British band presents the aptly titled The Who Hits 50, which is (big surprise!) yet another greatest hits collection.

Its function is to coincide with the band’s 50th Anniversary Tour, which began in Dublin (Ireland) this past November and arrives in Duluth (Georgia) this month. The new release has one new song Be Lucky the only new music from the band since 2006’s Endless Wire album. Unfortunately it sounds old and tired and strains in vain to be hip with predictably annoying results.

Thankfully, the rest of the tracks all bristle with the pure genius of the band at their very best. These include I Can’t Explain, My Generation and Baba O’ Riley. C –LVS

Toy Guitar

In This Mess (Fat Wreck Chords)

Well emo didn’t stay down for that long, did it? In the midst of the much-maligned genres revival, add San Antonio’s The March Divide (Jared Putnam) to the list of bands who aren’t afraid of heart-on-sleeve vocals.

Coming just four months after the release of a full length, it’s hard not to see this sevensong EP as a collection of left-overs that just didn’t fit onto Billions, despite Putnam emphatically proclaiming “these aren’t B-Sides!”

The songs here are decent enough, all borrowing heavily from bands like Saves the Day and Dashboard Confessional. But aside from being a disciple of late ‘90s emo bands, you’d be hard pressed to find anything original about Putnam’s music. From the basic acoustic strumming to the earnest lyrics delivered with almost whispered vocals, you get a sense you’ve heard this all before. If emo does manage to break back into the music scene in a big way, it probably won’t be The March Divide leading the way. C+ –John Moore

Radio Birds

Contemporary American Slang

Jack Dalrymple has certainly earned the right to put out half-assed records at this point. He started the brilliant pop punk band One Man Army, formed Dead to Me and put out their best record then left the band (and is back again!), not to mention his long residency in the wildly influential Swingin’ Utters. So yeah, Dalrymple gets a pass if he wants to phone it in with his next group.

Judging from Toy Guitar’s debut full length, In This Mess, word obviously never got back to him. With nearly flawless execution, the four-piece grab a disparate collection of musical influences, from garage rockers to Thin Lizzy and Mott the Hoople, and yes, a handful of old punk, cram them into a studio and produce a record that is still wholly original. Dalrymple and buddies go

PG 16 • April 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

(Brash Records) Atlanta has a long and storied history of churning out hip hop and R&B greats. But a much smaller and less publicized scene there boasts some pretty impressive rock bands.

Radio Birds is just one of the latest.

This four-piece plays straight ahead rock music, reminiscent of the first Black Crows album mixed with Springsteen’s earnest vocals and just enough country twang to bring to mind a band like the Old 97’s.

The music on Contemporary Slang has stripped off all pretention – a rarity it seems nowadays – so the focus is completely off the band and put on the songs.

A slow boil jam like “Miss Ilene,” with its Blues guitar and perfect backing vocals, pairs quite nicely with a more raucous track like “Sleep City” or the album opener “Hold on Me.” Radio Birds may be Atlanta’s best kept secret at the moment, but if there’s any justice, they won’t be a secret for much longer. B –John Moore

Mike Pace has been away from the studio for quite a while; Seven years to be exact.

That’s the last time Pace, at that point the front man for the indie pop band Oxford Collapse, put out a record. Judging from the bulk of the 11 tracks that make up the debut for his new outfit, Mike Pace & The Child Actors, the sabbatical was time well spent.

Best Boy, is a stellar collection of witty three-minute pop tunes, flirting with a sound that comes across as a modern day Kinks. From the 70’s keyboard intro on a song like “The King of Corona” to “Southern Cordial” that has an almost Pinkerton-era Weezer vibe, this is a band with an impressive collection of rock and pop influence beyond the obvious. The only track that really doesn’t seem to fit the rest of the album is title song, with its moody, sweeping New Age sound. Coming in the middle of the album, it’s an odd break from an otherwise strong collection of songs.

Seven years away was way too long. Here’s hoping Pace’s follow up is a lot sooner. B –John Moore

Fractal Mirror

Gardens of Ghosts (Third Contact)

The Netherlands-based pop/prog Fractal Mirror’s sophomore album is not a big step removed from their critically-lauded debut, Strange Attractors. For fans that’s great news; for everyone else, a collective shrug of the shoulders.

Gardens of Ghosts is nearly a dozen tracks of Pink Floyd-ish atmospheric swirling music under quiet vocals. Sadly, sticking to the same formula for all 11 tracks here it’s hard to tell one song from the next as they all just bleed into one another.

Even the titles - “Solar Flare,” “Stars,” Orbital View,” “Lost in the Cloud” - have a sameness quality. As a result, listening to the album becomes more of an endurance test for all but those truly enamored with the band. C–John Moore

ROYAL THUNDER

Crooked Doors (Relapse)

Finding beauty and brilliance in the wake of heartbreak.

A lot has happened in the three years since Atlanta’s Royal Thunder released it sswampy, cryptic 2012 debut, CVI. Most significantly, bassist/vocalist Mlny Parsonz and her husband, guitarist Josh Weaver, ended their tumultuous romantic

relationship but continued to work together in a creative capacity.

Now, with help from new members Evan Diprima on drums and Will Fiore (of Zoroaster) on guitar, they’ve released a stunning album that’s earning comparisons to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. Not so much for the music as for the unflinching view it offers of the ugly aftermath of heartache.

Crooked Doors isn’t a complete deviation from the musical path Royal Thunder established on their debut: Weaver’s bluesinflected riffs, Parsonz’s soulful vocals, and a production style rich with atmospheric depth remain intact. But the emotional subject matter inexorably colors the proceedings, with sweeter melodies, more jagged edges and more deeply personal lyrics that hit like a sucker punch to the gut.

“Time Machine,” the epic 7-minute power ballad that opens the album, is a perfect case in point. “I cannot go back and change one single thing,” Parsonz sings as the melodic groove builds in dynamic intensity, adding an unconvincing “I’m looking for a way to feel, ‘cuz I don’t feel a thing” before erupting into a chorus that suggests she feels too much.

“Forget You” is a bluesy barn-burner that finds her accusing Weaver of using her up until she feels wasted, hurling words with such passion you can almost see the spittle on her mic. “One Day,” the first single, pairs her conflicted croon with Weaver’s aching arpeggios, and the result is almost breathtakingly beautiful in its melancholy.

“Glow” brings a splash of honky tonk to the Royal Thunder sound, but it’s the twopart closer, “ The Bear,” that proves most revelatory. “This is not what I want, I need to be free,” Parsonz sings over a sparse backdrop that gives way to a lovely pianoand-cello lament drenched in her heartache.

It’s an ominous end to an incredible album that begs a question: How long can these two former lovers continue to make beautiful music together without being torn apart by the memories of what they’ve lost?

If this is ultimately to be Royal Thunder’s swan song (and Parsonz swears that it isn’t), they can rest assured they’ve ended with an absolute masterpiece.

The band’s full-length debut is bluesinflected Southern swamp metal with a decidedly pointed edge, featuring Parsonz’s banshee-like screams and wails over sludgy guitar riffs. The songwriting is solid throughout, but Parsonz is clearly the star here, using her voice alternately as a kittenish come-on, a melodic force of nature, and a deadly weapon. I honestly can’t remember another hard-rock singer, male or female, that I’ve ever been more impressed with upon first listen. A –Bret Love

FILM

MUSIC

MO MONEY, MO PROBLEMS HERE RIGHT NOW Mo’Nique Talks about Blackbird and Hollywood’s Old Problem with Race

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

I

T WAS THE WRITER LOUISA MAY Alcott who once said, “I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.” The thought of causing ripples to the status quo is enough to make most steer clear of drama. But Mo’Nique ain’t most.

Somewhere in between playing loving, boisterous mother Nikki Parker on the UPN sitcom The Parkers in the early 2000s and making her Oscar-winning turn as abusive mother Mary Lee Johnston in Precious in 2009, Mo learned to sail her own ship. So, when industry folks came down on her for not campaigning as much for Precious during awards season as they would have liked, she weathered on. Some have condemned Mo’Nique for her outspoken ways. Others have applauded her. INsite just wanted to make sure Mo, who’s executive producing and starring in the powerful new drama Blackbird this month, had the platform to tell her side of the story.

Mo, when I look at recent box office standings of the top 15 movies, only two of them have blacks in primary roles. When you hear statistics like that, where it is only two of 15 with blacks in roles, how does it make you feel?

What it makes me say is independency. It makes me feel like we can do this our way and not be in a position of waiting for someone to say, “Okay, now it’s your turn and we’ll give you a shot.” But when I see that, that is not something new that we’re seeing, is it?

No, not at all.

That’s been going on for a long time. So, you either can do one of two things: Either you can stand around and say, “Please let it be my turn next,” or either you can take your turn.

How long did it take for you to kind of get that mindset?

I think I’ve always had that mindset but just didn’t know how to go about putting it into action. I always say, “Hey guys, why can’t we do it differently? Why are we sitting around waiting” When my husband Sidney Hicks and I figured out how, that is exactly what we did.

That is why I made this beautiful film coming out April 24 called Blackbird.

Talk about the family of filmmakers

and creative minds that it took to make this movie.

When we first got the call from our attorney, Ricky Anderson, and he said, “Hey, Isaiah [Washington] is trying to reach out to you guys because he has a script.” We share the same attorney. When we first got that script, by the time we got to page one, we knew we wanted to be a part of it. It covers so many things; growing up, homosexuality, suicide, marriage, friendship and disease. To know that you are going to be part of something that is going to really change people’s minds and open up people’s hearts is fulfilling.

Speak on the roles since Precious that have come your way. Why haven’t we seen you more?

Because they didn’t make sense. And if it does not make dollars, it does not make sense.

And after I won the award — and I say this with all the humility that I can say it with — the calls that were coming were as if I should be thankful that they’re calling. It was a feeling of, “Well, okay, now we like you, but we don’t want to give you the leading roles. We don’t want to play fair. We just want to be able to put you in the movie, so we’ll say in the movie is Academy Award-winning actress Mo’Nique, but the paycheck doesn’t say that, and the role doesn’t say that.” And again, because being an actress wasn’t the thing that I always wanted to be, it just had to make sense. And it hasn’t made sense.

That’s all you want is respect and someone acknowledging your worth.

That’s it. And I think what some people may have a problem with is when they look at me, they say, “How dare you speak out? Number one, you are a woman. Number two, you’re black. And number three, you’re fat. You are a fat, black woman. Do you know how limited it is for you? And you’re going to speak out?”

That’s when you start saying, “I must” because it’s not fair. It’s an injustice that is going on and has been going on and we have been too afraid to speak out about it for this reason right here, afraid of what people might say, afraid of what people might do. So, I’ve always been that girl, even on the playground as a child, if it didn’t make sense, I’m raising my hand [and saying] “How come Robin and Pam can play on the see-saw but I can’t?” They didn’t want to say, “Because you’re too big.” But I’ve always been that person to speak out.

Drummer Debbi Peterson on Three Decades of Bangledom

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

T

HE LAST TIME I TALKED WITH Debbi Peterson of The Bangles was 29 years ago at The Palace in Hollywood. The venerable venue on Vine Street was packed with rabid fans and celebrities including Prince, who delighted the over-capacity crowd by jamming with the band on his own composition, The Bangles’ Top-5 hit at the time, Manic Monday.

Their album Different Light was a bestseller and Banglemania was sweeping the pop world. They were inescapable at the time, gracing everything from magazine covers to cameos on New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Less than three years later, the group announced a long hiatus that ultimately lasted until the end of the ‘90s, gracefully missing the grunge era completely.

The band now balances their revived, low-key career with solo and side-project outings, marriages and kids. The original core of the band, drummer-vocalist Debbi, along with her sister Vicki Peterson and Susanna Hoffs, are currently on tour but Peterson took a break to speak with INsite from her home in southern California.

Now that you’re back, live shows are still pretty rare for the band.

Mainly, kids are the reason for that. So it’s a little harder to get us together and get out there. But we’re gonna start doing more, soon.

And now your newest album [Ladies And When you reunited in ’99 Gentlemen, The Bangles] is SUNDAY, APRIL 11 after a decade long hiatus your oldest stuff. was it seamless or did it Variety Playhouse A lot of people never had feel a little weird? our first EP. It was never Well, because it was such variety-playhouse.com released on CD, so we a long a period all that decided to get it out there. animosity, that frustration And of course, we dug up and those weird feelings kinda went away. It some old demos and early recordings to put all became so unimportant, because we’d all of there with it. matured, we’d had kids and our perspectives

THE BANGLES

had all changed.

And two great albums came from the reunion era. Doll Revolution and Sweetheart Of The Sun. Both of them were really good experiences and I felt like we all contributed to them and we all had our say. We’re really proud of what we did. It’s a shame they sort of went under the radar a bit.

2003’s Doll Revolution was the perfect fourth album for the band, even though it came 15 years after your third one [1988’s Everything].

It was very exciting doing that one because when we finally came back together, we had all this material that we’d been working on with other people and things we were starting to work on together.

It was all fresh again and I think that made it special.

TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE PART OF SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO REALLY CHANGE PEOPLE’S MINDS AND OPEN UP PEOPLE’S HEARTS IS FULFILLING.

road. But both of those records were done with companies as distribution, as opposed to being on a real record label. They weren’t very together, and things kind of went away quickly, unfortunately. You know, our first ep, way back in 1982, was on [I.R.S. founder] Miles Copeland’s label and it went under, too. I don’t know how we keep getting drawn into these loser labels.

And 2011’s Sweetheart Of The Sun, co-produced with Matthew Sweet, is especially hard to find.

We’ve rereleased it online and you can buy it on iTunes and stuff, and we have copies in the Banglestore on the website, and we bring some of them with us on the

How did it feel to sort through some of your oldest material?

It was fun. It reminded us of the very, very early days, when it all began. The excitement of playing so fast, like we were on speed, because we were young and excited. It was all fresh and new. It’s us in the early days, and we had a great time.

Coming full circle, this album is selfreleased, as was your first single back in ’81.

Yeah, we did that single ourselves, with money from our day jobs. I still remember putting those records into the little sleeves. We had that complete, wide-eyed excitement of, “Hey kids, let’s put out a record!”

The Bangles best-selling album Different Light [1986] was such a growth spurt from your early material.

Exactly. Well that’s what you do, you don’t make the same record twice, that’d be boring. As you’re getting older and growing, musically and mentally, you have new experiences and you want to move it around and change it a bit. There’s still the

Please see Bangles on page 20 insiteatlanta.com • April 2015 • PG 17

MUSIC

THE ADOLESCENTS

SUMMER CANNIBALS

Southern California Punk Rock Shines Portland Band Back with Second Album

BY JOHN B. MOORE

F

OR 35 YEARS – WITH A FEW years off here and there - The Adolescents have been flag bearers for the Southern California punk rock movement.

Line ups have changed and the guys have long since left Orange County, but the band is still churning out punk rock with a conscious, blending loud guitars and machine gun drumming with politically-savvy lyrics.

Their latest, La Vendetta, is no different.

Over 16 tracks, the hardcore band tackles everything from police brutality to the melt down at the Fukushima nuclear facility.

Steve Soto, bassist and co-founder of the band spoke recently about the band’s mix of music and socially conscious lyrics, the latest record and keeping things fresh three decades in.

The Orange County punk scene has changed a lot since you guys first came up in it. Are younger bands continuing on the tradition of the punk scene?

There is a great scene out there with bands like FIDLAR, Audacity, Mean Jeans... Punk is alive and well around the world.

One thing I have always loved about The Adolescents is that you take on big, controversial and political topics. La Vendetta seems to be continuing that tradition. Are you bothered at all that there seem to be very few younger punk bands tackling political topics in their songs?

Bands are going to do what they want to do and sing about what they want to sing about. I don’t concern myself with what their content is; a good song is a good song.

The songs about police brutality on this record seem to almost foreshadow the protests across the country these past few months. Do you think anything will change with the way police act as a result of the protests and all the attention it is getting?

Things have to change. People can only take so much, but the powers that be are going to fight that change every step of the way. The thing is we can sit back and wait for change or we can stand up and be counted. At times it can be disheartening when it feels like we aren’t gaining any ground but it’s always better to try and make change then to accept the current situation.

Can you talk about the cover art on the album?

That was Tony’s (Reflex, vocals) idea and our friend Mario (Riviera) in Madrid, who does all of artwork, drew it. It’s inspired by the beating to death of a homeless man, Kelly Thomas, who died at the hands of the Fullerton (California) PD.

The band has split and reunited several times over the years, but you seem to be in a really prolific period right now. What do you attribute that to?

We enjoy what we are doing and who we are doing it with. Tony and I write the lion’s share of the songs and I love writing music and am always stoked when I send Tony some music and he comes back with these amazing words and vocal melodies and then where the final song ends up. After we did Presumed Insolent, the previous record to La Vendetta, we were really pleased with that record. We talked about how we were going to top it; I think we did.

MATT & KIM

Indie Duo Hit the ATL

BY JOHN B. MOORE

W

ITH LITTLE-TO-NO RADIO AIRPLAY OVER the years, the hard-to-define Indie duo Matt and Kim have managed to get their music out to the masses in just about all ways imaginable, from TV shows (The Mindy Project, Man Seeking Woman, Community, etc.) and commercials (Bacardi, Buick, Mars) to video games (NBA Live, The Sims). But the quickest way the band has managed to win over fans is through their phenomenal live shows, playing everywhere from dingy basement clubs to Bonnaroo.

A decade into it, singer/keyboardist Matt Johnson and drummer Kim Schifino are about to release their fifth record, New Glow, crammed with 10 impossibly infectious dance pop songs certain to appease fans of the group. The duo has also booked shows though out the spring, including a stop at the Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta on April 21.

Schifino was kind enough to talk a bit about the new record, playing together for a decade and what’s next.

PG 18 • April 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

BY JOHN B. MOORE

Y

ou can’t throw a jar of artisanal mustache wax in the city of Portland without hitting someone in a band, but despite a crowded scene, the Summer Cannibals have managed to stand out with a sound that borrows from punk rock and pop music. Just three years after forming, the band has just put out their second full length, Show us Your Mind, and have another EP recorded and ready to go.

But first the much-deserved coronation and endless touring around Show Us Your Mind, their brilliant sophomore record. With snarling, fuzzy guitars, heavy drums and sing-along choruses, the record is as great as the band’s name. Singer/guitarist Jessica Boudreaux was kind enough to talk recently about their busy recording pace, working with Larry Crane, who has produced everyone from Elliott Smith to Sleater-Kinney, and her jones for punk rock and Bruno Mars.

we were super tight and the live tracking went by so fast but it also makes it harder to change things up and try new things. We just recorded a new EP with songs that we had never played live (I just had demos of them) and we were able to sit down and talk about the guitar parts and try new things which I really enjoyed.

You worked with Larry Crane on this one, who has a pretty stellar resume. Was it intimidating at all working with him? Did you learn anything from the experience?

I was intimidated prior to meeting him but he’s a super warm and easy person to be around and work with. I think the biggest thing I learned from working with Larry was to be ok with going into the studio not knowing exactly what I wanted from certain songs and figuring things out on the fly.

You guys just put out your debut in 2013 and already have another full length ready to go.

Are you usually this prolific or had the songs on the No Make Up been around for a while?

No Makeup had a pretty quick turnaround.

As soon as we had 10 songs, we recorded them. I write everyday so the goal in the next couple years is to be a little more prolific with our release.

You guys are coming out of one of the most fertile music scenes in the country. Is there a downside to being in a city with so many other musicians?

There’s a lot of bands here but really not many who I feel in competition with - there really aren’t too many bands like us. The hard part about being a band in Portland is it seems to be pretty tough to break out of this town and develop followings outside of the city so that’s really our focus right now.

Having already gone through the process of writing and recording an album. How was the approach or experience making Show Us Your Mind different?

We were able to play the songs on Show Us Your Mind a lot more live before going into the studio. This was good and bad because

I love this record in part because at the core there is a very fun pop sound. Do you guys have any influence that would surprise people?

As much as I love hard rock, punk and metal I still really love silly pop music-mostly Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Tegan and Sara.

You just hit your decade milestone, together for 10 years.

What has changed the most for you two over that time?

I will say in the 10 years our shows have grown, we’ve played amazing festivals and overall done some crazy shit.

The nice thing is that everything has grown at a steady rate which makes every new experience exciting. We have never felt like we were going backwards.

Can you talk a little bit about New Glow? Did you set out to do anything new with your sound?

For New Glow we wanted to write songs that represented our live show. We wanted to continue to keep it simple which we strive for on every album.

Your live shows have a reputation for being pretty stellar and very active. Any APRIL 21 You have a sound that’s difficult to pigeonhole: surprises this year?

Buckhead Theatre Indie pop, dance... has that led to difficulties in Being on stage is the most thebuckheadtheatre.com comfortable place for setting up shows?

Sometimes it might take a few songs for a crowd us. We do have to warm up but we have been lucky and it seems like we some surprises planned for always win them over. We like a lot of different music and tour but mainly we go it definitely comes across in our live show. We treat our live out there hoping to do show like a DJ set... there is usually something for everyone. what we always do... throw a giant party Lightning was a great album - and very well received. where you can Were you nervous at all working on the follow up to that let loose and for record, in particular? the night forget We weren’t nervous to follow up Lightning. We like to just anything that focus on what we are working on and try making it the best weighs you down it can be. and just have a good time.

MATT & KIM

FILM

INTO THE WILD Movie Reviews

Bear Grylls On Celebrities, Survival & Running Wild

from keeping myself alive. It’s definitely more challenging when you’re taking somebody for entertainment and doing it in a way that 1/2 who’s done nothing like this before.

You’ve got might hurt people – physically, emotionally  of the outdoors as a boy. My parents and toorthink for them a lotthough of the profit time. But it’s financially – even and self-been Everything you need to know about Furious 7 grandparents took me backpacking in the exciting to be ablemay to take these guys cases. away. aggrandizement accrue in both can be summed up in two scenes on the edge Appalachian mountains and to our rustic cabin IHis lovemost seeing them come alivehave wheninvolved they’re publicized exposés the Caucasus in one, onofLake Hartwell,Mountains: where I learned toBrian set up(the facing difficult terrain and big challenges, spoon-bending “mentalist” Uri Geller andboth late Paul Walker) is fighting a gun-wielding camp, fish, start a fire (and cook on it), forage emotionally and physically.

It’s great helping “faith healer” Peter Popoff.

Although there’s martial artist inand, a speeding military bus.respect The for wild berries most importantly, whetherthe it’sillusions a fear ofof a lot ofovercome talk aboutthat, duplicating driver, of course, is shot andMother killed in the has people the beauty and bounty that Nature heights or snake orit’s whatever it is. that An Geller and others, disappointing exchange, causing the bus to turn on its side to offer.

Honest Liar doesn’t reveal how a single trick and slide towards deadlyBear descent.

While On Running WildaWith Grylls, the the Were they given anyPopoff’s kind of“mind training is done, other than reading.” bad guy escapes, Brian is forced to make his British adventurer does the same thing beforehand to prepare them?

As for Randi, as a product of his generation waysome to safety by world’s completing a jump that would with of the biggest celebrities. comes to training, we said, heWhen fearedit that coming out as gay would make Captain America cringe. Ben In another It’s thrilling to watch a nervous Stiller “You’ve just got to bringsotwo things–until a bighe damage his credibility, he waited rocky moment, Furious 7 villain Jakande rappelling down a mountain on Scotland’s Isle bag of fortitude and a big backpack full of was 81 to do it. Since this was more harmful Hounsou) corners Dominic Toretto of(Djimon Skye, a terrified Tom Arnold conquering his enthusiasm– and we’ll do the best when to himself than anyone else, it shouldn’t be (VinofDiesel) his preciousa tree cargo, a cute fear heightsand by traversing over a 50we’re out there.” The fun thing about it is considered hypocrisy. hacker Ramsey foot dropnamed in Oregon, and(Nathalie a boyishEmmanuel), Zac Efron that they’re not too prepared, you know?

We –Steve Warren on a cliff.

Rather than surrender, Toretto But stoked to see a wild beaver in the Catskills. wing it together, and you see them on camera barrels down mountainside his car. is what makes thethe show even moreininteresting learning making mistakes, KILL MEand THREE TIMES (R) and that’s the It’srare, a good thingglimpse Ramsey’s wearing a helmet, the honest it offers of these stars fun real part of it.

The only training I did with  right? No matter the hazard terrain,of emotionally overwhelmed by — thesteep challenges any of them was with Zac, because I wanted The presence of Simon Pegg suggests that speeding trains or massive planes — things pushing themselves to the limit in some of the toKill skydive withTimes him. So I gave him somebut Me Three will be a comedy; world’s most beautiful have generally workedwilderness out all rightareas. for the training for ahardly couplebeoftaken hoursseriously, the day before. while it can there’s Grylls– in thetheBritish crew.

Thisa former seventhreservist time behind wheel is no But beyond that, everyone else just arrived nothing in it to provoke actual laughter and Special Forces (SAS) laterinclimbed different.

Rather thanwho invest quality scripts with that fortitude enthusiasm, and I said, Pegg’s mugging is atand odds with the general Everest crossed North and directorand James Wanthe (Saw, TheAtlantic Conjuring) “We’ll it altogether. ” we’re occasionally tone. do There’s action, and the Northwest Passage inflatableprince’s boat– elected to go big havinginaan Jordanian left wondering for a minute who’s going to die recently spokecar to us about the show cell stolen sports jump through Abuvia Dhabi Of all the places you’ve been, what’s the place in a particular scene; but Kill Me Three Times phone from a little cove off the south coast skyscrapers. The cars are fast. The bikinis are that you connect with the most? of England. doesn’t belong on the Suspense shelf either. floss thin. The fights are fierce. The banter Home! (Laughs) A lifetime of doing this has Easier me to enjoy than toOne categorize, brightly between Tej (Ludacris) and Roman (Tyrese taught two things. is that Iit’s doalove the Where didis the forfunny Running Wild comeain’t colored film noir with its tongue in its cheek, Gibson) stillidea pretty but this movie adventure. I love being out there. It’s where from?

I know you did popular notalive, far enough.

A twisty timelineatallows winning any awards.

Enjoy. episodes Ibut come and it’s where I perform my of Man Vs Wild with Will Ferrell and murder scenes to be repeated in different –DeMarco Williams best. I love the wildernesses we’ve gone to Jake Gyllenhaal. Has this concept been contexts, still doesn’t title. Just around thebut world, and it’sjustify such athe privilege.

But germinating your (NR) mind ever since? about all the despicable characters die once, AN HONESTinLIAR going away a lot has also taught me the value 1/2 Yes. Those Man Vs Wild shows [with guest squirt blood  ofmostly home.from Youbullet know,wounds I’ve got that a lovely family, stars] have been very successful all around in Monty Pythonesque proportions.

Pegg A renowned magician spends much of his the with three young boys. It’s the greatest driving world. were done with show, playswhen Charlie a private detective/ first 80Once yearsweexposing fraud andthat deception, force I’mWolfe, up a mountain or in a jungle– a we wanted toto revisit format.

Weup knew it hitman who kicks things off byhard telling then proves have this a secret or two his own shining light making me work to us get out was a format workedpremise and, formight me, it’s just he’s dying.

Flashbacks show him taking care sleeve.

This that interesting have of there in one piece. really fun because youitget to know people and of business in an Australian seaside town. unfolded better than does in Tyler Measom it’s such a good dynamic.

So it was exciting The business wife and Justin Weinstein’s documentary, but there’s People look upinvolves to you an as adulterous a survival expert. getting through all the health andyou safety hoops. (Alice Braga), her abusive husband (Callan more than enough here to keep engaged, Is there a particular teacher that you would Not a lot ofclips it is planned, so that was quite Mulvey), lover Hemsworth, especially of The Amazing Randi’s TV credit for her giving you(Luke the most survivalolder, a appearances mountain forwith us toJohnny climbCarson before we less successful brother of Chris and Liam), andeven others, knowledge? started.

But NBC through and is her desperate dentist (Sullivan Stapleton), the some dating backhelped to the us 1950s.

Onethat, surprise Well, to be honest, I don’t feel like I’m a fought a few of those battles. dentist’sexpert. wife/assistant/accomplice (TeresaMan held for a climactic revelation while the other survival When I started off doing Palmer) corrupt Brown). is obvious early on – sooner to some viewers Vs Wild, and I feltalike morecop of a(Bryan survival expert You a lot of experience dealing While none of them aremilitary. essentially admirable, thanhave others – when Randi, then in hiswith fifties, because I’d just left the That’s where I these harsh climates wild places.

But is our heroes by default. enlists “Puerto Ricanand teenager” Jose Alvarez learned all ofemerge my survival skills.Kill ButMe theThree more ittoa aid lot of responsibility takefor someone who is good enough to watch once, him in exposing atohoax 60 Minutes ofTimes this I’ve done, the more I realize thatbut I’mnot doesn’t have experience in dealing with these times. athree jack of a lot of things, but a master of very Australia. Jose soon moves in with Randi, conditions?

–Steve Warren little. Every day I meet better climbers, better starting a relationship that has endured more Yes, it’s a nightmare! When I’m on my skydivers, better survivalists. The thing about than a quarter of a century.

Randi patterned own I’ve got nothing to worry about apart MERCHANTS OF DOUBT (PG-13) me is that I’ll always work damn hard, I’ll his act, with escapes from straitjackets, 1/2 water tanks and such, on Harry Houdini’s.

Merchants of Doubt is the most important While deception is a magician’s stock in documentary of the past decade, since An trade, Randi draws a line between doing it Inconvenient Truth sounded the global alarm over climate change. The film exposes a massive conspiracy to mislead on issues regarding the health of our planet and its inhabitants. Based on the critically acclaimed book of the same name by historical scientists Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway, the film challenges you immediately with a satirical muckraking style designed to push your emotional buttons. Its central concept is that there is a cleverly coordinated plot, orchestrated by major corporations, to hoodwink the American public.

This massive global con game dates back decades, to when Big Tobacco companies used PR lies to convince people that smoking was not hazardous to their health. Orestes and Conway are interviewed throughout the film.

These “merchants of doubt” have challenged and diluted the scientific consensus on the

BY BRET LOVE

I

FURIOUS 7 MY LIFELONG LOVE DEVELOPED

QUEEN & COUNTRY

THE WILD IS VERY REVEALING. YOU GET TO KNOW PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT YOU NEVER DO OTHERWISE, BECAUSE THEY’RE UNCOVERED AND VULNERABLE. YOU GET TO KNOW THEIR STRUGGLES, THEIR DOUBTS, THEIR TRIUMPHS, THEIR HIGHS AND THEIR LOWS. dangers inherent in smoking and pesticides, and the existence of the ozone hole and manmade climate change. By discrediting the science, disseminating falsewhen information and always keep cheerful even it’s miserable, spreading confusion, they’ve sown seeds of and I always go for it. But as for the training, doubt thatfrom lobbyists used toand convince Congress 99% was the military I learned a to oppose regulations time anda bunch as acorporate kid with my dad, who’d been time again. Merchants of Doubt will leave you commander and a climber and loved all this shocked and feeling impotent and sad at our stuff. He’ll be turning in his grave if I only society’s inability stop fromHe’s having the50%! wool credit him with 1to percent… about pulled ourme eyes.

But he over taught the love of it, which actually –Bret Love counts for everything.

FURIOUS 7

(Charlotte Gainsbourg), the only other person on the street at that hour. The next morning they agree to meet in Paris the following week but don’t She leaves They lostexchange of a lot ofcontact lives ininfo. that disaster, and her boyfriend in anticipation but goes back it’s become a disease-ridden, crocodile-filled, and moves toplace. the U.S. himnot when Marc snake-filled So with yes, I’m going to doesn’t show up, having had a heart attack hurry back to that one. on the way to their rendezvous. Marc jumps atWhat another in the town, that is itwork aboutassignment being in the wilderness hoping to see Sylvie again, but meets Sophie speaks to you personally?

(Chiara Mastroianni) instead.You He get hastonoknow idea The wild is very revealing. she’s Sylvie’s sister until shortly before their people in a way that you never do otherwise, wedding.

Three or four yearsand andvulnerable. one son because they’re uncovered QUEEN & COUNTRY later, Sylvie comes to visit, and the threesome Have you had a chance to take your boys on You get to know their struggles, their doubts, 1/2  become One Bigtheir Unhappy, paraphrase any of these adventures? their triumphs, highstoand their lows.a And John torest his Hope sitcom. Ifinyou the plot, Yes,Boorman’s I get to dosequel that the of theand year,Glory when current if stuff happens the can wild,swallow it’s unpredictable. picks up the the firstaround film’s ninethe execution fine, though filmmaker we don’t havestory TV of cameras us. They Things can goiswrong very quickly, and Benoit I’ve got year-old protagonist (based on Boorman) Jacquot had a bigger budget for cigarettes love it! Right now I’m in a little cove off the a massive responsibility to keep these guys nine in 1952. looking Since the were than Eventhat challenge.

Parisian landmarks look southyears coastlater, of England, at films all three alive.extras.

But I love shot years apart,inthe actor, now oddly underpopulated. On the plus side, boys,27stark naked theoriginal sea in the pouring 40-ish, playunder the teenaged character Deneuve playmakes mother to her What do you thinkgets it istothat a celebrity rain. I’mcouldn’t sheltered a fallen tree, trying to Catherine (this Glee!).

Only David Hayman, as But his own (Mastroianni) and Jane Birkin’s wantdaughter to do this kind of adventure? keep isn’t out of the rain while talking to you. father, encores from castDNA, (because (Gainsborough).

They’re not doing it for the money, the they love it. They livethe it. original It’s in their for men, Warren fame, or the exposure. These guys–Steve have all of sure. as Hollywood well knows, don’t age).

With the Korean War in progress, Bill Rohan that. They don’t need to take risks. And the DELI (PG-13) (Callum Turner) drafted.

Much of the film truthMAN of doing this is that it is a risk. You’re You’ve visited soismany inhospitable places.

1/2 to look like you’re not brave or strong, deals with hisnail military – allwant safelyto *** going How do you downexperiences the places you or whatever. think it’s a testament There must beI people living far fromto bigthe cities on filmthe in?homefront, despite a constant threat ideahave that people at heart love to challenge we try and terrains. who only seen delicatessens in Woody ofWell, deployment.

Atpick first diverse it’s like what usedThe to themselves. guyspeople have alldon’t reached Isleaof Skyeain“service Scotland is just” with barren Allen movies,These but those watch be called comedy, Billand and top of their but have we allahave thatto windswept, cold(Caleb and rainy.

So we contrasted Woody Allenprofession, movies. They chance his buddy Percy Landry Jones) going yearning our lives or our family’s that withbasic the hot desertsdeflating and dramatic rock learn whatinside: they’veIfbeen missing in DeliMan, through training, pompous lives were really line, havecraving I got what faces of (David Utah. IfThewlis, somebody has aE.real wish to which left me withonanthe incredible for officers Richard Grant) takes tobeef survive?

Almost all of these guys go somewhere, we pick it’s all aitcorned sandwich.

A key purpose of and pursuing dream girlsthat.

– orBut any really, girls. One said one of the isbest bits wasaspects having of space and about the challenging terrain. documentaries to capture cultural of theirdiversity cohorts,and Redmond (Pat Shortt) is a time tobefore think about lifeout. andWith how only lucky150 they they die “skiver,” a con artist who gets away with as little history haveleft been.

The outdoors that.than It creates Has there place become you’ve traveled that delis in North Americadoes – fewer used work as hebeen can. aThings more serious people it gives us space wastheir so incredibly difficult thatthem you have tobonds exist between in New York Cityand alone – DeliMan as schemes catch up with and no to breathe.

At the end of it, all ofDavid them “Ziggy” had a desire to and go back? fulfills that function delightfully. romance family matters intervene. One smile ongrew theirupface andfamily a lightbusiness in their –eyes Probably thefilm, blackbesides swamps Sumatra, Gruber in the his that link to the old theofcountry house money can’t buy.

Fame doesn’t do it.

Drugs where the tsunami hit in 2001 and decimated grandfather put an apron on him when he was the family moved to when their London home don’t –doand it. Booze doesn’t it. It’s the power a bigbombed, part of the island.

It’s just(Sinéad this stinking, went back to itdo after attending a was is Bill’s mother’s Cusack) seven of the wild, andculinary I’ve seenacademy it a ton in people. black, rotting swamp, with allshe of these fancy-shmancy in England, continuing crush on the man should have crocodilesBoorman feeding off 6500 human corpses. when he went to a deli convention and realized married. is athe meticulous filmmaker but I could swear there are a few anachronisms he was the only young person there. Today in wardrobe, dialogue and especially the young he keeps the dream alive in Houston – yes, Houston! – with Kenny & Ziggy’s New York soldiers drooling over a WWII-era pinup Delicatessen. While Ziggy is the title character, of Jane Russell. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II is a key event of the period covered considerable screen time is spent in other delis in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and other and proves to have a surprising significance to cities, where we hear from their deli men and our hero. Queen & Country may not rank as some of their patrons (Larry King, Jerry Stiller, high as Hope and Glory, but it’s another fine Fyvush Finkel, etc.). We learn that German tale of coming of age in wartime.

–Steve Warren Jewish immigrants opened delis in the U.S. in the mid-19th century to preserve the culinary 3 HEARTS (PG-13) experiences they were used to, but delis went  mainstream in the 20th century, only to start I’m not cynical enough to say love requires fading as Jews became more assimilated and suspension of disbelief, but movies about other food fads caught the general public’s love usually do. Few demand as much as 3 interest. Kenny, Ziggy’s father, is more Hearts, and the rewards it offers hardly justify accepting of change than his son as they walk the effort. Marc (Benoît Poelvoorde), 47 and the streets of the Lower East Side looking for balding, doesn’t look like a man women would remnants of bygone Jewish culture. Ziggy is find irresistible; but he meets two who do, married to his work but longs to find a wife two weeks apart, in a French country town; and start a family. Would it be a spoiler to say and they happen to be sisters. After missing that DeliMan has its romantic aspect too? the last train back to Paris Marc meets Sylvie –Steve Warren insiteatlanta.com • April 2015 • PG 19

TV

FIVE GUYS WALK INTO A COMEDY CLUB The Undateable Cast Takes the Show on the Road

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

F

together. We all could be great leaders of separate teams. But now everybody plays a role and we just do it. Everybody does about 15, and then Chris closes it out, which is appropriate; he’s definitely earned it. That’s pretty much how we split it up.

Morin: It’s like a vacation for us. Do 15 at a great club and then I get to go hang out with Ron and stuff.

D’Elia: Ron was late at one gig and I was like, “Well, he can just go last.” I was tired of following everybody, because it’s so hard. It’s just fun, really.

RESH FROM THE AIRPORT, A MOTLEY QUARTET of men, flanked by a small entourage, casually stroll into the main entrance of the club. At first glance, with leather jackets, sneakers and stubble, they could easily pass for a touring rock band. But comic-actors Chris D’Elia, Brent Morin, Ron Funches, Rick Glassman and David Fynn are actually the stars of Undateable, the best NBC ensemble series since Seinfeld.

Fynn is new to stand-up, but the rest of the cast are major draws on the circuit with their own solo performances. To promote Are you recording or filming any of these shows? the recently launched second season of the show, the cast are Fynn: Part of my task here is to shoot behind-the-scenes stuff meeting the press and greeting fans with a series of sold-out live shows at selected venues. Their appearance at the Atlanta Improv and then go out and do a strong four minutes to open the show.

Morin: David is doing stand-up for the first time in his life, which is two stops before the end of a two-week national tour. In their [producer] Bill Lawrence did on the last tour, last interview with INsite they frequently finish each He’s gettin’ up tonight, for just his fifth or sixth other’s sentences, laugh often and genuinely IT’S NICE TO SEE year. time, and he’s doing well. seem to enjoy being together without a trace of Glassman: I’ve had people say they heard about A MULTI-CAM ego or rivalry. the from Instagram (@nbcundatable) and SITCOM THAT thenshow came to see the live show. I think it’s cool that This is the second Undateable live tour, ACTUALLY HAS people are following us online, and we have plenty you do a TV show together and you’ve been COMEDIANS IN IT. of stuff on there. I’m doing a Facebook Q-and-A on the road for two weeks now. This much soon, too. togetherness would have destroyed a band by now. How are you guys handling it?

Congrats on season two. You’re a few episodes into this season Funches: It really brings us closer together, I think. Spendin’ now, and I know there’s a live episode coming up near the end of some time out, havin’ some fun. We take care of each other. If the season, as well. they drink too much, or need some help, I’m there for ‘em.

Morin: Yeah! May 5. An hour!

D’Elia: It’s like a rock band tour, only way less sexy.

Morin: Yeah, it’s like a rock band, before they had a single.

Have you seen the script?

Morin: Not yet. We have a gist of what the story is, but we This is like a package tour in the ‘60s, in a way. Any of you haven’t seen the script yet. We’re off for a month, doing the tour could fill this place alone, but now you’re all here, doing your and some solo shows, but then we’ll be rehearing heavily for that. greatest hits.

Probably more than for a normal sitcom.

Funches: It’s like when the Olympic basketball team gets

Bangles from page 17 same thread in them, in the vocals and in keeping with some of the Bangle element.

But it’s very different.

That album includes my least-favorite Bangle song of your entire catalog, “Walk Like An Egyptian.” In retrospect, I’ve heard that some people in the band may not have been as crazy about it as others.

When I heard the demo of it, I really liked it. I thought it was kind of a cool song.

Originally, I think [producer] David [Kahne] wanted me to sing the whole song, and then politics and everything got involved and I ended up not singing on it. So that kind of put a bad taste in my mouth for it. I didn’t sing or play drums on it, although I did help program the drum parts. It’s one of those things, where you’ve been in a band

for a long time and very much involved in the music and singing side, then it’s like, [adopting a Liverpoolian accent] “Oh, you’ve failed the audition.” So that, for me, kind of made it not so much fun. …But people expect to hear it and why disappoint them?

It became a Number One hit, but it’s basically a novelty song.

I know, and that was the other thing, getting a huge hit, as a “novelty artist.” I was like, “Come on, we have more credibility than that, we’re not just a little goofy novelty band.” But the good thing about it, with the songs that were hits around it, [Manic Monday, If She Knew What She Wants] I think we kept [our] credibility because people went, “Oh wait, they don’t just do silly Egyptian songs, they do other things!”

L to R: David Fynn, Brent Morin, Lee Undateable Smith, Rick Glassman, Ron Funches, Chris D’Elia. Photo credit: Susan Saxon.

Do you need a script for that episode? You guys could just nail it.

D’Elia: You know, that sounds cool – in theory. But it would be awful!

Morin: But it could also be so funny!

Fynn: But if we did it that way, it would be seven hours long!

That’s the problem with comics, they won’t stop talking!

Morin: With this cast it’s such a funny group of people. It’s nice to see a multi-cam sitcom that actually has comedians in it. To have people that are actually funny first, and then acting.

As opposed to seeing some good-looking actor, trying to be funny, which is just the most annoying thing. It never works. Bill Lawrence put funny people in a show and he’s not constricting us, he’s letting us be funny.

Undateable airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC. The special one-hour live episode airs May 5 at 9 p.m. Chris D’Elia’s comedy special, Incorrigible, debuts April 17 on Netflix. Brent Morin returns to the Improv, June 25-27. Visit www.theimprovatlanta.com for showtimes and tickets.

Gotham from page 11 Have you done any of the big Comic Cons yet?

Yes, we did San Diego last year, when we screened the pilot before it premiered. After the show came out, we did New York Comic Con. People were amazing in San Diego, but the show hadn’t proven itself yet. New York was a whole different story. People were so into it.

You came out publicly last year. How do you feel about people delving into your sexuality?

It’s just part of the world. I’m comfortable with myself and my lifestyle. I’m married, and have been for almost four years. Big props to Iowa for getting that done: They were one of the first states to do so. The only thing that’s weird about it is that I consider myself a character actor. Most of the character actors that I appreciate, I don’t know anything about their personal lives.

I feel like that takes away from the illusion that we’re trying to create. That being said, I have no problem talking about my life. I try to keep my marriage personal. But in terms of being an “out” actor, I don’t worry about it the way I used to.

With Neil Patrick Harris hosting the Oscars and Empire tackling homosexuality in the hip-hop community, do you feel like attitudes have changed since you started doing this?

Oh yeah, 100%. The people who run the studios and make the big decisions in terms of casting have evolved, just like the rest of the country. It’s really exciting to see.

If you were calling the shots behind the scenes on Gotham, what would you like to see in the future for Oswald?

PG 20 • April 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

Obviously I’d like to see him become more and more powerful, but at the same time I like it when he fails. I like the struggle, and watching him figure things out. All I can say is that I hope the other villains get established, so that I have more fun folks to play off of.

Where would you like to go with your career from here?

My favorite mantra is “I just want to work.”

But, to get specific, I would love to get back on stage at some point. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that, and my background is in theatre. I miss the live theatrical experience. I miss the audience being there.

I also miss the process. I love rehearsal.

I can’t wait until we have more than 15 minutes to rehearse!

MERCHANDISE

SPRING FASHION GUIDE

W

ITH A METROSEXUAL (DO people still use that word?) guy, a buxom blonde and a trend-bucking teen living in the same household, finding fashion choices that suit our respective tastes is always an adventure. Thankfully, through this column, we’ve got a few favorite Spring Fashion finds to share!

DRESSES

LEOTA

Spring is about renewal: Flowers begin blooming, birds and butterflies flit about, and colors wipe away winter’s dull drabness. The Sweetheart in Oasis Dress from LEOTA (leota.com) is the perfect fashion statement POETIK DESIGNS for the season, with a tasteful neckline, flattering fit-andflare shape, and gorgeous blue-green color offset by a pattern featuring a pair of parrots nesting on a branch.

It’s flirty, feminine and fun enough to work for familySEARS friendly outings or a romantic date night… The Seven Falls Dress from SMARTWOOL (SmartWool.com) is equally flattering and adaptable, going from casual to dressy depending on how you accessorize. Made of Merino CROCS wool and wrinkle-resistant Tencel fiber, the internal shelf bra and form-fitting cut give it a sweetly sexy appeal. The purple and sage green pattern also make it perfect for Easter.

their Denim Biker Jacket, with a fitted design and synthetic leather sleeves that make its sandblasted finish look more modern. And she completed this outfit with black and white plaid Twin Gore Sneakers, giving her a modern-retro rocker look she loves.

SHOES

There was a time when I wouldn’t have been caught dead in CROCS (Crocs. com), but a recent press release from the company convinced me their line has evolved considerably in recent years.

Among the pairs they sent for us to try out, the A-Leigh Mini Wedge Leather (available in black or brown) and the Rhonda Wedge Sandal four colors available) were my lady’s favorites for their stylish design and comfort… In terms of shoes, nothing says Spring/Summer to me quite like Espadrilles, which date back to 14th century Spain.

The Classic Stripe Espadrille from SOLUDOS (Soludos. com) comes in 3 colors– we favor the blue and white for its Mediterranean style– made from canvas and natural fiber… My daughter deemed the Hippie Bling Woven Shoes from KIM & ZOZI (KimandZozi.com) “so cool” for “the use of color and different patterns in the embroidery,” which evokes the traditional textiles found in South America.

HOME RELEASES THE LATEST DVD, BLU RAY & VOD RELEASES

BY BRET LOVE AND JOHN MOORE

Breakin’/Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo They seem like hoary chestnuts today, but Breakin’ and its sequel played an important role in bringing hip-hop culture to mainstream America. Less crucial, but significantly more accessible, than 1983’s Wild Style, the films try to tap into the Flashdance phenomenon by pairing a comely jazz dancer (Lucinda Dickey) with real-life b-boys Adolfo “Shabba Doo” Quinones and Michael “Boogaloo Shrimp” Chambers. The acting (including Ice-T!) is wack and the dialogue laughable, but the dance scenes influenced a whole generation of white kids (myself included) to try their hands at poppin’, lockin’ and rocking a backspin.

The Captive Set somewhere in rural Canada (you can only guess based on the snow and desolation that cover every scene), this movie casts Ryan Reynolds as the father of a missing girl who vanishes on his watch. Caught up in a misguided attempt to be creative, the story jumps back and forth over eight years in a confusing timeline.

As the credits roll, you’re left with too many unanswered questions. Ultimately The Captive has the feel of a 3-hour movie randomly cut in half to fit a more palatable running time.

Mr. Bean: The Whole Bean (Complete Series) After spending 8 years studying and

performing comedy, I think I’m suitably qualified to judge “Funny.” In that regard, few actors today can measure up to the sheer brilliance of Rowan Atkinson, whose mostly silent, slapstick Mr. Bean is a classic clown cut from the Charlie Chaplin cloth. This 4-disc remastered 25th anniversary collection compiles all 14 episodes of the original show. But the real prize here are the bonus features, which include hilarious scenes missing from the original set, never-before-seen sketches, a “Story of Mr. Bean” documentary, and much more.

One Step Beyond Before The X-Files or even The Twilight Zone, this ABC TV series tapped into mankind’s fascination with paranormal phenomena.

Hosted by actor John Newline (Peyton Place, Dr. Kildare) and running from 1959 to 1961, the groundbreaking show was decades ahead of its time, re-enacting “true” stories of supernatural events. This new 6-DVD set is the most expansive OSB collection, featuring 70 episodes that cover mysteries ranging from monsters to unexplained disappearances. Watch for early performances from legends such as Warren Beatty, Charles Bronson and Chloris Leachman!

Silicon Valley: The Complete First Season Mike Judge does for Silicon Valley what he did for cubicle dwellers in Office Space and suburban Texas in King of the Hill. This hilarious take on tech nerds looking to launch a company in the face of steep competition is smartly written and brilliantly cast. The supporting actors (including Kumail Nanjiani and Martin Starr,)steal every scene they’re in, and drawing on real-life tech industry personalities only makes the jokes that much more biting. In a year that saw some brilliant new comedy shows, Silicon Valley is easily among the best.

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Spring may have sprung, but nighttime temps still dip into MENSWEAR the lower 50s. My lady hates Most men’s fashion is MIDWEST CROCHET being cold, so she loves the boring and unimaginative.

Isaac line from MIDWEST So when I find a brand I like, CROCHET (MidwestCrochet.

I want to wear the whole com) from NYC-bred knitter line. That’s how I feel about Michele Costa. Inspired by the HOWLER BROTHERS Carlyle collection of fibers from (HowlerBrothers.com), Isaac Mizrahi & Premier Yarns, founded by two adventureCosta’s hats, wraps, scarves loving Southern gents and ISABELLE GRACE and fingerless gloves combine inspired by their time in JEWELRY fashion (see: neutral tones with Central America. Their metallic accents) with function Spring collection includes (i.e. staying warm) so well, you’ll new Gaucho Snapshirts wish you could wear them year(love the grasshopper!), bold round… Though more wellboard shorts in a variety known for their humanitarian of colors, and T-shirts work than fashion, the folks at featuring their beloved WORLD VISION (WorldVision. monkey mascot… I grew org) sent us one of our favorite up in Southwest Dekalb, so hip-hop influenced my taste in clothes. POETIK finds this month. Their cozy Royal Silk Scarf offers a rainbow’s worth of rich colors, not to DESIGNS (PoetikDesigns.com) speaks to my mention the opportunity to help a good cause sense of urban style with colorful t-shirts such when you buy it. as “Mic Killer,” “Record Smasher” and “Musical Genius.” Not that I am any of those things, but ACCESSORIES a boy can dream… Some things never go out of Speaking of colors, we were immediately taken style, such as LEVI’S (US.Levi.com). Their new with the new Aurora Earrings from ISABELLE 501 CT Jeans (available for men and women) GRACE JEWELRY (IsabelleGraceJewelry. combine heavyweight, non-stretch denim with com).

A favorite among celebs such as Katherine a customized modern fit– straight from waist Heigl and Christina Milian for their personalized to thigh, tapered at the ankle, and available in charms, Isabelle Grace’s latest line blends jewelnearly a dozen different styles. toned Swarovski crystals and antique influences to create a timeless, upscale style… As a man, TEENS my favorite accessory is my watch, and the latest My daughter is even tougher to please, release from MARTIAN (MartianWatches. fashion-wise, than I am. She’s not interested in com) is both fashionable and fun. Their Notifier trends, but also uninterested in attracting undue Smartwatch uses Bluetooth technology to attention. The Seventeen line for Juniors from show notifications from your phone (including SEARS (Sears.com) offers a nice compromise Caller ID, e-mails, social media, etc.), with between those extremes, with an accessible take on rock ’n’ roll rebellion. She started with Skinny customizable alert vibration patterns, single-tap controls and more. It’s like having the future, Jeans (in black, naturally), with stretchy denim, right on your wrist, and what could be more a mid-rise waist and tapered legs for slimming “fashion-forward” than that? appeal. She paired it with a t-shirt topped by

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SPORTS

2015 MLB PREVIEW

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

M

AJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL spoiled the hell out of you with last year’s postseason.

You watched San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner stretch the boundaries of physical endurance, tossing a Walter Johnson-esque 52.2 innings while accumulating a Greg Maddux-like 1.03 ERA. And then there were the Kansas City Royals, playing the role of glove-toting Davids against Madison’s Giants in the World Series. It was like a fairytale. Sadly, there will be none of that this season.

Have you seen the L.A. Dodgers and Washington Nationals’ rosters? They’re like the Kentucky Wildcats with bats.

Sorry to ruin your storybook ending before it even begins, but the victor of the heavyweight National League Championship Series will win it all this time.

NATIONAL LEAGUE 1. L.A. DODGERS

With Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick added to the lineup (and Yasiel Puig more comfy there), the Dodgers will easily eclipse the 700-run plateau of a year ago en route to its first Series title since 1988.

2. WASHINGTON

Though the Nats are a little bruised up right now, a healthy Bryce Harper (three HRs in the 2014 playoffs) and heat-throwing Max Scherzer (18-5 in ’14) should ease any serious pains.

3. ST. LOUIS

If the Cards are to make their fifth straight NLCS, they’re going to need Jason Heyward to get relaxed quickly—no better place to get all snuggly than in between Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday in the batting order.

4. PITTSBURGH

We understand all the attention to the now dreadlock-free Andrew McCutchen (.314 average, 25 HRs), but ignoring Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker in the Pirates’ dugout is a hair-raising thought.

5. SAN DIEGO

We haven’t been this high on the Padres in a long time. But then again, they haven’t had an outfield like this (Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers) in forever either.

6. SAN FRANCISCO

Of course, if San Diego is to be a true NL West contender, the team will have to beat these guys, and that means learning how to hit Bumgarner’s curveball and avoid Buster Posey’s colossal bat.

7. CHICAGO CUBS

Starting power-hitting prospect Kris Bryant in the Minors is a business move the club simply had to make. Doubting the new-look Cubs (Jon Lester, Dexter Fowler, Miguel Montero) is a move only a fool would make.

8. CINCINNATI

With guys like Billy Hamilton, Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce in the lineup, you won’t stay 28th in the league for very long.

But with a questionable starting rotation, you won’t contend for very long either.

PG 22 • April 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

9. MIAMI

By 2028, Marlins stud Giancarlo Stanton (37 HRs, 105 RBI) will have earned over $325 million. With the likes of Dee Gordon and Matt Latos by his side, we expect a World Series-contending club well by 2018.

10. NEW YORK METS

Whatever power David Wright had has gone to Lucas Duda. Folks around Queens pray that whatever magic Matt Harvey had in his pitching arm hasn’t disappeared since Tommy John surgery.

11. ARIZONA

Most casual fans don’t know the name Paul Goldschmidt right now. But after the freak first baseman puts up his second 30-homer, 100-RBI campaign in three years, they’ll start catching on.

12. ATLANTA

With so little punch around him, we’re guessing Freddie Freeman is going to be near the top of the NL in intentional walks. With so little offense, we’re guessing fans are going to walk out of the Ted by the seventh inning most nights.

13. MILWAUKEE

Supposedly, they’re selling deep-fried nachos on a stick at Miller Park this year.

Hey, anything to distract folks from a squad that won’t be contending, right?

14. COLORADO

as a middle-of-the-order threat just yet — but we wouldn’t be shocked if they riled up NE Ohio through late August.

5. TORONTO

Aside from the aforementioned Goldschmidt, Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (29 HRs, 98 RBI) may be the best player the masses haven’t heard of. That changes after he and his long-ball brethren heat up July.

6. NEW YORK YANKEES

Because of a knockout 1-2 pitching punch (CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka) and a humbled Alex Rodriguez, the Yanks will be one of the summer’s biggest surprises.

7. KANSAS CITY

The nobodies that everybody loved last October have become the forgottens that most are underestimating this April.

No, the Royals won’t make the World Series again, but Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas sure as hell won’t be cellar dwellers either.

8. L.A. ANGELS

A godly Mike Trout (36 HRs, 111 RBI) and resurrected Albert Pujols (eight hits in 17 Spring at-bats) is exactly what this clubhouse needs while Josh Hamilton tries to exorcise his inner demons.

9. CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Since joining the Majors in ’93, the Rockies have never won the NL West.

From peeking at their flimsy hurlers, that mark appears pretty safe.

Jeff Samardzija will certainly help a rotation that finished with a 4.29 ERA (27th in the league), but the bottom third of the hitting order needs directions just getting to first base.

15. PHILADELPHIA

10. BALTIMORE

Just look at how the mighty have fallen.

They’ll have us eating these words if Grady Sizemore and Ryan Howard can revert back to ’08. If they can’t, Philly is out of contention by June 8.

AMERICAN LEAGUE 1. DETROIT

From our calculations, there are five guys in the everyday lineup who can belt 20 homers — Miguel Cabrera and Yoenis Cespedes could go for 30, actually —and two pitchers (David Price and Justin Verlander) with 20 wins in their sights.

2. BOSTON

The Sox have had this good-year, badyear thing going for a little while now. With Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval and Rick Porcello on the roster, we’re guessing this will be a very good one.

3. SEATTLE

With a lineup filled with bruising bats (Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager) and a rotation stocked with bulky arms (Felix Hernandez), these M’s might be in store for a big year.

4. CLEVELAND

We aren’t as high on the Indians as some are — can’t buy Jason Kipnis

Miguel Cabrera

It’s not that we’ve given up on Adam Jones and Chris Davis at the plate, but until Chris Tillman and Bud Norris prove something on the hill, we’re giving further praise a break.

11. TEXAS

Having No. 1 starter Yu Darvish go down for the year is a crushing blow. But if

there’s any relief to be had in Arlington, it’ll be watching Adrian Beltre, Shin-Soo Choo and a healthy Prince Fielder crush fastballs out the park.

12. OAKLAND

If the goal of the A’s was to gather a clubhouse full of complementary players (Ben Zobrist, Ike Davis, Brett Lawrie) in an attempt to create a whole, they’ve done that. As for the holes in the back end of the rotation, well, time will tell.

13. TAMPA

Before last year’s 77-85 finish, the Rays had won 90-plus games for four straight seasons. With little help for Evan Longoria in the on-deck circle, the team will be happy to finish with 67 wins this year.

14. HOUSTON

Until the lightweight pitching can match the lightning-quick bats of Chris Carter (37 HRs) and George Springer (10 homers last May), the Astros will live on hope.

15. MINNESOTA

Having the 39-year-old Torii Hunter return to the Twin Cities, a place he starred from ’97-07, is great for marketing, but not so much for making plays in right field.

WORLD SERIES:

DODGERS OVER TIGERS, 4-2

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