INsite Atlanta January 2009 Issue by INsite Magazine

9 Ja n u aNroy. 52 0FR0EE Vo l. 17,

tainment Monthly r e t n E s ’ a t n Atla ta.com

insiteatlan

Film & Music Year in Review

Party Like it’s 1929!

2009 Tom Cruise The Cast of Notorious "MJDJB ,FZT r 3FFM #JH 'JTI

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WES LOPER BAND

(Texas Country)

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Agave Restaurant An eclectic southwestern eatery & tequila bar est. 2000 Cabbagetown / Grant Park Dinner nightly at 5pm 404-588-0006 www.agaverestaurant.com

CONTENTS • JANUARY 2009 • VOLUME 17.5 Atlanta’s

Entertainment Monthly

INTERVIEWS 10 TOM CRUISE 11 FRANK MILLER 18 ALICIA KEYS 20 DUSTIN KENSRUE 20 ANTHONY HAMILTON 22 REEL BIG FISH 27 NOTORIOUS 28 RISE AGAINST 30 TARAJI HENSON

FEATURES

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PG 4 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

09 HIGH COLLEGE NIGHT 11 NOODLE BOWLS 15 YEAR IN MOVIES 21 YEAR IN MUSIC 24 EDUCATION GUIDE 26 ATLANTA ON THE CHEAP

COLUMNS 05 ON TAP 20 05 ON THE CHEAP EVENTS 06 AROUND TOWN 09 UNDER THE LIGHTS 13 MOVIE REVIEWS 16 CONCERT CALENDAR 19 ROAD WARRIORS 19 WE GOT NEXT 23 ALBUM REVIEWS 29 FANATIC 27 30 THE WHEEL DEAL

www.insiteatlanta.com STAFF LISTING Publisher Stephen Miller steve@insiteatlanta.com National Managing Editor Bret Love bret@insiteatlanta.com Art Director Michael T. graphics@insiteatlanta.com Music / Sports Editor DeMarco Williams demarco@insiteatlanta.com Events Listing Editor Glenn LaFollette glenn@insiteatlanta.com Special Features Editor Marci Miller marcim@insiteatlanta.com Entertainment Editor Matt Goldberg matt@insiteatlanta.com Web Design Michael T. graphics@insiteatlanta.com

Contributing Writers / Interns: John Moore, John Davidson, Jon Latham, John C. Snider Benjamin Carr, Ryan Loftis, Mike Brune, Matt Goldberg Mitchell Hughes, Alexis Gray, Rodney Hill, Rebecca Crosby, Zena Scott, Alex S. Morrison, Blue Sullivan Michele Fontanelli Arnett, Roger Presswood Dave Cohen and Russ Marshalek CONTACT US 2250 North Druid Hills Rd. #234 Atlanta, GA 30329-3118 phone 404-315-8485 website insiteatlanta.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION �� 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 mi leading 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.

Check out our Year in Movies Feature on Page 15!

LOCAL EVENTS

OnTap January EMAIL EVENTS TO ONTAP@INSITEATLANTA.COM

January 10: Georgia Dome

MONSTER JAM

Monster Jam is back at the Georgia Dome with the light, sound, speed and intense action that transports fans to a place where larger than life monster trucks fly through the air with ease crushing cars beneath their enormous wheels. World famous trucks appearing include: Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, Madusa, Bounty Hunter, Bulldozer, Avenger, Hot Wheels, Monster Mutt, Superman, El Toro Loco and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. There are over 100 trucks in all competing. For more information, visit www.gadome.com or www.monsterjamonline.com.

January 14-18: GWCC

47TH ANNUAL ATLANTA BOAT SHOW

This year’s Atlanta Boat Show kicks off at the Georgia World Congress Center with a focus on affordable boating. The show offers special off-season pricing for inventory reductions and new model debuts. There will also be an emphasis on green boating at the "Eco-friendly" display at the show. The "Let's Go Fishing" center will feature seminars with national and local fishing pros who will cover the latest techniques, tackle and hot spots. Wednesday, January 14 is customer appreciation day with a $5.00 admission for everyone. For more information, visit www.atlantaboatshow.com.

January 14-25: Metro Area Theatres

ATLANTA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

The 9th Annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) is a 12day cinematic exploration of Jewish life, culture and history. The festival features 48 visually-stunning and evocative Jewish films that would otherwise not be available on the big screen in Atlanta. AJFF ranks as the largest film festival in Atlanta. Films in the 2009 festival will be screened at Lefont Sandy Springs, Regal Atlantic Station Stadium 16 and at the Regal Medlock Crossing Stadium 18 in Duluth. Tickets and a full film schedule for the 2009 festival are available on www.ajff.org.

ATLANTA ON THE

CHEAP!

EVENTS HAPPENING FOR SMALL CHANGE IN ATLANTA TOP EVENTS FOR SMALL CHANGE IN SEPTEMBER

Know about a low cost event or happening in Atlanta? Email atlcheap@insiteatlanta.com

HANDS ON ATLANTA - MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SERVICE

Various Venues Throughout Atlanta www.handsonatlanta.org 404-979-2808 January 14-19; Check website for times Free Event

Join Hands On Atlanta and The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change for an enriching and fulfilling community experience honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Through interactive workshops, panel discussions, films, performances and service projects participants will learn about community needs and build new skills to carry forward in their civic life.

HONDA BATTLE OF THE BANDS

Sat. Jan. 24, 3pm-7pm Georgia Dome www.hondabattleofthebands.com 404-223-8427 $10 Admission The event, which will feature exciting performances by 10 of the nation's best Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching bands, is acknowledged as the "Super Bowl" for marching bands, and as one of the hottest tickets in town.

OBAMA INAUGURATION EVENT Tue. Jan. 20, 10:00am - 4:00pm Sweet Auburn/MLK National Park www.sweetauburn.com Free Event

The Sweet Auburn Historic District will host Atlanta's official inauguration celebration. The day will feature speakers from the civil rights era, live music, entertainment and much more. President Elect and Mrs. Obama are expected to appear live via video. Those expected to

attend include Congressman John Lewis, Mayor Shirley Franklin, Ambassador Andrew Young and Reverend Joseph Lowery.

FEED YOUR SENSES CONCERT

Wed. Jan. 21 Noon - 1:00 pm Rialto Center of the Arts Free Event www.rialtocenter.org 404-413-9800 This free lunchtime learning performing arts series is held monthly at the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. The program features a different artist or speaker each month providing a casual and fun insider's look at their craft. This month features Gordon Vernick and his Jazz Combo.

CALIFORNIA DREAMING 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Rollback Prices Throughout the Month 745 Chastain Rd. Kennesaw 1630 Cross Pointe Way Duluth www.californiadreamings.com Area California Dreaming restaurants are celebrating their 25th Anniversary by going back to the 80’s. They are rolling back their drink prices to $1.95 per drink (the original price when the restaurant first opened). Also try their Anniversary Draught beer, the California Dreaming Sunset Lager, for only $1.95 as well.

RAG-O-RAMA DOLLAR SALE

February 7th and 8th 1111 Euclid Ave. Little 5 Points 404-658-1988 www.ragorama.com This popular clothing store in Little 5 Points will be offering 100’s of items of merchandise for just $1 for two days in February.

January 17: Wild Bill’s

FIGHT NIGHT 17

On Saturday, Jan 17 Wild Bill's Fight Night, the most prominent Mixed Martial Arts fights in the Southeast, returns to the stage of Wild Bill's in Duluth. UFC Superstar Junie Browning (pictured) is the special guest to take photos and sign autographs for fans. You saw him each week on The Ultimate Fighter, now meet him live on Saturday, Jan 17 at Wild Bill's. 12 Ultimate fights are scheduled for the evening. Call the Fight Hotline at 404-626-2126 or visit their websites at FullThrottleMMA.com and UndisputedProductions.com.

January 19: Ebenezer Baptist Church

MLK COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE Just one day before he heads to Washington D.C. to give the invocation at Barack Obama's inauguration, Pastor Rick Warren will speak at the Martin Luther King Jr. annual commemorative service. The morning service at Ebenezer Baptist Church is the highlight of nearly more than a week of events which celebrates the famed civil rights leader. Warren, a Southern Baptist, pastors the 20,000-member Saddleback Church in CA and is author of "The Purpose Driven Life." For more information, please visit www.historicebenezer.org.

Jan. 25: Gwinnett Center Arena

DANCING WITH THE STARS

Dancing with the Stars 37-city North American tour makes its stop in Atlanta on January 25. Seventh-season celebrities Lance Bass, Toni Braxton and Maurice Greene and sixthseason celebrity Marlee Matlin are scheduled to participate. They'll be joined by the show's professionals Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, Kym Johnson, Lacey Schwimmer, Edyta Sliwinska, Karina Smirnoff and Fabien Sanchez. The two-hour show will recreate the ABC reality competition series' actual stage. The show will also feature exclusive interviews and out-takes from the ABC reality competition. Visit DancingWithTheStarsOnTour.com PG 5 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

��

LYRICS BY

TIM RICE

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MUSIC BY

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

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Rejoice

in a vibrant explosion of beloved music.

NOW with a new gospel beat. JANUARY 14 - FEBRUARY 22

Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL LYRICS BY

TIM RICE

MUSIC BY

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER THE NEW GOSPEL VERSION CONCEIVED BY LOUIS ST. LOUIS DIRECTED BY SUSAN V. BOOTH

404.733.5000 alliancetheatre.org Groups 10+ save! 404.733.4690

Supported by

Series on the Alliance Stage

PG 6 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

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LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT

ANNUAL COLLEGE NIGHT CELEBRATES

CHINESE NEW YEAR Features Groundbreaking Music Group Beatrix*JAR BY CHRIS GOOD

HE 11TH ANNUAL COLLEGE NIGHT at the High will celebrate Chinese New Year on Saturday, January 24, from 7 p.m. to midnight. This year’s event is themed in cooridnation with the museum’s current popular exhibition, “The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army.” In addition to live musical performances by Beatrix*JAR and The Grapetree Collective (featuring groups No Face, Supreme, and The Hotels), students and visitors will enjoy a night of gallery viewing, art-making, a Kung-fu film festival, and food and nonalcoholic bevergaes for purchase. The feature of the evening will be performances and workshops by Beatrix*JAR, made up of real-life couple Bianca Pettis (Beatrix) and Jacob Aaron Roske (JAR). The duo travels extensively spreading the good

word of do-it-yourself electronics with handson circuit bending workshops and unique fuzzy sound collage performances. To learn more about Beatrix*JAR and to see them in action, visit www.beatrixjar.com. Student admission will be $8 with a valid

student ID; $5 per student with valid student IDs when booking a group of 10 or more; and $18 for general admission. Students with High Museum College Memberships get in FREE. Tickets and membership information are available online at www.high.org.

ACTIVITIES · Live performances by Beatrix*JAR and The Grapetree Collective (No Face, Supreme, and The Hotels) · Music Workshop: Circuit Bending and Fuzzy Sound Collage electronic workshop with Beatrix*JAR · Art-Making: Fashion a fabric fortune cookie for health and prosperity, then embellish a recycled “green” bag with appliqué at the Craft Consortia · Cult classic Kung-Fu film showdown with Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon” vs. Berry Gordy’s “The Last Dragon” · Drawing in the Galleries (supplies will be provided) · Pictures with Live Terracotta Warriors · Traditional Chinese Games

EXHIBITIONS ON VIEW · “The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army” · “Louvre Atlanta: The Louvre and the Masterpiece” · “The Treasure of Ulysses Davis”

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ops

Under The Lights

Major Theatrical Performances this Month Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL

Jan. 14-Feb. 22 Alliance Theatre Box Office 404.733.5000

www.alliancetheatre.org Throw your hands together and rejoice in a vibrant explosion of beloved music infused with the power of praise. Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL, a rousing gospel event, is the Alliance’s largest production in 20 years. Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL puts Judas at the center of the passion story with a rich and deeply human point of view. The show begins with Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem and continues through the exhilaration and apprehension of the new leader, the effect of the crowds on the Roman occupation forces, and Jesus’ betrayal, trial and crucifixion. This new version will highlight Atlanta’s rich gospel tradition with an extraordinary 27 member local choir on stage alongside a Broadwaycaliber cast. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score gets an inspirational new beat that will move audiences to new heights with memorable songs like “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Everything’s Alright” and “Could We Start Again Please?” The 50 member cast is the largest on the Alliance Stage since The Color Purple. This revolutionary celebration of life will leave you singing for days.

HAIRSPRAY

Jan. 13 - 18 Cobb Energy Centre Tickets 404.817.8700 www.cobbenergycentre.com

"The Corny Collins Show," and overnight is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But, can a plus-size trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her 'do?

WEATHER ROCKS!

Thru March 22 Puppetry Arts Box Office 404.873.3391

www.puppet.org John Ludwig’s musical revue, Weather Rocks!, offers a thunderrollin,’ twister-tappin,’ cloud-coverin’ good time! With original music ranging from gospel and jazz to bluegrass and rock, five lively meteorologists and over 20 engaging string, rod, and full-body puppets explain the mysteries of Mother Nature. The Sun explains how he sets the weather in motion, Tommy the Talking Thermometer reveals secrets about temperature, and cloud-lounging angels share the glory of the sky.

STOMP

Jan. 27 - Feb 1 The Fox Theatre Tickets 404.817.8700

www.theaterofthestars.com The international sensation STOMP is back in Atlanta this month with an updated show. They've added two new full-scale routines using props like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans. These and others make the largest transformation of the show since the late 90’s. STOMP uses everything but conventional percussion instruments. Trashcans, tea chests, plastic bags, plungers, boots, and hubcaps fill the stage with compelling and infectious rhythms. Bristle brooms become a sweeping orchestra; Zippo lighters flip open and closed to create a fiery fugue; wooden poles thump and clack in a rhythmic explosion. Critics and audiences have raved: "STOMP is as crisp and exuberant as if it had opened yesterday," says The New York Times.

Hairspray is back in Atlanta this month for a special engagement at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Winner of eight 2003 Tony Awards including Best Musical, is currently enjoying its fifth year on Broadway. Hairspray takes placd in 1962 Baltimore with Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and bigger heart, has only one passion-to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program,

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PG 9 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

FILM INTERVIEW

STILL CRUISIN’ Think Tabloid Scrutiny, Rumors of Insanity and a New Movie About Killing Hitler Can Stop Tom Cruise? Ha!

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

ALKYRIE, TOM CRUISE’S thrilling big-screen comeback where he plays a German soldier plotting Adolf Hitler’s assassination, made over $30 million in its first week. We don’t know if folks came out just to see Cruise wearing an eye patch or to see him in his first headlining role since the ’07 flop Lions for Lambs. All we know is that $30 million over the Christmas break ain’t a bad haul. Maybe we should simply accept the fact that the guy’s still got it. No matter how many of Oprah’s couches he jumps on or how many Scientology rants he goes through, the public still loves seeing his mug at the cineplex. Critics do too. Cruise’s wacky Tropic Thunder performance was graced with a Golden Globe nomination. INsite recently chatted with the 46-year-old star to get his thoughts on the spotlight, success and raising Suri. Tom, do you consider this some kind of comeback? I don’t really see it that way. I’ve just been making movies. My daughter was born. I’ve been making films. I did Tropic Thunder. That was fun. That was really fun. That was incredible. You know what? When I read the [Valkyrie] script, I thought oh how incredible suspenseful this was. It was really a great thriller. And Bryan [Singer, Valkyrie director] is someone I’ve always wanted to work with. We met actually at the premiere for Mission: Impossible. I said, “Man, I wanna work with you.” Then, when I put [the script] down, I thought, “This can’t be true. How much of this is actually true?” From sitting down with Bryan and finding out that this is a true story. I thought it was a great story. I had never heard it before. I wanted to work with him, so off we went. Is it an important movie to help educate people on the real Germany? It’s definitely an important story. I didn’t know it. I also felt that I wanna entertain audiences. That was a bonus for this film. It’s something that Bryan and I have spoken about. It’s important to know that it’s not everybody who felt that way and fell into that Nazi ideology. To me, that was surprising. I grew up wanting to kill Nazis, wanting to kill Hitler. As a child, I’d think, “Why didn’t someone just shoot him?” It’s such a massive, comprehensive story. We could have made this a five-hour, ten-hour movie or miniseries. But Bryan was always very specific: This is a suspense thriller about killing Hitler. We spent eight months working [on this movie]. Bryan spent more time before. But when Bryan wanted me to come on board, we started working [with the writers] and every time we started talking about the Holocaust and the different characters, Bryan always went back to, “This is a piece of entertainment. This is a suspense thriller about killing Hitler.” Why was the Valkyrie release date flipped around? We were making a film without a release date. I know today everything is about a release date. This is a film that’s made for a broader audience. We never wanted to say, “Hey, we want to put in out in awards season.” PG 10 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

That’s not why we even moved to Christmas. Christmas is a great time for audiences. It’s the biggest time of year for people to go. You wanna put your movie in a place where it can have the opportunity to have it available to as broad an audience as possible. That’s the nature of the film. As I said, we could have taken this film and made in two and a half, three and a half, four and a half [hours]. It could have been a very different kind of movie. Right from the beginning, it’s a suspense thriller. I’ve always felt that. You want to get it right. With any limited amount of time or economics, you want to do the best that you can with the audience, subject matter or whatever it is. The eye patch gave you some balance problems, right? I was surprised. For a few hours over a few days, yeah it did. Especially when it was dark, I lost depth perception and balance. Also from visual, cinematic storytelling, I think it was a challenge for Bryan. I really respect Bryan’s staging and composition and his storytelling. When I look at his movies, they’re very cinematic. It’s classic storytelling but it’s cool. I think he understands cinema storytelling. With the eye patch, he also understood that it’s a different story, depending on where that camera is on my face. There are moments when you’re making a film like this where you’ve gotta take the audience along and build that tension, build that tension and every scene you have to move that scene along. But every scene you’re revealing more about the character and characters. I love movies like this, where there are little pieces that build to a moment. There are rhythms and structures that I love as an audience. When I read a script or see a movie, I see it like an audience [would], not necessarily as a filmmaker, particularly when I get caught up in the picture. He knew what he wanted from that moment. I’d love to know your definition of success. I’m going to do this for the rest of my life. And to have the ability to make the kind of films that I’ve been able to make and work with the people that I’ve been able to work with [is great]. I just love movies. I’ve told people before, when I was making Taps or Risky Business, there are moments where you’re there where you just wanna enjoy those moments ‘cuz I don’t whether they’re going to end right here. I’ve had to opportunities to work with Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, [Martin] Scorsese, Oliver Stone and Steve Spielberg and Bryan Singer. That kind of creative freedom that I’ve been privileged enough to have is something, on that level, that I’m really proud of. So many times in my career, people were saying, “Why are you doing that?” even as early back when I was going to do Top Gun or Born on the Fourth of July or the things Dustin and I went through on Rain Man where on that film we went through four directors and two years to make. Interview with a Vampire was one also [that left people wondering]. I’ve always chosen things I thought would be challenging and I’ve always wanted to entertain an audience. That’s what I feel very privileged to do. That’s why I feel I’ve been fortunate. Personal success to me is raising my kids and my family. To me, as much as I love movies, that’s always

I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO ENTERTAIN AN AUDIENCE. THAT’S WHAT I FEEL VERY PRIVILEGED TO DO. THAT’S WHY I FEEL I’VE BEEN FORTUNATE. PERSONAL SUCCESS TO ME IS RAISING MY KIDS AND MY FAMILY. TO ME, AS MUCH AS I LOVE MOVIES, THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN THE PRIORITY. been the priority. I feel also happy that my family is healthy and doing well. That is the most important thing to me, always has been. What’s the difference between Tom Cruise the actor and Tom Cruise the businessman. I’ve produced a lot of films. Mission: Impossible was the first film I produced. Then I went on and produced all the Mission films, Last Samurai [too]. I’ve produced a lot of movies beforehand. So, there’s always the balance of art and commerce. The challenges of that I like to look at that as opportunities as opposed to restrictions. That aspect of it has always been there. It’s not just having the talent in making a film; it’s important also to know to surround yourself with great people. I own a piece of United Artists. Starting it up, we had the writer’s strike. We’ve got a pending actor’s strike. And you know what? It just comes down to I’ve got very good people that I work with. I’ve always tried to surround myself with people that I respect and enjoy working with. That’s what we have. We have great people that I work with. At the studio, it’s actually a very exciting time, with Mary Parent who’s come on at MGM. It’s interesting. But I am an actor first and foremost. Even

though we set it up, I’ve never had an exclusive deal as an actor with anyone. Ever. Even producing films. I produced The Last Samurai at Warner Bros. I produced the others with Miramax. I’ve always been very careful not to say I’m just going to be with one [company]. I’m an actor. That is my love- acting. That’s first and foremost with me. What’s it like being the dad of a toddler? I love it. I love being a father. As a kid, I couldn’t wait to grow up. I remember when I was four or five years old. I always wanted to work. I just always had that. I remember I always wanted to be a father. All three of my kids, I’ve enjoyed every part of it. I feel lucky to have the teenagers and the toddler. To have the journey of both happening at the same time [is incredible]. And [Suri] is just so (he smiles)… All my kids, I just love’em. Will you and Katie ever work together? I’d love to. If we find the right thing. Will we see another Mission: Impossible? If I could figure it out. I’ve got so much on my plate with other things, but if I could figure that story out…

DIRECTOR INTERVIEW

Taste of the Month . . .

HAT TRICK Noodle Bowls

Comic legend Frank Miller caps off ’08 with the visually-stunning “The Spirit” BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

“He’s blind. He had to put it together.” He wouldn’t accept that explanation, and so we just got at it.

HE SPIRIT WRITER/DIRECTOR FRANK Miller loves fedoras. And when we say Why don’t more comics-to-films translations work love, we mean loooves them. In the coffee out? table book accompaniment that came out around the We cite Marvel Entertainments Iron Man and same time as his Christmas movie release, there are Incredible Hulk as wonderful, witty jobs at adapting 20+ pictures of Miller (300 writer, Sin City writer/ them. I think if they get too presumptuous, comic director) at various points of The Spirit’s filmmaking book movies tend to fall apart. process. In every single shot, the man is wearing a fedora. It’s insane. The film is as much about film noir as it is about In mid December, he and The Spirit cast joined a comic books. I’d love to hear if you have a favorite room full of anxious reporters in New York City to film noir reference or favorite film you thought of talk more movie-making. Guess what Miller had on that may have inspired you here. his head? Yep, you nailed it. But nobody ever bothI’m pretty much an encyclopedia of film noir, so ered asking the man about his fierce fashion sense; we I don’t even know where to start, except that I was knew fans would much rather hear what the almostreally thrilled with the voices in this movie. Gabriel’s 52-year-old fantasy icon had to say about graphic [Macht, who plays The Spirit] voice is straight outta comics and the fascinating Raymond Chandler. Eva’s cinematic world he’s basically, [Mendes, Sand Saref] voice is, MY CHARACTER well, hung his hat on over the well, Eva’s. Scarlet’s [Johanspast few years. son, Silken Floss] voice is a ACTUALLY GOT HIS HEAD dream come true. I guess we TORN OFF BY SAMUEL Can you tell me about your just put up with Sam. relationship with comic JACKSON. BUT IF YOU legend Will Eisner and what How do you describe the MEAN “THE SPIRIT,” I didn’t he like about your character you play in The Daredevil? WAS OUT TO INTERPRET Spirit? Do you have a month? My Well, my character actuEISNER’S CREATION relationship with Will Eisner ally got his head torn off by AND TO INCORPORATE was a long and abiding one Samuel Jackson. But if you where we argued incessantly. THE TWO THINGS WILL mean the Spirit, I was out to The very first time he saw one interpret Eisner’s creation and EISNER AND I LOVE of my pages, he told me what to incorporate the two things was wrong with it. We just kept DEEPLY: NEW YORK CITY Will Eisner and I love deeply: arguing ever since. It was the AND BEAUTIFUL WOMEN. New York City and beautiful classic Irish-Catholic-meetswomen. the-Bronx-Jew [confrontation]. It was tooth ‘n nail. We love each other dearly. But how do you perceive the Spirit as being? A haunted man. He doesn’t know why he’s alive. He We keep hearing the famous anecdote about your faces an existential question that’s only answered by a meeting with Eisner for the first time and him seeing very bad man. your caption on the Daredevil page. What was it he didn’t like? The costumes are basically co-stars, too, right? Well, Jim Shooter, my editor-in-chief [at Marvel], I’ll start by saying I suggested there be different was showing me off as the new kid on the block at a costumes for Sam and that all the women really party hosted by Neal Adams. He kept showing my looked great. I worked hard on Gabe’s costume ‘cuz work in front of Eisner’s face. After Eisner got past his at first it looked really foolish, until we spruced [him] usual syrupy, avuncular sweetness, he finally read the up with the black outfit and everything. For what page, glared at me and said, “He’s lying in the back of [costume designer] Michael Dennison did, I take no a garbage truck and his caption is saying, ‘He’s lying in credit. It was my idea to make [Samuel L. Jackson] a the back of a garbage truck.’ That’s redundant!” I said, Nazi though!

Doc Chey’s Noodle House

Emory Village 1556 N. Decatur Rd. 404.378.8188 Morningside 1424 N. Highland Ave. 404.888.0777 www.doccheys.com Doc Chey's is the original pan-Asian noodle house in Atlanta. They opened their first restaurant 11 years ago in the Virginia Highland neighborhood of the city. They followed that with a second restaurant in Emory Village and now have five total noodle houses with other locations in Athens, Georgia ; Asheville, North Carolina ; and Greenville, South Carolina. Doc Chey's menu is truly pan-Asian; it encompasses the cuisines of China, Japan, Thailand, Korea and Vietnam. Menu categories include dim sum (starters), noodles, stir fries, soups and salads. Best sellers include the Spicy Thai Basil noodles consisting of wok seared vegetables and rice noodles tossed in a spicy Thai sauce, and the Szechuan stir fry, which includes a wide variety of vegetables stir-fried in a traditional Chinese Szechuan sauce and served with white or brown rice. All noodles and stir fries are freshly wok'd to order and served with your choice of chicken, tofu, beef, and shrimp or veggies-only. Doc Chey's also offers a wide variety of handmade dim sum items under five bucks that are perfect for starters, such as Shanghai Dumplings, Fresh Vietnamese Basil Rolls, Thai Shrimp Rolls and Crispy Veggie Spring Rolls. The majority of menu items are under $8 and each meal is served with a smile. Doc Chey's was voted Best Noodle Bowl for the past four years by INsite Magazine, and they also won Best Carryout the past two years. Other recent awards include Best Cheap Eats, Best Lunch Spot and Best Pan-Asian by Citysearch.com. Visit a Doc Chey's near you for a healthy serving of peace, love and noodles. For more info, visit doccheys.com.

Chin Chin Buckhead / Brookhaven 3887 Peachtree Rd. 404.816.2229 Multiple other locations at www.chinchinonline.com Chin Chin is consistently voted Atlanta’s Best Chinese restaurant. The Buckhead / Brookhaven location featured provides a luxurious and relaxing atmoshere for an enjoyable dining experience. Chin Chin offers a variety of superb noodle dishes. Their Pan Fried Noodles come with your choice of vegetables, chicken, pork, beef, and shrimp. You can also get the same ingrediaents with Lo Mein or try their house recipe. Another favorite house specialty is the Singapore Rice Noodle, which is served with curry chicken and shrimp and very hot! Chin Chin’s menu not only offers the standard favorites but also many exotic dishes in Chinese cuisine at affordable prices.

Dining at Chin Chin is pure pleasure 2 NEW LOCATIONS!

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WWW.CHINCHINONLINE.COM Watch our Open kitchen & experience the Art of Chinese Cooking! PG 11 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

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FILM

�� BEDTIME STORIES (PG)

�� –DeMarco Williams

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (PG-13) ��

�� –DeMarco Williams

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (PG-13) ��

��

�� –Rodney Hill

GRAN TORINO (R)

�� –Matt Goldberg

LAST CHANCE HARVEY (PG-13) ��

�� –Rebecca Crosby

NOTORIOUS (R)

��

This actually isn’t an image from “The Wrestler.” This is just Mickey Rourke on a Tuesday walking to the grocery store. If you looked like that, even buying milk would seem dramatic.

THE WRESTLER �� –Matt Goldberg

coming this month Jan. 9: The Reader (R)

��

Jan. 16: Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG)

��

Jan. 23: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (R)

��

Jan. 30: The Uninvited (PG-13)

�� –Compiled by Glenn LaFollette PG 13 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

�� –DeMarco Williams

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THE SPIRIT (PG-13)

��

�� REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (R) �� –DeMarco Williams �� VALKYRIE (PG-13) �� –DeMarco Williams �� YES MAN (PG-13) �� –Benjamin Carr �� SEVEN POUNDS (PG-13) �� –Ryan Loftis –DeMarco Williams

FILM

2008 FILM YEAR

In Review

BY MATT GOLDBERG

008 WASN’T THE GREATEST year for movies but after the embarrassment of riches that was 2007 combined with the reduced output from the writers’ strike, it’s not surprising that this year’s crop of ﬁlms didn’t result is as many masterpieces. But there were still gems to be found and a surprising amount came from the summer movie season. While blockbusters are supposed to be all fun and no brain, some quality pictures managed to sneak in despite massive marketing budgets and enough merchandising to keep China keep loaning us money.

1. WALL-E – Whenever I tell people this is my favorite movie of the year, they laugh. I think it’s strange to have a critic, the known staunch supporter of the yearend Oscar-bait of weighty epic drama, stand behind what’s seen as a kids movie. But I would ask those who scoff to take a second look at this little robot and find that Pixar has told a story as richer than any film where the “For Your Consideration” ads were being cranked out before the sucker was even released. Wall-E is effortlessly thoughtful, touching, sweet, funny, and it doesn’t matter if he’s on our arid, dying planet or in the heavens of the axiom, spurring giant blobs of people to action. You can’t give acting awards to pixels and that’s a shame because through him the movie becomes one of the best love stories, best sci-fi stories, and the best movie of 2008. 2. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE – Call it a fairy tale. Call it a love story. Call it an unflinching look at poverty. Call it whatever you want, but what’s important is that you see it. “Slumdog Millionaire” is constantly captivating as it tells a love story through the brilliant framing device of questions on the Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” There’s the beautiful irony of Boyle’s film that a boy who has lived in poverty all his life could care less about the money he’s about to win; he only wants the girl. Everything in this movie downright works, from the cinematography to the soundtrack to the unbelievable performances from the trio of young actors playing the main characters as children. There are so many wonderful things happening in this movie that you can’t wait to see it again. 3. THE WRESTLER – Just listening to Bruce Springsteen’s eponymous song all of the emotions from Darren Aronofsky’s latest heartfelt story come rushing back. The emotions of a tragic figure whose

survival as an individual and human being depend on being destroyed for the pleasure of a crowd that craves the fantasy of a superman and none of the reality of what happens when that superman has to hang up his cape for the day and put in the hearing aide. Watching Randy “The Ram” Robinson struggle mightily to ﬁnd his place in the real world is moving, tragic, and extraordinary. If you don’t have tears in your eyes by the time The Boss’ song starts playing, then you didn’t get this movie.

4. HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY – The best action movie of the year didn’t make the most money at the box office or even come inside the top ten. But it did bring Guillermo del Toro’s artistry of Pan’s Labyrinth to a superhero template and went far beyond where most action films dare to tread. He ended a set piece on a sad and contemplative note with the defeat of the Forest Elemental. He took us to a world unlike any we’d seen before with the Troll Market. He contemplated the conflict between the fantastical and the mundane and where a demon, sent to destroy us all and instead working as our protector, finds a new destiny. GdT did all of this and more with “Hellboy II,” and while I respect “The Dark Knight” and “Iron Man”, Big Red easily bests them both. 5. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON – On a technical level, the merits of “Benjamin Button” are undeniable. All future old-age make-up will have to live in this film’s massive shadow. As a story, that’s where there will be some room for debate. Some have leveled the criticisms of the film being too cold and too distant. But where some have seen distant, I have seen quiet and where some have seen cold I’ve seen subtle. “Benjamin Button” doesn’t wear its heart on its sleeve, but it unmistakably has a heart. It’s not just a life-story but a life-long love story, and it’s where love and loss collide that “Benjamin” blossoms and becomes a beauty of a film. 6. IRON MAN – If there are only two choices between the dark-n-gritty realism of “The Dark Knight” and the fun-and-flighty “Iron Man”, I hope more superhero movies will go with the latter than former. Ideally, I’d like whatever tone is best for the character and the story but I know had more fun with “Iron Man” and there simply was no better casting choice than Robert Downey Jr. Downey actually improved upon the comic character in its big screen debut. He was fun, witty, sharp, but also reserved, introspective, and remorseful when the situation called for it. He may have copped

to being Iron Man, but he’s actually better.

7. SON OF RAMBOW – Whenever I recommended this movie to people, I had to note that “Rambow” was spelled with a ‘w’, otherwise I got a resounding no thanks. That little ‘w’ makes the difference between studio cash-in and a heartfelt tale of a friendship formed between two young boys, outcasts in their own families and finding brotherhood in filming their own take on “Rambo” where they’re no longer the viewers; they’re the heroes. Imbued with boundless imagination, “Son of Rambow” is a film that beautifully taps into a love of filmmaking and finding friendship. 8. BURN AFTER READING – The comedic mirror of last year’s “No Country for Old Men”, the film comes up with the same conclusions of the world as a random and unforgiving place, but it does so with a delightfully madcap streak of dark comedy. Like the Coens’ earlier film, “The Big Lebowski”, I believe “Burn After Reading” is going to be a highly-rewatchable film with new favorite bits that rise to the surface on repeat viewings. I also believe that if Heath Ledger hadn’t come along and re-defined a sixty-year old comic villain, that the kids may have dressed up as Brad Pitt’s unforgettable Chad Feldheimer. Top it all off with a punch-to-thesolar-plexus satire of our “Intelligence” Community, and you see that we’re witnessing the next phase of the Coen Bros. excellent career in a film that is undeniably their style and yet something exciting and new. 9. MAN ON WIRE – The fact that I fell in love with some pompous, self-absorbed, borderline-pretentious French wirewalker is some kind of miracle but it happened. Director James Marsh’s tale of Philippe Petit’s artistic crime of the century to wire walk between the Twin Towers in 1974 (then the highest buildings in the world) deftly balances between insane and magical. Framed as a caper and using not re-enactments as much as Petit’s own footage, it’s a breathless story where you wonder not if Petit will get away with his scheme, but if he’ll survive. That’s quite an accomplishment since he’s telling the story in the modern-day. 10. THE DARK KNIGHT – The second-highest grossing film of all-time has its flaws, but must be commended for its ambition. Yes, it has a convoluted plot. Yes, Bale’s Batman’s voice is painful. But its reach and influence is undeniable. For better or worse, the superheroes we see in the future will be more based in reality and further detached from their comic-book origins. What Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns” did for

superhero comics, Chistopher Nolan’s ﬁlm will do for superhero movies. Honorable Mentions: THE SIGNAL, AMERICAN TEEN, THE FOOT FIST WAY, TROPIC THUNDER, LEATHERHEADS

A SECOND OPINION

– By B. Love

1. WALL*E – Pixar continues to reign supreme with its tale of a plucky robot in love, and of a consumptiondriven society gone haywire. The best film of the year, animated or otherwise. 2. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE – Gradually unveiling a life-long love story between two orphans as a man explains how he knew all the answers on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”? Genius. 3. THE WRESTLER – Calling this Mickey Rourke’s comeback is appropriate only if you ignore his great work in “Sin City,” but Darren Aronofosky’s tragic tale is an undeniably moving human portrait. 4. DOUBT – Say you will about the flaws in John Patrick Shanley’s direction, but the riveting performances by Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis were impeccable. 5. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON – David Fincher’s latest continued Brad Pitt’s evolution from movie star to thespian, with great supporting turns making it one of the year’s richest yarns. 6. THE DARK KNIGHT – Yes, it was too long, but stellar turns from Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart turned Christopher Nolan’s action epic into high art, inexorably changing superhero movies forever. 7. REVOLUTIONARY ROAD – Leo and Kate reunite, but this time sappiness and schmaltz are replaced by arguing and acrimony in Sam Mendes’ gut-wrenching portrait of a ‘50s marriage coming unraveled. 8. TROUBLE THE WATER – Few people saw this harrowing insider’s look at Hurricane Katrina, but the first-hand account is more gripping than most Hollywood films, putting a human face on the tragedy. 9. FROST/NIXON – Reprising their stage roles, Michael Sheen and Frank Langella capture the dramatic historic significance of talk show host David Frost’s increasingly tense showdown with Tricky Dick. 10. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA – Continuing to find inspiration in European settings (not to mention Scarlett Johansson), Woody Allen’s sexy, dramatic Spanish romp provided Penelope Cruz’s best role in years.

PG 15 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

CONCERT

CALENDER

�� Heavy Pettin �� SpaceOut Project �� Sandra Hall� �� Sonia Leigh �� The Long Ryders �� Girlyman �� Deacon Brandon Reeves �� i-Tegrity �� Fuel the Fire Invasion 2009 �� Soul Shakers �� Craig Campbell �� Five Eight �� Pistolero �� Speed X �� Ross Coppley

�� Crosstown Allstars �� Open Mic Jam �� So It Goes �� Tyler Reeve Band �� The Spring Standards �� Romeo Cologne’s Funk Party �� Al Smith �� The Electromatics �� Rock Maﬁa �� Tom Rush �� Frankie’s Blues Mission �� Indie Rock Night �� Screaming Mechanical Brain �� DJ Tubbystyle �� Soulphonics

Francine Reed @��(1-16)

�� The Gong Show �� Sweet Betty �� Warped �� The Goldest �� Ben Deignan & Suburban �� Chickenshack �� Bill Shefﬁeld �� Pompeii �� Hidden Element �� Grayson Capps & Stumpknockers

Sonia Leigh @��(1-9)

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�� Moby Dick �� SpaceOut Project �� Houserocker Johnson �� Hipnotic �� The Long Ryders �� Matthew Perryman Jones �� Andy Makely Band �� Sgt. Kickass �� Red Jumpsuit Apparatus �� Lola �� Appetite for Destruction �� Gary Pfaff & the Heartwells �� Swamp Ape �� Kingsized �� The Drownout �� Jimmy Wayne

�� Crash Davis Reunion �� 3 on 3rd Street �� Francine Reed �� Michelle Enix & Dano �� Longwave �� Bethany Dick �� The Santos Brothers �� Lloyd’s Rocksteady Revue �� Anybody Killa �� Fuel the Fire Invasion 2009 �� FUZE �� Mike Veal �� Randy Rogers �� Boombox �� Tea Leaf Green �� Harrison Hudson

�� Thee Mighty Underdogs �� Y-O-U �� Fat Back Deluxe �� Daniel Platzman Quartet �� Southern Mischief

Perpetual Groove @��(1-17)

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus @��(1-10) �� Boo Hoo Ramblers �� Open Mic Night �� Songwriter’s Open Mic �� Uncle Sugar �� Incorrigible String Band �� O The Human Lung �� Yer 15 Minutes Karaoke �� Tru Skool Tuesdays �� Tommy Talton Band �� Todd Wells �� Open Screen Night

PG 16 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

�� Red Hot Chili Peppers Tribute �� Sandra Hall �� Shyanne �� Los Campesinos �� Kevn Kinney Band �� The Jumpin’ Jukes �� Under the Porch �� Reel Big Fish �� Funeral For A Friend �� Ike Stubbleﬁeld �� Slippery When Wet �� Celine Dion �� Dirty Dozen Brass Band �� Perpetual Groove �� Front Porch Session Players �� Fat Back Deluxe �� Winterland �� Connor Christian & Southern Gothic �� David Bromberg

nical Brain

on 2009

�� Jon Harris �� Open Mic Night �� Songwriter’s Open Mic �� Uncle Sugar �� Jessica Tonder �� Tru Skool Tuesdays �� Kevin Gordon Trio �� Paul Hand Band �� Crosstown Allstars �� Haji Basim �� Tyler Reeve Band �� 6 Day Bender

�� Fucked Up �� Randall Bramblett �� Fat Back Deluxe �� A Night of Tribute Bands �� The Woes �� The Machine �� Patrick Vining Band �� Open Mic Night �� MV & EE �� Songwriter’s Open Mic �� Uncle Sugar �� Josiah Erickson �� 3rd Crush �� Tru Skool Tuesdays �� Joe Pitts Band �� Todd Wells �� Coloumusic �� Crosstown Allstars �� Open Mic Jam �� Elevation �� Tyler Reeve Band �� Orange Sky

Packway Handle Band @��(1-21) �� Al Smith �� Burnt Bacon �� Rock Maﬁa �� Packway Handle Band �� Bernadette Seacrest �� Frankie’s Blues Mission �� Open Mic Jam �� DJ Tubbystyle �� PJ Morton �� Yo Majesty �� Deacon Bluz �� Aclarion �� Silent and Listen �� Jeremy Aggers �� Chickenshack �� Gongzilla �� William Joseph �� Poptart Monkeys �� Sean McConnell �� Jon McLaughlin �� Dave Matthews Tribute �� Speakeasy #4 �� Houserocker Johnson �� Ian Schumacher �� Les Savy Fav �� Vigilantes of Love �� Reverbo �� Diane Durrett �� Fuel the Fire Invasion 2009 �� Mudcat �� Wes Loper Band �� The Travelin’ McCourys �� Dubconscious �� The Georgia Satellites �� Diamond Rio

�� Al Smith �� Fatback Deluxe �� Rock Maﬁa �� Bain Mattow �� Dana Cooper �� Frankie’s Blues Mission �� Indie Rock Night �� DJ Tubbystyle �� Junior League Band �� The Producers Swap Meet �� Sweet Betty �� Kent Eberle �� Band Together 2009 �� Roxie Watson �� Chickenshack �� Broke & Boujee �� Shawn Mullins �� The Wailers �� Sun Domingo �� The Duhks �� Fiction Family �� Tron Jackson �� Mausiki Scales �� Sandra Hall �� Brandon Perry �� Constellations �� Jackson County Line �� Blues Cat �� The Drappled Grays �� Fuel the Fire Invasion 2009 �� Breeze Kings �� Trotline �� The Bridge �� Little Big Town �� Brett Dennen �� Unzipt �� Francine Reed �� Aclarion �� The Features �� Gustafer Yellowgold’s Mellow Sensation �� The Soulshakers �� Esperanza Night �� Ingrain �� Bill Shefﬁeld �� Fly By Radio �� Blue Dogs �� The Disco Biscuits �� Keller Williams �� Pop Death Squad �� Pat Green

Celine Dion @��(1-17)

s Tribute

�� Yacht Rock �� Reggae Nights �� Delta Moon �� Downstream �� Paul Collins’ Beat �� Eric Taylor �� Dr. Dixon & the Operators �� Golden �� English Beat �� Musical Mayhem �� Mudcat �� The Breakfast Club �� The Gourds �� Outformation

PG 17 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

MUSIC INTERVIEW

Songs in the Life of Keys

Interestingly enough, I was just hanging out with Bono a while ago… Isn’t that crazy? (Laughs) Not to name-drop, but he was playing me some of his music and talking about how the way in which he created it was inﬂuenced by a storyteller’s approach. It was very interesting for me to listen to it in that context, because I’m very emotional and tend to talk about what I feel. I don’t tend to tell the whole story around it, unless it aﬀects me in that way. I did write a song called “Open Hand” that tells the story of a woman in an abusive relationship who learns that the strongest grip is an open hand. But I would like to do some writing for the stage, so maybe when I get into that it will put me into more of a storyteller’s mindset.

BY B. LOVE

T DOESN’T TAKE A GENIUS TO figure out the formula for pop stardom. Mix a catchy hook, a pulsating beat, a mellifluous voice and a sexy package, and you’re exactly one massive marketing budget away from a shot at the big time. It’s much harder finding a career artist who can generate successful singles and albums year after year, adapting to the changing times while staying true to the essence that makes them who they are. That sort of perennial genius can’t be faked, and it can’t be learned. You either have it or you don’t. Born Alicia Augello-Cook in 1980, the artist who would one day be known as Alicia Keys had it in spades right from the start. The child of an Irish-Italian mother and African-American father, the New York native started learning to play piano at the age of seven, and was eventually accepted into the prestigious Professional Performance Arts School of Manhattan. By the age of 16 she had graduated as valedictorian, and within two years the singer-songwriter had her first record deal. But her big break would come when legendary impresario Clive Davis signed her as the flagship artist for his J Records label. Her 2001 debut, Songs In A Minor, sold 6 million copies and won five Grammy Awards; 2005’s Diary earned her four more statues. 2008 was arguably Alicia Keys’ best year yet. Having previously appeared in small roles in Smokin’ Aces and The Nanny Diaries, she gave her strongest acting performance to date starring alongside Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson in The Secret Life of Bees. Her latest album, As I Am, became her fourth consecutive #1 record, selling over 700,000 copies in its first week at a time when the music industry is in a sales slump of titanic proportions. The album won two of the five American Music Awards for which it was nominated, and looks likely to garner more golden gramophones for Keys during the 51st annual Grammy Awards on February 8. Looking radiant in a red formal gown, with skin that seemed to glow as warmly as her smile, Keys recently sat down to discuss music, movies, Bond and Bono. Who was it that nurtured you as a child to really believe in yourself? As a young kid I had two wonderful women in my life that helped to raise me. One is my mother, who was a single mom and a very strong woman who showed me everything about being a woman. The second one was my grandmother, who was very intelligent, very compassionate and very giving woman. I would say the two of them were two of my greatest inspirations. Was there any particular advice they gave you along the way? “Get ‘em, girl!” (Laughs) How do you divide your music and film careers at this point in your life? Well, it’s all about scheduling, but it happens naturally. When I’m creating music, it’s definitely all about that. I couldn’t possibly think about doing a film while I was making an album. I don’t even begin to know how to do that. But there are times before I start the recording process that things come together and that’s a good time to do a film. I try to balance things out in that way so I’m not doing both simultaneously. Do the different forms of creation come from the same place for you? That’s a great question. There are a lot of similarities, and for me the similarities are about where it comes from within me. With both music and film, my main goal is to make sure it comes from a truthful, authentic, honest place. When you hear it or see it, I want people to feel something, because I feel it. It’s also similar because you get used to putting yourself in vulnerable positions as a performer. Let’s say I wrote a song three years ago, and tomorrow night I’m gonna perform it. PG 18 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

Your Secret Life of Bees co-star Queen Latifah was obviously a trailblazer as far as urban music artists becoming successful actors. What was it like working with her? We bonded really well. I actually knew her before, but that experience kind of solidified our understanding of each other. It was so much fun, we would just laugh all the time. Something is really wrong with her! (Laughs) She will have you cracking up, and just naturally lights up a room. Is there anything you’ve learned from her career that has guided you in your own? Yeah, I’m a big fan of her in every way. I just love the way she’s been able to create her own path. I really appreciate the way she tries out different musical styles and telling different stories. She’s really broken the mold in a lot of ways, not only in music but in film as well. Blazing your own trails and finding your own way is something I’ve learned from her.

I THINK THAT EVERYTHING CHANGES, AND THAT’S JUST A PART OF LIFE. THERE’S DEFINITELY A GREAT NEED FOR A MORE FORWARD WAY OF THINKING... Three years ago I felt that emotion, but now I’m kinda over it, yet I can still recall how I felt and portray that emotion for three minutes. So it’s a lot like acting in that sense. When you’ve poured your heart and soul into creating an album and going on tour, is there a sense of relief to being on a ﬁlm set and being a tool of the director’s vision? Honestly, there is. My music is very personal and I have a hand in putting it together from beginning to end. I’m there every step of the way, getting no sleep and mixing and producing until it’s like, “Whew!” Then to do a tour I have to rehearse and put together the

CROSSOVER ARTISTS Alicia Keys is far from the ﬁrst artist to make the leap from success on the pop charts to success at the box oﬃce. In fact, she’s merely the latest in a long line of urban acts who have successfully made the transition to acting:

QUEEN LATIFAH

Career Highlights: Jungle Fever, Chicago, Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, Hairspray Combined Box Oﬃce: $516 million

band and singers and arrangements until it’s like, “Whew!” So when I walk on the set, I’m obviously putting a lot of work into it, but I’m not writing the script, producing the movie, directing and acting in it as well. I get a chance to just become this other person, and that’s my job. I like it, especially because I get a chance to express something that’s not about my life. I get to learn about this other person and their experiences, so it gives you a better sense of empathy. Not to mention the hours are WAY better on ﬁlm! Has the narrative storytelling style of cinema impacted the way you approach the craft of songwriting?

ICE CUBE

Career Highlights: Boyz N The Hood, Friday, Three Kings, Barbershop Combined Box Oﬃce: $250 million

MOS DEF

Career Highlights: Monster’s Ball, The Italian Job, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Be Kind Rewind Combined Box Oﬃce: $199 million

ICE T

Career Highlights: New Jack City, Ricochet, Who’s The Man, 3000 Miles To Graceland Combined Box Oﬃce: $96 million

“Another Way To Die” was the first-ever Bond theme recorded by a duo, but you and Jack White aren’t artists most people would ever imagine working together. What was that experience like? Jack is one of my favorite people, and I’d always wanted to work with him. It was a very interesting combination because he’s very musical and focused and genuinely wants to create great things. We connected very well, but it took so long to get the two of us in a room together. I’d be in Nebraska and he’d be in, like, Iceland, but we finally pulled it together and I just loved how hard and soulful and electric it was. How do you feel about the state of the music industry today? Has the sharp turn away from supporting career artists affected the way you approach your work? I think that everything changes, and that’s just a part of life. There’s definitely a great need for a more forward way of thinking; it can’t be the way the music industry was for so many years anymore. I think [record companies] got complacent and greedy and things started turning the wrong way, and now they’re struggling to fix it. But I think that real music will always have a place in the world, because music is the soundtrack of the universe. People are always looking for artists they can trust and depend on, so it’s just about learning new ways to express yourself. People who are just getting signed now are getting awful deals, but in a way it almost gives somebody like me more independence. I think the people won’t abandon the artists that they trust. Do you have any specific goals for the future of your acting career? I just want to continue to ascend and get better as an actor. I want to be better at what I do every time I do it. As far as specific goals, I think I just want to blaze my own trail. I definitely want to produce films and write great stories and create the music for theatre. How would you like to be thought of in the future, as a singer who acts or an actor who sings? As an artist.

Road Warriors January 2009’s Hottest Shows BY JON LATHAM 1/2 ZAC BROWN BAND

Wild Bills Local song man Zac Brown and his band just released ‘The Foundation’ to a good bit of attention from critics and fans alike. With momentum growing at a rapid pace, Georgia’s most recent country hit-maker brings his “Chicken Fried” licks back home. On the heels of the single’s success, it could be a while before you get to see Zac in a setting like this again.

1/9 GRINDER NOVA

The Earl The world’s greatest Truck-Stop Mariachi Band invades the Earl in support of the Long Ryders. It is like nothing you have ever heard before, heavily infusing grind house boogie-woogie, bossa nova, and latin grooves. Of course, the Grinder Nova experience is one that must truly be seen to be believed. Decked out in Flashy matching outﬁts and Aviators, the band certainly knows how to deliver a fun, unique rock and roll show.

1/10 THE LONG RYDERS

The Earl The seed of country rock that Gram Parsons sowed with the Byrds was loudly reaped by this California quartet in the ‘80’s. Fresh out

of the gate, the Ryders brought a rougher rock edge to create a unique Americana sound. This special two-night run of performances will certainly make for a memorable opening to 2009. Local favorite Warm in the Wake support on Night Two, oﬀering up dreamy, melodic experimentation in a fashion reminiscent of My Morning Jacket.

1/14 SEVENDUST

Center Stage Another Atlanta band comes home for what is certain to be a shredding performance at the intimate Center Stage venue. With original guitarist Clint Lowery back in the saddle, it will be an up-close experience harkening back to the early days. Any fan of Atlanta’s rock scene should jump at the opportunity to see a very special performances by one of few bands that broke out in a big way on the national circuit.

1/17 CELINE DION

Philips Arena Even after wrapping a successful run of shows at Ceasar’s Palace on the Vegas strip, a new day continues to shine on the horizon for Celine Dion. Atlanta welcomes Canada’s megastar with the voice that has the power to sell millions of records worldwide and eﬀectively raise (or sink,

your call) the Titanic. Her ﬁrst world tour in years has been a massive success, and you are guaranteed to hear all of your Celine favorites on this special one-night engagement.

1/17 PERPETUAL GROOVE

Variety Playhouse Where else can Phish-like jams and mellow improvisational grooves give way to Rage Against the Machine? Only at a Perpetual Groove show. A jam scene favorite, P-Groove comes back to Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points. Like every P-Groove performance, there’s no telling what might happen. Atlanta is particularly close to the band, now rooted in Athens, which makes this a gig you don’t want to miss.

1/19 SCOTT WEILAND

Center Stage Don’t buy in to the tabloid fodder. With Stone Temple Pilots, who just recently wrapped a successful reunion tour, bad boy Scott Weiland embodied the quintessential rock and roll front man. With the release of his second solo album, “Happy” in Galoshes, Weiland sheds his outlandish swagger for a more introspective delivery.

1/25 THE MACHINE Variety Playhouse Weren’t around to experience Pink Floyd live? With Richard Wright’s death this past

WE GOT NEXT NOVEL

1/29 FICTION FAMILY

Variety Playhouse Jon Foreman is the surfloving, mastermind of California rockers Switchfoot. Sean Watkins is a third of the critically acclaimed, fan-adored Nickel Creek. Together, they have released a beautiful collaboration on ATO Records that displays the power of the hefty songwriting that Foreman and Watkins bring to their regular gigs.

1/30 THE KILLERS

Atlanta Civic Center The faulty glamour synonymous with the gambles of Las Vegas shine through in the music of the Killers. Touring behind their newest release, ‘Day and Age’, Brandon Flowers and his fellow felons bring their mix of euro-synth pop, arena rock, and indie style to Atlanta.

Artists on the verge of making it big

Latest Project: “I Am… (Future Black President)” EP (Capitol) For Fans of: Talib Kweli, Mos Def, 2Pac Why You Should Care: Because after working with urban music icons from Talib Kweli to Alicia Keys, Dallas Austin’s latest discovery is ready for his own shine in the spotlight.

BY B. LOVE

year, the legacy of Pink Floyd’s falls heavily on the many tribute acts that recreate their sonic explorations. The Machine is one of these acts, but it is much more than just a laser show. It is an engaging concert experience, weaving together dead-on interpretations of Floyd classics with improvisational jams of their own. This is certain to be a special show for any fan of Pink Floyd’s catalogue.

HAT DO ALICIA KEYS, BEN FOLDS, Joss Stone, Talib Kweli and India Arie have in common? They’ve all worked with 28-year-old songwriter-turned-production phenom Novel, a singer, rapper and multi-

instrumentalist whose eagerly anticipated Capitol Records debut, Audiobiography, drops in March. Novel was born into a creatively fertile family, the son of former Motown Records exec Mickey Stevenson and grandson of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend Solomon Burke. But it was his mother– a singer who turned him onto artists such as Prince, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and Anita Baker– who would ultimately prove the greatest musical inﬂuence. “She used to sing backup for Chaka Khan,” he remembers warmly, “and was always working on her own records. I used to go with her to nightclubs and she’d sneak me into the back, where I’d sleep while she was performing. Sometimes she’d bring me onstage.” Traveling the club circuit with his mother left the boy bitten by the show business bug. He began learning to play the piano and guitar in his early teens and insists that he never considered any other career. Moving frequently in his youth, Novel credits his time spent in Philadelphia at age 15 as a formative inﬂuence. “When I was living in Philly I got introduced to all types of music,” he recalls. “I had lived in the West and in Kansas, but by the time we got to Philly classic records like the Wu-Tang Clan’s debut were coming out. For my generation, the early ‘90s was the most insane era in hip-hop. That’s what I got into, and it helped me develop as a writer.” Like most aspiring songwriters, Novel struggled to get noticed. But once he got signed, he still had to deal with the turbulent rollercoaster ride

that is the modern-day music industry. When Novel was living in North Carolina with his mother, long-time manager David Gates flew out and urged him to move back to Los Angeles and give Gates time to get him a record deal. Novel was initially signed to backpacker hip-hop haven Rawkus Records before parent company MCA went under, then he went to Geffen, and eventually Interscope. But soon his career would get an injection of hope from another hip-hop prodigy. “By this time,” he laments, “my funds were low and I wasn’t writing for anybody. I was broke, so I was driving back across country with nothing but my car and my clothes, trying to get Dave to get me out of my deal. One day I called him and Dallas Austin picked up the phone. He was telling me I should come to Atlanta and do some tracks with him and see what happens. The rest is history.” Austin, the songwriting/production mastermind behind iconic urban groups such as Boyz II Men and TLC, recognized Novel as a singular talent and quickly took the young man under his wing. “Mostly I just observed how Dallas worked,” Novel says of the experience, “but I wound up producing about 80% of my project and he really allowed me to do whatever I wanted to do. Watching him definitely made me a better producer, because he’s got such a broad range and listens to so many different types of music.” Novel’s official artist launch began in November with the digital release of his debut EP, “I Am… (Future Black President),” which featured five songs off the forthcoming album. The title track–

an uplifting anthem recorded long before Barack Obama’s historic victory– features conscious rappers Talib Kweli and Spree, as well as an unexpected guest spot from alt-rocker Ben Folds. “At ﬁrst I sampled his record (“The Luckiest”) and we were trying to get other artists to appear on the track,” Novel recalls, “but everybody was moving kinda slow. So we re-did it with him playing piano and singing over it, and he was really cool. We emailed a lot and sent each other songs we’d written, so by the time we met it was like we already knew each other. He’s insanely talented, but he’s one of the most underrated artists.” Novel, on the other hand, is the rare new artist who comes to the plate surrounded by a cavalcade of hype. Not the type created by fawning press releases or tabloid-friendly hijinks, but by the talent of a man whom Austin calls “the most unbelievably talented artist, writer and producer of our time.” Of course these says, new acts on major labels are rarely given the time to develop their crafts. But despite the pressures to rack up sales ﬁgures, Novel insists it’s the furthest thing from his mind at the point. “I feel like I have the leeway to grow as an artist. I never look at sales,” he insists, “because I produce and write hit records for other artists, which takes away from the stress of being an artist myself. With my record I can just put it out there and hope people embrace it, because I feed my kids with my producing and writing. I’d be happy just having an underground classic that people respect. As long as people love it, that’s all I care about.” PG 19 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

MUSIC INTERVIEW

The Hardest Working Man In Hardcore BY JOHN B. MOORE

USTIN KENSRUE COULD VERY WELL BE THE James Brown of post-hardcore. With a second solo record out just months after his band’s ambitious project “The Alchemy Index” - a series of four EP’s all tied to the same theme – hit the shelves and weeks before Thrice releases a live DVD and CD, Kensrue is already planning on his band’s next full-length release. If he’s not the hardest working man in his genre, he’s certainly running an exhausting campaign for the title. We spoke with Kensrue recently about his solo Christmas record, the live album and plans for the next Thrice offering. So what made you decided to make your second solo record a Christmas one? I’ve wanted to do a Christmas album for a while. Ideally I didn’t want it to be my second solo release but it made more sense in the end because I don’t know when I’ll have an opportunity to put out another solo record with how busy Thrice always is. I have a bunch of ideas and half finished songs but I probably won’t have a decent window to put another record out until 2010. We’ll see though. You also have the Thrice record coming out around the same time. What made you decide to put out a live CD/ DVD now? We had an opportunity to film one of the shows from our headline tour in HD for a reasonable price and we had been discussing doing a live DVD anyway so we decided to go for it. It’s more for the fans than anything. There is a lot of footage out there on the Internet but none of it is very good quality and hopefully this will be a cool item for people who haven’t got to see us play live, and I guess

hopefully for those who have as well. We had a really cool light show on that tour and the footage looks great.

How long do you plan to stay on the road? Well, after this tour we are gonna be locking it down for a little while to make a new record. But we never stop for too long (except when making a 24 song project record.) So, not as long away this time I’m sure. What’s next for you? Writing! Recording!

Your last effort (The Alchemy Index) was a major undertaking. Had you always wanted to do themed records- tying those EPs together? No. I definitely was not something we ever talked about before it popped into my head one day. It definitely was a big undertaking though … much bigger than I imagined. Especially lyrically, writing over 20 songs felt like three or four times as many as 12. When will you and the rest of the guys in Thrice be writing and recording again? We’re demoing ideas right now and will start getting into the initial studio stuff early next year. As far as what it will sound like I can’t really say. Not that I won’t, but I really can’t say at this point. You’ve been on Vagrant Records for a couple of albums now - are you happier on an indie label? I guess that’s true with the two halves of the Index and the DVD and the Christmas record. We’ve definitely been happier there than we were in the last couple years at Island. Most of the people in our corner were gone at that point and we felt like strangers there. It’s nice to have a little bit closer contact and less hoops to jump through. How’s the current tour with Rise Against/Alkaline Trio? It’s going great. Especially excited about the Gaslight Anthem, who we hadn’t known before but who we’ve become fast friends with. They are a great live band and great people. I’m sure most people are starting to hear about them, but if you haven’t go check it out.

MUSIC INTERVIEW

COOL LIKE THAT

Cold outside? Anthony Hamilton and his hot CD, Point of it All, get soul music all warm and fuzzy again. BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

XCITED DOESN’T BEGIN TO explain how Anthony Hamilton is sounding on the phone. Yes, his fourth major studio release, Point of it All, has just hit store shelves to thunderous critical applause. But no, that’s not why he’s so pumped. Sure, the smooth crooner just completed a tiny-but-triumphant tour to promote the new disc, but that’s not why he’s so elated either. “If you could see my Nikes, you’d be jealous,” begins the 37-going-on-17-year-old Charlotte native. “I got on some black Jumpmans. [Michael] Jordan sent’em. They look like Dunks. They got these good lil’ things carved in them. They got velvet on the inside. I love sneakers, man! In January, I’m going to the Bahamas for the second time ‘cuz Jordan invited me to come down to his golf tournament.” But therein lies the unique quality about Anthony Hamilton. Through emotive moments like “Charlene,” “Can’t Let Go” or “Cool,” he comes oﬀ as this deeply-moving, second-coming of Al PG 20 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

Green. When you have a sit down with the guy, however, he’s as likely to talk shoes and cooking as he is soul music and new CDs. What’s the early reception been like on the new record? A lot of people have been rantin’ and ravin’ about it. They really love it. They’re like, “You did it again.” On the cover, it appears like you’re in deep thought about something. What’s on your mind? I’m trying to ﬁgure out what the point of it all is. When you say “it,” are you speaking musically or the world in general? Everything. The whole spectrum. In ’08, as African-Americans, we’ve had some serious highs and some serious lows. How was the year for you? It’s been great. I’ve had a great time building up to this album with the anticipation of getting it done. I think it was successful. I just ﬁnished a six-week tour which helped out a lot. I think it was a great run. What are some of the hardest things you go through to maintain in this business? Umm, just your privacy… but I don’t really have a lot of hard times. I love what I do. I think that everything that it entails makes it possible for me to grow as a businessman and artist. I think it helps my growth. I don’t look at it as a down or punishment. But some days you want to walk to the store and people say, “Hey, Anthony!” But it’s a beautiful journey that I’m on. I don’t have a lot of regrets or negative things to say. Let’s stay with that growth for a minute. From ’03 to ’08, have things progressed in the way you’d like them to?

I think I had a nice run in ’03. Ain’t Nobody Worryin’ was a great album. I think it could have did a lot better [commercially]. I think we stayed on one single too long. But with this one, I’ll make up for it. Jive is really, really behind me right now. What does it feel like having a label being so supportive? It feels good ‘cuz that means you don’t have to ﬁght at home. To stay at home and have somebody ﬁghtin’ with you, goin’ the same way, feels good. It’s sweet turbulence. What are you most proud of with Point of it All? It’s completion. It being on the shelf. The rest of that is just added preservatives, keeping [the music industry] going. I’m just happy it’s out in people’s hands. I’m getting feedback from it. That’s a good thing right there. Give me a song or two from the album that put the biggest smiles on your face. “Fallin’ in Love,” Please Stay” and “Prayin’ For You.”

We know you can sing to the ladies, but whatever skill are you proud to have? I love good. I can cook my tail oﬀ. I’m a great barber. I cut hair. When was the last time you got in the kitchen? Thanksgiving. I baked a turkey, mac and cheese, yams, dressing. With the dressing, I didn’t do my best ‘cuz it was last minute. I like to put some turkey meat in it, but I didn’t do my best dressing. How many people showed up? We had at least 20 or so. My band came through and everything. I made BBQ beef ribs. Oooooh! Play out the next year for me. I’m gonna get my label going, Restless Music. I want a clothing line and a hat line. I wanna do some non-proﬁt and just give back. Tell me more about this hat line. I’ve been thinking about it. I’ve written [some ideas] down and drawn some things out.

MUSIC

THE TOP 10 ALBUMS

OF 2008

B. LOVE’S TOP 10

1. MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA – Let My Pride Be What’s Left Behind (Canvasback) Yes, it’s a 5-song EP and three are live reinventions of old songs. But when you open with a devastating one-two punch like “I Can Feel A Hot One” and “I Was A Lid” and close with “Sleeper 1972,” brevity is clearly the soul of genius. 2. AMANDA PALMER – Who Killed Amanda Palmer? (Roadrunner) Dresden Dolls / 2 + Ben Folds = Dynamic chamber-pop. Palmer may not be the most emotionally balanced singer-songwriter on the planet, but songs like “Astronaut,” “Ampersand” and “Leeds United” made her among the most exciting. 3. VAMPIRE WEEKEND – Self Titled (XL Recordings) Released way back in January, VW’s debut was the rare blogosphere hit that deserved every bit of hype, combining the Afro-pop elements of Paul Simon’s Graceland with indie-rock and Weezer wit. The results were charming and utterly infectious. 4. KANYE WEST – 808s & Heartbreak (Roc-AFella) If pride goes before a fall, this is the sound of its aftermath. Humbled and heartbroken after the death of his mother and a break-up with his fiancé, West delivered the most earnest and emotional album of his career, redefining himself in the process. 5. TV ON THE RADIO – Dear Science (DGC/ Interscope) TV On The Radio may be the perfect band for our iPod shuffle culture, careening from thunderous epics (“Halfway Home”) to funkified jams (“Crying”) to rap-style verbal assaults (“Dancing Choose”) to moody trip-hop (“Stork & Owl”) in the first four songs. 6. COLDPLAY – Viva La Vida or Death & All His Friends (Capitol) Taking a page from U2’s career book, Chris Martin & Co. collaborated with Brian Eno, and the result was their best album yet. Epic, emotional and experimental, it’s an undeniable artistic achievement from one of Brit-pop’s best bands.

opening track “Gobbledigook” is “Ewok Techno.” It’s as good a description as any for this Icelandic act’s emotionally rich, sonically expansive sound, which only seems to be getting more dynamic and expressive with time. 9. METALLICA – Death Magnetic (Warner Brothers) Think life ends at 40? Check out the latest album from middle-aged James Hetﬁeld and Co., which will take your favorite 20-something band’s album out for drinks, get it trashed, roll it for spare change and leave it beaten and bloody, just to teach it a lesson. 10. EMILY WELLS – The Symphonies: Dreams Memories & Parties (Creative Control) Sounding like she was raised on a musical diet of equal parts Vivaldi, Cocteau Twins, Bjork and Biggie Smalls, this L.A.-based multi-instrumentalist/ composer is absolutely nothing like anything you’ve ever heard before.

BY BRET LOVE, DEMARCO WILLIAMS, JOHN B. MOORE & JON LATHAM

be a bugger. Underground fans look at the track listing and see names like Freeway (“The Truth”) and Royce Da 5’9” (“Glow”), get excited and are immediately disappointed with songs that wouldn’t have been interludes elsewhere. With this ﬂuid project, think the exact opposite… just put it to souled-out beats. 6. SOLANGE – Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams (Geﬀen) Hell, half of America doesn’t even know Beyonce’s lil’ sister came out with this frolicking bit of R&B-fused do-wop this year. Guess they’ll never know what all the boogying to the jovial “Sandcastle Disco” and “T.O.N.Y.” is all about. And that’s too bad.

DEMARCO WILLIAMS’ TOP 10

7. THE GAME – L.A.X. (Interscope) Game is currently beeﬁng with Cali newcomer Bishop Lamont. Truthfully, the whole quarrel seems kinda one-sided, seeing as how The Game can ﬂip from piss-in-your-pants fright (“House of Pain”) to pen-wielding might (“Letter to the King”) at the drop of a Cool & Dre or Hi-Tek beat.

1. EMC – The Show (M3) Concept albums have a knack for sucking. In this semi-autobiographical masterpiece about a group of trying-tomake-it MCs, it bumps to near perfection. Credit groovy production and the crazy wordplay from Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Punchline and Strick for it all coming together.

8. ESTELLE – Shine (Atlantic) While her U.S. debut was stuﬀed with A-list support (John Legend, Kanye West), you have to give this London lass an “E” for her cute lyrics, bobbing beats and unique vocals. Pop radio gets an “F” for never catching a hold of sure winners “More Than Friends” or the Cee-Lo-featured “Pretty Please.”

2. ERYKAH BADU – New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) (Universal Motown) A lot about this album (the title, the message in “Telephone”) doesn’t make sense. Still, an esoteric message of funk/rap/soul progression somehow comes through. And then there’s “Hump,” Badu’s zenith about just making it. We all can understand that.

9. RICK ROSS – Trilla (Def Jam) So, this former drug dealer is also a former Miami-area correctional officer. Big deal! You don’t really believe 75% of the stuff you hear in rap songs anyway, do you? Good, then you’ll certainly enjoy these crime-riddled tales of excess put to smooth production and narrated by Officer Ross.

3. NAS – Untitled (Def Jam) Everybody –ignorant blacks (“Fried Chicken”), suburban whites (“Testify”), Rush Limbaugh (“Sly Fox”)- gets it from a fuming Nasir Jones on this one. Shame on all those who stayed away, thinking it would just be more racially-motivated ﬁnger-pointing because it was once titled Nigger.

10. LUDACRIS – Theater of the Mind (Def Jam) Though Luda had some lows in ’08 (Max Payne- Yikes!), this album triumphed without the aid of Auto-tune or an Akon appearance. In fact, for every T-Pain cameo on Theater, there’s T.I. and Common to show that, when motivated, Ludacris is one of entertainment’s best.

JOHN B. MOORE’S TOP 10

7. JANELLE MONAE – Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Bad Boy) It’s not often an artist as original as this ATLien comes along, moving from Outkast-style space-funk to operatic grandeur, from Shirley Bassey-inspired epics to classic R&B balladry with equal aplomb. Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

4. LIL WAYNE – Tha Carter III (Cash Money) Even if you take pop mainstays “Lollipop” and “A Milli” from the equation, the million-selling-inseven-days Wayne would still have a wonderful CD that embodies everything about hip hop: storytelling (“Dr. Carter”), soul-searching (“Let the Beat Build”) and sheer bravado (“Get Money”). Well done, Weezy.

1. FLOGGING MOLLY – Float (Side One Dummy) Every band with access to a mandolin and tin whistle thinks they’re a Celtic rock band. But few will ever be able to turn out an album resembling Flogging Molly’s latest. From the opening jangly chords of “Requiem for a Dying Song” to the closer, Float is ﬂawless.

8. SIGUR ROS – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (XL Recordings) The iTunes genre for

5. JAKE ONE – White Van Music (Rhymesayers) The whole producer compilation thing can

2. GASLIGHT ANTHEM – The ‘59 Sound (Side One Dummy) Practically a love letter to

Springsteen, with nods to Roy Orbison and Counting Crows. With sing-along working class odes to everything from classic cars to Miles Davis, The ’59 Sound is proof that this band is bound to be around for decades to come. 3. THE LOVED ONES – Build & Burn (Fat Wreck Chords) One of Philly’s best bands is starting to move away from the punk camp and settle for more of a straight-ahead rock sound, but there’s no complaining here. Their second CD is also their strongest lyrically, and hopefully a prelude for what’s to come. 4. THE CLASH – Live at Shea (Legacy) The first time The Clash’s historic show has been available from start to finish, with a set list that could stand in as a greatest hits disc thanks to songs like “Train in Vain,” “Spanish Bombs” and “London Calling.” 5. THE RIOT BEFORE – Fists Buried Deep in Pockets (Say-10) My vote for most underrated album of the year. Drawing inspiration from DIY outfits like Hot Water Music and Smoke or Fire, The Riot Before’s stellar second album brims with blue collar punk anthems like “Election Day” and “Threat Level Midnight.” 6. TIM BARRY – Manchester (Suburban Home) Ex-Avail frontman Barry picked up an acoustic guitar a few years ago and hasn’t let go of it since. On his latest, he seems to have perfected the punk/folk hybrid, backing politically-charged lyrics (“South Hill”) and angst-tinged vocals with subtle guitar and drums. 7. THE HOLD STEADY – Stay Positive (Vagrant) Listening to Stay Positive, it’s hard to believe bars existed before these guys were around to play in them. The Hold Steady strip away all pretentiousness and faux attitude in favor of substance and solid songwriting. 8. OSAKA POPSTAR – Rock ‘Em O’Sock ‘Em Live! (Misfits Records) It’s hard to believe this punk supergroup (comprised of refuges from The Misfits, The Voidoids and The Ramones), could top their 2006 debut, but adding the immediacy of a live audience managed to do just that. 9. NINJA GUN – Restless Rubes (Suburban Home) Ever wondered what the son of a Valdosta, GA pig farmer would write about? Judging from songs like “Red State Blues,” it’s feeling out of place in the middle of nowhere. This sophomore CD is packed with amazing roots-rock that’d make Gram Parsons proud.

see YEAR IN MUSIC on page 28

PG 21 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

MUSIC INTERVIEW

REEL BIG FISH Open Up & Say SKA!

Barrett about the new record, playing ska in front of Russians and why a Beastie Boys cover just isn’t as good as it sounds. Why did you guys decide to ﬁnally release a covers album? We have always been known for our cover songs and a lot of people had been suggesting for quite a while that we make a covers album and since nothing else was in the works right now, we ﬁgured it was a good time to do it.

You guys are playing Russia on this tour. Is this your ﬁrst time playing there? Yes. We’re very excited to go, but we have no idea what to expect. We don’t even know if anyone has heard of us out there.

There were a lot of ska bands that came out just after you guys did that have long since broken up. Why do you think you guys have been able to stay together for so long? How did you decide what songs to cover? Did everyone get a vote? Well, having some hits and successful singles and being in a movie that even now has a huge cult following didn’t hurt! It started oﬀ as a Poison tribute album called Also, we never listened to our record label or did “Open Up and Say Ska,” but nobody besides myself WE NEVER TRIED TO what they told us to do. We didn’t ﬁre horn players was too excited about doing ALL Poison songs. So we decided to do party anthems and that turned out PLEASE THE RADIO or turn in “horn-free” versions of our albums. We tried to please the radio or the industry or the to be lame, so in the end it was just some random OR THE INDUSTRY never critics or the label. We just did it for the fans right songs that we thought sounded good when we played them. OR THE CRITICS OR from the start and they have supported us and kept THE LABEL. WE JUST us going all this time. We love ya kids! Any songs that you wanted to record, but for whatever reason didn’t end up recording for this record? DID IT FOR THE FANS When do you guys plan on having another record of original songs? We wanted to do “Livin’ After Midnight” by Judas RIGHT FROM THE love to get something out later this year if we Priest, but it just didn’t come together at all. We also START AND THEY canWe’d tried “Fight for Your Right To Party” by the Beastie get enough new songs written that we’re happy Boys, and that was HORRIBLE when we did it. HAVE SUPPORTED US with.

AND KEPT US GOING

And which song is your favorite oﬀ the album? So what’s next for you guys? ALL THIS TIME. WE “Nothin’ But a Good Time” came out especially Touring, touring and more touring. Come see us well and is really fun to play live. “Won’t Back play, we’re really fun! LOVE YA KIDS! Down” is another one that just came together really easily and sounds super cool. But my favorite is “Talk Dirty to Me.” Ta- So will your side project, the Forces of Evil, ever put out another tiana DeMaria from the band TAT sang a duet with me and she did an record? amazing job! Plus that song just sounds so weird and I love that! No way. I don’t do reunions! (Laughs)

BY JOHN B. MOORE

KA BANDS ARE NOT EXACTLY KNOWN for longevity, which is why the genre has had three or four diﬀerent waves of popularity. Someone obviously forgot to mention that to the guys in Reel Big Fish, now about 15 years and eight records into their career. On the eve of the their latest release, Fame, Fortune and Fornication, a covers-only album that manages to add horns to everyone from Poison to Tom Petty, the band is proudly without a record label and living out of suitcases yet again on an endless trek across the globe. We spoke with RBF frontman Aaron

What label is releasing this one? This will be our third album distributed by Rock Ridge. They have been amazing to work with and we hope we can keep doing stuﬀ with them for a long time to come. How long do you plan on touring behind this record? We never really do a tour in support of an album. We are just constantly touring and every once in a while we record and put out an album in between tours.

That’s all my questions. Want to add anything? I just want to thank all our fans once again for supporting us. Thanks to everybody for coming out to the shows. We’ll be playing some new songs from the new album this time around on tour but we deﬁnitely won’t forget all your old favorites and we might pull out some fun old obscure songs that we haven’t played in a while too just to mix it up. Also, send us a MySpace message. Nobody writes to us anymore and we run that thing. Where’s the love?

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PG 22 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

MUSIC

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By B. Love, DeMarco Williams, John Davidson, John B. Moore, Matt Goldberg & Jon Latham

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How to find a Job in ‘09 BY ROGER PRESSWOOD ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ALUMNI CAREER SERVICES GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY

NO DOUBT 2008 WAS A DIFFICULT TIME FOR JOB SEEKERS. While I believe 2009 will show improvement in the overall economy, it will continue to be a tough job market. Today's job seekers must utilize a search strategy that goes vastly beyond the average methods if they hope to beat the competition. Here are 5 job search strategies to commit to in 2009: Join an Association. Whatever industry you are pursuing a career in, the best thing you can do to gain knowledge and learn of potential opportunities is to join your industry association. Most have monthly meetings and have chapters in all major cities. Go Weddle's Association Directory http://www.weddles.com/associations/index.cfm. Volunteer to be on a committee related to your profession. PG 24 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

International School of Skin & Nailcare Life University was founded in 1974 as Life College, a school of chiropractic with only 22 students in its first class. Today, with more than 14,000 alumni, Life University, under the leadership of President Guy F. Riekeman and its fully committed Board of Trustees, has expanded to a complete and fully accredited university that offers two associate degrees, nine undergraduate degrees, a masters degree and a doctorate of chiropractic. With a diverse student population, Life University attracts students from all 50 states and 27 different countries. The College of Undergraduate Studies has nearly 500 students and offers two associate degree programs in nutrition technology, computer information management and life coaching; nine majors leading to the bachelor degree in business administration, computer information management, biology, exercise science, nutrition, dietetics, psychology, and biopsychology; and a master's degree in sport health science. The College of Chiropractic offers a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree and currently boasts an enrollment of approximately 1,400 students, doubling the enrollment numbers in just the past three years. This program features practice management courses that train students on how to manage a successful practice and provides valuable "hands-on" experience in the university's clinic system which includes clinical training abroad. In every program, students enjoy the benefit of a highly supportive atmosphere where work is often in team and group settings with highly qualified, caring faculty and supportive peers. From the president to all campus employees, Life University is committed to creating a student-centered learning environment, featuring a student-faculty ratio of 15:1. For more information, please go to www.Life.edu or call 1-800-543-3202.

Once you join your industry association, volunteer to be on a committee. This will give you the ability to demonstrate some of your skills and make stronger networking connections with key people in the association. However, make sure the role you volunteer for is one you actually enjoy doing. For example, if you become the membership chair, you better enjoy contacting and greeting a lot of people. Make a commitment to locate two networking groups. The average job seeker will try one networking group and attend a meeting or two and then state it doesn't work. They are correct, that doesn't work. Networking groups take time, therefore commit to finding two groups you can ideally attend once a week so that your face can become familiar to your networking group. Networking groups are a great way to discover the hidden job market, but you have to be persistent and let other people get to know who you are and what you have to offer. Utilize www.atlantaevent.com and go to the "Networking Groups Directory" to find an extensive listing of groups located all throughout metro Atlanta. Research and Target companies in your industry. After compiling your top ten targeted companies, search for network-

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The International School of Skin & Nail Care (ISSN) is celebrating 24 years as a school and day spa in Sandy Springs. ISSN is where all the people get trained that work in Spas, Salons, Network TV, Doctors, Cruise Ships and manufacturing companies. Anywhere skin care treatments are given or nail care beauty is performed. Courses from Classic Facials to Microdermbrasion Facials, to waxing, make-up, to manicures and nail art are taught at the renowned International School of Skin and Nail Care (ISSN). Job placement is excellent and has remained near 100-percent for over a decade - no other school is close. ISSN’s long experience and being known in the Industry insures the graduate of a good job upon graduation. Over 320 active employers depend on ISSN for Esthetician and Nail Technician staffing. Programs start monthly for the convenience of today's student. They have morning, afternoon, or evening class in the Esthetician program and day or evening classes in the Nail Technician program. They also offer a fully accredited Massage Therapy Division. ISSN is conveniently located in the Prado, 5600 Roswell Road at I-295. It is an accredited school and approved by the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology. A quick call to their Admission's office can answer all of your questions. When you call ask for a tour of the school. Call us today: Local 404-8431005 or email them at issn@skin-nails.com ing contacts through sources such as linked-in, your alumni association, and facebook and reach out to those contacts and let them know you are interested in there organizations. Utilize an excellent book called the "Atlanta Job Bank" to assist in locating companies to target broken down by industry in Atlanta. While this is not a job source listing, it is one of the best books available to learn detailed information about organizations in your industry.

Stay persistent and optimistic. While you certainly will have some discouraging days, the key to your successful job search in 2009 is staying persistent in your search. If you have to take a day or two off from your search that's fine, but don't let it turn in to days or weeks. Know that if you stay persistent and follow your strategy, you will have a break through and land that job in 2009!

Janke Studios

404-584-0305 www.jankestudios.com If you have marveled at the beautiful freeform and controlled works of Dale Chihuly or watched a glassblowing documentary, you should know that there is a thriving glass blowing community heating up in Atlanta! Janke Studios is Atlanta's premier Glassblowing Studio and Functional Art Glass Gallery. Celebrating 12 years in the metro area the Janke team continues to offer a variety of classes that will fit perfectly into your schedule. Courses are project based and designed for all from the novice to experienced glass craftsman and artist. Try a three hour paperweight workshop to get a feel for the process or if you are more adventurous, but short on time take a two day weekend workshop. During this workshop you will experience all the basic skills and glassblowing floor environment. Create your own paperweight, check out the process and meet new people. For the enthusiast, nurture your skills in an extensive five week class or host a Remote: hot glass on your site for demos, classes or educational purposes. Janke Studios is located at StudioPlex at 659 Auburn Avenue. For information on upcoming classes call 404584-0305 or go to www.jankestudios.com

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Students looking for a more personal approach to education may find the answer at Argosy University, Atlanta. This leading institution offers a variety of degree programs that focus on the human side of success alongside professional competence. All graduate and undergraduate programs (there are 48 nationwide, across 19 Argosy University campuses in 12 states) emphasize interpersonal skills as well as academic learning. And all are taught by practicing professionals who bring toplevel, real-world experience-and clear-eyed realisminto the classroom. So students graduate with both a solid foundation of

knowledge, and the power to put it to work. Argosy University, Atlanta is located in the city of Sandy Springs, at 980 Hammond Drive, Suite 100. Argosy University offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Business, and graduate degrees in Education and Counseling. Programs feature dynamic curricula delivered in flexible class formats that make it easy to pursue a degree while meeting family and professional demands. Students choose from day and evening courses, on campus or online. Argosy University accepts students yearround on a rolling admissions basis, depending on availability of required courses. There's also a wide range of financial aid options for students who qualify. Applications and additional information are available online at argosy.edu/Atlanta or by contacting the campus at 1-800-377-0617.

SAE Atlanta

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Continuing the tradition established in 1976, SAE Atlanta educates students for careers in the entertainment industry with the focus of hands-on training. Students gain invaluable experience working on realworld projects every day. SAE Atlanta currently offers two programs: SAE's Audio Technology Program, where students can earn an Associate of Science Degree (unique to SAE Atlanta) or an SAE Diploma. Students have access to over 30 studios and workstations while studying at SAE Atlanta. Included are analog and digital mix-down stations by Mackie and Yamaha, FX stations, and Apple computers throughout to complete digital editing, Pro Tools, sampling, and remix exercises. To round off the educational experience the facility boasts both the SSL 4000G+ and NEVE VR60 analog consoles. All graduates are provided job placement assistance and are eligible to become members of SAE's international Alumni Association. Financial assistance is available for those who quality and both full and part time classes are available. For more information please contact our Admissions Department at 404-526-9366 or visit our web site at www.sae-atl.com. SAE Atlanta is located at 215 Peachtree Street Suite 300, Atlanta GA 30303

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PG 25 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

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PG 16 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

FILM INTERVIEW

UNBELIEVABLE

Rap Icon Biggie Smalls’ Ashy-to-Classy Tale Comes to the Big Screen in Notorious and you’re the most beautiful girl [is important]. Even if you’re not the ONLY most beautiful girl, if a man can make you feel like that, you’re captivated. That’s the kind of thing that catches you beyond the physical.

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

HOUGH CHRISTOPHER WALLACE’S actual time in the limelight was brief, the big fella’s impact on pop culture is undeniable. So vibrant were his crime-riddled stories, so slick were his multi-syllabic rhymes that even with just two albums, 94’s Ready to Die and 97’s Life After Death, The Source and Blender magazines call him the greatest rapper ever. But the thing about the Brooklyn native that’s not to be forgotten, and the thing Notorious director George Tillman Jr. nails, is that the 24-year-old Biggie, who was assassinated nearly 12 years ago, was also a dedicated son, a troubled lover and an inspiration for an entire coast. Those are qualities SoundScan will never be able to measure. Still, we spoke with Tillman Jr., Christopher’s mom, Voletta Wallace, and the cast of Notorious to see what images the big guy left in their hearts and to learn exactly how this greatly-anticipated biopic came to be.

JAMAL WOOLARD, WHO PLAYS BIGGIE SMALLS What was your introduction to hip hop? The first rap record I heard, I think, would be LL. That’s what turned me on to the rap game. Being from Brooklyn and knowing what B.I.G. did to the game and how he turned the lifestyle upside down and being a fat kid [helped me relate]. You know girls don’t want the fat boy. But he added swagger to the game and changed that perception. He wasn’t fine or handsome to himself. He told you in the record that “I’m black and ugly as ever, however…” That was it for me. The message is “Money don’t make the man.” You’re not as big as Chris. Did you have to put on weight? Oh yeah, definitely. I went to Biggie Boot Camp. Maybe four or five months before casting, I was already in my zone, trying to get there. I already knew the competition. I had already seen a few people they were looking at, the sizes of them. I went from 285 to 340.

VOLETTA WALLACE, BIGGIE’S MOM At what point did you realize your son was turning into something big? When he did the “Juicy” video because I was in the video. He asked me to be in his video. I think he asked me on a Thursday night: “Mom, would you like to be in it?” I said, “Hell no.” He said, “Please, mom.” I said, “Get an actress.” His words were, “I’ll get an actress if you’re dead. You’re not dead. I would really like for you to play my mother in the video.” He went on and his manager Mark [Pitts] spoke to me and told me it won’t be nothing out of disrespect. I thought about it and then [my son] said my granddaughter was going to be in it. She was only 18 months at the time. Okay, if my granddaughter is going to be there, I’m going to be there to see my granddaughter. No one else is going to touch my granddaughter. At that point, when I listened to “Juicy,” I said, “Wait a minute. No landlord dissed us. What’s this about?” He said, “Mom, I was just writing a story, a rags-to-riches kinda thing.” When I listened to that song –I don’t want to call it a song ‘cuz if he heard me calling it that, he’d kill me- I said, “God, who wrote that?” He said, “I did.” I said, “You wrote that?” He said, “Yeah, I did. I told you.” So, I let it go. Respect? I gave him extra. But when I truly found out that my son was Notorious B.I.G. the entertainer and the poet was the day of his funeral. I don’t want to get mushy today. [She begins fanning her eyes.] I don’t want to do that. How emotional has it been revisiting this? There are certain parts of Christopher’s life I never knew. There are days I went to the set and I’d ask, “Did that really happen?” I read the script and went no, no, no. They say, “Ms. Wallace, we have to do this.” We’d do a lil’ arguing with George and Wayne [Barrow, producer]. There was a lot of Hollywood there. There were things I accepted, but it was hell [going through them]. The funeral scene was hell. I don’t know what hell is, but it wasn’t pretty. While doing the movie, what was the one part you found out that surprised you the most? Voletta: His relationship with Lil’ Kim. Oh God. For most of those [graphic] scenes, I was there but many times I’d walk away. Once I had a

That would’ve been a bummer if you didn’t get the role? Yeah, that would’ve stunk, wouldn’t it?

ﬁlthy mouth but I don’t use the “F” curses. I use “stinky” and “damn.” I’ll call you “garbage” in a second. You nasty piece of garbage! But the profanity when I heard it [in the movie], I gotta get outta here. Last night [at the screening] I couldn’t get out. It was shocking. But the Kim scene? [Nods her head]

NATURI NAUGHTON, WHO PORTRAYS LIL’ KIM, AND ANTONIQUE SMITH, WHO PLAYS FAITH EVANS What conversations have you had with the reallife character you portray? Antonique: A lot of conversations. She gave me everything about what she was going through emotionally in all the scenes. She let me read the memoirs of her book. I did a lot of research online. I was watching her interviews and her videos. Then I read a lot of the press stories. I had a whole binder-full of stuﬀ the director gave me to study. So, yeah. I got to talk to her a lot. That was wonderful. Was there anything she said that helped you capture who she was? Antonique: You know, the only thing she was worried about was being portrayed honestly. She didn’t want come oﬀ as mean or any certain kinda way like that. She wanted people to like her. She wanted to be likeable on screen. To me, that was pretty easy. If making her happy was all she wanted, that’s easy to do. Naturi: I didn’t get to meet her or speak to her on the phone. I didn’t have that opportunity. I just did my best to use the people that were around

that situation like Lil’ Cease, Junior M.A.F.I.A., all the guys that were there with B.I.G. They were my only resource. They were the people I hung with all the time. I was hangin’ out in Brooklyn all the time. I went to St. James. I was on Fulton, right there where B.I.G. and Kim grew up, right where he grew up on the corner. I wanted to make sure that I talked to other people. Antonique: But you know what, Naturi? That’s actually not a bad thing. People don’t always see themselves very clearly anyway. Faith was able to tell me what was going on in her head, but as far as people being able to tell you what Kim was like, nobody knows what they’re like. Were you all actually singing? Antonique: Uh huh. That was me. I did my best to change my voice and try to sound as much like her as possible and get all her riﬀs and inﬂections. Naturi: And that was really me rapping. I did my best to turn into a rapper overnight. It was really, really fun. I got a chance to rhyme, and that’s something I’ve never done. Biggie wasn’t a very attractive man. Does it amaze you that he was able to get all these women? Naturi: He had so much swagger. Antonique: That Brooklyn swagger! He was really charming and boyish. Naturi: I wish I had the chance to meet him. Kim really loved Big. The personality he had and how magnetic he was in a room. Like she saidcharming. For a woman, feeling like you’re special

What did you eat? Everything. I gained the weight and [learned] the mannerisms, the behavior, the walking pattern, the penguin [stride], the way his feet went outwards, the hand movements, the chin up high, knowing how to talk to Cease, knowing how to talk down to Kim, knowing how to talk up to Faith. He was very apologetic. I did the cotton balls/Marlon Brando-style of method acting, putting them [in the mouth] because [Chris] had an extra piece of meat right here in his chin. That helped the voice also. I read the whole script holding my tongue so that when I went in there on the day of, my voice would be much clearer for the microphone. How he moved his hand and his hand gestures. He wouldn’t sit up like this. He’d always crotch back. He’d always be the king of the room. The presence. The speech. The slang. But being from Brooklyn, I cheated with that. We already got our own slang, so it was automatic with that. Being a real ladies man, I was automatic with that. And the swagger, I was automatic with that. Being funny, I was automatic with that. So, there were a lot of good pluses. I just really studied him. I had to get the eye structure. He always twisted up. Being too plain in the face? That’s not B.I.G. He always had something going on in here. All the time. How was it meeting Ms. Wallace that first time? Nervous. But you know? The first time I met her, I didn’t meet her that way. I didn’t even know she was in the room. By the way the room was shaped, she was over there in the corner. When I walked in the room, I’m facing this way ‘cuz this is where everything was at. She’s back there and I don’t even know what’s going on. After they called me back the second time, they told me she was in the room. When I got it months later, [they said] “She picked you in the first process.” Thanks for telling me now—after the fact. PG 27 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

�� RISE AGAINST FIGHTS THE GOOD FIGHT

BY JOHN B. MOORE

VER SINCE THE CLASH RALLIED against class economics and racism in their 1977 song “White Riot,” politics and punk rock have been attached at the hip. Though Anti-Flag and Bad Religion have hoisted the political flag higher than others, Chicago’s Rise Against has also been known to sing their share of political anthems now and then. It’s no surprise that the their latest record, Appeal to Reason (which came out just weeks before one of the most contentious presidential election in modern history), has a handful of politically- and socially-tinged songs. “Tim (McIIrath) writes all the lyrics and he writes from a personal perspective of everyday life and sometimes that involves political topics and sometimes it’s social,” said Joe Principe, guitarist and cofounder of Rise Against. “I think with this record there’s a lot more socially aware songs than the last record. We never really have a goal or an end result. We just kind of do our thing and Tim gets the mood of the songs and the vibe and figures out what he wants to sing about.” Still, Principe is quick to point out that Rise Against shouldn’t be categorized as strictly as a political band. “(The label) is a bit unfair because if you really pay attention to our lyrics, you know we’re not strictly political,” he said. “I feel if people would read the lyrics more, then they would know we’re not constantly talking politics. I think this band has always been about diversity and eclectic song writing and it echoes with Tim’s songwriting.” That being said, the guys in Rise Against are taking the opportunity to remind fans about the importance of voting. They have aligned with Rock The Vote and posted a few new songs on that nonprofit’s website. “I’m sure from the stage we’ll make some mention of (the election) and remind everyone to make sure their voices are heard, making sure they are getting out there and voting,” Principe. “Apathy doesn’t get you anywhere.” Politics aside, the new record– arguably the

best in their 6-album canon– shows them taking a natural step forward from 2006’s The Suffer & The Witness. “Personally, it’s my favorite record and it shows growth in the band. It’s our fifth record, and a lot of bands start rehashing old ideas around their fifth record, so we tried really hard to make sure that didn’t happen. I

Rise Against producer Bill Stevenson played alongside Blair in Only Crime. Stevenson was quick to vouch for his old bandmate when Rise Against mentioned they were thinking about adding him to the collective. “Zach is probably the best musician in the band, technically speaking,” Principe insists.

I FEEL IF PEOPLE WOULD READ THE LYRICS MORE, THEN THEY WOULD KNOW WE’RE NOT CONSTANTLY TALKING POLITICS. I THINK THIS BAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT DIVERSITY AND ECLECTIC SONG WRITING AND IT ECHOES WITH TIM’S SONGWRITING. think we achieved that.” The election was of particular interest to the band members, as many have started having kids and are taking greater notice of the policy decisions being made in D.C. Principe, whose wife is expecting their first child this month, admits that the bands’ recent baby boom also makes it a little harder to hit the road, but doesn’t expect it to slow them down at all. “This band and touring, it’s all we know and it’s all our wives know,” he says. “Tim’s oldest daughter is now able to call him on the phone, and he said that’s the hardest thing when she can talk and say, ‘Daddy, I want you to come home.’ It’s really tough, but at the same time we believe in what we’re doing as a band and it’s important to get out there.” When the band hits the road for the better part of this year, they’ll be joined once again by Zach Blair, formerly the guitarist for Only Crime and now a full-time member of Rise Against. Blair took over guitar duties from Chris Chasse early last year. The connections to their new guitarist go back almost a decade. Blair’s old band and Rise Against both used to be on Fat Wreck Chords, and longtime

“He’s an amazing guitar player and a great backing vocalist. All of the stars were aligned when he joined the band. Personality-wise he’s just like us and he’s into the same influences. We couldn’t have asked for a better addition.” The guys in Rise Against actually met Blair about eight years ago when they were touring in support of their first record, The Unraveling. “He came to see us in Dallas, because at the time we had a temporary guitar player, our friend Phil. Zach was friend of Phil’s and came

YEAR IN MUSIC from 21 10. VAMPIRE WEEKEND – Self Titled (XL Recordings) Recorded by over-educated, African drumming-obsessed children of privilege, I wanted to write this album off as more underserved hype from the Next Big Things. But from the first track on, this is one of the most exciting debut releases in years.

JON LATHAM’S TOP 10 1. THE HOLD STEADY – Stay Positive (Vagrant) Craig Finn’s cinematic narratives cast a brooding shadow over the characters that populate the drug-fueled all-nighters in the Hold Steady universe. The album offers up a brilliantly balanced helping of heartbreak and hope, masked in carefree sing-along choruses. 2. MY MORNING JACKET – Evil Urges (ATO) Jim James and Co. turned down the reverb, amped up the guitars, and brought the funk to create an eclectic, cerebral collection. Melding indie-folk with southern rock and the sexuality of Prince have made James’ hearttugging compositions even more palpable. 3. DRIVEBY TRUCKERS – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (New West) Shaken by Jason Isbell’s exit and inspired by their acoustic tour, Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley did some of the best songwriting of their careers. The hardship and heartbreak are masterfully sharpened by the pedal steel work of John Neff and the legendary Spooner Oldham on keyboards. 4. DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – Narrow Stairs (Atlantic) The follow-up to their major label breakthrough finds the Seattle quartet reaching greater peaks, revealing Death Cab’s musicianship anew. Love and woe come to life in a new way, with differently styled tracks that run together like one long piece of music. 5. THE BOXMASTERS – Self Titled (Van-

PG 28 • insiteatlanta.com • January 2009

MUSIC INTERVIEW to see him play,” Principe recalls. “It’s such a small world. We just kept in touch. Bill said he would love to record us with Zach because he loves his guitar playing. It was such a seamless transition.” Also seamless has been the band’s jump from label to label. After leaving the indies in 2004 for DreamWorks, that label folded and the band was shuffled off to Geffen Records and eventually moved yet again to Interscope/ DGC. Surprisingly, the band has managed to dodge the “sell out” label all along, in part because their sound has remained fiercely independent with every record. Even Principe is at a loss to explain why they have had such success on the majors– a place that isn’t exactly known for being friendly to punk rock– when so many others have failed. “Even we’re baffled by it,” he admits. “We went through three label presidents, three labels… There’s a core team at Geffen and these people really believe in us and they don’t want to fuck with us. They kind of just leave us alone, because they know if there’s any outside influence it’s going to be apparent. I chalk it up to them believing in us, and our manager is great. She really fights for us.” On the eve of their latest release, Rise Against hit the road with Thrice, Alkaline Trio and Gaslight Anthem. And this year, as the band’s tour bus makes the trek across Europe, Rise Against will officially mark 10 years together. That’s quite an accomplishment when you consider many bands in the genre have already broken up and reunited at a summer fest by the time they hit the 10-year mark. “What makes this band’s relationship work is kind of an unspoken thing,” insists Principe. “When one person kind of strays off the path of the band’s goal, that’s when the band suffers. We haven’t gotten to that point yet… and hopefully we never will.” guard) Billy Bob Thorton’s classic (i.e. ‘60s) country band showcased a mixture of originals and twanged-up covers. The weird thing is, it’s damn good. The original tunes cement the piece together, making this the strangest fun you could have listening to an actor sing. 6. SIGUR ROS - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (XL Recordings) Iceland’s most enigmatic export released their most concentrated collection yet, with acoustic ballads, symphonic swells and a boy’s choir. The inherent beauty makes every listen a new emotional experience. 7. COLDPLAY – Viva La Vida or Death & All His Friends (Capitol) Chris Martin wrestled with the neurotic demons he’s been counting since “Yellow” struck gold, and the payoff truly sounds like a Brian Eno collaboration. Maybe that’s what has the snobs pissed; they’ve been forced to admit Coldplay made a good album. 8. CENTROMATIC/ SOUTH SAN GA BRIEL – Dual Hawks (Misra) Sister bands from Denton, TX deliver a double CD that rarely meets in the middle. Centro-matic’s disc is a fuzzed-out piece of indie-rock magic, while SSG serves up the most beautiful slice of melancholy since the Flaming Lips’ ‘The Soft Bulletin’. 9. NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! (Anti) Cave’s trademark brooding doom takes a backseat as the Bad Seeds lay down some funky new grooves for him to lament over. Cave is not the angry young man he used to be, but he refuses to be boring. 10. METALLICA – Death Magnetic (Warner Brothers) ‘Death Magnetic’ bullied ‘Chinese Democracy’, stole its lunch money, and kicked its ass on the playground for good measure. That’s what happens when you maintain a functioning band for decades, allowing the unit to succeed and fail at various points.

FANATIC BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS DARRELL ARTHUR – Listen, Mario Chalmers’ game-winning shot in Kansas’ overtime NCAA championship win against Memphis is the stuff of hardwood lore. At the same time, Arthur’s workman-like 20 points and 10 rebounds in said game is the stuff of plain ol’ hardwork. KU’s leader through the regular season, Arthur didn’t let up during all the Madness. Nor is he slacking off in the NBA, tallying about 19 minutes/night with Memphis.

SPORTS NEWS

2008’s Ten Most Unheralded Sports Figures credible Eli Manning-to-David Tyree catch will be forever etched in our minds. But if you think the New York Giants’ epic 17-14 Super Bowl win over the previously-undefeated New England Patriots was because of that reception alone, you’re a head case. What about the…

DA’TARA – Big Brown was dashing in the Kentucky Derby. Big Brown was dominating at the Preakness. Big Brown was downright dreadful at Belmont, the final leg in the ever-elusive Triple Crown of racing. The media and horse historians were bummed about Brown’s poor showing in New York, but those who took the 38-to-1 gamble on little-known Da’Tara were handsomely rewarded. DETROIT RED WINGS – Actually, we could have easily placed the entire NHL in this slot. The poor league is getting no respect –Quick: When was the last time hockey was on the cover of Sports Illustrated?- even with unbelievable collectives like these Red Wings (the ’08 Stanley Cup was their fourth in 11 years) and individuals like Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin rewriting record books seemingly on the nightly. NATALIE COUGHLIN – If we hear Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt’s names one more time, we’re gonna… well, applaud them again. They were truly amazing in Beijing. But for all the coverage they received, this California swimmer got the exact opposite. Coughlin may not have shattered records like Bolt, but she did win Gold in the 100M backstroke and took home another four medals, the highest total of any athlete not named Phelps. OTHER GIANTS RECEIVERS – Don’t get us wrong. The in-

includes the team’s underrated point guard, too. Rondo had solid numbers (21 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and six steals in the final game), but it was the 22-year-old’s poise that kept the Fenway Foursome so fierce.

RICKY JEANFRANCOIS – When you think of LSU Tiger football in ‘08, two impressive postseason performances should come to mind: Last January 7’s BCS title win over Ohio State and the recent December 31 thrashing of Georgia Tech in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Super quarterbacking and Les Miles’ play-calling are big reasons for the success, but defensive end Jean-Francois (defensive MVP in the title game) sure had something to do with keeping the Buckeyes and Yellow Jackets in check.

Natalie Coughlin

Darrell Arthur PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES – Tampa Bay’s meteoric rise was Major League Baseball’s most heartwarming story. At the start of the year, mediocrity would have been considered an accomplishment- let alone a World Series appearance. When they got to the Fall Classic, however, they were met with a dose of reality in the form of Cole Hamels’ arm and Ryan Howard’s bat. The Rays had a fairytale season, but the Phillies deserve credit for closing the book on them so resoundingly. RAJON RONDO – The Big Three. The Three Amigos. The Boston Three Party. Whatever you want to call Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen of the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics is fine—just as long as you come up with a new one that

ROCCO MEDIATE – Here’s what we know about Rocco: He’s 46. He’s from Pennsylvania. He’s almost as good on two legs as Tiger Woods is on one. We know it’s hard to think of anything other than Tiger laboring through an ailing knee to win the ’08 U.S. Open, but there was Rocco back in June, giving Woods all he could handle in 18-hole and suddendeath playoffs. Quietly, it was Mediate’s third top 10 U.S. Open final.

WIMBLEDON GROUNDS CREW – John McEnroe called the ’08 Wimbledon men’s final between the game’s top two players, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the greatest match ever. Most who witnessed the fourhour, 48-minute duel would certainly agree. But while Nadal did finally slay the backhanding Swiss dragon, it was the All England Club’s grounds crew that literally weathered the storm (three rain delays, searing heat) to turn Centre Court into such a magical place last July. And Fanatic would be remiss if he didn’t give a final salute to sports figures that passed away over the past twelve months: Sammy Baugh (NFL), Skip Caray (baseball announcer), Paul Newman (stock-car racing), Christopher Bowman (figure skating), Bobby Fischer (chess), Don Haskins (NCAA basketball), Jim McKay (sports announcer) and Gene Upshaw (NFL).

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FILM INTERVIEW

SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT

Don’t look now, but Taraji P. Henson may be Hollywood’s 38-year-old “It” girl

I did an episode of Smart Guy and they loved me. The producers all came down and NE NIGHT IN EARLY JANUARY, I they shook my [hand]. I mean that’s rare for was flipping through the television that to happen. I don’t even know if I was and came across Taraji P. Henson’s listed as a special guest. So, the producer adorable face three times: first as a sharpcomes down and she shakes my hand and she’s shooting lesbian in Smokin’ Aces; again as the like, “Oh my God! You’re incredible. I think hilarious love interest in Jamie Foxx’s “Just we have something for you over at Like Me” music video; finally, Sister, Sister.” Then when I went I DON’T EVER WANT TO FEEL LIKE I’VE in a commercial promoting the over to Sister, Sister. They changed just-released Not Easily BroARRIVED. ARRIVED TO WHAT? BY WHOSE the story a little bit and then they ken. I’m sure had I been a bit brought me back over to Smart Guy STANDARDS? WHAT’S ARRIVAL? HALLE BERRY more astute with the remote, I and I did like a recurring situation could have also found a trailer HAD TO AUDITION AND FIGHT FOR MONSTER’S on there and I was like, “Wow, I for The Curious Case of BenBALL. THAT’S EVERY ACTOR’S FEAR: WHEN AM can really make a living out of this. jamin Button, the Christmas I can really, you know, blow off my I GOING TO STOP WORKING? WHEN WILL THE release Henson costars in as day job.” After a couple of months Queenie, a warm-hearted PHONE STOP RINGING? after booking that, I had to do [it] nursing home attendant who actually. But it wasn’t all roses after raises the title character. was driving the country back then; we don’t that and even after Baby Boy. Listen, all of this good fortune coming the need to hit that over the head. D.C. native’s way is by no accident. The hardOn becoming a star working Howard grad and mom grinded long On her portrayal of Queenie I don’t ever want to feel like I’ve arrived. before breakout roles in Baby Boy and Hustle I’m Arrived a character actress so I really love to what? By whose standards? What’s & Flow ever came. Henson, who will make her changing how I arrival? Halle look and becoming different Berry had to audition and fight next dramatic turn later this year with Forest characters. That for Monster’s Ball. That’s every actor’s fear: excites me so I was really exWhitaker in the Katrina-centered Hurricane cited about changing the age and the face, the When am I going to stop working? When will Season, is quickly building an impressive body prosthetic make-up, and all the research that I the phone stop ringing? of work. Can you see it? If the answer’s no, just leave your television on long enough. You had to do for all the different time periods. It made me develop a better love for history. On the number of roles for black actors will. I’m an extreme optimistic. See, I’m never the girl that’s like, “There’s never enough On when she knew acting was her calling Taraji Henson, On making Benjamin Button

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

It’s exciting. This is what all actors dream about: a big film like this with a studio that’s so behind it and willing to do whatever they have to do to promote it and get people to experience it. What I love that [director David Fincher] did with this film [is] he didn’t make it race-heavy. We all know that race was what

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At 24 highway mpg, the first-year Tiguan makes its presence felt at the gas pump and on the asphalt. And keeping with VW’s long-standing tradition of efficiency and oomph, the Tiguan (the name’s a mesh of “tiger” and “iguana”) loses nothing on the road. If anything, the 200 horses and six-speed Tiptronic transmission provide a secure ride unlike most in the compact SUV department. It moves like a Passat. It resembles a Jetta Sportswagen. But with all the optional treats -DVD navigation ($1,950) and panoramic sunroof ($1,300)- it can look like your own VW crossover in no time. Not to be outdone by a rival’s new offering, Kia recently unveiled the Borrego, the brand’s first entry in the big-bodied SUV market. Though not nearly as fuel-conscious as we’d like (the 4x4 we tested did about 16 miles/gallon in the city), the Borrego is still an accomplished vehicle that looks like a snazzier Ford Explorer. Though a bit bulky-feeling at some turns, this Kia has your modern life in mind, what with an iPod docking station, a folding third row and an optional luxury package of heated seats/ leather trim ($1,500). Of course, if pump prices stayed near their current positions, Wheel Deal would offer as glowing a recommendation for the Borrego as it does the Tiguan. But knowing Big Oil’s warped sense of humor the way we do, the edge goes to Volkswagen this time. Tiguan (B+) Borrego (B-)

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HOURS FOR BOTH STORES: �� www.mediterraneangrill .com

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Coming Soon! MARKET PLAZA East Cobb / Marietta 1255 Johnson Ferry Rd.

Authentic Middle Eastern and Greek Cuisine Cooked Fresh to Order

New Bar! Check Us Out!

KARAOKE WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY

BACKGAMMON ASSOCIATION ON MONDAY 3652 Roswell Rd. (Inside the Landmark Diner)

404-459-0755

�� Red Dawn, GHRelease, Sleepwalker & Zan-X Starting at $6.95

NOW OPEN IN BUCKHEAD!

WINNER! BEST BODY WAX

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WaxingAtlanta.com

*For a Limited Time Only. Not Available with Other Offers.

HOOKAHS Starting at $24.95

Hand-blown Bubblers

New ROOR

Starting at $133.95

�� Detox Products

Pipes

Posters

Self Cigars & Body Defense Cigarettes Jewelry Products

We’ve Mo ved Across the Street

�� NEW LOCATION��