INsite Atlanta January 2015 Issue

JANUARY 2015

19

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2015

VOL. 23, NO. 6 FREE

Check Out WICKED Coming to the Fox

Winter 2015

Guide

Plus Our Year in review Music

MOvies

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CONTENTS • JANUARY 2015 • VOLUME 23, NO. 6 Atlanta’s

Entertainment Monthly

INTERVIEWS 06 Star of Wicked 14 Elliot Bronson 14 Nick Offerman 15 Jen Kirkman 20 Choir Vandals 20 Teen Death 21 Peter Wolf from J. Geils 21 Johnette Napolitano 23 Elton Brand

FEATURES 08 10 11 11 16 22

06

14

Eduation Guide Winter Guide Year in Movies Year in TV Albums of the Year Year’s Top Sports Stories

COLUMNS 04 05 05 06 07 09 12 15 18 19 19 19

Around Town On Tap On A Dime Events Station Control Under The Lights Healthy New Year Movie Reviews Road Warriors Album Reviews Favorite Things Track Suits Home Releases

14

Your Neighborhood Pizzeria!

15

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Contributing Writers / Interns: Jon Latham, Ryan Loftis, Rodney Hill, Alex S. Morrison, Steve Warren, Dave Cohen, Jennifer Williams, Matt Connor, Ed Morales, Sacha Dzuba, David Weinthal, Benjamin Carr, Kalena Smith, Justin Patterson, John Moore, Amanda Miles, Patrick Flanary, Ian Coverdale MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 76483 Atlanta, GA 30358 WEBSITE • insiteatlanta.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION (404) 308-5119 • ads@insiteatlanta.com Editorial content of INsite is the opinion of each writer and is not necessarily the opinion of INsite, its staff, or its advertisers. INsite does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor do the publisher or editors of INsite assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. No content, i.e., articles, graphics, designs and information (any and all) in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from publisher.

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Check out our Winter Guide on apge 10!

JANUARY 2015

15 2 YEARS ✷ 20 1992 ✷ 2

INSITEATLAN TA.COM

VOL. 23, NO. 6 FREE

Check Out WICKED Coming to the Fox

Winter 2015

Guide

Plus Our Year in review Music

MOvies

Tv

BEST PIZZA! e Magazine sit

Best of Atlanta

’s

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

IN

STAFF LISTING

2014

&

WINNER!

Multiple Atlanta Locations: www.JohnnysPizza.com insiteatlanta.com • January 2015 • PG 3

Around Town JANUARY 13 - 25

The Big, Bad, Little Red Pig Show Center for Puppetry Arts

Look out, Little Red is ridin' into your 'hood and the Big Bad Wolf in on the prowl.

Two childhood favorites have been cleverly squished together with just one Big Bad Wolf to share in all the hilarious fun. Meet the trio of delightful little pigs including Hamlet, Miss Barb B. Que and their very famous cousin Kevin Bacon! Visit puppet.org

JANUARY 17

Model Train Show

North Atlanta Trade Center Norcross, GA

Notable Events and Performances taking place in January

Decatur. The hour-long tour begins in the lobby of the Historic DeKalb Courthouse.

Participants learn about the early history of the county, the effects of the war on the civilian population in DeKalb, the Atlanta campaign and the Battle of Decatur. Visit dekalbhistory.org

JANUARY 21

Vaccine Nation

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library

In her book, "Vaccine Nation: Our Changing Relationship with Immunization," Emory University historian Elena Conis sets the complex story of American vaccination within the country's broader history.

In doing so, Conis goes beyond the simple story of the triumph of science over disease and provides a new and perceptive account of the role of politics and social forces in medicine. Visit jimmycarterlibrary.gov

JANUARY 22 - FEBRUARY 22 Over 300 tables representing dealers from across the nation will have model items in all gauges and Railroad Antiques for sale.

This is Georgia’s largest combination show, displaying items for both the “modeler” and “railbuff” under one roof. Attendees will be able to relive the glory days of railroading in Georgia when the Georgia Railroad, Seaboard Railroad and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad were king. Visit gserr.com

JANUARY 20 - 31

Civil War Walking Tour The DeKalb History Center

These guided Civil War walking tours take visitors on a stroll through downtown

his National New Play Network playwriting residency at Actor’s Express, Bad Jews returns to Atlanta following a run as the most acclaimed comedy of the past New York theatre season. Visit actors-express.com

JANUARY 23

JANUARY 30

The Australian Bee Gees

Dance Canvas

Rialto Center for the Arts

Dance Canvas is pleased to bring its nationally acclaimed performance series to the Rialto Center stage after 6 seasons at the Woodruff Arts Center. This year, Dance Canvas will present World Premier Dance works from 10 emerging professional choreographers coming to Atlanta from across the country. The show also features nearly 50 of Atlanta’s top professional dance artists. Don’t miss this chance to see these new innovative voices in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, & Contemporary dance. Visit rialtocenter.org

Bad Jews

JANUARY 24

Daphna Feygenbaum is a “real Jew.” Her cousin Liam is a self-described “bad Jew,” complete with a shiksa girlfriend.

When the two arrive in New York for their grandfather’s funeral, they instantly lock horns in a savagely funny battle royale over a cherished family artifact. Written and developed by Joshua Harmon during

The Childrens Museum of Atlanta

Actor's Express Theatre Company

mended. Members are encouraged to follow the purchase ticket link to reserve Member tickets for Museum admission.

Visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

Annerin Productions, the company that brought you RAIN – A Tribute to The Beatles; the Broadway show Let It Be; and Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience; and The Pink Floyd Experience now present The Australian Bee Gees Show, a celebration of one of the most influential and famous musical groups of all time. This multimedia theatrical concert experience takes a nostalgic trip through the Bee Gees legacy while celebrating over four decades of the infectious music written by the Gibb brothers. Visit cobbenergycentre.com

JANUARY 31 Arlo Guthrie

The Wizard of Oz

Help the Children's Museum celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the classic movie The Wizard of Oz. Take part in themed crafts, fun and games and enjoy a special performance of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

by Serenbe Playhouse at noon. The celebration will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event is included with the cost of admission. Advanced ticket purchase is highly recom-

Ferst Center for the Arts

For the first time in a decade, folk icon Arlo Guthrie brings to the stage the entire blues song "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" in honor of its 40th anniversary, along with many favorites from Guthrie's song catalog. As a singer, songwriter and lifelong political activist, Guthrie carries on the legacy of his legendary father, Woody Guthrie. Visit ferstcenter.gatech.edu

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On Tap this Month MAJOR EVENTS COMING TO ATLANTA January 10: Georgia Dome

MONSTER JAM

Monster Jam is back at the Georgia Dome Saturday, January 10. All your favorite giant trucks are back including: Grave Digger, Moster Mutt, Max-D, El Toro Loco, Moster Energy, MADUSA, Zombie, Lucas Oil Crusader, Avenger, Wrecking Crew, Stone Crusher, Hooked, under, Bad News Travels Fast, Titan and War Wizard. Don’t miss the high-flying action. Visit GADome.com for complete details.

January 15-18: Georgia World Congress

ATLANTA BOAT SHOW

Whether new to boating or an avid water enthusiast, the 2015 Progressive Insurance Atlanta Boat show offers visitors an all-access pass to learn about and discover the fun of the boating lifestyle. Everything is here from luxury motor yachts and bass boats to family cruisers, pontoons and ski boats. Take advantage of post holiday deals on boats and marine accessories.

Visit AtlantaBoatshow.com

January 15 - 31: Morehouse College

DR. KING CELEBRATIONS

Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King at Morehouse College this month. e college will present a wealth of forums, musical celebrations and day service activities. Benjamin Tood Jealous, civil and human rights leader, former NAACP president and member of the Morehouse College Board of Trustees will hold a King Lecture and Conversation Friday, January 16. Visit Morehouse.edu

January 24: Masquarade

ATLANTA WINTER BEER FEST Love great beer? en don’t miss the ever popular Atlanta Winter Beer Fest now in it’s 5th year. ey will have over 150 beers to sample, including many new local breweries from Atlanta and Georgia. ere will also be a small selection of wines and ciders. Enjoy Live Music on four Stages and a DJ. Additional fun and games will be on hand around the festival. Visit AtlantaWinterBeerFest.com

January 28 - Feb 19: Various Theatres

ATLANTA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL e 15th annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival returns January 28 with the Opening Night Gala and film being held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. rough February 19 the AJFF will feature 65 films from 26 countries. Romance, comedy, action, and adventure are just a few of the genres featured at this year's AJFF. ese films take you around the world and through time. Visit AJFF.org

EVENTS HAPPENING FOR SMALL CHANGE IN ATLANTA

Know of a low cost event happening? Event@AtlantaOnADime.com

By Marci Miller

EVENTS HAPPENING FOR SMALL CHANGE IN ATLANTA MARTIN KING BATTLE OF THE BANDS Know LUTHER of a low cost eventJR. happening?HONDA Event@AtlantaOnADime.com Saturday, January 24, 3pm DAY OF SERVICE 2015

Monday, January 19 9:00am – 1:00pm, Various venues throughout the city SUNDAY IN THE PARK handsonatlanta.org Free Event Sunday, October 5 12:00pm – 6:00pm $5 Donation Requested, 3 & Under Free Monday, January 19th will be promoted as Historic Oakland Cemetery “A Day On Not a Day Off” and will provide oaklandcemetery.com opportunities for community improvement

Marci Miller GeorgiaBy Dome Tickets $10 & $12 hondabattleofthebands.com

STONE MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES e Honda Battle of the Bands Celebration

October 17 - 19,the 9:00am – 5:00pm tour spotlights excellence of 45 Histor$15 perBlack adult, $5 perand child (ages 6March– 12) ically College University ing Bands. e excitement culminates at Stone Mountain Park the Dome in January for the Invitational at five local schools including local com- smhg.org

Historic Oaklandraised Cemetery reconnects munity cleanup, gardens; as well as with its Victorian roots with Sunday the an essay challenge in which each in school Park.

For the 34th year, Atlanta oldest pubwill select the winner of a MLK essay conlic cemetery invites supporters and the cutest toalike read at service site on MLK Day. rious to the experience living history e essay topic will demonstrate ways that demonstrations, Victorian costume conDr. King’s Speech in 1963 still resonates tests, carriage tours and free walking tours.in challenges wewill facefeature today. crafts, oldAthechildren’s area fashioned games and the traditional Teddy THETea. GREAT AMERICAN Bear Proceeds from Sunday in the Park benefit the Historic Oakland FoundaMOTORCYCLE SHOW tion.

January 23 - 25, Friday 3pm – 8pm, Sat-

Showcase, when 65,000 fans will be on their feet, the aisles andStone cheerRegale in thedancing spirit ofinScotland at the ing for theHighland top HBCU Bands.Outdoor Participating Mountain Games. fesschoolsinclude includeHighland Alabamaathletic State, Bethunetivities events, Cookman, Howard, Jacksonand State, North dancing, piping, drumming Scottish Harping. in forSouthern, Scottish country dancCarolinaJoin AT&T, Talladega Coling demonstrations, lege and TennesseeKirking State. of the Tartans, Clan Challenge, and the Parade of the Tartans.

See the Clan ICEFEST 2015and Tartan information tents along with many colorful Scottish January 24, 10entry am toto5Stone pm and shops.

Vehicle Mountain January 25, 12 pm to 5 pm $10 per day Park is $10 for a one-day permit.

Chattahoochee Nature Center childrenscharitiesga.org ELEVATE 2014 October 17 – 23 Free Presented by ethroughout Atlanta Ice Marvels, a Saturday, October 11 10am – 7pm Free Various locations northatlantatradecenter.com 2014 Gold Medal Harmony Park, Oakhurst Downtown Atlanta Winning Team at the World Ice Art Championships, this event oakhurstartsandmusicfestival.com is is the place to check out new motor- elevateatlantaart.com features full access to Chattahoochee Naurday 9am – 8pm, Sunday 10am – 5pm

OAKHURST ARTSCenter AND MUSIC North Atlanta Trade FESTIVAL $12 adults, $7 kids, kids under 5 free

cycles and the accessories. See foreign and e 16th Annual Oakhurst Music domestic motorcycles, oneArts of a & kind cusFestival willcruisers, take place at the center of the tom bikes, sport bikes, choppers, Oakhurst community Harmony Park. and touring bikes. Getingreat deals on moEvents and features include a 5K Arts torcycles, trailers, leathers, ATVs, scooters, Run/Walk, live musical LED lights,local detailartists, products, patchesperand area featuring Deformances, community sewers. Riding glasses, helmets, resorts, catur-based nonprofit groups, free activity seat cushions, and other accessories will get area for children, parade and food bikers on the open road in style. and beverages at Oakhurst's many restaurants.

ture Center, Ice Slides, Food Trucks, Live ELEVATE 2014 features public art installaMusic, Bonfires S’mores, Inflatables, tions, music andand dance performances, Snow Ball Fightand Forts, Ice Carving gallery exhibits eclectic streetDemonart in strations, StarLab Planetarium, AnimalAtEnvarious venues throughout downtown counters much 72 more! is is a lanta such and as Gallery and Woodruff Children’s Charitiesartists Event and Benefiting: e Park.

Participating organizaEarlyinclude AutismBranden Detection Unit for tions Collins, eChildren’s Goat Healthcare Atlanta. which is co-sponFarm, and LaofPassante sored by France Atlanta.

Saturday, October 11 12pm – 6pm Free Sat. 10am – 6pm, 11am – 5pm Apple Valley Road,Sunday Brookhaven Callanwolde Fine Arts Center brookhavenchilicookoff.com callanwolde.org $5.00 Ticket

Saturday, Sunday, Oct 26 Saturday,October January2524,&1pm – 7pm $12 per adult,Tickets $5 for$20 children 3-1210 Downtown after ages January Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw atlantabartours.com owl-o-ween.com

ATLANTA STREETCAR CALLANWOLDECHILI ARTSCOOK-OFF FESTIVAL OWL-O-WEEN BROOKHAVEN ADVENTURE January 23 – 25, Friday: 6:30pm-9:30pm

is free family friendly festival takes place e Arts Festivale is a festival two-day in theCallanwolde heart of Brookhaven. indoor festival in one the most features crafts, located kid zone and ofcornhole. distinctive properties in includAtlanta. ere will behistoric lots of food offerings ischili event will featurestew approximately 86 tastings with ing & brunswick painters, metal60+ chili photographers, & stew teams. sculptors, Awards will be given topartists, amateur teams, work,for glass jewelers andrestaurant more. e teams, people's Festivalmost will spirited also offerteam artistand demonstrachoice. tions, live acoustic music, plus gourmet food trucks with healthy alternatives and music and dance performances.

Take a tour of bars and restaurants along is Hot Air BalloonTake Festival newSpooktacular streetcar route downtown. in the isAtlanta a 2-dayhistoric family districts friendly of event, featuring Edgewood Ave, amazing Balloon Trick-orFairlie Poplar DistrictGlows, and Centennial Park Treating, Harvest Area withTethered the newBalloon Atlanta Rides, Streetcar.

TickBeer Tents, Vendor Marketplace, ets include pass for Streetcar, 5Sports comp Bar, Artist Market, Foodand Trucks, shot/drinks along Amazing the tour, food drink Roving Interactive Bars Kid's& specialsEntertainment, and more. Participating Area, a Main Concert andNoni's more! Deli, Restaurants include: Stage, Park Bar, Sidebar, Corner Tavern and Pizza Vesuvius.

Callanwolde Arts Festival January 23–25 • callanwolde.org

February 6: The Fox Theatre

SEINFELD

Seinfeld was the smash-success sitcom that partly defines pop culture in the '90s. e self-proclaimed "show about nothing" made everyday situations seem absurd. While comedian Jerry Seinfeld ended the show's long run years ago, his humor continues to draw huge crowds when he goes on tour. Catch his latest social commentary and critique at e Fabulous Fox eatre February 6. Foxeatre.org

RECEIVE UPDATED EVENTS WEEKLY. SIGN UP BY EMAILING SUBSCRIPTIONS@ATLANTAONADIME.COM RECEIVE UPDATED EVENTS WEEKLY. SIGN UP BY EMAILING ENTER ON THE SUBJECT LINE: SIGN ME UP INSITE! SUBSCRIPTIONS@ATLANTAONADIME.COM ENTER ON THE SUBJECT LINE: SIGN ME UP INSITE! insiteatlanta.com • January 2015 • PG 5

THEATER

GET WICKED!

BY MARCI MILLER

T

here’s magic in the air as the national tour of the hit musical Wicked prepares to land at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta from February 15 – March 8. Wicked spotlights the untold stories of Oz’s most famous characters: the Wicked Witch of the West and her unlikely friend, Glinda the Good Witch. The show follows the tale of green-skinned Elphaba through the life-changing events that eventually label her “wicked.” Fun for the whole family, Wicked is a tale about love, friendship and trust that reveals that there are two sides to every story. The Grammy-winning score by Stephen Schwartz features the songs “The Wizard and I,” “Popular” and “Defying Gravity.”

We got a sneak peek of the show from Lee Slobotkin who plays Boq, a young munchkin who is the object of affection of Elphaba’s sister Nessarose. Lee grew up watching The Wizard of Oz on VHS daily and ended up attending the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music which Stephen Schwartz himself once nicknamed, “the Wicked Factory.”

Following graduation, he performed a showcase for agents and casting directors in NYC, signed with an agent and six months later auditioned for Wicked and got the role.

Tell us about this production of “Wicked” that’s coming to Atlanta…what can audiences expect to see?

Atlanta audiences are in for a huge treat! Simply put, Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Fans of The Wizard of Oz books and film will see the story told from a different point of view, and learn some important back story about their most beloved characters. So much happened before Dorothy dropped in...

What did it take to prepare for this role?

Boq had always been a dream role of mine. I rehearsed for two weeks alongside the dance captains and stage managers. Being very familiar with the show, I arrived completely memorized so I could focus on getting comfortable with the staging and choreography.

What is your favorite production number in the show?

I love the entire “Dancing Through Life” sequence when Fiyero arrives at Shiz and convinces all the students to put down their books and party! It’s a blast to perform and the choreography is just beautiful. I also love the magical act one finale, “Defying Gravity.”

Why are audiences so in love with “Wicked”?

I think it definitely stems from our love affair with The Wizard of Oz, it truly is America’s fairy tale. Wicked has so many powerful messages like the empowerment of women, accepting those who are different, and not judging a book by its cover.

The music is exquisite and so are the costumes! It’s an honor to sing one of the greatest scores ever written for the stage and tell this story every night. Wicked delivers everything you want in a Broadway musical.

Tell us about your costume/make up.

I absolutely love my costumes! I play Boq, the munchkin, and wear three different suits. My first costume is the navy and squiggle striped Shiz University uniform... a short cropped jacket and pants that stop around my shin revealing some colorful striped socks and beautiful blue and white boots.

My second look is a gorgeous copper suit with a tailcoat for the party at the Ozdust Ballroom, it’s definitely my favorite.

Underneath those, I wear a green striped shirt and knitted tie striped with purple, red, white, and pink. In act two, I wear a shiny silver coat and short pants that come right below the knee.

How did you get started in theatre?

I grew up watching The Wizard of Oz, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and the Little Mermaid on VHS every single day. I would stand on my fire place and perform all of the characters. Living in Philadelphia, I would go to New York and see Broadway shows quite often. On a trip in 2004, I saw the original company of Wicked lead by Kristin Chenoweth and

WICKED

FEBRUARY 15–MARCH 8 AT THE FOX THEATRE foxtheatre.org/wicked Idina Menzel. It was then I knew theatre was no longer my hobby, but my calling. I graduated from high school and began attending the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as a Musical Theatre major. The summer after freshman year, my classmate and Atlanta Native Greg Kamp got me involved with the Broadway Dreams Foundation.

It was they who first introduced me to the casting director of Wicked, Craig Burns. After completing four rigorous years of acting, singing, and dance training at CCM, I was absolutely prepared to move to New York and pursue my dream. Following graduation, my classmates and I performed a showcase for agents and casting directors in NYC. I signed with an agent, and 6 months later I auditioned for Wicked.

The rest is history. I’ve been with the show a year now, and still pinch myself that I get to perform in my favorite musical for a whole new generation of kids who might want to pursue theatre as a career.

2012

® D R A W A Y N TO !

R E N WISTNSCORE RAPHY © Disney

BE EOG R O H C T BES

ON SALE NOW! • JANUARY 20-25 ©DISNEY

FoxTheatre.org/Newsies • 855-285-8499

PG 6 • January 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

Under The Lights

If you could live forever, would you?

PLAYS OPENING THIS MONTH

NEWSIES

January 20 - 25 The Fox Theatre Tickets (855) 285-8499 FoxTheatre.org/Newsies

Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman, a book by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein and is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.

Set in New York City at the turn of the century, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged ‘newsies,’ who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. But when publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies newsies from across the city to strike for what’s right.

TUCK EVERLASTING

January 21 - February 22 Alliance Box Office (404) 733-5000 AllianceTheatre.org Based on the beloved best-selling novel by Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting is an exhilarating story about everlasting love,

p U k c Sto nter! i W r o F

never-ending life, and discovering what it means to truly feel alive.

Book-writer Claudia Shear states, “Tuck Everlasting, like all great tales of immortality, both tempts and frightens us. What makes it beloved is its romantic heart - what makes it endure is the indefinable and timeless shiver of a magical story that makes us believe.”

EMIERE R P D L R WO

M u s ic a l

THE WAFFLE PALACE

Returns Jan 23 Horizon Theatre Box Office (404) 584-7450 horizontheatre.com

Inspired by real life news stories about Waffle House restaurants, the play follows a Midtown diner owner, his staff and a hilarious cast of customers as they battle to keep The Waffle Palace open against encroaching real estate developers.

Playwright Larry Larson returns as Waffle Palace owner John with Marguerite Hannah as his right-hand waitress Connie.

Directed and choreographed by the Tony award®-winning Director of The Book of Mormon and Aladdin

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Book By

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Music By

lyrics By

ChriS Miller

NathaN tySeN

BaseD on The novel Tuck EvErlAsTing By Natalie BaBBitt

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DirecTeD anD choreographeD By

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insiteatlanta.com • January 2015 • PG 7

CONTINUING EDUCATION Advance your Career and Enhance Your Life!

Oglethorpe University 4484 Peachtree Rd NE Atlanta, GA 404.364.8314 adults.oglethorpe.edu/insite

Admission Council, the GMAT is a selection tool created to help admissions committees decide who to admit based on whether or not they will be able to handle the academic load. The GMAT helps source the data to predict academic success. Still, despite this fact, it’s validity often remains a sticking point in the minds of many test takers. Even if a selection tool is shown to be a valid predictor of performance, that doesn’t necessarily mean the subject will recognize that validity. The problem is that if the subject perceives the measure as invalid, it can impact their performance. Never let the question “Why do I have to take the GMAT?” derail preparation. It is a challenging test and when one is submerged and struggling under its rough and murky waters, it is very hard to see the point. The simple truth is that the GMAT is necessary to get an MBA. Stop asking “Why do I have to?” and start asking “How do I nail it?”

Savannah College of Art and Design When you’re buying a new car, you take it for a test drive. Choosing a new college is another big step, so why not give it a test drive, too? Oglethorpe University, one of the nation’s leading liberal arts universities, is offering a unique opportunity for adults seeking to return to campus and complete their undergraduate degree. Oglethorpe’s “Test Drive” program offers new students a 50% savings on tuition, for up to two classes in their first semester. This allows students to get a feel for Oglethorpe University before committing to a degree program. The application is simple and free, with admission decisions made within 24 hours. Best of all, you can choose from hundreds of courses among 35 programs offered during the day or in the evening, with the flexibility to complete your degree at your own pace. Classes are held year round and you can choose the number of classes that makes sense for your life. Eight week sessions allow you to complete a full-time course load while concentrating on only two classes at a time. Test Drive is ideal for working adults, those looking to re-enter the workforce or those who just want to strengthen their skills and competencies. Adult students at Oglethorpe enjoy a complete college experience, with full access to Oglethorpe’s campus, activities and benefits. There’s still time to enroll for the spring semester. Join us for an Adult Degree Program open house. For upcoming dates and information, visit adults.oglethorpe.edu/insite or call 404.364.8314. Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30319.

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The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor’s and master’s degrees at distinctive locations and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers degrees in more than 40 majors, as well as minors in over 60 disciplines. The university offers exclusive resources such as the newly renovated SCAD Museum of Art, university libraries and the SCAD Collaborative Learning Center, among others. Annual signature events are designed to showcase student work and bring students together with creative professionals at every SCAD location. Celebrated guests visit the university often, offering master classes and working one-on-one with students.

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Winter EVENTS

Dr. King Celebrations MLK Chapel Morehouse College Friday, January 16 morehouse.edu

Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King at Morehouse College this month. e college will present a wealth of forums, musical celebrations and day service activities.

Benjamin Tood Jealous, civil and human rights leader, former NAACP president and member of the Morehouse College Board of Trustees will hold a King Lecture and Conversation Friday, January 16. Other events include a film screening and discussion of Supremacy at the Bank of America auditorium at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20. Award-winning actor Danny Glover is planned to attend.

At 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26 the University Center Library is holding an Open House opening up their archives of over 13,000 historical documents and artifacts. For more information visit Morehouse.edu

Winter Beer Fest Masquerade - January 24; 1 - 6PM atlantawinterbeerfest.com

Don’t miss the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest now in it’s 5th year. ey will have over 150 beers to sample, including many new local breweries from Atlanta and Georgia. ere will also be a small selection of wines and ciders. Enjoy Live Music on four Stages and a DJ. Additional fun and games will be on hand. Visit AtlantaWinterBeerFest.com.

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

festival, returns for the 15th year January 28 with the Opening Night Gala and film being held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. rough February 19 the AJFF will feature 65 films from 26 countries. Romance, comedy, action, and adventure are just a few of the genres featured at this year's AJFF. ese films take you around the world and through time. Visit AJFF.orgthe city.

for the opportunity to jump into icy waters of Lake Lanier. All proceeds collected by Plungers will benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Georgia. Prizes will be awarded for the best costume, highest fundraiser, highest fundraising team, and more!

Valentines in the Garden Atlanta Botanical Garden - Feb. 14 atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Ringling Bros. Circus

Philips Arena Feb. 11 - 16 Gwinnett Arena Feb 19 - March 1 ringling.com

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Polar Plunge

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Participants collect pledges in exchange

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - January 19

Taste and Brews Atlanta Food Trucks Park

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Enjoy an elegant evening of music, dancing, cocktails, desserts and orchids at the most romantic spot in Atlanta. Take a stroll through the tropical conservatories, sample heart-melting treats from the city's top caterers, sip specialty cocktails from cash bars, dance to live music.

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For the first time Monster Energy Supercross comes to Atlanta with two Supercross events February 21 and 28.

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Art in Bloom The High Museum of Art

The Atlanta Film Festival celebrates the best in independent filmmaking. It is an Academy Award qualifying and international film festival that shows a diverse range of independent films, including genre films in horror and sci-fi. The historic Plaza Theatre in Atlanta's PonceyHighland area and 7 Stages Theatre in Little 5 Points will again serve as the festival's primary venues.

Georgia Marathon

Centennial Olympic Park March 22 georgiamarathon.com

The 2015 Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon will host more than 16,000 runners and head through some of the most noteworthy and historic areas in greater Atlanta, including Piedmont Park, and the start and finish area in Centennial Olympic Park.

ATTRACTIONS

Snow Mountain Stone Mountain Park

February 27 - March 1 high.org

Runs Thru February 22 stonemountainpark.com

Join The High Museum for a three-day celebration featuring exotic and imaginative floral interpretations of select work from the High Museum of Art's permanent collection. Don't miss this opportunity to see the High's collection interpreted in an exciting new way!

Spend a fun-filled day playing in the snow. Zoom down the 400-foot hill in family-sized tubes or go it alone as a single rider. Enjoy snowman building to snowball tossing, tubing to togetherness.

New features include Avalanche Alley adding an extra lane for more family tubing time.

Skate Atlantic Station Shamrock & Roll Race Atlantic Station Thru Jan 15 Atlantic Station Central Park March 8 jlatlanta.org

The Junior League of Atlanta welcomes runners of all ages to take part and also welcome walkers, dog walkers and strollers. The Shamrock ‘n Roll Road Race features a family-friendly 5k, 10k, and Belk Kids Fun Run 1k for little runners. Participants will also enjoy postPG 10 • January 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

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Lace up and "Skate Atlantic Station" on its 10,000-square-foot, open-air ice-skating rink set in the heart of Atlantic Station on District Street between 17 1/2th and 18th Streets. This unique, track-style rink offers a magical winter atmosphere and dazzling lights.

TV

FILM

2014 YEAR IN MOVIES

BY STEVE WARREN

Y

ES, THERE WERE SOME GOOD movies in 2014. Some interesting experiments (Boyhood, Birdman); a technological wonder (Interstellar) with a plot that raised it above the pack of gratuitous CG effects extravaganzas; feelgood movies that sent me out of the theater smiling (Magic in the Moonlight, Alexander and the Terrible...Day) or smiling and hungry (Chef, The Hundred-Foot Journey).

But there were no great movies that made me think I wouldn’t have done as well to stay home and watch The Newsroom, Modern Family, Homeland, Fargo, The Good Wife, Shameless or some of the other shows that have raised the bar for television while the movies just keep going back to the bar and ordering another sequel. Had HBO’s Olive Kitteridge been released theatrically it would have shot to the top of my list.

Watching Chadwick Boseman become James Brown (in Get On Up) as he had Jackie Robinson (in 42) the year before was a thrill that made me wish he could play me if my story’s ever filmed. Boyhood kept my right brain relating to the 12-year family saga unfolding on screen while my left brain thought of all the things that could have gone wrong, trying to reassemble the cast and crew periodically over the 12 years of filming.

Being of two minds helped me relate to the curious mini-trend of movies about doppelgangers (The Double, Enemy, The One I Love), none of which was particularly good.

I can’t remember a year when I’ve had such a “whatever” attitude toward my yearend list. A few films, filmmakers and actors cried out for recognition, but not with their usual urgency, while studios kept me on tenterhooks about whether I’d be able to see their contenders in time (sorry, Selma).

There were some pleasant surprises (Unbroken, Wild Tales, Keep On Keepin’ On) in the December viewing glut, but for the most part it left my brain as numb as my butt.

Anyway, here’s what I came up with for year-end honors; but I won’t defend my choices to the death.

TOP 10

1. BOYHOOD 2. UNBROKEN 3. THE IMITATION GAME 4. WHIPLASH 5. IDA 6. INTERSTELLAR 7. GONE GIRL 8. WILD TALES 9. NIGHTCRAWLER 10. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON

SECOND TEN (listed alphabetically)

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE), THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY, LILTING, MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT, THE MISSING PICTURE, PRIDE, RICH HILL, THE ROCKET, WALKING THE CAMINO: SIX WAYS TO SANTIAGO

BEST ACTOR: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything Runner-up: Chadwick Boseman, Get On Up

TOP 10 TV SHOWS OF 2014

BY BRET LOVE

W

Boyhood

HILE EVERYONE HAS AN opinion, this is far from a definitive list of 2014’s Best Shows, let’s just call this our favorite shows of the year.

FARGO

Like many Coen Brothers fans, I was skeptical from the get-go. But by matching the film’s style, aesthetic and location with equally quirky characters and a new storyline filled with dark twists and turns, creator Noah Hawley crafted something uniquely brilliant. Stellar performances from Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, Bob Odenkirk, Kate Walsh, Oliver Platt and newcomer Allison Tolman anchored one of TV’s most solid ensembles.

TRUE DETECTIVE BEST ACTRESS: Julianne Moore, Still Alice Runner-up: Reese Witherspoon, Wild BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash Runner-up: Edward Norton, Birdman BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Emma Stone, Birdman Runner-up: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood BEST DIRECTOR: Richard Linklater, Boyhood Runner-up: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, Interstellar Runner-up: Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl Runner-up: Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, Still Alice BEST DOCUMENTARY: Keep On Keepin’ On Runner-up: Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM: Ida Runner-up: Wild Tales BEST ANIMATED FILM: How to Train Your Dragon 2 Runner-up: The Boxtrolls BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman Runner-up: Hoyte Van Hoytema, Interstellar BOTTOM 10:

1. UNDER THE SKIN 2. WINTER’S TALE 3. TRANSCENDENCE 4. BURNING BLUE 5. HAPPY CHRISTMAS 6. THE GIVER 7. MY OLD LADY 8. THE BETTER ANGELS 9. NYMPHOMANIAC, VOL. II 10. THE MAN ON HER MIND

Playing like an 8-hour film, Nic Pizzolatto’s pulpy potboiler incorporated influences such as Poe, Lovecraft and William S. Burroughs into TV’s most compelling murder mystery. The coastal Louisiana setting served to enhance the serial killer story’s Southern Gothic sense of noir, with religion, philosophy and the supernatural ratcheting the tension up to 11. Landing Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson for the leads was a stroke of genius.

GAME OF THRONES

The series’ best year in terms of critical acclaim (see: 94% rating on Metacritic) and viewership (around 7 million), season four saw the deaths of two arch villains– cruel King Joffrey and his scheming grandpa Tywin Lannister. Those stunning episodes bookended a season in which all hell broke loose, with marauding wildlings, an epic attack on Castle Black, the advance of Stannis Baratheon’s army, out-of-control dragons, and the impending threat of White Walkers beyond the wall.

MAD MEN

After several uneven seasons, Matthew Weiner’s period drama focused on the advertising industry in the 1960s finally regained its footing. Though the first seven episodes were called “The Beginning,” it’s really the beginning of the end, both for the show and the socio-political era it examines. The end of Don Draper’s marriage to Megan surprised no one, but Don’s firing from SC&P, the death of Bert Cooper and the moon landing was one helluva cliffhanger. Can’t wait to see how the show will end.

LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER

As Stephen Colbert leaves Comedy Central for Letterman’s chair and Jon Stewart becomes as familiar as a cozy sweater, John Oliver proves he’s the next great talent to emerge from The Daily Show with this sharp, satirical look at current events. Free from the restraints of basic cable (and advertisers), Oliver’s scathing wit brought incisive skewering of stories on immigration reform, the shooting of Michael Brown and more. Arguably TV’s best news show, comedic or otherwise.

HANNIBAL

The creative visionary behind Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies, Bryan Fuller has a history of crafting inventive shows that are cancelled before they find an audience. Don’t let that happen to Hannibal, his take on Thomas Harris’ novels about FBI special investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lechter (Mads Mikkelson). It’s arguably the best cast on network TV, and the most gorgeously shot psychological horror you’ve ever seen.

THE WALKING DEAD

It’s become fashionable to dismiss AMC’s zombie drama as “too slow.” But Season 5 started out with a bang (the showdown with the cannibals at Terminus) and never really let up, from the return of Carol and Morgan Jones and the death of Bob to the revelation that Eugene is a fraud and the climactic death of Beth in the mid-season finale. The truth is that this show was never about zombies, but the psychological horror of an apocalyptic world and the evil that men do to survive it.

JANE THE VIRGIN

I didn’t want to like this loose adaptation of Perla Farías’ Venezuelan telenovela, but the comedic soap immediately won me over with its charm, wit and visual flights of fancy that recalled quirky comedies such as Ally McBeal and Eli Stone. As Jane Gloriana Villanueva, Gina Rodriguez is a revelation, but her supporting cast (particularly Jaime Camil as her telenovela star father and Anthony Mendez as the unseen narrator) are equally charming. Easily 2014’s best new show.

THE GOLDBERGS

Arguably TV’s most underrated sitcom, The Goldbergs is an ‘80s flashback filled with heart The characters– aspiring filmmaker Adam, his adoring smother, curmudgeonly father, Don Juan grandpa and bickering older siblings– are as crazy and colorful as anything this side of Seinfeld. But, as the homemade video tapes creator Adam Goldberg shows at the end of each episode reveal, virtually every childhood memory he shares about them is 100% based in truth.

HISTORICAL DRAMAS

Yes, I’m cheating here. No, I don’t care. The blood-drenched final season of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (based on true stories of organized crime during Prohibition), the even more blooddrenched hand-to-hand combat of History Channel’s Vikings (based on Old Norse sagas of Ragnar Lodbrok), the rollicking pirate mayhem of Starz’ Black Sails (set during 18th century’s Golden Age of piracy) and FX’s The Americans (a Cold War spy thriller) each brought epic periods of history to life in creative, invigorating ways that made them relatable to 21st century audiences.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Black-ish, Broad City, Louie, Silicon Valley, Sons of Anarchy

Jane the Virgin

To see the rest of this article and the award-winners (and runners-up) from SEFCA, the SouthEastern Film Critics Association please visit insiteatlanta.com. insiteatlanta.com • January 2015 • PG 11

FILM

INTO THE WILD Movie Reviews

Bear Grylls On Celebrities, Survival & Running Wild

BY BRET LOVE

I

AMERICAN SNIPER DEVELOPED MY(R) LIFELONG LOVE

 of the outdoors as a boy. My parents and Clint Eastwood’s directorial effort grandparents tooklatest me backpacking in thetells the true story of US Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, Appalachian mountains and to our rustic cabin the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history on Lake Hartwell, where I learned to set up (withfish, 160 start confirmed kills,cook and on 255it),“probable” camp, a fire (and forage kills).

Eastwood war respect to great for wild berries and,has mostcovered importantly, effect before Heartbreak Ridge, Flags ofhas Our the beauty andinbounty that Mother Nature toFathers offer. and Letters From Iwo Jima. But this is the time Wild he’s examined tragicthe physical, On first Running With Bearthe Grylls, emotional and psychological toll war takes on British adventurer does the same thing bothsome the men women whocelebrities. fight and their with of theand world’s biggest home.a As Kyle, Ben Bradley It’sfamilies thrillingback to watch nervous StillerCooper has neverdown been better.

BulkedonupScotland’s almost beyond rappelling a mountain Isle with aTom pitch-perfect Texas drawl, ofrecognition, Skye, a terrified Arnold conquering hishe exudes the confidence and aintensity ofaa50sharpfear of heights by traversing tree over shooter his target. foot dropunaccustomed in Oregon, andtoamissing boyish Zac Efron Yet he alsotolends his character of depthBut and stoked see a wild beaver inlayers the Catskills. vulnerability beyond bravado and machismo. what makes the show the even more interesting is Each time Kyle glimpse returns home to of histhese wife (Sienna the rare, honest it offers stars Miller) andoverwhelmed child, he’s more by ofthe emotionally by thehaunted challenges pushing limit insave, some of the ghosts themselves of the men tohethe couldn’t and more world’s most beautiful determined to kill the wilderness Iraqi sniperareas. who becomes Grylls– a former his mortal enemy.reservist BecauseinofthetheBritish “lone wolf” Special later climbed natureForces of the (SAS) sniper’swho occupation, this feels less Everest and crossed themovie Norththan Atlantic and like a traditional war a modern-day the Northwest Passage in an inflatablefilms. boat–Kyle version of Clint’s classic gunslinger recently spokesteely-eyed to us aboutand the poker-faced, show via cell with is similarly phone from aon littlethecove off the south his actions battlefield rarelycoast betraying of England. the turgid emotions roiling within. But at home he’s clearly a broken man increasingly afflicted Where did Traumatic the idea forStress Running WildFor come with Post Disorder. better from?

I know you did popular episodes or worse, Eastwood avoids rah-rah patriotism ofand Man Vs Wild with Will Ferrell and recently Kyle’s self-mythologizing (his estate Jake Gyllenhaal.

Has this concept been to Jesse lost a $1.8 million defamation lawsuit germinating in your ever in since?

Ventura, after Kylemind boasted his book of Yes. Those Vs WildMinnesota shows [with guest in beating up Man the former governor stars] have been very successful all around a bar fight). The straightforward directionthe isn’t world. were done that but show, likely Once to winwe Eastwood anywith awards, Cooper wedeserves wantedattoleast revisit this format.forWe it a nomination hisknew harrowing was worked and,coda for me, it’s just turna format and thethat heartbreaking in which Kyle really fun because getvet to know people is murdered by ayou fellow ends the filmand on a it’spotent such note. a good dynamic. So it was exciting getting through all the health and safety–Bret hoops.

Love Not a lot of it is planned, so that was quite a ANNIE mountain for us to climb before we even (PG) started.

1/2 But NBC helped us through that, and  fought a few of those battles.

Some huffing from Martin Charnin and Charles Strouse, the musical masterminds You have a lot of experience dealing with behind the original 1977 Annie production, these harsh climates and wild places. But is reincarnation is someone warranted.whoThe itabout a lot ofthis responsibility to take duo’s light, Depression-era play is turned on its doesn’t have experience in dealing with these curly tress-head here and given a 21st-century conditions? makeover filled with When auto-tune, touch Yes, it’s a nightmare!

I’m on my screens and Twitter.

So, if Charnin and Strouse’s own I’ve got nothing to worry about aparttale of an orphaned girl who wins the heart of a coldhearted billionaire is to resonate with the Katy Perry crowd, some adjustments had to be made.

The biggest one: finding a versatile lead that today’s audience would embrace. No problem there as 11-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) captivates in early scenes when she’s dealing with her bitter foster mother (Cameron Diaz) and in later ones when she’s around Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx), the supersuccessful businessman she literally runs into on the streets. Wallis is savvy. She’s cute, too.

There’s even a magical moment where she lets a crowd at the Guggenheim Museum know just how much Mr. Stacks means to her through a touching song called “Opportunity” and it sounds wonderful. (Familiar tunes like “Hard Knock Life” and “Tomorrow” are also given fun, respectable updates.) You’ll wonder if there’s anything the young lady can’t do. As you’ll find out from this semi-musical, the only apparent answer is screenplay writing. If she could, you’d think she would have said something to Annie writer/director Will Gluck (Easy A) about PG 12 • January 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

from keeping myself alive. It’s definitely more challenging you’re taking throwing a when few plot twists intosomebody the mix. From who’s done nothing this before.toYou’ve got the foster mother’slike redemption the lovetoright-under-your-nose think for them a lot ofrevelation the time. But been fromit’sStacks exciting be able(Rose to take theseyou guyscan away. and his to assistant Byrne), sniff out Ithe lovestorylines seeing them they’reaway. threecome Newalive Yorkwhen City blocks facing difficult aterrain and big This weakens marginally cutechallenges, movie, forboth sure. emotionally and physically.

It’s great throughout helping But Quvenzhane is so adorable people whether a fear ofby its that noovercome one canthat, refuse Annie’sit’scharm heights or snake or whatever it is. closing number.

–DeMarco Williams Were they given any kind of training beforehand to prepare them?

When it comes to training, we said, “You’ve just got to bring two things– a big bag of fortitude and a big backpack full of enthusiasm– and we’ll do the best when we’re out there.” The fun thing about it is that they’re not too prepared, you know? We wing it together, and you see them on camera learning and making mistakes, and that’s the fun real part of it. The only training I did with any of them was with Zac, because I wanted to skydive with him. So I gave him some training for a couple of hours the day before.

But that, everyone else just arrived BIGbeyond EYESfortitude (PG-13) with that and enthusiasm, and I said, 1/2  “We’ll do it altogether.”

Big Eyes is like a feature-length version of the old Virginia Slims slogan, “You’ve come a long Of all the places you’ve been, what’s the place way,you Baby!”

Margaret (Amy Adams, excellent) that connect with the most? isHome! ahead(Laughs) of the curve in the scene, A lifetime ofopening doing this has in 1958, when she takes her young daughter and taught me two things. One is that I do love the runs away from a bad marriage.

Her best friend adventure. I love being out there. It’s where Ritter) to the bohemian I(Krysten come alive, andintroduces it’s where Iher perform at my art scene Francisco’swe’ve Northgone Beach, best.

I loveintheSan wildernesses to and Margaret settles in as a single mother, working around the world, and it’s such a privilege. But full-time indulging passion for painting going awayand a lot has alsoher taught me the value at neighborhood fairs on weekends.

She has a of home. You know, I’ve got a lovely family, distinctive style, boys. painting her greatest subjects,driving mostly with three young It’s the children, eyes. force whenwith I’m updisproportionately a mountain or in alarge jungle– a She attracts the attention Walter shining light making me workofhard to getKeane out Waltz), of(Christoph there in one piece. who sells Parisian street scenes and boasts of the time he spent studying in Paris.look They marry when her ex tries to take People up to you as a survival expert. daughterteacher away, that saying a single IsMargaret’s there a particular you would woman an unfit still the ‘50s.) credit forisgiving youmother. the most(It’s survival When Margaret’s paintings begin to attract knowledge? attention, claims to feel havelike painted Well, to beWalter honest, I don’t I’m a them.

He getsexpert.

Margaret to go along off because has survival When I started doinghe Man theWild, publicity to make rich,expert which he Vs I felt skills like more of athem survival does, selling cheap reproductions of “his” work because I’d just left the military. That’s where I by the all thousands.

Eventually everything learned of my survival skills. But the morehe’s provedthe to be falseI realize (Big Lies would oftold thisher I’veis done, more that I’m also as things, a title), and yearsofofvery slaving ahave jack worked of a lot of but aafter master in secret hasbetter to stand up forbetter herself little.

EveryMargaret day I meet climbers, skydivers, survivalists.

Thescene thingprovides about again. Thebetter climactic courtroom me is thatshowcase I’ll always hard,onI’ll a flashy forwork Waltzdamn but goes too long when it’s obvious how it has to be resolved. Big Eyes is one of Tim Burton’s best, though least idiosyncratic films, and it’s ironic that it will be one of his least commercially successful. As someone who dreamed of San Francisco in the period shown, I felt transported back in time

by Big Eyes; but more importantly, women in abusive relationships today need to see it to learn how easy they are to get into – and out of.

–Steve Warren

THE GAMBLER (R)

1/2 Mark Wahlberg overcomes considerable odds to give a credible performance as an academic.

We know he’s no dummy, being a successful producer (Entourage, Boardwalk Empire) as well as actor; but he’s cultivated a persona since his teen idol days of a thuggish type who’s barely one step up from the street. Jim Bennett, the lit prof he plays in The Gambler, has some of those attributes, including a tendency to bully his students and a mouth as foul in the classroom as

THE WILD IS VERY REVEALING. YOU GET TO KNOW PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT YOU NEVER DO any of those students have outside; but he can also OTHERWISE, BECAUSE waxTHEY’RE eloquentlyUNCOVERED about Shakespeare, AND Camus etc.

Jim VULNERABLE. comes from a wealthy but he was cut YOU family, GET TO off byKNOW his dying grandfather (George Kennedy) THEIR STRUGGLES, and hisTHEIR mother (Jessica Lange) DOUBTS, THEIRis about to do the same.

Jim has a gambling habit that seems TRIUMPHS, THEIR HIGHS tied to a AND death THEIR wish. Even playing with money LOWS. borrowed from loan sharks whose penalties go far beyond interest rates, he can’t keep from letting a bet ride until he loses everything. Being on a strict repayment deadline only makes Jim always keep cheerful it’s miserable, more reckless, and theeven oddswhen are 20-1 the movie and I always go for it.

But as for the will end with his death, rather thantraining, him being 99% was from the military and I since learned redeemed by love.

Okay, 15-1 it’sabeing bunch as a kid with my dad, who’d been released by a major Hollywood studio.a But commander and a climber loved all on thisone since his romantic potentialand is centered stuff.

He’ll be turning in his grave if I only of his own students (Brie Larson) who’s half his credit himalso withrisking 1 percent… aboutDirector 50%! age, Jim’s careerHe’s suicide.

But he taught me the love of it, which actually Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) counts for everything. conveys the story’s multiple atmospheres and has a fine cast to work with, including John Have you had a chance to take your boys on Goodman as the lender of last resort. There’s any of these adventures? little survival when Yes,reason I get totodocare thatabout the restJim’s of the year, when he doesn’t care about it himself, which makes we don’t have TV cameras around us. They the film relentlessly but off maybe love it! Right now I’mdownbeat; in a little cove the it’s asouth dim coast memory of dancing to Marky Mark of England, looking at all three and the Funky Bunch glimmer of boys, stark naked inthat the gives sea inus theapouring rooting interest. rain. I’m sheltered under a fallen tree, trying to Warren keep out of the rain while talking to–Steve you. But

AMERICAN SNIPER

they love it. They live it. It’s in their DNA, for INTO THE WOODS sure. 1/2 Director Rob adapts originals You’ve visited so Marshall many inhospitable places.and makes them his own.

That’s his thing How do you nail down the places you wantand to he apologies to no one for it. Sometimes the film in? results (Chicago) are magic. there Well, we try and pick diverse Sadly, terrains.

Theare others (Memoirs of a Geisha) that borderline Isle of Skye in Scotland is just barren and on monotonous.

With Into Woods, his windswept, cold and rainy.

So The we contrasted freshwith taketheon Stephen Sondheim that hot the deserts and dramatic rockand JamesofLapine musical has of the same faces Utah. If80s somebody a real wishname, to he’ssomewhere, tasked withweretelling an But intertwining tale go pick that. really, it’s all involving some of our most fabled characters about diversity and the challenging terrain. for an audience with the attention span of a tweet.

In order accomplish Marshall wastes Has theretobeen a placethis, you’ve traveled thatno timeso making formaldifficult introductions, was incredibly that youdelivering have no an openingtonumber desire go back?that could make Andrew Lloyd Webber tingly.

Duringswamps this joyous first step into Probably the black of Sumatra, the overly we meet familiar where the stylized tsunamiwoods, hit in 2001 andsome decimated afaces: big part the island.

It’s just this Jackof(Daniel Huttlestone) andstinking, his mother black, swamp, of these (Traceyrotting Ullman); Littlewith RedallRiding Hood (Lilla crocodiles off the 6500 human corpses.

Crawford);feeding Cinderella (Anna Kendrick); and The Baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt), a sweet pair unable to bear children because of a curse placed upon them by their witch of a neighbor (Meryl Streep). Throw in the Wolf (Johnny Depp), the Prince (Chris Pine), Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy) and a giant and you have enough for a season of Once Upon a Time. But as you might expect with a two-hour movie, things do get a little uneven. On the plus side, the simple screenplay has some interesting subtleties —“Maybe granny will make me another [cape] out of the wolf’s skin,” says Little Red Riding Hood— and musical numbers that moviegoers who can’t tell their Rodgers from their Hammerstein will relish. Unfortunately, for all these high notes, there are some off-key ones, too. The biggest trial is that things often feel hurried. The Wolf comes and goes hastily.

Jack ascends and descends in a blink. Even when death strikes the group in one of the later acts, mourning doesn’t have time to take its usual course. But before you can get too worked up about them, another well-tuned song breaks

out and the sun somehow peeks through the branches again.

–DeMarco Williams

THE IMITATION GAME (PG-13)

 Don’t beware of this Imitation. The English make it look too easy to make a film like this so well, and this is a good example, even though its director, Morten Tyldum (his They lost of amade lot of my livesTen in that Headhunters Bestdisaster, list twoand years it’s become a disease-ridden, crocodile-filled, ago) is Norwegian. Benedict Cumberbatch snake-filled place.

So yes, I’m that not going to gives a sublime performance may remind hurry back to that one. you of Russell Crowe’s in A Beautiful Mind.

A genius is a genius. This one is Alan Turing, is it about being the wilderness that aWhat mathematician whosein work in the 1940s speaks to you personally? hastened the end of World War II and the start is veryage; revealing.

Youwas get to know of The the wild computer but Turing doing top people in a way that you never do otherwise, secret work for MI6, decrypting the German because they’re uncovered and vulnerable.

Enigma code, and he wasn’t acknowledged You get to know their struggles, their doubts, for nearly half a century, until the project was their triumphs, their highs and their lows. And declassified. meantime he became if stuff happensInin the the wild, it’s unpredictable. notorious in the early 1950s for being prosecuted Things can go wrong very quickly, and I’ve got for homosexuality and eventually taking his own a massive responsibility to keep these guys life. juggles three periods – 1928, when alive.The Butfilm I love that challenge. young Alan (Alex Lawther) has a crush on a fellow theitwar years, whenahe learns Whatschoolboy; do you think is that makes celebrity to work with other people but almost wins the want to do this kind of adventure? war singlehandedly; when the They’re not doing and it for1951, the money, the police start him after refuses fame,investigating or the exposure.

Theseheguys havetoallpress of charges against a young man who robbed that. They don’t need to take risks. And thehim.

Charles makes a strong impression truth of Dance doing this is that it is a risk.

You’re as the commanding officernot who dislikes Turing going to look like you’re brave or strong, but sometimes appreciates his work. or whatever.

I think it’s a testament to theKeira Knightley plays a at brilliant woman who joins the idea that people heart love to challenge team at Turing’s insistence, to keep the film from themselves. These guys have all reached being a sausage fest.

Award Season is underway top of their profession, but we all have that and The Imitation is inorthe running. yearning inside: IfGame our lives our family’s Warren lives were really on the line, have I–Steve got what it takes to survive? Almost all of these guys said one of the best bits was having space and time to think about life and how lucky they have been. The outdoors does that. It creates bonds between people and it gives us space to breathe. At the end of it, all of them had a smile on their face and a light in their eyes that money can’t buy. Fame doesn’t do it. Drugs don’t do it. Booze doesn’t do it. It’s the power of the wild, and I’ve seen it a ton in people.

UNBROKEN (PG-13)

 Angelina Jolie’s second directorial effort aspires to be the inspirational story of “Survival, Resilience and Redemption” that Oscar dreams are made of. The problem lies in the “Unbelievable True Story” of American war hero Louis Zamperini (Jack O’Connell), which plays like an endless exercise in torture porn. Zamperini, the problem child son of Italian immigrants, turns to running as a way to burn off excess energy. He winds up running the 5000-meter race in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, where a strong finish leads to a meeting with Adolf Hitler. During World War II, he’s deployed on a B-24 Liberator bomber, which becomes badly damaged during combat over the Japanese-held island of Nauru. He and his fellow crew members are given a defective plane and ordered to search for a lost Allied aircraft. Mechanical difficulties cause the plane to crash into the ocean, and only Zamperini and

buddies Phil (Domhnall Gleeson) and Mac (Finn Wittrock) survive. The trio spends 47 days on a raft, surviving on rainwater, small fish and the occasional albatross. They fight off shark attacks, a horrendous storm, machine gun strafing from a Japanese bomber, and the worst sunburn you’ve ever seen. Finally they’re captured by the Japanese Navy and mercilessly tortured. And this is just the film’s halfway point! Though Unbroken is 137 minutes long, the languid pacing makes it feel much, much longer. There’s almost too much story here, and the overall effect becomes numbing, with an odd sense of cool detachment where there should be raw emotional passion and heart. There’s no denying the incredible life story being told here. But despite Roger Deakins’ stunning cinematography and fine performances

by Gleeson and Japanese pop star-turnedactor Takamasa Ishihara (a.k.a. Miyavi) as the malevolent Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe, this is one heroic tale whose ending is more triumphant than its execution.

–Bret Love

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR (R)

1/2 If all you know about this movie is the name and the fact that it’s set in New York in 1981– one of the most violent years in the city’s history– you might expect a Scorsese-style epic along the lines of Goodfellas. If you do, you’ll come away sorely disappointed, particularly by protagonist Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac), a lawabiding entrepreneur struggling to stay clean in an increasingly corrupt business environment.

The film was written and directed by J.C. Chandor, the auteur behind 2011’s critically acclaimed Margin Call and 2013’s All Is Lost.

Chandor comes from the Sidney Lumet school of dramatic craftsmanship, creating a richly detailed atmosphere and filling it with characters who are given ample space and time to reveal their myriad complexities. In short, he’s an “actor’s director,” and with A Most Violent Year he’s assembled a stellar cast that includes Isaac, Jessica Chastain (as Isaac’s wife Anna, the daughter of a notorious mobster), Albert Brooks (as their attorney), Alessandro Nivola (as a hard-nosed business competitor) and David Oyelowo (as a detective). The story follows the Morales’ attempts to finance the expansion of their growing heating oil business just as competition in New York City is heating up and the police are investigating their business for tax fraud. A huge make-or-break deal is on the table, but the Morales’ trucks keep getting highjacked, their drivers and salesmen keep getting attacked, and both Anna and the local union rep are getting fed up with Abel’s stubborn refusal to let his employees arm themselves, much less fight back. The underlying tension simmers rather than burns, with Chandor slowly but surely ratcheting things up. But, despite the occasional chase scene here or fight scene there, it never really threatens to boil over into thriller territory.

Chastain is particularly impressive, letting her character’s rough ’n’ tumble past bubble to the surface as her frustrations with Abel build.

But some viewers may be equally frustrated with the film’s languid pacing, and with a lead character who seems unwilling or unable to protect his family or his employees. As a huge fan of All Is Lost, I came away from A Most Violent Year slight underwhelmed. While

there’s no denying Chandor’s growing talent, his latest film could’ve benefitted from a dose of the intense theatrics of Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon and Network.

–Bret Love

MR. TURNER (R)

 British auteur Mike Leigh is known for his distinctive “kitchen sink realism” approach to filmmaking. Rooted in his background in the theatre (he started at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), his style blends improvisation, intensive character study, and months of rehearsal– all before he puts pen to paper to sculpt a script. As a result of this process, his films have provided career-defining roles for some of England’s finest actors, including Gary Oldman and Tim Roth (Meantime), Jane Horrocks (Life is Sweet) and David Thewlis (Naked). Mr. Turner, a biopic of early 19th century British artist J.M.W. Turner, provides a similar platform for Timothy Spall, who is bestknown in the U.S. as a supporting player in the Harry Potter series. Spall’s Turner is a bit of a hot mess, largely communicating in animalistic grunts and grumbles. His brief outbursts of emotion are largely limited to boyish love for his elderly father and unbridled lust for his adoring housekeeper, whom he exploits for his own pleasure when he’s not ignoring her completely.

This brutish exterior belies an artist of great sensitivity, which we see externalized when his father dies and, later, when he meets the widow Sophia Booth (Marion Bailey), the landlady of the seaside house on Chelsea he escapes to increasingly frequently as he falls from royal favor. As the flawed-but-fascinating Turner, Spall (who deservedly won the Best Actor award at Cannes) is remarkable– a lovable loser you can’t help but root for. Working in hand-in-hand with the masterful Leigh, they craft an artistic portrait of a complicated man whose external ugliness fails to convey the exquisite beauty and vision of the world that lies within.

–Bret Love

PREDESTINATION (R)

 Based on “–All You Zombies–”, a short story by sci-fi legend Robert A. Heinlein, Predestination is a time travel mind-bender guaranteed to throw you for a loop. Ethan Hawke stars as an agent working for the Temporal Bureau.

Using a time machine, he’s sent back to stop a terrorist known as the Fizzle Bomber and prevent a devastating 1975 attack on NYC. He stops the bombing, but is severely disfigured as a result, undergoing a series of extensive surgeries to reconstruct his face. Cut to a Big Apple dive in the ‘70s, where the agent is a bartender pouring drinks for a quirky customer who writes for True Confessions magazine under a pseudonym, “The Unmarried Mother.”

The customer bets the bartender he can tell the most remarkable story he’s ever heard, and proceeds to do so: He was identified as a female upon birth, abandoned at an orphanage, and raised as a tough girl named Jane (Sarah Snook). Jane tries to become an astronaut in the Space Corps, but is disqualified after a physical, which reveals that she is anatomically very different from her peers. Eventually she goes to night school, becomes pregnant by

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR

an older man, and gives birth. During the delivery, we learn why she was dismissed by Space Corps: Jane was born with both male and female reproductive organs. With the latter irreparably damaged during childbirth, doctors externalize her male genitalia and remove her ovaries just as an unknown male snatches her baby from the hospital nursery.

Devastated, Jane gradually becomes John.

We can’t tell you what happens next without ruining the ending, but suffice it to say that the climactic reveal is a head-scratcher in more ways than one. Directed by brother Michael and Peter Spierig, this Australian indie is as original and unpredictable as it is confusing.

Visually it’s spellbinding, but its twists and turns of time travel logic require serious suspension of disbelief and a willingness to just go along for the weird, wild ride. The best thing about the film, by far, is Australian actress Sarah Snook, who plays both Jane and John with so much raw, emotional vulnerability that it’s impossible to imagine a future in which she does not become a star. Her performance alone is worth the price of admission.

–Bret Love

WILD (R)

 Based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoir of the same name, Wild tells the story of a woman who is thoroughly lost in life and decides to find herself by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from California’s border with Mexico 2,663 miles north to Manning Park, British Columbia. The fact that she does so with no training, no preparation, and barely even a basic understanding of what’s involved in the arduous 5-month trek tells us a lot about the state of Strayed’s psyche at the time. Adapted for the screen by Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About A Boy), the film interweaves scenes of Strayed (Reese Witherspoon, who also produced the film) fumbling her way through the fundamental basics of backpacking with flashbacks that gradually reveal how her life became such an utter shambles– the death of her beloved mother (Laura Dern), a subsequent addiction to casual sex and hard drugs, and the ultimate dissolution of her marriage to Paul (The Newsroom’s Thomas Sadoski). The irony is that her reckless, destructive behavior doesn’t necessarily end with her ambitious through-hiking attempt. While the film wants us to admire Strayed for her solo travel chutzpa, her ill-considered adventures lead to potentially dangerous encounters with a local farmer, a lascivious hunter and even a lonely park ranger. But of course this is ultimately a story of redemption, as she gradually exorcises the demons that haunt her and emerges from the journey a stronger, healthier version of her old self. This is the role of a lifetime for Witherspoon, who subtly conveys strength, stubbornness, fault and folly, often within the same scene. But the supporting cast is equally strong, with Hornby’s script and Jean-Marc Vallée’s direction making this one of 2014’s best films. In the end, Wild is a soul-stirring film about the transformative power of travel, and how sometimes changing your life is all about being brave enough to take the steps you fear the most.

–Bret Love

THE SEARCH FOR GENERAL TSO (NR)

1/2 Spoiler alert! If mystery and exoticism are part of the appeal of Chinese food for you, you won’t want to see Ian Cheney’s documentary, which not only demystifies General Tso’s Chicken but answers general questions you never thought to ask about the popularity of Chinese cuisine in America. General Tso, Cheney discovers early in his research, lived in the 19th century in Hunan Province, where he is celebrated by a liquor, a museum and other things named in his honor – but not by nuggets of fried chicken in a sweet and spicy sauce ringed by broccoli florets. General

Tso’s Chicken is as American as Chop Suey and fortune cookies, and would have been too sweet for the general to eat. While uncovering all kinds of factoids about what we call Chinese food, Cheney also learns how the chicken dish traveled from Hunan to Taiwan to New York before becoming Americanized. Enhanced by animated silhouettes, the film manages to leave one mystery unsolved: the pronunciation of the general’s name. Chinese, Americans and Chinese-Americans call him everything from “So” (with the T pronounced or silent) to “Cho” to “Joe” and variations on “Chow.” Foodie or not, if you enjoy “eating Chinese,” you’ll find this movie better than tso-tso.

SELMA (PG-13)

1/2 Who knows how or where Selma’s Lyndon B. Johnson controversy started? Honestly, it doesn’t much matter at this point if it originated with an overzealous LBJ loyalist, a Politico reporter or some hack at Fox News. All we know for sure is that critics say director Ava DuVernay’s drama fails to give our 36th President proper credit for his part in getting the Voting Rights Act into law in 1965. From our seat in the theater, we see a man (Tom Wilkinson) who’s forced into a corner because of an unrelenting movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo). President Johnson sees Dr. King as a man spearheading a group with one major problem (not being able to vote) while he, as Commander in Chief, deals with a hundred so-called problems. Left to his druthers, LBJ would have the voting issue wait its turn for its day in front of Congress. Little did he know, equality was growing impatient.

A similar sentiment echoes across America in 2015. Be it in Ferguson or Brooklyn, fedup citizens are vocalizing their frustrations over law enforcement, fair pay and other vital issues. When Dr. King, Ralph David Abernathy (Colman Domingo) and others lead peaceful protests in rural Alabama on the movie screen, you won’t help but recognize likenesses to die-ins staged in Oakland.

Few movies have ever had the timeliness that this one does. Even fewer have had as magnetizing a lead as Oyelowo either. Where many a seasoned actor might flinch at filling an immortal’s shoes, Selma’s lead slides into Dr. King’s loafers without leaving so much as a scuffmark on the heel. When the script calls for the icon to wrestle with his fears, doubts and vices, Oyelowo stands tall. But Selma isn’t a triumph off one performance alone. The director does a glorious balancing act with her filmmaking. Instead of tiptoeing around less-flattering aspects of Dr. King’s life, we are shown a man who smokes cigarettes and has serious fidelity issues. Carmen Ejogo is spectacular as Coretta Scott King, the oftenoverlooked linchpin of the family. Tim Roth is superb as George Wallace, the disgusting Alabama governor who wants nothing more than for African-Americans to keep to their lesser-than role. And then there’s Wilkinson’s LBJ. There are times where you feel sorry for the guy; there are others where you want to ring his neck. The fact that you’ll experience both emotions goes to show just how good a job Wilkinson does in the complicated role.

Finally, one thing everyone can agree on when it comes to Lyndon Johnson.

–DeMarco Williams insiteatlanta.com • January 2015 • PG 13

MUSIC

FINDING YOURSELF

Atlanta’s Eliot Bronson Breaks Out With a Self-Titled Singer-Songwriter Masterpiece

BY BRET LOVE

W

e’re rooting for Eliot Bronson. First off, the guy is as good-natured as anyone you’re likely to meet in the music business. Secondly, he’s done his time on the Atlanta singer-songwriter scene, both as a member of The Brilliant Inventions (the Decatur duo once jokingly referred to as “the Indigo Boys”) and, more recently, as a solo artist.

Perhaps most importantly, Bronson’s self-titled new album is his most cohesive collection of tunes to date. Recorded with producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell) in Nashville, the music has a relaxed, stripped-down vibe. Cobb’s organic mix shines the spotlight on Bronson’s sensitive croon, which seems to grow richer and more emotive with time.

For fans who have followed Bronson’s evolution, it should prove a welcome development. He’s never been more naked and vulnerable as a songwriter. We recently caught up with the increasingly self-assured artist to discuss the growth and evolution of his craft, and where he’s headed next.

You were playing music in Baltimore back in the late ‘90s, making you a 15-year veteran of the music scene. How would you say you’ve grown as a songwriter during that time?

I’ve gotten better at trusting myself. That’s the biggest change, I think.

The music business has obviously changed quite a bit in that time. How have you had to adapt, as an artist, to that evolution in the industry?

I probably should pay more attention to all of that, but it honestly isn’t very interesting to me. I wish it were easier for artists to make a living selling records, but I don’t want to spend my time and energy figuring out the best marketing strategy.

Songs are what really matter most to me, so that’s what I spend my time working on.

You’ve been in Atlanta a decade now, and played all around the U.S. Can you talk about what it is that makes the city’s music scene special for you?

I don’t know if Atlanta has the best or worst music scene out there. We certainly have some really talented artists and some great venues. I came out of the Eddie’s Attic scene, which was incredibly important for me. I live on a quiet side street across from a Civil War era cemetery. I see owls and hawks in my backyard. Swarms of blackbirds will often cover the giant oaks.

And I live in the city. That’s what I like about Atlanta.

When the Brilliant Inventions broke up, did you have any fear of how fans would respond to your solo work? Do you get a lot of people at your shows now who have followed you since the old days?

When TBI broke up, I threw the map out the window. I stopped trying to please other people or write “hits,” and starting trying to make the music I wanted to hear. I had no idea if anyone at all would like it. There are a handful of people who stuck with me from the old days, but for the most part I had to start over from scratch.

What do you find to be the best and worst aspects of being a solo artist?

Now that I’ve been playing solo for a few years, I can’t really imagine myself doing it any other way. Making music with my band, with my friends, is something I’ll never get tired of. But when it comes to the writing, I’m happy just where I am. I’ve come to a place where I’m writing the song I really want to write, and I can’t see sharing that job with anyone else anymore.

Let’s talk about the new album. Were there any prominent musical influences that inspired you during the writing process?

I don’t really know. I was listening to a lot of old country when

MAKING MUSIC WITH MY BAND, WITH MY FRIENDS, IS SOMETHING I’LL NEVER GET TIRED OF. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE WRITING, I’M HAPPY JUST WHERE I AM.

I was writing those songs– Hank Snow, Webb Pierce, Kitty Wells… I don’t think it sounds like any of that, though. But there’s something in the soul of that stuff, and maybe that carries over.

I love this line from your bio: “I spent a long time trying to get away from where I came from, but it never really felt right. This is the music I’ve always had in me. This record is me.” Why do you think you spent so long trying to get away from your roots, and how does it feel to finally be doing what you’re meant to do?

I think it’s a natural thing to want to differentiate yourself from those around you, from what you’ve always known. It’s natural to look at what other people can do and neglect your own abilities.

We’re constantly sizing ourselves up against those we admire or look up to. I just couldn’t do it anymore, it was like trying to work left-handed when my right is perfect fine.

The record seems to be doing well, with major outlets like CMT and People Magazine taking notice. Where do you hope to see your career go from here?

I try not to get too distracted by praise or criticism. I just want to keep writing. I’ve started the next batch of songs already and I’m excited to see where they lead. I don’t know where I’m going and I don’t want to know. I just want to find those moments that stop time.

COMEDY

NICK OFFERMAN, MAN’S MAN

The Parks & Recreation Star Submits Himself to a Stellar Reddit “Ask Me Anything”

BY ALEX S. MORRISON

A

S RON SWANSON ON PARKS & Recreation, Nick Offerman has spent the last five years establishing himself as the quintessential meat-eating, whiskey-drinking, mustache-growing man’s man.

But his 2013 book, Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man’s Fundamentals for Delicious Living, revealed that the veteran improv comedy performer wasn’t just doing a shtick. Offerman is, in fact, a professional-level woodworker with his own company, Offerman Woodshop, one of many personal details that Parks & Rec writers incorporated into the scene-stealing Swanson character.

Offerman is coming off a stellar 2014 in which his book became a bestseller and he appeared in hit films such as The LEGO Movie and 22 Jump Street. In December, he submitted himself to another “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit to promote his new comedy special, Nick Offerman: American Ham. The results, which we’ve excerpted here, were nothing short of amazing…

If you could be any other character on Parks & Rec, who would it be and why?

Lil’ Sebastian, because then I would be the universe’s MOST GLORIOUS CREATURE. Who would win in a fight, you or Aziz Ansari?

Duh. Aziz. He would disarm me by saying something super hilarious, then whilst I giggled he would nimbly kick me in the bean bag PG 14 • January 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

and scurry away. This has happened. He’s a funny man.

What other actor would you most like to have a brawl with?

Josh Brolin, because he is my pal and I could say, “Whoa, Josh, hold up. What if instead of brawling we share a hug and then enjoy a couple cans a’ suds?”

Which do you prefer, Chubby Chris Pratt or Six Pack Pratt?

Christopher Pratt is one the most beautiful creations of Mother Nature’s that I have countenanced in my lifetime. Whether the bear is lean from the winter or fattened by sweet summer berries and springtime salmon, it makes me no never mind in the love I bear for him. He’s still a magnificent beast.

What do you think is the biggest difference between acting in a film or an on-going TV series such as Parks & Rec? There are a lot of similarities in film and TV acting. But I guess a film moves more slowly, so you can try and make each moment a bit more of a work of art, whereas with TV you’re doing the same thing but just much faster. Also, a TV role on a series that lasts is nifty because you get to keep creating the character with the writers over years, which is incredibly satisfying.

I was watching an old episode of 24 the other day, and all of a sudden you showed up. How did it feel to get yelled at and threatened by

Jack Bauer?

It was very arousing. He kept locking us in the bathroom where the cameras couldn’t see and whispering dialogue from Lost Boys. He made me pop thrice.

I was wondering if Ron Swanson will ever do bong hits? He seems like he could use some relaxation.

Interesting question. I think Ron would be up for trying most things in the right setting.

Perhaps if he were stranded in the woods with Ron Dunn (Sam Elliott), he could be persuaded to check it out. I think Swanson would appreciate the efficacy of the bong delivery system.

Where would one start when wanting to get into wood working?

Get Fine Woodworking Magazine or visit Finewoodworking.com and start reading. Find some beginner project that you like, like a box is always a good starting point. Get a decent chisel and a block plane and learn to sharpen them. Sharpening is the most important skill to master, because it makes the rest of the steps flow like butter.

Can you could talk a little about the experience of starting your own small business, Offerman Woodshop. Was there anything that held you back, any lessons you learned?

I would not consider my business acumen particularly worth plumbing, but the woodworkers at my shop would agree with me that a pleasant atmosphere is conducive to

success in life. That being said, getting anywhere requires hard work. So you should do what you love.

How do you control that wonderful mustache of yours?

It is I who am controlled by my whiskers.

If you could give one piece of advice to a budding facial hair enthusiast, what would it be?

Go learn a skill for 5 years. Come back after that and check progress in mirror.

What is the most valuable piece of knowledge you are willing to pass on to a young man like me?

Find people to inspire you in sources that aren’t television.

You are generally seen as a super manly-man on TV. What is something not so manly that you do in private?

Giggle like a little girl (which is hilarious).

Road Warriors

COMEDY

This Month’s Hottest Shows BUSY COMIC JEN KIRKMAN

BY SACHA DZUBA

JAN. 11 – JOHNETTE NAPOLITANO

Eddie’s Attic Having toured the planet with Concrete Blonde, an intimate evening with Johnette Napolitano is an unbelievable privilege. Strong and wise vulnerability mixed with the wideeyed sincerity of her lyrics and style is given distinction by her smokey bold voice. Johnette’s sketchbook albums and book Rough Mix give a fascinating insight into her creative mind and process, from ideas and snippets to fully formed songs. The erstwhile front woman of Concrete Blonde, and even Talking Heads, is a woman who has successfully pursued and attained her dreams, and is still moving forward. Experience the lasting resonance of her music, feature films in song form, directly from Johnette Napolitano herself.

decades, Billy Idol is a Rock ‘n’ Roll survivor.

He’s battled drugs, alcohol, and a crippling motorcycle accident; and he’s come through it all and never stopped swinging. Certainly known for 80’s mainstays such as “Rebel Yell” and “White Wedding”, these Idol hits are still popular on radio and in clubs. Touring in support of his recently released album King & Queens of the Underground; a sound that recalls 80’s rock/ punk sensibilities. Reunited with original guitarist Steve Stevens, this will be a fantastic night of stage prowling, strutting, and sneering with the one and only original punk, Billy Idol.

JAN. 26 – THE WORLD INFERNO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY

The Earl The World Inferno Friendship Society are a punk rock symphony bringing cabaret sensibilities and style to a dangerous and deadly live performance. Their music incorporates elements of romance, sensual tango, violence and mayhem, contrapuntal fugue, and pounding NOLA percussion at a punk rock wedding. Pianos, saxophones and horns, distortion-snarled guitars, and super low bass combine to form the band’s over forty member roster. Making orchestral punk albums since 1995, the musicians of World Inferno Friendship Socitey have toured incessantly for the last twenty years. Do not miss the spectacle of immersive punk cabaret!

JAN. 15 – SECONDHAND SWAGGER

Vinyl Local funk/blues outfit Secondhand Swagger have a passion for the sound and style of vintage soul and r&b from the 60’s and 70’s. Listening to their music transports you to a time when melodies and lyrics were filled with heart and delivered with a smile and a wink; the kind of music that makes you want to bop your head until you’re up and dancing. Frontwoman Abbey Wren has a smoothly soulful voice that perfectly tops the mélange of drums, bass, saxophone, guitar, and piano from her savvy band members. Break out your swanky thrift store finds and come strut with Secondhand Swagger.

JAN. 18 - PENNYWISE

The Masquerade Pennywise welcome original vocalist Jim Lindberg back with their latest album release, Yesterdays. This release takes old ideas, un-recorded songs, and outtakes and gives them the attention they deserve. With less political focus than their later years and deference to dearly departed bassist Jason Thirsk, Yesterdays is a return to origins with wisened life-affirming perspectives. Pummeling punk guitars, their sound thicker than ever with in-your-face sing-a-long choruses and harmonies; Pennywise are fast and fiery, often political, punk rock. This marks a new chapter for the band while still staying true to the way Pennywise started twenty six years ago.

JAN 22. – BILLY IDOL

The Tabernacle With a musical career that spans over three

JAN. 29 - GAELIC STORM

Terminal West Though Gaelic Storm was initially brought to the attention of the public eye as the Irish band from the below-decks party scene in the film Titanic, they have consistently topped World Music charts with their albums. Aptly named, Gaelic Storm bring all the rowdy fun of traditional Celtic jigs, Irish drinking songs and the beauty of Gaelic ballads, with a rock performance makeover. Gaelic Storm’s popularity has steadily grown throughout the world. They tour heavily, performing over 125 shows a year. Their previous album, The Boathouse, brought traditional sea songs and chanties to the fore. Their latest album is Full Irish, a “best of” which recalls their Titanic roots and brings us a few new songs as well.

Make sure to grab a beer and pump your fists in time to the music. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the beginning of the new year.

FEB. 2 – REEL BIG FISH / LESS THAN JAKE

The Masquerade Throughout their recent release, Candy Coated Fury; Reel Big Fish punctuate ska horn swells with tight harmonic stabs in their skanky swanky punk style. Lighthearted hijinks, sing-a-long choruses and harmonies will suck you in. Less Than Jake, are back without ever have gone anywhere.

Their new album See The Light has a back to basics punk/ska sound; no vocoding dub step here. Both bands have been flying the ska/punk flag highly and proudly since the 90’s with hits “Sell Out” and “Liquor Store”, respectively. Grab your boots ‘n’ skankin’ gear and get to flailing!

Kicks off the New Year with a Laugh-Packed Month

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

T

HE NEW YEAR BRINGS A FULL calendar of events for comic Jen Kirkman. Just this month, the Boston-bred, L.A.-based entertainer will cross the country performing her popular stand-up act, finishing January by turning in the final version of her new book, the follow-up to the New York Times bestseller I Can Barely Take Care Of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids. The same day the book is due, she’ll celebrate by taping her first one-hour comedy special in Austin. Sometime along the way, she’ll find time to visit the influential comedy show @ Midnight, write more new standup material, and record a few episodes of her fiercely independent “I Seem Fun” podcast. The gregarious and gorgeous Kirkman, best known for her appearances on Chelsea Lately and Drunk History, spoke with INsite during a typically busy day in New York City.

dead for, like, a year and a half. But I keep getting emails from people saying it’s a TV movie, or they have it listed wrong on IMDB. I still get Google Alerts: “’Jen’ is in production.” I’m like, I’m not there, so I hope it’s not!

Could it be rebooted at some point?

It would it be great to have to have my own show. Stand-ups do have a good sense of timing and interesting stories that make a good sit-com. It’s a natural fit but having a TV show is like working in a bank. You have a boss, you work for a corporation, the hours are crazy and you can’t do anything else.

But you do have a great story.

There’s a lot of stuff that I do have flowing around, creatively, isn’t quite right for stand-up, and it isn’t quite right for books, but would make some great acting scenes.

I would like to do something with my story, but it wouldn’t look anything like that show I wrote. It’s a bit too “sit-commy” for my taste.

For the past couple of months, you’ve been What is your new book about? living in NYC. It sort of takes up where the old one left off.

Yeah, I’m in warrior mode. I have a book Every chapter touches on a different theme. that’s due January 31st. I’m kind of inLike divorce, marriage, living alone, travelling, between big projects where I might need family, relationships I’ve been in since I’ve a lot of time committed, like working on been divorced. Turning 40 was a big thing, and TV stuff. I’m never gonna have these two I hope it will be, not a guide any means, but a months off, as far as beacon of hope for women I can see, again. Why like me, who may feel really not write here in the alienated. day and do stand-up at night? So my book will JANUARY 22-24 And men should read be done and my new both books, too. material will be worked Laughing Skull Lounge You’re right! And I up for 2015. usually have an equal mix laughingskulllounge.com of men and women at the How’s it going so far? shows. I just played in It’s gone well! And Boston and a lot of men it’s sort of an experiment for living here. I were there, who wanted me to sign their used to live in New York and I’m thinking book. I’m realizing a lot of men feel the about moving back this year. It’s gonna be same way, that they don’t want kids. People a lot of effort, but there’s something about like comedy for all kinds of reasons.

Los Angeles, for me, makes it hard to write there. It’s so nice out; sitting inside seems Your books and your stand-up often depressing. Here, even in a coffee shop, feature rather candid glimpses into your there’s background noise, whereas in L.A., personal life. Is it daunting to reveal so it’s too quiet. much about yourself to strangers?

My mom likes what I do a lot and she Set the record straight on the “Jen” show. was saying the other day, “I would certainly It’s listed as a series, a TV movie, a film, not say half of the things you say in front a mini-series. It’s taken on a life of its of an audience!” Like, one of the newest own at this point. bits I’m working on is, I just turned 40 and Ok, in September of 2013, I sold a pilot I found some gray pubic hair. It’s one of to FX. But they were like, “No, we’re not those things that’s just crazy enough that gonna make it.” Now I don’t know why, people in the audience would laugh and go, but it’s still making news! There’s so “I’d never say that.” much misinformation about it. It’s been

JEN KIRKMAN

insiteatlanta.com • January 2015 • PG 15

MUSIC

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

INsite’s Music Critics Give Their Take on the Greatest of 2014 BRET LOVE’S

Top 3 Albums of 2014

and unapologetically emotional songs filled with the highest high and even lower lows. Twelve years later, with his third album, he’s still waxing poetic about love, but this time around the Irish troubadour’s melancholy is imbued with a newfound sense of hopefulness. Coproduced by Rick Rubin and Rice, the album offers a perfect balance between stripped-down folk simplicity and epic symphonic swells. Even without longtime partner Lisa Hannigan, nobody does it better.

DEMARCO WILLIAMS’

not altogether comfortable making them.

Aiko is still an album or three away from emitting Ms. Adu’s effortless glow, but that’s not to say there aren’t moments (“To Love & Die,” “Lyin King,” “Brave”) on her soothing studio debut where she commands your attention. The sensual instrumentation, which mostly falls under producers No I.D. and Fisticuffs’ watchful ears, is miles above anything released this year that didn’t involve D’Angelo.

“Wading” stands out with its strippeddown pulses and heart-tugging prose.

Somewhere Sade is smiling.

Top 3 Albums of 2014

STANTON MOORE

Conversations (Royal Potato Family) With David Torkanowsky (The Meters, Dr. John) on piano and James Singleton (Professor Longhair, Aaron Neville) on bass, Conversations is a classic jazz trio album with a splash of funky New Orleans spice. Galactic drummer Moore has never sounded better, from the smooth brush-work on “Tchefunkta” to dazzling improvisational skills shown throughout.

But while Moore may be the star, songs like “Driftin’” prove Torkanowsky and Singleton to be titanic talents in their own right. All in all, it’s the best jazz album I’ve heard in years.

THE TOURÉ-RAICHEL COLLECTIVE

The Paris Session (Cumbancha) The second album from Israeli singersongwriter Idan Raichel and Mali’s Vieux Farka Touré (son of Ali Farka Touré) is my favorite world music fusion since Vieux’s dad and Ry Cooder made Talking Timbuktu. From the opening “From End to End” to the closing “Alla,” Touré’s West African blues riffs drive the sound, with nimble guitar and soulful vocals. Raichel’s jazzy improvisational piano focuses on complementary melodies, creating an impeccably tight but wonderfully organic whole that makes you wonder why nobody ever fused Israeli and African musical traditions before.

DAMIEN RICE

My Favorite Faded Fantasy (Warner Bros) Damien Rice’s O arguably ranks among the best singer-songwriter debuts ever recorded, filled with aching, angst-filled, PG 16 • January 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace has never been one to keep her feelings inside.

Transgendered Dysphoria Blues, the first record made since singer Tom Gabel started living life publically as Laura Jane Grace is just as remarkably beautiful as it is brave. The 10-songs here mine feelings of anger, confusion and ultimately happy resignation as Grace opens up as few songwriters have ever done before. Punk rock at its finest.

Shovels & Rope

Swimmin’ Time (Dualtone Music) The husband and wife team of Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst delivered one of the best alt country/folk albums of the year with this release, a nearly flawless collection of often dark, stripped down swamp romps. It’s a toss-up as to what makes the most exciting elements of their music: the beautifully haunting male/ female harmonies or the better-thanmost-novels storytelling. Regardless, the band has created an Americana album that will surely find appeal beyond its genre.

Freddie Gibbs and Madlib CyHi The Prince

Black Hystori Project Generally speaking, albums released in a year’s first quarter are forgotten by the time year-end top 10s are put together— no matter how good they are. But every blue moon, a CD comes along that’s so damn genius that it commands a spot in your memory for longer than a season.

CyHi’s sixth mixtape (and easily his best) is such a release. Focused (“Mandela”), ferocious (“Napoleon”) and free of most of the mindless fodder clogging today’s FM dial, The Atlanta-raised, G.O.O.D. Musicsigned rapper pays tribute to late greats who influenced him while giving a report on his people’s current plight. Every song on the album earns a passing grade.

Piñata Don’t know if it’s Freddie Gibbs’ gruff delivery, his dark-alley demeanor or Madlib’s neck-jarring beats, but just about everything on Piñata comes off with a West Coast vibe. (Hell, I dare you to listen to “Thuggin’” and not envision a Saturday night around Crenshaw.) But Gibbs is a Midwest dude through and through, reppin’ Gary, Indiana to the fullest. Of course, borders can’t confine tales of street mischief. Spit tough talk (“Deeper” and the Scarface-smashed “Broken”) over minimalist funk backdrops and you’ll grab the attention of folks from Indianapolis to Inglewood. Other dynamic duos like Run the Jewels and Skyzoo & Torae made dope music in ’14, but no other combo connected the drums with the dialogue quite like this one.

JOHN B. MOORE’S

Top 10 Albums of 2014

Cory Branan

The No Hit Wonder (Bloodshot) Listening to The No-Hit Wonder, you can’t help but start looking around for the nearest brick wall to bang your head against in sheer frustration that Cory Branan isn’t a household name at this point. While not as easily accessible as 2012’s Mutt, after a few listens the nuances in the music start to stand out and you realize just how impressive this song collection is, from the accordionheavy gypsy vibe in “All I Got and Gone” to the tear-in-my-beer country nostalgia on “All Rivers in Colorado.” The rollicking album closer “You Made Me” and Johnny Cash train-song rhythm section in “Sour Mash” are clear proof that the Outlaw Country lessons of the ’70s found a dedicated acolyte in Branan.

Foo Fighters

Jhene Aiko

Souled Out Sure, I understand some of the comparisons to Sade —Jhene Aiko’s wavy vocals ride atmospheric keys and sweet percussions much like the legendary British-Nigerian songstress— but I’m

Against Me!

Transgender Dysphoria Blues (Total Treble)

Sonic Highways (RCA) To mark their 20th anniversary, Dave Grohl and team decided to experiment a bit on their latest record. As documented in the equally-impressive HBO documentary series of the same name, the band spent a week in eight music-heavy cities (including Nashville, New Orleans, Austin and Seattle) soaked up the local music scene and then wrote and recorded

a song there before decamping to the next stop. The result finds the band recharged with new inspiration – still sounding very much like the Foo Fighters, but with more renewed energy.

channels everyone from Guided By Voices to Wire, while coming of as wholly original. Mike Huguenor’s gruff vocals – not exactly a scream, but not far off – punctuate the music beautifully. His guitar and voice compliment quite possibly the tightest rhythm section working today.

Punk rock is an easy tag for this band given their pedigree and associations, but as this sophomore effort proves, they are just as much a Power Pop band or an Indie Rock group. Regardless of what you want to call it, A Thousand Surfaces is a remarkable record from start to finish.

Jesus and Mary Chain and Sugar to The Replacements. This record, brief as it may be, is an incredible introduction, from the opening guitar squeal on “Filthy Luck” to the closing driving rhythm on “Punk or Lust,” ending too quickly and leaving you clamoring for more. The trio is an indie punk supergroup, made up of members of Weston, Ex-Friends and Crybaby.

LEE VALENTINE SMITH Top 5 Albums of 2014

The Smith Street Band

Bob Mould

Beauty & Ruin (Merge) Beauty & Rain is probably the best effort yet to accurately capture the boisterous punk rock from Bob Mould’s Husker Du days and his more melodic, slightly quieter solo and Sugar years. Just as impressive as 1989’s Workbook or 2012’s Silver Age, Mould is far more than just an indie punk touchstone, but is proving he is still wildly relevant, now that he’s in his 50s.

Throw Me in the River (SideOne Dummy) Managing to somehow bridge Springsteen with Against Me!, Australia’s Smith Street Band have been quietly building up one of the most impressive recent catalog’s in punk rock. Throw Me in the River is their strongest showing yet and first for SideOne Dummy. The band’s trademark is the slow build from pensive to straight out fury, sporting some of the most impressive lyrics since Billy Bragg first picked up a guitar. Frank Turner has been one of their most vocal supporters, dragging them across the U.S. on his 2014 tour. The Smith Street Band are destined for a much bigger audience.

running pop out fit The Cucumbers.

Featuring twelve joyous tracks, each with an amazingly childlike innocence and time-honed pop smarts, the record spirals along with the slightly country-tinged backing of a number of New Jersey’s pop elite including fellow guitarist / husband Jon Fried on a few tracks.

The BlueBonnets

Play Loud (Self-released) Bluesy Texas rock and roll, injected with pop smarts and personality to burn.

The Austin-based BlueBonnets deftly define the state of Texas rock and roll with their latest release. Bassist Dominique Davalos, guitarists Kathy Valentine and Eve Monsees and drummer Kristy McInnis – stand ready to be the definitive rock band of the southwest. The fiercely indie band features former Go-Go’s bassist Valentine, a defiant indie attitude and a wizened world view. Memorable hooks, smokin’ blues solos and an insistent beat abound. Album highlights include “I Like Lies” and “Have a Nice Day.”

Parker Millsap The New Pornographers

Brill Bruisers (Matador) There are very few fence sitters when it comes to the musical collective The New Pornographers, you either love ‘em or don’t know about ‘em yet. Brill Bruisers is the Canadian group’s sixth album of thinking person’s indie pop and one of their best. The album title is a nod to the famous Brill Building songwriters’ factory (made famous by everyone from Carol King to The Ronettes), so the album takes more than a little influence from the instrument-heavy pop music period.

Songs like the self-titled opener and the chugging/robotic “War on the East Coast” are among the bands best to date.

Parker Millsap (Thirty Tigers) Oklahoma-native Parker Millsap was raised in the Pentecostal Church and it clearly shows. A bulk of the songs on this brilliant self-titled debut are slathered in old time, arms-outstretched religious themes – despite the fact that he has since left the church – from the preacher saving trucker’s souls (“Truck Stop Savior”) to End Times (“When I Leave”). Backed by his acoustic guitar, a fiddle player, a bass and little else, Millsap’s record has a timelessness that will preserve it well years from now.

Beach Slang

Hard Girls

A Thousand Surfaces (Asian Man) Over 14 tracks, this San Jose band

Who Would Ever Want Anything So Broken?

This may have been the year of the emo revival, but Beach Slang was too busy holding up the banner for ‘90s college rock, digging through the crates and getting inspired by everyone from The

Neil Young

A Letter Home (Reprise/Third Man) Neil Young uses quaint old technology in the best possible way. Recorded in Jack White’s Third Man complex in Nashville, A Letter Home finds Neil Young alone in White’s vintage telephone-booth sized Voice-O-Graph recording studio, originally manufactured in 1947 as a novelty vinyl record machine. Young edges up to the monaural microphone to offer extremely raw renditions of Bob Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country” and Gordon Lightfoot’s “Early Morning Rain.”

A pure low-fi joy from start to finish.

Larkin Poe

KIn (RH Records) Clever Atlanta-based sisters continue their family tradition of harmonious folkrock with a tougher delivery. Still in their 20s, the ambitious Larkin Poe are hardly open mic amateurs. Their body of work contains a number of rootsy bluegrassflavored releases and critically acclaimed performances around the world. On Kin, with Rebecca on electric guitar and Megan on lap steel, the Lovell sisters cleverly filter the country elements of their past sound into a slick, soulful rock format, offering songs like “Sugar High” with the mature confidence of an act twice their age and history.

Deena Shoshkes

Rock River (Life Force Records) Instantly likeable collection of friendly pop tunes from veteran of the Hoboken rock scene. Deena Shoshkes newest release temporarily frees her from her usual spot as Center Square in the long-

Camper Van Beethoven

El Camino Real (429 Records) CVB bookend last year’s album with a moody meditation on West Coast sensibilities. For its ninth studio album, Camper Van Beethoven have issued a moody yet succinct follow-up to last year’s La Costa Perdida. Though the band was always more folk than punk, their gritty hardcore DIY aspect shines through as usual, and the rootsy record is populated by such unusual suspects as Jack Kerouac, Richard Brautigan, assorted west coast creeps and the alluring pathos of the Big Sur mindset. insiteatlanta.com • January 2015 • PG 17

MUSIC

Album Reviews

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

DAMIEN RICE

My Favorite Faded Fantasy

(Warner Bros) Released in 2002, Damien Rice’s O was arguably among the most critically acclaimed debut albums ever released by a singersongwriter. It also provided the gut wrenching soundtrack to the rise and fall (and rise and fall and rise and fall…) of one of the most torturous romantic relationships of my life. Nobody sings songs of angst-riddled emotional conflict better than this wounded Irish troubadour and, in my eyes, O may never be equaled as an epic ode to the anguish and agony of heartache.

But a funny thing happened on the way to stardom. With Rice’s extraordinary success came disenchantment, arrogance and, ultimately, the self-doubt that arises from emotional insecurity. The 2006 follow-up to his debut, 9, received mixed response from critics and fans alike. The subsequent tour brought a brutal, highly public breakup with longtime girlfriend/collaborator Lisa Hannigan.

“My relationships with the people in the band were starting to disintegrate,” he recalled in an interview with Ireland’s Independent. “I wasn’t happy, but I was in a position where I was theoretically supposed to be happy. And if I’m not happy in that situation, then I become a miserable, unappreciative git.”

For 8 years– an eternity in the everevolving music world– Rice seemed likely to become an indie-folk JD Salinger, not even releasing so much as a single during that time. In 2009 he told a reporter, “I would give away all of the music success, all the songs, and the whole experience to still have Lisa in my life.”

It was in Iceland that he ultimately found himself again, enlisting the help of producer Rick Rubin and collaborators Marketa Irglova (Once) and Alex Somers (boyfriend/ collaborator of Sigur Ros frontman Jónsi) for what would become this stunning return to form.

If you didn’t like Rice’s early epics, such as “Cold Water” and “Cheers Darlin’,” then My Favorite Faded Fantasy is unlikely to make you a convert. With just eight songs clocking in at over 50 minutes, the album is unapologetically arty and ambitious, giving each composition ample time and space to build dynamic tension gradually.

Not much has changed on the surface in 12 years: Rice still writes about the highs and lows of love in confessional tones that feel like stolen glimpses of his diary or eavesdropping on an intimate conversation.

But in terms of the vocals and Sigur Ros-like arrangements there’s tremendous growth and expansion on display, from the yearning falsetto of the opening title track to the string-laden gut-punch of the 9-minute “It Takes a Lot to Know a Man.” Songs like “The Greatest Bastard” and “Trusty and True” are rich with emotion and lushly-detailed, revealing deeper layers with repeated listens.

In the end, Damien Rice is still just as conflicted and complicated as ever. “It’s a long way back if you get lost,” he sings on the closing track, “Long Long Way,” which ends with the mantra, “Love is tough when enough is not enough.” But the glimpses of hopeful optimism on My Favorite Faded Fantasy suggest that Rice is finally back, and perhaps ready to move on from his Hannigan heartbreak once and for all. (A) – BL PG 18 • January 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

JOSHUA RADIN

Onward and Sideways (Self-Released)

Zach Braff may not be the world’s greatest actor, but the guy has arguably done more to give indie musical artists mainstream exposure in the 21st century than just about anybody else. His Grammy-winning Garden State soundtrack helped give big breaks to littleknown acts like The Shins, Cary Brothers and Zero 7 (featuring then-unknown singer Sia Furler).

Joshua Radin (Braff’s friend at Northwestern University) had only been playing guitar two years when Braff convinced Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence to use his first single, “Winter,” on a 2004 episode of the show. By the time his debut album, We Were Here, was released in 2006, the show had used several of his songs and Braff had proclaimed Radin “the new Paul Simon” in People magazine.

Although such lofty praise might be a bit of hyperbole, there’s no denying the comforting appeal of Radin’s sensitive songwriting. His early work, inspired by a bad breakup, earned comparisons to tortured Irish troubadour Damien Rice. But his kinder, gentler melodies and warm, whispery vocals are more akin to Samuel Beam of Iron & Wine and William Fitzsimmons (two other Braff favorites), and he wraps them in cozy sound beds designed to lilt and lull rather than challenge the listener.

For better or worse, the guy is like an indiefolk Mister Rogers, and Onward and Sideways may just be his most intimate and amiable recording to date. He wrote the 13 songs in Stockholm, Sweden for the woman he now calls his girlfriend, later confessing that “I wrote this album to convince her to fall in love with me.”

While the end result may not have the same effect on listeners, it’s an emotionally resonant album that makes perfect listening for rainy days and fireside cuddles.

The opening “We’ll Keep Running Forever” sets the quiet mood, accentuating Radin’s hopeful lyrics with sparse guitar and tasteful beats that only build to a dull roar on the catchy chorus. “Beautiful Day” seems destined for soundtracks to road trips, as Radin harmonizes with Sheryl Crow over a train-kept-a-rollin’ Americana groove heavy on piano and snare drum. “I know you’re scared and alone but you don’t have to hide,” he sings sweetly on the gentle ballad “In Your Hands,” leaving little doubt that there will be a happy ending to this story of burgeoning love.

The songs start to get a little same-y over the course of the album, but Radin wisely sticks to his trademark Adult Alternative sound rather than trying to be all things to all people. Onward and Sideways is unlikely to earn the singersongwriter legions of new fans, but it’s another solid addition to Radin’s cozy, comforting catalogue. (B) – BL

Kissing Cousins

In With Them (Velvet Blue Music)

Cousin’s singer-guitarist Heather Heywood started the band 2005, creating songs with songs with drummer Beth Ziegler. Ten years later, they look back on the release of their first ep with a brand-new ep. Known for their mesh of lo-fi, moody vignettes, highlighted by unsettling flute flourishes and strangely catchy ‘50s-tinged vocal lines. The band continues to evolve, with the addition of new players and new experiments in sound. Cinematic at the core, KC’s music quite frequently appears in TV and films, often to great effect, as their American Horror Story appearance solidified. As an interesting side-note, American Horror Story, Glee and “The Normal Heart” producer Alexis Martin Woodall plays keyboards and adds sullen backing vocals for the band. With the “In With Them” collection, Heywood’s humid lead vocals live in a series of stark landscapes. Yes, they’re an allfemale band from Los Angeles, but don’t expect carefree sunshine and dancing in fountains frivolity. The group’s sun-kissed guitar tones frame ominous tales on these four new slabs of somber noir, especially evident on standout tracks “In With Them” and the currently featured track “Cover Me.” (A) –LVS

September Girls

Veneer (Kanine Records)

Last January, September Girls debuted with their full-length Cursing The Sea. A year later, their new ep washes ashore, buoyed by the same wall-of-sound / Phil Spector inspired “girl-group” purr, but on their new outing, the purr has increased to a roar. Just because they’re named after a Big Star song, don’t expect bittersweet pop ditties or Banglesque commerciality. The Dublin-based quintet neatly sidesteps the expected ’60s shimmer, adding a snarly new lash of defiant circumspection, aided by thick swaths of off-kilter harmonies. As on their debut, there are echoes a-plenty of the Jesus And Mary Chain, unexpectedly catchy hooks and intuitively cooed harmonies, often of the Banshee kind. The title track sneers along hooky yet frayed guitar tones, with a wonderfully fuzzy bass, buzzing right up front. Highlighting the set is “Black Oil,” a trippy exploration of peculiar spoken-word vocals and extended and often downright risky instrumental sections. Closing the brief release with “Melatonin,” and “Butterflies,” two wildly different tracks, that converge to offer a clear new picture of September Girls circa 2015.

Somewhere, the late Alex Chilton is smiling proudly at their considerable growth. (A) –LVS

Wormburner

Pleasant Living in Planned Communities

(Dive Records) On their latest, Pleasant Living in Planned Communities, Brooklyn indie band Wormburner (yeah, I know! An indie band from Brooklyn – what are the odds?), are starting to come into their own (sort of). While the ‘80s college rock comparisons are a given, thanks mainly to Hank Henry’s vocals that sound more than a little like Michael Stipe, the band is finally starting to forge new ground on this, their third album.

The record has some solid tracks on it, like the war saga “Hopscotch Gunner” and the more immediate “The Sleep That Never,” (another songs about war) but ultimately there is little here to make you want to keep coming back for more.

Lyrically the band is more interesting than their sound, which is rarely a good thing.

Despite some newer influences, too often the band simply reminds you of bands you’ve been listening to for decades. It seems like more than

a coincidence that the group tapped David Lowery (Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven) to producer their first record as Wormburner starts to sound like they’re covering Cracker on more than a few songs here. (B-) –JM

The Call (featuring Robert Levon Been of B.R.M.C.) A Tribute to Michael Been (Label Records/

Lightyear/Caroline) It’s always a tough act trying to replace a deceased front man. For every band like Big Country, who successfully (at least for a while) moved Alarm singer and longtime band friend Mike Peters to the front of the mic, there’s an INXS or Doors who have fumbled through various weak versions and ended up looking like little more than desperate musicians looking for a quick pay day. When the ‘80s band The Call lost its singer to a heart attack in 2010, it was pretty safe to assume that would be the end.

But in an appropriately fitting tribute, the band came back together for two special shows in California with Michael’s son, Robert Levon, on vocals. The younger Been is best known as the singer for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

What could be seen as exploitive (see INXS and The Doors) is actually a very touching tribute that adds weight to a strong catalog of songs. The 14 tracks here that dip deep into the band’s seven album history, still sound fresh, decades later.

The high point, as probably expected, is also their biggest hit, “Let the Day Begin.” But there are also still plenty of other great moments here, like the album opener “Everywhere I Go” and songs like “Oklahoma.” A fitting tribute to a great band. (B+) –LVS

The Antics

Send it Out (Northern Front Records)

On first listen, you’d swear the trio The Antics came out of some dreary old mill town in Northern England, playing alongside the early ‘80s bands on Rough Trade and The Factory.

In reality, this band is from Central Jersey and rather than being grizzled vets sharing stories about opening for Joy Division and Gang of Four, judging from their band photo, they are just years, if not months out of high school. Their six-song EP Send it Out, is impressive more in its influence than the actual songs here.

Yes, it’s decent Post-Punk that brings to mind the first couple of Echo & the Bunnymen records and The Cure, but the songs are easily forgotten seconds after they end. And it should be noted that Echo & The Bunnymen and The Cure both managed to evolve their sound over decades, whereas The Antics seem to just be borrowing a sound others created.

The band gets credit for going deep into the stacks for influences, but ultimately the EP isn’t strong enough to stick with – even with only six songs competing for your time.

(C+) –LVS

MERCHANDISE

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

BY BRET LOVE

W

ITH THE NEW YEAR COMES new dreams and aspirations, and the annual resolutions to improve ourselves. For many of us, that means exercise and dropping those pounds we put on over the holidays. Here are a few favorite things we’re using to get in better shape for 2015:

WOMEN’S WORKOUT GEAR

Designed to balance great fit, ergonomic support and comfort, the merino layers of ICEBREAKER fitness apparel (us.icebreaker.com) are perfect for Atlanta’s unpredictable winter weather. The lightweight, breathable wool/lycra blend of their Pace Leggings and Bolt Long Sleeve Half Zip regulates temperatures and resists odor, making them great for a gym workout or as a base layer for outdoor activities. Pair them with the Gust Long Sleeve Zip Hood for running or cycling: The merino is super soft next to your skin, the polyurethane middle layer protects against the wind, and the polyester outer layer is water resistant.

This has become my lady’s go-to exercise outfit.

ICEBREAKER

HELLY HANSEN

NEW BALANCE

AQUASANA

MEN’S WORKOUT GEAR

lug outsoles for traction and stability. Looking forward to giving them a workout this week in the jungles of Belize!

NUTRITION

Over the last 18 months I’ve lost 50 pounds (with minimal exercise) by eliminating gluten from my diet and drinking water constantly.

I used to hate the taste of tap water, but the Powered Walter Filtration System from AQUASANA (aquasana.com) makes a world of difference, removing 96% of the chlorine and other contaminants (10x more than Brita filters) in seconds. The filters last 6 months, and the slim 1/2-gallon pitcher fits perfectly in the fridge door.

The other dietary change that helped me drop weight was to eat smaller meals and have a high-protein snack every few hours. KIND (kindsnacks. com) is one of my favorites, especially their low glycemic Nuts & Spices line (which includes delicious flavors such as Cashew & Ginger Spice, Madagascar Vanilla Almond and Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Pecan). The organic PERFECT BAR (perfectbar.com) is a recent discovery: Made from organic almonds or peanut butter, these refrigerated bars have no chemical preservatives, refined sugar or gluten, and come in 7 flavors (including Almond Coconut, Carob Chip and Cranberry Crunch). Both brands are perfect for a quick bite during a day hike.

After seeing how the HELLY HANSEN (hellyhansen.com) line performed when we climbed Norway’s Jostedalsbreen glacier during foul weather DDP YOGA (from foggy drizzle to pelting hail), I now wear their breathable, waterproof clothes anytime the weather outside gets frightful. Their quick-drying Active Training Pants are comfortable enough for everyday wear, and I pair them with a base EVOFIT thermal for warmth in frigid conditions. The merino wool of their HH Warm Run long sleeve training top uses Lifa Stay Dry technology to wick away moisture and heat, and features 360-degree reflectivity for nighttime visibility. If it’s cold, I wear their PrimaLoft-insulated H2 Flow Jacket on top, keeping me snug as a bug in a rug.

Created by wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page after he ruptured two discs, DDP YOGA (ddpyoga.com) incorporates yoga, calisthenics, dynamic resistance and active breathing. The affordable lowimpact workout system focuses on results, including body fat loss, lean muscle growth and improved cardio levels, all without stressing the joints. You can pair it with the Lumo Lift Posture & Activity Coach from GAIAM (gaiam.com), which vibrates to correct slouching shoulders/back posture and connects to an app that tracks the steps you take and calories burned.

SHOES

POST-WORKOUT

I’ve never been a fan of running, but have always loved NEW BALANCE (newbalance. com) shoes. So when they sent over a pair of Fresh Foam 980 men’s running shoes– which earned awards from Competitor and Prevention magazines– I had to try them.

Developed using specialized design software, the midsole is created from a single piece of foam, giving the shoes an ultra lightweight feel.

With breathable air mesh and a cushioning rubber outsole, it’s the next best thing to going barefoot.

Thanks to our frequent travels, we’re pretty rough on our hiking gear. We’ve recently been putting the Tumalo hiking boots from BOGS (bogsfootwear.com) to the test. Available in men’s and women’s models, they feature waterproof nubuck leather uppers, EverDry lining to get rid of sweat, and sturdy BioGrip

YOGA

My favorite part of working out? When it’s over! The Enso Roller from EVOFIT (evofitforlife.com) makes your cool-down much more comfortable, massaging aching muscles with moveable discs that can be adjusted for broader areas like the back or more isolated areas such as the thigh.

The best thing I learned in rehab after tearing a rotator cuff was the benefit of postworkout icing for sore muscles. The Shoulder and Upper Back Wrap from SUNSHINE PILLOWS (sunshine-pillows.com) has become my new best friend, large enough to cover all of my achey parts at once. Lightweight and portable, the wrap can be frozen or heated in the microwave, and the flax seed inside conforms to your shape to make sure every sore muscle in your neck, shoulders and upper back is covered.

MUSIC

FILM

TRACK SUITS 10 HOME RELEASES Champions of 2014 THE LATEST DVD, BLU RAY & VOD RELEASES

BY BLUE SULLIVAN

A

S A LONG BUT OCCASIONALLYfruitful year comes to a close, The Best F*cking Singles Column Ever, Ever, Ever, Period (new copyright pending) reflects on a few of the things in 2014 we (the mighty men of Track Suits legend) enjoyed most. If you have followed this column closely (and if you haven’t, what the hell is wrong with you), you will recognize some of the names here. Yet this is not merely a regurgitation of content previously found in these hallowed pages. These are the closing thoughts of the wise men who made your musical year better. (Though, admittedly, there is a fair bit of regurgitation, too.)

LONDON GRAMMAR

“Hey Now (Arty Remix)” “If You Wait (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)” “Strong (RAC Remix)” The last time I spoke about them, I misidentified London Grammar as the work of a single diva.

But because I am lazy and marching toward senility, I got it wrong.

London Grammar is a band, one who just happens to have one of the more hauntingly evocative singers alive, Hannah Reid. But as much as I remain impressed by Hannah and the band around her, it’s in the remixes where the songs really come alive. By joining lush vocal melodies with dance-floor crushing super-producers (Arty and the brilliant Jacques Lu Cont), the LG ran away with the two best dance songs of the year. And with RAC’s tense, minimalist take on the band’s power ballad par excellence (“Strong”), London Grammar also had one of the two best bedroom/chillout tracks of the year, too.

ZHU

“Faded” (Odesza Remix) The other great bedroom/chillout track of the year was this, Mezzanine-era Massive Attack homage so perfect it could pass for the real thing. There are about a trillion remixes of this song out there (I guess you wacky kids love sh*t about getting wasted), but this is the best one.

Find the one you love and share these special five minutes together in private congress. But please use protection when you do. The world has enough dumb asses in it already. (Your humble columnist, for one.)

ODD PARENTS

“Learn to Fly” (Maceo Plex Remix) Chelsea Wolfe – “The Warden” (Maceo Plex Remix) If tomorrow someone told me that Maceo Plex was the secret, bedazzled alter-ego of Burial, I wouldn’t be surprised. Both traffic in the same kind of moody, austere electronic thrills, punctuated with rumbling bass that sounds like distant drill bits burrowing into the core of the Earth. But whereas Burial seems intent on keeping you ever-so-slightly unnerved, Maceo Plex prefers to urge you toward the dance floor at the point of his glitter gun. Both artists are fantastic, but only Maceo had a hand in two of the five best songs of this year.

If you would like to hear this month’s tracks-and a few more great ones we didn’t have room to write about--check our “Track Suits Mix” at: mixcloud.com/tracksuits. Or follow me on twitter @bluesullivan1. (Special year-end thanks to TJ Kenney, Keith Rochelli and my brilliant sib Jody for their help curating this wondrous model of music critique in 2014.)

BY BRET LOVE AND JOHN MOORE

THE FACTS OF LIFE: THE COMPLETE SERIES It’s easy to dismiss TFOL as a relic best left in the “Remember the ‘80s?” vaults. But re-watching it reveals a sitcom far ahead of its time in dealing with issues teens can relate to, including body image, controlling parents, drug use and sex. Though the students of Eastland School for Girls (Molly Ringwald was a first season star!) and even the setting changed over 9 seasons, the topical storylines and warm relationships between Blair, Jo, Tootie, Natalie and Mrs. Garrett made it a perennial favorite. It remains surprisingly relevant now, 30+ years later.

FRANK This refreshingly quirky film is easily one of the best of 2014, with broad appeal beyond the art house and festival crowds who’ve championed it. Michael Fassbender stars as a musician who performs wearing a massive fake head, which even his bandmates never see him without. A fill-in keyboardist (Domhnall Gleeson) brings the group fame by posting about their recording process on social media, leading to their big break, massive in-fighting and an emotional breakdown for Frank. It’s funny and disarmingly sweet from start to finish.

MYTHBUSTERS: 10TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION Debuting in 2003 and featuring special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman using the scientific method to test the validity of rumors, myths, movie scenes and more, Mythbusters is the Discovery Channel’s second longest-running show.

Though Tori Belleci, Kari Byron and Grant Imahara left the show in 2014, this 10-DVD 10th Anniversary set features each of the five cast members picking their Top 10 favorite episodes. From Alcatraz escapes and the NASA moon landing to specials on Breaking Bad and Zombies, this show is a must-watch for anyone who finds things like Diet Coke and Mentos eruptions fascinating.

PAY 2 PLAY: DEMOCRACY’S HIGH STAKES Anyone who pays attention to politics knows that the wealthy (both Democrat and Republican) control elections and own the politicians once they’re in office. Using his love of the Monopoly game, director John Ennis makes this point remarkably clear. Featuring interviews with academics and thought leaders (including Noam Chomsky, Robert Reich and Jack Abramoff), Pay 2 Play is equal parts frustrating and entertaining, highlighting how money has corrupted modern democracy.

WELCOME BACK, KOTTER: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON Loving this show, which ran from 1975 to 1979, betrays my age: I’m old enough to have been a John Travolta fan before he starred in Saturday Night Fever and Grease.

Here he plays Vinny Barbarino, one of four “Sweathogs” from the remedial class taught by Mr. Kotter (standup comic Gabe Kaplan) at an NYC high school. Barbarino and homeboys Arnold Horshack, Freddy “Boom Boom” Washington and Juan Epstein were all based on real people Kaplan went to school with, and their silly shenanigans still strike me as ridiculously funny today. insiteatlanta.com • January 2015 • PG 19

MUSIC

CHOIR VANDALS

The Young Band on Adding a Fourth Member and a New EP

BY JOHN B. MOORE

C

I feel like we are still a new band to so many people. These days, it’s not very practical for new bands to throw 12 songs at someone and expect them to enjoy every second of it.

That’s not to say we don’t have plans for a full length. At this point, we just want to show people what we are about. I know we are all excited to write a full length, though. Choir Vandals is still a young band, and we have a lot planned for the future.

HOIR VANDALS MAY BE A fairly young band, but for the second time in as many years, they’re putting out a new EP and spending every day they can on tour.

Freshly singed to 6131 Records, the St. Louis band will turn in At Night at the end of October, about the same time they will be covering the west coast tour I FEEL LIKE WE ARE alongside label mates Dads STILL A NEW BAND and Tiny Moving Parts.

Wil McCarthy took some TO SO MANY PEOPLE. time recently to talk about THESE DAYS, IT’S the new record, going from NOT VERY PRACTICAL a trio to a four piece and the FOR NEW BANDS TO fractured nature of the St. Louis music scene.

THROW 12 SONGS AT

You guys have been touring quite a lot lately. What was the toughest thing to get used to about touring?

We can all agree that we love being on the road. It’s one of the best parts about being in the band. Honestly, SOMEONE AND EXPECT the most frustrating thing You initially started out as a about touring is coming trio. Why did you decide to THEM TO ENJOY EVERY home to normal jobs and SECOND OF IT. add another guitar player? lives. We are all eager to get Writing as a three piece was to the point of being full time musicians and practical to start, because we were able to considering being at home a vacation. get things off the ground. We actually tried jamming with a few different guitar players What is the St. Louis music scene like before we got Micah (Kelleher) on board. right now?

He actually joined up the week before we The St. Louis scene is super segregated. Not recorded our first EP. He fit in very well, and many hardcore kids go to pop punk shows. was one of Austin (McCutchen’s) best friends Not many DIY kids go to metal shows. It’s growing up. The leads they came up with for tough being a band that doesn’t fit in with Darker Things helped make the songs sound any specific scene. But we are super humbled fuller. when we play in St. Louis, and we see people that we don’t recognize at our shows. It Your influences are not easy to quickly makes us proud to be from St. Louis. identify - and that’s a compliment. Do you guys listen to a lot of the same stuff?

What’s next for the band?

When it comes to writing music, we all We are opening up for Dads and Tiny take influence from completely different Moving Parts this fall on a full U.S. tour. styles of music. But there is definitely some We are on the second half of the tour, so we overlap. The four of us can agree on certain hit the whole western half of the country. bands that, when put side by side, make a On top of that, we have our 6131 debut At pretty eclectic list. To name a few, we all can Night coming out on October 28th. I’m super agree that bands like The Strokes, Motion excited about that, because it comes out right City Soundtrack, Bright Eyes, and The Postal before that tour.

Service. Some of these influences may be more apparent than others on the surface, Those are all the questions I have. Anything but they are all present. else you want to cover?

Being in the van is fun, because we all play I’d just like to thank anyone who reads the same stuff while we are driving at some this. There is so much stuff that you could point. I have no idea what Josh and Austin be doing on the Internet right now. But the play half the time. But we do end up listening fact that you took the time to read about to things we can all agree on a lot, like Choir Vandals leaves us in your debt. We Modest Mouse, The Smiths, Blink 182, and want to be as approachable as can be to Fall Out Boy. anyone who listens to our music. So if there is anything that you need from us as a band You put out an EP last year and have or individuals, just let us know. We try to another 4-song record coming out. Do you be as responsive as we can on things like enjoy the pace of putting out a few songs at Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Thank a time or do you have plans to take time off you for your time. and focus on a full length?

PG 20 • January 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

TEEN DEATH

Talks Band’s Origin, Finding a Home at 6131 Records and 2015

When did you start work on these songs?

Some of the songs were written over a year he Richmond city limits has proved before we recorded them and others were fertile for an amazing crop of punk written just before we went into the studio. bands over the last couple of decades, We had about 30 songs to choose from for from Avail and Strike Anywhere to The Riot a six song EP, so it was tough to narrow it Before. But Teen Death, the latest punk band with an 804 area code, proves the scene is far down. For the opening track we couldn’t decide between two songs, and we ended from over. up taking the best parts of both of them and The band, just two years old, has just combining them to make a new song. That’s turned in an impressive EP, Crawling, a the newest song on the EP by far. collection of noisy/endearing songs put through a grunge filter. What started out as Richmond has had some great punk bands a glorified Riverdales cover band (sort of) over the years. What is the scene like now? has evolved into one of the next great bands It’s solid. There’s a ton of bands, making a to watch. ton of different kinds of music, Singer/guitarist James Goodson I can honestly say that some spoke recently about the band’s THE RAMONES of my favorite currents bands origin story, finding a home at 6131 Records and their plans for 2015. ARE DEFINITELY A are coming out of Richmond.

HUGE INFLUENCE. Sundials is about to take over world, Close Talker is Can you talk about how the A LOT OF CLASSIC the amazing and more people need band first got together?

PUNK REALLY. to hear them.

Sure thing. We started the My only complaint is that band a little over two years ago. there’s a lot of different scenes The three of us were all playing different and they’re very compartmentalized.

They instruments in other bands and we really don’t mix very much.

I love weird shows wanted to do something fun where we could with diverse bills, so I’m not crazy about the play instruments that we weren’t used to. clicky stuff.

We started out as a “Riverdales worship band,” the joke was that all the bands doing How did you connect with the folks at 6131? that style of music are called “Ramones Eric (Kelly) and I have known Sean worship” so we were going to stand out by (Rhorer, label manager) from 6131 since trying to ape the Riverdales instead, who are we were just 18. We met him when we first just trying to ape the Ramones. That didn’t moved to Richmond and he was one of the last very long and we eventually stopped fucking around and started evolving into the first people to be super inviting and cool to us stupid kids. Strangely enough, none of grungy/rocky/punk thing that we do now.

We rarely played shows for the first year and us knew that Sean worked for 6131 until he a half of being a band, but since we’ve started asked us to join the label. The other band that Eric and I are in was supposed to play working with 6131 we’ve been trying to step this benefit show but our drummer couldn’t it up. make it, so Teen Death hopped on instead.

The show was kind of awkward and a lot of You mentioned The Riverdales, do any of people seemed pretty weirded out by us, but you have musical influences that would Sean was there and I guess he liked what he surprise listeners?

The Ramones are definitely a huge influence. saw, because he asked us to join the label the next day. It was just a really strange series of A lot of classic punk really. Since we’re all playing instruments that we’re not super good coincidences that worked out really well.

6131 has been really awesome and at, we try to keep the songs very basic and to-the-point, so we’re definitely influenced by supportive of us, it really means a lot for that classic punk mentality of just hammering Sean and Joey (Cahill, label owner) to have so much faith in such a tiny band like it out regardless of skill level. ourselves. We try to repay them by putting I’m also just a pretty big nerd when it comes to listening to songs and picking apart their gigantic stickers everywhere... the songwriting. I always try to analyze what What’s next for the band?

I’m listening and try to find the magic, so We’re trying to hit the road as much as there are little bits and pieces of Teen Death we can in 2015, and a lot of new songs are songs that came from weird places, like already in the works so the plan is to do David Bowie or pop radio. another record next year as well.

BY JOHN B. MOORE

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MUSIC

DON’T LOOK BACK ROUGHIN’ IT

HELL YEAH. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ON THE TOP 10 MC LIST. EVENTUALLY, THEY’RE GONNA RECOGNIZE.

The Good-time Music of the J. Geils Concrete Blonde’s J. Napolitano Band Returns Without Nostalgia Trades Hollywood for the Desert

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

T

HIRTY-THREE YEARS AGO this month, the J. Geils Band was well on its way to having the number one album in the country.

Buoyed by the unavoidable, MTV-friendly singles “Centerfold” and the title-track, Freeze-Frame remains one of the best rock records of the ‘80s. When it reached number top slot on the Billboard charts in February of 1982, the band had travelled a long road from their late-‘60s origins of hard-rollin’ Boston-based blues-rock with a party atmosphere. Reaching its highest peak at the dawn of MTV, the band splintered, with lead singer Peter Wolf going solo while the rest of the band soldiered on for a couple of years. Soon the whole project was on a two-decade hiatus, and singer-songwriter-visual artist Wolf released a string of his own diverse material. His often-overlooked solo work includes duets with Merle Haggard, Aretha Franklin, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Now the core of the Geils Band is back on the road, minus their namesake, opening for Detroit legend Bob Seger.

Wolf spoke with INsite from a recent tour stop.

Stooges and MC5 and so many bands have come out of there. And even today, Kid Rock and Jack White and things like that.

Has the internet helped a band like Geils or your solo work?

Well, yes and no, because the Internet’s this great ocean. And they are still looking for that airplane; you know, that Malaysian airplane. My point is, you can have a record out there; but it doesn’t mean anybody’s gonna find it.

You have a great catalog of solo stuff.

But, see, not many people are aware of it. Like Sleepless, I did that with Mick Jagger, and we had Keith Richards on it and stuff. But very few people, even very few Geils fans, know about it.

And what about the Geils band? It’s been over 30 years since a new album, so you don’t have to push new tracks that people don’t have the patience to care about.

Well, that’s true. I think that in the early days, people put out albums and they toured so they could promote the record.

Now it’s switched. A CD has become merchandise; it’s almost like a t-shirt to some people. People are coming to see and hear the body of work that we’ve created, January 31 many years ago

J. GEILS BAND WITH BOB SEGER

How did the Bob Seger double-bill come together?

I’ve known Bob for so many years. Matter of fact, 8pm when Geils first played What was the vibe within Gwinnett Arena Detroit, at the Roadway, the the band at the height of the billing was the J. Geils Band, MTV era?

The MC5, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Alice Well, we broke up! There were artistic Cooper, Catfish Hodge, the headliner was differences and they chose to go their Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels and way, which led to me having to become a the opening act was a guy by the name of soloist. That’s just the way it was. By the Bob Seger. height of the MTV era, though we were there in the beginning of it, we’d just sort And now Geils, off the road for way too of stopped. long, is opening for Seger.

Bob’s people asked if we’d like to join Did you feel pressure to become more them on this tour. They thought it would “poppy” at that point? be a good package: two bands that come I think that’s when some of the from the same roots, with that Detroit problems starting happening in the band; basis. We were only gonna do like four or there was this sort of movement towards five dates, but it turned into 15, and here pop, as opposed to staying closer to the we are. ragged roots that’re more my cup o’ tea.

You both were popular regional acts back then, huge in certain areas of the north, especially Detroit.

Yeah, Detroit and Boston were our mainstays. Detroit embraced us, I guess, because we were a blue-collar band. We came out at 99 miles an hour and they just loved the energy. That’s why The

How is the band dynamic these days, without [co-founder] J. Geils?

Obviously it’s somewhat different, but to me I find it more powerful and more exciting. In same way with Warren Haynes and the Allman Brothers, the way they sort of got big and changed, it was all for the better.

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

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HE HOLLYWOOD MUSIC SCENE was home to a number of influential “alternative” bands in the late ‘80s.

One of the most enduring was the venerable Concrete Blonde, led by the commanding presence of singer-songwriter-bassistauthor Johnette Napolitano. Best known for the songs “Joey,” “God Is A Bullet,” and “Still In Hollywood,” she’s now living two and a half hours from Los Angeles in Joshua Tree.

Light-years away from the glittery grit of the town that birthed the band, Napolitano says she’s grounded and more creative than ever. As she readied for a solo tour that brings her to Atlanta this month, she spoke with INsite from her rustic cabin.

Is Joshua Tree the quiet, creative refuge it used to be?

Not anymore. It looks like Melrose on a Saturday. We used to come out to the desert when I was a kid, and go rabbit hunting.

My dad was an old-school Harley chopper rider; he’s been all over this country and he loved it out here. And my mom was a country chick, so we were always out camping and we knew survival skills. If you talk to anyone who knew me when I was a kid, they’d go, “Oh that makes sense.” I just needed space to record and make music.

Unfortunately now, I’ve got neighbors around me that I didn’t have before, because everybody in the world is moving out here.

or whatever, but until you’re really inspired, you shouldn’t be doing it.

You seem to be in a creative renaissance.

I’ve been writing more. I did my little book, Rough Mix, and that made me really proud and happy. In the live show, I read from the book, and it’s just really a fun thing for me. I’m having an absolutely great time. Probably a better time, with this show on the road, than I’ve ever had.

Will the white vinyl single “Rosalee” [from 2012] be the swan song for Concrete Blonde?

Yeah, it’s vinyl and I pressed ‘em up in Nashville at one of the best and oldest pressing plants in the country. You know, that’s what I used to do for a living, was press vinyl. When I worked at Goldstar Studios, that was my job. When they cut the master, the pressing plant came at 4 o’clock every day and I had to have that thing packed up and ready to go. I know how to make vinyl like the back of my hand. It was fun for me to do.

It comes in handy.

Yeah. And my mother taught me how to skin a rattlesnake when I was 12. Then my stupid neighbor killed a snake but it wasn’t poisonous and I was really passed at him.

But at least I knew how to cure it and strip it and, you know, not waste any of it.

Who the fuck knew when I was gonna use that skill?!

JOHNETTE NAPOLITANO

Still, it beats Hollywood, January 11 right?

It’s certainly a skill most 7pm I’ve always loved recording musicians don’t have. at home, but when I was Eddies Attic You know, I’ve killed four in living in Hollywood, it rattlesnakes out here! I had was just too crowded to do eddiesattic.com no choice. A lot of people will it. I couldn’t make noise! get all hippy-dippy about it And I love animals. I’ve and say you need to catch and relocate and always wanted a horse and now I’ve got my release ‘em. It’s right under my desk where horse and a goat and it all just keeps me my feet were a minute ago, so I’ve gotta grounded. It’s real life. You get a flash flood kill the thing. I say a prayer before I do it. I and you’re holding on to your goat on the look it straight in the eye. I’ll tell you, you’ve porch because he’s freaking out. It keeps never seen anything until a rattlesnake me real. looks you in the eye. It’s cursing, like, five generations of your family! You’re like, “I’m You don’t have to make a record at this sorry, man, you’re beautiful and all that, but point. That must feel great.

I’ve gotta do this.” One, I took out with a Yes, there’s nobody standing over you with a whip, but let me tell you, if you’re any mic stand, which is probably the most rock and roll thing I’ve ever done. kind of an artist, you stand over yourself with a whip, harder than anybody else does.

Maybe you can incorporate that move into I don’t need to just crank out music for the live show. the sake of it; some artists are pressured to Haha, well, that’s a metaphor for the do that because they don’t want disappear music business if there ever was one! from view or because they need attention insiteatlanta.com • January 2015 • PG 21

SPORTS

BRAND AWARENESS

Atlanta Hawks Elton Brand Talks About the Teams Start and Leadership Role

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

★ Bowl Championship Series and NFL Playoff Games ★ 100 TVS ★ Open Air Bar Upstairs ★ Made from Scratch Food

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EN YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN YOU look back at Elton Brand’s basketball career, what will you remember most—two stellar collegiate seasons at Duke that propelled him to the No. 1 pick of the Chicago Bulls in the 1999 NBA Draft; eight All-Star-caliber campaigns with the Bulls and L.A. Clippers; or five injury- and bench-plagued years with Philadelphia and Dallas? Of course, if the Atlanta Hawks, the 15-year vet’s current squad, keeps playing its brand of team-first basketball, one of Brand’s final chapters could include “Eastern Conference Champion.” During INsite’s exclusive chat with the 6-9 power forward, we get his thoughts on the league, leg injuries, leadership and some guy named Laettner.

What has been the best part of this journey for you?

I think the best part of the journey is just fulfilling a dream. Growing up [in Peekskill, New York] no one played pro ball, no one ever did anything like that.

When I was younger, I didn’t know what the McDonald’s All-American game was, and I didn’t know guys got highlevel scholarships to play basketball. So, just being able to dream big and actually make it, I think that’s the best part for me.

How good can this current team be?

I think we can be really good. We have a lot of depth. We’re solid in every position, even the backups. When we practice against each other we practice hard. We go at one another. That second team is good. They get their fair share of wins. So, I think our depth really sets us apart.

Word is that the Hawks’ TV viewership is up but you see a lot of empty seats at Philips Arena. What can you guys do to get the fans out there?

There are so many events in Atlanta that people have a lot of options. But when the big teams come to town we are packed and the fans who come out every night support us.

What’s the worst part to you?

I have two kids, two young kids. [Being away from them] is the worst part. Just leaving the kids. It’s not like a nine-tofive where I’ll be home for dinner and I can see them for breakfast and come home.

It’s like I’m gone 14 days in a row sometimes. You know, FaceTime and all that stuff, when I started, we didn’t have all that. We barely had cellphones when I first started. So with FaceTime, I get to see them on the plane, I get to see them on the bus and I get to see them at the hotel, but it’s still not the same.

We have a lot of depth. We’re solid in every position, even the backups.

When we practice against each other we practice hard.

SPORTS

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BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS 1. THE WORLD IS WATCHING

After years of controversy and reports of obscene spending ($50 billion!), the Sochi Winter Games finally kicked off in February. And while there were some mishaps (faulty furniture, poor plumbing, Johnny Weir’s wardrobe) once the action started, there weren’t many major hitches. The home country of Russia earned the most medals (33), but Americans like skier Mikaela Shiffrin stole our hearts. Not four months later, the globe’s attention turned to Brazil for the 20th FIFA World Cup. Sadly, the stacked host country fell flat on its face in an embarrassing 7-1 semifinal match against Germany.

Over 26 million U.S. futbol fans picked their jaws off the ground from that to watch the Germans take the title over Argentina, 1-0.

2. NFL HELL

Every time a camera turned NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s way last year, the man’s face said it all—stress. But hey, that’s generally the case when your league is plagued with domestic violence cases (Ray Rice), child abuse claims (Adrian Peterson) and incessant whispers of you being an incompetent leader. But there was some good off-the-field news: the story around linebacker Michael Sam, the first openly gay player to be selected in the NFL Draft, was an uplifting one that garnered as much attention on CNN as it did on ESPN.

3. DONALD PLUCKED

Though Donald Sterling has dealt with sexual harassment lawsuits and discrimination claims since the 1990s, it wasn’t until friend V. Stiviano recorded his derogatory remarks towards AfricanAmericans and made them public that we all fully PG 22 • January 2015 • insiteatlanta.com

understood how despicable he was. Basketball fans, celebrities and Sterling’s own L.A. Clippers team voiced their disgust with the 80-year-old team owner. But no one was more embarrassed than NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the 29 other team owners who, in an unprecedented move for North American professional sports, forced Sterling to sell the team.

4. THE KING COMES HOME

“The Decision” will forever leave a foul taste in some people’s mouths. “The Redemption,” LeBron James’ about-face to depart the Miami Heat for a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in his home state, will have the exact opposite effect on every warm-blooded soul outside of South Florida. The Cavs’ 18-14 mark through December 31 certainly left something to be desired, but should the team right itself by playoff time, the choice will look even rosier.

5. PITCHER PERFECT

Mo’ne Davis’ favorite sport is basketball. You wouldn’t know it from watching any of her dazzling pitching performances during last August’s Little League World Series, though. Davis’ Taney Dragons (PA) may have lost in the U.S. semifinals, but there’s little question who the biggest winner on the diamond was this year...unless, we’re talking about the Major Leagues, where we witnessed arguably the greatest pitching display ever from San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner in the World Series. Shining in Game 1, 5 and 7 of the Fall Classic, the North Carolina native showed out-of-this-galaxy stuff against the overachieving Kansas City Royals, tallying a 2-0 record, one save, a miniscule 0.43 ERA and one well-deserved World Series MVP.

Elton, define your present role with the Hawks. What do you bring to the table?

Last year when all those guys went down they didn’t just need veteran leadership; I had to be on the court and actually produce.

I played 40 minutes back to back, home and away. I haven’t done that for probably five years. I wanted for the young guys to get to the playoffs. I thought that would do a world of wonder for their confidence. And we almost knocked [No. 1 seed] Indiana out [the playoffs]. So that was a great, great start for us. Now this year, I’m not playing as much. Everybody’s healthy. But I still have that leadership role. I train and prepare like I’m starting every night. The guys laugh at me. They’re like, “You’re stretching?” But you never know in the league when you need to be ready and, as a professional, I try to stay ready.

What is going to make this year’s Duke squad, with Jahlil Okafor and the whole roster, go a little further than last year’s Blue Devils team?

Yeah, I would like to see them go further.

No matter what, in my bracket, I pick them to win it all every time. The first- and second-round exit [isn’t good].

I know they’re all your brothers at Duke, but if you could, give me two or three of your favorite Blue Devils ever.

I’d have to say Grant Hill, of course. You know, Johnny Dawkins [too]. I didn’t know [about Dawkins], because I was a little younger, but my older brother and family are Dawkins fans. I did some research and saw some of his highlights and stuff. Johnny Dawkins was an amazing player. And, you know, Jay Williams. I was already out of college, but Jay Will was one of my favorites, too. You know that [2001] Maryland game? I have a good friend who went to Maryland, and he actually called me or sent me a text saying that Maryland was going to win. “We got you this time,” [he said]. And then [Williams] scored 10 points in 59 seconds or something.

And Christian Laettner, you’ve got to throw him in [the “Best Duke player” conversation], too, for the big shots, but Jay Will is definitely one of my favorite Duke Blue Devils.

like that, you have to die defending him Over 10,000 DVD’sAoneplayer for Sale &live and Rent! on one. If he makes big shots, you have to go to the

knows three things that’ll happen, lockout or no lockout: 1) An SEC defender (Auburn’s Nick Fairley or LSU’s Patrick Peterson) will be the No. 1 pick in the Draft; 2) An 18-game season will be approved; 3) Super Bowl XLVI will kick-off as planned on Feb. 5, 2012 in Indianapolis.

other end and stay poised.” –New Mexico guard Dairese Gary, on JIMMER FREDETTE, BYU star and college’s leading scorer

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“I feel like a better player now than I was three years ago, because I think that physically I’m stronger, faster, mentally I’m more motivated on the court. I know how to react in certain moments, and I know how to play on a big stage.

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“St. Louis was fourth in baseball last year in attendance, but only 13th in payroll. In other words the Cardinals have money to burn, and it’s time to light the match. So here’s what you do if you’re St. Louis: Whatever [Albert] Pujols reason, you give it to him. What’s XZewants, n 12within 00idea. TheFclosest within reason?

No had to a leshbaseball lighSince thas when Her eN free agent likeow this!wasN Alex Rodriguez in 2001, he 1996 ow in Sto k! million received $252 million for 10 years. That wasc$25.2 annually, and that was a decade ago. And Pujols is better.”

–CBS SPORTS’ GREGG DOYEL

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Hawaii pays $4 million to host the NFL’s annual Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium… If early estimates are accurate, Super Bowl XLV should be Stub Hub’s top-selling event ever… At press time, the Cleveland Cavs were in the midst of a 1-29 February, of course, marks the NBA’S halfway point. stretch, the NBA’s worst since 1996… If there’s an NFL work With that landmark also comes Fanatic’s midseason stoppage next season, it’s reported that Las Vegas casinos awards: MVP (Derrick Rose, Chicago); Defensive Player would take an $850 million hit on unplaced betting… A of the Year (Dwight Howard, Orlando); Rookie ofSOUTHERN the Year record 56 underclassmen declared for the NFL Draft.

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