INsite Atlanta November 2009 Issue by INsite Magazine

0 09 2 r e b m e v o N o. 4 F R E E Vo l. 18 , N

tainment Monthly r e t n E s â&#x20AC;&#x2122; a t n Atla ta.com

insiteatlan

OVER 100 CATEGORIES, ALL CHOSEN BY YOU!

AtlantA AwardS BEST DINING

BEST LIFESTYL E

BEST NIGHTLIF E

BEST L I A T E R

*OUFSWJFXT XUI +BDL .D#SBZFS t ,JMMFS .JLF t 5IF (FU 6Q ,JET ,SJTUFO 4UFXBSU 3PCFSU 1BUUJOTPO

Working with men and women passionate about developing professionally through education.

PROFESSIONAL

GROWTH Passion. Flexibility. Balance. Solutions. Learn more – contact Argosy University.

1.866.327.0173 WWW.ARGOSYTODAY.COM

BACHELOR’S

Business | Criminal Justice | Psychology Argosy University, Atlanta 980 Hammond Dr., Suite 100 | Atlanta, GA 30328

Financial Aid is available to those who qualify Argosy University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, 1.800.621.7440, www.ncahlc.org).

EXPERIENCE YOUR

“REAL HUMAN BODIES”

LIFE IN THE DARK

An Exhibition That Reveals The Strength of Your SENSES “For about an hour, visitors navigate diﬀerent environments in complete darkness, relying on all senses except sight, and ask questions of their visually impaired guide, whose faces they don’t see until leaving. Stumbling in darkness makes the Dialog visitor appreciate how visually oriented the world is - how would you go grocery shopping? How would you cross the street? - as well as the reliance on other senses such as sound and touch to navigate the world.” - Elizabeth Landou, CNN

Text DIALOG to 839863 for discount! Text BODIES to 839863 for discount! w w w. b o d i e s t h e e x h i b i t i o n . c o m

INTERNATIONAL BLOCKBUSTER - U.S.A. DEBUT ONLY IN ATLANTA w w w. d i a l o g - i n - t h e - d a r k . c o m

B O T H AT AT L A N T I C S TAT I O N ! PREMIER EXHIBITION CENTER

PG 2 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

PRODUCED BY:

PREMIER EXHIBITIONS (NASDAQ:PRXI)

CONTENTS • NOVEMBER 2009 • VOLUME 18.4

Dining at Chin Chin is pure pleasure ��

��

Atlanta’s

Entertainment Monthly

��

INTERVIEWS 06 THANDIE NEWTON 06 KENAN THOMPSON 10 WHERE THE WILD... 11 JACK MCBRAYER 12 MILLA JOVOVICH 19 EXENE CERVENKA 26 KILLER MIKE 26 THE GET UP KIDS 27 TWILIGHT STARS 28 KAY KAY

�� Buckhead/Brookhaven

�� East Cobb ��

of THANK YOU ATLANTA!

FEATURES

BEST CHINESE 1998-2009 Best Chinese by Creative Loafing "Mouthwatering Chin Chin spices things up." – AJC "Chin Chin...a window into Hong Kong." – Buckhead Weekly

�� Springs ��

08 HEALTH & BEAUTY 21 BEST OF ATLANTA

2 1/2 Stars – Knife & Fork

COLUMNS

WWW.CHINCHINONLINE.COM Watch our Open Kitchen & Experience the Art of Chinese Cooking!

04 AROUND TOWN 05 ON TAP 05 ON A DIME EVENTS 07 UNDER THE LIGHTS 13 MOVIE REVIEWS 14 VIDIOTS 16 CONCERT CALENDAR 18 ROAD WARRIORS 19 WE GOT NEXT 20 ALBUMS 30 FANATIC

DELIVERY (LIMITED AREA; MIN $10)

�� FULL BAR SERVICE

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

Contributing Writers / Interns: John Moore, Jon Latham, Ryan Loftis, Matt Goldberg, Rodney Hill, Alex S. Morrison, Sacha Dzuba, Roger Presswood, Dave Cohen, Russ Marshalek and Jennifer Sefa-Boakye CONTACT US 2250 North Druid Hills Rd. #234 Atlanta, GA 30329-3118 phone 404-315-8485 website insiteatlanta.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION �� Editorial content of INsite is the opinion of each writer and is not necessarily the opinion of INsite, its staff, or its advertisers. INsite does not knowingly accept false or mis leading advertising or editorial content, nor do the publisher or editors of INsite assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. No content, i.e., articles, graphics, designs and information (any and all) in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from publisher.

Check out our Best of Atlanta Awards on page 21! PG 3 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

��

holiday preview and canvas sale

1460 Northside Drive N.W. Atlanta, 30318 M-F: 8:30-7:30 Sat: 10-7 Sun: 11:30-6 samflaxsouth.com 404.352.7200

Art Alternatives

70% off Canvas Presale

Preorder your canvas before our November 14-15 canvas sale! Call us today to reserve your canvas.

Buy $50 Dollars worth of Filofax Get a free pen* *while supplies last

Pantone coffee and espresso mugs for the designer in your life Introducing Playsam executive wooden toys, for the designer and kid in all of us.

Faber Castell

20% Off Make a Statement Creativity for Kids

20% Off

PG 4 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

Free customization on Graphic Image’s leather day books. Call The Paperie for more details

Buy two rolls of Sanlu ribbon get one free, and check out our wide selection of unique gift wrap

M U C H M O R E I N S TO R E ! !

LOCAL EVENTS

�� EMAIL EVENTS TO ONTAP@INSITEATLANTA.COM

October 31-November 1: Piedmont Park

EVENTS HAPPENING FOR SMALL CHANGE IN ATLANTA

Know about a low cost event or happening in Atlanta? Email Event@AtlantaOnADime.com

BOOK FESTIVAL OF THE MJCCA

ATLANTA PRIDE

��

November 7: Decatur Old Courthouse Square

THE DECATUR WINE FESTIVAL

��

October 27-November 15: Atlantic Station

CAVALIA

��

November 19-December 6: The Fox Theatre

THE RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR ��

November 26: Turner Field

ATLANTA MARATHON & HALF MARATHON

��

November 26: Macy’s at Lenox Square Mall

MACY’S GREAT TREE LIGHTING

��

November 10 - 22, Tickets Start at $7 Marcus Jewish Community Center 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody www.atlantajcc.org

CHOMP AND STOMP FESTIVAL Saturday, November 7, 10am - 6pm, Cabbagetown Park; Free www.chompandstomp.com

This festival honors Cabbagetown's past where music and food have always defined the neighborhood's spirit. Chomp and Stomp will feature a chili cook-off, 5K run, artist market, live bluegrass music, beer and more.

ART A LA CARTE

Discounts at Arts & Entertainment Atlanta Attractions www.artalacarteatlanta.org

Every Tuesday night at Dolce, Adam Komesar, a professional vocalist, amazes audiences with his one man tribute to Frank Sinatra. Adam's quick wit that is sure to delight audiences of all ages.

LUNCHTIME IN THE STUDIO

November 12, Noon - 1:00pm, Free Several Dancers Core Studios 139 Sycamore Street, Decatur http://www.severaldancerscore.org

CORE Performance Company hosts this series of noontime dance performances and discussions which shows some of artistic director Sue Schroeder's newest work, "The Point." Lunch for the first 40 who arrive provided by Bistro in a Box and Starbucks.

CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK'S Art a la Carte allows families to experience HOLIDAY IN LIGHTS

the best of Atlanta's arts and culture without breaking the budget. By selecting performances from 3 or more participating organizations, families instantly receive discounts starting at 20% off the regular ticket price. With Art a la Carte you can build your own sampler, place one order, and receive the tickets in a return package. The Art a la Carte package also includes bonus coupons to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the High Museum of Art, and Zoo Atlanta, giving families discounted access to a total of seven arts and cultural organizations. Check the website for a complete list of participating organizations.

November 14 - January 3, 7am - 11pm FREE - Rink Admission $7, $2 rentals Centennial Olympic Park www.centennialpark.com

FALCONS FILMING AT STATS

Every Thursday night through December 17, 6:00 - 9:00pm, FREE Stats Atlanta 300 Marietta Street, www.statsatl.com

The Atlanta Falcons and WXIA Channel 11 have teamed up to film Falcons Face-toFace in the Adidas Room at STATS every Thursday from 6-9p.m. A different player will come out every week for a Q&A Session, and of course to sign autographs. Shows will later be aired Saturday at 7 p.m. and again after SNL.

In November, the park transforms into a winter wonderland with thousands of lights that make up a dazzling display. Come celebrate the 2009 holiday season by taking a stroll through the glowing 21-acre park or a spin around Atlanta's only outdoor ice skating rink.

THE CHLDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARADE

Saturday, December 5, 10:30 - Noon, FREE (Seats available for $12) Downtown Atlanta www.choa.org

SINATRA NIGHT AT DOLCE

Tuesday Nights thru December 29 7pm - 10pm, Free Dolce (Atlantic Station) www.dolcegroup.com

Every Tuesday night at Dolce, Adam Komesar, a professional vocalist, amazes audiences with his one man tribute to Frank Sinatra. Adam's quick wit that is sure to delight audiences of all ages.

Strike up the band and join Children's Healthcare along the streets of downtown Atlanta for one of the Southeast's premier holiday parades, the Children's Christmas Parade. If you can't make it downtown, you can watch the Children's Christmas Parade live on WSB-TV Channel 2 (ABC).

ATLANTA ON A DIME! Atlanta on a Dime by Marci Miller

Receive updated events weekly. Sign up by e-mailing newsletter@insiteatlanta.com Enter on subject line: Sign Me Up INsite!

PG 5 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

FILM INTERVIEW

COLOR BLIND BY ALEX S. MORRISON

HIS MOMENT IS SO MUCH BIGGER than me. This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It’s for the women that stand beside me– Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett– and it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.” –Halle Berry Halle Berry may not have mentioned Thandie Newton specifically in her famously emotional 2002 Oscar acceptance speech, but perhaps no actress in the world has benefited more from the doors opened in the years since the Monster’s Ball star’s historic Best Actress win. Best known at the time for her role as Tom Cruise’s love interest in Mission: Impossible II, Newton went on to star opposite Mark Wahlberg in The Truth About Charlie, Terrence Howard in the Oscar-winning Crash (for which she won a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress), Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness, and Gerard Butler in Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla. Now, the 37-year-old actress born Thandiwe Ajdewa Newton finds herself in the luxurious position of being able to pick and choose projects working with Hollywood’s best and brightest talents. Sitting down for an interview, her petite frame and prominent cheekbones looking stunning as ever, Newton acknowledges that even she was once bitter about the lack of roles for black actors, but that things have improved greatly with time. “Sometimes I even have to remind my husband [writer/director Oliver Parker] that certain roles could be multi-racial, and that films should reflect London the way we see it, which is more multicultural than any other city I’ve been in. But to feel that the glass is half full rather than half empty, and to celebrate the black actors that are working, is key. It has evolved in a positive way so different from 10 years ago, when I

was the only black actress from England working in American movies. “In America there’s black cinema now,” she continues, “and we don’t have that in England because the film industry is much smaller. But instead of complaining about it, recognize the positives and use that to keep going forward, bring in your friends, and encourage people to look outside their small circle. Moaning about it just doesn’t do anything.” Things haven’t always been so positive for the actress, who was born in Zambia to a Zimbabwean nurse, Nyasha, and a white English lab technicianturned-artist, Nick. Thandie and her younger brother Jamie (now a TV producer) were the only black children in the area of Cornwall in which they grew up. While she doesn’t recall any outright racism, she does admit to being the subject of cruel taunts about her appearance (which may explain her bout with bulimia in her early twenties). Although she got her first big film role, Flirting, when she was just 19, Newton has always maintained an outsider’s perspective on Hollywood. “I started out really young and realized early on that my happiness did not lie with the business,” she recalls matter-of-factly. “I had difficult times I had to deal with, which actually made me very skeptical about the film industry. As a result of that, I looked away from it for my happiness and ended up meeting my husband. So in a weird way it’s been a really good thing, because it means I use the film industry as a pleasure for work and it’s not a pursuit to make me feel happy in my life.” Newton credits her experience working with legendary director James Ivory on 1995’s Jefferson In Paris with cementing her love of the craft of acting, but also acknowledges that the commercial failure of films such as 1998’s Beloved inexorably changed the way she approached her career.

Thandie Newton on Race, Family & The Key to Happiness in Hollywood tolucci,

“I stopped thinking I had any acuity at predicting what was going to be a success or not,” she admits. “[Before that] I often picked roles thinking, this is going to further my career. When that didn’t happen with Beloved, I was so heartbroken I realized that I had to make movies for the material and enjoy the experience of making the movie, not delay the gratiﬁcation.” If anything, Newton claims to have only gotten more selective about her roles in the years since she and Parker welcomed daughters Ripley (age 9) and Nico (who turns 5 in December) into the world. But even as she strives to maintain a healthy balance between motherhood and her career, she insists that she gives the decision-making process far less thought than she used to. “It’s just a gut reaction to something,” she says when asked how she chooses roles. “It’s funny, because I’ll read [mediocre] scripts and start to think, ‘Do I not want to do this anymore?’ But then the next day I’ll read something that I love, and I can’t wait to do it. There’s no formula to how I go with it. Sometimes it can be because I think the director is really inspiring. I remember when I did a movie with Bernardo Ber-

there wasn’t even a script, but I just loved the way he talked about what was going to be there.” One gets the sense that director Roland Emmerich (10,000 BC, The Day After Tomorrow) probably wasn’t the primary draw of Newton’s current project, 2012, in which she co-stars opposite John Cusack, Woody Harrelson and Chiwetel Ejiofor. A disaster epic rooted in the ancient Mayan prediction that the world will end three years from now, the ﬁlm is hardly the sort of highbrow fare typically released during Oscar season. But its canny counter-programming could prove Newton’s biggest blockbuster in years. Regardless, the comely Brit seems to take it all in stride. With a loving marriage, two beautiful children, and a career most actresses can only dream of, Newton seems to be savoring every moment with a newfound sense of peace. “I love playing these characters, but at the end of the day it’s easy to leave them behind. I can’t explain it,” she admits with a warm smile, “but going through adolescence you’re always afraid to be yourself for fear of being mocked, criticized or rejected. But these days, I just love being me.”

TV INTERVIEW

WHY SATURDAY NIGHT’S SO LIVE Kenan Thompson on SNL and Everyday Heroes BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

HILE THE REST OF THE POP world fawns over Saturday Night Live sensations Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg, INsite’s keeping its eyes on one of the show’s more unheralded stars, Kenan Thompson. It doesn’t matter if the NBC sketch comedy smash needs Maya Angelou, a homosexual Target shopper or a jive cat selling ass-

ﬂavored champagne, the 31-year-old Thompson makes it happen in hilarious fashion every week. And to think, nine years ago, the Atlanta native was farting and joking on Nickelodeon’s Kenan & Kel. With TV appearances (Pysche), commercials (voiced the LeBron puppet in those Nike ads) and movies (the lead in ‘04’s Fat Albert) already in pocket, there’s no telling how Kenan’s calendar will look in two years. All we know for sure is that for now the comedian is solely focused on keeping Saturday evenings clear on his schedule...

Tell us about growing up with Saturday Night Live. At what point did you become aware of the show and how big was that in forming where you became a sketch comedian? It was pretty large in my household. You know, I became aware of it sort of like in the mid-80s when Murphy was on. And I became an instant fan. I started watching and doing more research. I watched all through the late 80s and 90s.. So I think it definitely had a large impact on my life. What about playing on SNL continues to challenge you? It’s just a challenge doing live television every week. It’s a challenge to come up with new material every week and try to keep it current. It’s a kind of a stressful environment. Like I didn’t really realize that we had a show this Thursday until yesterday. Do you ever still get nervous going on? Absolutely. I try to turn the nerves into energy and hype myself up. You can definitely feel that countdown, from 11:25 basically to 11:30 is crunch time. Like you really feel it in the cold open because you’re kicking it all off. You know what I mean? And if the first joke doesn’t hit, you can fail. I mean but that’s the beauty of dress rehearsal as well so it kind of calms all that down. You figure out like what’s really funny by

PG 6 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

the time it’s a live show hopefully. That’s the aims.

Is there any impression that you’ve ever tried to nail down but couldn’t or somebody who you found really, really hard to mimic? Every time I watch like Jay Leno and his new show like I don’t even know if I’ll ever get a chance to be on there because I went on the Tonight Show and tried to do a Jay Leno. He hated it.

Oh really? Yeah, I mean it was a bad Jay Leno impression. I don’t even think they aired it when, you know, they showed the interview or whatever it was just like an awful moment. But he really hated my Jay Leno impressions. I guess that’s one I need to work on. When you are trying to impersonate someone, what do you go for as far as their traits go? Yeah, I mean, you try to go with something that’s familiar to people and that way they can jump on board with what you’re trying to do basically. No, I only mimic people that really have like interesting voices because it’s really hard to mimic someone who just talks regularly like me. There’s nothing fun about that. What about feedback from those that you have impersonated, I mean, has anyone ever just really, really praised your impersonation of them? Yeah, Al Roker was nice about it; I did Al Roker like once or twice. I think I’m going to do him some more; he’s a cool dude. Bill Cosby was cool about it. Are you going to be taking over Weekend Update at all or do we know what’s going to happen with that for the Saturdays? Yeah, I mean, I’m down. If they make me do it, I’ll do it but we haven’t really discussed that yet this year.

Have you noticed any change in the tone of what you guys are writing about on SNL? Yeah, we try to keep it smart every week. Every season we get a lot better. I know I’ve learned a lot more. I’ve studied my classic rock history for the last two years so maybe I’ll be able to pull a joke out of there. Smarten it up because we only have a few days after we’ve written something to perfect it.

What did the sketch comedy in your younger years on Nickelodeon teach you about the sketch comedy that you do now? What can you apply from it? Just trying to tackle characters immediately. I got good at trying to throw a voice on a character from the very beginning as opposed to like reading it and sitting with it. I just try to read what it is and then try to put a funny voice to it. And then once you get laughs with your voice then you can start thinking about the physical characteristics and how they might walk or if they stick out their buck teeth or if they wear an afro and stuﬀ like that. I think ﬁnding the voice of the character helps to like build the wardrobe and everything else. Which impression is your favorite? I like Al Sharpton. I want to do some more Al Roker. I just like doing impressions if I can do them well. If they’re genuinely getting laughs that’s when it’s fun. But when I feel like I’m stretching maybe this isn’t the best impression. Who are your main role models? Role models? I don’t know, man. I look up to my mom a lot . She’s like the main one. But she’s only 5’ so I have to look down to look up at her. Just people like that, I guess. You know, like a lot of these celebrity types I’ve met in the past sometimes it’s not always as pleasant as when you hold them on such a pedestal so I’ve given that up. Like I’m just trying to keep my fantasies alive and keep them to myself when I see a famous person.

Under The Lights

New Theatrical Performances this Month

101 DALMATIONS MUSICAL THE SECOND CITY: October 30 - Nov 1 Cobb Energy PEACH DROP, STOP & ROLL Box Office 404.881.2000 www.cobbenergycentre.com

Nov. 6 - Dec. 13 Alliance Theatre Box Office 404.733.5000 www.AllianceTheatre.org

Photo by Joan Marcus Artwork from 2008 Performance

The Second City: Peach Drop, Stop and Roll is back at the Alliance by popular demand after a sold-out 2008 run. Just in time for the holiday season, the hit comedy team from Chicago will skewer Atlanta’s favorite pastimes. The Second City is written and created by Matt Hovde and Seth Weitberg. These masters of sketch and improv comedy take a Southernfried stab at Atlanta, creating a show that reflects the city in all its diversity, complexity and hilarity. This production gives the audience a chance to laugh at themselves while providing the city's comic and improv community an exclusive opportunity for national exposure. The Second City is the birthplace of many legendary comic geniuses including Steve Carell, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Mike Myers, John Candy and Tina Fey. Besides being a proven training ground for high profile comedians, it has a solid national reputation for irreverent, homegrown sketch comedy.

Shop Local

Shop Decatur

More than 20 boutiques and restaurants around downtown Decatur and Oakhurst Village open late every Thursday through Dec. 17

decaturga.com thedecaturminute.com

Downtown Decatur

Advertising funded by the Great Decatur Craft Beer Festival.

ALWAYS BUYING CURRENT MALL CLOTHES

SANDY SPRINGS (404) 255-5578

PSYCHOSISTERSSHOPS.COM

PIEDMONT/CHESHIRE BRIDGE

90’S GOTHIC

THANK YOU ATLANTA!

404-733-5599

LITTLE FIVE POINTS (404) 523-0100

PSYCHO-SISTERS.COM

WE PAY MORE $ FOR USED CLOTHES Newsletter@insiteatlanta.com

ENTER TO WINTODAY!

One of the greatest classic tales hits the stage for the first time. The 101 Dalmations Musical promises a quirky, upside-down view of the world, where the audience is allowed to see life from a dog's point of view. The stage musical will transport audiences to an exciting and altogether fantastic reality that gives grand license for song, dance and spectacle in a oneof-a-kind theatrical experience! The 101 Dalmations will showcase fifteen talented Dalmatians, most of which were rescued from animal shelters across the country and given a new lease on life with this starring role. The show's lively contemporary score and soundtrack was composed by Dennis DeYoung the lead singer of the legendary rock band Styx. DeYoung composed timeless hits as "Babe," "Come Sail Away," and “Best of Times". On Sunday’s final performance guests will be entertained with music, games, contests and prizes. The Gwinnett Humane Society and its furry friends will be on site for pet adoptions.

DECATUR

ON BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF & DVD NOVEMBER 17

��

OFFICIAL CREDIT CARD

��

PG 7 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

International School of Skin & Nailcare

The Largest, Most Experienced School in GA for Esthetician or Nail Training

Money Making Careers at ISSN

ATLANTA ON A

DIME!

GREAT DEALS BEING OFFERED AT AROUND ATLANTA.

SPRUCE UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

International School of Skin & Nailcare

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

SPA SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE! SKIN CARE:

��

WAXING:

��

$35 BRAZILIAN WAX

$22 SPA MANICURE & PEDICURE

4 Metro Locations www.WaxingAtlanta.com

Located in Sandy Springs (In the Prado) 404.843.1005 I www.skin-nail.com

NEW TALENTS CUTS STARTING AT $28

$10 OFF THE MONTHLY RATE FOR ANY PROGRAM

NAIL CARE:

��

SAFE TAN:

��

Esthetician | Massage Therapy | Nail Technician

Call Admissions Today at 404.843.1005 www.skin-nail.com

��

Do you need help?

4 Area locations www.vanmichael.com

3 Area Locations 404.339.KICK I www.KnuckleUpFitness.com

Atlanta on a Dime is a monthly column that highlights low cost events happening each month around town. This month we have asked our health & beauty advertisers to oﬀer up a special to give some relief to your wallet. Atlanta on a Dime is also available by email. Sign up by emailing newsletter@insiteatlanta.com. Enter on subject line: Sign Me Up!

Now You Know How Your Car Feels

If you are a woman with a history of childhood sexual abuse, you may suffer from a number of symptoms. If these symptoms are left untreated, it can impair your ability to deal with everyday events, work or even function in healthy relationships. Many people who have experienced a traumatic event like you have, may suffer from one or all of these symptoms. You may have nightmares, trouble sleeping, memory problems, trouble focusing, avoid social situations, or become easily agitated or startled. Emory University is looking for participants for a research study on the effects of an FDA approved medication for the symptoms of PTSD, memory and learning in women between the ages of 25 and 55 who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. You do not need a diagnosis of PTSD to participate. Compensation will be provided for participation. If you are interested in learning more about this research opportunity please call 404-712-9536 or email clecour@emory.edu.

Thanks Atlanta for Voting Cactus Car Wash BEST CAR WASH 2009!

$3 OFF EXPRESS EXTERIOR WASH With ad. Expires 12-15-09. Valid only at Ponce and Buckhead locations.

2 Locations

Advancing The Possibilities PG 8 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

BUCKHEAD 2980 Piedmont Rd. (at Pharr Rd.) 404-846-4040

MIDTOWN 575 Ponce De Leon Ave. 404-876-3232

www.cactuscarwash.com

Your Neighborhood Pizzeria!

FAMOUS MARGARITAS

LIVE MUSIC

Lots of Love always

East Cobb’s NEWEST CANTINA!

VOTED BEST NEW RESTAURANT IN ATLANTA Now Booking Holiday Parties

Tuesdays (7:30pm)

TRIVIA

Wednesdays (9pm)

KARAOKE Thursdays

BEST PIZZA!

�� Friday & Saturday

��

Multiple Atlanta Locations: www.JohnnysPizza.com

NOW OPEN!

PG 9 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

FILM INTERVIEW

Spike Jonze & Max Records on Their Unconventional Hit

BY ALEX S. MORRISON

HETHER YOU LOVE IT, HATE it or fall somewhere in between, there’s no denying the fact that indie auteur Spike Jonez’s cinematic take on the Maurice Sendak’s classic book Where The Wild Things Are is one of the year’s most unique and unconventional films. Prior to the film’s October 16 release, the writer/ director and his young star– the previously unknown Max Records– sat down with reporters in Los Angeles for interviews about their controversial film, whose dark tone and flimsy narrative have divided critics and audiences alike. What do you want parents to take from this film, and what do you want kids to take from this film? Spike: I didn’t have any thoughts about it. I don’t know what you should take away from it. I think anybody can take away whatever they feel connected to or not connected to in the movie. The one thing I hope is that there would be some conversations, and that a parent might actually be able to talk to their kid in a different way and ask their kid what they think, and not worry about how they’re going to turn out, but be curious as to who they are.

Do you think kids should not see a film that’s this dark? Max: No, not at all. Of course, they should see it. It depends on the kid, and it depends on the age. When I was 7 or 8, I could not have seen this movie. But, my brother, who is 7 or 8, totally could have. Spike: We were just trying to make a movie that feels true to what it feels like, at times, to be 9 years old. I think, as you’re growing up, your emotions are just as deep as they are when you’re an adult. You’re ability to feel lonely, longing, confused or angry are just as deep. We don’t feel things more as we get older. We just have a better understanding of how to navigate those feelings, and a better sense of how to navigate our relationships and separate our emotions from them. I also don’t think of this as a dark movie. It has moments that are intense, for sure. How did you go about expanding the basic story of this book? Did any of this come from personal experiences? Spike: I’m not sure if I could explain it any more than the movie. Max: The movie and the book are just pretty much the visual way to show anger and sweetness together. Did you feel like it was a movie about childhood? Max: Yes. The kid gets pissed off, the mom gets pissed off, he runs away, and then there’s a lot more pissed off and a lot more happiness. Spike, as a writer/director, how much did you struggle with constructing the beginning of the film and getting all that information in, prior to the trip to the Land of the Wild Things? Spike: I wrote with Dave Eggers, who is a writer I love and a person that I got to know. We basically approached it, at the beginning, not over-thinking it too much. We tried to write it really intuitively, at the beginning, and just write scenes, and we overwrote. We PG 10 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

just wrote from our gut. Later, it became a little more laborious, in terms of editing and shaping it more. But, we tried to just approach it the way a kid’s intuition approaches things. We tried to do a lot of things like that. The music was written in that sense, of not analytically, but just intuitively. We just tried to keep that spirit of not over-thinking it too much. My other movies are much more analytical or cerebral films. With this one, because the main character was 9, I wanted to turn that part of my brain off and not approach it so cerebrally. Why did you decide not to make the world of the Wild Things as wondrous as people might expect it to be? Spike: It stemmed a little bit from taking Max seriously. We wanted to take this 9-year-old seriously, so if he’s going to imagine that he’s going to a place, it’s not going to be some fantasy version of it. For me, it just connected more to really being there with these wild animals, in this forest and on these beaches, with sand and dirt and leaves in their hair, and have that level of reality to it. It makes it more dangerous and, in a way, more exciting because you’re really there. The whole movie is shot from Max’s point of view, where you’re discovering it with him. Every scene in the movie is from Max’s point of view. We also tried to give it its wonder, where it was relevant to the story, like when Max wakes up in Carol’s arms, and he’s carrying him through this beautiful forest with leaves falling everywhere. Those moments have their place, where it’s hopefully more

wondrous or spectacular. Did you intentionally want to make it so intimate? Spike: The idea is mixing intimate with epic, at the same time, and being able to have those dynamics. The best songs are the ones that have that kind of dynamic. Arcade Fire has such intimacy and epic-ness, as the same time, and that’s really inspiring. Did you decide to approach this completely like a child, and follow that all the way through? Spike: Yeah. We just approached it intuitively. It wasn’t necessarily an easy shoot. It was very complicated. We made a series of decisions, early on, by shooting the creatures real live-action on location, with a boy in the middle of it all. That was a very challenging way to shoot it. Once we made those decisions, we just agreed to take whatever weather, lightening and wildness of that way of shooting that came with it. We tried to keep the whole film in the spirit of a kid, and tried not to put our adult stuff into that. That being said, we had some tantrums, along the way, because the shoot was so stressful and difficult. I’ve worked with (cinematographer) Lance [Acord] and (production designer) K.K. [Barrett] for so long, and we did this whole movie as an adventure. The whole group of us moved to Australia and all lived in neighborhoods near each other. It was just a very group experience, where we went off into these woods and deserts, and made this film. We lived the movie, in a lot of ways.

Maurice Sendak said that he found you to be very old-school. Do you consider yourself that way? Spike: I don’t know. I do definitely think of artists like The Beatles, Maurice Sendak– who wrote this book in the ’60’s– Shel Silverstein and David Bowie. I think artists that were of that period are really inspiring and exciting. There is probably a similar sensibility when I think about artists now, like Arcade Fire or Karen O. (from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs). There is something similar, in terms of the singularity of those voices, and not living and working in the mainstream. Their motivation is coming from within them, as opposed to from outside in the marketplace. It’s always coming from, “What am I going to make that is going to inspire and excite me?” Maybe that’s something I’m inspired by. Max, how gross was it for you to do that scene where you come out of KW? Max: You don’t want to know. They put some sort of gross gel stuff on me. Spike: He was covered and goopy. He hated it. We shot it once, and then we had to shoot another piece of it again, and he just did not want to get in it. He said, “I will only do it if, afterwards, you let me cover you in it.” And so, afterwards, we went back to his room and he just covered me in it. He was so happy and I was miserable, so it was a good retribution. Spike, can you talk about the Maurice Sendak documentary you did? Spike: We did it to give good context. It’s basically a video portrait of him. It’s about 40 minutes long, and it comes out on HBO, a couple days before the movie is released. Do you know what you’re doing next? Spike: No, not yet. Are you going back down the indie path? Spike: I don’t know. I’m just going to make whatever. I don’t look at it with a label. That’s weird. I just want to make whatever is exciting…

THE ONE THING I HOPE IS THAT...A PARENT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO TALK TO THEIR KID IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND ASK THEIR KID WHAT THEY THINK, AND NOT WORRY ABOUT HOW THEY’RE GOING TO TURN OUT, BUT BE CURIOUS AS TO WHO THEY ARE.

THE PAGE’S TURN With an Emmy Nod for 30 Rock, Jack McBrayer has His Moment in the Spotlight BY B. LOVE

T’S NOT DIFFICULT TO GAUGE THE IMPACT the scene-stealing role of Kenneth Parcell has had on 30 Rock star Kenneth McBrayer’s career. Before he was cast on the critically acclaimed show (which has won 14 Emmys and been nominated for an amazing 37 more), McBrayer’s biggest claim to fame was a 2-episode stint on Arrested Development; now he’s got a Best Supporting Actor Emmy nod under his belt, not to mention roles in hit ﬁlms like Talladega Nights, Walk Hard and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. We recently caught up with the 36-year-old actor to discuss his Southern roots, improv background and what’s next for everyone’s favorite NBC page in the fourth season of 30 Rock. You actually grew up in Georgia, didn’t you? Yeah, I lived in Macon until I was 15 and then I went to high school in Conyers, which is a little suburb right outside Atlanta.

I moved to New York I got to know her and her comedy better. Chicago totally prepared me 100% for what I’m doing now. And it’s weird that, without even knowing it, I was networking back then and it really did get me to where I am. Your comedic timing is excellent. Was that something that always came naturally to you or did you have to work at it? Well, I always enjoyed making people laugh when I was growing up and being in school and stuff. But I spent several years at the Second City and improvOlympic in Chicago, and that’s where I honed my skills. But I’m telling you, the writing here on 30 Rock makes it so easy. Even if I had the worst timing in the world, these guys will make you look funny week after week. How much interplay is there between the writers and performers? Do you guys ever improvise stuff that makes it into the script? There’s very little improv involved with this, mainly because the writers do such a good job in the first place. Also, what I didn’t realize getting into this is that a 30-minute sitcom is actually only 21.5 minutes, so there ain’t a lot of breathing room. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, so we’ve just been trusting the writers for the most part. Do you have any favorite episodes of 30 Rock? Oh, definitely! I’ve enjoyed so many of the episodes, but I guess one that really sticks out in my mind is where Kenneth has a party at his apartment that everybody has to get an invitation to. We only saw three seconds of the actual party, but it was just so fun shooting that because it’s so rare that the entire cast gets together. In Season 1 I had to play a poker game with Alec Baldwin’s character. That was fun, but also very scary because I still wasn’t real familiar with Alec Baldwin as a person, so I was very grateful that I had to be nervous during that scene.

I THINK IN A VERY GENERAL SENSE DOING IMPROV TAUGHT ME TO BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING AND JUST ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES. IT’S ALSO ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER WITH A GROUP TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT’S IDEALLY FUNNY AT THE END OF THE DAY.

How has being so Southern impacted your ability to get ahead in show business? Did you have any problems before 30 Rock with people wanting you to get rid of the accent? Yes, absolutely! But it was one of those things where it’s like, this is what I have to work with. You know, if they said, “I wish you were shorter,” there’s not really a lot I can do about that either. So you just maximize your assets and minimize your liabilities and hope that something will stick to the wall at one point.

You’ve done improv for years at Upright Citizens Brigade, improvOlympic and Second City. How did that training help when went into acting for television and film? I think in a very general sense doing improv taught me to be prepared for anything and just roll with the punches. It’s also about working together with a group to create something that’s ideally funny at the end of the day. In terms of making it easy to work with this group in particular, anything that the writers give you– no matter how ludicrous it is– you’re like, “Yes I will do this and do it with gusto!” So it’s just about commitment to their ideas, and a lot of that I did learn through improv. You initially worked with Tina Fey at iO and Second City, right? Could you talk about working with her? Oh God, absolutely. I wouldn’t be talking to you right now if it weren’t for old Tina Fey. I was in Chicago for seven years, 1995-2002, and that is where I met Tina. Her husband, Jeff Richmond, was my first director at Second City. Although I probably knew Jeff better than Tina there, when

FILM INTERVIEW

Are there any roles other than Kenneth you’ve played that you especially enjoyed? Yeah! I mean, I haven’t even done too many other gigs, but in Forgetting Sarah Marshall I just loved being a newlywed at a Hawaiian resort. So if you’ve got any more roles like that, please feel free to pass those on to my people. (Laughs) You’re so closely identified with Kenneth now. When you’re on hiatus and doing other things, are you actively trying to get away from that type of role? Unfortunately I’m not that great of an actor! (Laughs) I can lose the navy blazer, but that’s about it. No, I know what I can do and what I like to do and they’re pretty much along those same veins, so when people are tired of seeing that then I might flex some other muscles. But right now I’m real happy with where I am and what people are asking me to do. Tina Fey has said that she created the character for you and made Kenneth a lot like you. What are the things you have in common with him? Well, I think just very generally being a people-pleaser and always wanting to do good at my job. And I will be the first to admit that sometimes I’m not exactly sure how this big world works, but I just try to cope with it as well as I can. What continues to challenge you about the role now that you’re four seasons into 30 Rock’s run? Well, it sounds like I’m complaining, but if this is the worst part then I

guess I’m doing all right. Sometimes I just have to have a LOT of caﬀeine to be that peppy at ungodly hours in the morning or at night, you know? Sometimes I’m like, “Oh, daddy needs a nap!” That’s where the Diet Mt. Dew comes in handy and all is well. Why do you think people continue to tune in and watch the show? Well, what we’ve found is that it is just so relatable as a workplace comedy. Anybody who’s ever had a job has had a domineering boss or very needy coworkers or just crazy people around. So in that sense I think that people can just relate to it. With the economy nudging companies to hire more interns as the new entry-level positions, do you think Kenneth is becoming a hero of this rising young working class? Well, the thing about posing yourself as a hero is that one day it’s going to bite you in the ass! (Laughs) My only frame of reference for the role that I’m playing and the people that I deal with are the real-life pages over at Rockefeller Center. So far they seem happy with the way they’re being depicted and how they’re being treated by people, but I’m always awaiting the day that kind of thing will come back and get you. What do you think of Community joining your Thursday night comedy block? I’m a big fan of it! One of the actors on the show was previously one of our writers– Donald Glover, who plays Troy on Community– so I’m real happy for him. And honestly I’m just happy whenever NBC gets anything fun and enjoyable on there because, you know, TV is just a very tenuous area right now. I’m like, let’s go with anything that might stick around for a while! Can you talk a little bit about what storylines Kenneth might have coming up this season? Well, it’s pretty much my usual high-jinx. We do have a little bit of fun with Kenneth in a couple of things. I don’t think I’ll get in trouble here, but at one point Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey’s characters go down to Kenneth’s hometown of Stone Mountain, GA for a talent search. I think some of the characters that you will see in that hometown might resemble Kenneth quite a bit, but you have to look closely. It’s kind of like Where’s Waldo, but we had some fun with that. Otherwise it’s just the usual stuﬀ. Kenneth’s just always wanting to be the best at the job, as menial as it may be. The more menial, the better!

THANK YOU ATLANTA! BEST SEAFOOD (INSITE, CITYSEARCH) BEST IN GREEK & ITALIAN CUISINE

��

• Zagat Rated • Dine In or Take Out • Lunch & Dinner Specials

Critics Choice, Creative Loaﬁng 2006, 2009 Best of Atlanta Issue

“Best Seafood”

Best of Citysearch 2006, 2007 & 2008

Now 32 Years!

“Best Patio Dining”

“Best Fisherman’s Stew” Atlanta Magazine

1042 West College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030 �� PG 11 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

FILM INTERVIEW

Close Encounter of the Fourth Kind An Hour With Milla Jovovich

BY B. LOVE

OU CAN WEAR LIPSTICK AND still be tough.” More than any other phrase that emerges over the course of our hour-long conversation, this one sticks in my head, seeming to sum up Milla Jovovich’s working-class-meets-high-class personal philosophy perfectly. She opens the door, welcoming me into her posh suite at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons. The ﬁrst thing I notice: the supermodelturned-actress is a study in contradictions. Her hair has that slightly tousled ‘I just got out of bed’ look, yet her minimalist makeup us applied perfectly. Her full lips are accentuated; her dazzling eyes -- shimmering pools of aqua -- lure me in, holding me in her gaze. Her clothes are thrift shop chic. A low-cut, pale pink peasant blouse over a knee-length black skirt shows just enough of her lilac lace bra to tease my attention, but those eyes ultimately steal the spotlight. Her accessories add an air of reﬁned class to the natural beauty she possesses, from the large amber stones on her swanky silver bracelet to her beige leather heels that only enhance her Amazonian stature. With Milla (pronounced Mee-la), beauty is all about the little things, the vaguely feline slink of her stride to the delicate way her impossibly long legs cross sensuously as she speaks, for example. Her personality is animated, with a hearty laugh you can’t imagine coming from such a lean frame.

“YOU CAN WEAR LIPSTICK AND STILL BE TOUGH” PG 12 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

She immediately apologizes for being tardy. I will later learn that she was not simply ‘fashionably late’, Milla’s excuse: she chose to drive herself to the interview rather than allowing her publicist to send a limousine. Prepped for the worst by a writer friend who had interviewed Jovovich when she was just a teenager promoting her ﬁrst major ﬁlm role in Return to the Blue Lagoon, he recounted horror stories of her than diva-like behavior. From

mandu and within two years had become the hottest young model in the fashion industry. An incredibly hectic time, to say the least, Milla looks back on it all fondly. “On the positive side, I was very comfortable dealing with an adult world, and I knew by the age of thirteen what I was gonna do for the rest of my life. Most young people don’t ﬁgure out until after college what they want to do! On the one hand, it prepared me for my life,” she

I WAS NEVER ONE TO BE SHY ABOUT RECITING A POEM, SINGING A SONG OR SHOWING PEOPLE WHAT I COULD DO. I WAS DEFINITELY A PERFORMER AT A VERY YOUNG AGE. dumping an ice cream cone that didn’t suit her tastes onto a hotel’s fancy sofa to answering questions with monosyllabic responses, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Milla that stands before me has little in common with the earlier spoiled brat. Milla herself knew exactly what she wanted to be from a surprisingly early age. “I was never one to be shy about reciting a poem, singing a song or showing people what I could do. I was definitely a performer at a very young age.” By the age of nine she secured her ﬁrst major acting gig in The Night Train to Kath-

reasons, “but on the other hand it was really confusing because I wasn’t really sure what I wanted. Was this something that I chose for myself, or something that my mom chose for me? There’s a lot of natural self-doubt about who you are, but I’d never trade my life for anything. I’m totally happy today, knowing that I have it together.” That’s not to say that life was exactly peaches and cream for the multi-talented adolescent. By her mid-teens, Jovovich had become introverted and insecure, rebelling against her mother and turning away from acting and modeling in favor of music. Inspired by the moody, ethereal sounds of gothic rock bands like Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil and Dead Can Dance, the teenage Jovovich shunned the superficial pleasures of the spotlight in favor of a search for her inner self. “I was a very dark child,” she recalls. “I was writing all these really dramatic songs on the guitar. I listen to them now and crack up, because I was thirteen and I’m like (sings), ‘I love you with everything I have!’ Now, it’s like, what was I thinking?! It’s so funny -- I was this little drama queen. I’m sure my mom was freaking out laughing. I’d say, ‘Mom, I wrote a new song about ho dark my existence is.’ She’d say, (adopts Russian accent) ‘Milla, what are you talking about? What is so dark? Why don’t you lighten up?’” Instead, she turned all her attention to music. After small but well-received roles in the 1992 film Chaplin and 1993’s Dazed & Confused, Milla decided to get serious about becoming a musician. She eventually moved to Europe to write songs and record with her band, signing to the SBK record label (a subsidiary of Capitol Records). Her debut album, The Divine Comedy, was released in 1994 to virtually unanimous critical acclaim. A largely acoustic folk-rock affair, the albums philosophical lyrics and earnest melodies were far removed from the trite pop music one might expect from a model/actress taking a stab at a music career. Milla earned favorable comparisons to alt-rock icons like Tori Amos and Kate Bush. Touring to support the album proved a

grounding experience for the eighteen year old. “I performed at every bar in England and watched guys drinking beer rather than listening to me, with no applause afterwards. I had to go through these ropes and virtually humiliate myself to learn to appreciate what I had in my life. So when I got back into acting it was because I really wanted to do it, not because my mom or anybody else told me I should. That made all the difference...” Jovovich returned to Hollywood in the midnineties with a renewed sense of enthusiasm. After endless hours of soul-searching, the more mature Milla welcomed the opportunity to assume the persona of other characters. She was fascinated by the prospect of being someone else for a change and the perfect outlet for this newfound sense of exploration crossed her path in the role of Leeloo. Leeloo was the title character who held the fate of the universe in her hands in director Luc Besson’s 1997 sci-fi/ action epic, The Fifth Element. An immensely challenging role -- she was a gibberish-spouting, childishly curious alien clad in bandages that barely covered her private parts, with a personality that ran the gamut of emotions from wide-eyed wonder to devastating anguish -- Milla made it her own, stealing the spotlight from Bruce Willis. It was a brilliant performance, leading to ‘serious’ roles as a prostitute opposite Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s He Got Game and as Joan of Arc in Besson’s The Messenger, both colorful landmarks in her evolution from supporting actress to leading lady. “With movies, I’m always sort of jumping over the edge,” Milla says with pride, “trying to do characters that are very different from me and things nobody would expect me to do. So I’m constantly having to sort of make a fool of myself. When I go on auditions, I never let them kick me out after one reading. Especially if they want me to leave, I stay, just to make sure that what they have on tape is me doing the best I can do. If I see that they think I’m not really right for the part, I say, ‘Look, I wanna do that one more time.’ Finally, I’m in a position where I can do that.” Though Milla insists she’s neither a fan of horror movies or of zombie movies in specific, she admits she was thrilled at the idea of having a key role in the Resident Evil franchise. “I played the game with my brother and we got so addicted to it. I said to him that we have to make a movie of this because I am this girl! I could totally be in a miniskirt with a gun, go down underground and shoot things. It is soooo me! He’s thirteen and he just thought that was the greatest idea: ‘Oh my God, that would be so amazing! All my friends would think you’re so cool!’ So I found out that Paul had a script for it and I went full steam ahead. I said, ‘Look, there’s nobody else for this part. I’m telling you, I’m your girl. I play this game five hours a day!’ Of course,” she adds with a laugh, “I still had to do three callback auditions.” Milla is always writing new songs for future albums and has four films due to be released within the next year, including this month’s The Fourth Kind and next year’s Resident Evil sequel, Afterlife. So is there anything left that she dreams of doing but hasn’t done yet? “Producing,” she responds, not even pausing to think. “I got the rights to a book I adore called Falling, and it’s a dream part for me -- a trapeze artist. My partner is friends with Guy Liberté of Cirque Du Soleil, so we’re trying to get him to train me to play the part. That’s kind of my pet project...”

FILM

�� AMELIA (PG) �� –DeMarco Williams

ASTRO BOY (PG) �� –Rodney Hill

BLACK DYNAMITE (R) ��

�� –DeMarco Williams

BROKEN EMBRACES (R) �� –B. Love

Nothing like depressed, angry, trippy monsters to ruin a visit to a magical island. “Where the Wild Things Are” shows a different spin on the book we all read as kids.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE ��

�� COCO AVANT CHANEL (PG-13) �� –Bret Love �� –Rebecca Crosby

COUPLES RETREAT (PG-13) ��

�� –Rebecca Crosby

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN (R) �� PG 13 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

ARE

�� –Benjamin Carr

THE MESSENGER (R) �� –B. Love

NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU (R) �� –Jay Wayne

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY (R) ��

. . . X T I E S N E O WHMES T IGNORANCE IS CO

DEFINITELY NOT BLISS

At the Feminist Women’s Health Center’, we provide all the FACTS you need to understand your own body and to make the best choices for your health care. �� 1924 Cliff Valley Way Atlanta, GA 30329

404-728-7900 www.feministcenter.org PG 14 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

Surgi-Center License 044-287

�� –DeMarco Williams

PLAYGROUND (N/R) ��

VIDIOTS

UPCOMING DVD RELEASES AND REVIEWS

BY B. LOVE & JOHN MOORE ANDY BARKER P.I.: THE COMPLETE SERIES – The best thing about Conan O’Brien taking over The Tonight Show? The return of Andy Richter, who we’ve missed since this offbeat sitcom went the way of the dodo. The portly comic kills as an accountant who accidentally becomes a P.I., skewering noir and the sitcom format without resorting to snark. Extras include interviews with Richter and O’Brien, featurettes and a gag reel. CALIFORNICATION: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON – David Duchovny is back as transplanted NY novelist/sex addict Hank Moody, who’s stuck in LA with his on-again/off-again wife and precocious daughter. The second go-round of this underrated series is even better as Hank is kicked out by his wife and moves in with a legendary rock producer to help write his memoirs. There’s still plenty of sex, as Moody’s agent (Evan Handler) starts representing a budding porn star, but a surprisingly touching final episode highlights the strong writing. IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA: SEASON FOUR – This season was more depraved than ever, with the four friends who run Paddy’s Bar (with help from Danny Devito) back again to offend just about everyone they come in contact with. The group attempts to solve the gas crisis, excitedly discover a glory hole in the bar’s bathroom, and stage The Nightman Cometh!, which is perhaps the greatest musical number ever put to DVD. Seriously! SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS – Like a warm, fuzzy slice of childhood pie, this 2-DVD set should

�� –Rebecca Crosby

A SERIOUS MAN (R) �� –John C. Snider

bring back fond memories for anyone who grew up on the Children’s Television Workshop classic. The DVDs span four decades of edutainment brilliant, from Ernie singing “Rubber Duckie” and the debut of Elmo to the wedding of Luis and Maria. Extras include behind-the scenes footage, interviews, and on-screen trivia pop-ups. THE SOPRANOS: THE COMPLETE SERIES – Only time will tell how it stands up in the course of TV history, but there’s no debating the genrechanging greatness of David Chase’s look at the family life of maﬁoso Tony Soprano, who ranks among the most iconic ﬁctional gangsters ever created. This incredible 30-DVD set features every brilliant episode as well as numerous featurettes, cast auditions, lost scenes and a 16-page episode guide. OTHER NOVEMBER RELEASES NOV 3 �� First & Second Season NOV 10 �� NOV 17 �� NOV 24 �� Complete History

Are you a Veteran returning from the war and experiencing some of these symptoms? Nightmares, trouble sleeping · easily agitated or startled · low energy, changes in appetite · memory problems, difficulty focusing · avoiding places, activities or people

AGAVE RESTAURANT

An Eclectic Southwestern Eatery ��

agave

Dinner Nightly at 5PM Cabbage Town / Grant Park 242 Boulevard SE 30312 ��

Individuals who have experienced a traumatic event suffer from these symptoms, which are signs of posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD. If the symptoms are left untreated, it can impair the ability to work, socialize and function in a healthy relationship. Emory University is investigating the effects of early intervention in preventing chronic PTSD using an FDA approved medication (paroxetine). This is a doubleblind study sponsored by the VA. If you are a Veteran, recently back from the war and have any of these symptoms, please call to obtain more information and to see if you qualify for the study. Study screening, health/trauma questionnaires, memory tests, lab tests, medication and MRI/PET scans will be conducted at Emory University and Emory Briarcliff campus. Compensation will be provided for participation. Please call Stacy Ladd at 404-712-2014 or email mdent@emory.edu

Advancing The Possibilities

THANK YOU ATLANTA! ��

WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING

www.thefourthkind.net (Galaxy) Atlanta 2273 Cheshire Bridge 404-315-7177 Smyrna 2365 S Cobb Dr. 770-432-3274 (Elations) Marietta 1424 Roswell Rd. 30067 770-578-0399 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. ONLY ONE PASS PER PERSON. PASSES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. EACH PASS ALLOWS THE PASS-HOLDER TO BRING ONE PERSON WITH THEM TO HELP KEEP THEM CALM DURING THE SCREENING. SEATING AT SCREENING IS NOT GUARANTEED.

IN THEATERS NOVEMBER 6

PG 15 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

CONCERT

CALENDER

�� Dave Demelisk �� Livingston Taylor �� Little Brother �� Cedar Hill �� Michele Balan �� The White Tie Affair �� Uncle Sugar �� Jeremy Lister �� The Used

�� Peaches �� Thao & the Get Down Stay Down �� Songwriters Open Mic �� Uncle Sugar �� Mudcat �� Ensiferum �� Stampede �� Chris Jackson �� American Revival Tour

�� The Vic Chesnutt �� Songwriter’s Open Mic �� Uncle Sugar �� Geisha Hit Squad �� Hollis Gillespie �� Stampede �� Chris Jackson �� Wolfmother

�� Justin Nozuka �� Hidden Cameras �� AMP �� Crosstown Allstars �� Bret Butler �� Say Anything �� Hit the Lights �� Nathan Nelson & BonJu �� Marie Hines

�� Catch 23 �� Joshua James �� Crosstown Allstars �� Brett Butler �� On Seven �� Nathan Nelson & BonJu �� Marie Hines �� Brand New �� Guitar Hero World Tour �� Al Smith’s Midtown Jam �� Blind Pilot �� The Wilkie Family Singers �� Frankies Blues Mission �� Best of Five Spot Sessions �� Comedy Gold Open Mic �� Saul Williams �� Kingnaldo �� Mudcat �� Tyler Reeve Band �� MIGGS �� King Khan & BBQ Show �� Lenny Kravitz �� Zee Avi �� Bobby Long �� Studebaker John & The Hawks �� Elvis Perkins in Dearland �� Al Stewart �� Chickenshack �� Josh Roberts �� Comicpalooza �� I Do Music! �� Passaﬁre, Groovestain �� Breeze Kings �� Oldstar �� First Thursday ASCAP Showcase �� FREAKOUT!!! �� Metalocalypse �� Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe �� Echovalve w/ Sid Aerial �� Captured! By Robots �� Sid n’ Susie �� Rough Draft �� 54 �� Aisha Tyler �� Heavy Mojo �� Eclipse �� Reckless Kelly �� Nathan Angelo �� The Forty-Fives �� Mutemath �� The Jesus Lizard �� Band to Band Combat �� Foreigner �� Talk Journey To Me �� Bijan Mortazavi �� Alela Diane �� Rebecca Loebe �� Little Brother �� Packway Handle Band �� Aisha Tyler �� Gorilla Battle of the Bands Finals �� All That Remains �� Evergreen Terrace �� Grassroots �� The Hot Rods �� Lord T. Eloise �� Badﬁsh �� Burn �� Jake Owen

PG 16 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

�� Aubrey Slackey �� Clay Cook �� Little Brother �� Ballyhoo! �� Aisha Tyler �� Uncle Sugar �� Great American Taxi �� Boys Like Girls �� Kailash Kher

�� Al Smith’s Midtown Jam� �� The Dirt Daubers �� April Verch �� Frankies Blues Mission �� Art Show �� Comedy Gold Open Mic �� The Get Up Kids �� Cavo �� Mudcat �� Tyler Reeve Band �� Two Wheel Driver �� The Monsters of Folk �� 2009 Funniest Accountant �� Shonen Knife �� Sally Barris �� Chickenshack �� Pap Mali & Newberry Jam �� Jim David �� Queensryche �� MC Chris �� Breeze Kings �� Aaron Thompson Band �� Jimmie’s Chicken Shack �� Times New Viking �� Lotus �� Bayside �� Gary Pfaff �� The Nighthawks �� Puddin’ Tang �� Wailin Francis Green �� The Benevento Russo Duo �� Jim David �� Heathenfest �� Less Than Jake �� Cory Morrow �� The New Mastersounds �� Bigfoot �� Gary Allan �� Leo Kottke �� Zoso �� Tim Brantley �� Joshua Radin �� Langhorne Slim & The War Eagles �� Marhsall Rufﬁn Trio �� Kerry Hill �� Michael Tolcher �� Jim David� �� Pretty Lights �� Mumiy Troll �� Curiousty Shoppe �� Chris Knight Band �� Jack Oblivion �� Brett Dennen �� Delbert McClinton �� Mister Fernando �� Phil Vassar �� Sam Quinn & Japan Ten �� Little Brother �� Captain Stab Tuggo �� Jim David �� Uncle Sugar �� Bernard Allison �� The Cult �� Echo & the Bunymen �� Jean-Luc Ponty

�� Futurebirds

�� Michelle Shocked �� Crosstown Allstars �� Brett Butler �� Deadmau5 �� Nathan Nelson & BonJu �� Steve Kimock �� Train �� Dan Auerbach �� Push Play

�� Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs �� Skindred �� Breeze Kings �� Ocean Street �� The Pretty Things Peepshow �� Slippery When Wet �� Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun �� Songwriters Open Mic Shootout �� South City Blues Band �� Delta Moon & Joe McGuinness �� Jarrod Harris �� Cartel �� Evol Intent �� Mudcat �� Stewart & Winﬁeld �� Fishhawk �� Corey Smith �� Brantley Gilbert

�� Al Smith’s Midtown Jam� �� Straight No Chaser �� White Denim �� David Berkeley �� Frankies Blues Mission �� Comedy Gold Open Mic �� Deathloch �� Tyler Reeve Band �� Spiritual Rez �� Lyle Lovett

�� Ben Deignan �� Metric �� Gil Mantera’s Party Dream �� Ross Childress �� Deacon Brandon Reeves �� Coy Bowles �� Jarrod Harris �� Riggs �� Az Izz �� The Last Waltz Ensemble �� Shawn Mullins

�� Queen Latifah �� Heavy Trash �� Jill Andrews �� Chickenshack �� Waterseed & The Apostles �� Marc Maron �� Forever the Sickest Kids �� Chuck Ragan �� Breeze Kings �� Aaron Thompson Band �� Ingram Hill �� Big Trouble in Little 5 �� Van Hunt �� James Hall & the Futura Bold �� Slammin’ Betty �� Work In Progress �� Tonohoney �� Marc Maron �� Bebel Gilberto �� Annual �� Mudcat� �� Jason Boland & the Stragglers �� The Subdudes �� Judi Chicago �� Camera Obscura �� Chroma �� Robert Earl Keen �� Patterson Hood �� Cage the Elephant �� J. Tillman �� Mr. Eric �� The Stooge Brothers �� The Family Funk & Friends �� Marc Maron �� Underoath �� SKA IS DEAD �� Girlz Girlz Girlz �� Webb Wilder �� The Mountain Goats �� Fulturn Jones �� Rehab �� Free Energy �� Eilen Jewell �� Little Brother �� Wade in the Rythm �� Marc Maron �� Rusted Root �� Mercy Mercedes �� Uncle Sugar �� Ryan Montbleau �� All-American Rejects �� Imogen Heap �� Uncle Sugar �� Bobby Lee Rogers �� Flyleaf �� Stampede �� Chris Jackson �� David Cook �� Skinny Puppy �� Nigels with Attitude �� Crosstown Allstars �� Brett Butler �� Switchfoot �� Marduk �� Suicide Silence �� Nathan Nelson

�� Kevin Montgomery �� Little Brother �� Jarrod Harris �� Uncle Sugar �� Miley Cyrus �� Raphael Saadiq �� Uncle Sugar �� Joe McGuinness �� Stampede �� Chris Jackson

Chris Tomlin Dave Matthews Band Hillsong United Kenny Chesney Earth, Wind & Fire / Chicago Styx / REO Speedwagon Stevie Wonder Majic 107.5 / 97.5 90’z Throwback Summer Jam featuring Heads of State

2009

�� Yacht Rock Revue �� Al Smith’s Midtown Jam �� Larry Jon Wilson �� Frankies Blues Mission �� The Genitortures �� Hightide Blues �� Facehugger

THANK YOU ATLANTA

(Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill & Ralph Tresvant)

Starfest 2009 featuring Jason Mraz The Bob Dylan Show featuring Bob Dylan & His Band, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson & Family Project 9-6-1’s Family Reunion featuring Incubus Judas Priest O.A.R. Sound Tribe Sector 9 Kicks Country Jam 2 featuring Big & Rich Journey Sugarland Third Day

For Your Support!

‘‘Best OUTDOOR

VZWAMP.COM

‘‘

�� Songwriters Open Mic �� Uncle Sugar �� Holly Belle �� Hatebreed �� Narrows �� Stampede �� Cedric Burnside �� AFI

Music Venue ~

JOIN US AGAIN IN 2010!

East ATL Village | badearl.com Fri. November 06, 2009 | 9:00PM

CAPTURED! BY ROBOTS | Le Sexoﬂex Sat. November 07, 2009 | 9:00PM OK Productions presents: ALELA DIANE | MARISSA NADLER Laura Methvin

Lenny Kravitz @��Nov. 4)

Mon. November 09, 2009 | 8:30PM

Voted Best Ribs

THAO AND THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN Portland Cello Project | David Shultz

November Music Lineup

SUNS.........LITTLE BROTHER MONS........UNCLE SUGAR TUES..........CROSSTOWN ALLSTARS WEDS ........FRANKIES BLUES MISSION THUS..........CHICKENSHACK FRI 6 ...........ROUGH DRAFT SAT 7..........LITTLE BROTHER FRI 13 .........WAILIN FRANCIS GREEN SAT 14........KERRY HILL FRI 20 .........WORK IN PROGRESS SAT 21........THE STOOGE BROTHERS FRI 27 .........SOUTH CITY BLUES BAND SAT 28........DEACON BRANDON REEVES

1811 Piedmont Ave. NE

404-607-1622

For Booking: 404-325-8846

Tue. November 10, 2009 | 8:30PM OK Productions presents:

HIDDEN CAMERAS | Gentleman Reg Thu. November 12, 2009 | 8:30PM OK Productions presents:

SHONEN KNIFE

JEFF the Brotherhood | The NEC Fri. November 13, 2009 | 8:30PM OK Productions presents:

CHARLIE LOUVIN

Dexter Romweber Duo Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause Sat. November 14, 2009 | 9:00PM OK Productions presents:

LANGHORNE SLIM & THE WAR EAGLES Dawes | Austin Lucas

Wed. November 18, 2009 | 8:30PM OK Productions presents:

WHITE DENIM | Brazos Thu. November 19, 2009 | 8:30PM OK Productions presents: HEAVY TRASH | Tiger! Tiger! Sat. November 21, 2009 | 9:00PM OK Productions presents:

J. TILLMAN | Pearly Gate Music Thu. November 26, 2009 | 8:30PM

HOLLY GOLIGHTLY & THE BROKEOFFS COYOTE BONES (SOLO)

Sat. November 28, 2009 | 9:00PM Tight Bros. Network presents:

GIL MANTERA’S PARTY DREAM Sealions | Kid Stuff

Tix available at Fantasyland Records, Decatur, CD, The EARL & badearl.com PG 17 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

Road Warriors

This Month’s Hottest Shows BY SACHA DZUBA

headbanging, so don’t forget to sign your “pain waivers” at the door!

11/4 BLIND PILOT AND THE LOW ANTHEM

The Earl Blind Pilot, a folkpop outfit, completed two bicycle tours along the west coast to spread the word of their music. Now touring in a van, they’ve finally made it to our eastern shores. The Low Anthem is an alternative/folk rock group with some fantastic harmonies; check out their brilliant tune “Charlie Darwin.”

11/5 ADULT SWIM PRESENTS: METALOCALYPSE’S DETHKLOK, MASTODON, CONVERGE, AND HIGH ON FIRE

The Tabernacle Created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha (of Home Movies fame), Dethklok is a virtual band with a show on Adult Swim every Sunday. One of the best parts of the show is the amazing songs by the “world’s greatest cultural force.” Hilarious and heavy, the music of Dethklok is some of the best and funniest metal you’ll hear this side of Spinal Tap. Mastodon is Atlanta’s own Grammy-nominated metal monolith, thick with melody, complexity and crunch. High On Fire is a California band that brings elements of stoner metal to the fore with some top-notch guitar playing. This is a solid night of fantastic

11/6 MUTEMATH

Tabernacle MuteMath began as a long-distance collaboration between two of the band’s members. Their debut EP, Reset, was independently produced and they toured extensively in support of the album. Through combinations of networking sites and word of mouth, the band has gained a strong fan following, securing tracks on soundtracks such as Transformers and Twlight. It’s hard to describe their sound, but it’s something akin to a deeper-voiced Sting singing for Radiohead. Check out their recently released sophomore album, Armistice.

11/7 LACUNA COIL

Masquerade Inspired by gothic music and imagery, these Italians are known for melodic, mid-tempo songs utilizing guitar riffs, keyboard lines, and a contrasting duality of female and male vocal harmonies. Cristina Scabbia, please marry me!

11/11 MONSTERS OF FOLK: CONOR OBERST, JIM JAMES, M WARD AND MIKE MOGIS Tabernacle

This group of talented singer/songwriters consists of Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes, Jim James from My Morning Jacket, and M. Ward of She & Him. A supergroup created in 2004 through the jams that these musicians experienced while touring together; Monsters of Folk has only recently released their excellent debut album due to the members’ various primary band commitments. Catch them now, because who knows when the stars will align for another album?

11/15 ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN

Masquerade Legendary post-punk group Echo and the Bunnymen are probably best known for their hits, “The Killing Moon” (featured in Donnie Darko), “Lips like Sugar” and their cover of “People are Strange” (Lost Boys). Despite the death of drummer Pete de Freitas and the departure of bassist Les Pattinson, they’re still recording new music, and are touring in support of their recent release, The Fountain.

11/15 THE CULT

Tabernacle The Cult is an English hard rock band with gothic and post-punk tendencies. Though they had a stream of hits in the UK and several in the US, you’ll most likely know them for their hit “She Sells Sanctuary,” a dancefloor mainstay for many an ‘80s night. Their current tour is a showcase for their ’85 classic Love, playing the album in its entirety.

11/16 AFI

Tabernacle AFI began as an independent hardcore punk band who toured their asses off to get where

they are now, finally reaching commercial success 12 years after their inception when Sing The Sorrow debuted at #5 on the Billboard chart. Their sound has morphed and grown to include elements of electronica, alt-rock, and even melodic goth. AFI is touring in support of the recently released Crash Love.

11/22 IMOGEN HEAP

Variety Playhouse British singer/songwriter Imogen Heap has been nominated for two Grammys, with her latest album debuting at #5 on the Billboard charts. Initially known as the voice of Frou Frou, Heap found commercial success with her independent album Speak for Yourself. You’ll recognize many of her songs from spots on TV shows, movies and ads, particularly the beautiful “Hide and Seek” and irresistibly catchy “Bad Body Double”.

11/24 SKINNY PUPPY

Center Stage One of the original progenitors of the electroindustrial sound, Skinny Puppy has influenced numerous metal, hard-rock and techno bands. (Even Trent Reznor admitted that “Dig It” inspired NIN’s hit “Down In It”.) The band became best known for their controversial and theatrical live performances, where strong opinions about issues such as animal rights and chemical warfare have always been prominent in their actions and words. Don’t expect anything different this time around.

11/28 MILEY CYRUS

Philips Arena Best known as the titular star of the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus had both her first and second albums debut at #1. She co-wrote all but two of the songs on her latest album, Breakout, but only time will tell if she can make the awkward transition from ‘tween sensation to fully-fledged pop star. Don’t be confused, kids… she’s only Hannah Montana when she puts on the wig!

�� &

Tuesday Texas Hold ‘Em Tourney, FREE Pool, Beer Pong & Corn Hole Wednesday Speed Texas Hold ‘Em Tourney Beer Pong & Corn Hole Thursday LIVE Music Texas Hold ‘Em Tourney Beer Pong & Corn Hole Friday & Saturday Voted Best College Bar Voted Best Texas Hold’em Voted Best Cocktails NEVER A COVER!

�� 3179 Peachtree Rd. (Buckhead) 404-231-4201 Join us on Facebook. Search Moondogs!

PG 18 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

��

GRASSROOTS CORY MORROW

(311 Tribute) with ��

��

(Texas Country)

��

JASON BOLAND & GIRLZ GIRLZ THE STRAGGLERS GIRLZ (Texas Country)

(80’s Rock Cover)

NO COVER WEEKNIGHTS!

��

Curiosity Shoppe

with �� (Pearl Jam Tribute)

��

AZ IZZ (Hip-Hop Cover)

��

X MARKS HER SPOT

Exene Cervenka’s Punk Rock Legacy BY JOHN B. MOORE

XENE CERVENKA WILL ALWAYS BE known as the queen of punk rock. A founding member of the seminal LA punk band X, regardless of what else she does – and she does A LOT – she will forever be associated with X. And that is far from a bad thing. An accomplished writer, artist and musician, Cervenka has just released Somewhere Gone, her latest solo effort for Bloodshot Records. The album is a collection of beautiful, roots-based songs that stick with you long after you’ve stopped listening. Cervenka spoke with us recently about the record, her influence on punk music and the future of X. Being part of one of the first LA punk bands, at the time did you realize that the music you were making was going to inspire so many others to start bands? Well, it kind of happened at the same time. As soon as the punk rock things started happening, 9-year-old kids started playing punk music. There was a foreshadowing of that. I didn’t know it would last 40 years and that (X) would carry some weight in the future. Do you still get a lot of bands saying that you were an influence on them? I get that. Mostly I get “I was in love with you when I was 14.” Does that ever get weird? No, it doesn’t bother me. Are you surprised that punk music has become so acceptable and mainstream? Not really, because The Germs and X and those bands are still pretty underground and bands like The Ramones kind of broke through a little bit

more to be aboveground. Mostly what’s popular isn’t the original stuﬀ.

Do you still listen to punk music? I listen to some stuff. Mainly I listen to old music. I listen to music from the 20’s to the 70’s. And I listen to some newer stuff, but when I say newer stuff I mean the 90’s. The songs on Somewhere Gone don’t sound like they easily fit in a particular time period. Were you listening to any specific genre that served as an inspiration? I listen to al lot of old Gospel music when I was writing these songs. But what mostly inspired me were my emotions. I just wrote with whatever emotions I was feeling, you know? What can you tell me about the new record? I played with good people and I trusted them to know what to play. I didn’t have to tell them how to play it. It wasn’t like “I’m the producer and this is the way you’re going to play it.” It was the exact opposite. They had many great ideas, so the record was really easy to make. Had you worked with these musicians before? Most of them. I know them all. They weren’t strangers. You did a great record with Rancid’s Matt Freeman a few years ago (called Auntie Christ). Do you still see him? My band, Original Sinner, just opened for Rancid last year and hung out with Rancid and hung out with Matt quite a bit. When we’re in the same city, we definitely get together. If we’re both on tour in the same city we

always try and get together. But there on the road all the time and we don’t live in the same city. But I love Matt and we’re still really close. We had a deﬁnite bond. Any chance of you guys getting Auntie Christ back together for another record? Probably not because I’m still doing X and this solo thing right now.

You obviously write a lot of music. When you’re writing do you know where that song is going to go? A solo record versus X or another group? Not when I’m writing it, but when it’s done you can tell. I have one X song that I just wrote. I kind of hog all the good songs for my solo career. You’re also pretty well known as a visual artist. Working on anything new? I just closed one art show at a museum in Los Angeles and then I have another show up at a gallery in Los Angeles, but the next thing that I’m doing is a traveling art show in conjunction with Bloodshot Record’s anniversary. And I’m going to do an art show in Miami in December.

Do you like the ability to release songs a few at a time on places like iTunes, or do you prefer traditional full album releases? I feel like if people are starving, they don’t care what plate you give them your food on. You know? I feel like any way music gets out to people is good. You spend a lot of time touring. Any bands that you’ve seen recently that have impressed you? I like this band called Dead Rock West. There’s a Bloodshot (records) band that I like a lot called Ha Ha Tonka. I listen to Mazzy Star a lot, so when you say newer bands, I think there’s a band from the ‘90s that I like a lot. It’s funny, I try to go out and see bands… I just moved to California, so I need to try to go out and catch up on some of these bands. Why the move back to California? It was a change of events and it turned out that I needed to come back here to live, so I came back here to live. You just don’t ever know where the universe is going to take you…

What else are you working on? We’ve got a Knitters show coming up and a few X shows. X just recorded a few Christmas songs, in our own style of course. They’ll be released on iTunes, or one of those sites, in November I think. That was fun.

Artists on the verge of making it big

Latest Project: Speed is Everything (No Idea Records) For Fans of: Naked Raygun, Buzzcocks, The Methadones, Killing Joke Why You Should Care: Because this stellar punk-rock supergroup includes members of Naked Raygun, the Methadones, The Story So Far and others.

BY JOHN B. MOORE

We recorded those and produced those ourselves. It got us back in the studio and talking about doing some new songs, so that was really good.

God knows you’ve got enough going on. Do you ever think about slowing down? No. I’m picking up speed as I go. Life is short and I don’t have all day. I’m in a big hurry to get things accomplished.

WE GOT NEXT THE BOMB

MUSIC INTERVIEW

J HEN NAKED RAYGUN

frontman Jeff Pezzati put together his post-NR band The Bomb, he was undoubtedly under a massive amount of scrutiny. Like a punk rock Paul McCartney moving on to Wings or Johnny Rotten starting PIL, comparisons to his beloved and highly influential first band were inevitable. But The Bomb is clearly nobody’s version of Wings.

For about a decade now the Chicago band– comprised of Pezzati, guitarist Jeff Dean (The Story So Far, Tomorrows Gone), bassist Pete Mittler and drummer Mike Soucy (both from The Methadones)– has been churning out amazing punk rock records. Their latest, Speed is Everything, may just be the best album in an already impressive career. Guitarist Jeff Dean was kind enough to put up with a handful of questions about the new record, working with J Robbins and punk rock supergroups. So you guys are in a number of different bands. Does that make The Bomb a supergroup? A side project? Or a full-fleged band? I don’t know if you would call us a “supergroup”, but we are a full on band. (Jeff ) Pezzati started the band in 1999, and with the exception of us taking a break for about a year, the band has been active since it started. So do your other bands get jealous when you spend time with another group? No way! We are all good friends, and I think we all manage our time wisely. I have a lot more time on my hands to work with than the other guys, so I’m able to play in more bands than everyone else, but there is never any jealousy or anything like that.

How did you get J. Robbins to record the album? What was he like to work with? J has recorded our last two records, so when we were getting ready to record our previous record “Indecision” there was a lot of talk about who we wanted to do it. I’ve always been a fan of J’s bands as well as his producing/recording. Pezzati and J have been friends since when NR (Naked Raygun) and GI (Government Issue) played shows together back in the 80’s, so it just made sense to get him on board. I gave him a call and he was really into the idea. J. is hands down my favorite engineer I’ve ever recorded with! When we were recording “Indecision”, all of us got along so well, and he could understand where we were coming from with ideas, etc. We just clicked. So, that is why J will be the only one to record our albums as long as we are a band. At this point, he almost feels like the 5th member! Ha, ha! Who else is on the album? This record was a real collaboration between all of us. I still write the majority of the music, with Pezzati writing most of the lyrics. But, this time everyone in the band contributed, as did J. He wrote the music for one of the songs on the record. J also did backups on a lot of the songs too. Dan Yemin (Paint it Black, Lifetime) did vocals on one of the songs, as did Bob Nanna (Braid).

How long did it take to record “Speed is Everything”? We recorded all of the music and most of the vocals in about six days here in Chicago at a studio owned by my friend Andy Gerber called “Million Yen”. Then about a month later, Pezzati and I flew out to Baltimore to mix it and add some additional vocals at J’s studio “Magpie Cage” I think we were there for five days. What’s next for the band? We are actually doing an East coast tour at the end of Oct. with it ending at “The Fest” in Gainesville. Then Pezzati and I are flying out to California to play two acoustic shows on Nov.21 and 22. It’s a benefit that my friend Joe Nelson is putting together. We are playing with HR from the Bad Brains, Walter from Quicksand/Rival Schools, and a couple other people. Everyone is playing acoustic, plus it’s an art show as well. Should be a lot fun. After that, we are going to try and do a European tour in the spring, and then maybe work on some new songs. Anything else you want to add? I guess that I hope people check out the new record “Speed is Everything”. All of us are really proud of it, and if you are a fan of our band or Naked Raygun or whatever, I think you will enjoy it. PG 19 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

MUSIC

�� By B. Love, DeMarco Williams, John B. Moore, & Sacha Dzuba

THE AVETT BROTHERS – I AND LOVE AND YOU (American Recordings) Making the major label leap with ease and grace �� MORPHINE – AT YOUR SERVICE (Rhino) Unreleased tracks from one of Boston’s best bands �� PG 20 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

�� DETHKLOK – THE DETHALBUM II (Williams Street) Well on their way to becoming “the world’s seventh largest economy” ��

�� TRIPLE C’S – CUSTOM CARS & CYCLES (Def Jam) Rick Ross’ right-hand men grab the mic ��

�� KID SISTER – ULTRAVIOLET (Downtown) �� A hip-hop girl who just wants to have fun �� THE CASUALTIES – WE ARE ALL WE HAVE �� (SideOneDummy) �� Longtime punks just hitting their stride �� OLA PODRIDA – BELLY OF THE LION (Western Vinyl) �� Austin rocker creates atmospheric record �� SHADOWS FALL – RETRIBUTION �� (Everblack Industries) �� Originators of the melodic metalcore sound �� ATLAS SOUND – LOGOS (4AD) �� Audio experimentation that usually works ��

BEST AtlantA

BEST DINING

AwardS

BEST RETAIL

BEST NIGHTLIF E DINING

BEST BRUNCH J. Christopher’s

quick service and affordable pricing make Doc Chey’s a carry-out favorite.

serving the same delicious Greek recipes their customers have come to expect.

The place to go for all your traditional brunch favorites. Go for their signature dish Eggs benedict or try one of their many omelets and skillet dishes.

BEST CHINESE Chin Chin

3887 Peachtree Rd. (404) 816-2229 and other locations chinchinonline.com

BEST INEXPENSIVE RESTAURANT Eats

Multiple Area Locations jchristopher’s.com

BEST BURGER The Vortex Bar & Grill BEST BARBECUE Fox Bros. BBQ

1238 Dekalb Ave NE (404) 577-4030 foxbrosbbq.com Known as Bar-B-Q Southern, Fox Bros. say their Bar-B-Q has Texan roots with a southern influence. All their meats are cooked low and slow with Hickory Wood. Everything is made fresh daily, which is why this Bar-B-Q is a fan favorite of Atlanta.

BEST BAR FOOD The Earl

Little 5 Points (404) 688-1828 Midtown (404) 875-1667 thevortexbarandgrill.com

The Vortex's award winning hamburgers are big, beautiful and delicious. They offer 20 varieties or you can create your own. Some unique varieties include the Elvis Burger.

BEST BURRITO Willy’s

18 Area Locations Catering (404) 422-7107 willys.com

488 Flat Shoals Ave SE (404) 522-3950 badearl.com

Multiple Area Locations Catering (404) 849-2283 flyingbiscuit.com

One of Atlanta’s favorite home grown gems. Their famous biscuits are so good many still stop in to pick them up for the road.

BEST DELI Goldberg’s

5 Area Locations goldbergsdeli.net

Here you will find authentic kosher meats and dishes. All Goldberg’s locations offer full dine-in seating.

BEST DINER Landmark

3652 Roswell Rd. & other locations (404) 816-9090 landmarkdiner.com

DINER RESTAURANT

Atlanta’s original burrito chain. Willy’s award winning signature California-style burritos keep the concept of freshness true.

BEST CARRY-OUT Doc Chey’s

1556 N. Decatur Rd. (404) 378-8188 1424 N. Highland Ave. (404) 888-0777 doccheys.com

Atlanta’s original noodle house. Menu includes dim sum, salad bowls, soup bowls, noodle bowls and rice plates. Easy menu,

600 Ponce de Leon Ave. (404) 888-9149

From crab rangoons to cashew chicken, Chin Chin offers fine dining that won’t break the bank. This Chinese chain offers several locations around Metro Atlanta, each with the same great flavor, healthy portions and elegant décor. Perennial Best Of winner.

Landmark

This East Atlanta haunt is known for its great music, but it also boasts a great bar menu featuring a wide array of burgers, salads, appetizers, sides and main dishes. Fan faves include the EARL nachos, burger & dog and their popular weekly specials.

BEST BREAKFAST The Flying Biscuit

BEST LIFESTYL E

A landmark of good eats, 24 hours a day. When you crave a 2 a.m. breakfast or an 8 a.m. steak, the food at Landmark Diner will hit the spot.

BEST GREEK Athens Pizza House

1341 Clairmont Rd. (404) 636-1100 athenspizzaatlanta.com

Originally opened in the summer of 1977 by the Papadopoulos family. Athens Pizza is still

For 17 years people have been heading down to Ponce to experience their great jerk chicken and pasta dishes. Over all this time they have maintained the great quality of their food and kept their prices low.

BEST ITALIAN Sotto Sotto

313 N. Highland Ave. (404) 523-6678 sottosottorestaurant.com This intown restaurant is known for its impressive pasta and risotto dishes. Set in an intimate space in a brick storefront, Sotto Sotto features plaster walls, comfortable tables and chairs and a large window which lets diners get a look at the busy kitchen.

BEST MEAL DEAL The Flying Biscuit Multiple Area Locations Catering (404) 849-2283 flyingbiscuit.com

The Flying Biscuit serves great breakfast, lunch and diner specials 7 days a week starting at 7am. For just $12.99 you can get their Coca-Cola Glazed Salmon with yukon gold mashed potatoes and wilted spinach. Or for the same price try their southern inspired Shrimp and Grits. All items on the menu are offered throughout the day.

PG 21 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

BEST MEDITERRANEAN Mediterranean Grill

N. Decatur Plaza (404) 320-0101 Midtown (10th & Monroe) (404) 917-1100 East Cobb / Marietta (678) 996-0045 mediterraneangrill.com

Authentic regional dishes like gyros, falafel and kabob sandwiches made to perfection. Also try their fall off the bone lamb shank.

soup bowls, noodle bowls and rice plates. Best Spicy Thai Basil Noodle Bowl in the city!

BEST PIZZA Johnny’s Pizza

1810 Cheshire Bridge (404) 874-8304 And Multiple Area Locations JohnnysPizza.com

BEST MEXICAN Nuevo Laredo

1495 Chattahoochee Ave NW (404) 352-9009 nuevolaredocantina.com

��

This unique restaurant features authentic food prepared by Mexican cooks. Specialties include: Chicken Mole, Pork Tender Briskets and Best Chile Rellenos. Tacos, Enchiladas and other classic dishes are also available.

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN DINING Mezza

2751 Lavista Rd. (404) 633-8833 mezzabistro.com

When their first location opened in East Point back in 1977, it was an instant success. There are now over 50 Johnny’s Pizza restaurants in Georgia with many in metro Atlanta. The secret to their success is in the preparation. They always have used the finest ingredients accompanied with friendly service that keeps customers coming back.

BEST RIBS Fat Matt’s

1811 Piedmont Ave. (404) 607-1622 fatmattsribshack.com

Featuring finger-licking-good smoked meat and tangy sauce. Eat ribs by the slab, half-slab, as a combo or on a sandwich and listen to local blues bands in this friendly honky-tonk.

Mezza a Lebanese bistro and dar offers one of the most characteristic elements of Lebanese cuisine. Much like tapas, Mezza is an array of hot and cold appetizers. At Mezza you will find the most authentic middle eastern tapas and great wines. Enjoy belly dancing and hookahs while dining on the weekends.

��

Mondays and Tuesdays

$5 PITCHERS OF BUD & BUD LIGHT

Every Wednesday in November CHESHIRE BRIDGE

“Your Neighborhood Pizzeria”

WE DELIVER (after 5 PM)

$1 SLICES LUNCH SPECIALS FROM $6.75

BEST NEW RESTAURANT Lola’s Cantina

4665 Lower Roswell Rd. (770) 973-4747 lolascantina.com This new high energy cantina has quickly become a neighborhood favorite in East Cobb. The friendly atmosphere is complemented by the great mexican cuisine offered at reasonable prices. Lola’s stays open late for dinner but is closed for lunch.

BEST NOODLE BOWL Doc Chey’s

1810 CHESHIRE BRIDGE RD. ��

BEST PIZZA!

BEST SEAFOOD Wahoo! Grill

1042 W. College Ave. (404) 373-3331 wahoogrilldecatur.com Wahoo Grill offers an eclectic menu that focuses on seafood with a southern twist. The interior is European influenced with an open kitchen that creates a casual, interactive dining experience. Signature dishes include the Fisherman's Stew, Scallop Picatta, Crab Cakes and of course, the Wahoo!

BEST SUB SANDWICH Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs 80 Powers Ferry Rd. 770-321-1177 5697 Buford Hwy. 770-455-8570

Since 1975, Baldino’s Giant Jersey Subs has been recognized as the only true New Jersey Style submarine in the South. When you eat a Baldino’s sub, you know the difference.

1556 N. Decatur Rd. (404) 378-8188 1424 N. Highland Ave. (404) 888-0777 doccheys.com

The original pan-asian noodle house in Atlanta. Menu includes dim sum, salad bowls,

BEST MICRO BREWS ��

NOVEMBER SPECIALS

www.baldinos.us

MONDAY – Baldinos Extra Special (#7) TUESDAY – Like it Hot? Grilled & Toasted The HOT Italian WEDNESDAY – Ham it Up - (#5) Boiled Ham & Cheese w/ soup or side THURSDAY – “Check Out Our New Chicken Breast” – Try our #21 FRIDAY – Meatless Combo - Tuna (#10) or Veg Stir Fry (#27) w/ side SATURDAY – Steak Out- A-Steak Sub Your Choice (#11,13, or 19) SUNDAY – American Special - (#14) w/ choice of soup or side

Marietta 80 Powers Ferry Rd 770-321-1177 (closed Sundays)

$3.49 All Day!

Doraville 5697 Buford Hwy. 770-455-8570

VOTED BEST SUBS IN ATLANTA PG 22 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

��

�� YOU ��

�� 3 Locations:

��

www.thecornertavern.com

BEST SOUTHWESTERN Agave

242 Boulevard SE (404)588-0006 agaverestaurant.com

beers on tap, Taco Mac has the largest beer selection in the city. People come to try beers they never heard of before and wash them down with their great wings.

BEST BLUES CLUB Northside Tavern

1058 Howell Mill Rd. (404) 874-8745 Bringing great blues to the westside. A Wonderfully rhythmic sound emanates from this popular tavern at night. Here you will find all sorts of people with one thing in common; their love for the blues. Agave’s unique blend of eclectic southwestern cuisine, extensive tequila bar and wine list coupled with exceptional service makes this one of Atlanta’s top resturants. They are the recipient of numerous awards from various publications for their cuisine and great margaritas.

BEST STEAKHOUSE New York Prime

3424 Peachtree Rd. (Buckhead) (404)846-0644 newyorkprime.com This Buckhead hot spot serves only the very best USDA Grade Prime for every cut of beef. Their triple cut lamb chops, double rib veal chops and live Maine lobsters are also best sellers. The entrées are accompanied by exceptional sides and salads that are usually only available in New York City. After dinner, diners can escape to the Martini Bar and enjoy live entertainment.

BEST TAPAS Eclipse di Luna

4505 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. (678) 205-5862 764 Miami Circle (404) 846-0449 eclipsediluna.com Upon opening in 1997, Eclipse di Luna set the trend in Tapas style restaurants in Atlanta. With over two dozen Tapas to choose from, there is something to please any taste.

BEST WINGS Taco Mac

Multiple Area locations Catering (404) 642-3442 tacomac.com When it comes to wings, the mantra at Taco Mac is “We did ‘em first and we still do ‘em best!” Taco Mac brought the southeast its first taste of Buffalo Style Chicken Wings back in 1979. Their wings immediately had people talking and since then, they have consistently won awards.

BEST COCKTAILS Tijuana Garage

353 Moreland Ave. (404) 475-8888 It's the patio, with its fountains, plants and lighting that has won over patrons at this hip, Tex Mex restaurant located in Little Five Points. And its cocktails, which includes Margaritas, Bloody Marys and a great beer selection, keeps them coming back.

BEST COLLEGE BAR Moondog’s

3179 Peachtree Rd. (404) 231-2401

Great bartenders who pour strong drinks, hot girls, plenty of rooms to wander, pool tables, dart boards, texas hold’em and rock’in music. What’s not to like?

BEST COMEDY Laughing Skull Lounge 878 Peachtree St. 877.LAFF.AT.U vortexcomedy.com

Located in Midtown Atlanta in the back of The Vortex Bar & Grill on Peachtree Street, Laughing Skull is Atlanta's only full-time progressive comedy lounge, This intimate setting (the club has 74 seats), along with a line-up of amazing comedians, gives patrons a unique comedy experience that can not be found any where else in the city.

BEST COUNTRY HALL Wild Bills 2075 Market St. (678) 473-1000 wildbillsatlanta.com

BEST LOOKING WAITSTAFF The Tavern at Phipps

3500 Peachtree Rd. (404) 814-9640 TheTavernAtPhipps.com With a capacity of over 5,000, they can show you a good time. Wild Bill’s is located just off of I-85 on Pleasant Hill Rd. in front of Gwinnett Place Mall.

BEST HAPPY HOUR Tin Lizzy’s

NIGHTLIFE BEST BEER SELECTION Taco Mac

Multiple locations tacomac.com With over 200 bottled beers and up to 100

3639 Piedmont Rd. (404) 846-6000 415 Memorial Dr. (404) 554-8220 tinlizzyscantina.com Tin Lizzy's is a fun and casual cantina and taqueria. If you need a good happy hour spot, Tin Lizzy's is the right place. They stock their bar with the finest spirits available. A lively happy hour crowd during the week attracts a group of young professionals drinking assorted draft beers and margaritas.

BEST IMPROV Whole World Theatre

1216 Spring St. (404) 817-7529 wholeworldtheatre.com Whole World Improv Theatre opened in midtown in 1993. At that time a dedicated and talented core of actors united to form the the hottest improv company in town. That goal has been realized as they have won consistent awards for their improv and comedy.

BEST IRISH PUB Fado’ Irish Pub

273 Buckhead Ave. (404) 841-0066 fadoirishpub.com

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR Red Door Tavern 3180 Roswell Rd. (404) 846-6525

Now in their sixth year, The Red Door Tavern has become a favorite watering hole in north Buckhead. Located one block north of the Roxy Theatre, Red Door is the perfect place to meet up with friends either at the beginning of the night or at the end.

BEST PATIO SCENE Tavern at Phipps 3500 Peachtree Rd. (404) 814-9640

Since moving down the street, Fado’ hasn’t missed a beat. The new multi-million dollar pub is better than ever. It features multiple levels and plenty of space for private functions. And they still have tons of authentic memorabilia and great pints.

BEST LOCAL MUSIC The Earl

488 Flat Shoals Ave (404) 522-3950 badearl.com

The Earl prides itself on booking the hottest local acts in Atlanta. Check their schedule and you'll see that the club features the best bands that the ATL has to offer. Shows run nightly, so keep checking back to see when your favorite is playing.

BEST MARGARITA Agave

242 Boulevard SE (404)588-0006 agaverestaurant.com Agave uses only the finest ingredients and products for their margaritas. All Agave margaritas are made with blue agave tequilas and frsh squezed lime juice. There are 85 tequilas and 10 different award winning margaritas to choose from.

BEST MICRO BREWS Corner Tavern

464 Edgewood (404) 577-2310 thecornertavern.com Atlanta’s only American Taproom has over 100 American micro-brewed beers & native wines. Enjoy billiards, darts and trivia while tasting out these great brews.

BEST MUSIC VENUE INDOOR Center Stage 1374 W Peachtree St. (404) 885-1365 centerstage-atlanta.com

Center Stage is an icon in the Atlanta music and performing arts community. This venue stands apart from the rest with an intimate 1100 capacity where every seat is a winner, an undisputedly premier sound and lighting system and a cozy lounge area and prime location in the heart of Midtown.

BEST MUSIC VENUE OUTDOOR Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

2200 Encore Pkwy. Alpharetta (404) 733-5010 vzwamp.com This venue's phenomenal 2009 season included artists such as Chris Tomlin, Dave Matthews Band, Kenny Chesney, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago, Styx and REO Speedwagon. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre not only showcases the biggest names in entertainment, it is the summer home of the Grammy Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Their patio is the place to be. It is located just off the main bar that features some of the most entertaining bartenders in the city. And don’t forget about the Best Looking Waitstaff who happily bustle drink orders back and forth.

BEST ROCK CLUB The Peachtree Tavern

3179 Peachtree Rd. (404) 842-1700 peachtreetavern.com Here you will find a great collection of local artists, cover bands and up and coming acts looking to burst onto the national scene. Views of the stage are unubstructed from any of their many bar stations. Some acts appearing here in November include Grassroots, Curiosity Shoppe, and Az Izz.

BEST SMALL MUSIC VENUE Smith’s Olde Bar

1578 Piedmont Ave. (404) 875-1522 smithsoldebar.com Original live music seven nights a week. The music venue is located upstairs from the bar and offers an intimate setting that is a favorite among Atlantans. Here you will find national acts on weekends as well as local artists during the week.

LIFESTYLE BEST BODY WAX Brazilian Wax by Andreia

80 Powers Ferry Rd. (770) 579-3201 1230 Powers Ferry Rd. (770) 955-2520 3176 Peachtree Rd. (404) 841-2456 4075 Old Milton Pkwy (770) 410-3149

Owner Andreia Longshore has been waxing for over 17 years. They have recently expanded to their fourth location in Buckhead. Be sure to take advantage of their $35 Brazilian Wax.

BEST CAR WASH Cactus Car Wash Midtown (404) 876-3232 Buckhead (404) 846-4040

Winner of multiple awards in Atlanta, their Ponce location was recently rated as best nationally. See their Best Of Atlanta special, $3 off their Express Exterior Wash.

PG 23 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

BEST HAIR SALON Van Michael Multiple Locations vanmichael.com

Voted one of Atlanta’s best and most affordable salons by numerous publications over the years. They now have four salons including the newly renovated Buckhead location. Be sure to take advantage of their New Talents cuts that start at $28.

BEST HEALTH CLUB LA Fitness Multiple locations lafitness.com

LA Fitness offers tons of amenities at unusually low rates. Here you can take classes in boxing and cycling, swim in their many pools, or take part in a game of basketball or racquetball. With so many locations, there is bound to be one near you.

BEST MARTIAL ARTS KnuckleUp Fitness 3 Metro Area Locations (404) 339-KICK KnuckleUpFitness.com

State of the art gyms offering martial arts classes in Boxing, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mauy Thai and sports training.

BEST TANNING SALON Hollywood Tans Multiple locations hollywoodtan.com

As the largest chain of professional tanning salons, memberships at Hollywood Tans can be used at any of their 250+ locations nationwide. No appointments are necessary, and with an average of 15 booths at each location,

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST BARBECUE IN ATLANTA!

you can be in and out on your schedule. Their vertical tanning system gives customers the most comfortable, sanitary way to achieve their perfect shade.

RETAIL BEST ADULT NOVELTY STORE Starship

Multiple Area Locations For location nearest you 404-766-6993 shopstarship.com

An Atlanta favorite for those into the erotic. Thousands of videos, dvd’s, adult toys, condoms, candles and novelties to meet whatever your desire.

BEST ADULT VIDEO STORE Starship

Multiple Area Locations For location nearest you 404-766-6993 shopstarship.com Among the largest selection of adult DVD’s in Atlanta. Between their 22 metro area locations and the ShopStarship online store, there is sure to be that suits your needs.

BEST ADULT TOYSTORE Inserection 5 Metro Area Locations

Plenty of adult toys and gag gifts for those on the naughty side. Everthing from vibrators, swings and wedges and more not fit to list. WINNER BEST SMALL MUSIC VENUE

BEST ART SUPPLY Sam Flax

1460 Northside Dr. (404) 352-7200 samflaxsouth.com

The place to go for all your art supply needs. Sam Flax offers a wide selection in their huge warehouse and the lowest prices in town.

BEST CONSIGNMENT Psycho Sisters

Little 5 Pts (404) 523-0100 Sandy Springs (404) 255-5578 Rock Springs Plaza (404)733-5599 An out of the ordinary name for a unique boutique. From fun to funky, wacky to wild, Psycho Sisters is the queen of consignment. Featured threads include Levis, Diesel, costumes, footwear and plenty of bling!

BEST HEALTH FOOD STORE BEST ORGANIC SELECTION Return to Eden 2335 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 404-320-3336 return2eden.com

Neighborhood grocery featuring fresh organic produce, grab and go prepared foods, cuting edge supplements and a huge vegan and vegetarian selection.

BEST HIP CLOTHING STORE Junkman’s Daughter 464 Moreland Ave. 404-577-3188

Little Five Point’s favorite and largest store.

Here you will find eclectic and unique clothing that has made the area a most stop shopping destination.

BEST JEWELRY STORE Worthmore Jewelers

500 Amsterdam Ave. (404) 892-8294 117 East Court Square (404) 370-3979 worthmorejewelers.com

Offering top quality merchandise at low low prices, Worthmore Jewelers has built a huge fan base. With ample displays of all types of jewelry, Worthmore is the perfect place to go for that one of a kind piece.

BEST LIQUOR STORE Tower Liquors

Two Locations towerwinespirits.com Tower's reputation has grown from statewide to regional as customers plan weekend trips to take advantage of their selection and discounts.

BEST SMOKE SHOP Smoke 911

6125 Roswell Rd. (404) 256-1116 710 Holcomb Br. Rd. (770) 992-4485 3466 Cobb Pkwy. (770) 974-5585 If you are looking for premium cigars, they have a walk-in humidor with all the accessories. This is the place to go from everything for your smoking needs and more. You will also find adult novelties, incense, vaporizers, and aromatherapy.

BEST WOMEN’S SHOES The Shoe Gallery

500 Amsterdam (404) 249-6009 theshoegallery.com Shoe Gallery offers a huge selection of shoes for women and men. Some of the brands they carry include Nine West, Nike, Cole Haan, Johnston & Murphy and much more. Best ��

11/8 Sunday GREAT AMERICAN TAXI 11/9 Monday IAN MCLAGAN

›

11/10 Tuesday THE FLATLANDERS

IAN MCLAGAN

11/12 Thursday JIMMIE’S CHICKEN SHACK 11/13 Friday THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS

›

�� MASTERSOUNDS

11/17 Tuesday STEVE KIMOCK 11/19 Thursday INGRAM HILL 11/21 Saturday WEBB WILDER

› ›

Atlanta’s Best Tapas Restaurant

INGRAM HILL

11/22 Sunday RYAN MONTBLEAU

of ��

��

Let us Cater Your Next Event! Catering Hotline 404.414.0826 �� www.foxbrosbbq.com �� PG 24 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

11/27 Friday STEWART & WINFIELD

WEBB WILDER

Thursdays & Saturdays 11pm in the Main Bar

DJ SKY Open Daily 5pm

Ask About Atlanta Room for Private Parties

1578 Piedmont Ave. 404-875-1522 www.smithsoldebar.com

OPEN FOR LUNCH! 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. 678.205.5862 764 Miami Circle 404.846.0449 www.eclipsediluna.com

Thanks For being Chosen"Best"- again!

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Present this ad at any of our three locations for free hand wraps with membership sign up

Kickboxing � Boxing � Muay Thai � Brazilian Jiu Jitsu � Personal Training

of Fine jewelry, watches and aRt...

Best Martial Arts

Sandy Springs � Alpharetta � Douglasville

Chosen Belt Buckle by King Baby: Hard enamel on copper with removable leather belt.

ENDURANCE POWER SPEED STRENGTH AGILITY FLEXIBILITY COORDINATION MENTAL TOUGHNESS BALANCE TEAM SYNERGY

Sandy Springs

Largest Gluten Free Selection in Atlanta

Alpharetta

Douglasville

Ave + Atlanta + 404/892-8294 Amsterdam Walk + 500 Amsterdam Ave. Decatur Square + 117 East Court Square + Decatur + 404/370-3979 Visit www.worthmorejewelers.com for our store hours.

Visit KnuckleUpFitness.com or call 404.339.kick For a ONE WEEK FREE PASS

Best Organic Selection

THANKS ATLANTA!

Best Shoes BestWomen’s Women’s Shoes

404.320.EDEN (3336) Return2eden.com | We Ship Anywhere!

2335 Cheshire Bridge Rd | Atlanta, GA 30324

In the former Shoemakers Warehouse location Amsterdam Walk | 500 Amsterdam Ave | Atlanta, GA 30306 404-249-6009 | Open Thurs – Sat 10-7 Sun 12-6 Visit us at www.shoegalleryonline.com

At the corner of Lavista and Cheshire Bridge

EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE BUCKHEAD

39 West Paces Ferry Rd. Atlanta, Ga. 30305 (404) 237-4664

VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS 778 N. Highland Ave. Atlanta, Ga. 30306 (404) 874-6604

SANDY SPRINGS 220 Sandy Springs Circle Atlanta, Ga. 30328 (404) 255-0026

NORCROSS 5161 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 606 Norcross, Ga. 30092 (678) 987-3600

www.vanmichael.com

Best Hair Salon

PG 25 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

MUSIC INTERVIEW

REUNITED (AND IT FEELS SO GOOD)

After Four Years Apart, The Get Up Kids Call It A Comeback

New Name. New Album. Same Mission for Mike Bigga.

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

HEN YOU GROW UP, YOU START TO realize the folly in some of your ways. You can’t ﬁx some of your past actions, but with others, you can certainly admit shortcomings and make things right. That said, Michael Render, the 34-yearold Atlanta rapper who used to go by “Killer Mike,” has changed his musical moniker to “Mike Bigga.” For him it was a move to come oﬀ less threatening, more about his business. We respect grown-man action like that. We also dig the fact that Mike’s discography -be it his ’03 debut Monster or September’s ode to the A, Underground Atlanta- has never swayed from its two goals- moving the feet and working the brain. The introspective homie could have changed his name to Mike & Ike and we’d have the same appreciation for him.

the host and hostess may or may not know me, but the closer you get to the kitchen, the more people know me. If it’s 20 people in the kitchen, they all know me. My music is for them. It’s for people who are really in the struggle, who are about taking care of self, taking care of family and taking care of community. Usually, that turns out to be your regular, everyday worker- white, black, Latin, Asian. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes, but it tends to be people who put on a uniform.

What makes Underground Atlanta special? It’s an amazing record. It’s less Killer Mike and more Mike Bigga. When I go out on the weekends in Atlanta, I’m an Atlantian. I think a lot of times, you have the Killer Mike that’s street savvy and street knowledgeable on the tracks; it’s almost like two different personalities. You got Killer Mike when he goes to clubs in Atlanta and he’s hangin’ Do you like what you see across I FIND THAT PEOPLE WHO with OJ, Gucci Mane, Shawty hip hop today? LISTEN TO ME TEND TO BE Lo and T.I. and he’s just having Rap is always diverse and a ball. I wanted to give people happy and sad and serious at all PEOPLE WHO HAVE A MIND that in music. I wanted people time. At different times it’s been to experience Atlanta that THAT CAN THINK ON A FEW haven’t balanced in different ways. The been here. Atlanta has only thing in rap that I don’t see LEVELS, AND DIFFERENT its share of nice dance clubs and as normal is I don’t see an active bars and you hear a lot about audience. When I listened to rap THEY’RE REALLY NOT that. I got a lot of that on this in the 90s, and when I saw older record. But in addition to that, IN. HONED kids listen to rap in the 80s, I Atlanta has a way funky art-rap saw people that felt like they scene where kids are using live were walking, talking statements. Their statement wasn’t instruments and doing big things. [them] trying to be another person. They were trying to one-up each other. If one dude had on the coldest Pumas, Are rappers in the A getting better about helping one another dude was going to have the coldest Gazelles. In another become a success? the 90s, if you had the Raiders jacket, somebody else was With most young bruthas, when we come into this game, going to want to pop up in the Yankees Starter jacket with we’re so consumed in your own thing. In a lot of other the hood. Today I just kinda see the audience fumbling in cities, I know there’s some malice attached to it. A lot of line with particular trends. When you do that, you lose. dudes really don’t help one another. Down here, the love is genuinely there. But it’s about people being so focused that How are you able to diversify on the tracks? they don’t have the time and opportunity a lot of times to I find that people who listen to me tend to be people who reach out and do certain things. have a mind that can think on a few different levels, and they’re really not honed in. They’re not so perplexed on You’re officially signed to Grand Hustle? one thing that they don’t think outside their box. I really I’ve been attached in some form since we both hit the did use part of my teenage years to engage in juvenile scene. It’s really like a fraternity or brotherhood. We all delinquency. Some would call it the trap, rolling rock and from the same neighborhood. It’s not like we can’t like running around doing stuff affiliated with gang stuff. But each other. We gotta be comrades and friends. It’s been at the same time, I always valued being smart. I saw the family. It just made a lot of business sense to me to make way people who weren’t smart got treated and I wasn’t myself available to the majors alongside Tip. with it. My mother was a business woman. She was a street savvy woman. She was a hustler. My father was an Where have you grown most since coming from under Atlanta city policeman. They had me as teenagers. So, they Outkast’s wings? never married. They went on to live two totally-opposite I’ve grown as an artist, in terms of trusting my instincts lifestyles, but they stressed the importance of discipline more and building an audience of like minds. When you and education on me. take people of a quality and a caliber of Goodie Mob, of Common Sense, of Kanye, of Jay-Z, those are people who Describe the Mike Bigga fan. everyone doubted. They built and created and connected It’s a guy that wears a uniform everyday. It’s really people with people of like mind. That opened the world for them. that have a focus, they’re dedicated and they’re grinders. For me to see The Roots go over 10 years strong and build It’s regular, everyday, average working Joes. It’s college and develop an audience of like minds; I’ve been able to students who think outside the box in the educational do that [too]. I’ve been able to step out of the shadows of system they’re in. They not only make money and have people who introduced me to this and build my own thing. good jobs, but affect the community. They’re really people That’s an accomplishment. You have to be forever grateful with cool, working class values. I walk in restaurants and with how you got in the game. PG 26 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

BY JOHN B. MOORE

NDIEROCK, EMO… WHATEVER LABEL YOU wantto toss on it, there’s no denying that TheGet Up Kids - likely the biggest modern musical act to emerge out of Kansas City, Missouri –have influenced countless rockers in their 10-year existence. After a decade-long run, the band called it quits in 2005 with a not-so-amicable split. But sometime last year, rumors of reconciliation started to pop up on fan sites and music blogs across the Web. On a collective field trip to see a concert featuring Spoon (the band for whom former Get Up Kid Rob Pope now plays bass), the rest of the Get Up Kids decided that maybe the years apart had given them more perspective and allowed them to grow up a bit. Hanging out led to a practice session and an eventual surprise reunion show at a Kansas City club in November 2008. The band has since embarked on and survived a European tour, and they’re about to trek across the U.S. Singer Matt Pryor, (who also fronts the New Amsterdams, just put out his first solo record and has recorded two children’s albums) spoke to us recently about the decision to get the band back together. So what was it that finally brought you guys back together? I did an interview with you earlier this year and you were obviously elusive about the band reuniting to tour. (Laughs) Honestly, enough time has passed that we’re getting along with each other again. When we ended it was kind of a dark time and we weren’t getting along that well. Through the years, every time we saw each other it just got a little bit less stressful, and then finally we all went to a Spoon show because Bobby plays in Spoon. We were hanging out and it was kind of like, “This isn’t weird at all anymore.” How long ago was that? It was April of last year, I think. So we were all cool with hanging out and started talking about doing this. It just kind of grew from there. When the band ended it, I assume it was safe to say you never thought you’d be talking about a reunion? Oh, absolutely not. I was done with it. I was over it. I was ready to move on and leave this behind. So why do you think it was finally time to get back together? It sounds really cliché to say, but we started this band when

we were in our teens. Everyone’s older; everybody’s got a little more real life behind them. I know I do. Was it odd at all to play that first reunion show in Kansas last year? It wasn’t odd. Not for me, at least. It was odd the first day we went into the studio to rehearse. I said to myself, “I’m going to bring a cooler full of beer and see what happens.” But it went really well. And when we played the (Kansas) show, I think the crowd was actually more nervous than we were. Has it been at all weird now that you’re back to touring together? Not really. It was weird the first time we got together to play, but we just did two and a half weeks in Europe and it went really well. It was kind of trial by fire at the beginning. We were all crammed in a tiny van going across Europe, and we very easily could have gotten on each other’s nerves, but it went pretty well. So is this a one-time thing or is the band officially back together? I guess we’re back together. We all have other things going on: I’ve got plenty to keep me busy, Bobby is in Spoon, James (Dewees) still tours with New Found Glory and My Chemical Romance, and everyone else has stuff going on outside (the Get Up Kids). But we have already been working on some new stuff. When do you plan on releasing that new stuff? We’ve definitely been writing new material. Next year is pretty busy. I think Spoon is going to be touring the early part of next year and I think I’m doing another solo record next spring. I’m not sure what the other guys are doing, but we’ll have to find some time next year to maybe put some stuff out. You guys were one of the first bands that got labeled emo early on in the 90’s. Did that term ever bother you? We got tagged as an emo band in 1996, so you get used to it, but we never embraced it. It’s kind of stupid because all music is emotional, if you think about it. We get associated with whatever happens to be the marketing term at the moment. I just think it’s stupid. People can call us whatever they want. As long as they keep buying your albums and coming out to the shows? (Laughs) Yeah. Vagrant Records just re-released Something to Write Home About. Do you plan on re-releasing more of your older records in the future? No, I don’t think we’ll be re-releasing anything else anytime soon. To be honest, re-releases are always weird for me because I always want to look forward. Really the only reason we did this was it gave us an excuse to get back out on the road and tour. So next time around you might actually have some new material as your excuse to tour? Exactly!

bella notte the reluctant idol KRISTEN STEWART ON ROBERT PATTINSON ON KRISTEN, FILM INTERVIEW

THE BEAUTY OF TWILIGHT CRAZED FANS & VAMPIRE CULTURE W T BY ALEX S. MORRISON

HOUGH HER BROODING Twilight co-star (and fiancée, if the tabloid rumors are to be believed) Robert Pattinson may have been plucked from relative obscurity and thrust into the spotlight, L.A. native Kristen Stewart has already been acting professionally for nearly a decade now, appearing in hits such

that everybody was freaking out over. It was like, “Everybody wants this role, Kristen. You have to read this!” But I didn’t want to be a part of something that presents a completely ideological idea of love to young girls and puts their female heroine in a position where [Edward Cullen] is all-powerful, all holy, smart and confident, and she’s just happy with that. It was very shallow. When you try to sum up Twilight in a couple of sentences, it sounds very trite and superficial. What changed your mind about doing the film? I read the script, and it was just the opposite. There was this great power balance between these two characters. Apart from just wanting to portray such an epic love story, it was the idea that she really wears the pants in this relationship. Here you have this guy who is 108 years old and hates himself. He’s afraid of himself, afraid of her and afraid of his whole situation. He’s extremely neurotic! Then you have this girl who is totally naïve, yet she’s willing to submerse herself wholeheartedly. I think a lot of people are like, “She’s a weak character.” But she wants it, and it’s something she’s willing to overcome. My favorite thing about Bella is that she trusts herself and puts a lot of stock in her feelings. I admire that.

MY LIFE HASN’T CHANGED. MOST CIRCUMSTANCES I FIND MYSELF IN ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE A YEAR AGO, BUT I MYSELF HAVEN’T CHANGED, OTHER How does it feel to be working on such a popular film THAN THE WAYS A NORMAL 19-YEAR-OLD with such a devoted fan GIRL WOULD CHANGE IN A YEAR. base? as Panic Room, Into The Wild and Jumper. Perhaps that explains why she seems so remarkably self-assured in the midst of the media maelstrom surrounding this month’s Twilight saga sequel, New Moon. In an interview at this year’s San Diego ComicCon, the confident 19-year-old (who also starred in this summer’s highly under-rated Adventureland) discussed her thoughts on Bella’s relationship with Edward, the pressures of trying to please the books’ rabidly devoted following, and what fans can expect from New Moon. You’d already done quite a few films before Twilight came along. What attracted you to the role of Bella? It wasn’t so much the character. Bella’s not very distinct, and there aren’t many qualities about her that differ from mine. You really project yourself onto her when you read the book because you experience the whole story through her eyes. I read a synopsis of the story before I read the script or the book, and it was something

It feels good. It’s funny because everyone feels like we’re nervous about the pressure and getting [Twilight fans’] approval, but this art form is so subjective anyway. The fans are obsessed with the books and I love them too, and there’s nothing better than sharing a passion. This is all so far out of the scope of what’s going on in our heads when we’re shooting a movie like New Moon. It was strange having the fans so close while we were filming, but, as [director] Chris Weisz said, it’s like doing theater. They stand up and clap after every take, but sit there very quietly, organized in little rows, and try not to disturb us while we’re all in character. It’s a bit more pressure, but at the same time it was highly motivating. How has your life changed since Twilight came out? My life hasn’t changed. Most circumstances I find myself in are different than they were a year ago, but I myself haven’t

Please see KRISTEN on 28

BY ALEX S. MORRISON

ITH HIS ROLE AS CEDRIC Diggory in the Harry Potter films Goblet Of Fire and The Order Of The Phoenix, Robert Pattinson certainly had brushes with a bona-fide pop culture phenomenon before he beat out 3,000 other actors to earn the role of brooding vampire Edward Cullen in Twilight. But director Catherine Hardwick’s adaptation of author Stephenie Meyer’s beloved novel, which grossed nearly $200 million in the U.S. alone, clearly launched the 23-year-old Brit into an entirely different stratosphere of fame. Truth be told, the Jack Nicholson acolyte isn’t exactly comfortable with all the attention, whether it’s screaming fans or tabloids digging for dirt on his personal life. We sat down with the actor just as the hype for The Twilight Saga: New Moon was beginning to reach a fevered pitch to find out how he’s coping in the harsh glare of stardom’s spotlight.

How prepared were you for the frenzy that’s surrounded you since you landed the role of Edward? I don’t know why, but it still shocks me. We went to different cities all around the world [to promote the first film], only to find these planned mobbings where everybody just screamed and screamed. Every single time I got so nervous, with cold sweats and everything. I started crying in Italy, like completely involuntarily. Do you know how it is when you have the wrong reaction to something? It was really embarrassing. So I don’t know that I was ready.

because I kind of agree with them. I didn’t even want to go in for the part initially, because it’s really putting yourself out there. You say, “Oh yeah, I can play this part of the perfect guy. The best-looking guy in the world.” I felt like a bit of an idiot just going into the audition. I felt pre-judged by anyone who turned up to the casting session, like even having the gall to go in means you’re a bit of an arrogant jerk. I was quite happy

I WENT IN HAVING NO IDEA HOW TO PLAY THE PART AND THINKING THERE WAS NO CHANCE I’D GET IT. CATHERINE HARDWICK LITERALLY DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING DURING THE WHOLE AUDITION. SHE JUST FILMED.

Did anyone give you any advice on dealing with newfound fame, like perhaps your friends from the Harry Potter cast? No one’s ever really given me any advice, but then again I don’t ask for it. I guess it was cool just seeing how the Harry Potter people have dealt with it, and how they’re all still very normal and sane. I think it’s because they ignored the surreal nature of their lives from an outside perspective and just lived their lives normally. They didn’t treat anyone else differently and didn’t treat themselves differently, and they ended up completely fine. I think the only reason to change if you want to be an actor is if you’re completely insane and you don’t want anyone to find out. If you’re a normal person, you can pretty much do whatever you want. Did you pay any attention to the complaints that you weren’t the right actor for the part? I did at the beginning. I was expecting it,

when they all said, “He’s not good-looking enough.” I’m like, “Thank you!” What was it about the role that eventually helped you overcome those initial misgivings? Just going to the audition. I went in having no idea how to play the part and thinking there was no chance I’d get it. Catherine Hardwick literally didn’t say anything during the whole audition. She just filmed. But Kristen did it so differently from how I was expecting Bella to be played, it shocked a performance out of me. It was the first time in a long time that I’d had an organic experience in an audition. Did you feel the chemistry with Kristen right from the beginning? Yeah, I definitely felt like there was some kind of connection. I definitely had a reaction to her, which I really wasn’t expecting.

Please see ROBERT on 28 PG 27 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

MUSIC INTERVIEW

OUT OF THE ASHES

Former Gatsbys American Dream Members Form Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground BY JOHN B. MOORE

NFLUENTIAL INDIE ROCKERS GATSBYS American Dream made a strong impression in their brief five years of existence. Hard to categorize, the band drew a diverse audiences that included just as many punk rockers and trendy indie kids. The group, which may or may not have broken up two years ago – even former members aren’t sure of the band’s current status – has spawned one of the most impressively creative musical collectives you have yet to pay attention to. Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, comprised of former GAD bassist Kirk Huffman and keyboardist Kyle O’Quinn, has had a rocky start, as an almost signing to V2 fell apart just as the label was about to merge with Universal Records. Through lack of funds – and necessity – the band released its first collection of songs on cassette (remember them?) and its follow up as a live CD/DVD. Their debut, brimming with brilliant late 60’s/early 70’s inspired pop rock, was just re-released on vinyl and CD through Suburban Home Records. Kirk Huffman, a little jaded but sense of humor intact, spoke with us about his former band’s demise, life in Kay Kay and the importance of a record’s artwork. So did Gatsbys American Dream break up or are you guys just taking some time off? You know, honestly, I don’t really know how to answer the taking time off or broken up question. I have to make up vague bullshit to tell kids when asked about it, but really I don’t know. Do I have a desire to play music with those guys again? Fuck yeah. They’re still the best musicians I’ve ever played with. Kyle and I still use elements of Bobby’s (Darling) unique song-writing style all the time and Rudy

KRISTEN from 28 changed, other than the ways a normal 19-year-old girl would change in a year. I would act in these movies for free every day, [even] if nobody saw it. I cannot describe how good it feels to actually have something that is truly in your heart and soul actually affecting people. That’s amazing, and that’s the biggest change. What do you think the fans are going to enjoy the most about New Moon? It’s not an easy story. Twilight was about two people who were conflicted internally throwing themselves against each other mindlessly. It was very impulsive. In this film we had to think a lot more about what we were doing because it wasn’t instinctual, like a chemistry/ love thing. Everything in this movie is heightened: If you get sad, you don’t just get sad, it’s like you’d rather just be dead. So it was just harder from an acting standpoint. Do you enjoy the opportunity to work on different films, like next year’s Runaways biopic? Yeah. If it was Twilight all the time and I did nothing in between, I’d go a little batty. It definitely alleviates pressure. The Runaways is going really good. It’s hard to talk about now because I still have four days of shooting left. But I feel like what The Runaways did was really important, so trying to convey that is daunting, to say the least. PG 28 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

(Gajadadhar) is unmatched by anyone I personally know on the drum kit. But we really burnt ourselves out on that music and on each other. I think the extended hiatus is justice for the amount of time everyone gave Gatsby in a brief five and a half years. How did things end with you guys and the other members? No seven people should have to live in such close proximity for 85% of the year and the idea that doing something that we loved, playing music, was tearing our friendships apart, is a terribly heavy thing to have weighing on your conscience. There’s been talk of demo-ing some new tunes, but realistically we’re all just taking time to try fulfilling what we want in our lives personally and I don’t see Gatsby getting back together in the near future, but anything is possible. Kay Kay came close to signing to V2, but it fell apart at the end. Was that a tough blow? The only tough part about it was that we felt like we had a really, really great A&R guy in Jon Sidel and a label staff who fully supported what we were trying to accomplish and didn’t want to interfere. But realistically, if the deal had still gone through and Universal still bought out V2 and had taken us on, our record probably would’ve been delayed, re-tracked, I wouldn’t have gotten to do the art work, we wouldn’t own the rights to our masters or digital sales. Basically everything important to us about releasing a record would’ve been compromised by a ridiculously bureaucratic process. Our success up to this point has been solely based on the fact that we’ve been able to put out records and continue to make new music available to people at our pace and on our terms.

When the Twilight saga is finished, how will you feel about getting your normal life back? When I initially start a movie, I’m dying to get it done. It’s like I’m thinking about something all the time and I want to go through the experience: I want to do the scenes and I want to make sure that we do them right. In the case of Twilight, I have so much ahead of me that it’s like… Usually I work about six weeks on a film, and at the end of the six weeks we will have made our product. But in this case I have to wait literally years. So I’m waiting to get it done. I want it to be done. I can’t wait to be finished! (Laughs)

If anything, the V2 deal not going through enabled us to promote ourselves more thoroughly and in more creative grassroots ways that give our fans a deeper connection to us, because we aren’t just running around with everyone else in the same mill. That being said, do you feel like bands really need record labels nowadays? Fuck no, unless you’re a chump. Look, check out tunecore.com. Any simpleton, including myself, can use that program and maintain an account of their music catalogue and digital sales. Guess what all the major labels use to distribute their artists songs digitally? Tunecore. com. I mean sorry, but that’s why we keep running our mouths about it. It’s insulting that I don’t even have a roof over my head except a tin can with four wheels and yet someone gets paid $65,000 a year to do what we’re doing daily for a couple of hours on a laptop. With the amount of technology available, bands should either focus on completely revolutionizing the music industry or being successful by distancing themselves as far away as possible from that sad business mold. For those who haven’t heard Kay Kay yet, how would you describe it to a typical Gatsbys fan? It’s music for people who like records made from 1967 to 1973.

conceived notions of how a band is supposed to release music? We enjoy messing with any preconceived notions. However, the Kay Kay releases have pretty much come from our inability to get anyone to actually put our releases out. After we finished the first four demos and released the cassette tape, we had a handful of labels who were interested in talking to us further, but wouldn’t go beyond telling us our songs were awesome as well as wouldn’t commit to coming and seeing us pull the songs off live so we had to put together some sort of way to show people we could pull all of it off on stage, hence the live DVD. The same thing is true of the vinyl release. We couldn’t get anyone to release the self-titled record so we contacted Virgil Dickerson at Vinyl Collective (also founder of Suburban Home Records) who agreed to at least put it out on vinyl for us enabling us to retain the ability to sell it digitally too. For people who are into us though, I think they view our unconventional record releases as just another part of why they feel so passionate about our music. Did you think about not releasing this latest album on CD? I don’t necessarily think about it. If the next record doesn’t come out on CD, it will probably be because we aren’t in control of that decision, but I won’t be surprised if it ends up that way either.

Well said. What other musicians helped out with the new record? Pretty much all of our homies who accompany us on stage all played on our records. How many musicians do you tour with? It can be anywhere from 10 to 15. This tour we’ve taken with us a viola player, tuba and flugel horn, cello and the six band members on bass, guitars, keys and vocals. You guys have had a few unconventional releases: a cassette, a live CD/DVD for your first proper record; a vinyl only release. Do you enjoy messing with pre-

ROBERT from 28 What makes her a good co-star? She doesn’t back down to people. It was quite good working with her because I don’t like backing down to people either, but it’s quite difficult when you’re the only person. If you’re fighting with producers, or when you want to do things a certain way, it’s good if you have two leads that wil just back each other up. Did you fight with the producers on Twilight? It wasn’t really fighting, we just didn’t want to make a teen-y movie. So Kristen being in it was like my insurance, because she was on

a good roll of classy jobs. When I found out she was doing it, I was like, “Well, at least this isn’t gonna be a silly movie.” Are you looking forward to the next two movies? Yeah, because the trilogy has such an intimate storyline. Even in the Harry Potter series, the entire universe it’s based in changes with every movie. But Twilight is basically a character study for the whole trilogy, which is very strange. I can’t think of another movie that does that, where the story has so little change of scenery. It’s set in a very small town, so it’s all very claustrophobic. So yeah, even before we finished Twilight I’d begun planning the character’s arc for the other two. Why do you think vampire culture is so enduringly fascinating? They’re the most go-to stock character when you need someone mysterious. Dracula could come out in the daytime, but the basic template of a vampire¬– being immortal, only coming out at night, literally having a dark secret that’s lethal– really intrigues people. Just saying the word “vampire” promotes so many ideas of mystery in people, and there’s also all the sexual connotations of biting people’s necks and stuff. In other paranormal stories you might have a zombie, which isn’t that interesting, or some sort of monster, which is ugly. But the thing about vampires is that they can be really good-looking and also extremely dangerous. It’s one of the few characters that can pull that off.

SPORTS NEWS

2009-10 NBA Preview: The Year of the X Factor W BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

HAT DO BOSTON, CLEVELAND, SAN Antonio and Orlando all have in common? Wait, let’s rephrase that: What do Boston, Cleveland, San Antonio and Orlando have in common besides an unrelenting hunger to catch the L.A. Lakers as the NBA’s finest team? The answer is they all added a very important player to their lineups via a trade, free agency, or return from the injury list. But these top contenders aren’t the only ones that brought on what they hope will be the missing piece to the playoff puzzle; every team has made at least one move it hopes will get them into the postseason. (The NBA brought on replacement referees to help it simply get through the regular season.) Unfortunately for the rest of the league, the Lakers got the same memo and upgraded too. The more things change, the more the defending champs stay at the top of their game.

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1. BOSTON

Without Kevin Garnett in the lineup, the Celtics simply looked out of sorts. Now that his knee is much better, so are Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and the team’s chances at an 18th title banner.

2. CLEVELAND

You do realize the 17.8 points Shaquille O’Neal averaged with Phoenix last year were the most Diesel had contributed in four seasons? While we don’t see that number improving much next to LeBron James, the smile quotient grows tremendously.

3. ORLANDO

New Magic star and Daytona Beach native Vince Carter has come home. With him, a hulking Dwight Howard and healthy Jameer Nelson, they honestly could bring home another NBA Finals visit too.

4. ATLANTA

The Hawks are so close to the East’s upper crust, they can almost taste it. With Jamal Crawford scoring prowess added to a potentially potent batter of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Al Horford, the team might dip its talons into Tony the pie.

5. DETROIT

We love how the Pistons have revved under the radar, just molding parts (Rodney Stuckey), re-acquiring components (Ben Wallace) and adding flashy pieces (Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva) for the long postseason haul.

6. TORONTO

So much has been said about King James and Dwyane Wade’s pending free agency that Raptors leader Chris Bosh’s plans have largely gone unmentioned. Hedo Turkoglu and rookie DeMar DeRozan’s play should sway Bosh to stay.

7. MIAMI

There is a small contingent of fans that says D-Wade is the best all-around player in the League. If he can help

Parker

get Michael Beasley, a talented forward with a new outlook on things after a summer in drug rehab, re-focused, he might earn our vote too.

8. CHICAGO

Though Gordon’s 20 points left for Motown, the Bulls should find them in a fast-healing Luol Deng (missed 36 games), fast-maturing Derrick Rose and fast-becoming-astar John Salmons.

9. PHILADELPHIA

The Sixers have the young talent (Louis Williams, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young). The team only hopes Elton Brand (played just 37 games over the last two seasons) and Philly trainers have had enough of seeing each other.

10. WASHINGTON

Amazingly, Gilbert Arenas has started in just 10 contests since the ’06-07 season, when he averaged over 28 points a night. If he approaches those numbers, and Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler hold steady, the Wiz can compete for a playoff spot.

11. INDIANA

Danny Granger is probably the best player in the East most don’t really know about. Celebrated rookie Tyler Hansbrough is probably the best college player who needs to show why he belongs in the NBA.

12. NEW JERSEY

14. MILWAUKEE

The Brandon Jennings era finally begins. The gifted PG will get his chance to pass to Michael Redd on the wing and Andrew Bogut underneath soon enough. Seeing the Bucks as a truly competitive bunch, however, isn’t happening anytime soon.

15. NEW YORK

This is technically Danilo Gallinari’s second season, but because the Italian sharpshooter missed 75% of the year with a bum back, we’re calling this his do-over. The talentless Knicks will need a season do-over by February.

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1. L.A. LAKERS

What do you get the team that has everything? You get the Lakers intense forward Ron Artest, of course. If said firework plays nice with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, the L.A. explosion will be impossible to contain.

2. SAN ANTONIO

Devin Harris-Brook Lopez-Courtney Lee doesn’t quite have the same zest as Vince Carter-Jason Kidd-Richard Jefferson, but it’s the best the Nets have right now. And honestly, these baby ballers will surprise a few teams some nights.

If there’s a better backcourt than the Spurs’ Tony Parker, Michael Finely and offseason acquire Richard Jefferson, INsite apologizes. If there’s a better power forward than Tim Duncan, INsite vows to never publish another issue.

13. CHARLOTTE

3. DALLAS

No disrespect to the Bobcats, but their starting lineup would probably be the best second string in the NBA. Beyond former Hornet Tyson Chandler, Gerald Wallace’s dunks and Raymond Felton’s development are the only things worth hyping.

If Jason Kidd gets Shawn Marion’s offensive numbers back to their usual spot, the Mavs will have plenty to say about who the West’s second-best team is. At this point it’s rather obvious saying Dirk Nowitzki is one of the NBA’s 10 finest talents.

4. PORTLAND

Kevin Garnett

The Shaq-to-Cleveland shadow was so broad that it left the Andre Millerto-Portland move widely unheralded. But come playoff time, when the heady veteran is getting the rock to Brandon Roy and Greg Oden in transition, it’ll look genius.

5. DENVER

While the West’s other heavies swung for the fences with acquisitions, the Nuggets hit a bloop single, only drafting Ty Lawson. J.R. Smith will have a new role as a starter. Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony will be up to their old tricks.

6. UTAH

The Jazz may be the only contender not to screw with its starting lineup. Peeved Carlos Boozer will be happy he didn’t bolt for more money once he sees what his hall of fame coach (Jerry Sloan) and all-star caliber teammate (Deron Williams) are building.

Please see NBA on 30

PG 29 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

SPORTS NEWS

FANATIC BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS “I’ve been playing sports since I was 8 and never in any sport have I experienced anything like this. I guess the problem was we couldn’t stop them and we kept turning the ball over on turnovers. It wasn’t good… It felt like they were trying to raise their ranking in the BCS.” –TENNESSEE LINEBACKER KEITH BULLOCK, after Titans’ 59-0 thumping from New England on Oct. 18 We’ve already offered our 99% guaranteed NBA season outlook this issue. Might as well pass out a few individual superlatives too: MVP- Kevin Garnett (Boston); Defensive PlayerDwight Howard (Orlando); RookieBlake Griffin (L.A. Clippers); Sixth Man- Jamal Crawford (Atlanta); Most Improved- Shawn Marion (Dallas); Coach- Lionel Hollins (Memphis). The Sporting News’ BEST SPORTS CITIES: 1) Pittsburgh; 2) Philadelphia; 3) Boston; 4) Chicago/Evanston; 5) Los Angeles; 6) New York; 7) Phoenix/ Tempe; 8) Miami; 9) Dallas/Fort Worth; 10) Detroit/Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti; 11) Houston; 12) Nashville; 13) Atlanta. While we’re turning The Sporting News’ pages, we noticed the mag has also named the MAJOR SPORTS’ GREATEST ATHLETES of the past decade. Here are the winners: NFL (Peyton Manning); NBA (Kobe Bryant); MLB (Albert Pujols); NHL (Niklas Lidstrom); NCAA Football (Matt Leinart); NCAA Basketball (Tyler Hansbrough); NASCAR (Jimmie Johnson).

A Monthly Sports Must-See TV Wrap-up Top 5 Games This Month

“He’s out having a taco.” –ABC ANNOUNCER BOB GRIESE, after he heard driver Juan Pablo Montoya was no longer in the top five of the NASCAR standings

Keith Bullock

““I don’t even know who he is… And I don’t really care.” –MONTOYA “A series of calls that have occurred during the last several weeks have not been to the standard that we expect from our officiating crews. I believe our officiating program is the best in the country. However, there are times when these actions must be taken… The entire crew shoulders responsibility for each play. I have taken this action because there must be accountability in our officiating program.” –SEC COMMISSIONER MIKE SLIVE, after unprecedented official suspensions from two consecutive weeks of questionable calls in major conference games

And finally… ESPN pays school districts just $1000 to air their prep football games on the network… The Africa Open and the Hassan 11 Golf Trophy have been added to the 2010 European PGA Tour schedule… Joe Buck covered his 12th World Series this year, tying him with Vin Scully and Curt Gowdy for second-most ever. Buck’s partner, Tim McCarver, leads with 20… Michael Jordan’s son, Central Florida freshman Marcus Jordan, refuses to wear adidas, the shoe company UCF has a contract with… With the Detroit Shock relocating to Tulsa that means half of the 10 teams from the ’98 WNBA season have either folded or moved… Yankees vendors were selling $10 hot chocolates during the ALCS… R.I.P. UConn football player Jasper Howard

1 2 3 4 5

SEC Championship (Dec. 5, 4PM, CBS)

If you’re not a TCU, Boise State or Texas fan, the probable Florida/Alabama match-up is your national championship.

NY Giants at Denver (Nov. 26, 8:20PM, NFL Network)

Consider the earlier Turkey Day games mere appetizers for this football feast.

Cleveland at Miami

(Nov. 12, 8PM, TNT) Bron. Shaq. D-Wade. Young & the Restless writers couldn’t come up with more storylines to sell this marquee game.

New England at Orleans New (Nov. 30, 8:30PM, ESPN)

QBs Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe appear to be in a zone few signal callers are ever fortunate enough to venture.

North Carolina at Kentucky (Dec. 5, 12:30PM, CBS)

If these two met again in Indianapolis in about four months, no one in the INsite oﬃce would be shocked.

NBA from 29

7. PHOENIX

35-year-old Steve Nash still has plenty of vigor left in his legs. Amar’e Stoudemire, 27, and former Blazer center Channing Frye, 26, do as well. Things should work out well with fast break-loving coach Alvin Gentry.

8. MEMPHIS

Allen Iverson is one of the hardestworking players this game has ever seen. With the skilled O.J. Mayo, Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay helping with the offensive chores, A.I.’s Grizzlies will make a playoff appearance their one and only job.

9. NEW ORLEANS

��

Chris Paul makes a living scoring points and handing out assists. That said, it’s kind of interesting how he may score the biggest assist of his life in the form of Emeka Okafor, a center who should lessen the offensive burden on the Hornet stud.

10. L.A. CLIPPERS

After a season where the rancid Clips managed just 19 victories, it’s easy to say that things can’t get worse. But with the NBA’s No. 1 pick (Blake Griffin) and a former star with a chip (Baron Davis), things may get better pretty quick.

11. OKLAHOMA CITY

If Kevin Durant (25 points per) played in a major market, he would already be considered a superstar. If former Arizona State sensation James Harden played at a bigger school, you’d know why the improving Thunder were so high on him.

�� PG 30 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

12. HOUSTON

Rockets, we have a problem. With Tracy McGrady questionable and Yao Ming doubtful for the year, you have no real

Chris Paul source for points. Luis Scola, Aaron Brooks and newcomer Trevor Ariza will help out, but those limited options won’t get you far.

like Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes and Kevin Love (out with a bone fracture ‘til late Nov.), we’re starting to like his situation too.

13. SACRAMENTO

15. GOLDEN STATE

With a rookie floor general (Tyreke Evans) and new head coach (Paul Westphal), the Kings will be flying up and down the court. Too bad Kevin Martin is the only player on the team who knows what to do once he gets the ball.

When a franchise’s two best players aren’t happy –Stephen Jackson wants out; Monta Ellis wants to know why the Warriors drafted a Monta Ellis clone in Stephen Curry- you get the feeling you’re in for a very, very long season.

14. MINNESOTA

NBA FINALS: L.A. LAKERS OVER BOSTON CELTICS, 4-2

We love Jonny Flynn’s game. Seeing that the silky guard is surrounded by T-Wolves

Spice Up Your HOLIDAYS! HUGE SELECTION OF ADULT NOVELTIES & TOYS DREAMGIRL LINGERIE ROMANTIC ENHANCERS GAG GIFTS BACHELORETTE ��

XXX DVD & BLUE RAY TOBACCO ACCESSORIES MAGAZINES & MORE…

��

Marietta �� PG 31 • insiteatlanta.com • November 2009

The Red Door Tavern

THANK YOU ATLANTA!

BEST BREAKFAST, BEST MEAL DEAL

BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK… STARTING AT 7AM! www.ﬂyingbiscuit.com

VOTED BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

BOOM BOOM ROOM

LIVE MUSIC DANCE FLOOR W/ 2 POLES!

��

come and enjoy our “dar” or lounge on the weekends with great food, belly dancing and hookahs in a traditional environment

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN DINING

of ��SAVAGEPIZZA��

��L5P��|��Avondale��

Landmark DINER 3652 Roswell Rd.

at the corner of Roswell & Piedmont Rd. 404-816-9090 www.landmarkdiner.com

RESTAURANT

Open 24 Hours

BREAKFAST SPECIAL JUST $8.00!

Pancakes or French Toast w/ 2 Eggs, Bacon, Sausage & Coffee

Available Every Day • Come and Enjoy!

��

�� Corner of N. Decatur & Clairmont

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

��

NOW OPEN! MARKET PLAZA East Cobb / Marietta 1255 Johnson Ferry Rd.

Authentic Middle Eastern and Greek Cuisine Cooked Fresh to Order

CATERING AVAILABLE 3176 Peachtree Rd. Buckhead 404-841-2456 80 Powers Ferry Rd. Marietta 770-579-3201 1230 Powers Ferry Rd. Marietta 770-955-2520 4075 Old Milton Pkwy Alpharetta 770-410-3149 Voted #1 In Atlanta!

VOTED BEST IN ATLANTA

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

HOOKAHS Starting at $24.95

Hand-blown Bubblers

New ROOR

Starting at $133.95

�� Detox Products

Pipes

Posters

Self Cigars & Body Defense Cigarettes Jewelry Products

��