INsite Atlanta August 2014 Issue

AUGUST 2014

INSITEATLANTA.COM

VOL. 23, NO. 1 FREE

Dragon Con Melissa McCarthy Back to School GT’s Justin Thomas UGA’s Todd Gurley

GSU’s Joseph Peterson

2014 COLLEGE

FOOTBALL INsite’s Annual Preseason Top 25 Poll

GA State Coach Discusses Turning Program Around

s as t e k c i T 25 $ s a low

EMIERE R P D L R WO

Based on the motion picture, Bull Durham is a pitch perfect blend of comedy, baseball, and steamy romance.

Durham Bulls Hat and T-Shirt Night Giveaways!

The first 100 fans to show their Bull Durham ticket will receive a complimentary Durham Bulls hat or t-shirt.* Visit alliancetheatre.org/bulldurham for more details.

September 3–October 5 Tickets @ 404.733.5000 alliancetheatre.org/bulldurham Groups 404.733.4690

Book by Ron Shelton Music & Lyrics by Susan Werner Directed by Kip Fagan Based on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture written and directed by Ron Shelton

*While supplies last, giveaways are not guaranteed. Giveaway will take place 1 hour prior to curtain. Valid for same night ticket only.

With additional support provided by Series on the Alliance Stage

Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs

PG 2 • August 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

CONTENTS • AUGUST 2014 • VOLUME 23, NO. 1

SHOWS & CONCERTS · PRIVATE & GROUP EVENTS · THEATRE TOURS · FOX THEATRE.ORG

Atlanta’s

Entertainment Monthly

INTERVIEWS 11 Melissa McCarthy 14 Get On Up 15 Daniel Ratcliff 16 Brent Morin 18 Ethan Hawke 21 Journey 22 The Meat Men 22 Crow Bait 23 John Doe of X 23 Roxie Watson 24 GSU’s Trent Miles 25 Maria Taylor

11

14

FEATURES 06 08 09 12 13 24

SEE YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE AT THE ICONIC FOX THEATRE AND ENJOY A TOUR * BEFORE THE FILM!

Dragon Con Dime Restaurant Deals ATL’s Best Pizza Education Guide Back to School Movies NCAA Football Preview

COLUMNS 04 05 05 07 10 16 19 20 26 26 26

MARY POPPINS SING-A-LONG SUNDAY, AUGUST 17 AT 2 PM

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

H

FOR TICKETS VISIT FOXTHEATRE.ORG OR CALL 855-285-8499 H

*TOURS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR GONE WITH THE WIND, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN/BLAZING SADDLES.

15

Test Drive College OGLETHORPE’S DEGREE PROGRAM FOR BUSY ADULTS

25

Try a course or two and save 50% on tuition. Hundreds of day and evening courses available.

www.insiteatlanta.com Publisher Stephen Miller steve@insiteatlanta.com Managing Editor Bret Love bret@insiteatlanta.com Art Director / Web Design Nick Tipton nick@insiteatlanta.com Sports Editor DeMarco Williams demarco@insiteatlanta.com Local Events Editor Glenn Lafollette glenn@insiteatlanta.com Music Editor John Moore john@insiteatlanta.com

Follow us on the web!

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

• FALL TERMS BEGIN AUGUST 18 AND OCTOBER 15 • STREAMLINED APPLICATION, 24 HR. APPROVAL NO APPLICATION FEES • CONVENIENT BROOKHAVEN CAMPUS NEAR LENOX SQUARE, INTERSTATES AND MARTA

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Editorial content of INsite is the opinion of each writer and is not necessarily the opinion of INsite, its staff, or its advertisers. INsite does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor do the publisher or editors of INsite assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. No content, i.e., articles, graphics, designs and information (any and all) in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from publisher.

ACT NOW!

Fe st iva

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STAFF LISTING

© Copyright 2014, Be Bop Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved

AUGUST 2014

INSITEATLAN TA.COM

VOL. 23, NO. 1 FREE

Dragon Con Melissa McCarthy Back to School GT’s Justin Thomas UGS’a Todd Gurley

GSU’s Joseph Peterson

2014 COLLEGE

FOOTBALL INsite’s Annual Preseason

GA State Coach Discussing

• TAKE ONE OR TWO CLASSES AND SAVE 50%

Top 25 Poll

Turning Program Around

Check out our NCAA Preview on page 24! Photo credit for Georgia Tech is Danny Karnik/GT Athletics.

Find out how you can take Oglethorpe University for a test drive: www.adults.oglethorpe.edu/insite or call 404.364.8314.

FOUNDED IN 1835, OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY IS RANKED AMONG THE NATION’S BEST COLLEGES BY FORBES AND THE PRINCETON REVIEW insiteatlanta.com • August 2014 • PG 3

Around Town

Atlanta Neighborhood Happenings and Events in August

AUGUST 9 & 23

AUGUST 15

Lab Coat Kids Science Show

Chastain Park Amphitheater

Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Gypsy Kings

From way cool chemistry to funny physics, Lab Coat Kids reward a child’s curiosity with SCI-FUN programs designed to keep them thinking long after the show is over.

This month will focus on light and color.

Using a prism, children can learn how white light can be divided into all colors and how the primary colors (yellow, blue and red) can be mixed to make green, purple, pink, brown and orange. ChildrensMuseumAtlanta.org

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Grammy Award winning Gipsy Kings when they play Delta Classic Chastain Park Amphitheater on August 15 featuring Nicolas Reyes and Tonino Baliardo. Opening the night, is Ole’ Noys, the sons of the Gipsy Kings’ Toninno Baliardo and Nicolas Reyes.

The band won its first Grammy this year in the Best World Music Album category for their album Savor Flamenco. Visit ClassicChastain.com.

AUGUST 9 - 17

AUGUST 17

Atlanta Locations

The Fox Theatre

Downtown Restaurant Week Downtown Atlanta’s Restaurant Week returns for its 12th year! Get a special deal on a fixed-price meal at dozens of restaurants including brunch, lunch, and dinner.

With more than 30 participating restaurants this year, gourmet prix-fixe menus will range from $15, $25 or $35. Prices are per person and exclude alcohol, tax and gratuity. Visit AtlantaDowntown.com

AUGUST 17

Leavell will share his thoughts on the future of forest stewardship and just might play a few tunes. AtlantaBotanicalGarden.org

NBAF Global The Tabernacle

NBAF Global is a new annual celebration of one region of the African Diaspora. This year, NBAF stages an all-out celebration of reggae music and culture in a spectacular concert featuring Jamaican superpower Third World, British-Jamaican megastar Maxi Priest and Atlanta’s own Julie Dexter. Dance floor and VIP Seating available. Visit NBAF.org

Mary Poppins Sing-A-Long

AUGUST 16 & 17

Highlighting this summer’s movie showings at The Fox Theatre is Mary Poppins Sing-A-Long on Sunday, August 17. The classic film stars Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, and David Tomlinson. Come sing a long to the iconic tunes as “Chim-Chim Cher-ee,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Step in Time” and “Let’s Go Fly a Kite.” Visit FoxTheatre.org

Dahlonega, Ga.

AUGUST 9 - 10

Dahlonega Wine Trail Dahlonega's five unique Wineries, will host the 3rd Annual "Dahlonega Wine Trail" weekend passport event. Wine enthusiasts can enjoy weekend-long festivities at Dahlonega's award-winning wineries and beautiful vineyards as well as the always relaxing visit to Dahlonega and Lumpkin County's destination amenities and attractions. Visit Dahlonega.org

AUGUST 18

Sweet Auburn Music Fest

Chuck Leavell Lecture

The Sweet Auburn Music Fest (S.A.M.F) is a multi-genre music festival featuring three distinct forms of music R&B, Hip-Hop & Gospel, but is inclusive of all. Whether you are a patron or a participant, you will celebrate the Experience of being a part of a festival of Food, Fun and Music. Visit SweetAuburnMusicFest.com

Best known as the Rolling Stones keyboardist, Chuck Leavell also has played with Eric Clapton, the Black Crowes, George Harrison, The Allman Brothers Band among others. In addition to his musical expertise, Leavell is a respected authority on forestry and conservation.

Atlanta Botanical Gardens

NORTH GEORGIASTATE FAIR

Dinosaur Birthday Bash

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Stomp, chomp, growl and party like a dinosaur as Fernbank celebrates the 13th anniversary of the Giants of the Mesozoic exhibit. Enjoy games, crafts, and activities with dinosaur and birthday themes at Dinosaur Birthday Bash at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Costumes welcome. FernbankMuseum.org

AUGUST 30 - SEPT. 1 Art in the Park

Historic Marietta Square

Historic Auburn Avenue

82ND ANNUAL

AUGUST 23

The 28th annual Art in the Park welcomes more than 175 artists showing fine arts and crafts. Visit the Artist Market, enjoy the Children’s Art Alley, see the famous Painted Pots and partake of historic sites and nearby dining. There will be free parking on the street and in the Cobb County Parking Decks on Waddell Street. Visit ArtParkMarietta.com

GEORGIA LOTTERY CONCERT SERIES FREE WITH PAID ADMISSION

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LOCAL

On Tap this Month MAJOR EVENTS COMING TO ATLANTA August 15 & 16: Atlantic Station

ATLANTA BAR-B-Q FESTIVAL

With the picturesque Midtown skyline as a backdrop, the 6th Annual Atlanta BAR-B-Q Festival will showcase the world of barbeque and its endless flavors and cooking styles. Enjoy regionally inspired BBQ and pick up tips guaranteed to make your next backyard BBQ a cut above the rest. More than 50 BBQ teams from across the region will be on hand.

Visit AtlBBQFest.com

August 16 - 17: Panama City Beach, FL.

AMERICAN BLUES FESTIVAL

e Great American Blues Festival is taking place at Aaron Bessant Park (Pier Park) in Panama City Beach, FL. is music festival jams along one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and will feature some of the top Blues acts in the Nation. Performances

by Canned Heat, Biscuit Miller, T.C. Carr, Jimmy ackery and many more. ere will also be a BBQ challenge on hand. Visit AmericanBluesFest.com

August 23: Woodruff Park

EVENTS HAPPENING FOR SMALL CHANGE IN ATLANTA

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

By Marci Miller

YELLOW JACKET FAN DAY

Saturday, August 2, 4:30pm, Free Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field ramblinwreck.com

August 23 & 24, Saturday 10am – 10pm, Sunday 11am – 7:30pm, Free Historic Grant Park Festivities begin outside the stadium on summershadefestival.org

Callaway Plaza with games and inflatables. Autographs with head coach Paul Johnson and the players take place inside the stadium starting at 5 p.m. Fans will have a chance to have their photo taken with four of the Yellow Jackets' football trophies; 1990 National Championship, 2012 Sun Bowl, 1999 Gator Bowl and 1952 Orange Bowl. Fans can also have their photos taken with Georgia Tech's cheerleaders and Gold Rush, with Buzz and with the Ramblin'.

PIEDMONT PARK SUMMER ART & CRAFTS FESTIVAL August 16 – 17, Free Piedmont Park piedmontparkartsfestival.com

e 11th Annual Atlanta German Bierfest is back for an incredible day filled with authentic German beers, music and food. Festival fans will receive a commemorative glass to use to enjoy unlimited samples of more than 35 authentic German Beers. Atlanta area German restaurants and food vendors will serve up authentic cuisine. ere will be live music and plenty of family activities. GermanBierfest.com

e Piedmont Park Summer Arts & Crafts Festival is a 2-day outdoor event with an emphasis on the visual arts and family fun . is event will feature up to 250 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalwork, glass blowers, jewelers and crafters. e Festival will also offer artist demonstrations, live acoustic music, a Street Market, children's play area plus festival foods and beverages with healthy alternatives.

August 28 & 30: Georgia Dome

DECATUR BBQ, BLUES & BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

GERMAN BIERFEST

CHICK-FIL-A KICK-OFF

e Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will open the 2014 college football season with not one, but two marquee games at the Georgia Dome. e first game will feature Ole Miss versus Boise State on ursday, Aug. 28. e second game will pit projected pre-season top-5-ranked Alabama against West Virginia on Saturday, Aug. 30. 145,000 fans are expected to be on hand. Visit Chick-Fil-AKickoffGame.com.

August 29 - Sept. 1: Downtown Atlanta

DRAGON CON

Now in its 28th year, Dragon Con returns this Labor Day weekend. Dragon Con is the largest multimedia, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film in the world. Dragon Con boasts close to 40 fan-based tracks, a film festival, parade, art show, comics, pop art exhibits and displays, nightly concerts and parties. Visit DragonCon.org

GRANT PARK SUMMER SHADE FESTIVAL

Saturday, August 16, 12:00pm –8:00pm Kids 10 and under are free. 11 & up: $10 in advance ($15 at the gate) Harmony Park, Decatur decaturbbqfestival.com

e Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass Festival kick’s off this year with the blues power trio e Georgia Flood.

Returning to their stage from a one year hiatus are the ladies of Roxie Watson (see interview on page 23). ey are followed by the soul singing songwriting sisters of Larkin Poe. Also performing is Michelle Malone and headliner Balsam Range. Enjoy BBQ by Fox Brothers, Black Tie BBQ, Williamson Bros. BarB-Q and Sweet Auburn BBQ. For more information and to purchase tickets visit DecaturBBQFestival.com

With two large Artist Markets, two stages of live music, plenty to eat and drink and special areas for kids, Summer Shade offers a fun way to enjoy the last days of summer. Summer Shade kicks off each year with the Adams Realtors 5K Run for the Park, allowing runners and walkers to enjoy the beautiful historic neighborhood on foot. e Grant Park Summer Shade Festival makes a great way to spend a whole weekend in the great outdoors.

FESTIVAL PEACHTREE LATINO Sunday, August 24, 11am – 7:30pm, Free Piedmont Park festivalpeachtreelatino.com

Festival Peachtree Latino has been the largest family & multicultural event in the southeast since 2000. ey have featured hundreds of exhibitions, family activities, sporting events, parades, arts & crafts, ethnic foods and outdoor musical performances featuring renowned international musicians on two stages. is year, Festival Peachtree Latino has more to offer, with new attractions and a larger schedule of musical performances including Melina Leon and Pedro Capo.

DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL August 29 – 31, Free Decatur Square decaturbookfestival.com

e AJC Decatur Book Festival is the largest independent book festival in the country and one of the five largest overall. Since its launch, more than 1,000 world-class authors and hundreds of thousands of festival-goers have crowded the historic downtown Decatur square to enjoy book signings, author readings, panel discussions, an interactive children's area, live music, parades, cooking demonstrations, poetry slams, writing workshops, and more. 2014 will feature lectures and signings from more than 600 national and local authors. Author Joyce Carol Oates is to give the keynote address.

Yellow Jacket Fan Day – Saturday, August 2, 4:30pm

August 30 & 31: Historic Old Fourth Ward Park

IMAGINE FESTIVAL

Imagine Music Festival takes place over Labor Day weekend at Masquerade Music Park where the world’s top electronic dance music acts come together. e festival features multiple stages hosting the the very best musicians, DJ's and bands. is year’s line-up includes Adventure Club, Destroid, Fedde Le Grande, Infected Mushroom, Beats Antique and dozens more! Visit ImagineFestival.com

RECEIVE UPDATED EVENTS WEEKLY. SIGN UP BY EMAILING SUBSCRIPTIONS@ATLANTAONADIME.COM ENTER ON THE SUBJECT LINE: SIGN ME UP INSITE! insiteatlanta.com • August 2014 • PG 5

LOCAL

Dragon con StrikeS again Fantasy and Reality Meet as SuperFans meet SuperHeroes

extremely popular dragon Con parade. In 2000, the Con began hosting an ambitious parade he end of summer means The through the streets of downtown atlanta. The beginning of sci-fi and fantasy fun because route originally trailed from Centennial olympic every Labor day weekend, dragon Park to the marriott marquis, and continues to Con strikes again. The multi-genre convention, feature thousands of costumed participants who originally founded in 1987, is a beloved holiday wave and pose for the delighted onlookers. many destination for devotees of every possible element guests and celebrities also stay in nearby hotels of spacey niche fan culture. This year marks the along the route in order to enjoy all four days of 28th annual convergence, slated for august 29 the revelry and activities. september 1. from its earliest days, music has been an The event is so large it sprawls through the important feature of dragon Con. Previous biggest hotels years have included in downtown performances from atlanta. The Blue Öyster Cult, hyatt regency, edgar Winter, The marriott misfits, GWar, marquis, atlanta man or astroman? hilton, sheraton and spock’s Beard. atlanta, Westin This year, The Peachtree Plaza, Cruxshadows, Bella and even the Courtesy Dragon Con Photography (c) 2014 Dragon Con, inc morte, emerald americasmart rose, nerf herder, unwoman and The Blibbering Building 1, host events, panels and related humdingers are among the offbeat musical activities, with registration conveniently located at offerings that will rock the costumed partiers well the sheraton atlanta hotel. into the wee hours of the night. for the uninitiated, dragon Con was launched With many hours of non-stop programming, in 1987, as a club project for a local science fiction including a film festival, the south’s largest and gaming group, the dragon alliance of Gamers costume contest, wrestling exhibitions and the and role-Players. The name “dragon was derived self-described “largest art show in fandom,” for the little club from one of the founder’s dragon the Con tweaks its presentation every year.

Computers, which hosted a local Bulletin Board an improved website is now available to help system (then known as “The dragon”) in order to fans decide where to go, what to see and who serve as the central hub for the fledgling operation. to meet. Presented with the goal of offering By stark contrast, last year’s convention included visitors a mini “con experience,” information is around 57,000 fans, dealers, artists, guests, and displayed in appropriate groupings to ensure ease volunteers, while offering over 3000 hours of of navigation. varied programming. It is operated by a private Last year, dragon Con’s vendor halls moved corporation, with the help of a 1,500-member from the atlanta marriott marquis to the atlanta volunteer staff. organizers currently anticipate Convention Center at americasmart, Building dragon Con 2014 to draw more than 1. The move was intended to offer some much62,000 attendees. needed room to expand programming space, The sheer size and often sweltering, meltingwhile giving the opportunity to extend the pot atmosphere can be a bit daunting, with size of the vendor halls. Programming tracks programming choices so numerous, even devoted also continue to be overhauled, in an effort to fans have a bit of sensory overload when they continue tracks for individual fandoms. Intensive approach the physical site. But Insite is here to workshops offer attendees the chance to work save the day and help you find your way around, closely with representatives in writing, tai chi, belly with an overview of a few of the events and dancing, special effects, and costuming. If that’s happenings at the massive gathering. not enough, other events include puppet shows, In addition to a heavy concentration of talent from often-ribald late night parties, groovy dance sci-fi-tinged cult-faves, many iconic figures will parties and yes, even friday night Wrestling. be on hand to greet fans, pose for photos and sign In addition to the exhausting amount of fun, autographs in the popular and recently-expanded the Con is good for the community. dragon Con Walk of fame area. every year, dragon*Con had a direct economic impact of $40.99 million in features many of its guests for scheduled 2012, according to information from the atlanta autograph signings in one of the giant hotel Convention and Visitors Bureau, marking it as ballrooms. Be warned though, many guests do the fourth largest convention in economic impact charge a fee for their autographs in the hallowed in atlanta. In 2011, dragon Con had a direct Walk of fame area. remember to arrive early economic impact of $40.7 million, and brought for any signing session, because autographs are in over $21 million of direct economic impact handled on a first-come, first-signed basis. equal to atlanta in 2007, and an estimated $25 million access for handicapped persons is assured, but due in 2008. to strict con policies, everyone must abide by the Last year, dragon Con raised $87,356 for first-come, first-served rule. its three official charities: noah’s ark animal In 2013, George Takei, Lee majors, Lindsay sanctuary, Georgia Conservancy, and marcus Wagner, Lucy Lawless, Traci Lords and ed asner autism Center. since 2005, dragon Con has raised highlighted an incredible guest list that included more $311,000 for its official charities, which neatly 400 international celebrities. In addition change each year. This year’s new official charity to the guests, dragon Con hosts more than 200 is the atlanta Community food Bank in addition attending professionals to support the programming to the annual robert a. heinlein “Pay It forward” and related events. This year marks the return of blood drive. star Trek’s Patrick stuart, an encore visit from Gil so go revel in the delights of fantasy and fetishes, Gerrard and erin Gray of nBC’s ‘70s retelling of the see the stars and reach for the sky. dragon Con Buck rogers saga, and allison scagliotti and saul helps the local economy while offering an escape rubinek from the still wildly popular (yet recently to an otherworldly good time! cancelled) series Warehouse 13.

Visit www.Dragon Con.com for event info and some of the famous guests can be seen in the complete details

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Under The Lights COMING TO THE STAGE BULL DURHAM

Sept 3 - Oct 5 Alliance Theatre Box Office (404) 733-5000 AllianceTheatre.org/bulldurham

Coming next month to the Alliance Theatre is Bull Durham a new musical based on the beloved 1988 film. It tells the story of three lives brought together by America’s two favorite pastimes. Veteran catcher “Crash” Davis has been brought to the Durham Bulls to prepare rookie Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh, a hot rod pitcher with a “million dollar arm and a five cent head,” for the majors. Annie Savoy, selfappointed high priestess and muse of the Bulls, has a hard decision to make - every season she transforms one lucky player from an also-ran to an all-star by sharing with them her wisdom, experience, and bed. The love triangle heats up quickly as each character struggles with their own desires and hopes for what the future holds. Bull Durham is a pitch perfect blend of comedy, drama, and steamy romance.

LES MISERABLES

August 7 - 17 MJCCA Theatre (678) 812-4002 AtlantaJCC.org This month one of the world’s greatest

Find furry friendship!

musicals comes to the MJCCA stage. Les Misérables is the winner of over 100 international awards and has become a global success on stage and screen, sweeping audiences through an epic tale of broken dreams, passion and redemption, against the backdrop of a nation seething with revolution. Tickets are priced at $15 - $29.

SESAME STREET LIVE

Sept 12 - 14 The Fox Theatre (855) 285-8499 FoxTheatre.org

The characters from Sesame Street come to life as Elmo, Grover, Abby Cadabby, and their friends welcome Chamki, Grover's friend from India, in Sesame Street Live.

Together, they explore the universal fun of friendship and celebrate cultural similarities, from singing and dancing, to sharing cookies! Join the fun and make a memory with your friends and family!

TM/© Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved.

As a healthy young female, you have the power to give the gift of life and love.

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

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Sept.

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Fox Theatre Ticket Office 855.285.8499 • foxtheatre.org TM/©2014 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. 65909 5/14

become a favorite friend at sesamestreetlive.com

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2014 COLLEGE

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GREAT DEALS BEING OFFERED AT RESTAURANTS AROUND ATLANTA Atlanta on a Dime is a monthly print column and weekly email newsletter that highlights low cost events and deals offered around town. Sign up by emailing Subscriptions@AtlantaonaDime.com or on our website insiteatlanta.com Atlanta on a Dime subscriptions are free and email addresses are not given out to third parties.

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Doraville 5697 Buford Hwy. 770-455-8570

VOTED BEST SUBS IN ATLANTA PG 8 • August 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

ER! W INN

Taste of the Month Pizza!

Fritti

309 N. Highland Ave. 404.880.9559 FrittiRestaurant.com

Located in the heart of Inman Park, Fritti is Atlanta's most elegant pizza restaurant. They are nationally recognized for their pizza with many outstanding reviews and awards. In spring 2011, owner Riccardo Ullio commissioned Stefano Ferrara the third-generation owner of the Naples, Italy brick oven maker Uno Forno to build Fritti’s new pizza oven. This world class oven can maintain a temperature of 1,000 degrees and cooks pizza unlike anything you have ever experienced. Fritti serves authentic Neapolitan Pizza that is prepared according to traditional artisan methods. The dough is made with Caputo flour and natural yeast. They use San Marzano tomatoes and the finest quality buffalo mozzarella. Try their Salsiccia e Pepperoni (Italian sausage and roasted peppers), the Cotto e Funghi (Crimini and Portobello mushrooms with cotto ham) or the vegetarian Estiva (fresh tomato, red onion & arugula). Along with the award winning menu, Fritti is known for their great value. For lunch Fritti offers a variety of Anti-pasta dishes for $10 or less.

Chicago’s Nancy’s Midtown 265 Ponce De Leon 404.254.5103 NancysPizza.com

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

Part of what has made Nancy’s so famous is the freshness of the pizza. The dough is made from scratch while vegetables and toppings are delivered daily. Nancy's serves up thin and deep dish as well as take and bake pizza, appetizers, sandwiches and their signature salads. Nancy’s in Midtown has multiple TV screens and seats 70 inside and 25 on their patio. See their ad on the Back Page for coupons offering $4 and $5 Off online orders. They provide take-out and delivery to the area. Nancy's is the perfect place to call when planning a tailgate or get-together.

Savage Pizza 484 Moreland Ave. 404.523.0500 115 Laredo Dr. @ Clarendon 404.299.5799 SavagePizza.com

At Savage, the pizzas and prepared dish-

es are made from scratch every day using homemade sauces, the best mozzarella, and fresh dough. In fact all the recipes use only freshest vegetables, finest quality meats, cheeses, breads and pastas. Savage’s hand-tossed crusts are thrown with real hands and get enough air to make Tony Hawk jealous. In addition to their famous pizzas, they also have calzones, salads, subs and pasta.

Savage serves both lunch and dinner with indoor and outdoor seating and offers catering and delivery. Check out their second location on Laredo Dr. in Avondale Estates. This location offers the same great menu as the original with ample seating and delivery to the area.

BEST IN GREEK & ITALIAN CUISINE Since 1966

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

678-608-2073 OR 404-254-5103 265 PONCE DE LEON AVE. NE

ER! W INN

“Nancy’s Pizza... a big thumbs up from Da Coach!”

INDOOR DINING • COVERED PATIO

Mike Ditka, Winning Coach & Nancyʼs Pizza Fan

Athens Pizza House 1341 Clairmont Rd. Decatur 404.636.1100 AthensPizzaAtlanta.com

4 OFF

$

Any $25* Order Or More

Online Order Code: $4OFF

Since 1966 the Papadopoulos family has been serving up great Greek and Italian cuisine to the Emory / Decatur area. They offer many terrific pizzas at various sizes and over 25 toppings to choose from. You will also find great specialty pizzas like the Mediterranean, Santorini and Athens. But don’t let the name fool you, there is much more here than great pizza. Some of the favorite recipes on their Greek dishes go back over 50 years! Try the Veal Parmesana, Roasted Lamb or the Oven Baked Chicken. Athens Pizza offers daily specials for lunch and dinner and has an extensive catering menu. Athens Pizza is Zagat rated and winner of several awards including Best Greek Cuisine. The restaurant can also accommodate parties large and small with their private room.

Mo’s Pizza

3109 Briarcliff Rd. 404.320.1258 MosPizza.com

*Minimum order before tax & delivery.

Not valid with any other offer. Must present at time of order. Valid thru 8/31/14

MIDTOWN • 265 PONCE DE LEON AVE. NE 678-608-2073 • 404-254-5103

5 OFF

$

Any $30* Order Or More

Online Order Code: $5OFF

*Minimum order before tax & delivery.

Not valid with any other offer. Must present at time of order. Valid thru 8/31/14

MIDTOWN • 265 PONCE DE LEON AVE. NE 678-608-2073 • 404-254-5103

SOAK UP THE SUN… PATIO SEATING

Great Subs, Sandwiches, Salads & Wings

WE Deliver!

$7.75 LARGE CHEESE PIZZA

(Mondays Since Only) 1980

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

3109 Briarcliff Rd. | 404-320-1258

Johnny’s NY Style Pizza Mo’s has been serving up great pizza in Atlanta for over 30 years! But the menu isn’t limited to pizza: sandwiches, subs, wings, nachos and salads ensure that anybody who comes here can find something they like. Check for daily lunch and dinner specials. Everything is made using the freshest ingredients including the dough built from scratch every day. Come to Mo’s this fall to watch all your college and pro football games. They have a huge deck to hang out on and plenty of HD Flat Screens offering great views from any table. Stop in Monday nights and get a Large Cheese Pizza for just $7.75. Mo’s is one of the longest running pizza joints in Atlanta, come in and see why they are one of the best.

Multiple Area Locations JohnnysPizza.com

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

The secret to their success is in the preparation. They always use the finest ingredients. Johnny’s specializes in NY style pizza, which is thin in the middle and thick around the edges. They have several house specialties including the Johnny’s Deluxe, Italian Special, Veggie Deluxe, Steak & Cheese, Pesto and Buffalo Chicken. Johnny’s also offers plenty of individual toppings to create

your own masterpiece.

In addition, Johnny’s offers subs, salads, sandwiches, and other popular Italian dishes including calzones, strombolis, and lasagna. The Cheshire Bridge location featured below offers $5 pitchers of beer on Tuesdays (PBR everyday) and has a variety of daily lunch specials from $6.85. Johnny’s restaurants offer dine-in, take-out and delivery. Go to JohnnysPizza.com to find the location nearest you.

insiteatlanta.com • August 2014 • PG 9

FILM

Movie Reviews

MUSIC & MOVIES

10 Fantastic Films Worth Watching ALIVE INSIDE (NR)

1/2 As I lay awake thinking about aspects of Alive Inside that bothered me, I realized it did what a good documentary should do: It made me think and will perhaps spur me to action to correct what I perceive as problems. Michael RossatoBennett’s film about music therapy follows nursing home volunteer Dan Cohen as he discovers how music can stir buried memories in people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. He begins a crusade to get nursing BY CHRISTIAN PEREZ homes to furnish iPods – a more effective and, THISpoints MONTH’S EXPLORATION as a OR doctor out, cheaper alternativeofto going to look at films drugsmovie thathistory, deadenwe’re people’s emotions rather go hand inthem. hand with We’re thanthat stimulating You music. can’t help but be going to examine some that actual concerts, moved by scenes– one ofare which you may have some some simply seendocumentaries, when it went and viral– ofthat folks in ahave nearwonderful that are often vegetativescores/soundtracks state being reawakened by hearing more remembered than the familiar songs. Some of actual film. these are beautifully When researching this piece, I immediately interwoven with clips suggesting what those wrote down films of Martin people werethe like in their youth.Scorsese The filmand goes off Woody Allen. Itsuch would uptherapy the whole if I on tangents, as take music forissue African were to discuss the great musical choices in their rape victims, and I had to wonder if having all filmography, so in they must just be understood as these people private worlds wouldn’t make great. also originally had Once and Dancer in themI anti-social, perhaps disruptive and subject the list.thought But they about have both to Dark falls.onImyalso theappeared detective multiple timeswould in my previous columns, being work that be required to goso beyond left out to make way for other films to shine. stereotypes to find specific songs that would trigger memories in each individual. I realized ACROSS UNIVERSE my ownTHE playlist would include obscurities When this filmheard was released, it wassongs well- I wrote iTunes never of, including received by many my peers.

But it appears that myself that wereofnever recorded.

So I‘d better the has diminished timeI can… goes on, putappreciation my own mixtape together as while and and I cannot maybe you understand should, too.why. It’s not a perfect film by any means, but it’s wholly enjoyable –Steve Warren hearing the Beatles’ legendary songs in this context. rendition of “Let it Be” doesn’t get AND SOIf the IT GOES (PG-13) to you, check your pulse!

Diane Keaton is back– in all her highANVIL: STORY OF waisted,THE big-belted skirtANVIL glory– in director You’dReiner’s be hard-pressed to find anyone wholovable knew Rob latest comedy.

As the this metal singer band before rockplays doc was released.to lounge Leah,thisshe opposite But priorLittle knowledge of their lengthyacareer Oren (Michael Douglas), once isn’t highly asuccessful requirementConnecticut to appreciaterealtor one of the most career whose interesting and inspiring a hardand relationships havedocuments gone sourofwith age. In luck you’llMercedes ever see. These haveShanghai” been his band antique and guys “Little atresidence, it for too long, with too recognition, he thinks he little would prefer to and cruise their is captivating. intostory retirement, cocktail in hand, without being bothered. Picture a character who looks sweet HESHER in his clean white suits and argyle socks, but This onehesitate is all about using the music to help gun kept doesn’t to shoot paintball establish a character.

Joseph playsBut in the trunk of his car at aGordon dog on Levitt his lawn. the titular a rough,son tattooed with a young good soon hisrole– estranged and jerk adorable heart that’s just barely visible.Jerins) We meet him with granddaughter (Sterling appear on his adoorstep, guitar crunch and then along him, needing his follow help. If youwith enjoy films with music of Metallica usheart to seeout… withthe dysfunctional family,allowing eat your precisely who he is and set he is inyou. his ways. and maybe take yourhow mom with Reiner manages to bring the drama while keeping it INSIDE LLEWYN lighthearted, evenDAVIS making a few appearances The Coen Brothers T. Bone Burnett areand a a as Leah’s pianist. and While predictable match made in the heaven, O Brother,asWhere little cheesy, film and is uplifting, Oren and Art Thou a given a piece Leah findis usually a way to help for each otherlike in time of this.

Instead, I decided to touch their latest need, use their antique heartsonagain, and Oren collaboration, more subtle of and“Little somber tale of” discovers thethe true meaning Shangai. a New York folksinger in the ‘60s.

This film –Colleen Ann lives McNally and breathes its distinctive time and setting. And while theAGAIN characters BEGIN (R) and plot are strong on their own merits, it’s the music that drives the story.  Keira Knightly’s unexpected prowess as a SCHOOL OF ROCK singer is gives-you-goose-bumps good. I had Inofind it fascinating that indie iconVillage Richard idea, until she takes an East stage as Linklater thislost mainstream hit, but it’s ain Gretta, adirected lovelorn, soul of a songwriter, marvelous film.scene In lesser hands, it could’ve been the opening of Begin Again.

Within the hokey drivel.bar Butwatching it turned the out open-mic to be a crowdcomedic of the dingy humorous lesson on all captivates things rock,Dan with night, herhistory raw talent quickly a(Mark protagonist (Jack Black) who refuses to give up Ruffalo), a disgraced husband, dad and onrecord-label his dreams executive. and encourages othersyou to do the However, don’t same. thisofone’ s on TVInstead, after I get out of the knowIfany this yet. writer-director

F

PG 10 • August 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

John Carney (Once) cleverly flashes back to tell Dan’s story leading up to this moment. Then, when we arrive again, Gretta’s back-story of heartbreak with her college-sweetheartturned-pop-star beau Dave (Adam Levine) takes its turn (and, between you and me, I don’t know if I could recover from Levine heartbreak so gracefully). Together, Gretta and Dan– an unlikely pair of underdogs–travel an enlightening course and make crazy music Across Universe magic in the mess of a New Yorkthe City summer.

A soul-stirring comedy, this film illustrates THRILLING, IRREVERENT, FUNNY, AND AS FULL OF HEART AS IT IS HEART-POUNDING SET shower, I’ll layrelationships in my towel and that, while maywatch. fall apart, what’s PIECES, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY IS A GREAT FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTION-ADVENTURE… more important is that we don’t give up on SCOTT PILGRIM THE WORLD ourselves.

Instead,VS. regardless of whether or not Our review:  Iit’slove Edgar Wright’ s work. hisagain. by our own choosing, weAnd trywhile and try Afrobeat. His songs usually lasted half an hour Ronan and Bradley Cooper as the voice of a Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of the –Colleen Dead, Hot AnnFuzz, McNally so they’re only sampled here, both in original genetically-engineered raccoon who talks and and The World’s End) is his calling card, this is footage of Fela and excerpts from the show as it fights like a feral Joe Pesci– is perfect. The story, aBOYHOOD marvelous addition to his catalogue, with a develops. (The original is far more charismatic which follows the titular quintet (including delightful punk spirit. The music is kickass, the than any of the men who portray him.) He WWE wrestler Dave Bautista as revengevisuals are kickass…

It’ s just cool all around.

And Richard Linklater’s latest is a film unlike loved weed, women and song, once marrying obsessed Drax the Destroyer and Vin Diesel what’ s cooler anything I’vethan everbeing seen.cool?

It was filmed, bits at a 27 of his mistresses in one day, which may not voicing the tree-like Groot) as they struggle time, from 2002 to 2014 with the same actors, endear him to liberated American women. to keep a mysterious universe-destroying orb SHIT HAPPENS! so that we watch the 6-year-old character The most(and obscure on this (onlyEllar Some Nigerian history adds context to the away Ronan, strikes an impressive balance Mason the selection actor who playslisthim, revolutionary activities for which authorities of humor and dramatic tension. And Gunn, fans of the band Every Time I Die have even Coltrane) grow into a man over nearly three beat and jailed Fela, murdered his mother and once best known for writing the Scooby-Doo heard it), thisinisand unlike any music documentary hours.ofThat, of itself, is a stunning thing banned his music from the radio, making him films, manages to keep the action coming at I’ve At two hours it features the to seen. see, similar to thelong, documentary UP series a rollicking pace without losing focus on his hilarious band on tour, splicing in concertSUNRISE even more popular. and even Linklater’s own BEFORE –Steve Warren characters and their motivations. Thrilling, footage their studioand recordings.

Somehow, movies.setIttofascinates moves the audience irreverent, funny, and as full of heart as it they even make these moments comical.

It to see the seeds of who he was in the person GET ON UP (PG-13) is heart-pounding set pieces, Guardians of may not be everyone’ s cup of tea, as they are a he becomes. It attaches you to him, makes you  the Galaxy is a great family-friendly actionhardcore band.

But I’d beand surprised if you didn’t frustrated, protective affectionate toward “He keeps hollering the same word over and adventure… perhaps the best I’ve seen since find to laughhaving at as these goof balls himsomething in a way unlike the same character over, ” insists an old record exec listening to Indiana Jones’ heyday. spout SHINFO (shittyactors. information) generally played by multiple This is aand project done James Brown (Chadwick Boseman) sing “Please, –Bret Love dick witharound. love and patience, and it’s remarkable.

Please, Please” for the first time. The producer But beyond the fascinating way it was made, beside him tells the man to listen again. HAPPY CHRISTMAS (R) BOYHOOD managesLONGER to tell a compelling, SOUTH PARK:alsoBIGGER, & UNCUT standing This time, he gestures towards the recording  relatable tale of whatthis ourone. lives were like in a Yeah, I had to include It hasn’t area where Brown is saying that one word but You know those people you go to the very specific time. Atthe thetest beginning, and necessarily withstood of time inMason terms of giving you so much more. For the Godfather of movies to avoid hanging with because they’re his sister theI really filmmaker’s laughs.

But,Samantha when I saw(played it yearsby ago, liked Soul, it was never as much about the words as it daughter Lorelei Linklater) are theFucka, children profanity-laden songs such as “Uncle ” of was the feeling behind them. Where the Frankie so boring? They’re on the screen in Happy a divorced played by Ethan “What Wouldcouple, Brian Boitano Do?” and Hawke “Kyle’s and Avalons of the time had hooks, few folks —white Christmas, which should be busted by the a fantastic Patricia This is the Mom’ s a Bitch” sung byArquette. cartoon children.

It most or black— had ever done music with so much Holiday Police for opening out of season.

Writer/director Joe Swanberg is known for accuratea fun portrayal of years how later, divorce kids remains watch 15 andaffects a worthy heart. But as director Tate Taylor so eloquently letting his actors do all the work, improvising that I have seen. South As these addition to theever expansive Parkchildren canon. deal shows in a picture that jumps from decade to from his flimsy outlines. Here he gives them a with their parents’ good and bad advice or the decade with great footwork, that heart didn’t baby and a dog as props and a house, decorated effectsMAKING of their parents’ STOP SENSEchoices, including some just come out the sky... well, on second thought, for Christmas, with a tiki bar in the basement particularly harrowing marriages, your heart The Talking Heads are a good band. Director you do come to realize pretty early on in the as a set. Jeff (Swanberg) and Kelly (Melanie breaks for the family.

As the kidsLambs) emergehas stronger Jonathan Demme (Silence of the story how much of a role the church played in Lynskey) are a whitebread Chicago couple with fromsome damaging circumstances, BOYHOOD made phenomenal films. Put them Brown’s journey—but so too did a confused a two-year-old son, Jude. Jeff’s sister Jenny shows you of life.concert And as Mason together and the youresilience get a fascinating mother (Viola Davis), an abusive father (Lennie and his whole their experience.

If youfamily don’t triumph, know the in band all way, that the James) and a dear friend (the wonderful Nelsan (Anna Kendrick), fresh from a breakup, comes to stay with them and promptly goes to a party filmthis shows just grow, in well, willyou make youhow lovestrong songs we youcan never Ellis as Bobby Byrd). In less capable hands, with her friend Carson (Lena Dunham), gets spitebefore, of everyday is one the of best knew whiledifficulty. ushering This you into theoflives this story of extreme trials, triumphs and hammered and passes out. She wakes up alone films we will likely this year. the film, but the musicians.

I mayget be over-selling chart-topping tracks could have come off like in the house except for Jude and Kevin (Mark Carr it’s stuck with me ever since I first saw–Benjamin it. a sappy VH-1 miniseries; instead, Boseman Webber), who’s been brought in to babysit and solidifies himself as the next Don Cheadle serve as a potential love interest. Jenny and FINDING FELA (NR) during moments where Brown shows genius as Carson make Kelly dissatisfied with being a 1/2 a businessman and grotesqueness as an abusive stay-at-home mom, although she’s a writer, the More of a cult figure than a chart-topper, husband. Now, Boseman doesn’t always look easiest job to do at home; and Jenny inspires at least in the U.S., the late Nigerian singerlike Mr. Brown in the face, but perfect vocal her to start writing a novel. After Jenny’s songwriter-activist Fela Kuti is a more obvious inflections and impeccable stage presence definition of “Rosebud,” I don’t think I can subject for a documentary film than for one assure you that James is undoubtedly in his soul. ever watch Citizen Kane again. Dunham is of Broadway’s “jukebox musicals.” Well, the –Demarco Williams the movie’s one relatively bright spot, creating show, Fela! ran more than a year; now here’s a character completely different from her the documentary and it’s hail Fela, well met.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (PG-13) Girls persona. Swanberg makes amateurish Alex Gibney– known for films about Enron,  mistakes: a fire alarm that could wake the dead WikiLeaks and other American political The latest Marvel superhero epic hadn’t even but can’t be heard in the basement; having the topics– wouldn’t have been my first choice for hit theaters as of our press deadline, yet the two men look so similar you’ll wonder if Jenny director. But he’s done a good job, approaching sequel has already been given the go-ahead, has a thing for her brother; and not noticing the subject from a twice-removed outsider with writer-director James Gunn attached. And in the editing room when Jenny addresses Jeff status, observing the coming-together of the with good reason: For my money, GOTG ranks as “Jude.” Here’s a drinking game: Down one Broadway show as director-choreographer Bill right alongside the latest X-Men flick as the best every time Kendrick says a sentence without T. Jones and his co-writer, Jim Lewis, wrestle Marvel movies to date. The cast– from Chris “like” in it. You’ll be cold sober by the end of with how to make Fela accessible. His music Pratt as swaggering, Han Solo-like hero Peter the movie, but you’ll wish you weren’t. began by mixing jazz with the African pop of Quill and Zoe Saldana as ass-kicking assassin –Steve Warren the ‘60s, then added American soul and protest Gamora to Lee Pace as psychopathic villain Check insiteatlanta.com/movies.asp for all movie listings. song influences to form what became known as

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

FILM

DREAMS COME TRUE

Adorable Melissa McCarthy on Waking Up as “Tammy”

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

T

HE ENGAGING AND OUTSPOKEN Melissa McCarthy is one of the hottest actors on the scene at the moment.

“Tammy,” her latest film, is one of this summer’s biggest box-office hits, easily solidifying her string of theatrical successes, which also include “Bridesmaids” and “The Heat.” She’s a major television presence as well, with numerous appearances to her credit, and co-stars on the popular sit-com Mike And Molly. For “Tammy,” McCarthy co-wrote the script with her husband, director Ben Falcone. In the film, the affable McCarthy plays the title character, a workingclass woman who loses her job, her car, and her husband. To escape the stress, she takes a wildly comedic road trip with her alcoholic grandmother (Susan Sarandon). McCarthy spoke with the press recently about her “dream role.”

How did the concept of Tammy originate?

Was it initially a character sketch?

Ben [Falcone] came downstairs, just having woken up, and literally said, “I had a weird dream, and I think I have to write it. You go on a road trip with your grandmother, and she drinks and sleeps around. I’m going to go write that movie.” And I thought, “All right. Why don’t you do that?” So, he had it in a dream, and that was about six years ago. That began the whole thing. He says things, and I say, “That sounds great!” I just agree with him, and it all works out.

Was it a long-cherished dream to do this together?

We had been working on it for years. We just thought, “What if?,” and “Can you imagine?” I don’t know how concrete we ever thought we could actually take the next step. And then, as it was happening, it all came in stages. When people started actually reading it and I found out that certain people had it, I had a weird moment. I was literally coming apart at the seams. Every step of it is still dreamy to me.

Was there any pressure to try to make Tammy a more mainstream type of movie?

We worked on this script a long time before we actually got the chance to show it to people and make it. By the time we were ready to show people, we’d had it for years, and we knew these people. I felt protected with them. So, if somebody wanted a bigger scene or a bigger trailer moment, we just knew that that person maybe wouldn’t do that, or that it didn’t have to be bigger or flashier. It just had to stay in the right realm of the story. More eccentric characters can push pretty far, but if you stay on the side of reality, it’s always funnier. We tried to let all of these people push as far as they could, but keep it real.

Hopefully, the story has more impact that way.

Can you talk about growing up in Illinois and how it informed your comedy?

Ben and I both grew up in Illinois. That’s why, when we started writing it, Ben said, “I think this woman is from where I grew up,” and that’s also where I went to college. We had to base it on real people we know, and what it’s like if you feel stuck. I think there are people who really love the

comfort of their small town, and there are people who feel stuck by it. That’s where our jumping off place was. If you’re really stuck in this rut, and you’re just stuck in this whole little, tiny world of things that you don’t like, how hard do you have to get hit to bump you out of your vicious cycle?

What was Susan Sarandon’s reaction when you asked her to play your grandmother?

Well, one of her first questions when we were first meeting on the phone was, “Are you seeing a little, old granny with glasses and a crocheted sweater and an up-do bun?” And we were like, “Oh god, no. She has raging problems with alcohol, and she sleeps around.” And then, it was like, “Okay, we’ll be fine. We’re in a real realm here.”

What was your actual grandmother like?

There was nothing of my grandmother in Susan’s character, in terms of the drinking or the men stuff. I loved that, no matter what, even if they weren’t meshing up at that moment, the bottom line was that she loved Tammy and she loved her daughter. Even if she was like, “I really don’t want to be here right now,” she would still say, “But, I love you.” I was not at odds with my grandmother, even if I got in trouble with her and she might have scolded me when I was little, but I knew she loved me. That was a big part of it, to me. There was nothing you could do to make the love go away, even if they were at odds.

The Lenore (Kathy Bates) and Susanne (Sandra Oh) relationship was so great because the fact

IF YOU’RE REALLY STUCK IN THIS RUT… HOW HARD DO YOU HAVE TO GET HIT TO BUMP YOU OUT OF YOUR VICIOUS CYCLE?”

that they’re lesbians is a non-issue. What was it like to write that relationship, and then go to Kathy Bates with the role?

I thought, “Well, if I can get Kathy for any part, I’ll take it.” She and Sandra just seemed right.

They did actually know each other. I think [Kathy] directed Sandra in things, so they were just comfy.

They’re a great couple that you look at and just think, “What’s that magic?”

What made you decide to give mouth-tomouth to a deer?

That just shows that I’m not very bright. If she really hit a deer, she would feel horrible, like you would, and she would do whatever it would take.

I said, “If she’s really down there with it, would she actually try to resuscitate it, and would it work?”

It was my own weird idea to get that close.

Do you have to be super coordinated to do physical comedy?

No, I think I pretty much prove that you do not have to be. You just have to be willing to basically really bruise yourself, and I have bruises.

dollar sale What will you find for $1?

Saturday & Sunday

August 30th & 31st

insiteatlanta.com • August 2014 • PG 11

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BACK TO SCHOOL

10 Films That Go to the Head of the Class

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Mean Girls

BY CHRISTIAN PEREZ

B

ELIEVE IT OR NOT, SUMMER IS winding down soon. As college kids head back to the stress of homework and tests, we thought it might be fun to share 10 awesome flicks that remind us of the fun side of school to make it all just a bit more enjoyable…

BILLY MADISON

Say what you will about Adam Sandler now, but back in the day he was responsible for some of the dumbest, funniest comedies. Billy Madison is the king of his glory days, in my book. Here, Sandler’s man-child persona is perfected as a twenty-something who goes all the way back to kindergarten with ambitions to excel though high school so that he can prove himself to his father and take over the family business. The concept is ludicrous and the plot is there simply to move the gags along. This time, that’s okay with me.

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

This is a John Hughes classic. There’s really not much else to say: If you haven’t seen it, then something isn’t right, and if you have then you already know why it’s on the list.

This is one film that, if it’s on TV when you’re flipping through the channels, you’ll probably keep watching until the credits roll.

BRICK

This one is really neat, but may have slipped under a lot of radars. Director Rian Johnson is better known for Looper, but this noir set in a high school is a powerful and moody piece of work that you’ve just gotta see. Setting a dark noir mystery in a high school could have gone south fast. But this is a really interesting piece that delivers something very unique and doesn’t indulge in its melodramatic points.

DETENTION

This movie is batshit crazy, and it’s all the better for it. When I first heard about Detention, I thought it would be a goofy horror set in a high school. In a way it is, but it’s really so much more. It’s a high school scifi/mystery/horror/comedy that holds nothing back. It’s weird, ridiculous, genuinely great and well worth seeking out.

FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF

If only skipping school was anything like this John Hughes classic. The last time I skipped class I got a speeding ticket, and the kicker is that I don’t even own a car! This is what every kid (or adult, for that matter) dreams their day of playing hooky will turn out to be. But unfortunately, the speeding tickets are much more common. Luckily, the

fantasy can be lived through watching this timeless flick.

GHOST WORLD

I’ve recently heard a lot of flack towards Ghost World from people I know, but I really don’t get why. It’s angst-y and funny and odd– pretty much everything you’re looking for when you want to feel like a rebellious teen again. It also captures just how much summer school sucks. As I finish up my last summer semester and graduate college, I can relate wholeheartedly.

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HEATHERS

Profanity. Blood. Christian Slater. What more could you ask for from an ‘80s high school flick? This film is big in my book due to the massive influence I’ve seen it have over so many other films that have come after it. This movie is referenced and mimicked time and time again, but nothing ever comes close to trumping it. It’s mean spirited and awesome.

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MEAN GIRLS

I dare you to try to find someone who dislikes this movie. This is one of the most universally beloved films I can think of, despite its similarities to Heathers. Everyone can find something to laugh at here, and it’s endlessly quotable. I don’t think I’ve gone a week without hearing someone quote or reference this movie at least once, and so far it hasn’t gotten old.

NAPOLEAN DYNAMITE

It’s safe to say that this one falls into the love-it-or-hate-it category. It’s a very divisive film that has some people doubled over in pain from laughter, and others in pain from rolling their eyes. It’s so dry and uncomfortable, but so damn funny. This skyrocketed when it came out, but has since dwindled in popularity. Most of my friends still think it’s great, even though no one does Napoleon impressions or wears their “Vote for Pedro” shirts they got from Hot Topic. But we all did it. There’s no shame.

SCHOOL OF ROCK

This is one of my favorite movies: The music rules, Jack Black is doing what he does best, and it’s just all around enjoyable. I saw this Richard Linklater classic when it was released and liked it, but didn’t really get it. As I grew older, it really began to strike a chord with me (pun most certainly intended). It’s great in showing a handful of characters growing and becoming better than they were at the beginning. It’s rare that feel-good movies have a heavy rotation in my viewing schedule, but there will always be a place for School of Rock.

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FILM

THE GODFATHER SAGA

“Get On Up: The James Brown Story” Brings The Funk To The Screen

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

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Augusta last night. It was all very much filled with nostalgia and honor.

Chadwick Boseman: I’d been to the Apollo before we started this movie, but to be there for the premiere, was a huge experience. I never thought I’d be there for that and to see and feel that history, it was just incredible.

ET ON UP” IS AN unflinchingly gritty, sweaty, and yes, quite funky look at the Georgia’s own “Godfather Of Soul,” James Brown. Actor Chadwick Boseman, best known for his inspirational portrayal of Jackie Robinson in last year’s “42,” and How do you describe James Brown’s music? busy director Tate Taylor (“The Help”) have Taylor: His music, I think, was the first been on a whirlwind press tour to promote music to make people dance or move when the great new film, co-produced by Mick they don’t even know they’re doing it. It’s just Jagger. Recently, the two settled into the lush a subconscious thing. When confines of Atlanta’s St. Regis James Brown’s music comes Hotel to discuss the movie JAMES BROWN IS on, your feet start moving, with Insite. Here are a few just involuntarily. And we’ve SO MUCH A PART highlights from the spirited seen it at the screenings in conversation.

OF OUR CULTURE, various cities; I like to stand SOMETIMES WE in the back. I’ve seen that Was it inspirational to races, all ages, all sexes, revisit the same locations DON’T EVEN THINK all all sexualities, everybody where James Brown made starts to move, just like a ABOUT IT. history? bobblehead.

Tate Taylor: Yes, we were at Boseman: I think there’s the Apollo last Monday for the premiere. On a definite confidence there. No matter what the stage where it all started, really. Where he’s wearing, what he’s saying. A lot of times, he took risks, like recording the Live At The some of the things he’d say, even musically, Apollo album. They said he was nuts to do might not even make sense at first. Then you it, but he paid for it himself, with his own go back, and think about it, and it makes money. That began a series of events where perfect sense. He was sure of himself and not he began to change history. It was so fitting worried about what other people thought that we sort of completed the circle with the about him. He was ahead of his time, he was locations where we shot and screened the right on time and sometimes it seemed like film, too. We came full circle, especially since time might have passed him by. But it all we had a screening in [Brown’s home town] worked and made total sense, and he did it

all his way, because that was the only way he could possibly do it.

Chadwick, you were initially hesitant about playing James Brown. Why? Boseman: I was absolutely hesitant. I was adamant. I didn’t even want to read the script. It wasn’t just a no, it was a ‘hell no.’

No way I was gonna do it. No reason to do it. I felt like I was finally ahead and making decisions that were right for me, and real.

It was not what we were looking for, on my team. I was adamant that I wasn’t gonna read that script. It was just not happening.

What changed your mind?

Boseman: Tate did.

Taylor: Yeah, I just said, “This is a story about men we know, places we’re from.” I said, “Chad, as we go along with this, if it’s not working or if you don’t feel it, or don’t feel comfortable for any reason, then just walk away.” But every day began to work out.

We just trusted each other, really. We had an open line of communication and we took it slowly, step by step.

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Is there added pressure to play someone who hasn’t been gone for a very long time, or a reluctance in the overall familiarity of the story? And in a biopic, who would play Chadwick Boseman?

Boseman: I hope that doesn’t happen! But as for James Brown, he is a different scenario that say, Tupac or Biggie, that’s different, but people know James Brown, or they think they do. He was definitely, personally involved with the movie for a long time. He gave the rights to [co-producer] Brian Grazer and you can see some interviews where he’s talking about it, and he doesn’t quite say he’s wanting play himself, but do you really think he’d actually let anyone else play James Brown? I think that living or dead isn’t really an issue, it’s just doing the best with the different eras. Like with “42,” that was basically two seasons, so you can put the person under a microscope or you can widen the scope of the story. Depending on how you want to tell it, somehow it all becomes part of the fabric.

For James Brown, he’s so much a part of our culture, sometimes we don’t even think about it. We often take him for granted. His music is still living on and in hip-hop, there are probably more James Brown samples than anyone else. He’s part of our lives and always will be.

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It’s very important to have [Brown’s righthand man and musical collaborator] Bobby Byrd as a pivotal figure in the film.

Taylor: Oh, definitely. In James Brown’s life and in our film, Bobby Byrd is the rock.

He’s the glue that held it together. As his best friend and partner, he’d let him go way off the rails at times, but he’d always yank him right back. Nelsan Ellis absolutely did a phenomenal job as this man. When I showed the film to the Brown family, they said, “Nelsan Ellis is Uncle Bobby.” It was very important to show that element in the film, that Bobby Byrd was a constant in James’ life.

Much of James Brown’s life is known, but as you made the film, did you have any new, surprising revelations about the man?

Taylor: The biggest surprise, or maybe shock, I should say, is the abandonment he felt as a child. James’ mom left at three and then his dad would go to work and leave this seven-year-old boy in the woods of South Carolina for six weeks at a time. I still don’t understand how he learned to clothe, bathe, feed himself and just live on his own like that, but he did. And I’m inspired that what I’ve learned from him, especially as a filmmaker, is don’t waver from your instincts. It’s a really hard lesson to follow, but if you follow your instincts, out of that comes greatness. James Brown never, ever wavered from any instinct, no matter how crazy it seemed.

Boseman: I agree and something that is great to me, is how many sides he had. He could go on TV and debate issues, like on The Mike Douglas Show, he’d debate the issues of the day as the co-host for a week.

He’d be on there debating, then he’d cook, then he’d perform.

Chadwick, is it difficult to play these “larger than life” characters?

Boseman: I’ve had people come up to me and actually call me Jackie Robinson. Now, you know, it’s ok if kids do it, but when an adult does it, no. I’m an actor, I’m just me. I’m just the vessel. My job is to take everything that I’ve taken in about Jackie Robinson or James Brown or whoever I play, pour it back out and then be available to take in something new.

TV

LIFE AFTER HARRY Radcliffe on His TV Show, Dancing With Jon Hamm & Harry Potter

BY ALEX S. MORRISON

T

ACKLING AN ICONIC ROLE IN one of history’s most successful film franchises can be a double-edged sword for any actor, especially when it’s their first exposure to audiences (see: Mark Hamill in Star Wars).

Daniel Radclife was just 10 years old when he was cast as the beloved boy wizard from author J.K. Rowling’s bestselling series of fantasy novels, and proceeded to become an international celebrity. So, now that the decade of film adaptations are over, perhaps it’s no surprise that the actor is flexing his creative muscles in an attempt to show that there’s life after Harry Potter.

In the past few years he’s done Broadway (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), horror films (The Woman in Black), and played beat poet Allen Ginsberg Kill Your Darlings). Now he’s starring opposite Jon Hamm (who plays Radcliffe’s older self ) in a limited Ovation network TV series, A Young Doctor’s Notebook and Other Stories.

Inspired by the works of Russian novelist Mikhail Bulgakov and set in the village of Muryevo in 1918, the shows follows a Young Doctor (Radcliffe) battling morphine addiction and struggling to cope with life in the hospital. He recently participated in a press conference via satellite as part of the TCA Press Tour, speaking about the show, working with Hamm, and Rowling’s new Harry Potter story.

What was the appeal of this project?

The most exciting way of doing my job is to try to do many different styles. Everyone just thinks, “Oh, he’s doing all of this to put [Harry Potter] behind him and get away from it.” Actually, I think what it is, more than that, is that I played one character for such a long time. Towards the end of that 10-year period, I started seeing other British actors– Aaron Johnson, Eddie Redmayne, Ben Whishaw, and lots of people I look up to– doing loads of different projects. There’s a little envy that builds up inside you. So, now that I’m in a position that I can do that, I’m just trying to do it while the going is good.

How weird is it to have Jon Hamm playing the older version of you?

It’s incredibly flattering that he suggested me to play the young him. But, with the height difference, the show is so crazy that people are either going to just go with it and enjoy the

show so much that they don’t care about that. Or, if they get hung up on that, there’s going to be plenty of other logical problems that they’re going to find with us. It definitely wasn’t something we lingered on too much. It was about finding the parallels between me and Jon, and then just linking our characters together. There’s a little fidgety tick that both Jon and I’s characters have when we are nervous, and we fiddle with our ear, which links us together.

We also do visual stuff to connect the two, which will hopefully keep reminding people that we are, in fact, the same person.

What’s it like to do some of the more intimate scenes with Jon Hamm? You were in a bathtub together last season, and you’re dancing this season.

Jon is a very funny guy, and we are very irreverent. We had a lot of fun doing the bath scene in the first [season]. As soon as we both got in, we were, like, “Oh, man, this photo is going to go everywhere!”

So, we were aware of the bizarreness of the situation.

But dancing with Jon was great fun. I had to dip him at one point, which was not easy. I remember there was one sequence in the first season, before we had a stunt coordinator, where we had a fight scene.

Jon essentially choreographed this fight scene himself, and it was funny. It was action-packed and frenetic and everything we needed it to be. I think his experience directing Mad Men has made him a brilliant technical actor, as well as being good fun to hang around with.

What do you enjoy about this type of shortform TV show?

The writers of this show are three brilliant individuals that are fantastically clever and funny. It would have been impossible to do this if it filmed for any longer than four weeks. I think we actually condensed Jon’s stuff into about two and a half weeks of the shootIf this show had been made in America by an American network, they would’ve wanted 12 or 13 episodes. But the book doesn’t really lend itself to that. These are short stories. The British system offers some freedom to do some interesting things.

J.K. Rowling recently posted a new story about Harry Potter as an adult. Would you ever reprise the role again?

I don’t know. My inclination is to say no. It’s really not even a hypothetical at the moment. I haven’t read it yet, but I am going to read it. But, as I understand, it’s a very, very short piece that I’m not sure is, of itself, worthy of an adaptation to film. So I don’t know. He’s at least 12 years older than I am now, so I don’t think I’ll have to worry about that for a long time… I’m hoping.

insiteatlanta.com • August 2014 • PG 15

TV COLUMN

COMEDY

STATION CONTROL

Summer TV Standouts

BY BENJAMIN CARR

W

ITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT of the Emmy nominations last month, the networks are getting ready to do their annual dog-and-pony parade for the new fall season. Every year, they trot out the hot new stories, the big stars and the crime show spinoffs that they think will grab our collective attention.

For the most part, traditional networks use the summer break as an opportunity to burn off shows that didn’t work and close the books on last year.But, if you look, this summer’s TV has some really strong programming¬¬– quality and experimental stuff. These are my favorites.

MASTERS OF SEX

Showtime’s insightful, beautiful and funny historical drama returned for a second season last month, around the same time its first season was nominated for three Emmys.

The show centers on the true story of Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen) and jazz singer Virginia Johnson (the terrific Lizzy Caplan, who was nominated for a Best Actress Emmy), who becomes his research assistant in a groundbreaking study of human sexual behavior in the late 1950s. While breaking taboos and creating clinical proof of the multiorgasmic woman, the two of them also fell in love, even though he was already married.

Developed by Michelle Ashford, the female characters depicted on Masters of Sex are among the most interesting, well-rounded, and stunningly portrayed women on television.

Caplan (Cloverfield, Mean Girls) has the greatest role of her career. Her Ginny is strong, complicated, confident, sexually comfortable and yet stilted by her time period. Sheen’s take on Masters, meanwhile, is dark, moody and complicated. He’s a man looking for answers in science to solve his own feelings of inadequacy. It’s great, great stuff. Instead of aiming its focus on the sex, you’ll find the show completely moving for its compassion toward often marginalized characters– prostitutes, closeted gays and repressed housewives– that managed to find a voice thanks to the work of these pioneers.

DRUNK HISTORY

This is perhaps the strangest comedy premise I’ve ever seen, yet I cannot stop watching it on Comedy Central. Creator Derek Waters interviews completely sloshed comedians about significant events in American history, then uses their weird, blunt, incorrect and inappropriate ramblings to narrate moments re-enacted by lip-synching celebrities. Each episode focuses on the highlight reel of a particular city or region of the country, be it the Wild West or Montgomery, Alabama. So Masters of Sex

PG 16 • August 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

far, the second season has featured Lisa Bonet as a spotlight-stealing, bus-boycotting Rosa Parks and Laura Dern re-enacting reporter Nellie Bly’s trip to an insane asylum. In short, it’s brilliant.

THE LEFTOVERS

HBO’s new Rapture drama, which was developed by Lost mastermind Damon Lindelof and author Tom Perrotta, is an entirely different animal. I’ve never seen another show like it. Not even Lost was this bleak. The premise is that a Book of Revelations-like event of unexplained origin has taken 2% of the world’s population at random, from former Pope Benedict to Gary Busey and J Lo. The show is the tale of how one town copes with an unexplainable, devastating, worldchanging phenomenon. Justin Theroux plays Sheriff Kevin Garvey, who has lost touch with several members of his family, and may be losing his mind. Amy Brenneman plays his wife, now a silent member of a chain-smoking, post-Doomsday cult. The show so far seems to be a look at how individuals face down loss.

Unlike Lost, I don’t think we’ll be getting much in the way of mythology, shocks, twists, conspiracies or “answers” here. The Leftovers seems to be built around how to exist in a world where answers are few and far between. Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who) is particularly good on the show, playing a minister who’s trying to make sense of a God that would leave him on Earth while pulling others to Heaven. It’s complicated philosophical stuff– the sort we don’t usually get from mainstream media– and it’s fascinating.

HALT & CATCH FIRE

Filmed here in Atlanta, AMC’s new show is a fun period drama about a group of engineers in 1983 who are trying to create a revolutionary desktop computer… except none of the characters can agree about the best way to build the future. Lee Pace (The Hobbit) plays Joe McMillan, a smooth-talking executive who abandoned IBM under shady circumstances and now seems driven to succeed by any means necessary (or ruin himself in the process). Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis co-star as the dreamers Joe recruits to join his dream project. The protagonist feels like a bisexual, dangerous version of Mad Men’s Don Draper, and I love him.

Other noteworthy shows that have come out this summer include FX’s The Strain (created

by Guillermo del Toro) and Tyrant, HBO’s uneven final season of True Blood, Netflix’s soapy monster drama Hemlock Grove and NBC’s quirky comedy Welcome To Sweden, created by star Greg Poehler (whose sister Amy is executive producer).

ODDLY FUNNY

Oddball Festival Rolls Into Town With Today’s Hottest Comics

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

F

UNNY OR DIE, PARTNERING WITH Live Nation are rolling out the second year of the world’s biggest comedy tour.

Officially known as “Funny Or Die Presents Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival 2014,” the tour stars the greatest modern comedians in the business, headlined by Louis CK with Amy Schumer, Aziz Ansari, Bill Burr, Dave Attell, Demetri Martin, Jeff Ross, Jim Gaffigan, Jim Jefferies, Michael Che, Reggie Watts, Ron Funches, Sarah Silverman and many more on revolving door bills that vary from city to city. A second stage, hosted

by Brody Stevens, also features The Cut Throat Freak Show, a roaming troupe of misfit performers, making the event a sort of Cochella of Comedy. The 21 date tour stops in Atlanta on August 10 at Aarons’ Amphitheater and features an incredible line-up featuring Louis CK, Ansari, Ross, and one of the best new comics working today, Brent Morin, who also stars on NBC’s popular Thursday night sitcom Undateable.

Morin spoke with Insite from his home in Los Angeles.

The Oddball Tour a pretty unique comedy showcase.

It really is. I’ve never really seen anything quite like it. Some festivals have comics along with the music, but this is a comedy festival and it’s great. I was able to do the second stage in Irvine last year. This year I’m on the main stage, and I’m very excited to play it.

At Irvine, everybody was listening, nobody was heckling and they’re all laughing. It really brings out the comedy fans. The lineup this year, it’s just ridiculous. It’s every big name you can think of, and me. I’m just excited to be a part of …GET the group.

How does comedy play with the typically loud, outdoor, amphitheater audience?

Yeah, outside and comedy usually doesn’t mix well, but last year, I was surprised. The audience actually listened and they were excited to see the acts. They listened and laughed and everybody had a good set. I hope it stays in that realm and people appreciate everyone on stage is doing.

UP, DO what But if something happens to YOUR WORK; derail, well, we’ve all dealt with YOU CAN MAKE hecklers and bad clubs and tough crowds. So I don’t think SOMETHING anybody is gonna be thrown off.

BETTER OR These are the pros of the pros – FUNNIER IF YOU me excluded, by the way – but everyone else can handle it.

WORK AT IT.

Comics and chefs are becoming the new ‘rock stars.’

You know, you’re right! I think if you give comics the opportunity, they’ll really deliver. When Dane [Cook] really blew up, back in the day, it added a new element to stand-up. You could play the Staples Center or host the MTV Movie Awards and really crossover. It’s interesting. Now you’ve got Kevin Hart and he’s the man right now. Comics like Aziz Ansari are playing Madison Square Garden. It’s crazy to think about stand-ups being to play arenas and amphitheaters.

Can you tell us how the lineups work from city to city?

I think it’s more of a shared headliner thing.

I know Louie CK is on every show and a few more, but it changes from city to city, based on who is available that night. I’m on seven nights and I’d be on all of them if they’d ask me. Hell, I’d even hand out flyers if they’d let me. No wait, don’t tell ‘em that!

Louis is the force to be reckoned with now. He’s number one comic going at the moment, wouldn’t you say?

He really is. He’s like [George] Carlin.

He’s the guy right now. I don’t want to say he’s a legend, because he’s not old enough for that. I get excited to watch him, but I also get excited to watch Bill Burr, or really everybody on this line-up, I’m gonna watch them all. It’s crazy to even be on the same stage with these people, at this point in my career.

Your career is doing just fine with Undateable. Will it be back for a second season?

Well thanks, we finished our first season and we went up against the NBA Finals and the World Cup and the Fourth of July and we delivered. For our time slot and where we were, I think we surprised a lot of people. I grew up watching that time slot and to be able to star in a show that airs then, is insane for me. I hope we come back, but if not, there’s no reason to hang our heads down.

We have a lot of funny people on the show.

Three of which, me, Ron Funches and Chris D’Elia, are on this Oddball tour and we also do some Undateable live shows in clubs. We just got back from one and really killed it.

We’re all doing good stuff while they make the decision to pick it up for a second season and I hope they do.

With a cast of comics, the whole ensemble dynamic is different.

Totally different. We know each other, we love each other and we trust each other. We have four stand-ups on the show that all completely different styles of comics, but it all works. It’s exciting because we play the show to a live audience, it’s not a laugh-track. We get to go on and do a take of the script, but we also get to improvise a lot. Chris and I have been friends since we were 18; so it’s like big brother, little brother. He’ll get a big laugh and I’ll want a big laugh, so we keep it going that way and we have a blast.

You worked with Conan O’Brien, during the tumultuous Tonight Show period. What was going on internally?

Yeah, I was a production assistant then.

Conan has always been a mentor, and he taught me the professionalism of comedy in the way he handled sketches and the writers and just the show in general. He taught me to get up, do your work; you can make something better or funnier if you work at it. When that stuff happened, the main thing I learned was to think positively about a horrible situation. Sometimes stand-ups can be pessimistic or go into that dark corner, but that’s not the attitude to have.

How did he react to the end of his short stint on Tonight?

One day, he came into a production meeting, and we were in the last two weeks of the show. He went, “Ok, we know it’s over, and this is the end.” And that sucks because it’s the end of this dream, you know? The dream of any talk show host is to be the host of the Tonight Show. He came into that meeting and he said. “Listen, we have two options on these last two weeks. We can hold our head down and be bitter and shitty. But we have these two weeks when everyone’s watching. We have the chance to be the funniest we can possibly be.” And you know what? It was the two best weeks of the show!

He took the fact that his dream was being taken away from him, turned it around and went out with the biggest bang ever.

Tickets for Funny Or Die Presents The Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival 2014 are available via www.livenation.com or www.funnyordie.com/oddball. insiteatlanta.com • August 2014 • PG 17

FILM

FROM BOYHOOD TO THE BIG SCREEN

Richard Linklater’s Once-in-a-Lifetime Project Finally Wraps

BY JENNIFER SMITH WILLIAMS

O

VER A DECADE AGO, DIRECTOR Richard Linklater (Dazed & Confused, Before Sunrise, School of Rock) recruited a young boy named Ellar Coltrane to star in a movie called Boyhood.

Rather than casting multiple actors to play the character of Mason as he grows up, Linklater stuck with the original one and instead filmed his aging in real time. Other big players got on board, too, including Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, who squeezed in the filming of their scenes in-between various other projects. Now, this one-of-a-kind film has finally hit theaters.

Longtime collaborators Linklater and Hawke recently sat down with reporters, giving them the inside scoop on the pros and cons of taking on– and finishing– such an ambitious project.

What was your biggest fear about taking on this project?

RICHARD LINKLATER: Our biggest gap was between [year] one and two, which was just sheer scheduling and business.

The end was so far away that it was abstract. It got easy in the second half because it was like, “We’re halfway there!” You could see it a little more.

Was it weird shooting so spread out? What did everyone do in the “off” seasons?

LINKLATER: Given everyone’s schedules, this was everyone’s side project, my own included. I was doing a lot of other films in those 12 years, and everybody was busy, but we would always talk about it. It was always on a burner. But it would get real intense, once it was around the time that we would shoot.

What was your motivation to stay with it?

LINKLATER: This movie was just a life project for all of us.

We were committed for all of these years, and you could just have your antenna out. It would be like, “Oh, that could feed

PG 18 • August 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

into this,” or “That happened to a friend of mine,” or “This memory that I hadn’t had in all these years just came to me, about something from my own childhood.” It was all in play, for all those years. That’s what made it the fun life project it turned out to be.

There were moments in the film where things could have gotten really dark. What made you decide to do that?

LINKLATER: It tells you how conditioned we are. We don’t make films about the ordinary. Why watch a film that reflects real life? I want to watch something that has a car wreck.

We’re really conditioned, in films particularly, to have the big moments. Making a dark film was never in my conception. It never crossed my mind that anything bad would happen. Most of that stuff doesn’t happen however you survive. You do get through it.

Since you were filming over such a long period, how did you decide which pop culture trends to include in the movie?

LINKLATER: That was part of the fun of this. Not only were you collaborating with incrementally aging and growing up actors, but the culture of what is going on in the world. When we started this movie, the Iraq war had not started. Every year, you had some choices to make about what you wanted to represent in the movie and what that might be remembered. We were making a period film, but in the present, which is an odd thing to do.

HAWKE: Will people remember that Sarah Palin’s daughter was pregnant? Is that registering in the national consciousness in such a way that it will be something that you will remember, or is it the kind of thing that you won’t remember?

What was the most fun part of it for you, Ethan?

HAWKE: It was just so fun to tell a real story about a real family. So much of the problem with most movies is that they

create a false narrative, so that it has a beginning, middle and end that all takes place over six months. But our lives never feel like that. We have moments of grace, or moments when we feel something deeply, but it is because of 90 million other things that happen before it, and not just that moment. I found it so enjoyable to tell a story without any lies in it. Time is so much a part of what makes you close to people. Time is what creates trust. We got to do that with each other, and we got to do that with the audience. The audience starts to believe these characters because they are watching them experience time with each other.

How much of the film was scripted?

LINKLATER: There are just a couple of moments in the whole film where it wasn’t scripted, like the Star Wars conversation.

But the rest of it was. Sometimes we were scripting it right up until the last minute to get the words right. It’s never so much about the exact dialogue, but about the tone that we’re trying to accomplish with the scene.

Ethan, was it weird for you to see yourself mature on screen, year after year?

HAWKE: We sat there together at Sundance this year, and it was pretty intense. When the movie started, I had this feeling of, “Man, I still look good!” And then it went downhill. It was fun.

Road Warriors

This Month’s Hottest Shows

rate stage shows that draw equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and grand theatrics; still shock-rocking his way into the hearts of fans new and old. Expect to hear plenty of fan favorites from this hard hitting duo, melting faces with classic metal sounds.

Metal horns required!

BY SACHA DZUBA

8/19 - TORI AMOS

8/02 – INVIOLATE

The Masquerade The multifaceted sound of Inviolate blends aspects of rock, electronica, and metal with powerful female vocals and the mesmerizing movements of bellydance.

The brainchild of vocalist and electronic tweaker Kadria; metal guitar riffs, pounding bass, electro pulses, and hard-hitting drums foster the environment that supports her lithe movements and raw emotional performance. Check out their album Feast of Ashes. Inviolate returns to the studio in early 2015 to record the band’s next album. “There are going to be quite a few new surprises on this (upcoming) release,” says Kadria. “We’re taking what we’re known for, and pushing the aggression boundary, while still keeping our melodic edge.” Don’t miss this unique sonic onslaught that combines delicacy and aggression to create an unforgettable live experience. Metal horns are a must!

8/05 – ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL

Lakewood Amphitheatre A powerful concert event full of energy and energy drinks, this festival brings together a mass of metal mayhem.

90’s metal is well represented by the likes of Korn, Cannibal Corpse, Mushroomhead, and Body Count. Ice T, guitarist Ernie C and their new compatriots form the thrash and gangsta invasion that is the metal pioneers, Body Count.

The mask wearing Mushroomhead focus on metal rooted in electronica and industrial. Boasting an almost completely original lineup, Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis is back alongside Fieldy, Munky and Head. Listen for the bagpipes before “Shoots and Ladders” and expect a balanced set, with hits like “A.D.I.D.A.S”, “Blind” and “Freak on a Leash” as well as newer singles like “Coming Undone.” Rounding out the festival this year, Trivium channels melodic hardcore metal with shades of Metallica. They bring tasty guitar riffage in perfect harmony for those of you that like interweaving guitar lines á la Iron Maiden. Avenged Sevenfold have a thrashy metalcore sound with some elements of punk. Rising from the death of their drummer, the late James “The Rev” Sullivan; their set features pyrotechnics, skulls, dark imagery and gore to accompany their thrash metal attack. Expect high energy, anarchy, and great hard rock and metal bands.

Bring those metal horns and be prepared to raise ‘em high!

8/07 – PETER MURPHY

Terminal West Clusters of goths whisper “The Godfather of Goth” in his wake; Peter Murphy is coming. He initially created a following as the vocalist of Bauhaus, one of the main rock groups credited with being progenitors of the goth scene. Mr. Murphy then forged ahead with his successful solo career. His

song “Cuts You Up” was a staple during the 80’s. He recently toured and performed songs with Nine Inch Nails and appeared as “the cold one” in the film Twilight: Eclipse.

His latest album Lion sees a recharged and creatively engaged Peter Murphy working with producer, Youth (of Killing Joke); the collaboration leading to some of Peter’s most aggressive and driving material to date.

On this night, there can be no doubt that black is the new black.

8/07 – MAN OR ASTRO-MAN?

The Earl Man or Astro-Man? is an amazing space/ surf rock band with a punk rock meets science attitude. They have incredible live performances with lots of hi-tech eye candy.

Most of their songs are instrumental, per surf rock standards, though you’re sure to hear a tune or two with a lead vocal. They do a great cover of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 theme song. The Astromen have been on a mission in deep space for the last 12 years or so, but they’ve returned with a vengeance. With new album, Defcon 5…4…3…2…1, it seems that the Astro-men are back in full force and are here to stay.

Look out for burning televisions and space helmets, theremins, and Tesla coils! HighVoltage Excitement!

8/08 – NIN & SOUNDGARDEN

Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood (Lakewood Amphitheatre) One of the forefathers of Seattle’s grunge movement, Soundgarden are probably best represented on their 1994 album Superunknown. “If you could single out any of our albums as being the most iconic one ever, it’s obviously this one.” says frontman Chris Cornell. Fitting then that Soundgarden are touring with a focus to the 20th anniversary celebration of this well-loved album. But they have another important anniversary to celebrate, as this year also marks the 30th anniversary of the band’s formation as an ensemble. With a new album on the horizon, Soundgarden’s eyes are firmly fixed toward the future. Another rock/alternative mainstay from the 90’s, industrial innovators Nine Inch Nails are co-headlining this incredible tour. Reznor and company bring tunes from their latest album, along with their back catalog of hits. Hesitation Marks, is interestingly retro-reflective in style, but continues to explore new music paths; stripped-back industrial with a groove.

Complexity, passionate intensity, and musicianship cause both of these titans of sound to stand out; as relevant and fresh today, as ever.

8/16 – MÖTLEY CRÜE W/ ALICE COOPER

VerizonWireless Amphitheatre Motley Crue and Alice Cooper together, two dynamic and spectacle oriented bands ready to explode brains and pop eardrums.

Both are bringing their full legendary stage shows; blood, smoke, rockets, pyrotechnics, outrageous costumes & accessories, along with signature makeup. Motley Crue are notorious for girls, drugs, and rock and roll, but they’re waving farewell! Motley Crue signed a legally binding document that they will not tour after 2015. Alice Cooper is the original shock-rock performer with elabo-

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center Tori Amos is the original piano writhing songstress. With her debut album, Little Earthquakes and follow up Under the Pink, Tori Amos won over an almost fanatical devotion of followers. The honesty, pain, and brutality of her experiences punctuated the songwriting of her albums. As her own life developed, changed, and grew; so too did her songwriting and music, which began to take the form of strange, stream of consciousness, conceptual story albums. After forays into classical musica with variations on themes and styles, The Light Princess musical, and orchestral arrangements of some of her own back catalog; Tori is now reinvigorated. Returning to pop and alternative music with the release of Unrepentant Geraldines, this new music brings Tori’s accomplished, expressive, songwriting to the forefront; featuring a duet with her daughter and a fully incorporated band that complements Tori’s own brilliant piano performances. Don’t go out expecting a full band however, this tour is pure Tori, solo and unaccompanied; a magical evening of music from one of the original ladies of the piano.

Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple, and Sara Bareilles, eat your hearts out.

SATURDAY AUGUST 16

8/28 - AEROSMITH W/ SLASH

Philips Arena One of America’s living rock music legends, Aerosmith are Rock and Roll Hall of Fameers with multiple multi-platinum albums and countless awards under their belts. Their 15th album, Music From Another Dimension features their first new material in 11 years.

While the band will certainly be playing songs from their latest release, you can be sure that their classic hits won’t be ignored; “Walk This Way”, “Dream On” and “Jaded” should be well represented, along with all of the others. This tour sees them teaming up with their old friend Slash, the guitarist considered second only to Jimi Hendrix in Time magazine’s list, “The Ten Best Electric Guitar Players of All-Time”. After leaving Guns ‘n’ Roses, Slash went on to create the acclaimed band Slash’s Snakepit and saw global success as a member of supergroup Velvet Revolver. Slash and his bandmates Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators are soon to release the follow-up to their 2012 album, Apocalyptic Love. This is sure be a great night of all-American rock that you won’t want to miss; keep your eyes peeled for the grafitti art advertising the tour, get your wings, get a grip and just push play with Aerosmith and Slash.

8/30 - SEALIONS (ALBUM RELEASE)

The Earl The Sealions are local Atlantans creating some great electro-pop. Drawing inspiration from the guitar fuzz of the West Coast alternative scene and the synthetic buzz of UK New Wave and French house music, they have emerged as dancey electro-swirl with elements of shoe-gazing shimmery guitars. This collage of sound is unapologetically retro in tone.

Their first full-length album Strange Veins is full of the 80’s electro-dance spirit, but this concert is to celebrate the release of their new EP, Number One Lover. Hazy dance grooves bound through shades of New Order, Air, and Daft Punk. A great local act to catch in the intimate hallows of The Earl.

FRIDAY AUGUST 22

SUNDAY AUGUST 24

wiTh SPEciAl gUEST

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6

SATURDAY OCTOBER 11 A FOOD DRIVE EVENT

BUY NOW TICKETS AT TICKETMASTER

Venue box office (M-F 10AM-6PM/Sat 10AM-2PM/Closed Sun) Venue info: VZWAMP.COM All artists and schedules subject to change without notice.

All tickets subject to service charge. Concerts rain or shine.

insiteatlanta.com • August 2014 • PG 19

MUSIC

Album Reviews

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

THE DEAN’S LIST EILEEN ROSE

Be Many Gone (Holy Wreckords) Rocking Americana from a vet of the Nashville bar scene.

LVS–On Nashville’s famed Broadway strip, a music lover can literally hear bands play from about 10 am until the wee hours of the next day. Among the scores of talented hopefuls belting out one familiar cover after another are a few truly incredible artists. One of the best of them is the lovely Eileen Rose.

Already a much-lauded performer in the UK, Rose continues to play the cover band circuit, diligently honing her chops.

The reality is, she should be headlining the Ryman, or even the Bridgestone Arena, right up the street.

Be Many Gone, her newest collection, was recorded in Nashville with a number of impressive players. Most notable is Pixies frontman Black Francis, who duets on one of the album’s best songs, the pensive “Each Passing Hour.” Also along for the ride are veteran sidemen Buddy Spicher (Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris), Johnnie Barber (Loretta Lynn, Johnny Paycheck), bassist Brad Albin, and guitarist Rich Gilbert (Jack White, Wanda Jackson).

The title track sets the stage for an album full of unexpectedly good music that defies categorization, yet falls neatly into today’s richly varied country landscape.

FUTURE

Honest (A-1/Freebandz/Epic)

The new King of Atlanta hip-hop?

BL–When it comes to the lineage of Atlanta’s hip-hop scene, the Dungeon Family is the closest thing to royalty we’ve got. So the fact that Future (born Nayvadius D. Wilburn) is the first cousin of Rico Wade– the songwriter/producer whose basement studio, The Dungeon, gave birth to hits by Outkast, Goodie Mob, Joi and more– makes him the closest thing the city has to a musical Prince.

PG 20 • August 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

It was the Dungeon Family who gave Wilburn his apt rap pseudonym, and it was Wade who helped him sharpen his songwriting skills and develop his own sound. By 2010 he was making his name in local mixtape circles, collaborating with Gucci Mane on Free Bricks, and penning hits for YC. In 2012 he was signed to Epic Records and released Pluto, which spawned five Billboard Top 100 singles.

Honest is weirder, wilder and more wonderful, showcasing an artist settling into his own distinctive sound. The spacey Auto-Tuned raps are still there in spades, with lyrics sharper than Hannibal’s scalpel, but there’s also a surprising amount of sincerity and emotional depth. Guest features include Miley Cyrus (“Real and True”), Pharell Williams (“Move That Dope”) and Kanye West (“I Won”). But Future is the real star here, finally living up to his promise as the rightful heir to the Dungeon Family throne.

CORY BRANAN

The No-Hit Wonder (Bloodshot)

Folksy Country-Punk is back with one of his strongest albums JM–Listening to The No-Hit Wonder,

BLACK LIPS

Underneath the Rainbow (Vice)

away with a debut single titled “Concerning Spectral Pinching,” but Portland’s Hook & Anchor aren’t your typical country band.

Featuring Blind Pilot’s Kati Claborn, Luke Ydstie, and Ryan Dobrowski with Gabrielle Macrae of the Macrae Sisters and Erik Clampitt of Clampitt, Gaddis & Buck, the indie supergroup utilizes banjo, guitar, pedal steel, and fiddle with bare-bones rock-combo flourishes. They all sing leads at times, and the sound is a delicious mix of folk and plaintive backwoods soul.

Under the direction of Adam Selzer, the disc opens with the gentle country mourn of “Famously Easy” freewheeling into the banjo-fever of “Wild Wind.” Elsewhere, the bluegrass-y vibe melds with a ‘70s mellow tone on the current single. “Light Of The Moon” continues the band’s journey across an astonishingly varied terrain of styles, setting up the perfect soundtrack album for a long, possibly contemplative crosscounty drive.

REST OF THE CLASS Cory Branan’s second record for Bloodshot and fourth overall, you can’t help but start looking around for the nearest brick wall to bang your head against in sheer frustration that he isn’t a household name at this point. We live in a world where Adam Levine has his own line of cologne, yet Branan, whose song writing brings to mind folks like Kristofferson and Prine, has to slap a self-effacing title like No-Hit Wonder on his record.

While not as easily accessible as 2012’s Mutt, after a few listens, the nuances in the music start to stand out and you realize just how impressive this song collection is, from the accordion-heavy gypsy vibe in “All I Got and Gone” to the tear-in-my-beer country nostalgia on “All Rivers in Colorado.” The rollicking album closer “You Made Me” and Johnny Cash train-song rhythm section in “Sour Mash” are clear proof that the Outlaw Country lessons of the ‘70s have found a dedicated acolyte in Branan.

Even in his 80s, it’s clear Willie Nelson has no desire to slow things down and retire. But, when he eventually does, Branan would make the ideal candidate to pick up that flag and represent thinking-man’s country music.

HOOK & ANCHOR

Self-titled (Jealous Butcher/Woodphone) Using an indie-rock mindset to tell countrytinged tales.

LVS–Not every country band could get

JOHANNA SAMUEL

Double Bind (Self-Released)

Indie songstress turns in great debut without the help of a label JM–Double Bind is yet another great album that is here thanks to crowdsourcing. The New York, by way of LA, piano singer Johanna Samuels turned to Kickstarter to fund her 10-song debut. The album is packed with the kind of beautifully-crafted classic pop songs that record labels should be stumbling over themselves to add to their catalogues.

With a strong Indie vibe, Samuels sounds like a mix between Rufus Wainwright and Jenny Lewis, writing about heavy subjects that go down easy thanks to the strong melodies.

Produced by Fen Ikner (Calexico, Jumpers), there is a strong ‘60s/’70s vibe with more than a passing resemblance to a Phil Spector record thanks to the building and cascading waves of music (most notably on a track like “Real Tragedies”).

Despite no affiliation to a specific label, this album is too good not to warrant more attention. (B)

Taking creative steps backwards.

BL–Emerging from the dank basement of Atlanta’s indierock scene at a time when there was very little “scene” to speak of, the Black Lips attempted to make up for a lack of musical knowledge and experience with pure rock ‘n’ rebellion.

Inspired by punk legends like The Stooges and G.G. Allin, the Black Lips became equally well known for destructive on-stage antics as they were for their distinctive brand of garage-rock. Their incendiary live shows bought national attention from Rolling Stone and The New York Times. But eventually even indie kids have to grow up, and 2011’s Mark Ronson-produced Arabia Mountain found evolving into a more mature, refined sound.

Musically speaking, the band’s seventh studio LP seems like a small step backwards.

Seven of the 12 songs were recorded in Nashville with the Black Keys’ Patrick Carney on production. But, other than “Dog Days” (co-written by Bradford Cox of Deerhunter), many of them sound shockingly generic and uninspired.

The album’s best tracks were recorded in New York with former Sharon Jones guitarist Tom Brenneck. From the nightbehind-bars storytelling of “Smiling” to the insistent flower-punk pulse of “Make You Mine” (co-written by Brent Hinds of Mastodon), these songs remind us why the Black Lips became kings of Atlanta’s garagerock scene, and show how potent they can be when they’re firing on all cylinders.

Unfortunately, there’s too little of that on Underneath The Rainbow. (C)

EUREKA CALIFORNIA Crunch (HHBTM)

Athens-based indie kids score with sophomore effort.

JM–For a duo, Eureka California makes a hell of a lot of noise.

The Athens indie-rockers, comprised of drummer Marie Uhler and singer/guitarist Jake Ward, have just turned in their second full-length in 18 months. Far from sounding like a rushed-out also-ran, Crunch is a remarkably satisfying slice of unpretentious college rock.

Tracks like “I Bet You Like Julian Cope” and “Sneaky Robby” boast the lyrical wit of someone like Jonathan Richman, but the music itself is equal parts Mudhoney and The Jam. Much like their debut album, this one is another whirlwind of short, frantic, but well-crafted power pop ditties that slam to an abrupt halt not long after you drop the needle. Their longest song is three-and-a-half minutes long, but most hover around the two minute mark, so the duo are in and out like a pair of indie-rock ninjas. (B)

MUSIC

DON’T STOP

Journey’s Neal Schon Still Brings His A-Game

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

T

HE DISTINCTIVE GUITAR sound of Neal Schon has been the one constant ingredient in Journey’s kaleidoscopic career. For 41 years, the 60-year-old musician has remained the pivotal member of the San Francisco-based group’s many periods, from ponderous progressive rockers to popular chart-toppers.

Schon made his initial debut as a member of Santana in the early ‘70s, but as co-founder of Journey in ‘73, he found his greatest commercial success between 1978 and 1987.

Rejuvenated by the 2008 addition of Arnel Pineda as the band’s current (and fourth) lead singer, Journey continues to headline massive tours and festivals worldwide. Their instantlyrecognizable canon of material includes 18 Top 40 classic rock anthems, including the inescapable “Don’t Stop Believin.’” The busy musician, who has a new solo album, So U, available via the official Journey website, spoke with the press from his studio near San Francisco as he prepared for a lengthy summer tour.

Over the last few years, “Don’t Stop Believin’” has taken on a new life of sorts.

How has it affected your audiences?

It’s funny, when we cut it years ago, I listened back to it before it was actually all the way mixed. I thought to myself, I think that song is going to be a huge anthem, you know? And at the time it was a big song, but there were a lot of big songs on that record, and some were bigger than “Don’t Stop Believin’”. So to have it resurge and become this national anthem, world anthem, it’s really wild. And no matter where I am, no matter if somebody plays it, no matter where, everybody sings it. And we’ve attained very young audiences, too, like with Glee hammering the tune and redoing it, we have a lot of kids in our audience. I look out and I see about four different generations.

Speaking of generations, can we discuss the evolution of Arnel as Journey’s frontman?

He’s just a completely awesome human being and singer, and amazingly talented.

Obviously he’s been here for six years. That’s a long time. The rest of us… I’ve been here since the beginning, so I’ve been here longer, so he still is new compared to me. But he’s also young. He brings an amazing amount of energy on the stage. I feel like Arnel brings it

every night. He gives it his all. And the voice is a human instrument. It’s not as easy as a guitar to just plug into an amplifier. If I bust a string or bust an amplifier, you plug into a new one. But he takes care of himself very well. He’s like a saint on tour. I mean, there’s no drinking, there’s no partying. He has to eat correct foods. He has to pretty much live like a saint and he does that out of the respect for the band and wanting to bring his grade-A game to the show.

Did he evolve into a dynamic performer, or did he bring that from the beginning?

You know, I can remember the first time we played with him, it was at the Vina Del Mar Festival in Chile, and that was basically his audition. You can go to YouTube and look that up, it was his first show with us ever, and it was live all across South America on TV, for, I think, 25-30 million people. And so it was a do or die situation for him. And what was funny is he got on stage and he was extremely nervous. But then he chilled out and the audience came with him, and us, immediately. And we just brought it.

How do you stay on your own A-game?

I’m still an aspiring guitarist, you know> I never feel like I’ve learned everything on the instrument. Even now, 50 years later. And, you know, I’m always in the studio. Actually, I’m in the studio right now and just have a new solo album called So U. Then I have a couple other solo records that are on the shelf that I just finished, so I’m constantly chomping at it, working at it and I’m talking with the Journey guys about going in the studio later this year when we get off tour, to have a new record for next year. So I think you have to motivate yourself. First of all, you have to be in the game. You have to love what you do, I think, and I certainly do. I love playing and I love playing live, but I also love creating in the studio. One of my favorite places to be, is to be creating in the studio. To an artist, it’s like being in a loft in New York with a bunch of paints and a big area to work in. So in the studio, I get the same sense and feeling from that. There are a lot of guitars around me and amps and sounds and it’s just up to you to create after that.

What else inspires you?

I’m a very inspired person. I get inspired by clothing. I get inspired by color. I get inspired by people in general. You know, I get inspiration from a lot of different places– from traveling around the world. I get a lot of inspiration from that.

Can you talk about the recent studio collaborations with Carlos Santana?

What’s it like to revisit that early period of your career?

It’s been really amazing. He has a few houses all over the place, but in Marin County, when he was in town a while back, we just kept running into each other. We started talking a lot and hanging out and I realized that I missed that. We used to hang quite a lot when I first joined the Santana band and we were very tight. He turned me on to so many different types of music; sort of opened my head up to all the music that was in the world. When we got together, we played for about a week and a half and came up with quite a bit of new material. And it was just kind of like off the cuff, it came from

WE’RE MOVING FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE AND I THINK WE’RE DOING QUITE WELL. nowhere. We just worked off each other like we did in the old days and that was pretty much just the chemistry of the band. You get us together in a room and it sounds that way, and so there were sparks flying immediately.

Some people say Journey isn’t the same band without Steve Perry. How do you respond to those people?

Of course it’s not the same band, you know?

I mean, anytime you change one person it’s not the same. It doesn’t mean it’s not good,

though. And so people that are into the past will forever stay in the past, and I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not a healthy thing for me or for anyone else that is here right now. We’re moving forward into the future and I think we’re doing quite well.

But there are always people that are just in love with the past and cannot move on from that. And so what I suggest to them is that they just move on. I mean, if you don’t like us for who we are right now, then just don’t bother, you know?

presents

Arrival– The Music of Abba

Bon Jovi Tribute– Slippery When Wet

August 2

August 23

Bret Michaels Life Rocks 2014 Tour

More 2014 coNcerts!

September 13: The Rat Pack is Back September 27: Styx December 13: Lisa Kelly, “The Voice of Ireland” Celtic Christmas Concert G

G

September 6

For tickets: www.amphitheater.org

Get your tickets while they last!

The Frederick brown jr. Amphitheater 201 McIntosh Trail • Peachtree City, GA 30269

770.631.0630

insiteatlanta.com • August 2014 • PG 21

MUSIC

TOUCH & GO

Indie/Punk Legend Tesco Vee Returns With The Meatmen

BY JOHN B. MOORE

T

ESCO VEE MAY HAVE QUIT teaching years ago, but he can still school this latest generation of punk rockers on how to remain relevant decades after you release your first record.

A founding member of The Meatmen, Tesco Vee’s Hate Police and Blight, among other groups, he also created the influential fanzine Touch & Go, as well as the long-running record label of the same name.

Nearly 20 years after the last collection of original Meatmen songs, the band is back with Savage Sagas From The Meatmen. Vee was cool enough to answer some questions via e-mail recently about the band’s new album, how he discovered that horror legend Stephen King was a fan, and what comes next.

It’s been 20 years since the last studio record from the Meatmen. Had you tried before now to work on another studio record?

Well, we (put out) Cover the Earth in 2009, which was a bunch of my favorite cover songs. But as far as an album of originals, nope.

Is this lineup the same as on Pope on a Rope?

No, it’s totally different. The Meatmen has always been me and a cast of characters. The Klondikes I’m rocking with now are the best I’ve ever had. Get off your wheelchair butts, Weenbags, and come out and see a real punk band.

Did you approach the songwriting on this one the same you had in the past?

Yeah, man. It’s a target-rich environment out there, but

I ain’t just railing against peeps I hate. There is a pro-pot legalization anthem in “Pissed Hot For Weed,” and just a whole lotta topical topics here, baby. You never know when the inspiration will strike.

Did you think there would ever be another new Meatmen record, or were you fairly certain that chapter of your career was over?

Man, I have thought it was over many times. But it’s never over until you are tits-up, taking a dirt nap in a horizontal phone booth. I’m having more fun than ever, and certainly care than a man my age should be allowed to.

So I recently came across a pic on your website of one of your bandmates posing with Stephen King. And he’s a fan of the band, right? What is the story behind how that encounter happened?

My bassist was out on the road doing merch for Lo-Pan, who were touring with Goatwhore and High On Fire. As fate would have it, one guy had to piss, and they stopped at a Vermont gas station. So Danny (Gillies) is pumping gas in his Meatmen hoodie, and some dude at the next pump says, “The Meatmen?! I have all their records!” And it’s fucking Stephen King. Man who knew?

Do you mind if I ask you about Touch & Go Records for a minute? Did you have any idea that label would last more than three decades after you guys started it?

Well, actually it folded a few years ago. But yes, Corey (Rusk) did quite well with it.

Are you working on any other new projects now, outside of The Meatmen?

I’m talking about doing a solo album. I still have a lot of tunes bouncing around in the cranium. Who knows?!

What’s next for you?

Touring in support of the new platter. Collecting Toys.

Riding Japanese motorbikes way too fast. Loving my life here in Michigan.

Those are all the questions I had. Anything else you want to talk about?

Buy the new album! It doesn’t suck!

DEFIED EXPECTATIONS

NYC’s Crow Bait Expands Beyond Their Punk Influences

BY JOHN B. MOORE

The guys that make up the Long Island trio Crow Bait have each put time in with a slew of NY punk bands, including Iron Chic, Sister Kisser, American Hellfire Club, Jonesin’ and Slip Silver, among others. So you might assume you know what to expect with their debut, Sliding Through the Halls of Fate. But you’d be wrong.

The record is a fantastic collection of influences from all across the musical spectrum, from punk to snatches of classic and Southern Rock. It sounds nothing like what you expect to hear, which makes it all the better.

Drummer Chris Arena (Sister Kisser, American Hellfire Club) spoke with us recently about making the album, getting

PG 22 • August 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

some friends to drop by the studio, and signing to Don Giovanni.

You guys have obviously played in a number of different bands. The music you make with Crow Bait sounds a lot different than any of your other groups.

Was that a conscious decision from the beginning?

It was a mostly conscious decision.

We’ve known each other for years and decided to start a band that could veer away from some of the past sounds we’re associated with. We never really wanted to have a specific ‘sound’ or style as much as always being willing to experiment a bit and move out of our comfort zone.

In general, I think we always wanted this to be a band that could get kind

of gritty while still maintaining a lot of pop sensibilities with all three of us contributing vocals.

made the record.

Can you talk for a minute about the song “83”? How did it come about?

Started out as an acoustic song that Sal recorded for his solo project, Slip Silver.

Eventually we turned it into a full band song. Lou Fontana does this wild slide guitar part throughout the song.

How do you guys approach songwriting duties? Is it divided up? Do you work on them separately and then bring them to rehearsal and show everyone or are they created with all of you in the same room?

All of the above. Usually WE NEVER REALLY Sal (Fiteni) or Mike How did you guys wind WANTED TO HAVE A (Bruno) will bring a song up on Don Giovanni?

SPECIFIC ‘SOUND’ OR to the table, whole or After our first 7” they STYLE AS MUCH AS incomplete, and then expressed interest in ALWAYS BEING WILLING working with us at some we’ll adjust it from there TO EXPERIMENT A BIT point in the future. We to create the song in its current form. Some songs AND MOVE OUT OF OUR took a while with writing/ were also built off of jams recording the record, but COMFORT ZONE. during rehearsal. we kept in touch with them through the whole process and were Sliding Through the Halls of Fate is your really excited to put the record out. first full length. What can you tell me about the record? How long have you I know you guys just played some shows been working on the songs that made with Beach Slang. Do you plan to tour this record? much this summer?

We recorded the record with John For the summer we’ll be playing around Meredith (I Farm/GSD/Earworms) at his Long island and New York a bunch. We studio in Ridgewood, Queens. We did plan to do an east coast tour in the fall and three sessions beginning in September in do a UK tour early next year.

2013 and ending in January of 2014. We laid down the basic tracks live and then What’s next for the band? did overdubs. We were lucky to have some Other than some select festival dates friends guest on the record including Lou over the years, we haven’t done too Fontana (On the Might of Princes/Small much touring, so that’s something that Arms Dealer/Fellow Project) add some is immediately next for us. Otherwise we guitar tracks and Justin Williams (Deep have 7” EP that will be coming out in the Pockets) add some keys. Some of the songs near future on Drunken Sailor Records. on the record we started writing over two These will be songs leftover from Sliding years ago, while others were written two Through the Halls of Fate. We’re also months before recording. We went into planning to get back to it and start writing some new songs! the studio with 15-16 songs and only 11

MUSIC

LAST BAND STANDING John Doe on the Legacy of X

ORGANICALLY GROWN

Decatur’s Roxie Watson Takes a Grassroots Path to Success

BY BRET LOVE

“Y

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

J

OHN DOE IS ONE OF ROCK music’s true renaissance men. The softspoken singer-songwriter/actor/writer can currently be seen in a terrific new indie film called Pleased To Meet Me, and he’s back on the road with X, the band he co-founded with Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom and D.J. Bonebreak.

Formed in Los Angeles at the dawn of the punk movement, the influential band has been going strong for 37 years, and is currently looking back at its small-but-dynamic catalog of songs. Their current tour features four-album retrospectives, acoustic shows and blazing rock sets, depending on the venue.

Atlanta will get the full-on rock show, and Doe recently spoke with us just after a triumphant four-night stand at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood.

Pleased to Meet Me is a great look into the dreams of “making it” in the music industry, and the cast [including musicians Aimee Mann, Loudon Wainwright III, Joe Henry, Karen Bergquist] is especially impressive.

You know, it’s a real good movie. We did it on a shoestring in Louisville, Kentucky. And you know, that’s a great place. If you know anyone who wants to move there, I’d recommend it. The premise is cool, from a “This American Life” episode. Aimee Mann is great. And Loudon is real good, as the conspiracy theorist thermin player, and he’s very grumpy. We had a premier in Louisville and 700 people showed up at a theater, out of town in the ‘burbs! It’s on Video On Demand and DVD and iTunes.

Tell us about the next film you’re in, Electric Slide.

It’s about a bank robber in Los Angeles, and I get to play the cop who catches him. It’s based on a true story. There was a guy in LA in the early ‘80s who robbed a Guinness Book Of World Records number of banks, 60-some banks, in about a year and a half. He’d find the prettiest teller in the bank and just start flattering her and charm her and then he’d say, “Oh, by the way, I have a gun and put the money in the bag.” And the cops were just pissed off because he made them look stupid.

He robbed the 60-something banks, then they finally put him in jail, and then he got out and robbed, like, 10 more!

They’re more complicated than we thought.

A couple of the songs seem like math rock, and we’re like, “Who was the idiot that put this song together?! Oh, it was us!”

How did it feel to revisit Under the Big Black Sun? It was surprising how sad it was. You know, a lot of it was about Exene’s sister, who was killed in a car crash. It took us a couple of years to come to terms with that. So we wrote about it.

As you play those songs, especially songs about actual events, do you sort of relive those times?

If you’re lucky, as you’re playing and singing, you can dip in to a memory kind of experience.

And there definitely was a little bit of that going on because we played on the Sunset Strip.

That’s the perfect place to do the Los Angeles album.

Yeah, when we played Los Angeles the last time, it was with [album producer and Doors keyboardist] Ray Manzarek. This time, we had Jon Brion, who is a friend of mine and a great musician/producer. But to play those songs, this time without Ray, it was very moving to hear those same parts, in the same place.

Manzarek was a huge supporter of X. I think Exene and I saw him as a father figure, and definitely a mentor. He gave us a validation that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. Not that we really desired it. But definitely, when someone who is part of rock and roll royalty says, “You kids are on the right track. Let me help you out,” it can’t help but affect you.

How did the recent death of Tommy Ramone affect you?

We realized that we are the last punk-rock band standing with the original members. It was particularly moving, because on the day we played “More Fun In The New World,” well, the day before that, Tommy had passed away. It was like, “Holy shit, there’s no more original Ramones!”

X just did the first four albums in a fournight stand.

Yeah, it was interesting to revisit all these songs we haven’t played in years. Other people have done it– I think Cheap Trick did their first three records a while back. We’ve talked about it for a while, and just found the right venues.

How does it feel to be the last intact band of the punk scene?

Well, it’s only later that you can feel that you’ve actually accomplished something. You can’t let it get in your way, but you can allow yourself a moment where you go, “Yeah, this is cool. I did something.” A small pat on the back, then you move forward. The life of a musician is not easy, and a lot of people fall by the wayside. We’re incredibly lucky to have everybody in good health and still playing hard and fast and doing a good job.

As you revisited those first four records, were there any startling revelations?

X plays August 18 at Center Stage. Showtime is 8 pm.

’ALL ARE SOUNDING A LITTLE bit rowdy tonight,” says Roxie Watson banjo player Sonia Tetlow with a broad grin. “I love it! Have y’all been drinking?” The raucous roar she receives in response from the Variety Playhouse audience assures her that they have, and will continue to do so.

The crowd is here to celebrate the release of the Decatur-based band’s third album, Songs From Hell’s Hollow. The audience is a hodgepodge of ages, races and sexual orientations (the band’s five members are all openly gay), and they’ve come from as far away as Maine and Seattle. There are frequent shoutouts to moms, friends, lovers and collaborators in the audience, and enough whooping and hollering in response to give it the feel of a slightly inebriated tent revival.

More than anything, the evening seems like a good old-fashioned back porch jam with 500+ friends. And, as the band marries their unique mixture of bluegrass, classic country and rockabilly with good-natured, folksy storytelling, you begin to get a sense that this organically grown community of ardent fans will only continue to swell.

THE ROOTS OF ROXIE

Roxie Watson originally began as a collaboration between Lenny Lasater and Beth “Bee Whee” Wheeler. The duo had known each other ever since Lasater’s college days in Nashville, when she became friends with Wheeler’s older sister. But it wasn’t until the two musicians serendipitously ended up reuniting in Atlanta that the seeds of their musical partnership were planted.

“We started hanging out and playing music,” Lasater recalls during an interview before a Roxie Watson show in New Orleans, “and decided that we both really loved bluegrass.

Dolly Parton had come out with The Grass Is Blue and Little Sparrow, and Del McCoury had just released It’s Just The Night. She put a bass in my hands and she picked up a mandolin, and we started playing a little bit of alt-country, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and that kind of stuff.”

The duo gradually began to put together a set list, and soon landed their first paying gig in Birmingham. They held a small back yard party for friends, hoping to get some feedback on their act. One of the people in attendance was Linda Bolley, who sat in on guitar and lent her soprano harmonies to complement Lasater’s low alto.

And, just like that, the duo became a trio.

Eventually Wheeler, a master carpenter, built a stage on the back of her Ford F150, complete with a portable generator and lights. The band began playing in restaurant parking lots and friends’ yards, and it was through one of those yard parties that Tetlow (who was then bassist for New Orleans-based rock band Cowboy Mouth) later came into the fold. Her partner, Connie, kept leaving her voicemail messages

from the party, holding up the phone so Tetlow could hear Roxie Watson’s sound.

“Our friend DeDe Vogt had an instrument shop up in Clarksville,” Tetlow recalls. “I called her from the road and asked if she had any banjos. She said yes, and I asked her to pick me up a good one that didn’t cost too much. I got the banjo and a little instructional book and learned a song. Then I called [the Roxie girls] and said, ‘Can I come play in the kitchen, too?’

I’ve stuck with the banjo ever since!”

With the addition of Becky Shaw– a longtime friend of the band who capably switches from acoustic guitar and lap steel to harmonica and accordion– the group eventually became a quintet. But to hear the ladies talk about it today, the fact that they gradually developed into an act with a burgeoning career almost seems like the result of fortuitous circumstance rather than any sort of planning on their part.

“The crazy thing about this band,” Tetlow continues, “is that it really didn’t start out trying to be a band. It really was just us sitting around somebody’s house, playing songs. We’re a bunch of old friends: Lenny and Bee go way back; Becky, Linda and I used to play in a GoGo’s cover band when I first moved to Atlanta back in the ‘90s; Bee Whee and me were label mates. The crazy thing about playing the Variety Playhouse is that it didn’t feel any different than playing on the back of the truck… except that there were a lot more people there, and it sure was fun!”

BREAKING STEREOTYPES

Roxie Watson’s organic approach to developing their music career stands out as something of an anachronistic anomaly in an era where YouTube videos and reality shows turn relative newcomers into overnight sensations. But it’s hardly the only aspect of the band that stands out as unconventional.

The first thing you notice is the fact that they’re an all-female band playing bluegrass, a musical form historically dominated by the male of the species. There have been plenty of female solo artists, but men playing lead instruments usually accompany them. In terms of prominent all-female bluegrass bands, there’s Uncle Earl and… um….

Then there’s the fact that the women in Roxie Watson all share singing and songwriting duties. From the plucky rockabilly of Shaw’s “Pick Up My Boots” and the country-blues of Tetlow’s “Double Wide” to the high lonesome mournfulness of Bolley’s “Washed Away” and the classic balladry of Lasater’s “Shine A Light,” the Songs From Hell’s Hollow boast an eclectic, accessible sound. And when Wheeler takes lead on “Sunday Beer” live at the Variety, the audience goes nuts.

Please go to www.insiteatlanta.com to continue reading full length version. The band will play the Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival at 2pm on August 16.

insiteatlanta.com • August 2014 • PG 23

SPORTS

2014 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

7. GEORGIA

RE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL finality? We sure hope so, because the long-awaited College Football Playoff is on its way. Though haters still have their gripes — just four teams? Wait, Condoleezza Rice is on the selection committee? — the idea of a 13-member group picking the best schools to compete in semifinals games on January 1 for the right to play in the inaugural championship game on January 12 sounds great to us. In fact, we’re so excited about the pigskin potential that we’ve gone ahead and named the four teams with the best chances to make it to Arlington, Texas. The other 16 schools’ homework is to ensure that doesn’t happen.

No exaggeration, there was a stretch over the summer where every Bulldogs report we got on our phone was about some player connected to the university doing something illegal. But speaking of crimes, how running back sensation Todd Gurley avoids tackles should be against the law.

8. OKLAHOMA

1. FLORIDA STATE

9. WISCONSIN

A

Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston gave Seminoles fans an offseason of highs (he says he’s playing next year, too) and lows (cited for stealing seafood from a grocery store). If he and the once-stout D (only four starters return from a side that had the nation’s top pass defense) can repeat as national champs, all will be forgiven for the emotional roller coaster ride.

2. ALABAMA

How Nick Saban’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class (six five-star athletes) holds up over a scary Halloween stretch — Texas A&M, Tennessee and LSU play the Crimson Tide in consecutive weeks — will determine if ‘Bama is good or scary good this “rebounding” year.

3. OHIO STATE

If there’s anyone who can right a seemingly rocky boat — the Buckeyes are riding a two-game losing streak; they have lost six starters on offense — it’s Urban Meyer, a head coach with a 128-25 record. It certainly doesn’t hurt having Braxton Miller (36 total TDs) as your QB.

4. STANFORD

The San Antonio Spurs of college football, the Stanford Cardinal aren’t flashy or dashy—they’re just nasty. And super consistent. With 15 starters returning to a team that quietly went 11-3, it’s steady as she goes again in Palo Alto.

5. OREGON

Where are all the Chicken Littles? The folks who insisted the sky would fall after coach Chip Kelly’s exit for the NFL have quieted, especially after Mark Helfrich’s 11-2 debut campaign.

The innovative offense will absolutely soar in year two if Heisman-seeking QB Marcus Mariota can stay healthy all year.

6. BAYLOR

While Bryce Petty’s throwing stats (4,200 passing yards, 32 TDs) are fantastic, the most important number right now for the Bears is 4-0, as in the record they need to own before their October 4 statement-making showdown with Texas.

Florida State’s Jameis Winston

Because so much of the Midwest media’s attention has gone to Texas, we haven’t really noticed how un-Sooner the Sooners have looked at times the past few years. Should tailback Joe Mixon live up to the hype (and get past his legal woes), things will return to normal in Norman.

Though the Badgers’ roster is full of players (RB Corey Clement) who are hard to overlook, it’s the squad’s easy-breezy schedule (no Michigan or Michigan St. on the slate) that truly earns them a spot on this list.

10. UCLA

We can’t say enough about QB Brett Hundley. The guy is poised. He’s an unmistaken leader. He’s also quite the handful in the pocket. And if the Bruins can somehow top a 2013 where they went 10-3, the East Coast will hear all about it.

11. LSU

Fab freshman Leonard Fournette is already being compared to Adrian Peterson. No, that’s not fair to put that kind of pressure on a 19-year-old’s back. But hey, when you’re just three years removed from a national title game appearance, pressure comes with the territory.

12. MICHIGAN STATE

If Stanford is the NCAA’s version of the Spurs, these Spartans are Rodney Dangerfield—they simply can’t buy the respect that their winning play warrants. A 42-12 record over the last four years. A 3-1 bowl mark over that same span. Maybe you’ll pay attention this season when they compete up to the final week for a playoff spot.

13. TEXAS

New coach Charlie Strong brings an energy that Austin hasn’t felt in a couple of seasons. What that translates to on the field won’t be fully known until a juicy September 13 battle with UCLA.

14. AUBURN

Lost in all of the Tigers’ miraculous play from a season ago is the evolution of QB Nick Marshall. If he keep lighting up certain parts of the stat sheet (over 3,000 total yards in 2013), it’ll cover up the mess (59.4 passer rating) elsewhere in his game.

15. TEXAS A&M

Johnny Manziel wears a size 15 cleat. Sure hope Kyle Allen

and Kenny Hill, the two guys given the unenviable task of filling the polarizing star’s shoes, are ready for the role. It’s great that Kevin Sumlin, one of the game’s top coaches, is there to walk with them.

16. SOUTH CAROLINA

With the team’s undisputed leader on offense (Connor Show) and defense (Jadeveon Clowney) gone, the Gamecocks will have to find new generals. From the way RB Mike Davis (1,183 yards, 11 TDs) hits the holes, it certainly appears he’s someone worth following, too.

17. USC

After a few years of NCAA sanctions and UCLA’s resurgence, the Trojans finally appear to be coming up for air. New head coach Steve Sarkisian is just the man to help the school maneuver around the shark-infested Pack-12.

18. ARIZONA STATE

Don’t worry if you didn’t realize the Sun Devils were reigning Pac-12 South champs. RB D.J. Foster and WR Jaelen Strong would like nothing more than to sneak up on you (and opposing defenses) again this year.

19. NOTRE DAME

Everett Golson’s return to the team is the sort of Hollywoodlike storyline we love. The Fighting Irish’s brutal schedule (Stanford, Florida State, USC) is the kind of nightmare that will keep them from being a serious title contender.

20. MARSHALL

When the Thundering Herd go 12-0 against inferior opposition like Rhode Island and UAB, most folks won’t bat an eye.

It won’t be until QB stud Rakeem Cato guides Marshall to a Cotton Bowl win that you’ll finally see greatness.

21-25: BOWLING GREEN, DUKE, NEBRASKA, NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND TENNESSEE

GA. STATE LOOKS TO REBOUND FROM 0-12 SEASON

BY DAVE COHEN

L

OOKING TO IMPROVE ON LAST year’s 0-12 season, head coach Trent Miles and the Georgia State Panthers open the 2014 college football season on Wednesday, August 27th when they host Abilene Christian in the Georgia Dome. Entering just their fifth season as a program and second in the Sun Belt Conference, Georgia State is now a full-fledged FBS program and is bowl-eligible. The task for Coach Miles and his staff since arriving at Georgia State is to rebuild a football team stocked with mostly FCS caliber players with players that are capable of competing week in and week out in the Sun Belt Conference. The encouraging thing about this Panther squad is that for those who watched this team throughout last season, despite not winning a game, they did get noticeably better each week as the season progressed. Coach Miles recently addressed the media at the Sun Belt Conference media day.

PG 24 • August 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

Obviously it’s been a busy off-season. How the team has improved heading into its second season in the Sun Belt Conference?

Our kids have worked extremely hard in the offseason and done a great job in the classroom, and our coaches have done a great job recruiting.

Now it’s time to get on the field and try to be competitive in the conference. We are older, we are bigger, stronger, faster, and we’ve added in some recruits who will contribute. Our players can take the lessons that they learned in terms of how to compete in this conference and hopefully move to the next level of learning how to compete to win. It’s a process, but it’s not a fast process. If you build a house too fast, it’s going to fall down. You have to build it right, and that takes time.

With Nick Arbuckle’s arrival from California,

it looks like there will be some strong competition at the quarterback position with Ronnie Bell returning as well as freshman Emiere Scaife, Ben McLane and Clay Chastain.

Coming out of spring, Nick Arbuckle is the starter, but Ronnie got better in the spring, too. We will open it back up for competition at the beginning of camp, when we will add Emiere. We look forward to competition at the position so that hopefully we can perform at a higher level. The completion percentage has to improve.

Not only with regards to the quarterbacks but the running game as well, which struggled last season, one of your immediate concerns was the offensive line. Three of the new recruits, junior college kids who we saw during spring practice, are tackles Michael Ivory and Steve Wolgamott and center Taylor Evans.

We have to be able to run the football, and it all starts up front. We’ve got to be able to push people off the ball. We are bigger and stronger up front, and it will really help if we can keep some continuity on the offensive line.

UL Lafayette was the unanimous favorite among the coaches to win the conference.

Georgia State played them last season and then gave Arkansas State a scare on the road in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

They have a great program, great coaches, a great environment to play in, and let’s not forget, they have great players. That’s what is most important. They are the class of the conference right now, along with Arkansas State, and that’s where we are trying to get to. I take comfort knowing that our kids are getting better every day. We feel good about what we are building.

We will start winning football games, it’s just a matter of when.

Read the entire article at insiteatlanta.com.

SPORTS

FIRST & GOALS

Reporter Maria Taylor readies for the new college football season and the longawaited debut of the SEC Network.

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

O

N JULY 24, TIME WARNER Cable scored a really big win. On that day, the company came to an agreement with ESPN about carrying its new channel, the SEC Network. The partnership means that, in addition to seeing over 1,000 of the powerhouse conference’s live events, Time Warner subscribers are also promised lots of Maria Taylor, a towering talent who knows a thing or two about SEC sports.

A former volleyball star at the University of Georgia in the mid 2000s, the 6’2” Taylor went on to become one of ESPN’s go-to sideline reporters for college football and volleyball. Taylor will play the role of analyst, host and reporter with the SEC Network. We caught up with the busy 27-year-old just before the channel’s August 14 debut to get her take on the new network, old stereotypes in sports journalism and everything in between.

Tell me a little bit about how you got started in the business.

When I graduated from Georgia, I worked with ISP (International Sports Properties), and they were trying something new where they wanted to own all the media rights to the Internet and coaches shows and basically one big production company for Georgia. That felt like a ground-floor building process to me. And I always told myself that if another opportunity like that

comes along, I want to do it again, in this case the SEC network. And for it to be in the conference that I played in, that just makes it even more special.

Fellow reporter, Pam Oliver, gets a lot of flack about her physical appearance. Her rebuttal is that she’s too busy trying to get the story to worry about the condition of her hair in the Chicago wind. What is your position here? Should you be at your best physically when the camera is on, or is it story first and everything else second?

Well, I think that people have a misconception that someone is following us around and doing our makeup and touching up our hair the whole time we are on the sidelines. But from my experience, I’m getting to the game three hours before it actually starts. Now all the way leading up to it, you’re literally running around the field trying to get your last-minute talking to the coaches here, a player there, trying to see whether or not this kid’s playing, if he’s dressed out - and you’re writing all this stuff down literally up until the point that you have your first live hit on TV. And all the time, during this, you’re also kind of going through a rehearsal, but you’re on the ground trying to figure things out while your producer is trying to make the run-through rehearsal. So there are like 101 things going on before the game starts, and I can promise you that not one of them has anything to do with your appearance.

So when I walk out of my hotel room three hours before the game, hopefully, that [look] lasts all the way through the game.

agazin M e t i e s

Best of Atlanta

IN

Do you see any surprises for the conference this upcoming college football season?

I could see Tennessee being a surprise, just because they wouldn’t be on anyone’s radar, with where they finished last year, [being] unable to go to a bowl game and losing to Vanderbilt in that last game at home. But they’ve got a coach in Butch Jones who you can see is just kind of flipping the culture around there. You’ve got kids really excited about coming to school there. They’ve kind of opened up the program a little bit more. And you look at Tennessee and [the city of ] Knoxville.

They have all the resources that they need to be great. They have a fan base. You know, 100,000 fans are still coming out, even when they were losing football games. They would be on my radar going into the season.

Your Votes, Your Winners! ’s

How is the SEC able to stay so consistently dominant?

First of all, they’ve built the tradition at being really good at football. When I go across the country and I see younger athletes the conference that they look to first is the SEC. [The SEC is] always getting the top-caliber talent. So, it doesn’t even necessarily have to be the best team in the conference that might lure in some of the best talent, just because kids want to play in the SEC. Then, when you add in, you know, Texas A&M, now you’re getting kids in Texas interested in the SEC. You add in Missouri, you’re reaching out a little bit further. The best coaches want to coach in the SEC as well, because you know that they are going to be funded properly. So I think it starts with talent, then it goes into coaching, but all eyes are definitely on the SEC when it comes to college football.

2014

Voting begins Midnight Sunday, August 10 insiteatlanta.com/bestofatlanta insiteatlanta.com • August 2014 • PG 25

MUSIC

FILM

TRACK SUITS HOME RELEASES Volume 5: Single Finger Salutation

BY BLUE SULLIVAN

I

SPENT SIX HOURS IN A CAR recently in bumper to bumper traffic between LA and San Diego. In doing so, I had a chance to catch up on a lot of the current zeitgeist of indie and electronic music. It’s amazing how much of it would need almost no tweaking to become elevator music for hip malls. Everything is pretty, and also pretty f*cking boring. But not here, children. Here, we still like music that offends your parents… or at least makes you wiggle your ass a bit.

Weekend Wolves – “X”

This buzzing, spiteful quasi-industrial track comes from a little known German band discovered on Soundcloud by a friend in DC. With its squalls of feedback, crunchy beat and guitar lines that sound like falling airplanes, “X” recalls My Bloody Valentine and XTRMNTR-era Primal Scream in the best possible way.

Phoria – “Emanate”

Remember when M83 didn’t sound like MGMT? You know, when they still weren’t afraid to alienate people with a little noise, when every song didn’t sound like a hollow monolith bent on Spotify domination? Well, if you don’t, fortunately Phoria is here to remind you.

A Sunny Day in Glasgow – “Bye Bye Big Ocean”

Continuing the stellar streak of awesome things associated with Scotland (see also: Trainspotting, The Twilight Sad) is this track that sounds like Curve spit through broken amplifiers or The Joy Formidable if they had more ideas.

RETRO PICK:

Chemical Brothers– “Don’t Think”

Though it’s not really that “retro” (2012), this track from the best electronic artist of the last two decades off-handedly demonstrates why they deserve that title. This urgent, pulsing, dancefloor-conquering monster (from the Black Swan soundtrack) would represent the career-high watermark for nearly every EDM artist on the planet. But this UK duo doesn’t even bother to put it on one of their albums. While Daft Punk has captured the imagination of hipsters who never cared about dance music until last year, the Chemicals continue to quietly build on a set of stone classics for people who will still be here when the genre fades from fashion.

If you would like to hear this month’s tracks– and a few more great ones we didn’t have room to write about– check out our “Track Suits Mix” at: www.mixcloud.com/ tracksuits. Special thanks to TJDJ in DC and my impeccably tasteful brother, Jody, for their help in curating this column.

PG 26 • August 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

THE LATEST DVD, BLU RAY & VOD RELEASES

BY BRET LOVE AND JOHN MOORE

ALAN PARTRIDGE Clueless radio host Alan Partridge (played for decades by Steve Coogan) still has little more than a cult following in the U.S. This movie is unlikely to broaden the appeal, but it’s still a welcome treat for longtime fans.

The story finds Partridge at his small town talk radio station after it’s just been bought, when a mentally unstable morning DJ decides to take fellow employees hostage.

This is not high satire by any means, but there are still plenty of laughs here.

BAD WORDS Growing up a fan of Jason Bateman on Silver Spoons, it’s been thrilling to watch his post-Arrested Development comeback.

Here, he directs and stars in a surprisingly touching black comedy about an 8th grade dropout who enrolls in a spelling bee after discovering the identity of his father, who left his unwed mother when she was still pregnant. Bateman’s character is rude, crude and socially unacceptable. But, with help from supporting players Kathryn Hahn and Allison Janney, the story earns respect.

BOARDWALK EMPIRE: SEASON FOUR With season 5 the last for HBO’s 1920s mob drama, season 4 finds Terence Winter (The Sopranos) ratcheting up the tension. Chalky gets his own club, but Harlem drug lord Valentin Narcisse (Jeffrey Wright) proves a worthy foil. Richard Harrow looks to escape life as an assassin, but he’s pulled back in by his desire to remove Gillian as a threat.

And new FBI chief J Edgar Hoover is slowly figuring out that Atlantic City is the center of national crime syndicate, just as Nucky imagines a new life with Patricia Arquette’s Betty. We can’t wait to watch this show go out with a bang.

BOREDOM On the surface, an hour-long doc on the subject of boredom sounds, well…

On the contrary, this film by investigative reporter Albert Nerenberg is surprisingly engrossing, thanks largely to his smart, satirical approach. Starting with the 2011 London riots (which the film suggests began out of boredom) and including interviews with researchers at the aptly named Boring Institute, Nerenberg studies the cause and effects of boredom in a doc that is anything but boring.

THE UNKNOWN KNOWN America’s most journalistic director, Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line, The Fog of War: 11 Lessons From the Life of Robert S. McNamara), takes on one of our most controversial political figures, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Morris, a former private investigator, is a master interviewer, taking Rumsfeld to task over U.S. involvement in Desert Storm and the War on Terror. But Rumsfeld proves as slippery as he is slimy, making for fascinating (if frustrating) viewing.

MERCHANDISE

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

BY BRET LOVE

W

HETHER IT’S HIGH SCHOOL or college, heading back to school tends is a mixed bag for parents and students alike. On the negative side, summer vacation is over, and homework/tests are SEVENTEEN a pain. On the positive side, there’s reuniting with friends, learning new stuff, and Back to School shopping…

CLOTHING

My daughter is 13 going on 20, so her favorite thing DORM-IN-A-BOX about going back to school is new clothes. The folks behind SEVENTEEN (Seventeen.com) just launched a fashion line she loves, including stretch skinny pants, a denim and fleece hoodie, and hip POPPIN military jackets. They’re all cool but casual, reminding me of the ‘80s punk/new wave style.

TOKIDOKI (Tokidoki. it) is a colorful clothing line from Italian designer Simone Legno, whose DYSON Japanese-inspired art and larger-than-life characters made him a cult favorite beloved by brands like Karl Lagerfeld and Levi’s.

From the Prima Donna Unicorno Stars Pullover to the Moofia Pony Pop tee, his big, bold styles are PELICAN daringly distinctive.

For classic, comfortable clothes, we’re big fans of THE NORTH FACE (TheNorthFace.com), which offers a broad range of tee-shirts and hoodies perfect for school, gym or outdoor adventure. As the weather turns cool, layering the eye-catching Sun Rise Tee with the Full Zip Hoodie strikes a nice balance between function and fashion.

DORM LIFE

I went to a commuter college (GSU), so dorm life has always been fascinating to me. I had no idea there’s a whole industry that caters to students in dorms. DORMIN-A-BOX (DormInABox.com) is a unique company offering 14 Dorm Packages including most everything a college student could need, from towels, washcloths and laundry hampers to flashlights, surge protectors and toolkits. It’s perfect for parents who don’t have time to go shopping.

The North Carolina-based LEIGHDEUX DORM (LeighDeuxDorm.com) line is significantly less practical, but it’s a lot of fun.

Their bolster pillows, throw pillows and poufs (think: cushy ottoman) are vibrant, colorful and stylish, equally appropriate for teens, college kids and hip young adults moving into their first apartment.

DOWN LINENS (DownLinens.com) offers Down-Filled Dorm Bedding kits more posh than anything I slept on in my teens or twenties. We’re talking 100% hypo-allergenic, 550-fill goose down comforters, pillows and featherbeds with 100% cotton covers. The only thing missing is the sheets… and an alarm to make sure they wake up!

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Shopping for school supplies is one of our

LEAST favorite things, but POPPIN (Poppin. com) makes it a heck of a lot easier. Though it’s ostensibly an office products company, their cool colors and hip designs are stylish enough for teen and twenty-something tastes.

Best of all, we were able to get everything on my daughter’s school supplies list (including binders, notebooks, markers and pens) in less time than it would’ve taken to drive to Office Depot.

One of the new items on her school’s list this year was headphones. We’re all big fans of the SonicFuel Headphones from AUDIO-TECHNICA (Audio-Technica.com), the most comfortable inear headphones I’ve ever owned. They’ve got a C-tip design that locks in place for stability, 13.5 mm drivers that provide booming bass and crisp treble tones, Comply foam eartips that deliver music straight your heart, and in-line volume and mic controls for smartphones.

HOUSEWARES

College students aren’t known for their homemaking skills. But budding Martha Stewarts (and lucky roommates) will love the Classic WafflePro 854 from CHEF’S CHOICE (ChefsChoice.com), which bakes four homemade waffles in under three minutes.

The Taste/Texture Select feature allows you to choose fast-bake waffles that are crispy outside and chewy inside, or slow-bake waffles with a uniform texture. We also use ours to press fresh, hot paninis.

Getting kids to clean is never fun, but the DC59 Motorhead Vacuum from DYSON (Dyson.com) makes it easier. This cordless wonder’s 350W motor is as powerful as it is lightweight, with 2-Tier Radial Cyclone technology that allows it to out-clean the top five best-selling full-size vacuums on carpets and hard floors. Its slim design makes it perfect for small dorm rooms.

BACKPACKS & CASES

Between school and travel, we’re always looking for innovative backpacks and cases.

My daughter loves her iPad Organizer Case from PURSEN (PurseN.com), which comes in stylish designs and features two stand positions (one for typing, one for viewing), elastic bands to hold her tablet in place, and 2 outside compartments for storage.

My lady likes the new Swerve backpack from HIGH SIERRA (Shop.HighSierra.com).

It’s perfect for school or hiking, with three large compartments, a separated zippered entry to storage for laptops and tablets, a media pocket with built-in headphone port, and a tuck-away rain cover to keep your gear safe when the weather turns ugly.

The S140 Elite Tablet Backpack from PELICAN (Pelican.com) is one of the toughest packs we’ve tested. It’s got a watertight, crush-proof tablet case, with a huge 20.5-liter main storage compartment.

The shoulder straps and lumbar pad with ergonomic ventilated back make it comfortable, but it’s also small enough to go under airplane seats.

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A player like that, you have to live and die defending him one on one. If he makes big shots, you have to go to the other end and stay poised.” –New Mexico guard Dairese Gary, on JIMMER FREDETTE, BYU star and college’s leading scorer

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