INsite Atlanta July 2014 Issue by INsite Magazine

JULY 2014

the

INSITEATLANTA.COM

VOL. 22, NO. 12 FREE

Hottest Music Festivals & Concerts this Summer!

MUSIC ISSUE

American Hi-Fi • Steve Miller Band Reel Big Fish • Jarren Benton • Sugarland

Sat

Jun 28 Jul 17

the temptations the four tops Sat pat benatar & Jun 28 neil giraldo + rick springfield Fri

celebrate america:

Jun 27

atlanta symphony orchestra

the doobie brothers peter frampton matthew Curry

Fri

ray lamontagne

Jul 24

american idol live

William beckett

Fri

Jul 11

Jul 18 Jenny Lewis • The Belle Brigade

Fri

Jul 25 + Sat

plain White t’s

Sat

Jul 12

the avett brothers

ATLANTA

emmylou Harris (Friday) Jul 26 gov’t mule (saturday) Sat under The sun Tour Aug 2

Sun

Aug 3

TART TICKETS $S19.50! T AT JUS

blues traveler sugar ray uncle kracker smash mouth phish

Aug 5

James taylor

Sat

Dodge presents

Aug 16 Fri

Aug 22

Sun

Jul 20

procol harum

Sat

an intimate evening with

Jul 26

texas tenors

old croW medicine shoW

Sep 17

erasure

Sep 30

the best of Jethro tull performed by

ian anderson

Brett eldredge

Sep 6 Sun

Sep 7 Sat

Oct 11

syd arthur

Aug 9

keith urban zz TOp • JeFF BeCk

Sun

susan boyle

austin mahone

Fri

celtic thunder

Fifth Harmony shawn mendes • alex angelo

Widespread panic

IDAY ON SALE FTR10AM! A 18 JULY

Latest Concert Calendar & Venue Info at VZWAMP.COM

Oct 26 Nov 21

Fri

Tickets to all ASO Presents events available at

ticketmaster

• Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre box office • Woodruff Arts Center box office • Make It A Group! (404) 733.4848

“Go Jazz. In July.” boney James

brian culbertson dianne reeves love & soul tour the fray

This is a no table show. Outside food & beverages are not allowed.

In Association with

Jul 23

sara bareilles

Lucius • Hannah Georgas

This is a no table show. Outside food & beverages are not allowed.

Sat

O.a.r. • pHiLLip pHiLLips

Jul 26 saints of Valory

This is a no table show. Outside food & beverages are not allowed.

Sat

chris botti Will doWning gipsy kings

Aug 2 With special guest Fri

Aug 15 Ole’ Noys Sat

dave koz & friends michael franks BOyz ii meN • eN VOGue tedeschi trucks band

Aug 16 With special guest Fri

Aug 22 Fri

buy your tickets noW!

sunset Jazz

Jul 18 Barcelona • Oh Honey

yes

mötley crüe

Aug 24 Jerrod Niemann Sat

art garfunkel

Sat

shovels and rope

Sun

SYMPHONY HALL

Jul 30

alice cooper

goo goo dolls daughtry

Sep 12 Sat

Sep 13

John hiatt

charlie Wilson Latest Concert Calendar & Venue Info at

DELTACLASSICCHASTAIN.COM

Concerts take place rain or shine. Artists and schedules are subject to change. All sales final. No exchanges or refunds. • Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park is owned and operated by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. • Delta Classic Chastain Concerts promoted by ASO Presents support the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

PG 2 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

CONTENTS • JUNE 2014 • VOLUME 22, NO. 12

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

Atlanta’s

Entertainment Monthly

INTERVIEWS 06 Little Mermaid 11 Jon Lovitz 12 Bill Burr 13 Mary Lynn Rajskub 17 Reel Big Fish 19 Yes 20 Kristian Bush 22 Jarren Benton 23 Mike Love 23 Steve Miller Band 24 American Hi-Fi 24 Roll the Tanks

DR. STRANGELOVE (50TH ANNIVERSARY) THURSDAY, JULY 24 AT 7:30 PM

FEATURES 08 09 11 14 21 25

04 05 05 06 07 10 17 18 26 26 26

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

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

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

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 CONTACT US 130 West Wieuca Road, Ste. 111 Atlanta, GA 30342 phone (404) 256-4328 • website insiteatlanta.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION (404) 256-4328 • ads@insiteatlanta.com Editorial content of INsite is the opinion of each writer and is not necessarily the opinion of INsite, its staff, or its advertisers. INsite does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor do the publisher or editors of INsite assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. No content, i.e., articles, graphics, designs and information (any and all) in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from publisher.

Fe st

iva

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

SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS THURSDAY, JULY 31 AT 7:30 PM SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 AT 10 AM

www.insiteatlanta.com STAFF LISTING

THE PHILADELPHIA STORY

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

East Atlanta Guide BBQ Guide Movie and Music Summer Music Preview Music Venue Guide Travel to Sweden

COLUMNS

GONE WITH THE WIND (75TH ANNIVERSARY) SUNDAY, JULY 27 AT 2 PM

Check out our Summer Music Preview on page 14

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VOL. 22, NO. 12 FREE

Hottest Music Festivals & Concerts this Summer!

MUSIC ISSUE

American Hi-Fi • Steve Miller Band Reel Big Fish • Jarren Benton • Sugarland

1485 Northeast Expressway Atlanta, Georgia 30329 (404) 320-7253

1901 Terrell Mill Road SE Marietta, Georgia 30067 (770) 980-9222

1455 Pleasant Hill Road Suite 401 Lawrenceville, Georgia 30044 (678) 380-6730

970 North Point Dr Suite A120 Alpharetta, Georgia 30022 (678) 893-0870

Check us out on insiteatlanta.com • July 2014 • PG 3

Around Town MUSEUMS High Museum

Friday Night Music Remix JULY 18

This summer the High will present a rotating schedule of musical genres every third Friday of the month from 5 to 10 p.m., replacing previously offered Friday Jazz concerts. Titled Friday Night Music Remix, the new concerts will feature jazz, blues, Latin music, bluegrass and more and will include full museum access, including special exhibitions. In addition to live music, your concert ticket will include half-price admission to the museum. Visit High.org

Atlanta History Center

The Battle Of Peachtree Creek JULY 19

One hundred and fifty years ago marked the eve of one of the most pivotal battles of the Civil War – the Battle of Peachtree Creek. Visit the farmhouse and kitchen at the 1860s Smith Family Farm to hear how Atlanta women and children dealt with shortages and war-related hardships. Encounter soldiers encamped and hear their stories as they make preparations for the upcoming battle. Free with price of admission. Visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com

Atlanta Cyclorama Family Day JULY 20

Spend a family day at Cyclorama learning in fun, hands-on ways about the Battle of Atlanta and the Civil War. Civil War educators will teach young people and their families the games and pastimes of the era.

Community Happenings and Events Around Atlanta in July

Storytellers, face painters, and Civil War reenactors will be on hand. Admission is free. Visit AtlantaCyclorama.org.

ATTRACTIONS Stone Mountain

Summer at the Rock THROUGH AUGUST 3

This Summer go on an action-packed journey with the Journey 2: The Mysterious Island – The 4-D Experience, challenge yourself on SkyHike, the nation’s largest family adventure course, or cool off and play in the spray on Geyser Towers. Be sure to stay into the evening for the Lasershow Spectacular in Mountainvision, showing nightly during Summer at the Rock. Visit StoneMountainPark.com

Come visit Zoo Atlanta’s wildly popular summer evening series for adults, Wild on the Rocks. It takes places on the second Thursday of each month this summer for special evening exhibit viewing, live music, themed keeper presentations, cocktails, food trucks, local zoo-centric art, and great company. Visit ZooAtlanta.org

MOVIES Town Brookhaven

Movies on the Town THURSDAY NIGHTS JULY 10, 17, 24, 31

Georgia Aquarium Imagination Nights THROUGH AUGUST 16

This summer, enjoy Georgia Aquarium by night at a special ticket price! When you visit the aquarium after 6pm Monday – Saturday, you'll receive admission to all six galleries for only $21.95 + tax per person. Visit GeorgiaAquarium.org

Zoo Atlanta

Wild on the Rocks JULY 10

Movies are free and begin at dusk on the green space. Music and announcements begin two hours prior. Come early, grab dinner and eat on the green space. Participating restaurants and specials on their website. Visit TownBrookhaven.net

COMEDY Laughing Skull Lounge Mary Lynn Rajskub JULY 10 - 13

Most know Mary Lynn Rajskub from her fan favorite role as computer genius Chloe O'Brian in Fox's smash hit 24. However she is also a talented standup comedian. Read our interview with her on Page 13. Visit LaughingSkulLounge.com

Atlanta Improv Jon Lovitz JULY 31 - AUGUST 2

Comedian and actor John Lovitz was part of the Saturday Night Live cast for five years, during which time he created memorable characters as Annoying Man, Master Thespian, and Tommy Flanagan, the Pathological Liar. Jon Lovitz has more than 30 films, several TV shows and a Broadway show to his credit. These days Lovitz is focused on standup comedy. See our interview on Page 11. TheImprovAtlanta.com

MUSIC Heritage Sandy Springs The Grains of Sand Band JULY 13

The popular summer concert series continues on July 13 with a performance by The Grains of Sand Band. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with the concert from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Picnics and coolers welcome; no outside tables. Food, beer, wine, and drinks will be available for purchase. Free admisison. Visit HeritageSandySprings.org

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ER! W INN

LOCAL

On Tap this Month MAJOR EVENTS COMING TO ATLANTA Select Dates: The Fox Theatre

COCA-COLA SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL

e Fox eatre continues their 2014 Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival this month with four more classic movies. e Wizard of Oz (June 29, 2:00 pm); Dr. Strangelove (July 24, 7:30 pm); Gone with the Wind (July 26-27); and e Philadelphia Story (July 31, 7:30 pm). For full schedule and ticket information visit e Fox eatre ticket oﬃce, online at Foxeatre.org or by calling (855) 285-8499.

July 4: Lenox Square to Piedmont Park

PEACHTREE ROAD RACE

e AJC Peachtree Road Race has distinguished itself as one of the premier Fourth of July traditions in Atlanta. is year’s 45th annual Peachtree Road Race will feature 60,000 runners competing in one of the country's best known 10K races. e race, which starts at Lenox Square, once again has its ﬁnish line at Piedmont Park in Midtown. Remember to take MARTA. Visit PeachtreeRoadrace.org

July 4: Various Locations Around Atlanta

FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS

ere are several different ways to enjoy fireworks in and around Atlanta this Independence Day. Lenox Square Mall offers one of the largest along with live music beforehand (Simon.com). Stone Mountain offers a mix of fireworks and lazer show (StoneMountainPark.com). ere is also a fireworks show downtown at Centennial Olympic Park (CentennialPark.com.

July 5 & 6: Jim Miller Park, Marietta

ATLANTA FOOD FESTIVAL

Come to Jim Miller Park in Marietta from 12pm – 8pm Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6 for a fantastic culinary experience! Taste and sample a variety of dishes from Metro Atlanta's very own restaurants, caterers, and food trucks. Kids will enjoy the fun zone, equipped with inﬂatables, waterslides, a rock climbing wall, bungee jumping, and bouncy houses. Visit ATLFoodFest.com for ticket information.

July 19 - 27: Atlantic Station

BB&T ATLANTA OPEN

e 2014 BB&T Atlanta Open has announced a great line-up of players including 2013 champ John Isner, the acrobatic Parisian Gael Monﬁls, Richard Gasquet and long-time American favorite Sam Querrey. Besides the tennis there will many fun, exciting special events taking place daily throughout the tournament at Atlantic Station. For more information visit BBTAtlantaOpen.com.

EVENTS HAPPENING FOR SMALL CHANGE IN ATLANTA

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

PEACHTREE ROAD RACE HEALTH AND FITNESS EXPO

Wednesday, July 2 11 am –8 pm Thursday, July 3 10am – 7pm Free Georgia World Congress Center peachtreeroadrace.org

Kick off your Fourth of July festivities at the 2014 Peachtree Health and Fitness Expo. ere will be over 100 vendors from all areas of the health and fitness industry, a Family Fun Zone for the kids, informational running seminars, the latest running and fitness products and gear, product samples and more. Plus AJC Peachtree Road Race participants will be able to pick up their race numbers at the Peachtree Expo. e event is free and open to the public.

ATLANTA STREET FOOD FESTIVAL

ATLANTA AFRICAN DANCE AND DRUM FESTIVAL July 25 – 27, $15 in advance Morehouse College aaddf.org

Rejoice in music, dance and song from Africa and the Diaspora. ey will have classes for the entire family. is years Festival will be held in Archer Hall Gym on the campus of Morehouse College. e concert will take place at Spelman College's Baldwin Burroughs eater.

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER SUMMER SPLASH Saturday, July 26, Free (excludes craft rental) Morgan Falls Dam Park nps.gov

Make a big splash at the coolest event this summer. Float in a kayak, canoe or raft and beat the heat in your six-mile journey of discovery down the Chattahoochee River. e river journey takes approximately 3 hours. After complete Atlanta Street Food Festival will ing the float enjoy an afternoon of showcase the top Atlanta area food music, food, and fun for the entire famtrucks and bring awareness to those ily at the Powers Island festivities. bringing restaurant food to you. Attendees will also a enjoy a day full of high- ICE CREAM FESTIVAL quality, main-stage entertainment and Saturday, July 26, 11 am – 6 pm, Free experience a mix of local bands. e Piedmont Park, Midtown Atlanta festival will benefit the Atlanta Com- atlantaicecreamfestival.com munity Food Bank. No dogs allowed. is fun event features American’s favorite dessert, ice cream, but also inTICKET TO RIDE cludes a variety of health and wellness BENEFIT HORSE SHOW agencies. ere will be fitness routines, July 18 – 20, Free Event vendors and so much more for the famWills Park Equestrian Center ily to enjoy including entertainment and Alpharetta an ice cream eating competition. harrynormanforsyth.com Saturday, July 12, 12:00pm – 8:00pm, Adults $10.50, Free kids 12 & under Piedmont Park atlantastreetfoodfestival.com

With over 170 horses competing last year, this year’s show is expected to be even bigger. is is a Georgia Hunter Jumper Association and Southern Hunter Jumper of Georgia Rated show and features Double-Point and Money Prize Classics. is year’s event will also feature several vendors, concessions, a 50/50 raﬄe, carnival for children, and an Exhibitors Party where Nashville artist, Penny Dale will perform.

INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK

July 29 – August 3 Various Downtown Locations atlantaintlfashionweek.com

With 50 designers, 12 runway shows, 6 celebrity events and 4 fashion workshops, this has become one of the largest fashion events of the year. Five days of live entertainment, learning sessions and network events.

July 25: Atlanta Symphony Hall

NATIONAL BLACK ARTS FESTIVAL

e National Black Arts Festival kicks oﬀ this month with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Music Director Wynton Marsalis on Friday, July 25, 8:00PM at Symphony Hall. Other events include NBAF Global, Reggae superpowers ird World and British-Jamaican megastar Maxi Priest team up in August for a high-intensity, super-smooth jam at the Tabernacle. For more information visit NBAF.org

Ice Cream Festival July 26, 11am–6pm Piedmont Park

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

TV COLUMN

THEATER

STATION CONTROL

GO UNDER THE SEA

Orange is the New Black BY BENJAMIN CARR

HANK GOD FOR NETFLIX. Otherwise our summer of television might be wasted watching reruns or failed pilots that the networks just want to get rid of. Netflix managed to save us from the summer TV doldrums last year by sending us to jail and giving us something new and fascinating to discuss. With its second season just released, Orange Is the New Black is easily the best of Netflix’s original programming. It’s more worldly and smarter than House of Cards. It’s funnier than that new season of Arrested Development. It’s less schizophrenic than their every-monsterlives-in-the-same-town thriller, Hemlock Grove. It’s also the most diversely cast, female-driven show currently in production. Jenji Kohan created this show in the wake of her last show about a criminal woman, Showtime’s Weeds. But Orange is so much better than her pot-dealing dramedy. Maybe it should be disheartening that we had to go to a minimum-security women’s prison to find a show willing to explore the class/ racial divide in America. It’s odd that Litchfield Women’s Federal Prison is where we find TV’s most in-depth explorations of transgender issues, bisexuality, mental health, drug abuse and bureaucratic corruption. But Orange manages to navigate all of these hot topics smartly, while also remaining a tremendous amount of fun. The show’s first season felt like some sort of blessed miracle. First they introduced us to status-obsessed, self-involved perpetual victim Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), who ended up in prison because she once smuggled drugs after falling for hot, lesbian criminal Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). And then the show casually subverted the fact that Piper was the protagonist by showing just how privileged, short-sighted and entitled she was. Everyone on the show was initially more sympathetic than Piper. Crazy Eyes (the fantastic Uzo Aduba) was a better human being; Alex was more inclined to own up to her actions; Chef Red (Kate Mulgrew) was tougher and smarter. Even Larry, her put-upon fiancé (Jason Biggs), was more likable than Piper. By comparison, our designated heroine came across as weak, entitled, and uppity. But the show had done that on purpose, which proved to be its best twist. The show’s signature use of flashbacks to illustrate the backgrounds of Piper’s fellow prisoners allowed Kohan to show how culture, circumstance and bad choices can lead anyone to jail, no matter who they think they are or what they think they deserve. The first season’s cliffhanger, in which Piper finally takes responsibility for herself and becomes a stronger person by fighting Pennsatucky (Taryn Manning)¬– the white trash, meth-addicted prison bully– and nearly beating her nearly to death, made the show’s return a must-see.

All of Netflix’s original programming is released one full season at a time in order to maximize marathon viewings of all the episodes and create buzz for weeks around the simple question: “What episode are you on?” This allows everyone ample opportunity to binge on the second season of Orange Is the New Black. I watched all 13 episodes in two days. I was disappointed that it took me that long, as I’ve read 1,000-page Harry Potter books in shorter periods of time. And now that I’ve seen all of it, I’m left with some mixed feelings. Mostly, I believe this season is fantastic, even if the shiny newness of the setting and the show is gone. The introduction of a Big Baddie– Red’s drug-dealing nemesis, Vee, played by Lorraine Toussaint– felt forced at first, but it did pay off well by season’s end. Still, watching Crazy Eyes, who spouted wildly weird love poems to Piper last season, reduced to a thug/henchman role proved incredibly disappointing. Still, all in all, getting more background information on colorful characters such as Taystee, Rita the cancer patient, Gloria, Poussey, Black Cindy and Morello was worth the wait from last summer. Morello’s story arc, which spans the entire second season, was this year’s highest point: As her engagement fell apart, the show revealed surprising depth behind a character we thought we knew well, and it was a jarring moment. This season, much moreso than last year, it became clear just how deep the bench of talent on Orange is, and how much the show’s unique structure affords an opportunity for even the most incidental characters to shine. For single episodes, we’re allowed the chance to watch gifted actresses like Samira Wiley (Poussey), Selenis Leyva (Mendoza) and Yael Stone (Morello) play the lead. The faces that used to be in the background– the characters that on other shows would only get single lines– are placed center stage and command attention. And that, in and of itself, may be Orange Is The New Black’s greatest gift. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Scandal

The most twisted, compelling and diverse cast on network TV focuses on Olivia Pope and Associates. Kerry Washington gives Emmyworthy work. And, in terms of shocks, Scandal’s cliffhangers are the best.

Faking It

MTV’s new show, which just wrapped its first season, focuses on two girls who pretend to be a lesbian couple to gain popularity in high school. One of them, in the midst of the sham, realizes that her feelings for her friend might be more than casual.

Lost

The grandfather of all character flashbackcentered shows. Remember that first revealed twist about Locke? Because it was a doozy.

with The Little Mermaid BY MARCI MILLER

ASED ON THE DISNEY ANIMATED film and hit Broadway musical, The Little Mermaid is making its Atlanta debut at The Fox Theatre July 8 – 13. Featuring all the audience favorites such as “Under The Sea” and “Part of Your World” as well as new songs written by Oscar-winning Disney tunesmith Alan Menken, the mastermind behind productions such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Pocahontas. Starring as Ariel is Broadway veteran Jessica Grove. Jessica was ecstatic when she got the role as she used to pretend to be Ariel in her family’s pool as a child and would sing along to a karaoke cassette of “Part of Your World”. So she has been preparing for this role for years. But before putting on the fish tail, Jessica has performed in numerous Broadway shows including Les Miserables, Thoroughly Modern Millie and many more. We recently spoke to Jessica to learn more about The Little Mermaid and what its like to bring the iconic story to the stage. How true does the stage production stay to the Disney movie? The show stays very true to the film and has all of the songs that we know and love (like Part of Your World, Under the Sea and Kiss the Girl ) but Alan Menken and Glenn Slater wrote several new songs for the stage show that are wonderful additions and really help to develop the characters more deeply. How has the audience reaction been? The reaction has been incredible. During the pre-show announcement the excitement in the audience is palpable. And by the end they are on their feet with huge smiles. It is especially fun to look out in the audience during curtain call and see little girls dressed as Ariel waving to us! I love that this is a first theatrical experience for so many children - something they will likely never forget. Is it only for families? While The Little Mermaid is definitely appropriate for families, I don’t think it is just for families. We have had groups of teenagers at the stage door after the show, or grown people who come without children. It is such a beloved story, and the animated feature is still so popular after all these years, that it draws a very diverse crowd. What is your favorite number to perform? That would have to be Part of Your World. Maybe it is because I waited my whole life to have the opportunity to perform it...and it is just the most beautiful song. And the way it is staged is breathtaking. I am suspended in the air for most of the song which gives the illusion of swimming. Paul Rubin choreographed the flying/swimming sequences and they add a very impressive element to this production. Why do people love the story of The Little

PG 6 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

Mermaid so much? I think the reason is that it is so relatable. I think almost everyone has felt at one point or another that they want more out of life. And Ariel’s journey is all about going after what she wants...not just the Prince...but becoming what she felt she was born to be: human. Tell us about the Jessica Grové Fund for the Performing Arts, which financially assists students in your hometown? The fund was started when it was brought to my attention that some of the kids in the drama department at my hometown high school couldn’t all afford to go to Scotland for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. My dad, who was on the arts council, helped me start the fund. My husband and I went to Hilliard to do a fundraising concert to help build some equity and the fund continues to grow and help support the arts and artists in my hometown. One of the most rewarding things about being somewhat successful in show business is that I can use that success to help other kids with similar dreams achieve their dreams. You’ve appeared in numerous Broadway productions with stars like Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch…how hard was it to come to New York City and make a name for yourself in such a competitive field? I was very fortunate to have parents who recognized my passion for performing at an early age and supported the cultivation of it, first locally in Ohio and then at a higher level. At age 16, I was touring the US and Canada as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, with my mom by my side keeping me grounded and my dad coming for visits on the weekends. The timing was good because my older brother was in college so my parents were able to accommodate it - a sacrifice on their end that I appreciate immensely. When I moved to New York at 18, I had already established myself in the business thanks to The Wizard of Oz, but had to continue to prove myself. But even when you are doing well in show business there can be dry spells and lots of rejection, so it takes perseverance and a true love for the craft to stick with it.

Under The Lights ON THE STAGE THIS MONTH! July 8 - 13 The Fox Theatre (855) 285-8499 FoxTheatre.org

In a magical kingdom fathoms below, we meet Ariel, the little mermaid who is tired of flipping her fins and longs to be part of the fascinating world on dry land. Joining her are Sebastian, Ariel’s crabby sidekick; Ursula, the evil sea witch; Triton, King of the Sea; and the handsome and human, Prince Eric. Based on the Disney animated film and hit Broadway musical, The Little Mermaid is making its Atlanta debut. Enjoy audience favorites such as “Under The Sea” and “Part of Your World” as well as new songs written by Oscar-winning Disney tunesmith Alan Menken, of Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Pocahontas.

RIGHT ON

July 18 - Aug 31 Horizon Theatre (404)584-7450 HorizonTheatre.com

Putting the sizzle in the summer at Horizon is the world premiere of Darren Canady’s Right On, a soul-filled story with laughter, tears and a funky beat. Bella, a Black activist-turned-business executive returns to the alma mater where she led protests clad in a dashiki and afro. Along for the trip is her Harvard-bound son Kyle, carrying his own demons in his backpack. But this homecoming quickly turns into a roller coaster reunion with Bella’s college friends, as old flames and rivalries heat up, new challenges arise and Kyle gets a real talk, no jive education about the choices made by the young, gifted and free who set out to turn the tide. In the funky groove of Soul Train and Sly, two generations take each other higher in this powerful and funny story of change makers and their legacies.

Houston’s TUTS production of

ROCKY HORROR SHOW

July 9 - Aug 9 Actors Express (404)607-7469 Actors-Express.com Innocent young Brad and Janet seek refuge in a mysterious castle on a rainy night. Inside, they encounter the lab of Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter and his madcap gaggle of aliens and misfits, who lead the young couple on an intergalactic adventure of sexual discovery and rock-and-roll. This production contains mature content.

©Disney

THE LITTLE MERMAID

ON SALE NOW! July 8-13 • FoxTheatre.org/Mermaid 855-285-8499 LIVE ON STAGE!

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Multiple Atlanta Locations: www.JohnnysPizza.com insiteatlanta.com • July 2014 • PG 7

Guide to East Atlanta! Explore Atlanta’s most eclectic Neighborhood The Glenwood

1263 Glenwood Ave. (404) 748.1984 GlenwoodAtlanta.com

Glenwood offers Shuffleboard, Darts and Skeeball. On Mondays and Tuesdays well drinks are just $3.00. Wednesday it’s Team Trivia with house-cash prizes. Thursdays feature a variety of live bands. Fridays and Saturdays you’ll find a mix of DJ’s and live music. On Sunday watch Every Team Every Game via NFL Ticket. See you at The Glenwood.

in town. Bar regulars love to wash Earl burgers down with their PBR tall boys. With a casual atmosphere and eclectic mix of patrons, you can’t go wrong with a visit to The Earl.

The Elder Tree

469 Flat Shoals Ave. (404) 658.6108 ElderTreeatl.com

The Earl

BadEarl.com 488 Flat Shoals Ave. (404) 522.3950

The Glenwood is your everyman’s pub in East Atlanta (everywoman too). Suits and hipsters rub elbows here while enjoying the best craft beers from a list of ninety. The Glenwood just celebrated their 7th anniversary and they continue to maintain a warm décor, great drinks, and the most complete menu in the Village. The polished hardwood floors, seductive horseshoe bar, and rough-hewn granite walls create an inviting ambiance. For sports fans there are 10 HDTVs. The 2 monster HD projector screens are used to feature special sports events. The hand-crafted booths are just the place to enjoy Chef Marc Stephen’s fare of eclectic comfort food. Lunch is served Monday-Friday from 11:00 AM. On Saturdays and Sundays The Glenwood offers the best Brunch in East Atlanta from 11:00 AM with $1.49 Mimosas. The Patio Deck is just the place to enjoy dinner and a glass of wine from the area’s best wine list. This second story patio has a splendid tree-line view which evokes a delightful feeling of seclusion from the bustling street. The

Tomatillos

1242 Glenwood Ave. (404) 622.9448 tomatillos-atlanta.com

Tomatillos roots go back to the former and one of Atlanta’s favorite establishments, Tortillas. Their credo “In Beans We Trust” harken back to the Tortillas days were the current owners used to work. Here you will find great Tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas, Nachos and Salads. They use inspiring ingredients including potato green chili, slow-cooked brisket and tofu. Their customers also rave about their catfish and fried chicken tacos. Come Tuesdays for their Crunchy Taco Special. They offer different specials daily.

Grant Central East Pizza 1279 Glenwood Ave. (404) 627.0007 facebook.com/grantcentraleast

Located in the heart of the East Atlanta Village, The Earl is the kind of place you can hang out at all day. It is a great combination of restaurant, bar and concert hall. Featuring an amazing bar menu, moderately priced drinks and a music venue in the back, this is a place that can satisfy just about anyone in your group. The open front offers cafe’ seating with a great views of the East Atlanta scene. At night anything and everything can be heard on the back stage while the crowd varies with the bands. National acts and the best of the emerging Atlanta music scene grace the Earl nightly to packed crowds. The jukebox in the restaurant has one of the most eclectic group of albums

AWARD WINNING CUISINE!

agave restaurant OVER 100

This European-style Irish pub serves gastro fare rooted within authentic Irish tradition. The Elder Tree is open for lunch and dinner as well as brunch on the weekends. The menu, heavily peppered with house-cured meats, hearty pub food staples like Fish-n-Chips and Bangers & Mash. You will find delicious appetizers including Crab Cakes and Lamb Sliders as well as Corned Beef sandwiches and a variety of burgers. Favorite entrees include Cumberland Pie, Hangar Steak and Grilled Salmon. At the bar, there are 13 European beers on draft and a full range of whiskey cocktails. This summer The Elder Tree Pub has opened an outdoor beer garden with all the amenities including a big screen TV, live bands, daily raffles and giveaways. They will be showing matches on all the TVs inside and out.

Grant Central East is the sister restaurant to Grant Central in Grant Park. The original was named after Grand Central Station for its NY Style pizza. Here you can find great pizza, subs and salads. They have an open kitchen so you can check out your pizza as it comes out of the oven and there is a large dining area with plenty of tables to accommodate large groups. Grant Central East gives its customers the option of customizing their pizza, even when only ordering a slice. The house pizza is the Cardiac Arrest (pepperoni, spicy sausage, meatballs, ham and extra cheese), which is every bit as good as it sounds.

Serving the Best Pints in Atlanta! TRIVIA TUESDAYS Begins at 8pm

$4 Beer Garden Specials all World Cup!

BLUE AGAVE TEQUILAS

ER! W INN

The Elder Tree Public House

469 Flat Shoals Ave. East Atl • www.eldertreeatl.com • 404-658-6108

FIFA: Every Country–Every Match PHOTOS BY MARK PETKO

An eclectic southwestern eatery & tequila bar est. 2000 Reservations at

404.588.0006

or online at: www.agaverestaurant.com

242 Boulevard S.E. Atlanta 30312 PG 8 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

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agave restaurant

s Favorite Family Style BBQ Taste of the Month-Barbecue! Atlanta’ BUY 1 Fat Matt’s Rib Shack 1811 Piedmont Rd. 404.607.1622 fatmattsribshack.com

Pig-N-Chik

pignchik.net 4920 Roswell Rd. 404.255.6368 5071 Peachtree Ind. Blvd. 770.451.1112 1815 Briarcliff Rd. 404.474.9444

BEST RIBS

SANDWICH GET 2ND HALF OFF!

2nd Sandwich of equal of lesser value. With this ad. Expires 9/1/14

Award winning Fat Matt's Rib Shack has been around since 1990 and is one of Atlanta's favorite hot-spots. They feature great BBQ, live blues nightly and a casual setting for the whole family to enjoy. Not limited to the North Carolina or Kentucky styles, Fat Matt's uses their own seasoning and cooking technique. These ribs are smoked to perfection and literally falling off the bone. The ribs can be ordered as a whole, half slab, or on a sandwich. They also serve great barbecue chicken and pork. The signature side is their Rum Baked Beans, but they also have delicious Brunswick Stew, Mac & Cheese, Roasted Peanuts, Collards, Potato Salad, and Cole Slaw. Fat Matt's serves nine beers on tap and more in bottles. Seating is first come first serve inside and outside. During the busiest times a little patience is required, but tables generally turn over quickly. They feature live blues seven nights a week. Fat Back Deluxe performs every Sunday night except for July 6 where Sky Page & Danny Harvey perform. The rest of the week’s schedule is as follows: Mondays-The Pork Bellys; Tuesdays - J.T. Speed; Wednesdays - The Holidays; Thursdays – Chicken Shack. Check out their website for weekend performances.

Williamson Bros.

1425 Roswell Rd. Marietta 770.971.3201 williamsonbros.com

Pig-N-Chik is one among the top Barbecue restaurants on Facebook and on first taste you can see why. The ribs come St. Louis cut and are cooked until they show a pink smoke ring. All the meats here are served naked without sauce so the true flavor of the meat comes through. Their homemade BBQ sauces are found on the tables and their barbecue is served accompanied with a slice of thick white bread to mop it up. AJC food critic John Kessler writes, “It is glorious stuff, as every barbecue should be but rarely is.” Pig-N-Chik is a family friendly, community oriented, barbecue restaurant that offers something that everyone will like; all at affordable prices. From barbecue ribs and barbecue pork to turkey, beef brisket, chicken wings, smoked salmon and a variety of salads, they’ve got a menu filled with irresistible dishes. Your children will love their kid's menu, featuring a tasty selection of chicken fingers, corndogs, beef and pork sandwiches and pork ribs. Don’t forget dessert. They have great homemade pudding made with iconic Moon Pies. Come in early on Tuesday and Thursdays for their Beef Short Ribs as they sell out. Pig-N-Chik has a full scall catering operation. They will be bustling on 4th of July so make sure to place your order a few days before. All three locations offer Dine-in, Delivery and Catering.

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PigNChik.net Sandy Springs / Buckhead 4920 Roswell Rd • 404-255-6368 Chamblee / Brookhaven 5071 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. • 770-451-1112 NEW LOCATION! Emory Area 1815 Briarcliff Rd. • 404-474-9444

No One Does BBQ like Williamson Bros.

For Catering Call (770) 425-1739

1425 Roswell Road • MaRietta, Ga 30062 (770) 971-3201 • williaMsonbRos.coM

One Star Ranch

25 Irby Avenue 404.233.7644 onestarranch.com

Welcome to Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q. From their humble beginnings 23 years ago till today, they still serve their barbecue ribs and pulled pork from a traditional wood burning pit. This creates that smokey flavor that people travel miles for. Besides the great pork they also serve barbecue beef, chicken, sausage and steak plus fish offerings including talapia, salmon and catfish. Get it on the slab, as a platter, by the pound or on a sandwich. Also choose from one of their lite variety options of salads, corn, stuffed baked potato and rotisserie dishes. Pair it will one of their traditional sides including: collard greens, potato salad, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, mac & cheese, baked beans and more. Williamson Bros. World Famous Bar-B-Q sauces provide the perfect complement to any meat and all of it can be delivered right to your door for a formal event or just for a gathering of friends and family. Williamson Bros. catering division is one of the largest in Georgia. They are ready to handle your next party or business event no matter what the size, from 10 to 20,000 guests. From one item menus to the whole hog, their experienced catering staff is available with just one phone call (770) 425-1739. Don’t forget to order a piece of pie for dessert.

Owner Frank Bonk has been running this favorite Barbecue establishment for 28 years. It is tucked away just off Roswell Rd. in Buckhead. One Star Ranch’s menu offers multiple barbecue options to choose from including Baby Back Ribs, Pork Ribs and their famous “Fred Flintstone” size Beef Ribs. The ribs come on the bone, pulled served on a plate or on a sandwich. You can also find wings served medium, hot and barbecue of course along with great appetizers including: Fried Pickles, BBQ Quesadillas and Chicken Tenders. Their sides are made from scratch daily including Brunswick Stew, Baked Beans and Corn on the Cobb. One Star Ranch is kid friendly and has a Child’s Plate with choice of one meat, side and small drink. If you've never been to One Star Ranch, this is a placing worth discovering. One Star Ranch is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner and offers a full bar including $5 Margaritas! There is plenty of free parking for dine-in or take-out. One Star is also offers full service catering that can come with live a blues band and is available for parties large and small. insiteatlanta.com • July 2014 • PG 9

Movie Reviews 22 JUMP STREET (PG-13)

 It’s common knowledge at this point that, when a successful film is followed by a sequel, it usually spells disaster. Because of that, directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller– two heads that seem to be better than one– made sure that the fourth wall was tapped on throughout this movie, blatantly alluding to the fact that most sequels suck. Thankfully, this second installment of the Jump Street reboot was not only successful, it was downright hilarious from the first frame to the last credit. When you have a comedy powerhouse like Jonah Hill and the surprisingly good improvisational skills of Channing Tatum, there’s not much this on-screen duo can’t pull off. Jenko and Schmidt’s iron-clad partnership is tested in more ways than a few when their undercover program sends them a local college as students. Pop culture’s favorite streetwise tough guy Ice Cube is back as Captain Dickson and there are plenty of celebrity cameos and new characters that add to the carnival of absurdity that is 22 Jump Street. Worthy of noting is the breakout supporting characters the Yang Twins, played by reallife twins The Lucas Brothers, who are the brains behind the breakout animation hit Lucas Bros. Moving Co., of Fox’s Animation Domination. There were so many sidesplitting puns and jokes in this film, there was no way you could be bored, let alone have time to catch your breath. Stay for the credits–all the way to the very end. You’re welcome. –Kalena Boller

BOYHOOD

 Richard Linklater’s latest is a film unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It was filmed, bits at a time, from 2002 to 2014 with the same actors, so that we watch the 6-yearold character Mason (and the actor who plays him, Ellar Coltrane) grow into a man over nearly three hours. That, in and of itself, is a stunning thing to see, similar to the documentary UP series and even Linklater’s own BEFORE SUNRISE movies. It fascinates and moves the audience to see the seeds of who he was in the person he becomes. It attaches you to him, makes you frustrated, protective and affectionate toward him in a way unlike having the same character played by multiple actors. This is a project done with love and patience, and it’s remarkable. But beyond the fascinating way it was made, BOYHOOD also manages to tell a compelling, relatable tale of what our lives were like in a very specific time. At the beginning, Mason and his sister Samantha (played by the filmmaker’s daughter Lorelei Linklater) are the children of a divorced couple, played by Ethan Hawke and a fantastic Patricia Arquette. This is the most accurate portrayal of how divorce affects kids that I have ever seen. As these children deal with their parents’ good and bad advice or the effects of their parents’ choices, including some particularly harrowing marriages, your heart breaks for the family. As the kids emerge stronger from damaging circumstances, BOYHOOD shows you the resilience of life. And as Mason and his whole family triumph, in their way, the film shows you just how strong we can grow, in PG 10 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

spite of everyday difficulty. This is one of the best films we will likely get this year. –Benjamin Carr

CHEF (R)

1/2 Quite possibly the feel-good movie of the year, Chef is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’s been burning up the boxoffice by independent film standards. Jon Favreau wrote, directed and stars as Carl Casper, a Los Angeles chef who winds up out of work after his dispute with a restaurant critic (Oliver Platt) goes viral. Carl’s life takes a sharp turn as he fixes up an old food truck and hits the road on a cross-country odyssey, accompanied by his 10-year-old son (Emjay Anthony) and a loyal line cook (John Leguizamo). You know everything will work out but that doesn’t make the little bumps in the road any less enjoyable. The cast includes relatively brief appearances by Sofia Vergara as Carl’s ex-wife and Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey Jr. After watching two hours of food preparation you’ll leave hungry, but emotionally satisfied. –Steve Warren WHEN YOU HAVE A COMEDY POWERHOUSE LIKE JONAH HILL AND THE SURPRISINGLY GOOD IMPROVISATIONAL SKILLS OF CHANNING TATUM, THERE’S NOT MUCH THIS ON-SCREEN DUO A COFFEE IN BERLIN (NR) CAN’T PULL OFF. 1/2 Our review:  Is there a German word for “slacker”? It can be a short step from dropping out of the ‘80s: It almost feels like Spielberg should The explanation for how Cage gets this reset college to dropping out of life, but Niko get a cut of the profits. But, in updating the ability is a little sketchy; nonetheless, this Fischer (Tom Schilling) has been working classic kidventure style that made movies like film delivers with topnotch special effects, on it for two years. He’s living on tuition The Goonies so memorable, the film offers a gut-churning action, and a healthy dollop money from his father, who thinks he’s flashback to a more innocent and optimistic of humor (much of it at Cruise’s expense, still a law student. In the 24 hours of this time. Unfortunately, the script is pretty delivered by Bill Paxton as a stereotypicalfilm, Niko drops out of a relationship with flimsy, relying more on a “found footage” but-still-hilarious master sergeant). The film his girlfriend and is judged “emotionally visual style that some may find nauseating. stumbles in its final act, seemingly ignoring unstable” by a hostile psychologist in But it’s ultimately innocuous enough to find its central conceit, but overall it’s a helluva a mandatory assessment after a DUI. an audience hungry for family-friendly fare. ride and well worth seeing on the big screen. With no driver’s license, no cash and no –Bret Love –John C. Snider ambition, all he wants is a cup of coffee; and it looks like that’s not going to happen, EDGE OF TOMORROW (PG-13) THE FAULT IN OUR STARS (PG-13) as filmmaker Jan Ole Gerster provides 1/2 1/2 frustration of Buñuelian proportions. Off-screen, Tom Cruise has long had a The film adaptation of John Green’s “The Niko has a series of random encounters fraught relationship with critics and the Fault in Our Stars” is a terrific tearjerker, with people who make him look normal moviegoing public. Yet Cruise keeps coming adapting a gallows-humor clever book about by comparison. Some vignettes are funny, back, each time hoping to win us over and smart kids with cancer about as well as it could some dramatic, some touching; most are have us rooting for him, if not in real life, then have been done. Shailene Woodley stars as stressful for Niko. Because it’s in blackat least while we’re sitting in the theatre. Edge Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl with and-white and doesn’t follow the rules, of Tomorrow slyly plays with this aspect of a diminished lung capacity caused by cancer. the film has been compared to early Jim Cruise’s life. Cruise is Major William Cage, At the beginning of the story, because Hazel is Jarmusch. Those are big shoes to fill and an unctuous and cowardly PR spokesman for dying and considers herself to be a “grenade” Gerster wears them comfortably. *** 1/2 Earth’s international military force, which is who should not get too attached to people, her –Steve Warren losing badly to an invasion of aliens called mom - played quite well by Laura Dern - urges Mimics, which have consolidated their hold her to join a support group. There, in spite of EARTH TO ECHO (PG) on central Europe and are poised to take her efforts to stay aloof, she catches the eye of  over the planet. When Cage gets on the Augustus Waters, a charming, cheery, goofy Mix one part E.T. (cute alien needs to get wrong side of an ambitious general (Brendan former basketball player with an amputated home), one part Explorers (tween boys on a Gleeson), he suddenly finds himself busted to leg, who promptly decides to romance the eversci-fi adventure), a dash of Close Encounters private, crammed into an impressive combat loving heck out of her, despite her assertion (you’ll know it when you see/hear it), add exoskeleton that he has no idea how to use, that they stay just friends. Ansel Englort a heaping dose of 21st century technology and dropped unceremoniously onto a beach plays Gus in a way that’s so enthusiastic and (cell phones, digital video and the Internet with thousands of other soldiers in a last- infectious that it’s almost annoying, but I loved play as much of a role as the actors), and you ditch attempt to stymie the Mimic advance. this kid. He reminded me of people I’ve known. have this canny bit of counter-programming He’s dead in minutes (along with nearly And, eventually, because she shares her favorite to the monolithic Transformers franchise. everyone else), and then…he finds himself, a book with him, they fall in love for the brief The story follows three friends looking to la Groundhog Day, waking up the day before amount of time they’re allowed. Considering make their last night together memorable the invasion and forced to relive (and re- the rampant teen romance market, with all its before their neighborhood is destroyed for a die) the horrific events again and again and witches and vampires and werewolves in love, highway construction project. Weird signals again. But with each reset, Cage gets better, it seems almost surprising and completely on their phones lead them to an adorable, and smarter, and earns the confidence of Rita heartening that a teen Terms of Endearment owl-like alien creature they name Echo, Vrataski (Emily Blunt, in a refreshing and satisfies so completely. who’s injured and desperate to get back to unexpected turn as an action hero), a highly –Benjamin Carr his spaceship. The story’s not very original, decorated killing machine and the only other Check insiteatlanta.com/movies.asp particularly for those of us who grew up in person who ever got the better of the Mimics. for full movie listings.

22 JUMP STREET

FILM

COMEDY

MUSIC & MOVIES

10 Fantastic Films Worth Watching

5 MINUTES WITH... JON LOVITZ J BY BRET LOVE

Across the Universe

BY CHRISTIAN PEREZ

OR THIS MONTH’S EXPLORATION of movie history, we’re going to look at films that go hand in hand with music. We’re going to examine some that are actual concerts, some documentaries, and some that simply have wonderful scores/soundtracks that are often more remembered than the actual film. When researching this piece, I immediately wrote down the films of Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen. It would take up the whole issue if I were to discuss the great musical choices in their filmography, so they must just be understood as great. I also originally had Once and Dancer in the Dark on my list. But they have both appeared multiple times in my previous columns, so being left out to make way for other films to shine.

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

When this film was released, it was wellreceived by many of my peers. But it appears that the appreciation has diminished as time goes on, and I cannot understand why. It’s not a perfect film by any means, but it’s wholly enjoyable hearing the Beatles’ legendary songs in this context. If the rendition of “Let it Be” doesn’t get to you, check your pulse!

ANVIL: THE STORY OF ANVIL

You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who knew this metal band before this rock doc was released. But prior knowledge of their lengthy career isn’t a requirement to appreciate one of the most interesting and inspiring documents of a hardluck band you’ll ever see. These guys have been at it for too long, with too little recognition, and their story is captivating.

HESHER

This one is all about using music to help establish a character. Joseph Gordon Levitt plays the titular role– a rough, tattooed jerk with a good heart that’s just barely visible. We meet him with a guitar crunch and then follow along with him, with the music of Metallica allowing us to see precisely who he is and how set he is in his ways.

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

The Coen Brothers and T. Bone Burnett are a match made in heaven, and O Brother, Where Art Thou is usually a given for a piece like this. Instead, I decided to touch on their latest collaboration, the more subtle and somber tale of a New York folksinger in the ‘60s. This film lives and breathes its distinctive time and setting. And while the characters and plot are strong on their own merits, it’s the music that drives the story.

shower, I’ll lay in my towel and watch.

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD

I love Edgar Wright’s work. And while his Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End) is his calling card, this is a marvelous addition to his catalogue, with a delightful punk spirit. The music is kickass, the visuals are kickass… It’s just cool all around. And what’s cooler than being cool?

SHIT HAPPENS!

The most obscure selection on this list (only fans of the band Every Time I Die have even heard of it), this is unlike any music documentary I’ve seen. At two hours long, it features the hilarious band on tour, splicing in concert footage set to their studio recordings. Somehow, they even make these moments comical. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, as they are a hardcore band. But I’d be surprised if you didn’t find something to laugh at as these goof balls spout SHINFO (shitty information) and generally dick around.

SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT Yeah, I had to include this one. It hasn’t necessarily withstood the test of time in terms of laughs. But, when I saw it years ago, I really liked profanity-laden songs such as “Uncle Fucka,” “What Would Brian Boitano Do?” and “Kyle’s Mom’s a Bitch” sung by cartoon children. It remains a fun watch 15 years later, and a worthy addition to the expansive South Park canon.

STOP MAKING SENSE

The Talking Heads are a good band. Director Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) has made some phenomenal films. Put them together and you get a fascinating concert experience. If you don’t know the band all that well, this will make you love songs you never knew before, while ushering you into the lives of the musicians. I may be over-selling the film, but it’s stuck with me ever since I first saw it.

ON LOVITZ HAS MORE THAN 30 films, several TV shows (The Critic, NewsRadio), and a Broadway show (Neil Simon’s The Dinner Party) to his credit. But he will forever be best known for his five years on Saturday Night Live, where he created memorable characters such as Annoying Man, Master Thespian, and Tommy Flanagan, the Pathological Liar (“Yeah, that’s the ticket!”). These days Lovitz is focused on standup comedy, and will be making an appearance at Atlanta’s Improv July 31-August 2.

Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of your debut on SNL. Can you talk a bit about your 5 years on the show, including your favorite memories and how it changed your life/career? I have a career because of SNL. It was the most exciting thing to ever happen to me. I loved working with all the actors and writers and acting in sketches every week with the greatest performers in the country. Nothing is more exciting than live television. I am forever grateful to Lorne Michaels for giving me the life I dreamed of. When my liar character became a hit, it was surreal. It wouldn’t have happened if Lorne hadn’t had me write it with A. Whitney Brown. He really helped me expand the character, after the first time I did it. Working with Whitney on the liar sketches is one of my fondest memories of the show. How would you say comedy has changed over the past 3 decades, both stylistically and in terms of the business itself? There are a lot more places to perform and show off your work than ever before. With You Tube, you don’t have to audition. You can just upload your stuff for the world to see. I don’t think comedy has changed at all. You still need a set up and a punch line to get laughs. That will never change. And the audience needs to understand and relate to the set up, otherwise you’re dead in the water. The only difference to me are new

performers expressing their particular sense of humor. But funny is funny. The main difference are the ratings of comedy movies. You couldn’t or weren’t allowed to make R rated comedies. Now that’s what they want since people like Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen have proven R rated comedies can be successful. Everyone has had R rated material forever. But you couldn’t do it on screen. Now you can. You’re best known for your work in TV/movies, and before that you did sketch and improv with The Groundlings. What are the challenges and rewards unique to the standup comedy you’re doing now? I enjoy writing and performing my own material like I did on SNL. The difference is it’s just me and I can do whatever I want to in my act. It’s 100 percent creative freedom. Like a painter or singer-songwriter has. It’s a complete and total expression of my sense of humor. It’s very satisfying to do and a lot of fun. I also enjoy fine tuning my act and getting rid of all the excess words. I try to get as many laughs as I can within the time I have to do the show. Do you have plans for any film or TV projects in the near future? To quote your Harvey Fierstein character, “Plug away!” I have a new venture. It’s on the internet and called “Jon Lovitz Comedy Network”. We have lots of different content on the site. There are clips of different comics performing at my club at Universal City Walk in Hollywood. We have funny videos of people I have uploaded and we have on-camera podcasts that you can see. I have a podcast called “Lovitz or Leavitz!” I interview people like Dana Carvey, Gene Simmons, Gary Busy, Maria Menounos and many others. It’s very silly and fun and stuttering John doing podcasts as well. It’s a fun site with a lot of variety. I encourage people to check it out. It’s fun, funny and it’s free!

FAMILY LEGAL NEEDS: • Divorce including: Child Support / Visitation • Wills • Adoption

SCHOOL OF ROCK

I find it fascinating that indie icon Richard Linklater directed this mainstream hit, but it’s a marvelous film. In lesser hands, it could’ve been hokey comedic drivel. But it turned out to be a humorous history lesson on all things rock, with a protagonist (Jack Black) who refuses to give up on his dreams and encourages others to do the same. If this one’s on TV after I get out of the

DONALD S. HORACE, ESQ. 160 Clairemont Avenue, Suite 200 Decatur, Georgia 30030

(404) 213-6473 DonaldsHorace.com

insiteatlanta.com • July 2014 • PG 11

COMEDY

THE NEXT LOUIS CK?

Rising Comedian Bill Burr Returns to Atlanta

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

cerbic, abrasive and often hilarious, Bill Burr is one of the hottest touring comics on the scene. The comedian/actor stays busy with a full slate of project, including movies (The Heat), podcasts and numerous TV appearances. The Boston-bred observational humorist spoke with us as he prepped his current tour, another national trek that starts in clubs and revisits Atlanta’s Tabernacle for the taping of his newest comedy special before it ends in Vegas at a showroom in The Mirage. How did you select the Tabernacle for the setting of the new special? I did a tour last year, in April. I went through the south with two of my buddies. We rented this bus and just went through the south. We had an unbelievably awesome time. One of the nights, we played the Tabernacle and it was just one of those magical places. The second I went in, I went, “Man, I want to tape a special here.” It looks beautiful and the crowds are great. All theaters, for the most part, there’s something about them, but I’ve done a bunch of theaters and that one is easily in the top 5. You’ve selected a number of legendary venues for your shows, including the Fillmore.

Yeah, when you go to make a special, you not only want the material to be there, but it’s important to have the look. You gotta have the right look behind you. You gotta give ‘em something great to look at, so they’ll give you their time, with all the options out there. Really, it’s like you’re making a short movie.

How do you prepare for a televised standup gig? I’m going to be doing a lot of standup before I get there. I’ll kind of have a set list, but then I’ll go on stage and forget the whole thing and just go off like usually do. Hopefully, we’ll be able to capture a good show. Is there a difference between the set for a one-nighter vs. a TV special that lives on forever? The only difference is in your head. What you’ve got to do is have an idea of what you want to do, and then when you get on stage, you just have to kind of forget about everything. Forget that you’re taping a special and forget that it’s a permanent version of it. All that does is hamper the performance. I kind of view it more as not documenting the bits, but documenting the night that I told them. Every night I tell my jokes and they come out differently. Do you ever tailor your act to specific regions?

I KNOW SOME COMICS ARE CONCERNED WITH WORKING THE CROWD. I WAS CONCERNED WITH ANNOYING THEM, BUT GETTING THEM TO STAY, LISTEN AND NOT LEAVE.

I travel a lot and the act becomes national or international, so I don’t really think about it. There might be a thing here and there. Like early in my career, I might think, “Ok, I’m in Atlanta, they like Atlanta stuff.” And I’d start psyching myself up. But really, all ya gotta do is just go up and do your jokes. When I go to Europe, I just act like I’m here and plow ahead. I go until they don’t get something and when they don’t get something, I just make fun of myself and the fact that I thought they were gonna get it and it seems to work for me. You don’t shy away from controversial topics. Is there any line you refuse to cross? I definitely don’t make fun of special needs people. There are a few lines. But it really comes down to less of the subject and more of what is in your heart. I try not to be malicious. If somebody criticized me about what I’ve said about women, you know, I’d have to take that, on some level. But for this hour, I’ve made an effort to not say anything about women. I’ve done it enough and I don’t want to be redundant. I sound like an idiot enough as it is, I don’t need to add that extra layer to it. So everything can be a target. Yeah. Like last night, I played in Hollywood and it’s so liberal, you know? And you can go up and do jokes about anybody who’s gay, and it gets quiet. But you can absolutely bash people who live in the south. You can say the most ignorant stuff ever and they go nuts over it. And it’s like, dude, not only is this the exact same thing, it’s way worse than anything I’ve said about the subjects you care about. It’s ridiculous and it’s fun to play with them about it. How did they react? I said, “You people are like the Fox News of the Left.” And they loved it! It’s the same way people in the south can laugh about the Bible Belt. If you do it the right way, people will have a sense of humor about it. But you can’t be that person standing on stage, acting like you have all the answers. It’s one of my pet peeves. I never use the word “we.” Like, “Do we do this?” “Do we want a country where, whatever.” No. Because the crowd says, “No, you don’t know what I want.” You gotta give people options.

PG 12 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

As a kid in the ‘70s, who were your early influences? I heard the Pryor albums and Cheech & Chong and all of that, but I started out watching what my parents were watching on TV. They watched a lot of Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Foster Brooks, Don Rickles, and there was stuff on the radio, too. So it was a mix of cutting-edge comedy and The Lawrence Welk Show, and I liked all of it. Even though there were only three channels, there was a wide variety of stuff going on. I got into a lot of comedy and music, early on. There’s a definite connection between the execution of comedy and playing music. There was some crap, but there was a lot of good stuff going on, and like with music, a lot of guitar gods will look up Eddie Van Halen or Jimmy Page but look at a guy like Roy Clark from Hee-Haw. I used to think he was just a sort of a singer-songwriter guy who told jokes or whatever, but search Roy Clark on You Tube. That guy is shredding! Alternate picking and he’s just absolutely killing it. And yeah, there are a lot of similarities of comedy and music. A lot of jokes go verse/chorus/verse/chorus, but some have a bridge in them, just like a song. And before stand-up was a hot commodity, a lot of comics opened for musical acts. Yeah, and I can tell you right now, that is a horrible gig. First of all, no one knows who the opener is, and if you come out there with your knock-knock jokes, for people expecting loud guitars and stuff, it can be one of two things: it can be ok, or it can be horrific. Never great. I know, because I opened for Wynonna Judd. Wynonna Judd?! I know, it’s a weird mix, but I needed the money and my agent was getting anything he could get for me. What kind of material did you do for the country audiences? I wasn’t allowed to curse, but that’s the only thing I really changed. I don’t know, I always found it kind of fun to do jokes that people might not get, you know? I know some comics are concerned with working the crowd. I was concerned with annoying them, but getting them to stay, listen and not leave.

RAJSKUB AROUND THE CLOCK

Chloe from TV’s 24 is Working Overtime, Balancing Drama and Comedy BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

CTRESS/COMEDIENNE MARY Lynn Rajskub joined the cast of 24 in 2003 as irascible computer expert Chloe O’Brian. The show remains the bestknown vehicle for the versatile performer, with an impressive resume highlighted by regular appearances on Mr. Show, The Larry Sanders Show and Californication. Now that the popular Fox hit has returned after a 4-year hiatus as 24: Live Another Day, she balances a successful stand-up comedy career with duties on the show. Two days after wrapping a six-month stint in London for the franchise, Rajskub spoke with us about the show, her fans and the comedy tour that brings her to town this month. You lived in London for the shoot. Yeah, I was there for six months. And I don’t know if I could do it again, really. My husband and son were there for about five out of the six months. We had a great time but it’s kinda tough when you move somewhere but you haven’t really moved there. Now that you’ve wrapped for the season, is there any talk of yet another “limited run” of 24? I would be really surprised if they didn’t do more. But it’s 24 and it could go either way. I think it’s gone really well and the network’s happy. It hard to say if everybody will get together and do it again but it’s been pretty surreal that it even came back in the first place. We were off the air for four years and for a while

everyone was talking about the 24 movie and that never materialized, so I had completely moved on with my life. Then, here we are with it back again and the response has been great.

And you have a legion of dedicated fans. It’s true. We had a group of people in the UK, who would find us when we were shooting. A lot of the stuff we shot was in the city proper, so we couldn’t ever really block the street off, so often times there would just be a group of fans around us. Which was completely distracting but it was great to see that everybody was into it. This version of the series is set four years after the last batch of shows. Did Chloe change much during the hiatus? Yeah, when I read the first two scripts, it was evident the character had gone through some pretty major changes. Half of it was very familiar and then there was this new layer of tragedy that she had been through. So as an actor, that was pretty fun. I got to work on my physical appearance as well and made big changes in that. How do the die-hard fans react to the standup material? It’s been an interesting process to go up in front of people who only know me as Chloe. Some people are so into 24, they kind of stare at me, like, ‘What is she doing? Why is she talking like this?’ They expect to see Chloe and I kind of address that at the beginning of my standup. Did you have a chance to do some comedy gigs

in the UK? Yeah. Obviously I was there to work on 24, but I had six months, so about three or four months into it I knew my schedule, and I started venturing out to some open-mic comedy clubs when I had time. I didn’t know a lot of people there, so I had to just go out kind of blindly and do open mics. I’d wind up in these dirty basements and pubs.

How’d it go? Well, I did about 10 of them sort of off the radar. Then the Twitter fans kind of caught up to me, especially around the time the series was premiering. The next gig I went to, there was 30 or 40 24 fans with t-shirts and things for me to sign and they were taking pictures before, during and after the shows. Does that change your act or ruin your timing? It was a weird predicament, because it’s great to have fans like that, but for the comedian in me, I was really nervous. How do I address this? They’re sitting there, freaking out about 24 and I have a whole act that has nothing to do with the show. And it’s a huge disappointment to the fans, which I talk about in my act, to comic effect. Like, I’m not really a computer expert, the more I talk the more you will be disappointed, and I don’t know how to save the world. How do you describe your stand-up show? It’s personal and autobiographical, and I talk about my son and my husband. It’s kind of about how I fit into the world.

You’re playing the Laughing Skull on this tour. Have you worked in Atlanta before? Yeah, I actually did this club before, and this time around, I’m doing all new places and it’s the only place on this tour that I’ve played before. It’s a great room, they were available and I really like the owner of the club. Now that 24 is done for the season, what’s next after the comedy tour? I’m talking with a bunch of people about developing a show. Because I was in 24, I was never really interested in drama, but it’s finally won me over after all these years. I have two veins that I’m talking with people about. One if the dramatic and one is comedic, but mostly for TV. I’m hoping to develop both ideas and see what sticks. Mary Lynn Rajskub performs July 10-13at the Laughing Skull Lounge. Visit www. laughingskulllounge.com for showtimes and tickets.

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MUSIC

summer

preview

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

S THE JULY SUN HEATS UP THE streets of Atlanta, we’ve prepared our annual guide for your summer music enjoyment. There’s definitely something for everyone, with new albums on the way from Sia, Busta Rhymes, Judas Priest, Jason Mraz, Common, Morrissey, Maroon 5, and many more. Summer is also the peak of the music festival season and we’ve searched out the very best, from the most popular (Lollapalooza) to the slightly off the radar (the 3-city Riot Fest Carnival). We’ll give you a general overview of the vibes and the amazing line-ups of each. So sit back, relax and enjoy an issue that’s hot as the Fourth of July.

SUMMER FESTIVALS & TOURS VANS WARPED TOUR

(June 13- Aug. 3, various cities) This summer marks the 20th Vans Warped Tour, a pretty impressive feat for a genre whose popularity has waxed and waned over the past two decades. Sadly, this year’s lineup is the weakest in years, as many of the top punk acts have bailed on the annual ritual in favor of their own tours. The 2014 traveling gang of pop-punks and emo revivalists have also added a number of hip-hop acts to their caravan in an attempt to expand their thinning audience. Among the stronger acts this year are Less Than Jake, Saves the Day, Bayside, Teenage Bottlerocket and PJ Bond. There are also a slew of watereddown “punk” bands. –JM

BEYONCE & JAY-Z’S ON THE RUN TOUR

(June 15-Sept 13, various cities) Whatever secret potion Bey and Jay take to keep their energy levels on 10 needs to be bottled and sold at CVS. Over the past 12 months, the lovebirds have released solo albums, performed lucrative personal tours and starred in a disturbing elevator security video seen by millions around the world. Still, somehow, the talented twosome is conjuring the energy for a 20-city stadium tour across the U.S., Canada and Europe that has reportedly already sold over one million tickets. Expect enough individual chart-toppers and saucy renditions of joint hits that you’ll need a shot of 5-Hour Energy just to keep up. –DW

PG 14 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

SUMMERFEST

(June 25-29 & July 1-6, Milwaukee) Summerfest, billed as “The World’s Largest Music Festival,” is held in the 75acre Henry Maier Festival Park along the Milwaukee lakefront, and lasts for 11 days with 11 stages. Playing out like one big-ass block party, the diverse lineup includes headliners ranging from country (Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, the Zac Brown Band) and pop (One Republic, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga) to R&B/hip-hop (Usher, Outkast) and rock (Motley Crue, Fall Out Boy & Paramore. The rest of the expansive bill is equally eclectic, including big names such as Nas, New Order, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt and more. –BL

ALL NIGHT LONG TOUR Feat. Lionel Richie & CeeLo Green

(June 25-July 31, Various cities) Rapper-singer CeeLo Green is a mainstream star of today. Lionel Richie was a pop/R&B mainstay during the ‘80s. On the surface, there may not be much similarity between them, but Richie’s home of Tuskegee, Alabama, is only 127 miles from CeeLo’s Atlanta. Needless to say, these two ooze Southern soul from their pores. Lionel’s comes by way of ballads from his time with The Commodores in the ‘70s and a solo career that has thrived for well over 30 years. Green’s toe-tappin’ tunes come via croons, rhymes and some odd (but really fun) symbiosis of the two. Opposites most certainly attract. This funky partnership just proves they can sound pretty damn good, too. –DW

MOTLEY CRUE & ALICE COOPER

(July 2-Nov 22, various cities) On their “All Bad Things Must Come To An End” tour, Motley Crue will be joined by legendary rocker/snake-handler/golfer Alice Cooper as their special guest star. The Crue arrived at their recent press conference in a New Orleans-style Funeral Procession, heralding the end of their professional life. As a stunt, they also signed a binding “Cessation of Touring” agreement, marking this their absolute last, final tour, ever…. Until the inevitable reunion, of course. –LVS

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL

(July 5-Aug. 10, various cities) The Warped Tour’s sister fest soldiers on for its 7th year of providing summer camp for the metal kids. The traveling Mayhem Festival boasts some of metal’s biggest names this year, including Korn, Avenged Sevenfold and Cannibal Corpse, among others. The most impressive addition this year is Body Count featuring Ice-T. The side stages will host a slew of head-scratchingly contrived band names, like Veil of Maya, Texas Hippie Coalition and Upon a Burning Body. Expect a sea of black t-shirts and pale flesh. –JM

THE MOONSHINE JUNGLE TOUR Feat. Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams & Aloe Blacc

(Through Mid-October, various cities) We don’t know if the days of Pharrell Williams crafting sinister beats for crackslingin’ rappers are over altogether, but, at least for now, the musician is thinking more about chart-topping pop hits than

underground Clipse anthems. That new mindset could explain why the singin’-andrappin’ producer decided to ride shotgun with (and take pointers from) one of the industry’s biggest sensations, Bruno Mars, for a few dates this summer (New York, July 13-14; Montreal, July 23; Ottawa, July 24; Toronto, July 26). Aloe Blacc, the upstart vocalist who garnered attention last year with “The Man” off the Beats by Dre ads, will be jotting similarly detailed notes when he opens on the nonPharrell dates. –DW

PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL

(July 18-20, Chicago’s Union Park) Pitchfork Media’s annual 3-day hipster fest has positioned itself as a more indie alternative to Lollapalooza, taking over Chicago’s Union Park for a 3-day weekend every July. This year’s lineup offers the smorgasbord of styles you’d expect from the online tastemakers, from post-punk and alt-rock to hip-hop, R&B, and even prog. Beck, Giorgio Moroder and Neneh Cherry are among Friday’s highlights; Neutral Milk Hotel, St. Vincent and Pusha T are all must-sees on Saturday; and Sunday’s featured acts include Kendrick Lamar, Slowdive and Dum Dum Girls. –BL

NINE INCH NAILS & SOUNDGARDEN

(July 19-Aug 25, various cities) Ready to feel old? Nine Inch Nail’s classic album The Downward Spiral and Soundgarden’s equally epic Superunknown were both released on the same day in March of 1994, meaning they’re both celebrating their 20th anniversary. So perhaps the nowmiddle-aged Alternative Nation will be a little more wobbly as they rock out to this summer co-headlining tour, which finds Trent Reznor and Chris Cornell making nice after their beef a few years ago (in which the NIN frontman accused Cornell of selling out). Guess nothing mends fences faster than having an album to promote… –BL

NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL

(July 25- 27, Newport, RI) Now in its fifth decade, the most famous festival of all has been the sonic playground of musicians and fans alike. Yes, this is where Dylan went electric in 1965 and shocked fans with his “play loud” mantra. In the years since, a wealth of history has occurred on the hallowed park stage. Purists beware, the festival has long been a proving ground for myriad musical genres. This year’s line-up is as diverse as ever, with headliners Ryan Adams (Friday), Jack White (Saturday) and Mavis Staples (Sunday). Guests include Nickel Creek, Band Of Horses, Jeff Tweedy, Jimmy Cliff, Jenny Lewis and Connor Oberst. –LVS

PUNK ROCK SUMMER NATIONAL Featuring Bad Religion, The Offspring & Pennywise

(July 29 – Sept. 11, various cities) Apparently this trio of punk’s elder statesmen were aged out of the Vans Warped Tour, which is probably for the best. A 20-minute set from any of these bands would be nearly impossible for most of today’s pop- punk bands to follow. The Offspring, who have been putting out some disappointing albums lately, have pledged to play the phenomenally successful Smash in its entirety. Pennywise have reunited with their lead singer and are back in strong form, and Bad Religion has turned in one stellar record after another over the past decade. The Vandals, Stiff Little Fingers and Naked Raygun will be joining for some dates. –JM

LOLLAPALOOZA

(Aug 1-3, Chicago’s Grant Park) This seminal celebration of alternative music had become something of a joke by the late ‘90s, underlining the absurdity of turning underground culture into a mass-marketed mainstream commodity. Perry Farrell’s brainchild has functioned much better in its current guise as a destination festival, attracting hundreds of thousands of fans to Chicago’s scenic Grant Park every August. This year’s lineup is impressively well rounded: From hip-hop (Eminem, Outkast, Childish Gambino) and alt-rock (Manchester Orchestra, Kings of Leon, Broken Bells) to bluegrass/ folk (Avett Brothers, Glen Hansard) and pop (Lorde, Foster the People), there should be something for just about everyone. -BL

RIOT FEST CARNIVAL

(Sept 6–7 Toronto, Sept 12-14 Chicago, Sept 19-21 Denver) For Riot Fest’s 10th anniversary, ten bands have agreed to play classic albums from start to finish at the Chicago show, including Slayer performing Reign in Blood, Weezer performing The Blue Album, and Jane’s Addiction performing Nothing’s Shocking. Bands who have signed on to play traditional sets in Chicago, Toronto and Denver include The Cure, Flaming Lips, The Afghan Whigs, Cheap Trick, Wu-Tang Clan, Social Distortion and Mighty Mighty Bosstones, among others. If you’re a little cashstrapped at the moment, the festival even offers a layaway plan! For 10 years running, Riot Fest is consistently one of the best music festivals in the U.S. –JM

MUSIC MIDTOWN

(Sept 19-20, Piedmont Park) In its heyday, Music Midtown ran an entire weekend and often drew over 300,000 revelers. Now back to a two-day event in its 21st year (but with fewer stages), this year’s offerings include headliners Eminem, the Zac Brown Band, Jack White and John Mayer. Other guests will include

recent favorites Lorde, Lana Del Rey and Iggy Azalea, with Gregg Allman and RunDMC representing the heritage set. Also on the bill: Bastille, Fitz and the Tantrums, B.o.B, Mayer Hawthorne, Bear Hands and more. Promoters promise more acts will be announced soon. -LVS

SUMMER ALBUMS BUSTA RHYMES

Extinction Level Event 2 Busa Buss has popped up on enough remixes and passion projects (the slepton The Abstract & The Dragon collabo with Q-Tip) that we don’t have to put his face on any milk cartons. But we are starting to wonder if we’ll ever get another dope solo studio effort from the man whose last banger was The Big Bang back in ‘06. Well, if industry murmurs are accurate, E.L.E. 2 might end those worries. DJ Premier and Q-Tip are reportedly laying beats, while the likes of Eminem and Raekwon are supposedly contributing bars to the legend’s 10th CD. (July 4) –DW

MANIC STREET PREACHERS

Futurology The eleventh new release from the highly productive Welsh band comes an amazing ten months after their previous record, 2013’s Rewind The Film. This time out, the Preachers offer a list of decidedly European influences as their chief inspirations. To add historic flavor, the disc was recorded in Berlin’s legendary Hansa Studios (site of legendary discs Low, The Idiot, and Achtung Baby). Lead track “Walk Me To The Bridge” shows that this powerful collection goes the opposite direction of last year’s acoustic-tinged collection. (July 8) -LVS

ER! W INN

TUESDAY JULY 1, 8:30PM

HUNDRED WATERS GEMS | SUNO DEKO FRIDAY JULY 4, 9:00PM

BEST

BBQ ER! W INN

LIVE MUSIC LINEUP FOR JULY Happy 4th Y’all!

SIA

1000 Forms of Fear For me, Sia’s breakthrough came way back in 2001, when she fronted Zero 7 on the band’s hit song “Destiny.” I bought her album Colour the Small One (then available only on import), nearly a year before “Breathe Me” became her first solo hit. Now, a decade later, she’s had charttopping hits as a singer (David Guetta’s “Titanium”) and as a songwriter (Rihanna’s “Diamonds”). Here’s hoping her sixth album, led by the singles “Chandelier” and “Eye of the Needle,” will make this mediashy Australian chanteuse the international star she deserves to be. (July 8) -BL

FRI 4 - JOHN SOSOBEE

JUDAS PRIEST

SUN 13,20,27 - FAT BACK DELUXE

Redeemer of Souls

It’s been six years since the Godfathers of Metal last put out an album, but they have been working on this one since 2011, choosing not to force it out. In a Billboard continues on page 16

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RADIOACTIVITY BAD SPORTS WYMYNS PRYSYN | SKIN JOBS SATURDAY JULY 5, 9:00PM

HELL MILITIA LORD MANTIS VIMUR | WOLVES AND JACKALS SUNDAY JULY 6, 8:00PM

THE FELICE BROTHERS ROBERT ELLIS THURSDAY JULY 10, 8:30PM

MARISSA NADLER DUET FOR THEREMIN AND LAP STEEL | WARNING LIGHT FRIDAY JULY 11, 8:30PM

THE BASEBALL PROJECT SATURDAY JULY 12, 9:00PM

CURTIS HARDING (BURGER RECORDS) SUNDAY JULY 13, 8:00PM

AVERS | TWIN TIGERS FRIDAY JULY 18, 8:30PM

SPANISH GOLD WATER LIARS | PRESTON LOVINGGOOD SATURDAY JULY 19, 8:00PM

DAVE ALVIN AND PHIL ALVIN WITH THE GUILTY ONES JONAH TOLCHIN & THE LONESOME ANGELS FRIDAY JULY 25, 9:00PM

REIGNING SOUND ANNA KRAMER & THE LOST CAUSE DOUGLAS’ STREET TEAM SATURDAY JULY 26, 9:00PM

SUPERSUCKERS BIGFOOT | NIGHT TERRORS THURSDAY JULY 31, 8:30PM

THE ROSEBUDS

Tix available at Fantasyland Records, Decatur, CD, Criminal Records, The EARL & badearl.com

insiteatlanta.com • July 2014 • PG 15

summer MUSIC preview

MUSIC from page 15

magazine interview, frontman Rob Halford said “I’m of the attitude it’ll be ready when it’s ready… I don’t think we’re going to slack off. We’re determined to do a lot of work and be just as dedicated as we’ve always been and take a lot of care and attention with all the songs. We’re not going to just bang this one out, so to speak.” Little is known about the album other than its very metalsounding title. (July 8) -JM

CHICAGO

XXXVI The latest installment in the five-decade career of the roman-numeral-loving band’s caree includes eleven new tracks recorded across the country on the band’s new, portable studio. With the core of Robert Lamm, Walter Parazaider, Lee Loughnane and Jason Scheff at the helm, the new songs retain the horn and keyboard driven sound of their best-known songs, with a slightly modern edge. While nowhere near as prolific as during their ‘70s reign, the band proves that, when they are in the mood to produce new music, the results can be just as good as their greatest hits. (July 8) -LVS

JOHN HIATT

Terms of My Surrender Terms of My Surrender is John Hiatt’s follow up to 2011’s great Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns. Expect Hiatt’s trademark acoustic blues and gravel-voiced tales of doomed relationships and woes of growing old and learning along the way. Hiatt relied on his longtime guitarist Doug Lancio (Patty Griffin, Jack Ingram) to produce this one. Hiatt even pulls out his harmonica for a couple of tracks, something he hasn’t done for a while now. (July 15) -JM

MORRISSEY

World Peace Is None Of Your Business As previewed on his recent tour, the morose and sarcastic wit of the former Smith is in full force on his newest collection of droll ruminations and vicious declarations. For his first solo release since 2009’s Years of Refusal, he’s hooked up with the recentlyrevived Harvest label and recorded World Peace in France. Producer Joe Chiccarelli (Alanis Morissette, the Strokes) rounded up most of his usual stable of musicians for the sessions. Everything that made Moz a popular

PG 16 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

voice on his previous releases is here in abundance: biting humor, morbidity and mortality, all offered with the usual delightfully mournful delivery that his fans know and love. (July 15) -LVS

PUSS N BOOTS

No Fools, No Fun This comely trio will get attention thanks to Norah Jones’ presence in the center, but jazz multi-instrumentalist Sasha Dobson and bassist Catherine Popper (Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals) are both equally accomplished in their own right. Their Blue Note Records debut will feature five originals (two each from Dobson and Popper and one from Jones) and seven cover tunes, including Rodney Crowell’s “Bull Rider” (made famous by Johnny Cash), Wilco’s “Jesus, Etc.” and Neil Young’s “Down By The River.” Word has it the record harnesses the trio’s infectious live energy. (July 15) –BL

JASON MRAZ

YES Jason Mraz, the musician for those who think Jack Johnson is just a tad too edgy, is back this summer with his fifth record and yes, he’ll likely be wearing that same goofy hat. Mraz is affable enough with his toes in the sand, gather ‘round the beach bonfire acoustic sing-alongs, it’s just that it starts to get difficult to tell one song from the next. Press materials have claimed this one will have a more acoustic, intimate sound, but Yes will likely still sound a lot like his other efforts, which is certain to please the folks who snatched up 2012’s Grammy-nominated Love is a Four Letter Word. (July 15) -JM

YES

Heaven and Earth A new singer and lyricist (Jon Davison) adds a welcome new direction to the latest Yes record. Sure, founders Steve Howe and Chris Squire are here, but Davison really shines throughout the ambitious, ponderous compositions. For fans of original vocalist Jon Anderson, the collection doesn’t stray far from the cosmic airiness of the band’s classic work. For newcomers, the modernized sound shouldn’t be a distraction, since the entire piece has the band’s trademark grace and style in abundance. A completely satisfying journey into the spirals of prog-rock and back, with the listener in the gentle hands the pros. (July 22) –LVS

ACE FREHLEY

Space Invader The Spaceman may have gotten screwed over by fellow Kiss bandmates Douche 1 and Douche 2 (Gene $immons and Paul Stanley, respectively) at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony earlier this year, but he gets revenge this summer with his latest solo album, Space Invader. His seventh solo record and first one in five years, Frehley has said this one closely resembles his stillpopular 1978 solo album (the one issued on the same date that fellow Kiss members Peter Criss, Stanley and Simmons put out theirs in an ill-advised dick measuring contest. Frehley won). (July 19) -JM

COMMON

Nobody Smiling The work Common has done with Kanye West (“Go,” “Testify”), Primo (“The Game”) and J Dilla (“The Light,” “So Far To Go”) is timeless. With the veteran MC’s 10th project, he’s re-connecting with another behemoth on the boards, No I.D. The dynamic duo’s past work together is amazing– there are so many moments of magic on Resurrection, One Day It’ll All Make Sense and The Dreamer/The Believer that we’d need an hour to list them all. After hearing conscious-but-commercial moments like “Kingdom” and “Made In Black America” off this new album, we’d be shocked if that didn’t continue here. (July 22) –DW

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS

Hypnotic Eye For his 13th album, Petty makes a distinct return to the sound that first put him on the map and brought his Florida-bred anthems to the airwaves: real, raw rock and roll. The 11-track disc, his first in four years with his Heartbreakers, finds his nasal whine in perfect form. On blue-collar rockers like “American Dream, Plan B,” his iconic delivery sneers out the rage of the working man. Petty and company deftly burn through the collection, wrapping things up with the desperate last-call challenge of “Burn Out Town” and the edgy blast of “Shadow People.” This time out, he’s thankfully left the mid-tempo stonernodding ditties in the dust and revisits his best ‘60s-inspired work of the mid-‘70s. (July 29) –LVS

NASHVILLE OUTLAWS

A Tribute to Mötley Crüe There have been a slew of Motley Crue tribute albums over the years (including a Bluegrass record), but this one will hopefully be the last since the aging glam metal band held a big ceremony to declare that they are legally splitting up after this latest tour, and

no member will be allowed to tour under the banner of Motley Crue ever again. As part of the media circus, the band also announced plans for this country tribute album. The two genres are not as far apart as it would seem, as both like to sing about fast cars (or trucks), women and partying. And God knows Country stars today love their pyro and stage gimmicks just as much as Poison and Crue did back in the mid-‘80s. Bands contributing tracks include Rascal Flatts, LeAnne Rimes, Darius Rucker, Big & Rich and Florida-Georgia Line. (August 19) –JM

STATIK SELEKTAH

What Goes Around Real hip-hop scholars know what Statik Selektah brings to the table—the classic boom-bap sound that makes you miss the late ‘90s. While that probably isn’t what MTV is looking for, rap fans have certainly appreciated the producer’s underrated catalog over the years. “Carry On” is a neckjarring jazz number with Joey Badass and Freddie Gibbs, and it sounds as if it’s something straight from 1996 (and that’s a great thing). We can only guess that the album’s other joints will have a similarly nostalgic feel, because if there’s one thing that’s more undervalued than Selektah’s production, it’s his ability to put together an all-star roster of features. (August 19) –DW

MAROON 5 V

As much as I wish I could hate these perennial chart-topping pop stars, the charm of Adam Levine’s falsetto and the infectiousness of their white-boy dance-funk is like the Borg on Star Trek: Resistance is futile. The band’s aptly-titled fifth album comes on the heels of their chart-topping success with Overexposed, which produced some of the biggest hits of Maroon 5’s career (“Payphone,” “One More Night,” etc.). It’s their first for new label Interscope, marks the return of keyboardist Jesse Carmichael to the fold, and features collaborations with Gwen Stefani and Sia. If lead single “Maps” is any indication, we won’t be surprised if these 21st century Bee Gees have another hit on their hands. (September 2) –BL

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS

World on Fire Slash certainly has found plenty of projects to keep him busy since the original lineup of Guns N Roses imploded, including putting in time with Velvet Revolver, Slash’s Snake Pit and various solo efforts. World on Fire marks his third solo record since 2010. This is also his second one with vocalist Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge) and the band The Conspirators (which includes Frank Sidoris, Todd Kerns and Brent Fitz). World on Fire is crammed with 17 tracks. (September 15) –JM

Road Warriors

This Month’s Hottest Shows BY SACHA DZUBA

7/12 – CLAUDIO SIMONETTI’S GOBLIN

The Masquerade Goblin was founded at the beginning of the 70’s and has enjoyed a long career marked by the composition of soundtracks for Dario Argento’s films. Goblin’s sound was inspired by progressive rock bands Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Gentle Giant and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. After a recent short American tour with original members; Claudio Simonetti and his new line-up, encompassing members of Daemonia, return to the stage. Excitingly they’ll be performing the entirety of their score for the original Romero/Argento Dawn of the Dead film, alongside a live screening of the film; and some of their other progressive rock hits. The rare opportunity to experience some of the best and most iconic soundtrack music from the golden era of Italian horror in a uniquely live and intimate occasion.

7/22 – BECK

The Fox Theatre Initially Beck was a grunge oddity, a space cowboy creating indie art-psych-folk music; he has proven to be a mercurial artist. Using ironic lyrics with clever dual meanings, Beck incorporated aspects of funk, mellow singer-songwriter styles, country, soul, and has continued to experiment, explore, and push his musical creativity. Beck’s latest album Morning Phase, is purported to be a companion piece to 2002 album Sea Change; but maybe that’s because there’s similar instrumentation, primarily acoustic guitars, slow tempos, and lush strings. Beck is an incredible songwriter, musician, and artist; don’t miss him at the fabulous Fox!

7/23 – SARA BAREILLES

Chastain Amphitheater Imagine a Feist-ey Spektor wrapped in a Fiona candy-Apple shell and you have the venerable Sara Bareilles. Critically praised for her songwriting, she “conveys vulnerability and wisdom in lyrics that speak honestly about relationships from a woman’s point of view”. With groove oriented piano playing she eschews the upper register of the piano in favor of creating a more groove-centric melodic sound. One of my favorite songs is “Fairy Tale” which features a quirky tongue in cheek examination of several fairy tales and the aftermath of each happily ever after. She is currently supporting her latest release, The Blessed Unrest. Undeniably girl-power, Sara Bareilles is a consummate performer who will surprise you with her ability to touch the hearts and minds of men and women alike.

7/24 – THE MUSICAL BOX: GENESIS– SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND

(40TH ANNIV.) Variety Playhouse Hailing from Canada, The Musical Box are THE Definitive Genesis cover band. They perform the only officially licensed re-creations of Genesis’ albums including the visual effects and costumes that were part of the original Genesis shows. This latest tour sees them performing a re-creation of Selling England by the Pound in

honor of its 40th anniversary. Who are Genesis, Peter Gabriel, and Phil Collins? Have you never heard of the songs “I Can’t Dance” or “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight” ? You must be living in the land of confusion. A theatrical night of an entire classic album and show that is faithfully and meticulously restaged. This is simply an unmissable night of fantastic music and skilled showmanship.

7/24 – VON GREY

Eddie’s Attic Atlanta-based group von Grey are four classically trained multi-talented sisters that create indie, alternative, folk music with “charming harmonies and extensive instrumentation”. Their latest EP Awakening is a touchstone to this moment and some of their accomplishments thus far as artists. Having performed live with several well-known musical artists, appearing on Conan and Letterman, had glowing press and an ITunes Top 10 album (their self-titled EP); these ladies are incomparably talented. Wise beyond their years, von Grey is handwork, storytelling, adept musicians; radiant music.

7/30 – FALL OUT BOY AND PARAMORE

Aaron’s Amphitheatre Lakewood Fall Out Boy exploded in a burst of emo onto the pop, punk, and rock music scene. Recently refreshing their sound, sing along choruses, orchestrations, loops and samples, with nods to the 80’s; Fall Out Boy returned triumphantly to the music scene with their latest #1 album, Save Rock and Roll. Paramore have catchy hooks and melodies. Haley Williams leads the music with vocals that have some Katy Perry/Dolores O’Riordan qualities to them, with an innocent blush. Don’t let that description make you think this is bubble gum pop however, this alternative rock group has

elements of punk, emo, and, straight-up rock and roll. Their latest self-titled album sees Paramore experimenting with an alternative indie style with Karen-O flair.

7/31 – BORIS

Terminal West Japanese experimental rock trio, Boris, create incredibly disparate genre-hopping music. Named after a song by The Melvins; their influences are as eclectic as the music they play… citing Sleep, Nick Cave, Nick Drake, Venom, and the Melvins in particular. Their style has ranged from sludgy, droney metal, to psychedelic and noise rock, hardcore punk, ambient, shoe gaze and j-pop. Be sure to check out their incredible collaborative EP, BXI, with The Cult’s Ian Astbury. Noise is their most recent full-length album; intermingling sludge-rock, blistering crust punk, shimmering shoegaze, and powerful sludgy, drone metal. Their sound has evolved to encompass all other previously explored musical ideas and continues in exploring free-spirited experimentation that made the band an Internationally acclaimed. Original, unique, and not to be missed.

8/1 AND 8/2 – BLAIR CRIMMINS AND THE HOOKERS

The Earl Blair Crimmins and the Hookers brings you back to the 20’s and 30’s with vaudevillian narrative and wit, ragtime piano, dixieland horns, and zydeco guitar. Crimmins’ synapses fire on a completely different musical level; dangerous jazz, devious, gaudy, with spiky shades of ragtime and blues. Accordion, piano, ukulele, banjo, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, sax, bass, and drums together that creates a rollicking magical songs filled with mischief and longing. Check out his latest, Sing-a-Longs, and the puppetastic video for “It’s All Over Now”. Be transported by a two-night stand; enticing you to believe that wearing a bowtie is cool, girls should be gilt flappers, and that you want to dance.

MUSIC

A VERY HORN-Y BAND

Huntington Beach-Based Ska Revivalists Reel Big Fish Continue to Ride the Third Wave BY JOHN B. MOORE

UNTINGTON BEACH’S REEL Big Fish caught the third wave ska revival in the early 1990s and never got off their boards. They continue to record and tour to this day. In fact, their summer tours have become an annual ritual for fans who like their punk-rock mixed with plenty of horns. So what better way to kick off the season than checking in with Aaron Barrett, the band’s singer and guitarist? Reel Big Fish is currently touring behind their latest record, Candy Coated Fury, bringing along fellow ska band Survay Says!

Have they toured with you before? Any initiation rituals planned? This is our first tour with Survay Says! They are a really good, hard-working ska punk band and are doing their part to keep ska music alive so we decided it was time to take them on tour. We won’t be giving them a hard time or anything, we’re not really a prank playing band or a band that messes around with the openers. We had enough pranks pulled on us by Goldfinger in the early days and we’d never want to do that to anyone else!

You have been playing festivals for years as well. What’s the You guys have been touring WE HEARD THAT now worst festival bill you’ve ever for more than 20 years. PAUL STANLEY been on? Is it easier now, with cell I guess the worst as far as WATCHED US phones, Skype, etc. for turnout one called the band to tour versus when SOUND CHECK AND “F*#kingwas North Pole” festival you guys first started out? WAS OVERHEARD in Norway, which just turned What has been the best SAYING, “THAT’S out to be us playing with no improvement to touring A VERY HORN-Y openers in a dirty little bar over the past 20 years? with a terrible sound system in It’s so much easier now, BAND!” front of five people. with smart phones, Google maps, GPS, etc. It’s practically impossible What’s your best tour story? to get lost in this day and age. And no more The one where we got to open up for KISS trying to find a clean pay phone to call your at the Verizon Amphitheater in Irvine, lady from when you’re out on the road. And California! It was just us and KISS, playing now you can find restaurants and malls and together, with no other bands. We had to all the stuff that’s near the venue instead be locked in our dressing room while they of walking around aimlessly hoping you sound checked, because no one is allowed to stumble upon something good. watch KISS sound check apparently. But we heard that Paul Stanley watched us sound You are taking Survay Says! on this tour.

check and was overheard saying, “That’s a very horn-y band!” Dan Regan, who played trombone, left the band last year to start a brewery. Any idea how that is coming along? Last I heard, he was still looking for a good location for it. He does have some awesome logos and artwork done, and some great beer recipes too, so we’re all on pins and needles waiting for him to get that place open! Have you started working on the follow-up to Candy Coated Fury yet?

Not yet, but we are working on songs for a Christmas album that we want to put out later this year. Do you plan on working with a label to put out the next record or will you do it yourself? We’re very happy with the distribution deal that we have with Rock Ridge so we’ll definitely be sticking with them. What else is going on with the band? We’re planning a USA tour in January with our pals in Less Than Jake, and we couldn’t be more excited! insiteatlanta.com • July 2014 • PG 17

MUSIC

Album Reviews

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

THE DEAN’S LIST SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS Give The People What They Want (Daptone)

Bouncing back with a vengeance. BL: The title of the sixth album from Augusta-born soul-slinger Sharon Jones couldn’t be more prophetic. Discovered by Daptone Records founder/Dap-Kings bassist Gabriel Roth when she was 40, releasing her first album at age 46, and beginning to reach her prime around 2007’s 100 Days, 100 Nights (when she was 51), Jones’ career has been a study in delayed gratification. Coming off the success of 2010’s I Learned The Hard Way and 2011’s Soul Time, the band’s relentless touring schedule had fans’ anticipation for this album at a fever pitch. But when Jones was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, some wondered whether she’d ever perform again. Fortunately the tough-asnails soul icon bounced back, releasing the delayed Give The People What They Want and delivering the most potent performances of her career. The album is another instant classic that could pass for a long-lost ‘60s soul gem. Songs such as “Retreat,” “Stranger To My Happiness,” and “You’ll Be Lonely” are so exquisitely executed, so soulful and funky, it’s hard to believe the album was made in 2013. In an era where music often seems cold and calculated, this timeless gem isn’t just what the people want. It’s what they need.

THE BASTARDS OF FATE

Vampires Are Real and Palpable (This Will Be Our Summer)

Virginia oddballs offer an impressive sophomore effor t. JM: Sounding like very few bands around today, The Bastards of Fate’s sophomore record offers up a perfect example of how refreshingly creative a group can be if they simply don’t give a fuck about pleasing anyone but themselves. Over the course of just 10 songs, the Roanoke-based band pulls apart pop, psychedelic and college rock, and then twists and forces those clichés into a new mold to create their own contorted, brilliantly misshapen, but bracingly original genre. From the menacingly bleak album opener, “Winter of Our Discontent,” to an amusingly quirky track like “Own It,” the band is all over the map musically. Though Vampires Are Real and Palpable is a much more challenging record, PG 18 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

it still manages to sound much more collaborative than 2012’s Who’s a Fuzzy Buddy? It’s simply odd, but for all the right reasons.

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA Cope (Loma Vista/Favorite Gentlemen)

The 2014 equivalent of alt-rock nirvana. BL: If this was 1994, the year Kurt Cobain’s suicide left a gaping void on the alt-rock landscape, Manchester Orchestra would arguably be the biggest band in the world. Few acts in the last 20 years have matched Nirvana’s penchant for quietloud tonal shifts, anguished anthems, pummeling hooks, and sing-along choruses. And M.O. frontman Andy Hull is among a select group of singersongwriters capable of Cobain’s blend of emotional depth, existential angst, potent dynamics and unbridled passion. Hull, who started the band at age 16, has always seemed mature and gifted beyond his years. But recently his band has suffered numerous heavy blows: They lost both their record label (ATO) and their rhythm section (Jeremiah Edmond and Jonathan Corley). After bringing on new bassist Andy Prince and drummer Tim Very they started working on their fourth album, but ultimately scrapped all but a few of the 14 songs they’d written. Still, despite the adversity, Cope proves more than worth the 3-year wait, full of sharp, serrated, arena-ready anthems. Where Simple Math was texturally varied and deeply conceptual, this album is 38 solid minutes of unrelenting rock, trading space and dynamics for an intense sense of urgency rarely heard on today’s dancefloor-obsessed music scene. I’m pretty sure Kurt Cobain would be proud.

REST OF THE CLASS DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

Remember Two Things [Limited Edition Vinyl] (Legacy) Re-release of classic DMB. JM: Long before they became catnip for modern hippies and jam band devotees, the Dave Matthews Band was just another group trying to find their niche in an alt-rock music world. Remember Two Things, which primarily features live tracks, was released on the band’s own label in 1993, when radio stations were liberally defining modern rock as something between Liz Phair and Pearl Jam. It was pretty adventurous at the time for a group from Virginia to include everything from

sax to violin on their debut. RCA re-released the album in 1997, but Legacy is finally putting it out on vinyl for the first time ever. Many of these songs are familiar to even the causal Matthews listener: Songs like “Ants Marching” and “Tipping Billies” would go on to appear on other records, and remain some of the group’s biggest hits. Though I am admittedly not a big Matthews fan, having stopped listening to them after 1996’s Crash (their last truly great record), Remember Two Things captures the sound of a young band still finding their sound, but doing so in a very impressive manner. This two-LP deluxe release is on 180gram vinyl, comes in an impressive gatefold jacket and includes a booklet with lyrics and photos. The download card that comes with the records also includes two previously unreleased songs. (B)

THE VERVE PIPE

Overboard (LMNO Pop)

‘90s Alt-Rock act returns, tempered with age-appropriate insight. LVS: The ‘90s alternative rock scene was built on the implosive successes of bands like Harvey Danger, Semisonic and The Cranberries– all talented acts that were huge for a moment, thanks to commercial radio outlets like Atlanta’s 99X. Most have faded into the fond memories of their fans, while the band members went on to become successful in other fields. The Verve Pipe was one of those acts. Overplayed tracks like “The Freshman” were staples of the WNNX playlist. Silent in recent years except for some middecade children’s material, the band (led by singer-songwriter Brain Vander Ark) is now back with a revived line-up and a more modern sound. Rather than retread the grunge-lite of the decade of their importance, the band has wisely updated their approach. The result is a melodic collection of songs, taking Vander Ark’s emotive delivery and tempering it with age and maturity. It’s a fine, if hardly-earth-shattering disc filled with crafty pop and slightly offcenter rock. The featured single is “Crash Landing” and, although it’ll hardly make a dent on the general public consciousness, the track is pretty damned catchy. Interestingly, the somber title track was co-written with actor/musician Jeff Daniels. (B)

BUBBA SPARXXX

Made On McCosh Mill Road (eOne Music)

A little bit country, and a whole lotta hip-hop. BL: “I’m talking ‘bout a cold beer, I’m talking ‘bout a hot country girl/ I’m talking ‘bout John Deere, I’m talking bout’ my big Cousin Earl/ See I was made on McCosh Mill Road where the rowdy folks come from…” With these opening

lines, Warren Mathis (a.k.a. platinumselling hip-hop star Bubba Sparxx) signals a return to his humble roots in Lagrange, Georgia. Discovered while rapping after a UGA football game, the Troup County native signed to Interscope in 2000 and immediately got paired up with hot producers like Timbaland and Organized Noize. Top 20 singles (including “Ugly” and “Ms. New Booty,” featuring Ying Yang Twins) and 3 Top 10 albums followed. But by 2006 Bubba Sparxxx seemed to have gone the way of the dodo. Seven years later he resurfaced, working with Rehab guitarist Danny Boone and Average Joes Entertainment co-founder Colt Ford (who wrote Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem”). The result is a surprisingly enjoyable country-rap sound. Songs like “Past Is Practice,” “Better Be Country” and “Heart of Georgia” blend rootsy country-blues riffs with slamming hip-hop beats, making this album an impassioned celebration of Southern culture. It’s a little too mainstream for my tastes, but probably perfect for those country fans who like Outkast almost as much as Zac Brown and Sugarland. (B-)

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN

El Camino Real (429 Records)

College rock faves return with par t two of their California concept record. JM: Camper Van Beethoven were college rock staples for much of the mid-to-late ‘80s, but sat out the ‘90s as David Lowery and Johnny Hickman pivoted to their new group, Cracker. Thanks to nostalgia for the Me Decade, the CVB guys have had a limited, but still successful run of albums since 2002. Their latest, El Camino Real, while not nearly as good as their output in the 1980s, is still a decent slice of Americana-inflected alt-rock. El Camino Real is the conclusion of a two-part concept album collection. The first, 2013’s La Costa Perdida, focused on Northern California, while this one looks to the sunny shores of Southern California for inspiration. But the central theme is not obvious unless you’re aware of it. Lowery’s laidback delivery and slight twang is front and center on tracks like “Darken Your Door” and “Out Like a Lion.” But it’s Jonathan Segel’s fiddle that makes the band stand out from every other Gen X band looking for another go-around. Just for the record, Camper Van Beethoven rocked the fiddle long before most hipsters could grow hair on their chins. In the end, El Camino Real is a solid collection of songs. It’s not nearly the best the band has ever put out, but it’s a fun album nonetheless. (B-)

MUSIC

POSITIVELY PROG STREET

Prog-Rock Icons Yes Continue Their Story with New Singer, New Album BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

ES WAS ONE OF THE MOST successful bands of the early ‘70s. The English outfit was also arguably the most influential band of the progressive rock movement. This month, the band releases their 21st record, the ambitious Heaven And Earth. Touring the country this summer, they’ll revisit two classic Yes albums in their entirety. The set will include the albums, Fragile and Close to the Edge, followed by an assortment of greatest hits, and then material from their new album as the final encore. We recently spoke with their new vocalist Jon Davison by phone, just before Yes left on tour. It’s an exciting journey to go from fan to member of one of the most iconic bands of the ‘70s. How’d it happen? I’ve been active as a vocalist since 2006. I was doing a Yes tribute band for a couple of years, just as a hobby. Then I moved on to doing original music with, Glass Hammer, a progressive rock band from Tennessee. And there was a lot of online exposure when we were doing some of the Glass Hammer material. So, in early 2012, I got a call from Paul Silveira, our tour manager, and he invited me to come and help Yes out on a tour of Japan, Australia and New Zealand. That’s a major undertaking. Were you overwhelmed at first?

I do much in my life to keep me from being overwhelmed. It’s important to keep things in perspective and I do a lot of meditation. It’s important to allow the music to just take over and do things from your heart. Let the inspiration guide you, rather than overwhelm you.

Still, were there moments when you would just go, “Wow, I’m in Yes!”? Yeah, there’s definitely a “wow factor” involved, especially on stage. There might be times where there’s a longer instrumental section and I’m playing tambourine or something, and not singing. I’m looking around and thinking, “Oh my God, a few feet away from me is Chris Squire! And there’s Steve Howe!” I have a better view than the front row. How long did it take for them to become bandmates instead of heroes? It’s a sort of a blend of the two, even now. On stage is that “wow factor,” but on the day-to-day practical level, you just see them as people and friends. And after that initial tour, they obviously decided to keep you on. Yes, but no one ever said, “Sign your name here,” or anything. Nothing official. It was just, “Ok, we’ll see you in a couple of months for the US tour.” How did writing a huge chunk of material

for a new Yes album come about? Chris Squire wanted to see what I could offer the band, from a songwriting perspective. We got together and started writing, and two of those songs made it to the new album. So, from early on, we were talking about this album. And that was so exciting to me. I really got involved, taking time to write and record some demos to be ready to share them with the band. It became a very intense period, because I’d travel to the different areas of the world and work with the band, one-onone. Then early this year, we all came together and began piecing it together in a very collaborative way. Everyone was involved in the arranging process, bringing it to life, and it was really nice to know that they trusted me on that level. As a vocalist, what are the greatest challenges for you in this project? As you know, it’s such challenging music. So it took a bit of time to feel like I was owning my parts, because there’s little idiosyncrasies in every vocalist’s technique. What comes naturally to the originator tends to be obscured slightly when you interpret it.

where people felt alienated. It was social and political, too. So punk didn’t totally rebel against prog, but the music– that was the essence of it. It’s sort of beyond what some people can relate to. And, because of that, it seems sort of pretentious. I’m a prog fan, so it’s hard for me to understand, but I remember being in high school and listening to Yes. My girlfriend at the time, and most of my friends, just thought it was really bizarre. They didn’t understand it because it went over their heads. As a Yes fan, the new album must be a dream come true for you. Yeah, it is. It makes it even more rewarding to me, on a personal level. You’re so involved and subjective through the whole process: the dramas, the glories, the ups and downs of manifesting the album. Then it’s so great to finally get a copy of it, and recline and just go for the ride and hear it as every listener hears it. That’s the best part of it, really.

Why does Prog-rock get such a bad rap from so many people? I think in a way it alienates some people. When you look at how punk-rock surfaced, and the frustrations that were there, it wasn’t just rebelling on an artistic level

presents

Hotel California-

The Beach Boys

July 11

On Stage at 8 p.m.!

The Original Eagles Tribute

July 12

Michael Bolton

More 2014 coNcerts! August 2 Arrival-The Music of Abba August 23 Bon Jovi Tribute Show Slippery When Wet September 6 Bret Michaels Life Rocks 2014 Tour July 26 September 13 The Rat Pack is Back Get your tickets September 27 G while they last! Styx For tickets: G

www.amphitheater.org:

770.631.0630

The Frederick brown jr. Amphitheater 201 McIntosh Trail • Peachtree City, GA 30269 insiteatlanta.com • July 2014 • PG 19

MUSIC

A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY, A LITTLE BIT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

Sugarland’s Kristian Bush on Musical Diversity, Publishing & Going Solo BY BRET LOVE

OST PEOPLE KNOW KRISTIAN Bush primarily as the guy with the goatee who plays guitar behind Sugarland’s comely singer, Jennifer Nettles. But Atlantans recognize that the 44-year-old Tennessee native has a career dating back to Decatur’s burgeoning folk scene of the late ‘80s. Bush originally moved to the city from Sevierville (hometown of Dolly Parton, whom Bush and his brother once opened for) in order to pursue a Creative Writing degree at Emory. He immersed himself in the local music scene, becoming friends with acts such as the Indigo Girls. By the mid ‘90s he’d become semi-famous as one-half of alternative folk-rock duo Billy Pilgrim, who were signed to Atlantic Records and scored a couple of Top 5 singles. In 2002 he connected with fellow Decatur folkies Kristen Hall and Jennifer Nettles to form Sugarland, blending elements of folk, Southern rock and country to create a mainstream-accessible sound. Their success in the years since Hall left the band in 2005 has been well-documented, with five #1 country singles, over 14 million albums sold, with 69 award nominations and 18 wins. Now, with Sugarland on hiatus, Bush is returning to his musical roots in more ways than one. He and his multi-instrumentalist brother Brandon (former keyboardist for Train) have scored and produced music for a series

of promos for Atlanta’s Turner Classic Movies. Their publishing company, Songs of the Architect, is helping local indie bands find ways to make money with their music. And now they’ve combined forces with Atlanta duo Larkin Poe and a few other friends to record Kristian’s first solo album. We recently caught up with Bush for a lengthy conversation that ran the gamut from Georgia music history and the state’s increasingly high-profile place in country music to how he’ll continue to balance his pet projects with Sugarland in the future.

You’ve played all kinds of music, from rock and folk to country and pop. Can you talk about those diverse influences? The South is a fertile ground for creativity. If you look at James Brown or Otis Redding’s stuff, they’re singing gospel melodies over soul music, which is like [Sugarland] singing country melodies over southern rock music. So, if you’re from Georgia, you’ve been given permission to experiment because the people before you parted the waters. I’ve never been as free, musically speaking, as I’ve been as a Georgia artist. It is one of the most beautiful feelings to be so embraced by Nashville, America, Europe and even Australia for being who we are. As a native of the state, it’s been interesting to see Georgia coming to the forefront of country music over the last decade. It’s strange to know that there are more people in the Top 20 Country acts from Georgia than there are from Nashville! Sugarland was probably in the middle of that conversation. The beginning has Travis Tritt, Alan Jackson, Trisha Yearwood and, even before that, Whispering Bill Anderson. When you’re in Georgia, you’re being influenced by a fertile local community, whether it’s Savannah, Macon, Augusta or Atlanta. You can’t help but take that stuff forward. As a country artist, it’s great to have a huge country fan base, but those fans are also fans of urban, gospel, soul and oldies. Tell me about your new publishing company, Songs of the Architect. I’ve always had this fantasy that, if I could have a record label, I could help out bands the way I was helped out. Then the record business changed, and I watched the bottom line of those things move, and I realized that that is not the best way to help anybody. As I found more and more success with Sugarland, I started to see how the structure of publishing works: A songwriter is either self-published or they have a publisher who collects money for them whenever a song is played on the radio, television, or film or sold on a disc or download. I decided to create a publishing company so that it could collect my money. When I realized that I had built all of these roads, I thought, “Why not offer it to my

PG 20 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

friends,” because I already went through the trouble of figuring out how to do it.

to watch their faces as they figure this out.

How did it become an actual band? The CMA organization sponsors a How did you find the bands you’re working 4-person songwriter tour, and asked me to with now? do their European tour. I got a call before The first thing I did was ask the 3-4 I left asking me to open the Country to people who worked for me to bring me Country Music Festival in London, at the their favorite unsigned band without a O2 Arena. I asked, “Just me and my guitar?” publishing deal, and I offered them all They said, “No, you and your band.” I hadn’t publishing deals. We’ve got bands like put a band together yet, Today the Moon Tomorrow but I said yes anyway. I IT’S STRANGE TO the Sun, Telegram, and immediately called my some others in the works. KNOW THAT THERE Brandon, who had I’m so interested in helping ARE MORE PEOPLE IN brother just booked a meeting with these bands and singerTHE TOP 20 COUNTRY local band Larkin Poe, songwriters locally in a ACTS FROM GEORGIA which I wanted to look at way that doesn’t hold them back from making choices THAN THERE ARE FROM for Songs of the Architect. to succeed. They may have NASHVILLE! SUGARLAND We met, I wrote a song with them, and we thought a great song, and I can take WAS PROBABLY IN they were incredible that song and shop it in THE MIDDLE OF THAT musicians– very charming L.A. or Nashville, or help CONVERSATION. and super funny ladies. facilitate getting that song They left and Brandon into a TV show or movie. said, “They should be in I also have a Decatur this band!” We decided to put together an studio, called The Projector Room, which all-Georgia band. We went after Tim Smith, the whole thing is based around. It’s the a bassist who’d been on the road with clubhouse for Songs of the Architect. Sheryl Crow for a long time, and before that Jellyfish and the Producers. You might And now you’ve also got a new solo album know him by his local band, Thing One you put together. Thing Two. The girls flew in from Atlanta, Yeah, I’ve been working on it for almost two years, but I didn’t know it was an album and I used my old Billy Pilgrim drummer– when I started working on it. I usually write who I stole back from Better than Ezra– and that’s my band. 10-12 songs a year. We take the best of those songs and make Sugarland records, How do you balance Sugarland and all and back in the day we would make a Billy these other projects as you move forward Pilgrim record. I’ve been on a consistent creative cycle for a long time. But in the last in your career? I spend a lot of time thinking about them two years I’ve written about 300 songs, with before I start, so they are balanceable. My 300 recordings. When I asked the people solo career and Sugarland can both happen I trust about what I should do, they said that I needed to share this music with other at the same time. My voice and Jennifer’s voice can both be on the same radio people… otherwise I’d get broken-hearted. stations [without it being a problem]. It So I started putting a song out once a week on my website, but not telling many people. was a real eureka moment when I realized that was possible! As for the publishing This has been going on for a year, so there and the part where I get to be producer/ are 50+ songs up there now. It became songwriter/mentor, that’s a passion that can a good outlet for these songs, and I’d do unfold at anytime. I try to produce a couple liner notes to tell you something about it. of records a year, and, now that I’m on a Eventually people in the business started bender of continuously writing, I’ll co-write to hear the songs. A lot of Sugarland fans don’t even know that I can sing, so it’s fun with as many people as I can.

OUTDOOR VENUES Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

Encore Park in Alpharetta 404.249.6400 vzwamp.com Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre has quickly become the entertainment destination for music lovers across the region. Set on 45 acres of beautifully-landscaped wooded land in Alpharetta, the 12,000-seat Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park provides a unique setting. 2014 summer line-up includes: Ray LaMontagne (July 18); American Idol Live (July 24); The Avett Brothers (July 25&26) and Phish (August 3).

Chastain Park

4469 Stella Dr. NW. 404.733.5012 deltaclassicchastain.com Chastain Amphitheatre is one of the great outdoor concert venues in the country. It is an ideal setting to combine dining al fresco with a diverse range of musical talent. Among the top performances for the 2014: Goo Goo Dolls (July 11); The Fray (July 18); O.A.R. (July 26) and Chris Botti (August 2).

Frederick Brown Amphitheatre

201 McIntosh Trail Peachtree City 770.631.0630 amphitheater.org Located in Peachtree City, "The Fred" offers a unique and intimate concert experience. It has established itself as one of the leading outdoor entertainment venues in the metro area. Anticipated shows this summer include: The Beach Boys (July 12); Michael Bolton (July 26); Arival - Music of Abba (August 2) and Styx (Sept. 27).

Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood

2002 Lakewood Way 404.443.5000 livenation.com Atlanta's largest dedicated concert venue in the Southeast. Superior sound reproduction, advanced lighting capabilities and clear, unrestricted sightlines make Aaron’s Amphitheatre the favorite summer concert site for the avid music fan. Some of their hotly anticipated upcoming shows include: Vans Warped Tour (July 24); Fall Out Boy (July 30); Mayhem Festival (August 15) and Lil Wayne (August 31).

Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre

5239 Floyd Rd, Mableton 770.819.7765 mablehouse.org Located in south Cobb County, Mable House Amphitheatre seats 2,400 people for everything from country to rock to plays to symphony orchestra performances. This year they are offering a free summer of Candlelite Concerts that start at 8pm. Check website for details.

INDOOR VENUES Philips Arena

100 Centennial Park 404.584.7825 philipsarena.com Home to the Hawks and Atlanta Dream, Atlanta's largest indoor entertainment venue also showcases some great concerts. Highly anticipated concerts this year include: Katy Perry (June 28) and Aerosmith (August 28).

The Fox Theatre

660 Peachtree St. 404.817.8700 foxtheatre.org

Smith's Olde Bar

529

The city's oldest and most revered venue is best known for its theatrical performances. However they do house musical acts from time to time and many say it is among the best concert atmospheres they have experienced. Upcoming concerts include: Beck (July 22); Michael McDonald (August 22) and Bob Weir (August 26).

1578 Piedmont Ave 404.875.1522 smithsoldebar.com Expect to see the best national, regional, and upcoming acts while enjoying the laidback, intimate atmosphere. Check out Jonah Swilley (July 5); Underhill Rose (July 18) and Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ (July 25).

529 Flat Shoals Ave 404.228.6769 529atlanta.com This popular East Atlanta venue has been attracting a large following. Highlighted shows in July include: Streets of Laredo (July 5); Heavy Chevy (July 11) and Nest Egg (July 12).

Cobb Energy Center

The Drunken Unicorn

The Georgia 120 Tavern

2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy 770.916.2800 cobbenergycentre.com First major performing arts facility built in metro Atlanta in four decades. Anticipated summer shows include: Tori Amos (August 19); R5 (Sept. 6) and Experience Hendrix (Sept. 24).

736 Ponce de Leon Ave. thedrunkenunicorn.net The Drunken Unicorn is a live music venue located below Friends on Ponce. This month check out: Weatherbox (July 11); Telekinetic Walrus (July 12); Rara (July 18); Fiftenth Summer (July 19).

1440 Roswell Rd. 770.509.3320 120tavern.com Formerly operating as Sidelines, sports have given way to live music. Upcoming shows include: ThroatPunch (June 29); Jon Latham (July 26) and Full Net (August 9).

The Arena at Gwinnett

Wild Bill's

3110 Roswell Rd. 404.843.2825 thebuckheadtheatre.com Embracing the deep musical heritage of Georgia and the Southeast, The Buckhead Theatre has been the site of sold-out shows of every musical genre, rock, country, hip hop alternative, and more. Upcoming shows include: Passenger (August 2) and G. Garvin Live (August 7).

6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy. 770.813.7600 gwinnettcenter.com As part of the 80 acre Gwinnett Center campus, The Arena is a state of the art 13,000 seat facility. It boasts widened seats, a high-end sound system along with acoustical enhancements and versatile lighting. Upcoming concerts include: Five Finger Death Punch (Oct. 11) and Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull (Oct. 22).

Masquerade

695 North Ave. NE 404.577.8178 masq.com Masquerade offers three rooms for indoor concerts along with outdoor concerts in their Music Park. Featured shows include: Trapt (July 10); Goblin (July 12) and Us the Duo (July 26).

2075 Market St. 678-473-1000 wildbillsatlanta.com Duluth complex is one of the largest country-music dance club and concert halls in the country. Upcoming shows include: Jackyl (July 5); Aaron Lewis (July 12) and Suspect B (July 16).

Eddie's Attic

Decatur Square. 404.377.4976 eddiesattic.com Decatur's most prominent music venue was made famous by the frequent appearances by the Indigo Girls and they still offer some great acts. Upcoming performers: Chris Knight (July 5); Joe Gransden (July 12) & Austin Renfroe (July 19).

Fat Matt's Rib Shack

Buckhead Theatre

The Strand

3110 Roswell Rd. 770.293.0080 earlsmithstrand.com Located on Marietta Square, The Strand served as a major motion picture house in 1935. Over the years it has undergone many transformations and reopened in 2009. Grease is playing July 19 and Lewis Gizzard comes to town October 2.

152 Luckie Street 404.659.9022 livenation.com This turn of the century church turned concert venue attracts some of the biggest national acts. Check out 311 (July 24 & 25); Chevelle (Aug. 20) and 3 Doors Down (Sept 10).

1811 Piedmont Rd. 404.607.1622 fatmatts.com You like ribs? You like the blues? You can get both seven nights a week. Live music begins at 8pm and come often, because you never know what blues legend is going to stop bye. Coming up in July is Kerry Hill (July 12); Rough Draft (July 19) and the Johnny Scales Trio (Juloy 26).

887 West Marietta St. 404.876-5566 terminalwestatl.com Terminal West is a 7,000 square feet music and special events venue in historic west midtown of Atlanta at the King Plow Arts Center. Upcoming acts include: Exmag (July 11); Turquoise Jeep (July 11) and Blackalicious (July 19).

Center Stage

Star Bar

10 High

The Tabernacle

1374 W. Peachtree St. 404.885.1365 centerstage-atlanta.com This multi-level music complex houses Center Stage, The Loft and Vinyl. Center Stage is the largest of the three and books national acts including: RX Bandits and Deer Hunter (July 16); Black Label Society (July 25) and Eric Roberson (August 22).

437 Moreland Ave. 404.681.9018 starbaratl.com This Little Five Points music cathedral keeps packing them in. The Elvis Shrine is still alive and well. Upcoming July shows include: Skirrel Rawk (July 12); Lazer/Wulf (July 19) and PLS PLS (July 25).

Variety Playhouse

2715 Buford Hwy. 770.240.6377 irispromotion.eventbrite.com Iris is Atlanta’s biggest EDM showcase. Upcoming shows include: Autoerotique & Eddie Gold (July 5); Audio & Tin Cup (July 19) and Mantis (July 26).

1099 Euclid Ave. L5pts 404.521.1786 variety-playhouse.com This is Little Five Points' largest music venue, but it can also be one of its most intimate. The Variety has great acoustics and sound combined with an eclectic mix of artists. Shows this summer include: Girls Rock Camp (July 19); Judy Collins (Aug. 1) and Dark Star Orchestra (August 14).

The Earl

488 Flat Shoals Ave. 404.522.3950 badearl.com An East Atlanta institution for great live music. Anything and everything can be heard at The Earl and the crowd varies with the bands. National acts and the best of the emerging Atlanta music scene grace the stage nightly to packed crowds. In July catch: Hell Militia (July 5); Curtis Harding (July 12); Spanish Gold (July 18); Reigning Sound (July 25) and Supersuckers (July 26).

Iris

Tin Roof

2591 Briarcliff Road 404.329.4700 tinroofcantina.com This popular Cantina also boasts a indoor stage and huge outdoor patio. They feature live music nightly and are open late. Popular regular acts include: Juckbox Fiasco, Ellis & Halford and the Mike Veal Band.

Northside Tavern

1058 Howell Mill Rd. 404.874.8745 northsidetavern.com Legendary blues and barbecue keeps them coming to the Westside. Regular acts include: Beverly “Guitar” Watkins (July 5) and Mudcat (July 25 & 26).

Terminal West

816 N. Highland Avenue 404.873.3607 darkhorseatlanta.com The 10 High is located directly below the Dark Horse Tavern in the heart of the Virginia Highlands neighborhood. The venue is a favorite spot for local music lovers and bands as well. Friday, Saturday and Tuesday nights feature live band karaoke with Metalsome Inc.

Blind Willie’s

828 North Highland Ave. 404.873.25.83 blindwilliesblues.com Iconic blues joint in Virginia Highland. Featured acts coming soon include: Curtis Salgado; John Primer, John Nemeth and Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials.

The Basement

1245 Glenwood Ave. 404.622-9696 basementatl.com East Atlanta music venue located under The Graveyard Tavern.. Upcoming shows include: Oddissee (June 28) and Kissy Sell Out (July 3).

Apache Cafe’

64 3rd Street 404.876.5436 apachecafe.info This intimate cafe’ offers jazz, poetry and more. Upcoming acts include: Al Smith (July 9) and The Bar Exam (July 25). insiteatlanta.com • July 2014 • PG 21

MUSIC

ATLast Upstart rapper Jarren Benton on following Outkast’s footsteps and beefing with The Game BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

AST MONTH OUTKAST DID something most musicians can only dream of—the group sold out three impromptu concerts for Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park in a matter of hours. Rather than hate on his fellow Atlanta rappers for shining, Decatur-born MC Jarren Benton saw the power moves more as inspiration. Work hard. Stay consistent. Sell out shows. The upstart rapper has the first attribute down. A 32-year-old husband and father, Jarren has peddled music from his car to anyone willing to listen to the quick-tongued rapper since ‘04. After lots of trials, Benton connected with Funk Volume’s Hopsin, SwizZZz and a few other rappers falling under the part-shock, part-scholar umbrella. His debut studio effort, My Grandma’s Basement, dropped in 2013 and it had everybody from the blogs to Bankhead talking. Rap bible XXL even featured Benton on this year’s annual “Freshmen” cover. Looks like that hard work is starting to pay off. Andre and Big Boi should be proud. Outkast is selling out shows, yet they haven’t done any real new music together in years. What is it going to take for Jarren to have that kind of longevity? Man, I think it’s just the amount of

I’M VERY BLESSED TO DO THIS. EVERY DAY I’M SHOCKED. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY HELPED ME IS JUST ALIGNING MYSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE.

consistency, just stay consistent with your craft. That’s the thing about Outkast, man. They never gave us no bullshit. They never compromised their artistic value. I think that’s what creates longevity: consistency. And giving people quality music. That’s what does it. It takes a lot to get an XXL cover. Tell me a little bit about the road that you’ve taken to get where you are. It’s been a long road. I’m from the east

JULY - SEPTEMBER, 2014

ThE SPoTLighT SERiES

SUMMER Jazz PERfoRMancES cURaTEd BY WYnTon MaRSaLiS

Jazz at LincoLn center orchestra with wynton MarsaLis “Modern Life, Modern Music” Friday, July 25, 8:00PM • Atlanta Symphony Hall • Tickets from $45

don’t Miss This Summer’s Spotlight Series Performances: nEa Jazz Master

JiMMY hEaTh

aUgUST 23 “...immensely sophisticated...” The New York Times

Vibraphone Virtouso

JaSon MaRSaLiS

SEPTEMBER 11 “Serious musicianship...deeply satisfying.” Chicago Tribune

award Winning Pianist

MaRcUS RoBERTS SEPTEMBER 18 “a majestic bluesiness...” Jazz Journal

ThE fULL 2014 SEaSon SchEdULE iS aVaiLaBLE aT nBaF.org

The 2014 Spotlight Series is supported in part by Bank of America/Merrill Lynch.

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side of Atlanta and I started rapping at a young age. But I didn’t have the tools for me to do what I needed to do. What I mean by that…as far as studios, as far as going out performing. I didn’t really start doing that until around 2005 or something like that. That’s when I just started going hard. I was trying to hit every little showcase I could hit. Every little open mike I could do. I was recording, consistently recording, just making music. At the time, I didn’t really have a lot of money, so I was getting shit pressed up, like maybe get five songs pressed up and I was just making like 1,000 CDs and just going out and giving them out. I didn’t even try to sell it; I was just giving the shit out. But in Atlanta it was so hard because at that time that’s when all that snap was just taking control, like that’s all everybody wanted. Everybody in Atlanta was in that mentality. Especially a lot of people in the industry whose mentality was just basically, “We need a nigga that can make a hit. He needs to do a hit. We need you to sound like whatever’s popular.” If you sound like what’s popular, or if you’ve got a “hit,” that seems like that was the only time they wanted to invest interest in you. I’ve seen your style kind of described as quirky and witty, and shocking and funny. How would you define your sound? If I can define it, I say its hella diverse. I will give you some awareness and inspiration from my music. It’s not one word that can describe a human being, and that’s how my music is. I’d say the best word to describe it is diverse chaos. My Grandma’s Basement is your first major showcase of this diverse chaos. For the people who haven’t heard it, what are they missing? With that album you’ll get to know a lot more about me. Previous projects I put out before kind of had a theme to them, but this one, when you hear this project, you hear a more personal side of me, you hear the personal shit I was going through when I was actually living in my grandma’s basement. A lot of growing pains. You hear about how frustrated I was trying to make it in Atlanta, especially with kids and a family. I know about the times with the gangs and the violence and all that. What

PGNBAF14_InsiteATL_Final.indd 22 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com 1

6/23/14 5:37 PM

kept you from steering altogether in the wrong direction? Why aren’t you in jail right now? That’s a good ass question. The majority of all the homies, man, are in jail. I’m very blessed to do this. Every day I’m shocked. I think one of the things that really helped me is just aligning myself with positive people. And I think once I did that, I started meeting new people. Once I got out of a certain circle I was in, due to all my niggas getting locked up. I met most of those people, most of the friends I got now, I met through music. When you meet people with the same common interests, plus they have a more positive mindset, I think that shit rubs off on you. So, I would say I would attribute most of that to just being around positive people that did what I do and helped support me. With the positivity, of course, the flip side is the negativity. On The Game’s new song, “Bigger Than Me,” he’s kind of snapping on all the freshmen on the XXL cover. Do you have any thoughts on why he did it? I don’t know why he did it. I’m one of the dudes who actually digs The Game. I think he makes some dope ass music. I guess he feels a certain way. The thing about it, The Game probably damn near around the same age... I think he might be a little bit older, but we ain’t too far away in age. I understand his frustration as far as when he was saying shit [in the song] like, “I came from Pac, I came from BIG.” Nigga, I did too! And the thing is I don’t know The Game. I’m a firm believer that you can’t beef with a nigga that you don’t know. I never met The Game one day in my life. I dig his music, but I don’t know him. I guess he just felt a certain way when he saw that cover. But I he doesn’t listen to my shit because if he heard me he wouldn’t feel that way. When you a newcomer in the industry, I don’t have enough ammo to respond back, you know what I’m saying? It would kind of be pointless. I am still trying to make and establish relationships, and politic and make money so I ain’t got no response back. I still don’t know what the fuck made him do it, but I feel like, at the point right now, The Game has a lot of albums and he’s been in it for a minute, so taking a shot at us is sorta like, “We ain’t even in your league yet, homie.”

MUSIC

LOOK BACK WITH LOVE THE JOKER AT 40 Mike Love on Why the Beach Boys’ Summer Never Ends

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

T’S HARD TO IMAGINE THE MUSIC of summer without the evocative soundtrack of The Beach Boys. For over five decades now their sweetly innocent anthems have detailed the nostalgic joys and bittersweet sorrows of cars, girls, surfing, the sea and, of course, the beach. Along with multi-instrumentalist Brian Wilson, the chief architect of the group has always been singer-songwriter Mike Love. Since their beginning in 1961 as a vocal harmony group in their parents’ living rooms, the band has extolled the virtues of “Fun, Fun, Fun,” while constantly exploring new sonic textures, offering an American (and decidedly West Coast) version of the Beatles’ sonic explorations. As Wilson mined the music, Love provided the lyrics for many of the band’s biggest hits of the ‘60s, including “California Girls” and “Good Vibrations,” and even “Kokomo” in the early ‘80s. As the other members splintered off, Love has remained the driving force of the group, and currently leads the 2014 edition of the band, along with longtime member Bruce Johnston. Your website has a new song on the splash page. Tell us about “Pisces Brothers.” I wrote that just after George Harrison passed away and recorded it but never released it. Then, earlier this year, there was a big hullaballoo made about the Beatles’ coming to America 50 years ago. So we released it on the cloud, as they say and millions of people have heard it. It was just about a very special time in India, when George Harrison and I had our birthdays, in the spring of 1968. We were studying transcendental meditation with the Maharishi. The Beach Boys/Beatles connection goes way back before that initial trip to India. Oh yes, Bruce and I actually traveled to see them in concert, and met them in Portland. We met the guys backstage and we were talking to them, mainly about cars, and with George, it was cars and sitars. And you know, Bruce has told the story about taking the acetate of Pet Sounds to England, before it was printed up as an album. Keith Moon of The Who introduced Bruce to Lennon and McCartney, who came by and listened to it. They’d done Rubber Soul and then they heard Pet Sounds and they got busy on Sgt. Pepper’s. So there was a sort of friendly rivalry and influence there, I guess. And TM has been a major influence on you ever since. Do you still practice it? I have every day since 1968. It’s meant to be practiced twice a day, so that’s what I do– in the morning, and again in the evening. If not, I don’t think I’d have the energy and strength and adaptability and flexibility to be able to do what I’ve done for this long. We’ll probably do 120-130 shows this year. And with the ups and downs of personal life, as well as group life, it helps diminish the stress and expand that creativity and positivity.

You’ve said that re-creating the Beach Boys songs is recreation for you. We try to focus on recreating the songs as close to the records as possible. So we’re obsessed with making those harmonies right. My cousin Carl [Wilson] passed away in February of 1988, so we had to find someone who could not only play his guitar parts, but do his vocal parts. For the past few years, we’ve had Scott Totten, and he’s very dedicated to the recreation or re-enactment of those songs. He’s into being exact, and it keeps the quality level of our performances at the highest level we’re capable of doing. If you close your eyes when we’re doing “California Girls,” it could be 1965 all over again. This tour is being billed as “50 Years of ‘Fun, Fun, Fun.’” Yeah, that was released in early 1964, and then “I Get Around” came out in the fall. That was a big year. Did that song lead to the emancipation from [notoriously abusive manager and the Wilson brothers’ dad] Murry? I don’t know if it was related. But I know that I got the idea to do a song about a girl who borrows her parents’ car, but instead of going to the library like she told them, she goes cruisin’ and hangin’ out with her friends. That’s the only thing I identify with that song. But it’s around that time, I would say, that we did get a bit of independence from him. He did hold on to the publishing of the records. I didn’t even know what publishing was when we first started out, so we did get thrashed pretty good by good ol’ Uncle Murry. But you finally settled that issue, right? A long past-due victory, I’m sure. Yeah, like I would write all the words to “California Girls,” but wasn’t credited. It was the same thing with “I Get Around” and several other songs. But Brian was in such a state, mentally, that he couldn’t really do anything about any of that. I had to go to court to reestablish my authorship. And, on quite a few of the songs I wrote with Brian, I was reinstated as co-author. With all these anniversaries, this is also the 40th anniversary of the Endless Summer album. That was a huge resurgence for the band. Why did you call it that? The record company wanted to call it Best Of The Beach Boys: Volume Three, or something like that. I said, what about calling it Endless Summer?” And it became a hugely successful compilation. It must have sold three million or more in the US. I’ve always enjoyed the fact that we do the older songs that are catchy and fun and, 20 or 30, or 40 or even 50 years later, they’re still appreciated.

The Beach Boys play July 12 at the Frederick Brown Amphitheater in Peachtree City. Visit www. amphitheater.org for more information and tickets.

IF YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES WHEN WE’RE DOING ‘CALIFORNIA GIRLS,’ IT COULD BE 1965 ALL OVER AGAIN.

Outspoken Steve Miller Talks About Today’s Music industry

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

or the past 40 years, the music of Steve Miller has been a part of the very core of classic rock and roll. His blues-based delivery, augmented by an ever-changing band of talented players, gives his guitar and keyboard-fueled anthems their distinctive, rootsy yet psychedelic sound. Currently on tour across the country, the outspoken musician speaks candidly about his career, the record industry and the 40th anniversary of his breakthrough album, The Joker.

Wells and Buddy Guy and went there because it was a chance to play in a ballroom to 1,200 people instead of a bunch of drunks in a club. It’s sort of like the same kind of world for new artists now. It seems impossible. But when I was a kid, I never thought I would ever be able to make records and never really thought seriously about a musical career. It’s kind of like that for kids right now. So, I don’t really have any instant advice for these kind of kids except that be true to yourself, suffer for your art and hang on. Maybe something will change where you actually have a chance. It’s a bad time right now for young artists. But, when I was a kid, it didn’t look good, either. Big time success then was to be on a bus with seven other bands doing 90 shows in 80 days.

You usually are busy working what are your current projects? Yeah, I’m recording all the time. We just recorded all of The Joker …BE TRUE tunes. It’s The Joker’s 40th anniversary, so we went back TO YOURSELF, to ’73 and took all the songs from that album and reworked SUFFER FOR them. We’ve been touring with that recently. YOUR ART AND

HANG The original album came at a pivotal time in your career, and the single became your breakthrough to the mainstream. How did it happen? Well yeah, when I was recording The Joker, I thought my career was over. It was my seventh album for Capitol, and they had pretty much moved on from my world. And so I really was just doing what I wanted to do. It was this big, fat, lazy piece and that was what I think made the song work. It wasn’t expected to be a single. It just was one of those things that sort of went viral before the term “viral” was being used. I remember leaving to go on a 60-city tour and somebody at the record company said, “Well, I think ‘The Joker’ might be a single.” We left to go do that tour, not really expecting much to happen. And when we came back, it was the number single in the country. So, I guess just finally relaxing and doing what I really wanted to do was the right thing to do all along. Would you offer that same advice to today’s new artists? My advice to new artists is to forget about all of this and take acting and dancing lessons and become a video star. When I started playing, the only hope was to work in nightclubs. This was before I moved to San Francisco. And when San Francisco opened up, I left Chicago where I was playing with Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf and James Cotton and Junior

But you moved on to progressively larger venues and you’re playing the sheds again this summer. What’s your take on the modern concert experience? It’s real interesting because I play all over the world, and the audiences are different all over ON. the world. In the United States, they are self-absorbed, totally fascinated by shooting video and taking pictures and recording things. And so when they’ve come to an event, they’re there to get high, to get drunk, to party, to take pictures of themselves in front of the band and put it on Facebook and to show themselves at an event. When you go to play in Europe, it’s totally different. You’re an artist. They’re there to hear the music. They’re there to enjoy the experience of being in a room where actual live music is being played. A lot of times when we play in the States, we have an audience that ranges literally from 10 to 70 years old, and you can see they’re shocked when they actually understand that what they’re involved with is actually happening in front of them. There’s something really happening on stage. It’s not a recording and it’s not 20 dancers in a Vegas review with lasers and prerecorded tape loops and that kind of thing. So, you can break through that. When I play, I’m really there to connect with my audience. Fortunately, because they sing all the lyrics to my songs and my songs mean something to them in different romantic parts of their life, they’re pretty happy to be there. So, it’s fun, but it’s a different kind of experience than it is if you’re going to really go sing from your heart and play from your heart and really move people. That’s what it’s all about for me, connecting with an audience. insiteatlanta.com • July 2014 • PG 23

MUSIC

BACK IN BUSINESS

Despite Miley Cyrus Gigs & Running Restaurants, American Hi-Fi Reunites BY JOHN B. MOORE

OU’VE GOTTA CUT THE GUYS IN American Hi-Fi some slack about the five-year gap between records. Two of the members happen to play for and tour with one of the world’s biggest pop stars of the moment, and the other two members own and run their own restaurants. All things considered, it’s a little surprising it only took five years between albums. In September, American Hi-Fi will put out Blood and Lemonade, their fifth record since 2001. Singer Stacy Jones– formerly the drummer for Veruca Salt and Letters to Cleo– recently took some time off during his latest tour (as drummer and musical director for Miley Cyrus) to e-mail some answers about American Hi-Fi, their new record and working with a new label. It’s been about 5 years since the last fulllength record. What has everyone been up to since then? Jamie (Arentzen) and I have been playing with Miley Cyrus for the last eight years. He plays guitar and I am her drummer and musical director. I also spent the last couple of years as the touring drummer for Matchbox Twenty. I have a studio in LA, and I produce records and write songs for other artists when I am not touring. Drew (Parsons) and Brian (Nolan) both have families and both also own restaurants. We keep pretty busy outside of Hi-Fi!

Is this line up the same from Fight the Frequency? This is the original lineup…OG! Given everyone’s schedules over the past five years, when did you start working on the songs that made it onto Blood & Lemonade? When we decided we were going to make a new record, I sat down and wrote these songs in a couple of weeks. I work best when I have a deadline. The record was made in a few different sessions during 2012 at my studio in LA. What kind of sound can people expect with this new record? I think the sound of this record is classic American Hi-Fi: big guitars, riffs, melodic vocals. I think this is our sweet spot; when we are firing on all cylinders. Was it awkward at all, given the time off, when you guys started working on this one? It was not awkward at all when we got back together. We have all been great friends for so long, we have a strong bond there. We also have been playing together for so many years that it really is like riding a bike. It was rocking right from the start! How did you connect with the folks at Rude Records, the label that’s releasing this one?

I THINK THE SOUND OF THIS RECORD IS CLASSIC AMERICAN HI-FI: BIG GUITARS, RIFFS, MELODIC VOCALS. I THINK THIS IS OUR SWEET SPOT; WHEN WE ARE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS. They guys from Rude Records got in touch with me I think. We posted a new song on our website for a couple of weeks and they heard about it. We are thrilled to be working with them. They really understand the band and their enthusiasm is very refreshing! You guys have had problems with some labels in the past. Were you gun shy at all about working with someone else again? We were not gun shy at all about working with Rude. We asked around a bit and everyone that knows them loves them. We tried to release an album on our own (Fight the Frequency) and it was a complete disaster! We realized that it is really important to have a great team in place. We are all so busy doing other things outside of the band that we cannot

dedicate enough hours in the day to working a record. Do you plan to tour much around this one? We do want to tour and we will. It is just a matter of working around Miley’s schedule, restaurant schedules, and children’s schedules. We aren’t young kids anymore that can just jump in a van and hit the road. We are old and have responsibilities now! HAHA What’s next for the band? Next up for the band is we are shooting a video for our next single, and then the record comes out in the fall. We are really excited and proud of this record. We hope our old fans will dig it, and maybe we will grab some new ones too!

LIVING AFTER MIDNIGHT

Roll the Tanks Find New Life After Signing to Epitaph Records BY JOHN B. MOORE

The guys in Roll The Tanks were getting a little antsy in 2012. It had been a year since they finished Broke Til Midnight, a fantastic Clash-meets-Petty full-length that they couldn’t wait to release on the world. And then their label imploded. They got re-signed, and then dropped. But another label really dug the record… if only it had synths instead of punk-rock guitars. One shitty year bled into the next until the day Epitaph founder and Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz saddled up his white stallion and rode to a Roll The Tanks gig in L.A., loved the band and offered them a new label home. The fact that the band managed to stay together during this time is nearly as impressive as them winning the punk-rock indie label lottery. Singer/guitarist Danny Carney– who also happens to be one of the funniest guys in punk-rock– talked with us recently about their Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day(s) and the eventual release of Broke Til Midnight. Congrats on signing to Epitaph. How did that come about? Thank you! The simple answer is, we sent them the record and Brett loved it. Then he came to see us play at the legendary Troubadour and offered us a deal in the alley as we were loading gear into the van. Either that’s what happened or I’m in a mental institution right now whipping shit at the wall like a monkey and none of this is really happening. Either way we’re having a blast with it all. When I last interviewed you in 2012, you were still frustrated about the delays in getting Broke ‘Til Midnight out there. Can you talk a little bit about why it took so long to come out? Yeah, we got put through the ringer with this one. In retrospect,

and I say this with zero sarcasm, we must have been wearing signs that said, “Please kick us in the privates and bury us in the desert like that Joe Pesci scene in Casino.” A valiant effort was given by all those who participated. In making the record, we needed to take a leap that was either going to make or break us, and we had to do that against a series of harsh internal and external realities, using extremely limited resources. We managed to pull it off on a shoestring budget in a garage with our producer Fred Archambault, who deserves all the credit for making this record possible. But then getting it put out was like pulling a bull out of a very small mailbox. Why was that? When we finished the record, we shared it with some of our trusted contemporaries, who were encouraging and validating of the music. But we probably should’ve realized we’d receive the opposite reaction when trying to find a home for it. We were still under contract with our old label, and their status was in limbo. Then we got signed by another label, but they dropped us before the album even came out. We were courted by several indies and majors, but the general consensus was always, “This is the best fucking album we’ve heard in 10 years… But we’re not going to put it out, because it doesn’t fit anywhere!” There was always a sad look in their eyes, like, “Sorry, we’re just making the donuts these days”. It was all very confusing and disheartening. We had one major label offer us a pile of cash if we replaced all the guitars with synths, traded in our drummer for a laptop, and started wearing neon hats. So we had to tell that guy to scram. It was a no-brainer, but I do remember being genuinely hungry at that meeting, and for many days after. The song we wrote about that meeting will probably be the first single off our next record, so there’s that. But anyways, to cut a long story longer, all that matters about all this drama we went through is that the reward came after the punishment. I was lucky enough to have the Tom Petty documentary on Damn The Torpedoes, to constantly reference. They went through so much bullshit, but in the end all that really mattered was that record. And that’s where we’re at: All that matters is that Broke Til Midnight is finally coming out.

Did you guys ever think about calling it quits? On one hand, I think we were too traumatized to quit. But luckily that was our collective left hand, and we’re all rightPG 24 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

handed. On THAT hand– the one we use to write, jerk off, and throw machetes with– our attitude was like “fuck you, we will never die!” But another big part of that was finding Aaron (Stuart). We needed a second guitar player, and it needed to happen naturally. We’re not the kind of band that just goes to Guitar Center to buy a new guitar player. Nothing against hired guns or gig-chasers, but this is a band of brothers. So finding him and getting him comfortable took some time, because that’s how we work. So here we are, a complete band, and Brett Gurewitz is taking us to the prom. It’s a nice feeling! If I remember correctly, you recorded it in 2011. Did you go back to the studio or make any changes on this record? We added a song called “Pistolero,” which was recorded as a B-side. But other than that, the only other thing we did was get it mastered. There was never anything wrong with the record. It was the world we made it in that needed tweaking. What can you tell me about the songs on this one? It’s a mix of songs that took either 10 minutes or 10 years to write. My philosophy as a songwriter is that anything in between is creepy. It’s mostly songs about life, being broke, and being broken-hearted. I congratulate anyone who can’t relate to those things. But, all in all, I think the songs on this record represent a bigger picture... one that we’ve only just started to paint. Do you have a stockpile of unrecorded music now? You could say that. I recently hit the 1,000-song mark, and this is only our second record. That’s been our genius marketing plan all along: Write a ton of really great songs and put on an amazing show. We’ve never been good at selling t-shirts, but man, can we bang out some tunes! And just because that’s not in style right now doesn’t mean it’s time to stop doing that. I think it’s only a matter of time before people start to demand that songs be worth their damn time again. Those are all the questions I have. Anything else you want to add? How about some juicy Roll the Tanks trivia? One time, in 2004, I kinda shit my pants while delivering a pizza; Mikey (Wakeman) has an Andrew Dice Clay tattoo on his lower back; Joe (Sirois) doesn’t believe in Bigfoot; and Aaron can’t stand the TSA.

TRAVEL

CYCLING SOUTH KOSTER ISLAND, SWEDEN BY BRET LOVE PHOTOS BY BRET LOVE & MARY GABBETT

T WAS A ROUGH MORNING. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS in Gothenburg, struggling to adjust to the time difference and 18+ hours of daylight, we made our way 2 hours north to the town of Strömstad. There, we’d take the 45-minute ferry to South Koster Island, part of an archipelago located 10 km off the west coast of Sweden. We got to Strömstad with 30 minutes to spare, unprepared for the comedy of errors that ensued. First, we had to ask for directions on where to park. After finding the lot and unloading our luggage, I realized I couldn’t read the Swedish words on the pay machine. I tracked down a kindly Swede, who told me you couldn’t park in that lot for more than 24 hours. We were scheduled to be on South Koster for two days. So we loaded everything back into the car, drove all the way around the town, and parked in a different lot. Time was getting tight, so I rushed to the machine to pay. It was broken. Fortunately another kind Swede came by as I started to freak out, certain we’d miss the boat and, as a result, the activities we had scheduled once we arrived. Sensing my urgency, he quickly called the company that managed the parking lot and found out that they were letting peoplepark there for free until the machine was fixed in mid-June. By this point we had less than 10 minutes to walk 1/2-mile, heavy luggage in tow, and figure out where to buy tickets. We sprinted most of the way, and were among the last people to make it on board, a mere 15 seconds before the departure horn blew. Fortunately, we were able to buy tickets on the ship… This preface to our story is significant because 1) it gives you an idea of how remarkably gracious and hospitable the Swedish people generally are, and 2) it will help you understand my frazzled-beyond-belief mindset as the ship set sail. I was sweaty, stressed and exhausted from sleeplessness and jet lag. But as the ferry made its way past a series of picturesque islets, the cool wind and gorgeous scenery gradually slowed my pulse, heightened my senses, and reminded me to take time to appreciate the beauty all around me. My paternal lineage can be traced back to similarly rugged islands off the west coast of Scotland, and it seemed as if the further we got from the mainland, the more at home I felt. By the time we stepped off the ferry at Sydkoster (Swedish for South Koster), I was feeling like my old self again, wide-eyed with wonder and ready for our next adventure. That adventure began immediately, when we met up with Kosters Garden owner Stefan von Bothmer, rented bicycles from Koster Cykeln, and went on a 3-hour cycling tour of the island. We started with lunch at Stefan’s place, an organic farm built around the concept of permaculture– a philosophy rooted in the idea of working with, rather than against, nature to create a truly symbiotic, sustainable ecosystem. He showed us around the gardens, where he, his wife and a group of young volunteers were planting a variety of vegetables, flowers, herbs and perennials, many of which are used to make the food served in their intimate restaurant. We sat at picnic tables beside their tranquil duck pond and dined on hearty minestrone topped with pesto and homemade cheese, with fresh-baked bread on the side and decadent chocolate brownies for dessert. As we ate, Stefan, a biologist, told us how he and his wife had grown dissatisfied with life in the city 22 years ago and sought a better quality of life that would allow them to pursue their passions. They packed up their infant son and traveled the world for a year, studying sustainable agriculture along the way and winding up in Tasmania. When he called his Swedish father to suggest that they’d found the perfect place on the Australian island, his dad insisted they live closer to home, which ultimately led them to buy farmland on Koster (whose name means “feeding place”). The von Bothmers have created their own little slice of paradise here. Birds and bees flitter about the flowers, while a dozen ducks swim around the pond. Sheep doze peacefully in the shade of a small pavilion, where Stefan plans to build a stage for the concerts, wine tastings and work conferences they host on occasion. When we visited they were in the process of building a new bar, and a popular Swedish reality show was filming just 15 yards away from us.

When he’s not farming or building stuff, Stefan offers guided cycling and kayaking tours of the island on the side. There are no cars allowed on South Koster Island, so biking is the best way to see the sights. After lunch we set off, beginning with a hike to the top of Valfjäll, South Koster’s highest peak. From here you can see the entire 8-sq km island (pop. 300), as well as North Koster and, in the distance, Norway and Denmark. In addition to the ubiquitous quaint, orange-roofed villages, the area’s most noteworthy landmark is a historic church built in 1939. One of only four churches in Sweden to feature a crown atop its cross, this one defines the Koster Islands as the westernmost boundary of the nation’s territory. From here we were afforded spectacular views of the island’s rocky coastlines, and the Koster Fjord. All of the waters surrounding the islands are part of Kosterhavet National Park, which was created in 2009 as Sweden’s first protected marine sanctuary. Thanks to the Norwegian Trench, the waters run more than 200 meters deep just offshore, leading to a remarkably rich marine environment that’s home to over 6000 different species and one of the Atlantic Ocean’s largest cold water coral reefs. Sadly, it was still too chilly for snorkeling. Stefan was clearly in love with this land, encouraging us to take time to appreciate everything from the striking geological formations created by ancient glacial activity to the myriad birdcalls emanating from the lush forests below us. And as we soaked in the tranquility of being the only people exploring this majestic setting, the stress and worries we’d had earlier in the day began to feel like a distant memory. The further into South Koster’s countryside we went, the more deeply we fell in love with it. We passed impossibly green pastures speckled with yellow, purple and white wildflowers that looked like some Impressionist painter’s vision of an idyllic European utopia. While taking photos of one pasture, I noticed two ears poking above the grass, and was startled to see a deer leap to its feet and run away. Apparently she was just as surprised to see us as we were to see her. There were a surprisingly large number of farms for such a small island, with cows, sheep and horses seemingly around every turn. The pastoral setting could not possibly have been more different from the bustling city we’d left behind that morning. I found myself afflicted with a bizarre (but, given the circumstances, understandable) earworm– the theme song from Green Acres: “Green Acres is the place to be/ Farm living is the life for me/ Land stretching out so far and wide/ Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside.” One of our favorite stops along the tour was a tiny fishing village, where a line of boathouses stood in colorful contrast to the increasingly foreboding sky. Fishing boats, crab traps, and an ingenious wooden”lobster hotel” served as a reminder that these people live in harmony with both land and sea, as their ancestors have for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The fish, crab, shrimp, lobster and crayfish found offshore are central to the diet of Koster Island residents and visitors alike, and proved as fresh and delicious as any seafood I’ve tasted anywhere else in the world. As we reached our final stop, Kilesand Beach (the longest on South Koster), there was a wistful mood in the air. We had bonded quickly with Stefan, who’s also an avid photographer and traveler, instantly recognizing each other as kindred spirits. We knew he had to get back to help finish building the bar, and the light drizzle of rain began to pick up intensity. “I want to show you something,” he said with urgency, motioning for us to get down on our knees in the sand. He pulled out a leather pouch made from moose ears and handed us each a magnifying lens to hold up to the broken shell fragments that lined the frigid waters. “Look at these amazing colors!” And indeed, it was a kaleidoscope of beauty– a revelatory secret shared by the three of us alone. “People walk over this all the time and have no idea what they’re missing! They don’t stop to see the beauty all around them.” He could’ve been talking about broken shells on a beach, or he could’ve been talking about this gem of an island, which rarely sees visitors from outside Sweden and Norway. Either way, by the time we said our farewells and made our way back to the picturesque ocean view from our room at Hotel Koster, I was completely and thoroughly sold.

insiteatlanta.com • July 2014 • PG 25

MERCHANDISE

OUR FAVORITE THINGS BY BRET LOVE

OUTDOOR RECREATION

LUGGAGE

Speaking of bagse, we’ve expanded our I don’t cook as often as I should at home, but collection as our travels have become love making meals in the Great Outdoors. The increasingly diverse. For long trips, the EXO Primus FireHole 200 (PrimusCamping.com) is 2.0 Hardside Spinner 24” an awesome outdoor stove from EBAGS (eBags.com) perfect for camping, with two VAN MICHAEL SALONS is an excellent option, with burners, integrated fuel lines a huge 2-section packing and a regulator that’s easily compartment, an adjustable tucked away for storage. Next shelf system, and a durable to my boat-mounted grill, it’s polycarbonate shell that stands my favorite culinary gadget. out at baggage claim. The YETI ROADIE 20 As travel bloggers, camera (YetiCoolers.com) is a gear is essential, and we personal cooler, measuring typically tote a lot of it. The just 20”H x 13 3/8”W x 14 TROPICANA Juliette Camera Bag from 3/8”H. But it’s also rugged TANNING SYSTEM JILL-E DESIGNS (Jill-E.com) enough to protect your lunch offers a great mixture of fashion from a grizzly. and function, with a pebbled After a big meal, there’s black leather exterior and an nothing better than kicking interior big enough to hold a back and listening to the DSLR camera, two lenses, and sounds of nature at sunset. all the accessories we need to The EAGLES NEST CHACO REVERSIFLIP get the shot. OUTFITTERS LOUNGER We spend a lot of time in HANGING CHAIR and around the water, so we (EaglesNestOutfittersinc. love the Hummingbird line com) offers a plush perch from CASCADE DESIGNS from which to do so, with a (CascadeDesigns.com). From cushy headrest, adjustable 65L and 115L Cargo Carriers footrest, and conveniently and the WideMouth Carryattached drink holder. On to the smaller Travel Pak, CASCADE DESIGNS these rugged, waterproof bags SKIN CARE keep your gear safe and dry People are going to greater no matter how rough weather lengths than ever to protect conditions may be. themselves from the sun. Founded by a woman who SUNGLASSES lost her mom to skin cancer, I wear sunglasses all the time SUNTEGRITY SKINCARE to protect my light-sensitive (SuntegrityDkincare.com) was SPY OPTICS eyes. We were impressed by a 2013 Allure Best of Beauty performance eyewear such Award Winner for their as the Bayside Heritage Glass Natural Moisturizing Face from HOBIE POLARIZED Sunscreen & Primer, which (HobiePolarized.com) and has no harsh chemicals; is the UA Keepz from Under loaded with antioxidants; and Armour (UnderArmour.com), serves as moisturizer, primer both geared towards outdoor and sunscreen, all in one. activities such as fishing, For those who believe bronze MOTOROLA TWO-WAY kayaking and driving. RADIOS is beautiful, the TROPIC SPA But the coolest shades HOME MIST TANNING we tried out were the Fold SYSTEM (TropicSpaTan. Sunglasses from SPY OPTICS com) delivers 10 full-body (SpyOptic.com). Created for tans in your own home. pro surfer John John Florence, Lightweight but durable, the these shades are virtually cordless design hangs on the indestructible, offer 100% back of a door and covers UV protection, and feature a your body in 12 seconds, “Happy” Lens designed to give giving you a beach-ready tan a positive mood by allowing long-wave blue light that lasts 5-8 days. rays into the eyes. The fact that the multi-hinged frame folds up to fit in your pocket is a spaceBEACHWEAR saving bonus. Beach bodies are getting more and more bold these days, with some swimsuits bordering on GADGETS salacious. Designed by surfer Francesca Aiello, Whether you’re a hunter trying to FRANKIES BIKINIS (FrankiesBikiniscom) are communicate with your buddy in the field, or feminine and flirty without being scandalous, just a family keeping in touch while camping in blending Southern California sweetness with a the woods, the MOTOROLA TALKABOUT dash of exotic Hawaii spice. MU350R TWO-WAY RADIOS (Motorola. I learned my lesson about wearing water shoes com)– the first two-way radios to feature in Sanibel Island, where I stepped on a lightning Bluetooth technology– offer an easy option for whelk that pierced my foot. The SPERRY TOPwireless, hands-free communication. Me, I’d SIDER H2O ESCAPE BUNGEE SNEAKER probably wind up using them for LARPing my (SperryTopsider.com) offers ultra-light aquatic Mission: Impossible fantasies. protection, with drainage that allows feet to You can live out your Star Trek dreams with dry quickly and a sole designed to disperse the MARTIAN NOTIFIER SMARTWATCH water underfoot. (MartianWatches.com), a voice-controlled One of the more intriguing innovations smartwatch that allows you to make calls, listen/ we’ve seen in beachwear is the CHACO respond to texts and emails, and surf the web REVERSIFLIP (Chacos.com). They look like without ever taking the phone out of your plain ol’ ergonomic flip-flops, but for $20 you get pocket. While it may not be able to teleport you four interchangeable straps that you can switch to your final destination, this funky, fashionmatch your mood (and outfit). Such fashion forward gadget will almost certainly make the flexibility is HUGE when airlines charge for bags process of getting there a lot more interesting. by the pound! PG 26 • July 2014 • insiteatlanta.com

FILM

MUSIC

HOME RELEASES TRACK SUITS THE LATEST DVD, BLU RAY & VOD RELEASES

BY BRET LOVE AND JOHN MOORE

ADULT WORLD

The best thing about this indie satire is John Cusack playing against type as Rat Billings, a curmudgeonly punk poet idolized by aspiring poet Amy (Emma Roberts). Unfortunately, her character is a selfpossessed pain in the ass. Saddled with debt, she gets a job at a sex shop, Adult World, where she meets a colorful cast that includes elderly lovebird owners, a tellit-like-it-is drag queen, and a hunky manager (Evan Peters). But the film is at its best when Roberts’ manic emotional extremes bump heads with Cusack’s bemused consternation, which doesn’t happen quite often enough.

Volume 4: No Foreplay BY BLUE SULLIVAN

AVING EFFECTIVELY THROWN my hands up on the issue over the first three episodes of this, the Most Important Singles Column in Human History (copyright pending), I am no longer dedicating an entire paragraph to what genre this month’s Track Suits will cover. So rather than bog this thing down with a bunch of preamble—as has been the previous custom—let’s just get to the f*cking music, shall we? I mean, just how much foreplay can one readership possibly need?

THE BOB NEWHART SHOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES

Shout Factory has developed a reputation as TV’s equivalent to Rhino Records thanks to their reverent treatment of classic shows. This 19-disc boxed set is no exception, featuring all 142 episodes of the sitcom that made Newhart a household name. He stars as Chicago shrink Dr. Robert Hartley, who’s surrounded by neurotic nutjobs played by some of the best supporting actors in the business. The awesome set also includes a 40-page booklet, audio commentaries, an unaired version of the pilot, and a 2014 chat between Newhart and four of his co-stars.

RAY DONOVAN: THE FIRST SEASON

If this show was on HBO or AMC, it would’ve gotten a lot more attention. Instead, this Showtime drama starring Liev Schreiber and Jon Voight remains one of TV’s best under-the-radar shows. Schreiber plays the title character, son to convicted criminal Mickey (Voight). Ray and his family move to L.A., where he works as a fixer for a law firm, making problems disappear for celebrity clients. When Mickey leaves prison and reunites with his family, they aren’t thrilled. The show is expertly written, and Schreiber and Voight are perfect foils. This great show deserves a bigger audience.

TRUE BLOOD: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON

HBO’s adaptation of Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels has always trod the fine line dividing southern gothic melodrama from overemotional kitsch. But season six was where the entire enterprise went off the rails (perhaps not coincidentally, it was also the first season not primarily based on the corresponding novel). From Gov. Burrell’s war on vampires and Andy’s faerie daughters to the weird Warlow-Sookie relationship and the revelation about the Stackhouse parents, it was all WAY too overthe-top. Time to say goodbye…

TRUE DETECTIVE: SEASON ONE

This awesome series follows partners Martin Hart (Woody Harrelson) and Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) as they solve ritualistic murders in rural Louisiana. The odd couple-as-detectives bit has been done countless times, but the rich characters and stellar acting here make the approach seem almost novel. Hart is a vice-obsessed good ol’ boy who gets along with everybody, while Cohle is the philosophical oddball who pisses everyone off. The season finale got mixed reviews from those seeking a more supernatural ending, but it was a great end to a truly original story.

Deadmau5 – “Terrors in My Head”

Deadmua5’ new record, While 1<3, mostly distinguishes itself by not being a shameful piece of sh*t … which is not a small feat given how execrable most pop EDM is these days. But instead of celebrating Deadmau5’s full foray into respectable mediocrity, just get this track—a noisy, schizophrenic house jam that sounds like Death in Vegas on a candyflipping adventure.

Traumer – “Louve”

Deliberate, slow-building electronica with a prog-rock lean, this track from promising new French artist Traumer is a lazy raver wandering back and forth between the main floor and the chill-out room of a brilliant European superclub.

Until The Ribbon Breaks – “Goldfish” When I featured “Spark” in these pages a few month ago, I declared Until The Ribbon Breaks as potentially 2014’s version of Icona Pop, a European act who proudly demonstrates that EDM has a bit of life left in its bloated, wheezing body. “Goldfish” is Tears for Fears-via-Frank Ocean, a perfect breakup tear-jerker for melancholy robots. Retro Pick:

Underworld – “Cowgirl” (Bedrock Mix)

One of the best electronic artists ever got a remix from one of the best DJs ever, making an almost perfect song from 1993 into an absolutely flawless floorfiller in 2007. Though Underworld and John Digweed (aka Bedrock) are still around (thank jehu), both will be hard-pressed to ever top this. 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.

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