INsite Atlanta May 2013

Page 1

insiteatlanta .com

MAY 2013

VOL. 21, NO. 10 FREE

Jewel The Breeders Salman Rushdie Jason Heyward Von Grey

Jazz

Dionne Farris Performs May 26

in the City Atlanta Jazz Festival and Other Events Happening this Month


TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TICKETMASTER.COM AND AT ALL TICKETMASTER OUTLETS. TO CHARGE TICKETS BY PHONE, CALL (800) 745-3000.

ATL_InSite_Bodies-Titanic_10X7-2.indd 1

3/25/13 12:45 PM

come one, come all and enjoy the 2013“world’s largest yaarab shrine circus & fair discount coupons available at metro atlanta food depot locations

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

discoutnts eaallll mmetetrroo-k c i t t t a a le le b b a a il il a a aavv eennss lgrree waalg lannttaa w aattla hhee tthhrroouuggohohffooututtthheettcici cuss rrcu dduurraattioionn

april 12-may 12

walgreens discount ticket prices

weekend mega pass : $19.95 a person Fri-Sun. weekday mega pass : $14.95 a person Mon-Thurs

*Mega pass includes gate admission, circus admission and unlimited carnival rides anyone day open to close *5 and under free [no rides]

admission tickets : $5.00 22 ride tickets strip : $11.00 *Rides require more than one ticket

PG 2YS2013_Insite_HP.indd • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com 1

regular gate admission

adults : $10.00; children 6-11 : $6.00 children 5 & under : FREE! 22 ride tickets strip : $20.00 *Rides require more than one ticket unlimited rides $25.00 Any day with paid admission.

For more information call 404.872.5818

3/21/2013 8:14:50 PM


CONTENTS • MAY 2013 • VOLUME 21, NO. 10 Atlanta’s

Entertainment Monthly

INTERVIEWS 06 10 14 15 18 22 23 27 27 28 28 29

Hannibal Danny Boyle Bill Engvall Spank! Jewel Elizabeth Mitchell Salman Rushdie Von Grey The Breeders Authority Zero Old Man Markley Jason Heywood

18

FEATURES 09 11 12 21 25 26 29 30

14

Spring Festivals Best Margaritas Best Tapas Summer Movie Preview Continuing Education Travel to Asheville NBA Playoffs Travel to Antarctica

COLUMNS

22

04 05 05 07 13 16 19 19 19 20 29

29

Around Town On Tap On A Dime Events Under The Lights Movie Reviews Concert Calendar Road Warriors We Got Next Favorite Things Album Reviews Fanatic

www.insiteatlanta.com STAFF LISTING Publisher Stephen Miller steve@insiteatlanta.com Managing Editor Bret Love bret@insiteatlanta.com Art Director / Web Design Nick Tipton graphics@insiteatlanta.com Sports Editor DeMarco Williams demarco@insiteatlanta.com Local Events Editor Marci Miller marci@insiteatlanta.com Music Editor John Moore john@insiteatlanta.com

Follow us on the web!

Contributing Writers / Interns: Jon Latham, Ryan Loftis, Rodney Hill, Alex S. Morrison, Steve Warren, Dave Cohen, Jennifer Williams, Matt Connor, Ed Morales, Sacha Dzuba, David Weinthal, Benjamin Carr, Kalena Smith, Justin Patterson, Lee Valentine Smith, Amanda Miles, Patrick Flanary, Ian Coverdale CONTACT US 130 West Wieuca Road, Ste. 111 Atlanta, GA 30342 phone (404) 256-4328 • website insiteatlanta.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION (404) 256-4328 • advertising@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.

© Copyright 2013, Be Bop Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Check out our Spring Festivals feature on page 9!

MAY 2013

insiteatlant a .com

VOL. 21, NO. 10 FREE

Jewel The Breeders Salman Rushdie Jason Heyward Von Grey

Jazz

Dionne Farris Performs May 26

in the City Atlanta Jazz Festival and Other Events Happening this Month

insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 3


Around Town

Atlantic Station hosts the Titanic Artifact Exhibition and Bodies the Exhibition all month. Go to titanicatlanta.com and bodiesatlanta. com for tickets and event times. Enter code INSITE to receive $6 off admission price.

ALL MAY

Are you or a loved one being treated for schizophrenia? If so, please contact Comprehensive Clinical Research to learn about a research study being conducted to further our understanding of an FDA approved medication for the disease. Participates should be 18-65 years of age. For more info, call 404459-6699 or go to comprehensivecd.com.

ALL MAY

Reproductive Biology Egg Bank is seeking women of all ethnicities between the ages of 21 and 30 who would like to donate their eggs to infertile couples who otherwise could not conceive. RBA offers quick compensation of up to $8000 as no matching is needed, and free annual exams up to age 30. All donations are completely anonymous and comply with FDA guidelines. For more information about our Egg Donation Program, call 404-843-0579 or visit our website at rba-online.com.

ALL MAY

The High Museum of Art will present its third annual Print Fair on May 3-5. Expert dealers will present prints made by artists of art historical importance and international repute. All works are for sale, including many with appeal for new collectors. Tickets are $25. Go to high.org for more information.

MAY 03

Theatre/Film/Performance

Music/Comedy/Sports

Other Stuff

The Atlanta Botanical Garden will open Imaginary Worlds on May 4. The events will present a menagerie of magical creatures casts an enchanting spell over the Garden with 19 monumental living sculptures of fantasy and delight. The sculptures – ranging up to 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide – include a gazing unicorn, a friendly ogre, a pair of gigantic cobras, a group of enchanting rabbits, and a couple of flighty butterflies. Visit atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

MAY 04

The Jay Shapiro Arts Legacy Foundation will host its third Passion Pit at Centennial Olympic Park, May 18 annual Art for a Cause Gala on Thursday, May 9 from 6:30-9:30pm The Special Olympics of Georgia at Mason Murer Gallery in Atlanta. The return to Emory University for their Foundation continues to build on its mission Summer Games on May 17-19. of removing financial barriers to emerging Come and support this great cause. members of our visual arts community in their Visit specialolympicsga.org for more details. higher education pursuits. Information on purchasing tickets ($40 in advance and $50 at The Atlanta Symphony returns the door) and directions to the Mason Murer to Piedmont Park on May 17 and Gallery can be found at www.jaylovesart.org. May 23 for its “Performance on the

MAY 09

MAY 17 MAY 17

The Atlanta Ballet will present “Love Stories,” four performances Mother’s Day weekend May 10-12, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre (2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339). Tickets start as low as $20 and are on sale now. Visit atlantaballet.com or call 404-892-3303 for tickets.

Promenade” concert series. Shows are free and start at 7:30pm.

The Center for Puppetry Arts will screen “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on May 11 at 7pm. Tickets are only $7. Go to puppet.org for more.

Come to the SAE Institute’s Open House on May 18 from noon to 3pm. Tour the campus and see live demonstrations. Visit atlanta.sae.edu for more.

MAY 10

MAY 11

Women helping women EGG DONORS NEEDED

Make up to $8,000 Plus Free Annual Exams Reproductive Biology Egg Bank is seeking women between the ages of 21 and 30 who would like to donate their eggs to infertile couples who otherwise could not conceive. The advantages of donating to the RBA egg bank include: • Quick compensation starting at $7000 as no recipient matching is required • Free annual exams up to age 30 • Completely anonymous process • Free Medical Screening in accordance to FDA guidelines • Donation planned around your busy schedule • Increased compensation with additional donation • Free fertility preservation egg freezing for donors on 3rd donation • FREE Apple® iPad or $500 Referral Reward* • Giving someone the gift of life!

For more information about our EGG DONATION PROGRAM call 404-843-0579 or visit our website at www.rba-online.com.

New hope. New life.

1100 Johnson Ferry Rd., Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30342 404.257.1900 / 888.722.4483 www.rba-online.com *Donor must complete the entire cycle PG 4 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com

Museums/Exhibits/Arts

Centennial Olympic Park presents Party in the Park on May 18 with Passion Pit, Ellie Goulding, Grouplove and more. Gates open at 3pm with live music till 11pm. Tickets are only $35. Go to centennialpark.com for more.

MAY 18

MAY 18

The Atlanta History Center hosts the Military Timeline on May 25 from 11am-4pm. Spend the day traveling the military timeline from the Revolutionary War to current conflicts. Meet veterans who share personal stories and memorabilia from wartime and living history interpreters that engage visitors of all ages. The Center is also hosting “Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: How the Word is Passed Down” all month long. Go to atlantahistorycenter.com for more info.

MAY 25

Woodstock City Park hosts the 8th Annual Wing & Rock Fest on May 31. If you like great tasting chicken wings with bold sauces, rockin’ music and a hearty party, then you’ll love this festival. The River 97.1 Wing & Rock Festival will be extended to three days with live music from over 18 different acts on two stages along with 20 restaurants serving up wings and other food offerings. For more info go to wingandrockfest.com.

MAY 31

ARE YOU OR A LOVED ONE BEING TREATED FOR

SCHIZOPHRENIA? If so, please contact Comprehensive Clinical Research to learn about a research study being conducted to further our understanding of an FDA approved medication for Schizophrenia. Qualified participants must: • Be 18-65 years of age • Currently being treated for schizophrenia • Have had a diagnosis of schizophrenia for at least the past year Those who qualify will receive: • All study evaluations,a study medication and study-related care at no cost • Compensation for their time

For information, call 404.459.6699 or visit www.comprehensivecd.com


LOCAL

LOCAL EVENTS

On Tap this Month

EVENTS HAPPENING FOR SMALL CHANGE IN ATLANTA

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

EMAIL EVENTS TO ONTAP@INSITEATLANTA.COM All May: City Wide

ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL

The Atlanta Jazz Festival brings 31 nights of incredible music to Atlanta this month. “Atlanta is going to be alive with jazz throughout the entire month of May,” said Camille Russell Love, Director of the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs. “Neighborhood parks, museums, restaurants, clubs and even MARTA stations are going to be hosting musical performances and parties for this year’s ‘31 Days of Jazz.’ We’ve got something for every musical taste.” Many of the events are free, but some are ticketed. For more details visit, atlantafestivals.com.

May 12: Aaron’s Amphitheatre

TIM MCGRAW

Country stars Tim McGraw, Brantley Gilbert and Love & Theft visit Atlanta in a what should be one of the best country shows all season. Tickets are available at livenation.com. Prices range from $40-$85. The Two Lanes of Freedom Tour welcomes McGraw back to the city after recently touring with Kenny Chesney. The three-time Grammy winner and husband of Faith Hill will perform all his classics along with “Truck Yeah” and “One of Those Nights” off his current album. The show starts at 7pm.

May 17-19: Turner Field

BRAVES HOST DODGERS

So it seems free agency was a success for the Braves. Justin Upton has blossomed into one of if not the league’s best player to start the season. That means very little for Atlanta’s postseason chances, but it feels pretty great to see the Braves in the driver’s seat for part of the season. The team will be a test and visit from the West Coast in the Dodgers. Los Angeles has plenty of talent and one of the league’s other big names in Matt Kemp. The Dodgers come to Turner Field for a threegame set. Don’t miss out. Tickets can be found at braves.com.

May 31: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

TONY BENNETT

One of our greatest living singers visits Atlanta this month. Tony Bennett comes to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on May 31. Doors open at 7pm with the show starting one hour later. Tickets are $29, $39, $59 and $125. Special guest Jackie Evancho will also perform. Bennett has won 17 Grammys, two Emmy Awards and sold over 50 million records worldwide. Not bad for a guy who got his start as an infantryman in the U.S. Army in World War II. Expect a beautiful night of music with songs like “I Left My Heart in San Francsico.”

June 4: Fox Theatre

LL COOL J

American icon LL Cool J returns to his musical form for a one-night show at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. “Cool James” takes the stage at 7:30pm for a special show with Ice Cube, Public Enemy and De La Soul as part of the Kings of the Mic Tour. This is a classic night of hiphop and R&B, not to be missed. Expect a mix of LL Cool J classic tracks like “Mama Said Knock You Out” to “I Can’t Live Without My Radio.” Tickets range from $42 to $172. Go online to foxatltix.com for additional show information and ticket availability.

June 8: Cobb Energy Centre

KEVIN JAMES

Kevin James will perform one night only at Cobb Energy PAC as part of his national comedy tour. Tickets are $39.50, $49.50, and $65.00 and are available at Ticketmaster.com. James is the producer, co-writer, and star of the hit comedies “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” and “Zookeeper” can be seen this October in his latest film, “Here Comes The Boom.” James starred with Adam Sandler in Columbia Pictures’ blockbuster “Grown Ups” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.” For more on Kevin visit www.KevinJames.com.

SIPS IN CITY ON THE SQUARE CALLAWAY GARDENS PHOENIX FLIES BLUE SKYTHE CONCERTS

August, Check DealsFree Through 28,and FREE May 1, 8, Feb. 15,CELEBRATION 22, 29,Website Noon – for 1:00pm, “CITYWIDE OF LIVING LANDMARKS” Various Downtown Restaurants Callaway Gardens Decatur Square, Downtown Decatur March 5-20, Free www.atlantadowntown.com 17800 Hwy 27 Around the City decaturdba.com VariousUS Landmarks Pine Mountain, Georgia phoenixflies.org This asummer promotion encourages Enjoy free mid-week lunchtime music callawaygardens.com

break every inDowntown May on the square patrons to Wednesday experience The Phoenix Flies: A Celebration ofAtlanta Living

in downtown Decatur. your lunch or on ice! Throughout the heated months of Admission Callaway Gardens is Landmarks wasto created inBring 2003 by The Atlanta purchase a specialthrough to-go lunch from aof nearby July and August, featured restaurants in the complimentary the end this PreservationandCenter aslive a way to celebratefrom the restaurant enjoy performances Downtown Dining District willrescue be offering month (Price isofnormally $15 for adults, 25th anniversary the dramatic of the arefreshing variety of artists. signature cocktails, hipAtlanta’s happy $6.50 per child) providing guests with Fox Theatre, an event that changed hours and deals that you won’t want to miss. the opportunity to enjoy time with their preservation outlook forever. This year, the list FIESTA ATLANTA 2013 Participating restaurants Atlanta family reconnecting in Theatre, nature. includesand free5,friends guided of include TheFree Fox Sunday, May 10:00amtours – 7:00pm, Grill, Azio Downtown, BLT Steak, Max Free admission includes the Virginia PiedmontOlympic Park, Historic Oakland Cemetery, Centennial Park Lager’s, No Mas! Cantina and The Sundial Hand Callaway Discovery Center, Day Civil War Atlanta Walking Tour, Tullie Smith fiestaatlanta.com Restaurant. Visit the website for a complete Butterfly Center, Sibley Horticultural Farm House, Margaret Mitchell House, the list deals. Center, Mr.Park Cason’s Vegetable Garden, Fiesta Atlanta is Atlanta’s premier newofBeltline and much more. Hispanic Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl, Overlook outdoor festival and the largest Cinco de Garden, DiscoveryinBicycle Trail, Pioneer Mayo celebration theSHOW southeast. Fiesta AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL IN ATLANTA Log Cabin, Ida Cason Callaway celebration Memorial Atlanta features a daylong March 10-13, Regular admission: $13 of Latinonature culture and featuring Chapel, trails andheritage, daily programs. Children under 12: free continuous live musical performances on 2 Cobb Galleria Center stages by international, national and local THE UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta recording artists. Mariachi Feb. 10 - 27, Tickets range frommusic, $15 - Mexican $35 craftcouncil.org/Atlanta folk dancing, a 5K race, youth soccer clinics Turner Field Green Lot and sponsor displays with free product 521 Avenue, Atlanta ThisCapitol 3-day arts event is the largest and juriedauthentic fine craft samples, and crafts universoulcircus.com Show in the southeast. showAtlanta has beena international foods makeTheFiesta

By Marci Miller 2011 SOUTHEASTERN HUNGER WALK/RUN 5KFLOWER SHOW Feb. 25 27, Adults in advance) March 13, Noon-4pm, $25($15 for runners 8th ANNUAL GERMAN BIERFEST CONCERTS BY THE$18 SPRINGS

Youth/Student Kids Free Free for June walkers Saturday, August 27, 2 under –August 7pm5 4are May 12, 2,$7, July 14, & September 8, Cobb Galleria Centre Parking is free 7:00pm – 8:30pm, Free $30 Online, $35 At the Door Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta Heritage Green, Springs Society Turner Field Green LotSandy Woodruff Park, Downtown Atlanta Entertainment Lawn sehort.org 755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta www.germanbierfest.com heritagesandysprings.org hungerwalkrun.org Presented by celebrates the Southeastern This summer event the greatness Now in its 16th year, this concert series at is Horticultural Society, this annual premier Join thousands of runners and walkers of German beer in a family-friendly scheduled on Sunday evenings throughout gardening promotes preservation this annual event event that benefits theauthentic Atlanta environment. Complete with the summer. Thisof yearflowers kicks offand on May 12 and awareness plants Community Food Bank and five other local German food, activities for the kids, music with “The Tams. ” Attendees are encouraged through andBierfest artistic expression. nonprofits. Participants can register as a team and fun,education the German not only to arrive early to participate andis enjoy the Show activities include speakers, juried or individually online or register the day of the only authentic German Bierfest in beautiful setting. Picnic baskets, coolers and competition, kids’ activities, Landscape & the event. There will be activities for all ages Atlanta, but the only family-friendly beer blankets are welcomed. Pets and smoking Discovery Gardens and more. including games, liveTables entertainment & more. festival well. For the price admittance, are not asallowed. areofavailable for

Gates opencan at noon, & walk attendees drinktheall5Ktherunbeer theybegin can purchase. at 2 p.m. safely consume. Designated drivers are 10th ANNUAL OAKHURST WINE CRAWL encouraged and can attend for free. No one PERFORMANCE ON THE PROMENADE Saturday, Feb. 26, 4 pm-7 pm May 17advance & the May 23, Freebe(Must Download under of 21 will permitted to $25 in for 7:30pm, Tasting Glass A-TOWN DAYage Free Tickets in Advance) consume alcohol. A designated driver $30 day26,ofNoon-8pm, event March $5 Piedmont Park service will also be on site for those who Oakhurst Business District Lakewood atlantasymphony.org find themselves in an unsafe condition to oakhurstga.org 2002 Lakewood Ave SE, Atlanta drive home. atownday.com The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and get the Participants in this year’s event will Piedmont Park Conservancy have partnered to sample wines from around theconcert, world A-TOWN DAY a health care festival, PIGS PEACHES BBQinstitution FESTIVAL to bring&back anisAtlanta – free, live while exploring all the businesses in the and a 26 major of 5pm Awareness celebrating August &performances 27,day Friday orchestral in- 11pm Piedmont Park. Oakhurst neighborhood. There will be 20 all things Atlanta. A-TOWN DAYthe benefits Saturday 10am 10pm, Free from Now, after a six– year absence Park, participating establishments and the event the Atlanta Diabetes Association of Atlanta The Ben Robertson Community Center, Kennesaw the Symphony Orchestra willand return expects to sell out quickly. Thewill Fur Bus B-Aware Foundation. This event www.facebook.com/PigsAndPeaches to play two concerts, scheduled forfeature May will be on hand to liveand music, cartransport showGuest and participants lots of family 17 Maypoetry, 23. Principal Conductor from bar to bar. Tickets can be purchased Donald Runnicles the Orchestra friendlyevent events. The featuresleads a non-sanctioned from Steinbeck’s Ale House, Ujoint, in selections Brahms’s Hungarian Backyard BBQ,from Anything Butt and Peach Dances, the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and Karvana Coffee Shop, all located in Dessert PARK Contest, as well as a WEEK Kansas City INMAN RESTAURANT with Concertmaster David Coucheron as Oakhurst village. Barbeque Society March 28-April 3, $15sanctioned Professional soloist, and Beethoven’s Symphony No 5. Contest, is recognized $25 & $35which for three-course meal as a Georgia FREE. Tickets for the May 17 concert will State NATIONAL Championship Cookoff. IHOP PANCAKEBarbeque DAY CELEBRATION inmanparkrestaurantweek.com be available May 3 and for the will May 23 Over $14,000 cashtickets and prizes Tuesday, March 1,in7 am-10 pm, Free Pancakesbe concert will be available May 10. awarded to House contest winners. food International of Pancakes Savor historic Inman Park withBesides three-course for sale, from and free music from of Locations throughout Metro Atlantaa number dinners 11 local restaurants. Proceeds local and national acts, festival goershelps will IHOPPancakeday.com will benefit Project Open Hand, which be treated to a large Kid Zone (withchronic many people prevent or better manage attractions FREE to families), vendor On thisthrough day, customers willunique receive one disease comprehensive nutrition care. booths andstack sponsor exhibits. Silver free short ofand IHOP’s $1 raffle tickets will(three) be sold willThe gofamous towards Wings paratrooper aerial exhibition buttermilk pancakes. All they askwill is team that the charity. The winner of the raffle win returns thed’ouerves, event,making andbeer willaand jump intoparty the patrons donation to a hostedtoconsider hor wine festival Saturday, August 27. through Crowds support local children’s hospitals at Park’s on Edge Restaurant for thirty of their will be Each treated to Network aPark wonderful display of Children’s Miracle or other friends. Inman restaurant will local bring aerobatics performances in charities. Since beginning tastes from and their patriotic restaurants foritstheNational winner. the There will be ainhuge, fireworks Pancake Day 2006, IHOP The sky. winner willcelebration be also announced at the end of grand finale.more has raised $5.35 millionfortoa the restaurant week.than Check the website support in the communities complete charities list of participating restaurants. in

true multicultural celebration. the premiere marketplace for regional fine UniverSoul craft lovers and The collectors, and offersCircus guests continues itsworksurge the chance to meet and purchase from YELLOW JACKET to around the the live O4W MOVIES AFTER DARKtoptheofcountry. esteemed artists from To entertainment May 23, 30 collectors FAN DAY reach9,16, first-time and establishedranks craft Historic Fourth Ward with interactive funky Saturday, August 6, Park 3pm –its6pm, Free collectors alike, the newest show category for moviesafterdark.net rendition of a traditional Bobby Dodd Stadium Grant Field Under $100. participating artists isatHandmade UniverSoul has www.ramblinwreck.com Artists who sell workcircus. for under $100 will have The O4W Movies After Dark is an outdoor captivated audiences theirseries booths specially markedand forcelebrate patrons film created highlight from around the world Festivities begin atto 3ap.m. on Callaway Plaza interested in starting collection. films written, produced, directed,brand and with its unique with music, prizes, inflatables and games for starring persons from the African Diaspora. that blends circus arts, the kids. From 4-6 p.m. the gates will open ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY FREEand OPEN HOUSE The series is geared towards getting all theater music. and the stadium to meet the audiences to enter appreciate and support films Marchfans 12, can 11am-3pm, Free Founded in players Atlanta over 2011 Yellow Football will be of color and Jackets. to reinforce a positive message. Atlanta Motor Speedway 17 years ago, the audience seated with their position groups at various Screenings will be held Thursday nights May 1500 Tara Place, Hampton will amazement as stilt points on thewatch playing field. Head coach Paul 9,16,23 and 30. In inaddition to the feature atlantamotorspeedway.com walkers make their way across a tight Johnson signweautographs frommusic 4-5 p.m. film, eachwill week will have live and rope, horse riders perform death-defying and will be available for photographs from culinary mobile trucks onsite. Visit the track’s Open House for free. Activities stunts, and bend into 5-6 p.m.championship Pleasecontortionists limit legends autographs toonONE include racing the incredible and beautiful shapes. SWEET AUBURN SPRINGFEST item per player or coach. This willdrawings be the quarter-mile “Thunder Ring. ” , free May 10 – 12, Free to get the 2011 football first for bigopportunity prizes, drive your own car on the track Auburn Avenue poster aspurchase well2011 as ofschedule cards, ticket CHEERSPORT NATIONAL with the Labor Day NASCAR sweetauburn.com information and other items throughout the CHEERLEADING & DANCE fans can select their seats for the Labor tickets, afternoon. Most campus parking lots will Day Race Weekend, tourheritage the Speedway’s CHAMPIONSHIP Celebrating the culture, and the race arts be available. which it operates. control and suites, take Avenue, photos with Feb. 18 –tower 20 Historic on Atlanta’s Auburn the FESTIVAL PEACHTREE LATINO the Atlanta Speedwayhaspace car andthea Sunday, August 28, 11am – 7:30pm, Free $30 for Auburn 2-dayMotor pass Sweet SpringFest become SIMON GAMEPLAY TOUR largest African-American cultural festival in Piedmont Park NASCAR Sprint winner’s trophy, $20 for 1-day passCup Series Saturday, August 20 @ 10am, Free www.festivalpeachtreelatino.com the Southeast. The festival features 7 Stages discounts gift shop and much more. Kids Under at5 AMS are Free Discover Mills Mall, Lawrenceville of continuous entertainment, food, Kid’s Georgia World Congress Center Funtastic Zone, Live Green www.simon.com Festival Peachtree Latino has been the 285 AndrewFun Young International Blvd., Pavilion, Atlanta Sports Zone Challenge, Car & Bike Show, largest family & multicultural event in the cheersport.net Health & Fitness Fair &tour much The Simon GamePlay willmore. connect fans southeast since 2000. They have featured of all ages to the hottest video cheerleading games before hundreds of exhibitions, family activities, Bring it on…this electrifying they are launched and available in stores. and dance competition features teams sporting events, parades, arts & crafts, ethnic The recently launched Nintendo 3DS foods and outdoor musical performances competing from across America. This gaming system will take center stage with year, it expects to grow larger than ever featuring renowned international musicians a “Nintendo Lounge, ”2013 with couches, ATLANTA with over FIESTA 9003DS teams participating, from on two stages. The best part about it is that snacks and games. Nintendo will also offer the event is absolutely FREE!! This year, SUNDAY, MAY 5 ages three through college. Cheersport CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK “Street Pass, ” tournament-style play using was founded by all-star coaches who loved Festival Peachtree Latino has more to offer, Nintendo 3DScheerleading devices. GamePlay will with new attractions and a larger schedule competitive and dance. feature 10 gaming pods, including 2 mature Check the website for the full competition of musical performances. zones, with products from instrusty leaders schedule. like SEGA, Capcom, 2K and Atari.

UPDATED EVENTSWEEKLY. WEEKLY. SIGN UP BY RECEIVERECEIVE UPDATED EVENTS SIGN UPEMAILING BY E-MAILING SUBSCRIPTIONS@ATLANTAONADIME.COM SUBSCRIPTIONS@ATLANTAONADIME.COM

ENTER ON SUBJECT LINE:SIGN SIGNME MEUP UP INSITE! INSITE! ENTER ONTHE SUBJECT LINE: insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 5


TV

THE GOOD DOCTOR

Actor Hugh Dancy & Creator Bryan Fuller On NBC’s Horrific Hit, Hannibal BY IAN COVELL

H

annibal, NBC’s new psychological drama series, takes viewers back to the beginning of the relationship between FBI agent Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen). Executive produced by Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies), the new police procedural takes Thomas Harris’ novels upto-date as we explore the budding partnership between Special Agent Will Graham and Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who, as we all know, becomes Will’s most dangerous enemy in Red Dragon. Fuller and Dancy recently held a press conference about the new series. Bryan, in going deeper into Hannibal Lecter’s character, how much new territory did you feel there was to explore? Bryan: Well, given what’s already been written, I thought there was a lot that existed that hadn’t been explored yet. So I was really excited at the opportunity to explore things that didn’t make it to any of the movies. We’re doing a television series that gets you 13 hours a season, so we were able to get into much more specifics with the characters, particularly Will Graham’s character, who Hugh Dancy plays so magnificently and wonderfully neurotically. He was traditionally played as, you know, a stoic leading man. And what we

get, because of the really complex psychology of the character that’s in the literature, we get to explore that in a way that nobody has before. So that was very exciting.

Since Will was already established in the books, what was the biggest challenge for you to make him unique? Hugh: Well, I think the challenge laid is just in the fact that Thomas Harris created and then Bryan interpreted such a complicated character. I wasn’t worried about the fact that he already existed on the page. If anything, I think that’s helpful to have a blueprint for your performance written by a great writer. You have something to turn to. And after I met with Bryan and we spoke, the first place I went to is back to the novels. I really tried to use that as a launchpad. Bryan: One of the reasons that Hugh was so ideal for the role is that Will Graham, who is burdened by his own neuroses and personality disorders, could come off as unlikable unless you have an actor who really invites you into his vulnerability with those neuroses and with those personality disorders. He actually gives you permission to care for him as opposed to being pushed away. Will Graham is a character who pushes people away and has barriers that he throws up as social defenses. So we needed somebody who had a vulnerability that kind of transcended any sort of barriers that he

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throws up, who takes you into the world and allows you to care for him even though he is so buttoned up and damaged. That was the main reason. And Hugh was unanimous. When we all sat down and talked about who was our Will Graham, and Hugh Dancy’s name came up, it was very easy for all of us to say, “Oh yeah, he’s the one! Let’s meet with him and see if we can hook him.” Hannibal is really playing with these people. Is there any point at which they’re going to start to suspect him? I know he can’t be found out or we don’t have a series. But I mean he is doing some really obvious moves for the audience. Hugh: I think that there clearly has to be some movement in that area because I’m playing the world’s greatest detector of serial killers. At a certain point, you’d start to wonder how the hell I got the job. But at the same time, Hannibal is not just the most intelligent, but in a sense the most quickwitted man in the show. He’s always that one step ahead. So yes, there may be moments when a little alarm seems to go off. And I don’t want to give too much away about how the whole season progresses, and this enormous distance that we travel. With shows like The Walking Dead, American Horror Story and The Following, serial killers and violence on TV is starting to be big business. Can you speak to the appeal of that right now, especially amid a society where we’re looking at changing laws about gun ownership and trying to pull back the acceptability? Bryan: I think one of the reasons that horror is finding an audience on television now is that it really wasn’t represented before. In the last 15 years that I’ve been working in television, I pitched many a horror series, and had been told that horror does not work on television. What that basically means is that it doesn’t work until somebody proves that it DOES work. And I think AMC proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is an appetite for horror. It’s a very popular genre. And it’s certainly a genre of love for me. I’ve been reading Fangoria magazine since I was 10 years old, and I now read it on my iPad. So I think it was just a matter of the fact that it hadn’t been represented before. And now it has. And it was successful. So that success changes the perception of a genre. With the subject matter being dark, it may be a reflection of where we are in that place talking about gun laws

and violence and reality. Entertainment has a very strange, cloudy mirror that it holds up to society. I think we’re reflecting where people’s heads are in a certain way. I think that’s part of art’s responsibility in society. Hugh: Yes, I would agree with that. I think it’s about a genre distinction as much as anything else. There’s a particular type of violence in the shows that you’re describing, which I guess, as with all genres, can be done well or badly. The bad version will be, you know, unthinking and a little numbing. But I think violence has been on television for quite a long time actually, and perhaps in a more desensitized way. I’m not going to start naming shows, but there are plenty of them where you casually learn about how this person was cut up, that person was raped and so on. I don’t think it’s a new thing. I think there’s a new conversation, perhaps. But even that is not as new as we’d like to think. Is there anything that NBC has told you that you can’t do? There were some very graphic scenes in the first couple episodes. Bryan: Oh yeah, there’s a lot. What’s been really great about working with NBC is that they recognize that they’re doing a horror show about Hannibal Lecter. They’ve put us on at 10 o’clock for a reason, so we can maximize what we can show to honor the genre, and also provide fans of the genre certain ingredients that they’re expecting to see. But there are absolutely places where they won’t allow us to go. It’s always a pushpull, because it’s like, “Ooh, can we do this!” But then we show it to them and they’re like, “Ooh, not that one.” So it’s definitely a collaboration, and they’re taking it very seriously that they’re presenting a horror show and have to honor that audience. I’d love to be going a lot further, but NBC keeps reminding me where the line is. That’s their responsibility as a broadcast network. But they have been very supportive in terms of going as far as we can without being X-rated. So eye gouging, seeing people’s intestines being removed from their bodies in noodly clumps… those are the types of things to which they tend to say no. Which they should. As an artist in the role of executive producing the show, I want to please the core audience more than anyone. It’s NBC’s responsibility to see that we don’t go so far that we alienate members of the audience who are willing to stick through some of the horror elements. But we can’t, you know, drop a bucket of blood on them and still expect them to have a good time.


Under The Lights New Theatrical Performances in May

SPANK! THE FIFTY SHADES THE BOOK CLUB PLAY May 17 - June 23 PARODY May 14 - 19 The Buckhead Theatre

sly nt wild. SPANK! is a raucou we ce en di au e th in en m “The wo ht out!” -BroadwayWorld.com hilarious, perfect girl’s nig Steve Litman and Fox eventS PreSent

The Horizon Theatre

Tickets (800) 745-3000 ticketmaster.com spankshow.com

Box Office (404) 584-7450 horizontheatre.com

SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody is the hilarious new comedy that brings all the naughty fun of the best-selling book to life. The show includes musical numbers, audience interaction and some improvisation while making light fun of E.L. James' hugely successful novel. Gabe Bowling plays Hugh Hanson, the character based on Christian Grey while Michelle Vezilj plays Tasha Wood his S & M pupil. Your inner goddess will be laughing out loud with this clever re-imagining of the characters as they come alive in sexy and fun performances from the hunky leading man, plus lots of surprises. As you would expect, the show contains mature content so leave the little ones at home. Get there early for pre-show drinks including a specialty SPANK! cocktail, then stay after the show for a photo with the seductive star himself, and meet and greet the entire cast. SPANK! is not associated with, nor authorized by, author E.L. James or Vintage Press.

The Book Club Play is a hilarious new comedy about books and the people who love them. Ana lives in a perfect world with an adoring husband, the perfect job, and her greatest passion: Book Club. But when her cherished circle becomes the focus of a documentary film, their intimate discussions about life and literature take a turn for the hilarious in front of the inescapable camera lens. Add a provocative new member along with some surprising new books titles, and these six friends are bound for pandemonium. Sprinkled with wit, joy, and novels galore, laughter meets literature with side-splitting results. It is delightful new play about life, love, books, and what happens when friends start reading between the lines. “If you’ve ever been in a book club you’ll love laughing with this quirky group of long-time friends as everything goes haywire,” says Horizon’s CoArtistic /Producing Director, Lisa Adler. “This is the kind of smart romp that has become Horizon’s trademark,with Atlanta’s most talented comic actors on our stage.”

Join the Club • Become a Member

eatre May 14 -19 • The Buckhead Thatr e Box Office

• The Buckhead The Ticketmaster.com • 800-745-3000 rg or email foxgroup@foxtheatre.o Groups of 10+ Call 404-881-2000 h!) Contains Mature Content (du

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SIX SHOW PACKAGES START AT $199! BroadwayInAtlanta.com • 800-278-4447 insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 7


EVENTS 36TH ANNUAL

SPRING FESTIVAL GUIDE

Artwork: Layers by Charly Palmer | Photo Credit: Donald Matter Photography

GEORGIA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL Weekends through June 2

FRIDAY, MAY 24 C H A S TA I N

P A R K

BWB

A M P H I T H E AT R E

- BRAUN,WHALUM & BROWN WITH SPECIAL GUEST

CHRISETTE MICHELE

7:30PM

www.ticketmaster.com

SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013 11:00A - 10:59P GEORGIA LOTTERY MAIN STAGE INTERNATIONAL 1:00P FESTIVAL HOURS IN PIEDMONT PARK

STEPHENSON HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ENSEMBLE AARON DIEHL QUARTET ALEXANDRA JACKSON MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE QUARTET

3:00P 5:00P 7:00P 9:00P

JAZZ STAGE

FESTIVAL HOURS IN PIEDMONT PARK

JAZZ STAGE

3:00P 3:30P J.C. YOUNG MIDDLE SCHOOL 5:00P JAZZ ENSEMBLE 5:00P GINOU 7:00P 6: 3 0P RUDRESH MAHANTHAPPA’S GAMAK 9:00P 10:00P - 2:00A AJF LATE NIGHT JAZZ JAM @ LOEWS ATLANTA HOTEL WITH DIONNE FARRIS FEATURING THE RUSSELL GUNN QUARTET www.ticketalternative.com

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2013 11:00A - 10:59P GEORGIA LOTTERY MAIN STAGE INTERNATIONAL 1:00P FESTIVAL HOURS IN PIEDMONT PARK

BENJAMIN MAYS HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ORCHESTRA RIALTO YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA JULIE DEXTER DOMINICK FARINACCI JOSÉ JAMES

3:00P 5:00P 7:00P 9:00P

JAZZ STAGE

3:30P THE WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ENSEMBLE 5:00P URI GURVICH QUARTET 6:30P MIGUEL ZENÓN QUARTET

Incorrect Usage: *

*incorrect spacing

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www.AtlantaFestivals.com For complete Brand Identity and Design Standards, visit www.coca-coladesignmachine.com.

The 36th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is produced by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, a division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.

PG 8 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com

O4W MOVIES AFTER DARK May 9,16,23,30 Historic Fourth Ward Park

2:00P TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND 3:30P ARUÁN ORITZ QUARTET 5:00P RIO NEGRO 6:30P CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT

SUNDAY, MAY 26, 2013 11:00A - 10:59P GEORGIA LOTTERY MAIN STAGE INTERNATIONAL 1:00P NORTH ATLANTA CENTER FOR THE ARTS JAZZ BAND RIALTO JAZZ FOR KIDS JACOB DEATON AND THE TRIBULATION BAND GRETCHEN PARLATO TIA FULLER

Exit 61 - Peachtree City / Fairburn Travel back to Elizabethan England, with themed buildings and rides, costumed actors, and creative entertainment and interactive activities. Once inside the gates, you’ll find Knights in shining armor and Maidens Faire, King Henry VIII and his Court, jolly pubs and a 32-acre World Bazaar full of elaborate treasures created by nationally renowned artisans. Feast like royalty on delectable delights including the popular giant roasted turkey legs. Endless entertainment awaits with ten stages featuring juggling, music, comedic storytelling and feats of incredible physical skills. The whole family will enjoy the Royal Petting Zoo and the thrilling rides in the medieval amusement park. For more information visit www.georgiarenaissancefestival.com.

Facebook.com/AtlantaJazzFestival Twitter.com/AtlantaJazzFest

The O4W Movies After Dark is an outdoor film series created to highlight and celebrate films written, produced, directed, and starring persons from the African Diaspora. The series is geared towards getting all audiences to appreciate and support films of color and to reinforce a positive message. Screenings will be held Thursday nights April 18 - May 30 except on May 2. In addition to the feature film, each week we will have live music and culinary mobile trucks onsite. For movie schedule visit www.moviesafterdark.net.

SHRINE CIRCUS & FAIR May 3–12 Jim R. Miller Park, Marietta, GA The largest Shrine Circus and Fair in North America is back with more excitement and thrills than ever! This year’s Tarzan Zerbini Circus features several new acts including a magnificent Big Cat Extravaganza, Brian Miser- the Human Fuse, and Simon Arestov, the Comedy Strong Man. Enjoy games and amusement rides, laugh at the Shriner Clowns, then fill up on all your favorite fair foodscorn dogs, funnel cakes and cotton candy, just to name a few. Admission is $10 for Adults and $6

for Children ages 6-11; free for children 36” and under. For more info www.circus2013.com

HOGS & HOPS May 11 Sweetwater Brewery The 2nd annual Hogs and Hops takes place at SweetWater Brewery on May 11, 6pm-10pm. Enjoy great SweetWater beer and BBQ and other food samples from D.B.A. Barbecue, Moe’s Original BBQ, Fox Brothers BBQ and S&J’s Woodfire Pizza and more. Live music will be provided by the party band Bedhead. Tickets are $45 and $55 day of event. Ticket prices include all food and SweetWater beer samples. More details and tickets at www.hogsandhopsatlanta.com

KIRKWOOD SPRING FLING AND TOUR OF HOMES May 11 & 12 Bessie Branham Park Don’t miss the 11th Annual Kirkwood Spring Fling on Saturday, May 11 and the annual Tour of Homes both Saturday and Sunday, May 12th. The Kirkwood festival celebrates the historic and eclectic in-town neighborhood while offering a fun-filled opportunity to enjoy the warmth of spring with a 5K, juried Artist Market, diverse lineup of live music, creative kids’ activities, Blue Ribbon BBQ contest, a Tour of Homes, and an After Party in downtown Kirkwood. The weekend will kick-off with a 5K Race on Saturday, May 11 at 8am in downtown Kirkwood. Runners will follow the winding path through Kirkwood’s tree-lined streets and finish in Bessie Branham Park. Registration is $30 (Register at Krikwoodfling.com). The Festival, scheduled from 10am to 8pm on Saturday, May 11, includes an Artist Market which surrounds the park and features more than 90 talented artisans and crafters. There will be an exceptional line-up of live music from Atlanta favorites from country, jazz, funk and rock n’ roll. The Children’s Area features hands-on activities, moon bounce, games and more. Local restaurants and food trucks will be serving a variety of tasty fare. This year features a Blue Ribbon BBQ contest mid-day and an After Party from 8pm to 11pm in downtown Kirkwood. The ever-popular Tour of Homes highlights a distinct selection of building styles from classic Victorian cottages to Craftsman bungalows to modern lofts and everything in between. Participants will meet some of the home’s owners on the tour and learn about the home’s history and creative techniques used in construction and renovation. Admission is $20.


5K race Saturday morning (register BUCKHEAD ARTS FESTIVAL at active.com) and May 11–12 an acoustic street Chastain Park Buckhead party on Friday The Buckhead Arts Festival is and Saturday a two-day outdoor event with an 30 years of Art, Music and Fun nights (8pm – emphasis on the visual arts. The 11pm) at the Virginia-Highland Island. Activities event is located on Park Drive designed for children, including free arts & crafts, at beautiful Chastain Park. It will take place in the KidsFest area on Arcadia, boasts 175 artists and artisans adjacent to John Howell Park 10-3 Saturday and live acoustic music, a professional Sunday. On Saturday, New Orleans indie rock children’s area, delicious local band The Revivalists performs while Drive-By foods and beverages. Admission www.vahi.org/summerfest Truckers Jason Isbell headlines Saturday evening. is free and children and pets are very welcome. music continues on Sunday withartists the popular Festival Hours are: Saturday, May 11 10 am - 6 Artist The market featuring more than 200 alternative rock group Drew Holcomb and the Music stages / 5K & Tot Trot / Kidsfest area pm, Sunday, May 12 11 am - 6 pm. Visit www. Neighbors. The Virginia-Highland Summerfest buckheadartsfestival.com is regularly recognized by local media as one of Atlanta’s best neighborhood festivals and DECATUR ARTS FESTIVAL consistently revered by art professionals as one May 25 & 26 of the best artists’ markets in the southeast. Decatur Square Summerfest is a great event for the entire family. Decatur’s biggest arts event kicks off with the Artist market dates and times are Saturday, June unveiling of the official arts festival poster on May 1 (10am - 6:30pm) and Sunday, June 2 (10am 2 and culminates 6:00pm). For more information and complete with the main music line-up, visit vahisummerfest.com. events on Memorial Day ATLANTA FRINGE FESTIVAL Weekend. Get June 5–9 started Friday Locations Downtown and East Atlanta evening, May 24, The 2nd annual with the ArtWalk Atlanta Fringe all around Festival brings Decatur. The fun continues with the new dance adventurous festival, literary arts performances, musicians all local and national day long on Decatur’s community bandstand, a artists together for a four-day celebration of juried artists market, the fine arts exhibition, a special Kids and Teens Arts Festival and more. For live performances from across the theatrical additional info visit www.DecaturArtsFestival.org. spectrum. It will feature 24 productions from 10 states including 14 from the Atlanta area. Expect a wide variety of performances with everything ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL from dance theatre, spoken word, circus May 25–27 performance, puppetry, comedic monologues, to Piedmont Park traditional ensemble theatre. 7 Stages in the heart of Little Five Points is the venue sponsor and will host performances plus opening and closing night parties. Fringe artists will also be performing at the nearby Theatrical Outfit, the Village Theatre and in two spaces at The Horizons School on The Atlanta Jazz Festival celebrates “31 Days Dekalb Avenue. For more information visit www. of Jazz” in May and culminates Memorial atlantafringe.org Day Weekend in midtown Atlanta’s beautiful Piedmont Park. Audiences will enjoy a wide spectrum of styles from traditional straight-ahead DECATUR BEACH PARTY June 14 jazz, Latin jazz and swing to jazz flavored with Decatur Square neo-soul, hip-hop and R&B. The family-friendly On Friday, June atmosphere will include two KidZone areas with 14 from 5pm – games, inflatables and fun activities. National 11pm, Decatur and international musicians will perform on two brings in 60 tons stages for three full days: May 25-27. Admission to the festival is FREE. Some of the highly antici- of sand and turns the square into pated ticketed events include BWB, with special Friday guest Chrisette Michele at Chastain Park Amphi- a beach for this 5-11 June 14 annual event. Dance in the streetsPM to the beach theatre from 7:30-11 pm on May 24. Tickets are music from the live band. Headlining the main on sale at www.ticketmaster.com. Dionne Farris stage this year is A1A The Official and Original and the Russell Gunn Quartet perform May 26 at Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show. Activities include the Loews Atlanta Hotel in midtown from children’s boardwalk games and attractions, face 10 pm-2 am. Tickets are available at painting, sand fun and more. Adult tickets can www.ticketalternative.com. be purchased in advance online for $7 ($10 at the gate); children 3-12 years old are $5. Admission VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND SUMMERFEST price includes all games and activities. No June 1 & 2 coolers, glass or pets allowed. Sponsored by Streets of Virginia-Highland Neighborhood Decatur Business Association. Proceeds from Now in its 30th year, visitors to Virginiathis annual fundraiser help support other popular Highland Summerfest can shop for original art, Decatur events and activities that are offered free enjoy great food and listen to an exceptional array to the community. Visit www. decaturdba.com of live music. This year’s event also features a for more information.

JUNE 1-2, 2013

decatur-bch-party-insite-ad-2013.pdf

Sponsored by:

1

4/29/13

30 years of Art, Music and Fun

2:16 PM

Purchase in advance at DecaturDBA.com

JUNE 1-2, 2013

at the gate

Tickets for Children ages 3-12: $5 ea.

(Includes all games and activities)

Free admission for children 2 and under.

www.vahi.org/summerfest

Dig Your Toes into 60 Tons of Sand on the Ponce de Leon Beach! the Live Music and Dancing Kids Boardwalk Games

original and official Jimmy Buffet tribute band

A1A

Artist market featuring more than 200 artists Music stages / 5K & Tot Trot / Kidsfest area

For the Kids: Douglas Brake and Sizzle, Hiss, Pop

insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 9


FILM

PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

Director Danny Boyle on “Trance,” “Trainspotting,” “Star Wars” and the Cinematic Power of Shiny Surfaces BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

A

T THE POST FOUR SEASONS Hotel in Beverly Hills, the gold-plated elevator doors open and Academy Award-winning film director Danny Boyle steps inside the otherwise empty lift. Initially distracted by a text on his iPhone, the casually-dressed Englishman peers over his glasses at the visiting journalist to his immediate left. He quickly initiates a dialogue that continues until the 15th floor, during the press conference for Fox Searchlight’s “Trance,” and concludes well after a thoroughly enjoyable roundtable discussion with a handful of representatives of the international media. Along with actors Rosario Dawson and Vincent Cassel, he’s in the States to promote his head-trippingly hyperactive film. Trance is the latest in a series of thought-provoking, visually-stimulating triumphs that include “Trainspotting,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and the opening ceremony of last year’s Olympic ceremony. You’ve assembled an incredible–and thoroughly credible–cast for this film. I don’t normally work with three really established, experienced actors like this, but it was the kind of script where you needed it. And it was fantastic to get them. I think Rosario Dawson is very, very underrated. It’s a problem for all actresses, I think. So many of them have talent, and there aren’t the parts to go around. James McAvoy, I’d thought he was maybe a bit too young for this, but he was amazing because he’s growing up. He’s 31 now. And Vincent Cassel is, for me, one of the world’s greatest actors. Usually, I cast a bit younger and less well-known, you know? But I really enjoyed it, actually, working with them. They’re smart, the three of them. It’s a complicated story, and they have to keep a grip on it themselves, which they did. They used their intelligence to do that.

working with. You know everything about it. And ironically, you’re not that well-qualified to prepare it for someone who’s just going to see it once. Because you know everything about it, and you’re showing it to people who know nothing about it. When we looked at it, we realized we needed to put more clues in. So we started putting in stuff, in the edit. For instance, there’s the bit where he’s knocking on glass. We cut that in early as a motif running through it, to give people a clue. It’s like he knows there’s something wrong; it’s not quite what it seems. How did you decide to use Goya’s “Witches in the Air” as the thieves’ object of greed? In the original script, the painting really isn’t nominated. So it was a wonderful opportunity. We did research about lost paintings, and the other ones you see are all lost. They’re all stolen, they’re all absent. But we decided not to use a lost one, so we thought we’d have one that isn’t lost yet, but gets stolen. So we then went straight to Goya, because Goya, as we try to say in the film, is the first great modernist. He’s the first guy who paints the inside of the mind. He’s the first great psychological painter. Up until then, people painted portraits or landscapes, only surface values. But he went inside the bull ring and he painted in there. He’s all madness. He was illustrating his own madness. And like your films, there’s a realism that so heightened, it’s almost surreal in the presentation. You’re right. All the films that I make are realistic. They’re not abstract, but you try and have the realism stretch so tight that it’s slightly heightened.

…YOU GO TO DINNER AND TALK ABOUT IT, AFTERWARDS. FROM THAT, COMES MORE CONVERSATION AND ANALYSIS. I RATHER LIKE THAT…

It’s a highly visual production, as usual. How did you develop that aspect for this particular film? You start off thinking, ‘How can we send an unconscious signal to the audience not to believe exactly what they’re seeing?’ And, of course, you do that through reflections, natural reflections, which nobody thinks about until they’re broken. A mirror is a very natural thing, or a glass surface. But you begin to assemble this baggage that you’re seeing double and triple. It’s kind of telling you, subconsciously, ‘That’s not the only story. There’s other things going on here.’

And the iPad figures prominently through the story. That’s a highly reflective surface that you can see yourself in. For a modern, young professional like James McAvoy in the story, it’s the kind of a place you entrust secrets, your intimate life, to. It felt like a lovely addition to the reflective surface idea. And also, it is weird, ‘cause Samsung, just yesterday released this phone that’s watching you! If you take you eyeball off it, it switches off. And that’s really weird! Where are we going? Because that’s obviously just a starting point. It’s gonna become such a part of you. The tie is just getting stronger and stronger, isn’t it? You took a break during the filming to do the Olympic Ceremony. How did distancing yourself from the completed footage affect the final cut? It’s very rare that you get the chance put the material, once you’ve shot it, in storage for six or eight months. I think it helped us a lot because when we came back to it, I was surprised to see I’d forgotten it. Normally, as a director, you’re over-familiar with the material you’re PG 10 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com

The neuro-linguistic monologues that you include for Rosario’s character have a distinctive, propulsive rhythm. There’s another version of this film, because of what she had to learn, the speeches. Each trance that you see, she’s actually dictating. She’s talking him through it. In fact, what happens in the movie, is that we visualize it, so you see the French countryside. But there is a version of the film where you don’t see the French countryside, she just talks you through it. She was amazing at that. It was very cruel, because she had to learn pages of stuff. Reams of stuff. We would film the whole thing, because I’d only decide in editing which bit we would use, if we ever did cut back to her, actually dictating the trance. She found a beautiful rhythm for it. Since it is word-based it’s more like a radio play in a way, where the audience is doing the imagining themselves. But because it’s a movie, we interfere with that. You’ve tackled sci-fi [2007’s “Sunshine,”] and your work is, of course, very optical. Were you ever considered to direct a “Star Wars” episode? I have to be honest with you about “Star Wars.” When it was just released, I was a punk. Punk had just happened in Britain. I remember people saying, “Have you seen ‘Star Wars’?” But we were punks, we were not gonna go watch “kids’ movies.” We were rebellious, so we didn’t see ‘em. I caught up with them, obviously, and I realize they’re amazing films. But I remember, at the time, thinking, “Ha! “Star Wars”?!” In fact, foolishly, I told this story to George Lucas once! Do you remember when he did a TV spinoff, Young Indiana Jones? Well, before I was a filmmaker, I was in TV and I got an interview with him. He was interviewing young directors in London and I told this story to him. And I didn’t get the job! But the

truth of it is, [the “Star Wars” films] don’t really belong to me. I don’t know them in the way that other people just adore them. My son, for instance. It goes across many generations, of course. But the punk generation missed out on them, I think. Your movies are much more like the early ‘70s movies, pre-“Star Wars” bombast, where you actually leave something to think about, long after the film is over. Exactly, you go to dinner and talk about it afterwards. And from that, comes more conversation and analysis. I rather like that. Will there ever be a sequel to “Trainspotting”? We are working on it. It won’t be the next movie. But we are genuine, it’s not a tease. It would be lovely to do a sequel to it that has its own integrity. The focus would be on the passage of time, to cast the same actors in the same parts, but twenty years has gone by. That’s particularly acute with them, because they were hedonists, really. Guys in their early 20’s and the risks you can take then. You only realize later, “Oh my God! I did that?” So they would be now in their 40s and osteoarthritis is setting in or whatever. The body is beginning to kinda creak a bit, and we’d see what they’ve done with that twenty years, as a character study. You’ll get the added reflex that the actors are also twenty years older, and the audience who saw it originally, as well.


May is for Margaritas! AGAVE

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

Agave has a high energy dining room offering award winning Southwestern cuisine and tequila bar. There are over 100 tequilas and 12 specialty margaritas on the menu. All Agave margaritas are made with blue agave tequilas and fresh squeezed lime juice. Some of their award winning margaritas include the Herradura Silver Top Shelf, the Ultimate Margarita made with premium Cuervo Platino, The Corzo Perfecto made with Agave Nectar, & the Fresh Fruit Mango Margarita made with 1800 Silver and Fresh Mango Juice. Other award winning drinks include: The Cuervo Traditional with Jose Cuervo Especial, fresh lime and triple sec & sour. The Agave Reposado Margatini, served straight up with Cuervo Tradicional Reposado, triple sec, fresh lime & sour. The Agave Don Eduardo Anejo with Don Eduardo Anejo, triple sec, fresh lime and sour served on the rocks. Agave should be your first stop on your quest for the best margarita in the city!

PANCHO’S

2641 Buford Hwy. (404) 325-2898 PanchoMexican.com

cials start at just $6.75 (Mon-Fri) and may be accompanied by $3.50 lunch cheese dips. For dinner Pancho’s offers a variety of combination platters for just $9.95. Try their new Tilapia Fish Tacos. Served three to an order and prepared grilled or fried. In spring their patio seating is in high demand. At night the old oak tree is lit up with live music Friday nights and a Mariachi band on Saturday nights. Make plans to come early on Sunday, May 5th for Atlanta’s best Cinco de Mayo celebration. This all day event will feature Jose Cuervo Tequila specials, Cabo Wabo girls and more!

$1 DRAFTS

ALL DAY, EVERYDAY

PARK TAVERN

500 10th Street (404) 249.0001 ParkTavern.com

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo for Unplugged In The Park Sunday, May 5th at 7pm featuring Amy Gerhartz, Green Light Morning, & Biederer. On Thursday, May 16 come see 11 of Atlanta's finest bartenders as they converge upon Park Tavern in a battle to concoct the best margarita in town. $20 tickets get you in to the event, plus 6 tasting tickets. Additional tickets can be purchased for $2 each at the full cash bar. Park Tavern will have a light summer menu available and DJ Time One will keep the party rockin'. Take Mom to the city’s best Mother's Day Brunch at the Southwest Porch in the perfect setting overlooking Piedmont Park and the city skyline. Mother’s Day Brunch In The Park is Sunday, May 12th 11am-2:30pm.

Weekly Lineup

TWIN PEAKS

3365 Piedmont Rd. (404) 961-8946 TwinPeaksRestaurant.com

Pancho’s is known as one of Atlanta’s best Mexican restaurants. They have long history of serving great Mexican dishes and “Monster” margaritas to satisfied customers. Pancho’s margaritas are made using the finest ingredients and top shelf tequilas. Some popular brand names offered include: Centenario, Don Julio, 1800, Jose Cuervo, Patron, Herradura and now Cabo Wabo. Their margaritas can be made frozen or on the rocks and served in four basic styles: Regular, Flavored, Gold and Texas. All their margaritas are made by trained bartenders and served to perfection. Pancho’s does a brisk business for both lunch and dinner. Their lunch spe-

You shouldn’t need any more reason to visit Twin Peaks in Buckhead. With it’s massive mountain lodge facade, 29-degree draft beer, state of the art sports screens and beautiful Twin Peaks girls it’s hard to pass up. On Sunday, May 5th they give you even more reason to enjoy the “scenic views”as they celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Dos Equis. Try their signature margarita made with Patron Silver, agave nectar & fresh lime juice.

Now Open by Piedmont Park!

Join us for weekday lunch, weekend brunch and daily dinners. 991 Piedmont Ave. NE Atlanta, GA 30309 (404) 602-5510

10thandpiedmont.com

56 East Andrews Drive (404) 869-1151 In the Heart of Buckhead!

www.StoutIrishPub.com

The Original

Open fOr lunch! 4505 Ashford Dunwoody rd. 678.205.5862 764 Miami circle 404.846.0449 www.eclipsediluna.com insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 11


Taste of the Month-Tapas Mezza

2751 Lavista Rd. Decatur, GA 30033 (404) 633.8833 mezzabistro.com

Mezza...A Lebanese Bistro and Dar offers one of the most characteristic elements of Lebanese cuisine. Much like tapas, Mezza is an array of small hot and cold appetizers. At Mezza you will find the most authentic homemade Lebanese tapas, great wines and enjoy belly dancing and hookahs in their newly expanded Dar (lounge) on weekends. Located just a few miles from Emory campus, Mezza has become a neighborhood favorite. The restaurant offers the largest Lebanese tapas menu in the city. The menu has a large variety of vegetarian dishes, some of which are vegan, in addition to a large variety of meat, chicken and seafood offerings. There are 20 vegetarian mezza including the standard favorites: hummus, falafel, baba ghannouge, and fried eggplant. Non-vegetarian dishes range from cilantro fish, beef stuffed grape leaves, kebobs and lemon shrimp. Over the years Mezza has garnered great reviews and awards. In recent years Mezza has been awarded Best Mediterranean / Middle Eastern Restaurant in various publications. Mezza also ranks as the top Lebanese Restaurant in Zagat's Survey and Atlanta Magazine Top 100.

10th & Piedmont

Eclipse di Luna

764 Miami Circle 404.846.0449 4505 Ashford-Dunwoody (678) 205.5862 eclipsediluna.com

991 Piedmont Ave. Atlanta, GA 30309 (404) 602.5510 10thandpiedmont.com

Now open by Piedmont Park at the iconic intersection formerly home to Outwrite Bookstore in Midtown. 10th & Piedmont is the creation of brother restaurateurs Sean and Gilbert Yeremyan who have chosen to continue the tradition of providing a space that represents diversity and equality. The menu offers seasonally inspire dishes, creatively portioned into small bites for easy sharing. Find high quality, locally sourced organic ingredients that blend multi-cultural flavors with a Southern influence. Examples include Lamb meatballs and SoCo cured salmon. Come for lunch weekdays, weekend brunch and daily dinners. Sundays offer a special Bellini brunch while James Patrick Morgan plays live music from 1 - 4 p.m. Starting May 12, Sunday nights features Flashback Showgirls hosted by Lady Shabazz with $3 Champagne and $5 well drinks. This is the perfect neighborhood gathering spot to enjoy gourmet dishes prepared from scratch and a late night cocktail. Try one of their signature cocktails from the Artisanal Vodka Bar and spend time with friends in a Celebration Lounge. The lounge area is available for private rentals and can seat up to 30 people.

Upon opening in 1997, Eclipse di Luna set the trend in Tapas style restaurants in Atlanta. Once you walk through the door, you feel like you’ve stumbled upon the bestkept secret in the city. You’ll find a festive, high-energy, interactive dining experience with an artsy setting as a backdrop. With over two dozen Tapas to choose from, there is something to please any taste. The Tapas is priced affordable to encourage multiple sampling. They offer several that are cheese based. These include the Quesos Espanoles, a tasting of Spanish cheeses with assorted accompaniments. Eclipse di Luna features a variety of meat dishes like the Pollo a la Parilla, a chicken breast grilled and marinated with red pepper salad and avocado. On the beef side, The Brocheta de Bistee is a red wine marinated skirt steak skewered with chimichurri. There are also several seafood dishes to choose from including the Gambas al Ajillo which is sautéed shrimp & garlic with calabes pepper. Eclipse di Luna has been voted Best Tapas by INsite readers several years running. Both locations offer patio dining. The Perimeter location is having a Cinco de Mayo party starting at 8pm. Come and relax with friends over a glass of wine, great food and live latin entertainment at this award winning establishment.

Mediterranean Grill

N. Decatur Plaza (404) 320.0101 Midtown (404) 917.1100 East Cobb / Marietta (678) 996.1100 mediterraneangrill.com

Mediterranean Grill has consistently been voted "Best Mediterranean" in Atlanta. They serve authentic regional dishes like gyros, falafel, Greek salad, kabob and lamb shank. You will find great Mediterranean Tapas on the menu including Hummus, Baba Ganouj, Calamari, Dolmas and Greek Potatoes. For more than a decade their loyal customers have continued to flock to this family/chef-owned and operated restaurant. Start with one of their artfully prepared appetizers like Hummus, Baba Ganouj, Tabouleh Salad Calamari or homemade Spanakopita. Try the Business Lunch Special offering Shish Kabob, Kufta Kabab & Gyro slices w/rice pilaf, salad, pita and drink for just $7.60. Mediterranean Grill has tasty sandwiches including: Gyro, Kufta Kabob, Chicken Kabob, Falafel and a Grilled Vegetable sandwich. All sandwiches are just $5.75 and entrees start at $8.00. They now proudly serve Halal meats and authentic pita bread baked fresh daily. Don’t forget to try one of their desserts: Baklawa, Bass Bossa and Rice Pudding. Mediterranean Grill is also popular for catering. Their menu can be found online or by calling any of their three locations. Give them a call or come in for an authentic Mediterranean experience.

PANCHO’S agave restaurant HOME OF THE

CONSISTENTLY VOTED agave restaurant an eclectic southwestern eatery ATLANTA’S BEST SOUTHWESTERN CUISINE! & tequila bar . est. 2000

Catering Now Available

Reservations at 404 588 0006 or online at : www.agaverestaurant.com

Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

MONSTER MARGARITA!

OVER 100

242 Boulevard S.E. Atlanta . 30312

BLUE AGAVE TEQUILAS

Atlanta’s Largest Cinco De Mayo Celebration HUGE Outdoor Patio!

MONSTER BURRITOS Just

$7.95!

PHOTOS BY MARK PETKO

NEW TILAPIA FISH TACOS! Mariachi Band on Saturdays

2641 BUFORD HIGHWAY | ATLANTA, GA 30324 404-325-2898 | PANCHOMEXICAN.COM

Hours • M-Th 11am-10pm • Fri 11am-11pm Sat 12pm-11pm • Sun 1pm-10pm PG 12 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com

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

404.588.0006

Consistently Voted One Of Atlanta’s Best Restaurants or onlineINsite at: www.agaverestaurant.com Magazine Best of Atlanta Winner

242 Boulevard S.E. Atlanta 30312 Best Southwestern Cuisine & Best Margarita !!


FILM FILM

TRUMP Movie Reviews CARD ARTHUR NEWMAN (R)

 Wallace Avery (Colin Firth), a middle-aged man who thinks he has nothing to live for, starts a new life with an identity stolen from a dead man, Arthur Newman. He rescues Mike (Emily Blount), an unstable, suicidal woman with the potential to bring adventure, even danger, into his new life. She’s revealed to be using her sister’s identity (her real name is Charlotte) as they ride to Terre Haute, where Arthur expects to work as a golf pro. Along the way they break into people’s houses and make love, roleplaying their By B.unwitting Love hosts’ identities. If you want to see Identity Thief without the laughs, I s one of AmericA’s most recommend you see Identity Thief when successful and high profile businessyou’re not high, rather than Arthur Newman, men, Donald trump was well known which doesn’t knowproducer whether mark it wants to be long before survivor Burnett an unfunny comedy or an undramatic drama. tapped him to star in the Apprentice. But The screenplay, tworeality people searching there’s no denyingabout that the show for skins to feel comfortable in, does what it turned trump from a cartoonish curiosity can to make you feel sympathy for Wallace/ into a bona fide phenomenon, with his signaArthur and Charlotte/Mike, mainly by being ture catchphrase– “You’re fired!”– inextricainconsistent as they behave with predictable bly entering the pop culture lexicon. unpredictability; but the initially characters’ heads Although the Apprentice flounare so far up their own butts you can’t see dered a bit in the ratings, Burnett and trump their chins. Without Firthformula and Blount Arthur stumbled upon a winning by recruitNewman have beenactors, lucky to get shown ing second-would and third-tier athletes, on Lifetime; with them really edition lucky to models and musicians for ait’s celebrity have gotten into theaters, but not for long. of the show. now in its third incarnation, –Steve Warren the celebrity Apprentice tosses disparate

assimilated into society under new identities. Young newspaper reporter Shia LaBoeuf gets a career-making break on the story and doggedly pursues follow-up angles. Sarandon gives one of her best performances in a chilling scene where LaBoeuf interviews her in prison. Redford sets out in search of Christie, with whom he had a thing back in the day, but their eventual meeting is a letdown. It’s also unnecessary: Sarandon could’ve served the same purpose as Christie. The screenplay also suffers from faulty math. While the movie looks contemporary, it’s stated several times that 1971 was “30 years ago. ” It’s also that Redford through reading aboutmentioned them for so many assumed “three years, but his a lotcurrent of timesidentity somebody thatdecades you ago” think in 1979. The lesson LaBoeuf don’t of so highly turns out to be alearns star. should makeknow thiswhat required viewing You just don’t will happen with for journalism pressure andstudents. the heatOtherwise, of battle. while it has a lot going for it (including the cast of the year), What doesofa its celebrity have to do to really too much potential is squandered. set themselves apart and show that they’re –Steve Warren

The Donald Waxes Rhapsodic On The Celebrity Apprentice, “You’re Fired!” & Fixing NBC

A

in it to win it? i can tell you from seasons 1 and 2 and 42 (PG-13) from the regular Apprentice, people really  want to win. in a and whileone you’ll Yes, 42 is a every historyonce lesson, a lot of have a quitter, but it doesn’t happen Americans need to learn. The storyoften. of how iBranch think theRickey reason they do it is major the levelleague of integrated intensity they feel for their Unlike baseball by recruiting Jackiecharity. Robinson to play the Apprentice, where somebody for regular the Brooklyn Dodgers is set comfortably works for me for a pretty good for a in the mid-1940s so we can salary pat ourselves year, with this one the money goes to char-but on the back for how far we’ve come; ity. Last the yearovert we raised millions of dollars. despite racism of the period no one stars such as rocker Bret michaels, wrestler everybody has a charity that they love; some ever asks to see Robinson’s birth certificate, THE BIG baseball WEDDING (R)Darryl strawberry, are foundations they’ve set up themselves Goldberg, legend and I’m sure someone has already written a  former governor ron Blagojevich and sharon in advance thefirst show. so i think they screenplay aboutofthe openly gay major Marigold together Hotel/Quartet fans may be relieved years osbourne for a variety of teamreally fight more intense because it’s a charleague player and is just waiting to fill in to knowexercises the U.S.andcan make movies about building challenges designed to ity they’re fighting for. older too.mettle. Of course our movies the name. Robinson (Chadwick Boseman test theirpeople business “the to Donald, ” as the crazy-coiffed real about in a starmaking performance) and Rickey have be multigenerational – it’s What are your favorite challenges to watch (Harrison Ford, growling more than the Lion estate if often recently held what magnate the marketers callknown, quadrants – but The the celebrities tackle? but highly effective) may appear a bit too court with reporters to discuss show’s Big Wedding is mainly aboutthethe seniors. King Well, we do have a lot of different challengcurrent season.of Amanda Seyfried and Ben saintly to be believed, but the real men can’t The nuptials es, whether we go back to the selling of the have beenor much less so to have achieved what Barnes are the excuse to bring an extended lemonade doing something else very basic Can you tell us family a little together. bit about the selec-De they achieved. Rickey, hiding behind the dysfunctional Robert without having to deal with Proctor & Gamtion socially acceptable veneer of[sponsor-based a businessman Niroprocess? was married to Diane Keaton until ble or Kodak, etc. sometimes it’s very because so many out to rakeare in sort the bucks of Negro fans, and her best interesting, friend (Susan Sarandon), stole him challenges] of interesting, but they’re celebrities to beand on the showhad after Robinson,for a college-educated WWII veteran from her. want De Niro Keaton twothekids expensive us to do. the ratings suggest success of theHeigl previous seasons. We and with superior baseball skills, were the right (Katherine andtwo Topher Grace) that the fans’ favorite part of the show by wanted some athletes, some actors, men for the job and recognized that in each adopted a third (Barnes), whose some biological far is the boardroom, and the boardroom models and some wrestlers, so other. Shooting largely Atlanta, Macon mother (Patricia Rae) hasi would come sayfrom has gotten longer over the in years because of probably sixfor or seven people perBecause spot we she’s and Chattanooga, writer-director Brian Colombia the wedding. that. the challenges still have plenty of time were turning down. the hardest is that Helgeland gives himself a back seat on Catholic Barnes doesn’t want herthing to know his and we’re focused on both aspects, butthe webus, we really have some good people that want letting thetrying story and performances have their adoptive parents are divorced, so they have to have been to lengthen the boardroom topretend go on very Butfor i guess maybe we’ll impact without to bebadly. married the weekend, which because of strongflashy viewerfilmmaking requests. getting in save them for the next show, because it looks the way. Also of sadly contemporary interest, doesn’t sit well with Sarandon. Everyone like happen.which makes for a the town Robinson is run out of during spring hasthat’s theirgoing own tosubplot, You’re like a prosecuting attorney in the training is Sanford, Florida, where Trayvon lot to cram into 90 minutes. Some of the boardroom. Do you meter your approach to How is this season to be different Martin was killed by Neighborhood Watchcomplications are going predictable, some justthan silly different personalities? past seasons? year. people Yes,George i think Zimmerman you deal withlast different and many both; but there are too many to let man Well, when you have a success like we’ve –Steve Warren you get bored, and a fair amount is amusing. differently. i deal with Goldberg differently had, you don’t like to do too many changes. than i deal with Governor Blagojevich. i The Big Wedding is based on a French farce. What we do have is a different tone. the cast HAVA NAGILA: MOVIE dealt with DennisTHE rodman and (NR) Joan rivers You could say the amazing cast is slumming has been very interesting: they’ve been very  than some of the other contesdifferently but they to be but having a good tough and seem very nasty, there’s also time a lot and of tants. Youwho’s haveever to have Anyone beenthat to aability. Jewish wedding so should you. fun and humor with respect to what happens, or bar mitzvah has heard the song “Hava –Steve Warren which i don’t think we had in the last one. How do”you the boardNagila, butfeel fewgoing knowback theinstory behind it. With Joan [rivers] and with Piers [morgan], room afterRoberta a little hiatus? Director Grossman proves there’s THE COMPANY YOU KEEP (R) it was really nasty people really hating each i just get a great kick out of it.but i really like almost enough to fill a movie, not quite.  other. these people hate each other, but it’s itThere’s a lot. they want totorenew itmajor for another a tendency cover events in “I’m glad someone’s still telling (our stories), ” also funny. i think that might be the biggest two or three seasons, and we’re thinking Jewish history in 30 seconds while letting Robert Redford says to fellow ‘70s radical differentiation in terms of the three casts. that. i like having a littlepoints bit of for a break experts expound on minor what Richard Jenkins. The Company You Keep is about between shows, where it goes on once a year. feels like several minutes. The song, we’re Redford’s attempt tell one stories, Can you usually telltoright off of thethose bat who is basedtoondoawell noveland about storm that ensues told, originated in the Ukraine village of going whothe isn’t? you everinfeel about firingMusicologist someone, Sadagora thebad distant past. when a member of the Do that’s Susan always Sarandon, the most interesting quesor is it just part of the job? A.Z. Idelsohn brought it to Palestine in the Weather Underground wasof involved tion to me because i’d like who to think myself i always bad… and no, after not always. someearly 20thfeel century, the First World a bank robbery that resulted in i’ll a guard’s asinbeing okay with people. But often say, times i don’t like people. the hard ones arehis; War he – or a 12-year-old student of death,oneisisfinally arrested. “this going to be a star,”The and shooter then he is when you really like and respect somebody their descendants still argue about it – added dead,out buttothe suspected accomplices, turns be aother dud. You never really know. make a mistake. Like,means as an exthe they current lyrics. The title “Let Us Redford andyou’ve Julie known Christie, have long since and You feel like these celebrities

IRON MAN 3 WITH MULTIPLE STORYLINE CROSSOVERS, PHENOMENAL EFFECTS, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE INSIDE OF TONY STARK, IT’S GOT ALL OF THE THINGS PEOPLE WANT FROM A SUPERHERO FILM. Our review:  Rejoice.” With the establishment of the of the image. Fans will appreciate seeing Jewish state of Israel in 1948 the song spread Downey show a little more range, and the to American Jews, who dance the hora to performances by Guy Pearce and Kingsley it at It all celebratory are worthy of note. But With multiple turned occasions. out to The Be film a good phrase, It wasstoryline a credits Harry Belafonte with spreading the crossovers, phenomenal effects, and the FLuke. durIng the very FIrst show I was a LIttLe song beyond Jewry when he added it to his opportunity to see inside of Tony Stark, exasperated wIthbestone oF the contestants andwant I used repertoire. Some of the film’s moments it’s got all of the things people from a LIne, “you’re FIred!” whenfilm. [producer] Mark involvethe performances of “Hava Nagila” by superhero unexpected artistsand and inI unexpected –Justin Patterson Burnett agreedplaces. to do the show we dIdn’t have Italian-American Connie Francis, who used that. we thought we’d say, “get the heLL out it to open her Jewish Favorites album, jokes, KISS OF THE DAMNED (R) oF here” or soMethIng. “I’m ten percent Jewish… on my manager’s  (Joséphine de such La Baume) and Paulo side.” There’s a lot of affectionate mocking of Djuna fact that you raised self-sufficient ample, scott Hamilton, from the last season. Ventimiglia) hook up outside a video children? iJewish had tostereotypes let scott go.that i’m might a greatbefanoffensive of scott:if (Milo kind ofamysterious, of chilhot, it didn’t come from likes and of Mel Well,She’s i’m getting lot of creditkind on the He won olympic goldthe medals he’sBrooks a great store. and tells him in a European accent, “I have and Larry David, but perhaps the funniest dren. everybody’s been asking about ivanka champion. But he understood that he made skinthecondition I can’t exposed comesonfrom a non-fan who calls Hava aand answer iswhere yes, she’ll bebe back on theto aline mistake the show and i really had no sunlight. ” they’re Dude goes with they her. Does Nagila “the of Jewish show. But veryhome good kids. went choice. i feltkudzu very badly aboutmusic. that,” because he a death wish or he were nevergreat seen a –Steve but Warren to have very good schools, andhas they i considered him to be a great person, i Another generation students.movie? i couldn’t wait tosecond get them on the have to do what’s right. it’s never fun, but it’s vampire IRON MAN (PG-13) filmmaker up the show familywould business with show. i hadtakes no idea be into easier when 3i don’t like somebody or when  really, really bad. Xan Cassavetes’ first narrative feature. It’s a itsninth and tenth season, which is pretty they’re After the success of The Avengers, how do Gothic that of pays homage to older amazingromance in the world television. you make Tony Stark/Iron Man aeven classic films but most closely resembles one That line, “You’re fired,” became pop more culwatchable? Director of those been Eurotrash that were There’s lots ofhorror news movies surrounding NBCa ture phenomenon. Can Shane you talkBlack about(writer the lately,ofand your show does well for1970s. them. If origin of it? of Lethal Weapon) elected to pull out all of staple American drive-ins in the What you thinkthem NBCyou’ll needsbetosurprised do to get back out toshoot be a good but it theit turned stops and everyphrase, action-packed, you remember that in the ratings game? was a fluke. During theeffects-laden very first show i was emotionally involved, scene he the lip movements match the words you hear, Well, i the knoworiginals Jeff Gaspin (chairman of nBc acould. little exasperated with America one of thethreatened conThe story finds because were badly dubbed Universal television and,goes as testants and mastermind i used the line, fired!”(Sir for by terrorist The“You’re Mandarin U.S. release. Kissentertainment) of the Damned you know, he’s is new to the role. i think When [producer]who markcannot Burnettbeand i agreed Ben Kingsley), found, but down easy and nostalgic fun for thosehe’s who going to dothose a spectacular at seem nBc.lacking they to do the show put we didn’t that.Happy We into remember whose actions Tony’shave friend oldies butjob may need shows like not thought “Get revenge the hell out here”out or to a coma. we’d Tonysay, swears andofgives themore generation whothe onlyApprentice. know vampires necessarily from a reality standpoint, but something. And all of a sudden America went his home address on television. His Malibu from True Blood, The Vampire Diaries they Twilight. need showsDjuna that capture the imaginacrazy the show.sweetheart it happens Pepper to be a great home over is destroyed, Potts and turns Paolo, then is tion. by her estranged sister Mimi (Roxane catchphrase. tV Guide or one killed, of the major (Gwyneth Paltrow) is almost and the visited frankly, certain that are entertainment a poll and, world believes magazines him dead. didTony sets outafter to Mesquida), settingshows the stage forona should triangle be changed because, while they “Here’s Johnny!” and one other great, it was find out who and where The Mandarin is, and that never fully develops. This get baresome outline pretty good reviews, theyout don’t people a #3 on the top 100himself phrasesfacing in television his-he of ultimately finds a villain a plot needs fleshing andget especially watching.Female tory! so that was a pretty big honor. it’s films, been climax. it’s nice to of getsoft both. We’ve inadvertently created. Unlike previous fans porn mayhad enjoy an and Tony an amazing phrasethan that Kiss emmy and a lotthere’s of goodfaracIronamazing Man 3 thing is about Stark rather of nominations the Damned because more just seemsHis to work. it reallyare caught on, and colades way,love andstory that’sthat, always the suit. possessions stripped away sex than passed violenceour in this under it’s been amazing thing watch. nice. But ultimatelyisyou have totoothless. have people from him,anhe’s haunted by to what happened to the circumstances, relatively watch. nBc is going to really do well. iWarren know him in The Avengers, Pepper is made into a –Steve What do you think is your biggest accomtheir leadership and i think they’re winners, target, and Stark has to be the man instead plishment, your business success or the

so i think they’ll turn it around.

insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 13


MUD (PG-13)

 In my younger days I was drawn to films about boys my age who were torn between influences that would determine the kind of man they’d grow up to be. I always thought some dramatic event would shape my future too, not realizing the little decisions I made every day were doing that. If I were 14 again, Mud would be my favorite movie. Ellis’ (Tye Sheridan) parents (Ray McKinnon, Sarah Paulson) are divorcing and the young romantic has just developed a crush on an older girl. The adventure begins when Ellis and his friend Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) discover a derelict who calls himself Mud (Matthew McConaughey) living in a boat in a tree on a nearby island. Mud’s come back to his Arkansas home to meet up with the love of his life, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon), but all sorts of folks are looking for him because of someone he killed. The boys join Team Mud and assist him in trying to hook up and escape. With a supporting cast that includes Sam Shepard and Michael Shannon, Mud may not be as good as McKinnon’s Rectify series, but it’s damn good, a Stand by Me for a new generation. Incidentally, if you could get a quarter for every shot that features a can of Beanie Weenies your ticket would be free. –Steve Warren

OBLIVION (PG-13)

 It’s Tom Cruise’s universe. We just live and buy movie tickets in it. A lot of people around the world have been buying tickets to Cruise’s latest, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama that’s a pleasant spring time-waster but won’t be remembered by the Fourth of July, let alone awards season. In 2077 Jack Harper (Cruise) is monitoring the removal of Earth’s last remaining resources, with drones helping him fight off the Scavengers, aliens who attacked us in 2017. “We won the war but lost the planet,” because everything was destroyed and the population had to move to Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. At least that’s the way Jack remembers it, after his memory has been officially reprogrammed; but he still has flashbacks to an earlier time, and a woman (Olga Kurylenko) who’s not the one he’s living with (Andrea Riseborough) as the last two people on Earth. As events call the party line into question, Jack, ever the “Maverick,” begins to search for the truth. Much is left unexplained, perhaps for Oblivion 2. Being a Hollywood “original,” Oblivion is cobbled together from bits of The Matrix, Mad Max, Zardoz, Total Recall, even Sleepless in Seattle, and many others that have gone before, to deliver the message that the future is not the way we remember it. –Steve Warren

PAIN & GAIN (R)

 This is Michael Bay’s take on a series of crimes committed in 1994-95, known as “the Sun Gym Murders.” Three bodybuilders (Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie) kidnap and force a successful businessman (Tony Shalhoub) to sign over everything he owns to them. After several botched attempts, they succeed. Once the deeds are signed over, they try to kill their victim several times, but fail. While they revel in their newly found wealth, he hires a retired police detective to help him recover his stolen property. Before all is said and done, the plot is complicated with drug abuse, assault, more kidnapping and murder. The film’s trailers depict it as an action comedy– a buddy action flick in which the criminals are the good guys. This film is grisly, however. Viewers are shown murder, dismemberment, bodies crammed into 55-gallon drums and self-destruction through drug use. Though events are played in an offhand manner, the events portrayed resulted in one of the most sensational, graphic and bizarre cases ever seen in Miami. It’s a decent enough film, but it’s definitely not for young ones or the very faint of heart. –Justin Patterson PG 14 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com

RENOIR (R)

 The title should be plural, since the film is a tribute to two generations of French artists, painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Michel Bouquet) and his son, filmmaker Jean Renoir (Vincent Rottiers). Director and co-writer Gilles Bourdos serves as more of a painter, filling the screen with the lush images of cinematographer Mark Ping Bing Lee, than a filmmaker who’s out to tell a story. The action is limited to the Renoirs’ Riviera estate (with an occasional bonus shot of the sea in the background). Auguste, 74, hires a new model, Andrée (Crista Theret), to replace the one his now late wife dismissed. Despite his reputation as a horndog the old man doesn’t look like much of a sexual threat – but he still paints daily, despite crippling arthritis, so don’t count him out. Jean, 21, returns from the war, wounded and temporarily crippled. (It’s not mentioned that Andrée is only 15 - the actress looks several years older.) That Andrée has a life – and lovers – away from the Renoirs is addressed only by rumor as she lies around naked all day. Scenes seem chosen at random, as if excerpted from a miniseries, with events having no consequences. Title cards at the end are so informative you’ll wish they’d been there all through the film...but it sure is pretty to look at. –Steve Warren

SOMETHING IN THE AIR (NR)

 Ah, the Sixties, when for a second the world was ruled by youthful idealism, when babies were leaping out of the cradle and into the streets. Something in the Air takes place in 1971, when a second wave of students were coming of age and dabbling – or plunging – into politics. There’s not much of a plot but writer-director Olivier Assayas, obviously working autobiographically, captures the period so perfectly the film’s nostalgic value is incalculable. Relive your memories – or your parents’ or grandparents’ memories - through the music, the drugs, the demonstrations, the infighting at political meetings, the casual but ohso-meaningful sex, the mimeograph machines, the Molotov cocktails (and acts that would be considered “domestic terrorism” today), the alternative newspapers, the naïveté, the varying degrees of commitment to lovers and causes, the artistic ambitions. I visited Europe for the first time in 1970 and while I worried about being seen as an “ugly American,” I found myself accepted as part of the international youth culture. This movie brought it all back. I can’t recommend it too highly to my fellow aging hippies, but be warned: you’ll wait in vain to hear Thunderclap Newman’s title song. The French title was Apres Mai (After May). –Steve Warren

THE WE AND THE I (NR)

 The concept of The We and the I sounds like my idea of hell: being trapped on a South Bronx city bus for an hour and a half with a bunch of high-schoolers who are heading home from the last day of school before summer vacation. The result, surprisingly, is a lot closer to heaven. We learn about the youngsters gradually, even as some of them make discoveries about themselves and each other. They initially seem to fit into stereotypical categories as easily as in a John Hughes movie, but they reveal themselves to be complex individuals, better or worse than we thought. A division into three parts – The Bullies, The Chaos and The I – is arbitrary and pointless; the ride is continuous, spanning several hours – a touch of magic realism as the last student doesn’t disembark until well after dark. Except for Be Kind Rewind I’m not a fan of director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), but working with real schoolkids who use their real names and perhaps real stories, he’s developed a film that combines the best of drama and reality. –Steve Warren

COMEDY

BLUE COLLAR COMEBACK Bill Engvall & Larry the Cable Guy Return to Atlanta BY JUSTIN PATTERSON

B

ILL ENGVALL IS A VETERAN standup comedian best known as onefourth of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour (with Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy). In anticipation of his two shows at the Fox Theatre in May, we spent time with Bill talking about the past, his comedy cohorts and the pains of growing older. When you and Jeff started working together on his show, how did that come about? Jeff and I knew each other from our club days. Our paths would cross every once in a while at a club because we were both headlining at the time. He was well on his way to big times. It’s funny. I can remember being in a club – I was a fairly decent draw in the clubs, I was one of the top guys. This guy in St. Louis said, “Hey, there’s this guy out of Atlanta who is really coming on strong” and I was like, “Bring him on!” I vaguely remember as he blew by everybody. We became friends, yakking back and forth but not really hanging out because he was in Atlanta and I was in L.A. We hooked up in L.A. one night, him and his wife and me and my wife. I was getting frustrated with my manager and he said, “You ought to talk to my guy.” Then Jeff’s show got on. Funny story about Jeff’s show (The Jeff Foxworthy Show): The first time I auditioned, I auditioned to be his best friend and I didn’t get it. The show went to another network and I auditioned to be his brother. And I didn’t get it. When it went to whatever the last network it was on, he asked if I would audition to be his brother and I was like, “Jeff, you gotta quit calling. Every time you call me, I don’t get a job!” Well, we did the show together and we had a blast. Jeff’s always been very magnanimous. He asked me if I’d like to open for him, and at that time he was already doing concerts in halls and big theaters. I thought that was really nice. To be honest, I wouldn’t have asked ME to open for me! I still had that club mentality that was just Bang Bang Bang Bang, you know, really fast. Of course, every time I thought I did really well they would introduce Jeff and the room would just explode so I learned real quick that I wasn’t as good as I thought I was. It was a huge step but I learned a lot from Jeff, like how to work a bigger room. It IS different. Then we went and did our own thing, then the Blue Collar thing came up and we did that forever and it’s just been a real nice relationship. Do you like working the larger rooms, where you have more time to interact with the audience? Yeah, I do. With the arenas you make more money, but I prefer the smaller performing arts venues, the 1700 to 2500 seat theaters. It has to have a more intimate feel. You know, the Fox Theatre has a great feel to it. It’s still a theater and you have that great feel. When you get into arenas, while it’s awesome for us I don’t think it’s that great for the ticket buyer unless you’re just right up front. How did you two wind up working with Larry and Ron? We had known Ron from the club days. Ron was an open mic guy who was just getting started when I was there, and Jeff knew of him. I will say this: Ron White could be one of the funniest people out there. Larry, I didn’t know that well but Jeff knew him. They had worked together. There was actually another guy on the original Blue Collar out of St. Louis but it just didn’t work out and Jeff said,

“I’ve got this guy.” I didn’t know him but I trust Jeff’s opinion so I said “Sure” and it was just what the Blue Collar needed. When Larry came on, it was that little kid kind of cartoon. Jeff and I are similar in a lot of ways in our standup, as far as delivery goes and material choice, family-style kind of comedy. We needed somebody - other than just Ron – to be a little different than we were. Larry fit the bill to a T. He’s probably the biggest redneck of anybody! What do you have planned for your shows at the Fox Theatre? When Blue Collar ended. . . Larry and I enjoy each other’s company and we like playing golf together. They decided to have us try a couple of dates with just us and it worked. Reno Collier – who opens – was on it and it all worked so well. We started doing these and it’s been fun. As for this show at the Fox, we’re bringing in. . . well, obviously I can’t speak for what Larry’s bringing, by my show’s going to be about me getting older and having to deal with the new issues that are coming into my life. The other day I got carded! It was to see if I get a discount. I talk about that, I’ll obviously do some of “Here’s your sign,” talk about my wife and I being empty-nesters and getting used to that again. It’s like I said the other day, “You ever get the look from your wife, like if your name wasn’t on the bills you’d be out the door?” Are you familiar enough with Atlanta that you know where you want to go? There’s places when I come to Atlanta! See, I used to work there back at the old Punchline. If I have the time, I’m always going to go by the Buckhead Diner and get some blue cheese potato chips. I always liked Atlanta. It’s always been a real fun town. If there’s a day game we’ll always try to catch a Braves game. Larry’s a big Braves fan. In fact, when we shot Blue Collar TV we shot a whole segment with them. It was really funny! Me, I’ve always liked Atlanta. Plus, when we shot Blue Collar TV we were there for six months so we really got to know the town. What would you tell people about the shows coming up? The reason I think people should come out to the show is that it’s one of those shows where you can come in and just have the time of your life. Some people go to see a comedy show and it’s like, “Ugh.” This is a show where I guarantee you laughs! With Reno, me and Larry, there’s gonna be SOMEthing to make you laugh. With all the stuff that’s going on in the world right now, we all need to laugh.


THEATER

FIFTY SHADES OF FUN!

BY MARCI MILLER

T

HE BEST SELLING BOOK, FIFTY Shades of Grey took women by storm when it was published a few years ago. Housewives, Soccer Moms, Twenty Something Singles and College Coeds all devoured the series of books, which stirred the passion of women across the country and across the globe. So, first there was the book and now there is the show. SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody is the hilarious new musical that brings all the naughty fun of the best-selling book to life. You will be will be laughing out loud with this new imagining of the characters as they come to life with sharp-witted comedy, musical numbers, steamy and fun performances from the hunky leading man, plus lots of surprises! Get there early for pre-show cocktails, then stay to meet the cast after the show, and pose for a photo with the fetching star himself. We recently had the chance to speak with Gabe Bowling who plays Hugh Hanson, the character based on Christian Grey. What can the audiences expect to see from SPANK!? Basically what you have is a borderline, sketch comedy send up of Fifty Shades of Grey. And I play a rich billionaire, Hugh Hanson, with a very dark past and then we have a virgin who is created from nothing by this writer. And there are three of us on the stage and the writer is the narrator of the entire show and she is writing us into all kinds of interesting scenarios. Is the audience all women, are there any men there? Yes there are men, we’re getting more and more men at the show in each city because word is starting to spread that the show is not exclusively for women. It’s a funny show across the board. You’ll always get husbands being dragged along by their wives but they’ve been having a positive response. But that being said, the show is definitely a great “girls night out” and the audience, for the most part, is the same demographic as Fifty Shades of Grey. The show really does stand on its own without even having read the book. And it’s got a lot of references to pop culture... its not really exclusive to Fifty Shades of Grey. Do the women just go crazy during the show? Usually, the audience is full of women essentially having the time of their lives. They have a lot of SPANK! themed cocktails in the lobby and they usually imbibe in a few of those and have gotten themselves into the

GABE BOWLING STARS IN SPANK!

frame of mind for watching this sort of thing. We’ve literally have had nothing but amazing audiences since moment one. What would be considered a bad show, would be considered a phenomenal show if you were doing any other piece of theatre.

decatur-bch-party-insite-ad-2013.pdf

1

We hear the cast comes out at the end to take photos, tell us about that.. At the end of the show, we come out to the lobby afterwards and we have props. Some of the women like to get tied up get a picture for Facebook. Sometimes I’ll tie them up with my tie...

2:16 PM

Purchase in advance at DecaturDBA.com

When you tried out for the show, did you know what you were getting yourself into? I definitely did not know what I was getting myself into. I had barely even heard of the books. I had to have a friend explain to me what Fifty Shades of Grey was, I looked it up on Wikipedia and did all my research in the short amount of time I had before my audition. Then I got the script and its so funny. It’s written by a lot of people from Second City so it’s really a hilarious script. Has there been anything in the show that has really embarrassed you? As an actor, you’re going to find yourself doing a lot of things for money. And I definitely was made aware by producers and the creative team of just how much skin we were going to be showing. And it’s not like we’re re-enacting Fifty Shades of Grey, it’s a parody. It’s very much a comedy, but it’s steamy. Most of the racier content from the book gets filtered through a comedic medium and they find tasteful ways to put this up in front of large audiences. At one point in the show, I have a burlesque number that I end up only in a pair of Batman underoos, I’m definitely scantily clad through a decent chunk of the show.

4/29/13

at the gate

Tickets for Children ages 3-12: $5 ea. (Includes all games and activities)

Free admission for children 2 and under.

Dig Your Toes into 60 Tons of Sand on the Ponce de Leon Beach! the

Friday June 14

Live Music and Dancing

5-11 PM

Kids Boardwalk Games

original and official Jimmy Buffet tribute band

A1A

For the Kids: Douglas Brake and Sizzle, Hiss, Pop

Sponsored by:

Your Neighborhood Pizzeria!

SPANK! is not associated with, nor authorized by, author E.L. James or Vintage Press

BEST PIZZA!

& Multiple Atlanta Locations: www.JohnnysPizza.com insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 15


CONCERT CALENDAR FRIDAY MAY 3 529 Night Beats BLIND WILLIES Houserocker Johnson CENTER STAGE Device EARL 500 Songs For Kids EDDIE’S ATTIC David Jacobs-Strain FAT MATT’S John Sosebee PEACHTREE TAVERN The Dreaded Marco SMITH’S Assembly of Dust VARIETY Iris Dement VINYL Sounds of Venus

FAT MATT’S Fat Back Deluxe MASQUERADE Father John Misty SMITH’S Zangaro TABERNACLE Bassnectar VARIETY Searching for Sugarman VINYL The Hodags

SATURDAY MAY 4 529 Josette BLIND WILLIES Francine Reed EARL 500 Songs For Kids EDDIE’S ATTIC Amy Space FAT MATT’S Kerry Hill LOFT Iamx MASQUERADE Shaky Knees Music Fest SMITH’S All The Locals VARIETY Tinsley Ellis VINYL Afton Showcase

MONDAY MAY 13 BLIND WILLIES Bill Sheffield EDDIE’S ATTIC Songwriter’s Open Mic FAT MATT’S Pead Boy & Pork Bellys

SUNDAY MAY 5 CENTER STAGE Robert Glasper EARL Marnie Stern EDDIE’S ATTIC Jenny & Tyler FAT MATT’S Tony Bryant MASQUERADE Shaky Knees Music Fest SMITH’S Belly Dance Extravaganza VERIZON Styx, REO Speedwagon & Ted Nugent MONDAY MAY 6 529 Doesin BLIND WILLIES Barrelhouse Bob Page CENTER STAGE Olly Murs EARL Brown Bird EDDIE’S ATTIC Songwriter’s Open Mic FAT MATT’S Pead Boy & Pork Bellys TUESDAY MAY 7 529 Barren Girls BLIND WILLIES Boo Hoo Ramblers EARL SL Jones EDDIE’S ATTIC Atlanta By Six FAT MATT’S Crosstown Allstars MASQUERADE Tera Melos SMITH’S Beth Hart TABERNACLE Soundgarden WEDNESDAY MAY 8 529 TWINS BLIND WILLIES Andrew Black EARL Catch 23 EDDIE’S ATTIC ATL Collective FAT MATT’S Frankie’s Blues Mission SMITH’S Wheeler Brothers TABERNACLE Soundgarden THURSDAY MAY 9 529 Ominous Castle BLIND WILLIES Steve James EARL Goatwhore EDDIE’S ATTIC Tyler Lyle FAT MATT’S Chickenshack MASQUERADE The Weeks PEACHTREE TAVERN Reckless Kelly SMITH’S Oliver Mtukudzi & The Back Spirits TABERNACLE Phoenix w/ Urge Overkill VINYL Fight the Quiet FRIDAY MAY 10 529 Torche BLIND WILLIES Sandra Hall EARL Torres EDDIE’S ATTIC Andy Davis FAT MATT’S Atlanta Boogie MASQUERADE Georgia Music Awards PEACHTREE TAVERN A Live One SMITH’S Gregory Alan Isakov TABERNACLE Bassnectar VINYL Cody Marlowe & The Dead Flowers SATURDAY MAY 11 BLIND WILLIES Beverly Watkins CENTER STAGE Alkaline Trio EARL Generationals EDDIE’S ATTIC Cumberland Collective PG 16 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com

SUNDAY MAY 12 AARON’S Tim McGraw EDDIE’S ATTIC Liz Longley FAT MATT’S Tony Bryant

TUESDAY MAY 14 529 Abby Gogo BLIND WILLIES Atlanta Boogie CENTER STAGE Justin Furstenfeld EARL Titus Andronicus EDDIE’S ATTIC Emily White Band FAT MATT’S Crosstown Allstars MASQUERADE Paper Route VARIETY Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band WEDNESDAY MAY 15 529 Twin Sister BLIND WILLIES Electromatics CENTER STAGE Clutch EARL The Hotels EDDIE’S ATTIC The Trishas FAT MATT’S Frankie’s Blues Mission MASQUERADE Adam Faucett VARIETY The Breeders VINYL Tallhart THURSDAY MAY 16 529 Cosmonauts BLIND WILLIES Sweet Betty EARL Pacific UV EDDIE’S ATTIC Chris Stapleton FAT MATT’S Chickenshack PEACHTREE TAVERN Big Trouble VINYL Volt Music Series FRIDAY MAY 17 529 Wizard Smoke BLIND WILLIES Sandra Hall EARL St. Paul & the Broken Bones EDDIE’S ATTIC Randall Bramblett FAT MATT’S Rough Draft MASQUERADE Smokey’s Farmland Band PEACHTREE TAVERN Offbeat Hooligans SMITH’S 500 Songs for Kids TABERNACLE Kip Moore w/ Drake White VARIETY Satisfaction VERIZON The Avett Brothers VINYL Casey Veggies & Travi$ Scott SATURDAY MAY 18 529 Natural Child BLIND WILLIES Houserocker Johnson CENTER STAGE Ryan Bingham EARL Trippin Balls EDDIE’S ATTIC The Bitteroots FAT MATT’S Ron Cooley & The Hard Times MASQUERADE Lauren Mann PEACHTREE TAVERN Cole Swindell SMITH’S 500 Songs for Kids VERIZON Darius Rucker VINYL Rahbi SUNDAY MAY 19 EDDIE’S ATTIC Lera Lynn & Barnaby Bright FAT MATT’S Tony Bryant LOFT The Hush Sound & Hockey TABERNACLE Luis Enrique MONDAY MAY 20 529 Goldendust BLIND WILLIES Little G EDDIE’S ATTIC Songwriter’s Open Mic FAT MATT’S Pead Boy & Pork Bellys VARIETY Sara Bareilles TUESDAY MAY 21 529 Lily & The Tigers BLIND WILLIES The Hollidays

EARL Chicken & Pigs EDDIE’S ATTIC Josh Schicker FAT MATT’S Crosstown Allstars MASQUERADE Attack Attack! TABERNACLE Paramore WEDNESDAY MAY 22 BLIND WILLIES Scott Glazer’s Mojo Dojo EARL !!! EDDIE’S ATTIC Mary Bragg FAT MATT’S Frankie’s Blues Mission PEACHTREE TAVERN Funktapuss VARIETY Bo Burnham THURSDAY MAY 23 529 Laundry Room Squelchers BLIND WILLIES Tommy Brown EARL The Features FAT MATT’S Chickenshack VINYL Afton Showcase FRIDAY MAY 24 BLIND WILLIES Sandra Hall EARL Waller EDDIE’S ATTIC Jen Foster FAT MATT’S Funky Bluester MASQUERADE Tetrarc SMITH’S Haley & Alexis VINYL Pink Pompeii SATURDAY MAY 25 BLIND WILLIES Houserocker Johnson CENTER STAGE Shahram Solati EARL Mount Carmel EDDIE’S ATTIC Firehouse Guitar’s Student Showcase FAT MATT’S The Jumpin’ Jukes SMITH’S Saint Francis SUNDAY MAY 26 BLIND WILLIES Electromatics EARL Sans Abri EDDIE’S ATTIC The Steeldrivers FAT MATT’S Tony Bryant MASQUERADE Krisium PEACHTREE TAVERN Rose for Tomorrow SMITH’S SoMo

MONDAY MAY 27 529 UV RACE EDDIE’S ATTIC Songwriter’s Open Mic FAT MATT’S Pead Boy & Pork Bellys TUESDAY MAY 28 529 ATL Death Fest BLIND WILLIES Mudcat EARL The Men FAT MATT’S Crosstown Allstars MASQUERADE Version City Tour WEDNESDAY MAY 29 529 Concerd America BLIND WILLIES Page Tigner Wauchope CENTER STAGE Baroness EARL Black Pus EDDIE’S ATTIC Adron FAT MATT’S Frankie’s Blues Mission PEACHTREE TAVERN The Velcro Pygmies THURSDAY MAY 30 529 Ocho Lord BLIND WILLIES Beverly Watkins EARL Colliseum EDDIE’S ATTIC Sydney Rhame FAT MATT’S Chickenshack MASQUERADE Arsis SMITH’S Red Cup Party TABERNACLE Test for Eztab10r FRIDAY MAY 31 529 Satan’s Satyrs BLIND WILLIES Sandra Hall CENTER STAGE Eric Roberson EARL O’Brother EDDIE’S ATTIC James McCartney FAT MATT’S Sana Blues MASQUERADE Georgia Music Awards SMITH’S Copious Jones VARIETY Best Coast VERIZON Tony Bennett

AARON’S AMPHITHEATRE presents Tim McGraw (May 12)


O n SalE

nOw! Sun: May 5

Fri: July 19

The River’s 97 Days Of Summer Kick Off Concert

Styx / REO SpEEdwagOn tEd nugEnt Fri: May 17

thE avEtt BROthERS Old Crow Medicine Show

daRiuS RuckER

Fri: July 26

BaREnakEd ladiES BEn FOldS FivE / guStER

Fri: May 31

tOny BEnnEtt

with very special guest Jackie Evancho with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Sat: July 27

kEith uRBan

Sat: June 1

Little Big Town / Dustin Lynch

Summerland Tour 2013

EvERclEaR / livE FiltER / SpOngE

August 13

pEtER FRamptOn / B.B. king SOnny landREth

Fri: June 21

hank williamS, JR. gREgg allman

SATURDAY, JULY 20

AARON'S AMPHITHEATRE AT LAKEWOOD

Sat: August 24

On SalE Sat, may 4 at nOOn

LABOR DAY! Sep 2

On SalE FRi, may 10 at 10am

StS9 / umphREy’S mcgEE

On SalE Sat, may 4 at 10am

ciRQuE muSica

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Sat: July 20

thE Black cROwES tEdESchi tRuckS Band Last Summer On Earth 2013

Justin Moore / Jana Kramer

allman BROthERS Band

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Jere Flint, conductor Fri: July 5

Bombino

The London Souls

Sat: May 18

Sun: June 30

ROBERt plant pRESEntS thE SEnSatiOnal SpacE ShiFtERS

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

On SalE Sat, may 4 at 10am

all-amERican cElEBRatiOn

Sat: September 7

StEEly dan Sat: September 28

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Jere Flint, conductor•Vocalists•Fireworks July 16 /July 17

Fall Out BOy Panic! At The Disco October 8

Fun.

phiSh

For the latest concert calendar & venue info, visit VZWAMP.COM CHARGE BY PHONE: 800-745-3000. ALL DATES, ACTS AND TICKET PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. TICKET PRICES SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE FEES.

Tickets available at all Ticketmaster outlets • TICKETMASTER.COM

Tickets also at the Amphitheatre box office and the Woodruff Arts Center box office. All artists and schedules subject to change without notice. All tickets subject to service charge. Concerts rain or shine.

The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES BEGINS! Presented By

Los Lobos

Los Lonely Boys

May May 12 June 6

18

Two Lanes of Freedom Tour

Tim McGraw w/ Love and Theft and Brantley Gilbert Farmers Insurance Presents

Rascal Flatts w/ The Band Perry and Cassadee Pope

June 23

Brad Paisley w/ Chris Young and The Henningsens

June 27

Pitbull & Ke$ha

Fri, July 12 Sat, July 20 July 30 July 31 Sat, Aug 3

America’s Most Wanted Music Festival

Lil’ Wayne w/ T.I.

311 w/ Cypress Hill, G. Love and Special Sauce Rockstar Energy Drink Presents

Mayhem Festival w/ Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Mastodon, Amon Amarth and many more! Mermaids of Alcatraz Tour

Train w/ Gavin Degraw and The Script Blake Shelton w/ Easton Corbin and Jana Kramer

Sept 12

Depeche Mode

Sept 16 Fri, Sept 27

For more concert information visit us on twitter, Facebook G

G

Matchbox Twenty and Goo Goo Dolls w/ Kate Earl

Aug 29

Sat, Sept 14

2013

Kid Rock w/ ZZ Top and Uncle Kracker Honda Civic Tour

Maroon 5 w/ Kelly Clarkson and PJ Morton Born & Raised Tour

John Mayer w/ Phillip Phillips

4PACK LAWN TICKETS available for select shows

G/AaronsAmphitheatreAtLakewood U@LiveNationATL CHARGE BY PHONE : 800-745-3000. All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. Ticket prices subject to applicable fees.

201 McIntosh Trail Peachtree City, GA 30269

June

June

29

8

World Classic Rockers

The Temptations ....and The Four Tops

Spotlight Concert July 12 Where the Action Is Tour

July The Ultimate Tribute

20

CALL FOR TICKETS 770.631.0630

www.amphitheater.org insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 17


TV

Steve Litman Presents

BECOMING JUNE

Singer-songwriter spent last June in the role of iconic Mrs. Johnny Cash in “Ring Of Fire” BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

S

JUNE 4 – 7:30PM FOX THEATRE Tickets Available At And The Fox Ticket Office LLCoolJ.com IceCube.com | PublicEnemy.com DeLaSoul.com

BEST PATIO in Buckhead

PG 18 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com

ITTING ON THE STAGE OF THE Tabernacle, Atlanta’s folk-art adorned church-turned-concert-venue, director Allison Anders leans forward in her canvas chair, intently watching singer-songwriter Jewel prepare to shoot a transitional scene. As players in the roles of the Tennessee Three file past, she points toward Jewel and excitedly says, “She talks, she moves, even her posture is June Carter. She’s June!” She’s really set the bar for new actors.” Later, new mom Jewel joins Anders, settling into a director’s chair, appropriately emblazoned JUNE on the back. It’s between shots, and Jewel is in full costume, with dark wig, vintage dress, blue contacts, and prosthetic teeth. She’d just breast-fed her then-11-month old son backstage and was eager to discuss her role in “Ring Of Fire,” a made for Lifetime Television film, originally set to debut last fall, but finally slated to air on Monday, May 27 at 8 p.m. “When I work with musicians, there’s a persona that they bring, an ease on stage,” continues Anders, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker who often casts legendary rock and punk artists in her films. “Jewel knew exactly how the guys in the band would be teasing her, and how to exit the stage. She brings a realism that is beautiful. She’s really set the bar for new actors.” You almost expect to hear June’s familiar voice the minute Jewel begins to speak. She saved that for the cameras during a grueling schedule that captured an incredible five decades of June Carter’s life in the ultracondensed span of a 19-day shoot. Even by high-pressure television standards, it was fast paced -- but Jewel says she loved the challenge and the constant costume and wig changes. Including a week of pre-production, recording new vocal tracks at a nearby studio, the entire production was completed during the sweltering month of, you guessed it, June. “I did a movie a long time ago, [1999’s “Ride With The Devil”] and looked at trying to maybe do both careers, music and acting,” she says. “It’s hard to balance it all and have a personal life so I made a conscious decision to stop. I didn’t think I’d ever go back to acting. And then, with my baby, I haven’t been touring because I don’t want to do anything to really take me away from him. But I got this call out of the blue. They said I could bring him with me on-set so I could keep breast-feeding.” Actor Matt Ross (“Big Love,” “The Aviator”) capably co-stars as Johnny but he’s a secondary character in the story. This is June’s muchdeserved moment in the spotlight. The film continues in the tradition of Jewel’s role in Lilith Fair [the popular late ‘90s concert tour that featured Jewel alongside several generations of influential female musicians] and Anders’ dedication to strong, female-led features. It’s an emotionally raw look at June’s career, marriages and family. Unlike “Walk The Line,” this account isn’t cold, hard Cash, it’s exclusively told from June’s perspective. “It deals with some hard issues and there are some tough scenes in it,” Jewel says. “It spans her life.” John Carter Cash’s 2007 book, Anchored in Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash is the basis for the screenplay and Jewel promises the film will offer plenty of fresh insight. “People know that she was loyal, and all about that side of her, but she was also very

funny. She was a comedian and she wrote songs.” June even co-wrote one of Johnny’s biggest hits, the title-referenced “Ring Of Fire.” With this version of the story, Jewel says that even casual fans can learn more about the real person behind the often-brash image. “I think people will see a different side of her because this movie is really able to get inside of her and focus on the real June. She was very bright and really complicated.” To become June, Jewel says the first step was to find that distinctive voice. “One of my favorite things was to get her accent. She had a really specific way of speaking and I like that. And it’s completely different than my speaking voice. Getting that down really helped me find her character.” Also helpful was the fact that she can relate to June on several intensely personal levels. “I was raised in a musical family, too. In a very rural small town. We grew up on a homestead, had an outhouse and no running water. “And,” she laughs, “I had squirrel stew as a kid, same as June did!” She smiled when reminded that during the ‘96 Olympics, the real Johnny and June performed at the Tabernacle, then part of the House Of Blues franchise, on the exact spot where she was sitting. “I got to open for them in England,” she says, recalling fond memories of her successful, late ’90s European tour. “I had sold out the Royal Albert Hall two nights in a row and I was headed on to the next city, but the promoter said, ‘Hey, Johnny and June need an opener, would you consider staying and opening for them?’ I was tickled to do it.” “They were very gracious,” she continues. “June had nice perfume on. I said, ‘You smell lovely!’ She said, ‘You want my perfume?’ I said, ’Oh no, no, no. I wasn’t hinting that I want your perfume.’ But she wouldn’t take no for an answer! She went through all of her luggage and dug out that bottle of perfume and gave it to me. It was very sweet.” “She doesn’t deserve to be known as just Johnny Cash’s wife,” Jewel concludes. “She deserves to be known for the all talents she had. I think this movie really portrays that. I really think it will surprise a lot of people.” And Jewel’s fans will be surprised by just how much –for at least for one humid month in Atlanta–she totally became June. “Ring Of Fire” airs Monday, May 27 at 8 p.m. on Lifetime.

I HAD SQUIRREL STEW AS A KID, SAME AS JUNE DID.

Photo Credit: Lifetime


WE GOT NEXT CENTER OF THE SUN

Artists on the verge of making it big

Latest Project: Machine Gun (Mayfly) For Fans of: Creepoid, Joy Formidable and Denali Why You Should Care: Because former black metal duo Rick Contes and Chris Nolen surprised everyone by turning out an impressive shoegazer-style indie record with their new band.

BY JOHN B. MOORE

T

HOSE FAMILIAR WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA crust-metal band Young And In The Way would be forgiven for assuming the follow-up project from members Rick Contes and Chris Nolen would be just as ferocious. Not to give too much away, but Center of the Sun has more in common with a shoegaze band like Joy Formidable than a black metal outfit like Gorgoroth. The band, originally a duo, built up to their current fivepiece lineup last summer and quickly got to work on their

eight-song debut, Machine Gun. Though touring is difficult for Center of the Sun, with all members holding down day jobs, they have already started work on new music. Guitarist/vocalist Contes spoke with us recently about the new release and how the new band came together. Given the output from Young And In The Way, I was not expecting Center of the Sun to sound like they do. Did you make a conscious decision to make different music with this band? I think the answer to that is obvious. That should be apparent in the fact that Center of the Sun and Young And In The Way are not just two completely different bands, but also two different entities that have no ties except for two shared members. Furthermore, there seems to be a sort of dissonance among those who stumble upon the fact that Chris (Nolen, guitar) and I play in such drastically different bands. I guess for us it sort of shines a light on the fact that there are those that simply can’t comprehend the fact that no one is limited to playing one style of music. We aren’t 14-year-old kids. The two bands are only a fraction of the various styles and genres wrapped up in our own personal influences. How did the band first come about? Center of the Sun first came about in late 2010, with our drummer Ben (Gascho) and I. We got together and recorded a three-song demo we called Blues. Since then we had a couple different versions of Center of the Sun, but it didn’t get serious until Ally (Hoffmann) joined on vocals in Summer 2012.

Road Warriors

This Month’s Hottest Shows BY SACHA DZUBA

IMAY 7 & 8 - SOUNDGARDEN

you with her ability to touch the hearts and minds of both men and women alike.

The Tabernacle One of the biggest progenitors of Seattle’s grunge movement, Soundgarden are reunited and touring together again! Post Down on the Upside (their last album, from ‘97) and the ashes of supergroup Audioslave; they’re supporting King Animal, their first album in 16 years. Though many will attend this show to hear their past hits, their new material stands up surprisingly well and is a natural extension of where they left off in ‘97. Their complexity of sound, passionate intensity, and musicianship is entirely unmarred by their time apart. A brilliant night of heady hard rock and metal “for people who don’t like heavy metal”…and for those that do.

MAY 29 - OURS

MAY 20 - SARA BARIELLES

MAY 31 - TONY BENNETT W/ JACKIE EVANCHO

Variety Playhouse 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 touring to preview and support her upcoming release, The Blessed Unrest. Though undeniably “for girls”, Sara Bareilles is a consummate performer and will surprise

The Drunken Unicorn Ours is melodic, melancholic, & majestic; featuring incredible vocals, brilliantly crafted songs, and one of the best rock screams you will ever hear. Frontman Jimmy Gnecco has a perfectly controlled falsetto that echoes Jeff Buckley and a soulful vocal style that is entirely his own. On the cusp of releasing their latest album, Ballet the Boxer, this tour will see them performing new music along with favorites from previous releases. Do not miss this perfect opportunity to see and hear Ours, a fantastic and sadly overlooked band, in an incredibly intimate setting. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre One of the still remaining classic and classy crooners, Tony Bennett rose to prominence alongside great performers such as Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Rosemary Clooney. Known for his instantly recognizable powerhouse of a voice, he has spent over 60 years performing and recording songs from “The Great American Songbook”. Think of Michael Buble or Diana Krall, but with the style and pizzazz of an American James Bond. His shows are filled with warmth, showmanship, exquisite musicianship, and good-natured humor. Tony is 85 and still going strong, a living musical treasure. Don’t miss this fantastic performer along with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and special guest, 12 year old Jackie Evancho!

When did you start work on the songs that made it on to the debut? The song “And I Am Left With Ludwig” is actually the first song ever written under the name Center of the Sun. It was on the Blues EP. So our writing on Machine Gun dates back to 2010. The track “Cease” is one song that was written in 2011 that made it onto the album. I had been working on “Home” and “Pull and Drag” back in 2011 as well. All of the material is kind of a collection of the past three years rolled into one. Is this a one-off project or do you plan on making more records? We’re definitely not a one-off project. We are currently writing and planning our next releases. We will stop making music as Center of the Sun when we feel it’s time to move on. That could be later this year, or later this decade. If our inspiration for this music dies, we will cease to be. Any tour plans yet? Chris and I hold full-time jobs for an E-commerce company, and our bassist Joe (Elmore) is a full-time pilot for a major airline. So touring isn’t an option for us at this point in time. We all have a lot of other stuff going on in our lives, so we play shows when we can all make it happen. What’s next for the band? The vinyl release for Machine Gun is coming within the next 6 weeks. We will do a record release show for this, along with an appearance at Treasure Fest 2013 (Charlotte, NC). After that, we will continue the writing process we are currently wrapped up in and go from there.

COLUMN

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insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 19


MUSIC

MUSIC

Album Reviews Reviews by B. Love, John B. Moore, & Lee Valentine Smith

The Dean’s List DEAD CONFEDERATE – In The Marrow (Spiderbomb/RedEye) Stretching creative boundaries, to great effect BL: A lot of things have changed over the years for Dead Confederate. Longtime drummer Jason Scarboro is gone, replaced by Nick Sterchi of The Bohannons. Former label TAO is also out of the picture, with In The Marrow (their third LP) released on the band’s own Spiderbomb Records label. Almost all traces of their southern jam band influences appear to be gone as well, replaced by the most original, creatively focused songwriting arrangements of the band’s career. The album opens with the hallucinatory “Slow Poisons,” an eerie 7-minute epic that weaves Walker Howle’s reverberating guitars, Hardy Morris’ echoing vocal mantras, and John Watkins’ trippy synth washes over a hypnotic rhythmic backdrop provided by Senn and studio drummer J.J. Bower. The song wouldn’t sound out of place on an early Floyd album, and represents a new step forward in the evolution of Dead Confederate’s sound. Not every song on In The Marrow proves quite so sprawling: “Vacations” is straightforward post-punk/pop from the Nirvana school; the subterranean bassline, angular guitar and catchy vocal harmonies of “Bleed-Through” sounds like the Pixies in their prime; and the breathtaking closing ballad “Winter Waters” evokes the wideopen sonic spaces of Canada’s Great Lake Swimmers’ early work. But when the band does stretch out– as they do on five of the album’s eight tracks– Dead Confederate suddenly seems more epic and ambitious than their previous albums suggested. Recorded with David Barbe at Athens’ Chase Park Transduction, songs such as the lumbering title track, the dynamically built “Best of the Worst,” and the achingly melancholy “Big City Life” suggest that Dead Confederate is more interested in being career artists than the Next Big Thing. Word on the street has it they’re planning to release a fourth album before the end of 2013. If it’s anywhere as good as In The Marrow, I expect the band will be one of Georgia’s finest for many years to come.

ELVIS – Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite (Sony Legacy) The King is resurrected… sort of JM: Whether fat or skinny, Elvis always put on one hell of a show. Nowhere is there a better example of how great he was as a performer than Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite (ok, with the possible exception of his 1972 Live from Madison Square Garden shows). Recorded during his skinny phase, just for the record, the album is an amazing example of just how badass a performer he really was. PG 20 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com

Originally released in January of ’73, Sony Legacy is now re-releasing the 24-track album with a second CD comprised of the dress rehearsal set (including five bonus tracks). The set list includes Elvis standards like “Suspicious Minds,” “Burning Love,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “Blue Suede Shoes” along with a slew of Elvis-fied covers like ‘70s staple “My Way,” a beautiful take on Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and James Taylor’s cheeky parody “Steamroller Blues.” The concert, which was supposedly inspired by Nixon’s trip to China, was a way for Elvis to act as an ambassador to the world by beaming his show via satellite across the globe. And The King could obviously back up his manager ’s boastful claims that a billion would tune in, as the show actually drew in 1.5 billion worldwide, with people in over 40 countries watching. Sony Legacy has been churning out new versions of Elvis’ catalogue bit by bit for years now, but this is one of those repackaged collections that is certainly worth owning.

THE WOGGLES – The Big Beat (Wicked Cool) Garage-rock flashback to the Nuggets era BL: Taking o b v i o u s inspiration from the Kinks, the Who, and every band who ever appeared on a Nuggets compilation, The Woggles’ raw rock ‘n’ roll remains steeped in nostalgia. But by adding elements of R&B, blues, rockabilly and surf music, the band manages to craft a distinctive sound that has made them a favorite of tastemakers like Steven Van Zandt. On their first album since 2009’s Tempo Tantrum, they don’t stray too far from their fun, frenzied formula. But then again, why fix it if ain’t broke? The Big Beat opens with a bang on the aptly titled “Take It To The People,” where brassy horns and rollicking drums back Manfred’s fervent sing-shout proselytizing. By the time he urges the band to “wop these people upside the head” three times, James Brown-style, on the bridge, you’ll be ready to convert to the Woggles’ retro-rock religion. From the thunderous beat of “Don’t Think I Can Wait That Long” and the distorted guitar romp of “Big Beat Strong” to the boogiewoogie jive of “Move” and the furiously funky “Stand,” this album is 35 minutes of infectious, unadulterated fun. I’m not sure why these Athens-based rockers never became huge like hometown peers the B-52s, but the bands

are definitely cut from similarly celebratory cloths. And if The Big Beat is any indication, the Woggles have more than enough fuel in the tank to keep the retro-rock party going another 25 years.

Rest of the Class

THE NADAS – Lovejoy Revival (Authenti) Iowa-based bar-rockers still going at it JM: The Iowa music scene was pretty diverse in 1995. Sadly, the band most people commonly associate with that scene is Slipknot, the ridiculous costumed metal kids (whose shtick is only rivaled in goofiness by the Insane Clown Posse). It’s strange to imagine, then, that a gimmick-free band with real musical talent, The Nadas, was formed in the same year just 30 miles away. Eight albums, a slew of lineup changes and 18 years later, The Nadas are still at it, sounding like your favorite bar band. Their latest album is among their strongest, with songs like the blues-infused “New Place to Hide” and the rollicking “Honor.” But on other spots throughout the record, The Nadas sound a bit dated, like they’re still stuck in the mid-‘90s, trying to keep up with groups like The BoDeans and Dillon Fence. Those rough spots, thankfully, are few and far between, and the net result is a strong album that will likely appeal to longtime fans while bringing in new ones along for the ride. (B)

ELLEN FOLEY – About Time (Self-released) Don’t call it a comeback LVS: Even though she hasn’t released an album in 30 years, singeractress Ellen Foley has continued to be an in-demand presence, with work in TV (Night Court) Broadway (Hair) and films (Tootsie, Fatal Attraction). But her voice has lived on in classic rock history as the duet partner of Meatloaf in the steamy “Paradise By The Dashboard Light.” Her “Stop right there!” declaration at the song’s crucial plot twist has been her siren call for decades. Now, the same voice that graced that overwrought hit returns to the front with this independently-released collection, a welcome return for Foley’s toughbut-vulnerable vocal styling. The same school of edgy delivery that propelled Chrissie Hynde to iconic levels never quite translated to superstardom for Foley, but the new album is a deserving addition to her catalog of previous releases, which all featured a who’s-who of her musical pals (Ian Hunter, The Clash). Backed by her band of studio pros, the Worried Men, there’s no doubt of Foley’s talent. Opening with the cautionary “If You Can’t Be Good,” she delivers a powerful performance piece that showcases her fragile and tender side (“Nobody Ever Died From Crying”) and a coy wink and nod

to her own considerable history (“Around the Block and Back”). You won’t find this great album at Target, but seek it out at your favorite indie store or download it from an online retailer. It’s definitely worth the search. (B+)

THE RIVERBREAKS – Wildfire (self-released) D.C. Americana band brings Gram Parsons to kind JM: D.C.– based band The Riverbreaks’ second release sounds like it was birthed somewhere in a cabin off the Appalachian Trail, or maybe in a series of roadside diners along Tennessee’s Interstate 40, with its deeply Americana sound blending country with pop music. So it’s a bit surprising to hear singer Ryan Bailey admit that Wildfire was penned entirely while visiting the Costa Rican Jungle. There’s hardly a weak track on the record, which brings to mind everyone from Gram Parsons to Ryan Adams in his Whiskeytown days. Produced by the dB’s Chris Stamey (who also plays cello, synth and harmonium on the record), Wildfire is a welcome reminder that, once you turn off the radio, there are still plenty of great musicians making remarkable music with no sights set on the charts. The Riverbreaks are content to make songs that will outlive the current whims of today’s mainstream tastemakers. (B+)

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS – Nanobots (Megaforce) The return of indie-rock’s wittiest singer/songwriter duo LVS: Over the past three decades, this B r o o k l y n duo (John Flansburgh and John Linnell) has evolved into the Rodgers & Hart, or Cander & Ebb of hyper-witty song-craft. It’s not just their quirky wordplay; the backing musical beds are just as wacky, with honks, squonks, occasional blasts of garage-rock noise, and even chamber string ensembles. With a back catalog so extensive and exhaustive, TMBG often have to consult the Internet when they dig out a deep cut for their overachieving live shows or compilations. Their latest release, Nanobots, crams 25 exhaustingly diverse and time-warping tracks into a 45- minute set. The results are typically enjoyable, with the usual kaleidoscopic subject matter ranging from “Call You Mom,” a sharp ‘60s-informed rock anthem, to the noir intrigue of “Black Ops,” to the decidedly ambitious “Darlings of Lumberland.” The Giants often offer a history lesson or two, and this album features a short but informative take on “Tesla” (the scientist, not the band). TMBG offers up one of their signature short tracks as well, with “Sleep” clocking in at just 38 seconds! While not necessarily one of their landmark recordings, this is another chapter in the band’s how-to course on creative renewal. Linnell and Flansburgh continue to tap into a seemingly bottomless well of creativity, and Nanobots is another weird, wired, and often hilarious maze of sonic pleasure. (B)


Summer

FILM

MOVIE PREVIEW

2013

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

I

T WOULDN’T BE SUMMER WITHOUT a parade of sequels and remakes. But even the hardest-to-please movie-goer should find plenty to like (and good-naturedly hate) this year. Here is a non-scientific sampling of some of the best and worst new theatrical films scheduled for the upcoming season.

MAY 10 “THE GREAT GATSBY”

The Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire. The Plot: Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s tragic but popular (and evidently re-makeable) tome, and in the melting pop mind of Baz Luhrmann, Leo and Carey inhabit the twisted glamour and pathos of the familiar storyline, with the expected visual and audio quirks of the director. The Scoop: After trying his hand at Shakespeare, Luhrmann’s touch on the formulaic Fitzgerald story will be the expected modernized and rocked-up affair, with a contemporary soundtrack and undeniably gorgeous cinematography.

MAY 15 “STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS”

The Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe

Saldana.

The Plot: It’s a Star Trek movie. The usual intergalactic interactions, intrigue and not-always logical plotlines continue to run the course. The Scoop: JJ Abrams’ 2009 Trek voyage was a success with old and new fans, so the internet is a-buzz with anticipation for this sort of sequel, a flimsy tale that finds the good ship and crew battling a bad-guy out to wreck the Earth. It will most assuredly be a summertime smash.

MAY 24 “BEFORE MIDNIGHT”

The Stars: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy. The Plot: The continuation to Richard

Linklater’s stylish Before trilogy, following “Before Sunset”(2004) and “Before Sunrise”(1995). The romance continues to detail the intimate lives of Ethan and Julie’s romance, with the usual high-quality domestic drama of the previous installments. The Scoop: The perfect summer anti-hero relief. If your date doesn’t want to see supermen, spaceships and special effects, take him or her to see this film. Written by the director with the leading actors, the intimate dialogue seems genuinely realistic and the acting is in-themoment and in-the-pocket. Go, feel the love.

“EPIC”

The Stars: The voices of Amanda Seyfried, Beyonce, Colin Farrell. The Plot: The animated tale centers around a little girl (Amanda Seyfried), who shrinks down to the same size as the Leaf People, in oder to defeat to a gruff bully. Beyonce is the forest queen and Colin Farrell is a warrior. Cute art prevails in the moral tale. The Scoop: Since the same production company hit with 2011’s “Rio,” this Epic adventure takes green-wise to a whole new level.

“FAST & FURIOUS 6”

The Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel,

Michelle Rodriguez.

The Plot: Supposedly in an effort to widen the

audience (and The Rock’s acting horizons) the story veers away from the underground car-races and focuses more on the dramatic interplay of the stellar cast. No wait, it doesn’t. It’s just more convoluted intrigue and grit of the franchise. Director Justin Lin keeps the visual appeal of a video-game with the latest in digital tricks and traps. The Scoop: Hey, this is the sixth outing for the venerable vehicle and you know what you’re getting. A dude film that the ladies will tolerate, due the muscular scenery and pulsating soundtrack featuring and impressive list of stellar electronc and hip-hop acts (deadmau5, Ludacris).

“THE HANGOVER PART III”

The Stars: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis. The Plot: The Wolf Pack returns for part three of their shambling adventures. This go-round, Cooper and Helms’ thin characters spring Galifianakis from an institution. The reason? To face Mr. Chow (played with laconic zest by Ken Jeong) for one final (does that mean no “Hangover IV”?) battle. The Scoop: The gross-out frat-cousin to that’s neither a joy nor a ride. It’s got the usual lowbrow take on the male identity, played with abandon by the game cast. Exactly what you’d expect, and less.

MAY 31 “NOW YOU SEE ME”

The Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Mark Ruffalo. The Plot: Ok, suspend your belief for a this one: a high-tech magic group goes on a bank-robbing spree until a handsome FBI agent steps in to save the day. And of course, Morgan Freeman co-stars. The Scoop: Better than it sounds, due to the first-rate cast, who dutifully dive into the sometimes preposterous plot with the necessary abandon, and tongue-in-cheek bravado to actually make it an enjoyable if lightweight thriller.

JUNE 7 “THE INTERNSHIP”

The Stars: Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson. The Plot: Those wacky wedding crashers Vaughn and Wilson star as less-thanmotivated baby-boomers jockeying against ambitious youth for a tech job position at Google. It’s the snobs vs. slobs, played out in the world of internet technology, with a script co-written by Vaughn. The Scoop: The popular buddies take a soonto-be-dated concept and run with it. Humor of the moment. See it quick before the sell-by date arrives this fall, along with the expanded Bluray DVD.

JUNE 12 “THIS IS THE END”

The Stars: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Emma Watson. The Plot: Is there one? Well, Seth Rogen codirected this tragi-comedy, in which a number of notables play themselves facing an apocalypse. See, celebrities are just regular people who also worry about the end of the world (as we know it). The Scoop: Rogen and pals test the limits of their friendships (and the patience of the audience) in the face of cataclysmic events in modern-day Los Angeles. A buddy picture in the tradition of “Armageddon.”

JUNE 14 “THE BLING RING”

The Stars: Emma Watson, Leslie Mann, Georgia Rock. The Plot: Always reliable director Sofia Coppola’s new film is based on the mostly-true account of an enterprising gang of teens who plot to rob Hollywood mansions. The Scoop: Coppola is usually good, Watson is always entertaining and the plot is real and celebrity-centric. It’s TMZ meets “Mission Impossible” and the message will self-destruct. Unavailable for preview, but the premise sounds magically delicious.

“MAN OF STEEL”

The Stars: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe. The Plot: It’s Superman! Director Zack Snyder helms this reboot with Henry Cavill as the caped crusader. Jor-El is played by Russell Crowe, Amy Adams is Lois Lane, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane are Mr. and Mrs. Kent. The story focuses on Superman’s origins and adds a delightful hyper-humanistic approach to the oft-told story. The Scoop: A tried and true family favorite. There’s no doubt it’ll be a high-flying hit.

JUNE 21 “MONSTERS UNIVERSITY”

The Stars: The vocal talents of Billy Crystal,

John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Frank Oz. The Plot: A sequel to Pixar’s 2001 mega-hit “Monsters, Inc.” A collegiate comedy, the eyeball with legs (Billy Crystal) and the blue thing (John Goodman) strive for higher education -- with the usual Pixar results and gentle, familyfriendly puns and gags. The Scoop: A huge summertime by-the-books Disney hit. Easy and effective.

“WORLD WAR Z”

The Stars: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Matthew Fox. The Plot: Yet another apocalyptic thriller, this one a mega-budget slab that is loosely based on the bestseller by Max Brooks. Brad Pitt is your everyday UN employee, attempting to thwart an international invasion of zombies. Just another day at the office and another summer blockbuster. The Scoop: Delays and rewrites were initially

troubling to entertainment odds-makers and pundits, but the one-two punch of Pitt and zombies will be enough to secure this film a place at the very top of the grossers.

“THE HEAT”

JUNE 28

The Stars: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy. The Plot: The odd couple in uniform. Sandra

Bullock and Melissa McCarthy try too hard to be goofy Boston-based cops in Paul Feig’s (“Bridesmaids”) low-brow comedy about the search for a Russian mobster. The Scoop: Over-the-top and way over-done, but hey, if a comedy about a dirty, wisecracking teddy bear was a hit last year, this should be a fairly successful feature, too. Definitely not for comedy purists.

“WHITE HOUSE DOWN”

The Stars: Jamie Foxx, Channing Tatum,

Maggie Gyllenhaal. The Plot: The White House is under attack and a heroic and ripped law officer rises to the occasion, to save the fate of the nation. Jamie Foxx is The President and Channing Tatum is The Cop. The Scoop: It just wouldn’t be summer without an action-packed potboiler from director Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day”). But this feature, with the unsettling domestic terrorist theme, is just a little too much like the news to be enjoyable summer escapism. However, conspiracy theorists and staunch patriots will find plenty to obsess about in this film.

JULY 3 “DESPICABLE ME 2”

The Stars: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Al Pacino, Russell Brand. The Plot: A sequel, yes. Gru returns, again voiced by Steve Carell. He’s semi-peacefully raising his adopted daughters when an evil agent drafts him to find a new villain. Adventure ensues. The Scoop: The best time for 3-D animated comedies is summer and this one has all the necessary ingredients. Don’t even worry about the plot, its simply mindless fun for all ages. Happy 4th of July!

“THE LONE RANGER”

The Stars: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Helena Bonham Carter. The Plot: Busy director Gore Verbinski and the ubiquitous Johnny Depp return from “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Rango,” for a western. Depp stars as Tonto with the serviceable Armie Hammer in the masked rider role. It’s been done before, of course, but this middle-of-summer horse opera will round ‘em up at the boxoffice. The Scoop: It ain’t black and white Shakespeare, but it’ll be huge. Bank on it. What’s next for Depp? James Bond? Shhh… don’t even think it!

JULY 12 “GROWN UPS 2”

The Stars: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, David Spade, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello. The Plot: Modern comedy director Dennis Dugan careens through this sequel of wellSEE MOVIES ON PAGE 22 insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 21


TV

LET’S START A REVOLUTION

Elizabeth Mitchell On Her New Show, Lost & Her Dream Role in “Star Wars” BY JENNIFER SMITH WILLIAMS

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ALLING ALL LOST FANS: JULIET is back. Except this time, on the JJ Abramsproduced Revolution, Elizabeth Mitchell’s character is called Rachel. She’s still a sexy scientist with secrets to the ultimate storyline, still competing with the leading lady for the leading man’s heart, and, ultimately, still a badass. But this time she’s holding the wheel that controls the future of the world. Will she or won’t she be able to turn the power back on? Repping all the Lost (or V) fans out there, we recently got the chance to pick Mitchell’s brain on all things action-packed. As it turns out, she’s a self-professed nerd at heart (just like the rest of us), and we probably haven’t seen the last of her in these genre projects. So what is it that gets you going about these genre-focused shows? I’m a huge fan of adventures. I love to read them, I love to watch them. They go on in my head. So I think anything kind of epic and adventure wise is always a huge draw for me. It’s what I like to watch and to get to actually do it, to be in something that’s Lord of the Rings or Star Wars or any of those things it’s just what my passion is, kind of where I go to escape. So that’s what draws me to it. Are you going to get to do any action of your own this second half of the season? Yes, and my father will be thrilled because that’s MOVIES FROM PAGE 21

meaning dumb-dumbs Sandler, James and Rock for contrived suburban shenanigans that make “Meet The Fockers” seem like high-brow chamber farce. The Scoop: For some reason, the world isn’t fair and Adam Sandler is still allowed to make movies. Since his recent pictures have had dwindling returns and generally horrible reviews, he’s recruited his very own Rat Pack of friends to sweeten the deal. The result isn’t quite the lemonade he’d probably envisioned, but it will surely be successful enough to enable yet another disaster-film next summer. You’ve been warned. “PACIFIC RIM” The Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Ron Perlman. The Plot: Summer sci-fi with predictable results. Giant robots, Giant Monsters, oh my! Impending apocalypse? Of course. The Scoop: The director is Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”), and the inspiration comes from those campy but classic Japanese monster films of the 1960s. The novelty of 3-D and IMAX versions will bring the fans.

JULY 19 “THE GIRL MOST LIKELY”

The Stars: Kristen Wiig, Annette Benning, Matt

Dillon.

The Plot: A struggling playwright stages a

phony suicide for attention from her ex, and ends up moving in with her gambling-addicted mother. Sounds like a sit-com pilot outline, but no, it’s a theatrical film. The Scoop: Another SNL veteran with a major film role. As a recurring 5-minute comedy sketch, this sounds good. As a movie? Well, there’s always the giant robot movie next door. Sneak over there after a bathroom break.

“RED 2”

The Stars: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Catherine Zeta-Jones. PG 22 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com

really the stuff he likes to watch the most. I think that Linda Hamilton’s his favorite actress. Spoiler hopeful: Will we get an explanation as to what’s going on with the whole Danny/ Surgery thing before the season ends? I believe that we will, given that that’s a huge spoiler. We absolutely will, and it’s really intriguing. I was intrigued by it as a nerd, so I think that you’ll be satisfied, as well as gratified.

Do you have a favorite scene or moment coming up that you can talk about without spoiling too much? I have a scene in the moonlight next to water with Miles that is probably one of my favorite scenes, as much for the silence as for the words. I enjoyed playing it, and I enjoyed reading it. I normally can’t watch myself, but I liked it. It was simple and lovely, and exactly the kind of thing that I like to play and to watch. I don’t know if anyone will feel the same way, but that was one that I truly enjoyed. I thought that Billy was terrific and great fun to watch. What is the key to keeping everyone happy and engaged on big-cast sets? I love ensembles, I think mainly because I started in theater and I love that idea. What keeps people happy and engaged is good work, great words, and everything coming together... Lost was the same way. We were all very supportive, but everybody came ready to play. I think if you have that attitude and there’s not any ego– which The Plot: Yes, it’s another sequel. This one is the answer to 2010’s “Red,” originally based upon the comic book series. It’s a little something for the aged amongst us. They can’t all be kids’ flicks, after all. The seasoned “Red” brigade returns this summer, with Anthony Hopkins in tow, for another mature action-adventure. The Scoop: Children might be bored, but this could get the couch-potatoes out of the house for a change. Well-made and intelligent romp with crisp and edgy performances from the old pros. Worth seeing if you like action or good acting. Or both.

JULY 26 “BLUE JASMINE” The Stars: Alec Baldwin, Cate Blanchett, Louis C.K., Andrew Dice Clay. The Plot: Director Woody Allen’s new one is based in San Francisco and (of course) New York, with Cate Blanchett as a woman whose husband leaves her for a younger woman. This is Allen’s 45th directorial feature and looks to be a great relationship drama, with the expected touches of Allen’s trademark neurotic humor. The Scoop: Following forays to London, Paris, Barcelona and Rome, Allen is back on his familiar territory in the States.

“THE WOLVERINE”

The Stars: Hugh Jackman. The Plot: The Wolverine, the long-in-the-tooth

Marvel Comics fan-fave, prowls around Japan, dodging ninjas and the Yakuza. The hirsute character continues his fight for dominance and man’s inhumanity. Dark and brooding for fans of

is also the case on Revolution–then it’s fun. You play together, and you antagonize each other on camera, and you love each other on camera, and you hate each other on camera. And then you go off and you try to figure out how to make it even better, and you come back and you try to do that. That’s why the collaboration of a group is, and has always been, very exciting to me. I think it elevates everybody. You rise to the occasion, and I love that.

Can you talk about the differences in the filming process from Lost to Revolution? You know, it’s really interesting. I don’t know if this will make sense to anyone, but it is slightly different. With Lost we started with wide angle [shots], we’d come in the middle, we’d get right into tight, and then we’d go for the eye and get in really close. And on Revolution we’re shooting with a lot of long lenses, which means that I don’t necessarily know when the camera is right on my face. So it’s been something of a surprise.

just what this world has created, and she’s a direct reflection of that. How will we see the Miles/Rachel dynamic explored in the second half of the season? I think that Miles and Rachel are very much the same at heart in their sorrows. And I think that their tendency towards protecting the ones they love is also very similar. They’re passionate, in the way that passionate means filled with emotion.

Where’s Rachel’s mindset in the second half of the season, as opposed to the first? She wants to be with her children. She wants to kill Monroe. In my mind, Rachel is such a tragic figure. She’s tried so hard for so long to do the right thing, and she’s possibly one of the worst people [on the show]. I think that her mindset is on survival and revenge and– in a horribly awkward way– her mind is on good parenting, which she’s not very good at. But I think the sad thing is that she probably was at one time. So it’s

How was it working with the Lost guys again? Think they’ll cast you in the new Star Wars movies? I’m campaigning hard to be a Jedi. My friends like to tell me that I’m one in real life, so yes, that would be really awesome. I love complicated, good characters set in extraordinary situations. So, to be with the same people who made that happen for me before is an absolute joy. It’s always nice to come back. So yes, and yes. I’d love to be in Star Wars… just putting it out there!

graphic novels and the popular X-Men franchise. The Scoop: Destined to be not only a summertime hit, but an enduring cult favorite on DVD.

AUGUST 9 DISNEY’S “PLANES”

AUGUST 2 “300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE”

The Cast: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Rodrigo Santoro. The Plot: Yet another sequel, this one to 2007’s “300.” Sullivan Stapleton is on-hand as a Greek general in combat against the formidable Rodrigo Santoro’s King Xerxes. Another clash and clang of titans, it’s as tough as Trojan, and takes the mythology of the period into digital hyper-drive. Eva Green is always a welcome presence on the big screen, bringing the allure of her Bond-girl past to the grit of Grecian intrigue. The Scoop: The clank of swords and the spectacle of 3-D will surely lead this plodding army to another bloody victory.

AUGUST 7 “PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS”

The Stars: Logan Lerman, Nathan Fillion, Brandon T. Jackson, Stanley Tucci. The Plot: A sequel, naturally. This urban fantasy picks up where “Percy Jackson And The Olympians: The Lightning Thief” left off. Percy Jackson is played by Logan Lerman and he must save a magic tree near the Sea Of Monsters. Nathan Fillion’s Hermes helps the endeavor with the expected supernatural happenings. The Scoop: Lerman’s a fave of fantasy fans and the Percy series is a popular escape from the happy Harry Potter babble.

The Stars: Dane Cook, Stacey Keach, Teri Hatcher, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The Plot: Continuing the dumbing down of titles, “Planes” takes off where “Cars” skidded to a tentative stop. Thankfully, this one isn’t Pixar, but is more from the calculating Disney Empire. This film tells the completely believable (and yes, loveable) story of Dusty the crop-duster (Dane Cook). Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the voice of Dusty’s spunky crush. The Scoop: Kids will love the bright colors and broad strokes of the talking machines, but adults will enjoy the impressively literate plotline and the considerable guest-list of celeb voices.

AUGUST 16 “AUSTENLAND”

The Stars: Keri Russell, Jane Seymour, Jennifer

Coolidge.

The Plot: Stephenie Meyer of the “Twilight” realm, produced this whimsical fantasy about a thirty-something woman (Keri Russell), obsessed with Jane Austen’s novel Pride And Prejudice. She travels to a quaint, English resort/theme park, with attractions centered on the Austen world and inhabited by its characters. Gauzy romance and gossamer happenings ensue. The Scoop: Young girls and/or hopeless romantics will love it.

“PARANOIA”

The Stars: Liam Hemsworth, Gary Oldman, Harrison Ford. The Plot: Steamy thriller about an innocuous employee (Liam Hemsworth) whose ruthless boss (Gary Oldman) wants pertinent information about his scheming rival (played with mature grace and reserve by Harrison Ford). The Scoop: At least it’s not a sequel! The dramatic interplay between Oldman and Ford make this a decidedly settled choice for an evening out, but one that ultimately pays off with great artistic rewards.


BOOKS

MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN

Legendary Author Sir Salman Rushdie On the Book (Now A Movie) That Launched His Career

that New York doesn’t feel like the rest of America, and Paris is not like the rest of HMED SALMAN RUSHDIE France. One of the great characteristics was born in Bombay, India in 1947 in Bombay at that time was tolerance: into a Muslim family of Kashmiri There was virtually no sectarian trouble. descent. He started his career as an ad We didn’t care about the Hindu-Muslim copywriter before becoming a full-time conflicts that happened in other places. author after his second novel, Midnight’s The families I grew up with in my little Children, won the Booker Prize for its unique combination of historical fiction and neighborhood were of every conceivable background– European, American, and magical realism. Indian, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Farsi, Of course, Rushdie became best known Sikh, Buddhist, etc. I wanted to write the for his 1988 novel, The Satanic Verses, book out of that spirit. which sparked a major controversy and violent protests from Muslims, who Can you talk about the impact of were incensed by the creative license the Colonialism in India, and how the author took in his novel based on the life withdrawal of those influences impacted of the prophet Muhammad. Outraged by the nation? blasphemy and a perceived mocking of the After World War I, Britain was Muslim faith, a fatwā calling for Rushdie’s impoverished by the war effort. There death was issued by Iran’s Ayatollah was actually food aid going from America Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. Though to Britain. With the election of their first Rushdie was never harmed, a translator of Labor government, the British suddenly the book was stabbed to death. decided they couldn’t afford [the price of For over a decade, Rushdie has lived in Colonialism]. Suddenly, the India Nationalist the United States, serving since 2007 as Movement discovered the British resistance Emory University’s Distinguished Writer in against them was collapsing. When it was Residence. He’s been busy writing, working done, it happened at an almost indecent on a sci-fi series for Showtime (which he speed. When the British finally sent their last told me may or may not come to fruition) Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, he arrived with and releasing Joseph Anton: A Memoir, instructions to get out as fast as you can. which details his life during the Satanic They set the date of Indian independence 10 Verses fatwā. He also wrote and executive produced Midnight’s Children, the new film weeks later. After 250 years of Colonialism, you had to do the whole process in 10 weeks. adaptation of his breakthrough novel. The story, which Ten weeks? Wow… was loosely based on RIGHT NOW IN INDIA, Yes. To withdraw the Rushdie’s childhood, entire power structure in THERE’S A BIG deals with India’s 10 weeks and, at the same rough transition from CONVERSATION ABOUT time, divide the country British colonial to POLITICAL CORRUPTION into two countries, created independence, and endless chaos. There’s no AND THE RISE OF the bloody partition doubt that the violence of the nation (which AUTHORITARIANISM IN that happened is partly created Pakistan). We VARIOUS INDIAN STATES. SO the product of that. What recently sat down with THEY COULD EASILY RELATE was awful was that this the knighted author to moment that should’ve discuss the film, India’s THOSE SCENES TO WHAT’S been of great hope turned evolution, and the extraordinarily bloody, HAPPENING OUTSIDE THE lasting impact the end with these huge massacres. of the colonial era had THEATER TODAY. The official number [of on the region. deaths] could be 300,000-400,000 people, but most informed people say it may have This seems like a very personal project been double that, or close to a million for you. people who were slaughtered, both Hindu With Midnight’s Children, I wanted to and Muslim, in the partition riots. So you write a novel that arose out of that place have this country born with this double(Bombay) at that time, using my own edged thing– great hope and incredible experience. I gave Saleem certain parts of carnage. You have to look at both things my childhood, so essentially he lives in my to see how the country would develop. house and goes to my school. His friends The idea of the “Midnight’s Children” was, are composites of people I went to school with. The school bullies know who they are. yes, it was about my generation, but I also wanted them to embody the possibility. The idea behind giving them magic powers if Talk to me about your memories they were born in the midnight hour was of growing up in the time of India’s to say, “Freedom is a magical moment, and independence. here is the potential of that freedom.” Looking back at my childhood, I felt it was an extraordinary period in the country. Can you talk about Saleem’s journey as it It was the end of the [British] empire and mirrors India’s history? the beginning of independence. This was It’s an almost comic idea: Saleem believes the first generation of free children to be that he is handcuffed to history, and born in India in more than two centuries! therefore history is his fault. In the book, Transition is an interesting and confused he’s endlessly trying to show how his time: The past is still there, but the future is actions determined the cause of political being born. Bombay has always felt a little events. Clearly, that’s not true. But he’s different from the rest of India, in the way

BY BRET LOVE

A

being brought up with this albatross of being born at that moment hanging around his neck, and his father expecting him to do great things. He’s had a letter from the Prime Minister saying, “Your life will be the mirror of our own.” It’s hard not to buy into it. But you begin to see that he is very much NOT in control of these events. He is at their mercy. What were you trying to say about the impact of Colonialism on Indian culture? The British believed they were doing good– they called it “hundreds of years of decent government”– but clearly they did harm. When we showed the film to younger audiences in India, the events surrounding independence felt like ancient history. But as the film gradually moved towards present events, particularly the Emergency of 19751977 (when PM Indira Gandhi suspended elections and civil liberties), they felt more connected. Right now in India, there’s a big conversation about political corruption and the rise of authoritarianism in various Indian states. So they could easily relate those scenes to what’s happening outside the theater today. Were there any positive impacts of the Colonial era? To give the British their due, they built the railroads and roads, and left behind an extremely efficient civil service center, without which India couldn’t function. They wrote a constitution totally lacking in religion, which has been a very valuable thing. They left the country in pretty good shape structurally, although a mess in terms of the calamities that were happening. As with America, the founding fathers of the Indian Independence Movement were great men who were available to lead the country into the moment of freedom. India was very blessed by those leaders– people of

deep intelligence, deep philosophy, great sophistication and selflessness. It was clear to them, because of the partition massacres, that the question was, how to make sure that never happens again? The answer was that you have to keep religion out of the state. India has a gigantic religious majority, with 85% of the population that is in some way Hindu, then you have 12% Muslim, and 3% Buddhist, Christians, Jews, etc. They felt that if you have a religious state, the big majority would dominate the minorities, and that would create stress. Now, a much smallerminded generation of Indian politicians is trying to impose a majoritarian culture on India, which would lead to the exact kind of discord that the Founding Fathers were trying to avoid. At the moment of independence/de-colonization, India was lucky in being left with a constitution that was sensible, and blessed with leaders who knew how to defend and protect secularism. In closing, I wanted to talk about the controversy around the film. I’ve read that you had to be surreptitious filming in certain locations, and certain people in India spoke out against the film. There were fears, including nervousness about what would happen in India. This is a time in India when any two-bit politician looking for a headline can stand up and shake his fist to get some attention. What’s interesting is that, at the Kerala Film Festival, there were one or two local politicians who did make a fuss. But overall the film went down very well at Kerala, and there was no attempt by the central government to intervene. The film sailed through the censor board without a single cut. All these things that we had feared actually didn’t happen, and the filmed opened there without any trouble.

insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 23


PG 24 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com


CONTINUING EDUCATION Advance your Career and Enhance Your Life! SAE Institute Atlanta 215 Peachtree St. #300 Atlanta, GA 30303 404.526.9366 atlanta.sae.edu

Continuing the tradition established in 1976, SAE Atlanta educates students for careers in the entertainment industry with a focus on hands-on training. Students gain invaluable experience working on real-world projects every day. SAE Atlanta currently offers its signature Audio Technology Program and Electronic Music Production (EMP) program. Students in the Audio Technology Program can earn a Diploma or an Associate's Degree (unique to SAE Atlanta). The EMP program is a short course in which students can earn a certificate in just 3-months! Students have access to over 20 studios and workstations while studying at SAE Atlanta. Included are analog and digital mix-down consoles by Mackie and Yamaha, FX stations, Avid Icon controllers, 5.1 surround studios and industry standard MIDI Labs. To round off the educational experience, the facility boasts both SSL 4000G+ and NEVE VR60 analog consoles. All Degree and Diploma graduates are provided job placement assistance and are eligible to become members of SAE's international Alumni Association. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify and both full and part-time classes are available. The Spring Open House will be held on campus May 18 from 12 - 3 pm. For more information contact SAE Atlanta's Admissions Department at 404-526-9366 or visit their web site at www.atlanta.sae.edu. SAE Institute Atlanta is located in downtown Atlanta at 215 Peachtree Street - Suite 300, Atlanta GA 30303.

Showcase

The School of Photography

1135 Sheridan Road Atlanta, GA 30324 404.965.2205 theshowcaseschool.com

Welcome to The Showcase School – Atlanta’s choice for amateur, adult-education photography classes. Break out of your routine by kindling your passion for photography. Delve in to the process of “seeing” and make your photographs magical! Sign up NOW to begin this priceless process. Whether you are new to the world of photography or if you’ve been shooting for years, The Showcase School has what you

are looking for. Since 1996, we have taught thousands of amateur photographers how to use their cameras and develop their passion for photography. In a comfortable and fun environment, learn basic controls of your digital SLR camera, lenses, tripods and accessories in Digital 101 and Digital 102 classes. With these new tools, move on to the art of taking great photographs in classes such as: People Photography, Composition, Nature, Studio, Flash, Night & Low Light, Photographing Children and more. All new hands-on weekend workshops on numerous topics are featured each session. Learn to organize in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and edit in the most current Adobe Photoshop Elements programs. Cutting edge software classes at your fingertips! No matter what level of education you need, The Showcase School has a class for you. All classes taught by working professionals who are patient and eager to share their knowledge with you. Photography is an exciting and rapidlychanging field and we want you to be a part of it.

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6185 Buford Hwy Norcross GA 30071 1136 Crescent Ave Atlanta GA 30309 770.300.8998 actionbartendingschool.net

In this tough job environment, many are going back to school to enhance their career while others seek additional parttime employment. Action Bartending School is preparing their students for both of these goals. Most of the students attending A c t i o n Bartending School are college educated who either are looking for a bartending career or for supplemental income on their current job. They offer flexible class schedules with expert trainers who have years of bartending experience. Three 4 hour classes are given on weekdays. Class times are 10am - 2pm, 2pm - 6pm and 6pm - 10 pm at their Norcross location. Midtown classes are 10am - 2pm and 2pm - 6pm weekdays. For those who are not able to make the weekday class, they offer a class on the weekends at the Norcross location from 11am - 5pm. The program requires 20 hours of practical in classroom training with certification availability within a week. The school offers an additional 20 hours of training at no cost to those who feel they need more time to master the course. Action Bartending School is very affordable offering plans for just $99 down. They are Georgia certified with two convenient locations. The original school is located just off I-285 near Jimmy Carter Blvd. and Buford Hwy. In 2010, Action Bartending opened their second location at the Sutra Lounge in Midtown. The Midtown location offers training behind a live bar and has classes in mornings and afternoons. For information on upcoming classes call (770) 3008998 or visit them at actionbartendingschool.net

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www.actionbartendingschool.net 2 convenient locAtionS 6185 Buford hwy, e150, norcross gA 30071 1136 crescent Avenue, Atlanta gA 30309

Janke Studios Hand Blown Glass Founded in 1996

STUDIOPLEX

HAND MADE

One of a Kind Gifts Mother’s Day 659 Auburn Ave. Atlanta, GA 30312 Weddings & 404-584-0305 Engagement Summer Glassware Conveniently located between Inman Park & the King Birth Home

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jankestudios.com for schedule of classes

HOURS:

Tue & Thu 1 – 5pm; Fri 1 – 8:30pm; Sat 3 – 8:30pm Other times by Appointment

Functional Art Glass Gallery • Custom Lighting

Janke Studios Learn Glassblowing

At StudioPlex 659 Auburn Ave. Atlanta, GA 30312 404.584.0305 jankestudios.com

Located at Studioplex downtown, Janke Studios is Atlanta's Premier Glassblowing Studio and Functional Art Glass Gallery and the city’s first complete glassblowing

center. Matt and Kim Janke began Janke Studios in 1996. Today they continue to offer both the beginning and experienced artist use of state of the art equipment including a 300 pound furnace, glory holes in three sizes, a color furnace and classes for all levels. The Janke team offers a variety of classes that will fit your schedule. Classes are offered throughout the year in Beginning Glassblowing, Intermediate Glassblowing, Beginning Workshop, Hot Glass Experience (A oneday course including a demo, followed by each participant working with the glass to their comfort level) and Glass Bead Experience (An opportunity to learn the basics of glass bead making). Janke classes are fun, compact and project-oriented. You will create paperweights, tumblers and other beautiful pieces as you learn basic glassblowing techniques like gathering and re-heating. Five Week Biginning Continues on page 26

insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 25


TRAVEL

EXPLORE ASHEVILLE

A Mountain Getaway that is Just a Short Drive Away BY MARCI MILLER

L

OOKING FOR THE PERFECT getaway this summer? Then head out of town to the mountain retreat of Asheville, NC. Nestled between five mountain chains that include the Great Smokies, the Appalachians and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has long been known as a place for arts, culture, wellness and healing. It’s also been a favorite spot for America’s most famous statesmen, poets, artists and musicians. Only a few hours away from Atlanta by car, this is one road trip that has something for everybody. Treat yourself to a stay at the historic GROVE PARK INN RESORT AND SPA, 290 Macon Avenue, 828-252-2711, www.groveparkinn. com, which celebrates its Centennial Birthday this summer. Built from granite boulders carved from Sunset Mountain, The Grove Park Inn opened its doors in 1913. Modeled after the grand old railway hotels of the West, it is listed on the national register of historic places and has been host to many famous guests including eight American presidents. The hotel also features a grand lobby with two gigantic 14-foot stone fireplaces called The Great Hall and five restaurants including the fabulous Sunset Terrace, which offers majestic views of the city and spectacular mountain sunsets. And the resort’s spectacular, 40,000 square foot spa is an incredible facility that features indoor and outdoor pools, steam, sauna and spa services like massages, facials and mani/pedis. After the spa, you can check out the resorts other activities including tennis, golf, swimming, aerobics, work out room and much more. The Grove Park Inn turns 100 years old in July, 2013 and to celebrate, they are kicking off their birthday year with a Centennial Celebration July 5-14. On Saturday, July 6, B.B. King will headline the resort’s Centennial Concert Series. In addition, throughout the celebration, there will be fun and interesting activities for the whole family to enjoy including music, comedy shows, guided history tours, themed food, drink and much more. On its “real” birthday, July 12, the celebration will feature vintage music, complimentary cake, champagne toast and fireworks. The Grove Park Inn will be offering limited packages that includes tickets, two-night stay and an intimate (200-300) birthday dinner at The Country Club featuring Appalachian music

and farm-to-table cuisine featuring celebrated chefs and Grove and Seely family members in attendance. Another historic landmark in Asheville is THE BILTMORE ESTATE, 1 Approach Road, 828-225-1333, www.biltmore.com, located south of downtown Asheville in the Biltmore Village. This 8,000 acre estate is home to the 250-room Biltmore House, the Biltmore Winery and over 75 acres of professionally manicured gardens. As the best known and most popular tourist destination in Asheville, the Biltmore Estate attracts over 1 million visitors each year. The house was built by George Vanderbilt II, a member of the wealthy Vanderbilt family of New York City. In 1888, Vanderbilt commissioned celebrated American architect Richard Morris Hunt to design the lavish structure and the grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the creator of New York’s Central Park. The house was modeled after three 16th century French chateaux and features 4 acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The basement houses a swimming pool, gymnasium and changing rooms, bowling alley, servants’ quarters, kitchens, and more. Biltmore recently announced its 17TH ANNUAL CONCERT SERIES Line-up which includes: Heart (July 25), Sheryl Crow (August 4), The Four Tops and Temptations (August 23), The Beach Boys (August 30) and more. Tickets will go on sale for Heart and Sheryl Crow on June 5. Tickets for the rest of the line-up will go on sale on June 12. Ticket purchases will be available at www.biltmore.com/concerts, or by calling 866-336-1255. Asheville is also known for its vibrant local music scene. Fortunately, venues tend to be smaller, giving every performance an intimate feel that can rarely be duplicated in big cities. One of these places is THE ORANGE PEEL, 101 Biltmore Avenue, (828) 2255851, theorangepeel.net. The Orange Peel has gone from being an empty, former auto parts warehouse to a nationally recognized destination for live music. One can’t visit Asheville and not take note of the city’s fabulous restaurants, most on par to those found in much larger metropolitan areas. Many Asheville restaurants pride themselves on using locally grown and organic foods and the quality shows through in every dish. One local favorite is EARLY GIRL EATERY,

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8 Wall Street, 828-259-9292, earlygirleatery. com. The restaurant has a sunny yet funky vibe and the menu boasts that all food is made from “scratch”. Eggs dishes are light and fluffy, stacks of multigrain pancakes are surprisingly large and the restaurant is widely regarded for its biscuits and gravy. Early Girl serves breakfast all day long but also features traditional lunch and dinner fare. A great find in Downtown Asheville is a Mexican restaurant called SALSAS MEXICAN CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT, 6 Patton Avenue, 828-252-9805, salsas-asheville. com. The food is incredibly fresh and portions are large and rather inexpensive. Plates of fajitas come out hot and sizzling and a many of their unique dishes are spicy and delicious. Make sure to try their signature dish, the Molcajetes, a hot lava rock bowl filled with meat, grilled veggies, onions, cilantro & pozole. If what you are craving is some good “old school” neighborhood Italian food, VINNIE’S, 641 Merrimon Avenue, 828-253-1077, vinniesitalian.com, features affordable, casual and family friendly dining. The menu runs the gamut with classics like Chicken Parmesan, Sausage and Peppers, Veal Marsala and Linguini and Clams, but make sure to also try stand outs like Gnocci with basil and cream sauce and Pasta Fazool. THE BLACK BIRD, 47 Biltmore Avenue, 828-254-2502, www.theblackbirdrestaurant. com, is a new addition to Asheville’s restaurant scene. The menu features the seasonal best from local farmers, fresh catches from the coast of the Carolinas, as well as the many incredible local micro-brews and great wines from the Americas. THE FRENCH BROAD CHOCOLATE LOUNGE, 10 South Lexington Avenue, (828) 252-4181, frenchbroadchocolates.com, is known for its handmade, artisanal chocolates. Established in Asheville, NC in 2007, French Broad Chocolates makes their chocolates in small batches with ingredients thoughtfully selected for their integrity. At night, there are long lines to get in to try out these delicious treats. And you can’t forget about Asheville’s numerous breweries. To celebrate the city’s thriving beer culture, the city presents ASHEVILLE BEER WEEK taking place May 25 - June 1, 2013. Its eight full days of celebrating all things beer. The week of events will include tastings, dinners, beer Continued from page 25

Glassblowing classes take place Tuesday nights 7 - 10pm May 14 through June 11 and Wednesday nights May 15 - June 12. Their Five Week Intermediate Glassblowing class is held Monday nights 7 - 10 pm May 13 through June 10. The Two Day Beggining Workshop is being held Saturday & Sunday May 11 and 12 from 2 - 6 pm. Hot Glass Experience Workshops are held on Saturdays May 4 & 5 and June 8 & 9. All materials are provided. Janke Studios also has a Mobile Glassblowing Studio for demos, classes or educational purposes. Visit Janke Studios and you'll never see glass the same way again. They are conveniently located at StudioPlex at 659 Auburn Avenue. Store hours are Tuesdays & Thursdays 1-5pm; , Fridays 1 - 8:30pm; Saturdays 3 - 8:30 pm. Other times by appointment. Gift Certificates are available for events, classSteve at For information call 404-584es or gifts. 0305, email jankeglass@aol.com or go to www.jankestudios.com.

315-8485

GROVE PARK INN SPA

GROVE PARK INN HALL

BILTMORE

education, keynote speakers, and other beerrelated fun. Asheville Beer Week culminates with ASHEVILLE’S 4TH ANNUAL BEER CITY FESTIVAL on June 1, where dozens of breweries (and plenty of live music) are slated to appear. Visit ashevillebeerweek.com for complete information. Even if you’ve visited Asheville before, come back and rediscover this city which has seen its arts, culture, dining and nightlife explode over the past few years. Whether you are looking for entertainment, history, outdoor activities or just want to experience the city’s laid back vibe, now is the perfect time give yourself some much-needed R&R in this mountain getaway. For more information about Asheville, please visit exploreasheville.com.


MUSIC

SISTER ACT

Alpharetta’s Von Grey Siblings Shine On Letterman & Conan BY BRET LOVE

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HAT WERE YOU DOING WITH your life when you were 16? In the case of Annika Von Grey, one of the main singer-songwriters for alternative folk/country act Von Grey, she can already check opening for Sarah McLachlan, performing for David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, and touring the country off her bucket list. But how did a quartet of home-schooled sisters (including 17-year-old Kathryn on cello and mandolin, 15-year-old singersongwriter Fiona on guitar and violin, and 12-year-old Petra on keyboards and lap steel guitar) get from suburban Johns Creek to two of the biggest shows in late night TV? Apparently, as the old joke goes, the answer is practice, practice, practice! How did you decide to form a band? Each of us studied classical music when we were 5 years old. Music was a huge part of our upbringing. We were homeschooled from a pretty early age. About 6 years ago we decided to play music together because Fiona and I, the lead singers, play the violin. Catherine, tahe oldest, is a cellist and Petra, the youngest, is a violist. We had a built in string quartet and we played at weddings. That was our first introduction to playing together. We went to India about 4 years ago and met the musicians that played Eric Clapton- instead of classic, more rock songs. It introduced us to the idea of using our

instruments to play more contemporary styles. When we came back we decided to start a band. What are the best and worst parts of being in a band with siblings? The best is that we’ve known each other our whole lives and we’re very comfortable around each other. When you’re doing something creative, you’re so open with each other. You’re willing to share ideas and put yourself in a vulnerable space that you might not feel comfortable doing in front of other musicians that you don’t know quiet as well. I think that has really helped Fiona and I with the songwriting. It’s a double edged sword because you feel comfortable to fight with each other. We get over it pretty quickly though. I was shocked at the emotional depth of the songwriting that you and Fiona do at such a young age. Can you tell me a little bit about your process? We do the music first. That’s where we started. Playing instruments is more natural for us than singing or writing lyrics. As far as lyrics and emotional depth, we were raised to be so open-minded. We were introduced to different people from a lot of walks of life and cultures. We read a lot and watch the news. I think all of that has helped us understand our own personal emotional ecosystem, at least at this point in our lives, does not encompass a lot of the emotions

of people who have experienced more have felt and gone through. I think being able to observe how others feel and how others talk about their lives whether through music or just through meeting them and talking to them has helped us write from a perspective that is not necessarily inhibited by our lack of personal experience. Are there any singer/songwriters that you look at as a guideline for what you’d like to achieve? A little bit. I think it changes for each song and what mood I’m in. I change my favorite artist about once a week. I was introduced to Cat Stevens and Ben Harper when I was pretty young. They are just amazing songwriters, lyrically and musically. They are the singer/songwriters in the emotional vein that has influenced us a lot. I listen to Prince, Cyndi Lauper, Terence Trent D’Arby… all those poppy people, too, and get inspiration from them. I think good songwriting shines through despite production or genre. We’re huge Nickel Creek fans. We saw them at the Fox right before they stopped playing. What was it like playing for David Letterman? It was amazing. It was our first time on national television and super exciting. We’re going to be playing on Conan O’Brian when he tapes at the Tabernacle in April. Things are picking up. We’re so lucky. People have been very positive in their reception not only

of the EP, but of our live performance. It’s been really cool to meet indy artists as well as really big people. What’s the feeling like when you’re on TV for the first time when you know there are 3-4 million people watching you? We practice all the time and we performed at so many shows these past few years that we were really excited about it, but we don’t really get nervous. We got to soundcheck several times before it was taped. It was like every other show for us. We were excited, but I don’t think it kicked in that there were so many people watching until after we played, which was probably a good thing so we weren’t shaking in our shoes up there.

REBIRTH OF THE BREEDERS

Iconic ‘90s Band Returns Intact to Reissue Last Splash and Play it Live BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

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ORN OUT OF THE SWELTERING summer of ’93, The Breeders’ Last Splash stands as one of the best rock albums of the ‘90s. To celebrate the 20-year milestone, the definitive and distinctive line-up of the era, singer-songwriter-guitarist Kim Deal (The Pixies), her sister, guitarist Kelley Deal (The Kelley Deal 5000), drummer Jim MacPherson (Guided By Voices) and bassist Josephine Wiggs (Dusty Trails, The Josephine Wiggs Experience) have reunited -- along with original backing vocalist and violinist Carrie Bradley -- from a nearly two-decade hiatus, for a lovingly-detailed vinyl and CD reissue of the album from 4AD Records, with a national tour to promote the impressive package. British-born Wiggs, an intelligent and witty multi-instrumentalist and visual artist, recently spoke with INsite from her studio in New York City.

How did the four of you decide to reunite and revisit the album? We talked about the possibility of doing a reunion before and we decided it was something we all wanted to do. Was it easy to fall back into The Breeders’ mindset? It was pretty astonishing, really, how quickly it all came together. From my point of view, it sounded really together the first time we ran through the songs. But by the third day of rehearsals, something really clicked. It was almost as if we’d never stopped playing together. Sometimes, after a long hiatus, a band will re-form and then realize - for good and bad “Oh, that’s why I haven’t seen you in so long…” (Laughs) Oh yes, it’s true! And it’s funny because, you know what people say about how people don’t ever really change? Well,

there’s definitely some truth in that. The first two rehearsals, everyone was on their best behavior, going out of their way to make sure everyone was having a good time. By the third and fourth sessions, the guards had all slipped a bit. And I count myself amongst this; I’m all too well aware of my own faults in this regard. But, exactly, you’re like, “Oh yeah, that’s right. I remember now…” Since people don’t change, how has the overall band dynamic changed since 1994? Is everyone a little older and wiser now? It’s easier because we’re, as you say, a little older and more experienced. The things you thought were catastrophic, aren’t. If you have an argument with someone, it’s just an argument, and not the end of the world. It’s ok to disagree. But when you’re younger, it seems like an insurmountable problem. The box set is a very impressive release. Why did you decide to expand it in so many ways? It’s the only time this is going to happen, so we needed to put everything we needed to put in, to make a special commemorative thing -- that was the idea. To have a live recording to preserve what we sounded like at the apex of our recording career, the EPs -- and even the demos, which none of us had heard! It’s very exciting and important that the complete lineup of the band is back together for the tour. I was worried it was another Lemonheads-type situation. Well, I feel the same way! You know, I just recently heard on the radio that Kraftwerk are

doing this thing where they do eight nights in a row, performing eight albums, one a night. They did it at The Museum of Modern Art and they’ve done it at Tate Modern in London. The report went on to say that only one of the people performing [Ralf Hutter] is an original member of Kraftwerk! I just don’t know how I feel about that. I’m a little bit of a snob about that sort of thing and I appreciate that you are, too. But it’s not like you’ve been resting on your past for two decades. After the Breeders, the late ‘90s and all of the ‘2000s have been an incredibly creative time for you. It’s true, yeah. I recently had to write a bio for myself because I just finished writing music for a documentary. The director of the film asked me for a bio. So I, myself, recently, was having to go over what I had been doing for the last twenty years or so and I was like, “Wow, this really looks quite impressive!” But when you’re doing it and there are periods of years between things, it doesn’t feel the way it looks on paper. Tell us a bit of what we can expect in The Breeders live show. Well, we’re doing the in-concert performance of the album. That’s the main thing. Of course, there will be additional things because that’s only 44 minutes long! So there will be other things, but I’m not going to tell you what they are, because then it won’t be a surprise. The Breeders play Variety Playhouse May 15 at 8 p.m. insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 27


MUSIC

RESPECT MY AUTHORITY!

Arizona’s Authority Zero Approach Their 20th Anniversary BY JOHN B. MOORE

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UST A YEAR AND A HALF SHY OF THEIR 20TH anniversary, Arizona punks Authority Zero certainly have no problem with changing up their sound a bit. Their fifth full-length, The Tipping Point, digs up traditional punk rock influences and combines them with a little more of the reggae and rock elements that fans have come to expect from the last couple of offerings. The new sounds were coaxed out of the band with the help of respectd producer Cameron Webb (Motorhead, Pennywise, Social Distortion). The result is certain to appease longtime fans of the group, and will likely bring over new converts as well. Singer Jason DeVore spoke with us recently about the influences of the new record, working with Webb and the addition of a new drummer and guitarist Brandon Landelius. Stories of Survival didn’t come out that long ago. Are you guys going through a prolific period? I suppose you could say we are. We just recently released our second live acoustic album as well just before entering the studio to start demos on The Tipping Point. A lot has happened and continues to happen in the crazy world of Authority Zero. Continually inspired both inside and outside of the band, and equally driven by the positive and negatives of each day. We have newly added members that were extremely insightful and came to the table with fresh new ideas as well which has caused a new spark and inspiration. What can you tell me about the songs on this one? The songs on this album are extremely driven, high energy, and honest. They were written with a great deal of excitement during a time of added confusion and resistance if that makes any sense. You can feel the tension in the songs, as well as the life and sense of urgency as well. The range of sounds and musical dynamic is a bit of the new and a bit of the old, but something completely new and fresh. We tried to open up new gateways on this one and let things just come together and happen if they felt good and were happening. Extremely excited to get this one out to fans of our past music. The record definitely has a different vibe to it. Was that a

conscious decision? Not at all. We basically wanted to make a record that had power, paid homage to our past musical catalogue and history– a record that our fans could relate to and appreciate. But we certainly didn’t want to make the same record we’ve made time and again. Above all, we wanted to make it honest and something we would be stoked on. The elements are all still there, we just tried to be more creative and think outside of the box with them. That’s what’s great about the whole process in hopes to grow as a group is experimenting with exciting new sounds and dimension of the music you love. I feel we really accomplished above and beyond our aspirations from when we first began the writing process with this record. Were you listening to anything in particular when writing this one? Just as on our prior records, I really try not to listen to a whole lot of music while writing to be sure to make it as honest as possible. This go-round I think it was about the same, although I definitely popped on the occasional Against Me, some new Pennywise, and some Gaslight Anthem. Those are a few that stand out as bands that were really in my ears within the process. There are times that you’d write a certain way and say, “oh shit, I just heard that damn song... sounds awfully familiar, scratch it! Back to square one.” That was more in the beginning phases though. As the writing process rolled on and the songs took on a life of their own, they shaped into something completely different than had initially started. It’s a fun process seeing them morph. Kind of surprises you in the end. What was it like working with Cameron Webb? What made you choose him for this record? We chose Cameron through a recommendation from the Pennywise guys. Right as we’d had our minds up to go a different direction, we were swayed otherwise to give it a chance and a new experience. I’m stoked we got to work with him. We’d spoken about working on the last record (Stories of Survival), but things didn’t work out and we just weren’t sure at the time. This go-round we thought we’d give someone different a shot. After all that’s what a lot of this is all about. Cameron is a different kind of monster, but in a good way. He works in a very abstractly influential way. At first you’re kind of like, I don’t get what he’s doing or asking me to do: Is he actually even asking me to attempt what I think he is? (Laughs)

He’s very, very good at what he does and has a unique method of getting the best out of you. The great thing about it is you really don’t realize it’s happening, so you can get frustrated and start to stress yourself out. Like it’s inside of you somewhere and he knows it, but you just brain fart and feel like you don’t know how to get it out. Once again, in the end you do, and you’re somewhat amazed at the end result that you even did it. This is your first record with Sean (Sellers) and Brandon (Landelius). How do their additions change the band’s dynamic? They are both very professional and great seasoned musicians from different areas of music. Sean, coming from Good Riddance and Real McKenzies, brought a lot of power and fire to the drums as well as technicality. Brandon comes from an old school Black Flag/ Decedents punk scene, but also plays in a jazz/ surf-rock band. All these elements combined with our individual tastes and experience have made for a great collaboration. They have a fresh new fire and excitement to them to write, perform, and be the best they and us collectively as a group can be on a day-to-day basis. They equally want to deliver each show as if it were their last, and give the kids that show up to the shows what they deserve. You guys are just a couple of years away from your 20th anniversary. Does the band plan on celebrating in any way? Nothing yet, but keep your eyes out! I’m sure we’ll try and put something rad together. Those are all the questions I have. Anything else you want to add? Just thanks to all the kids who have supported us all these years. Keep your eyes out for the new album, The Tipping Point, and we’ll see you at the shows!

OLD MAN MARKLEY

Is There Anything Punk Rock Can’t Make Better? BY JOHN B. MOORE

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LD MAN MARKLEY IS A PRETTY damn fine Bluegrass band. But, with the punk elements and attitude mixed in, they just happen to be one of the best things going in both genres right now. The band hooked up with Fat Mike and the team at Fat Wreck Chords a couple of years ago, and now the rest of the world is on its way to realizing just how brilliant this LA-based “PunkGrass” band really is. OMM just put out Down Side Up, their second full-length and best release to date. On the eve of their latest tour with the Dropkick Murphys, bassist Joey Garibaldi and fiddle player Katie Weed spoke about the new record, the joys of playing to both punk and bluegrass fans, and creative uses for kale. You’ve been on the road for a while. Was it tough to find the time to write and record this one? Weed: Yes and no. Some of the tracks are songs

that we’d been kicking around for years, but never really arranged. Some were written practically as we recorded them. We set aside a few weeks to record after getting back from a long tour, and just dove in. You recorded this one in your own studio, right? Why did you decide to build a studio? Weed: Since the beginning, OMM has demoed songs and really written and arranged them in Johnny and Annie’s home studio. For years, we’ve practiced there, hung out there, slept over there, made cocktails and frosted cakes there. It’s really like a second home for all of us. We decided to invest in improving what we could do there rather than just paying for studio time elsewhere. What can you tell me about Down Side Up? Garibaldi: It’s 13 new songs that I’m super proud of. Fiddle player (and seventh tallest in the band) Katie wrote a killer song called “Rehearsal.” John “BanJohn” Rosen wrote a couple of tunes, too, and we even got our drummer Jeff on wax now. We’ve got some fun songs, some sad songs, and some badass songs. I’m stoked, and I don’t throw the “stoke” word around lightly. Can you talk about the song “America’s Dreaming,” which is one of my favorites off this record? Was there anything in particular that inspired that one? Garibaldi: Our former banjo player, Nick Gerow, wrote that one. He’s a deep thinker. To me, the sentiment behind the song is, as an American,

PG 28 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com

we can make choices, and those choices have repercussions beyond our visual and myopic scope. In short, I will think twice before eating fast food again, no matter how good cheeseburgers are. Weed: It touches on a lot of issues that I think are unfortunately still very relevant: misinformation in the media, unequal distribution of wealth, adherence to outdated ideas of the American Dream and the materialism it inspires… I think it’s impossible to capture the politics and beliefs of everyone in a band in one song. But I’m glad we included this song. It’s good to keep these conversations going. You’ve made a strong impression with both punk and bluegrass fans. Do you get a mix of both at your shows? Garibaldi: We have the ability to play with punk bands like NOFX and Bad Religion one day, and play a bluegrass festival or an elementary school the next day. I like going to punk shows where the energy is up, but the bands don’t all sound the same, and I think that kind of appreciation is what enables us to play with lots of different kind of bands. Our tour with the Aggrolites was so amazing because of the different similarities in our music, if that makes any sense. Weed: We are so lucky to have a really varied crowd at our shows. People of all ages, from all backgrounds come out. And it’s something I never tire of seeing: that music can unite people. It’s so special when a teenager at a show says she can play our CD on family road trips because Old Man Markley is the only band she listens to that

her parents like. That’s awesome! You guys are about to tour with the Dropkick Murphys. Have you played with them before? Do you know what to expect? Garibaldi: We did a few festivals in Europe with them last year, and I’ve been going to Dropkick shows for 13 years. I’m a low expectations kind of guy. But, if I were to assume anything about this tour using whatever wisdom I have left (or ever had), I would say this tour is going to rule. The Dropkick Murphys are nice boys, put on a great show and have a big following, so I look forward to the challenge of winning their crowds over and having fun with my best friends/bandmates. Weed: It’s going to be so great! What do you have planned after the Murphys tour? Garibaldi: Lots more touring! We’re going to Japan, Europe, Canada and the US loop a few more times I hope. Weed: I’m hoping for Africa and more places in Asia. Especially Indonesia in particular. What else is the band working on? Garibaldi: We’re always writing and making demos, so maybe an EP or 7” single before the end of the year. But no solid plans of anything yet in that department. Weed: Finding new ways to cook kale. Lately, I’ve been steaming it and adding soy sauce and peanut butter. It sounds weird because it is, but it’s also awesome!


SPORTS

SPORTS

PAIN AND GAIN

Why an Early Injury Won’t Keep Budding Atlanta Braves Star Jason Heyward from Coming Back out Swinging Even Harder

BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

A

.121 BATTING AVERAGE. FIVE RBI in 58 April at-bats. It’s an eyepopping stat line; just not the kind Atlanta Braves outfielder Jason Heyward had in mind when we interviewed him back in March. Heyward, much like everybody else in the world of baseball, thought the first month of the MLB season would see him continue where a 2012 season of 27 HR and 82 RBI left off. The 23-year-old star-in-the-making just knew that a lineup where he was surrounded by boppers like Freddie Freeman and the two Upton brothers, Justin and B.J., would translate to a dream start. Instead, it’s been nothing short of a nightmare. Some of the issue might be him pressing. The other part could be him aching, which is why he had an appendectomy in Denver on April 22. Either way, when Heyward returns from the disabled list in early May, he’ll be looking to restart his season. How are you handling all the stardom? From the jump, the name got more popular than the player did. There were a lot of comparisons to Hank Aaron and other players I think that’s great for fans that come to the ballpark every day and watch it on TV. But from a player’s perspective, I feel like I gotta earn everything that I receive. That’s why I love playing this game everyday, working hard, having fun and being a student of the game. All I can do is put my best foot forward and anything that happens after that just is what it is. What’s the toughest part about Major League life? Not being able to make everybody happy, but I feel like that’s just a part of life. People would like to have their jersey signed or have a picture or have a conversation. It’s not easy to please all these fans. I hate saying no to people. I really do. A lot of the fan frustration comes from the Braves’ play in September and October. Looking at this new roster, what’s going to be different this year? In any sports season I don’t think you can tell what’s going to happen in the end until you get to the end. We have to play to get a feel. But I feel like the guys that have been here are a little bit more experienced now. Overall, we’re a young team but, at the same time, we’ve experienced [things] to gain that confidence, that knowledge, to go deeper into the season. I feel like guys like myself, Kris Medlen, Jonny Venters, [Eric] O’Flaherty and Craig Kimbrel. Those are all young guys on a team that’s been very good. And we feel like we can be better with more time and experience. When it comes to the acquisitions that the front office made this offseason, we have a more balanced lineup. Instead of straight left-handed dominant, its lefty-righty. All the guys hit the ball with power. A good group of guys can hit the ball for average. We have some speed. We have some thump. We have some guys to put the ball in play. And when you look to your right and see B.J. and Justin Upton in the same outfield now, how big of a smile do you have on your face? It’s good, man. I’ve been fortunate to have

some good outfielders with me in Atlanta my first three years like Michael Bourn and Martin Prado, two guys that were Golden Glove finalists for the National League. Those guys can hit with the best in the game. And this year, knowing that we had to move on from those two outfielders and head another direction, it was great to acquire two guys who could hit from right-handed power, hit from right-handed average, run the bases with speed, play defense and save the team some runs. On a personal level, you seem like you’re in great shape. Jason, what are some of your food secrets during the season? The season is when I have to eat a lot, to keep the weight on. It’s a long year—162 games. You want to make sure you keep a diet to where you eat healthy, but at the same time, you eat a lot of carbs. You need the protein. You need to stay hydrated. You need your electrolytes. You need your amino acids and things like that. And then there are the certified supplements that they allow us to take, mainly through EAS but I’m not a huge supplement guy because of obvious reasons— how close they are to banned substances now. I like to do everything naturally, if possible. Jason, for the high school or college player with big-league aspirations, what are the best pieces of advice you can give them? You always want to learn more. You never want to be complacent. Nothing is ever going to be handed to you in this game or in life. When you’re in high school and get drafted and go to the pros and the Minor Leagues, [you realize] everybody was the best player on their high school team. And the competition just keeps getting better. If you ever get complacent and don’t stay hungry, you’re going to see people pass you by. That’s the biggest thing I noticed. I wasn’t always the most talented. I had a lot of talent and gifts and was blessed with a lot of tools. But at the same time, if I didn’t continue to harness those things and make my strengths my weapons and my weaknesses my strengths, then I wouldn’t be where I am today. Even though I’m [in] my fourth season and I’m 23, my work is still not done.

FANATIC A Monthly Sports Wrap-up BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

NBA Finals

Jason Collins

By the time you have this magazine in your hands the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs should be wrapping up, leaving two more rounds of hardwood action remaining before the Finals. But who are we kidding? Everybody already knows who’s going to play for the title— the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. The combination of these teams’ team chemistry and nearly everyone else’s self-imploding spells a date with destiny for the two. For argument’s sake though, we’ve found four other possible championship matchups that have the everso-slight chance of happening should either the Heat or Spurs falter.

1. Miami vs. San Antonio

Even if the Oklahoma City Thunder had a healthy Russell Westbrook in the lineup, we would have still placed the mighty Spurs in the Finals. Simply put, they have the mix of youth (Kawhi Leonard), vets (Tony Parker) and legends (Tim Duncan) that GMs dream about. But if there’s one team that matches San Antonio’s elite level of play, it’s the repeat-minded Heat. Likely league MVP LeBron James gives 1000% every night. The bench is putting in 100%. If the wobbly Dwayne Wade can muster 65%, Miami will win another crown in six games.

2. Miami vs. Oklahoma City

This is the same tasty matchup that ended last season. Unfortunately for the Thunder, that series provided nothing more than a 4-1 thumping from the Heat. OKC just had no answer for Miami’s spacing and strength. Not sure how this year’s head-to-head meeting will prove any different, especially with James Harden in a Houston Rockets jersey and Westbrook on the bench in street cloths.

3. New York vs. San Antonio

The only other team in the East with a remote chance at a Finals bid is the exciting crew out of Manhattan. Depending on which Carmelo Anthony shows up —Though Melo dropped 36 in Game 4 of the first-round bout with Boston, he shot a hellacious 28% from the field— they could make this a sixgame series. We already know which San Antonio club will show— the one that scores consistently (108.3 ppg average in last three games vs. L.A. Lakers in round one), defends mercilessly (L.A. shot 26% from three) and doesn’t make many mistakes.

4. New York vs. Oklahoma City

Talk about your shootout. As two of the most explosive teams during the regular season, a Knicks-Thunder finale would do nothing put grins upon TV execs’ faces. During the year, these teams split a two-game series, with one game being a 125-120 affair and another being a 95-94 nail-biter. Expect even more intensity in June for “Melo vs. KD: The Battle of the Scoring Leaders.” This one goes seven, with the Knicks hanging their first banner since ’73. “We do not own [JASON] COLLINS’S decision. His courage is not ours. He owes us, and our society, nothing more than he already has given us. He made the decision, I hope, knowing one thing quite clearly, and that is that history is not predictable” –Grantland

writer Charles P. Pierce, after Collins came out as the first active gay athlete in the four major sports The thing that amazes about sports is pundits on TV and guys in the barber shops talk all day about the games, but until they actually happen, everyone’s really just guessing. This holds especially true for the wacky 2013 MLB SEASON after its first month. In fact, here are five things Fanatic still can’t quite believe about April: 1) The Colorado Rockies (16-11) were atop the NL West; 2) R.A. Dickey, last year’s NL Cy Young winner, already has four losses with Toronto; 3) Washington’s Adam LaRoche, a career .265 hitter, has the Majors’ second-lowest batting average at .136; 4) Over the last 10 games of the month, the L.A. Angels’ tremendous trio of Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Mike Trout combined for just two home runs; 5) Atlanta Braves outfielder Justin Upton has as many long balls (12) as the entire Miami Marlins team. “As if TIM TEBOW’S chances weren’t already limited by his skill set as a quarterback, his polarizing impact will make his quest for employment in the NFL that much more difficult. I have no idea where he’ll end up, but I will say this: Anyone who suggests Tebow should switch to tight end or fullback is unfairly minimizing what it takes to succeed as a tight end or fullback in the NFL. There are hundreds of athletes who played tight end at an All-American level in college who didn’t get a sniff in the NFL.” – NFL.com’s Jeff Darlington And finally… Davey Johnson was the opposing manager for Tim Hudson’s 1st win (1999, LA Dodgers skipper) and his 200th on April 30 (Washington manager)… One other note on Tim Hudson’s big night: it marked the first time that an Atlanta Braves pitcher hit a double and a home run in the same game since 1973… Kobe Bryant: “I would really love to see our guys come back, our core guys come back. I understand the [salary] cap situation, so that’s always a concern. But all I can do is just voice my opinion.” insiteatlanta.com • May 2013 • PG 29


TRAVEL

ANTARCTIC ADVENTURE

Unconventional Experiences At the Bottom of the World freezing snow and watching as they slept, we saw the twins wake up and beg to be fed. We took hundreds of photos, watching until they laid back down and went to sleep. Is it any wonder we fell madly in love with the penguins of Antarctica?

BY BRET LOVE PART 1: AVOIDING THE DRAKE

Visiting Antarctica had been on our travel wish list for years, but during our time in the Galapagos I learned that I suffer from serious seasickness that no combination of Dramamine and ginger could conquer. So how do you get to Antarctica without crossing the dreaded Drake Passage? In November, we were approached by a rep from Adventure Life (www.Adventure-Life.com) about traveling on a small-ship cruise with their partners at Antarctica XXI. We learned it was possible to fly from Punta Arenas, Chile to King George Island, which boasts the only airport in Antarctica. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But NOTHING about Antarctica is simple. When we got to Punta Arenas, we learned that the previous week’s Antarctica cruise had been cancelled due to ice on the King George Island Airport’s short landing strip, and there was still too much ice on the runway for their BAe-146 to land safely. The good news? The company worked out an agreement with Argentina’s Air Force to fly us over in a Hercules C130! So we set out the next morning on buses, making the drive from Punta Arenas north into Patagonia, then east to Río Gallegos, Argentina. After an overnight stay, we made it to Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández International Airport. The energy among the passengers was high, partly from our delayed departure, partly from the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly in a military aircraft, and partly because we simply couldn’t wait to get to Antarctica. At one point, I thought our poor Antarctica XXI handlers might snap from the unrelenting pressure. The cabin was buzzing with excitement as people strapped themselves into the knee-to-knee jump seats and took photos to document the unique experience. It was insane having Argentinean Air Force personnel as our flight crew, ushering us to our seats, helping us figure out the seat belts, and even passing out in-flight service. The entire experience felt more than a little surreal. It wasn’t the most comfortable flight we’ve ever taken. The gentleman next to me was practically in my lap, and the weird fabric jump seats meant you were usually off balance or bumping into the person next to you. But it was mercifully short– about two hours– and the coolness of the experiences vastly outweighed the minor inconveniences of being a day late to Antarctica. Finally the plane began its descent, and we saw the South Shetland Islands in the distance. Everyone tried to get bird’seye-view snapshots of the snow-covered islands, and craned their necks for a glimpse of the icebergs that dotted the ocean. Our hearts were pounding in our chests as the plane touched down on the icy runway, engaged its reverse thrusters and came to a stop. Hiking a few hundred yards through snow (in which you’d occasionally sink up to your knees), we made our way past the famous Frei Station and to the icy shore. There, our naturalist guides passed out life preservers and helped us board the Zodiacs that would take us to the Ocean Nova, our home away from home for what would prove to be an incredible Antarctic adventure we will never forget.

PART 2: THE PENGUINS OF ANTARCTICA

You don’t have to look very hard to find penguins in Antarctica. We spotted our first colony on the shore of Half Moon Island before our Zodiacs had even landed, and were surprised to see two different species– the smaller Chinstrap Penguin and the reddish-orange-billed Gentoo Penguin– intermingling there. The penguins didn’t seem to care we were there, but our guides ensured we maintained a respectful distance. But not all of the penguins were so accommodating as to greet us at the beach. Sometimes their colonies were located at the top of mountains around 1000 feet up, requiring arduous hikes through deep snow. One wrong step and you’d sink in up to your knees. But once you got to the top, the views were breathtaking. It was fascinating to sit and watch the penguins. Some just laid there, basking in the sun. Some hiked up and down the mountains, going to the ocean to feed. Others created quite the ruckus, squawking, flapping their wings wildly and lifting their

PG 30 • May 2013 • insiteatlanta.com

PART 3: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE WHALE KIND

heads to the sky. Our guide explained that this odd ritual was how mating penguins recognize each other. Once the pair was reunited, they did an odd little dance where you weren’t quite sure if they would kiss or fight. Eventually they’d settle down into a nest made of rocks, which the males would bring to their partners. Arguably the coolest wildlife sighting of our entire trip was an extremely rare mulatto penguin. Our guide, who had been visiting these islands every day during the tourist season for over 15 years, said he’d only seen one penguin like this before. So we felt extremely fortunate. The next day we made our way to Mikkelsen Harbour, which lies on the southern coast of Trinity Island. Here, next to an unoccupied hut, it was easier to see how the penguins divide up into colonies. We also got a chance to watch male penguins stealing rocks from each other’s nests, hoping to impress their mate by bringing the biggest rock they could carry. Pretty hilarious stuff… The bad news on our last day in Antarctica was that a snowstorm came in and delayed our departure by a day. The good news was that we visited Ardley Island, where we finally got to see baby penguins! We also got our first chance to see Adelie Penguins (the only penguins who travel on all fours), which are easily recognizable due to their all-black heads and striking white eyes. We were blessed with another rare sighting at the end of our visit: A mama Gentoo penguin with two baby chicks (usually only one survives). After waiting 30 minutes in the

I’ve been fascinated with whales ever since I was a boy, reading Moby Dick. But I didn’t start dreaming about seeing them in Antarctica until I started watching Whale Wars. Seeing Sea Shepherd volunteers so passionate about protecting these super-sized cetaceans from Japanese whalers is undeniably infectious. But it becomes much more emotionally resonant when you see them for yourself. On our second day in Antarctica, as we made our way to see the sunset in the Lemaire Channel, we got our first glimpse of whales in action. We were passing by some intense icebergs, so we went out to shoot photos. Suddenly we came upon several Antarctic Killer Whales, which are smaller than other Orcas, with grey backs and yellow-tinged patches. The adrenaline rush of seeing a whole pod of Killer Whales hunting right next to your boat is indescribable. All 50+ passengers were ooh-ing and aah-ing every time the whales surfaced, with their massive dorsal fins like scythes slashing the sea. By the time they swam off, we’d watched them for more than half an hour. Our second encounter proved even more impressive– and MUCH closer– than the first. We weren’t even supposed to be in Antarctica by that point, but a storm swept in overnight and prevented our plane from landing. A heavy fog settled in over King George Island, with intermittent snow flurries reminding us that Mother Nature can be especially unpredictable there. So instead we prepared for another shore excursion. As we were getting our snow gear on, a voice came over the speakers alerting us to another pod of whales spotted off the back of the ship. Just as I reached the top deck, I heard a noise below me– that distinctive sound of a whale breathing through its blowhole– and looked down to see a massive Humpback Whale staring straight up at me. The encounter lasted only a few seconds, but time stood still, and I got goosebumps that left me shouting in exultation as the whale dove into the sea. We rushed down three flights of stairs to meet the Zodiacs that would take us out to the center of the pod. As luck would have it, of the 8 different guides we could’ve ridden with, we just so happened to get into the Zodiac of expedition leader Mariano Curiel. As Mariano urged the other Zodiacs to fall in behind him and headed through the whipping wind and splashing sea spray, we had a front row seat to the action. Finally we came to a stop, with whales putting on a show in every direction. As I struggled to wipe spray from my camera lens, a Humpback Whale surfaced literally 3 feet from where we sat. There are no words to aptly describe how we felt, but my daughter’s favorite– “MAGICAL!”– is good enough. Seeing whales that close, there was no question why Sea Shepherd volunteers risk life and limb to protect these majestic, mythical creatures. An experience like ours will make you want to protect them, too. It was an incredible, overwhelming end to our amazing Antarctic adventure.


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FANATIC A Monthly Sports Wrap-up SOUTHERN NIGHTS!

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BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS

Now that SUPER BOWL XLV is over, football fans can get to the real issue: Will there be a 2011 season? If you let NFL commissioner Roger Goodell tell it, a new collective bargaining agreement is imminent. But listen to others close to the situation and they’ll say it’s not such a sure thing. While officials work out the numbers, Fanatic knows three things that’ll happen, lockout or no lockout: 1) An SEC defender (Auburn’s Nick Fairley or LSU’s Patrick Peterson) will be the No. 1 pick in the Draft; 2) An 18-game season will be approved; 3) Super Bowl XLVI will kick-off as planned on Feb. 5, 2012 in Indianapolis.

(Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers); Coach of the Year (Gregg Popovich, San Antonio); Most Improved Player (Kevin Love, Minnesota); Sixth Man of the Year (Jamal Crawford, Atlanta); Most Surprising Team (New Orleans Hornets); Biggest Disappointment (Phoenix Suns). “He’s a beast. What can you say? Some of the shots he made, I was like, ‘Wow. Did he just make that in my face?’ A player like that, you have to live and die defending him one on one. If he makes big shots, you have to go to the other end and stay poised.” –New Mexico guard Dairese Gary, on JIMMER FREDETTE, BYU star and college’s leading scorer

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“I feel like a better player now than I was three years ago, because I think that physically I’m stronger, faster, mentally I’m more motivated on the court. I know how to react in certain moments, and I know how to play on a big stage. I have been more focused and dedicated to the sport than ck Up I have ever been before.” -2011 MEN’SPi AUSTRALIAN n ia b y S OPEN WINNER NOVAK DJOKOVICToday!

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“St. Louis was fourth in baseball last year in attendance, but only 13th in payroll. In other words the Cardinals have money to burn, and it’s time to light the match. So here’s what you do if you’re St. Louis: Whatever [Albert] Pujols wants, within reason, you give it to him. What’s X Zenreason? 1200 within No idea. TheFle closest shlibaseballt has had to a H e Nlikeow freeeragent this! wasNAlex Rodriguezginh2001, when he o years. inThat Stowas received $252 million for 10w ck$25.2 ! million annually, and that was a decade ago. And Pujols is better.” –CBS SPORTS’ GREGG DOYEL

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WOODLAND

courtside at L.A.’s Staples Center.

2. AsMiami at Boston (Feb. 13, 1PM, ABC) much as Chicago and Orlando fans hate acknowledging the fact, this is probably your Eastern Conference Finals preview.

3. Ohio State at Wisconsin, Pittsburgh at Villanova (Feb. 12, 2PM, 9PM, ESPN) The top two teams in the nation go on the road to very, very hostile environments.

4. Daytona 500 (Feb. 20, 12PM, Fox) Gentlemen, start your quest to stop Jimmie Johnson from winning an unprecedented sixth straight Sprint Cup championship.

5. This UNC at Duke (Feb. 9, 9PM, ESPN) big meeting (and another on March 5) goes a long way in deciding North Carolina bragging rights and the ACC crown.

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

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