OCTOBER 2012
www. insiteatlanta .com
VOL. 21, NO. 3 FREE
FALL MOVIE PREVIEW ALANIS MORISSETTE THE WHIGS IRONE SINGLETON FROM THE WALKING DEAD
N E E W O L HAL E U S IS
Haunts, Events and Attractions… Plus Costumes!
TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TICKETMASTER.COM AND AT ALL TICKETMASTER OUTLETS. TO CHARGE TICKETS BY PHONE, CALL (800) 745-3000.
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PG 2 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
9/21/12 2:48 PM
Contents • October 2012 • Volume 21, No.3
H I G H M U S E U M O F A R T AT L A N TA
INTERVIEWS 06 10 12 12 15 21 23 24 27 27 29
Greg Daniel of The Office IronE Singleton Ellen Barkin Curt Menefee Alanis Morissette Jennifer Beals Susanna Hoffs Lynn Whitfield Sleeping Turtles The Whigs GSU’s Ron Hunter
FEATURES
06 NOVEMBER 10, 7 p.m.–12 MIDNIGHT DOG BITE | MOONS | NEW ANIMAL 100 Years of Music: DIY DJ Station (bring your records!) OMIGOD HELLO HOW ARE YOU
presents
Time-Warped:
6 Performances inspired by Fast Forward
12
Art of the Future: Projections & Robot Demos Workshops by Kennesaw & Georgia State Universities
08 09 14 16 23 24
ATL’s Fall Patios Sub Sandwich Guide Out on Film PRESENTING SPONSOR Fall Movie Preview Athen’s Inside Out Halloween Guide
04 05 06 07 13 18 20 19 20 30 30 31
Around Town On Tap On A Dime Events Under The Lights Movie Reviews Concert Calendar Road Warriors We Got Next Album Reviews Fanatic Vidiots Favorite Things
On view: Fast Forward: Modern Moments 1913»2013 students $7 | members free | $5 for groups of 10 or more
LEAD SPONSORS
High.org or call 404-733-4550 for groups
This College Night is made possible by Presenting Sponsor
COLUMNS
12
Named one of Southern Living’s
Top 10
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9/25/12 4:36 PM
Tastiest Towns!
Three colors: Turquoise PMS 326, Red-orange PMS 173, Purple PMS 242
21
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
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Contributing Writers / Interns: Jon Latham, Ryan Loftis, Rodney Hill, Alex S. Morrison, Steve Warren, Dave Cohen, Jennifer Williams, Matt Connor, Ed Morales, Sacha Dzuba, David Weinthal, Benjamin Carr, Kalena Smith, Justin Patterson, Lee Valentine Smith, Amanda Miles, Patrick Flanary, Ian Coverdale CONTACT US 2250 North Druid Hills Rd. #234 Atlanta, GA 30329-3118 phone 404-315-8485 website insiteatlanta.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION 404-315-8485 • 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.
Delightful, delicious, dyna mic
Left: The Bakery at Cakes & Ale on Sycamore Street near the square supports “Keep it Indie-Catur.” Right: Restaurants and shops on E. Ponce de Leon Avenue.
Just six miles east of Atlanta is walkable, neighborly City of Decatur.
Explore more than 200 boutiques, salons, services, galleries, and destination dining spots. Find out about Terrific Thursdays in November and December at VisitDecaturGeorgia.com.
Single color
Advertising funded by the Decatur Craft Beer Festival.
© Copyright 2012, Be Bop Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Check out our Fall Festival Guide on page 27! decatur-insite-oct-2012.indd 1
insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 3 9/24/12 4:24 PM
Around Town
Register this month the Free to Breathe Athens 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk, a family-friendly event that brings the entire community together to inspire hope and create change for everyone impacted by lung cancer. The event is Nov. 10, and will begin registration day of the event at 7:30am at Sandy Creek Park in Athens. Register at www.freetobreathe.org/athens.
ALL OCT
The famous Improv Standup Comedy Club and Dinner theater in LA and Chicago is opening up its third location Oct. 4 in Atlanta. The newest Improv will be located in Buckhead and will open with comic legend Louie Anderson. “The opening of the Improv Comedy Club completes a decade long progression with the launch of East Andrews Café & Bar in 2002, for an upscale entertainment destination with dining, drinks, dancing, and now comedy under one roof,” said Stephen de Haan, President of Andrews Entertainment District. Visit www. theimprovatlanta.com or call 678-244-3612.
OCT 04
Starting Oct. 5 and running through Jan. 21, the Fernbank Museum features 45 original photos by members of the Decatur Digital Photography Meetup that highlight the beauty and wonder of the Museum’s incredible
OCT 05
Theatre/Film/Performance
exhibitions, special features, Fernbank Forest and more. For more info, visit www. fernbankmuseum.org. The Delta Air Transport Heritage Museum invites aviation enthusiasts to its annual Atlanta Airline Collectibles Show & Sale on Oct. 6 from 9am-4pm. A variety of vendors will be selling aviation-related items ranging from airplane seats to aircraft models and playing cards. This is the one Saturday of the year that the Museum is open to the general public. Visit www.deltamuseum.org or by call at 404-715-7886 for more details.
OCT 06
Museums/Exhibits/Arts
Music/Comedy/Sports
It’s the Ghastly Dreadfuls’ farewell run at the Center for Puppetry Arts. The Ghastly Dreadfuls returns from Oct. 11-27 to entertain and spook theater fans ages 16 and up. Go to puppet.org for details.
OCT 11
The CBS Atlanta Fit Fest, a free event, will run on Oct. 13 at the Georgia World Congress Center. There will be a whole day of fitness classes, vendors, healthy foods, a kids zone, senior zone and more. This fitness event will be held from 10am until 5pm. For more information visit www.atlantafitfest.org
OCT 13
In conjunction with the Atlanta premiere of “Time Stands Still”, Horizon Theatre hosts a series of post-show discussions titled Choosing Change: Home Front or World Stage. Local photography, psychology, and ethics experts in collaboration with Horizon Artistic Director Lisa Adler and the play’s four actorsinvite audiences to reflect on the play’s most compelling questions. The play runs through Oct. 14 with post-show discussions being presented on Oct. 6-7. Tickets and information are available at horizontheatre. com or 404-584-7450.
The Candler Park Neighborhood Organization presents the 12th annual Candler Park Fall Fest, a free, neighborhood festival with live music, over 150 artist booths, a kids’ area and a 5K Road Race on Oct. 13-14. Go to candlerparkfallfest.com for details.
Join hero Prince Stefan as he sets out to rescue the princess Aurora, and her family’s kingdom, asleep for almost one hundred years in “Sleeping Beauty,” presented by the Center for Puppetry Arts. The play runs through Oct. 7. Go online to puppet.org for more information.
The Atlanta Opera has added four Community Performances of Stone Soup to its 2012-2013 schedule. There will be one this month on Oct. 21 at 3pm at the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village. Tickets can be purchased online at atlantaopera.org.
OCT 06
OCT 07
Other Stuff
OCT 13
The Atlanta Falcons welcome the Oakland Raiders to the Georgia Dome on Oct. 14 at 1pm. The game will be shown on CBS, but don’t miss the only home game this month. Go to atlantafalcons.com for tickets and details.
OCT 14 OCT 21
The Ferst Center will present TAIKOPROJECT, pictured above, on Oct. 21 at 5pm. Exuberant in performance, the premiere taiko drummers of the group blend traditional forms with an innovative and fresh aesthetic approach. TAIKOPROJECT, based in Los Angeles, is the first and only American group to win the prestigious Tokyo International Taiko Contest in Japan. For ticket info, go to www.ferstcenter.org or call 404-894-9600.
OCT 21
The Inman Park Beer Chase returns on Oct. 27. The event’s 5K will begin at 11am with a wickedly challenging race through Historic Inman Park and the Freedom Park PATH. Following the race at noon, enjoy a sampling of more than 100 beers from your favorite local and national craft breweries. Call 1-877-7258849 or go to www.inmanparkbeerchase.com.
OCT 27
Men Stopping Violence will celebrate 30 years and honor its first President, Congressman John Lewis, at an awards dinner on Oct. 27 at the Four SeasonsMidtown Atlanta. For more info, go to www.menstoppingviolence. org or dial 404-270-9894.
OCT 27
CardiovasCular disease researCh
BRAND NEW & USED HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
Open 7 Days a Week
To learn more about this study, call Emory’s Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit at 404-712-2059 or kelly.tracey@emory.edu.
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PG 4 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
Emory University, Department of Psychiatry is currently conducting a research study on Cardiovascular Disease and Depression. Dr. J. Douglas Bremner, Psychiatrist, is investigating the brain mechanisms through which depression increases the risk of death in patients with cardiovascular disease. If you would to participate in this study, you must have a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease either with or without depression. If you think you may have signs of depression, but have never been assessed, we can provide an assessment for you.
www.
ragorama.com
Procedures involve health and mental health assessments, MRI, PET and SPECT scans conducted at Emory University. Volunteers will receive compensation for their time.
LOCAL
LOCAL EVENTS
On Tap this Month EMAIL EVENTS TO ONTAP@INSITEATLANTA.COM
Oct. 4-7: Greek Orthodox Cathedral
ATLANTA GREEK FESTIVAL
Enjoy food, fun and “Opa” at this year’s Atlanta Greek Festival, which brings all the aromas, sounds, tastes and traditions of Greece to your doorstep. Enjoy authentic Greek food and pastries, cooking demonstrations, music, and dancing with special audience participation. Adults are $5 and children 12 & under are admitted free. This year’s festival takes place Oct. 4 from 5-10pm; Oct. 5 & Oct. 6 from 11am-11pm; and Oct. 7 from 11am-7pm. Go online, to www.atlantagreekfestival.org for tickets.
Oct. 5-7: Technology Square
TASTE OF ATLANTA
It’s time again for Taste of Atlanta, the city’s premier food festival. Get ready to taste your way around the festival with our more than 80 of Atlanta’s best restaurants. Fill your plate with some of the best Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Japanese and, of course, all-American food the city has to offer. All your favorite Atlanta personalities will be on stage, including No. 246’s Drew Belline, 4th & Swift’s Jay Swift, Local Three’s Chris Hall and so many more. For more, go to tasteofatlanta.com.
Oct. 6: Fourth Ward Park
HOTOBERFEST
“HOToberFest,” the nation’s largest consumer-judged beer competition and sustainability festival, moves to its new home. They continue to expand their unique combination of craft beer, live music, arts and crafts, and eclectic food. The event takes place from noon until 7pm. Come by at noon and check out the food trucks and grab a beer before the tasting starts. Check in early and enjoy the park. Gate opens at noon. Tickets for the Beer Tasting Tents are $30 in advance. Go to hotoberfest.net for more.
Oct. 13: Fox Theatre
AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD
Having sold over three million tickets in concerts that have taken place in 35 countries, The Australian Pink Floyd Show is rightfully hailed as one of the most in demand touring entities currently operating. The band is celebrating its16th year but the shows keep rolling and the band keep doing what they love. Don’t miss an opportunity to experience the awe and wonder of a Pink Floyd concert at a wonderful venue like the Fox Theatre. Prices start at $93. Go to foxatltix.com for more details.
Oct. 20: Downtown Decatur
DECATUR CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
More than 100 of the finest local, American and international beers are showcased at this annual event sponsored by area distributors and Decatur’s restaurants and pubs. Enjoy live music on the Community Bandstand and food from local restaurants available for sale. Admission is $40 per person and includes a commemorative tasting glass. The festival is limited to the first 4,000 ticket holders. You must be 21 or older to attend and no animals allowed at the festival. Visit decaturbeerfestival.com for more.
Oct. 20-21: Apple Valley Road
BROOKHAVEN ARTS FESTIVAL
This festival offers something for everyone. Highlights include live entertainment featuring classic rock, blues, jazz and soul music. At the Children’s Market, kids can create an heirloom, paint rocks, or contribute to the Community Mural Project. The BAF is held on Apple Valley Road, directly behind the Brookhaven MARTA Station. There is convenient access to Peachtree Road, I-85, GA-400, and MARTA plus ample free parking. Visit brookhavenartsalliance.com for more.
EVENTS HAPPENING FOR SMALL CHANGE IN ATLANTA
Know of a low cost event of happening? Event@AtlantaOnADime.com By Marci Miller SIPS IN THE CITY 2011 SOUTHEASTERN CALLAWAY GARDENS PHOENIX FLIES HUNGER WALK/RUN 5KFLOWER SHOW SKATERAID 2012 HORRORQUEST FILM FESTIVAL August, Check Website for Deals Through Feb. 28, FREE Feb. 25 27, Adults $18 ($15 in advance) March 13, Noon-4pm, $25 runners 8th ANNUAL GERMAN for BIERFEST 19 – 21, Free Sunday, September 30, 2pmOF– LIVING 7pm, $10 admittance, October “CITYWIDE CELEBRATION LANDMARKS” Various Downtown Restaurants Callaway Gardens $5 for students, wristband required. March 5-20, Free www.atlantadowntown.com 17800 US Hwy 27 East Decatur Station Various Landmarks Around the City Pine Mountain, Georgia www.skateraid.net phoenixflies.org This summer promotion encourages callawaygardens.com
SkaterAid, a Flies: skateboarding, music and patrons to experience Downtown The Phoenix A Celebration ofAtlanta Living
art festival, returns for eighth year to on ice! Throughout the heated months of Admission tocreated Callaway Gardens is Landmarks was in the 2003 by The Atlanta Decatur this September. The festival features July and August, featured restaurants in the complimentary through the end of this Preservation Center as aand way demonstrations, to celebrate the skateboarding contests Downtown Dining District willrescue be offering month (Price isofnormally $15 for adults, 25th anniversary the dramatic of the music by local teenproviding bands and guests a hip skateboard refreshing signature cocktails, happy $6.50 per child) with Fox Theatre, an event that changed Atlanta’s deck artand auction. All proceeds generated by the hours deals that you won’t want to miss. the opportunity to enjoy time with their preservation outlook forever. This year, the list event are donated to families who are battling Participating restaurants includein nature. Atlanta family friends reconnecting includesand free pediatric brainguided cancer.tours of The Fox Theatre, Grill, Azio Downtown, BLT Steak, Max Free admission includes the Virginia Piedmont Park, Historic Oakland Cemetery, Lager’s, No Mas! Cantina and The Sundial Hand Callaway Discovery Center, Day Civil War Atlanta Walking Tour, Tullie Smith Restaurant. Visit the website for a complete Butterfly Center, Sibley Horticultural Farm House, Margaret SUNDAY IN THE PARK Mitchell House, the list deals. Center, Mr.Park Cason’s Vegetable Sunday, October 7, 12:00pm – 6:00pm, Donation newofBeltline and much more. $5Garden, Callaway BrothersforAzalea Overlook Requested, Admission childrenBowl, 3 and under is free. Garden, Discovery Bicycle Trail, Pioneer Parking: $5 AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL SHOW IN ATLANTA Log Cabin, Cason Callaway Memorial Historic OaklandIda Cemetery March 10-13, Regular admission: $13 www.oaklandcemetery.com Chapel, nature trails and daily programs. Children under 12: free Cobb Galleria CenterCemetery reconnects with Historic Oakland THE UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta its Victorian roots with Sunday the- Park. Feb. 10 27, Tickets range from in $15 $35 For craftcouncil.org/Atlanta the 33rd year, Atlanta oldest public cemetery Turner Field Green Lot invites supporters and the curious alike to 521 Avenue, Atlanta ThisCapitol 3-day event largest demonstrations, juried fine craft experience livingis the history universoulcircus.com Show in the southeast. show tours has been Victorian costume contests,The carriage and
Youth/Student $7,State Kids2University under Free foratwalkers Saturday, August 27, – 7pm5 are Free Cinefest Georgia Cobb Galleria Centre Parking is free www.thehorrorquest.com $30 Online, $35 At the Door Two Galleria Parkway, Turner Field Green LotAtlanta Woodruff Park, Downtown Atlanta Named one of Movie Maker Magazine’s sehort.org 755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta www.germanbierfest.com “10 Great No-Entry Fee Film Festivals,” hungerwalkrun.org HorrorQuest Filmgreatness Festival, Presented bya 100% theFREESoutheastern This summer isevent celebrates the featuring Independent films such as Witch’s Horticultural Society, this annual premier Join thousands of runners and walkers at of German beer in a family-friendly Brew, Cannibal Diner, The Infliction and more. gardening event promotes preservation this annual event that benefits the Atlanta environment. Complete with authentic The decision to build a and festival came about and awareness of Community Food Bankflowers fiveand otherplants local German food, activities fora local the kids, music after a conversation, with filmmaker, through education andBierfest artistic expression. nonprofits. Participants can register as a team and fun, the German is not only about how expensive it was to submit a film to Show activities include speakers, juried or individually online or register the day of the only authentic German Bierfest a festival. Because of this HorrorQuest’s goal in is competition, kids’ activities, Landscape & the event. There will be activities for all ages Atlanta, but the only family-friendly beer to be 100 percent free to both film makers and Discovery Gardens and more. including livethe entertainment & more. festival asgames, well. For price of admittance, the audience.
Gates opencan at noon, & walk attendees drinktheall5Ktherunbeer theybegin can at 2 p.m. safely consume. Designated drivers are 10th OAKHURST CRAWL 40th ANNUAL ANNUAL STONE WINE MOUNTAIN encouraged and can attend for free. No one HIGHLAND GAMES Saturday, Feb. 26, 4 pm-7 pm October 20,the 9am –for5pm, $15will per be adults, $5 per child under of 21 permitted to $25 in advance Tasting Glass A-TOWN DAYage (ages 6 – 12) consume alcohol. A designated driver $30 day26,ofNoon-8pm, event March $5 Stone Mountain Parkalso service will be on site for those who Oakhurst Business District Lakewood www.smhg.org find themselves in an unsafe condition to oakhurstga.org 2002 Lakewood Ave SE, Atlanta drive home. atownday.com Regale in the in spirit Scotland at the Participants thisof year’s event willStone get Mountain Highland Games. Outdoor festivities to sample wines from around the world A-TOWN DAY is a health festival,dancing, concert, PIGS & Highland PEACHES BBQcare FESTIVAL include athletic events, while exploring all the businesses and a major day of Awareness celebrating August 26 & 27, Friday 5pm 11pm piping, drumming and Scottish Harping.in Jointhe in Oakhurst neighborhood. There will be 20 all Scottish things10am Atlanta. A-TOWN DAY benefits Saturday – 10pm, Free demonstrations, for country dancing participating establishments and the event the Diabetes of Atlanta and The Ben Robertson Community Center, Kennesaw Kirking of theAssociation Tartans, Clan Challenge, and expects to sell out quickly. The Fur Bus B-Aware This See eventthewill feature www.facebook.com/PigsAndPeaches the ParadeFoundation. of the Tartans. Clan and will be information on poetry, hand to live music, cartransport showalong and participants lots of family Tartan tents with many from bar to bar. Tickets be purchased colorful Scottish shops. Vehicle entry to Stone friendly events. The event features acannon-sanctioned from Steinbeck’s Ale House, Ujoint, Mountain Park is $10 for a one-day permit or Backyard BBQ, Anything Butt and Peach $35 for an annual permit. and Karvana Coffee Shop, all located in Dessert PARK Contest, as well as a WEEK Kansas City INMAN RESTAURANT Oakhurst village. Barbeque Society March 28-April 3, $15sanctioned Professional Contest, is recognized $25 & $35which for three-course meal as a Georgia $1 MOVIES AT STUDIO MOVIE GRILL State Championship Cookoff. IHOP NATIONAL PANCAKEBarbeque DAY CELEBRATION inmanparkrestaurantweek.com November 2 – 4, All movies $1 during opening weekend Over $14,000 cash and prizes will be Tuesday, March 1,in7 am-10 pm, Free Pancakes of new Duluth location awarded to contest winners. Besides food International House of Pancakes Savor historic Inman Park with three-course Studio Movie Grill Duluth for sale, from and free music from of Locations throughout Metro Atlantaa number dinners 11 local restaurants. Proceeds www.studiomoviegrill.com local and national acts, festival goershelps will IHOPPancakeday.com will benefit Project Open Hand, which be treated to aGrill large Kid Zone (withchronic many people prevent or Duluth’s better manage Studio Movie state-of-the-art attractions FREE to open families), vendor On thiscomplex day, customers receive one theatre will towill theunique public in early disease through comprehensive nutrition care. booths andstack sponsor exhibits. Silver free short ofand IHOP’s November. This ten-screen, upscale theatre $1 raffle tickets will(three) be sold willThe gofamous towards Wings paratrooper aerial exhibition buttermilk pancakes. All they askwill is team that will mirror many of the creature comforts of the charity. The winner of the raffle win toconsider thed’ouerves, event, willaand jump intoparty the areturns withmaking itsand spacious, comfortable patrons donation to a home hostedtheatre hor beer wine stadium fixed lounges festival on Saturday, August 27.individual Crowds support local children’s hospitals through at Park’sseating, Edge Restaurant for and thirty of their dining tables. The new location offer $1 will be Each treated to Network aPark wonderful display of Children’s Miracle or will other local friends. Inman restaurant will bring Movies during Opening Weekend. This is aerobatics performances in charities. Since beginning tastes from and their patriotic restaurants foritstheNational winner. Atlanta’s chance to see first-run films such as the There will be ainhuge, fireworks Pancake Day 2006, IHOP The sky. winner willcelebration be also announced at the end of “Wreck It Ralph” andthan “The $5.35 Man With the Iron grand finale. has raised more million to the restaurant week. Check the website Fists” for only $1! in the communitiesforina support complete charities list of participating restaurants.
free A children’sforarea will feature the walking premieretours. marketplace regional fine UniverSoul Circus crafts, old-fashioned games and traditional craft lovers and The collectors, andthe offers guests continues itsworksurge Teddy Bear to Tea.meet Proceeds from Sunday infrom the the chance and purchase YELLOW JACKET to the top the live Park benefit the Historic Oakland Foundation. esteemed artists from around theof country. To entertainment FAN reachDAY first-time collectors and establishedranks craft OAKHURST ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL with interactive funky Saturday, 6, 3pm –its 6pm, Free collectorsAugust alike, the newest show category for Saturday, October 13, 10:00am – 7:00pm, Free rendition of a traditional Bobby Dodd Stadium Grant Field Under $100. participating artists isatHandmade Harmony Park, Oakhurst Neighborhood UniverSoul has www.ramblinwreck.com Artists who sell workcircus. for under $100 will have www.oakhurstartsandmusicfestival.com captivated audiences their booths specially marked for patrons around the world Festivities begin at from 3ap.m. on Callaway Plaza interested starting collection. The 15th inAnnual Oakhurst Arts & brand Music with its unique with music, prizes, inflatables and games for Festival will take place atblends the center ofarts, the that circus the kids. From 4-6 p.m. the gates will open ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY FREEand OPEN Oakhurst community in Harmony Park.HOUSE Events music. and fans enter atheater the stadium to meet the and features include 5K Arts Run/Walk, local March 12, can 11am-3pm, Free Founded in players Atlanta over 2011 Yellow Jackets. Football will be artists, live musical performances, community Atlanta Motor Speedway 17 position years ago, the at audience seated with their groups various area featuring Decatur-based nonprofit groups, 1500 Tara Place, Hampton willthe watch infield. amazement as Paul stilt points on playing Head coach free activity area for children, parade and food atlantamotorspeedway.com walkers make their way across a tight Johnson will sign autographs from 4-5 p.m. and beverages at Oakhurst’s many restaurants. rope, horse riders perform death-defying and will be available for photographs from This event is presented by the Decatur Arts Visit the track’s Open House for free. Activities stunts, and contortionists bend into Alliance. 5-6 p.m. Please limit autographs to ONE include championship legends racing on the incredible and beautiful shapes.will be the item per player or coach. quarter-mile “Thunder Ring.This ”, free drawings first getown thecar 2011 football for bigopportunity prizes, drivetoyour on the track poster as well as schedule cards, ticket CHEERSPORT 2011 NATIONAL with the purchase of Labor Day NASCAR information andselect other items throughout the CHEERLEADING & DANCE tickets, fans can their seats for the Labor afternoon. Most campus parking lots will Day Race Weekend, tour the Speedway’s race CHAMPIONSHIP be available. it operates. FESTIVAL PEACHTREE LATINO control Feb. 18 –tower 20 and suites, take photos with which
the Atlanta Motor pace carGRILL and a $12-day MOVIES STUDIO MOVIE $30 for passATSpeedway SIMON GAMEPLAY NASCAR Sprint Series winner’s trophy, $20 for 1-day passCup TOUR Saturday, 20gift @ shop 10am,and Free discounts at5 AMS much more. Kids UnderAugust are Free Discover Mills Mall, Lawrenceville Georgia World Congress Center www.simon.com 285 Andrew Young International Blvd., Atlanta cheersport.net The Simon GamePlay tour will connect fans of all ages to the hottest video cheerleading games before Bring it on…this electrifying they are launched and available in stores. and dance competition features teams The recently launched Nintendo 3DS competing from across America. This gaming system will take center stage with year, it expects to grow larger than ever a “Nintendo Lounge, ” with couches, with over 9003DS teams participating, from snacks and games. Nintendo also offer ages three through college. will Cheersport “Street Pass,”bytournament-style play loved using was founded all-star coaches who Nintendo 3DS devices. GamePlay will competitive cheerleading and dance. feature 10 gaming pods, including 2 mature Check the website for the full competition zones, with products from instrusty leaders schedule. like SEGA, Capcom, 2K and Atari.
Sunday, August 28, 11am – 7:30pm, Free Piedmont Park www.festivalpeachtreelatino.com
Festival Peachtree Latino has been the largest family & multicultural event in the southeast since 2000. They have featured hundreds of exhibitions, family activities, sporting events, parades, arts & crafts, ethnic foods and outdoor musical performances featuring renowned international musicians on two stages. The best part about it is that the event is absolutely FREE!! This year, Festival Peachtree Latino has more to offer, with new attractions and a larger schedule of musical performances.
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TV
THE OFFICE GETS ITS GREG BACK Executive Producer Greg Daniels returns to close The Office BY JENNI WILLIAMS
W
E CAN HARDLY BELIEVE THE day is come—despite that all great TV shows had to end somewhere. As it’s successful predecessors, it takes its last stand with all chips in, all players on the court and when it was getting so good that you’ll be sad for years to come over the void on your Thursday nights. Some of you will even buy the boxed sets. The good news? The Office gets it’s groove back with original Executive Producer Greg Daniels taking the reigns to close the doors, forever. Insite got the chance to sit down with the Season 9 EP to hear about what the ninth and final season will leave us with in our memo boxes. From old stories revisited, new drama unfolding and an incredible new inventory of funny stuff, it’s going out with a bang, like the sound of the basketballs hitting rim during pick-up basketball games at Dunder-Mifflin. Sigh. Okay, Mr. Daniels, first things first. Why did you come back? We have thought about what the future of the show should be and always held the values that we should feel like a family and make something that has a lot of artistic integrity. And so this year feels like for us like the last chance to really go out
together and to make an artist ending for the show that pays off a lot of the stuff that has mattered most to fans with the core characters. And what are you bringing to the table for the last hoorah? We are planning a very sort of big, exciting last season. We are going to have a lot of familiar faces coming back. We are going to Roy’s wedding. David Wallace is running the show. He is running the Dunder Mifflin show. I will be writing the actual show. We have a lot of funny stories and we are telling some crazy Dwight stories that we have wanted to tell for years. There is a lot of drama in the Jim and Pam story this year. The story is definitely not over for them. We think they all will learn PowerPoint. Will the finale address the documentary being made since Season 1? Yes. Basically all questions will be answered this year. I think we are going to see who is behind the documentary and we are going to meet some of them. We are going to kind of use the fact that for nine years there has been a crew filming this office and people always say, you know, why are they still filming? What are they after? You know?
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404-728-7900 www.feministcenter.org PG 6 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
surgi-Center license 044-287
WE HAVE SOME GREAT GUEST STAR ROLES AND WE ARE JUST STARTING TO GO OUT AND FIND COOL PEOPLE BEHIND THEM, WHICH I THINK WILL BE EXCITING. THE MAJORITY OF THE FIREWORKS ARE REALLY I THINK MORE CREATIVE CHOICES AND THINGS HAPPENING TO CHARACTERS THAT YOU REALLY KNOW. But why now? Why only 9? Ultimately this sort of feeling of, you know family and wanting to wrap up these arcs and do the justice to the existing characters in the most creative and explosive way kind of means that the show will be changed to such a degree that if anything was to continue it really wouldn’t be the same show. And if we, you know, we have 15 of the veteran cast members coming back this season but everybody’s contracts only goes eight years. So it is tough and they all have a lot of exciting opportunities so it didn’t seem to me like we could count on getting that many people back for Season 10. So, you know, it was a hard choice though but I think this is going to be a real gangbuster season. So hopefully people will think it was worth it. Do you approach the stories differently, knowing it’s the last season? Well definitely I think there is going to be differences between this year and previous years. For one thing I feel like the last few years we didn’t do arcs so much we were more pursuing episodic comedy. But I think the real heart of the show are these arcs that allow the characters to have, you know, ongoing stories. So this is a very arc heavy year. It is all going to be set up in the premiere but there is just so much to pay off from nine seasons of so many great characters that, you know, my biggest concern is just packing in these great ideas that the writing staff has on cards all over the walls and making sure that we hit all of them or at least squeeze as many as we can into the ending. But now when we know that we have an end date we can kind of blow up things and take some chances that, you know, it is very freeing creatively and hopefully will be exciting for the audience. Any surprise visits from old characters? Pretty much the core cast are all going to be there. You know Mindy and BJ are coming back just briefly… hopefully more later. But yes, I also expect that we are saving some slots and directors for people who I think when they realize it is their last season may want to come back some of the old directors.
Any new ones? We have some great guest star roles and we are just starting to go out and find cool people behind them, which I think will be exciting. The majority of the fireworks are really I think more creative choices and things happening to characters that you really know. Okay, but for real. Is Michael Scott coming back? We would certainly wish for it. We are not going to put so much pressure on Steve by writing something that can only work if he returns. But it would be fantastic if he would return. And I think that he, you know, for him he really loved how he was exited… And is, you know, probably anxious about not, you know, messing up such a stylish exit. Yes, but… But we will see. We haven’t written, you know, we just have the kind of ideas for the ending and obviously if he would participate we would have a lot of good times. But, you know, it should go on. I mean the ideas we have will fly without him if he can’t make it. He is pretty busy. How awesome has it been to be behind such an incredible show? Well, you know, it is interesting. The show has run over twice as long as high school which I was saying to some of the crew and it is such a rare and lucky thing to be on the show that long. The cast is so fantastic and the fact that it is an ensemble that you can bring on new people and work with such a large number of great cast I think was very special. And the writing staff also and the beginning the kind of writer performers that I worked with are just some of the most talented people I have ever met in my life. And I think also good move was that we are in our own little studio way in the boonies here so the spirit of the crew is excellent and it is just a very supportive and fun and loving environment to come to work and I will miss it terribly when I can’t come to work here anymore.
Under The Lights CHICAGO
October 4 -7 Cobb Energy Center Ticketmaster (800)745.3000 gas-southbroadwayseries.com
ping story of a suburban family coping with the affects of mental illness. With a pop/rock musical score including more than 30 original songs, Next to Normal was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, winning three. It also won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, making it only the eighth musical to receive the honor. Before Play (preshow) and After Words (post show) events offer audience members the chance to engage in conversation about the issues and ideas presented in the play.
STRANGE MAGIC Murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation and adultery are set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s. Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who maliciously murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.
NEXT TO NORMAL
Oct 17 - Nov 11 Alliance Theatre Box Office (404) 584.7450 alliancetheatre.com
Atlanta’s nationally acclaimed Alliance Theatre will stage the multi-award-winning Broadway musical Next to Normal. Next to Normal is a grip-
Saturday, October 27 8PM 14th Street Playhouse Tickets (404) 733.5000
#1 Chinese Restaurant in Atlanta
VIEW ART OF CHINESE COOKING THROUGH OPEN KITCHEN LUNCH
SPECIAL
$4.99
woodruffcentertickets.org
Atlanta magician Phillip Anthony, delights audiences with his innovative style of magic in Strange Magic, the Blade of Death. Take a fascinating trip filled with fantasy and mystery. This amazing magical and theatrical event is a combination of new and classic illusions enhanced by imaginative sets and visual effects. Strange Magic, the Blade of Death is magical journey that takes off with Transformed; elevates you with Ghost, make your pulse quicken with Metamorphosis; brings the bizarre with Halloween, dazzles you with Snow, and stops the show with The Blade of Death. Visit www.mpstrangemagic.com for additional information or contact 404.402.3617 for group rates.
(Brookhaven Location)
ORIGINAL AWARD WINNING CHEF
1998-2012 Best Chinese by Creative Loafing | "Mouthwatering Chin Chin spices things up." – AJC Best Chinese – Atlanta Jewish Times | 2 1/2 Stars – Knife & Fork
3887 PEACHTREE RD • 404-816-2229 1100 Hammond Drive • 770-913-0266 Sandy Springs BUCKHEAD/BROOKHAVEN 617 Johnson Ferry Rd • 678-560-5550 East Cobb
1715 Howell Mill Rd • 404-609-5618 Atlanta
699 Ponce de Leon • 404-881-1511 Midtown
270 Rucker Rd. • 770-569-9883 Alpharetta
DELIVERY (LIMITED AREA; MIN $10) CARRY OUT • CATERING • FULL BAR SERVICE
WWW.CHINCHINATLANTA.COM
Healthy Vegetarian Items Always Available
DO Are YOUyouNaEED HELP ? Veteran returning 9th Anniversary October 20th & October 21th Blazing new talents and established artists alike from around the Southeast have helped establish the Brookhaven Arts Festival as a must on your Fall calendar. Sponsered by:
from the war and experiencing some of these symptoms? If you are a woman with a history of childhood sexual abuse, you may suffer from a number of symptoms. If these symptoms are left untreated, it can impair your ability to deal with everyday events, work or even function in healthy relationships.
Nightmares, trouble sleeping · easily agitated or startled · low people who have experienced a traumatic energy,Many changes in appetite · memory problems, difficulty focusing · event likeavoiding you have, may suffer from one places, activities or peopleor all
of these symptoms. You may have nightmares, trouble sleeping, memory problems, trouble Individuals who have experienced a traumatic event suffer from these symptoms, focusing, avoid social situations, or become which are signs ofagitated posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD. If the symptoms are left easily or startled.
untreated, it can impair the ability to work, socialize and function in a healthy Emory University is looking for participants for a relationship. research study on the effects of an FDA approved
medication for the symptoms of PTSD, memory Emory University is investigating the effects of early intervention in preventing and learning in women between the ages of 25 is a doublechronic PTSD using an FDA approved medication (paroxetine). This and 55 who have experienced childhood sexual blind study sponsored by the VA. If you are a Veteran, recently back from the war abuse. You do not need a diagnosis of PTSD and havetoany of these symptoms, please call to obtain more information and to see participate. if you qualify for the study. Compensation will be provided for participation.
Study screening, health/trauma questionnaires, memory tests, lab tests, medication and MRI/PET scans will beare conducted at Emory University and Emorymore Briarcliff campus. If you interested in learning about this research opportunity Compensation will 404-712-9536 be provided for participation. please call or Please call email Stacy Laddclecour@ at 404-712-2014 or email mdent@emory.edu emory.edu.
www.BrookhavenArtsAlliance.com
Advancing Possibilities ADVANCING THE PThe OSSIBILITIES insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 7
Fall Patio Guide
Agave
242 Boulevard SE 404.588.0006 AgaveRestaurant.com
Places to Go when Dining Outdoors! Athens Pizza House
1341 Clairmont Rd. Decatur AthensPizzaAtlanta.com 404.636.1100
Drafts this fall. Johnny’s restaurants offer dine-in, take-out and delivery.
Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant Since 1966 the Papadopoulos family has been serving up great Greek and Italian cuisine to the Emory / Decatur area. Athens Pizza is Zagat rated and the recipient of various awards including Best Greek Cuisine in Atlanta. Don’t let the name fool you, there is much more than great pizza, as some of the favorite recipes on their Greek dishes go back generations! When the weather oblidges, dinners head out to their patio. Their patio is also a popular destination for groups and small parties. Athens Pizza offers an extensive catering menu for parties of all sizes.
Johnny’s NY Style Pizza Multiple Metro Area Locations JohnnysPizza.com
Johnny’s Pizza is synonymous with great pizza and subs in Atlanta. They specialize in NY Style pizza, which is thin in the middle and thick around the edges. The Cheshire Bridge location featured, has daily lunch specials from $5.95 and is offering $5 pitchers of beer and $1 PBR
2641 Buford Hwy. 404.325.2898 PanchoMexican.com
Consistently voted the Best Southwestern Restaurant in Atlanta, Agave uses only the freshest ingredients to create chef inspired dishes with a authentic southwestern flare. Agave’s menu is a unique blend of eclectic southwestern cuisine and extensive tequila bar that goes great with al fresco dining. Start with their two for one appetizers at the bar; available from 5pm - 7pm seven days a week. Then head to your table on their romantic southwestern designed patio with fireplace. With creative daily specials, award winning margaritas and great ambiance one can see why this is a Cabbagetown favorite.
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
Pancho’s is Atlanta’s favorite Mexican restaurant. Here you will find winning combination of great value, quality and service. Lunch specials start at just $4.99 and may be accompanied by $3.50 cheese dips. For dinner there are a variety of combination platters for just $9.95. Be sure to check out their specials while they show football Sunday and Monday nights. Pancho’s offers al fresco dining under the canopy of a giant oak tree that provides a great atmosphere for friendly get togethers. While on the patio, enjoy live Salsa music on Fridays and Mariachi band on Saturdays.
848 Peachtree Street 404.870-0805 3242 Peachtree Road 404.264-0253 GordonBierschRestaurants.com
Gordon Biersch is an upscale brewery restaurant specializing in handcrafted
German lagers brewed in-house. Gordon Biersch features a made-from-scratch American menu with bold international flavors that can be found in 19 states across the country. Gordon Biersch is welcoming fall by introducing their FestBier lager and complementing seasonal menu. The new menu, inspired by Germany's famous Oktoberfest Festival, includes delicious, traditional German fare with Gordon Biersch flair. Visit either one of their two Atlanta locations. Both feature fabulous outdoor patios that overlook Peachtree Street.
Raging Burrito & Taco
141 Sycamore St. Decatur 404.377.3311 RagingBurrito.com
Raging Burrito & Taco on Decatur Square offers one of the best patio scenes in the city. As the weather cools down, their garden patio heats up and comes alive in the fall. The menu features hearty burritos, tasty tacos, large salads, quesadillas and more. On weekdays they offer free chips & dip from 11am to 3pm. While relaxing on their patio, enjoy one of the 16 Craft Beers available on tap or one of their 40 tequilas. Also get a Sweetwater 420 and IPA pint for just $3.75 or pitcher for $12.75 Monday through Wednesday. Raging Burrito & Taco offers free 1.5 hour validated parking 11am – 10pm Monday thru Thursday and 11am – 3pm on Friday for patrons.
PLENTY OF OUTDOOR SEATING ON OUR LARGE DECK! Great Subs, Sandwiches, Salads & Wings
WE Deliver! Since 1980
Carrying College & Pro Football on Multiple Plasma Screens
$7.75 LARGE CHEESE PIZZA
(Mondays Only)
Just off I-85 @ Clairmont (Corner of Briarcliff & Clairmont)
3109 Briarcliff Rd. | 404-320-1258
Sandwiches • Burgers 22 Hot Dog Varieties Smoked Polish • Great Sides
“Original Italian Beef ”
770-449-7433 6025 Peachtree Parkway (State 141) Peachtree Plaza Shopping Center Norcross, Ga. 30092
Visit us on
PG 8 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
Twin Peaks Restaurant
3365 Piedmont Rd. 404.961.8946 TwinPeaksRestaurant.com
patio is surrounded by windows which come off when the weather cools, offering great views of the bustling Midtown scene. The Flying Biscuit Midtown and Candler Park locations are offering a new bakery menu this fall including muffins, cookies, sweet treats and more!
Eclipse di Luna
764 Miami Circle 404.846.0449 4505 Ashford Dunwoody 678.205.5862 EclipsediLuna.com
Twin Peaks has recently opened the concept’s largest location in Buckhead. The mountain lodge-style sports restaurant, and its beautiful Twin Peaks girls, has definitely created “scenic views” and made Hotlanta even hotter. Twin Peaks features crave-able and high-quality comfort food, an extensive selection of 29-degree draft beer served from two full-service bars with 32 taps and a lively rooftop patio adorned with the outgoing and beautiful Twin Peaks Girls. The restaurant is located just north of Peachtree Street at 3365 Piedmont Road in North Buckhead, Atlanta’s renowned neighborhood and entertainment district.
The Flying Biscuit Cafe’
1655 McLendon Ave. 404.687.8888 1001 Piedmont Ave. 404.874.8887 Catering 404.849.2283 FlyingBiscuit.com
The Flying Biscuit serves great breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Their Midtown location (shown) near Piedmont Park allows for dining inside or on their corner patio. The
Atlanta’s Original
all their menu items using only the freshest vegetables and first quality meats, cheeses, breads and pastas. On their menu you'll find innovative homemade sauces, fresh dough and thoughtfully prepared dishes, made from scratch every day. They offer is a wide variety of salads, subs, calzones and of course pizzas to choose from.
Halloween Costume Party! Saturday, October 27th 9:00pm - 2:30am The Park Tavern
Mo’s Pizza
Eclipse di Luna set the trend in Tapas style restaurants in Atlanta. They offer a high-energy dining experience with live entertainment nightly. Eclipse di Luna has an artsy setting as a backdrop to go along with their award winning specialty tapas. With over two dozen tapas to choose from, there is something to please any taste. The Tapas is affordably priced to encourage multiple sampling. Eclipse di Luna has been named as one of "Atlanta's Top 100 Restaurants" and "Best Tapas". Both their locations offer open-air al fresco dining that makes for an incredible atmoshere.
Savage Pizza
484 Moreland Ave. 404.523.0500 115 Laredo Dr. 404.299.5799 SavagePizza.com
This eclectic neighborhood restaurant is a favorite hangout among residents of Little 5 and Avondale Estates. Both locations offer patio seating. Savage prepares
3109 Briarcliff Rd. 404.320.1258 at corner of Briarcliff & Clairmont Rd. MosPizza.com
You may know about the burrito chain with the same name, but the original Mo’s resides on the corner of Briarcliff and Clairmont Road. They have been serving up great pizza for over 30 years! Mo’s menu isn’t limited to pizza either: sandwiches, subs, wings, nachos and salads ensure that anybody who comes here can find something they like. Come to Mo’s to watch the games; on Monday nights they offer a Large Cheese Pizza for just $7.75. There is a great deck to hang out on with plenty of seating. Mo’s is one of the longest running pizza joints in Atlanta, come see why they are one of the best.
The Original
Live performance from
THE BREAKFAST CLUB Atlanta’s ultimate 80’s Band. Plus… DJ Jazzy and DJ Wats Contest e m u t s o C $1000 Event is 21 and up
www.SpiralEntertainment.com
agave restaurant
an eclectic southwestern eatery & tequila bar . est. 2000
Reservations at 404 588 0006 or online at : www.agaverestaurant.com 242 Boulevard S.E. Atlanta . 30312
Open fOr lunch! 4505 Ashford Dunwoody rd. 678.205.5862 764 Miami circle 404.846.0449 www.eclipsediluna.com
raging
Voted #1 since 1996
Burrito Voted #1 Since 1996!
& taco
ON DECATUR FREE ValidatEdSQUARE! PaRking! Enjoy onE of our 16 craft BEErs on tap or Margaritas on our HugE gardEn patio Decatur, GA •
ragingburrito.com • 404-377-3311
Pre Selected chef’S MenuS & Private rooMS available Consistently Voted One Of Atlanta’s Best Restaurants INsite Magazine Best of Atlanta Winner Best Southwestern Cuisine & Best Margarita !! insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 9
TV
WALKING TALL
Atlanta’s Own IronE Singleton Opens Up About Season 3 of The Walking Dead BY BRET LOVE
I
T’S OFFICIAL: AMERICA cANNOT GET ENOUGH zombie mythology, and The Walking Dead is currently one of pop culture’s hottest properties as a result. After producer/ director Frank Darabont’s untimely departure and what some critics deemed a sluggishly-paced second season focused more on interpersonal drama than undead-slaying, the show peaked with an explosive cliffhanger that left fans ravenous for more. The writers have proven that even fans of the original comics can’t predict what’s coming (or who’s dying) next, and the October 14 premiere should launch what insiders say will be the show’s most dynamic season to date. We recently spoke with Atlanta actor IronE Singleton, a.k.a. T-Dog, to get the scoop on television’s most riveting action thriller. You grew up in Atlanta, with a tough upbringing. What part of town? I grew up on the west side of Atlanta, 5-8 miles from downtown. I grew up in a housing project called Perry Homes and went to Archer High School.
Tell me about how you got cast on The Walking Dead. My agent contacted me and said, “Hey, do you want to read for a zombie TV show?” He said Frank Darabont was producing, so I put myself on tape and sent it in. The next day, my agent said that Frank liked my audition, but I needed to deliver it differently, so I gave a different delivery. He said, “That works! You’re cast in the role of T-Dog.” It was as simple as that. T-Dog has some commonalities with Tyreese, from the comics, but he doesn’t have kids. Was he a completely new character? How do you see him? I think T-Dog and Darryl combine to make Tyreese. But you can’t say for a fact that T-Dog doesn’t have children. Maybe it hasn’t come up yet! He definitely has similarities to Tyreese. Let’s talk about the show’s explosion in popularity. How has it been for the cast to go from relative unknowns to suddenly seeing this show become a phenomenon? Keep it real: I was a nobody. Just say it! (Laughs) I had quite a few people recognize me from The Blind Side, but nothing compared to this. The Walking Dead took my career to another level. It’s been incredible. I was talking to my wife yesterday about how people go crazy when they see us. They’re so excited! I get excited, like, “Man, this thing is really taking off!” We never expected this in our wildest imagination.
Growing up in that kind of environment, how did you get into performing? Metaphysically, there was a higher power at work. I was introduced to acting IT’S BEEN INCREDIBLE. when I was 11. My aunt entered me into I know everyone in the cast is a huge I WAS TALKING TO MY a program that focused on the arts. My Frank Darabont fan, and there was a lot only exposure to theatre was Shakespeare’s WIFE YESTERDAY ABOUT of hullaballoo when he departed from the Romeo and Juliet, but I watched everything HOW PEOPLE GO CRAZY show. How has the transition gone, working on television. I revisited acting when I with a new show runner? WHEN THEY SEE US. became a junior in high school. My English Initially, it was really tough, and I think that teacher had us write a paper for Dr. King’s THEY’RE SO EXCITED! will be always be in the back of our minds. birthday, and I wrote a speech about I GET EXCITED, LIKE, We’re all professionals, and have learned to wanting to become an acclaimed actor that move on and put out a good product. But “MAN, THIS THING IS would affect millions of people. My teacher that right there really hurt everybody. We REALLY TAKING OFF!” told me that was not realistic and I needed were very hurt emotionally, but we wanted to to choose something else, so I chose WE NEVER EXPECTED continue to do good work for our fans, and dentistry. But when I went to college, they that’s what we’ve been doing. THIS IN OUR WILDEST were having auditions for Sophisticated IMAGINATION. Ladies. I auditioned for that and we did There’s an analogy there about the business little pieces of that play. They didn’t have a side of Hollywood: What happens on the theatre major at Kentucky State, so I transferred to University of show is different from the comics, and you never know who is Georgia, and the rest is history. going to be gone next. Dale, according to the comics, was not supposed to die when he did. Sophia was not supposed to die A lot of people get caught up in street life, and I know your when she did. It seems like both on screen and off screen, you brother was put in an institution. Was that ever a struggle just never know... for you? I think that’s part of what makes the show so great: We continue It was, and it wasn’t. At any time I knew my life could’ve been to throw curveballs and knuckleballs. You’re not going to get taken, I could’ve taken someone else’s life and/or ended up in the fastball every time. You never know from which angle we’re prison. But when there were dangerous situations, I stayed away going to come. You don’t know who’s going to die. “Please, don’t and my friends didn’t. Some were killed in the process because let it be my favorite character this week!” You just don’t know. I they chose not to listen to their conscience. There were really don’t think people want it to be exactly like the comic book. If you close calls where I chose to listen to that inner voice that told me, know everything that’s going to happen, why watch the show? I “You don’t want to be a part of this.” think those twists are necessary.
Let’s talk about season three. We know from the preview that they’re going to be at the prison and some messed-up stuff happens. Tell about the first day you showed up and saw that prison. It was amazing, because we shoot here in Georgia. We’re used to seeing that stuff in Hollywood studios that looks so real, but this set gives Hollywood a run for its money. It looks more real than actual prisons. It was apocalyptic. You see blood and bodies everywhere, and it puts you right into character. Did you know from the comics what was coming before you started getting scripts, or did you choose to leave it alone so you’d have your own artistic interpretation? I skimmed through, but I didn’t want too much information. I wanted to create my own world. I didn’t want it to hinder me, because if I read too much then I would’ve been thinking, “Maybe I shouldn’t do it this way, because in the comic book it was done that way.” You do know there’s some SERIOUSLY messed-up stuff that happens at the prison, right? (Laughs) I’ve read some of that, too. I would touch on that, but my kids are running around, so… You’ve filmed the first six episodes. What was your response when you read the scripts? You know when you have that look on your face of, “Oh, my god!”? That’s what I had throughout. I couldn’t believe we were going to do this. I don’t know if it’s ever been done on TV before. It was a look of being amazed and disgusted… but in a good way. There were complaints last season about the pacing, lack of zombies and focus on personal relationships, but it built towards the season two climax. Can you talk about the dynamic structure of season three’s storytelling? Does it explode it completely? The writers try to take you on a rollercoaster ride. Just when you’re going up, you drop: “Whoaaaaa!” They want to keep you excited, but not too excited. They don’t want to give you too many zombies. They want to give you some storyline. They needed season two to focus on the characters’ backgrounds, then they dropped you on the rollercoaster and gave you some zombies, some excitement. We’re going to pick up right at that climax where we left off, with all the walkers. It’s non-stop action, and it’s crazy. In thrillers, the black guy usually dies first. But last season, T-Dog took a back seat to the interpersonal dramas. Are we going to see him step up now that we’re getting more action this year? Yes. Yes. Yes, you are! T-Dog has some business to take care of. I think the black man was just trying to survive. That’s why he stayed in the background: “Look, ya’ll call me when there are some zombies to kill, and I’ll be there! Otherwise, all this drama going on, I’m not going to be part of that.” This season, you’re going to be satisfied with what T-Dog brings to the table.
PG 10 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
Taste of the Month...
Sub Sandwiches Grab one to go before the big game! Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs
Marietta 770.321.1177 80 Powers Ferry Rd. (at Hwy. 120) Doraville 770.455.8570 5697 Buford Hwy. (Just north of 285)
TAiLgATe HeADquArTers
baldinos.us
Voted Best in Atlanta again this past year, Baldinos is recognized as the only true New Jersey sub sandwich in the South. Their in-store bakery assures the freshest rolls baked daily. Throughout October they are offering up a different specialty sub each day for just $3.49! Baldinos also serves homemade soups and cookies and brownies baked daily. For catering they offer single subs, party subs, deli salads by the pound, cookies by the dozen and iced-tea by the gallon that won’t break the bank. Head on in to Baldinos and watch your favorite team or head on out with a Baldinos Family Sub (pictured) and enjoy the game at home with a few of your friends.
Johnny’s NY Style Pizza
Mutliple Locations JohnnysPizza.com
Johnny’s Pizza has come to be synonymous with great pizza and subs in Atlanta. They always use the finest ingredients. Hot Oven-Toasted Subs are served with: Provolone Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions and Johnny's Own Great Italian Oil & Vinegar Dressing. Try their Johnny’s Special which is an Italian sub made with ham, salami and capicolli meats. The Johnny’s Turkey sub is made with the highest quality Hormel breast meat. They offer several hot Parmesana style subs toasted with tomato sauce and melted mozzerella. These include: chicken, eggplant, Italian sausage and meatball. Johnny’s restaurants offer dine-in, take-out and delivery. Call your nearest location for special catering menus being offered this fall.
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
848 Peachtree Street 404.870-0805 3242 Peachtree Road 404.264-0253 GordonBierschRestaurants.com
Gordon Biersch is an upscale brewery restaurant specializing in handcrafted German lagers brewed inhouse. Gordon Biersch features a made-from-scratch American menu with bold international flavors. They have a great New York Steak sandwich served on a baguette with fried onion strings, garlic aioli and spinach. Another favorite is the Pulled Pork with their märzen barbecue sauce and coleslaw on a challah bun. Or have the Southwest Chicken sandwich made with pepper jack cheese, roasted red peppers, baby greens and chipotle mayonnaise on a baguette. Gordon Biersch is welcoming fall by introducing their FestBier lager and complementing seasonal menu. The new menu, inspired by Germany's famous Oktoberfest Festival, includes delicious, traditional German fare with Gordon Biersch flair. Visit either one of their two Atlanta locations.
Savage Pizza
484 Moreland Ave L5P 404.523.0500 115 Laredo Dr. Avondale 404.299.5799 SavagePizza.com
OctOber SpecialS
$3.49
ALL DAY
Monday – baldinos Combination (#4) w/ your choice of side Tuesday – Turkey out with (#18) Lean Smoked Turkey & Cheese Wednesday – Itzza Meatball (#12) w/ choice of soup or side Thursday – The Grilled American – Grilled & Toasted! Friday – Meatless Combo – Tuna (#10) Veg Stir Fry (#27) w/ side saTurday – Steak Out - Any Steak Sub Your Choice (#11, 13, or 19) sunday – Italian Special – (#15) w/ choice of soup or side Marietta: 80 Powers Ferry rd. Doraville: 5697 Buford Hwy. (at Hwy 120, 1/4 mile east of Big Chicken) (1/4 mile outside i-285) 770-321-1177 770-455-8570
Your Neighborhood Pizzeria!
Savage Pizza prepares all the recipes using only the freshest vegetables and first quality meats, cheeses, and breads. On Savage's menu you'll find innovative homemade sauces, fresh dough and thoughtfully prepared dishes, made from scratch every day. Their Italian sub is made with fresh cuts of capicolla, salami, pepperoni and provolone -served hot, crusty and melty. Their Turkey-Cheddar sub comes with smoked Black Forest turkey and cheddar cheese also served hot. Try Savage's Eggplant Parmesan sub; breaded and baked eggplant, red tomato sauce, mozzarella, provolone and parmesan. Savage serves both lunch and dinner with indoor and outdoor seating and offers catering and delivery.
Mo’s Pizza
3109 Briarcliff Rd. 404.320.1258 MosPizza.com
Mo’s Pizza has been serving up great pizza and subs for over 30 years. Here you will find a great Italian Sub made with ham, pepperoni, genoa salami, mozzarella, chesse, lettuce, tomato, onions and italian dressing. Their Italian Sausage comes from a special recipe and is sliced and grilled with onions, topped with Marinara sauce and mozzerella cheese. Their Philly Cheese Steak is real sirlion steak that is trimmed and sliced on premise and grilled with onions and topped with american cheese. Come to Mo’s this fall to watch all your college and pro football games on one of the plenty of new plasma TVs offering great views from any table. They are one of the longest running neighborhood restaurants in Atlanta, come in and see why their customers say they are one of the best.
Dog Days Hot Dogs
6025 Peachtree Parkway (State 141)
770.449.7433 DogDaysHotDogs.com
The line often extends out the door at Dog Days Hot Dogs located in the Peachtree Plaza Shopping Center at Peachtree Corners. People line-up to get one of their famous dogs, burgers or one of their great sandwiches. Especially the Italian Beef which is slow cooked straight from Chicago and served on an Italian roll. Have it with peppers and onions. Also try their Barbecue Chicken or Fish sandwiches and their great sides like the Chili Cheese Fries, Nacho Potato Chips and Dog Days Mac n Cheese. Dog Days is open 7 days a week from 11am until 8pm. There is plenty of seating in their two dining rooms.
BEST PIZZA!
& Multiple Atlanta Locations: www.JohnnysPizza.com insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 11
SPORTS
TV
BARKIN UP A STORM
THE HOST WITH THE MOST
BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH
BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS
The Fearless Star of The New Normal is Making a Difference
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ALENTED AND RESOURCEFUL actress Ellen Barkin is known for a wide variety of film roles. From the raw rural drama of “Tender Mercies” to the lush sensuality of “Siesta” to the gritty police realism of “Sea Of Love,” Barkin’s versatility is always on display. Her most recent role, an episodic television debut in NBC’s controversial comedy The New Normal, may be the most publicized of her impressive career. In the sitcom, created by Glee‘s Ryan Murphy with Ali Adler, she plays the bigoted and outspoken grandmother of the character who serves as a surrogate mom for a gay couple. Reaction and promotion have been fierce, with one affiliate station refusing to air the series. Since its debut last month, Barkin has been in the center of the action, taking high profile stands in favor of the show and against discrimination -- in her Twitter feed and in recent interviews. During a lengthy press call from Los Angeles, the outspoken actress was as determined as ever to support the entertaining show and its popular creators. This is your first TV series, why did you decide to do this particular show? I actually think that television is the best way right now to reach the broadest population and to be able to say important things to the biggest audience you possibly can. For me personally as an actor, when I read the pilot script, I just thought, “Oh, Ryan Murphy with his big beautiful brilliant brain, along with Ali, have come up with a way to reach out to a very divisive country about some very, very important issues.” The subject matter really spoke to you on a personal level. Ryan is presenting worlds to mass audiences on network television that they might not be so accepting of, but all of a sudden they love. So the world of Glee, for instance, you know if you just like told somebody what that show was about they might say, “Well, this is not for me.” Then, you watch Glee and you’re just wildly entertained. So, you get past it and you come to love characters that you think, you know, your pre-judgmental self might not be so interested in, but because he’s Ryan, he does it in a way where you just love them or love to hate them. Whatever it is, you’re kind of glued to them. What do you like most about the show? I guess the big overriding issue is, ‘What makes a family?’ [With this show] they’ve done it with an enormous amount of love, sensitivity, and more fun than a barrel of monkeys. And without the usual stereotypes, right? This isn’t a stereotypical liberals version of, you know what someone who doesn’t disagree with [other people’s] positions, whatever they are, anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-any ethnic, antiforeigner xenophobic character. [My character is] informed, she’s passionate about our commitments, and they are informed positions. And I would just, like Ryan Murphy did, beg people not to judge this character until they get to know her, because they are going to be very surprised. You stress that the character isn’t a onedimensional or a dumb bigot. This woman is passionate about her beliefs. That passion comes from her own life experience. It comes from fear. The point is she’s PG 12 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
Talking to FOX NFL Sunday Host Curt Menefee
not someone who doesn’t read and she’s in no way an ignorant bigot. She’s coming from her heart and she’s very passionate. And whether or not she’s right or wrong, my job as an actor is not to judge her. My job is to put myself in her shoes and find the truth in this woman, and I’m finding it easy to do that. How do you lose yourself in her? You know, certain actors start from themselves, and then build outwards. I’m finding that all I have to do is just flip things and there’s my passion. And what she will hopefully learn is that her idea of normal no more applies to her family than it does to a same sex family. Normal is so relative these days, anyway. I hope that everyone starts maybe opening up tiny bit and are able to redefine what normal is. This character was unlike me in her politics. And so I thought, “Wow, I’m going to have an enormous amount of work to do.” But I just flipped me and I found it all inside me; her passion, her commitment, her incredible outspokenness, and sometimes inappropriate outspokenness. You’ve been quite outspoken, especially on your recent Twitter account, about the fear and outcry over the subject matter of the show. Yeah, I did take a position on that and, you know, being responded to by both sides meant that people paid attention. And I think that that is what matters. Can people not understand that other shows are just if not more controversial than The New Normal? I don’t understand why a show that I happen to love, like Law & Order, SVU , that I hope nobody is allowing a 10-year old watch, is acceptable, but a show about a very loving, committed, same sex couple wanting to raise a child, why that is explicit and offensive, and rape, murder, child slavery, in very graphic detail, is not. I don’t get it. And that’s what makes this country divisive. I do think that, there is extremism on any side. Am I guilty of extremism on my side? Yes. But, if you read my Twitter feed it would pale in comparison to what I get back. What do you want people to learn from the show? That sometimes it’s not just hate. It’s fear of the other. The unknown can be scary. [The mindset that] anyone who does not look like me, walk like me, talk like me, have sex like me, they’re the other and I’m afraid of them. And hopefully we will learn that it’s just not scary. There’s nothing to be afraid of.
F YOU THINK FOX NFL SUNDAY has been the No. 1 football pre-game show for 18 straight seasons because of America’s secret obsession with Howie Long’s hair, you’re sadly mistaken. It’s because football fans want their early Sunday helping of football knowledge in a package that’s equal parts classroom lessons and locker room laughs. And while analysts Terry Bradshaw, Jimmy Johnson and Michael Straham get most of the credit for this winning mix, it’s the show’s eloquent host, Curt Menefee, who’s kept things running so well over the last seven years. For nearly 12 hours every NFL Sunday (“Our call time is at 5:30am, because we do the show out of LA,” Curt explains), Menefee keeps Terry in check, talks to reporters all over the country and does live score updates. It’s a crazy job, but Menefee wouldn’t have it any other way. And once you hear about the hard road Curt took to get to that spot, you’ll understand why.
Beyond Peyton Manning going to Denver, When I was doing research, I saw your Twitter what story are you most interested in seeing unfold over this next season? feed. Your summary reads, “That guy you I’m really interested in seeing what happens recognize, but can’t quite remember his name.” with the [New Orleans] Saints. Because Is that a role that you relish, or do you want I think that you look at this offseason and the spotlight? this [bounty scandal] was a black eye to the I’m totally comfortable with it. Howie Long league, no matter which side you believe is and I talked about this: The best life is wealth and anonymity. Not saying that I’m wealthy, but, right, whether it’s the league for suspending them, or the players for saying that they were you know, I do okay. At the same time, I’m able overly penalized. I think it’s a black eye for to go to restaurants, walk down the street and the league regardless. They are going to wind not have [much attention]. I’ve been out with Terry Bradshaw and Jimmy Johnson, and they’re up having two different head coaches on the sideline and one head coach who’s not even like rock stars, which forces you to be reclusive active, so really three different guys that you to a degree. I like going to the movies, going would call the head coach of that team, yet to ball games and traveling. Being the guy you kinda know, but you’re not quite sure, allows me they are one of the more talented teams, particularly on offense. I to do that. Obviously, places think if Sean Payton were that are more male and sports- WE DON’T SHOW UP ON there, people would be centered, you’re recognized a SUNDAYS AND TRY TO talking about them as a lot more than if you’re at the PRETEND WE’RE FRIENDS. Super Bowl contender. Now, opera or the ballet. But this WE SPEND TIME OFF without him, I think the way I’m just able to be out with AIR WITH ONE ANOTHER question is, “Okay, will that my friends or my fiancée and just kind of chill. AND OUR FAMILIES TAKE talent and the rest of the coaching staff still be able VACATIONS TOGETHER. to rise to that level? Will the What led you down the THOSE ARE THE THINGS troops rally around their sports journalism path THAT RESONATE WITH perceived slight? Or will it originally? I grew up in Atlanta. I went PEOPLE, AND I THINK THAT go the other way?” Every to Turner High School, which IS BECAUSE IT’S GENUINE. team has some diversity at some point. Will they go, is not even a high school “Woe is me, and the world anymore. I was playing is conspiring against us?” I think it is a very neighborhood football after school– I wasn’t intriguing story there. even on the team or anything– and I took a hit that blew out my knee. My knee had to be Why is Fox NFL Sunday the No. 1 football pretotally reconstructed when I was 15 years old. And so it was a year and a half before I was able game show in America? I think it’s that we understand, especially in to walk without assistance. I had to be home this day and age, that people are turning us on schooled for a while. The doctors were [not for fun, for entertainment. If you’re a hardcore only] talking about [me] not playing football football fan, you’re going to get your football again, but a lot of limitations I might have later knowledge. I mean, we’ve got guys with eight on in life. It made me think, if you’re not going Super Bowls combined between the five of to be a professional athlete, what do you want us, and I didn’t win any of them! You want to to do? So, being a naïve 17-year-old, I called be informed yet entertained, and I think that up CNN and asked to speak to Fred Hickman. is what we try to provide and I think that is I got his voicemail, but he called me back, sold what we have been successful in doing over me on Coe and we developed a relationship. the years, and I think that a large part of that After my freshmen year in college he helped me get an internship, and then I went back that has to do with the camaraderie that we have on the set. We don’t show up on Sundays fall and started working at a local TV station. and try to pretend we’re friends. We spend I was fortunate to hook up with the right guy, time off air with one another and our families John Campbell, who taught me how to do a lot take vacations together. Those are the things of things and was the first guy to say, “You ever that resonate with people, and I think that is thought about being on air?” I honestly hadn’t, because it’s genuine. but that’s where I wound up.
FILM FILM
TRUMP Movie Reviews CARD FRANKENWEENIE (PG)
It’s been tough being a Tim Burton fan the last few years. Disappointments like Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Alice In Wonderland and Dark Shadows suggested our artistic auteur had sold his soul for a thick slice of mainstream moviemaking pie, and even the accomplished Sweeney Todd lacked the warm gothic heart of his early work. But now, in revisiting the 1984 black-and-white animated short with which he made a name for himself, Burton reminds us why we fell in love with his distinctive outsider vision By B. Love in the first place. The story follows Victor, a oneinoflove AmericA’s most moody sloner with science and aloof successful and highelse… profileexcept businessfrom nearly everything his well known belovedmen, dog.Donald When trump Sparky was is killed before long survivor producer mark Burnett his before very eyes, Victor uses science to bring tapped him to to life. star in the Butread him back But, asApprentice. anyone who’s there’s no denying that the reality show Mary Shelley’s classic tale knows, there are turned trump from complications witha cartoonish awakeningcuriosity the dead. into bona fide with hisofsignaAs aVictor usesphenomenon, an amalgamation love, ture catchphrase– fired!”– inextricaknowledge and “You’re lightning to resuscitate bly the pop culture hisentering dog, Burton shines lexicon. a light on the Although the Apprentice floun- he influences that made him initially the storyteller dered a bit in the ratings, Burnett and trump is (including classic horror movies, Rankinstumbled upon a winning formulaThe by recruitBass claymation and Godzilla). story is ing second- and third-tierbut actors, athletes, somewhat predictable, it’s also an awful models for a celebrity edition lot of and fun,musicians with colorful characters, loads ofofthe show. now in its third incarnation, humor, a few family-friendly scares and the celebrity Apprentice tosses disparate radiant warmth that may require a Kleenex stars such as rocker Bret michaels, wrestler or two. Here’s hoping that going back to the Goldberg, baseball legend Darryl strawberry, start of his career will help Burton find his former governor ron Blagojevich and sharon way back on a more rewarding creative path. osbourne together for a variety of team–B. Love building exercises and challenges designed to
on him because his house is bringing down property values. Urban legends say his sister, whose body was never found, lives in the nearby woods. We learn the truth soon enough, or part of it. We have to wait for a painfully protracted climax to get the rest. But the biggest mystery here is why there’s no article at the beginning of the title. The movie has its moments as a well-acted story of teen angst and romance, a single mom’s problems and community prejudice. It’s just a lousy horror movie. –Steve Warren
The Donald Waxes Rhapsodic On The Celebrity Apprentice, “You’re Fired!” & Fixing NBC
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HOW TOreading SURVIVE PLAGUE through aboutA them for so(NR) many years, but a lot of times somebody that you don’t think of so highly turns out to be a star. David France documents activists’ response You just don’t know what will happen with to AIDS,and beginning the founding of the pressure the heatwith of battle.
AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (a.k.a. ACT does UP) in 1987. Made mostly of old What a celebrity have up to do to really video footage,apart this film set themselves andprovides show thateducation, they’re nostalgia in it to win and it? empowerment in varying degrees, depending on your1 and age 2and i can tell you from seasons andhow you’ve been affected by the disease. There from the regular Apprentice, people really are horror of people wasting want to win. stories every once in a while you’llaway whilea quitter, the Reagan dragged have but itgovernment doesn’t happen often. its feet because most of the infected were i think the reason they do it is the level of considered “undesirables” (gay men intensity they feel for their charity. Unlikeand IV regular drug users). ACTwhere UP somebody members not the Apprentice, only demonstrated to accelerate works for me for a pretty good salaryresearch for a and with bringthiscosts down but goes worked with year, one the money to chartheLast government and millions drug companies ity. year we raised of dollars. to expedite the of that drugthey trials. Thesome film everybody hasprocess a charity love; ends in the mid-1990s, AIDS ceased are foundations they’ve setwhen up themselves to beina advance virtual death sentence, years of the show. so i and thinkrecent they interviews with intense some of the people who really fight more because it’s a charity they’re fighting for. lived under that sentence and got a stay of execution provide a happy ending. What are your favorite challenges to watch –Steve Warren
test their business mettle. KEEP THE LIGHTS (NR) real “the Donald, ” as theON crazy-coiffed estate magnate if often known, recently held Two with men reporters have a stormy, on-again off-again the celebrities tackle? court to discuss the show’s Well, we do have(NR) a lot of different challengARTS relationship in Manhattan over most of a LIBERAL current season. es, whether we go back to the selling of the decade in an emotionally involving drama lemonade or doing something else very basic by Ira of the Blue). Erik Can youSachs tell us(Forty a littleShades bit about selecAn all-around fantastic movie, Liberal Arts without having to deal with Proctor & Gam(Thure Lindhardt) is a documentary tion process? offers good etc. moral lessons,[sponsor-based light-hearted ble or Kodak, sometimes filmmaker, Paul (Zachary a lawyer it’s very interesting, becauseBooth) so many romance, candid and phenomenal challenges] are sorthilarity of interesting, but they’re for a publishing company. That celebrities want to be on the show after makes the portrayalsforofus real, believable characters. expensive to do. the ratings suggest it sound likeprevious Paul’s two the seasons. responsible success of the We one, Stars Elizabeth Olsen and Josh Radnor that the fans’ favorite part of the show by but he’ssome alsoathletes, a crack some addict. He gives wanted actors, some up a have an adorable quality about them, both far is the boardroom, and the boardroom girlfriend for Erik at the start, but he can’t models and some wrestlers, so i would say individually andover as the a years potential couple. has gotten longer because of put downsixthe after probably or pipe, seveneven people perrepeated spot westints Richard Jenkins and Allison Janney pretty that. the challenges still have plenty of time in rehab. got hardest to watch with your were turning You’ve down. the thing is that much lockfocused down the star power, and we’re on both aspects,and butdeliver we heart because there’s nopeople rational reason we really have some good that want for a tragically on-point character illustration have been trying to lengthen the boardroom to very keepbadly. tryingButtoi make it work.we’ll The toErik go on guess maybe of childhood mentors revealed for what they because of strong viewer requests. leadthem actors carry story well itenough save for the nextthe show, because looks really might be. It’s about life being a story, thatthat’s Sachs puts the full burden on them, You’re like a prosecuting attorney in the like going to happen. but a story that doesn’t have to follow any practically wasting first-rate supporting boardroom. Do you meter your approach to rules or conform to what’s expected. It also How is this seasonNicholson going to beand different than actors Julianne Souleymane different personalities? doesn’t have an ending set in stone… and past seasons?(Goodbye Solo). Sy Souvane Yes, ithe think you of deal different that’s charm it. with Totally worth people seeing. Well, when you have a success like we’ve –Steve Warren differently. i deal with Goldberg differently –Jenni Williams had, you don’t like to do too many changes. than i deal with Governor Blagojevich. i What we do a different the cast HOUSE AThave THEisEND OF THEtone. STREET dealt with (R) Dennis rodman and Joan rivers LOOPER has been very interesting: they’ve been very (PG-13) differently than some of the other contes tough and very nasty, but there’s also a lot of tants. You have to have that ability. fun and humor with respect to what happens, In what passes for originality in Hollywood, Ever iwonder whywerising which don’t think had inyoung the laststars one. like Looper combines Back to the Future Jodie Foster, Johnny Depp and Jennifer How do you feel going back in the boardWith Joan [rivers] and with Piers [morgan], and The Terminator with Carrie. I love wouldpeople work really in cheesy horror room after a little hiatus? itLawrence was really nasty hating each a i good travel one just gettime a great kickstory, out ofand it. i this reallyislike movies? Then you’ve never anbut insecure other. these people hate eachbeen other, it’s ofa lot. the they best, want despite plot itholes you could it to renew for another actor who ididn’t at thebeend one job, also funny. think know, that might theofbiggest drive a DeLorean through. Once time if you’d ever work again. Except making two or three seasons, and we’re thinking differentiation in terms of the threefor casts. travelthat. is invented, it’sa little quickly about i like having bit ofoutlawed, a break you question her taste in scripts, Lawrence so only shows, outlawswhere use it. They between it goes on send once apeople year. doesn’t Elissa, Can you embarrass usually tellherself right here. off theAs bat who she is they want to dispose of back 30 years to going to with do well who isn’t? moves herand divorced mother (Elisabeth Do you ever feel bad about firing someone, 2044 to be killed by specialized assassins that’sinto always the most interesting quesShue) a rented house next to one where or is it just part of the job? known as loopers in an operation run by tion to me becauseher i’d parents like to think myself a girl murdered four ofyears ago. i always feel bad… no, not always. someasThe being okay with people. But often i’ll say,still time-transplanted Jeff Daniels. Someone girl’s brother, Ryan (Max Thieriot) times don’t like people. are in thei future decides tothe get hard rid ofones evidence “this is going to beisa drawn star,” and thenrather he lives one there, and Elissa to him when you really like and respect somebody by “closing the loops,” i.e., sending older turns be a dud. never than out thetosnooty richYou kids whoreally lookknow. down and they make a mistake. Like, as an exloopers back to be killed by their younger You feel like you’ve known these celebrities
LOOPER “ For those who don’t care about a good story well told there’s plenty of violence, including a “Yippee-ki-yay” moment that will satisfy Willis’ fans. Looper should earn writer-director Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom) a permanent spot on the A-list.”
Our review: selves, who will then have 30 years left to international competitions, the film jumps enjoy life. That’s how Joe (Joseph Gordon- around in time a bit too much, while also Levitt) meets his older self (Bruce Willis), introducing a large cast of players, coaches who doesn’t get killed but sets out to and politicians at various ages; but by the destroy the person who will order his loop- end your heart will swell with Lithuanian closing in the future. The makeup that pride, even if you can’t find the country on turned look outliketoa 30-yearsBe a good makesIt Gordon-Levitt a map.phrase, But It was a younger Willis isdurIng extraordinary, is the FIrst show I was a LIttLe –Steve Warren FLuke. theasvery performance of young Pierce Gagnon as the exasperated wIth one oF the contestants and I used five-year-old son of Emily Blunt, a woman THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER the LIne, “you’re FIred!” when [producer] Mark who shelters Joe when the chase is on. For (PG-13) Burnett and I agreed the show we dIdn’t have those who don’t care about a good storyto well do that. thought we’d told there’s plentywe of violence, including a say, “get the heLL out and adapted from his semi“Yippee-ki-yay” moment oF that here” will satisfyor Directed soMethIng. autobiographical novel by Stephen Willis’ fans. Looper should earn writerChbosky, this film stars (Don’t call fact that you raised suchEmma self-sufficient ample, scott Hamilton, from the last season. director Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brothers me Hermione) Watson, Ezra (Don’t call children? iBloom) had to aletpermanent scott go. i’m a great fan of scott: spot on the A-list. me Kevin) Miller and Logan (Don’t call me Well, i’m getting a lot of credit on the chilHe won olympic gold medals and he’s aWarren great –Steve Percy Jackson) Lerman. Lerman, who will dren. everybody’s been asking about ivanka champion. But he understood that he made be lots ofis calls after be this, is Charlie, andgetting the answer yes, she’ll back on the aTHE mistake on the show and i really OTHER DREAM TEAM (NR)had no a shy high school freshman who’s coming show. But they’re very good kids. they went choice. i felt very badly about that, because out of agood rough year. He from to very schools, and gets they support were great i considered him to be a great person, but i The Other Dream Team is neither a his English teacher (Paul Rudd) and two have to do what’s right. it’s never fun, but it’s students. i couldn’t wait to get them on the basketball norsomebody a Grateful Dead new stepsiblings Samwould (Watson) and show.friends, i had no idea the show be into easier when movie i don’t like or when concertreally, movie, andbad. if you’re looking for the flamboyant They’re itsninth and tenthPatrick season,(Miller). which is pretty they’re really Cold War nostalgia you’d do better with seniors immediately invite Charlie to amazingbut in the world of television. an oldline, James Bondfired, flick;” became but if you want all be a fellow “Wallflower.” Charlie crushes That “You’re a pop culThere’s lots ofeveryone news surrounding NBC ture phenomenon. talk about never the of these elements Can and you more, they’ve on Sambeen so hard should see it, lately, and your show doesofwell for them.her origin of it? combined and never will be but been better makes the mistake becoming What you think Patrick NBC needs to doon to get back it turned to be a good tells phrase, it of friend again. Thisout documentary thebut story instead. crushes Charlie in the ratings was fluke. During first show ifrom was but howa Lithuania got the its very independence knows he’sgame? not available; besides, he’s Well,aicloseted know Jeffjock. Gaspin nBc athe little exasperated of the con-half a dating Soviet Union with afterone more than The(chairman school yearofends Universal television entertainment) and, as testants the line, “You’replayed fired!” in but century, and andi used the role basketball the movie doesn’t, instead revealing you know, he’s new to the think he’s When mark Burnettits andpride i agreed helping[producer] the country preserve and another, darker layer. Setrole. in a inon-specific going‘90s to do spectacularPerks job atisnBc. to do the show we in didn’t that. WeIn the early sense of identity the have meantime. inaPittsburgh, like athey John need more shows thewith Apprentice. not thought we’d Olympics say, “Get the out ofdefeated here” or Hughes 1988 Seoul thehellUSSR movie thatlike deals more serious necessarily from a reality standpoint, but something. all of a sudden went problems. the USA inAnd basketball for onlyAmerica the second they need shows that capture the imaginacrazy over the show. happens be aSoviet great time in history, but itfour of thetofive –Steve Warren catchphrase. Guide or one the major starters weretV Lithuanian. Oneof had already tion. frankly, certain shows that are on should entertainment did draft a poll and, PERFECT (PG-13) been chosen magazines in an NBA but after was PITCH be changed because, while they get some “Here’s Johnny!” and one other great, it was forbidden to go. The world changed in four pretty good reviews, they don’t get people #3 on the top 100 phrases in television hisyears and Lithuania represented itself in You know those actors that you discover watching. tory! so that was a pretty big honor. it’s been it’s nice to get both. We’ve had Barcelona, sponsored by the Grateful Dead. before anybody else? You get rooted inac-their an amazing thing and an amazing phrase that emmy nominations and a lot of good Director and co-writer Marius Markevicius success because, a way, they belong just seems to this work. it really on, hopes and colades passed ourinway, and that’s always to interweaves story withcaught the 2011 it’s been an amazing thing to watch. you more if you’ve known them since they nice. But ultimately you have to have people of Lithuanian Jonas Valančiūnas for an NBA watch. nBc is going to really do well. i know were Bit Part #3 in the Twilight movies draft. With sidelights such as the athletes’ What do you think is your biggest accomtheir leadership i think winners, were the girland who sangthey’re a damn good smuggling ventures while traveling to or plishment, your business success or the so i thinkofthey’ll it around. version “Theturn Ladies Who Lunch” in insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 13
the indie film Camp. Anna Kendrick, who later got an Oscar nod for stealing scenes in Up In The Air, deserves to be a movie star. She’s charming, beautiful, smart and wickedly talented. And she sings like crazy (she was a Tony nominee at age 13). Pitch Perfect– which I pray becomes a huge hit because it’s clever, brazen and a lot of fun– is aimed to show audiences just how good Anna Kendrick is. The story, about a wannabe DJ and her misfit group of a cappella singers competing for a national title, is not perfect. But it’s good enough and often laugh-out-loud funny. It spreads the wealth among its cast, with points going to Brittany Snow, Anna Camp and a scene-stealing Rebel Wilson for their work. And the music is pretty damn good. Pitch Perfect should do pretty well with its box office and soundtrack, and it will stick with you in a “Look, it’s 3 AM, and Bring It On is on!” kind of way. –Benjamin Carr
STARS IN SHORTS (NR)
Short films can be a proving ground for new talent or a chance to explore ideas without having to stretch them to feature length. They can also be vanity projects. This collection contains examples and combinations of all of the above. Neil LaBute wrote two shorts and directed one of them. Both have twist endings but you should quickly guess the one for Sexting, leaving you only Julia Stiles’ monologue to appreciate. After-School Special, with Wes Bentley trying to pick up Sarah Paulsen at a playground, is more likely to surprise you, making it one of the best of the batch. Jason Alexander sticks it to Hollywood in Not Your Time, with the help of insider cameos and Fosse-esque choreography. Prodigal is interesting for Kenneth Branagh playing an all-American villain but overstays its welcome with a poorly developed story. Steve is notable for Colin Firth’s performance as Keira Knightley’s weird neighbor. Perhaps my favorites are Friend Request Pending, with Judi Dench as an old woman dealing with new technology; and The Procession, in which Lily Tomlin and Jesse Tyler Ferguson could use some new technology, as a mother and son who get lost on the way to a funeral. It’s a mixed bag with more hits than misses, and if you’re not enjoying one, there’ll be another along in 8-25 minutes. –Steve Warren
V/H/S (R)
Five slackers break into a house to steal a VHS tape. With the occupant apparently dead, they watch five tapes they find, each a self-contained horror story. Guys take girls they pick up, including a weird one, to a motel. An engaged couple on a road trip are solicited in their motel by a strange girl. A visit to a lake where a massacre took place suggests another Friday the 13th sequel, and there’s Paranormal Activity afoot as a medical student counsels his girlfriend via Skype. Finally there’s a Halloween party in a possibly haunted house in the segment with the best effects. At a festival screening several viewers walked out on V/H/S maybe because of the late hour, the gore, the breasts or the shaky-cam; most likely all of the above. No young men left because that’s who V/H/S was made for, and largely by (including Atlanta’s David Bruckner). The movie has a spring break mentality, with more topless women than a Mardi Gras float; but in most of the multiple storylines females do horrible things to males. All the stories are supposedly PG 14 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
videoed by participants, with lots of static and start-and-stop, meaning potential motion sickness for viewers, except those who are used to seeing the world through a viewfinder. Where you rate V/H/S on a scale from effective to annoying will depend on your tolerance for these factors. –Steve Warren
WON’T BACK DOWN (PG)
The way the system is set up, the status quo is meant to remain unbothered. If your intentions are to disrupt the everyday dealings in any way, you’re in for a messload of hate, paperwork and red tape. Doubt this observation? Well, walk a few steps in overworked mom Jamie (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and overworked mom/teacher/ wife Nona’s (Viola Davis) worn shoes. From two different worlds, the women’s lives serendipitously intersect at John Adams Elementary, a struggling Pittsburgh school that seemingly only knows the letter “F” in the alphabet. Tired of her dyslexic daughter being bullied by classmates and ignored by burnt-out teachers, Jamie takes action and brings Nona and any other willing teachers and parents to pick a fight downtown with the school board. Movies like this aren’t anything new to film class, but audiences will hopefully look past the sappy background music and tense “I know we can do this!” rallying cries and see a film that overachieves in heart and acting. And give director Daniel Barnz (Beastly) some extra credit for including a couple of scenes that have the nerve to buck the dramatic movie system and actually play a few cool visual tricks. –DeMarco Williams
OUT ON FILM CROSSOVER FAVORITES FACING MIRRORS (NR)
Iran can forget about nukes and conquer the world with Art. From the country that won an Oscar last year for A Separation comes another award-worthy drama. Eddie (the amazing Shayesteh Irani) is fleeing the country to complete her transition to the male gender and avoid the arranged marriage her wealthy father is trying to force on her. She gets a ride with Rana (Ghazal Shakeri), who drives a cab to make ends meet because her husband is in prison. We get to know them as they get to know each other, and we see various forms of oppression Iranian women have to fight. It reminds us people are not their government as we cheer these two heroines and hope one will achieve her dream of becoming a hero. –Steve Warren
GAYBY (NR)
No more shocking than The New Normal and hardly moreso than Will & Grace, Gayby is a delightful comedy about best friends, a straight woman and a gay man, who decide to have a baby together. Jenn (Jenn Harris) is concerned about her biological clock, although once she starts trying to get pregnant by Matt (Matthew Wilkas) her alternative options improve faster than you can say “Jennifer Aniston.” Matt, still recovering from his last heartbreak, also finds new relationship prospects. Writerdirector Jonathan Lisecki takes material that would have been shocking a generation ago and renders it inoffensive, but not in a bland way. His first feature suggests a bright future. –Steve Warren
LOCAL
THE WORD IS “OUT” Atlanta’s Out on Film Festival Celebrates 25 Years
Queer for its southern twist on being gay. And I absolutely cannot wait to see the “bad T’S ELECTION TIME, SO WE’RE boys” of gay in Bad Boy Street. I won’t give hearing more and more about our nation’s any spoilers here, but this is an upside-down history. We’re hearing about what’s going love story I just can’t help but root for. to change in America, and what’s going to get You can find all of the festival’s film better. Kind of makes you want to tune out for screenings online at outonfilm.org/films. a bit, right? So, the ultimate question is, how does an With perfect timing, the Out On Film LGBT film festival attract a crowd, especially Festival returns this month for it’s 25th one that just keeps growing over 25 years? anniversary of LGBT entertainment. You Farmer explains that, “the films in our festival want to talk about making history? Not are so varied, so universal. They’re just about only has the festival been successful for everyday people blending their lives together. 25 years, but it’s actually the oldest film It’s not really different from movies you’d see festival of its kind in the country, and is in the theatre regularly.” recognized internationally for the great work As an example he points to the film Sassy it showcases. Don’t you love it when the ATL Pants, which promises to be a mainstream gets cool points? favorite. It’s the story of a With such a noteworthy college-bound daughter who anniversary, you know this fights her overbearing mom year’s festival is going to and deadbeat gay dad to get be really good. And it all into fashion school. starts with having a baby… “There’s not a lot of or, well, a “Gayby.” difference from this festival Opening the festival on compared to, say, a generic, October 4th at Landmark heterosexual film festival,” Midtown Arts Cinema, says Farmer. “We’re all Gayby is the story of two unified in wanting to go 30-somethings (he’s gay, see a good movie together, she’s his best friend) who you know? The only decide to have a baby together… platonically. difference is that here, they might get to see LGBT or not, the movie delivers on laughs. something that they’d otherwise never get Festival Director Jim Farmer claims, “It’s the the chance to.” most universally appealing opening that the Out on Film was originally created “to festival has ever had.” And, in keeping with inform, entertain, educate, and enrich the the historical theme, the film was produced regional LGBT community by recognizing by festival alum Anne Hubbell (who gave Out the creative work of these artists.” You can On Film it’s official name back in 1987) and expect lots of audience interaction with former Atlanta resident. directors, writers and stars of films this Always known for its artistic celebrations of year, listening to post-screening Q&A’s or the LGBT community through hanging out with the film cast film, this year’s festival offers an and crews after the shows at exciting chance to moonlight OUT ON FILM RUNS Apres Diem. with the classics and check out OCTOBER 4-11 “We adamantly work to some of the fun, newer stuff. create that sense of community AT LANDMARK Clear room on your calendar between film goers and MIDTOWN for Cloudburst, which is moviemakers,” Farmer says. ARTS CINEMA. showing October 6 and stars “We’re excited to bring the PURCHASE Oscar-winning actress Olivia tour back with a look at our TICKETS AT Dukakis. The story follows history. We love to celebrate OUTONFILM.ORG/ Stella and Dot, a lesbian couple the classics and our history, but together 31 years, as they TICKET. equally thrilled to introduce escape their nursing home some new things.” and attempt to get married to You know what he’s talking keep their family together. It’s a universally about, right? From Hedwig and the Angry accessible movie that absolutely anyone Inch to Yossi & Jagger and Trick, movie fans who’s ever been in a long-term relationship from all over can appreciate the love that can enjoy. Farmer adds, “Every couple can their longtime favorites get every single year. relate to being partnered or married, whether We can already smell the popcorn. they’re gay or non-gay couples.” This year, look for Atlanta alums such as Also on your radar should be BearCity 2: Love Free or Die (in which Gay Bishop makes The Proposal, which Farmer calls “this year’s his mark) director Mackey Alston, director mainstream hit.” In this sequel to BearCity, Richard Lemay (of Naked as We Came), and the storyline follows the group of friends as Atlanta’s own Gerald McCullouch (starring in they hit the beach for a bachelor party. Filled BearCity 2: The Proposal). with faces you’ll recognize, it’s a relatable Of course, what is a LGBT film festival story about friendship, love and ultimately… without a drag show? This year, legendary a comedy. “People are going to love these drag queen Coco Peru (Trick and Girls characters,” Farmer insists. Will Be Girls) makes her Atlanta debut on We’re also particularly excited about October 10-11. Catch her on October 10 director John Garcia’s The Falls, which tells after the Trick showing for a Q&A with the the story of Latter-Day Saints who struggle film’s director, Jim Fall, and you can even with the discovery of romantic feelings for follow her to Mixx for the after-show party. each other during their two-year mission. I Like the rest of the festival, it’s sure to personally can’t help but anticipate Tennessee be fabulous!
BY JENNI WILLIAMS
I
MUSIC
BRIGHT LIGHT/WHITE HEAT
Mercurial Alanis Morissette Melds Heavenly Bliss with Earthly Havoc BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH
Y
ES, IN CONVERSATION, ALANIS MORISSETTE really does speak like her lyrics. An extremely intelligent mixture of earthly angst, earthy introspection and divine inspiration, the singer-songwriteractress is currently on the road with her Guardian Angel Tour, supporting her eighth album, the contemplative Havoc and Bright Lights. The tour comes to Atlanta’s Tabernacle on October 25, and the day after the tour opened, the literate and ponderous performer ruminated by phone on a number of topics.
dying to write. But I was, and still am, very committed to the attachment stage of development going as well as possible. So we built a studio in the house, [producer ]Guy [Sigsworth] came over from London, and we just wrote in fits and starts over the period of that year. I wanted to lend my sensibilities in the rock world, combined with some of my influences from the more technological loops. I listened to a lot of hip-hop as a kid, so I like the blend of both sonic styles and genres. So far, what one song is your favorite of the collection? “Woman Down” has emerged as one of my favorites to perform live. We actually open the show with it. And the conversations that have been born from these songs, I thought that they would wind up being exciting, but it’s taken the philosopher in me to a whole different level, to the point where I feel like these are sacred conversations that I’m having philosophically. These songs, while they touch on the microcosm for the most part, they are entering into the more macro, broad commentary area of dialogue with people.
Can you tell us about the title of the new album? Well, havoc speaks to the song “Havoc,” so that’s the underbelly of things, the challenging part. I’m obsessed with dark and light, I think. Because I’m a Gemini by trade I’m obsessed with the dualism that it is to be here on this planet and play in that high/low, cold/hot world. So Havoc is the underbelly of recovery from addiction. And then “Bright Lights” has a double connotation. One being in the “Woman Down,” seems to speak to the macro, more of a white-hot heat of fame, and there’s a song called “Celebrity” communiqué to women who have been wronged. where I just comment on fame and the whole journey of it, Well it‘s one of my favorite songs because there really is, for especially in pop culture in America, but not just America, me anyway, no better time to be alive as a woman than 2012. though, everywhere. And then “Bright Lights” also notates The days of old were such that women were owned and we the spiritual aspect of things, that we’re all were property, and then we went through the light beings and that that’s what connects us, women’s movement, which was important. We whether we’re aware of it or not. ALANIS became empowered, but in an individualistic, kind of way; neither style, neither How do you think you’ve evolved as an artist MORISSETTE autonomous approach afforded any kind of connection or on this album? intimacy. Now we’re slowly segueing into this PLAYS I don’t have objectivity on it until many, gorgeous era where we’re empowered but we many years later, so I think just committing OCTOBER 25 also have the knowledge that interdependence to making sure that every record is authentic can afford with other people. So the women’s AT THE about what’s going on at any given time. These movement is moving in such a much better records become like candid photographs, to TABERNACLE. way. That’s not to say that misogyny and the point where when I’m 108 on my deathbed, chauvinism and patriarchy isn’t alive and well I’ll look back on these records and remember 7 P.M. in so many places around the planet, including the whole era. SOULEYE OPENS. this country, but it’s getting more and more balanced, to the point where not just females Since every one of your albums is an reflection but ‘the divine feminine’ itself is being more of your life, what does this album represent in respected and revered as an important way to connect with terms of where you are right now? each other and with spirit. I think it speaks to how much braver I am to delve into a deeper intimacy in my relationships: with my son, with my husband, even to the point where I’d be ready to get married. Intimacy was always terrifying for me, so intimacy with spirit, other people, friends, even professional colleagues, although I don’t really write about that directly. So yes, it’s a relationship record even more so than ever before.
This is an album that comes from a very different place than some of your earlier work, but when you say a line like, “In those bleak times I was better,” it’s an interesting way to set this up. How has the upheaval of your past work impact the way you wrote these newer songs? In that specific song that line speaks to the whole epidemic in, certainly, America, but in the western world. Not the whole planet, frankly, this whole set up of egoically we’re set up to be [in] a conflict. We’re set up to figure out who in the room is better or worse, as opposed to -- and this really calls upon the human spirit to think in these ways. Whether it’s in legal conflicts or political conflicts or religious conflicts, the whole setup is set up to fail because it’s a win-lose paradigm. But you are focusing on the basic levels of interaction and equality, right? I’ve been obsessed with that lately, every interaction that I have, ideally I want to start it from a place of, “Okay, we’re connected, we’re eye to eye, the same value, and now let’s just see where our differences come in and see whether we can join forces here, or there’s no deal to be made.” So really the credo for me these days is just “win-win or no deal.” It gets really fascinating and interesting when there needs to be a deal made and there’s still no win-win. It gets challenging. Let’s talk about the physical process of making the record. You wrote considerably more than what we hear on the finished disc. Yes, we wrote 31 songs, and made a makeshift studio in my living room here at our house, because Ever, my son, was just born. He was about five and a half months old and I was
Since you are in a more blissful space in your life than 15 years ago, is it hard to tap into the energy and anxiety that fueled angst anthems like “You Ought to Know” ? It’s actually not hard. I think that the anger, all of these emotions are just part of the human condition, so my husband can attest to the fact that I still have anger and that I’m still feisty and fiery. It just shows up in different ways. If anything, I’m less reactive and less irresponsible in that way. But the emotions themselves still move through me at a really accelerated rate. It’s now more that I can corral it and I’m a little more responsible for that huge life force moving through me. I think anger and joy are two of the biggest life forces that can move mountains and worlds, so I just have to be careful with it. But I use songs like “You Ought to Know” to channel rage that I might have. If I’m going through something particularly challenging, I look forward to singing those songs at night because I can move that energy. How do you harness the roller coaster of emotions into a cohesive show? Basically, by the end of the show I just feel really neutral because we run the whole gamut of every emotion known to humankind for me, with songs from throughout the last 17 years and songs from Havoc and Bright Lights. And we do a little bit of an acoustic set near the end of the show. Last night, it really rendered it super intimate and more connective than sometimes the monotony of the wall of guitars can do. Has being a mother and wife changed your personal live concert experience? I’ve been touring since the summer with my husband and my son. My husband, Soul Eye, is opening our shows on this particular American tour, and our first show last night was a serious dream-come-true. I just watched him from the side of the stage, with my son in my arms, and I just thought, ’This probably is the best moment of my life.’ insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 15
FILM
2012 FALL
Movie Preview BY RYAN LOFTIS
T
he Autumnal Equinox (which this year fell on September 22) has historically signaled the end of summer and the beginning of winter. But, for diehard film fans, the shifting of seasons really begins a few weeks earlier, with the early-September launch of the Toronto International Film Festival. For movie buffs, TIFF is like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Mardi Gras all rolled into one. For movie studios, it’s a last-ditch bid to unveil all their finest Oscar bait in an attempt to make up for all the weak, pandering, effects-laden crap they forced upon the masses during the first ¾ of the year. OK, so maybe we’ve grown a bit cynical over the years, but with just cause: Why can’t the studios space out their finest fare over the space of 12 months instead of trying to cram the few decent movies they have into a 3-month window that is, for most moviegoers, the busiest time of the year? Inevitably, even the most devoted film critics wind up missing out on some great indie flick that shoulda been a contender. Regardless, this year’s crop seems to offer an intriguing balance of comedies, dramas, action thrillers and genre pics, including new films from revered directors such as Ang Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Peter Jackson, Walter Salles. Gus Van Sant and Tom Hooper. We’ve arranged our preview chronologically, but good luck squeezing them all into your schedule!
OCT 5
THE PAPERBOY
The Stars: Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, John Cusack, Nicole Kidman, director Lee Daniels The Shill: A seductress convinces a Florida newspaper man and his wayward brother to help free her lover from death row in this Southern fried thriller. The Skinny: This film created buzz at Cannes with scenes where Kidman (as a nymphomaniac) gives Efron a golden shower to help him through a jellyfish sting, and Efron runs around in soaking-wet white underwear. Cusack is supposedly scary as hell in this movie, based upon a Pete Dexter book. Where Daniels’ Precious was grounded and moving, Paperboy is apparently brazen and nuts.
OCT 12
SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS
The Stars: Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits The Shill: A struggling screenwriter (Farrell) finds himself mixed up in L.A.’s seedy criminal underworld after his knucklehead friends (Walken and Rockwell) kidnap a gangster’s (Harrelson) beloved Shih Tzu. Ultra-violent hilarity ensues. The Skinny: Director Martin McDonagh reteams with In Bruges star Farrell in an attempt to replicate the genre-smashing magic of their cult hit. The film won the People’s Choice
PG 16 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
Midnight Madness Award at last month’s Toronto Film Festival, so we’re willing to bet they’ve succeeded.
ARGO
The Stars: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Taylor Schilling The Shill: Based on a true story, the CIA stages a fake movie shoot to free six Americans from Iran during the late ‘70s revolution. The Skinny: Audiences at Toronto loved this movie, which is receiving Oscar buzz for Best Picture as well as praise for Affleck’s acting and directing. The ensemble is strong, and the fact that it’s about a forgotten moment in CIA history makes it sound that much more interesting.
THE SESSIONS
OCT 19
The Stars: John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy, Moon Bloodgood The Shill: A 38-year-old man in an iron lung (Hawkes) hoping to lose his virginity enlists the services of a professional sex surrogate (Hunt) with the help of his therapist and priest (Macy). The Skinny: Sundance Film Festival audiences went bonkers for this bold art-house indie, which confronts touchy topics with a lighthearted sense of humor. Could it be the first Oscar-winning film that was inspired by a director (Ben Lewin) searching the Internet for anything to do with sex and the disabled?
OCT 26
CLOUD ATLAS
The Stars: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, Susan Sarandon, directors the Wachowski Brothers and Tom Twyker The Shill: Tom Hanks with a comb-over and turtleneck is a puzzle-piece of this chaos theory exploration of love, hope and upheaval. Directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski (The Matrix) and Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run), this adaptation of David Mitchell’s sci-fi novel is already being lauded for its visuals and shape-shifting screenplay. The Skinny: A caustic tale of revolution and reincarnation, Cloud Atlas will be digitally remastered for IMAX screens and released for select screenings later this month.
SILENT HILL: REVELATION 3D
The Stars: Sean Bean, Radha Mitchell, CarrieAnne Moss, Adelaide Clemens The Shill: In this sequel to the mild ’06 horror hit, Heather (Clemens) goes looking for her missing father (Bean) and ends up in a dark, scary place called Silent Hill that’s literally a ghost town.
The Skinny: It’s going to take a lot of scares from the menacing Pyramid Head to make us forget about the first mess of a movie. With zero chills and frighteningly bad acting, the original was one of the last movies we actually walked out on before the credits. Revelation’s bizarre trailer already has us looking for the exit.
FUN SIZE
The Stars: Victoria Justice, Jane Levy, Chelsea Handler, Johnny Knoxville The Shill: Two girls find their Halloween party plans sidetracked when Mom forces one of them to take their rambunctious little brother trick-or-treating, and the scamp disappears. The Skinny: With an “Adventures in Babysitting” vibe, a very polished look and an edgy sense-of-humor (Handler is playing the Mom!), this Nickelodeon Movies product should find a teen and family audience.
FLIGHT
NOV 2
The Stars: Denzel Washington, Melissa Leo, John Goodman, Don Cheadle, director Robert Zemeckis The Shill: In a scene straight from the autobiography of Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger, a pilot (Washington) saves a plane from crashing with his quick thinking… but an investigation into the incident leads back to the cockpit’s mini-bar. The Skinny: We’d ride shotgun with Denzel almost anywhere, so you already know that we’ll be taking this first-class ride with him and Zemeckis.
WRECK IT RALPH
The Stars: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch The Shill: The villain of an old-fashioned videogame decides he’s tired of being evil and sets out to find a new, good role in the world of the arcade. The Skinny: With a heaping dose of arcade nostalgia (including an appearance by Q*Bert and the ghosts from Pac-Man), this animated Disney film should appeal equally to kids, parents and those strange, mean guys who’d never let you have a turn at Galaga.
A LATE QUARTET
The Stars: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, Mark Ivanir The Shill: Members of a world-renowned string quartet face death, raging
egos and lust. Pretty much like any other band of creative types, but more reserved with their emotions and suppressed aspirations. The Skinny: Director Yaron Zilberman‘s take on the inner-workings of the NYC-based quartet will be music to the ears of classical music fans. The always-reliable Philip Seymour Hoffman strings the rest of the cast along on what looks to be a fascinating tale of the human condition.
THIS MUST BE THE PLACE
The Stars: Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Judd Hirsch The Shill: Cheyenne (Sean Penn) is a hasbeen rock star living off the remainders of his royalties in Dublin when he returns to New York to face the person who humiliated his father during WWII. The Skinny: Lots of mixed feelings on this one, but a chance to see Sean Penn looking like someone out of The Cure? I think that about locks it down.
THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS
The Stars: Russell Crowe, Cung Le, Lucy Liu, RZA The Shill: Set in 19th century China, the Blacksmith (RZA) is forced to come to the defense of his fellow villagers, and he brings his fists and some fierce weaponry along with him. The Skinny: The hip-hop icon (and martial arts fanatic) isn’t merely starring in this action vehicle. He actually co-wrote and directed it, too. Of course, the Wu-Tang member is a part of the soundtrack as well, as are Kanye West, Ghostface Killah and The Black Keys… Umm, yes, two tickets, please.
SKYFALL
NOV 9
The Stars: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, director Sam Mendes The Shill: The 23rd installment of the James Bond franchise arrives on the 50th Anniversary of the first (and, arguably, best) of the series, Dr. No, with Daniel Craig returning as Secret Agent 007. The Skinny: Mendes sticks pretty close to the Bond formula, and why tamper with sure-fire success? The plot? Is there one? It doesn’t even matter: This is a James Bond adventure, with explosions, villains, thrills, chills, cars, gadgets and, of course, the usual bevy of beautiful Bond Girls.
LINCOLN
NOV 16
The Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, director Steven Spielberg The Shill: Based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s biography Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, the film centers around the 16th President’s (Day-Lewis) fight with his cabinet over the abolishment of slavery. The Skinny: It’s almost unfair for other movies to battle for Oscar’s attention when this project has all the historical heft (the Civil War’s conclusion), storytelling wizardry (director Steven Spielberg) and on-screen magicians (Day-Lewis, GordonLevitt, Jones, Sally Field).
TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART II
The Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Dakota Fanning, Kellan Lutz The Shill: Bella (Kristen Stewart) is a vampire mom now. She has responsibilities, like fighting vampire kings and queens (Dakota Fanning) with her fanged family and friends. The Skinny: This fourth film brings the ultimate action-packed teen romance package to a close. It’s probably not in line for any golden statues, unless the special effects really blow us out of the water.
ANNA KARENINA
The Stars: Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Michelle Dockery, director Joe Wright The Shill: In the 19th century, the wife of a Russian politician defies society and provokes by falling in love with a dashing, young military officer. The Skinny: Wright can create beautifullooking movies that run the risk of being sterile (see: Atonement) or just plain weird (Hanna). But Knightley is his muse and, like his best film, Pride & Prejudice, this one comes from a classic period novel (by Leo Tolstoy). Law looks creepy and unrecognizable as Karenin, and might get some Oscar notice.
NOV 21
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
The Stars: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, director David O. Russell The Shill: Discharged from a mental institution, a teacher moves in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife, but finds his deepest connection with a troubled girl mourning the death of her brother. The Skinny: Early reports from the Toronto Film Fest, where it won an Audience Prize, suggest that Russell’s latest film is terrific fun, and a potential favorite for Best Picture. Expect Oscar buzz for Cooper, Lawrence and DeNiro, who apparently delivers his best performance in years.
LIFE OF PI
NOV 23
The Stars: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Gérard Depardieu, Adil Hussain, Tabu, director Ang Lee The Shill: The coming-of-age story of an Indian boy named Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel, son of a zookeeper, who finds himself
stranded on a boat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger along for the ride. The Skinny: Perhaps it’s no surprise that this offbeat meditation on spirituality took more than a decade to make it from the book to the big screen. But we can think of no better director than Ang Lee to adapt Yann Martel’s prize-winning fantasy-adventure novel, which should have familyfriendly appeal.
NOV 30
KILLING THEM SOFTLY
The Stars: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Sam Rockwell, James Gandolfini The Shill: Mafia hitman Jackie Cogan (Pitt), a quietly powerful sociopath, investigates a heist that went down during a mob-protected poker game. The Skinny: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford ranks among the most underrated films of Pitt’s career. This hard-boiled crime thriller reunites the star with director Andrew Dominik, and early buzz suggests it could be yet another Oscar-nominated role for Angelina’s hubby.
DEC 7
HYDE PARK ON HUDSON
The Stars: Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Williams, Olivia Colman, Samuel West The Shill: The King and Queen of the UK (West and Colman) visit President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Murray) right around the time he decides a love affair with his cousin (Linney) is just what the doctor ordered. Drama (and comedy) ensues. The Skinny: Incredible leads make us think that this is a shoo-in for Oscar season. Plus, they’ll make us laugh… and who doesn’t love a good political rom-com-drama?
DEC 14
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
The Stars: Martin Freeman, Elijah Wood, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, director Peter Jackson The Shill: Um… well, it’s the prequel to one of the most beloved literary and film trilogies in the history of ever. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? The Skinny: Diehard Lord of The Rings fans are practically palpitating over Jackson’s looooongawaited return to the magical fantasy world envisioned by J.R.R. Tolkien. There’s absolutely no way he blows this continuation of his life’s masterpiece, an origin story about Bilbo Baggins, Gollum and the One Ring.
DEC 19
ZERO DARK THIRTY
The Stars: Chris Pratt, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Jason Clarke, director Kathryn Bigelow The Shill: This film chronicles the decadelong hunt for Osama bin Laden after the Twin Towers attack, and his death in 2011 at the hands of U.S. Navy SEALS. The Skinny: Kathryn Bigelow, who won Best Director in 2010 for her military masterstroke
The Hurt Locker, knows a few things about telling a soldier’s story. Couple that with rumors that she got classified details about Osama, and you see why we’ll be fighting for seats to this one on opening weekend.
THIS IS 40
DEC 21
Stars: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Melissa McCarthy, director Judd Apatow The Shill: Catching up with Pete (Rudd) and Debbie (Mann), a few years after the events of Knocked Up. The Skinny: Around The Pineapple Express, the buddy stoner comedy formula that once worked so well for director Judd Apatow & Co. was starting to grow stale. Here’s hoping this Knocked Up sequel focuses more on heart than (pot) heads, finding humor in a married couple facing down life after the big 4-0.
JACK REACHER
The Stars: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Robert Duvall, Richard Jenkins, director Christopher McQuarrie The Shill: Based on the best-selling novels by Lee Child, Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) is named the killer in a homicide case where five victims were shot to death by an expert sniper. He’s in a race to find justice and, perhaps, gets a little more than he bargained for. The Skinny: Critics are calling Tom Cruise fantastic and the movie an action-packed nail-biter absolutely worth seeing. Because the book was so good and Child was involved throughout, we say give it a try.
NOT FADE AWAY
The Stars: John Magaro, Will Brill, Jack Huston, James Gandolfini, director David Chase The Shill: Inspired by seeing the Rolling Stones on TV, three New Jersey friends try their hand at the rock ‘n’ roll game. The Skinny: Chase (The Sopranos) knows a thing or two about character-driven dramas and New Jersey. As a coming-of-age period piece, the film reflects the pop culture of the early- to mid-‘60s era and shows how the British Invasion of living rooms and home stereos changed a generation (or three).
THE IMPOSSIBLE
The Stars: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Geraldine Chaplin The Shill: A Christmas vacation gone more wrong than the Griswolds’, this is the incredible story of Henry (Ewan McGregor) and Maria’s (Naomi Watts) struggle to save their family during one of the world’s worst natural disasters— the Thailand Tsunami. The Skinny: Gutwrenching, realistic and sure to catch the eye of the Academy, especially for what we hear are stellar performances by Watts and McGregor.
ON THE ROAD
The Stars: Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen, director Walter Salles
The Shill: The ultimate road trip, as young writer Sal Paradise finds his life turned upside down by a cross-country jaunt with freespirited friend Dean Moriarty and his comely lady friend, Marylou. The Skinny: If you weren’t enticed by the fact that this is based on the influential Jack Kerouac novel, perhaps the direction of Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries, Central Station) whets your whistle? The all-star cast seems to portend award-worthiness, but can the film possibly measure up to expectations?
DEC 28
LES MISÉRABLES
The Stars: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, director Tom Hooper The Shill: Film adaptation of long-running Broadway musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, in which paroled prisoner Jean Valjean (Jackman) seeks redemption in 19thcentury France. The Skinny: If you look up “Oscar bait” in the dictionary, you’ll find this movie’s poster. Hooper’s coming off a Best Director Oscar for The King’s Speech, and his cast is bursting with A-list talent. Stage-to-screen musical adaptations are usually risky business, but smart money wouldn’t bet against Hooper.
THE GUILT TRIP
The Stars: Barbra Streisand, Seth Rogen, Adam Scott, Yvonne Strahovski The Shill: A quirky stoner (Rogen) and his mom (Streisand) hit the road so he can pitch his latest invention. In the process, Rogen reunites Saint Babs with her wayward lover. The Skinny: Co-produced by Lorne Michaels and executive produced by Rogen and Streisand, the project smells like a vanity vehicle. Still, it’s Streisand’s first starring role since her other vanity production, The Mirror Has Two Faces. But hey, it has to be better than the Meet The Fockers stinkers…
PARENTAL GUIDANCE
The Stars: Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott The Shill: An overworked mother begs her parents to babysit her three hyperactive children when she’s called out of town for her job. Hilarity ensures? Well, maybe. The Skinny: With Crystal and Midler in the cast, at least the comedic timing will be good, even if the tepid jokes fall flat. Naturally, there’ll be a few life-lessons thrown in somewhere.
PROMISED LAND
The Stars: Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, John Krasinski, Hal Holbrook, director Gus Van Sant The Shill: Two salesmen (Damon, McDormand) for a natural gas company are sent to a rural town hit hard by the recession in hopes of closing a key deal in the corporation’s expansion plans. But when a grass-roots opposition raises its voice, it becomes a battle between Big Business and small-town community. The Skinny: The controversy over hydraulic fracturing for natural gas has built to a boiling point. Damon was originally slated to direct, but instead reunited with his Good Will Hunting director. We’re hoping the results mine award-worthy Erin Brockovich territory, as we’d love to see the fracking debate take center stage at the Oscars. insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 17
CONCERT CALENDAR MONDAY OCTOBER 1 529 Babar, Lantern BLIND WILLIE’S Little G CENTER STAGE Blue October FAT MATT’S Fat Back Deluxe TABERNACLE Metric & Half Moon Run TUESDAY OCTOBER 2 529 Damon Moon & The Whispering Drifter BLIND WILLIE’S Atlanta Boogie EARL Fuxa EDDIE’S ATTIC Brian Collins FAT MATT’S JT Speed FIVE SPOT Cheap Shots Comedy MASQUERADE The Browning SMITH’S Maggie McClure STAR BAR Citizen ATL VARIETY Dinosaur Jr. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3 529 Pujol, Turf War BLIND WILLIE’S Peter Karp COBB ENERGY David Byrne EARL Mac DeMarco EDDIE’S ATTIC Elizabeth Cook FAT MATT’S The Hollidays FIVE SPOT Beauregard MASQUERADE Kreator PEACHTREE TAVERN Velcro Pygmies SMITH’S Ruby Velle Trio STAR BAR Moonbase TABERNACLE Fiona Apple VARIETY Eric Johnson THURSDAY OCTOBER 4 529 Swank Sinatra BLIND WILLIE’S Tommy Brown BUCKHEAD THEATER First Aid Kit EARL Balmorhea EDDIE’S ATTIC Caravan of Thieves FAT MATT’S Chickshack THE LOFT Allen Stone MASQUERADE Bootylicious PEACHTREE TAVERN The Revels SMITH’S Legends of the Fall STAR BAR PLS PLS VINYL Makeshift Prodigy WILD BILL’S Rodney Atkins FRIDAY OCTOBER 5 529 TOPS, Moodrings BLIND WILLIE’S Curtis Salgado BUCKHEAD THEATER Godspeed You! EARL Big Business EDDIE’S ATTIC The Steel Drivers FAT MATT’S Swamp Funk Quartet FIVE SPOT The Congress MASQUERADE Beltline Beats NORTHSIDE TAVERN Lola PEACHTREE TAVERN Connor Christian & Southern Gothic SMITH’S Jackie Greene STAR BAR The Lizardmen VARIETY Gungor VINYL Driven Music Conference WILD BILL’S 2 Turnt Up Nawfside Showcase SATURDAY OCTOBER 6 529 The Left Field Experiment BLIND WILLIE’S Theodis Ealey CENTER STAGE Raju Lama EARL The Blind Shake EDDIE’S ATTIC Michelle Malone FAT MATT’S Jason Pastras Trio FIVE SPOT Lucid’s Absinthe MASQUERADE Bombay Bicycle Club NORTHSIDE TAVERN Matt Wauchope PEACHTREE TAVERN The Lee Boys SMITH’S Bell X1 STAR BAR Dinos Boys TABERNACLE Grace Potter & The Nocturnals VERIZON Alan Jackson WILD BILL’S Almost Kings SUNDAY OCTOBER 7 EARL R. Stevie Moore EDDIE’S ATTIC David Leinweber FAT MATT’S Fat Back Deluxe MASQUERADE Hatebreed & Whitechapel SMITH’S Themestock TABERNACLE Price Royce VARIETY Pat Metheny Unity Band MONDAY OCTOBER 8 529 Buke & Gase BLIND WILLIE’S Bill Sheffield COBB ENERGY The Shins EARL Mount Carmel FAT MATT’S Fat Back Deluxe FIVE SPOT Gelatine, Otonana Trio PG 18 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
SMITH’S Chris Cab VARIETY Jovanotti TUESDAY OCTOBER 9 529 Gonjasufi w/ Skrapez EARL White Arrows FAT MATT’S JT Speed FIVE SPOT Cheap Shots Comedy TABERNACLE Silversun Pickups WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 10 529 Moon Duo, Holy Wave BLIND WILLIE’S Damon Fowler EARL Death Angel EDDIE’S ATTIC Betsey Kingston FAT MATT’S The Hollidays MASQUERADE Sean Paul PEACHTREE TAVERN Erica’s Playhouse SMITH’S Julian Velard STAR BAR Secret Shakes VINYL RZA THURSDAY OCTOBER 11 529 Daytrader BLIND WILLIE’S Sweet Betty EARL The Hold Steady EDDIE’S ATTIC Janis Ian FAT MATT’S Chickshack MASQUERADE A3C Festival PEACHTREE TAVERN COPE SMITH’S No Justice VARIETY Ryan Bingham FRIDAY OCTOBER 12 529 Featureless Ghost BLIND WILLIE’S Heather Luttrell CENTER STAGE YTF Legacy EARL Los Straitjackets EDDIE’S ATTIC The Shadowboxers FAT MATT’S 38th Parallel THE LOFT Mamadee MASQUERADE A3C Festival NORTHSIDE TAVERN John McKnight PEACHTREE TAVERN Cody Canada SMITH’S I.O.Z. VARIETY Matt & Kim VINYL Leagues WILD BILL’S Armin Van Buuren SATURDAY OCTOBER 13 529 Skeletonwitch BLIND WILLIE’S Houserocker Johnson CENTER STAGE Dub FX EARL Langhorne Slim & the Law EDDIE’S ATTIC Ruby Velle Trio FAT MATT’S Larry Griffith Band MASQUERADE A3C Festival NORTHSIDE TAVERN Ike Stubblefield SMITH’S Carbon Leaf VARIETY Emeli Sande WILD BILL’S Gary Allan SUNDAY OCTOBER 14 EDDIE’S ATTIC Julia Haltigan FAT MATT’S Fat Back Deluxe MASQUERADE Flobots MONDAY OCTOBER 15 BLIND WILLIE’S Barrelhouse Bob Page EARL My Jerusalem FAT MATT’S Fat Back Deluxe FIVE SPOT Orbit Bear TUESDAY OCTOBER 16 529 Screaming Females BLIND WILLIE’S Trubic Ruffin EARL Irrevesible EDDIE’S ATTIC Bernadette Seacrest FAT MATT’S JT Speed FIVE SPOT Cheap Shots Comedy THE LOFT Ryan Leslie MASQUERADE Grouplove VARIETY Jens Lekman WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 17 529 Dark, Dark, Dark BLIND WILLIE’S The Casanovas EARL Shovels & the Rope EDDIE’S ATTIC Tim O’Brien FAT MATT’S The Hollidays FIVE SPOT The Law THE LOFT The White Panda MASQUERADE Matthew Dear PEACHTREE TAVERN Saturday Night Beaver SMITH’S Ben Miller Band VINYL Afton Showcase THURSDAY OCTOBER 18 529 Broncho BLIND WILLIE’S Beverly Watkins
SMITH’S Copious Jones EARL Milo Greene VINYL Prom of the Living Dead EDDIE’S ATTIC Willy Porter FAT MATT’S Chickshack SATURDAY OCTOBER 27 FIVE SPOT PEARL & The Beard 529 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra THE LOFT Los Lonely Boys BLIND WILLIE’S Houserocker Johnson MASQUERADE Gwar EARL Dum Dum Girls PEACHTREE TAVERN Crowfield EDDIE’S ATTIC Lucy Kaplansky TABERNACLE Gov’t Mule FAT MATT’S Mike Lowry TERMINAL WEST Father John Misty THE LOFT Propagandhi VARIETY Henry Rollins MASQUERADE The Brouhaha VINYL Alex Cuba PEACHTREE TAVERN Mama’s Love SMITH’S Escape Vehicle FRIDAY OCTOBER 19 WILD BILL’S Back N Black 529 Dillon & H2O BLIND WILLIE’S Bob Margolin SUNDAY OCTOBER 28 CENTER STAGE The Temper Trap EARL A.C. Newman EARL Tombs EDDIE’S ATTIC Davin McCoy EDDIE’S ATTIC Eliot Bronson FAT MATT’S John Sosobee FAT MATT’S Fat Back Deluxe FIVE SPOT Dopapod THE LOFT Freelance Whales MASQUERADE Bad Books MASQUERADE Pennywise NORTHSIDE TAVERN Stoney Brooks PEACHTREE TAVERN Micky & The MONDAY OCTOBER 29 Motorcars BLIND WILLIE’S Midnight Revival SMITH’S Packway Handle Hand EDDIE’S ATTIC Susanna Hoffs TABERNACLE Lacrae, Trip Lee & Tdot FAT MATT’S Fat Back Deluxe VARIETY Mickey Hart Band MASQUERADE Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard VINYL Bronze Radio Return NORTHSIDE TAVERN Mudcat VINYL In It, Over It SATURDAY OCTOBER 20 529 Dusdriver TUESDAY OCTOBER 30 BLIND WILLIE’S Sandra Hall 529 Tender Prey CENTER STAGE Die Antwoord BLIND WILLIE’S The Hollidays EARL Holly Golightly EDDIE’S ATTIC Shemekia Copeland EDDIE’S ATTIC The Black Lillies FAT MATT’S JT Speed FAT MATT’S Kerry Kill Band MASQUERADE Mumiy Troll MASQUERADE Passion Pit NORTHSIDE TAVERN The Breeze Kings WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 31 SMITH’S Charlie Mars 529 ELO Tribute TABERNACLE Rufus Wainwright BLIND WILLIE’S Scott Glazer’s Mojo Dojo VARIETY Yacht Rock Revue EARL Stokeswood VINYL Ron Pope FAT MATT’S The Hollidays MASQUERADE Mayday Parade SUNDAY OCTOBER 21 SMITH’S The Western Sizzlers CENTER STAGE Xavier Rudd TABERNACLE Primus 3D EDDIE’S ATTIC Kely McFarling TERMINAL WEST Shpongle FAT MATT’S Fat Back Deluxe MASQUERADE Mono TABERNACLE presents Alanis Morissette (Oct. 24) VARIETY Alejandro Escovedo MONDAY OCTOBER 22 529 Dadwave BLIND WILLIE’S Mudcat FAT MATT’S Fat Back Deluxe MASQUERADE Super Water Sympathy TUESDAY OCTOBER 23 BLIND WILLIE’S Boo Hoo Ramblers EDDIE’S ATTIC The Milk Carton Kids FAT MATT’S JT Speed MASQUERADE Ice Nine Kills SMITH’S Optic Yellow Felt TABERNACLE AWOLNATION WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 24 529 Hospitality, Teen BLIND WILLIE’S Electromatics EARL Generationals EDDIE’S ATTIC Jon McLaughlin FAT MATT’S The Hollidays FIVE SPOT Jesse Boykins III MASQUERADE Mustard Plug PEACHTREE TAVERN Plato Jones SMITH’S Filligar VARIETY Minus The Bear VINYL Delta Rae THURSDAY OCTOBER 25 529 Poor Moon BLIND WILLIE’S Swamp Cabbage EARL Mike Watt EDDIE’S ATTIC Noah Gunderson FAT MATT’S Chickshack FIVE SPOT Vertigo Jazz Project MASQUERADE Miss May I SMITH’S Jason Boland & The Stragglers TABERNACLE Alanis Morissette VARIETY The Psychedelic Furs FRIDAY OCTOBER 26 529 Hundred Waters BLIND WILLIE’S Sandra Hall EARL Maserati EDDIE’S ATTIC Mountain Heart FAT MATT’S Lil’ Joey’s Big Band FIVE SPOT Villain Family THE LOFT Lagwagon MASQUERADE Pierce The Veil NORTHSIDE TAVERN Mudcat PEACHTREE TAVERN Bart Crow
Road Warriors
This Month’s Hottest Shows BY SACHA DZUBA
OCTOBER 3 – AN EVENING W/ DAVID BYRNE & ST. VINCENT
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center Annie Clark, otherwise known as St. Vincent, has been a member of the Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens’ touring band. Her music and style is a chaotic mix of Goldfrapp, David Bowie, Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, and Feist. David Byrne the quirky musical artist that began as frontman and singer of the Talking Heads. Their collaboration is a brilliant new album called Love This Giant. The music they create is a eclectic mix of their musical influences, mixed with some seriously funky horns. The distinctive sensibilities of each artist have layered to create a musical environment where both coexist simultaneously. This is a brilliant musical pairing and a reinvigorated Byrne is a wonderful musical collaborator. Excitingly, both artists also perform on one another’s songs. A brilliant and exciting evening of layered arrangements and amps up some seriously outrageous guitar playing. Discover catharsis in the sublime pairing of David Byrne and St. Vincent, a truly unique evening of music.
OCTOBER 11-13 – A3C FESTIVAL
Various Locations If you considered Lollapalooza too expensive and Music Midtown too damn rock heavy, we’re guessing you already have your three-day passes for this mega hip hop fest. No?! Well, you must not want to see the illest collection of old-school bars (Raekwon, Prodigy, Twista) and new-school bravado (Nipsey Hussle, Torae, Cyhi the Prynce) this side of the Rock the Bells tour. And if a mind-
blowing roster of 175+ MCs weren’t enough for your $60, a film festival and a host of industry panels certainly are. -DW
OCTOBER 13 – DUB FX
Center Stage Benjamin Stanford, otherwise known as Dub FX, began his career as a street performer in Australia. He has traveled the world, creating live music using only his voice in conjunction with looping and effects pedals. His music is a mixture of hip hop, reggae and drum and bass. The bass heavy beats, beat boxing, and layered vocal harmonies of this unique musical artist beautifully serve his emotionally rich singing voice. A great singer and a brilliant live performer, his performance is honed through the experiences of busking and performing to live. The upbeat and life influenced honesty of his lyrics, positivity, collective consciousness, and infectious grooves will have you bouncing and entranced by the rich musical world that Dub FX creates.
OCTOBER 18 – GWAR
The Masquerade Gwar is bloody, disgusting, gross, heavy metal, and that’s the way they like it! Their legendary stage shows are elaborate explosions of blood, guts, “shock rock” costumes, and graphic performances by these creatures from another realm. Gwar are known for their horror/sci-fi themes and humorous and raunchy lyrics. Their guitarist Flattus Maximus (Cory Smoot) sadly passed away, but they are debuting new band member and guitarist, Pustulus Maximus. Gwar continues their world conquering, never-ending tour, turning everyone they come into contact
with into groveling submissives. Make sure to wear clothes that you’re okay with burning and burying after the show, as you’re likely to get soaked in “blood” and erm, other fluids...
OCTOBER 18 – HENRY ROLLINS “CAPITALISM”
Variety Playhouse Henry Rollins, he of the vast neck and intimidating stare, is coming to Variety Playhouse again. This man is legendary in punk and rock circles as the frontman to hardcore punk band Black Flag. Henry has been in numerous films, had his own television show (The Henry Rollins Show), still fronts his own Rollins Band, and frequently performs his spoken word rants. He supports all troops while remaining firmly against war. He’s very opinionated and outspoken, but extremely knowledgeable and intelligent. This spoken word performance is not to be missed. Trust me, you want to hear Henry Rollins tell it like it is from his well-researched and experienced perspective, and I dare you to disagree with him.
OCTOBER 20 – RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
The Tabernacle Rufus Wainwright has a musical lineage that is untouchable, his father being Loudon Wainwright III, his sister Martha Wainwright, and his late mother, Kate McGarrigle. His latest album is informed and heavily influenced by his life experiences over the last few years and is produced by the visionary Mark Ronson. Out of the Game evokes sounds of the 70’s and Harry Nilsson, a brilliant retromodern return to pop, this is Rufus at his most mainstream. Longtime fans should be unafraid however, as his trademark harmonies, meandering melodies, and eccentric sensibilities remain
WE GOT NEXT RED COLLAR
OCTOBER 25 – TWINS OF EVIL TOUR: ROB ZOMBIE & MARILYN MANSON
Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood Seemingly the most obvious tour pairing, this marks the first tour that Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson have done together. Interestingly enough, two of Marilyn Manson’s ex-bandmates (John 5 and Ginger Fish) are members of Zombie’s backing band. Zombie has promised “hair-raising theatrics, animatronic robots, oversized LED screens, a non-stop collage of psychotronic monster film clips, a spectacular light show, a gigantic robot with flames shooting out of its body, pyrotechnics, insane guitar riffs and vicious beats. ” Marilyn Manson promises “If Rob Zombie doesn’t f**k you up, then I surely will. Hide all drugs and firearms… I’m coming to town.” Prepare yourself for a crazy evening of shock rock theatrics, metal infused with electronics, and two charismatically evil frontmen. A show not to be missed, metal horns required!
OCTOBER 31 – NOUVELLE VAGUE
The Masquerade Nouvelle Vague are a french band who primarily perform french chanson music, a light bossa nova style with breathy (usually) feminine vocals. Nouvelle Vague is French for New Wave, and that is precisely what they perform. Novelle Vague is dedicated to performing new wave and post punk cover songs with a difference, taking the original song you love and completely and quirkily reinterpreting it, turning it on its head, and making you fall in love with it all over again. Their amazing french bossa nova version of the Dead Kennedy’s “Too Drunk to F**K” can be found on the soundtrack to the Grindhouse film “Planet Terror”. Musically open-minded fans will delight in the cheeky French lounge versions of your favorite punk, pop, and 80’s hits. Raspberry beret and clove cigarettes not required.
Artists on the verge of making it big
Latest Project: Welcome Home (Tiny Engines) For Fans of: The Replacements, The Clash and Hot Water Music Why You Should Care: Because these North Carolina boys (and girl) come off like Springsteen and Westerberg fronting a punk rock band.
BY JOHN B. MOORE
I
intact. Join Rufus in a musical evening which will leave you in little doubt that this brilliant musician is still in the game.
T’S HARD TO PUT ON RED Collar’s latest album– the wildly enjoyable Welcome Home– and not hear the ghosts of rock and roll past. The Clash, Westerberg and the boys, Bruce… they all make appearances at times throughout the 10 tracks, creating one of the finest punk-rock records so far this year. Lyrically and musically, the band is playing like decades-old veterans, and not like a group with just two albums to their name (Besides Welcome Home, they self-released their 2009 debut Pilgrim). At the risk of exhausting all of the superlatives I know to praise this band, I’ll just jump into the interview with frontman/ guitarist Jason Kutchma.
Can we talk for a minute about how the band first got started? Red Collar was initially a three piece. I had a particularly bad show where I broke three strings and kept playing out of tune. I broke a cardinal rule of performance and kept apologizing to the crowd over and over and essentially couldn’t get my shit together. After the show, I told Beth (Kutchma) and our drummer at the time that we needed another guitar player to help me out because I honestly didn’t know how to play any differently. Beth and I managed to find the one last guitar player in Durham that broke as many strings and played as much out of tune as I did. Red Collar was
born. How we found Jon (Truesdale)/how he found us is another story for another time and another album.
people doing things completely different from what you are doing and then take your art where it goes from there. There’s not a ‘Durham Sound’ or even a ‘Triangle Sound’ (Durham/Raleigh/Chapel Hill). I love it for those reasons.
So you’ve been through the writing and recording process before. Was this record easier to work on? No. It was as difficult to work on though a different type of difficult work. With the first one, we recorded it in between many, many exhausting weekend warrior tours spread over nine months. With the second one, we recorded it between many exhausting trips to work on a documentary in Africa or exhausting trips to physical therapy or exhausting diaper changes spread over a year. All in a day’s work regardless.
So what’s next for the band? We’re sorting out a bunch of riffs. For the song writing process, we get together and when usually Mike (Jackson) or I stumble upon a ‘riff’, we play it over and over and over until everyone finds something comfortable to play. If it’s worth a damn, that riff ends up being the basis of an alright song. We have lots of these riffs and I’m hoping they lead to the basis of an EP before the end of the year.
What’s the music scene in Durham like? There are a lot of bands. I mean a lot; all different kinds. Every band is trying to carve out their own niche in the world. I love this place because of that. Every band is encouraging with one another in that carving. That being said, the band to fan ratio is not at a good balance. It’s a great place to work on your art and have enough going on that can influence your art...though it’s not a place to make a living making your art. It’s not a place to ‘cultivate a following’. It’s a great place to become inspired by
Those are all the questions have. Anything else you want to cover? It’s been a good solid ride so far, maybe a bit bumpy at times but that’s alright. We’re able to get together every so often and give the world back a little bit of the hell it’s given us. It’s a good feeling. Most people don’t have anything. Most people have to suck it up and grit their teeth and order a frappacino or some dumb thing. I get to go on a stage with some damn fine friends and get nice and bloody and bruised. It’s a small thing, but it’s a good thing. insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 19
MUSIC
MUSIC
Album Reviews
freight train burning down a lonely stretch of track at midnight. The resonant “Fences” is achingly beautiful, “Holding the Severed Self” is hypnotic, and “King Pizel” could easily be Reviews by B. Love, DeMarco Williams, John B. Moore, & Lee Valentine Smith the backing track for a royal celebration on Game Of Thrones. In truth, soundtracks may be the best place for King’s incredible talent, which doesn’t Revolver of heavy meta) is finally getting a need vocals or lyrics to speak volumes about PONDEROSA- Pool Party (New West) the cavalcade of moods and emotions clearly proper re-release for its 30th anniversary. Tripped-out psychedelia for the masses The 1982 roiling within. album saw the BL: Ponderosa metal legends is arguably the finding a solid most intriguing balance between of George writing catchy, Fontaine Jr’s a c c e s s i b l e K MICHELLE DUBOIS – Lux Capone signings since songs while still (Self-released) New West keeping the Ultrababyfat co-founder goes solo Records set dangerous metal up shop in The partial kids happy. The Athens. On discography and original comes in at just 10 tracks, leaving 2011’s Moonlight Revival, they worked band history with producer Joe Chiccarelli (Manchester little room for filler. “Electric Eye” and the of singerOrchestra, My Morning Jacket) to craft a title track are both classic Priest, but “You’ve songwriter K straightforward record that landed at the Got Another Thing Coming” is the song that Michelle DuBois cemented their reputation in the U.S., and is imaginary place where Southern rock and would fill this British Invasion pop intersect. But this time by far the best track here. page and more. This anniversary edition includes four around, the Atlanta-based indie-rock quintet Suffice it to say, collaborated with Dave Fridmann (Mercury previously unreleased live songs and two the Ultrababyfat Rev, Flaming Lips) to produce something other bonus tracks, but more importantly co-founder has plenty of experience with comes with a DVD of their 1988 US Festival decidedly more ambitious, expansive and writing and producing instantly memorable show in San Bernardino, CA. That set epic. modern rock. includes a dozen of the band’s best up to The opening “Here I Am Born” sounds With Lux Capone, she makes her solo debut like an otherworldly invocation and an that date, including “Breaking the Law,” “Hell in the form of a Rundgren-like tour-de-force of invigorating statement of purpose: Against Bent for Leather,” “Living After Midnight” self-penned and performed tracks, handling and “Riding the Wind. ” The liner notes for a spacious backdrop of reverberating guitar, vocals, keyboards and percussion. Building this set were written by Eddie Trunk, the frontman Kalen Nash sings, “Here I am born the project from the basic guitar tracks and dean of Heavy Metal. Throw those devil from night’s dawning/ Feel the sun’s birth, adding sparkling layers of percussion and hear her calling/ Don’t, don’t stop beating/ horns in the air! expressive vocals, DuBois enlisted a stellar The ground is wounded, it needs healing.” cast of supporting players to fill out the sound, The nature-loving lyrics feel like something KAKI KING – Glow (Velour) including Bret Busch, Jim Prible, Steven from Robert Plant circa Led Zeppelin III, and A return-to-form for America’s guitar goddess Satterfield and co-producer Ben Price. the music behind them builds to a dynamic BL: Being a The result bristles with cryptic multicultural, crescendo, with echoing vocal harmonies, music critic can multi-layered narratives and creates a hammer-of-the-gods drumming and enough be a thankless distinctly cohesive song-cycle, inspired ambient effects to make Spiritualized jealous. task, especially as much by Dubois’ time spent in Lisbon This is the sound of psychedelic euphoria, when your as Georgia. Standout tracks include the and it’s easily the best thing Ponderosa has opinion of an deceptively cheerful “Same Scene, Different written. artist’s work Lens,” and the Liz Phair buzz of “Disco Moon.” Pool Party is a wellspring of sonic drifts towards GRADE: B experimentation. “Black Hill Smoke” sounds the negative. like the Everly Brothers filtered through a There are worse FIREWATER – International Orange peyote-fueled fever dream. “Navajo” starts with an off-kilter melody that recalls Kid things than being bashed on a blog, but most (Bloodshot) A-era Radiohead, then erupts with a fists- critics feel the same way about it that artists Former Cop Shoot Cop singer makes “World Punk” genre in-the-air sing-along chorus that seems feel about negative reviews (especially if your legit destined to rock arenas someday. The frothy criticism is constructive). JM: It’s taken a I took Kaki King– the Georgia-born guitar “Never Come Back” could be an “If I Fell”-era few years, but Beatles outtake, the title track sounds like a goddess best known for her award-winning I’m finally able U2 track set to a throbbing Native American work on the soundtrack to Into The Wild– to accept that tribal pulse, and “On Your Time” is dreamy to task back in 2010 for her fifth album, “World Punk” Junior. A longtime fan, I found King’s move dance-pop bliss. is a legitimate The closing “Cold Hearted Man” proves towards mainstream accessibility by adding genre. Thanks a perfect bookend to the album. Dark, conventional singer-songwriter vocals a bit to bands like disappointing, undermining the power of her confessional and intimate, with Nash’s World Inferno/ haunting vocals over a sparse acoustic dynamic guitar compositions. Friendship I’ve no idea whether the decision came backdrop, the song’s meditation on sin and mortality offers a glimpse of a man, and a from within or without, but I’m pleased Society, Gogol Bordello and, most band, coming of age, shrugging off the folly to say that King is in the finest form of her importantly, Firewater, I realize this is a fullof youth and reckoning with newfound career on Glow, with nary a vocal to be found. on movement, building on what punk bands Described as an artistic reboot, the artist like The Clash were evolving into in the late maturity. Pool Party is not a perfect album– there admits that she suffered an “existential crisis” ‘70s and early ‘80s. Firewater’s latest album offers a fantastic are some filler tracks, and others that only after Junior, and came away with a newfound hint at the epic works to come. But you do respect for the importance of following your look into how satisfying this genre can be. Founded by former Cop Shoot Cop singer Tod get a sense that Ponderosa is onto something muse wherever it leads. A., the band mixes eye-opening sociopolitical On the aptly titled Glow, it leads King amazing, and that they know it. to wondrous places. The epic, bluegrass- lyrics with a slew of different sounds, including JUDAS PRIEST – Screaming for inspired opener “Great Round Burn” builds Turkish drums, trombone, trumpets, looped to a dazzling crescendo of folksy strumming guitars and a number of other instruments Vengeance 30th Anniversary Edition and swirling strings that give it a Middle I’ve never heard of before. (Columbia/Legacy) International Orange, their sixth release, is Eastern orchestral feel. The rollicking Metal Gods dust off a classic “Streetlight In The Egg” shines the spotlight as good as anything the band has ever put to JM: Break out the leather and metal studs, on her uniquely percussive guitar, with only tape. Coming in at just under a dozen tracks, because Screaming for Vengeance (the ambient sounds to augment the feeling of a there are no weak ones in the collection. Songs like the haunting “Strange Life” and the
The Dean’s List
Rest of the Class
PG 20 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
stellar “Tropical Depression” have been stuck in my head for days. Recorded in Turkey and Israel in the middle of last year’s Arab Spring, you can hear the energy in the album, a mix of optimism, fear and uncertainty. GRADE: B+
LECRAE – Gravity (Reach)
Progressive, substantial street poetry DW: When I spoke to Atlanta’s Lecrae a few months ago, he told me how much he disliked the term “Christian rap.” So, out of respect, when we talk about his progressive street poetry, we’ll refer to it as “substance rap.” From senseless bloodshed (“Violence”) and money stresses (“Confe$$ions”) to envious neighbors (“I Know”), there’s lots of substance to be found on Gravity. That God happens to be glorified in the same lines seems almost ancillary. But, no matter how heavenly you say the album is, naysayers keep discounting Lecrae. On one hand, the spiritual spitter is probably saying, “To hell with them.” If they can’t see “Fakin’” and “Lucky Ones” for what they are– polished, multi-layered gems over surprisingly swanky production– that’s too bad. But Lecrae clearly wants Gravity to elevate him to the next level, so familiar names like Big K.R.I.T. (“Mayday”) and Novel (“Walk with Me”) get all Biblical in the booth, answering the prayers of anyone who’s ever asked for more substance in hip-hop. GRADE: B
BLUES TRAVELER – Suzie Cracks the Whip (429 Records) The summer of ‘90s nostalgia keeps on rolling into fall
JM: The summer of 2012 will likely go down as the Summer of ‘90s Nostalgia. Every Gen Xer (myself included) who rolled their eyes through childhood as the Boomers relived every inane musical milestone of their generation somehow found themselves repeating the cycle, as everyone from Everclear to Marcy Playground trotted out new records and tours packed to the gills with graying musical acts. Joining the parade is the latest release from Blues Traveler, their first in four years, and the result is… well, surprisingly good. Destined to be remembered as “that band with the harmonicas,” the group wisely reached out to other musicians to help jump-start their flagging creativity, and turned in a solid release. The outside help writing songs didn’t completely reinvent the band, but it pulled them out of the rut they’d been in for the past several years. Yes, there are some clunkers here, like the tedious “Devil in the Details” (which sounds like a Santana cast-off) and “I Don’t Want to Go.” But there are still plenty of really good songs here to keep you rooting for the band. The infectious “Things are Looking Up” is hard to ignore, and “Big City Girls” is bound to become a sing-along staple. As 40-somethings are starting to learn from the AARP set, you can’t relive your childhood… but damn, is it fun to try! GRADE: B-
TV
STAND AND DELIVER
Jennifer Beals Trades Flashdance Sweats for Military Formal
BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH
T
tenderness intact. Certainly, having spent that many years in the military, I think that’s really a challenge to be a tender-hearted warrior. I think for her it’s been particularly difficult, because she comes from a generation who felt that if they were to be the victim of any kind of sexual assault, that it would behoove them to silence themselves. So that they wouldn’t experience the second trauma of being belittled or punished further for using their voice.
HREE DECADES AGO, JENNIFER Beals made an impressive debut as sweatshirt-draped Alexandra “Alex” Owens in the now iconic period-piece Flashdance. Since then, she’s appeared in over 50 films and a number of television productions including the popular L Word for Showtime. Most recently, Beals can be seen as the star of Lauren, a three episode series on the ambitious new channel known as WIGS. Currently the So she learned to be stoic and strong–and silent. number one scripted channel on YouTube, I think she’s had to silence herself a lot. She’s the channel hosts a number of low-budget, had to take on the role, a much more masculine high-quality mini-series. Beals’ series launched role probably than her mother would have ever in August, and the episodes are available wanted for her or her father would have ever indefinitely at youtube.com\wig. wanted for her. And she could kick Bette’s ass in Lauren is the dramatic and often harrowing about two seconds! story of a woman in the United States military (played by Troian Bellisario) who comes Since it’s a web-based series, how does the forward to report a sexual assault she suffered narrative differ from, say, a regular TV series at the hands of three fellow soldiers. The report or a feature film, just in terms of production is reviewed by her commanding officer, Beals’ and story? character, Major Joe Stone. Well, we don’t have the “THERE’S SOMETHING She warns Lauren of the same kind of budget perhaps intense scrutiny she’ll come KIND OF WONDERFUL that you might have for under if she proceeds with WHEN YOU’RE ABLE certainly a network series. her accusation. So you are problem-solving TO GO DOWN INTO Recently Beals spoke in a different a way. You THAT DARKNESS AND by phone from Canada aren’t throwing money at about the fascinating new EXPERIENCE THAT problems, so you’ve got alternative series. DARKNESS FOR THE to do some things I think more creative. I feel like you STORIES SAKE, FOR What attracted you to this part specifically? What THE CHARACTER SAKE are able to tell stories that perhaps you wouldn’t be made it something you AND FOR ANYBODY’S able to tell on network TV wanted to be involved in? BENEFIT WHO MIGHT BE or perhaps cable. It feels very It was something that I had free because there are no real WATCHING IT” been kind of researching for rules attached to it, because the last year or so, maybe a nobody really knows exactly little bit longer. I was really interested in the way what it is yet. It lives online for as long as the that [writer] Jay Rodan had taken the subject on people who made it want it to live online -- or -- in that he has two women from two different perhaps even longer. You can access the stories generations, really. Both are in the military, anytime, day or night, easily rather than having and he has the one who is my character, to track it down through other means. So it feels Major Stone, who kind of thinks within the very exciting. parameters of the institution and all the kind of patriarchy that implies. And then he has Do you think the short internet series format this other character, the younger character, the Staff Sergeant, played by Troian, who just really could be a trend that continues to grow -- or do you think it will it stay niche? thinks in terms of justice and plain and simple, I like the notion of not knowing what it is. and I thought it was interesting to play that kind I think it’s sort of exciting to go in and figure of complexity. things out for yourself -- rather than be told this is what this is supposed to be. For me, I It’s a very dark and demanding role. As an actor, did you enjoy the depth of the character? experience it as being another platform and perhaps being a different platform. I don’t think There’s something kind of wonderful when it will erase television. I don’t think it will erase you’re able to go down into that darkness and film, certainly, but I think it gives filmmakers experience that darkness for the stories sake, and storytellers and actors and artists another for the character sake and for anybody’s benefit who might be watching it and might need to see way to express themselves and perhaps not that story. So in that way it was exciting and that to have to wait so long to get permission to tell those stories. By and large, with films and pain is gratifying. I just was excited to come TV series, you have to wait until you get these to work every day. I was sad that it ended so relatively large budgets to make them. quickly because each episode that we shot was only a day. It seems that the loose nature of the Internet as a whole will offer its own freedom. The L Word brought you a dedicated lesbian Yes, online you just get a digital camera and fan base. Do you think the core fans from that you’re off and running! Certainly, our budgets, show will enjoy this very different role? I don’t believe, were very large at all for WIGS. I have to say, my lesbian fans are the most It was just really people having a sense of loyal that I have ever encountered and I’m very playfulness and curiosity and dedication to go grateful to all of them. Yes, this character is tell a story. Nobody was there to make a lot very different from [The L Word’s] Bette; she of money. does not have the same kind of vulnerability that Bette has. She’s probably two years short What drives you to say yes to a project? of being completely ossified in a way, having The story is always the first and foremost. to survive and succeed within the parameters I’m most enticed by a narrative, regardless of of that institution – within the military. I what the budget is. Then it’s a consideration don’t think it’s easy for anyone to keep their
of who you get to work with, who you get to go play with. Those are the most important factors. Then, if I have to pay the mortgage that’s also a consideration. For me, I just want to go play with my friends and to tell a story that’s interesting and to delve into a subject that interests me or saddens me or infuriates me.
And this story managed to do all three. You’re just horrified when you first hear about it because you think, well isn’t everybody supposed to protect one another? Isn’t that sort of the grand poetry of what the military can be, is that you will go to all kinds of lengths to protect one another?
insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 21
MUSIC
WALK LIKE A MOGUL
Bangle Susanna Hoffs Goes For Baroque BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH
B
AROQUE FOLK IS NOT ONLY THE name of singer-songwriter-guitarist Susanna Hoffs’ new record label, it’s also the style of music that comprises her great new solo album Someday. The busy performer, who still tours with her iconic ‘80s band The Bangles, has been so busy with other projects, including collaborations with fellow popster Matthew Sweet as Sid and Susie, two recent Bangles collections and life at home with two children and husband, film director Jay Roach (“Austin Powers,” “The Campaign”), she hasn’t had time to release a proper solo album. Until now, with an upcoming tour that brings here to town on October 29. Calling from her home in Los Angeles, Hoffs talked at length about her new album, her love of melodic pop, all things inspired by and from the ‘60s, and of course the Bangles. This is your first solo record since 1996. How did it happen and, more importantly, why did it take so long? Susanna Hoffs: I had been dreaming of making this record for years and years and years, but between juggling family, life, being a Bangle and making a couple of couple of albums with the bangles. Some of the songs I was saving ended up being on those records. But then in a very short period of time, a lot of new songs were written. How did that happen? I met this kid, Andrew Brassell, who had moved here from Nashville. My niece grew up in Nashville and he had been friends with her. He’s very talented and has a very singular focus on music. He kinda walked into my life. He actually ended up staying in our guest room for a while, so there was a lot of new musical presence in the house amidst all my other goings-on with family and kids and finishing up that Bangles record [last year’s woefully under-promoted Sweethearts Of The Sun]. So there was a revitalization of youth and new ideas there. Not only that, but he dragged me out of the house to see a friend of his play at Largo [a local music and comedy club ], and I love going there. I ran into [producer] Mitchell Froom, who I’ve known since the ‘80s, and we’re neighbors. He asked me what I was up to musically and that led to the creation of this record. I financed it myself and made it independent of a label.
“I’M ALWAYS WORKING ON SONGS WITH MELODY. MELODY IS KING.”
lot of your music. My intention, going in, is always melody. I’m always working on songs with melody. Melody is king. And yes, we wrote the songs with just two guitars. Then when we played the songs here for Mitchell Froom, I have a piano here in the living room and he played the piano. What has always attracted me to my favorite songs is the intense, emotional power of a good melody. The songs of my own, I set bar high because it’s what I like. And with a solo record there are no compromises or give and take, it‘s your statement. That’s the thing about doing a solo record as opposed to doing it with the band is, the opportunity to let it be extremely personal. It gets filtered through all the members of the band, otherwise. And that’s the beauty of it, it’s not any one person. And in the case of the Bangles, because we all sing, so it’s more of thinkng how all the combination of our voices work when we sing, in concert with each other.
SUSANNA HOFFS PLAYS EDDIE’S ATTIC ON OCTOBER 29 AT 8 PM.
And you call the style of music you’re doing now baroque folk. It kinda of came after we were done, we were talking about baroque pop a lot while we were doing the record. The record itself informed what the label should be called.
But this was your singular voice. Right, so we started thinking, ‘Ok, now how can we approach this in the studio? We’re sitting here with two guitars and me singing and it sounds a certain way.’ But Mitchell was struck by the ‘60s sensibility of the songs. No matter how I write that always seems to come through, because that’s what I grew up on and that’s what I love. And still, it’s what I mostly listen to. So we started talking about all the great music of the ‘60s, the girl singers like Lulu and Petula Clark and Dusty Springfield. We started thinking about the arrangements on those records, like “Downtown” or “Son Of A Preacherman,” or “Walk On By.” Oh, you know what I’m talking about.
The songs have a very acoustic, ‘60s baroque feel to them, but that’s a trend in a
So that’s where the strings and horns came in.
It’s on your own label, Baroque Folk. I’m kind of embracing the times we’re in, with all its nuances and challenges and how dramatically different we are now than in the ‘80s when the Bangles were on Columbia Records. It’s such a different time, but people still love music. As long as people love music, then everything is ok with me.
PG 22 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
That became the color palette for the record. And we got excited about it then because Mitchell hasn’t done arrangements like that in a while. It worked out well with the name! So now I have my own label. That’s great, but do you sit at a huge desk with a cigar and act like Phil Spector, “Bring in the next act!” Haha, no. But that’s funny, that’s what we think of when we think about running a label. But there’s a lot of work to do, to keep advancing it and pushing forward. If I wasn’t so busy keeping my own project going, it’s like the little engine that could, you know. If I wasn’t so busy, I’d love to help other artists, so maybe! I always love it when people come up to me and tell me that something I did or one of my songs had an impact on them. If I ever had time, I’d love to see what would happen if other people came on to the Baroque Folk label. I think Someday is the best ‘60s record I’ve heard in a long time and I mean that in the best way. Oh, thank you so much, Lee. That means a lot! It was kind of a golden age, I know we agree on that. And now you are taking the record on the road. I’ve got a great band I’ve been playing and hanging out with. We’ve really only done one show [at McCabe‘s in April], so you’re gonna see the beginning of the tour. Are you bringing [album guests] Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher [of Elvis Costello’s Attractions and Imposters] with you? I’m bringing the bass player from the Bangles now, Derrick Anderson [Smithereens, Dave Davies, Bob Cowsill] and we have a full band, with Andrew Braselll, who co-wrote the songs. Like us, we’re all sort of on the same musical page and that makes things easy and fun. This will be your first full band shows since,
‘91, when your first solo record was out. Yes and there’s a vulnerability to it, for me. It’s a little scary. I’m walking into this thing without [Bangles] Vicki [Peterson] and Debbi [Peterson] or Matthew [Sweet] and I have this feeling like, ‘Oh my God, it’s just me!’ But I’m finally doing this again and it feels really real. It’s exciting, because there’s no pretense or show biz about it. In Atlanta, you’ll be back at Eddies Attic [site of Hoffs and Sweets Sid And Susie performance a few years ago]. I made a point to play only small venues for this tour. Listening rooms. The intimate settling was very attractive to me. I remember sitting out on that deck area there, and I could hear myself very well when we played, because the acoustics seemed really good. Sometimes you remember clubs by the sound. That was one of the most packed shows I’ve seen there in a long time. It was hard to get to the stage, and we were huddled in the kitchen before the show! And they were having a little bit of a leak in the kitchen. The memories are coming back to me now. I opened a door there once and [singersongwriter] Steve Forbert was in there changing his pants. That’s so funny! I remember huddling in that kitchen but that’s so cool. You know what, that’s fun. And it brings me back to memories of old days in the Bangles, when we would tour in the UK and we’d have to change in the van. Or standing in the kitchen of some little club and putting our make-up on, all that kinda stuff. People always think the music business is so glamorous but the fun part of it, is that its really not. No, at the end of the day, it should come down to the songs. Exactly. The best part is I get to play music for a living and I’m very lucky for that. For more information, visit www.eddiesattic.com
LOCAL
ATHENS, REWOUND
The Ultimate Athens, Ga. Documentary is Still in Fashion BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH
‘A
THENS, GA. INSIDE / OUT’ HAS come into and out of my life so many times over the years,” says Pylon vocalist Vanessa Briscoe Hay. “Sometimes I don’t know what to think about it, but I do know that it’s the only real record we have of that time.” The documentary, shot in and around the college town in 1986, details the music, art and yes, fashion sense of the era. The second wave of Athens bands were controlling the scene, in flux as usual, emerging from the shadow of their storied predecessors. Widespread Panic was still playing Monday night jam sessions and the more innocent pop jangle had turned into a determined buzz. Local favorites Bar-B-Q Killers, Kilkenny Cats, Time Toy, The Squalls and visiting psycho-retro cousins from North Carolina, Flat Duo Jets are featured prominently. The Pennebaker-esque cinematography of thenAthens-based filmmaker/educator/painter Jim Herbert frames the enduring and endearing debut of producer-director team Tony Gayton and Bill Cody. The film captured a slice of history, offering a glimpse of the second new wave of Athens-area aesthetics to a generation of international fans who only knew the legends of The B-52’s and R.E.M. Members of the B’s do appear briefly, but the film also traded on the then-growing popularity of R.E.M. Producer Bill Cody remembers that even though the B’s were still in shock over the then-recent loss of co-founder Ricky Wilson, he got a call from Kate Pierson saying, “We hear there’s a party in Athens!” Due to record company
wrangling, very little of their music is used on the soundtrack, but the presence of the band added a touch of early history to the project. R.E.M even brought a brand new song to the production. “Swan Swan H” was written during a rehearsal while the film crew was in town. For their on-camera appearance, the band graciously performed an exclusive performance in the Lucy Cobb Chapel. Cody laughs as he remembers that they announced that they’d be wearing suits for the shoot. “I said, ‘Suits? You mean like the Dave Clark Five?’” When they showed up on site in their usual thrift-store-chic attire, accented with typically rumpled and recycled black suit coats, he finally understood what they meant. A lovingly detailed look at the Golden Age of Athens (late ’70s/early-’80s) band Pylon, really added an extra dimension to the production. “I think it brought a lot of attention to Athens and to Pylon, in particular,” continues Hay. Since Pylon thrived in pre-MTV days, many music fans had barely heard of the band before its demise, but with the archival clips and thoughtful commentary by Hay and bassist Michael Lachowski, fans were finally able to actually see the band in action. Soon, they had reunited, toured and released a new album, generated primarily by the word-of-mouth from the film -- and glowing testimonials by their friends in R.E.M. Now, with the 25th-anniversary re-release of the movie and the accompanying soundtrack album in a deluxe DVD/CD package from Omnivore Records, original fans who only had the LP or cassette or, more recently, the VHS version, can enjoy the entire experience in one sitting. Bonus tracks are included and a free-form director’s
commentary track ties up a few loose ends. Originally the film was released during the heyday of MTV and promos for the movie were aired on the network’s “The Cutting Edge” and “120 Minutes” programs. The beautifully presented new edition relives the vital period for scensters while newcomers can marvel at the quaint vignettes that always feature now-iconic fashion statements. “People were very creative with their clothes,” says Hay. “We had some great thrift stores here and people who were fashion icons of the time. I remember seeing the B-52’s in those stores. We’d all be shopping and we’d say, ’Oh this is for you,’ if we found something that was more of each-other’s style.” Mike Richmond of Love Tractor, another founder of the original scene, also remembers wearing crazy outfits, just for fun, not a statement. “We’d wear whatever we wanted to for regular Love Tractor shows, but then we’d do these cover shows as ‘Wheel Of Cheese’ and we’d dress up. One of the shows we did at the Watt -- in drag -- we brought out stuff like ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and ‘A Country Boy Can Survive,’ kinda bizarre choices, but just for fun. A picture of me in a dress wound up in the Athens Banner-Herald once! I’m sure my parents loved that.” Originally, when the film was shot, each band was told that the crew would capture two songs. “We didn’t have the budget to shoot their whole set, they way we could have now,” says Cody. “I wanted them to basically pick their two best songs or the ones that best-represented them. I wish we could have shot a lot more footage, of course. There was so much going on at the time.” One of the bands he wishes he’d included is
the urgent punk style of Mercyland. The band, featuring busy producer and musician David Barbe, PHOTO BY MATT SAYLES later bassist in Sugar and producer of many of the Drive-By Truckers’ best material, would have been a perfect fit for the film. Alas, they aren’t included. Nor are Widespread Panic. “At the time, they were, I guess rather unfairly slagged as being a Dead cover band,” Cody says. “Now, of course, I wish I could add a lot more of the other music and the people. The characters that live in Athens were so appealing to us, from the very first day we started looking around at the town.” Between the band profiles, a number of the area’s many eccentric characters are featured. Local fixture William Orten Carlton, lovingly known as “Ort,” provides some historic commentary and late folk-artist Howard Finster is featured in lengthy segments as well. Cody is happy the often-eccentric characters who populate the film -- including shambling singerguitarist Dexter Romweber -- still resonate with viewers. “We wanted to include the B’s, R.E.M. and Pylon, of course, but we wanted to feature bands and people that were equally unique and filmic,” Cody concludes. “And I think we did. People are still quoting something they heard in that movie, twenty-five years later, so I think we did our job.”
TV
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Graceful Actress Lynn Whitfield Explains Why Lead Roles Are Overrated BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS
T
HOUGH LYNN WHITFIELD WON international acclaim (and an Emmy) for her lead role in the 1991 HBO movie The Josephine Baker Story, she’s made a career by playing supporting characters on the small screen (Boston Public, Without a Trace) and taking minor but meaty roles on the big one (Madea’s Family Reunion, Stepmom). In last month’s made-for-TV tearjerker Somebody’s Child, where Whitfield portrayed a mother reconciling with a man she gave up for adoption at birth, the 59-year-old actress had more camera time and gave us more of the same authenticity she has for so long. And it doesn’t stop there. IMDB lists eight forthcoming projects of various sizes next to Whitfield’s name. Time for Lynn to catch her breath and give INsite a lesson in longevity. Lynn, you’ve had a triumphant, award-winning career. What has been the best part of your ride so far? I think that it’s the people for me, the audiences with me all these years who continue to sort of levitate me through everything, the love I receive, that people really get it. The work that I’ve done, that they get the message. That, for me, is the best part of the ride because you realize, people say, “Oh, you have such a body of work” or whatever, but I don’t think what people understand is that if you don’t rest on your laurels and you continue, it’s so rewarding, that you meet people who’ve been there for you
through the years that you can’t see, who walk up to me and say, “Oh, I was so touched when you did this” or “I loved Head of State” or, you know, “Oh, when you said that line in Madea’s Family Reunion…” It’s just knowing that I touched people through the years and that I want to continue is the best part of this ride actually. Somebody’s Child is a fascinating story. Tell me a little bit about the experience on set while making it. Well, it is a movie that was made in 14 days, which is happening a lot at this time, with so many new outlets for content. You know, people want things inexpensively and quickly. So, when you’re doing work that is done like that, so fast, it really creates an environment where you’ve got to get to the point quickly and find the truth of it. So, it was kind of like that. You’d get in, we’d problem solve, figure out a scene, make it happen, creating that sense of family and all that, and love, and adversity and triumphing over it. So, it just makes you work. Filming a movie in 14 days, I’m assuming that’s a lot different than some years ago when you did A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. What are some of the biggest changes in Hollywood for the last 15-20 years?
Well, I would say the onslaught of reality television has changed things, because now it is the reality drama, the comedic and dramatic nature and voyeuristic nature of reality television [that is popular]. People tend to like that a lot. Before, there would always be a lot of TV movies or movies of the week and that kind of thing. It’s changed that because it’s less expensive entertainment. And you have to really come up with hard and fast scripts. So, I think that has been a huge change in what kind of content people are looking for. That requires that the dramatic content that comes through has to fit in between the cracks. So, it used to be that there were a lot of—that I’ve not been a part of—sitcoms. And we very rarely had one-hour dramas that centered on the African-American experience, if that’s what you’re asking about, for African Americans. But, yeah, it’s made it all very different. And it’s a challenge. But again, when there’s a challenge out of adversity, you rise to the occasion and something new comes out of it. What else do you have slated for this year? Well, I’ve done three or four independent projects. A project called Lonely Boy, which I just went and did, which is a multicultural project. It’s a really, really interesting kind of psychological drama. I am about to do some
films with Nigerian filmmakers [as well]. Just three or four independent projects. But just interesting work, interesting characters. Is there a common character thread between some of these characters? They are all different. I just did a project [North Star] that will probably land in the Black History Month genre. I was just in Pennsylvania in the middle of nowhere doing an abolitionist from the 1800s, freeing slaves and that. I just did another project where I have a long, six-page conversation with a therapist, a very injured woman who tries to work through her problems. This [Somebody’s Child] project where I have children and dealing with illness. I mean, the common thread is, you know, the honesty of trying to put forth the real—for me as the entertainer, as the actress—the real challenge of telling the truth, the truth of the character and the spirit of the character. But they are all very, very different. I’m kind of enjoying this time where people are doing projects for less and quickly, because I get to go down into them quickly, get it in, hit it, get out. Try to build those characters right away. But, no, they’re all very different. Some are very sexy, some very troubled, others very nurturing and maternal, some dangerous. They’re all over the place. And that is what I’m enjoying. I don’t know. Maybe after acting for a while, I just feel freer. I’m not afraid to make a mistake or a misstep, you know? I just step into it without comment, just jump in and do it, and I’m enjoying that. A lot. insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 23
INsite’s Guide to Halloween Haunted Houses, Attractions, Events and Costume Suppliers Haunts
Netherworld
6624 Dawson Blvd., Norcross 404.608.2484 fearworld.com Open every night October 5 thru November 3rd
Nationally recognized as one of the scariest haunted houses in the country, Netherworld Haunted House returns for its 16th year! Netherworld is a walk-through dark attraction filled with terrifying live actors, amazing special effects and incredible monsters that have thrilled and terrified visitors over and over again. With brand new haunts for the 2012 season Netherworld is sure to keep the screams coming. They have two thrilling new shows this year: Banshee and The Hive. Created by film and television professionals, Netherworld is also notable for its custom movie quality special effects, amazing actors, unique themes, and extremely detailed sets. The movie Zombieland was even partially shot here. Search NETHERWORLD for their mobile app for iphone & Android. Don't miss what USA Today calls “The #1 Haunted House in America”.
and your group or this could be your last Halloween. They have all new haunts including Claustrophobia which means fear of having no escape and being closed in small spaces or rooms. This haunt lives up to its name so beware. Also new for 2012 is Lakeview Asylum. Patients of a mental ward were left forgotten for about over 55 years. They have come back to life in a zombie nightmare! Camp Blood allows you to get even though in their Paintball Shoot, were you get a paintball gun and can start shooting zombies. Come meet and greet cast members of The Walking Dead at Camp Blood during the month of October.
Historic Oakland Cemetery
248 Oakland Ave. SE Atlanta, GA 30312 OaklandCemetery.com October 25, 26, 27, 28
Camp Blood 22 - A New Generation of Terror! Now in their 22nd year, Camp Blood is nearly a half mile trail of pure redneck terror where chainsaw wielding psychos try to separate you from your group so they can have their way with you. Remember to stay with your guide
PG 24 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
Ghosts of Atlanta - Nightly Walking Tour
176 Peachtree St. Atlanta, GA 30303 DarkSideTours.com 404.917.9205
The walking tour along the darkside of the city includes: lonely spirits who wander the streets; lost soldiers, haunted schols and theatres; the scene of a deadly hotel fire where lost souls linger; war murder, suicide and tragic spirits who were left behind. Tours begin nightly at 8:30 PM in Downtown Atlanta at the corner of Ellis and Peachtree St., outside the Ellis Hotel. All must register online by 6PM night of the tour. Check availability when registering. Experience the Darkside of this gracious southern city.
More Haunts.... Chambers of Horrors - 695 North Ave NE (Behind Masquerade) www.chambersofhorroratl.com
Camp Blood
2277 Whooping Creek Rd. Carrolton, Ga. 30116 CampBlood.com 770.854.CAMP (2267) Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights thru Nov. 3 Every night the last week of October except Sunday
fortable walking shoes. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Space is limited and tickets do sell out early. Guided tours begin at 5:30pm and last approximately one hour.
Four Nights Only! Historic Oakland Cemetery receives many visitors each day, but only at Halloween do the gates stay open after dark. Witness the magnificent final resting place of Atlanta's sons and daughters during "Capturing the Spirit of Oakland" 2012 Halloween Tours. Hear first-hand accounts about our city's past, narrated by a host of Oakland's eternal "residents." You'll also see gorgeous candlelit mausoleums in this one-of-akind annual tradition. Bring a flashlight and wear com-
Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse - 4215 Thurman Rd. Conley, GA 30288 www.atlantazombie.com 13 Stories Haunted House - 2975 Ring Road Kennesaw, Georgia 30144 www.13storieshauntedhouse.com Nightmare’s Gate Haunted House - 4179 Vansant Rd Douglasville, GA 30135 www.nightmaresgate.com Paranoia Haunted House - 10895 Alpharetta Highway Roswell, GA 30076 www.paranoiahauntedhouse.com
Attractions & Events
Spiralween
The Park Tavern SpiralEntertainment.com Saturday October 27 9pm - 2:30am
Atlanta’s Original Halloween Costume Party. Spiralween is always the home for outrageous costumes, live music, DJs, dancing, Go Go Dancers, and of course lots of BOOOOOS. Atlanta's ultimate 80’s band The Breakfast Club will be performing live at Spiralween and the southeast's most electrifying DJs Jazzy and Wats will be lighting up the dance floor! Think you have the most outrageous, sexiest, original, and exotic costume idea? Put it to the test in our $1000 costume contest. One winner will be chosen by an online vote and the other by the Spiral hosts.
Monsterbash
Eclipse Di Luna (Park Place) Sat. Oct. 27 8pm 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Rd NE EclipsediLuna.com 678.205-5862
giveaways courtesy of sponsors Bacardi & Dos Equis Girls. They will have a costume contest where the the top 5 places share over $2,000 in cash & prizes. Due to the overwhelming attendance arrive early to avoid lines. Costumes are a must. Ladies 18 & up; Guys 21 & over. Free Admission til 10pm, $10 cover after.
Scarecrows in the Garden
1345 Piedmont Ave. Midtown 404.876.5859 atlantabotanicalgarden.org October 2-31
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is stuffed with nearly 150 wild and crazy characters for their 10th annual Scarecrows in the Garden. The life-size creations are designed by metro area residents, artists, and designers. On Thursday evenings, visitors can check out the scarecrows under the glare of flashlights (which they are encouraged to bring) during Festof-Ale. Each week from 5-10 p.m. the beer fest features a variety of specialty ales and live musical entertainment.
Meet & Greet Zombie Cast Members During the Month of October!
Boo at the Zoo presented by Xfinity
800 Cherokee Avenue, SE 404.624.WILD Saturdays and Sundays, October 20, 21, 27, 28 zooatlanta.org
Come out to Eclipse di Luna and celebrate Halloween Latin style! Dance to live Global & Brazilian rhythms by one of Atlanta's Hottest Bands RUA 6. Enjoy a blend of music with Dj Alberto N, Fernando F, Danny B & other Guest Djs. There will be drink specials from Bacardi, Dos Equis & El Jimador Tequila including
Capturing the Spirit of Oakland
Halloween Tours at Historic Oakland
Atlanta’s favorite fun family Halloween festival returns! Sample the treats, sights, characters and adventures of the whimsical Zoo Boo Town on four magical Saturdays and Sundays with more
Ghosts of ATLANTA Nightly Walking
TOUR
Cemetery
248 Oakland Avenue SE Atlanta, GA 30312
Once a year opportunity to visit Oakland after dark
$15 Student with ID $20 Adult
Guided tour featuring several “residents” telling about their life and times
ONLINE TICKET SALES ONLY
Pre-Registration Required www.darksidetours.com
www.oaklandcemetery.com
Experience the Darkside of this Gracious Southern City
October 25, 26, 27 & 28 $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under
404.917.9205
insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 25
YOUR COSTUME SUPERSTORE
than 1,500 animals from around the world. Don’t forget your costume – enter one of three daily costume contests for a chance to win! Activities run from 10 am to 3 pm. Free for Zoo Atlanta Members and children under 3; Free with general admission.
you want help with costume ideas. Rag-ORama will have extended hours starting mid October. Rag-O-Rama buys daily and offers cash and store credit on the spot for modern and vintage styles that reflect the current season. They buy costumes too.
Costumes & Accessories
Halloween Thrills
Psycho Sisters
THE LARGEST SELECTION OF HALLOWEEN COSTUMES, ACCESSORIES AND DECORATIONS IN ATLANTA! ATLANTIC STATION 1381 Market St 404-810-0064
WOODSTOCK KENNESAW ROSWELL 12185 Hwy 92 425 Barrett Pkwy 730 Holcomb Bridge Rd. 770-517-8811 678-594-7918 770-552-5444
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any in stock item. (OFFER EXPIRES 11/1/12)
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Little 5 Points 428 Moreland Ave. www. psycho-sisters.com 404.523.0100 Sandy Springs 280 Hammond Dr. www.psychosistersshops.com 404.255.5578 Cartersville 17 East Main St. www.psychosistersshops.com 770.607.0888
Psycho Sisters has gone Crazy this year for Halloween offering you the best selection of everything from wings, wigs, boas, boots, bling, shades, gloves, to one of a kind signature pieces that are unbelievably cool. They buy, trade and sell guys and girls current mall trends, club clothing, designer samples. Psycho Sisters buyers have shopped all over, all year to offer you the best costumes at close out prices. Many costumes this year are only $15-$25! This Halloween Psycho Sisters is overstocked so come in and get close out cheap prices on costumes.
Rag-O-Rama
1111 Euclid Ave. 404.658.1988 6500 Roswell Rd. 404.497.0701 Mon-Sat 11-8; Sun 12-7 ragorama.com
NORCOSTCO ATLANTA COSTUME • YOUR THEATRICAL SUPERSTORE! 2089 Monroe Dr NE Atlanta, GA 30324 404-874-7511 www.norcostco.com Twitter: NorcostcoATL • Facebook www.facebook.com/NorcostcoAtlantaCostume EXTENDED HOURS FOR HALLOWEEN!
Rag-O-Rama is filled to the brim with an impressive selection of Halloween costumes for men and women. They offer a huge selection of brand new and second hand costumes, in addition to wigs, shoes and accessories; anything you would need to make this year's costume one to remember. The staff is there to assist if you need to locate that specific piece or if
Atlantic Station (Market St.) 404.810.0064 Woodstock (Hwy 92) 770.517.8811 Kennesaw (Barret Pkwy) 678.594.7918 Roswell (Holcomb Bridge) 770.552.5444 HalloweenThrills.com
Your Costume Superstore with the largest selection of Halloween costumes, accessories and decorations in Atlanta. Their four Atlanta metro locations offer men's & women’s costumes, childrens & baby costumes, fun hats, Halloween masks, wigs, theatrical make-up, Halloween decorations and anything related to Halloween. Unleash your alter ego at Halloween Thrills!
Norcostco Atlanta Costume
2089 Monroe Dr. NE 404.874.7511 norcostco.com Extended hours for Halloween
Atlanta’s theatrical superstore has been serving Atlanta for the past 40 years with: Costumes, Costume Rental, Drag Wear, Masquerade, Rave/Club Wear, Steampunk, Technical Theatrical Supply, Professional Makeup, Wigs and Accessories. Norcostco has the country’s most outstanding collection of rental costumes available. Their staff, with over 60 years' experience, constantly renders new designs that are fresh, exciting and appropriate, offered in the widest possible range of sizes. Because their extensive inventory covers all periods in costume history, they have virtually any costume you can imagine.
COOL CLOTHES, COSTUMES & VINTAGE
BUY • SELL • TRADE
Your Halloween Headquarters LITTLE FIVE POINTS 428 MORELAND AVE. (404) 523-0100 PSYCHO-SISTERS.COM OPEN 10AM TO 10PM 7 DAYS A WEEK
WE’VE MOVED! SANDY SPRINGS 280 HAMMOND DR. (ACROSS FROM LOWE’S) (404) 255-5578
CARTERSVILLE 17 EAST MAIN ST. DOWNTOWN CARTERSVILLE (770) 607-0888
PSYCHOSISTERSSHOPS.COM FEATURING LEG AVENUE COSTUMES PG 26 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
LIKE US ON
PSYCHOSISTERSSHOPS.COM NOW CARRYING COSTUMES FOR BABIES AND UP!
MUSIC
SLOW & STEADY
Sleepy Turtles Take An Old School Approach To New School Americana BY BRET LOVE
A
S POP MUSIC BECOMES increasingly plagued by style-oversubstance composition, more people are turning to traditional songwriting styles in search of depth. In recent years Americana has become a full-fledged phenomenon, with bands like Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons breaking out into the mainstream. Don’t be surprised if Atlanta’s Sleepy Turtles soon find themselves mentioned in the same breath. The quintet– led by Dylan Higgins– trods similar sonic pathways, incorporating influences ranging from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes, with lushly layered vocal harmonies over dynamic compositions that would seem to come from a much more experienced band. We recently spoke to Higgins about the band’s origins and influences, and found out why he’s not ready to record a full-length album just yet. I know the idea for Sleepy Turtles started with your novel, Awakening, Book One of The Emblem & The Lantern. I know you read those stories to your kids at bedtime: What were those stories about?
Awakening is the classic literary hero’s quest, in which the protagonists, Ethan and Eisley Lambent (named after my children) discover a family secret, which trusts them into an unknown world filled with dreadful creatures and foreign philosophies. Ethan, being the more central character to the story, is faced with many hard choices, whose outcomes will either drive him further away from everything he believes to be true or solidify those beliefs. The story asks some pretty hard questions about life like, “if there is a creator and if he is good then why does he allow bad things to happen?” Stirring, Book Two of The Emblem & The Lantern follows Ethan and Eisley deeper into the unfolding tale, while continuing to address deep issues. In particular, book two deals with the issues of discrimination and holding fast to your beliefs even in the face of opposition. I read that the general concept was “light treading through darkness.” What does that concept mean to you in your life? I have a deep-rooted faith in Jesus, whom I believe to be the light of the world. I believe (as does the rest of band) in carrying that ‘light’ into the ‘dark’ by sharing Christ with those who are in need of all-encompassing, unfailing love.
How did these stories evolve into a band? There are a few songs written into the first novel, similar to what Tolkien did with The Lord of The Rings. I really wanted to bring those songs to life, for the readers, in a way that allows them to hear what I was hearing while writing. I invited several of my musical friends to join me in this adventure to achieve the intended folk style found on the novel soundtrack and, thus, Sleepy Turtles was born! What was your musical experience/interest like before you started Sleepy Turtles? Had you played in bands before? My father was a local folksinger when I was a boy. Some of my earliest memories are of traveling to festivals with my parents to hear him sing, so folk music has always been a part of my life. Old gospel songs and church hymns are another interest of mine. The hymns are so lyrically and doctrinally rich. I enjoy trying to emulate these features in much of the music I write. I have been in several bands. I started, as a teenager, singing songs at a summer camp and, later, became part of a folk duo that did a little bit of playing out in bars and such. For most of my twenties I was the front man for a ChristianRock band called Like Isaiah that didn’t stray far from the southeast (though once we did have a concert in the Empire State Building). There’s obviously a strong folk presence in your sound. Who were some of the groups in that genre that influenced you? I was strongly influenced by Crosby, Still, Nash & Young, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and James Taylor. I was named after the latter two– my middle name is Taylor.
There seems to a resurgence of interest in folksy Americana in recent years. Where do you think that yearning for simplicity comes from? Perhaps one reason for the resurgence in simplistic songs is the heavily produced pop music that is so prevalent in our society today. When listening to modern pop, I have a hard time distinguishing between what is real and what is synthetic, which is often the intended outcome. Also many of the lyrics are impersonal and/or shallow. Folk music is the antithesis of the industry standards, being rustic in form and, often, deep in lyrical content. It seems to be a refreshing and magnetic alternative for a growing number of people. You guys have released 2 EPs thus far. Any plans for recording a full-length album? There has been some discussion of a full-length album, but for now we are content with releasing EPs. In fact, we are already in pre-production for the next one. I am actually a fan of the EP format because it allows bands to show off the very best that they have to offer by weeding out the songs that aren’t quite up to the task. What’s next for Sleepy Turtles? Where would you like to see the band grow from here? One of our goals is to be better known in our genre. Right now we are focusing on promoting our first Autumn+Colour release, Summer, Hither, by playing shows in Atlanta and all over the southeast. We really enjoy the creative process that emerges in the studio; in the near future our focus will turn toward recording the next EP, which is already shaping up the best offering yet: lyrically, vocally and instrumentally.
KEEPING IT GOING (AND NOT KILLING EACH OTHER) Parker Gispert On The Whigs’ New Album, New Label & Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll BY BRET LOVE
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ORMED IN 2002 BY WESTMINSTER GRADS-TURNEDUGA buddies Parker Gispert (vocals, guitars) and Julian Dorio (drums), The Whigs recorded their breakthrough album– 2005’s Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip– in an empty frat-house using equipment they bought off eBay, and then released it independently. But when a 2006 Rolling Stone article named the band one of 10 Artists To Watch, calling them “maybe the best unsigned band in America,” the band’s profile exploded overnight. Six years later, the trio (including Tim Deaux, who replaced original bassist Hank Sullivant in 2006) still isn’t what you’d call a household name. Perhaps that’s because, rather than cater to the fickle whims of the record-buying public, The Whigs have been content to crank out solid records and tour the country, taking the journeyman’s route to rock ‘n’ roll salvation. The band’s latest album, Enjoy The Company, finds them on a new label (New West Records) and working with a new producer (John Agnello of Drive-By Truckers/The Hold Steady/Dinosaur Jr. fame). We recently caught up with Gispert to talk about where the Whigs fit into today’s music scene, why he opened the album with an 8-minute epic and how, sometimes, simply enduring is enough. Last time you and I spoke in 2010, you were on ATO Records. Why did you make the transition to New West? New West had seen the band play from its inception, before we even signed with ATO. [New West founder] George Fontaine had seen lots of our shows, and they opened an office in Athens, and we’re from Athens. We have a relationship that has developed over the years, and it seemed like a comfortable way to release the new album. In The Dark seemed like your most accessible record, with Ben Allen’s production giving it an accessible sheen. Was it your intention to get away from that on Enjoy The Company? It’s weird, because when we were making the last record I thought that it was going to be a little more sonically challenging. I guess not
everybody heard it that way. This one is more organic technically, with less production, so it will probably hit most people’s ears as somewhat contrary to the last album.
of today are long gone. That being said, I go to shows 4-5 times a week when I’m off the road, and I go to the record store a lot. I feel very up-to-date with new music, but I don’t know how we fit in.
Talk to me about working with John Agnello, who’s known for his raw, organic sound. We’ve played with bands going back to 2003 that had worked with John. The Drive By Truckers and Dead Confederate have worked with him, and The Hold Steady, who we toured with. The Kurt Vile album he did in 2011 was one of my favorite records of the year, and we’re big Dinosaur Jr. fans. So it just seemed like it made sense.
Talk to me about the strategy of putting an 8-minute epic like “Staying Alive” at the beginning of the album. Initially, we were thinking it would be the last song. But when it came time to sequence the album, I felt really strongly about the song and wanted to make sure that people heard it. I also felt like it was peppy and a good vibe to start with. Maybe it’s kind of a line in the sand: “Do you want to be in for the whole album or not?” It’s one of The Whigs’ songs I’m most proud of.
What’s he like to work with in the studio? He’s really positive and he works really hard, and quickly. We wanted to record to tape, and John has been in the business for a while and is comfortable with cutting a piece of tape and working with it. As far as an idea-bouncer, he feels like more of a mutual collaborator. He’ll throw out ideas and we’re good sports, so we’ll try them. Usually everybody is either unanimously into it or not. Enjoy The Company has been being described as your raucous ode to rock n’ roll. How would you describe it? I feel like it’s a well-rounded rock album. My favorite rock albums all have moments of not-rock,with varied dynamics and different kinds of songs. It’s not all 100 mph, blowing-your-face-off rock. Hopefully it has valleys and contrast that make the rock parts rock really hard. Are you more influenced by the rock of today, or classic rock? I’d say we’re influenced by things that age well, and by default that could be some older things. It’s important to us that we try to make something that’s going to sound good once the prevailing trends
It sounds to me as if there’s no fame-and-fortune end game, no need for you to be a huge “Rock Star.” What motivates you in your career? I think about that sometimes. Playing music is all I’ve ever done. I started playing guitar in 8th grade, and I knew Julian all through school. We went to junior high, high school and college together. The Whigs is the only band I’ve ever been in, and it’s the same with Julian. By the time we graduated college, music was a full-time gig. I guess I’m unfamiliar with the alternative. I’ve never really thought about stopping all of my natural inclinations and getting into investment banking. There hasn’t come a point where I’ve been unhappy. I feel lucky to do it and support myself. When you look back on what you’ve done with The Whigs thus far, what are you most proud of? I’m really proud that we like each other, and that we have endured. Most of the bands we started playing with are not bands anymore. I guess it’s just about keeping it going, not killing each other and genuinely enjoying it. If I wasn’t enjoying what we do daily, that would not be cool.
insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 27
MUSIC
CONTINENTAL READY TO RIDE AGAIN Band is Back with the Full Length All a Man Can Do BY JOHN B. MOORE
I
T’S A FACT OF LIFE THAT DAD’S CAN BE AN embarrassment. The Dockers-clad, Huey Lewis rockin’ every dad that tries just a little too hard to fit in with you and your buddies is as common as the vitriol-spewing anti-gay politician who will eventually get caught trolling for dudes at the rest stop bathroom. But every now and then, a dad comes along who is just damn cool. Rick Barton is one of those dads. The original guitarist for the Dropkick Murphys and former member of Boston punks The Outlets- not to mention the man behind the boards for the most recent Street Dogs album - never stopped making music after leaving The Murphys. His son Stephen heard the latest batch of songs and encouraged pops to get a band together and get those songs out to the masses. Rick took the bait, brought along Stephen on bass and Tom Mazelewski on drums and got to work under the moniker Continental. They put out a seven-song EP then hit the road with The Street Dogs and Flatfoot 56, dropping in at the Vans Warped Tour and other festivals. Continental is back with their first full length All a Man Can Do and are ready to pack up the van again. Rick was kind enough to speak to us recently about the band, the new album and sprinkle in a little parenting advice along the way. I’ve spent some time in Quincy. Are you quick to point out that you’re not a Boston band, but a Quincy one? Quincy is a dump but you can’t change where you were born. However, you can certainly get away! I have no problem interchanging the two locations in interviews or from the stage depending on my mood. Ultimately we’re all just citizens of the planet.
How did the Continental first get together? Is it true Stephen gets some credit? Yes, he was def the catalyst! I had finally decided to hang up the rock & roll boots and move into more of a production/ writing gig. Check out the latest Street Dogs album V, that’s got my stamp all over it. Anyway, Stephen had heard some of my rootsier songs and strongly encouraged me to form a band and get back out there! So I dusted off those boots!
How do you describe your sound to folks? Macho Rock! No just kidding, it’s probably a mix between Dylan and The Replacements, only because Westerberg and Sir Bob are my biggest lifelong influences. I don’t put myself in their elite company but it’s certainly something to aspire to as a writer. And for good measure let’s throw in Frank Black as I’ve listened to his solo stuff and his work with The Catholics probably more than anyone. As father and son, where there any rules put into place ahead of time about how you’d work together in a band? Absolutely no rules! I despise rules. I hate little notes that roommates leave around the apartment. I let everyone in my circle be and do whatever the hell they want. I take care of my business for better or worse and he takes care of his. I have a few other sons and I’ve never given them rules or even asked to see their report cards. I’ve made one suggestion to them; try to be nice to people! Parents need to get out of their kids lives ASAP in their development. Parents Fuck kids up! What can you tell me about the full new length? Our full length is my masterpiece up to this point! I really feel I get much better as a songwriter as I get older. I’ve also become a pretty good singer. James Achor our producer got us an incredible sound and really made me play and sing better than I would
have wanted to. I like to rush through things and call it good enough! I’m always way ahead of myself, but listening back now I’m very happy and satisfied with the results. How’s the tour going so far? We just started the tour last night (7/18) in Asbury Park and about two hours before the show they had a major storm sweep through the area and had lots of flooding and power outages so we played a show to 10 diehards in a room with no AC. It had to have been well over 100 degrees on stage. So I’d say so far so good! What’s next for the band? Our main plan and vision is to be able to be a hard working touring act for the next several years. Put out lots of music and hopefully be able to get a few hundred folks out to see us as we go from city to city. We’ve got a very stripped down operation. No crew whatsoever. Just the four dudes and my dog Brutus. Plus we’re all homeless and without significant others (arguably the death knell of a band! re: The Beatles).
MORNING GLORY
More than a Decade in the Making BY JOHN B. MOORE
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ROWING FROM A SOLO project with a drum machine, to a full-fledged band - punk rock mainstay Ezra Kire has just turned in quite possibly the most surprisingly catchy punk album to come out of Lower East Side since those four dudes with the shaggy bowl cuts and matching surnames. Originally started in 2001 by Kire when he was still in Leftover Crack, Morning Glory self released an LP then followed it with the EP The Whole World is Watching in 2003, before putting the project on ice for the next 10 years or so. With things in Leftover Crack up in the air, Kire, who sings, plays guitar and piano, thawed out Morning Glory and got to work on Poets Were My Heroes, the group’s third release. Remarkable for its depth, the album covers all bases: punk, pop, metal, ska – Jesus there’s even a French horn on this one, which has got to be a punk rock first. Though there
PG 28 • October 2012 • insiteatlanta.com
are plenty of political rants in the lyrics, the record is overall pretty optimistic and catchy as hell. Kire was kind enough to speak recently about the band, the hiatus and why he resurrected the group.
Though this is the first full length, this band has actually been brewing for about a decade now, right? Can you talk a little bit about the band’s history? Morning Glory was sort of my visionary project, my imaginary band, the one you would always talk about starting at parties: It’s the band I always wanted to be in. Mainly because it’s unconfined to any genres, labels, or reviews. Most musicians know that sometimes you will hear a band and you can’t help but think “man, I wish I could be in a band like that... but damn it, my good conscience will just not allow it!” This is that band for me. It’s the music I want to make, without the stupid politics. It’s telling the
voices of better judgment in my head to fuck off, basically. It took years for all the pieces to fall into place though, and a few more years to find the right players. But with that Pie in the Sky, sometimes chasing it is half the fun. The irony with this band is that of course it has been receiving better reviews than anything else I’ve done. Why did you finally decide to focus on Morning Glory at this time? There were no prospects of a new record with my other band and I want to write and record music. I got sick of playing the same songs over and over and over again. The other members seemed content to tour endlessly on the same 40 minute set we’d been doing for years. It got boring and I finally just said “enough”. I got fed up with the empty promises of a new record. In fact, now that I think of it, there wasn’t even empty promises. It was just tour after tour, and show after show; the same 10 songs and in between banter. It was actually getting embarrassing to get on stage towards the end there. The singer would talk over everything I said into the mic, step all over my words, leaving me feeling totally disconnected from the audience. Performing was boring the hell outta me. I would sometimes play entire songs upside down on my guitar just to make it interesting for myself. It was just time for me to do something else. It was nothing personal with anyone in the band, my heart had just left the music and everything in the universe was telling me to do something else. Do you have any plan to re-release the EP? Possibly, but there’s not much point in printing something for just a few extra new
songs anymore is there? Once something is “released” online it’s available to the world in perpetuity. Everyone has it. So not really; not at this point. I have been listening to “March of the Asylum” over and over again since getting this record. Can you talk a little bit about how that song came about? Funny, that song was originally a throw away track that we saved for the very last day in case we had a little extra studio time. I put it on mainly because I love the drums in it. It’s a two part song, really, and the second half (“Quemar Las Fronteras”) is essentially one long drum “solo”. Very percussive. Do you plan to tour much after the album comes out? Yeah we’ll be touring out the year and into the next, plus we’ll be working on a new record in the interim. We hope to release at least one, maybe two 7”s off of Poets with some of the extra tracks that we did during those same sessions. I think we have like six songs we didn’t use. It’s nice; I’ve always wanted a “single”. And it’s a great way to get a few more songs out there with their own set of complete artwork. You talked a little about this at the beginning, but any update on Leftover Crack? I’m not sure about that. Last I heard they were talking about doing that new record. Then I heard otherwise. I know they just played some shows. Its funny- I was in the band for years and nothing... then I leave and they decide to do a new record. Maybe I was what was holding them back the entire time!
SPORTS
GSU PANTHERS
Prepare for the 2012/13 Basketball Season system. This year my staff knows the system and our point guard (Devonta White), our FTER LEADING THE GEORGIA wing, who was a partial starter (Rashaad State men’s basketball team to twenty-two wins in his first season as Richardson), and our backup center (James head coach, Ron Hunter’s second team enters Vincent) understand the system so there are more people to teach it so I don’t feel like its final campaign in the Colonial Athletic I have to do it myself and that’s been huge. Association with at least seven new faces on the roster. Gone from last year are mainstays Also, when you add the factor that we’ve been going (practicing and working out) Jihad Ali, Eric Buckner, James Fields and since early June, if we didn’t have the summer Josh Micheaux while Devonta White is the I’ll be honest with you, I’d probably be a lot only returning starter. The 2012 roster feamore nervous right now in regards to having tures coach Hunter’s son R.J., Virginia Tech ourselves ready in November. transfer Manny Adkins, who sat out last season and who OUR WHOLE THING Now that your first recruitplayed his high school ball at THIS YEAR IS JUST, ing class is here you’ve got Tucker High School, and 6-7 LET’S JUST WORRY to be excited with the level T.J. Shipes from Buford High School. This year’s squad will ABOUT THE MOMENT. of talent you’ve been able to be tested early as the Panthers LIVE IN THE MOMENT bring in. Some of the new guys are go on the road to start the standing out more than othRIGHT NOW. season with games at Duke ers. Of course, Manny’s (Nov.9) and BYU (Nov. 13). been in the system so he underThe schedule also features non-conference stands. He’s a former ACC player. games with South Alabama, East Carolina, RJ had a terrific summer and a Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss. terrific fall. Even being as hard as I possible can on him he’s really Is your approach a little different this season with a lot of new players who haven’t doing a great job. Probably the biggest surprise to me and played together as opposed to inheriting a the coaches has been veteran team like you did last year? Denny (Burguillos). He Well, we play a system and even with the has brought a toughnew guys coming in more people at least ness and a physical understand the system. Last year my entire presence that we need staff was new so I had to teach not only the team but I had to teach the staff a whole new having lost it with the loss of Micheaux and with
BY DAVE COHEN
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Eric Buckner, who we thought were kind of physical players for us. He brings that. He’s a little tougher, a foreign kid. That’s been our biggest surprise. Markus Crider is another guy who when he understands the system he’s going to be a great player. T.J. has the body of a twenty-five year old man but he has the basketball mind of a seventeen year old so we’ve got to help him get that skill up. Any thoughts about the coming season and the fact that Georgia State will not be eligible to compete in the CAA tournament? You know, we’re not worried about January or February. Our whole thing this year is just, let’s just worry about the moment. Live in the moment right now. Win the next play, win the next game. Nothing’s promised. We don’t know what’s going to happen next March. Our focus is getting better each day, trying to get better in practice, focus on that first game and build from there. And then at the end we’ll see what our body of work shows.
Washington, going out west to play in those three games. Then we were able to make adjustments and we came home and ran off thirteen wins in a row. Not that I want to lose the first three but what I like to be able to do is to go into some tougher environments, play some steady programs and see where we are at and then go with it from there. I like the schedule. I like the number of home games we’ve got. Everybody talks about the Duke game. That’s great but that’s only one game. I like the fact that we are going to play at home seventeen times. That’s exciting to me, especially for a young basketball team.
You’ve put together a challenging early non-conference schedule with the first two games on the road at Duke and BYU. Was that by design? Yes, I wanted to do that. You know, one thing I learned from last year is that we learned a lot more about us by going to play a Pac 10 team in
What’s the one thing right now that excites you about this Panther basketball team? Talent. You know, the one thing you can’t substitute is talent. You can have bad coaches (laughs) and sometimes we have that but you’ve got to have talent and we’ve got a lot of it. Some of it is young talent but we have a lot of talented players and every time I go and watch them practice I just come back and shake my head at our talented young squad. My job is to kind of put it together.
insiteatlanta.com • October 2012 • PG 29
Novak Djokovic
SPORTS
FANATIC A Monthly Sports Wrap-up SPORTS
FANATIC A Monthly Sports Wrap-up 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 BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS collective bargaining agreement is imminent. But listen to When look across NFL others closeyou to the situation andthe they’ll say landscape it’s not such a this young season, couple of numbers, things stand sure thing. While officialsa work out the Fanatic knowsasthree things that’ll happen,and lockout no lockout: out early surprises… no,or we’re not1) An SEC defender s Nick Fairley or LSU’s Patrick talking about(Auburn’ how long the replacement Peterson) will beitthe before No. 1 pick in the Draft; 2) An 18-game refs made being pelted with season will beFrom approved; 3) Super surprises Bowl XLVI will kick-off tomatoes. pleasant (Danny as planned on Feb. catches!) 5, 2012 in Indianapolis. Amendola’s to not-so-good
(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). JIM THOME “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
ones (New Orleans Saints’ 0-3 start!), “I feeleyebrow like a betterraising player nowwill than only I was three years ago, the continue, “St. Louis was fourth in baseball last year in attendance, because I think once that physically stronger, mentally but only 13th in payroll. In other words the Cardinals especially you I’m look at faster, October’s I’m moreschedule. motivated on the court. I know howexciting to react in have money to burn, and it’s time to light the match. So crazy Here are the most certain moments, and I know how to play on a big stage. contests of the month: 5) San Francisco vs. here’s what you do if you’re St. Louis: Whatever [Albert] IArizona, have been more focused and dedicated to the sport than Pujols wants, within reason, you give it to him. What’s Oct. 29; 4) Houston vs. New York I have ever been before.” -2011 MEN’S AUSTRALIAN within reason? No idea. The closest baseball has had to a Jets, Oct 8; 3) Atlanta vs. Philadelphia, OPEN WINNER NOVAK DJOKOVIC Oct. 28; 2) Green Bay vs. Houston, Oct 14; free agent like this was Alex Rodriguez in 2001, when he 1)“When Detroit vs. my Chicago, 22. goal was to earn received $252 million for 10 years. That was $25.2 million I signed contract,Oct my main annually, and that was a decade ago. And Pujols is better.” it. Once I started to realize I wasn’t earning my money, I that old can get in the –CBSyou’re SPORTS’getting GREGG DOYEL “When we compare it to the Tiger of old, felt bad. I was making a crazy amount of money for not way. I don’t want to be one of those guys Ieven don’t thinkHonestly, he’s quite there yet.I deserved And he’ll pitching. I didn’t feel like it. I everybody And finally… is walking around wringing probably onethose of the firstagain. guys to tell you their didn’t want tobehave feelings ” –GIL MECHE, tryingto host to the figure out Pro what Hawaiihands pays $4 million NFL’s annual Bowl that because whatofhe dida back in the 32, who retired instead taking guaranteed $12early million are we Stadium… going Iftoearlydoestimates with arehim? That at Aloha accurate, Super 2000s when heCity was to pitch for Kansas thisreally season dominating the happens Bowl XLV should be Stub Hub’ s top-selling event ever… sometimes. ” –UNIVERSITY OFAt game is something we may never see again NEBRASKA press time, the Cleveland Cavs were in DIRECTOR the midst of a 1-29 ATHLETIC from anybody. So marks it’s hard to compare February, of course, the NBA’S halfway him point. TOM stretch, the NBA’s worst since there’ s an NFL work OSBORNE, 75,1996… on Ifhis January 1 to those definitely he’s retirement With that years… landmark But also Icomes Fanatic’think s midseason stoppage next season, it’s reported that Las Vegas casinos gaining confidence, the right awards: MVP (Derrick Rose,moving Chicago);in Defensive Player would take an $850 million hit on unplaced betting… A of the Year (Dwight Howard, Orlando); of the Year record 56 underclassmen declared for the NFL Draft. direction. ” –GOLFER STEVERookie STRICKER And speaking of the CORNHUSKERS on Woods’ game prior to the Ryder Cup (3-1), they have a monster game on the teeing off October 6 slate against the Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0). But that’s far from the “Home runs are very unique, and when only big match-up on that Saturday’s you do what we did tonight, it’s something schedule. Here’s how you should prioritize to be proud of. It’s something that doesn’t the monster day of football: 5) Miami vs. 20, 8PM, TNT) happen a whole lot in the game… Up and(Feb. Notre Dame, playing 7:30pm; 4) West Virginia don’tlineup, know if there will be more celebrities the hardwood or celebrating downWethe everyone swung the on vs. Texas, 7pm; 3) Nebraska vs. Ohio courtside ’s Staples bat well. It’sat L.A. been fun.” Center. BALTIMORE State, 8pm; 2) LSU vs. Florida, 3:30pm; 1) ORIOLES’ JIM THOME, 42, on hitting a Georgia vs. South Carolina, 7pm. home run on the same night as 20-year(Feb. 13, 1PM, ABC) old teammate As much asManny ChicagoMachado and Orlando fans hate acknowledging the fact, this is probably your And Finally… Eastern Conference Finals preview. If you were wondering about NFL We’re as excited about the resurgence of referees’ pay, it’ll break down like this: baseball interest in the D.C./BALTIMORE officials will average $149,000 a year in area as any fan, but don’t think for a 2012, $173,000 in 2013 and see it rise second the9PM, Nationals Orioles (Feb. that 12, 2PM, ESPN) Theand top two teams in to the nation go on the to very,Some very Summit $205,000 in road 2019… werehostile the environments. only teams near the nation’s League schools want to be recognized capitol winning these days. Of course, with shorter names moving forward: The Robert Griffin III has the Washington University of Nebraska-Omaha will be 12PM, Fox) Redskins’ future looking bright,(Feb. but20,three called Omaha; University ofsixth Missouristart your quest stop making Jimmie Johnson from winningthe an unprecedented area Gentlemen, college football teams aretoalso Kansas City will be Kansas City; Indiana straight Sprint Cup championship. some positive noise. Georgetown (3-1), University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Maryland (2-2) and Howard (2-1) have all will be Fort Wayne… The SportsCenter gotten off to winning starts. (Feb. 9, 9PM, ESPN)that aired after the controversial Green This big meeting (and another on March 5) goesBay-Seattle a long way in Monday deciding North NightCarolina affair was the “At somerights point, you’re able most-watched episode in ESPN history. bragging and whether the ACC crown. to function or not, just the perception
Must-See TV 2. Miami at Boston
3. Ohio State at Wisconsin, Pittsburgh at Villanova 4. Daytona 500 5. UNC at Duke
Top 5 Games This Month
1. NBA All-Star Game
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VIDIOTS UPCOMING DVD RELEASESAND REVIEWS
BY B. LOVE & JOHN B. MOORE
BORED TO DEATH: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON The final season of this quirky HBO series–which centers on a novelist/ private eye (Jason Schwartzman) and his buddies, a stoner cartoonist (Zach Galifinakis) and rich publisher (Ted Danson)– ends pretty much as it began, with plenty of farce and little sentimentality. Though not water cooler fodder, the show found a cult audience that reveled in the smart writing and odd plot twists. The last episodes focus on Schwartzman finding out he’s adopted and tracking down his bio-dad, with plenty of awkward laughs. DANCE MOMS: SEASON 1 Every other basic cable channel has its own reality show based around some batshit crazy sub-culture, so why not Lifetime? Dance Moms profiles a dance school for young girls in Pittsburgh, led by the frighteningly angry Abby Lee Miller and the bitchy stage moms who bring their daughters to classes there. Wildly entertaining, despite what this show says about society, reality TV producers remain steadfast in their mission to leave no stone unturned. FOREVER MARILYN BLU-RAY COLLECTION August 5 marked the 50-year anniversary of Norma Jeane Mortenson’s premature death, but the legend she created– Marilyn Monroe– remains just as popular and
influential as ever. This 7-disc collection is a tribute to the seminal sexpot’s talent and charisma, assembling remastered versions of her best films (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, River of No Return, There’s No Business Like Show Business, The Seven Year Itch, Some Like it Hot and The Misfits) into a comely set that also includes a booklet of photos and signature lines. The extras may be a bit skimpy, but for Marilyn fans the set ultimately proves a titillating treat. JAY AND SILENT BOB GET OLD: TEA BAGGING IN THE U.K Just because it’s been years since Kevin Smith and his stoner muse, Jason Mewes, were in a movie together doesn’t mean the duo can’t make a buck. These Jersey boys have made a cottage industry out of the Jay and Silent Bob characters (podcast, comics, merchandise and speaking tours). Jay and Silent Bob Get Old captures the pair speaking to audiences in England and Scotland, reminiscing about masturbation, drugs and geek culture… pretty much status quo for the pair. SONS OF ANARCHY: SEASON 4 We can’t get enough of this FX show, which does for motorcycle gangs what The Sopranos did for the mafia. Season 4 was its best yet, as tensions within SAMCRO built to a fevered pitch just as outside pressures (the IRA, a Mexican drug cartel, the Feds and rival gangs) pushed the club to the breaking point. At the core of the drama is the Hamlet-like love-hate relationship between Jax, Gemma and Clay, who struggle for power over one another as dark secrets from the club’s past are finally illuminated. The potent climax was as explosive as anything on TV, setting up a promising Season 5.
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COLUMN
OUR FAVORITE THINGS BY B. LOVE
E
VEN WHEN YOU WORK WITH YOUR significant other, as I do, the difficult part of working and traveling constantly is that it leaves less down time for relaxation and romance. So whenever things start to get really hectic, I look for little things I can do to make her feel pampered, even in the midst of chaos. When you’re on the road, beauty may not be the first priority on your mind. But sun, sand and wind take their toll on your skin, which is where the ELITE THERAPEUTICS TRAVEL PACK (www. elitetherapeutics.com) comes in handy. The 5-piece kit comes with Dr. Kevin Schewe’s clinically formulated Premier Créme, daily Créme, Body Wash, Deodorant and Lip Balm, all in 1 oz containers inside a TSAfriendly bag. Mixing the natural antioxidants of pure Vitamin E with Manuka Honey from New Zealand, it’s like a fountain of youth for travel-tired skin. When my lady gets cranky from overwork or stress, few things have more magical healing powers than chocolate. The new fall line from EDWARD MARC CHOCOLATIER (www. EdwardMarc.com) is a serious cut above typical Hershey’s fare, with an assortment of offerings including milk or dark chocolate Turkey Pops, Cranberry Pecan
Terrapins, Truffle Pops (Pumpkin and Pecan Pie flavors among them), Salted Caramel Apple and Pumpkin Spices Mocha Truffles. There are also Pink Salted Caramel Apples, and 100% of their online sales will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure to fight breast cancer. Speaking of boobies, some ladies (like mine) have Marilyn Monroe curves that make them somewhat difficult to buy bras and bikinis for. But CAKE LINGERIE (www.cakelingerie.com), best known as a maternity brand, recently unveiled a new line that fits sizes ranging from B to FF. Whether it’s the sage green colors of Mint Toffee, the classic sheer black of Licorice Twist or, our favorite, the playful purple and green plaid of Shortbread, these bra and panty sets offer women of all shapes a sweet ‘n’ sexy alternative to Victoria and Frederick. As the weather turns cooler and summer turns to fall, we find ourselves avoiding the nightlife scene in favor of quiet nights at home. After our recent trip to Jordan, we’ve really begun to enjoy hot tea, and love the new line of Pu-erh teas from NUMI ORGANIC TEA (www.NumiTea. com). The oldest known tea in China, Pu-erh is believed to increase metabolism and energy, support healthy weight loss, and improve digestion. With flavors that include Chocolate, Cardomom, Basil Mint, Jasmine and the coffee-like Emperor’s blend, they’re a delicious element in savoring our rare, fleeting moments of downtime.
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