INsite Atlanta October 2021 Issue

0CT0BER 2021

CELEB

INSITEATLANTA.COM

0 YEARS! 3 G N I T RA

VOL. 30, NO. 3 FREE

Fall Patio Guide Atlanta's Best Subs

HALLOWEEN Issue Featuring Top Haunts

Netherworld & Camp Blood

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS!

Larg Select e of Ge ion & Dom rman es Beers tic

Live German Music Dancing

CONTENTS • OCTOBER 2021 • VOLUME 30, NO. 3 30 R AT I N G CELEB

YEARS!

Atlanta’s

Entertainment Monthly

Interviews Oversized, Pretzels Brats & Beer Cheese

Separate Kids Dance Floor

Every Day through November 7th!

Admission: $8 Mon-Fri, $10 on Sat, FREE on Sunday Time: Weekdays 6-10:30pm, Fri 6pm-Midnight, Sat 1pm-Midnight, Sun 1pm-7:00pm

1074 Edelweiss Strasse • Helen, GA 30545

For more information, contact the Alpine Helen Chamber of Commerce at 706-878-1619

HelenChamber.com

Oktoberfest Festhalle Friends

Presented By:

08 The Manor Film

06

10 Opry 5000 12 Jim Messina 13 BJ Thomas

Features

10

04 Fall Patios 05 Sub Sandwiches 06 Netherworld 07 Camp Blood 12

Columns

03 Around Town 09 Station Streaming 14 Album Reviews

Saturday, October 23 • 10am-6pm Sunday, October 24 • 12-5pm

insiteatlanta.com STAFF LISTING Publisher Steve Miller steve@insiteatlanta.com Art Director / Web Design Nick Tipton nick@insiteatlanta.com Managing Editor Lee Valentine Smith lee@insiteatlanta.com

Arts & Crafts • Festival Food Free Entertainment • Live Music

FREE ADMISSION Located at the beautiful Village Green

200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna, GA 30080 For more information call (770) 423-1330 or visit smyrnacity.com PG 2 • October 2021 • insiteatlanta.com

13

Local Events Editor Marci Miller marci@insiteatlanta.com Music Editor John Moore john@insiteatlanta.com

Follow INsite on Social!

Contributing Writers / Interns: Alex. S. Morrison, Dave Cohen, Benjamin Carr, Demarco Williams Advertising Sales Steve Miller (404) 308-5119 • ads@insiteatlanta.com WEBSITE • 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.

0CT0BER 2021

© Copyright 2021, Be Bop Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved

S! TING 30 YEAR CELEBRA

INSITEATLANTA.C OM

VOL. 30, NO. 3 FREE

Fall Patio Guide Atlanta's Best Subs

HALLOIWssEENue Featuring Top

Haunts Netherworld & Camp Blood

Around Town

Festivals, Concerts and Plays taking place this Month

DAILY THROUGH NOVEMBER 7

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6

Festhalle in Helen, GA

Main Street in Downtown Acworth

Atlantic Station

Rialto Center for the Arts

OKTOBERFEST

TASTE OF ACWORTH

ATLANTA BRUNCH FESTIVAL

TROMBONE SHORTY

Beer, brats, bands and Lederhosen - the Helen, GA Oktoberfest has them all! e longest running Oktoberfest in the United States is celebrating its 50 Year Anniversary! e festival runs every day from September 30 through November 7. As is tradition, the Helen Festhalle will house the event. German-style bands from around the country and around the world play on the stage.

Grab your partner and take a spin on the dance floor to lively Polka music. Visit HelenChamber.com.

Taste of Acworth is back Saturday, October 9. e festival attracts patrons from all over North Atlanta for one of the largest public events in Acworth. e festival showcases many of the great local restaurant along with local vendors, an interactive Kid’s Zone, a Beer Garden & live entertainment.

Plan to bring your family to experience a true “Taste” of Acworth. Sponsored by AcworthBusiness.org.

Atlanta Brunch Fest will be held on Saturday, October 23 from 12-4pm, with early entry at 11am.

A celebration of brunch with bites from over 50 great Atlanta restaurants. Enjoy mimosas, bloody marys, Brunch Punch, White Claw, beer, and wine. Live music and everyone's favorite DJ Q-Tip will be on hand. Bottomless drinks tickets are $45 advance, $50 after Oct. 14 , $60 day of event. Get tickets at AtlantaBrunchFestival.com.

OCTOBER 8 - 31

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16 RESCUE DOG GAMES

SMYRNA FALL JONQUIL FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6

Village Green in Downtown Smyrna

TASTE OF KENNESAW

e Fall Jonquil Festival is located on the beautiful Village Green in downtown Smyrna. e festival takes place Saturday, October 23 from 10 am - 6 pm and Sunday, October 24 from 12 - 5 pm. Serving the area for more than 20 years, the festival will feature over 150 hand-made arts & crafts booths, a dozen food booths, live music on a local entertainment stage, and plenty of children's activities. Scott ompson of Peachtree Station will be performing on Veteran’s Memorial Grand Lawn and Peter Hart is back with his beloved puppet show. More information available at SmyrnaCity.com.

Downtown Kennesaw

On Saturday, November 6 Downtown Kennesaw will be filled with the sweet smell of food and the sweet sounds of Rock ‘n Roll.

There will be over 30 food booths, a beer garden and plenty of children's activities.

Admission is free and samples are just $1 - $4.

There will be two entertainment stages showcasing various acts.

Grab a cold beverage from the beer garden, sample delicious food, and sit back and listen to great music on the Main Street Entertainment stages all day. Sponsored by KennesawBusiness.org.

HANDS UP: SEVEN PLAYWRIGHTS Alliance Theatre on the Hertz Stage

The play depicts the condition of Black America and illuminates the perspective of Black people of varying genders, sexual orientation, skin tones, and socioeconomic backgrounds to create a holistic compilation of realistic Black American experiences. Originally commissioned by the New Black Fest in 2015 in response to the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager, HANDS UP includes separate monologues written by seven Black playwrights. AllianceTheatre.org/handsup.

Piedmont Park in Midtown

Bring your fury friends Saturday, October 16th for Atlanta’s Dog Festival & Howl-O-Ween Party. e popular event takes place in Piedmont Park at the meadow by Charles Allen Dr. e day consists of interactive dog/human games, dog art project, pet rescues, dog & human photo booths, dog lure chase, disc dogs and more. Enjoy the festivities with music, the dog Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest along with food and beer vendors. Free to attend. Register at RescueDogGames.com for the virtual interactive fun challenge.

OCTOBER 23 & 24

Beloved bandleader, singer, songwriter and horn-blower born Troy Andrews, was raised in one of the Tremé's most musical families. Andrews got his name "Tombone Shorty", when he picked up the trombone at age four. By eight, he led his own band in parades, halls Photo: Mathieu Bitton and even bars. In his teens, Andrews played shows abroad with the Neville Brothers, and fresh out of high school, he joined Lenny Kravitz's band. Visit Rialto.GSU.edu for ticket information.

insiteatlanta.com • October 2021 • PG 3

Fall Patio Guide

Dine Safely Outdoors on these Popular Patios

Eclipse di Luna

The Flying Biscuit Cafe’

Eclipse di Luna set the trend in Tapas style restaurants in Atlanta. They offer a high-energy dining experience with live entertainment nightly and an artsy setting as a backdrop. Both their locations offer open-air al fresco dining that makes for an incredible atmosphere. Visit their Buckhead location on Saturday night, October 30 for their annual Monster Bash party. Free admission till 10:00pm; costumes a must.

The Flying Biscuit serves great breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Their Candler Park location is the original Flying Biscuit cafe and boasts a large renovated patio. The Midtown location off Piedmont Park allows for dining inside and out. Their corner patio, which is surrounded by windows, come off when the weather cools offering great views of the bustling Midtown scene.

Miami Circle 404.846.0449 4505 Ashford Dunwoody 678.205.5862 EclipsediLuna.com

1655 McLendon Ave. 404.687.8888 1001 Piedmont Ave. 404.874.8887 Catering 404.849.2283 FlyingBiscuit.com

Park Tavern

500 10th Street NE 404.249.0001 ParkTavern.com

The Patio at Park Tavern is conveniently located on the Atlanta Beltline on the corner of 10th and Monroe. The Park Tavern has one of the best views in the city overlooking Piedmont Park and the Midtown Skyline. This amazing backdrop provides for a great atmosphere and is dog-friendly. The patio menu is available for dine-in or takeout. The Park Tavern Patio offers open seating and has over 20 TVs to catch your favorite team on game day. The large climate-controlled patio includes cabanas, fire pits, and a patio bar for drinks to enjoy in the park or on the patio. Park Tavern offers 1/2 priced bottles of wine on Wednesdays and $1 drafts when it rains. Check out the fun Fall events in October like Big Gay Brunch, Electric Avenue's Oktoberfest, and the Maskarade Halloween party.

Mo’s Pizza

3109 Briarcliff Rd. 404.320.1258 MosPizza.com Mo’s Pizza has been serving up great pizza for over 30 years. They are also known for their great sandwiches, subs,

wings, nachos and salads. The extensive menu ensures that the whole family will find something they like. Mo’s Pizza is currently open for Dine-In, Take-out and Delivery. Enjoy the fall weather on their huge dog friendly patio.

Agave

242 Boulevard SE 404.588.0006 AgaveRestaurant.com

Agave blends eclectic southwestern cuisine, extensive tequila bar and wine list coupled with exceptional service to make this one of Atlanta's top restaurants.

Agave is open for dine-in with responsible safety precautions implemented. The restaurant has two well vented, high ceiling dining rooms as well as covered patio.

Tables are spaced out and sanitized after each seating. This month Agave turns 21!

Make a reservation for dinner and enjoy special entrees, appetizers and tequila.

DINE-IN! Vaulted Dining Rooms & Enclosed Patio

Extremely Fresh Cuisine Atlanta’s Best Margaritas & Tequila Bar Open 7 nights a week at 4pm

PG 4 • October 2021 • insiteatlanta.com

Loca Luna

550-C Amsterdam Ave. 404.875.4494 loca-luna.com Loca Luna on Amsterdam Ave, directly on the East side of Piedmont Park, offers a tropical outdoor patio with Midtown skyline view. Enjoy a wide range of Snapchat worthy tapas. The happening bar is open till 2:30am on weekends.

Make sure to try their world famous Mojito. Latin music performed nightly on their large dance floor. Plenty of free parking and free valet available.

Twin Peaks Restaurant

3365 Piedmont Rd. 404.961.8946 TwinPeaksRestaurant.com

Twin Peaks, the mountain lodge-style sports restaurant in Buckhead and its beautiful Twin Peaks girls offer great views! All three patios: street level, second floor open air and lively rooftop are attended by the Twin Peaks wait staff.

Twin Peaks offers high-quality comfort food with a wide array of sandwiches and salads to choose from. 29-degree draft beers on 32 taps while the girls pour and serve into huge ice-cold, frosted mugs.

Taste of the Month - Subs!

Your Neighborhood Pizzeria!

Where to Find ATL’s Best Sub Sandwiches Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs

Marietta 80 Powers Ferry Rd. at Hwy. 120; (770) 321-1177 Doraville 5697 Buford Hwy. Just north of 285; (770) 455-8570 Baldinos.us Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs 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 $3.99! Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs also serves homemade soups and fresh baked cookies and brownies. For catering they offer single subs, party subs, deli salads by the pound, cookies by the dozen, and iced-tea by the gallon. Pick up a Baldinos Giant Jersey Sub before the big game or order a Baldinos Family Sub online (pictured) and enjoy the game with friends. Their Party Subs can feed anywhere between 1 and 50 people.

Johnny’s NY Style Pizza

Over 50 Atlanta area locations: Order online @ JohnnysPizza.com Johnny’s Pizza has come to be synonymous with great pizza and subs in Atlanta. 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 capicola meats. They offer several hot Parmesan style subs toasted with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella. These include: chicken, eggplant, Italian sausage and meatball. Johnny’s restaurants offer dine-in, take-out and delivery. Check with your local store to find out their latest hours and dining options. You may always call or order online for takeout, curbside pickup and contactless delivery. Go to JohnnysPizza.com to find the location nearest you and ask about their special catering menus being offered this fall.

Atlanta’s Favorite Pizza!

Multiple Atlanta Locations: JohnnysPizza.com

Mo’s Pizza

3109 Briarcliff Rd. off Clairmont 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 huge Italian Sub made with ham, pepperoni, genoa salami, mozzarella, cheese, 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 mozzarella cheese. Their Philly Cheese Steak is real sirloin steak that is trimmed and sliced on premise and grilled with onions and topped with American cheese. Mo’s Pizza is currently open for Dine-In, Take-out and Delivery. Inside tables have been removed and spaced out while they offer a huge dog friendly deck to hang out on. Stop by for Monday Night Football and their Large Cheese Pizza special. Mo’s is one of the longest running pizza joints in Atlanta, come in and see why they are among the best.

Harry’s Pizza and Subs

2150 Powers Ferry Rd. 770.955.4413 harryspizzaandsubs.com Harry’s Pizza & Subs has been serving the North Atlanta community for over 30 years.

This family owned and run restaurant specializes in New York style pizza but they are also known for their oven baked subs, chicken wings, oversized salads, and Italian dinners.

Their oven baked subs come half 6” or foot long.

Popular subs are the Steak & Cheese, Chicken Parmesan, Meatball, Italian and Harry’s Combo.

There is also a Vegetarian and specialty Avocado sub on the menu. Harry’s offers daily specials on menu items and always has a special on draft beers. Come Wednesday nights and play a few rounds of BINGO or on a Thursday for some family fun weekly trivia. Harry’s Pizza & Subs is committed to the health of their customers and staff. The restaurant recently underwent a heavy deep cleaning by well-respected virus cleaning service EnviroMaster and received their hygienic certification. They are open from 11am (noon on Sunday) to 9pm daily for dine-in and take-out. Delivery is offered after 5:30 pm.

Check their Facebook page for updates. Bring the family and visit Harry’s Pizza and Subs this fall and owners Rich & Ilene will make you feel right at home.

SIZE 3 FEET 4 FEET 6 FEET 8 FEET 10 FEET 12 FEET

FEEDS 6-12 People 8-16 People 10-20 People 16-32 People 20-40 People 24-48 People

PRICE $31.50 $42.00 $61.50 $82.00 $98.00 $117.00

Atlanta's BEST SUBS 15 Years Running! insiteatlanta.com • October 2021 • PG 5

EVENTS

NETHERWORLD IS BACK - BIGGER AND SCARIER Now in Its 25th Season, the Beloved Haunt Never Fails to Impress – or Repeat

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

E

VERY YEAR THE CRAFTY GHOULS at Netherworld try to one-up themselves from the previous season. This year is no exception as the popular attraction celebrates its 25th season of screams with two all-new, hilariously hair-raising haunts - The Rise of the Netherspawn and the trippy Return to Planet X - in 3-D. Every year, Netherworld scares up new ways to improve the beloved institute of horror.

INsite recently spoke with mad scientist Billy Messina, giddy in the afterglow of the haunt’s opening weekend.

For season 25, what’s new and exciting at Netherworld? And how was opening weekend?

Oh, it went great. year, We’re still doing everything we can to keep everyone safe so we can all have a good time. That goes for all of our employees and all of our wonderful guests. It’s a safe atmosphere so people can feel comfortable and enjoy every minute of their visit. Everyone is wearing a mask, even underneath the costumes.

We strongly encourage each person to wear a mask because COVID hasn’t gone away, to a safe environment for all. From the looks of it, everybody just wants to celebrate Halloween again while being safe. It’s been great.

In our COVID-conscious era, what measures are different this year than in the past?

A big thing this year is we have instituted timed and dated ticketing. It limits our attendance and increases safety and distancing. So you can walk

PG 6 • October 2021 • insiteatlanta.com

up and get directly in the queue line. If you buy a ticket for 7:00 to 7:30, you’re walking in that queue line from 7:00 to 7:30. It goes much more easier that way.

Makes sense. What else is new? Have you brought back any familiar features?

We have. It’s been nice to open up our midway again.

We have this pretty amazing section between the two houses. You come out of one haunt and in between it’s like a carnival midway. You can get donuts and there’s photo ops a-plenty. We have actors wandering around for pictures and food and little games and it’s just a cool little space. It lends to the festival atmosphere and people still have room to enjoy themselves.

The main attractions are the haunts. Tell us about the two brand new sections.

The main show features our classic monsters.

It’s timeless horror in every sense of the word.

This year, we’ve added a whole new weather element, right inside the haunts. There’s a storm brewing and there’s lightning and a rainy mist.

There’s also a 3-D element in the other house, right?

Yes and 3-D is what’s brought us to a new level in our history of being a haunted house.

I think we did our first one in 1999 and we’ve

improved the aesthetic every year. It’s very trippy. Everything is really vibrant and rich and saturated in color. You wear these 3D glasses which is classic technology, but it’s revamped and new and crazy. You put these glasses on, which it plays off the color spectrum. So things appear to be where they’re not. It’s two very different shows. The juxtaposition between the two of them is pretty exciting. You definitely don’t feel like you’re going though one long extended haunted house with the same thing over and over again. We have two very distinctive haunted houses.

One haunt features Fear and Terror, the twin monsters.

Ah yes, the twins. We have a whole backstory on their origins on our website, it’s home to a wealth of monster minutia. The twins star in the classic house with big mansions, oversized sets and monsters everywhere. The other house is just as upgraded and it’s all pretty mind boggling when you see it in real time. There’s a lot of stuff.

After 25 years, we’ve certainly done our share of collecting and creating and amassing tools of terror over the years.

Is the Laser Adventure is still in place?

It is and the escape rooms are open the whole season. Laser tag is actually interesting,

we’re doing kind of a mini laser tag experience that’s open pretty much any hours, weather permitting, that the haunted houses are open.

So for 10 bucks, you get to go in and and run around. It’s a pretty epic laser arena. It’s very expansive and there’s all kinds of cool props and set pieces for people to just run around. It’s just a little something extra for people to do while they’re onsite.

The Escape Rooms are still in force, too?

Absolutely. Better than ever. We’ve extended the hours and they’re open during all hours the haunts are open - and then some. A lot of people, they’ll come visit us from long distances and it’s like - ‘What else can we do?’ You can make a day of it. Maybe play in an escape room at four o’clock in the afternoon, and then get in line for the haunted house and then play laser tag while you’re here. You can really make a full day or night of it. We’re right off 78 and there’s free parking, of course. It’s just exciting to be here, 25 years later. Who woudda thunk it?

So what’s next? Any ideas for next year, now that the 2021 season is going strong?

We do, as always. We definitely have some tricks up our sleeves for our 26th season for sure.

We are always thinking at least a year ahead of time. We are always plotting - What can we do next? How do we make this even bigger and scarier?

For Netherworld tickets and other scary information, visit fearworld.com if you dare.

HOME THEATER

EVENTS

the legend lives on Camp Blood Celebrates 31 Years of Haunted Hijinks

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

T

EN MINUTES FROM THE CAMPUS of West Georgia College in picturesque Carrolton, is a clever and literally off-the-beaten-path Halloween attraction.

The quirky haunt blends elements of classic modern horror films and lore with rural rednecks and haunted hillbillies.

Conceived by Mark “Atch” Atcheson as a Halloween party destination, the half-acre attraction has grown a bit during every year since 1990. The storyline tells a murky tale of the patients of an asylum, the legend of Jason Voorhees from slasher-film fame and Friday The 13th shenanigans.

It’s devilishly spooky fun for a good cause with proceeds going to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to purchase toys for Christmas and the THS Homeless Shelter in Carrollton.

INsite phoned co-founder Michelle Atcheson for all the scary details.

Thirty-one years is a long time to commit to a haunted attraction.

It is and it’s been a lot of work but it’s a labor of love for us. It all started right here in 1990 as just a few friends getting together to party.

Over the years it got bigger and pretty soon we realized we couldn’t have 300 people in his house! So Mark changed it up so it would be a trail that you could follow and then you could get to the house. Now it’s a little over a halfmile haunted trail with a storyline and some surprises along the way.

Does the story or themes change from Halloween to Halloween?

No, we really just add to it. Camp Blood is from the Jason movies and that’s where the mask and all that imagery come in. The Legend of Camp Blood is basically part of the story, because people talk about it somehow being part of the “original” Crystal Lake camp.

But that’s where the fun comes in. There’s not really a lake here but if they want to believe Crystal Lake is near here, then we aren’t gonna stop ‘em. As part of the attraction, we’ve added carnival games, concessions and even a redneck movie theater. We repurpose stuff and add to it every year and always looking for new things for parts of the trail.

Walk us through the attraction.

When you get here, you’re walking through an outside trail. You follow it down to the ticket window and then you walk in as you’re going through a casket to enter.

So the casket is the portal to the horror scenes?

Yeah, when you go through, you start to see the different scenes. It’s a little bit of everything from the classic modern horror lore. There’s Jason, Michael Meyers, the butcher, a dentist, different scenes of scary moments. It’s all outdoors, but it seems to be inside the house because it’s all covered and dark.

It sounds labor-intensive to set up. Is Camp Blood up all year around?

It’s always up and in the summer it’s paintball. It’s just a good, family-owned place to have fun. Even my mother is a fortune-teller here. We sell souvenirs and merchandise like t-shirts, decals, keychains, just a lot of little odds and ends.

I see you are doing escape games this year.

Lock City Escape Games will be with us every October weekend so you can try your hand and mind at figuring out clues to help you escape the perils of being locked in a room till your death!

Covid is a constant challenge for everyone with distancing and all the standard CDC protocol.

It’s a little different for outdoor attractions but to be cautious we only do groups of ten at any one time. Masks are welcome but we don’t require them. It’s optional.

How many people are in the Camp Blood cast of characters?

We hold auditions every year and we have a core cast who return pretty much every year.

So we’ll have between fifty and sixty people every year. We call them all part of the Camp Blood family. Some of them help us all year around because everything is hand-made on site. We’re open Thursday through Saturday every week from the middle of September until Halloween night.

NEW RELEASES THE LATEST DVD, BLU RAY & VOD RELEASES

By John Moore

F9 (Universal)

Nine movies into it you obviously know what you’re getting from the Fast and Furious franchise – and it’s not Oscar worthy performances. But damn they certainly know how to entertain. Vin Diesel is back as is Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson. Jon Cena is added as Vin Diesel’s long-lost brother (because why not?) now working as an assassin and the old crew is assembled to save the world as some kind of diesel-soaked grease monkey Avengers. The acting is mediocre, the plot bat shit insane, but the movie still comes off as wildly entertaining. Each movie manages to out crazy the one before it, but the team behind the franchise still comes up with compelling stunts to keep the fans coming back. For F9 it’s the space car.

DON’T GO GENTLE: A FILM ABOUT IDLES

(MVD Visual) The IDLES, as compelling a band as they are, manage to be a side story in their own documentary. Don’t Go Gentle, though still focusing on the Bristol-based band, finds an even stronger story in the community the band has created around them, The AF Gang, a 30,000plus member community that fosters love, acceptance, and compassion. Which is a wonderful juxtaposition for band’s music, which on

first blush just sounds confrontational and defiant, but is really about vulnerability, individuality, and compassion. There is still plenty of background on the band’s founding here told through the members and longtime friends.

There are also plenty of frank discussions by the band, covering everything from politics to addiction to losing a parent. It’s a fairly comprehensive look at a group not known by millions, but that is loved deeply by those who do follow them.

THE FOREVER PURGE (Universal)

The fifth film in the Purge saga and a direct sequel to 2016’s The Purge: Election Year, is not nearly as bad as it should be. The first in the series was pretty inventive plot wise, but them the team behind it started to drive it into the ground with repeated sequels, but The Forever Purge succeeds thanks to a new setting and new chaos. Set about two decades in the future a wealthy family of ranchers and their immigrant farmhands fight together against group of masked killers not satisfied by the one-day only no rules Purge event all while the rest of the country spirals out of control. The Forever Purge is an entreating look at a dystopian future that is a lot more fun than it should be this far into the franchise.

It’s Time To Go

Back Into The Woods

Does the show start at dusk?

Ticket sales usually begin at 8 and stop at midnight so sometimes we’re here pretty late.

We’ve actually been here until four in the morning a few times.

That’s late! Have you ever seen anything strange or spooky?

Well someone gave Atch the wood from an old house if he’d tear down the house to get it. It was a little strange. They’d keep hearing windows breaking but no one was breaking any windows. He found a TV in there and it actually worked! He brought it back here and something kept turning the channel to the Food Channel. One day he saw a lady in town who asked if he’d seen Miss Mary. She said the house was haunted by a lady who used to live there. One day the channel changed again when he was watching a football game. He said, ‘Come on now Miss Mary, cut it out.’ And we haven’t heard from her since!

Camp Blood is open for Halloween hijinks every Thursday through Saturday night through October 31. Ticket prices are $25 per person and includes entrance to Camp Blood trail and Cajun Carnage. Kids under 8 are free.

For more details, visit campblood.com.

Legendary Camp Blood Trail (Nearly half mile of Redneck Terror) Redneck Theatre, Hillbilly Fortune Teller, Campfire, Carnival Games, Concession Stand & Gift Shop

Open every Thursday, Friday & Saturday

thru October 31 - 31 Years of TERROR

2277 Whooping Creek Road • Carrollton, GA 30116

(770) 854-2267 • campblood.com Proud supporter of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

insiteatlanta.com • October 2021 • PG 7

FILM

WELCOME TO “THE MANOR”

Barbara Hershey & Bruce Davison Discuss Their New Horror Film

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

A

CTORS BARBARA HERSHEY AND Bruce Davison were first paired in the controversial “Last Summer” in 1969. Originally rated X, the film was one of several groundbreaking movies from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s that boldly questioned the conventional standards of the motion picture industry. Both actors have remained busy, relevant and critically lauded since those experimental days.

The two veteran actors are reunited in “The Manor,” an episode from Welcome to the Blumhouse. The limited series is an anthology of unsettling thrillers, featuring diverse casts and emerging filmmakers.

Produced by the crafty Blumhouse company (“Get Out,” “Whiplash,” “Sharp Objects”) and available exclusively from Amazon Prime Video, the initial four films on the series will be released this month - with four more titles set to arrive later this year.

Just in time for the Halloween season, the collection focuses on suspenseful psychological dramas. In “The Manor,” a malicious power preys upon the residents of a spooky nursing home. When a mild stroke limits her mobility, Judith Albright (Hershey) moves to the ironically named Golden Sun Manor, a dreary assisted living facility. Befriended by fellow senior Roland (Davison), Judith witnesses a sinister spirit at the property.

Written and directed by talented new filmmaker Axelle Carolyn, the picture features a stellar ensemble cast and some truly frightening ruminations on the perils of dementia and aging. INsite was recently invited to interview the two stars of the film.

How have you been handling the pandemic?

Bruce Davison: Well, I’ve started painting again, which has been fun because I actually started as an art major in school. I gave it up for acting. But now during the pandemic, it’s been less about trying to pursue something I wanted to achieve a result from and more about just enjoying the journey.

Barbara Hershey: Like everybody else, I’m worried. I’m concerned about people that won’t get vaccinated. I know that it’s a fear-based decision and isn’t necessarily based on science. I have some intelligent friends who won’t get vaccinated and it’s just confounding to me.

Looking back at your collective body of work, you’ve never really been typecast or bound to one certain genre.

Davison: I do get typecast at times. I think it happens every five or six years, from what whatever becomes successful and then you get all the offers to do it again. I’m still caught up in the trails of “X-Men,” being a nasty Senator. So I play a lot of those or a crazy, scientific professor or something.

Before that, it was something else. I kissed a rat in “Willard” and didn’t kiss a girl for 15 years after that. Onscreen, I mean!

Hershey: I’ve consciously avoided it, for my own sake. I always want to play parts I haven’t played before and I try to examine subjects I’ve never explored. All those things are fascinating to me. I’m always seeking that out whenever possible.

For this particular film, what attracted you to the project in the first place? Was it to PG 8 • October 2021 • insiteatlanta.com

work with each other again after so long?

Davison: I just thought the script was great. It deals with a primal fear that’s not always dealt with. It’s something that affects everyone, whether it be abandonment or fear of losing what you have and certainly the fear of death. I liked the character because he’s someone who really loves life. And certainly working again with Barbara, this is us coming full circle. Working with her again was a joy.

Hershey: I actually didn’t know he was cast until after I accepted the role, though I was happy when I heard. I loved the character.

She’s full of life, spice and feistiness. She swore, she was funny and had this strong life force about her. I really liked that, especially in view of the fact that she’s older. Usually, Hollywood treats older people in a cliched, boxed-in way. Not always, but mostly. I thought she’d broken ground that way in the script and I liked the provocative ending.

Did you devise a backstory for your characters?

Davison: I usually work my way back from the story. The moment-to-moment is really important to me to see the character on a journey in a certain direction. From that, a backstory will come by the time you shoot.

Hershey: I liked the fact that there was a beginning, middle and end of a character and I really developed it on camera, which I always enjoy. She has a small stroke and is at the beginning of Parkinson’s, which is what lands her in this nursing home. I had to explore those things and figure out how to make them present but not hit the audience over the head with them.

Compared to some of the people you’ve worked with, the director is a relative newcomer.

Davison: Yes she is but she’s the author and the creator of this one. She’s very collaborative. I mean, she’s not afraid of other people imposing their ideas. If something’s worthwhile, she has a strong enough vision and belief in herself where she can take whatever an actor is giving her and incorporate it so it becomes a positive, not a conflict.

Hershey: Every director is different, just like actors. They all have different qualities.

I’ve worked with lots of first-time directors.

We had a few days of circling around each other to figure out whether we were on the same page, and wanted the same film, and could we trust each other. Something just clicked then and we fell in love. So it was just a love fest, basically, while we were filming.

“The Manor” is distributed by Amazon.

What do you think of the new technology?

These days, there’s so much material available and so many platforms for everyone.

Davison: I think it’s great. It’s sort of reminiscent of the ‘50s music scene when everybody could make a one-hit wonder in their garage.

Hershey: I just love acting. I like acting in all different kinds of venues and budgets, with all different kinds of experiences. So the more we erase those prejudices, I think the better it is for actors, for filmmakers and the audience.

The whole stigma between TV and film has been completely erased at this point.

Davison: Now you can pick and choose. I remember doing a film and I had a director saying that someday there’s not going to be a movie theater. It’s all going to be in your home and you’ll just push a button to see it. I scoffed at it at the time. I thought, no, people are going to want to gather in big groups to see films. That’s my heritage, seeing a movie on a Saturday night. But it’s happened and it’s certainly led to a diversification of what’s successful and what’s not. Now you don’t have to make millions of dollars in a weekend in order to survive. At the same time, I do think we are really missing out on those big gatherings. We have them at rock concerts and stuff but that used to be the movies.

Hershey: There’s always pluses and minuses, aren’t there? The experience of sitting in a darkened theater and watching a singular film is a great one, and part of our fiber as film lovers. But on the positive side, streaming and all of that offers many

more projects and lots of variation, lots of experimentation. There are amazing things going on. Personally, I love the lazy chance to think, ‘Oh, I want to see so-andso tonight in such-and-such a film.’ Then I look on Amazon Prime and there it is. In three minutes, I’m streaming it. That’s just amazing to me. There’re a lot of positives about what’s going on. But the romance of sitting in a big movie theater, that might be different now.

Well, as someone who came of age in the ‘70s it was an event to go to the movies and the films were often a new intellectual and social challenge. Is that magic gone?

Davison: It was a gathering and by the ‘70s and stuff, it was still at the tail end of it. People have always wanted to get together around a campfire to tell a story. I think they’re still going to want to do that.

Certainly in this, and the other films that are available, you can still do that with your friends, right in your living room.

Hershey: You’re right. There was a different sort of feeling back then. There was a feeling of breaking new ground. To be honest, at least for me, I didn’t have an overview of it the way people think of it now, the ‘70s as this magical time period. When you’re in it, you don’t think, ‘Oh, we’re doing magic.

This is a magical period in films.’ We weren’t thinking that way. You’re just there. But there was this feeling that exploration was possible. There was a new kind of wave and feeling about it all and it was great.

The Welcome To The Blumhouse series, including “The Manor” will be available via Amazon beginning October 8.

TV

Station Streaming

INNOVATIVE SHOWS

BY BENJAMIN CARR

W

Foundation

HEN TELEVISION GETS experimental and ambitious there is often nothing more fantastic and epic. The fun of shows, when they are at their beginning, is that they dream big. Shows like Game of Thrones and Lost aimed high, full of thrill, magic and puzzles. And by their ends, the journey was more of a mixed bag.

Still, the wild stories and ambitious pilots arrive every year, their premises promising satisfying amounts of wonder.

FOUNDATION (Apple TV+)

The most astounding, incredible pilot ever to air on Apple TV+, this sci-fi adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s trilogy is beautifully shot, well-acted and full of stunning plot twists.

In a distant human future, a mathematician named Hari (Jared Harris) predicts the galaxy - run by a trio of dictatorial clone emperors will fall in a handful of centuries. Hari predicts societal behavior with mathematics, which angers the emperors, particularly Brother Day (Lee Pace), who obliterates anyone who dares to doubt his power.

Into this power struggle comes a young woman named Gaal (Lou Llobel). She is from a religious planet where knowledge was forbidden, but she studied math in secret. Gaal ventures across the galaxy to Hari, only to find herself arrested and on trial for working alongside him.

Then, a catastrophic terrorist attack occurs, obliterating a city that rises into the orbit of the imperial planet, killing tens of millions of people.

And Gaal and Hari are suddenly charged with preparing a foundation of human knowledge in the event of the next Dark Age. The acting is stunning, particularly from Harris and Pace, and the intergalactic space opera is epic. The special effects are fantastic. Altogether, Foundation is definitely worth watching.

ORDINARY JOE (NBC)

Following a similar premise to the film Sliding Doors, this new NBC series follows a regular guy named Joe, played by James Wolk, and explores the three potential paths his life could’ve taken on the day of his college graduation. Did he go away for the weekend with his valedictorian girlfriend Jenny (Elizabeth Lail)? Did he go to dinner with his family? Or did he ask out the intriguing new girl named Amy (Natalie Martinez) that he just met that day?

Based upon that one choice, the show depicts a decade into Joe’s future. In one situation he is a nurse. In another, he is a police officer. And in the third he is a rock star.

Scenes are color-coded so that viewers know

which reality they are in. Though Joe is changed, the other events remain the same. In the pilot, Joe’s effect on a political shooting is strikingly different in each scenario but he matters significantly in all of them.

The other cast members are great, playing three different versions of the same characters.

It’s very interesting. Earlier in his career, Wolk played a bigamist in a show called Lone Star, which was ambitious and lasted only two episodes. With Ordinary Joe, let’s hope he gets a steadier gig.

MIDNIGHT MASS (Netflix)

Though this Netflix miniseries is just a sevenepisode scare-fest unrelated to other series, Midnight Mass is the new production from Mike Flanagan, who previously delivered The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor in Octobers past.

Midnight Mass is an original production, not adapted from old literature like the two Haunting series but it does star Kate Siegel and Henry Thomas. It’s horrific but it also tackles big ideas surrounding community and religion. It has a Stephen King flavor, similar to Salem’s Lot and Needful Things.

This show is a fun, crazy look at a New England island community called Crockett Island.

Though the town has been wrecked by tragedy for years, a new minister, played by the great Hamish Linklater, shows up on the shores of the island to provide it with rejuvenation and hope.

Whether the minister is inspired by divine intervention or other, darker motivations haunts the entire series.

It’s a treat full of tricks for the season.

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MUSIC

ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT

This Month the Grand Ole Opry Celebrates a Massive Milestone

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

T

Combs, combined with pieces from early stars like Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl. Fans can enter a contest to win a weekend trip to Nashville to witness the celebration firsthand, including a stay at nearby Gaylord Opryland Resort and $5,000 in spending money and that ain’t hay.

Recently INsite called veteran Opry stalwarts Jeannie Seely, a 54-year member and Rudy Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers, currently on year 45, for their thoughts on the special event.

HE GREAT DEPRESSION, World War II, Vietnam, Civil, Social and Political upheaval, two floods and a global pandemic haven’t stopped the weekly broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry. In 1925, WSM Radio began to air the original show, eventually developing it for television and most recently, for today’s newfangled digital streaming platforms.

The venerable show has lasted longer than any other program YOU CAN STOP of any medium anywhere in the The Opry has certainly WORRYING world. By the end of October, more than ABOUT A LOT weathered the production will have aired its share of cultural and 5,000 consecutive Saturday OF THINGS IF stylistic changes. night performances from the Jeannie Seely: Well music YOU DON’T historic Ryman Auditorium keeps evolving as everything in TAKE YOURSELF and the expansive, modern life does, so we’re all constantly Opryhouse. The milestone calls TOO SERIOUSLY. changing. I look at it a little for a major celebration and a LAUGHTER IS bit differently than a lot of flock of country superstars will my peers do in my age group, TRULY THE BEST be rising to the occasion.

I realized that if we MEDICINE AND because On a special October 30 don’t keep bringing in the new edition, Opry vets Garth MUSIC IS SECOND. people, new blood, and keep up Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and with the times, the Grand Ole Darius Rucker will gather to Opry that I love so much, is not going to reminisce and rock the house in Grand last forever. We’ve kept it going for 95 years Ol’ style. Legendary Opry alumni Bill so far and that’s why it’s so important to Anderson, Vince Gill, Jeannie Seely, Connie me to mentor new talent as much as I can, Smith and The Gatlin Brothers will be to make sure they realize just how special joined by relative newcomers Chris Young, the Grand Ole Opry is; there’s nothing else Chris Janson and a few surprise guests. like it.

The first of the two ticketed shows on the 30th will be available to stream live on Every show is a trip into history.

Circle Network, including Circle All Access The Opry, I think, has become a variety Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels. show. But we can never forget that it’s The landmark will be further celebrated country music and it’s billed as the show with an entire month of festivities, that made country music famous. So I including an expansive memorabilia don’t ever want us to get too far way from exhibit. our roots. But I also want them to stay Opry Memories: Celebrating 5,000 current with the times. I truly believe the Saturday Night Broadcasts, covers nearly administration at the office right now is 100 years of history. It includes artifacts booking the show the best they very can, and photos from current Opry inductees to represent all types of country music. It Dolly Parton, Carly Pearce and Luke used to be just country and bluegrass. Now,

Jeannie Seely

you’ve got the country gospel, you’ve got today’s country, you’ve got so many aspects as it’s branched out. Somehow, they manage to represent all of it on the show.

Humor is a big part of an Opry show and you’ve never missed an opportunity to include a joke or two.

You can stop worrying about a lot of things if you don’t take yourself too seriously. Laughter is truly the best medicine and music is second. I learned that from Little Jimmy Dickens. I remember very early on thinking that there were great ballad singers like Eddie Arnold, and then funny people like Minnie Pearl or Cousin Jody. I noticed early on that Jimmy could do both. He could be so funny and then go into a serious ballad. He was the first one that made me realize ‘Hey, you can do both. You don’t have to make a choice here.’

Your records are all over the place stylistically and you’ve been doing that for 54, almost 55, years on the Opry stage.

I don’t know how anybody pictures the time period, I mean 54 years? The time has gone so fast. I can’t even believe it’s been that long. I’m so blessed to be a part of it.

Do you remember your first time there?

I remember it very well and I was scared to death. Every emotion that a human can feel, I think an artist feels when they have that first appearance, and then even more so when you become a member of that family. I grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry, but I’d never attended the Opry until I was on the show. I was in there, shoulder to shoulder with some of my heroes that I had never even seen in person before. It was truly phenomenal. If I hadn’t been so scared, it would have seemed like a dream.

How does it feel to be part of the Opry 5000 show?

You can stand in the wings and hear the announcers say, ‘For the 4,000th show…,’

PG 10 • October 2021 • insiteatlanta.com

or whatever, and you’re getting ready to go on, so it doesn’t really register until you stop and think about it. That is an incredible milestone. I’ve been there for a lot of them. We’re trying to research now and see how close we can come to how many appearances I’ve actually made at the Grand Ole Opry. They checked it a year or so ago, and it was around 2600 appearances - but that’s just since they had computers.

I was a member for 30 years before they even had computers!

For performers such as yourself, it’s not hard work.

No, if you truly love what you’re doing, you don’t ever ‘work.’ A lot of nights you might not feel like going out there, but it’s not about you. It’s about those people that traveled several hundred miles to get there and laid down their hard-earned money. They came for a good show, so it’s about them.

Have you seen the lineup for the Opry 5000 show?

I have. I can’t imagine the chore the folks in the office have lining it up. This is something for history. No other radio show has broadcast this long. This is a unique American institution and we need to celebrate it. So many great people are coming. Bill Anderson is in three Halls of Fame and is a 60-year member of the Opry, so of course he’s going to be a treasure on that show. Connie Smith, I love that Opry sister with all my heart. Here lately, the way they’ve been lining up the show, it seems like in their effort to take somebody from each category, it’s either been Connie or me on the shows. We both miss hanging in the dressing rooms and getting to catch up on what all our families are doing. So, I’ll be glad to see her. Then with Vince Gill, I knew when they signed him that he would be such a credit to the Opry. He’s one of those people who we always called a triple threat. He could have made it as a musician or as a songwriter or as a singer. He’s just

And with the glut of product, the records might be forgotten by dinner.

But not if they’re good. See, that’s what matters. Are the songs as good now? I don’t know if you can get much better The Gatlins are on the bill. I know that than the tunes of the bygone era. Every you and Larry go way back. record was an incredible song. Used to be Yeah, we do. I just remember so well that you just had to sing it and boy, there when Dottie West was calling me and it was! You didn’t have to do too much to saying, ‘You have got to meet this young man.’ But that’s how it is with a family. You it because it was such a great song. But things keep moving. We just did a video treasure and love every minute. and a song with the Sitze Brothers [of the Flat River Band], who did [Gatlin’s Rudy, Ms. Seely told us a great story about Dottie West introducing her to your 1977 hit] “I Just Wish You Were Someone brother Larry. The Opry introductions I Love.” They went in and recorded in came shortly after for the studio where we you and Steve. at Creative THE GOOD THING IS, IT’S recorded, Rudy Gatlin: That’s Workshop, years ago, NOT GOING TO STOP. exactly right. That’s and we did the video at when Dottie brought THEY HAVEN’T MISSED A Tootsie’s. It’s an honor, Larry to town. His very SINGLE SATURDAY NIGHT a privilege, that they first night in town and listened, liked our OPRY SHOW IN 95 YEARS had he met Jeannie Seely music, recorded one of SO WE’RE HONORED TO our songs and then asked and Hank Cochran and Mickey Newbury.

BE ON IT. TO BE IN THAT us to be in the video.

It’s really good to know ESTEEMED BODY OF That’s a good night. that the music is still COUNTRY ARTISTS, GOOD carrying on.

Yeah, that’s a really good night!

GOSH. ALL I CAN SAY IS you recall your first IT’S GOING TO BE ONE Do The Gatlins survived Opry performance? It’s MORE GREAT SHOW. the shift from the ‘70s always a big moment. into the beginning of the Oh yeah, it was the one ‘80s, before everything changed and some Dottie West took us to, summer of ‘71. of the newer artists were brought into Larry had gotten to Nashville in early ‘71, the spotlight. and we got there that summer. She put us Well, when you look back on it, it on the Opry show. We went by Hundred changed from the ‘60s, it changed in the Oaks Mall and bought us some outfits.

‘70s, and then in the ‘80s it changed some I think I may have had five dollars in my more. Then in the ‘90s, here comes a whole pocket. So she bought our clothes for the new set of young artists. It just keeps show. They fit and felt real good in that evolving, as it should. We really enjoyed store. But that wool didn’t feel so good at making records, whole albums you really the Ryman! In 1971, you know it wasn’t air listened to. conditioned. We just melted, right there on stage. I think it was about 900 degrees in Like the Opry, you’ve survived the Ryman on that Saturday afternoon. So those changes. that was our welcome, right there. Whew, Yeah, it’s like I say, you can get you a but what a legacy! I wouldn’t trade it for song, get a guitar, put a hat on. Make an anything. What an incredible run we’ve all album, a video, get a website going with an had. The good thing is, it’s not going to stop. app and all, and you’ve got it going on. But They haven’t missed a single Saturday night guess what? Now, so can everybody else.

Opry show in 95 years so we’re honored I mean, back when they could only sign a to be on it. To be in that esteemed body of couple of artists a year, things were a lot country artists, good gosh. All I can say is different. There was a time when record it’s going to be one more great show. labels only signed a handful of new artists, a year. You had to be good and different The 5000th Opry Broadcast is Saturday, and ready to really do it all. They might October 30. For more information and to sign six or more people before lunch today. purchase tickets for the live performances, visit Opry.com/5000. got the whole package. His roots go back to old-style country music, so he’s a good part of the tradition.

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insiteatlanta.com • October 2021 • PG 11

MUSIC

SINGER. SONGWRITER. PRODUCER. FARMER? Jim Messina has Found the Balance Between Rock’n’roll and the Agrarian Lifestyle tractor and other implements that I need to use around the little farm that we have here.

My wife has decided to raise chickens, ducks, a horse and donkeys and my God, she’s got me employed! I actually have no compensation coming in on that level but I spend a good three or four hours a day working for her. But for that, she gives me some nice fresh farm eggs and a pat on the head, so I’m happy.

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

F

IFTY YEARS AGO NEXT MONTH, the debut album from Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina arrived on the scene.

Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina - Sittin’ In was originally intended as a crafty way to introduce listeners to singer-songwriter Loggins, with a collection of music produced by the already well-established multi-instrumentalist-songwriter-engineer Is this a new side of you - Jim Messina, the Jim Messina. singer/songwriter/producer/farmer?

The album quickly gained traction for both Well, I actually grew up in a lightly rural area, artists and by early-to-mid 1972, Loggins with chickens and rabbits and Messina’s harmonies and stuff like that. But when had meshed so well on I got older and decided that record and onstage, the was a terrible life, I moved to studio project became an October 11 • 8pm the city and started trying to entity unto itself. The new City Winery become whatever it is that duo soldiered on with a I’ve become. But now I’m citywinery.com/atlanta consistent string of top-40 back and I love it. hits throughout the bulk of the ‘70s. They sold over Now it makes sense. I remember you had a 16 million records with a string of successful big ranch and studio space out in Ojai for a singles including “Your Mama Don’t Dance,” long time.

“Thinking of You,” and “My Music.”

Yeah, I realized I wasn’t comfortable living Astute fans already knew Messina from his in the city as far back as 1974. That’s when previous work with Buffalo Springfield and I decided to buy the ranch out in Ojai, Poco but the high-profile pairing with relative California. It was about fourteen acres or newcomer Loggins raised the musicians to something like that. With the stress that was superstar status. When Loggins eventually going on in my life with Loggins and Messina splintered off for a well-deserved solo at that time, I needed to get out of town to career, Messina continued to issue a wealth where we could focus on making the kind of of introspective solo material via several music I thought we were capable of - instead major labels. of always trying to find someplace to rehearse Based in California for most of his life, without complaints we were playing loud Messina and his family finally relocated to music after 10 o’clock at night.

Tennessee three years ago, packing up his ranch, studio and instruments, trading it all Has the change of scenery affected in for the slower-paced world of the humid your songwriting?

South. The affable singer-songwriter recently Around here, people understand what I do spoke with INsite from his new home, just for a living. If I’m making a little noise, they outside of Nashville. just smile. I was actually surprised to see how embraced I was by the Nashville community.

Congratulations on the big move from They love my music, they support me as a the West Coast. How’s life treating you person and I love our neighbors. They care in Tennessee? about one-another and they care about nature.

Well, we moved here about three years ago But to be honest with you, I haven’t even had and in the process, I had to disassemble my time to write any songs. When we got here, I whole studio. So I’ve been working on putting had to start touring right away so it didn’t leave it back together, finding the right space for me a whole lot of time to just sit and write. it all. Then the garage became a wood and metal shop and a place for me to work on my Nashville surely hails you as a hero because

JIM MESSINA

PG 12 • October 2021 • insiteatlanta.com

and contemplate a question that needs to be that scene is so crazy about “Americana.” answered. That’s where it starts.

That broad genre leans heavily on what we used to call Southern California rock.

And now here you are about to take all that Well, I don’t know about me personally but music back out on tour. Has the past year I do agree there’s a lot of appreciation for or so been your longest time away from that kind of music here. I’m hearing a lot of the road? things that we’d already done in the ‘60s and In recent history, definitely. But there was a ‘70s, coming out again. But I think it’s natural time when I didn’t travel at all. I had a son and because when I was a kid, it was the people I needed to be there for him. I didn’t feel that coming from this direction that were teaching being away was the right way to be a father. See, me what I eventually did musically. Let’s face I had children later in life. I’m 73, my son just it, Ricky Nelson’s band had people like James turned 29 so that’s over 40 years before I had Burton and Joe Osborn, some great rockabilly my first child. Now I have a daughter who is 15 musicians. They ended up becoming a staple so now I know. But with him, I in the Wrecking Crew, later THERE’S A LOT MORE didn’t want to miss that part of known in Hollywood for doing TO LIFE THAN JUST his life at that point in my own. some of the greatest rock and BEING A ‘ROCK AND His mother and I had separated roll records. And let’s not forget Buck Owens and The Buckaroos ROLL STAR,’ IF YOU fairly early on and he needed who, in my mind, were the first WANT TO PUT IT THAT both of us there to see that he got country-rock band that I ever WAY, OR EVEN JUST A the best shot that he could. I just off the road for a while heard. He was a great influence WORKING MUSICIAN. stayed and I’m glad I did. But now I’m on me.

THERE’S GOTTA BE A getting ready for a brand-new BALANCE. I THINK I’VE tour and I must say I’m really Generally, your music has a FINALLY FOUND IT. looking forward to it. bright core of hope and positive energy to it - even though you How’s the setlist looking for the fall tour? were working during some very dark times It’s looking good. We’ve got some new from the civil unrest of the ‘60s, to Vietnam tunes in there like the trilogy [from 1972’s and Watergate in the ‘70s and now, during a Loggins and Messina album]. We’ll do songs global pandemic. like “Be Free” - as well as some of the country That’s very true. When I was younger, I stuff from Poco. Maybe we’ll add a Buffalo really thought I should say or do something Springfield tune here or there, it just depends to help bring about awareness. Basically I’ve on how I get it all set up. But we’ll definitely be always asked questions about what’s going doing songs from ‘Springfield, Poco, Loggins on. I’m not the kind of person that feels like I and Messina and of course, my solo albums. have any answers, so my way of dealing with some of that stuff was to simply to put out Sounds like a career-spanning show. Some the questions. artists tend to tire of their classic material, but you seem to truly embrace it.

Has your creative mindset changed over I do. But you know what? It’s who I am, the years? it’s what I am. You never know how long a After 73 years of life, I’m not sure anything career is going to last; you just can’t predict has really changed. I find we’ve become less anything. My feeling is, if you keep the aware, less conscious and more divided - to quality up and you keep the integrity of the the point to where it’s extreme on both sides. work going - but if you don’t make it your I’m not sure that anyone is exuding much whole life, it’ll all work out a lot better. That’s common sense when it comes to simple things like being aware of your neighbor, your why I’m a carpenter and a metal worker. I enjoy taking care of my own home, painting brother, or looking out for our best interests. and fixing things up on the farm. There’s a lot I find that sad for us as human beings so more to life than just being a ‘rock and roll I think that’s probably why I continue to star,’ if you want to put it that way, or even want to write and play music. I’d like to put just a working musician. There’s gotta be a something out there that people can listen balance. I think I’ve finally found it. to that either gives them some hope, some joy, some laughter or allows them to just sit

MUSIC

Saturday, November 6th

In Memoriam

RAINDROPS FALLING

11am-6pm • Downtown Kennesaw

52 years later, the B.J. Thomas Classic Resonates Anew

BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

W

HEN HE PASSED AWAY FROM lung cancer complications in May, B.J. Thomas left a legacy of hits that spanned several decades. The singer-guitaristsongwriter was famous for his pop, country, and Christian hits of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. His most popular recordings include “Hooked on a Feeling” (1968), “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” (1969) and “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song (1975).

Late last year, as he was gearing up to host a Time-Life special on ‘70s music, Thomas spoke with INsite about the Burt Bacharach-Hal David composed ‘Raindrops,’ arguably his best-known song, on the anniversary of its original release.

This month, we present some highlights of his remembrances on the 52nd year of its original issue on New York-based Scepter Records.

This month is another anniversary of Raindrops, so let’s talk about how it all came about.

Yeah, it came out in October of ‘69, and it was met with a lot of resistance. Life Magazine reviewed the movie. The movie didn’t come out until I guess around December of ‘69, but it got reviewed, and the song came up in the review. Of course, I couldn’t wait to read about it in my Life Magazine – at first. I went and got me a magazine and turned right to it. Movie review: “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” there it was. But they said, ‘Hey, it’s the worst song Bacharach and David have ever written.’

They said it should be on the cutting room floor and terrible things like that, so I was very disappointed to say the least. And radio resisted it. It was from Scepter Records in New York City and of course we wanted WABC, the number one station in the world, to play it. But they said, ‘No, we’re not going to play it. We can’t play that record,’ they said, ‘B.J. is singing a wrong note in the first verse.’

Tell us about the recording session. Obviously, Hal David was there for the recording, right?

Yeah, Hal was there. We did the bicycle scene for the film, it was, a very simple little thing done with a banjo and a guitar and a stand-up bass. When I went, to California to record that scene, I’d been on the road for three weeks doing one-nighters. By the time I got to California, I had to go to the doctor because my throat was hurting so bad. Thank goodness I had a few days off before the actual session.

I went to the doctor and he told me he didn’t want me to even speak for two weeks. He said, ‘You’ve got the worst throat I’ve ever seen.’ An acute case of laryngitis. So I said, ‘I’m going to go out there and I’m not going to say, ‘Ok, I’m sick.’ I’m going to go and see what happens.’

Finally the day arrived. And you showed up, of course.

Oh of course. I wasn’t about to miss it. I had a rehearsal scheduled at Mr. Bacharach’s house, and he could tell when I started singing something was the matter with my throat. He never said a word and he seemed to think it was great for what they wanted. Then we recut it about six weeks after we did the track for the movie, in New York at Columbia Studios - with a big orchestra. We did three takes, and they eventually put the three takes together. I just did the extended ‘me’ thing on the third take.

Finally it all worked out. The experience of

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being in a studio with Bacharach and David, with Bacharach conducting this huge orchestra.

It was something special.

But that wasn’t your first project with Burt. He was very active with the Scepter roster, right?

That’s true. I had been working with Burt, or Mr. Bacharach, for a few months before ‘Raindrops’ even came about. Gloria and I had moved to New York City and I had started working with him, just going over material and singing some things to find something for us to do for a session. When ‘Raindrops’ came up, I was in the right place at the right time. I just had “Hooked on a Feeling,” and everything worked out beautifully. When I started working with Burt, one of the things I think that I did, and of course I was encouraged by Bacharach, I asked him, I said, ‘Can I do my thing on this song?’

And he said, ‘B.J., after you’ve sung every note precisely as I’ve written it, if you’ve got room to do something, go ahead and do it.’ So yeah, I’d always kind of try and find a way to put some kind of my personal feeling here and there into whatever I did. I wasn’t very disciplined about what a writer would do - and note-for-note what a writer had written. But he was such a brilliant composer, maybe the best pop composer of all time. So I really learned a lot from just singing the notes as they were written. Then of course on the third take in New York, I had a little run, and I said, ‘I’m going to do something a little different on the word me at the end of this one.’

I kind of did a little lick on ‘me.’ Stretched it out a bit. But that’s the only thing I did that deviated from what he’d written.

Was he ok with it?

Well he kind of looked over, right when I did the ‘me’ thing, I was behind him on the vocal mic. He was directing and he kind of turned and looked at me for what felt like ten minutes. He looked at me and then he turned back around and brought the trumpets in with the whole ‘ba-da-da-da-da-da-da-da’ thing. So I didn’t know if he liked it or not. After that take, we took a little break and went into the control room. A lot of Scepter Records people there and of course my wife and Hal David and the great singer-producer Steve Tyrell and they were all just going crazy. ‘Oh, what a great note! What a great take.’ They were just overjoyed - and I really think that influenced him to take it. But he was always pushing the envelope creatively and I think the lyrics still hold up today. It would still be an appropriate record for now - because, I don’t know, when has the world ever not been crazy?

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Geoff Palmer

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(Rum Bar Records/Stardumb Records/ Memorable but not Honorable Records) Geoff Palmer and his Connection bandmate Brad Marino are doing more to keep Power Pop relevant in 2021 than just about any band not named Cheap Trick. Along with their shared group, both have been fairly prolific with solo efforts and Palmer’s latest may just be the genre’s based so far this year.

Charts & Graphs is a whiplash 10 songs, each hovering around the two-and-a-half mark leaving the listener both spent and exhilarated. It’s fast, hooky as fuck and undeniably entertaining. There are elements of garage rock throughout, as well as a solid lacquer of Pop Punk, but classic, hook-heavy singalong Power Pop form the basis for all of these songs.

From the opening track, the self-explanatory “Many More Drugs,” through the closing number, a brilliant cover of Tom Petty’s “The Apartment Song,” Palmer establishes a solid template of humor, addictive choruses and tight musicianship.

F. Scott And The Nighthawks Hold On To Your Heart

(Kiss The Sun) “Rock and roll is dead to you baby, but she’s alive to me,” sings F. Scott on “Moondogs & Nighthawks,” off the band’s debut LP Hold On To Your Heart. And just to hammer home the point, he and his band, The Nighhawks, go on to prove that sentiment nicely across 11 blistering tracks.

The album, a follow up to last year’s EP, show punk and country influences and more, with a particular nod to The Black Crowes on some of their dirtier boogie tracks. The album is punctuated with a wave of distorted chords, thundering drums and Scott’s fantastically emotive, gruff vocals that brings to mind Rev. J Peyton.

The Toronto based band balances out burn it down to the ground anthems (“Rattlesnake No BS Boogie” and “Moondogs & Nighthawks”), genuine love songs (“Stevie Girl”) with the occasional goofy singalong (“Shelf”).

It’s hard to pick standouts tracks here, as there are hardly any weak songs to be found, but the title song - a straight-ahead rocker with an addictive chorus - is an easy favorite.

Rock and roll clearly isn’t dead, baby.

Mike Younger

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(Self-Released) Mike Younger started recording Burning The Bigtop Down on January 15, 2001, cutting the first few tracks with two of the biggest legends in roots music, Luther Dickinson and Levin Helm. But shortly after, as the album progressed, Younger’s label eventually, inexplicably pulled the plug on the project. In

the years since, Dickinson passed away in 2009; Helms died in 2012 and lawyers for Younger and the label fought it out over broken contracts and a decent helping off fuck the artist and fuck his art while you’re at it.

But after hearing that the owner of the studio where the record was made had passed away as well, Younger tracked down the analog tape that housed the nine songs from his legacy, brought in the head of his musicians’ union to negotiate a deal and the music was finally back in Younger’s hands. He put the final touches on the music in Nashville earlier this year and the result is the remarkably satisfying Burning The Bigtop Down, an album that manages to be both timeless and remarkably of the moment. It’s a perfect blend of blues, rock and folk played with seemingly breezy execution that belie the brilliance of both the lyrics and the musicianship. To help add to the effect, Younger, Helms and Dickenson brought in members of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Bob Dylan’s band, the North Mississippi All Stars and Regina McCrary, of The McCrary Sisters, singing back up.

The title track - one of many stand out moments on this album - is taken from the 1944 Hartford Circus tent fire tragedy. Younger uses that event as a metaphor for our recent social upheaval. The record ends on “Desdemona,” a near perfect upbeat love song, slathered in a deep coating of swap organ.

Started two decades ago, this album is a triumph of dedication, perseverance, and unmatched stubbornness, and the music world certainly owes Younger a debt of gratitude for not letting it sit on a shelf a moment longer.

Justus Proffit Speedstar

(Bar None Records) Justus Proffit was raised on a healthy eclectic diet of genre agnostic music from his parents; everything from The Cure to TSOL. And while his initial instinct as a teen was to lean into hardcore and punk, even playing in a touring band with his siblings, his first solo effort was an experiment in lo-fi bedroom pop. And that’s a path Proffit is still on with Speedstar, his latest LP, and follow up to 2019’s LA’s Got Me Down, after a handful of EPs. Recorded in several sessions and studios, Speedstar sheds a lot of the noise and experimentation of his debut full length for a subtler approach that puts the spotlight more on his lyrics than the music. As a result, this is a far more consistently solid album.

Songs like the stripped down “Spitting On the Sidewalk,” and “Invitation Declined” are among his best to date. That’s not to say the record is all acoustic guitars and hushed vocals, but there is more of a vulnerability to these songs and the lyrics find Proffit getting more personal than he has in the past. His voice, front and center on this one, evokes Elliott Smith at times.

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