Pulse Magazine by Pulse Magazine

DEC. 2011

42 The Giving Tree Student-Athletes at Worcester Colleges Give Back

ON THE COVER Giving Back to the Community

IN THIS ISSUE THE COVER STORY

DINING & ENTERTAINING

REVIEW: Byblos Lounge

HOT AND NOW

ENTERTAINMENT

PULSEBREW Samuel Adams’ New Black & Brew Coffee Stout

Mark Hammil ~ From Star Wars to the “Regular Show”

Babycakes!

NOW SERVING: Hirosaki Prime

Organizations Making a Difference in Worcester Giving Isn’t Just for the Holidays, But They’re a Great Time to Start!

ENTERTAINMENT 14

Worcester’s Jeremy Carnrike ~ The Next Lex Luthor

An Interview with Mike Hranica of The Devil Wears Prada

PULSEFLICKS Hollow Skull Films

PULSEHUMOR The True Meaning of the Holidays? Finding the Humor!

UP AND COMERS CD: Dan Cloutier’s Blind Willie’s Lighthouse BAND: Laquerhead BAND: Swede

SPORTS & FITNESS 42

The Giving Tree Student- Athletes at Worcester Colleges Give Back

THE SKINNY

Eating Healthy During the Holidays Tips from Celebrity Nutritionist Kimberly Snyder

ART & CULTURE

PULSEBOOKS 1970s AC/DC Bassist Mark Evans’ Memoir Dirty Deeds

Worcester Native Colin Dodds’ Another Broken Wizard Now Available!

STYLE & BEAUTY

EXCLUSIVE ON-LINE CONTENT @ THEPULSEMAG.COM

Animals As Leaders on the Saints and Sinners Tour Leading Guitar Driven Music into the Future My DVD Shoot with Vanna Plus The Chariot, Lions Lions, Oceano, Mychildren, Mybride, Within The Ruins, and more REVIEW: Anthrax, Testament and Death Angel Prove 11-11-11 a Good Day for Metal TOURS AND NEW RELEASES LIFESTYLE Don’t Forget the Animals This Season!

Musician Paul Buono Modern Day Rolling Stone

PULSEWHEELS: Gifts for the Harley Lover Make it a Merry Metal Christmas

New Store Grime Has Fashion on the Cheap

Are You “Buddahful?”

ON CD 9 Left Dead’s The Wrong Things

Rock Your Soule

Young the Giant

B. Witching Has the Perfect Holiday Gifts

Rival Sons Pressure and Time

NEW! Dermablend Skin Perfector

CLUB & COFFEEHOUSE LISTINGS

COLLEGE

PULSEBEAUTYBAG

PULSE SHOTS

Clark University Explains “Why Torture Is Wrong and the People Who Love Them”

DINING & ENTERTAINING

GIRL’S GOT GAME Dark Souls

LIFESTYLE

Introducing the Emergency Medical Center Locator iPhone App STYLE & BEAUTY The RazorPit The Exclusive Holiday CLutch Kit

Worcester’s Hookah Hotspots

Cool Dorm Room Gadgets: The PowerSlick and the Dexim AppSpeed Monster

PULSEBREW: Samuel Adams’ Black and Brew

PULSEWEB Betches Love This Site

The Luxurious Royal Mink Electric Blanket

Ehrmann Launches Bavaria’s Finest Yogurttm

Paul Giorgio, Publisher Lara Dean, Sr. Editor Justin Perry, Art Director Katelyn Putelis, Graphics & New Media Designer Chris Reddy, James Korandanis, Aaron Walker, Account Executives David Simone, Sales Consultant Kim Dunbar, Sports Editor Elise French, Copy Editor Alex Kantarelis, Music Editor Frank Poulin, Special Concerts Photographer

Tine Roycroft, Jennifer Russo, Cristal Steuer, Bernard Whitmore, Steph Moore, Alex Kantarelis, Patrick Douglas, Rachel Shuster, Bruce Sullivan, Kimberly Dunbar, Sasha Fastovskiy, Sam Blier, P. Giorgio, Emily Kopec, Matt Holcomb, Cristal Steuer, Michael Walsh, Shelly Aucoin, Katey Khaos, Craig Lindberg, Elise French, Jason Savio, Rick Garner, Hillary Stone, Leslie Roberts, Writers

PULSE Magazine is produced 12 times a year by Pagio Inc., 88 Winter St., Worcester, MA 01604. (508) 756-5006. Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Pagio, Inc. does not hold itself responsible for statements made by any contributor. Statements or opinions expressed in Pulse reﬂect the views of the author(s) and not the ofﬁcial policy of the Pagio, Inc., unless so stated. Although all advertising material is expected to conform to ethical standards, acceptance does not imply endorsement by Pagio, Inc. unless so stated. Material printed in Pulse is covered by copyright. No copyright is claimed to any work of the U.S. government. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission. For information on permissions, reprints and other services, contact Pagio, Inc. Also by Pagio Inc.: Worcester Medicine, Vitality Magazine, Thepulsemag.com, Thevitalitymag.com, & TasteWorcester.com

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 5

ON THE COVER

Organizations Making a Difference in Worcester

Giving Isn’t Just for the Holidays, But They’re a Great Time to Start! By Tine Roycroft and Rachel Shuster

There are a number of amazing non-proﬁt organizations in Worcester and Worcester County that go above and beyond each day to make a difference. Their task has never been an easy one, but with funding cuts and so many people facing the hardships that come in a tough economy, it has become even more difﬁcult ~ as well as more necessary. Here are just a few snapshots of how the efforts of a few can positively affect the lives of many, along with ways that you can help. 6 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

ABBY’S HOUSE Being homeless is something no one should ever have to experience, but imagine being homeless with small children to care for. “Currently, we are seeing a lot of single moms with small babies,” reports Alex Kartheiser of Abby’s House. “We’re also seeing a lot of women, 40 – 50, who, due to the economy, lost their house or got a divorce or are ﬂeeing a terrible situation. Many of these women never even considered that one day they might be homeless.” Abby’s House provides shelter, low-income housing and advocacy for women ~ with and without children ~ who are homeless and in need of support. The shelter is open year-round and run by advocates and volunteers. Each woman who comes to Abby’s House is assigned an advocate who works to help, educate, and empower her. “We had a woman here who found out her husband was cheating on her and she decided to leave him,” remembers Kartheiser. “The woman then opted to use the money she received in the divorce to open a business. But the economy was bad and the business failed. She came to Abby’s. It was the ﬁrst time she had realized that she was homeless. She got into our affordable housing and stayed there for about two years. And now she owns another successful business. She moved out, got her own apartment ~ quite a success story. “

How You Can Help Abby’s House has many volunteer opportunities ~ from helping with their meal service to stafﬁng a shelter to working at

their thrift store. You can also support them by attending their fundraising events and making personal donations. For more ways to help, go to www.abbyshouse.org. Editor’s Note: Abby’s House was recently chosen as one of the 51 shelters in America to receive an interior paint transformation, made possible by Benjamin Moore Paints, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Paint and Decorating Contractors of America. Mayor O’Brien was even present for the “paint-over” which took place on November 17 and 18.

WORCESTER COUNTY FOOD BANK Hunger is a serious problem for many and the Worcester County Food Bank is doing its best to ﬁght against it. “In our last ﬁscal year, we found out that in our network of 150 agencies ~ pantries, soup kitchens and shelters ~ we provided assistance to just over 83,000 people,” says Jean McMurray, Executive Director. “That’s just counting each person one time. If we count how many times each of those individuals was helped, however, that total is around 420,000 people for just one year.” DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 7

O P E N

C H R I S T M A S

DAY

11 A M

MEATBALL

STRESSBALL

Stress less this holiday... leave your party to Buca This Holiday Season, think of Buca when planning office parties or family get-togethers. Whether you bring them to Buca, or bring Buca to them, we know how to feed a crowd.

SHREWSBURY | 7 BOSTON TURNPIKE ďż˝ 508.792.1737 pulse magazine Perfect for H O L I D AY G AT H E R I N G S

GIFT CARDS

BUCADIBEPPO.COM

PA R T Y PA N S TO G O

CERTIFICATE AND ASSOCIATE PROGRAMS ARE FORMING NOW: Culinary Arts Medical Assisting Emergency Medical Technician Business Office Administration Legal Office Administration

Medical Office Administration Accounting Medical Billing and Coding Office Support Specialist Massage Therapy - COMTA accredited

Call or Click Today!

am New Progr

MY O T O B E L PH Weeks! Only 5

888-569-9996

Day and evening classes are forming now | Career placement assistance

8 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

salter.edu

184 W. Boylston Street West Boylston, MA

The Worcester Food Bank serves as a centralized collection and distribution point for food donations from supermarkets, food drives, and the state and federal government. There, the food is checked for quality and taste, redistributed to the agencies located throughout Worcester County, and then made available to people. Recently, McMurray met a man who had come in for assistance. He’d worked in construction until one day when he entered the job site and was told that the business had gone under. With four teenage children at home and no paycheck coming into the house, he realized he was in a dire position. “He was so relieved we could help, but I could tell it was so very difﬁcult for him to ask,” says McMurray. “We always tell people to call us back if there’s anything else that we can do and for the most part, we really never get calls back so that tells me that they’re getting the help they need.”

How You Can Help The Worcester Food Bank welcomes volunteers to help out at their Route 9 location. Food drives and monetary donations are also helpful, as well as contacting elected ofﬁcials regarding the hunger problem. For more info, go to www.foodbank.org/homepage.php SECOND CHANCE ANIMAL SHELTER There’s nothing cuter than a litter of squirming kittens or tumbling puppies. However, if there aren’t enough safe, warm homes for all of these furry friends, a community is then faced with overpopulation ~ animals roaming the streets and living hard lives without human care, facing sickness, abuse, and often death. Second Chance Animal Shelter has a high-volume, low-cost spay and neuter clinic that is helping diminish the issue of overpopulation. The no-kill shelter actually has a van that drives to certain sites in Worcester, 5 days a week, to pick up scheduled animals for their procedures, making it that much more convenient for owners. “We’ve also been awarded a grant for a pilot program in which we’ll be going into elderly and low-income housing and providing free spay/neuter and eye care for their pets,” says Sheryl Blancato, president of the board of directors,. “We’ll update their vaccines and we’ll have food available if they need that as well. We’re picking four sites, two in Worcester and two in Southbridge.” Second Chance also goes into the public schools to teach children about how to care for animals, how to appreciate them, and how to be safe around them. And because of all of their efforts and good work, they have some wonderful success stories. “Molly [one of the pets] came to us with very severe eye issues,” remembers Blancato. “She was tearing so badly and because she’d never been taken care of, the whole orb of her eye was visible. We had to do multiple surgeries and skin grafts to make certain she was ok. But she’s ﬁne now and very spoiled.”

How You Can Help If you’d like to help, you can get involved with the spay/neuter program at the shelter.

Also, donations are always welcome and adoptions are always encouraged. For more info, go to www. secondchanceanimals.org/index.htm. (To learn about other shelters in the area, check out “Don’t Forget the Animals This Season” in this month’s Lifestyle section at www.thepulsemag.com!) HOPE LODGE A cancer diagnosis can be a terrifying, especially when you have limited ﬁnances. Many people live far away from the hospitals where they receive treatment, so in addition to the cost of the medical care, they need to pay for room and board, travel costs and gas. Luckily, Hope Lodge and the American Cancer Society are making this journey to health an easier one by providing free housing, food and transport ~ and a little more peace of mind ~ to their guests.

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 9

Women Build 2010, Millbury, MA

“Since 1985, we’ve saved people about $1.2 million,” says manager Debra Aharonian. “At Hope Lodge, we have nine beautiful bedrooms. We provide for the social and emotional needs of our guests and when they’re here, they’re not patients ~ they’re guests, and so are their caregivers. We have lot of wonderful friends in the community ~ such as Niche Hospitality ~ and they provide us with a beautiful, welcoming meal for our guests every Monday night.”

problem,” says Executive Director Harriet Lebow. A family needs to go through the Habitat for Humanity’s application process in order to be considered for a home and then they are entered into a lottery. Each home is built by volunteers who work alongside the family and each house has a mortgage that the family must pay. In exchange for receiving help, families then go out and help others through the program. And during the process, lives are changed forever.

Hope Lodge has touched the lives of many, but perhaps the most affected are those Aharonian calls their “frequent ﬂyers,” or people who have had bouts of the same cancer or who are involved in clinical trials.

According to Lebow, one homeowner’s son had behavioral problems at school, but after seeing Habitat’s volunteers help build a house for him and his family, his attitude changed.

“They’re like old friends. When they’re here, they feel like it’s their home away from home,” Aharonian says. “And every day I get to work with my heroes ~ people who are survivors.”

“The principal called up the mother and said one day that he had noticed a stark difference in the son’s behavior and attitude and performance in school. The mom attributed it to the son’s realizing that he needed to step up, seeing as how everyone else in the community was stepping up for him,” says Lebow.

How You Can Help There are countless ways to help support Hope Lodge, according to Aharonian. Groups or individuals come in and cook meals, people can fundraise, donate or offer to be Road to Recovery drivers ~ individuals who can drive HL vans back and forth to the hospitals. For more info, go to www.cancer.org/Treatment/SupportProgramsServices/ HopeLodge/Worcester/index

How You Can Help Habitat for Humanity is always looking for volunteers, monetary donations and donations-in-kind of building materials. For more information, go to www.habitatmwgw.org. WORCESTER TREE INITIATIVE

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY At one time, the “American dream” included owning a home ~ and it was an attainable goal. But with few jobs available and people accumulating large amounts of personal debt, that dream is becoming harder to reach. Affordable housing and even shelter space is lacking. Thankfully, Habitat for Humanity not only helps people become homeowners, but also educates them on how to keep their homes. “We bring private and public and individual resources together to do the home constructions and repair projects. We’re about putting a face on the need for affordable housing and bringing the public into solving the 10 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Helping people from all walks of life is an extraordinary mission, but Peggy Middaugh is also looking to provide the citizens of today and tomorrow with a lush and healthy environment with the Worcester Tree Initiative. “The Initiative was started in 2009 by Congressman James McGovern and Lt. Governor Tim Murray in response to the devastation caused by the Asian Long Horn Beetle,” Middaugh says. “We needed to have a very robust replanting effort in the city and to think even longer term than that.” The effort began with the hopes of giving away trees ~ ﬂowering, evergreen and large shade trees ~ for people to plant in their own yards

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 11

and teaching them how to care for their trees. Soon after, Middaugh began visiting Worcester-area public schools to plant trees in the schoolyards and teach children about how important they are. “We spend a week each season in public schools,” Middaugh says. “Our focus is always on education and we want to create long-term tree stewards. Whenever we go to the schools, we bring the city foresters with us and when the trees are planted, the kids take part and there’s a whole educational experience taking place around this. And while they’re still attending that school, they will be the tree stewards tor that tree.” The Worcester Tree Initiative recently launched a program called the Neighborhood Tree Stewards for people who have the love of trees in their hearts. They will be responsible for taking care of trees and reporting back to the Initiative about their well-being. There will also be a number of upcoming tree- “Over 90% of our high school seniors graduated from high school last year and are attending college this fall! We care workshops offered. believe our staff and mentors, along with great career counseling and education programs, help our kids succeed.” Liz Hamilton, Director of Development, Boys and Girls Club

How You Can Help The Worcester Tree Initiative is always looking for volunteers and monetary donations. For more info, visit www.treeworcester.org. BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF WORCESTER

Just because a family isn’t facing homelessness or chronic hunger does not mean that they aren’t in need of community support, especially if children are involved. “More and more families are telling us that they are losing their jobs, or, if they’re able to get a job, it pays less than what they were paid a few years ago,” says Director of Development Liz Hamilton. “Parents are also losing their vouchers; they’re not able to afford day care right now.” For over 122 years, the Boys and Girls Club has been helping the youth of Worcester get the opportunities they need and deserve in order to become outstanding members of the community. Through art, dance, athletics, music, mentoring and providing each child with stability and consistency, the organization helps create strong, smart and determined kids who are ready to change the world. Annual membership is $25, but even if a family cannot pay, the child is accepted on scholarship.

AFRICAN COMMUNITY EDUCATION In 2006, it became apparent to Kasko Yawo that children in the Worcester County community who were refugees or immigrants from Africa were experiencing severe gaps in their education. Not only were they so very far from home (many living with American foster parents), but they weren’t able to perform at their respective grade levels. Yawo began the African Community Education effort ~ an organization that holds all-day education sessions each Saturday, has homework groups each weekday, and goes above and beyond to teach the kids about their own African culture. And all of the programs are free of charge. “The children LOVE it! You won’t believe it. They more than love it!” exclaims Yawo “One of the things that we do to keep the community going is that the ladies in the community who cook African food, they cook every Saturday for the children’s lunch. So we all share the African food, the African dance and do other activities. Sometimes the children don’t even want to go home ~ you won’t believe how much they love it!”

“We’re really proud of our growing arts program,” says Hamilton. “We have an actual art suite with a music room, a recording studio, and an arts room. We also have staff who provide keyboard and drumming lessons to children, and we have an incredible dance program as well.”

In addition to making certain the kids are doing well in school, the African Community Education effort also has college prep courses and translation services for adults so that parents from Africa can take a very active and informed role in their children’s public school education.

Success stories are prevalent here, but one that comes to Hamilton’s mind immediately is that of a young girl named Theresa. She was moved from foster home to foster home, but BGC served as a stable force in her life and a place where people believed in her. Today, she is a junior at Clark University and still returns to the Boys and Girls Club to help kids like herself.

How You Can Help Monetary donations are welcome, as the organization’s funding was recently cut and two teachers were let go. Several children are on the ACE waitlist as well. Volunteers are always welcome. Go to www.acechildren.org. for more information

How You Can Help The Worcester Boys and Girls Club always welcomes donations and volunteers. For more information, go to www. bgcworcester.org.

America’s veterans have fought for our freedom, our safety, our rights and our futures. Yet the issue of homelessness among our veteran population is a serious one. Across the United States there are 300,000 veterans experiencing homelessness, and every night as many as

12 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

VETERAN’S INC.

200,000 veterans ﬁnd themselves without a place to sleep. In Massachusetts alone there are about 7,500 homeless veterans. For over 20 years, Veterans Inc. has been the largest provider of services for veterans and their families across New England. According to Amanda Riik, public relations manager of Worcester’s Veterans Inc., the organization has been able to design a clinical case management approach to address the “total veteran.” They consider the health and wellness, job training, and employment and housing needs of each veteran. They also provide supportive services ranging from transportation to legal advice.

Toys for Tots (which is a national program) is particularly important because each year during the holiday season it collect toys at different donation locations and distributes them as gifts to children in the community who would otherwise not have any presents to open and enjoy. And making sure that kids in Worcester County are taken care of is job 1.

“One of our past female clients said the following,” shares Riik: “Veterans Inc. has made it possible for me to get back on my feet and start moving forward with my life again. When you have a child and are homeless, you still want to stay upbeat so they feel like everything is okay. Veterans Inc. has become a safe and nurturing home environment for us. Without the support I have received so far I would still be moving around from place to place.’”

The SSAMA will kick off their involvement with Toys for Tots on December 1st with a tree lighting ceremony at East Park on Shrewsbury Street, open to the public at 5pm. “At the ceremony, we have Santa light the tree, the City View school choir sings, local ofﬁcials attend, the Marines put on a parade and we have food and hot chocolate,” Kelly says. You can also bring your toys to the ceremony!

How You Can Help There are countless ways to help our local veterans. You can volunteer or begin a donation drive, give monetary donations or explore their Wish List. For more info, visit www.veteransinc.org. THE SHREWSBURY STREET AREA MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION: GIVING BACK WITH TOYS FOR TOTS By Rachel Shuster The Shrewsbury Street Area Merchants Association (SSAMA) in Worcester makes giving back a priority. This holiday season, the nonproﬁt, volunteer-staffed organization will again participate in the annual Toys for Tots event. Lori Kelly ~ Treasurer and 7 year member of the SSAMA and Vice President for People’s United Bank ~ along with Lisa Albano-Selzo, CoVice President and 10 year member of the SSAMA and designer at Light Lab on Shrewsbury Street ~ believe in the power of this organization and its positive impact on the Worcester community.

“Everyone in the community may have different opinions, but one thing remains, we all want to help children in need,” Albano-Selzo says. When Belmont Street School got broken into, the SSAMA raised money to help get it back to its rightful state.

“The Toys for Tots program really gives back to the Worcester area children directly and builds awareness in the community. It doesn’t matter who you are or if you have kids,” Albano-Selzo says. Other events and projects the SSAMA take on include maintaining the 7 gardens on Shrewsbury Street, raising money to put on such events as the Taste of Shrewsbury Street, Shrewsbury Street Oktoberfest, Shrewsbury Street College Shufﬂe, and the Shrewsbury Street Walk and Rock. The SSAMA has worked closely with Pulse’s own Paul Giorgio to make several of these events a success with additional advertising and sponsorship. In the future, the SSAMA hopes to add more gardens and continue to donate money all around. “We’ll do whatever we can to make lives better and have people stay here in Worcester,” Kelly says. Despite how busy it keeps them, the SSAMA is proud of their work. “The rewards are absolutely worth it,” Kelly says.

How You Can Help Visit www.shrewsburystreet.com and www. toysfortots.org for more info, including drop-off locations.

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 13

ENTERTAINMENT

Worcester’s Jeremy Carnrike The Next Lex Luthor By Sam Blier

There’s something about Worcester that seems to either breed or draw multi-talented creative types. Maybe there’s something in the water? Whatever it may be, Worcester-born Jeremy Carnrike illustrates the point. Jeremy is a singer, songwriter, multiinstrumentalist, actor, director and producer. He fronts the local band East Coast Runaways and is slated to play Lex Luthor in an upcoming Superman fan film (by fans, for fans) that’s shooting in Texas. Jeremy, 31, began playing music at the tender age of eight, and attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston to study drumming. While there, he also spent time playing the piano and guitar. Growing up, he was exposed to a wide variety of music (pop, metal, rock), but Nirvana changed his life. A band-mate of his introduced him to the grunge gods in the early 90s and you can hear the influence in the music he creates today. But Jeremy is anything but one-dimensional; his band East Cost Runaways does some hip-hop crossover songs that allow him to reach back to his pop roots. You can catch East Coast Runaways and their unique sound at some of the best joints for live music in Worcester. They often play The Lucky Dog, Ralph’s Diner, Tammany Hall and Hotel Vernon, but most Wednesday nights they can be found trying out new material for their upcoming album at The Raven. But back to the Superman stuff. Let’s get this out of the way right now; Jeremy is a huge Superman aficionado. He’s such a fan that 14 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

he spends his spare time writing his own Superman movie script and frequenting Superman fan websites. It was on his favorite Superman fan site that, like a dream, he saw a post from someone looking to ﬁll the role of Lex Luthor in an upcoming movie. Jeremy had always wanted to play Clark Kent, but standing less than six feet tall and having a healthy dose of natural red hair, he was resigned to the fact that he’d more than likely never get the chance. So out of spite, he turned his desires to playing Superman’s arch-nemesis. Jeremy had even written a script, true to the original Superman story line, with himself playing Luthor. After submitting headshots and examples of previous work, Jeremy scored an audition. Thanks to his previous acting experience and his willingness to go completely bald, he landed the part of his dreams. Superman: The Golden Child, directed and produced by Andrew List, is set to be released next year. It is a present-day interpretation of the classic story that promises to stay true to the legend. This fan ﬁlm is made possible by the blood, sweat, tears and dollars of Superman fans like Jeremy. If you’re interested, you can get involved too. They’re still looking for cast and crew, so check them out at www.supermangc.com. For more information on East Coast Runaways, check out www.eastcoastrunaways.com. Photo courtesy of Rilla Bailey for RMB Illistrations, 2011

An Interview with Mike Hranica of The Devil Wears Prada By Katey Khaos

From Dayton, Ohio comes one of America’s greatest metalcore bands, The Devil Wears Prada. They’ve recently released their fourth full-length studio album, Dead Throne, which was partially recorded close by in Westﬁeld, Massachusetts.

The title “The Devil Wears Prada” is famous as both a novel and a movie (and, of course, a metalcore band!) ~ why did the guys choose it as their name? Hranica jokes, “We’re just massive fans of Mom-ﬁction-literature.”

About a month before Dead Throne was released, TDWP released a limited edition comic/CD combo set entitled Zombie EP, which is unlike anything TDWP had done before. What were the main inspirations for the Zombie EP? “Just to have fun writing something different. It was something that would present us with a bit of challenge, but also give fans and listeners something new and fresh before we released the next full length,” says Hranica. “We thought doing a comic book as a companion to the Zombie EP was a natural and ﬁtting idea.” Hranica later went on to say how his idea for a zombiethemed disc came after reading Max Brooks’ The Zombie Survival Guide in 2009. If you can manage to get your hands on the comic, I strongly suggest checking it out!

TDWP identiﬁes themselves as a Christian band ~ so does the fan base for TDWP differ from that of a non-religious band? Hranica doesn’t think so: “We’re very open to fans regardless of their beliefs, and that’s something we’ve been all about since we started to play bigger shows.”

What does TDWP have planned for the future? Here’s some good news ~ after returning from Australia, TDWP will be tearin’ it up on stages across the U.S., including The Palladium’s on December 14th! “I’m very excited to get back onto a stage and play some shows,” Hranica admits.

While recording Dead Throne, did any of the guys in TDWP pick up any Massachusetts habits? Hranica admitted, “We did, actually! Some crazy language, that’s all I’m going to say.” That’s not the ﬁrst time an out-ofstate band has commented on our wicked “hahd-coah” lingo! That’s just another reason MA is awesome, right?

Alright, Mike, last question: if your famous last words were a lyric from one of TDWP’s songs, what would it be? “Simply put, “Holdfast.”’

Before the band kicked off the overseas portion of their tour that begins in Australia, I had the chance to talk with guitarist/vocalist Mike Hranica and answer some questions sent in by Pulse readers!

Don’t miss The Devil Wears Prada when they come to Worcester, and for more information, be sure to check out www.tdwpband.com!

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 15

PULSE Films

Hollow Skull Films By Alex Kantarelis

Some talented people have stepped out of the shadows of Hollywood to create their own company ~ Hollow Skull Films ~ that totally embraces our local community of filmmakers in Massachusetts. The non-profit film production company was the brainchild of college students who just wanted to step out and make something happen. The company’s goal is simple: they want to help aspiring young filmmakers hone their talent by guiding them in a way that a normal film job or internship cannot., lending a guiding hand with equipment, funding, and the overall organization that is required when working on a production, things that most people can’t afford on their own. One of the challenges of the film industry is finding a way to reach your goals ~ and that’s assuming you know what your goals are in the first place. Everyone wants to make movies, but it’s tough to decide which aspect of a film ~ and there are literally hundreds ~ is the best fit to pursue. That’s where Ali Caine comes in. The Sturbridge native is the COO and chairman of Hollow Skull Films, and ~ along with partners Alex Hagen (CEO and President), and Brandon Muir (CFO and Treasurer) ~ has found a way to help the young, talented, ambitious filmmakers realize what they want to do ~ and just as importantly, what they don’t want to do. For example, someone may think that he or she wants to be a producer, and then, while working on a Hollow Skull project as a director of photography, realize that photography is actually his true passion. In the “real world,” this person would have to work as a production assistant, which is industry slang for “coffee getter;” he’d never have the chance to focus his talent and attention and realize his dream. Hollow Skull works very hard to sectionalize the crew and production team, giving everyone a specific job so that they learn exactly what it takes to work within that position on a film. “You get to focus on just your stuff, and you don’t end up spreading yourself thin,” Caine said. At one point, a film Caine was working on needed a horse for a scene. Because her job was to be the producer and nothing more, she was able to focus solely on the task at hand. “If I were producing, directing, and worrying about editing, I’d never be able to do something like that.” With this approach, HS gets the most out of each member of the crew, and if a Hollow Skull “graduate” decides to move to Los Angeles to become a Production Assistant, he’ll be a step ahead of other P.A.s who never had the opportunity to gain real, valuable, specialized film set experience. Surrounding themselves with creative minds, the Hollow Skull crew got together earlier this year to work on one insanely ambitious project: the goal was to make a film in only 72 hours. They pulled in 10 people and started at noon with nothing more than the idea of making some kind of horror movie. “We started writing at about noon, had a script by 6 o’clock and started shooting around 7. We had wrapped by midnight the next day,” Caine said. The finished product ~ This Could Be Love ~ came together unbelievably fast, and premiered in a Boston theater just 72 hours after the original idea started.

16 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Alex Hagen filming pick-up shots throughout Plymouth for summer 2010’s Even at Our Worst (Photo Credit: Ali Kane) Making a movie in just 3 days isn’t the only thing feather in Hollow Skull’s cap. Before that, they’d put together a film called Casanova Baby that they finished earlier this year. The 10 minute short was an exploration of adolescent love and at times the production had a crew of up to 60 people. And if by now you’re wondering where the name Hollow Skull comes from, Ali explains: “Hollow Skull is a completely random name. Alex has a tattoo on his wrist of the Alkaline Trio logo and a friend of ours came up with the name based on that. Also it’s kind of like “empty headed” or dumb, which is basically what Alex writes about and we both have our idiotic tendencies. Honestly, it doesn’t mean much of anything.” Expect to see much more from Hollow Skull ~ who are anything but emptyheaded ~ in the months to come. Be sure to check them out on Facebook for more information. Their videos are available on their vimeo page. www.facebook.com/hollowskullfilms www.hollowskull.com www.vimeo.com/hollowskull www.twitter.com/hollowskullfilm www.lenscapsomething.tumblr.com

PULSE Humor

The True Meaning of the Holidays?

Finding the Humor! By Michael Walsh

To quote a good friend of mine named Chuck, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what [PC Police edit] is all about?!” Before I respond, why don’t we hear from the panelists. Linus?

“Ye shall ﬁnd the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Nope, sorry kiddo. Religion is not the answer we were looking for. Arnold?

“I’m not a pervert! I just was looking for Turbo Man doll!” Nope, nice try, Terminator, but it’s not about gifts. Ralphie?

“I want an ofﬁcial Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air riﬂe!” Are you kidding? You’ll shoot your eye out, kid. Moving on…oh wait. Ebenezer, you have something?

“Bah Humbug.” Of course. After 22 holiday seasons, I’ve found that the holiday season is all about finding humor in unusual places. Ponder this; I have participated numerous times in an event called Tuba Christmas. Every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, 100+ tuba players meet up and play festive tunes outside Faneuil Hall. On the surface, it is for charity. Under the surface, it is just plain awesome. I am also the kid who pleaded with Santa for Pow Pow Power Wheels every December ‘til I started growing facial hair. Seriously, think about the people whose electric bills skyrocket just so that you are forced to rubberneck to take in the their state-of-the-art, motion-detecting reindeer display that they have up mid September through March. And they don’t even have kids. Go figure. Ever try to get a five year old to leave a kippah on his head? Mothers train us from a young age about how to dress this time of year. Itchy turtleneck? Check. Flannel lumberjack? Check. Homemade 100% wool sweater the likes of which would make Mr. Rogers squirm? Check. 100% discomfort? NOW you’ve got the holiday spirit. Try not to scratch yourself too much. We choke down enough egg nog to get drunk so we can’t taste the fruitcake, then we are practically legally bound to swap spit with a complete stranger or an over-zealous relative (Yes, Aunty Sarah does have some wandering hands!) because there’s a little holiday leaf hung over the door entrance. Good luck finding a kosher hangover cure.

Ever watch your sports-fanatic dad try to smile and embrace the pink slippers your grandmother bought him? Secretly, I think grandma may have bought them just to see her son squirm. There is so much unintentional humor when we give gifts that reality need never look further for its next hit. Giving your emo nephew a Hollister gift-card or your tomboy niece a pretty floral dress can really cause some strain in the relationship… We should also recognize the holiday season for what it really is: a competition to see who can start the most household fires. Catholics had an early lead back when they were lighting candles on evergreen trees in their living rooms. Since then they have moved to the conservative “four candle on a wreath” method ~ but hey, flammable is still flammable. With Hanukkah, the Jewish faith holds the current lead ~ eight days worth of candles is literally playing with fire. Oye. Kwanzaa was created in the ‘60s and is not backed by religion. Not to be outdone however, observers ignite their own seven candle device in hopes of catching up to the BCS holidays. OK, Ebenezer you get one more shot at this thing. “But now I KNOW that I don’t know anything!” My work here is done. Happy Holidays… and no regifting those pink slippers, Dad. DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 17

18 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Dan Cloutier’s Blind Willie’s Lighthouse By Matthew Holcomb

Massachusetts native Dan Cloutier’s latest release, Blind Willie’s Lighthouse, conjures up distinctly New England aesthetics with deeply personal tales summoned from his own experience. The album’s title is an homage to gospel-blues singer-songwriter Blind Willie Johnson, the forceful drive behind the folk-rock record ~ and Cloutier’s admiration for Johnson indeed shines throughout the album’s 13 tracks. Amidst stormy seas, one clearly can perceive the strobe of the shore mounted lighthouse. If it seems a bit peculiar that such unmistakably New England lyrical images were fueled by the music of a blind, Texas born gospel-blues songwriter, it shouldn’t: stirred by Johnson’s lyrics and music, Cloutier compiled songs that are markedly New England in theme, but with Johnson’s storytelling essence providing a guiding light along the way. “He has been a huge influence on me, although I don’t sound a lot like him,” said Cloutier “I appreciate the way he goes about writing songs. He sings gospel blues but Blind Willie is first guy I heard that didn’t sound like recycled gospel music. It sounded like gospel music being sung in the middle of a bar.” Cloutier’s album has been released through his own record label, Birch Beer Records, a collaboration with singer-songwriter Kim Jennings, sparked by the mutual need to promote their own musical endeavors . Fueled by strong fan support, Birch Beer Records is continuing to make a name for itself, adding three local music acts since the company’s inception in 2009. Birch Beer Records campaigns fiercely to support local music ~ hosting a Facebook page with over 10 thousand fans devoted to music in Massachusetts. Cloutier has formed a wealth of friendships, both with fellow musicians and local music lovers: “I think that [camaraderie] in itself is a major benefit of the local music scene,” said Cloutier “You meet people and you build relationships. Local music allows you to not just be a passive observer but an active part of something. “ For more on Blind Willie’s Lighthouse and Birch Beer Records, visit www.birchbeerrecords.com.

Lacquerhead

Swede

By Jennifer Russo

By Alex Kantarelis

It’s Friday night and you’ve had one hell of a work week. Maybe you had some crazy deadline to meet or maybe you didn’t put a cover on your TPS reports and had to hear about it all day long. Maybe your boyfriend or girlfriend is on your case and suddenly sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher. I came across them on a Friday night just like that as they were playing the Lazy Dog in Marlboro a few years back. There was the chalk board with neon writing telling me which live band I would be listening to as I downed my Captain and diet. Lacquerhead…hmm okay ~ my response was probably the same as yours would be ~ first, “What kind of name is that for a band?” and “Oh great…it’s another cover act.” Well…Lacquerhead IS a cover band, yes. There’s a music teacher, an audio company representative, a furniture restoration business owner and an optician and they get together and play songs that we all know and love. Here’s the thing, though ~ these guys are good. REALLY good. That night, I was incredibly entertained, amazed that they pulled off all the songs they did and I danced with some 80 year old drunk guy that I was certain wouldn’t make it through the night without CPR. It was a blast! According to Dave DeLuco, their favorite songs to cover are “…the ones that make women want to dance and take their clothes off ~ like “Sex on Fire,” “Possum Kingdom,” and “Hella Good.” The band practices once a week in what Dave tells me is a “notoriously smelly barn in Metrowest.” They have a certain quirky edge to them and try to step away from doing cliché cover band songs like “Sweet Home Alabama.” As for the weird band name, Dave explains that “It’s actually a song name from the band Primus, but at one point most of the band members worked in the furniture refinishing industry…so basically it was a horrible idea from the get-go.” Nevertheless, they have made a name for themselves in the area and always pack the house. So if you see them pop up on a bar chalkboard near you ~ definitely grab another beer and stay awhile. You’re in for a great night. For more info and a show schedule, check out Lacquerhead on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lacquerheadrocks or on their official website: www.lacquerheadrocks.com Note: When they heard that the cover story for this December issue is all about people and organizations doing really great things with their time ~ volunteering their services and committing their time to help others and to promote truly good causes, the band wanted to share that they do a good number of charity shows each year and that “To be perfectly clear, WE HATE CANCER.” Rockers with heart ~ gotta love it!!

Eric Jernstrom ~ no stranger to the Worcester scene with metal roots in Rawhead Rex and Beware the Ides ~ is back with a solo project that has turned into a full band called Swede. Jernstrom spent many years playing metal, but during that time he was furiously working on his own, slightly softer, material. “I would always write acoustic songs on the side, by myself, to satisfy my cravings for a more melodic, sensitive part of my soul that I couldn’t really pull off or release within the heaviness of the bands that I was in at the time,” Jernstrom said. As luck would have it, he ran into Jeff Royds, creator of NEGB1. com, not too long ago. Royds encouraged him to start crafting his songs and to get out and play some of them live ~ and was just the kick in the ass he needed to get things started. “So I put together a band of fabulous players ~ Chris Brophy (bass), Randy Valley (guitar), and Jason Gates (guitar) ~ and have been hitting the scene now for about a year and it’s going amazingly well,” Jernstrom shared. Now Swede just needs a new percussionist to ﬁnalize its lineup. Recently the band planned on hitting the studio to record with engineer Jim Foster at Foster Studios in Framingham, but unfortunately had to cancel. Jernstrom described Foster as “…an amazing engineer,” and hopes they can still work together soon. Fans have been patiently awaiting a studio release, hanging on to a few live recordings up on NEGB1.com and catching the band live with Eric Johnson at Gillette Stadium’s Showcase Live. Jernstrom is thrilled about bringing his one-time side project into reality: “The best part about being in this band is being able to be myself and make my songs a reality…being able to write and craft music with some of the most amazing players I’ve ever had the opportunity to jam with. Meeting some awesomely talented and humble people and being able to share the stage with them has truly been a blessing. I wouldn’t trade any of those experiences for the world.” For more, check out ericjernstrom.com, NEGB1. com, and do a search for “Eric Swede Jernstrom” on YouTube.

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 19

PULSE

Books

1970s AC/DC Bassist Mark Evans’ New Memoir Dirty Deeds By R. Peltier

Former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans ~ who joined the band when it was just a local act in Australia in 1975 and remained part of the classic lineup through several international tours and multi-platinum records ~ has written Dirty Deeds: My Life Inside/ Outside AC/DC, the first insider account of the Bon Scott era of the band. This “honest and comical look at AC/DC’s rise to the upper echelons of hard rock” is published by Bazillion Points Books (“America’s smallest but heaviest book publisher”). The young AC/DC’s merciless approach to playing rock ‘n roll music is laid bare during the making of 1977’s Let There Be Rock LP, as Evans writes: “Recording what was to become Let There Be Rock necessitated the same “hothouse” conditions as T.N.T. and Dirty Deeds: get in there and get it done, today. As with all the AC/DC recordings with which I was involved, we were working to a tight schedule. Two weeks to write, arrange and record an album. It was a mammoth effort by Bon Scott and Malcolm and Angus Young to put the material together in such a short time. We had a week and a bit to get the backing tracks down, the same time for the vocals, solos and any patching up that was necessary. The studio drill was really an extension of the band live: cut the crap and get on with it. I was bloody lucky. I was getting an amazing inside view on how to put a rock-and-roll record together, and in a f-ckin’ hurry, too.” He continues, “The high point of the recording was the title track, ‘Let There Be Rock.’ That’s an epic, with drummer Phil Rudd going flat to the boards for the entire six-plus minutes. Watching him cut that one in the studio was amazing…We did a couple of takes in a row, with just a quick breather between the two, a minute at the most, and away we went again. It’s my recollection that we used the second of those two takes. The pressure was really on to deliver a great AC/DC album. And Let There Be Rock was the sound of us stepping up. A hell of a lot had happened to AC/DC since recording Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. All that touring had changed us. Our new back line of Marshall gear gave the band more muscle; we sounded more aggressive, meaner ~ and definitely louder…it was a bigger, badder AC/DC. It’s still one of my favorite AC/DC albums, just behind Powerage and my all-time favorite, Highway to Hell.” 20 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Dirty Deeds: My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC, is the first bio written by a band insider during AC/DC’s early years, a true-to-life storybook of the struggles and friendships that fueled the rise of hard rock’s most successful group. Mark Evans provides a downto-earth, street-level view of Malcolm Young, Angus Young, Phil Rudd, and the late Bon Scott through stories involving such rock and roll icons as George Harrison, Gene Simmons, Phil Lynott, Black Sabbath, Rose Tattoo, Ahmet Ertegun, and Metallica. To this day, controversy surrounds the popular bassist’s exclusion from AC/DC’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Towards the end of the memoir, Evans addresses the confounding experience of being an announced “foundation inductee” of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 2002 and then in short order being disinvited six weeks later, prevented from joining the group of past and present band members honored. Evans addresses the events in detail in Dirty Deeds: “At first, the Hall of Fame was full of positive signs: I was given dates, details of the induction at the Waldorf Astoria, the arrangements to be made. They said they’d be in contact and get the information to me. But then the temperature turned chilly. When we did get a reply, it was simply to announce that the Hall of Fame had seen fit to review the nomination and had come to the conclusion that I didn’t qualify. I was out. Let me just say that the band richly deserved to be in the Hall of Fame. It was way overdue. Bon had to be included, of course, as well as the current lineup. And I had absolutely no problem with not being included; in the AC/DC timeline I was there for only a brief time-an important time in my opinion, but a heartbeat by comparison with Cliff Williams’s thirtyyear-plus tenure. What I found galling was the Hall of Fame’s attitude. If a mistake was made, fine, then they should have dealt with it. A simple apology or at least an explanation would have been appreciated.” For more information, and to order, visit www.dirtydeedsbook.com

PULSE

Books

Worcester Native Colin Dodds’ Another Broken Wizard Now Available! By Hillary Stone

Back in April of 2010, we introduced you to then-32 year old Colin Dodds, born in Worcester and the author of the yet-to-be-picked-up-by-a-publisher book Another Broken Wizard. Well, a lot has changed since then. Colin’s writing has appeared in a number of periodicals ~ including The Wall Street Journal Online, Folio, Explosion-Proof, Block Magazine, The Architect’s Newspaper, The Main Street Rag, The Reno News & Review and Lungfull! Magazine. Two books of his poetry ~ The Last Man on the Moon and The Blue Blueprint ~ are now available from Medium Rare Publishing. One of his screenplays, Refreshment – A Tragedy, was named a semi-ﬁnalist in 2010 American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest. Before he died, the great Norman Mailer wrote about one of Colin’s novels that it showed “…something that very few writers have; a species of inner talent that owes very little to other people.” And, as we predicted it would be, Another Broken Wizard is now available

wherever books are sold online: as an e-book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. That means you can read it on a Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPhone, Sony reader, personal computer and nearly any telephone that doesn’t plug into the wall: www.amazon.com/Another-Broken-Wizard-ebook/dp/B005FA2Z58/ref=sr_1_1? s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312134660&sr=1-1 www.barnesandnoble.com/w/another-broken-wizard-colin-dodds/ 1104578452?ean=2940013157194&itm=1&usri=dodds%2bcolin www.smashwords.com/books/view/77856 Here’s a synopsis to remind you what Another Broken Wizard is all about:

Another Broken Wizard is the story of Jim Monaghan, who really didn’t want to go back to Worcester. But his sudden unemployment and his father’s open-heart surgery forced his hand. After his daily trips from the hospital, Jim seeks out his childhood best friend, Joe Rousseau. But Joe has a big problem ~ feud with a local gang ~ and his plan to resolve the matter only makes things worse. Tending to his father and embarking on an ICU romance during the day, Jim tries to help his friend at night. He follows Joe into Worcester nights defined by drugs, guns and fistfights. As the danger escalates, Jim makes a painful choice to save his friend… And then he has to live with the consequences. For more, check out http://anotherbrokenwizard.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/the-places-you-can-go.

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 21

Dark Souls By Katey Khaos

Who’s ready from some psychologically damaging gaming?! Like its predecessor, Demon Souls, Dark Souls is what I’d call a “good for you game.” You’re going to hate playing it, even to the point where you’re tempted to throw your console out the window. However, it’s the small triumphs of defeating a boss that will give you such satisfaction that you’ll continue playing. The game begins by having you select from the usual array of character classes, each with their own advantages and disadvantages: cleric, hunter, pyromancer, warrior, etc. You’ll then go on your way to fend off the undead, skeletons, and ~ if you survive those guys ~ even some dragons. Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong. Anyone who expects to buttonmash her (or his) way to victory in this game is going to be sadly disappointed. I should mention one thing now: you’re going to die...a lot. To be fair, you kind of start off dead ~ “hollowed,” if you will. You can ﬁnd humanity (a resource that allows you to revert from undead form back to human) in the game and use that to make yourself human again, but if (or should I say when) you die the next time, you’ll

22 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

once again be hollowed. By the way, you’re actually going to want to be human since you can do a whole lot more in the game as a human... but you’re still going to die. In short, Dark Souls throws you into a medieval world that you know little to nothing about ~ with no map ~ and it’s up to you to figure out how to navigate through it. Your job is to right the balance in the world and slay the four lords ~ who are corrupt, by the way ~ and save the future of man. You’ll find yourself inching your way through crumbling castles and through poorly lit passageways, battling creatures from Hell. At least the other players are kind enough to drop hints throughout the levels ~ but I wouldn’t believe everything you read. The world in Dark Souls is huge, but don’t worry, there are shortcuts that you’ll eventually find, which will make navigating this treacherous realm a bit easier. If you can survive the 50-60+ hours of gameplay Dark Souls has to offer, I can assure you, the sense of accomplishment is like nothing you’ve ever felt upon beating a video game before. Dark Souls is a wonderfully-awful game, and an experience not to be passed up.

ON CD 9 Left Dead’s The Wrong Things

Young the Giant

Oklahoma hard rock/metal band 9 Left Dead bring us their new album, The Wrong Things. Things kicks off with their ﬁrst single, “Put Your Guns Down,” which may sound familiar to a lot of hard rock fans since it’s been pumping across radio stations all over the country since September. From the opening riff, you’ll be banging your head. Vocalist Travis Jones belts out the chorus “…careful what you wish for, careful what you say,” which is about an incident he and bassist Jared Ellis experienced while working together as guards at an Oklahoma City prison. After an unruly inmate attacked Jones, and he of course handled the situation with ease, the lyrics popped into his head and

Young the Giant’s self titled CD released back in January is the kind of album I would listen to if I were trying to relax, which seems almost out of place for a band signed by Roadrunner Records. The songs are unmistakably mellow in a very Coldplay or Five for Fighting sort of way and are reminiscent of the alternative rock from the late 90s and early 2000s. This being said though, I didn’t ﬁnd the music at all unoriginal.

By Alex Kantarelis

By Jennifer Russo

the rest is history. Considering that most people write these kind of lyrics about their ex girlfriends, it’s nice to see that this guy isn’t sappy, he’s actually tough.

The overall feeling of the album is, well… happy. There is a lightheartedness that permeates through every song. No breakup ballad type tunes. No “woe is me” lyrics. It trickles upbeat and positive throughout all twelve tracks, which leads me to believe that this could be the perfect CD to listen to when you ARE feeling like crap. Seriously, Tony Robbins should just sell it along with his self-help books as a supplemental mood elevator ~ and I truly mean that as a compliment!

The band keeps things heavy and honest throughout the ﬁrst quarter of the album, with lyrics like “I know I’m better when I’m sober,” as the hard hitting guitar and explosive drums continue to dominate their sound. As we get into things, they decide to show their softer side with a ballad…sort of. “Nothing Left to Lose,” kicks off acoustically with Jones showing he is not just a onedimensional metal vocalist and can really sing. But metal fans will not be bored, as the heavy guitars kick back in for the chorus, making for a deﬁnite stand-out track.

The sound has a Britpop feel to it and still has its own little flare that conjures up images of a backyard barbeque in the summer with people playing badminton and drinking light beer. It’s easy to listen to, uncomplicated music that is simultaneously sophisticated. The melodies possess a quality about them that draws you in subtly and the choruses remain stuck in your head for hours ~ if not days ~ after you hear them even for the first time. The music itself is not intense, but it isn’t meant to be. It sums up the easy-going, California based beach life attitude that clearly influenced Young the Giant’s writing.

Then, a total surprise, 9 brings us a cover of the Doors’ “People Are Strange,” which they deliver with conﬁdence and a metal edge that works really well with this song. Jones hits all the right notes and it’s deﬁnitely worth the listen.

Check out Young the Giant on their ofﬁcial web-page at www.youngthegiant.com and Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/youngthegiant

The band has all the elements that fans of Hinder, Nickelback, and Theory of a Deadman will love. Deﬁnitely check them out at www.9leftdead.com.

Rival Sons’ Pressure and Time By Jason Savio

News ﬂash: rock and roll is not dead. Non-believers need look no further than Pressure and Time, the newest effort by California based Rival Sons. Mixing classic rock swagger with 21st century blues, Pressure and Time is a soulful, albeit raw and heavy, rock venture. Rival Sons’ classic rock inﬂuence is unmistakable. From the opening guitar fuzz stomp of “All Over the Road” and its infectious chorus, it is clear that the band are well studied in the school of riff rock. The title track shows how a song based around one simple riff can end up paying dividends with a power punch reaching back from somewhere in 1973 for a knockout today. “Burning Down Los Angeles,” the curious punk-blues hybrid, is the Rival Sons at their most menacingly deviant and rebellious.

Don’t be fooled though. While some of Jay Buchanan‘s lyrics fall into the clichés one would expect to come with the territory, there is also a very dark and selfaware undercurrent of paranoia throughout Pressure And Time. In the hypnotic lullaby of “White Noise,” the album’s most triumphant moment, Buchanan sings, “There’s a message coming to me on my T.V. screen / Every time that I try to turn it on/ It tells me I’m inferior and incomplete/ I’m a fool being satisﬁed with what I’ve got,” proving that these guys aren’t just one-track minded rockers, but a conscious group that take the opportunity to say something and provoke questions. After all, isn’t that what rock and roll is about?

www.rivalsons.com/ www.facebook.com/rivalsons

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 23

Club Listings

Happenings at clubs, bars, restaurants, coffee houses, & other select venues ATTENTION CLUB OWNERS!!

All listings MUST be entered into Social Web (socialweb.net) NO LATER than December 15 to be included in our January print issue. Pulse . 3-G’s Sports Bar 152 Millbury St., Worc. 508-754-3516 Fri. Pete the Polak, DJ Tue. Orlando’s Underdog Comedy Open Mic Fri. DJ Pete the Polock Sat. Open Mike Comedy Mon. Karaoke With Mike Rossi American Grafﬁti 113 Summer St., Lunenburg, 978-345-1010 Banner Pub, The 112 Green St., Worc., 508-755-0879 Tue. Terry Brennan / LIVE Bar 2011 274 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

Dec 17 James Montgomery Band Dec 17 Paul Geremia

Dunnys Tavern 291 East Main St., East Brookﬁeld

Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant 19 Temple St., Worc. 508-792-3700, www.aohworcester.com Sat. thru Dec 31 Karaoke w/ Outrageous Greg Thur. Pitch League

Wed. thru Dec 28 Girls Night Out!!! --FREE Billiards & Gamecards & Appetizers & Desserts Thur. Pong Tournament with Snatch Alley Mon. thru Dec 31 Wise Guys Trivia Dec 3 PPVBoxing: Margarito vs. Cotto Dec 9 Auntie Trainwreck Dec 10 UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida Dec 16 TigerLILY Dec 17 Head First Dec 30 UFC 141: Lesnar vs.Overeem Dec 31 New Years Eve with Audio Nation

Cafe Destare 320 Main St., Fitchburg 978-345-5734, www.destare.com

Fat Tony’s Pub 1102 Main St., Worc., 508-798-8908

Firefly’s / Dante’s 350 East Main St., Marlborough 508-357-8883, www.fireflysbbq.com

JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough 508-842-8420, www.jbag.biz

Center Bar & Grill 102 Green St., Worc. 508-438-0597, www.thecenterbar.com

Flip Flops 680 Main St., Holden

Joseph’s Bistro & Pub 97 Main St., Westminster 978-874-9918, www.josephsbistro.com

Centerfolds 2000 139 Southbridge St., North Oxford 508-987-5222, www.centerfolds2000.com

Flying Rhino Cafe 278 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-757-1450, www.ﬂyingrhinocafe.com

Chooch’s Food & Spirits 31 East Brookﬁeld Rd., North Brookﬁeld 508-867-2494, www.sitewizzer.com/choochs

Funky Murphy’s Bar & Grill 305 Shrewsbury St., Worc., 508-753-2995

Cantina Bar & Grill 385 Main St., Worc. 508-459-5325, www.cantinaworcester.com Celtic Tavern 45 Belmont St., Northborough 508-366-6277, celtictav.com

Barber’s Crossing Road House 861 Main St., Leicester, 508-892-7575

Christopher’s Pub 7 Pleasant St. Leominster, 978-534-8250

Barbers Crossing (North) 175 Leominster Rd., Sterling 978-422-8438, www.barberscrossing.com

Cicero’s Cafe 17 Suffolk St., Worc., 508-767-9728 www.worcesterscene.com/admin/location_ images/ciceros.jpg

Beatnik’s 433 Park Ave., Worc. 508-926-8877, www.beatniksbeyou.com Dec 3 Clamdigger Dec 6 Indie Art Market Dec 8 Ukulele Thursdays with Rich “Amazing Dick” Leufstedt Dec 9 Cabinet Dec 10 The Alchemystics Dec 15 Two Hour Mic Check Beemer’s Pub 114 River St., Fitchburg, 978-343-3148 Black Sheep Tavern 261 Leominster Rd., Sterling, 978-422-8484 Blackstone Tap 81 Water St., Worc. 508-797-4827, www.blackstonetap.com Dec 31 Bill McCarthy New Year’s Eve Bash! @ The Blackstone Tap! BLU Ultralounge & Nightclub 105 Water St., Worc. 508-756-2227, www.blu-nightclub.com Blue Plate Lounge 661 Main St., Holden, 508-829-4566 hometown.aol.com/blueplatelounge Boiler Room 70 Winter St., Worc. Bolton Roadhouse Bar & Grille 544 Wattaquodock Rd., Bolton 978-365-5757, 978-365-3036 Boulder Cafe 880 Main St., Fitchburg, 978-345-0008 Breakaway Billiards 104 Sterling St., Clinton, 978-365-6105 www.myspace.com/breakawaybilliardsclinton Dec 3 Ultimate 80’s Night with Time Zone Dec 10 One Track Mind Brew City 104 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-752-3862, www.brew-city.com Bull Run Restaurant 215 Great Rd, Shirley 978-425-4311, www.bullrunrestaurant.com Dec 3 Tom Rush with Eric & Dean Dec 10 Bill Kirchen’s Honky-Tonk Holiday Dec 11 The Dublin City Ramblers “Christmas in Ireland” Dec 16 Rod MacDonald Dec 16 Savoy Brown w/ Kim Simmonds

Cigar Masters 1 Exchange Place, Worc., 508-459-9035 Dec 17 Sean Fullerton Live Acoustic Blues, Rock & Fingerstyle Guitar!! Classic’s Pub 285 Central St., Leominster 978-537-7750, www.classicspub.net Club Caliente 816 Main St., Worc., 508-826-9305 Club Instyle 41 Pleasant St., Worc., theclubinstyle.com Club KasBar 234 Southwest Cutoff, Worc., 508-798-8385 Dec 9 Dubble D & The Khaos Junkies Dec 31 Auntie Trainwreck on New Year’s Eve! Club Universe 371 Park Ave., Worc., 508-755-5542 www.clubuniverseworcester.com

Fusion 109 Water St., Worc. 508-756-2100 www.fusionworcester.com Sun. Reggae Fusion Sundays with DJ Nick Thru Dec 31 Now Booking Private Parties! Fri. Friday Frenzy with Blurry Nights & DJ SOUP - DJ B-LO Sat. Spinsuite Saturdays - Top 40 Galway Bay Irish Pub 186 Stafford St., Worc. 508-753-8909 Gardner Ale House 74 Parker St., Gardner 978-669-0122, www.gardnerale.com Thur. thru Dec 29 Audio Wasabe Gilrein’s 802 Main St., Worc. 508-791-2583, www.gilreins.net Greendale’s Pub 404 W Boylston St., Worc. 508-853-1350, myspace.com/greendalespub Sun. Sunday Blues Jam, hosted by Jim Perry Tue. Open Mic Night w /Bill McCarthy Dec 3 Time Machine w/Jim Perry Dec 17 NO ALIBI Dec 23 SILVERBACKS

Cornerstone’s Restaurant 616 Central St., Leominster, 978-537-1991 www.cornerstonesrestaurant.com

Halligan’s Sports Bar and More 889 Southbridge St., Auburn, 508-832-6793 www.halliganssportsbarandmore.com

Creegan’s Pub 65 Green St., Worc. 508-754-3550, creeganspub.com

Hotel Vernon 1 Millbury St., Worc. Thur. thru Dec 31 Good Times with Your Friend DJ Steve Dec 17 Dusty Cobb & The Millbury St Band

Dance Ranch & Saloon 70 James St., Worc., 508-757-6977 www.danceranchandsaloon.com Dar Bah 29 Canal St., Millbury, 508-865-8441 Days End Tavern 287 Main St., Oxford 508-987-1006, www.daysendtavern.com Thur. thru Dec 31 DJ Brian Spinnin’ & Scratchin’ The Hottest Dance Music Sat. thru Dec 31 Hip Hop Dance Party with DJ HappyDaze Sat.Nights! Thur. thru Dec 31 DJ Brian Spinnin’ The Hottest Dance Music Fri. thru Dec 31 Karaoke with Making Memories Dec 3 The Help Wanted Band Dec 10 Chyldz Play Devens Grill 4 Ryans Way, Devens 978-862-0060, www.devensgrill.com Doherty’s Pub 377 Park Ave., Worc., 508-751-4000

24 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Ixtapa Cantina 308 Massachusetts Ave., Lunenburg 978-582-9701, www.ixtapacantina2.com J.P. O’Hanlon’s Irish Pub and Restaurant 9 Main St., Ayer 978-772-9282, www.jpohanlons.com Jak’s Pub 536 Main St., Worc., jakspubworcester.com Sun. thru Dec 18 Acoustic Open Mic/WARL Charity Event Tue. T.J. Peavey Wed. Patty Keough Dec 3 Ordinary Heart Dec 9 Bob Moon Dec 10 Don Prange JC Fenwick’s 37 Mechanic St., Leominster, 978-840-4845 Jillian’s - Worcester 315 Grove St., Worc. 508-793-0900, www.jilliansworcester.com

Leitrim’s Pub 265 Park Ave., Worc. 508-798-2447, www.leitrimspub.com Wed. Open Mic Night!!!!!!! Lidio’s Restaurant & Lounge 1045 Central St., Leominster 978-534-6600, lidios.com Loft 266 Bar & Lounge 266 Park Ave., Worc. 508-796-5177, www.loft266.com London Billiards / Club Oasis 70 James St., Worc. 508-799-7655, www.londonbilliards.com Lucky Dog Music Hall 89 Green St., Worc. 508-363-1888, www.luckydogmusic.com Fri. Thru Dec 30 “Vinyl-Ly Friday Party” Dec 3 The Amazing Led Zeppelin Tribute Counter Attack With Special Guests Backlash Dec 4 The Pretty Things Peepshow (Nyc) With Special Musical Guests Sasquatch & The Sickabillys Dec 7 Mister Smart**S Theater 3000 Live Comedy/Movie Show Presents Holiday Movies Dec 8 Flock Of A-Holes, The Ultimate 80s Tribute Band With Guests Tba Dec 9 Tba W/ Lesser Known Contender And More Dec 10 The 3rd Annual Santa-Palooza “A Concert For A Claus” Featuring Kung Fu Grip, Six To Midnight, Hey Now Morris Fader And Shane Hall & The Ticklebomb Orchestra. Bring An Unwrapped Toy (Valued At Least $10) For The Cover Charge Sun. Dec 11 - Apr 12 Sunday Funday w/Loriann. Wed. Dec 14 - Dec 23 Woo-Town Wednesday Free Show Live Bands Dec 15 Flock Of A-Holes, The Ultimate 80s Tribute Band W/ Guests Josh Briggs And More Dec 16 Chyldz Play, Smear Campaign, My New Disaster And Miranda Dec 17 Gov’t Mule Tribute Gov’t Surplus, Moonstone Lady And Let It Bleed (The Rolling Stones Trib On At 9:00pm!) Dec 22 Flock Of A-Holes, The Ultimate 80s Tribute Band With Guests Dec 23 Beg, Scream & Shout! Holiday Soul Party 2011 Dec 23 The Beg, Scream & Shout “Holiday Soul Party” Dec 29 Flock Of A-Holes, The Ultimate 80’s Tribute Band With Guests Dec 30 The Rob Zombie Tribute Band American Hellbilly And The AC/DC Tribute Touch 2 Much Mahoney’s Pub 413 Park Ave., Worc., 508-277-1073 www.facebook.com/mahoneyspub.ma Marty’s Pub 225 Cantebury St., Worc. 508-754-0033, www.martyspub.com MB Lounge 40 Grafton St., Worc. 508-799-4521, www.mblounge.com Mon. thru Dec 26 Free Pool Night

Continued on pg. 29

Pulse

ShOtS

FEel the beat of the City!

Photos by Justin Perry

Bar 2011 - Worcester

Celtic Tavern - Northborough

Cigar Masters - Worcester

Mai Tai - Worcester

Parkway Restaurant & Bar - Worcester

Ritual - Worcester

Sea Dog Steak House - Northborough

Salty Dog - Worcester

Tara Pub - Worcester

Willikers - Shrewsbury

28 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Continued from pg. 24 McNally’s Grille & Pub 88 Sargent Rd, Westminster, 978-874-1444 Mickey Sheas 324 Electric Ave., Lunenburg, 978-342-5825

Wed. “A NIGHT OF BARNBURNING BLUES” Acoustic Blues Open Mic, Every Wednesday, hosted by Sean Fullerton

Moonstruck Café 19 Worcester Rd, Charlton, 508-248-4558

Speakers Night Club 19 Weed St., Marlborough 508-480-8222, www.speakersnightclub.net Thur. Karaoke & Dancing Fri. Ladies Night - Top 40 Dance Party Sat. Live bands Every Sat. Night Dec 3 Confounded Bridge - Led Zepplin Tribute Dec 10 Tigerlily

Moynihan’s Pub 897 Main St., Worc. Wed. Moynihan’s Trivia Night!

Spruce Street Tavern 68 Spruce St., Clinton 978-368-1255, www.SpruceStreetTavern.com

Nick’s Bar and Restaurant 124 Millbury St., Worc., 508-753-4030 www.myspace.com/NicksWorcester

Squire Whites Pub & Restaurant 347 Greenwood St., Worc. 508-752-7544, www.squirewhites.com Fri. Live Bands and No Cover Charges! Dec 9 Wibble - Live & Acoustiﬁed Dec 10 The Invaders!!! Dec 16 Auntie Trainwreck

Mill Street Brews (@ The ADC) 18 Mill St., Southbridge 508-764-6900, www.millstreetbrews.com

Olde Post Ofﬁce Pub 1 Ray St., North Grafton, 508-839-6106 Dec 17 Windfall, classic rock On The Rocks Sports Bar & Grill 96 Lakefront Ave., Lunenburg, 978-342-6692 Overtime Tap 50 Front St., Worc. 508-757-0600, overtimetap.com Oxford Tavern 314 Main St., Oxford, 508-987-5397 Paisanos Pizza & Spirits 450 Lancaster St., Leominster, 978-534-7117 Palladium, The 261 Main St., Worc. 508-797-9696, www.thepalladium.net Dec 3 AP Magazine presents As I Lay Dying Dec 8 Strength Beyond Strength A Tribute For Darrell Abbott Thy Will Be Done Dec 9 Break Through Music presents Merch Series Round 1 Dec 10 Barstool Blackout Tour World’s Biggest Blackout Party Dec 17 Ukon Wacka North American Tour Korpiklaani Dec 29 Steez Promo presents Dub Nation Mass featuring Steve Aoki @ The Palladium

Stagecoach Inn and Tavern 128 Main St., Groton 978-448-5614, grotonstagecoachinn.com Sunset Tiki Bar 79 Powers Rd, Westford 978-692-5700, www.skinashoba.com/summer Tammany Hall 43 Pleasant St., Worc. 508-753-7001, www.tammanyhallrocks.com The Cannery 12 Crane St., Southbridge, 508-764-1100 12crane.com/canneryhall/index.php The Columbia Tavern 11 Merriam Ave., Leominster, 978-227-5874 The Grey Hound Pub 11 Kelley Square, Worc., 508-754-6100 www.thegreyhoundworcester.com Thur. thru Dec 31 Thursday Night Team Trivia Thur. Holy Cross Night Dec 16 Traditional Irish Music with Madra Rua

31 Main St., Marlborough 508-229-2264, www.doggonelazy.com The Mill 185 West Boylston St., West Boylston The Nines Neighborhood Bar 136 Millbury St., Worc., 508-340-0318 The Outlook Restaurant 79 Powers Rd, Westford The Pumphouse 340 Main St., Southbridge, 508-765-5473 www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Pump-House/ 374917818127?sk=info The Raven 258 Pleasant St., Worc., 508-304-8133 www.facebook.com/people/Raven-Worcester/10 0001022046717 Wed. Open Mic Dec 3 Doctor Doom Orchestra,Fear Nuttin’ Band,Ready Set Flo,Deadfish Dec 4 Years Since The Storm,Gone Astray,No Way Out,Hard Road Dec 10 Shot Heard Around The World,Gone Astray,Atlas,Hurricana,A Moment Of Clarity,Drained Glory,Hard Road,In Armistice,Steps From Home Dec 16 Fight For Your Life Benefit w/Izzy Dunfore,Conflict Of Interest,Sarge,((Deadse t))&Heris E,Melishouz Morbia,Stitchy,Mortal Conquest,Political Animals,Whiteout Dec 17 Muckler’s Circle,Slam One Down,Impressions In Flesh,Zombie Fighter Tino’s Pub Main St., Winchendon, 760-880-1438 Trumbull Bar & Grill 117 Main St., Spencer, 508-885-6901 Tweed’s 231 Grove St., Worc. 508-755-8047, www.tweedspub.com Union Music 142 Southbridge St., Worc. 508-753-3702, www.unionmusic.com Dec 7 Hometown Blues Hero Big Jon Short

Upper Deck Sports Bar & Grille 377 Stetson Rd., Barre, 978-355-2224 www.upperdecksportsbarandgrille.com Vegas Lounge 5 Summer St., Lunenburg, 978-400-7524 Verona Grille 81 Clinton St., Shrewsbury, 508-853-9091 Thur. thru Dec 31 Karaoke With DJ Jimi Fri. thru Dec 30 Arizona Doug & Scott Marshall - Rock Music Victory Bar & Cigar 56 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-756-4747, www.victorycigarbar.com Vincent’s Bar 49 Suffolk St., Worc. 508-752-9439, myspace.com/vincentsbar Sun. Big Jon Short Wed. Tiki Night with Frank & Eric! Whiskey Alley 281 Lunenburg St., Fitchburg, 978-345-4040 Whistle Stop Bar & Grill 85 Main St., Oxford 508-987-3087, www.StopByTheWhistle.com William’s Restaurant & Tavern 184 Pearson Blvd, Gardner, 978-632-7794 Wonder Bar Restaurant 121 Shrewsbury St., Worc., 508-752-9909 Ye Olde Tavern 7 East Main St., West Brookﬁeld 508-867-9709, westbrookﬁeldtavern.com

CoffeeHouses Acton Jazz Cafe 452 Great Rd., Acton 978-263-6161, actonjazzcafe.com Bean Counter Coffee Bar and Bakery 113 Highland St., Worc., 508-754-3125

The Lazy Dog Books & Beans 15 Hamilton St., Southbridge 508-764-6774, booksandbeans.org

Partner’s Pub 970 South St., Fitchburg 978-345-5051, www.partnerspub.com

Buzz Bean Espresso Lounge 32 Main St., Webster, 508-943-4039

Perfect Game Sports Grill and Lounge 64 Water St., Worc. 508-792-4263, perfectgameworcester.com

Cafe Palermo 139 John Fitch Hwy., Fitchburg, 978-345-4501

Point Breeze On the Lake 114 Point Breeze Rd., Webster 508-943-0404,.pointbreezeonwebsterlake.com

Caffe Dolce 154 Shrewsbury St., Worc., 508-754-3761

Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner 148 Grove St., Worc. 508-753-9543, www.ralphsdiner.net Tue. “Totally Tuesdazed!!!!!” Tunes i Wed. WedNight KARAOKE!!! 10pm ‘til Close! Mon. Dirty Gerund Poetry & Variety Show Dec 3 Herra Terra, Ghost Ocean, and The Organ Beats!!! Dec 8 “Pulse Magazine’s 2011 Best Club DJ Award Winner & MDF/Hustle Squad’s own DJ Sha-boo alongside DJ Lylax! Dec 9 The 2011 Coney Island Road Show!!! A traveling vaudevillian carnival of burlesque girls, sideshow performers & country punk bands Dec 10 10th Anniversary RIP Chuck Schuldiner (Death/Control Denied) Tribute Show

Espress Yourself Coffee 2 Richmond Ave., Worc., 508-755-3300 Green Rooster Coffeehouse 6 Institute Rd., Worc., 508-798-3010 www.ucc-worcester.org/greenrooster Olive Branch Coffeehouse 30 Main St., Northborough 508-393-1333, thebranch.com Spiritual Haze 482 Park Ave., Worc. 508-799-0629, spiritualhaze.com Steeple Coffeehouse 15 Common St., Southborough 508-845-4847, steeplecoffeehouse.org

Red Onion - Otter River Hotel 29 Main St., Baldwinville 978-939-7373, myspace.com/theredonion

Sturbridge Coffee Roasters / SCR Cafe 210 Hamilton St., Southbridge 508-765-5520, sturbridgecoffeeroasters.com

Sakura Tokyo 640 Park Ave., Worc. 508-792-1078, www.sakura-tokyo.com

Udderly Delicious 273 Main St., Oxford 508-987-9636, udderlydelicious.net

Salty Dog Saloon 1 Kelley Square, Worc. 508-752-6600, www.saltydogsaloon.net

Wholly Cannoli 488 Grafton St., Worc. 508-753-0224, whollycannoli.com

Sean Patrick’s Family Restaurant 494 Electric Ave., Lunenburg, 888-824-3924 South Side Grille & Margarita Factory 242 West Broadway, Gardner 978-632-1057, southsidemargaritafactory.com

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 29

LIFESTYLE

Worcester’s Hookah Hotspots By Katey Khaos

Hookah bars have been popping up all around Worcester, giving us a great way to unwind after a long week of classes, midterms, work, or just the general stresses of life ~ and what could be better than that?! Keep in mind, too, that a trip to the hookah bar will cost 20 dollars or less ~ including food and drinks! For those unfamiliar with what a hookah is all about, here’s the run down ~ Hookahs are tobacco pipes from which shisha (tobacco) is smoked. Depending on the type of hookah, up to four people can smoke from a single one with the attachment of hoses. The shisha comes in a variety of flavors ~ and can be mixed and matched to create new ones! Generally, hookahs are filled with water, but it’s not uncommon to see milk or various other juices used instead to add more flavor. The tobacco is burned by coals that sit on top of the hookah, and one smoke session will usually last for about an hour! Interested? We thought you might be! Here are our favorite hookah places!

Spiritual Haze (482 Park Avenue): For those looking for a cozy spot to relax and unwind, Spiritual Haze is the place to go! Spiritual Haze was created by four Clark University students for their Entrepreneurship class project and has been a popular hangout for college kids since 2007 ~ making it the first hookah bar in Worcester! SH offers over 50 different flavors of shisha (plus house-mixed favorites like Sexual Healing) as well as a wide variety of cafe treats including smoothies, cookies, cakes and more! You’ll also find board games, magazines and various other forms of entertainment scattered around ~ help yourself! Best of all, there’s always something going on at SH, so be sure to check out their calendar of events. www.spiritualhaze.com

Cigar Masters

(1 Exchange Place): Primarily known for their incredible cigar selection, Cigar Masters also offers a wide range of hookahs, too! Cigar Masters is a great place to go to catch some live entertainment ~ every Thursday – Saturday ~ and with weekly hookah specials, there’s always something new to try. www.cigarmastersworcester. com

30 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

International Lounge (27 Pleasant Street): Looking for more

than just a relaxing evening? The International Lounge is the place to go! With a full bar, dance ﬂoor and a hookah lounge, what more do you need? International Lounge offers more than 20 ﬂavors of shisha ranging from the basic strawberry to more exotic mixes like Sex on the Beach. There are weekly karaoke nights, comedy nights and more, so no matter what “the group” is in the mood for, International Lounge has it! www. internationallounge.us

Victory Bar & Cigar (56 Shrewsbury Street): Victory Bar

& Cigar is Worcester’s most popular smoke bar ~ known for its vast selection of hand-rolled cigars and international cigarettes, Victory also offers hookahs! There are more than 25 ﬂavors of Starbuzz shisha in stock, and the second hookah pack is always free! Victory also has a full bar, making it the perfect place to go to grab a couple drinks, enjoy a hookah, and unwind after a hard week! www.victorybarcigar.com

The Shisha Room (86 Shrewsbury Street): Maybe you’ve been

studying all day and are looking for a quiet place to relax and enjoy a hookah ~ look no further than The Shisha Room. Known for their exotic ﬂavors (make sure to try the California Mix) and their dance ﬂoor (in case you feel the need to let loose!), The Shisha has something for everyone. www. facebook.com/pages/Shisha-Room-hookah-bar/137611256260278 Keep in mind, as is true with all tobacco products, you must be 18+ to enjoy these hookah bars, so don’t forget your ID!

PULSE

web

Betches Love This...Site By Sasha Fastovskiy

If you’ve ever so much as smiled your way through books and blogs like Stuff ___ People Like (insert appropriate adjective: Jewish, White, Gay), or silently nodded in agreement at subtly directed tweets from handles like @WhiteGirlProblems or @FratboyProblems, you’re likely to fall in like with Betches Love This (www.betcheslovethis. com), a racy, funny, and betchyto-a-T ode to pop culture and pretentious complaining for no reason. A Constitution, of sorts, for those who live atop the upper echelon of high-school social hierarchy, BLT is an obsessive, pithy, explanation of the trainof-thought bitchiness of modern women. It serves as a popular voice for the deliciously and unapologetically slutty, back-stabbing, manipulative, thin, and beautiful, written by the deliciously and unapologetically slutty, back-stabbing, manipulative, thin and beautiful. It is scrumptiously delicious to read. One of the highlights are the hilarious/cringe-worthy commentaries outlining “Betches of the Week” ~ at the time of this article, the honor went to Rihanna, because, among other reasons, “…only Rihanna could get away with getting the shit beaten out of her and then writing a song about how much she loves to get the shit beaten out of her. Betch is so ironic.” Pure gold. Maybe even platinum.

Fellow Betches include Soﬁa Vergara, Paris Hilton, Blake Lively…and the list goes on. There’s also the a “Dear Betch” advice column, a “Betch Guide to Life,” and an acclaimed “Betch List,” a constantly growing catalog deﬁning the cynically fabulous reason and necessity behind any betch’s favorites and unfavorites, like “#1 Talking Sh*t,” “#38 The Frenemy,” “#101 Makeup,” and “#100 Talking Sh*t 2.0.” Oh, and if you don’t know what a betch even is, it’s okay; they cover that too: more than just a term synonymous with that other B-word, a betch is also quick and edgy. “If a bro had a vagina, he’d be a betch,” the story goes. If you follow the mantra of Regina George or a Jawbreaker gal, you’re automatically a betch, and you totally love it. Equally so, you’ll love Betches Love This, because even if you don’t admit it, you’ve always wanted to be a betch.

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 31

Park Ave.

No Delay Lunch Buffet Just $8.99 Tues - Fri 11:30 AM 1:30 PM

New England Baked Haddock one of ten delicious entrees to choose from at two entrees for $19.99 with ad

Two Entrees just $19.99!

10 entrees to choose from! Please present this ad to your server when ordering. Cannot be combined with other offers. No cash value. Through 12⁄2011.

The Registry Restaurant & Loft 266 264 Park Ave, Worcester registryrestaurant.com 508-752-2211 11 am - 10 pm Tue. - Sat. 5 pm - 10 pm Sun. Functions from 20-100 On-Site • Off-Premises Catering

32 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Park Ave.

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 33

DINING & ENTERTAINING

By Bernie Whitmore

If you enter Union Station from the main entrance, Byblos Lounge is located on the left end of the main concourse. Like a well-kept secret, there’s no sign proclaiming its presence and some may ﬁnd this intimidating. But those adventurous enough to enter will be rewarded with a sensory experience, for Byblos leaves several impressions, three of which were immediate.

We also tried a warm appetizer called Makenek, a Lebanese sausage that Byblos cut into pieces and served over baba ghanoush sprinkled with pine nuts, diced sautéed onions, a sprinkling of sumac powder and splash of lemon juice. A bit milder than Bastarma, it showcased another range of ﬂavors. Triangles of fresh pita bread came swaddled in a cloth napkin; we immediately put the bread to use scooping up Byblos’s baba ghanoush.

Barely a step into Byblos, my friend and I simultaneously inhaled the intoxicating fragrance of the Middle East. It reminded me of the spice bazaars of Morocco, Turkey and, closer Both appetizers felt risky to order, to home, Ed Hyder’s Market. The but proved rewarding in execution. scent was spicy and pungent-rich, and Byblos truly extends the range of I stood there for a moment to drink it local Lebanese cuisine. Entrée in. Also on the air was an exotic mix of selections, though familiar, also had music genres that alternated across nu variations that made them unique. Byblos Lounge jazz, dance and Lebanese-pop. And if all that weren’t exciting enough, there’s I ordered Fish Taratoor. Three 2 Washington Square (in Worcester’s Union Station) also the room itself. The designers large chunks of flaky haddock were 508 981 8818 of Byblos exploited the very skin and smothered in rice pilaf, sautéed onion massive bones of Union Station. They left exposed the raw concrete and rough strips and bell pepper. This dish is often soaked in tahini sauce with the fish brickwork, adding classical columns and pediments highlighted by a euro-lounge flaked apart; Byblos used considerable restraint and used perfectly fresh fish. loaded with lights and mirrors. There’s plenty of color and enough ceramic jars to set up a stall in the Kasbah. Don’t expect a vast wine cellar; Byblos offers one vintner, revealed simply as “Lebanese.” After sampling a taste of white, I ordered a glass. Crisp and dry, Very few places in town have this degree of embrace; within moments we it complemented both food courses. Just order red or white, you should be were seated and had left thoughts of the outside world behind. Byblos boasts satisfied. “Mediterranean Fusion Cuisine” and is operated by a local Lebanese family. I’ve ordered Lebanese cuisine at several restaurants over the years and was familiar Kefta Kebob, my friend’s entrée selection, is a classic Lebanese dish of spiced with most of the entrees, but the appetizer list contained selections that were new ground beef formed into long rolls and grilled with chunks of onion, peppers and to me. We were about to discover that this is precisely where Byblos shines. tomato wedges. Byblos kept the spice level mild and the portion size large. Both entrees were draped with large quarter-loaves of pita bread grilled crisp then In the cold appetizer section of the menu is an entry called Bastarma. It’s rubbed with tomato paste and sprinkled with shopped onion, parsley and spices. described as “aged beef wrapped in foreign spices and hung to dry.” A bit scary, It’s a decorative and tasty touch. but worth researching, which we did. Byblos sliced the deep-red meat paperthin and rolled it around Haloumi, a soft Cyprian cheese made from sheep’s milk. There’s a lot to recommend about Byblos Lounge; its stunning location and They loaded up a chafing dish with these rolls and added a splash of fruity olive unique cuisine are just a start. They haven’t been open very long and although oil. Consider it a must-try, something akin to Italy’s prosciutto. Its rich flavor people are beginning to discover them, Byblos retains the feel of a hidden gem seemed a distillation of the spice mix pervading Byblos ~ cinnamon? sumac? which actually lies before us in plain sight. cloves?

34 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Hot & Now By Paul Giorgio

New Player at Playa. Holden’s Playa del Carmen ~ which has had its ups and downs ~ is under new ownership. The new owners are doing extensive renovations before re-opening this Holden eatery. Joey’s reopens. Joey’s Bar & Grill opened the last week in Novemeber in their new location on Chandler Street in Worcester. We hear they have been packed since day one. Joey’s, owned by Erika & Joe Rovezzi, was formerly located on Mill Street in Worcester. Judging by the crowds, this may have been a great move. Biaggio’s sold? Word on Park Avenue is that Biaggio’s has been sold. Tim Friend , the long-time owner, has been trying to sell the place for quite a while. We are glad it sold, because on a recent visit the restaurant was out of virtually everything at the bar. There is no word on who the new owners are or what they have planned for the place. Beechwood Brunch. The Beechwood Hotel on Worcester’s Plantation Street will once again be offering its Santa’s Brunch on December 4, 11, and 18th. The Brunch, which runs from 10:30am to 2pm, is $27 for adults and $11.50 for kids age 6- 11; kids under 6 eat free. Santa will be giving out gifts and the Brunch will once again feature the Shrewsbury HS Choir, singing seasonal favorites. Sushi Rocks fall. It looks like new restaurant Sushi Rocks ~ slated to open at 55 Pearl Street in Worcester ~ is not going to happen. Our sources tell us that the deal has fallen though. No explanation as to why… 7 Nana opening. Seems as though 7 Nana, the much anticipated Japanese restaurant on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street, won’t be opening until the first of the year due to construction delays. Shangri La-opening. Shangri-La, a new Asian restaurant, will be opening in the middle of December in the space that was once occupied by Ping’s Garden in the Seven Hills Plaza on Worcester’s Madison Street. The opening of Shangri-La will give theatregoers at Hanover Theatre another option for pre- and post- theatre meals. Silver Ladle Award. Feng Asia Bistro in Millbury and Peper’s Fine Foods of Northboro recently tied for best food at the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo. This was the first tie in the competition’s history and the first win by Feng, located at the Shoppes at Blackstone Valley in Millbury. Kudos go to Enrique Gutierrez and his staff. Say cheese. Pecorino Country Cheese Shop recently celebrated its one year anniversary. Located in North Grafton and owned by Simone Linsin, the shop not only offers a wide variety of cheeses but also has numerous gourmet food selections. Check out the selection at 135 Westboro Road. There’s Gold in these hills. Worcester’s Wormtown Brewery won a Gold Medal at the Great International Beer & Cider festival held in November in Providence, RI. The Brewery’s Hills Pale Ale was the first place finisher in the Golden Ale category. Almost 325 beers from around the country and the world competed. Wormtown also picked up two Silver medals for their Porter Oktoberfest and Birthday Brew. Congratulations to Tom Oliveri and owner and Brewmaster Ben Roesch. Wormtown is located next to Peppercorns, the Oliveris’ restaurant on Park Ave. in Worcester.

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 35

Brew

PULSE Samuel Adams’ New Black & Brew Coffee Stout By Rick Garner

It’s that time of year again, the time when only a hearty beer can take away the chill of winter. This year, the Samuel Adams Winter classics Variety Pack will feature a new winter warmer: Samuel Adams Black & Brew Coffee Stout. Samuel Adams Black & Brew, weighing in at 5.8% ABV, is a dark stout that combines roasted coffee with the traditional flavors of a rich, full-bodied stout. To achieve the authentic coffee notes, the brewers use 1.5 pounds of Sumatran coffee beans per barrel, added late in the brewing process to provide the most flavor possible. This brew finishes with underlying roasty notes of chocolate, caramel, and dark fruit from a select blend of malts. Samuel Adams Black & Brew is available nationwide as part of the Samuel Adams Winter Classics Variety 12-Pack (on shelves through January) alongside their Boston Lager, Winter Lager, Chocolate Bock, Old Fezziwig Ale, and Holiday Porter. Each of these beers provides a rich and bold drinking experience, pairing perfectly with an assortment of holiday fare: The dark, malty character of Black & Brew, Chocolate Bock, and Holiday Porter enhances rich desserts like dark chocolate mousse. Boston Lager, Jim Koch’s original craft beer, has citrusy hop notes and caramelized malts that match well with classic holiday staples like roasted turkey and ham. Winter Lager and Old Fezziwig Ale are spicy brews with cinnamon, ginger, and orange zest, which bring out the flavor of holiday favorites like gingerbread cookies and carrot cake. www.samueladams.com

36 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Babycakes! By Lynn N. Capri

Now Serving

Hirosaki Prime By Rachel Shuster

Complete your holiday meal with the perfect, homemade dessert! Whether you prefer a traditional pie or a trendy take on classic cake, Babycakes has the perfect appliance for you and your family. The Babycakes line makes it easy for anyone to create gourmet treats in no time! Take the stress out of preparing a gourmet dessert to top off your perfect festive meal by using one of the many Babycakes products available. Pies are a classic holiday treat and now it’s easier than ever to make not one, but four custom-ﬂavors at once with the personal pie maker! Every sweet tooth is sure to be pleased. Feeling a little untraditional? Whip up a batch of Christmas cupcakes or donuts! The possibilities are endless with Babycakes! Impress your guests quickly and easily with gourmet desserts by Babycakes. What better treat to serve at holiday party than a mini-cupcake? With the Babycakes cupcake maker (MSRP $29.99) bakers can make 8 mini cupcakes at a time. Simply add a touch of icing for a ﬁve-star treat that will have guests thinking they’re eating an expensive dessert. The fun cake pop maker (MSRP $24.99) allows bakers to bake 12 cake pops at one time. With its easy to use design, the whole family can join the fun of making cake pops this holiday. Add a surprise touch to a tin of goodies or impress party guests with a gourmet twist on a classic treat. The whoopie pie maker (MSRP $29.99) turns the nostalgic snack into a decadent dessert by making six whoopie pies in each batch. For a simple treat, the donut maker (MSRP $24.99) makes the sugary snack even sweeter. By making six mini donuts in just four minutes, it’s never been easier to create a gourmet party snack. A staple item on any holiday menu is a pie, but Babycakes puts a spin on the traditional dessert. Thanks to the personal pie maker, every dinner guest can enjoy a personal pie of their choice. By making four personal pies in each batch, preparing dessert for an entire family will be easier than ever For more information on Babycakes, please visit http://thebabycakesshop.com.

Located at 1121 Grafton Street in Worcester, Hirsaki Prime, opened late this summer, is a top notch Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar. Hirosaki Prime’s menu ranges from appetizers to sushi to Hibachi items. Prices range from a $2.99 bowl of soup to the delectable $42.99 plate of prime ﬁlet and lobster tail. The lounge area also offers a majority of the same items, plus chicken, beef and seafood dinners ~ all in the same price range. John McHugh and his wife Liz are co-owners and describe their restaurant as unique. “Our service is 5-star, our layout, design and decor create an ambiance that far exceeds any Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar on the east coast and the quality of meats and seafood we use are the best money can buy. We also are the only restaurant in the city that has wagyu beef on the menu,” McHugh says. Hirosaki Prime also offers a full bar with house cocktails, an extensive wine list and traditional Japanese sake. McHugh adds, “Our kitchen hours are Tues - Fri 4pm -10pm and now we’re open starting at 11:30am on Sat and Sun. We will be closed on Mondays.” Visit www.hirosakiprime. com for more info or ﬁnd them on Facebook. DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 37

Canal District

38 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Canal District

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 39

Shrewsbury Street

40 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Shrewsbury Street

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 41

SPORTS & FITNESS

The Giving Tree:

Student Athletes at Worcester Colleges Give Back By Kim Dunbar The holidays are a time for generosity, but for many local student-athletes, giving is something they do year round. Take the women’s basketball team at Assumption College. When they aren’t selling t-shirts for breast cancer or packing presents for Toys for Tots, the team is mentoring kids at Chandler Elementary Community School or at a Special Olympics clinic. “I think it’s important to give back and help the players understand and appreciate what they have,” said Head Coach Kerry Phayre. On most Worcester campuses, volunteerism is a university-wide initiative adopted by athletic departments. Holy Cross Athletic Director Dick Regan expects all teams to volunteer because it’s tied to the school’s mission of helping people who have less. “We’ve been blessed in a lot of ways,” Regan said. “Within athletics it’s easier for us to mobilize people to do something.” The Holy Cross football and men’s lacrosse teams are shining examples. In 2009, then football co-captains Dominic Randolph and Daryl Brown recruited more than 50 teammates and snuffed out the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MA/ Metrowest’s two-year waiting list. Since 2000, the lacrosse team has volunteered with Big Brothers as the collective “John’s Brothers,” a program honoring John Price, a lacrosse stand-out who was killed in a train accident in 2000. WPI’s athletic department is also involved in BBBS. For nearly a decade, men’s basketball Coach Chris Bartley’s teams have volunteered at Elm Park Community School with the School Based Mentor program. “I wanted the guys to experience meaning through community service,” he said. “This has helped us achieve our goal.”

42 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Since Bartley’s 15 basketball players began the initiative, it has grown to more than 200 strong campus-wide. “Our program did a good job of setting an example of what to do,” he said. But sometimes this good work goes unnoticed. Bartley and Regan agree that while nationally many studentathletes are surrounded by negativity, theirs deserve recognition for “…making a difference in something that’s good,” said Regan. Bartley said his players don’t receive athletic scholarships and are playing for the love of the sport and giving back in a volunteer capacity. “They give a lot of themselves academically, athletically and this is just another thing they’ve committed to and deserve a lot of credit for doing it,” he said. “They’re great kids and great role models.” Phayre, whose teams have always been involved in community service, knows her players are busy. “They don’t have a lot of time, they’re literally squeezing it in,” she said. “But they’re more than ready and willing.” All three noted that community service is an investment with beneﬁts. Phayre has witnessed her team bond and players’ personalities change through these experiences, as has Regan. “The point isn’t team bonding,” Regan said. “But it can have that effect.” Bartley also insisted it’s more than helping with schoolwork and playing games. “It’s about making connections with the kids and developing friendships,” he said. “They really become big brothers to the kids.” It’s the gift that keeps on giving, all year round.

Photo: Assumption College’s women’s basketball players at Chandler Elementary School for community service

The Skinny

By Craig Lindberg

“The Skinny” is a Fitness column by Craig Lindberg, CPT and Founder/Co-owner of Optimal Performance Center in Shrewsbury (www.opcfitness.com). If you have a question about training, nutrition, bodybuilding, or anything else that falls under the topic of Fitness, please send it to craig@opcfitness.com. Craig will answer one or two questions each month, so check here as soon as a new issue of Pulse hits the streets to see if he’s chosen yours! Like it or not, dieters, the fact I am about to reveal is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It is far more difficult to gain weight than to lose weight. Now, put the pitchforks and torches down and let me clarify: It is far more difficult to gain GOOD weight than it is to lose weight. Does that make you feel better? No? Well, here’s the skinny. Losing weight is a simple process. Eat better, exercise a little more and…voila, you lose weight. Gaining muscle, however, is not as simple. The dilemma for those of us who are looking to gain hard, lean muscle is that we need to increase our calories without gaining fat. There are many variables to factor in to this equation, including exercise intensity, supplementation, and even age are contributing factors to gaining muscle. This month’s question addresses an important aspect of this issue. Q: I’m a freshman (college) and feel I need to be bigger in order to be competitive in my chosen sport. I’m 5’ 10” and weigh 165 pounds. A friend of mine has gained 15 pounds in 2 weeks. Can I realistically gain 40-50 pound by spring? Brian, 18 The Skinny: If we are taking about the same kind of weight, 4050 pounds would be impossible by spring without the assistance of testosterone enhancement, legal or otherwise. The one thing you have

going for you is your age. There is a lot of natural testosterone running through your body right now. With proper diet, training and a regimen of legal supplementation, you can gain a signiﬁcant amount of strength and size by spring. Using testosterone can have a number of negative effects. First and foremost, when testosterone is used in the doses needed to illicit the amount of growth you’re talking about, your body will slow or stop natural production altogether, causing your testicles to shrink. Increased testosterone can also elevate aggression ~ more commonly known as “Roid Rage.” Now, this doesn’t happen to everyone, but people with already elevated testosterone levels are more susceptible to this condition when supplementing with testosterone. Something else to consider is your love for your sport and your future. Anabolic steroids are illegal, but there are many legal, over the counter supplements that can increase testosterone levels. Just because you can walk into your local GNC and buy these does not mean they are sanctioned by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) or IOC (International Olympic Committee). If you are serious about pursuing a future in your chosen sport, ﬁnd out what you can take and what you can’t. Both aforementioned governing bodies have banned substance lists available for viewing on their websites. Ask yourself this: how much good will that 50 pounds do if you’re busted in a random drug screen?

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 43

Eating Healthy During the Holidays Tips from Celebrity Nutritionist Kimberly Snyder By Leslie Roberts For Kimberly Snyder, celebrity nutritionist and author of The Beauty Detox Solution, eating right isn’t about dieting and restriction; it’s about feeding your body the beautyboosting foods it needs instead. While seasonal indulgences will always be tempting, with healthy modifications to holiday favorites you can still enjoy the comfort foods you crave without depleting the body of Beauty Detox nutrients. Here are some of Kim’s easy-to-follow holiday health tips: · Drink Smart: Don’t start guzzling liquids once you arrive at a party, as drinking too much while eating dilutes digestive enzymes, slows digestion and causes bloating. Instead, fill up on water between meals, so you’re not dehydrated when you sit down at the table, mistaking thirst for hunger and ultimately over-eating. When it comes to alcohol, avoid beer, tequila and rum, which cause sugar imbalances and bloating. If you really want a cocktail, stick to vodka. Wine is fine in moderation as it’s not as hard on the liver as hard alcohol. · Start Raw: Begin each meal with a salad or even a few veggie sticks. Raw food not only contains bulky fiber but also the full spectrum of its own enzymes, which allows it to digest itself, and act as a “cushion” for the other heavier foods that follow. The fiber and water in raw foods will also help keep portion sizes under control. · Slim Pickings: Remember that holiday parties are for spending time with loved ones, not binge eating. Stick to raw greens and non-starchy vegetables (steamed, cooked with little to no oil), which can be consumed without restriction. Nuts should be limited to 1 ounce if you aim to lose weight and 2-3 ounces daily (maximum) as a general recommendation. Limit meat, fish and goat’s cheese to 3 ounces (maximum). · Sweet Swaps: With some easy beauty-boosting modifications, holiday treats can still be delicious. Bake with coconut oil, a beauty fat that won’t oxidize under high baking temperatures and nourishes the thyroid. To sweeten, try a combination of stevia and xylitol instead of refined sugar and almond or coconut milk instead of dairy milk. For more about The Beauty Detox Solution and other tips from Kimberly, visit www.kimberlysnyder.net and www.kimberlysnyder.net/blog, and follow her on Twitter @kimsbeautydetox.

44 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

ART & CULTURE

Musician Paul Buono Modern Day Rolling Stone By Shelly Aucoin

Worcester native and accomplished musician Paul Buono, who currently lives in Queens, NY (but jokes that “I pay rent in NY ~ I drive a lot for gigs between Worcester, Boston, CT, NY, NJ...), has traveled some pretty high roads in the music world. Starting off as a piano student at the [now closed] Performing Arts School of Worcester, he’s gone on to perform with the famous Wynton Marsalis, Regina Carter, Abigail Riccards, Lage Lund, Antonio Hart, and the season one winner of NBC’s The Voice, Javier Colon. In September, Paul, who is about to turn 31, provided musical composition and direction for the music-dance show BLINK, produced by Boston-based Jazz Inc. The production ran for ﬁve shows at the Oberon in Harvard Square and was part of Jazz Inc.’s ongoing mission to offer a unique music-art fusion experience. Paul explains, “The idea behind BLINK is to be interactive with the audience. The theatre space - Oberon - is sort of a non-traditional theatre, so there is no ‘stage’ per se; the dance happens all around the theatre while the audience is right there in the middle of it.” Paul has given music instruction at a variety of highly regarded schools such as Clark and Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he currently teaches an orchestration and harmony class. Under Paul’s instruction WPI students are trained to take on challenging assignments such as arranging for string quartet and jazz ensemble. He also appears in clinician videos for Latin Percussion and Alesis. As for his own education, Paul went to UMASS Amherst for undergrad, Aaron Copland School of Music for grad studies, and Western New England University School of Law. He studied music with Eugene Uman at UMass and during grad school learned from Sir Roland Hanna, Michael Mossman, David Berkman, and Bruce Barth. Paul’s most envious gig might be the years he spent as Music Director on the cruise ships Princess and Cunard where he got to travel to Tahiti, the Caribbean and Alaska. “The shows on all the ships were production shows, like Broadway musicals… huge productions, speciﬁcally commissioned and staged for Cunard,” Paul says. Recently he’s been performing in New York City with some pretty big names: singer-songwriter Dan Mackenzie who wrote for Joss Stone and co-wrote the latest Martin Sexton album, singer-songwriter Jeff Tohuy, and Jay Stollman who is famous for writing the Today Show theme. “Dan Mackenzie is a great songwriter, actually one of the best - his lyrics are always incredibly thoughtful and deeply-pondered,” Paul adds. “When Martin Sexton was getting ready to tour, Dan called him up in front of me and said ‘I got a great keyboard player - you gotta put this guy on your tour.’ Unfortunately,

Photo by Justin Perry Martin already had his band in place but that was the moment where I looked at Dan as a friend and not just a musical associate.” Paul is currently working on a very hush-hush legal project for upcoming contestants of The Voice. While he can’t say much about that project, he is happy to share that he’s also involved in an ongoing project called the Jazz History Database. The database covers detailed information about musicians, discussion of musical events, extensive media publications and audio collections. “The Jazz History Database is cool,” says Paul, “It’s the creation of Richard Falco, a great local guitarist and teacher, WPI professor of music, and all-around nice guy. He brought me onboard the project for some of the intellectual property and general legal issues he was encountering.” Readers can check it out at http:// jazzhistorydatabase.com Paul is now writing new music and hopes to start recording soon. The players are assembled for the new compositions; all that remains is to work out scheduling conﬂicts. One thing is certain - we can’t wait to see what’s next for this modern day rolling stone.

Paul performs at The Lucky Dog in Worcester on Friday, Dec. 23rd with soul band Beg Scream Shout (http://begscreamshout.com). Tickets are now on sale at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/212420. DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 45

NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING •

NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE

46 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

• SHOPPI

• NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING • DEC. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 47 DEC. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 47

ING • NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE

•

Style & Beauty

New Store Grime Has Fashion on the Cheap By Emily Kopec

Upon entering the eclectic consignment store Grime ~ which opened its doors in July ~ you’re not sure where to ﬁrst feast your eyes. There’s a lot of fabulousness going on and you’ll want to take it all in. For a small store, it sure packs a punch. Women’s and men’s clothes tightly line the walls all the way to the back. And there are shoes and boots...all neatly organized by size. And let’s not forget the handbags and hats. There are also one-of-a kind items like scarves made out of old tee-shirts, earrings made out of vintage fabric, and comic zines. Hanging above all these gems are can’t-miss large pieces of artwork displayed high on the walls, original creations created with neon markers and mixed media. One is a close-up of He-Man with white hair, yellow eyes and snakes slithering around him. Pop art meets vintage? So who presides over all this delish collection? Meet the simultaneously bubbly and cool Molly McGrath (pictured above), owner of Grime. “One of the best things about having my own business is getting to display my style. When people come in, I want them to be excited! It’s a personal shopping experience. If I wouldn’t wear it or my boyfriend wouldn’t wear it, I won’t carry it.” Grime carries a variety of styles from retro to modern, new to used, and Molly hand-picks it all ~ soft ﬂannels shirts, cowboy boots, ladylike dresses, striped tanks, and knee-length skirts. “When I started the store, I didn’t want it to just be vintage clothes. Right now, if I think it’s cute I sell it in my store. It doesn’t matter if it’s designer or Old Navy.” And fear not, the prices are very reasonable. Vintage tee-shirts go for as little as $5.

48 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

Grime’s clientele consists not only of college kids but people in their 20s, 30s, and beyond looking for something original that doesn’t look like it came from the local mall. Molly shares that the pickiest people are the men, who, it turns out, can be label whores! “They want particular vests, bow ties, and wing tip shoes.” Molly’s favorite thing to do is ~ you guessed it ~ thrifting. She goes on little “adventures,” as she calls them, mapping out different places to go with her sister. That’s why the store is closed on Wednesdays ~ so she can go hunting for treasures. “Thursday is the best day to come in,” she says with a smile. An artist herself, Molly supports the Worcester artist community. “If I ever wanted to produce my art and sell it, I’d want a cool venue to sell it. So doing that makes me so happy. Now I just have to ﬁnd a place to put it!” It’s obvious Molly is proud of her home away from home. “This is me, I’m the only one here, and I love what I do. I go home feeling good every day.” There’s nothing grime-y about that. Be sure to visit Grime, located on 100 Grove St., Worcester, in the big brick building. And be sure you’ve got some time to browse, ‘cause you won’t want to leave a single corner, wall, or shelf unexplored! www.grimeworcester.com

Are You “Buddhaful?”

If You’re Sexy, One-of-a-Kind, and Not Afraid to Make a Statement ~ Yes, You Are! By Leslie Roberts

Buddhaful, the clothing brand connected to the heart and soul of the fashion, music, and art community, has hit a fresh chord with their new Makin’ Honey collection of creative, head-turning shirts, coats, pants, and dresses. Since its inception in 1998, Buddhaful has been showcasing the talents of budding artists from Vancouver B.C. to San Francisco, CA in their clothing designs. Makin’ Honey features intricate beehive and honeycomb motifs, and ~ like all their offerings ~ strives to bring a conscious, positive message to everyone. Their eclectic and often unusual stylings exhibit individuality and bring together people who appreciate the unique. Buddhaful pieces weave sexy, fun, artistic, and international sensibilities together for a look that makes heads turn. Buddhaful clothing can be found worldwide in fashion capitals like Japan, the UK, and France, as well as across the United States. Their hip stylings have been featured in many recent movies including Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Eat Pray Love, and music videos by Skinny Puppy and Halestorm. Their men’s and women’s styles are a deﬁnite fall must-have and will add personality ~ and more than a little sexy ~ to your signature style. Visit www.buddhaful.com to check out all the creative looks available!

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 49

Rock Your Soule! By Steph Moore

Check out the Rockinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new clothing! These new styles will bring some Soule to your closet! The shoulder grey feather long sleeve (item GC23) retails for $50, the long sleeve burnout with Gypsy Soule Logo (Item GS46) is great for everyday wear and retails for $54, and the tan and black burnout with Indian sugar skull (my fave!) retails for $66. Bring some rock-n-roll edge to your closet with these items and more ~ check out www.gypsysoule. com to start putting your own collection together!

B. Witching Has the Perfect Holiday Gifts By Leslie Roberts

B. Witching Bath Co. offers the perfect collection of luxurious and affordable gifts in array of festive scents. B. Witching is available online as well as in local and national boutiques. Visit bwitchingbathco.com to see the full range of individual products and collections ripe for the giving. Specializing in everything from healthy and luxe bath products to sumptuous home fragrances, freshsmelling pet pampering products, indulgent body and personal care, and natural hair care, B. Witching Bath Co. is a true lifestyle concept to ďŹ ll every need and ring in holiday cheer! Three of my favorite holiday items? Marshmallow Cocoa Lotion ($13.95) & Shower Gel ($10.95) ~ A sweet, chocolate-y fragrance (minus the calories!) for the ultimate sweet tooth. Angel Dust Bubble Bath ($9.95) ~ Beauty addicts rejoice! Perfect to give or simply indulge in, this luxurious bubble bath soaks the holiday stress away with an ethereal botanical scent that lingers on... First Snow Bath Confetti ($3.95) & Lotion ($13.95) ~ Pure bath time fun for kids and adults alike that creates a winter wonderland and makes the holidays smell magical.

50 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

NEW!Dermablend Skin Perfector By Hillary Stone

Dermablend has just launched their ﬁrst ever non-makeup cosmetic ~ The Dermablend SkinPerfector Pigment Correcting Primer is a double action treatment primer that helps correct skin pigment imperfections including age spots, sun spots and skin discolorations caused by sun damage, natural aging and acne scarring. It’s clinically proven to reduce the size and color intensity of skin discolorations.

PRODUCT: A double action treatment primer that helps correct skin pigment imperfections such as age spots, sun spots and skin discolorations caused by sun damage, natural aging and acne scarring. Clinically proven* to reduce the size and color intensity of skin discolorations. Skin complexion is more even, clear and radiant. Skins feel silky smooth and supple allowing for a ﬂawless makeup application. Suitable for all ethnicities and skin tones.

BENEFITS: Treats: A double action formula containing Ceramide White with LHA targets skin discoloration. Acts on skin surface layers reducing the appearance of excess melanin. Provides a micro exfoliation for the removal of unwanted pigmented dead cells. Gentle enough for everyday use. Hydrates: Locks in skin moisture and prevents water loss. Leaves skin with a healthy and fresh appearance.

Texture: Lightweight, fast acting and absorbing. Non sticky. Non greasy. Leaves skin smooth and supple.

RESULT: A clinically proven* formula to reduce the size and color intensity of skin discoloration while leaving skin more radiant and supple for a ﬂawless makeup application.

DERMATOLOGICAL AND EFFICACY STANDARDS: • Dermatologist tested • Allergy tested • Sensitive Skin tested • Non-comedogenic • Non-acnegenic • Fragrance free * in a clinical test

PRICE: Suggested retail price for Skin Perfector Pigment Correcting Primer is $45.00 (0.8 ﬂ. oz.).

AVAILABILITY: Dermablend products can be found at Macy’s, Ulta, and Dillard’s and at select Lord & Taylor, Bon Ton, Carsons and Boscovs. For more information, please visit www.dermablend.com.

Sensitivity: Fragrance Free. Suitable for sensitive and allergic skin.

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 51

COLLEGE

Clark University Explains “Why Torture Is Wrong and the People Who Love Them” By Bruce Sullivan

“If you want to tell people the truth – you better make it funny – or they will kill you.” (Billy Wilder) Director Ray Munro heeded Wilder’s warning in preparation for Clark University’s deliciously funny take on Christopher Durang’s “Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them.” The play, held at Clark University’s Little Center Theatre Nov. 3-12th, is a riotous political satire centering on America’s mounting anxiety during its endless war on terror. It was written on commission from the Public Theatre and premiered in March, 2009 at the Newman Theatre at the Public, only to be extended for a second time until May 10. Set in the paranoid days of the post 9-11 Bush Administration, Torture takes aim at America’s “Violence First” approach to the Arabic world. Torture is darkly comedic, edgy, thought-provoking, and challenging. In other words, it’s everything that college theatre should be. The play opens as a horrified young Felicity (Emily Boyle) wakes in a cheap hotel room to discover she has married a quick-tempered misogynistic Arab named Zamir (hilariously performed by Ian Michaels). Felicity’s desire for a quick annulment is thwarted by Zamir’s penchant for violence. “It is a flaw in my character, but all the women in my family are dead.” The inevitable culture clash grows as the pair visit Felicity’s super-conservative Republican parents Leonard and Luella, perfectly portrayed by Milo MacPhail and the scene-stealing, delightful Betty MacCarthy. It’s Meet the Parents meets The Guantanamo Detention Camp as Leonard, a gun-toting, xenophobic, Cheney-ite, comes face to face with suspicious newcomer Zamir. Hilarity ensues with shadow government operatives, a preacherpornographer (Max Stern), a busty Monica Lewinsky-esque intern who literally can’t keep her panties on (Alana Osborn-Leif), and the comically dysfunctional family. Can Felicity and Zamir’s relationship survive? Will their family and their country find a non-violent means of problem solving? Can east and west come together in a dialogue of acceptance and coexistence before it’s too late? Nah… Director Ray Munro, who has a knack for choosing the right play at the right time, struck a perfect chord with Durang’s “Torture.” Munro’s bold choices make an already timely production even more appropriate for our era of supreme government and corporate distrust. The director “…was trying to find material that expresses this rage and also might move the zeitgeist even a little in the right direction.” The play’s opening smartly features George Carlin’s skewering of corporate America and a “willfully ignorant” public. “The owners of this country know the truth; it’s called The American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.” At intermission, breaking the fourth wall and bringing local reality to the audience’s attention, the cast passed the hat for the “Occupy Wall Street / Worcester Movements.” This further drove home the play’s thematic message, but no more so than the police barricades surrounding several city blocks of “occupy” protesters following the play’s conclusion. Perhaps Durang and Munro are on to something after all. Experiencing this excellent production reminded me that Worcester County has a wealth of talent in its colleges and universities, and that when we think of going to the theatre, we might first want to check what’s being offered by local drama departments. Given the talent we witnessed onstage with “Torture,” today’s drama student may just be tomorrow’s Broadway star.

52 THEPULSEMAG.COM | DEC. 2011

For more info on Clark University productions, visit www.clarku.edu/departments/clarkarts/theater. For more on Christopher Durang, visit www.christopherdurang.com. *** Catch even more Christopher Durang when The Alternate College Theatre at the College of the Holy Cross presents “Baby with the Bathwater,” directed by Katy Hannigan ‘12, on Dec. 1-3 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 3-4 at 2 p.m. Tix are $7 for members of the Holy Cross community and $10 for the general public. Tickets can be reserved by calling the ACT box ofﬁce at (508) 793-3536.

Cool Dorm Room Gadgets:

The PowerSlice and the Dexim AppSpeed Monster By Leslie Roberts

Let’s face it, dorm rooms are small ~ some would say tiny! ~ and limited in everything from ﬂoor space to outlet space. Now you can economize and de-clutter your dorm room with the fuse PowerSlice. Great for organizing your gaggle of gadgets, the PowerSlice (www.fuseplusyou.com) allows you to charge up to four gadgets ~ everything from Smartphones to handheld gaming devices, cameras, Bluetooth devices and more ~ on one plug. Neatfreaks will love it, your gamer roommate will love it, overnight guests will love it, and you’ll love it because it’s so convenient. You know that if you throw a party at least a few people are going to need to recharge ~ and now, no prob, just point ‘em to the PowerSlice! For people with multiple Apple products, a bundle with the PowerSlice charger plus two iPhone/iPod compatible charging slices included is available for $49.99. The Fuse Power Slice is great for pre-vacation/roadtrip charging, too ~ you can charge your phone, mp3 player and digital camera all in one spot without hogging all the wall outlets! The Power Slice is also great to bring on vacation, as it eliminates the need for a tangled mess of cords (save that battle for the inevitable tangle of Christmas light knots you know is in your near future). Now, I used to be the ﬁrst one to smirk at anyone over the age of, say, 15 getting psyched about RC cars…but the “RC” of old has become “DC” (device controlled) and I’m a big enough person to admit that the new Dexim AppSpeed Monster Truck (www.dexim.net) is an absolute blast ~ after you and a friend (or a bunch of friends) charge up your Apple device (the Truck is compatible with the latest iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch models and is controlled via a free iTunes application) with the PowerSlice, you can set up some awesome head-to-head mini monster truck battles (or entertain your cat for hours). The AppSpeed has two modes of operation to choose from: the traditional touch sensor controls the truck from your Apple device’s’ touch screen and ~ for those looking for an experience closer to real-world driving (or racing!) ~ it also offers a gravity mode, which allows you to simply gyrate your Apple device to direct the Monster Truck. A compact and fun portable gadget, the AppSpeed Monster Truck is available on Amazon.com and Dexim.net for $69.99. Warning, though ~ if you have kids or younger siblings around (or even a roommate who’s an out-of-control “borrower”), they WILL want to steal the Truck, so I suggest hiding it…or you’ll never get it back!

The Luxurious Royal Mink Electric Blanket By Steph Moore

There’s no denying it, winter is here. And one of the worst feelings once the cold weather hits is climbing into a freezing cold dorm bed. How can you get the allimportant good night’s sleep your parents keep reminding you about it your teeth are chattering and you can’t feel your toes (amongst other things!)? The new Therapedic Royal Mink Electric Blanket (starting at $99.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond) is warm and cozy before you even turn it on thanks to the UltraSoft Royal MinkTM fabric ~ and with a 10 heat settings, a 10-hour auto-off and a pre-heat feature, you can preset the blanket to warm up your bed so it’s the perfect temperature for you right when you get in! Oversized for greater coverage, the machine washable blanket comes in a variety of colors to suit any décor, and includes a 5 year warranty (so quick, put it on your holiday wish list before your folks send you a hot pink Forever Lazy...with matching socks!).

DEC. 2011

| THEPULSEMAG.COM 53

Take a holiday from the hustle. With the hustle & bustle of the holiday season, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to forget to relax and enjoy what the holidays are all about...spending time with family & friends. Ceres Bistro is the perfect place to unwind, reconnect and enjoy a night off from the hectic pace of the holidays. Ceres Bistro, an unparalleled food and wine affair that delivers award-winning cuisine in an elegant yet casual atmosphere.

Grab the Kids and Join Us for Brunch with Santa on Dec 4th, 11th & 18th. (Pictures with Santa, Face Painting, Choir & More)

Purchase a $100 Giftcard and Receive a FREE $20 Harvest Rewards Card! Ceres Bistro at the Beechwood Hotel 363 Plantation Street ~ Worcester, MA 508.754.2000 ~ ceresbistro.com

Revel in the harvest.