RUKUS March 2011 by RUKUS MAGAZINE

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On The Cover

Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up by Rokael Lizama

This Page

Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up by Rokael Lizama

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March 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ RUKUS

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Andrew Gates Art Director

Trish Gates Senior Editor

Mary Stafford Assistant Editor

Larry Herman All Access Contributors

Katie J. Norris, Silas Valentino & Jeremy Weeden Live & Loud Contributors

Nicolas Bates & Michelle Oberg Pit Pass Contributor

Nicolas Bates Game On Contributors

Mike Lowther & Albert Marrero, Jr. Contributing Photographers

Andrew Gates & Nicolas Bates Contributing VideographersÂ

Nate Olson

Contributing Make-up Artists

Crystal Tran, Lyndsay Gabrielle & Rokael Lizama Contributing Hair Stylists

Crystal Tran & Ronna Wasmundt Advertising

Andrew Gates

andrew@RUKUSmag.com Mailing Address

RUKUS Magazine P.O. Box 91651 Los Angeles, CA 90009

asey Durkin was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating high school, Casey moved to the Big Apple to attend the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. There she studied Fine Art and Art History. Wanting to take her knowledge of the arts in another direction, Casey moved to Los Angeles to continue her education and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. In 2004, she was crowned Miss Los Angeles and was a runner-up in the Miss California USA Pageant. Casey has been a runway model for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and has modeled for numerous print campaigns including Yana K and Interlude, and magazines such as Seventeen, Women’s Wear Daily, and Apparel News. She can be seen starring in music videos for the Rolling Stones, Faith Hill & Tim McGraw, Christina Aguilera and Snoop Dogg. She has also worked as a Red Carpet correspondent for Maxim Online and as a host for “Your LA” on NBC. Casey continues to work in both the fashion and entertainment industry. Lil’ Kim helped the successful launch of Casey’s clothing line, Hush Money, by wearing Casey’s accessories during her appearance at the 2009 MTV European Music Awards.

RUKUS • March 2011

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Casey

Durkin Photography by Andrew Gates Hair and Make-up by Rokael Lizama

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March 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ RUKUS

RUKUS • March 2011

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20 QUESTIONS 1.What’s your Ethnicity? Swedish, Irish, and German. 2.What’s your zodiac sign? Leo. 3.Where are you from originally? Massachusetts.

public and the environment not the government. She has been published in Bankers and Tradesmen, The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post. 11.What’s one of your personal goals? To continue growing my clothing and jewelry company “Hush Money” and evolve it into a lingerie line as well. I also want to continue modeling and hosting.

4.What did you like most about growing up in Massachusetts? I like the old fashioned family values of the East Coast. I also love that education is an important value to have, rather than on the West Coast where the car you drive is more important than your mind.

12.What do guys compliment you on the most? My eyes and my stomach.

5.What kind of mischief did you get into while growing up? You name it, I did it! I was a wild child to say the least. My parents are very conservative, so we didn’t know where it came from!

14.What’s your least favorite body part on yourself? I love having a booty, but I have to work extra hard to make sure it stays in place. I have to do over 100 squats and lunges a day. Ouch!

6.What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? I would rather not put that in writing to protect myself from the law. (wink)

15.What do you look for in a guy? I like a manly, macho man that has confidence and class.

7.What brought you to Los Angeles? I transferred from an art school in New York to finish my degree at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, then I started modeling. 8.What’s your favorite hobby and why? I love fitness and being in the sunlight and fresh air. It clears my head and makes me feel healthy and shiny. 9.What’s your guilty pleasure? Going out with my girlfriends. We love to get dolled up and go out on the town, but sometimes we cause a little RUKUS! 10.Who do you admire? My mother, she is an environmental activist working towards renewable energy for greater interest of the www.RUKUSmag.com

13.What’s your favorite body part on yourself? The part of my lower back before it slopes into my booty.

16.What’s the first thing you notice about a guy? The way he carries himself, it says a lot about a man. 17.What turns you on? I like the man to take charge. I also like when a man likes me to wear lingerie. 18.What turns you off? Men that don’t cherish and respect their women turns me off. When I have a boyfriend I treat him like a king, so in return, I expect to be protected by him and be treated like a lady. 19.What’s your biggest pet peeve? Dishonesty. 20.Who’s your celebrity pass? Matt Damon March 2011 • RUKUS

Pure Poison

By Nicolas Bates

Since 1991 Hennessey Engineering have been taking some of the fastest cars on the road (read: Dodge Viper, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford GT), and with their expertise and engineering, making them even that much faster. During an official Road and Track Shoot-out, Hennessey’s Dodge Viper actually beat a Bugatti Veyron’s time by 4 seconds. Hennessey builds serious cars, and the Venom GT is no different. The 2011 Hennessey Venom GT is based off the Lotus Exige mold, but with a much meaner demeanor, and will have enough power to back up that demeanor. The Venom GT is a serious car that, once built, sold, and thoroughly tested, will prove to be a worthy adversary of the fastest cars in the world. Hennessey has chosen a powerplant from a ZR1 ‘Vette – a supercharged 6.2-liter LS9 V8 with 725 hp/741 lb-ft. Wouldn’t that have some astonishing numbers for you? I am quite sure it would. But, what also will, are Hennessey’s other options, which include a twin-turbocharged 1,000 hp/900 lb-ft torque or 1,200 hp/1,100 lb-ft version. The latter is almost unfathomable in a car with a weight of 2,400 lb., but Hennessey is known for pulling off ridiculous amounts of power and actually being able to put it to the ground in a real-world scenario. According to Hennessey, the Venom GT will get from 0-60 MPH in 2.5 seconds and from 0-200 MPH in 15.9 seconds (while the Bugatti Veyron does it in 24.2). The car will get down the road with the help of a 6-speed Ricardo transmission and KW Variant 3 adjustable coilovers will suck up the uneven road on all four corners while Brembo 6-piston calipers will squeeze the rotors until the car comes to a halt. As mentioned before, this is a serious car. At first glance, one may think they are looking at a Lotus Exige (the coupe version of the Lotus Elise). But on closer inspection, one may notice how much wider, lower, and longer this particular model is. The exterior has definitely been reworked and this becomes visible while inspecting the overall flow of the design, look and feel. The entire vehicle is carbon fiber composite, except its doors and roof. Regarding Lotus and Hennessey and their likeness, Hennessey have this on their website: “The Hennessey Venom GT design is based on the Lotus Elise / Exige. The Venom GT is created from a base Lotus Elise / Exige and utilizes components including but not limited to the roof, doors, side glass, windscreen, dash, cockpit, floorpan, HVAC system, wiper and head lamps. Hennessey Performance and the Venom GT are not associated with Lotus Cars.” Regardless of how much of the car remained the same aesthetically, it’s what’s underneath that layer of carbon fiber that counts.

RUKUS • March 2011

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Hennessey, so far, unfortunately, has no plans to release the Venom GT in the states. As of now, it looks like their demographic will be the Middle East, Europe, Russia, Australia and Asia. Only 10 cars will be built per year, and Hennessey already have vehicles on order. Regardless of where this vehicle is released and deemed street legal, this car will gain heavy notoriety for its amazing power to weight ratio – not to mention is has a faster acceleration and top speed (262 MPH) than the current holder of the “world’s fastest production car.” Plus, this monster comes in sexy flat black. It doesn’t get any better than a widened, lowered and longer Lotus Exige with 1,200 hp…and painted flat black. It just doesn’t. RM

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March 2011 • RUKUS

“” I Like the man to take charge.

RUKUS • March 2011

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STATS: Birthday:

August 21st

Height:

5’ 8”

Weight:

118

Measurements:

34C-24-35

See more of Casey at www.CaseyDurkin.com www.RUKUSmag.com

March 2011 • RUKUS

Pure Rock ‘n Roll Written by Jeremy Weeden On the heels of the DVD release of the rockumentary, Lemmy, British rock band Motörhead returns to the music scene with their 20th studio album, The World is Yours. Yes you read that right; The World is Yours is Motorhead’s 20th studio album. With so many artists currently experiencing fleeting success, this is a feat which deserves praise. Motörhead was formed in 1975 by bassist and vocalist Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, and 35 years and a few line-up changes later, the band is still rocking harder than ever. The band is comprised of Lemmy on bass and vocals, Phil Campbell on guitar, and Mikkey Dee on the drums. The band’s current line-up has been together since 1992, giving even this current arrangement almost twenty years in the industry together. When a band has been together that long, a certain level of music is expected, and once again, Motörhead brings their fans more of the quality metal they have grown accustomed to hearing from them. This is the band that practically invented fast-paced metal by blending heavy metal with punk and they do not let off the gas on The World is Yours. The band does not break any new ground here but they do stay true to their roots and their many long time fans will appreciate this. Too often an older artist or band will try to make music that appeals to the current generation to gain new fans and radio support and in the process end up making lackluster music that neither hardcore fans nor casual listeners like. Of course, Motörhead fans know that a rock ‘n roll purist like Lemmy would never allow this to happen to Motörhead. In fact, Lemmy has stated in interviews that he hates being called metal or punk because Motörhead predates such designations and is just pure rock ‘n roll. Motörhead is one of the last bands left with an old-school rock attitude. They make the music they like to make — and if you don’t like it, screw you. Rock ‘n roll music is a true religion as Lemmy himself sings so eloquently on the song appropriately titled “Rock N Roll Music” on the album. Heavy, thunderous drums and fast, thrashing guitar solos are found throughout the album on every song accompanied by Lemmy’s grimy delivery. The World is Yours begins with the heavy metal guitar riffs of Phil Campbell on “Born to Lose” and Lemmy cranking out catchy lyrics in his gruff, gravelly voice. The album takes off from there and continues the trend of fast, punk-tinged-metal songs with titles like “Devil in My Head,” “I Know How to Die” and “Bye Bye Bitch Bye Bye.” Like all Motörhead albums, this one features plenty of fast shredding by Phil Campbell and dark, clever, albeit sometimes unintelligible, lyrics from Lemmy. Lemmy clearly shows, despite his age, he definitely has not lost a thing when it comes to wit and worldly observations. For example on the song “Get Back in Line,” the first single from the album, Lemmy sings, “Good things come to those who wait, But these days most things suck.” This album is a definite must-buy for fans of Motörhead and of the metal or punk genres. The band shows those who are casually acquainted that there is a lot more to them than the classic “Ace of Spades.” Hardcore fans will be pleased as well by the fact that band has not strayed from its roots. You won’t find any homogeneous guitar chords here or watered down rock ‘n roll. This is an album composed purely of mean, kick-ass punk-metal.

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March 2011 • RUKUS

RUKUS • March 2011

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East Meets West Photo by Meeno Written by Katie J. Norris

Two years ago I found myself in a circle of L.A. DJ’s, all 12 of them and myself sitting in folding chairs in an empty, spacious garage, trying to stay cool in the intense July heat. In the comfort of this supportive group of music lovers, egos were non-existent as each club and radio DJ played a new track through the perfect speakers of the DJ station at the head of the room; each taking turns sharing a track of a new artist they were working with or a new remix they created. It was a no pressure scenario, but everyone was respectful to the order of events in this tradition. Though it seemed like a laid back summer BBQ with hot dogs and burgers waiting on the grill outside, I knew I was privileged to be there and I soaked it all in. One group in particular stood out from the little crowd, and then welcomed everyone in. FM, or Far East Movement, stood next to the DJ station introducing a new song they had created with a new artist they liked. The song they played and their demeanor presenting it were completely genuine. They love what they do in every part of their being – it was made clear. FM (Far East Movement) consists of Kev Nish, Prohgress, J-Splif, and DJ Verman. They proved to be kind-hearted, passionate guys who are great at creating and who are always excited to work with anyone who likes to make good music. “Girls On The Dance Floor (feat. The Stereotypes)” is the first song on their new album Free Wired. It’s a great pace setter for the fun-loving party theme that the FM boys ascribe to. The song already has over 5 million hits on YouTube and reached 27th on the Latin Billboard charts during its original release. It’s a hot, driving club song with a sick beat and fantastic production. “Like a G6 (feat. The Cataracs & Dev)” is track number 2. I’m not sure if there’s still anyone who doesn’t know and love this Billboard #1 megahit. It’s the refreshing, hypnotic, dark-beat mixed with the smooth, alluring vocal performance that makes this such a unique, daring smash. “Rocketeer (feat. Ryan Tedder of One Republic)” follows as a slower, love-song jam with a melodic pulse that keeps you moving on the dance floor, and usually singing along, too. Snoop Dogg makes his trademark appearance in “If I Was You (OMG),” dropping his bad boy lyrics into FM’s party movement. “She Owns The Night (feat. Mohombi)” and “So What?” are great follow up tracks and keep the club moving and grooving. “Don’t Look Now (feat. Keri Hilson)” twists things into a slightly different direction with the depth of a sweet story that starts as a club fling and turns into a sexy love song. Not to mention how Keri’s vocal performance blended with the almost-whispered rap flow makes for an intriguing, sultry combo. “Fighting for Air (feat. Frankmusik)” is one of my favorite tracks. With stellar production and a great, articulate rap that keeps with the quality of FM’s style, it also happens to have one of the catchiest melodies I’ve ever heard. “White Flag (feat. Kayla Kali)” and “2gether (FM + Roger Sanchez)” finish up this play-all-the-way-through album, keeping the celebration in full affect until the last note leaving us begging for more.

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Myspace.com/ColdWarKids

Written by Silas Valentino & Jeremy Weeden Edited by Nicolas Bates

Cold War Kids, Mine is Yours

Indie rock’s favorite skinny-jeaned Christian band, The Cold War Kids, have recently released their third album, Mine is Yours. This album that keeps the bands momentum of treble guitar sounds and falsetto vocals in abundance. After touring with Death Cab for Cutie between 2008 and 2009, the band headed into the studio with producer Jacquire King (famous for producing albums by Modest Mouse, Tom Waits, and Kings of Leon). After releasing a quick EP entitled Behave Yourself, Cold War Kids were ready to make another major record. Singer Nathan Willett grew up with a pastor father, and a touch of gospel can be heard throughout the Cold War Kids newest release. Song “Cold Toes on the Cold Floor” could pass for a modern day Mardi Gras jam while “Louder Than Ever” has a chorus catchier than bird flu. The band switches things up with the industrial-genre-sounding “Sensitive Kid” and make a summer tune out of “Broken Open.” On a whole, the album won’t break new boundaries, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a few golden nuggets nestled inside. The Cold War Kids broke into the music scene half way through last decade and will continue on with consistent albums like Mine is Yours.

Myspace.com/TechN9ne

Tech N9ne, Bad Season

Tech N9ne’s latest offering, the retail mixtape Bad Season, is hosted by DJ Whoo Kid and DJ Scream and is presented by XXL. This pairing gives the Midwest rapper more of a spotlight on this project than he usually receives for his releases and Tech N9ne and his Strange Music Family take full advantage of the extra attention to deliver a good west coast-styled rap album. The album features production from Dr. Dre and Cookin Soul and appearances on most of the songs by Tech N9ne’s crew of rappers. All of the rappers featured can hold their own and fit well with Tech N9ne’s sporadic, fast flow. One of the best songs on the album is the title track “Bad Season,” produced by The Haitian Super Heroes, and featuring Strange Music artists Krizz Kaliko, Nesto and r&b singer Tonesha Sanders. Over a hard-hitting, bass heavy, horn-assisted beat, each rapper delivers a seething verse, reminding all that hot lyrics still have a place in rap music. The album also has songs for the ladies like “Sex to the Beat” and “Lick your Teeth.” Other songs fit the mold of more typical west coast gangsta rap. All in all, Bad Season is a good hip hop album with a little something for everybody and Tech N9ne shows that his wordplay, lyrics, speed and delivery are still incredible.

Myspace.com/CageTheElephant

Cage The Elephant, Thank You Happy Birthday

Slacker-punks Cage The Elephant have just found the perfect balance between The Pixies, surf rock, and grunge. The band’s sophomore release, Thank You Happy Birthday, is a 12 song ode to cheap living and modern bohemia. Originating from Kentucky, these early twenty-something punks crashed into the scene with the 2009 hit “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.” After a few years of touring, the band retreated back into the studio to begin the long dreaded curse for all first-time big hit bands: their second album. Fortunately for the band, Thank You Happy Birthday begins their new year on the right foot. Since Kurt Cobain claimed that The Pixies were the greatest band ever, everyone has been trying to figure out what they did that worked so well. Cage The Elephant’s song, “Indy Kidz,” could easily pass as a “Doolittle” outtake. The Pixies style of surf guitars layered with screaming and incoherent vocals define the song. Singer Matthew Shultz acts as this slackergeneration’s new guru when he sings of the irony when a good samaritan takes in a hitchhiker and ends up dead in “Always Something.” The band brings the energy down a bit on the closing song “Flow,” proving that they can play more than just funky-punk jams. Thank You Happy Birthday may not have a catchy single like their first album had with “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” but that doesn’t mean this band will go quietly in the night.

RUKUS • March 2011

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Linkin Park

Photos by Nicolas Bates Written by Michelle Oberg

Bands like Linkin Park need no introduction. Even if you don’t like them, you’ve heard their music, know their sound, and expect nothing but radio hits. Well, the time has passed where it is no longer “cool” to like them – now you can’t help but like them. With over 30 Billboard hits in under 15 years, and holding the #19 title of “Artist of the Decade,” their live shows have only grown in venue size, fan attendance, stage set-up elaboration, and perfection of their stage personas and sound. It isn’t very often bands have the opportunity or fan base to play and fill Staples Center in Los Angeles, but the magnitude that is Linkin Park needs an arena large enough to hold 20,000 people. Many concert-goers traveled from as far as San Diego to see the masters of chart-topping tunes hard at work, and their European alternative dance-punk counterpart The Prodigy.

Smoke machines bellowed white clouds from above the stage as The Prodigy opened up the evening’s event. They took forth to a ¼ of the stage acting out their wild, most animalistic, dance movements while entertaining the rampant audience with such tracks as “Breathe,” “Firestarter,” and “Smack My Bitch Up.” Though their sound was impressively record worthy, the underground rave lighting approach gave the prominent possibility of becoming an epileptic and me having my first seizure (many fans agreed). The Prodigy set the energetic tone that everyone hoped to have coursing through their veins as they anticipated the evening’s later performance. Digital animated projections of rising suns, on behalf of the appropriately titled tour “A Thousand Suns,” shined about as the chart-toppers enter from stage right. Hiding beneath giant tarps draped throughout the stage were a sky-high drum riser, a pair of well-spaced out keyboards, and risers at various tier levels with too many entry stair options to count. Chester Bennington (vocals), Mike Shinoda (vocals/rhythm guitar/keyboard), Rob Bourdon (skins), Brad Delson (lead guitar), Dave “Phoenix” Farrell (bass guitar), and Joe “Mr. Hahn” Hahn (turntables/ ivories/samples) wasted no time upon entry to begin their 25 song set. The alternative rap-rock sextet indulged an intensely orate and rampant crowd with multiple guitar changes, spine-chilling, echoing vocals mixed with screaming, megaphone usage, and beats coming from Hahn, Bourdon, and the 808 drum machine. Songs like “The Catalyst,” “Papercut,” and “Numb” had the entire arena on their feet singing, screaming, and dancing along – though that is typical procedure, considering all the aforementioned history they have with knowing how to keep an audience entertained. As they close in on retiring from the evening’s great success, one thing is notably unquestionable about Linkin Park: this band plays with fire but does not get burned out. Their innovative instrumental techniques, socially coherent lyrics, and individual artistry help complete the process by which a super band’s live performance leaves one wanting more. “New Divide” embodies everyone’s ability to contribute proportionately to a song ripe with great musicianship. This live show receives 5 stars for their capability of making one feel as if they’re listening to a record, and providing a visually appealing performance of uncommonly talented musicians. The only thing missing on this chilly night in LA was Jay Z.

RUKUS • March 2011

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March 2011 • RUKUS

Gang of Four

Photos by Nicolas Bates Written by Michelle Oberg

An iconic band that has influenced some of the likes of Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and R.E.M., began their US/UK tour in February 2011; also making a stop in El Lay to promote their first album release, Content, in 16 years. New members and old style donned the stage The Music Box with a sound that reminisces their original politically and socially infused post-punk, dance rock, disco style that hasn’t sounded this good since their first album Entertainment!. Gang of Four, even 32 years after their birth, still hit the stage with energy of that of a twenty-something band may. Though you won’t find the complete original line-up – Jon King (vocals), Andy Gill (guitar), Mark Heaney (drums), and Thomas McNeice (bass) – this new formation shares an evident chemistry of artistic passion. That kind of symmetry results in harmonious stage presence and an earful of audio that will leave you dumbfounded. Heaney enters first to a red lit, smoke-filled stage of a sample of Native tribal drumbeats. Gill, King, and McNeice follow up next in that formation. As King sways his mic stand back and forth, the quartet starts the show with “You’ll Never Pay For The Farm.” Initially, the vocals weren’t high enough but that didn’t stop the entry into a night filled with dance moves resembling that of Fred Astaire on acid. Watching on, to the most notable show in recent years, each member offers a different approach to their stage act; King, dancing aside, crawls on the floor like he’s stranded in a desert, dehydrated, trying to make it to a waterfall mirage, McNeice dances to the beat of his own sound looking completely engulfed in the music as if no one else is in the room, Heaney shines through with his heavy beats although the actual image of him is hiding amidst the smoke, and Gill personifies the true meaning of “guitar hero” as he holds notes for what seems like minutes at a time using his teeth, mic stand, or any other object aside from his hands. As the show becomes more rock infused, with songs like “Anthrax” and new track, “I Party All The Time,” it becomes complete by the smashing of Gill’s guitar and the handing of the pieces to crazed, screaming fans. Using synthesizers, cowbells, tambourines, and vocal tricks give imagery of seeing every rock show you can imagine in one lifetime – in one room. The psychedelic, trippy sounding tunes have Hendrix, Slash, and Pink Floyd dancing through my head providing an intense feeling of influenced imagery. Two encores led to a total of an 18 song set, incorporating some of the older hits with a louder, heavier twist. “I Love a Man in Uniform,” which originally had Sara Lee conceiving the more radio-friendly track, sounded as good, if not better, than the earlier form. The thirty-plus age range of concert-goers surprisingly had a lot of pep in their step through out the whole show, but energies did dwindle toward the end. Though less active, a quite vocal audience took to the hit-making machine hard, using their carbed up glucose beer reserve to open up the significantly intense first mosh pit for their anthemed last song “Damaged Goods.” Gang of Four’s free spirited, explosive edginess embodied a visionary performance while never adhering to stage aesthetics. This wasn’t a Katy Perry show, and there was no brightly colored stage flair, just an astronomically proportioned talent/hit making foursome of instrumental reinforcers.

RUKUS • March 2011

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March 2011 • RUKUS

Glassjaw

Photos by Nicolas Bates Written by Michelle Oberg

Glassjaw, the four-piece, post-hardcore band hailing from Long Island, New York, came to The City of Angels for an intimate performance at The El Rey Theatre. A group of die-hard fans, usually sporting merch at all times, and/or tattoos of their beloved, were on hand. The influential band to the underground hardcore music scene kept their stage set-up traditional while offering their signature green…everything. A sold-out, standing-room show commenced with Daryl Palumbo (vocals), Justin Beck (Guitar/keys), Manuel Carrero (bass), and Durijah Lang (skins) taking the stage with great enthusiasm. The crowd reciprocated and moved to every vocal and instrumental sound that penetrated through the room. Loud sounds, both clean and heavy, blared from the P.A. system with complete control. Beck had this “swagger” about his seductively smooth playing style to where I believe he may have some Latino running through those veins; the evidence of his musical passion is clear cut. Carrero’s interaction was more mellow but confident and well-played, while Lang handled the ultra-rapid beating of his skins like Josh Freese ripping through a set, and Palumbo (opting for the clean-cut route this show) utilized his disparate vocal abilities with screams, octave wavering, and singing to create an epic performance of hard-hitting jams. While they take plenty of breaks with dead air between songs and with no talking or background noise, each time they reconvene, it seems to be with a heavier and louder demeanor than the previous song – “Tip Your Bartender” being one of those rage-worthy tracks. The evidentiary cool-crowd-action of the night was holding your hand spread open above your head while opening and closing your fist to the beats. Daryl repeatedly holds the mic to fans mouths to scream the lyrics as he impressively dances in his nut-cracking jeans. The “WOW” factor of the night was during the encore as Beck played guitar, keyboard, and sang background vocals at the same time – quite the feat for any musician. That certainly gained my appreciation of artistry at its finest. Taking on “You Think You’re (John Fucking Lennon)” prompted a more fan-crazed environment and that kept its consistency for later performances of “Miracles in Inches” and “Stations of the New Cross.” Overall, this was a whole-hearted rock show, and judging by looks, with all the right people one may expect to be there. Is it wrong to have asked to maybe have heard some Head Automatica though? But seriously, take advantage of the tour that has commenced through the states and check out their website www.glassjaw.com for a show near you. East Coast rejoice, they’re headed your way next.

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March 2011 • RUKUS

Exclusive Interview: (hed)p.e.’s

Jahred Gomes By Michelle Oberg

RUKUS Magazine: Let’s talk about your new album Truth Rising in which you were quoted saying the title is regarding hidden knowledge with organizations. Who are you specifically targeting with that statement? Jahred Gomes: [laughs] Okay, organized religion for sure, but I don’t want to blame anybody. The assertion is that there is lots of wisdom out there that we don’t learn in public school, that’s not in history books (like lost civilizations, and the extra-terrestrial reality). I don’t like to indict entire organizations because even when I say religion, there are lots of good people in organized religion. It really encompasses a broad spectrum of topics and origins, like history of the planet; there’s so much evidence with ET reality and it’s all coming out right now. RM: So basically you put your own storybook, lyrical twist on those topics? JG: Everyone in the band has their own opinion about this, but the lyrics all come out of my head. I’m sure one of the guys would say, “I don’t believe that.” So it’s all pretty much my take on things. In the scope of doing music and recording, I don’t want to sound too preachy on the song but it’s a funny thing I have to go through to try and entertain. I don’t think of myself as an entertainer, but I want to keep people interested so they listen but offer information without sounding like a lecture. I’m definitely trying to use the music to provoke thoughts and get people asking questions. RM: Your music is also very politically driven. Where does that passion stem from? JG: It’s just life really. If we, as the people, especially as a younger generation, don’t pay attention to what’s going on and get involved and try to sift through all the bullshit, than we are being told what to do by the senior citizens and corporations. So to me, it’s important to get involved. RM: The track “Stand Up” features Lajon Witherspoon from Sevendust. How did the collaboration come together? JG: I’ve known Lajon since the 90’s. We played some show in Florida together about 18 months ago and I asked him then if he would bless a track for me. When we finished the track “Stand Up” I knew it would be perfect for him and his vocal style. The rest is history and I’m totally stoked at how it came out. RM: How long did it take to create Truth Rising? JG: Jackson (guitar) provides me with a bunch of tracks that he’s demo’ed out in his own studio (obviously with no vocals), and I’ll chose 8 or 10 tracks that I’m really feeling for an album. I write the lyrics myself so after 15 tracks are finally chosen, we will take the whole band in and practice. Practice lasts about 2 weeks and then we will go into the studio. In January 2010 we went in and recorded the music but then we left and did a 6-week tour overseas and when we came back we did the vocals and mixed it. I want to say 6 months, but it seemed longer with the break. I was kind of pissed off because normally I don’t like to take the time off but I will admit the time off was good. I was able to sit with it for a minute and then go back and re-master. It’s generally hard for me to listen to my own album because I do all the mixing myself so I just keep finding flaws I’d like to correct but every time I hear it I’m like, “Wow that’s pretty good.”

RUKUS • March 2011

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RM: Are there any major obstacles that you have to overcome during the song writing and recording process? JG: I’m self-taught on all this technology stuff. I mix and produce all the albums myself so that gets a little bit tough. Being the vocalist, I always have the hardest time finding the right spot for the vocals, because you don’t want it too loud or too soft. The obstacle is just to get it done and be happy with it by the deadline we’re provided with. Now that we’re with Suburban Noize, we have albums coming out every two years at most. It’s great for me because music is the vehicle for me to get out my messages. There’s always an evolving message, especially with the whole truth movement or whatever you want to call it so it’s important to get out the newest information. RM: How did you come up with the name (hed)p.e.? JG: In the 90’s I was really fucked up, wasted on a lot of drugs and just too much partying but for some reason I was able to find certain books I liked to read and one of them mentioned 2012. P.E. stands for Planetary Evolution, which was also in the book, saying mother Earth is not just this rock that we live on, mother Earth is a being and it’s constantly evolving. The hed came from one of my early lyrics and the song was called “Heavy Head” where you’re deep in thought and your head is heavy. So one of the guys in the band back then said, “why don’t we name our band Hed?” Once we were signed, the legal department at the label told us we couldn’t be Hed because there were already other bands with that name so somehow we decided to just add to it and it became (hed)p.e. Back then I was bummed because I thought it was too complicated of a name, especially for recognition. People were calling us “Head Pee” or “Head Pay,” and now 15 years later I think it’s more appropriate, especially with the planetary evolution. RM: The music and sound embodies so many genres. Who are your inspirations? JG: The band has two different versions. In the 90’s the original line up was influenced by more experimental rock like NIN and Beastie Boys. But the new version is more straightforward influenced by hardcore punk with really fast beats and heavy riffs (think Suicidal Tendencies, Minor Threat). RM: Whose idea was it to create personas through painted face masks? JG: Even back in the beginning I used to paint my face with tribal paint but I never used do it like now where it covers the whole face. We were on the road for a while and partying with Juggalos, which are the ICP fans. That whole atmosphere was really appealing to me; it was an alter ego thing. Just myself, Jackson, and Trauma (drums) paint our faces because we like to. It’s fun. Personally, it’s a ritual…it’s war paint. It gets you psyched up and ready to battle. RM: Do you have a favorite city or venue to play in? JG: Wow, that’s hard to nail down but I will say The Firestone in Orlando and El Rosa in Columbus, Ohio are my favorite places in the US to play. RM: What are fan reactions like overseas in comparison to the US? JG: Well, we just played in Japan and culturally it’s a trip. They’re really cool and they enjoy but they don’t express it the same way American kids do. In between songs it’s so quiet you can sometimes hear a pin drop. When we go to Europe, Australia, Russia, those kids are like American kids – they go freaking nuts. I will say though there are more fights in the states than there are overseas. RM: Do you have any celebrity fans that have come out and raged at your shows? JG: Tommy Lee has been to our show. I feel like I’m missing a huge chunk but he’s the only one coming to mind right now. RM: If a girl approaches you at a show and starts flirting with you what do you say to her? JG: That’s flattering and everything but it’s easy to…[laughs]…just deter that situation. I’m hooked up. I got a good girl. RM: What is your craziest fan experience? JG: That’s always the toughest question…OH YEAH! One time I was signing autographs at our merch booth and totally got sucker punched in the back of the head by some guy. When I was on stage, he was punching all the kids in the pit. He was much bigger than them, so I said, “Security, get this guy out of here,” and probably made fun of him or some other shit, too. RM: You were arrested for weed possession in 2000 while in Connecticut for a show, what was the story behind that? JG: I’ve had friends send weed through Fed-ex a million times without a problem but this time the dude who sent it to me didn’t package it right and it just reeked. He sent it to my hotel and as soon as I walked into the lobby I could smell the skunk. As I went to the desk and asked for my package, 10 plain-clothed cops came out and tackled me to the floor, handcuffing me. It ended up costing me $5K though with the lawyer and everything. The rest is history. RM: Who is on your playlist right now? JG: I listen to obscure reggae. I’ve got this album called Armageddon Time, which is a compilation of different reggae artists. The band Revolution I’m listening to. They’re a reggae band out of Southern Cali. And Jay Z. RM: Thank you so much for catching up with me. We wish you the best of luck on the upcoming tour and new album. JG: Thanks and let your readers know I run our Facebook page myself. I took it over from the label, so keep in touch with us! www.RUKUSmag.com

March 2011 • RUKUS

RUKUS • March 2011

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Carla

Howe Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up by Lyndsay Gabrielle Hair by Ronna Wasmundt

hose born under the sign of Gemini are known as the twins of the zodiac. Carla Howe is more than a Gemini in sign - she’s an identical twin in life. Born in Berkshire, England, Carla knew at a young age she wanted a career in the entertainment industry. After attending a performing arts school it was clear a move to London was in order. Success came fast once she arrived, appearing in music videos and on television. Having found success in the UK only fueled Carla’s desire to see if she could make it across the pond, and for the last two years has been splitting her time between London, LA, New York and Miami. Carla just wrapped a four part series for Playboy TV’s Beach House in Malibu where her and her sister where featured models and hosts.

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March 2011 • RUKUS

RUKUS • March 2011

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THE STATS Birthday: May 26. Zodiac Sign: Gemini. Measurements: 32DD-28-32 Height: 5’5” Weight: 115 lbs. Ethnicity: I am fully English. Hometown: England Buckinghamshire. Turn Ons: Guys who work out. Turn Offs: Big egos is a definate turn off, you can be confident but not cocky. Guilty Pleasure: Since I have been in America I’ve been addicted to Coldstone. I love there ice cream, but I have to try and stay clear. (laugh) Pet Peeves: I hate unhygienic people. Celebrity Pass: Trey songz! See more of Carla at www.howetwins.com

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March 2011 • RUKUS

Jasmin

Rodriguez

Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up & Hair by Crystal Tran

asmin Rodriguez was born in Ensenada, Mexico and moved to Long Beach, CA at the age of nine. This fluent Spanish speaker is working on teaching her tongue to speak Japanese, as well as majoring in Psychology. Jasminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s introduction to the modeling world was behind the camera as a makeup artist. Now that she has decided to step in front of the camera, her goal is to become a fitness model. She has done promotional work and is currently hosting a live band show for Hot House Studios.

RUKUS â&#x20AC;˘ March 2011

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March 2011 • RUKUS

RUKUS • March 2011

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THE STATS Birthday: August 14. Zodiac Sign: Leo. Measurements: 36D-26-36 Height: 5’8” Weight: 125 lbs. Ethnicity: Mexican. Hometown: Ensenada, Mexico. Turn Ons: True confidence, humility, sexy eyes, nerds and a fun sense of humor. Turn Offs: Arrogance, whinners, bad hygiene, fakes and people that talk a bunch of meaningless crap! Guilty Pleasure: Definitely a chocoholic! (smile) Pet Peeves: Bad manners. Celebrity Pass: Hmm... There are a few that are pretty hot, but I’m not really into celebrities. See more of Jasmin at ModelMayhem.com www.RUKUSmag.com

March 2011 • RUKUS

RUKUS • March 2011

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Scared Shitless!

Written by Mike Lowther

Okay, there’s nothing like a title that fills your underwear with bodily fluids, twists it into a ball, and shoves it up your crack so hard you can taste it. The survival horror series is nothing to be joked about. Since Resident Evil and Silent Hill revolutionized the genre, there haven’t been many strong followers. Though, I would say it’s a genre that has more ups than downs, where content lacks simply in the sequel department. Dead Space may be one of the most underrated survival horror games of this generation. Why do I say this, even though it has high rankings and scores all across the board? Because not everyone has given it a crack. It’s a game that a lot of players have passed on, most likely because the competition is filled with numerous action/adventure and shooter titles with better advertising and promotion. But the #1 comment I read on the forums is, “I skipped over Dead Space when it first came out, how did I miss this? I played it all the way through.” Take a tiny gander at the sound design and timing of the gameplay and you won’t put it down. Or, maybe you will because you’re a sissy. I digress, Dead Space 2 is here! Hey, survival-horror. You want me to like you? Make me turn off the console with a ghastly look on my face. Sure, I can be a little terrified from ghosts and spirits, but shock value is what I’m looking for. The genre of survival horror is intended to spook the audience. In reality, Dead Space 2 is like a pop-up book about aliens while tripping acid. In this sequel, we’re acquainted with Isaac who has no recollection of the last three years. Along the way, we meet a few people: a woman named Daina, a jittery Nolan, and occasionally we’ll have vicious flashbacks of a dead girlfriend. Despite their characteristics, few will be able to help you survive. Aesthetically, this game is flawless. Deep shadows encompass blood-ridden storage rooms whilst a creepy lurching sound slithers in a ceiling compartment above your head. The developers set up a scene in every area so tightly, it’s movie-esque. Though Dead Space gripped me by the balls and had me anxious to turn off the game out of pure chicanery immediately after a level ending, Dead Space 2 is seamless and plays as one continuous movement. It’s so hard to turn off the game as it leaves you dying to find out what’s going to happen next. But in the multiplayer department, I couldn’t be less interested. It’s very obvious that game companies are forcing developers to push out a multiplayer facet, completely bypassing exciting playability most of the time. Take a look at Bioshock 2, for example. 2K Games hired a separate company to produce the multiplayer section, which didn’t even receive notable acclaim. Just goes to show how the forced multiplayer aspect of game development shines. And it doesn’t. In Dead Space 2’s case, nothing special. It’s basically a game of ‘cops versus robbers’… but in space… with aliens… yeah. Kick everyone out, turn off the lights, and press start. There’s no other way you can get a single-player experience like this unless you’re alone and vulnerable. When I say vulnerable, I say it in the safest sense of the word. If you don’t have an excellent sound system, I recommend some good headphones to accompany a fantastic 8-hours of gameplay and spooks to tell your friends the next day.

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March 2011 • RUKUS

Written by Albert Marrero, Jr.

Killzone 3, PS3

Being a fan of First-Person Shooters, I was more than excited to try my hand at the much anticipated Killzone 3 for the Playstation 3. What I experienced was nothing short of cinematic in scope and definitely in line with the best FPS out there. And here’s a bonus: If you’re one of the early adopters of 3D, there’s even a 3D version of the game. W00t w00t!! Perhaps the most notable element of this game is the way it puts you right in the action. Because of the Playstation’s graphic capabilities, one can experience a large amount of shrapnel flying around, bullets whizzing past, and explosions galore; all while you’re in the middle of your own gunfight. Another really nifty element to this game is the use of the SIXAXIS controller, which is a pretty cool feature. In planting a bomb, you simply tilt the controller to light up the lights and then head for cover. It feels like you’re right in the middle of a warzone. The graphics are incredible, the story line is in-depth, and the gameplay is pretty cool. Great weapons, challenging opponent AI, and really tactical based action keep you engrossed throughout. I highly recommend this game to anyone that’s looking for a break from current FPS games.

Bejeweled Blitz, XBLA

Who doesn’t love Bejeweled? One of the net’s favorite time wasters, Bejeweled has finally found a home on Xbox Live Arcade. I’ve actually played this game quite a few times via Facebook, so I’m pretty ok at it. The XBLA version is good, but not great. It has a new game type called “Twist”, which is interesting in design, but I don’t think it helps you get higher scores. Outside of the Twist game type, you won’t find many bells and whistles. Just basic play, which kinda sucks, because some of us Bejeweled vets are spoiled by being able to add multipliers, random cubes, etc. as bonuses. Graphically, the game looks great. All the eye-popping animations are there, and it looks amazing. The controls take a little getting used to. I get the idea of having the Xbox Controller buttons act as directional pads, but it is a bit awkward. Instead of hitting a button and “pulling” the directional pad (or mouse for you computer peeps), you simply hit a corresponding button and that dictates which direction the puzzle piece goes. Overall, it’s a fun game, and still captures the addictive nature of its PC predecessor. I just hope that they do some updates to add some cool features!

Call of Duty: Black Ops – First Strike Map Pack (PS3, Xbox 360)

The cool part about any Call of Duty map is that it is traditonally well-thought out and beautifully designed. The same hold true for these new maps. Discovery is a snow-laden industrial site that keeps the middle from becoming a bottle neck by allowing players to go around the sides, above and below. It has plenty of objects to hide behind, plus the skyline looks cool! Berlin Wall is a really neat map, because there are certain areas that are “Danger Zones”, meaning that if you run through them, you’ll get mowed down by an AI gun turret. (Of course there are ways around it, but that’s for another discussion) Great domination map. Kowloon is a bitch. Especially on Domination because of the location of B. Small corridors, upper rooms, and multiple pathways make exploring the map a lot of fun. Did I mention Zip Lines? If you’re up against a strong opposing team, this map is by far the most challenging. Stadium is just plain fun. Multiple vantage points, great attention to detail, and a really cool ice hockey rink make this map r0xx0r. Over all, the maps are a welcome addition. Nothing beats Nuketown, but they do get an A for effort.

RUKUS • March 2011

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"9 out of 10”

- PlayStation Official Magazine

"9 out of 10” - Game Informer

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