On The Cover
Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Lina Hang
www.RUKUSmag.com
This Page
Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Lina Hang
July 2012 • RUKUS
3
Shoot. The Messenger. A sleek, lightweight, street-smart satchel that hugs your body, moves with you, and doesn’t cramp your style. Carries a DSLR, 3-4 lenses, laptop and accessories. Removable photo insert lets you convert it quickly from a camera bag to a book bag, school bag, briefcase or general-purpose carryall. Available in small and large sizes to hold laptops up to 15 and 17 inches. Pack what you need. Shoot what you want . Tenba
Messenger.
Available at:
S e e i t f o r y o u r s e l f a t Te n b aT V. c o m www.samys.com
|
800.321.4726
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Andrew Gates Associate Editor
Nicolas Bates Games Editor
Jesse Seilhan Art Director
Andrew Gates All Access Contributors
Nicola Bates, Jeremy Weeden & Dan Sinclair Live & Loud Contributors
Nicolas Bates & Katie J. Norris Pit Pass Contributor
Andrew Gates Game On Contributors
Jesse Seilhan & Josh Schilling Contributing Photographers
Andrew Gates & Nicolas Bates Contributing Videographers
Nate Olson & Dylan Pfohl Contributing Make-up Artists
Lina Hang & Mieko Ito Contributing Hair Stylists
Lina Hang & Mieko Ito Advertising
Andrew Gates
advertise@RUKUSmag.com Mailing Address
RUKUS MAGAZINE
3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Suite 973 Studio City, CA 91604 Copyright © 2008-2012 RUKUS MAGAZINE & RUKUSmag.com. All Rights Reserved! July 2012 issue, Volume 4, Number 7. ISSN 2161-4369 (print) ISSN 2161-4377 (online) Visit http://www.RUKUSmag.com for more images and content.
Maya Michelle Rew Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Lina Hang
M
aya Michelle Rew is back again for her second time shooting for RUKUS, and we welcome her with open arms. She is looking more beautiful than ever so it’s no coincidence why she landed on the cover of our July issue. She was born in Tokyo, Japan, but grew up in Carpinteria, California where she spent most of her time playing on the beach and perfecting those dance moves. After graduation from high school Maya pursued another passion of hers: beauty. She enrolled in cosmetology school and graduated at the top of her class. This degree allowed her to make the trek to Los Angeles. Although doing hair was not her first love—it was dancing. When Maya saw her first go-go dancers she knew that was what she wanted to do. After just five years Maya is at the top of her game and is one of the best go-go dancers in the area. She has even traveled the country dancing in many cities and states. Maya’s modeling career really came about through the import car scene. She was discovered at SpoCom car show in Long Beach, CA where she landed her first magazine cover. Since then Maya has had features and covers in numerous magazines. She has also been featured in countless music videos with some of the hottest artists in hip-hop. We are expecting to see much more from this bodacious beauty as she shakes her rump to the beat of her own drum.
6
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
7
8
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
20 QUESTIONS 1. What’s your Ethnicity? I am half-Japanese & half-French. 2. What’s your Zodiac sign? I was born February 5th, so that makes me an Aquarius. 3. Where are you originally from? I was born in Tokyo, Japan but I grew up in beautiful Carpinteria, CA! 4. What did you like most about growing up in Carpinteria, CA? Growing up in Carpinteria was pretty boring. I loved living so close to the beach but, unfortunately, that was all there was to do. Luckily, I had my dance classes to keep me busy. 5. What kind of mischief did you get into while growing up? I was actually a very good girl growing up. There were always house parties but I wasn’t really in to that. The worst thing I did was skip a lot of classes in high school. I hated school! 6. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? Looking back, I always feel moving to LA was the craziest thing I’ve done. I was 19 and I didn’t know anyone out here. All I knew was that I was meant to live in Hollywood! 7. What’s your favorite hobby and why? My current favorite hobby is learning a new language. Thank you, Rosetta Stone! 8. What’s your guilty pleasure? I love getting new things for the house: furniture, bed sheets, candles, etc. 9. Who do you admire? I admire the gorgeous Jennifer Lopez. She has worked so hard all her life and accomplished so much, all while maintaining her grace & beauty. 10. What’s one of your personal goals? I hope to one day take on an acting role. I’m super camera shy so I’m working to one day get over that fear. 11. What do guys compliment you on the most? I get a numerous amount of compliments on www.RUKUSmag.com
my body—specifically my booty—but when I go-go dance, I often get complimented on the way I move.
12. What’s your favorite body part on yourself? I love my booty! Going to the gym & working out to make it plumper & perkier is one of my favorite activities. 13. What’s your least favorite body part on yourself? If I must choose, I would say the length of my legs. Being a few inches taller would be nice. 14. What do you look for in a guy? A man who’s motivated, hardworking, passionate and talented are the top qualities I look for in a man. Oh, and he MUST have a sense of humor and be able to make me laugh. 15. What’s the first thing you notice about a guy? Their style & swag! I love a guy that can dress well and carry themselves with confidence. 16. What’s your ideal first date? My ideal first date is either something simple—maybe even unplanned—where we can talk and get to know each other or something extravagant that I would never expect to do. But no matter what we do, being with someone I connect with is ideal. 17. What turns you on? A guy with rhythm! Someone who can dance always gets my blood moving. I also love sweetness—kisses and kindness makes my heart melt! 18. What turns you off? Nothing turns me off more than someone cocky and rude. 19. What’s your biggest pet peeve? I absolutely hate when people are mean on purpose and when girls act dumb because they think it’s cute. 20. Who’s your celebrity pass? Mr. Robert Downey Jr. has had my heart for years but comedian Aziz Ansari absolutely kills me with humor. I think I’d marry him if he proposed to me. RM July 2012 • RUKUS
9
HIN
By Andrew Gates
Welcome to a glimpse inside Hot Import Nights (HIN), which took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown LA on July 7, 2012. If you are not familiar with HIN, this show is a chance to view some of the sickest whips the country has to offer—this year being no exception. If you haven’t experienced Hot Import Nights then you are missing out on a great chance to see the crazy things people can do with an automobile. RUKUS magazine attended the event and snapped a few shots of some amazing rides for your viewing pleasure. Along with the crazy rides you’ll see at HIN, you’ll also see the newly-added special gaming section sponsored by IGN. Viewers are offered a chance to see some of the latest games as they are played on a big screen with live announcements. In a corner of the show floor were booths set up for promotion of the new Get the Gringo movie released May 1, 2012. There was also a chance to meet and get an autograph from Kevin Hernandez, who co-stars alongside Mel Gibson. With all the action going on at one time it’s hard to not miss out on something along the way, but one must-see is the all-important “go-go competition.” This is an opportunity for the best dancers to win cash prizes, with the top three dancers taking home prize money. The competition was stiff, but after a long battle a victor was made champion: Darling Darla. Congrats, Darla! Overall, the show was great. We enjoyed checking out the cars, games and, of course, the girls. We look forward to coming out the next time they roll into town because we know that if you want Hot Girls, Fast Cars and Loud Music, there is no place like Hot Import Nights.
10
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
11
"" ...kindness makes my heart melt.
12
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
STATS: Birthday:
February 5
Height:
5’ 3”
Weight:
120 lbs.
Measurements:
34C-24-38
See more of Maya at Twitter.com/MayaMichelleRew www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
13
Like Clockwork Photo by Andrew Macnaughtan Written by Dan Sinclair It’s been almost four decades since Rush released their self-titled debut album, and while “Tom Sawyer” may no longer be so “modern-day,” these Canadian rockers are, as they are back with their twentieth studio album, Clockwork Angels. Nothing’s changed here: Geddy Lee still slaps a mean bass, Neil Peart still bangs hard on the drums and Alex Lifeson still shreds on guitar. The album kicks off with “Caravans,” where we hear a train bell, gusty winds and possibly some rolling thunder in the distance along with a steady rhythm guitar and some sporadic drumming – it’s all here to let everyone know Rush is back in town. Then it kicks in with Lee and his bass – let the rocking commence. “Caravans” is the dreamy, fantasy rock sound Rush fans have known well over the years. Lee sings that he “can’t stop thinking big,” and here at album number twenty, we all realize this to be true and wouldn’t be surprised at hearing another twenty before Rush is done. Geddy’s powerful bass, Neil’s pounding drums and Alex’s fast guitar are all featured prominently throughout in different ways proving there is no slowing down – even after thirty-eight years. Perhaps in order to get in touch with a younger fan base, Rush decided to write out the title to their second track, “Brought up to Believe,” in text message form as “BU2B.” But this is not a high school band, this is Rush and they break out the big guns here as Lee sings, “I was brought up to believe that the universe has a plan” and the band battles the temptation of the devil with some mean guitar and angry drum beats. The title track, “Clockwork Angels,” stumbles a bit from this strong beginning with an uneven balance of soft, pretty, serenading verse alongside a heavier bass-driven chorus. It’s not as if it’s a bad thing, as the instrument play is top notch (as is to be expected), but on a song-writing level, the flow seems somehow unnerving. But it’s okay because it ends with a strong Lifeson solo and the next track, “The Anarchist,” brings the album right back to life with the funkiest bass line so far, alongside really cool guitar riffs. “Carnies” continues to impress with Geddy Lee hitting some of those high notes he’s so famous for. Warning: do not attempt to sing “Carnies” at karaoke – you will fail. This is followed by the slower “Halo Effect,” about a girl who can fly: “A goddess with wings on her heels.” Once Peart gets going, this becomes one of the heaviest slow songs in quite some time. Bass, bass and more bass as Lee is at his finest in what may be the best track on the album: “Seven Cities of Gold.” It’s a great combination of everything that makes Rush fans long for: bass, guitar, drum beats, high notes, lyrics about some imaginary city made of gold and high-ass vocals belting out a rocking melodic chorus. “The Wreckers” is a nice follow up as it feels like a modern rock version of Rush before transforming into their classic, hallucinatory epic sound. “Headlong Flight” features one of the heaviest intros on the entire album and this is followed by the violin-backed, probably unnecessary “BU2B2.” “Wish Them Well” is the most melodic track on the album and feels as if it belonged perhaps somewhere earlier on in the album. “The Garden” ends it all with a slow, acoustic lullaby, knowing full well that “time is still the infinite jest.” Clockwork Angels probably won’t win over any new Rush fans but I don’t think at this point Geddy, Alex or Neil give a shit. They all know there will always be hardcore, loyal Rush fans who will eat up anything that they are fed. But instead of feeding them recycled garbage like so many aging rock bands may have done after decades of rocking, Rush is still giving it everything they’ve got. Transforming guitar, bass and drums into epic rock ballads has become clockwork and these angels don’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.
14
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
15
16
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
Finding Usher Photo by Francesco Carrozzini Written by Jeremy Weeden
“I can’t stop, won’t stop, Usher, baby…will he do it again?” r&b superstar Usher asks on his seventh studio album, Looking 4 Myself. By the end of the album the listener will respond with an unequivocal, “Yes!” Looking 4 Myself finds the singer returning to top form with his best album since 2004’s diamond-certified Confessions. The album’s title reflects Usher’s transformation as he matures and grows and dabbles in different music genres. Looking 4 Myself combines pop and r&b to create an album diverse enough to satisfy all the fans Usher has collected throughout his 18-year career. From booty-shaking club anthems, to hip-tinged jams to ride out on, to the slow jams Usher has always been known for, Looking 4 Myself has it all. The album begins with the will.i.am.-helmed track, “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop,” an attempt to recapture the magic of the smash hit “OMG” (also produced by the Black Eyed Peas frontman). This catchy pop tune may not reach those heights, but it’s a good beginning to the album and will especially appeal to those who love Usher’s pop tunes. The next track, “Scream,” is one of three singles currently out and does have the potential to go where “OMG” went and possibly higher. This pulsating, electronica dance track has all the makings of one of those songs that is inescapable because it is played everywhere from the department store to sporting events. This is a pure club song about the night life and living it up and is sure to be stuck in your head hours after you hear it. Another single Usher has released from Looking 4 Myself is the slow burner “Climax.” This break-up song cleverly disguised as a love song is sure to be a favorite of lovers of traditional r&b. While the song slowly builds up, Usher sings of a failed past love: “Going nowhere fast/ We’ve reached the climax... Can’t take it back/ It’s too late, we’ve reached the climax.” A slow, haunting track by renowned producer Diplo plays behind him. The third single Usher currently has out, which also completes the trio of the type of songs to be found on Looking 4 Myself, is the hip-hop ballad “Lemme See” featuring rap superstar Rick Ross. This sexy, seductive track produced by Grammy award-winning producer Jim Jonsin is sure to be a club banger on the same level as any popular rap song. The rest of the songs on Looking 4 Myself will fall into a category with one of the three aforementioned songs. This is probably the reason Usher has released those three songs as singles: each one is different enough to appeal to a different fan base and is representative of what can be found on the album. Songs such as the funky “I Care for You” with its choppy beat and perfect harmonization, “IFU” and “Second Round” are hip-hop ballads in the form of “Lemme See.” For the fans who bought the album mainly because of “Climax,” rest assured that there is plenty on Looking 4 Myself that will appease them. “Lesson for the Lovers,” “Dive,” “What Happened to You” and “Say the Words” are songs in the traditional r&b mold. While “Show,” “Twisted,” “Looking For Myself” and “Euphoria” are pop songs. Looking 4 Myself is an excellent album with an eclectic mix of pop, r&b and hip-hop. Often albums that stray in too many directions seem to lack focus but that is not a problem here. While different styles, all the songs seem to go together. While there is nothing revolutionary, Usher is challenging the notion of what an r&b album should look and sound like. While some may view this as a good thing and others not so much, Looking 4 Myself is definitely one of the best r&b albums of the year so far and is sure to extend Usher’s reign as the current king of r&b.
www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
17
Facebook.com/Hives
Written by Daniel Sinclair, Nicolas Bates and Jeremy Weeden
The Hives, Lex Hives
Lex Hives is the fifth studio album from Sweden’s favorite garage rock band and The Hives pick right up where they left off with their last album five years ago. Any longtime fans’ dread of their beloved icons deciding to progress their sound or take the music in a new direction is immediately squandered with the opening track when singer Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist requests everybody to “Come on!” for an entire minute over an aggressive rhythm section. The Hives are probably known best for their matching suits and energetic live performances and, if nothing else, that powerful energy can be felt on every track of this new album, especially in “Go Right Ahead,” “Take Back the Toys,” “These Spectacles Reveal the Nostalgic,” “If I Had a Cent” and even the somewhat slower tracks, “Without the Money” and “My Time Is Coming.” Lex Hives is fast and catchy even if it’s nothing new. It’s fun, albeit somewhat repetitive. It’s not for everyone but it’s exactly what The Hives do best and when you only have a couple of bucks to spend on music, the least you can ask if for the artist to give it their all.
Facebook.com/LostProphets
Lostprophets, Weapons
Welsh rock band Lostprophets (potentially most known for their 2004 single “Last Train Home”) has released their fifth studio album, Weapons. While most fans will probably find Weapons to be reminiscent of older Lostprophets releases, it seems the boys decided to play it safe this round by making that so. The album is recorded nicely and sounds solid; however, it lacks any true dynamic qualities. “Bring ‘Em Down,” the first track on the album and the album’s first single, is definitely one of the stronger, harder-hitting tracks with extremely singable lyrics all the way through the song. Standout track “Better Off Dead” offers listeners a strong, driving force to bob their heads to through its entirety. Song “We Bring the Arsenal” starts off with a light and joyous chant you may have expected to hear on a Hanson’s album in the nineties instead of a Lostprophets’ album in 2012, but this album relies heavily on catchy guitar lines with quirky, big choruses infused with back-up vocals. Overall, the album is formulaic and follows verse-chorus-verse structure throughout. If you’re looking for a well-recorded rock album that you can sing along to and listen to without older folk wincing, or possibly with your significant other on the beach, Lostprophets’ Weapons will definitely not upset.
Facebook.com/OfficialKidInk
Kid Ink, Up & Away
After releasing mix tapes with DJ Ill Will and appearing on the 2012 XXL Freshman Issue, Kid Ink has finally released his debut album, Up & Away. The album is full of bouncy club-type beats and catchy hooks, such as the album’s first single, “Time of Your Life.” Fans of Kid Ink’s other work should be pleased with the album, as he does not stray far from the kind of music he is known for. If you have never heard Kid Ink, think of an artist in the Drake or Wiz Khalifa mold. While not the most lyrical rapper around, Kid Ink does have a knack for putting songs together that appeal to the mainstream. Up & Away features production from Kid Ink’s usual suspects, such as Jhalil Beats, Cardiak and The Arsenals, as well as a few new production teams. Up & Away does not have any notable features as Kid Ink chooses to carry the load himself. Kid Ink is not looking to appeal to every rap fan with this album as some may find it too commercial, but when looking for a good time or music to ride to, Up & Away is the album to listen to.
18
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
Photos by Nicolas Bates Written by Katie J. Norris
The sun was pretty good to everyone the entire day and traffic into to the event was surprisingly mild—obvious highlights to any festival. It never got extremely hot and there was enough shade to seek refuge for anyone who needed the occasional break. The parking coordinators really stepped it up this year since parking was half the battle it usually is. Once inside, excited groups of friends could be seen checking out new bands playing, running around to different booths to get their favorite bands’ merch, lining up for autographs, ordering lunch from eclectic food trucks, skateboarding in the make-shift skate park and playing in the moon bounce sprinklers before heading to the main stages to see the first big band of the day! The days’ events didn’t run as late as in past years this year. However, in retrospect, at the end of the day, it appeared as more or less good planning.
22
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
Ten seconds into the opening song “Fuck Police Brutality,” the entire center section of the outdoor audience was running in a human-hurricane circle pit, kicking up a sandstorm of dust for others to enjoy. What a fitting way to launch this punk rock main-stage favorite. By the third song, “Broken Bones,” the crowd massed as wide as the festival boundary perimeters on one edge of the stage and all the way across in the other direction to the next stage. Crowd surfing, peace signs, middle fingers and dirt flying everywhere united this group under the sun while the band played some of its old-school hits as if they were new, and introduced some new songs like they were already massively accepted favorites. The sound quality was incredible and top-notch for any outdoor show. Justin Sane and Chris Barker’s vocals were flawless, and every word was audible. Chris Head played some slick licks in between their driving punk rock chords and performed the hell out of the set! They continue to have some of the best stage presence a band could have, having perfected their live show over the many years. They have mastered the balance between promoting reckless, careless abandon and spinning it to a positive message by including everyone from all walks of life and promoting neighborly respect. “I wanna see that circle pit again, right now! And if someone falls…we…Pick... Them…Up—just like in life!” They ended their set with a real high—quite literally. They jumped all over the stage, taking leaps off huge amps and rocking out with every last bit of energy they had. Before their final exit, they signed off with, “Good night. And good luck.” www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
23
Tie-dye shirts, an LED light screen backdrop and an entourage cheering just offstage, this group signified the more mainstream direction Warped Tour has taken. The group has a vibrant energy—that matches their electronic, more produced sound—which is plainly visible in their live performance. One of their band members is a DJ spinning their back-up tracks and turning the musical breakdowns into clubbing-style dance parties. In the middle of one of these dance breaks a pack of twelve year olds came running out from the sides of the crowd with neon super soakers in hand, matching the super soakers that the artists on stage whipped out from their hiding spot. In unison, the whole crowd was hosed down. The whole scene was incredibly reminiscent of a spring break celebration, and none of the 2012 Warped Tour population seemed to mind. Joshua Aragon seems to have no end in sight for instrument skills, as he switched effortlessly from the keytar, to the guitar, to bass, to synthesizers and to backing vocals. Eric Armenta took the drums by storm and filled in the DJ’s beats, pumping along with the changing light show images on the screen. The two lead singers, Kyle Even and David Schmitt, are the roots for this high-energy, color explosion band image. Even though this group is obviously being aimed more toward the high-tech future of our youth, they fit together on stage and tactfully accomplished tackling every aspect they were trying to cover. Even and Schmitt crawled out in to the audience on top of the crowds’ hands. Half way into the sea of hands, they made a motion that signaled Luis Bonet, the programming DJ, to ignite an electro-dance explosion that set the crowd jumping. The super soaker kids sent themselves into hyper-drive water-war mode. Under the hot sun, the crowd that had gathered for this band went along with it all, jumping, dancing and squealing away from the water-gun attacks.
24
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
Hiding behind big, dark sunglasses, Emily Armstrong began singing a sweet, sweet song. Sean Friday kicks in on the drums and the band launches into no-turning-back, real rock n’ roll. There is a great sense of dynamics in their live show right from the start. Siouxsie Medley, co-creator of this band, is on guitar and vocals and Chris Null is on bass and vocals. As a band, they all flow together from milking meaningful lyrics and cadences to jamming out a hard release of angry rock. As soon as the songs get going, Emily Armstrong loses the black sunglasses and reveals a very expressive face. She holds nothing back when showing everyone the meaning of her songs. Armstrong and Medley elevate the bands’ stage presence to that of an arena, making their placement on one of the smaller stages seem like an incredible mistake. The bands’ speedy rise on the music popularity charts is moving faster than the spots they’ve been booked at. Easily one of the best shows of the festival, Dead Sara attracted a full crowd, all packed into a small area. Everyone was pushing in, wanting to see the show and sing along with their new radio-favorite tunes. Finally playing their biggest single, “Weatherman,” the mass of fans all belt to the top of their lungs along with Emily. Armstrong has such an incredible vocal range! It seems she could even be better live than her recordings, and everyone was enjoying that fact. She soared into operatic heights and then was able to drop to a heavy rock growl. Supported by the band in an easy-feeling balance by Medley, Friday and Null, the group filled the air as one entity. The show was a lovely mix of great writing, fantastic vocal gymnastics, catchy tunes and fun attitudes. www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
25
Starting with a toss of a toilet paper roll out to the crowd, one of the most awaited bands of the day jump-started their set with “Take It Away.” It was quickly obvious that lead singer Bert McCracken has a bit of a sense of humor in their live shows. The band flowed from the opening song into “The Bird and The Worm,” which is one of those fully-loaded tunes that has a lot of little specific musical gems. When compared to the recording, this song done live was like taking the inanimate symbol of the track and breathing creative life into it. All the nuances of it popped out from everywhere. The band almost rushed all their songs and didn’t seem to want to take time to drag anything out. They have a lot of singles under their belts and it was clear they were trying to get as many played as possible. All the vocals stayed on point the whole time for every lyric and every note. The band was loving their own songs and was definitely having as much fun as the audience. Quinn Allman on guitar and backing vocals, Jeph Howard on bass and backing vocals and Dan Whitesides on drums were almost as high energy as McCracken, who confidently, and enjoyably, led everyone through the set. He announced that they were going to play “old shit,” and the crowd roared with applause. McCracken was the first artist of the day to get the audience to make a circle pit that went all the way around the entire sound booth toward the rear of the crowd. It took over and everyone had to join in. The Used ended their set with a massive mosh pit of excited, jumping, screaming fans.
26
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
Taking over one of the biggest stages of the festival, the band drew a crowd so expansive, it appeared to go on forever. The sun was getting ready to set and it was nearing the end of the day. Aside from the thousands of people standing and jumping around in celebration of their hero band, the ground had become littered with flyers, hundreds of Magic the Gathering playing cards (for inexplicable reasons) and sporadically placed, exhausted couples immobile on the ground. But even those down for the count on the grass were singing along to the hits and bobbing their heads with closed eyes. Lead singer (and guitarist/bassist/harmonica player) Adam Lazzara was quite confident on stage, calling out the other bands of the day and screaming at them from on stage, yelling, “I do it better!” He did not hesitate to crowd surf, jump off tall items on stage and make challenges between each song. John Nolan (vocals/guitar/keyboards), Mark O’Connell (drums), Eddie Reyes (guitar) and Shaun Cooper (bass) played very well together, especially considering the band looked like they were merely sprinkled on stage in between the entourage that was standing right next to them. There’s no shortage of a rock n’ roll lifestyle for these guys. However, despite Lazzara’s better-thanyou persona on stage, as he walked back through the park towards his trailer, he patiently accepted every request for a picture and autograph on his way. He even smiled through amateur musicians’ questions and gave thoughtful advice they could hang on to forever, giving a ton of credit to his fellow musicians. Taking Back Sunday stretched out their time on stage making sure they played all the songs they wanted to, the length of their set almost double to other bands. They played their tunes from Tell All Your Friends, Where You Want to Be, Louder Now, New Again and their latest album, Taking Back Sunday. www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
27
The fading festival-goers began amping each other up, preparing to get their second wind, which they were definitely going to need for this act. A large group armed with plastic lightsabres ran to the middle of the massive crowd to get ready. The mosh-pit scene had been a pretty cooperative spectacle all day. But the metalcore band Of Mice And Men shook things up the second they started. Within one minute of their first song, the weak were separated from the fearlessly reckless. The injured dragged themselves out to mend their wounds, and the volunteer gladiators remained in the pit throwing themselves and others around in all directions. The intensity of the fans was deemed impressive by lead singer Austin Carlile, who is all hardcore through and through. Carlile’s vocals are actually kind of like a sound-wave mosh pit. Hitting incredibly high notes in a heavy metal growl, he reaches impressive feats. A favorite for everyone was when they performed their song “This One’s For You.” Carlile hit a high-note roar and held it, letting it ring out until it didn’t seem humanly possible to hold it any longer. The crowd cheered and the band chimed back in, the mosh pit reigniting. Of Mice and Men appeased the masses by including their tunes “Second & Sebring,” “Those in Glass Houses,” “Purified,” “The Depths,” “Still YDG’N” and “O.G. Loko.” The survivors in attendance continued to thrash around, exerting the rest of their energy for the day along with the band. Light-sabres were flying through the air and lyrics were screamed out in unison until the bitter end. RM
28
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
29
Ashley
Breanne Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Lina Hang
A
shley Breanne is a mix of German, Italian, English, Polish and French lineage. She was born and raised in sin city: Las Vegas, NV. When she was young her mom would take her on trips down the Las Vegas strip. Along the way Ashley would admire the girls on the billboards. As she admired these girls she couldn’t help but want the same for herself: a billboard of her on the strip for all to see. Ashley is quite the well-rounded individual too. She enjoys performing on stage, promotional modeling and participating in fashion shows. Her career as a model is still in the early stages, but her growing fan base, gorgeous body and go-getter attitude will surely set her apart from the pack. This little hottie has big things in her future.
30
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
31
32
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
THE STATS Birthday: July 28 Zodiac Sign: Queen of the Jungle: Leo Measurements: 32B-24-32 Height: 5’2” Weight: 95 lb. Ethnicity: A lot of people had to come together to make me. I’m German, Italian, English, Polish and French. Hometown: Las Vegas, NV Turn Ons: A man who’s not afraid to go after what he wants. If you aren’t willing to pursue a woman, then obviously you don’t want her badly enough. Turn Offs: Jerks! All girls love jerks, right? Wrong—not this girl. Nothing is more unattractive than a man who can’t respect a woman, or anyone for that matter! If you catch yourself using, “Wanna ditch that zero and get with a hero?” as a pick-up line, and/or if you are too into yourself and your “bros” that you can’t be a sweetheart or be yourself around others, then count yourself out. Ideal first date: Anything the guy picks out. I hate it when someone asks me out on a date, then asks me what I want to do. Guilty Pleasure: Shopping! I can only save my money for a certain amount of time before I spend it on a new pair of shoes I would die without, or a bikini that’s overpriced but completely worth the price. [smile] Pet Peeves: People that take half an hour to tell a five-minute story. I don’t need to know every minute detail. There is such a thing as, “long story short...” Celebrity Pass: Robert Pattinson and Stephen Moyer.
See more of Ashley at
Facebook.com/AshleyBreanneModeling
www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
33
34
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
Ravan
Cage Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Mieko Ito
R
avan Cage was born in Sacramento, California. Her distinct looks are a perfect blend of Native American, Mexican, Irish, Italian and German heritage. While growing up Ravan was a very active participant in gymnastics, martial arts, softball and horse-back riding, but her real passion was dancing. She loved being on stage and performing for people. She never thought of modeling until a teacher entered her in a beauty pageant in which she won. After her win she found many opportunities started coming her way. Her love for the stage and performing really came in to play when she participated in other pageants, including the Miss California USA pageant. When Ravan was eighteen she had her first photo-shoot experience and immediately fell in love with modeling. She went on to shoot with many photographers and eventually landed a gig for some designers walking the runway in local fashion shows. Although Ravan is still new to Los Angeles, she is quickly building a name for herself and has high hopes and much potential to go far. She hopes that modeling will give her the opportunity to create a foundation that gives back to children in need and help put smiles on their faces. We can say she puts a smile on our face! We look forward to seeing what Ravan brings us next.
www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
35
36
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
THE STATS Birthday: December 12 Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius Measurements: 32D-24-33 Height: 5’0” Weight: 103 lb. Ethnicity: I’m a big melting pot consisting of Native American, Italian, Mexican, Irish and German. Hometown: Carmichael, CA Turn Ons: Being tickled. [laugh] Turn Offs: Cockiness, liars and someone who feels the need to always prove himself. Ideal first date: A fun night under the stars with a campfire on the beach, smores and a lot of laughing! Guilty Pleasure: I’m a sugarholic [laugh], so anything chocolate, sweet or sour! I love cookies, brownies, cake, pie, candy, ice cream—you name it. I get really creative in the kitchen. My last project was a Snickers cake (mmmm)! But when I’m not in the baking mood, a bag of Oreos and a Monster Energy Drink are a great second! Pet Peeves: Overly touchy guys! Celebrity Pass: Taylor Lautner hands down!
See more of Ravan at Twitter.com/RavanCage
www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
37
Witcher’s Spell Written by Josh Schilling
It takes a lot of guts to put out a fantasy game these days, and I’m not talking about the obvious spillage that normally occurs after a particularly vicious battle. There is truly a glut of titles out there in the video game market that includes the familiar dragons, elves, swords and various types of undead foes. Final Fantasy, Dragon Age, and of course the hugely popular Skyrim, along with an army of other fantasy titles all fit in this category, and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is one of the latest entries of this genre to elbow its way into the Xbox library. This game is a port from the PC title of the same name that is a sequel to the popular game The Witcher, but the Xbox version does include an “enhanced” edition of the game that adds a good deal of content over the original PC game that was released a year before the Xbox version. The game-world is typical fantasy fare with thatched-hut dwelling peasants, grumpy dwarves and a vast array of non-human monsters that are constantly begging to be struck down by your sword. You traverse this world in a third-person style as the protagonist Geralt, a magically mutated, sword-wielding Witcher that uses his powers to kill, maim, and generally try and make enough scratch to have a decent living. It is extra difficult for him, as he is hated and feared due to his enhanced abilities, and in the eyes of the populace, he is begrudgingly seen as a necessary evil. Geralt is imprisoned early on in this game, and the main storyline has him attempting to resolve the issue that put him there. Along with other side missions, the amount of hours that can be played in this game are vast, and although the world is dark and depressing, the detail and character of the environment keep the game entertaining. The Witcher 2 is a game that smacks you in the face with a fantastic plot, good character development and wonderful voice acting. The cut scenes don’t pound you into the ground like Metal Gear Solid, but they are plentiful, and most importantly, very useful in moving the story forward in a captivating way. There are some twitchy graphics issues at times, as well as a rather unfulfilling ending, but these deficiencies are outweighed by the story that evolves with the decisions that you make, and the gritty, flawed characters that make their marks throughout the game. A large factor that separates this game from other fantasy games is the degree of M rating that this one carries. I haven’t seen many games with full-on boob lately, unless you count the dead chicks in L.A. Noire, but this game gives you quite a few instances. Couple the nudity with loads of blood and heavy language, and you get one of the M-est of M rated games that I have ever played. All in all, this is an immersive game that is well worth the time you put into it. It is rough, violent and fulfilling in all the ways that a good dark fantasy story should be. This game also sports one of the best opening cinematics that I have ever seen, as well as a plethora of easter eggs that gaming and fantasy know-it-alls will particularly enjoy. It seems that this game is flying under the radar a bit as far as the gaming consciousness goes, but any serious fantasy fan would do well to give this one a spin.
38
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
39
40
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
Sticky Sweet
Written by Jesse Seilhan
Following a developer from game to game can often lead to fulfilling gameplay experiences. Whether it’s the next big RPG from Square or Capcom’s latest fighting game franchise, certain developers and producers offer a unique touch to their products that generates buzz and attention most games do not. With Goichi Suda (aka Suda51), you have a producer with the touch of the insane, often giving gamers a blend of straight-forward action, far out narratives, memorable characters, and jaw-dropping finales. Lollipop Chainsaw is no different. It has one of the most ridiculous plots in recent memory and anyone brave enough to dive into the crazy world that Suda has created will be met with dozens of dick jokes, over-the-top bosses, and more zombies than a Friday night at Coachella. You play as Juliet Starling, who awakes on her 18th birthday to find that her town has been overrun by the undead. Her family of zombie hunters is tasked to thwart a demonic plan to resurrect legendary evils headed up by an emo highschool kid. Her boyfriend Nick has been bitten by a zombie and the only way to save him was a quick decapitation, followed up by a quick chaining to Juliet’s rump in order to provide hilarious dialogue and puzzle-solving for the next six-to-eight hours. This includes lines like “neck fart” and “dickmuffin,” stuff you just don’t find in the average game. There are a series of insane, over-the-top bosses that rival just about anything else in gaming, save for maybe the Serious Sam franchise. The references to various classic games is a staple of Suda51 products, but none are as obvious as they are in this game with playable versions of Pac Man and Elevator Action thrown in halfway through the campaign. The soundtrack is handpicked (and also features) Jimmy Urine from Mindless Self Indulgence, who gets a shout out in some of the dialogue. While not as good as the previous Grasshopper outputs, it does rival Shadows of the Damned in terms of zany writing and ridiculous circumstances. What it lacks, however, is the meat that makes up a filling gameplay experience and instead hopes that sugar and sparkles will suffice. The combat is quick and effective, but shallow and easily exploited. The levels are extremely narrow and linear, offering no sign of where checkpoints are or where you may start if you choose to revert back to one. For the love of god, don’t quit a level midway through because the shock of having to start it all over will keep you from going any further. The over-sexualized main character is less interesting than her bust, but the supporting characters and random one-liners will draw some guffaws before the game’s end. This is a fun game and provides some quality yucks, yet fails to do some standard things all games should do by 2012. Pick it up if you love Suda’s prior work or if you need a break from the bro-heavy shooters, but stay away if you just want to look up Juliet’s skirt because after that cheap thrill, you may not find anything else quite so appealing.
www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
41
Exclusive Coverage Written by Jesse Seilhan Nothing is as big in the gaming universe as the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Held annually in Los Angeles, the heaviest hitters and scrawniest underdogs pack into a convention center to showcase the next wave of consumer electronics and specifically, video games. Franchises are born and legacies are crowned during press conferences, often indicating how the rest of the year will turn out. This year, we were shown a mix of some new ideas and uncountable amounts of sequels, but managed to sneak in enough surprises to satisfy both investors and casual gamers. E3 was Nintendo’s big chance to re-debut the Wii U, their new console that ushers in their next-generation of gaming. The biggest draw for the Wii U is its new controller strategy, in which a 7-inch screen is housed between two thumbsticks and a few buttons. Each game offers gameplay on both the screen and via the buttons. Think of it as a life-sized DS, with your TV acting as the top screen. All of the classic Nintendo characters will make their Wii U debuts over the next few years. The newest Super Mario and Pikmin games were demoed, showing off level-building for the former and troop controls for the latter. Imagine a Zelda or Metroid game using the screen to scan the environment or having your dungeon map handy at all times, allowing you to take notes and quick-select items. The console is still not graphically superior as Sony or Microsoft’s consoles, but they are an upgrade form the Wii and features more useful online access. Activision had a ton of new games to show off, from the next Call of Duty game to their three biggest tie-ins: James Bond, Spider-Man, and Transformers. All three games are looking better than their recent titles. The Amazing Spider-Man takes place right after the film, but the real story is the return to open-world traversal and a retooled combat system that feature classic Spidey moves. 007 Legends stars six classic films as backdrops for a single-player first-person shooter. A focus on spy gadgetry and authentic film moments made for an awesome demo. Call of Duty: Black Ops ditches overdone historic warzones for 2025, a time where drone warfare has reached its deadliest peak. It’s up to gamers to don some semi-futuristic weaponry and traverse a shattered American future in the next big game in one of the world’s great selling franchises. The biggest story was the presumed lack of information from Sony and Microsoft’s next hardware. Both companies wanted to keep things a wrap until they absolutely have to, but both companies have already started sending out dev kits to studios. Some games like Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs and LucasArts Star Wars 1313 showed off graphics too good to be true, and both lack definite release dates to indicate what system they will eventually launch for. Gears of War: Judgement was given little love, with just a brief cinematic trailer shown during Microsoft’s press conference. The prequel gives gamers a chance to get their Gears of War fix while waiting for the next big Epic game. Next year is looking to be one of the biggest in industry history, with two new consoles being announced and the graphics and capabilities are taken to a (hopefully) whole new level.
42
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
The Elder Scrolls is one of the biggest Western RPG’s of all-time, and their first foray into the MMO space should be an interesting one. The team showed off The Elder Scrolls Online at E3 to a group of folks whose collective dreams was to play a game like Morrowind or Skyrim with a buddy or two or 100. While questing, armor, weaponry, and traversal looks almost exactly like the dozens of other games on the market, the dedication to fantasy and active battle system might be enough to peel away a few layers of World of Warcraft fandom. One example of the lore showed a time-traveling side-mission that changed the landscape after the player went back to the future. Werewolves, elves, and the rest of the non-human characters are back in the gigantic landscape that does include the playable worlds of their prior games. This is a PC-only product, so those that have found console bliss in Bethesda’s massive RPG’s are going to need a gaming rig, persistent internet connection, and (probably, not yet confirmed) a monthly subscription. But with the failure of the Star Wars MMO and the shutdown of 38 Studios, the MMORPG market looks extremely grim. We’ll have to wait and see if this franchise has what it takes to become successful and sustainable.
Dishonored is a brand new property from Arkane Studios, previously of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic fame. Their new Steampunk assassination game is astoudnignly refreshing, offering the mix of stealth, exploration, and super-powers that has yet to be done correctly by another studio. You play as a vengeful bodyguard, framed for an assassination and now has to use his powers of death to dispatch multiple targets in a myriad of ways. The creators showed us two run-throughs: one stealthy and one quite murderous. The stealth approach saw protagonist Corvo Atano pickpocketing, eavesdropping, and teleporting around various rooms in order to find and eliminate his target. When the time came to make a kill, the player inhabited the target’s body, took him to a secluded place outdoors, hopped back out his body and force pushed him over a cliff, all while remaining undetected and creating the appearance of suicide. The balls-out action approach works just as well, but much more violently. The player used various knives, guns, and powers in combination with one another to take down dozens of guards and even innocents that managed to get in the way. One section saw the player slow time, equip and fire a cross bow, before resuming time to its normal speed and watching three guards become bullseye’d instantaneously. www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
43
The era of Xbox 360 is nearing a close, with Microsoft focused heavily on non-gamers that enjoy Netflix or HBO, but some big titles are keeping the faithful interested up until the next console’s eventual launch. With Bungie out of the picture, 343 Studios is tasked with carrying one particular banner high for Microsoft.
Halo 4 is being made by former Bungie staff and many others and is proving to be just what the franchise needs. The revamped multiplayer gives context to the mode while also balancing loadouts and equipment options. The weapons feature fantastic audio fidelity and the character animations have been given an overhaul. New enemy races and variants spice up your constant battle with the Covenant. The new baddies play rough, like throwing your grenades back and resurrecting fallen enemies. Some even teleport, all of which new to the possibly last Halo title on the Xbox 360.
The talk of the first day of press conferences was definitely South Park: The Stick of Truth. The game’s graphics mimic that of the television inspiration, include in-game footage that feels like you’re playing the show. Matt Parker and Trey Stone are helping write the game, while developers Obsidian are using titles like Super Paper Mario as an inspiration for the battle system. The team at Obsidian has been mostly known for their high-profile sequels, such as the second Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Fallout. This is their breakout game that could be a crossover hit.
44
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
Nintendo has a big problem on their hands and it involves the making of money. After dominating a good portion of the past decade with incredible sales of the Wii and DS, they now find themselves with a dramatic drop-off in Wii purchases and lack of enthusiasm around their newest 3DS device. In an attempt to recapture the market and gamers’ imagination, they have announced the Wii U: a next-generation console that will act as a successor to their current console.
Everything old is new again with Nintendo. The Japanese forefathers are showcasing their new hardware with prior franchises in a way to recapture games’ imagination, much like they did with Super Mario World over 20 years ago. New Super Mario Bros. U is the sequel to the extremely popular Wii title and offers the same co-operative four-player action, but a fifth member can use the new device to create boxes in the game or taking on enemies from the touchscreen. Nintendo is throwing in some new powers and suits, like going back to the Super Mario 3 way of flying around the level. While not yet announced for launch, as the system has yet to be given a price point or release date, expect this to be the hottest title this holiday season.
Some of the third-party titles have their own Wii U spin-offs, such as the ports of both Batman: Arkham City and Assassin’s Creed III. Both feature extensive menus and inventory screens that can be accessed much easier with an always-on touchpad than being buried behind a pause screen like they are on current-gen consoles. You definitely feel a bit more like Bruce Wayne when you’re using a gadget fit for his utility belt. Navigating his remote controlled batarang with the controller gyroscope is similar to Playstation’s “sixaxis” technology, but with an added visual element. If other publishers use the gamepad in inventive ways, double-dip purchases may occur, but those that can create something undeniably unique to the Wii U will make purchasing more appealing. www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
45
With declining Vita sales, stagnant PS3 movement, and a decision not to announce the Playstation4 until next year, Sony had to use the one thing it has lacked in recent years: software. Their big franchises are over (Killzone, Resistance, Twisted Metal, Jak, Ratchet, etc.) and it’s up to new IP’s, 3rd-party support, and odd sequels to fill the void their AAA titles once filled. Luckily, developers Naughty Dog and Quantic Souls showcased two brand new titles to follow-up their prior award-winning and console-defining work.
The Last of Us is Naughty Dog’s offering, taking a step back from the overblown violence in the Uncharted series and focusing more on in-your-face survival gameplay. You play as Joel and Ellie, the former being your playable character and the latter your companion, assisting in the experience with dialogue and occasional violence. This game won multiple “game of E3” awards and is extremely high on the radar, but no release date and a lack of non-scripted footage left gamers wanting a little more. What viewers and attendees did get was a slice of some brutal action. The player was charged with exploring and navigating an abandoned apartment complex, filled with looters and lacking an abundance of supplies. One method of tackling this is to stick to the shadows and time your move from floor to floor, avoiding dangerous circumstances like unarmed combat or low-ammo standoffs. When you do get to a shooting battle, the click from your empty chamber will make your enemies brave enough to charge in, but players can fake an empty chamber by just liming bullets in order to draw someone in to a false sense of security before going all Dirty Harry on them. This combination of environmental subtlety and mature moments of shock is a step in the right direction for videogames.
Beyond: Two Souls showed off the exact same things its predecessor, Heavy Rain, did at E3 2009: realistic character models mixed with motion-capture acting made for those who enjoy slow-paced and engrossing narratives. Ellen Page stars in the main role; wielding the ability to potentially cross between dimensions and talk to ghosts while also dismantling various foes, as the action-heavy final sequence of the trailer showed. The story seems to follow a quest for understanding what happens after death. The studio is showing ambition by presenting a single-player campaign that covers 15 years of the main character’s life. This game surprised just about everyone, as it was never mentioned in the rumors leading up to the event, and ended up being one of the most anticipated games of 2013.
46
RUKUS • July 2012
www.RUKUSmag.com
Best of E3 Dishonored Games like Bioshock and Deus Ex make for a sublime gaming experience, and Dishonored feels like the next game in a lineage of quality products from Bethesda and Arkane Studios. The first-person assassinations were rewarding and the combination opportunities with time-bending super powers make battle more strategically satisfying. Hitman: Absolution The next outing for Agent 47 looks to be his most refined, with various levels designed for the demented at heart. All of the missions are filled with savy and often gruesome death traps, from leaky gas lines to deadly falling cars. The new crowd physics make social situations even more immersive than the high benchmark set by Hitman: Blood Money. Splinter Cell: Blacklist Sam Fisher is back, this time bringing an array of new moves with which to take down evil around the world. His sneaking is needed more than ever while traversing through sunny Iraq, but enhanced on-the-fly killing sprees allow Sam to dispatch five or six guys within seconds using a mixture of takedowns and the “mark and execute” maneuver. Tony Hawk ‘s Pro Skater HD Some of the best sports games exist in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater franchise. This digital download offers the best tracks from the first games and brings along all of the quests and some of the original soundtrack. The game will also have DLC with fan-voted stages from Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 while retaining the revert from the same game. This thing runs on Unreal Engine, so the graphics are much more refined than most so-called “HD” upgrades. PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale This was a wacky shot from Sony, but it might just pay off. Battle Royale felt exactly like Super Smash Brothers, even down to the lack of combos and complexity, but the sheer silliness of the product and potential roster (it already includes some fairly awesome fighters) might make it an unpredictable swan song for the platform. Every company eventually releases love letters to their fans, so why not make it as crazy as possible? God of War: Ascension The combat is much smoother, offering better combo animations and a new ability that allows Kratos to slow time. This effect has tons of implications, from combat and boss battles to puzzle-solving and traversal. The multiplayer offered the joy of the solo experience, and featured much tougher enemies and compadres as each solider is human-controlled and as powerful as you. www.RUKUSmag.com
July 2012 • RUKUS
47