The Entertainer! July 2020 by Times Media Group

PHX METRO Â» JULY 2020

CONCERTS WE MISSED From Horan to Stapleton, COVID claimed the best shows

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

CONTENTS

Niall, Harry and Justin; they all postponed or canceled

ON THE COVER

CONCERTS WE MISSED

SHEDDING LIGHT

Some Days are Darker blends goth with crooning

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GET AWAY!

Here are road trips to plan after the COVID-19 pandemic

on the cover: Niall Horan Cover photo courtesy Dean Martindale

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

Times Media Group 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282 Phone 480.348.0343 Fax 480.348.2109 entertainermag.com

BASEBALL’S BACK!

publisher

Steve T. Strickbine

We interview Nick Ahmed, Torey Lovullo, Mike Hazen, Bryce Jarvis and Spencer Torkelson

steve@entertainermag.com

Executive Editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

christina@timespublications.com

Assistant Editor Connor Dziawura

cdziawura@timespublications.com

designer

Shannon Mead

production manager Courtney Oldham

production@timespublications.com

circulation director Aaron Kolodny

aaron@entertainermag.com

contributing writers

CONTENTS

UPFRONT

Ratt • CowTown • Independent Venues • Concerts We Missed • Deftones

CITY

Road Trips to Take When the Restrictions Lift

ARTS

Beth Zink

DINING

Eastcoasters • Artichoke Basille’s Pizza • Baking Bread

BEER AND WINE

Local Spirits • Four Peaks Beer

SPORTS

LAMB OF GOD ON LOCKDOWN

Bassist hopes fans enjoy the new album during these historic times

Baseball’s Back • Bryce Jarvis • Nick Ahmed • Spencer Torkelson

FAMILY

Arizona Boardwalk • Desert Stages Camp • Big Air Trampoline

MUSIC

Andre Comeau • Immanuel Abraham • Lamb of God • Agnostic Front • Gilby Clarke • Limahl

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Staff Photographer Pablo Robles

Contributing Photographers Arizona Snowbowl, Andy Barron, Joerg Baumgarten, Lauren Bradley, Connor Dwyer, Michelle Koechle, Limahl, Dean Martindale, Carl Rice, Sarah Sachs/Arizona Diamondbacks, Travis Shinn

“All I Can Say” • Phat Scooters • Black Bottom Lighters • Some Days are Darker

TRAVEL

Alison Bailin Batz, Brandie Bosworth, Erin Brassey, Alex Distefano, Olivia Dow, Griffin Fabits, Dave Hogg, Elsa Hortareas, Samantha Molina, Clare Natale

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GILBY

ONE COPY PER READER

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UPFRONT

PHX » CITY » LOCAL » PRIDE » DO » SEE

WANTED MAN

Ratt’s Jordan Ziff has gone round (and round) the Valley music scene By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

earing a vintage white MTV T-shirt, Ratt guitarist Jordan Ziff shrugs and says it’s no surprise the hair metal band is back on the charts. Fueled by Ratt’s appearance in a Geico commercial, the move is frustrating because the clip was set up to support the band’s massive summer tour with Cinderella’s Tom Keifer, Skid Row and Slaughter. “It would have helped the tour for sure,” says Ziff, who attended Horizon High School. “I mean, the tour is going to be fine. I’m not worried about the tour. People are totally going to go and they’re stoked to see us. The commercial has created awareness of the band again and it’s become a household name again. It’s all good.” Ziff, 28, is well known around Valley music circles. He’s the longtime guitarist for MetalHead, a cover band that plays, well, metal. He joined Ratt two years ago on the recommendation of a mutual friend. He started playing guitar at age 7— when he heard “Smooth” by Rob Thomas and Carlos Santana for the first time. “I wanted to play guitar even before I was 7, but my parents didn’t really take me seriously,” Ziff says. “The catalyst was that song ‘Smooth,’ by Santana. I thought that was the coolest guitar sound I ever heard. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is amazing. I need to get a guitar.’” Ziff’s parents rented a “terrible guitar,” and he played for six hours a day before he took his first lesson. “I didn’t even know what I was doing,” he says. “I was just making noise on it. My parents loved it. They have a fireplace, and I would just stand up there and pretend I was playing a concert. As a student at Horizon High School, he and his brother performed in Age of Evil. When Ziff was 15, they recorded their first album and toured Europe after they were featured in a German music magazine. “We were invited to play a festival

called Bang Your Head Festival in Stuttgart, Germany,” he says. “The night before the festival, they had a warmup show at a club. “So they invited us to play that show, and we did, and they loved us so much they invited us to play the main stage at 10 in the morning the next day.” The reception was so overwhelming that organizers asked Age of Evil to return the following year. “That’s how I got my start in music,” Ziff says. “I was a total degenerate. When I was that age in Europe, I could drink at bars.” Ziff says Age of Evil went through a musical metamorphosis. “We were little kids growing up together,” he says. “I’ve known all of them since I was 3 or 4. We were all brothers. There was a point where the Backstreet Boys were the biggest deal. I mean, we liked Backstreet Boys, so we wanted to be a boy band. “Then we wanted to be a punk band because Blink-182 was huge then. Eventually, we wanted to be a thrash metal band, and that morphed into a rock band.” Ziff performed in Age of Evil until he was 19. After that, he moved on to Waxy Sugar, a band that was “inspired by the sounds of British pop royalty.” “It was the Beatles meets Queen,” Ziff says. “We went from thrash metal to that genre. We were always all connected in the same way.”

TRAPPED Ziff joined Ratt in 2018, replacing Warren DeMartini. Performing with the band is fun because he can share his personality while respecting the music that was written before his tenure. “I love playing those songs,” Ziff says with a smile. “When I was in high school, I listened to that stuff. It’s interesting to be able to come into a band that had a guitar player I really respect and be in his position to do his stuff.” “I will never play songs 100% note for note. It’s just not what I do. Even if I’m playing a cover song, I want to somehow make it my own song. That’s what I do. If I was playing in a band where it

was unacceptable for me to be myself, I wouldn’t want to be a part of it.” Ziff also performs with well-known guitarist Marty Friedman. “Marty was one of my favorite guitar players all throughout high school,” Ziff says. “It’s fun to play in a band with one of my favorite guitar players ever and then play in a band where I get to be in the position of one of my favorite guitar players ever. It’s like the best of everything.” For Friedman, the feeling is mutual. “Jordan is as great a guy as he is to work with,” says Friedman, who lives in Japan. “We are family, as the saying goes. His guitar playing is spectacular, fearless and full of energy, with interesting musical twists and turns. He is going to be a lifer in music and do many big things. And he is funny as hell.” Inspired by Randy Rhoads and John Sykes, Ziff spent the quarantine learning production and writing a solo record that he’s planning to release this year. It will be followed by solo gigs and short tours. A bit of an introvert, Ziff says he uses the guitar to speak for him.

“I like to use the guitar as my voice,” Ziff says. “I’m a good backup singer, but I’m not a great lead singer. Guitar happens to be the thing that I’m best at. “I use it as my voice, I suppose. It just feels good to do it.” Ratt—which also includes singer Stephen Pearcy, bassist Juan Croucier and drummer Pete Holmes—is considering performing as soon as late August, but the shows will be spot dates, as opposed to a full tour. “Hopefully, we can wrangle 30 dates for the year,” he says. “But who knows. “It’s a weird situation for promoters. Whatever we end up doing is cool with me. We’ll have a chance to write music together.” Ziff has been recognized from the Geico commercial, during which a couple talk about a “rat” problem in their new home. The camera then pans to the basement, where Ratt is performing “Round and Round.” “I have absolutely no idea how they recognize me,” Ziff says with a laugh. “I wouldn’t remember a TV commercial.”

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

WELCOME TO COWTOWN

Paintball fields line former stuntman’s property By Brandie Bosworth

n the 1970s, CowTown Range was home to Hollywood stuntman Ron Nix. Since then, films like 1994’s “Dead Man” with Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt’s 2014 flick “Fury” were shot at the now-established shooting and paintball range in northern Peoria. “(Nix) helped to build the Western town,” says Rick Shaw, the CowTown general manager. “There were a couple hundred movies filmed over the years here.” Shaw’s father purchased CowTown in 1994, and Shaw has managed it since 2016. Two floods destroyed CowTown’s paintball fields over the last four years and few structures were left standing, he says. This gave CowTown the opportunity to rebuild new layouts for paintball matches. It reopened for its year-round paintball facility earlier this year with three new paintball fields. “We spent all of last summer building the fields, literally from the ground up,” says Sandy Phillip, the paintball manager. The largest field has a maze in the center, another is military style with bunkers, and the most popular field, Phillip says, is the CowTown field. “The CowTown field is all Western style, with saloons and jails, and has an old-fashioned wagon in the middle of it,”

Phillip says. Phillip attributes the CowTown field’s popularity to the Western vibes and the size of the field. Fewer players are allowed to compete on the CowTown field, so it’s easier for players to spread out and climb on top of structures to shoot their opponents. Players can participate in matches like Capture the Flag, 3-on-3 tournaments and the President’s Challenge, where players must act as secret agents to safely get the president across the field. Depending on the field size, there can be anywhere between three to five referees per match, Phillip says. There is a referee at the main entrance gate and at least one referee for each team. Phillip says paintball at CowTown Range is fun for the whole family. The range has special equipment for younger players. “We have Splatmaster shotguns that are meant for children ages 6 to 9,” Phillip says. “They are not made with compressed air. They are spring loaded, so it doesn’t hurt as much when you’re hit.” Players younger than age 18 need a parent or guardian signature on their waiver, Phillip says. Every player is required to sign a waiver, which is good for a year and available to complete online at CowTown’s website. The range has equipment available to rent, but players are allowed to bring their own gear, too. Phillip says registration is not required, but groups

of 10 or more players planning to visit should call ahead so the range can accommodate the group. To beat the summer heat, paintball games are held in the mornings and under the stars at night.

CowTown Range 10402 W. Carefree Highway, Peoria, 480.819.2000, cowtownrange.com

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

A FIGHTING CHANCE

NIVA battles for independent venues to keep rockin’ By Brandie Bosworth

oud music. Bright lights. Bands playing our favorite songs as we sing along to the melodies surrounded by a sea of strangers and friends. This was the nature of concerts before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Now, independent venues across the nation are struggling to survive. The Rebel Lounge in Phoenix, 191 Toole and The Rialto Theatre in Tucson, and The Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff have been closed since mid-March. The venues have experience furloughs, layoffs and little to no revenue over the last three months. Dan Hernandez, the Tucson venues’ talent buyer, says they have lost around $1.5 million in ticket, merchandise and bar sales since their doors shut. Susan Walter, The Orpheum Theater’s general manager, says it is surviving through sponsors and live webcasts from its stage to Facebook Live. The venue has been operating for 103 years. Stephen Chilton is the owner of The Rebel Lounge and the vice president of The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). The organization provides a voice, tools and resources to independent venues across America. Venues and promoters can become NIVA members for free. There are about 2,000 members located in 50 states. NIVA stemmed from an initiative called Independent Venue Week, which originated in the United Kingdom. Chilton says The Rebel Lounge participated in Independent Venue Week, and he discussed via Zoom the challenges the venue was facing clubs closed. Participants realized their problems needed a larger solution, and the

organization was formed to find answers. Chilton says while other businesses have offered options such as takeout and delivery, the mandates brought on by COVID-19, such as social distancing, cannot be easily accommodated by his industry. Hernandez says visiting venues is “... the weekend stuff you go to on a date, where you meet your friends, where you

Devo

Stephen Chilton

make friends, where you grow up and define yourself in music and culture.” Chilton adds, “Is it worth having a concert that feels empty? If you erase all of the communal aspects, is it worth having them?” Artists don’t want to go on tour and look at empty venues, Chilton says. Bands would rather wait for COVID-19 restrictions to lift and have a full crowd. “We are usually a 1,000-personcapped venue, and we do not expect to get back to that until the pandemic is over,” Walter says. She says she hopes to welcome back a limited number of people to spread out

over the venue’s 20,000 square feet in the fall, but it depends on if the state’s virus data indicates it would be safe. Chilton says venues could be closed well into 2021. Some concert halls are not permitted to open until there is a coronavirus vaccine or cure. This is why NIVA’s No. 1 priority is lobbying for funding at the federal level. “We need big, federal aid. Nothing short of that is going to save us,” Chilton says. At The Rebel Lounge, Chilton says he pays more than similar-sized revenue businesses because there are concerts. For example, he pays 10 times more for insurance than other bars. Walter says the industry is at a standstill, with venues forecasting to lose almost $9 billion of revenue if they stay dark through the rest of 2020. Although the programming has gone dark, the venue’s mortgage and other bills have not. Initially, NIVA representatives were looking for revisions of the PPP loan to extend the eight-week period, Walter says. They wrote letters and got 20

congressional representatives to sign and support the revised Cares Act 4.0. But even those revisions are not specific enough for the industry. “We are going to be the last businesses back, and we are going to need help for a long period of time,” Chilton says. Now, Walters says they are supporting the Bennet-Young RESTART Act, which will stretch over seven years with payment options. For concertgoers and live music lovers who want to support their venues, NIVA’s SaveOurStages.com will automatically email visitors’ local representatives anywhere in the country to let them know they care about independent venues. The site asks for the visitors’ basic information to locate the correct representative. The process takes about 30 seconds, Chilton says, and users can share they care on social media with #SaveOurStages. So far, more than 500,000 emails have been sent. In a June 18 statement, NIVA announced that 600 artists, including Foo Fighters, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves and Wyclef Jean, signed a letter to Congress to join the #SaveOurStages movement. Without help from Congress, Hernandez says 90% of independent venues will not be able to survive another three months with no income. The loss of venues will be felt in local economies. Every $1 spent on a ticket at small venues generates a total of $12 spent on restaurants, hotel and retail near the venues. “People have always wanted to gather around music. The industry itself is relentless, and I know that we can reinvent. It’s just a long road ahead,” Walter says.

National Independent Venue Association

The Black Keys

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

nivassoc.org Save Our Stages saveourstages.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

We look back on the shows that would have been By The Entertainer! Staff

f things went the way they were supposed to go, we would have been sweating at Ak-Chin Pavilion, dancing at Arizona Federal Theater or bobbing our heads at the Crescent Ballroom. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world and nearly decimated the entertainment industry. Here, we, the staff of The Entertainer! Magazine, share the concerts we wish we could have seen in 2020 if the world didn’t end in March. Missing your favorite gigs? Tag us at @ EntertainerMagazine on Facebook or @ entertainer_mag on Twitter and tell us about them. Rage Against the Machine March 30 and April 1; postponed to June 7, 2021, and June 8, 2021 Gila River Arena We’d all be “killing in the name of” to see concerts, but COVID-19 is pushing shows into 2021 and 2022, including Rage Against the Machine’s longawaited return to the stage. The band scheduled dates around its Coachella appearance, including two sold-out gigs at Gila River Arena. Fans will have to wait until June to see them rage once again.—Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Country Thunder featuring headliners Dustin Lynch, Luke Combs, Kane Brown and Eric Church April 16 to April 19; postponed until October 29 to November 1 Country Thunder Arizona Every country fan’s favorite time of the year was postponed, thanks to COVID-19. We’ll have to wait until Halloween weekend to hear and sing along to songs like “One Thing Right,” “Good Girl,” “Beer Never Broke My Heart” and “Some of It.”—Annika Tomlin

Kesha April 29; canceled Arizona Federal Theatre After her legal battle with Dr. Luke, Kesha released “High Road,” a great album that harks back to her dance-pop and electro roots. Songs like “Raising Hell” with Big Freedia would have been dance worthy at her show. Nevertheless, thanks to COVID-19, fans will have to jam to the 2020-released album at home.–Annika Tomlin

Niall Horan and Lewis Capaldi May 15; canceled Gila River Arena Niall Horan planned to storm the Valley for the first time since his intimate “Flicker Sessions” in November 2017. The “Nice to Meet Ya” arena tour was planned to showcase Horan’s newest album that brings listeners through the journey of love and heartbreak. Breakout Scottish artist Lewis Capaldi was slated to open with top hits like “Someone You Loved” and “Before You Go.” The forecast for fans quickly became “Heartbreak Weather”—the title of Horan’s second album—when the tour was scrapped.—Olivia Dow James Arthur May 24; canceled The Van Buren James Arthur captivated the world with his song “Say You Won’t Let Go” in 2016 and continues to let his soothing voice spread joy to others. His 2019-released album, “You,” diverted from his introspective nature and leaned toward songs inspired by others, like “Falling Like the Stars.”—Annika Tomlin Jhené Aiko May 29; canceled Marquee Theatre The highly anticipated “Chilombo” album was well received, as the freestyle album focused on relationships past, present and future. Songs like “Triggered (Freestyle)” and “B.S.” with verses from H.E.R. touched a nerve among fans. Alas, the show was canceled.—Annika Tomlin

Chris Stapleton June 5; postponed to October 30, 2021 Ak-Chin Pavilion This much-awaited concert would have been his first full show since 2019’s Country Thunder. Fans who want to see this soulful country singer will have to wait until 2021, when he hits Ak-Chin Pavilion.—Annika Tomlin

Justin Bieber w/Kehlani and Jaden Smith June 5; postponed to TBA Gila River Arena Arizona Beliebers were expecting to jam out with Justin Bieber and his openers during his Changes Tour stop in State 48. They were not expecting the show’s date to change. Bieber chose to postpone his entire tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New dates for the rescheduled tour have yet to be released.—Erin Brassey Sad Summer Fest: All Time Low, The Maine, The Story So Far, Movements, Yours Truly, Grayscale and Destroy Boys July 19; canceled Rawhide Event Center The postponement of Sad Summer Fest is as it sounds—sad. The tour, presented by Journeys, included a lineup of rock and alternative bands and had fans ready to brave the heat to attend. According to a statement issued by the festival, tickets purchased for this year will be honored when it returns in the summer of 2021.—Brandie Bosworth

Tame Impala July 28; postponed TBA Gila River Arena 2020 brings both ups and downs for Tame Impala fans, as the Kevin Parkerfronted project finally released its longawaited fourth full-length studio effort, “The Slow Rush,” in February—the only problem is fans will now have to wait even longer to see the band in action again, performing new and old songs alike. Previously announced for July 28 at Gila River Arena, with support from Perfume Genius, a new date has yet to be confirmed. Ticketholders are urged to hold on to their passes, as an email with new date information and refund opportunities will come later.—Connor Dziawura Thomas Rhett w/Cole Swindell and Hardy August 7; canceled Ak-Chin Pavilion Country fans hung their hats and put away their boots in sorrow when it was announced that Thomas Rhett had canceled his trip to Phoenix with Cole Swindell and Hardy. Although some of The Center Point Road Tour dates are being rescheduled, the Arizona date is not one of them. Those who had tickets can expect a refund if they haven’t received it already.—Erin Brassey Harry Styles August 29; rescheduled Gila River Arena “Love on Tour” planned to reunite former One Direction star Harry Styles with the Valley for the second time as a solo artist this August. Styles released his sophomore effort in December 2019, featuring charttopping songs “Watermelon Sugar” and “Adore You.” While Styles will be missed, the Glendale tour stop was rescheduled for August 24, 2021. Until then, we can follow Styles’ message and “Treat People with Kindness.”—Olivia Dow Rascal Flatts October 10, canceled Ak-Chin Pavilion When Rascal Flatts announced its farewell tour, country fans were shocked and were desperate to see the act one last time. The “Life is a Highway Tour” to celebrate its 20th anniversary as a band was canceled and there are no plans to reschedule it. Rascal Flatts has since released the song “How They Remember You” to give fans a final taste of its music.—Annika Tomlin ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

NO AGENDA HERE

Deftones recall ‘White Pony’s’ evolution and reissue By Brandie Bosworth

hen Deftones recorded its third studio record, “White Pony,” it was a time when it experimented, believed in each other and lived in the moment. Vocalist Chino Moreno, drummer Abe Cunningham and keyboardist Frank Delgado reflected on the collection’s 20th anniversary during an international teleconference with journalists.

BACK TO ‘WHITE PONY’S’ BEGINNINGS Moreno says around the end of the 1990s, popular music echoed complaints of life’s dreariness. With “White Pony,” he wanted to escape everyday life in music and not stick to an agenda. “I think it’s a little liberating to be able to write stuff that is not necessarily attached to (your) personal life,” Moreno says. He says he was inspired by the band’s sounds and was painting pictures around it with his words. The vibe truly encapsulates that time in their lives. When Moreno listens to the tracks, he returns to being 26 and wild. “We spent half the time working in Sausalito, living on houseboats out there. Every day was pretty much an adventure,” Moreno says. During one of these “adventures,” Moreno says he was pulled over for speeding while driving Tool’s Maynard James Keenan to San Francisco for a show they had the next day. Keenan would later be featured on the track “Passenger.” Another time, Deftones’ rental Jeep rental broke down and was replaced with a yellow Mustang 5.0 convertible. “It was hideous, but we would drive down Sunset Boulevard to get home every night, and I remember playing ‘Digital Bath’ specifically, bumping it loud in the Mustang with the top down,” Moreno says. With “White Pony,” Deftones was going for an expansive, drum-forwardsounding record. The band already had the album’s logo, Delgado says, and toured with the “White Pony” backdrop before it wrote anything. “This record was just embedded in our brains before we even put it down to tape,” Delgado says.

AN ALBUM OF FIRSTS Delgado wasn’t a full-time member of Deftones when “White Pony” was being ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

written. But by being forthcoming about song ideas, he worked his way in. “For me, honestly, it was always a learning process trying to find where I fit, especially within songs that were already done,” Delgado says. The album’s creative process was also a learning process. Deftones got used to leaving spaces in songs instead of having everyone play at once. This allowed “a little hole and space” for him within their sound. Moreno says he was learning the guitar while one of the first musical pieces was coming to fruition, “Change (In the House of Flies).” He was unsure if he could contribute to the record until guitarist Stephen Carpenter told Moreno if he was going to play at practice, then he was going to play on the record. Deftones knew they were onto something with “White Pony,” but they weren’t sure until the drums were laid down for “Digital Bath.” Cunningham had custom equipment for when he

recorded. “I had these cans—these headphones—made that were gun silencers. You can actually buy them now, but they were totally isolated,” Cunningham says. “The way it was recorded, it was really sonically bombastic and spacious. … (It was) the first time I remember hearing the way that I wanted us to sound.” Another first for Deftones happened three weeks before the release of “White Pony.” The album was leaked. Cunningham says they were unfamiliar with the term “leak” back then, but security picked up after to prevent it from happening again.

RE-RELEASING ‘WHITE PONY’ Moreno confirms Deftones will reissue the record later this year. “We’re going to do a flipside of the record as well, a remix version of it, entitled ‘Black Stallion,’” he says. The remixers are those who inspired

the record, making it come full circle. The band had this idea 20 years ago, before it started recording. Delgado recalls when he and Moreno cornered DJ Shadow at the Cattle Club, asking him to remix one of their tracks. “(Shadow asked) ‘Deftones? You guys ska?’” Delgado says. “He’s like, ‘Alright, well send it to me.’ I mean, he was just trying to get rid of us.” It was kind of crazy of us, Delgado says, considering the band had not written or recorded anything yet. But now, DJ Shadow’s involvement in “Black Stallion” is special. The release dates for the reissue and remix have not yet been confirmed. Deftones were scheduled to play Arizona Federal Theatre this summer but have postponed its shows due to COVID-19.

Deftones deftones.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

CITY

STYLE » ENVY » PASSION » FASHION » BEAUTY » DESIGN

ALL HE COULD SAY

Shannon Hoon film outlines his life through his eyes By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

efore Blind Melon lead singer Shannon Hoon died, he traveled with a video camera. Everywhere he went, he documented his life, almost like a video diary. Director Danny Clinch was given the tapes by Hoon’s girlfriend, Lisa Sinha, and, after a mourning period and “a lot of discussion,” the renowned photographer made the bold move of telling Hoon’s story through the singer’s eyes. Late last month, Oscilloscope Laboratories released the feature documentary “All I Can Say” in virtual cinemas, record stores and music venues. “Shannon’s girlfriend always felt I should take control of the tapes and do something with them,” Clinch says. “There was talk of making the film as a Blind Melon documentary, until someone in the band said, ‘This is through Shannon’s eyes and more focused on him.’ I said it was an interesting idea. “It’s not a film about Blind Melon. It’s about this person who started filming himself obsessively. This is before there were cellphones. He had to change the batteries, bring the camera, save the tapes. He had all these things going against him. He was leaving something really valuable to us. The challenge was telling that story and not leaving any

holes in the story.” Founded in 1990, Blind Melon launched its self-titled debut in 1992 with a Southern psych-rock-influenced album fused with ’90s-era alt-grunge that included the breakthrough single “No Rain.” Its accompanying music video starred the now-iconic “Bee Girl” and earned heavy airplay on MTV, propelling the band to quadrupleplatinum success. Hoon passed away from a cocaine overdose on October 21, 1995, in New Orleans. “All I Can Say” traces Blind Melon’s rise to fame, the Indiana-bred singer’s creative process, his family, his daughter’s birth and his struggle with addiction—all the way up to a few hours before his death at age 28 on his tour bus. It features appearances by Sinha, who gave birth to his daughter, Nico Blue; and Blind Melon members Christopher Thorn, Brad Smith, Rogers Stevens and Glen Graham. “Shannon would love this film— the editing of it, the franticness of it, the wide angles, the poking fun of his friends, the music,” Clinch says. “He would love it. I think he would appreciate the film for sure. We did him justice.” The “we” is Clinch, along with fellow directors Taryn Gould and Colleen Hennessy. “I was friends with Shannon and am still friends with the band to this day,” Clinch says. “We had the rug pulled

out from under us when Shannon passed away. We were in our mid to late 20s—still pretty young at heart and not used to that sort of thing.” Hoon was magical with his hippy persona and unique vocal stylings. “His writing style was really, really unique, too,” Clinch says. “There are a lot of musicians who are fans of Shannon Hoon, like the Avett Brothers. He didn’t have any rules. He was willing to try anything and take chances.” The film started as Blind Melon’s story, Clinch says. But then he started to focus on Hoon and the world through his eyes.

EDUCATIONAL PROJECT Hennessy met Blind Melon in 2007, when the band reformed with a new lead singer, Travis Warren, to record an album. “I was a big fan of the band and working for Danny at the time,” she says. Gould, however, became a Blind Melon fan while working for Clinch as an editor and collaborator. “Taryn came to the project not knowing much about the band or knowing much about the music,” Clinch says. “That was an interesting opportunity to have someone come on board for a different reason.” Gould asked a lot of questions about Hoon; for example, what his major contribution was. “However, I don’t think the film’s concerned with that,” Gould says. “It’s an autobiographical document that’s comprehensive of a person and a time. I think the music is part of his expression and diary. You get to know him. He was raw and very open about his struggles and someone who love and loved a lot. “He was very open with those flaws. We were dealing with, ‘What did Shannon intend with this archive?’ He was intending to share, because he

was constantly addressing an audience. Shannon was leaving a record of his life. We put it together as a complete portrait of a flawed human who died young. Hopefully, you feel his loss. It’s as simple as that. Even if you don’t like the music, the film goes beyond that.” All three say it’s unfortunate to release “All I Can Say” during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Hennessy says it could be helpful to those who are suffering through this time. “I’ve read statistics about how people are struggling with mental health more than ever as a result of this,” Hennessy says. “This would resonate with that group as well. They can relate to someone else struggling, struggling with addiction. You feel like you’re not quite alone.” Gould adds, “This story is particularly interesting. It was a really surreal experience, let alone the fact that it ends with this dramatic punctuation mark. He filmed up until the morning he passed away. It has just the date. He’s someone who lived and loved hard and he messed up hard. You get to experience all of that. The time with it and away from it is what helped us find it.”

“All I Can Say” allicansay.oscilloscope.net ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Valley trio is on a roll with its scooters By Annika Tomlin

eter Johnson and Beau Ralphs were at Dan Hawkins’ house admiring his new electric scooter when they urged him to take them for a ride. “Within 15 minutes, we had been pulled over at least 50 times,” Johnson says. “We couldn’t get down the street without someone blocking us on the sidewalk to pull us into a shopping center and ask us what it was and where we got it.” In February 2017, the trio founded Tempe-based Phat Scooters, and by July of that year, they had their first 400 production units, says Johnson, whose background is in tech companies, like Ralphs. “We had over half of them sold via Facebook campaigns, and it just took off from there,” Johnson says. Johnson came up with the name, a play on the vehicle “fat” tires. The starting model/kids model is the Phlex, which retails for $1,295. From there is the Sport ($1,995), which boasts the fat tires. The standard and most popular model is the Phatty ($2,195). “Next is the HD, which adds a bigger battery and a bigger motor and rear and front shocks,” Johnson explains. “Then we have our Golf model, which is just an accessory that attaches to the HD. (Lastly,) we have our Phleet which is our delivery scooter that we do for restaurants and has pedals.” The company manufactures the vehicles in China, and then they are shipped to Tempe for the final assembly and customization. Scooters max out at $3,650 for the HD Golf.

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Phat Scooters phatscooters.com “Every scooter that goes through is about five to six hours of labor in just finishing touches and customization,” Johnson says. “We have our own battery technology.” At almost 6-foot-3, Johnson likes the Phatty because of the extra leg room. “I’m still partial to the Phatty myself. It’s kind of like our baby from the beginning,” Johnson says. The team is hoping, sometime soon, to manufacture totally in the United States. “We are really attentive to sending out the best product that we can and we’re actually in the middle of shifting—hopefully by the end of the year—to be a ‘Made in the United States’ product,” Johnson says. That move will solve the problem of buying products overseas, waiting on delays and trying to rush getting product out in a timely fashion. “We’ve grown immensely over the last year,” Johnson says. “We’ve tripled in size, and maintaining that level of quality and bringing on additional staff is always difficult to grow that quickly, but we have a really, really good team here. Everyone works as a family and everybody has played a part in making this company successful.”

The company is truly a family affair. Johnson’s father, Rick, is the company’s chief operating officer. Although the pandemic has changed how many companies operate, Phat Scooters is still rolling. “Initially we were like everybody else,” Johnson says. “We had no clue what this was and how it was going to affect business and how it was going to affect us. We implemented everybody’s guideline standards and we made sure to take everyone’s temperature as they walked in.” The company also requires its staff to wear masks, sanitize the facility and stay home if they feel ill. Through the hardship, there was still light at the end of the tunnel. “We had the National Restaurant Association Show coming up in Chicago in May that got canceled and we were going to officially launch the Phleet food delivery scooter there,” Johnson says. “When that didn’t happen, we looked at the restaurant community and they had been hit the hardest because they were forced to kind of shutdown essentially and just do delivery and takeout.” To help the food industry escape

enormous fees from third-party delivery companies, Phat Scooters donated scooters to area restaurants. “We donated 12 of the units to restaurants and then we really tried to help them with publicity and getting the message across to call them directly and not just use a third-party app and they would deliver,” Johnson says. Scooters were sent to restaurants in Southern California and in the Midwest, along with ones here in the Valley like Postino, Joyride, Chestnut, O.H.S.O., Miracle Mile Deli and Philadelphia Sandwich Company in Old Town. Phat Scooters ships within the United States, Canada and Mexico and is looking for sites in Europe. To celebrate its three-year anniversary, the company, which recently added staff, is looking to relocate to a larger facility. Due to the pandemic there will not be a public celebration of the anniversary, but they still plan on sharing the joy with their followers. “We have a really cool video that will be launched that shows the growth over the years,” Johnson says. “It’s kind of like a giant video slideshow from how we started to where we are now.”

LIGHT ‘EM UP

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Black Bottom Lighters start ‘Runnin’’with new single By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

lack Bottom Lighters singer Ryan Stilwell just wants to provide for his family. He knows he’s not different from anyone else, but he tells the story differently than others. The band’s new song “Runnin’” is a desert-reggae ode to that. “It’s about basically a time in my life where my wife and I had a new baby and we were transitioning in our lives,” he says. “It’s not just me, but the whole band and our fans. We’re all growing together. “It’s a very relatable topic of just doing what we have to do to get food on the table and provide for the family. That’s what it embodies.” Like most Black Bottom Lighters songs, “Runnin’” isn’t a downer. “We made the music more upbeat and playful so it’s not taken so seriously,” he says with a laugh, “That’s what we try to live by. We can’t take everything so seriously.” The song was to be featured in the band’s set when it played Wasted Grain in Scottsdale on July 3. However, that show was postponed until Friday, August 14, due to the bar’s month-long closure. Black Bottom Lighters—which features Stilwell of Waddell; keyboardist

Kelyn Weaver Bo of Phoenix; bassist Jose Aquino of Peoria; rhythm guitarist Mike Proctor and lead guitarist Phil Keiser of Cave Creek; and drummer Ryan McPhatter of Cottonwood—stayed busy during the pandemic and quarantine. They devoted themselves to writing and getting back to their roots. “We couldn’t travel as much with the pandemic, so why not?” Stilwell says. “Our focus is to continue being creative. We have quite a few songs in our back pocket that we’re sitting on. We have a little ways left to go on them, but one or two of them are fully written. We’re going to mix and master them and start packaging it as an EP and get the concept down.” For the past few years, the band has jumped around from studio to studio, just trying to spread its musical wings and bring diversity to Black Bottom Lighters. One notable collaborator was Mike Bolenbach at Full Well Recording Studio in Phoenix. “The guys are super, super talented already,” Bolenbach says. “They bring well-written songs to the studio and they’re all excellent musicians. I just try to capture the essence of the band. “The band’s vibe is great, too. We just try to capture what they are as honestly as we can.” The recording process for “Runnin’” was different from other projects in that

Black Bottom Lighters experimented with the musicians being in separate rooms but recording live. “The live sound is, to be honest, why a lot of people like to come see our shows,” Stilwell says. “We have high energy and live vibes. We got that idea from working with Pepper in Redondo Beach. We were in the same room there, but there was a lot of bleeding through the mic. If we’re in separate rooms and playing at the same time, it’s a lot cleaner.” Black Bottom Lighters were in Redondo Beach to record the song “The Get Back” at Pepper’s Kona Town Recording. Stilwell has fantasized about a music career since he was young, attending his first concert (Brooks and Dunn and Shania Twain) with his family as a child in Litchfield Park. “It was awesome,” he says, smiling. “The first concert that was my choice was Slightly Stoopid and G. Love. That changed my whole outlook on live music. They’re a jam band, and a lot of the songs you hear on the album a completely different live. Every single night, they do something different. “I always thought sounding like the album was the best way to sound. In our industry, it’s better to do what you feel. It makes the live aspect way more real.” A pitcher for Millennium High School’s baseball team, Stilwell didn’t

take music seriously until he gave up the sport at Eastern Arizona University. “After baseball had come and gone, I was working a 9-to-5 and I was laid off,” he says. “I figured I would start a band. It ended up working.” Founded in 2010, Black Bottom Lighters gained a reputation around town for its house parties. Its full-length debut, “2 or 2,000,” is telling. “Our first album was ‘2 or 2,000,’” Stilwell says. “It doesn’t matter how many people are there or what the occasion is, we’re going on that stage and put it all out there no matter who’s out there, no matter where we are.” In 2016, it released the EP “Pipe Dream,” which features the track “Peace, Love & Smoke Rings” with Layzie Bone from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Black Bottom Lighters toured the United States in support of the single and have continued to do so. “We’re grown with our fanbase, and it’s time to transition into the next chapter of our lives,” Stilwell says. “I’d like to just remain as close as possible with the guys and really just continue to push our creativity and see where the music takes us.”

Black Bottom Lighters facebook.com/ blackbottomlighters1

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Some Days are Darker blends goth with crooning By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

hen Lear Mason was in his early 20s in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, he crossed the border into Michigan and headed to goth clubs like City Club and Luna. That laid the foundation for his music career in bands like his latest, Some Days are Darker, which releases its debut album “Love+Truth” on July 31. Mason defies his Paul Young looks with a sound that lies between Nick Cave and Chris Isaak, sharing a rich soundscape of hues of love, loss and rebirth blended with goth rock and crooning.

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“I coveted City Club,” Mason says about the dark goth club found in the basement of a run-down hotel in Detroit’s Cass Corridor. “I knew about it for a year, but I never knew where it was or how to get in. Those ideas are very relevant to Some Days are Darker— after-hours moody people getting together and working things out one way or another. That atmosphere is very relevant to where I’m coming from on this project.” He moved to Phoenix about 12 years ago to form a band and to get away from Canada’s harsh winters. The band didn’t pan out, so he focused on commercial video work and filming videos for other musicians.

“Love+Truth” is somewhat of a surprise to Mason, who kind of gave up on music, except for buying vinyl and playing guitar at home. Then songs took hold. “I’m really happy that I’m in this place now and I have these goals to keep writing songs,” says Mason, whose studio is near Roosevelt Row. “I love the recording process. I love the album process and being able to figure out a title, the artwork and what we’re trying to say.” “Love+Truth” was inspired by Phoenix’s glorious nights, sweltering hot days and a “few falling outs at the time.” “There were major life changes,” Mason says. “I found new love again, which I wasn’t expecting at that stage in my life. I found myself writing songs again in an almost therapeutic way. It felt good to play music to try and express all the things I had going on. “It helped me work through a lot of those stages and the turmoil I was going through. The ideas of rebirth and strength and finding yourself are in there, too. I think that complexity is what made it really interesting to me.” The creation of “Love+Truth” was “a

process,” he says. Being an indie band, Mason forgot about the amount of work it takes to make and promote a record. Nevertheless, he felt songs like “Wolves” and “Restless Tides” needed to exist. “I felt strongly enough that these songs deserved to see the light of day,” he says. “I needed to record this stuff and get it out there. “For me, albums are one of the greatest art forms. It’s a rewarding outlet for me. Once those wheels started turning, I was just chipping away at the goals along the way.” After all, he learned from the best. Music was omnipresent in his parents’ Windsor home. His mother enjoyed Motown and soul music, while his father was into the Stooges and the MC5. “I felt like there was a lot of rock ’n’ roll and pop sensibilities,” Mason says. “For me, personally, getting into a love of new wave artists like Depeche Mode, Joy Division, The Smiths, Peter Murphy, Bauhaus and The Cure is where I go in my head when I think about Some Days are Darker. The pop sensibility in the vocals and the moodier atmosphere of the music—that’s the world I live in.”

TRAVEL

VACATION » SIGHTS » DAY TRIPS » ADVENTURE » EXPLORE » TRAVEL

Let’s Get Away! Roadtrips to plan when the COVID restrictions lift By Samantha Molina

he coronavirus pandemic has temporarily put a pause on many of the things we enjoy—including social outings and travel. Now is the perfect time to reflect on the past with loved ones and make plans for future trips. We’ve put together a list of 43 getaway favorites located in Arizona and across state lines to inspire your quarantine daydreams.

THE GRAND CANYON We had to start with a trip to the landmark that makes us Arizona. Take a walk on the canyon’s Skywalk, a glass bridge with heart-stopping aerial views of the site. Go on a whitewater rafting tour with Hualapai River Runners or even take a helicopter and boat tour of the area. Additional recreational activities include zip lining over cliffs and exploring local history at the Native American Village and Guano Point. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is a special experience that holds a few surprises despite being one of the most visited attractions in the country.

SEDONA Sedona is known as one of the most

beautiful spots on Earth, and when you go check it out for yourself you’ll see why. It’s a treasured spot that is perfect for hiking, biking, kayaking and, more notably, it’s the city’s signature red rocks alone that makes visiting the serene resort town a great getaway. Whether it is a girls trip or a family vacation, Sedona offers visitors a world-class experience.

FLAGSTAFF Flagstaff has it all. Arts and culture, incredible food, outdoor adventure, and access to some of the most famous sites in the United States. Popular attractions include the iconic Route 66, the world’s largest ponderosa forest, and monthly town festivals. The mountain town is a prime location for outdoor recreations and is a welcoming spot for those wanting to escape the Valley heat.

SALT RIVER LAKE Plan a getaway surrounded by nature at the Tonto National Forest. While most opt to tube down the water, you can also go kayaking and horseback riding at the Salt River Lake. The area is native to Salt River wild horses, and you might even be able to spot them right from your tube. Other wildlife that is known to emerge includes deer, bald eagles and river otters.

Snowbowl

TOMBSTONE Travel back in time to the golden age of the Wild West, when Tombstone was known for gambling, booze and the infamous gunfight at O.K. Corral. The town features landmarks including Boothill Cemetery, the Courthouse and, notably, the haunted Birdcage Theater. Storefronts that line the dirt streets sell things like lassos, cowboy boots and toy guns. Visitors can pan for silver, see the town’s mining exhibit and take nightly ghost tours around the city.

PAGE Page is a one-stop city that features three popular landmarks that define the state’s landscape. Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped valley that includes part of the Colorado River. With an overlook of the dramatic 1,000-foot drop, the view is sure to take your breath away. Stroll through Antelope Canyon. It is well known for the light beams that shine through gaps in the canyon and reflect onto the rock walls and sandy ground. The light beams can only be seen during certain hours, typically around noon in the summer months. Kayaking through Lake Powell is a must-do when you find yourself in the city. Being the second-largest manmade lake in the United States, Lake Powell offers paddling to guests’ content. So, you can spend the day paddling to your heart’s content.

LAKE HAVASU

Tombstone

Arizona’s water playground is located just three hours from Phoenix, and some argue that it beats some well-known beaches in SoCal. Visitors can rent ATVs to roam around the desert and reserve a scenic boat tour. Be sure to hit up some of the local restaurants and bars to experience the city’s nightlife.

If you have time, learn more about the fascinating history of the famous London Bridge that ended up in this oasis. 699 Old Highway 95, Lake Havasu City

WHITE MOUNTAINS Arizona’s the White Mountains is another great mountain treasure of the state. It’s an adventurist dream, with opportunities like camping, hiking, biking and fishing. Another popular pastime includes golfing on one of 10 courses in the area that can challenge any skilled player. There is always something going on in the area. Past festivities include the annual Show Low Days and the White Mountains Balloon Festival.

SAGUARO LAKE Are the harsh temps starting to become unbearable? Drive out to Saguaro Lake. It’s a summer hotspot for families and friends to hang out and have some fun in the sun. From horseback riding to cliff diving, the Saguaro littered oasis makes sure no one is left out of the action.

STRAWBERRY Sweet and charming, just like its name. Winding roads and painted signs teasing homemade pie are just a taste of what Strawberry has to offer travelers. Outdoor activities include hiking to Fossil Creek and taking a dip in the Verde Hot Springs. After, head over the Ranch at Fossil Creek for delicious ice cream and homemade fudge. Despite the town’s size, your weekend will be anything but small.

JEROME “The Billion Dollar Copper Camp” was once known as the richest city in ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

the United States. When the Great Depression hit and sent prices of precious metals and stones to rock bottom, the town was left abandoned. Today, Jerome is one of the largest and “wickedest” ghost towns in the country. Among the saloons and brothels, visitors have said to experience ghost sighting and hauntings.

SNOWBOWL In the winter, Snowbowl is home to one of the state’s most-popular ski resorts with the longest season. The area receives about 260 inches of snowfall a year and gets a little help with a state-of-the-art snowmaking machine. In the summer, visitors can still have some fun in the San Francisco Peaks. Outdoor activities like summer tubing, hiking, disc golf and a bungee trampoline. 9300 N Snowbowl Road, Flagstaff 928.779.1951

OATMAN Oatman is an old mining town on the old Route 66 highway that has a strange group of inhabitants. Upon entering the quaint streets, the first thing you are bound to notice are roads filled with donkeys. Storefronts even sell “burro feed” so you can hand feed them yourself during your stay. Despite the abundance of the animals, the town will seem like it came from an old black-and-white Western movie. While you’re there, you may even be able to catch a staged gunfight or two.

SLIDE ROCK STATE PARK Ditch your backyard pool and head to Slide Rock State Park. This naturemade waterpark consists of a system of rockslides that have been smoothed by rushing waters. Algae covers the rocks, making slipping and sliding down the 80-foot-long chutes of waters easy. On the way out, take some time to visit the historical remnants of the Pendley Homestead and stop by the general store for some sweet ice cream. 6871 AZ-89A, Sedona 928.282.3034

EMERALD CAVE (WILLOW BEACH) The vibrant waters of Emerald Cave have been enchanting adventurous travelers for years. But no matter how many times you visit, the magic remains. Rent kayaks at Willow Beach and paddle through caves of the sparkling gem-colored waterways. The cove makes a great place to picnic and snap some memorable photos that will leave friends as green as the water.

GRAND CANYON CAVERNS Not everyone can say they’ve had dinner and spent the night in a cave. Now you can with a stay at the Grand Canyon Caverns. Declared the “world’s largest, deepest, darkest motel room,” John F. Kennedy originally intended to use the caverns as a bomb shelter for the public during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The unique hotel is about 220 feet underground, and each cavern includes beds, a bathroom and a living room. Be sure to stop by its restaurant for an intimate dinner, also beneath the ground. 115 Mile Marker AZ-66, Peach Springs 928.422.3223

COPPER QUEEN MINE (BISBEE) Copper Queen Mine is one of the five largest mines in the world. For almost a century, more than 8 billion pounds of copper were hauled out of the mine before mine operations stopped in the 1970s. Guests are provided a bright yellow uniform, hard hat and flashlight before descending into the cool, dark mine. Inside, guides describe the mining methods and tell stories of the days when Bisbee was “Queen of the Mining Camps.” 478 Dart Road, Bisbee 520.432.2071

ROCK ART RANCH (WINSLOW) Rock Art Ranch is a well-kept secret in the town of Winslow. The cattle ranch is home to over 3,000 of the world’s best-preserved and mostextensive petroglyphs. These Anasazi

The Strawberry Inn

tribe drawings date back over 4,000 years. Archaeologists from several major universities have spent months recording and dating these ancient drawings. In the late 1900s, this site was added to the National Historic Register. Rock Art Ranch Road, Winslow 928.386.5047

BIOSPHERE II (ORACLE) Biosphere II is a scientific laboratory that serves as a center for research, outreach, teaching and learning about Earth, its living systems and its place in the universe. Guided tours take you inside the futuristic building and into simulations of various biomes, like the rainforest, savannah grasslands and even the ocean, complete with a coral reef. Learn about the facility’s two missions that sealed crew members in the biomes and measured survivability. 32540 S Biosphere Road, Oracle 520.621.4800

DOUBLE R GUEST RANCH (BENSON) Horseback riding at the Double R Ranch in historic Benson offers the beauty and rich history of the American West. The ranch has some of the best trail riding available with exceptional scenic views of the desert. Whether you’re an experienced rider or it’s your first time in the saddle, you’ll have an unforgettable experience.

440 W. Cimmaron Lane, Benson 520.212.6943

LITTLE PAINTED DESERT (WINSLOW) At first, you may think there isn’t much to see upon turning into Painted Desert Rim Drive. But as you reach the rim, views of pastel mesas come into focus. Sand and rock ranging from deep lavenders and rich grays to reds, oranges and pinks create bands of color leaving you feeling like you’ve been transported into a painting. The Little Painted is a true hidden gem where you can see art come to life. Painted Desert Rim Drive, Winslow

EXTREME ADVENTURE COURSE (FLAGSTAFF) Play in the trees at Flagstaff Extreme. Perfect for large parties of kids and adults, the outdoor adventure will challenge guests to push their limits and reach new heights. Guests zip line from tree to tree, taking in the mountain views. Suspend onto wobbly bridges and shaky swings that will fill adventurers with adrenaline. Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff 1.888.259.0125

MACDONALD’S RANCH Whether it is full-moon stagecoach rides, lassoing steers or horseback riding through the Sonoran Desert, MacDonald’s Ranch gives visitors a little taste of life in the old Wild West. MacDonald’s Ranch is family friendly and can accommodate even the youngest of “wranglers” with free pony rides, a petting zoo, a gem mine and more. 26540 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480.585.0239

APPLE ANNIE’S ORCHARD (WILLCOX)

Apple Annie's Orchard London Bridge

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Apple Annie’s Orchard has been around for more than 40 years and is a local favorite. Bring the entire family to pick a whole wagon full of produce. In the summer, fruits like peaches, pears and apples are available. Come fall, the orchard is a popular place to pick pumpkins, take hayrides across the farm

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Biosphere II

and explore a dizzying corn maze. If you don’t have time to pick them yourself, browse the farm’s assortment of produce, jams, jellies and other great gifts at their storefront. 2081 W. Hardy Road, Willcox 520.384.2084

SCHNEPF FARMS (QUEEN CREEK) A family-owned farm in Queen Creek makes for the cutest glamping getaway. With over 5,000 acres of land and free bikes to get around, guests will find no shortage of things to do. Wake up to room-service breakfast from its cafe right to your door (order the pancakes!), go check out the secluded outdoor “Library,” bike to get some cinnamon rolls from the bakery, check out the community garden and say hi to the deer herd the farm has rescued. To end the night, roast up some s’mores by the fire outside your trailer. 24810 E. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek 480.987.3100

THE ARBORETUM AT FLAGSTAFF This unique attraction specializes in plants native to the Colorado Plateau and northern Arizona. The Arboretum is home to 750 species of plants in greenhouses, gardens and natural habitats—located on 200 acres deep within the Coconino National Forest. Once the home of founder and philanthropist Frances McAllister, today it houses horticultural collections and rare plant species among historic buildings in Flagstaff. 4001 S. Woody Mountain Road, Flagstaff 928.774.1442

RED ROCK LAVENDER FARMS (CONCHO) Fields of billowy lavender are enough to enchant anyone to Red Rock Lavender Farms in Concho. Pick your own bouquet of eight different varieties of the herb or learn to make lavender art from experts. The floral farm even has its own vineyard on-site for those who want

to enjoy some fine sips. We recommend visiting in the summer, just in time for the annual Lavender Festival. Country Road 5305, Concho 928.337.2289

METEOR CRATER NATIONAL LANDMARK (WINSLOW) Sure, you’ve seen the advertisement signs. But have you actually stopped to see the famous 50,000-year-old meteor site? The otherworldly attraction is east of Flagstaff and is one of the bestpreserved meteorite crash sites on Earth. In the past, NASA astronauts have trained at the location before heading off on moon missions. Admission into the site gets you access to the tour of the crater, its 4D theater, space shop, and delicious food and drink from the Blasted Bistro. Interstate 40, Exit, 233, Winslow

BEARIZONA WILDLIFE PARK (WILLIAMS) While there aren’t any lions or tigers, the wildlife park Bearizona is known for its bears. The Jurassic-style drive-thru zoo is an experience like no other. It’s an unforgettable experience for kids of all ages. Wild animals roam freely as you drive through the scenic Ponderosa Pine Forest. Even more critters are exhibited at Fort Bearizona, where you can get down and view animals in a traditional zoo setting. 1500 E. Route 66, Williams 928.635.2289

ROOSTER COGBURN OSTRICH RANCH (PICACHO) Experience this unique petting zoo featuring some unlikely creatures. Visitors take a 45-minute tour of the property, where they can learn about ostrich raising, rattlesnake safety and the beautiful Sonoran Desert. Feed an array of desert critters like goats, deer, rainbow lorikeets and, of course, the mighty ostrich. Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch truly lives up to its slogan of “The Darndest Place You Will Ever Visit.” 17599 E. Peak Lane, Picacho 520.466.3658

AREA 66 (YUCCA) A giant building resembling a golf ball is what many visitors first see when pulling up to Area 66. Inside is an entire UFO museum that dictates the story of an alleged spaceship crash that occurred in 1953. With multiple amenities like a quirky photo op, a souvenir shop and its own little convenience store, it makes for a fun and educational day trip that is sure to have something for everyone. 12716 Alamo Road, Yucca 928.766.2877

VALLEY OF THE MOON (TUCSON) Kids can write their own fairytale with a trip to Valley of the Moon, a fantasy theme park in Tucson. The whimsical playground and theater were built in

the mid-1920s with a goal to promote kindness, imagination and mental health toward visitors. For years, the wonderland has entertained children with mystical scenes right out of a storybook and even adults as a place of meditation and reflection. Come see what story awaits you. 2544 E. Allen Road, Tucson 520.323.1331

THE SHADY DELL (BISBEE) In an interview, owner Justin Luria compared a stay at the Shady Dell to a night in a living museum. We couldn’t agree more. The seasonal vacation spot is home to nine vintage trailers, decorated to fit with the year they were most popular. Some of the options include a 1957 El Rey, a 1947 Tiki Bus and 1949 Airstream. Since its opening in 1927, weary travelers and road trip junkies have wandered to the trailer court for good times and a good night’s rest. 1 Old Douglas Road, Bisbee 520.432.3567

WIGWAM MOTEL (HOLBROOK) There is a lot of history at the Wigwam Motel. The collection of cone-shaped buildings is unmissable as you cruise down the infamous Route 66. The village was designed by architect Frank Redford in Cave City, Kentucky, and was then bought by a developer who transformed the Wigwams into a series

ALPACAS OF THE SOUTHWEST (KINGMAN) Who knew Kingman was the home of an alpaca ranch? The family-owned business cares for 40 alpacas, all of which are named after The Beatles. From Hey Jude to Lady Madonna, each alpaca has a name that fits its unique personality. The family gives personalized tours of their property, so if you have little ones, the guides will typically cater to what interests them. Make sure to check out the on-site shop. Inside, you can purchase apparel and souvenirs made from alpaca fur. 1108 S. Mccarrel Road, Kingman 702.338.7806

Grand Canyon Caverns

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of locations across the country. The Holbrook site is only one of three still in existence. These unique rooms are a nod to classic Americana, complete with vintage show cars and a museum full of decades-old memorabilia. This stop is a must if you haven’t already been! 811 W. Hopi Drive, Holbrook 928.524.3048

DOS CABEZAS WINEWORKS (SONOITA) The family-owned winery Dos Cabezas is one of Arizona’s most recognized vineyards. The staple business has been catering to the Sonoita desert for 25 years. Its selection of wines is produced with specialty fruit from Cimarron and Pronghorn Vineyards. The winery’s tasting room is open Thursdays to Sundays and even has an inn for guests to safely stay after sipping their craft blends. 3248 AZ-82, Sonoita 520.455.5141

ELGIN WINERY AND DISTILLERY (ELGIN) Elgin Winery and Distillery put the rural Arizona city on the map for its award-winning array of handcrafted spirits. The extra-aged Regalo de Vida Ron Imperial rum won big at the 2018 and 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The secret to its renowned liquor and wine? It might lie in the locally grown grapes and Sonoran sugar cane it uses in its craft. 473 1/2 Elgin Canelo Road, Elgin 520.329.5266

FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT (TEEC NOS POS) Ever wish you could be in two places at once? Turns out, you can be in four at the Four Corners Monument. The popular attraction marks the quadripoint where the states Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico meet. The site makes for the perfect photo op, so make sure to bring a travel buddy who can snap some pictures. With numerous souvenir shops and art vendor booths, you are sure to find something unique to commemorate the visit. 597 NM-597, Teec Nos Pos 928.206.2540

WILD SPIRIT WOLF SANCTUARY (RAMAH, NEW MEXICO) Get in touch with your wild side with a visit to Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary. The haven is dedicated to providing care for more than 60 wolves, wolf dogs and other canines who have been rescued from the exotic pet trade. Visitors can learn more about the animals and the sanctuary with guided tours and meet and greets with some of the rescues. If you are looking for an extended stay, the sanctuary offers its “off the grid” campgrounds and cabins. Campers are in for a treat when the wolves come out at night to sing to the spectacular star show in the sky. 378 Candy Kitchen Road, Ramah, New Mexico 505.775.3304

Extreme Adventure Course

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Meteor Crater

ROSWELL

PALM SPRINGS

Legend says that an alien spacecraft crashed at Roswell in 1947. Whether you believe in aliens or not, there are plenty of things to do in this unique New Mexico city. A long list of historical and cultural attractions to explore include the Roswell Museum and Art Center and the Roswell Symphony Orchestra. Families with little ones can visit the Spring River Park and Zoo or go fishing, hiking and boating at Bottomless Lake State Park. Who knows? A UFO tour might just be the thing to sway your mind about extraterrestrial lifeforms.

Celebrities of the Golden Age like Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley have helped shape Palm Springs into a playground for pool parties and lux club scenes. The popular weekend retreat is just a twohour drive from Los Angeles, with a thriving LGBTQ+ community, an eclectic food and drink scene, and endless outdoor activities. Palm-lined streets, sunny skies and the midcentury modern architecture play a big role in defining the resort city while still maintaining its old-Hollywood allure.

CHIMAYÓ Nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the village of Chimayó is known as a place of miracles. Each year during Holy Week, more than 30,000 people walk miles from the city of Santa Fe to El Santuario de Chimayó. Travelers climb to the small adobe church in hopes to obtain the sanctuary’s “Holy Dirt,” which is said to have healed many sick or injured people. The village is also home to ornate traditional weavings and authentic New Mexican cuisine. Whether you’re a believer or simply curious about the Southwestern culture of the old Spanish Colonial town, Chimayó is worth a trip. 15 Santuario Drive, Chimayo, New Mexico 505.351.9961

SOLVANG If you find yourself driving through the Santa Ynez Valley in Central California, you might be surprised to stumble across a Danish village straight out of an old-world history book. The city of Solvang is a love letter to the culture of Denmark complete with working windmills, quaint boutiques and picturesque wineries. Mouth starting to water? It’s probably the aroma of freshly baked goods from one of the many bakeries in town. We recommend ordering a plate of Aebleskiver, a traditional Danish donut/pancake hybrid that is topped with freshly made jam and powdered sugar. Solvang proves you don’t need a passport to travel authentically.

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ARTS

CULTURE » THEATER » DANCE » GALLERY » DRAMA » VISION

Desert Child Artist Beth Zink shares her love of Arizona By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

hen Beth Zink approached her parents about studying art, she made a pact with her father that she would major in education at Bethany College. “My elementary school art teacher told my mother I had a gift,” Zink says. “I was in public school and she suggested I continue to get more art education, so my mother persuaded my dad to allow me to major in art in college, but I also had to study education.” Her teacher’s hunch was correct. Zink went on to become a successful artist in Cave Creek. “My mother lived to be 92, so she saw me make a successful living as an artist,” says Zink, whose father died prior. “I just do what I love.” Zink grew up on the East Coast and lived with her husband in Colorado, until his job sent him to the Valley in 1986. Arriving in Arizona, Zink was instantly in love. “I had never seen the cactus flowers and the cactus plants themselves,” says Zink, who did post-grad work at the University of South Carolina. “I was taken by how unique and special they are. I think plants like agave, prickly pear and the different varieties are beautiful. When you see your first spring desert bloom, you can’t believe these gnarly plants have beautiful flowers. I’m really taken by the uniqueness of the

flora in the desert,” So much so that she focuses on them in her paintings. She’s well known for her desert botanical pieces painted with bold, dynamic colors. Zink also paints landscapes and performs commissioned work for people who want something special. “About 50% of my business is commissioned work, where a client needs a specific piece,” she says. “I have an endless source of inspiration. “I took graduate-level courses in painting and drawing. I’ve done photography, pottery and sculpture, but my true love is really drawing and painting. That’s my strength.” Zink’s studio is open year-round by appointment when she’s not at her Pinetop cabin. Clients can stop by and peruse Zink’s artwork on the wall. She also wells giclee prints, high-quality ink jet prints on canvas. “I don’t inventory giclee,” she says. “I do special orders. I had a client who made an appointment to come to the

studio, and she ordered a giclee of a painting she saw. “Another option is throw pillows and framed tiles. I also have a royalty agreement with purses and a card company. I collaborate with Frame My TV, which is on the north side of Boston. They make motorized giclee that cover a TV set. It hides any TV set up to 114 inches. You can choose from multiple frames. That’s a real specialty item for people who really hate their television set. It’s for somebody who entertains a lot and do not want that big black box.”

Zink shares her talent with the public. She teaches classes and workshops out of her Cave Creek studio from October to May, and painting classes in Pinetop from June to October. “I have regular weekly classes—oneday all-day painting workshops, a startto-finish painting class with all supplies included,” Zink says. “They’re geared toward beginners. There’s no major investment. They can test the water and

see what they’d like to do. Those are very popular. The one-day workshop is $150, and they take home a 14-inch-by-18inch painting.” During the pandemic, Zink took to the web to teach classes. “I realized in early April that I wasn’t going to be teaching anymore this spring,” she says. “I had to cancel my workshops and my classes. I woke up one morning and had a great idea. I thought, ‘Let’s do some videos.’ “My husband—who’s very supportive—and I started collaborating on what we could do to entertain ourselves and reach out to people who couldn’t take the classes any longer. It started with his instruction and me being silly, like imitating the ‘Gong Show.’ I’ve done 14 so far. I have a Bob Ross wig. I have a blonde bombshell wig. I just make it silly but educational at the same time.” Zink has garnered more than 4,000 YouTube views and a slew of emails thanking her for what she’s done. She added many art lovers say they’re staying sane during the lockdown with her videos. “We turned it into something that’s a lot more meaningful than we ever dreamed it would be,” she says. “We’re going to keep it going. It’s fun for us to do. My husband is more involved. He interacts with me when I’m doing the painting demonstration. We’re having a lot of fun together creating these. It’s been a hoot.”

Beth Zink Art Studio hours by appointment 33444 N. 55th Street, Cave Creek 480.980.3848, bethzinkart.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

DINING

EAT » EXPERIENCE » INDULGE » SAVOR » DEVOUR » NOSH

HOT DOG! The Eastcoaster brings a taste of Jersey to the Valley By Elsa Hortareas

he Eastcoaster food truck is bringing classic New York and New Jersey hot dogs to the Valley—with a twist. Singers who met at a Tempe Center for the Arts’ open mic night, Jason Markowitz and Rob Randolph serve their childhood favorite meals, including the Ripper ($8), a New Jersey-style deep-fried hot dog named after the sound the dog makes when diners bite into it. For the Rippers, the duo uses Sabrett hot dogs that are shipped from New Jersey. “They are the official ‘dirty water hot dogs’ in New Jersey,” Markowitz says. To top the hot dogs, guests are invited to try relish that is similar to Rutt’s Hut, a New Jersey restaurant known for serving the Ripper. “It’s a standout in New Jersey, and there’s no other state in this country or

place in the world I can think of that has this recipe—other than us on this food truck and that place in New Jersey,” Markowitz says. The Pork Roll is made with Taylor ham, also shipped from New Jersey. “Some people say it’s like Spam, but it’s higher quality flavor and meat,” says Markowitz, who lives in Arcadia. He compliments his partner, whom he says makes the best pulled pork. A U.S. Army veteran, Randolph pairs the Taylor ham and the pulled pork to create the “phat pig” ($11). Food trucks, Markowitz and Randolph go way back. The vehicles were known as “grease trucks” when Markowitz partied at Rutgers University. All of the “grease trucks” sandwiches were called “phat” (“pretty hot and tempting”) sandwiches. The Eastcoaster carries on that tradition calling its sandwiches “phat” and stuffing them with French fries. To wash it down, the Mesa-based

Eastcoaster sells the 8th Street Papaya Drink ($8) made with Gray’s Papaya, banana and orange. The truck carries vegetarian and plant-based hot dogs like The Ripper Light and The Chopper Light, both of which are $9. Its plant-based ground beef is Chopper Light ($10). Their forte is cotton candy. Before The Eastcoaster, Markowitz suggested opening a White Castle, before he found out one was under construction in Scottsdale. He went for a food truck instead and found an affordable trailer in Payson. He persuaded Randolph, a Mesa resident, to help him pull the trailer, and the two became food truck partners during that trip. Markowitz, who moved to Arizona from New Jersey 13 years ago, calls the menu an amalgamation of food from different places he used to visit in New Jersey and Manhattan. “I took multiple different concepts and meshed it into one thing,” Markowitz

says. The food truck is capable of holding outdoor movie nights, depending on HOA regulations. They’re available for hire in neighborhoods, business parks and private parties throughout the Valley. There’s no minimum fee to hire them. As for the future, the partners are planning The Eastcoaster Real American Food Challenge, inviting guests to finish four of the truck’s items in 3 minutes and 21 seconds. It’s inspired by Hulk Hogan’s “Real American” theme song, which is the same length. Those who succeed receive $20, a T-shirt, and their name and picture on the truck’s hall of fame. “If anyone is on a diet, I don’t recommend you coming to us,” Markowitz says.

The Eastcoaster Food Truck theeastcoasterfoodtruck.com

NEW YORK COMES TO TEMPE Artichoke Basille’s Pizza has slices ‘as big as your face’ THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

By Elsa Hortareas

fter finding success with his high-end restaurants in New York and California, Ron Marino wasn’t necessarily interested in

franchises. When he tried Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, he changed his mind. This pizza was on another level. Last month, he and Keith Bolognese opened their first franchise in Tempe, bringing New York pizza—with slices “as big as your face”—to the Valley. “There’s no pizza out here like it,” Bolognese says. “They are so specific about every little nuance, from the cheese to the type of pepperoni, to the ingredients in our homemade meatballs,” Marino says. Artichoke Basille’s Pizza is known for its spinach artichoke pizza ($25), but other creative dishes include crab pizza with a lobster sauce ($25) and a burnt anchovy pizza ($21). The restaurant features classic pies as well, such as the margherita ($21) and pepperoni ($23). The restaurant’s staff keeps the recipes under wraps. “If we told you the secrets, we’d have to kill you, OK,” Bolognese says. He did give up that Artichoke Basille’s Pizza works with the best products and distributors. Bolognese and Marino met in a Los

Angeles golf club and immediately began scheming restaurant plans. Artichoke Basille’s Pizza was a natural consideration, as Bolognese grew up with the franchise’s founders, Francis Garcia and Sal Basille. The first Artichoke Basille’s Pizza was in a 350-square-foot space in New York City. “We have actually had engagement photos and wedding pictures taken in our original Artichoke, because they were two NYU students who exchanged numbers,” says Brandon Linker, Artichoke Basille’s Pizza Company’s senior vice president of operations. Linker says there is always something cool going on in the restaurants, which are peppered throughout the East and West coasts. “We are just excited to bring the pizza to Tempe,” Linker says. Near Alamo Drafthouse, the Tempe Artichoke is the largest store. “We are really excited to expand to the Valley,” says Marino, who wants five to seven in the Valley. A second one will open soon in the North Valley. Opening the Tempe store during a pandemic wasn’t exactly idea. It hit when the two were in the middle of construction. “The world changed overnight,” Marino said. Marino, who previously opened eight restaurants, says this process has been “interesting,” but he’s up for the

challenge. “I don’t think anyone could prepare for what’s going on,” Marino says. “We have had to overcome so many different things that have happened, that if we didn’t learn how to adapt and survive the industry would die.”

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza 1120 E. Baseline Road, Tempe 480.590.5830, arizona@ artichokepizza.com artichokepizza.com

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AN ANCIENT CRAFT SEES A NEW RISE

The pandemic is bringing out the bread makers By Claire Natale

t’s a wonderous thing to take four simple ingredients and turn them into something as spectacular as a loaf of bread. As we spend more time at home, many of us are getting creative in our kitchens and looking to accomplish a new feat. One of the most satisfying and useful staples to learn is baking bread at home. In addition to accomplishing a new cooking skill and enjoying the tastes of your efforts, psychologists say spending time in the kitchen can help relieve stress and improve your mental health. It can be a relaxing and even meditative process, providing a sense of control; plus, it can be a cure for boredom and fill ample time while at home. Bread is one of the world’s most widely consumed foods. Research suggests that it dates back 30,000 years. However, it was not until the turn of the century and the industrial revolution when bread’s status in daily lives changed. Prior to this, wheat was ground by hand using stone grinders, making flour harder to produce. With the invention of iron and steel rollers, processing wheat changed dramatically. Stone grinding removed the wheat berry, which contains most of the fiber, but not the germ, which contains the oils that are rich in nutrients. The new roller mill was able to remove both the wheat and the germ, resulting in flour that was mostly starch with little nutrients, flavor or unique characteristics. With this industrialization came new types of wheat. Wheat was bred to grow fast, stay stable in different weather conditions and had high yields. This allowed more farmers to grow it and for consumers to purchase and store the flour since the fat would not spoil it—making bread more commonplace in daily life. This “new” wheat continued to evolve. The modern wheat typically found on grocery store shelves is typically a cross-bred variety, often with genetic manipulations to appeal to mass production. This may be one reason why bread has gotten a bad rap in recent years. Many people blame modern wheat for contributing to the obesity epidemic and increased awareness of gluten intolerance, as many people cannot easily digest it.

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Bakers who want to produce a loaf that is of a higher quality, has a longer shelf life without the addition of preservatives, and is more complex in texture and flavor want to use flour made from heritage grains. “Heritage grains are older strains of wheat that have been passed down from generation to generation and have not been manipulated or cross bred,” says Nick Ambeliotis, founder and owner of Mediterra Bakehouse. Ambeliotis launched Mediterra Bakehouse in 2000 after spending 18 months traveling the world and learning from the best bakers. Latching onto European techniques, the bakery uses cold water versus warm when proofing the bread, incorporates a levain sourdough starter, allows the bread to rise for over eight hours versus one hour or less, and scrutinizes all of the ingredients used. That is why in 2012 Ambeliotis partnered with a local Arizona farmer and planted 50 acres of heritage grains in Coolidge. Red Fife, Sonoran White and Durham Blue Beard are the three types of heritage wheat Mediterra Bakehouse grows. Many farmers find heritage grains difficult to grow because they take more

time to mature and the economics are difficult to sustain. These grains are also better tolerated by people who may be adversely affected by gluten. But more importantly, the flour creates a more unique, high-quality and better-tasting bread. “I don’t know of any other bakery in the country that grows their own wheat,” Ambeliotis says. “We wanted to invest in and have our hands on growing our wheat because that is how we approach everything else in the bakery. Each loaf of our bread is hand kneaded and shaped, loaves put into the oven and packaged by hand, and only the best ingredients are used. Sourcing our own wheat was a simple next step to ensure our techniques matched our quality.” Mediterra mills the wheat on its Austrian-imported stone mill and uses that flour in its bread. The bakery recently started selling 2-pound bags

of its heritage grain flour on its website, mediterrabakehouse.com, allowing home cooks easier access to these hard to find flours. Once you have the flour and a recipe from a reputable source, a few good tips for proper technique will help you pull a delicious loaf from the oven every time. In addition to sourcing heritage grains, Mediterra uses a sourdough culture (levain in French). This may seem daunting at home, and while it takes

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time and attention to detail to maintain, it is very artisanal and quite simple. Ambeliotis provided these steps to build a liquid levain at home that is ready for sourdough bread production in 10 days.

DAY 1 A whole-rye flour is recommended to start the culture. The wheat germ and wheat bran present in these flours (not found in white flours) have more nutrients and minerals that allow for faster enzymatic activity and fermentation. Rye flour also has more natural sugars than other flours that will speed up fermentation (more food for the bacteria to metabolize). A small amount of honey is also used in this initial feed. Honey naturally contains wild yeasts and will help jumpstart the levain. • Whole-Rye flour: 5 ounces. • Room temperature water: 6 ounces. • Honey: .2 ounces (1 tsp). • For a total of 11.2 ounces. Mix ingredients well; cover with plastic. Let sit at room temp (72 degrees to 80 degrees) for 24 hours.

DAY 2 On day two, feed the starter two times, 12 hours apart with the same formula both times. An unbleached white flour and/or a heritage grain whole wheat flour can be used from this day on out. • Half of starter from day one 5.6 ounces. • Whole rye flour: 1.2 ounces.

Whole wheat flour: 1.2 ounces. • Water, 85 degrees to 90 degrees: 3 ounces. • For a total of 11 ounces. Mix ingredients well; cover with plastic. Let sit at room temp (72 degrees to 80 degrees) for 12 hours.

DAYS 3-10 On these days, follow the same feeding formula every day. By day 10, the levain should have enough strength and complexity of flavor to be used in bread production. • Half of starter: 5.5 ounces. • White flour: 1.2 ounces. • Whole wheat flour: 1.2 ounces. • Water: 3 ounces. • For a total of 10.9 ounces. Mix ingredients well; cover with plastic. Let sit at room temp (72 degrees to 80 degrees) for 24 hours. There should be signs of bubbling signs of fermentation and aromatics coming from the starter by the day 10.

MAINTAINING A LEVAIN Ideally, a levain works best and is healthiest if it is fed every day with the formula above. However, for most home bakers that can be hard to maintain. The starter can be fed, left to ferment at room temperature for 12 hours, then put into the refrigerator. The starter can be left in the fridge up to a week before it needs another feeding. However, three days before you plan on baking, it should be pulled from the fridge and fed with the

day three to 10 formula daily to refresh and strengthen.

WHEN TO USE A LEVAIN IN BREAD The characteristics you are looking for in your bread determine when to use your starter. If you like bread that is very sour and tangy, you should use a starter that has been fermenting for 18 to 24 hours. If you want a less sour bread that will showcase more of the f lavor of the grains in the bread your starter should be 8 to 12 hours old. You can play with fermentation to achieve the desired results in the finished product. Once the ingredients are sourced, the next important step is measuring. A home digital scale is highly

recommended to weigh and measure ingredients. This will ensure an accuracy that measuring spoons and cups cannot. After resting, the dough is then kneaded. The purpose of kneading the dough is to build structure, develop the gluten and incorporate air. The difference between good breads and great ones is the rise time. Most recipes typically instruct for only an hour rise, but Ambeliotis recommends two and a half to three hours. The longer proof will result in a better interior crumb. Baking bread is a great activity or new hobby to take up. Whether you are digging in to your first dough or kneading out your hundredth, there are always new recipes to try, and pulling a hot loaf from your oven can be one of life’s greatest joys. ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

BEER AND WINE

SIP » BREW » RELAX » EXPERIMENT » REFRESH » TOAST

THAT’S THE SPIRIT!

Support local business by imbibing with these liquor brands By Alison Bailin Batz

here is perhaps no better time than now to support the spirits made right here in our own backyards. Here are some of our favorites, perfect for cocktails or even on their own:

FOSSIL CREEK WHISKEY Adventurous Stills Adventurous Stills makes every product by hand in its custom-fabricated stills located in Tempe. This full-bodied whiskey is made in charred American white oak barrels and tastes of leather, butterscotch and even a bit like sitting in front of a campfire. $34.99.

PAPAGO DARK RUM Adventurous Stills Developed to complement Tiki-style cocktails or enjoyed on its own, this dark rum bursts with candied tropical fruits and toasted coconut on the nose and tastes like a beach vacation in a glass. $32.

PAPAGO WHITE RUM Adventurous Stills Using only natural grains or molasses, this white rum bursts with pineapple and banana on the nose and tastes like a beach vacation in a glass. It’s still Tiki like the dark version, but in a totally different light! $32.

APPLE PIE LIQUEUR CaskWerks Distilling Co. One of the few liqueurs made in Arizona, this sweet treat is aged in bourbon barrels for several months. With it, CaskWerks owner and distiller Rick Burch, also known as the bassist of Jimmy Eat World, has achieved fall in a glass, as it explodes with flavors of spice, crisp apple, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. $45.

TEA-INFUSED GIN CaskWerks Distilling Co. Another from this award-winning local company! This particular gin started as an exclusive offering at Scottsdale’s Citizen Public House, but it proved to be so popular that it is now available to the masses. While it retains ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

all of its herbaceous botanical elements, expect clear notes of cardamom and rose petals thanks to an infusion of various actual teas. $25.

GRAND CANYON DISTILLERY THUNDER SNOW Grand Canyon Brewing + Distillery When this Northern Arizona brewery launched a distillery in 2017, it wanted to create spirits that stood out. Made with white corn and completely unaged, this bold clear whiskey almost tastes like a hybrid of whiskey and vodka, yet with delightful candy corn and baked bread notes. $25.

SAINT ANNE’S CITRUS ROSÉ GIN SanTan Spirits After over a decade of building its craft beer brand, SanTan Brewing Company opened SanTan Spirits, its craft distillery, in recent years. Its St. Anne’s Botanical Spirits brand uses a mix of traditional and unconventional ingredients to create distinctive flavors. This gin is a blend of nine botanicals, for example, including rosebuds, grapefruit, lavender and hibiscus flowers. $25.

SAINT ANNE’S KASHMIR SPICE GIN SanTan Distilling While still a gin, this option is wholly different. Getting both and doing a side by side is great fun as a result. This gin, in a total flip to the citrus offering, features 10 Indian spices, including sarsaparilla, lemongrass and star anise. $25.

GOLD MINER AGAVE RUM Desert Diamond Distillery Arizona’s oldest craft distillery never rests on its laurels. Case in point: This dark, spicy rum that has been infused with agave, the chief ingredient in tequila. It is smooth, full bodied and warming to the taste. It’s so different, best to first enjoy neat or over ice. $29.99.

BLUE CLOVER GIN Blue Clover Distillery This Scottsdale Distillery, which opened just last year, focuses on adding modern twists to its spirits. Case in

point: The key botanicals in this gin are blood orange, rose and peach, rather than a heaping of more traditional elements such as juniper, coriander, anise or lavender. The result is floral yet clean and still slightly herbaceous. $22.

O.H.S.O. MEYER LEMON VODKA O.H.S.O. Brewery and Distillery Distilled with sugarcane and fresh Meyer lemon peels, this bright and crisp vodka with a candied tart finish is one of many flavored vodka options at the brewery’s Arcadia distillery operation. Though great in cocktails, its meringue undertones make it perfect neat or over ice, too. $25.

ARCADIA COFFEE VODKA O.H.S.O. Brewery and Distillery This nutty vodka truly tastes like medium-roast coffee but also has hints of caramel, toasted sugar and vanilla. Distilled from sugarcane, it is blended with cold brew coffee, which is also made in house and sourced from Infusion Coffee and Tea in Tempe. $25.

BLOODY BASIN BOURBON WHISKEY Thumb Butte Distillery Named by the Prescott distillery for the nearby region that was home to one of the worst battles between settlers and Native Americans in the 1800s, this airdried and port wine-infused whiskey has some spice. It’s deep and rich, just like Arizona’s (sometimes-shameful) history. $45.

PRICKLY PEAR VODKA Canyon Diablo Spirits The prickly pear is among the few flavors that truly screams “Arizona.” This Flagstaff distillery named for a one-time town during the wildest days of the Wild West in the 1800s seamlessly infuses its homemade vodka with the fruit while in bloom, resulting in a distinct, but not overpowering, sweetness. $27.99.

MISSION VODKA Arizona Distilling Company This popular distillery, the second oldest in Arizona, expanded to a 5,000-square-foot space in Tempe last year. With products like this, it’s easy to

see why. The 100% Arizona corn-based vodka inspired by 18th century Spanish missions across the Sonoran Desert is crisp and clean with a touch of lovely sweetness. $18.99.

RAD COLLABORATION

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

Four Peaks and The Joy Bus team up for charity beer By Brandie Bosworth

our Peaks Brewery Co. and the nonprofit The Joy Bus are making the Valley a tastier, happier place one mealâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and beerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;at a time. The two recently collaborated on The Joy Bus RAD IPA to benefit the organization that provides nutritious, chef-inspired meals to cancer patients. It all began earlier this year when The Joy Busâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; founder, Jennifer Caraway, attended an event the brewery held for restaurateurs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had been pitching this for two years now to all of the local breweries to try to do a beer together, and then to distribute it and have the proceeds fund our mission. Every local beer dude turned me down,â&#x20AC;? Caraway says. Four Peaks Brewery Co.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s communications manager, Zach Fowle, says his team thought otherwise and followed Carawayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direction. She told them she loves West Coast IPAs and to make it â&#x20AC;&#x153;rad.â&#x20AC;? The brewers used Rakau, Azacca and Dr. Rudi hops to create the beerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RAD flavor with a 6% ABV. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very drinkable,â&#x20AC;? Fowle says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not as intense as other West Coast IPAs.â&#x20AC;? Fowle says all of the ingredients have a fruity character, similar to a tropical medley, but with a soft bitterness to it. West Coast IPAs are normally semibitter, clear and have a dry, citrus flavor, he adds. The beer takes about two to three weeks to create. Procuring the ingredients, having conversations on how the beer will look or taste, and deciding the recipe can add a few weeks. The Joy Bus RAD IPA is available at Four Peaks Brewing Co.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eighth Street location in Tempe. To find the beer in stores, visit fourpeaks.com/finder. Caraway founded The Joy Bus around 2011 when her friend, Joy Seitz Butz, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Caraway says she would bring her friend treats to try to brighten her day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was my way to show her that I cared about her,â&#x20AC;? Caraway says. On days when Caraway could not visit Butz, she tried to find another service to bring Butz healthy and delicious

food but was unsuccessful. That is what inspired her to create The Joy Bus. Caraway grew up in the restaurant business but was uninformed about the benefits of healthy eating. So, she taught herself how certain foods can interact with the body during treatment. Together, she and oncologist Dr. Dan Rubin went through The Joy Bus Dinerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu and created options that are beneficial to consume during treatment. The diner, which opened in 2016, is closed due to COVID-19. When it reopens, patients who are a part of its program can visit and eat meals for free, Caraway says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We partnered with the Case Management Society of America Arizona Chapter, and they immediately started referring patients to us,â&#x20AC;? Caraway says. The Joy Bus delivers fresh, hot meals within one hour of the food being

prepared and within 10 miles of The Joy Bus Diner. A group of 60 volunteers handle the meal delivery on Wednesdays to about 50 homes. The majority of the patients the nonprofit serves have stage four cancer and are homebound. Caraway says the face time with the patients is vital because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very ill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our volunteers are insanely amazing humans who took my little idea about creating rad food and turned it into this whole companionship service that is just so much cooler than I could have ever done on my own,â&#x20AC;? Caraway says. She says one volunteer visited a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband and brought food for them while the patient was in the hospital. Another volunteer surprised a patient at the hospital. Caraway says The Joy Bus wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be successful without the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

The Insiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide to Arizona Entertainment

help. For example, local school children help decorate bags for the meals and Farmer Frank Martin from Phoenixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crooked Sky Farms has been providing produce and donating since the beginning. Caraway says she feels it is important to support the local community, which is why she was excited when Four Peaks Brewing Co. agreed to partner with her for The Joy Bus RAD IPA. A percentage of every bottle, six-pack and keg sold is being donated directly to The Joy Bus.

Four Peaks Brewing Co. 1340 E. Eighth Street, Suite 104, Tempe, fourpeaks.com The Joy Bus Diner 3375 E. Shea Boulevard, Suite C1, Phoenix, thejoybusdiner.com PHX METRO Âť JANUARY 2020

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BASEBALL’S BACK Torey Lovullo: We’re bringing incredible happiness to fans By Dave Hogg

ike Hazen and Torey Lovullo were more than happy to talk about baseball again. The only problem for the Arizona Diamondbacks general manager and manager? They had no idea how to answer any of the questions posed by the media. There’s never been anything like the 2020 baseball season—on and off the field. In a pair of Zoom conference calls, Hazen and Lovullo used several different versions of “We don’t really know that— We’re going to be trying to figure it out as we go.” Even something as simple as lineup construction will be complicated in 2020. For the first time in its 144-year history, the National League will be using the designated hitter this season. Do they turn Carson Kelly into a fulltime DH, or do they want him to catch as much as possible? Putting him behind the plate could improve his defense for a 2021 season when pitchers will hit again. The other option is to use more players at the position, giving them a rare break in a season with 60 games in 66 days? “Don’t hold me to this, because everything is changing, but I would imagine we will start with some kind of rotation at DH, given the way our roster is constructed,” Hazen says. “There’s obviously a chance that we could end up with a full-time DH if somebody really steps up and does a great job at the position, but we’ve got a great deal of versatility on our roster. I imagine we’re going to use that to walk into the season with some kind of rotation. “Whether that’s based on matchups or something else, I don’t know.” Of course, with the DH being used in all games this season, Madison Bumgarner won’t be a part of the offense. While he doesn’t hit like a position player—a .177 batting average wouldn’t keep anyone in the majors for long—it’s a significant additional talent. His 19 home runs in 594 career at-bats mean opposing pitchers can’t afford to lose focus against him.

inning—so scoring should be commonplace. “It is a whole different realm of strategy than we’ve ever seen in this league,” Hazen says. “There’s been some experimentation with it in the minors. We’ve seen it internationally, but it is certainly something that’s going to get a lot of our attention because you’ve instantly got a runner on second. What are you going to do about Mike Hazen him?” The change will end games as “I’d love to get rid of the DH and play quickly as possible, but Hazen thinks it by National League rules every time will be fun for the fans. Madison Bumgarner pitches, because his “Any time you add strategy into bat gives us an incredible advantage over our game, I think it adds something every other team in the major leagues,” fascinating to the sport,” he says. “I Lovullo says. “I think of him the same understand why some people don’t as Zack Greinke. Zack’s a great pitcher, like it—it isn’t a traditional part of the but he impacted games with his offense. game—but I think fans enjoy new Having an extra bat in your lineup like things in some cases.” Zack and Madison is a great, great edge.” There’s a lot more Hazen and Lovullo Lovullo knows Bumgarner will be have to deal with—the lack of a minorlobbying for pinch-hitting opportunities league season means they will be limited but thinks his ace will have to wait a to a pool of 60 players, most of whom year. won’t have any games to play. “Madison is going to be one of our However, none of it matters unless five starters, and I want him to focus they can put together a healthy roster on that right now,” he says. “As far as to start the season. The Diamondbacks his hitting, I think we might have to have been lucky thus far, with only two compartmentalize that for a little while. positive COVID-19 tests and none I don’t want to take anything off the at their Salt River Spring Training table, because that guy can bang the complex. That could change in a hurry baseball, but I think we can think about with Arizona’s struggles against the that again in 2021.” virus. Bumgarner might still have a role “I am hopeful we are going to be able in games that go deep into the night, to pull this off, but we all understand but another rule change will eliminate that we are in a unique time and place almost all of the sport’s marathons. that’s not like anything we’ve ever faced Teams will start each extra inning with before,” Hazen says. “Believe me, the a runner on second base—the hitter protocols we’ve received from Major who made the final out of the previous League Baseball are very restrictive in

many ways, because we need to find ways to minimize the spread of the virus.” Lovullo and Hazen are going to make sure the players and support staff realize precisely what is on the line. “This virus doesn’t miss anybody, so I’m going to make sure I diligently work through my messages to the coaching staff, the players and the traveling party,” the manager says. “There’s a system in place, and if we do what we’re supposed to do, we can tame this beast and play baseball for our fans. Hopefully, we can bring them some incredible happiness— there hasn’t been much of that lately.” That will be a challenge for every Major League team, but Lovullo is painfully aware of the coronavirus’ impact on Arizona. “There have been spikes lately, and I don’t know the exact numbers, but we’re aware of people testing positive in our organization and our industry,” he says. “That should be a warning to everyone, but this doesn’t miss. If you don’t do exactly what you are supposed to do, whether it is wearing a mask or washing your hands, it will catch up with you. “We have to respect and make sure we don’t make Arizona another statistic by having players down after testing positive.” However, if everything works out, Hazen will finally get to see the results of a winter’s work. “The hardest part of all this is I think we put together a pretty good team in the offseason and we haven’t gotten to see it compete,” he says. “I’m glad we’re going to be able to do that and bring baseball back for all of the fans.”

BRINGING EXCITEMENT BACK THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

Nick Ahmed recalls baseball’s union negotiations By Dave Hogg

aseball fans spent much of May and June frustrated at the glacial pace of negotiations between Major League Baseball and the player’s union. Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed doesn’t blame them. As the Diamondbacks’ union representative, Ahmed had an inside look at the discussions about the best way to bring the sport back from the COVID-19 pandemic. After weeks of dueling press releases, the two sides failed to come to an agreement. As a result, the commissioner’s office mandated a 60-game schedule starting in late July. “Unfortunately, in this day and age, with Twitter, everyone hears everything as soon it happens,” Ahmed says. “I think we need to get back on the field and bring the game back to the fans. I know they aren’t going to be able to come to the park, at least not at first, but they will be able to watch. “If they can see us play fantastic baseball, I hope it brings the excitement back.” Ahmed has already gotten some advice about empty-stadium baseball from teammate Travis Snider, a member of the 2015 Baltimore Orioles. On April 29, the Orioles and White Sox played without a crowd due to civil unrest after Freddie

Gray died in the Baltimore Police Department’s custody. “Travis said it was extremely weird,” Ahmed says. “I guess we’ll get used to it after the first week, because there’s nothing we can do about it. The fans aren’t allowed to be here yet, so we’re going to have to get out there and be excited about playing baseball again.” The compressed schedule will make every game more meaningful—reversing the sport’s usual mantra of “the season is a marathon, not a sprint.” Last year, Arizona started the season by going 3030 in their first 60 games—a record that won’t get them into the postseason—but went 34-26 in the final 60. That’s a .567 winning percentage—good enough to qualify as the second National League wildcard last season. “Someone said the other day it’s going to be about the same length as a college season—I think that’s about 56 games— so I was thinking back to that part of my career,” says Ahmed, who played at the University of Connecticut. “Back then, every game was make or break, and this is going to be about the same. Every win or loss is going to affect the standings in a hurry.” Arizona goes into the season as underdogs in the NL West—the Los Angeles Dodgers have added Mookie Betts and top prospect Gavin Lux to a team that’s won seven straight division titles. However, the Diamondbacks have

a potential superstar in Ketel Marte and three talented starting pitchers in Madison Bumgarner, Mike Leake and Robbie Ray. Newly acquired Starling Marte gives them another power bat while Ahmed has hit 35 homers in the last two seasons while winning a pair of Gold Gloves. “We’re really excited because we’ve got a good group,” he says. “We are excited about the additions this winter, and we were really starting to build some chemistry in spring training. We enjoy being in the clubhouse together, and we’ve got a lot of guys pulling hard in the same direction. That should bode well for us in a short season, plus we know we’re going to have most of that same nucleus again in 2021.” However, the Diamondbacks might have the most challenging road to Opening Day of any of baseball’s 30 franchises. Arizona’s COVID-19 rate in late June was the highest in the nation, and it was higher than any state since New York and New Jersey’s peak in early April. Unlike the NHL, NBA and MLS, baseball players won’t be sequestered at one site with heightened infectiouscontrol measures. “They’ve set up the protocols, and we have to take the right precautions,” Ahmed says. “We’re going to have some testing, and we’re going to have to keep our distance from other people. When we’re in close quarters, we have to wear a

mask, but I think everyone will be OK. I’m of the personal opinion you can’t hide in your house and hibernate for your whole life. “We’re going to do everything we can to mitigate it the best we can, but there’s never going to be zero risks.” Ahmed knows the sport already comes with risk. He was limited to 90 games by a season-ending hip injury in 2016, then only played 53 the next season after a broken hand. His approach to coronavirus is to think of the chances in the same way as another injury. “You have to accept it as part of the game and go out and play,” he says. “Ultimately, someone is going to get the virus, and you hope it isn’t bad, but hiding isn’t the answer. It’s time to get back. We’ve got the right protocols in place, and we’re going to do everything we can to keep everyone as healthy as possible. That’s going to mean limiting our activities off the field, but they are only asking us to do that for 60 games and hopefully the postseason. “People are sick and struggling everywhere. What we’re doing isn’t that hard.” Ahmed and the Diamondbacks will start workouts at Chase Field and Salt River Fields on July 3, three weeks before starting the season. “We’re just excited to get out there and see how the 60 games shake out.” ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

FAMILY AFFAIR

D-backs’ Bryce Jarvis is following in his dad’s footsteps By Eric Newman

he Arizona Diamondbacks looked to bolster their pitching staff with the selection of Bryce Jarvis in the first round of June’s Major League Baseball draft. The 22-year-old right-hander was selected with the 18th overall pick, having pitched a short but tremendous career for Duke University’s baseball team. In his junior year, Jarvis was named to the Collegiate Baseball AllAmerican First Team as a junior before the college baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jarvis, who was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 37th round in 2019 but did not sign is excited about both selections. “I was thrilled. It’s been a day I’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” Jarvis says. “Obviously, it was awesome to be surrounded by friends and family and longtime supporters. So, definitely very validating.” He was off to an excellent start in his 2020 season, ranked third in the nation in WHIP with a mark of 0.48 and first in the ACC in walks allowed per nine innings (0.67). He even pitched a perfect game on February 21 in a win against ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Cornell. Even still, there was a lot of baseball left on the table taken away by the pandemic. While excited for Jarvis’ future and their projection of him as a great player down the line, D-backs management did admit any draft choice would be made without seeing the players perform for a significant amount of time. “We probably got four or five starts out of them this year. So it was enough,” says Mike Hazen, the D-backs’ general manager. “Obviously, we had scouted them. We’d seen them a few times each and we had history with them. But it’s a lot less than we used to. And I think that was probably the most challenging thing.” What Jarvis boasts, even with less of a 2020 season, is a lifetime full of baseball experiences and memories with his family. Jarvis is the son of MLB-veteran player and scout Keith Jarvis. Thus, the new Diamondbacks prospect saw firsthand that a pro career could be more than just a dream given the right effort. “I think it gave me a very unique insight into baseball as a profession and not just a hobby or a sport you like to play after school,” Jarvis says. “And I was able to take those experiences into how I went about developing myself as a player

and how I set my goals on attaining the same status. I think it definitely helped me become the player I am today. “The last couple of years, he took a step away from baseball to be a full-time fan and follow my career. I’m very thankful that he’s been in the situation to be able to do that and be at a lot of games. He was at the Cornell game this past season when I threw a perfect game, and that was a special moment to have him there and my mom there as well and be able to share that with them.” Jarvis adds depth to the Diamondbacks’ stable of pitching prospects, something Hazen says the team wanted. The top end of the draft, Hazen says, was heavy with quality pitchers, and Jarvis was high on the team’s board of potential picks but fell to them at the 18th spot. While excited for their new draftee, the Diamondbacks, like other organizations, will have to onload their incoming players in an unprecedented way. While Major League Baseball is in disarray over contracts and the length of its 2020 season, there is no set minor league to guide the development of new players into the system. Hazen says he is unsure exactly what the future holds for draft picks but is optimistic that there will be a chance for

Jarvis and other acquisitions to get to know the team. “I’m hopeful that there will be something that we will be able to engage with them this year, whatever form or fashion that may take. Um, but right now I don’t really have one,” Hazen says. “And then, even if there’s nothing to connect us on a field here in Arizona or wherever, we can certainly start the integration and the education into the system. But I just don’t have that answer right now.” Even in the current situation— baseball games outside of South Korea have been on a long-term hiatus since the outbreak of the pandemic—and the lack of pre-draft ceremonies that the players and staffs have become accustomed to, Jarvis is excited for his future with the franchise. “It’s definitely still sinking in. I think it’ll take a couple of days, if not weeks, to fully grasp what happened tonight. But I’m looking forward to the time it takes to set in. And like I said, it’s really special to be able to share it with my family,” Jarvis says. “I know circumstances aren’t normal at all, but you’ve got to look at the bright side, and that’s just being able to spend it with my family.”

HE’S NO. 1

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

Tigers select ASU’s Spencer Torkelson as the top pick in the MLB Draft By Griffin Fabits

ith the first pick of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft, the Detroit Tigers selected ASU’s Spencer Torkelson as a third baseman. The chatter around the baseball world when the Tigers officially made Torkelson their No. 1 pick was focused on the club’s decision to tap him for third base. In two-plus seasons at ASU, Torkelson primarily played first base, only logging a handful of innings at the hot corner in the preseason. But Torkelson, who was widely seen as the consensus No. 1 pick in the months leading up to the draft, says he learned of the positional change the same time as everyone else. “The first time I knew they were drafting me as a third baseman was when the commissioner said, ‘Spencer

Torkelson, third baseman.’” The biggest draw to Torkelson is the bat and the raw power he possesses at just 20 years old. The third-base move is a testament to the Tigers’ belief in Torkelson’s defensive ability and athleticism, says Alan Trammell, special assistant to the general manager. “Saying ‘Spencer Torkelson, third base,’ that’s a compliment to Spencer. If it doesn’t work out, we know he can play first. It can help the organization if he can,” the Hall of Famer says. Since arriving in Tempe three years ago, Torkelson was determined to leave ASU as a first-round draft pick. Minutes after the 40th and final round of the 2017 draft, which saw Torkelson, then a high school senior, go undrafted, he phoned his uncle and a few friends. He wanted to hit, needed to lift the disappointment of not being selected by mashing baseballs “as hard as I could.” “I told myself I was going to be a firstrounder out of ASU,” he says. “I think

I realized that was an opportunity for me maybe four games into my freshman year. I was like, ‘Man, I’m doing pretty good at this thing. Let’s keep going.’” And Torkelson quickly worked himself into the Sun Devil record books. He broke the school’s freshman home run record, surpassing Barry Bonds’ 11 in 1983, when he hit 25 in 2018. He finished as a career .337 hitter, knocking in 130 runs and sporting a .729 slugging percentage, according to TheSunDevils.com. He became the fourth ASU player to be selected No. 1 overall, the first since Bob Horner in 1978. Torkelson became the first college position player to go from being

undrafted out of high school to the No. 1 pick, according to TheSunDevils. com. He’s the school’s 22nd first-round selection. His 54 career big flies were second in school history, just two behind Horner’s 56. In a junior season cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, Torkelson belted six home runs in 50 at-bats. With roughly 40 games left on the schedule, he was well on his way to becoming ASU’s home run king. “He’s a special kid,” says Scott Pleis, the Tigers’ director of amateur scouting. “We saw Tork (in February) and about 5 minutes into it, Tram went, ‘I really like this guy.’ We got to see him early, before everything shut down. We saw the power, the athleticism, the plate discipline, the defense. It was just a total package.” Torkelson says he attributes his rise to No. 1 overall to ASU’s ability to routinely develop players. “They call it ‘MLB (University)’ for a reason. You know the alumni who walk the same halls as you. It’s a great place to play. My coaches, they’re unbelievable coaches, unbelievable guys. They all helped contribute to this. They know what they’re doing over there. It was so fun to be a part of it.” He said under the circumstances the world is in—and subsequently, the sport—it remains to be seen when and where his professional career will begin. “It’s so unpredictable. That conversation is for down the road,” he says. “Things are going to happen, but it’s such a weird time. It’s unknown.” For now, on paper at least, Torkelson is a prized prospect in a rich Tigers’ farm system. The organization views him as a middle-of-the-order type of hitter who can be a pivotal piece of its future. Is there pressure with that, with the notion that one 20-year-old kid is the savior of a struggling organization? Nah. “Pressure is a privilege,” he says. “It’s a privilege. That pressure, whatever you want to call it, it drives me. It makes me work harder. I don’t let it faze me. It’s a privilege to be in the position I’m in. “You just have to run away with it.” ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

FAMILY

FROLIC » DISCOVER » IMAGINE » FAMILY » FUN » CONNECT

REOPENING ATTRACTIONS

Attendance ebbs and flows at Arizona Boardwalk By Elsa Hortareas

rizona Boardwalk managing partner Ran Knishinsky says guests are vital to his destination spot for reasons that go beyond the obvious. “It’s important for us. It’s important for the animals to see guests so we can continue to run and to continue to operate,” he says. Arizona Boardwalk reopened May 21, just in time for Memorial weekend. The attractions in the Arizona Boardwalk entertainment destination that reopened include OdySea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Laser + Mirror Maze, Surprise Your Eyes, and Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs with updated safety protocols. Restaurants including Johnny Rockets, Nékter Juice Bar and Pizza

Time opened their doors as well. “We have never been in a position where we have been close to full since opening. People are more cautious about going out now,” Knishinsky says. Businesses such as the OdySea Aquarium and the Butterfly Wonderland exhibit are open but refraining from interactive experiences. The Surprise Your Eyes Selfie Instagram Experience is completely open. Knishinsky says it is “remarkable” how the attendance changes so much from day to day, even though they have not met their new capacity limit since reopening. The boardwalk abided by Gov. Doug Ducey’s “shelter in place,” where only essential businesses remained opened. “Unlike offices, we have got really, really high stakes costs to running an aquarium,” Knishinsky says. The aquarium has 7,000 animals to

feed and care for. The butterfly exhibit has over 3,000 butterflies from more than 20 countries, along with reptiles and bees. As well as a large amount of staff and security, the exhibits cannot just close and come back after the pandemic. At the moment, the aquarium and butterfly exhibits are focusing on simply covering costs. The Arizona Boardwalk was closed for two months. “We’ve integrated a lot of new operational plans so that we could be really cautious about our opening, so we could keep in mind guest safety, as well as the safety for our employees and our animals,” Knishinsky says. The attraction is using “timed ticketing” to limit capacity in the buildings. Most of the purchasing for tickets has moved online. Social distancing signs are put up around the place, along with markers on parts of the

floor to show 6 feet spacing. Increased cleaning is also in effect, particularly in “high-touch areas,” Knishinsky says. New sanitizing stations have been installed. Knishinsky says health inspectors have visited to review the Boardwalks protocols, too. The butterfly exhibit has a cap of 80 people, with 45 in the conservatory. Capacity checks are every hour. OdySea Aquarium caps at 30% capacity or about 420 in the building at a time. The aquarium is 200,000 square feet. The interactive exhibits in the OdySea are closed. Those include the stingray feeding station, swimming with the penguins, the kids cove area, behind-the-scenes tours, and the sea truck experience. “Our No, 1 objective is the health and safety of those animals,” Knishinsky says. The boardwalk will continue to gauge the situation.

Dancing at a Distance THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

Theater camp brings Desert Stages kids safely together By Bridgette M. Redman

or kids who have been locked up at home for months, camp has been a welcome escape. That’s why Desert Stages has been thrilled to make it happen this year, even though it looks different than it has in years past. The Scottsdale community theater’s staff has figured out a safe, socially distanced way to offer three children’s camps this summer with acting, singing and dancing. Everything has been new for Executive Director Ellen Versen. She started the job as Desert Stages executive director on February 24, just before the pandemic shut it down. The theater, whose home is at Scottsdale Fashion Square, closed its current shows and postponed the others that were in rehearsal. Shortly after the mall reopened and they regained access to their theater, the shopping center closed again because of looting and property damage during a protest. Desert Stages Theater was unharmed. That closure didn’t affect them as much, because the summer camps were already moved to Scottsdale Plaza Resort. Versen reached out to the resort because she knew she needed something the size of a ballroom.

“We really needed to have enrollment numbers high enough to make it worthwhile but be able to keep the kids safe and distant,” Versen says. “To do that, we needed to find a larger space. We reached out to (Scottsdale Plaza Resort), and we have a beautiful partnership going through the summer.” Hotels are suffering from a lack of guests, so the partnership is one that works well for both parties. The resort even offered campers’ families a free upgrade to a suite if they wanted to a “staycation” during camp and use the pool. The first two camp sessions were “Honk Jr.” and “Cinderella: A Ragtime Musical.” The final session, which runs from July 13 to July 24 will have the kids rehearsing and performing “Dear Edwina Jr.” The resort’s size Desert Stages create a safe check-in and camp process. “The kids arrive in a carpool lane, and they don’t even get out of the car until they’ve had their temperature taken and they reply to the COVID questionnaire,” Versen says. “That works out extremely well. We’ve received compliments about how organized our process is for bringing in kids and keeping them 6 feet apart.” All staff and camp counselors wear masks. For the first two weeks, it was

optional for kids to wear masks, but now it is mandatory, as Arizona changed its policies. The theater provides masks to those who need them. Campers bring their own snacks and there are intensified cleaning methods in place. Versen says the kids have been very good about following sanitation routines, washing their hands, staying apart and using hand sanitizer. Campers are divided into groups of 10 and each will get to perform part of a musical at the end of the two-week camp. Campers will receive a video with camp highlights and the final performance. “It’s a different experience, but they’re having fun,” Versen says. “They like being out of the house for a little bit and seeing friends again.” The staff is two adults who are in charge and then teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18, who are camp counselors to the children who are ages 6 to 12. Versen says a lot of people who were in the first camp have now signed up for the second camp. In the past, summer camp enrollment was typically around 70 campers. Despite COVID, they had 52 for the first camp, which they were pleased with. “We’re hoping to get more in sessions two and three,” she says. “I think a lot of parents were holding back to see how it

goes.” Versen says the camp counselors often watch for children who are uncomfortable or sick. This year, they haven’t had children who feel that way. She thinks it is because the kids are so eager to finally be away from home. “So many arts organizations turned to virtual programming and Zoom,” Versen says. “We think the kids are just done with that after finishing the school year that way and having so many onscreen experiences. It’s nice for them to get out of the house, get moving, and get into a room with friends and adults who care about and focus on something positive like these shows they are putting together.” The camps are $415 for two weeks, which Versen says works out to be $40 a day for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They also have after care from 3 to 5 p.m. for families who need it for an additional $10 per hour. Counselors keep kids occupied and engaged. Scholarships are available. It’s something she hopes parents will consider for the final session. “The message is positive, the music is uplifting, and it never hurts to do a dance or two,” Versen says.

Desert Stages desertstages.org/summer-camp

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

‘BIG ’ R I A Trampoline park brings family fun to Chandler By Erin Brassey

early a decade since launching, Big Air Trampoline Parks has made its foray coast to coast, including the first Arizona location. The Esparza siblings opened the Chandler location on June 12, saying they chose to get involved with a franchise that would allow them to have freedom in design and operations within the park. “With such in mind, we were looking for a location that was family oriented with lots of schools and community services, that was lacking what we could offer,” co-owner Luis Esparza says. The fun goes beyond just bouncing on a trampoline. There is also an obstacle course, zip lines, rock climbing, foam pits and more. “In designing our park, it was a long process and hours of thoughts in deciding the attractions that would provide a mixture of physical and ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

cognitive challenges,” Esparza says. “An example is Valojump, which integrates the video game ability with the physical effort on a trampoline, and it is the first one in Arizona.” Although the park is designed to be fun for all ages, a couple of the attractions do have height or weight restrictions. Other than these few restrictions, Esparza says, “We feel that every attraction creates a personal challenge and we try to encourage such with every participant.” She explains that she feels the park provides Chandler with “an indoor facility that is safe and fun, with different attractions not present previously.” Esparza feels the park is a great place to take kids to release some pent-up energy, as it provides much physical activity. “It is not only a healthy way of having fun but also promotes other mental abilities, discipline and competitiveness,” she says. For parents not looking to join in on the games, there is plenty of seating,

leaving employees to supervise the children. This includes a lounge with televisions, couches and payable massage chairs. By cafeteria-style tables, there is a snack bar that serves pizza, chips, drinks and more for when kids get hungry. The standard hourly cost is $11.99 for kids ages 3-6 and $17.99 for all others to jump, increasing slightly for longer durations. A $3 pair of AirSocks is required to use the attractions. The park plans to add a membership program in the future. Prices differ for special weekly events, including Toddler Time and Cosmic Nights. The former, for ages 6 and younger from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, costs $9.99. As Esparza explains, this special time gives little ones access to the whole park without the fear of older kids running around them. Cosmic Nights are designed to reach older kids—typically in the high school or even college age groups, Esparza explains. For $24.99 every Friday and

Saturday night, from 8 to 11 p.m., participants can jump as the lights go down and the park brightens with lasers and strobes. The music is also turned up to create a dance party feel. Regular activities are available seven days a week, from 3 to 8 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 3 to 11 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Big Air Chandler is also equipped to host team parties and birthday parties. “We want to be the place to celebrate birthday parties and team events that will create long-lasting memories and friendships,” Esparza says. However, those long-lasting memories don’t just have to come from parties. “It is a family entertainment center where all ages can have fun,” Esparza says.

Big Air Chandler 2840 S. Alma School Road, Chandler 480.912.5454, bigairusa.com/chandler

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

MUSIC

LISTEN » JAM » INNOVATE » EVOLVE » ROCK » SING

THAT ‘ROCKER GUY’

Andre Comeau pushes ‘The Real World’ behind him with new EP By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

that will change. “Other than being a musician, which I will always be—hopefully, anyway—I can’t see that anything from then is all that relevant,” he says. Born in ’70s-era Detroit to a family of touring musicians, Comeau grew up steeped in all genres of music. Possessed with an instinctual sense of melody and dynamics, he has music in his blood. Reigndance ignited but quickly outgrew the burgeoning Detroit music scene of the early ’90s. Shortly after relocating to New York, Comeau was chosen to be a cast member “The Real World.” After three records and extensive touring, Reigndance disbanded in 1997. “Reigndance was really a great band, and we took it up the mountain,” he says. “And I’m extremely proud of everything we did. And we’ve all continued to be successful in our individual pursuits after. ‘The Real World’ thing, for a long time, was something I disconnected with, and at the time, it was really its own thing. For a long time, I didn’t even talk about it. Comeau relocated to Los Angeles and took up folk music via River Rouge in the 2000s. They released a handful of well-received albums and became a highlight of the Los Angeles club scene but disbanded in 2016. “I have always been a fan of Andre’s music, which, of course, I discovered through ‘The Real World,’” Hazaert says. “Reigndance was a great rock band, and, from a distance, I have perpetually kept up with his musical endeavors over the years. While we had discussed briefly working together during the early 2000s, which ultimately never came to fruition as he transitioned away from rock for a season. I’m extremely excited that it has come together now the way it has. Andre has always been an extremely gifted songwriter and a true entertainer.”

our years ago, former Reigndance vocalist Andre Comeau was playing in an acoustic folk band. Then, inexplicably, he felt the pings of hard rock again. Encouraged by Thom Hazaert and David Ellefson of Megadeth, who run EMP Label Group, Comeau released the EP “Wrong Within,” five songs of straightforward, Southern-tinged hard rock, in mid-June. “I met Thom many years back when he was still living in LA,” says Comeau, known as the “rocker guy” on the first season of MTV’s “The Real World.” “We talked a bit, and when I had the new album finished, a friend of mine reconnected us—Thom and I—and one thing led to another. I met up with David Ellefson and Thom when they were here in LA. We met at the Rainbow and had a lot of fun hanging out with those guys. I’m super excited to put this EP out on the label.” Comeau says the break from rock music and its inevitable return were conscious changes. “It was really a natural progression,” Comeau says. “I write all my songs on acoustic guitar. I wasn’t terribly thrilled with the direction of rock at that time. I felt a real connection to some of the acoustic music I was listening to. “I continued along the folk path for many years. It wasn’t until maybe 2015 when I quite unexpectedly started writing rock songs again. There was no point in trying to bend those to fit my then-current folk leanings. I put a rock band together to record them and flush them out.” The move made Comeau realize how much he missed rock music. He’s so inspired that he already has 20 songs written for the next album and five of them are recorded. The delivery of his new songs is quite different from the Dylanesque approach of his folk tunes. He sings in a much higher register and, in some cases, “scream my head off.” “I missed it,” Comeau says with a laugh. “I certainly missed performing in that high-energy way and playing loud

instruments. Playing in this rock genre allows me to open up my voice, just really open it up and let it fly. I would liken it to taking a fast car out on the freeway and seeing what it can do. That’s how I feel about playing rock. That’s where I shine.”

When Comeau was on “The Real World” and playing with Reigndance with Dean Fertita (who’s now in Queens of the Stone Age and the Dead Weather), fans and critics didn’t give their music much of a chance. Comeau is hoping with “The Real World” eons behind him

Andre Comeau facebook.com/ andrecomeaumusic/ emplabelgroup.com facebook.com/emplabelgroup Listen to “Son of a Gun” at youtu.be/hhFHI3k05dI ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Broken Strings 34

Dr. Immanuel Abraham found his calling with a damaged violin By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

r. Immanuel Abraham questioned everything throughout his troubled childhood. However, when he obtained his first violin from the Salvation Army, his life had purpose. The instrument was broken, like him. It only had three strings and was stored in a pillowcase. There wasn’t even a sound post. “The violin wasn’t in a condition that made it possible to play,” Abraham says. He took advantage of an offer for free lessons at the Chicago nonprofit Merit School of Music, which eventually loaned him a violin in much better condition. The teacher said she liked his attitude. Abraham recalls him being “musically illiterate. I couldn’t read music.” Still, he studied five to six hours a day. His life was devoted to the instrument. “In that time, the teacher said if I kept up that attitude and progress, she would be happy to keep teaching me for free. It was the first time I felt safe and not afraid,” says the Tucson resident. Recently, Abraham earned his doctorate in violin performance at the UA. He’s been twice featured on PBS Arizona, and he was concertmaster of the Arizona Symphony Orchestra, the Arizona Contemporary Ensemble and the Arizona Theater Company. He’s the resident composer and music director for Miraval Resort and Scoundrel & Scamp Theater company. Abraham came from a near-homeless family in inner-city Chicago, where he was subject to violence and injury. He began playing music in 2005 and started touring the world—even though he picked up the violin at age 14. “Quickly, the violin became my best friend,” he says. “Within a year of picking it up, I went to arts camp in (Blue Lake) Michigan and I played my first symphony with a full symphony. That was a lifechanging experience for me.” ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

He began music studies under former Chicago Civic Orchestra concertmaster Professor Guillaume Combet through the Merit School of Music Conservatory. In three years, he became concertmaster of several youth ensembles, including the Merit Symphony Orchestra, and assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra during the Chicago Festival of Youth in Music. The festival was conducted by the worldrenowned Gustavo Dudamel. Abraham became the first high schooler to serve as youth symphony concertmaster at Blue Lake, with whom he spent two months touring Europe. “I wanted that more than anything I ever wanted before,” he says. “When I got the music for the audition at the camp, I not only learned the music but I committed two hours of repertoire completely to memory. “To this day, I don’t think I ever learned anything as thoroughly as those audition excerpts. Impossibly good things seemed to happen. I got out of the projects. I slept in a bed. This was a chance for me to have a totally different life. Music opened those doors. I used to think I hated classical music.” Abraham says he used to make fun of classical music because he believed it didn’t have a beat. “I thought I knew what a beat was,” he says. “But I didn’t. It wasn’t groovy.

It was only for elevators. I had no idea. Now, every performance lights my body up with goosebumps in ways I never experienced before.” After graduating high school in Chicago, he headed to the University of Michigan, a decision that made him a bit self-conscious. “I didn’t have a computer or a cellphone that I could rely on,” he says. “At the UM that year (2009), they were ranked on par with Juilliard. I didn’t know that when I went there. “At that point, I had gotten to a bit of a cocky point in my musical development. The first day of school, I saw the level of the students who were there. They were child prodigies. It was immediately stressful and dampened my ego.” He recalls he thought to himself, “I worked as hard as humanly possible, only to be the worst. The discipline that was required, I didn’t go to a single party. I knew I couldn’t screw this up.” Graduating with highest honors, Abraham continued violin studies at the University of Michigan under Naumberg award winner Andrew Jennings. That’s when he explored the electric violin. He returned to Blue Lake to teach violin and took a job with the Sphinx Organization, a Detroit-based national organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts.

“They’re a really, really remarkable organization,” he says. Abraham then accepted an offer from UA to teach music, jazz history, pop music history, counterpoint music theory and the history of American pop music in exchange for tuition. “In the words of ‘The Godfather,’ it was an offer I could not refuse,” he says with a laugh. His first year in Arizona, he won the UA 2015 Concerto Competition with the Brahms Violin Concerto premiering his own cadenzas. He graduated from UA summa cum laude with a doctorate in violin performance. To this day, he’s still enthralled with the violin. “Everyone thinks the violin is something that stayed the same for a half a millennium,” he says. “It has not. It’s 2,000 years old. It originated in Mongolia. The Stradivari family was inspired by a Middle Eastern instrument that later became a violin. “A Baroque violin is as different from a modern violin as a harpsicord is from a modern concert grand. My thesis was based upon an object analysis of Bach’s violin work and hypothesizing what he would have written had he had access to the modern violin. To this day, I’m obsessed.”

Dr. Immanuel Abraham immanuelabraham.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

LAMB OF GOD ON LOCKDOWN

Bassist hopes fans enjoy the new album during these historic times By Alex DiStefano

his month, acclaimed American heavy metal band Lamb of God should have been on a nationwide tour with Megadeth, Trivium and In Flames, marking the genre’s biggest jaunt of the year. But, due to the COVID-19 pandemic—like most tours—the run was postponed until perhaps 2021. Lamb of God’s bassist John Campbell is in lockdown like the rest of the band, in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. “I have two kids, who are 9 and 12, so I have been the family man during the lockdown and quarantine,” Campbell says. “That has certainly kept me busy, which is a good thing. I take my kids on walks and we go to the store, but that’s about it. We’re trying to be safe.” Campbell says he passes time like most people. “I’m just trying to keep from going insane,” he says, “Of course, I play music but also watch TV and some movies. I read as well and recently re-read “Animal Farm” by Orwell, and it seems relevant to today.” Lamb of God’s tour would have promoted its eighth album, a self-titled effort. It is traditional groove metal, mixed with hints of death metal and

thrash, proving that Lamb of God is a powerful, relevant band—a modern force to be reckoned with in heavy metal music. This new slab of brutality is the first to feature drummer Art Cruz. “Working with Art both playing live shows and on this record was amazing,” Campbell says. “I got to say he was a positive dude, always full of energy. For us, we have all been at it for a while, so it was new and exciting to have a set of fresh eyes. Art has been a fan, listening to Lamb of God growing up trying to emulate that in his drumming. So far, for us all, it’s been a great transition. He’s been a real pro to play with. We’ve all enjoyed it.” Campbell says he and his bandmates are eager to share the record live. “We hope fans will enjoy it,” Campbell says. “So far, we’ve gotten good feedback. I’m proud of this album, I know it’s cliché, but this is the best we’ve done. We put so much time effort and energy into it and we can’t wait to get back on the road and play some of these songs for our fans from the West Coast to the East Coast.” Lamb of God’s live performances are known for their intense mosh pits and infamous “Wall of Death.” So, will Lamb of God bring it to small screens? “Personally, I don’t know if us performing on a stream or whatever live streaming would work,” Campbell

says. “When we play a show, it’s all about the energy of the crowd. The fans in the audience, they carry the magic and power of our time on stage. I don’t know how it would come across online with no audience. It would just be like a rehearsal. It would take a lot of convincing for me personally to do it, but we have not talked about it as a band.” Campbell is frustrated by the lack of a timeline for the return of live events. “That part really sucks. I don’t know when I’m going to be able to go to work,” Campbell says. “But safety has to come first. We can’t see ourselves playing any significant show until things calm down and it’s safe with a vaccine or something. The music business is very volatile. You never know when something crazy is going to happen that will threaten the business model. But, as a band, this is not the first time we’ve been in a grim situation where we didn’t know the outcome.” He’s referring to lead singer Randy Blythe’s arrest on manslaughter charges in the Czech Republic after a 19-year-old fan died from injuries sustained during a Lamb of God show. Blythe spent five weeks in custody but was subsequently acquitted. “We can’t tell you when things will be over or how things will play out,” Campbell continues about the

pandemic. “Right now it’s just a waiting game, and it sucks, but we’re just here just trying to focus on a better future. I know I am not alone. There are people suffering way worse. I am not unique in my struggles. We’re all in this together, and we’ll all see how this will play out.” Some artists have hosted social distancing live events or drive-in concerts. However, Campbell says this wouldn’t work with Lamb of God. “Right now, it is a scary time, and this is a virus you don’t want to get,” Campbell says. “We all just need to focus on staying safe and healthy as individuals and as a species in general. When the time is safe, we will be back to play shows again.” In the meantime, Campbell enjoys his time with the family and being a father during these tumultuous times. “My kids understand what’s happening out there, but I try to make sure they know this is not normal,” he says. “We’re here in Richmond, Virginia. There are lots of protestors out here, and there are lots of historic statues that are ‘artistically being adding to’ by some protestors. I took my kids out there one day when it was safe and not too crazy. We all wore masks. I just wanted them to understand the historical significance of the times we’re living in. They’re not going to forget this. I want them to remember. We are reliving history in a way.” ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

A NEW WORLD

Agnostic Front singer Roger Miret says COVID is a ‘hard one’ By Alex DiStefano

gnostic Front singer Roger Miret says his New York hardcore band is feeling the pain of the pandemic and race riots. A 13-year resident of Arizona—most recently Scottsdale—Miret has been on lockdown with his wife and kids. “Our air conditioning just blew out, too, which is bad timing,” Miret says. “Other than that, we’re good. But we’re all here just worried, waiting and wondering what’s coming next.” Agnostic Front features vocalist Miret, original guitarist Vinnie Stigma, along with additional guitarist Craig Silverman, bassist Mike Gallo and drummer Pokey Mo. In the 1980s, Agnostic Front created hardcore with the extreme sounds of punk and fury of metal, crossing over for fans of both. “Agnostic Front played our last show before the pandemic the last day of January. We were in Europe,” Miret says. “As we speak, we were supposed to be on tour with our friends in Sick of It All, in the U.S., for our new album, called ‘Get Loud.’” Agnostic Front’s monthlong

U.S. tour was supposed to start on April 25, but all the dates were rescheduled to 2021, Miret says. As for now, Miret is happy to be home in Arizona. “I love living in South Scottsdale,” he says. “I live in Old Town. It’s great. My family and I love it here. The weather is nice, and everything is walking distance. Also, we enjoy the calmness. It’s not New York City where I’m from. Not to say that it’s isolated. We’re a thriving city here, and I also love how there are some music venues here, too. We just love this community.” Miret says while he would love to get back to the road, Agnostic Front hasn’t considered virtual or streaming gigs. “We have to feel it,” he says. “That’s how we approach it and work it through with other people in the room. That’s the process. It’s fun but also very personal for us. “I would rather see bands doing more interviews and Q&As online and using the internet to interact with fans on a more personal level with social media,” Miret says. When it comes to the future of live music, Miret is not sure social distancing can work at punk rock, hardcore or

heavy metal shows due to the nature of the music. “We’ll see how everything goes with shows and tours after things calm down a bit and it’s safer,” he says. “At this point, no one really knows. This COVID-19 is a game changer.” Miret doubts any major concerts or shows will happen until 2021. He thinks smaller clubs will probably open first, but they’ll have to cut their capacity by at least half. “I always loved clubs and smaller venues for sure over big concerts, but venues and bands are going to have to adapt though this,” he says. On the plus side, the pandemic has allowed Miret to spend more time with his wife and kids. “Family life and touring has always been a struggle for me with Agnostic Front,” he says. “Right now, my kids are 10 and 12, and I can’t complain about spending this much time with them.” Through all the doom and gloom,

news reports and pessimism, Miret prides himself in a positive mental attitude. “I lived in New York City. I’ve been through some crazy stuff in my life, so I know how to survive,” he says. “This is going to be a hard one for us all. This is our generation’s hurdle to deal with. I’m just being positive and hoping we can all get through this for my family and for everyone else and their families.” Miret admits he’s confused about current events, but he tries to keep up to date. “I don’t know what to expect anymore,” he says. “Everyday something new happens or some different news comes out. But music is one thing that has gotten people through many decades of the hardest times. It unites people for life through tragedies and all, and I hope that is the case for fans of our music.” The looters in Scottsdale were just as confusing; however, Miret is hoping things have calmed down. “There were way more peaceful protestors than there were idiots out there during when some of those people started looting and breaking into stores,” Miret says. “People were there purposefully causing trouble. It was a crowd of knuckleheads at the mall. Our kids were worried. We tried to not let them watch too much TV, but we did explain to them. Luckily for us, where we’re at there were helicopters, but it was definitely more of a protest and a minority that tried to start a riot.” In the end, optimism is what drives Miret. “I’ve got to be optimistic,” he says. “Let’s just move ahead in a positive way and hope for the best with this pandemic. Maybe this is just something for us to check ourselves and be better human beings on this planet, to the environment and to each other. This could be a reminder for humanity.”

Agnostic Front facebook.com/agnosticfront ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GILBY G THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2020

Guitarist doesn’t hold back on new singles By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

uitarist Gilby Clarke has delivered exactly what music fans need this days, he says: hard-driving rock songs—“The Gospel Truth” and “Rock ’n’ Roll is Getting Louder.” “I’ve been spending my time in a garage, where I work on my motorcycles, making parts with metal,” Clarke says. “I put on radio stations and there’s just so many categories. I keep hearing the same songs over and over, though, every single day. We need some new rock music. That’s why I’m releasing music. It’s classic rock with a new twist.” The songs, which are from the forthcoming album “The Gospel Truth,” are somewhat autobiographical for the legendary rocker. “I did what I wanted to hear in new music,” Clarke says about “Rock ’n’ Roll is Getting Louder,” in particular. “I want it to be loud. I want the guitars to be loud. The things that inspired me are the same as when I was younger. I need to hear some good-moving rock ’n’ roll. “‘The Gospel Truth’ was a little bit different. I grew up Catholic. I got control over my life and I didn’t have to go to church. I started opening up and exploring new things. My wife is actually Jewish. That is a retrospective look back into what it was like when I was a child and how important it was when I was younger. That Catholic upbringing still kind of sticks with you.” Clarke played in Guns N’ Roses and The MC5. Before joining the Guns N’ Roses circus, Clarke was Kim Fowley’s go-to session guitarist and ghostwriter in LA. After playing with Hollywood bands Candy and Kill for Thrills, a late-night call from Slash changed everything. Clarke joined Guns in 1991. He appeared on the band’s “Spaghetti Incident,” “Live Era ’88-’91” and “The Greatest Hits” albums. Clarke spent years on the “Use Your Illusion” tour in the 90s. After GNR imploded, armed only with his Les Paul, Clarke went back and launched his solo career. Receiving critical winks for his albums “Pawnshop Guitars,” “The Hangover,” “Rubber,” “99 Live” and “Swag,” Clarke spent the lean years recording/or touring with Nancy Sinatra, Heart, The MC5 and his old bandmate Slash’s Snakepit. Clarke splits his services with Kings of Chaos led by Matt Sorum and all-star alumni that has featured Steven Tyler, Joe Elliott and Gene Simmons and his solo band. When he recorded the album “The

Gospel Truth,” he didn’t realize it had been 17 years between records. “I was actually at the last Motley Crue concert at the Staples Center quite a few years back,” he recalls. “I ran into a friend. He asked he when I was going to put out another solo record. He told me I needed to write. That clicked with me. “I started the process of writing and bringing in the guys to play and working on ideas. It started to flow naturally. The process was just about getting the right people. Being a solo act, I’m not really tied to one drummer, one bassist, one

guitarist. I can get a drummer who fits the song—whether it’s Kenny Arnoff, Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction or Matt Starr—or Nikki Sixx on bass, or Sean McNabb on bass.” A solo record is a singular vision and it’s Clarke’s vision. He produces plenty of records, particularly those with younger musicians. He just finished an album with Hillbilly Harold, which he describes as a “good, classic rock AC/ DC-style record. It’s really simple with no deep meaning to it.” “I like to go back to the core of what’s

important and keep things simple,” he says. “People get distracted so easily that they miss what’s the most important part of the song—the lyric, the guitar riff, whatever. People don’t listen to music the way they used to. “There’s some great music out there. If you can dive down the wormhole and get it, there’s some great, creative stuff.”

Gilby Clarke gilbyclarke.com/ smarturl.it/GC-TheGospelTruth

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

l l i t S s ’ e H in Love

Limahl is ‘too shy,’ though, to listen to his music By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

ormer Kajagoogoo singer Limahl doesn’t like to hear his voice after he’s laid down the tracks for songs. He fears there’s something he’d want to change, or something he flat out doesn’t like. But the platinum-haired singer answers quickly when asked if there’s anything he wants to change about his band’s 1983 new wave hit “Too Shy.” “Nah,” he emphatically says with a laugh. “When I hear my voice in ’83, it sounds terribly young. Then I think, ‘Oh yeah, I was young. I was 23.’ I think my voice is like a leather jacket—it’s gotten better with age. When I sing it now, I sing it with a slightly more mature voice.” Limahl, whose real name is Christopher Hamill, is bringing that “mature voice” to radio waves again with the smoky ballad “Still in Love.” It’s accompanied by an equally smoky ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

video with a couple—professional dancers Cameron Anthony and Eliza Simonelli—performing in an artsy home. “The directors came to me and they suggested the colors,” he says. “I loved that idea. I suggested the dancing. I’m a big fan of dance. I love contemporary, tap and ballet. I know it’s such hard work for dancers. They give the best years of their lives to the skill.” The single’s video had 20,000 views on YouTube within the first five days and every single comment was positive, he says. Limahl has been astounded by the feedback to the song. “I’m my own worst critic,” he says with a laugh. “I’m quite critical, as most artists are. I don’t listen to my own stuff.” He blames his return to music on American TV viewers because his songs are frequently used on the small screen. His hits “Neverending Story” and “Too Shy” were rejuvenated after being featured on hit TV series “Black Mirror,” “American Horror Story” and “Stranger

Things.” He’s not one to rest on his laurels, however. “I needed an incentive to get back in the studio to write,” he says about “Still in Love,” which hit the streets in June. “The American TV shows using my music last year gave me that incentive. Of course, what really sealed the deal was seeing the Spotify views going from 300,000 to 1.5 million, and I thought, ‘OK, people are interested in hearing something new. Come up with the goods.’ That was the challenge.” The pandemic was tough for him, like all performers. Every one of his 2020 shows were postponed until next year— so far. “I had a bunch of stuff in my diary (calendar),” he adds. “I moved out of central London five years ago. I lived in an apartment all my life. I never had a garden. “Now, I live 2 miles outside of greater London and I love it. The first thing I did was collect my lovely 82-year-old mum to stay with me and my partner. I didn’t

want her to be alone for the whole thing, as she’s a widow. We didn’t kill each other. I’m just having a problem staying away from the chocolate—the dark chocolate. I think it’s the endorphins I’m looking for.” His mother is now staying with his sister, and he’s hoping to have some normality restored by Christmas. But he’s still with his partner. “I have been blissfully happy with my lovely partner, Steve, for 26 years and in our ‘civil partnership’ for 11 years,” he beams. “I think when you’re young, it’s almost inevitable to go through relationship dramas and make the typical mistakes. Let’s face it, we’ve all had great night of passion and thought, ‘Ooh, is this the one?’ But surprise surprise! After the one hour of hankypanky wears off, there are still 23 more hours in the day.”

Limahl limahl.com

The Entertainer! July 2020

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