The latest adaptation of a dark Cormac McCarthy novel comes to the big screen courtesy of the versatile James Franco, who has harnessed the creativity of a student, an actor, a screenwriter and in this film, a director, into his own personal artistry. “Child of God,” opening in limited release on August 1st, is simply the unveiling of his latest canvas. The film, starring little known actor Scott Haze, is cinematically jarring and almost certain to be a polarizing depiction that straddles the line of questionable obscenity between shock value and performance art. And yet, despite the eye popping scenes which feature actual defecation and startling acts of necrophilia, there does appear to be a certain level of profound introspection that you take from the film- especially if you believe the words of the director himself.

The film follows the often strange story of the ostracized Lester Ballard (Haze) beginning just as his father’s land has been auctioned away from him, following his father’s suicide. Though this begins the viewer’s dalliance with following the violent and troubled man-child, its clear that by this point, he’s been entirely shunned from the townspeople. From here, Ballard’s dialogue is minimal as he is banished to live in the woods with the sole company of his rifle- hunting animals for himself to eat and living and sleeping where he can, until he stumbles upon a running car with two dead teenagers in the back seat. Although teased beforehand, Ballard here crosses the unspeakable line where the misunderstood protagonist effectively reveals his maniacal tendencies and his criminal acts ensue.

Chased by the local town sheriff throughout the film who sniffs out Ballard’s undeniable creep-factor, the lead perpetually returns to his father’s house presumptively to prey upon the man that snatched it from under him. But underneath the hoopla of the ongoing investigation and surveillance lies a startling struggle with a man unto himself, surviving by any means as he physically and mentally tries to cope with his own loneliness. At times, his only friends appear to be his weapon, his animals (both living and stuffed) and some corpses, while most interactions with the living causes him to behaviorally explode. The resulting final scene, which can be a bit squeamish to watch for different reasons, underwhelms some given the crescendo toward which the film had built- but in the end, “Child of God” is an artistic work that deserves to be examined in its totality rather than one that’s discussed because of its difficult-to-stomach subject matter punctuated by a handful of hard-to-watch scenes. And in that light, perhaps Franco’s undeniably difficult adaptation of McCarthy’s work should be summarily lauded.

LocalBozo.com sat down with director James Franco and lead actor Scott Haze to discuss whether the pair had any trepidation in filming some of the more shocking scenes and straddling the line between staying true to Cormac McCarthy’s vision in “Child of God” the novel and depicting the harrowing scenes on film for viewers. Their answers have been transcribed below and may contain spoilers.

James Franco: We shot what was my favorite scene from the book- or the scene that you– sometimes as a director, you have a scene or a moment or something in your head that’s like the thing that just excites you about the project and for me it was that scene where he discovers the teenagers- not because I’m into necrophilia, but because it was such a beautifully sculpted scene that showed character development through behavior.  And I really loved that as a director and actor and writer. We shot that first- so the first day, Scott did that scene where he discovered the bodies and did all that stuff.  For me, when you have people around that you trust and you know on a certain level ‘this is make believe,’ you know– we’re not really harming anyone, we’re all friends together. And I’ve also learned that if you believe in something, then– if I believe in something I have no inhibitions. I’ve done art projects with Paul McCarthy where his dirty ass is like in my face, you know?  So I kind of feel like if I believe in something, then I’ll do anything.  And so, it didn’t feel hard to me at all– I was just directing. Scott may have a better answer for you- I didn’t actually do it.

Scott Haze:  I wrapped my head around it so much so where I would talk to people about the film and they’d say– even after we got done filming the movie– they’d say ‘Oh, you raped those girls.’ And I’d say ‘No, it was- it was his girlfriend.’  So I’d worked the whole situation out where a lot of the stuff people think it’s shocking, although a guy lives in a cave- in times of war, that’s where people lived. They lived in caves. It’s not like he wants to live in a cave because he wants to be bad ass. It’s more like that’s where you go for protection and safety. And maybe- I don’t know- if I was trapped in the woods for a long time and nobody was talking to me and I came across a beautiful girl who had just died…I don’t know. I’m just saying– I worked it out all in my head where nothing was like too shocking. There’s that scene obviously where he goes to the bathroom in the woods. Everyone’s like ‘Oh, you used a stick to wipe his ass,’ and I’m like ‘Well, that’s from the book.’ But it wasn’t too shocking for me. It was when I first read the novel and that’s when I said, ‘I have to go to Tennessee, because I have no idea what these guys are like.’  …The most shocking scene in the movie probably- [was] one that we didn’t shoot. That scene might have pushed it too far to where you lose the audience. I guess my perspective changed after meeting these people and getting to know people who were living in that time and the elders who had that accent and getting to experience– ‘that’s why you live in a cave. Why would you do these things?’ So I guess it changed as I got into it deeper.

“Child of God” starring Scott Haze and directed by James Franco is rated R, has a runtime of 104 minutes, and is in limited release on Friday, August 1st.

- Jane Van Arsdale

Check out Tim Sachs’ Preseason Preview here and see how the team is stacking up against his predictions.

Well. I certainly don’t mind being right but I do hate to say I told you so. I did predict that the Giants would struggle in the 2013 campaign, but in light of what’s actually happened with this team, I’d say that struggle was an understatement. For a team that hasn’t had a season under .500 since 2004, Big Blue certainly seems on their way there. Despite claims that the team is ‘one game out’ and that a certain defensive back (see Rolle, Antrel) thinks that they can ‘run the table,’ the Giants need to prove that they can win a game before they go spouting off about winning the NFC East. 2013 has proven that our biggest fears for this year’s team were in fact true, and has even uncovered problems where we previously thought they didn’t exist. And as we stand today, not only is the team in last place in the division and the conference, but they sit behind even the team with whom they share New York. Unheard of! Let’s take a look at where they’ve been and where they’re going.

Where They’ve Been

Where to begin? The 2013 campaign has been a disaster in all facets of the Giants’ game. The team ranks 30th in points per game (15.2), 23rd in yards per game (325.5) and 30th in rushing yards per game (57.8). Their quarterback is leading the league with nine interceptions and the team has given the ball away nine more times than they’ve taken it. The offensive line can’t open up holes for the run game nor protect its quarterback it seems, yielding 14 sacks in just 4 games thus far. The team’s pass rush has been nonexistent to the tune of just four total sacks and the defensive backfield ain’t much better with just four interceptions, both of which have led to a massive deficit in time of possession, where the team is averaging ten minutes less than their opponents with the ball in their hands.

The lone shining star to date has been Victor Cruz, whose shiny new $43 million contract looks like the best move the Giants could have made in the offseason. Cruz leads the team with four touchdown grabs and 425 yards receiving but alot of that is the result of the Giants being forced to pass the ball toward the end of games because they are trailing and because their running game is virtually nonexistent. The mid-week trade for Carolina linebacker Jon Beason, who just lost his starting job to former Giant- Chase Blackburn- may refresh the underwhelming linebacking corps, but is unlikely to provide the jolt necessary to get this team off the schneid.

Where They’re Going

So what can we expect from this team moving forward? Unfortunately, it’s likely to be more of the same. The last two weeks have been considered must win games for the Giants. And with their backs against the wall, with desperate times calling for desperate measures, and every other ‘need to win this week’ cliche that you can think of, what did the Giants do? They got blown out by a margin of 69-7. With the next four games bookended by their rivals in Philadelphia, a game in Chicago against a dangerous Bears team, and home for the Vikings, it’s certainly conceivable that the Giants find themselves in a 1-7 rut heading into their Week 9 bye.

Fortunately though, with the parity of mediocrity that sits in a surprisingly poor NFC East, all hope is not lost. The team will have to cut it’s turnovers and put up some points over the course of the next month, which is indisputable, especially against this schedule. But with the Cowboys atop the division at 2-2 (who face the superhuman Broncos this week) and the Eagles and Redskins hardly looking unbeatable at 1-3, somehow, the Giants are STILL in this thing. Although in all honesty, with so much having gone wrong already, it’s hard to imagine this team all of a sudden beginning to open up running lanes, protect quarterback Eli Manning, control the clock, force turnovers and sacks, stop turning the ball over, and (gulp) actually win games. The team needs to turn back the clock to fundamental football if they have any chance of salvaging the 2013 campaign. Time will tell if the impossible is possible as there has never been a team to begin the year 0-4 and win a Super Bowl. While we’ve learned not to ever count out a team coached by Tom Coughlin, odds are that this team will be choosing in the top ten in next year’s NFL Draft. The Giants need to take the remainder of the season one game at a time. And it starts at home this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

My Preseason 2013 New York Giants Prediction: 8-8

- Tim Sachs

Check out Jordan Rubenstein’s Preseason Preview here and see how the team is stacking up against his predictions.

Regardless of how Jets’ fans feel about the first four games of their team’s season, one thing is for sure: at least they’re not the Giants. Beyond that though, all excitement and enthusiasm should be subdued. Sure, the Jets have split their first four games, but without the most bonehead of bonehead plays by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David in the opener, the Jets would be sitting at 1-3 with a tough stretch on the horizon that includes road games against Atlanta and Cincinnati as well as home games against currently unbeaten New England and New Orleans.

The Defense

On the positive side, the Jets defense has held up its end of the bargain for the most part. Yielding the second-fewest yards per game in the league at a stingy 283, the David Harris-led unit has kept its team in each game with the exception of this past Sunday’s disaster in Tennessee. However, the blame here falls more on the shoulders of their rookie starting quarterback than on their defense. More on that shortly. The primary concern with the Jets’ defense is their inability to create turnovers. With an offense as pitiful and turnover-laden as the Jets have, the defense needs to not only make stops with regularity, but capitalize on short fields and generate points off of multiple turnovers. The defense almost needs to act as the ignition for the offense and put their counterparts in a better position to succeed.

Is that fair to expect? Of course not, but that’s the only chance the Jets have to keep this season on track and not find themselves in a 3-6 hole before their week 10 bye. There surely won’t be a mutiny in the Jets locker room even as the defense grows tired of carrying the offense on its collective back because there’s no way standouts like Muhammad Wilkerson and Dawan Landry did not see this coming no matter how much the team would have you believe otherwise. All the defense can do is try to keep the offense in games and hope for the best. They know that as well as anyone else.

The Offense

The prevailing issue, as expected going back to last season, is the offense. When talking about the offense, even the most casual fan knows where it all begins and ends: The quarterback. And the Jets’ quarterback is terrible. Like his predecessor Mark Sanchez, Smith started well enough, but has now started to regress. Not just regress, but look lost, confused and in over his head. Smith held the offense together in the opener against Tampa Bay, kept the Jets in the game at New England and then played well against Buffalo. But, you know, the Bills are the Bills, so let’s take it easy with the exhilaration about that performance.

Then Sunday happened. Four turnovers that led to 28 points.

Game over.

Call it a team sport if you like, but there’s an instance of one guy solely affecting the outcome of a game; just not in the way one would hope. And the defenses that are coming down the pike won’t be any easier for Smith to figure out and escape. Meanwhile, at running back, there’s only so much Bilal Powell can do even with a solid start to his season, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, putting him on pace for the first 1,000-yard season of his young career. If Smith puts his team in a hole each week, then Powell can be Barry Sanders and it won’t matter because the Jets won’t have the opportunity to run the ball.

It also doesn’t help when your best receiver is due to miss a handful of games with a hamstring injury. With Santonio Holmes out, Smith doesn’t have a true reliable receiver to lean on. Stephen Hill has been serviceable, but it’s much too soon to label him a No. 1 wideout. And he’s also likely to miss this week’s game with a concussion. Tight end Kellen Winslow isn’t exactly in the first half of his career and is more of a security blanket than anything else in 2013, after being out of football all of last year.

Looking Ahead

So how have the Jets shaped up in the first quarter of the season compared to expectations? The record is a game better, but that’s because of a gift in the opener. Everything else has pretty much been on point. The defense has held together perhaps even better than we had imagined while the offense is weak due predominantly to an inconsistent rookie quarterback who probably deserves a benching. The fact of the matter is nothing has changed. As a team, the Jets are who we thought they were and that’s not a good thing. Things will only get worse before they get better and they won’t get better in 2013. But hey, right now, it’s still better to be Gang Green than Big Blue and it’s been a long time since anyone has been able to say that. So the Jets have that going for them, which is nice.

My Preseason 2013 New York Jets Prediction: 4-12

- Jordan Rubenstein

The Flatiron District has no shortage of Spanish and tapas style eateries and yet there is still something distinctive about the dimly lit and perpetually energetic Sala One Nine. Small and shared plates override the entirety of the menu, surrounded by a cocktail program that is both diverse and inventive. But perhaps more importantly, aside from a handful of exceptions, nothing on the menu is priced higher than $18, a refreshing pricing policy in the face of always rising costs to the diner. And the traditional Spanish cuisine is delicious to boot.

Entering the space, the dark lighting is certain to be a turn-off to some. But the bar is always buzzing and the noise level inside is festive just about every night of the week. And what’s more, Sala One Nine offers $3 tapas and buy one-get one beers, wines, and sangria for weeknight happy hours even if you decide not to stay for dinner. Based on our start to finish dining experience however, dinner here is worth sticking around for. A couple of pours of red sangria compliment the vibe inside- tables in close proximity to each other inside the diminutive space- the dining area transports eaters to late night hole in the wall style restaurants authentically in Spain.

Although there are six different paellas offered here at just $19 per person (minimum of two people), you would be better served sticking to the tapas style fare. Toasts under the “Toastas” portion of the menu are outright mouthwatering- be it the “Hogaza De Lomo” (marinated pork loin, gruyere, peppers – $11), the “Magret De Pato” (grilled duck breast and shallots – $12), or the traditional “Tomate” (heirloom tomatoes and cucumber olive oil – $11)- you can really do no wrong based on whichever direction you decide upon. We went wild over the “Brie Fundido” ($11) which combined a baked brie draped over Serrano ham. The rich creamy brie basted the thick crusted sourdough bread and salted ham and was sliced into four pieces, ideal for sharing.

Meanwhile the Rations (Raciones) offers up entrees like a farm style rib-eye called a “Chuleton A La Brasa” ($32) with French fries and garlic butter and “Pinchos Morunos” ($17)- tasty lamb skewers that looked truly appetizing. We began with some outstanding “Datiles” ($8), five immaculate sweet and salty dates, stuffed with almonds and wrapped in excellent smoky bacon- a must try. Similarly delectable were the meaty “Albondigas” ($16), five unbelievably delicate and soft meatballs which were generously sized, tender, and broke apart easily into a sea of red sauce. The Spanish style balls were created with equal parts beef, veal, and pork with some pine nuts and brandy sauce thrown in for good measure. Meanwhile, grilled versus fried calamari is always a hotly debated topic at our dinner tables, put to bed by the garlic laden “Calamares a la Plancha ($16). Served without tentacles or legs in the dish, the charred squid was marinated in parsley and hot red pepper, but was lacquered a bit too much in lemon juice for our liking. Our side order of “Patatas Bravas” ($11) was another generous portion for sharing covered in a creamy white drizzle with a much welcomed kick to the not quite chipotle sauce.

Sala One Nine brings together an authentic yet modernized take on traditional Spanish cuisine and tapas, with a rustic interior decor- even if it feels like you can’t entirely see everything because of the lighting. The servers are attentive and the ambiance is suitable to either an intimate date or a group celebrating a birthday. Affordability, a fun atmosphere, and some delicious food equals a worthwhile night out in New York City and to a staple of the Flatiron District’s rich restaurant history.

Rundown of the Meal

Tostas (Toasts)

Brie Fundido ($11)

Raciones (Rations)

Datiles ($8)*

Patatas Bravas ($11)

Calamares a la Plancha ($16)

Albondigas ($16)*

*Meal Highlight

Flatiron Hall
38 West 26th Street near 6th Avenue, New York, NY
646-790-3200
Getting There: 1,M,F,PATH to 23rd Street
http://www.flatironhall.com

Make no mistake about it- 2013 in the New York bar scene is all about the openings of spacious beer halls and biergartens all over town. Following the ribbon cutting of the wildly successful Houston Hall downtown comes its sister in the sprawling space of the Flatiron District’s NoMad, creatively titled Flatiron Hall. The 7,500 square foot, bi-level space combines elements fitting of an old-world new york with a modernized take on a beer-lovers paradise. And they’ve got as interesting a menu to pair with those beers as any recent opening in Manhattan.

The old doors to Flatiron Hall open wide to a long L-shaped bar adjacent to a more upscale version of big group seating than you’re probably used to seeing, equipped with high top stools. The walls meanwhile are adorned in green paneling from top to bottom, pleasantly matching the dark brown tables and chairs, which sit atop the refurbished wooden floors. Overhead medieval like chandeliers illuminate much of the restaurant’s main floor, which feature just enough hi-definition televisions to also have Flatiron Hall double as an oversized sports bar. That said, there’s also plenty of room in the back of the space for more intimate (and probably less rowdy) dining or to catch up quietly over one of twelve exclusive draught beers to the bar. Downstairs, the space is even more ideal for bigger or private parties with a bar that looks to have been left in-tact from a New York of decades earlier.

You might not find too many ten cent wing nights or dollar draught specials at Flatiron Hall, but really, what gigantic beer haunt offers that anyway? What you will find here though is an array of food that sounds just right to be washed down with a frothy pint of suds. Appetizers like “Sashimi Tacos” ($14), “Chicken Tikka Masala Wontons” ($8.50), and “Pastrami Reuben Spring Rolls” ($10- pastrami from Carnegie Deli), the bar’s own Pat LaFrieda blend of dry aged beef in their selection of burgers ($12.95 – $16.50), and main courses that run the gamut from “Traditional Fish & Chips” ($17.50) to “Bacon & Chicken Mac N’ Cheese” ($16) are just some of the innovative menu items that raise Flatiron Hall from bar/restaurant to restaurant that also serves beer. And if these comfort food options sound a little too rich, rest assured- there are also sandwiches and salads galore for you to choose from. Long gone are the simple days where a biergarten serves up a sausage and pretzel with mustard. Well maybe not long gone, but there’s so much more than that at Flatiron Hall, and that’s just fine by us.

The Rundown

Bar Type - A super-sized bar that can host big parties or be your neighborhood sports bar. But in reality, it’s a huge beer hall.

When to Visit – The place is newly opened so when word officially gets out, expect it to be as packed as its sister Houston Hall. It may even be before you finish reading this sentence. Quieter times rest ahead on the weekend days, but after work is when you should shoot to head over.

Value – It’s a new beer hall that needs to pay rent in Manhattan. Lets be real. The value here lies in checking the place out for the first time.

The Lowdown - With new spaces opening virtually every day, Flatiron Hall combines enough elements of good, delicious and exclusive beers with a bevy of menu options that are truly indicative of the vibe that the space is trying to create. You can clunk together big liters of beer here screaming “Hopa!” or you can taste some of their food in the dining area in back. However you decide to experience Flatiron Hall, make sure that you experience it somehow.

 

It took all of five minutes for every remaining ticket to Monday night’s American Express exclusive show at Terminal 5 to be evaporated by a few thousand rabid New Yorkers. The venue’s intimate setting coupled with the meteoric rise of Denver Colorado folk phenoms The Lumineers proved to be one of the most anticipated one off shows in the City’s recent history, evidenced by swarms of hopeful concertgoers still trying to procure tickets right outside the front doors just minutes before show time. Without an opener to kick off the show, The Lumineers used every instrument in their impressive musical arsenal during a ninety minute headlining show that featured a good deal of foot stomping, crowd singing, and folksy-dancing from a mostly young, excitable New York crowd.

Although Terminal 5′s doors opened at 8pm, the line of entry was perhaps longest just before 9 as the band was set to take the stage. The mostly female skewing audience feverishly rushed the standing room only floor, putting themselves in perfect position to lift their iPhones overhead and film whatever they could of the five-piece band, who continually egged them on with a rousing array of tracks from their incredibly catchy self-titled debut album (2012). Some veteran artists have a difficult enough time filling far smaller rooms than The Lumineers, who catapulted into the mainstream with the release of their hit single “Ho Hey” and legitimately sold this space out and then some. Adorned with three massive candelabras, the stage was setup intricately as if the band was performing right in your own living room- a look and feel that fits the band’s show, which is to a degree, purposefully unpolished and natural.

As skilled as they are as musicians, The Lumineers’ stage show is equally as entertaining. Drummer Jeremiah Fraites and pianist Stelth Ulvang energetically bounce around the stage from instrument to instrument riling up the live crowd, while fedora donning frontman Wesley Keith Schultz somehow croons better in a live setting than he does on the album. The crowd also went wild each time cellist Neyla Pekarek approached the microphone, often beautifully harmonizing with Schultz throughout the performance. With just one album under their belt, the band played it in its entirety, which is not to say that the band didn’t mix it up effectively. Applause leading to the opening track “Submarines” was literally deafening as late arriving attendees shuffled toward the center floor of the three level space. “Ho Hey” made a surprisingly early appearance in the set, kicked off by the entire audience singing the first verse a cappella while the band conducted them with a sole tambourine. Peering around the room, we were hard pressed to find a single person not singing the chorus right alongside the sea of strangers next to them. Schultz harnessed his inner Bob Dylan with a tremendous cover of “Subterranean Homesick Blues” followed by an equally Dylan-esque rendition of “Dead Sea,” a virtual certainty as a future hit single.

As he played, the electric frontman alternated between wearing his funky hat and positioning it stylishly on the end of his guitar. But the evening’s most memorable moment came as Schultz jumped over the barricade with the help of security and parted the crowd down the middle, standing atop a chair at the back of the floor and performing “Eloise” while surrounded by fans in disbelief. Concluding the main set was a spirited rendition of “Stubborn Love” before the band encored with “Morning Song” and the hand clapping anthem “Big Parade,” which suitably turned the concert hall into one collective dance party.

It’s a bit surprising that folk rock music has made such a dramatic comeback in the early portion of the decade. But time and again, as music evolves it also looks to its roots and in 2013, The Lumineers are as honest and as straight forward a band there is. And with a slew of sold out shows, an album that charted at number two on the Billboard 200, and an entertaining band of skilled musicians, another wildly successful stop in New York City is but another small step in the band’s skyrocketing career- one that is somehow only just beginning to bud.

- Jane Van Arsdale

If you’ve tuned into any WWE programming over the past fourteen months, you’ve likely been awestricken by the larger than life character affectionately referred to as ‘The Funkasaurus.’ While his size is massive, Brodus Clay is known more for his ear to ear grinning, his penchant for dancing with children after a victorious bout, and for his equally oversized tag team partner ‘Sweet T,’ than he is for mauling his victims on a menacingly violent streak. But fans can see the character in a brand new light as Friday May 10th marks the latest in a slew of recent releases from WWE Studios.

“No One Lives” is an R rated semi-horror film that stars Luke Evans (“Clash of the Titans,” “Robin Hood”) in a plot-twisting, thrill ride of a suspense movie where nobody is who they seem. And cast in a supporting role as ‘the muscle’ behind a gang of rogue kidnappers, is Clay’s ‘Ethan,’ which is a character that seems to be more akin to Clay’s dynamically unique appearance. The film follows the story of a seemingly routine robbery and kidnapping of a couple headed out on a trip together. But when we find out that the kidnapped couple is in actuality ensconced in a hostage situation of their own, viewers are forced to seemingly choose between the lesser of two evils. Despite the circumstances however, we are somehow able to find characters to root for in the battle of bad guy versus bad guy, not all that dissimilar to the world that Clay is most used to.

Since his emergence in January of 2012, Brodus Clay has become a true fan favorite, and one whose catchy theme song and crazy dance moves wrestling fans tend to emulate every single night in arenas across the country. LocalBozo.com was fortunate enough to sit down with WWE Superstar Brodus Clay, just days before his acting debut is set for limited release. Listen in as we discuss how he was hand selected for the role of ‘Ethan’ in “No One Lives,” his reflections on the filming and the final cut of the movie, his trepidation in taking a role in a horror film despite his kid-friendly wrestling character, his transformation from menacing bad guy to the smiling, dancing ‘Funkasaurus,’ his feelings on being bumped from the Wrestlemania 29 lineup because of time constraints and how he and his teammates were informed, his Twitter path to redemption, and so much more.

- Jane Van Arsdale

The audio has been transcribed for your reading pleasure below.

LocalBozo.com: Brodus, thanks so much for some time today man.

Brodus Clay: I appreciate you man, thanks for having me.

LocalBozo.com: Brodus let’s talk first about No One Lives, it’s your first real acting gig- talk about the filming of the movie and how you got tapped for the role of ‘Ethan.’

BC: We’ll start with the easy part- how I got casted for it. Basically we just came off of Extreme Rules and I had gotten busted in the head with a ladder. So I had about thirteen staples in the top of my head and I was stretchered out. And a gentleman by the name of John Laurinaitis, who was in charge of talent at the time, he came down and said ‘hey, there’s a movie project’ and I was like ‘Yes.’ And he was like ‘do you want me to finish?’ I’m like ‘No, I’m in. I’ll do it.’ He’s like ‘okay, well you’ll fly out next week for casting’ or whatever and I said ‘alright cool so I get a chance to audition for a movie. Great opportunity. I didn’t know they were actually gonna dip me for the body suit in the movie- it was kind of an awesome surprise. So I realized once I was there and I was getting dipped, and they were spending all this money making another me, that I had the part, so I was excited about it. So that was probably the coolest part about it. And then just filming and being a part of a horror movie is just kind of cool. You know, you get a death scene- it’s a very simple yet complicated movie. I just love the way it’s done in terms of like- it’s done with film. It’s shot in film, it’s not digital. The special effects are actually special effects, not computer generated. So it’s like you get more of a personal feel and how clever the behind the scenes guys were to put everything together. My character Ethan was basically the muscle and the enforcer behind his older brother ‘Hoag’ who runs this gang in the back woods of – I think we were in Louisiana. And like extortion, robbery- not a very good group. And they robbed and kidnapped the wrong guy, which is Luke Evans, who ends up being a psychopath serial killer who had his own agenda going on and had his own hostage going on. It’s got a lot of twists and turns and it’s kind of an interesting story- it’s kind of like bad guy meets worser bad guy- that old classic tale. Just a very interesting movie. A lot of blood.

LocalBozo.com: Now you touched on this a little bit. The film is rated R and it’s about a gang of killers that kidnap a couple on the verge of a trip across the country. Now the character you play is sort of at odds with the kid-friendly role you portray on WWE TV. You sort of mentioned that you grabbed it just because it was available but was there any trepidation on your part to accept this role?

BC: At the time, when I took the role, I was Alberto Del Rio’s bodyguard and the character I was playing was a villain. So this was filmed almost two years ago so the ‘Funkasaurus’ hadn’t been born yet. But I do believe that in life that you can’t do everything with your parents and I think the same thing with role models and people you look up to or entertain. This is definitely an after ten o’clock movie, where most kids should be in bed. You know, it is rated R and they would d need their parents to watch something like that. But I would say a horror movie is probably not a good thing for a child to watch. But it’s okay I think to be able to be different things and play different things because this isn’t the ‘Funkasaurus’ chopping people up and doing things like that. This is a character that I’m playing called Ethan so it’s different and I think that if you have open dialogue where it’s okay to say ‘hey kids, I appreciate the support. But this is a scary movie and it’s not something that I would have you watch.’ And I think it’s okay to say that. I think if you ignore it, then there’s a problem but I think it’s okay to say that. There’s some things that you can’t do with mom and dad and there’s some things you can’t do with the ‘Funkasaurus,’ and that’s watch Ethan in a scary movie unless, you know, your parents are okay with that.

LocalBozo.com: Brodus, how pleased were you with the final cut of the film and your first foray into acting overall?

BC: My first viewing- I was on the red carpet at the TFF, the Toronto Film Festival- I was nervous. That’s not even a word- I had butterflies in my chest the size of Mothra. I was so concerned with- I’m like ‘Am I gonna sound corny? Am I gonna look stupid?’ You don’t know. I thought ‘Was all the karma gonna come back to me for every movie I’ve ever bad mouthed in the theater?’ Because I was sitting there and I was worried about the reaction of the people when I came on, you know, I was so nervous- my heart was racing. My opening scene went in and I was like ‘Okay, so far so good.’ And then eventually when my death happened- it was kind of like a crazy death and stuff- the reaction of the crowd was cool. So overall I was pleased with it- you always notice little things about yourself that you should have done better or whatever, but overall I thought I did a good job. But ultimately it’s up to what the people see and the few people that have seen it at this point have said good things and then everybody gets to see it May 10th, when it’s opening up in select theaters all over the country and hopefully I’ll hear good things back. So I did my best and hopefully my best was good enough.

LocalBozo.com: Switching gears real quick let’s talk WWE for a minute if we can, initially you were coming into the company as this menacing character and after a few short weeks, we get this smiling, dancing ‘Funkasaurus’- talk about the switch to this fan-friendly character as you made your debut more than a year ago.

BC: What had happened was, backstage I joke a lot. I’m always teasing and clowning around and laughing and in the locker room I tend to always have something to say. We’re always laughing and stuff and people would see that. And while we were working on the character, it was brought to my attention like ‘Why aren’t you doing that out there?’ And I was like ‘Well obviously, you wouldn’t let me.’ And looking at the lay of the land- Mark Henry was getting ready to come back and he was gonna be a monster. Kane was making his comeback and he was gonna be a monster. Big Show has a lot of monster tendencies. So I wanted to be different. I wanted to take a risk. I wanted to try something they hadn’t seen since Junkyard Dog, just bringing the kids back and dancing in the ring and just trying to do something a little bit different. Of course, the character evolves- the idea was to pull it back at some point, be more serious in the ring at times. But just bring the entertainment value back, bring the character back. So it was a risk and it could have been horrible but I think fans wanted something like that and families wanted something like that in terms of a character that’s fun and entertaining and makes everybody want to dance and get up. That’s part of what wrestling is all about, you know? The pageantry, the cool entrances, and pyro, and people being a part of it and wanting to be a part of it and so I was very excited to give them the opportunity. And looking at it and how things have turned out, I think it was a great decision.

LocalBozo.com: So Wrestlemania 29 just came and went- it was right in our area the New Jersey/New York City area and despite being booked on the show, your match got scrapped at the last minute and moved to Monday Night Raw the following night. How were you told that you guys were being pulled from the show and although I’m sure you were disappointed- are you making it a primary focus for you to make sure you’re on the card next year?

BC: Actually the way we were told was with the utmost class- as best you could in that situation. We were told in Gorilla [Ed. Note- called the ‘Gorilla Position’ after Gorilla Monsoon, typically situated backstage close to the entrance to the ring, where much of the backstage goings-on/production decisions are made] five minutes before we were supposed to go out. And for me personally, it was devastating. You know, we worked so hard- it was going to be a big night. But I took a different route in terms of expressing- I wanted to be positive. I thought about my fans and the kids and stuff. I can teach from this, we can learn from this. This is a great lesson in terms of life and it wasn’t an easy decision but I had put a Tweet out about like, ‘In life, sometimes you gotta get your heart broke to know what you love.’ And it got a huge response from the fans and then I said- I put another one out saying ‘365 to redemption. We will get back. We will get our opportunity. We will work harder. We’ll put ourselves in a position where they can’t possibly cut us, due to time constraints.’ And it’s just kind of grown. And now I’m actually in day- I chronologize each day until Wrestlemania. We’re at day 24 today. I start out with positive words about how we’re gonna approach the day and focus on our goals. And it’s gotten a really big response from the fans. They’re taking a part of it. I’m getting personal testimonies from people- a lot of people talking about losing weight focusing on school, and getting their job right, and being a better person. I Re-tweet each one and I save it and I take pictures of it and when I’m all done, we’re gonna print it all off and I’m gonna put it in a coffee table book and we’re gonna maybe find a charity and raise money for a charity and get it out there. No mistake about it, I was crushed but I felt when you’re in a position where people look at you for a reaction and stuff, to feel sorry for yourself or to place blame or to cry unfair, you can take something- it happens to us all the time. People get let down all the time. They’ve done everything right. It just doesn’t work out. You have to take it and use and that’s what I’m doing and some of the stories that are being shared with me, I take it away and it’s just something I’m very proud of. It’s basically every day, talking about what you’re going to do to reach your goals. Some people put really lofty goals out there. Some people put some simple ones. One of them was like ‘My goal of redemption is to get a Tweet from Brodus Clay.’ I’m like ‘You did it. Congratulations. Maybe raise the bar a little higher.’ Some of the other ones was dealing with weight loss and stuff. When I first came back to WWE I was about 489 pounds. Now I’m down to 362 and working and training hard, watching what I eat, and staying in the weight room. You know, it’s been a lot of ups and downs and stuff but focusing on that and being on the positive and giving people something to talk about makes you relatable. So it’s really taken on, and it’s not scripted- it’s not something me and the writers came about. I’m doing this regardless of whatever the outcome is. Some people are like ‘it’s too early’ but I don’t think it’s ever early to build on something. And some of the people I’m getting to know through this has really been an eye opening experience for me. So definitely taking a negative and turning it into a positive.

LocalBozo.com: You know Brodus, you talk about turning a negative into a positive- and although you didn’t get to work at Wrestlemania 29, you did get to work the following night at Monday Night Raw from the Izod Center. It was a legendary episode of Monday Night Raw, basically because of the crowd in attendance- just a wild, raucous party. Talk about what that was like for you as a small consolation to be able to work the following night on Raw.

BC: You know, that crowd is a monster crowd. And two things happened that night. When we went out there- my character dances so whatever they chanted, I danced to it. And it turned the tide. By the time that was over, they were with us at the end, dancing with us and clapping. And I thought ‘These guys are gonna eat us for lunch.’ It was like one of those things where- there were moments where they were being their evil selves but then at the end of the day, they just want to be entertained and they just want to feel a part of it. The best thing about my character is there’s nothing wrong with turning to somebody in the crowd going ‘What’s up?’ you know, or like ‘Hey man, for real? That’s what’s going on?’ And talking to the crowd and making them feel a part of it, because the big thing with my partner ‘Sweet T’- is we’ve got a few names- and they like to chant his old names or whatever, and when I yelled out ‘It’s Sweet T, come on help me out.’ So it was a tough crowd but it was a crowd that just wanted to play and I think if you play with crowds like that, you can have a lot of fun with them. If you take it personal- like waves and everything else, it’s great. That’s part of it, that’s part of the WWE, that’s part of the fans being involved- it’s just as important as the kids dancing in the ring with me at the end. Fans have a voice and I think we should encourage it. I hope we get more crowds like that, I think it’s great.

LocalBozo.com: Brodus, you’ve been so gracious with your time today. We’re really excited for you, for the film “No One Lives.” Is there anything else you’d like to leave for the readers of LocalBozo.com?

BC: Oh man, just thank you so much for checking it out. You can always reach me at @Brodusclay on Twitter. And you hit me up, I’ll follow you back and you know, maybe be part of 365 to Redemption- that’d be cool. Any way I can help out.

LocalBozo.com: WWE Universe, Brodus Clay makes his big screen debut in the suspense film “No One Lives” out on May 10th. You can also catch Brodus and all the WWE Superstars on pay per view for Extreme Rules on Sunday May 19th and locally here in Long Island at the Nassau Coliseum on Tuesday June 4th for a Smackdown! Taping and tickets are available now. We’ve been speaking with WWE Superstar, the ‘Funkasaurus’ himself Brodus Clay- all the best of luck on “No One Lives” and in 2013.

BC: Thank you very much man. Appreciate you.

 

     

It seemed only fitting that on the hottest day of the calendar year thus far, a collection of hard rock’s most vociferous fans would pack their way into the Best Buy Theater on Tuesday night celebrating the arrival of Danish metal band Volbeat. As temperatures inside swelled amongst the sold out crowd, few seemed to mind during the ninety minute non-stop release of energy brought out by the band’s highly entertaining set. And on the very day they would release their fifth album, “Outlaw Gentlemen & Shaky Ladies,” the show would rival any record release party in recent memory, punctuated by a rabid New York City audience.

Despite the band’s thrashing guitar riffs and highly energetic live performance, Volbeat is more conceptually a metal outfit than in reality. The band’s early influences like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley bleed from every show delivered by a four piece that seems more focused on melodic verses than on pounding their skulls. But that’s not to say the band has all but ignored its heavier rock brethren either and it’s this musical hybrid that makes Volbeat so virtually unique. Their similarity to bands like Metallica can hardly be ignored- from sound to stage presence. Behind each drumstick smash and tasty lick lies the band’s identity, trademarked by frontman Michael Poulsen’s signature vocals- deep and bellowing and truly distinctive for any genre.

        

With new lead guitarist Rob Caggiano (former Anthrax) now fully ingratiated, the band’s lineup proved to be complete and tight as ever on Tuesday night, quickly pushing through song after song effortlessly. More importantly however, the band genuinely seemed to be having fun up there, which they certainly shared in common with the swarms of people inching closer to the stage below them. “Hallelujah Goat” kicked the show off with a fury following a lengthy musical interlude that brought the band out to center stage. Following a particularly rousing version of the band’s hit “Heaven nor Hell” which the crowd literally exploded for, a Johnny Cash tease into “Dead Man’s Tongue” delivered an acoustically driven live track with a distinctive metal twang that ranked amongst the show’s finer moments.

   

For much of the show, the back of the floor area was a full on moshpit with almost the entirety of the standing room only space going absolutely bonkers. Crowd surfers mashed into the backs of people’s heads below them as security guards in the photo pit struggled to bring them to safety. In perhaps the strangest turn of the night, Poulsen encouraged the ladies in the crowd to jump atop men’s shoulders during an fast-paced rendition of “16 Dollars,” which saw overweight shirtless fans pounding into each other beneath the shadows of women gyrating and flashing metal horns slightly overhead. After more metallic teases of Slayer and Judas Priest, and a cover version of The Misfits’ “Angelfuck,” the band truly buckled down with “A Warrior’s Call” being the antagonistic rallying call for the fans and set closer “Still Counting,” which was the band’s most fluid performance of the entire evening. By the time the infectious encore of “The Mirror and the Ripper” and the unbelievable “Fallen” were dialed up, the fans had reached a frenzy. And the fun cover of Young the Giant’s “My Body” only sent us over the top before concluding the relentless set, sending us back out into the warm New York evening, which still wasn’t as hot as Volbeat was on this night.

   – Jane Van Arsdale

          

Mike Greenberg is no stranger to putting his thoughts to paper. Despite a wildly successful career with ESPN as a Sportscenter anchor and co-host of the “Mike and Mike in the Morning” radio show, Greeny as he’s affectionately known cut his chops as a Chicago sports journalist during the early portion of his budding career. With his semi-autobiographical ode to sports fans already penned in 2007′s “My Wife Thinks I’m An Idiot,” Greenberg has, for the first time in his career, turned to fiction with the release of the sometimes funny but mostly heartfelt, “All You Could Ask For.” (Harper Collins)

The story follows the lives of three women, each of differing ages and backgrounds, who despite being relative unknowns to each other, are about to be brought together in a way that none of them would have ever imagined. A sportswriter/talk show host, writing a fictional story about three women? It sounds far-fetched certainly, but Greenberg’s writing style reads authentically even though it hardly sounds like the talking head we are so used to hearing. Although sports fans might have some apprehension about being tasked with getting through such a premise, the story is an easy read- each character picks up seemingly where the other left off to keep the story moving fluidly- and with each page turn you begin to piece together where the author’s focus is headed.

While the early portion of the story is relatively light-hearted, the book’s central focus was inspired by Greenberg’s own family friend Heidi Armitage, who unfairly and rapidly lost her life shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Her story was of such inspiration to Greenberg that all proceeds that he is slated to earn from “All You Could Ask For” are being redirected to The V Fund, a non-profit organization that focuses on cancer research, started in memory of former NC State basketball coach Jim Valvano, one of the most influential figures in sports history. At the very least, each copy purchased of “All You Could Ask For” is going to a good cause, should for some reason you not enjoy the book. But you almost certainly will. The fleshed out characters, the dynamic between them, and Greenberg’s ability to hone into the female psyche make the book a truly fascinating read cover to cover for men and women alike.

With the book tour now underway, LocalBozo.com was fortunate enough to sit down with ESPN’s Mike Greenberg for an exclusive interview. Listen in as we discuss how “All You Could Ask For” came to fruition, it’s potential to be developed into a screenplay, channeling the female voice so accurately, and whether he had any trepidation about including anything too risque in his story. And don’t think we don’t touch on the New York sports scene either as we put Greeny on the spot about the Knicks, the Jets, and what to do about the Darrelle Revis contract stalemate. As usual, Greeny was interesting, funny, insightful, and spot on- and we’d expect nothing less from sports’ most exciting morning man, and potentially its most accomplished author.

“All You Could Ask For,” the first fiction work from ESPN’s Mike Greenberg is released today, April 2nd by Harper Collins Publishing.

- Jane Van Arsdale

Formed as a side project in the early 1990′s, Down is comprised of several key components from different previously successful metal outfits. But what’s perhaps most intriguing about this band is their unwavering commitment to each other, despite more lucrative ventures externally. But their unique identities aside, each musician’s talents compliments the sum of the band’s parts- the bluesy southern inspired guitar riff duelings of Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity) and Kirk Windstein (Crowbar), the unabashed stick crushing drum beats of Jimmy Bower (Eyehategod), and the unmistakable vocals of frontman Phil Anselmo who alternates between having a blast onstage and pacing back and forth in aggresive fashion. Although the band members may be better known by the music they’ve created elsewhere, collectively Down is as good as it gets. The band’s ninety minute set on Friday night at the Best Buy Theater was a testament to that.

The band emerged with their first full length album in the fall of 1995 with the now classic Nola record, an inspired set of tracks that brings to light each musician’s sublime talents. With at least two relatively brief hiatuses and just two full length releases since then which have- to a degree, been met by underwhelming critical responses, Down is set to release a series of six song EPs over the next few years; the first of which, “Down IV Part I- The Purple EP” was released in September. The band members nonchalantly strutted out toward the stage to a massive ovation from the crowd of Manhattan Metalheads, grabbing their gear before taking their slotted spot on stage.

Anselmo asserted himself from the start with his trademark deep voice commanding a sea of excitable New York City fans. The extended intro and haunting guitar licks of “Eyes of the South” quickly amplified the already energetic crowd, before the band’s latest single- the slower, but pulverizing “Witchtripper” managed to make our necks ache from headbanging by just the band’s second song. In the frontman’s shadow, Keenan’s fast moving hands danced along his frets with surgical precision. The relatively reclusive guitarist is blasé as they come on stage, managing to make even the most manually intensive guitar riff look easy with his carefree demeanor.

The setlist ran the gamut of songs from each of the band’s albums, and understanding the necessity to satiate the hungry fans gathered around the stage and in the active moshpit, Down performed every number that you’d hope for. With three new tracks, highlighted by the bouncier “Misfortune Teller” closing the main set, Down paced the set with songs like “Lysergik Funeral Procession,” and plodding, pounding versions of “Ghosts Along the Mississippi” and “New Orleans is a Dying Whore,” all from 2005’s “Down II.” But hearing the incredible live versions of cuts from the band’s debut album was the highlight for these ears. Criminally underrated tracks like “Lifer,” “Losing All,” and “Temptation’s Wings” were downright awesome, topped only by the band’s encore of the legendary “Stone the Crow” and show closer “Bury Me in Smoke,” a sludge metal anthem that best encapsulates Down’s trademark mixture of passionate screams, inspired lyrics, and distinctive guitar work.

Last month, Phil Anselmo was joined by other rock musicians at the Gramercy Theatre for an evening dubbed ‘Metal Masters,’ and although his performance on that evening was remarkable, there’s something even more special in watching him perform in a place where he truly feels at home. And whether that’s in New York City or down in New Orleans, as long as he’s got the rest of his Down bandmates standing at his side, wherever he takes the stage geographically, this band is clearly where his heart is.

Down- Live at the Best Buy Theater, New York, NY
September 28th, 2012
Setlist

1. Eyes of the South
2. Witchtripper
3. Open Coffins
4. Lysergik Funeral Procession
5. Lifer
6. Pillars of Eternity
7. Losing All
8. Ghosts Along the Mississippi
9. New Orleans is a Dying Whore
10. Temptation’s Wings
11. Misfortune Teller
12. Stone the Crow
13. Bury Me in Smoke

- Jane Van Arsdale