rukus july 2011

www.samys.com | 800.321.4726

A sleek, lightweight, street-smart satchel that hugs your body, moves

with you, and doesn’t cramp your style. Carries a DSLR, 3-4 lenses,

laptop and accessories. Removable photo insert lets you convert it quickly

from a camera bag to a book bag, school bag, briefcase or general-purpose

carryall. Available in small and large sizes to hold laptops up to 15 and 17

inches. Pack what you need. Shoot what you want. Tenba Messenger.

Shoot. The Messenger.

S e e i t f o r y o u r s e l f a t Te n b aT V . c o m

Available at:

www.RUKUSmag.com 3July 2011 • RUKUS

This PagePhoto by Andrew GatesMake-up & Hair by Lyndsay Gabrielle

On The CoverPhoto by Andrew GatesMake-up & Hair byLyndsay Gabrielle

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Andrew GatesArt Director

Trish GatesSenior Editor

Mary StaffordAssistant Editor

Larry Herman All Access Contributors

Katie J. Norris, Silas Valentino & Jeremy WeedenLive & Loud Contributors

Nicolas Bates, Michelle Oberg & Lindsay MurphyPit Pass Contributor

Nicolas Bates Game On Contributors

Mike Lowther, Albert Marrero, Jr. & Heather SpearsContributing Photographers

Andrew Gates & Nicolas BatesContributing Videographers

Nate OlsonContributing Make-up Artists

Lyndsay Gabrielle & Kristee LiuContributing Hair Stylists

Lyndsay Gabrielle & Kristee LiuAdvertising

Andrew Gates [email protected]

Mailing Address

RUKUS MAGAZINE3940 Laurel Cyn Blvd., STE 973

Studio City, CA 91604

Copyright © 2011 RUKUS Magazine & RUKUSmag.com. All Rights Reserved! July 2011 issue, Volume 3, Number 7.ISSN 2161-4369 (print) ISSN 2161-4377(online) Visit RUKUSmag.com for more images and content.

6 RUKUS • July 2011 www.RUKUSmag.com

J essica Burciaga was born and raised in southern California. Jessica first got into modeling six years ago when she sent her pictures into a national magazine, since then

she has graced more than 15 magazine covers. Jessica is also Playboy’s Miss February 2009. She was discovered by Hugh Hefner’s ex girlfriend Holly Madison on Myspace, how

crazy is that! She’s also done some fashion modeling with Young and Reckless clothing and is the spokes model for Chynna Dolls Swimwear. Jessica, most recently, snagged the lead role in the new Jamie Foxx and Drake music video “Fall for Your Type”. Jessica is currently working towards her goals which are: to have a successful dress line, she intends to have that up and running this year, as well as completing her studies for her real estate license and of course keep conquering the modeling world.

Photography by Andrew GatesMake-up & hair by Lyndsay Gabrielle

BurciagaJessica

20 QUESTIONS1.What’s your Ethnicity?My mom is French and Irish and my dad is Spanish and Mexican, you put them together and you get me. [smile]

2.What’s your zodiac sign?I’m an Aries to the fullest. Fire, Fire, Passion, Passion. [laugh]

3.Where are you from originally?I’m originally from Los Angeles but raised between Los Angeles and Orange County.

4.What did you like most about growing up in Los Angeles?What I loved most about growing up in Los Angeles is being so close to the beaches; I’m a total beach bum. The weather is always pretty much perfect, [and] all my family lives here and of course getting to go to Disneyland anytime I wanted.

5.What kind of mischief did you get into while growing up?I remember getting into the most mischief when me and my brother would go over to my cousin’s house as kids. We use to sneak out with my uncles BB guns and go shoot out the lights in the car dealerships! [laugh] It was so scary because once I shot the gun I would get scared and run back to the house! I was maybe 12 yrs old at the time. [laugh]

6.What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?The craziest thing I’ve done is scuba dive a few hundred feet below in Hawaii. That was a big deal for me and it took me a few tries because I get very claustrophobic. I was determined to do it. I finally did it and it was beautiful.

7.What’s your favorite hobby and why?My favorite hobbies are karaoke, riding my bike to the beach, laying out with my girlfriends and most recently, learning how to make sexy dresses on my new sewing machine. It’s really fun and addicting!

8.What’s your guilty pleasure?“Oh, gosh, I have a few. Up until awhile ago my guilty pleasure was playing Super Mario Brothers on my original Nintendo but it broke. I also watch way too many reality shows. And, of course, cookies and cream ice cream.

9.Who do you admire?I definitely admire my mom and step-dad the most. They are the strongest, most loving people I know and they would do anything for me.

10.What’s one of your personal goals?I have a few: I want to finish real estate school and pass my test. I’m having so much fun designing my dresses right now so I hope to just keep pefecting that and hopefully start my own clothing line and website soon.

11.What do guys compliment you on the most?I think natural boobs are hard to come by these days so I notice men and women compliment me a lot on mine and guys seem to love my feet. [smile] I seem to make foot fetishists out of the guys that never liked feet before.

12.What’s your favorite body part on yourself?I like my small feet and my small hands.

13.What’s your least favorite body part on yourself?Sometimes my legs because I’m so short. I wish I had long legs.

14.What do you look for in a guy?I love a guy that knows what he wants and goes after it; I don’t like shy guys. I’m very passionate and outgoing so I kinda need somebody the same way and keeps me on my toes. My guy has to be sweet, attentive, talkative, honest, spontaneous, affectionate, but I do kinda like him to have a little attitude.

15.What’s the first thing you notice about a guy?Definitely his smile, eyes, arms and how he carries himself. I love a man that has a confident walk, and attracts attention when he walks into a room.

16.What’s your ideal first date?Some place nice with good food and good music. It’s nice if you have mutual friends there as well to make it fun and break the ice. Not a movie—that’s a horrible first date—especially if you’re trying to get to know someone.

17.What turns you on?A man that takes control and tell me what he wants—like i said, I don’t like shy guys. But most of all, kissing turns me on and how he holds me. Most of all, a man that’s passionate about what he does. That turns me on.

18.What turns you off?Someone who always lies or portrays something they’re not.

19.What’s your biggest pet peeve?Arrogant people and bad drivers.

20.Who’s your celebrity pass?I don’t have one right now, but if I had to choose maybe Mila Kunis! RM


Rolls-Royce has been an automobile manufacturer for just under 112 years. However, it was not nearly that long before they were viewed as a creator of “fine” automobiles. It is true though, that only the richest people in the world can afford to buy, drive and maintain a Rolls-Royce. Yet, that hasn’t stopped the company from gaining a worldwide reputation amongst the “lesser-than-rich” general population as being one of the most coveted cars on the planet. Their Phantom—first produced in 1925—has continued production until present and still embodies much of what was part of the initial design.

The Phantom Drophead Coupe shares much of its styling from the Rolls-Royce 100EX; unveiled in 2004 as a concept car. Like the 100EX, the Phantom Drophead is strongly influenced by the style of the 1930s J Class racing yachts and devotes every inch of itself to smooth, flowing lines. The first thing one may notice about this car is its sheer size and girth. It is only 2 inches shorter than a full-size Chevrolet Suburban and actually weighs more. It is also extremely wide at 78 inches. Once your eyes stray away from what seems to be an endless hood, your eyes may focus upon the headlights, which, for all intents and purposes, are phenomenal—yet, they look as if they belong in the Pixar film Cars.

The interior of the Phantom Drophead strives to do what Rolls-Royce strives

Rich in SubtletyWritten by Nicolas Bates


to do with all their automobiles: provide the best quality materials that are available. The interior comes with a wide range of options for its veneer, including 6 different colors/wood combinations as well as an optional teak deck. To make up the interior there is 10m2 of wood in 37 different parts, each made up of 29 layers of wood, foil and aluminum for strength and safety. For structural support within the interior, A-triangular A-pillars with quarter glass, as well as spring-loaded pop-up rollover hoops behind the rear seats, provide additional strength and protection for the convertible body. Features include: adjustable air suspension, power-closing doors, bi-xenon headlights, a two-piece “picnic” trunk lid, a five-layer convertible soft top, parking sensors, front and rear heated seats, power front seats, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, memory functions and multizone climate control. Electronic features includes Rolls-Royce emergency telematics, keyless ignition/entry, voice commands, Bluetooth, a navigation system and a 15-speaker Lexicon surround-sound stereo with an in-dash single-CD player, in-glovebox 6-disk CD changer.

Wet, the Phantom Dropdead weighs over 6,000 pounds; however, is still able to get up to speed quickly with its 6.7-liter 48-valve V-12. The massive 12-cylinder has an output of 453 HP and 531 lb. ft of torque. With that kind of torque, it is no wonder how the Phantom Drophead is able to reach 60 MPH from a dead stop in 5.6 seconds. The Phantom Drophead has a governed top speed of 150 MPH and is equipped with a 6-speed transmission by German company ZF, which has a final drive ratio of 3.46. Standard are 21-inch wheels (choice of three identical versions) and Goodyear run-flat tires. Mileage numbers are about what could

be expected: 11 in the city and 18 on the highway. The car may be a giant, but it has the power to move it along like it weighs 3,000 lb. less.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is definitely in a league of its own. It has

a history almost as old as Rolls-Royce itself, and it continues to be improved upon. And it is true that when you buy a Rolls-Royce, you are paying for the best materials money can buy, not to mention characteristics you will find in no other automobile in the world. RM



“”

...kissing turns me on and how he holds me.

13July 2011 • RUKUSwww.RUKUSmag.com

STATS: Birthday: Height: Weight: Measurements:

See more of Jessica at twitter.com/JessicaBurciaga

April 11

5’ 2”

110 lbs.

34C-25-35

While Eminem’s latest solo album Recovery signaled his return to many critics and gained him new followers, diehard fans since the Slim Shady LP and Marshall Mathers LP were a little puzzled by some of his song choices and not so quick to declare Marshall’s return triumphant. Although Eminem went from making fun of pop stars to making songs with them, many fanatics accepted this change as part of the maturing process that all artists go through as they age and their experiences alter their outlook on life. However, Eminem appeared to have lost his humor along with his edge—that “it” factor in his rhymes that made him one of the all-time greats, whether his lyrics were about killing an ex-girlfriend or making fun of Christina Aguilera.

Perhaps some of these criticisms got back to Eminem, or maybe he already had such thoughts on the back burner, but his reunion with Royce Da 5’9” to revive their group Bad Meets Evil aims to dispel any notion that with his maturation as an artist, Mr. Mathers may have lost a step or two. Royce Da 5’9” may not have had the same level of success as Slim Shady, but it is obvious on the duo’s sophomore effort, Hell: The Sequel, that he brings something special out of Eminem when they rap together. Royce is one of the few rappers capable of matching Eminem not only in intensity and flow, but also lyrically. Royce is just as lyrically gifted and deranged at times as Eminem, which explains the Bad Meets Evil moniker for the group.

The two MC’s waste no time getting into the swing of things as the album starts off with track “Welcome 2 Hell,” produced by Havoc of Mobb Deep fame. This song features Eminem and Royce handing the mic off to each other as both rip it to shreds with a ferocity not often found in hip-hop today. Eminem starts it off, and the venom in his voice and his razor-sharp flow let listeners know up front that this is no Recovery. When his partner-in-rhyme picks up the microphone, any Eminem fan unfamiliar with Royce will soon find him unforgettable. Royce effortlessly spits hot lyrics like, “It’s gotta be no fair, it’s like hitting the lottery, oh yeah/who you know hotta, there gotta be no pair/shotty that I got ol’ lobotomy your hair/classic smash it, smother it, read it and weep then perhaps you will have no rebuttal/ in fact you seein’ me in this rappin’ is like sayin Tila Tequila can sing like Jazmine Sullivan.”

The dynamic duo keep up the pace from there with the familiar tales of crazy women, drug abuse, violence and other crazy topics from the deranged minds of Bad Meets Evil. Eminem even seems to assure his fans that Slim Shady will live on forever with the lyrics, “Shit, the day that I don’t straight shoot, I’ll drop out of my anti-women hate group/say I’m a sissy faggot, record it play it back and put it on straight loop/you haters look like you ate a grapefruit/to see me climbin’ back on that wagon, got my swagga back, I was draggin’/hopped back on it, grab the reins on that bastard/and came back on ’em without remorse man, man of course/ I’m a one trick pony, cause I’ll be screamin’ on these whores till I’m hoarse.”

The album has only one misstep, which is the Bruno Mars-featured “Lighters.” While not a bad song in and of itself, this is another one of the positive, pop-type songs from Recovery, and it seems a little out of place on an album full of misogyny and violence. That aside, this album is a must-have for any fan of Bad Meets Evil or Eminem who is looking for the rapper to return to the more humorous-hardcore style that made him a legend.


Written by Jeremy Weeden

A Genius Reunion

Most gossip about Lady Gaga’s new, highly anticipated album, Born This Way, claims that, although the record is good, it is busy, too pretentious, and the fad is fading. They must have made the mistake of comparing her to other artists. Not to deny the potentially pretentious part, but it seems to be more of a harmless over-confidence than an out of control ego.

First of all, the new album is jam-packed with diversity on every level. Gaga knows how to pair her intense fashion ideas with a collection of electric pop tunes, using as many genres possible that she can fit into an hour of material. If she’s trying to make a statement with this style, it seems that mission is to do what you love and don’t give in to conformity if you know it’s right. Believe it or not, Gaga first started out as Stephanie, the struggling artist playing 11 p.m. time slots on rainy Wednesday evenings in N.Y.C for crowds of six. She has pulled through the failures every musician endures, one time opening one of her shows by announcing in a sultry, laid-back voice: “My band was bad, so I locked them in a box.” She proceeded to push play on her little laptop resting on the piano at that tiny venue and performed, of course, as if she were playing a stadium. She will carry the same fiery passion way beyond this point in her career and continue to transcend, whether anyone likes it or not.

The self-declared hype of this collection of tunes feels like it must have been created because of the subject matter. Gaga didn’t expect the world to just say, “Okay, yeah, sure, why not” to lyrics like, “I’m still in love with Judas...,” “Jesus is the new black…,” and the outspoken inclusion of every type of member in the LGBT movement. Maybe everyone already expected her to be wild and test the limits of our culture, so her statements are just part of the fashion and the show. Or maybe society as a whole is becoming more tolerant, and she is truly an influence. In any case, she seems completely genuine about being herself in every way and inspiring all to do the same.

“Marry the Night” opens this album. It’s a nice, easy ballad intro that drops listeners off a cliff into an electro-pop nightclub. The title track, “Born This Way,” is a genius hit. The classic message of “be yourself” is reinvented with a killer hook and has become the theme song for club-goers, rebels of all types and pride parades of 2011. Not to mention the music video for this track, where we see Mother Monster giving birth to an entire alien-humanoid race, that again, grabs attention from everyone. Along the lines of the thematic “free yourself” message throughout, Gaga adds “Hair,” a pop track that conjures images of hot pink, purple, and a hypothetical remake of the ‘60s musical and “Bad Kids,” a list of rebellious ways with a catchy chorus intertwined with synthesizers saved from the ‘90s.

There are some interesting turns in this album. Most notable are “Judas” and “Bloody Mary,” perfect contextual contradictions of each other that both stir things up lyrically and get the party started sonically. Bubble gum blends with hard rock in “Heavy Metal Lover” and “Electric Chapel.” Or maybe it’s just the five studios worth of production jammed under the raw rock ‘n’ roll lyrics. Gaga sang in French in “Bad Romance,” so of course, now she’s on to German in “Scheiße” and Spanish in “Americano.” The anything-goes girl even includes a saxophone solo by Clarence Clemons—recently deceased member of the E Street Band—in the middle of pounding electro-rock track “The Edge of Glory.” The outright danceable song is about living the very last moments on Earth. There are a few selections that could have been skipped on this album and subsequently made it less than an hour. But no song is bad, including the six Gaga-released remixes of her originals. “You and I” is absolutely the high point of this album. It’s the sweetheart winnin’, story-tellin’, future karaoke singin’, heart-filled song that brings one back to that little venue in N.Y.C. listening to a passionate little lady play her soul out unabashedly for six people and the whole world that would finally get to hear her.

Photo by Mariano VivancoWritten by Katie J. Norris

A Different Breed



The Off Key Hat, Dangerous MachineItalo disco group, The Off Key Hat, describe their music as “dirty disco music for frisky minds.” This description can be heard and verified all throughout their latest album, Dangerous Machine. The album begins with highlight track, “Burnt Out Beach.” This simple, slowly-played disco jam demonstrates the group’s strengths with soft, synth-bass lines and their singer Michelle Manetti. The rest of the album doesn’t stray too far from this technique and most songs flow into each other one electric-drum beat at a time. For fans of The XX or European dark electronic, The Off Key Hat will serve as the perfect companion to a late night drive or an underground club.

For The Fallen Dreams, Back BurnerMelodic hardcore band For The Fallen Dreams combine the heavy screaming of metalcore with a strong emphasis on vocal melody. This juxtaposition of genres blast through your speakers on For The Fallen Dreams third album, Back Burner. The album switches back and forth from hardcore screaming to easy-going harmonies. Former A Day to Remember guitarist Tom Denney helped out with production and mixing duties, and respect to his former band can be heard, especially in the harmony section. Back Burner stays pretty consistent with its melodic hardcore style of music but strays a little with “Bottom Feeders.” This song is the only track that excludes the screaming and features a backing harmony throughout. Fans of Bury Your Dead and Evergreen Terrace will pick up the fallen nightmares in For The Fallen Dreams’, Back Burner.

Locksley, LocksleyLocksley, a pop-rock band from Wisconsin—composed of childhood friends Jesse Laz, Jordan Laz, Sam Bair, and Kai Kennedy—is here to provide a lighthearted, fun soundtrack for the summer in the form of their self-titled album, Locksley. Locksley has a pop sound but their instrumentation does not sound processed, as with some pop-rock of the present. Described by some as British-style rock, one can easily hear the individual instruments and it is obvious that, despite their boy band looks, this is a real rock band. Locksley has a familiar but unique sound, taking elements from different genres of rock and combining it with pop and soul to create music that is universally appealing. The first single, off the album The Whip, encompasses what this band is all about: a fun, catchy song complete with clean guitar riffs and hard-hitting drums and simple, easy to remember lyrics. The chorus is call-and-response, making it easy for anyone to get in to and sing along with. The majority of the songs deal with the fairer sex and none of the subject matter is too serious. Locksley shows just how good pop-rock can be with this feel-good album.

Myspace.com/ForTheFallenDreams

Myspace.com/Locksley

Myspace.com/OffKeyHatWritten by Silas Valentino & Jeremy Weeden

Edited by Nicolas Bates

A decade long hiatus usually renders a band forgotten amongst the masses and in need of a different formation, style and image to be resurrected and embraced by the ever-evolving music community. Burlap to Cashmere makes their comeback with a major label backing their efforts after many moons of separation and triumph over tragedy. A new album, outlook and emotional backing thrust them back up onto the musical cogs with little change, prompting an immediate self-titled album (due July 19th) followed by a tour.

These award-winning folk rockers retooled with original members Steven Delopoulos (vocals/guitar), John Philippidis (guitar/vocals), and Theodore Pagano (drums), while adding two new faces to their introductory line-up: Chris Anderson (bass/cello) and Todd Caldwell (organ).

They may have paved the way for bands like Mumford and Sons and Fleet Foxes since their birth in the common year of 1994, but remain the pioneers of the alternative/folk Mediterranean-infused stylings. This time around they have stripped down their sound providing an effervescent live set infused with both melodic and awe-inspiring tunes. Not to mention impressive guitar solos from Philippidis.

A large crowd filled the Hotel Café in Hollywood for Burlap to Cashmere’s pre-album release 12-song set on June 27th. The artists mingled with fans, family, friends and record label execs prior to their performance in the dimly lit locale. Upon taking to the stage they immediately commenced their revue with “Love Reclaims the Atmosphere.” Philippidis wore his now signature shades and strummed gently along to Delopoulos’s poetically-introverted hymn-sounding lyrics, reminiscent of James Taylor’s “Fire & Rain” with added harmonies.

The precedent had been set for greatness and greatness was achieved. “Anybody Out There” had an incomparable guitar solo to any other song and showcases their talents as their heaviest tune from the set. Anderson interchanged between his cello and bass throughout the night, offering show-goers a taste of instrumental distinction of classical and rock tones, while Pagano opted for padded sticks and apple boxes to mix it up. Caldwell’s organ added depth and richer sounds to amplify the rest of the band’s instrumentals. Delopoulos’s vocals softly swept us off our feet and rocked us into a daydream in a far away land.

Watching Philippidis play his acoustic like an electric—his past and life changing hurdles all seemed to be dust in the wind—we were blessed with experiencing his emotional slides, high-neck solo-like work...the whole shebang. A favorite for the evening for its instrumentals, harmonies and fast rhythmic notes was “Tonight” and “Other Country.”

An hour and a half really flew by with this bunch as they captivated the room. It is uncommon for a young band to divulge a young community with sounds from an era long ago, but they irrefutably overcame boundaries and generational gaps, and were able to fuse them all together. Their live performance is record worthy, which is what brings old fans back for their reunion and introduces new fans to a world they may have never known. Travel to a new age with Burlap to Cashmere, where time moves slowly in style and evolves rapidly with worldly inspiration. They are a band you do not want to miss.

Photos by Nicolas BatesWritten by Michelle Oberg


Burlap to Cashmere

After years without releasing new material or tour dates lined up, former Def Jux hip-hop emcee Aesop Rock has hit the road with singer/songwriter Kimya Dawson and new collaborative partners Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz (project: Hail Mary Mallon) for an eclectic tour sure to give hip-hop heads something to talk about.

After opening with “Delicate Cycle” with Kimya Dawson, Aesop and Rob Sonic hit the historic Troubador stage hard, and from the first verse on, the sold-out crowd responded in a maniacal manner. Right off the bat, Aesop was his normal, animated self, sometimes making faces it seems only Aesop is capable of. Live, and without exception on this night, Aesop has such a personable demeanor whilst still laying way for a lyrical beatdown. And when coupled with his lower-range voice and quick rhymes, Aesop seems unstoppable.

Rob Sonic and Aesop switch off between verses with speed and precision, and it quickly becomes all too clear how and why Hail Mary Mallon came to be. At mid-set, Dj Big Wiz steals the spotlight when Aesop announces, “This is how you make a beat from scratch.” With impeccable timing and the slightest of touch, Dj Big Wiz pieces together what is to become almost a 3-minute long impromptu beat. Shortly after, and in between songs, Aesop let’s the crowd quiet while they wait for his obviously imminent communication. Aesop opens with, “Good to be back in L.A.; back in your arms,” and he’s met with cheers and roars from a crowd who has waited 3 years to see him live.

Hail Mary Mallon tracks made it in to the set list with ease and were extremely well received by an already pumped-up crowd. Tracks included: “Escape to the Poconos,” “Garfield” and Breakdance Beach.” Aesop, of course, couldn’t get off without playing crowd favorites “Coffee,” “None Shall Pass” and a special version of “Daylight,” which closely followed “Nightlife.” Kimya Dawson made appearances throughout the evening with tracks like “Walk like Thunder” and “Big Bang.” It seemed, however, that the highlight of the evening was the song “Bats!” with Kimya Dawson. Aesop prefaced the song by saying one of the people the song was written about was the late—and quite brilliant—emcee Eyedea, to which to crowd gave a healthy cheer.

After a long and diverse set, the night finally came to a close; or so the crowd thought. The crew, minus Kimya Dawson, returned for an encore with “Pigs.” In regards to the standing ovation they had just received, Rob Sonic confirmed, “That was the best thing I’ve ever experienced!”

Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, Dj Big Wiz and Kimya Dawson all put on a gorgeous show, and all had their own place in the performance in which to shine. Although it has been a good 3 years since Aesop’s last L.A. show, I am sure there wasn’t a hip-hop head at the Troubador that night that wouldn’t wait another 3 for a show of this magnitude.


Aesop RockPhotos by Nicolas BatesWritten by Nicolas Bates

Manchester Orchestra brought their usual mix of authenticity and excellent musicianship to a sold-out crowd at the Music Box in Hollywood early June. The Atlanta-based band’s music is defined by careful juxtaposition. Their sound spans the spectrum from plangent to poppy, their songs full of swells that suddenly attenuate.

Sans introduction, Manchester Orchestra sauntered onstage and played the title track to recent release Simple Math. The mid-tempo song was an unexpected choice as opener, but it built to a compelling climax and the audience loudly approved. They then transitioned smoothly into “Everything to Nothing,” the (nearly) title song from their previous acclaimed effort.

Frontman Andy Hull’s ability to inject the appropriate amount of emotion, tone and volume into his words added shape and context to their meaning. Some singers settle into a pattern of going through the motions when repeating songs night after night. Not Hull. He felt the full weight of each lyric and projected their heaviness and intimacy to the receptive audience. The crowd in turn absorbed it all, eerily and empathetically during the valleys, and energetically during peaks. Fittingly, the discovery of meaning is a prominent theme studded throughout Hull’s lyrics.

Another mesmerizing member to watch, keys weaver/percussion puncher/vocals enhancer Chris Freeman headbanged his way through a slew of songs, including “I Can Barely Breathe,” with frantic intensity.

Frayed slivers of sound between songs threaded the set together and hinted at what was to come, causing the crowd to cheer with anticipation once recognition set in for faves like newbie “April Fool’s,” ominous “Pride,” and plucky “My Friend Marcus.”

Introducing “Bananas,” Hull issued the disclaimer: “This song is completely new. It’s only a minute and a half, so don’t worry about it.” The song itself was bananas, branded by fast, grungy chords and a solo featuring lead guitarist Robert McDowell. Its snappy nature provided the perfect peak to halve the show.

The set presented proportionately stacked songs from across the band’s discography, balanced like a club sandwich. Old, kinda old, new, really new—slices from all were included. However, noticeably absent from an otherwise stellar setlist was debut album single and fan staple “Wolves at Night.”

Manchester Orchestra slightly alters some songs for a live setting, but the one instance it didn’t work was the sped-up version of “I’ve Got Friends.” Instead of adding intensity to the radio hit, the quicker pace rendered it rushed. “That was phase one of the one-two punch—part two coming up now,” Hull explained as the band segued into “Shake It Out.”

The whole audience belted along with odd gem “100 Dollars.” Hull then announced the “last” (translation: pre-encore) new song of the night, “Pensacola,” which was met with cheers. A seemingly tickled Hull responded, “Oh, you guys like that one?” and proceeded to encourage all familiar to practice the sing-songy bridge: “Alcohol, dirty malls, Pensacola, Florida bars.”

A gentle, slowed-down version of “The Only One” caused the ambiance to quickly shift, with Hull barely raking his hands across guitar strings and singing so quietly that the close-to-whispering crowd drowned him out. Hull’s magnetic presence intensified the song, despite its softness. It felt like sitting on the edge, and then exploded to full speed at the ending chords.

After leaving the stage, only to be persuaded back for an encore, Manchester Orchestra played an abbreviated version of their current single “Virgin.” Oldie “I Can’t Sleep” followed, and Hull genuinely and profusely thanked fans for their support before closing with “Now that You’re Home.”

“I was like 17 when this started,” Hull explained, “and it means so, so much to us that so many of you give a shit about what we do.” As Manchester Orchestra proves again and again, the band’s sincere songs and captivating performances have solidified their spot in indie-rock ranks.


Manchester OrchestraPhotos by Nicolas Bates

Written by Lindsay Murphy

RUKUS MAGAZINE: You’re new album Darkness in the Light comes out July 5th. How long did it take between song writing and recording to complete?BUZ MCGRATH: We started writing in November-ish, so about two or three months of just writing. Then writing went right up until we started tracking drums; meanwhile drums are getting recorded and we’re still tweaking guitar parts and vocals were still getting written. So it was steps like that and everything with us is always last-minute panic, freak out, try-to-get-it-done kind of situation.

RM: How did you come up with the album title?BM: I don’t know; it was just something we were kicking around; just ratting around in Trevor Phipps’s brain, so we kicked around a few versions of it. That one came along and sounded pretty cool.

RM: I love the album cover and I think it pretty much embodies your title with great imagery. How did you come up with the design?BM: The design was pretty much...someone took a picture of my hand reaching into a cooler of beer for a Miller Lite. And there we go—we wind up with a picture of me sticking my hand into a beer cooler.

RM: No way. I would have never guessed in a million years that that’s what it was.BM: It’s art. You thought it was this big, deep thing, but it was some crazy-ass picture.

RM: What is your favorite track on the album?BM: I’m a big fan of “Eyes of Black.” That’s one of my favorites, and then maybe “Disillusion,” the last song on the record.

RM: I really like “Fallen” and “Equinox.”BM: Yeah, “Equinox” is good; it’s like a nice little palate cleanser. It has the tender, gentle feel to it, kind of right before it explodes. It’s a different approach for us. Our bass player Slo plays piano so every record I say, “Hey, if you got something, write it and send it over to me; I’ll jam some guitar over it and see what happens.” So it’s always kind of cool to hear that.

RM: How do you decide what a track is going to be called?BM: I don’t know, I definitely think it’s that last minute thing. Trevor just kinda goes through his lyrics and gets a feel for what the song is about. Maybe just take a direct lyric or maybe it will be something a little more ambiguous. He comes up with a few track titles and we all kind of argue about which one we think fits the song better.

RM: Has there been a new dynamic between your music and the relationship of your bandmates since there’s been quite a few changes this year?BM: Well yeah, we are just kind of working with Ken [Susi] a little more closely on the songs. Since we didn’t have a drummer, I would go over to Ken’s house and throw some riffs at him and he would program the drums and we would make demos that way. He would have his ideas and everything all mapped out on his end. We really got into it, song writing wise, him and I. I think that he and Trevor also did a lot of work together on a lot of vocal ideas because our schedule with Adam [Dutkiewicz] was kind of weird where he had to go on tour with his band Times of Grace for like a month while we were still in the recording process, so him and Trevor recorded a lot of vocals together and that is such a personal process for somebody. With playing guitar,


By Michelle Oberg

Exclusive Interview: Unearth’s

Buz McGrath

you either sounded good that day or it’s like not really a good day, but you get it done anyway. Where vocals is such a personal experience, you’re pouring your heart and thoughts out. Sometimes it can be rejected so I can imagine that must be hard for a vocalist to go through.

RM: Yeah, for sure! So is Justin [Foley] an official member of the band or is he just touring with Unearth?BM: No, he’s just touring with us. He did the record and he is going to do the first two dates of the Mayhem Tour and then he is going to do the headliner in New York with us.

RM: Has Justin influenced the new record’s sound or feel he has changed your style at all?BM: I think that his drum performance on the record is just really intense. Me and Ken were writing a lot of the riffs and Ken would program the drums. Maybe I would give him an idea of how I wanted the drum piece to sound…we gave it to Justin once the demos were all done and when it came time to record we told him “you can feel free to put your stink all over these parts.” He definitely did that and I just think he put the drums on this record to the next level.

RM: How did you link up with Justin and Adam, both of who come from Killswitch?BM: We’ve done a few records with Adam, so it’s a no-brainer; we just go to him. We’ve only done one record without him; he’s really a big part of the band and the recording process. We’ve played shows with Justin for forever.

RM: The Mayhem Festival is starting up next month. What are your expectations?BM: Honestly, it’s going to be a good time. I think there will be a lot of beer bongs being had, a lot of parking lot loitering, backed up with games of skill. The shows themselves are going to be great; we love playing those festival-type shows just because of the people that come out to them; they are so excited to be there.

RM: How do you feel about headlining the Jagermeister stage?BM: It should be cool. The side stages are great, that’s where people get the most rowdy. There are no seats there so people just go bananas. That’s where a lot of the action happens. It’s not a big rock show, it’s a huge party where people go ape shit all day.

RM: What was the last full album you listened to?BM: The new Times of Grace record. It was on a long drive home from the studio and Adam gave me a copy and I was like, wow this a good record. I even listened to the bonus tracks.

RM: What was your most embarrassing stage moment?BM: There was a time where our old drummer stayed up all night doing god knows what and then stayed up all day doing god knows what and then when it came down to playing he was a zombie. We train wrecked in front of about 3,000 people. We barely got through about 3 songs and had to walk off stage. That was the most horrifying moment of my life.

RM: Have you ever stolen anything?BM: Yeah, when I was a kid in middle school I used to steal stuff out of convenience stores. I found that all that stuff comes back around to get ya. Once I got into high school I stopped doing that because the more bad things I did the more bad things I noticed starting happening to me. It’s karma, and that idea starting making a little bit more sense to me.

RM: If you could be anyone or anywhere in the world right now, who or where would it be?BM: I’d be me at home hanging out with my daughter.

RM: What are three things that most people don’t know about you?BM: I love cats, I hate mowing the lawn, and I go to bed at about 10pm every night…when I am home.

RM: What do you think is one thing people appreciate most about the band, either artistically or personally?BM: From an artist’s perspective I think people appreciate that we always have a good time. You can count on that when you come to an Unearth show that we’re going to convey that good-time energy to the crowd; we’re here to party and have fun. Personally, I like to think that people like that we are always accessible and especially if you want to talk music or playing. We are always down to hang out. We’re never hiding backstage or anything like that.

RM: What was the first record you ever bought with your own money?BM: I don’t remember but my brother used to work at a Strawberry’s record store and he used to give me CD’s that would “fall off trucks.” He would bring home a bunch and the ones he didn’t want he would give to me.

RM: Do you have any advice for new bands that are trying to catch their big break?BM: If you want it done right, you have to do it yourself. Don’t count on anybody to get it done for you.

RM: What was the best advice you ever received?BM: Be careful how you treat people on the way up because you’re going to see those people again on the way down.

RM: What was your craziest tour or fan experience?BM: My craziest fan experience was when someone had me sign his herniated testicle. That was pretty odd. It was just a giant, what looked like a football but it was just this huge nut. So I was like “Yeah, sure, I’ll sign it.” One tour story that pops into my head was when we were in Europe and our bass player Slo had a female suitor riding on the bus with him. He was up front smoking a cigarette while everyone was kind of getting ready to go to sleep. I was in my bunk and she was in his bunk. I said, “Hey, why don’t you switch bunks with me so when Slo comes back he’s going to get in and I’ll be the one in there.” So she didn’t mind and I climbed in and got really close to the wall. So he jumps into the bunk with what he assumes is his female friend. The next thing you know, he’s got that spooning, hand-on-the-thigh-move, where [he’s] working [his] way up to the point where he was almost in my genital region and I just started bursting out laughing. He was like, “What the fuck!!” It probably scared the shit out of him pretty good and everyone who was in on it hiding in their bunks just erupted.

RM: Is there anything on behalf of the band you would like to share before we go?BM: For the fans that have supported us for as long as we’ve been around, thank you! Keep supporting by coming out to shows and go grab our new album Darkness in the Light that comes out July 5th. RM



M elissa Riso was born in Monterey, CA and grew up in the small town of Salinas. She moved to San Diego after graduating from Beauty College.

Melissa got into modeling after a news reporter saw her at the salon where she was working and suggested she talk to his agent. Since the chance meeting Melissa has been hard at work shooting magazine covers, films and commercials. This girl definitely has the drive to reach her goals in life. Melissa sees herself one day in an action movie fighting guys and blowing up cars. “Angelina Jolie look out, Melissa Riso is taking over!” She’s had great luck so far and her career has just begun to take off. Her latest gig was the Xzibit’s new music video called “What it is” . Melissa Riso went from being a security agent at a night club and doing hair to being a hot bikini model and actress. Look out for this sexy little thing

Photography by Andrew GatesMake-up and hair by Kristee Liu

MelissaRiso

THE STATS

Birthday: June 27

Zodiac Sign:Cancer, so look out boys!

Measurements:32C-24-34

Height:5’1”

Weight:105 lb.

Ethnicity:I am Italian and Guamanian.

Hometown:Monterey Bay, CA.

Turn Ons:Being affectionate and

romantic. I love flowers and all that cheesy stuff. I love little

kisses and being kissed behind my neck; gives me the tingles.

Turn Offs:When a guy doesn’t put the

toilet seat down and can’t clean up after himself. Do I sound like I nag? [laugh] I swear I

make it up in other ways.

Guilty Pleasure:Dark chocolate! I crave it all

the time. But, dark chocolate is healthy for you.

Pet Peeves:When a guy is overly

emotional. If a man cries more than me it really aggravates

me.

Celebrity Pass:My celebrity past crush would

have to be Angelina Jolie. She’s so HOT! I love those

lips. She could gain a pound or two though.

See more of Melissa atwww.MelissaRiso.com

31July 2011 • RUKUSwww.RUKUSmag.com

C

www.RUKUSmag.com July 2011 • RUKUS 33

Photography by Andrew GatesMake-up and hair by Kristee Liu

CarolinaSanchez

arolina Sanchez was born in Santiago, Chile and raised in beautiful Vancouver, BC. She began modeling a little over three years ago when a Photographer scouted

her for his modeling agency. Since being discovered she has dabbled in acting, appearing in a couple of music videos, commercials and more recently making a small appearance in Underworld 4. Currently, she is juggling a full time job, doing numerous photo shoots and going on several auditions each week, so you know this girl is all about hard work! Carolina plans to take some dance classes and go back to school to pursue an education in psychology in hopes of becoming a youth counselor. Keep an eye out for this one. She always has something new up her sleeve and she never ceases to amaze!

THE STATS

Birthday: February 13

Zodiac Sign:Aquarius

Measurements:34C-24-37

Height:5’4”

Weight:115 lb.

Ethnicity:Hispanic-Chilean

Hometown:Vancouver, BC.

Turn Ons:Sense of humor; you gotta

have jokes!

Turn Offs:Cigarette smokers. Yellow teeth and bad breath just

don’t do it for me.

Guilty Pleasure:Chocolate. I have very

frequent late night munch sessions that include nutella

and Nesquik cereal.

Pet Peeves:Just one? [laugh] When people use the last of

something, like toilet paper, and don’t refill it. Or leaving

empty containers in the fridge instead of throwing it away.

Celebrity Pass:It’s a toss up between

Johnny Depp and Joseph Gordon Levitt.

See more of Carolina at facebook.com/CarolinaStephanieSanchez


BOY vs. GIRL


Instead of sending only one writer to E3, we decided to send two writers, Albert Marrero Jr. and Heather Spears. We wanted to see the experience through both male and female eyes and see what sparked each of their interest. It’s a true boy vs. girl match-up. Let the games begin!

Once a year in June, thousands of folks related to the gaming industry descend upon Los Angeles to attend the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, for short. For some, it’s a way to network and build valuable relationships. For others, it’s a gamer’s paradise. Swag, demos, videos, presentations, you name it. The information is overwhelming. The experience is nothing short of spectacular.

When one first approaches the LA Convention Center during this special time, it’s similar to walking from the parking lot to the gate of your favorite theme park. Once inside however, the anticipation becomes thicker than frozen peanut butter. Luckily, I’ve attended before, so I know to look at a map and decide which areas I wanna visit first. And there was no better place to start than Nintendo. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the Wii looks incredible. Welcome back Link. For the 3DS, a plethora of upcoming titles, like Mario Kart, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, and a new Super Mario game are the bees knees. Despite my adoration for the new 3DS games, my main focus was on the Wii-U, which is going to be one of the coolest things since frozen popsicles. From what I saw, this is Nintendo’s foray in the HD gaming console market. Supporting 1080P and below, it’s backwards compatible with all the Wii games/controllers/etc. and brings HD gaming with Wii functionality. All of sudden, Nintendo has taken a rubber glove and slapped the other two guys across the face. The new controller for the Wii-U is amazing. Sporting a 16:9 ratio touchscreen, it has a stylus, headphone jack, and controllers. And the coolest part, you can turn the TV to a cable channel and still be playing using your screen. So when the wifey or girlfriend wants to watch Housewives of Beverly Hills, you can sit right next to her and slap in some ear-buds and continue on your quest. Genius.

Microsoft’s approach wasn’t as groundbreaking as it was in years past (the year that everyone in the audience gets an Xbox360?), but it was an impressive showing. Gears of War 3, as I’ve said before is probably one of the most, if not THE most anticipated game of 2011. This game was on proud display for Gate’s team. But ironically, a game not on display stole the show (at least for Monday’s press conference). Yes folks, it seems that Master Chief will indeed be back again, this time in Halo 4, slated for a Fall 2012 release! Other great Microsoft news included Dance Central 2, which I saw performed numerous times, with one of it’s more cool features being that two folks can dance at the same time side by side. Like the Guinness guys… “Brilliant!” Kinect Sports 2 looks promising as well. I got a chance to demo the football portion. I took a sack on the first play, but then pulled a Peyton Manning and hit a 98 yard bomb (60 yards of YAC) to my Kinect partner (yep, two players) who leaped and bounded his way to the endzone. Hang on, ESPN is calling…

Playstation’s biggest draw was its new handheld, the PSVita. I didn’t get a chance to play with it, but what I was able to learn from reps is that it’s a really sweet device. Sporting both a front touchscreen and a rear touchpad, dual analog sticks, SIXAXIS, and an OLED screen really pushes the envelope for mobile gaming. Much like the WiiU, the Vita will be compatible with the PS3 on select titles. It also rocks WiFi, 3GS, and works with AT&T. From what I saw of this tiny little creature, it’s going to be something that Playstation fans can hang their hat on. Outside of mobile gaming, 3D gaming seems to be a real strategy for Sony. I was able to play some 3D games on PC’s, and the result was nothing short of breathtaking. Like, Avatar-for-the-first-time-breathtaking. Sony’s experience holds its own. Uncharted 3, Resistance 3, Cars 2, and the new Ratchet and Clank were all on display in three-dimensional glory and they did not fail to impress. Complete with some surround sound headphones and you have a truly immersive HD experience. It’s like being in the game. No, really.

Outside of the big three, there were tons of games, products, and hidden gems that caught my eye. Rift (PC) is one of the best looking games I’ve seen all year. Making a splash last year with a polished game that was super eye candy, Trion is now allowing characters to change servers. A fairly new company, it’s nice that they’ve learned fairly early on that gamers want to play with their friends, and that’s what makes any gaming experience, especially a MMORPG, a winner. Rise of Nightmares (Kinect) is something I simply cannot wait for. Using your hands to pick up chainsaws and the like to chop zombies is simply bone-chilling. I can’t wait to get my hands on that. Hurry up September! Batman: Arkham City looks badass. It was an hour long wait just to get in the demo area. And the artwork is money. UDraw (Wii, 360, PS3) is a very innovative concept. It’s a table, essentially, that allows you to draw with very accurate precision. Some of the artwork created by attendees was Picasso-grade. Ok, maybe not, but it wasn’t too shabby… Oh, and the coolest PC peripherals of the entire show? Razer. If you’re a PC gamer, do yourself a favor and pick up their latest mouse, keyboard, and headphones. You’re kill:death ratio will surely increase. If not, then at least you’ll look great trying.

All in all, E3 was a lot of walking , a lot of spectacle, a lot of booth babes, and a lot of “I can’t wait” moments. With gaming making just as much if not more than movies, it’s safe to say that if you love games and all that is electronic entertainment, you’ll be occupied for a long time to come. It’s an exciting time in the industry with all the newest technologies arriving and the creative envelope being pushed all for the sake of our enjoyment. See? It is cool to be a geek after all. Now start saving those pennies!

See you online…

Written by Albert Marrero, Jr.

www.RUKUSmag.com July 2011 • RUKUS 37

My blood rushed through my veins as I laid eyes on the LA convention Center. The posters displaying upcoming games were some of the most amazing things I had ever seen. It was the day I had been waiting for my whole life, the day I got to attend the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3. The anticipation was killing me so I arrived much earlier than the doors opened. Even with getting there so early there wasn’t a lack of things to see. There were tanks set up outside, Free NOS energy drinks, and an actual replica of Saints Row’s finest car customization shop “Rim Jobs”. A smile was stained over my lips while I waited for the doors to open.

Once the time came and the doors finally swung open I made sure I was the first person in line to see the 3DS. I already own a 3DS but I wanted to see what Nintendo planned next for this amazing hand-held system. I loved seeing all the remakes of the old Nintendo 64 games for the 3DS. The game that stuck out the most was Super Mario. The new Super Mario game was the perfect mix between what Mario brought to the super Nintendo, and the open world game play of Super Mario 64. The booth babe was so knowledgeable about the game and so nice to me while teaching me all the features; I was in gamers’ heaven.

My day had only just begun. From Nintendo I rushed off to a Sony VIP appointment to view the PS Vita. I traced my eyes over the line of hundreds of people waiting to play the system I was being led to. Sony set me up with a custom PlayStation water bottle while I played Uncharted: Golden Abyss. The PS Vita made Uncharted look even more amazing than before. I couldn’t believe you could play through the whole game using a touch screen if you didn’t feel like using the buttons. The touch screen feature will make it possible for anyone to play the PS Vita. Another game that impressed me, beyond my dreams, was Ruin. The game allowed the player to save their progress on their PlayStation 3 console and take it with them to their PS Vita. More games should include a feature like that. What a gamer would give to take their game save to work, school or even on a road trip with them. I was blown away with Sony’s presentation with the PS Vita; there’s not much more that could have been better at the Sony booth!

A few of my favorite games have always been Tomb Raider and Hitman, so I figured I would head over to Square Enix to see what they had to offer for the next chapter of each of these games. When I got over to their booth I saw a huge screen playing the latest Tomb Raider trailer. Lara’ croft’s new look was surprisingly delightful. I never expected a make-under to fit the Tomb Raider series so well. The sight of the first screen shot sold me on this game. After sitting in on a live demo of the new Tomb Raider game, Croft’s new adventure is sure to impress fans of the series around the world. My time at Square Enix was far from over. Right after seeing Lara and part of her new story I went right over to see a live demo of Hitman: Absolution. The game exceeded my expectations with a whole new idea to the game that didn’t lose Agent 47’s unique attitude. I was impressed with the new direction the game was taken while keeping what Hitman brought to the table in the past. Both games I saw over at Square Enix were very impressive. They left me breathless.

Next I had THQ in my sights. THQ is the publisher of my favorite video game Saints Row, so I wasted no time getting over there. I was in awe when I saw the giant Saints airplane above the line for the showing of the demo. As I was in line I was met with Zidos the pimp and Oleg the bouncer of the upcoming title Saints Row: The Third. Each of these characters will be in the new game; they each brought a whole lot of personality to the booth. Oleg even appointed which people he saw fit to make it into the demo. Even though everyone in line was chosen I thought it was a fun way to let people into the screening. Inside the live demo THQ’s goal was obviously comedy. The whole audience couldn’t stop laughing at the new weapons and characters. In the demo the Saints figured it would be easy to rob a bank on camera for an upcoming Saints movie when the tellers ducked under the desk and emerged with machine guns. Needless to say the Saints were surprised and fought back, however, they were eventually run out of the bank, making their getaway, on a helicopter with the bank’s safe in hand. What way to start off a video game!

The day at E3 was nearing the finish; I wanted to do one more run around both halls before leaving the convention. I saw a huge statue of Marcus Fenix from Gears of War and replicas of the guns they will use on the game. It was amazing to see the guns in person, and to hold them. I felt like I was part of the COG team with that gun in hand! Unfortunately they closed off the line before I was able to get a hold of the Gears of War 3 campaign but almost every person walking away from the consoles told me how impressed they were with what they saw on Gears of War 3.

My last stop was Ubisoft where I saw the latest trailers of Assassins Creed: Revelations, Just Dance 3 and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. All of the games were fun; but my favorite had to be Assassin’s Creed. The graphics on that game looked so good, Ezio looked like a real person not a game character. Ubisoft never fails to impress, with their unique game style that fits with all types of gamers.

I was upset when it was time to leave, although E3 exceeded my expectations more than I could have ever imagined. I left a part of me back at the convention center. I can’t wait to find out what secrets they have in store for us next year at E3! Until then, “Happy Gaming!” RM

Written by Heather Spears


"9 out of 10” - PlayStation Official Magazine

"9 out of 10” - Game Informer

Facebook.com/castlevania

© 2011 Konami Digital Entertainment KONAMI is a registered trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION. ”PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks and “PS3” and the PlayStation Network logo are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. KINECT, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft.

rukus july 2011

Documents