Scene may 9, 2018

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MAY 9–15, 2018 • VOLUME 48 NO 45

CONTENTS

Dedicated to Free Times founder Richard H. Siegel (1935-1993) and Scene founder Richard Kabat Group Publisher Chris Keating

Upfront

Publisher Andrew Zelman Associate Publisher Angela Nagal

State senate candidate Marty Sweeney and his questionable “consulting” payments, plus a plea for context from a Cleveland librarian

Editor Vince Grzegorek Editorial Music Editor Jeff Niesel Senior Writer Sam Allard Staff Writer BJ Colangelo Staff Writer Brett Zelman Web Editor Laura Morrison Dining Editor Douglas Trattner Stage Editor Christine Howey Visual Arts Writer Dott von Schneider Copy Editor Elaine Cicora

Feature

15

Get your geek on with this guide to Cleveland’s genre-themed bars and hangouts

Advertising Senior Multimedia Account Executive John Crobar, Shayne Rose Multimedia Account Executive Kiara Davis

Get Out!

Creative Services Production Manager Steve Miluch Staff Photographer Emanuel Wallace

Stage

Circulation Circulation Director Don Kriss Euclid Media Group Chief Executive Officer Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers Chris Keating, Michael Wagner VP Digital Services Stacy Volhein Digital Operations Coordinator Jaime Monzon

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All the best things to do in Cleveland this week

Business Sales Assistant/Receptionist Megan Stimac Controller Kristy Dotson

Disney’s Aladdin The magic lives on

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A fluffy production of Disney’s Aladdin at Playhouse Square has showstoppers and glistening abs to spare

www.euclidmediagroup.com

Film

National Advertising Voice Media Group 1-800-278-9866, vmgadvertising.com

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We sat down with Anthony and Joe Russo, Cleveland-born directors of Avengers: Infinity War

Cleveland Scene 737 Bolivar Rd, #4100 Cleveland, OH 44115 www.clevescene.com Phone 216-241-7550 Retail & Classified Fax 216-241-6275 Editoral Fax 216-802-7212 E-mail scene@clevescene.com

Eat

Cleveland Scene Magazine is published every week by Euclid Media Group. Verified Audit Member Cleveland Distribution Scene is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader Copyright The entire contents of Cleveland Scene Magazine are copyright 2018 by Euclid Media Group. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be mailed to the address listed above. Subscriptions $150 (1 yr); $80 (6 mos.) Send name, address and zip code with check or money order to the address listed above with the title ‘Attn: Subscription Department’

248-620-2990

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Discovering the old-fashioned Hillson Nut Company in Cleveland’s Stockyards neighborhood, plus Angie’s Soul Cafe is coming to Midtown

Music

33

Korn’s Jonathan Davis goes solo and local singer-songwriter Diana Chittester releases rangy new EP, plus all the shows to catch this week

Savage Love Printed By

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...The story continues at clevescene.com Take

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Photo by Sam Allard

UPFRONT

Martin Sweeney addresses the Lakewood Democratic Club in March.

MARTY SWEENEY’S QUESTIONABLE ‘CONSULTING’ PAYMENTS PRECEDED PIVOTAL MOMENTS IN STATEHOUSE RACES, ENDORSEMENTS RECENTLY SUBMITTED STATE campaign finance filings reveal that Marty Sweeney, a candidate for Ohio Senate District 23, made several payments for “consulting” in 2017 and 2018 to people who have never consulted before. While some of the payments were poorly labeled — “consulting” having been broadly defined — others raise questions about what services the so-called consultants provided. Sweeney served as Cleveland City Council president from 2006 to 2013. He now serves as a state rep in Ohio House District 14, but is not seeking re-election in order to make way for his daughter, Bride Rose Sweeney. Instead, he is seeking the Ohio Senate seat in District 23,

which includes much of Cleveland’s west side, Lakewood, Brook Park and Parma. He is running against Nickie Antonio, who is also vacating a state rep seat due to term limits. On the heels of the #MeToo movement, Sweeney’s campaign has been marred by his prior sexual misconduct. (Note: By publication, either Sweeney or Antonio will have prevailed in Tuesday’s primaries.) Last week, before the densest onslaught of campaign mailers, District 23 voters received a letter from the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, written by that body’s Jimmy Dimora-era executive director, Mary Devring. “Good Democrats of the 23rd

Senate District ...” the letter teased, “Don’t be fooled.” In her message to voters, Devring expressed her “strong disapproval” of the “desperate antics” of Nickie Antonio, who Devring claimed was erroneously calling herself the endorsed Democrat in District 23. “I want to make it clear that Martin J. Sweeney is the endorsed Democrat of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party,” Devring wrote. And later: “Martin J. Sweeney overwhelming received the endorsement from our Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, receiving over 70% of the vote this past January.” On social media, Antonio called

the letter a “smear.” And in a conversation with Scene, she said that while she frequently cited her many endorsements, she had never once claimed to be the endorsed candidate of the county party. “It’s not on any of my literature,” Antonio said (though her other endorsements are). “I mean, does anybody in Cuyahoga County not know that Marty Sweeney received the endorsement?” Sweeney’s party endorsement was pivotal, in large part, as Cleveland.com’s Mark Naymik wrote in January, because the endorsed candidate benefits from the party’s extensive get-out-the-vote efforts. The vote by the party’s executive committee was held at Euclid High | clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

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UPFRONT School on Saturday, Jan. 19, the same day as the Women’s March. As speakers on Public Square declared that only with new, committed political leaders (both locally and nationally) would the culture of sexual impropriety change, the county Democrats, in Euclid, aligned themselves with the city and ward leaders who’d recommended Sweeney by a razor-thin margin in a vote the previous weekend. Rick Nagin cast the deciding vote in the city and ward leaders endorsement. He is the City of Cleveland’s ward leader in Ward 14 (Clark-Fulton, BrooklynCentre). He is a former city council candidate himself, a member of the Communist Party, and long an ardent opponent of former councilman Brian Cummins. Nagin was one of the key figures in councilwoman Jasmin Santana’s ground game in 2017, even helping to prop up a dummy candidate, Kyle Cassidy, the nephew of Ward 16 councilman (and former Cummins challenger) Brian Kazy, with the intent to spoil votes for Cummins. Nagin received a $500 payment from Martin Sweeney on Dec. 7, 2017, a month before the vote by city and ward leaders. The listed purpose of the payment, per Sweeney’s 2017 annual filing, was “consulting.” Nagin is not a consultant, though he has worked as an organizer for decades. Nagin had been a Nickie Antonio supporter, and the speculation by some in Ward 14, who were shocked by Nagin’s shifting allegiance, was that Sweeney bought his vote. Scene had been told, in January, that Nagin received a payment from Sweeney to help with the publication of a book he was writing (a tract on scientific socialism), but we could not confirm the payment until the campaign finance filing. Scene sent Nagin questions about the payment via email. Was the $500 indeed to help with the publication of the book? Had there been any additional consulting work performed? When we reached Nagin by phone, he said he had no comment on our questions, and hung up. Antonio told Scene that Nagin’s decision to support Sweeney in the city and ward leaders vote was a “big surprise” to her at the time. “Rick said, ‘I’m gonna get you in the second round,’” Antonio said. “’I’m gonna vote for Marty in the

city leaders meeting because I told him I would, but when it comes to the [executive committee] vote, I’ll support you.’ And I said, ‘Rick, that makes no sense. You’re telling me Marty Sweeney shares your values?’ People were shocked.” Tom Mastroianni is the treasurer for the city of Parma. He received $5,000 from Sweeney’s campaign on Nov. 12, 2017. Like Nagin’s payment, the listed purpose for Mastroianni’s was “consulting.” Mastroianni is a member of the Parma Democratic Club — he was dubbed a “mover and shaker” by one opponent — and received his consulting payment approximately one month before the endorsement vote by that body. Despite Mastroianni’s earlier support for Antonio, the Parma Democratic Club voted overwhelmingly to endorse Sweeney. By email, Mastroianni denied that the payment had anything to do with the Parma Democratic Club endorsement. “Apart from my elected position,” Mastroianni said, “I have done consulting for political candidates and have set up a company, Mastroianni Consulting, for

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candidates including Mr. Sweeney. Some of the things I do is help on literature, scheduling and targeting of mailers, advising during the campaign, among other areas of the campaign.� In a followup, Mastroianni said that his consulting company had been registered as an LLC in March 2015 (which is true), and repeated that he had advised candidates other than Sweeney, though he did not name them. There is no record of Mastroianni ever receiving payments for “consulting� from any other Ohio state representative or senate candidate. He did not respond to a followup email asking how he would respond to Sweeney opponents who regard the payment as improper or suspicious. Bill Ritter is not a consultant. Nevertheless, he was another recipient of Sweeney’s “consulting� payments. Ritter is a former Cleveland school teacher and was a candidate for state representative in 2006. He has also run for Cleveland city council on multiple occasions, including in 2015, when he challenged Marty Sweeney’s handpicked successor, Brian Kazy, a selection that raised Ritter’s eyebrows because Kazy did not live

in the ward at the time, and because Kazy ultimately moved to the home of former councilman Dale Miller (the guy who’d appointed Sweeney.) Ritter received $5,000 from Sweeney’s campaign on Feb. 19, 2018. The payment arrived less than a month after Ritter had designated a treasurer for a presumed political run. Ritter intended to run as a state rep in House District 14, where Sweeney’s daughter Bride Rose is running. After the payment, Ritter abandoned his campaign. Reached by phone, Ritter atly denied that he was bought out of the race. He said the $5,000 was for “knocking on doorsâ€? and “general ďŹ eldwork.â€? “I have done this for 40 years as a volunteer,â€? Ritter said, “And I’m through with not getting paid. I deserve to be paid.â€? He said the most important thing to understand was that he would not accept money to work for a candidate who he did not think was superior. He said he would not have accepted a similar offer from Nickie Antonio, for example. (He resents the way she has targeted female voters, he said.) Ritter described Marty Sweeney as having been an “outstanding

councilman� and said that he wasn’t bothered by his past misconduct. “Unfortunately, in today’s world, everybody’s got something in their past. I’m more concerned about job performance moving forward.� Ritter said that he had pulled petitions and was indeed considering a run for state rep this year, but after surveying the competition, he determined that it wasn’t a race he could win. “The idea that I was paid to drop out, that’s absolutely untrue,� he said. “If Sweeney wanted to pay me to drop out, why wouldn’t he have paid me when I ran against Kazy? If I was inclined to take $5,000 to get out of the race, that would be the one to buy me out of. But $5,000’s not a whole lot of money, politically speaking. People can say what they want to, but $5,000’s not enough to make me drop out of a race I couldn’t win.� Ritter said that he was now also assisting with Bride Rose Sweeney’s campaign — he believes that she is the best candidate in her race as well — serving as a “knocking-ondoors� guy. He said, looking at the landscape now, he believes that he might have done Bride Sweeney a favor if he’d stayed in the race. “If you look at the dynamics,

it’s three men [Rick Raley, Steve Holecko and Carl Burgio] and one woman,â€? Ritter said. “I’d be the fourth. I’d probably split votes among the men.â€? (Opponents might argue that he’d be more likely to split votes with Bride Sweeney, as both live on Cleveland’s southwest side.) “Consultingâ€? appears to be something of a catch-all in Martin Sweeney’s campaign ďŹ nance reports. At any rate, the term is used broadly and often. On July 12, 2017, Sweeney paid $500 to Joe Hollabaugh, the president of the American Professional Towers Association, for “consulting.â€? On Aug. 17, he paid a man named Bill Massina $250 for “consulting.â€? On Sept. 1, he paid $250 to a man named Jason Beudert. The listed purpose: “gift for consultant.â€? Beudert, who briey served as Scene’s dining editor, said the gift was a wedding present. He said he had “advised [Sweeney] on social media on many occasions.â€? “Consultingâ€? also seems to encompass ďŹ eld operations on Sweeney’s ďŹ nance reports. In 2018, he paid $5,000 to Ryan Puente and $500 to former city councilman (and Sweeney unky) Eugene Miller. Reached by phone, Puente, the

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SCENE

UPFRONT president of the Cuyahoga County Young Democrats, described his work as “field operations in Lakewood and Ward 11.” Puente also manages the campaigns of both Rick Raley, who’s running against Bride Rose Sweeney, and Tom Bullock, who’s running against Mike Skindell in House District 13. (Skindell is vacating his seat in the Ohio Senate, District 23, due to term limits). Puente said his work with multiple campaigns was “pretty standard” in the local political scene. Responding via text message, Eugene Miller described his “consulting” work as conducting “in-house surveys,” in the 23rd District. Elaborating, he said that his work included “data, auto calls and door-to-door management.” Like Bill Ritter, Eugene Miller appears to be primarily a canvasser. Martin Sweeney did not respond to multiple requests for comment. He was made aware of our publication time by text message and email — his cell phone’s voice mailbox has not yet been set up — but we will update if he provides a statement. — Sam Allard

Cleveland Area Fails to Meet EPA Ozone Standards Over Most Recent Three-Year Testing Period The Cleveland area is one of about 50 around the country that has failed to meet ozone standards in the EPA’s most recent study. Eighty-five percent of counties across the country met the standards. Amendments to the 1970 Clean Air Act require the EPA to set standards and rules for six air pollutants. The agency reviews them every five years and, if results dictate, it revises them. For new standards, the EPA then must figure out which areas are failing to meet them and work to bring those areas into compliance. Ozone is one of the six, although it’s slightly different than the others. It’s a secondary pollutant, formed when nitrogen oxide mixes with volatile organic compounds in the presence of UV light from the sun. And, when it comes to ozone ratings, the decision is made not just on monitored data, but also

on air quality data, emissions, meteorology, geography and jurisdiction, because ozone forms downwind of emission sources. The non-attainment designation for the Cleveland area includes not just Cuyahoga County, but Lorain, Summit, Medina, Portage, Lake and Geauga, the latter two where there are typically higher ozone levels since they’re east and downwind. Cleveland’s three-year average from 2014 to 2016 was 74 parts per billion (ppb), which was above the 70 ppb standard set by the EPA in 2015 (lowered from 75 ppb in 2008). The area is held to the highest rating in the region, which came from Lake County. All of those counties notched higher ozone levels in this threeyear period than the previous one, though the increases were small. High levels of ozone are dangerous to older adults, those with asthma, children and people who work outdoors, and generally aren’t great for anyone with a lung disease. Since the non-attainment was “marginal,” meaning Cleveland was close to meeting the standard, the area will have three years to show lowered pollution levels. That will be achieved by a state implementation plan that has to be approved by the EPA, and in our case, it will include things like E-Check, stricter emissions controls for factories, different formulations for gasoline that lower emissions, as well as federally imposed regulations on power plant and tailpipe emissions. Many of those measures are already included in Ohio’s 2008 SIP and have already reduced emissions, and will likely continue to do so over the next three years to get under the 70 ppb benchmark. — Vince Grzegorek

WKYC’s Report on Crime at Cleveland Public Libraries Lacked Any and All Nuance or Context WKYC released an investigative report last week about the criminal behavior of patrons in the Cleveland Public Library system. The story uncovered some concerning statistics that more than justified the CPL’s decision to add more security cameras and patrolling guards across its 27 branches, and WKYC even met with CPL’s executive director, Felton Thomas, to learn more about the reportedly rampant criminal activities occurring within library walls.

Thomas’ perspective is vital, as are the hard facts and numbers, but WKYC’s investigation unfortunately did not include the perspective of daily library staff members or patrons, nor did it discuss the factors or influences that may be responsible for criminal activity taking place in the library. CPL librarian Terry Metter, speaking for himself and not on behalf of the CPL, expressed concern about the WKYC report. “Any library security news story that doesn’t provide perspective of regular library users and fails to address the larger narrative of rampant disinvestment in cities and the social safety net can be dismissed out of hand,” Metter said on social media. “Stories about how “scary” public libraries are fail to talk about how many kids and adults see the library as a refuge from a society that has turned its back on them. They also reinforce the supposed validity of entrenched segregation and denigrate the value of the Commons.” Libraries are more than just centers for late fees on paperbacks, they’re sanctuaries and community centers, one of the last refuges

where anyone is welcome, and Ohioans use their libraries at one of the highest per capita rates in the country even as the state has severely cut funding. More than half of young adults and seniors living in poverty utilize public libraries to access the internet to find work, apply to college, secure government benefits, learn about medical treatments and become more informed voters. According to the American Library Association (ALA), librarians in public and academic libraries across the country answer nearly 6.6 million questions every week. These questions may relate to the quotidian book recommendations; but librarians also offer assistance in computer and internet training, job applications and resume writing, and filling out government forms including tax and health insurance paperwork, all for the low, low price of absolutely free. “Even in good neighborhoods,” Metter asked, “how many kids escape abusive family members by going to the library? How many women run from abusive partners to find refuge in one of the few

places that doesn’t require you to spend money just to exist?” As the public library is a publicly funded institution, access is available at no charge to the community. Unlike a restaurant that may require you to purchase something just to use the bathroom, the public library offers all of its services for free. Libraries are safe havens for the disenfranchised, and to focus so heavily on the criminal “numbers,” and not the people those numbers represent, just seems like a scare tactic. More Metter: “The framing of this story in particular presents libraries as a place under siege. All this does is reinforce the perspective of people who 1) don’t actually use libraries and 2) won’t use libraries because “those people” are there. As library workers we also need to be mindful of how pernicious stereotypes about people experiencing trauma, poverty, homelessness, and/or mental illness influence our work. Follow #critlib if that’s something that interests you.” Libraries also offer the critical safe and free refuge for anyone seeking shelter in addition to support to those in need. Libraries

are a vital tool for those struggling the most on the socio-economic ladder and can be the only resource available to assist in bringing them out of poverty. As the 2016 Census Bureau data shows, 57.9 percent of Clevelanders living in poverty are African-American. Given that those from low-income households are most likely to utilize the library’s resources, the previously mentioned report acknowledges the criminal statistics but not any of the factors that are the driving forces behind them. We hope it wasn’t WKYC’s intention to specifically feature a black man talking to a police officer while discussing “bad things” happening in libraries, but that’s exactly what they did, an odd if not troubling choice especially given the man’s identity. TV stations aren’t exactly in the business of nuance, but scary headlines about crime in libraries and dangerous narratives about the people that patronize them demand context. and WKYC failed to deliver it. — BJ Colangelo

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

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Healthy, Psoriasis, Atopic Dermatitis and Eczema

The Department of Dermatology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University is conducting a research study on skin disease. Volunteers must be over 18 years of age and must be in good general health or must have been diagnosed with conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, or a cutaneous malignancy such as cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) or squamous or basal cell carcinoma. For more information, please call:

The Skin Study Center at (216)844-SKIN (7546) or email us at SkinStudyCenter@uhhospitals.org Volunteers will be compensated for their time. There is no cost to participate.

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Photo by Emanuel Wallace

FEATURE

A night of gaming at the Side Quest.

GEEK GAUNTLET A guide to Cleveland’s genre-themed bars and hangouts By BJ Colangelo FOR SOME CLEVELANDERS, A dream day consists of catching a baseball game at Progressive Field. For others, a day hiking in the Metroparks or an evening screaming at the TV during a Cavs game at Market Garden. But then there are those who crave a different kind of Cleveland, one tinged with the superhero movies that continue to dominate the box office, the nostalgia-baiting television shows filling our Netflix queues, and mass-produced nerdy pop culture filling aisles at Target. Cleveland is a subculture in and of itself, so it’s no wonder that the city’s geek community has continued to grow since the successes of Harry Potter and the Marvel Cinematic Universe made it socially acceptable for people to let their geek flags fly. The strength of fandom lies in the sense of commonality and, luckily, Cleveland is home to a multitude of sanctuaries for anyone yearning for a safe and geeky place to call their own. We’ve compiled a guide to the

best in Cleveland’s genre-themed bars and hangouts — and matched them with the most apt Street Fighter II character we could think of because, much like choosing a character for a video game, each of these establishments has its own strengths and weaknesses — to help you unleash your inner geek, because there’s never been a better time to let it out.

16-Bit Bar + Arcade

15012 Detroit Ave. Lakewood In the hierarchy of geekdom, 16-Bit Bar + Arcade is easily the most popular girl in school. The consistently crowded barcade is home to more than 40 classic arcade games that visitors can play for free while sipping some of the tastiest cocktails in town. Each week boasts theme nights like Deathmatch Monday, Two-Player Tuesday, Way Back Wednesday, Old School Hip-Hop Thursday and High Score Sunday, in addition to special events like gaming tournaments

and 16-Bit’s incredibly popular Cosplayween costume contest. STRENGTHS: Between the mosaic

walls of pop culture icons, chalkboard scribbled bathrooms, bright drinks and movie-quote coasters, 16-Bit is one of the most Instagrammable joints in Cleveland. This killer date-night spot also includes a heated outdoor patio where players can catch a Cavs or Tribe game on TV or play a game of GoldenEye on Nintendo 64. WEAKNESSES: 16-Bit’s popularity

has been fantastic for Lakewood commerce, but it can turn the location into an overcrowded nightmare on peak nights. COMBO BREAKER: One Sunday a

month, 16-Bit offers “Bring Your Shorty Day,” where parents can let their children run around like idiots for a few hours, play some games and enjoy non-alcoholic mocktails or slush puppies. STREET FIGHTER II CHARACTER: 16-Bit

would be Ryu. It’s the most popular character in town, but that also means everyone wants to play him. You can either be the most powerful player in the game, or you can be a button masher who has no idea what the hell you’re doing, but Ryu immediately makes you look cool.

The Side Quest

17900 Detroit Ave. Lakewood Forged from the ashes of Eddy and Iggy’s sports bar, the Side Quest is now where geeks have inherited the earth. This extremely progressive and inclusive utopia boasts more than 300 tabletop board games (and plenty more in storage), a variety of gaming consoles, a to-die-for food menu from Julia Jingle, a Stranger Things demogorgon, and enough special events to please any and every geeky subculture you could imagine. Monday Night Wrassling + Super Mario Mondays, Free Board Game Play (and sometimes Tarot Card reading) Tuesdays, | clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

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Photo by Emanuel Wallace

membership access to programs that allow geeks to make their own games is pretty incredible. Individually purchasing all of the tools available at GamerHaven would cost someone a fortune, but splitting it across a number of members allows everyone to use materials they’d otherwise only dream about utilizing.

FEATURE Wednesday’s Side Quest Challenge theme trivia, Geeks Who Drink trivia on Thursdays, and Sunday Brunch + Beginner’s D&D allow for geeks to develop a communal relationship depending on which night of the week piques their interests.

WEAKNESSES: It’s a coworking space,

so you have to pay up. Yes, even for WiFi. Monthly memberships are the most common, but daily passes are available for those just looking to try the space on for size.

STRENGTHS: The Side Quest Challenge

is easily the best trivia in town. Topics like Harry Potter, Star Wars and Doctor Who are a given, but topics like sex, literature, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Studio Ghibli, Monty Python, and even The Golden Girls have been featured. Additionally, the Side Quest has cosplay events, pop culture anniversary parties, gaming tournaments, a book club, a liquor league, a beer society, and incredibly delicious signature drinks. WEAKNESSES: As the most “authentic” version of a geek bar, the Side Quest can sometimes host events that aren’t universally appealing. Considering that it’s a bar catering to multi-generational geeks (over 21, of course), the theme celebrations can sometimes fly over the heads of more casual geeks. The intimate size can be slightly detrimental for bigger events, but it weirdly adds to the charm. COMBO BREAKER: There is absolutely

no other bar in Cleveland that is as non-discriminatory or welcoming. The entire staff of Side Quest is dedicated to providing a safe, harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, nationality, or religion. And they mean it. If you start bro-ing out about Mario Kart and spouting offensive slurs, your ass is tossed to the curb.

COMBO BREAKER: GamerHaven is an

A pair of pinball wizards at Superelectric.

has undergone a transformation of epic proportions and has become the go-to source for geeks with flow and rhythm. While B-Side has only four vintage arcade games and five pinball machines, the allure here is that it caters to the more extroverted geek. Monday Night Shit-Show Karaoke, Tuesday’s live band open mic poetry #LyricalRhythms, Open Mic Wednesdays, the Hookup College ID night on Thursdays, Friday DJ Dance Nights, and Second Saturday Gumbo DJ + Brass Band all align to make B-Side the place to be for hip and intellectual geeks. STRENGTHS: B-Side has a massive

drink selection and is connected to the Grog Shop. This basement bar is a fun and frenetic part of the eastside’s nightlife and able to house massive group outings. Events change monthly in addition to special theme nights, including the recent Silent Disco.

STREET FIGHTER II CHARACTER: The Side

Quest is without a doubt Chun-Li. It’s the most true-to-form geek bar in the city, breaks down barriers with representation and deserves to be the most popular joint in town, but people are still going to push for the sleek and easily marketable locations rather than the one with all the kickin’ characteristics.

WEAKNESSES: Rebranded as a

barcade before 16-Bit showed up and sweeped its leg, B-Side is now less of a geek bar and more of a party environment. But the access to arcade games and the emphasis on live band open mic poetry keeps this venue accessible to people interested in more than just screaming at a Cavs game in a crowded bar.

B-Side Liquor Lounge & Arcade 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd. Cleveland Heights The former full-scale arcade bar

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COMBO BREAKER: B-Side boasts an

extremely diverse clientele, and offers a far more “active” night

| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

on the town than most of the other locations on this list. ShitShow Karaoke is also one of the most entertaining ways to spend a Monday in Cleveland, and the monthly Gumbo DJ + Brass Band is a must-attend event for everyone.

incubator for all types of creatives and the membership aspect develops a sincere and strong sense of community. This communal feeling is not exclusive, however, as the venue does provide special events from time to time like last fall’s Stranger Things’ Eggo-battered wing night. STREET FIGHTER II CHARACTER: Sagat.

Once an unplayable boss, Sagat is revered and respected. GamerHaven seems like an impossibility, but just like Sagat, a little membership gives you the chance to dominate the world.

STREET FIGHTER II CHARACTER: B-Side

Liquor Lounge & Arcade is easily Vega. After 14 years, B-Side has continued to “claw” its way to survival and has done so with one of the most beautiful overall looks. If you’re a fleek-looking geek, B-Side is the place to be.

Full Spectrum: GamerHaven 818 East 185th St. The creative community hub Full Spectrum: GamerHaven is truly unique. This is not just a geeky cafe; rather it’s a coworking ‘makerspace’ to encourage productivity from Cleveland’s most creative. Stocked with recording devices and computers equipped with animation programs, Adobe Creative Suite and VR capabilities, GamerHaven allows like-minded geeks not only to interact but work together to create something fresh and exciting. Outside of the makerspace membership opportunities, GamerHaven’s coffee gathering spot is open to the public. STRENGTHS: GamerHaven definitely

lives up to its name with the resources available. Every gaming system imaginable is at your disposal for enjoyment and the

Common Grounds 17104 Lorain Ave. Cash only. Free WiFi. Coffee 24/7. The golden jewel of Kamm’s Corners, Common Grounds is one of the hottest geek spots around. This coffee shop and gathering place is covered in local art and offers oldschool video games, pinball, and weekly Wednesday chess meetups. Common Grounds has been around for nearly 22 years and is a place remembered fondly by West Park residents and something like 87 percent of everyone who had a little geek in them during high school. STRENGTHS: Everything about

Common Grounds caters to the counter-culture, but its 24/7 hours of operation has built a diverse community solely on accessibility. When there’s nowhere else for legions of Clevelanders to go at 3 a.m., they all wind up at Common Grounds and form unlikely bonds. WEAKNESSES: Common Grounds is

cash only, which can be a total pain for the debit-card clinging masses. But in a weird way, being cash only forces your interactions with baristas to be a little more intimate and less manufactured. But when

you’re coming in buzzed at 4 a.m., the last thing anyone wants to do is try and count change. COMBO BREAKER: The longevity and

accessibility of Common Grounds shows the location can withstand the test of time and changing trends. The roots of this spot are deep within the city of Cleveland, and long after other geek locations have fallen by the wayside, Common Grounds will stand strong. STREET FIGHTER II CHARACTER: M. Bison

may be the criminal leader of the Street Fighter world, but he’s also the character Common Grounds most closely resembles. It’s the leader of the pack and was ahead of the curve long ago. In fact, it could be argued that without Common Grounds, many of the geek hangouts we enjoy today would not have been possible.

for getting through our days. It’s cathartic, really. They have pinball leagues, monthly events and the games frequently rotate in and out of the space, meaning there’s always something new to play. WEAKNESSES: Given that many of these pinball machines are kept in their vintage form, the place may not have the ability to hold the decreasing attention spans of generations raised surrounded by 3-D movies and first-player video games. Pinball isn’t an easy style of gaming and doesn’t offer the instant gratification so many crave. COMBO BREAKER: Superelectric’s

location in the center of Gordon Square makes it a perfect spot for a date night. Whether you’re catching a movie at the Capitol, a play at Near West Theatre or shoving your face full of Brewnuts, Superelectric is ready and waiting for you to come out and play.

Superelectric Pinball Parlor

6500 Detroit Rd. In the heart of Gordon Square bustles a bright and cheery wonderland of bells, chimes, flippers and metal balls. Superelectric Pinball Parlor is a token-operated gameland where Clevelanders can take a trip back to yesteryear and enjoy the frustratingly fun pastime of pinball. With more than 20 games ranging from the 1950s to the latest releases, Superelectric is a must-stop location for a night in Detroit Shoreway. Over the years, Superelectric has acquired and restored more than 80 vintage games and continues to preserve these special slices of American pop culture. The walls are decked out with new and vintage art, and the Superelectric Press offers some really rad hand-screenprinted products for purchase, including the now iconic “Make America Cleveland Again” shirts. Bonus: They’ve recently added a small menu with Korean fried chicken. Just be sure to wipe your hands before heading back to the machines.

STREET FIGHTER II CHARACTER: The electricity of Superelectric easily makes it Blanka. Scrappy, brightly colored, and bursting with energy, one step toward Superelectric will have your veins glowing with joy.

STRENGTHS: Superelectric feels

STRENGTHS: It’s impossible to be in a

like you’ve jumped out of a time machine, and truly allows for an experience of escapism. Whatever bad shit you’re dealing with in your personal life is immediately washed away the second you put your tokens into the pinball machine. Superelectric transforms your world into one that’s focused solely on keeping that silver ball away from the hole at the bottom, which is basically a great metaphor

bad mood at Funhouse. The decor pulls on your nostalgia strings, reminding you of childhood carnivals coming through town, and the slushie drinks are absolutely delicious. It’s a solid mix of old and new with the gritty feel of the late Spitfire. Skeeball leagues, 3-D movies, comedy shows and the whack-a-mole league all offer more than enough reasons to keep coming back.

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The Funhouse

1539 West 117th St. Where the Spitfire Saloon once proudly stood has since transformed into the Tim Burtonstriped nightmare of the Funhouse. The carnival-themed bar is one part sideshow attraction and two parts punk rock. Just about every cocktail you can imagine can be ordered as a slushie (complete with whipped cream by request), and festival fare such as corn dogs, hot pretzels, popcorn and cotton candy are available for your drunken enjoyment. A photo booth, skeeball, arcade games, funhouse mirrors, whack-a-mole and the hardest crane game known to mankind all call this rock and roll mainstay on the border of Lakewood and Cleveland home.

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@BookClub | clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

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Photo by Emanuel Wallace

FEATURE WEAKNESSES: The Funhouse can get pretty damn rowdy, and the music is often so loud it’s difficult to hear the people around you. If you’re looking for something really chill and relaxed, this is not the bar for you. If you’re looking for a wild ride, strap on in because the Funhouse will deliver in spades.

adult strategy games, and for just five dollars, players can play all day with no limit on the gaming. It also offers memberships for free access to their monthly mixers and other special perks. Events change weekly, so there’s always something special to keep you coming back for more. Trivia, gaming tournaments, guided gameplay, local gamemaker opportunities, delicious snacks, killer drinks, and a welcoming environment keep Tabletop a mainstay in Ohio City.

COMBO BREAKER: The Funhouse is

dog friendly. You can bring your dog. Dogs are available to be pet. I’m sorry. Did you not hear me? YOU CAN DRINK BOOZE SLUSHIES AND PET DOGS HERE! STREET FIGHTER II CHARACTER: The Funhouse is totally the Russian wrestler Zangief. Not only does the Funhouse host the after-parties for Absolute Intense Wrestling, but it’s the geek bar most likely to punch you square in the face.

STRENGTHS: With a great staff and

a family-friendly environment, Tabletop is one of the few locations that offers options for geeks of all ages. Customers have been known to stay for hours at a time, and it’s a local hangout that boasts plenty of regulars. The events held by Tabletop are one of a kind, including serving as Cleveland’s qualifier spot for the Catan national tournament. WEAKNESSES: Thanks to its popularity,

Tabletop Board Game Cafe

1810 West 25th St. Tabletop boasts more than 1,000 games from childhood classics to

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Tabletop’s service can sometimes be a little slow. It’s not their fault; it’s just the nature of the beast when you’ve got an intimate location with a variety of offerings that require

| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

Geeking out and drinking out.

hands-on assistance from the staff. Be patient with them; they’re here to help. COMBO BREAKER: For those who want to bring the Tabletop experience to their own party, Tabletop To-Go is exactly what you need. An experienced instructor will facilitate, teach games, and bring along a crate of options curated to fit your group’s specific needs. If you fall within the 35-mile radius of Tabletop, you’re able to personalize the event to anything your heart desires.

STREET FIGHTER II CHARACTER: If 16 Bit is Ryu, Tabletop has to be Ken. Equal in popularity and a bit more palatable for the less intense geeks, Tabletop brings out a different kind of crowd that’s just as passionate and dedicated as the geeks in Lakewood. With an emphasis more on the cafe aspect than the bar, Tabletop is a far more accessible geek bar than some of its cohorts.

bcolangelo@clevescene.com t@bjcolangelo

SIN NIGHTSERVICE INDUSTRY Employees Receive $2 Drafts & $2 Well!

Thursday STAND-UP COMEDY OPEN MIC Hosted by Gary Graham Sign-up at 7:30pm Show Starts at 8:00pm

Wednesday

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Patio Pairings COCKTAIL EVENT

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Tuesday

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GET OUT everything you should do this week Photo by Emanuel Wallace

WED

05/09

COMEDY

Carol Burnett Hot on the heels of last year’s The Carol Burnett Show 50th Anniversary Special, comedian, actress and author Carol Burnett will perform tonight at 7 at Connor Palace. Dubbed an Evening of Laughter and Reflection Where the Audience Asks the Questions, the program will feature a Q&A session as well as video clips. “I love the spontaneity of these evenings,” says Burnett in a press release announcing the show. “I never know what anyone is going to ask, or say, or do, so it keeps me on my toes!” Tickets start at $58. (Jeff Niesel) 1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org. SPOKEN WORD

Cleveland Stories Dinner Parties Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is a weekly series that pairs fine food with storytelling. Through it, the folks at Music Box Supper Club hope to raise awareness of the mission of the Western Reserve Historical Society’s new Cleveland History Center. The goal of the Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is to “bring to life some of the fun, interesting stories about Cleveland’s past — from sports, to rock ’n’ roll, to Millionaires’ Row,” as it’s put in a press release. Admission is free, with no cover charge, although a prix fixe dinner, designed to complement the night’s theme, is $20. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner is served at 6, and the storytelling starts at 7. Tonight, Cleveland History Center curator and automotive expert Larry Davis discusses the history of some of the Crawford Automotive and Aviation Museum’s coolest cars. The menu includes Prototype Porridge, Rust Bucket Chicken and Cadillac Chocolate. (Niesel) 1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com. THEATER

Disney’s Aladdin Part of the KeyBank Broadway Series, the hit musical Disney’s Aladdin comes to the State Theatre this week for a month-long run through May 27. Directed and choreographed by Tony Awardwinner Casey Nicholaw ( The Book of Mormon, Something Rotten! ), the production features

The Hooley returns to Westpark. See: Saturday.

sets, costumes and lighting from Tony Award-winners Bob Crowley ( Mary Poppins), Gregg Barnes ( Kinky Boots) and Natasha Katz (An American in Paris). Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30. Tickets start at $40. (Niesel) 1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org. MUSIC

Prometheus Project: Examining Beethoven’s Music Francesca Brittan moderates a

discussion with the Cleveland Orchestra’s Franz Welser-Möst and music scholar Mark Evan Bonds. Together, the talented trio will re-examine Beethoven’s music, and talk about how it can appeal to modern audiences, by looking at Beethoven’s own ideas and situating his work in the revolutionary era in which he lived. The event begins at 7:30 tonight at Reinberger Chamber Hall. Admission is free but tickets are required. Consult the Cleveland Orchestra website for

more info. (Niesel) 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com. THEATER

The Royale Set in 1910, The Royale centers on Negro Heavyweight Champion Jay “The Sport” Jackson, a fighter who wants to prove that he’s as tough as his white counterpart. The Cleveland Play House production of the play opens tonight at 7:30 at the Outcalt Theatre. It runs | clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

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more information. (Niesel) 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

GET OUT through May 27. Tickets start at $25. (Niesel) 1407 Euclid Ave, 216-241-6000, clevelandplayhouse.com. FOOD

Walnut Wednesday Welcome the return of warm weather with a visit to Walnut Wednesday, one of summer’s great traditions. Today from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Perk Plaza at Chester Commons — at East 12th and Walnut streets — food trucks gather to serve up lunch to area residents and employees. Follow the Downtown Cleveland Alliance on Facebook for weekly updates on vendors, entertainment offerings and more. The series continues through Sept. 26. Admission is free, but the food will cost you. (Niesel) downtowncleveland.com.

through Saturday. Tickets are $23 to $28. (Niesel) 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

COMEDY

Josh Wolf A New York Times bestselling author, Josh Wolf does a little bit of everything. The writer, actor and comedian received some serious national exposure, thanks

FRI

05/11

2017 • 1 hour, 40 minutes • TV-MA

What Happened, Miss Simone?

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT

Alice Recognized as a true innovator,

SCHEDULE

05/10

3/7 3/21 5/2 5/16 5/30 6/6

WED.

COMEDY

Cocoa Brown If you’ve seen any of Progressive Insurance’s Name Your Price commercials, then you’ve seen comic Cocoa Brown. In the commercial, this vivacious comedian and actress plays the angered wife whose husband decides he wants to juggle chain saws. Tyler Perry has even taken her on as a vital character in his TV shows and films. Brown’s no-holds-barred attitude has gotten her a Screen Actors Guild award nomination; she’s now in the process of writing a revealing autobiography and putting together her own one-woman show, The Confessions of a Suicidal Diva . She performs tonight at 7:30 at the Improv, where she has shows scheduled through Sunday. Tickets are $17 to $20. (Lisa Hammond) 1148 Main Ave., 216-696-IMPROV, clevelandimprov.com.

WED.

WED.

WED.

WED.

WED.

Lady Gaga: Five Foot Two 2015 • 1 hour, 41 minutes • Not Rated, Courtesy of Eagle Rock Entertainment

Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World 2017 • 1 hour, 43 minutes • Not Rated Who the F**k is That Guy? The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago 2017 • 1 hr, 25 minutes • TV-MA

Head 1968 • 1 hour, 26 minutes • G

Purple Rain 1984 • 1 hour, 51 minutes • R

Members FREE w/RSVP • Non-Members $5.50

MUSIC

Prometheus Project: The Music of Beethoven Franz Welser-Möst conducts the Cleveland Orchestra this evening in a special program dubbed Prometheus Project: The Music of Beethoven. Tonight’s concert takes place at 7:30 at Severance Hall, and opens with the Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus. Concerts continue through Sunday, each with a different lineup of Beethoven’s music. Consult the Cleveland Orchestra website for

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1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44114 | rockhall.com | 216.781.ROCK

to regular appearances on the roundtable of E!’s late-night talk show Chelsea Lately. In his book, It Takes Balls: Dating Single Moms and Other Confessions from an Unprepared Dad, he writes about the trials and tribulations of fatherhood. During his comedic routine, expect to hear jokes about how to teach your kids important life lessons. He performs tonight at 8 at Hilarities, where he has shows scheduled

| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

THEATER

American Idiot A coming-of-age musical about three suburban teens struggling to “find meaning and purpose amid the paranoia, apathy and noise of a media-saturated post-9/11 America,” American Idiot became a smash hit when it made its debut on Broadway in 2010. Based on the Green Day album 21st Century Breakdown, the musical also includes a handful of Green Day tunes, including “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” This weekend, the Brecksville Theatre continues its adaptation of the play. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30; additional performances run through Sunday. Tickets are $15. (Niesel) 49 Public Square, Brecksville, 440-736-7749, thebrecksvilletheatre.org.

DANCE

ALL FILMS START AT 7 PM | ROCK HALL’S FOSTER THEATER

THU

a.m. tomorrow. The show runs two hours; tickets are $25 to $69. (Niesel) 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

choreographer Margo Sappington has worked with the Cleveland Ballet to deliver Alice, a production that takes some liberties with the familiar Lewis Carroll story, Alice in Wonderland, and tells the story of what happens to young Alice after she falls through the rabbit hole. Tonight’s worldpremiere performance takes place at 8 at the Ohio Theatre; an encore performance takes place at 11

Grow with Google Part of a national tour dubbed Grow with Google, today’s training event at the Tri-C Hospitality Management Center aims to help job seekers, small business owners, budding developers, students, educators, and entrepreneurs improve their digital skills. The series of free demos, workshops, training and coaching sessions takes place today from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Google staff will lead hands-on workshops about online marketing for small businesses, job search strategies, email basics, and search engine optimization. Google has partnered with local community organizations including Council of Smaller Enterprises/OHTec, Cuyahoga Community College , Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, DigitalC, Global Cleveland, Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and Eastern Central Ohio, JumpStart Inc., and Olivet Housing & Community Development Corporation to customize the training to local needs. To register, visit the website. (Niesel) 180 Euclid Ave., grow.goggle.com. SPORTS

Indians vs. Kansas City Royals The Indians had to face playoffcaliber teams earlier this month as they took on the Blue Jays, Yankees and Brewers. But now they get a break as the lowly Kansas City

Royals come to town today for a three-game series. The Royals played the Tribe to a close finish earlier this season at Progressive Field, but these games won’t likely be as tight as the Royals have really struggled to win ever since that initial meeting between the two teams. The game begins at 7:10 p.m., and it’s also Dollar Dog Night. Tickets start at $15. (Niesel) 2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, clevelandindians.com.

The Akronite released his debut album in 2012 and has steadily recorded and toured ever since. Tonight at 8 at the Ohio Theatre, he teams up with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra for a special program dubbed Caribbean Music Explosion. Expect to hear Afro-Cuban music along with samba and bossa nova tunes. Tickets are $35 to $55. (Niesel) 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

MUSIC

SHOPPING

U.S. Air Guitar Competition It’s been a few years since the U.S. Air Guitar competition has come through Cleveland. But this year, Cleveland will be one of more than 20 stops on the circuit. Tonight, the Winchester Tavern will host the contest, which will likely feature about 20 competitors vying for a spot in the semi-ďŹ nals that take place in New York on Aug. 2. Competitors perform to a 60-second guitar edit of their favorite song. Judges then rank the performance according to “technical meritâ€? (i.e., does it look like they are playing a real guitar?), “stage presenceâ€? (i.e., do they excite the audience and the judges?), and “airness,â€? the quality of performance which transcends the mere imitation of a real guitar and becomes an art form all its own. Three-time Washington, D.C. Champion and Northeast Ohio native Jerrod “Dick Dieselâ€? Dewey will host the event. Tickets are $5 in advance, and $8 at the door. The contest begins at 9. (Niesel) 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-600-5338, thewinchestermusictavern.com.

The Cleveland Flea After a long, cold winter (and a crummy spring), Cleveland Flea kicked off its sixth season last month and is now on its once-amonth schedule until October. A self-described “small business incubatorâ€? that draws thousands of local shoppers to Tyler Village, the Cleveland Flea features a range of items you won’t ďŹ nd at the typical retail store. The ea offers “curated vintage,â€? “culinary all-starsâ€? and “the most talented makers in the region.â€? As much a social gathering as a shopping experience, the Flea serves as an excellent hang, a place to meet and make friends while supporting your local creatives. It runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and continues monthly through Sept. 8. Admission is free. (Niesel) 3615 Superior Ave., theclevelandea.com.

ART

Walkabout Tremont During this month’s Walkabout Tremont, you can stop by any of the Tremont art galleries to see their current and/or new exhibits. Of course, there are plenty of bars, restaurants and specialty shops in the neighborhood that participate in Walkabout Tremont too. The stroll takes place from 6 to 9 tonight. Check out the website for a schedule, maps and food and drink specials. (Niesel) walkabouttremont.com.

SAT

05/12

MUSIC

Caribbean Music Explosion As the story goes, guitarist Dan Wilson heard a Wes Montgomery album and decided on the spot that he wanted to become a musician.

DAY 26

FESTIVAL

The Hooley Today from noon to 8 p.m., you can check out the Hooley on Kamm’s Corners, an annual street festival that takes place on Lorain Avenue from West 165th to Rocky River Drive. The festival offers crafts, live music, dancers from a host of area Irish dance schools, pipes and drums and plenty of family fun. Food will be available at the pubs and eateries lining Lorain Avenue and from vendors on the street with kettle corn, ice cream, freshly squeezed lemonade and other festival staples. Two entertainment stages showcase a variety of musical acts and performers, including the Colin Dussault Blues Project and the Yosemite Slim Band. Family-friendly activities include a 30-foot fire truck slide and other bounce houses, and a pop-a-shot game operated by Mount Calvary Church. Also check out the Youth Center operated by the West Park YMCA. Artist Alley will feature a selection of jewelry, clothing, home decor, Irish-themed gifts, and handmade arts and crafts. Admission is free. Check

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For Ticketing Information call (216) 771-6655 or Visit us on The Odeon Concert Club 1295 Old River Rd, Cleveland, OH 44113 | clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

23

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out the website for a schedule of stage events and more information. (Niesel) kammscorners.com.

SUN

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| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

05/14

Gospel Brunch The monthly Gospel Brunch has been a spiritual Sunday staple for years at the House of Blues. The recently reinvigorated show puts a bit more emphasis on the music. As for the food, the all-you-caneat musical extravaganza features Southern classics like chicken jambalaya, biscuits and gravy, and chicken and waffles. Seatings are offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets are $40 and are available online, by phone or at the box office. (Niesel) 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com. MUSIC

Rob Kovacs in Residence After forming 15 years ago, the local indie pop band Return of Simple released a couple of records and became a fixture on the scene before eventually relocating to New York in 2009. A few years ago, after getting “burned out” in New York, the band’s frontman, singer-pianist Rob Kovacs, moved back to Cleveland. He just recently relaunched Return of Simple. Earlier this spring, Kovacs began a Euclid Tavern residency, which draws to a close tonight. He’ll perform at the venue at 8 p.m. Admission is free. (Niesel) 11625 Euclid Ave., 216-231-5400, happydogcleveland.com. COMEDY

Platinum Comedy Tour Veteran comedian Mike Epps got his start way back in the ’90s when he hopped on the Def Jam Comedy Tour. Portraying Day-Day Jones in the cult comedy hit Next Friday helped increase his profile too. He’s been acting and doing standup ever since. Two years ago, he brought his Festival of Laughs tour to the Wolstein Center. Tonight, he returns to the venue with his Platinum Comedy Tour featuring DeRay Davis, Rickey Smiley and DC Young Fly. The show begins at 8, and tickets start at $52. (Niesel) 2000 Prospect Ave., 216-687-9292, wolsteincenter.com.

Science Cafe Tonight, and the second Monday of every month, Music Box Supper Club hosts Science Cafe, an informal lecture series that brings scientists from throughout the region to the club to talk about science topics. Tonight at 7, Scott Simpson, a professor in Case Western Reserve University’s anatomy department, will discuss why “knuckle-walking African apes knuckle-walk.” The talk is free, but bring some money for the bar and restaurant. (Niesel) 1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com. MUSIC

Shit Show Karaoke Local rapper/promoter Dirty Jones and Scene’s own Manny Wallace host Shit Show Karaoke, a weekly event at the B-Side Liquor Lounge that allows patrons to choose from “an unlimited selection of jams from hip-hop to hard rock.” Participants are encouraged to “be as bad as you want.” Fueled by drink and shot specials, it all goes down tonight at 10 p.m. (Niesel) 2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-1966, bsideliquorlounge.com.

TUE

05/15

MUSIC

Classical Revolution Cleveland Tonight, and the third Tuesday of every month, Classical Revolution Cleveland brings its wide array of chamber music to the Happy Dog at the Euclid Tavern. Performers like the Trepanning Trio, Anime Duo and even Cleveland Orchestra members grace the stage in these exciting concerts. Tonight’s free, all-ages performance starts at 8. (Patrick Stoops) 5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com. FOOD

Truck Stop Tuesday As if to provide a westside counterpart to Walnut Wednesdays, Crocker Park in Westlake hosts Truck Stop Tuesdays, a weekly food truck gathering, today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Needless to say, admission is free, but the food will cost you. (Niesel) 143 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake, crockerpark.com.

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

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www.facebook.com/whiskeyislandstillandeatery www.whiskeyislandstillandeatery.net | clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

25

STAGE SHOWSTOPPERS-R-US Aladdin stuns with two great numbers, among others By Christine Howey MOST MUSICALS ARE LUCKY TO have one showstopper that audience members natter excitedly about as they leave the theater. But the Disney production of the musical Aladdin, now at Playhouse Square, has two song scenes that are so jaw-dropping, they don’t just stop this show, they may accidentally be stopping other shows in the area. So if you’re attending a performance of Death of a Salesman at a local theater in the next couple weeks and the actors suddenly pause for a couple minutes around 8:40 p.m., and then again a while later, you’ll know why. As brilliant as those two numbers are, the rest of this show, based on the Disney animation movie, is more numbing than notable. While some of the tunes by Alan Menken (music), with lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin, are cozy and familiar, there’s a lot of filler in this bag of fluff. Indeed, by the end of the show you feel like you’ve been pummeled by a pillow filled with glitter. If you’ve never seen a Broadwaystyle big musical, with gigantic, color-drenched sets and battalions of performers, Aladdin will transport you. But if you require a bit more wit and cerebral involvement from your entertainment, this touring production may feel as threadbare as a magic carpet with its backing showing through. Even so, you must strongly consider seeing this show if only for the showstoppers. In one, the lovely ditty “A Whole New World” is performed by the title character and his heartthrob Jasmine on a flying carpet. Set against a starry night sky, the carpet does indeed appear to slowly fly, swerve and change direction as the couple croons. And like any good magic trick, the carpet flies in front of a glowing moon so you can “see” there are no wires or cranes moving it around. It is a stage effect that does what great shows like this do. It generates childlike wonderment, even if you’re not a child. The other showstopper is much more raucous and fast paced, a giddy ride down a spiral slide. After the first act has tromped along for an

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| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

Photo by Deen van Meer

hour in a fairly pedestrian (although visually gorgeous) manner, Aladdin finally rubs his lamp and his Genie appears. As played by the electric Michael James Scott, the Genie is very happy to be released from his tight confines and has a hyper-speed rap that doesn’t quit. And when he launches into the song “Friend Like Me,” you’d best hang on for dear life. It is performed in the Hall of Wonders, a gold-encrusted, glistening and glimmering cave that looks like a Liberace wet dream funneled through a Ru Paul daydream and then set in the Trump Tower lobby. Against this backdrop, Scott’s effervescent Genie commands the stage and — along with dancers, singers and streamers shot into the

often feels dated and predictable. And a lot of the jokes are stale, as when two guys in Aladdin’s posse of thieves are joshing with each other: “Someday I’ll be stinking rich!” “You’re already halfway there.” “I have a gland problem.” Should we expect more interesting wordplay from what is essentially a children’s tale? Well, yes, especially since there are countless examples of “kids’ shows” that also have a layer of genuine cleverness that goes beyond punning on Middle-Eastern food (“Hummus a few bars of that song”). Also, there’s not much heart or emotion beneath all the bangles and baubles, as the story follows a tried, true and tired formula. The boys control all the action and the girls

ALADDIN THROUGH MAY 27 AT KEYBANK STATE THEATER, 1615 EUCLID AVE., 216-241-6000. PLAYHOUSESQUARE.COM

audience — delivers a production number that will blow everything: your hair back, your skirt up, and your mind away. There are other big and complex production numbers in this show, all costumed luxuriantly by designer Gregg Barnes and choreographed to the hilt by director Casey Nicholaw. But the story as written by Beguelin

are basically pretty trophies vying for the boys’ attention. This paucity of substantial ideas is shown in the fact that the musical ends with five reprises, with not one new song to add a final, fresh perspective to the familiar yarn. Aladdin also suffers from the lack of a compelling villain. Although Jonathan Weir does his best Captain

Hook impression as nasty-pants Jafar, he’s a comical baddie from the outset, so there’s clearly never anything at stake for the good guys. And his sidekick Iago is equally dull, since Jay Paranada fails to find a consistent way to breathe life into this stock character. Indeed, other than the amazing James, the acting in this touring company doesn’t ignite much passion. Handsome Clinton Greenspan as the always barechested Aladdin has the rock hard abs required. And his exposed skin is often gleaming with sweat, either from actual physical exertion or from being lubed offstage with a spray bottle of glycerin and water. In any case, his singing is fine, but he doesn’t bring an added layer of charisma to this pivotal role. In a similar way, Isabelle McCall as Jasmine ticks all the boxes for beauty and singing voice, but her pouty expressions of faux resistance to Aladdin are as artificial as the gold lamp. But no one is going to Aladdin to see great acting. You’re going for the dazzle, the spectacle. And this production will drown you in glitz until you scream for mercy.

scene@clevescene.com t@christinehowey

Photo by Sam Allard

MOVIES MARVEL-OUS BROS Cleveland’s own Anthony and Joe Russo talk Avengers: Infinity War By Sam Allard OVER THE WEEKEND, Cleveland natives Anthony and Joe Russo concluded a month-long global publicity tour for Avengers: Infinity War on their home turf. Infinity War, directed by the Russos, is the first part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s epic finale. Audiences all over the world have been flocking to theaters to experience the spectacle on the big screen — it has already eclipsed $1 billion in global gross, the fastest any film has ever done so. The Russos traveled to four continents in three weeks to publicize the film, but ended their journey at the Cleveland Cinematheque, where audiences saw a special screening of Infinity War and participated in a Q&A with the directors Saturday. “For us, the Cinematheque was really seminal to our film growth,” Anthony told Scene in an interview Sunday. “We didn’t grow up filmmakers. We grew up film geeks. We didn’t start messing around with filmmaking until we were in our 20s. But we consumed it everywhere, and the Cinematheque became a special place for us because of its unique program. We’ve seen a lot of our favorite

movies there. So the fact that they were going to screen our three Marvel films together was about as thrilling an opportunity as we’ve ever had.” (In what the Russos described as a “devastating” turn of events, much of University Circle experienced power outages Saturday, and the Cinematheque was unable to screen Winter Soldier or Civil War, the Captain America films that the Russos directed.) Due to audiences’ deep investment in the Marvel cinematic universe — as reflected at the box office — and the prevalence of spoilers online, the Russos saw it as a sacred duty to protect the film’s secrets. “These are really high-visibility movies, and people have spent 10 years of their lives invested in these characters and these stories,” Joe said. “So we distributed fake scripts to the cast and very few people knew the actual story of the movie. Nobody wants the ending spoiled.” Anthony said it’s no knock on the cast that they wanted to talk about the movies. “They’re on set for a year,” he said. “This is their life. And people want to talk about their

life. It only got crazy when the cast would show up and nobody knew what their lines were.” Joe added, “Loose lips sinks ships, and we had a few loose lips in the cast.” Both brothers said that one of the biggest challenges of shooting a film of Infinity War’s magnitude was staying in physical shape. They cited a famous Steven Spielberg story, in which a young director asked him for advice before directing his first major Hollywood movie. Spielberg’s response: Get a [physical] trainer. “Our days were anywhere from 12 to 20 hours,” Joe said. “And when you’re shooting two films back to back, that was consistent for a year.” (They took a two-week break between shooting parts 1 and 2.)

Responding to a question about a proposed increase to Ohio’s film tax credits, Joe immediately said the state ought to pass the increase. But they added that tax incentives aren’t the only way to entice films. “Cleveland is missing one essential piece,” Joe said. “Modern, dedicated sound stages. The city needs to commit to it, and private capital needs to help out. Once that happens, we could have brought films like Infinity War and Civil War here.” Anthony added, “We obviously have a very strong personal investment in encouraging film production here. So we’re into the issue.”

sallard@clevescene.com t@scenesallard

SPOTLIGHT: RARE BASEBALL FILMS FOR THE PAST DECADE OR SO, Dave Filipi, director of film/video at Columbus’ Wexner Center for the Arts, has presented a program of archival baseball footage at the Cleveland Museum of Art. This year’s program comes to the museum at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. It features clips from 1924 to 1944. Locals will appreciate seeing footage of Walter Johnson managing the Cleveland Indians in 1934. “It’s a clip of him in spring training in New Orleans with the team, and he does a corny welcome to the cameras and players,” Filipi says. “Even though he was the manager, there is a good 30 seconds or so of him pitching. Any

time you can see a great Hall of Famer in action from that time period, it’s valuable footage.” The program also includes a 1943 news reel that features a reporter asking the question about whether there should be baseball with World War II going on. “To a person, everyone says there should be sports,” says Filipi. “It’s interesting to see that it was a real question back then, whereas we are not faced with those types of choices today. The closest thing I can think of was after 9/11 when baseball was shut down for a period of time.” Another highlight features an uninterrupted interview with Hall of Famer Ty Cobb.

“It’s not particularly revelatory, though the interviewer asks him about some of the toughest pitchers he’s ever faced,” says Filipi. “I don’t remember seeing anything like this with Cobb, or any player, really. Babe Ruth is featured in all kinds of footage, but it’s pretty rare to have such a candid interview.” In another clip, Lou Gehrig goes to the stock market right after the Crash of 1929, but the event isn’t ever referenced. “It might be something that was staged,” says Filipi. “The clip shows Gehrig with Walter Koppisch. They went to Columbia together and Gehrig played football with him. Koppisch had a brief career in the NFL but then went into finance.

The clip is Lou getting information for Walter, and they have a conversation. It’s raw footage, so you see them mess up their takes. It’s very lighthearted. You see Gehrig in a more relaxed moment.” Some clips show amateur teams like the House of David, a baseball version of the Harlem Globetrotters, playing with manager Grover Cleveland Alexander and require a bit of explanation. As a result, Filipi will be on hand for the screening to introduce the various films. Tickets are $11, or $8 for CMA members. — Jeff Niesel

jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel

| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

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Thanking Our Wonderful Customers For Continuously Making Us The #1 Indian Cuisine Restaurant In Northeast Ohio!

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EAT FRESHLY ROASTED Cleveland’s Hillson Nut Company has been doing it the old-fashioned way for 83 years By Douglas Trattner I’VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF touring an artisanal bread bakery, a small-batch coffee roastery, and even a Mexican tortilleria imbued with the warm, corny perfume of freshground masa. But none of those places comes close to producing the olfactory euphoria of a nut-roasting facility. “One of our neighbors was being moved into a nursing home after living down the street his entire life, and the thing he said he was going to miss most was the smell of roasting nuts,” says Anne Hillson Kennedy, president of Hillson Nut Company. For 83 years, Hillson Nut has been filling the air with the satisfying aroma of freshly roasted almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts and peanuts. This tightknit, familyowned-and-operated company sprang to life in 1935, when Robert Hillson opened up a nut roastery on Woodland Avenue. In 1956, he relocated the company to its present site, a hulking brick fortress at the terminus of West 71st Street in the Stockyards neighborhood. Formerly a coal-fired power station for the Cleveland Union Terminal Railroad, the 14,000-square-foot structure features soaring 40-foot ceilings and an assemblage of machinery that looks to be from another era. A massive metal drum tumbles nuts over a hot flame, a serious-looking device mills nutmeat into creamy, smooth butter, a Rube Goldberg-like contraption spits out a stream of vacuum-sealed tins, and all around the room, workers sit at “picking belts” and closely inspect every single nut that comes in and goes out the door. Some employees have been with the company for more than 20 and even 30 years. “When other nut companies decided to streamline and upgrade to digital processing equipment and automation to do away with people,

we didn’t,” explains Hillson Kennedy. “We believe in people over machines.” Back in the day, most major cities had at least one local nut processor, where nuts from around the world would come in to be inspected, shelled, roasted, buttered, weighed and delivered to eager retail and wholesale customers. Back then, Hillson Kennedy adds, food was expensive to ship, people didn’t do a lot of mail order, and nuts are a fresh, perishable product, all factors that fostered the rise of local nut roasters.

operations. “Everything is still done by hand the same way it was done in the 1930s.” Hillson processes “hundreds of thousands of pounds” of nuts annually, with the majority of them heading to large wholesale accounts such as Dairy Queen. But you can also wager that the nuts that top or are mixed into your favorite local ice cream, bakery and candy products likely originate here as well. “The thing that worked for my grandfather was the fact that there were lots of dairy farms around most

HILLSON NUT COMPANY 3225 WEST 71ST ST. 216-961-4477 HILLSONNUT.COM

While Hillson sells raw nuts, the bulk of the products are roasted in wide vats of bubbling peanut oil, which produces a superior texture and flavor. The nuts are cooled, salted, weighed and packaged. Some pecans and almonds are roasted, salted and then bathed by hand in real melted butter. Any product can be custom roasted, salted, chopped, ground and/or mixed to a customer’s exact specifications. “We were artisanal and smallbatch before that was even a thing,” says Mike Rodemann, VP of

cities and each of those dairies would make its own ice cream,” Hillson Kennedy says. “He would bring the raw product here and custom-roast it to their specifications. They got it fresh, they got it fast, and they got it made to order exactly the way they wanted it.” Over the decades, Hillson has weathered hardships and fads like the recessions of the 1970s, the peanut shortages of the 1980s, the saturated fat-phobic diets of always, and the nut allergy epidemic currently sweeping the nation. Two

trends that Robert Hillson likely never predicted is the sky-high demand for raw cashews by vegan foods providers and the rise of peanut-butter thirsty bakeries for dogs. In addition to those heavenly scents emanating from the building, neighbors benefit from the small walk-up retail shop just inside Hillson’s front door. Nut lovers can purchase a pound of jumbo cashews, a pound of toasted, shelled pistachios or five pounds of Spanish peanuts. At holiday time, tins of the company’s famous Deluxe Mix crisscross their way all over the region and beyond. “One of our customers asked me to pour our Deluxe Mix over his casket when he goes,” says Rodemann, adding that the phone, fortunately, has yet to ring. Like all perishable foods, nuts taste better when they’re fresh. Digging into a bowl of fresh and freshly roasted cashews or almonds might be one of life’s greatest joys, and we have companies like Hillson to thank for that. “People ask me what’s my favorite nut all the time and I say, ‘Whatever is roasting right now,’” says Hillson Kennedy. “Because I smell it and then I have to have it.”

dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner

| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

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| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

ANGIE’S SOUL CAFE TO OPEN IN RENOVATED HOT SAUCE WILLIAMS BUILDING By Douglas Trattner “WE’RE FINALLY MOVING BACK to the street where we started,” says Akin Alafin, owner of Soul Republic United Restaurants. “A lot of people don’t know that that’s where Angie started at, in the Carnegie Hotel.” Alafin is referring to Angie’s Soul Cafe originator Angie Jeter, who began her professional cooking career at the Carnegie Hotel at East 69th Street. Jeter went on to open soul food restaurants after the hotel closed. Today, Alafin’s restaurant group also includes Zanzibar Soul Fusion, which has one location at Shaker Square and a new, second location downtown, in the former home of Stonetown. Next up for Alafin is to renovate the former Hot Sauce Williams building at Carnegie and East 79th in advance of a new Angie’s Soul Cafe location. Crews already have started work on the interior, which is being stripped to the studs, says Alafin. “Everything inside will be brandspanking new.” The exterior, too, will receive plenty of love in an attempt to make the building appear completely new. When the dust finally settles in late summer, the company will shutter the Midtown location (3400 St. Clair Ave.) and reopen the following day on Carnegie. Diners can look forward to a soul food menu populated by baked and fried chicken dinners, fried fish plates, and comfort food dishes like braised oxtails, meatloaf and Salisbury steak.

Irie Jamaican Kitchen to Open Second Location, This by the Zoo A year and a half ago, chef Omar McKay traded in his modest spot at the Richmond Town Square food court for a sunny brick-and-mortar on East 185th Street. At Irie Jamaican Kitchen (621 East 185th St., 216350-6112), he offers diners heaping plates of fiery jerk chicken, supple braised oxtails and sweet shrimp curry alongside the customary warm cabbage slaw, rice and beans. But he also offers contemporary takes too, like “Jah-potle” style items that serve up those same delicious stews in the now-familiar bowl or wrap form. “Some people might be uncomfortable trying Jamaican food for the first time, but if you put it in a wrap or bowl, everybody gets it,” McKay explained during an interview. Next up for McKay is a westside spot near the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Construction is under way at 4162 Pearl Rd., with a projected early- to mid-summer opening. When it does open, it will be the first Jamaican eatery on Cleveland’s west side (as far as we know).

dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner

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MUSIC ON HER OWN Local singer-songwriter Diana Chittester displays her musical range on her new EP By Jeff Niesel A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, local singer-songwriter Diana Chittester got wind that Fleming Artists, one of her favorite booking agencies, had sold and purged many of her favorite artists from its roster. Several of those musicians subsequently dropped out of music altogether. Deflated, she thought that it was maybe a sign that she should pursue a different path and try to get fulltime work as a music teacher. “I did a workshop at Hathaway Brown [in Shaker Heights], and the entire experience was really good,” she says one afternoon over a cup of tea at Nature’s Oasis, a Lakewood grocery store/cafe that’s near her home. She performs at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Beachland Tavern. “The things I missed the most were the community of people you work with. I play music with other people, but that’s different from the day-today of having coworkers. I had even called a few schools [about enrolling in education programs]. Musically, I was running out of fuel.” She began to think that teaching had “more reason behind it,” but she became encouraged when she started showcasing to perform at regional performing arts centers. “I saw there are people out there who are still doing good work, and they’re people who don’t have to be celebrities,” she says. “That revived the whole thing for me. It’s such a positive thing.” That energy drives the songs on Chittester’s new EP, Paradox. Chittester says she initially started writing the songs after her last album, Find My Way Home, came out in 2014. But she found that too many songs seemed to repeat the themes found on that album. “[ Paradox] took me a long time to write,” she says. “I learned that there’s a point where the ‘voice’ stops. I was writing about the same topics that were found on Find My Way Home.” About three years ago, she wrote the tune “Freedom” on ukulele. She composed the track after being at a party and hearing her friends complain about feeling trapped in their jobs and lives. She then wrote “On My Own,” a simmering

tune that, with its powerful vocals, recalls Tigerlily-era Natalie Merchant, and the EP came into focus. “As I was writing ‘On My Own,’ I realized that I was writing a personal testimony about what it was like to be not just an independent musician but any person pursing their own track,” she says. “For me, pursuing music put me on a different track than what most other people do. It made me feel left out, but I knew I couldn’t stop. I was in it, and if I did walk away, I knew everything I worked to build would crumble.” After writing those two songs, she realized her viewpoint was rather paradoxical and started assembling a set of songs around that theme. She recruited Matt Troja (Keith Urban, Sara Evans, and the Dave Matthews Band’s Jeff Coffin) to produce the album and worked out of both Somewhere Studios in Euclid and Troja’s home studio in Willoughby. “I originally thought Matt would just mix the album, but he politely told me that if I tried to do it on my own, it would be disastrous,” says Chittester. “We had a long conversation about ideas and how to approach the album. The most convincing thing he said was that he wanted to produce an album he’d be happy to put his name on.

Photo by Elaine Manusakis

connection stems from the fact that Chittester learned Heart’s “Crazy on You” while she was recording her album and realized what a challenge it was to play the song’s opening riff. “[Heart guitarist] Nancy Wilson used the acoustic guitar in rock music, and Led Zeppelin inspired the songs too,” she says. “As a singer-songwriter, I get shoved

DIANA CHITTESTER, OLIVIA MARTINEZ 8 P.M. FRIDAY, MAY 11, BEACHLAND TAVERN, 15711 WATERLOO RD., 216-383-1124. TICKETS: $10 ADV, $12 DOS, BEACHLANDBALLROOM.COM

That’s what I needed — somebody who cares as much as me.” A diverse album, Paradox shows off Chittester’s musical range. The aforementioned “Freedom” includes some beefy B-3 organ riffs courtesy of local keyboardist Chris Hanna, and the title track includes both ukulele and a beautiful bit of cello — Sam Kristoff from the Speedbumps plays the cello on the song. Some songs even have a classic rock feel to them. The classic rock

into the Americana category, but I want to play acoustic rock, so I referenced those other bands.” Chittester wrote the ballad “Thy Will Be Done” in response to “violence in America.” The song’s distorted vocals really resonate and the song slowly builds in intensity. “I felt really hopeless at the time, and it was a hard song for me to write,” she says. “We wanted something that best captures that emotion, so we made the vocals

very lo-fi to indicate the underlying frustration and anger that a lot of us are feeling. There’s then an angelic part in the bridge.” Album closer “Cry” was one of the hardest songs for Chittester to write. “I sat with the chorus for a little while,” she says. A student came up to her at a workshop and asked her for advice about coming out to his parents. “The song is written with that in mind,” she says. “It was a hard time for me. I came out to my family, and it was the main reason I moved to Ohio. It was 10 years of fighting and one of the hardest times of my life. Sometimes, you just need to cry. That was the message I wanted to send out.” Because of the expense involved in recording, Chittester kept the release to six songs. She hopes fans will take the time to listen to each track and not just one or two tunes. “I wanted each song to get recognized on the album,” she says. “And I really hope this album opens up new avenues for me.”

jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel

| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

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| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

35

MUSIC 10 YEARS IN THE MAKING Korn’s Jonathan Davis finally releases his solo debut By Jeff Niesel WHEN WE’RE PATCHED IN FOR our phone interview with Korn singer Jonathan Davis, he sounds a bit drowsy. “I’m kind of a vampire, bro,” he says cordially. He’s speaking via phone from Eugene, Oregon, where he and his band had a day off from his solo tour in support of his forthcoming album, Black Labyrinth. He performs at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at House of Blues. Given the schedule that Davis keeps — Korn records and tours relentlessly — it’s no wonder he needs all the sleep he can get. And yet Davis perks up when he begins discussing his solo album. He says he began writing the songs for it back in 2017. But Korn tours and albums always seemed to prevent him from finding the time to complete them. “I’ve been waiting 11 years for the fucking record to come out,” he says. “I started writing when my son was born. I did a tour with my different band. I did [music for the horror film] Queen of the Damned. That was my first solo endeavor. We went on the road, and I wanted to do a record. I did the record. The label president left, and I had to get the record back. It got caught in the red tape. I got the record back, and the Korn machine had to keep rolling. We’ve been going and going for the past 11 years. We haven’t had a break. Now, I actually had the time to put this thing out. I’m on tour, and the record is doing great. I’m happy to be performing something I started 11 years ago.” Growing up in the ’80s, Davis says he was initially drawn to the New Romantic movement. “I was into Duran Duran and the Cure,” he says. “That really spoke to me. Later on in the ’80s, I dabbled in Motley Crue metal, but that didn’t last long. I went back to the New Romantic stuff. I also listened to old Goth stuff like Christian Death and Specimen. I loved that kind of stuff. I also liked [Queen’s] Freddie Mercury, who was over the top amazing. I admired his skill and his whole persona and everything. [Queen] just obviously had talent.” When Korn first formed in the early ’90s, the group sounded quite different from what was popular at

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| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

Photo courtesy of Press Here

the time. The band mixed hip-hop, metal and rock in a unique fashion. Davis said the band didn’t set out to blur musical genres. “I think it just happened,” he says. “We didn’t think about it. Even when I make records today, we don’t have preconceived notions. We go in the room and start writing music from our hearts. It just came out that way. For bands who stand the

“I remember on our first tour, we’d hand out cassettes and socialize with the fans,” he says. “It got so big that we couldn’t hang out with them. We wanted to still do that, but there was no social media at the time. We still did a lot of in-stores. We had contests and all kinds of shit. We wanted to thank the fans and still be there. We wanted to connect and take it to the people and

JONATHAN DAVIS 7:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, HOUSE OF BLUES, 308 EUCLID AVE., 216-523-2583. TICKETS: $35-$45, HOUSEOFBLUES.COM

test of time, that’s how they do it. They don’t sit there and analyze it. It’s just whatever comes out at the moment. When we do that, it’s a snapshot of what’s going on with the band at the moment. That’s why I love music. It’s like fuckin’ wizardry or some shit. There’s definitely magic involved. You never know what you’re going to get, man. It’s awesome. It’s a fun process, and I love what I do.” In the early days, Davis says he and his bandmates would hang out with the fans after the show.

do it organically. That’s how you succeed. Other stuff doesn’t work or last.” Davis says he wrote the Black Labyrinth songs while touring the world; he penned the tunes in Russia, Europe and South America. “It was all over the place,” he says of the writing process. “I wanted there to be this world-music vibe. You couldn’t really date it. I wanted a hybrid of world music and heavier music. It’s not necessarily heavy. I wanted to do something different that hasn’t been done. It’s really

difficult to do that.” Davis says the first single, “What It Is,” an anthemic song that features orchestral flourishes and upper-register vocals, is about “coming to terms with your life problems.” “Humans cause so much grief because we don’t deal with the problems right when they happen,” he says when asked about the song’s meaning. “That’s what inspired me to write that song. People are touched by that song. It’s a complicated song, but it speaks the truth, I think.” Part of a series of music videos for songs from the album, the music video for “What It Is” depicts the ending of the album’s storyline. “I wanted the series to go from end to beginning because it’s a cool way to do it,” says Davis. “The Ganzfeld Experiment inspired it too. You put these goggles over your eyes and start listening to white noise. After 20 minutes of doing that, you start hallucinating crazy shit. There’s no drugs, no nothing. It’s your subconscious. It’s amazing. The concept of the album is inspired by that. [The album is also about how] I have a problem with organized religion. They say that gay people aren’t allowed in the church. To me, the concept of God is love. You should accept everyone. It’s me dealing with that and going through this journey about what I believe. It’s designed to make you think; all the pieces will start coming together later on. I wanted to do something different that would stimulate your mind.” For the live show, which will feature solo material as well as the occasional cover, Davis says he’s recruited a “bunch of killer guys” to back him up. “It’s me doing this shit live,” he says. “It’s more laid back. It’s not all aggressive like Korn. It’s really a fun show. I’ve done four or five so far. Fans are really digging it. If you want to mosh and go crazy, go to a Korn show. If you want something else, check this out. It’s really dope.”

jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel

| clevescene.com m | May 9 - 15, 2018

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LIVEWIRE

all the live music you should see this week Photo courtesy of MuAmin Collective

WED

05/09

Bad Boys of Blues Jam: 9 p.m. Smedley’s. Boulevards/Stout XTC/Uncle Gnarly: 7:30 p.m., $12 ADV, $15 DOS. Beachland Tavern. Jonathan Davis/Palisades: 7:30 p.m., $35 ADV, $40 DOS. House of Blues. Joyner Lucas/Eli: 8:30 p.m., $22 ADV, $25 DOS. Grog Shop. JayVe Montgomery/BBob Drake/ We Three Qings: 7 p.m., $15. Bop Stop. Glen Phillips/Gretchen Pleuss: As the frontman for the on-again/ off-again Toad the Wet Sprocket, low-key singer-songwriter Glen Phillips benefited from the altrock explosion of the ‘90s that turned Toad into a household name. His solo career hasn’t fared as well (perhaps that’s why Toad reunites every couple of years), but that hasn’t kept Phillips from trying. Last year’s Swallowed by the New features elegant arrangements and mellow vocals as Phillips explores his folkier side. Expect him to stick to solo material and the occasional Toad number at this acoustic show. (Jeff Niesel), 7:30 p.m., $22 ADV, $25 DOS. Music Box Supper Club. Suburban Living (in the Locker Room): 9 p.m., $6 ADV, $8 DOS. Mahall’s 20 Lanes.

THU

05/10

FreeByrds Musician’s Night: 10 p.m. Smedley’s. Champian Fulton: Jazz singerpianist Champian Fulton launcher current tour in Belgium at the Jazz à Liege Festival; the 30-plus date tour includes her first-ever appearance in Cleveland. Expect to hear tracks from her nine recordings, including last year’s Speechless, which features original compositions such as the swinging “Lullaby for Art.” (Niesel), 8 p.m., $20. Bop Stop. Chris Hatton’s Musical Circus (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge. Malcolm Holcombe/Austin Stambaugh: 8:30 p.m., $12. Beachland Tavern. Jam Night with the Bad Boys of Blues: 9 p.m., free. Brothers Lounge.

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| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

MuAmin Collective plays a release party at Now That’s Class. See: Friday.

Jessica Lee/Mark Strickland Duo: 8 p.m., $10. Nighttown. Madison Beer/Aleem/Russo: 8 p.m., $26 ADV, $28.50 DOS. House of Blues Cambridge Room. The Scenic Route/The Inventors/ The Interstate/American Spirits: 8 p.m., $5 ADV, $8 DOS. The Winchester. The Steel Woods/Jive Mother Mary: 8:30 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Beachland Ballroom. Patrick Sweany/Ray Flanagan: Massillon native Patrick Sweany used to regularly play Northeast Ohio’s indie rock clubs. Since moving out of town several years ago, he hasn’t been as much of a presence. Produced by Grammywinning producer Matt RossSpang, Sweany’s latest effort, Ancient Noise was recorded at the Sam Phillips Recording. Ross-Spang also recruited Al Green’s longtime keyboard player Charles Hodges to play on the disc. Sweany and Co. cut the sessions with no pre-production rehearsals with the band, so the songs have a real immediacy to them. (Niesel), 8 p.m., $12 ADV, $15 DOS. Music Box Supper Club. Therapy Thursday Hosted by Braxton Taylor featuring Collin Miller/Ross Livermore/Trevor Larkin: 8 p.m., free. CODA.

FRI

05/11

Mimi Arden/Lex and Za: 8 p.m., free. CODA. Diana Chittester Release Show/ Olivia Martinez: 8 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Beachland Tavern. Emmet Cohen Trio: 8 p.m., $20. Bop Stop. Forecast: 8:30 p.m., $15. Nighttown. Hey Mavis: 7:30 p.m., $10. Music Box Supper Club. MuAmin Collective Record Release Show/Obnox/Kent

Archie & DJ Nuera: MuAmin Collective has been a fixture on the local hip-hop scene in the city for over ten years. During that time, the crew has seen a few different lineups —some featured local poet and musician R.a. Washington and local musician Dwayne “G.O.R.K.” Pigee, who was killed in February 2016, but the two constants have always been emcee Josiah “Zion” Quarles and producer Aaron “A-Live” Snorton. The group will release its latest album, The Hues Brothers, next week, and it’s a family affair as it’s a collaboration between Quarles and his brother, James “Jungle Jim” Quarles. Movies such as Menace II Society, The Book of Eli and Dead Presidents inspired the songs. (Emanuel Wallace), 9 p.m., $5. Now That’s Class. Naturally 7: 8 p.m., $20 ADV, $27 DOS. The Kent Stage. Obituary/Pallbearer/ Skeletonwitch/Dust Bolt: 6 p.m., $25 ADV, $30 DOS. Agora Ballroom. The Obsessives/Nervous Dater/The Sonder Bombs/Biitchseat: 7 p.m., $10. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Savage Master/Bewitcher/Vulgar Devils/HAMMR: 9 p.m., $12 ADV, $14 DOS. Grog Shop. The Struts/Glorious Sons/Spirit Animal: 8 p.m., $25 ADV, $30 DOS. House of Blues. Take Off Charlie/Dave Buker & the Historians/Daniel Rylander/ Emily Keener: 9 p.m., $7. Musica. The Teddy Boys Album Release/ Samfox/Holy Daughters/All Is Harvest: 8 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Beachland Ballroom.

SAT

05/12

The Accidentals: We last saw The Accidentals in Cleveland on their

tour with Keller Williams in early 2016. The show was great, and, honestly, they’ve pretty much been touring ever since — with no plans to slow down. The trio returns to Cleveland this week to showcase their chops and show off the material from their latest album, aptly titled Odyssey. It’s worth noting, if only because it’s such an interesting and obvious fact about the band, that musicians Sav Buist, Katie Larson and Michael Dause are only in their very early 20s. And they’ve been relentlessly touring for several years at this point. As a result, Odyssey is a culmination of the past seven years of being a band. (Eric Sandy), 8 p.m., $12 ADV, $15 DOS. The Kent Stage. Tony Bennett: 8 p.m. Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park. Shirley Cook And Company: 8 p.m., $20. Bop Stop. Discount Nostalgia / Laurel & The Love In / The Movies / Orange Animal: 8 p.m., $4 ADV $7 DOS. CODA. The Floorwalkers/White Buffalo Woman/the Tom Katlees: 8 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Beachland Ballroom. Foreveratlast/Human After All/ The Safest Ledge/Nathan James/ Eyes for Humanity (in the Locker Room): 7 p.m., $10. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Greg Kihn: 8 p.m. Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park. The Mason District/The Whiskey Hollow/Smoke Screen: 9 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Grog Shop. Nellie McKay CD Release Event: 8:30 p.m., $30. Nighttown. Taylor Phelan/Allison Bencar/ Mike Mains: 8 p.m., $10 ADV, $13 DOS. The Winchester. Roots of Creation Grateful Dub 2018 Tour with Stimpy’s Revenge: 8:30 p.m., $13 ADV, $15 DOS. Beachland Tavern. Patrick Sweany Album Release/ Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons: 9 p.m., $12. Musica. Tropidelic/Carlos Jones and the PLUS Band/Wanyama/Persons Places Things: After signing to the label run by the jam band Pepper, local rockers Tropidelic released Heavy is the Head last year and even played a few high profile Midwestern dates with the like-minded 311. Heavy is the Head’s first single, “Hey Now,” a jazzy/hip-hop-inflected call-toarms, includes inspired lyrics

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LIVEWIRE about how the “rich are getting richer and the poor are getting killed.” “Leviathan” features gospel-like vocals and rattling percussion, and “Dollar Saved,” a song with a fierce hip-hop segment courtesy of the band’s other singer, James Begin, takes a jab at the establishment. You will likely hear these tracks and more tunes from the album at tonight’s show. (Niesel), 8 p.m., $21 ADV, $25 DOS. House of Blues. Varsity/Swell Tides/Exotic Fruit Club: 9 p.m., $8 ADV, $10 DOS. Now That’s Class.

SUN

05/14

Hinds/Goodbye Honolulu/Forager: 9 p.m., $15. Grog Shop. Mainland/Rad Horror/Effee: 8:30 p.m., $12 ADV, $15 DOS. Beachland Tavern. Kali Masi/Blanket Party/Mapache: 8 p.m., $4 ADV $7 DOS. CODA. Skatch Anderssen Orchestra: 8 p.m., $7. Brothers Lounge. University School Jazz Ensembles: 7 p.m., $10. Nighttown. Velvet Voyage (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge.

TUE

05/15

Cut Worms/Jivviden/John’s Little Sister: 8:30 p.m., $10. Beachland Tavern.

40

| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

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SATURDAY, MAY 19 8:00PM

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| clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

41

Photo courtesy of Mason District

BAND OF THE WEEK

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members met each other while performing at local open mic nights. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was hosting a local open mic in Mentor, and I met Maria [Petti] and Collin [Nutter] through that,â&#x20AC;? says Tobias, who started playing acoustic shows with Petti ďŹ rst. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We played cover songs by bands like the Black Keys. We continued to play cover songs to test out the waters and see how we all worked together. Then we started writing original music.â&#x20AC;? He says band members listen to everything from hip-hop to indie rock. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our main inďŹ&#x201A;uences are Black Keys, Kings of Leon, Alabama Shakes and Portugal the Man. We also like older styles of music like CCR, David Bowie and Steppenwolf. I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all inďŹ&#x201A;uenced by those older bands.â&#x20AC;? REALLY RAW: In December of 2016, the Mason District recorded its ďŹ rst EP, Shotgun Soul, in Nutterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basement. Local producer du jour Jim Stewart handled mixing duties. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was that raw style with not much production in it,â&#x20AC;? says Tobias. WHY YOU SHOULD HEAR THEM: The simple, catchy guitar riffs in tunes such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Earth to Lucyâ&#x20AC;? distinguish the songs and suggest the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s songwriting skills have evolved nicely. The song even has a really cool, trippy section that serves as the bridge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to put together a whole album, so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re breaking it up into three EPs,â&#x20AC;? says Tobias. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do three release shows. We call it The Blue Room. They originated in a practice room we used to play

at that was at Collinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house.â&#x20AC;? The band sculpted the songs at the practice space but then recorded them with local producer Mike Brown at his Lava Room Recording. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we wanted to do different from Shotgun Soul was throw more production in it, and we wanted a fuller sound,â&#x20AC;? says Tobias. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We did a lot of production ourselves. Mike [Brown] helped with some things that were missing. He deďŹ nitely helped out a lot.â&#x20AC;? The band will celebrate the release of the ďŹ rst three songs with the upcoming show at the Grog Shop. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll start with the skeleton of the song and write a melody and throw some lyrics in there,â&#x20AC;? says Tobias. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am starting to mess with piano a little more for writing. Maria and Collin will bring in their parts. We are trying to write music that will catch someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention. When you hear us live, we want you to remember the songs. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a hard thing to do. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen automatically. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to write together more where we build off of a guitar riff. I like involving everybody into the writing process as a whole.â&#x20AC;? Tobias says the drums and bass are done for the next six songs, which the band will release on the two forthcoming EPs. WHERE YOU CAN HEAR THEM:

themasondistrict.com WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM: The Mason

District performs with Whiskey Hollow and Smoke Screen at 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at the Grog Shop. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Jeff Niesel

jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel

C-NOTES RELENTLESS CACOPHONY Local drummer celebrates his birthday by performing with four different bands By Jeff Niesel LOCAL DRUMMER ROBERT Darkmatter (Robert O’Lexa) will celebrate his birthday in a rather unique manner. He’ll host a special “4 For 44” show at 9 p.m. on Saturday at the Happy Dog, where he’ll perform with all four of his current projects. He’ll kick things off with the Dandelion Moon, a band he calls his “jazziest outfit,” and he’ll then sit behind the kit with Banging Fragiles, a classic shoegaze/post-rock band that he helped found in 2011. He’ll also perform with Iron Oxide, a brash new-wave/no-wave band, and then he’ll conclude the night with Vengeance Space Quartet, who are celebrating the release of their debut album, The Decaying of the Year. That band represents the most challenging listen of the four. “Based in improvisation and experimental noise, the relentless cacophony is sure to send concertgoers home questioning their preconceived notions of ‘rock music,’” reads the press release about the event. O’Lexa began his career in high school, drumming for the Pittsburgh death-metal act Rottrevore, which had just released a record on Relapse Records. He moved to Cleveland in 1995 and fronted the punk band Rollercoaster and drummed with Ditch. In the early 2000s, he drummed with indie rockers the Lovekill. He’s also played with the experimental band darkmatterwhitefire and the folk/pop group Stoned by Magic.

Coda Launches a New SingerSongwriter Night Coda, the small Tremont club located on Professor Avenue beneath Dante Next Door, has attracted local and national attention since opening a few years ago. Now, Braxton Taylor of the local band Samfox has announced that he’ll host Therapy Thursdays, a new singer-songwriter night that kicks off at Coda Thursday at 8 p.m. The inaugural event will feature Collin Miller of the local soul

Photo by Mara Robinson

KentStage The

Drummer extraordinaire Robert O’Lexa

act Collin Miller & the Brother Nature; Nashville-based Trevor Larkin, the guitarist for Allen Stone; and Nashville-based singersongwriter Ross Livermore. “There’s a regular scene of people who go to Coda,” says Taylor. “We were regulars, and we thought it’d be good to host a storyteller night. There really isn’t something like this in town.” In March, Taylor hosted a successful test-run. Next week is the formal launch. “It’s going to be super-sweet,” he says. “Collin [Miller] and Trevor [Larkin] have done a set together before.[Singer-songwriter]AllenStone is one of Collin’s biggest influences. It just worked out that they were both available and looking for something. Trevor came first but obviously we wanted to get Collin because they already have a rapport. It’s going to be a great show.” Taylor says his objective is to show another side of bands with “bigger sounds.” “You could strip down these bands to acoustic guitars, and you’ll realize that all of these sounds are coming from one person,” he says. “I want to relive a moment in their lives when they were writing the song. That’s what I want to do as the MC. I’ll get on stage and bullshit with them a bit, but I want people to have a sense of their personality and take in the talent.”

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

=HGÍM FBLL MA>L> @K>:M LAHPL MB<D>ML HG L:E> GHP

Naturally 7 Fri., May 11

The Accidentals

Marty Stuart & The Superlatives

Sat., May 12

Sun., May 13

Elizabeth Cook

Ana Popovic

Jerry Douglas Band

Thu., May 17

Mon., May 21

Mon., May 22

An Evening with Leo Kottke

The 9th Annual Alan Cox Show Comedy Tour

JJ Grey & Mofro

Wed, May 23

Sat., May 26

Thu., May 31

JUST ANNOUNCED

ROBERT CRAY

Fri., July 20

TUES., JULY 10

ALL SHOWS AT THE KENT STAGE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED Tickets available at www.kentstage.org or 877-987-6487 GMK [w cw i {{ © a{ B e~ JJHJF | clevescene.com | May 9 - 15, 2018

43

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SAVAGE LOVE PEDESTRIAN AF By Dan Savage First let me say that I think you give excellent advice, even if it is a bit pedestrian at times. I have a small problem: Last fall, my penis bent up and to the left at an almost 90 degree angle. I know from Google that this is not an unusual problem. And at 59, I am thankful that things are working as well as they are. But I fly gliders, and the relief system is a “Texas catheter” with a drain line to outside the glider. I believe that the bending on my penis may be the result of trauma caused by removing the catheter. In your many years of dealing with penis problems — I know you are not a urologist, but still — have you run across problems of a similar nature? Is there a way to remove adhesive from the penis that will not cause trauma? I dread further damaging my member. — Hanging Under Nice Glider First let me say thank you for the qualified compliment — you sure know how to flatter a girl — and I’ll try to keep my trademark excellentif-pedestrian advice coming, HUNG. Also, you’re right, I’m not a urologist. But Dr. Keith Newman is. He’s also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and my go-to guy for dickrelated medical questions. “It is not likely that HUNG’s drainage system caused the problem,” said Dr. Newman. “His condition sounds like Peyronie’s disease, a possibly autoimmune disease thought to be related to microtrauma.” Men with Peyronie’s disease come down with, well, bent dicks. Sometimes the bend is slight and doesn’t interfere with reasonable penile functions. Sometimes the bend is severe enough to make erections painful and intercourse impossible. “Most sufferers will return to within 10 to 20 percent of their baseline curvature within two years without intervention,” said Dr. Newman. “Thus, it is considered best to defer therapy until such time has elapsed. Ninety degrees is quite a big bend, however, and less likely to resolve spontaneously, but it’s still worth waiting.” There are treatment options. “The only real therapies are Xiaflex injections and surgical repair,” said Dr. Newman. “The former is not approved for patients less than two years from diagnosis or with less than 35 degrees

of curvature. The latter is fraught with increased complication rates due to scarring so near the tip. Both can straighten the penis, but at a cost of length in many cases. As for drainage alternatives while gliding, I suggest the following product: freedom. mensliberty.com.”

I’m a 37-year-old male. I’ve been with my wife for 15 years. I know that passion transitions in a long-term relationship, but I’m having a hard time finishing lately. Yes, I’m on SSRIs — antidepressants — but that has only exacerbated the issue. We all know that a lot of people who own a vagina enjoy foreplay to help the orgasms along. Will foreplay help people who own a penis get to the moment faster? I’m pretty sure I know the answer, and I figured you’re the one to ask what the best foreplay options are because your sexual knowledge is vast and you regularly deal with two penises at a time. As someone who pleasures a penis and who has a penis that is pleasured, what is the best preparation to get guys off before the insertion happens? — Seeking Weapons Of Male Penile Satisfaction Foreplay isn’t just for vaginahavers, SWOMPS! Penis-havers have nerve endings all over their bodies — inside ’em, too — and older men and/ or men taking SSRIs often benefit from additional forms of stimulation. Like tit play. I know some men can’t go there because that tit-play shit — like feelings, musicals, and voting for women — could turn you gay. But if you’re up for it, have the wife play with or even clamp your tits, and then shove a plug in your ass that stimulates your prostate while also remembering to engage what’s often called “the largest sex organ”: your brainz. Talk dirty to each other! If you’re already proficient at JV dirty talk, move on to varsity dirty talk: Talk about your fantasies, awesome experiences you’ve had in the past, things you’d like to try or try again with your partner. To push past those SSRIs, fire on all cylinders (tits, hole, brain, mouth, and cock) before and during insertion.

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NEW & UNIQUE COLLECTABLES! AKRON STRONGSVILLE 1004 Kenmore Blvd. 330.753.3600 NOWG! N HIRI

EASTLAKE 32888 Vine St. 440.942.8668

19097 Drake Rd. 440.572.8287

CLEVELAND

BARBERTON 536 W. Tuscarawas 330.753.0500

MANSFIELD 532 Park Ave. West 419.522.1695

LORAIN

832 Broadway 4264 Pearl Rd. 216.749.3440 440.242.4080 AUTHORIZED DEALER

GIRARD 16 N. State St. 330.545.8131

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