OUR SPONSORS ------Cover Story • Egypt Central------3 Rivers Co-op Natural Grocery & Deli...... 12 3 Rivers Federal Credit Union...... 16 Alley Sports Bar...... 8 all for One Productions...... 21 Artlink Contemporary Art Gallery...... 5 Beamer’s Sports Grill...... 8 Brass Rail...... 12 Always Moving Forward C2G Music Hall on TV...... 6 Calhoun Street Soups, Salads & Spirits...... 11 By Deborah Kennedy by music. It was in singing and rocking out Park and Staind, among others) signed on to Checkerz Bar & Grill...... 11 that Falls found his center. produce the first album. CLASSIFIEDS...... 27 It’s a little ironic that Egypt Central’s Falls said his difficult childhood helped It would appear that Egypt Central had Club Paradise...... 10 self-titled debut came out on the Fat Lady shape him as a man and a performer. made it. There they were in Los Angeles with Club Soda/Ronnie Baker Brooks...... 17 Music label. You know the saying: “It ain’t “It gives you tough skin. I think that, a record contract and a big-time producer, Columbia Street West...... 13 over till the fat lady sings.” Considering that rather than becoming some frail human be- but deals floundered, ties frayed, the Inter- Deer Park Irish Pub...... 12 roughly six years passed between the band’s ing who’s obviously beaten down by life, net messed things up royally for a while and Digitracks Recording Studio...... 22, 27 formation in 2002 and the official release of you have to take that adversity, face it head- in 2006 the band decided to release Egypt DINING CLUB...... 14 Egypt Central the album, it would seem like on and just move forward,” he said. “And Central on their own. It became the No. 1 DINING DIRECTORY...... 11 the fat lady did indeed have a chance to sing. that’s the message of our music. You have independent release in Memphis and earned Duty’s Buckets Sports Pub & Grub...... 9 Either that, or it was over. to keep moving. Life is basically a people them a shout-out from WWE wrestler Stone Duty’s Uptown Bar & Grill...... 9 According to Egypt Central frontman mover moving backwards. If you stand still, Cold Steve Austin on account of the single Fort Wayne Cinema Center...... 25 John Falls, whom I caught up with via phone you’re just going to get pulled back. You “Over and Under,” which was featured in the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre...... 13 last week, we can blame the delay in drop- have to move forward fast enough to break film The Condemned. Fort Wayne Dance Collective...... 23 ping the debut to the rise of the Internet. the cycle.” Egypt Central hit the charts in 2007 with Fort Wayne Digital Media Production Group...... 20 “It was a tough their still popular Fort Wayne Germanfest...... 22 time for everybody,” single “You Make Fort Wayne Museum of Art...... 5, 23 he said. “People were Me Sick.” Perhaps Fort Wayne Musicians Association...... 23 leaving labels, labels it was the song’s Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation/BJ Thomas...... 12 were collapsing. We complex and often Gin Mill Lounge...... 10 got caught in the contradictory lyr- Latch String Bar & Grill...... 12 middle, and it was ics (“I don’t care if Locl.Net...... 26 scary for a while. you walk away / I’m Lucky Harley Davidson...... 3 We thought playing here to stay”; “You Mad Anthony Brewing Company...... 14 music as we knew make me sick, but I Neat Neat Neat Records & Music...... 27 it might be over for- love what we’re do- NIGHTLIFE...... 8-12 ever. Nobody knew ing here”) that won Northside Galleries...... 3 what music would Egypt Central its Pacific Coast Concerts...... 15 look like after the In- loyal following, or Peanuts Food & Spirits...... 13, 16 ternet.” maybe it was front- PERFORMER’S DIRECTORY...... 12 Luckily, music man Falls’ trademark Piere’s Entertainment Center...... 28 survived, and so did braids, which he’s Snickerz Comedy Bar...... 9 Egypt Central, al- since shaved off. Sweetwater Sound...... 2, 3 though fans might Either way, “You Tobacco Stop...... 27 have started to fear Make Me Sick” had Twenty Past Four and More...... 27 that EC as they knew a soothing effect on WBYR 98.9 The Bear...... 19 them might be over many metalheads WEB SIGHTS...... 26 forever as well, giv- and the band had whatzup Battle of the Bands...... 8 en that the release a viral hit on their whatzup Musician Finder...... 19 EGYPT CENTRAL of their sophomore hands. Wooden Nickel Music Stores...... 7 w/Kill the Rabbit & Krimsha effort, White Rabbit, has likewise been de- They also had a record deal with Fat Wrigley Field Bar & Grill...... 9 layed time and again. But we’re here to tell Friday, May 27 • 8 p.m. Lady Music (this one stuck) and slots on the WXKE Rock 104...... 17 you that the 12-track opus that Falls claims Piere’s Entertainment Center Ozzfest and Family Values tours. is Egypt Central’s best work yet will hit Falls said that the success of “You Make shelves May 31. And here’s another piece 5629 St. Joe Rd., Fort Wayne Me Sick” probably saved their self-titled of good news. Thanks to an exclusive deal Tix: $9.89 adv., $13 d.o.s. thru album, which, considering that many of the whatzup Egypt Central struck with Best Buy, EC lov- Ticketmaster or Piere’s box tracks were five years old when they were Published weekly and distributed on Wednesdays and Thursdays by ers will be able to purchase White Rabbit for finally laid down, really speaks to the power AD Media, Incorporated. just $7.99, and, with a coupon Best Buy will office, 260-486-1979 of that song. Fort Wayne Office: 1747 St. Marys Ave., Fort Wayne, IN 46808 be offering to customers, will get $2 off that And speaking of power, fast forward to Phone: (260) 424-4200 • Fax: (260) 424-6600 E-Mail: [email protected] already low price. Regardless of their determination and now. EC, having gone through a one major Website: http://www.whatzup.com Have I brought a smile to your face yet? drive, Falls and Hindman were reportedly lineup change (Jeff James now plays lead MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/whatzupfw No? Then consider this. Egypt Central, who about to call the whole thing off when, walk- guitar in Hindman’s stead) went back into Publisher ...... Doug Driscoll over the years have felt their fair share of ing down the hallway of a Memphis music the studio in October 2010 to work with Office Manager ...... Bonnie Woolums Advertising Sales ...... Chris Hupe Fort Wayne love, will be at Piere’s Friday, studio one day, they heard the sonic booms uber-producer Skidd Mills on what would Managing Editor ...... Deborah Kennedy May 27 with local support from Kill the emanating from Blake Allison’s drum sticks. become the record of Falls’ dreams. Back Issues Back issues are $3 for first copy, 75¢ per additional copy. Send payment Rabbit and Krimsha. They begged Allison on the spot to join their “Skidd was perfect for us in so many with date and quantity of issues desired, name and mailing address to Egypt Central began as a quartet in band, but Allison was hesitant. He came as a ways. He’s the easiest dude in the world to AD Media, Incorporated to the above address. Memphis in 2002. Even before that there packaged deal with bass player Joey Walser, get a long with. Also, he’s a family guy and Subscriptions In-Home postal delivery available at the rate of $25 per 13-week were two, specifically Falls and the origi- who was deep into the jam, funk and jazz we’re family guys. It was a great atmosphere. period ($100/year). Send payment with name and mailing address to nal lead guitarist Heath Hindman. Falls met scene in Chicago. It took a few months of We felt completely supported creatively. It AD Media, Incorporated to the above address. Hindman in a rock club and approached him cajoling to convince Walser to leave the was his job as the producer to take our ideas DEADLINES Calendar Information: Must be received by noon Monday the week about starting a band, mostly because Hind- Windy City for Bluff City, but at long last and make our record the best it could be, and of publication for inclusion in that week’s issue and, space permitting, man looked the part of the rock star. he agreed to become part of the newly chris- Skidd did that,” Falls said. “When you’re a will run until the week of the event. Calendar information is published as far in advance as space permits and should be submitted as early If Hindman brought the rock star looks, tened Egypt Central, named for a particu- kid and you’re thinking of being a musician, as possible. Advertising: Space reservations and ads requiring proofs due by no Falls brought the street cred. Abandoned at larly rough stretch of road in Memphis. you have this dream record in your mind, the later than 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to publication. Camera-ready or age eight by his abusive parents, Falls spent The four guys rocked and rolled around record you dream of making. White Rabbit is digital ad copy required by 9 a.m. Monday the week of publication. Classified line ads may be submitted up to noon on Monday the majority of his childhood in and out of Tennessee for a while before being discov- that record for us.” the week of publication. foster homes. At 15 he even joined a gang ered by Lava Records and industry veteran Want to hear what dreams come true ADVERTISING and started selling drugs. Then this young Jason Flom in 2006. Another veteran, Josh sound like? Then get to Piere’s. Go down the Call 260-424-4200 for rates or e-mail [email protected]. troublemaker was saved, not by a bell, but Abraham (who’s worked with Korn, Linkin rabbit hole. 4------www.whatzup.com------May 19, ’11