PRESSURE PEOPLE MEET THE PRESSURE TEAM

KEVIN NAUGHTON With a degree in anthropology and a zest for history, Kevin Naughton brings a uniquely studious perspective to every article he concocts. He's a full-time bartender and a part-time activist, volunteering for political groups when he's not busy with work and his many creative endeavors. Naughton plays bass in his band the Suede Brothers, along with guitar and drums in various side PRESSURE LIFE projects. Aside from writing about politics, culture, and beyond, Naughton aims to further pursue his passion for film.

Creative Director, Owner Jim Bacha Recently Naughton has transitioned from self-proclaimed film buff Chief Operating Officer, Owner John Gardner to full-on filmmaker, having completed both a full length feature and a short film, with the hopes of screening in film festivals. Editors Amy Sokolowski Sarah Maxwell Ryan Novak

Art Director Hannah Allozi

Illustrator Aaron Gelston WILL KMETZ Will Kmetz claims he doesn't have Senior Writers Adam Dodd any interesting facts to share, but Will Kmetz that couldn't be further from the Staff Writers Dan Bernardi truth. By day, he's a manager at the Matt McLaughlin Cleveland Brew Shop, and by night Gennifer Harding-Gosnell he zealously pursues his love for all Kevin Naughton things beer. Aside home brewing, Contributors Stephanie Ginese Kmetz's hobbies include writing, Jae Andres drinking, and writing about drinking, heavily fueling his aspirations Brittany Dobish to become a professional brewer one day. In the meantime Darrick Rutledge Casey Rearick he's shaping up to be quite the connoisseur when it comes to Anthony Franchino everyone's favorite social lubricant. Alex Bieler Tiffany Fields Kmetz's thirst for life doesn't end with alcohol. He's an avid fan of Distribution PMK Logistics cycling, backpacking, and weilding a refreshing brand of cutting, sarcastic wit. Buy him a drink or two and you'll get a taste.

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2 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 3 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 3 SINCE LAST ISSUE...

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 The Force, Will Kmetz, Senior Writer With the “lives matter” campaigns, police shootings and ISIS murders capturing 10 headlines, it's evident that people are inherently shitty. Generally speaking, egotistical CONTENTS with no regard for others well being. It’s instances like #forcefordaniel that should give us a new hope. Terminally ill Daniel Fleetwood had his wish granted to see the new Star 08 Let Them Eat Cake Wars flick, The Force Awakens, before he passed. Social media rallied by his side and From severed heads to Willie Nelson, JJ Abrams hosted a private showing for Daniel at his house shortly before he passed, hyper-realistic cake artist Natalie Sideserf exhibiting that the force is still strong within us. We're not so shitty after all. redefines the industry

10 Lake Erie Monster vs. Punch 12 18 Money Grubbing, Alex Bieler, Writer Bowl Social and Alley Cat Oyster Bar A quick list of recent examples of why the NFL is an unfeeling organization of money- Are the new Flats worthy? grubbing schemers. • They won't allow DeAngelo Williams to wear pink football equipment outside of Breast 12 Pucker Up Cancer Awareness Month without fining him New Belgium is getting Fat Head • They fined William Gay, whose mother died in a domestic violence incident, for wearing purple shoes on the field to bring attention to honor his mother 14 Men of Steel 27 08 Alloy-X is redefining hip-hop • They fined Cameron Heyward for wearing eyeblack that honored his dad, who died in the electronic age of cancer I love football, but it's really hard to support an organization that can't bend its draconian 18 A Growing Concern rules for acts of good. The out of control threat of the lake’s algae bloom boom 30 Bring Back Reghi, Ryan Novak, Editor 22 Absolutely Intense Your Cleveland Cavaliers are back. Unfortunately, Michael Reghi, the Cavs play-by- Step inside Cleveland’s hidden world of play announcer from 1993-2006, still has not made his triumphant return to Cavs TV independent broadcasts. No disrespect to Fred McCleod, who took over after Reghi’s firing, but as 22 someone who grew up with Reghi, McCleod has always felt like a well-intentioned step- 27 Gregory Scott dad, who came in and tried to get me to love him, but, unfairly or not, will never be A sit down with newly Cleveland- my “real dad.” I’m not pulling for McCleod, who seems like a good dude, to lose his job, based artist, Gregory Scott but nothing would make me happier than hearing Reghi describe another “virtuoso performance” from “the mega-star in wine and gold.” 30 Holiday Renegades Have yourself a merry little... Festivus? The Weekly Politic, Adam Dodd, Senior Writer My column for the Pressure Life website, The Weekly Politic, is a week-to-week send up where I push, poke, and outright ridicule the candidates on both sides but looking back from where we’ve been since the last issue I’ve noticed something- I don’t think FOLLOW US 14 we really need a President. The Republicans are all running on the premise that the Facebook // Twitter // YouTube // Instagram entirety of government is either parasitic or impotent, given their debate performances I’d have to agree. Bernie Sanders, perhaps the most popular candidate for Millennials, @thepressurelife argues that the entire structure of American democracy is so corrupt that we need a complete philosophic overhaul. The two Republican frontrunner’s claims to fame are no experience or talent within governance, as if that were a highlight. I suggest we just take the next four years to reflect on our evolving national identity and ask if we really even want these jingoistic jackanapes embarrassing us anymore.

Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 5 Ultimately, Return to the Moon sounds like a pair of guys throw- with the rest of ELO’s discography. It’s a refreshing release that ing darts at the wall and seeing what sticks. It was likely a fun manages to feel both nostalgic without being trapped in the past, experience and some of the experiments work, but the album has an impressive feat from the veteran musician. a lot of moving parts and not a lot of cohesiveness. “I’m the Man to Be” is a sex-driven groove with a whole bunch of unnecessary 4/5 touches added to the mix. Return to the Moon has fun parts, but PRESSURE is underwhelming as a whole. MUSIC REVIEWS 3/5 Majical Cloudz, Are You Alone?, Matador Alex Bieler Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Majical Cloudz’ songs play out like scenes Music never stops. Each week, new albums from bands big and from a film, with singer Devon Welsh small are released to the world, contributing new creations for Alone in the Universe, RCA playing the protagonist. Each track is a new monologue, baring people looking for the next great song. It’s impossible to hear his soul while band mate Matthew Otto builds the scene around everything, but that won’t stop us from trying. Here are some Full disclosure: I love me some Jeff Lynne. him with softly buzzing synths and piano. Are You Alone?, like albums that caught our attention since our last issue. When all of my grad school friends were 2013’s Impersonator, is an intimate album. There are no sweeping first discovering The Beatles, I extolled the virtues of Electric hooks or rousing riffs. Instead, Welsh and Otto imbue a sense Light Orchestra after discovering 1977’s Out of the Blue. Of course, of melancholy in their latest release, weaving a gentle, beautiful WEIRS WALDO NOW? the skeptic in me had some reservations about Lynne’s 14th ELO creation that floats effortlessly from your speakers to the space , Art Angels, 4AD studio album after a 15-year hiatus. However, where some classic between your ears. It’s quite a lovely creation that adds extra heft WEIR IS HE? rockers botch their return to the studio, Alone in the Universe is to each of Welsh’s lyrics by placing him dead center in a slew of Grimes, aka Claire Boucher, could poten- crash course in what made ELO so much fun back in the band’s ethereal compositions. Any good investigation starts with the five W's. Who, tially be a pop star if she really wanted to. heyday. Lynne doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel on his new album, what, when, why, and...Weir? For a little fun last The Canadian singer and producer edges instead producing 10 expertly crafted tracks that easily fit right in 4.5/5 issue, we challenged Cleveland to find our mysterious slightly closer to the realm of top-40 tracks friend Weir who was hidden somewhere within the on Art Angels, her follow-up to the 2012’s excellent Visions, but advertisements of Pressure Life. After a swift game of hide-and-go-seek, that doesn’t mean that she’s conformed to the norm. It doesn’t Anitza, a laser focused reader, spotted Weir in the Gunselman's ad, take long for Grimes to show off her varied tastes, going from winning a gift card to the tavern and restoring balance to the cosmos. radio-friendly pop magic (“California”) to abrasive (The Aristo- However, that wasn't the end of it. No...Weir not done yet. phanes-assisted “Scream”) within the first few tracks of her latest release. Take “Kill V. Maim” for example. It’s a wonderfully weird The great white Weir has stealthily escaped from Gunselman's. Much like track, the sonic equivalent of if Madonna, Pet Shop Boys, and Toni the famed illusionist Harry Houdini, or perhaps more like a curious child Basil’s “Mickey” got into a back alley knife fight, reconciled, and that has wandered away from his mom in the mall, Weir has vanished went to go watch animé and throw a dance party together. In once again- and it's up to you to find him. For your chance to win a $25 short, Art Angels is a blast. gift card, locate the elusive Weir stashed away in one of our adverts and be the first to submit his location to@thepressurelife (through 4.5/5 facebook, twitter, or instagram). Happy hunting!

EL VY, Return to the Moon, 4AD

MattBerninger can’t escape The National. Not that he needs to, mind you, but it’s a jarring experience to hear the deep-voiced singer fronting another band, especially when it’s a project like EL VY. Berninger teamed up with Ramona Falls founder and former member Brent Knopf, pairing Berninger’s baritone with Knopf’s work on the keys.

6 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 4 Lindsay Gorman — whose ice cream blog, If the Spoon Fits, allowed her to establish her own food styling and photography business, Farm to Film, LLC — has been featured on Buzzfeed, Foodista, Delish.com, and FoodGawker. clear and she had to top Willie, but the question was how and, more importantly, when?

Naturally, as Sideserf’s wedding approached, she saw an opportunity to Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter Ice Cream shock all, horrify some, but most importantly, create the most unique wedding cake she could imagine. As her guests entered her reception, 12 ounces of your favorite porter 1 cup whole milk they were eerily greeted by her and her husband’s heads...severed and 2 cups heavy cream ¾ cup sugar

served up on a bloody platter: “'Til Death Do Us Part.” Safe to say Willie ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, Pinch of kosher salt had been dethroned and Sideserf was viral before the DJ called for the preferably Dutch-Process 5 large egg yolks last dance at her reception. While her husband Dave, who has a passion 6 ounces dark or semi-sweet 1 cup peanut butter, divided for horror flicks, relished the non-traditional cake plan and was proud chocolate, chopped LET THEM of his wife’s astonishingly lifelike representation of the couple, the rest

of the internet had mixed reviews. Negative comments came rolling in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract one by one. Sideserf was not fazed by the haters: “I knew what I was doing, and I just didn’t give a fuck.” She heard it all: she was tacky, 1. In medium skillet, simmer 6 oz. of the beer until reduced by half (10 min). satanic, her marriage was doomed, she needed to find God and so on. Once reduced, combine with rest of the beer. In response to the negativity, Sideserf explained, “I’m not doing this 2. In a medium saucepan, warm 1 cup of the cream and whisk in cocoa powder EAT CAKE for religious reasons; I am getting married to get married. You know what I mean?! I’m not going to the church and saying, ‘Hey, thanks until dissolved. Bring to boil and then reduce heat and simmer at a low boil for 30 seconds, whisking constantly. Remove from heat, add chopped chocolate, From severed heads to Willie Nelson, Mueck, Sideserf creates works of art from cake ingredients that give God. I’ve got my man now.’” the self-proclaimed Cake Boss a run for his money. Not long after grad- and stir smooth. Stir in the remaining 1 cup of cream, porter, and vanilla extract. hyper-realistic cake artist Natalie Sideserf uating from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in fine art specializing in Internet trolls love to hate, but Sideserf’s cakes also landed her some Pour mixture into a large bowl and set a mesh strainer on top of the bowl. redefines the industry drawing and painting, Sideserf relocated to Austin, Texas, where she positive attention. Her cakes have been featured in Cosmopolitan 3. Warm milk, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. In a separate medium bowl, whisk aggressively kicked her foot through the door at a local bakery. With magazine, BuzzFeed, The Huffington Post and “The Chew.” The together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm milk into the egg yolks while absolutely no prior baking experience, unless you count her Easy Bake Food Network has featured Sideserf on “Duff Till Dawn” and their constantly whisking. Then scrape the warmed yolks back into the saucepan. Sarah Maxwell // Photography: Anthony Franchino Oven, Sideserf taught herself the basics of baking, which allowed her Halloween special “Outrageous Cakes.” Various production companies 4. Stir constantly over medium heat, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the to express her artistic talent through a non-traditional medium. have contacted her to be on other shows, but she says, “My goal is to be mixture thickens into custard and coats the back of the spoon (or reaches hese days people go viral for all sorts of reasons: being a sexy bigger than just a half hour.” 170˚). Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the chocolate and felon, having an internet-breaking ass, challenging your friends So how exactly did flour, eggs, sugar, frosting and an art degree beer mixture until smooth. Then stir in one quarter of the peanut butter until to pour buckets of ice water over their heads, going ape shit on make Sideserf a worldwide viral sensation? As fate would have it, a Sideserf’s creations continue to top one another and her no-bullshit completely incorporated. Stir until cool over an ice bath. your brother-in-law in an elevator or simply being the dredges country-wide competition, “That Takes the Cake,” was taking place attitude fuels her creative visions of edible art. Her cakes can make T 5. Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator and then freeze in ice cream of our society, the Kardashians. When Ohio State University alumna 20 minutes from her new hometown. She entered her first cake, a people feel uncomfortable, but she enjoys that a cake can induce such and Cleveland native Natalie Sideserf’s talent put her on that list of portrait of everyone’s favorite pot-smoking country music star, Willie an intense emotion. Now that she has created her own severed head, maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. Move freshly churned ice viral sensations, she was shocked. Probably as shocked as the rest us Nelson. Without her knowledge, Siderserf’s brother posted her Willie a unicorn farting a rainbow, Seymour’s Little Shop of Horrors plant, cream to a container. Swirl in the remaining peanut butter and freeze of were when we looked at what she had created. cake on Reddit, and her amazing, edible rendition skyrocketed to #1 and Ninja Turtles alike, it is hard to tell what will be next. Sideserf overnight or until solid. instantaneously. After winning the overall prize and realizing she was explains, “Everyone is offended by everything,” so whatever the next Inspired by hyper-realistic sculptors such as Evan Penny and Ron now internet famous, Sideserf’s wheels started to turn. The path was viral sensation is, it is sure to astonish. For more drool-worthy recipes, visit ifthespoonfits.com

Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 9 8 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 4 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 9 LAKE ERIE MONSTER vs. Punch Bowl Social and Alley Cat Oyster Bar

Matthew McLaughlin // Illustrations: Aaron Gelston

utumn in the Flats newly redeveloped East Bank is not a place for of us to say, "Fine. I'll do it myself. I'll do it the right way. I'll do it the one would weep however, because they never put their hearts into it the fair or dainty. Structures of concrete and glass provide little hard way. I'll do it my way" the sentiment that made us the city we in the first place. protection from the biting gusts that sneak beneath the collars of are. That boldness requires tenacity. A jackets and the cold that seeps through the leather of boots. But As the wrath of the Beast grows, its blood lust ignited, the next target still, there is life in the restaurants that inhabit the recently established Rising from the mouth of the Cuyahoga, one of the first businesses would have to be Alley Cat Oyster bar. Sitting truly on the waterfront, downtown destination. After all this is Cleveland, few among us fear the Lake Erie Monster would see is Punch Bowl Social. Standing Alley Cat is the newest effort of Cleveland Restaurateur Zack Bruell such conditions. But perhaps they should. Perhaps they would, if they proudly in the front of the development, the bar cries out “Come! (Chinato, Parrallax et cetera). Between the catch of the day menu, a knew the fury that awaits the unworthy at the hands of Cleveland’s Drink! Converse!” But the message and the actuality seem incredibly broad selection of oysters and a draft menu featuring local breweries, oldest creature. disparate. The massive space houses bowling alleys, arcade games, and the Lake Erie Monster, might have to pause before it continues its ram- three bars that give guests multiple distractions from one another. It page. But Alley Cat would need to act fast. An offering must be made. The Flats East Bank is (purportedly) built on the site of the original also appears that they are attempting to lure hipsters with an eclectic, Cleveland settlement, later industrialized, and now finally, gentrified. kitschy décor and bartenders sporting floppy hats and suspenders (not The kitchen and service staff move like a well oiled machine, first This is the act that will doubtlessly draw the ire of the Lake Erie Mon- that there’s anything wrong with floppy hats or suspenders). But it’s bringing bread baked in house and then a Speed Merchant IPA. But ster. It is audacious to tread on the ground of our forerunners, the first not the atmosphere that would infuriate the Monster. It’s the drinks. the first thing that would truly satisfy the Ancient One is a plate of three varieties of delectable oysters, which taste incredibly fresh. Fol- The many eyes of the Beast would watch and the staff forgoes hos- lowing quickly is the catch of the day, cod with an amazing parsnip pitality, serves a Pegu Club, missing its characteristic bitters and a puree that may be the best way parsnips have ever been consumed. Know the Enemy Boulevardier with only a hint of its defining ingredient, Campari. It Finally, the Grilled Octopus with succotash and smoked paprika aioli would hiss as a bartender answers “sure why not” when asked the is incredibly flavorful. Looking down on these offerings the Lake Erie The Lake Erie Monster, though first sighted in 1793, is a great deal older correct recipe of a cocktail. One cry from the beast would clear the Monster would return to the depths from which it came, satisfied that than most would have you believe. This primordial creature, known by place and send staff and patron running for the parking lot. But surely, someone in the Flats East Bank is trying to do it right. But be warned, many as “Bessie” (short for Bessaphalus), has for eons been Cleveland’s as they watched the near imminent destruction of their livelihood, if you come to our shores trying to capitalize on a fad and make money silent guardian. She waits in the depths for those who would take their labor, at least one hero would arise and try to appease the beast? the easy way you will not last long in this city. What has made us great advantage, or otherwise abuse, our city’s culture or people. Unfortunately, however, I don’t believe anyone would. Punch Bowl and what will continue to keep us great is simple. If you do not have Social would be destroyed by the Monster. Cleared off the coast. No heart, you will not survive.

10 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 4 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 11 trying to make sure the body has enough fullness to it and the peppers give a little kind of burn, but not wrenchingly hot, hot and then the lime zest and the lemon grass will help cut that heat a little bit. I love the fact that we’re doing a truer kind of session. I’ve done some collaborations in the past where it’s like “Yeah, let’s brew together” then the other brewery PUCKER UP will write the recipe and I’ll just kind of show up and they’ll sell it in their market and all it is kind of a field trip. But this one is really hands on for New Belgium is getting Fat Head me. For one, we’re going to be doing it at both breweries, so we’ll have an opportunity to kind of market on our side as well and this is more about bouncing ideas off of each other and that’s the way it should be. We’re not Will Kmetz // Photography: Joe Kleon souring the one here (Middleburg Heights). Also, the idea is that we can put them side by side and understand it as a base beer and kind of get a poiled by the influx of craft beer all across the country, most better idea of how that souring component contributes to the finished beer. of us now consider ourselves certified cicerones. You feel like On our side, we’re going to push the hops a little harder because that’s what you’ve sipped every brew from here to Timbuktu, and there isn’t we’re known for here. Ours is going to be called a smoldering session and Sanything else left to taste. “Which beer is next,” you ask? How Matty Gilliand, New Belgium Matt Cole, Fat Head's theirs is going to be called smoldering sour. Ultimately, ours is more of like about combining the tastes of your favorite breweries? A collaboration. a 4.8% ABV session IPA that has the habanéro and lemon grass and lime having a nice sour program. That was really kind of how it happened. zest, but a little bit more hop forward and we’ll use some pretty tropical Despite the competitive nature of the craft beer scene, most of these Also, I know Kim Jordan relatively well, although she’s no longer the citrus hops to compliment some of the other citrus components in the beer. breweries form a collaborative commu- CEO as of a couple of days ago, but I have nity that developed from their roots in a friendship with her as well so I’ve been How are you going to be souring this beer? Gilland: We have a few pro- home brewing. It isn’t necessarily a new ...But sometimes two head pretty familiar with their company and I've cesses that we use to make a number of different sour beers. This one will idea, but each time these masterminds watched them grow and they’ve grown sig- have a very clean lactic sourness. We have a vessel that we built as a lactic team up to bring you a brew they don’t honchos team up and pour you nificantly over the last ten years. They came souring vessel. We call is the LRV, or Lactic Reaction Vessel. We make a let down on creativity, exclusivity and of 24k gold straight from the tap. to me actually, which was kind of flattering. very special base wort for it. Then we’re able to shoot the wort in pretty hot, course taste. The Ohio City Festival Stout, It happened at the Winking Lizard. They about 50 or so, then we add our own lactobacillus culture and relatively a creamy stout with honey and vanilla had what was called the Sour Symposium quickly we can sour that up from being this sweet wort to a mind numbing, brewed by Platform, Great Lakes, and Market Garden, or Full Kettle and they kind of brought in beers from five or six different foeders face melting, curl your hair kind of sour. We’ll blend using this beer to get Dead Canary, a grisette ale brewed by The Brew Kettle and Full Pint that Lauran liked the characteristics of and one of them was called the right amount of acidity. Brewing Company are just a couple of examples of collaborations. the “sure thing” and she names all of the foeders. We were kind of CUSTOM-PRINTED able to blend them on our own and the different styles we liked. That How daunting of a task is it to balance the heat and the sour? It’s not a These collabs are happening all the time, usually between your local was at the Lizard and that’s when she approached me and said we’d combination you usually come across. Cole: That’s the hard part. Neither favorites, or breweries you’ve never heard of, but sometimes two head love to make some beer with you guys. one of us have really used habanéros. I’ve used some chipotle ancho, but honchos team up and pour you 24k gold straight from the tap. That’s I’ve never used any kind of habanéro or jalapeno so it’s going to be kind of ALL OVER TEES exactly what Fat Head’s and New Belgium are gearing up to do. Fat Where did the idea of a smoldering sour stem from? Gilland: When a balancing act. I have a general idea of how much to add with jalapeno, Heads robbed the Great American Beer Festival 2015 like a Fort Knox Matt and I first met and sat down to talk about this, there were so but it’s a lot harder with habanéros because they’re so hot so we’re kind heist, taking home four gold medals, and one silver medal. New Bel- many options we had on the table and we were both trying to think of guessing a little bit. We keep joking that you know there’s IBU’s in beer gium is nationally known for their beers including their famous Fat a little bit outside of the box and think about something that hasn’t and now we have IPU’s, the international pepper units. But we aren’t going Tire Amber Ale and their wildly successful sour program. These two really been done before this. The place where I always like to start to leave it on peppers for very long. I anticipate we will be putting this power houses teamed up to give you a Cleveland exclusive brew. We is “here is something that is unique to our brewery that we can offer” thing on peppers for less than 24 hours, but it might be closer to 12 hours had the chance to interview brew masters Matt Cole (Fat Head’s) and and one of the things that we can offer is sour beer. We have a sour on peppers. We’ll put the peppers in the brite tank and it’s going to be all T-SHIRTS ZERO Matty Gilliand (New Belgium) to see what was on their minds when program that runs back almost eighteen years now. We’ve done a lot hands on deck to be able to unload that tank. I’m going to have to end up RAGLANS SETUP FEES creating their collaboration brew. with sour beer and developed a few different methods for making sour tasting it almost hourly for that period because you can’t take the heat away. V-NECKS FULL COLOR beer. We talked about something that is sessionable. Then we talked however, if we overdo it then we’re kind of screwed. This isn’t your run of & BLEED Where did this collaboration start? Do you and Matty Gilland have about playing with habanéros and lime and lemon grass together. I the mill collaboration, usually they are cut and dry where it’s hop forward TANK TOPS a standing relationship? Cole: Yeah, and we’ve kind of been dabbling said, “what if we make a session sour here and a session IPA there?” or just standard ingredients, this is definitely a little different. YOUTH in some sour beer and we’re really kind of new at it, but along the way and that was kind of the whole conversation, it didn’t really take more we’ve gotten a lot of assistance from their specialty brand manager than about fifteen minutes. Both brewers are extremely excited about this collaboration and have ORDER ONE ORDER MANY Lauren Salazar who also does all of their sour beer blending. So I expressed interest in working together in the future. Let's hope for our or $ .63 think between my relationship with Matty and with Lauren and her $ .95 each / 24 qty Is it just going to be that style alone? The Smoldering sour with sake they follow up on another brew. The beer will be made available to the 34 each 15 kindness of sharing tips and techniques about her souring program habanéros, lime zest, and lemon grass. Cole: The one out there (Fort public on November 15th at Fat Head’s Middleburg Heights tap room. and how to handle some of these wild yeast and microbes, she’s been Collins) is going to be soured to about .6 acidity, it’s not going to be instrumental in enlightening us and helping us get to the next level of wrenchingly sour, it’s going to have a tart little twang to it and we’re Create Yours Now! ™ JAK.INK/LIFE

PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 4 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 12 Pressure Life - NOV 2015.indd 1 11/4/15 3:5213 PM MENSTEEL OF Beats and Business With a Cleveland-Based Burgeoning Music Label

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell // Photography: Anthony Franchino

omposite materials. So much of what we use in the modern world is made up of them, from sterling silver jewelry to airplane fuselages. They’re called alloys, com- Cbinations of different metals melted together with the specific purpose of strengthening the metal and providing it with added stability and further resistance to corrosion.

It is these principles that also define Alloy-X, a Cleve- land-based music label started in 2013 by Cleveland Heights native Connor Musarra and his business partner, Luke Spry, from Boston. Thought-provoking hip-hop and electronic music and forward thinking business practices make up the composite metals being melded under the Alloy-X label name.

“Alloy-X applies that concept to music,” says Musarra. “It’s an amalgam of different artists and styles melded together to make the group as a whole stronger. The ‘X’ just means it is undefined. Alloy-X is an alloy, undefined. In being part of Alloy, an artist receives additional strength, stability and resistance to corrosion, so to speak because they are now part of a larger metal that reinforces them.”

Musarra and Spry were introduced by Matayo, a mutual friend who became an artist on Alloy’s roster when all three attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston together. “I originally met Connor in our first semester at Berklee,” says

14 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 4 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 15 Matayo. “We lived construct the smart- in the same dorm est business contract, building and after find- one that is most benefi- ing out his roommate was cial for the artist. It’s com- from New Jersey, like myself, pletely non-exclusive, which he told me to stop by his room is basically unheard of from a sometime. I remember seeing Con- label. Anybody can do anything with nor working on beats in the room. any other label. For the things you A WALK THROUGH I almost immediately reached choose to do through us, these out to him and we ended up are the rules, this is the way it becoming best friends." gets split. But I don’t want Alloy X to be the only “As for Luke, I posted thing everybody on on Facebook that I the label is doing.” was selling a couple books for school. He told “Heaven Is In You” is a me to come by his room. I club night put together by sold him the books and saw Alloy collaborators ADAB and years, everything from the harsh winters to the unique that he also made beats and pro- Get high as fuck, Ghost Noises, mixing hip-hop and A/V (Audiovisual) – Get high as fuck, headlines and the characters that come from this city.” Channel – Everybody knows everybody in duced records. He played me a bunch techno for forward-thinking fans in walk into your favorite cozy coffee shop and ask Cleveland, thus the creation of Channel via of material that day and sent me a batch walk into your Cleveland’s underground music scene. It’s the barista to play A/V’s “BluntBreaks” album collaborations between the Alloy-X label and of beats through email. I passed the email an anything goes kind of night in the base- on their system. Order yourself a macchiato and Smoke Noises – Chemist and Mook Da God Cleveland-based urban street wear collective, over to Connor and we both agreed we were favorite cozy ment of Now That’s Class; a guy in piano-key find a table in the back to chill. If they don’t have team up with label mate Ghost Noises and bring RVAH. The Ghost Noises and Urbindex remix of really into Luke’s music. The rest is history.” coffee shop and design suspenders and khakis and a girl with “BluntBreaks”, you’ll have your copy downloaded their own unique rhyming styles to this group. They the industrial-tinged “DEFCON” played musical bright blue hair contrasted with her long onto your own device. That is all. complement each other, which keeps a listener’s backdrop to RVAH’s runway show at New York Alloy’s current roster holds nine artists and over ask the barista sheer pink gown that looks more suitable for keen interest. Listen to “Make It To A Dollar”, another Fashion Week last year. 40 individual releases. bed time than a (literally) underground club. example of the gritty, underdog Cleveland sound to play A/V’s Street art, or “graffiti” as the uninitiated refer ADAB – “Low-key” and “quiet” are not words with truncated hip-hop beats produced by Urbindex. Musarra has now decided to move on from “BluntBreaks” on to it, covers all the walls. There’s a lounge- often positively associated with DJs, expected to Matayo – It’s quite amazing that someone Urbindex. “Starting in 2016 all of my musical style chair made out of a heavy old conveyor be the life of the party and to manage a stage twenty years too young to have lived in the endeavors will be encompassed under my real their system…. belt, and what was once the removable back- show with only their electronics, but ADAB is at Hokes – Hokes steals samples and beats from 70’s could capture the heart and soul of that name, Connor Musarra. I feel that given the vast seat of a van that now sits on the cement floor his most fascinating when he disappears into places not known to Earth; it is a truly “anything generation and mold it into modern music, but number of different musical projects I am now That is all. with two occupants having what looks like a the zone behind his turntables. His name is taken goes” sound. Best listened to very late at night. the man responsible for introducing Alloy-X’s involved in, it no longer makes sense to have pretty thoughtful conversation. The smoke from the concept of “adab” in Islam that stands for Check out “Wowowow”; you’ll hear layers of co-founders has managed to do just that. “free. them encompassed under a stage name, but and how it plays off the stage area lights only refinement, morality and humanity and is reflected distorted sound that would work well with a roll soul (vol.1)” is the initial offering by Matayo, rather my real name. I want people to see my work as part of adds to the ethereal atmosphere created by the music and its in his being. The combination of glitch and old without blasting your brain cells. whose background in audio engineering and a much larger picture: a human being, complete with all com- chill audience. school hip-hop never sounded so smooth. keen ear for true-to-life samples and old plexities that come with it.” school music demands a listen. Feel the love of Several members of Alloy-X are here to support their label Broken Keys – Smoke Noises rapper Chemist past generations’ music while appreciating the Just like the music Alloy-X represents, the view is always look- mates friends: Mook Da God, Ghost Noises, Connor Musarra, Ghost Noises - The simplified definition of explores his electronic side with minimal house nuances of a newer one. ing ahead. “We want to utilize the current technology with apps Chemist. They all take positions near the front of the stage, experimental hip-hop is “fuck it, let’s try this“, influenced by bass-heavy UK garage. Listen to the or stream services, to not have to rely as much on the traditional though they are difficult for the performers to see through the which defines the music of Ghost Noises to a T; it fits down tempo “Black Sand Beach” when you’re driving internet selling-music model,” says Musarra. “We never want to haze of smoke, their presence is felt. They have each other’s back, into no category but “all”. Check out “Hallucinating” home from a club night and starting the gradual Urbindex – Alloy-X’s co-founder Connor actually sell music, we want to find other ways. It’s impossible strength as individuals that binds and reinforces the whole – and go on a trip of a trip with vivid lyrics backed comedown. Every Monday, Broken Keys hosts a house Musarra creates his own blend of electronic and to only make money in one way. It’s such a huge turning point that’s just what alloys do. by electronic blips and beeps produced by fellow night at B-Side Lounge in Coventry with DJs shipped hip-hop music most noted by his introspective in the music business right now. Music consumption is at an all Alloy-X artist Broken Keys. in from as far away as California and Japan. lyrics, layers of sound and the chopper style time high, but nobody is gonna pay for it because nobody has to rap Cleveland’s Bone Thugs N Harmony made pay for it. We actually started Alloy FM before the Apple Music famous with the CLE accent we natives don’t shit all happened, and then the Beats Music Radio. Beats 1 Radio Smoke Screen – the duo of Chemist and Mook Bobby Junior – The New Jersey native believe really exists: nasal tone and elongated is exactly what we intended Alloy FM to be, curated shows that To find out more or listen, visit Da God and their complimentary delivery styles are otherwise known as Hokes has an alternate persona “a”s. Musarra chose the name “Urbindex”, a were all related to Alloy-X.” a textbook example of what you imagine Cleveland as Bobby Junior. Check out the track “Untitled combination of “urban” and “index”, as he says, alloy-x.com urban music sounds like: gritty, chopper-style raps (Mobbin’) with smooth breathy vocals backed by “to represent an index of information for the city. This view of the future is also reflected in how Alloy-X does with an underdog’s fighting spirit. Says Mook and minimal hip-hop beats best played when your party In this case, Cleveland,” a philosophy reflected in business with its artists. “Luke and I spent a lot of time trying to Chemist, “The vibe of the city has been in our music for is just getting started. his music and lyrics.

16 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 4 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 17 death. The spreading reach of the toxin led to the drinking water ban in Toledo last year that lasted three days and affected over 400,000 people. The sheer numbers of the plant have led to a high yield of decomposition which in turn consumes large amounts of oxygen, creating dead zones that are uninhabitable for fish and other plants within the lake.

Unfortunately, environmental calamity is nothing new to our great lake. In the late 1960s the situation had deteriorated so severely that it was declared dead by numerous national publications like Time, which went to the lengths of running the lake’s obituary in their August ’69 issue A GROWING while describing it as a …the current rampant “gigantic cesspool.”The pollution on the shores proliferation of algae of Lake Erie was also the poses a very real inspiration for Dr. Seuss’s blooms cautionary children’s tale, CONCERN and immediate threat to The Lorax. (Consider that for a moment, our our largest, closest body pollution is literally at The Out of Control Threat of the Lake’s of fresh drinking water. Seussical levels.) Ohio’s lake front counties have Algae Bloom Boom since made significant strides to enhance the quality of the lake over the years, including the aggressive Clean Water Act of 1973; however the current rampant Adam Dodd // Illustrations: Aaron Gelston proliferation of algae blooms poses a very real and immediate threat to our largest, closest body of fresh drinking water- a threat that has ou’re glumping the pond where the humming-fish hummed! No more only grown worse over the past few years. can they hum, for their gills are all gummed. So I’m sending them off. Oh, their future is dreary They’ll walk on their fins and woefully weary In an article published earlier this year in Science magazine, “Y in search of some water that isn’t so smeary. I hear things are just as researcher Johan Rockstrom claimed that humanity has passed four bad up in Lake Erie.” out of nine environmental boundaries that are making our planet uninhabitable. Chief among them is phosphorous and nitrogen con- -Dr. Seuss; The Lorax taining bio-geochemical flows which contaminate water systems and aid in the growth of algae blooms. Coupled with an increasingly A thick, rolling green soup laps the shores of Lake Erie warm planet due to climate change, these blooms are seeing record holding with it the putrid rot of decomposition. Its increase. “For the first time in human history, we need to relate to name is Cyanobacteria, more commonly referred the risk of destabilizing the entire planet,” Rockstrom contends. “We to as algae blooms, and in 2011 it claimed over are at a point where we may see abrupt and irreversible changes due 20 percent of the lake’s surface; the largest to climate change.” recorded growth for the lake to date. Not only does this lead to an unpleasant Cyanobacteria thrive in warm climates. The shallowest of the Great scenery, Cyanobacteria produces Lakes, Erie, has proven a fertile incubator for algae growth not only Microcystin, a toxin which from the sunlight that can penetrate deep into the lake bed, but also brings with it a bevy of from the diet that the bacteria consume. Phosphorous, a potent side-effects including nutrient for the blooms, finds its way into the lake from sources dizziness, nausea, vom- such as industrial waste but, more to the problem at hand, through iting, rashes, diar- Ohio’s and neighboring states’ farmlands as well. Often referred to rhea, liver dam- as “America’s breadbasket,” Ohio has a proud legacy of agriculture. age, and in With 61% of the phosphorous contaminating the lake coming from extreme farm runoff, our legacy of cleaning up after ourselves is decidedly less cases, noble. When farmlands are oversaturated, the water runoff mixes

18 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 4 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 19 Within the half-decade window that it remains effective, the bill would be one of the more aggressive measures taken in combating a spread- ing disaster hat threatens not only Erie’s wildlife, but our access to fresh, non-contaminated drinking water. However, these changes will not take hold over night as few substantive changes do. So why then the dogged determination to include such a prohibitive time frame for turning the tide of an environmental crisis that has only been compounding for decades? Waiting until 2020 to halt the dumping of dredge material in the lake is equally baffling. SB1’s sunset clause is troubling if it is a signal that these measures are a mere pacifications rather than long term solutions.

...a toxin which brings This green plague will not abate overnight, let alone within one gener- with the phosphorous heavy fertilizer in the with it a bevy of side- or SB 1. While introducing the bill, Gardner was ation. The task of cleaning Ohio’s polluted waterways has always felt a soil. Together, the mix travels to the nearest quoted by the Associated Press, “Saving Lake Sisyphean task to local residents, but if there is light at the end of the regional water bed, in our case, from local riv- effects including dizziness, Erie requires a new sense of urgency equal to tunnel it is that we now know the problem, its symptoms, its causes, erbeds, then to the lake. The author of a U.S. nausea, vomiting, rashes... the value Lake Erie provides to Ohio and the and several effective measures to alleviate its spread. Knowledge is National Academy of Sciences study entitled, nation.” The bill passed the state Senate in a half the battle. We now stand on the threshold of that crucial second “Record-setting Algal Bloom in Lake Erie,” unanimous vote before being signed into law half of battle- decisive action. We must take what we’ve learned and contends that certain farmland practices including autumn fertilizer by Governor Kasich earlier this year. The legislation prohibits the implement proper fertilizer application practices. We must be aware application, which tends to wash away after heavy seasonal rains, and spreading of fertilizer and manure on frozen or saturated soil near or what we flush down the drain. We have to keep pressure on politi- fertilizer that is applied lightly to the surface rather than injected deep on the Western Lake Erie basin. This ban also applies to any twelve cians at all levels from council members to state senators, as well as in the soil, both contribute significantly to the phosphorous runoff and hour window where the chance for an inch of rainfall is more than Governor Kasich, to uphold the measures outlined in SB1 and similar subsequent production of algal blooms. The author of the report goes fifty percent. The bill also bans the dumping of dredge material into legislation like House Bill 61 (which also focuses on water quality in on to cite a 218% increase in dissolved phosphorous loadings between the lake by 2020 and demands water treatment facilities to better and around the Lake’s agricultural regions), which also passed earlier 1995 and 2011 from the Maumee River, which is the main tributary monitor levels of potential phosphorous. Farmers in violation of said this year. Ultimately, we must never settle for appeasement when our of the western basin of Lake Erie. An unfortunate contributing rules would be subject to a 10,000 dollar fine per offense. There appears world is on the line. coincidence is the choice of crops grown. Corn demands thirty-six to be very little push back from the agricultural community which percent more fertilizer than other heavy nutrient-laden crops such acknowledges the vested interests we are concerned with as a singular SB1’s sunset clause was born out of fear by the very lawmakers who as soybeans. Sparked by the demands from bio-diesel energy, corn community. A spokesperson for the Ohio Farm Bureau offered their drafted the bill. Caught in a constant cycle of re-election bids and production has increased 15 percent in Ohio since 2012 and has seen support of the measures in a statement, which read in part, “Clean groveling for donors, politicians will affect change only so far as it the highest national production since 1937, all of which are factors that water cannot come at the expense of food production nor can farming doesn’t cause any undue waves to their job security. The short-armed, have increased the growth of algal blooms. trump the need for clean water.” soft-soaped half-measures that made its way to the final version of SB1 are reflective of the feelings that its creators assume their Measures have been taken, if only incrementally and after negative The initial draft of SB1 included an emergency clause which constituents hold. It is our responsibility as American citizens in a consequences like the Toledo water ban. The U.S. Agriculture Depart- would have brought the new measures into law the moment Gov- representative democracy to help these lawmakers know our beliefs ment, funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, ernor John Kasich signed the bill rather than the usual ninety on the issue. Only when our passion for the environment is evident, is awarding five million dollars to help farmers in Ohio, Indiana, and day holdover. However, the clause was removed from the final only when we make our inalienable right for clean drinking water, Michigan to prevent further fertilizer runoff. “No one understands the version of the bill. The expressed reasoning for removing the and only when our determination to constantly make our community, importance of clean water like our farmers and producers,” Michigan emergency clause was so that small farmers would have more and to larger extent, the world, a better place, will the lawmakers Senator, Debbie Stabenow, said in a press release featured on her web- time to acclimate to the changes before facing stiff financial pen- know for whom they are representing. I urge all of you reading this site. “That’s why this investment is so important. While this problem alties. Some, like Joe Logan, President of the Ohio Farmers Union, to place a call or send an email to your local representative to remind cannot be solved overnight, by taking proactive steps now to manage are disappointed to see the emergency clause while leaving in a them that your vote should never be taken for granted and is owed runoff, we can begin to help prevent future blooms in Lake Erie and sunset clause, which effectively strips the protective measures solely to those interested in aiding our community becoming a better, other parts of the Great Lakes and its watersheds.” The three million after five years. An amendment to remove this sunset provision cleaner place to live. that Ohio received will be used to plant cover crops to slow water runoff, failed to pass. Quoted in the Sandusky Register, Logan warned, add gypsum to soil, implement conservation tillage or no-till systems “SB1 will not be a silver bullet to instantly solve Ohio’s water quality on crop fields, install agricultural drainage water management sys- issues, but it will provide state agencies with more effective tools Please contact the Ohio Environmental tems and implement nutrient management plans. to work with farmers to end some of the most risky and least Council at their website, theoec.com, as well effective agricultural practices.” Senator Peterson, is apparently as, Ohio Citizen Action at, ohiocitizen.org for One of the more progressive actions taken by politicians has been in the more optimistic. An outspoken and early supporter of the bill, more information on how to help. form of a state Senate bill sponsored by Senators, Randy Gardner and Peterson lauded it within the same paper, exclaiming, “This is Bob Peterson, called the Agricultural Pollution Abatement Program, the toughest version of any bills we’ve seen.”

20 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 4 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 21 Kevin Naughton // Photography: Aaron Gelston , Canada. I wrestle in Quebec, and then fly back to Cleveland on Sunday.” he rusty roof leaks. There’s no heating. Unpainted drywall crumbles from the water-damaged, patched walls. It’s gritty, Why does he keep coming back to Cleveland just to train wrestlers in it’s dirty, it’s cramped; it kind of looks like a set from an ‘80s a ramshackle garage? He’s a born-and-raised Clevelander, for one. “I ABSOLUTELY INTENSE T horror flick. "Where we are right now, this is our kind-of-secret take great pride in being from Cleveland,” he proudly declares. “A lot of training facility. We don’t really advertise it too people make fun of Cleveland and I don’t get Cleveland’s Thriving Underground Professional Wrestling Scene much," explains Jim Thorne, co-founder and why.” He also feels that the distinctly Cleve- co-manager of Cleveland's independent wres- Somewhere in Cleveland, land atmosphere of AIW’s training facility tling promotion company, Absolute Intense offers something special to the prospective Wrestling (AIW). Along with his partner at a secret location, there’s wrestler. “I think it develops character,” he Chris Bryan (alias Chandler Biggins), Thorne a dingy little garage explains. “I think you can go and you can has been hosting live wrestling events for get the top class amenities, you can get great more than 10 years, attracting top talent and where hopeful students locker rooms and fantastic equipment, you worldwide interest, and starting two years ago, can get all that stuff, but this shows that you they began holding training courses for those train diligently to become really want it.” who think they have what it takes. The precise professional wrestlers. address of the school is kept secret, given out And that level of dedication and hard work only once a prospective student has proven his is something he feels is a mark of a true or her seriousness and commitment. He explains, "You can imagine, Clevelander. “I think hard work is ingrained in a lot of people from if we were like 'Hey, come be a pro wrestler,' everyone would be like, Cleveland because people look down on us. We’re the ultimate under- 'I just want to get in the ring once. See you guys later!'" dogs in everything that we do, so I think that makes you work extra hard just to prove that you belong somewhere.” The school is no joke. Students pay $1,500 in tuition for a year’s training, which is sort of like wrestling boot camp; many prospective John Thorne, along with his partner Chris Bryan and a host of students wash out. "I didn’t make it through the first day, the entrance other staff members, have been proving AIW belongs for more than exam, and a lot of people don’t come back after that,” recalls Kurt a decade. During that time, they’ve watched what started out as a Johnson, a student in the beginner class. “I made it through the second fun activity to do with their friends turn into a thriving, successful day. Another guy who signed up with me, that was his first day, he business. Their success has put them on the radar of not only fans of never came back.” the sport, but that of major, televised promotion companies like TNA and WWE. An impressive number of these organizations' superstars, "It’s definitely grueling training," relates Brian Caplan, another student such as (the “Yes!” Man), Dean Ambrose (the Lunatic in the beginner class. "During the winter it gets freezing cold in here, Fringe), (the Swiss Superman), and "KO" , all like negative one. We were in here and we had that heat lamp over got their start performing at AIW events. In fact, the weasley (but there, and it only heats a little part of this room. So, we would all have incredibly talented) cheater held the WWE heavyweight to go huddle around it, and then go back in the ring and run around. championship title for nearly a year until a serious knee injury forced But it’d make us want to move around more and work harder, to sweat him to be stripped of the title less than two weeks ago. According to more and stay warm." Thorne, Rollins "used to drive 10 hours from Iowa to compete in AIW shows. He worked with us for about two straight years, driving back The lead trainer is , who wrestles internationally and forth in the same day." with some of the biggest stars and promotion companies in the busi- ness and is widely considered to be one of the sport's best independent Most people's impressions of professional wrestling are based on what wrestlers. The chance to train under him is a major draw for the school, they see on TV, but the celebrities on the screen all had to get their as student Bryce Schwandt explains, “You don’t really have to dig that start somewhere. "This is where people get noticed, you know what deep into his match repertoire to see what he's capable of and what I mean?" says Thorne. "People do these shows to try to get the big he can teach you.” contracts, and this is where they put the work in."

Just check out Gargano's next five days after this interview: “Tuesday, Much like hungry wrestlers looking for their big break, Thorne and I’m here training. Wednesday, I have a day off, but I fly to Florida for company needed to start somewhere. “When we started off - I’ll be NXT (sort of like the minor leagues for WWE) on Thursday. I fly back perfectly honest - we had no idea what we were doing,” explains to Cleveland on Friday, and then we drive to Chicago for five hours. Thorne. “It wasn’t a business, it was like, ‘I want to do wrestling.’” At I wrestle in Chicago on Friday night, and Saturday morning I fly to 15, he and his friends put on a show at Peabody’s with a ring they’d

22 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 4 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 23 rented from J.T. Lightning, who at the time was the kingpin of the to fill that gap, remembering Lightning every step of the way; each Thorne and his colleagues represent a largely unrecognized city’s wrestling scene. “For people that knew him, he was this larger- year, they hold the JT Lightning Invitational Tournament in his tradition that is absolutely integral to keeping the sport alive. Pro- than-life figure,” Thorne recalls of Lightning. “This was his scene, and honor, donating the proceeds to his family. fessional wrestling is an older art (yes, art) than most people think, he was thoughtful enough to let other people have a little piece of it with recorded historical predecessors dating back as early as the when he could have just been like, ‘Fuck you guys, I’m not renting Since that first show at Peabody’s, the promoters at AIW have been 19th century. A form of the spectacle that we would recognize my ring to you.’” After a pause, Thorne laughs and adds, “Dude, in more than pleasantly surprised at the degree of success and recog- today developed and gained popularity during the first half of the the year 2015, if some 15-year-old kid wanted to rent a wrestling ring, nition they’ve attained. Thorne still finds it hard to believe, stating, 20th century, with an organizational structure entirely comprised I’d be like, ‘Absolutely not, man. I’m going to get sued.’” “Fans have flown from as far as England just to sit in the AIW crowd of separate, regional promotional entities much like AIW. Each and experience it live, which is crazy to me." All of the events are territory had its own stars, its own fan base, and its own style. Sadly, JT Lightning was diagnosed with throat cancer and passed recorded and the DVDs sell globally, their popularity allowing AIW away in 2011. “Since he died, there was almost this void that needed to host international performers. "We import wrestlers from all to be filled in Cleveland wrestling,” Thorne laments. “Anybody that over the world for our shows," Thorne (deservedly) brags. "We’ve ever got involved in wrestling, he would help them out. He’s the had talent come from Japan, England, Scotland, Canada, and all INTENSE 26 whole reason there’s a scene today.” AIW has since done their best over the United States to compete in AIW shows." continues on page

Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Once Upon a Time in Mexico) on , a new , a one-legged wrestler perform on WWE, he realized that he, too, Two Cleveland TV series that showcases the iconic Mexican tradition of Luchadores wrestling. could learn the craft in spite of his handicap.

The travel is Cross’ favorite part, and he’s become quite the worldly fellow as a result. He first started ten years ago under the guidance of JT Lightning, whose tough Wrestling Superstars He’s also noticed differences in people’s attitudes toward wrestling, relating, “In the US, training helped push him to overcome his disability. “I remember JT would always by and large, it’s hokey and it’s funny. There isn’t that element in a lot of places.” Despite kind of challenge me,” he recalls. “When we would go to do something basic like When people think of professional wrestling, what they know is typically limited to the stylistic differences around the globe, wrestling, like most sports, crosses language a wrist-lock or a tie-up, he would always be like, ‘Now, if you can’t do this, I can’t what they see on WWE. But success in wrestling reaches a lot further than what you barriers. “I’ve flown to Japan, met a Japanese man who doesn’t speak English, and then continue training you.’ I would always take that as a challenge.” Iron overcame see on TV. Take these stories, both of homegrown Clevelanders: wrestled him for 15 minutes that same day,” describes Cross. “It’s no different from a each challenge and eventually worked his way into performing regularly in the drummer meeting a bass player and playing a paid show that night, with new songs independent circuit. that they just wrote.”

Matt Cross, the “Son of Havoc” A high point in his career came when he was performing in Chicago at a show He points out, “What I think people don’t understand is that this art form and this attended by CM Punk, one of Iron’s WWE heroes. Iron recalls feeling pretty performance is unfolding before your very eyes, and it’s not nearly as discussed as pessimistic about his career at this point, and almost didn’t show up to perform. began his wrestling career with AIW right people think,” which flies in the face of those who dismiss wrestling for being “scripted.” Luckily, he did, because after the match, to his complete surprise, Punk came into around the end of the ‘90s, just before he turned 20. Back This aspect is so important to Cross that he believes professional wrestling can only be the ring and began championing him to the audience. Being praised by the then then, wrestling was even less accessible to newcomers, and this was especially true fully appreciated live, and moreover, it’s best experienced at a local, independent show. WWE champion, and one of his personal heroes, moved Iron to tears. “It didn’t for young people. Wrestling was dominated by 30-40 year olds who didn’t want to “I think this art form is so different to perceive in person,” he explains. “I don’t think it just justify my wrestling career, it justified my whole life,” he says, looking back. see their sport invaded by a bunch of kids. “To get in was very difficult,” Cross recalls. completely translates to a televised audience.” “Every time a kid made fun of me, every time someone told me I couldn’t lift “You were going to get beat up and stuff like that.” Cross nevertheless proved himself weights, the physical therapy I had to go through as a kid: it justified everything amongst the grizzled steel workers, despite standing at a mere 5’ 7”. I had ever done.” Greg Iron, “The Handicapped Hero” “There was no opportunity for a guy like me,” Cross explains, regarding his relatively Since then, other WWE stars have praised him, ESPN has told his story, he’s small size for a wrestler. “Now, the wrestling industry, in the past couple of years, has performed with many of his heroes, and he’s been able to team up with Zach changed so much to where there are guys in WWE, which is obviously the top dog, Greg Iron’s life is a success story on top of a success story Gowen, who gave him the confidence to wrestle in the first place, as a tag team who are smaller, faster, lighter. The style has changed.” That development has allowed on top of a success story. Born with cerebral palsy that has called the “Handicapped Heroes.” He also tells his story to help inspire others, Cross to wrestle in 20 different countries across the world (Japan, Russia, Egypt, France, left his right arm severely disabled and growing up in a giving motivational speeches at schools throughout the country. “I love being Mexico, and Madagascar, to name a few) and against the biggest names in the business. home of drug addiction and violence, Iron nevertheless found refuge and salvation in challenged,” he grins. “I like it when someone tells me I can’t do something.” At He’s been featured by WWE and countless promotional companies throughout the the world of professional wrestling. Bullied in school, he never thought he had a chance this point in his career, however, it’s probably pretty hard to find someone who world; he was even on the cover of a game. Currently, he’s working with director of becoming a professional wrestler because of his disability. However, after seeing can honestly tell him that.

24 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 24 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 25 INTENSE 25 continued from page

As time went on, however, increased popularity, profits, and the advent of allowed new conglomerates like the National Wrestling Alliance and the World Wide Wrestling Federation, which would eventually become today’s WWE, to dominate the scene. Con- sequently, the individual promotional companies fell to the wayside as the fan bases consolidated and their attention shifted toward a televised version of the sport.

Despite this, Thorne and his partners still see plenty of value in the live, independent version of the spectacle. “There’s something GREGORY SCOTT like this in every major city across the United States, it’s just that nobody really knows about it,” he explains. “It’s just like music, com- edy, anything like that. Unless you’re in that scene, you don’t really know it exists.” And in a modern world where local concert venues A year and a half ago, artist Gregory Scott, are struggling, live independent wrestling is seeing a resurgence in internationally known for his unique multimedia attendance. “There’s this weird cult following that’s developing all over the country,” Thorne says excitedly. “Everyone’s seeking out artwork, began calling Cleveland home. what their independent wrestling group is in their city, and people are going and supporting it.”

“You go to a WWE event at the Q, you’re going to sit a mile away from Stephanie Ginese // Photographer: Jae Andres the ring. You’re going to pay $50 for a ticket,” Thorne elaborates, “and just like if you go see some mainstream radio band, it’s going to be leveland is estimated to have 390,000 residents, many of this big, overproduced spectacle that really isn’t that good to begin which have been calling the Forest City home since birth. It is with. But if you go to an independent show or a punk concert, you’re common to hear of people leaving Cleveland for bigger oppor- going to see passion. You’re going to see people trying to make it, that C tunities in bigger cities, not the other way around. However, gritty, doing-whatever-they-can-to-get-noticed attitude." now more than ever, those bigger-city dwellers are migrating here. They are putting down roots, starting up businesses, or improving Here’s the thing about professional wrestling: in most people’s minds, on ones we already have, and making it’s not “cool” to be into it. In Cleveland, the so-called “Underdog City,” this Midwestern utopia thrive. One of it's cool to be a musician, a comedian, a painter, a filmmaker, a poet, I just want to be able to those transplants is Gregory Scott, who an actor, etc., but not a wrestler. Yet these performers and their fans has been living in Gordon Square for approach their craft with just as much, if not more, passion than any keep making more pieces. about a year and a half now, working of the aforementioned. Most people can probably recall local rock in his studio/home creating pieces of concerts they’ve attended where they watched a disengaged, pomp- multimedia art that show all over the world. An internationally - ous, “I’m-too-cool-to-be-into-this” crowd passively stare at the band acclaimed artist living right around the corner from you, and you onstage. Say what you will about professional wrestling, but there’s didn't even know it. Luckily, Scott was kind enough to let Pressure definitely none of that at an AIW show. Both the performers and Life into his home/studio and his world, offering up his thoughts the crowd give it their all, despite being dismissed or even downright on the city, the art, and everything in between. mocked by the general public. What's more underdog than that? What made you choose Cleveland as your home, as opposed to a "If you think wrestling is stupid, or whatever your thoughts of wres- bigger city? I wanted to buy a home/studio, and looked in Chicago, tling are, I highly encourage anybody to just set that aside for one where I lived, for two years, and finally gave up on being able to night and come check out an AIW show," Thorne challenges. "I afford enough square footage. You know, since I'm building these guarantee that you'll be entertained by something that happens over sets, I need a lot of space. Finally, I started looking around the that 3 to 4 hour period that you’re in there. And if nothing else, you’re country at places where property was undervalued. I looked in going to enjoy the cheap PBR and get drunk and yell at people." Phoenix, Atlanta, Detroit, , other places. I looked around a lot, and somebody suggested Cleveland. So, I started visiting a little bit, and I could see that the art scene was a lot more vibrant

26 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 4 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 27 here then say, Cincinnati. While Cincinnati is a beautiful town, everything. I started to get this feeling there's this bubble: nobody is make your art remarkable. By remarkable, I mean the literal it wasn't quite my culture, particularly on the art side. I started comes in, nobody goes out. The galleries don't travel to the interna- sense of the word: [art] people need to talk about, people can talk looking around here, and I had been out a couple times to look at tional art fairs. There are some collectors here in town, but I have about, it's easy to talk about. It's not enough to be a good painter. properties. There was an architect friend that saw this building a feeling their collecting goes on in other places. I solely wouldn't It's not enough to be a good photographer. The work needs to stand I'm currently in go up for sale. He knew commit myself to collecting from just one out. There's 7 billion people in the world and small percentage are what my needs were and he said this region, unless that was the whole point artists, and we just have such a media cluttered world. Like how do would be perfect, and he was right. So, of my collection. See, Chicago had the you cut through that? How do you get noticed at all? Even people I chose Cleveland partly because it had The really short, simple, opposite issue. It tended to look past the in the visual arts aren't really all that famous. You know, nobody a good building, it's on the truck routes deep thing is make your artists who were there, and to try to bring knows who I am. Except maybe at the art fairs. for shipping art, and this neighborhood in people from other places, stuff that in particular (Detroit-Shoreway)—I art remarkable. seemed a little more high end. Chicago Do you inspire yourself? No, I amuse myself. recognized, from seeing neighborhoods was trying to compete with New York in in Chicago go from slums to being a way. Cleveland seems to be the oppo- Do you think you inspire others? I think I do, actually. I get emails revitalized and rebuilt—I could see this site issue. I think there needs to be more from high school and college students, whose teachers have showed neighborhood was on that path. Being in between Ohio City and outreach to people outside the area, more interaction with people them my work, and that's nice. I haven't had a lot of "famous guy" Gordon Square, I could see this all start to fill in, and it's doing that outside of Northeast Ohio. Also, finding ways to expose Northeast moments, but once in a while something will happen and I'm like, already. In just 18 months, huge things have happened. Ohio artists to places outside this area. Now the Bruno Casiano "Wow, that's cool!" Gallery (5304 Detroit Ave.) shows Latin American, Hispanic artists, What is your opinion of the creative landscape of Cleveland? One and he's bringing people from outside the country even. How do you deal with your own laziness or creative blocks? thing I've noticed about Cleveland is, while everyone appreciates Being self-employed in any field, you have to deal with motivation, the arts and they're tryiang to bring artists in to revitalize the neigh- How long do you see yourself staying in Cleveland? I mean I just dedication, and unfortunately, the internet has made our lives borhoods, like Collinwood—Collinwood was making very strong bought this place. I'm here the rest of my life, unless I move to Flor- utterly wasted if we choose. It's very easy to blow four hours on What do you think is the single most important work of art by pitches to get artists to move there when I was looking around— ida and do the senior thing. I hear they souped up their golf carts. YouTube without blinking an eye. Did you ever read Brave New any artist ever? Chicago's" bean." It's actually called Cloud Gate anyway, it's a very insular community from what I've been able to World? It's about this dystopian future and the government sort of by Anish Kapoor. It's a stunningly perfect piece of art. I mean it is see. All the exhibitions, galleries, and what not are all Northeast Any advice for other artists in the area? I have lots of things to tell keeps everyone complacent with a drug called Soma. As long as just the exact right shape, the exact right thing for that space. It's Ohio. All the grants are Northeast Ohio; it's all Northeast Ohio artists in general, but I think the really short, simple, deep thing everybody gets their Soma, everything is fine. I think the internet the meeting point for people downtown. That is a very important, is our Soma. As long as we all have our internet, we're not going iconic piece of art that interacts with it's large community in a way to get too worked up. that visual art manages not to do. Like it or not, most of the world doesn't give a flying fuck. You definitely have a defined style. Do you believe it would be A Timeline of Gregory Scott’s Journey disastrous at this point to create different work or go in a different What's next? One of the hardest things as an artist for me is the direction? This is a good question. One of the negatives about "mak- next concept. I mean this is very process-oriented work. It takes two ing it" as an artist, is you're known for something, so you can't just to three months to make each piece. Building sets, making props, 2003 2005 2006 2008 2014 do anything you want. You no longer have that freedom. I suppose getting models and costumes. There's tons of research, just trying to I could, but it wouldn't be shown, it wouldn't be taken anywhere. It line things up. Then video editing time. But the concept is the hard is partly a fame game. Name recognition helps build price and even thing. If concepts were easy, I could get a way bigger studio space getting into the museums. You need to keep doing kind of the same and I could hire people, and we would build three sets at once. I thing to a large degree, unless you hit a point like Jeff Koons. He can can't work on two or three pieces at once because I don't even know kind of do anything he fucking wants. You really do want to build what the next two are going to be. So that's difficult. I've done a few Since Scott would be out of your name and the recognition of your work by being repetitive variants on the work that could be new bodies of work, or just their town the opening weekend in a way. Being true to what people have already seen, like brand own thing. I just want to be able to keep making more pieces. of a group show at Catherine building. You build yourself that way. I've had ideas for bodies of Scott owned his own design Edelman Gallery in Chicago, he work that I think are viable and thought, “What if I just made up firm, but his restless, creative built a life-size cutout painting a name?” Put the work out through a different gallery altogether; mind still yearned for more, of himself with a video screen Scott graduated from IU, pursued a dual career as two artists. That'd be awesome. so he took up painting and implanted where the hands Scott moved to Bloomington, returned to Chicago, and that photography in his free time. rested on the stomach. The Indiana to get his Master’s December, Catherine Edelman Who is your audience? What kind of people buy your work? I've At a photography workshop video showed Scott holding in photography at Indiana took a few of his pieces to Art been very concerned about my work reaching anybody, not just You can see Scott's piece "Half Dome" on in Maine, Scott began text with gallery chat, filing his University. While there, the idea Miami for Basel Week. The work people with an art degree or an art history background. You get display at Gallery 1point618 located at incorporating photography into nails, and holding a glass of of making his paintings move was a hit, doing better than more out of it perhaps if you have that background, but you don't 6421 Detroit Avenue, Gordon Square. his paintings by filling in missing wine. The piece sold that night, intrigued him, so he began either Edelman or Scott could Scott purchased a studio/home have to have that to enjoy the work. As far as what kind of people parts of the painted figure with and Edelman Gallery began to incorporating into his have imagined, and it was clear and began working in his new buy my work...rich people. Pieces go for $30,000 and up. photos of himself. represent him full time. photos and paintings. he had a new career as an artist. home, Cleveland.

28 PRESSURE LIFE | Issue 4 Issue 4 | PRESSURELIFE.com 29 CLEVELAND TAROT PRESSURE PICKS Let the mistake on the lake decide your fate UPCOMING SHOWS TO SEE

Cleveland has always boasted a unique cast of characters and cut-ups. For the first No Exit New Music Ensemble time ever we have gathered them all in one place: The Cleveland Tarot! Captured in Nov 21 // Spaces all their homegrown mysticism, look for more previews of the Cleveland Tarot cards in upcoming issues of Pressure Life before the release of the full Cleveland Tarot deck for sale soon! Groove Is In the Heart: 90's Dance Party Nov 25 // Mahall's Mike Polk Jr. HOLIDAY RENEGADES Dec 4 // Agora Theater 7th Annual Cleveland Metal Holiday Food Drive Deck your halls with something different this year. Dec 5 // Beachland Ballroom Dan Bernardi // Illustrations: Aaron Gelston Fever Child & Suede Bros sliding uncontrollably toward the holidays, so it's expected we'll hear once again about the war on Christmas. For years I felt that this “war” was bullshit, Dec 5 // Coda concocted by insecure religious zealots. However, I've come to realize that the war is very real — and Christmas is winning. It's 2015, and despite the We're many advancements we've made as a diverse country full of varying beliefs, every December is still dominated by Santa and company. Even people Cleveland Masonic Auditorium entirely devoid of any religion are celebrating the day, leaving other popular festivities like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa only for the truly devoted. Sure, X-mas has brought Dec 9 // Sleater Kinney unquantifiable amounts of joy and good will to people around the world for years, but if you're like me, you may be in the mood for a celebration alteration. This Christmas War, take a stand with one of these underdog options, or as I like to call them- the holiday renegades. Star Wars Burlesque: The Tease Awakens... When the holiday's name translation means “to hit each Reason's greetings! Some of you out there completely Dec 11 // Beachland Ballroom TAKANAKUY other," you're in for a treat. This fun little celebration, which NEWTONMAS abstain from holiday celebrations, especially if its could best be described as a happier, less deadly version of The Purge, is just religiously affiliated. There could be many explanations for this with none M∆Z begging to be imported from Peru. Every year on December 25th, indigenous greater than your utter lack of belief in a god. Well for atheists, and anyone who Dec 12 // Mahall's men, women, and children from the Chumbivilcas Province will dress in happens to gravitate toward scientific thought, there is a holiday for you. outlandish costumes and masks, gather in groups, and proceed to beat the Newtonmas was coined by brainiac community The Skeptic's Society back in the living hell out of each other. What started as a small scale solution to legal '90s, and marks the birthday of famed philosopher and scientist Sir Isaac Newton, 6th annual Winter Warm-up conflicts blew up into an annual holiday where people fight their neighbors for who was actually born on December 25th in 1642. Although it started as Dec 12 // Agora fun and past feuds are settled with feet and fists, all in front of their approving, somewhat of a rebellious joke, Newtonmas stuck around as a celebration of logic onlooking community. There's plenty of drinking and dancing to go along with and reason, so invite over some of your most thought-provoking loved ones and DJ Craze the punching, so if we brought this one to the U.S. I think we'd be ready for it. bob for apples as you exchange Newtonian theories! Dec 18 // Beachland Ballroom Yule is an old holiday centered around the winter solstice, often The official holiday for the rest of us, who perhaps don't know YULE celebrated today by modern pagan religions. In many ways, Yule FESTIVUS what to believe or not to believe. But if you've got a celebratory Cloud Nothings and Christmas overlap to the point where they're almost twinsies. Both are gap to be filled, what better to fill it than a made up holiday featured on an Dec 28 // Grog Shop winter holidays with an emphasis on embracing family and friends with gift episode of Seinfeld from 1997? While Festivus existed in limited capacity before giving, caroling and feasts. The central difference, as practicing Wiccans will tell the episode, Seinfeld exposed it to the masses. It's somewhat of an anti- Clutch you, is that rather than celebrating the birth of Jesus, they celebrate the birth of Christmas, taking a stance against the heavy commercialism and consumerism The Magician is a seer of many worlds, a harnesser of potentialities and a guide to Cernunnos, the great horned hunter god. Down to trade in the church for the that can often overshadow the holiday season. Customary traditions include the Dec 30 // Agora the infinite subconscious. So too is Cleveland’s own preeminent magician, Harlan coven? This one's for you. But children be warned; if you think you're too cool for undecorated Festivus pole, the Festivus dinner where guests can openly Ellison. A ‘60’s sci-fi visionary, Ellison wrote scripts for The Outer Limits, Alfred Yule, you better watch out. Some believe the horned god is Krampus, a sort of a complain about one another, followed by the head of the house challenging a Hitchcock Presents, and Star Trek, among others. Our Wizard of Words has penned CLE Rocks NYE - Ruby Rose Santa-style beast with a naughty side of his own, who punishes those who guest to a wrestling match. Despite being openly absurd, some consider Festivus over 1,700 published works and is a multiple Hugo and Nebula award winner. Dec 31 // Cleveland Public Auditorium misbehave. And I'm not talking coal in the stocking... to be the ultimate secular holiday. Remember- no gifts!

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