Issue 7 - Pressure Life

EV
–
ROLLING UP HIS SLEEVES
AND BUSTING HIS ASS
MUSIC / ENTERTAINMENT / ARTS & CULTURE / LIFE / INDEPENDENT / PRESSURELIFE.COM
PressureLife
Creative Director, Owner
Chief Operating Officer, Owner
Editors
John Gardner
Amy Sokolowski
Sarah Maxwell
Ryan Novak
Hannah Allozi
Illustrator
Aaron Gelston
Staff Writers
Contributors
MEET THE PRESSURE TEAM
Jim Bacha
Art Director
Senior Writers
PRESSURE PEOPLE
@gelston.design
Adam Dodd
Will Kmetz
Dan Bernardi
Matt McLaughlin
Kevin Naughton
Casey Rearick
@caseyrearickphoto
Anthony Franchino
Darrick Tahir
When it comes to sports, fashion, and music,
Darrick Tahir knows his stuff. A contributing
writer for PressureLife, Darrick pulls no punches
when writing on his most passionate topics,
all in the realm of cultural relevance. His fresh,
assertive style persists through all of his work, on and off the page.
Darrick continues to strive in spoken word poetry, a craft which he's
sharpened for the past eight years, and at the ripe age of twenty-one,
he's got a promising future at the forefront of pop commentary.
Darrick's been on point since being crowned champion in his
fourth grade spelling bee. He still brags about his level 97
Jumpluff on Pokemon X, but if you ever meet him, just ask about
the Albino Corn Snake.
@anthonyfphoto
Alex Bieler
Gennifer Harding-Gosnell
Ben Diamond
Darrick Rutledge
Stephanie Ginese
Anna Yunker
Matt Yunker
Graham Beck
Eric O'Callaghan
Ginger Christ
Distribution
PMK Logistics
Enjoying PressureLife?
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PressureLife.com/feedback
Stephanie Ginese
Stephanie Ginese: tastemaker, trendsetter,
sarcastic wit queen. She couldn't have put
it better herself. With a certain lust for life,
Stephanie brings her eccentric mentality to
every piece she writes, whether it be music, fashion, or anything art.
She always aims for an honest and poetic approach, and isn't afraid
to get colorful and drop a few fuck-bombs. Stephanie is co-owner of
Savage Moon Shop for handmade, intention-based goods and also
contributes to the Underground Weekly music blog.
Aside from motherhood, Stephanie's passions make her millennial
with a mission. Challenging gender norms. Resurrecting the local art
scene. Witchcraft. As she would say, “Wake. Slay. Sleep. Repeat.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
We sent Mike Suglio and Clare Welsh to Austin to cover the 2016 South
by Southwest festival for our website back in March. In case you missed it,
or didn’t even know we had a website, here’s a look at Mike and Clare’s trip
and the music, art, and tacos they enjoyed while in Austin.
Check it out at:
PressureLife.com/sxsw
Film
3%
CONTENTS
Entertainment
5%
Food / Drink
28.6%
Other
Fashion
5%
Paranormal
5%
M AY / J U N E 2 01 6
Environment
12
6%
Sports
22
06 Off the Beaten Track
Music
14.3%
Things To Do
7.9%
Radioactive Richard Simmons
Humor
Positive or Negative Language
Psycho cardio vs. comfort carboloading
10 Cleveland Softball
Art
6%
18
Breaking the intimidation
09 Herb'nTwine vs.
WHAT WE
WRITE ABOUT
On the record with Track 6 Recording’s Brandon Youngs
08 Guide to the CLE Asian Market
6%
5%
26
09
Cleveland’s softball Shagri-La
12 Turn to the Left
12 annual fashion week Cleveland
th
-
11.7%
7.9%
Use of 'Love' + 'Hate'
Hate 13.9%
+
89.3%
Love 86.1%
14 DJ E-V
Forging forward with his own sound
18 The Life of Bad Luck Brian
20
Bad Luck Brian keeps the meme alive
20 The City We Know / The City We Show
Cleveland’s crisis of identity
22 Cleveland and the Great War
Find out what impact the First World
War had on our city
Anomaly Digital’s virtual game changer
28 The Curious Case of the Unknown Man
Did the Zodiac killer call Cleveland home?
30 The Paper Anniversary
Happy Birthday, PressureLife
FOLLOW US
Facebook // Twitter // YouTube // Instagram
in print for PressureLife. Looking
back at our first year, it becomes
clear that a restaurant review in every issue and several inventive
recipes in our early issues skewed these results of what we covered.
Trust us, we are not a food and drink publication. In addition to covering
Cleveland’s great restaurants and beer, the local music scene was a major
emphasis of year one, but on top of that, we were just as likely to write
about a local fashion designer or artist as we were to write about Bigfoot
or UFOs. We covered things to do and places to see in Cleveland, but we
also covered environmental issues we thought you should know about.
If something excites us, we are going to write about it, whether it fits into a
tidy little category or not.
26 Reality Check
28
THIS ISSUE MARKS A YEAR
14
In our first year, we covered things we were passionate about and wanted
you all to know about, so it makes sense that our magazine had a mostly
positive tone. We used positive words (good, best, great, awesome) 8.4 times
more often than negative words (bad, worst, sucks, shit). We used the word
“love” 6.2 times more often than we used the word “hate.” There is enough
trolling and negativity all over the internet, so we don’t mind actually
admitting we like some stuff.
New To PressureLife? Looking to catch up?
Visit PressureLife.com to see all of our previous print issues.
Our website also features exclusive content that covers an even more
diverse range of topics than our print stories.
@thepressurelife
Issue 7
| PRESSURELIFE.com 5
FIN D H IM
off the
BEATEN
TRACK
Dan Bernardi
B
Catching up
with Brandon
Youngs
of Track 6
Recording and
punk metal
duo, Gwazi
ack in 2007, when PressureLife
was on its first print run, just a
pre-risen phoenix in the waiting,
one cover story featured a crew
of DIY pioneers taking the music
scene by storm. While many of the indie pioneers of HM Concerts &
Management have gone their own ways, recording mastermind and
long-time Cleveland native Brandon Youngs carries on the mission
with his home studio, Track 6 Recording.
Founded by Youngs in 2002 and located in Parma,
Track 6 Recording has been a steady haven for
rock, metal, punk, and alternative recording artists for years, including acts like the Blindside
Booze Band, Beneath the Sky, and Epicurean to
name a few. Youngs keeps business relatively low
key, but since its creation, Track 6 has hosted over
two hundred clients and produced around four
hundred projects ranging from singles to full LPs.
After nineteen years on the job, Youngs is getting
pretty good at it.
This style is evident in Youngs' solo work. He's a screamer. Under the
moniker Poor Ass Leon, Youngs is a one man hardcore punk army.
His first album New Revolution dropped back in 2013, for which he
provided all instrumentation and vocals with a viciously relentless flair.
| Issue 7
Youngs hinted that another Poor Ass Leon album is in the works,
but he's got something else in store first with old friend and musical
marksman John Templeman of JIB Machine Records. A few issues
back, PressureLife talked with Templeman about the history of his label
and discussed their upcoming projects. Over the years Templeman
and Youngs have mashed up for several different
projects; Templeman recorded his newest solo
album at Track 6, and New Revolution is housed
on JIB Machine. But when their veteran musical
powers combine, they are...Gwazi.
Within the screaming
lies a real message
founded in frustration
which adds some
welcomed substance
to ponder while
headbanging.
At the ripe age of twelve, Brandon Youngs picked
up his first guitar, started rocking, and hasn't
stopped since. But, it did take him some time to
find the right outlet for his musical inclinations. “It sucked being in
a band with friends,” he said. “I was fed up.” He went on to Full Sail
University in the mid ‘90s and found his niche as a sound engineer.
Throughout years of working on projects like HM, and opening a studio
with the legendary Billy Morris of Warrant, Track 6 persisted above
all else, and still captures music best described by Youngs as “angry,
fast, and loud”.
6 PRESSURELIFE
You can hear in the lyrics and in the sound of his voice that Youngs
is mad at the fucked up state of society. “I vent anger,” he said with a
smile. Within the screaming lies a real message founded in frustration,
which adds some welcome substance to ponder while headbanging.
Named after both the mythical lion-tiger hybrid
and the fabled dueling roller coaster, Gwazi is a
balls-out punk and metal meeting of the minds.
As a studio project, Youngs and Templeman
each rock vocals and guitars, with Templeman
also on drums. In 2015 they released The Rise
and Fall of the Indigo Inn, their first album, and
now they've got two more coming soon. #RNC, a
free release, is a raw, politically charged five song
thrasher that reflects their political attitudes. “Anti-government,
pro-freedom,” described Youngs.
In June Gwazi releases XVI. Featuring a bunch of guest artists from
JIB Machine, XVI was the first album recorded after Track 6's recent
remodeling. The studio has seen many changes over the years, in a
fluctuating music scene with bands come and gone, but for a building
that has been literally struck by lightning, you can bet there's some
hardcore magic flowing through those speakers. Youngs continues to
grow and record, and Track 6's door is open for any aspiring artists
looking to lay it down. Check it out at tracksix.com, and keep your
ears open for Gwazi at jibmachinerecords.com.
G ET CASH
Weir is He This Time?
An open abyss full of eternal possibilities, guided by the glow of
twinkling suns light-years away. This is Ad Space: the Final FrontWeir,
and Cleveland- we have a problem. Grizzled after years of traversing the
cosmos, our trusty explorer Officer Weir is now AFK. Transmissions have
gone silent. He was last traced in the Georgetown Vosh galaxy by the
efficacious Denise Rapacz, who must've equipped some advanced eyetech to spot Weir's unusually faded signal. Now he is lost in the ether
and may never be seen again.
Perhaps you will brave the recovery mission. Weir is assuredly contained
within the uncharted pages of our ever-expanding PressureLife universe,
a vast celestial region rife with unparalleled alien content. It won't be
easy, so be warned- in ad space, no one can hear Weir scream. For your
chance to win a $25 gift card, locate the elusive Weir stashed away in one
of our adverts and be the first to submit his location to @thepressurelife
(through facebook, twitter, or instagram). Set your phasers to sweep!
Want to wear Weir?
PressureLife.com has your size.
Guide to the
CLE Asian
Market: Snacks
Anna Yunker
Park To Shop doesn’t sound like an
exotic name for an Asian Market. But
they stock over 15,000 items specializing
in foods from China, Korea, Japan,
Vietnam, Thailand and many more. And
it’s right in your backyard Cleveland!
After living in Seoul, South Korea for a
couple years, I learned that there are some
snacks my American friends enjoyed right
away and others that were more of an
acquired taste. I was pleasantly surprised
that I could still find many of these snacks
at the Asian markets in Cleveland. So, the
next time you’re visiting the Cleveland
Flea, Tyler Village, or wandering around
downtown swing over to the Park To Shop
Market and try some of these fun snacks.
You won’t be sorry.
LUNCH, HAPPY HOUR, DINNER
THE PREMIER BISTRO AND WINE BAR
Discover the sensational flavors
of a seasonally-inspired menu
and an international wine list in a
casually-sophisticated atmosphere.
goodness. These were served with
every school lunch when I taught in
South Korea (aka kids love them), and
if you’ve ever been to Seoul Garden in
Parma, they hand them out with your
check. Insider Tip: They also make a
delicious cocktail when mixed with
soju (Korean liquor) or vodka and a
little soda.
Rice Cookies/ Crackers You’ll find
multiple varieties of these popped rice
snacks. The cylindrical “cookie” variety
are somewhat sweet, almost like a
very mild Rice Krispies treat. The larger
“Puffed Cereal Cookies” have a flavor
more similar to the Quaker Oats rice
cakes most Americans are familiar
with. The light crunchiness of both
are oddly addicting.
Peanut Ball Squid Puffs Not the
official name, but you can clearly see
Peanut Ball on the package. These taste
a little sweet and have a nice crunch
with a peanut in the center. It’s not a
strong squid flavor, but it’s there. Dried
squid kind of tastes like fish jerky and is
sweet and has a slight spice. This type of
dried squid is very popular for baseball
games in South Korea, so if you’re
heading to an Indians game, grab a
few packs to share with friends!
First time shoppers, I got you. It can be
intimidating wandering around a market
where you’re not familiar with the
brands, flavors, or ingredients. And most
are labeled in a foreign language. Don’t
worry, there are tons of options that
you’ll enjoy. Start with these:
Melona Popsicles These remind
me of an amazing melon version of a
Fudgesicle. Creamy with a refreshing
melon flavor, they’re the perfect warm
weather treat!
“Yogurt Drink” The names vary by
brand, but this adorable little plastic
bottle is filled with sugary/yogurty
What’d we miss?
Share your favorite finds with
us online @PressureLife.com
Herb'n Twine vs.
RADIOACTIVE
RICHARD SIMMONS
Matthew McLaughlin // Illustrations: Aaron Gelston @gelston.design
It’s
mid-afternoon in the budding SoLo district. People go about their day visiting
the growing number of businesses in the area, when suddenly, a two story tall
glowing fitness instructor comes sprinting down Lorain, shattering windows
with his vicious cry of “COME ON LADIES!” Richard Simmons has unfortunately been
poisoned by Cleveland’s radioactive water supply. Now the gargantuan frizzy haired
monstrosity is dead set on whipping a growing
Cleveland neighborhood into shape. The cardio driven
dance moves, however, are damaging the structural
integrity of Lorain and W. 44th, sending citizens
...when suddenly,
running in every different direction. However, the
a two story tall
confident craftsmen of Herb’n Twine step forward with
glowing fitness
the only possible solution to this (and most problems):
bad ass sandwiches.
instructor comes
sprinting down
Lorain...
First, they approach Simmons cautiously with a
platter of Veggie Subs as he dances to a version
of “The Locomotion” only he can hear. Sweaty and
hungry the world’s largest jazzerciser reaches down
and takes a handful of the delicious artichoke, pear,
truffle construction, and finds a perfectly balanced sandwich served on amazing bread.
Unfortunately, the attempt to pacify Simmons with veggies backfires. Newly energized,
he breaks into a routine revolving around “My Boyfriend’s Back” that requires the use of
a chair, for which he’s ripped a bus stop out of the ground.
Knowing they’re the neighborhood’s only shot, the crew at Herb’n Twine double down,
this time prepping a round of Smoked Turkey Clubs. House smoked turkey breast and
bacon, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach make it the pinnacle of the form. It’s the best
turkey sandwich you’ll find in this city. As Simmons greedily gobbles up the platter, the
plan becomes clear: tryptophan from the generous amount of turkey on the sandwich
starts to slow him down. The pitch of his encouraging cries begins to drop now reaching
a terrifying demonic bass, “Is everyone in target heart range?”
With Simmons on the ropes, Herb’n Twine prepares to deliver the knock-out blow. The
Chorizo Meatball Sub with smoked mole rojo, lime crema, and cilantro. Simmons looks
down at the brown paper wrapped offering seemingly thinking, “Well I am on a cheat
day,” and begins to consume the excellently savory, saucy-as-hell sandwich. As he
finishes the last one, his eyes begin to droop and he begins to shrink– in size, due to
the well established radiation sapping properties of chorizo. And there he lies in the
middle of the street, curled up and asleep in a giant tank top.
Knowing the day is won, and no longer afraid for the neighborhood, the team at
Herb’n Twine has one final offering. They walk out to Simmons wrap him in a blanket
and hand him a cup of Tomato Bisque. He smiles thankfully, picks up his knapsack and
walks down the road, thumb out and belly full.
BISTRO83.COM
8 PRESSURELIFE
| Issue 7
Issue 7
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Cleveland
A friendly oasis in a desert of assholes
SOFTBALL
CLE Softball Teams
[ Clark Division ]
Pat’s In The Flats: Led by new captain and
dictator-for-life Andrew Schriver, Pat's In
The Flats enjoyed a resurgent second place
finish in 2015 after half a lifetime of utter
disappointment. They'll look to capitalize
on their momentum this year.
ABC The Tavern: A perennial contender and
10 PRESSURELIFE
| Issue 7
stillborn brainchild of commissioner Matt
Jauch, ABC hopes to have stolen enough
players from other teams to win the whole
thing this year.
Music Saves: Cleveland Softball’s 2015
champions have been gutted in the
offseason, but with new captain and
tireless walking smile Ali Sedivy at the
helm, they'll look to continue their success.
Eric O'Callaghan // Illustrations: Aaron Gelston @gelston.design
Of
all the mainstream recreational sports, none are more ubiquitous or more varying in level of skill than softball. From friendly
neighborhood church leagues that are more about congregation
than competition to cutthroat men’s leagues where the teams
are mainly comprised of giant sequoias that can hit a ball from Kauffman Park in Lakewood to Canada with a middling swing of a $700
bat, softball leagues can vary greatly, so it can be tough to find a league
that doesn’t overclock your own personal threshold for bullshit whilst
maintaining a level of interest that justifies spending real time each
week having some actual fun for once.
Blazing Saddles: The artist formerly known
as Rustbelt Welding, among seemingly
ten million other names, have decided on
a sponsorship partner that's around for the
long haul. Saddles will be looking to retain
their trophy from last year awarded for
Highest Median Player Age.
friendship champions are looking to
also win at softball.
Jakprints: Corporate overlords Jakprints
are another team that's reshuffled
their roster this year after best bros
and regular pickers-up of heavy things
for the ladies Scott Alan and Sean
Blankenship defected for the shiny new
Beachland Ballroom team.
WCSB 89.3: Easily the most eclectic team
in the league, WCSB continues to be a
challenging team to face, due to drawing
much of their power from radio waves,
against which there is little proven
defense.
Happy Dog: A disappointing campaign in
2015 led our hot dog heroes to add veteran
bat Mike Drury, best known for getting you
too drunk to beat any of his high scores at
16-Bit and being old enough to know what
USA Today is.
Gotta Groove: After switching to the
tough Clark Division in 2015, the Gotta
Groove family is back with a vengeance,
maintaining their station as the only team
with hats as a part of their uniform.
[ Gordon Division ]
Grog Shop: With Pat's switching
divisions and two new teams in the
mix, Grog is the early season favorite
to win Gordon. With former co-captain
and proudly ¼ German Christian Van
Hala now at the helm, the annual
Crank-Set Rides: The Krivenki family
juggernaut will be getting their new baby
as many at-bats as possible this season to
firmly establish the line of succession.
Now That's Class: Class continues to be
one of the friendliest teams out there,
choosing to distract their opponents
with frivolous niceties and neon green
uniforms rather than engage in a more
direct approach.
Sam’s Beverage: The true World’s
Greatest Dad of coffee mug and T-shirt
fame is Mike Rodemann, captain of Sam's
Beverage. He will yet again be leading
his rotating cast of players through the
gauntlet that is the Gordon Division.
Beachland Ballroom: Formed from the
ashes of Rockefeller Barbershop, Beachland
will be a team to watch after picking up a
few veterans from other teams.
Loop: Loop is a brand new team. Not
much is known about the newcomers, but
they are certainly a welcome addition.
Cleveland Softball is a league that is able to find a perfect balance by
holding one rule above all others: don't be a dick. The league is led by
commissioners Matt Jauch and Jae Kristoff, who have dedicated much
of their summers for the past six years building a community that offers
a little piece of what everyone looks for when they’re finding a way to
spend their Saturdays during the warmer parts of the year. It can be nearly
impossible to quantify the positive impact of a structured yet formless,
competitive yet friendly recreational activity, especially one that allows
for a little exercise from time to time. But running a softball Shangri-La
is a delicate task.
Maintaining the fine line between disinterested Whiffle Ball anarchy and
a testosterone-laden bro-down in bro-town is a challenge, but Cleveland
Softball boasts a friendly atmosphere cultivated in no small part by Commissioner Matt Jauch, who strives to keep things as light and cordial as
possible without sacrificing any of the fun that a little competition can
bring. Jauch says, “There is a certain camaraderie with Cleveland Softball
that you just won’t find with other leagues. We’re a family. Many people
know each other, so every week you are playing a team that has some of
your friends on it.”
Of course, as with any large group of humans, problems do arise and
cause some measure of tension between parties. As Jauch points out,
“Our umpires are all volunteers. There’s
going to be close calls and there’s going
to be blown calls here and there. That’s
the human element of the game. Everyone has seen questionable calls from
professional umps and refs in all the
major sports. You can’t expect an unpaid
volunteer to always get it 100% correct.”
Though Jauch does a tremendous job
of keeping his finger on the pulse of the
league and deals swiftly and fairly with
any problems that may arise, issues
do come up from time to time. “When
immature shit pops up. We pride ourselves on not having the testosterone
level of the city leagues, but there are
competitive people out here who do get carried away at times in the heat
of the moment,” says Jauch.
Maintaining the
fine line between
disinterested Whiffle
Ball anarchy and a
testosterone-laden
bro-down is a
challenge
Because of the laid-back, fun atmosphere, interest in the league is
understandably always high, and keeping things reasonably contained is
paramount to achieving the goals the league has set for itself, including
keeping the number of teams trimmed down for scheduling reasons as
well as simple feasibility.
Despite the somewhat selective nature of player registration, it is still
extremely easy to get involved in Cleveland Softball. Though the season
is already underway, the league is always looking for volunteer umpires,
fill-in players, and free beer. Whether you hope to find a team to help you
battle your inner softball demons, want to help out by volunteering a few
hours of your time, or if you’re simply looking for a friendly environment
in which to hang out and get some fresh air on any given Saturday, feel free
to check the match-ups on the league’s website clevelandsoftball.com and
check out a game on the corner of E. 72nd and Route 90 at Gordon Park.
Just remember, as referenced in the league’s expansive and exhaustive
rulebook, one rule remains above all others: don’t be a dick.
Issue 7
| PRESSURELIFE.com 11
Gennifer Harding-Gosnell // Photography: Casey Rearick @caseyrearickphoto
TURN
to the
LEFT
The North
Coast’s Nod To
The Fashion
Industry
Rocks With
The 12th
Annual
Fashion Week
Cleveland
A
week-long series of events marked this year’s Fashion
Week Cleveland, an annual event held all over the city
to promote Cleveland’s ambition, talent and reception
to high fashion.
Fashion Week both kicked off and ended at The Vault
nightclub at The 9 with high-energy dance parties where
models, designers and staff invited guests to celebrate.
Mid-week events included an outdoor film showing at
Crocker Park, a retail spotlight on the Tre Sorelle Boutique in Little
Italy, and a “Night At The Museum” at the Western Reserve Historical Society featuring a pop-up boutique, cash bar, and a glimpse at
fashion history with the help of well-educated museum curators.
The grand finale of events occurred Saturday, May 7th at the Arcade
downtown. Fashion Week Cleveland’s keynote speaker was Fern
Mallis, the creator of New York Fashion Week and former VP of
IMG Fashion. Mallis’s address was followed by an hour-long blacktie reception at the 1890 Lounge inside The Arcade.
The much-anticipated designer runway shows started at 9 p.m. Victoria Cohen, a native of Westlake and former contestant on Project
Runway Junior, was the first designer show to make the catwalk,
displaying new items from her personal line, Punx,
with eye-catching, unique, but comfortable designs
for young urban females. Her co-contestant from
Project Runway Junior, Matt Sarafa, was second
down the catwalk. His designs featured dark furs
and minimalist dresses that would fit right in at
a chic Cleveland club. Cincinnati designer Edina
Ndebele opted for a futuristic, near-dystopian collection. Many of her designs featured black pleather
material and all the models wore futuristic cyclops
visor glasses made of piping. Milliners Marta Glazen and Graham Baldwin showed off their vintage
hat designs in a variety of styles from bellboy caps
to tall velvety top hats. Kent State graduate Jaanai
Jones’ collection is best suited for the modern, elegant office, while
Cleveland designer Gwyn Strang’s collection is heavily-influenced
by throwbacks to the Victorian era. Lissa Marie Krueger and Cybele
Pawlowski of Magnolia and Lace Bridal Designs wowed guests
with their intricate, well-detailed designs, ending the show with a
gorgeous shimmering coral-colored lace ball gown that drew gasps
from the audience.
...a gorgeous
shimmering
coral-colored
lace ball gown
that drew
gasps from the
audience.
Guests throughout the week of events ranged from every walk
of life and age range: a young couple new to Cleveland attending
their first Fashion Week to up-and-coming stylists to representatives from the Cleveland Retail Commission. WKYC livestreamed
the runway shows featuring models averaging in size from 2-8,
not a size zero to be found. Featured designs ranged from the very
young to the very mature, from very expensive to budget-friendly.
Many of the week’s events were free to attend. Whether you’re
just looking to update your style or you’re a hardcore fashionista,
Fashion Week Cleveland is for YOU.
12 PRESSURELIFE
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ROLLING UP HIS SLEEVES
AND BUSTING HIS ASS
Sarah Maxwell
Casey Rearick @caseyrearickphoto
C
leveland: Sports, beer, Slyman's, and DJ E-V pumping music into the city's bars and clubs far into the
witching hour.
When I picture the life of a DJ living in Los Angeles, a few things
come to mind—a few super illegal and super fun things. There
are massive parties fueled by drugs and booze, painted with
nudity and sweaty bodies gyrating to the music. The DJ at the
center of it all, a self-important douche who gets off knowing he
created the party.
As I sidled into my seat at TownHall across from E-V, my expectations in tote, he is putting out a fire for a show taking place a
few hours later. It turns out, E-V is not attracted to the cliché
lifestyle most of us imagine or expect of a DJ.
He is about as clean cut as they come. He has never had an
interest in substances. He doesn’t drink, doesn’t partake in recreational drugs, and is even trying a plant-based diet. "Overall,
it’s better for the planet in general," E-V says. "I don’t preach it.
I don’t have to. I just want to feel better, be better, and do better
for where we live for future generations."
There is something to be said for this man’s presence. His aura fills
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Issue 7
| PRESSURELIFE.com 15
no genres. There should just be music,” E-V says. "I have such an
eclectic vibe. I just like to make what I like: pop, EDM, rap. I’m a
hybrid. I’m a melting pot of music, culture, food..."
But E-V's success did not happen overnight. He hit the pavement
to make contacts and secure appearances. To land his gig on KISS
FM, he had to compete in a DJ contest. E-V battled against ten other
hopefuls, not knowing it was about to catapult his name across the
Cleveland club scene.
E-V still keeps his place in Ohio City even though he has been
out in LA for years now. There is something unique about
people from the Midwest that he really values. “People from the Midwest are the most real people
you will meet. People here are genuine,
fun and humble. The Midwest has
this mentality: roll up your sleeves
and work your ass off" he says.
THERE SHOULD BE
NO GENRES. THERE
SHOULD JUST BE MUSIC.
“I fell in love with all these different sounds and styles,
and it just grew," E-V says.
the room in an unobtrusive way. E-V has a personable and poised
vibe that makes it impossible not to develop a schoolgirl crush on
him. He is kind, charismatic and humble. After speaking with
him, you want to be his BFF. He is outgoing, and all he needs
to have a great time is being surrounded by positive, fun people.
"You will have the most fun when you are with cool people. Good
vibes,” explains E-V.
His demeanor is unexpectedly calm and collected, borderline soothing. His appearance is LA casual cool with a distinct flair you don’t
often see around Cleveland—even though he buys most of his pieces
in CLE, often at Exhibition.
Most of us are familiar with E-V infiltrating our rush-hour commute
home on the radio, but few know how he rose up from a typical
Lakewood kid to a well-known and respected DJ touring around
the world with the likes of Mike Posner and fellow Clevelander,
Machine Gun Kelly.
E-V was once just the annoying, bratty brother we all had. He would
steal his sister’s Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, TLC, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
CDs, blissfully unaware he was foraying into what would become
a lifelong love affair with hip-hop. Growing up in the ‘90s, he was
exposed to an eclectic array of musical genres.
16 PRESSURELIFE
| Issue 7
In middle school, his bestie’s big brother had a
turntable. He could put out some good music
and looked cool as hell doing it. That piqued
E-V’s curiosity and, for Christmas, he asked for
turntables. His adorably misguided parents got
him a keyboard that said “TurnStyle” on the side. Once he finally
got a real turntable, E-V started teaching himself how to DJ, which
unfortunately meant breaking almost all of his dad’s records, even
some of his coveted David Bowie vinyl. There was never a big plan
for DJing to lead into a career. For E-V, it was always a “fun hobby,
just kids messing around.”
“I was always just doing it. I never really said, ‘I am going to do this.’ I
just followed the fun and the money,” says E-V.
To date, E-V has played Wembley Stadium in London in front of
80,000 people, the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand,
and Ohio University’s infamous Number Fest to a crowd he likened
to zombies mixed with refugees.
Being a DJ means he has to rely solely on himself to create the best
music possible. “When you’re a DJ, it’s just you. You don’t have a
band. You are on your own,” he explains. This pushes E-V to make
his shows diverse and unique. “I am going to splash in all these unexpected things I like, something that is missing," E-V says.
He defines his style as “the grungy rap sound of Cleveland mixed with
dance music.” He doesn't stick to just one genre, instead he blends
the sounds of the music he likes. "Music is music...There should be
The thing I notice about E-V as we discuss
everything from music to Cleveland to social
issues is that he practices what he preaches.
E-V knows nothing can be accomplished without that Midwest, hardworking mentality that is
ingrained in him. He is viscerally aware of how fucking cool his career is and that he gets to be paid to travel
the world and make music. The status does not escape him,
but it doesn’t give him a big head either.
“I can’t say I’ve made it yet. That’s so pretentious. What does that
even mean?” he muses. “Just making someone’s day better, that’s
when I’ve made it. I just want to make good music."
When it comes to the music scene overall, he thinks
kids are getting smarter, they’re figuring it out,
they’re “seeing the real.” That means they see the
real talent and notice quality content, E-V says. And
he hopes that mentality transcends beyond music.
“With a black president and maybe a woman president, people are more forward thinking. People are
starting to realize what is real. Hopefully, people
open up more," E-V says.
PEOPLE
FROM THE
MIDWEST
ARE THE
MOST REAL
PEOPLE
YOU WILL
MEET..."
E-V has been capturing the hearts of Clevelanders
and bringing the party to the CLE and LA for years.
He is forging forward with his own sound and his
own music. This past year, he's done nothing but
travel and work on new music and has three songs
out now. As he prepares to release what are sure to be this summer’s anthems, I get the feeling he is aware he is on the cusp of
something big.
All of this is from the kid who used to sell mixtapes with his dad
from the trunk of his car. Getting into DJ AM and clowning around
with buddies “with one turntable and one David Bowie record"
changed everything, putting E-V on track to become the next big
thing out of the CLE.
Issue 7
| PRESSURELIFE.com 17
the life of
BAD LUCK
BRIAN
Kyle Craven is a meme among men
Ben Diamond // Photography: Anthony Franchino @anthonyfphoto
Stops, drops and rolls...
into another fire
I'm
getting ready for bed when I get
a text. Several texts. Plus a few
Facebook messages. "Come to Domenic’s in Cuyahoga Falls.
/ Right Now. / We are
doing the interview now." I've got my toothbrush in
my hand, but I sense that this moment should not
be passed up. I jot down some questions and pull up
KnowYourMeme.com on my phone as I start the car.
I'm about halfway there when I get an unexpected
jolt of excitement. I'm about to meet an internet icon.
The worst
thing that
could happen
didn't happen
to you —
it happened
to Brian.
Unless you’ve somehow avoided the internet in the
past few years, there's a good chance you've seen Kyle
Craven's face. His awkward high school yearbook
portrait is unforgettable: The non-hairstyle dome
of blond hair. The squint and the contorted smile. The bottom lip
possibly caught on braces. The shining fleet of top-tier braces. The
cosmic purple background that costs parents a few extra bucks. The
powder blue polo under the generic red plaid sweater vest. You
know...Bad Luck Brian.
In 2012, the kid in that photo became internet-famous when a
friend turned him into a meme. The initial Reddit post read, "Bad
Luck Brian: TAKES DRIVING TEST...GETS FIRST DUI." But
like a hit song that almost wasn't, it needed something extra. A
few hours later, an inspired author gave it another go: "TRIES TO
STEALTHILY FART IN CLASS...SHITS." That version appealed
18 PRESSURELIFE
| Issue 7
to a wider audience. More remixes followed, and
they were then liked, shared, re-tweeted, and seen
by millions of people.
In the corner of the bar, I recognize Kyle immediately, but only because I've studied a recent photo.
His boxy frame fills out a fantastic Hawaiian shirt
and his hair is cut close. He's hamming it up with some randoms
before I walk up to introduce myself. It's karaoke night and I can
barely hear him through the din.
"I've done a lot of interviews," he yells. "Let's hang out tonight."
Kyle's vision for the night is to have some drinks. So many, that I'll have
to Uber home, which he'll gladly pay for. Or better yet, I can just crash
at his place, right around the corner. I buffer his excitement when I tell
him I have to pick up a friend from the airport in the morning. Kyle
shrugs this off and insists on picking up the first round. While he's
away, I take in a slam poetry version of "Hit Me Baby One More Time."
Kyle’s back with Miller Lites. I ask how often he’s recognized in public. He says that other than frequent Redditors, not too often. A more
common interaction is a sort of deja vu. He acts it out. Someone will
look at him, their face twisting from confused to focused, then back
to confused. They know his face, but aren't sure from where. This can
happen up to three times a week.
"Do you fuck with people?" I ask. "All the time," he says.
For Kyle, it's a good thing he doesn't look exactly like the meme. He
gets to live comfortably in Cuyahoga Falls with his wife and his dog
while co-running a lucrative church building business. He's good at
his job, he loves it, and he wants to keep it that way. If the skinny, bracefaced meme was walking around a construction site, people might
start asking questions. Especially if they saw his picture online with
a caption like, "GOES TO A STRIP CLUB... MOM WORKS THERE."
It could be worse. He could be the Scumbag Steve meme, who looks
pretty much the same in real life. Kyle's had the chance to meet him.
"Is he an actual scumbag?" I ask.
"He is exactly what he is. He's a scumbag." Kyle says. "I've been trying
to set up a boxing event with that kid. I said I'd knock his ass out. He's
actually a nice guy." Kyle's just trying to drum up some beef, but he's
got another point. There's a risk of becoming your own joke.
The Bad Luck Brian photo was staged, by the way. "I was a prankster
in high school," he says. "I loved doing jokes. This was one of them."
He bought the vest at a thrift shop. He rubbed his eyes and cheeks to
make his face red. His friends were behind the photographer, making
faces so he would crack up.
Next thing he knew, he's getting pulled out of class by the principal.
He would have to turn in the photo and take a new one. But Kyle had
BRIAN
continues on page 25
Issue 7
| PRESSURELIFE.com 19
the
/
CITY WE KNOW
THE CITY WE SHOW
Adam Dodd // Photography: Dustin Franz @dustin_franz
C
leveland has always been known by many
faces, not only through its diverse citizens,
but in the shifting portrayal of the city
itself. Forced to make a daring pivot from
a manufacturing to an entertainment and
hospitality economy once the industrial boom bottomed out,
Cleveland’s survival was touch-and-go for the latter part of the twentieth century. Now, we brag about rising tourism rankings, Rock Hall
inductions, and a booming nightlife, but are the spoils from these
investments even attainable by much of the very community that
helps support them?
that’s less than half the national average. The cost
of a single Cavs ticket for the 2014-2015 season at
The Q averaged at $43.31, so a family of four, after
paying for parking and a few concessions, could
easily shell out $300. With a single night out
eating up more than 13% of the average Cleveland family’s monthly
income, many are effectively priced out of enjoying their hometown
team while remaining compelled to finance them through their taxes.
Does Cleveland’s success
come at the cost of its citizens?
Based on the most recent annual American Community Survey,
which operates in conjunction with the U.S. Census Bureau, the
average household income for a Cleveland family is $26,179 a year;
A valid argument some pose is that successful businesses are for
the betterment of the city whether everyone can afford to enjoy said
venues directly or not. Cavs CEO, Len Komoroski, echoed these sentiments when he was quoted in a statement last year vouching that
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert has invested “hundreds of millions of dollars
over the last twenty years” into the area. Komoroski’s statement con-
Dollars and Sense
tinued, “We hope to soon move further with the development of The
Q into a Cleveland venue iconic on both the national international
stage,” adding, “This will ensure The Q continues to compete for
major events as a world-class destination with a newly energized
and exciting profile for many years to come.”
While I applaud the ambitions of that statement, I question what a
family struggling with bills living in the high crime area of E. 55th
and Scovill, which ABC News ranked as the second most dangerous
neighborhood in America in 2010, stands to benefit from The Q’s
latest renovations. What do many of the city’s below-poverty-line
residents have to show for all of Gilbert’s “hundreds of millions
of dollars” investments? Most recently, the Cavaliers have floated
a $140 million expansion cost to county officials, suggesting that
taxpayers should foot half the bill by issuing bonds and using revenues from sin taxes.
Mind you, we already voted in a twenty year extension of existing
sin taxes to pay for stadium upkeep and debts in 2014. This tax alone
is projected to bring in $260 million. And if that wasn’t enough, just
last fall, the county (that means you and me) shelled out an additional
sixty million for the new scoreboard at Progressive Field and a roof
for The Q. On top of all that, the county still owes $53 million in back
debt to a 1992 $120 million loan to break ground
on the construction of what was known at the
time as Gund Arena and Jacobs Field. To add
insult to injury, earlier this year, the Browns
wanted to move their training camp from Berea
to Columbus. To do so they intended on greasing
Cleveland taxpayers to the tune of $5 million
to cover the move until overwhelming public
outcry ultimately squashed the deal.
Of all the events coming downtown, they’ll be
none larger than the Republican National Convention when it arrives in July. The high-profile
GOP migration reinforces Cleveland’s versatility and burgeoning
tourist economy, but short of the prestige that comes with hosting
the Olympics, the RNC may come to resemble a circus rolling into
town if one takes any of the talking heads on cable news with as
many grains of salt as you will.
While the thousands of local volunteers that Gilbert intends to deploy
as roving concierges to the coming fleet of tourists chose to work for
free, the Host Committee’s paid positions were not much better. The
committee was recently forced to remove a posting on an employment
website that offered a position at $5.76 an hour. Mind you, the federal
minimum wage is $7.25, to say nothing of our own state’s $8.10 standard. In addition to the below-grade pay, the position demanded the
applicant work extended hours as the event neared. Once the dubious
post was questioned by local news outlets, Gilbert issued an apology,
and said in a statement, “We did post the position before consulting
| Issue 7
While still paying off hiked-up sin
taxes to pay for stadium renovations
estimated to reach $260 million,
the county had no problem tacking
on an additional $60 million for
the new scoreboard at Progressive
Stadium and to repair the Q’s roofboth expenditures coming from
our pockets. This, to say nothing of
the Cavs organization’s recent $140
million dollar stadium expansion
proposal that was suggested to be
paid for by more sin taxes and the
issuance of bonds that would have
to be paid back by… guess.
With hosting the RNC comes a $50
million federal grant for security
purposes. The grant will be used to
pay for both security personnel and
equipment, including 2,000 sets of
riot gear. There are rising concerns
that aside from the increased revenue for restaurants and hotels, the
RNC may be bringing with it a level
of politically charged contention that
may see many Clevelanders pitted
against one another, vis-a-vis their
particular support. The idea that this
is some great gift to get our name out
there as a “real big city” in competition with New York, Miami or Chicago is disingenuous when you look
closer at the Cleveland they are interested in presenting.
The Republican National Convention has already made plans for
“cosmetic renovations” for local storefronts that they deem unsavory
to the cameras. To that end, they’re proposing
to wrap targeted buildings in tarps. They are
literally holding a curtain up and playing make
believe that the real nature of Cleveland does not
exist. If they cared or understood the condition
of our community on any level, some of the $50
million that the federal government awarded for
security and law enforcement equipment could
have been awarded to develop and bolster our
bustling neighborhoods. Instead of masking the
state of our community, they should be championing the very issues they seek to pretend don’t
exist, like our very real heroin problem.
We must remember,
regardless of personal
political beliefs or choice
of yard sign, we are
Clevelanders first.
One of the selling points of hosting the cumbersome political showcase was the infusion of jobs that the event would offer. The RNC
Host Committee, spearheaded by David Gilbert (no relation to Cavs
owner Dan), facilitates numerous vendors applying for licenses that
will see local businesses potentially making money hand over fist
selling baubles on the streets of downtown like a Moroccan kasbah.
20 PRESSURELIFE
with legal counsel, something we
realize should have been done.”
As anyone who has ever hosted a party will tell you, it is a thankless
task. The morning after the big party our guests will fly home, having
presumably accomplished something of consequence and Cleveland
will be left to clean up, to foot the bill, to pick up the pieces, to work
alongside the same neighbors that a handful of billionaires told you
were part of the problem. When the RNC raises its Big Top in July,
we must remember, regardless of personal political beliefs or choice
of yard sign, we are Clevelanders first.
It is alluring to wear blinders to all but bridge and skyscraper
postcards, but we would be doing a disservice to the parts of our
community that have yet to reach the successes of the downtown
area by pretending that they don’t exist. Yes, we are jumping
nightclubs and sports venues that all but print money, but we are
also every boarded up, crumbling two-story tenement in every
neighborhood we avoid after dark. We take pride in the ambitious
arts community that has revitalized areas like Waterloo and Ohio
City, but we must also own the blighted, under-employed neighborhoods that can’t afford to attend half the wonders their own city
hosts. We are Cleveland, each and every one of us, and we are too
damn dynamic and diverse to allow ourselves to be represented
in so narrow a lens.
Issue 7
| PRESSURELIFE.com 21
machine, England and the U.S. did not yet fully trust each other,
and nobody in the country really gave a shit about what happened
to the struggling French, Russian, or Austro-Hungarian empires.
Instead of picking a side, the U.S. elected to benefit economically
from its neutrality, taking the opportunity to manufacture and sell
equipment, uniforms, munitions, and other goods to both the Central (chiefly Germany and Austro-Hungary) and Entente (chiefly
France and England) powers, although British naval blockades did
limit dealings with Germany. Cleveland, ever the industrial boom
town, was at the forefront of this effort.
Cleveland and the
“The war really cannibalized the city’s industry,” explained
Grabowski, who added, “Cleveland had a direct pipeline to
Washington, because Cleveland’s reform mayor, Newton D. Baker,
ends up becoming the Secretary of War.” Longtime friends with
President Woodrow Wilson, Baker contracted out many of the
European demands for military supplies to Cleveland industrialists, who happily obliged them. According to the Western Reserve
Historical Society, “by the fall of 1918, it was
estimated that the city had produced $750
million worth of munitions in the 4 years
since the war had begun.”
GREAT WAR
German-Americans,
once a proud and
civically active
part of the city’s
populace, were
suddenly regarded
with suspicion and
contempt; they were
now the enemy.
What was life like in our city during
the First World War?
Kevin Naughton // Photography provided by: Western Reserve Historical Society
T
he First World War was arguably the most significant conflict in
the last century, setting the stage for geopolitics that still affect
our world today. Despite having ended nearly a century ago,
its legacy is far-reaching. Many historically
and politically significant events have their roots
squarely in the so called “Great War”: The Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the subsequent Western paranoia toward communism, the advent of
Western intervention in the Middle East and the
creation of its modern borders, the rise of Nazism
throughout Europe, the considerable strengthening and organization of the American military,
and increased English-American cooperation. Yet,
in spite of its global impact, the conflict tends to
be overshadowed by its louder, more charismatic
younger brother, World War Two.
It’s not a stretch to
say that virtually
everyone in the
city had a friend or
family member who
was directly affected
by the war.
So where was Cleveland during all of this? Well,
geographically, it was right where it has always been, but it looked
a lot different. Skyscrapers did not yet dominate the skyline as
construction of our iconic Terminal Tower would not commence
for nearly a decade after the war ended, but the city still boasted the
status of the sixth largest city in the United States at the time with a
population of well over half a million. Cleveland had already estab-
22 PRESSURELIFE
| Issue 7
Things got interesting when the United States
decided to enter the war. While the United
States’ military effect upon the outcome of
the war bordered upon negligible—most of
the killing and dying had already been taken
care of by the European powers—many
Americans nonetheless fought and died in
the last year of the conflict. According to the
Western Reserve Historical Society, “almost
41,000 Clevelanders had joined the services;
1,023 of them were killed in the conflict.” That
doesn't include wounded—injuries in the First World War often left
soldiers horrifically disfigured—or psychological casualties—the
term “shell-shock” was coined during the conflict to describe the
completely-debilitating mental breakdowns exhibited by many
soldiers after spending too much time in the front—so it's not a
stretch to say that virtually everyone in the city had a friend or
family member who was directly affected by the war.
lished itself as an industrial city, a characteristic
that was visibly evident at the time. “If you look at
panoramic views of the Flats, which was the sort
of industrial heart of the city, there’s just a pall of
smoke over it,” said John Grabowski, a historian
at the Western Reserve Historical Society, “and
if one got down to the street level, you would find
that it was very much an international, polyglot community, with
workers from around the world.”
The most profound effect the war had upon the city, however, was
demographic. Cleveland’s population at the start of the war was
more than a quarter German. So significant was their presence
in the city that German was a required language in the Cleveland
public school system. To this day, you can see German names atop
old brick buildings in some of the more historic parts of the city.
Sauerkraut, sausage, and potato pancakes are staples of Cleveland
cuisine to this day, not to mention the city’s longtime love affair with
beer. At the end of the Franco-Prussian war in the early 1870s, German Clevelanders even erected a triumphal arch in public square
in celebration of their homeland’s victory over the French.
When the war in Europe began in 1914, the then non-interventionist United States was loath to inject itself into a conflict taking
place an ocean away. Germany was not yet a genocidal fascist war
That all changed when the United States declared war on the Central powers. German-Americans, once a proud and civically active
part of the city’s populace, were suddenly regarded with suspicion
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Issue 7
| PRESSURELIFE.com 23
PRESSURE PICKS
BRIAN
continued from page 19
UPCOMING SHOWS TO SEE
Platform Concert Series
May 21 //
Lake Affect Studios
Slick Rick
May 26 // Grog Shop
Screaming Females
May 27 // Mahalls
The Monkees
June 5 // Hardrock
Rocksino
Kottonmouth Kings
June 5 //
Agora Ballroom
Pop Comedy
June 9 //
Lake Affect Studios
worked too hard to be censored. So he scanned it before he turned it in.
The photo sat on his Facebook profile for four years before his friend,
Ian Davies, called Kyle up to confess his deed. The rest was out of their
hands. Bad Luck Brian was now a meme.
CLE Bazaar
June 11 //
Lake Affect Studios
The Moxies
June 11 //
Agora Ballroom
Eve 6
June 21 // Grog Shop
We Were
Promised Jetpacks
June 25 // Grog Shop
Passion Pit
June 26 //
House of Blues
Hey Mercedes
July 10 // Grog Shop
and contempt; they were now the enemy. Some changed their names
and went into hiding, withdrawing from the public sphere. Others
simply fled. Germans who tried to maintain a sense of national pride
for their homeland were ostracized and condemned as traitors, like
the German president of Baldwin-Wallace College, who, according
to the Western Reserve Historical Society, “aroused the patriotic
indignation of his students and faculty at the 1917 Christmas service
by attempting to lead them in the singing of the German-language
version of ‘Silent Night.’” Public outrage regarding the incident led
to his permanent removal from his position.
The smaller, but certainly not insignificant, Hungarian population
in Cleveland, numbering around 10,000, had a much different experience, largely due to the nature of their residence. Hungary was a
largely agricultural nation, and many migrants lived and worked
in Cleveland during the offseason, returning to Hungary with their
earnings when it was time to work the fields. When the United States
declared war upon their home country, most simply chose to remain
in Hungary. Those who stayed in the U.S. were few enough in number to avoid the public hostility that the Germans faced.
Lastly, the history of sordid treatment of Cleveland’s African-American population begins at the end of the war. The war all but curtailed
European immigration, and labor shortages caused by increased
wartime industrial demands provided a wealth of opportunity in
Cleveland for the nation’s black population, who were still just
beginning the struggle to find a place in free society. Instead of being
welcomed with open arms, however, black migrants were treated
with contempt by white Clevelanders, the city tragically succumbing
to America’s historically racist tendencies. Ghettos formed and segregation was institutionalized, setting the stage for Cleveland’s long
and ugly history of racial tension. The effects proved to be long-lasting: according to a recent study by Alexander Kent and Thomas C.
Frohlich of news and commentary site 24/7 Wall St., Cleveland bears
the embarrassing status as the most segregated city in the country.
All in all, Cleveland’s role in the First World War serves as a major
reminder of the divisive and hateful nature of violent conflict.
Remembering the stories of our fellow Clevelanders and countrymen
turning on one another underscores an oft-neglected effect of war:
the homefront is the stage of many tragedies as well, oftentimes with
far-reaching and painful consequences. It is important to keep this
in mind, especially in a day and age where saber-rattling seems to
be growing louder and louder throughout the world.
Special thanks to the Western Reserve Historical Society, whose help
and resources were invaluable in writing this article.
24 PRESSURELIFE
| Issue 7
When evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term "meme"
in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, he was seeking to explain how
ideas proliferate in human culture. A meme is an idea that behaves
like a gene and self-replicates like a virus. In this case, the idea was a
naïve, virginal boy who somehow turns every scenario into the worst
case scenario.
It's hard to tell why Bad Luck Brian caught on, but it did. Maybe it was
the schadenfreude and catharsis he provided. He became a lightning
rod for social awkwardness and embarrassment. The worst thing that
could happen didn't happen to you—it happened to Brian.
According to Google Trends, search interest for Bad Luck Brian
peaked in June 2012. Since then, it's flatlined to around seven percent, but Bad Luck Brian is still a sought after commodity. He's been
referenced in a Volkswagen Super Bowl commercial, and he's met
Snoop Dogg and Seth Rogen.
He even makes appearances at conventions like VidCon and Indy Pop
Con. Sometimes he'll bring along Brian’s maker, Ian, as his plus one.
He dons a polo and vest then stands in front of a giant Bad Luck Brian
banner to shake hands and take pictures. "I don't think I'm famous at
all," he says, "but when I make somebody feel good about themselves,
it makes me feel good about myself. So I love doing that."
Out in LA, Kyle has been to baroque mansion parties with nude mermaids and famous YouTubers. He tries to show me some evidence
on his phone. "Damn it," he says,"I can't find the Oompa Loompas."
As our night out progresses, Kyle wants to change venues to show me
some weird local culture. We move to another bar, where the crowd
seems to be seventy percent older black guys with pork pie hats. The
DJ's getting into it, singing along with "The Electric Slide" while the
video plays on a projection screen. It's fascinating. We don't stay long,
but Kyle manages to cut loose on the dance floor, unbutton his shirt,
and annoy a few dancers by backing into them.
We make it back to Kyle's. We haven't had the big night he envisioned,
and I'm sober enough to drive home. Before I go, Kyle shows me his
office, which is littered with Bad Luck Brian swag. There's Bad Luck
Brian T-shirts, cartoons, and a disturbing 3D printed, red-lipped figurine. He's has a Playboy signed by the model on the front, with whom
he shot a funny video. He holds it sideways and the centerfold flops out.
When I get home, I look up Kyle's "Ask Me Anything" Reddit session
from 2012 and find this exchange: A user, iMaffy, asked, “Has becoming this meme affected everyday life for you?”
“Not yet,” Kyle replied.
Issue 7
| PRESSURELIFE.com 25
Reality
CHECK
They gave me a look at the piece of imaging equipment they use and it
looks like the eye of an insect scaled up one thousand times. Spherical
in shape, with thirty-six 1080p+ cameras facing in all directions to
cover as much area as possible.
WK: Can you walk us through the different steps of your process, from
getting cameras on the ground, to headset.
AD: We’ll go in and set up the camera and snap a few shots, make sure
CUSTOM PRINTED
BANNERS
N
AD: I think that we take pride in being a deviation of all of the other
VR companies. We take a lot of pride in “nobody is your boss here.”
You’re doing what you’re passionate about, and we connect on a
personal level. We aren’t a cookie cutter company. We care about
our product just as much as you care about your company. And
last but not least, we want to steer this technology in positive and
productive directions, making practical applications and solutions
for the real world.
WK: How do you envision the future of the company?
AD: Our office is currently in the Tenk West Bank building, and
we definitely think this building is part of our future. We want to
establish the city’s premier tech lab here, and really delve into the
education and medical sectors; establishing ourselves as the premier Virtual Reality development company and set this place up
like a fantasy factory/virtual reality theme park. We want people to
come in the door, but we also plan on making it available to others
by going mobile.
Anomaly Digital has bold goals, but an even stronger team, making
the head first jump into a relatively unknown market. Taking chances
and betting on themselves, they have a passion to bring people the
best virtual reality experience possible through their own passion
for technology. What they offer is individualistic and exclusive, and
through the use of innovative techniques and technologies, you can
bet on a reality that is anything but ordinary.
| Issue 7
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26 PRESSURELIFE
EW
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The company is still in an open-beta phase, so to speak, but are
poised to make a big splash in Cleveland’s tech scene. I had the
chance to sit down with Matt and Matt, along with Trevor Drell
and Alex Woisnet, to discuss and check out Cleveland’s next big
tech venture and how they plan to take VR to the next level.
AD: The big thing for us is high end computers. That’s what mainly runs our show. We
use a lot of mobile technology as well. For instance, when we’re at a
retail location we can check the previews from our phones. We can’t
really get into specifics about the brand of camera we use, but as far as
getting a unique and quality product, especially for VR tours, we need
a camera that has the ability to take many high quality images simultaneously, and then stitch them together with integrated software and
be able to show people right away what some of those things look like.
WK: What sets you apart from other virtual reality ventures?
S
ICE
PR
About six months ago, Matt Zupan (computer science and
engineering nerd) and Matt Mazur (virtual reality pioneer)
joined forces to form the young Anomaly Digital (AD). Shortly
thereafter, the two teamed up with Spread the Word, a local
networking creative collective, and began inhabiting the Tenk
West Bank Building in the Flats and are currently rolling out a
truly unique and exciting VR venture. The team specializes in
web and headset based virtual reality development, focusing
on practicality as opposed to entertainment. Currently, AD holds
20+ assets for companies and public domains around Cleveland
including: First Energy Stadium, The Science Center, The Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame, Ohio City, Tremont, West 25th, the Warehouse
District, and Coventry.
WK: In order to get the full VR experience,
you must need some specialized equipment.
Can you tell us a bit about what types of equipment you use and why it’s so special?
They gave me a
look at the piece of
imaging equipment
they use and it looks
like the eye of an
insect scaled up one
thousand times.
W PRICES
NE
M
y first experience with an Oculus Rift was on a ride of a
virtual roller coaster that lasted two short minutes. With
each twist and turn, you quickly noticed that you had to
follow the track in front of you, as if your head was forced back
from the high gravity of a real roller coaster. The experience
kicked ass to say the least, especially since the product is
in its early infancy. You could imagine where this piece of
technology will be in a few years, taking leaps and bounds
from where it is now and giving you an experience inseparable
from true reality. That’s exactly what the guys at Anomaly
Digital, a Cleveland based virtual reality (VR) tech startup, plan
on accomplishing.
AD: We have people doing all sorts of projects. Zupan is into the
engineering and education side of things. I’m (Mazur) working on a
medical product myself. Trevor and Alex are working with retail and
recreation. That’s why we call ourselves an anomaly, everyone is doing
something different, but we combine our skills and work collectively
to create quality, applicable products. We definitely feel good about
the real estate side. It's our first entry into the market and we are
trying to pick up as many assets as we can right now to get our name
out there. The more avenues we explore, the
more assets we get, the more experience we
gather and the better our product becomes.
We plan to help people, whether that’s medically or through learning and training. That’s
what we’re about at the core.
all the corners are covered. If there are any, get a photo of the entrance
to a retail location or a park so it looks like you’re walking into the
location and depending on how large of a scale we are working on it
could take more pictures. We can check the photos out on our phones
or we come back to the office and check out the picture and see where
we stand and if we’re happy with it. Zupan and/or Mazur will get
on the development end if it. We really try to get a grasp of what the
customer likes and doesn’t like, so it comes down to conversations
with the customer to see what types of functionalities they want so
we can tailor the experience towards their interests. Since this is all
novel, we can really explore a lot of different options based on what
the customer wants or needs. It’s really a personable experience.
NEW PRIC
ES
Will Kmetz // Photography: Anomaly Digital
WK: While most VR companies are focused on entertainment, why
is AD focused on a practical approach?
ES
Anomaly Digital’s virtual
game changer.
40
Click jakprints.com
Issue 7
| PRESSURELIFE.com 27
Adam Dodd // Illustrations: Aaron Gelston @gelston.design
S
tarting in issue six, I began an investigation of the Curious Case
of the Unknown Man. A man who committed suicide in an
Eastlake apartment in 2002 was discovered to have been living
under the stolen identity of an eight-year-old boy from Tulsa,
Oklahoma, who died in 1945. To date, no one has learned John Doe’s
true identity or why he went decades living under the alias. In the
last issue, working with the help of a U.S. Marshal and local police,
I traced a possible history back to the San Francisco Bay area of the
late 1960s. Despite compelling circumstantial evidence, I was unable
to conclusively link John Doe to the Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the
region during the time; however, he remains one of the chief suspects.
My next lead brought the investigation closer to home.
In early interviews with U.S. Marshal Peter Elliott, I learned that
John Doe’s estranged coworker, Mike Onderisin, mentioned that John
Doe talked briefly of spending time as a child in East Liverpool, Ohio.
Elliott drew my attention to the application John Doe filled out when
he applied for an apartment. On it, he listed a bank account in East
Liverpool. Unlike his work history, this lead was verified and served
as one of the few tangible footprints he left behind.
Sharing a border with neighboring West Virginia,
East Liverpool’s legacy is as idyllic as it can be
infamous. It was here that notorious mobster
Pretty Boy Floyd finally bought the farm after
being gunned down in cornfield. Once known
as the pottery capital of America, here, quaint
Appalachian living buttresses against a violent history of mobsters and murders dating back to the
times of prohibition rum runners hustling across
state lines. In the few years preceding John Doe’s
spontaneous Cleveland arrival, East Liverpool was
caught amid a rash of unsolved murders. Most
famously and most tragically, in 1973, furniture
store owner, Earl Tweed, was savagely murdered
along with a pregnant Linda Morris and her fouryear-old daughter. Despite occurring in the middle
of the day on a busy street, no one saw a thing and
the man slipped into the nearby woods never to
be seen again. Despite being considered by other investigators as a
compelling suspect, there was nothing within my limited reach I
could use to connect John Doe.
never released to the public, before adding that the victim was an
innocent man. The unknown caller claimed he was searching for
forgiveness after having found Christ five years prior to the hesitant confession. The man hung up before anything more could be
learned and was never heard from again. I reached out to Charles
Payne, who still practices law in East Liverpool, but made it no
further than his secretary.
Remember, the year following this confession, our John Doe goes off
the grid for several months after confiding to Onderisin that, “they
were getting close.” Did his brief disappearance have less to do with
the Zodiac Killer and more to do with the reluctant
admission East Liverpool Law Director Charles
Payne received? Onderisin’s speculation that John
Doe spent a childhood in East Liverpool and his
confirmed bank account places him in the region
during the spate of unsolved murders. If he was
complicit in a mob-related murder, it would not be a
stretch to imagine contacts within the organization
furnishing our John Doe with a fresh identity to
avoid any possible recriminations coming home to
roost. I reached out to the Organized Crime Division of the State Attorney General office for insight
but they, like Payne’s office, have yet to respond.
If he was complicit
in a mob-related
murder, it would
not be a stretch
to imagine
contacts within
the organization
furnishing our
John Doe with a
fresh identity
the curious case of the
UNKNOWN MAN
28 PRESSURELIFE
| Issue 7
Two years prior to the Tweed murders, an unidentified man was
pulled from the rivers that run through the woods of East Liverpool’s
Jethro Hollow. The victim’s hands and feet were bound behind his
back with electrical wire, which was also used to strangle him to
death before being tossed into the churning waters. His body was
too far degraded by the time he was dredged to surface for forensics
to provide an accurate identity. It was a gangland style execution
that remained without a clue until a random call to Eastlake Law
Director Charles Payne in 1993. According to East Liverpool’s own
historical society’s records, an unidentified male contacted his office
inquiring about Ohio’s policy on the death penalty. He said that he
wanted to confess to a murder, but was fearful of capital punishment.
While not confessing outright, he knew intimate details that were
When I first began this story I held no expectations
of solving The Curious Case of the Unknown Man.
As tantalizing as the possibility of bringing the
Zodiac Killer to justice was, if even posthumously,
I knew I was far from the first to try and work these
disparate puzzle pieces. Without more resources
and the reach that law enforcement can exercise, I had to close the
book on the case just as the original police report had fourteen years
prior. Unlike Marshal Elliott, I have my doubts as to whether we will
ever discover the true identity of Cleveland’s Unknown Man.
Searching for a proper ending to a tale that may never have one, I sit
alone in the bedroom of my own small apartment and can only imagine the loneliness that his seclusion brought him, that empty hole
where family and friends fit. Living a lie, pretending to be someone
you are not for so many years, I have to wonder, just whose memories
are they that he looked back upon in his final years? Which identity
owns the regrets that he took with him to the grave? Whether we ever
learn his origin or whether he remains a stranger to all of us, there
are things we do recognize in him. He is loneliness and regret. He is
depression and paranoia. He is every one of us who has ever felt like
a stranger in their own skin or never found a place to call home. In
that tragic bond, we’ve always known who the Unknown Man was.
Issue 7
| PRESSURELIFE.com 29
PressureLife:
THE PAPER ANNIVERSARY
Dan Bernardi // Illustrations: Aaron Gelston @gelston.design
Back in 2015, a small group of Cleveland creatives joined forces to bring the city a fresh source for the local low-down, and here we are. Readers old and newwelcome to PressureLife, a radically uninhibited new publication that calls it like we see it and proudly gives zero fucks if you don't like it. In your hands is issue
seven of our precious bi-monthly baby... way past first steps, still with no pacifier and periodically packing a mean bite. Happy first birthday, PressureLife.
Let's take a look back at a few of our incredible, totally brag-worthy year one accomplishments.
We finally have a place to call our own and
it's appropriately located above a bar. Tucked
away over Vosh in Lakewood is the official office (is that redundant?) of
PressureLife, complete with a conference table, putting green, and beer stocked
mini-fridge, for an optimal blend of business and pleasure. In the past, you may
have encountered our team in front of glowing laptops, abusing free Wi-Fi,
grinding away on the newest issue all while pounding drinks at the back of the
bar. We still do that, but now we also have a legit space to pow wow when we
aren't in the mood for drunken antics and Cleveland sports-induced bar rage,
which is like, never. We love that shit.
Despite being the butt of several jokes,
Cleveland rocks. I'm pretty sure there's even a
song about it. So it should come as no surprise, but does anyway, that people
everywhere want to read about Cleveland. We're a city with no shortage of
talented people, cool events, and compelling stories to share on the pages of
PressureLife. Now, not only are we shipping subscriptions to all corners of the U.S.,
but our web audience has fittingly gone worldwide! PressureLife.com (gratuitous
plug) has seen serious traffic from readers in over 120 global territories and
counting. For some reason Russia absolutely loves us. I'm guessing similar
weather. Thanks for reading, Putin!
Since the genesis of PressureLife, we've made an
effort to unite and engage our readers. It can be
tough sometimes, because occasionally people suck, but for everyone who has
been receptive to our journalistic advances, I think we should see each other
again sometime *wink*. Last August we held our first Pressure Live concert,
featuring a slew of seriously ill musicians of multiple genres, and we're gearing
up for more events soon. We recently launched #CLEvesdrop, a fun outlet for
sharing the strange things you hear and see around town. But that's not all we
want to hear from you. Your skills, stories, writings, art, music, video, business,
passions... Send it our way and we may spread the word.
In the near future, all media will be streamed
directly into our brains, so the fact that you're
perusing a physical copy of a newfangled, non-digital magazine in 2016 is
impressive by virtue alone. Some call us crazy for pursuing such an “antiquated”
venture, but there's a reason why optimistic people call this town Believeland. An
unparalleled unifying energy exists here, and PressureLife has been graciously
surfing that wave for the past year. Community feedback has been pure confidence
fuel, and without the continued support of our readers, collaborators, and sponsors,
we'd be just another forgotten layer at the bottom of your bathroom magazine
stack, and dammit we want the top spot on that stack.
ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE
INTERACTION HEROES
TO CLEVELAND AND BEYOND
WE'RE STILL A MAGAZINE
Thank you for taking the journey with us so far. It's been a great first year. Cheers to many more.
30 PRESSURELIFE
| Issue 7
Issue 7
| PRESSURELIFE.com 31
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