insight tampa

Volume 2 Issue 1

INSIGHTTampa

A Fresh Look into the Pulse of Tampa

FINDUS ON FROM NOVICE TO AFICIONADO:

CIGAR TIPSFOR

BEGINNERS

R I D E T H E

CRAFTB E E RW A V E

HYBORN CAN’T/WON’T

STOPIMMIGRATION

REBORN

Inmigración Renacido,

Immigration Reborn

Insight Tampa is published monthlyby Tampa Pulse Marketing

1725 E. 7th Avenue | Ybor City, Fl. 33605

Contents of Insight Tampa may not bereproduced or copied without the writtenpermission of the Publisher. This includes

photocopying and electrical ormechanical reproduction in any form.

STEVEN SAPP Founder/Publisher813-352-6087

[email protected]

MICHAEL NEWBERGEREditor In Chief/Senior Writer

[email protected]

QUINCY WALTERSContributing Writer

ALEX GALBRAITHContributing Writer

TERRENCE SMITHContributing Writer

MELISSA WOLFEContributing Writer

JENNIFER DUFEKPrint Design and Layout

SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE:To be considered for publication, all articles, an-nouncements and ads must be submitted by the 15th of each month.

POLICIES:Letters to the Editor and news of your organiza-tion or club is welcome but we reserve the right to edit submissions. Please submit via email in .pdf, .jpg or .doc file format to [email protected]. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Tampa Pulse Market-ing Company or its advertisers. Tampa Pulse Marketing Company reserves the right to refuse advertisements or copy deemed unacceptable or inappropriate by the Publisher or the Editor. In the event of any error in advertising, this publication will not be financially responsible beyond the cost of the original advertisement in which the error appears.

Well after a short hiatus, we’re back. Here at Insight we’re dedicated to bringing you, the reader, all that Tampa has to offer.

Tampa tends to get a bum rap, I’ve heard us referred to as “Miami’s little brother” (usually involving more offensive terminology) and we’refrequently compared to a certain city an hour and a half east on I-4. As you flip through this issue of Insight, however, you’ll see that our fair city by the bay is home to more than just retirement homes andstrip-malls. You’ll get a glimpse into the mind of an up-and-coming local artist, learn about one of Tampa’s most famous products: the cigar, and be tuned into our music scene from hometown upstarts to national names.

Tampa’s also fast becoming a home to quality independent brewing and we’ll take a look at a brewing company that can help you become the next great brew master, or at least give you the chance to kick back with some kicking homebrew.

Tampa is a microcosm of what’s happening in both Florida and national politics (for better or for worse) and one can see how the immigration debate is playing out locally as well as the ongoing debates over guns in schools.

Maybe you’re just looking for somegood food, if so we’ve got youcovered there too.

Be sure to look out for ourdigital issue coming out inearly March. We’ll be showingyou the best places andevents to hit up for St. Patrick’sDay along with some otherevents in the area.

Until next month, have funand be safe with it.

-Michael Newberger, Editor, Insight Tampa

Letter From The Editor

INSIGHT TAMPA • A FRESH LOOK INTO THE PULSE OF TAMPA • WWW.INSIGHTTAMPA.COM • VOL 2 ISSUE 1 • 3

For eons, humankind has been attempting to an-swer this burning question. While the answers are as diverse as the styles and genres of the craft in ques-tion, the world at large seems to have agreed on a few qualifications. Through personal observation and research, I have found that there are three common characteristics that qualify one as an artist: an artist must be internally driven by a force--whether known or unknown, an artist must have the ability to create with the tools and resources they have, and finally, an artist must be able to convey their interpretation of the world around them.

Based on these qualities, Adrian Herrera is the true embodiment of an artist. To spend a few moments with the 20 year-old Tampa resident is to spend an indefinite time in his world. His work garnishes his workspace. The canvases strewn on his floor can be organized into three categories: finished paintings, potential masterpieces and blank slates. Index cards, loose leaf, and construction paper with drawings and “doodles” cover the top of his desk. Look down, and you will see the desk drawers overflowing with unfin-ished, discarded ideas. Look back up and you will see his art printed on his t-shirt.

The driving force of this young artist is pure, unadul-terated curiosity. “I’m always exploring new mediums,” Adrian says, “whether it’s photography, digital art or drawing and painting.” Like most people, his earli-est artistic experiences came from middle and high school art classes. But back then, he lacked the curi-osity he has today. In retrospect, Adrian attributes his lack of interest to public schools’ general approach to art. He feels that schools tend to set students on a rigid path—leaving little room for exploration and

creativity. Also, he is baffled by how teachers insist on grading art by the standard academic scale. “How can you grade art?” he rhetorically asks. “You can see mistakes in math, but you can’t see mistakes in art.”

For Adrian, the intense curiosity didn’t come until after he finished secondary education. No longer con-fined by the rigid walls of academia, Adrian decided to set out on a quest—one where he hoped to achieve artistic nirvana.

Rene Portocarerro and Wilfredo are Adrian’s favorite artists. Adrian is profoundly inspired by them, but vows to never stop being himself. “I’m still looking for a style—one that is original, yet akin to something Afro-Cuban.” Looking at Adrian’s work, one could say that he is well on his way to achieving his goal. Some of his paintings pay homage to those that invigorate his artistic fire while some of his paintings show a

By Quincy Walters

Adrian’s Artistry ART & CULTURE

“What qualifies one as an artist

?”

4 • INSIGHT TAMPA • A FRESH LOOK INTO THE PULSE OF TAMPA • WWW.INSIGHTTAMPA.COM • VOL 2 ISSUE 1

To see Adrian’s additional work, visitwww.adrianherrera.tumblr.com/tagged/original

breadth of unique, artistic acumen uncommon for his age. In true artist’s fashion, Adrian manages to cre-ate these masterpieces with the resources he has on hand-usually 69 cent paint and index cards. “The problem with 69 cent paint is that it’s completely watery,” he jokes. One would never be able to tell

Gasparilla International

Film Festival

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March 19-24, 2013

though, since the finished paintings look as if they were crafted with the finest, heavy-bodied acrylics.

But this is true artistry.

At the moment, Adrian is focused on honing his skills, sharing his art with a broader audience and continu-ing along the proverbial path to artistic nirvana. When asked if he wants to create world harmony or raise social awareness with his art, he goes into deep contemplation. “Right now, I want to develop my own technique. But in the future, if I manage to create something that causes change, that’d be great.”

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Comedian Neil Hamburger is quite possibly the hardest working man in show business, between his projects and near constant touring it seems that the long suffering comedian never has a moment to rest. He’s somewhat of a legend on the comedy circuit and has been featured on such shows as Tim And Eric Awesome Show, Fox News’ Red Eye and Jimmy Kimmel Live as well as opening for Tenacious D at Madison Square Garden. Despite all that, however, he says his life is not one to envy.

“There’s other things I’d have liked to do with my life but as time moves on you realize “This is it.” Ham-burger says of the showbiz life. “Unfortunately unlike Michael Jackson who uttered the phrase “this is it” I don’t have millions of dollars (to host a farewell show). On the other hand he died and went to hell and I’m still alive, although this is a sort of hell.”With an abrasive comedy style comparable to noted Andy Kaufman collaborator Tony Clifton, Hamburger brings a kind of old-school Vegas-strip show to audi-ences. His non-stop touring is all part of his mission to “bring laughter to the world.”

Even though his extensive travels have taken him to almost every English-speaking country, he enjoys touring the United States the most and it seems that he feels it’s his duty to entertain Americans.“What we’ve got going is that we have millions and millions.. hundreds of millions of god-damned, de-pressed people who are looking for a laugh and I love driving across this great country and giving it to them.”

Some of Hamburger’s most touched upon subjects are the world of celebrity, music (particularly his disdain for whom he calls “disc jockeys”) and his outright hatred of Axe deodorant (the smell of which

he describes as being from the “bowels of hell” and resembles “an outhouse combined with a couple gal-lons of Hawaiian Punch.”)

On top of his live shows and media appearances, Neil has recently started “New Year’s Eve with Neil Hamburger” a podcast he describes as being for the whole family and focuses on upcoming music and comedy acts. Hamburger has also released a mobile app entitled “Shaky Advice with Neil Hamburger” a Magic 8-Ball style application that dishes out life-tips to the user that’s available for 99 cents through the Apple App Store.

“For 99 cents that’s abargain. People payupwards of $150 tosee a psychiatrist foradvice and this is amuch, much cheaper,and we feel moreaccurate way to getthe advice you need.”

The toll of the entertainment business has affected Neil greatly, he says that he ages about “10-20 years in a 5-10 year span” and has little in the way of creature comforts (though he is proud of his storage lockers that he stays at in California and Illinois on his time off). But such is the life of “America’s Funny-man” and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “We always have something in the pipeline..If you don’t keep busy in this business you’re sunk, it’s over and then of course you’ve died.”

Hamburger will be bringing his signature style of comedy to New World Brewery on March. 9th. The show is 21 and up and tickets are $10.

Hell Is Showbiz:“America’s Funnyman”Neil Hamburger


Tabanero Cigars, located on the corner of 7th Avenue and 19th Street, features two tall glass walls that allow passer-bys to witness real cigar rollers hard at work.

The store, which employs seven authentic cigar rollers, also lays claim to being “the only cigar manufacturing company in Ybor.

This month Insight Tampa interviewed Steven Stambarger of Tabanero Cigars.

Insight: What can you tell us about early cigar culture in Ybor?

Stambarger: We know that the town is named after the founder, Vicente Martinez Ybor. He settled here in the late 1800s. This area was very rural at the time. There was not much here at all. He came to the area to open up the cigar industry because of the ocean ports, humid weather, and the Plant railroad that were already here and made shipping and receiving product fairly easy.

When he opened the town he had one of the largest cigar factories for several decades. Other cigar manufacturers then came here and opened their business as well. The cigar industry flourished for decades.

Insight: What process to cigar rollers follow to create hand-rolled cigars?

Stambarger: A cigar roller will make approximately 100 cigars per day.

The first step is the construction of the filler and binder. Then, they are hand pressed to give the cigar uniform consistency of tightness and shape.

After the pressing process, which lasts no more than an hour, they’re given their finished wrapper and finished off. Then, they are aged again.

After the aging process, bands are put on the cigars,

by hand as well. There are no machines that touch Tabanero cigars.

Q: What makes Tabanero Cigars unique?

A: To the best of my knowledge, Tabanero Cigars is the only actual cigar factory in Ybor.

The other cigar stores carry hand-rolled cigars from cigar rollers that work independently with their own businesses and contract cigar stores.

At Tabanero, we carry only our authentic Tampa produced cigars.

Q: Which Tabanero cigar would you recommend for best overall smoke?

A: The Toro is a nice medium bodied cigar and suits most tastes.

Q: Which Tabanero cigar would you recommend for beginners?

A: The Sun-Grown Robust is a mild smoke and a good fit for beginning smokers.

Steven Stambarger, Manager OfTabanero Cigars In Ybor

Q & A With The Experts:


By Melissa Wolfe

1) Cut or punch, but never bite.Cigar cutters cut off the capped end of the cigar, allowing for easy draw and airflow. The advantage to the cutter is that it can be used on any cigar-no matter the size or shape.

The disadvantage of the cutter lies mainly in user error. You must be careful to cut the right amount off the end, usually between 1/16-1/8th inch. Cutting off too much makes the draw too loose and overheats the cigar.

A punch is user error proof by design. However, it can only be used on wide round ends and can create a tight draw.

Never bite your cigar. Biting a cigar damages the filling and binder and can even cause the cigar to unravel.

2) Light your cigar with a match or a butane torch – never a lighter.Wooden matches are the preferred cigar lighting method since they promote even burn and do not leave a residual flavor on the cigar.

However, wooden matches are very susceptible to wind and so it takes much longer to light a cigar.

Butane torches, while an investment, can be used in

most environments. It can be easy to unevenly heat cigars with butane lighters.

Novices should take care to hold the cigar above the flame, not in it to avoid over-burning the cigar.

Regular lighters should be not be used to light a good cigar. The oil from the flame mixes with the cigar filler and alters the subtle tastes of the cigar.

3) Puff or draw - never inhale.Unlike cigarettes, cigars are not meant to be inhaled.

4) Savor a cigar.Cigars are not chain-smoked. No one “takes a quick cigar break”. Cigars are made to be savored and thoroughly enjoyed. 5) Don’t knock the ash off a cigar.Long ashes are preferred by cigar smokers, as they are a sign that the smoker will live long.

Air cools as it is drawn through the ash and into the heart of the cigar and helps produce a smooth draw.

6) Never snuff out a cigar.Snuffing a cigar causes damage to the filler and taints the flavor after being relit.

FROMNOVICE TO

AFICIONADO:CIGAR TIPS FOR

BEGINNERS


With St. Patrick’s Day quickly approaching, my husband and I embarked on a hunt for the best Irish food in Tampa. What we found was Four Green Fields, tucked into the heart of the downtown/South Tampa area.

Located on the corner of West Platt Street and Parker Avenue, Four Green Fields is an unassuming cottage pub with traditional thatched roofing that helps it stand out from the neighboring skyscrapers and palm trees.

Boasting over 10 premium beers on tap and a bar menu that includes everything from classic Irish fare, such as shepherd’s pie and Guinness stew, to bacon burgers and onion rings, Four Green Fields offers a delicious and authentic Irish pub experience.

I knew I was in for a treat the moment I walked through its bright green door, and seemingly, into Ireland.

The walls are adorned with Guinness

advertisements from the 1920’s, historical maps and flags of Ireland, photos of famous Irishmen, and other odds and ends that lent themselves to the overall ambience of the pub.

The regular sports bar fare of non-stop ESPN is no where to be found, in fact the pub is completely free of TV’s. Instead, this quaint thatched cottage encourages a universally accepted Irish trait – the gift of gab.

It is this gift we first noticed in our host, the pub’s manager Randy Burns. He did a quick once-over of the dining area, saying a few words here and there to every table, making sure everyone felt

welcome. He finally came to us and took a seat. This was the first of many things he did that made 4GF seem less like an establishment operating for profit, and more like a cozy neighborhood pub.

The first thing we noticed was the color of our food: the shrimp and cape cod fish were battered to a perfect gold; the smoked salmon on toast was delightfully offset by a sprinkling of green capers

Review:FourGreen FieldsBy Dan and Melissa Wolfe

FOOD & DRINK INSIGHT TAMPA • A FRESH LOOK INTO THE PULSE OF TAMPA • WWW.INSIGHTTAMPA.COM • VOL 2 ISSUE 1 • 9

and red onions; and the vibrancy of the lettuce, lemons, and sauces made this plate a feast for the eyes as well as the palette.

The made-from-scratch sauces were not to be overlooked; the cocktail sauce was about par for the course, but the tartar sauce was the stuff of legend. It took all our restraint not to dip our fingers in it once the fish was gone.

Next came the potato-leek soup. I’ve had this before, so I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. Heaping chunks of potato, a few slices of carrot, some grilled onions and leeks were all brought together in a broth that made me wish it were cold outside just so I could order another bowl or two.

Finally the house special, the Guinness stew. It’s made from scratch, just like everything else, with beef that looks sized for kebabs and generous portions of everything else: potatoes, onions, carrots, and scallions. Like a good stew should be, you can tell that it was made about a day or so earlier and set in the fridge to let the flavors marry.

When the dish arrived, it was warm and inviting – like the pub itself. The stew also came with Irish soda bread, which Randy informed us he makes by hand a few times a week. It was a fantastic complement to both the stew and the soup, and we made short work of all three.

Randy then brought out one of the house favorites – the burger. Piled high with crispy bacon, a thick slice of cheddar, ripe tomato, red onion, and fresh lettuce, it’s no joke.

“A burger’s a burger – everyone makes ‘em, but ours are really something special,” Randy told us.

He’s right. Our burgers were medium rare, and the bottom bun was soaked with juice – just the way I like it.

A few minutes and a handful of napkins later, I was stuffed. We had been through a great cross-section of their menu and tasted some of the finest food they had to offer.

Our ice-cold beers acted as fantastic counterpoints to every dish, and being surrounded by authentic Irish décor and music only enhanced our experience.

If you find yourself in South Tampa or downtown, and you feel like a visit to the old country, look no further: Four Green Fields is just a pint and a handshake away from the real thing.


A new Asian restaurant is opening in North Tampa, and a young chef with a different approach is look-ing to develop an area not known for its restaurant choices.

Mama’s Sushi looks to introduce a fusion of Asian styles in an easy going atmosphere.

“As a concept I want it to be casual,” said Michael Tran, chef and part owner, “something people can go to every day. Our food is going to be moderately priced, but the freshness of the food is going to be more upscale. “

Tran is no stranger to the food business. The 21-year-old has worked in restaurants from Nan-tucket to Miami since beginning his restaurant career at the age of 16. He’s looking to use his experiences across the country to bring something new to the bay area.

“We’re going to bring a new flavor to sushi,” said Tran, “with different types. Around the Tampa Bay area all the sushi is basically the same.”

Sushi isn’t the only thing being made at Mama’s.

Restaurant Puts A New Spin On Asian Cuisine

The restaurant will boast food options spanning all of Eastern Asia.

“We’re going to hit most of the Asian cuisines: Viet-nam, Japan, Thailand, Korea.” said Tran. “For specials, we’re going to have Banh Mi,that’s a Vietnamese baguette. It’s very popular. We’re also going to have bowls of Pho. That’s Vietnamese soup, a beef broth that has been cooked for four hours.”

While North Tampa’s restaurant industry is far from the glamour of South Beach, Tran looks to use his knowledge of the neighborhood’s dynamics to

create an ideal dining experience.

“The location isn’t the prime location that you want,” said Tran. “You have to work your way up and with my food and my passion for this business I think I can do well. I kind of know what the customers want from me in this area. People aren’t going to be scared of going to a sushi bar and spending lots of money. It’s going to be very cost-effective for every-body.”

Mama’s Sushi is located on 14932 N. Florida Ave and scheduled to open in late March.


By Terrence Smith

With so many local brewers coming out of the woodwork, Tampa is fast becoming a “beer city.”

Southern Brewing & Winemaking in Seminole Heights is definitely a part of this wave, although they’re taking a somewhat different approach by making their craft beers with the same home brewing equipment that they sell.

Brian and Kelly Fenstermacher started Southern Brewery in 2008 as a way to bring their passion of brewing to the masses. Brian Fenstermacher has been a professional brewer for over 7 years and has worked at a variety of independent brewers and distributors including Atlanta Brewing and Ybor City Brewing. He had always dreamed of owning his own business and went on to start a distribution company providing supplies for Tampa area breweries.

Fenstermacher sold his distribution company to launch Southern Brewing & Winemaking. His wife Kelly worked in banking for 25 years before taking the [next] plunge with her husband.

Kelly says their business is focused on helping the average Joe become a brewmaster.

“We’re brewing like a person would brew at home so we can give them our recipes and tips on how to brew at home.”Southern Brewing & Winemaking is a beer aficionado’s dream. When one walks in, they are instantly greeted by stacks of hops and barley, shelves of grain and malt extract, a fully furnished bar featuring fresh, house brews and all the supplies one would ever need to become a brew master.

Southern Brewing & Winemaking goes far above simply providing the home brewing kits one finds at a “big box” store, they feature set-ups for both beginners and professionals in addition to selling all the necessary ingredients to get started. Wine and cheese making systems are also available if you’re looking to branch out.

Southern Brewing & Winemaking:Helping Home Brewers Ride The Craft Beer WaveBy Michael Newberger


SB&W carries wine recipe kits, grape concentrates, fruit bases, yeast, and flavorings. For beginners looking to perfect [or create] their own method, classes are offered to walk potential brewers/winemakers through the steps of creating the perfect keg of beer or bottle of wine.

Southern Brewing & Winemaking was originally located on Busch but has since moved to its current location on Nebraska Avenue in January 2012 where the couple has seen a newfound enthusiasm for their trade. The fast-growing Seminole Heights area

has proven so far to be a vibrant community with a large, local support base.

“It’s fun, the customers love to come in and see what’s new on tap. They love that they get to taste different things.”Fenstermacher is hoping to grow and create positive buzz about the company by focusing on special events and charity nights. There are also plans to expand the property itself, most notably by adding a beer garden for patrons to relax in. She feels that Tampa’s interest in brews will only increase.

“With all the microbreweries down here, the beer scene is decidedly moving forward. Since we moved down here 13 years ago there really hasn’t been much of a craft beer presence; but if the sheer growth of our shop this year isn’t an indicator in local interest, I don’t know what is. We’re over double the volume last year. Obviously there is an increased community interest in craft beer.”

A large amount of growing breweries use Southern Brewery and Winemaking as a starting point for their businesses and Fenstermacher predicts that the market will only continue to grow.

Southern Brewery & Winemaking receive their hops mainly from the South but sometimes will go so far as to overnight fresh “wet” hops from the West Coast for specialty blends that can be tasted at their custom bar in the shop.

Supplies to get started are reasonably priced and one can get started brewing or making wine for less than one hundred dollars. The house blends are also available for purchase either in growlers or bottles.

The boom in home brewing and wine making is starting to put Tampa on the map, something the Fenstermachers are happily seeing first hand.

Southern Brewing & Winemaking is located at 4500 N. Nebrska Avenue in Seminole Heights. They are open Mon-Tues, Sat-Sun from 10 A.M.-5 P.M., and Wed-Fri from 10 A.M.-7 P.M.


Since forming a band at a Los Angeles labor protest 18 years ago, the members of Ozomatli have done a little bit of everything.

They’ve performed everywhere from activist rallies to Bonnaroo. They’ve been critical darlings, a house band on Comedy Central and US Cultural Ambassa-dors for the State Department. In Los Angeles, they have their own day. But according to guitarist Raul Pacheco, that’s not the most rewarding part of being a member of Ozomatli.

“[The most rewarding thing is] having ‘musician’ as my job title,” Pacheco said.

And Pacheco, along with the rest of Ozomatli, will be bringing that music-first attitude to Tampa when they perform at Gasparilla Music Festival on March 9.

Gasparilla Music Festival was started in 2011 to bolster development of downtown Tampa, support music education and local musicians and put on a great show for the residents of Tampa.

Now in its third year, this annual event held in Curtis Hixon Park brings a nice mixture of big-name acts and local talent.

This year’s lineup boasts California surf-poppers Best Coast, soul revivalists Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, indie-rockers Dawes along with local fa-vorites like raucous blues band Nervous Turkey and fusion band The Hip Abduction.

Ozomatli will round out the festival with their unique blend of hip-hop, Latin and dancehall rhythms by per-forming two sets, one as Ozomatli and the other as their recently launched children’s music outfit Ozo-Kidz, which Pecheco says is their attempt to teach children that “music is a vibrant, joyful thing.”

As their family-friendly alter-ego OzoKidz, they plan on playing a show that will teach children about germs and spelling before turning downtown Tampa into one big fete via the sounds of Ozomatli.

After nearly two decades of performing, two shows in sweltering Florida weather might seem daunting. However, if the idea fazes him, Pecheco is not telling.

“It’s not like we’re digging ditches,” he said.

Pecheco clearly thinks that Ozomatli hasn’t lost that party vibe they started with all the way back in 1995. He talks about his shows in the language of religious experiences, he doesn’t want to attract new listeners; he wants to “convert them into believ-ers.”

Pacheco is confident that his band hasn’t slowed down any since their inception. To hear him tell it, Ozomatli and OzoKidz just don’t know how to slack off.

“[Slowing down] just seems boring. We always have to ratchet the energy back up.”

Ozomatli To Bring The Funk To Gasparilla Music Fest

Gasparilla Music Festival will be held on March 9 at Curtis Hixon Park, located at 600 Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa. Tickets can be purchased at gasparillamusicfestival.com. Regular tickets $25, VIP $75.

MUSIC14 • INSIGHT TAMPA • A FRESH LOOK INTO THE PULSE OF TAMPA • WWW.INSIGHTTAMPA.COM • VOL 2 ISSUE 1

By Alex Galbraith

“I wake up wherever I can get a ride to and from work or band practice,” Nate Ryan sighs. “Very rarely am I home. I stay wherever I happen to put my head on the pillow so I can get to work and practice on time.”

Nate’s had a long day. He’s the drum department manager at Sam Ash and just worked nine hours on the floor. It was a busy shift. He didn’t have a chance to eat lunch. After his shift, he sat on the curb waiting for his ride to band practice-so his real day could begin. At Jen and Dee’s, the band’s managers’ house and primary practice pad, Hyborn is waiting.

* * *Hyborn, an unsigned Tampa band, is about to break out onto the national music scene with an unusual sound indicative of a musical love child between the Black Keys and Fleetwood Mac. It’s currently in negotiations to have the band’s song; “Birth of a Hero” included in the soundtrack of the new Superman movie, Man of Steel. Two of Hyborn’s songs, “Midnight” and “Electricity,” have been chosen to appear in Vampt commercials to promote a new line of tequila based malt beverages. In March, Hyborn performs their catalog of songs for the Interscope and Universal record labels. Mark Wahlberg, a long-time friend of the band’s artistic director Deanna Elliott, will also be in attendance.

Hyborn wrapped up shooting the “Birth of a Hero” music video in September. The video, shot over a two-day period in Tampa, features the band members as everyday citizens who step up and become anonymous heroes when Superman isn’t around. The video, posted on YouTube, has garnered over 7,500 views since its premiere in October.

* * *Hyborn’s influences come from almost every facet of music, from jazz to country to blues. Alan Bush, the lead guitarist is perhaps the bands most versatile player.

“We call Alan our jukebox,” laughs Nate, “ he can play almost anything. Our singer, Ashley Smith,

and I both have more of an old-school, 1930’s pop background,” says Nate. “Big band, Billie Holiday, stuff like that. I also have indie influences like Radiohead, Vampire Weekend and the Gorillaz.”

All of these seemingly different styles merge together to form Hyborn.

“I’ve always wanted to find a new sound,” Nate confides, “and that’s what we’re doing with Hyborn. We are each taking elements from different genres of music and bringing them together. Instead of having an R&B or blues tune, we have a cohesive sound that incorporates those things and more.”

* * * The band mills around the house, grabbing gear, equipment and, in Nate’s case, food. The members are settling into an excited but familiar groove; tuning guitars, humming tracks, cracking knuckles. Practice is about to start and the room sparks with anticipation.

Deanna sits in on the practice-offering structure, support and guidance.

“I’ve watched this band grow into what it has become today,” she says. “The band members have worked hard and put in long hours – it’s not an easy journey. When you are depending on five people to lead you were you want to go, waiting can be frustrating. You have to stay focused and keep at it.”

And keep at it, they do. Hyborn, who has been together for more than two years now, averages between 15-20 practice hours a week-not including shows. Hyborn has written 34 songs, recorded four in the studio, filmed a music video, and produced a live demo CD.

Back at the house, Nate’s eyes are drifting close. He’ll get about five hours of well-deserved sleep before waking up to do it all over again.

At the end of a day like this, you have to ask, “Is it worth it?” Nate doesn’t even blink before replying.

“Of course. It’s the reason why I wake up every day. It’s the reason why I’m here. Being apart of something so unique is exhilarating.”

A View FromThe Tampa Music Scene:Local Rock Band Hyborn Can’t/Won’t StopBy Melissa Wolfe


Plant City based rap group Yo! Majesty are reunited and working on their first album since 2008’s Futuristically Speaking...Never Afraid. Since achieving international success with singles such as “Club Action” and “Don’t Let Go”, inner turmoil has kept a proper follow-up from being released. Now Shunda K and Jwl B are back, with an upcoming show at South By Southwest to announce their return on the world stage.

Insight: Your work is much more diverse than many other rappers from the area. What gave you those influences when you make music?

Jwl: David Alexander the Great, that’s our producer. He’s from London and he’s funky and he’s musky. He’s tucky and he’s the best.

Shunda: We started working with this guy, I think it was in 2002. He was the only one willing to give us free beats and free studio time.

Jwl: He lied though, tell the truth.

Shunda: Well he did lie, didn’t he say if we got on a cover of one of his songs he’d make us some R&B and Hip Hop beats. Because that’s what we wanted, but this guy’s from the UK. They’re not that, not taking anything away from R&B, but they’re beyond that. They’re on some sweeping-nations type music creating.

Jwl: We didn’t even know it was some sweeping-nations type (music). We thought it was like a Nintendo game. That fast motion man.Insight: Tell us about the live show. It’s definitely something that you’re well known for. How did it all develop?

Shunda: It was all through doing shows. We did that first show in L.A., we did a couple more shows, Chicago, New York, then we flew down to Texas for South By Southwest and we were doing three shows a day at South by Southwest. Just through performing so much we were able to perfect it.

Jwl: I be killing the chorus with the vocals on there. Because I be doing the monkey, sometimes I be out of breath and fall down and scream, while the hook is going. I’ll be flipping and turning over on the stage, throwing water on everybody and my titties, sipping on passion drinks, hitting the blunt and passing it to Shunda K after she spits her verse, so I can spit my verse.

Shunda: It’s like a family reunion in that motherf**ker. It’s all love.

Insight: Now let’s talk about the album. What’s your direction for this album?

Jwl: It’s called Do or Die. For me Do or Die means, we lost a lot, that’s the do. We lost a lot, we gained a lot, we learned a lot. The die is our last chance, to prove to ourself first, to be grateful for what the Father has given us and to comfort our fans in knowing that when we had them believe in what we were performing and saying in our words that we did not lie. We just grew up, experienced a lot

Insight: What’s next for Yo! Majesty?

Shunda: March 17th we’re going to be at Gay Bi Gay Gay at South by Southwest, so check it out. That’s where it’s going down. That’s where we’re going to make our first official show, reunited, Yo Majesty is back and we finna get it like Drac.

Tampa Rap GroupYo! Majesty Are Back


By Terrence Smith

Abriendo Nuevos Caminos,Breaking New GroundIt has been years since serious talks of immigration reform have been given any thought.

However, at the end of 2012, eight senators did just that. Colloquially known as the “gang of eight”, a group comprised of eight senators from both parties, have joined forces to revisit the immigration issues.

The group consists of political heavyweights Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

There have been no concrete proposals, albeit the common mantra seems to be “before we can move forward, we must first secure our borders.” It appears, however, that the group’s favorite three words are “comprehensive immigration reform.”

Concrete or not, the idea of politicians from both parties coming together to discuss an issue is almost unheard of in the U.S.’s current polarized political climate.

Though a glimmer of hope emerges from this new push for immigration reform, scrutiny and reason is required to adequately assess the situation.

Can members of congress, from different ends of the political spectrum, agree on what to do in terms of handling immigration?

Can people who have no formal education in immigration make wise decisions about how to handle the situation?

The answer lies in the future, but if one is to reference history—which often is a good precedent—the answer to both questions is “no”.

Señor Presidente, Mr. PresidentOn February 12th, President Obama gave the first

State of the Union Address of his second term. The president spoke in-depth about his plans for both domestic and international policy. Seeing that immigration transcends both realms of domestic and international policy, the topic was one of the most important touchstones of the evening.

Contrary to the small faction of Americans who want nothing to do with immigrants, President Obama made it clear in his address that immigrants—no matter their legal status—are vital to our way of life as Americans.

“Our economy is stronger when we harness the talents and ingenuity of striving hopeful immigrants. And right now, leaders from the business, labor, law enforcement, and faith communities all agree that the time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform.” said Obama on the subject.

There are those three words again: comprehensive immigration reform.

“Real reform,” said Obama “means border security, and we can build on the progress my administration has already made—putting more boots on the southern border than at any time in our history, and reducing illegal crossings to their lowest levels in 40 years.”

The president goes on to define “real reform” as “establishing a responsible pathway to earned citizenship” and “fixing the legal immigration system to cut waiting periods,” reducing bureaucracy and attracting highly-skilled entrepreneurs and engineers “that will help create jobs and grow our economy”.

Los Defensores de los Sueños ,Dream DefendersWhile what politicians are saying, in regards to immigration reform, is resonating with millions of Americans, the proposals do not sit well with some.

Inmigración Renacido,Immigration RebornBy Quincy Walters

POLITICSINSIGHT TAMPA • A FRESH LOOK INTO THE PULSE OF TAMPA • WWW.INSIGHTTAMPA.COM • VOL 2 ISSUE 1 • 17

Fernando Perez

On February 2nd, Insight sat in on a Tampa Dream Defenders meeting. Dream Defenders is a burgeoning coalition of youth and students dedicated to combating racism and other injustices that beset factions of society (more information can be found at dreamdefenders.org). Almost a year ago, the slaying of Trayvon Martin was their prime focus.

Today, their focus is on immigration.

At the meeting, the new push for immigration reform was discussed at length. The mantra of this meeting was “legalization for all;” the idea has become a national movement that resides upon three pillars: legalization for all, no more guest worker expansion and no more repression.

The Dream Defenders made it clear that the proposals of the unofficial “gang of 8” senate committee had the potential to prevent millions of immigrants from attaining citizenship.

Legalization for all, they say, will be more “inclusive” and therefore more just.

The Dream Defenders want progress and point to the current political climate as an immediate roadblock to that progress. One of the most impeding circumstances is the over-militarized border—something President Obama nearly bragged about in his State of the Union Address.

To the Dream Defenders, the over-militarized border poses a physical threat to those trying, desperately, to get a breath of free air. In their minds the over-militarized border also stands as a direct threat to democracy itself.

Desde Hace Mucho Tiempo,Long OverdueTo get a clearer understanding of a somewhat unclear picture, Insight spoke to immigration attorney Fernando Perez III of Perez & Associates. Mr. Perez prefaced the conversation by defining immigration law.

“In immigration,” he said “you have a very complex body of laws. The only type of law that comes close is the tax law—(it’s) very complicated.” Perez says that, for the most part, United States immigration law was constructed in the 1950s, because historically that is when America received the first large influx of immigrants.

Since that point in time, Mr. Perez says little has evolved.

“You’re dealing with a system that is very old-fashioned and doesn’t really address today’s immigrant needs…both for the immigrant and for the country.”

“Immigration reform,” he says “is long overdue.”

I asked Mr. Perez about the “gang of 8” and their new

push for immigration reform.

“Congress is not composed of immigration specialists. As a result, you get Band-Aids. Members of congress don’t realize that these Band-Aids may affect ten other areas of immigration law in a very negative way.”

Perez categorized the senate’s proposals as nothing more than “theoretical.”

He points out how quick some politicians are to say that before coming up with solutions we must first secure the border.

“That’ll never work,” says Perez. “It opens the door for them [the politician] to always say ‘the border isn’t secure enough.”

Perez continues by saying “To hold immigration reform ransom to somebody’s definition of what constitutes a ‘secure border’ is counterproductive for this country…securing the border should not be a precondition.”

When asked about the possibility of a mass deportation, Mr. Perez says “…you’re never going to have a situation where this country is going to turn around and start deporting all those people [undocumented immigrants].”

“It’s a practical and ethical impossibility.”

ConclusiónMr. Perez shed a copious amount of light on an issue shrouded in darkness. The issues that face immigration cannot be solved overnight. Nor can they be solved through the same broken equations. In his eyes we must bring the undocumented inhabitants of our country to the legal side of the equation. There needs to be a way for the 11-14 million undocumented people to become legal residence so that they can work to their full potential and truly “grow our economy”, as the president hopes.

When we create “comprehensive immigration reform”, we make way for immigration to be reborn… Inmigración Renacido


Events shape history. In turn, history shapes and guides our future. There are certain events that will forever be ingrained in both our personal and collec-tive memories. Some are positive, some are traumat-ic. People say they’ll never forget where they were, or what they were doing on December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. People say they’ll never forget what they were doing on May 5th, 1961 when they heard that astronaut Alan Shepard became the first man in space. They say they’ll never forget November 22nd, 1963 when they heard that President Kennedy was assassinated. Or 1968 when both Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy were both assassinated. We will never forget Challenger or Columbia…or September 11th, 2001. The most recent date to add to that ever-length-ening list is December 14th, 2012 when twenty elementary students and educators were killed early in the school day at Sandy Hook Elementary in New-town, Connecticut. Looking through the pages of history, it appears that the traumatic ones have the deepest, longest-lasting impact. The country and the world were all shaken by the news. The event opened the door for a vigorous and thoughtful national discussion on the role of guns in our society, and more importantly, the role of guns in our schools. The Hillsborough County School Board wasted no time on the matter. On January 15th, almost a month after the trage-dy at Sandy Hook, Hillsborough County School Board members met to discuss the issue of increasing the security of local schools. The timeliness of the meet-ing drew a rather large crowd. The docket that evening consisted of several proposals from Superintendent MaryEllen Elia, the proposals ranged from hiring an outside security firm to increasing the amount of school resource officers. It appeared that the majority of the members were doing cost-benefit analysis. In the process, however, school board member Ms. Doretha Edgecomb empha-

sized the importance of school resource officers. “We can never put a price tag on the lives of our students and our employees and our commitment to keeping them safe.” Edgecomb emphasized during the meeting. Insight spoke to Ms. Edgecomb after the meeting and asked her why she thought many of her col-leagues were not as enthused about armed person-nel in schools. Giving credence to the cost-benefit analysis observation, she said that “cost is a deter-rent for most school board members”. For Edgecomb, Sandy Hook was “extremely tragic and shocking”. For her, it was one of those events forever seared into memory. She remembers coming out of a meeting on the morning of December 14th and being asked if she heard what happened in Con-necticut. Up until that point, she was unaware. When she was told there was a shooting at an elementary school, she panicked. “I have relatives in Connecticut that have school-aged children, so I became extremely worried”. After learning that her relatives were safe, the trauma still did not escape her. “As a parent, an educator and former principal, what happened at Sandy Hook is devastating”. Perhaps Edgecomb’s staunch and unyielding sup-port of current school resource officers is attributed to the significant emotional impact she felt on that tragic day. When considering proposals intended to keep local schools safe, Edgecomb keeps the twenty-six souls lost in Newtown in her mind. In the next few weeks, school board members will meet at a workshop (void of audience participation) to discuss proposals that may soon become a tangible reality for the Hillsbor-ough school district. Edgecomb wants to come to an understanding and a consensus with her fellow school board col-leagues on how to proceed with all deliberate speed.

Hillsborough County School Board Members Convene After NewtownBy Quincy Walters


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