Coachella Valley Independent July 2014

VOL.2 | ISSUE 7

Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley were recently listed as the top arts area in the country.

Meet two artists who illustrate why.

IN ARTS & CULTURE—PAGE 12

Artist Alex Koleszar.

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A Note From the Editor

Mailing address: 31855 Date Palm Drive, No. 3-263 Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 904-4208 www.cvindependent.com

Editor/Publisher Jimmy Boegle Assistant Editor Brian Blueskye Editorial Layout Wayne Acree Advertising Design Betty Jo Boegle Contributors Gustavo Arellano, John Backderf, Victor Barocas, Max Cannon, George Duchannes, Kevin Fitzgerald, Johnny Flores Jr., Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, Bob Grimm, Alex Harrington, Melissa Hart, Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume, Keith Knight, Robin Linn, Marylee Pangman, Erin Peters, Deidre Pike, Guillermo Prieto, Anita Rufus, Jenny Shank, Jen Sorenson, Robert Victor

The Independent is a proud member and/or supporter of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, the Local Independent Online News Publishers, the Desert Business Association, the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, artsOasis and the American Advertising Federation/Palm Springs-Desert Cities.

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cover design by Wayne Acree; PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX KOLESZAR

The Coachella Valley Independent print edition is published every month. All content is ©2014 and may not be published or reprinted in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The Independent is available free of charge throughout the Coachella Valley, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 by calling (760) 904-4208. The Independent may be distributed only by the Independent’s authorized distributors.

I’d never heard of Eventbrite or Brit + Co before a week or so ago. Turns out Eventbrite is an online events/calendar website, and Brit + Co is “an online media and e-commerce platform that provides tools to teach, inspire and enable creativity among women and girls” that its managers claim reach more than 5 million “creatively minded people” each month.

Well, I’ve now heard of these sites, because Eventbrite’s Lauren Busley, in a post published on Brit + Co’s website, came up with a rather surprising list that quickly made the social-media rounds among Coachella Valley-area art fans: Eventbrite named Palm Springs as the No. 1 Coolest City for Art Lovers in the USA. Yes, really. Eventbrite supposedly “found out which U.S. cities have the highest proclivity for the arts looking at population, number of art events and amount of cash locals spent on art events” to make the determination. Hmm. See the list for yourself, if you must, at www.brit.co/art-cities.

On one hand, this conclusion is preposterous. I love Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley more than almost anyone, but is Palm Springs really a better art city than San Francisco (No. 3 on the list)? Seattle (No. 6)? Boston (No. 7)? Miami (No. 8)? Or freakin’ New York (not ranked)?

On the other hand … no, sorry, there is no other hand. This conclusion is simply preposterous. After all, Busley’s first sentence is this: “With beautiful warm weather year-round, some of the best art in Palm Springs is outdoors.” She must be unaware that until recently, city officials in Eventbrite’s No. 1 art city didn’t allow murals.

Having said all that, I understand how art-lovers are charmed by the fantastic art in Palm Springs and the rest of the Coachella Valley. We have great museums, delightful art-filled areas (like El Paseo, the Backstreet Art District and the Uptown Design District) and an abundance of fantastic artists who live here.

This month, the Independent is featuring two of those talented local artists.

Alex Koleszar and Peggy Vermeer, in many ways, couldn’t be more different. Koleszar is a former consultant who gave up his business to become a painter, and who moved to Palm Springs for a new start after his partner died due to cancer; Vermeer is an assemblage artist and trailblazing art teacher who has been in the Coachella Valley for decades—and who’s still going strong at 89 years of age.

However, in one very important way, Koleszar and Vermeer are quite similar (beyond the obvious fact that they’re both artists): They both have an intense passion for what they do.

Read more about them in our Arts & Culture section, beginning on Page 12.

No, Palm Springs is not really the No. 1 Coolest City for Art Lovers in the USA. It’s not even close. But due to the work of passionate locals like Koleszar and Vermeer, we’re getting there.

—Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com

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OPINION

KNOW YOUR

NEIGHBORS

Meet Women Who Dedicated Their Second and Third Careers to Helping Others

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

By Anita Rufus y dad couldn’t wait to retire.

He started working at 14 and had done whatever he could, without an education, to support his family. I remember when he worked three jobs a week: running a catering truck, collecting coins from vending machines, and working in a gas station on weekends.

He budgeted and saved to make sure he and my mother could have a comfortable lifestyle once he stopped working. He was proud to be able to retire—to, in his view, do “nothing.”

I can’t help but compare my dad’s notion of retirement with what I see playing out every day here in the Coachella Valley— particularly the women in second and third careers who make a difference for their neighbors.

The Democratic Women of the Desert recently presented their 2014 Women Honoring Women Awards. I was one of the recipients, given the Voice of Women’s Rights Award, partly for my Lovable Liberal radio persona, and for my many years of vocal advocacy on behalf of women’s equality.

However, when I realized the accomplishments of the other women being honored, I became convinced a mistake had been made: I didn’t feel competent to be in their company.

Megan Beaman received the Civil Rights Award. An attorney advocating on behalf of those in our own East Valley who are leastrepresented in the legal system, Beaman practiced law for years at a nonprofit legalassistance corporation that served rural Californians, particularly farmworkers. She also challenged administrative, state and federal policies on behalf of her diverse clients.

Coming from a rural working-class family, Beaman recognized early the challenges facing workers, families and communities that are regularly excluded from the legal system.

In her family, she was taught not only to recognize unfairness, but was instilled with the drive to act to rectify it.

Beaman founded Beaman Law in 2012 to expand her ability to service more clients.

She also has a long history of volunteerism, working in partnership with nonprofit organizations and community leaders.

“It is not lost on me that I am receiving this award in response to the violation of the

rights of others,” she says. “Civil rights stand for the basic principle that, regardless of our differences, all of us have the same inherent rights as human beings, and all of us are responsible to ensure that nobody tries to impinge on those rights.”

Sister Carol Nolan, named Volunteer of the Year, is a member of the Sisters of Providence.

She is dedicated to helping students and adults in the East Valley learn English. With a master’s degree in music, Nolan taught music and English, and spent a sabbatical year studying Spanish in Mexico. She has been director of Providence in the Desert since 2002, and was responsible for bringing “Nuns on the Bus” to the Coachella facility in 2013.

Nolan is part of Guerin Outreach Ministries as “a reflection of the interest and zeal of the Sisters of Providence in manifesting God’s loving presence in the lives of the struggles of the poor.” Her favorite quote: “Love the children first, and then teach them.”

“English is a very difficult language to learn, especially for adults whose brains are already wired for another language,” says Nolan, “but I believe love and education can change the world. Only love has the power to transform.”

Honored with the Democratic Ideals Award, Sonja Martin is a life-long educator whose “retirement” is anything but. She was a classroom teacher, principal, district administrator and superintendent of schools, and worked as a consultant with the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

Martin has authored books for parents and teachers, and worked with teachers around the world to improve student achievement.

Sister Carol Nolan, named Volunteer of the Year by the Democratic Women of the Desert, is a member of the Sisters of Providence. She helps people in the East Valley learn English. FROM SPSMW.ORG/GUERIN-OUTREACH-MINISTRIES/PROVIDENCE-IN-THE-DESERT

She has represented our area on the Riverside County Commission for Women, advocating for inclusion of women and women’s issues at all levels of policymaking; and the Riverside County Office on Aging, emphasizing programs like Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and spreading the word about free support services available through the county. She has been active in other community-service organizations, including California’s Senior Legislature.

“After I retired from my education career,” says Martin, “I had to ask myself: ‘What do I do now?’ People need someone to be out there for them. There’s work to be done.”

Philanthropist Eileen Stern came from a working-class family, was raised in public housing, attended public schools and went to a state university. She received the Humanitarian Award from DWD. The first woman to hold a national marketing manager position with Sears, Stern moved on to entrepreneurial marketing and public-relations work. She was motivated to get involved in the fight against breast cancer after the untimely death of her mother. “I felt compelled to try to do something to help find a cure.”

Stern’s efforts resulted in the HIKE4HOPE event that has raised more than $4 million to support cancer research at City of Hope. She also helped launch the first fundraiser for the

FIND Food Bank, served as president of the Desert Women’s Council, worked with the Children’s Discovery Museum, and chaired the first fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City.

“I learned to pay it forward,” said Stern upon receiving her award. “I share this award with all of you who work to make other’s lives better.”

The final DWD award was for Lifetime Achievement, presented to Rancho Mirage resident Elle “Elle K” Kurpiewski. A flight attendant, Elle K came from an Air Force family that focused on patriotism and service. She has spent her life “walking the talk,” including union organizing and advocating for flight attendants; running as the Democratic candidate in the local 2002 congressional race; and serving as a delegate to the 2004 Democratic convention, president of Democrats of the Desert, and executive director of the Democratic Foundation of the Desert. She was largely responsible for establishing a local Democratic Partyheadquarters office in Cathedral City.

“I believe in the Democratic ideals of liberty and equality for all,” said Elle K upon receiving her award. “I’m consistently reminded that one person can make a difference. I share this with all of you. … Now let’s get back to work!”

What are you doing to work on behalf of your community?

CVIndependent.com

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JULY 2014

OPINION

ASK A MEXICAN!

Why Does Mexican Gay Culture Place Such an Emphasis on Drag?

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

THE POTTED DESERT GARDEN

Three Great Low-Water Plants for Your Desert Garden WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

By Gustavo Arellano

By MARYLEE PANGMAN

EAR MEXICAN: I’m one of those gabachos who fell crazy in love with everything Mexican. I also happen to be a gay man with plenty of exposure to the gay scene in Mexico and Latino USA. While every country has its share of cross-dressers and transvestites, there seems to be special emphasis on this in gay Mexico. Travesti shows are de rigueur at Latino gay bars on both sides of the border. It seems to me that the prevalence of traditional gender roles in Latin American society pushes gays to think they have to adhere to these butch-vs.-fem categories, as if you have to be one or the other.

Your thoughts?

DEAR WAB: You won’t hear any arguments from me about this, but since I’m not versed Wondering About JuanGa in the gabacho ways, I threw the question to the Mexican’s Mexican, William Nericcio DEAR MARIPOSA: Drag shows only at of San Diego State and the scabrous Tex(t)Mexican gay bars? You must not visit many Mex: Seductive Hallucinations of the “Mexican” gay bars. in America. In addition to dissecting the But I agree with you that, at least semiotics of Mexican imagery, Profe Nericcio historically, the only acceptable way to express also has insight into the American obsession homosexuality in Mexico was of the fa-laming with image. (Check out his upcoming Eyegiene: variety: It synched up with Mexico’s eternal Permutations of Subjectivity in the Televisual Age Madonna-whore complex and let machos on of Sex and Race.) Take it, Nericcio! the down-low feign surprise when they got “This is the age-old sexual conundrum a soplón by said travesti, à la the protagonist that is actually easy to explain—we all covet in the Kinks’ “Lola.” And Mexican lesbians? something ‘strange’ from time to time; or, Mexicans always thought the only one who to use other words, the ‘exotic’ is erotic; the ever existed was Frida Kahlo—and she was other beckons with an erotic electricity that OK, because she was a transvestite. can be blinding and impossible to overcome.

But nowadays, mature, healthy expressions Let’s pause here a second and throw racism of homosexuality in Mexican culture are on and sexuality into the proverbial conceptual the rise. (Gay marriage is legal in Mexico City, blender: Racism is an extension of sex when and LGBT couples are increasingly challenging you think about it—the racist’s hate of the bans through the state and federal courts visually different other stems from an anxiety across la patria.) Mexico’s always about a (at the level of DNA) for ‘the same.’ The tribal generation behind the U.S about everything, backstory of homo sapiens evolution … is a so expect an LGBT-friendly Mexico around the tale of a species that ‘feels safe’ when making same time we get into New Kids on the Block. the beast with two backs within the tribe, but that benefits in terms of evolution when DEAR MEXICAN: If dark-skinned people are philandering outside the tribe. Evolutionary so “undesirable,” unwelcome and put down by anthropologists call this exogamy—basically you gringos, how come you bake in the sun the species (or the tribe) thrives when you like zopilotes to get dark? stop sleeping with your familia, second-cousin Maybe the whole deal about racists is lovers be damned! that they hate being white. I would, too!

“So enjoy all the love you’re getting and Maybe white angry males are actually latent sharing with pale chicas lusting after your homosexuals attracted to dark-skinned men! I swarthy goodness. … Know also that these know for a fact that white women at one point melatonin-challenged mujeres are merely or another fantasize about dark men, and that following basic laws of attraction that owe many more actually convert that fantasy into more to Darwin than your own inner-papireality with guys like me. Who wants to go to chulo!” bed with a pale guy?

CATCH THE MEXICAN EVERY WEDNESDAY AT CVINDEPENDENT.COM. Comments?

any people are asking what plants they can use in pots that will weather the summer sun and intense Coachella Valley heat.

Of course, you know I love our summer flowers; with the right watering and afternoon shade, they will thrive! However, many people do not want to be married to their pots and hoses; they travel a lot; or they are simply trying to be more water-conscious.

I do not recommend using plants in pots that go dormant in the winter, or need to be pruned each winter. Plants such as grasses and resemble slippers. This easy-to-grow succulent salvias fall into this category; although they is fun to watch grow. It is slow-growing, so are beautiful during the hot months, they you can put it in a smaller pot which fits into do not do our pots justice during the winter an area tucked around your doors or patio. months. Additionally, some other plants, such For optimal success with these and other as bougainvillea, sages and Texas Rangers, are succulents, be sure to use cactus soil when great in our landscapes, but do not perform planting. Smaller pots will need water twice well in pots. They need room to spread their a week, while an extra-large pot (which you’d roots much farther than a pot will allow. want to use with the Hesperaloe) will only Staying away from high-water flowers and need water every week or two. A water meter shrubs, you can create beautiful pots with found in any garden department will help many cactuses and succulents. If you are guide your water needs. aiming for lushness, consider the Gopher What plant might you add to this list? Email Plant. If you keep it well-groomed as lower me at marylee@potteddesert.com. branches brown up, it can be a very satisfying plant year-round. The one pictured here is in MARYLEE PANGMAN IS THE FOUNDER AND FORMER OWNER OF THE full spring bloom.

CONTAINED GARDENER IN TUCSON, ARIZ. SHE HAS BECOME KNOWN Another plant that I have mentioned before AS THE DESERT’S POTTED GARDEN EXPERT. MARYLEE IS AVAILABLE remains a favorite: the Giant Hesperaloe.

FOR DIGITAL CONSULTATIONS, AND YOU CAN EMAIL HER WITH COMIt’s large enough to be a great specimen plant MENTS AND QUESTIONS AT POTTEDDESERT@GMAIL.COM; FOLLOW supported by a magnificent pot, and it will THE POTTED DESERT AT FACEBOOK.COM/POTTEDDESERT. THE POTTED thrive in any full-sun desert setting.

DESERT GARDEN APPEARS TUESDAYS AT CVINDEPENDENT.COM. If you don’t have as much room, try my third favorite: Pedilanthus macrocarpus, or the Lady Slipper. The orange-red flowers

Tall, Handsome, and Dark CVIndependent.com

ASK THE MEXICAN AT THEMEXICAN@ASKAMEXICAN.NET; BE HIS FAN ON FACEBOOK; FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @GUSTAVOARELLANO; OR FOLLOW HIM ON INSTAGRAM @GUSTAVO_ARELLANO!

Lady Slipper

Gopher Plant

Giant Hesperaloe

JULY 2014

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 5

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NEWS

THE VALLEY’S

HEALTH

A Recently Released Report Shows Reason for Concern

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

By Brian Blueskye he Health Assessment Resource Center (HARC) is a community-based organization that works to assess the health needs of the Coachella Valley—and the organization recently released a report regarding the valley’s health status and needs.

The findings, in many cases, were not pretty.

The Coachella Valley’s nine cities and unincorporated areas are all represented through surveys done via random-digit dialing to residents in the valley. In 2013, the key finding for health-insurance coverage was that one-third of adults between 18 and 64 were without health insurance.

However, the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare) is now having a significant impact on access to insurance, so numbers will most likely improve in future surveys.

As far as major diseases go, high blood pressure/hypertension was the most prevalent in the Coachella Valley, afflicting 37.8 percent of adults (134,208 residents), followed by high cholesterol at 30.8 percent (108,183 residents).

Eileen Packer, the chief executive officer of HARC, said the valley’s older population is, in part, to blame for the high blood pressure/ hypertension and high-cholesterol numbers.

There were other unwelcome surprises in the data: Nationwide, 55.3 percent of Americans report consuming at least one alcoholic beverage per month. The Coachella Valley, however, has a rate of 65.4 percent.

The statistics on binge-drinking were also alarming, with a nationwide average of 16.9 percent of people binge-drinking at least once per month—and the Coachella Valley at a whopping 30 percent.

“We saw significant increases in bingedrinking,” Packer said. “There’s also a significant increase in alcohol consumption.”

Another disease on the rise is cancer.

“When we looked at cancer in 2007, it was 9 percent,” Packer said. “Now it’s at 13 percent, which is significantly higher. I know worldwide, they are looking at cancer increasing.”

HARC also monitors factors that are associated with health, such as the general demographics of the area, social characteristics and socioeconomic factors. Packer expressed concern about the number of children living in poverty.

“We have more children living in poverty,” Packer said. “... It went from 28 percent in 2007 to 48 percent in 2013.”

Packer said she expects the results to be CVIndependent.com

much different in the next report; the reports are done every three years. “Because of the Affordable Care Act, we’ll be looking at the uninsured. … It increased significantly from 2007 to 2013. In 2016, it’ll be interesting with the Affordable Care Act and signing people up how dramatically that’s going to change.”

With all of the recent shootings in the news and the call for more mental-health services nationally, Packer said the Coachella Valley, along with the entire state of California, needs to improve. In the Coachella Valley, 54.1 percent of adults 18 to 64 do not have mentalhealth coverage. There was also an increase in the percentage of adults who have a mentalhealth concern—from 18.2 percent in 2010, to 25.3 percent in 2013.

“Having seen the changes in mental-health care over the years—and I think it went back

to Ronald Reagan when he started the decrease in funding for mental-health services—the dollars allocated to it have dramatically decreased,” Packer said. “We’ve had closures here in the valley for in-patient beds. We don’t have the psychiatrists, so we definitely have needs here for mental-health-care carriers and practitioners.”

As far as the health needs of the Coachella Valley as a whole are concerned, Packer pointed to the new medical school at the University of California, Riverside, as an encouraging sign.

“There are statistics quoted over and over again that we do not have enough familypractice physicians here in the Coachella Valley,” Packer said. “We do have an effort under way to change that with the (new University of California, Riverside) School of Medicine … and in 2015, they are going to have residents to provide community service.

When the medical school was approved, it was approved to be a community-based medical school, and not one housed in a hospital.

The residents will be out in the community providing services. The Eisenhower Medical Center has residents right now from USC, and the hope is that the residents will then stay here in the Coachella Valley.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO READ THE WHOLE HARC COMMUNITY HEALTH MONITOR 2013 EXECUTIVE REPORT, VISIT WWW.HARCDATA.ORG.

JULY 2014

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 7

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NEWS

WATER WAR

The Agua Caliente Tribe Sues for More Control Over the Valley’s Aquifer

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

By Kevin Fitzgerald uch of the state of California is currently facing a water crisis, thanks to a record-setting drought. Yet here in our desert environment of the Coachella Valley, the happy anomaly of apparently plentiful and affordable water continues as the status quo.

However, that does not mean all is settled regarding water in the Coachella Valley.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (ACBCI) has filed a lawsuit in federal district court to obtain senior water rights over the shared Coachella Valley aquifer. The suit, filed on May 14, 2013, against the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) and the Desert Water Agency (DWA)—stewards of much of valley’s public water supply since 1918 and 1961, respectively—is expected to go to trial no later than February 2015.

On May 13, the latest legal maneuver occurred when the U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion, which has since been granted, to join the lawsuit as a co-plaintiff with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

Heather Engel, the CVWD’s director of communications and legislation, said the agencies did not object to the move.

“The Department of Justice has a stake: They own the tribal land, so it makes sense for them to get involved,” she said.

Craig Ewing, president of the DWA board of directors, agreed.

“The federal government owns the tribal lands,” he said. “The fact that they want to join their tribal trustees in the lawsuit is no surprise. It poses no real significant change for us, so we didn’t oppose it.”

The Independent contacted Kate Anderson, the Agua Caliente director of public relations, to request a one-on-one interview with an ACBCI representative. That request was denied, and we were told to instead submit a list of questions.

We asked what the tribe’s objectives are in filing the lawsuit. The response: “The tribe’s objectives would be (1) having the court affirm the tribe’s pre-existing, senior rights to groundwater; (2) having the court order DWA and CVWD to implement a plan to cease any withdrawals of groundwater that infringe upon the tribe’s rights or cause the aquifer to be in a state of overdraft; and (3) requiring DWA and CVWD to use high quality water—be it treated Colorado River water or water from another source—to recharge the aquifer.”

Engel explained some of her agencies’ CVIndependent.com

objections to the tribe’s claims. “If we start with the senior rights, the CVWD believes that, based on current law in California, nobody owns the groundwater,” she said. “Anyone in the Coachella Valley or anyone in the state of California can drill a well and pump groundwater. So it’s not our water to give them senior rights.”

Ewing, again, agreed. “No one has the (exclusive) right to the water currently, because it is a public aquifer. Anyone can put a pump in the ground and pump it, including the tribe.

So for them to say that they have a right to the water goes against our understanding of the legal status of the aquifer today.”

Why did the ACBCI choose this to file this lawsuit—which some say redirects resources that could be better spent on conservation and replenishment—at this time? The tribe’s response: “The water agencies admit that ‘overdraft’ (a condition created in the aquifer when water pumped out exceeds the amount replenished on an annual basis) has been a problem in the valley for over 75 years. The agencies are exclusively dependent on (an) imported water supply from the Colorado River, a known polluted water source.”

The tribe continued, “The agencies have turned a deaf ear to the tribe’s written complaints about this situation for going on 20 years.”

Ewing argued that the tribe’s claims that Colorado River water is polluted are off-base.

“Colorado River water helps recharge (replenish) the basin and has for 40 years,” he said. “That Colorado River water meets all federal and state clean-water standards. So to suggest that it is somehow inferior water is to us just plain wrong.”

A report from the California Department of Water Resources released in April,

The Agua Caliente tribe claims that the Colorado River water used to recharge the local aquifer is polluted; local water agencies disagree.

“Groundwater Basins With Potential Water Shortages,” shows that overdrafts have not been a serious problem in the valley—at least not in recent years. A map of the monitoring of wells located in the area between Palm Springs and the Salton Sea indicates that from 2013 to 2014, an overwhelming majority of those wells reflected groundwater-level gains or minimal declines—which was not the case in much of the rest of California.

When asked about the benefits of cooperation compared to an expensive lawsuit, the tribe responded strongly.

“The tribe and the United States attempted for many years to work in concert with DWA and CVWD to address the issues in this litigation,” said the ACBCI response. “CVWD and DWA continually refused to acknowledge the tribe’s rights or to engage the tribe in any meaningful dialogue. The decision to initiate litigation came only after attorneys for the water districts informed the tribe that they saw no reason to continue discussions with the tribe.”

Finally, we asked each of the involved parties what they think will result from the lawsuit.

From the ACBCI: “By establishing its ownership interest in the valley’s groundwater, the tribe will have a seat at the table when it comes to the management of the aquifer. It is too early in the lawsuit to predict how these issues will be resolved or identify specific steps that the tribe will take at the lawsuit’s

conclusion.”

Engel of the CVWD said: “The bottom line is that obviously the CVWD thinks we’re doing a good job managing the groundwater supply.

There is a plan in place. This is not something that’s new to us. We’ve been managing the supply since 1918, and we think that we’ll continue to do a good job for all the residents of the Coachella Valley.”

The DWA’s Ewing speculated that the lawsuit could have a complex outcome. “The courts will determine what the policy is. If they determine that the tribe does have senior water rights, then the thing to remember is that this is not an aquifer that is currently divided between (just the) Desert Water Agency and CVWD. There are lots of other players who have pumps in the ground— farmers, country clubs and some industries out in the more rural parts of the valley—and all of them will have to get in line with the courts to determine how much everybody gets if one entity gets something. It could take a long, long time to sort out who gets what should the courts decide that the tribe gets something.”

Ewing added that the legal wrangling could continue for many, many years.

“The tribe has raised several issues in their lawsuit, and if they take as long as they could take through appeals and further hearings and a full adjudication, in my own opinion, the lawyers who will settle this case haven’t been born yet.”

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JULY 2014

NEWS ‘ASK, DEMAND AND BE PRESENT’ East Valley Residents Gather to Learn About a Plan to Use Energy Development to Help Save the Salton Sea

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

By Johnny Flores Jr. ustainability. It’s a word that often comes up when discussing the Salton Sea—but what does sustainability truly mean?

On Saturday, May 24, environmental leaders and residents gathered at Second Annual Environmental Health Leadership Summit at Thermal’s Desert Mirage High School to learn about the sustainability plan being proposed by the Imperial Irrigation District (IID), as well as many other environmental issues.

Bruce Wilcox, environmental manager at the IID, presented the Salton Sea Restoration and Renewable Energy Initiative at the event organized by Comité Civico del Valle and Promotores Comunitarios del Desierto.

This initiative seeks to develop more than 1,500 megawatts of geothermal energy, with solar, wind and biofuel projects to follow in phases following the initial geothermal project.

According to the IID website, the Salton Sea possesses the largest capacity of geothermal energy in the nation. The agency’s leaders believe the initiative would allow for the development of new jobs and economic development.

“The IID has a network of air-quality monitors around the Salton Sea. Since the IID spans both sides of the sea, it pretty much does what (the South Coast Air Quality Management District) and (the Air Pollution Control District) do in Riverside and Imperial counties,” said Eduardo Guevara, executive director of Promotores Comunitarios del Desierto. “They have information we need them to share.”

The Salton Sea was formed in 1905 when a massive flood caused the Colorado River to burst through an irrigation canal and flow freely for 18 months into what was then known as the Salton Basin. It is a closed basin—which leads to the buildup of salt.

The Salton Sea, for now, is sustained by agricultural water inflow from the various agricultural locations within the Imperial, Coachella and Mexicali valleys. However, it is also evaporating at the same time.

It is important to note, however, that in 2017, an agreement that has led to an annual allotment of Colorado River water being diverted into the Salton Sea will end. The lack of incoming water will worsen the waterquality and air-pollution problems that are already prevalent. Year by year, the sea will slowly dry up, meaning pesticides, salts and fertilizers that have settled on the seabed will be exposed. Therefore, fine dust and toxins will become more airborne than they already are, thus endangering the health of the public, various agricultural fields and other parts of

WAYNE ACREE

the local economy.

The IID initiative would create a renewable energy source in the Salton Sea, which would, in turn, provide some groundcover in the sea.

While the sea’s future depends on cooperation and deliberation by agencies and environmental leaders, the residents of the eastern Coachella Valley can aid in the effort to sustain the health and economy of the region by attending meetings and gatherings like the Environmental Health Leadership Summit.

“Ask, demand and be present,” urges Guevara. “Leaders are nothing without the people backing them up. They need to start demanding solutions and making elected officials accountable.”

To learn more about the IID’s Salton Sea Restoration and Renewable Energy Initiative, visit www.iid.com/index.aspx?page=663.

JOHNNY FLORES JR. IS A REPORTER FOR COACHELLA UNINCORPORATED, A YOUTH-MEDIA GROUP IN THE EAST COACHELLA VALLEY, FUNDED BY THE BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE OF THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT AND OPERATED BY NEW AMERICA MEDIA IN SAN FRANCISCO. THE PURPOSE IS TO REPORT ON ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN BRING ABOUT CHANGE. “COACHELLA UNINCORPORATED” REFERS TO THE REGION YOUTH JOURNALISTS COVER, BUT ALSO TO THE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES OF THE EASTERN VALLEY WITH THE IDEA TO “INCORPORATE” THE EAST VALLEY INTO THE MAINSTREAM COACHELLA VALLEY MINDSET. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT COACHELLAUNINCORPAORATED.ORG. CVIndependent.com

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JULY 2014

NEWS

JULY ASTRONOMY Enjoy Great Views of Venus, Mercury, Saturn and Various Stars This Summer Month WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

by Robert Victor ars and Saturn are easy to spot in the evening sky throughout July; Saturn, with its rings, is a real showpiece for telescopic viewing. Mars will form a close, eye-catching pair with the star Spica for several evenings around July 13.

In the brightening dawn for much of month, brilliant Venus has a companion, Mercury, not far to its lower left.

Especially attractive gatherings of the moon, planets and stars occur on July 5 and 7 at dusk, and on July 22 and 24 at dawn. Dark moonless nights offer excellent views of the Milky Way, best July 1 and 2 after moonset; and in the latter half of month.

July 2014 at dusk: The four brightest starlike objects visible at dusk (excluding Jupiter, barely above the west-northwest horizon at the start of month) are: Arcturus and Vega (both near magnitude 0.0); Mars (0.0 to +0.4); and Saturn (+0.4 to +0.5).

July’s evening planets: Using binoculars, can you spot Jupiter very low in the bright twilight in the west-northwest at the start of month, before it departs? Reddish Mars, in the southwest, passes 1.3 degrees north of blue-white Spica on July 13 in the tightest and last of their three pairings this year. It will be fascinating to follow this colorful pair for several evenings, separated by no more than 5 degrees from July 3-22. Saturn is in the south to south-southwest, 23 degrees to the upper left of the close Mars-Spica pair on July 13.

Saturn’s rings are tipped 21 degrees from

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edge-on during July (the minimum for this year). This temporary decrease on the way toward 27 degrees maximum in 2017 is caused by our Earth-platform revolving around the sun, affecting our view.

In late July and early August, when Saturn is close to 90 degrees from the sun, telescopes show the best “3-D” appearance of the planet and rings, because we can then best observe the planet’s shadow cast upon the rings. Look for a “gap” where the shadowed portion of the rings goes behind the planet’s northeast limb.

Stars: Regulus, heart of Leo, sinks nearly to the west-northwest horizon at month’s end.

Golden Arcturus is high in the south to westsouthwest; Spica, the spike of grain in Virgo’s hand, is in the southwest, near Mars; Antares, heart of Scorpius, reaches its high point low in the south. The Summer Triangle of VegaAltair-Deneb ascends in the east, as befits its name. It’s up all night this month. Find it plotted on both our charts, for dusk and dawn.

Follow the waxing moon in the evening sky as it passes near these planets and bright stars: Regulus on July 1; Mars and Spica on July 5 (a spectacular trio!); Saturn on July 7 (close); and Antares on July 8 and 9.

For evening-planet-watchers this summer: Mars goes from west to east of Spica this month. On July 1, Mars is just more than 5 degrees northwest of Spica. On July 5, the moon, just past first-quarter phase and a little more than half illuminated, will pass between Mars and Spica while they’re within 4 degrees.

In a colorful patriotic pairing on July 13, the red planet will pass just 1.3 degrees north

Morning visibility map at mid-twilight.

ROBERT D. MILLER

Evening visibility map at mid-twilight.

ROBERT D. MILLER

of the blue-white star. Mars continues east, ending 14 degrees east of Spica on July 31.

July 2014 at dawn: The five brightest objects are Venus, Mercury (after it brightens past magnitude 0 at midmonth), Vega, Capella and Rigel (after it appears late in the month).

The bright planets can both be found in the east-northeast: Venus, shining nearly at magnitude -4, dominates the morning sky.

Mercury is easy to find, especially when it’s within 7 degrees to the lower left of Venus July 12-20.

Stars: The Summer Triangle of Vega-AltairDeneb, visible all night through July, is high in the western sky at dawn and descends as the month progresses. Fomalhaut, mouth of the southern fish, swims westward low in the south. Aldebaran, eye of Taurus, is just 4 degrees to the south of Venus on July 1 and ascends the eastern sky all month as Venus remains low. Far to the upper left, the “Mother Goat” star Capella ascends in the northeast.

Late in month, Betelgeuse and Rigel, shoulder and foot of Orion, emerge above the eastern horizon. (Look midway between them at an earlier stage of twilight for a vertical line of three stars—Orion’s belt!) Farther north, find Pollux (with Castor 4.5 degrees above). Pollux is just more than six degrees north (upper left) of Mercury on July 28 and 29.

The waning crescent moon in the morning sky passes near Aldebaran on July 22 (close), Venus on July 24 and Mercury on July 25 (low in twilight).

Many beautiful sights await you this summer, in both morning and evening skies.

Mark Monday, Aug. 18, on your calendar. Be sure to look about an hour before sunrise that morning to catch the spectacular close pairing of the two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter. The Abrams Planetarium Sky Calendar will provide illustrations of these and other gatherings; find out how to subscribe at www. pa.msu.edu/abrams/skycalendar.

Check the website of the Astronomical Society of the Desert, www.astrorx.org, for dates, maps and directions to our “star parties,” where everyone is welcome to look through our telescopes at the moon, planets and “deep sky objects.” Year-round monthly sessions begin at dusk at Sawmill Trailhead; dates this summer are July 26, Aug. 23, and Sept. 20, as sky conditions permit.

Seize opportunities this summer to enjoy the beauty of the sky!

ROBERT C. VICTOR WAS A STAFF ASTRONOMER AT ABRAMS PLANETARIUM AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY. HE IS NOW RETIRED AND ENJOYS PROVIDING SKYWATCHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN IN AND AROUND PALM SPRINGS.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 11

JULY 2014

NEWS

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

SNAPSHOT

Images From June in the High Desert and Coachella Valley

David Catching performs with Eagles of Death Metal on Saturday, June 7, at his part of his two-day birthday extravaganza at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace. Numerous musicians and groups showed up to take part in the celebration of the Rancho de la Luna great, including Chris Goss, Peaches, Jesika Von Rabbit and many others. PHOTO BY GUILLERMO PRIETO/IROCKPHOTOS.NET

Joshua Tree Gay Pride took place on Saturday, June 14, at “Coyote Corner”—a bigger space than in previous years, behind the Joshua Tree Saloon. The Small Wonder Experience, led by Leslie Mariah Andrews, kicked things off on the music stage in the early afternoon. PHOTO BY BRIAN BLUESKYE

The second Splash House celebration hit the Hard Rock Palm Springs, The Saguaro (pictured) and the literally brand-new Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club, Friday, June 13, through Sunday, June 15. Bathing-suit-clad revelers enjoyed music from world-class DJs ranging from the Independent’s All Night Shoes to Moby. Later in June, Splash House fans received more good news: Another Splash House is scheduled for the same three venues Aug. 8-10. PHOTO BY GEORGE DUCHANNES

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JULY 2014

⓭ Meet Peggy Vermeer, 89, renowned teacher and assemblage artist ⓯ Desert Rose brings the laughs with 'The Stops' ⓰ ArtsOasis and Theater Listings ⓱ Western Lit: Tales From Portland and Montana www.cvindependent.com/arts-and-culture

Palm Springs artist Alex Koleszar was once a successful consultant and businessman. However, he gave all of that up for art.

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TURNING PAIN

INTO BEAUTY

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 13

JULY 2014

ARTS & CULTURE

ASSEMBLING A LIFE IN ART

Meet Peggy Vermeer, 89, the Founder of the PS Art Museum’s Children’s Art Program

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/ARTS-AND-CULTURE

By Brian Blueskye hen I first walked into Peggy Vermeer’s home in Palm Springs, I was immediately impressed: At 89 years old, she’s still sharp as a knife—and the artwork on the walls is simply mesmerizing.

Vermeer has quite a history as a local artist. She’s well-known for her assemblage art, although she has also done some abstract painting and papercraft. However, she’s best known for what she has given to others: She was the first teacher at the Palm Springs Art Museum and was the founder of the children’s art program. In fact, she’s still a docent at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Peggy said she’s often recognized around town due to her time as the children’s art teacher at the museum.

“I had a man who came up to me and said, ‘Oh, Peggy. I was in your art class, and I’m 41 now.’ I said, ‘Thank you very much!’” Vermeer said with a laugh.

Vermeer’s interest in art developed as she grew up. Her mother served as an inspiration.

“It started with designing paper dolls, and when I went to high school, I discovered I could be an artist. My mother was an artist, but she didn’t practice it,” she said. “I just started doing it, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Vermeer credits Robert Rauschenberg as the artist who inspired her the most. However, she was inspired to start working in assemblage after she met assemblage artist Michael deMeng in Idyllwild.

“It’s found pieces of ordinary objects put together to form an art piece,” she said. “We used to go to the illegal dump to get shotup old things. Assemblage is putting junk together, really. It can be anything at all … no rules or regulations.”

Sure enough, when you look at the works in Vermeer’s home, there are no rules or regulations. One of Vermeer’s pieces that

caught my attention was a piece that featured a raven in a birdcage—positioned on top of a vintage Corona typewriter. Another interesting piece is a bust with a Walkman embedded in the chest; it also includes a door with a mirror, an image of the Mona Lisa, and … a broken crack pipe?

“My friend, Brother Andy, he found (the crack pipe) in the street. He was taking a walk, picked it up and brought it over.”

Vermeer said she doesn’t have any problem finding objects.

“People bring you things,” she said.

“Sometimes, you look around your own home, and there it is. You never know, and that’s why you can’t throw anything away.”

When I brought up a work that was in her kitchen, she told me it was assembled from a mannequin she purchased off eBay, a broken shower glass door, gesso paint, acrylic paint, plumbing sealant and some lighting. Vermeer definitely has an advanced knowledge of tools and various skills that would make the average handyman quite envious.

“When I go down to True Value, they run and hide,” she said, laughing. “I’m always asking them for impossible things. I’ve learned how to solder, and I’ve learned how to burn things with a blow torch. I learned a lot of it from Michael deMeng. I took a lot of his online classes.”

She discussed how one of her pieces made it into the Palm Springs Art Museum—and in the process, she reportedly became the first local artist to have a piece in the renowned museum.

“Last year, I entered one of my pieces into the artists’ council shows. It didn’t win

Peggy Vermeer: “It started with designing paper dolls, and when I went to high school, I discovered I could be an artist.” BRIAN BLUESKYE

anything,” she said. “Donna MacMillan, the patron of the arts in the valley, bought it and donated it to the museum. (The judge in the contest) said, ‘It isn’t really art.’ … It had lights, a head, and he decided it wasn’t real art because it wasn’t a painting. But the museum was very pleased about accepting it.”

Vermeer is most definitely an original—and she’s not in the mindset of trying to impress typical upscale art patrons. She said she is always out to learn new things and discover how things work. She supports Debra Ann Mumm’s murals project in Palm Springs; she speaks highly of the art scenes coming out of Slab City and the Joshua Tree areas. She also has a high opinion of many artists in the Palm Springs area.

“We have some really interesting artists here in the desert,” she said. “They’re striving and struggling to get shown.”

She also said that she’s been fortunate in her life.

“I was very lucky that I inherited some money. I had a good brother, and I thank him daily,” she said. “What I earned at the museum was nothing.”

She shared some advice for those who want to take up art.

“You can’t make a living as an artist alone; you have to look at it as a hobby,” she said.

“… It’s nice to sell, but it’s a struggle. When you commission something, you’ll have a wife who loves it and a husband who doesn’t like it. So you learn if you do a commission that you get paid a certain amount of money that’s nonrefundable.”

When she looks back on her life so far as an artist, she said she has no regrets.

“I’m very happy I was an artist,” she said.

“I’m glad I got the opportunity to work at the museum, and I had freedom they don’t have now. I couldn’t function there now, because it’s too structured.”

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JULY 2014

ARTS & CULTURE

TURNING HARDSHIP

INTO ART

Meet Palm Springs Artist Alex Koleszar

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/ARTS-AND-CULTURE

By Victor Barocas lex Koleszar became a full-time desert resident about two years ago, several years after the death of his partner, Dr. Scott Hitt.

Koleszar is a Michigan native who, upon completing his undergraduate work at University of Arizona, moved with Hitt to Los Angeles. There, Koleszar completed his MBA, and founded a highly successful consulting firm. However, he eventually decided that his business was not satisfying enough. That revelation, as well as a series of challenges and hardships in his life, led to him becoming an artist.

Much of our conversation occurred in the artist’s Palm Springs studio, where he spoke candidly about his art, and the challenges he faces with this second career.

When did you first begin to paint?

Actually, I began to paint twice. Between ages of 11 and 14, I completed some 30 canvases, several of which were hung in my hometown’s City Hall.

However, being bullied by other boys in school effectively eliminated my interest in painting: I was called the “creative faggot.” To the bullies, artists were not masculine. For many years, I suppressed my creative self. That means playing sports and, in Michigan, going hunting. More than eliminating my desire to paint, these experiences did a number on my sexuality: I became increasingly conflicted about my being gay.

You were living the gay American dream: living in West L.A., with a handsome partner, both having highly successful careers and recognition in your community? Why throw all that away?

This was the time when the AIDS epidemic was

“Night of Ravens” by Alex Koleszar.

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still escalating. The combination of watching people close to me die from AIDS and being in a marginally creative career produced my midlife crisis; however, mine was on steroids.

I found myself living in a bubble: helplessness, loss, death and tragedy were my norm.

Existential questions, like “What I am doing?” and “Why am I doing it?” emerged.

Unlike Scott, a physician, who actually helped his patients, I thought myself powerless and confronted by two additional questions: “Who do I really want to be?” and “For what do I want to be remembered?” No longer was being a highly successful entrepreneur who writes highly praised computer manuals enough!

Ultimately, I closed my consulting practice.

Realizing that I required formal training, I began working with two successful Los Angeles artists. One taught me painting; the other mentored in me drawing. They taught me how to engage my creative, left brain, without forgoing my analytic self. For example, I learned how geometry, something highly analytic, is at the core of many successful canvases. Today, I still return to the classical principles they taught me.

Was your painting simply cathartic?

Did you show your work? Was there any recognition?

It was all of that. And, yes, my work then and still today reflects my working through multiple losses. Concurrently, my work was shown and received recognition.

My early works clearly reflected the AIDS crisis. Despite, or perhaps because of, the way I incorporated the narrative into my painting, it came to the attention of a curator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s art rental and sales gallery. She selected my painting “Returning Home” to be one of two pieces

included in the museum’s annual observance of (AIDS losses) “A Day Without Art,” a 10-day exhibition.

Despite my reticence to show or sell any paintings until I had a cohesive body of work, I accepted the curator’s request. … In addition to being tagged as a “new and emerging artist,” I was invited to participate in the Florence (Italy) Biennial. During this highly productive time, a number of art collectors from around the country bought my paintings.

Amidst this burgeoning career, Scott, my partner of 16 years, was diagnosed with cancer. His incredible ability to move forward in the face of adversity fortified my decision to continue as a painter.

Why did you leave L.A.?

After Scott’s death (in 2007), it became apparent that a serious change of scenery was required. I had always liked Palm Springs, and it seemed like a place that was gay-friendly, and I could once again focus on my art.

Is there anything unique in your style today?

Actually, there is. Before putting brush to canvas, many painters create grids and/or create a sketch of their future painting. In contrast, for many of my paintings, I create a mental image of what I want to paint.

Everything on the canvas reflects my mental picture.

What themes and influences affect your paintings?

My paintings then and today contain, in their own way, social and political messages. Political correctness is not my style.

I find myself immensely influenced by the surrealists, especially Dali and Miró. Dali, in particular, never seemed to worry about controversy. My painting “Night of Ravens” embodies a social message with hyperrealism and surrealism.

While I continue to explore hyperrealism and surrealism, I am moving in some new directions. For example, I’ve been creating diptychs of butterflies. With my butterflies, the viewer sees my idealization of the wings of one particular butterfly species. There is one wing on each panel. The innate balance and symmetry of wings make them an amazing

“Audiophile” by Alex Koleszar.

“Spiritual Catharsis” by Alex Koleszar.

subject. This is especially true with my diptych “Spiritual Catharsis.”

My series dealing with musical notes is far more labor-intensive and exhilarating. Because I work in layers, I must work quickly; however, there is little room for error. The process is exacting. …

Having always been fascinated by the moon, I just started a series of oversized canvases that will depict the moon in each of its unique permutations. … I have already finished two canvases and stretched the canvas for the next painting. I foresee painting full moons, blood moons, lunar eclipses, etc.

During my fall show at Archangel Gallery, I expect the “Moon Series” to be the focal point.

What challenges lie ahead?

Actually, my painting is moving ahead quite well. Right now, I dedicate four to six hours a day in the studio. Also, I recently returned from a short trip to L.A. and found my creative self recharged. …

My major challenges are interrelated: artistic purity and commercialism. Like most every artist, I don’t want to compromise on my aesthetic. At the same time, my MBA brain tells me that I need to make a living as a practicing artist.

Right now, I am fortunate. I can and do invest totally in my art. With my strength, focus and creativity, I will make it happen.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT AJKART.ME. THE AUTHOR OF THIS PIECE, VICTOR BAROCAS, HAS ALSO SHOWN HIS WORK AT ARCHANGEL GALLERY.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 15

JULY 2014

ARTS & CULTURE

A HOLY HOOTENANNY

Desert Rose’s ‘The Stops’ Isn’t a Drag; It’s Fantastic

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/ARTS-AND-CULTURE

By Bonnie Gilgallon f you’re looking for an entertaining evening full of music and laughs, head over to the Desert Rose Playhouse to see The Stops (A Fabulously Fundamental Musical), by Eric Lane Barnes and Drew Emery.

Directed by Jim Strait, The Stops—the name comes from knobs on an organ, which when pulled out create different musical sounds—is the tale of three lady organists: Rose Rabinowitz Rigdale, a former Jewess turned Unitarian who’s just divorced her Catholic husband; Ginny Dooley, a bleached-blonde Baptist who is never without her chardonnay; and Euglena Belcher, a pious Nazarene from Branson. They have formed an Andrews Sisters-style musical group at the urging of legendary church musical director Dale Meadows. He believes they have what it takes to spread his musical message to the rest of the world.

However, there’s a big problem: Meadows has lost his job and is about to stand trial after being outed as a homosexual by an overly righteous congregation member. The members of this trio, who met at a meeting of NALOG (North American Lady Organists’ Guild), are on a mission to free Meadows from jail and debut his songs. Though they have very different religious views, the three women are united in their determination.

A director friend of mine once said, “Knowing how to cast well is really the key.”

Well, Jim Strait hit this one out of the ballpark: His cast is superb. All three have strong acting chops, excellent comic timing and great musicality. Their vocal harmonies are stellar.

As the holier-than-thou Euglena, Mark Ziemann is believable as a woman. His breakdown and dramatic solo toward the

end of the show is actually quite moving.

Terry Huber delivers as Rose, the wittiest and most down-to-earth of the characters. At one point, she asks what happens when you cross an agnostic with a dyslexic. The answer?

“Someone who sits up all night wondering if there is a dog.” Valley favorite Raul Valenzuela nearly steals the show as the slutty, wineguzzling Ginny. When Euglena goes on and on about her body being a temple, Ginny replies, “Well, mine’s an amusement park!” Her sexually charged “It’s All in Your Mind,” which includes onstage participation by two audience members, is one of the show’s highlights.

Valenzuela’s simulated organ-playing is also quite good. The real instrumental background is skillfully provided by musical director Steven Smith.

Men in drag can sometimes look overly

Mark Ziemann, Terry Huber and Raul Valenzuela in The Stops.

cartoonish onstage, but not here. Mark Demry’s costumes and Art Healey’s wigs work well, and help define each character. Kudos also to Phil Murphy (lighting), Steve Fisher (stage manager) and Paul Taylor (producer).

Desert Rose Playhouse bills itself as the “Coachella Valley’s LGBT and gay-positive stage company.” It certainly is that, but even those who are new to LGBT theater will enjoy this production. Yes, it’s irreverent and bawdy, but

not in an offensive way.

And the truth is, it’s a hoot!

THE STOPS, A PRODUCTION OF DESERT ROSE PLAYHOUSE, IS PERFORMED AT 8 P.M., FRIDAY AND SATURDAY; AND 2 P.M., SUNDAY, THROUGH SATURDAY, JULY 19, AT 69620 HIGHWAY 111, IN RANCHO MIRAGE. TICKETS ARE $28 TO $30, AND THE RUNNING TIME IS JUST LESS THAN 2 HOURS, WITH ONE 15-MINUTE INTERMISSION. FOR TICKETS OR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 760-202-3000, OR VISIT WWW.DESERTROSEPLAYHOUSE.ORG.

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JULY 2014

JULY ARTS Comedy

Music

Coachella Comedy/Improv Festival A weekend celebration of improv and comedy! See improv teams and comics perform and compete! Visit the website for a complete schedule. 4 to 9:30 p.m., Friday, July 11, through Sunday, July 13. $20 to $85. Indio Performing Arts Center, 45175 Fargo Street, Indio. Coachellaimprovfest. weebly.com.

Copa Events Ross Mathews presents Jackie Beat, the world-famous drag superstar and comedy writer, at 8 p.m., Friday, July 4. $20 to $40. Amy and Freddy, headliners for 13 consecutive years with RSVP Vacations, perform at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19. $25 to $40. Copa. 244 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs. 760-322-3554; coparoomtickets.com.

Film

Fantasy Springs Rock Yard Concert Series At 7:30 p.m., full-throttle rock music fires up with a cover band to get audience members out of their seats. At 9 p.m., the tribute band takes over and plays audience favorites. At 10:30 p.m., the cover band comes back out and continues the live music until midnight. Saturday, July 5: Tribute to Queen. Saturday, July 12: Tribute to Bon Jovi. Call for information on other concerts. Free. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio.

888-331-5645; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Dive-in Movies at Wet ’N’ Wild Dive-in Movies are included with park admission. Play during the day on Fridays, and stay late to enjoy a film poolside. The movies are intended to be family-friendly, but please use discretion. Movies will start after dusk, and the park will be open until 10 p.m., weather permitting.

July 11: Frozen. July 18: The Amazing Spider-Man. July 25: The Lego Movie. Aug. 1: Grown-Ups 2. Admission prices vary. Wet ’n’ Wild Palm Springs, 1500 S. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs. 760-327-0499; www.wetnwildpalmsprings.com.

Kids’ Summer Movie Series at Ultrastar A selection of family-friendly films are shown at 9:30 a.m. every Monday through Friday, through Friday, Aug. 22.

June 30 through July 4: Turbo. July 7-11: Walking With Dinosaurs. July 14-18: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

July 21-25: Ice Age: Continental Drift. July 28-Aug. 1: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. $5 for a 10-movie package; $1 at the door. UltraStar Mary Pickford Cinemas, 36850 Pickfair St., Cathedral City. 760-328-0484; www.ultrastarmovies.com.

Lit Flicks: All the President’s Men See how great books can turn into film classics! Prior to the film, enjoy popcorn and kick back for a short conversation by film and literary experts. This will be facilitated by Tod Goldberg, director of the University of California, Riverside’s Palm Desert’s low-residency MFA program. After the film, there will be a brief discussion.

5:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 23. Free. University of California, Riverside—Palm Desert, 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert. 760-834-0800; palmdesert.ucr.edu/programs/Lit_Flicks.html Moonlight Movies—Captain America: The First Avenger Bring your blankets, low-back sand chairs, snacks and the whole family for fun and movies under the stars. Sunset, Friday, July 11. Free; call for other Moonlight Movies events. Fritz Burns Park Pool, 78107 Avenue 52, La Quinta.

760-777-7090; www.la-quinta.org.

Friday Night Tribute Concert: Lynyrd Skynyrd Spotlight 29 Casino invites everyone to come out and enjoy the Friday-night tribute concerts. Guests must be 21 years and older. July 4: Lynyrd Skynyrd. Call for information on other dates. Free. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella. 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.

The Melvyn’s Artists’ Showcase Join Mikael Healey, musical director, each Wednesday at 8 p.m. for open-mic night, featuring singers, poets, instrumentalists and artists of all types. Free. Melvyn’s Restaurant at the Ingleside Inn, 200 W. Ramon Road, Palm Springs. 760-325-2323; inglesideinn.com.

Special Events Independence Day Celebration Benefitting AAP Join supporters of the AIDS Assistance Program at the legendary O’Donnell House for a dazzling celebration.

The evening includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. Valet parking provided. 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 4. $100; advance purchase required.

The O’Donnell House, 412 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs. 760-325-8481; aidsassistance.org.

Lyfted Productions Presents Independence Fe5tival + UFC The party features DJ LF and DJ Sean; and a carnival theme on the patio with a dunk tank, bungee pull, vodka snow cones and more. Come early to hang with the beautiful Kilt girls and watch the UFC fight on more than

40 big screens. 10 p.m., Saturday, July 5. $5 to $8. Tilted Kilt, 72191 Highway 111, Palm Desert. 760-773-5458; www.showclix.com/event/3855645 Palm Springs Tattoo Convention More than 75 top artists are tattooing all weekend. Live music and DJs plus drink specials are included, as are tattoo contests. Friday, July 11, through Sunday, July 13. $20 weekend pass. Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs, 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. 760-325-9676; palmtreesandtattoos.com.

Seventh Annual Mid-Summer Dance Party To celebrate the Desert AIDS Project’s 30th birthday, they’re throwing a party. The event features DJ sets by All Night Shoes and Femme A, and a special performance by Cameron Neilson from The X Factor. 8 p.m. to midnight, Friday, July 25. $20 to $75. The Commune at Ace Hotel and Swim Club, 701 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. 760992-0440; www.desertaidsproject.org.

Summer School: Poolside Art Workshops and Music The Ace hosts its annual weekend of artist workshops, plus DJs and bands curated by School Night Los Angeles (KCRW’s Chris Douridas and MFG’s Matt Goldman). Friday, July 18, through Sunday, July 20. Prices vary. Ace Hotel and Swim Club, 701 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.

760-325-9900; www.acehotel.com/calendar/palmsprings.

Visual Arts Backstreet Art District Art Walk Galleries and studios featuring modern and contemporary fine art are open the first Wednesday of every month from 6 to 9 p.m. Experience the thrill of interacting with working artists. Find paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, photography and more, in one location. Free. Backstreet Art District, Cherokee Way and Matthew Drive, Palm Springs. 760-202-1208; www.backstreetartdistrict.com.

California Dreamin’: Thirty Years of Collecting The exhibit includes art works purchased by the Palm Springs Art Museum with funds provided by the Contemporary Art Council and other contributors since 1984. The acquisitions were created by contemporary artists who worked in California or were influenced by spending some time in California during their artistic careers. This is the first time these artworks have been on exhibition together. The exhibit is a celebration of the commitment of the Contemporary Art Council to growing the museum’s collection of significant contemporary artists, and is a survey of art in California since the 1980s.

On display through Thursday, July 31. Included with museum admission (free to $12.50). Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs. 760-322-4800; www.psmuseum.org.

SUBMIT YOUR FREE ARTS LISTINGS AT CALENDAR.ARTSOASIS.ORG. THE LISTINGS PRESENTED ABOVE WERE ALL POSTED ON THE ARTSOASIS CALENDAR, AND FORMATTED/EDITED BY COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT STAFF. THE INDEPENDENT RECOMMENDS CALLING TO CONFIRM ALL EVENTS INFORMATION PRESENTED HERE.

JULY THEATER Bubblegum’s Anonymous: Chew on This—From CV Rep’s Summer Cabaret Series This show is a fast-paced, lighthearted twist on 12-step programs for people who love bubblegum music, and stars Gilmore Rizzo; at 7 p.m., Friday, July 18; 2 and 7 p.m., Saturday, July 19; and 2 p.m., Sunday, July 20. $25. Also, at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 26, CV Rep’s Conservatory Writers’ Group presents Tales From the Twilight Café, a staged reading of new works. $10. At the Atrium, 69930 Highway 111, No. 116, Rancho Mirage. 760-296-2966; www.cvrep.org.

Children’s Theatrical Series at the Annenberg Theater: Dream Carver The Annenberg Theater of the Palm Springs Art Museum offers a summer series of children’s live theatrical productions. At noon and 3 p.m., Saturday, July 5, Swazzle Inc. presents Dream Carver, a 55-minute bilingual musical based on the book by Diana Cohn. $15 children 16 and younger; $20 for adults. At the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs. 760325-4490; www.psmuseum.org/annenberg-theater.

A Doll’s House—From Theatre 29 Torvald Helmer loves his wife, Nora, but he considers her a child and a possession. When a secret debt comes back to haunt her, Nora’s seemingly idyllic domestic existence becomes a fraught battleground.

Shows at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, through Saturday, July 19, with 2:30 p.m. matinees on Sunday, July 6 and 13. No show on July 4. $12; $10 seniors and military; $8 students. At 73637 Sullivan Road, Twentynine Palms. 760-361-4151; theatre29.org.

Seussical the Musical—From Palm Canyon Theatre Inspired by Dr. Seuss’ most famous tales, this lively musical is performed at 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday; and 2 p.m., Sunday, from Friday, July 11, through Sunday, July 20. $25 general; $10 children and students. At 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. 760-323-5123; www.palmcanyontheatre.org.

The Stops—From Desert Rose Playhouse Three women (played by men) embark on a mission after their friend and mentor, an Evangelical Christian composer and organist, is ousted from his musicminister position—because he’s gay; at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m., Sunday, through Saturday, July 19. $28 to $30. At 69260 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage. 760-202-3000; www.desertroseplayhouse.org.

Sundays in Summer Series Let Me Be Frank is an original live show, created by and starring Angelo Divino, honoring Frank Sinatra with his story and songs, spanning five decades; at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 6. Born to Sing stars Keisha D in a musical cabaret show also featuring Charles Herrera, Michael Bolivar, John Bolivar and Charlie Creasy; at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 13. $11; cash only at the box office.

Call for information about other Sunday shows. At the Arthur Newman Theatre in the Joslyn Center, 73750 Catalina Way, Palm Desert. 760-325-2731.

CVIndependent.com

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 17

JULY 2014

ARTS & CULTURE

DESPERATE SITUATIONS Western Lit: ‘High and Inside’ Proves You Can’t Run Away From Problems; ‘The Residue Years’ Shows Portland’s Darker Side

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/ARTS-AND-CULTURE

BY JENNY SHANK AND MELISSA HART x-Red Sox pitcher Pete Hurley comes to Bozeman, Mont., to start a new life after a series of tragic mishaps that left him publicly shamed in Massachusetts.

“Just as I was about to get over the incident that ended my baseball career,” he explains, “a drunken accident left this young girl paralyzed, and I was in the news again.”

He moves to Montana to live near his sister, Danielle, the only surviving member of his immediate family, and to learn how to build a house.

The gradual cracking of Pete’s limited awareness is the primary thrust of High and Inside, Russell Rowland’s new novel. Pete, who narrates the story, thinks he suffers from bad luck, but his friends know better, On his first day in Bozeman, he goes to a sports bar with his brother-in-law, Barry, and gets into a brawl with Clint, an aggressive, alcoholic behemoth. Unfortunately, Clint is also the president of the local chapter of an engineering group, and after the confrontation, Clint is determined to create permit problems for Pete’s house-building project.

Each chapter opens with a quote from a fictional source, either a baseball blog or a new-agey home-building guide called Your House, Your Self. These epigraphs help reveal the details and repercussions of the infamous pitch that ended both Hurley’s baseball career and that of the promising batter he hit. But High and Inside is less about baseball than it is about how fame turned Pete into someone who could never hide from the enemies he recklessly made.

For a novel that evokes wide-open spaces, High and Inside is a largely interior book, focused on the relationships that Pete must analyze, repair or relinquish entirely as he gradually comes to acknowledge his alcoholism.

High and Inside is a contemplative look at what happens to one of the boys of summer when autumn comes at last.

ost people who think of Portland, Ore., today picture charismatic bridges spanning the sparkling Willamette River, cozy coffeehouses and brewpubs on rain-slick streets, and passionate environmentalists bicycling to farmers’ markets.

But behind the scenes, Portland in the 1990s teemed with crack-dealers and users willing to sacrifice home and family for a night’s partying. And if you were African American, according to author Mitchell S. Jackson, life could be a specific sort of hell fraught with racial profiling and a lack of educational and employment opportunities— unless you were very, very good at basketball.

“Let them quit screaming your name,” he writes of young black athletes in his debut autobiographical novel, The Residue Years, “and worse-case you just might rob a bank (who gets away with that?), just might hatch a (hand to God this happened) flawed murder-forinsurance plot. But maybe it’s just here. In my city. Not yours.”

The Residue Years portrays Jackson’s childhood streets as darkened by poverty, abuse and addiction. Grace, newly clean after losing a corporate job to the allure of crack, finds a sympathetic employer and resolves to do better by her four sons. Champ is the oldest, the collegiate boy. Throughout the novel, Jackson lets the young man and his mother take turns telling their stories, giving readers multiple perspectives on a family dynamic now threatened by Grace’s litigious ex-husband, who hopes to retain custody of their younger sons, and by Champ’s attempts to keep his kin safe … by selling crack.

The Residue Years will alter your view of Portland. Despite the Rose City’s impressive gentrification and its mostly genial residents, a desperate population still sleeps on the streets, willing to sacrifice any small gain for a new high.

These reviews originally appeared in High Country News.

HIGH AND INSIDE, BY RUSSELL ROWLAND (BANGTAIL), 230 PAGES, $16.95; THE RESIDUE YEARS, BY MITCHELL S. JACKSON (BLOOMSBURY USA), 352 PAGES, $26 (HARDCOVER) OR $17 (PAPERBACK) CVIndependent.com

18 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JULY 2014

MOVIES

NOW SHOWING AT HOME

This Batch of Blu-Rays Has Us Asking: Where’d the Special Features Go?

THE VIDEO DEPOT

TOP 10 LIST for JUNE 2014

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MOVIES

By Bob Grimm The Grand Budapest Hotel 20th Century Fox, released June 17 Writer-director Wes Anderson does it again with The Grand Budapest Hotel, another unique, beautiful and quirky movie that could’ve only been made by him. The man has never made a bad movie—and this one stands as one of his best.

Ralph Fiennes is magically hilarious as M. Gustave, the concierge at the fictional hotel.

Gustave has a penchant for older women— much older women—and his life takes a drastic turn when he is suspected in the murder of an elderly lover (Tilda Swinton in heavy makeup).

Stolen art, scary train rides and a highspeed chase on skis ensue, with Anderson even employing stop-motion animation at times, as he did with Fantastic Mr. Fox. The movie is often laugh-out-loud funny, largely thanks to Fiennes, who nails every piece of dialogue. His is the best performance by any actor so far in 2014.

Supporting performances by Jeff Goldblum, Adrien Brody, Jude Law, F. Murray Abraham, Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Saoirse Ronan and many others make this a-can’t miss film.

This is a remarkable, tremendously enjoyable achievement.

Special Features: Anderson films often get a rushed home-video release, which is later followed by a more-extensive package from the Criterion Collection. That seems to be the case here: This one features a couple of behind-the-scenes featurettes, and little else.

About Last Night Sony, released May 20 About Last Night is not just another unnecessary remake of an ’80s film: Kevin Hart and company have made the latest adaptation of David Mamet’s play, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, a wildly entertaining CVIndependent.com

endeavor.

Hart lights up any film—even when they stink. Here, he plays Bernie, a player who finds himself in a relationship with the fiery Joan (Regina Hall). While Bernie and Joan experience a wild rollercoaster ride of sex and spats, Bernie’s best bud, Danny (Michael Ealy), winds up dating Joan’s best friend, Debbie (Joy Bryant). The two have a one-night stand that turns into a long-term relationship— replete with all the problems of a relationship that heated up too quickly.

The main reason to see the film is the pairing of Hart and Hall, who are a crack-up under the direction of Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine). However, Ealy and Bryant also make an appealing screen couple. Pink shows that his strengths go beyond broad comedy; he handles some of the stronger dramatic elements just fine.

This is better than the original, which starred Rob Lowe, Demi Moore and flippin’ James Belushi. Screw that movie—even if Moore was naked for half of the film.

Special Features: There’s not much to watch on the special-features front, although there is a relatively interesting look at how they remade the movie.

The Monuments Men Sony, released May 20 Director George Clooney’s war epic about historians racing to save art from the Nazis looks and feels like it was taken out of a time capsule buried in 1958.

The Monuments Men is quite breezy for a war movie, and is peppered with laughs provided by a strong cast, including Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban and John Goodman, as men trying to thwart Hitler’s plan for a giant museum.

The film has one of those whistle-infused soundtracks, and it doesn’t hurt that Clooney and Dujardin remind of Errol Flynn and Gene Kelly. The movie moves briskly—in fact, it may be a bit too weightless for a war movie. It also has a useless subplot involving characters

played by Damon and Cate Blanchett that was deserving of the cutting-room floor.

Still, Clooney has a great command of the camera here; the ensemble (especially Murray and Goodman) shines; and the film is fun to watch.

Initially, this was expected to be a big awards contender last year. However, the release date got moved, with producers claiming they needed to do some more special-effects work. They may have taken a look at it, realized they had a good but not great movie, and decided to give it a lesscompetitive opening date in 2014. The film wound up taking in $154 million on a $70 million budget, so things worked out just fine on the money front.

Special Features: A relatively meager gathering of supplements that includes deleted scenes and some short making-of docs.

3 Days to Kill 20th Century Fox, May 20 Well … shucks. Kevin Costner and Hailee Steinfeld deliver truly good performances as a father and daughter in 3 Days to Kill. Costner is somebody for whom I’m always rooting (even though I hate that stupid band he wastes his time with), and I love Steinfeld.

Alas, this one comes up short.

Costner plays a Secret Service agent who finds out he’s dying of cancer, and he wants to make his last days on Earth count. So he reconnects with his daughter (Steinfeld) and his ex-wife (Connie Nielsen) in Paris while taking one last assignment. That last assignment is giving him a lot of money—and an experimental drug that could extend his life.

Costner is on his game here, and Steinfeld holds her own. Unfortunately, the movie is all over the place tonally: Sometimes, it’s a thriller; sometimes, it’s a comedy; and so on.

Amber Heard shows up as Costner’s boss, and she tries to pull off some sort of femmefatale routine that should be in another movie. Heard is always fun to look at, but she’s only turned in one great performance—

Mark Wahlberg, Emile Hirsch and Taylor Kitsch in Lone Survivor.

1. Lone Survivor (Universal) 2. Non-Stop (Universal) 3. The Lego Movie (Warner Bros.)

4. Son of God (20th Century Fox) 5. 300: Rise of an Empire (Warner Bros.)

6. Robocop (MGM) 7. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (Paramount) 8. Joe (Lionsgate) 9. Devil’s Knot (Image) 10. The Grand Budapest Hotel (20th Century Fox)

playing the high school-age girlfriend to Seth Rogen in Pineapple Express.

There was a day when director McG was considered a hot commodity, but he blew it with Terminator Salvation. This hot mess further proves he might not have much in his bag of tricks.

Special Features: There are just a couple of short making-of docs that are of no interest.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 19

JULY 2014

FOOD & DRINK

the SNIFF CAP

Consuming All Things Red in Italy

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK

By Deidre Pike he night I drink the Montefalco Rosso, Cesarini Sartori Fiorella, 2009—a blend of sangiovese, merlot, cabernet and sagrantino—might more aptly be dubbed Sunday afternoon.

I’ve been napping, dozing between the bells that ring out from a nearby Italian church. The bells clang one long, low DONG for the hour, and a brisker, lighter dong for each 15 minutes incrementally. So 1:30 goes like this: “DONG dong dong.”

That’s when I take a break from the hot day and sprawl out on my mattress.

The power went out for a minute yesterday. The digital clock next to my bed is flashing the wrong time.

No matter. The bells keep me on track.

“DONG DONG DONG dong dong dong.”

I roll over and reset the clock to 15:46. Because I’m in Europe. There’s no confusing repetition of a 12-hour cycle here. A girl trucks through life one ’til 24. So it goes. Thankfully, the clock never rings 24 DONGs. Craziness.

I attempt to check Facebook. No luck. I’ve consumed my Internet bandwidth for the month. It will reset on Tuesday—in 48 hours.

I’m cut off from the world. I can’t post my witty, pointless observations about life for folks back home. Like “Q: How many Italian bartenders does it take to kick eight U.S. college students and a professor out of a bar when it’s closing? A: Only one, distractedly flipping the switch that turns off the Wi-Fi.” I open the wine. The bottle is recommended by Pietra, a young man who owns Vino Symposium, a few labyrinthine blocks from my apartment. Pietra also sells vini sfusi, “loose wines,” on tap in giant stainless-steel vats. Sfusi—the original two-buck Chucks—sell for a couple euro per liter. Bring your own bottle; sfusi go in any container. Last week, I bought a montepulciano/sangiovese blend. Pietra filled my 1.5-liter water bottle for three euro.

It’s OK. The Cesarini Sartori Fiorella starts out a bit tight, but smoothes out nicely. I’m sipping my first glass as I assemble a pasta sauce. I’d been to the market for onions, a red bell pepper, fat garlic bulbs and several kinds of tomatoes, including halfripe Sicilians and small Piccadilli that pack a big punch.

Food tastes great in Italy, because the ingredients are fabulous. Extra-virgin olive oil pressed from local family farms.

Pastas handmade at a shop just around the cobblestoned corner.

Meats, fresh and smoked, sliced thin or fat or diced or spiced, in a thousand varieties. Veggies soaking up the sun in fields of Sicily or Tuscany or right here in Lazio.

I blanch the skins off the tomatoes while I sauté an onion, minced garlic and some red bell pepper in tasty extra-virgin olive oil. When the veggies are getting done, I add a half-cup or so of Pietra’s sfusi.

I’m drinking the Cesarini Sartori Fiorella because this is my week to encounter wines from Italy’s Umbrian region, slightly north and east of the Lazio region in which I’m living for a couple of months. Each Italian wine region specializes in specific kinds of grapes. The rare sagrantino grows in and around the city of Montefalco. I could not find the exact wines listed in my Italian wine bible—Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy. The book’s my tour guide. Without Internet, I’ve been poring over its pages. Highlighting and underlining. Starring

the wines I’ve samples and the recipes I’ve tried.

The sfusi bubbles over the veggies, and I add about a tablespoon of zucchero (sugar) so the mixture will caramelize.

I mashed peeled tomatoes with my hands, thinking about how delicious it must feel to dance around in a vat of grapes.

I stir the whole thing together—and I could eat it just like this! But I don’t. It will be so much tastier when it cooks down, and the flavors meld. The individual elements will lose their distinct characters and become one with the tasty sauce. In the Middle Ages, art was like this, says an architect who’s teaching a class in urban landscape here. Art emerged from the community without any specific artistic ego imposing its brand.

And then along came the Renaissance, and with it, the beginnings of rugged individualism. Religious and humanist pretensions. I digress wildly.

The day I drink the Montefalco Rosso, I chat with hubby Dave via Google chat on my telephone. This doesn’t use too much of my Verizon international data plan, which costs $25 for 100 megabytes of data. (To put this in perspective, I ran through an entire 10 gigabytes of data using Skype on my laptop. If I had to pay Verizon’s rates, that would be $2,500.)

Skype sucks up giant vats of data, which I imagine flowing from a shiny sfusi-like tank, as precious as wine. I always remember to turn off my Wind (that’s a brand of Italian mobile Internet service provider) when I’m not using it.

My sauce gets tastier. The wine opens up. The two flavors seem molto compatible.

DONG DONG DONG DONG DONG DONG. It’s only 18:00.

Too early to cook the pasta, thin coils of capelli d’angelo. I read some stories from a book of women writers on their Italian travels. Here’s Mary Shelley: “The name of Italy has magic in its very syllables.” She digs gondola rides in Venice.

I start boiling salty pasta water around 19:00. Italians use salt in terrifying quantities. And I’m liking it. I pour a second glass of wine with dinner.

Finally, it’s time. But eating is like making love: Describing it, blow by blow, gets weird. To cut to the chase: It’s an exceptional sauce that brings out the best in this blend of Italian grape varietals.

I decide to watch Life Is Beautiful, an award-winning movie about an optimistic Jewish poet in Italy as World War II

The Cesarini Sartori Fiorella comes from Italy’s Umbrian region.

DEIDRE PIKE

breaks out. The tale depicts a young family that ends up in a forced labor/death camp. Dad saves his preschool-aged son by transforming the horror of the camp into a game.

My Italian’s almost OK enough that I could watch this movie without subtitles and still get the full-on heartbreak.

Eleven quarter-hour dongs later, I’m crying in my Montefalco Rosso.

So it goes.

CVIndependent.com

20 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JULY 2014

the

FOOD & DRINK California’s Central Coast Is the Home of Artisans Presiding Over the (De-)Evolution of Beer

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK

By Erin Peters

Here’s to the corkscrew—a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the gate of pleasant folly. —W.E.P. French aso Robles’ Firestone Walker Brewing Company seems to have taken the words of W.E.P. French to heart, as evidenced by brewery’s fantastic barrelaging program, Barrelworks.

Firestone Walker Brewing is in the midst of rapid expansion. In late 2014, the brewery plans to open a taproom restaurant, pilot brewhouse and craftbeer hub on Washington Boulevard in Venice. I first learned about these plans last year, when Firestone gave a group of Los Angeles beer bloggers (and me!) a sneak peek at the expansion plans, which also include the new, but already popular, barrel-aging program in Buellton.

The Firestone Walker folks—including co-founder David Walker—in May took beer journalists on a second trip to Paso Robles and the Central Coast; it’s about a fivehour drive from the Coachella Valley.

The trip’s first stop was at the place where Firestone began. At so-called Area 51, we were surrounded by 50 acres of land and grapes.

I sipped beer on the back of a flat-bed farm truck, passing rows of vines glistening in the sunlight. I gave a nod of acknowledgement to the lamas and a scarecrow that were hanging out on the side of the dirt road.

This is the site of Firestone Walker’s original brewhouse. We were soon greeted by Andrew Murray, of Andrew Murray Vineyards, the current tenant. He happily handed out a crisp and fruity white wine called E11even; it was delicious in the hot afternoon sun.

Walker and Jeffers Richardson talked about Firestone Walker’s humble beginnings. “This

is where it all began” said Jeffers, one of Firestone Walker’s original brewers and the director at Barrelworks. Walker joked that their beers weren’t always delicious.

We were led back to camp after the tour for a wonderful group meal. It’s here that we were introduced to Bretta Rosé, a deliciously puckering blend of fresh raspberries and Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks Bretta Weisse beer.

Firestone Walker’s master brewer, Jim “Sour Jim” Crooks, explained the beer’s genesis.

“We’re down in Barrelworks in early 2013, and Jeffers and I were kinda like mad scientists: ‘What could we do to make this beer really interesting?’” Crooks said.

Crooks started cold-calling fruit farmers and vendors. He got in touch someone at Driscoll’s (Berries), just up the road. The call went well:

California's Central Coast is not only beautiful; it's also the home of many groundbreaking beer- and liquor-makers. ERIN PETERS CVIndependent.com

He said he ran out yelling, “Jeffers! You won’t believe this! We just landed 1,000 pounds of raspberries for free!”

The result is a gorgeous, complex and expertly balanced beer. Following this little lovely was an experimental wine-beer hybrid called Zin Skin.

“Essentially, what the Barrelworks does it connects us back to that weird, artisanal beginnings that we so enjoyed,” he said. “It’s a complete folly. There’s an interesting crosssection of wine culture and beer culture.”

Sour Jim continued to talk about their sour discoveries and the roots of the operation. In 2011, David Walker toured Rodenbach brewery in Belgium. He came back to Jim and said with a giant grin, “I figured it out. I know what you’re doing! We’ll make it like something no one’s ever done!”

In 2012, things fell into place.

“What we’re doing down here is so craft; it’s so artisanal,” said Sour Jim. “It is like roots. It really comes back to the roots of making beers, a lot of the lineage of lambics and sour beers.

These are historic beers, a lot of them.”

Jeffers added: “The brewers are learning a lot from the wine-makers. Barrelworks takes you back to cellaring, pre-Industrial Revolution. Barrelworks is a creative endeavor that is following and learning practices that have been missing in brewing a long time—but not in the wine industry.” he next day, we traveled to Paso Robles, the current home of Firestone Walker Brewery. After a delicious lunch, we experienced a tasting session led by lab analyst Norm Stokes.

Norm and the Firestone team prepared an array of off-flavor Firestone tasters, either from increased aging or off temperatures. We tasted beers that had been aged three, thirty and 300 days. This “sensory analysis” exposed flavors not normally craved—cabbage, latex paint, butter and vinegar.

Head brewer Dustin Kral then led the group through the Firestone brew house. David Walker explained that the brewery walks a fine line, staying artisanal but growing to the levels that the public is starting to demand.

Soon, we were on the road again, traveling down another amazingly picturesque country

Firestone Walker's Barrelworks program takes age-old winemaking techniques and applies them to beer. ERIN PETERS

lane in Paso Robles to a wonderful boutique winery that has also found a way to craft highquality vodka, gin and other liquors using their free-run juice, called saignée.

Villicana Winery owners Alex and Monica Villicana distill the “prize juice”—as Monica refers to it—that is cast from the first grape crush to create damn-near-luxurious liquors.

The result is Paso Robles’ first craft distillery, Re:Find.

“We bought 80 acres of dirt basically here in Paso in 1996,” Monica said, explaining the operation’s beginnings. “Between the two of us and our family and friends, we planted 13 acres of vines. … We make nine different wines in our 13-acre vineyard. Everything is pretty much estate here. We only produce about 2,000 cases annually.”

Here’s how that prize juice becomes delicious liquor: They collect the juice and bring it back to the winery. They ferment it into a high-alcohol rose. The high sugar fermentations produce glycerol, which has a heavy texture and sweetness. They then start a four distillation process.

“Distilling is about isolating the good alcohol and getting rid of the bad alcohol. … It’s in the second, third and fourth distillations that we really start to do the distillers’ craft to get the clean alcohol and introduce the vodkas and gins that we’re producing here,” Alex said.

If you haven’t visited Paso Robles, you’re missing out on a romantic California charm that envelopes you with magnificent rolling hills, artisan culinary cuisine, seasonal craft cocktails and, of-course, award winning craft beer. It’s great to see forward-thinking companies, like Firestone Walker and Re:Find, exude quality and collaboration in a stunning, old world setting.

Everything old is new again.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 21

JULY 2014

FOOD & DRINK the

INDY ENDORSEMENT Shabu Shabu Zen and Zin American Bistro Show How Great Food Can Also Be Fun

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK

By Jimmy Boegle

WHAT The “Washu” (American Waygu) Shabu Shabu WHERE Shabu Shabu Zen, 71680 Highway 111 No. F, Rancho Mirage HOW MUCH $25 CONTACT 760-779-5000; shabu-shabu-zen.com WHY It’s just so much damn fun—and delicious, too.

It was fun. It was active. It was a little messy.

And it was delicious.

It was one of the best dining experiences we’ve ever had in the Coachella Valley.

The meal we had at Shabu Shabu Zen on a June Wednesday night was not my first experience with shabu shabu, a form of dining which, grossly oversimplified, can be called Japanese fondue. I became smitten with the food form when I reviewed an excellent shabu shabu place in Tucson, Ariz., eight-plus years ago. Sadly, that place didn’t last long, and I hadn’t enjoyed shabu shabu since.

That’s why I was really excited when I saw a sign for Shabu Shabu Zen as I zoomed down Highway 111 several months back. Finally, on the aforementioned June Wednesday night, we had a chance to visit the new restaurant.

After enjoying some delicious chicken “shiokoji” karaage ($8; the folks at Shabu Shabu Zen refer to it as Japanese-style fried chicken) and a sake flight ($13), we split an order of the Kobe-style beef shabu shabu.

Here’s how it works: You a pick a protein— anything from tofu ($15) on up to a seafood assortment ($36) or even premium waygu ribeye ($48). Then you pick one of three broths: the mild, lightly seasoned traditional shabu shabu; a strong soy-sauce/mirin-based broth; or an in-the-middle miso-style broth.

You get rice, two dipping sauces (a sesame

sauce in which you grind your own sesame seeds, and a ponzu sauce), three condiments (ground garlic, ground daikon and scallions) and a bowl of vegetables, tofu and udon noodles.

After everything is delivered, and the broth comes to a boil on the burner at your table, you get to work—mixing condiments and sauces, and cooking the meats, tofu, noodles and veggies in the broth. In the case of the thinly sliced waygu, you only want to swish the meat around for several seconds. (In fact, “shabu shabu” roughly means “swish swish.”)

Then, when all of the goodies are cooked and devoured, you can ladle the broth into a bowl, doctor it up, and enjoy it as a delicious soup.

This all-too-brief description does not properly convey how freaking fun shabu shabu can be. It’s an absolute blast to play with the condiments and the sauces and the cooked ingredients, mixing and matching and finding out which flavor combinations work the best.

(The waygu works great with the ponzu, as well as a bit of garlic and daikon, by the way.)

I’ve neglected to properly discuss how charming the service and decor at Shabu Shabu Zen are. The elegantly dressed, all-female (on the night we were there, at least) service staff knows their stuff—and is passionate about both the food and the drink. The Shabu Shabu Zen website says the restaurant is familyowned; that may help explain the passion.

Shabu Shabu Zen is not only one of the valley’s most unique restaurants; it’s one of the best, period. Go there.

The Zin Bites

conversation with a fellow foodie; our lackluster Zin experience came up.

“Well, did you try the Zin Bites?” the foodie inquired?

We hadn’t.

“Well, you have to at least go back for those,” he said, before adding, “Really,” and explaining that the Bites were, essentially, miniature beef Wellingtons.

It sounded yummy. I made a mental note.

Flash forward to several weeks ago, when I was studying the various menus for Palm Springs Desert Resorts Restaurant Ten Days Week. I noticed that these Zin Bites (usually available for $9) were one of the first-course offerings on Zin American Bistro’s $26 prixfixe menu; second courses included impressive offerings like a ribeye. $26 for mini beef Wellingtons, a steak and dessert? Yes. It was time to give Zin a second chance.

Boy, are we glad we did.

The ribeye was nice (and a great deal)—but without a doubt, the best part of my meal was that plate of four Bites. The Zin Bites themselves—each including a tiny piece of filet mignon surrounded by goat cheese and wrapped lovingly in pastry—were great.

However, the maroon zinfandel-reduction/ shallot sauce took the Bites from great to oh my gosh, we need to order another plate of these.

However, we held off on ordering another round. Instead, we returned to Zin for another Restaurant Week meal several days later— making it the only restaurant we visited twice over that 10-day period.

Zin American Bistro is now on our list of regular restaurants. Thank goodness for second chances—and thank goodness for those fantastic Zin Bites.

WHAT The Zin Bites WHERE Zin American Bistro, 198 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs HOW MUCH $9 CONTACT 760-322-6300; pszin.com WHY The zin in the sauce.

This is a story of second chances.

Several months back, we took a friend who was visiting Palm Springs out to dinner at Zin American Bistro. While the service and the ambiance were top-notch, the food was decidedly unremarkable. I’d tell you what we had … but I can’t remember. It was not a terrible meal, but it was a meal that left us underwhelmed and not exactly rushing to return.

Shortly after that experience, I had a CVIndependent.com

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JULY 2014

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JULY 2014

FOOD & DRINK

Restaurant NEWS BITES

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK

By Jimmy Boegle HACIENDA CANTINA AND BEACH CLUB OFFERS A TASTE OF SANTA FE Last month in this space, we wrote these somewhat prophetic words about the Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club, at 1555 S. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs (emphasis newly added): “If everything goes according to plan, the Hacienda … will quietly open its doors the weekend of May 30. It’ll be a baptism-byfire sort of opening for the Hacienda: Just two weeks later, the new restaurant/beach club/events space will be hosting thousands of people as one of the three venues that are part of the second annual Splash House.”

Well, guess what? That May 30 soft opening didn’t happen, because … well, things didn’t go according to plan. In fact, even the first day of the Hacienda’s Splash House lineup had to be moved to The Saguaro because of delays.

That meant the Hacienda finally opened its doors for the second (and heaviest) day of Splash House on Saturday, June 14.

It was executive chef Robert Wepplo’s job to make sure his brand-new crew and brand-new kitchen were up to the task. How’d it go?

“That was a really fast learning curve, that’s for sure,” he said in what we’re going to call the Understatement of the Month.

Of course, Wepplo and his crew now have several weeks of serving the Hacienda’s decidedly Mexicaninspired menu under their figurative belts, and the kinks are being worked out.

What led Wepplo to create lunch, dinner and brunch menus with such a Mexican/Southwestern theme?

“I moved here from Santa Fe, N.M.,” said the veteran of Piero’s PizzaVino on El Paseo. “I love green chiles and red chiles, and really lean on those two sauces.”

When I asked him what his go-to dishes are, he picked the shrimp adobo taco for lunch, and the fresh catch with his cilantro-saffron sauce for dinner; on the day I talked to him, he said the restaurant had gotten in some nice barramundi.

More food’s on the way at the Hacienda: Wepplo said he’s in the process of developing a small, taco stand-like kitchen for the Hacienda’s pool area, which will serve simple yet tasty fare such as empanadas and tacos. He’s also honing the late-night bar menu.

The restaurant at the Hacienda is currently open from Wednesday through Sunday; call 760-778-8954 to confirm hours, or visit www.haciendacantina.com for more information.

SUMMER SPECIALS IN ABUNDANCE! We keep finding out more news about various summer specials being offered by local restaurants. Here’s just a small sampling: • Cello’s American Bistro, at 35943 Date Palm Drive in Cathedral City, is offering $5 specials each week during the summer to celebrate the restaurant’s fifth birthday.

• Each weekday in the Amigo Room at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club, from 3 to 6 p.m., enjoy half-off “small plates” as well as drink discounts.

• A number of restaurants on El Paseo are teaming up to offer great summer specials, including Café des Beaux-Arts (happy hour every day in the bar from 4:30 to closing), and Wolfgang Puck Pizza Bar (happy hour every day from 3 to 6 p.m.).

Know of any other amazing summer specials? Share the details by emailing jimmy@cvindependent.com!

PS UNDERGROUND GETS ‘LIGHT’ The people responsible for the wandering supper club known as PS Underground continue to innovate.

The next event being put on by Michael Fietsam and David Horgen, called “Light,” has already been extended from two dates to four due to the extensive demand. The $150-per-person event, held at a location not disclosed to attendees until the day of the event, is shrouded in even more secrecy than some previous PS Underground events: All the briefs for the event say simply that it’s “an avant-garde dinner experience,” and that attendees should wear white; a Vimeo teaser video for the event includes a lot of pictures of light bulbs, and little else.

Hmm. PS Underground is currently taking “Light” reservations for Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19. Make said reservations or sign up for updates at www.psunderground.com.

IN BRIEF The folks at the Kaiser family of restaurants—which includes the Kaiser Grille, Chop House and Grind Brgr Bar in Palm Springs, as well as Jackalope Ranch in Indio—are continuing to mix things up. A couple of months after closing the Hog’s Breath Inn in La Quinta, they announced they will convert the Palm Desert Chop House, located at 74040 Highway 111, into a Kaiser Grille. … Level 2, the LGBT bar located at 67555 Highway 111 in Cathedral City, has closed, about a year after the latest ownership change. Who knows what will come of the spot previously known as Sidewinders and Elevation? … Citron at the Viceroy, located at 415 S. Belardo Road, is offering special summer cocktails using No. 209 barrel-aged gin. If you’ve never tried barrel-aged gin, you’re in for a treat. Call 760-318-3005 for more details.

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JULY 2014

•• Local boy does good: DJ Alf Alpha Enjoys the Big Time •• The birth of desert rock •• The Blueskye Report: The Mid-Summer Dance Party, The Go-Gos and much more!

•• War Drum Makes Plans for a New Album •• Fresh Sessions With All Night Shoes and Guest DJ JFDiscord www.cvindependent.com/music

Buzz Osborne Brings His One-Man Show to Pappy and Harriet's

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A MELVIN GOES ACOUSTIC

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 25

JULY 2014

MUSIC

LOCAL BOY

DOES GOOD

Alf Alpha Enjoys the Big Time With High-Profile Gigs Like Splash House, Coachella

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC

By Brian Blueskye talked to Alf Alpha at the Coachella Valley Art Scene gallery after he had just returned from a trip to Arizona, where he’d made some DJ appearances for Adidas.

“I got to fly a helicopter,” he said, somewhat mysteriously, just days before he performed during Splash House at the Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs.

Alf Alpha—aka Rafael Lopez—said his DJ name came from a friend who put him on the flier as such for his first-ever live performance, a show in Cathedral City during his junior year of high school.

“He said, ‘Give me something to run with.’ I explained that because my name was Rafael, people called me ‘Rafa,’ ‘Rafy’ and other names,” Lopez said. “I told him, ‘Hey, what if we put ‘Alpha Ralfa?’ He looked at me said, ‘I don’t know; I’ll figure it out.’ He went home, did the flier and printed ‘Alf Alpha,’ and brought it to school the next day.

From that day, it stuck.”

Lopez said he developed a love of music at an early age. His family always included mariachi and other types of music at birthday parties, his older sisters’ quinceañeras, and other gatherings and celebrations.

“I just remember live music at my house and having a party,” he said. “My house was like the party house. I sort of got inspired by seeing the music and the mariachis when I was a kid and thought, ‘That’s awesome!’ So that was my first intro into music and the concept of performing.”

He said a key moment came at a bar mitzvah party, where the DJ let him and other kids take home singles from the DJ’s collection.

“At the end of his DJ set, he had a bunch of promos of hip-hop cassette tapes. He let all of us stick our hand in and take two,” he said. “I reached in and got Dr. Dre’s ‘Nuthin’ But a G Thang’ and Ice Cube’s ‘It Was a Good Day.’ I think I was in second-grade when that happened. I went home and played Dr. Dre over and over and over again, and I got into the idea of hip hop.”

When he was a teenager, he began to enjoy punk music and took up the drums.

“My dad bought me a drum set; that was probably around seventh-grade,” he said. “I got into a phase during those years where I got into punk rock—bands like NOFX and the Circle Jerks,” he said. “I never really took lessons or anything. I was just in the garage banging on drums, playing by myself, and annoying my neighbors to shit. But I think that was the concept where I learned about making beats. In DJing, it’s just like being a percussionist.”

In high school, he played soccer and heard

his teammates talk extensively about DJing, and attending the Nocturnal Wonderland festival at the Empire Polo Fields in 2000— followed by the fledgling Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, aka Coachella. He started learning how to mix house music, working on his scratching technique, and developing his style.

Today, he’s a successful and widely known DJ. However, he said it didn’t come to him easily.

“It was pretty tough,” he said. “For basically two years, I was in my room trying to figure it out.”

He started what he now calls his World Famous shows in the Amigo Room at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club in 2011. Goldenvoice took notice and put him on the bill for Coachella in 2011, which began a working relationship with Goldenvoice that exists to this day, and has led to more appearances at the festival and related events.

“I’ve played Coachella for three years, and I was fortunate enough to play the S.S. Coachella, which is that cruise,” he said. “When they reached out to me for 2011, I didn’t believe it. When someone sends you an email from Coachella saying, ‘Hey, we want you to play,’ I think someone is pulling my leg or something. They said they wanted to make sure I was available and then told me I was booked. It was really cool to play in the Sahara tent and the Oasis Dome tent.”

Lopez credits Goldenvoice for putting the Coachella Valley on the map as a musical destination, as well as inspiring new venues and new bands.

“I think there was a time when there really

Alf Alpha, aka Rafael Lopez.

weren’t all that many people doing stuff, or they were very cliquish,” he said. “The rock people had their own scene; the hip-hop people had their own scene—and it wasn’t really a scene, and more like groups. I think it’s kind of the same now, but I think the Internet has changed that. The desert has talent, and some of (the bands), like Slipping Into Darkness and Machin’, have played Coachella.”

He also enjoys collaborations with other local artists, like Independent contributor All Night Shoes.

“I’m not really into a setlist and am more into having a vibe,” he said. “I kind of just like to work with the vibe.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT DJALFALPHA.COM. CVIndependent.com

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MUSIC

DESERT ROCK

CHRONICLES

Meet Mario Lalli and Gary Arce, the Godfathers of the Desert Rock Scene, With Their Bands Fatso Jetson and Yawning Man

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC

By Robin Linn he music of Mario Lalli and Gary Arce has inspired and moved me since the mid-’80s, when I first discovered the desert’s underground music scene.

Mario Lalli, with his band Fatso Jetson, is loved and respected as a leader in the worldwide music community that has more than embraced desert (stoner) rock. He is world-famous for hosting the generator parties at which the very first desert rock shows took place—in box canyons, empty swimming pools and abandoned nudist colonies.

“I left for L.A. after high school and moved to Culver City for a year,” he said. “While I was there, I met David Travis and many other people who are still dear to me today. When I returned to the desert, David and I began hosting the generator parties.”

Those legendary parties began getting busted by local law enforcement and eventually wound down and largely disappeared. Today, they still exist—very underground, and as rare treats. They also live on in many of our minds.

I will never forget seeing Fatso Jetson in a canyon on a cardboard stage and being blown away—almost literally—along with hundreds of other Fatso Jetson fans.

Since Dead Issue, the first band Lalli formed in 1981, he has attracted other musicians who were fearless and like-minded in the way they thought about creating music. Players like Arce, Scott Reeder, Alfredo Hernandez, Larry Lalli (Mario’s cousin), Rob Peterson, Tony Tornay and Brant Bjork have been in and out of many music projects together over the years. Today, these musicians attract tens of thousands of fans when they tour Europe each year with their various bands, and are widely regarded as movers and shakers who helped define a genre: desert rock.

As a songwriter, Mario seems to be a bottomless pit of innovation. As a guitarist, he is a tone master who has a passion for the surfed-out guitar tones of the 1960s. He pulls from a wide range of styles and nuances of jazz, punk, acid rock and blues, which can all be experienced within the realms of Fatso Jetson.

As a bassist, he has an identifiable style that is riff-driven with a deep sense of exploration.

Listening to his contributions to Yawning Man, you feel like you are riding a great wave with a torrid rip current looming beneath.

Meanwhile, guitarist and composer Gary Arce could be called the Frank Zappa of the desert. He is a true artist who has never allowed musical knowledge to trump pure imagination. He fearlessly explores complex times, mood-altering motifs and intricate ideas through unique instrumentation ranging from CVIndependent.com

knee-benders mounted on vintage guitars, to vintage amps that produce specific tones.

Gary can pick up any instrument, whether or not he has ever played it, and find his way to the sounds he envisions in his mind’s eye.

Examples of this can be heard in the music of early Fatso Jetson, Yawning Man, Ten East and the late, lamented Sort of Quartet.

Yawning Man

Yawning Man It all started on what had been a very long day for Mario Lalli.

“Alfredo (Hernandez) and I were living at Mario’s, and neither of us had jobs,” Arce remembered. “Mario would go off to work each day, and Fredo and I would get up, start drinking beer and writing music.

“One day, Mario came home after what must have been a brutal day of work. He walked into the room where we were loudly jamming and asked if we minded cooling it. … He seemed sort of bummed and went into his bedroom to lay down. When he left the room, Alfredo said, ‘Maybe he wants to jam with us?’ I walked back to his room and asked if he wanted to jam, and I swear, he sprung up from the bed wide-eyed and bushy-tailed.

“Yawning Man was born.”

In its earliest version in the 1980s, Yawning Man included Arce (guitar), Lalli (bass), Larry Lalli (second guitar) and Hernandez (drums).

Yawning Man created deep sonic landscapes, and explored textures and moods with expansive jams fueled by the imagination and guitar genius of Gary. Today, Yawning Man continues to influence bands and cultivate a following as a cult favorite. The band slipped apart for awhile, but over the years, the members would regroup and go on to create new music. It wasn’t until 2005 that the band finally recorded a full length record, Rock Formations, which was followed by Vista Point (2007) and Nomadic Pursuits (2010). There are also several EPs out there including a Fatso Jetson/Yawning Man split in 2013.

Gary continues to breathe new life into Yawning Man, and today, the band features Bill Stinson on drums, Jennifer Irvine on Cello, Arce on guitar and Mario Lalli on bass.

Fatso Jetson When Fatso Jetson formed in 1995, Gary Arce was part of the mix—but not for long.

“I was flaking out and not showing up to rehearsals,” he said. “Levi, my first son, was born, and I needed to get my shit together. So, I told them to go on without me.

“Some of the records have actually featured Yawning Man songs written by me and Mario.

Looking back, it was the right thing to do.

When you have a family, you have to make sacrifices … even with your music. My family is everything to me, and my kids will always come first. I am fortunate to get to tour every year with Yawning Man in the states and in Europe and share the stage with Fatso Jetson.”

The live Fatso Jetson experience of today is not one of an underground cult favorite.

The band delivers a blistering set that would awaken the senses of even the most discerning music fan.

Fatso Jetson has recorded an impressive

Fatso Jetson. GUILLERMO PRIETO/IROCKPHOTOS.NET

catalog filled with expressionistic, expansive and highly imaginative compositions that pull from a wide array of genres, including jazz, acid rock, surf, punk and more. The roster today includes Mario Lalli on guitar and vocals; Larry Lalli on bass; Tony Tornay on drums; Vince Meghrouni on sax, harmonica and vocals; and Mario’s son, Dino Von Lalli, on second guitar.

Between the two bands, Fatso Jetson and Yawning Man have recorded 11 full-length records and several splits. And more music is coming soon: Mario Lalli said that both bands are recording new albums at Rancho de la Luna, and will be playing at the Yosemite Music Festival, on Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12.

“We have just been offered a festival in Holland and a week of club dates while we are there,” Lalli said. “Then, in November, we will all be headed back to Europe for a full tour including Poland and Czech Republic, Sweden and the Netherlands. … Both records will feature the awesome creative talents of some very special guests, and we are really excited about the music.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/FATSOJETSON AND WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/YAWNINGMANOFFICIAL. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE YOSEMITE MUSIC FESTIVAL, VISIT WWW. YOSEMITEMUSICFESTIVAL.COM. TO READ AN EXPANDED VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE WITH A VIDEO TOUR OF THE MUSIC, VISIT DESERT ROCK CHRONICLES AT RMINJTREE.BLOGSPOT.COM.

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JULY 2014

The Blueskye REPORT

JULY 2014

By Brian Blueskye As we head into July, we can expect the summer to become even more unbearable.

Therefore, we recommend these fun events to get you out of the house—and keep you cool.

The first thing worth mentioning: The Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club in Palm Springs is now open! At 9 p.m., Thursday, July 3, the venue will be holding a Pre-July 4th Party with DJs inside the Hacienda.

There is no cover charge. On Friday, July 4, the Hacienda will continue the free party, this time at the pool, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On Sunday, July 6, also from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., DJs Yolanda Be Cool and Overjoy will be performing, and again, there is no cover.

These events are for those 21 and older.

Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club, 1555 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-7788954; www.haciendacantina.com.

Yolanda Be Cool: Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club, July 6

The Desert AIDS Project is marking its 30th birthday with its annual Mid-Summer Dance Party at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club’s Commune from 8 p.m. to midnight, Friday, July 25. Playing at the event will be Independent resident DJ All Night Shoes, as well as Femme A; there will also be a special performance by Cameron Neilson of The X Factor. Tickets are $40 to $75; the late-night party pass, for entry after 10 p.m., is $20. For tickets or more information, call the Desert AIDS Project at 760-992-0440, or visit www. desertAIDSproject.org.

Speaking of the Ace Hotel and Swim Club, the venue is offering some great events in the Amigo Room on top of the regular weekly and monthly schedule. At 10 p.m., Friday, July 4, Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss will be performing an Independence Day show. If you have never seen Coachella Valley local and Throw Rag frontman Sean Wheeler perform with Circle Jerks and Weirdos bassist Zander Schloss, you should go: They are a fantastic acoustic duo who always put on a great show.

Admission is free. At 10 p.m., Saturday, July 5, Stronghold Reggae will feature DJ Journee and Dash Eye. Again, admission is free. Check Continued on Page 28 out the website for even

MUSIC

BUZZO SOLO WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC

The Melvins’ Buzz Osborne Goes Acoustic for a Show at Pappy and Harriet’s

By Brian Blueskye uzz Osborne, the heavy riff guitarist for the Melvins, has gone acoustic.

He recently recorded an acoustic album, This Machine Kills Artists, and he’ll be bringing his one man acoustic show to Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace on Thursday, July 31.

During a recent phone interview, Osborne didn’t offer many details about the name of the album, released in early June by Ipecac Records. In fact, he turned the tables by asking me what came to mind when I heard the title; I told him it reminded me of “This machine kills fascists,” a statement famously written on Woody Guthrie’s guitar.

“The thing with Woody Guthrie is I never knew if he meant the guitar, or if he meant him,” Osborne said. “He never got specific, and people just sort of assumed. I think he assumed that music has the power to do something of that nature—or does he need you to take the guitar and use it as a weapon and literally and physically kill someone with it? Which you probably could—and then you have to figure out what his definition of a fascist is.”

I suggested to Osborne that Guthrie may have been making a reference to his favoring of labor unions against those who abused workers who migrated to California from Oklahoma during the Great Depression.

“What’s real interesting is if you study the history of the Okies, the vast majority (of them) had nothing like that happen to them when they got to California,” Osborne responded. “The reality is, those people came here and did real well in California. They were well-off, and a lot of them were welloff to begin with, and moved here for better pickings. I can’t say it was a mistake; I’ve been to Oklahoma.”

Enough about history: Let’s talk about the music. What inspired Osborne to make a solo album—and an acoustic one to boot?

“I’ve always played acoustic guitar and have always loved playing acoustic guitar,” Osborne said. “I’ve done a lot of things in my vast, three-decade-long career. I’ve never been afraid of doing weird stuff as far as stuff that would be left of center of what I normally do.

I really feel that there’s nothing I can’t do and be universally accepted by, I’d say, 80 percent of whatever my living audience is at that moment. Twenty percent of people won’t like it, no matter what … but there will be a new 20 percent to take its place. So, it’s odd, you know?”

Osborne said he’s always writing songs of some sort.

“I consider myself a songwriter in one form or another. It doesn’t necessarily mean I write for someone else to play my music, although I would, but it never comes up,” he said. “I wade through a lot of stuff, and it’s like digging for gold. Some of these songs could have been on earlier records, and some of them are very new.”

Osborne added that some of the feedback he’s received regarding his songwriting does not make sense.

“Let’s say (the Melvins) put out a new record, and it has different guys on the record, and then I’ll hear somebody say, ‘Well, I liked your earlier records, and I don’t like what you’re doing now.’ I say, ‘You know, a third of those songs were written during the era that you like, so they aren’t new.’ You just can’t win,” Osborne said with a laugh.

Osborne explained that musical legends inspired him to go acoustic for This Machine Kills Artists, which is credited to King Buzzo.

“One of my all-time favorites is Pete Townshend from The Who,” Osborne said.

“He did this live show called Secret Policeman’s Ball back in 1979, and that always inspired me with how he could take Who songs like ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ on acoustic guitar, and make them sound just as good. I realized very quickly that it’s not the arrow: It’s the Indian. I always had that in the back of my mind—that (if) music is good, and it’ll be good, no matter what.”

Bob Dylan’s acoustic efforts also influenced Osborne, he said.

“Bob Dylan could do an acoustic version of ‘Like a Rolling Stone,’ and no one ever thought it was bad. Folk music is fine, but I always thought Bob Dylan made (music) a lot better. Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger were big heroes of his, but he took what they were doing and bettered it, which is what you always hope would happen. (Dylan’s music) is meanspirited. It’s not better days are coming; it’s

Buzz Osborne. GUILLERMO PRIETO/IROCKPHOTOS.NET

much more realistic. … It’s not campfire singalong stuff.”

Of course, he and the Melvins are not without their critics. While Osborne said he’s somewhat sensitive to criticism, he doesn’t have any regrets about his success.

“In 30-plus years of doing this, I’ve never had anyone tell me something … that makes me walk away saying, ‘You know, he’s right.

This is right; I’m terrible.’ Never; not one time,” he said. “… Things I’ve thought were good when I originally started influenced people and touched people around the world, and were ideas that were originally mine. That makes me feel really good.”

KING BUZZO (AKA BUZZ OSBORNE) WILL PERFORM WITH EMMA RUTH RUNDLE AT 9 P.M., THURSDAY, JULY 31, AT PAPPY AND HARRIET’S PIONEERTOWN PALACE, 53688 PIONEERTOWN ROAD, IN PIONEERTOWN. TICKETS ARE $15. FOR TICKETS OR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 760-365-5956, OR VISIT PAPPYANDHARRIETS.COM. CVIndependent.com

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JULY 2014 continued from Page 27

8 p.m., Saturday, July 12. Tickets are $45 to $110. If you’re a fan of The Voice, you’ll be happy to know that The Voice Tour will be here at 8 p.m., Saturday, July 26. Tessanne Chin, Will Champlin, Dia Frampton and others will take the stage. Tickets are $39 to $79.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www. fantasyspringsresort.com.

Spotlight 29 has some nice tribute acts booked in July. Gregory Wolfe will be performing a tribute to Rod Stewart at 8 p.m., Saturday, July 5. Tickets are $20. Dean

Art Garfunkel: Fantasy Springs, July 5

more great events. Ace Hotel and Swim Club, 701 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760325-9900; www.acehotel.com/palmsprings.

The Purple Room in Palm Springs has added a revue show, hosted by friend of the Independent Brian Wanzek and his famous alter ego, Bella da Ball. Act II will follow The Judy Show on Sunday nights at 8:30 p.m.

There’s no cover. The Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive; 760-322-4422; www. purpleroompalmsprings.com.

Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa has one July music event worth mentioning. The Go-Go’s will be stopping by as part of the “Replay America” tour at 8 p.m., Saturday, July 26. Also performing will be Patty Smyth and Scandal, Martha Davis and the Motels, and Cutting Crew with Naked Eyes. Tickets are $65 to $170. The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.hotwatercasino. com.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino has a slate of excellent events in July. At 8 p.m., Saturday, July 5, Art Garfunkel, half of the legendary Simon and Garfunkel, will be performing. After staying away from the stage for a few years, Garfunkel is back, and this should be a great show. Garfunkel released his last solo album, Some Enchanted Evening, back in 2007, but he has dates booked through the summer, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we’ll be hearing more from Garfunkel going forward. Tickets are $29 to $59. Korean rapper Kim Jong-Kook and Haha have teamed up for a summer tour and will be stopping by at

Kim Jong-Kook: Fantasy Springs, July 12 CVIndependent.com

X: Pappy and Harriet’s, July 19

Colley will be paying tribute to Neil Diamond at 8 p.m., Saturday, July 26. Tickets are $20.

Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.

Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace is shrugging off summer and putting on amazing shows throughout the season. At 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 2, Ronnie Spector will be performing. Spector, the famous ex-wife of music producer Phil Spector and former lead singer of the Ronettes, is the original bad girl of rock ’n’ roll. Tickets are $25. At 8 p.m., Saturday, July 19, the Los Angeles punk band X will be stopping by for … an acoustic performance? Strange! X’s lineup includes Exene Cervenka (who recently went crazy and claimed a recent Southern California mass shooting may have been a hoax), John Doe, Billy Zoom and DJ Bonebrake. Tickets are $27.50. At 8 p.m., Sunday, July 20, the indie-rock dance group !!! (Chk, Chk, Chk) will be stopping by. !!! is one of the most energetic and entertaining bands touring today. At an intimate venue like Pappy’s, their show is going to be insane. Tickets are $17.

Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-365-5956; www.pappyandharriets.com.

!!!: Pappy and Harriet’s, July 20

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 29

JULY 2014

MUSIC

A BREAK IN THE BEAT War Drum Slows Down to Focus on Other Projects—but a New Album Is in the Works

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By Brian Blueskye uring a recent interview, War Drum keyboardist Jack Kohler and bassist Robbie Waldman (also a member of the band Waxy) revealed that the band plans on slowing down the band’s live-gig schedule.

However, War Drum remains busy: In fact, the band is making plans to record a brand-new new album, and will be playing at The Hood Bar and Pizza on Friday, July 11.

War Drum also includes of Ehren Groban (guitar), John Marek (guitar) and Peter Leighton (drums). The band formed in the summer of 2010 while Kohler and Groban were employees of the Ace Hotel and Swim Club. Waldman watched the band play without a bassist shortly after the formation.

“I remember hearing about War Drum a little bit, and I saw them playing at the Ace Hotel,” Waldman said.

“There was a different drummer back then, this guy named Carlos. Peter was playing guitar; Ehren was playing guitar; and Jack was on keys. I saw what they were doing as an audience member, and there was this authorial, tribal, spiritual and desert landscape feel to their music. I was immediately attracted to it.”

Kohler said the band gained a lot when it added Waldman and his bass.

“Robbie has years of experience, and he owns the Unit A Studios recording studio in Palm Springs,” Kohler said. “He had a lot that

we didn’t have at that time when he came into it. It was just a bunch of kids having fun and partying, and playing kind of off-beat rock and roll. We were more of a sound/feel band before we were a harder desert-rock band. I think we’ve formed into that over the past few years. We added a lot more of a dynamic when he joined the group. Plus the bass is such a necessary thing.”

One of the highlights of War Drum’s history is the band’s European tour. Kohler told a story about how his one night to enjoy a bed of his own was spoiled.

“One night, we were in Spain, and we played this show, and everyone was really fucked up—as in next-level fucked up, not normal bar shit,” Kohler said. “We were in a hostel that night, and it was a really nice place. Around 2 or 3 in the morning, no one knew where Peter was, which is not unusual, because as we’d like to say, ‘He’s a drummer.’ He was wandering the streets of Spain for three or four hours, probably. We looked for him, and we went around asking if anyone had seen him in Spanish. I was so upset with him, because it was the only night where I had a bed, and he had the (only) key to our room, which is the dumbest idea we ever had, to give him the key.”

However, the trip to Europe was worth it.

“To me, the outstanding moment was when we played a show in Linz, Austria,” Waldman said. “It was a magic show. It was at a place called Kapu, where bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden played. It’s a small club, but it has a big stage, big P.A.—and something that holds 1,000 people should really only be holding about 300. It was packed; it was smoked, filled out; and it was hot. We played so well. You could just tell the crowd responded, and we sold our merch. It was one of those nights that you wish everyone could experience.”

As for the present, War Drum is slowing down, so Kohler and Waldman can work on some other projects. However, the band hopes to have a new album out after the end of the year.

“We want to get into the studio and record,”

Kohler said. “We just want to get our next album totally done. I think we’re both totally sick of our old album. Robbie and I are both getting ready to go back out on the road with other projects, and his project Waxy. We’re going to go to Australia, and possibly back to Europe again.”

Waldman said breaks like this are part of being a serious musician.

“It’s the nature of the beast,” Waldman said.

“You always have to be writing; you always have to be doing your thing; and you always have to be doing the next project.”

Kohler said the band’s ambitions remain high.

“I think that it’s about time we do more,” Kohler said, “that we get out and kind of actualize the things we want. We have all the pieces and the opportunities to do it.”

Waldman was a bit more specific.

“In today’s world, bands are responsible for two things, and you don’t need anyone’s help to do this: You have to be able to make your own albums. The second is your image: I think in War Drum, we all have to work on our image, and I think that’s where we should concentrate.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/WARDRUM/137224756288117.

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LUCKY 13

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By Brian Blueskye

NAME Dmitry “Vitamin D” Owens GROUP The Sex Kittens MORE INFO According to the band’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ THESEXKITTENSROCK), The Sex Kittens have been around “on and off” since 1994. Dmitry “Vitamin D” Owens (vocals, guitar) and Neal “The Deal” Mashburn (vocals, drums) describe their sound as “psychosexxxy funkified metallic grooves that make the boobies shake and the booties move.”

What was the first concert you attended?

Iron Maiden opening for Judas Priest in Albany, N.Y., in 1981. Awesome show!

What was the first album you owned?

AC/DC, Back in Black.

What bands are you listening to right now?

My Pandora classic-metal and stoner-rock channels.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?

Pretty much everything that’s been popular and trendy since the mid ’90s. It’s time to bring back REAL Rock ’n’ Fuckin’ Roll with heart, passion and soul!

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?

The Doors.

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

I never feel guilty when it comes to music or much else, but I’d have to say ’70s disco and soft rock.

What’s your favorite music venue?

The Rainbow Bar and Grill in Hollywood is the ultimate rock ’n’ roll paradise/haven. I could die happy there.

What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?

“Hey you, don’t tell me there’s no hope at all.

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Together we stand, divided we fall,” Pink Floyd, “Hey You.” What band or artist changed your life?

How? AC/DC: They’re the band who first got me into hard rock and made me aware of how cool guitar-playing could be. Judas Priest: The band who introduced me to and made me love metal. And Metallica: a huge influence on me musically.

You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?

I’d probably ask Axl Rose WTF he was thinking when he ruined what could have been the greatest rock band of all time by not being on the same page with Slash.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

I’m much more focused on living, experiencing and enjoying all I that I can from life rather than thinking about dying and death.

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

Another very tough one, but I’d say probably L.A. Woman by The Doors.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

“Defeated” by The Sex Kittens. ;)

NAME Derek Gregg BAND The Hive Minds MORE INFO Derek Gregg (vocals/guitar) and Sean Poe (drums) recently won a local battle of the bands at the National Date Festival; they have been busy recording a new album; and they have kept a busy schedule of local gigs.

More at www.facebook.com/thehiveminds.

What was the first concert you attended?

I went to an AFI (A Fire Inside) concert with my

FRESH SESSIONS WITH ALL NIGHT SHOES: JULY 2014 We Quiz a Sex Kitten and … a Hive Mind? stepdad. They were incredibly polished. I’m not convinced they weren’t lip syncing.

What was the first album you owned?

It may have been a greatest-hits album by Steve Miller.

What bands are you listening to right now?

I love Tame Impala. I only recently started listening their Lonerism album. Lately, I’ve been stuck on Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not by Arctic Monkeys. The Smiths for sure, The Cure and a lot of Dylan and Cash, too What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?

I can’t stand anything that’s popular right now; it all sounds the same—that techno bullshit.

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?

Radiohead.

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

That Maroon 5 album Songs About Jane. I hate that squeaky-clean stuff, but it is catchy.

What’s your favorite music venue?

The Hood has a pretty rad sound system, and … we get to jam out with awesome bands. I dig the Desert Fox bar, too, because it’s always so packed whenever we play there.

What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?

“I am colorblind. Coffee black and egg white.

Pull me out from inside. … I am folded, and unfolded, and unfolding. I am colorblind,” Counting Crows, “Colorblind.”

What band or artist changed your life?

How? Before I started listening to Bob Dylan, I was writing a lot of lame pop songs. … Dylan reminded me that people will buy honest, pure music.

You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?

I would ask Antonio Carlos Jobim: How did he come up with an incredibly unique style of music, and have it explode from (his) home in Brazil to countries all over the world? He’s the pioneer of bossa nova.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

I would want my albums played. My songs are the most important thing to me. My life’s mission is for them to be out and heard.

FRESH Sessions this month features a guest mix from JFDiscord, aka Jeremy Ferguson.

JFDiscord offers up a deeper, slightly darker side of dance, while managing to create a unique yet familiar sound. Jeremy works with an eclectic mix of music, ranging from metal to deep house: Thanks to his mixing skills and his keen ear, he can marry various styles effortlessly.

I have been following JFDiscord for quite some time. Our music scene in the valley has had its ups and downs, yet he has been a mainstay. We DJs can sometimes get stuck inside certain genres—but Jeremy has no boundaries and can play almost anything. If you have not had the pleasure of seeing him live, make sure you give him a follow on SoundCloud (soundcloud. com/jfdiscord) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/ JFDiscord1) so you can catch one of his gigs. You won’t regret it.

Check out his Independent-exclusive mix at CVIndependent.com!

As for me: I have a quite a few shows coming up in July. In addition to my Friday-night “Mischief” residency at Toucans Tiki Lounge in Palm Springs, I will be playing at the Desert AIDS Project’s Seventh Annual MidSummer Dance Party at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club on Friday, July 25. The event will feature sets from myself and Femme A (aka Annie Flores), as well as a special performance by Cameron Neilson of X Factor fame.

Tickets are on sale now at desertaidsproject. thankyou4caring.org/danceparty.

• Inphasia, “So Warm” (Christian Cambas Remix) • Alen Milivojevic, “Slut Machine” (Original Mix) • Mario Ranieri, “Freude am Leben” (Balthazar and Jackrock Remix) • Kostas Maskalides, “Sodom” (Kardinal and Lowkey Remix) • Justin Schumacher, “Resist” (Sutter Cane Remix) • Lluis Ribalta, “Belial” (Original Mix) • Andrea Roma vs. Balthazar and Jackrock, “Yamato” (Original Mix) • DK8, “Murder Was the Bass” (Chris Liebing Remix) • Spiros Kaloumenos, “Second Skin” (Original Mix) • Siva Six, “Intha Ren” (Christian Cambas Remix) • Christian Cambas, “Increase the Grease” (Original Mix) • Andre Walter and Stigmata, “Big Rip” (Original Mix) • Kardinal and Lowkey, “The Sentinel” (Original Mix)

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

OK Computer by Radiohead. But ask me again in a week, and I’ll have a different answer.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

There are so many options. I guess I’ll just throw out one of Led Zeppelin’s more obscure tracks, “Friends.”

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COMICS & JONESIN’CROSSWORD

Across 1 City, casually 4 Common mixer 8 Chin dimples 14 A thousand times more than a mil 15 Reagan Secretary of State 16 “Got that right!”

17 It may need a massage 18 One wing of the Museum of Poisons?

20 “Veil of ignorance” philosopher John 22 Tango necessity 23 “___ do it” 24 Archaeological find 26 Oceanic backflows 30 Instrument that means “high wood” 32 Sinuous swimmer 34 Clumsy sort 35 The act of keeping a basketball player from leaving the team?

40 Extra-spesh attention 41 Meas. taken during a physical 42 “That’s interesting!”

43 Little battery 45 Maximum amount of “aw” you can get from cat pictures?

49 Put together 50 “___ blu dipinto di blu” 51 They may be pale 52 Is guaranteed to work 56 Two-syllable poetic foot

58 Nucky’s brother, on Boardwalk Empire 59 Grazer’s sound 61 Flip side?

64 Fleetwood Mac’s John or Christine, without any singing parts?

69 Go one better than 70 Monopoly purchase, sometimes 71 Long time to wait 72 Actress Mendes 73 E-mail request 74 Go after flies 75 “Bang and Blame” band Down 1 Taxi app 2 Latvia’s capital 3 Welding tool 4 Big gap 5 Crew gear 6 Buzzfeed article, often 7 Get older with style 8 ___: Miami 9 “Funky Cold Medina” rapper Tone ___ 10 Ordinal number suffix 11 “___ not” 12 Bridal veil material 13 Isn’t buying it?

19 San Francisco’s ___ Hill 21 MGM co-founder Marcus ___ 25 Onion variety 27 Italian tenor Andrea

28 He was Sulu 29 “___ were you...”

30 Frequent, in poetry 31 Leave hastily 33 Redo some passages, maybe 36 Grading range 37 Shrek, for one 38 Sudden-death game, say 39 Airport terminal area 44 Jerkface 46 Dig in 47 Intertwines 48 Bear with the medium-sized bowl 52 Activist Chavez 53 Full of spirit 54 Brother on Frasier 55 ThinkPad maker, before Lenovo 57 “This is only ___...”

60 Acknowledge frankly 62 Word before nest or knot 63 Folder filler 65 Away from WSW 66 Creature of habit?

67 Movie with a stuffed bear 68 Gourmet Garten ©2014 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) FIND THE ANSWERS IN THE “ABOUT” SECTION OF CVINDEPENDENT.COM! CVIndependent.com

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