Coachella Valley Weekly - February 25 to March 2, 2016 Vol. 4 No. 49

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coachellavalleyweekly.com • February 25 to March 2, 2016 Vol. 4 No. 49

Upper Class Poverty JimiFitz-CV104.3 The Idle Effect Podcast The Commodores pg 7

pg 8

pg 9

pg 10

Bridger

pg 11

February 25 to March 2, 2016

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

the 5th Annual Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience Coachella Valley Weekly

coachellavalleyweekly.com publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly

760.501.6228

Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Deborah Evans Classified Manager & Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Features Writer Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Denise Ortuno Neil, Judith Salkin Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Janet McAfee, Rachel Montoya, Angela Janus, Dale Gribow, Raymond Bill, Jack St. Clair, Rob Brezny, Eleni P. Austin, Noe Gutierrez, Sunny Simon, Dr. Peter Kadile, Bruce Cathcart, Julie Buehler, Flint Wheeler, Laura Hunt Little, Lola Rossi, Dee Jae Cox, Patte Purcell, Esther Sanchez, Rebecca Pikus, Angela Valente Romeo, Janet Newcomb, Alex Updike, Jenny Wallis, Uncle Ben Photographers Laura Hunt Little, Scott Pam, Lani Garfield, Chris Miller, La Maniaca, Esther Sanchez Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

Contents

Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience.........3 311 at RWB...............................................5 The BellRays at RWB................................7 Upper Class Poverty................................7 Jimi Fitz & CV 104.3 FM...........................8 Shamrock N Roll at Spa Resort Casino...8 The Idle Effect Podcast............................9 UB40 at Agua Caliente ............................9 Valley Rhythms - The Commodores & The Jacksons at Fantasy Springs..........10 Backstage Jazz - Celebrity Jazz Jam.....10 BRIDGER.................................................11 Consider This .........................................12 Art Scene - Cathedral City Tour of Historic & Artist’ Homes........................13 Pet Place.................................................14 The Vino Voice .......................................15 Club Crawler Nightlife...........................16 Art Scene - Tr­és Taylor at LQ Art Fest....20 Theatre - The Full Monty Musical.........21 Theatre - Cock........................................21 The Pet Rescue Center’s Western BBQ....23 Safety Tips..............................................24 Haddon Libby........................................25 Dale Gribow...........................................25 12th Annual Desert Smash - A Charity Celebrity Tennis Event ..........................26 Sports Scene..........................................26 Free Will Astrology................................27 Mind, Body & Spirit ...............................27 Ask The Doctor.......................................28 Life & Career Coach ...............................28

on March 5th, 2016 Taste hundreds of varieties of craft beer and wine, plus 311 Amber Ale’s California Debut.

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mpire Music Ventures is pleased to announce the 5th Annual Rhythm, Wine and Brews Experience on Saturday, March 5th, 2016 at the Empire Polo Club. Taste delicious craft beer and elegant fine wine in one of the most beautiful venues in the Coachella Valley, as you groove to the tunes of a diverse musical line-up designed to offer something for a variety of ages and musical tastes. The 2016 bill includes 311, Matisyahu, Dream Club, The BellRays and Insecure Alex along with a variety of craft breweries, wineries and food trucks.

This year, the Rhythm, Wine and Brews Experience will feature a larger offering of craft beer to taste, including one of our local favorites, the award-winning La Quinta Brewing Co. Their Indian Canyon IPA, One Eleven Pale Ale, Poolside Blonde and Tan Line Brown Ale have all won medals. Be sure to stop by their booth to taste their awardwinning brews.

Another highlight of this year’s craft brew experience is the California debut of 311 Amber Ale. Multi-platinum rock band 311 partnered with Rock Brothers Brewing to create an impressive custom craft beer; 311 Amber Ale was released in several states last summer in conjunction with the band’s 25th anniversary.

“Besides the obvious connection to the band’s hit song of the same name, 311

wanted a very drinkable amber ale with a craft beer twist,” said Rock Brothers cofounder Kevin Lilly.

According to Lilly, the ale “shines bright,” as roasted caramel malts blend with Equinox hops, resulting in subtle hints of tropical citrus and kush aromatics. The craft beer’s blend of malted barleys and unique hops give 311 Amber Ale a distinctive flavor, setting it apart from other amber ales.

Wine aficionados will enjoy this year’s selection of artisanal wine. Turnbull Winery will pour tastes of their small batch, worldclass Cabernet Sauvignon wines produced in Oakville and the Napa Valley region.

Turnbull’s quality is reflected in their high ratings. The Wine Advocate and Mr. Parker scored all six of their Cabernet Sauvignons at 95 points and above.

Smoke Tree Wine is new this year. It is a premium Sonoma wine brand launched last fall by Moët Hennessy. Smoke Tree will offer a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir. Terraza de los Andes, another Moët Hennessy brand, will offer tasters wine from varietals grown and produced in the Mendoza region of Argentina.

For a complete list of participating wineries and breweries visit RWBexp.com.

The craft beer and wine garden will pour tastes from 3PM to 7PM (VIP) and from 4PM

to 7PM (General Admission). Food trucks and local restaurants will offer a variety of mouth-watering menu options designed to pair with the beer and wine.

Tickets & Event Information: Tickets to the 2016 Rhythm, Wine and Brews Experience can be purchased online at www.RWBexp.com.

Event Information • Date: Saturday, March 5th, 2016 • Time: 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM (VIP ticket holders can enter at 3:00 PM) • Location: Empire Polo Club, Indio, CA 92201 • General Admission Tickets (show only): $70 per person • General Admission Tickets (including free beer/wine tastings): $85 per person • VIP Admission Tickets: $150 per person • A portion of the proceeds benefit the Casey Lee Ball Foundation to support pediatric kidney research • Food will be available for purchase • Huge selection of breweries and wineries offering tastings • Wine and beer tasting from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM (VIP Tasting 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM) • Main stage and headline performances from 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM General Admission includes: • Entrance to the RWB Experience 4:00PM – 11:00PM • Unlimited tastes of beer or wine 4:00PM – 7:00PM • Souvenir tasting glass • Free parking VIP Pass includes:* • Entrance to the RWB Experience 3:00PM – 11:00PM • Unlimited tastings of beer or wine 3:00PM – 6:45PM • Access to VIP Tasting Lounge 3:00PM – 7:00PM • Access to the VIP Lounge and Bar • Souvenir tasting glass • VIP parking • Invitation to Friday night Bottle Share and Kick-off Party *VIP Admission includes access to VIP tasting area with specialty wine and beer not available in the general tasting area, and complementary food. VIP also includes access to a second VIP lounge with a full bar adjacent to main stage. continue to page 5

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RHYTHM, WINE & BREWS continued from page 3

RWB Schedule: Gates Open - 3:00PM VIP 4:00 PM General Admission Barefoot Stage 4:00 – 5:15PM Insecure Alex 5:40 – 6:50PM The BellRays Agua Caliente Stage 7:00 – 7:45PM Dream Club 8:15 – 9:15PM Matisyahu 9:45 PM 311 VIP Bottle Share & Kick-off Party On Friday, March 4th the Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience is hosting a VIP Bottle Share and Kick-off Party in the Hacienda del Toro garden at Empire Polo Club for VIP ticket holders, vendors and media. VIP guests each bring a bottle of unique craft beer to share with the other VIP guests.

It’s a great opportunity to meet people and discover new craft beers while enjoying live music by Long Duk Dong.

RV & Tent Camping: Onsite RV and tent camping will be available. Fees include 2 days of camping: Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5th.

Visit www.RWBexp.com for more details about camping onsite.

Buy one night and get the second night FREE. • Tent/Car Campsites are $30 • RV Campsites are $100 Children 14 and under are free. Ticket holders must be 21 years of age or older and show a valid ID to taste beer and wine.

Directions to the Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience at Empire Polo Club: From I-10 take the Monroe St. exit and head south on Monroe St. Follow the parking signs between Ave. 50 and 51 lots along Monroe St.

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Event Location: Empire Polo Club - 81-800 Ave. 51 Indio, CA 92201 Contact Information: Email - info@RWBExp.com For more information about the Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience or to buy tickets, please visit www.RWBExp.com.

ARTIST INFORMATION: About 311 See article below.

About Matisyahu Matisyahu first made a name for himself with his album Live at Stubbs, and Youth quickly followed. Both albums subsequently went gold and Youth was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.

2009’s Light reached #1 on the Reggae Albums chart and stayed in the top spot for 34 weeks. His fourth studio album, Spark Seeker, also debuted at #1 on the reggae chart, marked his relocation from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and found him working with Dr. Luke protégé KoOoL Kojak.

About Dream Club Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Dream Club are a group of friends who celebrate the spirit of their hometown and its rich musical history by playing rock and roll thick with 3-part harmonies, sun drenched melodies and haunting lyrics which evoke the spirits of the canyons, beaches, hills, valleys and alleys.

With Justin Warfield (She Wants Revenge) singing and playing guitar, his childhood best friend Gianni Garofalo (“Supernaut”, One Inch Punch) on bass, Justin “Dusty” Rocherolle (Green And Yellow TV, Great Northern) on drums, Stefanie King-Warfield (The Parallelograms) singing and playing percussion, and Jamie Arentzen (American Hi-Fi) on lead guitar, the five piece band (sometimes six, with the addition of keys) blend their native California rock with hardedged rhythms, extended solos and catchy, catchy songs.

About The BellRays See article on page 7.

311 -- Doing What They Love On Their Own Terms for 25 Years

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11, a band that forged its earliest foundations during the 80’s in two neighboring high schools in Omaha, Nebraska, could inarguably be considered one of the most intransigent, persevering, relentless, beloved and athletic rock bands touring today. Fans have learned that attending a 311 live show can easily turn into a marathon test of endurance.

Known to play 70 or so songs over 5 hours in celebration of “311 Day” in Louisiana (an annual celebration held on March 11th), this band banks countless hours, tirelessly preparing to give their fans the best show they can. Their huge fan base that has supported them through near death and utter devastation, over decades of drastic technological and industry change, is a tribute to the fact that this band has never taken their success for granted.

The rock, reggae, hip-hop, alt-metal, funk hybrid team consists of singer/guitarist Nick Hexum, singer S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and bassist P-Nut. Since 1993, the band has made their home in Southern California, releasing eleven studio albums (their third, self-titled album going triple platinum), a greatest hits album, three DVD’s and a box set. They have sold 9 million albums in the

U.S. Nine of their albums have reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Sales Chart, and nine of their singles have reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Alternative Rock Radio Chart. Last year, in celebration of their 25th Anniversary, they released the 311 ARCHIVE box-set, a special 4 CD collection including 81 tracks plus a 60 page book of rare photos and memorabilia.

I had a rare and insightful opportunity to talk to 311’s Nick Hexum as the band prepared for their upcoming shows, including headlining this year’s Fifth Annual Rhythm, Wine and Brews Experience at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio March 5th.

CVW: “You guys have managed to stay together for over 25 years! That is a huge milestone for any relationship or even a business partnership. What do you attribute that to?”

Hexum: “I think we appreciate that we have stumbled onto something as a band that we do better together than we ever could apart. We realize we’ve got something cool here, and we take care of it. To be in a relationship this long, you have to be ok with not getting your way and to respect the group conscience/democracy. Of course there’s been disagreements, but as time goes on, it seems that we’re able to discuss

things and come to a consensus fairly easily.”

“From a business perspective, we take a Midwestern approach to our work ethic.

People in Nebraska don’t really expect things to come to them easily. There is no sense of entitlement. We just decided that we were going to work, work, work. We make sure we are prepared for our shows; I think we rehearse more than other bands.

Fortunately, I love music so much I’m always writing and coming up with new things. In the past few years, I’ve spent a lot of time getting better on guitar. For example: I was always an idea guy, but I couldn’t really

February 25 to March 2, 2016

About Insecure Alex Insecure Alex’s blend of hip-hop, alternative rock, and soul was in part inspired by their eclectic taste in music; they were raised listening to oldies, hip-hop, punk and classic rock. It’s also perfectly in tune with the diversity that defines the music scene of their city.

Formed in early 2015 by musicians from around the greater Los Angeles area, Insecure Alex is composed of four artists joined together after various musical ventures. Featuring Mark Vasquez on lead vocals, Alex Endonino on guitar and vocals, Francis Galluppi on drums and Scott Holmes on bass guitar, the band has performed multiple shows at venues across the city. After releasing two singles, “Changes” and “Tanzanite Sky (California)”, the band is now currently hard at work finishing an EP to be released in early 2016.

by Lisa Morgan

execute them … my hands couldn’t keep up with my ideas. We really put a lot of work into things like that.”

CVW: At what point did you guys feel like you had made it?

Hexum: “I think we had a lot of high-fives and celebration when we went on David Letterman and got invited to some really cool parties in New York. We had shot a video, and I remember all of us sitting at a celebration dinner. One of the guys in the band said, ‘Nick, you said this is what was going to happen, and now it is.’ I was the guy continue to page 6

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RHYTHM, WINE & BREWS - 311 continued from page 5

in the band who had said, ‘We gotta move to LA! We’ve got something here, trust me we can do it – why not us?’ So, that was kind of a, ‘Wow, we’ve done what we set out to do’ moment. There have been a lot of others – we have 311 day, have a sold out cruise to the Caribbean that we’ve done 4 times now – those are moments that make us super grateful.”

CVW: “How did you manage to get everyone to leave Nebraska and come out to LA? Hexum: “I came out by myself at first, in 1988. I graduated from high school early (17), and was playing clubs on the Sunset Strip. Then Chad, our drummer, joined me for a few months. I worked at Guitar Center on Hollywood Blvd and had a pretty good network. We were really excited about the success we’d had just in Nebraska, and after being out in LA for a couple of years, I realized that these Sunset Strip metal-ers were really not the best people for me to be in a band with. My buddies from high school were the best musicians I knew, so I moved back and started 311” (Note: the name is code for law enforcement in Nebraska for indecent exposure/skinny dipping for which one of the members, former guitarist Jim Watson, was arrested for- at least, that is the most consistent story about the band’s name).

“For two years, we put out cassettes. Our second release actually made it to CD, which in 1991, was a huge deal. It was actually selling like hotcakes at the local record stores, outselling Michael Jackson and U2 at the time. We realized this wasn’t just a pie in the sky dream. People were really reacting to our music, and we used that kind of local success to show the record labels that we were outselling big artists. We used those independent albums as demos. Then, when we came out to LA/ Van Nuys, California, we already had a couple of albums and sales figures. We had momentum going, and fortunately got signed really quickly.” (Note: The band all moved in together in a place in Van Nuys and were seriously dipping into poverty level when their deal came through.)

CVW: Your shows are almost a fitness

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test for your fans. How do you guys pull that off?

Hexum: “Our show March 5th in Indio will be about 22 songs long, and we have some special things planned. I think staying in shape – having our bodies, our voices and our chops ready is a big part of it. We’ve been rehearsing for 311 Day. It’s kind of like when I did marathons before. They told me that the hard work is in the training, and the actual race day is like a victory lap. For me, I just remember the excitement of 311 Day carrying me through and not feeling tired until about an hour after.”

CVW: “There have been some incredible changes in the music industry due to drastic changes in technology since you guys started out. How do you view those changes and how have you managed to succeed in spite of them?”

Hexum: “My friend, Colin Hanks, did a documentary on Tower Records (All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records), and asked about my experience with them. There was such an excitement when new music would come out. You would stand outside waiting and there’d be a line, a listening party or an in-store event.

Now that is all so obsolete, and there isn’t that same concentrated energy around music. Of course I love the convenience and that anybody can find anything. It is also the democratization of culture. I’m sure our business plan would have looked a lot different if we were just starting out today. Technology can be very separating.

Ever since the time before record players, everyone would have to meet together in the town square to hear music. That collective human need of meeting together really provided something that I really miss.

At the same time, our band is alive and well.

Live music can never be completely imitated or pirated. It is still going to be a special experience. Fortunately for us, because we focus on the live show as the main point of what we do, I guess piracy hasn’t really affected us as it has other bands, because you can’t pirate a show.”

CVW: “That brings me to the question regarding streaming – where do you stand on the issue?”

Hexum: “I’ve always liked radio because that’s just free music for the people, and I’ve always said, ‘Get your songs in people’s heads and everything else will take care of itself.’ I think I feel the same way about streaming services. Of course they pay a tiny fraction of what once was considered fair for album/CD sales, but maybe it was overinflated. Honestly, I just try to stay focused on the art side of it - making music from the heart that isn’t focused on the industry side of things. We just focus on being an artist and making sure we’re putting on good shows and having a good time doing it. I’ve never been one who’s refused to participate (with streaming). What I will say is this one upside to streaming is that it rewards good music; the more times people listen to it, the more artists get paid. Before you could get tricked into buying a CD or album that you really didn’t like – rewarding good marketing, and hype. Now it really comes down to quality and whatever people listen to over and over. That’s where the revenue goes.”

CVW: “Since your initial success was helped greatly by radio play, do you still consider what mainstream radio stations will play when you’re writing and making new music?”

Hexum: “I think I’ve always liked catchy hooks and had a pop-sensibility as do the other guys. If you just make a full spectrum of the music you like, part of that is going to be candidate for a single. We just try to make music from the heart, and when we’re done and have the album together, we’ll just pick one that might reach a broader audience. The truth is, it’s very much a crap shoot – nobody really knows what’s going to be a hit. In the EDM world it’s likely going to be the latest production that’s automatically a hit, but in the alternative world it’s based on luck basically. So we just keep doing our thing, and some records do better than others, but fortunately, we have such a direct relationship with our fan base that we’ll probably be fine no matter what.”

CVW: Is there a new album in the works?”

Hexum: “Yes, we have a good collection of music. We thought about trying to cram and get it out this year, but then we realized we have got our hands full with upcoming shows, so we’re going to take our time. We have 10 or 11 songs that we’ve recorded that we’re really excited about – some innovative new elements to the music that are hard to describe, but I know our fans are going to love it.”

CVW: “You’ve branched off onto a new project, The Nick Hexum Quintet…”

Hexum: “Yes. It was a lot of fun for me.

I did it when 311 were on a break. I didn’t have any anticipation of putting it out to the fans like, ‘Hey, I’m working on a funky jazzy record!’ I just did it; it was just pure, creative freedom. It was fun working with jazz cats.

311 comes from the garage band world and we have a lot of cool influences. But these guys, like my brother Zack, come from living in Brooklyn and playing in Jazz clubs, so I was really the novice in the room. I learned so much from them. I really worked on my

guitar playing a lot to play those guitar solos and leads that you hear there. I don’t have any plans to do another record like that right now though. Although I did put out a bonus track the other week to people who sponsored me when I ran to the top of the Empire State Building to raise money for Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

There are some things there that I may focus on again one day, but right now, the focus is on 311.”

CVW: “Do you have any advice for our local musicians who want to make it in the music business?”

Hexum: “I think that the most important thing is to work on a really good live show, and to put in your ten thousand hours of practicing. Then go out and perform a lot basically anything from playing in the open air mall with your guitar case open for change to local clubs. The more time you put into it, the better. You’re going to need to be tenacious. You’re going to get told ‘No’ a lot.

You’ll go through set-backs, and you’re just going to have to get back up to bat over and over again. Make a decision and probably not have a big backup plan. For me, I felt if I had a backup plan, I was going to use it. It was LA or bust – that’s what our sign said.”

CVW: “Talking about set-backs, you guys have had a few, including a fire, right?”

Hexum: “Yes, that was during our first year of touring. We barely escaped with our lives. I got burns on the front and back of my body…only my arms got second degree burns where the skin actually shriveled up.

I ran my hands through my hair and it was just like ashes. It was crazy, but it was also a unifying thing. We realized we don’t need stuff; we just needed each other and the songs. We borrowed some money from a generous fan, bought a better RV that was safer. We only missed one show; that was the show scheduled the night of the fire.

And there was also a tornado heading for us.

Right after the fire, we said, ‘We just have to get to Omaha’ so we rented a car, drove through a tornado, and played the very next night on borrowed instruments. We barely missed a step.”

CVW: “You’ve done so much and worked with so many notable people in the industry – you even produced the soundtrack to Adam Sandler’s “50 First Dates”.

Hexum: “Yeah, I owe Adam for our last number one – it was his idea. He loved the song “Amber” and asked, ‘Can you guys cover it kind of in the style of The Cure?’

I said, ‘That’s a great idea’ he called me directly on that one; the idea for the love song did come directly from him.”

CVW: “You’ve really been able to accomplish a lot and work with some really great people who share your passion for music.”

Hexum: “We were just talking about this at band practice the other day. We are just so grateful to be able to do this for so many years. It’s really not about selling a bunch of units for one time – but the longevity…the amount of time we’ve been doing something that we love on our own terms.”

For more information on 311 go to their website at 311.com

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The BellRays

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nless I’m your dad, then they are definitely your dad’s rock band.

Because I think they’re awesome. And if I am your dad, I’d like to say I’m sorry and nice to meet you! We should talk…

But enough about my current litigation situation (great band name, by the way), I’m here to talk about a little band from Riverside, CA. I was going to talk about why it’s called Riverside when there is no river near there but then I looked on a map and realized I should have paid more attention in geography class, but I save that for another day. Where was I? Oh yeah, The BellRays; a band soon to be melting faces and breaking hearts at the annual Rhythm, Wine & Brews Festival in Indio March 5, 2016 along with Insecure Alex, Dream Club, Matisyahu and 311. Not a bad lineup. I listened to this band for a week straight. I fell in love with the lead singer, Lisa Kekaula, and then realized it would never work and broke up with her in my mind.

From the thick, punkie, bluesy licks hammered out by Bob Vennum, to Lisa’s bone-chilling voice that makes hairs you haven’t grown yet stand at full attention, this band has been a constant, professional, kick-ass testament to hard work and a willingness to stick to what makes you happy, a philosophy that has gotten them world tours, multiple record releases and at least one new fan (this guy). Through the marvels of modern technology and what I can only assume is ignorance or ambivalence to my podcast; I was able to get both Lisa and Bob on the phone at the same time to talk rock music, cassette tapes and other nonsense. So sit back, relax and strap on your seatbelt: It’s The BellRays, Live From Uncle Ben’s: UNCLE BEN: You guys are from Riverside, been around for a while, how did you get your start?

Bob Vennum: We’ve been doing this for a long time. We just wanted a band where we could do whatever it is that we wanted to do musically. I have a very short attention span when it comes to music. I like my music to change. It’s nice to have a band that can do that.

Lisa Kekaula: “The whole idea of Rock And Roll was for people to express themselves as they saw fit. Then it becomes what genre are you and that was never something that we wanted to participate in.”

UB: It’s hard to explain your music, you kind of hit different levels of music. There’s old school rock, punk and then a lot of soul. I dig it.

LK: “Thank you.”

UB: Starting way back in the ‘90s in

By Uncle Ben

February 25 to March 2, 2016

Local MusicSpotlight

Not Your Dad’s Rock Band Article and photos By esther sanchez

Riverside, how has your band changed over the years or do you try and keep a certain sound?

BV: “In terms of growth on our records we have always been interested in doing different stuff. The changes come in the format of getting it heard. To be able to look outside of things and to listen to the song and see what it could use.”

UB: How has the digital age and technology changed the way you write, record and distribute music?

BV: “I don’t know if it has changed the way we go about making music.”

LK: “For instance, for us we had been trying to scrape money together to make records for the first 2 or 3 records and then we couldn’t do what we wanted to do. Then we got a 6-track cassette recorder and we were able to make a record the way we wanted and that’s the sound that everybody wanted. So we are kind of caught in between the tech world.”

BV: “We didn’t have the money to go into studios and we are such a live band we would record our practices and use those to weed through and cherry pick for our records.”

UB: Tell us about your approach to writing and recording music.

LK: “That is an ever-changing situation. We go back and forth, you have to be flexible in the way today’s music industry is. Not that we ever were, we are still underground and DIY.” BV: “For myself as a songwriter, I don’t have a way things shake out. A lot of times I’ll find some kind of rhythm thing where I’m either walking around or driving around and I’ll get to a guitar and try to remember it and if a top line shakes out then we can chase it or Lisa can chase it. A lot of time you’re spending a lot of time to shake things out.”

LK: “Bob wants to be organic. There seems to be a big push nowadays not just in music but in all industry where people just think they can put that in there, we can just throw everything and the kitchen sink and it doesn’t really move you.”

You can catch Bob, Lisa and the current incarnation of The BellRays on March 5, 2016 at the Rhythm, Wine & Brews Festival at the Indio Polo Grounds. For more information on the band and to hear and get their music, go to TheBellRays.com. They are a true hard-working rock band that seems to do everything right when it comes to songwriting, recording and playing live. Rock isn’t dead citizens; you just need to know where to look.

For the full interview, please head to LiveFromUncleBen.com or subscribe on iTunes (just search Live From UncleBen’s).

Upper Class Poverty Rising

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pper Class Poverty consists of a set of desert-raised brothers and two outof-state transplants, all of whom are primed to make their mark on the Coachella Valley music scene and beyond. Recent participants in the Coachella Valley Music Showcase at the Hood Bar in Palm Desert, their high-energy sound, progressive riffs and quality vocals elicited praise from the judges and for those of us that were UCP virgins, impressions were made.

I caught up with the guys at the house/ rehearsal space, nestled in a fantastically secluded corner of Thousand Palms where 3 of the 4 members of the group live.

Mikey Hendricks (bass), Corwin Hendricks (drums), Rob Lawrence (guitar/lead vox/lyrics) and Joseph Borck (guitar/backup vox) sit in a half-circle around me, dogs frolicking around us, while they reminisce on their journey as a band up to this point.

Rob: “I was born out here in the desert but spent most of my youth in Seattle. One of the goals I had when I moved back out here was to start a band and Corwin was one of the first people I met. My sister said she knew this drummer who wanted to start a band and introduced us.”

Corwin: “I had been teaching drumline/ drum corps for a long time and always wanted to start a band. When Rob and I met, our tastes in music really clicked and the chemistry was there. We had another band with our original bass-player, Chazz Shapiro, who actually came up with our current band name but Chazz ended up having to move. We went on hiatus for about 6 months or so without really playing at all until Mikey decided to join us on bass.”

Mikey Hendricks, Corwin’s kid-brother and the youngest guy in the group is also admittedly the “responsible” guy in the band who is often on his way to bed while his bandmates are still

up for shenanigans. A trait that has definitely paid off considering the fact that Mikey owns the house they live in and bought it on his own when he was 21 years-old.

Mikey: “I was in bands in High School but Corwin and I never played music together. I stopped playing for a while and then a couple of years back I started playing for Eevan Tre & The Show and although I enjoyed it, my work situation was causing conflict so it didn’t work out. Since then it has changed and I figured, why not? We are in the same house anyway. If we are going to live together we might as well play together. One of the reasons I bought this house was to have a place to make music.”

Corwin: “And I’m excited because I get to play in a band with my brother.”

The newest addition to UCP, Joseph Borck, migrated to the high-desert from Indiana, “by accident” so he says…which is also somewhat descriptive of how he ended up a member of the band.

Joseph: “About 4 or 5 months ago I met this girl at a bar and she told me some friends of hers who were musicians were having a party in Johnson Valley at what ended up being Rob’s dad’s property. I decided to go and took my acoustic guitar, Rob was there with his guitar and we sat around the bon-fire jamming all night. We exchanged numbers in the morning.”

Rob interjects with a chuckle: “You’re number in my phone is still under, Joe/Johnson Valley. The chemistry was just there. People were asking us how long we had been playing together and we were like, ummm….an hour or two?”

With their lineup complete and a steady stream of gigs throughout the valley over the past few months, UCP seems to have come out of nowhere and hit the ground running.

Corwin: “With the momentum we have going, we plan on keeping on doing what we are doing until the end of the season. Once summer hits we will probably take some time to record an album… so we have stuff coming up.”

UCP will be performing along with dozens of other Valley favorites at the upcoming, End of the World Festival at Schmidy’s Tavern.

Rob Lawrence is organizing a benefit concert for animal Samaritans of the desert on March 12th at Schmidy’s Tavern in Palm Desert. Check out UCP’s Facebook for info as it develops - facebook.com/UpperClassPoverty.

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

Local Music Spotlight

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by noe gutierrez

Jimi FITZ & CV 104.3 FM

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fter a brief hiatus from the airwaves, the FITZ in the Morning show is back! FITZ has returned in a big way on the Coachella Valley’s newest radio station CV 104.3 FM, in this, his 18th year on the air.

FITZ proclaimed, “I will continue my tradition of waking up the valley weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. with the perfect blend of music to start the day along with local news, information, stock market reports, traffic updates, humor and interviews of famous musicians and desert luminaries.” Although he was absent for only a short time, he was missed greatly by his dedicated listeners. This new undertaking will only further establish FITZ as the “Administrator of the Arts” in the Coachella Valley.

Owned and operated locally in the Coachella Valley by Sunnylands Broadcasting, CV 104.3 FM features all the smooth favorites FITZ is famous for spinning. “CV 104.3 FM is the perfect format for real music loving fans like me! A mix of soft rock, jazz, blues, standards, classics, old school, R&B, with a dab of country and current pop custom made to put together the perfect blend of music.

We will also work closely with several of our desert charities to help them spread the word about the great work that they all do.”

FITZ is well-known for his involvement in local humanitarian efforts around the Coachella Valley.

FITZ’ social conscience leads him to connect everything he does with helping others. FITZ envisions CV 104.3 FM to completely encircle the Coachella Valley with support, thus the initials ‘CV’ for Coachella Valley. “We want this station to super-serve the valley. My vision for this station and my

show is to be real local radio. Being real on the radio is what audiences want and need.

They want someone to be looking out for them and to let them know about what’s going on in this special desert paradise. They want great music and some humor to lighten up their mornings. Listeners want to be motivated and given positive reinforcement for their day.” Since January, FITZ has been providing his listeners with inspiration and levity. He has also maintained the support of many local business organizations. “Our sponsors are very important to us and we will work hard to help grow their businesses as a good marketing partner. I have many long time sponsor supporters and appreciate their continued belief in the “FITZ IN THE MORNING” brand. Special thanks to DESERT LEXUS, THE McCALLUM THEATRE, STUDIO DENTISTRY, UNITED AMERICAN MORTGAGE, CRYSTAL CLEAR HOME, and GENERAL AIR CONDITIONING and PLUMBING.” FITZ is committed to placing Coachella Valley bred musicians center stage. “I’m also shining the spotlight on our world class musicians who call the Coachella Valley home. We have so many great world class musicians with amazing resumes who call the Coachella Valley home. I will be shining the spotlight on them every morning weaving their music in throughout the morning and having them in my studio to jam live and also debut new recordings they might have.”

FITZ has played new music from local artists Courtney Chambers and Michael Keeth, to name a few.

FITZ is also concluding work on his most recent release. “I’m just putting the icing on my new album. It’s gone through three ‘are

we finished yet’ stages but I’m getting pretty close on saying it’s done. It’s almost time to get it out to the Universe! I produced this new project with my talented friend Lewis Richards (Micah Brown, Zen Robbi, Slightly Stoopid, Sting). WJ RENE (Wendy Jane Fitzgerald) wrote the lyrics and Lewis and I wrote the music. We’re all proud of it and Wendy wrote some amazing lyrics that take us on a great musical journey. We’re looking forward to jamming them live.” FITZ debuted two songs this past Saturday when he performed with the ‘Kings of California’ ZEN ROBBI at The Monthly Music Showcase at The River at Rancho Mirage. This is just another

SPA RESORT CASINO PRESENTS

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“SHAMROCK ‘N’ ROLL” OUTDOOR FESTIVAL WITH FOOD, BREWS AND ENTERTAINMENT BY THE RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS ON MARCH 17, 2016

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pa Resort Casino presents “Shamrock ‘n’ Roll,” a spectacular outdoor celebration with delicious food, bar garden and a performance by The Red Hot Chilli Pipers on March 17, 2016 at the corner of N. Indian Canyon and E. Andreas Road.

Downtown Palm Springs will alight with food, brews and blarney on the night of March 17 when the Spa Resort Casino opens up its outdoor venue for “Shamrock ‘n’ Roll,” a St. Patrick’s Day celebration like no other, including a performance

by The Red Hot Chilli Pipers starting at 8:30PM. “We are planning a fun-filled festival with delicious food options for sale along with a selection of the best brews and other beverages,” Spa Resort Casino Assistant General Manager Kari Stout-Smith said, “and we’re thrilled to present the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who will fire up our Shamrock ‘n’ Roll outdoor stage with their unique blend of rock music and bagpipes with attitude.”

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers fusion of rocked up bagpipes and clever covers of popular songs from all genres will put the rock in the “Shamrock ‘n’ Roll” outdoor festival when they take the stage starting at 8:30PM. Comprised of pipers, guitarists, keyboards and drummers, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers represent musicianship of the highest order and possess a passion for pipes that leaves audiences breathless across the globe.

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regular event that FITZ is spearheading to continue the forward march.

FITZ looks back on his time at his previous home and recognized the need to move forward. “My 17 year home on the radio in the valley had a format change about a year ago. Then my next station got bought and the new owners wanted to change the format.

In both instances I was offered mornings on each of their sister stations but I just didn’t feel it was the correct fit for me. CV 104.3 FM fits all of my criteria so I’m happy and super excited for what the future holds for the valley’s brand new radio station and me! It’s not every day that you get to start a new radio station and a brand new frequency. 104.3FM initially launched as North Pole radio and was very popular during the Christmas season of course. I made several trips to the North Pole to visit Santa and try to get him to let us change the music after New Year’s Day. This was not an easy task because as you can imagine Santa loves his Christmas music but after we had numerous discussions he agreed to let us change the format to what we’re doing now! Thank you SANTA!” Christmas is now year-round in the desert thanks to jimi ‘FITZ’ Fitzgerald and CV 104.3 FM, the gift that keeps on giving. Visit CV1043.com

Spa Resort Casino’s “Shamrock ‘n’ Roll” runs from 7PM to 10PM on March 17, 2016, with The Red Hot Chilli Pipers performance starting at 8:30PM. Tickets are $15 and include a commemorative glass. Tickets available for purchase online at SpaResortCasino.com or in person at the Paradise Rewards Club. Food and Bar Garden will provide items for sale. Must be 21 years of age and above to attend. Entrance to the event is from N. Indian Canyon and E. Andreas Road. Parking is available at Spa Resort Casino and the surrounding area.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

The Idle Effect T

he Idle Effect is a new geeky, pop culture and comedy podcast brought to you by Jerry ‘Jer’ White (Producer/Writer/Host) and Charlie ‘Chuck’ Ellis (Producer/Writer/Host), Melissa Hull (Camera operator/ Voice Over) and Makena Hull (holds up signs and make noises). It appears to be filmed and recorded in the nerdiest space possible.

The meaning behind The Idle Effect is best defined by the hosts themselves. White: “It’s basically just what happens when someone has a Best Buy card and too much time on their hands.” Ellis: “The title is an effective method of keeping the listener’s expectations low.” Those low expectations are surprisingly raised after watching the first episode. I found myself despising the scene between William Shatner and Godzilla but remained riveted by the seriousness of White and Ellis’ approach to their inaugural episode. I laughed for roughly 44 of the 45 minutes.

If you’ve ever had a conversation with Ellis you know that his tangential thinking and laborious verbosity are classic “Chuck”. The Mighty Jack frontman/guitarist/keyboardist pulls you in like a tractor beam, (Star Wars, not Star Trek), and does not let go until you’re glassy-eyed and have a blood alcohol content of .10. This is also the allure of The Idle Effect. They are each other’s funny man and straight man at the same time. This balance of camaraderie is what makes it work. This charismatic couple seem hell-bent on poking fun at all of pop culture. White comes clean on their intent. “We’re not here just to make people laugh...but make the right people

by noe gutierrez

laugh.” Ellis agrees, “We’re here to amuse ourselves and hopefully amuse others along the way.” Their humor is appropriate for the podcast medium; so much that they earned the dreaded “Parental Advisory - Explicit Content” label for their first episode.

A podcast is a free and unique media that is comprised of a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or portable media player. They are typically available as a series of which new installments can be received by subscribers automatically. White cuts to the bone on why they chose the podcast, “I wanted to work in a medium where nobody could tell us what to do.” Ellis counters with, “Plus we were told that we should do one.” In addition to audio, they shoot video of their episodes.

Filming video of the podcast is an option White and Ellis could not resist. They have the faces for a podcast. White admits, “I’m just too beautiful to not be seen as well as heard.” Ellis concurred, “What he said.” The Idle Effect follows in the footsteps of other nerdy podcasts like The Nerdist, Wired and The Read.

White concedes that they are following the path of the biggest geek known to man.

“We’re copying everything Kevin Smith has done but on substantially less of the budget.”

Coachella Valley Weekly asked White and Ellis a few other inconsequential questions: CVW: Is there a script?

JW: “Have you heard the show?”

CE: “Uh...Define script?”

CVW: Will product placement be an element of the show in the future?

CE: “Are you asking will we compromise

UB40 Performing at The Show

February 25 to March 2, 2016

Local Music Spotlight

our integrity & principles for personal financial gain?! Hell yeah we will! See we come from the Gene Simmons school of... well The Gene Simmons school ...where selling out is the new keeping it real.”

JW: “Did you want to buy time on the show?”

CVW: Same question but with alcohol?

JW: “Oh, so you’re assuming there are parts of this done without alcohol?”

CE: (Takes a drink) CVW: Are there any topics that are off limits?

JW: “Only Mexican cat juggling.”

CE: “We try not to talk about last summer’s Fantastic Four movie, but occasionally the subject still comes up…also Jerry’s time in Nam is usually avoided too...although I’ve always thought that him having a flashback while we’re live could make for a fun and interesting segment.”

CVW: What’s the future of The Idle Effect?

CE: “Now that we are getting the Noe Gutierrez bump who knows? Start doing

some live shows in front of an audience. ..possibly opening up for Aphrodisiac Jacket?”

JW: “Go on to make a butt-load of money, spend it all on hookers and blow, and end up broke and homeless in Encino.”

CVW: Is the podcast a lost art form?

JW: “No...now Mexican cat juggling, that’s a lost art form, but I can’t talk about it.”

CE: “Some of the cynics out there might consider our medium as archaic and passé...a discarded relic from a bygone era. But to them we say no! You’re dumb! If you look at countries like St. Vincent & The Grenadines or Mauritania...you’ll see that podcasting is just catching on there.”

Episode #1 and #2 are available via iTunes or podbean.com. You can watch the episodes on YouTube as well. Episode #3 will be up once you read this.

Email - Idleeffect@yahoo.com Facebook.com/theidleeffect.

Listen online on iTunes or at Idleeffect. podbean.com or watch us on Youtube.

Parental Advisory. Explicit Content.

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At Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa on August 6. Tickets on Sale Now!

U

B40 featuring Ali Campbell with Astro and Mickey Virtue, the founding members of the legendary reggae/pop ensemble that blazed a multicultural musical path with such global hits as “Red RedWine” and “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You,” will perform at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa on August 6, 2016 at 8pm.

UB40 forge a signature high-energy, funky performance with an 11-piece touring

ensemble, complete with a three-piece horn section. Since reuniting two years ago, lead vocalist Ali Campbell along with percussionist/trumpeter/vocalist Astro and Mickey Virtue on keyboards have become a formidable touring outfit with highly successful treks to South America, Nigeria, South Africa, Dubai, Papua New Guinea and Australia. The band showcases the enduring hits from their cannon of songs like “Kingston Town,” “Food for Thought” and more.

Formed in 1979, UB40 helped define reggae music for a generation, transforming their working class roots into a global clarion call. The pioneering reggae troupe earned multiple GRAMMY nominations and sold 70 million records worldwide as they took their smooth yet rootsy musical blend to all corners of the globe.

The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage. Purchase tickets: www.

HotWaterCasino.com or call (800) 585-3737 or at Essentials Gift Shop at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Prices are $55-$75, based on seat location.

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

Valley Rhythms

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Lola Rossi

The Commodores & The Jacksons Team Up at Fantasy Springs

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fter their Sold Out concert last year, The Jacksons return to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino with The Commodores and take the stage this Saturday, February 27, 2016 in The Special Events Center at 8 p.m.

“I love what I do,” said Walter “Clyde” Orange of The Commodores during a telephone interview from his home in Florida.

“It is so rewarding making music and sharing it with the world.” The most memorable song from The Commodores would be a matter of choice, since everything they recorded is still playing on the radio. “Brick House” is a favorite dance tune at parties but “Nightshift” was the song that brought home The Grammy in 1985. The current members of the band are William “WAK” King, Orange and James Dean “J.D” Nicholas with their band The Mean Machine.

Born and raised with two sisters in Jacksonville, Florida, Walter Orange was raised in a strict and loving home. “I wasn’t allowed to touch anything. I wasn’t allowed to touch the radio or the TV,” recalls Orange.

“We had a piano in our living room and one day I came home from school with a melody on my mind, I was maybe twelve years old.

I sat down at the piano and tried to play what was on my mind. After a few minutes, I turned around and my Grandmother was standing in the doorway. She just looked at me and never said a word to discourage me. I couldn’t believe it.”

Orange became interested in the drums when he was in elementary school and in the ninth grade he started learning how to play the drums and how to read drum charts. “My dream was to play good enough to play with James Brown’s band.” In 1965, he received a Full Scholarship to Alabama State College in Montgomery, Alabama.

In 1969, while performing with his own band at a local venue, The Commodores were around the corner at The Elks Club. He went to see the band and met one of the founding members, bassist Michael Gilbert, at the bar and they became friends. The original band was from Tuskegee, Alabama. “During the summer of 1969, I flew from Montgomery to New York City to join the band. I met their manager at the time who told me to drive to Atlantic City, New Jersey. I was a nervous wreck because I had never driven in that

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much traffic before.”

He watched the band perform at The Wonder Garden for two weeks to learn the arrangements. At that time, The Commodores weren’t a top recording band they were just a really great band. “My first gig with The Commodores was in New York City at Small’s Paradise, we performed there all summer.” After Labor Day, they drove 18 hours back to Alabama to go to school. Their manager, Benjamin Ashburn called and told them to get together for a phone call the following week. “He called Lionel Richie’s grandmother’s house and told us that he had a friend named Suzanne de Passe who arranged for us to tour with The Jackson Five.

We couldn’t believe it. We toured with them for about two years. I am very grateful and thankful to God. I feel very blessed.”

This opportunity led them to Motown with their debut album topping the charts with the instrumental song “Machine Gun” in 1974. Top hits include “Easy”, “Three Times A Lady”, “Sail On” and “Still”, to name a few.

The Jackson Five made history when their first four singles reached #1. This gave them International fame and yet, they never won a Grammy nor an American Music Award, but they really enjoyed being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Bee Gees in 1997; and the Vocal Hall of Fame in 1999.

I highly recommend going to The Jacksons Official website and viewing them on YouTube. The Jackson Family live their lives with love and respect for each other. They have their ups and downs in life, just like anybody else, but the bond they have as a Family and their Faith in God, keeps them focused. They are very appreciative of all the fans that have supported them over the years.

backstage jazz

By patte purcell

Celebrity Jazz Jam Latin Night under the full desert moon

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razilian jazz sung by the beautiful Gretje Anjell, with acoustic guitar

by Dori Amarillo, gently opened the Celebrity Jazz Jam Latin Night on an intimate note as the full moon rose over the Desert Willow Golf Resort. The air was balmy and the Sold Out crowd swayed and danced under the moon as they listened to the sounds of incredible Latin Jazz from some of the best national artists and local favorites.

Rick Parma performed his latest hit “Beseme Caliente” taking the mood of the jam to a full band sound.

Local songtress Eve Holmes then sang “Sway” in a stunning red dress and Sabor A Mi. Bob Desena, who won the #1 Jazz artist of the year (LA Music Awards), went from flugelhorn to trumpet to vibes as he got everyone going with his Latin hits including; “Little Sunflower,” “Song for my Father,” “Wachi Wara (Soul Sauce).”

Guitarist Joe Baldino opened the second set with an incredible version of Santana’s “Black Magic Woman” and his original song “Love” where he was joined by Rick Parma, Bob Desena, Victor Robles, and the core band which included; Hans Zermuehlen on keys, Andrew Ford (who did a gig with Chaka Kahn at the White House the night before) on bass, Craig Chesnut on drums, and Rafael Feliciano on percussion, a truly big number!

Saxaphonist and recording artist Victor Robles kept it going with “Europa” as he moved through the audience serenading the happy jam fans.

Rose Mallett, a local favorite, sang “Smooth Operator” and “Caravan” with full back up, including the incredible sax and clarinet recording star J Anton Boykin, who mesmerized the crowd with an incredible show, by jumping on chairs to play to the audience and even laying down while he played “Maria Maria,” a Latin version of Mr. Magic, and he joined Rick Parma on “Mambo #5 (A Little bit of).”

From there the legendary vocalist and recording artist Slim Man took the microphone and crooned two of his biggest hits “Secret Rendezvous” and “Secrets of Your heart.” Slim was in charge of the microphone second set and had a funny repertoire going the entire time.

The finale was “Rhythm is Going to Get You” which included all of the artists and a conga line led by the Slim Man himself. The audience roared their approval.

The Celebrity Jazz Jam series is held outdoors monthly on Monday nights during good weather and inside the ballroom when weather isn’t cooperative year round at the beautiful Desert Willow Golf Resort overlooking the golf course. Sound and lighting are provided by sound and lighting guru Willie Robinson of LA Audio who has been providing sound to national acts including Tower of Power, James Brown and many more. The next jam is Monday, March 21 from 5-8 pm and will feature a host of artists who will be jamming and performing standards, Latin, and a little swing. Tickets can be purchased for $30 at www.purplepass.com/celebrityjazzjam3 Produced by Patte Purcell and Karl Erikson the series goes year around. For more info contact Patte at 702-219-6777. All photos by Marco Najara.

Local MusicSpotlight

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

February 25 to March 2, 2016

By Tracy Dietlin & Michelle Brewer

Bridger- How one band battled the ‘forces that were against them’

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magine you’re a band with all your equipment loaded up in a big truck and you drove from the desert down to LA and you just pulled up in front of Seahorse Studios to record your first full-length album with a high caliber producer and just as you’re struggling to park this monstrosity on the narrow LA street, you get the call... the dreaded call... saying that unfortunately your weekend of studio recording time has been bumped due to a high profile, multi-platinum selling artist that is still in the studio recording and you will have to be rescheduled.

Your hearts sink, you’re shocked and disappointed. What can you do? You go to the only member of the band that has a home in LA (frontman and guitarist, Jim Cathcart), get drunk and go karaoke.

Imagine your next foray at recording is going to that same studio weeks later, spending a good part of Saturday getting (KT Zapcart’s) drum kit set up and all the drum mics dialed in and right after you lay down the first drum track, your Mom, Lora Cathcart, takes a serious full on tumble down a flight of stairs. (Bruce and Lora Cathcart had been there to bring dinner to the band and offer their support. Jim and KT are their son and daughter). The ambulance is called and she is off to the hospital.

Now imagine it taking a year to finally get the album recorded, mixed, mastered and in your hands when there was actually only 6 days of studio recording time that was spread out over that year. Add in several other bumps in the road and you can understand why Bridger named their debut album Forces Against Us. The band had to overcome many forces that were against them to make this record.

Having a producer the caliber of Chris Kasych (Vampire Weekend, Neil Young, Coheed & Cambria, Wallflowers, Cee Lo Green, to name a few) was both exhilarating and exhausting, gratifying and gut-wrenching. But Bridger wouldn’t have had it any other way.

KT Zapcart: “Making this record was a very arduous process. We pounded it out and the engineer/producer that we worked with was a really great guy and has worked with a lot of really big people, which put a couple snags in getting things done sooner.

He has some serious clout in the industry and we felt he was worth waiting for to work with him.”

Jacob Miller (guitar): “He was fucking amazing! We wanted to wait on Chris because he was worth waiting for. I mean he’s worked with so many great people.”

Dan Dillinger (bass): “After all the things that happened to us, one thing after another, we didn’t think it (the album) was going to happen. It was like everything was against us.”

KT: “I’m really proud of us because it took more than a year to get through it and yet only about 6 days were spent in the studio. The first weekend we actually got into the studio, we had just set up my drum kit, tracked the first song, and then all the sudden my mom fell down the flight of stairs at the studio right in front of me, and of course we were all freaking out. And honestly it’s a miracle she’s even alive. We had to rush her to the hospital and after that it’s like ‘how can we go back and think about recording’. But these guys powered through with me, because I knew that I had to get my drums done in one day for them to still have studio time to do their parts.”

Jim Cathcart: “It was right after Mom fell and Katie was screaming her back to life and I looked at Dan and we were both like ‘forces against us man’. Realistically we probably had a day each to lay down our parts and a day for vocals. This record really was a labor

of love. And it was hard, because it’s not like we got to go back the next weekend, we had to work around the studio’s schedule and so it could be 3 weeks later or more before we got to go back in.”

KT: “It was like it being Christmas Eve for a year and Christmas morning never coming.

You know you have this present in your hand and you can shake it, but you can’t open it.”

Jacob: “The people we worked with (Chris Kasych and Alex DeYoung, who mastered the CD) became like family. We spent 14-16 hour days with them and then we’d be going to dinner with them at 2am. Let me just say that the guy who mastered this album probably has at least 2 songs in the Top 10 on any given week. ” Dan: “Considering all the high profile people these guys have worked with it was pretty cool that they really wanted to work with us because they believed in the music. And I feel we came out stronger as a result of this experience as a brotherhood/ sisterhood.”

I asked the band if they felt like the album came out the way they had envisioned it.

Jim: “Every time you record you’re reminded that it’s a living breathing thing and you’re not sure how it’s going to turn out really.”

Dan: “We knew what we wanted going in and we knew we had a limited amount of studio time and we wanted to bang it out.

I think there were very minimal changes to what we wanted.”

KT: “I think Chris was really appreciative of our musicianship. I think the hardest thing for us was we were struggling with the idea of what we should sound like; more of a polished sound, but sounding live, but not over-produced. He was working through his computer and different software and it was like this battle in this warehouse and there were so many frequencies going on with our music. We had influences like Mute, Bad Religion, Goldfinger, and different bands like that, and the album sounded a little more rock, which gave us a little stress, but we came to the point where we just had to say ‘we trust you’ and we’re SO glad we did.”

Jim: “And then months later we had been working on it so long that you start to lose the vision of what you were trying to do.

Somewhere along the line that vision gets blurry. But that can be good because you can start hearing your music in a different way.”

KT: “Another thing that took so long is Chris wasn’t happy with the first mix and didn’t want to put his name on it until he was 100% good with it. So he put it back through the board and it came to life again. And he spent time adding different nuances.”

Jim: “I’ve always been really critical of anything I’ve ever recorded and I was like that on this record, but as soon as I let go of that mentality and started celebrating all the little wins…I was able to appreciate different parts of it. There were a lot of happy accidents on Forces Against Us that I didn’t expect.”

KT: “I support every musician in this valley because it takes so much more for us to be a local musician than one who has already made it. It’s harder to not be famous because you still have your life and regular jobs that you have to work at AND then try to be a musician and record and perform and fit it in to everyone’s real jobs work schedule.”

Dan: “This album is about us figuring out who Bridger is and now that we’ve done that, we know what we can do, and we’re ready to just GO! We’ve been working on new material. And I think whatever we come out with now will have more of an emotional attachment with the writing.”

I asked the band what their plans are from here regarding promoting and distributing the CD. Jim: “We have a plan of attack that we’ve put together. We have a blast together, we love to play and as long as we’re still smiling at rehearsals we’re good, but we also have a strategy. With this record we feel like we have a quality demo that we can try to secure management or a record deal.”

KT: “For the CD release party at the Date Shed we’re excited to get to play longer and to share the music.”

Dan: “We’re going to be doing the record from start to finish and we also have a few other surprises that we don’t want anyone to know about until that night. We also have limited swag that will only be available at this show; a limited number of stickers and posters.”

The Forces Against Us CD release party will be this Saturday, February 27 at The Date Shed in Indio. Bridger will be giving out free CDs to the first 100 people through the door.

The show is free, 18 & over, doors open at 8pm with opening acts Herbert (Herb Lienau) and Ideation with Bridger following.

At last year’s CV Music Awards Bridger won Best Punk Band, Best Bass (Dan Dillinger), Best Frontman (Jim Cathcart), Best Drummer (KT Zapcart) and Best Band. The previous year they won Best New Band.

Check Bridger out at facebook.com/ thebandBRIDGER.

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

Consider This

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Eleni P. Austin

BRIDGER “Forces Against Us” “

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’m feeling young, I’m feeling new, one fire dies another burns/Was down, not out, You’ll learn what we’re about when we take on the fucking world.” That’s Bridger, throwing down the musical gauntlet, on “Young And New.” With that song and their first record, they are redefining the paradigm of Desert Rock.

By now, most everyone knows the genesis of Desert Rock, (if not, check out Joerg Steineck’s cogent documentary, Lo-Sound Desert). Back in the early ‘80s, young bands with no place to play made the most of this desolate environment. By dragging generators into the middle of the desert and plugging in.

Channeling the D.I.Y. ethos and energy of Punk and mixing in the torpid sludge of Heavy Metal, they succeeded in creating a whole new sound. Aside from a couple of notable exceptions, Erica Huskey, (and later Robin Clewell) from Dali’s Llama and Elvira Corral from Polyphemus, Desert Rock has been primarily a Boys Club. That’s about to change.

Jim and Katie Cathcart have been a part of the Desert music scene since puberty hit.

The siblings began playing their instruments, guitar and drums, respectively, before learning their ABCs. At the turn of the 21st century, still in their teens, they joined forces with bassist Laramie Hancock, and formed JeKKel. The Power-Punk trio quickly made a name for themselves, gigging around the desert and even playing L.A. venues like the Whisky and the Knitting Factory. They released a clutch of albums, and managed to continue even as life and higher education shifted their priorities.

But all good things come to an end. After more than 10 years together, JeKKel had run its course. It was time to begin a new chapter.

Declaring their independence on July 4, 2013, Jim and Katie, (re-christened KT Zapcart, following her marriage to her partner, Casey Zaparinuk), began jamming with a couple of old pals, guitarist Jacob Miller and bassist Dan Wheat, (a.k.a. Dan Dillinger). The name Bridger comes from a book Jim was reading, “Trappers From The Old West.” Inspired by the frontiersman Jim Bridger, the new moniker also signified bridging their past and present

WESTFIELD MALL 72840 Hwy 111 #171 Palm Desert, CA 92260 760-341-2017 www.recordalley.com

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musical endeavors.

The four-piece immediately began playing around the desert and throughout Southern California. They have headlined shows and opened for bands like the Koffin Kats and Dead Kennedys.

Woodshedding in a makeshift studio, they honed in on a sound that synthesized their myriad influences, from Black Sabbath and Fear to Led Zeppelin and NoFx. They headed into Seahorse Sound Studios in L.A. in 2015.

The result is Bridger’s full-length debut, Forces Against Us. The album opens with the triple attack of “Because Pat Said So,” “Beaver” and “Pass The Hatchet.” “Because…” is a squally instrumental overture. It feels like the musical equivalent of an imprisoned Superhero breaking free from an asylum. Blistering guitars, drums and bass careen out of the speakers at warp speed, forming an impenetrable flying wedge.

Without pausing for a breath, the band lurches into “Beaver.” A sonic maelstrom, it’s powered by Zapcart’s triple-time tattoo, thundering bass lines, and scorching twin guitars that skitter and howl. It’s nearly a full minute before Jim’s vocals appear, sketching out a Penthouse Forum scenario featuring a comely hitch-hiker. “100 miles of pretty pink skyway, getting some and getting somewhere fast/My favorite movies start the same way, with a girl out on the road.”

“Pass The Hatchet” manages to ratchet up the tension, relying on waspish guitar riffs, whip-crack percussion and searchand-destroy bass fills. Suddenly the whole juggernaut shudders to a halt, only to slowly accelerate like a roller-coaster clanking to the top of a summit before the real thrills ensue.

Guitars gather speed like a swarm of killer bees.

Jim’s sepulchral vocals echo James Hetfield’s authoritative growl as he insists his sleep-scape is more rewarding than his waking hours. “I’m a failure in life, but a champion in sleep/When I turn off the lights, I’m a Viking in dreams.”

The album’s best tracks wed take-noprisoner melodies and instrumentation

to smart, self-aware lyrics. On the aforementioned “Young And New,” doomy power chords are supplanted by splintery riffs, rubbery bass lines and a blitzkrieg backbeat.

The lyrics offer a shaggy mission statement for the band; “I found a sound that mirrors my might, 2,000 Lbs. of Rock And Roll/The earth will shake now that the beast’s awake, we’re all compelled to lose control.”

Volcanic drums and molten riffs anchor “Brewery On Fire.” But the lyrics offer amusing non-sequiturs that reference the Tom Hanks movie, “Big” as well as the ‘50s Doo-Wop group, Little Anthony And The Imperials.

“Cortex” is a musical Molotov cocktail.

Zapcart’s jackhammer beat collides with hopscotch bass and strafing guitars. Time signatures shift, powering down, then accelerate with agility. The lyrics offer a mental-health check, “It’s a prison in here, four walls, my mind.”

Finally, “Real Deal” is just that. Ferocious drums pummel like a battering ram. Stinging

guitars are tensile and concise, and coiled bass-lines are so taut you could bounce a quarter off them. The lyrics seem to offer a cryptic account of Bridger’s rise from JeKKel’s ashes, as the band wonders “Oh can I be Lazarus?” Jacob’s kinetic solo offers guitarvirtuoso pyrotechnics.

Zapcart seizes the spotlight on “Pills And Thrills.” The savagery of her vocals is matched by her destructo drumming and the guitars’ rapid fire riff-age.

The bitter denunciation of “See You Next Tuesday” is offset by ricochet rhythms, boomerang bass and guitar riffs that detonate like smart bombs. It’s the perfect intersection of Punk power and Speed Metal.

Other interesting tracks include the seasick emotional see-saw of “Parasite,” the sandblasted sludge of “Melter” and the dusty instrumental respite, “Orion Skyward.”

Meanwhile, “Death To Snowbirds” offers musical catharsis to any local who has been trapped behind the wheel, as a confused and elderly seasonal population navigates the relative simplicity of Highway 111.

The album closer is a gentle, Celtic-tinged soother that recalls Enya’s breakthrough song “Orinoco Flow.” Umm just kidding, the final track on Forces Against Us bears the unambiguous title “You Asshole.”

Lyrics, melody and instrumentation are equally pithy. The song juxtaposes skullcrusher rhythms, bottom-heavy bass, blistering guitars and Jim’s succinct verbal assault; a satisfying finish from a deft debut.

This band doesn’t seem interested in halfmeasures. The music they create is balls- (and ovaries) -to-the-wall intense. Forces Against Us provides a much needed jolt of Girl Power to a testosterone-centric environment. Bridger is adding a new chapter to the on-going saga of Desert Rock.

art Scene

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

February 25 to March 2, 2016

By rebecca pikus

Cathedral City --- “Where Art Lives”!

T

he 5th Annual Cathedral City Cove Tour of Artist’s Studios has become bigger than ever. It is now a yearly must-see Event for art lovers & savvy art collectors, & is making Cathedral City the premier Art Destination in the Palm Springs area. Event highlights include visits to historic homes of artists who settled in the arts colony formerly known as Cathedral Village. It will feature Open houses of 17 current working artists in Cathedral City, live acoustic music outdoors, a roof-top dance performance by Simeon Den & Josh King, live mural painting

by Luiz Castro, live sound art by Marnie Navarro, Folklorico Dance Group, guided tours, refreshments, a children’s art-making garden, and the unveiling of a new mural by Cove artist Jessica Schiffman. Art for sale will include paintings, sculptures, photography, mosaics, and folk art.

The Featured Artist for 2016 is Tim Townsley. Participating Artists include: Simeon Den; Nancy O’Donnell; Margie St. Anthony; Karen Hondorp; Gary Borgstadt; Socrates Painter; Robert Reeves; Sofia Enriques; Jeff Dove; Ray Lanowy; Patrick Meyer; Bill Anson; Jessica Schiffman; Marnie Navarro; Luiz Castro; Bradley Giles. The Cathedral Center will have an exhibition of Val Samuelson paintings and a video of Jeff Palmer, owner of the Val Samuelson house.

Throughout the 1920’s to 50’s, the Cathedral City Cove was a gathering place

Painting by Tim Townsley

for nationally recognized artists who came to retreat, work, and teach. Agnes Pelton, the posthumously celebrated American modernist painter, was at the heart and core of that vibrant art community that attracted an eclectic group of accomplished art makers.

Over the years, that history was lost and only recently has come to light by the enthusiastic research efforts of the Agnes Pelton Society spearheaded by artists Peter Palladino and Simeon Den, who purchased Pelton’s historic house and established the Agnes Pelton Society, a non-profit arts advocacy group to support local artists, provide arts education opportunities for children, and ensure that the legacy of Agnes Pelton will endure.

The Agnes Pelton Society sponsors free monthly art classes for children, organizes art exhibitions, and hosts the monthly Perez Road Art Walk. In addition, the Society established the Murals Project in the Cove which commissions local artists to paint works celebrating the culturally and socially diverse Cathedral City community. For information visit the website: agnespeltonsociety.com 5th Annual Cathedral City Cove Tour of Artists’ Studios and Historic Homes will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, from 11AM to 3PM. Admission is $15 for adults, children free. Tickets can be purchased online at agnespeltonsociety.com and on the day of the event at the Cathedral Center, 37-171 W. Buddy Rogers Ave., Cathedral City, CA.

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

PET PLACE

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by Janet McAfee

Limousine Shelter Tours Making Matches!

C

alling Coachella Valley pet seekers!

Loving All Animals now takes humans to local shelters and rescues to fine their perfect canine or feline best friend. These shelter tours are popular with pet seekers who don’t know where the public and private shelters are located and/or would like to have an enjoyable experience in selecting a rescue animal.

Karen, a passenger on a recent tour reports, “I live here part time and didn’t know where the shelters are located. This was a fabulous experience. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable. We met dozens of dogs and had so much fun!” Karen’s Golden Doodle dog accompanied the tour group to ensure compatibility with any prospective siblings pups they would meet. These limousine shelter tours may be the only program of its kind in the country.

Bystanders do a double take when an amazing doggie decorated limousine cruises along Coachella Valley streets and highways.

Curious stares are riveted when the limo stops and the 4-legged passengers trot out.

They are some of our homeless dogs, now freed from the shelters and on the first step of a journey leading to a loving “furrever” home.

Loving All Animals, a Palm Desert animal welfare organization, received a donated limousine several years ago. The windows were decorated with a dog motif. It serves as a moving billboard encouraging the adoption of shelter animals with the message “FROM A HOME IN A SHELTER TO THE SHELTER OF YOUR HOME” written in bold lettering along the sides of the vehicle. This unique one-of-akind vehicle helps change public perception about rescue animals, encouraging people to realize they are marvelous, glamourous, and loving creatures who bring untold joy to the humans who adopt them.

Each tour includes a visit to several shelters as time permits. The first stop is the lovely Pet Rescue Center in Coachella where the homelike setting, beautiful grounds, and agility course defy the stereotype of a gloomy animal shelter. The dogs run free in the lovely, home like backyard where visitors can meet them. Next stop is our large Riverside County shelter in Thousand Palms, the Coachella Valley Animal Campus.

This modern structure with roomy indoor/ outdoor kennels has the largest number of adoptable animals in our Valley. Next door is Animal Samaritans’ state-of-the-art veterinary clinic, and around the corner

on Ramon Road there is an opportunity to meet their shelter animals.

If potential adopters are interested in large dogs, the Humane Society of the Desert in North Palm Springs is a good resource. Next stop is the gorgeous new Palm Springs Animal shelter with its inviting artwork, pet boutique, modern surgical suite, and of course more animals! Your knowledgeable tour guide is available to assist in the selection of your new pet.

Loving All Animals is adding something new to the tours this season. Guests will be treated to a tour of the BG Bird Gardens, a bit of paradise in Palm Desert housing 60 exotic birds in the backyard of the African style mansion. Thatched huts, surrounded

meet Brownie Take a look at this handsome face and big Brown eyes! Brownie is a Dachshund/Chihuahua blend, a young fellow ready to be part of your family. He was rescued by the Pet Rescue Center in Coachella. Contact them at (760) 398-7722.

pretty panda Precious Panda will purr her way into your heart! This sweet mellow Tuxedo girl is the “purrfect” companion for someone seeking a loving and engaging cat.

Rescued by ForeverMeow.

Contact (442) 234-8405.

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by cascading water features and tropical landscape, house some of the gorgeous feathered residents. A focal point is the lovely flamingo lagoon. A visit to this desert gem is an exciting addition to your day with the animals.

Upcoming tour dates include Wednesday, March 2, and Friday, April 1. Additional dates will be added as the shelter limousine tour program expands. A nominal donation includes refreshments and lunch. Join the fun and meet your “purrfect” match.

Contact Loving All Animals at (760) 8347000 or www.lovingallanimals.org to make your reservation.

Jmcafee7@verizon.net

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

February 25 to March 2, 2016

by Rick Riozza

Deals of the Day at Dan’s Wine Shop

A

nyone who has been keeping up with this column already knows about Dan Sullivan. He is one of the last remaining independent wine merchants in our valley. And I usually ask him to contribute to this column on his great wine deals around the holidays, and, during other times of the year.

Although we’ve been casual business friends, during these last couple of months, I had the fun pleasure to really get to know the guy. It was perfect timing as I was just coming off convalescing from knee surgery and he asked me to assist him a bit at the shop.

For starters, when it comes to wine—he surely has the pulse of the wine community.

Having been in the business here for over twenty years—managing first at the Los Angeles Wine Company in Palm Desert, Dan opened his own business around 2004 and remains at his Hwy 111 location between Monterrey and San Pablo, really close to The Red Barn Tavern. Dan absolutely knows his clientele’s tastes in wine, and, most remarkably, he remembers all their names.

When you talk about personal service and comradery, Dan’s the man! Who wouldn’t want to buy wine from him—we’ll get to his wine deals in a moment.

I mentioned in my last article of the real kinship we shared as to wine, music ,and the beach club scene in the 70’s and 80’s; stretching from Concerts by the Sea in Redondo, through Hungry Joe’s in Seal Beach, to The Golden Bear in Huntington, and down to the Sandpiper in Laguna Beach.

We didn’t know each other back then, but we sure caught the same bands and musicians—and were able to share some fun stories about that area’s storied musical past. I mean—who in town remembers the band Honk from the soundtrack for Five Summer Stories, and local guitarists such as Michael Hamilton and Richard Steckel. Dan has all their CD’s at the shop! And check out his wonderful array of jazz artworks.

Dan’s acumen as to stellar classic rock, jazz & jazz fusion was to me a godsend. His varied music list that plays continuously could be called “the best of the best baby boomers hits of all time”. I may exaggerating, but my mind and memories were surely stirred while I spoke to the stores patrons about wine, vintages, and any cool vino stories that came to mind. (And he’s not stuck in a timewarp either; he’s got some current stuff that rocks.)

I miss all that, for as quick as I came onboard, sadly for me, I had to attend to the consequences of my competitive tennis past that came upon me again. Anyway—should you see Dan before I do, and of course I recommend his shop for the best wine deals in town—no question! Please let him know to leave me a spot on his roster down the road. It’s the place for wine lovers.

And now, Dan has some great recommendations: 2013 BEN MARCO MALBEC, $11.95: 92 points by Wine Spectator. The 2013 Ben Marco Malbec is now sourced from vineyards in Vista Flores and Chacayes in the Valle de Uco. The nose is really floral and fruit-driven (black fruit), a little spicy and displaying elegance and poise. The palate is vibrant and focused with pure fruit and silky, fine tannins to make it really drinkable. A great Malbec from Uco at a stellar price!

2015 GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC, $17.95. From New Zealand, A musky fusion of sweet scented fruits—nectarines , peaches and nashi pears with a dash of orange zest—intermingled with a floral perfume reminiscent of star jasmine and citrus blossom. A generous palate with citrus and cassis flavors , deliciously ripe and succulent, finishing with that classic Marlborough zing.

2014 SEGHESIO “SONOMA COUNTY” ZINFANDEL, $18.95. A new release blend that is spicy with lush black fruit of Alexander Valley; with briary and raspberry flavors, along with structure, of cooler Dry Creek Valley. Balanced and elegantly structured.

2014 POMAR JUNCTION VIOGNIER, $14.95. From Paso Robles, an intensely aromatic white wine, this Viognier is made from 100% estate grown and hand-picked fruit. It is fruit forward and excellent for pairing with several dishes. Lively notes of lime, peach, and honeysuckle are present.

This is a dry, crisp Viognier with a tropical and floral nose. Its fruit forward exhibiting lime and pear flavors on the palate, with a lingering peach and honeysuckle finish. This wine pairs perfectly with freshly shucked oysters or white sea bass.

2012 HAVENS “BLACK & BLUE” CAB/ SYRAH BLEND, $29.95. From Napa Valley, this wine brimming with a bright nose of crushed black pepper, violets, blackberries, and a hint of roasted meats. Its deep, inky purple-hue catches the eye. Deep flavors of spicy baked plum, cherry & dark chocolate coat the palate and the smooth tannins add balance and structure. This is a wine for the cellar but can be enjoyed young with heartier fare, especially as the temperature outside drops at night.

2013 FLOWERS “SONOMA COAST” PINOT NOIR, $44.95. Shy and reserved, this coolclimate wine opens coyly with a burst of spearmint on the nose, evolving into layers of flavor steeped in rhubarb, black cherry and

tea. Soft and lilting, the wine’s finish conjures thoughts of strawberry cream.

2014 CARMENET CHARDONNAY, still only $7.99! With rich characteristics of apple and spice, this lovely opulent wine is made in the style of a traditional Burgundy Chardonnay.

Butterscotch and tropical palate, along with vanilla notes from the barrel fermentation.

This Chardonnay ends with a smooth, crisp, enjoyable finish.

See you at Dan’s Wine Shop, Monday through Saturday 10:00am ‘til 5:00pm (760) 674-0305 73-360 Hwy. 111 Suite #1, Palm Desert, CA. 92260

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

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­­THUR FEBRUARY 25

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bobby Furgo & Co. 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Reunion w/ DJ Day 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Francesca Amari, Bill Marx & Doug MacDonald 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Dancing & DJ 9pm open 6pm-2am THE BLOCK; CC; 760-832-7767 Open Mic Hosted by Robert Poole 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Live Entertainment 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-770-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Barry Baughn and Bob Gross 6:30pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 T.B.A. 7:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Chris Lomeli 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Open Mic 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Punk Rock Night 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Country Night w/ Jimi Nelson 8pm

THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Quinto Menguante 8-1am MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Terry Reid 9pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Adobe Collective and Airframe 7:45pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Epoch Momentous & Jet Black Productions Presents Creative Circle w/ Cali Elijah, Thoughts Contained, Mike Lavish, Razor J, I Die, Courtney Chambers and more 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Jason Weber 4:30pm, Sharon Sills 7pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 DJ Dracer 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Lisa Morgan’s Pre Birthday Gathering 6pm, Brain Vat, Krashkarma and ZED 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 The Smooth Brothers 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 T-Bone Karaoke 8pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Anthony DiGerlando Show 6:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Flyer 4-6pm, Carolyn Martinez Trio 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Laurie Morvan Band 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 8pm

FRI FEBRUARY 26

19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Dude Jones 9pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia Band 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 We Theory & Friends 9pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Siobahn 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Fleet Easton 7:30pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 TBA 9pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and Dancing 9pm Open 6pm-2am BISTRO 60 @TRILOGY; LQ; 760-501-0620 The Carmens 6pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-

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5566 Lady Eris 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 Guy Worden’s 3rd Annual Art for the Homeless Show 8pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Gina Carey 7pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 House Band 8:45pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 C-Money & The Players w/ Angelo Moore’s Maddvibe and Irie Junction 8pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company in the afternoon, Hot Rox in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Hot Sauce 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 DJ 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Southbound and Co. 8pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 Meltdown 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Tall Tales and The Silver Lining 8pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Debbie Holiday 7pm, Lauri Bono’s Late Night Jazz 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 California Celts 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Right On Right On, Daytime Moon and Cody James 9pm

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SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 TBA 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Pat Rizzo & Dennis Michaels 6:30pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Meet The Corwins 5:30-7:30pm, John Stanley King 8pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 T.B.A. 1:304:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 TBA 5:30pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 TBA 9pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallet 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 9pm

SAT FEBRUARY 27

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev & Bill 6:30pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Brian Shimkovitz noon poolside, Desert Sounds 8pm, Highlife w/ DJ Day 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret Open Mic 7:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Denise Carter 7:30pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 TBA 9pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and Dancing 9pm open 6pm-2am BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-7755566 DJ 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm

CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 Bridger’s CD Release Party w/ Herbert and Ideation 8pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Jack Ruvio 6:30pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 TBA 8:30pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Maddvibe and The California Cets 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Lisa Lynn’s Birthday Celebration w/ The Country Gentlemen 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Hot Sauce 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 The Basix 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MITCH’S ON EL PASEO; PD; 760-779-9200 Michael Keeth 12-3pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Hot Wyre 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 Roadrunners 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Big Black Delta and Anenon 9:30pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 The Judy Show Celebration 7pm, Kal David, Lauri Bono & The Real Deal 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Latin Night 9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Keeth 7-10pm ROUTE 74 @ PUEBLO VIEJO; PD; 760-6742171 Live Band TBA SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm

February 25 to March 2, 2016

SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 The “All Or Nuthin” Show w/ Lootenant, King Fabero, Al Rossi, Mike Lavish and more 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 TBA 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 TBA 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 The Carolyn Martinez Show 6:30pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm TRYST; PS; 760-832-6046 Gutter Candy 9pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ Hektik 10pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 The Carmens 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Rob & JB 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Chris Lomeli 8pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 8pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler Trio 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 9pm continue to page 22

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

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art Scene

La Quinta Arts Festival Honors Trés Taylor as 2016 Featured Artist

F

olk artist Trés Taylor’s favorite medium is tarpaper, which enables him to draw freely, carving in a strong black line. Frequently he uses layers of mud, sometimes Alabama red clay, that give his paintings a rich and yet raw texture.

Trés paints about spiritual seeking. He paints about love, Divine Love, peace, and joy. His work reveals his deep connection to the beauty of the universe. His subjects are usually monks, couples, and houses, and range from the simple image of a monk solemnly holding flowers to extended murals depicting journeys taken through relationships, life, and the world around us.

As monks have always been a part of Taylor’s unconventional repertoire, symbolizing the simplistic lifestyle to which he aspires, his mixed media painting “Citrus Monk” was expressly commissioned as the image for the La Quinta Arts Festival 2016 commemorative poster. The whimsical work features a slightly oblivious monk nonchalantly riding his bicycle, while his cache of grapefruit spills out of the basket behind him.

In October 2014, Trés Taylor created a work to celebrate the visit of the Dalai Lama in his home town of Birmingham, Alabama.

For this historic occasion, Taylor created an impressive 15-foot tall sculpture aptly named “The Jolly Lama,” which served as a greeter for His Holiness. Following the event, Jolly Lama was exhibited as part of Taylor’s larger installation, “enCHANTment” at the Mennello Museum of American Art in Orlando, and later that year at The Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, Alabama.

Visit Trés Taylor in Booth #105 at La Quinta Arts Festival and be inspired by his colorful expressionistic work that is sure to make you smile.

LA QUINTA ARTS FESTIVAL 2016 PREVIEW: The world-class, multi awardwinning event is gearing up for its 34th annual four day celebration of the arts.

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Returning to the gorgeous grounds of La Quinta Civic Center Campus starting Thursday, March 3rd through Sunday, March 6th, art patrons will delight in viewing the spectacular artwork of 220 premier contemporary artists in every fine art and craft category arriving from 35 states, Canada and Argentina.

To complement the awesome array of artwork on display, a variety of performance and musical entertainers are scheduled to appear at the Festival. This year’s daily line-up includes several returning favorites and new attractions including headliner Lana Chromium, a fine art body painter from San Diego — winner of GSNTV’s Season 2 “Skin Wars” — demonstrating her mesmerizing talents on Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm. Lana will be accompanied by art model and dance artist Khalia Frazier, who will interpret Chromium’s painting through original dance and movement. A full entertainment schedule is posted on LQAF.com.

Festival goers will dine on delicious cuisine offerings from Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Fisherman’s Market & Grill, Shanghai Reds and Westcoast Hofbrau brats and more. A wide selection of high-end craft beers and wine will be served at all bar locations on site. Look for popular vendors E & E Pel’s Italian Ices, Pasquini Espresso and Brandini Toffee’s hand-dipped ice cream.

La Quinta Arts Festival, the #1 ranked Fine Art Festival in the Nation for 2013, 2014 and 2015, is presented by La Quinta Arts Foundation, in partnership with Premier Sponsor the City of La Quinta. Event hours are 10 am to 5 pm each day. Tickets may be purchased at the gate or in advance at www.

LQAF.com. Ticket prices are: Adults $17 or $22 for a Multi-Day Pass. Children under 12 are Free. Patrons may take advantage of valet parking $12, self-parking $8, or free parking in designated areas throughout the Village of La Quinta.

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Palm Canyon Theatre Pushes The theFull Monty, the musical, Limits and Goes Full Monty runs February 26-March 13 By cara Van dijk

B

ased on the hit 1997 British film of the same name, the Americanized stage version of The Full Monty is sure to arouse crowds at the Palm Canyon Theatre February 26-March 13. And, yes… come the finale, they will bare all!

The story is centered around Jerry, played by Nicholas Sloan, an unemployed steelworker, who is desperate to make

money or face losing partial custody of his 10-year-old son, Nathan, played by Fabrizio Ibanez. When Jerry and his buddy Dave, played by Jake Samples, hear how popular a group of Chippendales dancers have become in their hometown of Buffalo, New York, they decide to do one better, and promise “the full monty,” – a full strip show!

Lacking everything from muscles to

rhythm, Jerry and his troupe of unemployed and untrained misfits – portrayed by Dion Khan (Horse), Timm McBride (Harold), Alex Enriquez (Ethan), and Scott Clinkscales (Malcom) – will work through a multitude of issues and trust in their camaraderie to complete the show and make thousands in a single night. Additional cast include PCT company members Morgana Corelli (Jeanette), Jamie Leigh Walker (Pam), Alisha Bates (Joanie), and Allegra Angelo (Estelle).

The show is directed by Scott Smith with musical direction by Steven Smith.

The Full Monty opens Friday, February 26, and runs weekends through Sunday, March 13. Show times are 7 p.m. on Thursdays, 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Sunday matinees start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $32-$36. Student tickets are $15, with valid ID; student tickets must be purchased at the Box Office.

For tickets, call the Palm Canyon Theatre Box Office at 760-323-5123 or order online: PalmCanyonTheatre.org. The Palm Canyon Theatre is located at 538 North Palm Canyon Drive, at the corner of Alejo Road and Palm Canyon Drive, across from Koffi inside The Corridor. Box Office hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information call 760-323-5123.

THE DESERT ROSE PLAYHOUSE TO PRESENT “COCK”

T

he Desert Rose Playhouse, the Valley’s LGBT stage company, will present COCK by Mike Bartlett, opening Friday, March 11, 2016 for a fiveweek run. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, through April 10, 2016.

COCK is an internationally acclaimed comedy that takes a lively and candid look at one man’s sexuality and the conflicts that can arise when you realize you may have a choice. It’s been called uproariously funny, exhilarating, and a Battle Royal of wit and persuasion. COCK premiered at London’s Royal Court Theatre.

John has been in a stable relationship with his boyfriend for a number of years.

When they take “a break”, he falls in love with a woman. Torn between his gay

boyfriend and straight girlfriend and filled with guilt and conflicting emotions, John doesn’t know which way to turn. Both his lovers are willing to wait for him to make a decision - and both are prepared to fight to keep him. As the pressure mounts, a dinner party with both parties is arranged.

The boyfriend’s father appears to “referee” the face-off as everyone wants to know: Who is John? What is he? And what will his decision be?

The ensemble cast features Stephen McMillan as “John”, Robert Rancano as boyfriend “M”, Phylicia Mason as girlfriend

February 25 to March 2, 2016

theatre

About the Palm Canyon Theatre: The Palm Canyon Theatre is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the education of live stage production and the enrichment of the greater Palm Springs community and its visitors. The regional repertory theater company operates primarily with volunteers and produces about 13 Broadway musicals and classic plays each year, plus offers a children’s theatre camp and production. The theatre opened its doors in 1997 when Dr. William “Bill” Layne and his family renovated the historic Frances S. Stevens School located at the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Alejo Road in Palm Springs, CA.

theatre “W” and DRP favorite Terry Huber as the father “F”. The play, set in an austere arena surrounded by the audience, is directed and designed by DRP Artistic Director Jim Strait, with Lighting Design by Phil Murphy.

Steve Fisher is Stage Manager and Paul Taylor is Producer.

Suggested for mature audiences: adult language, partial nudity and sexually, explicit dialogue.

The Desert Rose Playhouse is a project of Desert Rose Productions, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation. COCK continues Desert Rose Productions’ mission to produce and present literate, relevant and entertaining plays and musicals to LGBT and Gay-Friendly theatregoers in the Coachella Valley.

Tickets are $33 for evening performances; $30 for matinees. To order go online at desertroseplayhouse.org or call 760-202-3000.

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 17

SUN FEBRUARY 28

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Jonathan Toubin noon, Intoxica Radio Live w/ Howie Pyro 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Sunday Brunch w/ Rose Mallett 11:30am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Motown, R&B and Funk 6pm-2am BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madaio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888-999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Radio 60 & Friends 3-6pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Reagan Youth w/ Facelift, Glock Lesnar and more 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ted Herman’s Big Band 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Open Jam 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company, in the afternoon, Hot Rox, in the night MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 4-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7:30pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Longest Running Jam Session in the valley. Hosted by JB, Sign up 6pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956

The Sunday Band 7:30pm PETE’S HIDEAWAY;PS; 760-322-6500 The Evaro Brothers 7pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 The Oscars with Judy ( Benefitting the AIDS Assistance Program ) 4:30pm, The Judy Show 7pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 The Myx 6pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 The Chris Gore Group Pro Jam 7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 John Stanley King 6-9pm VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 TBA 6pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Smooth Brothers 5:30pm

MON FEBRUARY 29

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Luminators 6pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Bill Marx 6:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Mood Deep House Lounge 6pm-2am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Larry Capeloto 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Industry Night w/ DJ Tone 2pm-close SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 T-Bone Karaoke 8:30pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 T.B.A. 6pm

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Jazz Supper Club Series w/ Sweet Baby J Al 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Michael James & 3sum 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Tony Grandberry 6:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Trish Hatley & Barney McClure 6pm

TUE MARCH 1

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Dana Larson 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Tommy Dodson 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Open DJ Night text 760-799-8800 to sign up 6pm2am BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-770-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 Chuck Alvarez 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke hosted by Phillip Moore 9pm INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT; PS; 760-833-8700 DJ Randy Johnson 6pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Michael D’Angelo 6:15pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm

LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Open Mic Jam w/ Jimi Heil 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Ladies Night 7pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Jason Weber 4:30pm, Rose Mallett 7pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 T-Bone Karaoke 8:30pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Douglas McDonald Duo 6:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Mike Costley and Trio 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Tequila Tuesdays 9pm VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Chris Lomeli 6pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Stan Watkins Dixieland Party 6pm

WED MARCH 2

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Levi Parham 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Pro Jazz Jam w/ Shelley Yoelin 7:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Beer Pong Contest 6pm-2am BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Michael Keeth 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-

(760) 340-2840 www.triabike.com

Open Daily 10 am - 6 pm Sunday 12 - 5pm 44841 San Pablo (West Side of Street), Palm Desert, CA 92260

S and G

PUMPING SERVICE

Septic Tank & Grease Trap Pumping Sewer & Drain Cleaning Odor Control

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760-404-6325

6533 Gina Carey 6pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Open Mic w/ Rich Bono & Poupee Boccaccio 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live Music KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Open Mic hosted by Amy Angel 6:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 “Sing Jam” w/ Mikael Healey 8pm MITCH’S ON EL PASEO; PD; 760-779-9200 Michael Keeth 12-3pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Roger Lemieux 5pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-288-1199 Karaoke w/ KJ Ginger 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Michael Holmes Jazz Trio 6:30pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 TBA 9pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 The D Phillips Band 6pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Straight Ahead Jazz 6pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Mike Costley Band 6:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Lizann Warner 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Nite Fixx 9-2am WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Karaoke 9pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Chuck Alvarez All Star Session 6:30pm

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

Western Barbecue Benefits Homeless Dogs in Coachella Valley on March 13

eventS

By jessica Rees

D

ust off your boots and get ready to kick ‘em up at the Pet Rescue Center’s 18th Annual Western Barbecue Birthday Party held at J & J Ranch located at 58300 Almonte Dr. in La Quinta on March 13th from 5 until 9 pm.

There will be a live, kick-up-your-heels band, delicious food, beer, wine, and unique auction items. You can dance and mingle with like-minded, dog-loving compassionate folks. You may even brush elbows with a celebrity or two!

“This annual birthday bash is not only fun,” said PRC Director Christine Madruga, “it’s also the primary fundraising event that enables us to continue saving dogs’ lives. So tell your friends and call now to RSVP so we’ll have plenty of food and tables for everyone.”

“For just $90 per person, you’re reserving a day of fun and helping us save lives.”

RSVP by calling Christine Madruga at 760-398-7722 or 760-496-7038.

“Adoption fees don’t come close to covering the costs of operating the facility,” said Madruga. “It’s a labor of love but it also takes substantial funds for liability insurance, vet bills, rent, and a long list of on-going necessities. We depend entirely on individual donations. We do not receive government funding or any significant corporate funds. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and it’s all tax deductible.”

The Pet Rescue Center is a no-kill, 501(c)3, tax-deductible, non-profit organization.

Donations can be mailed to the Pet Rescue

Center, P.O. Box 6570, La Quinta CA 92248 or made online at coachellapetrescuecenter. org. To date, the Pet Rescue Center has saved over 10,200 animals.

The organization is run with volunteers, local veterinarians and a certified obedience trainer and agility trainer. Not only does the organization rescue animals, it also provides medical treatment and proper training to ensure that they are placed with the right owners. The organization’s mission is to place orphaned dogs of the Coachella Valley in responsible and loving homes. It is expected that all pets adopted from the Pet Rescue Center become family members.

Dogs available for adoption at the Pet Rescue Center can be seen online at www. coachellapetrescuecenter.org. The Center is

located at 83-496 Avenue 51 in Coachella.

It is open Monday through Friday from 9 am until 3 pm and on Saturday from 10 am until 2 pm. The adoption fee is $150, which covers spay/neutering, vaccinations, fecal testing and micro-chipping. Each potential family is screened before adoption. Call The Pet Rescue Center, Inc. – 760.398.7722 or email petrescuecenter@gmail.com

Full Service Feline Only Veterinary Clinic

Dr. Rebecca Diaz

760-325-3400 Dr. Rebecca Diaz is a cat-loving veterinary professional, dedicated to keeping your cats and kittens happy and healthy with top-quality care in a stress-free environment.

Feline Veterinary Service

Every aspect of our clinic is designed with the special needs of cats in mind.

From the quiet serene waiting room to the relaxing exam rooms and cat-friendly cages for hospitalized patients, our goal is to promote a peaceful, stress-free environment for your cats.

Services include: • Routine Care • Geriatic Care • Spay/Neuter

• Digital Radiology • Laboratory Services • New Kitten Care

• Vaccinations • General Surgery • Dentistry

67870 Vista Chino Cathedral City, CA 92234

www.catcitycat.com

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

safetytips

by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

Ignorance or Arrogance?

Y

ou probably don’t remember me, but I remember you. At the bank, the gym, the receptionist… You were the one disgustingly sneezing, coughing and hacking without covering your mouth. Like a driver texting, you’re placing everyone else at risk. Is it just ignorance or arrogance?

Flu activity peaks between December and March resulting in more than 200,000 hospitalizations and thousands of deaths each year reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

What you could have done once symptoms came on. Stay at home and avoided contact with others. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or arm when coughing or sneezing. If you are really ill

contact your doctor. Most importantly refrain from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings until feeling better. Use some common sense!

How to avoid getting sick? Avoid touching your eyes, nose, ears or mouth. Drink fluids even when you feel well. Wash your hands often and clean surfaces shared with others such as keyboards, telephones, exercise equipment, TV, remotes etc. Eat right and exercise.

And to the food server, please don’t cough on my food when waiting on me. Your Tip: Stay home!

For additional Flu Facts and Prevention visit: cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/symptoms.htm Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

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760.501.6228 24

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Haddon Libby

APPLE, McAFEE & the FBI

L

ast week, Mark Cuban said, “Every tool that protects our privacy and liberties against oppression, tyranny, madmen and worse, can often be used to take those very precious rights from us. We must stand up for our rights to free speech and liberty.”

Cuban was referring to the case where the federal courts supported the FBI in forcing Apple to write code that creates a backdoor around all of Apple’s security software.

In attempting to force Apple to do this, the FBI have used a 1789 law called the All Writs Act. This seldom cited law allows the courts to do what they think is necessary when other tools are not available.

Despite his vehement opposition, Apple CEO Tim Cook struck a conciliatory tone when saying, “While we believe the FBI’s intentions are good, it would be wrong for the government to force us to build a backdoor into our products. And ultimately, we fear that this demand would undermine the very freedoms and liberty our government is meant to protect.”

Joining Apple and Cuban in opposition are the boards of directors for Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, AOL, Twitter and WhatsApp as well as Google CEO Sundar Pichai, anti-virus guru John McAfee, the American Civil Liberties Union, American Library Association

and countless others.

Despite widespread concern in business and amongst privacy advocates, most Democratic and Republican politicians support the FBI or are silent on the issue. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), a privacy advocate on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has said, “If the FBI can force Apple to build a key, you can be sure authoritarian regimes like China and Russia will turn around and force Apple to hand it over to them. They will use that key to oppress their own people and steal U.S. trade secrets.”

Representative Darrel Issa (R-California) states that this is an excuse by the FBI to more easily crack all smartphones and that the request by the FBI is an unlawful overreach.

John McAfee has offered his team to

the FBI at no cost and stated that they can crack the phone’s encryption within three weeks. McAfee states that they would open the phone, remove the memory and copy its data which they would then hack into.

By doing this, McAfee would solve the FBI’s need while protecting the safety, freedoms and Constitutional rights of tens of millions of iPhone users.

To date, the FBI has not responded to this offer.

Privacy experts are concerned that there is no way that the FBI could keep this code from slipping into the hands of our enemies. This means that some bad characters could listen to anyone, watch someone, read their emails and track their movements - all without their knowledge.

In case you are unconcerned with the FBI’s well intentioned yet misguided intrusion on

February 25 to March 2, 2016

your constitutional rights, think back ten years.

In 2005, Russell Tice, a now former intelligence analyst for the Air Force, Navy and National Security Agency leaked to the press that the Bush Administration was engaged in illegal wiretaps of U.S. reporters, political foes and others that the Administration deemed as unsympathetic toward their positions. This was a clear violation of the Constitution.

The Obama administration continued Bush’s policies and faced their own whistleblower with Edward Snowden, the former Central Intelligence Agency employee and National Security Agency contractor.

Whether one is a Democrat or Republican, it is clear that those in power will have a tendency to abuse their positions if given the means and the resources. McAfee has offered a solution yet those in power do not want it.

One must ask the question, ‘why’?

If you have a strong opinion in support or opposition to the FBI case against Apple, tell your elected representatives. Whether it is Senator Feinstein, Senator Boxer, Representative Ruiz or another, each can be emailed directly via their websites.

Worth noting, John McAfee, 70, has thrown his hat in the ring for President of the United States and is running as a Libertarian.

Dale Gribow On The Law

IF THE IRS CALLS STILL HANG UP!

L

ast Wednesday I met with both FBI and IRS agents with one of my clients. I asked the agents about all the fraudulent calls from people pretending to be IRS agents... whose goal is to steal your money. They confirmed there are more caller complaints than they can handle. They have just not been able to get a handle on the problem.

It is suspected there are several nationwide groups perpetrating this pervasive scam with some from overseas.

The fake IRS agent calls the taxpayer claiming they owe taxes and demanding immediate payment with a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. One fake agent had one guy drive from one place to another, buying pre-paid cards for $500 each.

Law enforcement is “on the way” they claim and will arrest and close down your business. They scare the taxpayer, threatening custody, deportation of illegals and loss of your California Driver’s License.

I have been called several times by the “IRS” as have many of my friends and clients. It’s not a new scam, but the IRS says there has been a steady increase lately. The phony “IRS” may explain “We have received a legal notice against your name regarding tax fraud, tax evasion”. This message comes

from someone pretending to be the IRS who has left that voicemail on numerous victim’s phones.

They may claim “You’ve got liens against you for taxes, back taxes and if you don’t pay up, you’ll end up in jail,” according to a Bermuda Dunes resident. Victims will sometimes pick up the phone and the caller will say it was the IRS calling and that the victim owes money and the caller was sending the sheriff over immediately to come get the victim and that there were warrants out for the victim’s arrest.

Furthermore they will threaten there was a lien on the victims property etc.

When I received the same call my fraud antenna immediately went up because the caller’s accent was very thick and not understandable. I questioned why the IRS would employ agents that did not speak clearly as IRS matters are highly sensitive.

Being suspicious, I questioned the caller who YELLED, “Just hang up!”... “Hang up $#%&* @#(^#$ or you will be sorry.” Many of the callers are from outside of the USA and use VOIP to skirt many of the legal issues.

I personally contacted my friend Riverside County Sheriff Stan Smith. He assured me it was a scam. This process is called CALLER ID

SPOOFING. This is because the “IRS” gets your caller ID system to display a legitimate IRS toll free customer service number.

These scams can also include purported calls from RSO and DMV. The bottom line is if you are uncertain hang up and call IRS at 800-829-1040. These crooks do everything possible to get your personal info. They send phony emails or calls, threatening arrest, license suspension or deportation if you do not go along with their demands.

In the past two years scams have cost victims more than 23 million dollars. Of course we are prime targets in the Coachella Valley because we’ve got so many seniors here and some of them really think this is real.

I advised the agents I had written several legal columns advising my readers “If the IRS calls you should hang up.” They confirmed same explaining the IRS does not call so hanging up and it will not expose you to any penalty. If the IRS wants you they will write you.

If you have ideas for future articles contact Dale Gribow at 760-837-7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com DALE GRIBOW: 1) TOP LAWYER rating by Palm Springs Life 2011-2016 2) Perfect AVVO 10.0 Peer Review Rating by fellow attorneys 3) “Preeminent” Rating by Martindale Hubbell 4) Selected for Rue “Best Attorneys of America” (Limited to Top 100 Attorneys per state.).

2015 Client Appreciation Award & Martindale Hubbell Client Distinction Award Only Attorney Appointed to CVAG Public Safety and CLINTON Foundation committee For more than 30 years Gribow has been committed to protecting client’s civil and criminal constitutional rights. Regardless of whether the matter concerns a Serious Accident, DUI, Business, Real Estate or Estate Planning issue, every case is diligently handled with the utmost of respect and care.

Gribow offers clients decades of experience and success, thus making him the attorney of choice for thousands of clients.

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI OR UBER...IT IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME!

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

The Desert Smash is back for the 12 year!

T

aking place on Tuesday, March 8th 2016, at the Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa, this year kicks off with two fun playing opportunities, the first, hosted by WTA Superstar and former World #1 Victoria Azarenka, being the ultraexclusive, VIP “Ultimate Pro-Am Experience Package; where participants will get the chance to play with two-time Grand Slam singles champion.”

The other, the club favorite competitive on-court workout, the “Live Ball Challenge!” made famous and invented right here in Southern California. Following these personal, interactive experiences, the fan

th

favorite, Pro-Tennis & Celebrity Exhibition will commence at 3:00PM on the Westin Mission Hills’ Stadium Court.

Early players scheduled to appear at this year’s exhibition include: loyal Desert Smasher’s 2013 Australian Open Doubles Champions and longest running ATP World No. 1 Doubles Team, Bob & Mike Bryan, Kevin Anderson, Victoria Azarenka. Star players that have participated in the past include: ATP World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, WTA World No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki, Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Marat Safin, Victoria Azarenka and Mardy Fish. The Smash is gearing up for some of the most epic celebrity/pro tennis battles, as in year’s past it has gotten pretty intense on center court with the likes of Will Ferrell, Justin Bieber and Kevin Hart going racket to racket with one another.

Capping off an epic day of fundraising and tennis, the celebration will continue into the evening with the 12th annual Desert Smash Player Party, sponsored by Herradura Tequila, with a performance by Sia!

sports Scene

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eventS

by Flint Wheeler

Tennis World on Radar of Match Fixing.. atch-fixing has been the talk of the tennis world at this year’s Australian Open, thanks to a joint investigation released by BBC and BuzzFeed News which alleges that prominent tennis players have been taking money from gamblers in order to lose matches, and that tennis authorities have been covering up the scandal.

Those allegations have taken on new relevance after the New York Times reported that the prominent betting company Pinnacle suspended bets on a mixed doubles match during the Australian Open due to suspicious gambling activity.

Further complicating matters is the fact that one of the players involved in the match, David Marrero, has been flagged by betting sites as a suspicious player due to unusual betting activity in previous matches.

According to the original BBC and Buzzfeed News report, the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), an anti-corruption unit founded by tennis authorities in 2008 to focus on match-fixing, has repeatedly failed to properly investigate players that gambling companies have reported as suspicious. The organization, which has only two full-time employees investigating

By david shoubert

the entire sport of tennis, told the NYT that it would not comment on Marrero’s mixed doubles match.

Mixed doubles usually doesn’t see much gambling action since it is a rather obscure discipline of tennis that is only played at the four majors. But when large amounts of money from a small number of accounts began to pour into the first-round contest between Spaniards Marrero and Lara Arruabarrena and the Czech/Polish duo of Andrea Hlavackova and Lukasz Kubot, Pinnacle’s system flagged the irregularities.

The majority of the money came in for Hlavackova and Kubot, who ended up winning the match 6-0, 6-3.

Marcos Blume, the head of sports books at Pinnacle, told the NYT that the pattern was “an indication that the match might be fixed.”

“It’s certainly believable,” Steve Fezzik, a sports gambling expert and Pregame.Com employee, “Marrero has a history with this sort of thing. Whether it’s match fixing or just the status of his knee keeps getting leaked to people who like to bet, that’s the hard part to prove, but either way that’s still a breach of integrity code.”

A betting insider told the wrote on Covers. com that Marrero has previously been flagged for ATP men’s doubles matches in Beijing, Shanghai, Vienna and Metz, France.

Additionally, Ferguson said that Marrero’s frequent doubles partner Fernando Verdasco, who upset Rafael Nadal in the first round of the Australian Open in singles, has been flagged for five “very suspicious” matches just since the U.S. Open last September.

As the tennis establishment remains silent, Marrero thinks that someone must have overheard and leaked information about his knee injury, thus leading to the suspicious betting action. He also indicated he sometimes struggles in mixed doubles, since he has to play against women.

“Normally, when I play, I play full power, in doubles or singles,” said Marrero, who won the doubles title at the 2013 ATP World Tour Finals.

“But when I see the lady in front of me, I feel my hand wants to play, but my head says, ‘Be careful.’ This is not a good combination.”

Marrero also said he had had a scan that showed an inflamed tendon in his knee.

Although he had played “my 100 percent,” he said, he was also cautious, hoping to avoid an injury that could keep him out “for three, four, five months.” He explained that mixed doubles

was “important but not as important, you know?”

But overall, there’s no way to know whether Marrero is telling the truth or whether there is something much more sinister going on because the TIU is not speaking up about any of it.

Ferguson said that while it’s understandable why the TIU doesn’t release the names of the specific players it’s investigating, it’s crucial for them to be more open about the number of players cases it’s looking into and the actions that are being taken.

“They have to be more proactive,” he said.

“Just say something generic — ‘In December we investigated 11 matches, of which we found six that we took forward.’ Just something.

Particularly with the ATP having silent drug bans in the past, you can’t trust them.”

Ferguson also said it’s up to the media to “keep on [the TIU’s] case” and continue to push for more transparency and accountability in the sport, from top to bottom.

“There’s an incentive [for the TIU] to sweep it under the carpet,” he said. “But if they’re not talking, the public will assume the worst.”

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week of February 25

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Just one species has a big enough throat to swallow a person whole: the sperm whale. If you happen to be sailing the high seas any time soon, I hope you will studiously avoid getting thrown overboard in the vicinity of one of these beasts. The odds are higher than usual that you’d end up in its belly, much like the Biblical character Jonah. (Although, like him, I bet you’d ultimately escape.) Furthermore, Aries, I hope you will be cautious not to get swallowed up by anything else. It’s true that the coming weeks will be a good time to go on a retreat, to flee from the grind and take a break from the usual frenzy. But the best way to do that is to consciously choose the right circumstances rather than leave it to chance.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have cosmic clearance to fantasize about participating in orgies where you’re loose and free and exuberant.

It’s probably not a good idea to attend a literal orgy, however. For the foreseeable future, all the cleansing revelry and cathartic rapture you need can be obtained through the wild stories and outrageous scenes that unfold in your imagination.

Giving yourself the gift of pretend immersions in fertile chaos could recharge your spiritual batteries in just the right ways.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Hell is the suffering of being unable to love,” wrote novelist J. D. Salinger.

If that’s true, I’m pleased to announce that you can now ensure you’ll be free of hell for a very long time. The cosmic omens suggest that you have enormous power to expand your capacity for love.

So get busy! Make it your intention to dissolve any unconscious blocks you might have about sharing your gifts and bestowing your blessings. Get rid of attitudes and behaviors that limit your generosity and compassion. Now is an excellent time to launch your “Perpetual Freedom from Hell” campaign!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking,” said journalist Earl Wilson. Do you fit that description, Cancerian? Probably. I suspect it’s high time to find a polite way to flee your responsibilities, avoid your duties, and hide from your burdens. For the foreseeable future, you have a mandate to ignore what fills you with boredom.

You have the right to avoid any involvement that makes life too damn complicated. And you have a holy obligation to rethink your relationship with any influence that weighs you down with menial obligations.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Your illusions are a part of you like your bones and flesh and memory,” writes William Faulkner in his novel Absalom, Absalom! If that’s true, Leo, you now have a chance to be a miracle worker. In the coming weeks, you can summon the uncanny power to rip at least two of your illusions out by the roots -- without causing any permanent damage! You may temporarily feel a stinging sensation, but that will be a sign that healing is underway. Congratulations in advance for getting rid of the dead weight.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “We are defined by the lines we choose to cross or to be confined by,” says Virgo writer A. S. Byatt. That’s a key meditation for you as you enter a phase in which boundaries will be a major theme. During the next eight weeks, you will be continuously challenged to decide which people and things and ideas you want to be part of your world, and which you don’t. In some cases you’ll be wise to put up barriers and limit connection. In other cases, you’ll thrive by erasing borders and transcending divisions. The hard part -and the fun part -- will be knowing which is which.

Trust your gut.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When life gives you lemon juice from concentrate, citric acid, highfructose corn syrup, modified cornstarch, potassium citrate, yellow food dye, and gum acacia, what should you do? Make lemonade, of course! You might wish that all the raw ingredients life sends your way would be pure and authentic, but sometimes

© Copyright 2015 Rob Brezsny

the mix includes artificial stuff. No worries, Libra!

I am confident that you have the imaginative chutzpah and resilient willpower necessary to turn the mishmash into passable nourishment. Or here’s another alternative: You could procrastinate for two weeks, when more of the available resources will be natural.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your Mythic Metaphor for the coming weeks is dew. Many cultures have regarded it as a symbol of life-giving grace. In Kabbalah, divine dew seeps from the Tree of Life. In Chinese folklore, the lunar dew purifies vision and nurtures longevity. In the lore of ancient Greece, dew confers fertility. The Iroquois speak of the Great Dew Eagle, who drops healing moisture on land ravaged by evil spirits. The creator god of the Ashanti people created dew soon after making the sun, moon, and stars. Lao-Tse said it’s an emblem of the harmonious marriage between Earth and Heaven. So what will you do with the magic dew you’ll be blessed with?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): It’s prime time for you to love your memory, make vivid use of your memory, and enhance your memory. Here are some hints about how: 1. Feel appreciation for the way the old stories of your life form the core of your identity and self-image. 2. Draw on your recollections of the past to guide you in making decisions about the imminent future. 3. Notice everything you see with an intensified focus, because then you will remember it better, and that will come in handy quite soon. 4. Make up new memories that you wish had happened. Have fun creating scenes from an imagined past.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Most of us know about Albert Einstein’s greatest idea: the general theory of relativity. It was one of the reasons he won a Nobel Prize in Physics. But what was his secondbest discovery? Here’s what he said it was: adding an egg to the pot while he cooked his soup. That way, he could produce a soft-boiled egg without having to dirty a second pot. What are the first- and second-most fabulous ideas you’ve ever come up with, Capricorn? I suspect you are on the verge of producing new candidates to compete with them. If it’s OK with you, I will, at least temporarily, refer to you as a genius.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You may be familiar with the iconic children’s book Where the Wild Things Are. It’s about a boy named Max who takes a dream-like journey from his bedroom to an exotic island, where he becomes king of the weird beasts who live there. Author Maurice Sendak’s original title for the tale was “Where the Wild Horses Are.” But when his editor realized how inept Sendak was at drawing horses, she instructed him to come up with a title to match the kinds of creatures he could draw skillfully. That was a good idea. The book has sold over 19 million copies. I think you may need to deal with a comparable issue, Aquarius. It’s wise to acknowledge one of your limitations, and then capitalize on the adjustments you’ve got to make.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “People don’t want their lives fixed,” proclaims Chuck Palahniuk in his novel Survivor. “Nobody wants their problems solved. Their dramas. Their distractions. Their stories resolved. Their messes cleaned up. Because what would they have left? Just the big scary unknown.”

Your challenge in the coming weeks, Pisces, is to prove Palahniuk wrong, at least in regards to you.

From what I can tell, you will have unprecedented opportunities to solve dilemmas and clean up messy situations. And if you take even partial advantage of this gift, you will not be plunged into the big scary unknown, but rather into a new phase of shaping your identity with crispness and clarity.

---------------------------------------------------------Homework: What book do you suspect would change your life if you actually read it? Testify at Truthrooster@gmail.com.

Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

February 25 to March 2, 2016

Mind,body & Spirit

by Bronwyn Ison

STAND STRONG AS A MOUNTAIN

I

f you practice yoga the terminology, Mountain Pose or Tadasana will be familiar. Whether you practice yoga or not you are in this posture daily. The posture is simply standing straight in one place.

However, executing its true form requires practice. Standing strong like a mountain that cannot be manipulated allows you to gain confidence. The beauty of the posture is that you can explore and gain awareness in all that you do from day-to-day.

Tadasana, a.k.a Mountain Pose may seem basic because you are simply standing in place. Form is important to executing the stance properly. Why? Tadasana is the foundational posture and starting point to our standing postures in yoga. You may be inquiring… What does this matter? I don’t do yoga. It is important because everything that we do in our daily routines derives from a standing position. We are talking about our posture. As a child or adolescent, how often did you hear to stand up straight?

I would imagine you heard this on several occasions. The importance of this posture in yoga assists one in transitioning from posture to posture. Much like we transition from activity to activity in our daily rituals.

Not only do we feel taller when we stand straight, we also exude high self-esteem.

I recall my first yoga class 15 years ago.

The instructor began the class in Mountain Pose, Tadasana. I stood in place at the top of my mat. As I waited for more direction, we stood for nearly five minutes. Was I missing something? No. Mountain Pose is standing in place, firm and sturdy like a monolith. I have also realized with many years of practice that simply standing can be relaxing and rejuvenating. You are grounding yourself as well as preparing for your next move.

How should you begin? You may visit your favorite yoga studio to glean detailed instruction by treating yourself to a private lesson. Or, consider following these tips suggested by Yoga Journal.

Stand with the bases of your big toes

touching, heels slightly apart (so that your second toes are parallel). Lift and spread your toes and the balls of your feet, then lay them softly down on the floor. Rock back and forth and side to side. Gradually reduce this swaying to a standstill, with your weight balanced evenly on the feet.

Firm your thigh muscles and lift the kneecaps, without hardening your lower belly. Lift the inner ankles to strengthen the inner arches, then imagine a line of energy all the way up along your inner thighs to your groins, and from there through the core of your torso, neck, and head, and out through the crown of your head. Turn the upper thighs slightly inward. Lengthen your tailbone toward the floor and lift the pubis toward the navel.

Press your shoulder blades into your back, then widen them across and release them down your back. Without pushing your lower front ribs forward, lift the top of your sternum straight toward the ceiling.

Widen your collarbones. Hang your arms beside the torso.

Balance the crown of your head directly over the center of your pelvis, with the underside of your chin parallel to the floor, throat soft, and the tongue wide and flat on the floor of your mouth. Soften your eyes.

Standing firm on your mat and in your daily activities will bring you balance in all that you do. Stand strong. Be grounded.

Bronwyn Ison is the owner of Evolve Yoga. e-volveyoga.com 760.564.YOGA

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

Ask The Doctor

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by dr peter kadile

Dr. Peter M. Kadile is Board Certified in Family Medicine. He has an integrative, osteopathic medical practice and is also known as the local, house call doctor; Desert House Call Physician. He is on staff at Eisenhower Medical Center and medical director for Serenity Hospice. His office is located in beautiful Old Town La Quinta, 78-100 Main Street, Suite 207, La Quinta, CA 92253. (760) 777-7439. DesertHouseCalls@aol.com. deserthousecalldoc.com.

Here we go, it’s cold and flu season!

Dear Dr. Kadile, I feel sick with a runny nose, cough and congestion. My mucus is green, do I need antibiotics? Carol, La Quinta Carol, this subject regarding the color of one’s mucus or phlegm determining the need for antibiotics is another one of the most frustrating medical myths primary care physicians encounter in their practices.

Since we are now into cold and flu season, I deal with this type of question quite frequently in my own practice.

When you have cold symptoms and blow your nose or cough up phlegm that is green, this does not mean you have a bacterial infection which would need antibiotics.

The green color comes from enzymes released by your white blood cells used to fight off the infection, When your sinuses are clogged during a cold, the mucus in the sinuses will stagnate and appear green when you sneeze or blow your nose.

The bottom line is that green mucus or phlegm does not mean you need antibiotics.

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Hey Doc, I have had congestion, cough and runny nose for the past 3 days and now I’ve lost my voice. What should I do? - Sunshine, Cathedral City Sunshine, you’ve lost your voice because the infection you have has now affected your vocal cords. With your constellation of symptoms, it sounds like you have the common cold and laryngitis which is a viral infection and does not require antibiotics.

The treatment is rest, push fluids and take over the counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Salt water gargles and sleeping with a humidifier on can help the laryngitis. If your throat is painful and it hurts to swallow, you should see your doctor to be evaluated for strep throat which would require antibiotic treatment.

Dear Dr. Kadile, how do I know if I have a cold or the flu? - Richard, Cathedral City

Richard, a cold is a milder respiratory illness when compared to the flu. A cold typically starts out with a sore throat and then leads to sinus congestion, runny nose, sneezing and a cough. Fevers rarely occur in a cold. Of course you just don’t feel good with a cold, but a cold will generally resolve in less than a week. The flu may make you feel quite ill for a few days to weeks. Flu symptoms generally develop quite quickly and can manifest with severe sore throat, fevers, headaches/body aches, congestion, cough, nausea/vomiting and diarrhea.

Both conditions are caused by viruses and will not respond to antibiotic treatment.

If the flu symptoms persist, you can become more susceptible to bacterial infections such as pneumonia which would require antibiotic treatment.

Life & careerCoach

by Sunny Simon

Hanging with Arnie

A

rnie rushed into my office, suit jacket flapping behind him. As he sat down delivering a heavy sigh my client complained of schedule overload. I giggled reminding him that he was retired. In my mind, any calendar overload was self inflicted.

Shrugging his shoulders a serious look crossed his face as he checked an alert from his phone.

Rolling his eyes he muttered something about a golf game.

Getting down to business, I soon understood Arnie’s problem. He developed a habit of accepting every social invitation that came along. Although this might not sound like much of a problem, it can lead to a dysfunctional lifestyle. It is sometimes dubbed the “cannot say no syndrome.” I have coached many individuals who fall into this category.

Delving deeper into why the “no” word was missing from Arnie’s vocabulary he admitted there were many times he would rather stay home with Chinese takeout and a good book.

He went along because he did not want to offend anyone. I pushed back asserting the multiple polite ways to decline an invitation.

It seemed to me there was more to this than a case of overly polite manners. After more discussion, it became evident Arnie’s real issue surrounded the “left behind syndrome.”

Actually his reason for going along with

the crowd is not as trite as it sounds. Social media has penetrated our lives. Sitting home alone observing the partying gang posting’s on Facebook or Instagram, can elicit feelings of being left out, but only if you let it.

Whether you are a baby boomer, Gen X’er or millennial, hanging out with yourself should be a satisfying and enjoyable experience.

Carving out time from your schedule to spend developing your creative side, going for a solitary run or sitting in silence and quieting your mind is a healthy choice. Solitude does not equate to loneliness. Developing a deep connection with yourself leads to clarity on life choices, and future goals.

About a week later Arnie returned to my office proudly announcing he canceled a social engagement, turned off his smart phone and spent time alone puttering in the garage with his playlist softly streaming in the background.

When I inquired how he felt about not going out, Arnie flashed a grin admitting he felt relieved. He chose to do what made him happy and realized he wasn’t bored or feeling left out.

In fact, he declared, “I’m a rather cool guy to hang out with.” Agreed. Hanging with Arnie is fun!

Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com

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February 25 to March 2, 2016

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