Coachella Valley Weekly - April 28 to May 4, 2016 Vol. 5 No. 6

News

Music

Movies

Billy Joe Shaver

pg 6

Dining

Community Events

coachellavalleyweekly.com • April 28 to May 4, 2016 Vol. 5 No. 6

2016 CVMAs

pg 5

Dale Watson

pg 7

In Memory Of Prince

pg 8

The Flusters

pg 9

2Toxic

pg 9

April 28 to May 4, 2016

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

CHRIS STAPLETON AND OTHER HOT PICKS FOR STAGECOACH 2016

BY LISA MORGAN

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, Sam DiGiovanna, Rob Brezny, Eleni P. Austin, Noe Gutierrez, Sunny Simon, Dr. Peter Kadile, Bruce Cathcart, Julie Buehler, Flint Wheeler, Laura Hunt Little, Lola Rossi, Jack St. Clair, Dee Jae Cox, Patte Purcell, Rebecca Pikus, Janet Newcomb, Angela Romeo, Esther Sanchez, 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 Stagecoach - Chris Stapleton & More......3 2016 CV Music Awards.............................5 Stagecoach - Billy Joe Shaver..................6 Stagecoach - Dale Watson........................7 In Memory Of Prince.................................8 Backstage Jazz - Greg Manning...............8 The Flusters...............................................9 2Toxic.........................................................9 Consider This - Bleached........................10 Art Scene - Beatrice Mandelman...........11 Pet Place..................................................12 The Vino Voice ........................................13 Club Crawler Nightlife............................14 Screeners.................................................18

Photo By Gabe Olsen

T

he 2016 Stagecoach Country Music Festival lineup could easily be considered the best to date, at least in this country music fan’s not-so-humble opinion. I say this with the exception to last year’s festival wherein the “golden-powersthat-be” gave us all the gift of seeing the late, great, Merle Haggard, one last time at the festival, before losing him April 6th of this year. Along with well-known artist with daily real estate on top 40 contemporary country radio, this year brings us more of the trailblazers and music history icons that have been essential to the genre, some as standout artists themselves, and those who helped paved the way for others with their stellar song-crafting.

While not a “headliner” by definition, there is one artist who, after birthing songs that have propelled the careers of so many others, is currently in the throes of seeing his own star launch like a NASA space shuttle. A 15 year overnight success, Chris Stapleton and his wife likely have a touch of emotional whip lash from the speed at which things have turned around for them. “I haven’t always believed in myself, but she always has,” Stapleton said, in regard to “the love of his life,” his wife Morgane, who regularly joins him on stage.

The Kentucky born, son of a coal miner moved to Nashville in 2001. It took a decade, but Stapleton began to establish himself a songwriter with six number-one songs that include, “Never Wanted Nothing More” recorded by Kenny Chesney, “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” recorded by George Strait, and “Come Back Song” recorded by Darius Rucker. Stapleton has penned over 170 songs that have appeared on albums by artists such as Adele, Luke Bryan, Tim

Book Review............................................19 Breaking the 4th Wall - 4,000 Miles.......19 Haddon Libby.........................................21 Dale Gribow............................................21 Film - “Do It Or Die”.................................22

McGraw, Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley, and co-written with Vince Gill, Peter Frampton, Sheryl Crow and many more.

In 2015, Stapleton released his debut studio album, Traveller. The sumptuous buffet of soulful, rocking country blues eloquently relating to the human experience went to number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 1.2 million copies in the US alone. Stapleton won the 2015 Country Music Association Award for Best Male Vocalist, New Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year. He performed on that award show alongside Memphis native, Justin Timberlake. The video of that performance went viral, and sealed the deal when it came to the hearts of those not naturally drawn to the country genre. Stapleton has been becoming a household name in the industry ever since.

He went on to receive four 2016 Grammy Award nominations including Album of the Year, winning two: Best Country Album and Best Country Solo Performance.

Stapleton now joins the very short list of artists, such as Shovels and Rope and Sturgill Simpson, that have been added to both Coachella and Stagecoach festival marquees.

I went to Stapleton’s stage early during the first weekend of the 2016 Coachella Music and Arts Festival, eager to get a good look at the phenom. I waited through four other performances to get front and center against the rails, and it was a good thing I did. I felt the huge crowd suddenly press in behind me as soon as the band that played before Stapleton began clearing the stage. In stark contrast to many of the performances that weekend, Stapleton’s stage set up was simple – just him and his guitar(s), a second, equally incredible guitar player, an extremely focused time keeper on drums, a delicious upright bass and it’s keeper, and his wife, Morgane, sharing the spotlight with him on vocals and tambourine. The simple charm and unpretentiousness

of their ensemble, blended with gut wrenching, make you weep vocals, supported by face melting guitar leads and licks, was riveting. It was a reminder of how technologically complicated music in general has gotten, and how sweet and powerful the simple good stuff is when it’s been soaking in authenticity, born from a master songwriter’s own bleeding heart, and sung by a voice that is simultaneously raw and flawless. Needless to say, this is one show of the plethora that you will want to make a point to catch. Perhaps he can even be coerced to perform the tribute to Prince he did in Berkeley where he had the stage lights turned purple and played, “Nothing Compares to You,” an event that is being called the “bluesiest Prince cover you’ll ever hear.”(Rare.us) There are so many others I would urge you to see, most of whom are on the smaller stages where you can usually get up close and personal as opposed to the arena sized Mane Stage with matching crowd. With the loss of so many never to be replaced artists this year, I’m tempted to list them from oldest to youngest. But the truth is, it can be just as exciting to see some of these up and coming artists as it is the tenured timeless icons. Imagine if you had the chance to see Haggard, Cash and Jones when they were starting out. So instead, I’ll simply share a partial schedule of artists I’ve created for myself, a music enthusiast who is deeply in love with the roots of country music and not so much a fan of the pop crossover artists. My criteria for choosing the following bands is simple: Make me believe you. Be your authentic self (You can reflect your influences but don’t be a copy). Inspire me. Show me your mad skills in tasteful dynamic doses. Show me you are honest and brave enough to bleed a little on the stage through your instruments and songs, and make us all feel connected.

(Sounds simple enough, right?) continue to page 5

Safety Tips...............................................22 Sports Scene...........................................23 Free Will Astrology.................................23 Mind, Body & Spirit ................................24 Life & Career Coach ................................24 Beauty with Dr. Lombardo ....................24 Ask Jenny................................................25

Photo By Becky Fluke

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

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STAGECOACH continued from page 3 OTHER ARTISTS TO GANDER LEROY POWELL should make getting to the first show of Stagecoach 2016 worth your while. Powell played guitar with Shooter Jennings and is on Jennings’ album, Put the “O” Back in Country. Powell promises to put so much POW in his guitar driven southern rock show that it just might make the rest of the day sound like easy listening in comparison.

DALE WATSON One of the Texas legends you won’t want to miss. (See article: Dale Watson: “I Am Not Country” in this issue) BILLY JOE SHAVER is the songwriter’s songwriter. Even the prolific tunesmith, Kris Kristofferson, has covered Shaver’s songs (read a very intimate interview in this issue).

WHITEY MORGAN: Winner of the 2014 Ameripolitan Music Awards Outlaw Country Band of the Year, this is a legit honky tonk band that can also deliver a Jamie Johnsonesque, melt your heart ballad.

ROBERT EARL KEEN: This highly respected songwriter has penned songs for good folks like George Straight, Joe Ely, Lyle Lovett, The Highwaymen and The Dixie Chicks.

Whitey Morgan

Leroy Powell

MARTY STUART: Quite possible one of the best mandolin players alive. Stuart started playing at the age of 12 and eventually became part of Johnny Cash’s backing band. He even got into a scuffle with Columbia label heads over them dropping Cash from the label, resulting in Stuarts own album that had just been recorded not getting released.

EMMYLOU HARRIS: There is no other voice like that of the beautiful Emmylou Harris. As of this year, she has won 13 Grammys and has worked with stellar artist

Marty Stuart

Robert Earl Keen

like Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, John Denver, Roy Orbison, the Band, Neil Young, Ryan Adams and more. Check out her long time singing partner, RODNEY CROWELL. AMANDA SHIRES: Wife of Jason Isbell, this beautifully voiced, incredible songsmith and multi-instrumentalist will show you why Isbell fell hard for her – you will too.

LEE ANN WOMACK: “I Hope You Dance,” on over to the guaranteed all sing for the lovely voice behind this inspiring song and so many others.

Beyond a doubt, any one at Stagecoach

Amanda Shires

April 28 to May 4, 2016

Emmylou Harris

will be familiar with the headliners. And all true music lovers from all genre walks of life will likely flock to see rock and roll pillars, John Fogerty, Doobie Brothers, and the Marshall Tucker Band. But see if you can’t introduce yourself to these other very unique and exciting artists you’re not likely to hear on top 40 country radio. They are creating some great original country music: Pokey LaFarge, Longhorne Slim and the Law, SUSTO, The Turnpike Troubadours and James Town Revival. stagecoachfestival.com/lineup

Lee Ann Womack

CVMAs THE CV MUSIC AWARDS RECOGNIZES THE BEST OF THE VALLEY’S LOCAL MUSICIANS AND BANDS SUNDAY, MAY 22 AT THE RIVIERA IN PALM SPRINGS

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ot your tix for the 3rd Annual CV Music Awards? If you purchase your tickets now you can take advantage of the pre-event price of $25. If you wait until the day of the awards show and concert, tickets will be $35 cash at the door.

Just like national awards shows, like the Grammys or CMAs, this will be the party of the year for local musicians and bands! In only its third year, the CV Music Awards has become one of the most anticipated events on the valley’s music scene!

A special “Pioneer Award” will be presented to The Evaro family, along with “Trailblazer Awards” given to local desert rock legends The Hellions and a separate award to Gary Arce (Yawning Man).

This year a “Lifetime Achievement Award” will be given to rock legend Terry Reid.

And do to the recent and sudden death of local music store owner and musician, an

“In Memory” tribute will be done for Randy Hewitson, owner of Musicians Outlet and SIR. Emcees for the event include: Patrick Evans (CBS Local 2 meteorologist), Bianca Rae (KESQ Anchorwoman) Bronwyn Ison (owner Evolve Yoga, CV Weekly writer,Tina Marx Show) and Craig Michaels (Craig Michaels Productions/Tina Marx Show).

Winners will be announced in 32 categories by celebrity presenters. Local bands slated to perform during the awards show are: Bridger, Michael Keeth & Martin Barrera, House of Broken Promises, Se7en4, Jesika Von Rabbit, Hollace, 5th Town, J Patron with Christina Reyes, Lootenant/ Jayoh/Million, Lisa Lynn & the Country Gentlemen, YIP YOPS, The Sweat Act, Mikey Reyes & Bryanna Evaro, Drum Hall, Eevaan Tre, Alex Harrington, Rick Shelley, Gina Carey, Thr3Strykes & The Dirty X’s, and a Jazz Jam with Slim Man, Joe Baldino, Rose Mallett, Yve Evans, Smooth Brothers, Cat

Lyn Day, Mikole Kaar & Craig Chestnut.

In addition to the awards show there is an after-party that starts at 9 p.m. with a limited number of $75 VIP party tickets available (includes the awards show entry).

The VIP tix include a hosted bar that includes Crater Lake Vodka & Gin, Coachella Valley Brewing Co., wine, and food sponsored

by Jackalope Ranch. There will also be entertainment by DJ Alex Harrington, full set by nominated 80s cover band, Long Duk Dong, and special “Surprise” performances.

In addition to saluting the great independent music of the Coachella Valley, the CV Music Awards will also support Loving All Animals with all proceeds from the amazing raffle package going directly to them.

With its own long history associated with the music and entertainment industry, the Riviera Palm Springs is the perfect spot for this party. The midcentury hotel is located at 1600 N. Indian Canyon Drive. For tickets

and information, call (760) 501-6228 or publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com. To book a room reservation at the Riviera for the awards night, call 866-588-8311 and mention CV Music Awards to get the special discount rate of $112.00.

Sponsors for the CV Music Awards are: Presenting Sponsor - Hot Purple Energy.

Title Sponsors - CV Weekly and The Riviera Palm Springs. Gold Sponsors - Crater Lake Vodka, CV Brewing Company, Jackalope Ranch, Desert Wraps, Musicians Outlet, CYM Lighting, and DarMar Awards.

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

BILLY JOE SHAVER

“When the country outlaws were collecting their holy writings, Billy Joe Shaver was carving out Exodus.” - The Washington Post illy Joe Shaver is a country music treasure, one whose fingerprints (the ones he has left) can be found on nearly every influential country music artist past and present. Legitimately, one of the most respected living figures in American music, Shaver is a songwriter’s songwriter.

His music has been performed/recorded by artists the likes of Kris Kristofferson (“Good Christian Soldier”),Tom T. Hall (“Willie the Wandering Gypsy and Me”), Bobby Bare (“Ride Me Down Easy”), Allman Brothers (“Sweet Mama”) and even Elvis Presley (“You Asked Me To”). Shaver’s songs left their most indelible mark through Waylon Jennings who recorded Honky Tonk Heroes, considered the first true “outlaw” album, and was an album composed almost entirely of Shaver’s songs.

Shaver’s first album, Old Five and Dimers Like Me, was produced by Kristofferson in 1973. Johnny Cash recorded “I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Some Day),” a song Shaver wrote just after he chose to give up drugs and booze and turned to God for help. Bob Dylan, who rarely covers other writers, often plays Billy Joe‘s “Old Five And Dimers Like Me” in concert, and Johnny Cash called him “my favorite songwriter.”

He has survived a rough poverty stricken childhood, a tour of the Korean “conflict” as a Navy Corpsman, the loss of his fingers in an industrial accident, more intensely, the loss of a wife (cancer) and son (heroin), shot a man and was found innocent by a jury of his peers, and these are the only the “cliff notes” of a life saved by his Grandma, God and music, and the short list of his stellar contributions and collaborations.

On May 22, 2014, Rolling Stone premiered the single-duet with Willie Nelson, “Hard To Be An Outlaw,” from his album Long In the Tooth. After four decades of music, Long in the Tooth became Billy Joe Shaver’s first album to chart in Billboard’s Top Country Albums, entering the chart at 19. The album also entered the Billboard 200, peaking at 157.

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LONG IN THE TOOTH AND STILL NOT SHORT ON SONGS AND STORIES

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On behalf of CV Weekly, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with this wonderful character for quite a while. He made it feel like we were sitting on a front porch, sipping sweet tea and talking about life, politics, music and God. Here are some of the highlights: CVW: “Did you expect for Long in the Tooth to be so successful this late in your career?”

Shaver: “No. Well - yeah I did! It surprised me that it wasn’t a bigger one! I’ll tell ya what happened… I took, “The Get Go” and “Hard to be an Outlaw” over to my friend Willie Nelson. I didn’t think he’d cut ‘em, and he cut ‘em right away. My album wasn’t set to come out until June 6th, and I don’t really know what happened…maybe him and my record company came to some kind of agreement, but they pushed my release out to August.

Willie came out with his album with my two songs on there first. It’s a great album, but it kinda made it look like I sucked his hind teat.

But that’s alright - I made more money off of him than I would myself I guess.”

CVW: "Making money in music these days is kind of a trick."

Shaver: “It don’t mean nothin’ to me. This is my hobby. Not to belittle it, but this is what I do for fun. I enjoy livin’ and I enjoy writing.”

CVW: “You’ve survived so much physically, emotionally… What is it that keeps you ticking?”

Shaver: “I just have to whistle by the grave yard. Nobody really likes to see a guy having a pity party all the time. I have found in my backstage things when I get done, there’s people who got worse deals than I got. Not that that makes me feel any better, I feel bad for them. But I’m a born again Christian.

It doesn’t seem like I am, but I am, and I’m out there smuggling a message to ya in there every once in a while. It might look like it’s coming from a wrong place, but it works.

There are people out there who wouldn’t go to church. I don’t go to church myself – I don’t usually have time, but this body we have is our tabernacle and there’s people who won’t go and listen to anything, but they’ll listen to me. It’s a responsibility. You’ve got to do it.

You can’t just stand around and not at least

point to what people need to do and where they’re looking to go.”

CVW: “You joined the navy in 1956. That was an interesting time in our history.”

Shaver: “I was a hospital corpsman. I was going into the Marines, but my buddy talked me into going to the Navy with him like his dad did, and back then they had a buddy system where you could enlist with a friend and they’d ship you off to the same place and all that stuff – they ‘promised’ anyway. Got in there, and they had us all go to a John Wayne movie – some kind of a navy movie he made - and my buddy shows up too, and we’re all in our civvies (civilian clothes), and I said, ‹Man we better hustle up and get on down the road to get shipped off!' And he says, ‘I gotta tell you somethin.’ I said, ‘What?’ He says, ‘I didn’t join up. I’m sorry man, but you know that girl we both like and she likes you a little bit more than she likes me? Well I want her to myself. And that position you had on the football team, well I wanted that too.’

He laid it on me man, I was about to cry! I told him to get away from me before I hurt him. And he went on, and I went on in the Navy without my buddy. I’d already sworn in.

Anyway, they told me that if I wanted to be a Marine so bad, they’d put me in the hospital corps and when D-day comes, you can be a free marine (the Marines use corpsmen out of the Navy). I went on in and got in all the trouble I could and enjoyed every minute of it. I enjoy life – I have fun. During the Korean conflict – they never did get around to calling it a war and we lost more people over there than anywhere and it’s still going on."

CVW: “Tell me about the Opry” Shaver: “I came to Nashville in 1966, and the reason I got to appear on the Opry is ol’ Porter Wagner - he took a shine to me cause I was the only one who would talk back to him.

He was one of those guys who got his way all the time, and he thought I was kinda funny.

And every time we came to town, he’d have us play a couple songs anyway. He eventually set us up to make good money out the back.

After the show at the Opry was over, we’d have a 90 minute show with a stage and everything.”

CVW: “So you have made a career out of writing, singing and playing guitar and you’re missing some fingers! How does one lose fingers and then decide, ‘I’m going to play guitar!’”

Shaver: “I shot a prayer up to God when that happened. I said, ‘I’ll get to doing what I’m supposed to be doing if You just get me out of this.’ I didn’t bleed or nothing, but the tendons of course, we’re hanging all the way down to the floor.”

CVW: “Of course.”

Shaver: (chuckles) “There was this cowboy there – one I just knew I was going end up fighting one day – well, he took a look at me, and took off running - ran straight into a wall and knocked himself out. I dug through the sawdust to find my fingers, ‘cause two of them got wacked off. I had read an article how in Japan they’d sow fingers back on and stuff. I had to get in my old pickup truck and

STAGECOACH

BY LISA MORGAN

PHOTOS BY JIM MCGUIRE

drive over to the doctors. I got over there and he says, ‘Well, you got a problem there,’ and I said, ‘Yeah I do. Can you sew these here fingers back on?’ He said, ‘What do you mean, sew ‘em back?’ I said, ‘They’re doing it over in Japan!’ He says, ‘This is Texas.’”

“We went on to the hospital. The doctor sewed everything back together. He got it wrong once and had to go back in there. Then my heart quit beating and they had to get my heart back going. Then they had to do more to it… it was a mess. I just left it like it was – two major fingers gone and another two just as messed up as the rest of it. But I got out of there. “ “My grandma bought me a guitar before I was 12, and I would mess with it. I sold newspapers on the corner when I was 8-9 years old. I guess I sang enough that she went and bought this Gene Autry guitar that cost $11 from Sears and Roebuck. It had a picture of him on a horse rearing up. It was a pretty good little guitar. My grandmother died when I was 12, and I had to go live with my mother and my stepfather. He was real strict and all made me pay for stuff. I had a job making $20 a week washing dishes at a place called The Chicken Shack. But what happened was, I was gone to school or work, and for some reason my step father gave my guitar to a fella's son who he'd hired to pull up a stump in the yard. My stepfather went and gave his son my guitar. Here I was, about 13 or 14... I got so upset about it, I said, ‘I’m not going to do nothing but write poetry.’ And I did. I quit guitar and singing until I had that accident when I was 21. That’s when I shot that prayer up. I promised that I’d get back to doing what I’m supposed to do. I always knew what I was supposed to do. I always knew I had a gift for it. I remember being small enough to be rocked by her on a rocking chair telling me, ‘You’re gonna be on the Grand Ol’ Opry’. We managed to get a radio and Roy Acuff was her favorite person. And as it turned out, he ended up having a lot to do with me making a lot of guest appearances. I got a funny little gate. I don’t play so much now because I got a shoulder that’s bone on bone and I can only raise my arm only so high, and if I play all night long, it hurts. I’m supposed to have another shoulder put in but I don’t have time for that. I’m just going to go on because I have a great band, a great manager, who also manages Steve Earle. I think the world of Steve Earle. He’s a great poet. I’m a big Willie Nelson fan too."

CVW: “Any plans on a new album?”

Shaver: “My manager just asked me that, and I said, ‘Yes I do!’ I’ve got about 500 songs to pick from but I like the fresh ones that are raring to go. New songs are like my children – I keep ‘em around a while before I ever play them for anyone else. I nurture them a while before I let them go. I’d like to be around when that happens, but I might be gone by the time everyone figures it out. There’s no accountin’ for class.” (he chuckles).

Visit his website billyjoeshaver.com

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THE GREAT AMERIPOLITAN, DALE WATSON - “I AM NOT COUNTRY”

A

ustin Music Hall of Famer, Dale Watson may not be the most popular person among the Top 40 movers, makers and shakers in Nashville, but he is selling out shows left and right across the country. The Alabama born Texas transplant has hardly known anything else but music since he started writing songs at age 12 and recording at 14. Rockabilly, singer-guitarist Rosie Flores talked him into moving out to LA in 1988 where he played in the house band at the legendary Palomino Club in Hollywood. “I got my first record deal from playing at the Palomino in a house band there Tuesday nights,” Watson shared. “It was a good scene there at the Palomino in LA back in the mid 80s. Rosie Flores talked me into moving out there.

She was up for a Horizon Artist award at the ACMs, or something like that. She had just signed with Warner Brothers, Dwight had just popped out, Lucinda Williams was there, along with Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale and so many who have moved on to win Ameripolitan awards.”

Watson later left for Nashville to write songs for a publishing company run by Gary Morris (writer of such country/pop hits as “The Wind Beneath My Wings”). That’s about the time Watson became a thorn in the side of the commercial country scene in Nashville. Dale relocated to Austin, secured a record deal and proceeded to write several songs poking fun at the industry side of Nashville, including “Nashville Rash” from his Hightone Records debut Cheatin’ Heart Attack and “A Real Country Song” from his 1996 follow-up, Blessed or Damned. Watson is currently working on his 30th studio album to follow up his trilogy of Trucking Sessions and his most recent album receiving critical acclaim, Call Me Insane.

CVW: “How did you come to write the stories of truckers so articulately into your music?”

Watson: “My dad was a trucker. He just had that way about him as I was growing up. I had always had a CB radio. Our first tour was a truck stop tour that we did in a Suburban. We played all these truck stops on Trucker Appreciation Day, following this Western Star big rig around. All the money we raised went to an organization that helped abused and missing children. It was a fun tour, but it was a tough tour. I got to talk to a lot of truckers. Pretty much when you’re a musician at that level, you’re eating at the same restaurants, staying in the same motels - the only difference is the cargo.

Talking to the truckers on that first tour is what inspired my first album. I’d like to do another tour like that now that we have The Trilogy: Sessions one, two and three. The lingo has changed. There are things that truckers deal with now that they didn’t used to have to; things like ambient sensors that turn your truck off when you’re sitting still. If a trucker is sitting still and he’s got his engine on trying to stay warm in a blizzard or something, his/her truck will turn off.”

CVW: “So you’ve made it clear in

has to evolve in order to survive. Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa’s music.

And I don’t care how many of these old farts around Nashville going, “My God, that ain’t country!” Well that’s because you don’t buy records anymore, jackass.

The kids do, and they don’t want to buy the music you were buying.” (2013 quote: from an interview with GAC as part of their Backstory series) “Ray Price told me about it and said, ‘There ain’t a hat big enough to fit his head.’

I made a promise that in one year from that day, I would put on an award show. I didn’t care if five people showed up, and it ended up being just a onetime thing, I’m going to do an award show to acknowledge the

interviews and shows that you are not country.”

Watson: “I used to be proud to say I’m country. I was proud to say that I come from the same school of music as Haggard and Jones and Cash, but it’s changed. Now when you say ‘Country,’ people automatically think of the arena stuff like Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flats. The industry behind music like that has pretty successfully taken over the term Country Music. Even if you say, ‘I’m traditional country,’ you’re pretty much saying, ‘I do music that doesn’t count,’ at least not by their standards. To them, it’s considered old and retro, like you’re a novelty act. I had to go with something else...it’s not the perfect word, but I wanted to pick one that didn’t have any connotation whatsoever. So I call my music, ‘Ameripolitan.’”

CVW: “Ameripolitan categories are strictly Rockabilly, Honky Tonk, Outlaw and Western Swing, correct?”

Watson: “Right. It represents something way more important than receiving an award. Wanda Jackson and Red Simpson were this year’s winners. Last year, it was James Burton and Billy Joe Shaver. The year before, W.S. Holland, the only drummer Johnny Cash ever had, was honored along with Carl Perkins and Johnny Bush. They used to give bands awards... the backup bands... and acknowledge everybody that made the music and made the sounds.

That’s missing now. You can’t think of Buck Owen’s music without hearing Don Rich, whether people know it or not. You can’t think of Conway Twitty without thinking of John Hughey his steel player. “ “The Ameripolitan Music Awards are always the second week in February since 2014. Ray Price helped me spear head this because of something that Blake Shelton said: “If I am “Male Vocalist of the Year” that must mean that I’m one of those people now that gets to decide if it moves forward and if it moves on. Country music

April 28 to May 4, 2016

STAGECOACH

BY LISA MORGAN

PHOTO BY SARAH WILSON

music of ‘old farts and jackasses’ and the people who like it. We did it, and it was a sold out crowd. We had to move it to a bigger venue, and that sold out.”

CVW: “Those aren’t the only shows that are selling out. You have a show in Huntington Beach, CA that is already sold out!”

Watson: “I’ve been lucky. I can’t help but think that Ameripolitan has helped that. It’s becoming world renowned - we have a Croatian festival now and there’s an Ameripolitan radio show in Spain.”

Visit his website dalewatson.com

FILM INDIE FILMMAKER, GINA CAREY, TO LAUNCH COACHELLA VALLEY’S INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS & ACTORS NETWORKING EVENT

AT EUREKA! IN PALM DESERT, GINA CAREY FILMS HOST AN ONGOING MONTHLY NETWORKING EVENT FOR FILMMAKERS AND ACTORS STARTING JUNE 6TH

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ndie Soul Recording artist and Filmmaker Gina Carey will launch the Coachella Valley’s Independent Filmmakers & Actors Networking Event on Monday June 6, 2016 at Eureka! , 74985 CA111, Palm Desert, CA 92260 on the corner on Cook & Hwy 111. This free event will be held on the patio and will begin at 6pm and end at 8pm.

This Networking event sponsored by Gico Music & Gina Carey Films, is designed to provide a creative atmosphere for independent filmmakers and actors to build professional friendships and collaborations within the independent Film Industry.

“I have a strong desire to create more opportunities within my community for the creative minded individuals such as myself to connect,” said Carey.

During this monthly networking affair, participants will be encouraged to share information regarding their movie projects, share filmmaking techniques, collaborate with other filmmakers and show support for their fellow filmmaker’s film screenings. The Coachella Valley Independent Filmmakers & Actors Network will also offer mentorship for new filmmakers, and actors.

The membership cost is free and is open to all professional and aspiring film industry participators.

Spearheading The CV Indie Filmmakers & Actors Network is CEO of Gico Music & Gina Carey Films. Gina Carey is not only a indie film maker, but is also an accomplished singer, song writer, music producer and recording artist (with over 12 CD’s released worldwide).

She is also the winner of the 2012 Marker broadcasting Jazz Artist award and the 2015 CV Music awards winner for “Best Contemporary Artist”.

On February 22, 2016, Gina premiered her first full length feature movie “The Unexpected”, at the well-known Camelot Theaters in Palm Springs to a full to capacity audience. Her film also received 4 film festival official selections.

The CV Indie Filmmakers & Actors Network membership is free and open to all film industry professionals. To RSVP email Gina Carey Films: ginacareyfilms@ gmail.com . For more information, go to ginacareyfilms.com or call 760.678.5815.

To find out more about Gina Carey, go to ginacarey.net

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

IN MEMORY OF

I

rarely go all first-person when I write here, to (once again) paraphrase the quiet Beatle, too much “I-Me-Mine-ing.” I write it, so you know it has to be my opinion, so I never feel the need to begin these things with “I think” or “I feel,” until now. Prince passed away on Thursday, and I have a surfeit of thoughts and feelings so I hope you will indulge me.

A local newscast interviewed me that day. I had a lot to say, about the majesty of Prince, but they only had me yapping for 30 seconds or so. (Clearly, one values my opinion as much as I do). Luckily the publisher/editor and “her man” indulge me from time to time.

Prince was a musical genius. That isn’t opinion, it’s a fact. The Minneapolis, Minnesota native appeared, seemingly out of nowhere in 1978 with his debut, For You. On his next four albums, Prince, Dirty Mind, Controversy and 1999 he played all the instruments himself creating his own fusion of Funk, Punk, Pop, Rock, Soul and Funk. (Because he was that Funky).

I first got excited about him hearing the singles from the 1999 album. Both the title track and “Little Red Corvette” received airplay on my teenage radio station of choice, KROQ. My interest further solidified when I read long articles of appreciation in the L.A. Herald-Examiner from my favorite music critics, Mikael Gilmore and Todd Everett.

Back in the early ‘80s radio and MTV were still pretty homogenized. Even as he was being interviewed on the music channel, David Bowie famously noted “I’m just floored by the fact that there are…so few black artists featured. Why is that?” Both Michael Jackson and Prince took care of that, breaking the color barrier, effectively opening the door for other artists.

By 1984 Prince exploded into the mainstream with “Purple Rain.” Both the movie and the soundtrack made him a superstar. Even now, there is nothing on this earth that sounds like “When Doves Cry” or the movie’s Gospel-inflected title song.

Prince was a pioneer, along with his band the Revolution, he challenged conventional gender roles and played with sexuality. His music was influenced by James Brown and Joni Mitchell in equal measure.

Prince was prolific, following the massive success of “Purple Rain,” other artists might have been content to rest on their laurels, not Prince.

Less than a year later created his own record label, Paisley Park, and released his Sgt. Pepper the Psychedelia-tinged Around The World In A Day. By 1986 he was back with another movie, “Under The Cherry Moon,” and soundtrack, Parade, a year after that he delivered his magnum opus, Sign O’ The Times. By the close of the ‘80s he had composed all the music for Tim Burton’s “Batman” movie.

Prince was the first musician to marry spirituality and sexuality. Other artists, most famously, Little Richard, Al Green and Marvin Gaye had struggled to reconcile their faith with their carnal appetites.

For Prince it was never an either/or situation.

He cultivated an androgynous, almost effeminate stage persona, yet, he had a deeply masculine speaking voice and almost supernatural powers of seduction. A lot of babies were made to Prince records! Even when he became a devout Jehovah’s Witness, and cut back the salacious innuendo, he never apologized or renounced what came before.

Prince’s music offered a master class in songcraft. His music knowledge was encyclopedic, and self-taught. His love for Joni Mitchell matched my own and his enthusiasm for her Hissing Of Summer Lawns album persuaded me to revisit it, and I now I play it at least once a week.

There are few words to adequately describe his guitar playing, so I will leave you with this; when

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PRINCE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

BACKSTAGE JAZZ

BY PATTE PURCELL

HITMAKER GREG MANNING

A

Eric Clapton was asked what it felt like to be the best guitarist on earth he replied “I don’t know, I’m not Prince.”

In the ‘90s Prince took on the record industry, decrying unfair contracts and attempting to gain ownership and control over his own music. He changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol and performed with the word “slave” emblazoned on his face. Again, he was ahead of his time, exposing the labels’ unfair business practices and creating a DIY paradigm that other artists emulated.

Prince championed other artists, first collaborating and producing the Time and Vanity 6.

In the mid ‘80s, he shared his enthusiasm for L.A.’s Paisley Underground scene, writing the Bangles’ first Top 10 hit, “Manic Monday” and signing the Three O’Clock to his Paisley Park label.

In the ‘90s gave Soul progenitors like Mavis Staples, George Clinton, Larry Graham and Maceo Parker a home at the label. By the new millennium he was singing on Ani DiFranco’s 10th album To The Teeth, she returned the favor for his Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic record.

Prince’s musical output was prodigious. He released 39 studio albums in 37 years, sometimes putting out two at a time, Lotusflow3r and MPLSound in 2009, Plectrumelectrum and Art Official Age in 2014 and most recently HITnRUN Phase One and HITnRUN Phase Two, in late 2015.

Prince was a consummate show man.

Sometimes he was late, but his concerts were epic, lengthy and full of encores. I never got around to seeing him, I really can’t say why, money or scheduling or something. I was at a Bangles show at the Palace in Hollywood in 1984 and Prince was too.

Prince was a total enigma, and that was fine.

It made it extra amazing when he deigned to appear on “Arsenio,” acting as an Afro’d Dear Abby, helping an audience member break up with a long-distance girlfriend. Or when he stole the show at the Grammy Awards proclaiming “Albums still matter, like books and black lives, albums still matter, tonight and always.”

Ultimately, the music will live on. The big hits belong to everyone, but the deeper cuts will always resonate for me. From the sly, yet wistful guitar-synth interplay on the instrumental break of “Computer Blue,” to the hiccoughing Psychedelia of “Paisley Park,” the Joni Mitchell shout-out in “The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker.” As well as his surprisingly diffident need for reassurance on “Reflection” from the Musicology album; “Tell me do U like my hair this way?/Remember all the way back in the day when we would compare whose afro was the roundest?”

It was at least eight weeks after my mother died that I cried, (ironically, listening to a particularly badass Mambo from her beloved Tito Puente). But I burst into tears the minute I heard that Prince was gone; the same with David Bowie, Joe Strummer and John Lennon. I don’t know what that says about me. But I do know what it says about Prince.

Thanks for letting me ramble.

few years ago I went to Spaghettini to listen to some smooth jazz. I was impressed with the keys player and asked who he was. When I heard the name Greg Manning I thought, I know this name.

It turned out I was a fan of his music and particularly his #1 hit of 2013, “Dance With You.” It topped the Billboard charts and featured Mindi Abair on sax. I approached him and asked for his card and congratulated him. In my mind I thought ‘someday I’d like to work with this artist’. I’m excited and proud to say that he is our core band keyboardist for the Celebrity Jazz Jam series at Desert Willow Golf Resort.

Greg just finished his latest CD Sugar and Spice with 10 new songs. This CD is on the Kalimba, the late Maurice White (Earth, Wind, and Fire), jazz label. All of the songs on the CD are original except for “Happy”. His last CD Dance with me and single were the #1 Song of the Year in 2013.

Greg was born in Nigeria but moved as a baby to Switzerland and spent his life there. Initially he thought he wanted to be a pediatrician but one day he looked in the mirror and said ‘who are you kidding, music is your dream’ so he decided to pursue it. He earned a scholarship to Berklee School of Music and started in 1990. He never finished.

He got a call from a famous comedian from Switzerland who asked him to co-write a musical called “Keep Coo.l” He said yes and moved back to write it. He performed and toured with the musical for 4 years in Europe. He still planned to go back to school, but got hired for a TV show with his band on Swiss TV in 1997, so he stayed.

After a successful run he decided he needed to explore more musical opportunities so he and his wife decided to move to Atlanta, near a friend who produced commercials for big companies including McDonald’s and Coca Cola. He spent 5 years doing just that.

While at Berklee he had become friends with Jonathan Butler and took a class from him. Jonathan called Greg and asked him to join his band in 1998. He toured with him for 9 years.

Jonathan stressed that Greg should move to LA to be at the heart of the business, so in 2002 he moved his family there. That is the

same year they had their son Noah.

Mindi Abair was also part of Butler’s band and when she went solo she asked Greg to play keys on her first recording sessions.

Meanwhile in Switzerland, Greg was wooed for a Swiss version of American Idol called “Music Star”. He took the gig as Musical Director between 2003 & 2007. It was the #1 rated TV show in Swiss television history.

After years of touring 2007 he grew weary of traveling and decided to stay in LA and promote his own music.

He began working with Jan Stevens, a referral from Terry Wollman, and wrote music for the TV shows “Scrubs” and “Samantha Who” for 4 years. He released his own CD The Calling in 2010. With no business experience in this area he didn’t realize the amount of promotion it takes to get them played, on the charts, etc. It went nowhere. Then out of the blue, he was contacted by the Kalimba Music jazz label and was given a recording contract which included promotion by Jason Gorv. His first CD on the label Dance With You, and the single by the same name, became the number one song of the year. Mindi Abair played sax on it.

He released 2 singles from the CD, the second one “Cruisin’ Down the Road” featuring Vincent Ingala was #5 on Billboard.

His latest CD, Sugar and Spice, will also be the single release. He calls it ‘retro funky’.

The full CD will be released in July. I have no doubt that it will be another hit for this producer, composer, and performer. He’s also producing other artists and has written funky songs for them as well. His style is sassy and soulful.

He will be touring with Peter White, Euge Groove, and Paul Taylor this summer.

Celebrity Jazz Jam will be hosting a CD Release party in July with Greg’s CD. Greg is part of the core band of the Celebrity Jazz Jam series at Desert Willow Golf Resort.

To contact Greg see him on Facebook and come out to see him perform at Celebrity Jazz Jam May 16 at Desert Willow Golf Resort. He will be performing his new single “Sugar and Spice.” For more information and tickets visit purplepass.com/celebrityjazzjam5

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

LOCAL BAND’S TURN ON NATIONAL STAGE GOT US ALL ‘FLUSTERED’!

I

n a year and a half, The Flusters have propelled themselves from a relatively unknown band to local stardom on the Outdoor Stage of the country’s biggest music festival. This talented lineup consists of Doug VanSant Jr. on lead vocals/guitar, Danny White on vocals/lead guitar, Mario Estrada on vocals/bass, their newest bandmate, Daniel Perry on drums, and Will Sturgeon of local band Brightener who often accompanies The Flusters on the keyboard.

The guys have gone from playing cool local venues like The Hood Bar & Pizza, Schmidy’s Tavern, and Date Farmers Studio, to nabbing a coveted spot at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

I sat down with the easygoing-yetenergetic members of this dream-surf band, and their excitement was palpable.

CVW: “As a newer local band, what did it feel like to share the Outdoor Stage at Coachella with such bands as Cold War Kids, Halsey, Jack U, and Zedd?”

Doug VanSant: “Sharing the same stage with artists I’ve followed for years was surreal. I remember seeing Cold War Kids years ago in Philly, and as usual when I saw bands perform live, I would ask myself, ‘I wonder if I’ll ever make it to a stage like that?’ The feeling is pretty amazing once you do.”

ARTICLE AND PHOTO

BY JONI WRIGHT

Mario Estrada: “It felt crazy to be playing on the same stage as so many other amazing artists. To think that Jack U had been the most recent act to play the stage before us was mind-blowing. It was also humbling because it really inspired a sense of urgency in us to cultivate our live show.”

Daniel Perry: “The feeling of being on the same side of that stage as some of the artists I have seen in the past is such a reward in itself. Especially at a festival of this caliber.”

CVW: “At Coachella, bands you admire, respect, and listen to become your peers.

Describe this.”

Doug VanSant: “Conversing with bands I love backstage during the festival was amazing. They are still my idols, but in a

LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

CARLOS “2TOXIC” CRUZ

C

arlos “2Toxic” Cruz is an independent performing artist, songwriter, and engineer who has worked to build a career in music. His consistent successes and networking web over his career thus far, have opened the doors for his current transition into music production and artist development. Carlos aspires still to even more as he creates a record label and becomes the mentor for other talented Coachella Valley artists.

I spoke with Carlos about career paths, inspirations, and aspirations.

MJ: You seem to have your name on several projects lately. Tell me what you

have been working on?

2Toxic: “I have been involved in a lot of the Coachella Valley’s music. I worked as an engineer on a lot of Tiptoe Stallone’s new album Everybody Hates Chris. So far I have 9 artists under my label 2Toxic Music, a few full projects out and completed, as well as many others in the works. I am currently working on my best project yet called “Focus” which is an EP. This project might turn into a full LP since I’ve had a lot of great producers working with me, which has generated a lot of great music.”

MJ: I hear some of your music has been

April 28 to May 4, 2016

LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

way now, they seem like peers too. I made sure to remain opportunistic; when I saw a musician I recognized, I immediately went over and introduced myself as a member of The Flusters and gave them a card.

These are the people we want tours with, relationships with, you never know…”

Danny White: “It felt surreal to ride on the golf cart with one of the guys from Beach House and to be treated by them as an equal is an amazing feeling. I think most good artists have a mutual respect for other artists and um, there was a lot of love.”

CVW: “There is an expansive amount of musical talent in this desert. What do you think it is about this valley that musicians thrive on? And what, if anything, about this

desert has flavored The Flusters’ sound?”

Doug VanSant: “The deserts’ aesthetic has definitely inspired our music tremendously. I came to the desert with a few ideas rattling around in my head but living here has affected my writing in more ways than I realize. The fans and local support ALWAYS inspire us.”

CVW: “What did you learn about yourselves individually as performers, and collectively as a band, after reflecting on this experience?”

Doug VanSant: “I realized that The Flusters, as a unit, could get it done. We all suited up and played our best show to date.

The most important thing I learned was that what we are doing is real. The idea alone blows my mind.”

Danny White: “It made me realize that we’re only just starting. Yeah, like this morning I woke up at 8 a.m. and sat down with a pen and paper and wrote what I think is the beginning of a beautiful song. I play music that I feel. I don’t specifically know where it comes from but when I play it comes from my heart.”

CVW: “What is next for The Flusters?”

Doug VanSant: “We have two exciting things occurring in the very near future: the release of our debut EP this summer with a huge album release event and a fall tour.

The rest of our future has yet to be written, we certainly hope it’s a bright one.”

BY MORGAN JAMES picked up for TV and Film?

2Toxic: “I have secured placements of my writing on a few projects for Strange Music. I am also very excited for a few TV placements that I just locked in, beginning my journey into the placement world on a larger stage. TV is definitely new for my music and I’m hoping to be doing a lot more in that avenue. My ultimate goal is to do something so great that it will have our industry taking a serious look at the Coachella Valley’s great artists. I want to build something to be proud of here at home.”

MJ: You are very driven. What inspires you?

2Toxic: “My inspiration comes from the fear of failure. I just can’t be a failure to my kids or myself. A better life is the ultimate goal for me, so success itself is inspiring.”

MJ: Do you have a defining moment or highlight in your career?

2Toxic: “Man one of my favorite highlights of my careers would have to be performing for a crowd of about 4000 people and receiving so much love. Also having one of my idols in this music business be my mentor along the way is priceless. I have to say “thank you” and “I love you brother” to my boy Tech N9ne who has opened a lot of doors for me and has given me priceless knowledge on how to be an independent artist.”

MJ: What is next for you? Where will you go from here?

2Toxic: “The future is looking great. I have a few things that are going to be happening soon as I build my independent label. I have some very motivated and talented artists involved, and the music we have been working on is really my pride and joy. Please, if you would like to get familiar, visit our Facebook page under 2Toxic Music.

You can see the artists that I develop and produce, as well as myself.”

9

April 28 to May 4, 2016

CONSIDER THIS

BLEACHED B

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

“WELCOME THE WORMS” (DEAD OCEANS RECORDS)

een sipping on memories, the come down from a manic heart/ Situations got the best of me, so I’ll keep on strumming guitars.” That’s Bleached, channeling some heartbreak into the effervescent song “Chemical Air.” The nucleus of Bleached is the Clavin sisters, Jennifer and Jessica. The girls grew up in the San Fernando Valley, idolizing Punk progenitors like the Ramones, the Misfits, the Germs and the Gun Club.

As teenagers they consistently made pilgrimages to The Smell. The all-ages, alcohol-free performance space opened in downtown Los Angeles in the late ‘90s.

In the tradition clubs like the Masque and Jabberjaw, the venue offered a safe haven for anyone who embraced the DIY Punk culture. Seeing groups like No Age, Lavender Diamond and Abe Vigoda inspired the sisters to form their own band.

Luckily, their parents, Linda and John, were completely supportive of the girls’ musical ambitions, supplying guitars and endless encouragement. When Jennifer was 19 and Jessica was 15 they formed Mika Miko with Jenna Thornhill, Kate Hall and Michelle Suarez.

Japanese for “storytelling,” Mika Miko immediately gained a reputation for their thrashy live performances. The fivepiece were local sensations in L.A. before embarking on West Coast and then national tours. After releasing a series of 7” singles, they signed with venerable Seattle indie, Kill Rock Stars and their first long-player C.Y.S.L.A.B.F. in 2006. Three years later, the band had run its course.

The sisters decided to spread their wings separately. Jennifer moved to New York to study fashion and Jessica stayed in L.A. playing with local favorites, Cold Shower.

Still, the siblings continued to collaborate, albeit long distance, on song ideas. Once Jennifer returned home in 2011, they fully reinvented themselves as Bleached.

They released three EPs, each on a different indie label (Ooga Booga, Art Fag “

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

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and Suicide Squeeze). They signed with the small, but influential label, Dead Oceans.

Their debut, Ride Your Heart arrived in the Spring of 2013.

In a year where other female artists declared their independence on the tip of a foam finger and swung naked on a wrecking ball, (oh wait, that was the same person), Bleached was a breath of fresh air. A tart blend of Punk and Pop wrapped in Girl Group harmonies, it felt like the quintessential summer record. The album was greeted with critical hosannas and peaked at #18 on Billboard’s Top Heatseeker chart.

Constant touring and the temptations of city livin’ made it impossible for Jennifer and Jessica to focus on creating new songs for their next album. So they retreated to Joshua Tree, where the distractions decreased and cell reception is iffy at best.

After they cobbled together about 30 songs, producers Carlos de la Garza and Joe Chiccarelli whittled them down to 10 tracks. The result is their sophomore effort, Welcome The Worms.

The opening track, “Keep On Keeping On,” comes blasting out of the speakers fullthrottle. The tune is powered by shuddery guitars, rumbling bass and a pounding backbeat. Defiant lyrics speed-shift through the twisty turns of a new relationship, instructing a potential suitor “Like a good boy, don’t think about yesterday/Cuz’ I really want you today.”

Back in the early ‘80s, Hollywood made the movie “Valley Girl.” It was just supposed to be a quick teen exploitation flick; (Hollywood Punk Romeo meets ostensiblysuperficial Val Girl Juliet). It drafted off the “Val-speak” that Moon Unit Zappa wickedly lampooned on her dad’s song of the same name. But the movie had so much heart, thanks to sharp direction from Martha Coolidge and soulful performances from Nicolas Cage, Deborah Forman, E.G. Daily and Cameron Dye, that it became a classic in the genre.

If the movie were ever to get re-made (actually, please don’t), Bleached could provide the soundtrack. Several songs here manage to juxtapose a tenacious, Punk-tastic grit with wistful introspective thoughts. The aforementioned “Chemical Air” wraps caustic instrumentation, boomerang bass lines, a rock-steady beat and soaring AOR guitar, around a tearstained love letter to the City Of Angels.

“Took a trip up Mullholland Drive to stare at the dirty letters in the sky/And I get this feeling I’m a girl with a dark side.”

“Sour Candy” opens with the ambient noise of a bong hit and an engine turning over. If the Beach Boys and the Runaways had a musical baby it might sound something like this. Wailing siren guitars crest over a handclap rhythm, stabby

keys, and rich sororal harmonies. The ridiculously catchy melody belies lyrics that aim to escape reality. “Catch a ride with an unknown guy, smoking dabs and getting high/Cuz’ the past ain’t kind and the future scares me.”

The best tracks here tackle the intricacies of 21st century romance. “Wasted On You” weds a walloping back-beat, buzzing bass and guitars that alternately ring and squall with feedback. The pithy lyrics capture the shivery sensations of new love; “Maybe I should just call you up, cuz’ I have a little trouble saying what I want/Maybe I’m just trying too hard, oh what should I do, I can’t keep wasting my emotions on getting high off the drug I call you.”

“Trying To Lose Myself Again” explores the aftermath of a relationship gone wrong.

Piloted by a jackhammer rhythm and keening, banshee guitars, any distraction will do. “I’ve been sleeping around this hungry town trying to find myself again/I’ve been fucking high every night, trying to lose myself again.

See-saw guitar riffs, bludgeoning bass and a stompy beat collide on “Wednesday Night Melody” The crunchy Cali-style harmonies acknowledge that music dulls emotional pain faster than any drug.

“Come on Boy, dry your eyes, it’s good to feel just a little alive/Drag a needle on the groove today and waste away.”

Other interesting songs include the crushed velvet groove of “I’m All Over The

Place (Mystic Mama).” “Desolate Town” matches bone-crusher bass and fuzzy shards of guitar with the sisters’ insouciant harmonies, and bitter kiss-off lyrics.

Finally, “Sleepwalking” is a catalogue of cyclonic riff-age. thrumming bass fills and a triple-time tattoo add ballast. The melody, especially on the instrumental break, shares some musical DNA with the Romeo Void classic, “Out On My Own.” The album closes with the crystalline denouement of “Hollywood, We Did It All Wrong.” Here the sisters wax nostalgic for their misspent youth. Sure, there were mistakes, (“looking back, I try not to laugh,”) but that’s all a part of growing up. Happily, all this weighty introspection is cloaked in a hook-filled melody. It’s a sun-kissed finish to a great record.

Although Bleached is very much a 21st century band, their music evokes distaff L.A. antecedents like Josie, Cotton, Bonnie Hayes & The Wild Combo, Fleetwood Mac and of course, the Go-Go’s. They manage the neat trick of seeming fresh and familiar at the same time.

Jennifer and Jessica were joined on this album by drummer Marc Jordan and bassist Micayla Grace who is now officially the third member of Bleached. Welcome The Worms successfully side-steps the dreaded “sophomore slump,” offering a richer, more nuanced portrait than their debut. This album is an instant classic.

ART SCENE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

April 28 to May 4, 2016

BY REBECCA PIKUS

BEATRICE MANDELMAN

B

eatrice Mandelman (1912-1998) was an artist her whole life -- she attended a Fine Arts school in Newark, NJ when she was just 12 years old. In the 1930s she attended Rutgers University, the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art -- and the Art Students League in New York City. Following the Great Depression in 1933, she was employed by the WPA, first as a muralist and later as a printmaker.

During this time, Beatrice was associated with several also-emerging artists who would later be called the “New York School” -- including Lozowick, de Kooning, Gorky, & Pollock. By 1941, her works were included in exhibitions at the Chicago Art Institute, the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, and the National Gallery in Washington, DC Mandelman’s life changed as did the direction of her work after she met and married a fellow artist - Louis Ribak. In 1944, because of Ribak’s health issues, they traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico to visit Ribak’s teacher & mentor -- the artist John Sloan. However the couple found Santa Fe to be too congested for them, so they took a train, and then a stagecoach, to Taos, New Mexico. This would become their permanent new home for the rest of their lives. Taos at that time had a thriving art community, but there were no galleries exhibiting modern art.

A new influx of artists from New York and California settled in Taos also, and along with Corbett, Martin, Sihvonen, & Spohn would become known as the “Taos Moderns”.

Mandelman was an extremely dedicated painter who loved the isolation of Northern New Mexico. Here she found the freedom to develop her style that was inspired by the light, the local color, the landscape and the diverse cultures in Taos. Her work moved, along with the nation, from Social Realism to Modernism. Mandelman & Ribak spent a part of every year in Mexico. She also traveled extensively in South America, Europe, Asia, & Africa.

“Her work has the complexity of abstractions, simplicity of color….they have a childlike elegance to them, a transparency

and depth that holds one spellbound…there are open areas of white out of which colors, shapes, and forms seem to explode, like prisms through the very surface rather than merely refracting light onto the surface.”

Beatrice Mandelman, “Visually Speaking - Color & Light” Exhibit curated by Joe Novak, at REBECCA FINE ART GALLERY, 68895 Perez Rd, #7, Cathedral City, Ca (760) 534-5888 Fineartvortex.com - Gallery Open Wed-Sat, 11am-4pm or By Appointment

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

PET PLACE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY JANET McAFEE

ABANDONED: SIMBA’S STORY

T

he bags are packed, the moving van is ready, and the humans pile into the car leaving their home forever.

Tragically, sometimes left behind are the 4-legged family members, unable to fend for themselves, bewildered, distraught, thirsty and hungry, and mourning for their people who had so little regard for them.

Cats, dogs, and other household animals may become “foreclosure pets”, an expendable commodity when some people relocate to smaller apartments or move in with relatives. Feeling desperate and depressed, some folks are so consumed with their own immediate crisis they do not adequately plan for their pets. Divorce, illness, drug and alcohol addiction, job loss, and job transfer are among the “reasons” people abandon their animals. Pets may also be left behind in homes when their owners enter assisted living or pass away without arranging a plan for them.

The first people to enter an empty home are usually property managers, inspectors, and real estate agents. They report finding dogs tied to trees in back yards, cats in garages, and small pets such as hamsters left in children’s bedrooms. As animal lovers, we are outraged by this cruel disregard.

Beautiful Simba, a Shepherd Chow mix dog, was recently left behind when his owner moved away. Fortunately for Simba, animal lovers Louis and Carol Mestas lived next door. The couple was concerned about the level of care provided to Simba before he was abandoned. They observed Simba suffering outside on scorching summer days without adequate water supply. He was left outdoors exposed to the elements without shelter during rain storms. When they confronted their neighbor as she was preparing to leave, she retorted “I’d rather leave him in the yard then take him to a shelter where he might be killed.”

Louis and Carol instinctively offered to help Simba. Louis states, “We were appalled, but happy to take Simba into our home. We took him to the vet for his shots and had him groomed.” Louis is pictured here with Simba.

I posted and tagged Simba on Facebook for them, and his handsome face was shared 175 times. A dog lover in Paradise, Arizona, spotted Simba on Facebook, amazed how much he resembled a dog he had loved for 13 years. Jeff Lux boarded a plane to Ontario the following day, rented a car for the trip to Hemet. It was a joyful meeting when Simba happily greeted Jeff. The pair drove off for the long trip home, a home where Simba will receive the love he never had before.

What can be done to protect animals from abandonment? The California penal code section 597 states that “Any person

DEAR DIAMOND Sweet loving Diamond promises to bring sparkle to your life! This 2-yrold beauty looks part Ragdoll. Her kittens found homes, now it Mom’s turn!

Rescued by Loving All Animals, contact Mary at (760) 834-7000.

MEET FLAME Flame will light up your life with joy! This 3-yrold Papillon tri-color boy will make an active and affectionate companion.

Rescued by Loving All Animals. (760) 834-7000

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who willfully abandons any animal is guilty of a misdemeanor.” In reality, few cases like these are ever prosecuted in a crowded criminal justice system where cases must be proven “beyond a reasonable doubt”.

Animal welfare groups may be able to assist, but it’s going to take a community of good Samaritans like Louis and Carol Mestas to solve this problem.

What can you do if you see animals abandoned in a back yard, or suspect there are animals left inside a home? If you discover an animal dehydrated and emaciated, administer food and water in small amounts and seek veterinary help. If you know of animals locked inside an empty home, contact local authorities. Contact animal welfare organizations for advice and assistance, but be prepared to be part of the solution whether by fostering, donating, or networking. Network the animal among your contacts, and carefully screen prospective adopters to ensure the dog will get a great “second chance”.

One person’s trash is another’s treasure.

Simba is now living the good life with Jeff Lux, enjoying a beautiful yard and access INSIDE a home where he is loved. jmcafee7@verizon.net

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THE VINO VOICE

MORE WINE POURS IN THE DESERT

O

kay—I don’t know whether it’s been more beer, wine, or cocktails that have seen the likes of sexy smiles, but the valley’s been on point keeping hydrated as the cool crowd and refreshing libations of all sorts endure the full day sun and sustain the sultry nights.

Apart from all of the big festivals and concerts, a fun, active and busy season continues in our valley’s venues. Check out the scene! Wine enthusiasts and foodies well have their sights and radar on these hot spots & watering haunts.

V Palm Springs is the area’s newest boutique hotel & resort. Right next to Mr. Lyons Restaurant at the Palm Canyon Curve, it owns that classic mid-century modern Palm Springs architecture design along with a Desert Glam ambiance.

I bring up the “V” first because I wish to alert you readers that I didn’t see a drop of wine at the modish and lively Elixir Pool Bar & Grill happy-hour “opening” party. But no one cared, for we were all taking in the Polynesian vibe where tasty, inventive, and colorful cocktails were matching the PanAsian-Fusion fare. And both the beverages and dishes were simply blowing us away!

How happy can we be when hearing from Greg Grossman, Food & Beverage Manager, that the “V” was welcoming “everyone from the local community … we’re looking for our venue to become a fabric of the local Palm Springs culinary landscape … we’re looking forward to several launch events to invite the community to experience our food and beverage and we hope they fall in love with us.”

Now just because we weren’t quaffing vino that one evening, rest assured there will be a fine and varied selection of thirst quenching bubbly and refreshing whites available at the large and relaxed poolside.

That’ right! Bring your swimsuits—how fun is that!

Actually—V’s lovely General Manager, Marie-Hélène, suggested that the spacious patio & pool setting would be a great place to meet up with you CV Weekly readers, indeed all wine enthusiasts, to sip, chat and take a dip! Wow! That’ll work in the heat. If you readers like this idea—email me! See you at the V! V Hotel Palm Springs/Elixir Pool Bar & Grill, 333 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-327-1211, www.vpalmsprings.com

Another hip Palm Springs hotel & resort haunt is the famed and international Ace Hotel & Swim Club. I recently popped in to the Pop-up Food & Wine event that the hotel intermittingly features. So many of these types of Pop-up events going on, it behooves you to check out their website: acehotel. com/calendar/palmsprings.

The Pop-up food portion of the evening featured Madcapra—call it a modern, allthings-vegetable falafel shop, straight from the trendy food court in the Los Angeles’ Grand Central Market. It’s the first Los Angeles restaurant from Brooklyn chefs Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson, nominees for the 2016 James Beard “Rising Star of the Year” award.

Matching the veggie “Madcapra” style falafel fritters that were wrapped in grilled flatbread and garnished with fresh herbs, pickled condiments, and delicious strained yogurt sauce, were a wonderful array of boutique California wines. Those in-theknow finally experienced locally the wines they’ve only heard of, such as, Scar of the Sea Pet Nat Chardonnay in Santa Maria, Broc Valdiguie in Solano County, Hobo Wines in Sonoma County and Oneo Wines in Russian River.

April 28 to May 4, 2016

BY RICK RIOZZA For you guys & gals who haven’t been lately, check out The Amigo Room’s new season’s lunch & dinner menu along with a new selection of fresh juice cocktails made with the latest atomic-infused spirits.

Imaginative les alcools range from the sweet & lovely to the hot & spicy. Cheers!

ACE Hotel701 E. Palm Canyon Dr / Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.325.9900 My darling Clementine’s Rosé Soirée Wines. Lucky seven was the number of French Provencial Rosés we tasted and enjoyed recently at Clementine’s Gourmet Marketplace & Café in Palm Desert. The shop and dining room frolicked French during the pouring as we perhaps played characters in Picasso’s pink period over the tastiest and driest Rosé’s in town.

The epicure owners, Christophe and Jennifer Douheret, always stage the most delightful wine tastings here at their charming marketplace/deli-style eatery. At this occasion, we vino lovers were treated to the likes of Chateau D’Esclans Whispering Angel—everyone in town desires that one, n’est-ce pas? And the bubbly Le Grand Courtage Sparkling Rosé Brut that drinks like a Grand Champagne House rosé at one-fifth the price.

Again, please go on line to see all of what the deli, restaurant, and shop have to offer: www.clementineshop.com. By the way,

during the holiday season, I get so much shopping done in the quickest amount of time. It’s the best place for that last minute shopping for your wine/foodie friends.

Finally, I’d like to bring attention to one of the latest beer &wine bars in town: Dead or Alive located at150 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264 (385) 645-3323 Hours: 5PM–2AM I met owner Christine Soto recently at the ZIN Bistro Walla Walla wine dinner. Christine in fact “does” the wine, as her partner Anthony Cioffi, a designer and son of architect James Cioffi, “does” the carefully curated craft beer. The bar seats just 21 inside, with more patio seating on the way. I hear there’s a beautiful orb setting inside the bar.

I also hear the place is right next to the El Mirasol on East Palm Canyon. I just got the invite; so let’s see who gets there first—you or me! Cheers!

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

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­­­THUR APRIL 28 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bobby Furgo & Co. 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Samantha West 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Francesca Amari Jazz Trio 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 GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760365-6633 Open Mic Night 7pm 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; 760-3452450 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 PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Drug 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 The Legends Residency w/ 8pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Sharon Sills 7pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 TBA 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm 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

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FRI APRIL 29

NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Dude Jones THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 9pm 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-327Garcia Band 6:30pm 4080 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Have a Killer PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760Time Presents: Justin Miller 9pm 345-0222 Hotwyre 6:30pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm Deslondes and The Cactus Blossoms 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Hot Club of Palm Springs 7pm Karaoke 7:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Fleet Easton PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND 7:30pm COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 TBA 9pm Karaoke 9pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Maria Dancing 9pm Open 6pm-2am Elena 7pm BISTRO 60 @TRILOGY; LQ; 760-501-0620 RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Beat a baums The Carmens 6pm 9pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775- ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND ; 8005566 Lady Eris 8pm 827-2946 Black Hat Patsy and Fortunate Son BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley (CCR Tribute) 7:30pm Butler Trio 6-10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; Brothers 8pm PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Tuzzolino 5:30pm Blues 8-11pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S Bill Baker 6pm MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2288-11pm 1199 TBA 9pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm Furgo 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron Gina Carey 7pm James 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin House Band 8:45pm Rock 10pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 TBA 9pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE 3560 Demetrious and Co. 6pm HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 6:30pm TBA 9pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Pat INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760Rizzo & Dennis Michaels 6:30pm 345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm Live DJ 8:30pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-755KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Blue 62 5391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm 8pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325Meet The Corwins 5:30-7:30pm, John Stanley 2794 Palm Springs Sound Company in the King 8pm afternoon, Hot Rox in the night VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 T.B.A. 1:30LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3454:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 2450 Hot Sauce 9pm 9-2am THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 TBA 999-1995 DJ 9pm 5:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm Michael Keeth 6-10pm

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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

LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Hot Sauce 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Radio Rave 9pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; & Bill 6:30pm 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ MITCH’S ON EL PASEO; PD; 760-779-9200 T-Bone 9pm Michael Keeth 12-3pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Intoxica Radio NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Live w/ Howie Pyro noon poolside, Highlife w/ Karaoke 8-1:15am DJ Day 10pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-327AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 4080 Bohemio 9pm Cabaret Open Mic 7:30pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Denise Carter 345-0222 Gennine Francis-Whitney 6:30pm 7:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 TBA 9pm Cactus Wine Experience/ Wild West Burlesque BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and 9pm, Har Mar Superstar and White Fang Dancing 9pm open 6pm-2am Inside 9pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-775PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 5566 DJ 9pm Karaoke 7:30pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND 6-10pm COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Ryan & CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick The Starlight Singers 7pm Tuzzolino 5:30pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 The Sweat Act CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 and The CMFs 9pm Bill Baker 6pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Keeth DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 7-10pm Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND ; ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228800-827-2946 Steel Rod and Damage INC 1199 DJ 9pm (Metallica Tribute) 7:30pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm Brothers 8pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S Jack Ruvio 6:30pm MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 TBA Blues 8-11pm 8:30pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm 8-11pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Byron Abel SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK Band 9pm CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE Furgo 9pm HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 6:30pm Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760James 6pm 345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Music 10pm TBA 8:30pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 3560 TBA 6pm 8pm

SAT APRIL 30

April 28 to May 4, 2016

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 WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler Trio 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 9pm

SUN MAY 1 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Luke Top noon poolside, Slacker Sunday w/ DJ Kave-In 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Brunch w/ Keisha D 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; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm continue to page 20

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

SCREENERS

ICONIC OVERLOAD

ELVIS & NIXON The most requested photos in the National Archives have nothing to do with JFK’s assassination, D-Day, the dropping of the atomic bomb or 9/11. No, the single most requested photo is of the White House meeting between two self-aware icons – one beloved and the other quickly becoming loathed: Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon.

A wonderful new film captures that unlikely tête-à-tête in the Oval Office. That meeting has so much baggage attached to it it’s almost impossible not to see it for what it was. That is, two fascinating polar opposites each with a private agenda. Nixon wanted Presley’s autograph for his daughter Julie.

Elvis wanted to be made a federal agent-atlarge (with a badge and ID) apparently so he could travel with guns and (according to his wife Priscilla). Nixon, initially reluctant to meet with Elvis, instructed his aides to interrupt the meeting early. On the other hand, Nixon hoped the meeting would show him open to concerns of young people.

No transcript of the December 1970 meeting exists, but according to records, it lasted about 30 minutes. The movie details the amusing process of Elvis and several of his sidekicks gaining access to the White House. Elvis arrived with a gift that gave

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BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

No. 210

the secret service some concern: a WW II Colt .45 in a display case. In the meeting the two icons bonded over their disdain for the counter culture and agreed the Beatles were “un-American.”

Michael Shannon is Elvis and Kevin Spacey is Nixon. Both actors create potent satirical mojo while playing off each other.

The delicious irony of the meet-up is almost palpable and the actors do not shy away from playing off the reality of that weirdness. Shannon, who does not bear a physical resemblance to the King, projects the oddness of his self-aware iconic stature.

Spacey’s Nixon is vocally and physically perfect – especially in projecting a guy uncomfortable in his own skin. He’s the precise opposite of Elvis who is physically expansive, even attempting to hug his hist.

There are many moments in this film of pure joy for the audience. Shannon is incredible as Elvis. It’s difficult to find words that describe the amazing incarnation we see on screen. His award-worthy performance is a must-see. Now playing.

NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER: CHATO’S LAND (1972) Director Michael Winner and charismatic actor Charles Bronson deliver a disturbing piece of filmmaking in this tough, cynical western about a half-breed, stoic Apache pursued by a scrofulous posse of rapists

and murderers led by Jack Palance. In some circles, the film has been called a “Vietnam Western” because, in places, it reflects a shared mindset of not so ancient history.

It is certainly among the best of the British produced westerns, but there’s really no big message here political or otherwise.

Never-the-less, it is easy to recognize a failed moral imperative that saturates the narrative spine of this well- crafted movie that is a true reflection of our collective human condition and perhaps a big chunk of shameful modern American history. It’s great to see Bronson in a role that is nearly impossible to imagine being played by another actor. You can’t take your eyes off him.

Bronson is powerful, empathetic and graceful in the nearly silent role of Chato.

Jerry fielding’s great score adds immensely to the experience and can be enjoyed on an isolated track. Twilight Time Movies (limited edition). Blu-ray.

CUTTER’S WAY (1981) Rightly praised as a minor masterpiece, this neo-noir thriller focuses on a dysfunctional and damaged trio in sunsplashed Santa Barbara. It evokes the postVietnam and post-Watergate era. Director Ivan Passer and screenwriter Alan Fiskin – with the help of John Heard’s angry, disabled vet, Jeff Bridges’ slightly dim beach boy gigolo.

Lisa Eichhorn is just about perfect as the cynical alcoholic both men love. The gifted threesome brings to vivid life Newton Thornburg’s much-praised novel “Cutter and Bone.” The finely honed murder mystery plot unfolds around an attempt to pin a murder on a fat cat big-shot (Stephen Elliot) who may indeed be the real killer. This memorable film of friendship, endurance and loss is a sad epitaph to the 70s. Only 3,000 units of this sought-after title will be available (at screenarchives.com). Once they are gone, it’s forever. Twilight Time Movies. Blu-ray Comments? Robinesimmons@aol.com

BOOK REVIEW

MONEY TRUMPS FAMILY -----------------------------------------------------

“THE NEST”

BY CYNTHIA D’APRIX SWEENEY FICTION

----------------------------------------------------here is no doubt that families can be complicated. More often than not, they are sadly dysfunctional. In Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s The Nest (Ecco, 368 pages) siblings must rediscover their purpose and the importance of family ties.

The story is about the Plumb siblings Leo, Jack, Beatrice and Melody. They were raised in a time when children were to be seen and not heard. Leo is the beloved first born.

Jack lives in his brother’s shadow. Beatrice struggles for attention while Melody, the youngest, is simply unwanted.

Their parents came from good families and their father set up a fund for his four children that not only earned interest, but the nickname “The Nest.” Their father believed it would be better to provide his children with money at middle age rather

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BY HEIDI SIMMONS than in their youth so they would have the maturity to make better financial decisions.

The rules for the money were simple: It could not be distributed until Melody turned forty or only used in the event of an emergency.

When golden boy Leo gets into an auto accident along with a teenaged waitress whose head is in his lap at the time giving him a blowjob, the mother decides it’s best to cover up the embarrassing event and make it all go away with a large sum of cash.

So she uses “The Nest.”

Outraged at the unfairness, the siblings are forced to wait and see if their brother Leo will restore the funds. It doesn’t look good.

Unfortunately, the siblings have not lived wisely and have made bad financial decision based on the pending distribution of their hoped-for money. Melody is about to turn 40 but “The Nest” is gone and it doesn’t appear that Leo is making much effort to get it back.

Each sibling has compromised their existence and their futures based on having the money. They have over-spent, refinanced and dreamed how life will be different once the money is in their hands.

All of them are at risk and in danger of losing

A STAGE REVIEW OF “4000 MILES”

everything that they believe is important to them. Spouses, children and friends all pay a price as the siblings try to figure out what to do next with or without “The Nest.”

Will the siblings get “The Nest” back?

Will they find happiness? Will they be a family again? I’ll leave that for you dear reader to discover because this book is going to be on the bestseller list for a while.

The Nest is an entertaining and engaging read. Author D’Aprix Sweeney weaves an involving tale of sibling rivalry and high family dysfunction. Well constructed and well-told, The Nest captures a page-turning authenticity of family dynamics and modern financial stress.

As despicable as the siblings are at times,

BY DEE JAY COX

T

here is something magical about sitting in a dark theater with only sound to set the time and place.

City traffic, distant voices, bird songs that play before the sun even rises, all flooding the senses with character and ambience before the curtain rises to reveal insight to characters or story. Such is the opening for Coachella Valley Repertory’s Production of Amy Herzog’s Pulitzer nominated play, “4000 Miles.”

Leo Joseph-Connell, (Zachary Hallett) has just rode his bicycle from coast to coast, ending the first half of his cross country journey to his grandmother’s Greenwich Village Apartment in New York. His three am arrival opens the show with a bit of acrimony between the 21-year old bicyclist and his 91-year-old grandmother, Vera Joseph, portrayed beautifully by seasoned actress, Ivy Jones. Time sheds light on the similarities rather than the apparent differences between these two during Leo’s visit. Their commonalities span the generational divide as the story of their lives unfolds and the recent tragedy Leo is forced to face, is revealed.

Bette Davis once said, “Old age ain’t no place for sissies.” Vera makes that point as she struggles to find words to complete thoughts that now seem to elude her.

There was something so shattering and so intrinsically honest, as we watch this 91 year- old widowed woman, who is still active and vital, yet realizing how alone and

April 28 to May 4, 2016

ever changing her world is. As Leo struggles to make sense of his own destiny, Vera holds on to what is left of her dignity and independence. Grandmother and grandson approaching the world from opposite ends of the spectrum give us insights to the fragility of this thing called life.

Megan Rippey portrays Bec, a young woman who finds her life going in a different direction from the one that she and Leo had mapped out. ‘Breaking up is hard to do’ is made apparent as she gives Leo another life change, when she splits from their relationship. In an effort to find some solace, Leo brings home sassy Amanda (Christine De Chavez), who reveals her fear of aging when confronted with the sight of Vera in her nightgown and no teeth.

Ron Celona does a moving and thoughtprovoking job of directing, as each step is measured and purposeful. Jimmy Cuomo’s

they are sympathetic and understandable.

D’Aprix Sweeney shows us how fragile and vulnerable people are who lack strong family connections. She also reveals how damaging it can be to not have the love and respect from parents or siblings.

When those fundamental relationships are lacking, low self-esteem runs amok and often money artificially fills the void.

Most moving to me was how the characters allowed “The Nest” to take control their lives. Every decision seemed desperate as they considered the pending funds. “The Nest” served as hope and they believed it would be an answer to all their problems. When really it was the cause of their problems and ate up the precious moments of their lives while further damaging their familial relationships. It is this insight in the story that makes the read so compelling and meaningful.

The Nest is funny, poignant and powerful especially when we recognize our beloved family or ourselves. It is amazing how money can dictate our choices even when we don’t have it.

BREAKING THE 4TH WALL

set is a perfect replica of what we would expect Vera’s apartment to look like.

Detailed and well planned, I was immediately drawn into this world. Aalsa Lee’s costumes were spot on, depicting youth and age and tailor made for the characters. Again, I can’t emphasize enough how much I loved Randy Hansen’s sound design. Rarely am I so drawn into a show initially with just… sound.

‘4000 Miles’ is a drama about life and a comedy about the drama of relationships.

It’s about age, youth, growing old and the ties that bind families and friends. This is definitely a show that will make you glad that there is this thing called ‘Live Theater’.

‘4000 Miles’ is in production at the Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre located at: 69930 Highway 111, Suite 116, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. Show runs through March 27th.

For Reservations: call 760-296-2966, or visit www.cvrep.org

PHOTOS BY SAL MISTRETTA

Dee Jae Cox, is a playwright, director and producer. She is the Cofounder and Artistic Director of The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project and the host of, “California Woman 411”.

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

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CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 15 CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Smooth Brothers 5:30pm Radio 60 & Friends 3-6pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 76029 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 345-6466 Ted Herman’s Big Band 6pm The Luminators 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Open Jam 6pm Bill Marx 6:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Mood 2794 Palm Springs Sound Company, in the Deep House Lounge 6pm-2am afternoon, Hot Rox, in the night CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 6pm 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 4-8pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden 345-6466 Larry Capeloto 6pm Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Red’s Rockstar Karaoke LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3258pm-1:15am 2794 Hot Rox THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 7:30pm Karaoke 8pm-1:15am PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-327THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 4080 Longest Running Jam Session in the 7pm valley. Hosted by JB, Sign up 6pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Industry Sunday band 7:30pm Night w/ DJ Tone 2pm-close PETE’S HIDEAWAY;PS; 760-322-6500 The SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341Evaro Brothers 7pm 3560 T.B.A. 6pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Open Mic w/ TBA 6:30pm Stacey Bear 5pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 The Judy Rayne 4:30-2am, Michael James & 3sum Show 7pm 9-2am SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 7pm Tony Grandberry 6:30pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 3560 The Myx 6pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 The Trish Hatley & Barney McClure 6pm Chris Gore Group Pro Jam 7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 John Stanley King 6-9pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 TBA 6pm Dana Larson 6pm

MON MAY 2

TUE MAY 3

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PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Jethro BoDidley 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Ladies Night 7pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Rose Mallett 7pm 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 Closed for Private Event 6pm

WED MAY 4 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Boogarins 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Pro Jazz Jam w/ Shelley Yoelin Jazz Quintet 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 ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 Karaoke 7pm

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

S and G

PUMPING SERVICE

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

Sponsored by Winslow Drake, Investment Advisors www.WinslowDrake.com 213.596.8399

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760-404-6325

FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 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 SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 The Hive Minds Acoustic Duo 6:30pm 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 WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 TBA 6:30pm

HADDON LIBBY

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

April 28 to May 4, 2016

DEAR WORLD

B

ack in 2009, journalist Robert X. Fogerty borrowed $5,000 to buy photographic equipment so that he could take portraits of people writing ‘love notes’ to the city of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

This proceeded to become Dear World - a larger project where he took pictures and told the personal stories of the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing, Syrian refugees and world changers like Stuart Scott of ESPN, Deepak Chopra, Muhammed Yunus (Banker to the Poor) and many others.

As Fogerty says, “Dear World explores stories of hope. Stories of struggle. Stories of a brighter day.”

This art-social experiment project is meant as a way that we can all share a message with friends, family and strangers.

So who are you?

If you had to encapsulate the essence of who you are in only a few words, what would you write? What do you stand for? What would you want the world to know about you?

As for me, I wrote ‘Everyday Hero’ on

my chest when I partook in the Dear World Project last month. In my estimation, an ‘Everyday Hero’ is someone who does the right thing without attention or fanfare as part of their life every day. I would like to think those two words describe me.

I hope they describe you too.

An ‘Everyday Hero’ is a nurse who brings a stricken hospital patient ice chips. It is a teacher who spends some of her inadequate salary on supplies for her students. It is the parent whose every breath goes into making for a better tomorrow for their child(ren) and family. It is a police officer or firefighter who thinks nothing of risking their life to save another…actually, I’d refer to them as Everyday Superheroes.

An ‘Everyday Hero’ is anyone who treats those around them with dignity and respect.

It is someone who goes above and beyond to make the world a better place.

An ‘Everyday Hero’ can be offer a friendly ‘hello’ to a stranger, ‘thank you’ for services rendered or hand to someone in need of assistance.

If you are unfamiliar with my personal story, about five years ago I stood up to some fairly powerful people in local government and business. These people got me fired from a very good job for simply speaking up against a potential misuse of power and public resources.

This wasn’t the first time that I had looked out for others at personal risk to myself - it

just turned out to be the most public occasion.

Since my relatively infamous life event, I co-founded a business incubator that helped people to start businesses while incorporating this ethics-based mindset into my job as an investment advisor. It is my experience that too many ‘trusted’ investment advisors take advantage of this trust for their own financial gain.

(Hopefully) Like you, I try to make the world a better place through my actions.

If you were to participate in the Dear World Project, what words would best describe you?

Whoever you are and whatever you do, it is important to remember that life is short and we only have a brief period here. As such, be bold. Be brave. Make a positive difference.

For more information on the Dear World Project, go to www.dearworld.me or visit their Facebook page.

Haddon Libby is an Investment Advisor at Winslow Drake and can be reached at 213.596.8399 or hlibby@winslowdrake.com.

DALE GRIBOW ON THE LAW

WILL YOU BE HELD UP AT STAGECOACH 2016?

W

ell, maybe held up is too strong a term, but many of you or a friend or family member may be TEMPORARILY DETAINED by Indio’s finest upon entering or leaving Stagecoach this weekend. You may have a conversation with the men and women in a black and white who invite you to return for a less pleasant visit to the Indio Court to “discuss” your DUI arrest.

An arrest for a DUI kicks in two separate proceedings…….the Court and a DMV hearing. Both are looking to punish you.

DMV looks to suspend your license while the court focuses on jail. The outcome of one proceeding does not necessarily affect the other.

When DMV suspends your license, it is for a four month period. If you ask for a restricted license, the suspension is for 5 months.

Sometimes, we have clients who enter a plea in Court to something BEFORE the DMV hearing. Even though the court does not suspend your license as part of the plea, the court will notify the DMV in Sacramento that the driver pled to a DUI or reckless etc., and that the driver is sentenced to attend a drinking driving program. That notification will trigger a letter from Sacramento’s DMV called an Order of Suspension (for 6 months).

A DMV Administrative Per Se (APS) hearing presumes a driver is per se GUILTY or Under the Influence when the DUI CHEMICAL RESULTS (PAS aka Preliminary

Alcohol Screening Breath Test or Blood test), show the driver to be .08 or higher. The hearing is conducted by a DMV employee without a legal education, who acts as both JUDGE and PROSECUTOR…….in other words a stacked deck against the driver.

With a DUI, in order to save your California Driver’s License or driving privileges, your attorney must request a DMV hearing within TEN (10) DAYS. A few weeks later the driver should go to DMV, pay $6 to get a copy of your DMV record and REQUEST A DMV IDENTIFICATION CARD. You will need some form of ID with a picture during this process and for travel etc!

The 10 day time limit begins running from the issuance/arrest date on the Pink Order of Suspension/Temporary Driver’s License known as the APS form. This happens whether you have a California or out of state driver’s license. The APS/Order of Suspension/Temporary Driver’s License endorsement is the 8 x 10 PINK DMV form PS360 (sometimes white) that the officer gave you when he/she “snatched” your license. It gives you the right to drive for 30 days before a 4-5 month suspension.

If the DMV hearing is requested within 10 days, your driving privileges can be extended by having your attorney request a STAY, which freezes the suspension.

The suspension is thus delayed until the outcome of your DMV hearing in about 60 days. After a Stay, you will receive a white DMV Temporary Driver’s License via mail. It

will be sent to the address on your license so be sure DMV has your correct address. It is only valid for the time listed on the paper or until you are notified by the DMV of a license suspension.

To avoid all this aggravation: DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI OR UBER………IT IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME!

If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow Attorney at Law at 760837- 7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com.

DALE GRIBOW “TOP LAWYER” - Palm Springs Life (DUI) 2011-2016 10.0 AVVO DUI Perfect Peer Rating “Preeminent” - Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory “Best Attorneys of America” Selected by “Rue” (Limited to Top 100/State)

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION: MAKING A FEATURE FILM FOR FREE

B

ack in the Indian Canyons, on tribal land, where the soft desert sand meets the jagged bronze mountains, the raw beauty and natural stillness is juxtaposed with the telltale signs of a movie in production.

Just off the road in this beautiful setting are a dozen cars parked on a dirt expanse. Further beyond, in between the rocks there is a small gathering of people. A group surrounds actors in makeup and costume, camera and lighting equipment glint in the sun, nearby canopies provide shade from the triple digit temperature and a fifth-wheel serves as a dressing room.

But, move in closer and this production is minimal. There are no craft services, no security detail --and no attitude. Everyone on this set is friendly and welcoming and they are all working for free. This movie has no budget! Zero dollars.

Zilch. Nada.

But, what it doesn’t have in money, it makes up with an abundance of enthusiasm, creativity and local talent. After all, this is Palm Springs and it is a community filled with Hollywood professionals.

Through walkie-talkies the crew is alerted to be “Quiet on the set.” The silence is broken with the slap of the slate and then “Action!”

A male actor waves a gun in the air, whoops and hollers next to a sweet 1967 Dodge Coronet.

He does it three more times before the director and crew move to the next shot. They have been working all day and will go late into the night.

The movie being made is titled “Do It Or Die.” It is based on the 1979 true crime story about the kidnapping of Palm Springs socialite and philanthropist Elaine Chaddick.

The feature length screenplay is adapted from Herbert Clough’s book Night of the Full Moon. Clough was the FBI special agent assigned to find Chaddick and bring her kidnapper, Bobby Ray, to justice.

“When I first heard about the story I was fascinated by the strength of Chaddick’s character,” said Executive Producer and Director Jorn Winther. “It’s about survival, overcoming fear and finding compassion. I knew it could be an exciting movie because it’s a thrilling story.”

Winther has bright blue eyes and is very charismatic. The crew is careful to make sure he wears a hat and long sleeves to protect his fair Scandinavian skin from the intense sun. He is so charming and forthcoming, it is easy to see how his friends were willing -- even excited -- to come on board with him to make this film without a budget.

“Do It Or Die” is an apt title not only for the movie, but for the larger metaphor of getting a film made for free. Last week, Winther celebrated his 86th birthday. A youthful spirit, he is full of life and energy.

Over the years, Winther had multi-million dollar budgets and production start dates for “Do It Or Die.” At one point he was preparing to film in Minnesota. It never came to fruition but Winther refused to let the project go.

“FBI Agent Herb Clough, who solved the case and wrote the book, and I had many discussions,”

22

said Winther. “I watched him fighting cancer with dignity and courage and the last thing he asked me to do was to make the movie.”

After a recent auto accident, Winther suffered multiple leg breaks and injuries. During his recovery, the money he had been trying to raise from an online funding site for the film had to be returned. So Winther decided he would make “Do It Or Die” without any money!

Contacting studios and distributors, Winther asked what they would pay for a completed feature film that was considered “a terrible, terrible movie.” Winther thought if he could make “Do It Or Die” it certainly would not be “terrible.” He discovered that the baseline net return could possibly generate revenue and be divided with those involved. All he had to do was find the people who shared his passion for the script and the joy of filmmaking.

Winther turned to his Palm Springs friends and former colleagues. The project quickly gained momentum.

Producer and actress Denise DuBarry-Hay who is a member of Palm Springs Women in Film and Television --and the organizations former President -- got involved to help her long-time friend Jorn.

“I really didn’t think it would get very far,” confessed DuBarry-Hay. “I thought we’ll just take it one step at a time.” Soon locations, equipment, crew and actors began to come together. Local restaurants signed on to feed the cast and crew and even the classic ’67 Coronet was loaned to the production. “It all fell into place like magic,” said DuBarry-Hay. The name of their LLC is Made For Nothing Films. Part of the production, simultaneously shot, includes a “making of” and “behind the scenes” documentary. Filmmaker Brandon Worswick has already collected hours of footage. He sees making a movie for nothing as a provocative narrative and Winther as a compelling central character.

So far, the film is supported by City of Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Palm Springs Women in Film and Television. Those contributing services and products can receive screen credit and in some cases branding opportunities.

Part of the community in collaboration is the opportunity for local students to get hands-on filmmaking experience. Roseanne McIlvane is the makeup artist with decades of production experience. She is mentoring cosmetologists Brittnay Wilson and Amanda Stockham. Their makeup is so real a visitor on the set cringed

at the sight of the actress’s terrible sunburn he believed was real.

Adrain Fernandez is a graduate of Cathedral City High School’s Digital Story class and is currently a student at College of the Desert. He shoots and edits wedding videos. Age 19, this is his first experience working on a feature film.

Fernandez admits, although it’s fun and exciting to make a movie, it’s really hot at this location.

Each department has interns and the pros are happy to be mentors and proud of the amazing work their protégés are doing.

There is a growing synergy since the production started. The cast and crew have been on set for two out of a six-week shooting schedule and everyone has clearly bonded.

Actress Viktoria Stamm who plays “Ginger” the kidnapper’s wife and actor Anderw McGuinness who plays the kidnapping sociopath “Bobby Ray,” have enjoyed the process working with Winther and the crew.

The actors have been pleasantly surprised by the level of professionalism, the high quality of the performances and the intensity of the scenes.

DuBarry-Hay auditioned for the role of kidnap victim Chaddick and got the part. The chemistry

BY HEIDI SIMMONS

FILM

among Stamm, McGuinness and DuBarry-Hay is palpable.

“When she [DuBarry-Hay] said she wanted to audition for the main character I was reluctant,” said Winther. “I thought she was too young and beautiful. But she nailed it.”

With respect and great appreciation Winther says about his actors and production team: “If I had $5 million I’d hire the same cast and crew.

Everyone is exactly right. I can’t imagine anyone better.”

This creative experiment to make a quality movie for free might be unique to Palm Springs.

Like a small –- albeit talent-rich -- town, there exists an inspirational level of community, collaboration and cooperation.

And if it all seems quite fortuitous, just the fact that the story happened here in the CV and is being made near where actual events took place and produced by local talent, it suggests there was no other way to take advantage of this rare synchronicity but to do it for free or die.

For more info on how you can participate in “Do It Or Die” contact media consultant DeAnn Lubell-Ames at lulubell24@aol.com

Denise Dubarry-Hay

Viktoria Stamm

SAFETY TIPS

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

LET’S ROCK AND ROLL! AND I’M NOT TALK’IN ABOUT COACHELLA FEST..

T

he month of April is declared “Earthquake Preparedness Month” by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. We are over-due for an earthquake.

Now is the time to prepare, not afterwards says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna!

What to Do Before an Earthquake • Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and extra batteries at home. Learn first aid.

• Be prepared for up to 72hrs afterwards with food, water and supplies.

• Learn how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity.

• Make up a plan of where to meet your family and neighbors after an earthquake.

• Don’t leave heavy objects on shelves (they’ll fall during a quake). Anchor heavy furniture, cupboards, and appliances to the walls or floor.

What to Do During an Earthquake?

• Stay calm! If you’re indoors, stay inside. If you’re outside, stay outside.

• If you’re indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, stand in a doorway, or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table).

Stay away from windows and outside doors. If you’re outdoors, stay in the open away from

power lines or anything that might fall.

• Don’t use matches, candles, or any flame.

Broken gas lines and fire don’t mix!

• If you’re in a car, stop the car and stay inside the car until the earthquake stops. Don’t use elevators (they’ll can get stuck).

What to Do After an Earthquake?

• Check yourself and others for injuries.

Provide first aid for anyone who needs it.

• Check water, gas, and electric lines for damage. If any are damaged, shut off the valves.

Do not touch any downed lines! Check for the smell of gas.

• Turn on the radio. Don’t use the phone unless it’s an emergency.

• Stay out of damaged buildings.

• Be careful around broken glass and debris.

Wear boots or sturdy shoes to keep from cutting your feet.

• Stay away from damaged areas.

• Expect aftershocks.

Remember, it’s not a matter of “if” an earthquake strikes but “when” says Chief DiGiovanna.

Visit: earthquake.usgs.gov/prepare for additional earthquake preparedness information! Let’s Rock!

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

SPORTS SCENE

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

BY FLINT WHEELER

LAKERS NEED NEW BLOOD FOR YOUNG BLOODS…

T

o the surprise of no one, the Los Angeles Lakers fired Coach Byron Scott late Sunday night. Scott went 38-126 over two seasons, the worst record of any Lakers coach who spent at least two seasons leading the team.

To be fair, Scott wasn’t given much to work with besides an aging Kobe Bryant playing out the final season of his career.

But his old-school ways didn’t go over well with the team’s young core of Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell. Those three players — plus a possible top-three pick in the NBA draft (any lower and it goes to the 76ers) and a sizable amount of salary cap room — could be seen as an enticement to any new coach.

As noted by Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times, Scott really wasn’t there to win games: “Winning realistically was never part of the deal, and Lakers management even admitted as much earlier this season,” Plaschke writes. “It was decided that the team was going to cling to Bryant’s fading glow for as long as it lasted, celebrate that glow, bask in that glow and everything else was shadows.”

Lakers made the right call in wanting new blood moving forward to coach this young roster.

The Lakers’ wish list for Scott’s replacement is a long one, according to various ESPN reporters and the Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski: Luke Walton, Kevin Ollie, Jay Wright, Roy Williams, Tom Izzo, John Calipari, Ettore Messina, Jeff Van Gundy, David Blatt and Jeff Hornacek.

Whoever takes over will be the Lakers’ fifth coach since Phil Jackson stepped down after the 2010-11 season.

Walton, who spent eight-plus seasons playing for the Lakers, seems to be at the top of the team’s wish list after guiding the Golden State Warriors to a 39-4 record as

April 28 to May 4, 2016

the team’s interim head coach at the start of the season.

Next LA Lakers Head Coach [via Bookmaker.eu] L. Walton -185, D. Fisher +600, M. Jackson +650, J.V. Gundy +800, K. Ollie +900, D. Blatt +1000, E. Messina +1500, J. Calipari +2000, Phil Jackson +5000.

With the current roster, I could coach this team to an improvement over the 17 game debacle this season. However, thinking the Lakers actually have a game plan moving forward post Kobe - Who’s the best bet here?

And – Under the title of “It’s never too early”.

The NFL season schedule has been released for a couple weeks now. No one has a better crystal ball then Las Vegas. Now that Brady is for sure out the first 4 weeks due to the never ending deflate crappola.

That suspension has done very little to the odds of Super Bowl winning chances in this upcoming season. Los Angeles – It’s early, but it’s nice to see their name listed as an NFL city. Currently, here’s where Vegas stands. Who do you have?

New England 9/1, Carolina 10/1, Seattle 11/1, Green Bay 12/1, Pittsburgh 12/1, Arizona 15/1, Cincinnati 15/1, Indianapolis 15/1, Denver 18/1, Dallas 24/1, Kansas City 25/1, Minnesota 25/1, Philadelphia 35/1, Baltimore 38/1, Giants 42/1, Jets 42/1, Buffalo 45/1, Houston 45/1, Atlanta 50/1, LA Rams 50/1

Week of April 28

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The oracle I’m about to present may be controversial. It contains advice that most astrologers would never dare to offer an Aries. But I believe you are more receptive than usual to this challenge, and I am also convinced that you especially need it right now. Are you ready to be pushed further than I have ever pushed you?

Study this quote from novelist Mark Z. Danielewski: “Passion has little to do with euphoria and everything to do with patience. It is not about feeling good. It is about endurance. Like patience, passion comes from the same Latin root: pati.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’re in a phase of your cycle when you’ll be rewarded for your freshness and originality. The more you cultivate a “beginner’s mind,” the smarter you will be. What you want will become more possible to the degree that you shed everything you think you know about what you want. As the artist Henri Matisse said, if a truly creative painter hopes to paint a rose, he or she “first has to forget all the roses that were ever painted.” What would be the equivalent type of forgetting in your own life?

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Am I still a hero if the only person I save is myself?” asks poet B. Damani.

If you posed that question to me right now, I would reply, “Yes, Gemini. You are still a hero if the only person you save is yourself.” If you asked me to elaborate, I’d say, “In fact, saving yourself is the only way you can be a hero right now. You can’t rescue or fix or rehabilitate anyone else unless and until you can rescue and fix and rehabilitate yourself.” If you pushed me to provide you with a hint about how you should approach this challenge, I’d be bold and finish with a flourish: “Now I dare you to be the kind of hero you have always feared was beyond your capacity.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “We need people in our lives with whom we can be as open as possible,” declares psychotherapist Thomas Moore. I agree.

Our mental health thrives when we can have candid conversations with free spirits who don’t censor themselves and don’t expect us to water down what we say. This is always true, of course, but it will be an absolute necessity for you in the coming weeks.

So I suggest that you do everything you can to put yourself in the company of curious minds that love to hear and tell the truth. Look for opportunities to express yourself with extra clarity and depth. “To have real conversations with people may seem like such a simple, obvious suggestion,” says Moore, “but it involves courage and risk.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I watched a video of a helicopter pilot as he descended from the sky and tried to land his vehicle on the small deck of a Danish ship patrolling the North Sea. The weather was blustery and the seas were choppy. The task looked at best strenuous, at worst impossible. The pilot hovered patiently as the ship pitched wildly.

Finally there was a brief calm, and he seized on that moment to settle down safely. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you may have a metaphorically similar challenge in the coming days. To be successful, all you have to do is be alert for the brief calm, and then act with swift, relaxed decisiveness.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “Show me a man who isn’t a slave,” wrote the Roman philosopher Seneca.

“One is a slave to sex, another to money, another to ambition; all are slaves to hope or fear.” Commenting on Seneca’s thought, blogger Ryan Holiday says, “I’m disappointed in my enslavement to self-doubt, to my resentment towards those that I dislike, to the power that the favor and approval of certain people hold over me.” What about you, Virgo? Are there any emotional states or bedeviling thoughts or addictive desires that you’re a slave to? The coming weeks will be a favorable time to emancipate yourself. As you do, remember this: There’s a difference between being compulsively driven by a delusion and lovingly devoted to a worthy goal.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Everyone who has ever built a new heaven first found the power to do

© Copyright 2015 Rob Brezsny

so in his own hell.” That noble truth was uttered by Libran philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, and I bet it will be especially meaningful for most of you during the rest of 2016. The bad news is that in the past few months you’ve had to reconnoiter your own hell a little more than you would have liked, even if it has been pretty damn interesting. The good news is that these explorations will soon be winding down.

The fantastic news is that you are already getting glimpses of how to use what you’ve been learning.

You’ll be well-prepared when the time comes to start constructing a new heaven.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Zugzwang” is a German-derived word used in chess and other games. It refers to a predicament in which a player cannot possible make a good move. Every available option will weaken his or her position. I propose that we coin a new word that means the opposite of zugzwang: “zugfrei,” which shall hereafter signify a situation in which every choice you have in front of you is a positive or constructive one; you cannot make a wrong move. I think this captures the essence of the coming days for you, Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “We have to learn how to live with our frailties,” poet Stanley Kunitz told The Paris Review. “The best people I know are inadequate and unashamed.” That’s the keynote I hope you will adopt in the coming weeks. No matter how strong and capable you are, no matter how hard you try to be your best, there are ways you fall short of perfection. And now is a special phase of your astrological cycle when you can learn a lot about how to feel at peace with that fact.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): How do plants reproduce? They generate seeds that are designed to travel. Dandelion and orchid seeds are so light they can drift long distances through the air. Milkweed seeds are a bit heavier, but are easily carried by the wind. Foxglove and sycamore seeds are so buoyant they can float on flowing water. Birds and other animals serve as transportation for burdock seeds, which hook onto feather and fur. Fruit seeds may be eaten by animals and later excreted, fully intact, far from their original homes. I hope this meditation stimulates you to think creatively about dispersing your own metaphorical seeds, Capricorn. It’s time for you to vividly express your essence, make your mark, spread your influence.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “It is a fault to wish to be understood before we have made ourselves clear to ourselves,” said philosopher Simone Weil. I hope that prod makes you feel a bit uncomfortable, Aquarius. I hope it motivates you to get busy investigating some of your vague ideas and fuzzy self-images and confused intentions. It will soon be high time for you to ask for more empathy and acknowledgment from those whose opinions matter to you. You’re overdue to be more appreciated, to be seen for who you really are. But before any of that good stuff can happen, you will have to engage in a flurry of introspection. You’ve got to clarify and deepen your relationship with yourself.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education,” said writer Mark Twain. That’s excellent advice for you to apply and explore in the coming weeks. Much of the time, the knowledge you have accumulated and the skills you have developed are supreme assets. But for the immediate future, they could obstruct you from learning the lessons you need most. For instance, they might trick you into thinking you are smarter than you really are. Or they could cause you to miss simple and seemingly obvious truths that your sophisticated perspective is too proud to notice. Be a humble student, my dear.

Homework: Describe how you’ve fought off the seductive power of trendy cynicism without turning into a gullible Pollyanna. Freewillastrology. com.

---------------------------------------Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

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April 28 to May 4, 2016

MIND,BODY & SPIRIT

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BY BRONWYN ISON

REALIZING YOUR DEFINING MOMENT

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ften times we see people living their dreams and leading very successful lives. Most, if not all of these people have experienced some version of trial and tribulation phases in their life. Therefore, providing their defining and breakthrough moment in life. Remember, often we require an experience that transcends us to our success.

We live in a face-paced society with access to just about anything at our fingertips. This is a blessing and I believe a bit of a curse. A friend once described social media as an open-diary of everyone’s high’s and low’s. Rarely do we see or post anything that is negative in our lives. Therefore, to the outside world most people appear to embody living perfect lives. You may be asking, “How does this correlate to your defining moment?” It is important not to compare yourself or your life to those you see on social media. Guess what? Most likely they may have a great life, but it may not be as wonderful as you perceive.

My point is, you may be seeing people live out a lifestyle you desire. You are certainly capable of possessing the same lifestyle if not more. There are a few things you may care to ponder. Are you living out your passion? If not, you need to ask yourself why? A bigger question to contemplate… What has been your defining moment?

Have you given thought as to what catalyst turned your life around? Was there

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a specific moment? Or, were there several incidents that led you to decide you needed to adopt transformations in your life?

I feel as though I have experienced numerous defining moments in my life.

Often times it has been the tough lessons learned. Yet, once you have gathered enough lessons, this can be a defining moment in your life as well. Experiencing a breakthrough moment feels liberating. Embrace this time and continue to move forward with your endeavors.

There are a few thoughts you should keep in mind: You may think your friend, co-worker, family member, etc. got lucky. Most people who have achieved great success didn’t get there by luck. They created their destiny with hard work. I do believe in being in the right place at the right time. Yet, this is likely no accident either.

Represent the authentic you! Your friends, family, co-workers, clients, and people in your community can assess when you’re passionate about your work. When you love what you do, this is attractive to others and they gravitate to what you are doing.

Take some time to reflect on your defining moments in your life. You may be considering a shift in your life right now. Simply know, wherever you are presently, is exactly where you are predisposed in time.

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

LIFE & CAREER COACH

BY SUNNY SIMON

STOP TRYING TO MANAGE YOUR TIME

S

ome months ago I awoke at 3:00 am. In fits of micro-terror, I began experiencing the “Lion’s Syndrome.” What’s that? It’s a label explaining the emotion we experience when feeling overwhelmed by everything on our plate. Maura Thomas, an accomplished productivity guru and the author of “Personal Productivity Secrets,” describes the syndrome as being, “based on an anecdote about an animal tamer’s method of subduing a lion by presenting multiple “threats” (four legs of a stool) simultaneously. The lion gets confused and retreats from the chaos.” Simply put, lions, like people, get overwhelmed when trying to focus on too many things at once.

We’ve all been there, right? You feel helpless like you’re drowning in mammoth waves of tasks crashing down around you. According to Ms. Thomas, the answer to overcoming the Lion’s Syndrome is to achieve a state of flow and engage in optimal performance. Yes, I hear you muttering something like easier said than done efficiency expert lady. Well, stay with me a moment, she didn’t get to be a Tedx speaker and regular contributor of the Harvard Business Review by accident.

In her Tedx talk, Maura shares that no amount of time management will ever change the number of demands on our attention. She

BEAUTY

suggests we forget time management, calling it an outdated concept. Kudos to Thomas! I am so glad someone finally declared time management old school because I have totally given up on it.

Her recommendation is turning our thoughts to “attention management.” Master your attention and avoid the Lion’s Syndrome, right?

It boils down to a five letter word: FOCUS. The secret is all about taking control of your attention. I believe if we all become more vigilant of the time stealers who try to lure our attention away from what we are trying to accomplish, we walk away leading more productive happier lives.

Your challenge this week is to stop the sabotage. Identify the items and activities that rob you of dedicated focus. Some are easily defined, like stop checking your email every five minutes and start sending your calls to voice mail. Others may be more obscure. Forget trying to multi-task, you know there is no such thing, it’s just a lie we tell ourselves. Once you get good at this, you can find your flow and engage your creative genius in meaningful output. Even better, you can sleep blissfully through the night rather than waking up in a cold sweat at 3:00am.

Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching and the author of the blog, www.lifeonthesunnyside.net

BY DR MARIA LOMBARDO

FACIAL FILLERS T hrough the normal aging process we all lose volume or fullness in our faces. Usually the first noticeable sign is a deepening of the naso-labial folds that start at the corner of the nose and end at the corners of the mouth. Replacing the fullness with a “filler” can soften the look of those lines and restore a more youthful appearance. There are several filler options available. Hyaluronic Acid is one that is very routinely used.

Hyaluronic acid is compatible with the human body because it is a substance that is found in every single organic living thing. Its main purpose in the human body is to act as a network that transfers essential nutrients from the bloodstream to skin cells. It is most present in the human body in fluids around the eye area and in the joints. In fact, aside from its applications to cosmetic surgery, it is also often injected into joints to relieve rheumatism and other kinds of joint pain.

The names of some of the products that are associated with use for cosmetic surgery are Restylane, Juvederm, and Voluma. These are the most popular injectable that are used to fill lines and wrinkles. In its purest essence, HA is a gel like substance that sits between the skin and connective tissues supporting

the skin. When injected, it acts like an inflated cushion to support facial structures and tissues that may have lost volume and elasticity due to aging and other causes. It is also hydrates the skin by bringing water to the surface which helps give it a refreshed and more youthful appearance.

The procedure itself is very non-invasive and does not require anything but a topical anesthetic administered to the site of injection (to help with any pain caused by the insertion of the needle). The needles used for this procedure are very fine and tiny and depending on how many areas are being treated the treatment takes between fifteen to 30 minutes. It is considered to be an outpatient procedure and many people return to their normal activities the same day.

The results usually last between 3-9 months depending on your life style, body chemistry and the rate at which you are naturally aging. It is important to realize that this is a temporary solution and not a permanent cure for facial problems. To maintain their youthful appearance most people have new injections 1-2 times a year.

Call today to make an appointment with Dr. Maria Lombardo (760)610-8990 and discuss if fillers are the right choice for you!

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ASK JENNY

April 28 to May 4, 2016

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ear Jenny, I am in my mid 30’s, I’m educated, come from a great family, have a good job, and a very “active” social life. Quite often, I am in long term relationships. Although they have all gone nicely and taken their course, none of them have ever worked out. When I say “worked out,” I mean go to the next level, whether it’s marriage or just moving in the direction of a more passionate, loving relationship. Recently, another one of my relationships came to an end. I find myself dissecting it and figuring out why the same things keep happening.

I look back at past relationships and see what went wrong and swear I am never going to do that again, but fast forward 2 years and I am in the same exact situation! I don’t understand why I keep riding this roller coaster. Why do I keep repeating it?

- Thanks, Nicole ---------------------------------------------Hi Nicole, What you are experiencing is probably one of the most common things that we all feel and go through time and again in our lives. These are patterns that we put before us to feel safe: Safety from the unknown, safety from taking risks or making choices; simply living our lives free from the dangers that might be out there, awaiting us. While we are often aware of the patterns we keep and upset with ourselves that we do these things, usually, we keep doing them. Even though we tend to blame ourselves for this repetitive behavior, we need to understand that sometimes these patterns have a life of their own. The only way to resist falling into the same routine is to consciously activate the power of choice. More clearly stated, even though we know we can alter our mind and choices, even though we may complain about how something makes us feel and

how bad we want to change it, we must recognize we rarely want to let something so familiar and safe go. It’s almost like we are in a moving trance and we are completely hypnotized by this feeling of melancholy.

It could be as easy as this, just observing that we have an attachment to the pain and our willingness to let it go, we can change our pattern. But by no means is this to suggest all patterns can be overcome this way. Often times we become attached to and invested in our negative feelings and outcomes, which can make it difficult if not impossible to overcome. So we must be clear with ourselves as to what kind of energy patterns we are running that always bring us the same result.

What kind of relationship are you looking for? Consider the possibly that you are only looking for the same type of relationship that will bring you the same kind of feelings and the same results! And then you can say, “I knew this was going to happen, this always happens!” May I suggest starting form a different place, entering a new relationship and being open to it instead of entering with that same old feeling and giving off that familiar energy that will bring the same results.

Nicole, the first step is deciding that you don’t want to be a victim of your pattern.

The second step in changing a pattern is knowing that you will have to get rid of a lot of your old beliefs that you have built up to create this pattern. You will have to take risks and you will have to give up control! I know that it’s scary to give up your safety net because you don’t want to fall, but then you can never fly either!

Please remember Nicole, life is all about trying new things. Maybe the reasons you established your relationship pattern aren’t there anymore. Maybe it’s time to try something new!

- ❤Namaste, Jenny Don’t forget to follow Jenny at www. askjennynow.com, find her on facebook or contact her at 760-505-0952

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