Coachella Valley Weekly - June 11 to June 17, 2015 Vol. 4 No. 12

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Community Events

coachellavalleyweekly.com • June 11 to June 17, 2015 Vol. 4 No. 12

Ray Wylie Hubbard

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jimiFitz

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Mix 100.5 Local Music Spotlight

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Father’s Day at The Westin

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

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Coachella Valley Weekly

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

760.501.6228

Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Alaina Majiros, Jorge Gutierrez, Edward L. Prichard III Classified Manager & Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Features Writer Lisa Morgan, Judith Salkin, Denise Ortuno Neil, Heidi Simmons, Kira Golden, Rich Henrich Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Rachel Montoya, Angela Janus, Janet McAfee, Dale Gribow, Raymond Bill, Jack St. Clair, Rob Brezny, Eleni P. Austin, Noe Gutierrez, Sunny Simon, Karen Creasy, Richard Weiss, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dr. Maria Lombardo, Bruce Cathcart, Julie Buehler, Flint Wheeler, Laura Hunt Little, Rebecca Pikus, Monica Morones, Lola Rossi, Dee Jae Cox, Edward L. Prichard III, Jean Chariton, Patte Purcell, Esther Sanchez Photographers Laura Hunt Little, Scott Pam, Lani Garfield, Chris Miller/ Imagine Imagery, La Maniaca Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

Contents 2015 Palm Springs Intl’ ShortFest..... 3 Real Estate........................................... 5 Modernism Week Fall Preview........... 5 Kona Surf Film Fest at ACE Hotel....... 5 Desert DJs - DJ Ward........................... 6 Backstage Jazz - Chris Bennett........... 6 LMS - Ray Wylie Hubbard................... 7 Tilted Kilt Open Mic............................ 8 LMS - JimiFitz Rocks w/ Zen Robbi.... 8 Mix 100.5 Local Music Spotlight........ 9 Consider This - Marvin Etziono........10 Art - PS Art Museum.........................11 Pet Place............................................12 The Vino Voice...................................13

June 11 to June 17, 2015

PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST ANNOUNCES LINE-UP FOR 2015 June 16-22, at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs

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estival to Showcase Shorts Directed by Katie Holmes, Bryce Dallas Howard, Tara Fitzgerald and Starring Troian Bellisario, John Cusack, Loretta Devine, Robert Forster, Taissa Farmiga, Patrick Fugit, Janeane Garofalo, Kat Graham, Richard E. Grant, Matt Groening, Jimmy Kimmel, Kate Mara, Rose McGowan, Sandra Oh, Jason Patric, Zachary Quinto, Amber Tamblyn, Danny Trejo, Rufus Wainwright and Kristen Wiig It’s time to put on your shorts for the 2015 Palm Springs International ShortFest & Short Film Market. Now in its 21st year, ShortFest will showcase 330 films including 77 World Premieres, 65 North American Premieres and 19 U.S. Premieres. The selection of films for screening and competition features starstudded casts and award-winning films from 51 countries around the world. There are 54 thematically curated programs, which will screen June 16-22, at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs. More than 3,000 of the festival submissions are available in the Film Market for industry attendees to view. The complete line-up was posted on psfilmfest.org on June 7 with the online box office launch on June 9.

“The overall quality of the films submitted to us this year was staggering, both in terms of sophisticated filmmaking technique and the diversity of the subject matter and storytelling styles,” said Festival Director Darryl Macdonald. “The difficult part for us was narrowing the 3,500 submissions down to just 330 titles for the final Festival lineup, given the wealth of exceptional work we watched. It’s a testament to the benefits of contemporary film schools and increased access to low cost technological tools that so many emerging filmmakers with a gift for storytelling are now able to parlay those gifts into accomplished, entertaining short films.

It makes for one wonderful week of film watching.”

This year’s star-studded shorts feature Academy Award winners and nominees, as well as film and television stars including F. Murray Abraham in the North American Premiere of 411 (USA); Kevin Alejandro in Aden (USA/Taiwan); Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn in the World Premiere of Almost Not Beautiful (USA); Alex Karpovsky and Troian Bellisario in the World Premiere of Amy (USA); Frankie J. Alvarez in Aphasia (USA);

Janeane Garofalo in The Assistant (USA); Sharon Lawrence and Robert Forster in The Bridge Partner (USA); Michael Childers, Rufus Wainwright, Mary Wilson and Loretta Devine in the World Premiere documentary short of Coming Together for One Night Only (USA); Katie Holmes directs Eternal Princess (USA); Zachary Quinto in the U.S. Premiere of The Future Perfect (Canada); Xander Berkeley in the The Gift (UK); Jonathan Demme, Matt Groening, Kevin Pollak and Ed Asner in the documentary short I Thought I Told You To Shut Up! (Canada/USA); Billy Magnussen in A Mighty Nice Man (USA); Ian Harding in the World Premiere of Minimum Wage (USA); Kristen Wiig and Jimmy Kimmel in the World Premiere of Miss Famous (USA) produced

by James Franco; Kat Graham stars in Muse (USA); Tara Fitzgerald in her directorial debut for Prick Thy Neighbour (U.K.); John Cusack in the World Premiere of Red Rider (USA); Patrick Fugit and Charlotte Ross in Rita Mahtoubian is Not a Terrorist (USA); Robert Forster in Run Fast (USA); Sandra Oh in the World Premiere of The Scarecrow (USA); Taissa Farmiga in Share (USA) directed by Pippa Bianco; Bryce Dallas Howard directs and stars in solemates (USA); Richard E. Grant narrates Teeth (UK/Hungary/USA); and Jason Patric, Danny Trejo, Rose McGowan and Marisa Coughlan in the World Premiere of The Weight of Blood & Bones (USA).

Throughout the Festival the selected short films are organized into programs covering a variety of genres – including action, comedies, documentaries, dramas, horror stories, thrillers and mysteries– and themes such as altered states, animals, animation, art, couples, crime, culture, dreams, family, games, history, jobs, kids, LGBT, romance, secrets, strangers and road stories.

David Ansen (Writer), Gregg Kilday (Film Editor at The Hollywood Reporter), Steve Greene (Assistant Editor of Indiewire’s Criticwire Network), Dan Ireland (Writer/ Director/Producer), Roberta Munroe (Writer/Director/Producer) and Kim Waltrip (Independent Film Producer) will serve on the ShortFest jury. Over $115,000 in prizes, including $20,000 in cash awards, will be given out in 21 categories to this year’s short films in competition. The Panavision Best North American Short Award winner will receive a

camera package valued at $60,000. First place winners in four categories will automatically become eligible for consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for a possible Academy Award® nomination. Over the course of 20 years, the Festival has presented 101 films that have gone on to receive Academy Award nominations. Winners will be announced on Sunday, June 22 at a Closing Night screening and reception.

The following premiere films have been selected to screen in the festival: World Premieres: - 2084 (USA), Taz Goldstein - The Age of Insecurity: Little Men (USA), Adriano Valentini - The Age of Insecurity: Unshakeable (USA), Adriano Valentini - Alex the Magnificent (USA), Robert Monk Davis - Almost Not Beautiful (USA), Sarah Jean Kruchowski - Amy (USA), Jacob Chase - The Aquarium (Australia), Jacobie Gray - Ballon (South Korea), Sang-eun HAN, SI Dong-joo, LEE Yu-jin - Basilisk (United Kingdom), Nikolai Hamel - Billy the Kid (United Kingdom), Sam Johnson - Bodies (United Kingdom/Ireland), B WelbyDelimere - The Brief, Existential Crisis of a Young Underwear Model (USA), Brett Checkelsky, Drew Checkelsky - Brothers (United Kingdom), Thordur Palsson - Chisel (Philippines/USA), Rebecca Kahn - Chop (USA), Conner Bell continue to page 4

Club Crawler Nightlife......................14 Screeners ..........................................18 Book Review .....................................19 Haddon Libby...................................21 Dale Gribow......................................21 Safety Tips ........................................22

THE ASSISTANT

THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD & BONES

MISS FAMOUS

AMY

ETERNAL PRINCESS

THE FUTURE PERFECT

ShareKitchen.....................................22 Sports Scene.....................................22 Free Will Astrology...........................23 Life & Career Coach...........................24 Health & Fitness................................24

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

2084

5 WAYS 2 DIE

ShortFest continued from page 3 - Coming Together for One Night Only (USA), Marc Saltarelli - Copetin (Argentina/Spain), Ernesto Kullock - The Cycle (USA), Michael Marantz, Justin Salerian, Ted Schaeffer - Dániel (United Kingdom), Dean Loxton - Death In Bloom (Australia/USA), Dael Oates - Distance (USA), Anson Fogel, Alexandra Fuller - Duke Riley Goes to China (USA/China), Kim A. Snyder - Duo (France), Claudia Bottino - The Friend from Tel Aviv (USA), Federica Gianni - Future Dust (USA), Matthew Gudernatch - Going Down (Australia), James Vinson - A Grand Ole Opry (Scotland), Michael J Welsh - The Great Zoo of Mr. Vanel (France), Bérenger Thouin - The Grill Man (Brazil), Fabio Basso Montanari - Harvey’s Dream (Australia), Alexander von Hofmann - Heartbreak and Beauty (Australia), Genevieve Clay-Smith, Libby Banks, Nathan Basha, Robin Bryan - Homewrecker (USA), Gabe Hohreiter - H Positive (United Kingdom/Spain), Glenn Paton - Identity Theft (USA), Carlos Lopez Estrada - I Follow You (Sweden), Jonatan Etzler - Ignostech (USA), Dan Harnden - Into the Surf (United Kingdom), Tom Evans - I Strongly Suggest (New Zealand), Gregory Bennett - Joseph’s Reel (United Kingdom), Michael Lavers - Kapunka (Israel), Tal Greenberg - Lila & Valentin (France), Adrien Lhommedieu - The Listener (United Kingdom), Michael Gilhooly - Louis (France), Stéphanie Doncker - Lulu (USA), Shawn Snyder - Manchego (United Kingdom), Alex Kendall - The Man from the Council (United Kingdom), Barnaby Southcombe - Marta Rosa (USA/Mexico), Barbara Cigarroa - Minimum Wage (USA), Joey Ally - Mini Supreme (USA), Michael Phillis - Miss Famous (USA), Shadae Lamar Smith - Miss Zahra (Finland), Markus Lehmusruusu - Mrs. K (South Korea), Dongneok Seo - Nightlight (Switzerland/Canada), Samuel Flueckiger - Nowhere Line: Voices from Manus Island (Australia/UK), Lukas Schrank - Off Track (USA/Brazil), JP Jacobsen - The Pitch (United Kingdom), John Hardwick - Pool (Canada), Clayton Holmes

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PATRIOT

THREE DALMATIONS

I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!!

O-STAR

- Providence (USA), Michael Abbott, Jr. - Recently, Long Ago (USA), Daniel Elihu Kramer - Red Rider (USA), Sam Davis - Relapse (USA), Rosie Haber - Restoration (New Zealand), Tim Tsiklauri - RPG (USA), Sadie Rogers - The Scarecrow (USA), Phillip Rhys - Setting Them Straight (Australia), Kaleb McKenna - Silent Night (Australia), Nastassja Djalog - Silver Waters (United Kingdom), Andrew Keresztes - Skinless (Norway), Marius Myrmel - Submarine (Brazil), Rafael Aidar - Tether (Guatemala/USA), Eve Symington - Touch (USA), Lulu Wang - The Trail (Germany), Elke Brugger - Twin Visions (USA), Louise Salter, Gavin Bowden - The Weight of Blood & Bones (USA), Christopher Ekstein - You Are Whole (United Kingdom), Laura Spini - You’re Breaking Up (USA), Mandy Fabian - Zelos (USA/Iceland), Thoranna Sigurdardottir North American Premieres: - 3 Year 3 Month Retreat (Bhutan), Dechen Roder - 411 (USA), Oliver Power - 90 Degrees North (Germany), Detsky Graffam - Alliance of the Depths (Israel), Aryeh Hasfari - Another Green World (United Kingdom), Christina Hardinge - Ave Maria (Palestine/France, Germany), Basil Khalil - Between (Switzerland), Flo Linus Baumann - Between Trees (Australia), Jayden Stevens - Big Up (France), Julie-Anne Roth - Bite the Bullet (Netherlands), Iman de Vries - The Boiling Point (Sweden), Markus Waltå - Boy Meets a Stranger (South Korea), Da-hye LEE - Boy-Razor (Sweden), Peter Pontikis - Bright Black (Slovenia), Rene Maurin - Buddy (Belgium), Jan Roosens, Raf Roosens - Carry On (Austria), Rafael Haider - Chronicles of Courage (United Kingdom), Ernest Mills - Criticism (Australia), Ryder Grindle - Dropping Off Michael (United Kingdom), Zam Salim - Edmond (United Kingdom), Nina Gantz - Escalator (Norway), Christopher Nielsen - Estela (Cuba), Joacenith Vargas - Execution (Hungary/Romania), Petra Szőcs - Exit Right (Austria), Bernhard Wenger, Rupert Höller - Fernweh (Netherlands), Ena Sendijarevic

- Flat Daddy (Australia), Matt Holcomb - The Forgiven (China/France), François Chang - Gayby (Australia), Anya Beyersdorf - Gift Of My Father (Iraq/UK, Netherlands, USA), Salam Salman - A Good Feeling (France), Benoit Rambourg - The Good Life - Over There (Norway), Izer Aliu - Hassan in Wonderland (Iraq/Italy), Ali Kareem - He and She (Germany), Marco Gadge - A Hole in My Heart (Netherlands), Mees Peijnenburg - Jachalay (Greece), Manos Gerogiannis, Yannis Zoumakis - The Jacket (Austria), Patrick Vollrath - Last Door South (Belgium), Sacha Feiner - Last Night In Edinburgh (Scotland/UK), Bita Shafipour - Linda’s List (New Zealand), Angela Bloomfield, Kate McDermott - The Little Death (Norway), Simon Tillaas - Love is Blind (United Kingdom), Dan Hodgson - Meeting Jenny (USA), Tammy-Anne Fortuin - The Morrigan (Ireland/UK), Colum Eastwood - Nineteen (Australia), Madeline Kelly - The Orchestra (Australia), Mikey Hill - Patriot (United Kingdom), Eva Riley - Pebbles at Your Door (Denmark), Vibeke Bryld - Pink (Australia), Lynne Vincent McCarthy - Pink Boy (USA), Eric Rockey - Prayers at Dawn (Turkey/USA), Pinar Yorgancioglu - Pull (Australia), Christopher Stollery - Rangan 99 (Iran), Tiyam Yabandeh - Reality + (France), Coralie Fargeat - Replika (Switzerland/France), Luc Walpoth - The Sea Was Calm (Uruguay), Pablo Schulkin - Semblance (USA), Bill Whirity - Sowol Road (South Korea), Jong-hun SHIN - Subordinate (France), Clara Leac - The Summer of ABC Burns (Australia), Dannika Horvat - Three Dalmatians (Norway), Ingrid Stenersen - Times of Competition (Brazil), Toti Loureiro, Ruy Prado - Void (Denmark), Milad Alami, Aygul Bakanova - We will stay in touch about it (Germany), Jan Zabeil - Year 7 (United Kingdom), Rob Leggatt - Zero M2 (France), Matthieu Landour United States Premieres: - After the End (United Kingdom), Sam Southward - August (Poland), Tomek Slesicki - Bernice (USA), Kristina Sorge - Class Trip (Sweden), Jonatan Etzler

- Coach (France), Ben Adler - Crocodile (United Kingdom), Gaëlle Denis - Dead Air (United Kingdom), Robert Bradbrook - The Future Perfect (Canada), Nick Citton - The Garage (Canada), Patrick White - Hole (Australia), Tony Radevski - In the Shadow of the North (Canada), Raphaël Bélanger - Maurice (Canada), François Jaros - Morning is Broken (United Kingdom), Simon Anderson - Outlier (Germany), Martin Wallner - Over (United Kingdom), Jörn Threlfall - Paris on the Water (Israel), Hadas Ayalon - The Pig Child (United Kingdom), Lucy Campbell - The Tour Guide (Israel/Germany), Amos Geva - Whispers Among Wolves (Australia), Kevin Lim Now in its fifth year, 13 films will screen in the ShortFest Online Film Festival. The select films are currently playing on a special section of the festival website (psfilmfest. org/onlinefest). Online voting for these films is now open and runs through June 20, with the “ShortFest Online Audience Award” announced at the Festival Award Ceremony on Closing Night. The ShortFest Online Film Festival will continue to play online through August 31.

Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA and BIFA as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the Palm Springs International ShortFest & Short Film Market, one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the world, will take place in Palm Springs on June 16-22.

Now in its 21st year and recently taking 8th place in the annual USA Today 10Best poll, ShortFest will showcase over 300 short films from more than 50 countries. The concurrent Short Film Market will feature a library of more than 3,000 films available to film buyers, industry and press, the only Short Film Market in North America. The ShortFest Forum programs are a four day schedule of seminars, panel discussions, roundtables and master classes staged free of charge for attending filmmakers.

The Title Sponsor is the City of Palm Springs with Presenting Sponsors The Desert Sun and Spencer’s. Major Sponsors include: Panavision, Stampede Post Productions, LA Creative, the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, the Casting Society of America, Radiant Images, Vacation Palm Springs, Smart Source/CRE and The Australian Consulate General in Los Angeles.

The official host hotel and media center is the Renaissance Palm Springs and the official rental car is Hertz.

For more information and tickets, call (760) 778-8979 or (800) 898-7526 or visit the website: psfilmfest.org.

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Real Estate

By Bruce cathcart

Is Coachella Valley Real Estate “Drying up”?

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adly, the answer to that headline is yes if we are talking about the landscaping (and possibly inventory, but more on that later). It may come as a surprise to learn that it’s not directly because of the drought in California. Thanks to our past Water District Executives and Directors we currently have an adequate water supply for the Coachella Valley. You see every year here in the desert is a drought and these folks planned for that by securing rights to the Colorado River water to replenish our aquifer as necessary.

Unfortunately our state governor and the politicians in Sacramento who decided that taxpayer funds should be allocated to a “Bullet Train” instead of being spent on Desalinization and Water Reclamation plants have imposed upon Coachella Valley Residents a 35% reduction in water consumption to make up for their poor “choice”. Since the average homeowner’s landscaping in the Coachella Valley accounts for approximately 70% of their water usage it seems like this is the most obvious place to start cutting back. While we don’t really have a choice on whether or not we will reduce our water consumption, we do have choices on how best to do so and at the same time hopefully preserve or even improve our home’s value.

Before I share with you some ideas on this, let’s take a quick look at the real estate sales activity for the month of May. So far 2015 is sales got off to a slow start lagging behind last

year’s numbers. While April sales were a slight improvement over last year’s sales we were all hoping for an even stronger May to make up the difference for the lagging sales in our first quarter of 2015. Here’s what happened.

According to the Desert Area MLS (as of 06/01/15) there were 889 pendings of residential properties here in the Coachella Valley in May. There were 1,012 pendings in the previous month (April) which means activity is slowing down following our normal seasonal sales pattern. Checking the pendings from May of last year (2014) there were 892 pendings for the month which is almost exactly the same as this year. Checking the actual sales data, in April there were 857 solds and in May we had 804 solds reflecting fewer closings than in April and again following our normal seasonal sales pattern. When compared to last year’s solds in May we had almost exactly the same amount with 807! So we failed to improve over last year’s numbers and now even if we continue to match last year’s solds for the rest of the year we will still end up selling significantly fewer homes here in the Coachella Valley in 2015 than in 2014. Unfortunately our downward trend continues.

Our inventory of homes for sale dropped significantly with 4,934 homes available as of May 1, 2015 compared to 4,567 as of June 1, 2015. That’s an 8% drop in inventory in just one month and while there are still over 600 MORE homes on the market compared to the same

Modernism Week Fall Preview

events

October 9-12, 2015 at various locations in the greater Palm Springs area

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his year’s Modernism Week Fall Preview over the Columbus Day holiday weekend will feature a selection of the best events from the February festival, including architectural walking and bike tours, festive cocktail parties, home tours, stimulating lectures, the not-to-bemissed Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours, classic cars, the Modernism Show & Sale, tours of Sunnylands, and more!

Tickets will be available beginning at 12 p.m. PST on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at modernismweek.com.* Participation in events and tours helps support Modernism Week, a 501 (c)(3) non-

June 11 to June 17, 2015

profit organization providing scholarships to local Palm Springs students pursuing college educations in the fields of architecture and design; as well as giving grants to local and state preservation organizations for their efforts to preserve modernist architecture throughout the state of California.

The mission of Modernism Week is to celebrate and foster appreciation of midcentury architecture and design, as well as contemporary thinking in these fields, by encouraging education, preservation and sustainable modern living as represented in Palm Springs. *Each event is individually priced

time last year this could become a major factor later this year if the trend continues. When real estate inventories dry up, sales volume slows down and prices usually go up! This is definitely something that we will watch closely over the next few months.

What are the choices that we the homeowners here in the Coachella Valley are being forced to make to reduce consumption by 35%? I could fill a book on this subject, but for today I’ll just talk about grass. You know, the green stuff you water, cut, and throw away each week. To keep the lawn or not to keep, that is the question. Some of our local water districts offer rebates to assist homeowners who want to reduce their outdoor water usage by converting their lawn to desertfriendly landscaping, installing smart irrigation controllers and replacing inefficient spray nozzles. If you decide to keep your lawn you will need to reduce the number of days, the number of times and the amount that you water it. You will also want to fix any leaks, water only at night and utilize the smart controllers and efficient nozzles. Reseeding with a more drought resistant grass like Bermuda and not reseeding with annual Rye this fall are also good ideas. If you decide not to keep your lawn you can chose to replace it with artificial turf, “desert landscaping” (rocks or decomposed granite), or simply stop watering it and let it die.

Artificial turf is extremely costly but works quite well for small areas. Desert landscaping makes the most sense since it can usually be done by yourself at a reasonable cost and frees up

Saturday morning if you mow your own lawns!

Either of these options will help maintain the value of your home in the Coachella Valley now and beyond the drought years. If you opt to just let your lawn die and if it is your front lawn, be aware that you may incur the wrath of your neighbors as it definitely will not improve your home’s appearance or maintain its value.

Choose wisely!

Join me each month this year as we keep a close eye on our Coachella Valley real estate market. If you have a real estate question or concerns please email me at the address below.

Bruce Cathcart is the Broker/Co-Owner of La Quinta Palms Realty, “Your Friendly Professionals” and can be reached by email at laquintapalms@dc.rr.com or visit his website at laquintapalmsrealty.com.

FILM Ace Hotel & Swim Club Brings The Kona Surf Film Fest to Palm Springs

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ce Hotel & Swim Club whole heartedly celebrates The Kona Surf Film Festival on Friday, June 19 at 6 PM. After eleven years of curating independent shorts and feature-length films from filmmakers the world over, the festival is now known as a Big Island tradition for vast communities of surf, art and music enthusiasts. The event will run alongside the Palm Springs International Shortfest, and all proceeds will benefit Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting our oceans and beaches. With performances by Tomorrow’s Tulips, Darren Rademaker of The Tyde and Matt Costa — along with DJ sets by special guests The Allah-Las (among others), this will be one to write home about.

Ticket prices are: $10 or $25. Both prices include a reusable stainless steel cup, (yours to keep) since this is a no-plastic event.

“The Kona Surf Film Festival is a chance for filmmakers to expose their work to surfers and non-surfers alike in a super fun festival atmosphere,” says Chad Campbell,

creator of Kona Surf Film Festival, “The films are really diverse and creative, with awesome stories, action and soundtracks.”

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

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desert djs

By craig michaels

DJ Ward of the Torres Martinez Tribe

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e was born just a stone’s throw from the Coachella Valley in the City of Banning. Anthony Ward and his grandparents moved to the Torres Martinez Reservation in Thermal, when he was seven. He gives credit for many of his accomplishments to his grandparents Joyce and Lloyd who have raised him since birth.

His grandparents have also helped push and encourage Ward in his DJ career.

While attending Coachella Valley High School, Ward recalls his love for music; “I use to always take a backpack full of tapes with songs that I had recorded from the radio.

I always carried my black Sony Walkman with the Sony ear buds. Music was always something I was always interested in.”

At 17, Ward began helping some of his friends set and DJ mobile gigs. He would eventually try DJing but admits his first attempt was an eye opener for him; “I remember that day, I was terrible at it but that made me want to practice.” Ward began performing at parties for the Torres Martinez Tribe which he is a member of.

After graduating from Coachella Valley High School in 2001, he continued to grow his mobile DJ business performing for other Native Americans tribes in Southern California and Arizona.

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Backstage Jazz

By patte purcell

Chris Bennett Grammy Nominated Vocalist and Composer

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Like any good DJ, Ward can read the crowd and play to his audience but if he had to choose a favorite, he would have to pick classic hip hop old school; “I try to play the songs you don’t hear anymore but still get people dancing,” Ward explains. If there’s one lesson he has learned it is, you can’t please everyone!

After 15 years in the business, Ward has dabbled in doing guest appearances in night clubs but keeps most of weekends open for private gigs which pay better. Ward stays busy and continues to learn from other Valley DJ’s such as Michael Wright, DJ Pwee, DJLF and DJ Chase Martinez. His future plans include offering video mixing to his clients.

If you would like to contact DJ Ward for a party or an event you can reach him by e-mail at: trusound1@hotmail.com Craig Michaels Productions (760) 880-3848

am constantly amazed at the talented musicians we have in the desert. I had the pleasure of meeting and listening to Grammy nominated singer and composer Chris Bennett last weekend at a party held at her home along with Maestro Dino of the Palm Springs Symphony.

I walked in the door to see Chris at the piano entertaining the guests. Her style is reminiscent of Diana Krall or Shirley Horn. She was sitting at the grand piano in her acoustically perfect living room, (the beautiful home and grand piano was owned by Loretta Young). The home opened out to the pool area with relaxing seating areas under the trees. A statue of Quan Yin overlooked the pool. Chris has also been a yoga teacher for 30 years and has done videos and is working on a yoga TV show.

I interviewed Chris and discovered that she grew up an only child of older parents.

Her father was a natural musician so the piano and banjo were always present. From the first time she saw Dinah Shore introduce Barbara Streisand with a full band on her show, Chris knew that she wanted to be a professional entertainer. She took music, dance and baton and knew she had to move to either New York or LA from her small town in Illinois if she was going to make it.

She landed a scholarship at UCLA where she attended for 2 years. She auditioned constantly and landed a gig as a background singer for Jim Nabors. The show was in Vegas during the 70’s the height of the ‘Rat Pack’ phenom. Wayne Newton’s manager asked her to put together a show for Bangkok and Tokyo and off she went!

This was at the height of disco and she was the lead singer in a disco show produced

by Giorgio Moroder called Munich Machine.

She would record a CD for him in one day and learn the songs at night while playing jazz clubs in Germany. He also had her write lyrics for his songs and they co-wrote the Grammy Nominated title song for ‘Midnight Express’. She was also a back-up singer for Donna Summers. By the 1980’s Chris was a successful singer, songwriter and producer.

Her songs were recorded by notables including Tina Turner and The Manhattan Transfer.

Along with being a touring recording artist with 12 CDs under her belt, she still tours the world with her favorite sax player from Tahiti, Armando Castagnoli. She is about to embark on a concert tour to Germany, Tahiti that will end in New York City in July.

While some artists slow down Chris is picking up the pace. She is getting ready to record a new CD with a big band. She’d also like to go back to her disco music and record another CD as she has fans all over the world.

She’s also produced CDs for artists including Keb Mo’ who won 3 Grammys for jazz and blues.

She would like to do her own shows here in the desert and is thinking about holding soirees at their home in Palm Springs with the intimacy and rich musical heritage it provides. She is also looking to do a small show in a room in the desert with a grand piano. Private parties are already in the works and Chris can perform with a small or ultimately a big band. She’s performed with the symphony and brings that show stopping quality that the desert longs for.

On her ‘wish list’ would be opening up for some of the greats including Jack Jones who she’s become friends with or doing a cabaret show.

This talented lady is full of energy and brimming with passion about her musical career. It’s always a pleasure to see an artist that is so committed to ‘the music’.

For more information on Chris Bennett visit her website at chrisbennett.com Patte Purcell - Muze Muzic pattepurcell@yahoo.com 702-219-6777

Local Music Spotlight

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

June 11 to June 17, 2015

by Lisa Morgan

Ray Wylie Hubbard’s “The Ruffian’s Misfortune”

@ Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneer Town, SATURDAY, June 13. Doors Open 7pm. All Ages, Tickets $20

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own ’n’ dirty roots ’n’ roll” is something that cannot be delivered better in its purest form by any other than Ray Wylie Hubbard.

With a decade-long career resurgence into the national spotlight, thanks to a highly acclaimed 2012 release, The Grifter’s Hymnal, and a first ever appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman (“I didn’t want to peak too soon,” quips Hubbard, 68), Hubbard doesn’t look like he or his hot streak are fixin to slow down anytime soon.

The Hugo, Oklahoma born, Texas groomed songwriter just released his 16th album, a beautifully raw, bluesy-rock collection entitled, The Ruffian’s Misfortune. This is soon to be followed by his story packed, humor highlighted, auto-biography, A Life...

Well, Lived. Both are set to build on the endearment of his cult following, young and old, that this artist has building for many years while flying comfortably (and sometimes, not so comfortably) under the commercial radar.

“From his humble beginnings as an Oklahoma folkie in the ’60s, to his wild ride through the ’70s progressive country movement, and onward through the honky-tonk fog of the ’80s, to his sobrietyempowered comeback as a songwriter’s songwriter in the ’90s, Hubbard was already a bonafide legend by the time he really found his groove right at the turn of the century. That’s when he finally felt confident enough in his guitar playing to dive headlong into his own inimitable take on the blues, a form he’d admired but steered clear of for decades, thinking its mysteries were beyond his grasp as a basic chord strummer,” touts a recent press release.

“I used to go see Lightnin’ Hopkins and Mance Lipscomb and Freddie King, all those cats, but I never could play like them — I guess because I never took the time or effort to try — until I was in my 40s and learned how to finger pick,” says Hubbard.

“Once I learned how to finger pick, I started going, ‘Oh, OK, this is how they did all that!’ “

Then I started learning open tuning, and then slide, and it was just this incredible freedom that gave all these songs a door to come through that wasn’t there before. It was like all of a sudden having this whole other language or a whole other set of tools to add to my arsenal.”

“I really liked The Grifter’s Hymnal, and I think The Ruffian’s Misfortune is still kind of a part of that,” he offers. “This record is pretty much where I am as far as trying to make records that work on a couple of different levels, by laying down a groove with cool guitar tones and vicious nasty licks with lyrics that have a little depth and weight and even a little humor thrown in, too, as life is pretty much like that.”

This writer has been following Hubbard for a few years now, both through his music and via his social media posts. I have to say, I don’t know what I love more - his music or his sense of humor. Fortunately, I don’t have to choose. And having had the opportunity to speak with the Texas icon, I can assure you that both are as authentic as they come.

CVW: You’re pretty active in social media. I’ve truly enjoyed following you!

Hubbard: I’m a busy man, and I don’t have time to hit the shift key for capital letters. And punctuation? Well, I use a period every now and then. I have fun with it. It’s written straight from my conscience, and I think it really adds to my amateurism.

CVW: There’s a great song on your new album - “Chick Singer - Badass Rockin’”.

Rolling Stone even singled it out when they interviewed you. It seems very much like a tribute. Is that about anyone in particular?

Hubbard: It’s a combination of young females I’ve seen. I like the idea that they’re not picking up the guitar to be celebrities or to shuffle down rodeo drive, or to have a reality show. They are just picking up these guitars and they’re just rockin’ cause they have no choice. They have this creative spark in them and they’re gonna just play the nightclubs. It’s as much about their attitude. It says, ‘To heck with the blueprint.

I’ve got these songs and things I want to say, and I’m gonna rock.’

CVW: How long have you and your wife and manager, Judy, been together?

Hubbard: We’ve shared 26 years of marriage. I tell you what – I can’t recommend this for everybody, but sleeping with the president of your record label, for me, has been great! And I’m not talking about Clive Davis. As a musician and a writer, I can write about whatever I want to write about. I’m not writing for a publishing company where I have to turn out 12 songs a year, I’m not writing for someone else to record them.

I’m not writing and thinking about the future of that song, I’m just writing in the moment. Judy just says, ‘You write whatever you’re gonna write, and I’ll try and sell the damn thing.’ As a writer that is a really good place to be. I really am fortunate to be in that position.

CVW: This music business is tough, and you’ve been at it a long time, some seasons more popular than others...did you ever think of hanging it up?

Hubbard: There have been certain years on my income tax where I’ve hit ‘just above hobby status’, but no, not really. It’s something that I got into – a choice I made a long time ago. There’s been years where it’s been rough and a struggle, but no. I have this commitment where - well, I haven’t learned to do anything else. So, yeah...I kind of have a commitment to it.

CVW: Where have you drawn the inspiration for all these songs over the years?

Hubbard: It’s something I’ve learned over the years: Music is inspiration plus craft. Inspiration comes by always keeping the ears, mind and heart open. As a songwriter you wait for the ‘ah-ha’...as in, ‘Ah-ha! That’d be a good idea for a song!’

Then you have to take that inspiration, and know enough about the instrument, be it a guitar or whatever, and know what form that inspiration is going to take – is it going to be 12 bar blues or a folk song or a rocker?

You never know when that inspiration is gonna hit you, you just gotta be open. Like when you drive by a snake farm* and you say, ‘Ok…bye!’ and there you go off writing a song! (*referring to one of his most popular songs, “Snake Farm”). For me, I just keep a look out. It’s like waiting for that phone to ring, and then, answering.

CVW: Part of your story, that I’m sure

will be part of your autobiography, A Life…

Well, Lived, includes coming to terms with drug and alcohol addiction. How did you find your way through that, and how do you hold onto it?

Hubbard: Stevie Ray Vaughn, and another friend of ours named BC, came and talked to me. My dad had just died and it hit me pretty hard – I was an orphan, even though I was 38 or 39 years old. In the grieving process, I used up all my beer coupons, drug coupons and my whiskey coupons…I used ‘em ALL up. Stevie Ray was very instrumental at that time. He took the time to come and talk to me – to share his experience, his strength and his hope. He had 14 months sober at the time, and he was the first guy I’d seen sober up who still had an edge. He still had that fire in him, and he was just very inspirational.

It was good to know I could get sober and not turn into a square. Stevie preferred the term ‘spiritual awakening’ to ‘religious conversion’, and that made a lot of sense to me. Because of him, I got into the program – there weren’t any elevators there, so I had to take ‘the steps.’ That’s how it started.

Today, I still take it one day at a time, and try to give each day the respect that it deserves and just doing the next, right thing. These days are precious.

As I look back, I’ve had some amazing cool things happen, but I still feel like I’m moving forward. I still enjoy it, and I think there’s still plateaus to reach. I don’t know what they’re going to be, because I haven’t really sat around thinking about it; when I wrote “Mother Blues” for the last record, I wasn’t thinking, ‘I’ll put this album out and try to get on Letterman’ — he just heard the song on SiriusXM Radio and called up and asked for us. So who knows what will happen with this record? All I know is that I feel very fortunate right now in that I’m playing gigs that are really fun to do. And as long as I can keep writing and performing new songs, I think I could keep doing this for awhile. I saw some show once where Pinetop Perkins was playing at 90 years old, and Judy said, ‘You’ve got another 20 years in you!’

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

Local Music Spotlight

Tilted Kilt Open Mic

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eek #5 brought on all kinds of fun and enthusiasm at The Tilted Kilt Open Mic Competition Summer edition 2015. The $100 weekly cash prize for 1st place, fantastic prizes for 2nd and 3rd places, plus local celebrity to judge Courtney Chambers kept the performers on their toes. DJ Alex Updike kept the crowd moving and grooving in between performances. Once the musicians played and the judge vote (50%) was tallied and added to the audience applause score (50%), it was Solus Lupus who won 1st place and $100 cash. Solus Lupus will now be moving on to one Semi Finals on 7/29 & 8/5. If he wins there, he’ll compete in the finals 8/12 for a shot at a $500 trip to Las Vegas from Crater Lake Spirits, an Artist Development Workshop from Producer Ronnie King, and 8 hours of studio time plus a mix and master from JEM Productions. 2nd place went to Nuclear Cowboys who took home vocal lessons from KAM Studios. 3rd place was awarded to Kauz and Effect who chose $25 dinner certificate to Michael’s Cafe.

THANK YOU to our performers at the Tilted Kilt Open Mic Competition for putting on a great show AND for being so supportive of the other artists: Mike Sick-boy, Daniel Scopelitis, Rick Dame, Gustavo Gonzalez, Bino Sotelo, Ray Guzman, John Martinez, Marco Thoma, David Hertzgaard, Rebecca Hertzgaard, Rick Eisenhart, Ai Furukawa, J. Singleterry, Jacob Plaid, Joe Plaid, Cody McDowell and Jim Holiday. I hope to see you all next week! Look for coverage of this week’s event and the announcement of

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winners in the next issue of Coachella Valley Weekly! SPECIAL THANKS to all of our sponsors: JEM Productions, Ronnie King Music, Crater Lake Spirits, KAM Studios, CV Weekly, Canyon Copy & Print, DJ Alex Updike, and the Mary Pickford Theatre.

ALL AGES ALLOWED and YOU may compete EVERY week! PLEASE NOTE: Due to our overwhelming number of interested performers, sign in starts at 7pm and will be closed at 7:45pm. BRING YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY and FANS and note that the competition usually ends by 10:30pm so be sure your friends and family know to stay until the end to voice their vote!!! For questions or information about sign-up, please visit & “LIKE” Facebook.com/ TiltedKiltOpenMicCompetition or contact creator and host, Morgan James at MorganAliseJames@ gmail.com or (714) 651-1911

Local Music Spotlight

By esther sanchez

Jimi Fitz: Desert Innovator

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adio Personality, Television/Music Producer, Concert Promoter, musician and businessman are just a few of the titles that Coachella Valley resident, Jimi “Fitz” Fitzgerald can list on his long, if not diversely impressive resume. Born in the suburbs of Washington DC, Fitz spent most of his adult life in New York where he performed as a musician and host at an array of events in a plethora of venues. During the late 1980s he was in LA working on a project when he decided to make a weekend trip to the desert and fell in love with what is now home.

Fitzgerald: “I just felt a pull to this desert, you know? There was this gravitation thing that, once it gets you, you can’t escape.”

Although Fitz is well known for his support and promotion of musicians whom he refers to as, “World-class artists who happen to live in the Coachella Valley,” next Saturday, June 13th Jimi Fitz will be debuting his own original music for the lucky crowd at Schmidy’s Tavern in Palm Desert. Fitz: “I am very proud that I have been collaborating with a lot of fantastic people who have made this project what it is becoming. Currently I have Lewis Richards who plays bass and is also a co-producer, Lacey Johnson on keys, Adrian Olmos on sax, Scott Wittenberg on drums, and on guitar I have both Alex Vo and Mic Dangerously of ZEN ROBBI who will be performing along with me this weekend.”

In addition to the support of top-notch musicians and producers, Fitzgerald has been blessed with pricelessly tangible support

from his singer/songwriter wife, Wendy, who has created music side by side with Fitz throughout their relationship and wrote lyrics for this project. Fitz: “Wendy comes up with amazing concepts for songs. Some are very inspiring, some are party songs, others are more serious and insightful. We really take you on a musical journey. The creative process is such an amazing path to go down in life, that’s why we do it. It’s all about these collaborations and the inspiration that comes of them and the bonds that are formed. It’s something that artists know well and at the end of the day, we are really only doing what we love with people we choose to surround ourselves with.”

Surrounding himself with wonderfully talented and creative folks is one of the things that Jimi Fitz does best. He has built a reputation throughout Southern California as a guy who wants to build and foster unity amongst musicians of all ages, styles and genres. One of the ways he is doing just that is through his new radio station, FM 103.9 The Breeze, which is unlike almost any other radio station around. The concept behind The Breeze is the idea of playing a variety of music from multiple genres and eras. The ability for a disc-jockey to hand-pick the music he/she plays instead of being confined to a list of a handful of songs that are pre-determined and practically played on a loop-cycle. If you ask me, it sounds like the way the radiogods always intended it to be. Fitz: “The oldschool top-40 stations used to be that way.

They would play rock, country, R&B, disco, Motown…they played what you wanted to hear instead of predetermining what you should hear. On The Breeze you might hear something old and familiar or new and unusual. We also love to feature music from right here in the desert where we have such a rich heritage of music from basically every genre and era that American music has to offer.”

Don’t miss out on the rare and exciting opportunity to see Jimi Fitz perform his original music along with longtime desert favorites, the L.A. based power rock trio, Zen Robbie. Sat, June 13th. 9:00 pm at Schmidy’s Tavern. $5 cover-charge, 21 & older with ID. jimifitz.com facebook.com/JimiFitzMusic zenrobbi.com

Local Music Spotlight

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

By tracy dietlin

RR Broadcasting’s Mix 100.5 and Mozingo in the Morning Give Local Artists Radio Prime Time

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’m not sure if there is another creature on this planet that dreams bigger and bolder than a singer/songwriter/ performer. I’m not just talking about the brave and talented folks you run across singing karaoke who are obviously passionate about music. Nor am I talking about those of us who just daydream in the shower, singing into the soap. I am talking about those special ones - you know who they are! The ones that will practice for weeks, spend large parts of their day job income on instruments and equipment, drive a hundred miles in a beat up car to get paid $100 (if their lucky) for 2-6 hours of work. Yes I called it WORK. It is work to go through all of that for that once in a while moment of glory - when someone or a handful (please God - a room full) of people actually put their drinks down for a second, stop talking and hear you...connect with you and find the words and melody that bleed out of you to be something of worth. It is on these individuals that RR Broadcasting and Mix 100.5 FM shines a spotlight every Friday morning between 8am-8:30am, radio prime time, so that the Coachella Valley can hear for themselves, just how many amazingly talented troubadours we have living and creating right here.

“Mike Mozingo approached me about it after we judged the Reverb Nation’s Battle of the Bands at the Hard Rock Palm Springs a little over a month ago,” shared Lisa Morgan, founder of the non-profit, Southern California Desert Musician’s Alliance (SCDMA) and Head Music Writer for CV Weekly. “I jumped at the chance to help make this happen.

This falls right in line with the mission of SCDMA- networking to educate and create opportunities for all of our incredibly talented local musicians. It’s a tough thing, tougher than most people think, to find the passion, inspiration and stamina to keep creating, crafting and putting your music out there.

Many of them have kids, families, and jobs they can’t leave behind to go chase a dream, and the only ROI (return on investment) they can expect is to truly be heard and appreciated. And for the ones that tough it out, well - they’ll tell you...they don’t really have a choice. This is who they are; what they are compelled to do. Take music away and these are some very miserable people!

And I’m not talking about adults only here - we have so many incredible songwriters and performers coming out of our schools in spite of all the cuts to music programs. For any radio station to give them that moment of validation, that opportunity to share their soul’s expression...well, there just isn’t a price tag on that.”

The creator and host of the station’s Local Music Spotlight, Mike Mozingo, shared, “With the MIX 100.5 Local Music Spotlight, my main goal was to give exposure to our local music scene. We have a huge community of very talented musicians in the Coachella Valley,

and I wanted to tap into that and introduce their music to a new audience. Unfortunately, not everyone can get out to local bars or clubs to watch our locals musicians perform (including myself), so I thought, ‘Why not bring the show to the listener?’ MIX 100.5 is a station with a long history of being involved with our local community, and I saw this as another way to show our support, as well as to help our local musicians chase their dreams.”

The artists that have been able to participate have shared what the experience has been for them: Rick Shelly: “I think live music on radio is what radio should be! Sharing music and talking about where it came from, knowing about the musician behind it...Mike is doing a cool thing for the artist and the listener. In some cases he is exposing both to something new in the radio experience. Just remember, every artist, famous or not, is local to some town. We all start somewhere and with help from others.”

Follow Rick Shelley at reverbnation.com/ rickshelley Michael Keeth: “I had a great time!

Mozingo was so great to give local musicians time to play live! I got great response from current fans!”

Follow Michael Keeth on social media and at michaelkeethmusic.com James Johnson of The Brosquitos: “It was an experience to represent the work we constantly are progressing on a local, but huge scale. We have relatives calling us, and telling us how good we sounded, because they were listening into iHeartRadio.”

Follow The Brosquitos on FB and listen to their music on soundcloud.com/thebrosquitos Giselle Woo: “Being featured on the Local Spotlight with Mozingo in the Morning on 100.5 was definitely a memorable experience for me, one that I will cherish and one that I have learned a lot from. It was my first time ever- I was a bit of a rookie,” she laughed. “’But I hope it’s not my last! It’s been two weeks, and new faces are still coming up to me to tell me I did a good job on the radio. It’s very humbling when that happens, and I am grateful to have been given this opportunity.

To me it was a gift from those who believe in us. Thank you Mike Mozingo of Mix 100.5 and thank you Lisa Lynn Morgan of CV Weekly and Southern California Desert Musician’s Alliance for your undying support!”

Follow Giselle Woo on Soundcloud at soundcloud.com/giselle-woo Former Morning Show host for Mix 100.5, Bradley Ryan added, “Last year’s Acoustic Palooza (Local musicians were selected to open for top 40 artist, Andy Grammer at the Hard Rock Hotel, Palm Springs, and were also featured live on air) was just my way of helping the local music scene. So many times I’ve heard musicians say how radio sucks

June 11 to June 17, 2015

because they don’t support the local talent.

I never wanted to be that guy, and as soon as I was able, I wanted to give our local artists some shine time. It’s not like it was tough to do; the desert is home to so many incredible artists. Legends started this scene long ago during the era of generator parties and it’s been kept alive and will continue on with this amazing talent pool we are so blessed to have among us. The Coachella Valley right now, is a very special place and time to be a part of as a music fan.”

If you would like an opportunity to be featured on Mix 100.5’s Local Music Spotlight, please submit a video of yourself performing the original, acoustic song you want to perform on air to Southern California Desert Musicians Alliance via Facebook private message: facebook.com/SCDMA or email to Lisa Morgan at divaleftvegas@gmail.com. Be patient as there are a lot of submissions to go through. Meanwhile, SCDMA asks that you help keep this going by tuning in and showing your support, sharing the information with your friends, and letting the station know you are listening!

Follow the Local Music Spotlight by tuning in every Friday morning between 8-8:30 am or listen to the live stream at mix1005.fm Follow Mozingo in the Morning at facebook.com/MozingoOnAir

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Eleni P. Austin

MARVIN ETZIONI

“Marvin Country” (Nine Mile Records)

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f Marvin Etzioni ever decided to pack up and leave Los Angeles, the recording industry based in that city might just have to close up shop. A one man Wrecking Crew, Etzioni is a musical Zelig, having played with everyone who’s anyone.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in L.A., Etzioni displayed an early affinity for music. As a toddler, he’d pick out his favorite 45’s by the color of the label. His beloved zayde, (that’s Yiddish for grandfather), introduced him to Country music as a kid, beginning a life-long obsession.

Throughout high school, he was singing and playing drums in Prudence Goodbody. When the band was denied regular club gigs, they still managed to perform at private parties, libraries and mental hospitals.

By the mid-seventies, Etzioni was fronting a band called Model. They shared stages with other up-and-coming L.A. bands like Plimsouls and the Motels. Separately, producers Chuck Plotkin and Richard Baskin took the band into the studio, but nothing was ever officially released.

In the early ‘80s Los Angeles was a musical melting-pot. The Punk scene was going strong, Hair Metal was just gaining a foot-hold, and bands like the Blasters and Los Lobos were straddling the line between Punk, Blues and Country.

Etzioni was scrambling to play solo gigs when he met a young gun-slinger named Ryan Hedgecock, who shared his affinity for Roots music. When Etzioni rather graciously gave Hedgecock one of his club gigs, he was surprised when Hedgecock’s set included a young singer named Maria McKee. The duo covered Hillbilly classics in sharp, two-part harmonies. Captivated, he encouraged them to write their own songs.

Etzioni wasn’t mentoring the pair for long before they drafted him for bass duties. By adding ex-Emmylou Harris/Hot Band drummer Don Heffington to the mix, suddenly they were a fullfledged band called Lone Justice.

Playing gigs around town, they quickly became local favorites. High-profile fans included Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan, plus Tom Petty and assorted Heartbreakers.

The buzz surrounding the band was almost deafening. Most of the hype centered on 21-yearold Maria McKee. The half-sister of L.A. Rock legend, Bryan MacLean (from the celebrated Sunset Strip Psych-Folk Rock phenomena, Love), she grew up surrounded by music. McKee had an

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amazing voice, prompting some to insist she was a Dolly-Emmylou-Linda-Janis Joplin hybrid. She was a potent talent, but who could measure up to those lofty comparisons?

Lone Justice was signed to Geffen Records, powerhouse producer Jimmy Iovine decided to produce and manage the band. Their much anticipated, self-titled debut arrived in 1985.

The first single was a Tom Petty contribution.

“Ways To Be Wicked” offered a pithy introduction to the album, which was chockablock with excellent Etzioni songs like the rollicking “East Of Eden” and the psychedelic hoedown “Working Late.”

Iovine’s production was super bombastic, typical of the mid ‘80s, but this music required more finesse. The album was a critical success, and the band were hand-picked to open for U2 on their “Unforgettable Fire” tour. Unfortunately, none of the notoriety translated into album sales.

Although they pre-saged alt.country bands like Uncle Tupelo and Cowboy Junkies, Lone Justice was diagnosed as being too Country for Rock fans and too Rock for a Country audience.

Etzioni, Hedgecock and Heffington left the band.

McKee recruited more players for an ill-fated follow-up. By 1987 Lone Justice was done.

Having mastered a plethora of string instruments, Etzioni had already begun to make a name for himself as a session player. He worked with the Williams Brothers, (Andy Williams’ Everly-esque twin nephews, Andrew and David) and Victoria Williams (no relation).

David and Marvin co-wrote an immediate classic, “Can’t Cry Hard Enough,” which became his most successful song. It was recorded separately by the Williams Brothers, Marvin and Victoria, Julie Miller, Tom Freund and Judy Collins.

By the early ‘90s, the time seemed right for Marvin Etzioni to concentrate on a solo career.

He released three wonderful records in quick succession, Marvin The Mandolin Man, Bone and Weapons Of The Spirit. Each album found a home on radio’s burgeoning AAA (Adult Album Alternative) format.

Etzioni spent the ensuing years recording with a surfeit of Rock & Roll and alt.country all-stars including Lily Haydn, Lisa Loeb, Counting Crows, Dixie Chicks, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Grey de Lisle, Sam Phillips and the Williams Brothers.

He also found time to produce Toad The Wet Sprocket’s album, Pale, and Peter Case’s Sings Like Hell, and has shared the stage with everyone from T-Bone Burnett to Keith Richards and Norah Jones.

Throughout the years, Etzioni was stockpiling his own compositions. He has now gathered

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them together in a two-CD, 22 song set, aptly titled Marvin Country! The album opens with an ethereal duet with Maria McKee. “You Possess Me” is awash in swoony pedalsteel guitar. Walking a tightrope between spiritual and sexual salvation, Maria and Marvin’s vocals intertwine, appropriately breathless and urgent as they surrender to a higher power; “I’m not over, I’m under your spell/Am I sober? I’m so in love I can’t Tell.”

A lot of well-known pals are on-hand to split vocal duties with Etzioni. John Doe, front-man for X and a fine solo artist in his own right, pops up on “Grapes Of Wrath.” A ramshackle rhythm and scabrous guitar licks power this raucous tale of romantic revenge; “You broke my heart in half, now it’s time for you to taste the grapes of wrath.”

British Folk legend Richard Thompson shares a songwriting credit and vocals on “It Don’t Cost Much.” Weezy accordions sketch out a melody line that feels like a sideways homage to Johnny Nash’s sunny “I Can See Clearly Now.” The lyrics take pains to consciously uncouple; “If someone stays and someone leaves, you know I would rather be the leaver/I’ll take the pain of being deceived, for the guilt of the deceiver.”

“Living Like A Hobo,” is a shambolic anvil chorus extoling the virtues of a transient life.

The tune, featuring Buddy Miller is anchored by squeezebox and jew’s harp, giving it a boinging buoyant appeal.

“Ain’t No Work In Mississippi,” gets two versions. On the first, Etzioni’s warm tones are matched by Steve Earle’s authoritative growl. This take has the primitive sound of a field holler. The slower more contemplative version features exBalancing Act front-man Willie Aaron.

As cool as it is to have Etzioni interact with such high profile guests, the most satisfying moments on the album come from his solo songs. “A Man Without A Country” is spare and simple, just vocals, acoustic guitar and porchboard. But the sense of yearning and desolation is devastating.

“Son Of A Carpenter” offers a jangly ode to to his parents’ lineage; “He made the prettiest girl blush, she became his bride/In a matter of months, I was kicking inside.” Meanwhile, “Hard To Build A Home” is a classic C&W weeper. Plangent piano notes cloak Etzioni’s sad-sack philosophizin’ on the heartbreak of a broken home.

Two songs, “There’s A Train” and “God’s Little Mansion” offer sharp dissertations on grief. “...

Train” has the forlorn feel of a New Orleans funeral march. Etzioni bids farewell to a loved one, almost weeping as he asserts his fealty. “If you are trying to test my faith, there is no one who can take your place, I shall not be moved.”

“God’s Little Mansion is sweetly philosophical, accented by twinkly mandolin fills. “Before you reach God’s little mansion, open your eyes/’Cause all you have is time and love in this life.”

Three tracks offer slightly smart-ass encomiums to Etzioni’s musical heroes. The acerbic hoedown of “Bob Dylan Is Dead” was originally written back in the ‘80s as a reaction to a particularly snide review of a Dylan record.

“What’s Patsy Cline Doing These Days pts.

1 & 2,” feature Grey deLisle and Jon Wayne. It was inspired by an overheard conversation of an older, somewhat clueless record label executive sincerely wondering “what’s Patsy Cline doing these days,” as he plotted her comeback! The common knowledge that she died in a plane crash in 1963 remains elusive.

“Gram Revisited” combines a sincere narrative with the album’s most idiosyncratic arrangement.

A percolating rhythm and rippling acoustic arpeggios play over a looped snippet of Gram

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Parsons in conversation. Etzioni’s mien is rueful as he yearns for a personal connection with a musical icon. “I never met him in person, somehow I feel like I know him/I wish I could go back in time just to look into his eyes and say goodbye.”

The best tracks on the album, “Lay It On The Table,” and “Where’s Your Analog Spirit” offer a level of intimacy and verisimilitude that is unparalleled. The former is a smoky duet with Lucinda Williams is a vivid and trenchant postmortem on a moribund marriage. Propelled by a martial cadence, swelling strings, lachrymose pedal steel, mandocello and toy piano, the melody aches with heartbreak.

The latter tune is more quirky, equal parts sardonic and spiritual. In a canny nod to the Byrds, Etzioni addresses his almighty as “Mr. Spaceman.” He questions him at length, decrying man’s inhumanity to man; “There are more prisons than schools, and any poor fool can own a gun/You won’t find no fortunate son on death row, nowhere under the sun.” The warm lullabye melody takes the sting out of this biting social commentary. In the end, Etzioni notes, “only the song will survive.” Amen.

Other interesting tracks include the propulsive “Diamond In The Sky” and the slithery blues of “Trouble Holding Back,” which features a sidewinder guitar solo from Trevor Menear.

Etzioni recasts two classics from his considerable cannon. “You Are The Light” first appeared on Lone Justice’s debut. Here it is reborn as the Gospel hymn it was always meant to be. That transition is facilitated with vocal assists from the venerable Dixie Hummingbirds.

The Williams Brothers first recorded “Miss This World” in 1991, wrapping their feather-light fraternal harmonies around this gorgeous lament.

Here Etzioni strips the song to the bone, giving it a stark, rotogravure quality.

The album closes with the tender benediction of “Hold Fast To Your Dreams.” There’s a poignant gravitas to the track, in a bygone era Sinatra might have turned it into one of his blue-eyed saloon songs. But in Etzioni’s hands it’s a slowburning carpe diem anchored by high-lonesome harmonica.

On Marvin Country!, Etzioni relies on a who’s-who of pickers, players and compadres.

Drummers Don Heffington and Donald “The Clock” Lindley, guitarists Gurf Morlix and Duane Jarvis, Greg Leisz on pedal steel, legendary bassist Jerry Scheff and Phil Parl Apiano on squeezebox and accordion. Etzioni produced the record with the invaluable David Vaught. Fittingly, the album is dedicated to the memories of Duane Jarvis and Donald “The Clock” Lindley, who have since passed on, as well as his zayde, Harry Teitelbaum.

Marvin Country! offers a smorgasbord of styles. It’s also a great introduction to a protean talent who has always been here. Find out what you’ve been missing.

art Scene

June 11 to June 17, 2015

or 25 years, Palm Springs Art Museum has presented the annual Fine Arts Creativity Awards program honoring two students with purchase awards. For the first time in its history, all 49 award winners are included in the exhibition Our History: Celebrating 25 Years of the Fine Arts Creativity Awards Program on view at Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, The Galen and the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden, from May 8 through July 26, 2015.

This unique program was created to recognize talented youth and to celebrate and promote the visual arts in the Coachella Valley. Students this year addressed the exhibition theme “Making History: Past, Present, Future.” Past themes have been “Identity,” “Power,” and “Expectations.”

The themes are meant to be challenging, inspiring, and relevant to young artists.

“Not only is this an outstanding presentation of fine art, this exhibition is also a historical record of the talented youth and dedicated art educators in the Coachella Valley,” said Emily Culhan, Education Programs Manager for the museum. “Many award winners have gone into careers in the arts, and the museum is proud to be an early source of inspiration for their artistic endeavors.”

The program is open to all public and private high schools and College of the Desert. The exhibition is juried each year so that the most talented and thoughtful artworks are selected. Jurors are both practicing artists and museum professionals.

When making their selections, they consider the creative interpretation of the theme, technical ability, originality, and the imaginative communication of ideas and emotions. Each year over 200 works are entered for consideration, 55 are selected, and two receive the highest award, the Fine Arts Creativity Purchase Award. One work from a high school student and one work from a college student are purchased by the museum and accessioned into the Education Department Collection.

The recipients of the 2015 Fine Arts Creativity Purchase Award are: Crystal Pasztor for Art Transcending Glazed ceramic. 2015 Purchase Award Cathedral City High School Instructor: Nan Burlingame Wilma P. Rueda for Birds Kept Falling Pastel, India ink, cotton thread, and paper on paper. 2015 Purchase Award College of the Desert Instructor: Scott Klinger The exhibition is presented in English and

David Eppelheimer, Silence, 2006, Mixed Media, College of the Desert Instructor: Judith Cook Fine Arts Creativity Purchase Award 2007

Spanish. Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert is located at 72-567 Hwy 111. For more info about Palm Springs Art Museum visit psmuseum.org or call (760) 346-5600.

About Palm Springs Art Museum Palm Springs Art Museum is the largest cultural institution in the Coachella Valley and includes three locations in Palm Springs and Palm Desert. The flagship building is located in downtown Palm Springs and features compelling art exhibitions, a vast permanent collection, and the 433-seat Annenberg Theater, all in a 150,000 square foot, architecturally-significant building.

Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion features exhibitions and programming that explore the rich topics of architecture and design. Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert is an 8,400 square foot, Silver LEEDcertified building named The Galen that presents rotating exhibitions and special collections. It is surrounded by the four-acre Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden featuring important sculpture works. Admission to the Palm Desert location is now free to the public, generously underwritten by Helene V. Galen. For more info, call 760-322-4800, visit psmuseum.org, and follow the museum on Facebook, Twitter and InstaGram.

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

PET PLACE

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by Janet McAfee

FOR PAWS SAKE & OTHER SUMMER HAZARDS

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une has arrived bringing scorching temperatures to the Coachella Valley desert terrain. This is a good time to remind dog owners, pet sitters, and others who work with animals to take precautions when venturing outside. We need to ensure our four-legged friends are kept healthy and safe during the hot weather.

Local dog lover, Rachel Armstrong, is on mission to educate dog owners about the harm hot sidewalks and pavements pose to our dogs. Because we humans wear shoes that keep our feet comfortable, we may be oblivious to our dogs’ suffering. If the ground is too hot for your feet, it’s definitely too hot for your loyal friend’s feet. If you walk your dog on a hard surface, put your hand on the pavement for 15 seconds, and if this is an “ouch” for you it certainly will burn your best buddy. Rachel is designing hand out cards for distribution to pet stores, vet clinics, and other businesses alerting pet owners to this danger.

Burned paws may not be readily apparent. If your dog is limping, refusing to walk further, licking or chewing on his feet, check his paws. Keep long walks for

the cooler morning and evening times. If possible, walk your dog only on grassy areas.

Dogs cool down their body temperature through panting, and then shed that heat through their paws.

Conscientious dog owners can purchase summer doggie boots that allow their pets to walk comfortably on hot pavement.

These are available in different price ranges online and in specialty pet boutiques. I like the doggie boots on pawposse.com as they reflect over 75 degrees of heat. These boots are specially designed with foam pads for comfortable fit, and the mesh on the upper section allows for breathing. Their traction allows for walking on hot pavement, asphalt, stones, boat docks, and sand.

Prevention is key. Take your dog for walks in the early morning and after the sun starts to go down. The greatest danger from sun exposure occurs between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. When your pup needs to go outside for potty breaks, seek out grassy and shaded areas. Check all hard surfaces with your hand first.

Here are some additional tips to keep Benji safe this summer:

DON’T LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR We recall the shocking news story two years ago when a Palm Desert veterinarian left his German Shepherd in the car outside his clinic. Apparently he got sidetracked, and forgot about his dog that died a horrendous death. When the outside weather is only 72 degrees, the temperature inside a car parked in the sunlight can heat up quickly to 116 degrees.

AVOID STRENUOUS EXERCISE IN HOT WEATHER Strenuous exercise in warm weather is the primary cause of heat stroke in dogs.

Brachycephalic breeds with short noses such as Pugs, Bulldogs, and Pekingese, and large dogs with heavy coats are at greatest risk. Hot summers are no time to have your dog run alongside while you jog or bicycle.

Amazing oosha The smallest of the litter, adorable Oosha is the most daring and adventurous! This curious kitten promises to liven up your home with her antics.

Rescued by ForEverMeow from the shelter.

Contact (760) 335-6767.

Meet Zanni Zanni is 80 pounds of fabulous frolicking fun!

This 1 1/2 year old Lab girl was rescued from the shelter by Loving All Animals. Seeks active humans. Adoption Donation. Contact (760) 834-7000.

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KEEP DOGS INSIDE IN EXTREME WEATHER Outdoor dog houses are not safe for dogs in Coachella Valley summers. If you must leave your dog outside for short periods, provide a small wading pool with fresh water for him to cool off. Dogs must be brought inside the home to protect them from heat stroke and needless suffering when desert temperatures rise.

USE CHILDREN’S SUNSCREEN TO PREVENT SUNBURN TO DOGS Dogs most at risk are those with white short fur and lighter colored noses. They can get sunburned resulting in ulcerated skin, skin damage, and even skin cancer. Use the spray on sunscreen intended for children on areas where the hair is thin, taking care to avoid your dog’s eyes.

Rachel Armstrong suggests dog lover’s google “Burned Paws” to see the type of damage that can be inflicted when a pup is walked on a hot sidewalk or street. Rachel states, “These dogs are helpless, they have no voice, and they count on us to keep them safe.” HOT GROUND EQUALS BURNT PAWS! Jmcafee7@verizon.net

June 11 to June 17, 2015

by Rick Riozza

The Pleasing Promise of Prosecco in Summer

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lot of the world’s sparkling wines are Champagne wannabes. But that’s not the case when it comes to Prosecco.

Traditionally Prosecco was made as a soft, somewhat sweet wine with just a little fizz, but today’s Proseccos are dry and very bubbly.

Produced primarily from the Glera grape, in the Veneto region of Italy, around the city of Treviso about 15 miles north of Venice.

For you wine nerds, Prosecco is made using the Charmat method rather than the Champagne method—the French method of making sparkling wine. The Charmat method allows the wine to go through the second fermentation in pressurized tanks rather than in individual bottles. The shorter, tank fermentation is preferable for Prosecco because it preserves the freshness and the flavor of the grapes.

The steep slopes in the band of hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene in northeast Italy’s Veneto region have been Prosecco’s home for centuries. Thanks to its southern exposure, stony soils, and breeze from the Venetian bay, this is where the best Prosecco are made.

Venetians consider Prosecco an ideal apperitivo or ombrette (pick-me-up). It’s what you want when you’re in the mood for something completely different, fizz-wise.

At its best, it’s all drink-me-now pleasing, with mineral notes, a savory flavor, and tight bubbles—it’s the summer’s promise.

Straw-colored Prosecco, with its overtones of citrus, melon, lemon, almonds, and honey, is a perfect summer wine. It is crisp and clean with small bubbles which pairs nicely with salads, pizza, white meat, seafood—especially calamari and crabmeat, and, even all but the heaviest pastas.

Most Prosecco is at its best when consumed within three years of its vintage, but the highest-quality Prosecco can be aged for up to seven years.

As with all well-made wines, one can expect to pay some bucks for the high-end stuff. We’re generally talking from $20 to $45, for that real special occasion or celebration.

But no worries: Probably the best deal of the day for excellent Prosecco, at around $8 to $10, can almost certainly be found at your local supermarket: Ruffino Prosecco is my choice at that price range.

You’ve probably seen the familiar Ruffino label in most major supermarkets, usually on a bottle of Chianti or similar. Now they’re producing first rate Prosecco at a cost that’s right up our alley.

More than 130 years ago, founders Leopoldo and Ilario Ruffino were among the first in Tuscany to recognize that the best wines come from the best vineyards. They honor that philosophy today by meticulously choosing top vineyard sites, throughout Italy,

while carefully managing the vines and the yields, and using non-interventionist practices in both the vineyards and in winemaking.

Ruffino has always embraced tradition and history in their relentless pursuit of the highest quality, while the winemakers also use modern cellar techniques.

This Ruffino Prosecco is delicate and light, with smallish bubbles. It’s fragrant with aromas of apples, pears and citrus, accompanied by slight hints of hawthorn, wisteria and elder. On the palate, it’s crisp and clean, while hints of peaches and apples drive a pleasant aftertaste. Elegant and balanced with a nice, dry fruity finish.

This wine is “extra dry,” meaning, it’s mildly sweet. It’s got everything going: it’s elegant, it’s fun, it’s refreshing, and as mentioned, the Ruffino goes with everything in town. At Thanksgiving at our house, the morning prep is always fueled with a few bottles of Prosecco to keep everyone happy, lively, and moving.

The Ruffino is simply a great weekday sparkler quaff in the desert, with only 11% alcohol.

And now, some words on the Bellini Cocktail: I know I’m “old school” when it

comes to messing with traditional sparkling wine. But I know there are some great tasting cocktails out there—the Bellini being one of them. The Bellini was invented sometime in the thirties or forties by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy. He named the drink “the Bellini” because its unique pink color reminded him of the toga of a saint in a painting by 15th-century Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini.

The drink started as a seasonal specialty at Harry’s Bar, a favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway and the like. Later, it also became popular at the bar’s New York counterpart;

after an entrepreneurial Frenchman set up a business to ship fresh white peach pureé to both locations, it was a year-round favorite.

Made with Prosecco instead of Champagne, it is nevertheless widely regarded as the best Champagne cocktail in the world.

When making a Bellini, everything (the glasses, Prosecco and the white peach purée) should be as cold as possible. The general rule is to use one part white peach purée to three parts Prosecco.

Use fresh or fresh-frozen white peach purée when you can; never use a food processor because it aerates the fruit. Some use a cheese shredder, shredding the peaches and using a strainer to collect the maximum of juice.

Add a bit of sugar or some simple syrup if the purée is too tart or a tad sour. And never use yellow peaches to make a Bellini. If you wish, add a touch of raspberry or cherry juice, which gives the drink that unique translucent pink hue. Adding peach schnapps really isn’t recommended, and is never used at Harry’s Bar. Cheers!

Rick is your somm-about-town and wine steward at Haggen in Rancho Mirage. He also hosts and conducts at various wine events & tastings. Contact winespectrum@aol.com

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

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­­­THUR JUNE 11 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Reunion w/ DJ Day 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Paul Elia 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Eevaan Tre 8pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Hip Hop 4pm-2am BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Live Entertainment 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DESERT FOX; PS; 760-325-9555 Thirsty Thursdays 7pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 Courtney Chambers 5pm EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 TBA 6pm 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; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Country Night w/ Chad Freeman and Redline 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Quinto Menguante 8-1am MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Blues and Supper Club Night w/ Kal

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David 7pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 George Miguel 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Intimate Acoustics w/ Morgan James 8pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Pat Rizzo 6:30pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Live DJ 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 6pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Avenida 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 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8-12am THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Tony DiGerlando 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 TBA 8pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Laurie Morvan Band 6pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Locals Night 9pm

FRI JUNE 12 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Bob Garcia Band 6pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T Bone 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 TBA 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-776-1234 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 TBA 7:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Fleet Easton 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and Dancing and Beer Pong 4pm-2am BISTRO 60 @TRILOGY; LQ; 760-501-0620 The Carmens 6pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-7755566 DJ PWee 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CAFÉ DES BEAUX- ARTS; PD; 760-346-0669 Linda Peterson 6pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick

Tuzzolino 5:30pm CLEMETINE; PD; 760-834-8814 Gina Carey 6pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 Alchemy CD Release Party w/ CIVX 8pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 TBA 6:30pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 House Band 8:45pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Jump Off” DJ 9pm Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Caxton, The Sweat Act and Right On Right On 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Kal David 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Dandy Brown, Waxy and Muddy Sparks 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company in the afternoon, Hot Rox in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Hot Sauce 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 DJ 9pm MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Mark Gregg & The Horde 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 Meltdown 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Trevor McSpadden 8pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 T.B.A. 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 P.S. Jump 5:30pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Wyldskys 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 7pm, Triple

June 11 to June 17, 2015

Threat Sidebar Lounge 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Wasteful, Bohemian, Arrivals and Panzram 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Smooth Brothers 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Crimson Crow 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Pat Rizzo 6:30pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted @ Night 10pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 T.B.A. 1:304:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Slim Man Solo Show 5:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 TBA 9pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallett 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Girl’s Night Out w/ The Men on the Hollywood Strip 9pm

SAT JUNE 13 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev & Bill 6pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ noon poolside, TBA 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-776-1234 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret on the Green Open Mic w/ Les Michaels and Wayne Abravanel 7:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Denise Carter 7:30pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Abe spinning funk, soul and disco 10pm

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

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The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa Celebrates Dad With Brunch, Spa, Tennis, Golf, Fishing, and More

is $35 for adults; $18 for children ages 6-12, and 5 and under eat free. Unlimited champagne is available for $5. In addition, military dads eat free with family (one free military Dad’s meal per group of four).

Reservations are recommended by calling 760.770.2150 or via email at pinziminips@ westin.com.

For Dads who love golf and tennis The Westin offers discounts to honor him for Father’s Day. For foursome groups on Sunday, every three paying guests awards a free round of golf for Dad. Plus, a 20% discount is offered at the Pete Dye Pro Shop on everything from apparel, accessories, equipment and more. And for tennis fans, a notable 50% off on the daily clinics on either Saturday, June 20, or on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21; or 50% off on lessons on Sunday, June 21.

The Spa at Mission Hills is the answer for the more relaxed Dad, with special treatments available June 13 through June 21. The Stress-Less Massage is a medium to firm pressure massage designed to relieve tension and improve mobility while treating skin to an antioxidant rich specialty massage oil – for 80-minutes the cost is $159, or 50-minutes for $109. The Gentleman’s Facial helps balance stressed skin with peptides and delivers long-lasting hydration with Echinacea stem cells, along with increased

radiance and elasticity from a multifunctional cranberry pomegranate mask; 50-minutes is $109 and 25 minutes is $89.

For tired hands and feet, this treatment will awaken and invigorate with an exfoliating salt scrub and a soothing massage; Manicure is $29 and Pedicure is $45. With these special treatments the entire week, Dad can start or end the week feeling at ease and rejuvenated.

Dads with kids can partake in Father and Son Fishing at the resort on Saturday, June 20, from 5pm to 6pm Following, from 1pm to

3pm a carnival at the Kid’s Club Lawn offers a variety of games such as ring toss, tictac-toe, stand-a-bottle, soak daddy, potato sack race; and popcorn and snow cones are available. Additionally, on Sunday from Noon to 1pm a Father and Son/Daughter Bag Toss Tournament closes the Father’s Day celebrations.

For more information about The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa’s Father’s Day activities, please visit www. westinmissionhills.com/FathersDay2015 or call the resort at (760) 328-5955.

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The Pampered Palate

June 11 to June 17, 2015

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he Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa is rolling out the red carpet for Dad for Father’s Day! The luxurious Father’s Day Brunch – in which military Dads eat free – is just one option for celebrating Dads. The resort has created special deals on spa treatments, tennis clinics and lessons, and golfing – along with a 20% discount on all Pete Dye Pro Shop merchandise. And, for those young at heart with kids, there is even fishing and games!

The savory Father’s Day brunch features traditional eggs and build-your-own omelets, carving stations with prime rib and smoked turkey, an assortment of pastries, salads, cheeses, breakfast pastries, and an assortment of delectable deserts – l served with fresh juices. The brunch takes place from 10am to 2pm at the resort’s elegant Pinzimini Restaurant. The cost of the brunch

By chris clemens

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

EST. 2

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

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Movie Reviews with Robin E. Simmons

McCARTHY’S FUNNIEST FILM DELIVERS HUGE LAUGHS is compromised, Cooper volunteers to go undercover in an attempt to befriend a ruthless international arms dealer, and save the world from destruction.

This is McCarthy best role and the funniest film I’ve seen so far this year. Remember the dreadful, nearly unwatchable TAMMY? Here McCarthy redeems herself and goes beyond her previous, often funny, but onedimensional caricature roles and creates a much fuller and far mores satisfying screen persona. It reeks of reality yet crazy funny. If you need some laughs, this one delivers big time. Big recommendation. Now showing at Cinemas Palme d’Or in Palm Desert.

SPY The packed audience I saw this with loved this comedy. Big, long, loud belly laughs came in waves from beginning to end. What a great team Melissa McCarthy and writer-director Paul Feig are! The conceit has Susan Cooper (McCarthy), an apparently ordinary CIA analyst stuck behind a desk -– but in reality, she’s the unacknowledged hero behind some of the spy agency’s most treacherous missions.

When her partner Jude Law falls off the grid and another top agent (Jason Statham)

Screeners No.168

big screen episode. If not, you will probably find this self-serving, cameo heavy reunion of the show’s original cast unsatisfying.

Picking up perfectly where the TV show left off, the boys are back in business when Ari Gold (Piven), former uber-agent now studio head, green lights a big budget production.

The film follows Grenier’s Vincent Chase as he attempts to direct and star. At its heart, this is a celebration of Hollywood’s stab-inthe-back superficiality. Not really original or insightful, but a smooth continuation of the cable show. Not for everyone. Now showing at Cinemas Palme d’Or in Palm Desert.

film JACKIE BROWN. Jack Hill directs with a sharp eye for action and humor. 1973. Olive Films. Blu-ray.

FOXY BROWN Pam Grier teams again with director Jack Hill (COFFY) in this follow-up that was shot in juts over two weeks. Seeking revenge for the murder of her government agent boyfriend, Fox goes to any means necessary, even posing as a hooker, to infiltrate a “modeling” agency that’s a cover for sex trafficking – to bring the killer to justice.

1974. Olive Films. Blu-ray.

NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER:

ENTOURAGE If you’re a fan of the HBO series, then you’ll probably enjoy this surprisingly slight

Finally, voluptuous Pamela Suzette “Pam” Grier’s iconic films are becoming available in nice hi-def transfers. Kudos to Olive Films. Check out these three classic titles for your guilty pleasure viewing.

FRIDAY FOSTER Based on the syndicated newspaper comic strip of the same name, Grier stars as the intrepid photojournalist Friday Foster.

No sooner has she been warned by her boss that her personal involvement in the stories she’s shooting will not end on a happy note, she witnesses the attempted assassination of a prominent African-American figure -and the murder of a friend.

But why is Friday the target on the hit list? What does she know? Teaming with private detective Colt Hawkins (a terrific Yaphet Kotto), the search for answers leads them to a startling action heavy climax.

Arthur Marks directs from his story. 1975.

Olive Films. Blu-ray.

Book Review

H

ave you ever gone skinny-dipping?

It may be the gateway drug to becoming a nudist – or as nudists call it – a “naturist.” If you prefer bathing suits and clothing, then you are a “textile.” If you totally cringe at getting naked and fear seeing a naked body, then you have “Gymnophobia.”

In Mark Haskell Smith’s Naked at Lunch: A Reluctant Nudist’s Adventures in the ClothingOptional World (Grove Atlantic, 320 pages), he uncovers way more than just nudists’ lingo.

This is Smith’s sixth book. His fiction titles include: Moist, Salty, Delicious, Baked and Raw: A Love Story. His non-fiction Heart of Dankness: Underground Botanists, Outlaw Farmers and the Race for the Cannibis Cup is an essential read about the production of marijuana. Smith spent two years exploring the subculture of growing pot with a quest to smoke the dankest bud. He was successful! (For my review go to caochellavalleyweekly.com) For a guy who writes novels with such sensuous titles and is willing to embed himself into fringe subcultures, you would think Smith is some kind of macho, lascivious, badass – and perhaps he is – but he sure doesn’t look or act like one. Smith is bald, fair-skinned, bespectacled and blue-eyed. He has an easy-going manner and curious disposition. His non-judgmental demeanor makes Smith the perfect guy to garner information about outlying industries.

“ENCHANTING! WONDERFULLY ALIVE AND UNPREDICTABLE. PLUS IT’S FUNNY AS HELL. ‘RESULTS’ MANAGES TO REINVENT THE ROM-COM.” -BILGE EBIRI, NEW YORK MAGAZINE

AN IRRESISTIBLE TALE.

“

A LOVE STORY FULL OF TWISTS AND TURNS.” -ANDREW O’HEHIR, SALON

INSPIRED.

“

THE ROM-COM ISN’T SUCH A LOST CAUSE, AFTER ALL. IT WAS JUST WAITING FOR SOMEONE LIKE ANDREW BUJALSKI TO RESUSCITATE IT.”

GUY

COBIE

KEVIN

PEARCE SMULDERS CORRIGAN

18

COFFY Pam Grier is Nurse “Coffy” Coffin in this mother of all blaxploitation films. Coffy is a one-woman vigilante force, out to even the score with those that have hooked her sister on drugs.

Using her considerable feminine wiles (along with deadly weaponry), Coffy sets about ridding the streets of low-life, scumsucking, dope dealers, pimps, deviants, perverts and other bottom-feeders in this kick-ass action flick. A Pam Grier fan, director Quentin Tarantino paid homage to her blaxploitation roots when crafting the

June 11 to June 17, 2015

By Heidi Simmons

Naturist or Textile? A Good Look at Nudism

-MICHAEL RECHTSHAFFEN, LOS ANGELES TIMES

STAY AS YOU ARE aka COSI’ COME SEI Never before available on DVD, Nastassja Kinski’s first major film, directed by Alberto Lattuada, is an erotic drama about the impossible love between an older man and a very young girl. Architect Roué Marengo (Marcello Mastroianni), who is unhappy in his marriage and starts a romance with the beautiful Florentine. That is, until he finds out a secret about the girl from his wife and has to make a decision. This film was sot a year before Kinski’s breakthrough in Roman Polanski’s TESS. Time Magazine said “Kinski is simply ravishing.” Playboy called it “a truly sexy film.” 1978. Cult Epics. Blu-ray robinesimmons@aol.com

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

A FILM BY

ANDREW BUJALSKI

STARTS FRIDAY, JUNE 12 PALM DESERT Cinemas Palme d’ Or (760) 779-0730 Daily: 10:00 • 12:30 • 3:00 • 5:30 • 8:00 • 10:30 magpictures.com/results

1/8TH PG (2.375" X 5.625") THUR 6/11 COACHELLA VALLEY WEEKLY

In Naked at Lunch, Smith admits to being a nerd. So what motivated him to drop trou for an inside look at global nudism? I sat down with Smith at the Rancho Las Palmas resort where we met in the bar – fully dressed.

CVW: On a scale of one to ten – ten being the most comfortable with “social nudity” – where were you when you started this adventure?

And where are you since the release of Naked at Lunch?

MHS: I was a one when I started. I was really uncomfortable. I’d never done it before. I had skinny-dipped in high school once or twice but never anything else. Today, I’d say I’m a six – maybe six and a half. Now, if people were skinny-dipping at the beach I would join them.

I wouldn’t feel too weird about it. But I don’t know if I’d go to a nudist resort again and hang around the barbeque.

CVW: Your first experience getting naked was here in the CV at the Palm Springs’ Desert Sun Resort. You were surprised by how many elderly people were in the buff. Although your descriptions of ageing bodies are honest, you didn’t see their nakedness as beautiful. Has that changed?

MHS: Oh totally. On the [nude] cruise ship, I was really inspired seeing a 70 year old woman with her walker out on the dance floor enjoying herself. I hope when I’m seventy I can be like her – so free and having fun. It was really great.

CVW: You point out that membership in “non-sexual social nudity” is dwindling and that younger people are finding new ways to express their naked selves. Do you think social nudism has a future?

MHS: I don’t know. That’s going to be the challenge for these resorts with older members who are aging out. The young nudists I talked with want to go to a beach or campground. They don’t want to spend a couple hundred bucks on a hotel.

CVW: I enjoyed reading about anarchist Émile Armand and the various manifestos and philosophical points of view of the naturists you include. Is social nudity political?

MHS: I think so. These are people who risk their jobs, a stigma and arrest to do what they find pleasurable. That’s a social and political statement against the church and our laws.

They’re saying it isn’t fair. We need to be more tolerant of everything and we’ll be a better world. Why not set asides places for nudists. Is that too much to ask?

CVW: Your European excursions to Spain’s Vera Playa and France’s Cap d’Agde were quite different experiences. Spain is family oriented and nudity is welcomed by the surrounding beach community, whereas France is a walled off world that allowed swinging and fetish dressing. Was there a big difference in the way the nudists socialized?

MHS: People are pretty much the same.

They’re on vacation. They’re out eating and drinking, playing on the beach. In France at night the fetish clubs and swinger bars open. The kids have gone to bed. You could shop naked in Spain but most didn’t. In France, everyone was shopping naked.

CVW: At Cap d’Agde, you wrote about a threesome having sex on their balcony. Is sexual promiscuity the natural evolution of social nudity?

MHS: No. They don’t have anything to do with each other. In fact, nudists go through great lengths to keep it a safe and a non-sexual environment. But it [the sex] was an unusual thing to witness.

CVW: You say that the non-sexual social nudity at pools was somewhat boring and that you missed the flirtations that happen at textile pools. Is social nudism not that social?

MHS: It is social among couples and regulars.

But for single men, they’re a little suspicious. I had to be restrained. I didn’t want to come off as some weirdo or overly friendly or flirtatious guy because there are rules against that. It’s safer to socialize with couples.

CVW: Naked at Lunch is dedicated to David Ulin (Los Angeles Times Book Critic) and Tod Goldberg (UCR Palm Desert Administrative Director of the MFA program.) Are they nudists?

MHS: Ha! No! They are the furthest from nudists. But they’re my good friends and fellow writers. They encouraged me to do it!

Smith includes a detailed history of human nudity, the laws and current state of global nakedness. He interviews a wide range of experts that include a naturist publisher, a fashion designer and a psychologist. There is a chapter on cock rings and genital topiary.

The book shines when Smith is in the midst of non-sexual social nudity, whether hiking, eating or “taking air baths” in the Austrian Alps.

There are many laugh-out-loud as well as cringeworthy moments.

Especially charming is Smith’s account of finally convincing his wife to join him on a naturist cruise, where they get naked on a beautiful Bahamian beach and swim in clear water sharing a peak experience.

Naked at Lunch encourages a reconsideration of body image and nakedness in society.

19

June 11 to June 17, 2015

CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 17 BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and Dancing and a Mortal Kombat Competition open 4pm-2am BISTRO 60 @TRILOGY; LQ; 760-501-0620 The Carmens 6pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-7755566 DJ PWee BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6:30-9:30pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 T.B.A. 9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 T.B.A. 8:30pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Solid” Guest DJs, 11am poolside, 9pm Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Tribe-O and Higher Heights 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 T.B.A. 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Hot Sauce 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 In-A-Fect 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Shape of Things ft. Lou Cope 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 Trill 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Ray Wylie Hubbard 9pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 TBA 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Crashdown Sundaze and Rob Lawrence 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext230 Comedy Night 5:30pm, Giselle Woo’s Birthday Bash w/ Machin’ 8:30pm RENAISSANCE PALM; PS; 760-322-6100 Art of Sax featuring Sax Man Will Donato & Eddie Reddick 7-10pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Betabums 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 7pm, Michael Keeth & Martin Barrera Sidebar Patio 7pm, Triple Threat Sidebar Lounge 10pm

20

ROCKYARD @ FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; Judge Jackson and Which One’s Pink (Pink Floyd Tribute) 7:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Zen Robbi and Jimi Fitz 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Smooth Brothers 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 TBA 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Darci Daniels 6:30pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 T.B.A. 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ Hektik 10pm 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 WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 TBA 8pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler Trio 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJs 9pm

SUN JUNE 14 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob & Allison 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ noon poolside, Slacker Sunday w/ TBA 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Brunch 11:30am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Motown, R&B and Funk 4pm-2am BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madaio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Fusion” Pool Party 11am poolside INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ted Herman’s Big Band 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Open Jam 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company, in the afternoon, Hot Rox, in the night MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 4-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7:30pm THE NEW YORK COMPANY RESTAURANT;

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com PS; 760-778-7789 Lili Rose 7pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Longest Running Jam Session in the valley. Hosted by JB, Sign up 6pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Hot Fudge Sunday Band 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 The Jam Session 5-9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.231 Francesca Amari 5:30pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-4080 Slim Man Sidebar Patio 5pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Smooth Brothers TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 TBA 4pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Luck Be a Lady w/ Francesca Amari and Darci Daniels 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Scott Carter 1:30-4:30pm, Rob & JB 4:30-9pm, DJ Idol Eyez 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 The Toast & Jam Band 6pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Line Dancing w/ Tina 5:30-9pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Smooth Brothers 5:30pm

MON JUNE 15 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bonny Jean 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Mood Deep House Lounge 4pm-2am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ron Kalina’s Jazz 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Kevin Quinn 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Trivia Night Hosted by Chelsea Sugarbritches 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 T.B.A. 6pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Michael James & 3sum 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Tony Grandberry 6:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Family Karaoke hosted by Joleene 6pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Barney McClure Jazz 6pm

TUE JUNE 16 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Paul & Jo 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Rock & Roll 4pm-2am BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 Jesse Sweitzer 5pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke hosted by Phillip Moore 9pm INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT; PS; 760833-8700 DJ Randy Johnson 6pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Michael D’Angelo 6:15pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Acoustic Guitar Jam 8pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Darci Daniels 6:30pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-4080 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 6pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Open Mic Hosted by Josh Heinz 9pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 9pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Live entertainment VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Chris Lomeli 6pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 John Bolivar 6pm

WED JUNE 17 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Dan Horn 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Pearl Charles 7pm

AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Jam 7:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Beer Pong Contest 4pm-2am BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 T.B.A. 6-10pm CAFÉ DES BEAUX- ARTS; PD; 760-346-0669 Brian Nova 6pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 Jesse Sweitzer 5pm 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/ Michael Healy 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Billy Erickson & Matt Barnes Show 6:30pm 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 Talent Quest 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-327-1161ext.230 The Michael Holmes Trio 6pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Live Music 9pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 T-Bone Karaoke 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Slim Man Band 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Straight Ahead Jazz 6pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Open Mic w/ Les Michaels 6:30pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Open Mic Competition hosted by Morgan James 8pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Nite Fixx 9-2am WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Karaoke 9pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Chuck Alvarez 6pm

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Haddon Libby Corporate Cannibals: The Automakers

P

rice fixing by parts suppliers to automakers has and will lead to more jail sentences than auto defects that have killed hundreds of Americans. In fact, it is unlikely that anyone will go to jail despite the intentional cover up of defects that have led to the deaths.

Congress imposed a $35 million cap on fines that it can impose for delayed recalls by auto manufacturers. The Obama Administration is seeking to change the law so that prosecutors can imprison auto executives who intentionally delay recalls on unsafe vehicles that lead to deaths. This is being met by a cool response on Capitol Hill. Change in the law is being suggested in response to the most recent “criminal wrongdoing” case by General Motors. GM management covered up defects in more than 2.3 million vehicles over an eight year period that caused some cars to power off while moving. At least 107 people died as a result.

It is expected that no one from General Motors will go to jail despite knowingly causing these deaths over nearly a decade.

Instead, General Motors will “voluntarily” agree to settle criminal wrongdoing charges by paying a fine that is expected to exceed the $1.3 billion paid by Toyota last year. The U.S. Justice Department states that General

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Motors’ will earn “cooperation credits” that will reduce their fine for assisting in an expeditious case resolution. The decade delay and intentional cover-up by management seems to have been ignored.

In related news, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stated that General Motors paid their maximum $35 million fine on this case in a timely manner. No mention is made of the decade long delay.

Could it be that General Motors is working hard at putting this problem behind them because it is hurting car sales and their stock price?

Toyota had a similar problem last year leading to a $1.3 billion settlement. That fine related to their cover-up of a design flaw that caused acceleration pedals to get stuck under floor mats. The defect killed five people before Toyota recalled 12 million cars.

General Motors’ ignition switch problems mirror problems at Ford in 2000 that led to at least 65 deaths and the recall of over 3.5 million vehicles made between 1983 and 1995. No one went to jail then either.

Honda recently paid two $35 million fines. The first was because of their failure to report 1,729 deaths and injuries to the NHTSA from 2003 to 2014. Honda also

Dale Gribow On The Law

GIVE AN ESTATE PLANNING GIFT FOR FATHER’ S DAY

W

e have all heard the saying “it is better to given than receive”. For this Father’s Day on June 21, 2015, give yourself the gift of making yourself happy at the same time you do the same for your family.

Don’t delay. Last year we had a client who came in, paid us and never came back to sign their estate planning, even though we called and emailed over and over. Then as luck would have it the man died before signing it and the estate had to be probated. It was a nightmare for the wife and kids and by probating everything was open to public scrutiny.

Estate Planning can be a will or a trust and you do not need a lawyer to prepare a will. You can prepare what is called a Holographic Will by writing it out in your own handwriting with nothing else on the paper. You cannot use a letterhead from a business or hotel and you cannot use a stamp for the date let alone type anything!

Any of the preceding items would make the proposed WILL invalid. A Holographic Will, has to be dated and signed and show that it was meant to be a will, in other words that it had TESTAMENTARY INTENT. Your holographic will should state “This is My Last Will and Testament, dated June 10, 2015 in Palm Desert California.”

The question is not whether you can prepare a will on your own, but rather, whether you

should hire a lawyer to prepare a will for you.

The answer is a clear YES. You should not do it yourself. A Will is not that expensive to have an attorney prepare and the consequences of failing to prepare it right are very serious. For instance if you want to leave $1,000,000 to each of your two children and you give one a $1,000,000 bequest and the other a diamond or home worth a million, then what happens if the diamond or home is sold before you die. The answer is that the son to whom you left the diamond or home gets nothing… because it is no longer in existence. The other sons still get his $1,000,000.

In addition you may need estate planning that goes beyond the need for a will. You may want to put a home in a trust or buy life insurance to pay the estate taxes. Legal advice can be invaluable in those circumstances. A few years ago I had a radio program and I opened each show with the saying “People Don’t Plan to Fail, They Fail to Plan”. Many well educated and famous, people whose name you know, did not plan ahead.

When U.S. Senator Robert Kerr of Oklahoma died he left an estate valued at $20,000,000. The IRS immediately demanded $9,000,000 from his astonished heirs. However market conditions at the time meant the family would have to sell various stocks and real estate at a substantial loss…just to pay the sudden taxes.

The family liquidated what they could but

failed to report accurate results for warranty claims and customer satisfaction surveys.

One of the things that proper reporting by Honda would have caught were the airbag problems by parts maker, Tanaka, that caused death and injuries.

Honda’s cover-up also caused you and me to feel that their cars were safer and more reliable than they actually were. This type of reporting is required by law due to Ford and Firestone failing to report 270 deaths as a result of tire tread separation twenty-five years ago.

For comparison, recent price collusion against automakers by 33 Japanese parts makers has led to $2.4 billion in fines and scores of jail terms. The cover-ups of manufacturing defects that led to a comparable amount in fines and hundreds of deaths have led to no jail terms. If there was ever an example of what is wrong in America, this is it.

could only raise $3,000,000. Thus they had to borrow the other $6,000,000. In the end most of the estate went to interest payments and the IRS and not to the beloved family and very frustrated heirs. They unfortunately went into debt.

If this can happen to the $20,000,000 fortune of a well-educated U.S. Senator, and long standing member of the Senate Finance Committee, then everyone is fair game. Many famous people have died without Estate Planning and their estate was a mess. Walt Disney, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller and of course PAUL WALKER who spent all his time going FAST and FURIOUS instead of making the time to “slowly” focus on his estate planning.

These are a few who did not plan ahead. They failed to plan.

Well, the good news is that, whoever you are, however old you are and regardless of how little or how much money or other assets you have, YOU DO HAVE AN ESTATE!!! The bad news is that, UNLESS YOU TAKE THE TIME to ensure that both you and what you have is safely monitored; your community estate could be a mess.

What if you should become INCAPACITATED? Do you have an Advanced Health Care Directive?

Is it on file at your hospital? In April 2012 I took my mother in law to Eisenhower and was surprised when they asked her if she had her Health Care Directive on File with the hospital.

I had a copy in my office but not in the hospital.

We then realized that it would help if you filed it at the hospital and then did not have to go

June 11 to June 17, 2015

Last week, I started a Corporate Cannibal list that consists of companies that treat their consumers and/or employees in potentially illegal and/or unethical ways. Let’s add General Motors, Toyota, Honda and a bunch of Japanese parts manufacturers to that list.

Haddon Libby is Managing Partner of Winslow Drake, an investment advisory practice and co-founder of ShareKitchen. He can be reached at hlibby@winslowdrake.com.

home to get it. Eisenhower now has a health care directive on file for our entire family.

Every reader should put this CV Weekly down and do the same….today. A health care directive is VERY INEXPENSIVE in our office because we do not want to see our neighbors in the CV get in trouble because they have not planned ahead and become terminally ill…SO CALL TODAY at 760-837-7500.

DALE GRIBOW TOP LAWYER - Palm Springs Life 2011-2016 Perfect AVVO 10.0 Peer Review Rating “Preeminent” Rating by Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory Selected for Rue “Best Attorneys of America” (Limited to Top 100 Attorneys per state) 2015 Client Appreciation Award & 2015Martindale Hubbell Client Distinction Award For more than 30 years Gribow has been committed to protecting client’s civil and criminal constitutional rights. Regardless of whether the matter concerns Estate Planning, a Serious Accident, DUI, Business or Real Estate issue, every case is diligently handled with the utmost of respect and care. Gribow offers clients decades of experience and success, thus making him the attorney of choice for thousands of clients.

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

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safety tips

by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

It Happened Just Like That!

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rowning incidents are dramatically on the rise locally and statewide.

Parents whose children have drowned say the day of the tragedy started out just like any other day. No matter how the drowning happened or where it happened -- pool, spa, or any other body of water -- one thing was the same, the seconds that claimed their child’s life slid by silently, without warning, it happens just like that and can never be brought back.

Drowning is Preventable reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Children drown without a sound.

Drowning is a quiet event. There is no splashing, no screaming, and no noise at all. What can you do to prevent drowning incidents?

Follow the ABC’s of water safety: A = Adult Supervision. Assign an adult Water Watcher to keep their eyes on the water at ALL times. B = Barriers such as fences, selfclosing and self-latching gates, pool motion sensors, window and door alarms. C = Classes. Parents and Caregivers should take CPR and First Aid, and swimming courses that are available for both children and adults.

Take the water safety quiz at: redcross. org/prepare/disaster/water-safety/quiz and visit: poolsafely.gov for more drowning prevention and safety tips.

The same goes for adults. Learn how to swim, and NEVER swim alone!

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

sports Scene

NBA Upcoming Draft Sleepers..

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he upcoming NBA draft (June 25th) features the Lakers and Knicks drafting very early. And while the usual Kentucky and Duke royalty is favored to be drafted at the top, here is the list released by the NBA Combine showing who performed way above and beyond their current draft rankings. My prediction; look for these guys to compete, make rosters and grow within the league with that chip on their shoulder showing them the way.

Over the years the top prospects, who really have nothing to gain by playing at the combine, started to decline invitations to play in the basketball portion of the event.

The dwindling participation eventually led to the cancellation of the 5-on-5 games in 2008.

Even with the return of games at the combine, many first round draft picks elected to skip participating in the games.

Some, such as Jahlil Okafor, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Emmanuel Mudiay, decided to skip the event, a growing trend for players projected to go at the top of the draft.

Still, the return of 5-on-5 basketball was a welcome development, as it gave everyone a chance to see prospects play in a game full of legitimate NBA prospects.

While the caveat of “it’s only two games”

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still hold true, being able to evaluate how guys perform against legitimate NBA caliber athletes certainly has value. The combine isn’t something that should override what a prospect has done over the course of their college career, but it has legitimate value as a piece of the puzzle.

Who improved their standing the most?

Jordan Mickey, Sophomore, PF, LSU Mickey was a defensive force all weekend, averaging six blocks per game over his two games. Beyond just the numbers, Mickey controlled the paint, altering more shots than his block total indicated, and visibly changing the opponent’s offensive game plan and mindset.

That combination of shot blocking and rebounding is Mickey’s calling card, but he also showed some ability on the offensive end, making a couple of hook shots and even showing some touch on his jumpers.

Those jump shots are important, and will be crucial in his ability to transition to playing the power forward spot in the NBA. Mickey also measured out well in the athletic testing. While he only measured just over 6-8 in shoes, which is slightly undersized for a power forward, his 7-3 1/4 wingspan and 37 1/2-inch vertical leap were very impressive measurements for

sharekitchen “Think Before you drink” doesn’t only apply to Alcohol..

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he average American consumes 57 gallons of soda a year. This equates to 1.5 cans of soda daily.

Have you ever wondered how soda can affect your body and health?

As soda enters your body, the sugars and acids dissolve tooth enamel. If you want to teach your child what soda does to teeth, instead of leaving a baby tooth for the tooth fairy, put it in soda for a month and then see what happens.

Next, your body notifies the pancreas to create insulin in order to convert the beverage into energy. As a result, your blood sugar levels spike and your liver begins working on converting this energy to fat. If the soda had caffeine, your blood pressure rises as well.

Soda causes the body to create dopamine which gives the brain pleasure signals similar to cocaine or heroin essentially hooking you on the product. After an hour, your body begins to experience a sugar crash which signals the brain to find more sugar in order to recreate the dissipating ‘high’. This often causes increased calorie consumption.

Harvard University studied 40,000 male soda drinkers over twenty years and found a host of health problems related to soda.

Drinking this beverage increases ‘metabolic

syndrome’ which increases a person’s risk to diabetes and heart disease.

The phosphoric acid in soda drains the body of calcium which leads to less bone density over time while increasing your risk to kidney stones.

If all of these things risks are not enough to get you thinking of drinking less soda, sodium benzoate and other sodium preservatives drain the body of potassium which can lead to rashes, eczema and asthma. Many believe that drinking two sodas a day can increase your risk of cancer.

If you drink diet sodas, realize that most artificial sweeteners have more harmful effects on the body than cane sugar. Most sodas do not use cane sugar as manufacturers prefer to use cane sugars cheaper cousin corn syrup - another product that is not good for you.

by Flint Wheeler

somebody of his size, and help show why he’s such a dynamic shot blocking force.

Rakeem Christmas, Senior, C, Syracuse Christmas finished his first game in Chicago with an impressive 20 points and 6 rebounds in 29 minutes of work, making 7-of-10 field goals. He then followed that up with 19 points and six rebounds in Game 2, once again looking like the best player on the court.

Christmas’ ability to score inside and block shots wasn’t exactly a revelation, as both were strengths of his during the latter part of his career at Syracuse. What was impressive was Christmas’ confidence in stepping out from 15-17 feet and hitting jump shots, something which he didn’t do much of in the Syracuse offense.

Pat Connaughton, Senior, SG, Notre Dame After a relatively quiet first game, Connaughton had 18 points in his second game. He reportedly was measured with a 44-inch vertical leap. Connaughton was able to hit three’s from NBA range both with his feet set and off the dribble, and that

combination of three point shooting and impressive athleticism was on full display.

Michael Frazier, Junior, SG, Florida Frazier had a lot to like heading into the combine, with a combination of perimeter defense, athleticism, and three point shooting that draws interest from teams. He helped himself more at Chicago, with strong play and good measurements.

While Frazier measured just a shade taller than 6-4 in shoes, slightly undersized for a shooting guard, he came away with above average measurements for both his wing span and standing reach.

Devin Booker, Freshman, SG, Kentucky While Booker didn’t take part in the 5-on-5 portion of the combine, he did likely improve his draft stock by virtue of his athletic testing. He came into the combine slightly trimmed down, and measured just under 6-6 with shoes on and with a solid, if unspectacular, vertical leap.

Where Booker really shined was in the agility testing done at the combine, coming away with the fastest lane agility score of any player in attendance. Part of Booker’s intrigue is in his ability to be a two-way player, and being able to move his feet is a key part of that.

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY Week of June 11

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “To look at a thing hard and straight and seriously -- to fix it.” Aries author Henry James said he wanted to do that on a regular basis. He didn’t want to be “arbitrary” or “mechanical” in his efforts. I invite you to make this perspective one of your specialties in the coming weeks, Aries. Pick out a tweaked situation you’d like to mend or a half-spoiled arrangement you want to heal. Then pour your pure intelligence into it. Investigate it with a luminous focus. Use all your tough and tender insight to determine what needs to be transformed, and transform it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Drug expert Jonathan P. Caulkins estimates that Americans are stoned on marijuana for more than 288 million hours every week. A U.N. report on global drug use concluded that Canadians consume weed at a similar rate.

Among Europeans, Italians are number one and the French are fourth. But I encourage you to avoid contributing to these figures for the next twelve to fourteen days. In my astrological opinion, it’s time to be as sober and sensible and serious as you ever get. You have the chance to make unprecedented progress on practical matters through the power of your pure reasoning and critical thinking.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I think it’ll be better if you don’t engage in much sacrifice, compromise, or surrender in the next two weeks. Normally they are valuable tools to have at your disposal, but for now they may tend to be counterproductive. Judging from the current astrological omens, I suspect you need to be more commanding than usual, more confident in your vision of how to take action with maximum integrity. It’s time for you to draw deeper from the source of your own power, and express it with extra grace and imagination.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You will soon be escaping -- or maybe “graduating” is the right word -- from your interesting trials and tribulations. In honor of this cathartic transition, I suggest you consider doing a ritual. It can be a full-fledged ceremony you conduct with somber elegance, or a five-minute psychodrama you carry out with boisterous nonchalance. It will be a celebration of your ability to outlast the forces of chaos and absurdity, and an expression of gratitude for the resources you’ve managed to call on in the course of your struggle. To add an extra twist, you could improvise a rowdy victory prayer that includes this quote adapted from Nietzsche: “I throw roses into the abyss and say: ‘Here is my thanks to the monster who did not devour me.’”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I propose a Friends Cleanse. It would be a three-week-long process of reviewing your support team and web of connections. If you feel up for the challenge, start this way: Take inventory of your friendships and alliances. If there are any that have faded or deteriorated, make a commitment to either fix them or else phase them out. Here’s the second stage of the Friends Cleanse: Give dynamic boosts to those relationships that are already working well. Take them to the next level of candor and synergy.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): After Walt Whitman published Leaves of Grass in 1855, he made sure it would get the publicity he wanted. He wrote anonymous reviews of his own book and submitted them to several publications, all of which printed them. “An American bard at last!” began the glowing review that appeared in one newspaper. According to my reading of the astrological omens, Virgo, you now have license to engage in similar behavior. You will incur no karma, nor will you tempt fate, if you tout your own assets in the coming weeks. Try to make your bragging and self-promotion as charming as possible, of course. But don’t be timid about it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If you carry out the assignments I recommend, you will boost your charisma, your chutzpah, and your creativity. Here’s the first one: Try something impossible every day.

Whether or not you actually accomplish it isn’t important. To merely make the effort will shatter

© Copyright 2015 Rob Brezsny

illusions that are holding you back. Here’s your second assignment: Break every meaningless rule that tempts you to take yourself too seriously.

Explore the art of benevolent mischief. Here’s the third: Clear out space in your fine mind by shedding one dogmatic belief, two unprovable theories, and three judgmental opinions. Give yourself the gift of fertile emptiness.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the 16th century, roguish French author Francois Rabelais published a comic novel entitled The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel. In the course of his satirical story, a learned teacher named Epistemon takes a visit to the afterlife and back. While on the other side, he finds famous dead heroes employed in humble tasks. Alexander the Great is making a meager living from mending old socks. Cleopatra is hawking onions in the streets. King Arthur cleans hats and Helen of Troy supervises chambermaids. In accordance with the Rabelaisian quality of your current astrological aspects, Scorpio, I invite you to meditate on the reversals you would like to see in your own life. What is first that maybe should be last? And vice versa? What’s enormous that should be small? And vice versa? What’s proud that should be humble? And vice versa?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): There’s no better time than now to ask the big question or seek the big opening or explore the big feeling. People are not only as receptive as they will ever be, they are also more likely to understand what you really mean and what you are trying to accomplish. Which door has been forever locked? Which poker face hasn’t blinked or flinched in many moons? Which heart of darkness hasn’t shown a crack of light for as long as you can remember? These are frontiers worth revisiting now, when your ability to penetrate the seemingly impenetrable is at a peak.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The writer Donald Barthelme once came to see the artist Elaine de Kooning in her New York studio. Midway through the visit, loud crashes and bangs disturbed the ceiling above them. De Kooning wasn’t alarmed.

“Oh, that’s Herbert thinking,” she said, referring to the metal sculptor Herbert Ferber, who worked in a studio directly above hers. This is the kind of thinking I’d love to see you unleash in the coming days, Capricorn. Now is not a time for mild, cautious, delicate turns of thought, but rather for vigorous meditations, rambunctious speculations, and carefree musings. In your quest for practical insight, be willing to make some noise. (The story comes from Barthelme’s essay “Not-Knowing.”)

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sidney Lumet was an American director who worked on 50 films, including 14 that were nominated for Academy Awards, like Network and Dog Day Afternoon. Actors loved to work with him, even though he was a stickler for thorough rehearsals. Intense preparation, he felt, was the key to finding the “magical accidents” that allow an actor’s highest artistry to emerge. I advocate a similar strategy for you, Aquarius. Make yourself ready, through practice and discipline, to capitalize fully on serendipitous opportunities and unexpected breakthroughs when they arrive.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “It is not only the most difficult thing to know oneself, but the most inconvenient one, too,” said American writer Josh Billings. I agree with him. It’s not impossible to solve the mystery of who you are, but it can be hard work that requires playful honesty, cagey tenacity, and an excellent sense of humor. The good news is that these days it’s far less difficult and inconvenient than usual for you to deepen your self-understanding.

So take advantage! To get started, why don’t you interview yourself? Go here to see some questions you could ask: bit.ly/interviewyourself.

Homework: Name two ways you think that everyone should be more like you.

FreeWillAstrology.com.

Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

June 11 to June 17, 2015

Mind, body & Spirit

by Bronwyn Ison

DIGGING DEEP, SOULFULLY

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oulfully “Digging Deep” sounds intense, doesn’t it? This may be just what your soul is ordering. Dig deep, get raw and get to know one self. Ahhh, but of course, you already know who you are.

You have it resolved and feel reassured with whom you are. All right, I cannot say we’re all lost, feeling empty or falling apart, but we are evolving beings.

Many of us are lost, confused, in a daze, seeking, reaching, frustrated and completely unaware of self. Certainly I am not claiming to have all the answers nor do I have life figured out. However, I am on a journey to becoming a better human being.

If one desires to accomplish this feat then one must be courageous enough to dig deep. The actual practice of digging deep isn’t sexy or overly enjoyable. Yet, when you acquire the answers to your unanswered questions there is an overwhelming sense of joy.

Brene’ Brown says, “We cannot experience joy with out gratitude.” She also says, “Joy is the most vulnerable emotion we experience.” Generally we experience joy part-time. We do not execute the feeling of joy with completeness because we fear it will be taken away from us. If all is going very well in your life, you may ponder and are waiting for something bad to happen. You imagine it can’t possible be this good. This is simply setting your self up for something unfortunate.

Getting back to digging deep. If you do not like the way you feel, or you’re repeating poor behaviors, or your wondering why your conclusions are the same … it’s time to grab your hard hat, tool belt and work boots. An introspective look at your self will require you to be genuine and you will likely need a few boxes of Kleenex.

Going through life living superficially of whom or what you think you are would be a terrible tragedy. You are worthy and deserve to know your authentic self. Go deep within to discover what you are truly made of. Why

you are here and what your divine purpose will be in life. Don’t allow another moment to escape you. Life is to short. A quick note to the well known/easily recognized types, fame is the wrong idea of who you are.

“To be established in the truth of yourself, you must be willing to see the lies and false identity that have been running your whole life. By seeing the ways that you betray yourself, you are exposing the magician’s tricks so that you can see through them and they lose their hold. In this way you take direct responsibility for your own situation. Self-betrayal is betraying your true self by serving the false self. The false self calls itself “myself,” but it is based in ignorance, fear, and greed. As long as you are serving the egoic selfishness, you are betraying the pure loving intelligence that is the true heart. As long as you are following thoughts instead of love, as long as you believe the voices in your head instead of the clarity of open emptiness, you are betraying yourself.” – GANGAJI Bronwyn Ison, Owner of Evolve Yoga. e-volveyoga.com 760.564.YOGA(9642)

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

Life & career Coach

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Sunny Simon

Snow White Reflections

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ecently I spent some time at The Happiest Place on Earth. During my stroll down Main Street, I encountered some pals of the lovely Snow White. Based on personality, three of these characters reminded me of individuals I know. Happy, the dwarf created to provide laughter and add joy to the lives of the others, is my favorite.

He is a reflection of my optimist friends who consistently find the good in every situation.

An optimist excels at positive thinking and knows tough times won’t last. I admire this characteristic and strive to hone the same kind of outlook. Granted, finding the silver lining amidst stormy dark clouds is not always an easy feat, but it is doable. In addition to creating a sunny persona, optimism promotes joyfulness, increases patience and helps develop resilience in the face of adversity.

The polar opposite of the endearing Happy is the formidable character Grumpy. Easily irritated by the troop, this dwarf is argumentative and prone to finding fault. Labeled pessimists, we all have experienced and typically avoid individuals possessing the Grumpy personality.

I would dub the Huntsman as the realist in this fantasy film. Chartered by the jealous Queen to lure Snow White into the forest and kill her, he realizes this task goes against his moral code and urges the fair maiden to escape. I like realistic people. They often take a zero expectation

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stance. Much can be said for keeping your expectation level in check. It’s like entering life’s stage in protective armor. You cannot get hurt or disappointed if you expect nothing from a situation. This quality helps eliminate the need for kudos and appreciation. You do your best and that’s where it ends. It doesn’t matter how many likes you get on Facebook, or the number of cards filling your mailbox on your birthday.

I suppose we can label a large segment of the population realistic optimists. Individuals with this personality type know success is far from effortless. They plan carefully, and diligently work at achieving set goals.

Whether you fall into the realist camp, the optimist group, or somewhere in between, beware of pessimistic tendencies. Negative thinking spirals into lethargy and depression.

According to Web MD, attitude matters when it comes to your health. Studies reveal pessimists were more likely than their counterparts to suffer from diabetes, elevated blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Lessons from the Disney gang: Be happy, mix in a large dose of reality and live longer. And, if possible, follow Snow White’s advice. “When hearts are high, the time will fly, so whistle while you work. “ Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at raisethebarhigh.com

Health&Fitness

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

June 11 to June 17, 2015

by Personal Trainer Karen Creasey

Palm Desert Aquatic Center Announces Summer Hours, Water Classes, Swim Lessons, Lap Swimming & Party Options

Just in Time for Grads and Dads to Chill Out at the Pool

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he Palm Desert Aquatic Center (PDAC) – a one-of-its-kind water park in the Coachella Valley – announced today extended summer hours beginning June 12 for water park play, swimming lessons, water classes and the availability of a party room for birthdays and special events. The timing coincides with middle school and high school graduates welcoming summer fun, and for celebrating Dad on Father’s Day, June 21.

The new hours vary for the different areas, which are Monday through Friday from 11 to 5pm for all activities including the swimming pool, diving boards, splash playground and slides; while the splash playgrounds and slides will remain open an additional two hours until 7pm On Saturdays and Sundays all areas will be open from 11am to 7pm For those interested in lap swimming, the pool will be open Monday through Friday from 5:30am to 7pm; on Saturday from 7am to 7pm; and Sunday from 8am to 7pm Youth swim lessons for ages 6 months to 17 years old, begin June 15 with a variety of skill level sessions and times. The sessions begin every two weeks and are held Monday through Thursday for two weeks, providing eight lessons total. The cost is $60 for residents and $80 for non-residents.

PDAC also offers fun water exercise classes including Shallow Water Exercise, Deep Water Boot Camp, and a Basic Arthritis and Injury Rehab Water Exercise class. The Shallow Water Exercise class is a high energy, full body fitness class designed to enhance flexibility, range of motion and increase cardio vascular fitness while utilizing the natural buoyancy and resistance of the water. The Deep Water Boot Camp is a “No Impact” 45-minute workout using flotation devices for suspension in deep water with a challenging aerobic interval workout using adaptations of jogging, cross country skiing, bicycling, cycling, tilting and jumping jacks. For those seeking a low impact exercise regimen for managing arthritis or while rehabilitating from an injury or illness, this class was developed by the Arthritis Foundation and encourages soothing movement. The drop-in rate for the water classes are $6 for residents and $8 for nonresidents, or a monthly pass is $65 for residents and $85 for non-residents.

PDAC is a popular location for birthday parties, with a designated party room, but it is also an

excellent option for other special celebrations such as graduation and Father’s Day. The party room costs $75 per hour for residents and $100 per hour for non-residents, with reservations required in advance. Additionally, the entire 8-acre facility can be rented for private parties, corporate events, swimming competitions, and other special occasions. There are also two cabanas for rent with half and full day options.

Half days are from 11am to 3pm or 3 to 7pm for $60; or a full day is 11am to 7pm and costs $120.

Daily admission to PDAC is $2.50 to $4, depending on age, for Palm Desert residents with I.D.; or $3.75 to $6 for non-residents.

There are also punch cards available, giving 25 visits which begin at $94 depending on age and residency. A Monthly Fitness Pass is available for lap swimmers for $75 for residents and $100 for non-residents, which includes water fitness classes. A daily concession stand is open with barbeque burgers, hot dog and burger combo meals, pizza, nachos, traditional snacks, and fountain soda drinks (bringing outside food and drinks into the Aquatic Center is not allowed).

While pools are monitored by trained lifeguards, children 6 years and younger must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult and must have an adult in the water if they are not swimmers. PDAC is located behind Palm Desert Civic Center Park at 73751 Magnesia Falls Drive, and is owned by the City of Palm Desert and operated by Family YMCA of the Desert. For more information visit PDPool.com or call (760) 565-7467. Notably, PDAC is water and energy efficient, while also recently reducing irrigation and eliminating reseeding to address current drought concerns.

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

Full Service Feline Only Veterinary Clinic

Dr. Rebecca Diaz

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

Feline Veterinary Service

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

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

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

• Digital Radiology • Laboratory Services • New Kitten Care

• Vaccinations • General Surgery • Dentistry

67870 Vista Chino Cathedral City, CA 92234

www.catcitycat.com

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June 11 to June 17, 2015

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