Coachella Valley Weekly - September 12 to September 18, 2019 Vol. 8 No. 26

coachellavalleyweekly.com • September 12 to September 18, 2019 Vol. 8 No. 26

Doobie Brothers

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Waxy

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Mezzoa

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Sherman’s Deli

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

GISELLE WOO & THE NIGHT OWLS 2019 CV MUSIC AWARDS WINNER ‘BEST ROCK BAND’

BY NOE GUTIERREZ

PHOTOS BY ROBERT CHANCE

Coachella Valley Weekly (760) 501-6228

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly twitter.com/cvweekly1 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Kirby, Sheila Rosenthal, Dori Berry Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Noe Gutierrez, Avery Wood, Tricia Witkower, Jason Hall, Crystal Harrell, Esther Sanchez Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Craig Michaels, Janet McAfee, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Dale Gribow, Laura Hunt Little, Sam DiGiovanna, Rob Brezny, Dr. Peter Kadile, Bruce Cathcart, Flint Wheeler, Dee Jae Cox, Denise Ortuno Neil, Angela Romeo, Aaron Ramson, Lynne Tucker, Elizabeth Scarcella, Aimee Mosco, Michelle Anne Rizzio Photographers Robert Chance, Laura Hunt Little, Chris Miller, Iris Hall, Esther Sanchez Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS Giselle Woo & The Night Owls................ 3 Doobie Brothers at Fantasy Springs..... 5 Waxy - Betting On Forgetting ............... 7 Mezzoa..................................................... 7 Consider This - Dave Alvin..................... 8 Breaking The 4th Wall ........................... 9 Travel Tips 4 U - Diana Krall................... 9 Pet Place ............................................... 10

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hosen by the voters, the 2019 CVMA for ‘Best Rock Band’ went to Giselle Woo and The Night Owls. Let’s put it in perspective. The category included the ‘little black book’ of rock acts including John Garcia and the Band of Gold, Blasting Echo, Sleazy Cortez, Mega Sun, The Hellions, Death in Pretty Wrapping, Black Water Gospel and The Classy Mother Fuckers.

The truth is, Giselle Woo and The Night Owls rock just as hard as any of those bands!

If you know her history with The Owls, you know she has only had the best surrounding her. World-class performers like David Macias (Machin’), Andy Gorrill (KARR), Erik Mouness (Braun Fraulein) and Brandon Ray Henderson (The Woodys) have flown high as Owls.

The Band The current line-up takes that history and soars even higher. With Woo (vocals, rhythm guitar), Christian Colin (lead guitar), Marco Murrieta (bass guitar) and Jose Ceja (drums), the band is at a point of enlightenment, reaching heights never before achieved. Their newest song states in its lyrics, “tenemos la dicha de ser quienes somos,” or, “we are blessed to be who we are.” Blessed they are and Woo continually lifts her band up.

The Night Owls are solidified and were hand-picked by Woo. She shared about 2019 CVMA ‘Best Guitar’ nominee Colin, “Christian is like a walking encyclopedia, he’s super smart. Anything he puts his mind to; he does and strives to be the best at it.” Woo jokes about the inclusion of Ceja, who happens to be a Berklee College of Music alum, “Jose is really good at playing video games. He’s a

good teacher, too!” Finally, she appreciates Murrieta’s all-around skills, “Marco is a super talented guitar player, he’s very modest about it. I love jamming out riffs with him, he’s also a model.” Woo is excited to see how far the band can push themselves. “On top of all this awesomeness, jamming with them just feels right.”

Accolades: ‘Best Rock Band’ Earlier in the year Giselle Woo and the Night Owls won the 2019 CV Music Showcase at The Hood Bar & Pizza and were chosen by Goldenvoice to perform at this year’s ¡CHELLA! alongside Los Tucanes de Tijuana and Mon Laferte. So, winning ‘Best Rock Band’ is not a surprise to many in the music community, but the band’s a different story.

Despite the steady winning, Colin was stupefied at the accomplishment, “I was surprised! We love the awards show. Every year it’s a great night for the community to

get together and enjoy each other’s company and achievements. People will say what they will about the awards and the awards show, but for us as a band, being recognized and even just being nominated for a category is a blessing and an honor. I have my two awards with The Night Owls on my dresser next to my bed for when I wake up Ha-ha!” The hard work they have poured into their music and sound is paying off.

Murrieta was also a bit skeptical, “It definitely feels good. However, as cynical as it may sound, I didn’t think we were going to win. I’ve always been confident in our group but when you’re in a room with all those musicians, it’s intimidating.”

“It felt surreal, I have always dreamt of being in a band that just goes for it and now for us winning this award it raises the bar for us to push our boundaries even further,” Ceja shared. Woo further attested, “It was definitely a very proud moment. To me, it was like one of those pats on the back, like a ‘go get ‘em kid,’ you know. Those things people say or do to encourage someone they see trying at something they’re good at, it felt motivating and it also proves to me that more and more people are believing in us and in me.”

Joining The Owls Looking back, each Owl traversed their own path to the band. Ceja remembered, “When I had first heard of the group, I was in my second year of school in Boston. I loved continue to page 5

The Vino Voice ....................................... 11 Club Crawler Nightlife .................... 12-13 Pampered Palate - Sherman's Deli ...... 14 Brewtality .............................................. 15 Screeners .............................................. 16 Book Review.......................................... 17 Safety Tips ............................................. 17 Haddon Libby ....................................... 19 Dale Gribow.......................................... 19 Free Will Astrology............................... 20 Cannabis Corner................................... 20 Cannabis Corner................................... 22

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

GISELLE WOO & THE NIGHT OWLS continued from page 3 the music and at the time Christian was in the group with another friend of mine, James.

Never would I have imagined that when I would return home my best friend Christian would call me and ask if Marco and myself would like to join the group. I was shocked but I finally felt like it was my chance to be a part of something big and after we all hung out, I knew that this is where I wanted to be.” That confirmation and commitment flows through the other members as well.

Colin recalled, “It started out innocently enough with ‘G’ and I doing a few gigs here and there. Then we did this chalk festival gig that snowballed into more gigs and a more permanent line-up. I know she had a line-up that was different prior to me but as far as me joining, it seemed to progress naturally after we played together for the first time. I always told her over and over that I loved the song ‘Coachella Gold!’” The orchestration of the band seemed more fate than evolution.

Murrieta recollected, “I remember Jose called me telling me that Giselle was coming over to jam with him and he asked if I can join him on bass. At that point I hadn’t played music in years, I was definitely nervous. And I remember playing through some of her songs and feeling like curveballs were being thrown at me. It was a Bossa Nova groove that went into a Rock groove for some sections and finished it off with a Surf Rock solo. I definitely needed practice. However, Giselle couldn’t have been more inviting. We all immediately clicked, and it felt like we had been playing for years.”

Their Sound The band’s eclectic sound has developed over several years. Woo has made it a point from the get-go to include all realms of music

and incorporating Spanish and English alike.

Colin proclaimed, “Dialing in our sound with this new line-up has been amazing. There are so many things we reach for musically from Reggae, Soul, Ska, Rock, Blues, Funk, Cumbia, and Traditional Mexican Folk music to name a few, that its always great having the challenge of negotiating your personality into the sound of the group.” Colin has one of the most varied musical histories in the Coachella Valley. “I come from a Jazz background also that’s very steeped in throwing influences or ‘vocabulary’ into different sonic landscapes and producing something unique to the group of people playing. I feel like we try and carry the torch of this tradition as best as we can.”

“As a group we are constantly pushing ourselves. We never want to ‘phone in’ a performance. We always strive to play at our full potential. And I hope that it shows,” Murrieta confessed.

Ceja has their future set on higher heights, “As far as where we are going, I see this band touring the world. We all have common goals and we are very excited to share this incredible experience with each other.”

Positive Influence Woo and band are stumped about their appointment as leaders in the Coachella Valley music community. “I’m not fully aware.

I’m only mirroring the great leadership I am surrounded with,” Woo admitted. “There are many leaders around, they just haven’t tapped into that superpower yet. I’m sure many of us wonder what we can do to lend a helping hand, what we can do to be of service to others.” Ceja is excited at the opportunity, “It’s incredible! We are surrounded by a vast number of talented musicians and to know that our peers view us in such a high regard

DOOBIE BROTHERS’ JOHN MCFEE

gives us the motivation to continue to work harder.” And Murrieta is humbled, “It’s a huge honor, especially with all the talent in this community.”

Woo is hopeful that others will also step in to help guide the music community. “Good and honest leadership can be on the rise if we all believed in ourselves just as much as others believe in us. So, it’s a beautiful feeling to know that I’m being looked at in that manner.”

Colin proclaimed his appreciation and thankfulness for those who have mentored him. “First of all, it’s such a great honor to have that role placed upon me. I feel like I’ve had great examples to learn from. Mikey Reyes and Bryanna Evaro of Desert Rhythm Project have taught me a great deal about being professional. Giselle has taught me a great deal about networking and socializing, being in the backyard party circuit in the east valley with The Basaracts and Tony Duran taught me that even when the sound isn’t the best or when there’s more people on stage than watching, you can still have a great show. It really is an honor to have your peers view you in a leadership role because there are some bad-ass musicians in this valley.”

The Forthcoming EP Gemini The band are psyched to release their new set of tunes. Woo beamed, “We are releasing our EP titled Gemini, a six-track album, it will include ‘Coachella Gold,’ which was released early last year. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube etc. I’m excited to get this EP out.” Their new single, “Novedad,” is essential G. Woo & The N.O. It’s a Spanish-language song about novelty and hope that prompts you to dance.

“Novedad” was recorded at DRP Studios with Mikey Reyes and mixed and mastered

by Gene Evaro Jr. released June 15, 2019.

The song features Woo on vocals, rhythm guitar, organ piano, melodica, Christian Colín on lead guitar, Bryanna Evaro on bass guitar and Tyler Saraca on drums.

You can find their new single, “Novedad” at: gisellewooandthenightowls.bandcamp.com Giselle Woo & The Night Owls ‘GEMINI’ EP Release Party October 26th at Date Shed 18+ Doors open 8 pm Pre-sale tickets $10 $15 at the door With special guests: Desert Rhythm Project

MICHAEL DISCUSSES GROUP’S LEGACY, ROCK HALL OF FAME BY FELCI CANDIDACY AHEAD OF FANTASY SPRINGS SHOW

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he Doobie Brothers are one of the most popular groups in the history of rock ’n’ roll, having enjoyed three distinct eras of hit-making fame and selling in excess of 40 million albums over the course of five decades. And yet, the band remains on the outside looking in when it comes to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which has inexplicably inducted far less successful and arguably less influential artists in recent years.

Founded in 1970 in San Jose, CA, the Doobies remain a staple of classic rock radio thanks to their unique blend of rock, folk, country, R&B, and soul. The group’s numerous hits include “Black Water,” “Listen To The Music,” “Jesus Is Just All Right,” “Rockin’ Down The Highway,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “China Grove,” and “The Doctor.” In all, the band has racked up five top-10 singles, and seven platinum albums along the way. Their 1976 compilation, Best Of The Doobies, has been certified diamond having sold more than 12 million copies.

Led by co-founders Tom Johnston (vocals, guitar) and Patrick Simmons (guitar, vocals), along with longtime multi-instrumentalist John McFee, the Doobies return to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino’s Special Events Center on Saturday, September 14th at 8 p.m. In a

MUSIC

recent interview, McFee discussed his preDoobies band Clover, how it feels to get on a rocket ship, and the groundswell to get the Brothers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

FELCI: Prior to the Doobies, you were in a band called Clover, which was a precursor to Huey Lewis & The News. What was that experience like and how did the group come to back Elvis Costello on his debut album?

MCFEE: “Clover was really like a family to me, and I really believed in the band and the guys in it. When Huey & The News hit it big, it felt very gratifying to me personally, like Clover finally made the big time. We worked really hard for years as a band, and all those years were part of the “overnight success” of Huey Lewis & The News. I was lucky enough to play on several of their albums as well, including the mega-hit album Sports, and I still stay in touch with those guys — and in fact played a little on their latest as yet unreleased project. The Elvis Costello thing was an amazing bit of serendipity, as Clover had moved from the Bay Area to England, and was working on our own album when our managers approached us about backing up a new artist they had just signed for their new record label, Stiff Records. We asked to continue to page 6

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DOOBIE BROTHERS continued from page 5

hear the material and were astounded at the incredible songwriting, and the singing was quite good, too. It was a young lad named Declan MacManus, and we liked his music so much that we said, ‘Sure, we’re in.’ It turned out that Declan wanted to work with us because he was a fan of the music we had recorded for Fantasy Records, so it was a good fit. He came down to the place we were living in south of London in Hampshire — a huge country estate called Headley Grange, and in fact it’s pretty famous as the place where Led Zeppelin recorded most of their albums, and we rehearsed the material there. We would go up to a little 8-track studio in London to record the day after each rehearsal, and did three half-day sessions to make the My Aim Is True album. It’s pretty much a live album, all of us playing our parts as Dec played rhythm guitar and sang his lead vocals. No fixes, no punching in, and I have to give Nick Lowe, who produced the project, a lot of credit for keeping it completely real and honest.”

FELCI: In 1979 you replaced Jeff “Skunk” Baxter in the Doobies. How were you recruited and what were your expectations at the time?

MCFEE: “That all happened as Clover had moved back from England and our British record contract had expired, and our managers were going through a somewhat contentious splitting up of their management company. They were having some serious disagreements about who would continue managing which of their artists, and we were caught in a legal limbo where we couldn’t book shows and couldn’t record, or basically do anything having to do with moving forward with our career. This was also right as my son was born and I felt an increased level of responsibility in my life, so I started taking work to generate income — I did some touring with Carlene Carter, started gigging with my good friend Norton Buffalo as part of his band, and things like that. All the time, I was hoping for some solution to the situation with Clover so that we could start doing things again, as I still believed in what we were trying to do and considered the band to be my family. One day my wife was speaking with [drummer] Keith Knudsen’s wife about things and Keith’s wife mentioned that the Doobies were looking for a replacement for Jeff, and that Keith had thought of asking me but that because I had turned down some other high profile gig offers because of my commitment to Clover, he hadn’t done so. My wife told her that the current circumstances were perhaps different and that maybe he should speak with me, so

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Keith talked to me about it and I ended up going down with him from Marin where we were living to the Doobies rehearsal house on the coast south of San Francisco to feel things out. I played a number of songs with the band and they said I was in if I wanted to be, and that was how it all started. I was totally stoked, as I had always been an admirer of the band’s music and feel truly fortunate to have found such a great musical home. My expectations had mostly to do with how cool it was to become part of a musical group that incorporated so many musical styles into its material, and where the music came first — my expectations were met and if anything, surpassed. This, my joining the group, was all happening as the band’s new album, Minute

By Minute, was starting to climb up the charts and ended up being the most successful album the band has ever made — biggest sales, multiple Grammy awards, etc. So it was kind of like getting on a rocket ship…”

FELCI: Outside of the Doobies, you’ve contributed to albums by the Grateful Dead, Boz Scaggs, Van Morrison, and many others.

What do you enjoy most about collaborating with other artists and which projects/songs are you most proud of?

MCFEE: “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have worked with so many great artists, and wish I could say something along the lines of how I planned it all and knew exactly what I was doing. My life has been filled with amazing coincidence and good luck when it comes to all this… It’s hard to pick favorites out of the projects and songs I’ve worked on, but working with Van Morrison was amazing — the Man is the embodiment of sincerity and genuineness in all of his music, totally inspiring… Working with Glen Campbell was humbling, as he was such a multi-talented artist — it was truly an honor to work with him. I did a session for Crystal Gayle on a song called “Only Love Can Save Me Now,” on which I did some of my favorite session playing work — I played guitar, fiddle, and Dobro on it, and she is a much better singer than I think she generally gets recognized for… Anyway, as I mentioned, it is hard to pick favorites. It was amazing to be invited to be part of a Grateful Dead project, Boz Scaggs, Steve Miller, Link Wray, Emmylou Harris, Timothy B. Schmit — so many great artists and always, as I said before, an adventure.”

FELCI: In 2010, the Doobies released World Gone Crazy, which reunited the band with producer Ted Templeman. How satisfying was it to have it be so well received both critically and commercially?

MCFEE: “Getting back together with Ted

Templeman was pretty amazing, even just that it actually happened. One thing that isn’t at all unusual when working on a project is to have no idea what other people will make of it, and we get so inside of the process sometimes that it’s impossible to have any real objectivity about it. When World Gone Crazy was mixed and sent for the audio mastering process, we were actually shocked at the reaction from the mastering lab. They were blown away, started bringing out the vintage mastering gear that they save for “special” projects, and we were surprised at the level of the positive reaction to the music; this kind of reaction continued when others and eventually the public heard the project. People really seemed to identify it with the old magic of the combination of Ted Templeman and the Doobie Brothers, so much so that it honestly caught us off guard a bit. By the way, when we were working on the project in my studio, Ted turned to me one day and said, ‘You know John, it just occurred to me that you played on my first hit record as a producer,’ and I hadn’t thought about it before then but… I’ve since used it as a personal bragging point that before the Doobie Brothers had a hit, I had been part of Ted Templeman’s first hit record as a producer — Van Morrison’s “Wild Night.” There, I got my bragging point in…”

FELCI: In recent years the Doobies have toured/performed with Journey, Santana, Steve Miller, Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, and the Eagles. Tell us about the camaraderie among those ’70s-era contemporaries.

MCFEE: “It’s a wonderful thing to have been fortunate enough to be around long enough to have all these musical friendships going back so many years. All the groups you’ve mentioned, there is an incredible amount of interconnection with and it’s always a pleasure to work with them. One example of the interconnection for me personally is that I’ve recorded with several of these artists -— Steve Miller on “Fly Like An Eagle,” Chicago on “Naked In The Garden Of Allah,” Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles on his Leap Of Faith solo project — and there are many other connections with these acts as well. Steely Dan, for example, has even had members in common with the Doobie Brothers, Jeff Baxter, Cornelius Bumpus, Michael McDonald. We just finished doing some extensive touring with Santana, and all of our members got out to jam with Carlos in different combinations quite a bit, at Carlos’ gracious invitation. We are in many ways like a very large extended family, and the camaraderie has been there a long time and carries on into the future.”

FELCI: An awful lot of journalists and Doobie Brothers fans think the band should already be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

There are countless articles and polls about the subject. What are your thoughts on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Do you think we’ll see The Doobie Brothers inducted soon?

MCFEE: “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions are not actually decided either by musicians or the public, so that explains a lot. The Doobie Brothers are not the only ones left out in the cold, so we are proud to be there with the likes of Peter Frampton,

to give just one example. We just try to stay focused on our music and let it speak for itself. It is, nonetheless, possible that we will be inducted sooner or later, but again, these things are not decided by either our fellow musicians or by the fans.”

FELCI: Can you share about the process behind creating the band’s recent release, The Doobie Brothers: Live From The Beacon Theatre?

MCFEE: “This concept was something that had been floating around for some time, and we were finally able to schedule things so that we could prepare for this. We had had fans suggesting we do some kind of album oriented type show, as well as discussion within the band, so it took hold and while we were at it, it seemed like a good idea to capture it on film and audio, so the concept actually has become a reality.”

FELCI: The band has been playing both classic albums Toulouse Street and The Captain and Me in their entirety. Aside from the hits from those records, did you have to go back and learn some of the deeper cuts?

MCFEE: “Oh, yes, there was quite a bit of rehearsal involved in putting this concept together. There were songs, for example, that the band had never played live before, ever, and there were others that hadn’t been part of a set for years or even decades, and so we had to do some serious homework.

So yes, it was a lot of work, but it was also really rewarding and ultimately a lot of fun to play all the very cool material from those projects.”

FELCI: What can fans expect at your show on Sept. 14th at Fantasy Springs?

MCFEE: “Well, they can always expect this band to give our all to the show — we feel a real obligation to do our best for the people that work so hard for their money and pay to come see us play, and go through all the hassles of driving to the venue, parking, making their way through the crowd, and finally getting to their seats to hear us perform. We’d better be good… as far as the set list, it’s hard to say but it’s likely they may hear some of those ‘deep cuts’ from Toulouse Street and Captain and Me that they haven’t heard live for a long time — or maybe ever.

Anyway, we’re looking forward to it and will do out best!”

Tickets for the Doobie Brothers are $69, $59, $39, on sale at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, via telephone (800) 827-2946 or online at FantasySpringsResort.com.

LOCAL MUSIC

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f you are able, I would recommend you get to Red Barn in Palm Desert on Friday, September 13th to witness, possibly for the last time, the longest-standing and most well-known line-up of WAXY, Robbie Waldman (vocals and guitar), Damian Lautiero (bass and background vocals) and Jeff Bowman (drums and background vocals). WAXY will be celebrating the Friday the 13th digital release of their album, Betting On Forgetting, the 2019 Coachella Valley Music Award winner for ‘Best Album’ and the show will also serve as a bon voyage of sorts as Waldman takes WAXY to Europe in October along with Robert Bowman (bass and background vocals) and Tyler Ontiveros (drums).

Below is the Coachella Valley Weekly album review of Betting On Forgetting.

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‘BETTING ON FORGETTING’ ALBUM REVIEW

Dead & Gone – The heavy-hearted acoustic and string intro is moody. The lyrics “…callous soul, faithless, heartless, I never thought I’d ever get this low, and nothing more than wasted time, flown away and never looking back to realize, where we could have gone…” feels like the search for love and time spent on a relationship dwindles as you face the fact that it’s over. It’s individual perspective with a reflective vision. The opening and closing tracks can be the most difficult to write and position on an album. Fortunately here, you will see that the closer reinforces the intro.

Never Was Enough – Now this is the fuzz I’m looking for. The 2nd song establishes a trajectory on the album. That ‘Stoner Sway’ that Robbie and WAXY are so famous for is the highlight here. The temperament of the song is melancholy but driving. The stability of the dynamic reminds me that this is, dare I say, a concept album.

Hoof & The Horn – The tempo of the album continues to be lifted here. Bowman’s drumming is in the driver’s seat in the extended intro. As he does in the live setting, Bowman can create his own stratum within a song. This is classic WAXY if it’s OK to identify the band’s sound as characteristic. This will no doubt be a song chosen to be performed on their upcoming tour.

Fine – WAXY definitely picks up the pace here even more. Reminds us that some bands are still mindful of song placement. It has that

Punk feel along with the Punk breadth, clocking in at 1:35. Waldman wails in his upper and comfortable register for the duration.

Repeater – If you were on the ‘WAXY Carousel’, this would be the song on repeat for the entire ride. It’s as if Herbert hijacked the studio on this song when the band was out to lunch. The overdrive of organ takes center stage. Thanks Herbert!

Two Faced – Bringing the tempo back to a strutting gait. Waldman excels with these midtempo songs both vocally and building a wall of sound with his guitar/pedals. The falsity and deception of those who double-deal is my interpretation of this song.

Vanilla – The song is more than a singular flavor with its tempo and time signature changes. Interestingly, the song takes me back to Rhythm & Brews, Mario Lalli’s music venue in Indio. I can imagine how this song would have gone over and I can hear how Lalli’s influence continues to this day and permeates more than we are aware of.

Run – If you listen closely you can hear the percussive instruments and how much they add to the identity of the song. The lyrics, “…to give love and get none, return, run boy run…” continue to drive home the theme of heartbreak and the desire to avoid it. The song judiciously ends with the striking of fingers on a past its prime typewriter.

There She Goes – The Beatles-esque intro lead to the WAXY-guitar-fuzz. There’s a lot going

PERFORMING WITH WAXY AND AVON AT THE WORLD FAMOUS RED BARN. FRIDAY, SEPT. 13

he music of MEZZOA was a millennium in the making. No kidding, it took millions of light years to be written and recorded. The hard rocking power trio consists of former members of Magdalene, Super Sonic Dragon Wagon, Gunfighter and G13. They will be performing at Red Barn in Palm Desert, CA on Friday, September 13th with WAXY and AVON and again with the same artists on Saturday at Cobraside Distribution in Glendale, CA. The ‘not of this world’ San Diego Stoner Rock triad includes unearthly members Ignacio “El Falcone” “Nacho” Maldonado on guitar and vocals who was created in the ‘Milky Way’, Scott “Eeeeeaaah” Hoover, Arturo Ulloa and Paul Valle sharing drum duties were created in a ‘Gaseous Oort Cloud’ and ‘Q’ “Dust Devil” Pena on bass created in the ‘Cholo Goth Universe’.

To sink your ears into this groovy, riffheavy, gnarly, thunder belly of 70’s style rock is to experience the elements of Stoner Rock to Power Punk. MEZZOA brings home some bulky and bluesy Rock ‘n’ Roll.

MEZZOA is the idea of playing music that hits home. Personal situations and life events are played out in lyrical and musical ceremony through their resonance. This is the music they love, created with mutually respected musicians. The line-up is comprised of brothers who grew up together listening to different styles of music. Influenced by Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Robert Johnson, The Sex Pistols, KISS, KYUSS and Alice In Chains, MEZZOA is currently finishing up the follow-up album to their astonishing debut on

El Falcone Records, Astral Travel (2017). The new work is currently untitled, and they are taking suggestions. My recommendation…How the Hell Will You Top the First Album?

MEZZOA was previously hand-picked to be part of a Vegas Rock Revolution showcase featuring Sasquatch and AVON. They have also shared the stage with Brant Bjork, Duel, Cloud Catcher, Red Wizard, The Rare Breed and Void Vator to name a few.

Coachella Valley Weekly briefly spoke with Maldonado about the band, their new music and upcoming shows.

CVW: Tell us about your fellow band members?

Maldonado: “‘Q’ is originally from Arizona.

He’s been in Dago for the last 30 years. We met in a previous band called G13. We have a revolving drummer situation. Our tour drummer is Paul. His home base is Arizona. He’s also the front man and guitarist for King Chiefs and he’s played drums for Serial Hawk. We also have San Diegans Arturo and Scott sharing

drum duties. Scott will be playing with us at the Red Barn gig.”

CVW: You’re performing shows with the mighty AVON & WAXY at The Red Barn & Cobraside Distribution.

Maldonado: “We’re stoked to be playing with WAXY and our buddies in AVON again.

We met them in Las Vegas last year opening for Sasquatch. They’re a good bunch of dudes with great tunes.”

CVW: What can you tell us about the new album?

Maldonado: “We’re currently recording new music at Doubletime Recording Studio in El Cajon, CA. We had a few songs left over from the Astral Travel sessions, so we’re taking a few of those choice cuts and putting them alongside some of these new tunes. If it all works out, we should have something ready by spring 2020.”

CVW: Your first album Astral Travel is killer! The songs “Mezzoa,” “Song of the Sun” and “Shoplifters of the World Unite,” knocked

BY NOE GUTIERREZ on here. Waldman & Co. really added a bevy of sounds to coincide with the hooky chorus. If I were to choose a song to be played on 93.7 KCLB by Todd ‘T.K.’ Killiam, this would be it.

Antidote – Here’s another rocker to be included in the live set. Waldman has an enduring song structure all his own. He is the conductor with a guitar strap who happens to belt out his own intimate lyrics.

Getting Lost Getting Found – The lyrics, “… middle aged, ain’t got so much to show for my time…a jack of all trades and a master of none…” take us ‘De Capo’ (from the beginning). A more hopeful ending and a reminder that we are all a work in progress. This is the tempo every album should close with. Like a great story, WAXY brings us back to the start.

Robert Owen: lyrics, vocals, guitar, keys, percussion Jeff Bowman: drums & percussion Damian Lauitero: bass & guitar Brett Stadler: lyrics Produced by: Robert Owen Mixed by: Steve Feldman Recorded at: Unit A Recording & Arts Upcoming SoCal Shows: Fri. 9/13 - Red Barn - Palm Desert, CA Sat. 9/14 - Cobraside Distribution - Glendale, CA waxy-music.com

MUSIC

me out. What was your favorite part of making that record?

Maldonado: “My favorite part of the recording process was challenging myself to play all the instruments. I wanted to see if I could pull it off. I’m proud of it. The writing is mostly biographical; stuff I’ve lived. It was a long process of writing, recording, packaging, artwork etc. It was a casual experience. I didn’t want to put any stress on myself, so I took my time.”

CVW: You’re based in San Diego. What’s the music scene like there?

Maldonado: “I was born and raised in San Diego and I love our music scene. There’s lots of cool bands. Everyone supports each other.

It’s a bitchin’ vibe in right now. We have bands like Red Wizard, Supersonic Dragon Wagon, Graveyard Witch, Nebula Drag and PSYLOW.” You can stream Astral Plane on Spotify and Jango or purchase the album on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play. mezzoamusic.com Preview Astral Travel at mezzoa.bandcamp. com Their video for Song of the Sun is part cosmic, part performance and features the multi-talents of the accomplished Maldonado.

Watch the Official Video for Song of the Sun: youtu.be/a_zmtF5sfwg Upcoming Shows: Fri. 9/13 @ 9 p.m. – Red Barn – Palm Desert, CA Sat. 9/14 @ 2 p.m. – Cobraside Distribution – Glendale, CA

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

CONSIDER THIS

W

hen you picture Dave Alvin as a kid (as many of us often do), is he playing with toy trucks, baseball bats and erector sets? Or is he holding a rare Skip James LP, studying the label before placing it gently on a Grundig Majestic Stereo console?

It’s certain Dave and his older brother Phil made room for other interests, but it feels like music has been the primary obsession since these guys learned to talk and walk.

Dave was born in 1955 and along with Phil, grew up in Downey, California. The LA suburb is best known as a center for aerospace production, as well as nurturing the musical aspirations of the Carpenters. The Alvin Brothers’ influences were a little less cleancut. Once an older cousin turned them on to the sounds of Blues, Folk, R&B, Country and Rockabilly, those became their touchstones.

Starting in their early teens, the brothers made weekly pilgrimages to legendary Los Angeles clubs, soaking performances from legendary Bluesmen like Lightnin’ Hopkins and the Rev. Gary Davis, and meeting personal icons like Muddy Waters and Big Joe Turner.

Even though both matriculated through college and Phil began teaching mathematics, their passion for music never diminished.

In 1979 Phil and Dave recruited drummer Bill Bateman and bassist John Bazz, and formed The Blasters. The L.A. club scene had recently been reinvigorated and the Downey four-piece took full advantage. Soon they were sharing stages with bands like X, Gun Club, the Screamers and Black Flag. They pioneered a Roots Rock sound that was seasoned with an extra jolt of Punk Rock energy. Phil was a natural ‘lead’ singer, but Dave emerged as an accomplished songwriter. He created indelible songs like “Marie, Marie” “Border Radio” and “American Music,” cementing their place in Los Angeles music history.

Their 1980 debut, American Music, released on Rollin’ Rock Records, mixed favorite cover songs and a brace of cutting originals. A year later, The Blasters signed to the iconic Punk label Slash. The band recorded three long-players and one EP between 1981 and 1985 before Dave left for, not necessarily greener, but different pastures. First, he took a busman’s holiday and formed the Knitters, a Country/Folk side project that involved ¾’s of the band X: John Doe, Exene Cervenka and D.J. Bonebrake. They released the mostly acoustic Poor Little Critter On The Road album, to rapturous reviews.

A year later, when guitarist Billy Zoom left X, Dave stepped in sharing duties with Tony Gilkyson for X’s sixth record, the somber See How We Are. Not long after, he embarked on a solo career. His debut, Romeo’s Escape, was released through Epic, ( the division of Columbia Records responsible for Michael Jackson and Europe) in 1987. But they had trouble marketing the record, actually instructing stores to file it under Country. It got kind of lost in the shuffle, but Dave got his groove back when he signed with Hightone Records.

The Oakland-based independent was formed in the mid ‘80s and concentrated on releasing American Roots music. Dave

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OF CALIFORNIA” (HIGHTONE RECORDS/CRAFT RECORDINGS) DAVE ALVIN “KING

recorded Blue Blvd and Museum Of Heart in quick succession but it was his 1994 King Of California album that proved to be his watershed record. Interstate City and Blackjack David arrived at two-year intervals and at the dawn of the 21st century, he recorded Public Domain. As his dad was losing his battle with a terminal illness, Dave would clear his mind by hiking and singing old Folk favorites. That became the impetus for the record, which won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album.

In the nearly 20 years since, Dave has continued to release albums at a steady clip.

Jumping to the Yep Roc label, 2002’s live Out In California begat Outtakes In California. A stream of studio albums followed: Ashgrove in 2004, West Of The West, (covering California musicians he’d long admired), in 2006. Three years later Dave Alvin And The Guilty Women surfaced, and Eleven Eleven, his 11th solo album arrived in 2011.

He has also found time to reunite occasionally with the Blasters, as well as record two albums with his brother Phil, covering seminal Blues and Folk classics. Last year he partnered with Texas troubadour Jimmie Dale Gilmore and recorded Downey To Lubbock, a warm collection of originals and covers.

Now, just in time for its 25th anniversary, Hightone and Craft Recordings have teamed up to release an expanded edition of King Of California on CD and, for the first time, vinyl.

The album opens with the expansive title track. Dusty acoustic riffs swirl around rippling mandolin notes and a mournful Weissenborn slide guitar sideswipes an urgent snare drum kick. The melody shares some musical DNA with Bob Dylan’s “Boots Of Spanish Leather,” but Dave’s lean lyrics echo the economical prose of John Steinbeck. A young man off to make his fortune in order to marry his true love, heads to the Golden State; “Over deserts hot and mountains cold, I traveled the Indian country, whispering your name under lonesome skies, remembering only my company.” Of course, it all goes awry, youthful self-assurance is met with brute force; “Now a dead man is laying at my feet, tried to steal my earnings, and I still recall your tender kiss, oh this bullet in my chest is burning/Oh my darling dear, please shed no tears, ‘cuz I think it’s fair to warn ya, that I’ll return to claim your hand as the King Of California.”

Two tracks here initially popped up on X albums. “Little Honey,” co-written with John Doe appeared on the last Billy Zoom-y X offering, “Ain’t Love Grand.” That version was a super-charged rave-up. Dave’s take is less brash, more conciliatory. The tempo slows and slippery acoustic licks sidewind around bottleneck electric guitar, fluttery organ notes, plaintive accordion and a thwacking beat. Dave doesn’t so much confront a wayward girlfriend, as try to understand her self-destructive impulses; “Little Honey, are you going out tonight, Little Honey won’t you please come over here? Little Honey, won’t you please bring me a beer/ Little Honey, I promise I won’t get mad, if you tell me about the boyfriend that you had.” The momentum gathers speed on the outro, matching Dave’s kind resolve.

“Fourth Of July,” which can be found on

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

X’s “See How We Are” album feels more ornate and upbeat. Shimmering acoustic guitar intertwines with piquant mandolin, chunky electric guitar, lush organ colors are bookended by a tick-tock rhythm. The buoyant melody nearly camouflages the deftly turned phrases sketching out a scenario of domestic discord; “She gives me her cheek, when I want her lips, and I don’t have the strength to go, on the lost side of town, in a dark apartment we gave up trying so long ago/On the stairs I smoke a cigarette alone, Mexican kids are shooting fireworks alone, Hey Baby, it’s the fourth of July.”

Dave recalibrates several songs he originally wrote for the Blasters. “Barn Burning” dates back to their 1980 debut. The original is a rollicking, jumped-up Blues number. Here, it’s a stripped-down Blues-shuffle accented by braided acoustic guitar, prickly mandolin, smoky harmonica, walking bass lines and a ricochet rhythm. Whereas Phil’s trademark vocal stylings felt fun-loving and yodel-riffic, Dave hunkers down, coiled and reptilian.

Although lyrics like “The rich get richer, the rich get richer, and the poor they just get poor…. cause there’s an evil in this land” are probably 40 years old, they resonate right now. The instrumentation on the break wigs out, hitting full-fledged Hootenanny proportions.

“Border Radio,” from the Blasters’ self-titled album was a stuttery, Big Easy-style Rocker.

Here, it’s recast as a pensive ballad. Originally, the lyrics felt like a tart homage to the illicit radio stations that cropped up in Mexico blasting 50,000 watts of American music back in the 1950s and ‘60s. As Spanish-flavored acoustic guitar lattices over Weissenborn slide and upright bass, Dave unspools a sad and rueful saga of a woman trying to track her wayward man via the airwaves; “She calls toll-free and requests an old song, something they used to know/She prays to herself that wherever he is, he’s listening to the Border Radio.”

Both “Bus Station” and “(I Won’t Be) Leaving” can be found on the band’s Non Fiction album. Back in the ‘80s, “Bus…” was a bit of a basher. Here, the action slows, gossamer accordion wraps around searing pedal steel over brisk percussion and willowy acoustic guitar. Front and center are Dave’s tender vocals and lyrics that chronicle A couple’s peripatetic life on the margins; “Bus Station, at sun-up, she reads the ticket in her hand, it’s a different name for the same old town and this this ain’t the life they planned/

And so he tries to tell her, it won’t be like the times before, it’s a different town and a brand new start and he’s gonna work a whole lot more.”

Meanwhile, “…..Leaving” downshifts from the propulsive Stax-Volt shang-a-lang of the original to the slow-cooked Memphis Soul stew of this rendition. Dave’s pledge of romantic fealty is shadowed by sweetly spiraling electric guitar.

The album is peppered with three taut covers; a gritty account of Whistlin’ Alex Moore’s “East Texas Blues,” a gutbucket take on Memphis Slim’s “Mother Earth” and a bare-bones adaptation of Tom Russell’s “Blue Wing.” Still, the real surprises on King Of California are the two duets.

Dave partners with Rosie Flores on “Goodbye Again,” and he also teams with Syd Straw on the George Jones chestnut, “What Am I Worth.” On former, co-written with Rosie, Dave’s affection for Tex-Mex and Norteno music shines through. Sun-dappled acoustic licks wash over high-strung arpeggios and honeyed accordion are anchored by a clipclop rhythm. The pair portray ex-lovers, locked in a romantic pas de deux. Ache mixes with regret, but they never come to terms.

The latter is more playful, Dave’s laconic low notes are juxtaposed by Syd’s crack, comic timing, (this woman needs her own weekly, televised musical variety hour, broadcast on every channel). It’s a rollicking good time as they trade verses over rumbling bass lines, slapdash percussion and bee-stung guitar. It’s a sweet little shimmy that showcases Dave’s deadpan charms and Syd’s insouciant verve.

This expanded edition closes out with three bonus tracks, “Riverbed Rag,” a wickedly intricate instrumental that highlights Dave and the band’s musical prowess. Dave and Katy Moffat Serve up a fairly faithful rendition of the traditional Folk favorite “The Cuckoo,” followed by a soulful interpretation of the Merle Haggard classic, “Kern River.”

As a lead singer, Dave really came into his own on this album. Much of that is due to the presence of sympathetic producer/ multi-instrumentalist Greg Liesz. He corralled a who’s-who of pickers and players to bring their vision to fruition. The line-up included James Intveld, Bob Glaub, Alan Deremo and Don Falzone on bass, Bobby Lloyd Hicks, James Cruce and Donald Lindley on drums. Jimmie Woods played harmonica, Skip Edwards tackled accordion and organ, Steve Van Gelder handled fiddle and David Jackson also played accordion. Greg Liesz played mandolin, Weissenborn slide, high strung and pedal steel. He and Dave switched between electric and acoustic guitar.

If you’re unfamiliar with Dave Alvin, this album serves as both a gateway drug and a crash course. If you’ve followed him forever, it’s a potent reminder of his rough-hewn grace. Either way, there’s no debating it, he’s earned the crown, he’s the King Of California.

BREAKING THE4TH WALL

THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY DEE JAE COX

September 12 to September 18, 2019

TRAVEL TIPS4U

DIANA KRALL

FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT & CASINO, INDIO CA

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY LYNNE TUCKER

TRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT TIPS 4 U

D

on’t Miss Out on the Diana Krall Tour 2019 at Fantasy Springs Resort & Casino Indio, CA on September 28,

D

esert Theatreworks kicked off their 2019/2020 season with, “The Savannah Sipping Society,” a surefire hit! Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten are an award-winning writing trio who have written comedy for TV, Off Broadway, and movies, and are best known for creating strong female roles. In the same vein as Golden Girls, they have penned a remarkable script that will have you chuckling long after the curtain comes down.

Anais Nin said, “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” No words ring truer than the friendships reflected in this heartfelt, touching, laugh-a-minute comedy. Four women, all in the midst of change, meet as strangers and build a foundation of friendship that will carry them through their transitions with love, laughter and a little bit of bourbon.

Meet Randa Covington, (Leanna Rodgers,) an ambitious Architect who believes in logic and thinks that if you work hard you’ll get the recognition you deserve, until she learns that she has just lost out on the partnership offer she expected to receive from her company, when it’s given to a 30 year old man. Dot Haigler (Shirley LeMaster,) has been a rudderless ship since losing her husband shortly after their retirement in Savannah and Marlafaye Mosley, (Adrina Reyes,) a fun, rambunctious Texas transplant is still reeling from a divorce after her 60-year-old husband was caught cheating on her with a 23 year-old. And then there’s Jinx Jenkins, (Rebecca Hertsgaard,) the life coach who has offered to help the women get their lives back on track, but in the process may just learn how to stay in one place long enough to find her own life path.

It’s pure southern magic and charm when these four women get together. They will have you wishing that you were joining them for happy hour on Randa’s veranda. Randa, Dot,

Marlafaye and Jinx, will make you snort-laugh and forget your troubles, while you laugh at theirs. You won’t be able to help cheering them on, as they navigate their lives in new directions and find everlasting friendship along the way.

This ensemble has the best chemistry you’ll find on any stage. Rodgers, LeMaster, Reyes and Hertsgaard could not be more perfectly cast. They were so honest and real that in their portrayal of these characters, that you will most likely be reminded of someone you know.

Karen Schmitt directs this comedy and hits all of the beats in staging multiple actors who are mostly moving around each other in a single set. The spotlight monologues were presented with a wonderful depth as they lent insight to each character through-out the show.

Bravo to Lance Phillips-Martinez’s set design. It was just the kind of set I would imagine, as these women sipped their cocktails and shared their heartwarming and hilarious stories. Whether dressing up or hanging out, Michelle Mendoza’s costumes were spot on for these southern ladies. And kudo’s to the actresses for their seamless costume changes.

I’m a tough critic when it comes to comedy.

I’m not a Three Stooges, ‘slap ‘em in the face with a pie,’ fan. But if I had to pick one experience to top my list of favorite things to do, it’s laughing consistently and without restraint at well written and smartly delivered witty lines, and this show tickles the funny bone in all the right places.

“The Savannah Sipping Society,” can be seen through September 22nd, at The Indio Performing Arts Center, located at 45175 Fargo Street, Indio, CA. For show and ticket info: dtworks.org Dee Jae Cox is a playwright, director and producer. She is the Cofounder and Artistic Director for The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project losangeleswomenstheatreproject.org palmspringstheatre.com

2019 Diana Krall is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million albums worldwide.

On December 11, 2009, Billboard magazine named her the second Jazz Artist of the Decade (2000–09), establishing her as one of the best-selling artists of her time.

Diana Krall is the only jazz singer to have had eight albums debuting at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums. To date, she has won three Grammy Awards and eight Juno Awards. She has also earned nine gold, three platinum, and seven multi-platinum albums.

Get your tickets today!

Think Travel & Entertainment and Enjoy the Experience!

Photos by Paul Hayashi

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

O

PET PLACE

ur pets are part of our family, and we want to do everything possible to help them live long and healthy lives. With good care, cats can live 20 years or longer. Small dogs can easily live for 15 years or more. Large breed dogs have a life span of 12 to 15 years. What are some of the things you can do to increase the time your treasured pet spends on this earth?

1. FEED A HIGH QUALITY DIET Pets that are fed a high quality pet food have shiny coats, healthy skin, and bright eyes. They have a stronger immune system, good intestinal health, better mental acuity, and healthier muscles and joints. Some pet owners are opting to make their own pet food. Healthy recipes are available on the internet by Googling “healthy pet food recipes”. With so many commercial brands to select from, you may want to consult with the staff at specialty pet stores. PetSmart and PetCo carry a wide variety of pet foods. Find a knowledgeable staff person to recommend some of the healthier brands.

Some dog owners are switching to “grain free” products which they believe lessens the risk of food allergies. Avoid the “cheap grocery store” brands.

2. WATCH YOU PET’S WEIGHT! Overweight cats and dogs are at higher risk of disease and health issues. Obesity puts a strain on joints, and causes severe

MEET CHARLIE This gorgeous Red Pointer/ Pit Bull Terrier mix waits for a home at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus shelter.

Charlie is just 10 months old. Come meet her at the shelter, 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, www. rcdas.org, (760) 343-3644

MEET RAFIKI This 2-yr-old boy promises to entertain you with his clown-like antics! Rafiki is energetic and playful. Rescued by www.ForeverMeow.org, he would prefer to be an only cat, a “Prince in your Palace”. (760) 335-6767

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HELP YOUR PETS LIVE LONGER

knee and back conditions. The risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other serious illnesses medical problems is increased for overweight animals. Don’t give in when Fluffy pleads for extra treats. Not all animals can monitor themselves when you “free feed”.

3. GET REGULAR VETERINARY CARE Ensure that your pets receive their annual vaccinations. An annual visit to your vet for a routine examination may uncover unknown health issues that need to be treated, and an early diagnosis will enhance your pet’s chance of recovery.

4. KEEP YOUR PET’S MOUTH CLEAN Oral health issues can cause your pet pain and make it difficult for him to eat.

Untreated oral issues can lead to heart and kidney disease. Teeth cleaning performed under sedation by your veterinarian, is an option if you can afford it. Meanwhile, pick up a toothpaste and brush kit made specially for cats or dogs and learn to brush their teeth. Seek advice on what dental treats to purchase.

5. DON’T LET YOUR PET ROAM FREE The life expectancy of cats is greatly reduced if they are allowed outside. Pets that roam the neighborhood are susceptible to many dangers including predators, theft, automobile accidents, exposure to poisons, and exposure to contagious disease.

BY JANET McAFEE glucosamine pills. The new medical regime gave Scheop a new lease on life, and he lived another 20 months. Facebook friends were saddened when in July, 2013, John posted, “I breathe, but I can’t catch my breath.

Schoep passed away yesterday”. There were remaining donated funds, so John and his vet set up the Scheop Legacy Foundation to help low income pet owners.

State of the art medical care helped extend Schoep’s life. The dog’s longevity is also a result of the loving bond that John and Schoep shared. Provide your pet with loving attention, and the bond you share will nurture his spirit and keep his body healthy.

Janetmcafee8@gmail.com

John Unger and his 19-yr-old shepherd mix dog, Schoep, became a Facebook sensation due to this lovely photo. Schoep loved his dips in Lake Superior, and the warmth and buoyancy of the water soothed his arthritis.

John asked his friend Hannah Stonehouse Hudson to take a photo as a tribute to the dog because he feared the end was near.

The photo of Schoep in John’s arms touched the hearts of animal lovers everywhere, and donations poured in to provide Schoep with expensive laser treatment and daily

T

THE VINO VOICE

hese days, we’ve got so many wines to choose from; the price is right and we can comfortably bring a bottle to the dinner table regularly.

And that’s all good news! As your friendly neighborhood wine steward at the Ralphs Market in Palm Springs, I’m noticing more and more of our customers contemplating their selections as if they were searching titles in a library.

As we desert dwellers begin to settle down in our beautiful surrounds, we’ll soon enjoy some of the best weather around. And why not take it all in with a nice glass of wine in hand. So please allow me to ramble on if you will, and mention some fine wine value selections that I think you will happy with.

First off, let me talk about Edna Valley Vineyard wines which have been on my radar lately. The more I sample their line-up, the more impressed I am with the winemaking and wines. No news to California travelers, but the Edna Valley wine region is simply gorgeous—both weather wise and with the lovely landscapes. Who wouldn’t wish to grow grapes in this area? The winery is just south of college town San Luis Obispo and a few miles inland from everyone’s favorite beach destination—surfer’s delight, Pismo Beach.

Although they’ve been producing wines for more than three decades, truthfully,

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

GREAT VALUE WINE PICKS

I’ve only recently been enjoying the Edna Valley portfolio. Three years ago, we were up in that area attending the International Chardonnay Symposium where the heavyweight Chard producers from all over were most impressively showing their stuff.

And of course, the area itself as a backdrop, bespoke of the quality of Chardonnay grown there; and through the grapevine back then, I’d heard that Edna Valley Vineyards were dedicated to produce the best Chardonnay in the land.

But I was slow on the take. Finally, after seeing all the Edna Valley varietals on the shelves, I decided to try them. The report is very good and even better considering that the wines sell for under $13 a bottle (and for you Ralphs’ customers and shoppers, when

BY RICK RIOZZA

buying six, mix or match, the 30% discount brings with wine’s prices to $7.99!)

Edna Valley’s Central Coast Collection includes Chardonnay, of course, and Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, and Rose.

What’s quite interesting and out of the usual fruit bomb norm is that of these wines seem to attract the consumer whose tastes have evolved toward more elegant, acid-driven wines. There’s no question that the fruit forward wines are popular and desirable.

But the yin & yang of the wine experience allows for the spectrum of wine to savor and enjoy. For the price, the Edna Valley wines are perfect for pairing with meals and sipping on their own.

As I’m writing this piece, I’m enjoying the light and refreshing Edna Valley Sauvignon Blanc which is showing fresh grapefruit, green apples, and kiwi with a clean mineral finish. As I’ve mentioned previously, Sauv blanc is such a vibrant wine that’s great to sip and write with. Also, I just heard my family is adding some of the Sauv to some Lime Jello for my b-day. I’ll let you know how that goes.

I’m still tasting through the Edna Valley portfolio, and I’ve recently had the Edna Valley Chardonnay. It surely reminds me of the Central Coast from where it’s from.

It opens with a refreshing lemon and citrus bouquet with a touch of light coconut and hints of apricots and vanilla. The palate is smooth and slightly tart, lemon, lime, light toast and oak. Its acidity is lively and the finish crisp; a nice Chard for any light dinner.

The Edna Valley Merlot may well be most complex Merlot for the price. It shows black cherry and mocha on the nose. It follows through the palate with red fruits such as strawberry and raspberry following with smoky notes with a nice savory herb and pepper finish. Acidity and structure make this a very fine Merlot for your meat dishes.

Well, okay!—looks like I’ve left just a little room for a couple of recommendations. I’ll probably have to continue this value write up in another up-coming column, so please stay in touch.

2016 Frei Brothers Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley. I was wonderfully surprised how well this wine tastes. Some of the Frei Brothers of old came across a little sweet. This Alexander Valley Cab is delicious and represents the famed valley admirably. It opens with aromas of cassis and crushed berries. On the palate, flavors of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and tobacco are framed by firm, velvety tannins and a long, elegant finish.

Sells for around $18 and is well worth it.

2018 Gato Negro Cabernet Sauvignon.

At only $5.99 a bottle, this is my go-to Cab for any meal where I haven’t planned on a wine and I need some vino stat! It’s a lowkey undercover wine. Many customers are scared away by the price. The customers who so dare, come back for more. It’s an easy Cab with all the classic flavors that satisfies an uncomplicated meal.

For a last thought, if you’re in the vicinity, I’d like to invite you all to come by and say hi. As mentioned, I’m at the Ralphs Market in Palm Springs on Sunrise and Ramon. The new season, both tourist-wise and otherwise is soon upon us and I’ll be spending some more time in my wine department. I always love chatting with you folks about wine and the times surrounding. And I’ll point out some of my current gems on the shelf. Hope to see you soon! Cheers!

Rick can be contacted at winespectrum@ aol.com

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

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THUR SEPTEMBER 12 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bobby Furgo & Co 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Mr. Goodboy 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Bill and Doug Duo 6:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 The Swells, BaLonely, KVR, YxV and more 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Kristi King Trio w/ Brian Dennigan and Leon Bisquera 6:30-10pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm THE CASCADE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-999-1995 Ladies Night w/ Bianca from 92.7 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian 6-9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Michael D’Angelo 6:309:30pm, DJ 9:30pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 MOD Squad Variety Show w/ Francesca Amari, Jeff Stewart and Wayne Abravanel 5:30-7:30pm, Lipstick hosted by Bella Da Ball 8pm, DJs Banks and Ax 10pm EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 Live Music 8-10pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766534 Barry Baughn Blues Band 5:30-8:30 HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760-656-3444 DJ 10pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm

HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Chris Lomeli 7pm HOTEL PASEO; PD; TBA 4-7pm LANDMARK LOUNGE; LQ; 760-289-6736 Lisa LaFaro 7pm LA QUINTA RESORT; LQ; 760-564-4111 Steppin Out 6-9pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Roxx 6:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Country Night w/ Patrick Howard Trampus Band 9pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 Finesse 6:30-10:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Nick Waterhouse 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Christine and the Lost Keys, Kylie Gary, Mario Quintero, The Sieve and the Saddle and more 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Keisha D 6:30-9:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 7:30pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 VooDoo Hustlers 7pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Matt Coleman 7pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke 8pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Trio Envy 5-8pm

FRI SEPTEMBER 13

12

19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 J and the Sundawgs 8pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Micha Schellhaas 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ noon poolside, Jetset w/ Nena Anderson 8pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Avenida 7-11pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Live Music 6:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Proper w/ DJs Zach Hayes & Paul Silva 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Parick Morris, Brian Dennigan and Leon Bisquera 6:30-10pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Cole Withers 8:30pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm THE CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Chase Martinez 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm

CASUELAS CAFÉ; PD; 760-568-0011 The Myx 7pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian 6-9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Michael D’Angelo 6:309:30pm, DJ 9:30pm COACHELLA BAR; Coachella; 760-5419034 Friday the 13th Metal Night w/ Call Upon Your Gods, Kill the Radio and The CMF’s 10pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 Viva Friday’s w/ DJ Banks 9pm DESERT FOX; PD; Lucas Corbajol 9:30pm, Hover 11pm DRINGK; RM; 760-888-0111 DJ 9pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760228-1199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766534 Gina Carey 5:30-8:30pm FRANK’S PLACE; IW; 760-797-8700 Rebecca Clark 6-9pm GADI’S BAR & GRILL; YV; 760-820-1213 TBA 8pm HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760-656-3444 Karaoke w/ KJ Marjovi 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Dali’s Llama, Supersonic Dragon Wagon and Herbert 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Keisha D 7pm HOTEL PASEO; PD; Michael Keeth 6-9pm HOT SPOT@SPOTLIGHT 29; Coachella; 760-775-5566 Nacho Bustillos 8:30pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Bob Allen 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Karaoke w/ Troy Michaels 7pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LANDMARK LOUNGE; LQ; 760-289-6736 Various Artists 7pm LA QUINTA BREWERY; PD; 760-200-2597 The Sieve and the Saddle 7pm LA QUINTA RESORT; LQ; 760-564-4111 Steppin Out 6-9pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Roxx 7:30pm LE FE WINE BAR; PD; 760-565-1430 TBA 9:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Remix 9pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 TBA 6:3011pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MIRAMONTE; IW; 760-341-2200 Trio Envy 5-9pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 Eevaan Tre 6-9pm, DJ Pedro Le Bass 9:30pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm O’CAINES; RM;760-202-3311 DJ Tone 10pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 That 80’s Band 9pm

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PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Ex Hex and Seth Bogart 9pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Scot Bruce Elvis: The Early Years 8pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Waxy, Avon and Mezzoa 9pm RENAISSANCE; PS; 760-322-6000 Live Music 6-9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Keeth 8-11pm ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Crimson Crow and Pretzel Logic (Steely Dan Tribute) 7:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8:30pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues Band 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Smooth Brothers 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SONOMA GRILLE@EMBASSY SUITES; PD; 760-340-6600 Denny Pezzin 6-9pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Krystofer Do 4:30-7pm, Mark Lee 8pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Off Da Cuff 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760-328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm THE VINE WINE BAR; PD; 760-341-9463 Vinny Berry 7-10pm WANG’S; PS;760-325-9264 DJ Galaxy 5pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-2300188 Tony Grandberry 6:30pm

SAT SEPTEMBER 14 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Off Da Cuff 8pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev and Bill 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Discoteca w/ DJ Victor Rodriguez noon poolside, and 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Steppin’ Out 7-11pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret on the Green Open Mic 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 High NRG w/ DJs Hymn, Femme A & Jakkz 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Horace Miller, Brian Denigan and Leon Basquera 6:30-10pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Red Hot Cholo Peppers 8:30pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey 6-10pm

CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CASUELAS CAFÉ; PD; 760-568-0011 The Myx 7pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian 6-9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Abie and Natasha 6:309:30pm, DJ 9:30pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 DJ Banks and Mr. Miami 9pm DRINGK; RM; 760-888-0111 DJ 9pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760228-1199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EN VIVO@SPOTLIGHT 29; Coachella; 760-775-5566 Los Angeles De La Banda 9:30pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766534 Jack Ruvio 5:30-8:30pm FRANK’S PLACE; IW; 760-797-8700 Rebecca Clark 6-9pm GADI’S BAR & GRILL; YV; 760-820-1213 TBA 8pm HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760-656-3444 DJ Ray 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 A.E.S. and guests 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 The Carmens 7pm HOT SPOT@SPOTLIGHT 29; Coachella; 760-775-5566 Nacho Bustillos 8:30pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Bob Allen 6pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LANDMARK LOUNGE; LQ; 760-289-6736 Eevaan Tre 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 PS Sound Company 1pm, Hot Roxx 8pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Remix 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MIRAMONTE; IW; 760-341-2200 Trio Envy 6-10pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 Derek Jordan Gregg 6-9pm, DJ Pedro Le Bass 9:30pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm O’CAINES; RM; 760-202-3311 DJ Tone 10pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Blackwater 9pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Sharon Van Etten and Sofia Bolt 8:45pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-3432115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Renee Olstead 8pm

September 12 to September 18, 2019

RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 TBA 9pm ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Glorious Bastards and Damage Inc. (Metallica Tribute) 7:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8:30pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues Band 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Smooth Brothers 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SONOMA GRILLE@EMBASSY SUITES; PD; 760-340-6600 Denny Pezzin 6-9pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Jessica Bridgeman 8pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Sun Dango 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760-328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm THE VINE WINE BAR; PD; 760-341-9463 Fun with Dick and Jane Band 7-10pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Live Music 6:30pm WESTIN; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-2300188 The Stanley Butler Band 6:30pm continue to page 18

13

September 12 to September 18, 2019

THEPAMPEREDPALATE

A

mple portions of New York style deli favorites, and welcoming friendly service, will make you feel at home at Sherman’s Deli & Bakery.

There are certain Coachella Valley restaurants that have stood the test of time, and make you feel at home as a side effect of their longevity, and Sherman’s Deli & Bakery rank high on the list. It’s actually more than a restaurant, it’s a Palm Springs institution.

Founder Sherman Harris opened the iconic restaurant back in 1963, and the legacy is lovingly sustained by his son Sam and daughter Janet.

There are two locations to choose from, the original spot in Palm Springs off Tahquitz Canyon Way, and another in Palm Desert on Country Club Drive. You will find both restaurants consistently packed, and you most likely will wait for a table, but it is well worth it. The Palm Springs location boasts a large patio, and spacious indoor seating, while their Palm Desert spot has a smaller, yet cozy dining space. Both restaurants have a large bakery case in the entrance, flaunting their massive and gorgeous cakes, and other baked goods such as Rugelach, and the famous Black & White cookies ( a must try!).

I am a creature of habit when it comes to dining at Sherman’s, ordering one of my all-time favorite sandwiches for lunch, the Reuben. It’s a classic, made with a choice corned beef, turkey or pastrami ( I go pastrami way), Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on grilled

14

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FEEL AT HOME AT SHERMAN’S

BY DENISE ORTUNO

rye bread, served with cottage fries and a side of house made thousand island, Yum!!

As with all the sandwiches at Sherman’s, the Reuben is a huge, and I never finish all it, making it a two day sandwich for me. Other fave’s that I enjoy there include the Latkas (fresh house made potato pancakes served with apple sauce and sour cream), Smoked Whitefish, Patty Melt, belly warming soups, and so much more.

Opened for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Sherman’s nourishes their guests throughout the day. Start out with one of their daily breakfast specials such as French Toast, Bacon & Eggs, or Eggs Benedict, Nova Lox, or Belgian Waffles among others. As sandwiches usually dominate for the lunch crowd, dinner at Sherman’s offers ( after 4pm) stick to your ribs comfort food classics, such as Stuffed Cabbage, Liver and Onions, Chicken in a Pot,

and Roasted Beef Brisket, plus a whole lot more.

There is something special about Sherman’s Deli & Bakery. Perhaps it’s their phenomenal food, or congenial service, or a combination of all it topped off with their local legendary status. Whatever it is, it will be sure to give you the warm and fuzzies, and make you feel right at home.

Sherman’s Deli & Bakery is located at 401 E. Tahquitz Canyon, Palm Springs 92262 and at 73-161 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert 92260 www.shemansdeli.com

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BREWTALITY

I

n 1999, I was a 21-year-old stock boy working the liquor department of the local Sav-On Drugs, where I was forced to listen to horrifically benign contemporary rock on repeat. Captive in a suburban pharmacy hell for eight hours a night, I had no choice but to buy cans of The Club cocktail drink (Long Island Iced Tea was a favorite), and shotgun them in the employee lounge just to break even from the psychological torture I was forced to endure. Christ almighty, to this day, I know for a fact that Shawn Mullins “Lullaby” can be used as a form of emotional waterboarding when you sandwich it between Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me,” and Tal Bachman’s “She’s So High” on an endless loop.

Once I started bringing my Discman to work and got to listen to music that didn’t make me want to lobotomize myself with whatever I could find in the housewares isle, it was then that I noticed that there were some new items for me to stock. One was called Smirnoff Ice, and the other was the subject of this week’s Brewtality, Mike’s Hard Lemonade.

That’s right, I’m pretty sure I singlehandedly paid the electric bill at that store with the amount of Mike’s Hard lemonade I bought, because I had the palate of an alcoholic 6-year old and I didn’t care which coworker knew it.

Diabetic coma inducing amounts of sugar?

Check.

A flavor even a gaggle of stew-bums would favor MD 20/20 three-to-one over? Double check.

September 12 to September 18, 2019

WHITE CLAW’S DADDY, PART III: MIKE’S HARD LEMONADE

I could have purchased stock in Mark Anthony Brands (parent company of Mike’s Hard Lemonade) with the amount of my paycheck I was giving back to Sav-On. The only thing that stopped me from being a Mike’s Hard Lemonade fan for life was the fact that it became the drink of choice among the decoys on NBC’s To Catch a Predator. You know, the lady-cops who baited pedophiles to the show with promises of statutory rape and Tollhouse cookies. I promptly switched to Miller Lite after learning that little factoid.

When Mike’s was introduced to Canada in 1996, the product was a premade vodka and lemonade drink. Same with Smirnoff Ice, a vodka and carbonated-water beverage with natural and artificial flavors added for taste.

Yet, when both products got their U.S debut in

1999, they became flavored malt beverages, and do you know why that is? Because of the archaic liquor laws that this country has suffered through since prohibition. Designed to hobble liquor sales and hypothetically slow alcohol consumption, the U.S government levies a very stiff tax on hard-alcohol. Wine coolers are taxed significantly less, and beer is taxed even less than that. With beer being less intoxicating than spirits or wine, law makers saw it as deserving of such a tax break.

Beer pays a tax of about a nickel per serving, grossing more profit to the producer. It’s for this reason that U.S adult-beverage makers will get away with using a malt base if they can; it’s just good for business.

Seeing the success that rival Smirnoff was having in 2010 with their Ice drink and the viral drinking game it spawned, Mark Anthony Brands was looking for the next big thing that would propel them to the top of their demographic’s popularity. While Mike’s sales had doubled between 2009 and 2017, they were still keeping an eye on forward trends.

Hard Seltzers had come onto the scene four years earlier, when badass entrepreneur Nick Shields created the SpikedSeltzer line of drinks. The concept took off, and in 2016 Shields was able to sell his brand to AB InBev for what I can only assume was (*Dr. Evil voice*) ONE BILLION DOLLARS. Mark Anthony Brands was monitoring all of this closely and released their own brand of hard seltzer the same year AB InBev acquired SpikedSeltzer.

Mark Anthony Brands named their product

BY AARON RAMSON White Claw.

Thought popular enough to spawn many rival brands, hard seltzer wasn’t a threat to the flavored malt beverage industry, let alone craft beer. By 2017, craft beer had not only jumped the shark, it jumped the entire flaccidfinned dolphin tank. Craft beer became a parody of itself, putting gimmick and audacity over tradition and substance, and attracting new fans who unfortunately but value on, you guessed it, gimmicks and audacity. That same year, Mike’s Hard Lemonade began a new marketing campaign aimed specifically at 25-29-year-old males. With their new 2017 slogan, “Drink on the Bright Side,” Mike’s shifted its marketing focus from celebrating occasions, to the emotions of happiness and fun that come with quaffing a 12-pack of the cloyingly sweet drink with your bros (or parents if they’re really into Mike’s, I don’t judge).

With commercials depicting Mike’s drinkers awash in a glow of happiness every time they opened a bottle, Mark Anthony Brands had cemented their strategy for gaining the young male millennial as a consumer. It wouldn’t be until the summer of 2019 that their White Claw brands of hard seltzer skyrocketed sales after becoming a meme on social media.

To be continued…

15

September 12 to September 18, 2019

SCREENERS

NOW SHOWING: IT CHAPTER TWO

The scare-fest continues with no respite for the frightened.

Sprawling, frustrating and ambitious, Chapter Two-- this is not a sequel -- of King’s story is essentially a rehash of Chapter One but this entry sticks to the main beats of the original story but set 27 years later when the horrific crimes begin again and the “losers club” reunites as adults to honor the blood oath they made as kids.

King’s 1,000-plus-page novel is much more than just a scary clown movie, but it certainly is that, thanks to Bill Skarsgard’s return as the demonic intra-dimensional entity Pennywise.

The movie works best when it focuses on the traumatic memories of childhood and the opportunities for healing as an adult.

Outstanding performances throughout make this long (almost 3 hours) and indulgent film tolerable and -- almost -- emotionally satisfying. Too much plot, too many frustrating

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No. 386

KING’S ICONIC CLOWN RETURNS!

twists and not enough psychological insight work against the bigger questions: Is the horror internal or external?

Production values are outstanding -especially the underground chambers and the creepy creatures that abound in the shadows of Derry.

That said, this may be the best ever film adaptation of a Stephen King novel. Though not nearly as disturbing as Chapter One, but still worth the price of admission to a cool theater on a blazing hot day. This is a big movie that delivers the delicious sense of dread that defines the best in horror cinema.

NEW BLU FOR THE HOME THEATER: THE DEAD DON’T DIE In the sleepy small town of Centerville, something is not quite right. The moon hangs low in the sky, the hours of daylight are becoming unpredictable and animals are beginning to exhibit unusual behavior. No one foresees the strangest and most dangerous repercussion that will soon start plaguing the town. The dead don’t die – they rise from their graves and savagely attack and feast on the living – and the good citizens of Centerville must now battle for their survival!

Directed by eclectic indie filmmaker Jim Jarmusch and featuring the greatest ensemble zombie cast ever disassembled in a comedy.

The latter includes Steve Buscemi, Danny Glover, Caleb Landry Jones, Rosie Perez, Iggy Pop, Sara Driver, Selena Gomez, Carol Kane, Austin Butler and Tom Waits!

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

This gripping, bloody and unexpectedly funny (in an ironic, self-referential way) is not like anything you’ve seen. I kept looking for a metatheme but was unable to find one. I’m guessing it’s something about materialism and the distractions of pop-culture trends and devices that can make zombies of us all.

Universal.

ANGEL OF MINE

AVENGERS: ENDGAME

The climactic conclusion to an unprecedented 11-year cinematic journey in which the Avengers take one final stand against Thanos delivered the biggest opening weekend in history (!) is now ready for home viewing in a state of the art 4K UHD edition A nice bundle of better-than-average extras on the eye-popping UHD transfer include: “Remembering Stan Lee,” “Setting the Tone: Casting Robert Downey Jr.,” “A Man out of Time: Creating Captain America,” “Black Widow: Whatever it Takes,” “The Russo Brothers: “Journey to Endgame,” “The Women of the MCU,” “Bro Thor,” “Six Deleted Scenes,” “Gag Reel,” “Visionary Intro (By Directors Joe and Anthony Russo),” Audio Commentary by the Russo Brothers and writers Chris Markus and Stephen McFeely).” Marvel/Disney.

16

and mostly satisfying action-thriller that weaves a taut tale of justice in the form of revenge. Lionsgate.

THE TRACKER Years ago, Aiden’s (Dolph Lundgren) wife and daughter were abducted and killed during a vacation. A decade later, a detective with new evidence calls Aiden to the scene of the crime – but Aiden arrives only to find the cop murdered and the police refusing to help.

Now, Aiden must use his skills as a sniper and warrior to unravel the vast conspiracy behind his loved ones’ murders in this effective

In Kim Ferrant’s psychological thriller, a remake of the 2008 French film L’empreinte de Lange, Noomi Rapace plays Lizzie whose life has been in an emotional shambles since the death of her little girl in a hospital fire. Now she’s involved in a very bitter custody with her ex-husband Mike (Luke Evans) over their young son Thomas. And she’s unable to resume a romantic life, as is graphically illustrated during a first date with an obviously interested man that goes disastrously wrong when they begin having sex.

It’s not rally surprising when the grieving Lizzie becomes fixated on Lola, the little sister of one of Thomas’ friends who she first spots at a birthday party. Lola bears an uncanny physical resemblance to her deceased daughter – so much so that Lizzie becomes convinced Lola is in fact the child she believed lost forever.

In an effort to get close to the little girl, Lizzie ingratiates herself with her parents, pretending to be interested in buying their home. The plan works for a while, but her obsession becomes so consuming that she essentially begins stalking the family until Lola’s very protective parents become frightened by Lizzie’s increasingly irrational behavior.

This is Rapace’s most powerful role since The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy.

Lionsgate. robin@coachellavalleyweekly.com

BOOK REVIEW

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"MORE THAN ENOUGH"

BY ELAINE WELTEROTH MEMOIR

-----------------------------------------------------

I

t is not always easy to follow your dreams.

It takes focus, hard work and perseverance.

For those of us who are white, it is difficult to understand how challenging the world can be for men and women of color. In Elaine Welteroth’s memoir, More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You are (No Matter What They Say) (Viking, 320 pages), she shares her wisdom and the joy of discovering your own voice and carving out your own path.

I knew nothing about Elaine Welteroth before I read this book and now I am a huge fan. Shame on me for not knowing because Welteroth is an award winning journalist; she was the youngest person ever appointed editor-in-chief (Teen Vogue); and in 2012 the first African American ever to hold the post of beauty and health director at the media giant Condé Nast.

But even more impressive was what she was able to accomplish in her tenure as editorin-chief. She helped change the conversation and empower young people to step up and be heard. And, through the “Teen Vogue Summit,” which was her brainchild, she created a forum where the most influential women in our country attended to speak and to listen.

Welteroth was born and raised in Sacramento, California. Her mother is black and her father is white. She and her family lived in

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STRENGTH AND BEAUTY

a suburban neighborhood where she was often the only black person. Her parents decided to raise their kids as “black” because that was how they would be seen by society.

Ambitious even as a child, Welteroth had a love of magazines and she saw herself as a “boss lady.” She worked hard to go to college (first in her family) and get the right internships that would move her into the career of her dreams.

Welteroth started at Ebony magazine – at the time it was no longer “sexy” and had lost its popularity. She went with the underdog to be apart of a team that would bring the black magazine back to the prestige and influence it once had. She was there when Michele Obama was on the cover before her husband became president.

Driven to create a great magazine experience, Welteroth worked hard to make her mark as a writer and fashion editor, moving all the way to the top – her dream had come true. And when Condé Nast offered even more, she realized there were other dreams to pursue.

This is an involving story of a young black girl making her way in the world. She shares her hopes and dreams, and her achievements, which she accomplished basically on her own.

She also shares her personal mistakes (mainly men whom she allowed to change the course of her life.) Welteroth had a loving and supportive family, good friends, and a belief that God had a plan. But, she persevered driven to do her very best.

Some of the most fascinating moments are

September 12 to September 18, 2019

BY HEIDI SIMMONS

when she challenges race issues with her black college friends and colleagues. She uses these opportunities to confront and inform how we grow to perceive and judge the world based on color. Even black people are exposed to a white brainwashing culture that informs them on hair and beauty.

Ultimately, Welteroth learns that the more she is her authentic self, the more affective she is. She is candid and shares her weaknesses with good humor. She presents her life as a way for others to stay motivated and to work hard to achieve personal goals. She’s honest, generous and kind with her personal story, but calls out

SAFETY TIPS

the pain she felt as black boys and men were shot to death without cause or justice being served. Something we should all be outraged by.

One of my favorite lines – a message her mother gave her before she left home: “When the world tells you to shrink, expand.”

Welteroth’s drive is phenomenal, and at one point she was working so hard, she was literally withering away. She was so skinny her doctor was concerned. So, Welteroth also learns to stop and enjoy life.

Welteroth’s message for young people and anyone seeking to achieve their dreams is to be fearless. “Do not wait. Do not wonder if you can. Do not ask permission… You are enough.

You were born enough. The world is waiting on you.”

As a woman of color and feminist, Welteroth is passionate about challenging the status quo and encourages everyone to do her or his best.

FROM THE CHIEFS CORNER

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

IT’S NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH!

S

eptember is National Preparedness Month and we certainly have no shortage of disasters to plan for.

Wildfires, earthquakes, flashfloods, active shooters you name it, we have them reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

This is a good time to highlight the resources available to help you and your loved ones stay as safe as possible. Disasters and emergencies can happen at any time, often without warning.

Natural hazards threaten thousands of lives and cause billions of dollars in damage every year throughout the nation.

September is National Preparedness Month, a time to highlight the resources available to help you and your loved ones stay as safe as possible.

This article features several science tools that are important for preparing for such events and helping guide decisions to minimize impacts.

VISIT USGS.GOV FOR THE FOLLOWING: Explore Your Hazards 1. See past, current and forecasted hazards along the coasts.

2. Get details on the latest geomagnetic disturbance event caused by solar activity.

3. Gather info on current flooding and past incidents at the USGS flood website.

4. Browse through statistics on water use in the United States.

5. See the Fire Danger Forecast, which is a dynamic map updated daily (at the top right, click “view legend for selected layer[s]” to see what the colors mean).

6. Current and past wildlife die-off information is available online—through an interactive map—to help inform disease prevention and mitigation strategies.

7. An estimate of how long it would take for someone to travel by foot out of a tsunamihazard zone can be calculated through the USGS

Pedestrian Evacuation Analyst.

8. See the latest earthquakes worldwide.

9. Learn of potential ground-shaking hazards from both natural and human-induced earthquakes.

10. If you live near a recent wildfire, see maps showing the potential for debris-flow activity.

Sign Up for Alerts 1. Sign up for free notification emails about volcanic activity happening at U.S. volcanoes.

2. See how high or low river levels are through USGS WaterWatch. Receive texts or emails when water levels in rivers and streams exceed certain thresholds through USGS WaterAlert. Or you can request data on-demand through USGS WaterNow. 3. Sign up to receive earthquake notices through the USGS Earthquake Notification System.

Wildfire The USGS provides tools and information before, during and after fire disasters to identify wildfire risks and reduce subsequent hazards.

This includes delivery to fire managers of upto-the minute maps and satellite imagery about current wildfire extent and behavior.

Earthquakes Earthquake hazards are a national threat, with nearly half of Americans exposed to potentially damaging earthquakes. The USGS has created and provides information and tools to support earthquake loss reduction for the country. The USGS and its partners are also building a prototype Earthquake Early Warning System for the West Coast of the U.S. called ShakeAlert. The system could provide vital seconds to minutes of warning before the arrival of strong shaking.

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

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CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 13

SUN SEPTEMBER 15

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ 12pm, poolside, and 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Sunday Brunch w/ Live Music 11am BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Candela/Latin Nights w/ DJ LF and Friends 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Patrice Morris 6:30-10pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 TBA 5-9pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888-999-1995 Latin Night w/ Nacho Bustillos and Quinto Menguante 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Paul Douglas 6-9pm COACHELLA VALLEY BREWING CO; TP; 760-343-5973 Acoustic Afternoon w/ Nick Hales, Yochee and Vinny Berry 3-5pm DESERT FOX; PD; Karaoke w/ Skot 9pm DRINGK; RM; 760-888-0111 Lisa and the Gents 2-6pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Comedy Night 8pm LANDMARK LOUNGE; LQ; 760-2896736 Scott Carter 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 PS Sound Company noon, Hot Roxx 6:30pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 TBA 6:3010:30pm

MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 3:307:30pm, Mikael Healy 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Sunday Jam Session 2-5pm, Finesse 7-11pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Sunday Jam Session 7pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 7:30pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 The Judy Show 7pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-7771601 Jack Ruvio 6-9pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Ron Pass 2pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Gina Carey 5-10pm WESTIN; RM; 760-328-5955 Lance Riebsomer 12-4pm poolside WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-2300188 David Ring and Les Falconer 6:30pm

MON SEPTEMBER 16 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Luminators 6pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Bill Marx 6:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Music by Touchtunes 7pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 DJ Banks and Mr. Miami 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-

2794 PS Sound Company 6:30pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 TBA 6:3010:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healey 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Finesse 7-11pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Open Mic 7pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-2300188 Elaine Woodward 7pm

TUE SEPTEMBER 17

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Shelley Yoelin Group 9:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 House Party Tuesdays w/ DJS LF, Ax and Tanner 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Chris Lomeli 6:30-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Lizann Warner 6:309:30pm, DJ 9:30pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760-656-3444 Karaoke w/ KJ Danny 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Drag Queen Bingo 9pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke 9pm

JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic 7pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 PS Sound Company 6:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Brad’s Pad 7pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 Finesse 6:30-10:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healey 8pm 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 Music Lounge 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-3432115 Game Night w/ Luke O 8pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Rose Mallett 6:30-9:30pm

WED SEPTEMBER 18

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Jam w/ Doug MacDonald & Friends 7pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Gamer Night w/ DJs 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Chris Lomeli 6:30-10pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Michael Keeth 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE;

PD; 760-200-1768 Barry Minniefield 6:309:30pm, DJ 9:30pm COACHELLA VALLEY BREWING CO; TP; 760-343-5973 Uncle Ben’s Open Mic 6-8pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 Issa Wednesday Humpday w/ DJ Ax 9pm DESERT FOX; PD; Kelly Hafner 9:30pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760228-1199 Karaoke 7:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Open Mic Hosted by Josh Heinz 8pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Karaoke 7:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Open Mic 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Roxx 6:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Latin Night 7pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 Finesse 6:30-10:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healey 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; 760327-4080 Roger & Friends 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Michael Holmes and Keisha D 6:309:30pm

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HADDON LIBBY

B

ased on data provided by the National Car Maker and Dealers Associations through July, the Ford F-series trucks remained the top selling vehicle in the US with year-to-date sales of 517,000 units, 1% behind last year. The Ram pick-up passed Chevy’s Silverado with an impressive 29% increase in sales from last year to 352,000 units (vs.

300,000 for the Silverado).

The rest of the top 10 remained the same although the Nissan Rogue fell two spots to seventh with 201,000 in sales. In fourth was the Toyota RAV4 followed by the Toyota Camry, Nissan Rogue, Chevy’s Equinox, Honda’s Civic and the Toyota Corolla.

The F-series trucks helped Ford maintain its place as the most popular carmaker in the United States with 1.36 million units sold through July, a 3% decline from last year. Toyota held its second place position with 1.2 million units sold followed by Honda with 1.1 million units.

For all of Musk’s antics, Tesla was the fastest growing carmaker in the United States with units sold up 52% to 100,000 units. Amongst the top twenty car makers, Mazda put up the weakest results with sales down 14% to 161,000 units. Only Fiat put up worse sale numbers, down 38% to a paltry 5,942 units.

Amongst the cars that will end production

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AMERICA’S FAVORITE CARS

during 2020, none is more iconic than the Volkswagen Beetle. Reintroduced to car buyers in 1998, Volkswagen has been seeing sales drop and with greater consumer appetite for four-door all-wheel drive crossover SUVs. That said, Volkswagen is also cutting its Golf-based SportWagen, a four-door crossover and its off road Alltrack.

If you have rented a car over the last few decades, you most certainly have driven a Ford Taurus. This full-sized four-door has seen sales decline consistently in recent years will be

DALE GRIBOW ON THE LAW

D

ending production. The Chevy Volt and Cruze, the sub-compact Ford Fiesta and a number of full-sized Cadillacs are also slated to make 2020 their last year of production.

The soon-to-be-no-more Chevy Cruze saw sales fall by 51% to 44,500 units. In a bit of a surprise, Toyota Prius sales dropped 37% meaning that fewer than 30,000 Priuses were sold through July. Other vehicles with disappointing sales included the Jeep Renegade, Nissan Murano and the Ford Explorer.

While it sounds more like the name of a soccer team and a vehicle, Nissan Kicks is the fastest growing model in the United States.

Other models with more than 100% growth include the Subaru Ascent, the Hyundai Kona and Tesla Model 3. Other fast-growing models include the GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Jetta.

In China, the top selling car through July was the Chinese-designed Volkswagen Lavida at 287,000 units and Nissan Sylphy (like a Sentra) at 237,200 units. The Haval H6 from China’s Great Wall Motors is third followed by the Toyota Corolla and the Wuling Hongguang round out the top five. The Wuling vehicle is a joint venture between Shanghai Motors and General Motors-India.

Globally, emissions-cheat Volkswagen sold 5 million cars in the first half of 2019 which

represents a 12% market share but is down 7% from 2018. Toyota is second with an 11.4% market share, up 1.6%. Coming in third was scandal-plagued Renault-Nissan with an 11% market share, down 7% like Volkswagen.

Guess which car on average pays the lowest insurance rates? According to Insure.com, that distinction goes to Honda’s Odyssey Minivan with an average rate of $1,298.

Which car is the most expensive to insure?

It’s Nissan’s GT-R roadster at $2,941 per year for this $125,000 racer. Tesla’s Model S costs about $65,000 and has a cost of insurance akin to a much more expensive car at $3,300 annually.

Haddon Libby is the Founder and Managing Partner of Winslow Drake Investment Management. For more information, please visit WinslowDrake.com or email HLibby@ WinslowDrake.com.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

DUI CHECKPOINTS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW id you encounter a Labor Day Weekend Checkpoint? To address holiday drinking, Checkpoints are implemented to meet the increased number of people who will be drinking and driving.....A word of advice, Use a Taxi, Uber or Lyft. They are a lot cheaper than having to call me the next morning.

Checkpoints: What You Need To Know!

1. Sobriety checkpoints are a technique by which law enforcement officials evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment at specific points on the roadway.

2. Vehicles are stopped in a specific sequence. The average stop time is about the length of a cycle at a stoplight.

3. Checkpoints are typically publicized in advance.

4. The primary goal of a sobriety checkpoint is not to arrest people, but rather to deter people from committing a DUI. The publicity from checkpoints reminds people who drink that drinking and driving don’t mix.

5. Sobriety checkpoints help stop drunk drivers who would likely remain under the radar.

6. Checkpoints reduce drunk driving crashes and fatalities by 20% on average.

7. Research shows that for every dollar invested in checkpoints, communities save between $6 and $23 in costs from alcoholrelated crashes.

8. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes to society is over $100 billion.

9. Research shows that checkpoints, if done correctly, can be effective with as few as three to five officers.

DUI sobriety checkpoints are legal and not

September 12 to September 18, 2019

a 4th Amendment illegal search and seizure violation... if they comply with all the regulatory rules. Turning onto a side street or turning around before passing through a checkpoint is generally not against the law. Turning around should not, in and of itself, give the police a reasonable suspicion required to make a DUI stop. However, the officer may be able to stop you if he observes any driving that would be sufficient for reasonable suspicion. Thus slow or erratic driving, straddling the line or making an illegal turn could attract his attention and he then could stop your car.

In the Coachella Valley, few realize we have more DUI FATALITIES...per capita, than anywhere else in California. That makes DUI Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols essential to save lives...... the drivers and ours. A saturation patrol is a large number of law enforcement officers making their presence known by conducting stops, targeting inebriated, distracted, aggressive and speeding drivers, as well as those with seatbelt or cell phone violations....the whole nine yards of traffic violations.

Drivers offered DUI tests should be cooperative and politely say their attorney is Dale Gribow who advised them not to talk without his permission. If the officer would please call Dale at 760-837-7500 they would be happy to talk. Explain “they have been advised these Field Sobriety Tests (FST) and breath tests at the scene are optional. If that is correct Officer, then I elect not to take them. Explain you are happy to cooperate with law enforcement and will take a blood test.”

To sum up, with a DUI stop the Officer often asks the driver to exit the vehicle & asks

questions. Most drivers (and lawyers) don’t know the Breath Test and FST at the scene are OPTIONAL. These tests can only hurt their case.

It is arguable that taking a Blood Test at the police station or hospital is preferable.

Many believe with the passage of time the reading will decrease by the time the blood is drawn........unless the driver just chugged a drink and the alcohol had not yet gotten into the blood system. The average driver is not aware that it takes about an hour for the alcohol to go into your blood stream and an hour to come out.........but now YOU DO! Remember: Silence is Golden and Handcuffs are Silver so DON’T TALK to POLICE without your lawyer’s permission.

Though often referred to as a DUI criminal defense lawyer, I choose to not view my DUI clients as “criminals”. I prefer to view them, and more importantly to treat them, as good, honest people that have found themselves in a scary and unfortunate situation after screwing up.

I look upon my job as protecting the Constitutional Rights of every American who drinks, drives and gets arrested for a DUI or has an ACCIDENT. I do however “Change Hats” when I SUE Drunk Drivers for damages to my Injured or Deceased (Wrongful Death) clients.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ARTICLE? CONTACT DALE GRIBOW 760-837-7500/ dale@ dalegribowlaw.com, DALE GRIBOW REPRESENTING THE INJURED AND CRIMINALLY ACCUSED “TOP LAWYER” - California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-20 “TOP LAWYER” - Inland Empire Magazine 2016- 2019 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

Week of September 12

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Hi, I’m your sales representative for UnTherapy, a free program designed to provide healing strategies for people who are trying too hard. Forgive me for being blunt, but I think you could benefit from our services. I don’t have space here to reveal all the secrets of UnTherapy, but here’s an essential hint: every now and then the smartest way to outwit a problem is to stop worrying, let it alone, and allow it to solve itself.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): People in Northeast India weave long, strong suspension bridges out of the living roots of fig trees. The structures can measure up to 150 feet and bear the weight of hundreds of people. In accordance with astrological omens, let’s make these marvels your metaphors of power for the coming weeks. To stimulate your meditations, ask yourself the following questions.

1. How can you harness nature to help you to get where you need to go? 2. How might you transform instinctual energy so that it better serves your practical needs? 3. How could you channel wildness so that it becomes eminently useful to you?

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If you climb to the top of Mt. Everest, you’re standing on land that was once on the floor of a shallow tropical sea. Fourhundred-million-year-old fossils of marine life still abide there in the rock. Over the course of eons, through the magic of plate tectonics, that low flat land got folded and pushed upwards more than five miles. I suspect you Geminis will have the power to accomplish a less spectacular but still amazing transformation during the next ten months. To get started, identify what you would like that transformation to be.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In 1996, when Gary Kasparov was rated the world’s best chess player, he engaged in a series of matches with a chessplaying computer named Deep Blue. Early on in the first game, Deep Blue tried a move that confused Kasparov. Rattled, he began to wonder if the machine was smarter than him. Ultimately, his play suffered and he lost the game. Later it was revealed that Deep Blue’s puzzling move was the result of a bug in its code. I’ll encourage you to cultivate a benevolent bug in your own code during the coming weeks, Cancerian. I bet it will be the key to you scoring a tricky victory.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): American hero Harriet Tubman escaped slavery as a young woman. She ran away from the wealthy “master” who claimed to “own” her, and reached sanctuary. But rather than simply enjoy her freedom, she dedicated herself to liberating other slaves. Nineteen times she returned to enemy territory and risked her life, ultimately leading 300 people out of hellish captivity. Later she served as a scout, spy, and nurse in the Union Army during the Civil War, where her actions saved another 700 people. In 1874, the U.S. Congress considered but then ultimately rejected a bill to pay her $2,000 for her numerous courageous acts. Don’t you dare be like Congress in the coming weeks, Leo. It’s crucial that you give tangible acknowledgment and practical rewards to those who have helped, guided, and supported you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Novelist Wallace Stegner wrote, “Some are born in their place, some find it, some realize after long searching that the place they left is the one they have been searching for.” I hope that in the last nine months, Virgo, you have resolved which of those three options is true for you. I also trust that you have been taking the necessary actions to claim and own that special place—to acknowledge it and treasure it as the power spot where you feel most at home in the world. If you have not yet fully finished what I’m describing here, do it now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Earth’s species are going extinct at a rate unmatched since the dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago. Among the creatures on the verge of being lost forever are birds like the cryptic treehunter and spix’s macaw, as well as the northern white rhino and the vaquita,

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© Copyright 2019 Rob Brezsny

a type of porpoise. So why don’t we clone the last few individuals of those beleaguered species? Here are the answers. 1. Cloned animals typically aren’t healthy. 2. A species needs a sizable population to retain genetic diversity; a few individuals aren’t sufficient. 3. Humans have decimated the homes of the threatened species, making it hard for them to thrive. Conclusion: Cloning is an inadequate stopgap action. Is there a better way to address the problem? Yes: by preserving the habitats of wild creatures. Inspired by this principle, Libra, I ask you to avoid trying halfway fixes for the dilemmas in your personal sphere. Summon full measures that can really work.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Though patched together and incomplete, the 2,200-year-old marble sculpture known as the Winged Victory of Samothrace is prominently displayed at Paris’s Louvre Museum. It’s a glorious depiction of Nike, the winged goddess of victory, and is regarded as one of ancient Greece’s great masterpieces. For hundreds of years it was missing. Then in 1863, an archaeologist discovered it, although it was broken into more than a hundred pieces. Eventually, it was rebuilt, and much of its beauty was resurrected. I see the coming weeks as a time when you, too, could recover the fragments of an old treasure and begin reassembling it to make a pretty good restoration.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I’ve learned that I must find positive outlets for anger or it will destroy me,” said actor Sidney Poitier. That can be a dynamic meditation for you during the next three weeks. I think you will derive substantial power from putting it into action. If you’re ingenious and diligent about finding those positive outlets, your anger will generate constructive and transformative results.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1905, at the age of 30, Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote the novel Anne of Green Gables. It was a tale about an orphan girl growing up on Prince Edward Island. She sent the manuscript to several publishers, all of whom rejected it. Discouraged, she put it away in a hatbox and stored it in a closet. But two years later, her ambitions reignited when she re-read the story.

Again she mailed it to prospective publishers, and this time one liked it enough to turn it into a book.

It soon became a bestseller. Since then it has sold over 50 million copies and been translated into 36 languages. I figure you Capricorns are at a point in your own unfolding that’s equivalent to where Anne was shortly before she rediscovered the manuscript she’d put away in the hatbox.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Toxorhynchites are species of large mosquitoes that don’t buzz around our heads while we’re trying to sleep and will never bite our skin or suck our blood. In fact, they’re our benefactors. Their larvae feast on the larvae of the mosquitoes that are bothersome to us. In accordance with astrological omens, I propose that you be alert for a metaphorically comparable influence in your own life: a helper or ally that might be in disguise or may just superficially seem to be like an adversary.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Audre Lord identified herself as a black writer, lesbian, librarian, mother, feminist, civil rights activist, and many other descriptors. But as ardent as she was in working for the political causes she was passionate about, she didn’t want to be pigeonholed in a single identity.

One of her central teachings was to celebrate all the different parts of herself. “Only by learning to live in harmony with your contradictions can you keep it all afloat,” she testified. These approaches should be especially fun and extra meaningful for you in the coming weeks, Pisces. I encourage you to throw a big Unity Party for all the different people you are.

Homework: “We have been raised to fear the yes within ourselves, our deepest cravings,” wrote Audre Lourde. True for you? FreeWillAstrology. com.

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

CANNABIS CORNER

BY MICHELLE ANN RIZZIO

IS THIS DISPENSARY LEGIT?

A

s cannabis has taken over national news in the recent weeks due to vape pens causing illnesses in the respiratory system and even death, a major piece of education is missing from the headlines. I’ve been coming to understand that many consumers of cannabis are unaware of how to discern the difference between a legal and illegal cannabis shop, especially in California counties were regulated cannabis dispensaries are banned. Many reports are urging and encouraging cannabis consumers in the legal states to solely purchase cannabis from legal dispensaries. Unfortunately the same articles are not educating cannabis consumers about the difference between illicit and legal shops. How is a cannabis consumer supposed to make the assessment that a shop is legal simply from walking in?

One immediate difference between illicit and legal cannabis shops is that you will always be checked in at the front desk where you will be asked for your ID. Some recreational and medical dispensaries also require you to fill out a form upon your first time of visiting that dispensary. Another sign is to look on the walls to see if there are any visible signs from the Bureau of Cannabis Control in California.

If you walk into a dispensary and you are not checked in and you see no visible validation of the business’ license with the Bureau of Cannabis Control it never hurts to ask the person that is tending to you if the dispensary is licensed. A licensed dispensary staff should be aware and able to answer and show you their BCC validation.

Another way to discern if you are in a licensed or unlicensed shop is how the cannabis is packaged on the shelf. If you are in an illicit shop, cannabis typically is loose in large jars and being handled by hand by a customer service representative. This is an absolute no-no in the legal market of cannabis in California. All cannabis flower is required to be in regulated child resistant packaging with total cannabinoid and THC percentages. A sticker with a cannabis leaf inside of a triangle with the initials CA under it, are also required to be on cannabis packaging. Your cannabis flower jar should also have a seal on it. This ensures that it is indeed an un-opened and un-tampered with cannabis flower product.

When purchasing vape carts and edibles they should be in prepackaged containers as well. The state of California symbol should also be visible. In California Edibles are not allowed to be over 100 mg per package. Edibles are required to be in doses of five or 10 mg and

some options offer 2.5 mg per dose. If you are purchasing any edibles that are over 100 mg you are in an illicit shop. In the case of purchasing vape pens, which have been storming the news with associated health risks, it is crucial to purchase from well-known brands on the market.

Another way at the end of your transaction to discern if your cannabis shop is regulated or unregulated is if your balance is including taxes. This is a little bit difficult to discern and should not be used as a rule of thumb as some licensed shops include taxes in their price so be sure to ask your bud tender if taxes are included or applied at the end of the sale. If your bud tender lets you know that there are no taxes you are in an illicit shop.

It is really important to discern whether or not you are patronizing an illicit or legal cannabis dispensary. With reports of illnesses popping up it is crucial to educate yourself about how to know if you are inside of a legal dispensary. Beyond health illnesses that can be associated with purchasing products from an unregulated dispensary it is also important to be aware that as a consumer of an unlicensed shop you can be apprehended if law enforcement shuts down the dispensary.

In the Coachella Valley most dispensaries listed on Weedmaps are compliant and state regulated with Bureau of Cannabis Control licenses. Unfortunately, the delivery dispensary market in the Coachella valley is still widely unregulated and Weedmaps allows these illicit delivery dispensaries to list on their website.

Be vigilant when purchasing from delivery dispensaries if unassociated with a licensed brick and mortar shop that you are familiar with. These delivery dispensaries can indeed be selling unregulated and potentially harmful cannabis products including cannabis flower that can be contaminated with powdery mildew, harsh pesticides, heavy metals, and more or, Vape carts that contain propylene glycol or vitamin E or even worse additives and fillers. The current national news regarding vape pens being linked to respiratory issues is not a cannabis problem. This is a problem that comes with prohibition. If you happen to read this and are currently living in a banned county in the state of California please write your representatives. If you know friends and family who live in other states that are currently not regulated again have them write their representatives. The only way that we will avoid these types of situations in the future is to have a regulated legal national cannabis market. Contact your legislators.

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

CANNABIS CORNER

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY MICHELLE ANN RIZZIO

OMURA: A NEW VAPORIZER CARTRIDGE

H

ave distillate cartridges been disappointing you? Are you finding yourself bored with only being able to vape oils on the go? Do you miss the full flavor of flower and the effect of the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes stimulating your endocannabinoid system?

Enter the Omura.

This handheld dry herb vaporizer allows customers to vape prepackaged compostable dry herb cartridges for a 3 minute session.

Each session goes through a heatwave of 120 degrees to 400 degrees, allowing the users to have the opportunity to experience not just the release of THC but also the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes. The battery lasts for 7 sessions, so it is perfect as you travel throughout your day. In my experience with the Series 1 unit, it is very similar to having a volcano vaporizer on the go. Cartridges come in packs of 12, weighing out to 1.5g per pack and .125g per cartridge. These cartridges are prepacked with the strain specific flower you purchase, and are compatible with Omura devices.

As a cannabis vapor enthusiast, learning about this product had me intrigued. I currently have a Da Vinci Ascent that I splurged on 2 years ago and absolutely have enjoyed the device. Except for cleaning it!

In comparison to the Da Vinci, I found that

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the Omura device allows me to have even more discreet sessions through its compact, light, and simple design. Not to mention the cartridges can be easily composted with no clean up required (yes!). The battery, which retails at $100, utilizes a proprietary vaporizing technique referred to as “heat not burn”. This insures that the device does exactly that and does not combust the prepackaged flower. Compared to other whole flower vaporizers on the market, the Omura boasts a very reasonable price point for its device.

Emphasizing environmental concerns, the Omura cartridges are indeed biodegradable and can be composted. This serves a huge factor considering how many non-recyclable cartridges from your vape oil use will be saved from their demise in the landfill. This is serves to solve a major concern for many critics of the current state of packaging in the cannabis industry.

Currently the market offers prefilled cartridges of indica, sativa, hybrid, and CBD flower from brands like Cru and Henry’s Original. The Omura can be found currently at The Coughy Shop in Desert Hot Springs.

Interested to learn more? Ask your favorite dispensary to carry the Omura.

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

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O R D E R D E L I V E RY F R O M L E A F E L PA S E O.CO M 760.568.LEAF • Main | 760.568.L2GO • Delivery *Not valid with any other promotions. Offer expires 09/30/19. Must be 21 or over. Use Responsibly. C10-0000482-LIC

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September 12 to September 18, 2019

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