Coachella Valley Weekly - September 28 to October 4, 2017 Vol. 6 No. 28

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coachellavalleyweekly.com • September 28 to October 4, 2017 Vol. 6 No. 28

Fishbone Los Lobos Rebelution The Green Lukas Nelson June Hill’s Table pg5

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

EMPIRE MUSIC VENTURES PRESENTS DESERT OASIS MUSIC FESTIVAL OCTOBER 7TH & 8TH, 2017 AT EMPIRE POLO FIELDS

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 Domingo Winstead Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Denise Ortuno Neil, Morgan James, Avery Wood, Tricia Witkower Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Noe Gutierrez, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Janet McAfee, Haddon Libby, Dale Gribow, Laura Hunt Little, Jason Hall, Raymond Bill, Sam DiGiovanna, Rob Brezny, Sunny Simon, Dr. Peter Kadile, Bruce Cathcart, Flint Wheeler, Dee Jae Cox, Patte Purcell, Rebecca Pikus, Esther Sanchez, Angela Romeo, Jenny Wallis Photographers Robert Chance, Chris Miller, Esther Sanchez, Laura Hunt Little, Lani Garfield, Scott Pam, George Duchannes Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS Desert Oasis Music Festival................ 3 Fishbone............................................... 5 Los Lobos ............................................. 6 Rebelution............................................ 7 The Green............................................. 7 Desert Oasis Local Artists................... 8 Cosa Salvaje Tequilla........................... 8 Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real. 9 Consider This - Filthy Friends............ 10 Art Scene - Valerie Davis................... 11 Pet Place............................................. 12 The Vino Voice ................................... 13 Club Crawler Nightlife....................... 14 Pampered Palate- June Hill's Table.. 16 Screeners ........................................... 18 Book Review ...................................... 19

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esert Oasis Music Festival will take place on October 7th & 8th, 2017 at the Empire Polo fields in Indio, CA, and is presented by Empire Music Ventures, the same company that produces local favorite Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience. This brand new 2 day festival will feature 24 live bands, on site camping and a food line up that rivals the best festivals in the world. Festival headliners include Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Rebelution along with Steel Pulse, J Boog, and others, giving this initial program a solid reggae vibe. E-40, Reel Big Fish and Los Lobos expand the sonic selection into hip hop, ska and Latin rock genres, offering fans diversity and an opportunity to experience some amazing bands. “Desert Oasis Music Festival is not genre specific. We do have a solid reggae lineup in our inaugural year, but we want to keep the festival’s line up diversified with other types of music,” said Alex Haagen, IV, Producer of Desert Oasis Music Festival and CEO of Empire Music Ventures. Truly an oasis in the desert, Empire Polo Club is a world-class festival destination. The palm tree-lined grass polo fields, refreshing fountains, unique statuary and lush landscaping, coupled with ample parking and camping areas make it an ideal venue for a festival in October. There will also be four, large art installations created by local artists placed throughout the festival venue. The Flowbox performance troupe will dazzle the crowd with their stilt-walking juggling and LED performance art. A Desert Oasis Mobile App will be released on Friday, Sept. 29th on the Desert Oasis Website. Guests can download it from the desertoasismusicfestival.com. The official 2017 Desert Oasis Music Festival app is a great resource for festival information. Check out the Desert Oasis lineup, discover new artists, explore Desert Oasis with festival maps and more. The app contains all information needed and offers features to enhance your festival experience.

During a recent interview with Haagen IV he shared the difference between the RWB festival and Desert Oasis. “We’re dialing in last minute details as we speak. This is the first time we have done a big festival like this and we’ve really stepped it up in every way from RWB. I think everyone is going to be surprised. RWB is almost like 2 different events; part of it’s a beer and wine tasting event and then there’s the music element of it. We’re hoping that this festival will grow into a larger scale event in the future.” I asked what inspired him to do Desert Oasis and what made him decide to have it be heavily reggae. “We’ve been toying with having a reggae style event for a couple years now and after the fantastic job that Goldenvoice did last year with Desert Trip and knowing that they weren’t going to be doing it this year we wanted to provide a festival for everyone to enjoy this fall,” shared Haagen IV. “While it is heavy on reggae it’s still a multi-genre event that has a little bit of hip hop and Latin in there as well. So we’re blending those 3 genres together and those seem to be our niche market at the Date Shed.” I asked if he booked the bands or if Kristen Reinhagen did and how they chose the several local acts. “Kristen and I collaborate and bounce ideas off each other and she’s the Booker for Date Shed and RWB and I rely on her heavily to give good recommendations for the local bands as well, and she hasn’t let me down yet, so it’s working out really well.” I was curious as to whether Desert Oasis will become an annual event. “I don’t have a crystal ball so I can’t say. If it’s received well this year then perhaps we will do it again. No matter how well it does I’m going to want it to have done better,” laughed Haagen IV. “I think we will change the genres up for future festivals. I mean for this one we got all the reggae heavy hitters so where do you go from there? It’s almost like the

BY TRACY DIETLIN

Big 4 Metal Show… you can’t have a big metal show with bands 5 through 8. Once you already have done the top bands in a genre you’ve done it. I already have some ideas for next year, but I don’t want to spill anything right now. But I can see where the next one could be more hip hop oriented or even Latin themed. I think there’s a spot for both those genres to be represented.” I asked him what his favorite genre of music is and he shared that it’s all over the board from Beatles to Zeppelin to Avett Brothers to Foo Fighters to Johnny Cash and a lot of Alternative bands from Coachella. Asked who he is most looking forward to seeing perform at the festival he replied, “I’m really looking forward to seeing Rebelution and Murs and E-40. I’ve seen Damian Marley and he’s fantastic live.” Haagen IV also shared a few things that he’s excited for us to experience at Desert Oasis Festival. “We’re trying to bring in some specialty food and craft cocktails at the bar. We’re building a bar around the lake like nobody has seen before where we’re going to have a rum tiki bar. This is an area that at other festivals like Coachella it is cornered off as a backstage area, so this will be the first time that the public will really get to experience the vibe there and I think it’s really going to blow people’s minds.” Haagen said there’s a lot of work and effort that goes into doing a festival of this size and it does have its challenges. “Logistics and lots of details are what have to be taken care of, but I have a really great team so it’s going to be great! continue to page 5

Safety Tips ..........................................19 Haddon Libby.................................... 21 Dale Gribow....................................... 21 Sports Scene...................................... 22 Breaking The 4th Wall - Oliver.......... 22 Free Will Astrology............................ 23 Health & Fitness................................. 23 Beauty with Dr. Maria Lombardo..... 24 Life & Career Coach............................ 24

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

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DESERT OASIS continued from page 3 THE LINE-UP SATURDAY: DAMIAN “JR. GONG” MARLEY, E-40, STEEL PULSE, LOS LOBOS, THE GREEN, MURS, FISHBONE, JANELLE PHILLIPS, HIRIE, QUINTO SOL, COURTNEY CHAMBERS, DAVID MACIAS MUSIC SUNDAY REBELUTION, JBOOG, REEL BIG FISH, KINKY, WARREN G, FORTUNATE YOUTH, INNER CIRCLE, THROUGH THE ROOTS, SPANKSHAFT, MOZAIQ, RICH SHELDON AND THE MUTINY, IRIE JUNCTIONS

FOOD & DRINK The Craft Brew House Bar will be serving a huge selection of craft beers on tap including Firestone Walker 805. Wines include The Dreaming Tree Wines, Charles Smith and Mark West. Tito’s Handmade Vodka will also be served. Multiple bar locations will offer refreshing craft cocktails, distinctive wine selections and chill beverages. The secluded Tiki Bar will serve rum-based cocktails as guests enjoy views of Medjhool Lake, a tropical lagoon surrounded by a tropical garden.

September 28 to October 4, 2017

The food line up at the Desert Oasis Music Festival includes fare from a variety of choice restaurants. Festival favorites include delectable ramen, savory tacos, juicy burgers, tasty pizza, classic barbecue and much more. Restaurants include: Remix Ramen/Spicy Pie/Strictly Vegan/Jamaican Place/Taste of Brazil/Jackalope Ranch Burgers/Jackalope Ranch Tacos/Desert Coffee Trader/Campfire Concessions Sodas/Campfire Concessions Kettle Corn/Sage Vegan Bistro/Two Guys Chicken and Fries/West Coast/Up In Smoke

INNER CIRCLE Quinto Sol

FISHBONE-FULL CIRCLE

BY NOE GUTIERREZ

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lashback to 1986: Fishbone performed on Prom Night at Indio High School. Flash-forward to present day: On Saturday, October 7, 2017, more than 31 years later, they return to the City of Festivals, Indio, California, for Desert Oasis Music Festival. Norwood Fisher, bassist for Fishbone, has not forgotten their deep-seated connection to Indio. “I ran into one person on this current tour that was there at the prom that night.” Their devotion to this area is unmistakable. “That’s the beauty of life. Instead of the vicious circle, you can get on the delicious circle.” I spoke with Norwood about their attachment to the desert, the festival and the National Association of Music Merchants tradeshow. ON THE DESERT OASIS MUSIC FESTIVAL “We’re in Southern California; it’s early October. We’re outdoors. It’s the desert, c’mon now! It’s a beautiful time of the year. It’s gonna be magical! Plus all the bands that are performing; it’s a family affair. It’s like backyard BBQ kinda shit! The bigger festivals, like this one, you get managers, you get booking agents, band members and a lot of different elements of the music industry converge. So you get to relate in another space. I like going in the audience and watching bands from the audience perspective as a fan. A lot of times you’ll see me in the audience just roaming. Sometimes I’m loud, sometimes I’m incognito.” ON FITTING IN AND THEIR UNIVERSALITY “The thing is, we were fortunate to come up at a time where our resolve is all just music. And the music that we chose to express and put together felt unusual to the industry. We get looked at as pioneers. We did a Cali-Roots festival a couple of years ago and people were saying we are the ultimate Cali-Roots band, the beginning of it. If people want to think that, it’s beautiful to me. That’s where all of this comes together. A band that’s able to fit in and have a meaningful relationship with all of

the bands. Somebody like Damian Marley, he’s got a legacy that’s preceded him, Fishbone may not have anything to do with him personally but we were drawing from his dad’s legacy to become who we were. So there are relationships through and through.” ON HIS DESERT PLANS “My father lives in Palm Springs. I’m gonna take time out and hopefully get to spend a moment with him. He’ll come to the show and I’ll get to hang with him. That’s really what’s up. Ultimately, getting to see the different bands and be able to engage with the different musicians, it’s always fun. Some industries have conventions and musicians, fortunately, we have festivals. It’s like a convention.” ON NAMM “Music connects all of the humans on the planet on some level. It is a connecting force. In a physics kinda way, maybe the whole universe is a big orchestra and we’re all linked to the vibrations that attach us all. That’s maybe why that’s the universal language. When I was a kid, I didn’t dream of anything like NAMM. So when I discovered it I was like WHOA! These are the

Barbecue/TLC’s Sidewalk Café. TICKET INFORMATION Festival admission and camping passes can be purchased online at DesertOasisMusicFestival.com. Festival passes include one-day and weekend packages along with on-site camping opportunities. Ticket payment plans are available for purchases over $150. EVENT INFORMATION • Date: Saturday, Oct. 7th and Sunday, Oct. 8th, 2017 • Time: 1:00 PM – Midnight • Location: Empire Polo Grounds, Indio, CA 92201 • General Admission Passes 1-Day $99/2Day $175 • VIP Admission Passes 1-Day $175/2-Day $325 • On Site Car/Tent Camping $60 + Fees and RV Camping $180 + Fees. • Three Stages/24 Live Bands

people who make the tools of our trade. It’s actually a moment where I take the time to relate to those people as human beings. It’s like thanks. I have met Leo Fender and Jim Marshall, without those people the music industry would be a totally different place. There was a time early in NAMM, I used to go and talk to Leo every year. He was nice to me. I was never a big Fender-playing guy

but I’m just grateful to people like him and Les Paul. Bottom line is, there’s gratitude in all of that. We’re thankful that people put the care into and make things that are durable, because some of us are very hard on our instruments, like me. The other side of NAMM is you get to meet people like fans that make their way into it. I’m still a fan of music so I’m walking around NAMM and meet people that I’m like WHOA! Sometimes you see Stevie Wonder rolling through NAMM. It’s a trip. Festivals are kinda like that without the manufacturers.” ON FISHBONE’S CONTINUING VISITS “We look forward to coming back and we’ll keep coming back. It’s a good energy in the desert. Whether we’re playing the Date Shed, Pappy and Harriet’s or The Hood, or wherever, we enjoy coming to the region. A few years ago we did this thing in the parking lot of The Hood with English Beat that was amazing! There are some great venues out here. It feels good going out there and partying down and bringing the music.”

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

LOS LOBOS

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BY NOE GUTIERREZ

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he wolf holds great symbolism and importance in many cultures as a warrior. The American rock band Los Lobos have championed their cause for almost 44 years and will be further establishing their place in rock and roll history with their performance at the Desert Oasis Music Festival, being held at the Empire Polo Grounds October 7-8, 2017. Borne out of East Los Angeles, David Hidalgo, Louie Perez, Cesar Rojas, Conrad Lozano & Steve Berlin, were influenced by Tex-Mex, country, zydeco, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional music such as cumbia, boleros and norteños, Coachella Valley Weekly spoke with Perez, lyricist, songwriter, percussionist, and guitarist for Los Lobos. THE COACHELLA VALLEY - “I was never a big fan of the desert when I was growing up. I’m just an urban kid. Going to the beach and going to the mountains. As I got older nature called me. I dig the desert now. A lot of other people are starting to dig the desert too. It’s really hard not to anymore. Everyone seems to be migrating there now. There are people all over Europe moving to the Joshua Tree area. I have childhood friends that I went to grammar school with who have retired and relocated to Indio and Palm Springs. My inlaws, when they retired in 1979, built a house in Desert Hot Springs. On the weekends we’d go to visit them all the time. And that’s when it started to change for me a little bit. We played Stagecoach last year and we stayed in Palm Springs the night before and we cruised down Palm Canyon Drive and we couldn’t believe how gentrified it had become. There’s a lot of cool stuff going on. The desert is no longer a place we avoid. My wife and I, when we have an opportunity, like this festival, will go to the show together.” LONGEVITY AND VERSATILITY “We’ve been able to hang around. Maybe we sound like an old jukebox in an East LA bar. You can hear just about everything. We’re playing a folk festival this weekend in Northern California. We did a bluegrass festival about a month ago in Ohio. It just seems to make some strange sense. If you Google image the Fillmore auditorium and the gigs that were going on in the 60’s, if you look at the lineups it’s quite amazing. They had The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Jefferson Airplane, Muddy Waters; it was all mixed. When I was growing up you could hear on the radio Jimi Hendrix, The Byrds, Smokey Robinson and The Intruders all back to back. It wasn’t until later on that the powers-thatbe in record companies figured they can make a lot of dough by marketing an artist directly and compartmentalizing the music. We grew up to listening to everything you could imagine, I grew up listening to Mexican music because when I was little that’s what played on the radio at home. That’s what my mom put on the record player. Then as I got older I discovered soul music. The East L.A. sound was basically R&B interpreted by Chicanos. Then I went to see Hendrix when

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I was 14 years old. I begged my mom. I need to go to this show! So she got a neighbor friend, he was 18 and had a car. He was my chaperone and my ride over there. Hendrix walked on stage and broke into Spanish Castle Magic and that was it. It was all over for me. It rearranged all my brain cells and they never were the same after that.” EAST L.A. SOUND AND TEJANO MUSIC “Our legacy, on the west coast in particular, was the East L.A. sound. The connection we had was to television as The Beatles were exploding on Ed Sullivan but it seemed like something so far away and foreign to us. The Midnighters closed that gap. They were like our Beatles. The fantasy land was what we watched on TV but it had nothing to do with our reality. The East L.A. sound was the music that really meant a lot to us. When I think about the Tejano sound I think of Little Joe. He’s like the Little Willie G of The Midnighters. He’s a cornerstone of Chicano music. Not to mention it all grew out of Tejano music. We were listening to so much stuff when we were exploring Mexican music toward the end of the 70’s we got into Tex-Mex music.” FESTIVALS VS. TOURING “I like being outdoors. Playing theaters is cool too. It gives us an opportunity to do a different type of set. In the winter time we do a lot of performing arts centers. Last spring we did a cool presentation of Mexican folkloric music with 13 dancers. We did this whole regional music of Mexico. For the festival, we’re gonna rock out and have a good time.” NEW MUSIC? “At the moment we’re not. We’ve been touring a bunch. The cycle is usually every couple of years. There’s some buzz. The way the business is now, there’s no long-term record deal. Who wants them anyway? If we can find somebody that’s crazy enough to put up some love we’ll take it.” STAYING UNITED “We’ve been a band since 1973. We’re gonna have our 44th anniversary as a band this November. That’s a long-ass time! I’ve

never really been satisfied with my answer as to how we have remained intact but the one reason that has a lot to do with it is that we were friends before we ever became musicians. It was never a proposition. It was something that we grew up together as friends and as family because when you’re a kid your parents know each other and you go to the same schools. It builds real deep roots. It’s not like a band looking for a bass player and they put out a classified ad or they put an index card on a bulletin board at Guitar Center. This root goes way deep and is more of a family connection.” SERIOUS FUN “We have a blast when we play live. Maybe that’s why people keep coming. They don’t feel like they’re paying money to go see some spectacle or someone just staying within the lines. When the Los Lonely Boys were kids, we’d play Texas where their dad would put them on stage playing a Stevie Ray Vaughn set. We’d hang out with them. We have roots all over the US. We’ve had the opportunity to meet some of our heroes. We don’t take what we do all that serious. We’re serious about the music we do but all the other stuff, the accolades we get all that stuff. It’s almost like we’re looking over our shoulders to see who they’re talking about. We concentrate so much on the work. All the other fluff doesn’t mean that much.” AVENUES FOR LATIN MUSIC “Back when access to music wasn’t as technically advanced as it is now, I would say yes, absolutely, there was a problem accessing Latin music. You didn’t see many Latinos in rock. We’re a rock band who happens to be Mexican-American. We promote that as well. We have to talk about what’s going on in mainstream music. Justin Beiber did that song. There’s a recognized need for it and a viable marketing place that people are looking at. To this day, there’s not a lot of cross talk between Latino bands and American rock and roll. It’s not necessarily because they are being ignored, it’s because there’s such a huge infrastructure for Latin music now and you might as well sit where

you’re comfortable. But I don’t really believe that we should explore everything; they have the Latin billboard awards, the Latin Grammys now, and I think it’s a wonderful beautiful thing for a celebration for our culture too but there’s just a little bit that rubs me wrong, I don’t know exactly what it is, I don’t want to go as far as saying its ‘ghettoizing’ us but I think when you look at music, and certainly our career and what we have done, there’s no reason why we can look more at the similarities of what we do than the differences. I don’t think there is an underrepresentation, I think people are waking up; it’s taken a long time. Of course with all the bullshit that’s going on right now every time we take two steps forward we take four steps back. There are a lot of people still in the industry, the powers-that-be, who are not doing anything maliciously, but are kind of ignorant to what we have to offer. If you’re a good fuckin’ band, you’re a good band, right? If your band sucks, get better at it.” LOUIS THE SONGWRITER AND ARTIST “I’ve painted all my life. I’m an accidental musician. Songwriting for me, I always go back to my own experiences. I’m a songwriter. David and I have been writing songs since we were teenagers. To say that he was the musical component and I am only the lyricist discounts us a little bit, we’re songwriters. We do both things. Primarily, because time is a premium, we don’t have the chance to sit down face to face and work out everything, so I’ve taken on the task of writing most of the lyrics and David is in charge of the musical inspiration but ultimately we put the thing together and work in the studio together. I draw inspiration from my own personal experience because of what I’ve done and being around the U.S. I write songs that are from my experience but they’re not right on the nose because I want people to be able to relate. My deal is, I try to put people together rather than divide them. I was supposed to go to a four-year art school when the band was starting to do stuff in the late 70’s and I came to that fork in the road; it worked out alright. I’m different from most Chicano artists; I don’t paint things schematically Mexicano or Chicano. Mostly its impressionistic, the paint flies around quite a bit. But I always have the feeling I always want to say something. There’s always some kind of message. I come from a tradition, as a Chicano, growing up in the late 60’s that I am aware of and to some degree politicized. A little of that makes its way into everything I do.” GOOD MORNING AZTLÁN “I’m working on a book right now. A career retrospective entitled, “Good Morning Aztlán”. It’s a compilation of song lyrics, other miscellaneous writing, painting and drawing reproductions. There’s an essay on the songs by Dave Alvin from The Blasters, Martha Gonzalez wrote the afterword, I wrote the introduction and Luis Rodriguez wrote an essay too. It’s time for me to capsulate it for the time vault for generations to follow. It’s gonna be released soon.” loslobos.org


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September 28 to October 4, 2017

YOU SAY YOU WANT A REBELUTION, WELL YOU KNOW DESERT OASIS IS COMING

BY RICH HENRICH

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hat happens in Isla Vista doesn’t always stay in IV and at least in the case of Rebelution, that’s a wonderful thing. What happens when an anthropology student meets a business economics major who in turn meets a religious studies major who meets a film studies student? In the little student ghetto of University of California, Santa Barbara, five guys came together to make some music and throw a party. Now after a decade of touring and recording, four members (all with degrees from UCSB) carry the rebellion forward- Eric Rachmany, Rory Carey, Marley D. Williams and Wesley Finley- and onto the stages of Desert Oasis after posting number one hits on the Billboard charts and touring relentlessly 100+ days a year. This past weekend, I spoke with frontman for the band, Eric Rachmany, from his home in San Francisco. CVW: Eric, what’s behind the name of

the band? Eric Rachmany: “It’s a play on words. We like to think of rebellion in a positive way and often times it is only viewed in the negative view but we see the rebel as a positive force for change and enjoy spreading a message of love and evolution through our art.” CVW: Why is Reggae such a strong platform for social consciousness? Rachmany: “It always has been. The music itself was created to tell stories of what people experienced. We like to listen to all those reggae artists that came before us like Marley, who sang about the injustices. We are lucky to come from California where it truly is a melting pot and our message is really about embracing each other’s differences and sharing good vibes. There is such a need for this right now.” CVW: You have a degree from UCSB in Religious Studies. How does that knowledge influence your music? Rachmany: “A LOT! I have always been

interested in different religions, especially the intersection of religion and art in all the practices. I never identified with a particular religion but am interested in why people do identify with a certain religion or practice. The more I study, the more I realize that our racist thoughts are sad misunderstandings. I think art exposure helps encourage deeper understandings and appreciation. My parents raised me on world music and I was fortunate to grow up in such a house. People need to look past how the media portrays various religions and see the beauty in the art.” CVW: How have you changed as a band since the beginning? Courage to Grow seems to reflect your own evolution as a band. Rachmany: “Well, at first we were just a cover band and didn’t know what we were doing. We learned how to be better performers and be more comfortable on stage. I used to get really nervous on stage

THE GREEN SET TO SPREAD THE ALOHA AT DESERT OASIS

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ack in 2009 a group of friends and backup musicians came together in Oahu, Hawaii to form The Green to record a few songs and have a little fun. However, their self-titled album release earned the band both critical and commercial acclaim. A few tracks and some fun turned into an iTunes award for Best Reggae Album of the year in 2010. “We were all friends in Hawaii in bands of various levels of popularity, backing up bands from the mainland. We just decided to be our own band and see where it would go,” says band member Zion Thompson. Soon after realizing something special had formed, The Green, boarded a plane and set their sights for a heavy touring cycle on the mainland. It didn’t take them long to land a record deal with Easy Star Records and support acts like Damian Marley, Iration, & Rebelution. The band has played Vans Warped Tour, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival and California Roots Festival, earning another top hour for sophomore album Ways & Means, hitting number one on iTunes and Billboard. I recently caught up with founding member Zion Thompson. CVW: What do you enjoy most about touring? Zion Thompson: “Appreciating how we are, you now, the culture of the island influences

us. We’re slightly different and we can see how people receive us as well. It’s new for them. We’re really blessed and thankful we can spread the music and the vibe and energy of Hawaii. We like to say we are spreading the “Aloha!” We are proud of our music and our culture and love to share it.” CVW: What makes your blend of Reggae different? Thompson: “Musically whether it is Jamaican or styles from the Virgin Islands, West Coast or Dance Hall, we come from a place with a lot of mixed races and lots of different flavors. We blend that all with a special aloha vibe and put that into our music.” CVW: Is it difficult to tour with so many members? Thompson: “Well, we are nine guys from a little island. It costs so much for us to all leave to go on a tour. Put them somewhere else and we still carry the island with us. For us touring is really comfortable because we are all so close. It can be hard to figure out everyone’s personalities, like when they just need to be left alone! But we are all one family and we take care of each other. We get how the work flows and even when it’s a little rough, someone is always bringing the sunshine!” CVW: What do you love about touring? Thompson: “We love to do our best with

every opportunity we have to get up on stage and even when we are not on stage but just mixing with the crowd and fans or just driving from town to town.” CVW: You have a new album dropping soon, Marching Orders. What can we expect? Thompson: “We’ve been working on it for a while. A year and a half ago, it wasn’t what it is now. We went through a lot of changes. About two thirds of the original songs remain but there’s been growth as a band and as musicians. We are bringing a lot of different sounds from rock to dancehall. As musicians, we wanted to stretch out and not be so pigeonholed. We have 14 solid tracks that we are happy with.”

but now I am more comfortable with the music. We played a lot of gigs for $150 per night. It’s taken a lot of hard work but you have to follow your heart. I’ve learned to be more patient, get in my comfort zone even when I wish I had my bed! When crowd picks up their energy and I connect artist to listener, it’s all worth it. As for Courage, I think it means something different to everyone in the band but for me it was about having courage to grow as a person, a musician and as a band.” CVW: With so much political unrest the world over, how does your music help bring people together? Rachmany:”Music and art in general gets to people’s soul. I couldn’t just stand on a stage and talk to people for an hour and get them to feel the music. I shine when I can play music and arts have that ability to create positive change. If our music changes one point of view, we are really thankful for that impact.” CVW: What do you look forward to? Rachmany: “Our new album, our 6th and we went back to doing it with just us. We are really the most democratic band in the history of music! We are practically married together. Definitely looking forward to seeing Damian Marley, The Green and Inner Circle, who let us record at their studio and taught us so much.”

BY RICH HENRICH

CVW: What is the significance of the name of the album and title track? Thompson: “It’s a little bit of a militant mindset of having your “marching orders” to be tough, to stay strong and to take what the world throws at you and keep going. Busy Signal is featured on that track, too. It can be tough but we have to keep marching on.” CVW: What are you looking forward to at Desert Oasis? Thompson: “It will be good to connect with friends and definitely see Slightly Stoopid and Marley, a lot of great talent we are fortunate to play with. We are fired up and bringing a lot of energy and we will definitely spread the aloha!” thegreen808.com

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

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INTRODUCING YOUR DESERT OASIS MUSIC FESTIVAL COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC REPRESENTATIVES COURTNEY CHAMBERS - It’s common knowledge that Courtney Chambers is one of the hardest working artists in the desert. If anyone has earned a slot on this stage it is Courtney. She is excited at the opportunity to play a big stage in her backyard. “I love the festival experience and I’m honored to be sharing the bill with such great acts. We will be playing the festival as an acoustic trio, playing stripped down versions of my songs. I’m looking forward to seeing Damian Marley. I think the whole bill is fabulous and I’m excited to see as many bands as possible while I’m there.” Courtney continues to promote her LIVE album, partially recorded at nearby Tack Room Tavern at the Empire Polo Grounds. In my view, her album, Tales of the Aftermath, has been her greatest achievement thus far. “Right now I’m in the writing process for my next record. I will be going back to the studio in early 2018.” I, for one, can’t wait. Joining Courtney, guitar and vocals, will be Armando Flores on bass and Rob Peterson on drums and percussion. courtneychambers.net

MOZAIQ - Mozaiq is the quintessential Desert Reggae representative. Since 2013 Mozaiq has been a mainstay in the Coachella Valley. With Marc Diaz on vocals, Daniel Torres on lead guitar, Noel Morin, Jr. on drums and background vocals, Ryan Kerr on keys and background vocals, Dub Wallace on bass and background vocals and Seth Miller on tenor sax, Mozaiq is headed full-force to show their diverse take on reggae music. In early 2017, Mozaiq recorded two songs, “Without You” & “Forgiven,” at Imperial Sound Recording with distinguished producer/artist E.N Young (Tribal Seeds, Inna Vision, Arise Roots) of Roots Musician Records. They plan to return to the studio with E.N to complete their debut EP by the end of 2017 for an early 2018 release. “Reggae is one genre of music that not only speaks

about the truth in ‘the struggle’ but it offers a solution in its message of revolution and global awakening through peace, love and unity of ALL people, ALL races, ALL religions, ALL nations. ONE LOVE ...that’s what reggae means to us and that is what we, as a band, feel we are called to do; glorify God through our music. All while laying down a deep groove that people can feel and move to. We choose Reggae music over other genres because of the consciousness of the message and the unity it endeavors to create.” “The Coachella Valley is our home, and knowing that we’re loved and respected here means more to us than anything. We will take that stage on October 8 with the wind at our back and the desert on our shoulders; we are ready!” www.mozaiqmusic.com

DAVID MACIAS MUSIC - David Macias is the ‘Fastest Hand in the West.’ If you have been witness to his sleight of hand you will concur. David is a Mexican -born, American-raised musician from Chihuahua, Mexico. David has been active musically since 2009 after eight years of military service as a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy. I met him in 2013 as leader of Machin,’ a Spanglish jive mix of ska, reggae, cumbia, gypsy, salsa and dance music. He continues to be known for his energetic performances that are filled with intricate and heavy acoustic guitar rhythms that blend rumba, reggae, mariachi, and Latin influenced grooves. David is no stranger to the spotlight or big stage. He has performed with some of the most outstanding musicians in the world such as Ozomatli, English Beat, Fishbone, Metalachi, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Michael Bolton, Robby Krieger of The Doors and Mike Love. In 2014, David and Machin’ were selected by Goldenvoice to perform at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Presently, David can be found on any given Saturday night at The Hard Rock Hotel in Palm Springs hosting Global Lounge Sessions alongside producer and songwriter Esjay Jones where they showcase local and touring talent from all over the world. I spoke with Rob Peterson, double-duty drummer and percussionist for both David and Courtney Chambers. “If nothing else I hope the attendees can expect some good music and a tight performance from us. I really like the music that David and Courtney write and I hope that the audience will too. I’m just stoked

to be playing music with my homies. Both groups that I’m playing with consist of people that I really dig being around and hanging out with. The added bonus is that we get to play music together too.” David’s band for this event includes himself on guitar and vocals, Mike Theophilos on guitar and vocals, Peterson on drums, Israel Lopez on bass and Jamie Shadowlight on violin. davidmaciasmusic.com

IRIE JUNCTIONS - Irie Junctions are a roots reggae band formed in 2011 that includes Raymon Serrano on vocals, Danny Cedeno on bass, Alex Santana on guitar and Saul Ibarra on drums and background vocals. As individuals they’re known as inspirational musicians and highly skilled performers. As Irie Junctions they create uplifting music for the soul, by spreading the healing powers of the ‘Most High’ through conscious reggae. Irie Junctions has earned its reputation as a talented band though their live performances. They have earned the respect from many with their ‘Holy Ghost Reggae,’ a blend of roots reggae, dub, dancehall and lovers rock. I’m looking forward to hearing “Armageddon” and “Let’s Love”. Irie Junctions are carefully piecing together their debut album and plan on its release in 2018. iriejunctions.com

SPANKSHAFT - Spankshaft started as a punk-ska trio in early 2009, based out of Yucca Valley, California. Led by guitarist Brandon Simpson, they performed in every possible venue they could afford to travel to. Spankshaft is known widely for their signature ‘Dissonant Ska’. They have shared the stage with well known acts such as Voodoo Glow Skulls, Bucko-nine, Fishbone, Suburban Legends, Pepper, The

THERE’S A NEW TEQUILA COMING TO THE COACHELLA VALLEY AND IT’S CALLED COSA SALVAJE “WILD THING”

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outhern California (and soon beyond) has just gotten a bit wilder (if that is even possible). Cosa Salvaje Tequila, a relatively new brand entering the liquor scene is literally changing the face of the tequila drinking experience. With its smooth, easy, yet effective taste, Cosa Salvaje has quickly been touted as the most sought after experience of the sipping tequila movement. Creator and CEO, Elle France’s friends and colleagues know her as an energetic, enthusiastic and

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entrepreneurial free spirit. So it comes as no surprise that this latest venture is called Cosa Salvaje or ‘Wild Thing,’ an ultra-premium Plata sipping tequila. For those familiar with France’s business prowess, the Cosa Salvaje’s unique taste and creative packaging is what they have come to expect from the San Diego businesswomen. “The concept behind Cosa Salvaje was to change the tequila drinking experience,” said France, CEO and Founder of Cosa Salvaje. “When I first came

BY RACHEL MONTOYA

BY NOE GUTIERREZ

Expendables, Andy Frasco, Unwritten Law, Afroman and Snoop Dogg. In 2013, they released Great Job, a 6-song EP, produced by Get Right Studios. The EP helped put Spankshaft on the map. Only 1,000 physical copies were produced but the album is available on iTunes, Amazon and streaming on Spotify. The band has now grown to six members; Russel Waldron on drums, Brent Simpson on bass, Jason Underwood on sax, Bill Barret on trumpet, Joel Daniel on trombone and Brandon Simpson on guitar. According to their website, their new full-length album, Beasts & Goddesses, will be available later this year. Recorded by Paul Francis of Get Right Studios, the album will be a 10-song masterpiece and has taken a year and a half to make. spankshaft.com

RICH SHELDON AND THE MUTINY - Rich Sheldon may not be a Coachella Valley native but after he and his band’s Desert Oasis Music Festival set he will be considered one of us, guaranteed! Hailing from Santa Monica, his modern Americana Roots Rock style is influenced by the jam band music scene and legends of the classic rock era like the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Paul Simon and Bob Marley. “We are going to be doing original music in the genres of rockabilly, psychedelic rock, a little reggae and rootsy Americana songs with a 5-piece band.” Rich is fired up about his participation in the festival. “Getting to see all these amazing musical artists perform and the experience of playing through the Desert Oasis sound system with a great line-up of musicians in our band ‘The Mutiny’ is the most exciting for me.” Rich is also mindful of the line-up. “I’m most interested in seeing Damian Marley because I’ve been a huge fan of his father’s music for years. It’s exciting to see the legacy of Bob Marley still thriving through his son.” Look for new music from Rich soon. “Our band is releasing new music co-produced by our lead guitarist Doug Grean and myself on my website.” Rich Sheldon is on vocals, guitar and on harmonica. ‘The Mutiny’ is Doug Haxall on bass and vocals, Ben Martin on drums and vocals, Doug on lead guitar and vocals and David Gorospe on keyboards. richsheldonmusic.com

LOCAL BUSINESS

up with the idea to start my own tequila brand, I researched the history and tradition of tequila as well as the passion that accompanies its creation. It was vital for me to make sure that I was respecting Mexican traditions as well as bringing to life what tequila means to me. Cosa Salvaje is a tequila that evokes a ‘Wild Thing’ lifestyle and provides an experience that goes beyond tequila.” Cosa Salvaje is a sipping tequila made out of 100 percent Pure Agave, which is cooked in traditional clay stone ovens to preserve the most natural form of agave sugar with no additives or enzymes. Bottled fresh from the still, Cosa Salvaje has a slight, sweet and ultra-smooth finish. It creates a warm wave of spicy, peppery and herbaceous flavors on the palate, which is more akin to drinking it slowly rather than taking it in shots. Cosa Salvaje’s packaging is unique to tequila as it resembles a piece of artwork rather than what is typically found in the ‘spirits’ space. True to form, France created a brand that is emblematic of her personality while appealing to the broad spectrum of both casual and serious tequila drinkers. With an impressive celebrity ambassador lineup, Cosa Salvaje and the executive Vice President,

Coachella Valley’s own rock star, Kenn Gray has a bar none fabulous marketing plan, including limited edition labeling of said celebs depicted by wellknown, as well as emerging artists, with a portion of proceeds to benefit the celebrity’s charity of choice. “I wanted to evoke emotion with the taste, look and feel of Cosa Salvaje. The images inspire both genders by creating a visual that many women want to be and every man wants to be with,” continued France. “The craftsmanship of the bottle is edgy and sexy, designed to motivate people to pick up the bottle and touch it.” The Cosa Salvaje or ‘Wild Thing’ brand was launched in San Diego of this year. Working closely with consultants in Jalisco, Mexico, Elle France introduced the unique sipping tequila following more than a year of research and development. Cosa Salvaje currently is carried in a number of San Diego liquor establishments and will soon be expanded to Southern California. France is a native San Diegan, the mother of two and an active animal rights advocate. We personally cannot wait to belly up to the hottest bars and restaurants here in the valley and sip this new take on tequila!


EVENTS

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BY LISA MORGAN

LUKAS NELSON AND THE PROMISE OF THE REAL: NEW LABEL, NEW MOVIE, NEW ALBUM; STILL REAL (AS PROMISED)

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t’s no big surprise that tickets for Lukas Nelson and The Promise of the Real’s show at Pappy and Harriet’s this Friday are sold out. They always pack the iconic venue. If you don’t move quickly to the ticket link once they become available, you’re pretty much out of luck. Why? Because those of us who have seen Lukas Nelson and his band of sound and road warriors have experienced what no recording studio to date has been able to capture - a powerful, tangible, sink-your-teeth-in-it, awe inspiring energy that pours out from the stage that we can’t get anywhere else. It brings us and every friend we can drag with us, back for more. Clearly drenched in a simple earnest love, and passionate focus on the music, Lukas and band’s unearthly skill set might be attributed to some ethereal osmosis taking place on the bus they travel in and the uncountable hours of music that have been created inside it’s shell. After all, it housed Willie Nelson and friends first. While the evidence of their genetic bond is obvious in Lukas’ vocals and in his prolific, steady stream of songs, I think those of us who have become cultish followers of the band still, to this day, scratch our heads in astonishment, saying to ourselves, “So, this is Willie’s boy?” The last three years have been huge for the band who could have easily been the poster kids for DIY (Do It Yourself). The relationship they formed with Neil Young, after they earned his attention and respect at Farm Aid in their earlier years, paid off big time. After touring and recording with Young in 2015, they shared the incredible national spotlight of the world renown 2016 Desert Trip. Here, they forged meaningful relationships that would be reflected in their first ever label supported album. “What’s happened with us feels similar to the career trajectory of The Band,” says Lukas. “They were already a great band when they started working with Dylan, who

September 28 to October 4, 2017

lifted them up, which is similar to what Neil’s done for us. He’s also given people a chance to hear what we’re doing and what our own songs have to offer. Then we played the Desert Trip with Neil, along with Paul McCartney, the Stones, the Who and Dylan. That was incredible. We met Lucius at Desert Trip. They were playing with Roger Waters—and still are. Then they came to the Bridge School Benefit, where we really got to know them. I love Jess and Holly— they really enhance the record.” Desert Trip also brought Lukas to Bradley Cooper’s attention who at the time was directing and starring in a movie remake of A Star is Born. “At first I was just helping him out,” Lukas shared. “And then I started writing with Stefani (Lady Gaga), who’s in the movie. We connected and she and I became really close. I got very involved in this film and ended up bringing the band into it as well.” I was at the 2017 Stagecoach Festival the following April, on the same concert grounds that hosted Desert Trip when Lukas came on stage early with a surprise guest in tow. We were all there to see Willie Nelson and Family perform on his 84th birthday when Bradley Cooper stepped up to a microphone. Cooper announced that they’d be taking a few minutes before Willie came on to film a scene for A Star is Born. He apologized profusely and asked the crowd to pretend they could hear them since, for filming purposes, the sound would not be launched through the main speakers. The Promise of the Real backed them up as Nelson and Cooper were filmed trading guitar solos. I could hear a bit of the unamplified exchange dripping off the stage. I could have sworn I was watching Bradley Cooper legitimately lay down some serious guitar shred, but I couldn’t be sure, so during our interview, I asked Lukas. “He actually really does sing and play really well,” Nelson confirmed. “Interestingly enough, we recorded his live vocals on that scene. We ended up using that take in the movie. He just really killed it with no

alterations or anything. I’m really stoked at his talent. I worked with him for a while, consulting with him and had a blast. We’re good friends now, and I’m so proud of him. Lady Gaga is really special too. We wrote a lot of songs together for the movie. I even helped produce it. It was a really fun project. I’m excited to see it come out.” August 2017 provided another big first for the band; for the first time in this tenyear venture, the troop is enjoying major label support with the release of their newest, highly acclaimed, self-titled studio album. Prior to this, the band depended on a strong work ethic and a rigorous touring schedule to get their music out to their potential fans. I asked Lukas what it was about Fantasy Records that made him feel safe and confident enough to take a leap and make the commitment. “It seemed that they were really grass roots and down to earth, but also had some capitol and power behind them with Concord being the parent company,” he answered. “It was the combination of their enthusiasm and their ability to help us that did it for me.” The album, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, was produced by John Alagia (numerous Dave Matthews Band LPs, John Mayer’s Room for Squares) and was recorded at The Village Studios in West Los Angeles. Stefani ‘Lady Gaga’ Germanotta (who convincingly plays the role of Bonnie to Lukas’ Delaney) added her signature vocals to the rousing “Carolina” and “Find Yourself,” while Jess Wolfe and Holly Lessig of the Brooklyn-based indie-pop duo Lucius provide backing vocals on five of the 12 tracks. The re-release of, “Set Me Down On a Cloud,” opens up the album stunningly. The song that was written for a fan who lost her child is a soul crusher, beautifully treated, sounding as open and inspiring as the big blue sky itself. It is followed by a technicolor filled musical journey with unexpected shifts in flavor, each unique and yet still signature Lukas and POTR. I would be very surprised if this album did not receive a nomination for Americana Album of the Year.

When asked how he felt about this album, Lukas shared, “I knew I had a lot of good songs that transcended the cultural boundaries between rock and roll and country. I wanted to get the songs as pure as they could be. We owe a lot to Neil; we made this record after coming off the road with him for two years. Neil’s been mentoring us, and we’ve been absorbing that energy, and I think it shows. We got acclimated to a different level of artistic expression. We’ve grown.” “I feel really good about the album. It’s charting well,” he added. “I think we were the No. 2 ‘New Artist’ on Billboard and iTunes. We’re happy to have this record out there to build on and hopefully bring more people to our shows, like Pappy and Harriet’s. It’s become very apparent how important it is to have this kind of help from a label. We’re selling more records and getting out there in the press more. I’m happy to be with Fantasy Records – they’re a great company.” Lukas answered enthusiastically when I asked if there were already plans for the next album: “Yes! I’m trying to get into the studio at the end of this month and record some more demos to hopefully get some more stuff going,” he shared. Promise of the Real’s six-piece line-up includes longtime bandmates Tato Melgar (percussion), Anthony LoGerfo (drums) and Corey McCormick (bass, vocals) along with new members Jesse Siebenberg (steel guitars, Farfisa organ, vocals) and Alberto Bof (piano, Wurlitzer, Hammond B3). If you aren’t one of the lucky ones with a ticket to the show at Pappy and Harriet’s, Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real will be playing with Anders Osborne and Lola Lennox (yes, Annie’s daughter) at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, Wednesday, October 4th. Tickets are still available last I checked. To follow Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real, go to lukasnelson.com For information about Pappy and Harriet’s go to www.pappyandharriets.com.

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

CONSIDER THIS

FILTHY FRIENDS su’per-group /sooper, groop/ noun An exceptionally successful rock group, in particular, one formed by musicians already famous from playing in other groups. uper Groups can be tricky. Sometimes the results can be incredible, (see Cream, Traveling Wilburys, Derek & The Dominoes, Them Crooked Vultures and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young). Sometimes the outcome can be execrable (see Asia, Damn Yankees, Velvet Revolver, SuperHeavy and the Hollywood Vampires). On paper, Filthy Friends sounds extremely promising; a Northwest PostPunk extravaganza featuring Peter Buck, Corin Tucker, Scott McCaughey, Kurt Block and Bill Rieflin. Their debut, Invitation has just arrived. Back in 1981, Peter Buck was managing an independent record store in Athens, Georgia. He met budding musician Michael Stipe, and the pair bonded over their mutual love for the Velvet Underground, Wire, Television and Patti Smith. With Michael on vocals, and Peter on guitar, they recruited bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry they formed R.E.M. A self-released EP garnered enough buzz to get R.E.M. a deal with I.R.S. Records. Throughout the ‘80s, relentless touring and recording positioned the Athens four-piece (along with U2) as the forefathers of the Alternative Rock scene. After a remarkable 30 year run, that included 15 studio albums, three live records and countless compilations the members of R.E.M. amicably called it quits in 2011. Peter Buck, who had always remained busy with side projects like the Minus 5, Tuatara, and the Venus 3, wasted little time in releasing a self-titled debut in 2012. Two more solo efforts appeared in

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

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BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

“INVITATION” (KILL ROCK STARS RECORDS) 2014 and 2016. Scott McCaughey originally made a name for himself fronting legendary Seattle-Portland Post-Punk favorites, the Young Fresh Fellows. In 1994, R.E.M. tapped him play second guitar during their live shows, a position he held until 2011. Although he continued playing with the Fellows, he still found time to participate in Peter Buck’s myriad side projects and solo efforts. Kurt Bloch began his career with seminal Seattle Punk band the Fastbacks and has played on several Peter Buck projects over the years. Same with Bill Rieflin, a journeyman drummer who has played with influential Industrial bands like Ministry, Revolting Cocks and KMFDM. He also toured with R.E.M. and currently pounds a kit for Prog progenitors King Crimson. Much as R.E.M. defined the Post-Punk/ Alternative ‘80s, Olympia Washington’s Sleater-Kinney exemplified the PostGrunge/riot grrrl Scene that coalesced in the ‘90s. The distaff trio of Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss formed in 1994. Over the course of 11 years, they released seven studio albums that garnered critical acclaim and made them Indie superstars. Sleater-Kinney came roaring back in 2015, but during the interim, Corin collaborated with Sara Lund and Seth Lorinczi, releasing two albums in 2010 and 2012 as the Corin Tucker Band. Still, she also found time to participate on Peter Buck’s solo records. Filthy Friends began as sort of a Busman’s Holiday. When Scott, Peter, Corin, Kurt and Bill first got together it was just to goof around and play David Bowie covers. But the chemistry proved too good. Pretty soon, Corin and Peter had written 12 new songs from scratch, motivating the fivepiece to book time in a recording studio. The album opens with “Despierta,” (Spanish for “awake”). The pummeling melody careens out of the speakers, powered stuttering percussion, boomerang bass and ringing, Byrdsy guitar. Corin’s tremulous vocals echo Patti Smith’s epic yowl. The lyrics offer a blunt excoriation of the Cheeto-In-Chief and the prevailing white male power structure; “The gold watch strapped around your wrist must have stopped some time ago, the day is fading quickly and the hour is nearly here/ The whitest chalk upon the land is about to disappear.” As squally guitars crest over the instrumentation, she insists the revolution is now “Holding on to the past won’t make it repeat, it’s time to get up I think you’re in my seat… I will roll you gently, the kiss will be sweet, your time is over, your power’s peaked.” That social conscience also carries over

to “No Forgotten Son.” A blast of Punk Rock fury, the song is accented by Blitzkrieg guitars, thundering bass and a pogo rhythm. The lyrics challenge “Stand Your Ground” laws, pay homage to Black Lives Matter and mourn the loss of boys like Trayvon Martin, “torn apart by one misjudge.” As the song speeds to a conclusion, there is a sliver of hope for the future; “Tell me there’s another way for us to live for us to say: Got to love all the kids black, brown or white or Yellow-skinned, let’s face our problems one by one and let’s Do it all without a gun/Get justice now for all our sons, we’re sorry now for what was done.” Several tracks wax nostalgic, recalling the halcyon era when Punk, Post-Punk, Industrial and Grunge were Rock’s reigning lingua fraca. Growling bass lines, a hopscotch beat and feral guitar chords lick the edges of “Come Back Shelley.” The melody is equal parts menacing and Glamtastic. Lyrics time-travel 30 years to limn the desperation and ennui that coated the late ‘80s. To paraphrase the disclaimer from “Dragnet,” ‘The story you are about to hear is true; the names have been changed to protect the innocent.’ A few deftly turned phrases set the scene; “15 and at loose ends, 1988, she’s 5’6” 110, New Wave hair, piercings everywhere and a broken heart under there somewhere.” “Faded Afternoon” is a catchy, midtempo Rocker. The autumnal melody wouldn’t feel out of place on an R.E.M. record from the early ‘90s. Urgent and insistent, it’s fueled by a stop-start rhythm, sugar rush guitar and piquant piano runs. Although a romantic relationship seems to have run its course, but Corin pleads for one last hurrah; “Couldn’t we say all the dumb things? The same talk we’ve had since ’92, couldn’t you tell me what you’re thinking? I like the way you look when you move.” “Second Life” blends ooky ‘80s keys with marauding bass lines, plinky piano notes and a thumpy back-beat. The instrumentation and arrangement approximate the icy detachment of vintage Synth-Pop bands like Flock Of Seagulls and

Altered Images. Corin’s yearning vocals add a welcome measure of warmth, as she recalls surviving her tumultuous teens “bumped and bruised,” but ultimately okay. Finally, “The Arrival” vibrates with Pure Punk energy. A bludgeoning beat collides with rumbling bass lines and spiky guitar. Corin’s vocals are yelpy in all the right ways as she urges a friend to push the reset button and reconnect with The world; “If you pack away your troubled past, we could dance all night we could start right now/We could ring the bells, paint the town red, what I’m trying to say is I’m glad you’re here.” The best tracks here are “Windmill” and “Any Kind Of Crowd.” The former opens with fractious guitar riffs that spiral and corkscrew. Rather quickly, a walloping back-beat kicks in and the lyrics offer a genuflection to the thriving music scene in Athens, GA noting “every band has their own beat, a different voice that you want to meet.” They even name-check the tiny 40 Watt Club where R.E.M. got their start. The grinding guitar solo on the instrumental break churns with Psychedelic-Cyclonic intensity as the song skids into home plate. The latter is slightly more frenetic, soaring vocals connect with jangly guitars and a locomotive rhythm. Corin’s sweet-sour wail rides roughshod over an irresistibly hooky melody. Here the lyrics recall a romantic assignation forged on the dance floor. The sunny surprise is the relationship stayed strong; “The years formed rings, laugh lines of expression, the days that we have seen/The road’s not smooth, we twist and we tumble and fall into it again, everything returns to you.” Other interesting tracks include the buzzy delight of “You And Your King.” “Brother” pivots between strummy guitar and shards of feedback. Meanwhile, “Makers” weds a bludgeoning beat to cacophonous guitar. Both songs feature additional bass from Grunge icon Krist Novoselic. The album closes with the title track. Surprisingly old fashioned, the song splits the difference between British Music Hall whimsy and syncopated 1920s Jazz. Corin’s lilting croon is bolstered by rippling acoustic guitar, tinkling keys and a plush meter. Receiving a formal invitation to a party, she attends, confiding, “my shyness thrown aside, I came alive.” Perhaps it was an invitation to join these cruddy compadres, these filthy friends, because by the close of the song she promises “when the band plays, we’ll sing our favorite songs, boys.” Ramshackle and rough around the edges, Filthy Friends’ debut may not be essential, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun.


ART SCENE

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

BY ANGELA VALENTE ROMEO

VALERIE DAVIS: CHALLENGING THE NORMS

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andalas appear in many spiritual and religious beliefs. They even appear in Jungian psychology. The mandala seeks to establish a space, an opening, between worlds. Valerie Davis uses the mandala as the starting point of her journey. Like a mandala’s draws, Valerie’s imagery succeeds at the same task. “My paintings appear abstract but upon closer examination figurative aspects emerge,” said Valerie. While a figure may appear, it is the translucent quality of the work allows the figure to morph in the chosen color palette. In achieving the translucent quality Valerie uses, what some may consider being an odd medium, hot glue as a textural element. “The flow of the glue and its opacity lends a unique layer to the work,” she noted. “I purchased my first glue gun simply to glue things together. I saw the potential for creating textures and happened to be out of my usual plaster like media so I began to experiment.” “Because the glue is acrylic-based, it bonds well with acrylic paint. It is transparent and lends itself well to my technique of layering semitransparent paint. The textures that can be created with hot glue are endless. Hot glue dries extremely fast and can be molded into shapes while cooling. Traditional gel mediums have a longer drying time and a much more limited range of textures. I’m only beginning to explore the possibilities!” Valerie’s work evokes the feminine mystique – not in the sense of the unfulfilled ennui that Betty Friedan introduced into contemporary culture, but rather as the endless possibilities of the female. “While I don’t consider my work political, I do approach it from a spiritual viewpoint. I attempt to become a channel for the art rather than imposing preconceived ideas.” “Many of the female forms that appear in my work are in the process of transformation. The Birdwoman is a recurring theme. It corresponds to self-transformation and the shedding of negative thought patterns and belief systems. For me the female forms in my art represent the sacred power of the feminine that emanates from all living things.” Valerie also works with natural wood

forms to create organic compositions. “I retain the natural shape of the wood and combine plant, animal, and mineral forms to create organic synergy,” said Valerie. “The sculptural forms relate to the mandalas in the sense that the organic form of the wood contains inherent images in the same way that the geometric framework of the mandala contains images. I deliberately choose wood with interesting texture and shapes and I also choose wood that has a certain type of energy. My favorites are Manzanita and Buckeye.” “As an artist, I have a power to influence but it is rather limited. I could make politically themed art if I choose to but other artists are already doing it, probably better than I could. I think that creating spiritually uplifting art that contains the energy of Nature and the Earth Goddess can be a very positive thing for people to experience.” Valerie is clear in her objective: “As an artist I choose to offer something positive rather than fighting something negative.” Valerie resides in Yucca Valley. She has participated in the Highway 62 Open Studio Art Tours for 10 years, and will be participating in the 2017 Highway 62 tour. For more information on Valerie visit facebook.com/people/Valerie-Davis. For more information on the upcoming 16th Annual Highway 62 Artists Open Studio Tour visit www.hwy62arttours.org. The tour runs October 14-15 and October 21-22. 2017. The Art Tours features many of the talented artists of the Morongo Basin and is hosted by the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council.

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

PET PLACE

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BY JANET McAFEE

MUNSEY’S STORY: ESTATE PLANNING FOR PETS

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t was a happy ending for Munsey this week, pictured here with his new human, Dana McQuown. Munsey and his two sibling dogs were left homeless when their 57-year-old human entered a hospice this month, stricken with terminal cancer. There was no one selected to adopt these lovely pets, but fortunately friends stepped in and began networking the animals. Animal lovers Brenda Martin and Dan Green provided temporary foster care. Dan decided to adopt one of the dogs, and the other fluffy pup was taken in by the owner’s niece. However, Munsey lingered. His sad face was posted all over Facebook where he garnered lots of sympathy, but

MEET CRAIG Craig is still waiting for your phone call…..He wants you to know he will get along great with your cat. This loving 1-yrold Tuxedo cat will happily sit on your lap. Rescued by Loving All Animals, contact www.lovingallanimals.org or (760) 834-7000.

BEAUTIFUL BETSY Look at those ears! This lovely 4-yr-old Papillon Chihuahua blend girl waits for you at the Pet Rescue Center in Coachella. Information at www.coachellapetrescue.org or (760) 398-7722.

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no home. Finally, Wendy Campbell put him on the website www.NextDoor.com and a wonderful home was found. Munsey went to the vet this week where he received a clean bill of health. He is blessed to be in a loving home, adored by two children who happily play with him. His owner will leave this earth knowing that her dogs are safe in loving homes. Munsey is one of the lucky dogs. Sadly, over 500,000 cats and dogs end up in public shelters every year due to the death or incapacity of their humans. Used to being in family homes, many of these animals become despondent or frightened in a kennel setting, and some will end up euthanized for a variety of reasons. Some are senior animals who have given many years of love and comfort to their families. Now they are older, often with medical problems of their own, and they are passed over in shelters for cute puppies and young frisky dogs. The phone often rings at Loving All Animals with a familiar tale, “My mother just died and she left 4 dogs and 2 cats behind. I leave town in 2 days, and live in an apartment that doesn’t allow pets. I need to take these animals somewhere.” You may

tell yourself, “If anything happens to me, my kids will take my dog,” but later your daughter marries someone who is allergic to animals and your son has a full house of critters. If you have an agreement with a friend or relative to take your pet, you must check in periodically to see if their situation has changed. Palm Desert attorney, Henry Casden Esq. advises, “The California probate code allows one to create a trust and put assets there to fund care for the pets they leave behind. Those expenses can include food, veterinary care and grooming. If they care about their domestic animals, including dogs, cats, horses or birds, people should make a plan for where those animals will go. They can name a person as trustee who will oversee the distribution of the funds to care for

them. I especially recommend a pet trust for anyone who is in their 70’s or 80’s, as well as anyone who is in frail health.” Casden does pet trusts at his local practice, and he can be reached at (855) 447-4442. Do you want your pet to end up left behind alone in your home? Do you want him to end up in a public shelter, heartbroken and alone? Make a solid agreement with a friend or relative to take custody of your pet, and check in periodically to see if their situation has changed. Make sure their housing situation allows for another animal. Consult with an attorney about a pet trust. Most people assume they’ll outlive their pets, says Barry Seltzer, a Toronto-based estate lawyer and co-author of Fat Cats & Lucky Dogs: How to Leave (Some of) Your Estate to Your Pet. Death and disability are topics that many people refuse to face. The situation prompted Seltzer to pen a modified version of the Bible’s Proverbs 29:18: Where there is no vision, pets perish. Where there’s procrastination, pets perish. And where there is no plan in place, pets perish. (Photos courtesy of Wendy Campbell).


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THE VINO VOICE

BY RICK RIOZZA

TO BE, OR TANNAT TO BE..

Q

uestions anyone? Welcome back my friends to the wine show that never ends! Last column we took a metaphoric mystery wine tour around the world and played a little game to the tune of “Name that Wine!” Already I’ve received some fun responses from wine clubs and gatherings, groups and parties that have started off their own tastings centered on our mystery trip. You vino heads are an entertaining bunch!— Cheers! Spoiler alert or not—let’s reminisce a bit and discuss the wines we literally or figuratively enjoyed on our expedition. It’s enlightening to think about the three original French varietals that have especially hit it big re-planted in South America. Argentina has its Malbec; Chile with its Carménère; and now, we’re seeing the Tannat [tah-NOT] grape unveiling its advantageous inclinations in Uruguay. The clue last week was that this grape produces one hell of a healthy wine with all of its deep and dark antioxidants, resveratrol, anthocyanins, polyphenols, and stimulating tannins. At one time, that would have been a nightmare of a description scaring most

quaffers away! These days, our fitness generation is eager to hear more. Anthocyanin pigments and associated flavonoids have demonstrated the ability to protect against a myriad of human diseases; ditto that with resveratrol and antioxidants as well. We’ve learned to look for deep purple and dark blue fruits for their health benefits, and, so the same with wines that contain high amounts of anthocyanins such as Petite Sirah and Tannat. Back in the day—in Southwest France, the wine produced in that area, being so dark, no sane Frenchman reckoned it a red wine, but rather a “vin noir”—black wine. Tannat is still being produced there in and around Madiran with all of its gripping tannin might and is sometimes blended with a good shot of Merlot for roundness. Its brother crop grown in Uruguay—now with the moniker of a “new world wine” also shows a natural roundness that is more geared to the California palate. To quote myself from the last column, “…we love the smooth and rich flavors of a hefty dark red wine; the concern often, is that those wines can come off a bit fruity sweet. Our wine in town here, pretty much leaves that aspect out. So we can enjoy its flavors of blackberries, black cherries, black licorice, black plums; coffee, earth, leather; cassis, chocolate and jam; and prunes, smoke, vanilla & spices without any annoying sweetness.”

September 28 to October 4, 2017

And the price is right: I’m picking up a bottle at my Total Wine store for tonight’s steak dinner, Domaine Du Moulie Madiran around $13. Costa Nichols, over at his Desert Wine & Spirits in Palm Springs, also offers some tasty Tannat for around the same price. Feel free to ask him to recommend something—he’s always on point. Last week’s Tour #2 brought some lively responses and reasoning. The operative clue was that there were “10” areas in this famous wine region. We also talked about pairing this wine with pretty much any dish on earth with its floral aromatic, lip smacking red fruit flavors. And then we threw in the bombshell: how many of us frolicked French at a Beaujolais Nouveau party, joining the world together on the third Thursday in November? No doubt a very smart French marketing ploy to taste the country’s first 6 to 8 week old wine—as the chant goes, “Goûtons voir si le vin est bon!” Ironically, this fête now seems out of favor, due to the fact there are more wine savvy drinkers who laugh at the quality of this young wine. Geez—lighten’ up! Historically, the Gamay grape that produces Beaujolais, was grown in the broader Burgundy area before being chased out-of-Dodge for the preferred money grape, Pinot Noir. No one can fault that decision—I guess, but fortuitously and serendipitously, Gamay took well to the unique clay over

granite slopes of the “new found” Beaujolas wine region, producing unique world class wines, some even capable of aging wonderfully. At the highest quality level, the Beaujolais wine region contains 10 crus — communes that have the right to wear their own appellations on the label such as the recognizable Brouilly, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, each with their own flavor profile from light to full mediumbodied. A step below is Beaujolais Villages, with Beaujolais itself as the broadest, most generic appellation—Beaujolais Nouveau being a baby BN. One can have no better wine tasting tour on your own dinner table than to try the different crus of Beaujolais to determine the ones you like best: Fleurie—light, floral and aromatic, velvety smooth; Brouilly—more fruity than floral; Morgon & Moulin-à-Vent more full-bodied, “meaty”, Burgundian in style. The Walla Walla Washington region was the first on our tour and any true red wine lover is currently and probably forever enamored with the Cabs, Merlots and Syrah produced here. Que Syrah, Syrah—whatever will be. The terroir—if you please, appears to work as a heavenly garden garrison allowing the Syrah to shine with vibrant and complex flavors styling a wine of elegance and balance that’s a splendid match for a meal. The classic profile includes aromas of cured meat leading to flavors of dark fruit, blueberry, black pepper, black tea and earthy minerality that are backed by smooth, approachable tannins in the lengthy finish. So many great labels up there, it’s easy to recommend both the Otis Kenyon wines and the Gordon Estate wines: they deliver deliciously and are so reasonably price for the quality. Oh thou invisible spirit of wine…that we should with joy, pleasance revel and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

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THUR SEPTEMBER 28 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bobby Furgo & Co 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Discoteca w/ DJ Victor Rodriguez 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Trio w/ Francesca Amari, Bill Marx and Doug MacDonald 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Oasis – EDM and House w/ DJs Amavida, Gouda, Dxsko and Sxclsv 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Barry Baughn and Bob Gross 6:30pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760365-6633 Open Mic Night 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Chris Lomeli 7pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Open Mic 9pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Punk Rock Night 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 St. James Summer Jams and Showcase 7:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Country Night w/ Chad Freeman and Redline 8pm

THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Quinto Menguante 8-1am 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 Bonobo 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Gutter Candy 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 The Smooth Brothers 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 T-Bone Karaoke 8pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Wayne Boyer 6:30pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 TBA 6pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 DJ SafeT 7pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Elaine Woodard 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 8pm

FRI SEPTEMBER 29

14

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 TBA 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 TBA 9pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Sharon Sills 6:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Friday Night Sour Hour w/ Pink Lemonade Drag Show 9pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Connecta ! w/ DJs Rich Brandon, CieloHigh, Contraz and DJ LF 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Bo and the Blues Drivers 8:30pm THE BLOCK; C.C.; 760-832-7767 Karaoke 9pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-7755566 DJ Double A 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm DESERT FOX; PD; TBA02 8pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Gina Carey 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 The Myx 8:30pm

THE HARD ROCK HOTEL PS; PS; 760-3259676 Esjay Jones Presents: Acoustic Sessions w/ Sunday Funeral and 5th Town 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 This Too Shall Pass Benefit Show w/ Quiet, Irie Junctions, Ba5ehundred, Willdabeast, Twin Eagles, Cali Elijah, Luthergates and Jae Rawkwell 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Bob Allen 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Dana Larson 7pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LA QUINTA BREWERY;PD; 760-200-2597 TBA 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company in the afternoon, Hot Rox in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Kool Breeze 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 DJ Jerry 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 TBA 5-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Smooth Grooves 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 Off the Cuff 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Willie Watson and Bedovine 8:45pm 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 Matt Alber 8pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 212 Band 9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Keeth 7:30pm ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; Black Hat Patsy and Generation Idol (Billy Idol Tribute) 7:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOLANO’S BISTRO; LQ; 760-771-6655 Michael Madden 6-9pm


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September 28 to October 4, 2017

TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 3 Blind Mice 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Dennis Michael 6:30pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Stereoflux 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Pat Rizzo & Dennis Michaels 6:30pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VENUS DE FIDO; PD; 760-834-7070 Michael D’Angelo 6-9pm, Carl Davis Dance Lesson 7pm WANG’S IN THE DESERT; PS; 760-325-9264 Karaoke 8:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 Lisa & The Gents 8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Rob Martinez and Todd Ashley ft. Lisa LaFaro Weselis 6:30-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallett 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 9pm

SAT SEPTEMBER 30 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev & Bill 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Kaftan Discotheque 11am poolside, DJ Journee 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret on the Green Open Mic 7:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Denise Carter 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJs Imdead and Addemup 9pm BEATNIK LOUNGE; JT; TBA 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 212 Band 8:30pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-7755566 DJ 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHILL BAR; PS; 760-327-1079 TBA 9pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Live Music 6pm FOX & THE FIDDLE; PD; 760-888-0111 CINCHy Saturday 7pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760365-6633 Dana Larson 5-8pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 TBA 8:30pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm

THE HARD ROCK HOTEL PS; PS; 760-3259676 Esjay Jones Presents: Global Sessions w/ David Macias, Pablo Cantua and Elektric Lucie 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 End of Summer Music Bash w/ Incredible Desert Kings, Higher Heights and Desert Pirates 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Bob Allen 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 TBA 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Kool Breeze 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Popo Vision 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Retroblast 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 On the Rocks 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Lukas Nelson and The Promise of the Real 8pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Jake Simpson 8pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Drum Hall 9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 TBA 7-10pm ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; Thank You, Drive Thru and Which One’s Pink (Pink Floyd Tribute) 7:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 TBA 6pm

VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ 10pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 TBA 8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Chris Lomeli 7pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth noon-4pm poolside, 7-11pm Fireside Lounge WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Stanley Butler Band 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJs 9pm

SUN OCTOBER 1 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Urulu DJ Set 11am poolside AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Bartland w/ DJ LF and Friends 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 TBA 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm continue to page 20

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

THE PAMPERED PALATE

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BY DENISE ORTUNO NEIL

TAKE A SEAT AT JUNE HILL’S TABLE

T

he East Valley has a sparkling jewel in their crown of restaurants. June Hill’s Table sits unassumingly off 52nd in Indio at the Trilogy Polo Club, harboring a stunning views, stylish ambience and tremendous food. When driving out to June Hill’s Table at Trilogy Polo Club in Indio, it might seem like it is a bit out of the way. But its slight remoteness is actually part of what makes it so special. The distance makes it a destination location, and the views…well, are spectacular. June Hill’s Table is visible before you even enter the Trilogy Polo Club. The building where the restaurant resides also serves as the clubhouse. The triangular white canopies are inviting and bring a feel of recreational grandeur to the resort style core of the club. Having the restaurant so close to the entrance is a benefit for diners, as the sometimes long maze that some other country clubs have to get to their clubhouses can be tiresome, but is absent from Trilogy. Although Trilogy is a 55 an older community, June Hill’s Table is open to the public. Only opened for a little more than a year, the restaurant has received high acclaim. As I sat down in the fabulously designed dining room with restaurant manager Raymond Cooper, I asked him

to explain the choice of the name for the restaurant. He expounded on the motivation, highlighting that they wanted to bring a bit of valley history into the restaurant, more specifically, Indio history. They came across Dr. June Hill McCarroll, who was one of our many women pioneers in the Coachella Valley (and yes, woman seriously helped shape our valley). One of McCarroll’s prime accomplishments, besides being a much needed physician in the desert back in the early 1900’s, was that she was credited with being the person who came up with making centered highway markings, to provide safe driving practices. Her idea to draw on the road came from her own

experience of almost colliding with another vehicle while driving on what is now, Indio Boulevard. After trying to get the local government to put her idea into motion without success, she circumvented their inaction, and literally painted dash lines on the road herself. Through many years of campaigning for the road safety lines to be adopted, it finally was in the 1920’s, and then later worldwide. Besides all of the amazing community work of McCarroll, she also loved to entertain. Often throwing dinner parties, opening her home up to family and friends. Hence the restaurant’s name, June Hills Table. Guests will find fun drink menu items bearing her name, such as McCarroll’s

*

diner’s choice Winner Top 100 Dining HoT SpoTS in the U.s.!

Marmalade (Mezcal, kumquat, marmalade, soda and Malbec), Dr’s Order’s (fruit infused vodka, pomegranate syrup, citrus, sprite and a berry garnish) and June’s Jam (blackberries, cucumber, agave syrup, ginger beer and lime). continue to page 20

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

SCREENERS

WITNESSING VAN GOGH NOW PLAYING: LOVING VINCENT Six years ago Darota Kobila and Hugh Welchman came up with the idea to create the world’s first fully painted feature film. The subject? The final days of Vincent Van Gogh. The aura of mystery, madness and perhaps murder saturates the narrative that brings to life the world of Van Gogh as if he painted it.

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BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

No. 284

The story focuses on what might have happened assuming the artist did not really kill himself but was in fact murdered. The plot centers on Arman Roulin, the son of Van Gogh’s friend, postman Joseph Roulin, who travels to Avers-sur-Oisee investigating the truth about the artist’s death. Along the way he meets the artist’s physician Dr. Gachet, the doctor’s daughter Marguerite and the keeper of the inn where the artist stayed. Why tell it in oil paintings? “You can’t without his paintings,“ Kobiela says. In fact,

NEW BLU FOR THE HOME THEATER: KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD (3D)

in a letter Van Gogh wrote a week before he died, he says: “We cannot speak other than by our paintings.” Regarding his painting of the reaper in a wheat field, he wrote: “I saw in the reaper the image of death. But in this death nothing is sad, it takes place in broad daylight with a sun that floods everything with a light of fine gold.” During the last eight years of his relatively short life, he totally immersed himself in his artistic quest (or compulsion) and completed over 800 paintings – only one of which was sold in his lifetime. Van Gogh was posthumously proclaimed “The father of modern art.” His last painting to go up for auction brought in close to $100 million. It took 4 years to develop the technique to craft the 90-minute film and 2 years of production. A total of 125 artists created about 1,000 finished canvases. Each shot was transferred to a Van Gogh-like painting. It was a complex process. To capture changing backgrounds, facial expression and movement, each canvas was repainted an average of 76 times. However, based on the action or length of the shot, some scenes required multiple canvases, each of which the artists updated to sustain the illusion of movement and life. Between them, the artists executed a total of 65,000 frames in oil paint. Each second of the finished film is equivalent to 12 frames. This beautiful film has an eerie, emotional power that reminds of the necessity of art to assist in maintaining our humanity. Van Gogh wrote: “I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say, he feels deeply.” At France’s Annecy Film Festival where “Loving Vincent” premiered, it received a ten-minute standing ovation. Highest recommendation.

Guy Ritchie brings his dynamic style to the epic fantasy action adventure starring Charlie Hunnam in the title role. The film is an iconoclastic take on the classic Excalibur myth, tracing Arthur’s journey from the streets to the throne. Ritchie directs from a literate screenplay by Joby Harold. When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern (Jude Law), Arthur’s uncle, seizes the throne. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, his life is turned not just around, but upside down and he is forced to acknowledged not only his legacy but his fate – whether he likes it or not. This great looking (the 3D is especially effective) and engaging film is loaded with watchable making-of, and on-set extras. I liked the featurettes on building medieval Londinium, Legend of Excalibur, Parry the Bleed (on sword fighting), Scenic Scotland (location tours), Inside the Cut (how action choreographer staged the wonderful setpieces) and much more. This timeless tale is a stunning home video treat -- is even more so in Ultra HD, Blu-ray 3D. Recommended for the digital home library because it’s worth seeing more than once. Warner Bros.

Comments? robinesimmons@aol.com

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BOOK REVIEW

RAIDERS OF NOAH’S ARK -----------------------------------------------------

“ARARAT” BY CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN FICTION

----------------------------------------------------hat if Noah’s Ark really existed and was exposed to the world today? Would it change how we believe, live or treat each other? A man, his family and all the earth’s animals on a boat surviving at catastrophic flood is a story told in many forms across the globe. In Christopher Golden’s novel Ararat (St. Martin’s Press, 305 pages) the discovery of Noah’s Ark reveals more than just an old boat. Ararat is one of two dormant volcanoes in Eastern Turkey. Greater Ararat is the legendary landing place in the biblical account of Noah’s Ark. It is the tallest mountain in the region and sits on the border of Armenia (formally Russia) and Iran. The dominant religions – Jews, Muslims and Christians – basically believe that Noah really existed and there was a great flood. Author Golden begins his story with a devastating earthquake in Turkey that reveals a box-like opening on Mount Ararat after an avalanche. The main protagonists, Adam and Meryam, are climbers, adventurers, authors, and videographers, who want to be the first team to document the object. The couple is recently engaged, and believe their audience

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

BY HEIDI SIMMONS will root for them emotionally and appreciate their new adventure. It may also launch their careers globally. As excited as Adam and Meryam are, there are some troubling issues. First, it’s winter and the conditions on the mountain are more treacherous than usual. Second, Adam is Jewish and was raised by his grandmother who believed a dybbuk lived in their house, which makes Adam vulnerable to biblical superstitions. And finally, the area is surrounded with religious and political unrest. Adding to the complications, Meryam was raised Muslim, but is now an Atheist. Belief systems aside, the couple get to the object first. Three months later, Meryam is in charge of the site, which, at first, appears to be the ark of Noah. Meryam and Adam co-manage the large team of archeologists, religious experts, political observers and government officials. The ark becomes a makeshift community with offices, labs, infirmary and sleeping quarters while information is gathered to determine what the object actually is – if not the ark. The small team of filmmakers do their best to get it all on camera. When three ancient, frozen bodies are examined, and a sarcophagus is opened to reveal a mummified, humanoid creature with a horned skull, something is unleashed that starts to haunt the minds of those on the ark. Friends and colleagues start to violently turn

on each other and people get murdered and go missing. No matter what team members may believe, all agree that the exhumed “creature” is evil. As a terrible storm moves in making an evacuation too dangerous, the ark turns into a living hell where no one can escape the nightmare. Ararat is a supernatural thriller set within a structure that is most likely Noah’s Ark. As the “demon” takes possession, the significance of the discovery and what that might mean to modern humanity mostly fades. The story starts with its characters debating issues if the discovery is actually Noah’s Ark. There are some religious and scientific arguments that just scrape the surface of how it might change the world as we know it. Do you reveal the ark or keep it a secret? Examine the contents or leave it alone? Does the world have

a right to know? But as interesting as that is, none of that matters when the sarcophagus opens and evil is unleashed. In fact, the novel picks up speed and intensity when it becomes a horror story. The “demon” literally takes over. The problem for me was the “loving” couple. I didn’t particularly like either and I did not buy that the two would ever be able to manage such a significant archeological find. They are filmmakers with no scientific skills. However, I did enjoy Ben Walker, a character that shows up as an observer, but is really there to take samples for a secret US military organization. He has a Ph.D, and been around the world dealing with strange anomalies. Maybe there is something that can be weaponized? I hope author Golden brings Dr. Walker back for another supernatural adventure -- maybe even a sequel. Golden may not be an intellectual and insightful writer, but he can deliver horror a la Stephen King. Overall, I was intrigued by the story. Noah’s ark is a part of our human mythos. Yes, I wanted more depth and debate, but I did enjoy the nature of the “beast” and the possible implications. We live in a world with evil. How did it get here?

SAFETY TIPS

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

FIRE AND WINE!

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his last week the California State Firefighter Association (CSFA) Conference was held in Healdsburg, CA. It was a great conference in the wine country of Sonoma where firefighters received great training, networking, sharing ideas, and classes for California fire service personnel. I’m pushing to have it in the Coachella Valley next year! Coincidentally, September is California Wine Month. Wine has become so vital to California, that it deserves a whole month. And did you know in California, wine country tours are second only to Disneyland in popularity with tourists! According to the California Wine Institute, more than 14 million people visit the California wine regions each year. There’s a lot of talk on the health benefits of wine, but before you crack open that bottle and toast to your good health, here is what the experts. Is wine fattening? Actually, researchers say they’ve found a compound in red wine and grapes that block immature fat cells’ ability to develop and grow. “I can dispute that,” says Chief DiGiovanna. “My fat cells seem to be maturing!” There’s research on the heart health benefits of a daily glass (or two) of red

wine, as they say wine lowers blood pressure. Now who checks their blood pressure when drinking wine? The Greek physician Hippocrates considered wine a part of a healthy diet, and advocated its use as a disinfectant for wounds. I have several friends who are Hypocrites and could use some disinfecting from my life! Some studies suggest that grape juice may provide some of the same heart benefits of red wine, including reducing the risk of blood clots, reducing so-called bad cholesterol, and preventing damage to blood vessels in the heart. Grape juice or wine? That’s an easy one! One thing is important - Always drink responsibly! Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 15

DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Radio 60 3-6pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760365-6633 Dana Larson 6-9pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Open Jam 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company, in the afternoon, Hot Rox, in the night MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 4-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 T-Bone Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7:30pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Sunday Night Jam Session w/ Jos Burrell 7pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 7:30pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 The Judy Show 7pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 The Myx 6pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Darci Daniels and Reggie Vision 7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 John Stanley King & Trio 6-9:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 Hotwyre 8pm

THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Rob Martinez and Scott Carter 6:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 John Carey & Friends 6pm

MON OCTOBER 2 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 TBA 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Open Mic 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Industry Night w/ DJ Tone 2pm-close SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 T.B.A. 6pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Dude Jones 6:30-9:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Motown Mondays 6pm

JUNE HILL’S TABLE continued from page 16

Beyond the lively drinks is their fantastic food at June Hill’s Table. The menu is supported by their goal to offer locally sourced farm to table ingredients, which makes a huge difference. Chef Kevin Land insures that the ingredients are utilized to their upmost potential by making menu items all from scratch (with the exception of their bread which comes from a local purveyor). Once you bite into anything that comes out of Lands kitchen, the taste of his efforts are greatly noticeable, and appreciated. Upon being seated, I was brought a

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TUE OCTOBER 3 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Michael Lowe 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Pleyhouse w/ Alf Alpha 9pm THE BLOCK; C.C.; 760-832-7767 Karaoke en Espanol 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 Chuck Alvarez 6:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Drag Queen Bingo 9pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke hosted by Phillip Moore 9pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Acoustic Open Mic 7pm

basket of freshly fried potato chips, served with house made Blue Cheese dressing for dipping, their version of bread and butter. Something I noticed right away was that the chips came out hot and fresh! In no way was there an inkling that those chips were hanging around a heat lamp. It was as if they were just waiting for me to get there, to voluntarily jump into hot oil and then toss themselves in garlic infused olive oil, with a dash of salt and pepper. Presenting submissively in a paper lined basket with a side of cool Blue Cheese dressing. Yes, they were that good…a little too good, bordering on evil. To get a taste of different items, Cooper put together a sampler plate for me. The plate had their new Spicy (and sweet) Buffalo Wing’s, which they recently introduced for football season, a BBQ St. Louis Rib, Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Bosc Pear Bruschetta and Shrimp with Ravioli. My review will go down the line, starting with the Buffalo Wing. Of course they use cage free chicken, which comes through in the flavor and the meatiness of the wing. Although the wing had some defined heat, is was sweetly balanced by the mix of honey in the sauce. Next up was the BBQ rib, with its supple chipotle sauce, and tender meat, it was actually lite in texture, absent of that heavy BBQ taste that sometimes accompany ribs. Then came the Brussels. Oh my, oh my, those Brussel Sprouts were phenomenal! For those of you who have sworn off this veggie, please give these little guys another

PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Ladies Night w/ Rock-A-Holics 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Acoustic Sessions w/ Lance & David 7pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Yve Evans and John Bolivar 6pm

WED OCTOBER 4 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 L’il Friday: DJ set w/ Kidnap Kate 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Jam w/ Doug MacDonald & Friends 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Totally Radical 90’s w/ DJ Richie Rich 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 The Smooth Brothers 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 TBA 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Jack Ruvio 6pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 Karaoke 7:30pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 TBA 6pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Open Mic Nite hosted by Josh Heinz 8pm

chance. They are not your moms Brussels. These Brussels were on the crispy side, tossed with heirloom cherry tomatoes, an aged balsamic reduction, parmesan cheese and crispy garlic. The element of the tomatoes with the Brussels completely cut the natural bitterness of the veggie that could scare away any would be Brussel fan. It was like veggie candy. If I could, I would hand them out for Halloween. I went for the Bruschetta after the sprouts, still wanting to dive back into my green dish of deliciousness. But the Bruschetta was wonderfully smooth, with creamy herbed goat cheese, candied pecans, crispy sage, and roasted Bosc Pear, all on grilled ciabatta. The final item on the plate was the Shrimp and Ravioli. This is one of their signature dishes. The house made ravioli filled with Vadouvan roasted carrots, was served with a sweet basil and sugar snap pea coulis and a pan seared shrimp. The ravioli was so velvety, and with the carrot filling, it was almost like dessert. Amazing! And speaking of dessert, they brought some out for me to taste….oh the sacrifice. Staring me in the face were my weight adversaries. There was a Caramelized Apple Cobbler, all cozy in a single portion cask iron pot, and, get this, a Pumpkin Tiramisu. What?? Yes, they went there, all part of their fall inspired menu. The cobbler was piping hot and served with a scoop of Tahitian Vanilla Gelato, which melted lovingly into the cobbler. The bottom of the cobbler housed the caramelized apple and spice goodness. I repeatedly dove into the

HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live Music KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Open Mic hosted by Amy Angel 6:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 “Sing Jam” w/ Mikael Healey 8pm 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 PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-288-1199 Karaoke w/ KJ Ginger 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 The Myx 6:30pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Katheryn White 6:30pm TJ’S; PD; 760-345-6744 Derek Jordan Gregg 9pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Barbara Morrison Piano 4:30-6pm, Barry Minniefield 6:30pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 80’s DJ Night 6:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Valerie Geason 6:30pm

cobbler, and surfaced my spoon to acquire just enough gelato to gently accent and cool the submersed filling. It was an eye roller to say the least. The Pumpkin Tiramisu was on planet of its own. Portioned clouds of pumpkin spiced mouse, alternated with espresso cream, with lady fingers kissed with drizzles of Rum and Rumchata sprinkled with cinnamon… ridiculous! Needless to say, my dessert adversaries got the best of me. June Hills Table changes up their menu every 90 days, to reflect seasonal ingredients. Their menu is the same for lunch and dinner. Offering items from salads, to sandwiches, seafood, steak and appetizing appetizers. They are opened Wed through Sunday, and offer Happy Hour every day from 2pm to 6pm, except for Sundays. On Sunday’s they offer a Brunch menu from 10am to 3pm, with Bottomless Mimosa’s for only $6. For the quality of the food and ambience, their prices are surprisingly moderate. In addition to their main dining area, there is gorgeous outdoor seating on their patio. They also have an upstairs banquet room for private parties with considerably stunning views of the Santa Rosa Mountain’s. June Hill’s Table is a bright and shiny addition to the East Valley food scene. It is up there with the best of the best, incorporating everything and more of what makes a dining experience memorable. I look forward to taking a seat again, at June Hill’s Table. For more information visit www. mytrilogylife/polo/dining.com.


HADDON LIBBY

TAPER TANTRUM

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ince the Great Recession of nearly a decade ago, the Federal Reserve has been pumping money into the economy by buying lots and lots of bonds. Called Quantitative Easing, Fed actions have helped keep interest rates near historic lows. This extra cash in the economy has spurred business spending, job creation and stock market values. The key risks to this strategy relate to the Fed continuing these accommodative policies for too long. If that were to happen, the dollar would decline in value while asset values like real estate or stocks would rise to unsustainably high levels. Just last week, Federal Reserve Chairperson Janet Yellen stated that the Fed will begin ending Quantitative Easing during the fourth quarter of this year. The idea is that the Fed will slowly start selling some of the $4 trillion in bonds that they hold back into the financial

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markets. These sales should cause interest rates to go up. During Ms. Yellen’s press conference announcing this shift in Fed thinking, a reporter asked why inflation has remained so low despite Quantitative Easing by the United States, Germany, United Kingdom and Japan. Yellen professed that current inflation rates confused them. Janet Yellen is too smart to be confused by low inflation. She probably did not want to say that the low inflation levels were due to five things: 1) deflation caused by the import of inexpensive Chinese goods; 2) the Amazon effect whereby retailers have to sell things at lower profit margins; 3) the continued shrinking of America’s middle class; 4) a redefinition of inflation by the Fed since 1970 that now effectively excludes inflation, and; 5) massive cash infusions by the Central Banks of the World. It is estimated that the U.S. government owns nearly 25% of all debt issued in the United States. While most of that debt is I.O.U.’s from the government to the government, they also finance close to 90% of all home loans. Overseas in Germany, nearly all debt issued in Germany is now held by their government. As an example, a few months ago McDonald’s issued 10-year Eurozone debt for 0.75%, a full 2.5% lower than an equivalent debt issuance in the United States. Given these extraordinary policies by

September 28 to October 4, 2017

the Central Banks of the world, there is real concern that interest rates could rise very quickly if the sale of debt back into the markets by the Fed and other Central Banks goes poorly. When the Federal Reserve first mentioned their intent to discontinue Quantitative Easing back in 2013, the market panicked and investors began selling their debt holdings thus pushing rates higher far faster than the Federal Reserve wanted. As a result of that Taper Tantrum, the discontinuation of Quantitative Easing was delayed until now. A key problem caused by higher interest rates is that current debt held by investors is worth less if sold prior to maturity. As an

example, if an investor was to sell a $1,000 bond that paid 3% over five years after interest rates rise to 5%, that investor would have to reduce the principal value of their bond by 2% per year over the remaining life of the bond in order to find a buyer. Stated differently, the investor might have to take a 10% haircut on their bond (2% over 5 years) or $900 in order to find a buyer. Longer dated or lower quality bonds would see their values drop even more. Due to the extraordinary intervention by Central Banks, interest rates are artificially low while asset values are artificially high despite the highest debt levels in the history of the world. The Federal Reserve and world Central Banks now have a huge challenge in removing easy money from the financial markets without causing large drops in the values to stocks, bonds and real estate. Can it be done without market disruptions? History suggests that the unwind will cause unexpected results and increased market volatility. Haddon Libby is a Managing Partner of Winslow Drake Investment Management. You can reach him for a free, no strings attached investment portfolio review at 760-4496349, HLibby@WinslowDrake.com or www. WinslowDrake.com.

verdict he can hire an appellate lawyer to file an Appeal. An appellate lawyer is different from the initial lawyer. This is all done on an hourly basis and not a contingency. It is often said if you have to try a soft tissue case you have lost because of the tremendous costs involved. In addition lawyers know that the best case can be lost and the worst case can be won. It is not just the lawyer but the luck of the draw with the jurors who may dislike one side or the other. I once won a case that should have been lost. I asked the jurors outside what convinced them that my client deserved to win. I got answers like “The other lawyers nails were dirty; his belt was old and worn;

his shoes were scuffed etc.” In other words nothing to do with the case............so a trial is always a potential crap shoot. If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow 760-837-7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com. DALE GRIBOW “TOP LAWYER” - Palm Springs Life(Accidents) 2011-17 “TOP LAWYER”- Inland Empire Magazine Nov 2016 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating

DALE GRIBOW ON THE LAW

AN ACCIDENT CASE IS AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3

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f you or a friend were in an auto accident last week over the summer, then you need to know this. Auto accident litigation is confusing for lawyers and for non-lawyers it is a nightmare. Most lawyers, unlike our office, fail to educate their client about what to expect. There are 4 Steps to an Accident Lawsuit: Initially a lawyer attempts to settle and may have to file a lawsuit. This is the Pleadings phase where the victim explains in the complaint what the defendant did and how much they are demanding. The defendant files an Answer or Demurrer which claims there is not enough evidence to proceed. The Discovery phase is next and is the most time intensive. This is where both sides share evidence. It could involve written questions called Interrogatories or Depositions in front of a court reporter. Discovery should disclose facts and result in a settlement, dismissal or trial in front of an Arbitrator or Judge. At trial, the plaintiffs lawyers tries to present facts allowing the trier of fact (Judge or Arbitrator) to evaluate and rule in their favor. If the lawyer for the injured party (plaintiff) cannot convince the judge or arbitrator that his/her client is entitled to money then the case would be dismissed.

Most cases are settled because trials on a soft tissue case are so costly. Each side presents experts which are usually doctors, who often bill $1000 per hour to prepare a med report, driving to court and waiting to testify. Unfortunately law is not an exact science and an expert can be scheduled to appear in court at 8 am and the court may be tied up from the day before and thus everyone waits. Sometimes this goes into the afternoon and sometimes the matter is put over to the next day or several days. The Post Trial Stage comes after the trial. If there is no insurance or not enough insurance the lawyer must try to collect the judgement. The judge’s ruling is just his/her decision and not an order. Now the lawyer has to try to find assets. This usually involves hiring an investigator to find assets so that the lawyer can levy on the assets of the other party. This judgement can be renewed every 10 years if they cannot find assets initially. Unfortunately if the defendant files for bankruptcy that will wipe out the judgement and the plaintiff does not collect anything nor does the lawyer for all his work........and all the money spent on the case. If the defendant disagrees with the

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September 28 to October 4, 2017

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SPORTS SCENE

BY FLINT WHEELER

NFL BANDS TOGETHER VS STRANGE TRUMP COMMENTS..

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ith every piece of news on Sunday—from the Pittsburgh Steelers refusing to come out for the national anthem to LeSean McCoy saying President Donald Trump is “acting like a jerk” to the dozens of other players and coaches who made pointed comments toward the White House—I kept coming back to a conversation I had with Pete Fox, my partner in crime from our old radio show on CBS and now the Host of his own show on NBC Sports in Los Angeles. We were discussing so-called “distraction” culture, the fortress that NFL coaches had built up over the past 80 years to make sure that real life never seeps into the sport. Football coaches, historically, hate real life. They like third-down efficiency, pass protection, and the field goal unit being set with plenty of time left on the play clock. They don’t like outspokenness, typically. If you are not playing or preparing to play football, you run the risk of being a distraction—a word that has come to signify anything that football coaches do not like. Real life, however, is a distraction. Alabama head coach Nick Saban claimed to not know that it was Election Day … on Election Day, and he acted like this sort of single-minded focus was something to brag about. Individuals exist in real life, but individualism has been shunned in football

A STAGE REVIEW OF ‘OLIVER’

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lease sir, I want some more,” is one of the most iconic lines to ever jump from the page. Oliver, a Tony Award winning musical with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel, Oliver Twist, is a dramatic tale that reflects the dark underbelly of nineteenth century Victorian era London. Young elevenyear-old Oliver’s plea for another helping of food symbolizes the poverty stricken masses and their effort to want more in their lives, than the starvation diet of ‘gruel’ that they are fed. ‘Oliver,’ featuring the adorable Fabrizio Ibanez in the title role, promises to be yet another feather in the cap for Palm Canyon Theatre. This class act production tells the story of a half-starved boy doomed to a life

circles. Distraction culture is what kept many players and coaches from speaking out until Sunday. Distraction culture is likely the reason that Colin Kaepernick still isn’t on an NFL roster. But here’s the thing about distractions: Since they’ve come to mean “anything,” they ultimately mean “nothing.” In April, Pete, who also works in the press box for the new L.A. Rams on gameday, told me that the way to break down distraction culture and for political activism to take root in football is through “power in numbers.” “It’s only a ‘distraction’ when one or two guys are speaking out. When suddenly you have a whole team of guys or a majority of a team speaking on one issue, it’s no longer a distraction: It’s a priority for that team. “Any one person can be cut but when it’s a collective thing, it’s very hard to single people out. A whole team’s voice, and now a league, becomes amplified because you have more voices and they are spread across the country in different cities. It also gets a little more protection for guys who want to get involved but don’t know how and are a little bit afraid of their job security.” On Friday, Trump did the work for them by referring to any NFL player who protested as a “son of bitch” who should be “fired”—and then doubling and tripling down on his stance.

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There is power in numbers for politically active players, and after this weekend, no one is going to be afraid for their job security. The sport, and the conversation around politics and sports, has changed. We will look back on Sunday as the beginning of the end of an era when football teams did whatever they could to keep real life out of football. The NFL changed Sunday, perhaps permanently, perhaps just for the next few years, but it changed. It is not just that the president of the United States is in a war of words with the national pastime— watching football is essentially the only thing Americans do in large numbers anymore— and went so far as to call for a fan boycott. Trump’s comments so stunned the football world that the risk-averse sport came out en masse against him. Earlier this month,

BY DEE JAE COX

in a workhouse, who dares to ask for more and thereby opens the door to so many new experiences. After being sold to an undertaker as punishment for his boldness, Oliver runs away and hooks up with a band of juvenile thieves. He meets up with the memorable Artful Dodger, portrayed by charismatic Jake Mule and the almost kind Fagin, personified by veteran actor Tom Warrick, the adult leader of the band of pickpockets, who offers Oliver the first bit of kindness that the boy has ever known. Mule and Warrick are both riveting in their roles. Fortunately Oliver’s life as a pickpocket is short lived when he is arrested on his first day out. Afraid that Oliver will rat them out, the cruel and abusive Bill Sikes, (Sam Schwartz) who portrays the villain perfectly, forces his wife, Nancy, (Johnelle Walker,) to go after the boy and bring him back. Walker’s rendition of “As long as he needs me,” is breathtaking and stunning, though the intent is unnerving. A

Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills wondered why more players weren’t speaking out against police brutality, theorizing that perhaps endorsements or contracts were holding them back. That will no longer be the case. The list of NFL people who came after Trump is both long and unexpected. Terry Bradshaw, of all people, owned Trump by telling him to stick to politics. Tennessee head coach Mike Mularkey and New Orleans head coach Sean Payton both ripped Trump. Mike Mularkey & Roger Goodell, who both released a vague statement Saturday, were celebrated. MSNBC host Joy Reid framed Goodell’s statement as “claps back at Trump.” I did not know what to expect when this weekend started, but I definitely did not anticipate Goodell being accepted by The Resistance. The majority of owners then supported Goodell’s statement, ending up looking like the good guys. After a series of self-inflicted wounds in courtrooms across America with player discipline and health, the NFL league office is finally going into a battle and will come out with a positive image. Trump did something so outrageous that it united the vast majority of players, owners, coaches, and the commissioner. We are living in strange days.

BREAKING THE4TH WALL

woman singing about her unyielding love for a man who abuses her is not a lesson to teach children and certainly should never be viewed as an acceptable norm in any story, however the endearing and tragic lives of these characters are an authentic presentation of the world Dickens creates in his tale. During his brief reprieve from the pauper’s life, Oliver meets up with Mr. Brownlow, (Peter Nicholson,) a wealthy, elderly man whose pocket Oliver had tried to pick, but rather than prosecution, he takes the boy in and offers kindness. Happiness is a fleeting emotion for young Oliver and he is unwillingly dragged back onto the dirty streets. Oliver is not necessarily the uplifting, everyone lives happily-ever-after story of good triumphing over evil. Sometimes, evil wins in the world of drama. It’s a story filled with darkness, treachery and domestic violence. Yet despite the tragedy

of some elements of the plot, it is a story of perseverance, survival and hope. SE Layne’s direction and choreography is some of the best I’ve seen. Without doubt, the dance and movement played an important supporting role in this top quality production. It showcased not only a gifted ensemble of actors, but enhanced the raw grittiness of the story. J.W. Layne’s set so aptly depicted the dirty London streets, workhouses and taverns that created the backdrop for this production. And though music so often serves as a background prop, the sounds of the live musicians Jaci Davis and Steven Smith (Piano,) Dave Bronson (Drums,) Larry Holloway (Bass,) was elegant and made notable impressions on several occasions. The music in this show is memorable and performed with a true depth of feeling. Oliver is not the show to see for a lighthearted theatrical romp. And though it is a show with children, I would not necessarily classify it as a show for children. It is currently in production through October 1st, at the Palm Canyon Theatre, located at 538 North Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. For Reservations: Box Office: (760) 3235123 - www.palmcanyontheatre.org. Dee Jae Cox is a playwright, director and producer. She is the Cofounder and Artistic Director of The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project. www.californiawoman411.com and www.lawomenstheatreproject.org.


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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week of September 28

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Conceptual artist Jonathon Keats likes to play along with the music of nature. On one occasion he collaborated with Mandeville Creek in Montana. He listened and studied the melodies that emanated from its flowing current. Then he moved around some of the underwater rocks, subtly changing the creek’s song. Your assignment, Aries, is to experiment with equally imaginative and exotic collaborations. The coming weeks will be a time when you can make beautiful music together with anyone or anything that tickles your imagination. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Some newspapers publish regular rectifications of the mistakes they’ve made in past editions. For example, the editors of the UK publication The Guardian once apologized to readers for a mistaken statement about Richard Wagner. They said that when the 19th-century German composer had trysts with his chambermaid, he did not in fact ask her to wear purple underpants, as previously reported. They were pink underpants. I tell you this, Taurus, as encouragement to engage in corrective meditations yourself. Before bedtime on the next ten nights, scan the day’s events and identify any actions you might have done differently -- perhaps with more integrity or focus or creativity. This will have a deeply tonic effect. You are in a phase of your astrological cycle when you’ll flourish as you make amendments and revisions. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): It’s high time to allow your yearnings to overflow . . . to surrender to the vitalizing pleasures of nonrational joy . . . to grant love the permission to bless you and confound you with its unruly truths. For inspiration, read this excerpt of a poem by Caitlyn Siehl. “My love is honey tongue. Thirsty love. My love is peach juice dripping down the neck. Too much sugar love. Sticky sweet, sticky sweat love. My love can’t ride a bike. My love walks everywhere. Wanders through the river. Feeds the fish, skips the stones. Barefoot love. My love stretches itself out on the grass, kisses a nectarine. My love is never waiting. My love is a traveler.” CANCER (June 21-July 22): One of the oldest houses in Northern Europe is called the Knap of Howar. Built out of stone around 3,600 B.C., it faces the wild sea on Papa Westray, an island off the northern coast of Scotland. Although no one has lived there for 5,000 years, some of its stone furniture remains intact. Places like this will have a symbolic power for you in the coming weeks, Cancerian. They’ll tease your imagination and provoke worthwhile fantasies. Why? Because the past will be calling to you more than usual. The old days and old ways will have secrets to reveal and stories to teach. Listen with alert discernment. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The United States has a bizarre system for electing its president. There’s nothing like it in any other democratic nation on earth. Every four years, the winning candidate needs only to win the electoral college, not the popular vote. So theoretically, it’s possible to garner just 23 percent of all votes actually cast, and yet still ascend to the most powerful political position in the world. For example, in two of the last five elections, the new chief of state has received significantly fewer votes than his main competitor. I suspect that you may soon benefit from a comparable anomaly, Leo. You’ll be able to claim victory on a technicality. Your effort may be “ugly,” yet good enough to succeed. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I found this advertisement for a workshop: “You will learn to do the INCREDIBLE! Smash bricks with your bare hands! Walk on fiery coals unscathed! Leap safely off a roof! No broken bones! No cuts! No pain! Accomplish the impossible first! Then everything else will be a breeze!” I bring this to your attention, Virgo, not because I think you should sign up for this class or anything like it. I hope you don’t. In fact, a very different approach is preferable for you: I recommend that you start with safe, manageable tasks. Master the simple details and practical actions. Work on achieving easy, low-risk victories. In this way, you’ll

© Copyright 2017 Rob Brezsny

prepare yourself for more epic efforts in the future. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Be realistic, Libra: Demand the impossible; expect inspiration; visualize yourself being able to express yourself more completely and vividly than you ever have before. Believe me when I tell you that you now have extra power to develop your sleeping potentials, and are capable of accomplishing feats that might seem like miracles. You are braver than you know, as sexy as you need to be, and wiser than you were two months ago. I am not exaggerating, nor am I flattering you. It’s time for you to start making your move to the next level. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In accordance with the astrological omens, I invite you to take extra good care of yourself during the next three weeks. Do whatever it takes to feel safe and protected and resilient. Ask for the support you need, and if the people whose help you solicit can’t or won’t give it to you, seek elsewhere. Provide your body with more than the usual amount of healthy food, deep sleep, tender touch, and enlivening movement. Go see a psychotherapist or counselor or good listener every single day if you want. And don’t you dare apologize or feel guilty for being such a connoisseur of selfrespect and self-healing. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A queen bee may keep mating until she gathers 70 million sperm from many different drones. When composing my horoscopes, I aim to cultivate a metaphorically comparable receptivity. Long ago I realized that all of creation is speaking to me all the time; I recognized that everyone I encounter is potentially a muse or teacher. If I hope to rustle up the oracles that are precisely suitable for your needs, I have to be alert to the possibility that they may arrive from unexpected directions and surprising sources. Can you handle being that open to influence, Sagittarius? Now is a favorable time to expand your capacity to be fertilized. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’re approaching a rendezvous with prime time. Any minute now you could receive an invitation to live up to your hype or fulfill your promises to yourself -- or both. This test is likely to involve an edgy challenge that is both fun and daunting, both liberating and exacting. It will have the potential to either steal a bit of your soul or else heal an ache in your soul. To ensure the healing occurs rather than the stealing, do your best to understand why the difficulty and the pleasure are both essential. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In 1901, physician Duncan MacDougall carried out experiments that led him to conclude that the average human soul weighs 21 grams. Does his claim have any merit? That question is beyond my level of expertise. But if he was right, then I’m pretty sure your soul has bulked up to at least 42 grams in the past few weeks. The work you’ve been doing to refine and cultivate your inner state has been heroic. It’s like you’ve been ingesting a healthy version of soul-building steroids. Congrats! PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): There are enough authorities, experts, and know-it-alls out there trying to tell you what to think and do. In accordance with current astrological factors, I urge you to utterly ignore them during the next two weeks. And do it gleefully, not angrily. Exult in the power that this declaration of independence gives you to trust your own assessments and heed your own intuitions. Furthermore, regard your rebellion as good practice for dealing with the little voices in your head that speak for those authorities, experts, and know-it-alls. Rise up and reject their shaming and criticism, too. Shield yourself from their fearful fantasies. Homework: Would I enjoy following you on Twitter or Tumblr? Send me links to your tweets or posts. Truthrooster@gmail.com ---------------------------------------Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

September 28 to October 4, 2017

HEALTH&FITNESS

BY MAUREEN FOREMAN

I’M RIGHT/YOU’RE WRONG… SO HOW DO WE TALK TO EACH OTHER?

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n our increasingly polarized society, tempers seem to be rising. The “I’m Right, You’re Wrong” approach to sharing our opinions seems to be taking over. One of the flaws in this thinking is the belief that that only one person can be right at the same time. Nothing could be further from the truth! Every emotion we have (anger, sadness, fear) is based on one of our needs not being met. We all have needs for safety, affection, ease, respect, shelter etc. For example, anger springs up when, say, my need for safety is blocked by someone driving too fast near me. Or sadness can come up when someone in my life doesn’t meet my need for affection or regard. These needs aren’t right or wrong…. they just are! When we disagree with someone about a situation, it is almost always because one of our needs is in conflict with one of their needs. So, in the example above, my need for safety is in conflict with the driver who is driving fast because she is late for work and is afraid of being yelled at by her boss. Or in the sadness example, my need for affection is in conflict with the other person’s need for authenticity (i.e. the need to be honest about how s/he feels). In both cases, neither of the parties is wrong; their needs just do not match. When we get to opinions about larger subjects, these are actually layered expressions of many needs. So an opinion that taxes should be lowered could be based on my need to preserve my income, my need to feel independent and unhindered and my need to feel connected to my parent who also believes that taxes are too high. On the other

hand, my belief that it’s ok to raise taxes could be based on a need for low cost healthcare, a need for safety (through law enforcement) or a need to have my children educated at no cost. Although opinions can often be connected to income level, it does not mean that one opinion is more correct the other. Of course, philosophically speaking, certain values tend to supersede other values ( e.g. need to preserve life usually supersedes need to save money ) and recognizing some hierarchy is part of making sound decisions about which needs a society will work toward meeting. However, as we meet each other in direct discourse it is important to approach one another with empathy (i.e. the ability to recognize and to share the feelings of the other.) Even if we cannot immediately identify with a feeling the other person is expressing, if we listen and respect what the other is saying, we can usually recognize that we have had a similar feeling in the past and that they are connected to an unmet need. For example, someone who wants lower taxes could recognize that s/he has actually appreciated police protection afforded by taxes or someone who is ok with raising taxes could recognize that s/he has been resentful at times about how little is left in her paycheck at the end of the month. If we each are willing to spend just a little time trying to understand the unmet need of the person with whom we disagree (yes.. even the pundits on television and in the government!) we will go a long way to begin to closing the “I’m Right/You’re Wrong” divide in our country.

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BEAUTY

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BY DR MARIA LOMBARDO

Dr. Maria Lombardo, Lombardo Cosmetic Surgery is located in Rancho Mirage. She specializes in both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures including (but not limited to) facial, body and breast surgery, Botox, Latisse, and hCG diet program. For a consultation or more information, visit lombardocosmeticsurgery.com or call 760-610-8990. Dr. Lombardo will be writing a bi-weekly column for CV Weekly.

FALL IS IN THE AIR!

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inally! The snowbirds are returning. Restaurants are getting busier and everyone’s calendars are starting to fill up with parties and events. This is the time of year that most people really start to think about doing a little “sprucing up” regarding their appearance. And there are many ways to go about it. Fall is a great time of year to do a chemical peel. The sun isn’t quite as hot and the weather has cooled to be much more comfortable. I recommend a medium depth, medical grade chemical peel about once per year as part of a good skin care regimen. “Cleaning up” the surface of the skin evens out tone, erases those dark spots from too much sun exposure and helps the skin care products you are using to do a better job. This type of peel takes a full 7 days to complete, with the most dramatic peeling and flaking on the third and fourth days. Wednesday is a great day to do a peel so that you can peel the most over the

weekend! Smoothing out those wrinkles on the forehead or treating those pesky crow’s feet with Botox is another great option. Botox works in about 3 – 5 days and then the frown lines relax away after about a week. So if you are trying to get ready for a party or special occasion – be sure to give yourself at least a week. Of course, there are lots of other treatment options (including facial fillers, great skin care products, Latisse for longer eyelashes and surgical procedures for face, breast and body). As we enter the cooler season, it’s a great time to consider what you might like to do for yourself. Mention this blog and receive 20% OFF a medical grade chemical peel or 25% OFF any esthetician service and skincare products. Call to schedule your appointment with Dr. Maria Lombardo and/or our esthetician Adriana today: 760-610-8990.

LIFE & CAREER COACH BY SUNNY SIMON

HOW TO CRUSH PROCRASTINATION

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hile waiting for my order at Starbucks, I sat down near a man working on his laptop. He looked up, smiled and heaved his shoulders with a long, frustrated sigh. When I inquired if everything was okay, he explained he really needed to find a new job but was struggling to create a market-ready resume. As the conversation continued, I learned he had been attempting to write a document that would attract the attention of recruiters for the past four weeks. Immediately I recognized his problem. The fellow was trapped in a long bout of procrastination probably due to fear. You see, once his resume was complete, he would actually have to start using it to apply for jobs, followed by the interviewing process, negotiating a solid offer and then starting a new position. Although you may not be in the job market, this procrastination scenario might sound familiar. If it does, know that you are not alone. Once we begin to experience anxiety, we procrastinate. Finding a new job, can be as intimidating as joining a new gym, or approaching an attractive woman in the hopes of making a date. The question is how do we break the pattern? Our Starbucks customer started at the right place. His outdated resume needed updating.

In order to get to the next level, he could either vow to not leave the coffee shop until it was completed, or hire a professional to write it for him and be done with it. Obviously, he continued to struggle because each time he set out to write, anxiety surfaced. He probably wrote a line on his resume then intentionally let his attention be diverted to a more enjoyable activity, thus his downfall. There is an emotional component to procrastination. Whether it is writing a resume, cleaning out your garage or working on a vital sales presentation, acknowledge your desire to avoid getting the job done. It might help to tap this definition into your phone or notebook, “Procrastination is the voluntary delay of an intended act despite knowing you will be worse off for the delay.” To curb your procrastination habit, begin with a strong commitment to your goal. Next, stop thinking achievement will be easy. It’s work! Lastly no switching gears. Read the definition again, delay is deadly. Convince yourself there is no magic involved, just sweat equity. You will only succeed if you grind through it, get the job done and leave your selfdefeating tendencies behind. Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching and the author of the blog www.lifeonthesunnyside.net.

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