Synthesis Weekly – August 25, 2014

12

FOOD & DRINK calendar

14

EVENTS calendar

6

AUGUST 25. CHICO MUSIC & CULTURE. FREE! FREE! FREE!

MUSIC GUIDE WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LOCAL MUSIC

8

IS STEALING WRONG?

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

This week at...

HALF-OFF COVER BEFORE 10PM (EXLUDES SHOWS W/ PRESALE TICKETS)

9-10PM | 1/2 OFF WELLS T

UPCOMING SHOWS: 9/6 Con Brion & Electric Canyon Convergence

On

9/11 Luminaries w/ Soul Union

9/12. TALKING HEADS by Naive Melodies & Swamp Zen

9/13 Funk Trek & Sofa Kings

DOORS OPEN AT 9PM

9/18 Lil' Smokies & Low Flying Birds

MYKAL ROSE & REGGAE ANGELS

9/19 KZFR Fundraiser: MoonAlice

9/24 Kyle Hollingsworth & Swamp Zen 9/25 Indubious & Black Fong

Afrofunk Experience

THURSDAY 8/28

9/27 Jelly Bread with Gravy Brain

N E W C D Never Be The Same PTR200 11” x 17” Poster Adobe InDesign 05/17/11 mk

Paste OFA tag here.

BLACK STAR SAFARI SATURDAY 8/30

GREAT FOOD! LIVE MUSIC! LESSONS, LEAGUES & TOURNAMENTS!

319 MAIN STREET | 530-892-2473

ALL AGES UNTIL 10PM

OPEN MIC COMEDY NIGHT - EVERY OTHER WEEK HAPPY HOUR 2-6PM M-F POOL RATES CUT IN 1/2!

ALLIE BATTAGLIA & THE MUSICAL BREWING CO. w/ DYLAN’S DHARMA FRIDAY 9/5

EAT. DRINK. PLAY.

MONDAY

AFROFUNK EXPERIENCE w/ PITCHBLAK BRASS BAND FRIDAY 8/29

SCOTT PEMBERTON TRIO W/

25

Main

28

THURSDAY LIVE JAZZ 8PM

29

FRIDAY LIVE MUSIC 8PM

30

SATURDAY MUDSTONE 8PM

31

SUNDAY

FREE

HOUR OF POOL

(WITH PURCHASE)

Volume 21 Issue 1 August 25, 2014

For 20 years The Synthesis’ goal has remained to provide a forum for entertainment, music, humor, community awareness, opinions, and change.

Publisher/Managing Editor Amy Olson amy@synthesis.net

Creative Director Tanner Ulsh graphics@synthesis.net

Entertainment Editor

Columns

This Week...

Hey, Music!

Letter From the Editor

Get to know the local music scene and find out just how much there really is to choose from.

We have a comprehensive list of [hopefully] every band in town, courtesy of local musician and promoter Sesar Sanchez, plus our staff weighs in on a few of our favorites.

Alex Light Alex@synthesis.net SynthesisWeekly.com/submit-yourevent/

Zooey Mae, Bob Howard, Howl, Koz McKev, Tommy Diestel, Eli Schwartz, Mona Treme, Emiliano GarciaSarnoff, Jon Williams, Crown, Alex O’Brien

Comical Ruminations

by Zooey Mae

Jessica Sid Vincent Latham

zooey@synthesis.net

Nerd

Bill Fishkin bill@synthesis.net The Synthesis is both owned and published

by Apartment 8 Productions. All things published in these pages are the property of Apartment 8 Productions and may not be reproduced, copied or used in any other way, shape or form without the written consent of Apartment 8 Productions. One copy (maybe two) of the Synthesis is available free to residents in Butte, Tehama and Shasta counties. Anyone caught removing papers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All opinions expressed throughout the Synthesis are those of the author and are not necessarily the same opinions as Apartment 8 Productions and the Synthesis.

The Synthesis welcomes, wants, and will even desperately beg for letters because we care what you think. We can be reached via snail mail at the Synthesis, 210 W. 6th St., Chico, California, 95928. Email letters@ synthesis.net. Please sign all of your letters with your real name, address and preferably a phone number. We may also edit your submission for content and space.

210 West 6th Street Chico Ca 95928 530.899.7708 editorial@synthesis.net

PAGE 5

PAGE 16

Photography

Owner

pwasted@synthesis.net

For the Funk of it

Contributing Writers

Karen Potter

by Eli Schwartz

Scene Report

Joey Murphy, Jennifer Foti

Director of Operations

Productivity Wasted

PAGE 6

Deliveries

Ben Kirby

PAGE 4

by Emiliano Garcia-Sarnoff

Liz Watters, Mike Valdez graphics@synthesis.net

Accounting

amy@synthesis.net

Exotic Adventures in Smalltown, USA

Designers

Dain Sandoval dain@synthesis.net

by Amy Olson

PAGE 8

PAGE 17

Immaculate Infection

by Bob Howard

Been Caught Stealing

Madbob@madbob.com

Take an Exotic Adventure into the morality of theft, when a brazen young man gets caught red handed by our own veteran street urchin and intrepid question-asker, Emiliano GarciaSarnoff.

Supertime!

PAGE 18

by Logan Kruidenier logankruidenier.tumblr.com

PAGE 20

Kozmik Debris

by Koz McKev

kozmckev@sunset.net

PAGE 21

From The Edge

by Anthony Peyton Porter

PAGE 22

Exotic Adventures in Smalltown, USA

by Emiliano Garcia-Sarnoff

PAGE 6 FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 3

PET OF THE WEEK

Welcome Back!

I can’t believe summer is already over.

Seriously, I can’t believe it because it’s still hot as the dickens (the dickens, I tells ya!).

Yoshi Yoshi is a young, energetic dog who would likely do best in a very active home where he can get plenty of exercise. He enjoys being around people almost as much as he enjoys running and playing! Yoshi would love to be the center of attention in your home where he can get all the love he deserves!

2579 Fair Street Chico, CA 95928 (530) 343-7917 • buttehumane.org

Now Hear This SYNTHESIS WEEKLY PLAYLIST

Welcome back (and welcome here-for-thefirst-time), students. You didn’t miss too much over the summer (or over the course of your entire life—am I driving that distinction home too hard?), Chico is pretty nearly as you left it: bright and dry and full of music.

We decided to do something special for you this year and introduce you to the Chico we love best. Our cover feature this week is an exhaustive (exhausting?) list of every band in town, with a few of our staff favorites highlighted. We encourage you to memorize it (or hold onto a copy for reference, whatever’s easier), as you’ll see a lot of those bands popping up in our music calendar and may wonder who they are. No matter what kind of scene you’re into, Chico has something great to offer. That, on top of Bidwell Park and the Bloody Marys at Duffy’s, is what makes this place truly wonderful.

I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t offer you any of our traditional “Welcome to Chico” tips.

I like to keep it pretty simple:

Run The Jewels

Tanner

Run the Jewels - “Blockbuster Night Pt 1”

Liz

Milky Chance - “Down by the River”

Tara

Ingred Michaelson - “Can’t Help Falling in Love”

Dinah

Jonathan Coulton - “Code Monkey”

Andrea

Billy Bragg & Wilco - “California Stars”

Becca

Two Door Cinema Club - “Sun”

Alex

Every Time I Die - “Roman Holiday”

4

SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 25 2014

1. Lock your bike. Like, all the time… thoroughly, with really strong locks, and take your light and anything detachable with you. Lock it when it’s on your porch, or in your backyard, or if you’re just popping in for a second, or if you’re in a really nice neighborhood. Register it, take pictures of all the weird little scratches, write a preemptive facebook post letting people know to keep an eye out for it, treat every moment you have with it like it might be your last. Seriously, there seems to be an organized crime ring with mystical powers of invisibility here in town that uses their gift/curse primarily for stealing bikes and parts of bikes during the time it takes to blink your eyes.

2. We all know that forcing or pressuring people into sex is actually rape, but it also bears reminding that you should never have sex with anyone who isn’t sober enough to decide if this is what they want. It’s not rocket

science: if an inebriated person is all over you, the right thing to do is make sure they get home safely.

3. Watch out for your friends. Assume they’re full of crap when they say they’re good to drive or that they want to walk home or that the guy they just met is cool. Drunk people are stupid, stick together and call cabs.

4. The Donut Nook on East Ave puts out their fresh donuts at midnight and they’re the most delicious things that ever happened to your mouth. Plus you can watch them being made through this little window that makes the kitchen look like a donut-maker terrarium.

5. Don’t put giant, spray-painted signs in your yard that say “Daughter Drop off.” For one, the only people who will be laughing are your douchey bros, and they’ll laugh at anything.

Ain’t nobody gonna actually drop off their daughter with you. If anything, you’re just going to make women want to stay the hell away and get a bunch of people pissed off; it’s a negative return on your investment.

Letter From the Editor

by Amy Olson

amy@synthesis.net

CASH! CASH! CASH! We pay cash for your recyclables!!

CRV ALUMINUM CANS $2.00/Pound

Mountain BIG OPINIONS, VERY LITTLE GAME The movie Her was controversial in its own right, what with its heavy criticism of electronic companionship and data addiction, but featured within it was a fictional game designed by artist, animator, and developer David O’Reilly. In July, O’Reilly marketed and released a real game by the name of Mountain, and now it’s got everyone arguing whether or not it’s actually a real game. Even more than that, it’s got people debating whether O’Reilly is a sensitive genius, malicious confidence man, or just an imbecile. Although it’s been out for a while, it was only just released on Steam, and has been thrust into the spotlight that it never held beyond a curiosity ran by reviewers.

attention, Mountain has become the subject of a debate familiar in the world of art: “is this really anything?” The same was said about abstract art when it became new, and indeed, the same is often said by non-believers of video games with aspirations of seriousness.

Many spit that Mountain is not a game, only a screensaver, but a screensaver can’t save its progress and unlock secrets. Others call it a work of art that requires a deep seated soulfulness. It has been called “uplifting,” “sad,” “more real... than anything else in my computer,” and “an existential nightmare.”

Of his own creation, O’Reilly said “It can just be. Anything people discover beyond that is wonderful.”

In Mountain, you are little more than a camera orbiting a large mountain floating in space. Interactivity is very low. The game advertises itself as having no controls, and in the options menu the section labeled controls has only one option: nothing. Yet that’s somewhat misleading, as the game holds little secrets like a button that has the mountain tell you what its thinking, and keys that play piano notes and unlock secrets all their own. The real appeal is not in the direct influence, however, but rather in the passive intake of the game, the lonely mountain and its sometimes silly, sometimes faux-zen thoughts, the weather and the objects that your mountain dumbly collides with in space.

The lack of input yet definitive growth places Mountain somewhere between a complex screensaver and a tamagotchi.

Some find the game nothing less than hurtful, a figurehead of a bad trend of useless and vapid games devoid of challenge and spare of mechanics. That it was greenlighted and widely released on Steam, is, to the naysayers, the showing symptom of frivolous stupidity and braindead pretentiousness. For me, the game is somewhere in between: a light and lilting little game that tries to capture emotional experience but mostly just lives like a desktop pet with a habit for existentialism.

I don’t know if I’m playing into O’Reilly’s hands or inspiring him or what, because his intentions are impossible to know.

After playing the game and reviewing its community page on Steam, I’m not as interested in the game itself as I am by the furor surrounding it. With its newfound

E-WAStE! We pay 5¢ per pound for TV’s , Computers, Monitors and Laptops!!

And, as a courtesy to our customers, we’ll accept all other consumer electronics, such as fax machines, printers, VHS players, etc. as a drop-off, with no payments* * Some restrictions may apply Call for more information on getting cash for other recyclable materials.

2565 S. Whitman Place, Chico (Corner of East Park Avenue and S. Whitman Place) 343-5500

Whether it dreams of being a unique piece of art, a money-grubbing scam, or a satire of what will pass for a game, it’s 99 cents and a unique little creature.

Productivity Wasted

by Eli Schwartz

FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 5

A Diverting Tale BITING THE HAND THAT (BARELY) FEEDS YOU I enter [Corporate Food Establishment]. Into the cool, conditioned air; into the catchy, dispiriting muzak which comes from hidden speakers; across the [Corporate Color Scheme]-colored linoleum, smooth and hard; past the posters depicting various [Corporate Food Items].

The only other customer takes her [Corporate Food Item] and leaves. It’s my turn. I order a [Corporate Food Item]. The Young Man in [Corporate Food Establishment Uniform w/flare] prepares the [Corporate Food Item], hands it to me. I hand him a twenty, ready to take my change.

But the Young Man hesitates a bit; acts a little nervous.

Something about his behavior prompts me to glance at the

He just Clear-No-Sale-d me!

I know just what he’s done because I used to do precisely that back when I was a teenager. register readout. And that’s when I see it. The amount I owe goes briefly to $0.00 before the register opens.

He just Clear-No-Sale-d me! I know just what he’s done because I used to do precisely that back when I was a teenager.

Like all the fucking time.

The move goes like this: 1) Customer hands you cash. 2) Enter amount of sale so they see it on register. 3) Say amount out loud. 4) In quick succession press Clear (which erases what you’ve wrung up) and then No Sale (which causes the register to open). 5) Make change. 6) The register is now X-dollars over.

Take that money out later and spend it on 40 ozs and 20-sacks.

From the age of 14—when I ran away and lived on the streets for about six weeks—until I was 22 (I’m 35 now), I had a whole playbook of lame little scams like this one. So did pretty much all my friends. It’s how we got by. I lived in one of the wealthiest towns in California—Santa Barbara—but my friends, we were the (relatively) poor kids. Our whole attitude to the business community there was oppositional: they had

6

SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 25 2014

more than they needed and we had less; they wanted to extract our labor and money and we wanted to extract their goods and money. It was Us vs. Them. We had an entire underground gift economy; except that what we were giving away was our employers’. If I needed photocopies made, or CDs, or bagels, I knew who was working where.

If I needed a bite to eat, I’d go to a McDonalds and tell them that my dad and I had just came through the drive-thru and that our bag was one Quarter Pounder short. Invariably, they’d just give it to me. I didn’t even have a dad, and I certainly hadn’t just gone through the drive-thru.

I used to smuggle food out of the Soup Plantation salad bar, through the back doors, to the homeless people who hung out back there. Almost went to Juvenile Hall for that.

Of course, this sort of thing faded away. I would never dream of doing such things now.

I went to college; my morals shifted; I make more money now; getting caught sounds a lot more embarrassing. But I haven’t given much thought to what I did back then, except to briefly marvel at how crazy we all were, how ubiquitous it all was.

“Hey, Clear No Sale. I used to do that all the time,” I say to the young man. He looks down, all fidgety, freaking out and, frankly, really shitty at playing it off. “No, don’t worry,” I say, trying to soothe him. “I don’t know your situation, I respect you, man. Don’t worry.” He says nothing.

I ask him for my receipt. Sure enough, it reads “$0.00.” I take my [Corporate Food Item], go home, begin consuming it. But I’m thinking about him. And I’m thinking about that alone-feeling, trying-to-survive Teenage Me. I’m thinking about what I did back then and whether it was wrong. I’m thinking I’m going to go back and see if I can interview the Young Man. And so I do. And he agrees.

“A couple of months ago I was pissed at him and I was kinda like ‘fuck him,’ the Young Man says, between bites, when I ask him about the first time. I’m treating him to burritos and beer. The “him” the Young Man is referring to is the Franchise Owner. “It was late at night. I

just did it.”

The Owner, the young man tells me, inherited the [Corporate Food Establishment], plus several other businesses. He’s a rich Trustafarian who drives around in fancy cars.

He threatens his young employees, saying things like “I have a stack of resumes” and “you’re lucky to have a job in this economy.”

He pays the minimum legal wage.

Now, the Young Man Clear-No-Sale-s two or three cash purchases a shift on average, pocketing an extra $20 or so. No one besides he and I know that he does it, not even The Young Man’s girlfriend. “People like having secrets,” he says.

“Is stealing wrong?” I ask the Young Man. He takes a big breath. Exhales. “I think stealing can be one of the shittiest things people can do,” he says. “If I had to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ I’d say ‘yes.’ It’s wrong. But…morally… in this situation…I don’t care. I worry more about losing my job.” He takes a sip of beer.

“It’s a gray area. In this case, I don’t think it’s wrong.”

The Young Man rents a small room. He doesn’t go out to eat. He even quit smoking weed. He scrapes by. Without the Clear-No-Sale-ing, he makes just about $1000 a month. But it’s not even really about the money, he says.

“I’m not necessarily doing it to survive,” he says. “It helps, it helps, don’t get me wrong.

But I don’t like the way I’m treated. It’s making it fair, almost.”

I ask the Young Man if he’s ever been stolen from. He tells me that, once, he had a drugaddicted friend steal from him. “But that’s, like, betrayal,” he says. “That’s a whole different thing.”

“And what if the Owner were here right now, and said that what you’ve done is betrayal?” I ask him.

“I’d tell him I know it’s wrong,” he says. “But I’d also tell him he deserves it.”

Later, I call Professor Tom Imhoff, a Philosopher who, this fall, is teaching (among

one of those jobs. Because stealing diminishes you, in some way, I think. And, one day, when you own a business, remember what you’ve learned. I know you will. But to all those business owners (and we must love them, too, because they must be the saddest and loneliest of all) who use their employees and wield power over them without consideration: like the Professor says, “In this country, you’re on your own.”

He’s a rich Trustafarian who drives around in fancy cars. He threatens his young employees other things) Criminal Justice Ethics at Chico State. What Professor Imhoff says fits right in with what the Young Man told me.

“It’s all about respect,” Professor Imhoff says.

“People who hurt other people do so because they feel they are being treated unfairly.

This isn’t a justification; it’s an explanation.

It’s about the way people are made. People need respect. It’s one of the most central psychological facts about us. This guy’s [the Young Man is] acting out nonviolently, because he doesn’t feel he’s being treated with respect. Respect is central to why human beings do what they do. When you look at that—all these abstract moral arguments become irrelevant to actually changing human behavior.”

This seems right to me. When I think back to my teenage thievery, I was actually a very moral (if somewhat confused) kid. I never took anything from anywhere that treated me with respect, as an equal, as a human being—or any place that couldn’t afford it. I don’t think the Young Man would either. But I perceived the entire system as being unfair; I saw businesses as seeing me instrumentally, that is, as an object for their profit. So I returned the favor.

“If you look at societies that actually take care of their people, and pay them well, we have very low rates of violence,” Professor Imhoff explains. “But in this country you’re on your own.”

And we can’t be on our own, we can’t. We’ve got to have each other’s backs. Because, without kindness, without respect, without each other, what, in the end, do we have?

But what about justification? What about Morality? Does the Young Man do wrong? Did Teenage-Me do wrong? Is stealing just wrong?

The world would certainly be an easier place to navigate if we were to simply answer “yes.”

A moral landscape of “grays” and subjective ethical calculations is a slippery one on which to find one’s footing; one’s way.

And yet, if we answer “yes,” where does that leave Robin Hood or the woman who steals bread from a child-molesting, puppy-torturing Nazi for her starving baby?

Let me answer only for myself, for TeenageMe. I think I did do wrong. Not that my actions weren’t without justification, but that I could have done better.

Exotic Adventures in Smalltown, USA

by Emiliano Garcia-Sarnoff

But you’re not on your own, Young Man. There are all kinds of businesses that treat their employees with respect and dignity and fairness, right here in this town. There are people out there who give a fuck. Try to find

FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 7

LOCAL BAND DIRECTORY List by Sesar Sanchez at chicobands.tumblr.com Bios by Amy Olson, Alex Light, Zooey Mae, Bob Howard, and Jon Williams ALAN RIGG TRIO

ASTRONAUT

BIONIX

BROKEN RODEO

Alt Country/Singer Songwriter

CHUCK EPPERSON JR. BAND

ABERRANCE

BADGER

BLACK FONG

CANNON AND THE LION OF JUDAH

CITIES

Jazz

Metal

ALIEN HELLBOP Rock ‘n’ Roll

Progressive Metal

Punk/Rock ‘n’ Roll

BANDMASTER RUCKUS Rock ‘n’ Roll/Other

ALLI BATTAGLIA AND THE MUSICAL BREWING CO.

DJ BECCA

ALL FIRED UP

Rock ‘n’ Roll/Jam

Funk/Rock

Cover/Rock ‘n’ Roll

A.L.O.

Electronic/Dance

THE ALTERNATORS Cover/Rock ‘n’ Roll

THE AMERICAS Indie/Rock

DJ/Dance

BIG MO AND THE FULL MOON BAND BIG SLIM

Rap/Hip Hop/R&B

BIGGS ROLLER Punk/Country

BILLY THE ROBOT Electronic/Bass/Dance

Electronic/Beats Funk/Jam/Rock ‘n’ Roll/Dance

BLASTER DEAD Punk

BLOOD CABANA Metal/Thrash

THE BLUE MERLES Country/Blues

BRAN CROWN Singer Songwriter

BORN INTO THIS Punk/Rock ‘n’ Roll

BOSS 501

Rocksteady/Reggae/Dancehall

Reggae

Rock ‘n’ Roll

Post Rock/Heavy/Shoegaze

CHAD BUSH

CLOUDS OF FIRE

CHARLIE ROBINSON

CLOUDS ON STRINGS

CHEMICAL BURN

CRIMINAL WAVE

CHICO JAZZ COLLECTIVE

DANIEL VERA

CHRIS SHADT BAND

DAVE ELKE

CHRISTINE LEPADO TRIO

DAVID ENNIS

Country / Covers Jazz

Metal Jazz

Funk/Soul/Dance Jazz/Soul

Metal/Progressive

Progressive/Rock ‘n’ Roll

Punk/Hardcore/Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer Songwriter Jazz/Soul/Rock

Singer Songwriter

ARMED FOR APOCALYPSE

BUNNYMILK

BIG TREE FALL DOWN

Local globetrotting riff peddlers Armed For Apocalypse are heroes in Chico’s metal scene. Nobody really makes it “big” forming a hyper aggressive sludge metal band around here, but Armed For Apocalypse have been repping Chico among metal heavyweights such as Crowbar and Sepultura across the country and overseas, making a name for themselves in the underground with an incendiary live show. Even if you aren’t quite partial to mosh pit shenanigans, you owe it to yourself to make it out to an Armed For Apocalypse gig. The riffs are real and Nick Harris is a spectacle behind the drum kit. -JW

Kelly Brown and Lisa Marie combine banjo, electric guitar, and the sweetest harmonies you’ve ever heard to create mesmerizing, haunting songs. If you had to peg them to a category, alt-country or Americana would be the closest, but they are a truly unique entity here in the Chico music scene.

Brown has recently been adding loops to round out the duo’s sound, allowing their subdued style to carry in some of the town’s louder venues, but really the best thing to do at a Bunnymilk performance is shut your mouth and open your ears. Do this and you may come to realize that Bunnymilk is delicious. -BH

AMAROK

AVE GRAVE

Ska is just one of those things that you forget you love until you slam into a wall of horns at a house party, and when it’s good it can be so stupidly good. Big Tree Fall down is bright and loud and happy; they’ll remind you how easy it is to skank with a drink in each hand, and how uneven dirt under your feet can propel you around a dance floor.

Strangers become friends, friends become parents and then you don’t see them as much and it feels like they’ve become strangers but that’s fine because strangers just became friends! Don’t worry about it, just go see this band. -AO

Sludgy/Heavy/Metal

Doom/Heavy/Metal Amarok are so heavy it’s almost irresponsible. With songs stretching into the 18-20-minutes-long-range, these local doomsayers liberally use Occam’s Razor to pare down heavy metal into a dread-inducing distillate. You might be aware of various heavy metal stereotypes, typically involving macho posturing, flashy guitar histrionics and mile-a-minute tempos, but Amarok have no use for such superfluity, and that’s why they are among my favorite bands to grace our local metal scene. Their live shows are almost liturgical in their solemn observance of all things slow and low, and I implore you to experience it. Be forewarned: Amarok play at volumes that literally cause shortness of breath. Earplugs are recommended. -JW

8

SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 25 2014

Singer Songwriter

After spending nearly a decade in beloved Chico-based “home school rock” band The Shimmies, Sean Galloway has branched out on his own to develop a solo project titled Ave Grave. Carried over from The Shimmies are the haunting melodies and memorable arrangements that we’ve come to know and expect from this incredibly talented musician. Galloway’s voice is that rare, elusive breed in the vein of Thom Yorke or Jeff Buckley which boasts an expansive emotive sweep, and a smoothness that slides easily over each note. What really makes Ave Grave such a memorable sound is Sean’s ability to infuse his own personality into each song. Running through every song is a current that’s equal parts melancholy and self-deprecating humor, which is tied together beautifully with Galloway’s innate sense of musicality that’s been perfected over the years. After a year of working on his first full-length album, he’s kicking off a tour which starts at Cafe Coda on August 30. -ZM

Ska/Rock ‘n’ Roll/Reggae

ICKO SICKO

AUBREY DEBAUCHERY AND THE BROKEN BONES

THE HASTA LA PIZZAS

It was difficult to pick a favorite out of Chico’s thriving punk scene, but special mention must be made for the hardcore punk unit Icko Sicko. You’ll likely see these piss-and-vinegar punkers tear it up at a house party or Chico’s longrunning pizzeria-cum-punk/metal venue Monstros Pizza, and it’s a sight to behold. Frontman Danny Canchola is about as kinetic as punk frontmen get, and the musicians soundtracking his spitfire stories of alienation, blue-collar angst and social pathology drip with youthful vigor. -JW

Ah Aubrey Pope, how I do love thee… In truth, I’ve been coming to Aubrey’s shows for over a decade, since she was a solo act, singing in tones both breathy and sweet with simple acoustic accompaniment. Over the years she’s evolved her sound, going from the aforementioned breathy and sweet to rich, throaty vocals and infectious melodies, all the while building up her army of accompaniment from the angry twang of Aubrey Debauchery & The Puke Boots to the rich and diverse sound of Aubrey Debauchery & The Broken Bones. With the addition of band members Joshua Hegg, Michael Bone, Gavin Fitzgerald, Matthew Weiner and Alex Coffin on keys, guitar, bass, violin and drums, respectively, the influences have expanded in all different directions, making their live show a veritable explosion of energetic hooks and memorable lyrics that will have you kickin’ your heels up all night and singing their tunes for days afterwards. -ZM

More trashy than Grundgetta Grouch in a tube top made from a ripped up pair of BVDs, more rock than a high school garage, and more rare than a surf-riding unicorn; Hasta La Pizzas pop up out of nowhere just a few times a year to bless us with the maximum level of trashy surf rock legally allowed.

The three loveable members of this band have multiple other projects, but there’s just something magical about Hasta La Pizzas. If you hear that they’re playing, get immediately off your ass and go to there. -AO

DEAD MAN’S HAND

EVERY HAND BETRAYED

JOHNNY AND THE BOOTLEGGERS

Punk/Rock

Country/Rock

DEAR MISGUIDED Rock

DECADES Covers

Singer Songwriter/Rock ‘n’ Roll

Metal

FIGHT MUSIC Punk/Rock

EVIN WOLVERTON Singer Songwriter

DESCENT

EYERE EYES

DISCO CHURCH

FERA

Post-Metal/Instrumental Electronic/Dance

DMJ

Rap/Hip Hop

DR. BECKY SAGERS, PH.D Rap/Hip Hop

DUMPSTAR Noise/Punk

DYLAN’S DHARMA Jam/Rock

ELECTRIC CANYON CONVERGENCE Jam/Soul

ENGRAVED IN ARMOR Metal

Bass/Electronic/Dance Singer Songwriter

FILTHY LUKE Singer Songwriter

SR. FRANCIS LEE HOWARD Singer Songwriter

FURLOUGH FRIDAYS Rock ‘n’ Roll

GENTLEMAN’S COUP Rock ‘n’ Roll/ Psychedelic

GIANT’S IN DISGUISE Rock ‘n’ Roll

GIGANTES

Pop/Punk/Metal

ERIC PETER

GORDY OHLIGER THE BANJO-OLOGIST

ESOTERIC

GORILLA X MONSOON

Jazz/Guitarist Rap/Metal

Banjo

Punk/Hardcore

GRAVY BRAIN

Jam/Funk/Rock ‘n’ Roll

GUERRILLA GORILLA

Rock ‘n’ Roll/Surf

THE LOLOS

Indie/Rock ‘n’ Roll The most attractive band in town (except for Sorin. No one’s as sexy as Sorin. Nobody!) Like gypsies, they take cues from myriad styles to add unique spices to their sweet, eclectic rock songs. I haven’t seen a female drummer yet who can bring the ROCK like Kenzie Warner can. Listen to “The Style & The Substance.” -AL

Covers/Country/Rock

Punk/Rock ‘n’ Roll

JOHNSON & MILLER

HEATHER MICHELLE AND THE MAKE YOU MINES

JON HARTLESS

Singer Songwriter

Acoustic/Harmonies/Singer Rap/Hip Hop

THE MAKER’S MILE Rock/Acoustic

MAMUSE

Singer Songwriter

MANDOLYN MAY Singer Songwriter

HEARSES

JORGE JONZE

MANDY JO AND THE HOLY MACKEREL

HIMP C

KYLE WILLIAMS

MOM AND DAD

HOLLY TAYLOR

LAURIE DANA

MONDEGREENS

LISA VALENTINE

MONTH OF SUNDAYS

LISH BILLS

MOSSY CREEK

JAY DECAY

LOGAN 5 / DAXOPHONICS

MOTOWN FILTHY

JBIZ

LOS CABALLITOS DE LA CANCION

Doom/Noise

Rap/Hip Hop Jazz/Singer

INTO THE OPEN EARTH Heavy/Metal

IRA WALKER Blues/Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer Songwriter Rap/Hip Hop

JEFF PERSHING BAND

Rock/Punk

Singer Songwriter/Soul Singer/Jazz

Singer Songwriter/Soul Singer Songwriter

EDM

Multi Ethnic/Dance

Jam/Rock/Blues

LOS PAPI CHULOS

JOE GOODWIN

LYNGUNSTIX

JOHN PAUL GUTIERREZ

MAD BOB HOWARD

Singer Songwriter Singer Songwriter

Latin/Dance

Rap/Hip Hop Rock ‘n’ Roll

Bluegrass/Acoustic/Covers Noise/Rock

Singer Songwriter/Rock ‘n’ Roll Acoustic/Folk

Bluegrass/Acoustic

Covers/Rock/Motown

MR. BANG

Punk/Rock ‘n’ Roll

THE MUDDY SOURS Rock ‘n’ Roll

NINA LOCA Rap/Hip Hop

NORTHERN TRADITIONZ Covers/Country/Rock

NOTHING LEFT Solo/Acoustic/Punk

FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 9

SURROGATE Indie/Rock ‘n’ Roll

OFF THE RECORD

THE RUGS

OISTERS

SALSA BELLA

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

SAPPHIRE SOUL Covers

UGLY AS HELL Rock ‘n’ Roll/Blues

PAGEANT DADS

SEVERANCE PACKAGE

Attending a Surrogate show has become a Chico rite of passage of sorts. At each show there’s a healthy throng of folks that crowd the stage and blissfully yell every single word to every single song. During my first Surrogate show, I was confused; how did all these people know all the lyrics? After my third or fourth show, I totally got it. These boys absolutely know how to create the songs that get stuck in your head, the songs that you find yourself upgrading to a premium Spotify account for, just so that you can keep hitting repeat on “Lovers” and “Exercise Machines.” Imagine your favorite early 2000’s indie rock band and shoegaze-y pop band had a baby, and that baby wants to make love to your earholes. That baby is Surrogate. Give it a listen, you’ll be glad you did. -ZM

UFO VS. NASA

SISTERHOODS

PERSIAN SKIRTS

SHIMMIES

THE VESUVIANS

PERPETUAL DRIFTERS

SHE FETUS

WANDERERS & WOLVES

Another local outfit whose music is delightfully difficult to classify, Sisterhoods create a sonic, driving landscape over which songstress Nikki Sierra’s lush and powerful vocals weave and float. The sound the band creates sends shivers up the spine. The music pushes forward and upward from one wailing crescendo to the next. It is hypnotic, ethereal, otherworldly. Sisterhoods will transport you to the outer edges of consciousness and bring you back safe and sound, with your brain blasted wide-open, but otherwise more or less intact. Think DMT without the teeth-grinding, nail-biting, white-knuckle terror. -BH

Covers/Rock ‘n’ Roll Punk

Hardcore/Punk

Rock ‘n’ Roll/Theatrical Rock ‘n’ Roll

Rock ‘n’ Roll/Indie

PRESENT DAY ENTHUSIASTS Rock ‘n’ Roll

THE PUSHERS Punk/Rock ‘n’ Roll

PYRX

Weed Rap

RED SKY

Sludge/Metal

THE RAILFLOWERS Singers/Harmonies

Rock ‘n’ Roll Salsa

Rock ‘n’ Roll/Punk Indie/Rock

Folk/Acoustic

SHADOW LIMB Post-Rock/Metal/Math

SHANKERS

Rock ‘n’ Roll/Blues/Garage/ THE BEST EVER!

SICK BIRD

Hip Hop/Rap/R&B

SOFA KING

Funk/Rock ‘n’ Roll/Soul

SPY PICNIC

Covers/Rock ‘n’ Roll

RANDY MORTON

SURROUNDED BY GIANTS

RECKONING

SWAMP ZEN

THE REMAINDER

THREE FINGERS WHISKEY

Country/Singer Songwriter Covers/Acoustic

Rock ‘n’ Roll/Alternative

THE RESONATORS

TWISTED STRATEGIES Rock/Rap

TYBOX

Rap/HipHop/R&B

Rock/EDM

Rock/Dance

Rock

WAVES OF LEVIATHAN Metal

WEST BY SWAN Indie/Rock

WOLFTHUMP

PUB SCOUTS/ HA’PENNY BRIDGE

Post-Rock/Indie

Drums/Dance

YULE LOGS

Christmas/Rock ‘n’ Roll/In it for the money

Post-Rock/Progressive Jam/Rock ‘n’ Roll

Rock ‘n’ Roll/Country

Irish/Celtic/Acoustic

I’m sorry, but I couldn’t bring myself to separate Chico’s two long-running Celtic folk music ensembles, The Pub Scouts and Ha’penny Bridge. I have a soft spot for this kind of music, and I implore our incoming freshmen to find such a tender spot in your soul. The former is something of a Chico institution, soundtracking Friday’s happy hour at Duffy’s Tavern for the better part of 23 years, and the latter quickly established itself as a more-than-reliable source of charming originals and traditionals during its six years of existence, regularly gracing our annual Chico State-hosted World Music Festival as well as local venues such as Café Coda and the Chico Women’s Center, among others. -JW

BOGG

PAT HULL

IO TORUS

Not quite jazz in the discerning mind of the jazz enthusiast, but too good to be called anything else. See them live at Cafe Coda, and just about everywhere else, and witness the wonder of bassist Gavin Fitzgerald. You will learn the true meaning of the “bass face.” -AL

An acoustic singer-songwriter who spends plenty of time here, as well in Santa Cruz, as well as in New York. Listening to any of his six albums, you’ll notice first his clear-as-crystal voice, hitting notes with an angelic sensitivity. I cry sometimes when I listen to “My Flame.” -AL

“Progressive Metal” is a thing now, and these guys are Chico bastions of the genre.

Songs will run for over seven minutes, all expectations of dexterity, complexity, and technicality will be exceeded, and your mind will thusly be blown. Their singer Austin Lynx is one of the best metal vocalists ever. -AL

Jazz/Progressive

Singer Songwriter

Hip Hop/Rap

THICK AND THIN

MICHELIN EMBERS

COLD BLUE MOUNTAIN

ROCK RIDGE BLUEGRASS BAND

TODD HARRISON

What do you get when you combine ukelele, lap steel guitar, warbling vocals, and an archaic contraption out of the Appalachians called the gut-bucket? The answer is the Michelin Embers. Formed a few years back by Johnny Shanker to play songs under a railroad trestle, the band went through a few different line-ups before settling into the current configuration.

Let’s hope they can keep it together because the band is playing and recording some mighty fine music. From one song to the next the Embers take you from foot-stomping, to reminiscing, to tear-shedding. The band calls the style of music they play “western skiffle,” but check it out yourself. -BH

A metal band that actually does their name justice.

Bassist Adrian Hammons has the fattest tone in the area.

Listening to these guys is like riding the eagles through the Misty Mountains, with teeming throngs of orcs blackening the ground below.

I’m trying to say it’s heavy and epic music, man. -AL

Bluegrass

RYAN DAVIDSON

Singer Songwriter/Punk/Irish

RUBY HOLLOW BAND Blue/Rock ‘n’ Roll/Soul

10

Americana

Solo Fingerstyle Guitarist

TOUCH FUZZY GET DIZZY Heavy/Harmonies/Metal

TROX AND THE TERRIBLES Rock ‘n’ Roll

SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 25 2014

Blues/Rock ‘n’ Roll

Heavy/Sludge/Post - Metal

Progressive/Metal/Riffs

SORIN Metal

This is my band. It’s progressive metal. If I say anything more than that, it will be revealed how superior I think Sorin is compared to the rest of existence, so I’ll shut up now. -AL

Food &

Ol1~ .

Drink

A~ .~·~ .

~~ ~n.., CHICO

Closed

We need to drink, too!

Mon-Fri Happy Hour 12-4PM $3 Sierra & Domestic

Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday!

Pints 6PM -close $1 Off Pitchers

Closed

$3 Sierra and Domestic Pints

Summertime Special

Pitchers

$2.50 Wells & Sierra

$1.00 off PBR & Olympia Pool Rates Cut in 1/2!

Nevada Drafts during Giants &A's Games!

Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday!

Two Dollar Tuesdays!

$6.99 Pulled pork sand w/

fries or salad 25 cent wings from halftime 'til they're gone!

MONSTER MONDAY SPECIALS 6PM-CLOSE BEER $3.50/4.50/5.50/6.50 FREE Pool after lOPM

Anniversary Special

Pitchers

PB&J - Shot of Jameson w hiskey w ith bolttle of PBR only $6.50

$1.00 off PBR and Olympia Cans Pool Rates Cut in 1/ 2!

Chicken Strip Sand only $6.99 before 6 PM TWO BUCK TUESDAY 6-llpm $2 Rolling Rock, Olympia & Single Wells $2.50 PBR, Coors and Double w ells

WING WEDNESDAY! $2 for 3 Wings

Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM

Chicken Waffle Wed.!

8 ball Tourney 6pm

salad $6.99

8PM-Close $2.50 Fire Eater Shots $5.50 DBL Bacardi

Weds, Fri & Sat Nights!

PBR $2.25 Everyday!

$ 3.50 Ka mis ALL DAY!

Closed

Open Mic Comedy Night Every Other Week!

Happy Hour2-6pm M-F $1.00 off Sierra and Dom

$2 PBRs $2 Tacos!

Happy Hour2-6pm M-F $1.00 off Sierra and Dom

Reuben Sand

w/ fries or

sign-up Full Bar in Back Room

Cocktails

Come see our beautiful

Open 9PM

Mon-Fri

Patio! Happy Hour 4-6:

No Cover!

Happy Hour 12-4PM

Wander Food Truck on

$3 Sierra & Domestic Pints

Open 8PM

Bartender Specials $314oz. Slushies $4 20oz. Slushies

Open 8PM

Bartender Specials Tacotruck.biz and Beers on

$314oz. Slushies $4 20oz. Slushies

Smirnoff Promo lOPM -Close

Drink Specials, Prizes &more!

WE OPEN AT 12:00PM MIMOSAS WITH FRESH

WE ARE LOOKING FOR CONTESTANTS TO BATTLE IT OUT IN DUFFY'S 25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY GONG SHOW ONSATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 27TH AT 8:00PM.

Performers need to sign up at Duffy's before Tuesday, September 2 at Duffy's Tavern.

337 MAIN ST.• 530-343-1745 12

SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM

AUGUST 25 2014

'THE BUTCHER SHOP PB6J I $6.50

SHOT OF JAMESON IRISH

WHISKEY WITH BOTTLE OF PBR ·

Chico Jazz Collective

Baby Back Ribs $11.99 Philly Cheesesteak $7.99

8-midnight Happy Hour2-6pm M-F $1.00 off Sierra & Dom

Specials $6.50/$9.50/$13 FREE Pool after lOPM

6pm-Close $4.50 Grad teas $3.50 All beer pints FREE Pool after lOPM

Pitchers

$3.50 Soccer moms

$2.50 Wells & Sierra

$6 Dbl Roaring Vodka

Nevada Drafts during Giants &A's Games!

$1.00 off PBR and Olympia Pool Rates Cut in 1/ 2!

Mon-Fri

Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM

Rock Out atThe DL!

10 oz. Tri-Tip Steak w/

Happy Hour 12-4PM

Fries or Salad & Garlic

$3 Sierra & Domestic Pints

Enjoy Live Music, Great Grub,

Anniversary Special

Weekend Blast Off!!

8-close $5 Blasters

PB&J - Shot of Jameson whiskey with bolttle of PBR only $6.50

and 10 9' foottables Open@llam All ages untill lOpm

Open at llAM $4.50 Bloody Mary $5.50 Absolut Pep par Bloody Marys Noon- 6PM $8 / $9 SN Dom Pitchers $5.50 DBL Bacardi

Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM

Full Bar in Back Room Weds, Fri & Sat Nights!

PBR $2.25 Everyday!

Rock Out atThe DL!

Enjoy Live Music, Great Grub, and 10 9' foot tables Open @llam All ages untill lOpm

Bread $8.99 8pm-Close $4 Jager $5.50 DBL Vodka Red Bull $2.50 Kamikaze shots FREE Pool after lOPM

Baby Back Ribs w / Salad , Fries & garlic bread $11.99 8pm-Close $4 Single/ $6 Double

Jack or Captain $3 Sierra Nevada Pints FREE Pool after lOPM

Cocktails lOAM -2PM $5 Bottles of Champagne $4.50 Bloody Mary $5.50 Absolut Pep par Bloody Marys

JOIN YOUR FRIENDS HERE BEFORE

Spm-Close Pitcher

Summertime Special

with entree

What's a GONG SHOW? Hungry amateurs will compete in a talent contest that will be judged by a panel of local celebrities. If the act is so bad that the judges can't bear to watch it, they have the power to hit the gong and send the performer or performers off the stage. If they are not gonged, they move forward in the competition where they can win incredible prizes sponsored by none other than Duffy's Tavern. We are searching for that perfect act -there is no boundary! Dance, song, performance, strange tricks, anything goes as long as you don't get GONGED!

CLOSED

Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday!

Happy Hour2-6pm M-F $1.00 off Sierra and Dom Pitchers $1.00 off PBR and Olympia Pool Rates Cut in 1/2!

Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday!

Free Pool with Purchase!

LOO off Sierra and Dom Pitchers

$5.49 Grad/Garden/ Turkey Burgerw/fries

Summertime Special

$1.00 off PBR and Olympia Cans

Bloodies $3 Well, $4 Call, $5 Top, $6 Goose Mimosas $2/flute, $5/pint $6 CHEAP Beer Pitchers FREE Pool after lOPM

$2.50 Wells & Sierra

or salad

TUES AUG 26

MAMMOTH TORTA

MURMURS

9:30 PM I $5.00

J-0-ES cf~; ~Y1tf9'~ ~~!I

Lounge

V1pu1tra

C: HI CO CA

Closed

Go Downlo

BEAR-E-OKE

Happy Hour ll-6PM select bottles & drafts $3

CLOSED

BURGER MADNESS! Bear Burger with fries or salad for $5.49. llam-lOpm.

Closed

Go Downlo

BEAR WEAR! 1/2 off w hile wea ring Bear Wea r.

MUG CLUB 4-lOPM

$2.50 Select Sierra Nevada or Dom Drafts $2 Kamis-anyflavor All Day

$3.50 Tea of the Day Bartender Specials Happy Hour4-8pm 10-Close: $2 Bartender Shot Specials $3 SkwVodka Cocktails $5 Dbl Bacardi or SoCo Cocktails

2FOR1 BURGERS ALL DAY!!

MINORS WELCOME!

CLOSED Spm -Close: $2.50 Sierra Nevada, & Margaritas $3.50 Cuervo Margarita $3.00 Corona bottles & Corona Lt. Drafts

Happy Hour 4 - 7pm

Progressive Night:

$1.50 sliders and other cheap eats!

8- lOpm $1 Dom, Wells & Sierra Nevada Pale Ale lOpm - Close: Up $0.25 per hourtil closing

Closed

WACKY WEDNESDAYS (8-cl) DJ Party 4 different DJ's $lwells $2 calls $2 domestic bottles $6 pitchers of well drinks

Go Downlo

TRIKE RACES! Post time@ lOpm. Win T-shirts and Bear Bucks.

MUG CLUB 4-lOPM

All 16 oz Teas or AMF $3 All Day

$3.SO SkywVodka Cocktails $3.50 Tea of the Day Bartender Specials Happy Hour4-8pm

1/2 OFF EVERYTHING!!!

4-6PM $1 Dom Drafts $2 SN Drafts & Wells $5 DBL Captain Buck Night 8-Close $1 wells, SN Pale Ale, Rolling Rock, Dom Draft $3 Black Butte $4 Vodka Red bull

Closed

Happy Hour 4 -Spm Ladies Night!

88 pm-CLOSE $5 Pabst pitchers $2 shot board $4 Moscow Mules $3 Jamo and Ginger Buck Hour 10:30 -11:30

Early Bird Special 9-lOPM l /2off we lls

BURGER MADNESS! Bear Burger with fries or salad for $5.49. llam-lOpm.

Happy Hour ll-6PM $3 select bottles & drafts

9pm-Close $212oz Teas $3 20oz Teas $2 Well, Dom Bottles & bartender Specials $5 Vodka Red Bull

Happy Hour 4 - 7pm

4-6PM $1 Dom Drafts $2 SN Drafts & Wells $5 DBL Captain Spm -Close $4151 Party punch 22oz.

8-9pm $1 Pale Ale & Dom.Draft Up $0.25/ hr until close

Closed

Happy Hour 4 -Spm

Early Bird Special 9-lOPM l /2 offwells

Happy Hour- 4-7pm $5 Fridays 4-Spm Most food items and pitchers of beer are $5

Power Hour B - 9pm 1/2 Off Liquor& Drafts (excludes pitchers) 9PM -Close $3 Pale Ale Drafts $9.75 Pitchers

Open at 9PM

Hot "Dawgs" ALL DAY!

Mon. -Sat. 3PM - 6PM $1 Dom. draft, $2 SN Draft and We lls Powe r Hour B -9PM $3 Pale Ale Drafts $9.75 Pitchers

BOTTLE SERVICE Now Available!

Call for reservation 898-9898

CLOSED

CLOSED

FIREBALL FRIDAYS!!!

SPM - Close $3 Fireball Shots $4 Big Teas $3 Coronas

$2.50 16oz Wells All Day

1/2 OFF COVER before lOPM

LATE NIGHT EATS! kitchen open until 1 AM

Select Pints $3

$3.50 Tea of the Day Bartender Specials Happy Hour4-8pm

$1.50 sliders and other cheap eats!!

LIVE MUSIC 1/2 OFF COVER before lOPM

Opening at Spm for so's NIGHT!!

8 pm-CLOSE $4 Sauza Margaritas $3 Ka mis $3 Shocktop & VIP pint

Early Bird Special 9-lOPM l /2off we lls

LATE NIGHT EATS! kitchen open until 1 AM

KARAOKE "INDUSTRY NIGHT" 8 PM-CLOSE HALF OFF ALMOST EVERYTHING!(Except Red Bull and Premium Liquors) Specials All Day!

Call To Rent For Private Party

LIVE MUSIC 1/2 OFF COVER before lOPM

Go Down Lo

BURGER MADNESS! Bear Burger with fries or salad for $5.49. llam-lOpm.

$4 Sex On The Beach $4 Sierra Nevada Knightro ON TAP $1 Jello Shots 7-lOPM $3 Fireball

$4 World Famous Bloody Joe $5 Premium bloodys your choice of vodka

$3.50 Tea of the Day Bartender Specials Happy Hour4-8pm

Champagne Brunch llam-2pm $3 Champagne with entree

BOTTLE SERVICE Now Available!

Call for reservation 898-9898 Large selection of wines, sangrias and Martinis.

Open at 9PM Large selection of wines, sangrias and Martinis.

Champagne Brunch and SPORTS!

Open 'til 2AM

THE BEACH LABOR DAY WEEKEND ~'"'-~"'ll~EN

FRIDAY fr SATURDAY BPM CLOSE POWER HOUR 8-9PM 1/2 OFF ALL DRINKS ..

~

'"'.....;:

-

Q-

191 E 2ND 51, CHICO CA I 898-9898 FACEBOOK.COM/ SYNTHESISCHICO

13

This Week Only...

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS TO CALENDAR@SYNTHESIS.NET

BEST BETS IN ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, August 27th

LONG DISTANCE REVOLUTIONARY PAGEANT THEATRE

“Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey With Mumia Abu-Jamal” tells the story of a writer and journalist who works from his jail cell. Mumia has spent 30 years in a Pennsylvania prison, 29 of them being in solitary confinement on death row. Learn the story of his controversial conviction, his battle with the American judicial system for the right to continue his journalism, and his impact on social and political discourse throughout the world. This free screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s producer. 7pm

Friday, August 29th

SHARED.CREATIONS CLOSING RECEPTION NAKED LOUNGE

Tickets are available at LiveNation.com and select Walmart locations.

Limit 8 tickets per person. All dates, acts and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable service charges.

14

SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 25 2014

Robert Farris can’t help but be the star of this collaborative art show, with an illustrative flavor that’s unforgettable once you’ve seen it; each of his strange characters peer out of their frames into your soul, dude. Ty Mendoza’s mixed-media laser cut/acrylic/ watercolor masterpieces and Jesse Lyon’s honest, unfeigned photography make this a beast of an exhibition. Refreshments, bass music, free, 7pm.

Thursday, August 28th

THE IMPS 1078 GALLERY

Who the hell are The Imps? I don’t know either, and I don’t know why they aren’t in this week’s local music feature (since they’re from here), and now that I’m listening to them for the first time while I write this, I realize we’ve been missing out. Or they have just been holding out on us? Fat guitar tone from the Siamese Dream days, lazy/wonderful singing, and happily predictable rock songs I can’t tear my ears away from. Go see if they’re as good when they’re live. Also featuring The Loyalists (Oakland) and Aubrey Debauchery & The Broken Bones. $5, 7:30pm.

Saturday, August 30th

SCOTT PEMBERTON TRIO LOST ON MAIN

Scott Pemberton is a beast on the guitar, and I’m not sure he ever bothers to even get off the clean channel on his amp. An underrated king of the festival circuit, this guy has been #1 on the pop charts in Portland, and #4 on the Billboard Tastemaker Charts. You want to call it blues or something dumb like that, but it’s so tasteful and original that any labels fall so short of the reality that they never leave your mouth.

New & Exciting: Ongoing Events: 26 Tuesday

Duffys: Mammoth Torta, Murmurs. $5, 9:30pm

27 Wednesday

Sierra Nevada: Black Lillies. $17, 7:30pm Pageant Theatre: Free screening of Long Distance Revolutionary, followed by Q&A with the producer.

Free, 7pm

28 Thursday

1078 Gallery: The Imps, The Loyalists, Aubrey Debauchery & The Broken Bones. $5, 7:30pm Arabian Nights: Electronic Music Last Thursdays w. DJ Becca. $2 before 10pm, $4 after, 8pm-12am LaSalles: Happy Hour with Quasimofos. 4-8pm Lost On Main: Mykal Rose & Reggae Angels. 9pm Rowland-Taylor Hall CSUC: Inhabitable: The Sense Of City curator’s talk & opening reception. 5:30pm

29 Friday

City Plaza: Mystic Roots. 7-8:30pm LaSalles: Happy Hour with Matt McBride. 4-8pm Mystic Roots. 10pm Lost On Main: Afrofunk Experience, Pitchblak Brass Band. 9pm Maltese: Ladybird & The Unknown Universe, Bradley Relf. $5, 9pm Monstros: West By Swan, The Sorority. $5, 8pm Naked Lounge: Shared.Creations closing reception. 7pm Peking: BassMint. Residents Burning Man Celebration. 9pm

30 Saturday

1078 Gallery: Energy Plant Recording Scholarship Benefit. Sick Bird, Sofa King, Sisterhoods, Deedee Vest, Alex Brown, and more. $5-$15 sliding scale, 8pm.

Cafe Coda: Ave Grave CD Release Show, ft. Aubrey Debauchery, Nyx (Berkeley), Coyote Church. $5, 8pm DownLo: Mudstone. 9pm LaSalles: Happy Hour with Russ Peters. 4-8pm Lost On Main: Scott Pemberton Trio, Black Star Safari.

Maltese: The Rugs, The Royal Jelly (Sac), Grumbler (SF). $5, 9pm

31 Sunday

Maltese: Smashed Spelling Bee. Sign up at 9pm.

25 Monday

The Bear: Bear-E-oke! 9pm Chico Art Center: National All Media Juried Exhibition. 10am-4pm Chico Womens Club: Prenatal Yoga.

5:30-6:30pm DownLo: Pool League. 3 player teams, signup with bartender. 7pm.

All ages until 10pm Janet Turner Museum: Inhabitable: The Sense Of City. 11am-4pm Maltese: Open Mic Comedy or Music, alternates every week. Signups at 8pm, starts at 9pm. Mug Night 7-11:30pm The Tackle Box: Latin Dance Classes.

Free, 7-9pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm Yoga Center Of Chico: Sound Healing w. Emiliano. Breathwork, Meditation, Healing.

26 Tuesday

100th Monkey: Fusion Belly Dance mixed-level class, with BellySutra. $8/class or $32/month. 6pm Open Mic plus showcase by local musicians. 7pm Chico Art Center: National All Media Juried Exhibition. 10am-4pm Chico Women’s Club: Yoga. 9-10am.

Afro Carribean Dance. $10/class or $35/mo. 5:50-7pm. Followed by Capoeira, $3-$10. 7:30-8:30pm Crazy Horse Saloon: All Request Karaoke. 21+ DownLo: Game night. All ages until 10pm Holiday Inn Bar: Salsa Lessons, 7-10pm Janet Turner Museum: Inhabitable: The Sense Of City. 11am-4pm LaSalles: ’90s night. 21+ Maltese: Karaoke. 9pm-Close Studio Inn Lounge: Karaoke.

8:30pm-1am The Tackle Box: Karaoke, 9pm

University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm Woodstocks: Trivia Challenge. Call at 4pm to reserve a table. Starts 6:30pm

27 Wednesday

Avenue 9 Gallery: “Chico Icons 2014: Historic Heart & Arteries” Group Exhibition. 12-5pm The Bear: Trike Races. Post time 10pm Chico Art Center: National All Media Juried Exhibition. 10am-4pm Chico Women’s Club: Afro Brazilian Dance. 5:30-7pm DownLo: Wednesday night jazz.

8 Ball Tournament, signups 6pm, starts 7pm Duffys: Dance Night! DJ Spenny and Jeff Howse. $1, 9pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm Janet Turner Museum: Inhabitable: The Sense Of City. 11am-4pm Jesus Center: Derelict Voice Writing Group, everyone welcome.

9-10:30am The Maltese: Friends With Vinyl!

Bring your vinyl and share up to 3 songs/12 minutes on the turntable.

9pm-1am The Tackle Box: Line Dance classes.

Free, 5:30-7:30pm. Swing Dance classes. Free, 7:30-9:30pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm Woodstocks: Trivia Night plus Happy Hour. call at 4pm to reserve a table. Starts at 8pm

28 Thursday

Avenue 9 Gallery: “Chico Icons 2014: Historic Heart & Arteries” Group Exhibition. 12-5pm The Beach: Live DJ, no cover, 9pm The Bear: DJ Dancing. Free, 9pm Chico Art Center: National All Media Juried Exhibition. 10am-4pm DownLo: Chico Jazz Collective.

EAT. DRINK. PLAY. Find Out How you Can Play Pool for Only $1/Day!

8-11pm. All ages until 10pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm Has Beans Downtown: Open Mic Night. 7-10pm. Signups start at 6pm Holiday Inn Bar: Karaoke. 8pm-midnight Janet Turner Museum: Inhabitable: The Sense Of City. 11am-4pm LaSalles: Free live music on the patio. 6-9pm Maltese: Karaoke. 9pm-close Panamas: Buck night and DJ Eclectic & guests on the patio. 9pm Quackers: Karaoke night with Andy.

9pm-1am University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm Woodstocks: Open Mic Night Yoga Center Of Chico: Ecstatic Dance with Clay Olson. 7:30-9:30pm

29 Friday

Avenue 9 Gallery: “Chico Icons 2014: Historic Heart & Arteries” Group Exhibition. 12-5pm The Beach: Live DJ, 9pm The Bear: DJ Dancing. Free, 9pm Cafe Coda: Friday Morning Jazz with Bogg. 11am Chico Art Center: National All Media Juried Exhibition. 10am-4pm Crazy Horse Saloon: Fusion Fridays, the best country, rock, oldies, 80s & top 40. Country dance lessons 9-10:30pm DownLo: ½ off pool. All ages until 10pm. Live Music, 8pm Duffys: Pub Scouts - Happy Hour.

4-7pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm Holiday Inn Bar: DJ Dance Party.

8pm-midnight Janet Turner Museum: Inhabitable: The Sense Of City. 11am-4pm LaSalles: Open Mic night on the patio. 6-9pm Maltese: Happy hour with live jazz

by Bogg. 5-7pm. LGBTQ+ Dance

Party. 9pm Panamas: Jigga Julee, DJ Mah on the patio. 9pm Peeking: BassMint. Weekly electronic dance party. $1-$5.

9:30pm Quackers: Live DJ. 9pm Sultan’s Bistro: Bellydance Performance. 6:30-7:30pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm

30 Saturday

Avenue 9 Gallery: “Chico Icons 2014: Historic Heart & Arteries” Group Exhibition. 12-5pm The Beach: Live DJ, 9pm The Bear: DJ Dancing. No Cover.

9pm Chico Art Center: National All Media Juried Exhibition. 10am-4pm Crazy Horse Saloon: Ladies Night Dancing. 10pm-1:30am DownLo: 9 Ball tournament.

Signups at noon, starts at 1pm. All ages until 10pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm Janet Turner Museum: Inhabitable: The Sense Of City. 11am-4pm LaSalles: 80’s Night. 8pm-close Panamas: DJ Eclectic on the patio.

9pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm

31 Sunday

Chico Art Center: National All Media Juried Exhibition. 10am-4pm Dorothy Johnson Center: Soul Shake Dance Church. Free-style dance wave, $8-$15 sliding scale.

10am-12:30pm DownLo: Free Pool, 1 hour with every $8 purchase. All ages until 10pm LaSalles: Karaoke. 9pm Maltese: Live Jazz 4-7pm. Trivia 8pm Tackle Box: Karaoke, 8pm

LESSONS, LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS! GREAT FOOD! LIVE MUSIC! 319 Main Street (530) 892-2473 FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 15

Because, FUNK… Duuh!

BY TOMMY DIESTEL Just off Highway 70, about 50 miles east of Chico, is Belden Town: a quiet town in the foothills with a whopping population of 20. Or maybe it was 24. The town also has a habit of exploding with noise, color, and people partying by the river. This summer alone, Belden has already hosted Raindance, StillDream, and For The Funk Of It music festivals. Last weekend, For The Funk Of It brought in around 200-300 people from around the state for two days and nights of funk. The whole shabang was organized by Chico’s own Bob Backstrom and Spencer Rouse (better known as DJ Spenny on KZFR).

Of course they had help from many figures behind the scenes to set the whole event off, but the festival was the brainchild of the local duo. Funk by the river up in the hills. What a simply genius plan. The location couldn’t have been better. If you’ve never been to Belden Town, put a trip down the highway on your bucket list. Your first vision as you cross the old one lane bridge is a gorgeous scene of the river, and if there’s a festival happening, probably some hippies hootin’ and hollerin’ during a swim. There’s great river access in Belden, and if you snag the right camping spot, you can find yourself sleeping on the beach.

On The Town 16

PHOTOS BY VINCE LATHAM FACEBOOK.COM/VANGUARD.PHOTOGRAPHY

SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 25 2014

The music was equally as incredible. True to the name, For the Funk of It was jam packed with funk bands from all around. There were

representatives from Davis, Sacramento, Reno, Fair Oaks, the Bay Area, and of course Chico.

It was an impressive lineup for the first year of a festival. Mojo Green, Jelly Bread, Swamp Zen, The Nibblers, all made appearances with some lesser known acts (at least on my radar) such as Zuhg!, Groovincible , Big Sticky Mess, Funk Revival Orchestra, and City Of Trees Brass Band. City Of Trees was my personal favorite. Tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, and a sousaphone. Enough said. Oh, and they’re from Sac. I can’t remember the last time I was anywhere the “Brass Instrument Players” to “The Rest of Us” ratio was tipped so far towards the brass end. The highlight of the weekend was definitely when Mojo Green brought up nearly every horn player from all the other bands for “Hornageddon.” They destroyed funk classics and left the crowd begging for more. If that’s what armageddon really sounds like, I’m in.

The people at festivals are almost half the fun.

It being the first year, there weren’t as many as I expected to see. But that made things really intimate. Even after only two days, I felt like I had met half the festival. Meeting the other half is just a hazy blur. Some festivals give off a shady vibe, but the opposite was true in Belden last weekend. I heard one guy even got his wallet returned by a stranger, with all the money in it too.

So, for all you newly arriving students: if you’re looking for something to do besides frat parties, setting couches on fire, or trashing the town, start with the music scene. It’s a bit more entertaining.

Cyberbullied by Satan Ah, that smell is in the air… the smell of keys on lanyards, shower flip-flops, and the collective anxiety of both the new students and locals (albeit for different reasons). The students are back, and as they all try to figure out the one-way streets and how 1st st. and 1st ave. differ, I’ve been watching the locals regard them with a healthy mix of apprehension and resigned acceptance.

It’s a weird time here in Chico, and everywhere else, really. Scary, depressing things are happening in Missouri, people are posting self-delighted videos online of themselves being baptized in the fresh feeling of not donating to charity (aka “raising awareness”), and in Poland, demons have finally mastered the insidious art of texting. (Cue the Bernard Herrmann Twilight Zone music). Regarding that last bit, a Polish priest named Marian Rajchel has come forward to reveal that he’s begun to receive texts from a demon he tried (unsuccessfully) to exorcise.

Rajchel was attempting to exorcise the demon from a teenage Polish girl, and became aware after the ritual was finished that it didn’t take, as now he was being contacted by Satan by text. One such message read “She will not come out of this hell. She’s mine. Anyone who prays for her will die.” After the priest responded, the devil hit him back, hard.

“Shut up, preacher. You cannot save yourself.

Idiot. You pathetic old preacher.” Satan really doesn’t use as many obscenities as I would have thought. His insults are a little wooden,

and to me they read much less like the prince of darkness, and more like a group of Polish priests who decided it would be funny to prank their fellow brethren. Maybe I’m wrong and this truly is Beelzebub, but he’s just new to the texting game, as the technology is a little behind in Hell. He’s probably texting from the same sort of flip phone I used in high school. It had an antennae and weighed about three pounds. I also had to dial a 10-15 digit number before dialing out. I think in the six months that I owned it, I made a total of one successful call on it, and it was to let my parents know that I’d figured out how to call out on my cool cell phone. I imagine that ol’ dastardly Lucifer was probably having the same issue. After waiting so long to be an antennae-pulling, flip phonin’ member of society, it was just too much pressure to dial that crazy long number and have to think of a good burn. Next he’ll probably have a bunch of pizzas sent to the priests house, throw some TP up outside, then rearrange the letters on his church marquee to read “priest Rajchel sux, devil rules!”

Anyway, before I sign off I’d just like to say a quick thank you to the people who sent letters with kind words, especially to DL Plummer, I appreciate the support and your continued readership!

Comical Ruminations

by Zooey Mae

zooey@synthesis.net

PHOTOS BY VINCE LATHAM FACEBOOK.COM/VANGUARD.PHOTOGRAPHY

On The Town

FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 17

Seems Strange To Me EBOLA IN THE USA, MORE SENSITIVITY LESS CYA, AND THE FRUITLESS QUEST FOR A RESTFUL NIGHT OF SLEEP. Ebola, WTF, CDC?!?

I don’t think I’ve had a decent night sleep since last Tuesday. Things are starting to get weird. Apparently a patient with Ebola may have been admitted to Kaiser in Sacramento.

I’m not big into conspiracy theories, but the Ebola thing is freaking me out. It’s primarily in Africa, but now we’ve moved patients to Atlanta, Georgia. That makes no sense. If an already virulent disease becomes even more contagious, and manages to break through the constraints that, up until recently, had worked to manage the disease, then why in God’s name would we take infected patients and fly them across the world to the middle of the United States? That seems strange to me.

Ferguson It seems strange to me that the police would gun down an unarmed man. Sadly it doesn’t seem that strange though, because it happens

18

SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 25 2014

with too much frequency. The reaction of the Ferguson police, toward the citizenry protesting against a pattern of abuse and corruption—that is really strange. I’m not sure they could have reacted worse than they have done, assuming their goal is not to enrage the entire community along with heavy swaths of the country.

I suppose though when you back a mad dog into a corner it goes into attack mode. But at some point the people of Ferguson must be asking the police: “Exactly who are you protecting, and who are you serving?” I’ve heard the argument made that people need to calm down and let the powers that be sort through the evidence to arrive at a conclusion.

It’s level-headed and rational sounding, but when the people have completely lost faith in the “powers that be” where does that leave them?

The police, so far as I can tell, could use a few less CYA classes and a few more “how to be a decent human being” sessions. Stop bashing protesters, shooting them with rubber bullets, and barking “STOP RESISTING!” at anybody with a pulse. We all get it, you have to cover your asses. It’s a litigious era we live in.

Somewhere along the line your super-genius bosses figured out that if you pretend for the cameras that everyone is resisting arrest, then you can pretend in court that you had valid reasons for bashing people around, and you won’t find yourselves on the losing end of so many lawsuits. Hey, it’s a tough job and there are a lot of first-class idiots out there. On top of that, any one of us more or less reasonable people could get pushed over the edge and go apeshit one day. Still, if you keep widening the gap between you and us, eventually we are going to realize we don’t have all that much use for you.

On a Personal Note

open, and my ears itch—the right a lot more than the left. Kiki the dog is whining at me, and Trish, sound asleep, has somehow rearranged the bedding so that there is no way I’m getting a comfortable and relaxing rest tonight. That’s okay, the couch beckons.

Immaculate Infection

by Bob Howard Madbob@madbob.com

Serve, MF’ers!

My back is aflame, I can barely keep my eyes

PHOTOS BY JESSICA SID

On The Town

FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 19

LIFE IN CHICO Do you like Life in Chico? So do we! -“Like” Life in Chico, CA facebook.com/ChicoCA

SUPERCLEAN Pros High Performance Detail Cleaners Residential and Commercial Cleaning Services!

• Apartment

• Business

• Home

• Warehouse

• Office

• and more!

Cost Effective, Customer Friendly Cleaning Service Fees FREE estimates with walk- through site inspection (530)774-1175 http://supercleanpros.webs.com 20

SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 25 2014

“We clean to YOUR specifications!”

by logan kruidenier logankruidenier.tumblr.com

AUGUST 25, 2014

BY KOZ MCKEV

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Get you nose into your work.

Seek a peaceful resolution to conflicts that arise with others. Be alright with minor victories. Use ultimate caution while working. Routine can be dangerous. The new moon emphasizes service to others, charitable causes, and personal health issues.

It’s cleanup time. Make order and cleanliness a priority.

Wednesday through Friday looks good for romance and negotiations. The weekend might have you being led by other people’s wishes. Look out for accidents and a devilmay-care attitude on Sunday.

The beginning of a positive new start comes to you this week. The new moon allows you to take action with ease.

Projects involving children or art give you a sense of pride.

In fact, you find it overall easier to give. Your luck is about to take a turn for the better.

People around you feel a little more down to earth. Stick with your best values and healthiest diet. The weekend looks good for romance, negotiations, cautious travel, and listening to open enemies. Be accepting of conflict as part of the human condition.

Take note of your surroundings and see how you feel about them. Mercury in your fourth house signifies a good memory and learning from history. The new moon gives you a chance to reconnect with your mother and to honor the elders and ancestors. Wednesday afternoon through Friday looks good for discovering your fun zones, as well as engaging in creative activity. The weekend looks good for volunteer work, charitable causes, and taking care of personal health issues. It’s also a good time to straighten up things and get organized.

The new moon in your third house signifies a time of new information, quick trips, working with your friends, and old relationships. This is a good time to write in a journal, listen twice, and do your research before jumping to snap judgment. Not all is how it appears to be on the surface. Domestic duties and family could dominate Wednesday afternoon through Friday. The weekend looks good for travel, love affairs, playtime, and creative expression. Realize the human tendency to be a little bit unconscious. Slow down and practice patience.

Keep things practical and simple. Be quick to praise, slow to criticize. Money issues are best addressed this week. The new moon emphasizes money, food, resources, and values. Families with individuals who have unique needs are more in focus. Seek sensible solutions. Work on improving your relationship with your community at large. Enjoy singing and cooking when you get the chance. Put on a new face. Keep desire under wraps. Allow a more modest approach to living to help you to go to new places.

It’s all about you. Time to harvest grapes, and celebrate the most earthy pleasures of abundant food and gentle weather. Assess your resources. Set a goal. Mercury in your sign gives you a clear vision. Take in the details, appreciate your senses. Be aware of things you can do to make your life better. The new moon in Virgo brings health awareness, environmental consciousness, and a willingness to accept the challenge of improvement. The weekend looks good for a small trip, an artistic event, or an ecological clean up.

Libra

Scorpio

Saggitarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Seek a vision. Allow yourself some alone time or downtime. Get plenty of sleep.

This might be a good time to begin a dream journal. The new moon is all about your personal karma. Don’t judge it. Just work with it the best you can. Helping those in isolated places, like prisons and hospitals, can give you good karma. Wednesday afternoon through Friday brings you into a better emotional space with the moon in Libra. Work with family members, but try to keep things within budget over the weekend. Good friends can still help you.

Good people are all around you. Give thanks for them.

Things move forward in your life. Demonstrate a sense of art and beauty at work. Be ready to use your personal power for good. Cautious, slow moves like a Tai Chi master at work can be your vision.

Flow slowly like the broad part of a river. The new moon gives you good social contacts and an ability to plan for the future. The weekend features the moon in Scorpio. Be ready to host a party or organize a gathering. Be more open and a little less guarded.

Right and wrong are things that most folks hold some sort of commonality with.

Don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t sleep with your friends spouse, don’t murder or harm another human in any way. Your truth is shared universally. Look for exotic differences without judging them. Get beyond your fear factor and eat unusual food.

The new moon can help your career and get you out and in the public eye more. The weekend looks good for laying low, meditating, praying and paying more attention to your personal karma.

You’re in a good space where blessings and good fortune can come to you. It’s time to be more of a giver and less of a user. The new moon honors your ability to help others and to make good karma.

Travel and higher education go very well with this theme.

What person, place or subject makes you curious? Satisfy your hunger for knowledge.

Visit libraries and bookstores.

Go to different places of worship. Make yourself socially available to do the right thing. Confront your fears.

This time around you’ll find yourself victorious.

The hard news never feels good. During this period you are acutely aware of your need to go along with other people or the majority when it may not serve your practical knowledge. You appreciate people’s differences, yet sometimes they don’t serve your best interests. The new moon brings transformation, change, dealings with other people’s property, sex, death, birth, and occult studies.

There may be more to this life than what we know with the five senses. It’s time to explore those extra sensory modes of knowing.

The calm in the eye of the hurricane is where you’re at these days. Take advantage of this calm to make romance, engage in new friendships, and to hustle a good contract for yourself. The new moon emphasizes diplomacy, giving, and viewing love as service.

Accept others and accept yourself equally. You know how to be fair and thoughtful of others. The weekend looks good for travel, spiritual work and educating yourself on a deeper level. Have fun getting healthier, more organized and working with others with a common vision.

Koz McKev is on YouTube, on cable 11 BCTV and is heard on 90.1FM KZFR Chico. Also available by appointment for personal horoscopes call (530)891-5147 or e-mail kozmickev@sunset.net FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 21

Pet Care Some years ago a Gentle Reader took me to task for not sterilizing a family of cats that had appeared under our deck. Not only did I not have their sexual organs removed, I even gave them water, though not food. My position at the time was that if it was my responsibility to sterilize the uninvited cats, I should also sterilize the equally uninvited squirrels, the occasional raccoon, and perhaps the possum next door. I was unwilling to maim another species and didn’t do anything, and the cats eventually moved out intact.

Spock, our late dog, was unfixed to the end.

Spock’s life was no doubt affected by his whole genitals, and I have no reason to think the experience was anything but positive. I’ve certainly enjoyed having my genitals on me at all times—I think a little empathy warranted here—and I expect Spock did, too. I know he did at least once, and the puppies were stunning.

Now I’ve got this kitten, see—Hobbes. My son got him from a guy with three of them in a cardboard box at the Farmers’ Market. I’m the grownup, though, and I feed Hobbes and maintain his litter box, and it was immediately clear that if Hobbes is to have any care beyond cuddling I’ve got to do it.

My son thinks shots are unnecessary, and of course he’s right. Hobbes might do just fine with no shots. I guess that’s what my parents thought about Tag. Oddly, I’m not crystal clear about what went on when I was nine or so, after Penny, our Cocker Spaniel, had puppies presumably sired by King, the Alpha free dog in our neighborhood. Blackie and Curly were both vicious and roamed only to the end of their chains. Anyhow, Penny whelped and I ended

From The Edge

by Anthony Peyton Porter

22

SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 25 2014

up with a puppy, Tag, who was black and white and managed to look a lot like Tippy, a stuffed animal from earlier in my saga.

After several weeks Tag stopped eating, his eyes got rheumy, and the vet in Roseland said it was distemper and there was nothing he could do for Tag but put him to sleep. He said that all Tag had needed was a shot and he would’ve been all right. He never got the shot, though, and the vet said we probably picked up germs on our shoes or something and the germs made Tag so sick that it was better to kill him than let him suffer, and he was gonna die either way. We left him there on that steel table, and my father stayed while my mother and I went out and waited in the car.

Janice and I resisted inoculations for the boys for a few years, until the system wore us down, and we gave in. I think human inoculations far more likely to be vehicles for totalitarian mischief than cat shots, and I remember the heartbreak of leaving Tag on that table in that room, so I got Hobbes the recommended injections. He may be a zombie for the government, but he’ll be a healthy zombie.

Sterilization is a separate issue.

this

We’re looking for an advertiser who’d like to take a dedicated spot next to From The Edge!

If you’re interested, please contact: A M Y @ SY N T H E S I S . N E T

I’m not ready to decide what the correct number of cats is, and I suspect that any such decision is arrogant and short-sighted. I hear that males’ spraying is fairly stinky, which sounds unpleasant and yet may be bearable.

We’ll see.

Warning: I’ll be performing in the Butcher Shop theatre festival August 29, 30 and 31, 2500 Estes Road, at the end of Normal Street at an almond orchard near the creek. Look at slowtheatre.com

LOOKING FOR

THE HOROSCOPES? << CHECK PAGE 21

s-vsaY •SD11SSDA"I' pest tllH'- 10P"'