DLM (November)

The FRI

PARTISAN

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

432 W Main St, Merced CA www.partisanmerced.com

BATTLEHOOCH

BUS STOP W BOXER I T ROCK AND ROLL H MERCED CA

11/15 9:00pm

$5

INDI ALT ROCK

SAN FRANCISCO

LARRY AND

FRI

THE SLAUGHTER

W I HIS FLASK T INDI AND SPEEDGRASS H BEND OR

11/22 8:00pm

$7

DAUGHTERS GOTHGRASS FROM

WICHITA KS

DESTRUCTOBUNNY’S

FRI

11/29

ANNUAL BLACK FRIDAY CELEBRATION WITH SCARUB - DEFIANT STRIKE CREW - ATLANTIS RIZING DTHAMC - AND MORE

9:00pm

$7

FRI

LITTLE JOHNNY

THE

W I SLEEPWALKERS T ROCKABILLY - PSYCHOBILLY MERCED CA H AND THE

12/6

9:00pm

$5

FRI

NOTALAUTS PUNK ROCK

MODESTO CA

BIG EARL

MIKE HAMMAR W AND I THE NAILS T BLUES H MERCED CA

12/13 8:00pm

$10

FRI

12/20

HARRIET

$7

LOS ANGELES CA

9:00pm

INDI ROCK

AND THE CRYIN SHAME BLUES

MODESTO CA

W I T H

AWAHNICHI AND

NILLO SMEDS

2013 BRAINGAZM TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS THREE GAMES - ONE WINNER

FRI

12/27 6:00pm

TEAMS OF SI� PEOPLE COMPETE TO BE THE 2013 CHAMPIONS

12/31 9:00pm

NEW YEARS EVE PARTY

$5

DJS - KARAOKE - LIVE MUSIC - RAFFLES - AND GIVEAWAYS

TUE

MONDAYS

OPEN MIC

BRING YOUR TALENT

WITH

TUESDAYS

WEEKLY BRAINGAZM EVENTS A LIVE GAME SHOW

WEDNESDAYS

KAROKE

YOU SING THE SONG

THURSDAYS

THE SOCIAL

AN EDM DANCE PARTY

Contents

The Players PUBLISHER: Tom Price tom@thedlm.com ASSOC. PUBLISHER: Janna Rodriguez janna@thedlm.com CONTENT EDITOR: Nathan Quevedo nathan@thedlm.com WEB GURU: Kenneth Nelson kenneth@thedlm.com

Kat Crippen

Local piercer takes a poke at DLM writer, Theresa Hong.

Page 10

DISTRIBUTION: Donna Nelson donna@thedlm.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & EDITORS: Nathan Quevedo, Jim Kocher, Theresa Hong, Amber Kirby.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Dan Hong, Cindy Panyanouvong.

Hotel California

Eagles tribute band performing at Castle Air Museum benefit show.

Page 13

The Cover COVER: The Fashion Issue

Paul Rodriguez Comedian returns to his roots with show at Merced Theatre.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Dan Hong MODELS: Fashion bloggers Mariah Exum and Cindy Panyanouvong

Page 15

Christmas Carol

Playhouse veteran returns to stage to take on Ebenezer Scrooge.

Page 18

Fashion Focus

Issue 50 Volume 4

DLM fashion bloggers spotlight to MC art professors.

Page 24

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AR T

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CULTURE

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7 PAGE SEVEN Picture of the Month Gunner Joachim wins this season of Drama Island. He edged out Tina De Leon and RC Essig who was looking to become the first repeat winner.

Tip of the p Ca A super congratulations to Gunner Joachim for taking the title at the most current season of Drama Island at Playhouse Merced.

Also a round of applause for Rafael Barajas, Oscar Torres and Roger Wyan for their wonderful exhibit currently up at the Merced County Arts Council .

Do you know a person or an organization who deserves at Tip of the Cap? Send us your tips to tips@thedlm.com

Sudoku

October Issue answers

S SHORTS

Illustration by Alana Perlin

Merced College faculty work on display at art gallery

M

erced College Art Gallery presents “Merced College Fine Arts Faculty Exhibition,� an exhibition of photography, painting, sculpture, digital art, ceramic art and mixed media created by the Arts Division faculty of Merced College.

There will bew an opening reception on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. The exhibition will run through Dec. 5.

The Merced College Art Gallery is located at 3600 M Street, in the Theater Building at Merced College. Art Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and in conjunction with theater events. Visits may be arranged at other

times by calling Susanne French, Art Gallery Coordinator at (209) 384-6064 or emailing french.s@mccd.edu.

This event is free to the public and parking is enforced.

The Jump visit www.thedlm.com for an expanded story and to see the video.

Illustration by Alison Rush

Artageddon

Art will live — Art Will Die A unique art challenge pitting original works by 16 artists versus each other in a battle to death will take place at the Multicultural Arts Center.

Sixteen artists were given identical paint supplies, canvases and time to complete an acrylic painting. Each artist agreed to pit their painting up against other work in a live audience vote on Judgement Day Nov. 15. The work that loses, is subjected to one of six cruel destructions, which include chain saw, acid bath and firing squad. The crowd can rescue the painting by bidding on the piece in an auction. All money raised will go to the Merced County Arts Council.

“I think the appeal of an event like this is that I’ve never seen anything like it. I have absolutely no idea what to expect,” says Jordan Cowman, an organizer and participant. “It’s hard to know how it will

feel if my painting is destroyed, because I’m not sure what the room is going to look like.

If everyone in the room is screaming for blood when my painting is on the chopping block, it might make it a little harder to stomach.”

Joey Essig, MCAC Operation Director says the event will force attendees to answer a simple question — how important is art to you?

“The interesting concept of this competition is you are immediaetly forced to value art. You might like a painting and if it is up for destruction, you, as the person who likes it are the only one that can save it,” says Essig. “How important is to you?

Will you do it, or will you not do it?”

Doors for the Artageddon — Judgement Day open at 7 p.m. on Friday Nov. 15. Cost to enter is $7.

Kat Crippen Words by Theresa Hong theresa@thedlm.com

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I

t started at The Partisan — at least my experience with Main Street Tattoo’s Kat Crippen, piercer extraordinaire. Probably not the best scenario for most to talk piercings, as this type of commitment usually requires more than a few strong drinks, but for me, it worked.

to a mall kiosk where a young teenager proceeded to load a device with a stud earring that looked like a Star Trek phaser, press the trigger and shot the jewelry into my small, tender virgin earlobes.

It hurt like hell. But, again, like most young girls, this was the normal process — a rite of passage even — into the world of piercings. Speaking with Crippen, this is NOT the way to get pierced — ever.

“The piercing gun is really a violent way to get pierced,” she explained to me You see, I’ve been contemplating a nose piercing for a while but simply didn’t know over a bourbon and cola. “It’s also not very sanitary.” enough about the process. Too, I knew of According to Crippen, most piercing Kat, but didn’t know her personally — I was guns are made with cheap plastic and aware she was a piercer and came highly recommended, but, call me old-fashioned, can’t be properly sterilized like a needle.

Additionally, she explained, the gun I’m the type of individual who kind of forcefully shoves the jewelry into a wants to know the person who will drive a

“I can’t believe that I’m actually working at Main Street — they really are like family and I’ve never felt more at home anywhere — I really, really love what I do and appreciate Main Street letting me expand.” — Kat Crippen sharp needle through my skin.

What I learned over several drinks with Crippen is not only is she a hell of a nice person, but really knows the ins and outs (yes, pun intended) of the piercing process.

Piercing since December 2010, Crippen apprenticed under House of Homage piercer and tattoo artist Jesse Villarreal.

“I apprenticed for a year before shoving myself into a piercing position in Turlock,” she laughed. “Now, I can’t believe that I’m actually working at Main Street — they really are like family and I’ve never felt more at home anywhere — I really, really love what I do and appreciate Main Street letting me expand.”

Like most women of my (ahem) generation, when I decided I wanted my ears pierced at the ripe age of eight-years old and my parents consented, I was taken

person’s skin, tearing it apart as opposed to piercing.

“This can lead to pretty nasty infections and you also have the risk that the piercing won’t heal right,” she said. “A piercer who uses a needle usually goes through more extensive training and learns important stuff like avoiding hitting nerves, as well as the importance of keeping everything sterile, including the workspace.”

Crippen, a consummate professional, is also planning on joining the Association of Professional Piercers (APP), an international, nonprofit organization that according to their website is “dedicated to the dissemination of vital health and safety information about body piercing to piercers, healthcare professionals, legislators and the general public.”

“I want to be one of the first in Merced THEDLM.COM

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to join AAP,” she said. “APP membership is important because it sets standards that must be met for running a studio, like maintaining a sterile environment and using implant-grade jewelry.”

Krippen, who recently stocked her studio with an even larger selection of highquality, implant-grade jewelry for both new piercing and healed piercings, says another important component to the piercing process is the jewelry.

“One of the most uncommon facts about body jewelry is that ‘surgical’ stainless steel is not made to be in the body for long periods of time – stainless steel is what medical tools are made from, which is why people always throw the word ‘surgical’ into the name,” she explained. “But, there are huge differences between implantgrade steel and surgical steel, for example, you might see a high-nickel content in one piece, which could be problematic because humans are allergic to nickel in varying degrees. So, wearing a surgical stainless steel piece over a long period of time can cause serious allergic reactions, like redness, swelling and discharge from the piercing.”

Who knew? Bottom line, Crippen explained, the right jewelry is just as important as finding a reputable piercer.

“With proper jewelry and well-placed piercings, you generally don’t see as many irritations, but it’s good to find a piercer who is well-versed in trouble-shooting irritations that can arise with certain piercings, like the dreaded bumps that form on nostril piercings and industrials,” she said.

Yikes! Bumps? I looked closely at her face and her piercings – no bumps.

She showed me a few photos of patrons she had pierced and they were indeed, beautiful.

I never thought I would be educated in a bar about the subtle – or not so subtle – nuances of getting pierced, but Crippen really knew her stuff.

Needless to say, I was sold and scheduled an appointment to get my nose pierced.

Crippen greeted me with a huge smile and already had several pieces of jewelry 12

Photo by Dan Hong Theresa Hong prepares to have her nose pierced by Kat Cripping, at Main Street Tattoo in Downtown Merced.

picked out (that by the way, I loved). The next thing I knew, I was on my back with Crippen cleaning the gnarly boogers out of my nose (sorry, Kat!), instructing me to take a deep breath in and then out, and then it was done.

Seriously. Done.

It was quick, and she was kind, professional and just plain awesome, just like I had remembered her at The Partisan.

My personal lesson? I waited entirely too long for my piercing. My advice to you? If you’re thinking about a piercing that involves any of your body parts, go to Crippen – you’ll thank her first, and then me (you can usually find me at the Partisan).

You can contact Crippen at Main Street Tattoo & Body Piercing, 209-725-8287 or stop by and pay her a visit, 230 W. Main Street, Merced.

Contributed Photo Hotel California will perform at the Merced Theatre on Nov. 22 with Kelly McDonald and The Kelly McDonald Band. The show benefits the Castle Air Museum.

Hotel California to take Merced Theatre stage Words by Nathan Quevedo nathan@thedlm.com

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mitation is the highest form of flattery. And George Dickinson from Eagles tribute band Hotel California knows this well.

“The group has been in business close to 30 years,” he says from his Southern California home in a phone interview.

“Like any group, there was a particular

fondness for a certain style of music… a love of music. And the Eagles have a lot of music.”

Hotel California, performing at the Merced Theatre on Nov. 22, is a bit busier than most cover or tribute bands.

“It’s a full-time thing for us,” says Dickinson, with the band playing 150 to 200 shows a year. “This group owns a tour bus and puts 75,000 miles a year on it. You just kind of follow the gigs THEDLM.COM

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Contributed Photo Kelly McDonald and The Kelly McDonald Band will be opening for Hotel California Nov. 22 at the Merced Theatre. McDonald, a Patterson native, has been playing music since he was 15 years old.

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wherever they take you.”

While there is nothing legally wrong with covering songs from another band, Dickinson wanted to get the blessing from the Eagles.

“It’s their material, they own these songs,” says Dickinson. “While there are no rules in place for cover bands to pay the artist that wrote the material, we recognized the proper path. So we called and asked; and they were kind of enough to put it

in writing.”

Hotel California will perform at the Merced Theatre on Nov. 22 with Kelly McDonald and The Kelly McDonald Band.

The show benefits the Castle Air Museum, which recently added a Douglas VC-9, serving 30 years as Air Force One for presidents, vice presidents and first ladies.

Tickets range from $35-$45 and can be purchased at mercedtheatre.org.

Paul Rodriguez Words by Tom Price tom@thedlm.com

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W

hen Paul Rodriguez steps to the microphone at the Merced Theatre he will look across the crowd and see a lot of familiar faces. The longtime funnyman with a lengthy IMDB page says his performance on Nov. 16 will be a homecoming of sorts. An outspoken advocate for Valley farmers’ in the California water battle and a the son of migrant farmers, Rodriguez says much of his family still lives and farms in the area.

He recently spoke with the DLM in a phone interview and talked about his long career, exciting upcoming projects and what he hopes his legacy will be when he exits the stage.

DLM: You have a lot of ties to the Valley, are you looking forward to the homecoming?

Paul Rodriguez: I’m actually really nervous. My family is going to be there.

That’s my home, I grew up in the Valley.

Of all the shows I’m doing that’s the one I circled. I probably won’t make any money, I have an uncle who called me already.

He said, “I bought my tickets already, but you are going to give me my refund, right?”

DLM: Because of your roots here and all that you’ve done a lot of people are probably really familiar with your and your work. How do you keep it fresh?

PR: The older I get my comedy has become more about the mundane and minutia. It’s how I see life at 55. Comedy loses its fizz after the first time you heart it. It’s not like music, where it gets better every time you hear it. I try to just stay common and talk about the small things that I see.

DLM: We talk to a lot of stand-up comedians and they always talk about the struggle with the grind.

You’ve been doing it for three 16

Contributed Photo Paul Rodriguez will be performing at the Merced Theatre Nov. 16. For tickets, visit tickets.mercedtheatre.org.

decades. How do you stay motivated and keep grinding?

PR: The honest truth is your money is your motivation. I have bills to pay. And I still like it. I still get nervous before every show. When I no longer get nervous that’s the time to quit.

DLM: Is there a major difference in the atmosphere and crowd when you perform in the Valley compared to places like Los Angeles?

PR: The truth is, in this country the internet accessibility has made us a smaller village. That’s actually one of the things I talk about, how cell phones have changed us. I’ve been to parties and there’s six of us sitting around all on our phones. I’ve seen kids texting each other across the table.

DLM: Other than the stand-up tour do you have any new projects on the horizon?

PR: I have big announcement. We got

picked up by ABC for a television series with me, Edward James Olmos and my real son Paul Jr. It’s about my grandfather myself and my son living at my son’s house. My son runs a micro brewery and my father is an elderly Korean War veteran with Alzheimer’s. I play a comedian who has seen better days looking for that shot to get me back up there. I wrote the pilot probably 10 years ago.

longer because of water shortages. It is terrible. People don’t realize this is a solvable problem if we can get environmentalists to meet us half way. There are 38 million of us here.

We need to be prepared. Our water system is totally inadequate. Fighting this fight is the biggest gift that I can give to California.

DLM: I know you own some farms near Fresno, do you plan on DLM: You do you a lot of work staying involved with the farming in the Valley ag community, community? specifically fighting the water war, PR: That’s what my family does, that’s what is your motivation? what we do you know. When I first started PR: I made a promise to myself to make to make a little money first thing I did was sure Valley stays green. I’ve invested my buy that farm for my family. time and my career to it and God knows That’s what I want to do when it’s all I’m not giving up. People don’t realize over. You know putting something in the the biggest business in California still ground and it gives you food — there’s is agriculture. When (the agriculture something magical about that. industry) goes down a lot of people are unemployed. And if you drive Doors for the Nov. 16 show will open at down by Fresno large swaths of 8 p.m. and tickets are $25 to $35 and are California that was green but are no available at tickets.mercedtheatre.org.

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Photos by Dan Hong “A Christmas Carol A New Musical” at Playhouse Merced opens Nov. 22 and runs through Dec. 5. For more information, visit www.playhousemerced.com.

Christmas a humbug?

Not for local actor Scott Guthier Words by Jim Kocher jim@showbizjobs.com

“B

ah Humbug!”

A wellknown expression uttered from the mouth of Ebenezer Scrooge, that miserly, grouchy character in the classic holiday story “A Christmas Carol.”

Written by Charles Dickens and first published 18

in 1843, “A Christmas Carol” tells the story of Scrooge, who, after being vested by three ghostly spirits on Christmas Eve, learns a serious, life-changing life lesson of redemption At Playhouse Merced, “A Christmas Carol — A New Musical” is the community theater’s big holiday show, and will include Victorian costumes, beautiful sets and fully orchestrated musical numbers.

Scott Guthier, known

as “Dusty” to friends and family, plays lead character, Ebenezer Scrooge. An actor and director, who, over the past 30 years has been involved in theatre, television and film, Guthier has been on the Playhouse stage in recent years as Leo Frank in “Parade,” Mr. Hart in “9 to 5: The Musical,” and Senator Fipp in “Urinetown: the Musical.”

Prior to that, he was part of the Playhouse scene 15 years ago, directing and

appearing in many shows. In fact, in “A Christmas Carol” he is reunited with director Sandra Dinse, who returns to Playhouse Merced after founding the organization more than 20 years ago.

The DLM caught up with Dusty during rehearsals of “A Christmas Carol” and had a chance to ask some questions.

DLM: You seem like a pretty nice guy. What’s it like to play the stingiest man in town, Ebenezer Scrooge?

Scott Guthier: (laughing) I AM a nice guy! Everyone knows the story of “A Christmas Carol” and portraying such an iconic character as Ebenezer Scrooge is very humbling. It definitely puts me out of my comfort zone as an actor, but that’s the acting challenge I enjoy the most. The cast and crew are fantastic and extremely supportive – together we seem to move the whole journey along. That’s part of the fun!

difficult character emotionally. I never fully realized the depth of his personality until I really read the script, and then went back and reread the book version. He rides this amazing rollercoaster of feelings from being overwrought with grief and bitterness to being overjoyed with happiness and elation. I’m trying to draw from experiences in my own life that will help me convey what I think Scrooge might be feeling at any moment during the play.

It’s definitely a challenge!

DLM: This is called ‘A New Musical’ — how are you finding the script and the music?

SG: The script follows the Dickens novel very closely.

Much of the language of the time is intact. The setting, mannerisms of the people and traditions of the period are much the same as well. I really like the music. There are traditional carols DLM: Are you and hymns, some doing anything beautiful ballads and specific to get into a few foot stomping this character? numbers in the show.

SG: Scrooge is a I imagine that most THEDLM.COM

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of the audience will be familiar with some of it, but I also think they will like all of the new numbers they haven’t heard before.

DLM: You were involved at Playhouse as an actor and director about 15 years ago. What shows were you involved in?

SG: The stage was in quite a different configuration than it is today. We had plastic resin chairs for seats and each show presented a challenge in the way it could be staged. I directed “Into the Woods” in 2000 as the last main stage show before the theatre was redesigned into the seating and stage space you see today.

DLM: Can you tell the ‘I almost punctured a major organ on stage’ story?

SG: (grinning) So many people at Playhouse remember that story. We were doing “Little Shop of Horrors” where I played the geeky, clumsy “Seymour.”

During the show Seymour falls over a desk and onto the floor.

On the desk was one of those sharp, pointed receipt holders, and when I fell over, it punctured my lower abdomen and stuck there.

I discreetly pulled it out without notice from the audience. It really hurt!

No blood, so I went on and finished it.

Immediately after the final curtain I went to the emergency room, and 20

coming back to it?

It’s a story of redemption that is still prevalent today.

I think that Dickens was trying to tell us that family, friends, fellowship and faith will always be the true meaning behind Christmas regardless of what belief system you may have. In the case of Ebenezer Scrooge, it DLM: You and director has shown him that living Sandra Dinse have alone in the world is not a worked together before. way to live and the choices Tell me a bit about that. you make do affect the SG: Sandra was my first world around you. We come director in college. We did back to “A Christmas Carol” a show called “I Remember because in the end, the story Mama” and I played one of makes us feel good and the children, Nels in the reminds all of us what the show. The young girl who season is really about. played my sister in the show is now my wife who I met in You can check out “A that production!

Christmas Carol ­A New Musical” at Playhouse Merced DLM: What is it about Nov. 22 through Dec. 15. For the story of “A Christmas more information, visit www.

Carol” that keeps people playhousemerced.com found out that the spindle knicked my liver and just missed one of my lungs. I was in the hospital for four days. Looking back now, I realize that it was probably not a wise idea to finish the show. Let’s just say that I look twice now for any sharp objects on stage!

Photos by Brittany Miller A patron at Kew Cats Karaoke steps up to the mic to sing the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Can’t Stop.” Kew Cats opened in August and offers daily karaoke as well as live music and DJs.

Kewl Cats Karaoke

New bar shines the spotlight on its patrons Words by Tom Price tom@thedlm.com

L

oren James was on a quest.

He wanted to escape the cubicle and stress of his government sector job and build an oasis. He wanted to create a place where other people suffering from the doldrums of the daily grind could break free from the rigors of life.

James, who has operated a local karaoke service for more than four years, opened the doors to Kewl Cats Karaoke on Aug. 16.

Located at the former Sir James restaurant and bar, the karaoke club offers singing all week with dancing on the weekends.

“I’ve worked in the government sector for almost 13 years and it’s become unstable with layoffs and furloughs,” says James. “It has become, in many cases, a harsh environment and abusive. It’s a big gamble to open a business these days, but I really feel like I can make a positive impact on people’s lives.

This is my passion, my vision.”

James says that with the help of a lot of friends and family, they converted the space into a premier karaoke destination complete with stage, TVs and a large bar.

“Sir James was built around 1979 and has been a huge part of many peoples lives in the Merced area,” says James. ”The history it has is really humbling and I not only respect what Sir James has meant to so many people, I also feel honored to be in a location where I can continue a tradition of making an impact on people’s lives.”

He says they have an extensive and up-todate catalog of songs so anybody can find the tune they want.

“My goal is to make Kewl Cats an environment where one can come and

escape all of their stresses and troubles,” says James.

“Everyone is a superstar for a few minutes when they get up and sing.”

James, who has spent the better part of a decade organizing and operating karaoke events, says that karaoke is the great way to unite folks from all walks of life.

“To me a good karaoke night is having a crowd that enjoys watching and supporting others who are singing,” says James.

“Many of us have become friends. The karaoke regulars are like family to me.”

James isn’t just a karaoke host — he’s also a performer. He says his favorites are pulled from a variety of artists like Bon Jovi and Van Halen to Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw.

“There are so many good songs out there to sing and I am constantly learning a new song that might turn out to be the newest song I love to sing,” he says. “I think everyone is a singer deep down inside. Music touches all of our lives in ways that are hard to describe.”

Just how music has a way of transporting us to another world, James hopes Kewl Cats can be that escape from reality for folks in Merced.

“They can check their troubles at the door and relax for a bit,” he says.

“Then go out and face the stresses in life that are higher now than I’ve ever seen.”

Taking good care of our community for over 100 years.

Taking care of businesses. Taking care of our community. We have a long history of providing peace of mind around town.

725 W. 18th Street, Merced, CA 95340 Ph (209) 722-1541 • www.FandB1912.com Agency license #0358327 THEDLM.COM

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Art &

Fashion 24

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t was a chance meeting. Two motivated young women with destinicly different personalities and tastes, but one common goal —to work in the fashion industry.

Mariah Exum, a fashion lover and stylist and Cindy Panyanouvong a photographer with fashion experience first met in August while taking art classes at Merced College. The pair became fast friends and before long they were partnering on a new venture —fashion blogging.

“From that day it was like we should probably start working on stuff together,” says Exum. “It was like fate. It’s the weriedest thing ever. It was like a match made in heaven.”

The pair began posting a Style Stalker photo blog every Friday on www.thedlm.com. Style Stalker is a weekly post feature local people they pick out of a crowd who think have unique fashion sense.

They post their picture along with some comments about the outfit.

The blog has been a success, and they say students on campus and people in the community have approached them about wanting to get involved.

“I think our mission is to reach out and inspire creativitiy and collaborate with other people,” says Panyanouvong. “We want to be loud and we want everybody to be a part of it.”

Using their network on campus Exum and Panyanouvong partnered with art faculty Louisa Behnissen and Alana Perlin as models for their first editorial shoot. The ideas —take two teachers and remove them from their comfort zone and familiar environments and see what happens when you start to have fun with fashion.

Exum and Panyanouvong partnered with hair stylinst Alexys Tran, jewelry designer Jocelyn Wagoner of Lovely Lullabies (Etsy store) and created four looks for the two faculty members. Some of the clothing was pulled from Helen & Louise a Downtown boutique.

“For us everytday is a photoshoot,” says Panyanouvong.”We are always discussing and working on things.”

For a complete listing of clothes and styles visit www.thedlm.com for a gallery and details

Chic

Edgy

Boho Fun

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Boho

Photographer: Cindy Styling: Mariah Exum Models: Louisa Benhissen (left), Alana Perlin (right)

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Chic

Photographer: Cindy Styling: Mariah Exum Clothes: (Blazer, Dress, Sweater, Shirt, Dress) from Helen & Louise Models: Louisa Benhissen (left), Alana Perlin (right) THEDLM.COM

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Fun 28

Photographer: Cindy Styling: Mariah Exum Clothes: Beanies, Dresses, Sunglasses from Helen and Louise Models: Louisa Benhissen (left), Alana Perlin (right)

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Photo by Max Laisina Larry and His Flask will perform at the Partisan on Nov. 22. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Larry and His Flask Words by Nathan Quevedo nathan@thedlm.com

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t’s seems that folk music has made strides in the mainstream direction over the past few years. With bands like The Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons garnering national attention and the soundtrack of the 30

new Cohen Brothers movie “Inside Llewyn Davis” likely to stir this up even more by throwing Justin Timberlake in the mix, the guitarplaying singer/ songwriter style is here to stay, at least for now.

Larry and His Flask didn’t get this memo from the music industry. In fact, the band decided to unplug before the aforementioned bands had really gained traction.

The Oregon-based punk rockers-turned-folk rockers are in the midst of a national tour in support of the new album “By The Lamplight”

As for the flask, we’ll always be around the bend, whiskey in hand, getting ready to barrel through the next town.”

— Ian Cook, Larry and His Flask

different venues now that you have a larger fan base?

Cook: The response to the new album has been really great! We’re getting more DLM: The last time I and more requests to play saw you guys was election new songs at our shows, DLM: How’s the tour night 2012 at the Soda Bar which is always a good thing. going and where are you in San Diego and Willy We’re playing a few new playing tonight?

Tea was opening; how places, a few old. Just mixing Ian Cook: It’s going great have things been since it up wherever we go and so far! We just got done then? definitely seeing growth in with FEST in Gainesville Cook: They’ve been great! crowd sizes for sure. and now are on our way to We’ve just been keepin’ DLM: What does the Birmingham AL. Should be on. We’ve done our second future hold for the a party!!

European tour since then Flask? Any big news and also a few US tours, put you’d like to share?

DLM: When I was on out an album; I’d say we’ve Cook: Well, onward and the East Coast a few years been pretty productive. upward, I suppose! That’s back, I saw someone kind of the motto we wearing a Larry and DLM: As a follow up operate under. Just keep His Flask shirt and to that question, who going and something’s asked him wear he saw is Larry, where is his bound to happen. This the band — he said The flask, where is the birth winter we have a big chunk Warped Tour. How did certificate and what of time at home so I assume that tour go for you guys do you know about there will be some writing and was it a little odd to Benghazi? going on and rehearsing. be playing with some of Cook: Ah yes, the classic Maybe by next year we’ll those bands?

“Who’s Larry?” question. be taking some new songs Cook: It was a pretty Well he could be anyone on the road, who knows? crazy experience. As far or everyone at any given But no promises! As for as the difference in music, moment. He is the spirit the flask, we’ll always be we were definitely the odd of the party. In his flask he around the bend, whiskey band out. But everyone carries the lucky liquor of in hand, getting ready to really enjoyed what we do fortune and prosperity ­the barrel through the next I think because we were so glue that binds humanity. town. different. The Warped Tour (Editor’s Note: Notice how is a pretty intense one as he completely dodged the Check out Larry and His Flask well. Hugely long drives and Benghazi part? Typical.) with Slaughter Daughters and Mosley Watta at The Partisan outdoor shows in summer temperatures. We we’re DLM: How is it touring on Nov. 22. Tickets are $7 for the 21 and older show, which starts playing sometimes up to for “By The Lamplight” around 9 p.m. five sets a day all over the and are you playing at and took a few minutes to catch up with the DLM about how the tour’s going, how the band was the odd man out at The Warped Tour a few years ago and who exactly this Larry character is.

grounds, so it was quite exhausting. But all in all I think we paid our dues and came out stronger than ever after it.

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F FOOD

J&R Tacos 437 W. Main Street Downtown Merced www.jandrtacos.com

Desserts What is it? Fish fillet dish. Specialty seasoned fish fillet. Served with rice and bean much is it?$10

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La Rajas What is it? Vegetarian dish with chile poblano mixed with potatoes, onions, and cheese. Served with rice and beans.

How much is it?$8

Desserts What is it? Freshly baked almond cake and apple epanadas.

How much is it?$2 to $2.75

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