San Diego CityBeat • Oct 30, 2019 by Times Media Group

OCTOBER 30, 2019 • SDCITYBEAT.COM • FREE

Dia De Los Deftones

Alt-metal band returns to home state with its friends

SLEATER-KINNEY (P.13) | HOMELESSNESS AND NEXTDOOR (P.4) | JOJO RABBIT (P. 10)

FEATURE

Volume 18 • Issue 4

EDITOR Christina Fuoco-Karasinski ART DIRECTOR Christy Byerly

deftones

FOOD & DRINK

MUSIC

6 5

PRODUCTION MANAGER Tristan Whitehouse ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Steven Persitza

PRESIDENT Steve Strickbine VICE PRESIDENT Michael Hiatt

CHEAT CODES

Ed Decker__________________ 2 Wort Mentioning ��6 Calendar of Events ��8 World Fare_________________ 6 Top 15 ��7 Theater ��9

ARTS & CULTURE

IN THE BACK

FILM

EDITORIAL INTERN Mary Pat Abruzzo

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jason Noble

Wort Mentioning

17 THE WORLD FARE

CONTRIBUTORS Karen Barnett Jackie Bryant David L. Coddon Samantha Fuoco Michael A. Gardiner Sara Harmatz Glenn Heath Jr. Edwin Decker Taylor O’Connor Alan Sculley Octavio Serrano Avi Waldman

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CannaBitch

theater

Film �� 10 Sleater Kinney �� 12

ON THE COVER:

BBMAK �� 13 Concerts & Clubs �� 14-15 Cheat Codes �� 17 Cannabitch �� 18-19

Deftones, photo courtesy of Warner Records

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2 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · OCTOBER 30, 2019

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UP FRONT | VOICES

Straight Up With a Twist

What to do when the bartender doesn’t notice you rolled up to take a customer’s order and they turned to their group and asked, “OK, what is everyone having?” Do that and don’t be surprised if the bartender is gone by the time you’re ready to order.

By Edwin Decker

ear Edwin: My friends and I were having a tough time getting drinks at a busy Gaslamp nightclub recently. Customers were rushing to the bar so fast, it was hard for the bartenders to tell whose turn it was. They served about four people who had arrived after us and our wait time was around 25 minutes. I really don’t want to be the guy who shouts, “Hey, we were next!” but how else can I let the bartender know he’s skipping my turn on busy nights like this? ~Sincerely, Kevin from Coronado Dear Kevin: You can’t. Not if you don’t want to be that guy. I have been frequenting bars for nearly 40 years and have yet to find a solution to that problem. Because the reality is, if you make a stink about it, sure, they may notice you in that moment. But you will lose favor with the bartenders, which will only hurt you in the long run. For me, the only option is to remember “The Serenity Prayer” my mother taught me as a child. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I cannot accept and the wisdom to avoid the Gaslamp. Focus on acceptance. Chalk it up to the emotional cost of patronizing a place that is so awesome, everyone wants to go there. And by “everyone,” I mean hotties. Otherwise you could just go to a dive bar and get those drinks twice as fast for half the price. It should also be noted that you most likely were not waiting 25 minutes. It may have seemed that long, but our perception of time slows when @SDCITYBEAT

we are waiting for something; especially when the thing we are waiting for is a fix. I mean, let’s be honest, a bartender is a drug dealer and, as Lou Reed explained, waiting for your “man” can be excruciating. “He’s never early / he’s always late / First thing that you learn is that you always gotta wait / I’m waiting for my man.” So, no, not much you can do in that situation, other than to gaze at the staff with the kind of desperate eyes that say, “I’m wilting over here!” That said, there is something you can do to expedite your next visit to the bar and that is to tip big on this visit. Tip something significant, something they will notice. I recommend somewhere between 30% and 50%. And make sure to get that tip credit! On slow nights it’s not so important, but on busy ones—when bartenders are so weeded they make headless chickens look stoic—hand the tip to him or her directly. And for God’s sake, have your order ready! I can’t count the times when, on a busy night, I finally

Dear Ed: My wife is two months pregnant and wants me to stop drinking in solidarity. Is this fair? Do I really need to lay off the sauce for seven more months? ~Jonah

compromise can’t be reached. Promise not to drink in her presence. Don’t stock beer in the fridge. Don’t leave bottles of wine lying around to remind her of the fun she’s not allowed to have. Do not even think about hosting that monthly poker binge at your house. Vow to never come home hammered and if you do screw up and heave all over the place when you get home, just say, “I’m puking in solidarity with you, Honey. For the team!” OK, I’m kidding about the last one, but I think a compromise is, well, a good compromise. I don’t know if your wife would be open to it, but I do know that I would never ask, or even want, any

partner of mine to give up something they enjoy because I am not able to. Either way, congrats to you both. Oh, and do us all a favor. When the child is old enough, please for the love of god, teach him or her to have their order ready. It’s little lessons like these that make the world a better place. Edwin Decker is not a licensed therapist or psychologist. In fact, his only qualification—other than that he thinks he knows everything—is the 25-plus years he spent behind the bar listening to the liver-aching of desperados and dipsomaniacs. Heed his advice at your peril. Send questions to ed@ sdcitybeat.com.

Hey Jonah, I think most people will agree that the partner of a pregnant woman should be as supportive as possible. Even I—a person who has never had a person growing inside, nor have I ever lived with a person who had a person growing inside—know how pregnancy can ravage a woman’s mind and body. So, yes, you should be offering a crap-ton of support. That means accompanying her to doctor’s appointments, assuming most of the household responsibilities, going on late night ice cream runs, massaging feet, drawing baths, holding her hair back while she vomits, reading books about pregnancy’s effect on preggers, and of course, never using the word “pregger” in her presence. But quitting drinking? At a time when you need that nip more than ever? I’m just wondering if a OCTOBER 30, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 3

UP FRONT | FEATURE

Nextdoor’s Homeless Problem

Between mindless questions, this debate is dividing San Diego By Avi Waldman

he post appeared on July 1 on the news feeds of Nextdoor users in Hillcrest and surrounding neighborhoods. Titled “Fed Up,” the post called on fellow residents to rally against the homelessness crisis. Instead of demanding solutions, the post’s author proposed a demonstration to “take our neighborhood back.” Comments flooded in. Some neighbors criticized the writer for a lack of empathy, while others chimed in to agree. The latter described the homeless as filthy bums, cockroaches or zombies. A rally wasn’t organized, but the thread turned into a microcosm of a larger debate on homelessness dividing San Diego—a forum for YIMBYs and NIMBYs to vent their frustrations with each other and the unsheltered residents whose presence triggered the outcry from the start. Nextdoor bills itself as a digital platform for communitybuilding, a sort of Facebook for neighborhoods. Much of the website is taken up with simple communications: requests for handymen, pictures of lost cats, and offers to rent out pet goats as living lawnmowers. But when it comes to hot-button issues, Nextdoor can amplify underlying bias and exacerbate community conflict. The geographic compartmentalization of accounts that is a key feature of Nextdoor also allows action outside the virtual realm. As California’s homelessness and affordable housing crisis worsens, Nextdoor is a case study in how digital networks intended to encourage unity can reflect and intensify clashes over local issues.

Under fire

Nextdoor has come under

fire before for its capacity to fuel division over social issues. Media reports on racism enabled by the platform accelerated beginning in 2015, as users described racial profiling spurred by the site’s crime-reporting mechanisms. In response, the company

extreme and divisive rhetoric. One of Nextdoor’s most appealing attributes is its promise to increase community safety through crowdsourced crime-reporting: a neighborhoodwide “if you see something, say something” campaign.

interactions or crime associated with the homeless. Suggestions include yelling back at a mentally ill woman shouting at passersby, throwing small change at homeless people, and buying firearms to prepare for a possible break-in. At times, the line between humor and

enlisted the help of experts in online dispute resolution, including Grande Lum, director of the Community Relations Service in the Obama Justice Department. Nextdoor now provides resources on racial profiling and prompts within its reporting interface to steer users away from racially coded terms. However, reports of bias on the platform linger. Additionally, those measures don’t address other strains of prejudice, particularly those that arise from heightened anxiety over social issues especially severe in certain communities. Nextdoor joins a slew of other social media platforms that have become the subject of a national debate over how online forums become echo chambers of increasingly

In San Diego neighborhoods with significant homeless populations, however, valid concerns over crimes like theft and public drug use, when aired on Nextdoor, become yoked to general prejudice against the unhoused people seen as perpetrators. Posts about stolen bikes or public urination quickly spiral into political name-calling and heated denunciations of the homeless writ large that often verge on hate speech. Sometimes the Nextdoor debates can lead to real-life harassment. The homeless who tend to frequent certain parking lots or street corners are identified in posts by names and photographs and are given nicknames. Nextdoor commenters weigh in on how best to avoid unpleasant

inciting harassment becomes blurred. Much of the anti-homeless sentiment on Nextdoor stems from a frustration with the perceived inadequacy of the city’s response. Looking through the sea of posts complaining about the homeless population, common threads emerge. One is the belief that city politicians are subjecting residents to the negative consequences of their homeless policy to further a political agenda. Nextdoor users in areas like Hillcrest and Midtown contend that City Council unfairly shunts the burden of supporting a homeless population onto certain districts: another example of liberal politicians pursuing progressive ideals or catering to the “homeless

4 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · OCTOBER 30, 2019

lobby” at the expense of their constituents. Another recurring theme is the feeling that for whatever reason—Proposition 47, understaffing, etc.—the police won’t prevent minor crimes, like public indecency, or stop home invasions. Commenters offer suggestions for how to defend oneself—keeping a pot of boiling water by the door as a weapon or falsely claiming an intruder is armed to elicit a faster response. While City Council debates how best to address the needs— affordable housing, mental health care—that undergird homelessness, there are some solutions already available for Nextdoor’s homelessness problem. “There are ways that you can structure that software that minimizes the chance people will immediately start to frame me-versus-you orientation, start to throw out threats or start to throw out insults,” says Colin Rule, an expert in online dispute resolution. Rule worked with Nextdoor to prevent racial profiling on the platform. “One of the things that’s very hot right now is what they call ‘natural language processing.’ It’s really the use of machine learning to understand and do sentiment analysis on posts when people post them.” Natural language processing could allow Nextdoor to compare users’ posts to national hate speech lexicons to evaluate whether they qualify. Rule also suggested creating moderated community forums on sensitive local issues like homelessness. “If you are going to create an online forum for people to communicate, I think part of your responsibility is to also find ways to create some ground rules and moderate or civilize that dialogue,” Rule says. “Don’t allow bad actors to get in there and start to machine gun people with hateful sentiments.” @SDCITYBEAT

UP FRONT | FOOD & DRINK

A Taste of China’s West

Chinese Islamic specialties shine at new Clairemont restaurant By Michael A. Gardiner

e know China’s a very big place. Yet we tend to think of “Chinese cuisine” as if it’s a single thing. Oh, we know there’s Sichuan (and it’s spicy) and dim sum (and its dumplings) and latenight takeout (and it’s not really Chinese). But few have a culinary map of China in their head and even many who do know relatively little about the food of Western China where this Asian country crashes into the Middle East. Enter Ma’s House (5537 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard) in Clairemont. While halal Chinese food may be new to many on these shores, certain dishes of Xinxiang Province—bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan (among others)—may seem familiar. Versions of cumin lamb, for example, featured in my recent reviews of Sichuan City and A-Bowl. While the dish is frequently attributed incorrectly to Sichuan province, its two main ingredients clearly reveal its true origin as farther west. Lamb is one of the most popular proteins and cumin a popular spice in the region (and relatively rare elsewhere in China). Perhaps the best dish at Ma’s

@SDCITYBEAT

is the lamb with pickled cabbage noodle soup. It features pickled Napa cabbage (suan cai) with thinly sliced lamb and noodles in a broth with a sour flavor that marries perfectly with the slight gamey funk of the lamb. Ma’s offers two noodle options: the “regular” (cellophane noodles) or “home style” with thick handmade and cut wheat noodles. Get the latter. Similarly soft, thick noodles star in Ma’s dough sliced chow mein dishes (offered with shrimp, lamb, chicken and beef options). While the flavors of the sauce may seem familiar— as might the choose-yourprotein approach—that’s pretty much where the similarity to American Chinese restaurant chow mein ends. Those noodles are the dish’s real story. They soak up the dish’s flavors and their irregular shapes help make every bite a new experience. At many Chinese regional restaurants some of the best dishes are the cold starters. So, too, at Ma’s and there are some unusual options. One of the best is the cold spicy beef tendon. The tendons are sliced incredibly thin (to the point of translucence) and thus extremely tender. Flavored with Chinese five-spice, they are nothing short of addicting. The cold spicy ox tripe is about

savory, spicy umami-rich flavors but it is, perhaps most of all, a textural wonderland on a plate. The tripe itself is clean and toothsome with soft cilantro leaves and crisp scallions providing contrast. Perhaps the best of the cold dishes was the shredded chicken with ground bean sheets. The centerpiece of the dish is clear, flat mung bean noodles. They’re surrounded by shredded chicken and vegetable garnishes, including batons of cucumber and a nest of carrot strips. The finishing flourish is a tableside pour of a sesame, soy, vinegar and honey sauce. Ma’s menu is long. Very long. There are a lot of familiarsounding dishes and a “lunch special” addition. A word of warning: Ignore those. Order those dishes at the risk of missing what Ma’s is all about. Stick to the dishes from Western China. Stick to the dishes you don’t know.

Rich lamb and sour pickled vegetables offer a taste of Western China. (Photo by Michael A. Gardiner)

Ma’s House

5537 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Clairemont 858-278-1688, mashouserestaurant.com

Chicken with ground bean sheets and cold spicy beef tendon are creative cold starters and a halal Chinese cuisine signature at Ma’s House. (Photo by Michael A. Gardiner)

OCTOBER 30, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 5

UP FRONT | BEER

WORT MENTIONING

Enjoy a Unique Beer Week

The celebration embraces the spirit of its 11th celebration By Karen Barnett

an Diego Beer Week kicks off across the county this Friday, spanning more than 500 events over 10 days. “How do you decide where to go, Karen?” Well, I’m so glad you asked. I’ve personally planned, hosted or attended over 100 events since SDBW’s inception, and I’ve decided to make you a little list of a few events happening this year that I think are pretty dang cool. Before I get to the fun stuff, what makes a good beer event anyway? For one, it’s thoughtful. The selection being poured, expertise in presentation, or the overall value being offered has been skillfully curated. No one wants to drive across town to line up for a commemorative 14-ounce shaker-pint of beer offered year-round. An event should also be creative. Maybe something not happening in every neighborhood, like a generic tap takeover without any specialty beer. There is also something special about an event when it feels personal. The brewmaster, chef or business ownership

O’Brien’s hosts two beer-pairing dinners during San Diego Beer Week kicking off this weekend. (Photo courtesy O’Brien’s)

actually attend the event, celebrating the industry together. The camaraderie and reasons we choose to work in this industry are apparent and it presents the opportunity to intimately share a beer and connect with customers. A chance to discuss and discover how foods can compare and contrast and what inspired the beer or the pairings. The following events are those that I feel really envelop the true spirit of SDBW: The Golden Pair @ Machete Beer House (Thursday, November 7, National City). For $20, attendees will enjoy

6 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · OCTOBER 30, 2019

a flight of four postrecitos (mini pastries) handmade by “MasterChef ” season six winner Claudia Sandoval paired with four 4-ounce pours of Pizza Port brews. This is affordable, approachable, unique and also community focused as proceeds go toward the fundraising campaign for Sandoval’s first bakery, Cochi Dorado. Barrels of Fun @ Tiger! Tiger! (Thursday, November 7, North Park). While some purists may argue that SDBW events should incorporate only local beer, I contend the contribution of beer bars to the scene is what

help put our city on the map as a beer destination. Tiger’s consistent presence on Draft Magazine’s 100 Best Beer Bars in America for six-plus years backs up my point. At the event hosted by Josh Wood, Firestone Walker’s barrel master, attendees will be led through a guided tasting of eight barrelaged beers. From phenomenal offerings like wild ales Krieky Bones, Feral Vinifera Murray or Cap’t Franc to the 2014 version of FW’s imperial stout Parabola, those looking to please their palate with the rich and complex flavors of barrel-aged beers will not be disappointed. Pair a couple of these specialties with one of Tiger’s tasty charcuterie boards and head outside to its back patio, where it is also featuring a comedy night. Education, dinner and a show are wins in my book. Battle of the Guilds @ Churchill’s (Friday, November 8, San Marcos). Since 2004, owner Ivan Derezin has been curating a world-class taplist in San Marcos. So, it’s only fitting that he host the ultimate battle of the best suds from San Diego, Los Angeles and San

Francisco. With 15 beers from each county on tap, his cozy English-style barroom will be filled wall to wall with brewery owners, brewmasters and craft aficionados. The ultimate event for industry camaraderie and goodwill. Lost Abbey Beer Dinner @ O’Brien’s (Sunday, November 10, Kearny Mesa). If you’ve never been to a beer dinner at O’Brien’s, then I feel sorry for you and your mouth. The thoughtfulness that chef and co-owner Tyson Blake demonstrates with every single ingredient on each plate is unparalleled. Ever been to a pairing and then had to grab a burger at the drive-thru on the way home because you were still hungry? You won’t have that problem here. The beer glasses overflow, the flavors are unctuous, and the company in the room will have you laughing. I Karen-tee you will leave full and happy. Wherever you decide to celebrate SDBW, don’t drink and drive. Through the Lyft app, use code ‘SDBW19’ to get 20% off up to two rides. Happy Beer Week, friends!

@SDCITYBEAT

TOP15

OUR PICKS FOR COOL THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK By Taylor O’Connor

1 “Uncorked and Movie Under the Stars: Halloween Edition”

OCTOBER 30

Embrace the last few days of the spooky season by gathering your friends and seeing a creepy movie. There’s no better place than insideOUT to watch “Hocus Pocus” as part three of the three-part Halloween movie feature. Get cozy in the lounge next to the fire pits, feel free to bring your own pillows and blankets to make it as comfortable as possible. There will be half-off wine bottles from their selected menu and free popcorn for the guests. RSVP is required and the seats are first come first served. insideOUT, 1642 University Avenue, Suite 100, Hillcrest, eventbrite.com, 7 to 10 p.m., free registration.

2 Kids’ Halloween Costume Contest

OCTOBER 31

For all the kiddos too excited to show off their best witch or goblin costume, take them to the Westfield Plaza Bonita for its kids’ costume contest. Register for Minilicious Donuts between 5 and 6 p.m. Photos will be taken, and the winner will be determined the next day. Prizes range from $25 to $100 gift cards and frappes! Even the kids who do not win will get a surprise at the end. Westfield Plaza Bonita, 3030 Plaza Bonita Road, Suite 2075, National City, 619-9004592, eventbrite.com, 5 to 6 p.m., free registration.

3 Michael vs. Prince Halloween Party

OCTOBER 31

Join the battle of the decades @SDCITYBEAT

party as DJ Artistic throws the third annual Halloween Dance Party. Get down and boogie through the years and listen to songs defining generations. Performers include DJ Artistic, Tramlife, HWTRK, Jamal Kersey, Unite and Dash Eye. Costumes are required and there will be a contest. This event is 21 and older. The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Boulevard, Middletown, 619232-4355, casbahmusic.com, 8:30 p.m., tickets start at $12.27.

4 Ballast Point Tacos and Beer Cruise

NOVEMBER 1

Set sail chugging beer and eating tacos for three hours. Sounds like a dream come true. Ballast Point Craft Beers is hosting a brews cruise for guests to try more than 20 limited-release and -production drinks from Ballast Point and SD beer weeks. The cruise will have two floors of entertainment and guests are welcome to dress in their Dia De Los Muertos attire or casualwear. The cruise pass includes unlimited tastings, the three-hour cruise through the bay and access to all the entertainment. Flagship Cruises & Events, 990 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, flagshipsd.com, 6:30 to 10 p.m., $53.49

5 Harvest on the Coast: Featured Winemaker

NOVEMBER 1

Swirl and sip wines with the winemakers of the SLO Coast Wine region to kick off November. Guests can enjoy an open-air atmosphere with views of the rolling hills of the historic Filipponi Ranch. Catering will be an all-natural dining experience created by

Chef Jeffery Scott of Vineyard Events and the winemakers will pour their favorites to pair with the meal. Hors d’oeuvres will be passed around at 5:30 and the seated dinner will begin at 6 p.m. See website for meal and wine details! Filipponi Ranch Cellars,1850 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, 805-550-2506, slocoastwine.com, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., $160.

6 The Florence Dia De Los Muertos Celebration

NOVEMBER 2

The Florence will host a Día de Los Muertos celebration to promote its new sister restaurant, Condensa, inspired by the Mexico City neighborhood. The evening includes cooking demonstrations, DJs, dancers and entertainment. Día de Los Muertos costumes and makeup are highly encouraged. The ticket price includes one drink, all food and activities. The Florence, 13480 Evening Creek Drive North, Suite 150, North Park, 858-433-1545, theflorencesd.com, 7 to 10 p.m., $45.

7 Thrive Half Marathon

NOVEMBER 2

Paranoid about eating too much Halloween candy? No problem! Sign up for the Kaiser Permanente Thrive Half Marathon and 5K, which encourages the community to “thrive together: stay active, eat healthy, live well and give back.” Quite the opposite of binging on Halloween candy and watching movies all day. The race starts at 6:50 a.m., see website for time breakdown. Ski Beach, 1600 Vacation Road, Mission Bay, thrivehalfmarathon.com, 6:50 to 11 a.m., $28.40 to $112.80.

season. Petco Park’s Park at the Park, 840 K Street, Downtown, livenation.com, 3:30 p.m., tickets start at $75.

9 Donut Fest San Diego NOVEMBER 3 Parting with Halloween candy is sweet sorrow. But here’s an alternative: donuts. Visit the sweetest festival in San Diego and sample all the cream-filled, sugar-coated donuts your heart desires. Coffee and tea will be available for pairing. Plus, 21-and-older friends can get a drink ticket for beer from Iron Fist Brewing. All sales are final, but why would anyone back out of a chance to eat donuts? Iron Fist Brewing San Diego, 1985 National Avenue, Suite 1132, Barrio Logan, eventbrite.com, 1 to 5 p.m., $25-$50.

10 Slaughter-Haus Skincare Open House

NOVEMBER 3

Meet Slaughter-Haus Skincare, the only San Diego company that offers professional skin care services and custom skin care classes at less than half the price. Brick, 2863 Historic Decatur Road, Liberty Station, eventbrite.com, noon to 4 p.m., $0-$75.

11 Save Water, Drink Beer

NOVEMBER 4

During San Diego Beer Week, the nonprofit Water4Life invites beer lovers to imbibe to help it raise funds for a humanitarian trip to Guatemala. Second Chance Beer Lounge, 4045 30th Street, Suite A, North Park, eventbrite.com, 6 to 10 p.m., free admission.

12 Twenty One Pilots

8 Dia De Los Deftones

NOVEMBER 5

Nope, this isn’t the place for altars, unless you’re worshipping Deftones, Brutus, Jpegmafia, Chvrches, Hum, Youth Code and Gojira. This afternoon and evening festival is sure to usher in the fall

Twenty One Pilots could possible define alternative rock of this generation. Supporting its 2018 album “Trench,” Twenty One Pilots is known for its singles “Stressed Out,” “Ride” and “Heathens.” Every song on its album “Blurryface” received

NOVEMBER 2

at least a gold certification. That was a first. Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway, pechangaarenasd.com, 8 p.m., tickets start at $54.

13 Matt & Kim NOVEMBER 5 “We cut the legs off of our pants / Threw our shoes into the ocean.” If you know the effervescent music of this Brooklyn duo, then you know. The artsy indie pop group tours in honor of the 10th anniversary of its sophomore album “Grand,” performing the fan favorite in its entirety in addition to other beloved bops. The adorably named Beach Goons will open the show. The Observatory North Park, 2891 University Avenue, North Park, observatorysd. com, 8 p.m., $30.

14 Summer Walker

NOVEMBER 5

Atlanta-based singer Summer Walker has had a golden couple years, as her mixtape, “Last Days of Summer,” spawned the hit “Girls Need Love.” The single brought Walker to the Hot 100 for the first time. Her debut studio album, “Over It,” is the focus of her tour that kicked off October 20. SOMA San Diego, 3350 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway, somasandiego.com, 8 p.m., $99 to $199.

15 Cocktail-Making Class

NOVEMBER 6

Learn how to mix drinks like the pros in this hour-long, handson introduction to cocktail basics. Guests will learn how to measure, shake, stir and pour drinks. Of course, we can taste the drinks as well. A bit of history will be incorporated within the lessons. Tools and ingredients of the trade will be provided, and attendees must be 21 or older. You & Yours Distilling Company, 1495 G Street, East Village, eventbrite.com, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., $45.

OCTOBER 30, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 7

EVENTS

ART Art After Hours at The San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado. Peruse the museum’s 20 galleries and exhibitions, and enjoy live music playing in the May S. Marcy Sculpture Court. From 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, November 1. Members, youth 17 and younger, and college students with ID get in free. $5 general admission. 619-232-7931, sdmart.org. Arts in the Park at Lopez Ridge Recreation Center, 7245 Calle Cristobal. People of all ages can come down and create weekly arts and craft projects while developing artistic skills such as painting and beading. Follow the Lopez Ridge instructors as they help create some works of art. From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, November 1. Free. 858-5388171, sandiego.gov. Dia De Los Muertos Skull Art Show at La Bodega Gallery, 2196 Logan Avenue. Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos at the Skull Art Show this November. Fifty artists have been chosen to create a sugar skull with a white ceramic skull. Watch them create beautiful pieces of artwork celebrating the dead. From 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, November 2. Free. 619-255-7036, labodegagallery.com. Art in the Park at Spreckels Park, Seventh Street and Orange Avenue. Walk around Spreckels Park and explore works from more than 50 artists in the medium of oil paints, photography and metal working. Participating artists will be around to talk directly to the art-purchasing folks. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, November 3. Free. 619-522-7342, coronadoconert.com.

BOOKS Books and Brews at Border X Brewing, 2181 Logan Avenue. Drink beer and listen to Teresa Oyos’ informative talk about her experience fighting the AIDS epidemic. Afterward, put some creative inspiration to paper while Alonso Nuñez, executive director of Little Fish Comic Book Studio, leads guests through an introductory workshop of comic-style books. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 6. Free. 858-694-2415, sdlc.org. Elizabeth Earley at The Book Catapult, 3010-B Juniper Street. Elizabeth Earley will sign and discuss her new book, “Like Wings, Your Hands,” with poet Kazim Ali. Earley’s novel is a philosophical coming-ofage story. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 2. Free. 619-795-3780, thebookcatapult.com.

COMEDY Open Mic Night at The Comedy Palace, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. Come show off your comedic skills. At 6 p.m. Tuesday November 5. $10 to $15. 858-5739067, thecomedypalace.com. The Dinner Detective Interactive Murder Mystery Show at DoubleTree Hilton San Diego, 1515 Hotel Circle. Take control and tackle a challenging crime while enjoying a four-course meal at the Dinner Detective Show. Keep a look out for the murderer or

8 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · OCTOBER 30, 2019

you may find yourself as the prime suspect! This dinner event is rated PG-13 and is geared toward adult content. Children ages 15 years old or older are permitted with adult supervision. At 6 p.m. Saturday November 2. $59.95. 866-496-0535, thedinnerdetective.com.

FILM “Casablanca” at Cinema Under the Stars, 4040 Goldfinch Street. This 1942 movie will make people fall in love again with Humphrey Bogart playing as a “world-weary expat” and Ingrid Bergman as “the mysterious old flame.” Popcorn, candy and drinks will be $2. Starting at 8 p.m. Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2. $17 to $20. 619-2954221, topspresents.com

FOOD & DRINK Donut Fest San Diego at Iron Fist Brewing, 1985 National Avenue. Calling all donut lovers! Come enjoy a feast of everyone’s favorite on-thego breakfast. Try samples of various donuts, chug beer, and help name San Diego’s favorite donut. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Golden Rule Charity; where people help hospitality workers in need. From 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday November 3. $25 to $50. 760-216-6500, eventbrite.com. Abnormal Beer Co. and Venissimo Cheese Pairing at The Cork & Craft, 16990 Via Tazon. Taste different types of beers and pair it with various cheese while kicking off beer week. The cheese pairing will include five beers and five cheeses with special surprises. Grab a friend or family member to have fun while drinking and eating! From 1 to 3 p.m. November 3. $45. 858-618-2463, pacificsandiego.com. Stone and Friends Beer Week Celebration at Quartyard, 1301 Market Street. Celebrate the beginning of beer week at the city block Quartyard. Participating breweries will be Stone Brewing, Pizza Port, Mason Ale Works, Boochcraft and Beachwood. RSVP general tickets include: 10 specialty beers to choose from. From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday November 2. Free. 619-432-5303, quartyardsd.com. Barrel-Aging Education & Blending Session at AleSmith Brewing Company, 9990 AleSmith Court. Sit down with the Quality Supervisor and UCSD certified instructor Peter Cronin. Learn about how AleSmith Brewing Company barrel-aged beers. Tickets include seven different “barrel-aged concoctions,” a creation of your own, and a chance to purchase a growler. From noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday November 3. $35. 858-549-9888, alesmith.com. Beer and Wine Trolley Tour at San Diego Beer and Wine Tours, 330 A Street, Suite 143. Perfect for beer aficionados and city explorers, the Beer and Wine Trolley Tour takes guests through downtown. 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday November 1. $88. 858-551-5115, sandiegobeerwinespiritstours.com.

Valley Road. This annual fundraising event offers fine art of paintings, jewelry and fiber art from 30 artists. In addition, tasting of hand-crafted wine from a dozen local wineries and hard ciders will be available. Have fun browsing through the local artists’ collections while sipping on a glass of wine. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday November 2. $35 to $75. 760-7871102, ramonaartandwinefest.net.

MUSIC Beethoven & Tchaikovsky at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B Street, San Diego. Spend your evening listening to performances of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58, as well as Robert Schumann’s Overture to Manfred, Op. 115, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74: Pathétique. Starting at 8 p.m. Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2. Tickets start at $23. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony. org.

PERFORMANCE School of Rock at Casa Del Prado Theater, 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, Casa Del Prado. Watch a performance of “School of Rock,” based on the hit movie. Friday, November 1, is rock ‘n’ roll night, so dress like a rock star and potentially win a prize. Saturday, November 2’s performance will be ASL-interpreted. 7 p.m. Friday, November 1, and 2 p.m. Saturday, November 2, and Sunday November 3. $14 - $16. 619-239-8355, juniortheatre.com.

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD Breakthrough: The Future—Art, Music, Food, Fashion, Live Performance at IDEA1, 895 Park Boulevard. Experience events themed around energized moments in art, fashion, science, music and pop culture history. Each event will have food, dance, spoken word, live music and visual art themed around a specific era. At 7 p.m. Saturday, November 2. $40 to $80. 619-5941515, kpbs.org.

SPECIAL EVENT Fall Back Festival at Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House Museum, 410 Island Avenue. Attend a free historical street faire in downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter, where history and fun are combined. Pan for gold, observe a blacksmith, and saddle up for a pony ride. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, November 3. Free. 619-233-4692, gaslamp.org.

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS Regulation of Neural Function in Health and Disease at Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa, 9700 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla. Listen to speakers discuss the regulation of neuronal functions in health and in neurological and degenerative disorders with a focus on the biological processes that enable and sustain neuronal functions. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, November 1. $50. 858-646-3100, sbpdiscovery.org

Ramona Art and Wine Festival at Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland

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ARTS | CULTURE

THEATER

The Ups and Downs of Love By David L. Coddon

ove is happy, love is sad. Love is sad, love is happy. This is the rotating sensibility of Jason Robert Brown’s “The Last Five Years,” a musical chronicle of a relationship (and subsequent marriage) based on his own that soured. In the two-handed piece, young Jamie and Cathy take their turns singing about themselves, about each other and about where they are headed as a couple. The irony is that though they’re on stage together much of the time, they exist in completely different points in the five-year relationship: Jamie goes from the first blush of love to the anguish of the breakup; Cathy is in despair mode when the show begins and is wearing a too-good-to-be-true smile at the finale. This parallel-time device is enough to distinguish “The Last Five Years,” which debuted in 2001 and is now onstage at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town, from a run-of-the-mill romantic musical. Brown’s script (he wrote the book, music and lyrics) amplifies the fact that lovers, or spouses, are rarely on exactly the same page. Cygnet’s Jamie and Cathy are the mutually adorable Michael Louis Cusimano and Racquel Williams.

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Anne E. McMills help foster a sense of intimacy. Most notable of all is the exquisite behindstage musical accompaniment directed and orchestrated by Patrick Marion. Making up the supple ensemble are cellists Erika Boras Tesi and Diana Elledge, violinist Sean Laperruque, bassist Mackenzie Leighton, guitarist Michael Louis Cusimano and Racquel Williams star in “The Last Five Years.” (Photo by Karli Jim Mooney and Cadel Photography) Marion himself on piano. years ago at the now-shuttered They look, sound and move “The Last Five Years” runs so well together that their ion theatre in Hillcrest. Justin through November 17 at Humphres’ set design and the performances are almost Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. subtle lighting conceived by balletic. Each is completely comfortable with the score’s overly sincere ballads of longing or loss, though their comic moments are best, as when budding actress Cathy goes through the humbling rituals of auditions and writer Jamie’s publishing ship comes in. To some degree, Cusimano and Williams are more likable than their career-obsessed characters. That director Rob Lutfy has the pair nearly constantly in motion keeps the proceedings from feeling static, which was an issue when this same musical was presented a few

$35-$55; cygnettheatre.com

Opening This Week

“Handbagged:” Two towering women in recent British history square off in Moira Buffini’s play about U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II. They’re portrayed at Moxie Theatre by estimable San Diego leading ladies Linda Libby and Sandy Campbell, respectively, through November 17. “The Sunshine Boys:” Neil Simon’s 1972 stage comedy (later a popular film) about the reunion of a couple of cranky ex-Vaudeville comics is a regional-theater staple. It’ll be at Solana Beach’s North Coast Repertory Theatre, which has a longstanding liking for Simon’s work, through November 24.

OCTOBER 30, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 9

CULTURE | FILM

Romping through the Reich ‘Jojo Rabbit’ tries to find the funny in fascism—and fails By Glenn Heath Jr.

ith “Jojo Rabbit,” a brazenly reflexive satire set during the Nazi Reich’s final days, director Taika Waititi tries his hardest to find the funny in fascism. Mostly, he fails miserably. Walking such a tonal tightrope proves precarious for the New Zealand-born filmmaker known for tender coming-of-age yarns like “Boy” and “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” and the horror splat-stick “What We Do in the Shadows.” But it was Waititi’s directorial contribution

to the Marvel Cinematic Conglomerate “Thor: Rangarok” that gave him enough mainstream capital to make something as potentially controversial as “Jojo Rabbit.” With great creative freedom comes great responsibility, and steep expectations. The 10-year-old Jojo’s (Roman Griffin Davis) story begins with the prickly process of fanatical indoctrination, a psychological war with competing fronts. On the one hand, he loves the pomp and circumstance of dressing like a Nazi. But the violent actions and lack of empathy that accompany membership

Jojo and his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler play war games. (Photo courtesy Fox Searchlight Pictures)

in this particular club feel entirely wrong, despite the incessant urging of Jojo’s imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (played by Waititi). When Jojo discovers that his progressive mother, Rosie (Scarlett Johansson), has been secretly hiding a Jewish teenager named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) in their family home, this crisis of ideology becomes even thornier. Waititi’s strength has always been infusing heartfelt emotion within genre scenarios that normally would repel such sentiment. So, it’s not surprising that the best scenes in “Jojo Rabbit” are neither comedic nor satirical, but earnest moments of friendship that develop between the two adolescent causalities of war. In hindsight, it might have been more daring to ditch the overblown 10 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · OCTOBER 30, 2019

farcical elements altogether and skewer hatred and bigotry through a more nuanced lens. Because as it stands now, “Jojo Rabbit” feels like a Ruthian swing and a miss, a hollow gesture of film that was made simply because it’s maker could.

between his loyalty to country and moral doubt regarding the atrocities that surround him. Oh, and he’s got an imaginary friend who’s Adolf Hitler (played by director Taika Waititi). Opens Friday, November 1, in wide release.

MOVIES

“Harriet”: Kasi Lemmons directs this biopic about Harriet Tubman, the former slave turned abolitionist who helped countless blacks escape slavery in the south through a network of safe houses that would come to be known as the Underground Railroad. Opens Friday, November 1, at the Angelika Carmel Mountain Cinemas.

Opening “Greener Grass”: Two soccer moms engage in a passive-aggressive feud in a DayGlo-colored, bizarro version of suburbia where adults wear braces on their already-straight teeth, everyone drives golf carts, and children magically turn into golden retrievers. Opens Friday, November 1, at the Landmark Ken Cinema. “Jojo Rabbit”: During the waning days of Nazi Germany, a young fascist recruit named Jojo grapples with the tension

“Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound”: An examination of how visionary directors work with sound designers See

MOVIES on page 16 @SDCITYBEAT

COVER STORY

Day of the Deftones Formidable alt metal band brings holiday festival back to Petco By Octavio Serrano

be Cunningham was 7 when he picked up his first instrument— without knowing it would launch a 30-plus-year music career. His Sacramento-bred alternative metal band, Deftones, is returning to San Diego to headline Dia De Los Deftones on Saturday, November 2, at Petco Park’s Park at the Park. Others on the bill are Chvrches, Gojira, Megan the Stallion, Jpegmafia, Hum, Youth Code and Brutus. “The bill is pretty diverse, “ Cunningham says. “We got a lot of different stuff on it. We have Megan the Stallion on it. Gojira are dear friends of ours from France. Jpegmafia is also another one that is coming up, and it’s a cool sound. “Brutus is from Belgium, and they got a lot of variety, and it’s a really cool band that we were way into in the ’90s. They’ve been away for some time, and now they’re coming back. It’s just a neat bill, and it’s a lot of friends and a really special night.” For Deftones, Cunningham is thankful he can share a career retrospective with fans in his home state. Music was always present in Cunningham’s life, so he was bound to take it up. “I was kind of raised in music,” Cunningham says. “My dad was bass player and my stepdad was a drummer, so It was always around. Music was always playing, I just gravitated toward music in general.” While honing his skills, he met future bandmate and vocalist Chino Moreno. They were young but passionate about music, although it wasn’t what brought them together. “We started Deftones when I was 15, and so was Chino,” Cunningham says. “The other guys were a couple of years @SDCITYBEAT

older than us, but our bond of skateboarding brought us together. We were music lovers, though.” Moreno and guitarist Stephen Carpenter grew up in the same neighborhood. Carpenter’s music equipment set the wheels in motion. The three soon met and forged Deftones. “Everyone knew Stephen (Carpenter) had this equipment in his house,” Cunningham says. “Chino set up a meeting for us. He had known Stephen for a few years just from growing up in the same neighborhood and I wasn’t that far away, so one day, he set us up and that was 31 years ago.” Cunningham long dreamed of being a professional musician. After all these years, he still has a boyish excitement about the Deftones. “It was always a dream and it still is, even to this day,” Cunningham says. “It sounds corny to say that you live in a dream, but it’s true. We’ve worked our asses off to make it be that way.” The hardworking Deftones have spent a good portion of the last 30 years touring the world. “Why wouldn’t you want to go to amazing countries around the world with your best friends to play your music?” Cunningham says. “It’s something we were encouraged to do early on and I think that’s the reason why we’re still around.” After its 2016 album, “Gore,” the band retreated from the road to recharge its batteries and work on music. It paid off as the band is close to finishing a new record.

Return to force

Now that the band is touring again, Cunningham is looking forward to a return trip to San Diego. “This is our second year

Deftones host their second annual Dia De Los Deftones with Chvrches, Gojira, Megan the Stallion, Jpegmafia, Hum, Youth Code and Brutus.

playing at Dia de los Deftones,” Cunningham says. “It’s kind of crazy, we’ve played so many times over the years in San Diego, so it just happened to work out well.” Because of Deftones’ rich catalog, they can’t play every song. Instead, their set will be a retrospective of their career. “The bill is very diverse,” Cunningham says. “It has a lot of different stuff on it and it’s pretty wild.” “People like us for different reasons. People want to hear early stuff and older stuff and we want to keep it exciting for ourselves as well. We’re planning on pulling out some of the older gems that haven’t been touched in a while.” Cunningham says he is excited about going back to the band’s roots and polishing those older gems. The early Deftones albums were greatly inspired by the ’80s and metal bands like Metallica. “The ’80s and trash metal was huge for us,” Cunningham

says. “We’ve always had these metal-based heavy guitar sounds with an emphasis on groove. You always have to have your head nodding.” But a band has to continue growing and trying new things, Cunningham says. Deftones remain relevant by evolving musically. “We’ve never been stuck to one thing,” Cunningham says. “I know we’ve probably angered some of our fans over the years, but you have to keep on evolving. You can’t be just one thing.

“It’s a melting pot and we’re always tossing some new flavors in.” After all these years, however, Cunningham says he is happy to be here and he wants to continue making music. Spending time with his closest friends is what’s most important to the drummer. “The main thing for us, after all these years, is making music together and enjoying each other’s company,” Cunningham says. “We’ve been together a long time and we’re brothers.”

Dia De Los Deftones w/Deftones, Chvrches, Gojira, Megan the Stallion, Jpegmafia, Hum, Youth Code and Brutus 3:30 p.m. Saturday, November 2 Petco Park—Park at the Park, 840 K Street, Downtown Tickets start at $75 livenation.com

OCTOBER 30, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 11

MUSIC

A ‘Sonic Palette’

Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein talks honest, urgent new LP By Connor Dziawura

ith its new LP, indie rock outfit Sleater-Kinney was looking to do something different. While 2015’s “No Cities to Love” could be considered the influential feminist band’s picking up where it left when it took a neardecade hiatus, August’s “The Center Won’t Hold” sees the band treading expanded sonic territory. “I think with each album we want to make something that sounds different from the last,” Brownstein says over the phone in Chicago during a day off from touring. “I think with ‘No Cities’ it was a little easier because we’d been gone for nine years. So, in some ways that album felt like it borrowed from the sonic lexicon of the previous seven

(Photo by Nikko LaMere)

records. And with this one it really felt like we don’t have to adhere to any preconceived idea of who we are. We’re not really interested in that. We just want to push ourselves and write songs from a place of honesty and urgency.” During the writing process for “The Center Won’t Hold,” SleaterKinney’s ninth album, the band also resorted to something different— writing separately and trading files

12 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · OCTOBER 30, 2019

via computer, because Brownstein and Tucker lived in different cities. And while Brownstein says the two of them are most comfortable playing guitar, they themselves trading their instrument of choice for keyboards and synthesizers, sometimes even transposing them back to guitar at the request of St. Vincent’s Annie Clark, who produced the album. “‘You guys are a guitar band,’” Brownstein recalls Clark telling them. But the band—guitarists/vocalists Brownstein and Corin Tucker, as well as former drummer Janet Weiss, who announced her departure in July— had mostly established the “sonic palette” of the record prior to Clark’s involvement, Brownstein says. Still, the musician challenged their ideas, inspiring them to rearrange and alter musical elements, continue to try to top themselves and let the best ideas win. Calling her “ingenious” and a “maximalist” and “perfectionist,” Brownstein says Clark would also encourage the band to record different takes on different days and in different moods and mindsets to get the best possible recording, putting emotion over technicality. “What we loved about working with St. Vincent—similar to when we worked with Dave Fridmann on ‘The Woods’—is just having someone at the helm with a prodigious imagination, who really sees the studio as an instrument in and of itself and can do lot of kind of flexing of that muscle,” Brownstein says. “That is something that we like to leave in the hands of someone else. I think we were excited to bring in somebody to really collaborate with in that final stage of the process.” Just over a month after the release of the album, and only a week prior to the band’s tour kickoff, however, Brownstein and Tucker released more music. “Animal,” an additional standalone single, serves as an extra treat for fans before the shows, and as an opportunity for Tucker—known for her powerful vibrato—to vocally let loose, Brownstein describes. “I’m such an admirer of Corin’s

voice, and one thing that we have a lot of fun with on tour—we did this on the ‘No Cities’ tour—is when there are songs that she can just sing,” Brownstein explains. “I mean on the record she plays guitar on it, but I think we wanted to put something out right before tour that was very specific to the performance of the song and at the shows. She just takes front-and-center stage and is sort of the much more traditional lead singer in that moment.” Fans can catch Sleater-Kinney’s tour at the Observatory North Park on Tuesday, November 12. The band’s setlist—expanded in recent shows—has featured nearly 30 songs including the entire new album, “Animal” and plenty of older cuts. Reflecting on the past 25 years of the band, Brownstein notes that “The Center Won’t Hold” may not be as different from past works as some have made it out to be. For 1999’s “The Hot Rock,” Sleater-Kinney toned things down compared to 1997’s “Dig Me Out,” and 2005’s “The Woods” was far heavier than its previous six records, she says. But at the end of the day, it’s all Sleater-Kinney. “People have always taken certain albums—specifically ‘Hot Rock’ and ‘The Woods’ and then this one—as if it’s these major departures, but in a live setting it all falls under the umbrella of Sleater-Kinney,” Brownstein says. “Quieter songs from ‘The Hot Rock’ have more teeth, more bombastic songs from ‘The Woods’ become more melodious, and the new record, too—it all falls under the same sort of beast of this band.”

Sleater-Kinney w/Kaina

8 p.m. Tuesday, November 12 The Observatory North Park, 2891 University Avenue, North Park $37.50 619-239-8836, observatorysd.com @SDCITYBEAT

MUSIC

BBMAK is Back Here

The trio says fans won’t be disappointed with new show By Christina FuocoKarasinski

hristian Burns is excited to be reunited with his BBMAK “mates,” Mark Barry and Stephen McNally after a 15-year

hiatus. But nothing prepped any of them for what was to come. Fans showed up in hordes to see them on “Good Morning America.” Shows have been selling out and BBMAK’s biggest hit, “Back Here,” has returned to radio airwaves. The trio, who kicks off its tour in San Diego on November 3, dubbed its tour “Back Here” and believes now is the time for BBMAK once again. “We split in 2003,” Burns says. “For many years, I didn’t think it was the right time to reunite. But here we are. We had been approached to do some things in the past, like TV shows wanted us to get together. We all had different things going on in our lives, though. It wasn’t just about music, but personally. Now it’s definitely the right time.” When BBMAK plays the House of Blues in San Diego on November 3, Burns says fans “won’t be disappointed.” “The old favorites will definitely be in there,” Burns says. “We’ll have some from the new album that we’ll be performing and there will be a Christian Burns, Mark Barry and Stephen McNally are back as BBMAK and playing the House of Blues’ Voodoo Room on Sunday, November 3. (Photo by Miranda Hird) few surprises in there.” The new album he mentions is “Powerstation,” produced by so that we started writing music Burns admits, though, he was a BBMAK, Jonathan Radford Mead, again like not a moment had passed. little hesitant. Steve Chrisanthou (Corinne Bailey The result is ‘Powerstation.’ We’ve “We were a bit nervous going into Rae) and Firebox. been absolutely blown away by the the studio,” he says. “We wondered “When we got back together last love, support and excitement from if we still had it. Can we still do it? year, we never dreamed we would end everyone who has come to see us at We’ve had a lot to write about. We up where we are today,” Burns says. our shows or written to us online to had 15 years of life since our last “When we got together again, tell us how much it means to you that album. But when we got together, it the magic was still there, so much we’re together again.” was like riding a bike.”

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The songwriting was primarily done through clouds, as Burns lives in Los Angeles while Barry and McNally reside in the United Kingdom. “We made the best of the distance between us,” says Burns, who was heavily involved with music production and EDM during the time off. “We worked around it. We had Skype lyric sessions. “I also went over to England for a month to write three of the tracks. We all chipped in.” The first single was “So Far Away,” which is about longing. The soaring guitars and drums match the scenery of the video, Burns says. For him and his EDM background, returning to roots music was a joy. “I’m so used to writing songs for electronic projects,” he says. “It was really refreshing to pick up the acoustic (guitar) and have just the three of us start singing, together with the guitars. It was a nice change. I missed playing the guitar, quite a lot, actually. I can’t put it down.”

BBMAK w/ Riker and the Beachcombers

7 p.m. Sunday, November 3 House of Blues’ Voodoo Room, 1055 Fifth Avenue, San Diego Tickets start at $25 livenation.com

OCTOBER 30, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 13

MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Above Borders (Soda Bar, 11/10), The Surrealistics (Casbah, 11/17), Emo Nite (Casbah, 11/22), Widowmade (Soda Bar, 11/26), The Skatalites (Soda Bar, 12/1), Jesse Egan (Soda Bar, 12/2), Eyedress (Soda Bar, 12/10), Ariel View (Soda Bar, 12/12), Choir Boy (Casbah, 12/13), Brokeback (Soda Bar, 12/18), Hieroglyphics (Soda Bar, 1/18), Bleed the Sky (Brick by Brick, 1/25), Caspian (Casbah, 2/1), Poncho Sanchez (BUT, 2/9), Young Dolph (Music Box, 2/13), Joshua Radin (BUT, 2/20), Blake Shelton (Pechanga, 3/7), Frances Quinlan (Casbah, 3/14), COIN (Observatory, 4/3), Ripe (HOB, 4/4), TOPS (Music Box, 5/4), Little Dragon (Observatory, 5/11), James Arthur (Observatory, 5/19).

ALL SOLD OUT

Mac Ayres (Music Box, 11/3),Omar Apollo (Observatory, 11/7), Two Door Cinema Club (Observatory, 11/8), Nahko (Observatory, 11/14), Built To Spill (Casbah, 11/14), Cold War Kids (Observatory, 11/15), The Surrealistics (Casbah, 11/17), Adam Carolla (BUT, 12/1), Thievery Corporation (BUT, 12/12), Bayside at The Casbah, 12/12, Silversun Pickups (Observatory, 12/17), Chris Isaak (BUT, 12/17), Stick Figure (BUT, 12/27-28), Trey Anastasio Band (Observatory, 1/16), Dashboard Confessional (Observatory, 2/11-12).

CANCELED

Dick Dale’s Misirlou (BUT, 12/19), Christian Death (Soda Bar, 11/6), Jacky Vincent (Brick by Brick, 11/12), Goblin (Brick by Brick, 11/14).

GET YER TICKETS

Helmet (BUT, 11/7), Cold War Kids

(Observatory, 11/15), The Maine (Observatory, 11/29), Aly & AJ (BUT, 12/8), King Princess (Observatory, 1/28), Joyce Manor (Music Box, 1/10), Blake Shelton (Pechanga, 3/7), James Arthur (Observatory, 5/19), Wednesday, October 30 OK Go at California Center for the Arts. Gramatik at Observatory North Park. The Spill Canvas at Soda Bar. Easy Wind at Belly Up Tavern. Thursday, October 31 The Adicts at House Of Blues. TR/ST at Observatory North Park. Dirtwire at Music Box. ‘80s Heat at Belly Up Tavern. Cold at Brick by Brick. Old Man Wizard at Soda Bar. Acid Tongue at Ché Café Collective. Michael vs. Prince Halloween Party at The Casbah. Friday, November 1 Kikagaku Moyo at Music Box. Dinosaur Jr. at Observatory North Park. Kero Kero Bonito at Belly Up Tavern. Wovenhand at Brick by Brick. Shoreline Mafia at SOMA. Jon Pardi at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre. Mike Watt & the Missingmen at Casbah. Cults at Soda Bar. Saturday, November 2 Noah Kahan at House Of Blues. Black Mountain at The Casbah. Through the Roots at Music Box. The Spazmatics at Belly Up Tavern. Suffocation & Belphegor at Brick by Brick. Cults at Soda Bar. Sunday, November 3 Whitney at Observatory North Park. Matt Heckler at Soda Bar. Guerilla Toss at The Casbah. Electric Guest at The Irenic. Aaron Neville at Belly Up Tavern. Monday, November 4 LITE at The Irenic. Making Movies at Soda Bar. The Cadillac Three at House of Blues. Burning Beard at The Casbah.

14 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · OCTOBER 30, 2019

Tuesday, November 5 Monolord at Brick By Brick. Craig Finn & the Uptown Controllers at Soda Bar. Mellow Fellow at Ché Café Collective. French for Rabbits at SPACE. Twenty One Pilots at Pechanga. Matt & Kim at Observatory North Park. Summer Walker at SOMA. Micky & the Motorcars at Belly Up Tavern. Elephant Stone at The Casbah. Ralph Castelli at House Of Blues. Messer Chups at The Merrow. Wednesday, November 6 Penny & Sparrow at Belly Up Tavern. Tobe Nwigwe at Music Box. Ghost of Paul Revere at The Casbah. Sluka at Soda Bar. Thursday, November 7 Helmet at Belly Up Tavern. Sloan at The Casbah. Luke Combs at Pechanga. Shawn James at Soda Bar. Lohanthony at Ché Café Collective. The Locust at Music Box. Friday, November 8 Hilltop Hoods at Music Box. The Pine Mountain Logs at Belly Up Tavern. SKEGSS at The Casbah. Lyrics Born at Soda Bar. Sabrina Claudio at SOMA. Saturday, November 9 Rat Boy at House Of Blues. Baby Bushka at The Casbah. Sammy Johnson at Music Box. Liturgy at Soda Bar. Homesafe at Brick by Brick. Super Diamond at Belly Up Tavern. Sunday, November 10 Gloria Trevia at Viejas Arena at SDSU. Rhett Miller at Music Box. Immortal Technique at Belly Up Tavern. Gesaffelstein at Petco Park. Lil Xan at House of Blues. Nebula Drag at The Casbah. Above Borders at Soda Bar. The Surrealistics at The Casbah. Monday, November 11 Kilo at Soda Bar. Broncho at The Casbah. Charley Crockett at Belly Up Tavern. Stonecutters at Brick by Brick.

Tuesday, November 12 Built To Spill at The Casbah. Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors at Belly Up Tavern. SleaterKinney at Observatory North Park. The Dangerous Summer at Soda Bar. Augustana at Music Box. Wednesday, November 13 Frankie Cosmos at Ché Café Collective. Cave In at Soda Bar. TAUK at Belly Up Tavern. Miami Horror at Music Box. Thursday, November 14 Strung Out SOMA. Hovvdy at SPACE. Jonathan Bree at Soda Bar. Art Alexakis at Music Box. The Good Pour at Belly Up Tavern. Ed Maverick at House Of Blues. Friday, November 15 Nekromantix at Brick By Brick. Mating Ritual at Soda Bar. Max Bemis at The Irenic. The Babe Rainbow at The Casbah. Black Belt Eagle Scout at Ché Café Collective. Los Amigos Invisibles at Music Box. Max Bemis at SOMA. Saturday, November 16 Twin Peaks at Belly Up Tavern. Moonchild at Music Box. Dizzy Reed’s Hookers at Brick by Brick. MyKey at Soda Bar. The Ocean Blue at The Casbah. Rufus Wainwright at Copley Symphony Hall. Sunday, November 17 Reckless Kelly at Belly Up Tavern. The Black Keys at Pechanga Arena. The Midnight Hour at Soda Bar. SuicideGirls at Music Box. Youth of Today at Ché Café Collective. Young Thug at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU. Fister at SPACE. Monday, November 18 Pip Blom at Soda Bar. Leonid & Friends at Belly Up Tavern. Tuesday, November 19 ScaryPoolParty at House of Blues. Puma Blue

at The Casbah. Stoop Kids at Soda Bar. Wednesday, November 20 Mason Ramsey at House Of Blues. Meg Myers at Music Box. Ghostland Observatory at Belly Up Tavern. The World/Inferno Friendship Society at The Casbah. Thursday, November 21 Tyrone Wells at Music Box. Big Freedia at Belly Up Tavern. Charlotte Lawrence at House of Blues. Enterprise Earth at Brick by Brick. Our Girl at Soda Bar. Friday, November 22 Cherry Poppin’ Daddies at Belly Up Tavern. Cautious Clay at House Of Blues. Vetiver at Soda Bar. Whitey Morgan at Observatory North Park. Bad Bunny at Pechanga. Wonderfront Festival at Waterfront Park. The Expendables at Music Box. Emo Nite at The Casbah. Saturday, November 23 Hirie at Observatory North Park. Pinback at Belly Up Tavern. Shred for Dime Tribute at Brick by Brick. The Get Up Kids at Soda Bar. Wonderfront Festival at Waterfront Park. Simple Plan at SOMA. Spendtime Palace at Ché Café Collective. Johnny Distortion at Music Box. Sunday, November 24 The Chainsmokers at Viejas Arena. Crocodiles at The Casbah. Turnover at Observatory North Park. Wild at Soda Bar. Kottonmouth Kings at Brick by Brick. Wonderfront Festival at Waterfront Park. John Craigie at Belly Up Tavern. Monday, November 25 Emily Afton at Belly Up Tavern. Tuesday, November 26 The Dead South at House of Blues. Eddie

See

CONCERTS on page 19

@SDCITYBEAT

MUSIC

CLUBS 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach. Wed: Open Mic. Thu: Find Indigo, KWN. Fri: The Frets. Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th Street, Normal Heights. Fri: ‘House Music Fridays.’ Sat: ‘Juicy.’ Sun: DJ Elevate.Mon: ‘Organized Grime.’ Tue: Ginger Lou. American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Avenue, Downtown. Thu: Shayne Smith. Fri: Shayne Smith. Sat: Shayne Smith. Tue: Open Mic. The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Wed: Karaoke. Fri: Methane, Incarnit, Mind Cell. Sun: Dark Future. Mon: Trivia. Tue: Karaoke. Bang Bang, 526 Market St., Downtown. Fri: Baauer. Sat: Ivy Lab. Bar Pink, 3829 30th Street, North Park. Wed: La Beat Cantina, 357 Magnum, Julia Sage. Thu: DJ Ratty. Beaumont’s, 5665 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla. Fri: That’s the Carlos Rock Experience. Sat: Moonage Daydreamers. Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach. Wed: Easy Wind, Carly Jo Jackson. Thu: Halloween Heat, Bella Lux Dance. Fri: Kero Kero Bonito, Negative Gemini. Sat: The Spazmatics, Rockgarden. Sun: Aaron Neville. Tue: Micky and the Motorcars, Sara Petite. Black Cat Bar, 4246 University Avenue, City Heights. Fri: Codex Confiteor, Legion X, Flowers, Sean Francis Conway.

@SDCITYBEAT

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington Street, Mission Hills. Wed: ‘Dance Klassique.’ Thu: ‘Stranger Things Halloween Bash.’ Fri: ‘We Are Your Friends.’ Sat: ‘Just Like Heaven.’ Tue: ‘Techit Easy.’ Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Avenue, Bay Park. Thu: Cold, Awake for Days, DiVad, Silent Vice. Fri: Wovenhand, Blind John Pope, The Howlin’ Roosters, Captured! By Robots, The Gay Agenda, Speculum. Sat: Suffocation, Belphegor, Necronomicon, Abiotic, Gravespell. Tue: Monolord, Blackwater Holylight, Warish. The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Boulevard, Midtown. Wed: Jaymes Young, Phil Good. Thu: ‘Halloween Party: Michael vs. Prince.’ Fri: Mike Watt & the Missingmen. Sat: Black Mountain, Ryley Walker. Sun: Guerilla Toss, Los Pinche Pinches, Permaar. Mon: Hammered Satin, Babydoll Warriors. Tue: Elephant Stone, Cosmonauts. Che Cafe, 1000 Scholars Drive S, La Jolla. Wed: Pale Horse of the Apocalypse, Mortar, Grosero, Dendera Bloodbath. Tue: Mellow Fellow. Dizzy›s, Arias Hall, 1717 Morena Boulevard. Fri: Peter Sprague & Roni Ben-Hur. Sat: Sayed Sabrina. Fluxx, 500 Fourth Avenue, Downtown. Thu: Shaffy. The Holding Company, 5046 Newport Avenue. Wed: Martyrs for Mayhem, Cherry Road, Jam Packed. Thu: OREN, DJ Byrd, DJ Mancat. Fri: B3K, OFIER, The Jeffrees, CARLO. Sat: DJ ManCat, CARLO. Sun: Fish & the Seaweeds. Mon: Karaoke. Tue: Drifting Roots, Sandollar, Strictly Skunk, Tomboyce Ave. House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Avenue, Downtown. Thu: The Adicts. Fri: La Santa

Cecilia’s Muerto Boogie. Sat: Noah Kahan. Sun: BBMAK. Mon: The Cadillac Three. Tue: Sinead Harnett, Ralph Castelli, Johnny Goth.

the Roots, Pacific Dub, Brothers Galvez, Cydeways. Sun: Mac Ayres (sold out). Mon: LITE, Elephant Gym.

Humphreys Backstage, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. Wed: Puro Feeling. Thu: Clapton Hook. Fri: Detroit Underground. Sat: Rising Star. Sun: Gordon Goodwin. Mon: Sue Palmer. Tue: Fuzzy Rankins.

The Office, 3936 30th Street, North Park. Wed: ‘Kiss Undercover.’ Thu: ‘All-Vinyl Happy Hour.’ Mon: ‘Motown on Mondays.’

The Irenic, 3090 Polk Avenue, North Park. Wed: Jaymes Young. Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Boulevard, Midtown. Thu: ‘Disco Bloodbath.’ Sat: ‘Ascension Day.’ Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Avenue, Kensington. Thu: Amalgamated, Marujah, Epic XVIII. Mc P›s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Avenue, Coronado. Wed: Jerry Gontang. Thu: Stilettos. Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Avenue, Hillcrest. Wed: Miss Richfield 1981. Thu: Miss Richfield 1981. Sat: Soulfire. Sun: Carol Curtis. Tue: Chris Mann. The Merrow, 1271 University Avenue, Hillcrest. Thu: Karaoke. Fri: Lakuti. Sat: ‘Bear Night.’ Tue: Messer Chups, Go Fever, Bad Kids. Mother’s Saloon, 2228 Bacon Street, Ocean Beach. Tue: Trivia. Mr. Peabody’s, 136 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas. Thu: It’s Never 2l8. Fri: Custard Pie. Sat: Sound Vault. Sun: ‘Jazz Jam.’ Mon: Open Mic. Tue: Trivia. Music Box, 1337 India Street, Little Italy. Thu: Dirtwire, Boostive, Kaipora. Fri: Kikagaku Moyo, Minami Deutsch. Sat: Through

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 Sixth Avenue, Downtown. Thu: Lil Jon. Fri: Brklyn. Sat: Deorro. Panama 66, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. Wed: ‘The Wednesday Jam Session.’ Fri: Mad Hat Hucksters. Sat: Robin Henkel Jazz Quartet. Parq, 615 Broadway, Downtown. Thu: Cheat Codes. Pour House, 1903 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside. Wed: Open Mic. Mon: Trivia. Tue: DJ Lexicon Devil. Proud Mary’s, 5550 Kearny Mesa Road, Kearny Mesa. Wed: Bill Magee. Thu: Tomcat Courtney. The Rail, 3796 Fifth Avenue, Hillcrest. Thu: ‘Country Dance.’ Sat: ‘Sabados en Fuego.’ Rich›s, 1051 University Avenue, Hillcrest. Wed: ‘Mischief w/ Bianca.’ Thu: ‘Halloween Fright Night.’ Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Avenue, La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz.’ Thu: Blind Mountain Holler. Fri: Rose Colored Glasses. Sat: Nathan Hubbard Quartet. Tue: ‘The Works Jam.’ Rosie O’Gradys, 3402 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights. Sat: Thump Juice. Mon: ‘Jazz Jam.’ Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Boulevard, City Heights. Wed: The Spill Canvas, The Juliana Theory, Cory Wells. Thu: Old Man Wizard,

Witch Ripper, Forming the Void, Mezzoa. Fri: Cults, Weatherbox, Positioner. Sat: Cults, Weatherbox, Positioner. Sun: Matt Heckler, Casper Allen. Mon: Making Movies, Los Rakas, DJ Ethos. Tue: Craig Finn & the Uptown Controllers. SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway. Wed: Mild Orange. Fri: Shoreline Mafia, 1TakeJay, AzChike. Tue: The First and Last Tour, Summer Walker, Melii, Jozzy. SPACE, 3519 El Cajon Boulevard, City Heights. Wed: Pocari Sweat. Thu: Devo, Afi, Iggy and the Stoogies, Discharge. Fri: ‘Rituals.’ Tue: French for Rabbits. Spin, 2028 Hancock Street, Midtown. Thu: Lee Burridge, Gab Rhome, Alex Wax. Fri: Justin Ray. Sat: Detroit Love. Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights. Wed: Paul Gregg. Thu: ‘Burlesque Boogie Nights.’ Sun: Rosa’s Cantina. Tue: Trivia. Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Boulevard, City Heights. Thu: Death Nation. Fri: Dethsurf, Los Pinche Pinches, The Scimitars. Sat: The Rockability Shakeout. Sun: ‘Pants Karaoke.’ Tin Roof, 401 G Street, Downtown. Wed: ‘Rewind Wednesday.’ Thu: ‘Hallow-emo-night.’ Fri: ‘Keep Your Soul Duo.’ Sat: Coriander. Sun: Karaoke. Tue: ‘Beats & Booze Industry Night.’ Tio Leo›s, 5302 Napa Street, Bay Park. Wed: Carl Sonny Leyland, Chloe Feoranzo. Thu: The Crypt Keepers Ball, The Mercedes Moore Band. Fri: Big Time Operator Orchestra. Sat: Full Strength Funk Band. Mon: ‘Sexy Salsa & Sensual Bachata.’ Tue: Sue Palmer.

OCTOBER 30, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 15

MOVIES

from page 10

to create the most exciting cinematic experiences. Featuring the insights and stories of iconic directors such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, David Lynch, Barbra Streisand, Ang Lee, Sofia Coppola and Ryan Coogler. Opens Friday, November 1 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park. “Motherless Brooklyn”: Edward Norton directs and stars in this neo-noir about a private detective diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome who tries to solve the murder of his boss. Opens Friday, November 1, in wide release. “Terminator: Dark Fate”: She’s back! Linda Hamilton reprises her role as Sarah Connor in this latest sequel in the franchise made popular by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s lethal killing machine from the future. Opens Friday, November 1, in wide release.

16 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · OCTOBER 30, 2019

One-Time Only

“Casablanca”: A classic of Hollywood cinema, this thriller finds Humphrey Bogart’s cynical club owner caught between ensuring his own survival and protecting the woman he once loved from Nazis. Screens at 8 p.m. Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2, at Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills. “The Big Lebowski”: Jeff Bridges stars as the pot-smoking bowler who gets caught up in a kidnapping scheme in the Coen brothers’ mad hatter riff on the screwball comedy. Screens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 6, at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma. “Dinner at Eight”: In this comedic drama from 1933, an ambitious New York socialite plans an extravagant dinner party as her businessman husband, Oliver (Lionel Barry-

more), contends with financial woes, causing a lot of tension between the couple. Screens at 1 p.m. Sunday, November 3, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park. “12 Monkeys”: In this acclaimed sci-fi thriller, a convict is sent back in time to stop a devastating plague, but is sent too far back and is hospitalized as insane. Starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. Screens at 7:30 p.m. Monday, November 4, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park. “Big Gay Sing-Along with Chicago”: In the 1920s, imprisoned murderesses Velma (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie (Renée Zellweger) fight for the attention of lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) while looking for fame. Screens at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 6, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

@SDCITYBEAT

MUSIC

No Plan B Cheat Codes promise an energetic Halloween performance had managed atthew Russell, Kevin such a feat. Ford and Trevor They told Dahl—collectively Ford that known as Cheat they had, Codes—all dropped “found the out of college to, well, “cheat cheat code life.” to life.” “I was actually in college and That story then I dropped out because I stuck with wanted to do music,” Russell Russell. says. “I never really had a Plan Cheat B. And same with Trevor; he Codes is dropped out of high school. working And Kevin dropped out of on a Cheat Codes has worked with Little Mix, Kim Petras, Kaskade and Sofia Reyes. (Photo courtesy college.” single that Cheat Codes) Now known as the EDM should be collective Cheat Codes, they released in sound and doing more electronic will perform on Halloween at Parq December. The trio is working on its stuff.” Restaurant & Nightclub. Russell debut album, which will showcase its The trio formed Cheat Codes in promises a diverse set rooted in a musical range. late 2014, but not with the purpose of variety of genres. “We’ve done a couple of EPs and being DJs. “We’re very high energy and like “We didn’t really know about the to play all kinds of music,” Russell DJ culture,” Russell says. “We were says. “There will be live vocals and then we’re mixing it up with different just making music that we liked and once Cheat Codes had a couple songs hip-hop, trap and dubstep. So, it’s that were really gaining traction, for anybody who just wants to we started getting gigs and we were have a good time and got crazy for like, ‘Oh, we need to learn how to Halloween. They’re going to enjoy DJ,’ so the DJ side came after the themselves.” As a youngster in St. Louis, Russell songwriting and the production was found himself influenced by music as already developed.” Now, the trio is ready to greet San a fourth grader. Diego. Russell says they enjoy San “I was just really into music class,” Russell says. “I got into middle school Diego’s vibe. “It’s always fun for us to play in band and was playing saxophone and San Diego because it’s a quick drive then I wanted to be in a rock band. I and it’s such a beautiful city and was in a punk rock band. weather,” Russell says. “We’re going “I was really into Fall Out Boy, to bring some friends down and I’m Green Day and a lot of indie rock dressing up in a costume, so it should stuff, too. “I was pretty much be fun.” listening to everything, and I was Of course, costumes will be studying in a way.” involved. Russell is dressing as After he dropped out of college, Imhotep from “The Mummy.” He Russell moved to Los Angeles, where he met Dahl, his future roommate. At dressed up as a character from “Top Gun” last year. the time, Russell was experimenting The name “Cheat Codes” was with sounds beyond his usual punk inspired from a story Ford told rock preferences. Ford approached Russell some years ago. When Ford him with a question. was roughly 9, his older brothers “Kevin was rapping, and he was were in a band who opened for looking for beats to rap over, and he Duran Duran in the early 2000s. thought my beats were pretty cool,” Intrigued by his older brothers’ Russell says. “So, we started working success, Ford asked them how they together and ended up switching the

By Octavio Serrano

@SDCITYBEAT

we’ve done mainly singles, so we’re approaching this as a body of work and trying to really nail down a cohesive sound,” Russell says. “At the end of the day, people get bored really quickly and you’ve got to reinvent yourself. It’s a lot of experimentation.” Russell is hoping fans take away one thing from his shows and music. “Anything they can come up with can manifest into reality,” Russell says. “And that’s the cheat code.”

Cheat Codes

10 p.m. Thursday, October 31 Parq Restaurant & Nightclub, 615 Broadway, Gaslamp Quarter $15-$20 619-727-6789, parqsd.com

OCTOBER 30, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 17

IN THE BACK

CANNABITCH

Bombs Away This cannabis-driven bath isn’t so bad By Jackie Bryant

absolutely love being horizontal.

Naptime? Sign me up. Sprawling across a couch, no matter how large or small? Yes, please. Stretching out from tip to tail after a large meal and a fat joint? Heaven. So, I took note when I noticed my roommate regularly organizing her evenings around taking a bath. Not one to pass up indulgence or horizontal activities, I decided to become a bath enthusiast, myself. Thankfully, cannabis and bath

products were practically made for one another. Bathing is a decadent activity no matter how it’s sliced. To have access to that much clean, hot water as well as the time to sit and luxuriate in our own personal soup are two things that many people in the world don’t really have. I say that when it comes to bath time: live it up. Buy all the oils, soaking salts, infused-bombs, soaps, bubbles and any other accouterments that make a bath as relaxing and indulgent as it should be. To that end, CBD, with its purported anti-inflammation and

18 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · OCTOBER 30, 2019

anxiety-fighting qualities, seems like an obvious choice for inclusion. Bath bombs are not inherently a controversial topic but, within the CBD and cannabis world, dosing is. There are still many questions swirling around CBD and dosing with too many variables to appropriately dive into in this particular article, but the bottom line is that dosing can be all over the place. So, it’s always advisable to shop with retailers that can demonstrate knowledge in this space. It’s for this reason that I’m

dismissive of certain CBD products. After a few years of sampling many, I’ve gotten a feel for my own thresholds for dosing and potency. I’m usually quickly able to determine which are including CBD as a gimmick and just to be trendy and those who are serious about using the cannabinoid appropriately. So, I decided to shoot highish and try the Kush Queen Shield for Immunity bath bomb, which is dosed with 100 See

BOMBS on page 19

@SDCITYBEAT

IN THE BACK

BOMBS

from page 18

milligrams of CBD. Because Kush Queen products are 100% hemp-derived CBD, they are able to be ordered online from anywhere in the country, including California. This particular bomb has organic clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils, in addition to CBD. Whatever one’s feelings about the therapeutic claims of essential oils are, the result of this mix is a strongly aromatic, energizing scent that probably would have convinced a medieval me that it had immunity-boosting properties. As for the CBD, I felt that the Kush Queen bomb made me feel appropriately like Jell-O, which was a first. For this particular bomb, I think it was the dose, which is higher than the average CBD bath bomb on the market, that made me feel so good. At $15.99 before shipping and tax, it’s an expensive bath, sure. But I think it’s likely the best bang for the buck on the market. The company also has lower- and higher-dose bombs on offer. I decided that, for my next trick, I’d add THC into the mix. I bought Papa & Barkley’s Releaf Soak,

CONCERTS

from page 14

Spaghetti at The Casbah. Widowmade at Soda Bar. Wednesday, November 27 Nile at Brick By Brick. Yachtley Crew at Music Box. Jim Breuer at Observatory North Park. Fortunate Youth at Belly Up Tavern. Cryptic Wisdom at Soda Bar. Friday, November 29 Buku at Music Box. Morbid Angel at Brick by Brick. The Maine at Observatory North Park. The Greyboy Allstars. The Rosalyns at The Casbah. Saturday, November 30 Wayward Sons at Belly Up Tavern. Ten Bulls at Soda Bar. Ensiferum at Brick by Brick. Lane 8 at Petco Park. Sunday, December 1 Mikal Cronin at The Casbah. The Old Firm Casuals at Brick by Brick. A$AP Ferg at House Of Blues. Elton John at Pechanga. The Skatalites at Soda Bar. Monday, December 2 So You Think You Can Dance Live! 2019 at Balboa Theatre. Jesse Egan at Soda Bar. Tuesday, December 3 Angel Olsen at Observatory North Park. The Make-Up at The Casbah. Wednesday, December 4 From Indian Lakes at Soda Bar. Moon Hooch at The Casbah. Jonny Lang at Belly Up Tavern. Thursday, December 5 Black Flag at House Of Blues. DIIV at

@SDCITYBEAT

Luna Volta’s bath bombs retail for $20 at San Diego stores like ShopGood in North Park and Del Mar’s One Paseo. (Photo courtesy Luna Volta)

which are bath salts only available at California dispensaries (many of which are in San Diego). I’ve seen them cost everywhere from $15 to $40 around town. I paid $15 at Golden State Greens. It took just one bath to make me completely hooked. The soak is made from Dead Sea salt, cannabis (19.5 milligrams THC, 6.9 milligrams CBD), fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil and an essential oil mix of eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint and lavender. Undeniably, part of the hook is that mix of oils—within 10 minutes, my entire body was tingling and I felt completely relaxed. The other part, says Papa & Barkley’s Director of

Belly Up Tavern. Judge & Cro-Mags at The Irenic. Marco Benevento at The Casbah. Reagan Youth at Soda Bar. The Slackers at Music Box. Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Observatory North Park. Catfish & the Bottlemen at Pechanga. Shawn Colvin at California Center for the Arts. Judge at SOMA. Kill Devil Hill at Brick by Brick. Friday, December 6 Lee Fields & the Expressions at The Music Box. Magic Sword at The Casbah. Daughters, HEALTH at SOMA. Exhumed at Brick by Brick. Illenium at Pechanga. Griffin House at Soda Bar. Lisa Prank at Ché Café Collective.

Communications Christina Wong, is the company’s proprietary whole-plant infusion process. This natural, solventless extraction process includes soaking cannabis plants in coconut or MC oil and adding heat and pressure, which infuses cannabinoids into the base oil and preserves the terpenes, cannabinoids and phytonutrients found in the original plant. The resulting oils are then blended to achieve different ratios of cannabinoids and other properties. I’m a whole-plant, entourage effect superfan, so this explanation works for me. I really love this product. The last bomb I sampled was from Luna Volta, a San Diego CBD upstart started by Kayla Clements, a woman who moved to San Diego from New York City (just like me). I tried her 20 milligram Venus blend, which also utilizes rose and sandalwood essential oils and dried rose petals as is designed to enhance arousal.

Friday, December 13 Allah-Las at Observatory North Park. Lebanon Hanover at Brick by Brick. Tragedy at The Merrow. Rorre at Soda Bar. Choir Boy at The Casbah. Saturday, December 14 Chon at Observatory North Park. Nick Offerman at Balboa Theatre. As I Lay Dying at SOMA. Blockhead at The Casbah. Randy at Ché Café Collective. Motel Radio at Soda Bar. Sunday, December 15 The Blind Boys of Alabama at Belly Up Tavern. Omni at Soda Bar.

Saturday, December 7 John Waters at Observatory North Park. With Confidence at The Irenic. Tow’rs at Soda Bar. Gryffin at SOMA. Authority Zero at Brick by Brick. Louis Futon at Music Box.

Monday, December 16 Kiefer Sutherland at Belly Up Tavern.

Sunday, December 8 Andrea Bocelli at Pechanga Arena. Aly & AJ at Belly Up Tavern. Kim Petras at Observatory North Park. Pink Froyd at Music Box. Death Eyes at The Casbah. Valley Queen at Soda Bar.

Wednesday, December 18 The Venice at Belly Up Tavern. Brokeback at Soda Bar.

Tuesday, December 10 The Charlie Daniels Band at California Center for the Arts. Pete Yorn at Belly Up Tavern. Eyedress at Soda Bar. Wednesday, December 11 Son Little at Soda Bar. Kolars at The Casbah. Defeater at Ché Café Collective. JD McPherson at Belly Up Tavern. The Shelters at Music Box. Unearth at Brick by Brick. Thursday, December 12 La Dispute at House of Blues. Khemmis at Brick by Brick. Ariel View at Soda Bar.

Tuesday, December 17 Mark Diamond at Soda Bar.

Thursday, December 19 Mariachi Sol de Mexico at Balboa Theatre. The Tubes at Belly Up Tavern. 13 Bats at The Casbah. Friday, December 20 Cash’d Out Christmas at Belly Up Tavern. Infected Mushroom at Music Box. Matt Embree at Soda Bar. Saturday, December 21 Damage Inc. at Brick by Brick. The Grouch at Music Box. Phantom Planet at House Of Blues. The Heavy Guilt at Soda Bar. Sunday, December 22 Cattle Decapitation at Brick by Brick. Eric

I love anything rose-scented, from shampoo to candles to rice, so I was immediately on board. I was curious about the variables in dosing across the CBD spectrum, so I asked Kayla to explain her thought process behind designing these products. “CBD Bath bombs work twofold,” she explains to me. “One, similarly to how a tincture works, cannabinoids can enter the bloodstream by being absorbed by a mucous membrane, which people will come into contact during a bath. Second, CBD also engages with receptors in our skin.” She added that she thinks 20mg is a good place to start for beginners and that the quality of the oil matters. Clements sources hers from USDA organic-certified industrial hemp farm in Colorado. Luna Volta’s bath bombs retail for $20, include all-natural ingredients (all the way up to the completely biodegradable packaging) and can be found online or in San Diego retail stores like ShopGood in North Park and Del Mar’s One Paseo. Even though it’s a lower dose than I usually prefer, I’m actually typing this column under the post-bath spell from Luna Volta’s Venus bomb and I feel fantastic. Happy bathing!

Rachmany at Observatory North Park. Mud Slide Slim at Music Box. Late Night Radio at Soda Bar. Groundation at Belly Up Tavern. Saturday, December 28 The Crystal Method at Music Box. Jim Brickman at Balboa Theatre. Ignite at Brick by Brick. Poolside at Observatory North Park. Twin Ritual at Soda Bar. Sunday, December 29 Donavon Frankenreiter at Belly Up Tavern. Monday, December 30 Donavon Frankenreiter at Belly Up Tavern. Tuesday, December 31 Steel Pulse at Belly Up Tavern. The Floozies at Music Box. Wednesday, January 1 Thursday, January 2 Friday, January 3 Saturday, January 4 The Winehouse Experience at Music Box. Wednesday, January 8 David Lindley at Belly Up Tavern. Thursday, January 9 Chadwick Stokes & the Pintos at Belly Up Tavern. Friday, January 10 Mandolin Orange at Observatory North Park. Joyce Manor at Music Box. Saturday, January 11 Gary Gulman at Observatory North Park.

Coco Montoya (BUT, 1/15), Midge Ure (BUT, 1/16), Los Stellarians (Music Box, 1/16), Nada Surf (Casbah, 1/18), The PettyBreakers (BUT, 1/18), Hieroglyphics (Soda Bar, 1/18), Reverend Horton Heat (HOB, 1/19), The Great Love Debate (Music Box, 1/22), Theo Katzman (BUT, 1/22), Michael Kiwanuka (Observatory, 1/22), Big Head Todd & the Monsters (BUT, 1/23), Cursive (Casbah, 1/24), Sullivan King (Music Box, 1/24), Bleed the Sky (Brick by Brick, 1/25), Saint Motel (Observatory, 1/25), John Mayall (BUT, 1/28), City of the Sun (Casbah, 1/28), Tower of Power (BUT, 1/29), Queensryche (Music Box, 1/29), Sergio Mendes (BUT, 1/30). Caspian (Casbah, 2/1), Ozomatli (Music Box, 2/1), American Authors (Observatory, 2/1), The New Pornographers (Observatory, 2/4), Danko Jones (Brick by Brick, 2/5), Mortiis (Brick by Brick, 2/6), Tender (Music Box, 2/6), Xavier Omar (Observatory, 2/7), Lucky Chops (Casbah, 2/8), The 69 Eyes (Brick by Brick, 2/8), Poncho Sanchez (BUT, 2/9), The Glorious Sons (Music Box, 2/9), Sinead O’Connor (BUT, 2/11), Murder by Death (BUT, 2/13), Miniature Tigers (Soda Bar, 2/13), Young Dolph (Music Box, 2/13), The California Honeydrops (BUT, 2/14), The Como la Flor Band (Music Box, 2/14), Ross the Boss (Brick by Brick, 2/15), Ingested (Brick by Brick, 2/17), Little People (Casbah, 2/19), Illiterate Light (Casbah, 2/20), Joshua Radin (BUT, 2/20), Soil (Brick by Brick, 2/21), William Duvall (Soda Bar, 2/22), Amber Liu (Music Box, 2/22), Thrice (Observatory, 2/25), Flor de Toloache (Casbah, 2/25), Ezra Furman (Casbah, 2/26), Tinsley Ellis (BUT, 2/26), Lower Dens (Soda Bar, 2/26), JD Souther (BUT, 2/27), The Purple Ones (Music Box, 2/28), Dr. Dog (Observatory, 2/28), Dave Hause & the Mermaid (Soda Bar, 2/28).

OCTOBER 30, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 19

20 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · OCTOBER 30, 2019

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