San Diego City Beat 010919

2 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2019

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UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR

“Home first”

I

always wait for the inevitable “but” to drop when it comes to watching County Board of Supervisors meetings. Once the agenda is read and comments from the public are wrapped up, it’s the supervisors’ turn to ask questions, suggest amendments and, most importantly, grandstand on why they simply can’t support spending money on something as simple as, say, helping people.

We’ve seen this kind of thing when it comes to addressing issues such as homelessness. And we saw it again on Tuesday when it came to housing asylum-seeking immigrants. A supervisor spends about five minutes declaring how much they care about “the children” and fluffing the feathers of the organizations, charities and religious organizations who are in the trenches, often risking their lives in order to help people who are fleeing their home countries out of fear.

And then comes the “but,” and when it came to something that seemed like a nobrainer—a number of direct initiatives that would help asylum seekers find shelter while they’re temporarily in San Diego—the “but”s on Tuesday were many.

“I do have a lot of compassion, deep compassion, for the families who are seeking asylum,” remarked Supervisor Diane Jacob, who has been anointed Chairperson of the board just a day before.

“I particularly have a lot of compassion for the kids, being a former teacher. The

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children in particular are put into a situation in their home country where they face many trials, many tribulations,” Jacob continued.

Buuuuut…

“I can’t help but think about our homeless veterans that are on the street. They’re our own people,” Jacob remarked, before adding that the county should have a “home first” policy when it comes to county resources.

Let’s just put aside the fact the county, which is led by the Board of Supervisors, has failed epically when it comes to addressing homelessness. The tight-fisted, mostly Republican board is notoriously stingy when it comes to allocating funds to address county needs. Even former chairperson Kristin Gaspar, who still represents District 3 on the board, has admitted that homeless prevention has not been a priority in the past. The $18 million the board allocated in September was only passed after much hand-wringing and finagling.

So yeah, sorry, Diane, but anyone with eyes, ears and even a slight opinion on the issue, isn’t buying your “compassion,” as it essentially boils down to I care about migrants and I care about homelessness, but I’d rather do as little as possible to help American people who are already homeless than help prevent future homelessness.

Despite over two hours of pubic testimony from esteemed members and heads of charity and religious organizations pleading for help; despite assurances from county workers that they were simply attempting to prevent more homelessness or another health crisis, Jacob

and newly appointed Supervisor Jim Desmond were unmoved. Jacob even remarked at one point that it’s “not a problem of our making,” which is the same kind of reasoning the board used when the county sat on its hands during the hepatitis A crisis.

In the end, however, the board did vote to pass the initiatives, which were originally proposed by Supervisors Greg Cox and Nathan Fletcher (the lone Dem on the five-member board) after the two visited the migrant shelter run by the San Diego Rapid Response Network.

But in grand ol’ Board fashion, it came with some caveats and amendments, with Desmond, Republican guns blazing, even demanding at one point that the initiative’s key elements sunset after 90 days if the county did not get federal or state help.

Even the Trump-loving Gaspar rebuffed the naïve Desmond that 90 days was simply not enough time for the county to seek federal or state reimbursement. The eventual compromise was 180 days for a newly appointed task force that will seek to find housing solutions, with that task force having to report back to the board after 90 days. The task force’s duties include looking into countyowned properties for a centralized location to house migrants. Any shelter costs would need to be approved by the board. It’s not unreasonable to speculate that the board will be just as stingy and stubborn when it comes to those recommendations.

—Seth Combs

Write to seth.combs@sdcitybeat.com

This issue of CityBeat is not paying for the wall.

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JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 3

UP FRONT | LETTERS

I DON’T WANT TO DANCE

I agree with Regular Dave’s assessment that San Diego’s concert crowds [“Concert resolutions for the New Year,” Notes from the Smoking Patio, Dec. 19, 2018].

With the exception of symphony concerts, [crowds] can be very rude by talking constantly, holding up their cellphones and/ or standing up so you can’t see the stage, etc. However, I take exception to his unnecessarily crude comment, “Dance. You’re at a music show, move your fucking feet and body.” Being a musician myself, I attend hundreds of concerts every year, and especially in small venues. Although I like to see people dancing and enjoying themselves, it annoys me because I am not interested in dancing and prefer to sit and listen and watch the band, so the dancers are typically in my way. I feel the beat and often rock back and forth, tap my feet, etc., but prefer to concentrate on the band rather than dancing. I’m aware there’s nothing I can do about this and I’m used to it, but I simply wanted to submit an alternate view to “move your fucking feet and body.” Additionally, I don’t like to take orders from people I don’t even know, which make it even more unlikely that I’ll want to “move my fucking feet and body” by dancing at a concert or gig.

Donna MacKersie Imperial Beach

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SCOOTERS! ARGGH!

No. The scooter riders are the problem [“The coming storm: part 3,” Jan. 2]. These people do not obey posted traffic signs and routinely run stop signs. This is a constant issue in North Park where my husband and I have had multiple near misses with scooter riders almost T-boning our cars. There are scooters littered all over the sidewalks and streets. Please, someone, get rid of the scooters.

Jolie Novak, via Facebook

Agree with Jolie. It’s dangerous for pedestrians, as riders don’t follow rules. My husband and I walk several miles a day in Gaslamp, Little Italy and the Embarcadero.

Between the pedicabs, dog walkers and children wandering around, it’s an accident waiting to happen. Have seen kids racing up the street at night. Then I read the mayor accepted money from Lime bikes! Such integrity!

Charlie Goodman, via Facebook

TREASURE OF A MAN

Tim Mays is a fucking TREASURE and San Diego is lucky to have him here [“30 Years Later,” Jan. 2]. It’s not even enough to say that the San Diego music scene wouldn’t be the same without him—it just wouldn’t even exist.

Candice Eley

@CandiceSD, via Twitter

4 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2019

UP FRONT

WE WANT FEEDBACK Did you read a story in San Diego CityBeat that made your blood boil, or caused you to laugh so hard you pulled a stomach muscle? If something inspires you to send us your two cents we welcome all letters that respond to news stories, opinion pieces or reviews that have run in these pages. We don’t accept unsolicited op-ed letters.

Email letters to editor Seth Combs at seth.combs@sdcitybeat. com, or mail to 3047 University Ave., Suite 202, San Diego, CA 92104. For letters to be considered for publication, you must include your first and last name and the part of town where you reside.

Note: All comments left on stories at sdcitybeat.com will also be considered for publication.

From the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A Side-Eye of Sanity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Sordid Tales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

FOOD & DRINK World Fare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Final Draught. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

THINGS TO DO The Short List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar of Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13

ARTS & CULTURE Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Feature: David Adey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Seen Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-20

MUSIC Feature: Amen Dunes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Notes from the Smoking Patio . . . . . . . . . 22 The Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 If I Were U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Concerts & Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-26

IN THE BACK Astrologically Unsound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 CannaBeat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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COURTESY OF NATIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS

UP FRONT | NEWS

Representation and justice When it comes to cannabis legislation, Latinx lawmakers from other states are looking to California

By Andrea Lopez-Villafaña

D

ozens of state legislators from all over the U.S. filled the conference rooms at the Kona Kai Resort in Shelter Island last month for the 16th National Summit of Hispanic State Legislators. Traditionally held on the East Coast, the summit focuses on organizing state legislators who advocate in support of policies that affect Latinx communities.

“The issues that are being discussed at the national level are missing an important element, which is the Latino community,” said Carmelo Rios, a state senator from Puerto Rico who also serves as the president of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL).

Rios added that the reason for hosting the summit in California was because, in a way, the state is leading in a lot of the issues state legislators from other states want to address in 2019. These include online privacy, consumer trends and the opioid crisis. But one of the most prevalent issues in con-

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Armando Gudiño and Eunisses Hernandez versations among legislators was cannabis and how to help Latinx communities who have been historically affected by over-enforcement policies.

Armando Gudiño, a policy manager with the Drug Policy Alliance, traveled to San Diego to encourage legislators to support cannabisrelated policies.

“It’s overdue that legislators, and groups like these, need to not only embrace [the cannabis industry] and start moving toward regulatory models in their own respective districts, but more importantly ensure that Latinos and other underserved communities have a seat at the table,” Gudiño said.

Gudiño presented alongside justice reform advocate Eunisses Hernandez during the “Cannabis Decriminalization and Policy” panel.

Although these state legislators have no control as to what happens at the federal level, they can focus on helping communities by implementing state policies that would serve to help the Latinx communi-

ties who have been left out of the industry because of the war on drugs.

“Latinos continue to be lagging behind in the participation of this industry in part because we have leaders, many of whom have taken a step back, are waiting to see what happens with the federal government,” Gudiño said.

Among the issues related to the cannabis industry, state legislators addressed three main points: increasing the representation of minorities in the industry, advocating for a social justice component to legislation and continuing with the trend of legalizing recreational cannabis at state levels.

Minorities in the cannabis industry Kalina Fernandez, purchasing manager with Torrey Holistics, is not the kind of person in the industry that’s easy to come by for two reasons: She is Mexican and a woman in a high position. She said she’s never felt like a minority, but she does see a lack of diversity in the industry.

“Minorities being locked up because of cannabis is a major disconnect in the industry,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez pointed out that people who have criminal records as a result of cannabis could have a harder time acquiring loans to fund their businesses in the first place. Cities like Los Angeles and Oakland have put in place programs aimed at promoting “equitable ownership and employment opportunities in the cannabis industry” to allow for more diversity in the sale of legal cannabis.

Such programs are known as social equity programs and most offer funding or assistance with cannabis permit applications.

Last year, California passed the California Cannabis Equity Act of 2018. The law helps cities with social equity programs already in place with loans, grants and waving permits or licensing fees. Such actions by California lawmakers are precisely what other state legislators at the NHCSL summit discussed when it came to similar legislation in their own states.

Eunisses Hernandez, a campaign coordinator with JustLeadershipUSA, a social justice advocacy organization, addressed the need to include minorities in the cannabis industry at the ownership and executive level.

“Being able to have ownership, to open up business instead of being the folks that are cutting and growing the weed in the farms,” Hernandez said. “Having them be the owners in the shops that exists throughout community.”

Social justice State Legislators like Illinois State Senator Iris Martinez asked questions during the cannabis decriminalization panel in order to understand what other states are doing to decriminalize cannabis.

States like Illinois have not legalized the recreational use of cannabis, but Martinez suspects that is something that is possible this year. Her interest at the summit, however, was learning more about the social justice component of cannabis legislation.

“We’ve seen other states already pass (legislation) we are trying to mirror as much as we can and we’ve gotten feedback of some of the states that have had problems,” Martinez said.

Martinez sponsored a medical cannabis bill back in 2014 for children with epilepsy. And while medical marijuana was an issue she’s always wanted to address, recreational legislations is something she only recently became interested in. Social justice components in cannabis legislation can include expunging criminal records. In California, the passage of Prop. 64 allowed for most people with cannabis felony convictions to be reclassified as misdemeanors. According to the San Diego District Attorney’s office, 1,396 people have had reductions granted as a direct result of Prop. 64.

Legalization at the federal level?

At the federal level, cannabis is still considered a schedule 1 drug.

While the state legislators who gathered in San Diego don’t have power in regards to federally legalizing cannabis, they think that setting a path for cannabis laws in their own states will serve as a catalyst for full legalization in the U.S. Sen. Rios said that many state legislators used to think that issues of legalizing cannabis were federal issues exclusively, but now see that changes need to happen at the state level. Cannabis advocates and supporters, however, are hoping that the House Democratic majority can bring the introduction of a bill that will legalize cannabis in the U.S. once and for all.

While it’s not clear if states that have legalized cannabis will have an advantage if the federal government chooses to legalize, there are some expectations of how federal legalization can help local businesses.

Attorney Matthew Shapiro, who specializes in cannabis law, wrote that industry insiders expect federal legalization to open the door to the banking system as well as offer some tax relief for cannabis businesses.

“I know for a fact that the massive taxation on a federal, state and local level, in addition to fairly heavy-handed regulation on a state and local level, are significantly harming cannabis businesses that operate lawfully with permits,” Shapiro wrote.

Martinez said that more collaboration in states and bipartisan plans can be expected in the near future.

“Many of us (state legislators) feel very hopeful that there’s going to be a lot of changes and that it’s only going to benefit our states.”

JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 5

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CULTURE | VOICES

RHONDA “RO” MOORE

A SIDE-EYE OF

SANITY

Self-care means dealing with our messes

O

n New Year’s Day, I went to lunch with a friend and jokingly asked what their goals were for the beginning of 2019. Their answer? They needed to identify all the stresses in their life.

That’s one hell of a goal. It did, however, make me realize something: Most of us identify our goals in the negative. People get so hung up on cutting out the bad that it’s easy to forget to hang on to the positive.

That’s bound to be a motivation killer.

Don’t get me wrong. Unpackaging our baggage and confronting the damaging shit in our lives is the only way to break toxic patterns and end toxic relationships. But we can’t spend forever wallowing, because it won’t provide a way to solve any real-world problems.

If we ever forget that, a creditor will be happy to tank our credit score as a friendly reminder. Trust me.

It might be a result of my addiction to sci-fi/fantasy novels, but negative thinking seems like a huge barrier to not going batshit crazy. And, since my doomsday plan doesn’t include being cannon fodder, I decided to approach my yearly self-inventory a bit differently: If it’s broken, I must fix it.

• I’m a shittier person when I’m not reading. Don’t be surprised if readers catch me with my nose in a book and no desire to put it down to chat. This is for the good of all mankind. I promise.

• If it makes me money, it takes priority over any person.

In an employer’s market, no one’s going to hire a person who comes with a “need to be accommodated” label no matter how kick-ass the skill set or impressive the resume. I write, therefore I pay rent.

The upside is that I love writing.

The downside? I need to get better about demanding that people respect my time. Just because I no longer work a 9-to-5 (who am I kidding? My workday was never that short), that doesn’t mean I’m not working.

• Please realize I don’t care about being a nice person, but I’m trying to be a good person. I’m a Libra so I hate confrontation. But don’t take that to mean I’m not good at confrontation. I can—and if pushed, will—burn it all down. I’d just rather not. But if it means my life balances out, I’ll start a bonfire they’ll see from the International Space Station.

• I’m only interested in cultivating healthy relationships. I do way too much of the reaching out in my friendships according to my phone and text history. Healthy relationships (of any kind) require all parties to show up. I like my own company enough to stop carrying other people’s emotional baggage. I’m also sure this will slow down the rate at which my hair turns grey.

• Sometimes self-care means calling people on

their shit. I am very good at making people’s excuses for them. The upside is that I can hold on to my patience long enough to see where someone’s coming from. The downside? I rarely receive apologies and people are too comfortable lying to me if it’s easier than dealing with the fallout. Given that I tend to get a little, hmm… stabby when when my feelings are hurt (see the whole willing to burn it all down comment), I’ve decided it’s healthier if I just start cussing people out in real-time.

• If there’s a solution to a problem, there’s no reason to delay addressing a problem. This is likely the most important and difficult of the list. I am a champion procrastinator. There’ll always be something that needs attention and always a good excuse to avoid dealing. I’m skilled at avoidance (just ask my best friend) and if it’s a barrier to my peace of mind, it’s got to go because I hate migraines more than to-do lists. So that list of things I’ve been putting on the back burner just hit the top of my “get it handled” list.

No. This isn’t a list of resolutions. And no, I didn’t have an epiphany as the ball dropped and suddenly realize that I am the creator of my own crises. I can give readers an itemized list of shit I need to fix and who’s responsible for it being broken if need be. But that’s not what this is about so don’t get me started.

Rather, I’m going to cultivate a more positive outlook to problem solving and that means, rather ironically, more people will be hearing the word “no” from me more often.

I like to fix things. Turns out, I’m damn good at it. But unfortunately, I’ve spent years focusing that talent in ways that benefit other people. My personal messes never seem to get top billing. Plus, I am a brooder; a pick-it-apart-until-I-know-exactly-why-it-didn’twork kind of thinker. This usually means I seriously suck at letting shit go. Thankfully, I’ve learned this is a time-sucking rabbit hole in which solutions are never found.

After hearing my friend’s beginning of the year goal, I realized that, in the past few years, I’ve cleared the decks of essentially every other barrier to minimizing stress and proactive problem solving. I’m all out of excuses.

That means, this is the year I’m taking on the seven-years-worth-of-life clean-up and I need to plow through it before I hit that nirvana known as the postdivorce clean slate.

Send wine.

Given that I tend to get a little, hmm… stabby when my feelings are hurt, I’ve decided it’s healthier if I just start cussing people out in real-time.

@SDCITYBEAT

A Side-Eye of Sanity appears every other week.

Follow Ro Moore on Twitter at @BookBlerd.

JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 7

8 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2019

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UP FRONT | OPINION

EDWIN DECKER

SORDID

TALES

Talib Kweli and the Berlin gall

A

fter a year of being subjected to an extraordinary amount of inane remarks from celebs, politicians and media types, 2018 closed with a tweet from rapper Talib Kweli that managed to outdo them all.

The tweet—which was a response to someone who argued for a border wall—was dumber than Wiz Khalifa’s July remark that men who eat bananas in public are probably gay. It was stupider than President Trump’s September tweet about the “honesty” of Judge Kavanaugh. It was even ridiculouser than my nephew’s February assertion that the Electoral College is a school that teaches people how to vote.

Yes, it was one tweet, to rule them all. One tweet to eclipse them.

One tweet to... ahhh, you get the point. Kweli made a stupid tweet!

“So, you’re unaware of the fact that Nazi Germany had a wall called the Berlin Wall that was torn down in 1991 in order to foster humanity and diversity? Walls didn’t work for Nazis so why build them here? Build bridges not walls, Nazi lover,” Kweli Greene tweeted on Dec. 21.

First, it should be mentioned that Nazis did not design, nor build, nor guard, nor even take selfies at the Berlin Wall. Second, a person must be dumber than a one-legged rodeo clown to believe Hitler had control over the Berlin border until 1991. It’s a rather amusing mistake that reminds me of the rallying cry Bluto (John Belushi) gave his fraternity brothers in Animal House: “Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

Hell no!”

Nay, the Berlin Wall was built in 1961 by the Soviet-controlled East German government some 16 years after Hitler put a bullet in his brain. But it wasn’t this historical inaccuracy, or comically unjustified condescension that made Kweli’s tweet so vapid. It was the equating of the two walls that really sent it over the edge. I mean, I am no fan of the border wall idea either, but to liken it to East Berlin’s horrorshow is ludicrous.

In my opinion, the purpose of our enclosure, should it ever be built, is to prevent people from entering the country illegally. The purpose of the Berlin Wall was to keep people from leaving! Whatever one’s opinion on immigration—even if it’s the belief that there should be no borders at all—there is a vast, moral chasm between barring entrance and barring exit, the latter being tantamount to kidnapping.

There is also a vast, moral crevasse between the different reactions to unauthorized border crossers.

In the U.S., immigrants who have committed a crime have historically been entered into the legal system with rights of due process. If convicted, they can be sentenced to deportation even after serving jail time.

In Berlin, they were murdered. Forget catch-and-

release. Forget detention. Forget a tribunal. Without even so much as a 10-second meeting, a barrel was raised, a trigger was pulled and a human being crumbled to the ground in the “Death Strip.”

Yes, the Death Strip. See, the Berlin Wall was actually two, parallel walls. Between them was a 160 yard strip of humanity’s most benevolent razor wire, landmines, attack dogs and armed guards in watchtowers with orders to shoot on sight. Such as they did to Peter Fechter, an 18-year-old bricklayer who was separated from his sister when the wall was built.

On August 17, 1952, after a request to visit her was denied, Fechter made a break for it. He traversed the entire strip and began climbing the exit wall where he was shot in the pelvis and fell backward into the death zone. To the horror of hundreds of West Berlin onlookers, Fechter lay there for an hour, inches from freedom, howling in agony before bleeding out.

Sorry Talib, it takes a lot of gall to suggest the two barriers have anything in common. Incidentally, there is a name for this kind of association fallacy. It’s called Reductio ad Hitlerum. Similar to Godwin’s Law, Reductio ad Hitlerum, according to Wikipedia, “is an attempt to invalidate someone’s position on the basis that the same view was held by Adolf Hitler.”

Most often, the “invalidation” comes from accusations of Fascism, such as when Kweli called his opponent a “Nazi lover.”

Here is what Reductio ad Hitlerum looks like as a syllogism: 1) Hitler was in favor of gun control. 2) John is in favor of gun control. 3) John is a Nazi sympathizer. [Editor’s note: Regular readers will remember that someone sent a postcard to our office arguing this very point about me.] Buzzz! Wrong! No new car for you! Try again.

1) Hitler liked his dog. 2) Alice likes her dog. 3) Alice digs that Hitler dude. Buzzz! Nope. One more time.

1) Nazis had wall. 2) Trump wants wall. 3) Trump and his supporters are Nazis! As well as the Chinese, and Israelis, and ancient Babylonians—and racquetball players! Et tu, racquet ball players?

Of course, again, it was never Hitler’s wall. But a trivial fact like that can’t stop Kweli from bringing Nazis into it. Which, when you think about it, is actually Godwin’s Law rearing its tiny, rectangular moustache?

Whatever. Nazis, Communists—could have been Vikings for all I care—it doesn’t matter. While it is true that good people have died trying to cross our borders, a travesty unto itself, comparing our border to the Berlin border is not in the same ballpark. It’s not even the same sport.

In Berlin, they were murdered.

Forget catchand-release.

Forget detention.

Forget a tribunal.

@SDCITYBEAT

Sordid Tales appears every other week.

Write to edwin@sdcitybeat.com.

JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 9

UP FRONT | FOOD & DRINK

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER

THE WORLD

FARE S

Carving out a name for itself

an Diego’s truest foodie gripe may be our lack of great delis. D.Z. Akin’s is decent, but hardly great. In my mind, at least, D.Z. Akin’s has always been defined by what it doesn’t have (superb, house-made cold cuts) as much as what it does.

That, on the other hand, is exactly what Carve Modern Deli & Beer (8583 Aero Dr., carvesd.com) is all about: delicious, handcrafted pastrami.

Carve’s owner, Chris Karetas, is a chef by training as well as heritage (he’s second generation in the industry) and he brings that approach to the world of deli. Karetas trained at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, and has worked for years in the catering and fine dining world. But it was on a trip to Vancouver that Karetas discovered the Pacific Northwest chain Meat & Bread and its signature porchetta (pork loin and belly rolled in salt and herbs, slow roasted before a final blast of fire in order to crisp the skin). Thus, the inspiration for Carve was born.

Karetas figured that porchetta, delicious as it is, might be a hard sell in San Diego. Instead, he built Carve’s menu around pastrami (cured and smoked beef brisket), which he thought might be a better bet because of its relationship to barbecue. What’s more, he opened Carve a year and a half ago in Serra Mesa, a neighborhood that’s not exactly known as a culinary destination.

All that being said, Karetas’ hickory-smoked pastrami is nothing short of extraordinary. Carve offers two pastrami sandwiches, both excellent.

In addition to the pastrami, the namesake Carve ’Strami sandwich includes thick cut maple bacon, pickles, Dijon mustard and Mornay sauce (b����� échamel with gruyère cheese) on a toasted bun. The rich sauce plays a wonderful counterpoint to the light smoke and hint of acidity of the pastrami.

Carve’s Smokin’ ’Strami sandwich may be even better. Karetas pairs that pastrami with Swiss

10 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2019

cheese, slaw, slabs of pickle and Russian dressing on a toasted ciabatta bun. For a mere condiment, the pickles play a key role, with their acidity balancing both the pastrami and the Russian dressing.

And while ciabatta often plays havoc with a sandwich’s meat-to-bread ratio, it works perfectly here.

The Stout Burger is a perfectly competent highend burger, but suffers from an issue so many burgers do: delicate “spring mix” greens wilt over the heat of the burger itself. The Stout aioli is a nice touch, but, as a whole, the burger doesn’t rise to the level of the pastrami sandwiches.

Carve’s Italian Hero sandwich is an excellent MICHAEL A. GARDINER

The Smokin’ ‘Strami representation of the genre: smoked ham, sopprassata, provolone, lettuce and pepperoncinis with mustard, oil and vinegar on ciabatta. While the cold-cuts themselves aren’t amazing—it’s hard to live up to that pastrami—the Italian Hero is a wellbuilt sandwich. Each of those ingredients plays a role and are in concert with one another.

There’s more at Carve: salads and plates (think Tender Greens), as well as sides. But ultimately, Carve is all about the pastrami. It is an extraordinary ingredient made with care, attention to detail, and it’s indulgently delicious. Everything that pastrami touches exceeds expectations. Here’s hoping Karetas rethinks that porchetta thing.

The World Fare appears weekly.

Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

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UP FRONT | FOOD & DRINK

FINAL

BY BETH DEMMON

DRAUGHT Pub life

BETH DEMMON

S

ometime in my early 30s, I realized that I’d evolved from someone who would always pound a shot at last call to someone who rarely made it past happy hour and was asleep by 10 p.m. (even on weekends!). At this point in my life, I need to pair my beers with more than a handful of bar peanuts so I can still wake up coherent enough to get my kid to his morning playdate without looking like Lindsay Lohan after a bender. Plus, I no longer have the patience for hot messes (who aren’t me) breaking into impromptu jukebox karaoke after too many vodka-cranberries.

My solution? The friendly neighborhood brewpub.

Drinking at pubs is the best of both worlds; I get to enjoy the relatively subdued buzz of other patrons with their pints, while also feeling as comfortable as I would in my own home (although I tend to wear pants in most pubs). Fourpenny House in La Mesa (8323 La Mesa Blvd., fourpennyhouse.com) is one of the only true “pubs” in San Diego, along with places like Shakespeare’s in Mission Hills or Churchill’s in San Marcos. Since opening in late spring 2018, Fourpenny further distunguishes itself by being the only pub brewing Scottish-style ales and pairing them with standard tavern fare like fish & chips.

Whiskeys seem to be the main draw for drinkers at Fourpenny, which offers half-price curated flights on Fridays. (Rest assured I’ll be back for the “Oak & Smoke” quartet.) But the small house-brewed beer program led by former ChuckAlek Independent Brewers head Samantha Olson is churning out approachable brews, all of which are 8-percent ABV or below. (Yay responsible drinking!) The flagship Fourpenny Ale is a Scottish ale that is undoubtedly the best to crush with a plate of Scotchos (aka Scottish nachos). This medium-bodied, malt-forward ale is somewhat light (5.4-percent ABV) with a caramelly finish that’s about as no-frills as beer can get.

That’s sort of the whole vibe of Fourpenny—the food isn’t super eclectic, the beers aren’t groundbreaking and the atmosphere isn’t the same old industrial-meets-modern design aesthetic that has invaded nearly every tasting room since 2015.

Nothing blew my mind, but the dedication to restrained brews and a casual, authentic experience

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Fourpenny Scottish ale is, well, kind of mind-blowing in itself these days. I sipped the roasty, chocolatey Stout du Monde coffee milk stout as flames crackled from the fireplace and shadows danced on the plaid-draped barstools.

In between bites of beer-dipped “chips” and curry, the Beatrix Blonde, a Scottish blonde ale, cleansed my palate with a slightly herbaceous dryness. Those who seek more exaggerated beer styles can look to the robust guest list, which ranges from lambics to Belgian golden strongs.

Although Scotland is a constitutional monarchy, Fourpenny is remarkably democratic. Little old ladies will feel at home here just as much as bearded hipsters or families with kids. Even vegans will find some plates to nosh on, although not a ton. It’s not the type of place where guests get rowdy, although I haven’t been there during a football game, so no guarantees. Fourpenny likely won’t surprise anyone, but those who seek a relaxing, family-oriented type of place, albeit with housemade beer that goes down easy, it fits the bill.

Write to bethd@sdcitybeat.com or check her out on Instagram at @thedelightedbite.

JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 11

EVENTS

SHORTlist

ART

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

LA JOLLA AND OCEAN BEACH

SOUND AFFECTS Beachside music festivals probably formances at noon and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. bring to mind drum circles and musicians that look 12 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13. All programming and sound like Ras Trent, but two weekend festivals takes place in the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Room SAM ZAUSCHER and tickets range from $15 to $70 are offering something a little difat ljathenaeum.org. ferent near the beach.

And while soundON is in its First, there’s the soundON Fes12th year, the inaugural Springtival of Modern Music at the Athboard Music Festival hopes to be enaeum Music & Arts Library (1008 an annual event as well. Dubbed a Wall St.) in La Jolla. The annual, “music discovery festival,” much three-day event includes a series of of the event is devoted to conferconcerts, performances, workshops, ence-style workshops where uplectures and art events. While the and-coming musicians will learn festival is billed as focusing on from industry experts. However, chamber music, that description the general public can check out doesn’t fully encapsulate it. Rather, these bands at the all-day Band & the emphasis is on experimental, Brew Crawl, which happens Saturavant-garde compositions and day, Jan. 12 at five venues around performances that, while lovingly Ocean Beach, including Winston’s, curated by musicians Franklin Cox OB Theatre, The Harp and more. and Christopher Adler, are informal More than 50 bands and artists and unconventional. soundON Festival will be playing, and doors open at This year’s festival theme is of Modern Music 2 p.m.. A full list of performers and “The Stories We Tell” and it kicks $20 passes can be found at springoff on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. with a performance from SoundON’s ensem- boardfest.com. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits ble-in-residence, NOISE, which includes a number such as Autism Tree Project Foundation, Pioneer of notable musicians. There will be additional per- Day School, and Sustainable Artists.

ESCONDIDO

MASTERS OF WAR The internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II was one of the more shameful moments in U.S. history, and two new concurrent exhibitions aim to showcase just that. Ansel Adams hardly needs an introduction, as he is arguably one of the most important photographers in American history. Manzanar: The Wartime Photographs of Ansel Adams collects his strikingly intimate photos of the day-to-day lives of Americans living in a concentration camp in California. Opening at the same time is Wendy Maruyama: Executive Order 9066, a traveling exhibition that includes wood and mixed-media works from the contemporary artist whose mother and grandmother were affected by the camps. Both exhibitions open Saturday, Jan. 12 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido Center Museum (340 N. Escondido Blvd.). Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission ranges from free to $8. artcenter.org

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS

IN THE RONDE Modern dance performances can often be sensual in nature, but leave it to Diversionary Theatre (4545 University Ave.) to stage one that’s overtly sexual. Based on Arthur Schnitzler’s provocative 1920’s play, La Ronde, Tryst is a new dance cabaret that explores themes of sexual connections and interludes that span across time, social classes and gender. Created by award-winning choreographer Michael Mizerany (Hot Guys Dancing, In The Va Va Voom Room) and featuring a number of notable choreographers and dancers, this looks to be a show that pearl-clutchers need not attend. Performances of Tryst begin Thursday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. and continue every day through Sunday, Jan. 13. Tickets start at $15 at diversionary.org.

SIMPATIKA

Beliz Iristay and Irène de Watteville: Beyond Blue–Mavi–Ma Vie at Athenaeum Arts & Music Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The two ceramic artists will present a collaborative surrealist food table installation in addition to a variety of solo works.

Opening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11. Free. ljathenaeum.org HMaster of Book Arts at Athenaeum Arts & Music Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. An exhibition of from the late artist Genie Shenk, who used books as her canvas and medium. Opening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 11. Free. ljathenaeum.org HGrey Matter at A Ship in the Woods, 3007 Felicita Road, Escondido. Immersive art exhibition examining the impetus of stress, challenges and disconnection. Also includes experimental films, music and more.

From 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. $10 suggested donation. shipinthewoods.com HXquisite Corpse at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights. A group exhibition curated by Chi Essary and featuring works inspired by the Surrealist technique of blindly assembling images. Includes works from artists, as well as ones inspired by poets. Opening from 6 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 12. Free. facebook.com/ breadandsaltsd HPerros y Abstractos at Athenaeum Art Center, 1955 Julian Ave., Barrio Logan. Exhibition for a series of large-scale artworks from Tijuana-based artist Alvaro Blancarte Osuna that are inspired by literature, mythologies and Baja California topography.

Opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. Free. ljathenaeum.org HManzanar: The Wartime Photographs of Ansel Adams at California Center for the Arts Center Museum, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. A showcase of the revered American photographer’s intimate photos that capture the day-to-day lives of Americans living in a Japanese internment camp in California. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 12. $8. artcenter.org HWendy Maruyama: Executive Order 9066 at California Center for the Arts Center Museum, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. A traveling exhibition that includes wood and mixed-media works from the contemporary artist, whose mother and grandmother were affected by Japanese internment camps. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. $8. artcenter.org HArt-A-Thon at Distinction Gallery and Artist Studios, 317 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. The results of the 24-hour art-creating marathon will be on display with proceeds froms ales benefiting ArtHatch’s teen programs. Artists include Victor Roman, Kelly Vivanco, Travis Sevilla and more. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. 760781-5779, arthatch.org HLa Bodega Gallery 5 Year Anniversary: Skateboard Art Show at La Bodega Studios and Galleries, 2196 Logan Ave., Barrio Logan. Art from over 100 local artists using a skateboard deck as their medium. Presented alongside live music, DJs, food and more. From 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. Free. labodegagallery.com Death Blossom II at Thumbprint Gallery, 920 Kline St., La Jolla. A group exhibition with art inspired by a super weapon from The Last Starfighter. Artists include Abraham Romero, Jessica Justus, Nonie Cruzado and more. Opening from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12.

Free. thumbprintgallery.com HThere Be Dragons at Quint Gallery, 1571 Santa Fe St., La Jolla. A solo exhibition of sculptures and more from local artist David Adey, which examine the charged national debate over guns and recent re-

“Potato Field” by Ansel Adams 12 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2019

Tryst

H = CityBeat picks

lated tragedies. Opening from 6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 12. Free. quintgallery.com HUndocumented Series: Unfiltered at Chicano Art Gallery, 2117 Logan Ave., Barrio Logan. Exhibition for artists wanting to exchange stories about immigration and how it affects undocumented people. Opening from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12.

Free. facebook.com/chicanoartgallery

BOOKS HAlan Russell at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave. Ste. 100, Clairemont. The local crime fiction author stops by to discuss and promote his newest book, Gideon’s Rescue, the fourth in the Gideon and Sirius mystery series. At 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com HR.D. Kardon at San Diego Writers, Ink., 2730 Historic Decatur Road Ste. 202, Point Loma. The local pilot, lawyer and writer will sign and discuss her new novel, Flygirl, based on her integrating an all-male flight department. At 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13. Free. thesecretstash.net HSeth Lerer at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The distinguished professor of literature at UC San Diego will discuss and sign his new book, Shakespeare’s Lyric Stage: Myth, Music, and Poetry in the Last Plays. From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15. Free. warwicks.com

DANCE HTryst at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights. Based on Arthur Schnitzler’s La Ronde, this new dance cabaret explores themes of sexual connections and interludes across time, social classes and gender.. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 11 and 12, and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13. $15-$25. 619-220-0097, diversionary.org

FOOD San Diego Brew Fest at Liberty Station NTC Park, 2455 Cushing Road, Point Loma. Unlimited beer tastings from local and international crafters plus popular food trucks, live music and more. From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. $45$55. sandiegobeerfest.com

MUSIC HSomi at The Loft at UCSD, Price Center East, La Jolla. The multilingual jazz vocalist, songwriter and activist will perform songs from her newest album, Petite Afrique. From 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10. $9-$30. artpower.ucsd.edu Rafael Payare Conducts Mozart and Tchaikovsky at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. Rafael Payare, in his inaugural concert as San Diego Symphony’s music director, will lead the symphony in a performance of Richard Strauss, Modest Mussorgsky, Maurice Ravel and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. At 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10. $20-$105. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org HsoundON Festival of Modern Music at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. An international roster of composers and performers are featured in this exploration of contemporary chamber music.

At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 and Saturday, Jan. 12, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13. $10-$70. 858-454-5274, ljathenaeum.org Payare and Weilerstien at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. Rafael Payare leads the symphony and acclaimed cellist Alisa Weilerstein through a performance of Benjamin Britten’s Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, as well as Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10. At 8

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 @SDCITYBEAT

BOOKS: THE FLOATING LIBRARY

EVENTS EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, Saturday, Jan. 12 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13.. $20-$100.

619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org HSpringboard Music Festival Band & Brew Crawl at various locations, Ocean Beach. Dubbed a “music discovery festival,” more than 50 bands and musicians will play at various venues including Winston’s, OB Theatre, The Harp and more.

From 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. $20. springboardfest.com

PERFORMANCE Convolution: A Twisted Journey of Music and Movement at Sandbox, 325 15th St., East Village. Performing artists James Beauton will be performing various compositions on marimba, vibraphone, drums, gongs, and triangles, while Justin Morrison performs original dance works based on the ways dance has interacted with music over time. At 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11. $20. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org

Haydyn Voyages at Maritime Museum of San Diego, 1492 N. Harbor Drive, Downtown. The Hausmann Quartet will perform a concert aboard the historic 1898 steam ferryboat “Berkeley” that includes selections from Jessie Montgomery, Pauline Oliveros and Dmitri Shostakovich. At 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13. $10-$60. 619-4322314, sdmaritime.org

He Pūtōrino Mākutu at Sandbox, 325 15th St., East Village. A chamber puppet opera that combines two musical traditions from antipodes of the globe: Viennese classicism and taonga pūoro— the instrumental musical heritage of the Maori peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand.

At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16 and Thursday, Jan. 17. $40. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org

Were You There at Sandbox, 325 15th St., East Village. This concert is part of the San Diego Symphony’s “Hearing the Future” Festival and features bass-baritone vocalist Davóne Tines channeling some of America’s most prescient voices, from the words and melodies of African-American spirituals to the poetry of Walt Whitman.

At 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13. $40. 619-2350804, sandiegosymphony.org

HHuman Trafficking Awareness Walk at The Wave Waterpark, 101 Wave Drive, Vista. Speakers including San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan and more will give presentations followed by a onemile walk. From 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. Free. sivistaantitrafficking. wordpress.com

A Brief History of “New Music” with Matthew Aucoin at The Auditorium at TSRI, 10620 John Jay Hopkins Drive, La Jolla. Part of the San Diego Symphony’s “Hearing the Future” Festival, festival curator Aucoin leads musicians through a chamber music performance of Haydn, Schoenberg, John Adams and his own music. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15. $35.

619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org

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SPECIAL EVENTS

Poway Winter Festival at Poway Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Drive, Poway. Build snowmen, sled down a snow hill, roast marshmallows by the campfire, take a spin around the synthetic skate rink and more. From 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. Free. 858-668-4671, poway. org/communitypark

Another kind of howling

T

he last book I started in 2018 and the first book I finished in 2019 was a poetry collection by the Boston poet Melissa Lozada-Oliva.

It all began when I stumbled across a video of Lozada-Oliva performing her poem, “The Women in My Family Are Bitches.” I was captivated by her intensity and humor, and immediately sought out her book.

Peluda, published by Button Poetry, explores identity and assimilation through the lens of body hair. “Peluda” is a Spanish feminine adjective for “hairy” but is also used pejoratively to mean “hairy beast.” Lozada-Oliva has earned honors and accolades for her performances in slam poetry competitions, and her abundant wit shines on the page.

In “Maybe She’s Born With It, Maybe She Got Up Early,” Lozada-Oliva examines Western beauty standards and the rituals of womanhood as a young girl in her mother’s beauty salon. when the economy crashed, beauty was the first thing my mother’s clients crossed off their weekly budget so they let their nails grow jagged, let their bikini lines become bikini borders Lozada-Oliva subverts expectations in “My Hair Stays on Your Pillow Like a Question Mark.”

A strand of hair is not a clue in a romantic dalliance or evidence in a love triangle gone wrong, but

an opening salvo from a white “friend” who complains about finding the narrator’s hair all over her Brooklyn apartment every time she comes over.

The poem morphs into a piece that burrows into body horror that begs the questions: whose body and whose horror?

Imagine the things that shed from you turning into something that survives the apocalypse??

Lozada-Oliva takes her obsession with hair to its logical conclusion in “Wolf Girl Suite,” a five-part poem about a 2001 movie called Blood Moon in which an actress named Victoria Sanchez portrays Tara the Wolf Girl.

The film is about a girl with hypertrichosis, a rare genetic condition. Covered head-to-toe in body hair, she has spent all of her life as the main attraction in a traveling freak show.

The poem considers the character, the actress and the film as artifact, all while probing the terror of succumbing to the animal within. Endlessly inventive and entertaining, Peluda is a terrific example of a body of work that coheres to a theme while still investigating all of its possibilities and permutations.

—Jim Ruland

The Floating Library appears every other week.

JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 13

THEATER COURTESY OF LAMB’S PLAYERS THEATRE

A musical 25 years

T

heatergoers who’ve enjoyed musical productions at Lamb’s Players Theatre over the years are getting a month-long chance to relive some of those memories. In celebration of its 25th year in Coronado (and acknowledging������������������������������������� , at the same time, the company’s upcoming 50th anniversary in 2021), Lamb’s is presenting A Jewel in the Crown City, a full-length program featuring 16 performers and, fittingly, musical numbers from 25 shows staged over the years. In addition to the performances, A Jewel in the Crown City includes nods to comedies��������� and dramas Lamb’s has produced. This is done via screen projections of archival images from the past, which even includes a little history about the Coronado space and its buildout.

“The number one caveat when we came to this was we didn’t want this to be your Uncle Fred’s slide show,” explains Lamb’s Artistic Director Robert Smyth. “‘We did this, then we did this.’ The requirement was that somebody could walk in off the street, not know who we were at all, and have a delightful evening.”

“We’re not trying to re-create the moments,” Smyth continues. “We’re trying to remind people of the beauty of the music.”

Smyth is co-directing A Jewel in the Crown City with his wife, Deborah Gilmour Smyth, and Kerry Meads, both of them Lamb’s associate artistic directors. The show had originally been planned to open last year, but was delayed so that Lamb’s could extend its highly successful production of Once. Among the performers are not only the three co-directors, but some familiar faces who’ve graced the Lamb’s stage over the years such as Jim Chovik, Caitie Grady, Eileen Bowman, Brian Mackey and more.

Lamb’s opened in Coronado������������������������� 25 years ago with a pro-

14 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2019

OPENING: Moon Over Buffalo: This wacky comedy from Ken Ludwig centers on two washed-up actors who just might get a break when they hear Frank Capra is coming to town to see their play. Directed by Matthew Wiener, it opens Jan. 9 at the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. northcoastrep.org Plays by Young Writers Festival: Winners of the annual California Young Playwrights Contest will presents their works as staged readings or full productions. Presented by the Playwrights Project, it begins Jan. 10 at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park. playwrightsproject.org And Then There Were None: Agatha Christie’s classic mystery where nine strangers on a deserted island must figure out which one of them is a murderer before another drops dead. Directed by Keith Anderson, it opens Jan. 11 at the Lamplighter’s Community Theatre in La Mesa. lamplighterslamesa.com

American Rhythm duction of the musical She Loves Me. Other productions fondly remembered by Robert Smyth include Fiddler on the Roof (“We had a terrific time with it”), 1776 (“That’s a piece I’d love to do again, especially nowadays”) and, of course, Once (“All of the elements worked; it just really hit”).

Smyth also cited Lamb’s original musicals, such as American Rhythm, the ’60s and ’70s-flavored Boomers and the ’80sinflected Mixtape. The variety of material speaks for itself.

“One of the great things about live theater,” Smyth said, “is that you really can tell any story on the stage.”

A Jewel in the Crown City opens Friday, Jan. 11 and runs through Feb. 17 at Lamb’s Players Theatre in Coronado. $24-$74; lambsplayers.org

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

—David L. Coddon

People v. Beanstalk: This comical continuation of the famous fairy tale features Jack on trial for the murder of the giant with jury members pulled from the audience. Written by Neil Pisk, it opens Jan. 11 at the PowPAC Community Theatre in Poway. powpac.org An Act of God: A staged reading of David Javerbaum’s comedy where God returns to answer some of humankind’s most pressing questions. Presented by the Carlsbad Playreaders, it happens Jan. 14 at the Carlsbad City Library. facebook.com/carlsbadplayreaders Hello, Dolly: The Broadway production of the Tony-winning revival of Jerry Herman’s beloved musical about a widow matchmaker who must find a mate for Yonkers man. Presented by Broadway San Diego, it opens Jan. 15 at the San Diego Civic Theatre in the Gaslamp. broadwaysd.com Marie and Rosetta: George Brant’s musical play about Rosetta Tharpe, a singer, songwriter and guitarist who influenced countless rock legends, but who never received the attention she deserved. Presented

by Cygnet Theatre, it opens in previews Jan. 16 at the Old Town Theatre. cygnettheatre.com

For complete theater listings, visit sdcitybeat.com

@SDCITYBEAT

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JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 15

ANDREA LOPEZ-VILLAFAÑA

on Adey and he acknowledges that some might find it problematic.

“That’s one of the things that I discovered. It’s so much more complicated than what we choose or love to perceive; this idea that there are only two sides,” says Adey.

“It’s about this false dichotomy of this idea that you have to be on one side or the other just because those are the loudest voices in the debate. It’s really not like that. It’s much more complicated.”

Adey says the name of the exhibition is an extension of this logic and what he says is a “fear of the unknown or what we don’t understand.” The title references how ancient map-makers used to distinguish unknown or uncharted territory with phrases such as “there be dragons,” so as to dissuade sailors from venturing too far.

“There’s always been this fear of the intruder,” Adey says. “So when it came to the name, it kind of goes both ways: fear of the unknown and some undefined threat, and self-defense. But also, there be dragons— there be guns.”

Adey’s previous works have examined everything from the fashion industry’s objectification of women to his own mortality.

One commonality is Adey’s almost obsessive immersion into learning as much as he can on the topic, an attribute he tries to impart on his own children as well as his students

CULTURE | ART

COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

David Adey

“

f you look closely, you can still see them in the wood,” says David Adey pointing out semi-flattened bullets nestled inside the large pieces of wood that make up his “2,127 Rounds” sculpture. “That one is from the handgun and that one is from the AR-15.”

Adey doesn’t mention the much more prevalent shotgun shots—the small, metal projectiles that are sprayed once the rifle is fired. The mini metal spheres are scattered throughout the piece, peppering the wood ever so slightly. Even a closer look at the sculpture doesn’t immediately reveal these tiny lodgers nestled within the blocks of the Western Red cedar wood. On closer examination, however, it’s almost as if they’re the most integral part of the piece—as if the entire thing is somehow being supported by these tiny, deadly shards of lead and gilded metal.

It’s a useful metaphor not just for “2,127 Rounds,” but for all of Adey’s work within There Be Dragons, a new solo exhibition opening Jan. 12 at Quint Gallery (5171 Santa Fe St., quintgallery.com) in Bay Ho. Along with that eight-foot-tall sculpture, the show will also include another piece, “Homeland,” made up of 15 cedar columns that are grouped together and encased with a plastic 3D printed AR-15 assault rifle.

The 3D printing also plays a large part in the AR series, where Adey took the 3D model of an AR-15 lower receiver that has been digitally rendered. After printing it, he un-

folded the enlarged, multi-colored pieces of the receiver and flattened them to create 15 wall-mounted pieces that are layered with 3D scans of human flesh (his own).

“All 15 panels make up one AR-15 lower receiver,” says Adey, pointing out that the pieces have individual names such as “Pop!,” “Zinnng!,” and “Bang!.” “The lower receiver is actually the only part of an assault rifle that’s regulated. It’s the part with a serial number. Anybody can walk in off the street ANDREA LOPEZ-VILLAFAÑA

Selections from the AR series

by David Adey and buy any other part of the gun without a background check, but you have to have a background check and a license in California to buy the lower receiver. And yet, you can 3D print [the receiver] and buy all the other parts and make a fully-functional, untraceable assault rifle.”

While the AR series is intricate and methodical, Adey relied on a much more chaotic

16 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2019

approach when it came to “2,127 Rounds.”

One that required him to get out of his comfort zone a bit. Adey bought a 12-gauge shotgun, a Glock 24 handgun and an AR-15 assault rifle. He then took the guns out to the desert and blasted away at the bundled collection of cedar blocks for four days. The title of the piece refers to the amount of ammunition spent and the result is an eerie, hourglass-resembling sculpture. He also used the resulting wooden shards for another sculpture, “Red Dragon,” also included in the exhibition. An accompanying video piece by Andrew Norbeck and Jared Callahan—a preview of which will be shown at the opening of There Be Dragons—documents not only the creation of the piece, but the relatively easy process of buying the guns as well.

“I learned a lot about gun laws and some are kind of bullshit,” says Adey, who also attended some gun shows for research. “When I went to the gun show in Del Mar, I’d say 80-percent of the show was devoted to workarounds of the [California Assault Weapons Ban]. It’s created this whole new industry that’s developed because of these laws.”

Still, There Be Dragons is not overtly preachy. Adey attempts to explore the gray areas of the U.S.’s fascination with guns and does so in brilliantly subtle ways. That is, a gun enthusiast could look at “2,127 Rounds” and see their own enthusiasm mirrored back to them, while someone who is anti-gun could look at it and see something that affirms their own views. This duality isn’t lost

“2,127 Rounds” by David Adey at Point Loma Nazarene University, where he works as an art professor. He acknowledges that his views on guns have shifted now that he regularly has to participate in active-shooter drills on campus.

“It’s part of life now. We actually had a lockdown last semester where the FBI found some threat online,” Adey says, who says he thought about keeping his guns in a safe in his home but decided against it because he didn’t want to live “life in a defensive posture.”

“For me, it finally reached this level of ‘what can I even do? Do I just live in this?’

So I think of this show as a lament. Some kind of transcendence,” Adey says. “Those are the two things that I keep thinking this work offers. It offers me that, because even when you can think about something and feel like you don’t have any control over it, there’s still something to express. To just pause and think about where we are. To me, that’s worth it.”

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JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 17

CULTURE | ART ANDREA LOPEZ-VILLAFAÑA

SEEN LOCAL TAKING A CHANCE

T

he five-year anniversary of La Bodega Gallery is a big deal and, when we ask co-owner Soni Lopez-Chavez, it’s been quite the roller coaster ride.

Located in the heart of Barrio Logan, La Bodega (2196 Logan Ave., labodegagallery.com) has served as an art space for the community and artists since opening in 2013. When owners Chris Zertuche and LopezChavez set out to open the gallery, they wanted to create a space where community members could see art created by local and established artists.

Lopez-Chavez and Zertuche both became involved in the art scene in their adult lives, but after they met they realized they shared a similar interest in curating art shows. Five years ago, when they were presented with the opportunity to rent out the building in Barrio Logan, they decided to take their savings and open the gallery.

COURTESY OF LA BODEGA GALLERY

La Bodega Gallery “We thought, ‘Why not give it a chance? Let’s just go for it,’” Lopez-Chavez recalls.

The beginning was not perfect. They say they initially had trouble getting people to attend art shows because non-residents were fearful of going into the neighborhood. Over the years, however, the perception of the neighborhood has shifted drastically and is finally being recognized for being a hub for culture and art. Lopez-Chavez and Zertuche have had the opportunity to not only host local artists, but also people from around the world.

But the success of the space has not come without obstacles.

Two years ago, they were notified by the city and fire marshal that the gallery, which is located inside

18 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2019

Chris Zertuche and Soni Lopez-Chavez a warehouse space, needed significant upgrades to meet city fire-safety standards. Changes to the building needed to be made if they wanted to continue hosting events and shows.

The inspection of the gallery was a result of an anonymous tip to the city about building code violation concerns. Around that same time, cities began cracking down on art spaces following the Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland that claimed the lives of 36 individuals.

Zertuche says galleries in Barrio Logan like The Glashaus, Union, Bread & Salt and La Bodega were all hit with building violations. Only two of those four remain open.

“We were afraid that we would have to shut our doors,” says Lopez-Chavez. “Usually we plan ahead so when this happened we already had the whole year planned out with shows and working with thousands of artists from all over the world. It would be devastating not only for us, but for them as well.”

Lopez-Chavez and Zertuche created a GoFundMe page to help raise money to pay for almost $40,000 worth of renovations. Initially it was scary, LopezChavez says, and, in a way, it still is because it’s not over. They are currently waiting on the city to approve permits so they can move forward with changes to the building.

In the meantime, despite their concerns, they are celebrating and acknowledging the success they’ve had these past five years.

Their upcoming anniversary will be highlighted with a skateboard art show on Saturday, Jan. 12 from 5 to 10 p.m. Zertuche says they hope to continue expanding their art classes and offering different creative outlets for the neighborhood in the future.

“A gallery cannot be run without having the support of artists and the support of the community.

There’s no way that we would be successful,” says Lopez-Chavez. “We owe everything to the artists and to the community.”

—Andrea Lopez-Villafaña

@SDCITYBEAT

CULTURE | FILM

Viewfinder

Hale County This Morning, This Evening

RaMell Ross’s doc captures the pulse of a rural Alabama community

by Glenn Heath Jr.

T

hick smoke from a burning tire billows upwards expect in an educator. But there’s also an element of as sharp rays of sunlight try to pierce through volatility to Hale County, a sense that the experimenthe haze. Like many immersive moments in the tal tones and audio blips are ripping at the fabric of new documentary Hale County This Morning, This Eve- everyday life to reveal a deeper uncertainty.

No wonder Ross returns often to places of worship, ning, director RaMell Ross captures this stunning shot almost by accident. Off screen, an elderly bystander such as the church whose worshipers weep freely can be heard inquiring about the filmmaker’s inten- as they pray together, or to the college gymnasium, tions. Ross strikes up a casual conversation with the where Daniel and his teammates at Selma University’s man before eventually stating, “We need more black basketball team practice their own kind of religion.

If Hale County chooses to immerse itself in envifolks making photos in the area.”

Silent film footage of an actor in blackface emerg- ronments occupied by groups of people rather than ing from foliage interrupts the sequence, further excavate individual subjects and their personal lives, complicating themes of identity and community. Rep- it remains a compassionate film nonetheless. Boosie resentation can so easily be manipulated and weap- and Kyrie experience the elation of childbirth only to be quickly faced with numbing onized when the ideologies of grief. When there are no more those behind the viewfinder are words to be said, Ross utilizes morally corrupt. Hale County HALE COUNTY title cards with questions and This Morning, This Evening functransitional statements to adtions as a grassroots counterTHIS MORNING, vance the malleable narrative. point to this racist history.

THIS EVENING In a year of many great docuOpening title cards explain Directed by RaMell Ross mentaries (Bisbee ’17, Minding that Ross’ process of “discovNot Rated the Gap, Did You Ever Wonder ering” began after taking a job Who Fired the Gun?), Ross’ film teaching basketball and phostands out for its curiosity and tography in this section of ruquestioning of stylistic norms. ral Alabama. Describing his still images and video in this way suggests an aesthetic “How do we not frame someone,” reads one of the openness to rhythms and patterns, heartaches and title cards, again touching on the aesthetic, social and joys. Without the crutch of talking-head interviews economic disenfranchisement people of color conor voice-over narration, Ross juxtaposes public spaces tinue to experience.

In this context, Hale County This Morning, This with private ones, conveying the social and political currents of a community via the voices of its citizens. Evening (opening Friday, Jan. 18, at Digital Gym CinMixing vérité filmmaking with flourishes like time- ema) makes for a fascinating double bill with Frederlapse photography, jump cuts and superimposed im- ick Wiseman’s Monrovia, Indiana, another documenages, Hale County seeks to fracture the banalities and tary embedded in the currents of small town rural stereotypes of classic regional portraitures. Ross cre- America. While one captures the prevailing energy ates a loose structure around the lives of young black and strength of a community trying to persevere, the people like Daniel, a college-bound basketball player other watches from an objective perch as slow-motion confronting the very real limitations of his career decline sets in like rigor mortis.

Elliptical and elusive, Ross’ stirring collection of prospects. Locals such as Boosie and Kyrie, however, are in a much different place in their lives; the couple images and confessions has no real beginning or end.

The discovering will never really conclude, and it nevalready has one toddler and twins on the way.

Ross listens to his subjects instead of cross-exam- er should. ining them. His camera floats through living rooms and locker rooms, baptisms and basketball games, Film reviews run weekly. exhibiting the same patience and empathy one would Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com

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JANUARY 9, 2O19 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 19

CULTURE | FILM

On the Basis of Sex

Times up

J

ustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a staunch defender of equal rights for women and men, has been fighting small-minded sexists for nearly six decades. Released in the era of Donald Trump and Brett Kavanaugh, Mimi Leder’s On the Basis of Sex takes on some added resonance by exploring the lineage of Ginsburg’s professional efforts, beginning with her groundbreaking tenure at Harvard Law in the 1950s.

From the start, Ginsburg (portrayed with fierce vulnerability by Felicity Jones) experiences the subtle, but mostly overt, rage of a patriarchal system being confronted with it’s own damning insecurities.

She and her fellow incoming female students are invited to a special dinner by the university’s dean (Sam Waterston) and forced to justify why they are worthy of taking a man’s spot. With a quick retort, Ruth turns the belittling moment into a subversive act of defiance.

Questioning gender roles and their origins remains an integral focus as the film jumps forward in time to the early 1970s. Forced into academia after being blacklisted

by New York’s high-powered legal firms, Ginsburg knows that she’s squandering her gifts even as her husband Martin (Armie Hammer), a specialist in tax law, sees his career flourish.

A new case involving sex discrimination against a male caregiver provides Ginsburg the opportunity to challenge ingrained cultural norms. It would be the first major feather in her cap on her long road to the high court.

Up until this point in the film, On the Basis of Sex (now playing at the Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas) has often been a banal and tedious affair, but it then morphs into an engaging exploration of how impassioned arguments mirror the beginnings of social change.

20 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2O19

Leder has been most closely associated with crafting sturdy action and disaster films (Deep Impact remains an unsung highlight).

But with her first feature in nearly a decade, she illuminates the action of language that is so crucial to Ginsburg’s brilliant long game approach to the law.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

OPENING A Dog’s Way Home: The heartwarming tale of a canine’s 400-mile trek to find her owner. Those allergic to sappy sentimentalism beware. Opens in wide release Friday, Jan. 11.

Hale County This Morning, This Evening: In this highly immersive doc, filmmaker RaMell Ross photographs and films the everyday lives of rural Black Alabamans. Opens Friday, Jan. 18, at the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Narcissister Organ Player: In this hybrid documentary, Brooklyn performance artist Narcissister explores her family history and how it’s impacted her work.

Opens Friday, Jan. 11, at the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

On the Basis of Sex: Mimi Leder’s biopic charts the early professional career of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who would eventually be appointed to the Supreme Court. Now playing at Hillcrest Landmark Cinemas.

The Upside: Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart co-star in this drama about a wealthy quadriplegic who befriends his working class Black caregiver. Opens in wide release Friday, Jan. 11.

Vox Lux: In Brady Corbet’s sophomore film, Natalie Portman stars as a tormented rock star whose pop origins date back to her experiences surviving a school shooting. Opens Friday, Jan. 11, at the Digital Gym Cinema.

For complete movie listings, visit Film at sdcitybeat.com.

@SDCITYBEAT

MICHAEL SCHMELLING

MUSIC

Amen Dunes amon McMahon—the voice behind solo project Amen Dunes—has some Jewish heritage on his mother’s side. He is spiritual, but not religious—although he says that aspect of his personality is definitely reflected in his songs and his life. Growing up, he had a conflicted relationship with his father, which is one of the reasons he got into music to begin with. For a while, he lived in Portugal (Lisbon, to be exact), but he doesn’t miss it all that much now.

“Touring has ruined my relationship with Europe in a way,” McMahon says, adding that having spent so much time on the road has only served to draw him closer to home.

McMahon identifies as a man, and over the years, his masculinity has morphed into a reoccurring theme in his albums.

But is any of that really relevant at this point?

The answer, according to Amen Dunes, is no. And in that “no,” which McMahon repeats again and again over the phone while stuck in the throbbing traffic of LA, listeners will find the whole point of Freedom, his fifth studio album.

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The record is McMahon’s complex attempt at finally letting go of his identity, relinquishing his past, forgiving his foes and finding humanity in himself through others. After all, Amen Dunes is just one of the many characters who crowd the album and, as such, he becomes a representation of them all.

He is Dracula. He is his father. He is Miki Dora.

“Each song is sung by a character. So, you’re hearing the voice of the characters. I am just another character. I embody a character who sings these songs,” McMahon says. “These characters have some sort of cynicism or sarcasm or they’re aloof; they’re arrogant. So, you’re hearing the voice of the characters, but it’s not a therapy session…

It’s all biographical fiction. I thought initially the songs and the album were going to be about my background and my identity. But I’ll tell you what, there’s so much of that shit going around these days. I realized I didn’t want to put more of that into the universe. I wanted to share my own version of letting go of that identity shit.”

Amen Dunes uses multiple tools to try

and achieve those goals. On one hand, there are the spiritual elements that make up the emotional substrate of Freedom: empathy, redemption, irony. On the other is a newly found accessibility to his sound, one that was influenced by popular artists such as Massive Attack, Oasis and Kate Bush. This makes the songs poignantly familiar and yet so refreshing.

As a whole, the album is a work of catharsis, and McMahon emphasizes that with the varying interpretative levels of each song.

“The songs have two layers in meaning.

One layer is what the song is about,” McMahon says. “Let’s say ‘Miki Dora.’ The song is about the character, but also sort of about me, but also sort of about men. But then, there’s the objective of the song. And the objective is to let go or surrender all those identities.

There’s a subjective and objective layer to every song. Does that make sense? The characters are all about me or people that I have encountered in my journeys, who are either role models or people that I have learned a lesson from. But they’re all kind of about me.”

And since Amen Dunes is nothing but another character in his plot, forgiving the faults that his characters symbolize means forgiving himself. Redemption and empathy are mirrors into themselves. They are a part of his research for self-awareness.

So, in “Miki Dora”—beloved surfer, undeniable fraud—the lyrical juxtaposition of waves that come and go, alongside the pride that gives and takes, is not accidental.

On the contrary, it offers just enough hope to turn a common anti-hero into a human being. The circular and purposefully redundant bass—like a wave crashing upon itself only to rise again—completes the picture offered by the words.

“He [Miki Dora] is a perfect anti-hero.

He’s finding some sort of peace of mind in his failures,” McMahon says. “Pride destroyed him etcetera, etcetera, but he’s also saying that he’s continuing along the wave peacefully even though he fell from grace.

So, I think the empathy is the spiritual element to this music in some way. Empathy in me, the singer, and in you, the listener.”

“If you want to look at it objectively, once again, it’s a metaphor for an ego death, for a spiritual awakening where he’s relinquishing himself,” McMahon continues. “He dies literally or figuratively. So, the whole album is about that, really.”

Catharsis, however, is not so easy to obtain; Damon McMahon is not even sure it is attainable. But once again, that doesn’t matter. In this case, the finish line is secondary. Amen Dunes would rather focus on the journey.

“I am searching still for that [catharsis].

Every day, I search for that, let go of myself,” he says. “But it’s very difficult because we are always grabbing onto ourselves, so it’s a challenge. But the album was my attempt, a gesture to the universe. But the catharsis was not completed, and I don’t know that the answer was making an album. You can call it self-inquiry. That’s what the album is.

All of my albums are kinda about this. But this was really focused self-inquiry; unsuccessful self-inquiry.”

He pauses.

“Maybe it wasn’t a success for me, but maybe it was meant to be successful for other people.”

JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 21

MUSIC

BY RYAN BRADFORD

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO

THE

SPOTLIGHT WIKI COMMONS / ROBMAN94

LOCALS ONLY

JASMINE FITZWILLIAM @LETSFROLICTOGETHER

I

After the preliminary rounds of the contest, which were held t just might be the most from September to November, four finalists were chosen (Davies, iconic local jingle in San DiTaylor Waits, Stephen Ray and Steffy Abayan) by two judges. The ego history and while it was contestants were then tasked to garner social media votes from created to sell cars, its hard to their friends and the public. find a local who can’t recite or “Obviously I had to reach out to a lot of people and ask them even sing it from memory. to vote, which I’m not always comfortable with,” says Davies, who “I’m excited that I get to admits she didn’t expect to win and donated the charitable $2,000 do a different version of it and to the San Diego Music Foundation, a local nonprofit that prowas surprised they allowed it,” vides musical equipment to local schools. “I definitely thought, says local jazz vocalist Erika ‘wow, these people actually care and took a second to vote.’ That Davies. “The original version was uplifting.” is cool, even though it’s sort Davies says she knew who had won at the end of online votof dated. Mine is definitely not ing, which made the in-person announcement at a Mossy Nissan the typical kind of jingle you’d dealership a little awkward. hear on the radio.”

“They had us all meet together for the final announcement, Davies recently won “The but I kind of knew already who won, so it was kind of awkward,” Voice of Mossy Nissan” conErika Davies says Davies, whose version of the jingle will be recorded in a stutest, where musicians could submit their own version of the dealership’s signature jingle in dio this month. “Some of us were meeting for the first time and hopes of winning $1,500 and their version of the jingle appearing some were cool, and some were kind of stand-offish.” in a Mossy ad for one month. Mossy Nissan also donated $2,000 to the organization or charity of the winner’s choice.

—Seth Combs

ALBUM REVIEW Exasperation Paradise (Self-released)

W

hat is post-punk music if not a bunch of musicians who are jaded, but just not that jaded? The rhythmic structures and guitar chords are often the same utilized by the most aggressive punk groups, but post-punk simply slows things down a bit in hopes that the result is more lucid, accessible and maybe even danceable. The issue has always been the genre’s open-endedness. There are a lot of bands—good bands—who are lumped into the category simply because they were members of a generational wave of music that went on to inspire other bands, despite not sounding much like post-punk at all.

The guys in Exasperation wear these post-punk inspirations (as well as those inspirations’ inspirations) on their sleeves. The trio includes former members of some pretty great local bands including Cuckoo Chaos and Weatherbox. But Exasperation is another beast altogether and one that is multi-faceted if not a bit indecisive. The thumping opening track, “Pyre,” kicks off like a blast and casual listeners might think they know what they’re getting into moving forward. That is, the type of post-punk most

22 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2019

recently resurrected by groups such as Parquet Courts and Protomartyr. And while Exasperation do this very well (the chorus on “Full Story” is amazing—more of this please), most of the record isn’t exactly breaking new ground. Maybe that wasn’t the point.

The downright poppy and way-too-short “Trash War” and “Pushing Back” are perfect examples of how great the band can be when the hooks are flowing.

Still, there is an element of disjointedness that weighs the album down. Tracks like “Paradise” and “When You Snapped” sound out of place on what is otherwise a solid effort. It’s as if the band threw in some moody b-sides to show off their versatility. There’s nothing wrong with moodiness per se, but it goes against the band’s own self-classification as something they call “tough-pop.” It’s a rather terrible, but not the worst, description of a musical style. I mean, it’s not as bad as say, “shitgaze” (remember that?), but it’s not a description that encapsulates the Exasperation sound, because, well, it doesn’t seem like the band has settled on what kind of post-punk they want to play.

Overall, however, the band shows a lot of promise and I suspect their live shows are spirited affairs (the band will be playing an album release show at Soda Bar on Jan. 12). Paradise is a decent debut from a band that I fully expect to make even better songs moving forward.

—Seth Combs

F

Brendan Kelly

orget GG Allin—Brendan Kelly might just be the punkest punk who ever punked.

No, Kelly is unlikely to shit on stage, espouse the benefits of anarchy, or do any of the other eye-rolling things that people consider “punk.” Rather, his storied musical career is laced with subversion and acerbic humor—perhaps the two most powerful qualities that constitute genuine radicalism.

After fronting Chicago’s seminal cult ska band Slapstick in the ’90s, Kelly moved on to sing and play bass in his best-known project, The Lawrence Arms. Although it would be easy to dismiss their music as pop-punk, the songs are chock-full of literary references and adult emotions (nearly every song on 2014’s Metropole album could serve as a wake-up call anthem for aging punks living in denial).

Apart from sneaking grown-up content into his music, he’s earned a reputation for calling bullshit on the often accepted behavior within the punk scene. Hell, he wrote a song about the exploitative practices and bro mentality at Warped Tour nearly 10 years before the revered punk fest started getting heat for harboring bands known for sexual harassment and assault.

Kelly is also the author behind the viral Twitter account Nihilist Arby’s, which is a perfect distillation of his pathos and humor.

It just may be punkest thing on the internet.

Brendan Kelly plays Saturday, Jan. 19 at Tower Bar.

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MUSIC

IF I WERE U

BY CITYBEAT STAFF

Our picks for the week’s top shows

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9

PLAN A: Melvins, hepa.Titus @ The Casbah. Kurt Cobain’s favorite band kicks off a two-night stand at The Casbah. In their 30plus years together, the Melvins have influenced everyone from Nirvana to Mastodon, and they still melt faces at their live shows.

BACKUP PLAN: Eric Burdon & The Animals @ Belly Up Tavern.

THURSDAY, JAN. 10

PLAN A: Melvins, hepa.Titus @ The Casbah. Much like Samson, we think Melvins singer/guitarist Buzz Osborne garners all his energy from his amazing Sideshow Bob-like mane. Don’t @ us. BACKUP PLAN: Fucked and Bound, Deep Sea Thunder Beast, BobxRoss @ Soda Bar. JESS GARTEN

(hopefully this show isn’t also sold out by the time this issue hits stands), The Dragons are local punk rock royalty. Really, why imagine dragons when these badasses bring the fire every time they play. Get it? Dumb joke?

Fine, whatever. BACKUP PLAN: Exasperation, SIXES, The Havnauts @ Soda Bar.

SUNDAY, JAN. 13

PLAN A, Part 1: RedRumsey, Nothingful, Breathing Lesson @ SPACE. A rare performance from RedRumsey, the solo project of Unwound bassist Vern Rumsey. Whereas Unwound specialized in some brutal posthardcore, RedRumsey is more the type of folk-rock you’d hear from some busker while freighthopping. Plus, this is a matinee show, so there’s plenty of time to make it to…

PLAN A, Part 2: The Mattson 2, Mapache @ The Casbah. Former locals, The Mattson 2 have transcended their earlier classification of “surf jazz” and now have a style all their own. The brothers play a style of instrumental music that is both technically proficient and utterly compelling. And don’t miss the Everly Brothers stylings of Mapache. BACKUP PLAN: Death Eyes, Quits, Los Pinche Pinches @ Soda Bar.

MONDAY, JAN. 14 Chasms

FRIDAY, JAN. 11

PLAN A: Chasms, O/X, DJ Vaughn Avakian @ Whistle Stop. L.A. duo Chasms mine the depths of their black hearts for a sound that’s one part industrial, one part shoegaze and a dab of old-school Cure for good measure.

Wear black, sway back-and-forth and maybe cry a little. Either way, you’ll be better for it.

PLAN B: The Undercover Dream Lovers, BOYO, Creature Canyon @ Soda Bar. Despite the silly name, L.A.-based Undercover Dream Lovers is pretty great at combining dreamy chillwave melodies with slacker-rock sensibilities. The solo project of Matt Koenig, 2018’s In Real Time is synthy, sweet and downright sexy. BACKUP PLAN: Dieselboy, Adia Break, Systemic @ Brick By Brick.

SATURDAY, JAN. 12

PLAN A: Amen Dunes, Spellling @ Belly Up Tavern. Check out Ombretta Di Dio’s great piece on Damon McMahon (aka Amen Dunes) this week. But while we have your attention, please do show up early to this show for Spellling, the one-woman project from Oakland’s Tia Cabral. Her upcoming sophomore album, Mazy Fly, is filled with dark, synthy soul music that’s good enough to have her headlining venues soon enough.

PLAN B: The Dragons, Uncle Joe’s Big Ol’ Driver, Deadbolt, Madly @ The Casbah.

Part two of a two-night stand at The Casbah

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PLAN A: The Creepy Creeps, Beehive & The Barracudas, Low Volts, The Loons, DJ Richard Whig, DJ GirlGroupGirl @ The Casbah. A night of killer, sweat-drenched local rock music in celebration of The Casbah’s 30th anniversary. There’s not a bad band on this bill, so show up and stay for the whole thing. PLAN B: Mother Mother, Winnetka Bowling League @ Soda Bar. With their 2008 single, “Ghosting,” Canadian band Mother Mother may have inadvertently written the greatest song about leaving without warning. The rest of their catalog is equally catchy indie-rock in the vein of Arcade Fire and Said the Whale.

TUESDAY, JAN. 15

PLAN A: Tamaryn, Cold Showers, DJ Jon Blaj @ The Casbah. Fans of Jesus and Mary Chain, Zola Jesus and maybe some other bands with Jesus in their name should already be well versed in the moody dreampop of New Zealander Tamaryn Brown. She hasn’t released much new material since 2015’s Cranekiss, so let’s hope this night features some new songs. PLAN B: The Oxen, Nowhereland @ Soda Bar. Two solid local bands. Carlsbad-via-Nebraska group The Oxen make some of the best downtempo indie-rock in the county, while Nowhereland’s aggressive psych-rock has evolved considerably since 2017’s Falcon EP. BACKUP PLAN: The Magpie Salute, The Stone Foxes @ Belly Up Tavern.

JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 23

MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Gutter (Soda Bar, 1/24), Russian Tremors (Soda Bar, 1/29), Death Valley Girls (Music Box, 1/30), AJ Mitchell (The Irenic, 2/8), Danko Jones (Observatory, 2/10), Houses (Soda Bar, 2/21), Joy Williams (BUT, 2/26), Stepping Feet (Music Box, 3/1), Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds (BUT, 3/7), Redwoods Review (Music Box, 3/8), Green Leaf Rustlers (BUT, 3/20) SWMRS (Music Box, 3/28), Missio (Music Box, 4/3), Dead Feather Moon (BUT, 4/5), Strangelove (Music Box, 4/5), Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band (Humphreys, 4/12), David Archuleta (California Center for the Arts, 4/17), Los Lobos (BUT, 4/19), Michael McDonald (BUT, 4/20), White Lies (Music Box, 5/9).

GET YER TICKETS Sage the Gemini (Music Box, 1/16), Lost Kings (Music Box, 1/17), Adolescents (Casbah, 1/19), Via Satellite (Casbah, 1/22), Pinback (Casbah, 1/2324), Buck-O-Nine (Casbah, 1/26), Corrosion of Conformity (Brick By Brick, 1/26), Bananarama (Observatory, 1/27), No Knife (Casbah, 1/27), Cursive, Mineral (Casbah, 2/1), Gang of Four (Casbah, 2/5), MØ (Observatory, 2/5), KISS (Viejas Arena, 2/7), Louis XIV (Casbah, 2/15), Panic! At the Disco (Valley View Casino Center, 2/16), Albert Hammond Jr. (BUT 2/24), Sharon Van Etten (Observatory, 2/28), Saves the Day (Observatory North Park, 3/2), CRSSD Festival

(Waterfront Park, 3/2-3), Waxahatchee (Soda Bar, 3/3), Band of Horses (Observatory, 3/6), Hatebreed (HOB, 3/7), YG (Valley View Casino Center, 3/7), Action Bronson (HOB, 3/13), Cold Cave (BUT, 3/19), Boy Harsher (Casbah, 3/20), Mike Doughty (Soda Bar, 3/23), Matt Nathanson (Music Box, 3/24), Queensrÿche (Casbah, 3/27), Black Moth Super Rainbow (BUT, 3/31), Vince Staples (Observatory, 4/2), Taking Back Sunday (Observatory, 4/6-7), T-Pain (Observatory, 4/9), David Archuleta (California Center for the Arts, 4/17).

JANUARY WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9 Eric Burdon & the Animals at Belly Up Tavern. Disturbed at Valley View Casino Center.

THURSDAY, JAN. 10 Eric Burdon & the Animals at Belly Up Tavern. Mimi Zulu at Music Box.

FRIDAY, JAN. 11 The Dragons, Drip Tank at The Casbah.

Dirtwire at Music Box. Wild Child at Belly Up Tavern.

SATURDAY, JAN. 12 Kaleena Zanders and FriendZ at Music Box, Amen Dunes at Belly Up Tavern. Exasperation at Soda Bar.

SUNDAY, JAN. 13 Young Dolph at House of Blues. A.J. Croce at California Center for the Arts.

Charlie Rae at Music Box. Death Eyes at Soda Bar.

24 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2019

MONDAY, JAN. 14 Mother Mother at Soda Bar. Beehive & the Barracudas The Casbah. Paul Thorn at Belly Up Tavern.

TUESDAY, JAN. 15 Tamaryn, Cold Showers at The Casbah.

The Magic Salute at Belly Up Tavern.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16 Bayside at The Irenic. Howlin Rain at The Casbah. Anthony Green at Soda Bar. Daring Greatly at Belly Up Tavern.

Sage the Gemini at Music Box.

THURSDAY, JAN. 17 The Donkeys at The Casbah. The Infamous Stringdusters at Belly Up Tavern.

Lost Kings at Music Box.

FRIDAY, JAN. 18 Rob Garza at Music Box. KRS-One at Observatory North Park. DSB at Belly Up Tavern.

SATURDAY, JAN. 19 Mae at Soda Bar. NAO at Observatory North Park. Sumac at Brick By Brick. As It Is at SOMA. Adolescents at The Casbah. Mae at The Irenic. Brendan Kelly at Tower Bar. Tommy Castro & The Painkillers at Belly Up Tavern.

SUNDAY, JAN. 20 88 Fingers Louie at Soda Bar. Mustard Plug at The Casbah. Reagan Youth at Brick By Brick.

MONDAY, JAN. 21 Snail Mail at Music Box. The Posies at

Soda Bar. Trombone Shorty at Belly Up Tavern (sold out).

TUESDAY, JAN. 22 Via Satellite at The Casbah. Kris Kristofferson and The Strangers at Balboa Theatre. Trombone Shorty at Belly Up Tavern. Emily King at Music Box.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23 Trombone Shorty at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). Mozes and the Firstborn at Soda Bar. Pinback at The Casbah.

THURSDAY, JAN. 24 Pinback at The Casbah. Big Head Todd & The Monsters at Belly Up Tavern. Gutter at Soda Bar. Trombone Shorty at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). No Kings at Music Box.

FRIDAY, JAN. 25 Ozomatli at Music Box. The English Beat at Belly Up Tavern. Transfer at The Casbah. Larry And His Flask at Soda Bar.

SATURDAY, JAN. 26 The English Beat at Belly Up Tavern.

Whitey Morgan at Observatory North Park. Buck-O-Nine at The Casbah. Corrosion of Conformity at Brick By Brick.

Steel Panther at House of Blues. Travis Tritt at Balboa Theatre. Johnny Clark at Music Box.

SUNDAY, JAN. 27 Bananarama at Observatory North Park.

No Knife at The Casbah. Ana Popovic at Belly Up Tavern.

MONDAY, JAN. 28 Richard Thompson Electric Trio at Belly Up Tavern. Duster at Soda Bar. Blues Traveler at House Of Blues.

TUESDAY, JAN. 29 Elton John at Valley View Casino Center.

Sergio Mendes at Belly Up Tavern. Russian Tremors at Soda Bar.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30 Wild Child at Soda Bar. Hawthorne Heights at House Of Blues. Silverstein at House Of Blues. A$AP Rocky at Valley View Casino Center. Death Valley Girls at Music Box.

THURSDAY, JAN. 31 Current Joys at The Irenic. Three Mile Pilot at The Casbah. Turkuaz at Belly Up Tavern.

FRIDAY, FEB. 1 Cursive, Mineral at The Casbah. Okilly Dokilly at Soda Bar. Jacob Banks at Belly Up Tavern. Poncho Sanchez at Music Box.

SATURDAY, FEB. 2 Magic City Hippies at Soda Bar. Mineral at Che Café. Drama at The Casbah.

Vaud and the Villains at Belly Up Tavern.

MadeinTYo at Music Box.

SUNDAY, FEB. 4 Still Woozy at Soda Bar. The Toasters at The Casbah. Chris Shiflett at Belly Up Tavern.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

@SDCITYBEAT

BY CHRISTIN BAILEY

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 TUESDAY, FEB. 5 MØ at Observatory North Park. DaniLeigh at House of Blues. Gang of Four at The Casbah. Chris Shiflett at Belly Up Tavern.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6 The Quaker City Night Hawks at Soda Bar. North Mississippi Allstars at Belly Up Tavern.

THURSDAY, FEB. 7 KISS at Viejas Arena. Marc Anthony at Valley View Casino Center. Joan Osborne at Belly Up Tavern. Passafire at Music Box.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. Wed: Open Mic. Thu: Karaoke.

Fri: Calisamba, Cajuina, DJ Novinho. Sat: Dazed and Confused. Sun: Karaoke. Tue: ‘Tuesday Night Live!’.

Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St., Normal Heights. Wed: ‘#HipHopWeds’.

Thu: ‘Cool Like Dat’. Fri: ‘House Music Fridays’. Sat: DJ Mike Czech. Sun: DJ Brandon Fabio. Mon: ‘Organized Grime’.

Tue: DJ Neil Santos.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Wed: Cameron Frost, Dallas McLaughlin, Mal Hall. Thu: Shane Mauss. Fri: Shawn Wayans. Sat: Shawn Wayans. Tue: Open Mic. The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Wed: Karaoke. Mon: Trivia. Tue: Karaoke.

@SDCITYBEAT

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., Downtown.

Fri: MAXIMONO. Sat: Lee K, Juheun.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St., North Park. Wed: DJ RT. Thu: DJ Grimm. Fri: Hammered Satin, Razor Nights, Naked Walrus. Sat: Super Buffet, Hiroshima Mockingbirds, Dream Burglar. Sun: ‘Rat Sabbath’. Mon: Julia Sage and the Bad Hombres. Tue: Alvino and the Dwells.

Beaumont’s, 5665 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Thu: The Heart. Fri: Scratch. Sat: Emotional Rescue.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Wed: Eric Burdon & The Animals. Thu: Eric Burdon & The Animals. Fri: Wild Child, Stefan Hillesheim & The Power of Love. Sat: Amen Dunes, Spellling. Mon: Paul Thorn, Alice Drinks the Kool Aid. Tue: The Magpie Salute, The Stone Foxes.

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington St., Mission Hills. Wed: ‘Dance Klassique’. Thu: Elliott Smith Tribute. Fri: ‘Indie Dance Party’ Sat: ‘Soul Work’. Sun: Eric Medina, Uri Leshner. Mon: ‘Dark ‘80s Night’. Tue: ‘Techno Tuesdays’.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., Bay Park. Fri: Dieselboy, DJ Ronnie, Adia Break, Systematic.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Midtown. Wed: Melvins, hepa.Titus. Thu: Melvins, hepa.Titus. Fri: The Dragons, Drip Tank, Shake Before Us. Sat: The Dragons, Uncle Joe’s Big Ol’ Driver, Deadbolt, Madly. Sun: The Mattson 2, Mapache. Mon: The Creepy Creeps, Beehive & The Barracudas, Low Volts, The Loons, DJ Richard Whig, DJ GirlGroupGirl. Tue: Tamaryn, Cold Showers, DJ Jon Blaj.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

ASTROLOGICALLY UNSOUND Weekly forecasts from the so-called universe ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Fixing that upturned carpet nail is less work than training yourself like a dog to walk around it.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): You have to start building the bomb shelter before you need it. This limits their existence to the homes of paranoid millionaires, but is that really the type of world you want to survive for?

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): The only people worth trusting are those who you would still recognize if an evil witch transformed them into a goose or some kind of other animal.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): It is fallacious thinking that leads us to believe that the worst things in history have already happened. But there’s also a good argument that the worst thing was when humanity grew legs back way-back-when.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): It is important to have a good night’s sleep.

More than that, it is absolutely crucial to look directly into the surveillance camera while the alleged robbery occurs across town.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 December 21): You are like a stick bug who camouflages into their environment by looking like sticks. So you better be careful that you choose a good environment.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Your plans for today will quickly unravel when a mysterious stranger gets ahold of your debit card and spends $130 at Carl’s Jr. in Petaluma, California.

CAPRICORN (December 22 January 19): Cooperating with others is not about making them all bend to your will.

It’s about only associating with people who already want to do what you want to do to begin with.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): You have begun a journey of self-improvement that will last all the way until people stop paying attention to you and quit acknowledging how virtuous and brave your efforts are.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Two lessons you don’t want to learn the hard way: Don’t stick your hand into a hole in the ground and don’t offer to pick someone up from the airport unless you really mean it.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): This week will resemble that feeling when you want to stop talking but have to keep talking even though you feel like not talking but if you stop talking then no one will be talking!

PISCES (February 19 - March 20): The laws of dreamworlds work differently than the laws of reality. Although sometimes they overlap—like when you dream that crows can solve math problems or your boss is demonic.

Astrologically Unsound appears every week. Follow Christin Bailey on Twitter at @hexprax.

JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 25

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 Che Cafe, 1000 Scholars Drive S, La Jolla. Thu: Life In Discord, Rob Ford Explorer, Headstone, King Bloom, Buried But Still Breathing, Dream Bros. Fri: Diatribe, Resist and Exist, Violencia, Standard Issue, Civil Evacuation, Animals Revenge, Traitor. Sat: Indigo State, Valley Rats, Gomi Neko, Shameface, The Shed. Tue: Gouge Away, Therapy, Spirited Away, Headstone, Tourist.

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Bay Park. Sat: Christopher Hollyday & his all stars.

F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown. Thu: ‘Takeover Thursdays’. Fri: DJ Vision. Sat: ‘Showout Saturdays’ with DJ Jae Murphy.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., Downtown. Fri: DJ Beatnick. Sat: DJ Bad. House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Wed: Graham Gillot. Thu: Jerry “Hot Rod” Demink. Fri: Emo Night Brooklyn. Sat: Randy Rogers Band. Sun: Young Dolph. Mon: Dorothy. Tue: Robin Henkel.

Humphreys Backstage, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. Wed: Len Rainey. Thu: Puro Feeling. Fri: Viva Santana. Sat: Full Strength Funk Band. Sun: Fuzzy Rankin. Mon: Billy Watson. Tue: Blue Largo.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., Midtown. Fri: Jan Ozlanski, Filoso, Big Hugs.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave., Kensington. Thu: Metal Yoga. Sat: War For Candy, Roman Watchdogs, GentrOside, Sideshow.

Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Sat: Dive Vibe, Cherry Road, Piatt Pund. Sun: Clean Cut

26 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 9, 2019

Hippies, Neil Gregory Johnson. Mon: Open Mic. Tue: Comedy Night.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave., Coronado. Wed: Harmony Road. Thu: Stilettos. Fri: In Midlife Crisis. Sat: Miss Demeanor. Sun: Ron’s Garage.

Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave., Hillcrest. Thu: Tori Scott. Fri: ‘No Cover Entertainment’. Sat: Sophia Alone.

Sun: ‘Keep It on the DL’. Tue: Jaleesa Johnson, Rob Bronson, Carla Morales, Brian Vokey, Carmen Morales.

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: Jocko Marcellino.

Thu: Tomcat Courtney. Fri: Lady Star.

Sat: Blue Largo.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave., Hillcrest.

Wed: ‘Mischief Wednesday’. Thu: ‘#LEZ’.

Fri: ‘Electro-POP!’. Sat: ‘Voltage’. Sun: ‘Stripper Circus’.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., Hillcrest. Sat: ‘Club Sabbat’ with DJs Lance Liquid Grey, Vaughn Avakian. Tue: Getaway 95, Violent Dreams, Shield of Snakes.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’ w/ Jason Hanna & Friends. Thu: Chloe Lou & Davies. Fri: The Fab Lushes. Sat: True Stories. Tue: ‘Everything and Anything Jam’.

Mother’s Saloon, 2228 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. Thu: DJ Dub B. Sat: Springboard West. Tue: Trivia.

Rosie O’Gradys, 3402 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Wed: Karaoke. Fri: Bonneville 7. Mon: ‘Jazz Jam’ with Louis V.

Mr. Peabody’s, 136 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas. Thu: James Allen. Fri: Russ Ramo Trio. Sat: FreeMartin. Mon: Open Mic. Tue: Karaoke.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: Burlap the Sac, The Lucy Ring, The Resinators. Thu: Fucked and Beyond, Languish, Deep Sea Thunder Beast, BobxRoss. Fri: The Undercover Dream Lovers, BOYO, Creature Canyon.

Sat: Exasperation, SIXES, The Havnauts.

Sun: Death Eyes, Quits, Los Pinche Pinches. Mon: Mother Mother, Winnetka Bowling League. Tue: The Oxen, Nowhereland.

Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy.

Thu: Mimi Zulu, Kiyoshi, The Anodynes.

Fri: Dirtwire, Boostive. Sat: Kaleena Zanders and FriendZ, SiLVA, Harvard Bass, DJ IDeaL. Sun: Charlie Rae, Aviator Stash, Fistfights with Wolves.

The Office, 3936 30th St., North Park.

Wed: ‘Rhythm & Booze’ Hits from the ‘70s.

Thu: DJ Myson King. Tue: DJ Ramsey.

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 Sixth Ave., Downtown. Fri: Joyryde. Sat: DJ E-Rock.

Panama 66, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park.

Wed: ‘The Wednesday Jam Session’.

Fri: Crew D’etat. Sat: Ed Kornhauser & Friends. Sun: ‘Funk Jam’.

Parq, 615 Broadway, Downtown. Fri: Konflikt. Sat: Tee Grizzley.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway.

Fri: Roode, Ignant Benches, The Rinds, Street Surfers, Wizaerd, Cremé. Sat: TrusB, KDOH The Dope Rapper, Kalia, Mac Moore, Demi Daygo, Illy Westside, Jay Saffi, Fuego Dance Crew.

SPACE, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights.

Wed: ‘Make Yourself at Home’. Sat: New Skeletal Faces, Morphesia, DJ Javi Nunez.

Sun: Air Sign, Edges, Ilia Gorovitz, Diamonds, Woven In. Tue: Karaoke.

Spin, 2028 Hancock St., Midtown. Fri: ESTA. Sat: John 00 Fleming.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Wed: Paul Gregg. Sun: Corina Rose, The Badusitic.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Sat: Half Car Garage. Sun: ‘PANTS Karaoke!’.

Tin Roof, 401 G St., Downtown. Wed: Tony P. Thu: Keep Your Soul. Fri: Keep Your Soul. Sat: Cassie B Band. Sun: Lauren Leigh. Mon: Chad & Rosie. Tue: Keep Your Soul.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., Bay Park. Wed: Jazz with Leonard Patton. Thu: Gino and the Lone Gunmen. Fri: The Siers Brothers.

Sat: The Tourmaliners. Sun: Chris James Benefit with Sue Palmer, and more. Mon: ‘Sexy Salsa and Sensual Bachata’. Tue: Judy Taylor and her Wild Oats Band with Sue Palmer.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., City Heights. Sat: The Powerballs, Chango Rey, Blacks Beach Boys.

U-31, 3112 University Ave., North Park.

Thu: ‘BoomBox Thursdays’. Fri: DJ Freeman. Sat: DJ Bacon Bits. Mon: ‘#31 Flavors’ with DJs RLS, Matrox, Juice & Reign.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park.

Fri: Chasms, O/X. Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., Ocean Beach.

Wed: ‘Club Kingston’ with Indica Roots, DJ Carlos Culture. Thu: Lost Monarchs.

Fri: AJ Froman, TV Broken 3rd Eye Open.

Sat: ‘Springboard West Band & Brew Crawl’. Sun: Montague Street. Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin.

@SDCITYBEAT

BY LARA MCCAFFREY

IN THE BACK

CannaBeat Money problems

T

he lack of legal access to banking is one the biggest obstacles facing the cannabis industry. The Cannabis Banking Working Group (CBWG) (treasurer.ca.gov/cbwg), chaired by California treasurer John Chiang, shared a study on cannabis banking feasibility in late December. It stated that cannabis’ federal distinction as a Schedule I drug still prevents any banking solution, even if California were to establish a state bank.

Cannabis businesses can’t get a bank account with a traditional bank, as financial institutions do not want to risk violating the Bank Secrecy Act and USA Patriot act. In addition to cash-only policies and in-office safes, some cannabis business are using fintech services (short for Financial Technology) that bypass traditional bank regulations.

Connecticut-based Green Check Verified (greencheckverified.com) is one of these fintech companies. Its compliance platform is meant to help cannabis businesses monitor and share their compliance history with banks. Green Check also connects credit unions and state chartered banks

@SDCITYBEAT

with compliant cannabis businesses. These two highly regulated industries might not otherwise know about each other without Green Check, says CEO Kevin Hart.

“Our primary goal and our main operating tenet from the very beginning was, 'How do you take these two highly regulated industries that don't know much about each other and—candidly, aren't willing to learn as much about each other as they should—and be able to allow them to operate together?’” says Hart.

Credit unions and state-chartered banks are more likely to bank cannabis as they operate under different guidelines than nationwide banks.

Other fintech companies, like MTrac (mtractech.com) and CanPay (canpaydebit. com), have payment systems that allow for cashless purchases in dispensaries. MTrac (which started in San Diego) uses blockchain technology to aid customers in transferring funds to a merchant. Colporadobased CanPay has customers download its app and link it to their checking accounts to make purchases.

CanPay requires dispensaries using its software to be in an agreement with one of its 30 partner financial institutions. CEO Dustin Eide couldn’t disclose which banks

he was working with but says that these clients are transparent with their regulators and clients. In general, even credit unions keep quiet about banking cannabis, says Eide.

COURTESY OF CANPAY

CanPay system interface “There are a lot of financial services in the industry that keep it quiet because they are violating someone's prohibitions on the industry,” says Eide. “In the case of the financial institutions that are banking the industry, they're doing so in order to protect the program and not be overwhelmed with an inbound requests for banking and whatnot.”

Still, the CBWG’s analysis—which was prepared by San Diego-based business analytics company Level 4 Ventures—says fintech isn’t a solution for cannabis’ banking woes.

“Ultimately the money needs to cross the network boundaries into the traditional banks and payment processing systems,” the report reads. “All of the problems the industry is currently experiencing will limit the usefulness of the solution.”

Heather Smyth of Colorado-based Wurk (enjoywurk.com) says that her company has run into these issues because of cannabis’ Schedule I status. Wurk specializes in HR and payroll software for cannabis businesses. Wurk must maintain a transparent relationship with its banking partner to show it’s working with legitimate businesses.

“It means more paperwork,” says Smyth. “It's something that we're all willing to do and have done and have to do in order to continue to run a successful regulated industry. But certainly the banking challenge is by far the biggest challenge that we faced and will have faced for many years.”

CannaBeat appears every other week.

JANUARY 9, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 27