San Diego City Beat 062619

2 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

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UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR

How soon is now?

W

hen all is said and done, I don’t think Kevin Faulconer will be hanging his Oval Office photo with President Trump over the mantle anytime soon. Not after Trump called into Sean Hannity’s show shortly after his meeting with Faulconer and all but declared that the San Diego mayor kissed the ring.

“The mayor was just up in my office, great guy—he came up to thank me for having done the wall because it’s made such a difference,” Trump told Hannity, making sure to clarify that San Diego was in California. “He said, ‘it’s like day and night.’ He said, ‘people were flowing across and now nobody can come in.’”

As is the case with so many things, Trump simply lied about what was discussed in his meeting with Faulconer to appeal to his Fox News-watching base. A spokesperson for the mayor later clarified to Voice of San Diego that Faulconer’s conversation with Trump mainly focused on the Tijuana sewage crisis, and that we “all know that the President uses his own terminology.”

I’ve never expected the mayor to fully denounce the policies of the Trump administration. To his credit, however, the mayor has done more to point out the inaccuracies of Trump’s rhetoric than most local politicians.

San Diego is currently represented by four Democrats and one Republican in the House. The lone Republican is currently awaiting his trial for using campaign funds to get drunk and cheat on his wife, among other things. With exception of the recently elected Rep. Mike Levin, each House district is represented by a veteran member. And as members of the House become increasingly more comfortable with the idea of impeachment proceedings, now would be a good time to point out where, exactly, each of these five representatives stands when it comes to impeachment proceedings or, at the least, an inquiry into impeachment.

Mike Levin (D-49): Not sure yet…

Maybe?

To be fair, Levin has consulted with Judiciary Committee members in the House to inquire as to whether an impeachment inquiry would help with the process of acquiring documents and testimony. When told by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) that it would help speed the processes of investigation, Levin said he would “support that decision.” But

we feel that Levin could be more outspoken in his support for an impeachment investigation especially when many of his fellow progressives in the House are wavering and coming around to the idea.

Susan Davis (D-53): Not now. Maybe later.

Rep. Davis is in arguably the safest Democratic district, but has mostly worked in carefully worded vagaries such as, “We must go where the facts lead and our democratic principles demand” and “Congress must continue its investigations to create a compelling case for the Senate.” Look, we all know that the Republican-controlled Senate is never going to impeach Trump. At this point, there is enough evidence to begin an impeachment investigation into the President, and as a veteran member of the House, Davis should stand up for what she knows is the right thing to do. With little-to-no-chance of losing her seat, what is she afraid of?

Juan Vargas (D-51): Let’s do this.

Rep. Vargas is currently the only San Diego congressperson who supports immediate impeachment proceedings. “I think it gets us to a place where we can get this information, and then frankly be able to make a determination,” Vargas told The Hill. He added: “By the time the courts decide, I think I’ll have grandchildren, and my daughters aren’t married.”

Scott Peters (D-52): Ehhh… probably not.

Rep. Peters has always been in a tough district for a Dem, but has said that he’s “evolving” and that the House may be “headed down that road” when it comes to impeachment. In a recent Q&A with the UnionTribune, he was asked flat-out over and over where he stood and basically rehashed what we already knew about the Mueller Report before anticlimactically concluding that it was “some pretty serious stuff.” He even acknowledged that most of the calls he receives from constituents are “overwhelmingly” in support of impeachment. In the end, he basically reiterated that he’s concerned about the “pretty strong” subject matter in the Mueller Report, but that he’s not convinced that impeachment is the smart move.

Duncan Hunter (R-50): LOL. “The case is closed. Let’s move on,” said Hunter. He’s likely hoping that’s enough to get him that presidential pardon.

—Seth Combs

Write to seth.combs@sdcitybeat.com

This issue of CityBeat can also twerk and play flute at the same time.

Volume 17 • Issue 45 EDITOR Seth Combs WEB EDITOR Ryan Bradford ART DIRECTOR Carolyn Ramos STAFF WRITER Andrea Lopez-Villafaña COLUMNISTS Aaryn Belfer Ryan Bradford Edwin Decker Alfred Howard John R. Lamb Rhonda “Ro” Moore

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JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 3

UP FRONT | LETTERS

CITY(DEAD)BEAT BEHAVIOR

City Dead-beat, I often need a translator to read Ro Moo’s [sic] column [“In San Diego, we’d all rather pay than quit,” A Side-Eye of Sanity, May 29]. Fortunately, this week it was a topic I am well aware of (deadbeats and late rent) so I thought I’d do some translating for those not in the know.

“Bank insanity” def: Moo bounced her check(s) and the landlord will from now on only accept a cashiers [sic] check. “Bank shenanigans” def: when you write checks for mo money than is in your account. This often results in late fee’s [sic] from those you didn’t pay. 3-day notices def: law written by liberals so that when you don’t pay your bill you get the chance to correct your shenanigan (otherwise landlord could just evict you). I recommend changing the name of the column to City (dead)Beat.

P.S. Bonus prize bumper stick on the way: “How can I be overdraft when I still have checks?”

Craig A. Nelson Nelson Financial Consulting Group

[Edit note: We received a number of these types of emails from angry male property owners proclaiming something along the lines of “not all landlords.” Instead of responding myself, I wanted to give Ro Moore the opportunity to address the letter personally. Her response is below, although I did have to edit some of the content for space.]

Since it wasn’t anyone’s business exactly what happened with my financial institution (and it was

4 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

mostly irrelevant to what I wanted to talk about), I didn’t share. But, given this gent seems all fired up to “fill-in” the banks (pun intended) here it is: My bank didn’t honor a transaction from the property management because it was being incorrectly submitted for payment. An investigation revealed that (*gasp*) the error was not mine. I called it “bank insanity” because it took far too long to figure out where things went off the rails. I know he’ll be so disappointed to discover that my account wasn’t severely overdrawn and I wasn’t trying to pull a fast one. I requested the reimbursement be sent directly to the originally-intended payee of the transaction. Given that it was a minor but mostly irritating matter all-in-all, I labeled it “shenanigans.” I know reading is hard, but I do recall stating that what set off the entire chain of events was me asking if they’d received the money.

I don’t know many deadbeats who affirmatively ask whether a debt has been paid. But hey, I only have a law degree so maybe they teach financial consultants to make biased assumptions in order to wave their prejudice in folks’ face. It’s clear that reading comprehension isn’t a mandatory skill since I stated, more than once, that I wasn’t then, nor at any time, delinquent in paying my rent.

Maybe it got missed with the needing a translator for English and all, or maybe they teach financial consultants a different kind of account reconciliation technique that uses some new math us plebians aren’t aware of.

As for the other alleged “expert” translation, a 3-Day quit or pay notice is a law intended for the collection of past due rent. Those laws were never intended to be utilized to collect internal fees or

other costs outside of rent. Telling someone to be OK with their rent check not being applied to their rent due seems a touch odd to me. I’m also slightly aghast that improper accounting practices seem to be getting a huge pass from a financial consultant, but maybe it’s just that new math at work again. My accountant was pretty clear that there’s no such thing as “additional rent” under the law when he reviewed the matter.

I don’t know any sound financial planners that would advise a client to 1.) turn a blind eye to inaccurate account reconciliation; 2.) to blindly pay erroneously charged fees that your lease says are the responsibility of the landlord/property management; or, 3.) to lie down when someone attempts to engage in illegal practices to their financial detriment. But maybe this financial consultant is only interested in collecting his fee.

The point of the column was: Stay on top of the status of open invoices, be aware of who’s on the other side of any financial relationship and know how they handle account reconciliation and bill disputes; to make sure readers aren’t being taken advantage of and never be afraid to call someone out when they’re doing something improper or illegal.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’d be wary of any alleged financial consultant being so prejudiced as to make gross assumptions about a person based on a perceived political stance (and dare I say other closed-minded criteria). But I do so love people who think they’re being witty; they just couldn’t advise me about my money. So I’m good sticking with side-eyeing folks.

—Ro Moore

TABLE OF CONTENTS UP FRONT From the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . .

News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A Side-Eye of Sanity . . . . . . . . . .

Sordid Tales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 4 5 7 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: San Diego Resistance Revival Chorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

MUSIC

Feature: Javier Escovedo . . . . . 20 Notes From The Smoking Patio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 The Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 If I Were U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Concerts & Clubs . . . . . . . . . 24-26

IN THE BACK Astrologically Unsound . . . . . . 25 CannaBitch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 COVER PHOTO BY ALLISON DAVIS

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CHRIS MATISTA

UP FRONT | NEWS

Taking aim Gun violence prevention advocate Wendy Wheatcroft looks to flip historically red city council district

By Seth Combs

W

endy Wheatcroft knows full well that she has a tough road ahead of her.

Not only is she running for city council in a district that has leaned Republican in the past, but she’ll also have to get through a primary in March where there are already five Democratic candidates hoping to replace termed out Councilmember Scott Sherman.

“It’s conservative, but it’s leaning Dem,” says Wheatcroft at a local coffee shop near her Del Cerro home.

This isn’t an entirely inaccurate statement considering Democratic registration has spiked in District 7 since the election of Donald Trump.

But while there are now more registered Democratic voters than Republicans in the district, there are still nearly 27,000 voters in D-7 with no party preference. There are many issues that Wheatcroft could use to appeal to these potential voters, but she says she’s going to stick with what she knows best.

“As I was deciding to run, the topic came up: Are you going to die

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on the cross for gun violence prevention?” Wheatcroft says. “What it really came down to is that this is a huge part of who I am and how I got here. To stop talking about it now would be disingenuous and I think it would actually cause me to lose voters.”

Wheatcroft has never seen the issue of gun violence prevention as an us vs. them fight. Despite it being a controversial issue, she says it’s gotten to a point where even conservatives are concerned about it, and that the majority of gun owners agree with gun violence prevention.

“They want people to have background checks, they don’t want domestic abusers to have guns and they don’t want convicted felons to have guns,” Wheatcroft says.

District 7—which includes parts of Mission Valley and Linda Vista, as well as neighborhoods such as Del Cerro, Allied Gardens and the Lake Murray area—will likely be seen as the biggest prize when it comes to the 2020 city council

elections. While the council seats are technically non-partisan, there is currently a 6-3 Democratic majority. While District 5 seems like a much more feasible Democratic pickup, a win in District 7 would solidify the direction the city wants to go in.

Wheatcroft is a former elementary school teacher and mother of three. While still a teacher and shortly after the Pulse nightclub killings in Orlando, she became a local advocate for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

She later founded San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention, now the biggest local gun violence prevention coalition. She says that she was inspired to speak out and become more involved precisely because she saw gun violence prevention voices being drowned out by the NRA and Second Amendment lobbies.

“That’s really something that I was drawn to—realizing how much pressure is put on our elected officials and how much time and en-

Wendy Wheatcroft ergy is taken away by the loud and obnoxious gun lobby; voices that are really trying to dominate the conversation when, really, they’re in the minority,” says Wheatcroft.

Wheatcroft says the advocacy efforts of groups such as San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention has made a difference. She sees San Diego’s Gun Violence Restraining Order program as one such victory, and the council is likely to approve City Attorney Mara Elliott’s proposed ordinance for guns to be stored in locked containers.

“You know, I really felt that when I decided to dive in, it came down to asking myself, ‘can I, as one person, do anything? Can I make any movement on this issue?’ And the answer is yes, because I have,” says Wheatcroft.

Wheatcroft also points out the burden on law enforcement when it comes to guns on the street, as well as the inordinately high number of veteran suicides in San Diego.

“Veteran suicides in San Diego are the highest in the state. And suicides account for 60 percent of all gun deaths. So, if we can tackle suicides, primarily veteran suicides, we will make a big dent in the overall number of gun deaths.

Domestic violence is the third area. And so we worked really hard in the past year and a half to dig into all three of these areas.”

Wheatcroft sees her city council run not as a means to move onto something new (she says she has no plans to run for any higher office in the future), but as a continuation of the important work she’s done and to let others lead the way when it comes to gun violence prevention.

“Through this work, I’ve connected with a lot of communitybased organizations working on this issue and primarily in communities of color,” says Wheatcroft. “I’ve really submersed myself in that work and tried to figure out how I, as a white woman, can step aside and make room for the groups of color doing this work and uplift them and elevate them without elevating myself.”

WENDY WHEATCROFT ON… YIMBY vs. NIMBY:

“I am a member of YIMBYs, but I call myself more of a MIMBY: Maybe in my backyard, because there are a lot of opportunities for housing in San Diego, and we desperately need affordable housing, but we cannot be building out in the wild lands where there’s extreme fire danger.”

PUBLIC TRANSIT:

“In D-7, there’s a lack of opportunities when it comes to transit… the biggest complaints I hear about transit are the lack of reliability and the timeliness.

And we can fix that. We can add more buses. We can add rapid buses along key streets. For example, I think we need a rapid bus line from Mission Trails Park all the way down Mission Gorge to the Grantville Trolley.”

PROPOSITION B:

“I’ve been super vocal in my opposition to Prop B. I think it’s hurt San Diego more than we know, and that’s evidenced in our extreme lack of workers. We are understaffed by over 2,000 workers, and many of those are firefighters. We are losing firefighters and other city employees because of it. People are coming to work for the city, and they feel like they don’t have a long-term future here because of it.”

HOMELESSNESS:

“I equate the approach so far to something like bulletproof backpacks in schools. That is a BandAid solution to the actual problem. Instead of spending money on storage facilities and tents that are placed in a flood plain at the cost of millions of dollars, let’s look at the actual problem and start there… Using county mental health money to help people struggling with mental illness before they end up on the street. We need to help people stay in their homes, possibly implementing rent control because our housing issue is so closely tied to homelessness.”

JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 5

6 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

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UP FRONT | VOICES

RHONDA “RO” MOORE

A SIDE-EYE OF

SANITY

Reparations fixations

simple as monetary reparations in current calls for dialogue and solutions. And so they deflect and speak t infuriates me to hear politically powerful people in repressive tones, downplaying the commonness of such as Sen. Mitch McConnell speak pedantical- slave ownership and engaging in what-aboutism to ly about “America’s original sin.” (Original? White derail the conversation. folks were raiding and pillaging people to death long Even as McConnell does his level best to suppress all before slavery became a cottage-industry in America.) talk of reparations, he presides over a Senate confirming Even more infuriating is their dismissiveness when it judges who refuse to affirm that Brown v. Board of Educomes to the topic of reparations being a viable form cation is settled law. He touts “landmark civil rights legof corrective action. islation” as a slavery remediation measure even as the So, let’s talk.

GOP engages in widespread efforts to disenfranchise June 19, 2019 marked the 400th anniversary of voters and block efforts to restore the Voting Rights Act, the first enslaved Africans arriving in America. It also calling it “a half-baked, socialist proposal.” happens to be the date in 1865 when Texas slaves Yes, talking about reparations pisses off a lot of learned the Civil War had ended and thus, too, their white people. They work hard to shift the conversaenslavement (yes, Texas was one of the “rebellious tion and limit the scope around reparations, pushstates”). This day is commemorated as Juneteenth ing the narrative that Black people are just looking and is celebrated within the Black community despite for handouts. It’s a highly effective tactic, one that not being a national holiday. absolves white people of their duty to deconstruct This year, Congress picked June 19 to convene its present-day policies, procedures, regulations and first hearing in over a decade to hear from notable anti-Black attitudes that are the very real obstacles Black figures, activists, experts and scholars on the to Black people being fully vested members of society. topic of reparations as it relates to House Resolution Now, had President Andrew Johnson not rescind40 (HR 40), which advocates for a commission to study ed General Sherman’s 1863 field order to redistribute and develop reparation proposals 400,000 acres of land to freed black for African-Americans. families in 40-acre blocks and inThe truth is that white It’s unsurprising that Congress stead repatriated the land back to people don’t like being picked now to have a hearing.

Southern (read: white) planters Despite it being early days, very reminded of betrayed and slaveowners, then perhaps talk few presidential hopefuls have of reparations wouldn’t persist. and murdered indigenous escaped being asked about their But he did and Black people find people. They especially position on reparations for the dethemselves, centuries later, still in don’t like being reminded scendants of slaves. I watched the need of remedies to systemic racial congressional hearing and listened of stolen and enslaved and economic discrimination that intently as a litany of smart, relare the direct legacy of slavery.

Africans. evant and highly educated people White supremacy is insidious. made pointed cases for passing the It’s been permitted to institutionally continue since measure and making the commission a reality. But the First Continental Congress. It’s easy to forget the even as each person spoke eloquently, I couldn’t help Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in states but remember that all this was just to get the govern- that had seceded from the Union. It’s simply a matter ment to agree to even discuss reparations. of glossing over the fact the 13th Amendment abolThe truth is that white people don’t like being re- ished chattel slavery, but very specifically left slavery minded of the betrayals and murders of indigenous as a legal form of criminal punishment. It’s even easpeople. They especially don’t like being reminded of ier to bury the fact that states throughout the Union stolen and enslaved Africans. And they really don’t immediately expanded their criminal code to ensure like it when they’re asked to acknowledge that the former slaves and freedmen swiftly found themselves U.S. is an empire built on exploitation and comprised back in leg irons. It’s typical behavior for politicians to of stolen land. To admit that would mean that they’d deny their ancestors laid the groundwork for Jim Crow, also have to admit colonization incurs a blood debt. which begat the modern prison industrial complex.

And it calls for the beneficiaries of land thieves and I don’t like talking about reparations. Don’t get me slavers to divest themselves of their ill-gotten gains wrong, I believe the conversation seriously needs to and establish unencumbered avenues for the equi- be had. I just feel like most politicians are just pantable advancement of Black and indigenous peoples. dering and don’t care. I hate having my time wasted.

And once they admit that, then it begins to sound a I’ve gotten in three fights over this topic already. little too much like, well, justice. And, well, that just Now that the issue’s front and center again, I expect doesn’t fit the preferred historical visions about bold there’ll be more. Because while white folks are fond explorers and benevolent colonizers, each spreading of advocating the “the bootstrap” method of life imcivility in their wake as they manifest their destiny. provement, they rarely acknowledge that actually McConnell belittles the gross economic and so- having boots is a prerequisite. cietal disenfranchisement of Black people. He waves I have a feeling I’m going to feel every single minthe election of President Obama as proof that repa- ute pass this election cycle. rations are unnecessary. As far as he’s concerned, Feel free to send wine. slavery was so “long ago” that reparations aren’t “a good idea.” McConnell and his cronies know full well A Side-Eye of Sanity appears every other week. that Black activists aren’t talking about anything as Follow Ro Moore on Twitter at @BookBlerd.

I

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JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 7

8 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

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UP FRONT | OPINION

EDWIN DECKER

SORDID

TALES

I’m disgusted by anyone who thinks prostitution is disgusting

D

uring a recent road trip through Pennsylvania, I was listening to The RJ Harris Show on a local talk radio station. Harris and his co-host, Holly Love, were discussing the recent push by some Democrats to decriminalize prostitution.

“How about that prostitution is disgusting and let’s get rid of it?” declared Love at the end of the discussion, as if it were the final word—as if her disgust alone is enough reason to prohibit the world’s (b)oldest profession. She’s not the only one to espouse this opinion. Ever since California’s Kamala Harris declared her support for decriminalization in February, I have heard several media jibber-jabberers argue that the sheer moral depravity of exchanging money for sex is reason enough to prohibit it.

Now, I have long argued that consenting adults ought to be able to do what they want with their swampy parts so long as they’re not hurting others.

That said, prostitution’s problems with violence, drugs, rape, child abuse and/or sex trafficking are as abundant as they are noxious.

In the sex-for-hire industry, it is difficult to tell where the line between freewill begins and slavery ends. That said, I’m still in favor of decriminalization. And while there are valid reasons to oppose it, Holly Love’s “disgust” argument is not one of them.

Disgust, when it comes to an emotional reaction to the behavior of others, is nothing more than personal taste. We are not all repulsed by the same things and, as was famously written in the Declaration of Independence, We are endowed with three unfuck-withable rights—those being life, liberty and the pursuit of our abundant, unqualifiable, varying and incalculable happinesses. And nowhere in the preamble does it add, Unless it disgusts anybody.

Holly Love is disgusted by the act of paying for sex? Well I’m disgusted by beard yolk—you know, that semi-dried glob of vitellus clinging to a fat man’s facial hair—so I guess we should mandate chin-bibs.

I am disgusted by athletes excessively celebrating.

Better employ the jubilation police. I’m disgusted by vegetable smoothies. I nearly retch every time I see a blender churning spinach and kale into a revolting green goo. So consider yourself on notice smoothie shops. I’m disgusted by parents who let their kids run amok in public places. I’m disgusted by poop coiling out of a dog’s rectum and onto the sidewalk. I’m disgusted by beatniks who mask their body odor with gallons of Brut.

But most of all, I’m disgusted by people who force their moral sensibilities on others. So let’s ban radio hosts, and any of the other squawking heads who would deny my right to engage in vulgar activities.

According to digustologists (no really, that’s a thing), the revulsion reflex originated as a way to

make people avoid things that might sicken them, such as rancid meat, rotting corpses, open sores and social media. It’s a result of natural selection. See, millions of years ago, when a caveman (let’s call him Grack-Jaborack) stumbled upon a maggot-riddled, mammoth carcass rotting by the riverbed, it repulsed him. Because of this, the troglodyte did not eat or even touch the dead thing and lived to pass on his genes.

However, when his good friend Zub-Zub—who was not repulsed by rancid carcasses because Zub-Zub was dumb-dumb—came upon the same dead mammoth, he chowed down, maggots and all. Naturally, lil Zubby died before he could procreate. That or he was likely exiled because nobody could stomach the sight of his wriggling beard-worms. Either way, no offspring.

This kind of disease-related disgust later evolved into the moral type, which disgustologists say is our way of signaling to others that we do not approve of certain behaviors. On paper, that seems a useful tool for enforcing social taboos. The only problem is that we don’t share the same morals.

Moreover, the things that repel us don’t always make intellectual sense. For instance, some cis/straight folk are repulsed by the sight of two men kissing.

Ok, fine. A reaction is a reaction—not much anyone can do about that. But that is no reason to let it inform anyone’s position on LGBTQ rights. There is nothing about a gay kiss that is infectious. Indeed, there is nothing about a gay kiss that, intellectually speaking, is inferior to a straight one (double-stubble notwithstanding).

The point here is that someone’s disgust is not an emotion that is rational or universal enough to justify prohibition.

Nor should our non-disgust inform what is acceptable either. Some cultures embrace cannibalism. The idea of it doesn’t nauseate them in the least. And you know what? Legally speaking, I’d be fine with it were it not for the fact that you had to kill, cook and eat someone else. You know, someone who didn’t want to be killed, cooked or eaten. It flies in the face of the “Do-No-Harm” ethic and therefore should not be permissible in civilized society. However, if people want to engage in some good old fashioned consenting cannibalism, I say chow down mofos! Because when it comes to the illegalization of certain behaviors, the question is not, nor should it ever be, whether anyone finds the behavior (wait for the pun now) distasteful. Rather, the question is whether that behavior’s actual, measurable harm is significant enough to prohibit anyone from pursuing their own individual happinesses, however appalling they might be.

I’m disgusted by people who force their moral sensibilities on others. So let’s ban radio hosts, and any of the other squawking heads who would deny my right to engage in vulgar activities.

@SDCITYBEAT

Sordid Tales appears every other week.

Write to edwin@sdcitybeat.com.

JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 9

UP FRONT | FOOD & DRINK

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER

THE WORLD

FARE Hot house

W

alking through the door at Old House Hot Pot (8199 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Ste. S1, old-house-hot-pot.business.site) in the Convoy District feels like stepping into a Star Trek transporter and getting beamed to Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan province. From the spicy broths and the selection of ingredients—to the sauce bar, décor and even the somewhat surly service—everything about Old House feels and tastes as if it’s half a world away; like a place apart.

Ordering at a hot pot spot can be intimidating. The basics of Chengdu-style hot pot, however, are simple. There are four moving parts: the broth, the proteins, the vegetables and the dipping sauce.

Old House is all about a broth made both numbing and spicy (ma la) with Sichuan peppercorns (not actually peppercorns at all, but rather prickly ash) and chili oil. For those who aren’t fans of spicy foods, there are three other options: chicken broth, tomato soup and a half-and-half option where diners can get two side-by-side pots of any of the three broths.

While I like dipping my grilled cheese sandwich in tomato soup just as much as the next guy, that’s where I draw the line. Skip that option at Old House. Instead, go for the half-and-half with ma la on one side and chicken broth on the other. The latter is a welcome change up and allows the diner to customize the heat level of the ma la to taste.

And about that heat level: It’s intense. Mild might be hot enough for most people. Medium is for those serious about their spice. Extra, on the other hand, is only for those with a serious heat addiction and in crying need of an intervention.

The next decisions are ingredients. Most hot pot places in town offer the usual suspects: Beef, pork

10 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

and lamb, as well as various soy product options and exotic selections (tripe, duck feet, liver, kidney, spam and more). Old House’s options, though, are more extensive. My favorite way to go was a combination of beef and lamb shoulder, beef tripe and fried soybean seedlings. The latter two each absorbed the flavor of the cooking broth in different and delicious ways. As for the vegetables, I again opted for a variety focusing on texture: winter melon, daikon as well as Chinese cabbage. Old House also offers a variety of pre-skewered ingredients that add extra variety.

MICHAEL A. GARDINER

Hot pot ingredients at Old House The most traditional dipping sauce for the proteins is a sesame paste. It works well largely because the rich, mild and sweet flavor of the sesame paste balances out the salty and spicy flavors of the broth.

But Old House’s sauce bar offers innumerable options: soy, vinegar, oyster sauce, sesame oil, chili paste and a lot more. A combination of chili paste, sesame oil, vinegar and soy works particularly well.

The biggest downside at Old House is the price.

Hot pot tends to be pricey and Old House is more expensive than most. But with the boost in price comes an increase in the quality of the broths, the ingredients and a wide variety of options across the board.

It is expensive, no doubt, but at the end of the day, it’s a small price to pay for the feeling of having been transported halfway around the world.

The World Fare appears weekly.

Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

@SDCITYBEAT

UP FRONT | FOOD & DRINK

BY BETH DEMMON

FINAL

DRAUGHT COURTESY OF MY YARD LIVE

The whole My Yard

T

here are few sweeter joys than drinking at home. It’s comfortable, it’s cheaper and I don’t have to awkwardly loiter outside the bathroom with my legs (and fingers) crossed when I have to pee. So when a soon-to-open spot claims to be inspired by backyard hangouts, the small socialable part of me can’t help but be intrigued.

My Yard Live (288 Rancheros Drive, myyardlive.com) in San Marcos seeks to unite the relaxed atmosphere of home with the community feel of a brewpub. It’s the latest large-scale endeavor aimed at attracting patrons of all ages—similar to venues like Bagby Beer Company or nearby Urge Gastropub & Common House. Of course, beer is a big part of the business model at My Yard Live, but head brewer Benjamin “Shaggy” Blaney is confident it’ll mesh with the food concept as well.

“We’re trying to make it more of an overall experience where everything is combined,” Blaney explains.

HALEY HILL

Benjamin “Shaggy” Blaney As a veteran of Mason Ale Works and The Lost Abbey, Blaney plans to do a lot of chef pairings, as well as collaborations with his former colleagues.

Blaney says there are already plans for collaborations with Setting Sun Sake, Thr3e Punk Ales Brewing Company, Chula Vista Brewery and Gravity Heights. He also hopes to incorporate live music into the My Yard Live experience, with plans for some band-inspired collaborations in the future.

Blaney admits that the “elevated brewpub”

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My Yard Live rendering model isn’t exactly a groundbreaking idea, but wants to take things to another level once My Yard Live officially opens its doors on July 1.

“The stuff we have is killer,” he promises, listing a wide range of styles he plans to brew from the start, including American IPAs, Belgian styles and German beers. “I’m not afraid to brew pretty much anything.”

“Working at Lost Abbey, I learned a lot about wild fermentation, sour stuff, barrel aging, so that’ll definitely get incorporated, but it will take a year or two,” Blaney continues. “But I kind of want to do everything.”

My Yard Live’s Type 75 license (California’s “On-Sale General Brewpub” license) allows them to sell beer, wine, spirits and beer for off-premise consumption. The only caveat is that My Yard Live must brew between 200 and 5,000 barrels of beer per year, but Blaney says that won’t be a problem for the 10-barrel brewhouse. Since the updated law now allows Type 75 licenses to sell beer togo, Blaney hopes to eventually increase the brewery’s packaging to include cans. For now, however, they’ll focus on simply meeting in-house demand, plus some to-go growlers and crowlers.

With a total capacity of around 500 people and live entertainment six days a week, My Yard Live will certainly be less private than my patio. But after talking to Blaney, I’m willing to bet the beer selection is a little bit better than my refrigerator.

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

JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 11

EVENTS

SHORTlist

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

SAN DIEGO

FULL BODIED

While tattoos and wine don’t have much in common, we do know that San Diego likes them both. Long gone are the stigmas when it comes to the former, and judging by the number of wine bars that have popped up over the last decade, the local appetite for the latter is right up there with sunshine and craft beer.

Two annual events, with a week’s worth of fun between them, aim to appeal to each crowd. The focus will be on organic, natural and sustainable product at Nat Diego, an annual, weekend-long event that emphasizes nonindustrial farming and ancestral practices of winemaking.

“Nat Diego is focused on the fun of drinking good wine with friends and it’s a unique opportunity to meet the talented people who are changing the way we enjoy wine,” says co-organizer Katie Fawkes-Moore, noting that patrons will “taste the difference.”

The third annual festival kicks off on Friday, June 28 with a series of seminars on producing natural wine at Vino Carta (2161 India St., Little Italy), followed by an opening party at The Rose in South Park (2219 30th St.) from 7 to 10 p.m. which includes tastings from women-run wineries. Saturday features a grand tasting event at Bread & Salt in Logan Heights (1955 Julian Ave.) from noon to 4 p.m. and then a closing party back at Vino Carta.

GASLAMP

MADELINE BARR PHOTOGRAPHY

Twenty-three years ago, Dr. Michelle Christie founded No Limits, a nationwide nonprofit organization for deaf children and their families. Next week, in a continuation of its grassroots efforts to raise awareness, No Limits will present Silent NO MORE, a theatrical documentary that features a series of live monologues. Ten cast members share their own struggles and victories of living with hearing loss. Highlights from the cast include five-time American Comedy Award nominee Kathy Buckley ������������������������ and acclaimed author Rebecca Alexander. Silent NO MORE will be in San Diego for one night only on Saturday, June 29 at 5 p.m. at the Lyceum Theatre (79 Horton Plaza). Stick around after the performance for a Q & A, meet and greet, and book signing with cast members. Tickets are $25. More info on nolimitsfordeafchildren.org.

COURTESY OF NO LIMITS

BOOKS HCarmen Maria Machado at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The writer will discuss and sign her critically lauded debut short story collection, Her Body and Other Parties, a finalist for the National Book Award.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 26. Free.

858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com

HSongs That Never Die at MCASD Downtown, 1001 Kettner Blvd., Downtown.

Artist Marnie Weber’s 2015 filmic installation about the Spirit Girls, a fictitious allfemale rock band whose members died tragically in the 1970s. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through Sunday, Oct. 27. Free-$10.

858-454-3541, mcasd.org

Nat Diego Full details and ticket prices (which range from $20 to $60) are at natdiego.com.

Started last year, the San Diego Tattoo Invitational aims to showcase some of the most talented artists in the industry, with over 150 inkers from all over the world scheduled to make an appearance.

The convention was started and is hosted by Full Circle Tattoo’s Bill Canales and includes workshops, booths and yes, on-site tattooing. It happens from 2 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 28, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29 and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 30 at the San Diego Golden Hall Concourse (202 C St.) in Downtown. Tickets range from $25 to $60 at the door and more info on the event and artists can be found at sandiegotattooinvitational.com.

SOUTH PARK

THE SILENT TREATMENT

ART HTo Do · A Mending Project at MCASD Downtown, 1001 Kettner Blvd., Downtown. A new workshop-based exhibition conceived of by artists Michelle Montjoy, Anna O’Cain, and Siobhán Arnold, and which is in response to the escalation of political, social, and economic tensions in the United States. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Through Sunday, Sept. 22. Free-$10.

858-454-3541, mcasd.org

HOT WATER There’s no doubt that the issue of water is one of the most underreported and contentious issues our state currently faces. The journalist, writer and son of Central Valley farmers, Mark Arax grew up understanding what a precious commodity water is and just how antiquated and potentially dangerous California’s distribution system can be. He explores this and the lives it affects in The Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California, his follow-up to the award-winning The King of California. His new book combines old-school reportage, history and memoir to tell the stories of those most affected by California’s water system, from the rich farmers to the day laborers. He’ll discuss and sign The Dreamt Land at an appearance at The Book Catapult (3010-B Juniper St.) on Thursday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m.

JOEL PICKFORD

HMore like a Forest: Paintings and Sculptures by Richard Allen Morris at MCASD Downtown, 1001 Kettner Blvd., Downtown. A reprisal installation of the local artist’s 1988 show, which featured Morris’ evocative sculptural work. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through Sunday, Oct. 27.

Free-$10. 858-454-3541, mcasd.org HChantal Wnuk at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., San Diego. The final viewing of painter and sculptor Chantal Wnuk’s new works, which were completed during her residency. From 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 27. Free. facebook.com/ events/450508005776267 The CADO: Pop-Up Avocado Museum Experience at The CADO at North City, 250 North City Drive, San Marcos. Step into a world dedicated to avocado culture with avocado-skinned walls, growingprocess explainer videos, photo-ops and more. Various times. From Thursday, June 27 through Saturday, Sept. 22. $14-$19. thecado.co Hillcrest Art Stumble at The Studio Door, 3867 Fourth Ave., San Diego. A self-guided tour that includes art pop ups, live music, food, drinks, and opportunities for discounts and gifts. Participating businesses include The Studio Door, Burger Lounge, Little Nap Café and more. From 6 to 10 p.m.

Friday, June 28. Free. thestudiodoor.com Krista Schumacher at La Playa Gallery, 2226 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla.

The palette-knife painter will present her “alla prima” abstract landscape paintings.

Opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 28.

Free. 858-454-6903, laplayagallery.com HSarah Day x Little Dame Pop-Up Shop at Little Dame Shop, 2942 Adams Ave., University Heights. A one-nightonly pop-up shop with pins, earrings, and keychains from Day’s “Good Omens” collection. From 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 28. Free. littledameshop.com HOf All Things at the ICE Gallery, 1955 Julian Ave., San Diego. The opening reception of Melissa Walter’s site-specific sculptural installation, a multi-faceted visual exploration of the theoretical omniverse.

Opening from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Free. icegallerysd.com Forging Territories: Queer Afro and Latinx Contemporary Art at the San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado, San Diego.

The summer exhibition, curated by Rubén Esparza, will feature LGBTQ artists working in a variety of mediums. Opening from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Free-$5. sandiego-art.org HParallel Screens at Porto Vista Hotel, 1835 Columbia St., Little Italy. The group exhibition, curated by Brunno Silva, presents a continuous series of moving image artworks via two screens in 120-minute intervals. Opening from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 3. Free. 1805gallery.com

Silent NO MORE 12 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

Mark Arax

H = CityBeat picks

Mark Arax at The Book Catapult, 3010B Juniper St., South Park. The awardwinning author and journalist will discuss and sign his new book, The Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California. From 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 27. Free. 619-795-3780, thebookcatapult.com M.G Wheaton at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The screenwriter and journalist will discuss his speculative fiction debut novel, Emily Eternal. At 2 p.m. Sunday, June 30.

Free. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Laura Lynne Jackson at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla.

The writer and self-proclaimed psychic medium will discuss and sign her new book, Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe. At 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 1.

Free. warwicks.com HDr. Karen Lord at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The internationally published novelist and a physics teacher will discuss and sign her new fantasy novel, Unraveling. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 3. Free.

858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com

COMEDY HStand-up Comedy at Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park. Jermaine Fowler from Sorry To Bother You and Superior Donuts will headline with featured comedian Marc Takemiya. From 8 to 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 26. $5. 619-284-6784, whistlestopbar.com

DANCE Hearts in Action at Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, Downtown. Dancers and transcenDANCE alumni weave contemporary, hip-hop and African dance with original spoken word and storytelling. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29. $15-$150. 619-474-4903, sdrep.org Welcome to Summer: The PGK DANCE Project Interactive Dance Event at The Arts Park @ Chollas Creek, 5010 Market St., Lincoln Park. Live performance showcasing a variety of dance styles including contemporary ballet, contemporary/modern, jazz, Afro-Caribbean, street dance and more. From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Free. thepgkdanceproject.org

FILM HLiyana Film Screening + Fundraiser at You Belong Here, 3619 El Cajon Blvd., Normal Heights. A screening of the part-documentary, part-animation film that explores the journey of five children from Eswatini with all proceeds funding Liyana’s Impact Programs. Sunday, June 30. $20. youbelongsd.com

FOOD & DRINK HTaste of Adam’s Avenue at various restaurants, Adams Avenue. Over 48 eateries in the area, varying from cafes to sushi joints, invite visitors to taste samples of their food. Wineries and breweries will also open their doors. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 30. $35-$40. 619-2827329, adamsavenuebusiness.com

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 @SDCITYBEAT

BOOKS: THE FLOATING LIBRARY

EVENTS EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

MUSIC Killer Queen at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. The Queen tribute band will perform some of the classic rock band’s greatest hits during this stop on their tour. From 7:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 27. $36.50-$46.50. 619-570-1100, sandiegotheatres.org HAmina Figarova Sextet at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla.

Acclaimed pianist Figarova brings her band to town as part of the Jazz at the Athenaeum summer concert series. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27. $25-$30. ljathenaeum.org Smooth Jazz Festival at Embarcadero Marina Park North, 400 Kettner Blvd., Downtown. The annual celebration of all things smooth jazz includes live music, a variety of cuisine and a family-friendly atmosphere. Artists include Boney James, Eric Darius, Norman Brown and more.

Various times. Friday, June 28 through Sunday, June 30. $65-$275. 619-3121212, smoothjazzsd.radio.com Star Spangled Pops at Embarcadero Marina Park South, 200 Marina Park Way, Downtown. Pay tribute to the nation’s history with patriotic favorites, tunes, familiar film soundtracks and Broadway blockbusters, followed by a fireworks display.

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29. $24-$101. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org Pitbull at San Diego County Fair, Del Mar Fairgounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. A live performance from the multiplatinum Mr. Worldwide on the Corona Grandstand Stage. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29. $53-$166. sdfair.com HJazz on Tap at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, Downtown. The annual jazz festival will feature Gilbert Castellanos, The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble and more with net proceeds benefitting Water For People’s safe drinking water programs. From 2 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 29. $10-$15. jazzontap.org Brit Floyd at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., Downtown. Special 40th Anniversary celebration of Pink Floyd’s iconic rock opera, The Wall, as performed by a Pink Floyd tribute band. From 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday June 29. $32.50-$62.50. sandiegotheatres.org HSan Diego Air Guitar Championships at The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., Hillcrest. Witness 20 of California’s best air guitarists battle it out to see who will move on to the national championship.

From 8 p.m. to midnight. Saturday, June 29. $15. usairguitar.com HAthenaeum Summer Festival at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall

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St., La Jolla. The 21st annual fest returns with celebrated pianist Gustavo Romero’s four-part concert series celebrating the music of legendary composer Beethoven.

At 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30 through Sunday, July 21. $40-$165. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org Play Ball: A Symphonic Celebration of The Padres at 50 at Embarcadero Marina Park South, 206 Marina Park Way, Downtown. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the San Diego Padres with a musical tribute to America’s favorite pastime. From 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday June 30. $20-$100.

619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org HDionne Warwick at San Diego County Fair, Del Mar Fairgounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. The legendary R&B singer of “Don’t Make Me Over,” Walk on By,” “Say a Little Prayer” and more will perform on the Corona Grandstand Stage.

At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 3. $18$128. sdfair.com

PERFORMANCE HThe Singing Bird Will Come at City Heights Library, 3795 Fairmount Ave., City Heights. An actor and puppet play by Molly Maslak, in collaboration with Twisted Heart Puppetwork, that deals in themes of love, power and not always getting what you want. At 8 p.m. Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29. Free. 619-850-2130, sandiegopuppetryfestival.org HIvan Amodei’s Secrets & Illusions at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp. Illusion showcase displaying the master illusionist’s signature style of thought-provoking vignettes, audience participation and storytelling. From 7:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 29. $45-$85. sandiegotheatres.org

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD HVAMP: Vámonos! At Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park. So Say We All’s monthly curated storytelling showcase, featuring nonfiction stories on a theme of “let’s go!” From 8:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 27. Free. sosayweallonline.com

Seeing red

I

’m a sucker for counterfactual narratives, stories set in worlds that resemble our own except for one crucial difference. Leni Zumas’s novel, Red Clocks, poses the question: What if abortion was once again illegal in the United States?

Zumas explores this terrifying, albeit narratively tantalizing, reality through the lens of five women who serve as the novel’s narrators and protagonists.

The Biographer is a teacher frantically trying to get pregnant before the ban on in-vitro fertilization goes into effect. The Mender is a midwife, herbalist and practitioner of non-traditional medicine who helps women terminate unwanted pregnancies. The Daughter, one of The Biographer’s students, serves as something of a stand-in for what a minor with no agency would experience when the government decides what she can and cannot do with her body. The Wife is stuck in a loveless marriage and fears she will one day act on the dark thoughts that creep into her mind.

The final protagonist is a little known artic explorer and scientist named Eivor Minervudottir whose study of pack ice, for better or worse, helped open the Northwest Passage. She’s also the subject of a book The Biographer has been working on for far too long, excerpts of which follow each chapter.

Although Eivor’s concerns at times feel distant and remote, they give The Biographer strength.

Various times. Through Thursday, July 4.

Free-$20. 858-755-1161, sdfair.com HNat Diego 2019 at various venues.

Taste and learn about natural wine, handmade and responsibly farmed wine without chemical additives. Includes parties, tastings and workshops. Various times.

Friday, June 28 through Saturday, June 29. $20-$60. natdiego.com

SPECIAL EVENTS

HSan Diego Tattoo Invitational at San Diego Golden Hall Concourse, 202 C St., Downtown. The second annual tattoo convention will showcase local, national and international tattoo artists, as well as offer workshops, booths and more. Times vary each day. From 2 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 28, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29 and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 30 $25$60. sandiegotattooinvitational.com

HSan Diego County Fair at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. It’s time again to ride some rides, play some games and, best of all, stuff your face with a bizarre variety of deep-fried food.

Pride Lighting Celebration at UC San Diego Medical Center, 200 W. Arbor Drive, Hillcrest. Celebrating the LGBTQ community and UCSD’s commitment to health care equality with live music by The San

HPalabra at La Bodega Gallery, 2196 Logan Ave., Barrio Logan. Featured poet Stacy Ardis Dyson will read poems with fellow poet Ted Washington hosting. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27.

Free. labodegagallery.com

Here she describes Eivor’s adventures in a lighthouse as a young girl: “During storms the polar explorer stood at the lantern gallery, holding its rail as if her life depended on it, because her life did. She loved any circumstance in which survival was not assured.”

Unlike novels that tackle similar territory, such as Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the women of Red Clocks deal with lousy jobs, economic uncertainty and partners who won’t pull their weight. Eivor, of course, is stuck in a century where America hurtles forward at dizzying speed.

Although much of this review concerns Zumas’s convincing portrayal of the present, this is something of a disservice to Zumas’s extraordinary prose.

Dystopian tales tend to get lumped into shadowy category between fantasy and speculative fiction, but Red Clocks is high art. The book won the 2019 Oregon Book Award and has been named to the longlist or is a finalist for other prizes.

Hopefully, Red Clocks will be remembered as a book that reminds us of the perils of pro-life fundamentalists who seek to police women’s bodies, and not as the proverbial canary in the coal mine for the wave of recent abortion bans infringing upon a woman’s right to choose.

—Jim Ruland The Floating Library appears every other week.

Diego Gay Men’s Chorus. From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, July 1. Free. health. ucsd.edu/pridecelebration San Diego International Organ Festival at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 2125 Pan American Road E., Balboa Park. Raúl Prieto Ramírez will perform a range of classical and popular music. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, July 1. Free. 619-7028188, spreckelsorgan.org

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS HArtist Talk: Lynn Schuette at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., San Diego. Visual artist Lynn Schuette, the founder of Sushi Performance and Visual Art, will be joined in a conversation with art educator Akiko Suria to discuss Shuette’s new exhibition, Warpaint. At 7 p.m. Thursday, June 27.

Free. breadandsaltsandiego.com The Future of San Diego Bay: A Community Discussion at Tijuana River Na-

tional Estuarine Research Reserve, 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach. Series of community discussions, public review and input about the future plans for San Diego Bay and the surrounding waterfront. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27.

Free. portofsandiego.org/pmpu HArtist Talk: Adam Belt at Quint Gallery, 5171-H Santa Fe St., Bay Ho. The local artist will discuss his new solo show, Almost There, which includes reflective paintings, sculpture, and wall and video installations that explore everything from god to the cosmos. At 11 a.m. Saturday, June 29.

Free. quintgallery.com

WORKSHOPS Jump/Cuts: Creative Playgrounds at A Reason To Survive (ARTS), 200 E 12th St., National City. Speakers and panels will showcase different creative industries, including culinary and entertainment. From noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Free with RVSP. pac-arts.secure.force.com

JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 13

THEATER JIM COX

Liking it

Old Globe’s Lowell Davies Festival Theatre in Balboa Park. $30 and up; theoldglobe.org

I

would imagine it’s easy for audiences to want to escape to the Forest of Arden, which is brought to life in the Old Globe’s new production of As You Like It. The pastoral setting, designed by Tobin Ost, is peaceful and even magical. The atmospheric lighting by Stephen Strawbridge is ideal for both the romance and the harmless intrigue of perhaps Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy. There’s also the original music by Obadiah Eaves, which helps evoke the lighthearted emotional intensities of the brazen, bold and hopelessly smitten characters. In short, this is a forest where it’s easy to believe in love at first sight.

As You Like It opens the Old Globe’s 2019 Summer Shakespeare Festival on the outdoor Lowell Davies stage. To direct, the Globe selected Jessica Stone, whose credits include a charming Barefoot in the Park last year and a cleverly conceived Ken Ludwig’s Robin Hood! �������������������������������� the year before, both in the intimate Sheryl and Harvey White space. This is Stone’s first time directing Shakespeare, and she has just the right touch. This As You Like It is as heady and exhilarating as first love without ever turning silly.

Its tale is much told: Young Rosalind (Meredith Garretson) is banished from the Duchy of her uncle, who has usurped her father (both Dukes are portrayed by

14 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

—David L. Coddon

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

OPENING: The Wind in the Willows: The adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved children’s book about Mr. Toad and his woodland friends. Presented by Trinity Theatre Company, it opens for three performances on June 28 at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center in Downtown. trinityttc.org Silent NO MORE: Nonprofit No Limits presents this theatrical documentary that features a series of live monologues from series of cast members who have been affected by hearing loss. It happens June 29 at the Lyceum Theatre in the Gaslamp. nolimitsfordeafchildren.org

As You Like It Cornell Womack). Rosalind has already met and fallen for the dashing gentleman Orlando (Jon Orsini), and upon settling in the Forest of Arden with her cousin (Nikki Massoud) and Touchstone the jester (Vincent Randazzo), she again encounters Orlando, who has fled his own home. After Rosalind learns of Orlando’s love for her, she disguises herself as a gentleman and, naturally, delightful complications ensue.

Besides Garretson, who brings tremendous charisma to her role, the Globe cast

features Mark H. Dold, stealing moments as the melancholy Jaques. It is he who famously observes that “all the world’s a stage” and “all the men and women merely players.”

Given this play and Romeo and Juliet— the other Shakespeare offering that will be produced on the Festival Stage beginning in August—summer at the Old Globe could be considered something of a “Summer of Love” and that’s worth celebrating.

As You Like It runs through July 21 in the

The Luckiest: Melissa Ross’ world premiere play about an acclaimed mixologist who must confront her past after a dire medical diagnosis. Directed

by Jaime Castañeda, it opens June 30 at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre at the La Jolla Playhouse. lajollaplayhouse.org Rock of Ages: A musical about a young rocker who falls for a small-town transplant amongst the decadence of the Sunset Strip hair metal scene of the ’80s.

Presented by Cygnet Theatre Company and featuring music from big name acts of the decade (Bon Jovi, Styx, Whitesnake, etc.), it opens in previews July 2 at the Old Town Theatre. cygnettheatre.com

For complete theater listings, visit sdcitybeat.com

@SDCITYBEAT

@SDCITYBEAT

JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 15

ALLISON DAVIS

CULTURE | MUSIC

San Diego Resistance Revival Chorus alfway through our conversation, San Diego Resistance Revival Chorus co-founder Siena Beacham says the group has to sing at least one song before the end of our interview.

“I want to be free / So free / Like a feather blowing through the breeze,” the four leaders sing. They fill the small conference room where we meet with Beautiful Chorus’ “Pachamama.”

The San Diego chapter of the Resistance Revival Chorus uses singing as a form of political activism while maintaining, according to its leaders, the “spirit of joy and resistance.” The group is just six months old, yet it’s quickly creating a community for like-minded individuals in the region.

Gris Alves is the group’s leader, Beacham and Sarah Knapp are the co-founders of the group, and Monique Sanderlin is the group’s music director.

I meet them for coffee early in the morning and after listening to them speak, it’s undeniable that the women at the helm of this chorus are passionate and dedicated—giving a voice to the different social, human rights, gender and environmental causes in San Diego.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the election and presidency of Donald Trump were the main impetus behind the formation of Resistance Revival Chorus (RRC). The original chorus was a group of seven women in New York City who decided to bring joy to the resistance and founded the RRC. A performance at Times Square launched them into the spotlight and, since then, they have performed across the United States and at the Grammys.

New York’s chorus was welcoming to the idea that their movement could be replicated across the country and, slowly but surely, RRC chapters popped up in Boston, Massachusetts, Riverside, California, and more.

Knapp says she was drawn to the idea of creating a chapter in San Diego, and after recruiting San Diego native Beacham and longtime social justice singer Alves, everything slowly fell into place.

There are currently 28 members who range from 20-to55 years of age. The group is made up of multigenerational, multilingual and interfaith members. While RRC is known as an all-woman chorus, Knapp jokes it’s really just anyone

16 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

who does not identify as a cis-man.

Sanderlin says it’s significant to have members who don’t identify as cis-men because they are often hesitant to share their truth.

“Even though we each have different backgrounds growing up, there have been a lot of people in the group who, because they are not cis-men, identify with this voicelessness at some point in their life,” Sanderlin says. “Their voice either being taken from them or them feeling like it was shut down. It’s really significant to see people completely become themselves.”

ANDREA LOPEZ-VILLAFAÑA

San Diego Resistance Revival Chorus leaders from left: Monique Sanderlin, Sarah Knapp, Siena Beacham and Gris Alves The first time the group met officially, it was a small gathering of a few people at Alves’ South Park home. The next week it was 10 and, as word spread and more members joined, the group grew.

The chorus’ mission resonated with Mexican born Alves who had been a part of several social justice bands in Tijuana in the early ’90s. Alves says that after meeting the members for the first time, she felt there was a purpose again for her to dive back into music.

“It was like ‘OK we have voices again,’” says Alves, adding that it was almost like she was transported back to her early 20s.

The chorus held its first large performance on May 26 at Bread & Salt in Logan Heights. Beacham remembers they were so nervous because they worried no one would show up. At the very least, they expected 25 people to show up, she jokes.

To their surprise, there were 250 people in attendance.

“As we started singing it was just, it wasn’t even about us anymore,” says Sanderlin. “Us not having to worry about how our voices sound or how people are receiving it because you could tell that everyone was kind of in a space of healing.”

Like the New York group, the values of the San Diego RRC are to resist the things that oppress by using music to heal and bring joy. Their focus so far has been to raise money for specific organizations. The group raised over $1,600 for the San Diego chapter of the Women’s Prison Yoga Project at the Bread and Salt show. They will perform next with the National Performance Network in Barrio Logan on Monday, July 22.

The New York chapter has laid a lot of the groundwork that the San Diego chapter looks up to and replicates. Still, they refer to their approach as “punk rock” because they are doing everything themselves without letting their age, professional background or education hold them back.

“We’ve had this kind of fearlessness of, well, punk rock— let’s do it and along the way we are figuring out what works, what does not work. And it is hard and it is beautiful,” says Knapp. “Everyone is inherently qualified by the contents of their souls, not their resume or education. We’ve discovered just how easy it is to DIY a chorus in a community.”

Aside from their dedication to helping other organizations, the chorus has served as a healing experience for each member. It’s given them an opportunity to belong, to feel strength and serve as a light when it often feels like the world is dark.

Co-founder Beacham believes that one of the reasons the chorus resonates with people is because they resist with joy.

“I think people might be exhausted by the cycle of negativity,” says Beacham in reference to the news, social media or the country’s political climate. “We’ve decided that is our main form of resistance as a group is to cut that negativity and to just say I am light and to sing about who we know ourselves to be. Always affirming that we are enough and that we have the power to change.”

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CULTURE | ART

SEEN LOCAL

ANDREA LOPEZ-VILLAFAÑA

Chicano Art Gallery

ADIOS, CHICANO ART GALLERY

D

ozens of people filled Chicano Art Gallery earlier this month during the self-guided art crawl in the Barrio Logan Arts District. This time, however, the focus was not solely the art hanging from the bright red walls. Friends, family and supporters of the gallery were there to say goodbye.

Chicano Art Gallery founder and local artist Cesar Castañeda decided to close the gallery after his rent was more than doubled this month. He announced the news by posting on Facebook that the Barrio Art Crawl show on June 8 would be the last show for the gallery.

ISRAEL CASTILLO

Cesar Castañeda “It’s been a real honor to be part of something truly magical,” wrote Castañeda on Facebook ahead of the final show.

“I’ve had a few other instances where I felt it was time to throw in the towel, but this was the straw to break the gallery’s back,” Castañeda wrote in an email to CityBeat.

Castañeda grew up in the neighborhood and always craved being involved in the arts community although he wasn’t always sure how that involvement would manifest. Chicano Art Gallery, which opened in 2013, was known for showcasing the work of talented up-and-coming Chicanx artists, as well as hosting lo-

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cal artisans and merchants outside of the gallery during the Barrio Art Crawl.

Locals familiar with Castañeda’s involvement in the community, as well as his role in creating a strong arts presence that remained true to the neighborhood’s roots, were saddened by the news. Several expressed their gratitude toward his work in the community as one of the many “pillars” that helped revitalize the neighborhood.

Barrio Logan is changing, however, and with that change comes the rise in rent, which has certainly impacted business owners in the neighborhood.

In October of last year Mesheeka, the gallery two doors down from Chicano Art Gallery, announced it was leaving Barrio Logan. It was open for three years and closed, as the owners put it on Instagram, after being “gentrified out of Barrio Logan.”

The monthly Barrio Logan Flea Market will also no longer occur at the vacant lot next to Por Vida coffee shop on Logan Avenue, so as to make room for a proposed mixed-use building that would include art studios, retail, office and gallery space.

“For a moment there, I was gonna [sic] just close and disappear because I was so bummed out,” Castañeda said. “But the youth must know that we must not be ashamed of things like this. We must be strong and move forward with grace.”

The decision to close was hard, and although saddened, Castañeda said he wants this experience to serve as a lesson.

“I want people to know what happened here,” wrote Castañeda. “The hard truth. I hope it will inspire people that are in a position where they can invest in property here that are not greedy people and think only on how much money they can make from us. Someone that carries the community in their heart. And that sincerely cares about something besides their wallet.”

Locals continue to raise concerns about the area becoming increasingly gentrified, which they say is squeezing out residents and business owners. In response to those concerns, local activists and business owners plan to hold a protest at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, at Chicano Art Gallery to call for the end of the Barrio’s gentrification.

—Andrea Lopez-Villafaña JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 17

CULTURE | FILM COURTESY OF THE FILM ARCADE

To be Frank

Being Frank

Jim Gaffigan does double dad duty in the new 1990s-set comedy

by Glenn Heath Jr.

I

t seems likely that just about any rebellious teen- face. Gaffigan’s Frank only shows his truly desperate ager would embrace the opportunity to blackmail self when the threat of being found out becomes intheir overbearing parents. Doing so would dramat- evitable. The other performances are pedestrian and ically shift the balance of power and open up clearer cookie-cutter, except for Alex Karpovsky’s god-level turn as Lewis’ pot smoking, hot dog-eating wreck of pathways for behaving badly.

Such a scenario isn’t so clear-cut in Being Frank, an uncle Ross, who, unlike Frank, has been the victim director Miranda Bailey’s guileless comedy in which a of a cheating wife.

This is where Being Frank’s assessment of infidelbig little lie quickly spirals out of control.

Set in the early 1990s, high school senior Philip ity becomes problematic. Despite living and breath(Logan Miller) just wants to play his guitar and attend ing egregious falsehoods, Frank never finds himself in college at NYU, but his strict father Frank (Jim Gaf- the same depressed predicament as Ross, even after figan) has different plans. During a mock interview he’s lost everything. Even the final scene is supposed meant to prepare Philip for summer employment, to be a scathing rebuke of Frank’s actions, but ends with him smiling at the sound of Frank belittles his son’s interPhilip playing guitar. ests while stressing the imporBailey’s film ultimately feels tance of hard work. With somelike a misguided attempt to one like this for a patriarch, it’s BEING FRANK complicate male entitlement by no wonder the kid wants to esDirected by Miranda Bailey humanizing it. Frank’s big emocape to the skuzzier pastures of Starring Jim Gaffigan, Logan Miller, tional speech to Philip about how Manhattan. he got caught up in such an elabBiding his time, Philip settles Samantha Mathis and Anna Gunn orate untruth comes across as for a clandestine weekend road Rated R convenient and hackneyed, and it trip of debauchery with best mistakenly fortifies the assumpfriend Lewis (Daniel Rashid). tion that parent’s are infallible Spring break at the nearby lake but inherently good even when beckons, but before the partying (and teenage film tropes) can begin, Philip spots his their actions prove otherwise.

It’s also weirdly fascinating that Being Frank paints father visiting an unknown girl when he’s supposed to be traveling for business in Japan. The breadcrumbs the rage and betrayal felt by both Bonnie and Philip’s of Frank’s deception reveal that he’s been leading a mom, Laura (Anna Gunn), as simply reactionary and double life, juggling two different families for nearly not worthy of serious consideration. The feelings of impacted children (outside of Miller’s character) are 20 years.

Being Frank lazily plays with the idea of Philip also an afterthought, sent spiraling into a cruel stage using Frank’s secret as leverage, but the characters of self-doubt that’s of no interest to the overall story.

Despite ample potential for black comedy, Bailey aren’t mean-spirited enough to carry this thread through to its naturally destructive conclusion. What and scriptwriter Glen Lakin refuse to darken the film’s transpires instead is a mixture of screwball misdirec- tone, and Frank’s comeuppance ends up feeling like tion and melancholy, the latter being felt mostly by a slap on the wrist. This turns Being Frank (opening Philip after he convinces Frank’s other wife Bonnie Friday, June 28) into more of a television sitcom than (Samantha Mathis), confident daughter Kelly (Isabelle a scathing character study. This is unfortunate since a Phillips) and hunky jock son Eddie (Gage Polchlopek) lie of this magnitude creates ripples of psychological that he’s a long lost family friend visiting from out of and emotional destruction that deserve a nasty reckoning. Like Philip, the filmmakers feel just fine being town.

Philip immediately notices double standards re- Frank’s accomplice. garding Frank’s parenting style with each family, and Miller’s performance works best when immense feel- Film reviews run weekly. ings of disappointment creep across his perplexed Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com

18 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

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CULTURE | FILM COURTESY OF JANUS FILMS

Paris is Burning

Walk the walk

O

ne of the seminal American documentaries on sexuality and race, Paris is Burning embeds itself in the world of competitive “balls,” elaborate drag competitions staged by Harlem’s LGBTQ community in the late 1980s. Now, thanks to Janus Films, Jennie Livingston’s defiantly vivacious film returns to the big screen with a gorgeous new restoration.

Transcending the time period’s stigmatizations surrounding homosexuality, Paris is Burning feels freed from all fear and stereotypes.

It weaves together clamorous footage from the balls themselves with candid interviews of key participants, most of them leadership figures of “houses” (described by one performer as “gay street gangs”) that dominate the ball circuit.

Like many great works of nonfiction, Livingston’s film melds macro themes (identity, opportunity) with micro portraitures of the people that embody them. Confessions by old-time performers like Dorian Corey and Kim Pendarvis give the viewer some history on how the balls evolved over time, while younger cohorts embrace the immediacy and excitement of finding a safe collective space to exist.

At times intimate and raw, Paris is Burning tries to capture the powerful essence of walking the floor to thunderous cheers and sometimes boos. “In a ballroom, you can be anything you want,” says Corey. By living and breathing these words, each performer inherently challenges the norms of a moment in American history where capitalism was running amok, and people of color were not afforded the same opportunities for expression, education and employment.

But Livingston’s film isn’t naïve to the dangers of being queer, strong and free. During a gutting epilogue that takes place in 1989, Paris is Burning (opening Friday,

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June 28, at Digital Gym Cinema) informs the viewer that one subject who dabbled in sex work was brutally murdered by an unknown John for being gay. Even the strongest community institutions and most rousing films aren’t immune to tragedy.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

OPENING Annabelle Comes Home: The evil doll possessed with evil spirits returns to wreak more havoc on the daughter of famed paranormal investigators. Opens Friday, June 28, in wide release.

Being Frank: Set in 1992, this comedy stars Jim Gaffigan as a man whose secret bigamy is threatened when one of his teenage sons finds out he’s been hiding an entirely different family. Opens Friday, June 28, at Angelika Film Centers Carmel Mountain and Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas.

Paris is Burning: Released in 1990, Jennie Livingston’s seminal documentary examines the vibrant drag queen scene in 1980s Harlem. Opens Friday, June 28, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

The Spy Behind the Plate: A documentary about Jewish baseball player Moe Berg, who lived a secret life as a spy and worked tirelessly to stop the German atomic bomb program during WWII. Opens Friday, June 28, at the Landmark Ken Cinema.

The Wandering Soap Opera: Shot in 1990 but only completed after director Raul Ruiz’s death, this satire looks at Chilean life as different but interconnected soap operas. Opens Friday, June 28, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Yesterday: Director Danny Boyle’s musical comedy about a young singer who wakes up one day and realizes he’s the only one who knows the iconic music of The Beatles. Opens Friday, June 28, in wide release.

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

JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 19

JAVIER REVUELTA LEON

MUSIC

Javier Escovedo hen Javier Escovedo’s first band, The Zeros, won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for Lifetime Achievement, Wayne Kramer of Detroit legends MC5 was there to present it to them. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Joan Jett, as well as John Doe of X, also paid their respects (via video message) to the punk quartet Escovedo founded in 1976 while attending Chula Vista High School.

In March of this year, The Zeros played a month-long run of successful European dates, which, surprisingly, included their first-ever shows in the UK. At London’s Shacklewell Arms, none other than Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore was in the house to see the band make their long-awaited debut in the British capital. After the show, Moore posed for a picture with current Zeros bassist Victor Penalosa and took to social media to enthusiastically declare, “The Zeros blew the roof off the place” and “Chula Vista punk rock forever!”

It was quite the exclamation point on an already impressive list of endorsements, especially given that The Zeros broke up in 1980 and have reunited only a few times over the years. They didn’t even release a studio album while they

20 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

were together, although they did repackage previously released singles for 1999’s Right Now. For The Zeros’ frontman, however, the trip overseas served as something far more important.

“It was incredibly inspiring,” Escovedo told CityBeat in a recent interview. “So much so, that after the tour with the Zeros was over, I stayed in Spain. I did 11 more solo dates with some European musicians I knew over there. And it really lit a fire in me.”

Escovedo has spent the weeks following his return to the U.S. fanning those flames and pouring over a follow-up to 2016’s Kicked Out of Eden, the second album released under his own name. His first, 2012’s City Lights, marked the singer, guitarist, and songwriter’s initial bid to shoulder the creative load entirely on his own.

When the Zeros first split in 1980, Escovedo relocated to Austin, Texas, and founded the band True Believers with his brother, Alejandro. They enjoyed a solid, five-year run in the mid-80s and recorded their self-titled debut with renowned producer Jim Dickinson. EMI Records subsidiary EMI America eventually picked up their second album.

Unfortunately, Universal’s Manhattan Records absorbed

EMI America and that sophomore album was shelved. The band was long broken up when the album finally got released as part of a 1994 Rykodisc reissue of their debut.

So even though it took Escovedo a couple of decades, City Lights was a reconciliation of The Zeros’ punk immediacy and the True Believers’ country-tinged rock. It also served as a way for the veteran musician to finally move forward independently. And now, it seems he has cracked his own code on a proper follow-up to Kicked Out of Eden.

“I have so many songs recorded,” says Escovedo. “I just really want the next album to be a complete, full statement.

It’s important to me to have the thing together as a whole.

And now I have a total direction to it. Of course, I’ve said that about four times so far. But I really do think this is it.”

While there is no immediate timetable for the release of his third solo effort, Escovedo feels like he’s currently at one of the highest creative points in his more than 40-year career.

The Zeros are also back for more than just a short reunion this time. They have a new single, “In The Spotlight,” set for release on Spanish label Munster Records. The band, which still features founding drummer Baba Chenelle, also has a new full-length album in the works.

“We’ve done some recording,” Escovedo says. “And that’s been a great way for us to feel valid again. We’ve been playing the new single in our live set and have been getting an amazing response. So we want to put out a new record as soon as we can. We just have to go back into the studio and finish it.”

That Zeros album will ultimately depend on what happens with Escovedo’s new solo record, which he continues to finish while actively looking for a label that might want to pick it up.

“This is my third one,” he says. “And it might sound funny, but the records always tell you what they want to be.

Finally, I feel like the playlist is right. All I can do now is play around and see what shakes.”

In addition to the local shows currently on the books, Escovedo’s set to make a seven-date solo run in Texas this September. And if everything works out the way he’s planning it, there’s a real possibility the bandleader could be juggling shows for two different bands, both with new records, in the very near future.

“I want to be busy,” Escovedo says. “I see other artists doing it, how busy they are, and I get inspired by that. So I tell myself to just go for it and try to do as much as I can.

Writing songs is the best thing for me and I love doing it. So why not?”

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JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 21

BY RYAN BRADFORD

MUSIC

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO

THE

SPOTLIGHT EBRU YILDIZ

figure out what’s going on with that child. These children are starting to sing and, from there, moving on to speech. And the reason it’s happening is because the melodies and the rhythms and the lyrics are repeated and predictable.”

The first of the two NEA-supported conferences, titled AMASE asked about the recent news that the nonprofit she founded in 1998 recently received a coveted grant from the National En- (Adaptive Music for Achievement in Special Education) will take dowment for the Arts (NEA). The $20,000 grant, the first for the place on June 28 and 29 at the San Diego County Office of Education (interested educators can register at guitarMission Valley-based Guitars in the COURTESY OF JESSICA BARON sintheclassroom.org).

Classroom (GITC), will go toward its Baron, who serves as NEA’s executive director, work creating musical programs for stugoes on to explain some of the more customized dents with special needs. Specifically, it aspects of GITC’s programming, such as adapted will go toward GITC’s “Adaptive Music instruments based on the children’s needs. For Trainings,” which help special education example, they may use rubber-shelving mats, or professionals—which includes teachers, “traction pads,” and plastic ukuleles for kids with paraprofessionals, specialists and theraspastic disorders. For children who have some sort pists—implement musical programming of paralysis or motor disability (cerebral palsy, for in their curriculum. Baron says GITC’s example), GITC has created custom instruments programs have been tested over time and and strumming plectrums that allow the child to the NEA grant serves as an acknowledgment that their work is worthwhile.

Guitars in the Classroom staff not only grip it, but also strum the instrument on their own.

“We have kids that are completely “Once they’re into making music they’re so turned on, they’re nonverbal who don’t sing words but they can articulate sounds,” explains Baron. “But they’re starting to strive for melody. And then so moved by the ability to create something beautiful,” says Baron. we have kids who are on the autism spectrum, who have been low- “And then all kinds of things start to change.” verbal or nonverbal… and the teacher has to work really hard to

LOCALS ONLY huge! It feels so good!” “ t’s Jessica “Jess” Baron can hardly contain her excitement when

I

ALBUM REVIEW Shades McCool Pretty Good Guy (Self-released)

R

ock stars are not really known for their sense of humor. Are they serious? Yes. Tortured? Yep. Vain? You better believe it. But funny? Not so much. There’s just too much posturing required in rock—too much guarded coolness. And to allow cracks in that facade would mean to compromise the mystique.

Put more simply, it’s tricky to be funny and also rock. If a band dives too deep into the funny pool, they risk becoming novelty (Tenacious D and Flight of the Conchords, for example); don’t commit enough and it’s just confusing (pretty sure Aquabats fit on this side of the spectrum).

Shades McCool, however, strikes that near-impossible balance between rock and comedy on their first full-length album, Pretty Good Guy. Fronted by Rob Crow collaborator Tony Gidlund, Pretty Good Guy confronts what it means to be a dude and also a musician in today’s culture, albeit from the point of view of an egomaniac. In

22 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

—Seth Combs

“I’m Not Playing Music Anymore,” Gidlund’s Shades McCool character dedicates an entire song to affirming his musical retirement on the presumption that people actually care. It’s fickle, lonely and human, but also a scathing indictment of musicians who resort to drama when their ROI starts to drop.

Shades confronts performative wokeness on the album’s title track, only to undermine it with his obliviousness (typical guy, amiright?): “I’m a good guy / I’m an okay guy / And my twitter profile / Is @WokeAlly69”. It’s the type of joke that we laugh at, if only to bury the crushing depression that comes from knowing too many people like Gidlund’s character. And perhaps it’s that vein of sadness that runs through Pretty Good Guy that keeps the album from feeling too silly. I never expected a song about croutons (“Custom Croutons”) to be depressing enough to make me both cringe and laugh.

The album is funny, yes, but it’s also catchy as fuck. Shades’ backing band (aka The Bold Flavors) melds punk, new wave and power-pop in ways that feel both nostalgic and new. And the album is also refreshingly brisk, clocking in around 30 minutes. So by the end of the album’s closer “San Diego National Anthem” (which montages all of San Diego’s famous car dealership jingles), we want to play it again.

—Ryan Bradford

Charly Bliss

B

y all accounts, Charly Bliss should not be a good or cool band. If I were to explain the elements I hear in their music, I don’t think it’d send anyone running to listen: Saturday morning cartoons, Renée Zellweger singing at the end of Empire Records, and maybe even the Josie and the Pussycats film. Not exactly inspirational fodder for a cool band and it actually makes them sound kinda nerdy.

Yet, Charly Bliss are a great band, and their album Young Enough—a follow up to 2017’s Guppy—is one of my favorites this year. This time around, they’ve toned down the overt grunge influences on Guppy, trading them in for clean production, faster tempos and the occasional synthesizer.

It’s a record of perfect pop gems where every song feels like it should be blasted in a van full of mischievous teens who’ve “borrowed” their mom’s wheels for the night.

Perhaps it’s the nerdy fun that makes Charly Bliss so subversive and delightful.

I mean, Weezer’s first album (another example of a perfect pop record) had songs about sweaters and playing Dungeons & Dragons, but coming off the dour tail-end of ’90s grunge, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Charly Bliss has the same effect.

It also doesn’t hurt that they’re also unapologetically sweet. On Young Enough’s first single, “Hard To Believe,” Eva Grace Hendricks sings, “I would rather eat than starve / I would rather kiss you hard,” and it feels as profound and eye-roll-y as something you’d say to a first love.

Charly Bliss plays Saturday, June 29 at The Casbah.

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MUSIC

IF I WERE U

BY CITYBEAT STAFF

Our picks for the week’s top shows

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26

PLAN A: Priests, Sons of an Illustrious Father, Blood Ponies @ Soda Bar. Washington D.C. trio Priests make danceable postpunk that reminds us of bands like Gang of Four and X-Ray Spex, but they’ve recently taken a more experimental, sometimes synthy approach on their new album, The Seduction of Kansas. Amazingly, they haven’t lost a step or a beat. PLAN B: Anderson .Paak, Earl Sweatshirt, Thundercat @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre. This is a fantastic lineup of hip-hop and R&B acts that readers should already be familiar with.

Anderson .Paak’s new album (Ventura) is on our shortlist for one of the best of the year and definitely show up early for the jazzfunk-rock stylings of Thundercat. BACKUP PLAN: Mastodon, Coheed and Cambria @ Petco Park.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30

PLAN A: Olivia Neutron-John, Adiós Mundo Cruel @ The Whistle Stop. Any band or musician that describes their sound as “post-bro” and “like Ian Curtis playing on the moon” certainly has our attention already, but the music of Washington, D.C.’s Anna Nasty (aka Olivia Neutron-John) is next-level synthy weirdness that needs to be heard. PLAN B: David Gray, Baby Moreno @ Copley Symphony Hall. Look, we know he’s not that popular anymore, but remember that time you made out to David Gray’s “This Year’s Love” in a parked car? Wait, you’re saying that never happened? Well, it did and it was quite intimate. BACKUP PLAN: Javier Escovedo, Hocus, Roger @ The Casbah.

NIKKO LA MERE

THURSDAY, JUNE 27

PLAN A: Leikeli47, Young Baby Tate @ The Irenic. Ever since she was first included on one of Jay-Z’s Tidal playlists back in 2015, the masked Brooklyn MC known as Leikeli47 has released one banger after another. From “Money” and “Miss Me,” to more recent tracks such as “Tic Boom” and “No Reload,” she’s one of the best in the game. BACKUP PLAN: Creeping Death, Fuming Mouth, Languish, Rod Of Correction @ SPACE.

FRIDAY, JUNE 28

PLAN A: The Schizophonics, Hammered Satin, Mittens, Alvino and the Dwells @ The Casbah. Is there a better local live act than psych-garage rockers The Schizophonics? Hmmm… probably not. PLAN B: Boan, All Your Sisters, Panther Modern @ Whistle Stop. We really liked what we saw when we caught L.A.-based electro duo BOAN opening up for Sextile last December.

They play dark and sexy electro-pop songs for the disaffected heavy eyeliner set. BACKUP PLAN: New Crimes, The Gay Agenda, Artowar and Escorts @ Ken Club.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

PLAN A: ‘Magic 92.5 Summer Jam’ w/ War, Cameo, Cherelle and more @ Pechanga Arena. Pre-game in the parking lot and then go groove out to a bunch of old-school jams like “Word Up,” “Candy” and “Low Rider.”

PLAN B: Charly Bliss, Emily Reo @ The Casbah. Check out this week’s Spotlight section where our web editor gushes over Brooklyn quartet Charly Bliss, who are all about those feel-good, power-pop jams that feel like a breath of fresh air in these troubled times. BACKUP PLAN: Mimi Zulu, Miki Vale, Queen Be @ Til-Two Club.

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Leikeli47

MONDAY, JULY 1

PLAN A: Faun Fables, Bonfire Madigan @ Soda Bar. Look, we’re gonna be honest; the music of Oakland’s Faun Fables ain’t for everyone. Even they describe it as “art-witch songtelling” and it’d probably fit right in as background music for a couple of jousters at the Renaissance Faire. But frontwoman Dawn McCarthy’s voice is gorgeous and majestic. BACKUP PLAN: The Spits, WIDOWS, Therapy @ The Casbah.

TUESDAY, JULY 2

PLAN A: Ginger Cowgirl, Farm Truck, Alice Wallace @ The Casbah. Two great woman-fronted country acts on one night.

Alice Wallace crafts strikingly touching ballads, but we’re really impressed with the more up-tempo jams of Nashville’s Ginger Girl. “It Was Love” is the summertime breakup jam we’ve been craving and “Douchebag Benny” is a hilarious sendup of fuckboys everywhere. BACKUP PLAN: Distressor, blankouts, hug, RacketGirl @ Soda Bar.

JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 23

MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Distressor (Soda Bar, 7/2), King Whisker (Soda Bar, 7/10), Malt Couture (Casbah, 7/18), Emo Nite (Casbah, 7/19), Le Saboteur (Casbah, 7/29), Lucifer (Brick

By Brick, 8/13), Devotchka (Music Box, 8/14), The Routine (Casbah, 8/14), Beach Goons (The Irenic, 8/23), Martin Campbell & Al Campbell (Music Box, 8/24), Tony Bennett (San Diego Civic Theatre, 9/14), Clubz & Girl Ultra (Casbah, 9/16), Methyl Ethel (Casbah, 9/17), The Regrettes (Music Box, 9/19), Yungblud (Observatory, 9/19), !!! (BUT, 9/26), Pink Sweat$ (Music Box, 9/27), Soulfly (Brick By Brick, 9/28), Cigarettes After Sex (Observatory, 10/5), Godsmack (Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, 10/15), Chelsea Wolfe (Observatory, 10/18), Black Pumas (Soda Bar, 10/25), Frankie Cosmos (Ché Café Collective, 11/13), Cold War Kids (Observatory, 11/15), Cautious Clay (HOB, 11/22).

ALL SOLD OUT Sticky Fingers (HOB, 6/30), The English Beat (BUT, 7/5), The Chats (Soda Bar, 7/9), The Struts (Observatory, 7/12), Billie Eilish (Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, 7/13), Jeff Bridges (BUT, 8/6), The Psychedelic Furs (Observatory, 8/6), Death Cab For Cutie (Observatory, 8/9-10), Touché Amoré (Ché Café Collective, 8/13), Orville Peck (Casbah, 8/15), David Grisman (BUT, 8/29), Queen Nation (BUT, 8/30), The Marshall Tucker Band (BUT,

9/12), Oliver Tree (Observatory, 9/18) MXMTOON (HOB, 10/2), Jonas Brothers (Pechanga Arena, 10/7), Morcheeba (BUT, 10/13), Tyler Childers (Observatory, 10/15), Two Door Cinema Club (Observatory, 11/8), Built To Spill (Casbah, 11/14).

GET YER TICKETS Zedd (OMNIA, 7/3), Porter Robinson (OMNIA, 7/19), Pouya (HOB, 7/23), Lil Jon (OMNIA, 7/26), Blink-182, Lil Wayne (North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, 8/7), Kacey Musgraves (Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, 8/27), Andy Grammer (HOB, 9/2), Carrie Underwood (Pechanga Arena, 9/10), Tony Bennett (San Diego Civic Theatre, 9/14), Yungblud (Observatory, 9/19), Cigarettes After Sex (Observatory, 10/5), The Who (Viejas Arena, 10/16), Judah & The Lion (Observatory, 10/17), Senses Fail (HOB, 10/19), Hozier (Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, 10/26), Helmet (BUT, 11/7).

CANCELLED Ozzy Osbourne (North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, 7/23).

JUNE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26 Priests at Soda Bar. Mini Mansions at The Casbah. Indigo Girls at Humphreys.

Anderson .Paak at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27 Rooney at Soda Bar. Okkervil River at

24 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

The Casbah. Half*Alive at Music Box. Warish at Belly Up Tavern.

FRIDAY, JUNE 28 Led Zepagain at House of Blues. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Humphreys. The Lost Monarchs at Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Yachtley Crew at Music Box. The Bones of J.R. Jones at Soda Bar. Burritos - A Tribute to Sublime at Belly Up Tavern.

The Schizophonics at The Casbah.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29 The Winehouse Experience at Music Box. Charly Bliss at The Casbah.

Smokey Robinson at Del Mar Fairgrounds. Through The Roots at Observatory North Park. Ginger Root at Soda Bar. Gasolina Party at House Of Blues.

Thread the Lariat at Brick By Brick.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30 David Gray at Copley Symphony Hall.

Los Tigres del Norte at Del Mar Fairgrounds. Tubulars at Soda Bar.

MONDAY, JULY 1 The Spits at The Casbah. Faun Fables at Soda Bar.

TUESDAY, JULY 2 Trace Adkins at Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Distressor at Soda Bar.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3 80’s Heat at Belly Up Tavern. Ceremony at The Irenic. New Found Glory at House of Blues. Slum Village at Music Box. Futurebirds at Soda Bar. Zedd at OMNIA.

THURSDAY, JULY 4 The English Beat at Belly Up Tavern.

Beekeeper at Soda Bar. High Tide Society at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, JULY 5 Anuel AA at Viejas Arena at SDSU. Drug Hunt at The Casbah. Fuerza De Tijuana at Music Box. Amerikan Bear at Soda Bar. Helsott at Brick By Brick.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 Tainted Love at Belly Up Tavern. Six String Society at Music Box. The Convalescence at Brick By Brick. Earthless at The Casbah.

SUNDAY, JULY 7 Ian Anderson at San Diego Civic Theatre. Chuck Ragan at Belly Up Tavern.

Earthless at The Casbah. My Mynd at Soda Bar.

MONDAY, JULY 8 Amyl and the Sniffers at Soda Bar. Shawn Mendes at Pechanga Arena. Usnea at SPACE.

TUESDAY, JULY 9 Secret Fun Club at The Casbah.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10 Bob Schneider at Belly Up Tavern. Jon Bellion at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre. Guster at Humphreys. Nightmares on Wax DJ set at Music Box. Glitterer at Ché Café Collective. Vaya Futuro at The Casbah. King Whisker at Soda Bar.

THURSDAY, JULY 11 Tim Skold at Brick By Brick. Foghat at Belly Up Tavern. The Manhattan Transfer at Music Box. Xiuhtezcatl at House of Blues. XYLØ at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, JULY 12 The Silent Comedy at The Casbah.

Ward Davis at Observatory North Park.

Daniel Sloss at Balboa Theatre. Davilla 666 at Soda Bar. Phutureprimitive at Music Box. Mistresses of All Evil at Brick By Brick.

SATURDAY, JULY 13 Roni Lee at Brick By Brick. The B-Side Players at Belly Up Tavern. The Loons at Soda Bar. Spice Pistols at The Casbah.

Furrageous at Music Box.

SUNDAY, JULY 14 Jackie Mendoza at Soda Bar. Tower 7 & The Professors at Belly Up Tavern. The Havnauts at The Casbah.

MONDAY, JULY 15 No Knife at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, JULY 16 Hugh Jackman at Pechanga Arena. FEA at Soda Bar. The Hiroshima Mockingbirds at The Casbah.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17 Dylan LeBlanc at The Casbah. August Burns Red at House of Blues. The Appleseed Cast at Soda Bar. Atomic Groove at Belly Up Tavern.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

@SDCITYBEAT

BY CHRISTIN BAILEY

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 THURSDAY, JULY 18 Dressy Bessy at Soda Bar. Lunar Vacation at House Of Blues. Elizabeth Colour Wheel at SPACE. Paragraphs at Belly Up Tavern. Vince DiCola at Brick By Brick. Malt Couture at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, JULY 19 Why Don’t We at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre. Rick Braun at Humphreys. Thunderpussy at Belly Up Tavern. The Claypool Lennon Delirium at Music Box. Birdy Bardot at Soda Bar. Porter Robinson at OMNIA. Confide at Brick By Brick. Emo Nite at The Casbah.

SATURDAY, JULY 20 Beck at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre. Monsieur Perine at House of Blues. SuicideGirls at Music Box. Cigar at Soda Bar. Betamaxx at Belly Up Tavern. Chantel Jeffries at OMNIA.

SUNDAY, JULY 21 Infinite Floyd at Brick By Brick. Don’t Stop Or We’ll Die at Soda Bar. Jagwar Twin at The Casbah.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. Wed: Open Mic. Thu: ‘Bringing Back Rock ‘N’ Roll’. Fri: Fistfights with Wolves, Belladon, Blazing Jane. Sat: Bulevar Descarga. Sun: Karaoke. Tue: Trivia.

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

Thu: ‘SUBdrip’. Fri: ‘House Music Fridays’. Sat: ‘JUICY’. Sun: DJ Staci. Mon: ‘Organized Grime’. Tue: ‘Deep House Central’.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Thu: Arj Barker. Fri: Arj Barker. Sat: Arj Barker. Tue: Open Mic. The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Wed: Karaoke. Thu: Anita Cotas.

Fri: Bitter Kiddos, Paradise Drive, Lunar Garden, Benzine. Sat: Nuclear Tourism.

Sun: Rio Wiley. Mon: Trivia. Tue: Karaoke.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., Downtown.

Fri: Matroda. Sat: Junior Sanchez, Boys Don’t Disco, Paul Najera, Josh Lewis.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St., North Park. Sun: ‘Rat Sabbath’.

Beaumont’s, 5665 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Wed: Adam Knight. Thu: Slower. Sat: Red Headed Strangers.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Wed: Stepping Feet, Ryan Hiller, Rhythm & Rude. Thu: Warish, Featherston, Deathchant. Fri: Burritos: A Tribute to Sublime, Fluid Foundation, Sensi Trails. Sat: Dead Man’s Party, Wag Halen. Sun: The Chairman and the Board.

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington St., Mission Hills. Wed: ‘Dance Klassique’. Thu: Harvard Bass, Nathan Gorey, ADD!CT. Fri: ‘We Are Yr Friends’. Sat: ‘Chocolate’.

Sun: ‘Pleasure Chest’. Tue: ‘Techit Easy’.

Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave., Carlsbad.

Sat: Big Dude.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., Bay Park. Fri: Thread the Lariat.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

@SDCITYBEAT

ASTROLOGICALLY UNSOUND Weekly forecasts from the so-called universe ARIES (March 21 - April 19): This week, follow your most ridiculous whims to their most rational conclusions, but only with, of course, your accountant’s blessing.

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): If someone hands you a vial of poison, it’s not a compromise if you only swallow half of it. Compromise does sometime mean pretending to be happy when your dog brings you a dead bird.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): If you can dream it, you can do it!

Well, if you can’t dream it, then you won’t be worse for wear if you find out that you actually can’t do it. So it’s basically a non-issue.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Suffering is endemic to all human life.

Wait, isn’t that a great word? “Endemic?”

I really loved using it, I’d really like to end things there because your horoscope doesn’t get any better.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Don’t talk behind people’s backs, particularly if you don’t have enough sense to at least turn around to check if they’re actually standing right behind your back.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21): There are three certainties in life: finding love, losing love and page 79 of Finnegan’s Wake being the key to decoding the mysterious ciphers being left at your home.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Forget everything you thought you knew about armadillos this week.

Nothing against armadillos, it’s just probably not going to come up.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19): There is no way to know which problems can be solved by ignoring them and which will get worse by ignoring them, but the odds are about 50-50. It’s in your hands now.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): Reach out to old friends you haven’t heard from in a while and take the opportunity to tell them all about the different haircuts you’re thinking of getting.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Refrain from saying ”I told you so” to someone this week.

Saying it to the first 14 people is OK, but the potential 15th will surely appreciate your restraint.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): People will always try to tell you who you are. And yes, you may be “causing a scene” and scaring everyone at See’s Chocolate, but you are so much more than that.

PISCES (February 19 - March 20): Move through the world with a sense of childlike wonder, but without the childlike belief that HR departments are there to help you when they’re really there to help the company.

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

JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 25

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Midtown. Wed: Mini Mansions, Alexandra Savior. Thu: Okkervil River, Christian Lee Hudson. Fri: The Schizophonics, Hammered Satin, Mittens, Alvino & the Dwells.

Sat: Charly Bliss, Emily Reo. Sun: Javier Escovedo, Hocus, Roger!. Mon: The Spits. Tue: Ginger Cowgirl, Farm Truck, Alice Wallace.

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Bay Park. Fri: The Matt Smith Neu Jazz Trio, Peter Sprague. Sat: Matt Slocum Trio.

Sun: Lizzi Trumbore Quintet.

F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown. Thu: ‘TakeOver Thursdays’. Fri: XP. Sat: Dynamiq.

Sun: ‘Reggae Sundays’.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., Downtown. Fri: DJ Vision. Sat: ‘Take Flight Saturdays’.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Wed: The Moneymen Band. Thu: LIVE. Fri: Led Zepagain. Sat: Gasolina Party. Sun: Graham Gillot Band.

Humphreys Backstage, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. Wed: Clapton Hook. Thu: DJ Chuck. Fri: Full Strength Funk. Sat: Detroit Underground. Sun: Rosy Dawn Band. Mon: Casey Hensley.

Tue: Blue Largo.

The Irenic, 3090 Polk Ave., North Park.

Thu: Leikeli47.

Bogman. Fri: Subspecies, Bluenotes, The Abstracts. Sat: Sahara Grim, Kahlil Nash.

Mon: Open Mic. Tue: Comedy Night.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave., Coronado. Wed: Sophisticats. Thu: Jackson & Billy. Fri: Street Heart. Sat: In Midlife Crisis. Sun: Fish.

Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave., Hillcrest. Thu: Eliza Skinner.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., Hillcrest. Thu: ‘Anything Goes’. Sat: San Diego Air Guitar Championships. Mon: ‘Playground Monday Night Dance Party’.

Mother’s Saloon, 2228 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. Tue: Trivia.

Mr. Peabody’s, 136 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas. Thu: California Rangers. Fri: Ristband. Sat: The Chrome Domes. Sun: Tony Ortega Jazz Jam. Mon: Open Mic. Tue: Karaoke.

Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy. Wed: Free Nationals. Thu: Half Alive, Inspired, The Sleep. Fri: Yachtley Crew, Journeymen, Paging the ‘90s. Sat: The Winehouse Experience, Tori & the Hot Mess.

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

Wed: Karaoke. Thu: ‘Dig Deeper’. Fri: ‘Factory’. Sat: ‘Strictly Business’.

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 Sixth Ave., Downtown. Thu: ‘Undone on Thursday’. Fri: Cash Cash. Sat: DJ E-Rock.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., Midtown. Thu: Outlook Launch Party. Fri: ‘Summer Celebration’.

Panama 66, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park.

Wed: ‘The Wednesday Jam Session’.

Fri: Cardinal Moon. Sat: Walter Brothers.

Sun: The Garners.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave., Kensington. Sat: Puerto, Lung Butter, Midnight Track.

Parq, 615 Broadway, Downtown. Fri: YG. Sat: Laidback Luke.

Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Wed: Bogman. Thu:

26 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 26, 2019

Pour House, 1903 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside. Wed: Open Mic. Fri: Dark Alley Dogs. Sat: Oddball. Sun: Dirty

Dragon. Mon: Trivia. Tue: DJ Lexicon Devil.

Proud Mary’s, 5550 Kearny Mesa Road, Kearny Mesa. Wed: The Fremonts. Thu: Tomcat Courtney. Fri: Mercedes Moore.

Sat: Chris James & Patrick Ryann. Sun: Sue Palmer.

The Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest. Thu: ‘Country Dance’. Fri: ‘High Freakquency’.

Sat: ‘Sabados en Fuego’. Sun: ‘Noche Romantica’. Mon: Trivia.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave., Hillcrest.

Wed: ‘Mischief with Bianca’. Thu: ‘#LEZ’.

Fri: ‘Electro-Pop!’. Sat: ‘Bitch U Ready’.

Sun: ‘Discoteka’.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: Boss Jazz. Thu: Rebekkah Darling. Fri: The Swank Bastards.

Sat: Good Vibes.

Rosie O’Gradys, 3402 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Thu: DJ Dougie Frosh. Fri: My Mynd, Israel Maldonado. Sat: Baja Bugs. Mon: Rosie’s Jazz Jam. Tue: ‘Adams Gone Funky’.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: Priests, Sons of an Illustrious Father, Blood Ponies. Thu: Rooney.

Fri: The Bones of J.R. Jones, Stephen El Rey. Sat: Ginger Root, Mamalarky, Shindigs. Sun: Tubulars, The Industry, Squeaky Buddha, COMMN. Mon: Faun Fables, Bonfire Madigan. Tue: Distressor, blankouts, hug, RacketGirl.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway.

Fri: Summer Splash, Natural Disaster, Alternate Era, Jehlad & Friends, Street Surfers, Demi Daygo, Kay $.

SPACE, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights.

Wed: ‘Out in the Dark’. Thu: Creeping Death, Fuming Mouth, R.O.C., Languish.

Fri: Ascended Dead. Sat: ‘We Like To Par-

ty’. Mon: Fitness, Supplement, The Heavy Twelves, Skinny Veny & Milky Wayne, Psychopop.

Spin, 2028 Hancock St., Midtown. Fri: YokoO, Lonely Boy, Evan Casey, Laura Peck.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Wed: Paul Gregg. Thu: ‘Burlesque Boogie Night’. Tue: Trivia.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Sun: ‘Pants Karaoke!’.

Tin Roof, 401 G St., Downtown. Thu: Corey Gray & Jake Coco. Fri: DJ Chromatose. Sat: DJ Chromatose. Sun: Karaoke.

Mon: Lucky Devils Band. Tue: ‘Beats & Booze’.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., Bay Park. Wed: The Jazz Pocket Swing. Thu: The Rockin’ Aces. Fri: Laurie Morvan Band. Sat: Groove Mercenaries. Mon: ‘Sexy Salsa & Sensual Bachata’. Tue: Sue Palmer.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., City Heights. Thu: Immortal Synn. Fri: Death Eyes, Buildings, Grids. Sat: The Amalgamated, Marujah.

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

Thu: ‘BoomBox Thursdays’. Fri: DJ Kid Wonder. Sat: DJ Chris Cutz. Sun: Melapelus. Mon: ‘#31 Flavors’.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park.

Wed: Riff City Comedy. Fri: Boan, All Your Sisters, Panther Modern. Sat: ‘Booty Bassment’. Sun: Olivia Neutron-John, Adios Mundo Cruel. Mon: ‘Electric Relaxation’.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., Ocean Beach.

Wed: ‘Club Kingston’. Thu: Eldorado Slim. Fri: Shakedown String Band. Sat: The Oles, Ocean Natives, Rebel Shakedown, Strictly Skunk. Sun: Karaoke. Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Chris Jacobs Band.

@SDCITYBEAT

BY JACKIE BRYANT

IN THE BACK

CANNABITCH Baked Alaska

I

was walking around the small salmon fishing town of Cordova, Alaska (pop.

2,187) last week when I popped into a store. I was there for the week researching a story on wild salmon and since I was going to be away from home for a while, I stashed a Jetty Extracts cannabis oil cartridge and vape battery in my carry-on. And since the summer solstice was approaching, I also brought CBD gummies with melatonin to combat the near 24-hour sunlight and the sleep issues that came with it.

A bookcase next to the register displayed an impressive range of cannabis books—so vast that I asked the cashier, “What’s the deal with weed in Alaska?”

“It’s legal,” he replied.

“Like… legal, legal? Recreationally?” I asked, surprised.

“Yup. Just can’t get any in Cordova, though,” he confirmed.

Immediately, I remembered that on the back end of my trip I had a 10-hour layover in Anchorage. It’s the state’s largest city and where the majority of its people live. Usually there is nothing worse than a long layover when you’re just trying to get home, but now a unique opportunity had

@SDCITYBEAT

presented itself. I would go on a self-curated Alaskan dispensary tour!

So it was, a few days later, I hopped into an Uber at Anchorage’s airport and chatted with the driver, Patrick. He also operated tours of the area. Did I have time for a tour? Yes, I did. He told me his brother owned a cannabis farm in Redding, California and that he was an enthusiast himself, so I hired him on the spot.

Alaska’s history with weed cultivation is much different and more confusing than California’s. Thanks to a 1975 Alaska Supreme Court case, Ravin v. State, Alaskans have been able to possess up to four ounces for personal use in the home and up to one ounce outside of it. Medical cannabis was legalized in 1998, though dispensaries were not. Recreational use and dispensaries were legalized in 2014, but because the medical legislation never ushered in any kind of infrastructure, an industry had to be built from the ground up—dispensaries, grow operations, packaging, everything.

Years later, in 2019, Alaska’s pot industry is finally coming into its own. My first Anchorage stop was The House of Green (3105 Minnesota Drive, houseofgreenak. com), where a woman named Erica helped me out.

“Honestly, we have some dank stuff

here, but it’s probably nothing you haven’t had before, being from California.”

“Horseshit!” I said. “I’ve never had Alaskan weed before. Give me the best.”

I bought pre-rolled joints of two strains—a pine-scented hybrid called AK Cookies and Erica’s favorite, the Indicadominant Birthday cAKe (emphasis not mine). I also bought Baked Alaska topical salve with 100 milligrams of CBD and THC. I stopped at another dispensary, the hilariously-named Dankorage (2812 Spenard Road, dankorage.com). It appeared to have decent product but leaned heavily on its merch selection, which, I get it—Dankorage is a funny name, but I decided to bolt without buying anything.

While the selection at Alaska’s dispensaries is admittedly smaller than what one would find in California, it doesn’t matter.

The quality is there. Once I had my joints inhand, the same question remained as it does back home: Where could I legally smoke them? Alaska recently legalized on-site smoking, as long as the dispensary creates a space in a separate building with separate ventilation. That hasn’t come to fruition yet, but at least there’s a way forward.

Back home in San Diego, there is no such option, though our city leads the state in allowing dispensaries and testing fa-

JACKIE BRYANT

Dankorage cilities. Consumption lounges are legal in Oakland, Palm Springs, West Hollywood, San Francisco and Eureka, but they’re still only being considered in San Diego.

Patrick suggested we drive to a nearby glacier (this is Alaska, after all) and smoke while taking in the views. Anticipating three upcoming flights, I sparked up the body-friendly indica joint and settled in for one of the most majestic seshes of my life so far.

CannaBitch appears every week. Follow Jackie Bryant on Twitter at @jacqbryant.

JUNE 26, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 27