San Diego CityBeat • Jan 8, 2014

Urban concentrate Filmmaker Cy Kuckenbaker documents San Diego with an innovative technique • by Joshua Emerson Smith P. 18

Alvarez P.4 Jacumba P.6 Her P.19 Barbarian P.21

2 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

David Alvarez for mayor Wait, wasn’t the special primary election for mayor of San Diego just a few weeks ago? Seems like it, doesn’t it? Well, it’s almost time to vote again, this time in the runoff between candidates David Alvarez and Kevin Faulconer: Mail-in and early voting starts on Monday, Jan. 13.

When it comes to whom we’re endorsing, there ain’t much suspense. We endorsed Alvarez in the primary, and he’s still in the race, so he’s still our guy.

Whereas Nathan Fletcher and Mike Aguirre added shades of gray to the palate of options in the primary election, the remaining pair offers a stark choice. Alvarez and Faulconer are far apart in how they view the role of government and what sort of people would be invited into the room when it comes to making crucial decisions about the city’s future.

Despite being a Republican in a city where only 26.5 percent of registered voters identify as Republicans, Faulconer does his best to emulate San Diego. He smartly downplays his party affiliation, and during the primary election, his spokesperson bristled when Faulconer was called “conservative,” pointing out that Faulconer is socially liberal. Though, he hardly leads in that direction.

For example, it was just five years ago that Faulconer decided that gay and lesbian couples should have the same marriage rights as straight couples.

These days, Faulconer is your garden-variety economic conservative who wants to privatize government as much as possible and is hostile to people who need the most help. When he represented Downtown on the City Council, before the latest round of redistricting, he tried to get the city out from under a court order that barred police from ticketing homeless people for sleeping outdoors. There, he was doing the bidding of condo residents and business owners. More recently, he’s latched himself to the campaign to overturn a recently approved update to the Barrio Logan Community Plan. There, he’s doing the bidding of the ship-repair industry, which is at odds with working-class neighborhood residents.

We see Barrio Logan as a microcosm of the difference between Faulconer and Alvarez.

Faulconer’s willing to snub lower-income folks who’ve been fighting for decades for a more pollution-free life in favor of an industry that’s not in any

foreseeable danger under the approved plan—and in favor of a dubious trickle-down economic strategy in which wealthier folks are taken care of first and jobs and prosperity rain down on everyone else. He was also quick to make outrageous claims about severe job losses as a result of the plan, in order to bolster his position—claims that he’s since been forced to back away from. Faulconer’s all too willing to throw away a proper, painstaking, democratic land-use-planning process because some friends in high places in the business community didn’t love the outcome.

Alvarez, meanwhile, would lead from the bottom up. He’d make decisions based on what’s best for the middle class and those who are struggling to join it. As he’s shown in Barrio Logan, he’d have the backs of neighborhood residents when they need equal access to services or are up against powerful interests. He’d also be far better than Faulconer at forging a path toward a more sustainable and energy-efficient San Diego, and, unlike Faulconer, he’d DAvid Rolland be an advocate for the city’s professional land-use planners.

While Faulconer would, to some extent, owe an election victory to the city’s business elites, Alvarez would be somewhat indebted to local organized labor, which has supplied much of his campaign funding.

Given that choice, we’ll take the special interest that looks out for working families. Though there are times when labor’s interests don’t align with the inDavid Alvarez terests of the city as a whole, we trust that Alvarez understands the impacts, for example, of granting employee-compensation packages that the city can’t afford.

And to those voters who worried about Alvarez’s youth and inexperience, we understand the concern. However, Faulconer has no more executive experience than Alvarez. Faulconer was a public-relations guy and then a two-term City Council member. Alvarez was a staffer for a state legislator and then a one-term City Council member. Faulconer has been involved in city government longer, but each would have to hire people who know how to run a huge bureaucracy.

We strongly urge you to vote for David Alvarez for mayor of San Diego.

What do you think? Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

This issue of CityBeat is brought to you by people whose closest experience to a polar vortex was climbing into a hotel ice machine. Don’t ask.

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Photo by Christian Thomas.

Volume 12 • Issue 22 Editor David Rolland Associate Editor Kelly Davis Music Editor Jeff Terich Arts Editor Kinsee Morlan Staff Writer Joshua Emerson Smith Web Editor Ryan Bradford Art director Lindsey Voltoline Columnists Aaryn Belfer, Edwin Decker, John R. Lamb, Alex Zaragoza

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4 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

Kelly Davis

Some Jacumba residents are concerned because the house that sexually violent predator Mikel Marshall will live in (right) is perched above a house (far left) where children live.

Define ‘reintegration’ Laws governing sexually violent predators isolate offenders and infuriate residents

by Kelly Davis Jacumba Hot Springs, called Jacumba until this year when the owner of a nearby nudist camp bought up most of the town and changed its name, is located roughly 70 miles from San Diego. It’s a mix of quaint, rundown and dusty, with a population of 561, according to the 2010 census, now likely closer to 600, according to a local birdwatching blog. Whatever the population, it could soon increase by one.

In August, San Diego County Superior Court Judge Howard Shore ruled that 39year-old Mikel Marshall could be safely released from Coalinga State Hospital, to which he’d been committed under the law in California that governs sexually violent predators (SVP) after serving 13 years in prison for molesting four young boys in the early 1990s. Marshall was in his late teens when he committed his crimes. In 1993, he was convicted of molesting three boys, ages 4, 7 and 8, and given an eight-year suspended prison sentence and probation. In 1994, he was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender and for fondling another child.

He was sentenced to 87 years in prison. After an appeal, the sentence was reduced to 13 years, and in 2008, Marshall was committed to Coalinga.

California’s SVP law works like this: If a

person who’s committed certain sexual offenses is found to have a mental disorder that could cause predatory behavior, he’s sent to a state hospital for treatment—though participation in treatment’s not mandatory.

Someone who participates in, and successfully completes, various treatment phases, can petition the court in the county where he committed his crime to be released; successful community reintegration is considered the final phase of treatment.

In October 2012, Marshall filed that petition with the support of hospital staff and his treating clinician, who wrote in an evaluation, “This guy needs to get out and get on with his life.”

Though he’d been diagnosed with pedophilia, in a 2011 evaluation, his clinician put his risk of reoffending at “a 1 or 2 on a scale of 0 to 10.” The evaluation describes Marshall as having been an awkward, emotionally needy teen, terrified of girls his age and still stuck in childhood. While the hospital’s acting medical director didn’t immediately support Marshall’s petition for release, he testified in August that he’d support Marshall’s release in the near future. This was enough to convince the judge.

“It’s very significant when Judge Shore, and any other judges, really, in the court-

6 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

house, agree to the release of an SVP,” said Michael Ruiz, the public defender who’s representing Marshall. “It’s not typical; it’s atypical.”

The judge will have final say over where Marshall is placed. But, given that community reintegration is the goal, the limited options for where an SVP can live raise the question of what “reintegration” truly means. They can’t be within 2,000 feet of a park, school or place where children gather—which, according to a 2005 analysis by the District Attorney’s office, exempts more than three-quarters of residential parcels in San Diego County, leaving less-dense rural areas as the only option. In some counties, there are no options besides homelessness.

Jay Adams, spokesperson for the California Coalition on Sexual Offending and a clinician who works with sex offenders, said one of her SVP clients ended up living in a tent in a Santa Barbara riverbed; the state hired a guard to monitor him.

Last year, Santa Clara and Los Angeles counties battled over placement of an SVP who’d committed most of his crimes in San Jose but had requested to be placed in L.A. County, where he grew up. He ultimately ended up in Palmdale. Adams believes the SVP law casts too wide a net when it comes to who’s truly a threat to public safety, putting a strain on state and local resources and a target on the back of SVPs. During a Dec. 23 hearing on Marshall’s placement, Alan Stillman, executive director at Liberty Healthcare, the state contractor that will monitor Marshall once he’s released, described the challenges of finding housing for SVPs. “It usually ends up being a very small

area because of the limits of the law and people who want to rent,” he said.

Liberty had done an exhaustive search, Stillman told Judge Shore, and had come up with a ranch-style house perched on a hill off Highway 80, accessible only by a narrow, unpaved road. It’s not ideal for Marshall, who’s been promised a job at his family’s business—nowhere near Jacumba.

And, it’s not ideal for Jacumbans, who argued at the Dec. 23 hearing that with each SVP placement, they feel less safe.

“The backcountry has become the dumping ground of what the city doesn’t want,” resident Lorrie Ostrander testified.

Ostrander, who was molested as a child, can rattle off the names of SVPs who’ve been released to East County: David Chambless, Gary Snavely, Frank Johnson, John Norman. Those last three were sent back to the hospital, she pointed out (a hearing’s scheduled this week to remove Chambless, who was placed in Jacumba in 2008, from SVP status). The state recently proposed placing SVP Douglas Badger in Campo, a few miles west of Jacumba.

In November, the San Diego Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force (SAFE), a team made up of law-enforcement representatives that monitors SVP placement, solicited feedback from residents via anonymous forms and received 24 responses. None of them was supportive of Marshall’s placement in Jacumba and many were frank in their outrage: “Do not release this demon [sic] he is a liar and a thief of human lives,” one read. “Once a sexual predator always a sexual predator.”

Ruiz, Marshall’s public defender, stressed that his client has been a model patient, fully engaged in treatment.

“Mr. Marshall, at the hospital, he’s never shown any interest in child pornography… or anything like that. Obviously eyes are on him 24/7 at the hospital and that’s what they’re looking for—they’re looking for those little red flags, so to speak, that the person has these things on their mind, and Mr. Marshall, throughout his stay at the hospital, has never exhibited any behaviors like that.”

And, once he’s released, he’ll have to abide by a long list of conditions that dictate, among other things, where he can go and when and with whom he can communicate. If he violates any conditions, he risks being sent back to Coalinga.

“The leash will be very tight, so to speak,” Ruiz said.

But that’s no comfort to residents, who noted that where Marshall would be living overlooks a home where two young boys live. “He can sit right in his yard and look down on them playing,” Ostrander argued.

The District Attorney’s office initially opposed Marshall’s release, but with Judge Shore’s ruling in favor of his petition, the goal now is to educate residents on how post-release monitoring works, Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler said.

“I don’t mean to give the community a false sense of safety, but at the same time,

Reintegration CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Matt Awbrey

john r.

spin cycle

lamb Political vortex of polar opposites “If you can’t imitate him, don’t copy him.”

—Yogi Berra

Tony Young (left) and photographer Mike Norris mug with Kevin Faulconer (right).

The fresh air of a new year. The achy goodness of Chargers playoff fever. Kevin Faulconer courting the black vote.

Say whaa?, you say?

Yes, the Chargers are in the playoffs. Oh, not that?

Yeah, the weather here’s been great. What, polarvortex sufferers? Not that either? Oh! Yeah, Councilmember Straightlace McWhitebread thinks he has a shot at attracting some voters from areas south of Interstate 8, where Democratic challenger and fellow Councilmember David Alvarez dominated in the November mayoral primary.

Faulconer on Monday rolled out an endorsementannouncement rerun—the conservative-led Latino American Political Action Committee backed him in the primary—but it was where the announcement occurred that was interesting.

The Republican council member last week opened a campaign office on Logan Avenue in Lincoln Park in an apparent effort to demonstrate his focus on San Diego neighborhoods not named Downtown, “particularly on neighborhoods that have been underserved by this city for far too long,” he told KUSI. “I’m going to change that.”

Only time—and a favorable outcome—will tell if Faulconer is selling a pipe dream for a few votes here and there in District 4 or if his neighborhood pitch is the real McCoy. (How about that new Chargers coach, eh?)

Sorry, lost focus for a second there.

It’s clear that Faulconer has found some willing ears among some of the old-guard black voices. In an editorial published Friday, San Diego Voice & Viewpoint publisher John Warren regaled his readers with a tale about a recent meeting between the candidates and “a number of African American pastors.”

After making it clear that the pastors were not representing their churches, Warren sounded the warning buzzer. “While they have not made an endorsement, they expressed concern over the difference in the attitudes of candidate Alvarez and candidate Faulconer toward their concerns,” Warren wrote.

Then, with no further details, Warren added: “According to them, Alvarez appeared aloof and at times condescending while Faulconer conveyed a sincere interest in the matters discussed and expressed a desire to establish and continue regular meetings with the ministers as an important part of the community.”

Bishop George D. McKinney of St. Stephen’s Cathedral Church of God In Christ attended the meeting but had a different take. “That sounds like John’s opinion. That was not my opinion,” McKinney told Spin Cycle. “As a matter of fact, I have endorsed Mr. Alvarez. He attended church here on Sunday, stayed all the way through to the benediction, in fact. He is a person of integrity and intelligence, a

home-grown young man who attended church right down the street, who knows the pain of the marginalized in our society.”

McKinney said he’s assuming some pastors will support Faulconer for mayor, but he’s not one of them. “Kevin is a decent man,” he added, but he doubts that District 4’s plight would change much under a Faulconer administration distracted by bigproject backers. (New Chargers stadium, anyone?

What, too soon?)

Faulconer supporters have circulated a photograph of their candidate squatting and smiling alongside a seated, Argyle-sweatered Rev. George Walker Smith, iconic founder of the Catfish Club and a local political force of nature. Stamped across the photo in white letters appears a quote attributed to Smith: “I’ve always known Kevin Faulconer as a man of integrity.”

In the photo, several people are holding up Faulconer-for-mayor signs behind the pair, but it’s unclear if Smith is aware of that. Faulconer campaign spokesperson Matt Awbrey told Spin that the photo was snapped and quote obtained during Friday’s opening of the Logan Avenue office, but he didn’t refer to it as an endorsement. Smith could not be reached for comment.

It’s clear that Faulconer strategists wouldn’t mind some voters thinking that the photo gives the impression that Smith had endorsed Faulconer. Same goes for appearances with former City Council president Tony Young, now CEO of the local Red Cross.

Young won’t say if he’s backing Faulconer, but he’s appeared at several Faulconer events, including the Logan Avenue office opening.

So, what gives here, you ask? Well, as for the pastors, you might recall that a group of them placed their hopes of renewed political clout on the campaign shoulders of Nathan Fletcher, who arguably put the most time and effort of any candidate into that relationship, holding community events and attending church services weekly in District 4.

These are socially conservative folks not enamored with the promises of Big Labor when it comes to employment opportunities in their communities, and so it’s reasonable to understand why Faulconer seeks a foothold there.

“Kevin Faulconer’s campaign isn’t taking any vote for granted,” said Vince Vasquez, a sharpeyed elections analyst at the National University System Institute for Policy Research. “The polling suggests this will be a close election, and Faulconer will need to make more inroads into traditional Democratic territory to keep his electoral edge coming into Election Day.” Vasquez said that of roughly 19,000 black vot-

Spin Cycle CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

reintegration CONTINUED from PAGE 6 it’s important for them to understand that these people are extremely closely monitored and we do everything we can to ensure that the public remains safe. I think sometimes that’s lost, and they only think this guy’s getting out.

“For the first year, these guys typically aren’t allowed to leave their house alone,” she said.

Spieler also noted that no SVPs released to San Diego County have committed new crimes. Of those who’ve been sent back to a state hospital, it was for a technical violation of their release conditions.

At the Dec. 23 hearing, Shore said he wanted to drive out to Jacumba to see the property himself.

And, at the request of Supervisor Dianne Jacob, whose district includes Jacumba, he said he’d look into Marshall being housed in a trailer just outside

Spin Cycle CONTINUED from PAGE 7 ers in San Diego, about 5,700 cast ballots in the November primary, suggesting potential support to be tapped. He added that it wouldn’t surprise him if Alvarez seeks to increase turnout among Democratic Asian voters, as well, particularly in neighborhoods north of Interstate 8. Vasquez said Carl DeMaio and Bob Filner split the Asian vote in 2012.

The question is, what kind of impression can be made in a few weeks? This is a sprint to Feb. 11, after all. Sometimes there’s no time to reinvent the wheel.

8 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

Donovan State Prison, east of Otay Mesa (though, when the same option was proposed for Badger, whose placement hearing was Jan. 3, Judge David Gill, according to media reports, said that wasn’t an option since the trailer is uninhabitable). Shore scheduled a follow-up hearing for Jan. 13.

CityBeat requested an interview with Marshall, who’s still at Coalinga, but Ruiz declined until the judge finalizes Marshall’s placement. So, what would Marshall say to residents if he had the chance?

“He wants to let them know, Look, I understand why you’re concerned; I’d be concerned, too, but these are all the things that I’ve done to better my situation,” Ruiz said.

“We can’t keep these people locked up forever,” he added. “The law requires that they be reintegrated back into society.”

Write to kellyd@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

As a result, Alvarez ground forces have noticed lately that paid walkers for Faulconer’s independent-expenditure committee have begun knocking on the doors of Democratic voters. With Faulconer now boasting a new inclusionary political tagline—“A mayor for all San Diegans”—similar to Alvarez’s “A mayor for all of us,” the new south-of-8 office, even a familiar small-business walk a couple of weeks back, it’s not surprising that an Alvarez worker noted, “It seems like whatever we do, he [Faulconer] follows.”

Write to johnl@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

edwin

sordid tales

decker The purpose of marriage “Marriage is a friendship recognized by the police.”

—Robert Louis Stevenson

are still born as a result of natural conception.”

For starters, you have to be a dot-com short of a hyperlink to think it matters whether children are On Dec. 13, in a big win for privacy and religious liberconceived “naturally” or as a result of alternative ty, a federal judge ruled that laws that criminalize pomethods. What about heterosexuals who need a litlygamy are unconstitutional. They were able to do so, tle help from science? People with low sperm counts, in part, because of a June 2013 ruling against part of damaged uteruses, erectile dysfunction—should they the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined be denied the right to walk down the aisle? marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Secondly, if denying marriage to a group because And, oy, did the DOMA-huggers howl. they cannot procreate is permissible, then why are Before we get into it, it should be noted that sterile people permitted to marry, or the elderly, or there are two types of marriages in this country: folks like me who have no interest in bringing anThere are the religious, churchy-type nuptials and other screaming leaker into the world? the civil kind—the kind recognized by the state.

But the best part about the scramble to use proThere’s no question that religion and marriage are creation as the reason to deny gay-marriage licenses historically entwined in their own way. However, is that the DOMA-huggers have unintentionally when it comes to civil wedlock, the two are clearly opened the door for legalized polygamy. Because separate. We know this because you could have your polygamy absolutely meets their standards for marwedding in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, officiated by riage. The children of plural marriages indeed have the Pope with Christ himself bearing the rings, and one father and one mother. And we certainly know it still wouldn’t be recognized by the state until the polygamists have no trouble plopping out leakers. If legal requirements were met. you want to encourage procreation, the polygamists We know this because you can legally tie the knot are your go-to team. As for an emotionally healthy in a thousand ways that have nothing to do with reliupbringing, I don’t care if you’re a homosexual pogion, such as having your heretic older brother marry lygamist-Satanist hit man for the mob, most people you with a license from the Church of the SubGenius love and engage with their children, and those who (as my younger brother did), or going through a drivedon’t don’t fall into any particular group or class oththru in Las Vegas and ordering the er than the class of deadbeats.

McMarriage (as my bride and I did), Now, in case there’s any doubt We need to increase or hitchhiking Downtown with (and I shouldn’t have to say this, your favorite male prostitute to see but I will), I’m obviously not talkprocreation the way the county clerk (as CityBeat’s ediing about polygamists who take Michael Moore needs tor is rumored to have done). underage wives, or use violence, to increase neck fat.

All these less-than-sanctified duress or other extreme forms of weddings are as valid as a church manipulation to force an unwillceremony, because the state has its ing bride of any age. But, make no own reasons to promote and protect marriage, and mistake about it: The table has been set for consenthese reasons, thanks to the First Amendment, must sual polygamy, and it won’t be long until these faminot be to enforce or establish religious value systems. lies can finally emerge from their closets.

So, the question about who should and shouldn’t That said, I don’t believe there’s any compelling be permitted to marry comes down to one thing: reason for the state to promote and support marriage. Given the intense and nearly universal huWhat are those reasons? Why do we feel it necesman urge to procreate, I’m not sure why anyone felt sary to register our friendships with the authorithat the institution needed any outside assistance. ties? And does our culture benefit from it?

OK, maybe—maybe—it was justified when we were The compelling interest that has nothing to do building this country. But now? Really? What with with religion that’s brought up time and time again, the global warming, long lines at the DMV and in courts all across the country, is that marriage is to unsupervised leakers howling in every restaurant. promote childbirth. Take, for example, this DOMAWe need to increase procreation the way Michael hugger’s argument to the Arizona Court of Appeals Moore needs to increase neck fat.

(Standhardt v. Superior Court, 2003): “The state has In this day and age, there’s no reason to exclude a legitimate interest in encouraging procreation… anyone from getting married and, therefore, no and limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples is rareason to have marriage at all. I’m speaking legally, tionally related to that interest.” of course. Let those who want recognition in the And there’s the ruling against gay marriage from eyes of God have their little church weddings, but the Washington Court of Appeals (Singer v. Hara, as far as the police—er, the state is concerned, keep 1974), which stated that “no same-sex couple offers your stinking paws off my relationship, you damn the possibility of the birth of children by their union.” dirty jackanapes.

And a decision by the Massachusetts Superior Court (Goodridge v. Department of Public Health) Write to edwin@sdcitybeat.com and that argued that “procreation is marriage’s central editor@sdcitybeat.com. Listen to “Sordid Tales: purpose,” and, “Even with the availability of assisted The Podcast!” at sdcitybeat.com. reproductive technology, the majority of children

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

by michael a. gardiner Michael A. Gardiner

popularity of Korean barbecue no doubt derives from our deep, essential, elemental connection to meat and fire. The familiarity of the sweet, spicy and garlicky flavors enhance Korean barbecue’s accessibility.

Unfortunately, the usual price tag does otherwise. Korean barbecue is expensive.

The best, like Dae Jang Keum (7905 Engineer Road in Kearny Mesa), could easily set you back $75 for two. The AYCE-KoreGrilling Roadem’s brisket and sweet marinated pork an-barbecue concept addresses this, but the best of these are still not exactly cheap. Manna Korean BBQ (4428 Convoy St. in Kearny Mesa) is excellent but still costs $24.99 per person.

Roadem BBQ (4344 Convoy St., again in Kearny Mesa) offers a less-expensive way to try Korean barbecue. Its AYCE lunch special costs a Thanks to the Mongol invaders more reasonable $10.99 per person. The choices aren’t as numerous as at Manna—or Roadem’s Maybe all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue wasn’t own dinner menu (available at lunch for $14.99 born in Southern California, but it probably or, with premium options, $19.99)—but beef, pork should have been. The confluence of significant and chicken are on the lunch menu. ex-pat Korean communities and peculiarly AmerParticularly tasty lunch selections at Roadem ican attitudes toward food that gave rise to AYCEs are the brisket, spicy pork, sweet marinated pork in the first place probably made it a question of and pork belly, all good quality and all accomwhen, not if. While AYCE belongs to the here and panied by banchan, a wonderful array of small now, Korean barbecue stems from a different day, dishes, including the familiar kimchi, and similar age and place. It’s a juxtaposition felt in every bite: dishes with daikon radishes, bean sprouts, cua very old taste in a totally new context. cumbers, scallions, seaweeds, potatoes, fishcakes The roots of Korean barbecue trace to the and pancakes. Roadem’s banchan are exceptionKoguryo Kingdom (37 BC to 668 AD), after the ally, intensely flavorful. invasion of Korea by the Manchurian Maek tribe, Less special are the salad (with a particularly who brought with them a dish—maekjeok—that synthetic “vinaigrette”) and the steamed-egg cuswas seasoned before roasting rather than aftertard (good for burning taste buds, but not pleasward. After falling out of favor when Buddhists ing them). The service at Roadem was indifferent (and vegetarian diets) took over Korea, the in(particularly for the non-Koreans amongst us). It vading Mongols brought back maekjeok, which was as if there were too many tables for the staff evolved into neobiani, featuring thinner cuts of on hand, though it clearly was not so. meat. Neobiani would be recognizable to those But Roadem’s grilled-meat Korean-barbecue familiar with bulgogi (the popular dish of grilled dishes made it well worth these shortcomings. beef in a sweet soy-and-garlic marinade).

As much as AYCE seems to sum up the worst of Modern Korean barbecue is grilled meat, ofAmerican food culture, at Roadem it manages to ten treated to a variety of marinades (sweet, spicy bring quality Korean barbecue to an accessible price point. or salty). While beef is king, Korean-barbecue restaurants usually offer pork, chicken and seaWrite to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com food options, too. Guests usually cook the meat and editor@sdcitybeat.com. themselves on grills built into the tables. The

the world

fare

10 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

by ian cheesman ian cheesman

beer &

chees

6 years and 3 bastards ago Courtesy of San Diego Beer Week 2013, I had the chance to sample vintages of Stone Brewing’s Double Bastard Ale (DB) spanning six years. That’s quite a chunk of time, especially considering many beers comparatively have the lifespan of a fruit fly. I’d planned to share my findings with its last release back in November, but given the arrival of the new year (and the retrospectives that typically accompany it), I thought it would be fun to pair the tasting notes with some autobiographical waypoints: 2013: I rise to prominence as CityBeat’s most beloved beer writer, if not the world’s. Multiple parades in my honor are planned for 2014.

DB is a bright coppery brew with a snug, beady head. Waves of its lacing caress the glass.

It has the aroma of plums, sherry, pine and a hint of booze. The first taste has a big, almost nectar-like sweetness, reminiscent of cherry, toffee and honeysuckle. In characteristic Stone Brewing fashion, that’s countered with a bold, hoppy cascade of mint, pine and flowery notes.

It’s full-bodied and a little sticky, which lends some real longevity on the palate, but carbonation still nips at the tongue.

2010: I contact CityBeat and inform them that they’re derelict in their San Diego coverage if they don’t have a beer column and, in a related note, I’d really like a job as a beer writer. They begrudgingly agree to take me on, probably because my rich daddy pulled some strings.

The coppery color of the 2013 has eroded into more of a ruddy amber. Its head is now aggregating in random mounds in the outskirts of the glass. The 2010’s not nearly as pungent, instead offering more of a berry sweetness to the nose and nondescript hops. The bitterness in flavor is likewise diminished, though it still edges out the now agave-like notes emerging. The mouthfeel is undeniably fuller and the booze is still warming, though not to the 2013’s extent.

2007: My wife and I have beautiful baby girl, but I don’t have a beer column, so the whole affair feels hollow and unfulfilling.

A family tree of beer The body of the 2007 has somehow darkened back to the tone of the 2013, but it’s murky and headless. Lazy spires of carbonation slide up the glass. The aroma is a whisper of its former self with hints of malt, vanilla and that same Lik-M-Aid berry sweetness. The mouthfeel seems thicker, but the volume on the hops is greatly muted.

To summarize, if the last six years demonstrated only one thing, it’s that Double Bastard Ale can be a durable companion with which to journey through life. Like you, it’s capable of becoming more nuanced and interesting with age.

Also like you, it’s just a matter of time before age nudges it into obsolescence, an apparent drain on the economy that should probably be put down.

It could be argued that a lengthy aging of Double Bastard Ale will broaden expectations of what beer can be, but I felt it hit its stride in just a couple of years. Still, in beer, as in life, be sure to respect your elders.

Write to ianc@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

by jenny montgomery Jenny montgomery

gooey cheese and greasy toppings.

But after experiencing the bizarre yuck of ZigZag’s crust, I’m now a convert to the church of crust.

Never one to eschew non-traditional pizza toppings (I adored the clam-chowder pizza at The Privateer, also in O’side), I checked out “The White Album,” a white pizza with blackened shrimp, garlic, slivered almonds, spinach and caramelized onions. Now imagine all those tasty toppings delivered on a piece of the box from your most recent Amazon purchase. If great toppings are not in harmony with a great crust, all you’re eating is an entrée with a cardboard disZigZag’s “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” traction, as opposed to that beautiful thing we call pizza.

The more basic pizza, “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” fared a little better, because the toppings of sausage and green olives were a bit more traditional, but, still, the crust was lousy.

The menu says the crust is “from scratch,” but Cardboard crust the perfectly round, dinner-plate-size sheets of dough look (and taste) like something you’d grab When I heard that Cohn Restaurant Group had from the frozen-food aisle at Stater Bros. gotten into the pizza game, I was intrigued. The The chopped salads provided a lot more in the company’s food may not be the most cuttingway of deliciousness, although it’s hard to rave edge, but the Cohns know how to please a custoo much about a salad composed of ingredients tomer, and boy do they know how to run a restausitting in plastic salad-bar trays. I enjoyed the rant. And considering the explosion of craft pizza “Kale Caesar Rocks,” a twist on the traditional in San Diego, it made sense for them to put their Caesar salad with tender, dark baby kale that my own spin on pie. arteries and waistline appreciated after a DecemZigZag Pizza Pie occupies the same corber filled with butter and booze. ner in Oceanside (333 N. Myers St., cohnrestau This was the most disappointing experirants.com/zigzagpizzapie) as the Cohns’ more ence I’ve ever had at a Cohn restaurant. I’m not upscale and established haunt, 333 Pacific. The a knee-jerk complainer about the somewhat menu is simple: pizzas and chopped salads. After corporate feel of their restaurants. The food is ordering, you head over to the wall of refrigeragenerally quite good, and the service and overtors for a drink. You can buy a bottle of wine or all experience of their eateries is always warm craft beer or choose from a varied selection of and professional. non-alcoholic beverages, from plain old bottled And ZigZag is going to thrive, no matter what water to plum-flavored fizzy water straight from some cranky writer-lady with a cold says about Japan. If you want dessert, there’s a fridge filled their crust. They’ve claimed a prime location with pints of Ben & Jerry’s. steps from the Oceanside waterfront, and, as usuSo that’s it: a simple menu with lots of familiar al, their detail-oriented setup is primed to please almost everyone. Except me. choices, a self-service element and enough variation to please anyone.

Write to jennym@sdcitybeat.com Except, the pizza crust is terrible. and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

I’ve never been a crust snob. I take pleasure in

north

fork

12 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

the floating

library

by jim ruland

Sole survivors I’ve been thinking about death a lot lately.

In the last days of 2013, I attended two funerals—one for my wife’s grandfather in Tecate, Mexico, and another for my uncle in Brooklyn.

Both men had traveled far, married more than once and fathered numerous children. Their lives were as full as they were long. Tobias HerreraSoto lived to be 90. Phillip Carducci was 85 when he passed. That’s 175 years.

Though these men lived very different lives— one was a migrant worker; the other worked on Wall Street—their last acts were strikingly similar: mostly bedridden, memories scattered, dependent upon the care of their children. They’d lived so long that a kind of reversal took hold, and at the end, they resembled the children they’d been so long ago.

They had a great deal in common with the men in Richard A. Serrano’s Last of the Blue and Gray: Old Men, Stolen Glory, and the Mystery That Outlived the Civil War, which is packed, of course, with the stories of old men.

The book focuses primarily on two old soldiers who claimed to be the last living veterans of their respective armies: Albert Woolson, a Minnesotan from Duluth, who said he’d served as a drummer boy in the Grand Army of the Republic, and Walter Williams, a Texan who claimed to be a Confederate forage master under Hood’s Brigade. Neither bragged about having been involved in combat; both asserted they were too young to serve in such a capacity. Only one, however, was telling the truth.

This is the mystery at the heart of Last of the Blue and Gray: Which veteran was telling the truth and which was living a lie? Serrano examines their short careers and largely focuses on what life was like for them—as well as for their comrades in arms—after the war.

At first, the two sides were eager to meet at elaborate reunions staged on fields that once ran red with blood. In the summer of 1913, tens of thousands attended a reunion in Gettysburg, Penn. Sadly, nine veterans died in makeshift tents on the same fields were Picket had made his famous charge.

As the veterans aged, it became harder to travel and many limited their appearances to reunions hosted closer to home. At a Confederate reunion in Little Rock, Ark., in 1928, few-

er than 3,000 veterans showed. “Nearly all of them are hard of hearing and feeble in body,” Confederate magazine reported. “There was no Rebel yell to excite the people and quicken their interest.”

One veteran was shocked to find so few of his comrades left. “Thirty-five years ago, I could call the roll of thirty in my company. But now, I am the only one living. They are all dead, and when a man dies, he drops out of thought and recollection.”

When the Great Depression hit an unprepared American public, an avalanche of pension requests from aging veterans descended on the War Department. Many of these requests were difficult to confirm or deny because so many records had been lost or destroyed. This was especially true of those who’d served in Confederate armies late in the war, when record keeping was secondary to survival.

Hundreds of fakes emerged, and some were easier to expose than others. One old vagrant who could accelerate his heart rate had a habit of collapsing in front of hospitals and claiming allegiance to whatever army to which he felt the locals would be sympathetic.

Serrano’s book is filled with fascinating stories of old soldiers who are now dead and gone, dropped from thought and faded from recollection. But Last of the Blue and Gray is also a glimpse into our future. At one reunion, John Mason Brown of the Saturday Review wrote, “All of us pass daily, without recognizing them, older people whose presence are forecasts of what our futures will be like if only we last to their age. We seldom see ourselves in these passers-by. We do not want to. We live nourished by the illusion that each of us is somehow different.”

Before my daughter turns old enough to serve in the military and I become eligible for my AARP card, if I last that long, there will be stories about the last surviving veterans of WWII. Then they, too, will disappear. Next it will be veterans of the Korean conflict’s turn, and then Vietnam, which will include my own father. Thanks to virtually every American president since I’ve been alive, we won’t ever run out of veterans of our many wars.

Write to jimr@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

the

SHORTlist

1

ART

COORDINATED BY KINSEE MORLAN

FAVELA FOOTWORK

MICHEL CAVALCA

Often-shirtless, ripped dudes unleashing their explosive, street-inspired dance skills on stage: That’s the best way to quickly describe Compagnie Käfig. The dance company is directed by French-Algerian choreographer Mourad Merzouki, who was so inspired by the unique style of dance coming out of the favelas, or shantytowns, of Rio de Janeiro that he turned the young Brazilians he encountered on one of his visits into his principal dancers.

Merzouki used the life stories of his dancers in the creation of “Correria” and “Agwa,” two original dance pieces that weave together hip-hop, capoeira, samba, bossa nova, martial arts, acrobatics and contemporary dance. ArtPower! will bring Compagnie Käfig and its two works to the Mandeville Auditorium at UCSD at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 15.

“What makes the company so interesting is the fluid combination of street dancing of the favelas with more contemporaryCompagnie Käfig brings favela-inspired dance to the stage. dance movement that they bring to both of their pieces,” says ArtPower! interim director Kath- example, is about the hectic and chaotic pace of life ryn Martin. “[They] have created a dance vocabulary in urban Brazil. The piece gives the dancers a chance that really is like nothing we’ve seen before.” to show off their physicality at an almost frantic Favelas are known for the large, thumping, sweaty speed. “Agwa” slows things down and zooms in on dance parties called baile funks, from which have the issue of water, a precious resource that isn’t reademerged unique, energetic dance styles. If reviews ily available in some of the worst of Brazil’s favelas. and YouTube videos are accurate, Merzouki and his Merzouki incorporates water as a beautiful artistic crew have successfully recreated this intense energy element in the piece. on stage, adding a layer of context by focusing on “The dancers will tumble, dance and interact with certain aspects of life in the favelas. “Correria,” for hundreds of cups of water on stage,” Martin says. “It is an absolute thrill to experience.” artpwr.com

2

FIELDS OF COLOR

The late Manny Farber was known more for his provocative film criticism than for his painting. And as a painter, he was perhaps known more for his bird’s-eye-view, still-life work than for his abstract, color-field pieces. But it’s the latter style that will be on display when Quint Contemporary Art holds its 18th solo exhibition of Farber’s work: Manny Farber—Works on Paper 1968-1973. These are pieces that Farber, who taught later in life in the Visual Arts Department at UCSD, would paint flat on the floor rather than on an easel, much like Jackson Pollock. The show will open with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at Quint (7547 Girard Ave. in La Jolla) and will be on view through Feb. 15. quintgallery.com

3

SOUND AFFECTS

The San Diego avant-garde and modernclassical music scenes have been quietly growing into something more vibrant and impressive, with groups like Art of Élan and events like the CarlsYONATAN ALJADEFF bad Music Festival dosing the region with innovative new sounds. But this week, the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library will bring an array of international contemporary chamber artists to COURTESY: QUINT CONTEMPORARY ART town for its SoundON Festival. The seventh annual fest will include artists ranging from locals NOISE and Alice Teyssier choral ensemble Sacra Profana to guest artists like soprano Alice Teyssier and an installation by conceptual artist Matthew Hebert. The event will run from Thursday, Jan. 9, to Sunday, Jan. 12, at the Athenaeum in La Jolla (1008 Wall St.). Individual-event tickets are $25, or $60 for “Untitled” by Manny Farber the series. Find details at ljathenaeum.org.

14 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

HMomentum at Pulse Gallery @ Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights.

See work by 15 local artists from Art Pulse’s mentor program, including Dani Dodge, Rob Morey, Duke Windsor and Ansley Pye. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 9. artpulse.org HHotel Detective at Not an Exit @ Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights.

An exhibition of over 30 photographs by Brian Goeltzenleuchter, who collected notepads from hotels around the world and, using graphite rubbings on the top sheet, revealed messages written by previous hotel guests. Opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, facebook.com/ events/70283466503346 And How are We Feeling Today? at UCSD University Art Gallery, Mandeville Center, La Jolla. Half a dozen artists showcase documents, videos, performance, sound, sculptural objects and installations that inquire into economies of affect, structures of feeling and emotions as commodities. Opening from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 9. uag.ucsd.edu Alone Together at Noel Baza Fine Art, 2165 India St., Little Italy. A collaborative exhibition by Li Huai and Eric Blau that explores painting and photography and how cultures both influence and alienate us.

Opening from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. 619-876-4160, noel-bazafineart.com HWild Walk & Cover to Cover at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 108 Wall St., La Jolla. See Mathew Heberts’ multimedia work based on famous conceptual and performance artists and Jeanne Dunn’s newest nature-themed paintings. Opening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org Student Art Show at Space 4 Art, 325 15th St., East Village. Students from High Tech Middle Media Arts show off their work—everything from multi-layered portraiture to drawings constructed out of sentences. Opening from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. 619-269-7230, hthidsmith.weebly. com/harvey-dentity-two-faced.html HStrange Visions at Stronghold, 1835 Main St., Barrio Logan. Surrealist and scifi paintings by Alex Konstad and Demario Henagan. Opening at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. 619-786-4579, facebook.com/ sdstronghold HCasey Smallwood: The Acting Project at A Ship in the Woods, 1660 Lugano Lane, Del Mar. The HELM series continues with Smallwood’s multimedia installation of five video projections exploring the parallels between acting out the role of a character and the acting out of one’s daily persona. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. shipinthewoods.com HFast Forward at Low Gallery, 3778 30th St., North Park. Work by over 50 local and international artists including Max Kauffman, Eric Wixon and Junk & Po. Closing reception from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. 619-348-5517, facebook.com/ lowgallerysd HHan Nguyen: Tracing Shadows at Joseph Bellows Gallery, 7661 Girard Ave., La Jolla. As exhibition of Nguyen’s unique “photograms.” On view through March 11. Opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. josephbellows.com HManny Farber: Works on Paper 19681973 at Quint Contemporary Art, 7547 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The late Manny Farber’s early abstracted and textured works on paper. From 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11.

858-454-349, quintgallery.com Wood: A Furniture Show V at Escondido Municipal Gallery, 262 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. Curated by Brian Murphy of

Murphy’s Fine Woodworking, the exhibition features over a dozen of SoCal’s best furniture makers, wood turning and marquetry artisans showcasing everything from furniture to outdoor accessories.

From 5:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11.

760-480-4101, escondidoarts.org Black and White at InnerSpace Gallery, 262 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. Dozens of artists from the PhotoArts Group showcase new works in black and white photography. Opening from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 11. escondidoarts.org HSTATE at Art Produce Gallery, 3139 University Ave., North Park. See work reflecting divergent approaches in the graduate sculpture department at SDSU. Artists include Richard Keely, Ainsley Buhl Cramer, Matt Picon and Aren Skalman.

Opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. 619-584-4448, artproduce.org HThe Parallax at Visual Shop, 3776 30th St., North Park. Local painter Jorge Gutierrez focuses mostly on portraits but has recently broadened his scope to animals and other figures. There will be a limitededition beer specially brewed for the artist and this collection of work. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. 619-5015585, visualshopsd.com Descendants at R.B. Stevenson Gallery, 7661 Girard Ave., Ste. 201, La Jolla. New works by Jason Godeke, who paints fantastical surrealist scenes often involving action figures and toys. Opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. 858-459-3917, rbstevensongallery.com Art Talk: Kathleen Strzelecki at Lemon Grove Library, 8073 Broadway. Moderated by Helen Ofield, a discussion with Strzelecki and a private tour of her solo exhibition, An American Family. From 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. sdcl.org/locations_LG.html Light at San Diego Pride, 3620 30th St., North Park. The closing reception for this “Art of Pride” showcase of over a dozen artists including Hank Gross, Israel Hernandez, Lena Gardelli and more. From 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. 619-2977683, sdpride.org Manifestations at Thumbprint Gallery, 920 Kline St., #104, La Jolla. A fresh mix of low-brow, fantastical surrealism and sci-fi-themed art by artist Romali Licudan, Edward Frausto, and JC Carino. Opening from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. thumbprintgallerysd.com HDavid Adey: Hither and Yon at Scott White Contemporary Art, 7655 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The gallery’s first ever artist-inresidence will showcase several months of work in various mediums and a diverse range of materials. From 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. A documentary film detailing Adey and the work created during his residency will be screened at the Sherwood Auditorium at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla preceding the opening at 5 p.m. 619-501-5689, scottwhiteart.com Art-A-Thon 2014 at Distinction Gallery and Artist Studios, 317 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. View work by artist who participated in the annual marathon of artistic creation to benefit the non-profit art center’s teen program. From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. 760-781-5779, arthatch.org Lynne Crealock at COAL Gallery, 300 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad. Crealock specializes in oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolor paintings, mixed-media works, photography, digital fine art and even sculpture. From 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. 760-707-3939, coalartgallery.com HSound Machines at Basic, 410 10th Ave., Downtown. Awe-inspiring kinetic works by Bret Barrett coupled with oil

paintings by the talented emerging artist Ryan Tannascoli. Both bodies of work focus on movement, sound and creation. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. 619-865-6210 Live Art Battle at Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Four artists paint to live music from The Devastators, Brothers Gow and The Tarr Steps in this 100-minute battle. From 7 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. $9-$11. 858-4818140, bellyup.com

BOOKS Tom Clavin at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The New York Times best-selling co-author of Halsey’s Typhoon and The Last Stand of Fox Company will discuss and sign his latest book, The Heart of Everything That Is, the Untold Story of Native American Legend Red Cloud. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8.

858-454-0347, warwicks.indiebound.com

Jan. 12. bn.com Jennifer Holm at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. The author reads her children’s book, Squish: Game On!, whose hero is an amoeba. At 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com HChas Smith at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The editor of Surfing Magazine and former war correspondent will discuss and sign, Welcome to Paradise, Now Go to Hell: A True Story of Violence, Corruption, and the Soul of Surfing, an unflinching look at the highstakes world of surfing on Oahu’s North Shore. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. 858454-0347, warwicks.indiebound.com Julie Kramer at Mysterious Galaxy

Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. The thriller novelist signs and discusses her sixth Riley Spartz novel, Delivering Death. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Christopher Reich at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The author discusses and signs his new thriller, The Prince of Risk. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15. 858-454-0347, warwicks. indiebound.com

COMEDY Delray, Florentine and Jamieson at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Self described “rock comedians” Dean Delray, Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson will do stand-up sets and then a

full live interactive podcast with the audience. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8. $15.

619-795-3858, americancomedyco.com HBill Bellamy at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. The comedian and star of the TV series Mr. Box Office performs the kind of stand-up that made him a legend on shows like Def Comedy Jam. At 8 p.m. Thursday and Sunday Jan. 9 and Jan. 12 and 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11. $26. 619-7953858, americancomedyco.com HSo Say We All: Genuine Class at Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. So Say We All’s first foray into late-night-style sketch comedy. The literary group promises it’ll feel exactly like you’re watching a bunch of struggling comedians pretend they’re on TV. From 8:30 to 10 p.m. Thurs-

day, Jan. 9. $5 suggested donation. 619284-6784, sosayweallonline.com HNatasha Leggero at Comedy Store, 916 Pearl St., La Jolla. The comedian currently stars in Comedy Central’s new hit animated series, Ugly Americans as well as Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time and has performed stand-up on The Tonight Show.

At 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. $20.

858-454-9176, lajolla.thecomedystore.com Andrew Norelli at Comedy Palace, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. The comedian has numerous late-night appearances including The Late Show with David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Satur-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Carola Dunn at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. Dunn’s 1920s Daisy Dalrymple mystery novels have developed quite the cult following. She’ll sign and discuss the latest in the series, Heirs of the Body.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9. 858-2684747, mystgalaxy.com HZohreh Ghahremani at Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon. The award-winning author of Sky of Red Poppies and The Moon Daughter will discuss her work. At 6 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 9. 619-660-5370, sdcl. org/locations_RD.html Lisa Gardner at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. The self-described research junkie will discuss and sign her suspense novel, Fear Nothing. At 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Reina Menasche at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. The local author debuts her second book, Silent Bird, with friends, music, and refreshments. At 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Caitlin Rother at Barnes & Noble La Mesa, Grossmont Center, La Mesa. Rother will discuss and sign her latest, I’ll Take Care of You, about the murder of multimillionaire Bill McLaughlin by his femme fatale fiancee and her NFL-linebacker lover.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. 619-6672870, caitlinrother.com/events HDiane Sanfilippo, Hayley Mason, and Bill Staley at Barnes & Noble Mira Mesa, 10775 Westview Pkwy., Mira Mesa. The authors will be signing their diet books and cookbooks including Practical Paleo, The 21 Day Sugar Detox, Make it Paleo, and Gather. At 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. 858684-3166, facebook.com/bn.miramesa Bryna Kranzler at Del Mar Library, 139 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, Del Mar. The local author discusses her book, The Accidental Anarchist, the true story of an ordinary man who gets caught up in the history-making events of the early 1900s in Russia. At 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12.

B. Zaragoza at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The “Weekend with Locals” program continues with the author of The Listener’s Labyrinth, a fastpaced thriller about a Navy SEAL admitted to the psych ward because he can see into people’s past. At noon Sunday, Jan. 12.

858-454-0347, warwicks.indiebound.com Faith McCune at Barnes & Noble Oceanside, 2615 Vista Way, Oceanside.

Meet the local author as she signs copies of her book, Duffy’s World, a memoir/dog owner’s manual narrated primarily from a dog’s point of view. At 2 p.m. Sunday,

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

day, Jan. 10-11. $20-$25. 858-573-9067, thecomedypalace.com Ryan Stout at Mad House Comedy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown. Stout has appeared on Conan and his own Comedy Central half-hour special, but most know him as a regular guest on Chelsea Lately.

At 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11. $20. 619-702-6666, madhousecomedyclub.com

DANCE HHot Guys Dancing at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights.

Three of the Southland’s most dynamic choreographers will be showcased in Diversionary Cabaret’s dance series. Conceived and directed by Michael Mizerany, the sultry performance will feature work

by Mizerany, Blythe Barton and Khamla Somphanh. At 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 9-11, and 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 11. $15-$39. 619-220-097, diversionary.org HCompagnie Kafig at Mandeville Auditorium, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla.

Under the direction of French-Algerian choreographer Mourad Merzouki, this all-male ensemble performs full-throttle shows inspired by the stories of young dancers from the favelas of Brazil. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15. $12-$46.

858-534-8497, artpwr.com

FOOD & DRINK HTaste of Opera: Don Quixote at Great News! Cooking School, 1788 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. S.D. Opera’s Nicolas Reveles, will guide you through the story and music of Don Quixote while Chef Katherine Emmenegger prepares flavors of Spain. From 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. $49. 888-GR8-CHEF, sdopera.com/ Experience/TasteOfOpera

MUSIC HEmerson String Quartet at Conrad Prebys Music Center, UCSD campus, La Jolla. The beloved chamber music ensemble play selections from Mozart, Shostakovich and others. At 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9. $12-$54.

858.534.8497, artpwr.com HsoundON Festival of Modern Music at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 108 Wall St., La Jolla. The festival brings together an international roster of composers and performers for a four-day exploration of contemporary chamber music. At various times Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 9-12. $20-$60. 858-4545872, ljathenaeum.org HBeyond Klezmer! at ArtLab Studios,

3536 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Dance to music with a slightly Jewish bent. Musicians include Norbert Stachel (reeds), Peter Stan (accordion), Yale Strom (violin) and Elizabeth Schwartz on vocals. From 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9. 619-2831199, ext.115, artlabca.com HExperimental Noise of the New Year at Craftlab, 821A South Tremont St., Oceanside. Experimental and avantgarde approaches to music courtesy of Monocromacy, Jason Begin, Karl Bleu and others. At 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. $5.

760-332-896, craftlabgallery.com Itzhak Perlman and the San Diego Symphony at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. For the first time in over 15 years, the violin virtuoso performs with the Symphony. Music director Jahja Ling will lead this performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, as well as selections from Carl Maria von Weber and Ottorino Respighi. At 8 p.m. Saturday Jan. 11, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. $30-$100.

619-615-3942, sandiegosymphony.org Hutchins Consort at Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Dr., Encinitas. The collective of violinists has planned five monthly performances; each include a peek into the lives of the composers and some history about the times in which they wrote. At 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. sdcl.org/locations_EN.html The Extraordinary World of Glamour at Women’s Museum of California, 2730 Historic Decatur Road, Barracks 16, Point Loma. Join pianist Jacqui Silver on a musical journey through Hollywood history of the ‘20s and ‘30s. At 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. $20. 619-233-7963, womensmuseumca.org HNadir Khashimov at Scripps Research Institute Auditorium, 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, La Jolla. The prodigal violinist performs selections from Bach, Mozart, Franck and more in the intimate TSRI Auditorium. At 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. $5-$30. 858-784-8534, ljms.org ONOFF at ArtLab Studios, 3536 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Relentless touring had seen this Dublin four-piece amass a sizeable young fan base nationwide. From 7:30 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15. $5.

619-283-1199, ext.115, artlabca.com

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD HLong Story Short: Unwanted Gifts at ArtLab Studios, 3536 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. So Say We All’s live, improv storytelling show will center around tales of post-holiday material woe. From 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. $5 suggested donation. 619-283-1199, ext.115, sosayweallonline.com

THEATER

Anything and everything goes in Welk musical This makes two interminable shipboard romances. First, Titanic, that cinematic slog-fest that unfortunately boosted the careers of James Cameron and Celine Dion. Now, Anything Goes, the 80-year-old Broadway musical that seems to go on almost that long at the Welk Resort Theatre.

If Anything Goes were a jukebox musical composed of nothing but the songs of Cole Porter— “Anything Goes,” “You’re the Top,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “It’s De-Lovely,” “Friendship”—it would be a pleasant couple hours of tuneful nostalgia. But the book, in spite of the considerable talents of P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, is as hackneyed as discarded vaudeville skits. The large Welk cast directed by Ray Limon does its best to inhabit all the overdrawn characters, but the onstage antics, mugging and rim-shot double entendres are so relentless that the production quickly becomes a real wristwatch-checker.

Most of the characters are saddled with cartoon characterizations, but the performers proceed gamely in spite of it. Josh Carr and Rachel Davis portray shipboard lovers Billy and Hope, but the signature performance is delivered by Natalie Nucci in the show’s highest-profile role, one made famous on Broadway by Ethel Merman. Nucci’s evangelist / cabaret singer Reno Sweeney is smart, sassy and sexy. She handles Anything Goes’ comedy with just the right wink-wink attitude, and her singing, while not Merman-esque, is still delovely. When the shipboard stage is crowded—and it often is—Nucci’s the one you’re watching.

Anything certainly goes with Shaun Leslie Thomas’ turn as gangster Moonface Martin and RC Sands’ veddy British Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. We’re talking free-for-all time. At least they, like the ensemble as a whole, can dance. Director Limon’s choreography shines most at the end of Act 1, which closes with a fancy-stepping rendition of the show’s title tune.

It’s no bulletin that Billy and Hope end up together at the end, though the Chinese men-indisguise gambit that makes it happen is nearly as

POLITICS & COMMUNITY Catfish Club at San Diego Hall of Champions, 2131 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park. Professor Carl Luna moderates a panel of the stakeholders in the Barrio Logan community planning process—Diane Takvorian, Joe La Carva, Rachel Ortiz, Laura Gates and a representative from the Working Waterfront Group. At noon Friday, Jan. 10. $20 includes lunch.

RSVP: info@catfishclub.net. 619-2342544, catfishclub.net

SPECIAL EVENTS HIllegally Blonde 2 at Wonderland OB, 583 Santa Monica Ave #2C, Ocean Beach. It’s Blondes versus Brunettes is this second annual powder puff football game to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. $10 suggested donation gets you a free drink, raffle ticket and more. From 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. 619-255-3358, act.alz.org

“Remember to Forget—Inspired by a Line in Tom Waits’ Song, ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find,’” by Bhavna Mehta is on view in Momentum, a group show opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at Pulse @ Bread & Salt (1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights).

16 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

Captivate: Cirque de L’Artisan at Artessence, 3489 Noel St., Midtown. Check out fashion from designers ranging from local to international including Adolfo Sanchez, Shekhar Rehate, Wish Now and Zavval. There will also be art, music and

KEN JACQUES

Natalie Nucci (center) stands out in Anything Goes. squirm-worthy as Mickey Rooney’s Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Cultural-insensitivityinduced laughter? Hey, anything goes.

Anything Goes runs through March 23 at the Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido. $36-$66. welkresorts.com

—David L. Coddon Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

OPENING Bug: A motel-dwelling cocktail waitress begins an affair with a war veteran and takes on his conspiracy theories. Presented

by Ion Theatre Company, it opens in previews on Jan. 11 at BLKBOX Theatre in Hillcrest. iontheatre.com Fiddler on the Roof: A milkman tries to keep his family’s traditions in place and marry off his three daughters as the Russian Revolution threatens to gain steam. Presented by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it opens Jan. 10 at the Lyceum Theatre at Horton Plaza, Downtown. lambsplayers.com Who Am I This Time? (And Other Conundrums of Love): Three love stories adapted from the early work of author Kurt Vonnegut. Opens in previews on Jan. 8 at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. northcoastrep.org

For full listings, please visit “T heater ” at sdcit ybeat.com

dance. From 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Jan. 11. $40 and up. artessence.org Rockin’ Science Sleepovers at the Fleet at Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado, Balboa Park. Explore the science of sound and strum the world’s largest playable guitar in the museum’s current exhibition at this popular nocturnal adventure. At 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. $50. 619-238-1233, rhfleet.org

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS Recent Immigrants to San Diego County: History Right Now at H. Lee House, 3205 Olive St., Lemon Grove. Part of the “History Alive” lecture series, writerteacher Estelle Gibson Lauer discusses her work with immigrants. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9. 619-460-4353, sandiegohistory.org A Curator’s Perspective: Chicanitas at MCASD Downtown, 1001 Kettner Blvd., Downtown. Join Assistant Curator Elizabeth Rooklidge for a gallery walkthrough of Chicanitas: Small Paintings from the Cheech Marin Collection. At 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13. Free with paid museum admission. 858 454 3541, mcasd.org HRorschach Records of the Nuremberg War Criminals at Lawrence Family

Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. Nazis prosecuted at the Nuremberg trial completed extensive psychological tests including the Rorschach. Professor Joel Dimsdale will examine these largely-forgotten data and consider whether they shed light on the anatomy of malice. At 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13. $15. 858-457-3030, sdcjc.org HHistoric Places: Celebrating the Architecture of Frank Hope at San Diego History Center, Balboa Park. Join architectural historian Keith York for a fascinating look inside the design techniques, philosophies and outcomes of one of the region’s most recognizable modern architects. From 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 14. $20. 619-232-6203, sandiegohistory.org Art and Architecture, Northern Europe at Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Ann Hoehn offers insight into Western Art History in France from the Renaissance to Modern Times. From 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 15. $10.

760 435-3721, oma-online.org

For full listings,

please visit “E vents” at sdcit yb eat.com

Joshua Emerson Smith

Urban concentrate Filmmaker Cy Kuckenbaker documents San Diego with an innovative technique • by Joshua Emerson Smith

Cy

Cy Kuckenbaker’s video of multiple planes simultaneously flying into San Diego International Airport elicits the thrill of a good magic trick. Four-and-a-half hours of plane landings cleanly distilled into 26 seconds— how on Earth did he do that?

As far as the 39-year-old filmmaker’s work goes, the video’s not his most “important,” he says: “That airplane video’s just an experiment, anyway. It was just technical curiosity—like, I wonder if I can just make this work.”

However, posted on YouTube in November 2012, the video has more than 1.7 million views, and it drew international attention within days. Hundreds of emails poured in from fans, TV stations, research institutions and universities.

It was hard to sleep, Kuckenbaker recalls: “It’s almost like the Internet came out of my computer and into the room and just got in bed with me. It was so chaotic.

The speed was shocking.”

Inspired by the experience of capturing the imagination of so many people, he’s decided to build on the buzz of the “timecollapse” technique and craft a series of 10 short videos sketching the city he loves.

“It’s a study of San Diego based on the murals from the ’20s: big, public murals where you’d have panels [depicting] agriculture, industry, family—very broad,” he says. “That’s the goal for this series.”

The Fresno-born Kuckenbaker says he wants his project to help establish San Diego’s often-misunderstood cultural identity.

“I want to look at San Diego in a dynamic way, in a way I think it doesn’t usually get treated. Anyone who lives here knows it’s sort of official identity is incredibly shallow and inaccurate.”

Since his initial success, Kuckenbaker’s crafted a video of cars on a highway, reorganized by color, and he’s working on videos of people surfing and children on swings. He’s also in negotiations with the city to film lifeguards.

Kuckenbaker uses a video-editing program called After Effects; he says he didn’t

Cy Kuckenbaker in his Bankers Hill home office invent the time-collapse technique, but he might be the first to apply to it to documentary filmmaking.

“It’s one of those adjacent-possible things, but I haven’t seen anyone do what I’m doing,” he says. “I saw still photographs do it and wondered if I could pull a technique from that field into video. We use special effects everywhere, but almost always within the context of fiction.”

In 2009, before his Internet success, the self-described ethnographer shot, edited and narrated a feature-length film about a remote village in Malawi, Africa, called Bush League. For that film, he lived in the village on and off for three years.

He also secretly filmed a short documentary while working in Iraq. From 2007 to 2009, thanks to a family connection, he got a job at a military housing facility near the Baghdad airport, where he shot Indentured, a movie about the pay and working conditions of South Asian laborers employed by the United States military.

While he cares deeply about those projects, the films had limited appeal, Kuckenbaker says. “People do want to learn really serious stuff, but you cannot hit them in the face with a bat. And that’s what I used to always do.”

The time-collapse video series’ message is subtler, and it’s also more entertaining, so it reaches more people, Kuckenbaker says. “There’s nothing wrong with delighting people in a positive way. This took me a long time to learn.

“If you just have the insight by itself, you will have people that will come to it, but it’s harder,” he adds. “If you can give them some charm, some entry point, that’s really powerful.”

To support himself, Kuckenbaker teaches digital photography at Irvine Valley College and film at San Diego City College. He graduated in 2006 with master’s degree in filmmaking from the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles.

Going from the ivory-tower environment of Cal Arts to being a working artist

has dramatically shifted his perspective on filmmaking, he says. Spending time as an educator with young adults has convinced him of the value of working within the Internet medium to reach a broad audience.

“Because I teach, I’m influenced by the students. I can see with the students it’s all web,” he says. “The documentaries I did before, I think, are 40 times more important— more than that. They’re real. They’re serious. But they will never sit in that context.”

The Internet is rapidly changing filmmaking, he says. “In many traditions of filmmaking, density’s not important, but the Internet wants density. That’s why [the videos] work so well for the web, because they match the web’s values about speed and density.”

But that doesn’t necessarily mean the videos are shallow, Kuckenbaker adds.

“The piece that I care about is the idea of time. That particular way of manipulating time [is] what’s interesting to me. I think that there’s a lot there.”

The time-collapse videos may be technically radical, but they’re also ethnographic, he says: “I’m surprised as everyone by the patterns. They tend to be small revelations, but they shift my point of view.”

While his initial time-collapse videos focused on somewhat mundane topics, Kuckenbaker says he’s building to heavier topics.

“I can’t go to the serious stuff first. It would be counterproductive, ultimately.” he says.

“You start people with planes and kids, then you get to the more serious stuff.”

In the end, the project will be an homage to San Diego, which he refers to as a “secret” city. “I have no idea what the future holds for me, but I love this town.”

While his videos have brought him significant attention, he says he’s not letting it go to his head. Art, he says, is about hard work and humility.

“I’m old enough, and I’d failed enough, to know you take the win and shut up.”

Write to joshuas@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

“Midday Traffic Time Collapsed and Reorganized by Color: San Diego,” posted to YouTube on Dec. 16, 2013

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

Seen Local

One of the stars of the show, Adey’s large-scale “Hide” diptych, started as one of the biggest failed experiments of his residency. The artist always begins his process by dreaming up an often-complex concept that includes a set of constraints, which ultimately informs the construction and aesthetics of Finding constraints in freedom each piece. With “Hide,” for example, Adey wanted Fifteen months of pure artistic freedom—that’s the to map the entire surface of a human body, then gift that gallerist Scott White gave to David Adey unfold and flatten the resulting shape in one whole by offering him a shot at being Scott White Con- piece without any overlaps. temporary Art’s first artist-in-residence. The meHe originally envisioned the spiral unpeeling ticulous work developed during of a clementine and thought he the residency will be on view could coat his body in rubber in Hither and Yon, a solo show and unravel himself in one piece opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturby cutting very careful lines. Ulday, Jan. 11, at the gallery (7655 timately, though, he had to build Girard Ave., Suite 101, in La Jolla). a 3D scanner, scan his body and A screening of a documentary desolve the puzzle digitally. The tailing Adey’s residency precedes resulting human-like form is the opening at 5 p.m. at the Mupainstakingly pinned to paper seum of Contemporary Art San that’s been lightly airbrushed Diego’s La Jolla location (700 with florescent orange—a color Prospect St.). that glows and reflects off the “The residency has taken me in central image. The finished a lot of new, exciting directions,” product is a unique and somesays Adey, an arts professor at what eerie self-portrait.

Point Loma Nazarene Universi“I knew it had the potential to ty. “I was able to do a lot of experibe really, really visually interestmentation…. There were definitely ing,” Adey says. “But it ended up some heroic failures, but that ultilooking completely different than mately led to better work.” what I originally thought.”

Adey produced a diverse body Dale Schierholt’s documenAbove: “Hide” by David Adey; tary about Adey, Art by Conof conceptual art. His more recbelow: detail of “Hide” shows straint, zooms in on the artist’s ognizable “Pinned Skin” series some of more than 75,000 unique method of navigating his of deconstructed celebrity and triangulated pieces unfolded, self-imposed conceptual conmass-media photos, carefully laflattened and pinned in place. straints and the resulting work. ser cut into individual body parts then pinned back together as beautiful new abstract“Resistance is essential,” Adey says in the film. ed compositions, will be shown alongside creations “Constraints can be really comforting. As an artist, it like his towering sculpture made of found cylindrical gives you something to push up against.” objects that starts with a communion cup at the base —Kinsee Morlan and is topped with a large outdoor trashcan.

Pencil-rubbed discoveries Brian Goeltzenleuchter has been collecting hotel psychological phenomenon of people who associate notepads since the early 1990s. It’s his version of a themselves with the success of others. vacation photograph—a way to save a memory of a The series is different from what you’d expect place and time. At one point, from Goeltzenleuchter, a conhe lightly rubbed a pencil ceptual artist known more for across the surface of one of his olfactory art (deeply rethe notepads and discovered searched custom fragrances) the imprint of text scrawled and performance pieces than by past hotel guests. for the more straightforward “I realized that, with some art in this exhibition. But of them, you can eavesdrop Goeltzenleuchter, it turns out, on conversations,” Goeltzenhas just as many trashy detecleuchter says. tive novels on his bookshelves To find an imprint is rare. as highfalutin art and olfacEven rarer is finding sometion books, so Hotel Detective thing intriguing, but after is a natural outgrowth of his years of the practice, Goeltlove of a good mystery. zenleuchter’s managed to “You can think about the piece together Hotel Deteckind of person who would tive, an exhibition featuring stay in the hotel, and then more than 30 images from his you look at things like the collection. The show opens at penmanship—was it hastily Not an Exit Gallery inside written or clearly written?— Bread and Salt (1955 Julian “Love the one you’re with” and wonder about the meanAve. in Logan Heights) from 6 ing…. How do you interpret to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, alongside other exhibition this artifact of information?” openings throughout the warehouse.

—Kinsee Morlan Uncovered messages include things like song lyrics—“Love the one you’re with”—or sayings like Write to kinseem@sdcitybeat.com “Basking in Reflected Glory,” which refers to the and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

18 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

Feeling artificial Empathy is the future in Spike Jonze’s new film

by Glenn Heath Jr. In the not-so-distant future of Spike Jonze’s Her, Los Angeles will strangely resemble a sun-drenched Shanghai, people will consume technology as if it were their primary life source and no man will ever wear a belt.

Violence and war are nonexistent, while Joaquin Phoenix goes digital. political ideologies and social hierarchies have seemingly folded into the background. What’s ing entities. That one is defined by physical tissue left is a hazy, orange-hued world of glistening sky- and the other 0’s and 1’s makes no difference in the scrapers and cement paths, each linked by subway power of the moment. All that matters is they are extracks that act like veins between parallel limbs. It’s periencing it together. both familiar and alien, suffocating and open.

Jonze previously explored the boundaries beWinsome scribe Theodore Twombly (Joaquin tween perception and reality in Being John MalkPhoenix) doesn’t initially stand out as a particularly ovich and Adaptation, the latter a stone-cold mastercomplex individual in this semi-sci-fi utopia. He piece that’s devastating in its dissection of identity writes personalized notes for a variety of different and creative indulgence. But with Her, Jonze is far clients at a company called Beautifulhandwrittenlet- more invested in peeling back the layers of his charters.com, and when the moon rises, he laments the acter’s instinctual needs, which, for Theodore, are impending divorce from his estranged wife (Rooney based in the understanding of his own empathy.

Mara) while playing video games and engaging in ocYet this new relationship poses problems for both casional virtual trysts with other sexually repressed parties. Theodore becomes riddled with doubt and indigital bystanders. Theodore is lonely, but his isola- security when the stars of romance begin to fade, while tion is self-serving in that he’s become addicted to its Samantha’s intelligence, aptitude and emotional range debilitating patterns. develop at speeds her boyfriend canThis all changes when he downnot comprehend. It’s a dynamic that Her loads a new operating system called produces as much complication, misDirected by Spike Jonze O.S. 1, the first ever with intuitive qualcommunication and resentment as Starring Joaquin Phoenix, ities that allows it to evolve with each any classic tale of human love lost.

Scarlet Johansson, Amy passing day. Theodore’s personalized Much of Her’s lasting resonance Adams and Rooney Mara O.S. names itself Samantha (voiced stems from the superb performancRated R

by Scarlet Johansson) and quickly es by Phoenix and Johansson, each begins organizing his hard drive and wonderfully open in his or her chardeleting past emails. It’s just the initial wave of changes acter’s flaws and vulnerabilities, and Jonze’s strict Samantha institutes in the life of a melancholy man at resistance to define their relationship with easily dipeace with his own alienation. They strike up an instant gestible conclusions. Arcade Fire’s hypnotic musical friendship, and eventually it becomes more, an audible score, a collage of tones and melodies that amplify romance with genuine feelings and consequences. the character’s need to connect, heightens this sense As a character study, Her—which opens Friday, Jan. of ambiguity.

10—examines the many ways passion carries us into What’s more illuminating—and shocking—is how emotionally vulnerable places that don’t make a lot of Her brilliantly suggests that technology is not some sense but are profoundly important to a person’s under- damnable plague segregating humanity into differstanding of joy. During what Theodore calls a “Sunday ent virtual columns, just another platform for people adventure,” he and Samantha get lost in the city as they to rediscover their own empathy. It’s certainly the simply share time together, playing flirtatious games case for Theodore. By the end of the film, he realizes and creating memories that bind them as a couple. that while “the past is just a story we tell ourselves,” When they end up on a crowded beach, their con- as Samantha so aptly surmises, it can be one we learn versation quickly dims and Theodore falls asleep, from and appreciate rather than regret. awakening to a sublime piece of music Samantha is in the process of writing. It’s a deeply personal seg- Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com ment experienced between two dramatically evolv- and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Ripple effect

The Past

Hardly a moment goes by in Asghar Farhadi’s The Past when characters don’t seem on the verge of collision. At first, it’s the physical kind—more than once, someone will take a step into a busy Parisian street and nearly get sideswiped by a moving car.

But the film’s real tension stems from the clash of conflicting ex-

periences. Each conversation alludes to a knot of unspoken trauma that comes to define even the smallest interaction.

The second that Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa) arrives in France after spending four years away from his estranged wife Marie (Bérénice Bejo), it’s immediately clear that they have a lot of unfinished

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

business. Under some kind of selfimposed exile in Iran, Ahmad has returned to sign their long-standing divorce papers. Greeted by a downpour of rain and a complicated familial situation involving Marie’s new beau, Samir (Tahar Rahim), and his young son, Fouad (Elyes Aguis), Ahmad finds himself caught in a cascading wave of melodrama that continuously evolves.

Farhadi’s specialty is weaving complex emotional webs within a seemingly simple framework.

Familiar circumstances like infidelity and separation are given substantial weight thanks to the deceptively layered dialogue and nuanced performances. One great

example of a small sequence taking on added importance comes when Ahmad and Samir meet for the first time, quietly and politely trying to maneuver around each other in Marie’s small kitchen.

While a bit too twisty in the end and not as powerful as Farhadi’s previous two films, About Elly and A Separation, both of which share similar themes of deception and desperation, The Past—which opens Friday, Jan. 10 at Hillcrest Cinemas—is an expertly crafted examination of how indecision can create a painful ripple effect of doubt. No one is left unscathed.

Opening

tem (voiced by Scarlet Johansson) in Spike Jonze’s tender and moving sci-fi romance. See our review on Page 19.

August: Osage County: A dysfunctional Texas family reunites when its troubled patriarch (Sam Shepard) goes missing, uncovering a barrage of dark secrets and regrets. It’s based on the play by Tracy Letts and stars Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Chris Cooper.

Beyond Outrage: Japanese director Takeshi Kitano returns to his genre of choice with this bloody Yakuza tale of hardboiled gangsters and corrupt cops battling for control of organized crime in Tokyo. Screens through Jan. 16 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Her: A lonely man (Joaquin Phoenix) falls in love with his new operating sys-

—Glenn Heath Jr.

The Legend of Hercules: Action director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2: Die Harder) brings the origin story of Hercules (Kellan Lutz) to the big screen in not-so-glorious post-conversion 3-D. Lone Survivor: Four Navy SEALs are behind enemy lines in the mountains of Afghanistan, fighting an army of Taliban insurgents. It’s based on the failed Operation Red Wings of June 2005 and stars Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch and Ben Foster.

The Past: An Iranian man (Tahar Rahim) returns to Paris to finalize his divorce from his French wife (Bérénice Bejo), only to

20 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

uncover a series of hidden secrets. Master dramatist Asghar Farhadi once again focuses on the devastating ramifications of past trauma. See our review on Page 19.

Reaching for the Moon: Legendary American poet Elizabeth Bishop (Miranda Otto) travels to Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s, hoping to cure a case of writer’s block. There, she meets an architect (Glória Pires) and begins a volatile relationship that changes her life. Screens through Jan. 16 at the Ken Cinema.

The Suspect: A Korean intelligence agent (Gong Yoo) is abandoned during a black-ops mission, then discovers his wife and daughter have been kidnapped, setting him on a mission of revenge. Screens at AMC Mission Valley Cinemas.

The Truth About Emanuel: Emanuel (Yaya Scodelario), a volatile young woman with a troubled past, becomes obsessed with her mysterious new neighbor (Jessica Biel), who bears an uncanny resemblance to her dead mother. Screens at Reading Gaslamp Cinemas.

One Time Only John Adams: This HBO mini-series examines the life of the second president of the United States (played by Paul Giamatti).

Episode 1 screens at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, Episode 2 on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Lemon Grove Library.

The Hangover: Four friends become embroiled in a hilarious series of events after waking up from an epic night of drinking in Las Vegas. Screens at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 8, at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma.

Birth of the Living Dead: Documentary

that looks back at George A. Romero’s filmmaking quest to make his seminal film, Night of the Living Dead. Screens at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10 and 11, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

sis and decides to have his soul removed and frozen in storage. The surrealist drama stars Emily Watson and David Strathairn.

Screens at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Hervey Branch Library in Point Loma.

Children of the Stars: This local documentary follows UFO contactees who believe they’ve lived past lives on other planets and create science-fiction films depicting their experiences. Screens at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, and at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Take Me Home: This magical road romance is about a New York City cab driver who decides to take an attractive woman across the country and back to California.

Screens at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Scripps Ranch Library.

Free Fall: A young police officer with a successful career and stable family finds himself falling in love with a new male recruit. It’s accompanied by the short film Squared. Screens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Birch North Park Theatre.

The Room: Come for the horrendous acting, terrible script and awkward sex scenes and stay for the collective laughter that will ensue. Screens at midnight on Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Ken Cinema.

Herschel Sizemore: Mandolin in B: Music documentary about bluegrass legend Herschel Sizemore, who was diagnosed with cancer on the same day as his wife. The two hold a benefit concert in Roanoke, Va. Screens at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, and at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

The Willow Tree: Iranian auteur Majid Majidi is known for his keen attention to emotion, and this story of a blind university professor seeking medical treatment for a fatal disease in France is a perfect example. Screens at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, at the Hervey Branch Library in Point Loma.

Cold Souls: An actor working on a Chekhov play finds himself in a metaphysical cri-

Old School: In an attempt to recapture the debauchery of their college days, three grown friends (Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn) start a new fraternity. Screens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma.

Now PLaying Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones: A young man (Andrew Jacobs) begins experiencing strange phenomenon before realizing he’s been marked by an evil spirit. It’s the latest entry in the popular found-footage horror series.

Sleeping with the Fishes: Gina Rodriguez and Ana Ortiz star in this rambunctious romantic comedy directed by Nicole Gomez Fisher about two sisters navigating the dynamics of their crazy immediate family. Ends Jan. 9 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

For a complete listing of movies, please see “F ilm S creenings” at sdcit yb eat.com under the “E vents” tab.

Axe to grind San Diego post-punk band Barbarian return from the desert with a new album • by Jeff Terich If the late AC/DC frontman Bon Scott taught us anything, it’s that it’s a long way to the top, if you wanna rock ’n’ roll.

That is, if you want to make a career of being a musician, you’d better be prepared to put in a lot of work, pay your dues and not expect anything to be handed to you.

Sometimes you get lucky, but, chances are, you’ve got to apply generous amounts of elbow grease if that career’s ever going to get off the ground.

Members of the San Diego post-punk quintet Barbarian—who’ll perform at The Griffin on Thursday, Jan. 9—not only understand this; they embrace it. Over a round of beers at Olive Tree in Ocean Beach, singer / guitarist Andrew Mills and guitarist Seton Edgerton use some permutation of the phrase “You gotta bust your ass” around a half-dozen times in one hour.

But that doesn’t mean they won’t welcome a lucky break when it comes.

Last summer, the band was asked to open for U.K. singer-songwriter Bat for Lashes on a string of Midwest and East Coast tour dates, which exposed them to a whole region of new audiences. They borrowed a van and launched a Kickstarter campaign to pay for food and gas, but just getting the chance to play those shows

was an educational experience in itself.

“Getting that taste of professionalism, on that level, was the most rewarding thing,” Edgerton says. “Because we were able to quickly learn that we don’t know shit. We’ve never played before with an artist on that level.”

When Barbarian formed in 2011, one thing that Edgerton and Mills decided was that music wouldn’t be a lower priority than their day jobs. The two met at SDSU, and each had played in other bands and, after graduating, spent time abroad— Mills in Spain, Edgerton in Australia. After returning, however, Mills found himself on the business end of an existential awakening that occurred during a soulsucking interview process at a paycheckprocessing company.

When he got back to the States, Mills says, he interviewed “with this bullshit company. It was something that I would never want to do.” But he figured, “that’s what you’re supposed to do”: When school is over, you go out and get a job to pay off your debts. “On, like, the fifth interview,” he says, the interviewer was “full of shit, and I have to be full of shit to try to keep up with him.

“I didn’t walk out,” he adds. “But I got

done and thought, I’m not gonna do this.”

A little more than two years later, Mills, Edgerton, keyboardist Dan Nichols, bassist Phil Dupasquier and drummer Darrin Lee have gained significant momentum, with an East Coast tour under their belts and a recently released EP, City of Women, demonstrating their strengths as a band. That EP’s “Song of Love and Hate” is a haunting psychedelic pop song with touches of dream-pop and a slight Nigerian highlife influence, while the fuzzy “Red Tide” is a darker, post-punk rocker with a catchy, sultry side.

Shortly after City of Women’s release, the band headed to Joshua Tree to record their first full-length with Dave Catching, a guitarist who’s played with Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal, at Rancho de la Luna. The studio, where Queens, Kyuss and Arctic Monkeys, among others, have recorded, is also Catching’s home, which provided a more hospitable environment—and a more inspirational one at that—than a standard recording studio.

“The thing with most studios is that they’re so sterile,” Edgerton says. “It’s not inspiring at all to be in an enclosed room and be, like, ‘OK, I have to solely rely on what I’m hearing without visual stimulation or any kind of outside stimulation.’ You have to really focus on what you’re hearing.

“But, out there, it’s so peaceful and so quiet and so just out of the radar.”

The new album, tentatively scheduled for release in early summer, doesn’t yet have a title or artwork, but after the group puts the finishing touches on it, fans should expect to hear a new stage of sonic evolution. Mills describes it as a “progression” from their previous recordings and cites Talking Heads’ Remain in Light and early New Order singles as major influences.

“It’s different than what people are used to from us,” Edgerton adds. “But I think it fits, because what people are used to hearing from us is so hard to describe, anyway.”

All of Barbarian’s recordings to date have been self-funded, and most of the money that the group makes gets invested back into their projects. And though almost everyone in the group tends bar when not on stage, the hard work and humble approach to building the band from the ground up looks to be paying off. Still, as Mills emphasizes, things don’t happen unless you’re ready to commit to it.

“It’s got to be tangible,” he says. “Your parents and everyone around you are usually, like, ‘You need to get a 9-to-5.’ But it is tangible.

“You just work your ass off.”

Write to jefft@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 21

notes from the smoking patio Locals Only AMSD Concerts is moving to a new venue. Carey Driscoll, organizer of the concert series—whose initials stand for Acoustic Music San Diego—announced via email in December that no more shows would be held at the Normal Heights Methodist Church. As of Dec. 23, AMSD secured a new location for the series: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (1370 Euclid Ave.) in southeastern San Diego’s Ridgeview-Webster neighborhood.

Driscoll says he learned in July that he might have to move AMSD. “The new pastor [at Normal Heights Methodist] is making changes to seating that just wouldn’t work with our concerts,” he says. “He wanted us to stay there, but... after months of waiting and waiting, it became obvious that it wasn’t going to work out.”

When Driscoll announced that AMSD was in need of a new venue, Dan and Sylvia Herman, a pair of regular attendees, approached him with the idea of moving to Our Redeemer and even spearheaded the initiative to make it happen.

An inside view of AMSD Concerts’ new venue.

“We were not only referred to it; the ball was carried on our behalf by a couple who’s been coming [to AMSD] through the duration of the whole concert series,” Driscoll says.

The capacity of the new venue is roughly 250, Driscoll says, and the first show there will be a Guy Davis performance on Feb. 7.

—Jeff Terich

Casbah 25th: a listening companion The Casbah is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month, and the festivities are already underway. But many of the best shows on the calendar have yet to come, so I’ve compiled a listening companion of essential albums and singles to spin in preparation for the events. Queue these up and get ready to rock (the dates of each band’s shows are in parentheses): No Knife, Riot for Romance: An incredible swan song from one of the best bands ever to come out of San Diego, Riot for Romance swirled all of No Knife’s strengths—complex guitar interplay, unshakable hooks, punk energy—into one spectacular whole.

(Jan. 8 and 9) X, Los Angeles: OK, you should have this album already. It’s only the greatest L.A. punk album of all time. Yeah, yeah—Black Flag’s Damaged is up there, but there’s no topping X in my book. (Jan. 16) The Penetrators, “Untamed Youth”: Copies of this original 7-inch by San Diego’s O.G. punks tend to fetch a pretty penny, but there are, of course, other methods of tracking down this three-chord anthem. The Penetrators made noise in San Diego earlier than pretty much every other band playing this month, so school yourself on how it’s done with this two-minute ripper. (Jan. 17) Ilya, Poise is the Greater Architect: Seeing Ilya live again last fall reminded me of how much I enjoyed their debut, a dark and hazy trip-hop / dreampop hybrid with more than a trace of Blonde Redhead. (Jan. 22) Creedle, Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars: One among a long list of bands that once featured Rob Crow, Creedle carved out a blistering post-hardcore sound with experimental flourishes. Their second album is a real gem, blending Drive Like Jehu-style punk math-robatics with Captain Beefheart-ian abstraction. (Jan. 24) Chune, Big Hat No Cattle: It’s really worth re-

22 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

X iterating that the 1990s provided a treasure trove of abrasive post-hardcore and punk in San Diego.

Chune is one such band that churned out their own melodic brand of emo with a twist of Unwoundstyle dissonance. Think a more progressive Hum or a more rhythmically complex Sunny Day Real Estate. (Jan. 24) Smile, Maquee: The first track on this Orange County band’s debut is titled “Rock Anthem for the Retarded Teenage Hipster Population,” which gives you some idea of the smart-ass indie rock this group made in its heyday. It also happens to be supercatchy, mega-distorted music, so if some good oldfashioned power-chord riffs are what you seek, give it a spin. (Jan. 25) Rocket from the Crypt, Circa: Now: Another one that should already be in your collection, it’s the first of several Rocket albums that sounded like greatest-hits collections. The riffs, hooks and choruses are just that unforgettable. (Jan. 31)

—Jeff Terich Write to jefft@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

if i were u

BY Jeff Terich Danielle Rhoades

Wednesday, Jan. 8 PLAN A: No Knife, SISU, Modern Rifles @ The Casbah. If you only go to one show this week, and you don’t already have tickets to the sold-out Jan. 9 No Knife show, then, for the love of all that is holy, go to this one.

The last time No Knife played The Casbah was five years ago, during the venue’s 20th anniversary, which gives you some indication of how often they come out of hiding. They’re one of the finest rock bands this city has ever produced—don’t miss out. PLAN B: Badabing, Kodiak, Stalins of Sound @ Tin Can Ale House. But there are other great local bands to see in San Diego the same night, like this triple bill of eardrumwrecking bands, each of which provides a different flavor of gnarly. BACKUP PLAN: Netherfriends, Chrome Wilderness, Swim Team, Vulpixic @ Soda Bar.

Thursday, Jan. 9 PLAN A: Barbarian, Spirit Vine, Young Wants @ The Griffin. See Page 21 for our feature on local post-punks Barbarian, who plan to release their debut album later this year. They describe it as darker than anything they’ve done before, so wear black to this show.

No Knife band’s never getting back together, here’s the next best thing. PLAN B: Nipsey Hu$$le @ Porter’s Pub. Nipsey Hu$$le’s name is one of my favorite hip-hop puns, just beneath Fidel Cashflow, but the Southern California MC has the skills to back up the double dollar signs in his moniker. If hardcore hip-hop with laid-back beats is your thing, then roll on up to this one. BACKUP PLAN: Muscle Beech, Cinder Cone, Front Removal @ Tin Can Ale House.

Sunday, Jan. 12

PLAN A: KIDS, Sheep’s Head, Great Ghosts, Suzy’s Dead, Pretty Teen @ The Che Café. Local indie rockers KIDS are releasing a brand-new cassette titled Growing Up, and based on a recently surfaced live recording of new track “Mess,” the band’s getting into some dense, heavy territory.

And, by golly, I like it. Whether or not you Friday, Jan. 10 have the proper hardware to play their PLAN A: Mobb Deep, Chris Young Raps, newly released analog goods, experiencing DJ Jam @ House of Blues. Next year is the the songs live is a capital idea.

20th anniversary of Mobb Deep’s breakthrough album, The Infamous, which can go toe-to-toe with any of the biggest East Monday, Jan. 13 Coast hip-hop records of the ’90s. And, for PLAN A: Janelle Monae, Roman Gianarthat matter, few can compete with the kind thur @ House of Blues. Janelle Monae had of lyrical menace that Prodigy and Havoc to cancel her September appearance in San wreak. This will be one of two appearanc- Diego due to some vocal exhaustion, but the es they make in San Diego this year, so be conceptually driven, stylish and dynamic sure to hit up at least one of them. PLAN B: singer is making good on that rain check.

Monochromacy, Karl Blau, Jason Begin, Her new album, The Electric Lady, sounds Steve Flato @ Craftlab Gallery. Looking better to these ears with each listen, so havto get weird in the new year, and willing ing a little extra time to spend with her new to make the trek up to Oceanside to do so? songs has only made anticipation rise for Then Stay Strange has the show for you, a her inevitable return. Make sure to wear North County noise showcase featuring your (apocalyptic) dancing shoes. BACKUP guitarist Monochromacy, K Records alum PLAN: The Meat Packers, The Midnight Karl Blau and micro-cassette artist Jason Pine, Hong Kong Fuzz @ Soda Bar. Begin. Let that freak flag fly. BACKUP PLAN: Brothers Weiss, Strange Vine, Tuesday, Jan. 14 Buddy Banter @ Soda Bar. PLAN A: Pinback, Deathfix, Octa#grape @ The Casbah. Considering how big a Saturday, Jan. 11 crowd Pinback drew at the Del Mar RacePLAN A: Sweet and Tender Hooligans, track last summer, it’s hard to pass up an The Companies @ The Casbah. Just before opportunity to see the group play in a club The Casbah announced its 25th anniversary, as intimate as The Casbah. Their taut indieSweet and Tender Hooligans, Los Angeles’ pop tunes always made more sense in a club Smiths tribute act, celebrated their 20th, than on a big outdoor stage, anyhow, so your which is an impressive length of time for a best bet is to take advantage of it. BACKUP band to be together. In fact, it’s four times the PLAN: The Lonely Wild, Low Volts, The lifespan of the actual Smiths. And since that Palace Ballroom @ Soda Bar.

24 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

HOT! NEW! FRESH! Bl’ast! (Brick by Brick, 1/25), Guttermouth (Brick by Brick, 2/1), Terraplane Sun (BUT, 2/12), Andre Nickatina (Porter’s Pub, 3/4), Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (BUT, 3/7), The Mary Onettes (Soda Bar, 3/15), The Black Lips (BUT, 4/5), Angelic Upstarts (Brick by Brick, 5/25)

GET YER TICKETS Switchfoot (Casbah, 1/15), X (Casbah, 1/16), The Penetrators (Casbah, 1/17), Skinny Puppy (HOB, 1/25), Ab-Soul (Porter’s Pub, 1/31), Oneohtrix Point Never (The Irenic, 2/8), Young The Giant (SOMA, 2/9), Brandon Boyd and Sons of the Sea (HOB, 2/11), Los Lobos (BUT, 2/13), Touche Amore (Epicentre, 2/13), New Politics (HOB, 2/17), Marissa Nadler (Soda Bar, 2/23), The Wailers (BUT, 3/2), Gary Numan (BUT, 3/5), The Ataris (HOB, 3/7), St. Vincent (HOB, 3/19), G. Love and Special Sauce (HOB, 3/21), Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings (HOB, 3/22), Xiu Xiu (Soda Bar, 3/25), Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks (Casbah, 3/29), Cut Copy (HOB, 4/2), Tiger Army (HOB, 4/16), Journey, Steve Miller Band (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 5/15), Lady Gaga (Viejas Arena, 6/2).

January Wednesday, Jan. 8 No Knife at The Casbah.

Thursday, Jan. 9 No Knife at The Casbah. Sea Wolf at

Luce Loft.

Friday, Jan. 10 Jonny Lang at Belly Up Tavern. The Rugburns at The Casbah. Mobb Deep at House of Blues.

Saturday, Jan. 11 The Dickies at Soda Bar. Beat Farmers at Belly Up Tavern. Sweet and Tender Hooligans at The Casbah. Nipsey Hussle at Porter’s Pub.

Sunday, Jan. 12 Tennis at Soda Bar. David Lindley at Belly Up Tavern.

Monday, Jan. 13 Janelle Monae at House of Blues. Pinback at The Casbah.

Tuesday, Jan. 14 Pinback at The Casbah.

Wednesday, Jan. 15 Martha Davis and The Motels at Belly Up Tavern. Switchfoot at The Casbah.

Thursday, Jan. 16 X at The Casbah. Crooks on Tape at Soda Bar.

Friday, Jan. 17 Johnette Napolitano at The Griffin. Gungor at House of Blues. The Penetrators at The Casbah.

Saturday, Jan. 18 Parquet Courts at Che Café. Buck O

Nine at The Casbah.

Sunday, Jan. 19 Volcano Choir at House of Blues

Monday, Jan. 20 Weedeater at Soda Bar.

Tuesday, Jan. 21 3 Doors Down at House of Blues

Wednesday, Jan. 22 Mint Condition at Jacobs Center. Dent May at Soda Bar. Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects at The Casbah.

Thursday, Jan. 23 The White Buffalo at Belly Up Tavern.

Kisses at Soda Bar. Sound Tribe Sector 9 at House of Blues.

Friday, Jan. 24 Creedle at The Casbah. Pure Bathing Culture at Soda Bar.

Saturday, Jan. 25 Smile at The Casbah. Wooden Shjips at Soda Bar. Skinny Puppy at House of Blues. Islands at The Griffin. Bl’ast! at Brick by Brick.

Sunday, Jan. 26 Mutual Benefit at Soda Bar. Hot Tuna at Belly Up Tavern.

Friday, Jan. 31 DJ Z-Trip at Belly Up Tavern. MXPX at The Irenic. Frankie Rose at Soda Bar. Rocket From the Crypt at The Casbah.

Ab-Soul at Porter’s Pub.

Thursday, Feb. 13

February Saturday, Feb. 1 Cate LeBon at Soda Bar. Ash at The Casbah. Futurebirds at The Griffin. Guttermouth at Brick by Brick.

Sunday, Feb. 2 Yuck at The Casbah. Japanther at Soda Bar.

Monday, Feb. 3 Into It. Over It. at The Che Café.

Thursday, Feb. 6 Delorean at The Casbah.

Friday, Feb. 7 A Minor Forest at The Casbah. Ramon Alaya at House of Blues.

Saturday, Feb. 8 Ras Kass at Porter’s Pub. Oneohtrix Point Never at The Irenic.

Sunday, Feb. 9 White Denim at The Casbah. Young the Giant at SOMA.

Tuesday, Feb. 11 Brandon Boyd and Sons of the Sea at House Of Blues.

Wednesday, Feb. 12 Terraplane Sun at Belly Up Tavern. Secret Chiefs 3 at The Casbah.

yMusic at The Loft at UCSD. Los Lobos at Belly Up Tavern. Touche Amore at The Epicentre.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach. 710bc.com. Wed: Open mic, open jam. Thu: Noise Makerz, Rockers Island.

Fri: Core, The Big Lewinsky, Everlong.

Sat: Belmont Light Music, Saint Diego, Lyrical Groove. Tue: ‘710 Bass Club’.

98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, Little Italy. 98bottlessd.com. Fri: Curtis Brooks.

Sat: Joe Garrison and Night People, Gilbert Castellanos. Sun: Steph Johnson.

Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St, Normal Heights. airconditionedbar.com.

Wed: ‘Breezy Bliss’ w/ DJs Orin Jacobs, Volz, JoshthebeaR, Jus Sven, Gianna, Viking. Thu: DJs Bala, Ledher 10, Impera.

Fri: DJ Junior the DiscoPunk. Sat: ‘Juicy’ w/ Mike Czech. Sun: DJ Shermz.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave, Downtown. americancomedyco.com.

Wed: Delray, Florentine and Jamieson.

Thu: Bill Bellamy. Thu-Sun: Bill Bellamy.

Tue: Open mic.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St, Downtown. facebook.com/BangBangSanDiego. Fri: Treasure Fingers.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St, North Park. barpink.com. Wed: DJ Grandmasta Rats.

Thu: J. Blow. Fri: Euphoria Brass Band.

Sat: The Milkcrates DJs. Bassmnt, 919 Fourth Ave, Downtown. bassmntsd.com. Fri: Migos, Dre Sinatra.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

Beaumont’s, 5662 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla. brocktonvilla.com/beaumonts.html.

Wed: Sando. Thu: Mike Myrdal. Fri: The Aquile Band. Sat: December’s Children.

Sun: Doug Benson.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. bellyup.com. Wed: Snoop Lion, Vince Staples (sold out). Fri: Jonny Lang, Honor By August (sold out). Sat: The Beat Farmers w/ Rolle Love, Joey Harris and The Mentals, The Rugburns, John Doe, Dave Gonzales. Sun: David Lindley, Gregory Page. Tue: The Devastators, Brothers Gow, The Tarr Steps, DJ Man Cat. Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave, Carlsbad. boarcrossn.net. Thu: Jug Head Mob, Chris Hahn. Fri: ‘Club Musae’. Sat: Hi Roots, City Reef.

Bourbon Street, 4612 Park Blvd, University Heights. bourbonstreetsd.com. Wed: ‘Awe Snap! I Love the 90s’ w/ VJ K-Swift.

Thu: ‘Wet’. Fri: ‘Go-Go Fridays’ w/ VJ KSwift. Sat: ‘M.A.N.’. Sun: ‘Soiree’.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave, Bay Park. brickbybrick.com. Fri: Murder Junkies, Systematic Abuse, Tim Raldo and the Filthy Fuks.

Cafe Sevilla, 353 Fifth Ave, Downtown. cafesevilla.com. Wed: Aro Di Santi. Thu & Sat: Malamana. Fri: Joeff and Co. Sun: Aragon y Royal. Mon: Sounds of Brazil.

Comedy Palace, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, Clairemont. thecomedypalace.com.

Fri-Sat: Andrew Norelli.

Comedy Store, 916 Pearl St, La Jolla. lajolla.thecomedystore.com. Fri: Natasha Leggero.

Dirk’s Nightclub, 7662 Broadway, Lemon Grove. dirksniteclub.com. Fri: Rock Face. Sat: Zone 4.

El Dorado Bar, 1030 Broadway, Down-

town. eldoradobar.com. Wed: ‘The Tighten Up!’. Thu: ‘Joy Division vs. The Smiths’. Fri: ‘Posse on Broadway’ w/ DJs KidRiz, Cros1. Sat: ‘Moonshake’.

Epicentre, 8450 Mira Mesa Blvd, Mira Mesa. epicentreconcerts.org. Fri: AsOfLate, Guidelines, Everybody Knows, It’s Only A Story, Lake Susan, Family Thief. Sat: Alex Levianos, Chris Avetta, Jacob Mobley, Buddha Trixie, Patchwork Parachute.

F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown, Downtown. f6ixsd.com. Sat: DJ Bamboozle.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave, Downtown. fluxxsd.com. Thu: Snoop Dogg, DJ Brett Bodley. Fri: DJ Scooter. Sat: Sid Vicious, Ricky Rocks.

Gallagher’s, 5040 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach. 619-222-5303. Wed: Random Radio. Thu: Piracy Conspiracy, DJ Reefah, TRC Soundsystem. Fri: The Routine, Melty Brains, DJ Kilbride. Sat: Full Moon Fever, DJ Chelu.

Hard Rock Hotel, 207 Fifth Ave, Downtown. hardrockhotelsd.com. Thu: We Are Sirens, Tiger and The Teller. Fri: Common Dream, Dynamix. Sat: Chris Kennedy, Lou Diesel. Sun: ‘Sunday School’ w/ DJs Sid Vicious, Kurch.

Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave, Downtown. henryspub.com. Wed: Johnny Tarr, DJ Chris London. Thu: Mark Fisher, DJ Yodah. Fri: DJs Rev, Yodah. Sat: DJs E, Yodah. Mon: DJs Yodah, Joey Jimenez, Johnny Tarr.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave, Downtown. houseofblues.com/sandiego. Fri: Mobb Deep. Mon: Janelle Monae, Roman Gianarthur.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. kavalounge.com. Wed: ‘Future Wednesday’. Thu: Dreamrepeat, Bur Gur,

Chakita. Fri: ‘Vitamin Pink’. Sat: eSeMCy, James Curry, NOMAD, BALA. Sun: ‘For the Love of Hip-Hop’.

Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave, Normal Heights. lestats.com. Wed: Anonymous, Old Heart. Thu: Mason James, Sierra Scott, Tim Connolly. Fri: Linus of Hollywood, Mary Grasso, Scott Allen Knost. Sat: Goodnight Ravenswood, Lee Coulter, The Show Ponies. Sun: Neveready, Saline Solutions. Mon: Open mic. Tue: Comedy night.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave, Coronado. mcpspub.com. Wed: Ron’s Trio. Thu: JG Duo. Fri: Trunk Monkey.

Sat: 4-Way Street. Tue: Gene Warren.

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd, Hillcrest. numberssd.com. Thu: ‘Varsity’. Fri: ‘Viernes Calientes’. Sat: ‘Club Sabbat’.

Sun: ‘Joe’s Gamenite’. Tue: ‘Karaoke Latino’.

Onyx Room / Thin, 852 Fifth Ave, Downtown. onyxroom.com. Tue: ‘Neo Soul’.

Patricks Gaslamp, 428 F St, Downtown. patricksii.com. Wed: The Fuzzy Rankins Band. Thu: The Rayford Brothers. Fri: Mystique Element of Soul. Sat: Myron and the Kyniptionz. Sun: The TNT Band.

Mon: The Groove Squad. Tue: Paddys Chicken Jam. Porter’s Pub, 9500 Gilman Dr., UCSD campus, La Jolla. porterspub.net. Sat: Nipsey Hu$$le.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave, Hillcrest. richssandiego.com. Wed: DJ John Joseph. Fri: DJs Dirty Kurty, Will Z. Sat: DJ Corey Craig. Sun: DJ Kiki.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave, La Mesa. rivierasupperclub.com.

Thu: Mafard. Fri: Sure Fire Soul Ensemble. Sat: Chess Wars.

Shakedown Bar, 3048 Midway Drive, Point Loma. theshakedownsd.com. Thu: Township Rebellion, Sarah’s Promise, Gunner Gunner, Heartshaped Heads. Fri: Caskitt, Night Owl Massacre, Dark Globe.

Sat: Chiefs, Great Electric Quest, The Pheasants, Subject to Citation.

Side Bar, 536 Market St, Downtown. sidebarsd.com. Fri: DJ Kurch. Sat: Kyle Flesch.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. sodabarmusic.com.

Wed: Netherfriends, Chrome Wilderness, Swim Team, Vulpixic. Thu: Plague Vendor, Sound Lupus. Fri: Brothers Weiss, Strange Vine, Buddy Banter. Sat: The Dickies, The Creepy Creeps, The Bugs, Homeless Sexuals. Sun: Tennis, Poor Moon (sold out). Mon: The Meat Packers, Midnight Pine, Hong Kong Fuzz. Tue: The Lonely Wild, Low Volts, Palace Ballroom.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd, Midway. somasandiego.com. Fri: Never Victorious Never Defeated, Roar Like Me, Sacred Cow, The Sinner Among Us, ALL BEEHIVES AVIATORS, I Trust You To Kill Me. Sat: For The Win, In Her Own Words, Jeremiah Johnson, Cut Your Losses, At The Premier, Plane Without A Pilot.

Spin, 2028 Hancock St, Midtown. spinnightclub.com. Thu: Hot Since 82. Fri: ‘Judgement Night’.

Stage Bar & Grill, 762 Fifth Ave, Downtown. stagesaloon.com. Wed: Mark Fisher and Gaslamp Guitars. Thu: Van Roth.

Fri: Disco Pimps, Timothy H. Sat: The Nerd Herd (7:20 p.m.); Hott Mess (9:30 p.m.); DJ Miss Dust (10:30 p.m.). Sun: ‘Funhouse/Seismic’. Mon: Thoughtless Approach, Trelic (7:20 p.m.); ‘Fettish Monday’ (10 p.m.). Tue: Vincent and Marin.

The Brass Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave, Hillcrest.

thebrassrailsd.com. Thu: ‘Boyz Club’.

Fri: ‘Wired’. Sat: ‘Sabado en Fuego’ w/ DJs XP, KA. Sun: ‘Noche Romantica’ w/ Daisy Salinas, DJ Sebastian La Madrid.

Mon: ‘Manic Monday’ w/ DJs XP, Junior the DiscoPunk.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. casbahmusic.com. Wed: No Knife, Sisu, Modern Rifles. Thu: No Knife, Ghetto Blaster, Nancy (sold out). Fri: The Rugburns, Truckee Brothers, The Macananys, The Nards (sold out). Sat: Sweet and Tender Hooligans, The Companies. Sun: Pickwick, Elliott Brood. Mon: Pinback, Deathfix, Octa#grape. Tue: Pinback, Deathfix, Octa#grape.

The Che Cafe, UCSD campus, La Jolla. thechecafe.blogspot.com. Fri: Mad Conductor. Sat: Blackbird Raum, Age of Collapse, Hot Nerds, The Manx. Sun: KIDS, Sheep’s Head, Great Ghosts, Suzy’s Dead, Pretty Teen.

The Griffin, 1310 Morena Blvd, Bay Park. thegriffinsd.com. Thu: Barbarian, Spirit Vine, Young Wants. Sat: Tribal Theory.

Mon: Cody Canada and The Departed, American Aquarium.

The Loft @ UCSD, Price Center East, La Jolla. theloft.ucsd.edu. Fri: Alyssa Belle Cantal, Emael.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave, Hillcrest. rubyroomsd.com. Fri: Daemos, The Sand Devils, Jason Lee and the RIP Tides, Rattlehead.

The Office, 3936 30th St, North Park. officebarinc.com. Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ w/ Tribe of Kings.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. tiltwoclub.com. Thu: Amigo, Pleasure Fix, A-Bortz. Fri: The Steady 45s, Mochilero, DJ King Dutty, Erny Earthquake. Sat: East of Sweden, Sundrop Electric. Mon: Karaoke.

Tin Can Ale House, 1863 Fifth Ave, Bankers Hill. thetincan1.wordpress.com.

Wed: Badabing, Kodiak, Stalins of Sound.

Thu: King Legend, High Noon, Counterpoint Culture. Fri: Brian Ellis Group, Hing.

Sat: Muscle Beech, Cinder Cone, Front Removal. Mon: ‘Tin Can Country Club’ w/ Jimmy Ruelas.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St, Bay Park. tioleos.com. Wed: Karaoke. Thu: Taryn Donath Trio. Fri: Candy Kane. Sat: Detroit Underground. Tue: SD Cajun Playboys.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave, City Heights. thetowerbar.com. Wed: DJ Mikey Ratt. Thu: Rock n Roll Preservation Society DJs. Fri: Cool Ghouls, Sunday Times, Amerikan Bear. Sat: Action Andy, DJ Mongo, Chango Rey. Turquoise, 873 Turquoise St, Pacific Beach. theturquoise.com/wordpress. Wed: Tomcat Courtney (7 p.m.). Thu: Talia (4 p.m.); Jade Visions Jazz Trio (7 p.m.). Fri: Tomcat Courtney (5 p.m.); Afro Jazziacs (9 p.m.). Sat: Zak Lipton Trio (4 p.m.); Tomcat Courtney (6:30 p.m.). Sun: Sounds Like Four (4 p.m.); Blue 44 (7 p.m.). Mon: David Hermsen (4 p.m.); ‘Brazil Jam’ w/ Stefanie Schmitz (7 p.m.). Tue: Stefanie Schmitz (4 p.m.); Grupo Globo (7 p.m.).

U-31, 3112 University Ave, North Park. u31bar.com. Wed: Cobra Heart, Pal and Drome, Mike Delgado, Cobra Kills. Thu: Yuso, Hot Fire. Fri: Ground Floor. Sat: DJ Junior the DiscoPunk. Mon: Kid Wonder.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. whistlestopbar.com.

Wed: ‘Wu-Tang Wednesday’ w/ DJ Cros1. Thu: Comedy.

Sat: ‘Booty Bassment’ w/ DJs Dimitri, Rob. Winstons, 1921 Bacon St, Ocean Beach. winstonsob.com. Wed: Rain Basilo, The Roosters, DJ Carlos Culture. Thu: Maka Roots, The I Sight Band. Fri: Pink Froyd.

Sat: DJ Ultraviolet. Sun: Frankie Boots and the County Line. Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Sophistafunk.

26 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

Proud sponsor: Pacific Nature Tours

Ink Well Xwords by Ben Tausig

Across 1. Sites of many a college experiment 6. Run the roast 11. Orthodontist’s deg.

14. As perfect as perfect can be 15. Sales goal 16. Period of literary style, e.g.

17. Ocean floor dweller that vomits in self-defense 19. Dairy product often mixed with brandy in December 20. Chili pepper, e.g.

21. Rack spec 22. Walgreens alternative 23. What a fan might bring to the stadium to cheer for a series sweep 26. Suffix with Roman or Arab 30. Enviable position, probably 33. Life or death 34. Safe time to eat shellfish, in an adage 36. “Where ___ they now?”

37. One who completed a major, say 38. Fluffy clouds 39. FX technology used in cinematic virtual worlds 40. Take-home from the mortuary 41. Sharpness 42. Game with trump cards 43. Badminton call 44. Mexican food wrapped in a corn husk 45. Opening of a sewage-filled pool?

46. H1N1, e.g.

48. War on Terror prison, briefly 49. Island in the East China Sea 50. 2014 Orange Bowl team: Abbr.

52. Men’s 100-meter sprint record holder 54. Jerks 59. Pseudonym for Norma McCorvey, in a landmark 1972 case 60. Pre-configured Windows folder

Last week’s answers

63. Wu-Tang Clan co-founder 64. Japanese carmaker with the Rodeo 65. Use, as plates 66. Standing on the street?

67. Hardwood tree 68. Suit up

Down 1. Laser___ 2. Ancient Greek theaters 3. Bring in from the field 4. Computers that currently come with Mavericks 5. Flow controller 6. Play about a boy and his horse 7. Big name in champagne 8. Inner part of a 10-Down 9. French summer 10. See 8-Down 11. Patch-covered punk apparel 12. Noted TV snake oil salesman 13. Wise 18. 205, to Septimius Severus 21. Source of vegan protein 23. Surrealist director Luis 24. Letters granted automatically on “Wheel of Fortune” 25. “Hey, I didn’t see you there” 26. Swallow, as with flames 27. Light reddish-brown, as some horse coats 28. Scott Bakula time travel show 29. Die Welt connector 30. They’re meant to make you pause 31. Climax that may be simultaneous, as in three places in this grid 32. “Go ahead,” archaically 34. Driverless racers 35. Outfit in the “Simpsons” episode “King-Size Homer” 41. Grinding away 42. Course guide abbr.

47. What Jack Napier fell into, to become the Joker 48. Chewed without teeth 50. Take place 51. Burmese politician/activist Aung San ___ Kyi 52. “WTF global warming??”

53. Slow flow 54. Keyser ___ (Kevin Spacey role in “The Usual Suspects”) 55. Tough test, as it were 56. Stakes before the deal 57. Pontiac muscle cars 58. Email scam targets, for short 60. Sri Lankan-British rapper 61. Initials of a famed Algerian-born designer 62. Firework that doesn’t fire

A pair of tickets for a 4.5 or 8 hour Pacific Nature Tour will be awarded weekly. Email a picture of your answers to crossword@sdcitybeat.com or fax it to 619-325-1393. Limit one win per person per 30 days.

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 27

28 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

January 8, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 29

30 · San Diego CityBeat · January 8, 2014

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