San Diego CityBeat • Jan 25, 2017

2 · San Diego CityBeat · January 25, 2017

@SDCityBeat

UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR

Nothing

P

eople are always understandably surprised when I tell them my personal hero is Malcolm X. Sure, on the surface what could a white guy from the south possibly find in common with a civil rights icon who, for a good chunk of his life, railed against whites and called them devils?

Not a whole lot if you want me to be honest. But when I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X in high school, it truly changed my life. I was a troubled teen with no direction, and there was just something about his story that resonated with me. A former pimp and drug dealer that was reborn as a fiery orator who called out injustice wherever he saw it, he inspired me to get my shit together, do better in school and read the dictionary cover to cover.

I thought a lot about a particular moment in Malcolm’s life on Saturday when I went with the rest of the CityBeat staff to march with 40,000 other men and women in the San Diego Women’s March. I was there to show my support for these loud and proud females who, over the next four years and beyond, I fear will begin to lose hard-fought ground in their struggle for what should be basic human rights.

I, however, will likely lose nothing. As a white male, I have a leg up on everyone else. And yes, I’m deeply ashamed of having to acknowledge that fact.

But back to Malcolm. You see, when he was in the throes of the Nation of Islam, he was giving a lecture at a college and a young white woman approached him and asked what she could do to help further his cause. His answer?

“Nothing.” And he walked away.

Later in his life—after leaving the Nation, travelling to Mecca and embracing the true, peaceful tenets of Islam—Malcolm confessed to writer Alex Haley that he wished he hadn’t been so dismissive of that woman.

I thought about that moment a lot on Saturday. As I looked around, I saw thousands of passionate, engaged and, yes, angry women who were on the verge of starting yet another important movement in this country.

Something that could live up to the promise of Occupy Wall Street and could embrace and work together with movements like Black Lives Matter.

But what could I do as a white man?

Nothing.

Nothing.

It kept repeating in my head. This isn’t my movement. This is their movement. As a white male, what can I truly bring to a cause that is fundamentally against the patriarchy? Something that, for millennia, has been perpetuated by my own gender and race?

Nothing.

But as we finally came to a stop in front of the County Administration Building and I Iooked out at the sea of people, I realized that, sure, progressive males can help by making monthly donations to organizations that support women’s rights, but what we really need to do is get over our own bullshit. Being a good ally means owning up to your own mistakes as a man. The times in the past where TORREY BAILEY you haven’t been a good feminist.

When you interrupted a woman because you thought your opinion was more important. The times where you did find yourself falling into those contradictory patriarchal trappings of gender-specific classifications (slut vs. stud, nag vs. assertive). The times you were dismissive of women’s claims that they face discrimination and harassment on a daily basis.

Yes, I have been guilty of all these things, but it’s important that I own it and continue to try to be a better person. And that means admitting to myself that the problems I deal with on a daily basis aren’t shit compared to the struggles of women. At the end of the day, it’s not my rights that are being threatened, and I certainly don’t need to mansplain that threat to anyone. CityBeat has fantastic feminist writers in Minda Honey, Alez Zaragoza and Aaryn Belfer who appear in these pages on a weekly basis. They’ll be more than happy to explain.

My job is to own up to my shit and show my support. To know that women have more than enough strength to channel their anger and disappointment into a truly progressive movement, but to also back them up if and when they need it. And, rather than speak for them, I can ask them how I can help in progressing their cause.

Hopefully, they will look at me, and each other, with stern faces and an open hearts and say…

“Everything. Let’s get started.”

—Seth Combs

Write to seth.combs@sdcitybeat.com

Tell you what democracy looks like? This issue of CityBeat is what democracy looks like!

Volume 15 • Issue 26 EDITOR Seth Combs MUSIC EDITOR Jeff Terich WEB EDITOR Ryan Bradford ART DIRECTOR Carolyn Ramos ASSOCIATE EDITOR Torrey Bailey COLUMNISTS Aaryn Belfer Edwin Decker Minda Honey John R. Lamb Alex Zaragoza

CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Baldwin, David L. Coddon, Beth Demmon, Andrew Dyer, Tiffany Fox, Michael A. Gardiner, Glenn Heath Jr., Lara McCaffrey, Scott McDonald, Sebastian Montes, Jenny Montgomery, Jordan Packer, Jim Ruland, Ben Salmon, Jen Van Tieghem, Amy Wallen EDITORIAL INTERNS Jamie Ballard, Sofia Mejias-Pascoe, Nicole Sazegar

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jason Noble ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Beau Odom Mark Schreiber Jenny Tormey ACCOUNTING Kacie Cobian, Sharon Huie Linda Lam HUMAN RESOURCES Andrea Baker VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE Kacie Sturek

PRODUCTION MANAGER Tristan Whitehouse

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS David Comden

MULTIMEDIA ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paulina Porter-Tapia

PUBLISHER Kevin Hellman

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Interested in advertising?

Call 619-281-7526 or e-mail advertising@sdcitybeat.com. The advertising deadline is 5 p.m. every Friday for the following week’s issue.

EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING OFFICE 3047 University Ave., Suite 202 San Diego, CA 92104 Phone: 619-281-7526 Fax: 619-281-5273 www.sdcitybeat.com

San Diego CityBeat is published and distributed every Wednesday by Southland Publishing Inc., free of charge but limited to one per reader. Reproduction of any material in this or any other issue is prohibited without written permission from the publisher and the author. Contents copyright 2017.

@SDCITYBEAT

JANUARY 25, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 3

UP FRONT | LETTERS Fan of the paper. You will probably receive an abundance of stories on the S.D. Women’s March. I’d like to share my unique experience below.

I was buying a bag of Skittles the morning of the San Diego Women’s March. My intent was to staple them to a protest sign which read “* AMERICA * ALL COLORS * EQUALITY *”. A woman moved into line right behind me. She had a bag of Skittles. She was African-American. I commented on our coincidence at this early hour. A wave of emotion flooded her face when I told her what I was up to. It was quickly replaced by concern. She wanted me to be safe at the march.

She had seen police batons up close. It never occurred to me that I wouldn’t be safe until that moment—the march was billed as family-oriented and peaceful. The woman insisted on paying for my Skittles. The march was peaceful and a catharsis. There were spasms of Skittles recognition by my fellow marchers throughout the day. A group of AfricanAmerican women asked if they could pose with my sign. There was also a lot of Skittles confusion: “What do the Skittles represent?”

“What’s up with the Skittles?” I patiently explained the pre-election comment made by Donald J. Trump Jr. comparing Syrian refugees to a bag of Skittles, some of which were poisonous, the logic being that you couldn’t let any Skittles into the country. I thought my protest sign was about diversity, inclusion, trust, and tolerance. It was, but I had completely forgotten about Trayvon Martin. He was carrying a bag of Skittles when

TABLE OF CONTENTS

he was shot dead. Skittles became a major symbol of racial injustice to the Black Lives Matter movement. I’d forgotten all that. I’m white. Newt Gingrich once said something about our national memory being reset every two weeks. I remember hearing Gingrich say this during the TV interview and thinking, “oh-my-god, he is right.” You can’t find a reference attributing this proverb to Gingrich online anywhere. That’s because our national memory only lasts about two weeks.

UP FRONT

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

ON THE

COVER

Stacy Keck

Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 FEATURE: Freedom NOW Fest. . . . . . . 17 Seen Local. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Film. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21

MUSIC

The World Fare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Dishing It Out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Beerdist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

SO SAD

4 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

3 4 6 8

FOOD & DRINK

James V. Carretta El Cerrito

Dear Mr. Combs, What I don’t understand after reading your editorial [“In Need of Supervision,” Jan. 11] is (1) why isn’t that high priced homeless czar Hizzoner [sic] hired leading the charge in “fixing” our horrific homeless problem?

Where has she disappeared to within the bowels of City Hall? and (2) why isn’t the County, which is flush with dollars, taking a more active role in solving this problem?

After all, the County is supposed to be lead player in the health care etc. of the county’s citizens and all those homeless folks surely have health issues of varying degrees. Sure seems to me that if the new County Supervisor has made the homeless a top priority, all the other Supervisors should have the same priorities. Looks to me that Roberts, Cox, Jacob and Horn are our modern day Pontius Pilates! So sad…

Lou Cumming

La Jolla

ARTS & CULTURE

From the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spin Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

There She Goz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EVAN MCGINNIS

NATIONAL MEMORY

FEATURE: Run The Jewels. . . . . . . . . 22 Notes from the Smoking Patio . . . . . 24 If I Were U. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Concerts & Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27-29

LAST WORDS Advice Goddess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Along with Associate Editor Torrey Bailey and CityBeat contributor Andrew Dyer, local photographer Stacy Keck (stacykeckphoto.com) captured some amazing moments from the San Diego Women’s March. Readers can check out the full gallery at sdcitybeat.com and while we certainly loved all of the pictures, it was Keck’s image of the crowd that we felt really encapsulated the spirit of the event. “This was the view from the administration building at the end of the march,” Keck says. “People were really fired up. It felt as if they didn’t want to stop going.”

The Mission Hills shutterbug also adds that she’s impressed with how many came out. “I’m so proud of our city and everyone who showed up to fight for equal human rights.”

@SDCITYBEAT

TORREY BAILEY

UP FRONT | NEWS

Matters of fact Local orgs like Snopes lead the charge against fake news despite ethical concerns

by Torrey Bailey

O

h my gosh, it just popped up,” said Dr. Rebecca Coates Nee, upon seeing the option to report fake articles on Facebook for the first time. The San Diego State University Journalism and Media Studies professor began listing off ethical concerns, worried about users reporting traditional media organizations the same way as fake news sites.

“Where is it going to stop?” she asked.

On Dec. 15, Facebook announced that “It’s a fake news story” would be an additional option to report posts on a sample size of U.S. accounts. One month later, most American users have this report option, a Facebook official confirmed to CityBeat. And regardless of whether it was written Brooke Binkowski by the mainstream media, a fake site or a blogger, third party fact-checkers are combing through the articles to label “If you’re sharing any type of story or article now, you to see improved, which would be to broaden the labeling them true or false. When found untrue, a red, “Disputed by have this ability to report it as fake news, and I just don’t options beyond true, false or undisputed.

3rd Party Fact-Checkers” disclaimer is slapped on the ar“We can’t do mostly true,” Binkowski said. “We can’t do know how [the fact-checkers] are going to go about keeping ticle along with a link explaining the article’s inaccuracies. mixture. We can’t do mostly false. We can’t do outdated, and up with that,” Nee said.

This watchdog feature is in the hands of five companies Familiar with the limited budget and resource of a news- we’re kind of arguing with [Facebook] about that right now.”

Facebook has contracted, without pay, including ABC News, She says it’s easy to deem an article false when it’s room, Walsh was also speculative of how the additional the Associated Press, Factcheck.org, PolitiFact and Snopes, tasks would fit into their workload and whether additional posted on a site with a satirical content clause, or when a which is a rumor-busting website based in Pacific Beach. celebrity tweets a video to debunk rumors of their death. hiring would be necessary.

“They rolled it out really fast and figured they’d work out “When you’re asked to do more, sometimes you can’t However, Binkowski said opinion pieces are case by case the bugs as they came,” wrote Snopes Manscenarios where labeling is determined by FACEBOOK NEWSROOM aging Editor Brooke Binkowski in an email. the way posts present information.

Facebook chose these sites because “What you could potentially see is peothey’re part of Poynter’s International ple’s opinions getting blocked or marked as Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), but CityBfake news,” Walsh worries. “I think people eat found that they were certified through a would be upset about that and for good rearushed application process to accommodate son. We live in a country where you’re able Facebook’s Dec. 15 announcement. Poynter to speak your mind. Granted, Facebook and compressed its original year-long vetting Twitter do not necessarily have to abide system into a one-week skim that was “a by the Constitution, in a sense, to protect much lighter version of the current checkfree speech. They’re a company. They can list” and simply searched for “glaring violachoose to block any speech they want.” tions,” wrote International Fact-Checking And while all types of articles can be reNetwork Director and Editor Alexios Mantported, videos are not subject to fake news zarlis in an email. Snopes and Politifact have flagging even though video consumption already started verifying articles even though on Facebook increased 75 percent between none of the organizations will be thoroughly 2015 and 2016, and some traditional news evaluated, via the full checklist, until Februorganizations posted between five and ten ary 28, Mantzarlis said. times more short-form video to Facebook A Facebook official also confirmed that within the same year, according to Reuters.

ABC News, the Associated Press, FactFacebook officials did not respond to Citycheck.org, PolitiFact and Snopes can factExample of an article being reported, disputed and labeled by Facebook Beat when asked whether the option would check stories published by their own orbe added to video. Walsh, who is also NBC San ganizations. The Society of Professional always perform at that same level of success or same high Diego’s Investigative Executive Producer, said she hopes Journalists National President Lynn Walsh said that even level that’s expected when you have to do 10 things instead the social media megasite considers the addition, noting though she trusts these fact-checking organizations, this of five,” she said. that her own newsroom regularly produces original video was a basic conflict of interest.

Binkowski said everyone at Snopes is working on the content for the site.

“It’s something that is in the [Society of Professional disputed articles because it’s an organization whose pri“We create specific videos just for Facebook that have Journalists’] ethics code,” Walsh said. “You want to remove mary business is fact-checking anyway. the text under it so that when people are scrolling without any kinds of conflicts of interest. And if it’s completely “None of this stuff is just for Facebook,” she said. “It’s their volume on, they can see the lower thirds, they can read impossible to remove that conflict, you want to make sure stuff we’d be doing anyway ... There’s so much bullshit out the text on screen and still understand the story,” she said. you’re disclosing that conflict.” there it’s fucking incredible. It’s so frustrating. I love my “There are so many videos on Facebook that are like that, Users can see which organization fact checked the arjob. I love telling people they’re wrong on the internet. I so without [the ability to report them], you are definitely ticle by clicking on the link included with the disclaimer. love being that person. It’s something that I’ve come to running the risk of not providing a very sufficient system of But, it isn’t clear who at the organizations will verify the terms with. I used to say that I wasn’t that kind of person, reporting fake news.” information. Aside from Snopes, none of the organizations but I’m totally petty. I’m that asshole, so I might as well Despite her concerns, Walsh said she found Facebook’s responded to CityBeat’s questions regarding who was beharness it for the good.” plan encouraging. “I think it’s too early to see whether it’s hind the process, whether it be high-level reporters, interns There is an element of Facebook’s tactic that she wants moving in the right direction or the wrong direction.” or somewhere in between.

“

@SDCITYBEAT

JANUARY 25, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 5

UP FRONT | OPINION COURTESY OF CHRIS WARD

SPIN

CYCLE

JOHN R. LAMB

Pol dance To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.

—Abraham Lincoln

G

etting 40,000 people to assemble for anything in this easily distracted town is nothing short of a Herculean task.

Ignoring the symbolism of the Women’s March last Saturday in the civic heart of San Diego would seem quite the political gambit.

That number was nearly double what event organizers had hoped would participate locally, so it’s baffling why Mayor Kevin Faulconer has gone radio silent on the media-blanketed event.

As of press time, the mayor’s office was offering no explanation for his absence or public silence.

Once again, Mayor Tippytoes has opened the door for speculation.

As the only decent-polling Republican in California, might Faulconer’s alleged pondering of a gu-

bernatorial run in 2018 be playing into his public-appearance decisions? Did his handlers and backers keep him from attending?

Or is this a sign that Republicans are hunkering down en masse in bunkers, fearing the Wrath of Don for acknowledging anything remotely viewed as anti-Trumpian?

As one keen-eyed political observer told Spin privately this week, “Since the election, most down-ballot elected Republicans who opposed Trump have been silent… They don’t want to alienate the party establishment, which has now pretty much lined up behind Trump.

“Kevin is nothing if not cautious, so he isn’t going to risk alienating voters and donors for a ‘symbolic’ appearance at the march.”

The mayor, while running for re-election last year, briefly criticized Trump’s “divisive rhetoric,

6 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

including that toward women and Latinos,” when he issued a prepared statement declaring that “Mr. Trump has not earned my vote.” He later acknowledged that he voted for House Speaker Paul Ryan, even though the Wisconsin congressman was not a recognized write-in candidate in California.

Ever since the San Diego Chargers announced two weeks ago that they were packing up and heading to Los Angeles, Faulconer has kept a fairly low public profile, even by his standards. He skipped the recent Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and bagged on attending, once again, the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. He did find time Saturday evening to slip into a tux and offer a few prepared remarks for his campaign benefactors at the annual installation dinner for the local chapter of the Building Industry Association. And this week, he’s hit the airwaves to promote a post-Chargers proposal for the Qualcomm Stadium site that could bring Major League Soccer to San Diego.

But sorry, ladies. The mayor apparently has no time to talk about your worldwide march for equal rights in this topsy-turvy era of Trump.

Faulconer typically has a fine nose for the flattering photo-op,

Pink-capped San Diego City Councilmember Chris Ward with family at the Women’s March Saturday and Spin has to wonder if the mayor has flipped through pictures of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaking to a sea of marchers and thought to himself, “Why didn’t I go? This would’ve looked great in a campaign ad!”

For those local politicians who did attend, mayor, well let’s just say they’re glad they did.

“It was the first time since the election that I felt a sense of hope,” Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher told Spin. She found it odd that the same people who stood up against the abuses of former mayor Bob Filner now seem to have receded into the gilded woodwork when it comes to the Grabber-in-Chief.

“I loved it,” she said of her experience at the march. “As you know, I’ve participated in more than my fair share of marches, and you typically see the usual suspects. But on Saturday, I’d never seen so many people that I didn’t know.”

San Diego City Councilmember Chris Ward donned the symbolic pink hat and marched with his husband and small daughter, holding a sign with an image of the Statue of Liberty and the caption, “I’m with her.”

“The energy was electric,” Ward said afterward, “and the motivation to turn this first step into sustainable action was palpable throughout the crowds of people.”

Perhaps what Ward mentioned next will weigh heavily on Faulconer, also a father. “My daughter’s future is on the line,” he said, “and it was particularly special for me to share this day with her and other family members alongside thousands of other people who recognize this historic moment and are rising to meet it.”

Ward added he was “proud to see so many of San Diego’s leaders together in solidarity with the marchers, and now it’ll be our re-

sponsibility to represent them well and make sure they have opportunities that match their spirit and empower them to build the community they want.”

Other elected officials chiming in on social media with their proof of attendance included new City Attorney Mara Elliott (“Truly inspiring”), city councilmembers Barbara Bry, Georgette Gómez and David Alvarez (“Lucky to have such strong women in my life,” Alvarez tweeted).

Meanwhile from the dark side, local Republican Party Chairman Tony Krvaric—clearly still giddy after his return from the Trump inauguration, which by some estimates drew one-third the crowd at the following day’s Women’s March in Washington, D.C.—could only grumble on Twitter, “Seems to me that the professional left is doing some serious ‘gender appropriation’ with this #WomensMarch today. #noconservatives” No matter. He probably did little to earn the respect of women the previous day, when he tweeted that he had to stand for four hours at one of the inaugural balls.

“Home! Feet hurt. (Massive respect to the ladies.),” he wrote.

The only Republican politician in town to respond to inquiries about attending the march or its potential impact was county Supervisor Ron Roberts. “Ron was not at the march,” a spokesman said, “but he sure built a nice park to host its endpoint.”

Now, Roberts is termed out in 2018, so his political endpoint is in sight. But for his Republican brothers and sisters, turning a blind eye to the immensity of Saturday’s march could be a decision they’ll one day regret.

Spin Cycle appears every week.

Write to johnl@sdcitybeat.com.

@SDCITYBEAT

UP FRONT | OPINION

EDWIN DECKER

SORDID

TALES

Replace the Chargers? Not without some conditions!

F

irst, I would like to offer condolences to the fans of the San Diego Chargers. Being a devotee of the New York Giants, their departure doesn’t affect me. However, it’s easy to imagine how you feel, and my heart truly goes out to you.

If it’s any consolation, it will be a long time, if ever, before Los Angeles embraces the Bolts. They bring with them a history of sub-mediocrity, plus they will be the third NFL franchise of interest in the area (behind the Rams and the still-beloved Raiders). There’s also the fact that everybody knows what a dirty, little shitbag Dean Spanos is and what a shitty, little dirtbag thing he did to the city of San Diego.

“Just what we need,” writes Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times, “the return of a professional sports team with no buzz, no tradition... limited success, and an owner who just stole them away from a place where they were loved unconditionally for 56 years.”

It is hard to believe Spanos would throw away more than five decades of loyalty to move to a city where melanoma will have a higher fan base. But he did, and now we have thousands of jilted loyalists wondering what to do in the Charger-less vacuum? Some say they will continue rooting because they are true fans. (I think their time would be better spent rooting for their selfrespect to return).

Others are seeking another team to support. And let me just say it would be an honor if you chose the New York Football Giants. I know, I know—you hate Eli Manning. Ever since he famously snubbed the Chargers in the 2004 draft to play for New York, your contempt for Manning and the Giants rivals your contempt for ticket guarantees. But Eli is vindicated now. Clearly he was right not to want to play for Dean Spanos and his snub was the second best career move in NFL history behind Janet Jackson’s decision to show nipple during a Super Bowl halftime show.

Then there are the former Chargers fans who are hoping to bring another team to San Diego. I know it’s a longshot, but that would be fantastic! Hopefully it would be an expansion team. This way we can start from scratch and avoid the mistakes of the past. Here are five conditions that should be met before allowing a new franchise to set up shop in San Diego.

1. Must Have Kickass Team Name: A kickass football name is usually a person or animal that can do damage to an enemy: The lions will maul anyone who gets in their way, the Giants will stomp their opponents into submission and the Chargers are going to, um—they’re going to purchase things now and pay for them later!

Yes, it’s true. The Chargers are actually named after credit cards. The team was first owned by William Barron Hilton who founded the Carte Blanche “charge” card, which Hilton wanted to market via his

football team. Bleh. A football team needs a moniker that is threatening and imposing—the name of a bloodthirsty beast—preferably with a connection to San Diego. Hey, I know! How about a name that pays tribute to the Kroc Family? Ray Kroc was a beloved former Padres owner and his wife Joan—a prolific local philanthropist—actually tried to donate the Padres to the city of San Diego. I say we name the team after them. We’ll call it The San Diego Krocodiles.

Now there’s a creature that can kick some ass!

2. Must Have Kickass Fight Song: Am I the only one who feels like doing The Hustle whenever that Chargers’ song comes on?

“San Diego Super Chargers / San Diego Chargers! / San Diego Super Chargers. . . Charge!”

A fight song is supposed to be a triumphant march through the gridiron of destruction, not a disco tiptoe across Lollipop Meadow.

And it only gets worse: “We’ve got a plan / We’re gonna do it for our super fans.”

Wow! You’ve got a plan?

What a concept! Do you have one of those chalkboards with X’s and O’s and some kind of, oh, I don’t know—a book of strategies of some sort—with funny names for plays like, “X Deep Over Hot Sauce” or “Willie Waco Z Star Rutabaga” or “Flea Flicker Four” and—oh for fucksake! Every football team on the planet has a “plan.” Can you execute is the question.

3. Must Have Kickass Colors: I have no idea why any team would choose yellow and powder blue. Team colors, like team names, must represent the kicking of asses. They should be purple (the color of bruises) or red (the color of blood) or black (the color of concussions).

Football team colors should never be yellow, the color of cowardice, and powder blue, the color of John Waters’ bowtie.

4. Must Not Be Owned by a Spanos: Nor may they be owned by anyone related to a Spanos or acquainted with a Spanos. The new owner must never have gone sailing with a Spanos, played Words with Friends with a Spanos or have children who go to school with any Spanos children.

5. New Owner Must Correctly Answer the Following Three Questions: • Are you now or have you ever been a Spanos?

• If you saw Dean Spanos walking on the street, how many times would you stab his eyeballs? (Trick question! You must stab his stomach for a slower, more painful death).

• Question: How many Spanoses does it take to screw a light bulb? (Answer: None. He already gave the screw to the fans).

It is hard to believe Spanos would throw away more than five decades of loyalty to move to a city where melanoma will have a higher fan base.

@SDCITYBEAT

Sordid Tales appears every other week.

Write to edwin@sdcitybeat.com.

JANUARY 25, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 7

UP FRONT | VOICES

THERE SHE

We built a wall

O

ALEX ZARAGOZA

GOZ

n Jan. 21, we built a wall. A great big wall. But it was not the wall Donald Trump had envisioned. And I proudly helped build it.

The day of the presidential election, I was engulfed in fear and filled with a heavy heart and boiling blood. I wasn’t alone in this state. Millions of others were in shock as well and asking themselves, what can I do to fight this?

A friend sent me a link for volunteer sign-ups for organizing San Diego’s Women’s March. At the time, I had already looked at flying to D.C. to attend the Women’s March on Washington. Reading about this march and immediately seeing marches popping up in other cities, I had one major concern. It’s the same concern I have anytime I’m navigating feminist spaces: will this be another thing ignoring women of color and other marginalized communities?

That’s why I got involved.

From the early stages of the planning process, inclusion, representation, diversity and accessibility were main topics of discussion. We all understood the responsibility that came with organizing such an event. We also found that we were really on our own. The national march offered very little guidance because, much like every other city, they were in the middle of trying to pull off their own historic event.

The responsibility of making this march intersectional felt heavy on my shoulders, as well as the other organizers. This march had to be built upon the work of countless others who have fought for their rights, and it needed to take a real, meaningful step toward inclusivity and unification. That every female-identifying person knew this was a space for them to speak their voice, and that our program and messaging reflected the varying experiences of women. That meant work from us all.

I served on the executive committee with five other diverse women, executing decisions and overseeing overall planning. I also chaired the public relations committee, working with a team of PR pros to craft messaging and outreach as far and wide as possible.

This was on top of having a full-time job that’s become increasingly stressful, a highly creative yet time consuming part-time job, freelance responsibilities and, you know, attempting to have a personal life where I can see friends and get laid every once in awhile. The juggling of all this led to breakdowns, sleepless nights, getting sick, barely finding time to eat and plenty of exhaustion. Dear God, the exhaustion.

Still, when we complained I would often remind myself, as well as others, that we signed up for this.

One person’s exhaustion is no more valid or important than another person’s exhaustion. As meetings ran for hours, and phone conferences interrupted time with our respective loved ones, work and personal lives, we had to power through.

In one instance, the executive committee had a real discussion when the possibility of moving the

march to Hillcrest came up. We realized we needed a bigger space as our numbers grew, and someone suggested using the route of the Pride parade. A couple of us, myself included, strongly opposed this. We felt it was wrong and offensive to hijack the space of another marginalized community for our own march.

Yes, we had a large LGBTQ contingent in the march— not to mention that members of that community were part of our team and there was plenty of outreach to ensure this community knew they were welcome—but it still did not feel right. We had to have a neutral, accessible space so everyone felt welcomed.

The conversation got heated. People got defensive, or didn’t understand the issue or didn’t feel comfortable enough to comment. It fell on two women of color to explain patiently. A sign that there’s some progress in the feminist community is that the committee listened. Another sign that it was women at the helm of this was that no one bulldozed through on the decision. Instead, we took an eight-hour break to consider everything discussed and then vote on it.

As planning became a bigger bear to wrestle and conversations got harder, a few organizers backed out. We understood. This became bigger than anyone ever anticipated. Some people dropped the ball or refused to cooperate as anxiety and frustration grew. When that happened, we all felt the affects.

But because we’re women and women get shit done, we kept going. We took on extra responsibilities when we needed to and relied heavily on our respective support systems for things like watching the baby, sending food, buying us a beer, giving a backrub or simply letting us take a day off.

After all of the tears and breaking points, seeing more than 40,000 San Diegans from all walks of life join the millions of others globally to march peacefully for the health, safety and rights of women and marginalized communities filled me with so much hope. San Diegans’ fear of rain didn’t overcome their fear of the coming reign of terror.

Now it’s time to continue to build on this movement and show up for each other. March for black lives, march for Standing Rock, march for a higher minimum wage, march for childcare providers, march for all those being attacked. That all marginalized individuals, men, women, trans and genderqueer show up for each other. But really, that you white men and women need to support every day as you did on Jan. 21. This world serves you more than anyone else. If you truly care for what you marched for, you need to show up.

We built a wall that day; a wall of resistance. A wall that sends a clear message: we are not going to be fucked with without a fight. That we’re all in this together. If day one of the new administration proved one thing, it’s that.

Now it’s time to continue to build on this movement and show up for each other.

8 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

There She Goz appears every third week.

Write to alexz@sdcitybeat.com. @SDCITYBEAT

UP FRONT | FOOD

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER

THE WORLD

FARE

Many names, great hotpot

T

here is an elemental and sensual pleasure in cooking meat tabletop in a bubbling cauldron of broth. And when that broth is of the Sichuan variety there’s a bit of adventure to go along with it. Anthony Bourdain discovered that in the Chengdu episode of his CNN program Parts Unknown “as it cooks down, it gets stronger and stronger, and the heat, more intense: a delicious yet unpredictable silt of spice gathering at the bottom of this river of hot lava.”

You can try a bit of the charm and adventure of this pleasure and pain at Sister Ma’s Kitchen is at 5440 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. just west of the 805. The window sign of the place (which is divided from the former occupant, an Indian market, only by a partial temporary dividing wall) reads only “Private Kitchen.”

The staff calls it “Ma Da-Sao,” and others call it by the translation “Sister Ma’s Kitchen.”

Sister Ma’s features Sichuanstyle hotpot, a style developed in Chongqing just south of Sichuan Province. The essence of the style is the “numbing and spicy” (mala) broth, defined by the use of Sichuan peppercorns (actually, the flowering husk of prickly ash), which numbs the taste buds, opening them to more heat from chilies. If you’ve tried the spicier of the broths available at Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot (just down Clairemont Mesa Boulevard) you have some idea of the flavor profile. Sister Ma’s, though, gets its flavor from a long, slow simmer of bones and meat rather than from an MSG bag.

Sister Ma’s broth options include nuclear mala (think Fukushima post-March 2011), moderate spice (Fukushima pre-March 2011), mild (a big M80), as well as a completely non-spicy (mother’s milk) version. Unlike other hotpot spots—including the one in the Bourdain episode—the broth is served to you without a heating element under it.

@SDCITYBEAT

This means that what you get at the end of the bowl may be cooler but doesn’t reach the levels of “heat” Bourdain so poetically described.

There are other differences between Sister Ma and other hotpot restaurants. Instead of a communal bowl (in which all the diners dip and cook their ingredients), each diner at Sister Ma’s gets their own bowl of broth with either ramen or cellophane noodles.

And instead of ordering broth ingredients diners at Sister Ma’s select them—cafeteria-like—from a case with plates on each of which are skewers of those ingredients: meats (chicken, pork, and beef), seafood (shrimp, lobster balls and “crab” sticks), offal (chicken livers, hearts as well as intestines and duck tongues and gizzards), tofu, bean curd knots and skin, vegetables (napa cabbage, daikon, mushrooms, seaweed knots) and more. It’s called chuan chuan xiang (“fragrant skewers”) style hotpot.

MICHAEL A. GARDINER

Skewered protein case and checkout The bowls arrive at your table filled with piping-hot broth, noodles and your fragrant skewers.

Your biggest question is what to eat first. My recommendation: the vegetables. Save the proteins for last.

But at Sister Ma’s it really is all about the broth.

It is delicious, deep and no matter how many skewers you chose, you really want to finish it. It is why Sichuan hotpot is having its moment.

No matter what the restaurant’s called.

The World Fare appears weekly.

Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

JANUARY 25, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 9

UP FRONT | FOOD

BY JAMES VERNETTE

DISHING IT

willing to try such a bizarre creation at least once.

There’s a lot to like about it. The sprouts are nice and crispy in a tangy balsamic glaze. The bacon is thick and crispy. The burger is nicely seasoned.

But I don’t think all of these ingredients work together quite as they should have. It’s like a A threesome that goes too far threesome where one person gets along with everyone, but the other two can’t stand each other like Brussels sprouts. I like bacon, and I like but are trying to manage because, “Hey, it’s a burgers. I like bacon on my Brussels sprouts, threesome, dude.” and I like bacon also on my burgers.

When I first saw it on the menu, I thought it was a However, I’m not sure if I like a burger with vegan option where they turn shredded sprouts into both Brussels sprouts and bacon. a patty. That might work. Simply put, this burger Ever have a dish where you can’t decide if didn’t taste bad, but the sum didn’t equal the parts. it’s bad or not? That's the case with the Brussels For more conventional items, there are grilled sprouts burger I tried at Banzai Bar (3048 Midway). ginger wings that have lots of flavors as well as a Banzai, a relatively new spot in the Midway poke bowl that comes with lots of fish as well as neighborhood, is owned by the same people that rice, cabbage, cucumber, pickled carrots, grilled own The Waterfront in Little Italy and The Hills in pineapple, edamame, wasabi cream and crispy garlic.

La Mesa, which are both great MARIA WILES The Banzai nug bowl is also bars. Banzai also has a lot of good, swapping out crispy, things I’d recommend: some garlic-ginger chicken thigh killer cocktails, some pleasing nuggets. bites and a hilariously lively As far as cocktails are karaoke scene. concerned, Banzai has three But in the quest to make drinks definitely that I want signature dishes unique to come back for right now. to Banzai, there are some The house margarita is a nice unconventional choices, combination of sweet and some of which work better sour. Tasting it transported than others. me to a nice gourmet spot Let’s start with the good. in Puerto Vallarta. The Brussels sprouts burger smokeshow is a smoky mix of I loved the artichoke tacos, which mixes beerMezcal, lime and pineapple battered artichokes with cabbage, pineapple salsa, juice that was delightful and left me craving jalapenos and cilantro sauce in a glorious dish that another. even meat eaters might pick as a first choice—it’s The kali mule, with Ketel Oranje, ginger that good. beer, mint, grapefruit bitters and lime was also The crunchy poke tacos, which are served in a knockout. It would be a perfect holiday drink a deep-fried wonton wrapper shaped like a taco during a Christmas Santa Ana, because it was both shell, are fresh, juicy and crunchy with a nice warm and loving, as well as cool and refreshing. wasabi heat at the finish.

Sadly, the beer list is sorely lacking on local I’m more ambivalent about the wonton sliders, and craft beers, but with cocktails like the ones I which are basically sliders with grilled pineapple mentioned, I can deal with the lack of local love. and Swiss cheese as well as a flat piece of wonton. The karaoke crowd is a hoot. The regulars are good At first I thought, “OK, this seems extra carby for singers with lots of showmanship who—thank no reason,” but the wonton wrapper did add crunch God—don’t take it seriously. and a nice bit of salt. I’m not sure I’d eat it again, So there’s a lot to like about Banzai, enough to but it was better than I expected. make it worth a detour (especially that smokeshow).

Now, back to that Brussels sprouts burger: It But no matter how tempted you are, you don’t need just seems like something that will likely stay on to try the Brussels sprouts burger. Trust me, some the menu simply because there are enough people things are just better left uncombined.

OUT I

10 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

@SDCITYBEAT

UP FRONT | DRINK

THE

BY ANDREW DYER

BEERDIST Will minimum wage hike stifle brewery growth?

“It makes it harder to give raises and cost-ofliving adjustments to the people already paid at a little higher rate,” she said.

Akin, who said she supports the increase, oughly 30 percent of San Diego’s workforce thought that tips should have been factored in. received a raise on Jan. 1, 2017 when the “I 100 percent believe that $15 an hour is a fair city’s minimum wage increased from $10.50 wage,” she said. “I just question it for tipped eman hour to $11.50 an hour. They will receive another ployees.” raise in 2019 when California’s incremental state Eppig also said she supported fair wages. minimum increase hike overtakes the city’s, culmi“We set core values for Eppig Brewing,” she nating in a $15 minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2022. said. “One was taking care of our employees. When The increase in the minimum wage came as a people talk about sustainability, that also extends result of a long, hard-fought campaign by the Fight to wages and making sure that people can go home for $15 organization, labor unions and the workand take care of their families.” ers themselves. Wages Neither brewery owner ANDREW DYER have not kept pace with said they had seen supplythe cost of living, and in chain cost increases. Beer an expensive city such as swag entrepreneur Rudy San Diego, that places an Pollorena Jr., founder of added strain on workers Craft Beerd, said he has. and families.

“A vendor (increased) Local restaurants made their prices 40 percent on headlines this month one of our products,” he when they responded to said. “They (said) it was due the wage increase by addto labor cost increases.” ing a surcharge to diners’ Pollorena said he was bills to offset the effect not passing on the cost inof the hike. Much of the crease to customers, somefront-of-house staff at Rachael Akin at Benchmark Brewing thing the three business local breweries and tapowners had in common. rooms also make the minimum wage. Recently, “My hope is that we can accommodate (the inStone and Green Flash laid-off workers [somecrease) by increasing our volume,” Akin said. “I would thing Green Flash denied in an email, but there rather do it with volume than a price increase.” have been statements on social media that would Eppig said that the incremental increases eased indicate otherwise] after cross-country and crossthe burden on business owners. oceanic expansions. It prompts the question: Will “Knowing it is coming is helpful,” she said. “You the increase in labor costs begin to affect the boom factor it in and come up with a way to pay for it.” in smaller, upstart breweries?

As the minimum wage ratchets up to $15, the Stephanie Eppig, co-owner of the just-opened cost of a pint will almost inevitably go up. But the Eppig Brewing (3052 El Cajon Blvd.), didn’t think so. brewery owners I spoke to were optimistic it would “For us, because we’re such a small business not negatively impact their growth plans, someright now, payroll is not our top expense at the mothing critics of minimum wage hikes often cite as ment,” she said. “If we are as successful as we hope coming with increases. to be, we’re going to feel it a little bit more.”

“It’s the cost of doing business in California,” Rachael Akin, co-owner and “brand Czar” at Akin said. “It’s worth it.”

Benchmark Brewing (6190 Fairmont Ave.), said it was the next rung of workers who would feel the The Beerdist appears every other week.

Write to andrewd@sdcitybeat.com pinch.

R

@SDCITYBEAT

JANUARY 25, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 11

SHORTlist

EVENTS

ART

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

EAST VILLAGE

1

BODEGA OR BUST

It’s a sad irony that the ones most adversely affected by the Oakland warehouse party fire are artists in other cities. That’s not to downplay the Ghost Ship tragedy, but it almost seemed counter-productive when San Diego recently began cracking down on art spaces in Barrio Logan. Yes, we can acknowledge the importance of fire safety, but we can also say that the crackdown seemed harsh and reactionary. After all, these are artist spaces.

Not warehouses for after-hour parties.

While the Bread & Salt space has since been cleared by the fire marshal, go-to art space La Bodega Gallery is still attempting to raise money to make the necessary renovations. And while the owners launched a successful crowdfunding campaign, they’re still asking for the public’s help in the form of Block Market, a one-day fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Quartyard event space (1102 Market St.). Much like La Bodega’s own shows, the event will feature dozens of artists showing off their works, as well

GASLAMP QUARTER

2 MAN OF SCIENCE

What does it mean to innovate? Jad Abumrad, co-host and creator of the popular radio program, Radiolab, might have the answer. He argues that the stomachdropping uneasy feeling one probably feels while taking on a new innovative endeavor is not only normal, but actually an important part of the creative process. Alongside cellist and composer Zoë Keating, he will lead audiences through a multilevel discussion titled “Gut Churn.” He plans to share his personal journey of creating a new audio aesthetic, guide audiences through the art of storytelling and investigate the science, philosophy and art of uncertainty in the creative process.

This interactive lecture will take place on Sunday, Jan. 29 at Balboa Theatre. The all-ages event begins at 6 p.m. and tickets range from $30 to $60. sandiegotheatres.org MARCO ANTONIO

Jad Abumrad 12 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

as a vendor market that includes makers and other art spaces.

“We wouldn’t have the fortune of doing business in San Diego like we do without our community supporting us,” says Tracy Ann Thalo from Artist & Craftsman Supply (arCOURTESY LA BODEGA GALLERY tistcraftsman.com), the employee-owned Hillcrest store that will have a booth at the Block Market. “La Bodega is such a fantastic space in the Barrio Arts Community we want to make sure it’s here to stay.”

Art print and t-shirt maker Jere Dean has his Urban Octopus studio (urbanoctopus.com) in La Bodega Gallery Glashaus, but is coming out to support La Bodega to show solidarity for all the art spaces that were affected by the recent crackdown.

“We’re all in this together,” says Dean. “I love what La Bodega does in bringing the art community together so if I can help them in any way, I’ll do what I can.”

The Block Market event will also include food trucks and admission is a $2 donation. More info can be found at facebook.com/labodegagallerysd.

NORMAL HEIGHTS

3 UNITED STATE

While San Diego may boast a distinctive and growing art community, it’s important to make sure the importance of the arts is upheld through the generations. On Sunday, Jan. 29 from 8:30 p.m. to 11:55 p.m., artCOURTESY OF THE ARTIST ists and musicians will come together at Art Unites to fundraise for music education for youth as well as advocate universal respect. The popup show and art exhibition is presented by Dreams Made Flesh who will be performing at the event alongside special musical “Wind” by Chris Avetta guests Pall Jenkins, PRGRM and Le Chateau at Soda Bar (3615 El Cajon Blvd.). Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy raffles, artist interviews and and check out diverse artwork and accessories from creatives such as Work in Progress Creative, Foxine Jay and Decky Hunter. Cover is $6 and more info can be found at sodabarmusic.com.

HThomas DeMello at Quint Projects, 5171 Santa Fe St., Suite H, Bay Ho. A solo show by the local artist that includes sculpture and colored pencil drawings of gestural marks. Opening from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. 858-454-3409, quintgallery.com HNasty Women at Helmuth Projects, 1827 5th Avenue, Bankers Hill. The closing reception for this group exhibition that demonstrates solidarity among dozens of artists who identify with being a “Nasty Woman.” Proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, San Diego LGBT Community Center or La Maestra Community Health Centers. From 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. Free. facebook.com/events/282397572176229 Conducting a Symphony: A Rhythm of Visual Perception at Monarch | Arredon Contemporary, 7629 Girard Ave., Suite C2, La Jolla. A solo exhibition from Lei Tang that will feature 20 large and medium-scale acrylic paintings on canvas. Opening from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. Free. 858454-1231, monarchfineart.com HArt Unites: An art exhibition and concert that promotes respect for all with proceeds benefitting music education for youth. Artists include Decky Hunter, Lourdes Araiza, Nicola Wilson and more.

From 8 to 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29. $6. 619-255-7224, sodabarmusic.com HTransnational Struggles: Intersectionalities Across Borders at Luxe Gallery, 1080 16th St., East Village. Guest curator Leticia Gomez Franco presents a group show featuring dozens of local artists exploring the theme of intersectionality in a border context. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31. facebook.com/ events/1209705389113544/

BOOKS Clare Mackintosh at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The British author and journalist will discuss and sign her new thriller, I Let You Go. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. Free. 858454-0347, warwicks.com Dr. Ron Epstein at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The bestselling writer and man behind Mindful Practice will sign and discuss his new book, Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness and Humanity. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Free. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com April Smith at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The bestselling author will sign and discuss Home Sweet Home, about a family that’s attacked in ‘80s small town Iowa.

At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1. Free.

858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com

COMEDY Garrison Keillor at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. True to his award-winning radio form, the humorist and author delivers anecdotes and a dry sense of humor during his final tour. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. $25-$75. 760-839-4190, artcenter.org Ali Wong at Balboa Theatre, 868 4th Ave., Gaslamp. The stand-up comedian, writer, and actress is fresh off her Netflix special, Ali Wong: Baby Cobra and is the co-star of the new ABC comedy, American Housewife. At 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28. $39.50. 619-5701100, sandiegotheatres.org

MUSIC PKF-Prague Philharmonia at Copley

H = CityBeat picks

Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown.

One of the most respected Czech orchestras in Europe will be lead by Music Director Emmanuel Villaume and performs a Czech-centric program including Smetana’s popular The Moldau from Má vlast (“My homeland,”) and Dvorák’s dramatic Symphony No. 8. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. $30-$99. 619-235-0804, ljms.org American Riffs and Rhapsodies at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. An exploration of the American classical music idiom with music from Henry Cowell, Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington and more. At 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29. $20-$96.��������������������������� �������������������������� 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org Enso String Quartet at Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive, UCSD Campus, La Jolla. The string quartet will perform a program that includes Ravel, Wolf and Ginastera, as well as the rarely performed original version of Puccini’s I Crisantemi. At 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. $45–59. 858-534-8497, artpower.ucsd.edu HMixtape at San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. The third installment of this music series features live performances from Die Mißbildungen Des Menschen, Hexa and Alice Bag. From 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. $10-$12.

619-236-0011, sandiego-art.org Wednesdays@7 presents: Reed Family Concert at Mandeville Auditorium, 9500 Gilman Drive, UCSD Campus, La Jolla. The second annual concert titled “Pierre Boulez’s Repons” will feature performances of works by Edgard Varese, Anahita Abbasi and Pierre Boulez. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1. Free-$15.50.

858-534-3448, music.ucsd.edu

PERFORMANCE Circus Vargas Presents Steam Cirque at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Watch a wacky cast of characters come alive in this steampunk, science-fiction fantasy-inspired circus odyssey. Through Monday, Jan 30. Free$72. 877-468-3861, circusvargas.com HDorkbot at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights. An international event featuring artists, musicians, experimentalists, educators, students, and inventors presenting their work. For this show, Ricardo Dominguez and Haydeé Jiménez present works that deal in electricity. From 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. $5 suggested donation. facebook. com/groups/dorkbotsandiego Disney On Ice: Worlds of Enchantment at Valley View Casino Center, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., Point Loma. Ice skating showcase of several popular Disney characters from stories such as The Little Mermaid, Toy Story 3 and Frozen. Various times. Thursday, Jan. 26 through Sunday, Jan. 29. $22.50. 888-929-7849, disneyonice.com HSix Degrees of San Diego at San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. A launch event party for a new series of podcasts, lectures and performances.

Includes work by Alan F. Jones and a panel discussion related to conspiracies linked to San Diego. From 6 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 26. $5. 619-236-0011, sandiego-art.org HJad Abumrad at Balboa Theatre, 868 4th Ave., Gaslamp. The co-host of Radiolab is joined by cellist Zoë Keating for a discussion on innovation that is accompanied by layers of sound. At 6 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 29. $32.50. 619-570-1100, sandiegotheatres.org

POETRY & EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 @SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

January 25, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

EVENTS COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

BOOKS: THE FLOATING LIBRARY The beat goes on

W

“The Crossing” by Richard James Yozamp will be on view at Hypernormal, a solo exhibition opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Horton Grand Hotel (311 Island Ave.) in Downtown.

EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

SPOKEN WORD HVAMP: Law & Disorder at Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. So Say We All’s monthly storytelling showcase will feature tales about obedience, disobedience, and everything in between. Readers include Ari Honarvar, Krisa Bruemmer, Ryan Hicks and more. From 8:30 to 10 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 26. $5 suggested donation. 619-284-6784, sosayweallonline.com HAnna Zappoli at Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., East Village. The local artist and poet will read from her new book, From Somewhere Else. At 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. Free. 619-236-5800, sandiegolibrary.org

SPECIAL EVENTS HParkeology: Time Capsule Ceremony at Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado. Park

Ranger Kim Duclo will unveil a Y2K-era time capsule, accompanied by the San Diego High School Drumline. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. Free. 619236-0011, parkeology.org HBlock Market at Quartyard, 1102 Market St., East Village. Dozens of local artists, organizations and vendors will show off their goods in this special one-off event to raise money for repairs to La Bodega Gallery.

From noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. $2-$5. facebook.com/labodegagallerysd

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS Colin Ellard at New School of Architecture & Design, 1249 F Street, East Village.

Part of the New School of Architecture & Design Lecture Series, Ellard will focus on exploring the neuroscience of design. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. Free.

800-490-7081, newschoolarch.edu

14 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

hile reading Joshua Mohr’s new memoir, Sirens (Two Dollar Radio) I realized I’d played a bit part in his story.

A few years ago I was preparing to moderate a panel at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books that Joshua Mohr was scheduled to be on when I received a frantic phone call from his wife. She informed me that Josh wouldn’t be able to attend the panel that morning because they were on their way to the emergency room.

I knew that Josh was a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, and I assumed that he had relapsed. However, I would eventually learn that Josh had not in fact relapsed; he’d had a stroke. Josh was 35 years old.

What happened that day in Los Angeles serves as the heart of his story and separates it from other addiction memoirs.

Josh has written five novels, and the title of his first foray into nonfiction works on at least two levels. It refers to the siren-like lure of drugs and alcohol, even when heeding their call would spell certain disaster.

Sirens also calls to mind the flashing red lights of the ambulance that spirits Josh away from his life and into an increasingly uncertain future.

The memoir swings back and forth between these two poles, between the call of the wild (“hey stupid, let’s be stupid” and the regret that comes afterwards (“what had I done now, what was the latest thing I busted?”)

But Sirens is much more than a collection of war stories with a moral tacked on the ending— though the reports from the battlefield are equal parts harrowing and hilarious. Sirens tackles the toughest questions and directly addresses the reader: “What do you struggle with—what’s that one thing in your life that you wish to control, yet the compulsion spins constantly, relentlessly?”

As a recovering alcoholic, this speaks to me even though on most days my disease isn’t “that one thing.” It’s my failures as a husband, father and son. It’s my relationship with money, food and art. To be human is to strive and fail and, if we’re lucky, strive again.

Mohr’s Sirens is a high-wire act that feels like it’s unfolding in real time. It pulses with passion for a life that’s one beat from slipping away.

—Jim Ruland

Write to jimr@sdcitybeat.com.

@SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

January 25, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

THEATER

DAREN SCOTT

Left to right: Danielle Frimer, Katie Sapper, Josh Odsess-Rubin and Tom Zohar in Bad Jews

Bad to the bone

C

ygnet Theatre’s Bad Jews is either a noholds-barred comedy in which resides important discourse about family culture and tradition, or it’s 90 minutes of exhaustive tantrums by two equally obnoxious adversaries.

Joshua Harmon’s 2012 play is probably both, to tell the truth. In it, young Jewish cousins Daphna (Danielle Frimer) and Liam (Josh Odsess-Rubin) wage verbal war over possession of a chai amulet that belonged to their barely dead grandfather, a Holocaust survivor. A small New York apartment is their battlefield, with entitled Liam’s non-confrontational brother Jonah (Tom Zohar) and his shiksa girlfriend Melody (Katie Sapper) in the crossfire.

Daphna and Liam are so unrepentantly vicious and nasty that it’s impossible to root for either one. A fair amount of the audience laughter must be of the shocked or guilty variety. Odsess-Rubin manages to be funny even amid his childish diatribes; Frimer’s self-righteous Daphna, meanwhile, is a tornado of temerity. Bad Jews’ principals are so obstreperous and their salvos so cruel that whatever pathos the play strives to achieve at the end feels tacked on.

Bad Jews runs through Feb. 12 at the Old Town Theatre. $36 and up; cygnettheatre.com HHH On the other hand, Beau Jest is wholesome, good-natured comedy, the kind that adult sitcoms used to be before everyone settled for stupid. James Sherman’s play—about a single Jewish girl, her overly involved parents and the games she plays to please them—is nearly 20 years old now, but it’s still very amusing. The production at Lamb’s Players Theatre in Coronado certainly demonstrates this. Kerry Meads directs a likable cast, with the single girl’s parents (Sandy Campbell and John Rosen) and her brother (Omri Schein, a scenestealer) deserving of the most laughs. Sherman’s device of having Sarah (Erika Beth Phillips) recruit an escort-service Adonis (Ross Hellwig)—a Gen-

16 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

tile, by the way—to “play” her Jewish boyfriend to please her parents results in its share of timeworn mishaps and double-takes, and there’s no doubt a happily-ever-after is in the cards. But Sarah’s parents, helicoptering before it was called helicoptering, are comic gifts that keep on giving.

Beau Jest runs through Feb. 12 at Lamb’s Players Theatre in Coronado. $24-$72; lambsplayers.org

—David L. Coddon

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

OPENING: Good People: A struggling woman in south Boston hopes her life will get better when she meets up with an old flame in David Lindsay-Abaire’s drama. Presented by Scripps Ranch Theatre, it opens Jan. 27 at the Legler Benbough Theatre in Scripps Ranch. scrippsranchtheatre.org An Iliad: In a clever take on Homer’s classic, a single narrator recounts humankind’s long history of conflict and violence.

Written by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare, it opens in previews Jan. 27 at the New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. newvillagearts.org Mothers and Sons: The San Diego premiere of Terrence McNally’s drama about a mother who visits her late son’s partner only to discover that he’s now a married father. It opens Jan. 27 at POWPAC Community Theatre in Poway. powpac.org Freaky Friday: The musical comedy based on the Disney movie about a mother and daughter who swap bodies for a day. Directed by Christopher Ashley, it opens Jan. 31 at the La Jolla Playhouse. lajollaplayhouse.org Matilda: The hit Broadway musical based on the classic Roald Dahl book about a gifted little girl who takes charge of her own destiny. Presented by Broadway San Diego, it opens Jan. 31 at the Civic Theatre in the Gaslamp. broadwaysd.com

For full theater listings, visit “Theater”at sdcitybeat.com

@SDCITYBEAT

CULTURE

A NEW

H.O.P.E. A local organization’s Freedom NOW Fair fights a booming human trafficking industry

by BETH DEMMON

A

child bride is exchanged to a ken word performances from students at man three times her age before Point Loma University’s Center for Justice she hits puberty. Undocument- and Reconciliation. Resources and informaed field workers toil from sunup tion will also be available to survivors of huto sundown carrying out backbreaking labor man trafficking.

“What’s driving this market of modern for a pittance. Men, women and transgender sex workers are forced to sell themselves slavery are the buyers, often men,” says under threat of violence and through a ma- Jones. “If there were no buyers, there would nipulative cycle of brainwashing and abuse. be no supply. We have to confront minds These often invisible horrors aren’t just and attitudes to fix the cult of modern-day happening to strangers in places far away. slavery. We have to empower people who They’re happening in San Diego on a much don’t know what we’re talking about, which is why we’re doing the fair. It’s an opportularger scale than most people realize. “[Human trafficking] doesn’t discrimi- nity to get involved and engaged.”

Given the current political climate, even nate. It’s happening in Del Mar. It’s happening in Barrio Logan. It’s happening in merely discussing the widespread reality of every socioeconomic bracket,” confirms human trafficking is more timely than ever.

“One thing I want to keep talking about Tom Jones, a human trafficking survivor is this culture of toxic masand founder of the San Diculinity, [the concept of] ‘I ego-based H.O.P.E. Project have a right to a woman’s (Healing, Outreach and Peer body, whenever and wherEmpowerment). “It’s an $810 ever I want’, and how it ties million industry here in San into the human trafficking Diego alone.” and purchased sex discusThat’s why Jones and the sion,” states Jones emphatiSurvivor Leader Network cally. “We now have a presiof San Diego organized the dent who has embodied that.

Freedom NOW Fair, which [There’s the thought that] if happens Saturday, Jan. 28 he can get elected after that, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the corner of Ohio Street and UniFreedom NOW Fair then it must be okay, right?

It’s something we’re really versity Avenue in North Park.

The second annual event, taking place dur- going to have to challenge, and none of ing National Human Trafficking Awareness what we’re talking about is going to get fixed Month, aims to shed light on the shockingly overnight. That’s just some of the discussion widespread problem of human trafficking we’re trying to evoke with this street fair.”

San Diego’s Chief Deputy District Attor(both in the labor and sex industries) in San Diego and connect the public with education ney Summer Stephan agrees.

“What makes the Freedom NOW Fair so and resources to help combat the issue.

Unlike many other human rights issues, effective is that it is organized primarily by raising awareness about human trafficking those most affected by exploitation and trafisn’t an empty gesture. Simply recognizing ficking. It is those who were victims who the signs of trafficking can help individu- turned into survivors and are now the surals combat it on a person-to-person level, vivor-leaders that are taking action against which seems to be the most effective way to the horrific abuses of human trafficking. This event will not only bring awareness about actually accomplish change.

Attendees to this free and public event the issue but in my mind, most importantly, can expect interactive exhibits, speeches provides real hope to victims that they, too, from local politicians, live music, and spo- can survive and thrive. It will send a message

@SDCITYBEAT

that our community stands with them and is here to help and partner with them.”

Even with our proximity to the border, most of San Diego’s human trafficking isn’t a result of cross-border trafficking. A recent study by Dr. Ami Carpenter (University of San Diego) and Dr. Jamie Gates (Point Loma Nazarene University) revealed that local sex trafficking is largely homegrown, with an estimated 80 percent of victims domestically trafficked while 20 percent are foreign born. Of that 20 percent, 12 percent comes from Mexico, and the other 8 percent hail from places like Russia, the Philippines, and China. Homelessness is also a huge risk factor, which directly correlates with San Diego’s own epidemic. Over half of the victims surveyed had experienced some form of homelessness at one point.

Despite the high numbers, activists who work closely with local officials are quick to praise government efforts.

A program on Jan. 19, put together by Councilmember Lorie Zapf and the office of Mayor Faulconer, gave sex trafficking victims a platform to call attention to the issue, and Jones named State Sen. Marty Block and U.S. Rep. Susan Davis as champions of the cause. Jones admitted that “we need more training for law enforcement and especially judges. There’s some real momentum in San Diego, but we have a lot of roadblocks,” and went on to explain that a recent bill aimed to offer pilot programs to trafficked individuals was ultimately vetoed

by Gov. Jerry Brown.

“No reason given,” confirms Jones dejectedly. Allocated resources—or the lack thereof—are also sparse, with nearly 100 percent of what funding exists reserved for cisgender women, despite men and transgender victims making up as much as a third of survivors.

Even with those roadblocks, Jones and Stephan remain optimistic.

“San Diego County has been a leader in implementing the model for combatting human trafficking, the four Ps model: prevention, protection, prosecution and partner-

ships,” says Stephan. “An important component of that partnership involves learning from the experiences of survivors of human trafficking so that we can prevent this crime from happening in the first place.”

For more information on human trafficking and the Freedom NOW Fair, visit thehopeprojectsd.com/news-and-events.

BY THE NUMBERS 1.2 million: number of children

trafficked every year in the United States.

Nine million (and rising): annual

number of women, men and transgender sex and labor trafficking victims in the U.S.

Eighth: San Diego is the eighth largest high-intensity child prostitution area in the country.

14 and 15-years-old: Average age

of entry in San Diego

$500,000+: potential yearly salary for human traffickers Sources: Point Loma Nazarene University’s Center for Justice and Reconciliation, Federal Bureau of Investigation (2009), and “The Nature and Extent of Gang Involvement in Sex Trafficking in San Diego County” study (2016) by Dr. Ami Carpenter (University of San Diego) and Dr. Jamie Gates (Point Loma Nazarene University).

JANUARY 25, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 17

CULTURE | ART

SEEN LOCAL

he says he enjoyed that work, he wanted to get back into drawing despite wanting to initially escape it.

For his eponymous solo show at Quint Projects in Bay Ho (quintgallery.com), which opens Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., DeMello gets back to his roots as an illustrator, even if the drawings are more primal or what he calls a “reduction from here are moments in every artist’s career drawing.” They are made on smooth Bristol paper, where the practice ceases to be fun. For many, and the illustrations are made by striking the paper the mix of over-analyzation and self-critique with a handful of colored pencils. The result is some can sometimes turn into an existential crisis that’s kind of minimalist exercise in abstract expressionism that DeMello says was inspired by his three-year-old hard to overcome.

While local artist Thomas DeMello doesn’t go niece.

“I’m sitting there drawing with her and she’s just so far as to overtly ANDREW ALCASID slamming these characterize the crayons on the paper time before he beand fucking not even gan his most recent giving any thought series of drawings at all, and so I’m as a troubled period, sitting there slamhe does admit to beming the crayons ing dissatisfied with and I was like ‘wait the work he was a second, this is like producing. really fun,’” says De“I was sitting in Mello. “She’s having my studio and I was a blast, I’m having a kind of upset with blast and then all of sitting there and just a sudden I was like, copying from photos ‘you know, why not? and stuff—it wasn’t I can try this too.’” fun,” says Demello in The show, while his studio inside the Thomas DeMello with “Untitled (blackened fig tree)” an extension of a seBread & Salt buildries he showed at the Bread & Salt space, will feature ing in Logan Heights.

This is surprising to hear considering DeMello’s entirely new drawings as well as a sculptural piece. For previous works were quite brilliant and he was al- DeMello, he’s just enjoying the creation process again.

“Yeah, I really love paper,” he jokes before adding, ready a rising talent, if not one of the best artists altogether, in the local art scene. While most of his “I tried all kinds of different artist’s materials, but I work could be classified as figurative drawings, his just always kept wanting to use drawing materials. I two solo shows at Ice Gallery, which he co-found- loved the idea of getting back into those techniques.” ed at its original North Park location, saw DeMello constructing large-scale installation pieces. While —Seth Combs

BACK TO HIS ROOTS

T

TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE: NASTY WOMEN

packed with people, many of whom were still sporting their pink pussyhats. Truth be told, I’ll generally avoid going to exhibition openings. I find the bustle or many women who marched on Saturday, the and crowds to be distracting from the actual art. So immediate answer to the otherwise proverbial I’ll admit to having found the show to be much more question of “what’s next?” meant heading up of an after-party than an art show.

But then I took a deep breath and stared at pieces the hill to Helmuth Projects in Bankers Hill. And for like Lori Mitchell’s “Ninja Mom” those who were still pumped from BARBARA SMITH drawing. Then I took in Melissa the march or perhaps came looking Walter’s wood-and-paper “Two” for a little extra motivation to keep and Sara Parent-Ramos’ mesmertheir spirits high, the Nasty Women ic, cardioid sculpture. And then art exhibition did not disappoint.

I remembered the real reasons Similar to the spirit of the we were all there. So it might be march, the Nasty Women show said that Nasty Women is one of (nastywomensandiego.org) was the best shows I’ve seen in a long just one of many that had been time even if the the art was often scheduled nationally to protest an afterthought. the current administration. The A lot has been made about four curators of the San Diego verhow to keep the momentum gosion went all out for the show and ing from the Women’s March and appeared to have recruited nearly what artists in particular can do every female artist in town. Proto fight back. Shows like this one ceeds from the show were going are a good start and, given the to female-friendly causes such as sheer amount of art on the walls, Planned Parenthood, the LGBT there’s bound to be a piece within Community Center and others.

Rozi Smith at Nasty Women this showcase that inspires others By the time I arrived, nearly every to collective action. There will be piece that I would have conceivably purchased already had a red dot next to it. I ran a closing reception on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 6 to 9 into a colleague who lamented the same fact, but had p.m. As I said to one of the curators as I left, let’s keep settled on purchasing a drawing from the makeshift this momentum going.

F

children’s gallery and play area that had been set up.

As readers may have guessed, the place was

18 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

—Seth Combs @SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

January 25, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

CULTURE | FILM

Off the cuff

Toni Erdmann

Madness is contagious in Maren Ade’s epic new comedy

by Glenn Heath Jr.

T

he troubled characters in Maren Ade’s films of- as a distraction from time-sensitive job responsibiliten find themselves out of place, out of sorts ties that are growing more stressful by the day. Ade and nearly out of their minds. Romantic and has a blast forcing this odd couple into social situaprofessional relationships are bound to disappoint, tions where corporate formality butts heads against while familial ties are severed quite easily. Mercury Winfried’s antics. Eventually, things get so rocky that seems to be in perpetual retrograde, where no amount Winfried goes full method, permanently inhabiting the role of Toni in order to shake Ines out of her funk. of goodwill or positivity can make things right.

What follows is a crackling series of extended viHer 2003 debut The Forest For the Trees watches in hand-held agony as social isolation and professional gnettes that thrive on revealing contradiction, skewdisillusionment slowly destroy a bright-eyed young ering everything from corporate greed to global outteacher. Everyone Else, Ade’s masterful 2009 sopho- sourcing. Conversations about trivial things are meremore effort, snuggles up to a German couple on holi- ly negotiations of power in disguise. Watching Ines in day as they languish around waiting for their fledgling her natural habitat, Winfried struggles to reconcile the compromises of character relationship to take its last gasp she makes both in her personal of breath. Both films bear witness and professional life. to the anxious personal moments TONI ERDMANN In forcing these two people we don’t want others to see.

Directed by Maren Ade together, Toni Erdmann seeks Vulnerability, or a lack thereStarring Peter Simonischek, to expose how easily we can get of, plays a crucial role in Ade’s Sandra Hüller and conned into experiencing unfulmammoth new comedy titled Hadewych Minis filled lives. Winfried’s lowbrow Toni Erdmann, which opens FriRated R jokes and grotesque fake teeth day, Jan. 27. Winfried (Peter Sicombat the tide of conformity monischek) has settled into a and social media boredom that quietly subversive life playing elaborate practical jokes on strangers and colleagues has perforated Ines’ life. Even as she resists the inalike. In the film’s opening scene, he harasses a deliv- creasingly bold performance art it has a profound imeryman by going into character as his titular smooth- pact on her psyche, ultimately leading to an epic karatalking alter ego. Immediately, Ade establishes Win- oke performance of Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest fried as a force of nature who improvises each second Love of All.” Though, the real breakthrough for Ines comes during her birthday party that also doubles as as if life itself were a stand-up routine.

But there’s a method to his madness. Winfried has a corporate team building exercise. The surprising spent decades educating youth, both as a piano instruc- reveals in this insane set piece are tantamount to the tor and schoolteacher, perfecting his relentless style work of screwball master Preston Sturges.

Unlike Ade’s previous films, Toni Erdmann shows over time to provoke inspiration through comedic selfexpression. Yet all the absurd theatrics have inevitably traces of hope and contentment. While father and taken a toll on his immediate family, including daugh- daughter are not close to stitching up old wounds, ter Ines (Sandra Hüller) who has spent years abroad they’ve at least taken the first step toward empain Bucharest working for a consulting firm. During an thizing with each other. Winfried’s reflective closing impromptu family gathering, the two spend some awk- monologue resonates with universal wisdom about ward moments together dancing around their obvious time passing, but it won’t solve anything unless Ines starts believing ”nice encounters” really exist. If the and growing disconnect before parting ways.

After his old dog passes away days later, Winfried final shot is any indication, it’s unclear whether that spontaneously travels to Bucharest and surprises will ever happen.

Ines, his way of reopening the lines of communica- Film reviews run weekly. tion. But the hard driving professional sees the visit Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com.

20 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

@SDCITYBEAT

CULTURE | FILM

History in verse

I

“

must enter. I come from a blank page. I come for my black ink.”

Spoken at the beginning of Pablo Larraín’s Neruda by narrator Óscar Peluchonneau (Gael García Bernal), these decisive words are indicative of the film’s fluid attitude toward history. They also represent the young police officer’s desire to confirm his identity through the relentless pursuit of rebel poet Pablo Neruda (Luis Gnecco), a popular communist and senator who has gone underground due to ideological persecution.

@SDCITYBEAT

Neruda It’s 1948 and the seeds of dictatorship are already being planted in post-WWII Chile. Neruda’s firebrand ideology has captivated the working class but enraged the ruling elite, including President Gabriel Gonzalez Videla (Alfredo Castro). Constructed like a classic chase film, Neruda focuses on the obsessive and egomaniacal qualities that connect Neruda and Oscar during their lengthy game of cat and mouse.

Larraín sets up an interesting generational dynamic between the

two men, who seem to be communicating through Neruda’s prose even though they hardly share any screen time. Oscar’s hardheaded nationalism comes from a place of betrayal and bastardization, while the older poet faces inevitable accusations of hypocrisy. His bourgeois lifestyle butts up against the hard realities of the poor workers he hopes to inspire.

Indeed, Neurda, which opens Friday, Jan. 27, is a film of contradictions. Stylistically, it favors theatrical sets and rear-screen projection, languishing steadycam shots and heightened closeups. At times Oscar expresses deep skepticism and anger at Neruda’s politics and personality.

Later that rage turns into respect.

“In politics, insolence is a way of expressing admiration.” This bit of flowery voice-over may be used to describe Neruda’s tactics, but they eventually apply to Oscar’s as well.

Ultimately, Larraín’s approach feels far too redundant. The director stacks the deck against Oscar just so he can watch the young man go from one kind of zealot to another, and provide his gluttonous hero with even more worship.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

OPENING Gold: Matthew McConaughey and Edgar Ramirez star in this true life drama about a desperate prospector and a geologist who team up to strike it rich.

Neruda: Set in Chile circa 1948, this drama follows a government police officer tasked with tracking down rebel poet Pablo Neruda, who has gone underground with the Communist resistance.

The Autopsy of Jane Doe: Father and son coroners investigate the death of an unnamed woman in this thriller. Opens Friday, Jan. 27, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Midsummer in Newtown: After the Sandy Hook shootings, a theater searches for children to perform in a rock version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The children are followed from auditions through dress rehearsals as they find their voices and shine on opening night. Opens Friday, Jan. 27, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Toni Erdmann: A practical jokester tries to mend the relationship with his disconnected grown daughter by showing up unannounced in Bucharest as his smooth-talking alter ego, Toni Erdmann.

Directed by Maren Ade.

For a complete listing of movies, visit our F ilm section in C ulture on sdcitybeat.com.

JANUARY 25, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 21

TIMOTHY SACCENTI

MUSIC

El-P and Killer Mike ip-hop duo Killer Mike and El-P have never considered themselves political artists. As Mike said in a Village Voice article in 2008, “I just lack the ability to bullshit my audience.” Yet politics still creeps into the music of Run the Jewels [RTJ], and with the release of Run the Jewels 3 following the election of the least-popular president in modern history, it would seem impossible for the duo to not address this strange situation we’re in now.

This isn’t new for RTJ, however. Since the duo first paired up on Killer Mike’s 2012 album R.A.P. Music, social commentary and a critical eye on the powers that be have been a crucial part of their identity. Over time, that’s only become more pronounced. Which isn’t to say

their music isn’t a lot of fun, but when they take aim at authority, they don’t hold back.

As Run the Jewels launch their tour in support of the new album, I’ve assembled a mixtape of 10 of the duo’s most politically charged tracks. Pump this shit, like they do in the (dystopian) future.

“Talk to Me” From Run the Jewels 3 (2016) One of the highlights on RTJs’ new third album that goes the hardest, it’s also one of their only songs that directly references Donald Trump, as Killer Mike raps, “Went to war with the Devil and Shaytan / He wore a bad toupee and a spraytan.” It sets the tone early on Run the Jewels 3, which is arguably their most politically charged album but is still loaded with bangers.

22 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

“Lie, Cheat, Steal” From Run the Jewels 2 (2014) The chorus of this highlight from the duo’s second album—“Lie, cheat, steal / kill, win, win / Everybody’s doing it”—is definitely catchy, a playful representation of the cynicism at the heart of the song. El-P and Killer Mike admit to their own respective ways of cheating the system while condemning the fact that the rules are different for those who hold power and wealth: “Who the fuck gonna bully me if I got a billi?”

“The Full Retard” From El-P’s Cancer4Cure (2012) With its un-PC title, hilarious video featuring a nihilistic squirrel puppet and repeated hook of “You can pump this shit like they do in the future,” “The Full Retard” definitely sounds like a party banger. But it’s one with a cynical and bleak dystopian vision; El-P also declares that you can pump this shit “in the bread line, the prison” and “from the chip under your wrist skin” while smacking down former House Speaker John Boehner and “playing taps on a keytar.”

“Get It” From Run the Jewels (2013) Most of Run the Jewels’ debut album is about how awesome they are; no disagreement here! “Get It,” however, takes it a step further by adding a dose of pessimism for the future (“Any chance for humanity’s landing on who’s the next up”) and distrust of authority (“We’re here to tell you that all your false idols are just pretenders”).

“Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)” From Run the Jewels 2 (2014) The song on Run the Jewels 2 that goes hardest (and it has some strong competition) is this indictment of law enforcement.

For every bit of pop culture wordplay (“I’m miles ahead of you, you can sip my bitches brew”) there’s a moment of sober social commentary: “We killin’ them for freedom ‘cause they tortured us for boredom.” Add the best Zach de la Rocha verse in two decades and a video featuring a tense police standoff and you’ve got one of their best moments overall.

“Reagan” From Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music (2012) A year before Run the Jewels released their debut album, El-P produced Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music, which featured this takedown of the legacy of Ronald Reagan. He goes through a history of drugs flooding black communities, the war on drugs that followed (of which mostly targeted black Americans),

and a long list of other shady things the U.S. government has done. Fittingly, he ends it with one hell of a mic drop: “I’ll leave you with four words: I’m glad Reagan dead.”

“Thieves! (Screamed the Ghost)” From Run the Jewels 3 (2016) “Thieves!” covers a lot of ground in four minutes, but more than anything it finds Killer Mike and El-P taking aim at the failings of the media, with some choice words in particular for CNN’s Don Lemon, who drew sharp criticism for his insensitive reporting in Ferguson, Missouri: “CNN got dummy Don on the air… dummy don’t know and dummy don’t care / Get that punk motherfucker out of here.”

“Nobody Speak” From DJ Shadow’s The Mountain Will Fall (2016) It might not be a coincidence that one of the best DJ Shadow songs in years featured Run the Jewels being lyrical badasses. And in El-P’s words, it’s a song that’s just “fun and hilarious,” but it does feature an eye-popping one-liner: “Flame your crew quicker than Trump fucks his youngest.” Add a video that violently satirizes the 2016 election and you get a masterpiece of trash talk.

“2100” From Run the Jewels 3 (2016) The day after Donald Trump was elected president, Run the Jewels released this track from their third album as a means of expressing solidarity with those pessimistic about the future. Admittedly, it’s not a hopeful message, reflecting the rise of hate and nationalist sabre-rattling: “How long before the hate we hold lead us to another holocaust... it’s too clear nuclear’s too near.”

“Angel Duster” From Run the Jewels 2 (2014) The closing track on the duo’s second album is maybe just a few hairs shy of actually being optimistic, though the overall message is that no leader or authority can keep them down. In El-P’s words, “I’ll pluck an eye out a pyramid.”

Write to jefft@sdcitybeat.com and follow him on Twitter @1000TimesJeff

@SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

January 25, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

MUSIC

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO LOCALS ONLY

J

ustin Cota, member of Gloomsday, Deep Sea Thunder Beast and Bosswitch, has started another new project: Dream Burglar. The band’s first show takes place on Sunday, Feb. 5 at Whistle Stop with Polish, and also features drummer Josh Rudiger (The Cardielles) and bassist Lia Dearborn (Mittens). Cota, who balances several other musical projects, said that he didn’t start working on Dream Burglar with any particular objective in mind, just that he wanted to do something on his own, rather than as a proper band.

“I didn’t know what this project would be at first,” Cota says in an interview at Coffee and Tea Collective in North Park. “I continually write music all the time. I have ideas, and then I record the ideas. And whether anything comes from it or not, I’ll still have that.”

Dream Burglar didn’t stay a solo project for long, however. Once Cota began playing some of his demo recordings for friends of his, they expressed interest in performing the songs live. And though that wasn’t originally the intent, working with some new collaborators ended up making it more fun.

“I didn’t mean to start a new band,” he says. “Some friends in other bands asked about it. And it wasn’t really meant to be a performing project. But the last couple months we’ve been workshopping songs, and I’m really excited about it.”

Justin Cota Cota describes Dream Burglar’s music as being influenced by post-punk, and mentions Wire’s Pink Flag as a major source of inspiration. The name, however, coincides with the current political climate. He says he wrote most of the band’s songs before the presidential election, but now feels a certain pull toward addressing social issues in his music.

“Things have just gotten really dark,” he says. “I was compelled to write lyrics of substance. I can’t just write frivolous lyrics while this is happening. It feels like everything that we’ve worked toward over the last eight to 10 years has been stolen.”

—Jeff Terich

ALBUM REVIEW Lowlands Lovers Blessings (Thrill Me)

O

n paper, Lowlands seems remarkably similar to another half-local band, Hideout. Each band is a partnership between two musicians, of which one is based in New York City and the other is a member of local indie rock favorites Mrs. Magician. In this case, that Mrs. Magician member is Tommy Garcia, who also recently started up another new band, Teach Me. That’s essentially where the similarities end, however. Lowlands are much gloomier, moodier and darker in their approach, drawing influence from “(The Birthday Party guitarist) Rowland S. Howard and Ennio Morricone,” according to their Bandcamp page. It’s often slow and sinister music, not entirely removed from Garcia’s more famous full-time band, but a hell of a lot more goth.

Howard and Morricone are actually pretty good starting points in terms of the kind of sound that Lowlands create.

Like the former, their music is turbulent and abrasive at times, harboring something intense and menacing, though it’s often hinted at more than explicitly displayed. Like Morricone, however, their music moves slowly and elegantly, creating atmosphere with care-

24 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

ful instrumental passages rather than polished hooks or radio-ready immediacy.

A more accurate reference point for Lowlands, however, is The Cure’s Pornography. Like that famed collection of bleak, goth-rock dirges, Lovers Blessings allows in very little light throughout its nine tracks. Guitars thrash and moan, drums pound out a funereal march rather than a punk rock gallop. Yet compared to Robert Smith, vocalist Gabriel Spatuzzi has a much deeper, Nick Cave-like baritone.

The combined aesthetic yields a number of standouts, from the sensually ominous opening track “Floating” to the pulsing postpunk of “Ugly Sister.” And closing track “Swans” moves at the molasses pace of the band of the same name, though without as much punishing percussive impact.

For those who love Mrs. Magician for their pop hooks, Lowlands might take some getting used to. But for those who’ve embraced the gradual darkening of San Diego’s sound in recent years (like myself), it’s an impressive and splendidly weird new entry in the San Diego canon.

—Jeff Terich @SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

January 25, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

MUSIC

JEFF TERICH

IF I WERE U A music insider’s weekly agenda

PLAN A: Lemuria, Cayetana, Mikey Erg @ The Hideout. Philadelphia band Lemuria has a little bit of punk edge, a whole lot of emo feelings and, most of all, a lot of exceptional pop hooks. So while their genre is up for debate, there’s no argument to be had over how great their songs are. PLAN B: The Donkeys, Dollie Barnes, Madly @ The Casbah. The Donkeys have built up a pretty strong following, making them one of the higher profile San Diego bands in recent

PLAN A: Ty Segall, Meatbodies @ Belly Up Tavern. Ty Segall has released 14 albums in the last decade, which is a pretty impressive record for someone who’s still in his twenties. And most of them are pretty great, including his new self-titled record, which is out the day of this show. Naturally, he and his band rip live. PLAN B: Lydia Loveless, Angela Garcia @ Soda

26 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

AS

THURSDAY, JAN. 26

FRIDAY, JAN. 27

E TH OM

PLAN A: Stephen Steinbrink, Dear Nora @ Soda Bar. If you haven’t already, go back and read Ben Salmon’s feature from last week on Oakland singer/songwriter Stephen Steinbrink. His dreamy indie folk could be the soothing sounds you’ll need to make it through the week. BACKUP PLAN: Seratones, Casey Hensley Band, The Andrew McKeag Band @ The Casbah.

years. And it’s no mystery as to why that is.

Their warm, catchy folk-rock songs sound good just about anytime.

KY L

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25

Bar. I generally prefer my country with a bit of sadness and raw, rock ‘n’ roll grit. Lydia Loveless does both, and her songs balance ragged glory with real heartache. It’s not a genuine Nashville sound, but it’s a little bit of twang with a lot of heart. BACKUP PLAN: Schizophonics Soul Revue, The Magnificent with Mighty Manfred, DJs Claire, Mr Mazee @ The Casbah.

SATURDAY, JAN. 28

PLAN A: Devendra Banhart @ Observatory North Park. While I can’t say I love every Devendra Banhart album, he’s released his share of excellent weird, psychedelic folk records to earn an automatic endorsement. His 2005 album Cripple Crow is his high point and is still weirdly wonderful after more than a decade. BACKUP PLAN: July Talk, Mona @ Soda Bar.

SUNDAY, JAN. 29

PLAN A: Dreams Made Flesh, Pall Jenkins, Le Chateau, DJ J Splat @ Soda Bar. Dreams Made Flesh is headlining a show dubbed “Art

Ty Segall

Unites,” featuring music and visual art with the intent of bringing people together after a contentious election and amid a lot of hateful rhetoric and rancor. I like the idea that art can bring us together, and I also like all the bands playing, so I endorse this heartily. PLAN B: Death Eyes, Stalins of Sound, The Heartlights, Dethsurf @ Tower Bar. I also love punk shows, and this one features some of the most ass-kicking local punk bands you’ll hear. Get in the pit!

BACKUP PLAN: The Blind Boys of Alabama @ Belly Up Tavern.

MONDAY, JAN. 30

PLAN A: The Gaslamp Killer, Trackstar DJ, DJ Artistic @ The Casbah. Run the Jewels is sold out. You’re bummed. But the official afterparty is here, with an appearance by L.A. beatmaker Gaslamp Killer. Besides, you never know. El-P and Killer Mike might show up. (I said might, don’t hold me to that.)

TUESDAY, JAN. 31

PLAN A: AAN, Exasperation @ Whistle Stop. Portland’s Aan blends dreamy ‘00s indie sounds with swirling psychedelic rock and a bit of muscle for good measure. Make sure to come to this one a little early to hear Exasperation (ex-members of Ditches, Cuckoo Chaos), who also rock pretty hard. BACKUP PLAN: Communist Daughter, Cardinal Moon, The Lulls @ Soda Bar.

@SDCITYBEAT

MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Kim and the Created (The Hideout, 2/23), Social Distortion (Observatory, 3/8-9), Ghostface Killah (HOB, 3/10), Anna Meredith (Soda Bar, 3/15), Bob Log III (Soda Bar, 3/19), Kate Tempest (Casbah, 3/20), ‘San Diego Music Awards’ (HOB, 3/21), Modern English (Casbah, 3/22), Colony House (HOB, 3/24), Slothrust (The Hideout, 3/24), Mild High Club (The Hideout, 3/30), Shinedown (HOB, 4/4), The Slants (Soda Bar, 4/5), Clean Bandit (Observatory, 4/7), The Maine (HOB, 4/8), Power Trip (Casbah, 4/10), Larry and His Flask (Soda Bar, 4/10), Local Natives (Observatory, 4/17), Coheed and Cambria (Observatory, 4/18), Blossoms (Casbah, 4/19), Bayside, Say Anything (HOB, 4/22), The 1975 (Open Air Theatre, 4/25), Pile (Soda Bar, 4/27), Train (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 5/14), Matthew Logan Vasquez (Casbah, 5/18), The Strumbellas (Observatory, 5/21), Draco Rosa (Music Box, 5/23), Los Lonely Boys (BUT, 5/26), hed (p.e.)

(Brick by Brick, 6/11), Third Eye Blind (Open Air Theatre, 7/21).

GET YER TICKETS Dashboard Confessional (HOB, 2/3), Alcest (Brick by Brick, 2/8), Austra, The Range (Casbah, 2/8), D.R.A.M. (Music Box, 2/9), Branford Marsalis Quartet (Balboa Theatre, 2/10), ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ (Observatory, 2/13), Weyes

@SDCITYBEAT

Blood (Soda Bar, 2/16), Billy Crystal (Copley Symphony Hall, 2/16), Cut Chemist (Music Box, 2/17), Erykah Badu (Observatory, 2/17), Reel Big Fish, Anti Flag (HOB, 2/17), Adam Ant (Observatory, 2/18), Alejandro Escovedo (BUT, 2/20), Circa Survive (HOB, 2/21-2/22), Tennis (The Irenic, 2/22), Pinback (BUT, 2/23), Vince Staples (Observatory, 2/24), Black Marble, Uniform (Hideout, 2/24), Steve Poltz (BUT, 2/24-25), Pinback (Irenic, 2/25), Stevie Nicks (Viejas Arena, 3/2), Senses Fail (Observatory, 3/3), Isaiah Rashad (Observatory, 3/5), Bon Jovi (Viejas Arena, 3/5), Temples (BUT, 3/5), Immolation (Brick by Brick, 3/5), Shiner (Casbah, 3/5), Red Hot Chili Peppers (Valley View Casino Center, 3/5), Six Organs of Admittance (Soda Bar, 3/8), Bash & Pop (Casbah, 3/9), Whitechapel (HOB, 3/9), Japandroids (Music Box, 3/11), G. Love and Special Sauce (BUT, 3/11-12), Menzingers (Irenic, 3/12), Matisyahu (BUT, 3/14-15), Teenage Fanclub (BUT, 3/16), Julieta Venegas (HOB, 3/17), James Chance and the Contortions (Hideout, 3/18), Common (Observatory, 3/24), Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Casbah, 3/25), Oathbreaker, Khemmis (Soda Bar, 3/27), Why? (Irenic, 3/30), Electric Six (Casbah, 3/30), Nashville Pussy (Brick by Brick, 3/31), The Old 97s (BUT, 3/31), Passenger (HOB, 4/2), The Damned (HOB, 4/7), Green Day (Valley View Casino Center, 4/8), Aaron Neville Duo (BUT, 4/9), A Perfect Circle (Open Air Theatre, 4/11), Subhumans (Observatory, 4/11), Vanessa Carlton (Casbah, 4/14), Reverend Horton Heat (BUT, 4/20), Foreigner, Cheap Trick (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 4/29), The Wedding Present (Casbah, 4/30), Tim Kasher (Casbah, 5/4), Lionel Richie (Viejas Arena, 5/8), Testament

(HOB, 5/16), Robin Trower (HOB, 5/19), Rodriguez (Humphreys, 5/23), Brian Wilson (Civic Theatre, 5/24), NKOTB, Paula Abdul, Boyz II Men (Viejas Arena, 6/1), The Primitives (Hideout, 6/6), Def Leppard (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 6/16), Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Civic Theatre, 6/26), 2Cellos (Open Air Theatre, 7/18), Green Day (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 9/13), Coldplay (Qualcomm Stadium, 10/8).

JANUARY WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25 Stephen Steinbrink at Soda Bar. Pepper, Less Than Jake at Observatory North Park. Seratones at The Casbah.

B-Side Players at Music Box. Garrison Keillor at California Center for the Arts.

Sister Speak at Belly Up Tavern. Rick Astley at House of Blues.

THURSDAY, JAN. 26 Powerman 5000, Orgy at Brick by Brick.

Lemuria at The Hideout.

FRIDAY, JAN. 27 Pato Banton at Belly Up Tavern. Lydia Loveless at Soda Bar. Cold War Kids at Observatory North Park. August Burns Red at SOMA.

SATURDAY, JAN. 28 Hamilton Leithauser at The Casbah (sold out). Ali Wong at Balboa Theatre.

July Talk at Soda Bar. Devendra Banhart at Observatory North Park.

SUNDAY, JAN. 29 Blind Boys of Alabama at Belly Up Tavern. The Winehouse Experience at Mu-

sic Box. Well Well Well at The Casbah.

MONDAY, JAN. 30 Jane Lee Hooker at The Hideout. Run the Jewels at Observatory North Park (sold out). D.A. Stern at Soda Bar. The Gaslamp Killer at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, JAN. 31 Kenny Wayne Shepherd at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). Communist Daughter at Soda Bar. AAN at Whistle Stop.

FEBRUARY WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 Mike Doughty at Belly Up Tavern. Camila at House of Blues. The Dead Ships at The Casbah.

THURSDAY, FEB. 2 Kitchen Dwellers at Soda Bar. Black Violin at California Center for the Arts.

Lotus at Belly Up Tavern. Carnifex at SOMA. SOLVE at The Hideout.

FRIDAY, FEB. 3 Paul Stanley’s Soul Station at Belly Up Tavern. Birdy Bardot at Soda Bar. Metalachi at The Casbah. Dashboard Confessional at House of Blues. Z-Trip at Music Box.

SATURDAY, FEB. 4 Vokab Company at Music Box. Sweet and Tender Hooligans at Observatory North Park. ‘Banding Together Fundraiser’ w/ Tim Flannery at Belly Up Tavern. Pablo Sainz Villegas at California

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

JANUARY 25, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 27

MUSIC CLUBS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 Center for the Arts. Killing the Messenger at SOMA.

SUNDAY, FEB. 5 Down by Law at Soda Bar.

MONDAY, FEB. 6 Henry Kapono at Belly Up Tavern. Lilys at Soda Bar.

TUESDAY, FEB. 7 Irata at Soda Bar. The Revivalists at Belly Up Tavern (sold out).

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8 Alcest at Brick by Brick. Austra, The Range at The Casbah. Juicy J at House of Blues. Shane Hall at Belly Up Tavern.

Nots at The Hideout.

THURSDAY, FEB. 9 The Lemon Twigs at The Casbah. Joan of Arc at Soda Bar. You Blew It! at The Irenic. D.R.A.M. at Music Box. Alesana at Soda Bar. Drab Majesty, Body of Light at The Hideout.

FRIDAY, FEB. 10 Branford Marsalis Quartet at Balboa Theatre. Legendary Shack Shakers at The Casbah. Anuhea at Music Box. Dead Man’s Party at Belly Up Tavern.

The Relationship at The Hideout.

SATURDAY, FEB. 11 Wax Tailor at Music Box. The Chain Gang of 1974 at The Hideout. Griffin House at Soda Bar. Boogarins at Soda Bar.

28 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

SUNDAY, FEB. 12 Falling In Reverse at House of Blues.

Authority Zero at Brick by Brick. David Duchovny at Music Box. The Griswolds at The Casbah. Save Ferris at Belly Up Tavern.

MONDAY, FEB. 13 Hot Tuna at Belly Up Tavern. ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ at Observatory North Park.

Tyvek at Soda Bar.

TUESDAY, FEB. 14 Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra at Belly Up Tavern. Milemarker at The Casbah.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15 Lucero at Belly Up Tavern. Jake Shimabukuro at Music Box. Amigo the Devil at Soda Bar.

THURSDAY, FEB. 16 Galactic at Belly Up Tavern. Weyes Blood at Soda Bar. Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox at Balboa Theatre. Billy Crystal at Copley Symphony Hall.

FRIDAY, FEB. 17 Reel Big Fish, Anti Flag at House of Blues. Slim Cessna’s Auto Club at Soda Bar. Crocodiles at The Hideout.

English Beat at Bellly Up Tavern. Cut Chemist at Music Box. Penn and Teller at Harrah’s SoCal. Erykah Badu at Observatory North Park. Kevin Garrett at House of Blues.

SATURDAY, FEB. 18 La Luz at The Hideout. Steam Pow-

ered Giraffe at California Center for the Arts. The Coathangers at The Casbah.

Surfer Blood at Soda Bar. ‘Funk Soul Social’ w/ The Routine at Music Box. Jose Feliciano at Poway OnStage.

‘You Are Going to Hate This Fest’ w/ The Frights, The Garden, Antwon at SOMA. Adam Ant at Observatory North Park. English Beat at Belly Up Tavern.

SUNDAY, FEB. 19 Blanks 77 at Soda Bar. Cheetah Chrome of Dead Boys at The Hideout.

Organ Freeman at The Casbah.

MONDAY, FEB. 20 Alejandro Escovedo at Belly Up Tavern.

AFI at Observatory North Park (sold out).

Leon at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, FEB. 21 Cody Canada and the Departed at Belly Up Tavern. Circa Survive at House of Blues. AFI at Observatory North Park (sold out). Adia Victoria at The Casbah.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach. Fri: Wheeland Brothers, Sanddollar, Top Shelf Shake. Tue: LIVN. Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St, Normal Heights. Wed: ‘Interconnected’ w/ DJ Alex Mattery. Thu: ‘Libertine’ w/ DJs Jon Wesley, 1979. Sat: ‘Juicy’ w/ Mike Czech. Sun: ‘Chvrch’ w/ DJs Karma, Alice.

AMSDConcerts, 1370 Euclid Ave. Chollas Creek. Fri: Dave Alvin. Sat: Dave Stamey.

The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Road.

Spring Valley. Fri: Frequency Within, Black Heartthrobs. Sat: Hardly Human, PunchCard, Making Incredible Time, Mandoshanks, The A-Bortz.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St., North Park.

Wed: DJ LSat. Fri: ‘80s v. 90s’. Sat: The Montalban Quintet. Sun: ‘Rat Sabbath’.

Mon: ‘Motown on Monday’.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St. Downtown.

Fri: So Super Sam. Sat: Cazzette.

Beaumont’s, 5665 La Jolla Blvd. La Jolla. Thu: Simeon Flick Duo. Sat: Jewel City Rock Club.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. Wed: Sister Speak, Emily Drew, Mango Melody. Thurs: Fri: Ty Segall, Meatbodies. Sat: Cody Jinks, Paul Cauthen. Sun: The Blind Boys of Alabama. Mon: Ace Frehley, Enuff Z’Nuff.

Tue: Kenny Wayne Shepherd (sold out).

Black Cat Bar, 4246 University Ave. City Heights. Thurs: El Consumption, Down Big, Bill & Sandy. Fri: Quali, Paper Forest, Waves + Billows.

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington St. Mission Hills. Fri: Rage Against the Machine live tribute. Sat: ‘We Love Bass’ w/ Wes Smith. Sun: ‘And Stuff’ w/ Andre Varela b2b Ivano. Tues: ‘Interpol night’.

Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave. Thurs: Ocean Natives, Jam Kwest. Fri: ‘Boar Cross’n’.

Brick 15, 915 Camino del Mar. Del Mar. Fri: Ellis Paul. Sat: Ellis Paul.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., Bay Park. Thu: Powerman 5000, Orgy, Knee High Fox, Death Valley High, Bag of Humans. Fri: Stick Men, Pet Shark, Agent 22, Tom Griesgraber. Sun: Flaw, Whitney Peyton, Chrysalis, Van Brando.

@SDCITYBEAT

MUSIC BRUNO O’HARA

The Office, 3936 30th St, North Park.

Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’. Tue: ‘Trapped’.

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 Sixth Ave. Downtown. Thurs: Kennedy Jones, Helena Legend. Fri: Sat: 3LAU. Sun: Manufactured Superstars.

Panama 66, 1450 El Prado. Balboa Park.

Wed: Gilbert Castellanos. Fri: Abstrack.

Sat: Miss Erika Davies and The Men. Parq, 615 Broadway. Downtown. Fri: Turbulence. Sat: Joe Mazz.

Plaza Bar at Westgate Hotel, 1055 2nd Ave. Downtown. Fri: Gilbert Castellanos.

Sat: Allison Tucker. Mon: Julio de La Huerta.

Proud Mary’s, 5550 Kearny Mesa Road.

Kearny Mesa. Thu: Tomcat Courtney. Fri: Fred Heath. Sat: The Derringers.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave., Hillcrest.

Wed: DJ John Joseph. Thu: DJ K-Swift.

Fri: DJs K-Swift, Will Z. Sat: DJs K-Swift, Luke Allen, Taj. Sun: DJs Paulo Ramirez, Moody Rudy.

SPOTLIGHT Thanks to bands like Powerman 5000 and Orgy, there was a brief moment in the late ‘90s when it looked like the future was going to be a cross between the movie Hackers and nu-metal. Everyone was going to have spiky hair, wear jumpsuits and rip it up at raves thrown in industrial factories. Revisiting the videos for PM5K’s hit “When Worlds Collide” and Orgy’s cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday,” that nu-metal cyberpunk vision of the future is actually preferable to the slouchy, dependent-on-screens future that we ended up with. Nobody’s even wearing aviator goggles! Powerman 5000 and Orgy play Thursday, Jan. 26 at Brick by Brick.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Midtown. Wed: Seratones, Casey Hensley Band, Andrew McKeag Band. Thu: The Donkeys, Dolly Barnes, Madly. Fri: Schizophonics Soul Revue, The Magnificent With Mighty Manfred.Sat: Hamilton Leithauser, Alexandra Savior (sold out).

Sun: Well Well Well, AJ Froman, Boostive. Mon: The Gaslamp Killer, Trackstar DJ, DJ Artistic. Tue: ‘Emo Nite San Diego’.

Che Cafe, UCSD campus, La Jolla. Fri: The Pesos, Cosmics, Matcha, Fake Tides.

Tue: Half Man, The Last Minute, Buckley’s Angel.

Dirk’s Nightclub, 7662 Broadway, Lemon Grove. Fri: Nemesis. Sat: Super DJ Dre. Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Downtown. Fri: Holly Bowling. Sat: ‘Daniel Jackson tribute’. Sun: ‘2nd Annual Vocal Summit’.

The Field Irish Pub, 544 Fifth Ave. Wed: Gordo. Thu: Coral Bells. Fri: Lucky Tongue. Sat: Lucky Tongue. Sun: Allen de la Rosa. Mon: Chris Del Priore. Tue: Fiore.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., Downtown. Fri: Dynamiq.

Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave., Downtown.

Wed: Ride the Mule. Thu: ‘Night Skool’ Fri: ‘Good Times’. Tue: ‘50s/60s Dance Party’.

The Hideout, 3519 El Cajon Blvd. City Heights. Thu: Lemuria, Cayetana, Mikey Erg. Fri: ‘Into the Deep’. Mon: Jane Lee Hooker, The Bluebonnets.

The Holding Company, 5046 Newport Ave. Ocean Beach. Wed: The Ginger Cowgirl. Thu: Mickey Avalon, Ultima Circo, Higher Minds, OB MIC, DJ Green T. Fri: DJ Mancat, Takillya. Sat: Baby Gow, DJ OMZ, Pat Hilton. Sun: Lizzie & The Makers, Veronica May. Mon: Kerry-Oke. Tue: DJ Reefah, Jahkobeats, Aveona.

Hooley’s, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive.

@SDCITYBEAT

—Ryan Bradford

La Mesa. Sat: King Taylor.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Wed: Rick Astley. Thu: Sage the Gemini. Fri: The Atomics. Sat: Fooz Fighters. Tue: Robin Henkel.

Humphreys Backstage, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. Shelter Island. Wed: Rosy Dawn. Thu: Wildside. Fri: Rising Star, Backwater Blues. Sat: Viva Santana.

Sun: Arnessa Rickett. Mon: Missy Andersen. Tue: Bayou Brothers.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., Midtown. Wed: ‘Family Matters’. Thu: ‘Psilo’ w/ Paradigm. Fri: Cause4Concern, Boh Curly. Sat: ‘The Other Side’. Sun: Cumbia Machin, DJ Las Sucias.

The Kraken, 2531 S. Coast Highway 101. Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Thu: Chunk. Fri: I-90. Sat: Angelic Co. and the Band of Demons. Tue: The Summer of Love Band.

Lestat’s West, 3343 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Fri: Heather Mae, Grace Pettis. Sat: Never Let This Go, Fashion Jackson.

Loft @ UCSD, Price Center East, La Jolla. Thu: Maarja Nuut.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave. Hillcrest. Wed: ‘A Tribute to Coldplay’. Fri: Color Til Monday, The Montell Jordans, Eridia, Geneva Pina. Sat: Squirrelly Arts, Infinite Death, Syrebris, Raise the Guns.

Mother’s Saloon, 2228 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. Wed: Acoustic Showcase.

Thu: DJ Dub B. Mr. Peabody’s, 136 Encinitas Blvd. Encinitas. Thu: Barbwire Country. Fri: Stolen Souls, Monarch, Sentinel Machine.

Sat: P.R.I., Celeste Barbieri. Sun: Tony Ortega jazz jam.

Music Box, 1337 India St. Little Italy. Fri: ‘One More Time: A Tribute to Daft Punk’.

Sat: Led Zepagain, The Ultimate Stones.

Sun: The Winehouse Experience. Mon: ‘Tonight in San Diego’.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’ w/ Jason Hanna. Thu: Brennan Orndorff. Fri: Gino and the Lone Gunmen. Sat: Kathryn Cloward.

Rosie O’gradys, 3402 Adams Ave. Normal Heights. Fri: Three Chord Justice.

Sat: Johnny Tarr.

Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave. North Park. Wed: The Waylon Hicks Project. Thu: Jimmy Ruelas. Fri: The Routine DJs. Sat: Jimmy Ruelas. Tue: Professor Shadow.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: Stephen Steinbrink, Dear Nora. Fri: Lydia Loveless. Sat: July Talk, Mona. Sun: Dreams Made Flesh, Pall Jenkins, PRGRM, Pall Jenkins. Mon: D.A. SternThu The Show Ponies. Tues: SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway.

Fri: August Burns Red, Protest The Hero, In Hearts Wake, ‘68.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave. Normal Heights. Thu: Burlesque Boogie Nights. Fri: Sun: Jacob Miller and the Bridge City Crooners.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. Thu: Stories From Shamehill, Alvino and the Dwells. Sat: ‘Motorpsycho’.

Tin Roof, 401 G St. Downtown. Wed: Lenny Morris Duo. Thu: 2 Legit. Fri: Keep Your Soul, Allegra Duchaine. Sat: Keep Your Soul, Allegra Duchaine. Sun: Tay Watts. Mon: Allegra Duchaine.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., Bay Park. Wed: Thu: Nathan James and the Rhythm Scratchers. Fri: Third Project. Sat: Sun: Mon: Tue: Sue Palmer.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., City Heights. Fri: Wild Honey, Space Wax, Red Wizard. Sat: Remain in Vain, RevoltChix, Systematic Abuse, Burning Hammer, Biriuk. Sun: Death Eyes, The Stalins of Sound, The Heartlights, Dethsurf .

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

Wed: DJs Artistic, Tramlife. Fri: DJ Chris Freeman. Sat: DJ Junior the Disco Punk.

Sun: Vibrant Heights.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park.

Wed: ‘Retrograde’ w/ DJ JC. Thurs: ‘Vamp’. Fri: Matt Lamkin, Silver Shadows, DJ Mario Orduno. Sat: ‘Booty Bassment’ w/ DJs Dimitri, Rob. Sun: Mon: Age of Collapse, Endless Nameless. Tues: Aan, Exasperation.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. Wed: Ease Up, DJ Carlos Culture.

Thu: Smokey Hoof, The Wonder Dogs.

Fri: Ron Jeremy’s XL Comedy. Sat: Grant Farm. Sun: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Drunken Kung Fu. Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Blue Jean Simmons.

JANUARY 25, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 29

LAST WORDS | ADVICE

AMY ALKON

ADVICE

GODDESS Flee willy I’m a 27-year-old woman, dating again after a six-year relationship. I slept with a guy on the third date and was dismayed when he didn’t spend the night. It didn’t feel like just a hookup, and it wasn’t a work night. Is this just how people date now—going home immediately after sex—or does this mean he’s not serious?

—Confused There are two ways to solve this problem.

One is to say, “Hey, I’d really like you to stay the night.” The other is to hide his shoes and keys.

The “half-night stand”—avoiding the early-morning walk of shame, often via middle-of-the-night Uber—is being proclaimed the new one-night stand. The truth is, the just-post-sex adios isn’t exactly a new phenomenon; it’s probably just more prevalent, thanks to how easy smartphones make it to swipe office supplies, Thai food and sex partners right to your door.

As for why this guy left, it’s hard to say.

Maybe he’s gone for good, or maybe he just wasn’t sure you wanted him to stay. Maybe he sleepwalks, sleep-carjacks or can’t fall asleep in a strange bed. Or maybe he’s got some early-morning thing—seeing his parole officer, walking the goat, or (more likely) making the bathroom smell like 12 dead goats.

Your fretting about what the deal is suggests you might not be as comfortable as you think about having sex before there’s a relationship in place. You may unconsciously be succumbing to a form of peer pressure— peer pressure that mainly exists in your own mind—called “pluralistic ignorance.” This is social psychologists’ term for when many people in a group are personally uncomfortable with some belief or behavior but go along with it anyway—incorrectly concluding that most people are A-OK with it and thinking they should be, too. (Basically, “monkey assume/monkey do.”)

Consider how the millennial generation is supposedly “Generation Hookup.” Look-

30 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 25, 2017

ing at survey data from Americans ages 20 to 24, psychologist Jean Twenge actually found that people born from 1990 to 1994 (millennials) were “significantly more likely” than those born from 1965 to 1969 (Gen Xers) to say they’d had ZERO sex partners since the age of 18. (Fifteen percent of millennials went sexless, versus 6 percent of Gen Xers.)

And if millennials were clued in on pluralistic ignorance, the number in the “no sex for now” column might be even higher. For example, biological anthropologist Chris Reiber finds that women seriously overestimate other women’s comfort level with “hookup behaviors” (from “sexual touching above the waist” to sex) in situations “where a more traditional romantic relationship is NOT an explicit condition of the encounter.”

Figure out what actually works for you emotionally—whether you can just say ”whatevs!” if a guy goes all nail-’n’-turntail or whether you might want to wait to have sex til you’ve got a relationship going.

That’s when it becomes easier to broach uncomfortable subjects—so you won’t have to wonder, say, why he’s running out at 2:27 a.m. You will know: It’s not you; it’s his sleep apnea and how he likes to go home to his CPAP machine rather than die in your bed.

Gimme sum of your luvin’ Resolve an argument, please. How often should married people be having sex to have a happy marriage?

—Married Person

It is kind of depressing if the last time you screamed in bed was two months ago when your husband rolled over in his sleep and elbowed you in the eye.

However, consider that more of a good thing is not always better. For example, having more in the boobage area is generally great—unless that means having three. Well, according to social psychologist Amy Muise and her colleagues, once you’ve got a relationship going, sex works kind of the same way.

They find that having sex once a week is associated with greater happiness; however, more sex than that doesn’t make for more happiness, and it can sometimes make for less.

The researchers explain that many people are exhausted and feel overwhelmed, so “the pressure to engage in sex as frequently as possible may be daunting and even stressful.” But, interestingly, comparisons with one’s peers—positive or negative—also color how people feel. Sociologist Tim Wadsworth finds that, beyond simply having sex, what really makes people happier is thinking they’re having more of it than everybody else.

Having sex just once a week can keep the spouse with a stronger sex drive feeling satisfied enough while keeping the less lusty spouse from feeling like a sexual pack mule.

This, in turn, helps keep resentment from taking over your relationship to the point where you go around grumbling that the last time somebody got into your pants, it was because they paid $3.79 for them at Goodwill.

(c)2016, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.

@SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

January 25, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 31