San Diego CityBeat • May 1, 2019 by San Diego CityBeat

2 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

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UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR

What we can do now?

ike so many others, the events of Saturday shook me to my core. I only wish I could have found it more unfathomable. As sad as it is to say, white supremacist and anti-Semitic terrorist attacks, like the one that occurred at the Chabad of Poway synagogue on Saturday morning, have become all too commonplace. There will be those who decry or denounce any attempts to bring politics into the discussion, but do not be dissuaded. It is not insensitive and tactless to point out that Lori Gilbert-Kaye would likely still be alive today if we lived in a country where dangerous ideas weren’t emboldened by our current President and where buying an assaultstyle rifle wasn’t as easy as buying a car. For those looking for answers, I’m afraid I have no easy solutions or overnight remedies. As has been the case in the past, it’s much easier for all of us to simply offer our condolences and move on with our respective lives. If only the family of Gilbert-Kaye could do the same. However, for those who are sick and tired of these incidents, it’s important to remember a few things moving forward. White supremacists and the terrorists they produce are depending on you to move on. There will be those who like to point out that these types of people have always been around; that they are an anomaly and fringe

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organizations that should not be taken seriously. They are content in ignoring the warning signs and how these groups feel emboldened and empowered by President Trump. They are depending on us to get caught up in their backwards logic of “white supremacy vs. white nationalism,” and other such fallacies. Do not fall for it. Demand accountability from those who try to be dismissive in the face of hate. Demand they do better. This includes our friends and family. Support the free press. Local media outlets and especially the staff at the San Diego Union-Tribune have done an amazing job covering the attack and its aftermath. If readers have followed any of the coverage on national TV, print or digital outlets, it’s likely the content was repurposed from the stories being produced locally. Still, it’s also important that the press call these types of acts what they truly are: domestic terrorism. Calling them “hate crimes” or “mass shootings,” while accurate, are missing the big picture. Moreover, it perpetuates deep-seeded racial and religious biases. Translation: if a Christian white supremacist attempts to murder people, it’s a hate crime. If a Muslim fundamentalist does the same, they’re a terrorist. Both are terroristic in nature and should be equally labeled as such. Support common sense firearm legislation. Don’t know where to start? There is cur-

rently a bill in the state legislature, authored by local Assemblymembers Tasha Boerner Horvath and Lorena Gonzalez, that would prohibit gun and ammunition sales at the Del Mar Fairgrounds starting in 2021. Gun shows are a hotbed for those looking to purchase cheap weapons and ammo without having to deal with the laws that gun stores have to abide by. Locals should call their State Senator and demand the bill be fastracked to committee hearings and promptly scheduled for a vote. It’s a small step, but it’s a start. Support organizations that offer true and meaningful help. And no, I’m not just talking about gun control organizations. We need to start supporting organizations that are committed

to identifying and combatting white supremacist organizations. The Southern Poverty Law Center and The Action Network are good starts, and local, statewide and even federal governments should begin to work with these organizations to combat the spread of supremacist ideals. There also needs to be a commitment to retributive and rehabilitative help for those who are caught up or within white supremacist organizations. Some might see that as a controversial statement, but it’s my belief that no one is born a monster and that even someone with monstrous ideas can be saved before it’s too late.

—Seth Combs

Write to seth.combs@sdcitybeat.com

This issue of CityBeat got these chanclas at Cinco de Mayo. Sales commission bye-bye-o!

Volume 17 • Issue 37 EDITOR Seth Combs WEB EDITOR Ryan Bradford ART DIRECTOR Carolyn Ramos STAFF WRITER Andrea Lopez-Villafaña COLUMNISTS Aaryn Belfer Ryan Bradford Edwin Decker Alfred Howard John R. Lamb Rhonda “Ro” Moore

CONTRIBUTORS Christin Bailey, Torrey Bailey, Jackie Bryant, David L. Coddon, Beth Demmon, Julia Dixon Evans, Michael A. Gardiner, Sara Harmatz, Glenn Heath Jr., Peter Holslin, Lizz Huerta, Lara McCaffrey, Jim Ruland, Ben Salmon, Ian Ward EDITORIAL INTERNS Steven Buriek Marlee Drake PRODUCTION MANAGER Tristan Whitehouse SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jason Noble

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MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 3

4 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

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UP FRONT | LETTERS

DON’T STEREOTYPE CAT PEOPLE

First, let me say that I admire Aaryn Belfer’s ongoing efforts to identify and demonize smallminded perspectives related to issues such as racism, sexism, stereotyping and social injustice. Our culture, and really all cultures, exhibit way too much of this type of thinking, which is typically symptomatic of ignorant, uninformed and generally evil human beings (as is so regularly and aptly demonstrated by our “illustrious” president). Ms. Belfer’s efforts along these lines are commendable, and while her writing skills are, in my opinion, somewhat limited, her message is usually right on (if peppered with too much ranting and abundant expletives). This is why it was so disappointing to read her recent rage against “cat people,” a term which (in several different forms) occurs no less than 10 times in her recent article [“Save me from the cat people,” Backwards & in High Heels, April 10]. My disappointment stems from the realization that Ms. Belfer is nothing less than a raging hypocrite. She regularly (and rightly) rails against stereotyping on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, religion, etc., but thinks nothing of repeatedly square-pegging anyone who appreciates cats into her nasty little “cat people” category. According to Ms. Belfer, anyone who appreciates cats is “...part of a rabid, cult-like group, relentless and singleminded in it’s agenda.” To be sure, there are folks who fit her stereotype of cat lovers, just like there are people who fit the stereotypes for any group you can think of. The point Aaryn, is that you’re painting a large and diverse group of people with the same brush, the very trait you so adamantly criticize in hate

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mongers. The bottom line, Aaryn, is that you’re really no different than the groups you oppose, as it’s apparently ok in your world to unjustly categorize and attack people when their beliefs differ from yours. A fellow “cat lover” once told me that there are generally two categories of people who don’t like cats; those who haven’t spent enough time around them to appreciate them, and those who are just not smart enough to appreciate them. Based on your recent article, Aaryn, it appears you have one foot squarely planted in both of those categories. Dennis Marcin La Mesa

CAN JOE CHANGE?

Hello Seth, As usual, I invariably enjoy reading your “Upfront” weekly editorials. “He’s from a different time” [From the Editor, April 3] is no exception and again,�� per usual�� , it›s very cogently and compellingly well-written. Anecdotally, Joe Biden and I are the exact same age. Conversely, therefore, I subscribe to the “you are what you were when” theories. What are they? 1. The Imprint Period. Up to the age of seven, we’re like sponges, absorbing everything around us and accepting much of it as true, especially when it comes from our parents. The confusion and blind belief of this period can also lead to the early formation of trauma and other deep problems. The critical thing here is to learn a sense of right and wrong, good and bad. This is a human construction, which we nevertheless often assume would exist even if we were not here (which is an indication of how deeply imprinted it has become).

2. The Modeling Period. Between the ages of eight and thirteen, we copy people, often our parents, but also other people. Rather than blind acceptance, we’re trying on things like suit of clothes, to see how they feel. We may be much impressed with religion or our teachers. You may remember being particularly influenced by junior schoolteachers who seemed so knowledgeable— maybe even more so than your parents. 3. The Socialization Period. Between 13 and 21, we’re very largely influenced by our peers. As we develop as individuals and look for ways to get away from the earlier programming, we naturally turn to people who seem more like us. Other influences at these ages include the media, especially those parts that seem to resonate with the values of our peer groups. Accordingly, I respectfully believe that these three former periods in one’s life indelibly shape us almost for an entire lifetime. Of course, a sign of intelligence is adaptability too. Often, the foregoing period’s in one’s life are so entrenched, however, that there is almost a insuperable aversion to any change. Can or will Joe Biden change his behavior? I dunno. What I do know is that unwittingly I emulate many of Joe’s mannerisms with the opposite sex. Trust me for someone who has been a lifelong very genuinely affectionate person, it’s very difficult for a leopard to change its proverbial spots especially when they’re so deeply ingrained. Meanwhile, Seth, with kind personal regards and sincere best wishes to the entire “San Diego CityBeat” staff I remain... Cordially yours, Fred Harden III Rancho Santa Fe

TABLE OF CONTENTS UP FRONT From the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . .5 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 A Side-Eye of Sanity . . . . . . . 7 Sordid Tales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

FOOD & DRINK World Fare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Final Draught. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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

ARTS & CULTURE The Floating Library . . . . . . 13 Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Feature: The La Jolla Playhouse. . . . 16 Seen Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

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

IN THE BACK Astrologically Unsound. . 25 CannaBeat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 COVER ILLUSTRATION BY CAROLYN RAMOS

MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 5

UP FRONT | NEWS

A lot of worry Safe parking programs divide residents and homeless citizens By Andrea Lopez-Villafaña

ichele Rice is sitting in a parking lot for homeless citizens who live in their

vehicles. “It’s home now, we all have our own spots that we are used to parking in and we do the same thing every night,” Rice says. She’s sitting next to a small shack within the parking lot where, inside, there’s a shared restroom, fridge, microwave and a bookshelf. Rice unexpectedly became homeless after losing her job as a licensed caregiver. As bills added up, both Rice and her retired 70-year-old boyfriend were forced to live in their vehicle. That meant putting all their belongings in storage and giving away one of their pets. “You feel like a dirtbag, honestly. People are looking at you like, ‘How’d you get homeless? What’d you do? You must have [done] something to get that way,’” says Rice. “I had a nice job. He worked

at his same job for 14 years. He retired and things just fell apart. We couldn’t keep up with things and got overloaded with bills.” Rice and her boyfriend have been staying for a month at a “safe parking lot” run by the nonprofit Dreams for Change since becoming homeless in March. The nonprofit runs a privately funded Safe Parking Program with one lot in Valencia Park and another in Golden Hill. Additionally, the City of San Diego funds two lots operated by the nonprofit Jewish Family Service with another expected to open soon in Mission Valley. The safe parking programs in the city are each run differently but offer similar services with an emphasis on re-housing homeless citizens. There is no deadline for when “clients,” as they are often referred to, need to leave by. As long as they continue to work toward housing, they have a safe place to park at night.

6 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

CEO of Dreams for Change Teresa Smith says that system provides the stability and safety people need to work toward re-housing. She adds that the program is not a solution for homelessness but is an avenue to help individuals in this situation. “The Safe Parking program is [a] way to assist people right where they are at without having to use expensive systems such as shelters that often are not a good fit for these individuals,” says Smith. If at any moment a client is not actively seeking housing, they are asked to leave the lot and the program. However, critics argue that because of the lack of affordable housing in San Diego, the safe parking lots are just another short-term solution to a larger problem. Connie Romero, a property owner in Logan Heights, says there should be some pressure placed on individuals staying at the lots to motivate them to find housing. But of course, if that housing is not available, then that raises two questions. “What’s worse, kicking them out? Or letting them stay?” Romero says. While the topic of people living in their vehicles is not new, it was recently thrown back into the

ANDREA LOPEZ-VILLAFAÑA

Michele Rice spotlight as the city juggles residents’ concerns with the needs of homeless citizens who reside in their vehicles. In February, the City Council repealed a 26-yearold ban on people living in cars, citing an injunction imposed by a federal judge who said the law was “vague” and “arbitrarily and discriminatorily applied.” A month later, however, Mayor Kevin Faulconer proposed to reinstate the ban. The City Council’s Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee voted on April 17 to advance the proposal to the full council. Although the safe parking lots are not included in the proposed ordinance draft, they are seen as the alternative to people parking on the street. But residents are concerned that the parking lots will only increase the concentration of homeless citizens in their community. Residents in the beach communities have been vocal about their opposition to vehicle habitation. And recently, residents in the Greater Logan Heights area raised concerns after they learned that Family Health Centers plans to propose a parking lot in the neighborhood as an option. In an email, mayoral spokesperson Greg Block wrote that the proposal in Barrio Logan is not being considered and that the Mission Valley lot “is the only new lot we are working on right now.” However, Barrio Logan resident Janmari Hueso says she recently followed up with the Family Health Centers and was told the “plan is evolving.” “[We] always find out after something is already basically done,” says Hueso. A community meeting regarding the lot is tentatively scheduled for May 14 with the Barrio Logan Association. Anthony White, director of Community and Government Relations for Family Health Centers,

wrote in an email to CityBeat on Monday, “we are still in discussions with the City and waiting on them before we have any more information.” Logan Heights resident Luz Palomino believes the safe parking lots are just a Band-Aid to a greater issue because allowing homeless people to simply have a space to sleep is not a permanent solution. One lot operated by Dreams for Change is just outside the boundary of District 8. “Enough is enough. We already have many [homeless services] and we don’t want more here,” says Palomino. Michael Hopkins, CEO of Jewish Family Service, which operates the city-funded safe lots, says everyone has a picture in their head of what homelessness looks like and that leads to assumptions. “These are folks that the first thing they do in the morning is they take their kids to school, they go to work, they are trying to live their life and then they come here and they’re sleeping in their car,” Hopkins says. Rice understands the concerns of residents but says that people staying at the lots are mindful of keeping things clean. What’s more, the lots provide safety and security. Rice and her boyfriend spent three weeks parking along Federal Boulevard where cars and RVs can often be found. But it felt incredibly unsafe, she says. Rice is hopeful that they will be back on their feet by the end of June. In the meantime, they are trying to do their best to get by and deal with the stigmas tied to being homeless. “I never experienced going into a place and them looking at me and knowing I’m homeless and telling me, ‘no you can’t use the bathroom’ until about a week ago,” Rice says as her voice breaks. “It was really embarrassing and I ended up going to the park.”

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UP FRONT | VOICES

RHONDA “RO” MOORE

A SIDE-EYE OF

SANITY

There’s nothing wrong with putting a value on our work

’ve spent some time recently dealing with the continuous obstacles of getting a seat at the table in influential industries, as well as the paycheck that’s supposed to come with that shit. Between that and doing my taxes, I’ve been thinking a lot about wages and how people should value their own work (literally). The military/working-class household I was raised in ran on a budget. I watched as my parents worked their asses off to keep food on the table. Once I was in junior high, I realized exactly how much juggling my parents had to do to make after-school activities, school trips or projects happen for me. I’ve personally been part of the workforce, at least part-time, since I was a pre-teen (you didn’t think my parents paid for my book habit, did you?). So, when I hear people describe wanting a living wage as being greedy or that they want rewards without, as it’s often put, “putting in the work,” it makes me feel some type of way (readers know I’m regularly stabby). This past Easter Sunday, I had a back-and-forth on Twitter that I just simply couldn’t let go. This gent was convinced Amazon was the best thing to ever happen to the job market because it had “limitless advancement” options without the requirement of a college degree. I know, I shouldn’t talk to online randos, but I often find white people confusing as hell so investigating from a distance seemed best. Plus, I was bored. Sue me. It became quickly obvious I was: 1.) talking to someone retired, and; 2.) they mainlined “boot-strap” Kool-Aid daily. They were hostile toward education and convinced that what’s wrong with the modern worker is they don’t “ask what they can do for their employer”—that they focus too much on what their labor is worth. The conversation went sideways rather quickly—possibly when I suggested they stop bastardizing Kennedy’s “ask not” speech. The whole convo stuck a nerve. In many regards, I still “adult” poorly. I’m always going to fight being required to wear shoes, but my work ethic is solid. I strive to be good at what I do, and you can’t be harder on me than I already am. I’ve worked jobs that barely paid (wait staff) and minimum wage, and I’ve also worked jobs that paid well enough to allow for retirement savings and vacations. I’m no stranger to overtime, double shifts and working during holidays. I’ve been a salaried employee working enough long hours that my rate of compensation didn’t come close to being fair. I’ve worked up from entry level and I’ve also joined a company with a title. More to the point, there aren’t many people I know

who haven’t hit survival mode at some point and needed help. Yes, that includes people working (supposedly) “good” jobs. Working hard and living within your means is no guarantee that public assistance of some sort won’t keep life from going off the rails at some point. For me, being forced into freelancing has been a transformative experience after being a W-4 employee most of my working adult life. Every time I sit down to write an invoice, I put a dollar amount on my time and effort. It’s an uphill battle to get paid far too often. I’ve learned to be ruthlessness in entirely new ways. I’m a Libra, I may not like confrontation, but it doesn’t mean I’m not good at confrontation. They will run me my money voluntarily, or I will go see them about my money. I’ve always been a capitalist and an advocate of the free-market. This apparently confuses people. Throughout my work life, I’ve learned, through trial and error, how to view myself as a commodity in the workforce. Because when paying bills requires working, learning how to best position one’s self to be paid is a must-have skill to avoid economic slavery. There’s a serious disconnect in the socioeconomic strata when it comes to placing value on work. Honest people admit that disconnect is deliberate and intended to keep most of the money and power in rich, white hands. Because, if nothing else is true, history makes it abundantly clear that if you let white people set the value, the labor of poor folks—especially Black poor folks—doesn’t garner much. The plain truth is that white folks will go to war to avoid paying someone their due. At this stage in life, figuring out ways to fund the things I want is a familiar dance. I grew up at the height of respectability politics. I know how to craft a non-threatening physical appearance, to speak in non-threatening tones, and I come equipped with the appropriate boxes checked on my resume to make it all the more difficult to tell me I’m not qualified. If I don’t know something when I get there, I can and will learn it before I am needed to. And I’m not the exception to the rule—most folks hustle hard for what they want. Pretending that cash doesn’t rule everything around me isn’t a game I play with myself. If I ever forget, San Diego rent hikes remind me regularly. Spring is primetime job-hunting season. Sweat equity is valuable so be sure and get paid well for it. Play the game but don’t get played.

I’m a Libra, I may not like confrontation, but it doesn’t mean I’m not good at confrontation. They will run me my money voluntarily, or I will go see them about my money.

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A Side-Eye of Sanity appears every other week. Follow Ro Moore on Twitter at @BookBlerd.

MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 7

UP FRONT | OPINION

EDWIN DECKER

SORDID

TALES

Fight for your right to use the OK symbol

first caught wind of the controversy regarding the OK hand gesture in December of 2018. I was at a football-viewing party watching the Tennessee Titans beat down the New York Giants when the camera zoomed in on a Tennessee fan celebrating a touchdown. The man leapt out of his seat, fist-bumped his friends and—with a big, beaming smile—flashed the OK sign toward the camera. “See that right there?” said a fellow Giant’s fan sitting across the room. “That’s a signal of white supremacy.” He then explained how the last three fingers create a “W” and the thumb and index (along with the wrist) form a “P,” which stands for “White Power.” I naturally assumed this was nonsense, but soon after began encountering more of these claims. Readers need only to Google the words, “Nazi OK” and they’ll find no shortage of articles and posts saying pretty much the same thing. These posts are often accompanied by images of skinheads brandishing the signal, followed by a comment section loaded with people calling for a ban on the hand gesture, now that it is associated with the boney fingers of fascism. Then, last week, it was banned, by a gaming company called Blizzard Entertainment. This after somebody threw up the gesture during its livestream coverage of a competition known as Overwatch League. A complaint was registered, the flasher reprimanded and without any investigation or open discussion, Blizzard barred the hand gesture’s use during its events and/or live streams. Regular readers of Sordid Tales know that I am generally against bans like this. Whether words, phrases or hand gestures, I’m simply not in favor of an all-out, context-free carpet bombing of offensive communication. This is not to say I don’t understand the instinct. When certain words have historically been used as tools of persecution, it’s easy to comprehend and understand the desire to expunge them. But banning the OK sign is lunacy. There is no history of oppression accompanying this symbol: It wasn’t patched onto Nazi uniforms during the Holocaust. Slavers didn’t brand it on the backs of their captives. And when scuba divers regularly give each other the OK sign underwater, it is not to signal that a Great White supremacist shark is approaching. According to Wikipedia, the expression appeared in Fifth century Greece as an expression of love. It appeared in first century Rome as an indication of assent and approval. It was used by pre-Christ Hindus as a conveyance of inner perfection. With all that positive history, why would we ever allow a handful of bigots to subvert its meaning? It’d be one thing if they outnumbered and surrounded us saying, “You vill give us zee OK symbol, yes?” But they don’t outnumber us and

they do not have any influence over us other than what we afford them. For all the fear and noise they generate, white supremacists are really just mice. A tiny smattering of rodents hiding inside the walls of the internet, coming out only at night to leave little mouse turds for us to overreact to as evidence of infestation. And here’s the funny part. It’s not even true! White supremacists weren’t using the OK symbol as a dog whistle. At least, not until following the lead of a 4chan hoax in 2017. The scheme was called “Operation O-KKK” which—according to multiple sources such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)—was established by an anonymous 4chan user who urged subscribers to “flood Twitter and other social media websites [claiming] that the OK hand sign is a symbol of white supremacy.” The post included a photo of Mel Gibson flashing the gesture and a diagram showing how it forms the “W” and “P” initials. Well, the PC police took the bait—hook, line and stinker. They began seeing the symbol everywhere (such as my friend did) and labeling people who used it as literal Nazis. This was followed by actual Nazis who— after observing the hysteria— began using the gesture to further exasperate them. “Most usage of [the gesture] is completely innocuous” says the ADL. “Even though its [meaning] has expanded and evolved, it still seems primarily intended to trigger or troll people on the left and cause them to react.” It worked and now they’re all too ready to abandon a beloved salute because they are either too stupid to realize they were trolled, too hungry not to take the bait or too afraid to stand up to mice. Jesus guys, don’t be so quick to acquiesce. I mean, what if images emerged of some skinheads flashing, say, the thumbs up or down gesture? Should we concede that too? What if there was photographic evidence of Chairman Mao high-fiving his tennis partner? Mussolini raising his hands in the air as if he just didn’t care? Adolph Hitler making armpit farts at the dinner table? Sorry, but I will never stop using the OK sign. And I don’t even use the damn thing! I’m going to start though, just so I can not stop doing it in defiance. Even if I discover that a thousand puppies lose their tails after every OK gesture—I will flash it twice and then donate to the ASPCA. Because puppies be damned, I ain’t letting no Nazis appropriate things that don’t belong to them. How does that line go? First they came for my OK sign, and I did nothing. Then they came for my thumbs down expression, and I remained quiet. Then they came for my armpit farts, but I had no thumbs down gesture with which to object.

White supremacists are really just mice. A tiny smattering of rodents hiding inside the walls of the internet, coming out only at night to leave little mouse turds for us to overreact to as evidence of infestation.

8 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

Sordid Tales appears every other week. Write to edwin@sdcitybeat.com.

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UP FRONT | FOOD & DRINK

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER

THE WORLD

FARE

The Southeast Asian road less travelled

outheast Asian Cuisine” is one of those terms that seems to have more meaning than it actually does. No doubt it’s the food of lands that might be considered “Southeast Asian,” but that’s nearly tautological and reveals little about the foods. Ask 10 people and they probably wouldn’t answer with anything beyond Thai curries and Vietnamese phở. But the “Southeast Asia” region offers a lot more flavors than just those of Thailand and Vietnam. One place to try Cambodia’s version of those flavors is Ly Heng (4451 University Ave., City Heights). Ly Heng bills itself as an “Asian Restaurant” and includes some Vietnamese and even Chinese dishes on the menu. The fried salt and pepper appetizers are good examples of the latter. The calamari was particularly good: tender inside, brilliantly crispy on the outside and with a nice little hit of MSG. But Ly Heng’s Cambodian (khmer) dishes are the standouts. Phnom Penh Noodles (Hủ Tiếu) is a classic of khmer cuisine with Chinese roots. The elements of the dish are pork bone broth, noodles (rice, though tapioca noodles are the most traditional), toppings (including meatballs, ground pork, squid, surimi and offal), along with herbs and greens. The dish is available both as a soup and “dry style” with broth on the side. Get it dry. It’s a wonderfully soothing dish, at least partially because of all the noodles and the side of broth that includes a chunk of pork barely clinging to its bone in the middle. The culinary influences on Cambodian food are diverse—from the colonialist flavors of France and waves of Chinese influence, to that of their immediate neighbors. This fact makes it sometimes difficult to tell whether the food at Ly Heng has more to do with those outside influences, or more to do with the “Asian Restaurant” label on the sign. Take, for example, the seafood flat rice noodles, a dish that reads as Chinese. The mixed seafood (shrimp,

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squid and surimi), stir-fry cooked with brown sauce, all feel Chinese, but the noodles themselves are rice rather than wheat. The real prize of the dish, though, is the gai lan (Chinese broccoli) and, more specifically, the stem of the gai lan which Ly Heng’s chef cuts thinly on the bias. Order the dish just for that. Perhaps my favorite dish at Ly Heng, however, was the pork and thousand-year egg porridge. Unlike the more familiar Chinese congee dish, in which the rice has lost all of its texture and nearly become a homogenous purée, the grains in this Cambodian version maintain some of their integrity. The broth is also more interesting than the congee version, with fish sauce and/or dried shrimp lending umami MICHAEL A. GARDINER

Phnom Penh noodles and salinity. Ground pork and thin wedges of the preserved egg provide both flavor and textural interest. Salted (and fermented) soy beans and mung bean sprouts make the perfect garnish. Ly Heng hardly offers a comprehensive array of Khmer dishes and much less of “Southeast Asian” cuisine. What it does offer, however, is a glimpse of just how much more there is to the region than most know or, perhaps, even suspected. And a tasty glimpse it is. The World Fare appears weekly. Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 9

UP FRONT | FOOD & DRINK

BY BETH DEMMON

FINAL DRAUGHT The hopping Tijuana beer scene

eactions were mixed when I recently mentioned to friends and family that I was hopping down to Tijuana for a weekend. I got everything from “but isn’t it really dangerous?” to “you have to try this brewery and this restaurant and this bar,” and so on. It’s easy for me to sift through the replies and brush off the irrational fears that cloud our sister city’s reputation. Most of them are lies perpetuated by the Trump-positive media eager to portray Tijuana as some anarchic war zone. The cultural and culinary renaissances happening there have been flourishing for years, and I’ve been shamefully lax in exploring it. So it was with high expectations that I eagerly made my way toward Zona Centro to knock a few back at Cerveza Lírica inside Telefónica Gastro Park (Blvd. Agua Caliente 8860). I hadn’t been to Telefónica since they moved to a bigger location in 2017. The easygoing vibe was the same, but it was definitely more jam-packed with drinkers and diners. Lírica’s brewhouse is smack in the middle of the interior space, compelling guests to pull up a stool and try one of their house-made brews, most of which are hop-forward. “The beers we sell the most are IPAs”, explains Lírica’s Enrique “Ejival” Jiminez. Like most of the Tijuana beer professionals I’ve spoken with, he cites San Diego as a major influence on the up-and-coming Baja scene. He estimates that during the weekends, visitors to Telefónica are half locals, half tourists, with the lion’s share of tourists coming from San Diego. He credits Telefónica’s popularity to several factors: first, the open-air concept is familiar to Americans and what he calls a “safe space” for even the most apprehensive travelers. Pretty much everyone speaks English and accepts U.S. dollars. Looking around, there’s nary a raised voice to be heard, much less violent mobs. It’s almost as if, shockingly, Tijuana is a safe, normal and wonderful place to visit. Lírica offers 28 taps, but only four currently come from Lírica. The rest are all sourced from Mexico with a heavy emphasis on Baja breweries and all are sold for around 75-95 pesos per pint. In U.S. dollars, that’s about $4 or $5. Jiminez explains that

10 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

his clientele simply hasn’t gotten to the point where they’ll pay a premium for imported craft beers. “[This is] more of a family place, not a beer nerd place,” he laughs. Tijuana has a fraction of the craft breweries of San Diego, but what they lack in numbers they make up for in enthusiasm. When it comes to the beer quality, there’s room to grow, but after speaking with a handful of brewers from places like Mamut and InBETH DEMMON

Cerveza Lírica surgente, I was especially struck by the humility and openness of everyone working hard to build up Tijuana into a craft beer destination. There’s an excitement that, in many ways, the San Diego scene has lost as we’ve grown. As I sipped on a Dos Californias Brewsters Hoppy Pale Ale—a joint venture between women brewers from San Diego and Tijuana—I realized that I may have finally found the place that is truly making beer fun and great again. Write to bethd@sdcitybeat.com or check her out on Instagram at @thedelightedbite.

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MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 11

EVENTS

SHORTlist

ART

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

SAN DIEGO

A DAY FOR EATING

We generally reserve this space for one event, but it’s not often that two of our favorite culinary happenings take place on the exact same day. Such is the case on Thursday, May 2 when locals will have the chance to support two great causes while dining on some delicious dishes at the same time. First, there’s the annual Dining Out for Life, where dozens of local restaurants, coffeehouses and bars all over the county will donate 25 percent or more of the day’s sales to local HIV/ AIDS services at the San Diego LGBT Community Center. Many eateries will be participating, so we’d like to think our readers would choose to dine and drink at multiple locations throughout the day. The list of businesses participating in Dining Out for Life is varied and extensive, but some of our favorites include Big Front Door, Porchetta Shack and Barrio Star, with the latter donating 60 percent of sales from the day. Check out thecentersd.org for a full list of participants and times. That evening, head over to the San Diego Air & Space Museum (2001 Pan American Plaza) in Balboa Park for the annual Eat. Drink. Read. A Culinary Event for Literacy. Now in its 10th year, the event puts a clever spin on the tasting event by having chefs, mixologists and even breweries create food and beverages inspired by classic books and literary charac-

LOGAN HEIGHTS

FACTORY WORKERS From the outside, the San Diego Made Factory (2031 Commercial St.) is just another building on Commercial Street in Logan Heights. But on the inside, it’s a hub for local artists and creators. The four women behind the space wanted to create opportunities for artists by offering working studios, offices, event spaces and more, all in one building. This fact alone makes the San Diego Made Factory Grand Opening and Spring Market on Saturday, May 4 all the more exciting. There will be more than 80 vendors selling their products at the event, as well as food and beer. The event happens from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the $5 entry fee will go toward San Diego Made’s ongoing fundraiser to pay for city permits. sandiegomade.org. BRONWYN HUDDLESON

San Diego Made

COURTESY OF SAN DIEGO COUNCIL ON LITERACY

Eat. Drink. Read. ters. Proceeds from the night benefit the San Diego Council on Literacy’s [SDCOL] educational programs. “SDCOL unites our community for a vital cause: literacy, which is necessary for our society to thrive,” says SDCOL CEO Jose Cruz. “In addition to being a much-anticipated annual event, Eat. Drink. Read. helps thousands of San Diego children and adults who benefit from our many important programs and resources, including books for children, coordination of literacy campaigns, referrals for literacy services and more.” Eat. Drink. Read. will also feature live music, as well as a head-to-head chef battle with celebrity judges and prizes. It happens from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $75 at literacysandiego.org.

SOUTH PARK

SHUTTER TO THINK As much as Gen Xers might hate to hear it, the ’90s have officially entered nostalgic territory. What’s more, younger generations are embracing not only the music of the era, but mediums such as the analog photography as well. This fact alone makes Craig Wedren: My ’90s particularly compelling. Those of a certain age may remember Wedren as the frontman for the ’90s post-hardROBYN VON SWANK core band Shudder to Think. During the band’s heyday, he was often armed with a Polaroid camera, snapping artful photos of everyone from Pearl Jam and Stereolab, to Frances McDormand and the cast of Wet Hot American Summer. Wedren will showcase some of these Polaroids Craig Wedren for a free, one-nightonly exhibition on Saturday, May 4 at Vinyl Junkies Record Shack (2235 Fern St.) from 6 to 10 p.m. Wedren will also perform some songs at 7 p.m. Check out Vinyl Junkies Record Shack on Facebook for more info.

Our Unsung Minds at Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road, Poway. Art exhibit showcasing projects which illuminate the challenges faced by those affected by mental health struggles through photograph and writing. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 2 through Saturday, May 25. Free. powaycenter.com Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibition at San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, 2825 Dewey Road, Liberty Station. This exhibition will feature 95 to 100 original, ready-to-hang paintings for sale, plus wine and food. Opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 3. Free. 619-8764550, sdws.org HOne Hundred Years of One Hundred Handbags at Women’s Museum of California, Liberty Station, 273 Historic Decatur Road #103, Point Loma. Displayed in various shapes, sizes and accessories, this exhibit shows how women’s lives have shaped their handbag styles between the 1850s and 1950s. Opening from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 3. Free-$5. 619-2337963, womensmuseumca.org Friday Night Liberty at Arts District Liberty Station, 2825 Dewey Road, Point Loma. This monthly gallery and studio walk features open artist studios, galleries, live performances, shopping and entertainment throughout Liberty Station’s Arts and Culture District. From 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, May. 3. Free. 619-573-9300, ntclibertystation.com Mujer at Mike Hess Brewing, 4893 Voltaire St., Ocean Beach. Artist Luz Clayton will showcase new works centering on womanhood. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 3. Free. facebook.com/ events/264086441149982 HCraig Wedren: My ’90s at Vinyl Junkies Record Shack, 2235 Fern St., South Park. Craig Wedren of the band Shudder to Think displays his experimental polaroids of bands and actors from the ’90s. He’ll also be playing a live set. From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Free. craigwedren.com HInside/Outside at Art Produce, 3139 University Ave., North Park. An exhibition showcasing a collaboration between incarcerated Project PAINT participants and respected San Diego and Los Angeles based artists. Opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Free. artproduce.org HI Dreamt of a Perfect Ocean, I Dreamt of Stepping in a Hole at Best Practice, 2284 Kearney Ave., Barrio Logan. Painter and sculptor Chantal Wnuk showcases new work that explores the relationship between our bodies and our environment. Opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Free. practicebest.org Art Unites: Eclectic at Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave., Kensington. Art Unites hosts a night of networking, art exhibitions and music. Hear speakers discuss business strategies for artists and more. At 9 p.m. Saturday, May 4. $10. facebook. com/ArtUnites.co Loteria Art Show at Project Reo Collective, 2335 Reo Drive, Paradise Hills. 54 artists showcase their takes on cards from the game Loteria. Take part in the card game while snacking on Mexican treats. At 4 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Free. prjctreoco.com

BOOKS HLaila Lalami at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The American Book Award Winner, Arab American Book Award Winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist will discuss and sign her new book, The Other Americans. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1. Free. warwicks.com

H = CityBeat picks 12 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

Susan Holmes McKagan at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The international supermodel, celebrity designer, TV personality and humanitarian will discuss and sign her new book, The Velvet Rose. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2. Free. warwicks.com HIan McEwan at Shiley Theatre, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, Linda Vista. The Booker Prize-winning author of Atonement, will discuss his new book, Machines Like Me, with Dr. Brian Clack. Price includes signed copy of the book. From 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 3. $29. warwicks.com HMarcie Colleen at The Book Catapult, 3010 Juniper St., South Park. The local children’s book author of Penguinaut! will hold a book signing and story-time for young fans. From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Free. 619-795-3780, thebookcatapult.com Kerry Madden-Lunsford and Emily Sutton at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The author of the Smoky Mountain Trilogy and the awardwinning illustrator and sculptor will discuss and sign their new book, Ernestine’s Milky Way. From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7. Free. warwicks.com HErika Swyler at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The national bestselling author of The Book of Speculation will be signing and discussing her newest novel, Light from Other Stars. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8. Free. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com

COMEDY HSeth Meyers at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. The award-winning writer and current host of Late Night with Seth Meyers will perform a stand-up comedy show. At 7 p.m. Friday, May 3. $46-$92. sandiegotheatres.org Frankie Quinones at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. The stand-up comedian will perform as some of his most popular characters like Creeper and Juanita Carmelita. At 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4. $21.50-$31.50. sandiegotheatres.org

FASHION HGolden Scissors Fashion Show & Awards at Sheraton Hotel and Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Drive, Downtown. Students from Mesa College’s Fashion program will showcase their designs. Includes a fashion show and a silent auction, and proceeds from ticket sales benefit student scholarships. At 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 3. $20-$60. sdmesafoundation.yapsody.com

FILM HInternational Documentary Film Series at Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park. Screenings of films examining the reality of the refugee experience followed by a Q&A discussion with an expert on the film’s subject area. From 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, May 8 and May 15. $15-$35. 619-6417510, rescue.org/films HReel Science Film Series at Digital Gym Cinema, 2921 El Cajon Blvd., North Park. The first in a series of sci-fi film screenings will feature the ’80s classic The Fly followed by a scientific discussion with UC San Diego Cognitive Science Instructor Eric Leonardis. At 7 p.m. Friday, May 3. $12. sdnhm.org HSurvivor! 98 Second Stories at Expressive Arts Institute, Liberty Station,

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 @SDCITYBEAT

EVENTS EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 2820 Roosevelt Road, Ste. 204, Point Loma. The premiere of a short film from Elizabeth Tobias that blends art and documentary to share the stories of 20 contemporary artists who have survived sexual assault. At 7 p.m. Friday, May 3.

FOOD & DRINK HDining Out for Life at various locations. Visit one of the 70 participating restaurants, bars, coffeehouses and nightclubs in town on this night and 25 to 60 percent of sales will go to local HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs. Various times. Thursday, May 2. Prices vary. diningoutforlife.com HEat.Drink.Read. at San Diego Air & Space Museum, 2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park. The San Diego Council on Literacy’s annual fundraiser features local chefs and mixologists creating dishes and drinks based on a favorite book or story. Patrons can also sample beers from several local breweries. From 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2. $75. literacysandiego.org

well as other favorites. From 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7. $31.50-$41.50. sandiegotheatres.org WEDS@7: Kallisti presents Chamber Opera at Conrad Prebys Music Center, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Singers from UC San Diego’s Graduate Program and distinguished guest artists collaborate in a range of repertoire that celebrates the beauty and power of the singing voice. From 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 8. Free-$15.50. 858-534-3448, musicweb.ucsd.edu

PERFORMANCE HCirque du Soleil VOLTA at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Cirque du Soleil’s first local Big Top production in seven years includes daring gymnastic feats gymnastic feats, BMX tricks and hip-hop inspired “shape diving.” Various times. Through Sunday, May 5. $65-$235. cirquedusoleil.com/ volta

POLITICS & COMMUNITY

Tacos, Tequila and Beer Festival at NTC Park, Liberty Station, 2455 Cushing Road, Point Loma. Sample eight different brands of tequila, tacos from 10 different San Diego restaurants, and more than 100 craft beers from local breweries. From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 4. $35. facebook. com/events/1335994553192271

Community Conversation on “Policing Ourselves” at Skyline Hills Branch Library, 7900 Paradise Valley Road, Skyline. Event to generate dialogue among community members while answering the questions “What are the rules we live by, and why?” From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Free. facebook.com/artistsbuildingcommunity

MUSIC

HRally for Science at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Hwy., Downtown. This rally will highlight the importance of science in public policy and encourage face-to-face conversations with scientists. Includes speakers and community discussions on climate change, vaccines, and more. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Free. sandiegoforscience.org

Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. Conductor Laureate Jahja Ling will lead a concert with guest organist Chelsea Chen that includes works by Saint-Saëns, as well as Berlioz and Poulenc. From 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 3. $20-$100. 619-2350804, sandiegosymphony.org HLa Jolla Symphony & Chorus at Mandeville Recital Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Steven Schick will conduct a program with Camille Saint-Saëns’ Second Piano Concerto and Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony. At 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4 and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5. $15-$35. 858-5344637, musicweb.ucsd.edu HAlan Licht, Charles Curtis and Xareni Lizárraga at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights. The guitarist, cellist, and soundscape artist perform. From 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 4. $7-$10. Breadandsaltsandiego.com Apocalyptica at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Metallica’s biggest album, the instrumental cello quartet will play selections from the metal band, as

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BOOKS: THE FLOATING LIBRARY Ghosts in the machine

hortly before the publication of Machines Like Me, Ian McEwan’s novel about an Englishman who purchases a robot with artificial intelligence, The Guardian ran a profile that quoted McEwan as saying, “If a machine seems like a human or you can’t tell the difference, then you’d jolly well better start thinking about whether it has responsibilities and rights and all the rest.” Naturally, the internet took McEwan to task for this, reminding the novelist of the long history of books and movies that do precisely that. Although I steeled myself for a science-fiction story written by someone who apparently has never read Asimov or seen Blade Runner, I wasn’t prepared for the mostly predictable and surprisingly provincial story that McEwan cooked up. Charlie Friend can be best described as a 32-year-old hair-brain-scheme addict who spends the last of his inheritance on Adam, one of 25 lifelike machines equipped with the latest AI. On the day of Adam’s arrival, Charlie realizes he is in love with his upstairs neighbor, Miranda, kicking off a bizarre love triangle. Apparently, Adam is a bit too lifelike for Charlie’s taste, but not for Miranda’s. For example, take this passage showing Char-

lie listening to Miranda and his automaton getting ready to screw: “It was my mind’s eye, or my heart’s, that watched as Adam and Miranda lay down on the unyielding embrace of the futon and found the comfortable posture for a clasp of limbs.” With lines like this, it sometimes feels as if a robot is narrating the story. But Machines Like Me is not a tale of tomorrow. It takes places in a distant, but very different past. Set in 1982, McEwan—who makes an appearance at the University of San Diego Shiley Theatre on Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m.—has constructed a counterfactual tale that hinges on an interesting question: What if Alan Turing had lived into his 70s and was able to turn his genius for code-breaking toward artificial intelligence? The result is a world that looks a lot like the one we live in today, complete with the internet, smart phones and self-driving cars. And what new inventions does McEwan imagine for this alternate universe of his? Nothing. That I came to like Adam more than the other characters feels less like a triumph of machine over man than the failing of a much-loved novelist. McEwan’s robots may be like us, but his humans are not.

—Jim Ruland

The Floating Library appears every other week.

HSan Diego Made Spring Market & Factory Grand Opening at San Diego Made Factory, 2031 Commercial St., Logan Heights. This market will feature handmade goods from over 80 makers, as well as factory tours and food and drink. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 4. $5$50. sandiegomade.org

Cinco by the Bay at Embarcadero Marina Park South, 111 W. Harbor Drive, Downtown. iHeart Media hosts this event on the waterfront to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture with cuisine, agave spirits, music, entertainment and more. From noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 4. $10-$125. kogo.iheart.com

HSan Diego Bike Month Kick Off Party at Quartyard, 1301 Market St., East Village. The San Diego Bike Coalition kicks off Bike Month with a leisurely ride through Downtown and back. Following the ride, there will be craft beer on tap and live music. From 5: 30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 2. Free. sdbikecoalition.org

HFree Comic Book Day at various stores. The annual nationwide event with the aim of encouraging readers to get out to their local “Mom and Pop”-style comic shops. Stores will carry a huge selection of free comic books and special items throughout the day. Times vary. Saturday, May 4. Free. freecomicbookday.com

HCinco de Mayo Celebration at Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park. Celebrate the day with traditional dances, arts and crafts, good food and more. Sample a variety of cuisines from some of San Diego’s best food trucks. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 5. Free. balboaparkconservancy.org

HSecret Society of Adultologists: Garden Party at San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park. This after hours, adults-only party will feature croquet, crafts, botanical themed games and activities led by museum workers, all of which patrons can enjoy with a cocktail in hand. From 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 3. $15-$25. sdnhm.org

HAsian Cultural Festival of San Diego at Mira Mesa Park and Recreation Center, 8575 New Salem St., Mira Mesa. For the 10th year of the festival, expect a celebration of the Year of the Pig with food vendors, live cooking demonstrations, a ramen eating competition and more. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Free. asianculturalfestivalsd.com

HFiesta Old Town Cinco De Mayo at Old Town Historic Park, 2454 Heritage Park Row, Old Town. Walk through a bustling mercado with non-stop music, live entertainment, lucha libre wrestling, and a display of lowriders. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 5. 619-233-5008, cincodemayooldtown.com

SPECIAL EVENTS

HChula Vista Cinco Fest at Bayside Park, Bayside Parway and Plover Way.,

Chula Vista. The annual family-friendly fest includes dance, mariachi performances and plenty of food. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 5. Free. facebook.com/ CVCINCOFEST Carlsbad Village Faire at Carlsbad Village, Grand Avenue, Carlsbad. The annual one-day street fair stretches 14 blocks and includes over 750 vendors. Takes place on Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson Street and north to south from Beech Avenue to Carlsbad Village Drive. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May. 5. 760-931-8400, carlsbad.org

WORKSHOPS DIY History: Oral History Workshop at San Diego History Center, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park. Introductory workshop discussing the importance of oral history and helping attendees get started conducting their own oral histories. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4. $20-$30. 619-232-6203, sandiegohistory.org

MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 13

THEATER JIM CARMODY

Perspiration and prayer

motions run red-hot in Lynn Nottage’s deservedly Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Sweat. Plant workers in oppressed Reading, Pennsylvania—who are already surviving paycheck to paycheck—face the loss of their jobs and identities as the company looks to Mexico for cheaper labor. When Cynthia (Monique Gaffney), a Black woman, attains a management position, her white friends feel betrayed, and racial tension further roils emotions. San Diego Repertory Theatre’s production of Sweat, directed by Sam Woodhouse, is fiery and formidable, an impeccably-acted, two-plus hours that never relents in its intensity. Besides Gaffney, the stellar cast includes Judy Bauerlein and Hannah Logan as Cynthia’s angry and rapidly deteriorating “ex friends,” as well as Cortez Johnson as Cynthia’s conflicted son Chris and Steve Froehlich as the truly frightening Jason, who will become a white supremacist. The play shifts between the year 2000 and 2008, when ex-cons Chris and Jason are seen with a parole officer (Antonio T.J. Johnson). For a work that travels not only through time, but along the sharp edges of social and political spectra, Sweat is masterfully grounded in stark human tragedies. This is one not to miss. Sweat runs through May 12 in the Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza, downtown. $25-$69; sdrep.org ••• n audience-pleaser that started with Whoopi Goldberg in a film 27 years ago, Sister Act has been a subsequent stage hit as an Alan Menken/Glenn Slater musical for 13 years. Why? Crowds love funny fun. While the movie has Whoopi, the musical has knee-slapping, gaily choreographed ensemble numbers with the sisters like “Raise Your Voice,” “Take Me To Heaven” and the

14 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

OPENING: DNA New Work Series: A weekend of readings of new works including plays and musicals from local and national talent. It happens May 2 through May 5 at the La Jolla Playhouse’s Rao and Padma Makeneni Play Development Center and Seuss 1 rehearsal spaces in La Jolla. lajollaplayhouse.org Animales Nocturnos / Nocturnal: Juan Mayorga’s allegorical tale about two men who become friends, but things become complicated when one reveals he’s an undocumented immigrant. Presented in repertory nights in both English and Spanish, it opens May 3 at the Patio Playhouse in Escondido. patioplayhouse.com Exit Laughing: Paul Elliot’s comedy about three Southern women who steal their beloved friend’s ashes from a funeral home so they can have one more night out together. Directed by Gil Savage, it opens May 3 at PowPAC Community Theatre in Poway. powpac.org

Sweat show-closing “Spread the Love Around.” Otherwise, Sister Act is about five songs longer than it should be. San Diego Musical Theatre’s production of Sister Act is reliable and showbizzy, with the aptly named Miriam Dance in the starring role of Deloris Van Cartier, the aspiring performer who is hidden away in a convent for witness protection. Dance, along with Sandy Campbell as the Mother Superior, are first-rate, as is the orchestra conducted by Don Le Master. On opening night, the proceedings were plagued by some sound problems, but the rapt patrons didn’t seem to notice a bit. Sister Act runs through May 26 at the Horton Grand Theatre, downtown. $30-$70; sdmt.org

Theater reviews run weekly. Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

—David L. Coddon

I Didn’t Get No Wake-Up Call: Paul W. Taylor’s play about a family dealing with one of the members’ alcoholism. It opens for three performances May 3 at the Community Actors Theatre in Oak Park. communityactorstheatre.com Man of La Mancha: Mitch Leigh’s revered musical based on Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote and about an old man who refuses to relinquish his ideals in the face of death. Presented by Oceanside Theatre Company, it opens May 3 at the Brooks Theatre in Oceanside. oceansidetheatre.org The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui: Bertolt Brecht’s ’40s play about a Chicago mobster is an allegory about the rise of Hitler. Presented by the Mesa College Theatre Company, it opens for six performances May 3 at the Apolliad Theatre at Mesa College in Clairemont. sdmesa.edu Yoga Play: In Dipika Guha’s comedy, a newly hired CEO must deal with an escalating scandal at a popular yoga apparel company. Directed by Callie Prendiville, it opens in previews May 5 at the MOXIE Theatre in the College Area. moxietheatre.com Wagner New Play Festival: Over a week of world-premiere productions written by current students in the Department of Theatre and Dance MFA playwriting program. It begins May 7 at various venues on the UC San Diego campus in La Jolla. theatre.ucsd.edu For complete theater listings, visit sdcitybeat.com

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MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 15

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE

CULTURE | THEATER

rojects by two UC San Diego MFA graduates—as well as a collaboration between writer-musician Kyle Jarrow, DEVO co-founder Mark Mothersbaugh and skateboarding icon Tony Hawk—highlight La Jolla Playhouse’s seventh DNA New Work Series, running May 2 through May 5 at UCSD. The main purpose of the series is to highlight works-in-progress, in this case three plays and one musical. Actors will read the works and have directors, though no costumes or sets are employed. This year’s lineup includes Airport, a La Jolla Playhouse commission, written by Guillermo Calderón, who’ll also direct. It happens Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Next up on Friday at 7:30 p.m. is The Best We Could (a family tragedy) by Emily Feldman, with Kate Eminger directing. Both readings take place in the Playhouse’s Rao and Padma Makineni Play Development Center (PDC). Next is Slam by Kyle Jarrow (book) and Mark Mothersbaugh and Jarrow (music and lyrics), which is adapted from Nick Hornby’s 2007 novel and directed by Sean Graney. This one includes skateboarding choreography by Tony Hawk and happens Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. in the Seuss 1 rehearsal space. Finally, there’s Jean, Jonah, and the Ginger Karl by Jeff Augustin, directed by Joshua Kahan Brody which happens Sunday at 2 p.m. in Seuss 1. The DNA New Work Series programs four to six works each year and is a chance to see potential La Jolla Playhouse productions in their beginning stages. According to Gabriel Greene, La Jolla Playhouse’s director of artistic development, nine projects from the previous six DNA series have gone on to become full productions at LJP. Among them are Ayad Akhtar’s The Who & The What, Chasing the Song by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan (creators of Memphis and this year’s Diana in La Jolla), Michael Benjamin Washington’s Blueprints to Freedom, and The Last Tiger in Haiti by Jeff Augustin. “It’s very helpful,” says Augustin, a UCSD MFA grad when asked if he appreciates the benefit of seeing and hearing his play read in its evolutionary stage. “Anytime you hear a play you start unearthing what it’s about— how it moves and how it flows. You’re with the actors and they’re asking questions. They have to act that moment, that truth.”

16 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

Gabriel Greene leading a DNA New Work Series discussion Jean, Jonah, and the Ginger Karl is structured as two monologues, unfolding at different points in time. One monologue is from a son, the other from his father. Each is on a journey of self-discovery. Augustin says the play “came out of this idea that I live in L.A. and I don’t drive, and my father has worked at an airport and doesn’t fly.”

Jeff Augustin and Joshua Kahan Brody “I was interested in how different generations come together,” says Augustin adding that while the two monologues are separate, the son and father “are connecting in different timelines and understanding each other in a way they never had before.” Greene says Augustin had been talking with him about his father/son play for years and “about it haunting the corners of his mind.” “When I heard there was a draft, I was so eager to read it,” says Greene. A monologue play unlocks a level of psychology, because the characters tend to be a lot more open.” During the reading on Sunday, Augustin says he’ll “be in a corner” talking with the actors and taking notes. He calls this “concentrated focus time,” but he also listens to

the reactions of the live audience. “They are there,” Augustin says of the audience. “You get to feel the emotional life and rhythms of the play.” This is the essence of the DNA New Work series. “What the series was designed to answer,” says the Playhouse’s Greene, “was how do we provide a more structured, beneficial program for artists in the beginning of their plays’ gestational periods? In some reading series, a lot of times the projects are getting a third or a fifth reading at a theater. The writer doesn’t need that anymore.” In other words, at DNA writers may be hearing their work aloud for the very first time. “DNA is a gateway,” says Greene, “a retreat to be away from all the distractions—to throw yourself straight into the material.” Greene goes on to explain that the Playhouse is routinely pitched upward of 500 new plays and musicals each year, in various stages of development. He’s excited about the four projects that were chosen for DNA. Greene calls Guillermo Calderón’s Airport “a really wild dark comedy where, I dare say, it may take you a little while to get a grip on the world he’s creating. Then he immediately changes your understanding of what you’ve just watched in a surprising way. Ultimately, I think what he’s doing is creating an epithetic and beautiful story about uncertainty and fear in our current climate as it relates to identity and a sense of belonging in a country.” Greene describes UCSD MFA grad Emily Feldman as “a wildly theatrical writer whose works balance on the border between realism and a very heightened almost meta-theatricality.” He adds that Greene’s new work,The Best We Could (a family tragedy), takes “a big-hearted look at our country,

our family units, how we interact with each other as people across long distances and across various social spectra.” Being a fan of novelist Nick Hornby, Greene is thrilled to present a reading of the first act of a new musical based on Hornsby’s book, Slam. “The unique aspect to this project is we’re also going to have five- to 10-minute moments where audiences go into another room where we’ve installed a makeshift skate ramp, and Tony Hawk is going to host

DNA reading of The Last Tiger In Haiti a presentation of what some of the skate movement might be like when this moves on into production.” The DNA series, like DNA itself, is a building block. “In addition to being a service for [the La Jolla Playhouse],” says Greene, “hopefully, in some small measure, it’s a service to theater at large. We are happy when writers we love and projects we love get opportunities.” Tickets are free to the DNA New Work Series, but reservations are required by calling 858-550-1010 or going to lajollaplayhouse. org.

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CULTURE | ART HORACIO JONES

SEEN LOCAL MR. TORERO GOES TO WASHINGTON

s Chicano Park gears up for its 50th anniversary next year, one of the park’s most prominent supporters and muralists was honored with having some of his work purchased by one of the nation’s most prominent institutions. “It’s been a long voyage here to come up,” says Mario Torero. “And to me as an American citizen now, to be able to participate and have my art and my thoughts be recognized… that’s a big honor. It’s a responsibility that I take on gladly.” Torero is speaking on the acquisition by the Library of Congress of 20 of his paintings, drawings and posters which will be added to the Library’s permanent collection. In addition to being one of the founding artists of Chicano Park, Torero was a co-founder of the Centro Cultural de la Raza and an original board member of the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture. Originally from Lima, Peru, Torero immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960s with his father, artist Guillermo Acevedo. Whereas his father was largely influential in the Native American art scene of the ’60s, Torero took a more activist approach to his work in the early days of the Chicano movement. “Chicano is about people. It’s practically a state of mind. It’s a human movement,” says Torero. “Because we wanted to create a world, an ideal world. Can you imagine? And, you know, here we are. San Diego, Chicano Park, it’s a beautiful place for everybody.” In addition to the Library of Congress’ purchase of

Mario Torero his art, Torero’s work will also be on display at the Peruvian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The exhibition, titled El Condor and The Eagle (a reference to Torero’s Peruvian and American roots), opens April 30 and Torero has been invited by the Library of Congress to discuss his career and works on May 3 inside the Library’s Hispanic Reading Room. Torero says he was originally contacted by the Library over two years ago, but sees the opening and discussion as an important milestone in not only his storied career, but of the Chicano art movement in general. “Chicano art suddenly extends out as a whole genre all on it’s own, so they’re starting to kind of focus on that,” Torero says. “It’s a keystone—we are here to stay! There’s a powerful tradition going on, plus the fact that those who started 50 years ago are 50 years older today—we are at the edge of mortality. That is what I feel is exhilarating. The pace of evolution.”

—Seth Combs CENTRO CULTURAL DE LA RAZA’S ARTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

BUILDING UP THE CENTRO

ust a few months ago, volunteers with the Centro Cultural de la Raza showed up in their best cleaning attire to give the historical space a limpia. On that day, they walked through the space to clean, get rid of old furniture and pull out paintings left behind over the years. Volunteers with the Centro’s Arts Advisory Committee told CityBeat then that their goal was to revitalize the 48-year-old building in Balboa Park by cleaning up the actual space and offering more opportunities for the community. Now, they are one step closer to making that a reality. Students from San Diego State University, under the direction of Junichi Satoh, director of the Interior Architecture graduate program, are now designing concepts for the building. They are in the initial design phase but are already envisioning the possibility of having a cafe, lounge, store and a workshop space for artists. The university does not directly fund the project, but Satoh says the students and himself are volunteering their time and resources into this project because they see the value of encouraging community engagement. “I believe good architecture should help strengthen the fabric of society. I believe that is what the Centro stands for, and our design proposals will reflect and reinforce that idea,” says Satoh. Currently there are about 25 students participating, but Satoh is interested in expanding the project to other students and faculty. A big part of getting the project off the ground

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SDSU students involved in the Centro project once the designs are complete will be getting the funding to make the redesign a reality. Aside from asking the community to contribute through a fundraising campaign, the committee members plan to seek out grants, partnerships and collaborations. “We have to make sure that we can bring these ideas to life and really make sure we can manifest them,” says committee member Evan Apodaca. “If you saw some of the drawings, it’s like ‘wow this is insane.’” The final design renderings will be displayed on May 24 at the Centro Cultural de la Raza from 6 to 11 p.m. There will also be live music, raffle opportunities and an art market. “There are endless ideas that everybody is constantly coming up with so there’s so much energy right now to keep pushing forward,” Apodaca says, “The fact that there are more people getting involved in this project of creating new vision is really inspiring.”

—Andrea Lopez-Villafaña MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 17

CULTURE | FILM

3 Faces

Protest art Jafar Panahi’s latest is a tricky, playful celebration of political performances by Glenn Heath Jr.

to Marziyeh’s hometown, they debate the video’s auince being officially sentenced to house arrest thenticity, even going so far as to analyze whether any and banned from making films by the Iranian government in 2011, Jafar Panahi has neverthe- professional editing has been done to dupe the viewer. Fake or not, the video’s power remains unquesless reinvented modern political cinema. His three tioned. Jafari’s panicked frustration at the immediacy most recent works, each with their own distinctive of its implications proves that Marziyeh has successstyle and energy, cleverly subvert the rulings meant fully transferred her painful, mournful message to to restrict his physical movement and expression. Set in the very apartment that was to be his fu- someone who can relate. Panahi’s dashboard camera ture prison, 2011’s This is Not a Film found Panahi tracks Jafari’s mounting anxiety in a nearly 10-minand co-director Mojtaba Mirtahmasb remapping the ute, 360-degree long take, which helps fully realize filmic terrain of confined spaces to brilliantly experi- those feelings of numbing uncertainty. Similar to Panahi’s other recent work, 3 Faces presment with perspective and time. Closed Curtain, made in 2013 with filmmaker Kambuzia Partovi and set al- ents everyday moments where people are trapped by most entirely in a secluded seaside home, addressed doubt. This comes into play often when the filmmaker the implications of artistic censorship in more surreal and Jafari finally arrive at the mysterious girl’s vilways. With the sprightly Taxi in 2016, Panahi com- lage. Navigating town gossip and outward animosity for outsiders, they must balance pleted his unofficial protest trilrevealing their true intentions ogy, conversing with everyday and retrieving the necessary citizens (or are they?) about top3 FACES information about Marziyeh’s ics like capital punishment and fate. The journey leads them in societal judgment while driving Directed by Jafar Panahi surprising narrative circles that around Tehran. Starring Behnaz Jafari, reveal the growing cracks in soAll three films can be seen as Jafar Panahi and Marziyeh Rezaei cietal norms about gender. responses to his ongoing perNot Rated One of the film’s many sursonal legal turmoil with Iran’s prising twists involves Panahi’s oppressive regime, and the gravdecision to remove himself (and ity of losing one’s sense of indiby turn the camera) from crucial viduality. 3 Faces wouldn’t exist without those masterful works, as it’s another nervy, interactions between Jafari and other important fesleight-of-hand pseudo-doc. But Panahi’s latest is not male characters that cross their path. It’s quite posspecifically concerned with his own plight, or the suf- sibly the most important aesthetic decision he’s made fering of male artists more broadly. Instead, this is a since the final long take that ends This is Not a Film film about Iranian women, the suffocating societal hi- in such rousing formal rediscovery. By taking himself erarchies that suppress their identities, and the ways out of the equation, he gives these women the space in which hyper masculinity denies their creative fu- to discuss art, family and history on their own terms. 3 Faces (opening Friday, May 3, at Digital Gym Cintures. Iphone cameras have played a pivotal role in Pana- ema) also recognizes the importance (and trickery) of hi’s films post-2011, and 3 Faces leans on the technol- digital technology in breaking free of the structural ogy as well. It opens with cellular footage of a young models that have perpetuated intolerance. Until now, woman’s last moments. Distraught at missing the op- Panahi has used it to reveal the contradictory policies portunity to study in Tehran, Marziyeh pleads for help and ignorance that led to his own state-sanctioned creative stranglehold. Here, he gleefully passes the before taking her own life inside a rural cave. The video has reached its intended audience. Ac- torch to a new generation of female artists, some of tor Behnaz Jafari watches in horror as the rope can whom have been performing in plain sight all along. be heard dangling off screen moments after Marziyeh directly mentions her name. She sits in the passenger seat of a car being driven by Panahi, who received the Film reviews run weekly. shocking file via email earlier that same day. En route Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com

18 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

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CULTURE | FILM

Rafiki

The perfect woman

eighborhood social dynamics can be a powerful microcosm for both progressive and regressive national trends in any country. The new Kenyan romance, Rafiki, reflects this correlation with a gay love story challenging traditionalist views on sexuality and identity. Directed by Wanuri Kahiu, the film takes place in a small community enclave of Nairobi where idle gossip and homophobic slurs dance off people’s tongues without hesitation. They are as common to this urban community as the incessant honking of horns and police sirens. Kena (Samantha Mugatsia) and Ziki (Sheila Munyiva) know each other by reputation only. Their politician fathers are squaring off in a hotly contested local election that has sowed bitter division. But the moment these two young women lock eyes, they can’t help but feel a mutual gravitational pull. As the two teenagers try to figure out how to express their feelings, they also simultaneously suppress them. LGBTQ rights are non-existent in their region, and the film’s only openly gay character is publically ridiculed on a daily basis. Rafiki’s tender depiction of first love emphasizes the intimacy found within a rush of confusing emotions. It’s countered by the community’s sudden and brutal response once Kena and Ziki are outed. Kahiu’s film struggles to juggle these tones, and ultimately turns clunky in the final act. Hardly flawless, Rafiki (opening Friday, May 10, at Angelika Film Centers Carmel Mountain) is nevertheless a humane portrait of personal vulnerability under attack by the collective. It weaves together critiques of institutionalized religion, conservative family values and mob mentality without sacrificing the nuances of its charming central relationship. Since African cinema so rarely makes its way to the U.S., let alone San Diego, the local release of Rafiki feels like an important opportunity for audiences to get out of

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their comfort zone. After all, that is one of the film’s central themes.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

OPENING 3 Faces: Director Jafar Panahi and actress Behnaz Jafari travel to the Iranian countryside to check up on a young woman who sent them a video suicide confession. Opens Friday, May 3, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park. Ask Dr. Ruth: Director Ryan White chronicles the life and career of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a Holocaust survivor who would go on to become a famous sex therapist. Opens Friday, May 3, at Landmark’s Ken Cinema. El Chicano: Fed up with the brutality and violence caused by cartel gangs, an L.A. police officer decides to become the fabled “El Chicano,” a ghostly vigilante who hunts down criminals. Opens Friday, May 3 in wide release. Hesburgh: This documentary examines 50 years of U.S. history through the experiences of Theodore Hesburgh, president of the University of Notre Dame. Opens Friday, May 3, at AMC Fashion Valley Cinemas. Long Shot: In this new romcom, Charlize Theron plays a U.S. Secretary of State who reconnects with a foul-mouthed journalist (Seth Rogen), who she used to babysit as a kid. Opens Friday, May 3 in wide release. Red Joan: Judi Dench plays Joan Stanley, the British woman who was finally exposed as being a Russian spy for nearly five decades. Opens Friday, May 3, at Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas and Angelika Film Centers Carmel Mountain. The Intruder: After purchasing a new home in Napa, a young couple realizes the insane previous owner (Dennis Quaid) still has eyes for the property. Opens Friday, May 3 in wide release. The White Crow: At the height of the Cold War, famed Russian dancer Rudolph Nureyev decides to defect to the West. Opens Friday, May 3, at Angelika Film Centers Carmel Mountain and Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas. Woman at War: A middle-aged environmental activist in Iceland protests the local aluminum industry while also trying to adopt a baby from Ukraine. Opens Friday, May 3, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park. Rafiki: Two young women fall in love despite the many social and familial challenges that face them in modern Nairobi. Opens Friday, May 10, at Angelika Film Centers Carmel Mountain.

For complete movie listings, visit sdcitybeat.com.

MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 19

20 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

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COLLAGE BY CAROLYN RAMOS

MUSIC Prince was not kind to his fans. Like James Brown before him, it’s as if he had accepted and internalized his own genius to a degree in which he felt free to be an authoritarian. And when it came to his music, and the way in which fans consumed it, he was fervently strict. For nearly two decades before he passed, he waged war against the internet or, at least, the unfettered freedoms the internet represented. Prince’s fanbase has always been particularly insatiable and, for him, there was always a sense that they needed to play by his rules or not at all. Devotees would start fansites about him, only to hear from lawyers. YouTube uploads of his music were posted and quickly removed. Cease and desists were sent and lawsuits were filed. It often seemed as if Prince had a team of people working around the clock to make sure nothing unsanctioned was ever posted about him on the internet. And while he was one of the first artists to sell his music over the internet (1997’s Crystal Ball box set), he was one of the last artists who refused to let his music be streamed on services such as Spotify. Today, all of his music is now available both on YouTube and every major streaming service, and there is no doubt he would have objected to that.

“Don’t play me. already do in my car.” —Prince

did not post an adoring tribute or flattering picture on social media the day that Prince died, but anyone who knows me knew to call or text me to offer their sympathies. For me, there was no other artist who had more of an impact on my life than the man born Prince Rogers Nelson. It did not stop at his musical genius. I idolized almost everything about him: His fashion. His reverence. His mysteriousness. His neo-Luddism. I purchased everything he put out, even

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the most solipsistic and self-indulgent of offerings—of which there were many. I paid hundreds of dollars over the years to attend his shows, including the intimate Hard Rock Hotel show in San Diego in 2013. But to be honest, Prince’s death in 2016 was more worrying to me than it was saddening. Sure, there was some initial shock, but my main concern was what would happen next. I knew Prince considered his music, his likeness and his name to be sacrosanct, and now he was gone. At the time, I wondered if he had a concrete estate plan in place (he did not) and even if he had, I knew it was only a matter of time before everything he stood for, both the good and the bad, would be sullied.

Prince worked within many dualities; Some might call them contradictory and even hypocritical. One minute, he could be talking about how he was “most concerned about freedom” when it came to music, and literally the next minute he’d be saying that “too much freedom can lead to the soul’s decay.” For Prince, who was always deeply religious and became a Jehovah’s Witness in the early ’00s, it’s as if his god was just as moody as he was. Prince was also decidedly against drugs and alcohol. This made his death from an accidental fentanyl overdose all the more shocking even if there had been signs for years that he abused prescription drugs. It seems like so many things with Prince, everyone else had to play by his rules even if he didn’t follow them himself.

never of the unwavering, infallible variety. I loved him despite his flaws and despite his contradictions, and especially despite the amount of bad music he put out. He was, as are most geniuses, tortured and imperfect. But one thing I will always love about him was his commitment to making sure his legacy was his own. He fought record companies at the height of their powers to secure this legacy, and an understated aspect of this is that major labels will always think twice now before not giving the artist what they’re due. Seeing Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” being used in a blatantly consumeristic Capital One advertisement is upsetting, even heartbreaking for the fans who know that The Artist’s head would have exploded had he been alive. This is only the beginning of what will surely be more flagrant uses of his music and likeness for advertising and marketing purposes. Even more heartbreaking has been watching his estate being torn apart by his surviving family and friends.

There are upsides to this, of course. I won’t have to go down some deep internet rabbit hole in order to find an online video of Prince torching every guitarist onstage during a performance of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Nearly every single one of his songs is right there, a click away. Here I am, looking oh-so-forward to attending “4U: A Symphonic Celebration of Prince,” an orchestral performance of his music curated by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. And yet, I can’t help but feel as if I’m betraying him somehow. Just as I know he would have disapproved of some halfhearted social media tribute at the time of his death, I know he would disapprove of me compiling Spotify playlists for this article. But he’s gone. Three years after his death and just a month away from what would have been his 61st birthday, I feel his legacy should be just as what his life was: unpredictable, recalcitrant, contradictory and filled with beautiful music.

As deep as my love was for Prince, it was

MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 21

MUSIC

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO

THE

SPOTLIGHT

The raves themselves—which generally top out at $20 for tickets—are built to be inexpensive, with Peña and Sillas DIYwo South Bay friends, Daniel Peña and Aaron Sillas, are on ing most of the tasks, including planning, marketing, produca mission to change San Diego’s party culture one under- ing, executing and sometimes even DJing in order to keep pricground rave at a time. es low. The parties are also held exclusively in public locations, “We go out a lot,” Peña says, referring to himself and Sillas. hence the need to keep the details hush-hush until the event “But we don’t feel like the crowd is representative of us. We like kicks off around 10 p.m. In an effort to be as good neighbors as it more eclectic, both in terms of music and people. The type of they can be, they bought porta-potties so they can adhere to a people I’m seeing out are people with money, both putting on the leave-no-trace policy. party and attending it.” Since January, the duo have held JENNA ARCE “White men,” Sillas interjects. three raves in three different locaDetermined to do something about tions throughout the South Bay—the it, they started the roving electronic latest was on April 20 in a Chula Vista music party Minority Xplosive (@micanyon and they expect the next will norityxplosive on Instagram) in January be in the beginning of June in a yet2019. Both men agreed that the ethos to-be-determined location. Getting behind the parties is accessibility and to the location for the past party reno judgment, two key points they try to quired partiers to hike a mile into the inject into every aspect of the project. canyon. Even the directions weren’t To that point, the musical format released to ticket holders until the spans all electronic music genres with 9 p.m on the night of the rave. That no particular emphasis on showcaskept busy roads, nosy neighbors and ing only one style. Peña and Sillas also DJ Amzel at Minority Xplosive the police at bay while the party raged book both local and out-of-town talent. on until sunrise. What’s more, they made it a point to book DJ lineups that are, at “We want people to feel freaky,” Sillas says. “For all those peomost, 50 percent male-identifying and prioritize people of color. ple who feel like they can’t go to the club, this is where they can There’s also a zero-tolerance harassment policy at any Minority make that connection.” Xplosive event. —Jackie Bryant

LOCALS ONLY

ALBUM REVIEW Buck-O-Nine FunDayMental

(Cleopatra Records)

t’s an odd experience to listen to ska in the year 2019. For one, music is a lot different than it was in the late ’90s and early ‘00s (aka the last time ska was relevant). The blurring of styles makes it impossible to describe any musical act without referencing at least three genres, and bands that remain stubbornly in their lane—i.e. ska bands—well, feel a little stagnant. We also live in dark times—politically and socially—so listening to music that’s so inherently and unabashedly positive feels just a little naive. Which all raises the questions: Where does Buck-o-Nine’s first album in 12 years, FunDayMental, fit in with today’s cultural landscape? Who is it made for and why does it matter? Perhaps these are moot points to bring up in San Diego because, for the most part, the most popular music here is the

22 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

kind that makes us feel good. At CityBeat, we harp a lot on bands like Sublime, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 311 and any other band that might as well be called “No Bad Days,” but there is undeniable power and charm to escapist art, and FunDayMental delivers good vibes galore. Thankfully, the San Diego band acts their age for the majority of FunDayMental. The songs are largely slower and more relaxed. The grooves are groovier but still allow the punk ’tude that made Buck-O-Nine famous. In fact, what might be the angriest song, “Monday,” is so endearingly dad-core that it’s all but impossible to be mad at it. A lot of these songs veer into reggae territory, which would be annoying if it wasn’t for frontman Jon Pebsworth’s snarling vocals (although the most defanged track, "Yaya," sounds like it belongs in Margaritaville hell). It’s also nice to see Buck-ONine’s pop sensibilities have remained intact. “Skeletons" for example, is catchy as hell. So, yeah, maybe nobody was asking for a new Buck-ONine album, but of all things to put in your ears, this is pretty delightful. Shaka, brah.

—Ryan Bradford

t’s possible that the first time I listened to any Johnny Jewel project was when I saw the movie Drive (2011), but it feels like I have always listened to Chromatics. (Both Chromatics Chromatics and Desire are on Jewel’s Italians Do It Better label, and he performs in each band.) Jewel’s projects were all over that soundtrack, and the movie’s fame owes a great deal to its iconic use of music that’s basically a two-hour swoonfest of atmospheric beats and dreamy, obsessive vocals. Long before Drive came out, I was a relatively uncool teenager. I mostly listened to oldies (shout out KBEST95 radio), and part of that lure was the earnest simplicity. Easy, singable tunes and relatable stories. What little experimentation there was in style or content didn’t really end up on San Diego oldies radio in the ’90s. Nothing tried to be more important than the heart of the song. With a nostalgia that lands somewhere between ’80s synth and ’60s pop songs, Chromatics’ lyrics are somewhere between vaguely vapid and suffocatingly, complicatedly depressing. And I mean that as a major compliment. My love for oldies and my love for modern synthpop come together in Chromatics’ Ruth Radelet’s haunting, oldies-sweet vocals. Twin Peaks: The Return also featured Chromatics as the Bang Bang Bar performer twice. A personal favorite of David Lynch, they were the first band to take the stage in the show’s recent revival, which basically puts them on the house band level with Julee Cruise. An echo of their cinematic launch into our collective consciousness, their concert at the Observatory promises to host sprawling visual components, too. But mostly, I’m ready for Chromatics to rip my simple synthloving heart out. Chromatics play May 4 at the Observatory North Park.

—Julia Dixon Evans

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MUSIC

IF I WERE U

BY CITYBEAT STAFF

Our picks for the week’s top shows

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1

PLAN A: Cattle Decapitation, Unidad Trauma, Cave Bastard, Temblad @ Brick by Brick. Known for their brutal lyrics, savage grindcore riffs and album cover art that makes people want to vomit, is there really any question that Cattle Decapitation is the best metal band in San Diego? Change our minds. PLAN B: Young Jesus, Exasperation, Kan-Kan @ Che Café Collective. Falling somewhere between Mount Eerie and On the Beach-era Neil Young, L.A.’s Young Jesus craft earnest indie rock that manages to sound both jammy and focused. BACKUP PLAN: Body Salt, AJ Froman, The Colour Monday @ The Casbah.

THURSDAY, MAY 2

PLAN A: Hante., Box and the Twins, Milliken Chamber @ SPACE. The “goth show of the week” awards goes to Hélène de Thoury (aka Hante.), the Paris-based producer and singer who creates highly dark and highly danceable songs in the vein of Austra and Zola Jesus. PLAN B: Freddie Gibbs @ SOMA. For over 15 years, Gary, Indiana MC Freddie Gibbs has always been one of the most underrated rappers in the game. Check out last year’s excellent Freddie, for proof that he’s just getting better with age. BACKUP PLAN: Flaural, Los Shadows @ Soda Bar.

dass talents. PLAN B: Chromatics, Desire, In Mirrors @ The Observatory North Park. Check out this week’s Spotlight section for more on the Chromatics, who are just too cool for school. BACKUP PLAN: Creature Culture, Precious Kid, Belladon, Rain on Fridays, Lily Waters, Lucid Dream @ Che Café Collective.

SUNDAY, MAY 5

PLAN A: Cumbia Machin, LA DIABLA, Maria y Jose, Sonidero Travesura, Air Nandez, Las Sucias @ The Casbah. This is going to be a Cinco de Mayo party like no other. For those who’ve never seen Cumbia Machin, they create dub-style cumbia music using samplers and sequencers. It’s truly an experience and a decidedly dance-friendly one at that. BACKUP PLAN: Violent Femmes, X @ Humphrey’s By the Bay.

MONDAY, MAY 6

PLAN A: Part Time @ The Casbah. Much like his peers Ariel Pink and John Maus, Part Time’s David Speck crafts fun and funny gems that are rooted in lo-fi pop as much as they are disco and new-wave. It can all sound rather silly at times, but there’s no doubting it catchiness. BACKUP PLAN: ‘Blue Monday’ @ Blonde. MATT WIGNALL

FRIDAY, MAY 3

PLAN A: El Vez, The Exbats, Scary Pierre @ The Casbah. In a weekend that’s chalk full of Cinco de Mayo parties, we can think of nothing better than to go watch San Diego’s own Mexican Elvis perform a bunch of Mex-ed up versions of classic soul and rock songs. PLAN B: Auz Fontaine, Shindigs, BRUIN, Spacewizardinspace @ Soda Bar. Led by vocalist Captain Auzmo and producer Vic Fontaine, locals Auz Fontaine have the appearance of a grizzled psych-rock band, but they actually craft danceable R&B jams that are surprisingly sexy for a couple of East County boys. BACKUP PLAN: Colin Hay @ Humphreys Concerts By the Bay.

SATURDAY, MAY 4

PLAN A: Lauren Ruth Ward, Laura Jean Anderson @ The Casbah. Like Ani Difranco and Liz Phair before her, Lauren Ruth Ward creates empowering and vulnerable folk and indie-rock that is anchored by her heavenly wails. Check out her latest video for “Valhalla” to get a nice taste of her ba-

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TUESDAY, MAY 7

Wargirl

PLAN A: Wargirl, Retra, Jessica Lerner @ Soda Bar. Long Beach band Wargirl are garnering a lot of buzz for their bass-heavy blend of everything from garage-rock and post-punk, to Afro-beat and funk. A song like “How You Feel” has a vintage ’70s feel to it, but still sounds of the moment. PLAN B: Lié, Høurs @ Whistle Stop. For those who didn’t make it to any of the Bikini Kill reunion shows, you can dry your tears while watching the brutal, all-woman assault of Lié. The Canadian trio are understandably getting a lot of attention for their unrelenting brand of empowering punk. BACKUP PLAN: Apocalyptica @ Balboa Theatre.

MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 23

MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Mint Hole (Soda Bar, 5/6), Mrs. Magician (Soda Bar, 5/10), If Only. (Soda Bar, 5/13), Emo Nite (Casbah, 5/17), Hexa (Casbah, 5/20), Prong (Brick By Brick, 5/30), The Creepy Creeps (Casbah, 6/1), Jody Wisternoff (Music Box, 6/14), Dark Alley Dogs (Soda Bar, 6/17), PUP (Music Box, 6/19), James Supercave (Casbah, 6/19), Futurebirds (Soda Bar, 7/3), English Beat (BUT, 7/4-5), Usnea (SPACE, 7/8), The Manhattan Transfer (Music Box, 7/11), Elizabeth Colour Wheel (SPACE, 7/18), Lunar Vacation (HOB, 7/18), Cracker (BUT, 7/24), Golden Vessel (Soda Bar, 7/25), Matt Costa (Music Box, 7/28), Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones (Casbah, 8/7), Master (Brick By Brick, 8/9), Protoje (Observatory, 8/28), David Grisman with The Dawg Trio (BUT, 8/29), Pathology (Brick By Brick, 8/30), K.Flay (Observatory, 9/5), ViVii (Soda Bar, 9/19), Half Moon Run (Casbah, 9/27), Maribou State (Observatory, 10/19), Aaron Neville Duo (BUT, 11/3), Penny & Sparrow (BUT, 11/6).

ALL SOLD OUT Steel Pulse (BUT, 5/2), Omar Apollo (The Irenic, 5/4), Phantom Planet (Casbah, 5/7), Gone West (BUT, 5/8), The Japanese House (HOB, 5/14), IDLES (BUT, 5/21), The Lemonheads (Casbah, 5/25), John Hiatt (BUT, 5/25), PUP (The Irenic, 6/19), Local Natives (Observatory, 6/19), The Struts (Observatory, 7/12), Billie Eilish (Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, 7/13), Death Cab For Cutie (Observatory, 8/9-10).

CANCELLED Deaf Havana (Soda Bar, 5/10), Ozzy Osbourne (North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, 7/23).

GET YER TICKETS El Vez (Casbah, 5/3), Seth Meyers (Balboa Theater, 5/3), Chromatics, Desire (Observatory, 5/4), The Spazmatics (Music Box, 5/10), Dead Boys (Casbah, 5/22), New Kids On The Block (Viejas Arena at SDSU, 5/23), FIDLAR (Observatory, 5/30), gnash (The Irenic, 5/31), Bryce Vine (Pechanga Arena, 5/31), Brad Paisley (North Island Credit Union Ampitheatre, 6/1), Jennifer Lopez (Pechanga Arena, 6/10), Toby Keith (Del Mar Fairgrounds, 6/14), Rebelution (North County Credit Union Amphitheatre, 6/15), Rob Thomas (Humphrey’s, 6/20), Khalid (Pechanga Arena, 6/23), Aly & AJ (Observatory, 6/25), Priests (Soda Bar, 6/26), Carrie Underwood (Pechanga Arena, 9/10), The Who (Viejas Arena, 10/16), Judah & The Lion (Observatory, 10/17), Hozier (Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, 10/26).

MAY WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 Passion Pit at Observatory North Park. Young Jesus at Ché Café Collective. Cattle Decapitation at Brick By Brick. Polyrhythmics at Belly Up Tavern. SIXES at Soda Bar. Body Salt at The Casbah.

THURSDAY, MAY 2 The 69 Eyes at Brick By Brick. Kid Trunks at House of Blues. Freddie

24 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

Gibbs at SOMA. Hante at SPACE. Flaural at Soda Bar. AJ Mitchell at The Irenic. Brownies & Lemonade at Music Box. Evan Diamond at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, MAY 3 SoMo at Music Box. Party Like Gatsby at Observatory North Park. Colin Hay at Humphrey’s. Seth Meyers at Balboa Theater. The Grinns at SOMA. Bumpin Uglies at House of Blues. Auz Fontaine at Soda Bar. The Expanders at Belly Up Tavern. Los Hurricanes at Ché Café Collective.

SATURDAY, MAY 4 Wayward Sons at Belly Up Tavern. Chromatics at Observatory North Park. Yngwie Malmsteen at House of Blues. Lauren Ruth Ward at The Casbah. Reaction Phase at Brick By Brick. The Bassics at Soda Bar. Frankie Quinones at Balboa Theatre. Canelo vs. Jacobs at Music Box.

SUNDAY, MAY 5 The Faint at Observatory North Park. Cocoa Tea at Belly Up Tavern. Peter Bjorn & John at The Irenic. Violent Femmes at Humphrey’s. Sekta Core at Soda Bar. Cumbia Machin at The Casbah. DJ Esco at Music Box.

MONDAY, MAY 6 Part Time at The Casbah. Mint Hole at Soda Bar.

TUESDAY, MAY 7 The Church at Belly Up Tavern. Wargirl at Soda Bar. Apocalyptica at Balboa Theatre.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 Liz Cooper & The Stampede at The Casbah. Leggy at SPACE. Alec Benjamin at House of Blues. Rising Appalachia at Music Box. MorMor at Soda Bar. Vouna at SPACE.

THURSDAY, MAY 9 Lady Lamb at Soda Bar. White Lies at Music Box. Amanda Seales at Observatory North Park. Camp Cope at Ché Café Collective. Slushii at House of Blues. Bayonne at The Casbah. Lui$ too Thrill at Brick By Brick. Darell at SOMA.

FRIDAY, MAY 10 Jefferson Starship at Belly Up Tavern. The Bronx at Observatory North Park. Black Marble at The Casbah. The Spazmatics at Music Box. Phil X & the Drills at Brick By Brick. Hot Mulligan at House of Blues. Runaway Jane at California Center for the Arts. Mrs. Magician at Soda Bar.

SATURDAY, MAY 11 Ignite at Soda Bar. SRSQ at The Casbah. Ozzmania at Brick By Brick. Eels at Observatory North Park. Lila Downs at California Center for the Arts. Lolo Zouai at House of Blues. Cowgirl Clue at Ché Café Collective. Buck-O-Nine at Music Box. Jefferson Starship at Belly Up Tavern.

SUNDAY, MAY 12 Diary of Dreams at Music Box. Foxing at The Casbah. Mad Dogs & the Englishman at Belly Up Tavern. Harriet Brown at Soda Bar.

MONDAY, MAY 13 Archspire at Brick By Brick. Stephen El Rey at The Casbah. If Only. at Soda Bar.

TUESDAY, MAY 14 Carsie Blanton at The Casbah. Dawn of Ashes at Brick By Brick. Matt Maeson at Music Box. Pride by the Beach Drag Show at Belly Up Tavern. Malison at Soda Bar.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15 Wild Belle at Belly Up Tavern. The Moondoggies at Soda Bar. Swingrowers at Music Box. Santigold at House of Blues. Willie Nelson at Humphrey’s. Deva Premal at California Center for the Arts. Dead Meadow at The Casbah. Ape Machine at SPACE.

THURSDAY, MAY 16 Shy Girls at The Casbah. 3rd Ear Experience at Brick By Brick. Boogie at Music Box. Shy Boys at Soda Bar. Tusk at Belly Up Tavern. Sebastian Maniscalco at Humphrey’s. The Velveteins at Ché Café Collective. Maddie Leigh at Petco Park.

FRIDAY, MAY 17 The Dandy Warhols at Observatory North Park. Dark Funeral at Brick By Brick. Pato Banton at Belly Up Tavern. Mickey Avalon at House of Blues. Desert Dwellers at Music Box. Sebastian Maniscalco at Humphrey’s. Birdy Bardot at Soda Bar. Derek King at House of Blues. Emo Nite at The Casbah.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

@SDCITYBEAT

BY CHRISTIN BAILEY

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 SATURDAY, MAY 18 Death by Stereo at Brick By Brick. Trouble in the Wind at The Casbah. The Dickies at Soda Bar. Cowboy Junkies at Observatory North Park. Z-Trip at Belly Up Tavern. Alejandra Guzman at Pechanga Arena. Chelsea Grin at SOMA. Yacht Rock Revue at House of Blues. Sitting On Stacy at Ché Café Collective.

SUNDAY, MAY 19 Maid of Ace at SPACE. Dread Mar l at Music Box. Spirit Adrift at Brick By Brick. Brogue Wave at Belly Up Tavern.

MONDAY, MAY 20 Willie K at Belly Up Tavern. Johnny Marr at House of Blues. JoJo Siwa at San Diego Civic Theatre. Brushed at Soda Bar. Hexa at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, MAY 21 Skeletonwitch at Brick By Brick. Geographer at The Casbah. Alice Witt at House of Blues. Black Taffy at Soda Bar.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22 Dead Boys at The Casbah. Conflict at Soda Bar. Capyac at Belly Up Tavern.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. Wed: Open Mic. Thu: ‘Brining Back Rock ‘N’ Roll’. Fri: Faux Fighters, Weezerton. Sat: Anesthesia, Soundslave. Sun: Karaoke. Tue: Cherry Road, Night-

@SDCITYBEAT

bloom. Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St., Normal Heights. Wed: ‘#HipHopWeds’. Thu: Jonathan Lestat. Fri: House Music Fridays. Sat: ‘JUICY’. Sun: ‘Possession’. Mon: ‘Organized Grime’. Tue: ‘Below Grounds’. American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Thu: Shaun Latham. Fri: Shaun Latham. Sat: Shaun Latham. Tue: Open Mic. The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Wed: Karaoke. Thu: Gestures & Sounds. Sat: Let’s Face it, The Waist Aways, Roman Watchdogs, The A-Bortz. Mon: Trivia. Tue: Karaoke. Bang Bang, 526 Market St., Downtown. Fri: Slumberjack. Sat: Wax Motif, Hotfire. Bar Pink, 3829 30th St., North Park. Sun: ‘Rat Sabbath’. Beaumont’s, 5665 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Thu: Dude Cervantes. Fri: dB Jukebox. Sat: Whiskey Keys. Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Wed: Polyrhymthmics, Elektric Voodoo. Thu: Steel Pulse, Nattali Rize (sold out). Fri: The Expanders, Ginger Roots & the Protectors, Synrgy. Sat: Wayward Sons. Sun: Cocoa Tea. Tue: Starfish. Blonde, 1808 W. Washington St., Mission Hills. Wed: ‘Dance Klassique’. Thu: ‘Hype Beatz Party’. Fri: ‘WE ARE YR FRIENDS’. Sat: ‘Blonde 54’. Sun: HOTT MT, Wild Wild Wets, Tapes, DJ Andrew McGranahan. Mon: ‘Ministry Night’. Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave., Carlsbad. Sat: Big Dude.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

ASTROLOGICALLY UNSOUND Weekly forecasts from the so-called universe ARIES (March 21 - April 19): You ever just sit on a bench? Years can go by and, just like that, you realize you haven’t sat on a bench in that whole time. Don’t let that happen to you. Sit on a bench somewhere.

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): This week will feel like when you haven’t slept for over 24 hours and the edges of everything seem translucent and vibrating. This is likely due to the fact that you won’t sleep for over 24 hours.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): This week is what you make of it. I mean, yes, you’ll be subject to a fraught struggle for basic needs, a healthy planet and unpoisoned air, but you’ll have a good time if you ignore all that.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): You can’t protect yourself from time, which bulldozes through your life and leaves you physically broken, mentally drained, and remembering a mesothelioma commercial from 1997.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): After walking lost in the forest all night, it can be difficult to know whether you recognize that tree from before or if it’s simply that all trees look the same.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 December 21): Not every way out is a good one. It’s like being swarmed by honeybees and lighting yourself on fire in hopes that the smoke makes the bees sleepy.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): When you run from your troubles, you run the risk of triggering their predator instincts and inspiring them to give chase like a lion after a gazelle. And you, my friend, are no gazelle.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19): Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for someone is to let them know you thanked them in the Oscar speech you delivered in your shower.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): This week you have to pay the price for the mistakes you made in the past. Don’t like it? I didn’t make you a Leo. Blame your parents for conceiving you when they did. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): The possibilities for this week fill the air like the sound of an obnoxious hand dryer in an enormous and empty movie theater bathroom.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): I might be reading this wrong but according to my calculations, you are beginning to lose favor with the Russian aristocracy, which will invariably lead to your assassination in 1916! PISCES (February 19 - March 20): Close your eyes, take a deep breath and remind yourself that all your mistakes have made you into the person you are today. So, yeah, it’s basically fine if you keep making them constantly.

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

MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 25

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., Bay Park. Wed: Cattle Decapitation. Thu: The 69 Eyes. Sat: Reaction Phase. Mon: Jake “The Snake” Roberts. The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Midtown. Wed: Body Salt, AJ Froman, The Colour Monday. Thu: Evan Diamond, Almost Monday, Tigros. Fri: El Vez, The Exbats, Scary Pierre. Sat: Lauren Ruth Ward, Laura Jean Anderson. Sun: Cumbia Machin, La Diabla, Maria y Jose, Sonidero Travesura, Air Nandez, Las Sucias. Mon: Part Time. Tue: Phantom Planet (sold out). Che Cafe, 1000 Scholars Drive S, La Jolla. Wed: Young Jesus, Exasperation, Kan-Kan. Fri: Los Hurricanes. Sat: Creature Culture, Precious Kid, Belladon. Sun: ‘San Diego Soul Fest’. Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Bay Park. Thu: Steve O’Connor Trio. Sun: ‘Bass Summit 2019’. F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown. Thu: ‘TakeOver Tuesday’. Fri: Craig Smoove. Sat: Birdy Bird.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., Midtown. Thu: ‘Ethixx’. Fri: ‘Divinity’. Sat: ‘Ascension’. Sun: Redux Saints. Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Sat: Tristan Brooks, Natural Disaster, Madre X Mia. Mon: Open Mic. Tue: ‘Comedy Night’. Loft @ UCSD, Price Center East, La Jolla. Sat: ‘Club Sandwich’. Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave., Coronado. Wed: Bonneville 7. Thu: Fish & JG. Fri: The Stilettos. Sat: Ron’s Garage. Sun: Gonzology. Tue: Gene Warren. Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave., Hillcrest. Thu: RuPaul’s Drag Race Viewing. Sun: Keep It on the DL. Tue: Melinda Doolittle. The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., Hillcrest. Fri: Silent Vice, Mortar, The Undertaking. Sat: ‘Bear Night’. Mon: ‘Playground Monday Night Dance Party’. Tue: Hollywood Values, Little Evil, Old Nick and the Skulls. Mother’s Saloon, 2228 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. Tue: Trivia.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., Downtown. Fri: Mo Beatz. Sat: DJ Brees.

Mr. Peabody’s, 136 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas. Sun: ‘Tony Ortega Jazz Jam’. Mon: Open Mic. Tue: Karaoke.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Thu: Roots of Creation. Fri: Bumpin Uglies, Kyle Smith, No Kings. Sat: Yngwie Malmsteen. Sun: Jerry “Hot Rod” DeMink. Tue: Robin Henkel.

Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy. Wed: The Great Love Debate w/ Brian Howie. Thu: Brownies & Lemonade. Fri: SoMo, Drama Relax, LERNERD. Sat: Canelo vs. Jacobs. Sun: DJ Esco.

Humphreys Backstage, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. Wed: Tradewinds. Thu: DJ Chuck. Fri: Funks Most Wanted. Sat: Rising Star. Sun: The Amalgamated. Mon: Billy Watson. Tue: Bayou Bros.

The Office, 3936 30th St., North Park. Wed: DJ Ikah Love. Thu: ‘No Limits’. Fri: ‘All-Vinyl Happy Hour’. Sat: ‘Strictly Business’. Sun: Tribe of Kings. Mon: ‘Motown on Mondays’.

The Irenic, 3090 Polk Ave., North Park. Sat: Omar Apollo (sold out). Sun: Peter Bjorn & John.

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 Sixth Ave., Downtown. Thu: ‘Undone on Thursday’. Fri: Audien. Sat: Vice.

26 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · MAY 1, 2019

Panama 66, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. Wed: Young Lions, ‘The Wednesday Jam Session’. Fri: Zzymzzy Quartet. Sat: Stand Back Blues Band. Sun: Uptown Rhythm Makers. Parq, 615 Broadway, Downtown. Fri: Craig Smoove. Sat: Joe Maz. Proud Mary’s, 5550 Kearny Mesa Road, Kearny Mesa. Wed: Nathan James. Thu: Tomcat Courtney. Fri: Black Market III. Sat: The Hastings Band. The Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest. Thu: ‘Country Dance’. Fri: ‘Bad Behavior’. Sat: ‘Sabados en Fuego’. Rich’s, 1051 University Ave., Hillcrest. Wed: ‘Mischief with Bianca’. Thu: ‘#LEZ + Techniche’. Fri: ‘Electro-POP!’. Sat: ‘WTF: Fiesta!’. Sun: ‘Stripper Circus’. Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’. Thu: Swing Thing. Fri: Suspicious Grits. Sat: Baja Bugs. Tue: ‘Everything & Anything Jam’. Rosie O’Gradys, 3402 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Thu: DJ Ratty. Fri: Blind Mountain Holler, Sim Williams, Damon Robinson. Sat: Scratch Acoustic Soul Trio. Mon: ‘Jazz Jam’. Tue: Isreal Maldonado.

and the Twins, Milliken Chamber, DJ Disorder, Fn1. Fri: ‘Rituals’. Sun: ‘Cinde de Pocari’. Tue: Karaoke. Spin, 2028 Hancock St., Midtown. Fri: ‘143 Soundsystem’. Sat: ‘Desert Hearts Decompression’. Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Wed: Paul Gregg. Tue: Trivia. Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: Open Mic. Thu: ‘Taste the Breaks’. Fri: Naked Aggression, The Voids, Venomous Pinks, Ursual, Trap Girl. Sat: ‘Wild Riot’. Tue: Osatia, Devil in the Details, Emerald Bay, Osmium. Tin Roof, 401 G St., Downtown. Wed: ‘Sky Zada’. Thu: Jake & Corey. Fri: DJ Ace. Sat: DJ Ace. Sun: ‘Cinco de Drinko’. Tue: Erick Tyler. Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., Bay Park. Wed: The Jazz Pockets. Thu: Tommy Price & the Stilettos. Fri: The Red Elvises. Sat: SantanaWays. Mon: ‘Sexy Salsa & Sensual Bachata’. Tue: Sue Palmer. Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., City Heights. Thu: PunchCard, Midnight Block, Roman Watchdogs, Batlords. Fri: ‘Hip Hop vs. Punk Rock’. Sat: Vicky & The Vengents, The Carvels, Babydoll Warriors.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: SIXES. Thu: Flaural. Fri: Auz Fontaine. Sat: The Bassics. Sun: Sekta Core. Mon: Mint Hole. Tue: Wargirl.

U-31, 3112 University Ave., North Park. Wed: Trivia. Thu: ‘BoomBox Thursdays’. Fri: DJ Senema. Sat: DJ Havok. Sun: Raiz Muzik. Mon: ‘#31 Flavors’.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway. Thu: Freddie Gibbs. Fri: The Grinns, The Shakes, Strawberry Army, Carpool Tunnel, Psychic Barber, Alex Lievanos. Sat: The Haunts, Lunar Hand, Street Surfers, Effe Emme, The Abstracts, Wizaerd.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park. Wed: ‘Modern R&B/Hip-Hop Video Night’. Thu: ‘Love Affair’. Fri: The Amandas.

SPACE, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: ‘We Like To Party!’. Thu: Hante, Box

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. Wed: ‘Club Kingston’. Thu: Band of Gringos. Fri: Ocean Beach Comedy. Sat: Kelly Finnigan & the Atonements. Sun: Karaoke. Mon: Electric Waste Band.

@SDCITYBEAT

BY LARA MCCAFFREY

IN THE BACK

CannaBeat Slate of affairs

ithin the past several years, California has attempted to offer relief to individuals with convictions for low-level crimes such as cannabis possession. There’s Prop 47, passed in 2014, which reduces some crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. Then, of course, there’s Prop 64, passed in 2016, which allows some cannabis-related offenses to be reclassified, dismissed or sealed. San Diego officials have filed a lot of Prop 47 and Prop 64 petitions. However, some community members involved with expungement clinics think an automated process would still be beneficial. Keiara Auzenne, executive director of San Diego Clean Slate Clinic (sd-csc.org), says low-level cannabis-convictions have negatively impacted locals, but that not many people with past convictions come to her clinics. Clean Slate is a monthly postconviction legal clinic that assists individuals with expungement, reducing eligible felonies to misdemeanors, early termination of probation, and more. She still thinks automatically reclassifying or sealing eligible convictions would be helpful.

@SDCITYBEAT

Despite his success, Wiggins thinks au“Automatically expunging or sealing eligible convictions would have a huge posi- tomating expungement or record sealing tive impact on those individuals affected by for qualified convictions would help. “People that have good work skills that the criminal justice system,” says Auzenne. “It would remove the burden of having to could have been executives and everyfigure out the expungement/petition pro- thing—they lost out on a lot of opportunicess, which most of our participants have ties just because of [low-level convictions],” says Wiggins. “It’d be more accommodatfound to be confusing and complicated.” ing for those trying to take Auzenne notes that there their life to a new level of sehas been a lot of cannabisriousness.” related petition filings, which Laila Aziz, program dimight be why she doesn’t see rector at POTC, says her ora lot of clients with those ganization prides itself on convictions. As of September being able to reach people and December 2018, 353 Prop that need the most help with 64-related resentencing petinavigating expungement. tions and 48,799 Prop 47-re“Our forte is getting lated resentencing petitions to people that no one else have been filed in San Diego, Keiara Auzenne would ever be able to get to, respectively. San Diego resident Tony Wiggins has which are mostly the people affected by benefited from a clinic similar to Clean Slate Prop 47,” says Aziz. “We really work deeply called “Prop 47 clinics,” which are held by the within the weeds of the community and local community group Pillars of the Com- pull people out.” POTC doesn’t have a Prop 47 clinic on munity (POTC). He says he had an extensive rap sheet that included many cannabis- the books at the moment, but Aziz says it related charges. Wiggins says most of his might hold one over the summer. Instead, felony convictions have been reduced to mis- Aziz says POTC is focusing its attention on working with the nonprofit Californians for demeanors with the help of POTC’s clinics.

Safety and Justice on bill AB 1076, which would automate the reclassification of lowlevel crimes. “Some people who were just caught up in the court system, they don’t understand all of the different bureaucracy and different things they have to do,” says Aziz. “There’s still some paperwork they’d have to do when they went to our Prop 47 clinics.” Introduced by Assemblymember Phil Ting (District 19), AB 1076 would “grant relief to an eligible person, without requiring a petition or motion.” The department of justice would be required to conduct weekly reviews to identify eligible Californians. At the federal level there’s H.R.2348 (the Clean Slate Act of 2019) sponsored by Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware). The bill would automatically seal records of cannabis possession. Like AB 1076, H.R.2348 is in its early stages, having just been introduced April 22, 2019. In the meantime, those confused about their eligibility for relief can visit Clean Slate’s next clinic on May 4 at the Oceanside Country Club Senior Center. CannaBeat appears every other week.

MAY 1, 2019 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 27