San Diego CityBeat • June 20, 2018

2 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

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UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR

When do they matter?

I

still ravaged from decades of civil wars and where organized crime runs rampant. Kids who, if they are forced to go back to their country, will likely die young from violence or die in poverty.

And for the many who still don’t find it as unacceptable as what is now the majority of the country— to the Trump supporters who believe that there is a means to an end here—you must now ask yourself whether the “America First” ideology is really being represented here. The Trump administration has moved the needle of what is acceptable behavior so far off the chart that it seems like we’re becoming numb to the fact that these are truly people that need our help. What would have been disgusting and reprehensible in the past is now seen as commonplace.

Par for the course as long as a symbolic wall is erected.

And make no mistake: That is exactly what Trump is doing. At the insistence of far-right hardliners like Stephen Miller, the president is using the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security to use these more than 2,000 children as political pawns in order to force Congress to fund his wall and pass Republicanwritten immigration reform.

And it just might work.

But then what are we left with? Poorly written immigration laws and a wall that some clever coyote will find a way around? Will that make America great again? Will the prevailing attitude of our country always be that what makes America great is only when America comes first? Or will these new laws and walls simply cement our reputation as the country that—even while committing horrible atrocities along the way—once welcomed others looking to start over?

A country that was capable of seeing children in danger and, instead of taking them away from their parents, found it in our hearts to welcome them.

Or maybe Seuss had it right almost 80 years ago.

Have we ever been that country? Have they ever really mattered?

They should.

COURTESY OF THE MANDEVILLE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARY

t’s hard to conceive of a time when Dr. Seuss wasn’t writing cleverly rhymed children’s books with understated lessons in morality. But, just like anyone working in the arts, we all have to get our start somewhere. In the case of La Jolla resident Theodor Seuss Geisel, this often meant drawing political cartoons for publications like PM Magazine. Seeing them now (a lot are stored at the Mandeville Special Collections Library at UC San Diego), most of the cartoons were blatantly propagandist, encouraging readers to buy war bonds to support U.S. forces fighting in World War II. But some, well… Some were just downright brilliant. He was unafraid to skewer celebrities like Charles Lindbergh for his Nazi leanings and antiSemitism. I thought a lot about one cartoon in particular this week. Published in 1941 before the U.S. finally decided to join the war, it depicts a mother wearing a sweater emblazoned with “America First,” reading her children a book titled Adolf the Wolf. The caption, meant to indicate what she’s reading from the book, says simply, “… and the Wolf chewed up the children and spit out their bones… But those were Foreign Children and it really didn’t matter.”

It really didn’t matter.

Seuss was criticizing the American policy not to intervene when it came to the children who were being rounded up in Nazi-occupied countries.

And while I’m not directly equating the immigration policies of the Trump administration to those of Nazi Germany’s roundup and separation of Jewish families, it is important to keep in mind some of the parallel questions the two situations invoke. Questions like: How far is too far? and, more pressingly, Do they matter?

To many of us, the answer to the latter is obvious.

Of course they matter. Children, above all else, matter the most, and we feel helpless as to how we can truly help the children now being separated from their families at the border and being forced into cages in places like makeshift detention tents in the middle of a stifling Texas desert.

What’s more, these kids are not coming here to steal jobs, nor are they members of MS-13. They’re fucking kids! Kids whose parents are fleeing countries

Write to seth.combs@sdcitybeat.com

—Seth Combs

This issue of CityBeat doesn’t want to go to that summer camp.

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JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 3

UP FRONT | LETTERS

FROM THE INSIDE Rachel, My name is Steven Ross Westcott and I am an inmate at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, CA. I want to thank you for writing such a positive article about the art show here that highlighted Project PAINT [“Art From the Inside,” May 23]. A copy of CityBeat was given to me and I showed everyone involved.

Can I make copies and give it to some of them? Everyone worked very hard and had such a good time. It would be cool if they had something or could send something home about the event. Your paper says that reproduction is prohibited and I wouldn’t want to break any laws.

I want to personally thank you for mentioning me in your article.

It’s not everyday a person sees themselves and Ralph Waldo Emerson quoted alongside each other.

Yoda? Groucho Marx? Sure. But Emerson? Now that’s a first.

Enclosed is the latest issue of Here & Now, which features the art show. The timing was perfect as we were able to go through all of the photos for our special issue.

To say thank you for mentioning my name, I chose the picture of

ED DECKER: METROSEXUAL I gotta hand it to you, I get a belly laugh every time I read Tiger Beat.

Having the metrosexual guy write the column on rules for real drinking in a bar was genius! Pretty sure the closest Edwin has ever been to a bar fight is a Solid Gold dance off, but it’s good to know he’s got those rules folded in the back of his wallet. Worth every penny, keep ‘em coming.

Craig A. Nelson Solana Beach

Here and Now you interviewing Laura [Project Paint’s Laura Pacenco]. With your permission, I would like to add this address to the Here & Now mailing list and we will inform you of important upcoming events you may be interested in. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Thank you.

Steven Ross Westcott F47750/E24-D203 [Editor’s response: By all means, sir, make as many copies as you want. I will also be sending you some additional copies in the mail.]

4 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

WE WANT FEEDBACK Email letters to editor Seth Combs at seth.combs@sdcitybeat.com, or mail to 3047 University Ave., Suite 202, San Diego, CA 92104. For letters to be considered for publication you must include your first and last name and the part of town where you reside. Note: All comments left on stories at sdcitybeat.com will also be considered for publication.

World Fare (page 9)

UP FRONT

The Short List (page 11)

ARTS & CULTURE

From the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . 4

Feature: Immersive Art. . . . . . . 17

CityWeek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Film. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

Spin Cycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Backwards & In High Heels. . . . 7 Well That Was Awkward. . . . . . 8

MUSIC Feature: FACS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Notes From The

FOOD & DRINK

Smoking Patio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

World Fare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

About Last Night . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Anatomy of a Cocktail Scene. .10

If I Were U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Revenge of the Beer Nerd. . . . . 10

Concerts & Clubs. . . . . . . . . 24-26

THINGS TO DO

IN THE BACK

The Short List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Astrologically Unsound . . . . . . 26

Calendar of Events. . . . . . . . . 11-12

CannaBeat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

On the cover (from left and down) via Instagram: @almiuxx09, @the.snyder.spot, @jacob_parra, @eehavens, @bayleejoturner, @alanavanderaa, @lizzparty, @tinacollignon, @cest.la.vii, @trevordeanphotos, @xoxo_dusty, @annazeballs, @tao033, @xoxogossipgergs

@SDCITYBEAT

NEWS | OPINION

By Torrey Bailey and Seth Combs

HAM OF THE WEEK

THE ISSUE: Last week marked another chapter in the years-long debate over short-term vacation rentals (STVR), including online sites such as Airbnb and VRBO, in San Diego. This time Mayor Faulconer was up to bat, proposing a plan that would allow STVR owners to host two rental properties. One would have to be the owner’s primary home, which they could only rent out for a maximum of six months. The second home could be rented out 365 days a year if desired. However, Mission Beach would be exempt from a cap on the number of rentals per host. There are plenty more details accompanying the proposal, including an annual licensing fee of $949 per rental that would go toward hiring enforcement officers, a recommended affordable housing fee and a three-day minimum stay in coastal and downtown area rentals. A full city council hearing is set for July 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING: “This is a balanced approach that establishes clear rules of the road for short term rentals and protects neighborhood quality of life through increased oversight and enforcement.”

–Mayor Faulconer, in a press release.

“I know there are some residents in Mission Beach who have maybe five or 10 rentals, but that’s a real small minority to allow an ordinance of this type to go through with no limits.

It’s almost like you’re changing the zoning to commercial and making (Mission Beach) into a big hotel. Why not build more hotels in the commercial zones?”

—Gary Wonacott, president of the Mission Beach Town Council, via U-T

Once a moderate Republican, County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar continues her descent into full-blown, anti-immigrant Trumpism. After leading the charge for the County Board of Supervisors’ backing of a lawsuit against the California Values Act and then stepping up her anti-immigrant rhetoric in hopes of gaining more notoriety for her bid to replace Rep. Darrell Issa (she came in a dismal fifth place in the primary), Gaspar outdid herself this week by tweeting a pic of herself appearing on Fox Business’ Varney & Co. to poo-poo the efforts of congressional Democrats visiting the border.

In times like these, we always like to remember Gaspar’s own words back from when she was running for City Council in Encinitas: “As a mother, I firmly believe in teaching my children to give back to the community.” Soooo… just not the immigrant community?

“I remain committed to a STR solution that prioritizes San Diegans over wealthy investors who are converting our residential neighborhoods into permanent mini-hotels.”

—Councilmember Barbara Bry, via Twitter

OUR TAKE: Well, here we go again. The STVR debate is starting to sound a lot like Goldilocks and The Three Bears. In December, Barbara Bry’s plan was too cold. After countless hours of nitpicking, Councilmembers Ward, Alvarez, Kersey and Sherman ended up being too hot. We hate to say it, but we’re not sure Faulconer’s plan is just right either. We’d like to see a decision made, but we’re worried this prioritizes full-pocketed property owners, tourists and Airbnb over the hard-working renters and buyers who are facing few housing options and expensive price tags. It’s also likely Mission Beach is about to turn into the wild, wild west of STVR. However, we’re guessing the councilmembers are worn down on this issue and will be more likely to pass it, if only to pass something. Credit to the mayor on that one for seeing the writing on the wall. Regardless, we are excited about the city’s recent decision to slash fees for building granny flats, which could provide some relief for renters. This is an example of a smart tactic to solve the issues of local renters, and we’d like to see more of it.

6/13 Real Estate Research Council of Southern California reports residential construction doubled in first quarter of 2018.

All the seriousness, silliness and stupidity of the past week

6/14 Mayor Faulconer reveals new Short Term Rental (homesharing) compromise emphasizing licenses and “Good Neighbor” policies. Will head to City Council next month.

6/15

6/16 California lawmakers pass budget with emphasis on funds to combat poverty, homelessness and CalWorks.

Protesters gather in Mission Trails Regional Park to protest proposed SDG&E pipeline.

Horton Plaza owners reveal plans to turn 33-year-old mall into a work/play office campus.

#policerecruits?! #350,000 dollars?!

@SDCITYBEAT

State audit reveals San Ysidro school administrators colluded to overpay themselves more than $300,000 (source: San Diego U-T).

6/17

In encouraging editorial, new San Diego UnionTribune owner Dr. Patrick SoonShiong reveals new commitment to combat fake news and build on “a rich history of independent journalism.”

Godspeed.

Stormy Daniels to make stop at San Diego strip club as part of her national “Make America Horny Again” tour.

U-T story reveals only 12 percent of homeless staying in bridge shelters have been transitioned into permanent house, falling well short of 65 percent goal.

6/18

6/19

Scripps Institution of Oceanography scientist reveals discovery of giant manta ray nursery off the coast of Texas.

Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Juan Vargas lead congressional delegation on tour of child immigrant detention facility in San Ysidro.

In order to make room for more nerd rage, new city plan calls for closure of Harbor Drive for Comic-Con.

San Diego City Council declares June 19 “Rey Mysterio Day” in honor of the legendary local pro-wrestler.

Mysterio proceeds to 619 (his finishing move) the entire council for their inaction on short-term vacation rentals and calls it a day.

KUSI

NEWSY BITS

JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 5

JOHN R. LAMB

UP FRONT | OPINION

SPIN

CYCLE

JOHN R. LAMB

“Cornered” offices It’s tangible, it’s solid, it’s beautiful.

It’s artistic, from my standpoint, and I just love real estate.

—Donald Trump

I

f there’s one thing that’ll raise the hackles of the San Diego City Council, it’s being kept in the dark. On Monday, a rift over the soaring costs to prep the former headquarters of Sempra Energy for hundreds of city employees made this fact abundantly clear.

Kris Michell, a City Hall veteran and Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s handpicked chief operating officer since January, came before the City Council on Monday full of contrition for a process that has thrown doubt into the wisdom of purchasing the tower at 101 Ash St. to help the city reduce its dependence on expensive, leased downtown office space.

Once believed to be a building that was essentially employeeready, the City Council now finds

itself wrestling with rising refurbishment costs—from an originally estimated $5 million in 2016 now to more than $18 million—and the trustworthiness of the information it receives.

Michell quickly attempted to address the latter.

“I would like to first acknowledge and apologize to all of you for the lack of communication regarding this project,” she told the council. “There certainly can be many excuses provided, but at the end of the day, we’re all professionals and we have to own the fact that we did not keep you informed. And that will stop.”

While some councilmembers seemed to accept Michell’s apology, two councilmembers from opposite sides of the political spectrum both used the term “cornered” to describe how they were feeling.

“It wasn’t that the council wasn’t consulted, or communicat-

6 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

ed to, or anything,” Councilmember David Alvarez said. “It was decisions that were made that are changing the outcome of this. That is where the problem lies, and that is where I hope you think back in the decision making that puts the council now in a position where we are cornered. There is nothing else to do at this point.”

Alvarez, a Democrat, has suggested chucking the deal entirely, but he seems alone—at least publicly—in that sentiment. But he noted that another decision to be made that day—to raise the city fees charged for building permits at a time when new housing stock is at historic lows—was partially influenced by the problems incurred with 101 Ash. “Raising the costs to build things in the city because we have to now pay for this thing? That is a big problem,” he added.

Republican Councilmember Scott Sherman, who joined Alvarez in voting against both the fee hikes and the path forward on 101 Ash, said he was most disturbed by the “lack of professional courtesy.”

“That is where we are, and now we’re painted into a corner,” he said. “Yes, OK, it’s a good deal. Not nearly as good as it was, but still a good deal.”

As first reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune in April, city taxpayers have been on the hook

With more money needed for 101 Ash improvements, Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s real-estate expert Cybele Thompson is not impressing some City Councilmembers. to the tune of nearly $18,000 a day since January 2017, when city honchos signed a 20-year, leaseto-own contract to acquire the former Sempra headquarters. Told then that a simple power-washing of the building was needed before move in, the building remains vacant today with only hints of a future occupancy timeline.

As the headaches increase, the sales pitch that this would save the city millions by eliminating the need for leased space has steadily dwindled, although even critics of the stumbles still remain hopeful the deal will be a good one for the city.

In the meantime, the city has had to ink less-than-ideal shortterm leases in other downtown buildings to house hundreds of city employees.

One city official who offered no apologies despite behind-thescenes angst about her abilities was Cybele Thompson, head of the city’s Real Estate Assets Department. Kris Michell deferred to Thompson when pressed on why the city had so badly low-balled the needed tenant improvements.

“It’s true that we don’t do that kind of thing internally,” Thompson said, adding that a “third party” was brought in to “provide us with the estimates.” She said space planning for the building had not been completed by the time the issue came to the council.

Added Michell: “I can tell you on a go-forward basis, sometimes to scope out some of the tenant improvements, it’s not a core business of ours, as has become very, very obvious.”

Councilmember Chris Ward, who also criticized the lack of estimates to deal with ADA issues

and asbestos but voted to move forward with building plans, told Spin later that day that he fears a pattern has emerged with Thompson’s department.

He said a similar problem emerged at a city vehicle maintenance facility on Othello Avenue in Kearny Mesa, which the city leased for $10.4 million in 2017. The original cost of $6.5 million to upgrade the building to suit the upkeep of large vehicles will now likely be higher because “they determined they would not be able to get our new large vehicles in the front door of the facility.”

Thompson hinted that she would have “good news” in July about that fuck-up, but Ward said he had no idea what that would entail. His understanding is “the entire façade needs to be redone,” he said. “How did you not know the specs? Long and the short, how are we getting so many big-ticket things wrong, before they’re approved? And then it costs more to fix it after the fact.”

Asked if Thompson should be replaced, Ward said, “I don’t know.

I don’t supervise her. I’m disappointed. It’s up to her supervisors, like Kris Michell, to figure out whether that’s a call that needs to be made. But something’s not working in that area.”

During the council meeting, Sherman alluded to some commitments that he said Michell had made to him, although it wasn’t clear if he was talking about firing Thompson. His spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

Spin Cycle appears every other week.

Write to johnl@sdcitybeat.com.

@SDCITYBEAT

UP FRONT | OPINION

AARYN BELFER

BACKWARDS & IN

HIGH HEELS

Blaming the victim

T

he intro to his Facebook page has two words: God’s child.

Though he didn’t post frequently, Earl McNeil’s timeline gives clues into who he was. “I should be good in a couple of months God’s will man,” he wrote to a friend last year as they talked of finding work and lamented the lack of jobs that pay a livable wage in San Diego. “Thanks, Auntie, love u..” he wrote after an aunt remarked on a photo of her “handsome nephews.” In February of this year, he created a fundraiser for Stand Up To Cancer.

A friend. A beloved family member. A citizen who cared about others. These are but a few of the parts of the whole of McNeil, a Black man who, like so many others in our city, in our state, in our nation, suffered from mental illness.

God’s will was not, unfortunately, what McNeil had hoped it would be. Because when he found himself agitated and in distress during the early morning hours of May 26, 2018, he went to the National City Police Department (NCPD) for help. It was there that he picked up the red emergency telephone mounted to the wall outside the building and without knowing it, sealed his tragic fate.

It is unknown exactly what happened after officers responded, but what is known is that McNeil was arrested and placed in The Wrap, a contraption made by Safe Restraints Inc. The Wrap is a nylon, full-body device that binds an individual’s legs and feet; it also has a chest harness that tightly binded McNeil’s hands and arms. It cinches the detainee into a seated position, essentially incapacitating McNeil. The Wrap is marketed as preferable to techniques that impair breathing, such as the controversial chokehold or, as San Diego’s Police Chief Nisleit has rebranded it, the “carotid restraint.”

Anyway, the ill-fated McNeil was then loaded into a police vehicle and transported to county jail. It was there, the NCPD claims, he became unresponsive and was later that morning admitted to UC San Diego’s hospital in Hillcrest with bruising and contusions on his head, as well as abrasions on his face. According to family spokesperson Tasha Williamson, he was missing several teeth and clumps of hair; his wrists, hands and arms were swollen.

Oh, and Earl McNeil also had a spinal cord injury and brain damage so severe, he was placed on life support only to be taken off on June 7. McNeil died five days later, and now San Diego has its own Freddie Gray. Where are the marches in the street?

“The family had to watch him die,” said Williamson. “And the police aren’t giving them any answers.

This is what happens to Black and Brown people.”

Indeed. Aren’t we supposed to be able to go to the police for help? Aren’t they sworn to protect and serve? In what world would a person who looks like

me go to the police for aid and instead wind up on life support? Though it could be argued in Niemöllerian fashion that what happens to the least among us will eventually happen to all of us, it is statistically improbable that a white person in the midst of a crisis would be treated to the kind of police hospitality that would render us brain dead.

Not surprisingly, the NCPD has been largely radio silent on this entire fiasco, particularly (and disgustingly) with McNeil’s family who wants answers.

Having initially offered to show the family surveillance and body cam footage, they have since reversed course. The family wonders, too, after almost a month, whether any video they may get to see has been altered. No officers have been placed on leave. And the excuse of an internal investigation is laughable. There is, understandably, a lack of trust. The police do not deserve the McNeil family’s trust or ours as San Diegans who care about justice.

This is further reinforced by the predictable statement NCPD released to media, which, in classic form, blames McNeil for his injuries.

But doing so also implicates them.

Rather than calling in a Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) to help with an agitated person suffering from paranoia, NCPD “deescalated” the situation by placing McNeil in the aforementioned Wrap and then claim that, “[d]uring the transport, Mr. McNeil was intentionally hurting himself.”

Reader, you need to Google the device and then think about this preposterous blame-the-victim stance.

Again: a person in a Wrap cannot move. He can’t scratch his face, or cross his legs or even stand up. He also can’t brace himself for a fall or, say, an impact that would come from riding sans seatbelt in the back of a police van driven erratically and taking hard turns at high speeds. This kind of driving is called a rough ride in the police world, and it is how Freddie Gray wound up with his life-ending spinal cord injury.

And if it wasn’t a rough ride that broke McNeil’s body, then...did he get a beating at booking? Questions abound and so far, the few answers are wholly unacceptable.

Y’all, this is some serious bullshit.

The officers involved should be arrested and charged with assault and/or murder. The chief of the NCPD should be fired. We must question everything these gangsters are saying about what happened to this man. It is not right. It is not normal. Earl McN eil’s family not only deserves answers, but they also deserve justice for what happened to their cherished son, cousin, nephew.

Earl McNeil died five days later, and now San Diego has its own Freddie Gray.

Where are the marches in the street?

@SDCITYBEAT

Backwards & In High Heels appears every other week.

Write to aarynb@sdcitybeat.com.

JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 7

UP FRONT | VOICES

RYAN BRADFORD

WELL THAT WAS

AWKWARD

One is not the loneliest number (when you’re eating solo at a casino buffet)

“

W

ouldst thou like to live deliciously?”

So says the devil in the 2015 horror flick The VVitch right before he bestows dark powers upon the supple, young protagonist. I often think of this line before doing anything stupid, because it’s so much better—so much more metal— than “YOLO.” And I can’t think of a better/stupider application of the line than a solo trip to Viejas Casino’s all-youcan-eat buffet. Not only does it convey my surrendering to a dark force that will undoubtedly pervert me, but, uh, buffets are literally delicious. Right? Whatever. It’s a rare Saturday where I have absolutely zero plans, zero obligations, and the lure of doing something stupid outweighs the impending cabin fever that threatens to creep in if I don’t leave the house.

So yeah, I amst driving east on Interstate 8, on my way to live deliciously.

I actually like casinos. In fact, I won $160 from two slot machines during my last stay in Vegas, and I’ve lived the ensuing months under the false pretense that I’m therefore good at slot machines, as if that’s a skill that one can possess.

But this hubris quickly fades the moment I step into the casino. Viejas is not like Vegas. Not that I’d ever consider Vegas to be a particularly chill place, but it’s practically a monastery compared to a weekend at Viejas. No one in Viejas carries the deflated acceptance that the casino doesn’t give a shit about them—which is an easy sentiment to accept in Vegas when walking past casino after casino. Viejas, on the other hand, feels like a destination, a resort akin to Disneyland, and we all feel hysterically entitled to some reward for making the journey. I fall in line with other people shuffling along, and together—like a school of idiot fish—we marvel at bright and loud things.

At some point, I become acclimated to the stimuli, and I’m able to remember my original mission: the buffet.

Luckily for me, there’s no confusing the buffet at Viejas for anything else. Large, elegant, modern lettering spells out “The Buffet” and I can’t help but admire its fancy reclaiming of the lowbrow concept, but it also makes me nervous about the price tag. Nowhere do I see how much it costs. I suppose that I could just go up and ask somebody, but that would a.) require me to talk to someone and; b.) potentially expose me as a mark. A lonely, easy target. How much do I actually want to spend here?

I read online that if you sign up for a players card,

you get 20 percent off the buffet, so I sign up for the bronze card (free!) and with that comes the guaranteed chance to win either a free buffet (fingers crossed!) or $15 of free play (um... decent). The membership associate points me to an electric kiosk that will determine my prize, and the robot fills my bronze card with $15.

“Better than nothin’!” says a woman standing behind me, a casino veteran by the sound of her smoker voice. “Happy birthday.”

With the discount, the baseline buffet costs $31.

I don’t upgrade for booze, which, in hindsight, is a grave mistake. Instead, I cheap-out and choose “Coke products” and then, when the cashier asks which Coke product, I mishear and say “Coke products” again.

I look around. No one else is alone; no other parties of one. This is fine. I do enjoy the company of others, but it’s when you’re alone that you can make the best bad decisions and in these desperately social times, I think people forget this fact.

Due to the corrupting power that comes from being able to choose from so many foods, the first plate is always a strange menagerie: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, a beef potsticker and a strange asparagus-in-red sauce thing. That’s how they get you, I think as I feel the discordant slop unsettle my gut.

Nevertheless, I persist. My second plate is more congruent: rice, beans, chili verde. At no point during this feast can I tell if any of the food is actually “good,” but it’s plentiful and only giving me minor stomach issues, which I chalk up to a win.

I see a server carrying my drink from all the way across the dining hall. We meet eyes, and hold the stare while she carries a single glass over to me. It’s a prolonged reminder of just how alone I am, but I suck down my Coke product and the carbonation feels like God massaging the strange food into a more digestible shape.

My third plate is just two slices of pizza and a piece of cake because at this point, what do I have to prove?

On the way out, I use my $15 of free play money on a Johnny Cash slot machine. It seems like the most sense because Cash = cash, right? It doesn’t, and I lose everything. Still, as I step out in the dry heat with a belly full of mediocre food, I can’t help but feel that I’ve won. That I hadst spent the last couple of hours living deliciously.

I do enjoy the company of others, but it’s when you’re alone that you can make the best bad decisions and in these desperately social times, I think people forget this fact.

8 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

Well, That Was Awkward appears every other week.

Write to ryanb@sdcitybeat.com

@SDCITYBEAT

UP FRONT | FOOD

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER

THE WORLD

FARE

Modern Italian takes to the wheels

F

or all the Italian restaurants in town, it’s remarkable how few are dedicated to distinct regional cuisines. Now, with Maestoso (1040 University Ave.) in Hillcrest, we have one dedicated to “anti-cultural” (read: contemporary) Roman food with much of it served from roving dim sum-style carts.

While cooking at various New York restaurants Chef Marco Maestoso and his girlfriend Dalila started throwing high-end Italian pop-up dinners, even catching the New York Times’ attention, before returning to their native Rome to open a successful spot there. But America still called, so soon after they closed Casa Maestoso in Rome, they opened Maestoso with friends in Hillcrest.

There are two parts to Maestoso: the schtick and the food. Maestoso doesn’t have front-of-the-house staff.

Cooks bring food to the tables, either in the old-fashioned way or on roving carts. This means waiters have better knowledge about what’s on the plate because they cooked it. It also means back-of-the house staff can participate in the tip pool thus righting the usual inequity of wait staff making two-to-three times cooks’ wages. It’s a style (dubbed by Maestoso as “chef-to-table” or “passaggi”) that was pioneered by San Francisco’s Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions and Atlanta’s Gunshow.

But while the service style may be fanciful and practical, the food is what Maestoso’s really about.

On the passaggi cart’s first pass we grabbed beef and octopus carpaccios. Both were good and beautifully presented (to be fair, pretty much everything at the restaurant is), but the slightly thicker cut of that octopus, along with its pimento and herb garnishes, lent the dish a heft that the chef’s take on the classic beef version lacked.

A good third of Maestoso’s menu is devoted to La Pinsa, described by one cook as “Rome’s version of pizza.” It’s an oval flatbread made from wheat, soy and rice that is not so much a type of pizza as

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its ancestor. The result is a thick crust, crispy on the outside but fluffy, almost cloudlike and sexy inside. Try the La Selvatica: duck breast, wild boar salami, goat cheese and a fig compote.

Maestoso highlights its pastas. The tagliatelle with pork cheek is pasta perfection with modern presentation. The texture is a perfect al dente made more luscious by the rich beef cheek meat. And, to be clear, the cheek of just about any animal is its tastiest part. The maccheroni would be just as good, if not for the fact that the pasta was left a minute shy of al dente.

MICHAEL A. GARDINER

La Selvatica Pinsa

Italian cuisine is not known for its desserts, but Maestoso will be. Take, for example, the lemon meringue with chocolate. Meringue appears on the plate in two ways: more traditionally as light towers that are crisp on the outside and airy on the inside, then again as tiny cylinders that almost read like bits of the best marshmallow on the planet. The chocolate and the lemon provide flavor and textural contrast that complete this surprising dessert.

And it is Maestoso’s flavors, not its service style, that deserve the attention. The flavors are so precise and the technical flaws are so few, not to mention the fact that the restaurant is still new and has chefs performing double duty. All of this bodes very well indeed for the prospect of Marco Maestoso staying put in San Diego for the foreseeable future.

The World Fare appears weekly.

Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 9

UP FRONT | FOOD & DRINK

ANATOMY OF A COCKTAIL SCENE

BY IAN WARD

#34: Contemplating life and death at The Ould Sod

decided to end my life. I took a shower, wrote a note, and grabbed my straight razor from the drawer. I laid on the bed am terrified of heights. Not because for a long time, but then something hapI feel that the building I’m atop will pened. I thought about how much I like all of a sudden come crashing down ice cream. I thought about how I would or that a gust of wind might swoop me never know how Game of Thrones ends. I away. I am terrified of heights because I thought about how much I fucking love my mom. know that I am very capaLater that day I ended ble of just jumping off. It up going to Alcoholics scares the shit out of me.

Anonymous and started A few years ago, I hit going routinely thereafter. what I hope was my rock I would like to say that it bottom. I had lost everywas an easy road from there thing that was important to where I am now, happier to me at the time and, as a than not, more sober than result, started drinking evdrunk, more kind than twistery single day. Occasionally ed, but it wasn’t. I am still on I would wake up strapped to the road to my own salvation, hospital beds with broken nosbut I walk it with a smile. es, gashes in my head and black The Black Velvet cocktail eyes. I depleted all of my savings. was supposedly created at the I couldn’t afford to pay my rent Brook’s Club in London, and and ended up living in the bowels of a sailboat. In that rocking hell, Black Velvet was made to mourn the death of Prince Albert. I have heard that I would wake up at 2 p.m., many the cocktail is supposed to symbolize times covered in blood and/or vomit.

I hated my life. I hated myself, and I the black arm bands worn by mourners hated everyone around me. Whenever I at a funeral. It is the cocktail equivalent passed someone with a smile on their face, of flying a flag at half-mast.

I went to The Ould Sod (3373 Adams I just wanted to knock it off them.

Ave.) to order one after I heard about the One late afternoon, I woke up from my drunken stupor and grabbed what I death of Mr. Anthony Bourdain. To those thought was a bottle of water and took a of us who live and breathe within this inswig, just to find out that it was actually dustry, he was royalty. I know not all suipiss. Apparently, I had woke up and pissed cides are a result of substance abuse, and in my water bottle. At that moment, I I know that the closest I’ve come directly was a result of substance abuse. I ordered The Black Velvet because it seems like the appropriate thing to order at the time and THE BLACK VELVET whether or not I drink it is a whole difas prepared at The Ould Sod ferent story. Either way, for those of you 6 oz. Champagne or sparkling wine reading this right now, please keep one thing in mind: Life is really, really, really 10 oz. Guinness fucking hard, but so are diamonds.

I

Pour 6 oz. of champagne into a pint glass, pour over the Guinness.

Reflect, enjoy, mourn, cry, smile, live.

10 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

Anatomy of a Cocktail Scene appears every other week. Write to ianw@sdcitybeat.com.

BY DAVEY LANDEROS

REVENGE OF THE BEER NERD Bottle share rules

S

ome of the best beers that I’ve ever tasted have been at a bottle share, and these are still some of my favorite beer drinking events. A bottle share, for those who don’t already know, is a chance for a group of beer enthusiasts to sample and indulge in numerous beers that are high in alcohol, extremely rare to find, aged vintages or unique beers that may be too intense for one drinking session.

Over many years and across numerous cities, I’ve discovered some unspoken rules of a bottle share and occasionally will run into a newcomer that isn’t aware of the nuanced etiquette that experienced sharers have come to understand.

First, most newcomers tend to underestimate the quality of beer brought to a share. The beer consumed at these events are often acquired by people that scour beer forums and spend countless hours forming connections and negotiating cross-country trades through the internet. Some people will cellar their beer and patiently wait for the right moment to pop a mature bottle. It’s not enough to just drop by the corner liquor store or Bevmo and grab the bottle that’s always there. Put some skin in the game by putting in some effort and money on a good bottle or two. However, it is also poor form to shame someone for bringing something common. Most groups would rather share with the kind-hearted neophyte that’s eager to learn as opposed to the asshole that’s rude and compensating with super rare beer.

Arrival consists of pulling out chilled beer and adding it to a cooler or an ice bucket. If the share is at a bar, there may be rules about the bottles remaining behind the bar and only opened by the bartender.

Otherwise, it’s extremely bad manners for a person to open a bottle that they did not procure, and it’s encouraged that the owner pour the first sips into everyone’s

glasses. Once someone opens a bottle and everyone has sampled an ounce or two, it is then time to pour more. Don’t kill the bottle and keep second pours restrained in case someone shows late to the share.

As the night continues, do not throw any empty bottles away. The end of the bottle share triggers an extremely important ritual known as the “kill shot” or “graveyard.” It’s the picture that hits the ‘gram to show off all the cool beers that were opened.

Once everyone has a FOMO-inducing pic, it’s time to start cleaning up. This includes gathering glassware, wiping down tables, emptying ice buckets and being an adult that knows how to leave a party with class. Some unopened bottles can be left to the host as a thank you gesture. If the share occurs at a brick-and-mortar establishment, always buy a drink or two and tip the bartender heavily.

These shares can get very intense, very quickly so make arrangements to get home safely. Take any chance to attend a bottle share. It’s an event to meet passionate, generous people and try once-ina-lifetime beer.

Write to Davey at daveyl@sdcitybeat.com or check him out on Instagram at @daveythebeernerd.

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EVENTS

SHORTlist

ART

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

SAN DIEGO

TRIBUTE TO TONY

The death of Anthony Bourdain hit San Diegans particularly hard. From Oceanside to Mexico, Bourdain was a regular visitor to our region and particularly championed the under-theradar food carts and restaurants of the Baja region (read this week’s cocktail column and look for a feature from our food critic in an upcoming issue).

Between Bourdain’s suicide, as well as that of designer Kate Spade, the topic of depression is once again in the news, revealing that even those who seemingly have it all can still suffer from debilitating mental illnesses.

When it comes to local restaurant owners, it doesn’t get any bigger than the Cohn Restaurant Group, which is why it’s so refreshing to see the group getting proactive when it comes to mental health. On Sunday, June 24, to coincide with what would have been Anthony Bourdain’s 62nd birthday, the Cohn’s three local Bo-beau locations will donate 20 percent of all their food sales to the Community Alliance for Healthy Minds, a local mental health non-profit that works especially hard in the areas of suicide prevention.

“Navigating the complex system of mental health and substance abuse care can be confusing and overwhelming; it can feel like an indecipherable puzzle,” says Community Alliance For Healthy Minds co-founder Connie Kennemer. “So whether

BALBOA PARK

THE KEY OF C We imagine that many of our readers, like us, regularly opt for all-black outfits. But as much as we love the timelessness and versatility of onyx shades, San Diego is a city that naturally caters to bright hues. That saturation is exactly the focus of San Diego Art Institute’s new exhibition, High-Key: Color in Southern California. The show, curated by Elizabeth Rooklidge, highlights both emerging and established local artists such as CityBeat faves Claudia Cano, Eva Struble, Michael James Armstrong and others who have created works that exemplify a sense of SoCal. High-Key opens at SDAI (1439 El Prado) on Saturday, June 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost of entry ranges from free for kids and SDAI members to $5 for general admission. sandiego-art.org COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

HArtful Pride Art Show at Rich’s San Diego, 1051 University Ave., Hillcrest. Celebrate the work of 16 LGBTQ artists from Southern California. The event is hosted by local nonprofit Elevate Revolutionary Art, which supports gay men of color through arts and cultural programming.

Opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 20. $5 suggested donation. 619307-1552, richssandiego.com HPop Up Exhibition: Natalie Bessell at Little Dame Shop, 2942 Adams Ave., North Park. The La Jolla-based artist presents some of her recent paintings, prints and other works for this one night only exhibition. Includes snacks and refreshments. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m.

Thursday, June 21. Free. facebook.com/ events/2031770413702079

Anthony Bourdain you are an individual seeking resources for yourself, a family member, or someone that you know, our goal is to help reduce the stigma, eliminate the shame, point you in the right direction, connect you with actual service providers who can help, and give you some tools that you can use right now to better manage whatever comes your way.”

So, yes, go order some of that addictive lobster risotto or moules and frites, and know you’re supporting a good cause. Restaurant hours vary depending on location (4996 W. Point Loma Blvd. in Ocean Beach, 1027 University Ave. in Hillcrest and 8384 La Mesa Blvd. in La Mesa), but reservations are encouraged. More information at dinecrg.com.

OCEAN BEACH

CHILI TIME Ocean Beach has a well-known and deserved reputation for chill vibes.

But chili vibes? Well, it does once a year when the annual Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off Festival rolls around. For those who’ve never been, it’s a bean-and-meat-filled day that also includes carnival rides, an Artists Alley, a Hodad’s burger-eating contest, a beer garden and, of course, dozens of chili samples for sale. There will also be five different stages of live music by bands like Stone Horse, Ease Up, Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, Bomb Squad and more. Presented by the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association, the party starts on Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the 4800 to 5000 blocks of Newport Ave., along the waterfront. The street fair is free with chili samples ranging from $2 to $20. oceanbeachsandiego.org.

COURTESY OF OCEAN BEACH MAINSTREET ASSOCIATION

HCelebrate Immigrants in San Diego at City Hall, 202 C St., Downtown. A public and interactive art installation that features local performers in honor of Immigrant Heritage Month. Participants are invited to place the flag of their identified heritage on a massive heart outside City Hall. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, June 22. Free. facebook.com/events/410704616115164 HHigh-Key: Color in Southern California at San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. An exhibit focused on the experimentation of hue, saturation and light. Featuring local emerging and established artists such as Eva Struble, Claudia Cano and others. Opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 23. Free-$5.

619-236-0011, sandiego-art.org Art Couture at Lux Art Institute, 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas. Local artists will create pieces inspired by the local designers participating in Fashion Week in October. Features live music by The Shift Music, Johnathan Carter and DJ Cuervo, and dance performances by Litvak Dance.

From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 23. $10-$15. 760-436-6611, luxartinstitute.org

BOOKS HJill G. Hall at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The author of The Black Velvet Coat will sign and discuss her latest novel, The Silver Shoes. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21. Free. 858-4540347, warwicks.com HFredrik Backman at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The bestselling author of A Man Called Ove will sign and discuss his latest novel, Us Against You. At 4 p.m. Sunday, June 24.

Free. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com Belinda Jones at Dogtopia of Miramar, 5260 Eastgate Mall, Miramar. The journalist and writer will sign and discuss her new travel book, Bodie on the Road, about her travels with her beloved dog Bodie. Price includes copy of the book. At 6 p.m. Monday, June 25. $35. adventuresbythebook.com

DANCE Our Moment in Time at Concert Hall, California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Georgia’s School of Dance presents its annual dance recital with performances including jazz, tap, hiphop, ballroom and more by dancers of all ages. The San Diego Civic Youth Orchestra Symphony will accompany the dancers for the ballet portion of the program. At 7 p.m.

Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23. $15-$28. 760-839-4138, artcenter.org

FILM “Hikers Resting Under Boulders, near Tinajas Altas, Camino del Diablo, Berry M. Goldwater Range, Arizona, March 2014”

by John Brinton Hogan @SDCITYBEAT

HInternational Documentary Film Series at Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park. The opening

Ocean Beach Street Fair

H = CityBeat picks

night screening of the International Rescue Committee’s film series will showcase On Her Shoulders, a documentary about a woman who survived genocide and sexual slavery at the hands of ISIS. At 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 24. $10-$15. rescue.org

FOOD & DRINK HCalifornia Dreaming at Bahia Resort Hotel, 998 W. Mission Bay Drive, Mission Beach. The first event in a new weekly series that features a sunset clambake and barbecue buffet on Mission Bay. Featuring live music by the Mar Dels, local brews, and family-friendly activities like dancing, limbo and face-painting. From 6 to 9 p.m.

Thursday, June 21. $20-$52. 858-4880551, bahiahotel.com HOcean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off Festival at Newport Avenue & Abbott Street, Ocean Beach. The 39th annual festival will feature an oceanfront chili cook-off, nonstop music and entertainment, food and vendor booths, carnival rides and games, an artists alley, a beachside beer garden and more. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 23.

Free. oceanbeachsandiego.com HDistilled San Diego Spirit & Cocktail Festival at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. The San Diego County Fair hosts this festival, which will offer more than 180 different types of spirits and mixers. Plus live music and educational presentations by distillers. From noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 23. $33-$125. 858755-1161, distilledsandiego.com HBO-beau kitchen Honors Anthony Bourdain at various locations. To commemorate the late Anthony Bourdain’s upcoming 62nd birthday, BO-beau kitchen locations in Hillcrest, La Mesa and Ocean Beach will donate 20 percent of food sales to the Community Alliance for Healthy Minds, a local nonprofit supporting mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Various times.

Sunday, June 24. dinecrg.com HTaste of Adams Avenue at various locations. The 18th annual tasting event will showcase 48 restaurants, coffee houses and unique eateries along Adams Avenue, from University Heights through Normal Heights to Kensington. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 26. $35-$40. tasteofadams.com Six Course Pairing Dinner with NOVO Brazil Brewing at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse, 2150 Harbor Island Drive, Point Loma. The restaurant’s executive chef Kyle Kovar presents a pairing of six dinner courses with six brews by Chula Vista-based NOVO Brazil Brewing Co. Includes duos such as the Chula Pils with chicken katsu lollipops, and Mango IPA with seared halibut. From 7 to 10 p.m.

Wednesday, June 27. $60. 619-291-9110, facebook.com/events/167502823943046

MUSIC HMainly Mozart Festival Orchestra feat. James Ehnes at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. The festival will take a journey through Mozart’s life, focusing on the theme “Breaking the Mold: From Rebel to Entrepreneur.” The program will highlight work by Mozart Sibelius and Prokofiev. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21. $15-$65. 619-570-1100, Sandiegotheatres.org HArt Night Casbah at Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Art Unites continues its quarterly celebration of musical genres. This time, it’s hip-hop and will feature music by Bry Blue$ & DJ Tarzan, Parker Meridien and more, plus visual art.

From 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21. $8. 619-232-4355, casbahmusic.com Ramón Ayala at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. The

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 11

EVENTS EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 Mexican accordionist and songwriter is known for his modern norteño music, which adds electric guitars and drums to an otherwise traditional northern ranchera style. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21.

Free-$36. 858-755-1161, sdfair.com HSherman Heights Music Festival at the Sherman Heights Community Center, 2258 Island Ave., Sherman Heights. This family-friendly Latinx music festival features artists Rick & Friends, Quiquiriquí Coyotas, the Humble Chicanos and the Cat Chasers.

Plus food and local artisanal goods. Benefits the Sherman Heights Community Center.

From noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 23.

Free. 619-232-5181, shermanheights.com BeerX at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Hwy, Downtown. Local radio station 91X features Slightly Stoopid at this one-day festival that also features beer and food.

Stick Figure, Pepper and more will also perform. From noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 23. $45-$55. beerxsandiego.com Gospel Festival at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Anthony Brown and group therAPy headline this daylong festival featuring gospel choirs and soloists on multiple stages.

Grammy-nominated Jekalyn Carr will open the show. At 7 p.m. Saturday, June 23. Free-$36. 858-755-1161, sdfair.com Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra: Dejan Lazic at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. The MM orchestra will perform a program highlighting work by Mozart, Haydn and Mendelssohn. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 23. $15-$65. 619570-1100, sandiegotheatres.org Magic 92.5 Summer Jam at Valley View Casino Center, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., Point Loma. The annual seasonal concert

will feature performances by Bell Biv Devoe, Tony! Toni! Tone!, SWV, Warren G, Coolio, Tag Team and more. At 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 23. $39.50-$83.50. 619224-4171, valleyviewcasinocenter.com The Six String Society at Arts District Liberty Station, 2640 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma. The first group to perform as part of the free Liberty Station Concerts series, the Six String Society blends musical theater with interactive plotlines. Picnics and dancing are encouraged. From 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 24.

Free. 619-756-7992, libertystation.com H Perla Batalla in The House of Cohen at Lyceum Stage, 79 Horton Plaza, Gaslamp. Vocalist Perla Batalla will perform music and poetry from the late singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen in her signature cross-cultural style. At 7:30 p.m.

Monday, June 25. $25-$35. sdrep.org HInternational Summer Organ Festival at Spreckels Organ Society, 1549 El Prado, Ste 10, Balboa Park. The 31st annual outdoor summer concert series kicks off with a performance by new Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez on the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ. At 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 25.

Free. 619-702-8128, spreckelsorgan.org

PERFORMANCE HSan Diego International Fringe Festival at various locations. A nonprofit project that celebrates theatre, street performers, cabaret, comedy and tons of other multidisciplinary arts. See online for full list of performances. At various times. Thursday, June 21 through Sunday, July 1. $7-$72. sdfringe.org HLosing the Nobel Prize at Congregation Adat Yeshurun, 8625 La Jolla Scenic Drive North, La Jolla. A world premiere

12 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

staged reading of Brian Keating’s adventure story of the birth of universe that spans the globe. Keating will lead a panel discussion of science and religion and sign copies of his new book as well. At 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 26. $18. sdrep.org

SPECIAL EVENTS HCraft & Draft at Bay City Brewing Co. 3760 Hancock St. Ste A, Midway. Bay City Brewing and San Diego Made team up for this brew-filled, pop-up shop that will feature local art and handmade goods from more than 15 local artists and craftsmen. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 20. Free. facebook.com/ events/1545883142187838 HSculpture & Cocktails: Epic Summer at San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. Celebrate this special edition of Culture & Cocktails and the exhibition Epic Tales from Ancient India with signature cocktails, a Bollywood dance performance, outdoor games and food from Simply Fresh SD Food Truck, music from DJ Gabe Vega and more. At 6 p.m. Thursday, June 21. $10-$35. 619-232-7931, sdmart.org HJune Beehive Tour at various locations, San Diego. Take a guided tour by Girl Next Door Honey owner Hilary Kearney, who was recently featured in CityBeat and Vogue for changing the face of beekeeping. Participants will don bee suits to learn about hives, bees and more. At 10 a.m. Saturday, June 23. $39. 619-9218189, girlnextdoorhoney.com HFairy Festival at San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas.

At this nature-focused festival, children can dress up in woodland costumes, meet fairy princesses, build magic wands and assemble fairy dust necklaces. Attendees can also shop at the Fairy Land Market. From 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 23. Free with admission. 760-436-3036, sdbgarden.org HWorld Refugee Day Celebration at the Copley-Price Family YMCA, 4300 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. To show support for the millions of families and individuals forced to flee their homes, the Copley-Price YMCA presents a kid-friendly fair with music and dance performances, a farmer’s market and community resources. From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 23. Free. 619-280-9622, ymca.org/ locations/copley-price-family-ymca HArts Park @ Chollas Creek Grand Opening at Arts Park @ Chollas Creek, 5010 Market St., Lincoln Park. The grand opening of the redesigned outdoor creative art space will feature performances, visual art experiences, urban gardening workshops, food and more. From noon to 4 p.m.

Saturday, June 23. Free. RSVP recommended. 619-527-6161, jacobscenter.org HSan Diego Night Market 2018 at Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa. Convoy Street will be shut down to host San Diego’s largest Asian-influenced night market. Expect food, drinks, live entertainment and more. From 5 p.m. to midnight. Saturday, June 23. facebook.com/ events/325898314603747 HVelobration at WorldBeat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Blvd., Balboa Park. New Belgium Brewing hosts this kickoff party that benefits the San Diego Bike Coalition and the San Diego Mountain Biking Association. There will be music by The Verigolds, bike-themed entertainment and displays.

Ticket includes drink and meal ticket. From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 23. $25. facebook.com/events/196929890899048 HPachanga de Frida at the San Diego LGBT Community Center, 3909 Centre St., University Heights. In celebration of

Frida Kahlo’s birthday, there will be food, tequila, live music and art by local Latinx artists, in addition to a Frida look-alike contest. The annual event benefits the LGBT Community Center’s Nicole Murray-Ramirez Latino Services. From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 23. $20. 619-6922077, events.thecentersd.org HJuneteenth Block Party at Fair at 44, 4350 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. San Diego Melanin presents a celebration to commemorate the end of the Civil War and the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865. The event will include music, food vendors, pop up shops, games and more. From 1 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 24. $15.19. facebook. com/events/178642712972248 Festival of Yoga at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Hwy., Little Italy. Celebrate the United Nations International Day of Yoga with two community yoga classes, live music and vendor booths. The event will also feature a fashion show highlighting yoga and festival apparel with live music

by Sister Speak. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday, June 24. Free. facebook.com/ events/1568052663280728

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS Comics in San Diego: The Impact on Culture & Economy at Revel Revel, 868 5th Ave. Level 3, Downtown. Founder and CEO of IDW Publishing Ted Adams hosts a discussion with Chief Communications and Strategy Officer at San Diego ComicCon, the Board Chair of the San Diego Convention Center and many more on Comic-Con’s local impact. From 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 27. $30. 619269-0438, travelingstories.org

@SDCITYBEAT

@SDCITYBEAT

JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 13

OB STREET FAIR & CHILI COOK-OFF FESTIVAL 2018

OB STREET FAIR & CHILI COOK-OFF FESTIVAL 2018

THEATER JIM CARMODY

The Squirrels

Just trying to get a nut

I

n Robert Askins’ allegorical play The Squirrels, the titular characters are neither cute little critters, nor scavenging tree rats. What they are is human at humankind’s worst: conniving, combative, even racist. This depiction makes for a gnawing black comedy with actors that are sort of clad as squirrels and engaging in lust and bloodlust all for the want of nuts. Naturally, this signifies more, but Askins’ script is smart enough to resist easy contemporary allusions. In fact, there’s a sense of traditional Greek drama in the portrayal of his warring Gray and Fox Squirrels, and, turning Elizabethan, the play’s tragicomic despot figure (a Gray Squirrel named Scurius) suffers a Learlike deterioration.

La Jolla Playhouse’s world-premiere production of this new work by Askins, who is probably best known for the outlandish Hand to God, is brisk, loud and mildly graphic. Director Christopher Ashley’s ensemble includes Candy Buckley (the reason to see last year’s Kill Local at the Playhouse), and Broadway veteran Brad Oscar, who plays The Squirrels’ antagonist, but also doubles as an emcee/scientist. Unfortunately, the 85 minutes it takes to make Askins’ sociopolitical points is excessive, even for a oneact show. That leaves a story populated by characters that frolic and shout a lot, but the laugh lines (enough already with the mucking jokes) are strained.

The Squirrels runs through July 8 at La Jolla Playhouse. $25 and up; lajollaplayhouse.org ••• nce is a ��������������������������� beautiful musical experience and a Broadway show (it won eight Tonys) that connects all the more in the intimate confines of Lamb’s Players Theatre in Coronado. It’s there, under the direction of Kerry Meads and the musical direction of G. Scott Lacy, that this wistful musical makes everyone Irish for a day. Set in Dublin, Once is an

O

16 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

unapologetically sentimental tale about love and believing in oneself and in others. Catie Grady portrays the Czech girl who inspires an uncertain Irish singer-songwriter (Michael Louis Cusimano) to artistic heights even as they fall into a love that can never be. Both, but especially Grady, are moving and magnetic presences on the Lamb’s stage, singing and playing instruments like the rest of the sizable cast. This is a production to be savored on a visceral more than a cerebral level, and one to be celebrated as well.

Once runs through July 22 at Lamb’s Players Theatre in Coronado. $28$78; lambplayers.org

—David L. Coddon

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

OPENING: Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley—From Slavery to Modiste: The Old Globe will participate in the Juneteenth Celebration by presenting this original play about a former slave who becomes a famous dressmaker. Written by local Claudia Thompson, it will have two performances on June 24 at the Old Globe’s Hattox Hall in Balboa Park. RSVP required. theoldglobe.org The King and I: The Lincoln Center Theatre production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s iconic musical about an unlikely romance between a British schoolteacher and the King of Siam. Presented by Broadway San Diego, it opens June 26 at the San Diego Civic Theatre in the Gaslamp.

Monty Python’s Spamalot: The legendary comic troupe’s musical parody about the Knights of the Round Table. Presented by Cygnet Theatre, it opens in previews June 27 at the Old Town Theatre. cygnettheatre.com

For complete theater listings, visit sdcitybeat.com

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@TREVORDEANPHOTOS, @BERTLER2.0, @JOELLENLOVE

CULTURE | ART

From left: Wonderspaces, The Museum of Ice Cream, “Mother body emotional densities, for alive temple time baby son” by Ernesto Neto

“

keep seeing the word ‘immersive’ everywhere,” says Carmela Prudencio, co-founder of local arts activism group SDIY Coalition.

This keyword has been overwhelmingly present in art show descriptions and museum discussions in the past few years. The L.A. Times even dubbed ‘immersive’ the “arts buzzword of 2016,” and the term’s usage hasn’t slowed since. Local exhibition spaces such as the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego have employed the multi-sensory, multidimensional trend in past exhibits, such as Ernesto Neto’s 2007 exhibition of spice-stuffed Lycra pouches that incorporated visual, physical and olfactory stimulation. There was also San Diego Art Institute’s Sweet Gongs Vibrating, a 2016 exhibition that encouraged “direct, embodied visitor contact… to activate sensorial qualities of objects.” The list goes on.

Within the past year, however, experiential art has become a whole other beast, and increasingly one that’s liberal in its designation as art. The Museum of Ice Cream, for example, which appeared in Los Angeles in summer 2017, invited Angelenos to jump into a pool of sprinkles, to pose next to oversized gummy bears and to partake in other gimmicky photo ops for a whopping $30. Almost simultaneously, Wonderspaces made its debut in San Diego. For $24, it offered interactive art installations such as heat-sensitive light displays, virtual reality and other photogenic works. Wonderspaces is now back in San Diego for a second summer with talks of permanently rooting here.

Also about to debut this summer is The Cado, which is essentially The Museum of Ice Cream but for avocados. With this influx of Instagram-baiting exhibits, the established arts community is speculative of

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the effects on younger generations and the larger art scene.

“People around our age group will pay the $24 to go and take cool photos and experience the art and showcase to all of their social media that they are participating in arts events in San Diego,” says 28-year-old Prudencio.

But she worries the experience ends at the social media posts, and that exhibits such as Wonderspaces fail to intrigue further thought.

“Art is subjective so anyone can interpret it into anything, but is there any call to action to do so in these places? We go and think about it, but will everyone do that same kind of analysis when they get out of there like, ‘What did this mean to me? What is this giant, gold, plastic, balloon thing?’” she laughs, referring to Stefano Ogliari Badessi’s “Into the Breath” piece at Wonderspaces.

Online, Wonderspaces provides vague descriptions of the processes behind the featured pieces. In person, there are placards at each exhibit with the name of the artist and the artwork, but no written description of process or meaning. Hired guides offer about as much information as the website.

“It’s powerful to attract as many people as they have,” Prudencio says. “It’s an opportunity to send a message out there, and I can’t find the message. Does that do a disservice to the artist then if there’s no communication of what they’re trying to communicate?”

In a spike of optimism, she hopes that Wonderspaces could act as a gateway for people who are unengaged in the art scene.

“The more people that get involved with it, the more exposure they’ll get to other things happening,” she says. “[Wonderspaces] is kind of, hopefully, a gateway into going back to Balboa Park or going to MCASD on a Thursday when they have those free nights.

There’s ways for families in San Diego to in-

teract with art that are affordable and accessible still.”

Realistically, she worries these flashy art experiences could be too much of a novelty and may distract people from grassroots art.

“It’s really easy to focus on something that’s hyped,” Prudencio says. “You can be blinded to all these amazing things that I see. I see the AjA project working with refugees in City Heights or just A Reason to Survive in National City where developers are trying to create live-work spaces for artists everywhere right now. Those kinds of organizations could disappear from the radar if it’s just ‘Oh this cool Instagram stuff like the Museum of Ice Cream’ kind of thing.”

TORREY BAILEY

Kristen Mihalko Kristen Mihalko, who’s on the board of San Diego Emerging Museum Professionals, isn’t convinced that Wonderspaces is doing its part to connect visitors with the greater San Diego arts scene.

“Without the collaboration of the other organizations in San Diego, I think a lot of people will enter the exhibit, be like, ‘that was cool,’ and leave without [Wonderspaces] saying ‘Do you like touching plants and science about that? Then check out the Fleet Science Center,’” Mihalko says in reference to “Akousmaflore” by Scenocosme, a Won-

derspaces piece in which plants sing when touched. “Or ‘Do you like weird art? Check out all these other art galleries’” Mihalko says the creators of Wonderspaces have a long way to go to prove their reported desire to enhance San Diego’s art scene. She notes a quote Wonderspaces Creative Director Kendall Warson said in a KPBS video that hasn’t sat well with her.

“San Diego doesn’t have the same access to MOMAs or LACMAs as cities that are larger like Los Angeles, and we want to make sure that we’re filling that need within smaller cities and making sure that we’re bringing the presence of art to new communities,” Warson said in the video.

Mihalko argues that the “presence of art” is already here.

“We’re sitting in Balboa Park, we have 17 museums with Comic Con coming in,” she says. “This is art. Even being outside or even the Museum of Contemporary Art Downtown, that’s right next to [Wonderspaces].

San Diego Art Institute, San Diego Museum of Art, A Ship in the Woods, SDSU Downtown Gallery, Barrio… This may be me projecting, but I think if art spaces, artists or anyone who’s in arts and culture hear [Warson’s comment], or read it, they would be very hurt by the comment.”

So far, Wonderspaces has partnered with the Lafayette Hotel to offer a night’s stay in an artist-decorated room for the first part of its Spotlight Series. Whether Wonderspaces will continue to link up with local venues to immerse itself in the local arts community has yet to be seen.

“I think that Wonderspaces can be a part of this whole community art scene we have in San Diego, but right now it’s kind of to the side,” Prudencio says. “It’s kind of a weird black sheep in San Diego.”

JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 17

CULTURE | FILM

Child in need

Summer 1993

Carla Simón’s luminescent coming-of-age drama reflects on adolescent grieving

by Glenn Heath Jr.

E

ven with only half of 2018 in the books, young coming to terms with change, Summer 1993 presents actors have already had a banner year. Charlie familial conflict as an organic (but not unsolvable) Plummer’s frayed bundle of kindness and panic byproduct of new experiences. Marga and Frida butt infuses Lean on Pete with singular vulnerability, giv- heads over the smallest disruptions, and Simón makes ing America’s current economic frustrations a human this ongoing tension the film’s core human dilemma. face. Then there’s Pio Amato’s opportunistic ragamuf- Difficulties of starting anew don’t just apply to one fin who gets caught in a whirlpool of crime and pov- character, but to everyone who must deal with the imerty and becomes the poster boy for cyclical trauma in plications of welcoming an outsider into the fold of family. the Italian melodrama A Ciambra Patience becomes the great equalizer. For Frida, Laia Artigas deserves to be mentioned in the same breath for her beguiling lead performance in Summer she stubbornly places tributes at a makeshift shrine 1993. As six-year-old Frida, the central figure anchor- for her mother, returning every night to find these obing Carla Simón’s wonderful coming-of-age debut, jects have moved or disappeared. But this is not a film about ghosts or premonitions. she strikes an otherwise diffiSummer 1993 frames its poetic cult balance between repressed lyricism as a sly undercurrent of anxiety and sprightly curiosity. burgeoning identity, something Confused at how exactly to proSUMMER 1993 adults like Marga cannot see in cess the recent death of her adDirected by Carla Simón the first place. Instead, she ofdict mother, Frida remains stuck Starring Laia Artigas, Bruna Cusí fers Frida stability and strength. between blissful naiveté and inArtigas navigates her chartense grief. and David Verdaguer acter’s prickly limbo with the As the title suggests, Summer Not Rated confidence of a seasoned pro1993 depicts merely one chapfessional. Frida exhibits traits ter in Frida’s short life, albeit a of a faultless youngster, trying crucial one. Early on, Simón mirrors the transitional nature of her character’s difficult on large amounts of makeup and playing dress up all situation with fragmentary sequences pieced together while willfully romping through the garden. But she over time. Family members come and go, other chil- can also be conniving and malicious, like when she dren gleefully play, and Frida mostly watches from the selfishly leaves Anna unattended in the woods. With sidelines. Her perspective of the adult world is always such contradictions at play, Simón explores why chilheightened but incomplete, broken apart by instabil- dren and adults are equally capable of emotional flucity and external stress. Throw in a jarring change of tuation under a stressful confluence of events.

Summer 1993 (opening Friday, June 22, at Digital scenery, and a clash between denial and acceptance Gym Cinema in North Park) concludes in mesmerizseems inevitable.

Frida begrudgingly travels with her uncle Esteve ing fashion with a beautiful release of unchecked hu(David Verdaguer) and his wife Marga (Bruna Cusí) man sentiment that’s neither forced nor rushed. Equito their farm deep in the mountains of Catalonia. She librium might not be something any family can ever spends days roaming through sprawling jungle paths truly achieve, but harmonious understanding always and crooked creeks with only her young cousin Anna remains attainable. In the most generous of ways, (Paula Robles) for company. Nature offers welcome Simón’s sun-kissed drama respects a child’s complex respite from anxiousness felt by her new surrogate emotional experience without compromising its poetfamily, all of whom seem to realize with each passing ic simplicity. If only more American films showed the day that raising a traumatized child is an incredibly difficulties of growing up with such quiet esteem. fragile balancing act and one that comes with many frustrations.

Film reviews run weekly.

Unlike so many other films about young people Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com

18 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

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CULTURE | FILM Hearts Beat Loud: Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons star as a father/daughter songwriting duo who make music over the summer before she leaves for college.

Opens Friday, June 22, at Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas and Angelika Film Centers—Carmel Mountain.

Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town: A distraught young rocker fights her away across town after she finds out her ex-boyfriend and best friend just got engaged.

Opens Friday, June 22, at the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Nancy

Missing person

W

hen discussing range in modern acting, Andrea Riseborough’s ability to inhabit characters of completely opposite tonal registers represents the most impressive of pendulum swings. One moment she could be performing like the second coming of Gloria Swanson in Nocturnal Animals and the next, she’s personifying unspoken simmering rage as a vengeful IRA mole in Shadow Dancer.

Riseborough’s performance as Nancy Freeman, the eclectic chameleon at the center of Christina Choe’s drama Nancy, exhibits shades of both extremes. At first, the disheveled 35-year-old career temp seems to lie about everything. She edits photos to impress co-workers and creates a false blog to connect with an online crush (John Leguizamo), all to assuage the anguish from living with her sickly and unrelenting mother (Ann Dowd).

After seeing shades of herself in the age-corrected missing persons picture of a young girl, Nancy decides to contact the aggrieved parents hoping to make sense of her own life that’s been defined by maternal scorn. At first, Ellen and Leo (J. Smith-Cameron and Steve Buscemi) experience different reactions to their potential prodigal daughter’s return.

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The trio of trauma victims spends multiple days together waiting for DNA results to either confirm or deny the miracle that could be a mirage. In the meantime, Choe’s drab-looking film crackles with subtext and possibility, planting doubt whenever the sentimentality grows too pronounced. All three actors explore intricacies of people so badly wanting to cherish the possibility of being set free from pain.

Nancy (opening Friday, June 22, at Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas) watches this process unfold with the aloofness of a discerning house cat. Choe’s approach creates distance from the rubbed raw trauma shared between characters willing to believe a lie instead of face the truth. That being said, it ends exactly where one would expect, with all notions of hope being discarded for more of the same emotional subterfuge.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

OPENING Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: All the humans who were almost eaten by dinosaurs in the previous film decide to go back and save those same dinosaurs when a volcano threatens to wipe out the famous island of dinosaurs. Did I mention there are dinosaurs? Opens wide on Friday, June 22.

Nancy: Andrea Riseborough stars as a tormented thirty-something that thinks she might be the missing daughter of an aggrieved couple in this dark drama from Christina Choe. Opens Friday, June 22, at Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas.

Summer 1993: After her addict mother dies of pneumonia, young Frida is taken to live with her uncle and aunt in the rural hills of Catalonia. Opens Friday, June 22, at the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

ONE TIME ONLY Ace Ventura: Pet Detective: Jim Carrey became a star after gracing the screen as an obnoxious pet detective hell bent on solving the case of a missing NFL mascot.

Screens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma.

Worldly Girl: In this Italian drama, a devout young Jehovah’s Witness falls in love with an outsider and sees her world changed forever. Screens at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 21, at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park.

The Big Sleep: Surly detective Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) is hired to save the spoiled daughters of a millionaire who are being blackmailed by unknown culprits. Screens at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 21 and Friday, June 22, at Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills.

Schönefeld Boulevard: A teenager girl from a boring German neighborhood meets a cosmopolitan engineer and tries to break free of her suburban hell. Screens at 8 p.m. Friday, June 22, at the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Shakespeare in Love: Before she was insufferable, Gwyneth Paltrow was magical as the muse of that one famous playwright in this multiple Oscar-winning gem.

Screens at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24, at Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills.

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

JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 19

ZORAN ORLIC

MUSIC

From left: Brian Case, Alianna Kalaba, Noah Leger here’s a thought experiment called the Ship of Theseus that’s often taught in philosophy classes, which concerns the nature of identity. It goes something like this: Over the course of a century, a ship’s parts have to be replaced piece by piece until eventually the entire ship is made up of new parts. Is it still the same ship once the parts are replaced? And if not, at which point did it become a different ship?

This is a question that comes to mind when discussing the nature of a band’s changing lineup. There are certain bands over the years that have seemingly changed lineups every time they released a new album, but kept the same name (Fleetwood Mac, Guided by Voices, The Fall). So when bassist Damon Carruesco decided to depart Chicago post-punk group Disappears in 2017 after playing with the band for a decade, the remaining three members were left with an important question: Is it still Disappears if one member leaves?

Ultimately, the remaining three members

20 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

decided that this felt like a different band, even though they’d still be playing music together. So just one week after Carruesco departed, Brian Case, Jonathan van Herik and Noah Leger hit the reset button and formed FACS, with Alianna Kalaba replacing van Herik shortly thereafter.

“The rest of us decided we still wanted to play music together,” Case says. “So instead of doing what we were doing before, we thought it would be more exciting to start from zero.

We just started rehearsing without any intention of playing and seeing what happens. We just kind of kept our schedule. We’d practice a couple times a week and we had these days locked out in our practice space with the people we share it with, and we just kept doing it to see what would happen.”

Where Disappears was a group that employed lots of psychedelic effects and dub-influenced atmosphere, FACS is darker, heavier and with a greater emphasis on repetition. Their debut album Negative Houses—which was one possible suggestion for the band’s name before they settled on

FACS—features eight tracks of tense, cold and metallic art-punk that’s just as weird as anything Disappears released, but with more of a post-apocalyptic vibe.

At the outset of the band, there was no specific stylistic agenda, other than that they’d always finish an idea they started. Two songs in particular that Case points to as examples of this are “All Futures” and “Houses Breathing.” The former is spacious and melodic, less immediately ominous than some of the more bass-heavy tracks on the album, yet still eerie. The latter, however, is the longest song on the album, a slow-moving dirge that rides a constant groove before a saxophone finally cuts through the drone. And in both cases, the band wasn’t sure if they liked where each song was headed until they took the idea to its conclusion.

“We just had this idea: just finish the song,” Case says. “Even if it was something we don’t like or was going a way we didn’t think it would, and we could take a step back and see what was happening. So we were just letting the songs be what they were, and the songs came out a bit darker, like we thought they would.”

There’s also a physicality to FACS’ music that makes it seem ideal for live performances—a tension that has the potential to seem confrontational when heard in person.

That’s neither coincidental nor accidental: These songs ultimately were shaped out of an extended period of playing them onstage.

For nearly a year before recording Negative Houses, FACS made the conscious decision to play the songs live as much as possible. During this time, they continued to refine them while building up some muscle memory, ultimately reaching the point where they felt that the songs had been properly seasoned before they brought them into the studio. As a result, it led to a much more relaxed experience of making the record.

“It just feels better. It feels lived in,” Case says. “They’re more comfortable. We know the intricacies of them better. We had the chance to smooth out some things. We know how to get them to a certain place quicker in a certain way, as opposed to when you’re just still figuring them out.”

FACS is a band that thrives on gut feeling. While they’re not a band with any specific agenda, there’s an aesthetic cohesion to what they do that makes it wholly their own. And part of that is simply because they follow a certain ethos of doing what feels right, which is, in a sense, how the band began: It just felt right. As long as the music they make continues to resonate with them on that visceral level, then they’ll keep on making it.

“We try to come up with interesting ideas or concepts or patterns that we find interesting, things we feel are new but are rooted in what influenced us or made us want to play music,” Case says.

“What we’re trying to do when we write music is interest ourselves.”

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

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JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 21

MUSIC

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO LOCALS ONLY

fert of the “Coffee and Conversations” podcast. The full schedule is up at teachoneworkshops.org. Coronado says he Travelers Club, a locally based group that that the reason these four topics were chosen is because puts on music events and warehouse shows in San of how often he was asked where to get started in these Diego, has announced a new series of audio pro- areas. duction classes as part of its Each One Teach One pro“We pinned it down to four courses that people had gram. The series is a partnership with Youthful Kinfolk the most questions about but didn’t have the resources,” from the Bay Area, and features four he says. “It made sense to have some MIKEY AVILA courses throughout the summer that people we know come in and build a focus on different aspects of making network. And it’s not just adults who music. Travelers Club founder Andy are welcome to the classes, but high Coronado says that the idea is an exschool students as well.” tension of what the organization alWhether throwing their own ready does, namely bridging gaps in events or providing resources to the local music community. help people start their own thing, “My group usually does music Coronado says it’s all connected to and art events, but I’ve been wantTravelers Club’s overall mission. ing to do more community outreach “The whole point is to establish The Travelers Club events,” he says. “This is our first atan identity in San Diego and kind of tempt to expand beyond that.” say that you don’t have to go to L.A. to do it,” he says.

The classes being offered begin with beat production “We all can excel here as a community, and help each on July 15, followed by courses on songwriting, podcast other to find those resources to do it.” production and DJing. Some of the people involved in the

—Jeff Terich courses include Soulection’s Andre Power and Katie Saf-

T

TAG IT AND BAG IT

there’s no-fi. Big Pharma are firmly in the latter camp, as their fuzzy, trippy pop music is so caked in static it’s hard f you search for albums tagged “San Diego” on Band- to make heads or tails of what’s happening in any of these camp, you’ll find some interesting stuff. In this semi- tracks. That’s potentially by design; there are other efregular report, we sift through recent postings and relay fects in use whose purpose is almost certainly to disorient. the findings.

There are some good ideas in here, but they’re a bit too Now, There Are Limits, Junk Runner: The three obscured to really enjoy. killbigpharma.bandcamp.com tracks on this EP are good, if fairly old-school techno, Mezzanine, Mezzanine: I probably should have comprising a series of minimalist dancefloor jams. Conguessed by their album art, which looks a sidering how much techno has progressed into little like a Porcupine Tree album cover, that some weird, darkly atmospheric sounds since Mezzanine are a prog band. And like any prog the ’90s, it leaves a lot of room for growth. But band of note, they’re extremely talented muthat being said, I enjoy this quite a bit, and will sicians with big ideas. Yet their songs are gennow remember to look out for more Junk Runerally pretty short, which means they’re ambiner releases going forward. pr0gramma.bandtious enough to cram a lot of those ideas into camp.com a small space. It’s not bad, but I’d love to hear A r n l d b o m b r, Arnld Bomber: First them go full King Crimson. mezzaninemusic.

A r n l d b o m b r things first—Arnold Bomber is an A-plus probandcamp.com ducer name. Second of all, Arnold (Korvin Kennington) Underneath, Gutter: Now this is heavy. Like, remakes some outstanding instrumental hip-hop tracks ally fucking heavy. Menacing, burly sludge metal that’s that nod heavily to ’90s-era jazz-rap and boom-bap pro- somewhere between Eyehategod and Acid Bath, and with duction. It’s not too hard to imagine someone like Q-Tip a vocalist that sounds like he’s ready to cut somebody. or C.L. Smooth rapping over these beats, and that’s a major This is some intense, gnarly stuff, and I’m here for it. gutplus in my book. arnldbomber.bandcamp.com terlife.bandcamp.com Kill Big Pharma, Big Pharma: There’s lo-fi, and then

—Jeff Terich

I

22 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

AFTER HOURS: ABOUT LAST NIGHT

In the mood

F

or months, a man dressed to the nines would come to Quartyard (1301 Market St.) asking whether he could book an onstage gig. So, Quartyard General Manager Justin Navalle invited him to participate in Nu Moods, a new monthly live jam session series where local musicians can take the stage with a five-piece band. At the first installment on June 6, he came prepared.

“He was in purple, Prince-like, a nice pressed suit, jewelry all over his neck, like he was a flashback from the ’60s,” says Navalle. “Hat, greased hair, smile on his face.”

When the man’s name was called from the sign-up sheet, he prepared his set of bongos at center stage under the spotlight and played with the band for as long as he could.

“He would not get off the stage,” laughs Navalle. “He was like the DJ who hasn’t played in a long time and gets the chance to play a couple songs.”

Nu Moods was created to give closet musicians, such as the man in purple, a chance to collaborate with five base musicians, including RAPID EYE MEDIA local vocalist Lexi Pulido, who also curates Nu Moods. In addition to the man with the bongos, a 14-year-old saxophonist, a singer and a spoken word performer were among Nu Moods the range of talent that performed at the June premier. The series hopes to connect musicians seeking an outlet to perform non-traditional improv, neo-soul, trip-hop and more, and was influenced by Navalle’s appreciation for Gilbert Castellanos’ Young Lions series at Panama 66. “[Young Lions] is all seated, and you can get drinks, but it’s mostly the kids’ families, which is great and Gilbert has a lot of really talented friends that if they’re in town, they’ll come in and play and it’s really cool,” he says.

Nu Moods also has a visual arts element, curated by Quartyard Venue Operations Manager Niko Podimatis, where artists are invited to show their work for free. The first installation included locals Tess Armstrong, Brise Birdsong and Nicholas McPherson. “[The artwork] is for people to come see,” says Navalle.

“It’s no risk. Artists need to be showcased more all around.”

The next installment of Nu Moods happens at Quartyard on July 5 and continues through summer on every first Thursday of the month.

“These people are way talented,” says Navalle. “It’s not karaoke.”

—Torrey Bailey

About Last Night appears every other week. Got a cool nightlife tip? Email Torrey Bailey at torreyb@sdcitybeat.com.

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MUSIC

JEFF TERICH

IF I WERE U A music insider’s weekly agenda

FARAH SOSA

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20

PLAN A: Janelle Monáe, St. Beauty @ Open Air Theatre. R&B artist Janelle Monáe continues to evolve and innovate with each release, and her latest, Dirty Computer is another spectacular chapter in her career. Plus “Make Me Feel” became the song of the summer when it was still snowing in most parts of the country. PLAN B: Le Chateau @ Whistle Stop.

Synth-pop trio Le Chateau has been a CityBeat favorite for a few years now. After taking some time off they’re back to playing live with a new batch of songs, which I look forward to hearing. BACKUP PLAN: Men I Trust, Anemone @ The Casbah.

THURSDAY, JUNE 21

PLAN A: Wreckless Eric, Davey Tiltwheel @ Whistle Stop. Wreckless Eric is a British new wave legend, best known for his hit song “Whole Wide World.” He blends power pop songwriting with a punk edge, and those who aren’t already familiar will be rewarded with a deep dive into his catalog. PLAN B: The Heavy Twelves, Deuce @ SPACE. The Heavy Twelves are a Los Angeles-based electronic duo that combines buzzing, psychedelic sounds with rich melodies and heavy beats. It’ll be chill, but weird.

BACKUP PLAN: Bry Blue$ and DJ Tarzan, Parker Meridien, 10-19 & AK @ The Casbah.

Jungle Fire California’s best groove ensembles. L.A.’s Jungle Fire blends classic funk with Afro-Latin sounds, while the Sure Fire Soul Ensemble has added some vocals to their already spectacular soul jams. PLAN B: The Creepy Creeps, Bassics, Creepseed @ The Casbah.

Creepseed and The Creepy Creeps had to eventually play together, right? It’s just such an easy pairing. In any case, these three garage and surf bands will ensure nobody’s standing still with their arms folded by the end of the night.

SUNDAY, JUNE 24

Juniore

FRIDAY, JUNE 22

PLAN A: San Diego Freak Out w/ Well Well Well, The Entire Universe, Juniore, COMMANDc, Kingdom of the Holy Sun, New Me @ Helmuth Projects. Last week I wrote about COMMANDc, the synth-based project of members of Wild Wild Wets and Sleeping Ghost, who will be making their live debut at this show. Still, there are five other great reasons to come to this psych-centric showcase. PLAN B: The Rosalyns, Mittens, Goldettes @ Bar Pink.

This show is a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood, which is as good a reason as any to come hear three great local bands fronted by women (and backed by women, for that matter).

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

PLAN A: Jungle Fire, Sure Fire Soul Ensemble @ Soda Bar. Make it a funky weekend with two of

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PLAN A: Seu Jorge @ Belly Up Tavern. Brazilian artist Seu Jorge’s big breakthrough came with the soundtrack of Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, on which he covered a series of Bowie songs. Whether playing the Thin White Duke or performing his own samba-rock music, it’s all great.

PLAN B: Lume, Quiet, Quali @ SPACE. Chicago’s Lume make noisy shoegaze with an interesting balance of pretty melodies and heavy distortion. Get there early for Quali, whose own dreamy sounds are among the best in town. BACKUP PLAN: Slaughter Boys, Bosswitch, The Gay Agenda @ Whistle Stop.

MONDAY, JUNE 25

PLAN A: INUS, Hexa @ Blonde. It’s always a struggle to get out on a Monday night, but it’s worth the extra effort to catch noise-prog weirdos INUS and dark pop outfit Hexa, two of the city’s finest. PLAN B: Featherstone, Loom, Duuns @ The Casbah. Alternately, here’s a show that’s bound to be even louder and heavier, with a sampling of three great local psych- and stoner-rock bands.

TUESDAY, JUNE 26

PLAN A: Cool American, Survival Galleria, Running & Screaming, The Havnauts @ Che Cafe.

Cool American is a, well, cool lo-fi indie rock outfit that sounds a little like Elliott Smith mixed with Guided by Voices. I’d also recommend that readers make sure to check out The Havnauts, as recently featured on our cover, who are opening the show.

JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 23

MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Psychedelic Furs (Del Mar Racetrack, 7/20), The Surrealistics (Casbah, 7/26), Steel Pulse (Del Mar Racetrack, 7/27), Playboy Carti (SOMA, 7/28), Matisyahu (Del Mar Racetrack, 8/3), Aloe Blacc (Del Mar Racetrack, 8/10), Ziggy Marley (Del Mar Racetrack, 8/11), Pyrrhon (SPACE, 8/12), OhGr (HOB, 8/14), Snow Patrol (Harrahs SoCal, 8/17), Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats (Del Mar Racetrack, 8/17), Abigail Williams (SPACE, 8/19), Tribal Seeds (Del Mar Racetrack, 8/24), Beach Goons (Irenic, 8/25), Ice Cube (Del Mar Racetrack, 9/2), Lee Fields and the Expressions (BUT, 9/8), Kommunity FK (Soda Bar, 9/11), Incite (SPACE, 9/14), Foxing (Casbah, 9/16), Miguel (Open Air Theater, 9/17), J. Roddy Walston and the Business (BUT, 9/23), No Fun At All (Soda Bar, 9/24), Ex-Cult (SPACE, 10/11), Mat Kearney (HOB, 10/13), Graham Nash (Humphreys, 10/13), Jesse Colin Young (BUT, 10/28), Greensky Bluegrass (Observatory, 11/9).

GET YER TICKETS Neurosis, Converge (Observatory, 7/14), Toad the Wet Sprocket (BUT, 7/17-18), Paramore (Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, 7/19), Wye Oak (Soda Bar, 7/20), Car Seat Headrest (SOMA, 7/21), Logic (Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, 7/24), The Decemberists (Humphreys, 7/30), American Football, Phoebe Bridgers (Observatory, 8/3), Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle,

Dwight Yoakam (Open Air Theatre, 8/3), Hop Along (Irenic, 8/5), SOB x RBE (SOMA, 8/9), Willie Nelson (Humphreys, 8/10), ‘X-Fest’ w/ Beck, Death Cab for Cutie (SDCCU Stadium, 8/11), Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang (Humphreys, 8/14), Boris (Casbah, 8/15), Chris Stapleton (Mattress Firm, 8/16), Deafheaven (Brick

by Brick, 8/17), Red Fang, Elder (Brick by Brick, 8/20), J. Cole (Viejas Arena, 8/22), Phillip Phillips (Humphreys, 8/22), The Alarm (BUT, 8/23), Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson (Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, 8/24), Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (Soda Bar, 8/25), Napalm Death (Brick

by Brick, 8/27), Peter Frampton (Harrahs SoCal, 8/29), Smashing Pumpkins (Viejas Arena, 9/1), B-Side Players (Music Box, 9/1), Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Copley Symphony Hall, 9/1), Jeremih (Observatory, 9/4), Leon Bridges (Open Air Theatre, 9/5), The Original Wailers (BUT, 9/6), Ms. Lauryn Hill (Open Air Theatre, 9/9), Murder by Death (BUT, 9/11), YOB (Brick by Brick, 9/14), Jason Aldean (Mattress Firm, 9/20), Thrice (HOB, 9/209/21), The Eagles (Petco Park, 9/22), Nothing (Soda Bar, 9/22), Grizzly Bear (Observatory, 9/24), First Aid Kit (Observatory, 9/25), Deep Purple, Judas Priest (Mattress Firm, 9/26), Loudon Wainwright III (BUT, 9/27), Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band (Humphreys, 9/27), Natalie Prass (Casbah, 9/30), Courtney Barnett, Waxahatchee (Observatory, 10/3), Chelsea Wolfe, Russian Circles (Music Box, 10/3), Roky Erickson (Casbah, 10/5), The B-52’s (Humphreys, 10/6), Ozzy Osbourne (Mattress Firm, 10/9), Mew (Observatory, 10/9), Shannon and the Clams (BUT, 10/10), Alkaline Trio (HOB, 10/15), The Joy Formidable (Casbah, 10/17), D.R.I. (Brick by Brick, 10/20), Simple Minds (Humphreys, 10/22), Dawes (Observatory, 10/29), The

24 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

Selecter, The English Beat (Casbah, 11/2), Khruangbin (Observatory, 11/10), Ghost (Spreckels Theatre, 11/12), Neko Case, Destroyer (Observatory, 12/8), Fleetwood Mac (Viejas Arena, 12/8), Ministry (HOB, 12/18).

Featherstone at The Casbah. Violent Femmes at Humphreys by the Bay. Silent at Blonde. Ninja Sex Party at SOMA.

JUNE

Flotsam and Jetsam at Brick by Brick.

Beres Hammond at Belly Up Tavern.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20 Janelle Monae at Open Air Theater. Men I Trust at The Casbah. Shelter at Soda Bar. Donavon Frankenreiter at Belly Up Tavern. Eric Paslay at Observatory North Park.

THURSDAY, JUNE 21 Bent Knee at Soda Bar. Kenny Chesney at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre.

FRIDAY, JUNE 22 Belle and Sebastian at Observatory North Park (sold out). Dirty Sweet at The Casbah. Dark Star Orchestra at Humphreys by the Bay. Slenderbodies at Soda Bar. Los Beautiful Beast at Belly Up Tavern. Super Diamond at Music Box.

SATURDAY, JUNE 23 Trampled by Turtles at Humphreys by the Bay. Jungle Fire at Soda Bar. Gary Hoey at Brick by Brick. Long Beach Dub All Stars at Observatory North Park. The Creepy Creeps at The Casbah. Armors at SPACE.

SUNDAY, JUNE 24 Shakey Graves at Observatory North Park (sold out). Seu Jorge at Belly Up Tavern. The Bridge City Sinners at The Casbah. Quel Bordel at The Casbah.

Lume at SPACE.

MONDAY, JUNE 25

TUESDAY, JUNE 26

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27 Aaron Neville Duo at Belly Up Tavern.

Slum Village at Music Box. Willie Nile at The Casbah. The Fray at Del Mar Fairgrounds.

THURSDAY, JUNE 28 Dave Hillyard and the Rock Steady 7 at The Casbah. Fear at Observatory North Park. Shwayze & Cisco Adler at Music Box. Quintron and Miss Pussycat at Soda Bar. Exmortus at Brick by Brick.

Noah Cyrus at Del Mar Fairgrounds.

FRIDAY, JUNE 29 Quiet Slang at Soda Bar. The Go-Go’s at Humphreys by the Bay (sold out). Milk Carton Kids at Belly Up Tavern. Cold Cave at Music Box. Farruko at Observatory North Park. Chuck Ragan at The Casbah. Combichrist at Brick by Brick.

Dua Lipa at Open Air Theatre. Little Heroine at SPACE.

SATURDAY, JUNE 30 Magic Giant at Belly Up Tavern. The Regrettes at Ché Café (sold out). SIR at Observatory North Park. Dread Mar I at Music Box. Schizophonics at The Casbah. Negative Gemini at Soda Bar. Mighty Mighty Bosstones at House of Blues. Famous Dex at SOMA.

JULY SUNDAY, JULY 1 The Young Dubliners at Belly Up Tavern. Transviolet at The Casbah.

Katchafire at Music Box. Passafire at Harrah’s SoCal. Sin Bandera at Del Mar Fairgrounds.

MONDAY, JULY 2 Reyno at Soda Bar. Jon Snodgrass and Buddies at The Casbah. The O’Jays at Del Mar Fairgrounds. Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy at Belly Up Tavern.

TUESDAY, JULY 3 New Madrid at Soda Bar. WAR at Del Mar Fairgrounds.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4 Fleshgod Apocalypse at Brick by Brick.

Moe. at Belly Up Tavern.

THURSDAY, JULY 5 Celso Pina at Observatory North Park.

Uada at Brick by Brick. Moe. at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). Dead Meadow at The Casbah. Launder at Soda Bar. Kaminanda at Music Box. S O L V at SPACE.

FRIDAY, JULY 6 Dead & Company at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre. Forth Wanderers at House of Blues Voodoo Room. The Donkeys at The Casbah. Kottonmouth Kings at Brick by Brick. Metalachi at Belly Up Tavern. Still Woozy at Soda Bar. Primus, Mastodon at Open Air Theatre.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

@SDCITYBEAT

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 SATURDAY, JULY 7 Vance Joy at Harrah’s SoCal. The Donkeys at The Casbah. Daedelus at Soda Bar.

SUNDAY, JULY 8 Petal, Camp Cope at Ché Café. Sully and the Blue-Eyed Soul Band at Belly Up Tavern. Toots and the Maytals at Harrah’s SoCal. The Jacks at The Casbah.

MONDAY, JULY 9 TWRP at Soda Bar. Angelo de Augustine at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, JULY 10 Counting Crows at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre. Kina Grannis at Music Box. Joan of Arc at Soda Bar. Straight No Chaser at Humphreys by the Bay. Castlecomer at The Casbah.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11 Bob Schneider at Belly Up Tavern. Big Ups at Soda Bar. Jackson Browne at Civic Theatre. Goodnight, Texas at The Casbah.

THURSDAY, JULY 12 Citizen at The Irenic. Opia at The Casbah. Monarch at Belly Up Tavern. Negative Approach at Soda Bar.

FRIDAY, JULY 13 Weedeater at Soda Bar. We Are Scientists at The Casbah. Jefferson Airplane at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). CO-OP at

@SDCITYBEAT

Brick by Brick. Random Rab at Music Box. Barrington Levy at Observatory North Park. Palisades at House of Blues.

SATURDAY, JULY 14 Dope at Brick by Brick. Brothers Gow at Belly Up Tavern. Neurosis, Converge at Observatory North Park. Yung Bae at Soda Bar. Ministry of Truth at The Casbah.

SUNDAY, JULY 15 Inanimate Existence at Brick by Brick.

Paul Thorn at Belly Up Tavern. Etana at Harrah’s SoCal.

MONDAY, JULY 16 Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters at Belly Up Tavern. FACS at Soda Bar. In the Whale at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, JULY 17 Chris Isaak at Humphreys by the Bay. Sarah Shook and the Disarmers at The Casbah.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18 Toad the Wet Sprocket at Belly Up Tavern. Hobo Johnson at Music Box.

THURSDAY, JULY 19 Paramore at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre.

Rhye at Observatory North Park. Toad the Wet Sprocket at Belly Up Tavern.

Brian Posehn at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, JULY 20 Brad Paisley at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Humphreys by the Bay. Wye Oak at Soda Bar. Dennis Quaid and the Sharks at Belly

Up Tavern. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at The Casbah (sold out). Psychedelic Furs at Del Mar Racetrack.

SATURDAY, JULY 21 The Adicts at Observatory North Park.

Juliette and the Licks at Music Box. Car Seat Headrest at SOMA. Covet at House of Blues. Thirty Seconds to Mars at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre. Surf Curse at The Irenic. Iration at Del Mar Racetrack.

SUNDAY, JULY 22 Reckless Kelly at Music Box. X at Belly Up Tavern. Cicada Rhythm at Soda Bar.

MONDAY, JULY 23 George Thorogood and the Destroyers at Humphreys by the Bay. Fashion Jackson at The Casbah.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. Wed: Open mic. Thu: Stone Horse.

Fri: Electric Mud, Funk Shui Planet. Sat: Thrive, Soulwise, Tape Heads. Sun: Karaoke. Tue: Cherry Road, Lost Monarchs.

Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St., Normal Heights. Wed: ‘Hip Hop House’ w/ MC Kahlee. Thu: ‘Chulita Vinyl Club’ w/ DJ Moni Loca. Fri: ‘House Music’ w/ DJ Matthew Bryan. Sat: ‘Juicy’ w/ Mike Czech.

Mon: ‘Organized Grime’.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Thu: Ryan Davis. Fri: Ryan Davis. Sat: Ryan Davis.

The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Wed: Karaoke. Thu: Zebulon Krol.

Fri: Year of the Dead Bird, Secret Fun Club.

Sat: Kiss the Tiger, Melvus, The Warmth, Your Friendly Bartender. Tue: Karaoke.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., Downtown.

Sat: James Zabiela.

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

Wed: Hey Ho! Let’s Go! Thu: Full Moon Fever. Fri: The Rosalyns, Mittens, Goldettes. Sat: Babydoll Warriors, Hiroshima Mockingbirds, Stephen El Rey. Sun: ‘Rat Sabbath’. Mon: ‘Disco!’ w/ DJ Stoykavich.

Tue: The Garners.

Beaumont’s, 5665 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Fri: Manic Fanatic. Sat: Rolling Heartbreakers. Sun: Nate Donnis.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Wed: Donavon Frankenreiter, Mikey Pauker. Fri: Los Beautiful Beast, Dead Feather Moon, MDRN HSTRY. Sun: Seu Jorge. Tue: Beres Hammond, Maka Roots, Tribe of Kings.

Black Cat Bar, 4246 University Ave., City Heights. Fri: Calcutta Kid, The In-Itself.

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington St., Mission Hills. Wed: ‘Dance Klassique’. Thu: ‘Chocolate’. Sat: The Strokes Night. Sun: All Beat Up, Braggers, Lungs. Mon: INUS, Hexa. Tue: ‘T is 4 Techno’.

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

Fri: ‘Club Musae’.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., Bay Park. Thu: Micro Championship Wrestling, 1001, THE THRILL KILLERS, Van Brando, King Shem. Fri: Light This City, Gygax, Pissed Regardless, Supra Summus. Sat: Gary Hoey, Pet Shark, Graveyard Witch, Planet Shred, Da Vang. Tue: Flotsam and Jetsam, Nukem, Monarch, Killing Tyranny.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Wed: Men I Trust, Anemone. Thu: ‘Art Night Casbah’. Fri: Dirty Sweet, Night

Horse, DJ Camilla Robina. Sat: The Creepy Creeps, The Bassics, Creepseed, Los Pinche Pinches. Sun: Quel Bordel, The Bridge City Sinners, Clyde of the Milltailers. Mon: Featherstone, Loom, Duuns.

Tue: ‘Emo Nite San Diego’.

The Ché Café, UCSD campus, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Sat: Fashion Jackson, New Speak, Foxtide, Thee Azmatics, Street Surfers, Sideyard. Tue: Cool American, Survival Galleria, Running and Screaming, Havnauts.

Dirk’s Nightclub, 7662 Broadway, Lemon Grove. Fri: Wild Rumour. Sat: DJs Jersan, Calvin.

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Downtown. Fri: Robin Henkel with horns. Sat: Christopher Hollyday.

F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown. Thu: DJ Jae Murphy. Fri: DJ Oasis.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., Downtown. Fri: DJ awall. Sat: DJ Bamboozle. Sun: Lil Baby.

Hooley’s, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa. Fri: Camino Paz. Sat: King Taylor Project.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Thu: Alice Insane. Fri: Weathers, The Catching. Sat: DSB - An American Journey, Fooz Fighters. Sun: The Specials, Lori Vee. Humphreys Backstage, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. Wed: Bayou Brothers. Thu: Luv A Lot. Fri: Betamaxx. Sat: Full Strength Funk Band.

Sun: Acoustic Alchemy. Mon: Mercedes Moore. Tue: Sue Palmer.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Thu: ‘Archetype’. Fri: ‘Midnight Wave’. Sat: ‘Acid Varsity’.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 25

BY CHRISTIN BAILEY

ASTROLOGICALLY UNSOUND Weekly forecasts from the so-called universe ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Your presence this week is electrifying, just like a firefly. However, you’re gonna draw too much attention to yourself what with being a huge, shining ass. Don’t end up regarded as a pest and/or a specimen.

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22):

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Seabirds

above the water are usually a good indicator of sharks nearby. But before you scream, remember: It could just be some guy on a surfboard eating a bag of Doritos.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Goldilocks never made sense to you as a parable, and it still won’t as you eat all of someone’s fries and then complain that they’re too salty.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Like wet clay, you can be remade again and again.

And also like wet clay, you are leaving a thin film of grime all over everyone who comes near you.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 December 21): You spend all your time telling everyone else what kind of person you are and no time at all becoming that person.

Oh well—so long as you get the credit!

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): It doesn’t

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January

really matter what choices you make this week so don’t bother really making any. The house wine is never very good, but it’s always good enough.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): You’ll never believe what the stars told me this week and so I’m just not going to tell you. I am sick and tired of being treated like a liar!

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Learn to accept the flaws of other people.

Sure, they might have littered the message in a bottle, but it sounds like they really need some understanding to get off that uninhabited island.

Here is the most important lesson you will learn this week: It doesn’t matter that your phone died and there isn’t any music playing anymore. You’re still in public. Keep your headphones in.

19): You won’t find satisfaction in life through constantly refreshing your phone while the Wi-Fi is out, but it’s almost admirable how much you try.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): When you think of an idea for an app, don’t tell anyone. You might think you have a good idea for an app—but you don’t, and even if you did, no one wants to hear it.

PISCES (February 19 - March 20): A positive interaction on public transportation this week will massively improve your life—oh wait, but this is San Diego public transportation. Oh well. Nothing good’s gonna happen in your sedan.

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

MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Fri: Barna Howard, Taylor Kingman. Sat: Come Together: Beatles tribute. Mon: Open mic.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave., Coronado. Wed: Jackson and Billy. Thu: North Star. Fri: Pat Ellis and Blue Frog Band. Sat: Stilettos. Sun: Ron’s Garage.

Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave., Hillcrest. Thu: The Skivvies. Fri: Janice and Nathan. Sat: Janet Hammer. Sun: Ria Carey and Don L. Mon: Andy Anderson and Nathan Fry. The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., Hillcrest. Fri: Bold Villain, Aiden Norcross, The Shifty-Eyed Dogs. Sat: Avenue Army, The Rough, Just In Case, Punchcard. Tue: The Grok, Grex, Nicey Nice World.

Parq, 615 Broadway, Downtown. Fri: Rich the Kid. Sat: Direct.

Proud Mary’s, 5550 Kearny Mesa Road, Kearny Mesa. Wed: Stoney B Blues. Thu: Tomcat Courtney. Fri: Chickenbone Slim.

Sat: Black Market III. The Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest. Fri: ‘Hip Hop Fridayz’. Sat: ‘Sabado En Fuego’. Mon: ‘Manic Monday’ w/ DJ Junior the Disco Punk.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave., Hillcrest. Wed: DJs Kiki, Kinky Loops. Thu: ‘LEZ’ w/ DJ Moody Rudy. Fri: ‘Electro-POP’ w/ DJs John Joseph, Will Z. Sat: ‘Voltage’ w/ DJs K-Swift, Taj. Sun: DJs Hektik, Danger Duran.

Mother’s Saloon, 2228 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. Thu: DJ Dub B. Fri: Kenny Eng.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’ w/ Jason Hanna. Thu: Coastal Eddies. Fri: Three Chord Justice. Sat: Alvino and the Dwells.

Mr. Peabody’s, 136 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas. Thu: Steelhorse Country. Fri: North Park Rock ‘n’ Blues. Sat: Shinebox, Celeste Barbier. Sun: Tony Ortega jazz jam.

Rosie O’Gradys, 3402 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Fri: The Soulside Players.

Sat: Thump Juice. Mon: Monday Night jazz jam.

Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy.

Thu: Flor. Fri: Super Diamond, Journeymen.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: Shelter, Give, Soul Power, Distant Beds. Thu: Bent Knee, Gatherers, Inspired & the Sleep. Fri: slenderbodies. Sat: Jungle Fire, Sure Fire Soul Ensemble. Sun: JARA, Common Ivy, Deville.

Mon: The Brain Ghosts, Jaws. Tue: Bad Kids, Flower Animals, Former, Honeypot.

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

Wed: ‘Instant Crush’ w/ DJs Nastea, Camilla Robina. Thu: ‘No Limits’ w/ DJ Myson King. Fri: ‘After Hours’ w/ DJs Adam Salter, Ayla Simone. Sat: ‘Strictly Business’ w/ DJs Kanye Asada, Gabe Vega.

Mon: George Michael Under Cover.

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 Sixth Ave., Downtown. Fri: Tiesto.

Panama 66, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park.

Wed: Gilbert Castellanos. Thu: Shake-

26 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JUNE 20, 2018

down String Band. Fri: Zzymzzy Quartet.

Sat: Matthew Smith. Sun: ‘Sundays in the Park’.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway.

Thu: Doobie, Faithfully Faded. Sat: With Age, Freaks, Rosedale, Pvke, Little Heroine, Steel Vertigo. Mon: Ninja Sex Party.

SPACE, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights.

Thu: The Heavy Twelves, Deucé. Sat: Armors. Tue: Karaoke.

Spin, 2028 Hancock St., Middletown. Fri: Kasra, InsideInfo, Ben Soundscape & Collette Warren. Sat: Thrillseekers OTC. Sun: ‘Detached’.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Sun: Johnny Tarr Quartet.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Thu: Ash Williams, Smooth Sailing, Fantasy Arcade. Fri: Invocation Spells, Outline, Invocation War. Sat: Sixes, Dhatüra, Abyssal, Monochromacy.

Tin Roof, 401 G St., Downtown. Wed: The Void Nation. Thu: ‘Paging the 90s’. Sat: Kenny and Deez, Coriander. Sun: Allegra Duchaine. Mon: Lauren Leigh and Sam. Tue: Kyle Castellani.

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

Sat: Alastair Greene Band.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., City Heights. Fri: Call of the Wild, Masteria, Beira. Sat: Diatribe, War Fever, Reason Unknown, Version Two. U-31, 3112 University Ave., North Park.

Fri: DJ Freeman. Sat: DJ Junior the Disco Punk. Sun: Earl Zero, Prime Livity.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park. Wed: Le Chateau. Thu: Wreckless Eric, Davey Tiltwheel. Fri: Belle and Sebastian DJ set. Sat: ‘Unwind Yourself 15th Anniversary’ w/ DJs Claire, Greyboy.

Sun: Slaughter Boys, Bosswitch, Gay Agenda.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., Ocean Beach.

Wed: Azul Qutzal, DJ Non Profit. Thu: ‘OB Hip-Hop Social’ w/ Atlantis Rizing.

Fri: Tatanka, Dubbest. Sat: Revival. Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Sometimes Julie, Day Breaker.

@SDCITYBEAT

BY CULTURE STAFF

IN THE BACK

CannaBeat Cheap cannabis is coming, but then a possible shortage California cannabis consumers will soon face a rude awakening as the July 1 deadline on testing requirements swiftly approaches.

First, prices could drop substantially, but soon after, dispensaries could face shortages of tested cannabis.

“The transition period in the licensing authorities’ regulations allowing exceptions from specific regulatory provisions ends on June 30, 2018,” a reminder from the Bureau of Cannabis Control reads. “Beginning July 1, 2018, cannabis goods must meet all statutory and regulatory requirements. Cannabis goods that do not meet all statutory and regulatory requirements must be destroyed in accordance with the rules pertaining to destruction.

Alex Traverso, spokesperson for the state’s cannabis bureau, said that businesses have been provided with a “sufficient” amount of time to prepare for the testing requirement deadline. The Bureau of Cannabis Control has licensed only 28 labs statewide, and some of them aren’t open yet.

Beginning July 1, businesses must abide by the following rules to stay compliant:

@SDCITYBEAT

• Untested cannabis products cannot be sold by a retailer and must be destroyed.

Retailers are not allowed to send cannabis goods to a distributor for testing.

• Any untested cannabis products manufactured or harvested before Jan. 1, 2018, in possession of a distributor that are owned by the distributor must be destroyed.

• Untested cannabis goods manufactured or harvested before Jan. 1, 2018, in the possession of a distributor owned by a manufacturer or cultivator may be returned to the licensee who owns the cannabis goods.

If a cultivator or manufacturer decides to sell the returned cannabis products, it must be sent to a distributor for testing and must meet all of the testing requirements.

Consumers can expect a bottleneck effect as the bulk of untested cannabis products need to get pushed out before July 1. It’s unclear to what degree the requirements will be enforced, but state funds to beef up enforcement on illegal cannabis have been cut.

Half of cannabis consumers using medicinally According to a new consumer report, almost half of U.S. cannabis consumers iden-

tify as medical cannabis patients even where it is legal for recreational consumption.

Cannabis consumer behavior researcher team High Yield Insights released a new study on medical cannabis consumer behaviors and product preferences. Medical Cannabis User follows the May HYI study Recreational Cannabis Consumer.

The report suggests that adults in states where recreational consumption was legal were using fewer over-the-counter medications and were also consuming less alcohol.

The data for this and other HYI studies was gathered with survey data from Oregon, Nevada, Washington, California, Colorado and Michigan from 1,511 respondents who had consumed cannabis in the last three months (with 611 of the respondents identifying as medical patients).

The new report found that even in states

where cannabis is legalized for recreational consumption, 44 percent of consumers self-identify as using for medical reasons.

Sixty-nine percent use cannabis for pain relief, 65 percent for sleep assistance and 54 percent use medical cannabis to combat anxiety. They are also two times more likely to check the levels of CBD in the product than a recreational consumer.

The report stated that medical cannabis consumers also want discretion and convenience in their consumption, with 22 percent opting for topicals twice as much as recreational users and 17 percent are three times as likely to use tinctures.

“Flower will always play a significant role, but medical users are seeking solutions that feel familiar and accessible,” said Mike Luce, cofounder of HYI. “With edibles, we’re seeing a demand for low-dose, fast-onset options that meet users’ needs for discretion and convenience.

CBD-focused companies also have an opportunity for growth if aligned with medical cannabis users’ interest in what today are niche product forms.”

The firm will be issuing categorical reports on cannabis product consumption choices later this summer.

For the latest cannabis news and lifestyle trends, please pick up our sister magazine CULTURE every month or visit culturemagazine.com.

JUNE 20, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 27