San Diego CityBeat • Aug 16, 2017

UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR

What they said, what they didn’t say “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

—Martin Luther King Jr.

Local politicians who had, as of the time this issue went to press, said nothing: County Supervisor Greg Cox, County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, County Supervisor Kristen Gaspar, County Supervisor Ron Roberts, County Supervisor Bill Horn, City Councilmember Lorie Zapf, City Councilmember Mark Kersey, State Assemblymember Brian Maienschein, State Assemblymember Rocky Chávez, San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott, U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter and State Sen. Joel Anderson.

While City Councilmembers Georgette Gomez and Scott Sherman did not share personal thoughts, they did retweet comments from Councilmember Alvarez and Mayor Faulconer, respectively.

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—Seth Combs AUGUST 16, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 3

UP FRONT | LETTERS

DEPRECIATING WHITE PEOPLE Just FYI, many readers of SD CityBeat would take you much more seriously if you didn’t come across as such a guilt-ridden white liberal. Seriously, capitalizing the words “black” and “brown”, but not the word “white”??

Is that supposed to be a jab at white readers, or do you really feel that black and brown people are superior and therefore deserve to be capitalized in print?

I like reading about Southeast, and I really dug that article you wrote way back in which you eviscerated Manchester and his TV channel [“Big Papa,” Aug. 9]... but I couldn’t even finish this piece because you’re too transparent on your feelings about race. Nobody wants to listen to the typical self-hating white leftist trying to feel less guilty by championing people of color and deprecating white people.

You are putting yourself on the same level as the racist who capitalizes the word “white,” but not the words “black” or “brown.” Can’t you see that? It’s the same immature thing.

Anyway, that’s just my two cents.

Dan M. City Heights

[Editor’s response: I’m immature, but it’s not the same thing.]

UP FRONT From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . 4 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Spin Cycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Backwards & In High Heels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Well, That Was Awkward . . . . 8

FOOD & DRINK World Fare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Anatomy of a Cocktail Scene. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Final Draught. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

THINGS TO DO The Short List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 12-14 This week’s pothole comes from our own Senior Account Executive and bike lane enthusiast Jason Noble, who has to travel over this series of cracks and holes while riding his bike into work.

Starting at Boundary Street, he says the holes extend down Upas Street for “several blocks.” “This section is so deep that grass is actually growing out of it,” says former Georgia boy Noble. “As you can see by the sharrow in the picture, this is supposed to a bike friendly street.” More like bike-unfriendly, amirite?

Have a pothole in your neighborhood or on your commute that has you fuming and your suspension screaming uncle? Tell us about it. Send location and pics (but really, only if it’s safe to do so) to seth.combs@ sdcitybeat.com.

ARTS & CULTURE After Hours: About Last Night. . . . . . . . . . . 14 Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Film. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-22

MUSIC FEATURE: fivepaw . . . . . . . . . 23 Notes from the Smoking Patio . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 If I Were U. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Concerts & Clubs. . . . . . . . 27-29

LAST WORDS Advice Goddess . . . . . . . . . . . 42 COVER PHOTO BY TORREY BAILEY

This issue of CityBeat is dedicated to Heather Heyer. That is all.

Volume 16 • Issue 1 EDITOR Seth Combs MUSIC EDITOR Jeff Terich WEB EDITOR Ryan Bradford ART DIRECTOR Carolyn Ramos ASSOCIATE EDITOR Torrey Bailey COLUMNISTS Aaryn Belfer Edwin Decker Minda Honey John R. Lamb Alex Zaragoza

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

4 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

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JAMIE BALLARD

UP FRONT | NEWS

Seeking shelter

A man sleeping on Imperial Ave. outside Father Joe’s Villages

Complicated service systems and long waitlists palce “undue burden” on homeless

By Jamie Ballard

E

llis Rose, a local activist and one of San Diego’s 9,000-plus homeless people, jokingly refers to himself as the “poster child” for homelessness in San Diego.

He’s not necessarily wrong. He is smart, politically savvy and well-dressed. He frequently attends City Council meetings and other local government events to advocate for himself and other homeless individuals.

He’s looking for a job where he can use his skills. In short, he’s doing everything right and playing by the rules—but it still took him 10 weeks to find an available shelter bed.

So at the July 24 meeting of the Select Committee on Homelessness—when he heard director of the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, Gordon Walker, say that there were close to 1,000 empty shelter beds during January’s Point-in-Time Count—Rose was upset.

“As somebody who had been looking for shelter from the middle of December, to hear that in January there were 1000 available beds... Somebody’s lying somewhere,” Rose said at the meeting.

Walker got that number straight from the Regional Task Force’s Point-in-Time Count, which is conducted every year around the country. In a follow-up interview, Walker said he was taking a closer look at it.

“The fact is, there are beds available,” he said.

Local activist Jeeni Criscenzo looked at the raw data in an article for San Diego Free Press. She found that after eliminating permanent housing units and certain specialcase beds, the number of empty and largely accessible shelter beds was far lower than 1,000—it was closer to 200.

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Regardless of the exact number, what’s clear is that there were a number of shelter beds open on the night of the Point-inTime Count, and almost certainly there were people, like Ellis Rose, who could have used them. But for a homeless person, finding that open shelter bed isn’t simple.

Several advocates used the word “burden” to describe the process of finding an open shelter bed in San Diego, saying that the burden of finding an available spot falls upon the homeless individual, who has to navigate a complicated system in order to get a bed and often wait several months until they can get one.

“The burden really is on the individual to go to each agency. They can’t login to a computer and see, oh, there’s five beds here, let me go there,” said local advocate Michael McConnell. “There’s no one central way to get into those beds. It’s through each individual agency unless there’s a special circumstance. Then, typically there is a pretty long waitlist for all of these shelters.”

Rose said he waited 10 weeks for a bed at Father Joe’s Villages.

“This happens to a lot of people, you have to realize,” he said. “That’s not a unique situation.”

The closest thing there is to a centralized resource database is 2-1-1 San Diego, which can help connect people in need to various services.

Camey Christenson, vice president of 2-1-1 San Diego, said that the organization checks in with local shelters usually twice a day to get information about availability. But they can’t always be sure that the information is still reliable. For example, if a shelter

reports to 2-1-1 at 6 p.m. that they will be full that night, but then later finds that they actually have several beds open, 2-1-1 would have no way of knowing about the open beds.

So if someone called later that night seeking emergency shelter, 2-1-1 wouldn’t be able to direct them to the open beds.

“There’s definitely room for improvement,” Christenson said. “Right now it’s kind of old school, just calling and email.”

Ruth Bruland, executive director of Father Joe’s Villages, agreed that the process can place an unfair hardship on the individual seeking a bed. For intake at Father Joe’s, she explained that a person first would complete the Vulnerability Index & Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VISPDAT) assessment, which determines their vulnerability and what services they would potentially need. After a person has completed the assessment, they’re placed on a waitlist, where they might stay for months, Bruland said.

“Our 300 beds are full every night,” Bruland said. “It really places an undue burden on the homeless person, to have to come back and back and back until there’s a bed for them.”

The other possible resource to connect homeless people to available shelter would seem to be the SDPD’s Homeless Outreach Team. They have direct access to put people into 50 beds at Father Joe’s Villages that are reserved for that purpose. They’re also “aware of other resources in the community, and make calls to inquire about availability,” according to Melissa Peterson, the San Diego Housing Commission’s Vice President of Homeless Housing Innovations. Still, the

occupancy rate of the 50 HOT beds is reportedly 73 percent, far below occupancy rates of other shelter programs in San Diego, according to city reports.

Bruland, Christenson and Walker all alluded to a plan the Regional Task Force on the Homeless is working on, which might make it easier to find available beds. Walker said that the RTFH is “finalizing the technology” which would allow all service providers to be connected to the Homeless Management Information System and able to communicate their available beds in real time.

“San Diego is going to be one of the first that does this nationwide,” he said. “It is a very big deal, and it’s one of the ways that we will efficiently be able to distribute the beds in the community.”

He said the RTFH will make a formal announcement when the system officially launches, which he says should be this fall.

“We want it open as fast as we can,” he said.

Bruland said the idea is that a homeless person could check in with one service provider and learn about all available beds, rather than having to go to each individual shelter. “It would be a beautiful thing for the community,” she said.

Rose isn’t so sure. When asked if he thought a centralized system to report available beds would be helpful, he was skeptical. He thinks that the first priority should be improving the services themselves, and doesn’t think that a more automated system will necessarily solve the more pressing concerns for many homeless people.

“It would be of some help, but it is not the answer,” he said.

AUGUST 16, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 5

JOHN R. LAMB

UP FRONT | OPINION

SPIN

CYCLE

JOHN R. LAMB

A racist’s critique of Charlottesville Racism isn’t born, folks, it’s taught.

I have a 2-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list.

I

—Denis Leary

n this tensed-up world, it’s somewhat comforting to know that even white supremacists sometimes disagree on tactics.

Tom Metzger, formerly San Diego County’s most notorious of the breed, was not a fan of what went down in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Now apparently living in Warsaw, Indiana, Metzger is approaching 80 and is as defiant and hell-bent on guiding the nation into a race war as ever. He’s just doing it on a smaller scale than his days in Fallbrook when his skinhead-attracting organization, the White Aryan Resistance (WAR), was attracting six figures annually in donations.

In an audio message taped after the tragic melee this past weekend

in Charlottesville, Metzger railed against the “United the Right” organizers, primarily for publicizing the white-supremacist event.

“You won’t see us at clusterfucks like what took place in Virginia this weekend,” he said. “We have been through that years ago and found that it was not a viable tactic in combating our opposition. Even if it was, why would you announce where you’re going to be way ahead of the game so your enemy can mobilize and travel from all over the country just to attack you physically?”

A U.S. Army veteran, Metzger still talks like he’s a field marshal in the heat of battle. He said no general he ever heard of would have operated that “stupidly,” leading him to suspect that rally organizers were simply out for “possibly money or power or some other desire other than really defending the white race.”

6 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

He singled out for particular scorn David Duke, the former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan under whom Metzger served as Grand Dragon for California in the 1970s before splitting off to create his own KKK organization in 1980. That was the same year he won the Democratic primary for Congress. He eventually lost to incumbent Republican Claire Burgener.

“I always led my troops. I was never in the back,” Metzger scoffed. “I didn’t see David Duke out in front with a baseball bat.”

He even mocked the purported purpose of the rally—to save a monument honoring Confederate leader Robert E. Lee, whom Metzger called a “representative of the southern agrarian capitalism, not a friend of the white working class” who “singlehandedly lost the Civil War in one battle of Gettysburg.”

Metzger also addressed the notion that President Donald Trump is a white supremacist’s wet dream of a leader. “We view all politicians, including the president, as our deadly enemy,” he said. “You won’t see us at polling booths.”

In previous interviews, Metzger has said he appreciates the “chaos” now fomenting from Trump’s victory. “We need upheaval,” he told The Wrap last year. “We need people marching in the streets.

Former Fallbrook resident, godfather of skinheads Tom Metzger, called the Charlottesville rally a “clusterfuck” for the whiteseparatist movement.

We need people going crazy. He’s done a good job with that.”

When asked why chaos is good, he replied, “Because it eats away at the empire. It takes chaos to deteriorate the empire.”

But talk to folks who helped bring down Metzger’s white-separatist organization in Fallbrook, and they’ll tell you it’s his brand of thinking that’s deteriorating.

Local civil rights attorney James McElroy spent two decades chasing down Metzger’s money to help pay off a $12.5 million civil judgment imposed on the group in connection with the 1988 murder of Mulugeta Seraw, an Ethiopian man who had moved to Oregon to attend college. Skinheads affiliated with WAR were convicted of the brutal crime, which Metzger described as their “civic duty.”

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which targets hate groups, filed a civil suit against Metzger and his associates, including his son, arguing that WAR encouraged the skinheads to commit violence. The $12.5 million verdict was the largest in Oregon history at the time.

“We sold his house, which he owned outright,” McElroy told Spin this week. “He tried to transfer it to his wife, but I got that thrown out. I sold that house to a nice Latino family, which I thought was poetic justice.”

McElroy also eventually adopted the young son of the murder victim. “He’s a captain on 777s flying all over the world,” he boasted.

One thing Metzger and McElroy seem to agree on is what happened in Charlottesville could easily occur here. Both used the term “hotbed” to describe the region’s draw for white supremacists. “California was always a political/racial hotbed,” Metzger wrote in a brief email exchange.

“Sooner or later it will explode again—probably over taxes this time.”

Added McElroy: “Yes I am concerned. San Diego has always been a hotbed for a number of reasons, because we have the border and all kinds of other reasons. Because of this president and the people he has surrounded himself with, I am concerned that we’re going to see more of this type of thing, unfortunately.”

Since his organization was dismantled, Metzger has become an advocate of the “lone wolf” philosophy. When Spin reached out to him, Metzger first delivered a copy of a 17-page “Mini-Manual for Survival” he’d written for his white-separatist followers.

“Exist and fight as lone wolves or in a small cell and you will last longer and be at peak performance,” he advised. Metzger said joining a group “is a common error of logic that many people make… I call it intellectual masturbation. It may feel good, but nothing changes after the thrill is gone.”

McElroy said he hasn’t followed Metzger’s downward trajectory since the 20-year window to excise money from him expired several years ago. In all, McElroy figures he drained close to $200,000 from the racist, who he said eventually went on welfare.

“I mean, nobody really listens to him,” the attorney said. “I hear he calls into radio shows and rants and raves, but nobody really cares what Tom Metzger has to say anymore.”

Retorted Metzger: “My radio show, five days a week.” For $20 a month, he actually emails his messages to followers, and he maintains a P.O. box in San Jacinto near Hemet.

“I wonder how many people want to pay $20 to hear Tom talk?”

McElroy wondered.

Amid the Trump chaos, who knows?

Spin Cycle appears every week.

Write to johnl@sdcitybeat.com.

@SDCITYBEAT

UP FRONT | OPINION

AARYN BELFER

BACKWARDS & IN

HIGH HEELS

#bookfestivalsowhite

How stories are told—who tells them, when they’re told, how many stories are told—[is] really dependent on power.

—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I

was sprawled out on my friend’s couch. I was eating ice cream and being super high (since that is the best way to get through the prospect of a nuclear winter) when I picked up the Sunday paper. Specifically, the special pullout section of the San Diego Union-Tribune dedicated entirely to the city’s inaugural Festival of Books.

My curiosity was genuinely piqued and a festival all about books and writing was almost as intriguing as the gallon of 31 Flavors Mint Chocolate Chip I was slathering on my thighs. That is, until I came across the photos of the participating authors, a few of whom are talented writer friends.

Now, I cannot help that I always, always see who is and who is not in the room when I enter. So there I sat, scanning the six or so pages of author profiles. I flipped back to the first page of featured authors and began again, scanning up and down, back and forth. I counted the number of participants and racially profiled the hell out of them, and determined that this event, co-sponsored by the SDUT and KPBS, and presented by Qualcomm, is having its Oscar-esque moment. That is, #bookfestivalsowhite.

The “grossly vanilla,” as one writer friend called it, San Diego Festival of Books is a Wonder Bread factory.

The paleness of the event is underscored by the visuals on its website, a virtual parade of pristine, sanitized stock photos scrubbed of anything remotely deep or interesting.

There’s a group of smiling white hipsters gathered in front of a bookshelf; a white lady working on her tan (seriously) while reading a book on the beach; a white lady reading to her white children next to a tree, all bathed in dreamy sunlight; an elderly white couple giggling as they share a generic book in a hammock.

OK, I draw the line right there. Two grown adults reading in a hammock? One crossfitter with a core of lead and total command of their center of gravity would struggle to keep steady in a hammock.

Oh, but wait! Someone in the web design decision-making chain of command obviously took the required half-day diversity class and learned: a.) not to touch the black woman’s hair, and; b.) to always include a token POC pic when branding. Because, lo and behold, the San Diego Book Festival website includes one entire photo of an elated black couple reading.

And yet, our little festival by the sea will feature so many wipipo, to use the awesomely descriptive term certain Black writers are using to describe us. (See? This is why we need diverse authors!).

This problem with the wipipo overrepresentation is distressing, though it certainly isn’t limited to our city’s little book club gathering. This problem also

plagues writer conferences, with many of them doing a sub-subpar job of featuring the stories and expertise of writers of color.

The upcoming Southern California Writer’s Conference in Los Angeles, for instance, is downright blinding. No fewer than 100 authors, editors and agents will gather to share their thoughts over a weekend this September and roughly 90 percent of them are white. As if this isn’t enough kryptonite to keep me away, the website features a fucking cat on its splash page. Guess the stock photos of gleaming white folks were all used up.

This issue is a failure of the organizers to understand what is lost when only one narrative is valued.

What’s worse is that power-holders don’t seem interested in knowing—or are in any way interested to discover—what is lost when non-white authors, writers, poets, essayists, storytellers are excluded.

Last week, the Loft Literary Center cancelled a writer’s workshop for children’s book authors because 20 of their 21 well-respected and award-winning author presenters were white. The same should happen with San Diego Book Festival. I won’t hold my breath here.

The question to be asked is: What would it take for those at the top of the UT, KPBS and Qualcomm food chain to speak up about the book festival they’re a part of? More important, where are all the white writers to speak up?

Actor Mandy Patinkin recently dropped out of a Tolstoy-based play when he realized he’d been hired to replace Okieriete Onaodowan, an acclaimed black actor recently of Hamilton fame. Producers pinned low ticket sales on Onaodowan and hoped Patinkin would reverse this trend. Patinkin balked and this was the right thing for him to do.

I’m curious: Are any white writers willing to do the same? We—and I include myself here—have a role to play in throwing the doors open wide to all.

It isn’t that difficult. San Diego City College had, until this year, what is actually San Diego’s original book festival and it never failed to feature non-white authors. (That festival is now called City Voices and is more of a reading series with a social justice component.) This diverse lineup existed because organizers and participants valued diverse stories and understood them to be essential not just to this region, but to our shared humanity.

Not so with the San Diego Book Festival. This event is going to be a celebration of the literary contributions of the melanin-challenged. As much as I love books and writing, I’m not interested in any such homogenous endeavor. I’m taking a pass on this book fest and will instead be curled up on the couch with a bowl of weed, a bowl of ice cream, and my copy of Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing.

This issue is a failure of the organizers to understand what is lost when only one narrative is valued.

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Backwards & In High Heels appears every other week.

Write to aarynb@sdcitybeat.com.

AUGUST 16, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 7

UP FRONT | OPINION VOICES

RYAN BRADFORD

WELL THAT WAS

AWKWARD

We all float during National Clown Week

B

efore Aug. 1, I had maybe suspected that National Clown Week was a thing. What I mean by that is the human mind is capable of imagining infinite atrocities, and I have the capacity to conjure the idea of National Clown Week much in the same way that I could guess what a human body looks like with no skin.

That is to say: I am not stoked when my editor forwards me the press release about National Clown Week. Some things should stay in the dark recesses of the mind.

The press release—written by a clown named Bon Bon—includes a list of the scheduled clown activities and appearances, including a visit to a retirement home, a dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory and another dinner at Fuddruckers. That’s actually the culmination of National Clown Week. A dinner at Fuddruckers.

My fear of clowns is actually quite shameful, because my mom was a clown during a big part of my childhood. I come from clowns; these are my people.

I’m sure my ancestry.com results would confirm this. I can even tie balloon animals and juggle with moderate success.

And yet, someone allowed me to watch Poltergeist for my tenth birthday, which pretty much put a stop to the clown lineage in my family.

So, in an effort to redeem myself, I reach out to Bon Bon. I briefly contemplate joining them for their celebratory lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory, but no. Slurping down mizithracovered noodles and spumoni ice cream in a darkened room with a bunch of strange clowns is advanced-level, Lynchian terror. Baby steps first.

I agree to meet the clowns during their appearance in Old Town. A public place. A safe space.

They’re not difficult to find— their multi-colored wigs and bright costumes can be seen from a mile away. One of the clowns holds two fishing poles, tied together with a loop of string, and dunking it in a bubble solution. Her name tag reads “Bon Bon,” the clown from the email.

Bon Bon lifts the poles high in the air and a large, worm-like bubble grows out from the string. Bon Bon masterfully slices the worms into smaller bubbles and a group of children chase them. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen kids so enthusiastic about something that doesn’t have a touchscreen.

“You must be Bon Bon,” I say.

Bon Bon jumps up from her seat to greet me. She’s sprightly and energetic despite the fact that she retired from the workforce in 1989. Bon Bon immediately lays into the logistics of true clowning so fast

that I can barely take notes fast enough, and she does it while keeping her bubble-game strong.

“We do this in Old Town because you need permits in Balboa Park,” she says. “Those clowns [in Balboa Park], they don’t have ethics,” she continues, with a mischievous grin. The ethics of clowns, she tells me, includes no smoking, no drinking and no swearing. It makes me wonder what kind of unsavory clowns reign in Balboa Park and make a mental note to avoid them at all costs.

Bon Bon hands the fishing poles over and lets me take a stab at the bubbles. Admittedly, it’s not as easy as it looks, and I can’t ignore the kids’ disappointment when Bon Bon sits down for a break. She points her phone at me and takes a video, narrating my attempts at bubble-making. In all my years writing, it’s the first time the tables have been switched on me. Suddenly, I’m the subject under scrutiny. Ryan: 0; clowns: 1.

Bon Bon—along with fellow clowns Uncle Rusty and 93-year-old Bonkers—is a member of the San Diego All Star Clown Club, the only club in the U.S. that has received honors from the World Clown Association and Clowns of America International. Bon Bon was also named Clown of the Year in 2003, which, according to her, is a big deal.

“I’m pretty famous,” she says.

“But you should talk to Bonkers.

She can run circles around all of us.”

Bonkers takes the cue and says: “I’m a fast woman.”

During all this clowning around, an Old Town park ranger approaches our group. He seems like the type of person who doesn’t abide fun.

“What’s going on here?” he asks.

The clowns are quick to surround him, simultaneously explaining National Clown Week and joking.

“I love a man in uniform,” Bonkers says, rubbing his arm.

With so much tension around police these days, the clowns’ disregard to this man’s authority is mind-blowing to me.

“So, no one’s selling anything here?” the ranger asks.

“I am,” Bonkers says. The park ranger doesn’t hear her, so she repeats it. “I am selling things.”

I think: cool it, Bonkers, you’re gonna get us kicked out of here! “I’m selling stickers for a fiver.” Bonkers holds up her hand for the park ranger to hi-five. I laugh. Bonkers, she DGAF. When I tell them I have to leave, Bon Bon gives me an honorary clown nose, and it feels like an honor. No joke.

I come from clowns; these are my people.

I’m sure my ancestry.com results would confirm this.

I can even tie balloon animals and juggle with moderate success.

8 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

Well, That Was Awkward appears every other week.

Write to ryanb@sdcitybeat.com

@SDCITYBEAT

UP FRONT | FOOD

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER

THE WORLD

Mastiff makes a lot of these different styles.

Generally in stock are bratwurst, spicy Italian, smoked Andouille, chicken coconut curry, chicken apple brandy, smoked Jalapeno cheddarwurst, bacon wrapped hot dog, smoked apple and sage (the only regular veggie option) and shrimp and pork chorizo. But Mastiff regularly offers other styles as Getting totally tubular daily specials.

On one trip we ordered two such specials as ’m a sucker for a place that does one thing and does it well. It generally means the owners have sandwiches: wild boar with rosemary and apple the passion, courage of their convictions and and cognac chicken mushroom and Parmesan. The the work ethic to craft special things. Point Loma’s former was rich and savory with only the slightest Mastiff Sausage Company (2820 Historic Decatur hint of a gaminess that was balanced by the sweetRoad in the Liberty Public Market) has all that and ness of the apple. But it was the strong herbaceousness of the rosemary that really made the sausage does just that. work. The cognac chicken sausage was MICHAEL GARDINER good as well, with the cognac giving it a hint of sweetness and the mushroom and Parmesan providing an umami punch.

While the sandwich is a convenient delivery mechanism, the best approach to Mastiff’s sausages is “protein style” in the “Sausage Sampler” featuring three different sausages cut to bite-size pieces along with two “toppings.” We got the Polish (Wiejska), shrimp chorizo and smoked Andouille sausages. The Polish—a classic countryside, farmhouse style kielbasa— was, perhaps, the best kielbasa I’ve tasted: rich, savory and meaty instead of the faint acidity one gets from most American mass-produced versions. The Andouille was less surprising. The shrimp chorizo, Wiejska, shrimp chorizo and smoked andouille sausages though, was remarkable for its meatiness.

The spiciness of the sausage married the Mastiff is all about celebrating the glories of richness of the shrimp and the result had all the meat in all its tubular wonder: sausages, sausages characteristic flavors of chorizo, but with a surprisand a few items that go well with sausages. Mankind ing lightness.

Mastiff offers a number of sides and garnishes, has been making sausages for more than two millennia. Homer mentioned them in The Odyssey, and the from bacon or blue cheese crumbles to roasted onname of Epicharmus’ The Oyra is often translated as ion, peppers or sauerkraut. There are also pickled “The Sausage.” Numerous Romans described both vegetable garnishes, which I would recommend sausages as well as salting and preservation tech- along with the fermented options. They both cut niques that are recognizable to modern charcuterie. through and complement the sausages best.

Ultimately, though, Mastiff is all about the sauSausage making is, at its base, an efficient butchery practice: use unfancied bits of meat and sages: meat in tubular form. The variety of sausage fat, then salt and/or smoke them for preservation options is admirable and the quality is just as imand stuff them in a tube (traditionally cleaned pressive. It is what they do, the only thing they do, intestines). In fact, the English word “sausage” is and it is a true celebration of cylindrical meat. derived from the Latin word “salsus,” meaning salt- ed. Traditionally, sausage styles differ from coun- The World Fare appears weekly.

Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com. try-to-country and even county-to-county.

FARE I

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AUGUST 16, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 9

UP FRONT | DRINK

ANATOMY OF A

BY IAN WARD

COCKTAIL SCENE #12: Call me Old Fashioned

cisco, the Old Fashioned shed itself of decades of bastardization and returned to its former glory. One n my early years as a bartender there was no of the bars that I attribute most of the Old Fashsuch thing as “craft cocktails.” ioned resurgence to is undoubtedly Seven Grand In fact, if someone had flippantly said the words (3054 University Ave.). I remember walking in to the craft and cocktail together in a sentence, they likely downtown L.A. location, about 10 years ago, and bewould have been laughed out of the bar. Sure, there ing in awe to see an entire bar, filled to the gills, all were a handful of people playing CAROLYN RAMOS drinking old fashioneds. It was a sign with flavors and experimenting with of the times, for me at least. So, with infusions and whatnot. There was all that in mind, I asked the General a guy named Eben Freeman in New Manager of Seven Grand San Diego, York who famously made bubblegum Brett Winfield, for his thoughts on lemonades, and I kept hearing about the old fashioned. some guy in San Francisco named “I think the rebirth of the old Duggan McDonnell using squid ink fashioned stems from the rise of the in cocktails, but that was it, really.

American culinary, beer and cocktail Every few months I would read scenes,” he said. “As people diversisome article in Saveur or Food and fied their tastes in the last 10 to 15 Old fashioned Wine about a bartender across the years, they realized that they loved country inexplicably doing something oddly in- whiskey and of course the quintessential whiskey teresting with cocktails, but that was the extent of cocktail is a whiskey the old fashioned way.” “craft cocktails.” Guests just wanted to drink lemon As for his preferred old fashioned recipe, Windrops (with sour mix, not lemon juice and simple field says, “We keep it simple here in order to let the syrup), gimlets (with Rose’s Lime, not fresh lime whiskey speak for itself. These master distillers have juice) and Manhattans shaken hard and served with spent their whole lives learning a craft, and the whisbright red juice from a plastic jar of nuclear cherries. key we use spends years maturing before it gets to us, I know these cocktails are still in existence, but we just try to not mess it up.” they are an endangered species. Where as once they roamed the country like the Buffalo, they are now Anatomy of a Cocktail Scene appears every other something that you stare and gawk at when you see week. Write to ianw@sdcitybeat.com them. Many of these once great, horrific cocktails have evolved (or devolved) and have adapted to THE OLD FASHIONED the current, crafty environment. They now contain As prepared at Seven Grand fresh juices, locally sourced fruits and non-chemical nonsense. They have come to represent the 1 Demerara cube modern times. (fancy name for un-bleached sugar) Nowhere is this more evident than in the old 6 dashes Angostura bitters fashioned. You see, back in my nightmarish early 1.75 oz. Makers Mark Kentucky bartending days, old fashioneds were very much Straight Bourbon Whiskey different than they are now. They didn’t always Ice have angostura bitters. They didn’t always have Add the sugar cube and bitters to an old sugar. But they did always have some luminescent fashioned glass. Muddle the sugar cube and red cherry shining from the top, like a clown’s nose. bitters until no grains of sugar remain. Add They tasted like a chunky sweet whiskey spiked whiskey. Add Ice. Stir for 20 seconds. Express the with an Orange Julius. They had none of the austere oils of the fruit by giving it a squeeze above the dignity of today’s old fashioned. glass and then rubbing the oils around the rim of But with the help of bars such as Milk & Honey the glass. Garnish with orange and lemon peel. in New York and Bourbon & Branch in San Fran-

I

10 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

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UP FRONT | DRINK

FINAL

BY BETH DEMMON

DRAUGHT Growlers are dead, long live growlers

starts Aleks Kostka, head brewer at Culture. “I've seen a lot of broken bottles and growlers in public rowlers—refillable half-gallon jugs for beer places, which is definitely a safety hazard. Whereas to-go—are dying a slow death. It’s a with crowlers, you can just recycle them with zero bittersweet evolution; these glass or potential of leaving shards of glass behind.”

Kostka also points out the variety of filling stainless steel containers are arguably the most options, freshness and less water usage over environmentally-friendly beer takeaway option, and since they’re filled on demand, they eliminate time as additional crowler advantages. Part of the uncertainty that comes with pre-packaging this switch is due to the unwieldiness of heavy growlers (“they're a pain to carry around with you, beer in cans or bottles.

So why are growlers being phased out in favor especially once the beer is consumed,” laments of 12-ounce cans and crowlers (sealed, 32-ounce. Kostka), their breakability, less-than-optimal aluminum cans filled to order)? Lots of reasons, conditions that glass containers foster and the fact according to Andrew Heino, owner and head that not all breweries have proper growler filling machinery and fill from the tap (which can lead brewer of Align Brewing Company. to oxidization and doesn’t provide enough BETH DEMMON CO2 to maintain the beer’s integrity). And while labeling restrictions on to-go alcohol containers were relaxed in 2013, the change came too late for many beer drinkers who are now stuck with a glut of growlers from numerous breweries, now collecting dust.

This consumer shift hasn’t stifled growth in the craft beer fringe sector.

Adaptive growler technology like Synek and beer delivery services such as Hopsy and CraftHounds (and even breweries like Little Miss Brewing) are banking on it.

“We use the data of what people are ordering to adjust what we offer,” says Adam Gendler, Director of Product & Marketing at Goodbye, growler collection CraftHounds. “When we started, it was all bombers [22-ounce. bottles]. Now people “Number one: crowler cans are new each time, so sanitation status is better than most reused, want 16-ounce cans like from Modern Times and washed growlers. I want the beer to taste as it crowlers from Culture.”

Crowlers do have some drawbacks—such as not should when you drink it, not like old growler funk. Number two: [crowlers are] easier to recycle. being reusable—but the industry consensus seems Number three: there are already so many growlers to lean toward them occupying the top spot in in circulation that any brewery can fill, [so] why takeaway containers... for now.

“I don't think the perfect to-go beverage do we need more? Number four: cans are more container exists yet,” affirms Kostka. “But at this convenient for outdoorsy stuff,” says Heino.

Since opening earlier this year, Align has point, I'm going to have to go with crowlers as my shunned growlers in favor of cans and crowlers, but main way of sharing beer with others.” will fill blank growlers for customers. Other local breweries like Culture Brewing Company are also Write to bethd@sdcitybeat.com, check her out on Instagram at @thedelightedbite, or via Twitter at pushing alternatives.

“I'm not saying glass growlers are terrible, but...” @iheartcontent.

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AUGUST 16, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 11

EVENTS

SHORTlist

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

SAN DIEGO

DAMMMMMN, SUN

Most of us will not get to travel up to Viking-themed rave parties in Oregon to watch the solar eclipse. While San Diego is not in the path of totality for the highly buzzed-about eclipse (we’ll see about 60 percent), there will still be plenty of people outdoors on Monday, Aug. 21 to see the moon pass completely into the path of the sun for the first time since 1979.

If readers don’t have to run back into work after the eclipse begins a little after 9 a.m., there are a bunch of cool viewing and themed events around town. From 8:30 to noon, the Fleet Science Center (1875 El Prado, Balboa Park) will be hosting The Great American Eclipse 2017 event, which includes viewing from the Fleet plaza, as well as astronomers on hand to answer questions and pinhole projector workshops. There will also be eclipse glasses on sale for $4.99 and up. If readers want to get a unique look at the total eclipse, the Fleet will also be broadcasting NASA’s Edge Megacast on its giant dome screen for free with paid admission to the Center. There will also be a DIY solar eclipse viewer workshop on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. See rhfleet.org for all details and times.

San Diego County libraries will also be hosting

OLD TOWN

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

YUTAKA TSUTANO / FLICKR

Solar eclipse pre-eclipse Sky Parties on Saturday, Aug. 19 from Logan Heights to Mira Mesa. Scripps Institute of Oceanography scientists will be on hand to discuss the solar system and help prepare attendees on how best to view and experience the eclipse.

Then, on the day of the eclipse, five libraries will host viewing parties that will include a livestream of the eclipse in Madras, Oregon and a view from four different telescopes. Full list of locations and times can be found at sandiego.gov/blog/sky-partylibrary.

Hopefully, readers have a cool boss who will let them off to go check out the eclipse. If not, well, I guess we’ll all have another chance in 2023.

SAFE HARBOR

Before there were wits such as David Sedaris and Fran Lebowitz, there was Mark Twain. A man beloved not only by grade school English teachers everywhere, but also by San Diegans as well. Write Out Loud’s annual TwainFest is back at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (4002 Wallace St.) to celebrate the famous American writer and humorist as well as other iconic authors. Local actors will read works

by Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Edgar Allan Poe and others. Guests can also take home free books, enter the literary costume contest, visit Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory, vote in the 1872 election and play croquet with someone called the Red Queen. This event is free and takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. writeoutloudsd.com/twainfest

COMEDY HKAABOO Discovery Night at American Comedy Co., 818 Sixth Ave, Gaslamp Quarter. Local comedians will compete to perform at the annual KAABOO music fest.

With an all-night happy hour, guests get to be the judge and vote for their favorite performer. From 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17. $5. kaaboodelmar.com

Landscapes at ADGY ART, 7863 Girard Ave., La Jolla. A solo exhibition from La Jolla-based artist Thomas Lamprecht who explores the notion of landscapes and uses superimposed linear interpretations of classical imagery. Opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. 858-382-9467, adgyart.com

The Comedy Get Down at Valley View Casino Center, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., Point Loma. Comedy stars Cedric The Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Eddie Griffin and George Lopez will be performing as part of the nationwide tour. From 8 to 11 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 18. $49.75-$89.75. 619-2244171, valleyviewcasinocenter.com

HMike Kelley Screening at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights.

SpaceTime Art presents a screening of two videos highlighting the controversial American artist’s famous projects. Includes a live performance by Los Angeles poet/pianist Todd Moellenberg. From 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. $10. spacetimeart.org

CHULA VISTA

MAKE IT TWAIN

ART HSomething We Don’t Know Part 3: Can You See Us? at MCASD – Downtown, 1001 Kettner Blvd., Downtown. Kim Garcia and MCASD team up to explore how the art object circulates between artist, curator, registrar and viewer. From 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17. 858-4543541, mcasd.org

With its downtown revitalization and a new convention center being built, Chula Vista is proving it’s one of the places to be these days. There’s more than enough proof of this at the annual Harborfest. The event will have something for everybody, primarily four stages with live music, beer and alcohol tents and a pet parade. Other activities include an exposition of classic and exotic cars and an art walk.

There will be other fun activities with additional but affordable fees, such as a rock climbing wall, water rollers and more. It all happens at one of the city’s most beautiful locations, Bayside Park (999 Bayside Pkwy.) on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Best of all, the event is free but tickets for food and drink range from $10 to $30.

For more details visit cvharborfest.com.

H13) Anna Breininger, Jamie Felton+Alexsa Durrans, Shanna Waddell at South Mission Beach, N. Jetty Road, Mission Beach. Local arts project presents their latest site-specific art installation. From 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. Free. facebook.com/ events/116809678973061 Family Sunday at Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. A celebration of the Mexican folk art newly on display in the Doll and Toy Gallery, plus guest artist Mayra Chavez will lead participants through a mermaid embroidery project. From noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. Free-$5. 619-239-0003, mingei.org Bigger Trouble in East Village at Basic Bar, 410 Tenth Ave, East Village.

Thumbprint Gallery presents a one night only exhibition of Bigger Trouble in Little China fan art, plus jewelry by Friendly Feathers and music by Bruce Illest. From 7 p.m. to midnight. Tuesday, Aug. 22.

Free.

858-354-6294, facebook.com/ events/1889519297955071

BOOKS HDr. Molly McClain at San Diego History Center, 1649 El Prado Suite 3, Balboa Park.

The author will present a lecture and sign her new book, Ellen Browning Scripps: New Money & American Philanthropy. From 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17. $5-$10.

619-232-6203, sandiegohistory.org Josh Rutherford at Project Reo Collective, 2335 Reo Drive Ste 6, Paradise Hills.

The local author will be signing his new book Sons of Chenia. There will also be a raffle to win a gift basket. From 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug 18. Free. 619-434-8464, facebook.com/projectreocollective HRick Campbell at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. Local author Lisa Brackmann will lead a discussion with author Rick Campbell about his new military thriller, Blackmail. At 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19.

Free. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Linda Rae Anderson at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. As part of Warwick’s ongoing Weekend with Locals program, Anderson will discuss and sign I’m Hopeless, I’m Crazy, a memoir about her mother’s struggles with mental illness.

At noon Sunday, Aug. 20. Free. 858-4540347, warwicks.com Tyler Gage at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The bestselling mystery writer will sign and discuss his new book, The Room of White Fire. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23. Free. 858454-0347, warwicks.com

TwainFest 12 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

Harborfest

H = CityBeat picks

DANCE HFairy Tales in the Park at Casa Del Prado Building, 1650 El Prado, Balboa Park. The annual ninth ballet in the park show, directed by Danik Pramik-Holdaway.

Features classical stories such as Rapunzel and Beauty and the Beast. At 11 a.m and 2p.m. Saturday, Aug, 19 and Sunday, Aug. 20. $12. 619-233-3060, sdcyb.org

FOOD & DRINK BLVD Market Tiki Party at the corner of El Cajon Blvd and Utah, 2855 El Cajon Blvd, University Heights. The summer block party celebrates cuisine and entertainment with live music from surf rock band Alvino & The Dwells, as well as classic cars and tiki cocktails from Old Harbor Distilling Co. and Coffee & Tea Collective.

From 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. Free. facebook.com/events/271906456628620 H¡Latin Food Fest! Gran Tasting San Diego at Embarcadero Marina Park North, 400 Kettner Blvd., Downtown. The all-inclusive Latino food, wine and spirits tasting event serves dishes from the Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico, Portugal and Spain. There will also be live music and cooking demonstrations. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. $39$149. latinfoodfest.com H2017 Del Mar BBQ State Championship at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar. Over 40 of the nation’s top professional pitmasters, local restaurants and chefs will compete. Guests can try competition-ready samples of brisket, pork ribs, chicken, steak and dessert as well as vote for their favorite contestant.

From 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. $14$25. dmtc.com/calendar/detail/BBQ

MUSIC Sunset Poolside Jazz Series at The Westgate Hotel, 1055 Second Ave, Downtown. The annual jazz series continues with music from Erika Davies whose music incorporates jazz, country and folk. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17. $25. 619-238-1818, westgatehotel.com HSummergrass San Diego at Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, 2030 N. Santa Fe Ave., Vista. The annual music festival features dozens of acts specializing in bluegrass, folk and everything in between. Includes games, workshops and camping with fellow enthusiasts. From 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. $20-$70. 760-9411791, summergrass.net To Life! At Embarcadero Marina Park South, 200 Marina Park Way, Downtown.

Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick perform songs from Fiddler on the Roof for Bayside Summer Nights Concert series’ annual Broadway concert. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 and Saturday, Aug. 19. $26-$98.

619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 @SDCITYBEAT

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August 16, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

EVENTS EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 Beethoven’s Violin Sonatas IV at Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Violinist Yura Lee, and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center pianist Gilles Vonsattel finish the four-part first-ever performance of the complete Beethoven violinpiano sonatas. At 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. $45-$65. 858-459-3728, ljms.org Steel Pulse at Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. The legendary reggae act will play after the day’s last race as part of the Del Mar 4 O’Clock Friday Summer Concert Series. At 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. $6-$20. 858-755-1141, dmtc.com Levi Kreis at Sunset Temple, 3911 Kansas St., North Park. The Tony Award-winner performs his album Broadway at the Keys. VIP includes pre-show meet and greet. From 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. $25-$45. 619795-3630, bwayatthekeys.bpt.me HBaja Blues Festival at Rosarito Beach Hotel, Blvd. Benito Juarez 31 Centro, Playas Rosarito, Baja California. The sixth annual three-day festival and fundraiser for various orphanages and causes in Baja California featuring Backwater Blues Band, Kenny Neal and more. At various times. Friday, Aug. 18, Saturday, Aug. 19 and Sunday, Aug. 20. $10-$45. bajabluesfest.org Reggae Summer Splash at World Beat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Blvd, Balboa Park. The festival will have a lineup full of reggae performances including Sammy Dread, The Itals, Hempress Sativa and more. From 4 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. $20. 619-230-1190, worldbeatcenter.org HThe Regina Carter Quartet at Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Grammy-nominated violin virtuoso Regina Carter performs jazz, classical, gospel, African music and more in a program that’s to be announced onstage. At 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. $50-$75. 858459-3728, ljms.org HPreening, Paradiso, and Disappearing People at Teros Gallery, 3888 Swift Ave., City Heights. Three unique bands will be performing at Teros Gallery, bringing together punk, orchestral psych rock and other distinctive sounds. From 8 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. Donations suggested. instagram.com/terosgallery HBoléro by the Bay at Embarcadero Marina Park South, 200 Marina Park Way, Downtown. Associate Conductor Sameer Patel leads a performance of Maurice Ravel’s piece. The concert will also feature music by Alberto Ginastera and Astor Piazzolla, plus award-winning Argentine bandoneonist J.P. Jofre. At 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. $25-$88. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org HAn Evening with Alisa Weilerstein at Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, 9500 Gilman

Drive, La Jolla. This cellist is one of today’s reigning instrumental soloists worldwide.

She’s joined by clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Inon Barnatan for the Brahms’ Clarinet Trio and Piano Quintet. At 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 23. $50-$75. 858-4593728, ljms.org David Buchbinder’s Odessa/Havana at San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, 4126 Executive Drive., La Jolla. The trumpeter and composer will perform with Cuban pianist Hilario Durán and an eightpiece jazz ensemble to create a unique blend of Latin, jazz and Jewish music.

From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23. $28-$50. 858-457-3030, lfjcc.org

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD HInsta-Anthology & Open-Mic Night at Verbatim Books, 3793 30th St., North Park.

Anyone can come and share their original poetry with the community. Participants are asked to bring 25 copies of their poem, to create anthologies of all the poems of the evening. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16. Free. 619-786-2653.

HLong Story Short: Habitat at San Diego Writers, Ink., 2730 Historic Decatur Rd., Suite 202, Point Loma. So Say We All’s monthly improv storytelling night will revolve around the theme of “habitat.” Participants can sign up for a five-minute storytelling slot or just listen to others’ tales. From 7 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 19. $5 suggested donation. sosayweallonline.com

POLITICS & COMMUNITY HResisting the Radical Right at City Heights Weingart Library, 3795 Fairmount Ave, City Heights. The San Diego Party for Socialism and Liberation hosts their monthly public forum, with speakers focusing on identifying various right-wing organizations and what can be done. From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. Free. facebook.com/events/106781670023368

SPECIAL EVENTS HChula Vista HarborFest at Bayside Park, Plover Way, Chula Vista. The annual familyfriendly celebration will feature seafood delicacies, as well as four stages of live music, a craft beer garden and the chance to view some of San Diego’s historic vessels, unique boats and exotic automobiles. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. Free.

619-686-6200, cvharborfest.com HTwainFest at Old Town Historic Park, 2454 Heritage Park Row, Old Town. This family festival will celebrate the literature and culture of America in the 19th century with live music, puppet shows, games and readings of

14 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

AFTER HOURS: ABOUT LAST NIGHT TORREY BAILEY

Pushing buttons thinks that electronica comes from “ veryone DJs, and that’s a pet peeve of mine because

E

I know where it comes from. It comes from guys sitting with little gizmos programming beats,” says Jeffrey Trageser.

Trageser is the founder of Open Oscillator, a meetup of guys, gals and their gizmos that takes place at Whistle Stop every other month. People sign up to perform an eight-minute set of whatever they want. The only stipulation is: “Your instrument just needs an on/off switch with an electric current running through it,” as the group’s Facebook page says.

Performers bring drum machines, synthesizers, modulars and other button-pushing devices to craft techno, drum and bass, glitch hop, drone or even just noise on the spot. It’s a platform for education and experimentation from the perspective of both musicians and audiences.

“You know how rock is created because you see the people and their instruments,” Trageser says.

“But electronic, there are not a lot of people who know and see how it’s made.”

Throughout Open Oscillator’s two-and-a-half year lifespan, Trageser has witnessed growth of the group itself, as well as spin-offs of the idea from San Diego to Australia. Luis Murillo, who performs under the name Delta Sine, has begun hosting a casual, open-format satellite event at a live-work space in Barrio Logan.

Open Oscillator is also about to host its third showcase, which highlights long-time partici-

stories written by Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, Emily Dickinson and more. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. Free.

619-491-0099, writeoutloudsd.com HCruise for the Cause at Qualcomm Stadium, 9449 Friars Road, Mission Valley.

An all-ages car show with hundreds of cars, motorcycles and bikes on display, as well as live entertainment. Proceeds benefit the Emilio Nares Foundation, a nonprofit providing free transportation to kids fighting cancer. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. Free. 858-888-7000, magic925.com HSoCal Etsy Guild Market at Horton Plaza Park, 900 Fourth Ave, Gaslamp Quarter.

Local artisan vendors and designers put their handmade work, such as clothes, jewelry and paintings, on display for sale. Live art, food, giveaways and more will also be available to guests. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 19. Free. 626-274-1434, socaletsyguild.com HFerragosto at Amici Park, 1660 Union

Jesse Karras, Jeffrey Trageser and Luis Murillo pants and newer favorites with half hour sets. This time, the showcase will be at its biggest venue yet, The Casbah (2501 Kettner Blvd.), on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 9:30 p.m. Delta Sine, prettyhowtown (who I wrote about several months ago) and Trageser along with his DJ partner Jesse Karras will be among the seven headliners. The side room, known as the Atari Lounge, will feature DJs in traditional Open Oscillator fashion—first come, first served set sign-ups at eight minutes a pop.

With the new space, Trageser anticipates some new faces that he can introduce to the concept.

“You hear that term singer/songwriter all the time,” he says. “And every time you go to see a singer/songwriter, it’s always a guitar, banjo, folksy or country or something, which is great. But, I know so many singers and songwriters who don’t have string instruments. They write with computers or gizmos.”

St., Little Italy. The historical preservation and education fundraising event includes a rodeo, entertainment, a casino and western-style barbeque. Participating restaurants include Kansas City Barbeque, Phil’s BBQ, Epic Wings N Things and many others. From 6 to 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. $125-$1,250. ferragostosd.org HUndie Bike Ride at Amplified Ale Works, 4150 Mission Blvd., Mission Bay. A bike ride where participants donate their lightly used clothes and then take off for a underwear-clad ride around the neighborhood. Clothing donations go to CSSA, a local org that distributes them to low-income and homeless people. From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. Free. 858270-5222, amplifiedales.com HThe Great American Eclipse Viewing at Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado, Balboa Park. Resident astronomer Dr. Lisa Will will be on hand to answer questions and the center will be offering solar eclipse glasses and a view of the eclipse on the giant dome

—Torrey Bailey

screen. From 9 a.m. to noon. Monday, Aug. 21. Free. 619-238-1233, fleetscience.org

SPORTS HPacific Classic at Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Watch many of the country’s top horses compete in the 27th running of Del Mar’s signature event. At 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. $5-$62.50. 858-755-1141, dmtc.com

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS Summer by Design: Architecture at Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. Designer Jennifer Luce will discuss how she integrates signage into her work, as part of Mingei’s Summer By Design series. From 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. $5. 619-239-0003, mingei.org

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August 16, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

THEATER JIM COX

Opal Alladin (left) and Grantham Coleman in Hamlet

The great Dane returns

T

he very language of Hamlet—transcendent in its exploration of human beings’ deep� est and most fraught emotions—assures its resonance in any context and any iteration. Fur� ther, its dark psychology and currents of madness and revenge make it breathless theater. The Old Globe’s Summer Shakespeare Festival production, directed by Barry Edelstein, takes full advantage of Hamlet’s complex enticements. It exploits its hazy ghost story with atmosphere and chills, while manifesting its Oedipal underpinnings (a marriage bed, along with a colossal armored figure in gold, are the chief set pieces). It also gives us a Hamlet (Grantham Coleman) who, though seemingly more manic than mad, is an intense and energized pres� ence, whether he is seeking his revenge or looking into his soul.

Elsewhere������������������������������������ on the outdoor Festival Stage, Tal� ley Beth Gale’s Ophelia-gone-mad sequence is a flashpoint of the evening, while the always-reliable Patrick Kerr is a suitably sputtering Polonius. Ad� ditionally, Cornell Womack and Opal Alladin make for a brazen Claudius and Gertrude.

Penetrating but also entertaining in its theatricality, this is a Hamlet suitable for this summer’s sweltering nights when who knows “what dreams may come”?

Hamlet runs through Sept. 10 at the Old Globe’s Lowell Davies Festival Theatre in Balboa Park. $30 and up; oldglobe.org ••• he San Diego Repertory Theatre has launched its 42nd season with a revival of the Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber docusoaper Evita, a musical now old enough (it began, much like Jesus Christ Superstar, as a concept al� bum) that some may be seeing it for the first time.

This Rep production directed by Sam Woodhouse is lushly and reverently staged with solid, albeit unspectacular performances, by the three leads (Marisa Matthews as Eva Perón, Jason Maddy as Juan Perón and Jeffrey Ricca as the extremist narrator, Che). What brightens this Evita is the

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Rep’s partnership in the production with the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts.

The SDSCA’s exuberant young performers bring freshness and vitality. Evita’s enduring calling card, of course, is that ballad you know all too well, su����������������������������������������������� ng in arguably theater’s third most famous (af� ter Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story, naturally) balcony scene.

Evita runs through Aug. 27 on the Lyceum Stage in Horton Plaza, downtown. $44-$72; sdrep.org

—David L. Coddon

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

OPENING: Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.: A youth-friendly adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s tale of a young girl’s adventures in a dream-like world. Presented by the Pickwick Players, it opens Aug. 18 at Off Broadway Live in Santee. pickwickplayers.net The North Plan: A former State Department official runs for his life after stealing classified info from a ruthless faction that’s now in charge of Washington. Presented by ion Theatre, it opens in previews Aug. 19 at the BLKBOX Theatre in Hillcrest. iontheatre.com

NOW PLAYING: Perfect Wedding: A romantic comedy about a groom who wakes up on his wedding day with a stranger in the bed with him… And the bride is on her way. Written by Robin Hawdon, it runs through Aug. 20 at the PowPAC Community Theatre in Poway. powpac.org Into the Woods: James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s Tony-winning musical that combines favorite storybook characters and fairy tales. Presented by Patio Playhouse, it runs through Aug. 26 at Kit Carson Park Amphitheatre in Escondido. patioplayhouse.com

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

@SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

August 16, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

PHOTOS BY TORREY BAILEY

CULTURE | ART

Jean-Luc Martin at the San Diego Circus Center alking into the San Diego Circus Center is like entering the gym of an Olympic gymnastics team, except way more interesting.

Hidden away in an industrial area of Middletown, the 10,000-square-foot practice space is almost always bustling with activity.

On this day, performer Shayna Rutledge works on her contortionism exercises. Elevated gracefully on a wooden box, she bends her legs above her back and toward her head like a scorpion. In another area, Liz Overton practices Russian bar, which requires her to be put into a harness and anchored to a 27-foot-high ceiling.

Once she’s strapped in, she performs frontward and backward flips on two pole vaults.

A crowd has started to accumulate in front of the open warehouse space as people watch the performers train on the aerial silks, trampoline and CYR Wheel.

Though the travelling circus has been a popular form of entertainment for centuries, rarely has it ever been considered a serious career. In a time where working in the circus is considered passé and once popular circuses like Ringling Bros have gone out of business due to animal rights protests, there’s still a small community that is passionate about the art form. These highly talented and highly trained individuals have chosen to devote their life to something that not only challenges them as artists, but serves to bring others joy.

For Circus Center founder Jean-Luc Martin, his passion for the circus began in 1986 when, at age 19, he saw Cirque Du Soleil for the first time.

“I fell in love with it just like everybody else does,” said Martin.

Keen on the idea of becoming a circus performer, the enthusiastic Martin found a home at the Pickle Family Circus in San Francisco. He performed with them for two years then went back to his hometown of Montreal to train at the circus school, Ecole Nationale De Cirque. After that, Cirque Du Soleil picked Martin up, where he worked for ten years.

Eventually, though, Martin wanted a change.

He travelled the world working as a stuntman, film producer and an actor. But after 10 years of being away, he found he longed for what he had left behind.

“Circus kept pulling back at me,” said Martin who, at that point, was well regarded within the circus community. “No matter what city I was in, people would ask me to help them on their skills, whether it be handstands, tumbling or Russian bar.”

Martin found he had a love for teaching circus and desired to start a facility in the U.S. that was as recognized as the European schools and respected by professional troupes.

Martin first opened the center in Miramar in 2012 but in the last year moved it right next to the San Diego Airport. People come from all over the world to train for months at a time, including German and French performers. Martin admits that there was a time that he believed there was no future for the circus. Now, the center he started is one of five circus schools in the U.S. recognized by higher education schools around the world.

18 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

“Economically, what I am doing here doesn’t make sense,” said Martin. “I have three other jobs to make ends meet. But this is where my heart is. Plus, why not? Why not take that challenge and make it work?”

Across town, Cheryl Lindley has similar feelings when it comes to the circus. Wanting to find a way to blend her passion for art, athletics, thrills and storytelling into one career, the San Diego native looked to the circus. She began as the star clown at Cirque Viaggio and went on to perform with the local Fern Street circus troupe. Having performed as a dancer, mime, clown and acrobat, Lindley founded the Lindley Circus with her children and husband in 2006.

But Lindley’s heart lies with her students at the Sophia Isadora Academy of Circus, which she founded in 2012 and named after her daughter, Sophia, a performer and circus teacher who died in a car accident. While Jean-Luc’s Circus Center is more modern, the Academy focuses on a “family-style teaching method.” While the academy is not recognized as a school for higher circus education, Lindley trains her students hard, saying, “I treat them like little professionals” and she’s very honest with students wanting to pursue a professional career.

“First, I try to talk them out of it,” said Lindley. “It’s a tough life. There’s limited opportunities, but I’ve made a great living. So if that’s where their heart is, if that’s where their passion and creativity lies, I’ll do anything I can to help them get there.”

Even one of Lindley’s own students and trainers, Hanna Denham, a hand-balancing contortionist who has been at the acade-

my for seven years, works two other jobs outside of training.

“It’s funny, I feel like circus performers never talk about their other jobs, because this, circus, is what I solely do, completely,” said Denham. “I’ve been able to prove so much to myself going through these skills and it really translates into life as well.”

Another unique quality about the circus that dance and theater often lack is the special relationship between the performers and audience members. For Rutledge, the 20-year-old contortionist performer from Minnesota who trains at the Center, that connection is very important.

“There’s something amazing about picking out a couple people in the audience, even if you don’t know them, and performing for them,” said Rutledge. “That’s really special.”

So while they might train as athletes, Rutledge and other circus performers all do it to inspire the people who watch. Nothing is ever guaranteed for a performer, but they still do it to better themselves, express themselves and to show audiences something magnificent. Even after all these centuries, it’s the circus’ authenticity that makes it desirable.

Back at the Center, Martin says his desire will always be there and, sprinkled within the hardships, there are moments within that life that make it all worthwhile.

“The memorable moments are the ones that make you sweat. The ones that make you scared. As performers, we learn to rise to those occasions and better ourselves. And that’s what I missed when I left. It’s what pulled me back in.”

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CULTURE | ART

TORREY BAILEY

SEEN LOCAL CHANGES AT SDAI

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n Friday, Aug. 11, Lissa Corona re- ing the final say. “I started to think that we signed her position as San Diego could pull this off. Our team is so phenomArt Institute interim director and enal.”

Corona says her issue with the hiring left her keys on her desk at the Balboa Park arts space. She says the reason for her sud- of Silverman wasn’t personal, but rather den departure was the hiring of Jacque- that Silverman lacks the fine arts curatoline Silverman to the full-time position of rial experience necessary for the position.

Appointed by SDAI’s ten-member Board of SDAI’s Executive Director.

Hired last summer as the education di- Directors, Silverman, according to a press rector, but moved into the position of inter- release from SDAI, is “a non-profit arts im Executive Director when Ginger Shulick management professional” with over 30 years of experience, most Porcella left the position recently with the San Diback in April, Corona adego Center for Jewish Culmits that she didn’t see ture, San Diego Performing herself as ideal to permaArts League and the San nently fill the position. She Diego Jewish Film Festival. wasn’t particularly keen on “Quitting was somethe fundraising aspects of thing I thought about, but the job. However, she feels I would have understood if she became more adept at they didn’t hire me as exthat aspect of the job and ecutive director,” says Coformally applied in April. rona. “But the only way I “I started to get really would have stayed is if they excited,” says Corona, who had hired me as deputy diliked the idea of running rector or head curator.” the Institute more as a colWhile, Corona’s conlective, with the Executive Director ultimately havJacqueline Silverman cerns with Silverman’s lack

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Lissa Corona of curatorial experience seem valid, Susanna Peredo Swap, who serves on SDAI’s 10-member board, says that the curatorial process will remain “innovative” and “progressive.” She’s also quick to add that Silverman will be much more focused on fundraising and that SDAI will likely work with on-staff and outside curators for future exhibitions.

“We were not hiring a curator or director of exhibitions. We were hiring someone that needed to have extensive knowledge of nonprofit practices, fiscal management, strategic planning, and public engagement.,” says Peredo Swap. “Which she [Silverman] most certainly has.”

Peredo Swap also points to the fact that Silverman was hired by much of the same board that hired and encouraged Porcella to transition SDAI from a members-based,

pay-for-play model to a curated contemporary art space.

“I can tell you that we—the board, her employer—are very committed to maintaining and pushing forward the mission and vision that Ginger, and we, put together. Jacqueline is 100 percent on board with this ideal and we are thrilled to have her.”

Corona, however, still has reservations and is concerned that SDAI will revert back to its old ways.

“It really frustrates me both as an artist and arts administrator when the work we’ve put in to create this scene and sustain a contemporary art dialogue is diminished,” Corona says. “My concern is lack of awareness of what we do and what we’ve been building here. Where we stand within the art community.”

—Seth Combs

AUGUST 16, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 19

20 · San Diego CityBeat · August 16, 2017

@SDCityBeat

CULTURE | FILM

Hee-haw heroes

Logan Lucky

Steven Soderbergh returns from retirement with a spry southern crime romp

by Glenn Heath Jr.

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hen Steven Soderbergh announced conventions by instilling each character his retirement from filmmaking with a memorable identity and sense of irback in early 2013, no one really rational dedication. These people often fall believed it was a permanent decision. The di- prey to absurd situations and bad decisions, rector of Traffic, Erin Brockovich and Haywire but they are never presented as caricature. was only 50 years old at the time of his retire- Soderbergh shows a masterful ability to ment and had been, up until then, a prolific withhold key information until the very last workhorse ever since his 1989 breakthrough second. Whereas most Hollywood origin Sex, Lies, and Videotape. The reasons given stories would talk your ear off about comfor stepping away (he’s on record lamenting plicated past trauma and deep motivations, the overall mistreatment of directors by Hol- Logan Lucky is content to unfold seamlessly, lywood) also seemed somewhat reactionary indulging in the pleasures of listening to and emotional, as if too much frustration had people banter. It moves forward at a gleeful built up in an artist who needed distance to pace, creating a slap-happy momentum reminiscent of the careening madness found in gain fresh perspective.

Thankfully, Soderbergh has finally re- the best 1940s-era screwball comedies.

As a stand-alone studio film, Logan Lucky turned to the fold with Logan Lucky, a spry, devilish and crafty heist film that finds him is one of the most joyously political in recent more at ease than ever. The cold economic memory. Corporate greed and consumerism anxieties and calculated cynicism of pre- are poisonous forces meant to distract the retirement fare such as Magic Mike and Side masses from dealing with difficult problems Effects are replaced by a cavalier sense of involving money and identity. By the looks of freedom that applies to both Rebecca Blunt’s it, though, this might be just the beginning of a new franchise. After all, wiggle worm script and Jimmy’s gang is referred Soderbergh’s effortless LOGAN LUCKY to as Ocean’s 7-11, a nod cinematic style. Every moto Soderbergh’s glitzy ment breathes with new Directed by Steven Soderbergh trilogy of crime comedies possibility, a rare trait for a Starring Channing Tatum, from the 2000s. film operating in the most Adam Driver, Riley Keough If that’s the case, Lofamiliar of genres. and Daniel Craig gan Lucky, which opens Once again, Channing Rated PG-13 Friday, Aug. 18, is an even Tatum’s star resides at more impressive act of the center of Soderbergh’s subversion. It completely universe, this time playing blue-collar everyman Jimmy Logan whose disregards the rules of franchise world builddreams of becoming an NFL star have been ing that usually revolve around the overly dashed thanks to a blown-out knee. According complicated plotlines. Soderbergh prefers to small town West Virginia gossip, the entire just the opposite; character backstories are Logan clan, including Jimmy’s one-armed sometimes superfluous and contradictory to brother Clyde (Adam Driver), has long lived what’s occurring onscreen, creating a playful uncertainty that never wanes. This euphoria under the cloud of a family curse.

Younger sister Mellie (Riley Keough) for the present moment stands in contrast thinks it’s all hogwash, but the endless pos- to the endless narrative banality of, say, the sibility of bad juju rearing its ugly head be- Marvel cinematic universe. comes a running gag that adds tension to a Instead of superpowers, Logan Lucky infilm fueled on elaborate misdirection. The stills its rowdy characters with great musical story goes like this: Fed up with normal taste (John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country means of revenue building, the Logans de- Roads” is the film’s anthem), proud loyalties cide to rob the bank vault underneath the to family, and a strategist’s ability to be three racetrack during NASCAR’s largest event of steps ahead of the law, at least for now. Watchthe year, enlisting three miscreants from ing them pinball off each other is pleasure inanother local family, as well as taking ad- carnate. Welcome back, Mr. Soderbergh. vice from an imprisoned explosives expert Film reviews run weekly. named Joe Bang (a squirrely Daniel Craig).

Logan Lucky tap dances around crime Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com

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AUGUST 16, 2017· SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 21

CULTURE | FILM

The experimenter “ oets don’t explain them-

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selves,” says the red-haired muse Stella (Pamela Flores) to naïve writer Alejandro (Adan Jodorowsky) toward the beginning of Endless Poetry. Her words of wisdom provide the young man with a new surge of freedom and self-confidence that reverberates throughout his diverse, creative experimentations. Yet the film itself functions as an attempt at personal reconciliation with past experiences that can never be truly recreated.

Indeed, director Alejandro Jodorwosky’s surrealist autobiography relies heavily on artificial sets, absurdity and theatrical bursts of expression. These exaggerated stylistics persistently grapple with the fractured memories, contradictory emotions and incomplete relationships of his time spent as an artist in 1940s Chile.

22 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

Endless Poetry With its coherent sense of time and history, Endless Poetry may seem like a long way off from Jodorowsky’s seminal hallucinatory midnight movies (El Topo, The Holy Mountain) from the 1970s.

Those felt more like art films spiked with LSD. But like 2013’s The Dance of Reality, the director’s latest shows the beginnings of a visionary growing fed up with structure and boundaries. “We think crooked,” Alejandro says to his poet friend Enrique Lihn (Leandro Taub). These words inspire an adventurous walk through (and over) the town.

Unlike Pablo Larraín’s Neruda, a didactic depiction of those oppressive forces at work against Chilean artists during the 20th century, Endless Poetry remains sequestered in the fantastical bubble of Alejandro’s own making. Elabo-

rate set pieces, like the moment he crowd surfs naked inside a big top circus, help deflect the abuse from his domineering father (Brontis Jodorowsky), and the pervasive fascism threatening fringe characters hiding in the shadows.

However, Jodorowsky confronts this trauma more directly in the film’s final moments, revising history in order to make sense of the pain it has caused. Endless Poetry, which opens Friday, Aug. 18, at Digital Gym Cinema, becomes even more liberated, even if the act of remembering itself carries the deepest melancholy.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

OPENING 68 Kill: A septic tank cleaner’s life is flipped upside down when his erratic girlfriend presents him with the opportunity to steal $68,000 in this blood-spattered thrill ride. Opens Friday, Aug. 18, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Drive: Ryan Gosling stars as a Los Angeles wheelman for hire, stunt driving for movie productions by day and steering getaway vehicles for armed heists by night.

Part of the ongoing series “Modern Classics.” Opens Friday, Aug. 18, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Endless Poetry: This surrealist autobiography tells the story of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s (El Topo) early days as an aspiring

poet in 1940’s Chile. Opens Friday, Aug. 18, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

In this Corner of the World: Set in Hiroshima during WWII, this animated film tells the story of a newly married 18-yearold woman who struggles to maintain her identity amid the chaos of war. Opens Friday, Aug. 18, at Angelika Film Centers— Carmel Mountain.

Ingrid Goes West: Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen star in this comedy about a social media obsessed woman who moves to Los Angeles in order to stalk an Instagram star.

Logan Lucky: In Steven Soderbergh’s screwball heist comedy, a rag tag group of West Virginians decides to rob a racetrack on the busiest day of the year.

Menashe: A widower battles for custody of his son while living in the ultra-orthodox Jewish community of Brooklyn.

The Hitman’s Bodyguard: Ryan Reynolds plays the world’s best bodyguard who is assigned to protect a lethal killer (Samuel L. Jackson). Hilarity and bloodshed ensue.

The Midwife: Catherine Deneuve stars in this drama about a midwife who gets some unexpected news from her father’s old mistress. Opens Friday, Aug. 18, at the Ken Cinema.

The Only Living Boy in New York: A recent college graduate becomes disillusioned after discovering his father has been unfaithful.

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

@SDCITYBEAT

SHAWN MERFALEN

MUSIC

hen Jamie Pawloski performs as fivepaw, it’s not always easy to understand what’s going on. He’s usually perched behind a modular synthesizer, patching cables, turning dials, essentially doing what looks like a complicated technical undertaking rather than, say, playing a guitar or a piano. Much more visceral and immediate are the sounds he produces while doing so, which range from the atmospheric and cosmic to the intense and cacophonous.

Not everybody that sees a fivepaw show gets it, which doesn’t necessarily bother Pawloski. In a conversation over coffee in North Park, he says people are still intrigued by his unusual stage presence, even if they’re not entirely sure how to process it.

“They think it’s cool,” he says. “They see a bunch of wires and see me twisting knobs. There’s like a sense of mysticism: ‘I don’t know what you’re doing, but that was cool.’”

Pawloski has made music with other bands, including Shapes of Future Frames and Maritime Ghost, but fivepaw is the first project that he says is entirely his own. His debut EP, I, was released last fall and written and recorded entirely on his own. As a solo project, however, it’s pretty animated and active. The compositions and improvised pieces are constantly changing shape and built from krautrock-influenced rhythms and glitchy electronic aesthetics alike. Despite having a presence that might throw off a more conventional rock audience, fivepaw’s music is rich, detailed and epic.

It does, however, sometimes involve a second musician: Isaiah Nery of Quali, who sometimes plays live drums for fivepaw. The effect is to make an already powerful sound even fuller and heavier, as was evident in a recent performance at The Casbah that felt almost more like an electronic version of psych-rock band Earthless than a spacey synth project. Pawloski says that part of being solely in control of his music is allowing it to take any shape he sees fit, but he also wants it to be something people can have fun with.

“I like that [my music is] different, because it makes people want to come to the show more,” he says. “I really try to make the viewing of the synthesizers something people can see. I don’t want it to be this art gallery experience where nobody can see what you’re doing. But I also want people to move. I want people to enjoy it. I play shows in art galleries, and everyone just is kind of staring at you. And you’re doing

@SDCITYBEAT

fivepaw it and you’re patching and you’re digging it, but you’re kind of sweating because you can’t tell if anyone’s enjoying it.”

In his previous bands, Pawloski played guitar. But once he discovered synthesizers and cultivated an interest, partially through UCSD professor and developer of music software Soundhack Tom Erbe, it became an obsession.

He’s since traded much of his guitar gear for more synth equipment, and co-founded San Diego Synth Lab, which is a group that brings people together to learn about synthesizers and how to use and program them.

Modular synths, which Pawloski primarily uses in his work, can be an intimidating instrument to learn, though there’s virtually no limit to what you can do with them or how much you can customize them. (And based on one $35,000 unit on the marketplace, no limit to how much you can spend, either.) Yet decoding and understanding the instrument is part of what he finds so fascinating about them.

“Things were a lot more unpredictable when I started using it, because I didn’t know what I was doing. But there’s a really cool thing where if you don’t know how to use the product, it can be really eye-opening or interesting to get weird sounds,” he says. “At the same time you can’t replicate that ever again, because you don’t know the process you’re using to get there. When I buy my modular units, I have an idea of what kind of sound I get. But you never know what you’re going to get when you plug in one kind of frequency to another kind of voltage, and it gets weird. It’s really overwhelming for someone who doesn’t

know what they’re doing, but you can also use it as a learning experience.”

Pawloski is in the midst of working on his first fulllength, which he says is heavily inspired by sci-fi films such as Alien and Blade Runner, and will be the first of his recordings to feature vocals. As of yet, he doesn’t have a release date planned, though he’s hoping to have it finished later this year. Yet Pawloski is methodical about his approach; he even refers to himself as a “perfectionist” when it comes to his work, which has its adverse effects.

“The other day I worked for five hours on one song, just to get it to where I want it to be,” he says. “And then I worked for 10 days straight and came back and was like ‘I forget where I was.’”

No matter what form fivepaw takes—whether as a heavy electronic duo, solo bedroom project or even possibly a bigger band at some point—Pawloski likes the idea of having full control over his music. No matter where he goes musically, geographically or professionally, fivepaw will always be his.

“I’m writing music and trying to make something for myself,” he says. “I’ve been in so many bands that egos get in the way, or someone has to leave. Someone has to move. Someone has a baby. So fivepaw is something that’s just my own, and I can continue no matter what happens in my life.”

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

AUGUST 16, 2017· SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 23

MUSIC

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO LOCALS ONLY

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he 36th annual Adams Avenue Street Fair has been announced for Saturday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 1, along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. The festival is being headlined by blues band Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers along with local indie rock group The Donkeys, and the lineup also includes a long list of mostly local bands including The Creepy Creeps, Gilbert Castellanos, Birdy Bardot, The Midnight Pine, Dead Feather Moon and Spooky Cigarette.

Steve Kader, who has been the talent buyer for the street fair 12 years, says that it’s one of the goals of the festival to showcase a wide selection of artists.

“Nowadays, everybody listens to everything,” he says. “Whether it’s indie rock, folk or blues, it’s important to reflect that. It’s definitely the biggest showcase of local music in San Diego.”

With more than three decades of history in San Diego, Kader says that the Adams Avenue Street Fair has reached a point where not only does it have a built-in audience, but one that spills out beyond the county limits. He says that people drive down from Orange County or Riverside County for the festival, and that people often come in hopes of discovering something new.

“It’s cool to see a punk rock couple watching a gospel band,” he says. “Or a younger indie rock crowd

seeing some acoustic music or rockabilly. As a talent buyer, that’s a good feeling.”

As always, the Adams Avenue Street Fair is open to all ages, which sets it apart from many other live events in town. And with participation from venues like The Casbah, it opens up an opportunity to be able to bring bands in front of audiences who might not be able to see them otherwise.

The Donkeys “Kids come to the festival who are 16 to 17, and are too young but would probably love to get into The Casbah or Belly Up. But in 3 to 5 years that’ll be [those venues’] fanbase,” he says. “If they come here and see new bands, however, then that’s going to help expand the scene. And that’s when we know we’ve done our job.”

—Jeff Terich

ALBUM REVIEW Zsa Zsa Gabor Left Skull Bank (Stay Strange)

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sa Zsa Gabor is dead. Not the actress—though that’s also true—but the experimental noise project by Stay Strange founder Sam Lopez, who recently performed his last show under the project’s name. Yet realistically, Zsa Zsa Gabor was always anything that Lopez felt like doing at any point in time, subject to whatever musical whim had captured his interest. That often meant creating abrasive, difficult, pop-unfriendly sounds, but not exclusively.

Left Skull Bank, Lopez’s final release under the Zsa Zsa Gabor name, is a broad showcase for the various influences and impulses that drive his music. Just the first two tracks alone offer a strong contrast between sounds. “Speaking of Glowing Embers” is a brief track performed on guitar, and it’s melodic and beautiful, more of an ambient track than anything explicitly “noise” driven. Yet the next song, “Left Skull Bank I,” is essentially a dark canvas splattered with distortion, screaming and ominous open space. These are both the work of the same artist, though they sound like they come from vastly different realms.

That’s essentially how all of Left Skull Bank progresses. The album ping-pongs between intense mo-

24 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

ments of dissonance and brief exercises in beauty and grace. It’s disorienting, but then again that’s sort of the point of noise art: to bring listeners out of their comfort zone. That being said, it’s an enjoyable experiment much of the time, revealing a new perspective to music—compositional or lack thereof—with each track change. “Left Skull Bank II” juxtaposes spoken word passages against abrasive strings, while “Entrance II” sounds like an oddlytuned cello being plucked. There are demonic-sounding backward passages on “New East,” sci-fi synth effects on “Left Skull Bank III,” ambient waves on “Angel Hunt” and a strange blend of static and unidentifiable melodic sounds on “Untitled.”

While Left Skull Bank is kind of all over the place, it all makes sense together in a peculiar sort of way that only noise recordings can.

But music this free form also offers its own challenge, making it entirely understandable why Lopez would decide to retire the project. That is, if an artist’s music truly can be anything, and it’s already been seemingly everything, where is there left to go?

—Jeff Terich @SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

August 16, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

MUSIC

JEFF TERICH

IF I WERE U A music insider’s weekly agenda WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16

PLAN A: YOB, SubRosa, Nebula Drag @ Brick by Brick. Start your week (or midweek, I guess) with some epic doom. YOB has one of the best catalogs in contemporary metal, though their 20-minute epic track “Marrow” is particularly next level.

Get there early for the powerful gothic metal of SubRosa. PLAN B: Matthew Sweet, Tommy Keene @ The Casbah. Maybe epic doom isn’t your thing, in which case the power-pop of Matthew Sweet might be.

Dude’s got hits upon hits. BACKUP PLAN: Spooky Cigarette, Creature Canyon, The Oxen @ Belly Up Tavern.

THURSDAY, AUG. 17

PLAN A: Part Time, Minor Gems, Oak Palace, Love Glow @ Blonde. Before the weekend hits, pregame with a set from lo-fi synthpop outfit Part Time. Their music is catchy yet hallucinatory, with a slightly off kilter sound to every pop melody.

BACKUP PLAN: Mrs. Magician, Keepers, Goldettes @ Soda Bar.

SUNDAY, AUG. 20

PLAN A: Mt. Pleasant, YS and Bakes, Bruin, Doc Hammer, Sol Orchid, Dark Thirty, Dream Joints @ Soda Bar. This daytime show at Soda Bar is a release show for Khene-Zine, and is being headlined

by Mt. Pleasant, a new band featuring exmembers of Roxy Jones and New Mexico.

The whole lineup is excellent, so if you feel like chilling in a bar on a hot Sunday afternoon, this isn’t a bad way to go. PLAN B: Warbly Jets, Schizophonics, The Oxen @ Space Bar (late show). Take a dinner break, and then come back to Soda Bar for another excellent set full of rock ‘n’ roll bands with loud guitars and all kinds of swagger.

FRIDAY, AUG. 18

PLAN A: DJ Quik, Scarface, Suga Free @ Observatory North Park. If DJ Quik’s name doesn’t come up in the discussion about the most consistent discographies in hip-hop, then something’s wrong. The Compton emcee has been releasing one killer G-funk album after another for 20 years. PLAN B: Dungen, Shadow Band, Brainticket DJs @ The Casbah. Dungen is the kind of band that never does the same thing twice. The Swedish psych outfit keeps on evolving, from noisy rock to spacious folk and electronic instrumentals.

And it’s all solid. BACKUP PLAN: Pickwick, Prism Tats @ SPACE.

SATURDAY, AUG. 19

PLAN A: Dead Cross, Secret Chiefs 3 @ Observatory North Park. Dead Cross features Faith No More’s Mike Patton, Slayer’s Dave Lombardo and Retox’s Justin Pearson and Mike Crain, and they kick ass. Nutso noisy hardcore/thrash that lives up to the members’ collective resumes. PLAN B: Maceo Parker, DJ Greyboy, San Diego City Soul Club @ Music Box. Time to get funky.

Parker’s performed with Funkadelic and James Brown, and he’s got more grooves than most musicians know what to do with.

26 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

DJ Quik

MONDAY, AUG. 21

PLAN A: Wheelchair Sports Camp, TEC, DJ Pnutz @ SPACE. Wheelchair Sports Camp is a one of a kind band, mixing jazzy hip-hop with political activism and live instrumentation. They’re humorous, socially conscious and they’ve got jams.

TUESDAY, AUG. 22

PLAN A: Warning, Conan, Temblad @ Brick by Brick. The week ends much like it began, with some epic doom metal. Warning released one of the best metal albums of the ‘00s, Watching from a Distance, not long before breaking up. They’re playing the entire album, so get ready for something crushing, yet emotional.

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MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Little Dove (BUT, 9/17), Morgan Heritage (BUT, 9/26), ‘Adams Avenue Street Fair’ w/ Donkeys, Creepy Creeps, Birdy Bardot (Adams Ave., 9/30-10/1), Archons (Casbah, 10/4), Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie (Humphreys, 10/19), Alice Glass (Observatory, 10/24), The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die (Irenic, 10/28), The B-52s (BUT, 11/2), Noname (Observatory, 11/6), Nahko (BUT, 11/12), Death from Above 1979 (HOB, 11/13), GWAR (HOB, 11/21), Giraffage (Observatory, 11/28), Hollywood Undead (HOB, 12/10), The White Buffalo (Observatory, 1/19).

GET YER TICKETS Pelican, Inter Arma (Brick by Brick, 8/26), Ira Glass (Balboa Theatre, 8/27), The Pharcyde (Observatory, 8/31), Thundercat (Observatory, 9/1), Stiff Little Fingers (BUT, 9/6), Quicksand (BUT, 9/11), Goo Goo Dolls (Open Air Theatre, 9/12), Green Day (Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, 9/13), Manchester Orchestra (Observatory, 9/13), Kaaboo Festival w/ Tom Petty, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers (Del Mar Fairgrounds, 9/15-17), Against Me! (Observatory, 9/16), The Church (Music Box, 9/16), Future Islands (Open Air Theatre, 9/17), Zola Jesus (Casbah, 9/21), Atlas Genius (HOB, 9/22), U2 (Qualcomm Sta-

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dium, 9/22), Swervedriver (Casbah, 9/22), The Beach Boys (Humphreys, 9/23), Ben Folds (HOB, 9/23), WAND (Soda Bar, 9/24), Sublime With Rome, The Offspring (Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, 9/26), Foxygen (Music Box, 9/28), The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Loft, 9/30), The Shins, Spoon (Open Air Theatre, 10/1), Algiers (Soda Bar, 10/1), Chelsea Wolfe (BUT, 10/2), Ms. Lauryn Hill, Nas (OAT, 10/3), Irma Thomas, Blind Boys of Alabama (BUT, 10/5), Depeche Mode (Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, 10/6), Pinegrove (Irenic, 10/6), Coldplay (Qualcomm Stadium, 10/8), Shooter Jennings (BUT, 10/8), Obituary, Exodus (Observatory, 10/8), Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile (HOB, 10/11), The Afghan Whigs (BUT, 10/12), The National (Open Air Theatre, 10/12), Torres (Casbah, 10/17), Mason Jennings (BUT, 10/17), Café Tacuba (Observatory, 10/17-18), Arcade Fire (Viejas Arena, 10/18), The Bronx (Casbah, 10/19), Gojira (Observatory, 10/19), Mastodon (HOB, 10/19), City of Caterpillar, Thou (Soda Bar, 10/19), The Kooks (Observatory, 10/20), KMFDM (HOB, 10/20), Tegan and Sara (Balboa Theatre, 10/20), Carla Morrison (Humphreys, 10/22), M. Ward (BUT, 10/24), Real Estate (Music Box, 10/24), Thievery Corporation (BUT, 10/26), Turnover (Irenic, 10/27), Roky Erickson (Casbah, 10/27), Iron and Wine (Balboa Theatre, 10/28), The Drums (Observatory, 11/1), Black Heart Procession (Casbah, 11/4), ‘Live Wire 25th Anniversary’ w/ Rocket from the Crypt (Observatory, 11/4), Halsey (Viejas Arena, 11/5), Cults (Irenic, 11/5), Hamilton Leithauser (BUT, 11/9), D.R.I. (Brick by Brick, 11/10), Fall Out Boy (Viejas Arena, 11/15), Gary Numan (Observatory, 11/15), Ariel Pink (BUT, 11/16), Tera Melos, Speedy Ortiz

(Casbah, 11/16), Mayhem (Observatory, 11/17), Boris, Torche (Casbah, 11/17), Blues Traveler (HOB, 11/19), Mogwai (Observatory, 11/20), New Found Glory (HOB, 11/25), METZ (Casbah, 12/13), Julien Baker (Irenic, 12/15), Jay-Z (Viejas Arena, 12/19), The English Beat (BUT, 12/22-23), Donavon Frankenreiter (BUT, 12/28), Josh Ritter (BUT, 1/16).

AUGUST WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16 The Doobie Brothers at Humphreys by the Bay. Matthew Sweet at The Casbah.

Mt. Joy at SPACE. YOB, SubRosa at Brick by Brick. Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts at Soda Bar. Spooky Cigarette at Belly Up Tavern.

THURSDAY, AUG. 17 X at Belly Up Tavern. Brazilian Girls at The Casbah. Real Numbers at Soda Bar. Monk Parker at Whistle Stop.

FRIDAY, AUG. 18 Dungen at The Casbah. Steel Pulse at Del Mar Racetrack. Pickwick at SPACE. The Flatliners at Soda Bar. X at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). Jidenna at Music Box.

SATURDAY, AUG. 19 Dead Cross at Observatory North Park.

Mrs. Magician at Soda Bar. Maceo Parker at Music Box. Dead Feather Moon at The Casbah.

SUNDAY, AUG. 20 Atmosphere at Observatory North Park (sold out). Young Dubliners at Belly Up Tavern. 311 at Open Air Theatre. Warbly Jets at Soda Bar. Vesperteen at House

of Blues Voodoo Room. Plane Without a Pilot at The Casbah.

MONDAY, AUG. 21 Moon Honey at The Casbah.

Glass at Balboa Theatre. Residente at Observatory North Park. GBH at The Casbah. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue at Open Air Theatre. Bosswitch at Whistle Stop.

MONDAY, AUG. 28

TUESDAY, AUG. 22 VNV Nation at The Casbah (sold out).

Mark Stoermer’s Filthy Apes and Lions at Soda Bar.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 23 Old Man Wizard at Soda Bar. Bryan Ferry at Humphreys by the Bay.

THURSDAY, AUG. 24 Slaughter and the Dogs at Soda Bar. Mew at Observatory North Park. John Mayall at Belly Up Tavern. Warsaw at Whistle Stop.

FRIDAY, AUG. 25 Dierks Bentley at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Dogg Pound at Observatory North Park. U.S. Bombs at Soda Bar. Amos Lee at Copley Symphony Hall. Lord Huron at Del Mar Racetrack. Chill Clinton at The Casbah.

Sudan Archives at Whistle Stop.

SATURDAY, AUG. 26

Black Oak Hymnal at Soda Bar.

TUESDAY, AUG. 29 Sundrop Electric at Soda Bar. Kaleo at Open Air Theatre.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 30 The Strawberry Moons at Soda Bar. San Cisco at The Irenic.

THURSDAY, AUG. 31 The Pharcyde at Observatory North Park.

Mrs. Henry at The Casbah.

SEPTEMBER FRIDAY, SEPT. 1 Thundercat at Observatory North Park.

Throw Rag at Soda Bar. One Republic at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre. Revivalists at Del Mar Racetrack. Todd Rundgren at Music Box.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 2

The Kickback at Soda Bar. Sylvan Esso at Observatory North Park (sold out). Pink Martini at Humphreys by the Bay. B-Side Players at Music Box. Slightly Stoopid at Del Mar Racetrack. Pelican, Inter Arma at Brick by Brick. Metalachi at The Casbah.

SUNDAY, AUG. 27 Starover Blue at Soda Bar. The Gipsy Kings at Humphreys by the Bay. Ira

Frankie Cosmos at The Irenic. Warren G at Observatory North Park. Inquisition at Brick by Brick.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 3 Spotlights at Soda Bar. Grieves at The Casbah. Steve Aoki at Del Mar Racetrack.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

AUGUST 16, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 27

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 MONDAY, SEPT. 4 Stickup Kid at Soda Bar.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 5 Carbon Leaf at The Casbah. See Through Dresses at Soda Bar. Minus the Bear at Observatory North Park.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6 Stiff Little Fingers at Belly Up Tavern.

Springtime Carnivore at The Casbah.

Boychick at Soda Bar.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 7 TOPS at The Casbah. The Juliana Theory at Observatory North Park. The Hooten Hollers at Soda Bar.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 8 Wyo at Music Box. Symbolic at Brick by Brick. The Shivas at Soda Bar. Marshall Crenshaw y Los Straitjackets at The Casbah.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 9 Florida Georgia Line at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre. Dennis Quaid and the Sharks at Music Box. Verite at Soda Bar. Vallis Alps at SPACE.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 10 George Benson, Kenny G at Humphreys by the Bay. Theatre of Hate at SPACE. The Slants at Soda Bar.

Nicole at Soda Bar. Saint Mesa at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 12 Goo Goo Dolls at Open Air Theatre. The Night Game at The Casbah. Dryjacket at Soda Bar.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. Fri: Gamblers Mark, Johnny Deadly Trio. Sat: Bayonics, Psydecar.

Tue: Esso Afrojam Funkbeat.

Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St., Normal Heights. Wed: ‘Love Notes’ w/ Dr Jones, Birdski. Thu: ‘Centerpiece’ w/ DJ Eliasar Gordillo. Sat: ‘Juicy’ w/ DJ Dave Paine. Sun: ‘Chvrch’ w/ DJs Karma, Alice.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Fri: Hari Kondabolu.

Sat: Hari Kondabolu. Sun: Hari Kondabolu.

The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Sat: Jawknee Lawhorn and the Outhouse Gang. Sun: First Time In Color.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., Downtown.

Fri: Lee K. Sat: Patrice Baumel.

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

Wed: ‘Black Wednesday’ w/ DJ Vaughn.

Thu: DJ Ikah Love. Fri: ‘Class Project’ w/ DJs Grimm, Old Man Johnson. Sat: ‘Neon Beat’. Sun: ‘Rat Sabbath’. Mon: ‘Motown on Monday’. Tue: ‘Tiki Tuesday’ w/ DJ Marshall Islands.

MONDAY, SEPT. 11 Quicksand at Belly Up Tavern. Danielle

SPOTLIGHT For nearly three years, CityBeat staff members have tried to engage 311 on Twitter by tagging them in a thread that’s certainly reached triple digits by now. Yes, we do enjoy needling the band and their insufferable white-boy reggae-rap, but if we’re being real, there’s probably some deep-seated admiration in our hearts—pretty sure anybody who hasn’t cranked their megahit “Down” (in the privacy of their home, of course) lives a joyless life.

311 play on Sunday, Aug. 20 at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre

—Ryan Bradford

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

28 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

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MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28 Beaumont’s, 5665 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Thu: Sam Bybee. Fri: Modern Day Moonshine. Sat: Part Time Model.

Sun: Sam Bybee.

the Wind, Creature and the Woods, The Whiskey Circle. Sun: Plane Without a Pilot, Bossfight, Ready Set Survive. Mon: The Surrealistics, Moon Honey, Soft Lions. Tue: VNV Nation (sold out).

Dirk’s Nightclub, 7662 Broadway, Lemon Grove. Fri: FX5. Sat: Lady Luck.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Wed: Spooky Cigarette, Creature Canyon, The Oxen. Thu: X, LP3, The Tragedy (sold out). Fri: X, LP3, The Tragedy (sold out). Sat: Ginger Roots and the Protectors, Fully Fullwood and the Devastators, Synyrgy. Sun: Young Dubliners, The Kelly Bowlin Band.

The Field Irish Pub, 544 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Wed: Fiore. Thu: Shoeless.

Fri: Amy and the Unknown. Sat: Chrome Domes. Sun: Joseph Carroll. Mon: Eric French. Tue: Todd Goodnaugh.

Black Cat Bar, 4246 University Ave., City Heights. Sat: The Heart Beat Trail, Dirty Pennies.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., Downtown. Fri: DJ Quik, Scarface. Sat: DJ Drama.

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington St., Mission Hills. Wed: ‘Dance Klassique’ w/ HALO. Thu: Part Time, Minor Gems, Oak Palace, Love Glow. Fri: ‘Through Being Cool’. Sat: Lady Lush, Red Sonya, Mary Droppinz, Arielle Z, Macoe. Sun: Silver x Gold, Ghost Traps, Callie. Mon: ’99 Red Balloons’. Tue: ‘Madonna vs. Janet Jackson Dance Party’.

Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave., Carlsbad. Thu: Hazmatt. Fri: ‘Club Musae’.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., Bay Park. Wed: YOB, SubRosa, Nebula Drag.

Thu: Metalabba, Motorbäbe, The Rare Breed, Fact Pattern. Fri: Up the Irons, One Night In The City, R.I.P., Trendkill Revolution. Sun: Marduk, Incantation, Abysmal Dawn, Greenskull, Warpath.

Tue: Warning, Conan, Temblad.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Wed: Matthew Sweet, Tommy Keene. Thu: Brazilian Girls, DJ Ian Utero.

Fri: Dungen, Shadow Band, Brainticket DJs. Sat: Dead Feather Moon, Trouble in

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F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown. Fri: IsaacB. Sat: DJ Mark Da Spot.

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

Thu: DJ Yodah. Fri: ‘Good Times’. Sat: ‘Rock Star Saturday’. Tue: The Stilettos.

Hoffer’s Cigar Bar, 8282 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa. Sat: Deejha Marie Pope.

The Holding Company, 5046 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach. Wed: AJ Froman.

Thu: Big Mountain, Raggabond. Fri: Beauty in the Brakedown. Sat: Jonathan Lee, Polly Baker, DJ Mancat. Tue: The Lambsbread, DJ Dash Eye. Hooley’s, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa. Fri: The Space Cats.

Sat: Little Kings.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Thu: Myles Parrish. Fri: Wild Child - Doors Tribute. Sat: Shahram Shabpareh And Shahab Tiam. Sun: Vesperteen, Groves, The Thens. Tue: Robin Henkel.

Humphreys Backstage, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. Wed: Cadillac Wreckers. Thu: Rosy Dawn. Fri: Full Strength Funk Band. Sat: Rising Star,

Tradewinds. Sun: Ray Bell and the Feel Good Band. Mon: Michele Lundeen.

Tue: Mercedes Moore.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Wed: Orlando, Eddie Turbo, Mystery Cave, Anakin. Thu: ‘Acid Varsity’. Fri: ‘Re:Turn’ w/ Bass Mechanic, Sotero, Jason Splat, Wes Hoppe. Sat: ‘No F@#ks Given’ fundraiser. Sun: ‘Egadz’ w/ The Heavy Twelves.

Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Fri: Megan Steinke, Alex Famous, Scottie Chandler. Sun: The Thieves About, Becca Paoni.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave., Coronado. Wed: JG Duo. Thu: North Star. Fri: Manic Bros. Sat: Pat Ellis and Blue Frog Band. Sun: Trunk Monkey.

Mon: JG Solo. Tue: Andy & Glen.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., Hillcrest. Wed: Tall Tall Trees, Alexis Lillian Lefranc. Thu: Enormodome, Daytrip.

Fri: Uprising, A Perfect Tool, Wicked Rooster. Sat: ONOFF, The Cat Chasers.

Sun: ‘The Playground’ w/ DJ Heather Hardcore. Tue: Vietnam Hardcore, The Pictographs, Parade of Horribles, Broken Record.

Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy.

Wed: Banda Carnaval, Los De La Noria.

Thu: Kraak and Smaak (DJ Set), Britton, Jimbo James, Chuwee. Fri: Jidenna, Anik Khan, MannyWellz (sold out). Sat: Maceo Parker, DJ Greyboy, The San Diego City Soul Club.

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd., Hillcrest.

Fri: ‘Uncut’. Tue: Karaoke Latino.

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

Wed: ‘One, Two, Three’ w/ DJ EdRoc. Thu: ‘No Limits’ w/ DJ Myson King. Fri: ‘After Hours’ w/ DJs EdRoc, Ikah Love.

Sat: ‘Strictly Business’ w/ DJs Kanye

Asada, EdRoc. Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’.

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 Sixth Ave., Downtown. Thu: Slushii. Fri: Markus Schulz. Sat: DJ Ruckus.

Panama 66, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. Fri: DJ Ruckus. Sat: Chris Murray Combo. Sun: Uptown Rhythm Makers.

Parq, 615 Broadway, Downtown. Fri: Sharps. Sat: Nick Cannon.

Plaza Bar at Westgate Hotel, 1055 2nd Ave., Downtown. Fri: Gilbert Castellanos. Sat: Allison Adams Tucker. Mon: Julio de la Huerta.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave., Hillcrest.

Wed: DJs Kiki, Kinky Loops. Thu: DJ Moody Rudy. Fri: DJs Drew G, Will Z. Sat: DJs Hekitk, Luke Allen. Sun: DJs Cros, Morningstar.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’ w/ Jason Hanna. Thu: Red Fox Tails. Fri: Vinyl Pirates. Sat: King Taylor Project.

Rosie O’gradys, 3402 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Fri: The Professors, The Tommy Show. Sat: Scratch Acoustic Soul Trio.

Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave., San Diego. Wed: Finnegan Blue. Thu: Jimmy Ruelas. Fri: Ed Kornhauser Organ Trio.

Sat: Forkroot. Mon: ‘Makossa Monday’ w/ DJ Tah Rei. Tue: Sophia Alone.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts, The Red Fox Tails, Coral Bells.

Thu: Real Numbers, Smokescreens, The Asteroid Shop. Fri: The Flatliners, The Smith Street Band, GOMO. Sat: Mrs. Magician, Keepers, Goldettes. Sun: Warbly Jets, The Schizophonics, The Oxen.

Tue: Brian Hill and The Noh Starrs.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway. Fri: Make Them Suffer, Enterprise Earth, SPITE, Petrichor. Sat: Shawshank Redeemed, SLNCR, Final Drive, Shine Bright, Activist, ACENSIONS. SPACE, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: Mt. Joy, Jimmy Ruelas, Liquorsmiths. Fri: Pickwick, Prism Tats.

Mon: Wheelchair Sports Camp.

Spin, 2028 Hancock St., Middletown.

Fri: SPY, Lenzman, Bachelors of Science.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Wed: ‘Dreams’ w/ DJ Gabe Vega. Thu: 2/3 Goat, Mojo Jackson.

Sun: JUX. Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Fri: High Rise, Featherstone, Cryptic Languages. Sun: Pants Karaoke.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., Bay Park.

Wed: Thu: Mercedes Moore. Fri: Funk’s Most Wanted. Sat: A.C. Myles.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., City Heights. Fri: Pumphouse, Grids, Weird Night. Sat: Protected Left, Anchor Army.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park. Wed: ‘Recommended Dosage’ w/ Mute Swan, Subtropics. Thu: Monk Parker, Gary Hankins and the Summer Knowledge. Fri: ‘F#ing in the Bushes’.

Sat: ‘80s vs. 90s’ w/ DJs Gabe Vega, Saul. Sun: Ozone. Mon: ‘Electric Relaxation’.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. Wed: Kush, Ark Aingelle, DJ Carlos Culture. Thu: Boostive, Salami Rose Joe Lewis. Fri: Dazed and Confused.

Sat: Easy Wind, The Shenanigans Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Jefferson Jay Band.

AUGUST 16, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 29

LAST WORDS | ADVICE

AMY ALKON

ADVICE

GODDESS

Knight Of The Living Dead

When my husband comes home from a stressful day at work, he likes to play shoot-‘em-up games on his phone. He says it relaxes him. I’d like to connect and talk before he goes into his mental man cave. Also, when he’s into a game, it’s annoying even to ask what he wants for dinner. Your advice?

—Gaming Widow A stressed-out woman wants to talk about her feelings; a stressed-out man wants to gun down 87 slobbering zombies on his phone in hopes that his feelings get bored with him and go away.

It turns out that in dealing with emotional stress, men and women have some different neurochemical overlords.

If men’s had a name, it would be The Earl of Overkill, which is to say men tend to react neurochemically to social stress as they would to being chased through the woods by a maniac with a crossbow. First, there’s a surge of epinephrine and norepinephrine,

neuromessengers (aka neurotransmitters) that are the bandleaders of the brain’s “fight or flight” reaction. These kick off survivalpromoting changes in the body, like the heart beating faster, the release of the energy-mobilizing stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, and blood coursing to the arms and legs (all the better to punch or run!).

Meanwhile, systems not needed to fight back or scram—like digestion and higher reasoning—get powered down. Yep. That’s right.

Higher reasoning goes all lights out; nobody’s home. So trying to “connect and talk” with a stressed-out man is like trying to have an existential debate with a vacant warehouse.

It’s even worse from the man’s end. He’s gotten chemically and otherwise physiologically mobilized to bolt or do battle. But when there’s no crossbow-wielding dude to run from—just a bunch of social stress—there’s no use for all of these bodily resources that have been mustered up.

Psychologist John Gottman calls the effect from this “flooding,” explaining that men feel very physically uncomfortable and

30 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 16, 2017

get extremely frustrated that their access to the brain’s departments of insight and witty bits is blocked. Not surprisingly, what makes them feel better is mentally checking out until these uncomfortable feelings go away—uh, in lieu of access to a zookeeper’s tranq gun to shoot themselves in the thigh.

Unfortunately, the thing that makes men feel better is in direct conflict with what works for women. Psychologist Shelley Taylor finds that women’s reaction to emotional stress is mediated by oxytocin, a neurotransmitter that facilitates emotional bonding. This leads to what she calls a “tend and befriend” response: self-soothing through caring for and emotionally engaging with others. In other words, women tend to deal with emotional stress monsters by gabbing them down to size.

Good news: You can have what you need if you just wait for your husband to have what he needs—time to calm down and reset so his brain’s higher reasoning center is no longer in “Hello, my name is Cinderblock!” mode. Decide together how much time that needs to be—half an hour, maybe? After that, he should put down the flamethrower and “advance to the next level”: spoken-word communication, and not just the sort where you ask him, “Is that ‘mmmph’ to steak or ‘mmmph’ you just ended World War III and saved the galaxy from Nazi zombies?”

Little Photoshop Of Halos

Though the guy I broke up with recently was, ultimately, a pothead with zero am-

bition, I can’t stop thinking about all the sweet moments. This feels better in the moment but just keeps me pining. How can I have a more balanced mental picture?

—Selective Nostalgia Nostalgia is like crime-scene cleanup for your head: “My, what lovely new tiles. You’d hardly know there was once a triple murder in this kitchen.”

We’ve got tons of information back in storage in our long-term memory (picture rows of shelves and old steel file cabinets going on for, like, forever). However, we can only bring out and reflect on a few pieces of information at a time—probably four, according to memory researcher Nelson Cowan. Predictably, we gravitate to memories of ourselves as, say, a beloved partner who made smart choices—as opposed to one who jumped in without looking and then upcycled the growing pile of red flags into dog beds to sell on Etsy.

You need a virtual drone cam to help you see the whole landscape at once, and it’s called “an index card.” On it, list all the bummer stuff about your ex that you need to keep in mind. Maybe save a photo of it on your phone. This should help you keep those pesky upsides in perspective, like how he was always so attentive to detail—if that’s what you’d call smoking tons of pot and spending several hours monitoring the hair on his left arm. (c)2017, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.

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August 16, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 31