San Diego CityBeat • Aug 27, 2014

If you’re

mentally ill

and you’ve committed a crime,

good luck

finding your way

By Kelly Davis • P. 6

Lies P.4 ECPAC P.20 Strange P.22 Malts P.25

2 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

Please don’t sign the petition It started the very first day. Last Thursday, oppoing paid signature gatherers, Revolvis has 30 days nents of San Diego’s recently approved minimumto collect nearly 34,000 valid signatures from eligiwage increase kicked off their campaign to collect ble San Diego voters. Gatherers are paid by the sigenough petition signatures to qualify a referendum nature, so it’s in their interest to say whatever they for the June 2016 ballot. That day, City Council think will result in the most names on the petition.

President Todd Gloria, who’s led the charge to raise If the measure qualifies for the June 2016 ballot, the the wage, posted a video of his own encounter with wage increase will be put on hold until then. a signature gatherer who wasn’t telling the truth.

Not all gatherers are lying. For example, at Ralphs The guy said to Gloria, “Have you signed the pesupermarket in Hillcrest on Sunday, a gatherer simtition so the state can’t force the city of San Diego ply said that the petition would allow San Diegans to to increase the minimum wage yet?” That question vote on the matter. That’s accurate. But we’ve heard has no basis in reality. The state has nothing to do enough reports of lying that if the measure qualifies, with San Diego’s minimum-wage increase. The it would do so based partly on misinformation. state isn’t forcing anything.

Think about this: Voters selected members of During the next few days, we heard reports of the City Council to represent them. Those memmore lying: Some signature gatherers were misbers thought raising the minimum wage was the leading people into thinking that the petition was in right thing to do for their constituents. That’s favor of a minimum-wage hike. Some were telling called “representative democracy”—the electorate people that the City Council raised the minimum that opted to vote in City Council elections theowage to $15 an hour and that the petition was for retically gave their representatives the go-ahead to a lesser increase to $11.50. Video surfaced of one do what they think is best. In San Diego, 34,000 is Nico Fronterizo / Facebook signature gatherer telling 2.5 percent of the populaa voter that the minimum tion and 5.1 percent of regwage was being increased by istered voters. Those 34,000 50 percent. people will be able to kill the None of that is true. Here wage increase for at least are the very simple facts: On the first year-and-a-half of a 6-3 vote, the City Council its intended life. It would passed a law that would rebe one thing if that 2.5 perquire all employers to give cent of the population or employees five paid sick 5.1 percent of the registered days per year and raise the electorate was a scientific minimum wage to $9.75 an random sample. But it’s not.

This guy lied about how much It’s mostly people who are hour in January 2015, then the minimum wage will be increased. either against raising the to $10.50 in January 2016, then to $11.50 in January 2017. In 2019, wage inwage or were duped into signing a petition they creases would be indexed to the local cost of livdidn’t understand—all made possible because some ing. It’s important to note that the statewide minipowerful people who are against raising the wage mum wage went up from $8 to $9 on July 1. It will have the money to run a petition drive. rise to $10 in January 2016. So, in 2015, San Diego’s That’s all legal, but in our view, it’s anti-demlowest hourly pay would be 75 cents higher than ocratic, at least when compared with representathe state’s minimum. In 2016, it would be 50 cents tive democracy. higher. In 2017, it would be $1.50 higher, unless the We can’t say with certainty that Revolvis is enstate raises the wage again. It would be accurate couraging the lies, but we can say with certainty to say the council raised the wage 15 percent over that lying is happening, and that’s unfair to the peothe state-mandated minimum—effective two-andple who voted for two-thirds of the City Council— a-half years from now. but it’s especially unfair to the people hoping to get Mayor Kevin Faulconer vetoed the law, but the a modest increase in their pay. Please don’t sign the City Council overrode his veto. Then the San Diego petition, and if you must, just make sure you know what you’re doing.

Regional Chamber of Commerce launched the petition drive and hired Revolvis, a leading Republican What do you think? Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com. political consulting firm in San Diego, to run it. UsThis issue of CityBeat just programmed its autocorrect to turn all future self-references into “CityBeyoncé.”

Volume 13 • Issue 3

Cover illustration by Lindsey Voltoline

Arts Editor Kinsee Morlan

Contributors Ian Cheesman, David L. Coddon, Seth Combs, Michael A. Gardiner, Glenn Heath Jr., Nina Sachdev Hoffmann, Peter Holslin, Dave Maass, Scott McDonald, Jenny Montgomery, Susan Myrland, Mina Riazi, Jim Ruland, Ben Salmon, Jen Van Tieghem

Staff Writer Joshua Emerson Smith

Production Manager Tristan Whitehouse

Web Editor Ryan Bradford

Production artist Rees Withrow

Art director Lindsey Voltoline

Intern Narine Petrosyan

Columnists Aaryn Belfer, Edwin Decker, John R. Lamb, Alex Zaragoza

Vice President of Operations David Comden

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Publisher Kevin Hellman

Editor David Rolland Associate Editor Kelly Davis Music Editor Jeff Terich

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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 2014.

4 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

‘Awful’ immigration protestors Thank you for your comments on Murrieta [“Editorial,” July 9]. These are my thoughts precisely.

Such pride we have in watching this awful spectacle develop—all the protestors screaming at women and children must be proud. When you need immigrants, you enlist them in the military; when you don’t, you hound them. When you want vegetables in a market, you hire them despite bad conditions, pesticides, etc.

As for diseases people are dreaming about, many of their own children aren’t inoculated. They get a religious waiver and then proceed to infect a classroom. This winter, I contracted whooping cough from Saudi Arabian international students; these upscale guys had limited hygiene and awareness despite their visa status and pockets stuffed with cash.

Anyway, thank you for telling it like it is.

Dianne Obeso, University Heights

The abuse must stop Your editorial on youth-detainee abuse in the July 30 issue is “steel on target”! (That’s a U.S. Army term, by the way.) The article by Dave Maass and Kelly Davis, on the same topic and in the same issue, leaves one breathless over the regularly dished-out abuse in the county’s juvenile-detention units.

I’m especially appalled about the callous and egregious treatment of young women and equally appalled by the lack of interest by county supervisors. The Board of Supervisors needs to correct these continuing abuses. Guess they’d rather bask

in all the kudos directed their way over that new water park on Harbor Drive that now costs us taxpayers $2.3 million a year just for security patrols.

Maybe that could be funded with the dollars now being spent for pepper spray!

Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead until Chief Probation Officer Mack Jenkins is forced out of office.

Lou Cumming, La Jolla Editor’s note: A majority of the county Board of Supervisors—Dianne Jacob, Dave Roberts and Ron Roberts—now welcomes a federal investigation into pepper-spray abuse at juvenile facilities. We’ve not heard from Supervisors Greg Cox and Bill Horn on the issue.

Belfer’s a beacon Thanks to Aaryn Belfer for another home run: “Deporting refugees and welcoming Ebola” [“Backwards & in High Heels,” Aug. 6].

Once again, Ms. Belfer articulates perfectly my thoughts / feelings / beliefs on a current sociopolitical issue. Now, if I can remember some of her insightful passages and biting one-liners when I find myself in a heated debate with someone from the other side, I’ll be happy!

Thanks to her and to CityBeat for being a beacon of sanity and decency in the red sea of San Diego.

Suzy Perkins, La Mesa

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

L system ST LOST in the

“If they’re mentally ill and they have a delusion of what reality is,” Epley says, “then answering those other questions isn’t going to get at the delusions. It�������������� ’������������� s just a repetition of what the process is.”

According to numbers provided by the San Diego Superior Court, between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, there were 346 competency hearings. Four year later, that number had more than doubled to 745. A court spokesperson said the results of those hearings aren’t tracked, so it’s impossible to know how many of those cases resulting in an incompetency finding. Nor does the court track how many ISTs committed misdemeanors and how many committed felonies—misdemeanor ISTs are, in almost all cases, treated in the jail’s psychiatric security unit. But, a look the number of felony ISTs that the Sheriff’s Department has transported to state hospitals shows the extent to which the population’s grown.

In 2010, 65 IST inmates were transferred to a state hospital. As of two weeks ago, the department had transported almost double that number—122—so far this year.

San Diego’s Central Jail has only 30 psychiatric beds. Meanwhile, the county jail system’s waiting list to be transferred to a state hospital has reached as high as 70.

Daniel Pena, captain of the Central Jail, says they’re looking at how to better care for inmates whose transfer is delayed.

“We’re having to look at other options, including expanding to other housing units where we’re going to have to step up the incompetent,” the ruling notes. level of treatment in some areas that we “When a defendant arrives at Patton haven’t had to do before,” he says. “It’s a on day 84 of the 90-day period, there is no growing population, and it’s going to be meaningful opportunity for the defendant challenging for anyone who’s operating to make progress toward recovery of mental jails and prisons.” competence,” the judges wrote, “let alone yle did well at Patton, his mom says: “He for the medical director of the hospital to had proper care. He was given proper make a written report to the court concernmeds. He had group therapy daily. He was ing such progress by the defendant.”

Sometimes declaring someone IST is the around people who had similar issues.”

But his time there was bookended by jail only way to get that person treated. Defense attorneys are increasingly using competen- stays. When a person’s declared incompecy proceedings to get help for clients, many tent to stand trial, court proceedings are of whom have cycled through the criminal- suspended. Sarah feared that when Kyle was released from Patton in late June and justice system without any intervention.

“Over the last several years, we’ve been returned to jail, he’d stop taking his medipaying a lot more attention to how we help cation and his condition would deteriorate.

There should be other opthese people stay out of the tions for mentally ill offenders system,” says Deputy Public that don’t include jail, says SuDefender Mel Epley. “It’s all zanna Gee, associate managing about trying to identify why attorney with Disability Rights the person’s in the system in California. The law that govthe first place, treat that issue erns competency proceedings or address it so they won’t have allows for certain felony ISTs— to come back.” those who’ve committed lowIt used to be that if a defen— Suzanna Gee level, nonviolent offenses—to be dant knew the role of each person in a courtroom—prosecutor, defense placed in a court-approved outpatient treatattorney, judge—and understood his right ment program instead of a state hospital.

“What’s happening in practice is that to a jury trial, the person was considered people aren’t going to these community competent, Epley says.

“These are things you can question programs,” Gee says. “They’re only going to somebody about, and even if they�������� ’������� re men- the state hospital primarily.” tally ill, after awhile, by the sheer repetition A court spokesperson confirmed that of talking to them, they’re going to get it San Diego County has no conditional-reright at some point.” lease treatment programs for felony ISTs. Now the key question is whether someSuch programs are less expensive than one can assist in his own defense and un- putting someone in a state hospital and would, derstand the consequences of his plea. ideally, get a person into treatment faster.

If you’re mentally ill and you’ve committed a crime, good luck finding your way

by Kelly Davis

S

arah’s standing in the hallway of the San Diego Central Courthouse, hoping to see her son Kyle as deputies lead groups of inmates, shackled together, to holding cells behind the courtrooms.

She spots Kyle and yells his name, and he gives her a quick, nervous smile. He looks younger than his 24 years and much different than the Kyle she’d seen in jail last fall, before he was sent to a state hospital for treatment. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, he’d refused to take his medication. He’d lost weight and let his dark hair and beard grow long. When Sarah visited him, his wrists and ankles were shackled. “Despondent,” is how she described him. For nearly six months, he was held in administrative segregation at San Diego’s Central Jail—for his own protection, Sarah was told.

“Five-and-a-half months. No medication, in his own cell in isolation,” she says.

“All he did was sleep.”

Last June, Kyle was charged with assault and resisting arrest after he verbally threatened a police officer in El Cajon. He was living in a nearby board-and-care facility and, the week prior, had walked away from a psychiatric hospital. Since he was 18, he’s been in and out of psychiatric facilities and jail, his mom says.

Six months after his arrest, Kyle was declared incompetent to stand trial and ordered to Patton, California’s largest state hospital, in San Bernardino County. But he’d end up spending another 70 days in custody before a bed opened up. Patton’s licensed for 1,287 patients, but currently holds 1,523—the state has waived its cap

through September 2020. Statewide, more than 200 inmates who’ve been declared incompetent to stand trial (IST) are waiting in jail—on average, 83.5 days, according to the Department of State Hospitals—for a bed to open up.

“Jails are for punishment; they’re not for therapy,” says Rob, whose son Mike is being held in administrative segregation at the Central Jail while he awaits transfer to Atascadero State Hospital. The backlog isn’t new, Rob says. Six years ago, his son waited five months for a bed at Patton.

P

eople are committed to state hospitals for a number of reasons—they’ve been found guilty by reason of insanity or, like Mike, they’ve been deemed mentally disordered offenders, meaning that although they’ve served ����������������������������������� ���������������������������� their sentence, they’re considered a threat to public safety and are kept at a state hospital until evaluators clear them for release. Folks are declared incompetent to stand trial (IST) when their mental illness has rendered them incapable of assisting in their own defense. It’s this population that’s putting the most strain on the state hospital system.

In 2012, the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) called attention to the backlog of IST inmates, warning that “the state faces significant legal risks” if something wasn’t done to reduce wait times. The report referenced a 2010 appeals-court ruling in the case of a mentally ill man who waited in jail for 84 days before being sent to Patton. California law requires state hospitals to report on an IST patient’s progress “within 90 days of a person being deemed

6 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

K

“I think it’s unfounded fear about violence, and stigma.”

Kelly Davis

Sarah hopes the right treatment program will help her son Kyle stay out of jail.

“The statute on placement isn’t being really applied fully,” Gee says.

“You’re harming the client, you’re costing the state and you’re getting, really, an inefficient system.”

The LAO report highlighted a program in San Bernardino County, where felony ISTs are treated in jail, as one way to alleviate hospital wait times and prevent malingering—when patients fake symptoms to avoid being sent back to jail.

Ralph Montaño, spokesperson for the Department of State Hospitals, says there’s a similar program—with 20 beds, like San Bernardino’s program—in Riverside County, and there are plans to start programs in other counties to help reduce wait times.

But Gee doesn’t think this is the way to go.

“If they want to pilot another program, not in the jail. If they can pilot something in the community and see how that goes, I think it’s a start.”

Unfortunately, it’s not something anyone’s really advocating for, Gee says: “I think it’s unfounded fear about violence, and stigma.”

T

he LAO report estimates that California would need to spend $200 million annually to clear the state-hospital backlog. But, that’s money wasted if there aren’t the right resources to keep a person stable once he gets out of jail.

There are community programs for mentally ill offenders, says Connie Magana, supervisor of the Public Defender’s Mental Health Unit, but they sometimes exclude the people who most need help.

“Sometimes the court orders them to try to seek case management, but some individuals have told me that they’ve gone to try to get case management… and they’ve been denied; they’ve been told, ‘You don’t meet our criteria, so we can’t help you,’” she says.

CityBeat talked to several parents of mentally ill adult children

who described how easy it is for someone to fall deeper and deeper into a system that’s ill-equipped to handle them.

Like Kyle, Rob’s son Mike also did well at Patton. He was prescribed Zyprexa, a medication used to treat schizophrenia.

“It was a night-and-day change,” Rob says.

After two months at Patton, Mike was sent back to jail, where he was denied Zyprexa and put on a different drug, Seroquel. Shortly after he was released from jail, he was re-arrested for assault.

“Nobody was hurt,” Rob says.

He’s not making excuses for his son, he adds, but in this case, he doesn’t think the punishment fit the crime. “He was on the wrong medication. He was in crisis,” Rob says. “He was in really bad shape.”

Rob says he was led to believe that if Mike pleaded guilty, he’d be sent back to Patton. Instead, he was sent to prison. There, he was put on a high dose of Seroquel, “so they could make him compliant, so there’s no problems,” Rob says.

Because his crimes were tied to mental illness, before Mike was released from prison, he was evaluated by state psychiatrists and deemed a mentally disordered offender. Instead of being released, he was transferred to Atascadero, where he’s been since 2010. Once a year, he’s allowed to challenge his commitment, but to do so, he’s transported to San Diego for a hearing, meaning he loses his bed at Atascadero. For an early August hearing—where he was ordered to remain in Atascadero for another year—he was brought back in June.

“He is still in the San Diego County jail, in a cell 23 hours a day by himself—no therapy, no groups, waiting for a ride and a bed back at Atascadero,” Rob says.

Anita Fisher’s son, who suffers from schizophrenia, self-medicated with crack cocaine and ended up with a mandatory prison sen-

tence. That started a cycle: He’d be released to parole, violate his parole and end up back in prison.

Fisher is the education director for the local branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and leads a monthly Criminal Justice Family Support Group. She says she’s an advocate for Laura’s Law—she emphasized that she wasn’t speaking on behalf of NAMI in saying this. Laura’s Law says that a mentally ill person who refuses treatment, is a threat to himself or others and has a history of hospitalization and/ or incarceration����������������� can be court-ordered into treatment. Involuntary treatment is controversial, and only four California counties have implemented the law.

“Had I been able to get my son into something involuntarily, he wouldn’t have had all those trips to jail and prison and been on the streets, homeless,” Fisher says.

In May, she went to pick up her son from jail.

“Sometimes you’ve got to sit there for hours,” she says. “You don’t know when they’re coming out.” As she watched inmates being released, she started keeping count of those who were clearly mentally ill.

“Now, this person needs help,” she’d tell herself. “He’ll be back

here probably in 24 hours.”

K

yle was in court this week to find out if he’d be accepted into a program, Exodus, as part of his probation. Sarah had been told by Kyle’s public defender that to be accepted, he’d need to show some level of awareness of his illness and that he wanted to get better.

“He has to be cognizant that there’s a correlation between taking medication: ‘My life is smoother and it’s better; things are more positive,’” she says. “‘I don’t take my meds and things are bad, I get arrested, I’m found naked under a bush.’ He has to draw the distinction on some level.”

Sarah stood outside the courtroom with Bob, Kyle’s father. To them, this seems like Kyle’s last chance. His parents have struggled to help him, but having Kyle live with either of them isn’t an option; he’s disruptive in a way that only a parent of a seriously mentally ill child could understand.

Bob worries that if Kyle’s not accepted into Exodus, he’ll end up back on the street, then back in jail, where he doesn’t always get along with other inmates.

“If you don’t have someone making him take the medication—.” Bob trails off. “Right now, I don’t think there’s an answer in

the system.”

The hearing was supposed to start at 9:30 a.m., but a bailiff comes out to explain it’s been delayed while attorneys discuss a case. Sarah wonders if it’s Kyle they’re talking about. She’d been in contact with Magana, the Mental Health Unit supervisor, and even sent a letter to Public Defender Henry Coker, pleading for help finding a program for Kyle.

At a little after 10 a.m., a deputy public defender calls Sarah’s name and pulls her aside. Kyle’s been denied a slot at Exodus, she explains, but they’ve found him another program, one that will provide the kind of intensive care he needs. The next morning, a representative from the program will pick Kyle up from jail. As part of his probation, he’ll have to stay in the program for a full year and come back to court each month to update a judge on his progress.

“If my son would just come home,” Sarah says. “I don’t think there would be anything better in life.”

Some of the people interviewed for this story asked that last names, or entire names, not be used, for privacy reasons.

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

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

edwin

sordid tales

decker The wrong way to role-play—choo choo!

I recently came across an article in Hydro Life magmore Sexy Librarian action and only do Lunch Lady azine titled “Role Play the Right Way.” It was the on Fridays? Friday is lasagna day, you know.” latest installment of “Carnal Knowledge,” an advice Again, not an expert, but if you absolutely must column by self-described sex expert Lady Lovehando Lunch Lady, then, for crying out loud, get over to dle. In the article, Ms. Lovehandle suggests playing a Home Town Buffet, stand on opposite sides of the romantic roles to spice up a couple’s sex life and ofbuffet deck and have her lop a piece of chicken and fers her favorite scenarios. some mashed potatoes on your tray.

Now, I’m not the role-playing type. The only role “May I have another piece of chicken, ma’am?”

I have ever played in a romantic relationship is my “What’s in it for me?” signature “Honey I’m busy, can you make this quick” “Here, let me show you,” you say before dragcharacter that pretty much destroyed my marriage. ging her into the bathroom and lovingly bending However, it’s evident, after reading her ludicrous her over the sink. suggestions, that I know a helluva lot more about Next on Lady Lovehandle’s list is the Passive Agrole-playing than Ms. Lovehandle does. gressive Co-worker, and now it’s just getting bizarre.

“My personal favorite is Stranger on the Train,” “Try emailing your significant other something she writes. “Strangers on the train are always sexy like, ‘Sorry to break this to you but the way you so why not bring the train to the bedroom?” present yourself is not on par with our company First of all, strangers on a train are not “always mission statement.’” sexy.” Have you ridden a train? Strangers on a train Wait! Now, what? Pretending you’re some nerdy have vacant stares and the smell of nacho cheese company-man co-worker complaining about her and despair seeping from their pores. appearance by email is supposed to activate her liSecondly, bring the train to the bedroom? How bido? When I read this, I had to reread the article to is that done exactly? Instead of make sure it wasn’t a joke. It was Barry White, should you play the clear; she was being serious. This After climaxing, they sound effect of clacking wheels so-called expert on sex actually and the periodic choo choo of a believes that Annoying Coworkdraw Satan horns on train whistle? When approacher, Lunch Lady and Stranger on an autographed picture ing the “stranger,” should you a Train are the best roles you can sway back and forth like it’s difuse to spice up a relationship. of George Bush. ficult to keep your footing? Are Again, not an expert—in fact, there any couples out there who a million snots of hilarity would could act out this scenario without falling to their spew from my nostrils should I ever try any roleknees in laughter? playing scene. But even I can think of a thousand hotAs I said, I’m no expert, but if you’re going to ter scenarios than these. Just off the top of my head, role-play Strangers on a Train, then get your lazy you can do a Pilot / Stewardess scene: Airplane is goasses onto an actual train. Just board separately, ing down. Stewardess enters cockpit and confesses wait for the train to get rolling, then approach the to pilot that if she’s going to die, she’d like to do so stranger and ask where she’ll be disembarking. in the throes of ecstasy. Hot near-death-experience “I’m getting off in Solana Beach. What about sex ensues. (If you’ve got an exhibitionist tendency, you?” pretend the mic is still keyed and the passengers can “I’m getting off right now,” you say, then drag hear you on the loudspeaker.)

You can also do a 9/11 Truther Meets Condoher into the bathroom and bend her over the sink leezza Rice scene: Truther sneaks into Condie’s while the clack clack clack and choo choo choo of a bedroom and demands an apology for planning real train drown out your howls of ecstasy.

9/11. Condie admits culpability and apologizes.

Next on Lovehandle’s list of favorite roles to play Truther bends her over dresser. After climaxing, is—are you ready for this humdinger?—Lunch Lady. they draw Satan horns on an autographed picture Yes, the old Lunch Lady bit, which she prefers beof George Bush. cause it “brings us back to our childhood and waitOr my favorite scenario of all: Sordid Tales coling in lines.” umnist approaches Carnal Knowledge columnist in Now, maybe I’m missing something, but what bar. He says her column on role-playing had as much the heck is sexy about our childhoods? Or waiting unintentional hilarity as when Baghdad Bob kept in lines? A lunch line no less?! I don’t know about insisting Iraqi forces were crushing the American you, but waiting for a little old lady with ear hair military. Sex columnist gets mad and drags him to aland a dowager’s hump to serve me soggy fish sticks ley to teach him a lesson. Columnist resists and says is hardly a turn on. he will not put out unless she changes her title from “Definitely invest in loads of hair nets,” writes “sex expert” to “just another boob with a platform.”

Ms. Lovehandle, causing me to wonder exactly She agrees and bends him over a bike rack. In the where and how this woman obtained her “sex exdistance, a train enters a tunnel. Choo choo. pert” credentials. Because if my wife asked me to pick up a bunch of hair nets for this role, I’d be, like, Write to edwin@sdcitybeat.com “Um, sweetie, how often are we going to be playing and editor@sdcitybeat.com. the Lunch Lady bit? Maybe can we squeeze in some

8 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

by michael a. gardiner Michael A. Gardiner

and rich, with an array of textures, it’s far more wonderful than it figures to be.

The classic starting point for a Mexican torta is the telera (a more ovoid version of the bolillo, Mexico’s version of French bread). The split roll is filled with proteins (hot or cold, shredded or not), cheese, eggs, chiles, sauces and beans. The only real limitation is the imagination. It wouldn’t be incorrect to think of the torta as a taco done up sandwich-style.

Tortas and Beer offers a wide variety of fillings: beef or chicken Milanesa, chicken breast, carne asada, The sublime pork torta chorizo, egg and cheese, as well as some specialty tortas.

One of these, the Hawaiian, features the hamand-pineapple combination familiar from latenight pizza misadventures, but it doesn’t work quite as well on a torta as on a pizza pie. Where the multiplicity of ingredients on the Cubana achieves a balance of flavors and textures, here Best Sandwich on the Planet, Part 5 the pineapple somehow seems like the odd man out, missing a counterbalance.

It’s a common sight on roadways on both sides Tortas and Beer’s pork offering is significantly of the Mexican border: a pickup truck, its bed more successful. This is the Cubana’s simpler, filled to overflowing, piled high and wide with more direct cousin. Some refer to tortas as Mexia vast array of items all “secured” by a single can hamburgers, but a better reference point for rope. There’s no way that thing should make it this dish might be a Mexican pulled-pork sandanother mile without the payload collapsing all wich. It’s savory. It’s rich. It’s balanced. The jalaover the road. And yet, whether through gravpeño’s crunch and bite contrasts with the softer ity-defying engineering or odds-defying luck, textures of the avocado and the shredded pork, remarkably, it does. and the avocado’s richness plays off of the tomaAnd that, in a nutshell, is the story of the to, which counters the juiciness of the shredded torta Cubana at Tortas and Beer in Hillcrest pork, which is soaked up by the bolillo roll. This (142 University Ave.). The reference to the clasmay not be Tortas and Beer’s signature sandwich, sic Cuban sandwich—ham, roasted pork, cheese, but maybe it should be. pickles and mustard on pressed Cuban bread—is Tortas and Beer is a new entry on the Hillobvious and somewhat misleading. This Mexicrest and San Diego scene, having opened only can version includes shredded pork, chicken in July. It offers great value—one torta is, in Milanesa, hot-dog meat, ham, egg, cheese, avosome cases, more than enough to satisfy two— cado, jalapeño peppers and more, all on a wonand great flavor: best sandwich on the planet, Mexican-style. derful telera roll. There’s absolutely no way that this thing should work. It ought to be a culinary Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com yard sale of epic proportions, an offense to God and editor@sdcitybeat.com. and country. But, remarkably, it works. Savory

the world

fare

10 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

BY KELLY DAVIS LYUDMILA ZOTOVA

cocktail

tales All about the orgeat

I was talking to a friend recently about cocktails, and we got on the subject of tiki cocktails. She made a face best described as “eww.”

“Once you add pineapple juice,” she said, “I’m not interested.”

That got me thinking: For a cocktail to be truly tiki, does it have to have a sweet juice as its base? Craft-cocktail bars use fresh juices, which dial back the sweetness, but some folks still find pineapple juice in particular to be a little cloying.

“Why would somebody not like pineapple juice? That’s crazy talk.”

That’s Erick Castro, general manager at Polite Provisions (politeprovisions.com) in North Park. Castro’s a bit of a tiki fiend. The second Tuesday of each month, he decks out the bar in tiki decor and offers specials on tiki drinks.

If you’re not into overly sweet drinks and, say, find yourself at Polite Provisions on a Tuesday, ask your bartender to make your tiki cocktail as dry as possible, Castro suggests. Or, opt for a Mai Tai. “I love making people Mai Tais because the only version they’ve had tends to be a really bad one,” he says. “It’s all about the fresh juice and a good orgeat.”

Castro’s version has fresh lime juice, a housemade orgeat, Orange Curacao and two kinds of rum: El Dorado and Appletons. He’s also a fan of a good, basic daiquiri with fresh lime juice and an aged rum.

What about a tiki drink made with bourbon?

Sure, Castro says—there’s the Western Sour, made with grapefruit juice, lime juice, Falernum, simple syrup and bourbon. The Eastern Sour, first made at Trader Vic’s, combines orange and lemon juices, orgeat and bourbon.

Orgeat (pronounced or-zaht or, if you want to be fancy, or-zha) is an almond-based syrup.

It was Polite Provisions, specifically the Attorney Privilege (a simple but delicious combo of bourbon, orgeat, Angostura bitters), that turned

12 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

Erick Castro me on to orgeat. After looking for it in smaller liquor stores, I ended up at BevMo, where I was directed to Torani’s orgeat. That stuff’s not good.

Avoid it. But I’ll forgive BevMo, because on a recent trip there, I found Berkeley-based Small Hand Foods’ orgeat. Now, that stuff’s good. Really, really good (Small Hand also has a nice selection of syrups, some of which are at BevMo. See smallhandfoods.com for the whole lineup).

If you want to make your own orgeat, you’ll find no shortage of recipes online, though they’re a little involved and, if you mess up, you’ve just wasted a bunch of money on almonds. Since I recently ditched regular milk for almond milk, the orgeat recipe at craftcocktailsathome.com—“A Blasphemously Easy Recipe for the Best Homemade Orgeat”—that uses almond milk got my attention. The website’s version is in grams, so here’s a conversion that worked out pretty well: 6 ounces unsweetened almond milk 3 ounces sugar Eight drops almond extract (I really like almond extract, so I added a few extra drops) Four dashes orange blossom water (also available at BevMo) Write to kellyd@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

by jenny montgomery Jenny montgomery

north

fork Exotic in Encinitas

For such a sprawling swath of real estate that encompasses what’s called “North County,” there’s a surprising dearth of decent Indian restaurants.

Sure, there are a handful of run-of-the-mill buffets, but fewer places with expansive menus worthy of deeper exploration. Fortunately, I found KC’s Tandoor in Encinitas, and it might just become my goto place for a little taste of the Subcontinent.

What started as a successful catering business is now a shiny little nook tucked down in a shopping center off of El Camino Real (1070 N. El Camino Real, Suite A, kcstandoor.com). What’s lacking in foot traffic is hopefully made up for by local word of mouth.

I don’t normally go for Tandoori chicken—not because I have anything against it, but because it’s everywhere and mostly the same wherever

you go. But, hey, I have a 2-year-old who’s got to eat and she likes the kooky-colored, lemony bird. KC’s charges a buck extra for white meat, so keep that in mind. The chicken doesn’t rewrite the script, but it’s juicy and tasty and just what you want.

Dig a little deeper, though, and check out some of the Southern Indian specialties. I dived into a bowl of curried coconut shrimp, soaking up the complex mix of sweet and savory with dosa, an enormous, thin pancake made from fermented rice and lentil batter. Thinner and crispier than the ubiquitous naan, dosa has a bit of tang and a delicacy that’s addictive.

On the slightly more familiar tip, I see myself returning for the simple pleasure of the butter paneer tikka masala. Even the most voracious of meat eaters has to appreciate the salty yum of paneer—cubes of cheese that happily swim in a vibrant red sauce. My wimpy tongue asked for the mildest version, but I still felt a lot of heat, so you spice lovers will be delighted.

Maybe it’s because I’m weeks away from giving birth and I’ve apparently entered a cravings phase, but my normally moderate sweet tooth cannot be stopped. That’s why I was in Heaven tucking into a small serving of hot, milky balls called gulab jamun. The warm, creamy spheres of sweet milk paste come immersed in simple syrup laden with the exotic flavor of rose water. It’s a small bit of dessert, but for less than $2 a serving, it packs a creamy, intensely sugary hit that tastes unique and special.

I encountered a few service hiccups during my visits—like cashiers not always being completely familiar with menu items, or certain things being unavailable—but, overall, I found this little stripmall treasure to be a wonderful and refreshing find. On one visit, the owner was there, and she couldn’t have been more accommodating. She even noticed that I’d dropped my plastic fork on the ground and, unaware that I heartily embrace germs, immediately brought me a basket of fresh flatware to choose from.

I’ll keep searching for more surprising and unexpected finds when it comes to Indian food, but, for now, KC’s Tandoor is tops for me in the top of the county.

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

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

the floating

library

by jim ruland

Love in the time of AOL The Shimmering Go-Between, the debut novel

by Lee Klein, published by Atticus Books, takes its title from a quote by Vladimir Nabokov: “Between the wolf in the tall grass and the wolf in the tall tale, there is a shimmering go-between….”

That’s a telling quote, for it alerts the reader to the possibility that we are on the threshold of something fantastic.

The story begins with Dolores, a precocious young girl who becomes pregnant while still in high school. There’s just one problem: “She hadn’t been penetrated. No one knew what to say. She swore she hadn’t been with anyone. Hadn’t even been near anyone. Had never even seen a real live penis.”

Dolores’ story is regarded with the usual skepticism from her parents and family physician, but it keeps happening. Somehow Dolores seems to be conceiving without the assistance of a sperm donor. In other words, she can fertilize her own eggs.

Traumatized by these experiences, Dolores avoids contact with boys until she enrolls in college. After a night of sex with Max, a fellow student with political ambitions, something really strange happens. His beard fills with nits that grow into “squirmy half-grains of buttered risotto” and turn into a “mini-Amazonian clan” of little women that stop growing when they reach a height of three centimeters.

This bizarre development sets the stage for the rest of the book, which focuses on a love triangle between Dolores, Max and another bearded fellow: Dolores’ co-worker Wilson, who possesses a disturbing secret that nests nicely with the theme of selffertilization.

Set during “the time the internet came into the lives of ordinary citizens,” Klein’s characters inhabit a bland, featureless landscape that has all the charm of a set from the TV show Friends.

Even the author’s excellent blackand-white illustrations seem stuck in time—such is their desire to give the reader a glimpse into the world the author has created.

But in the weeds lurks another world, a world within Wilson that looks a bit like Colonial Williamsburg and is populated by—well, it’s complicated. Suffice to say that these two storylines— the world within Wilson and the world without— intersect in dramatic fashion.

Klein’s mastery over these two narratives makes

14 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

The Shimmering Go-Between a shocking and delightful debut that will beguile you at every turn.

•••

Erika T. Wurth’s debut novel from Curbside Splendor, Crazy Horse’s Girlfriend, also deals with teen pregnancy, but the circumstances couldn’t be more different.

Wurth’s protagonist, Magaritte, is a 16-yearold Native American whose family has escaped the poverty and despair of the reservation but is just barely getting by in Idaho Springs, Colorado. Magaritte is a bright but irreverent young girl who juggles school and a part-time job, taking care of her toddler twin sisters, keeping her wild cousin Jake out of trouble and staying out of her alcoholic father’s way. To make ends meet, she helps Jake with petty drug deals.

Then she meets a boy. Mike is the new kid in school who’s moved from California to the wealthy suburbs of Idaho Springs. “He took my clothes off slowly, his hand running down my hip, over my thunderbird tattoo. ‘I love this thing,’ he said and kissed it.”

This exchange sends a warning to readers that Mike sees Magaritte not as a person so much as an exotic other, a plaything for his fantasies. Magaritte, though street savvy and justifiably wary, is still just a kid, and she falls for him in a bad way. Mike, of course, isn’t as innocent as she is first made to believe, and their romance has terrible consequences for Magaritte, Jake and her entire family.

It’s a plot right out of an after-school special, but in Crazy Horse’s Girlfriend, there’s no safety net. On TV, the hardest thing the protagonist has to do is face the consequences of her actions. Magaritte has to do that, too, and it’s not easy, but her situation is complicated by the constant threat of violence—both on the streets and in her home.

Wurth paints a stirring portrait of life at the margins for a Native American teen whose dream of living a normal life is compromised by the poverty she desperately tries to escape. Crazy Horse’s Girlfriend isn’t just a story about Native Americans; it’s an American story we cannot afford to ignore.

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

the

SHORTlist

1

COORDINATED BY KINSEE MORLAN

CHARMING HUCKSTERS

San Diego crooner / guitar-slinger Grampadrew says his wife bitterly called him a “flimflam man” at about 5:30 a.m. one Tuesday morning, after he’d returned home from a night of drinking, carousing and playing music. The description stuck and eventually became the name of an event the musician puts on regularly at Whistle Stop Bar or The Casbah, Grampadrew’s Flim-Flam Revue.

To him, the name makes perfect sense.

Through artful, skillful wordplay, a flimflam man manipulates his audience into buying whatever he’s selling. “Medicine shows had a bad reputation because they were often selling worthless cure-alls and snake oils,” Grampadrew explains in an email, “but what they were really selling was the entertainment value of the sales pitch.”

And that’s how Grampadrew sometimes views live music. “Seeing people hustle, watching the work as it’s being created—when it’s done well, you just can’t help but be taken wholly in by it. Hucksterism or not, it’s charming and undeniable.”

The Flim-Flam Revue is a rollicking, informal gathering of local musicians who get up on stage and play “old-time favorites and original compositions inspired by our musical heroes from the days of yore,” Grampadrew says. The next one, starting at 9 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 31, at The Casbah (2501 Kettner Blvd. in Middletown), is a little bit more special because it’s doubling as a birthday party for the host himself. The lineup includes members of San Diego bands such as Transfer, Scarlet Symphony, Hills Like Elephants, The Long and Short of It and River City, among others.

The Revue has recently added visual art to the mix, and this one will feature art in The Casbah’s Atari Lounge by Natassia Nicolau, Ryan Tannascoli,

2

ART

POP GOES THE MUSIC

There are still a couple weeks left of summer, and that means a few more opportunities to take in a free, outdoor concert.

The Downtown San Diego Partnership is hosting a number of summer pop-up concerts, all happening downtown, as part of an ongoing series, all day on Friday, Aug. 29. The shows start at noon with classic rock from Kova at the Westgate Hotel (1055 Second Ave.), then continue from 3 to 5 p.m. with the Brazilian sounds of Sol e Mar at Silo at Makers Quarter (753 15th St.) and the country / western sounds of Jesse Beason Band at the County Waterfront Park (1600 Pacific Hwy.). The shows are free and open to all ages. downtownsandiego.org/about-dsdp/summersounds

Jesse Beason

MATT JANECEK

HMurals of La Jolla Walking Tour at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The library hosts guided walking tours of the murals on the last Wednesday of every month. View work by artists like Kim MacConnel, Ryan McGinness, Kelsey Brookes and more. At 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27. 858-4545872, ljathenaeum.org Shore Thing at MCASD La Jolla, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. Back for a second year, the MCASD galleries will stay open late every Thursday. Guests can enjoy cocktails on the terrace, live music, tours of current exhibitions and more. From 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. mcasd.org James Sullivan at La Jolla Art Space, 7514 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. The local painter will show off his mix of surrealism and abstraction at the new, garage-like space. Opening from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. 858754-6114, sullivanla.com HYou Are Not Alone at Helmuth Projects, 1827 Fifth Ave., Downtown. New Yorkbased artist Jaimie Warren will unveil the results of a month-long residency. Warren is known for constructing elaborate sets to create ironic and insightful photographic and video works. Opening from 6 to 9 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 29. 619-265-6842, sayingtheleastandsayingitloud.com

Grampadrew Jon Kruger, Max Mannion, Tara Castro, Gary Hankins and Eric Hankins.

And starting at 3 p.m. and leading right into the Revue, The Casbah will host The Sunday Round Up, six hours’ worth of live music, art-and-design browsing and barbecue. Admission to the Round Up is $5. The cover for the Revue is $8, or $5 in advance. Those already there for the Round Up can stay for the Revue for free. Search Facebook for both events to get details.

3

GROUP EFFORT

New York artist Jaimie Warren says that roughly 80 people stopped by Helmuth Projects (1827 Fifth Ave. in Bankers Hill) to help her with a project she’s been working on during her residency at the gallery. Warren’s known for the elaborate, often quirky, pop-culture-inspired sets she constructs by hand. After putting herself and/or others dressed as wacky characters inside the iconic worlds she creates, she photographs or films them. The volunteers made fabric flowers, built giant sequined hands and crafted papier-mâché chainsaws. The result—a 15th-century painting re-imagined by replacing angels and saints with folks who played a role in the life of Michael Jackson—will be unveiled, along with other works, at a public opening at the gallery from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. helmuth-projects.com

Volunteers working with Jaimie Warren

HSTIR at Planet Rooth Design Haus, 3334 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest. Low Gallery presents an evening of visual art and sound pieces from some of San Diego’s top creatives including Jason Sherry, Joshua Krause, Don Porcella, Anna Zappoli and more. There’ll also be live music and performance pieces. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. 619-2979663, lowgallerysd.com American Dreamers at Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. New works documenting a group of skilled workers by local photographer and video artist Garvin Ha, who uses������������ wood transfer for ��������������������������������� a handcrafted approach. Opening from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. thumbprintgallerysd.com An Outside Perspective: Learning from Tamayo at MCASD La Jolla, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. Explore issues emerging from the exhibitions currently on view at the museum. This one focuses on the Treasures of the Tamayo Museum, Mexico City exhibition, with a conversation with Juan Carlos Pereda, collections curator at the Tamayo Museum. From 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. $5. 858-454-3541, mcasd.org Barrio Art Crawl at Barrio Logan Arts District, 1878 Main St., Barrio Logan. A free self-guided tour featuring outdoor murals, open studios, galleries and local businesses throughout the Barrio Logan Arts District. Venues include La Bodega Gallery, Roots Factory, Union Barrio Logan, Glashaus, La Esquina and more. At 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. 619-366-9006, barrioartsdistrict.com

taking in an ice-cream themed art show featuring works from dozens of local artists including Autumn Rashak, Cong Nguyen, Lisa Mendez and more. Opening from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2. 619220-0231, thumbprintgallerysd.com Roots to Figures and Spots of Time at Olive PR Solutions, Inc., 350 West Ash St., Little Italy. Pimento Fine Art presents a double artist reception with sculptural work from Benjamin Lavendar and vibrantly colored paintings by Ellen Dieter. Opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Gallery Talk: Past and Present: The Art of El Lissitzky at Timken Museum of Art, Balboa Park. Kristina Rosenberg, Timken’s education director, discusses the importance and continuing impact of the Russian artist and propagandist. At 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. 619239-5548, timkenmuseum.org

BOOKS Patrick Swenson at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. Swenson promotes his debut novel, The Ultra Thin Man, described as a tense, fast-paced near-future thriller where aliens, terrorists, and interplanetary conspiracies collide. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Brent Weeks at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. The author will be signing the third book in the Lightbringer series, The Broken Eye. This is a numbered event and numbers for the signing line are free with the purchase of the book. At 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Dana Fredsti at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. The author will be signing and discussing her new book, Plague World, the third and final novel in the Ashley Parker zombie apocalypse series. At 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. mystgalaxy.com Susan Union at Warwick‘s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Union will sign and discuss, Rode to Death, a mystery novel whose protagonist is an equine journalist. At noon Sunday, Aug. 31. 858454-0347, warwicks.indiebound.com

COMEDY HNorth Park Comedy Night at Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave., North Park.

Monthly night featuring headliner Rick Martinez, as well as Adam Connie, Dustin Nickerson, Barbara Thomason and Raul Zambrano. At 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28.

619-269-8820, sevengrandbars.com Chris Franjola at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. He’s a regular on Chelsea Lately, as well as the spinoff scripted comedy series After Lately and wrote some episodes of Family Guy. At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. $18.

619-795-3858, americancomedyco.com

Open Spaces: Lemon Grove at Lemon Grove Community Center, 3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove. The San Diego Museum of Art will host a meeting for community members who wish to participate in creating a public art piece that celebrates the diversity of Lemon Grove. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. sdma.org

HRajan Dharni at Comedy Palace, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. The L.A.-based comic, writer and self-proclaimed “burrito connoisseur” is best known for the hit show IMPRO(vs) TANDUP at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. At 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. $15. thecomedypalace.com

Village Faire Art Festival at Village Faire Plaza, 300 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad. Enjoy live music, artist exhibits, demonstrations and art for sale by dozens of local artisans. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31. coalartgallery.com

Bobby Slayton at Mad House Comedy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown. Often referred to as “The Pitbull of Comedy,” he’s appeared on The Tonight Show, Politically Incorrect and in movies such as Get Shorty. At 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29-30. $20. 619-7026666, madhousecomedyclub.com

Assorted Flavors at Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream, 3077 University Ave., North Park. Enjoy some ice cream while

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

THEATER

JIM COX

Gentlemen is beguiling fun at the Globe The Old Globe’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona, capping off its 2014 Summer Shakespeare Festival, is a triumph of al fresco fun.

The production, directed by Mark Lamos on the open-air Lowell Davies Festival stage, is a 95-minute-long (with no intermission) joyride that never lags. Measured against the Globe’s earlier summer Shakespeare offering, Othello, it’s pure fluff, of course. But you’d have to be a complete curmudgeon not to enjoy this beguiling comedy.

It’s got it all: bright, meticulous Renaissance costumes by Linda Cho; John Arnone’s elevated scenery, modeled after oil paintings and frescoes from the Italian Renaissance period; and a spirited cast that’s having as good a time as the audience. There’s even a crowdpleasing (and very capably performing) dog that gets well-deserved stage time—a Labrador / German shorthaired pointer mix who plays Crab with soulful eyes and wagging tail.

Adam Kantor and Hubert Point-Du Jour are Proteus and Valentine, the two gentlemen—and best friends—around whom Shakespeare’s romp about love, betrayal and forgiveness revolves. Kantor has the more expressive role, as the fickle and scheming Proteus, though he’s upstaged when paired with the gifted comedienne Kristin Villanueva, playing Julia, Proteus’ supposed true love. I say “sup-

posed” because he instantly falls in love at the sight of Valentine’s heartthrob, the stunning and dignified Silvia (Britney Coleman). Some may wonder why Valentine, noble that he is, would so easily forgive his unfaithful pal Proteus by story’s end, but he is, remember, a gentleman, with all the decorum that connotes.

Besides, it’s a comedy, so lighten up.

In between the courtships and romantic wooing are the droll musings of Proteus’ servant, Launce (Richard Ruiz), who’s accompanied by the aforementioned canine, Crab, and often by Valentine’s wacky servant, Speed (Rusty Ross). As if all that isn’t enough, when Valentine is banished midway through the action by Silvia’s father, the Duke (Mark Pinter), he’s recruited by a band of Robin Hood-like outlaws wielding bows and arrows. Throw in some original music (by Fitz Patton) and the requisite festive dancing and you’ve got summertime Shakespeare as charming as it can be.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona runs through Sept. 14 in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre at The Old Globe in Balboa Park. $29 and up. oldglobe.org

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

HNew Best Thing at Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. San Diego’s longestrunning sketch show featuring live and video sketch comedy, stand up from San Diego and L.A., all revolving around a monthly theme. At 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. facebook.com/NewBestThing

FASHION

Rusty Ross (left), Richard Ruiz and a canine friend

OPENING A Boy and a Girl: A new musical comedy that checks in on the relationship between a boy and a girl, natch, at ages 1, 4, 10, 18 and adulthood. Runs Aug. 28 through 31 at the Broadway Theatre in Vista. broad wayvista.com La Victima: A staged reading of a play that explores and critiques U.S. immigration policy by following one Mexican family from the 1930s through the ’70s. Presented by C.A.R.P.A. San Diego, it happens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at the Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park. centroculturaldelaraza.com

For full listings,

please visit “T heater ” at sdcit ybeat.com

HTom Green at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. The former MTV personality paved the way for shows like Jackass, but we’ll always remember him for so-bad-it’s-good flicks like Freddy Got Fingered. At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29-30. $20.

619-795-3858, americancomedyco.com Adam Hunter at Legends Comedy Club, 9200 Inwood Drive, Santee. You’ve seen him on Last Comic Standing, The Tonight Show and MMA Roasted. At 9:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29-30. $15.

619-606-0996, legendscomedyclub.com Chris Millhouse at Mad House Comedy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown. The comic and writer produces and hosts Hot Comedy Action, a live stand up show. At 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. $15. 619-7026666, madhousecomedyclub.com Full Throttle Comedy at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. A fast-paced comedy show that features talent from HBO, Comedy Central and Showtime. Hosted by Michael Quu. At 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. $12. 619-7953858, americancomedyco.com Patrick DeGuire at Mad House Comedy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown. The former local comic has made appearances on Comedy Central and NPR. At 7 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 31. $15. 619-702-6666, madhousecomedyclub.com HRocky Road Irish Comedy Tour at Comedy Store, 916 Pearl St., La Jolla.

Laughter delivered Irish-style, with Joe Rooney and Andrew Stanley, along with openers Jennifer Hartnett and David Nihil.

At 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2. $15. 858454-9176, lajolla.thecomedystore.com Chris Porter at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Best known for his third-place finish on season four of Last Comic Standing, he can also be

16 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

seen on his own Comedy Central Presents special and Live at Gotham. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. $12. 619-7953858, americancomedyco.com

Look Good Feel Better at C. Wonder, 7007 Friars Rd., Mission Valley. Retailer C. Wonder and Fashion Project team up to raise funds for Look Good Feel Better, a public-service program dedicated to helping women living with cancer. There’ll be light bites, sips and styling tips, and 10 percent of sales made during the event will be donated to Look Good Feel Better. From 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27. 619-2933370, fashionproject.com/cwonder

FOOD & DRINK Fifth Anniversary at West Coast Tavern, 2895 University Ave., North Park. Enjoy half-priced cocktails, hosted hors d’oeuvres and music from the Afrojazziacs at this ‘20s-themed anniversary party for the venue. From 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28.

619-295-1688, westcoasttavern.com Cusp Jazz Supper Club at Cusp Dining & Drinks, 7955 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla. The Danny Green Trio will play their blend of Brazilian, Latin and classic jazz while Chef Lockhart serves a four-course, prix-fixe dinner alongside cocktails by head bartender Chris Burkett. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. $50.

858-551-3620, cusprestaurant.com Food Truck Fridays at SILO in Makers Quarter, 753 15th St., East Village. San Diego’s favorite food trucks every Friday throughout summer. Participants include Casanova Fish Tacos, Stuffed, Ka Pow and Brazil on Wheels. There’ll also be fashion vendors, live music, craft beer and cocktails to benefit a different local charity each week. From 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. makersquarter.com Uncorked: A Delightful Italian Affair at La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Sample dozens of Italian wines while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and live music. Ticket price includes eight tastings. At 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. $35.

858-459-0831, ljcommunitycenter.org HInternational Bacon Film Festival at U���������������������������������������� .S.S. Midway, 910 N. Harbor Drive, Downtown. Short films about bacon, a premium open bar and, of course, bacon-themed appetizers like bacon popcorn, bacon cheeseburger sliders, chocolate dipped bacon and more. From 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. $40. sdbaconfest.com HHormel Black Label Bacon Fest at NTC Park at Liberty Station, 2455 Cushing Road, Point Loma. Over 20 eateries including Toronado, Crazee Burger and The Patio will be serving food with the greatest meat of all time. There’ll also be more than 25 breweries to help patrons wash it down.

From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. $60.

619-573-9260, sdbaconfest.com Hop Heads and Dreads at Harrah’s Resort Southern California, 777 Harrah’s Resort Southern California Way, Valley Center. Celebrate the best of San Diego’s craft beer and smooth beats at this inaugural reggae and craft beer festival. There’ll also be food trucks and a showcase of cuisine from the Harrah’s SoCal resort chefs, along with live entertainment. At 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. $40-$60. ticket-

master.com/hop-heads-dreads Legacy Brewing Founding Fathers Celebration at Legacy Brewing Company, 363 Airport Road, Oceanside. The brewery will have tastings of the newly released Czarface Russian Imperial Stout and Mexicoast Grill will provide all-youcan-eat tastes from the grill. From 5:30 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. $30. 760-7053221, legacybrewingco.com

MUSIC HIrving Flores Danzon Trio at Westgate Hotel, 1055 Second Ave., Downtown. A self-described “musical journey of Afro Latin Jazz for making a beautiful life,” the local three-piece will perform on the Westgate’s pool terrace as part of

their Sunset Poolside Jazz Series. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28.

619-238-1818, westgatehotel.com

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31. $22-$79.

619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org

The Legends at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. San Diego’s original oldies show band performs standards and favorites at the last concert of Balboa Park’s Twilight in the Park Summer Concerts series. From 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 28. balboapark.org

Jazz Jam Sessions at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Jazz Jam Sessions are free outdoor jazz concerts every Friday. Herb Martin and Friends or The Society Boys will perform for one hour, then attendees are invited to take the stage and jam with the band by playing an instrument or singing. At 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. 800988-4253, artcenter.org

H1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular at Embarcadero Marina Park South, 111 W. Harbor Drive, Downtown. San Diego Symphony Summer Pops’ spectacular, crowdpleasing finale. Tchaikovsky’s thunderous 1812 Overture conducted by Matthew Garbutt with special guests Navy Band Southwest, complete with booming cannons and fireworks over San Diego Bay.

BanjoJam Weekend at Museum ������� of Making Music, 5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad.

An entire weekend devoted to all things banjo. There’ll be a concert from George Yellich’s Ragtime Banjo Band on Friday, as well as film screenings, jam sessions and

classes for adults and kids. See website for full schedule. At 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. $5-$15. 760438-5996, museumofmakingmusic.org HSantiago at Upstart Crow, 835 West Harbor Drive, Seaport Village. A special performance from a member of Todo Mundo who’s known for blending the musical flavors of rumba, reggae, samba, gypsy, and other South American and Caribbean rhythms. At 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30.

619-232-4855, upstartcrowtrading.com HWaterfront Live Concert at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, Little Italy.

Artists such as Bryan B. William, The Tilt, The Lovebirds and Playfight will perform as part of the Waterfront Park’s free, outdoor concerts that are perfect for all ages.

From 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. 858694-3030, countynewscenter.com/news/ concerts-coming-waterfront-park HWOW First Wednesdays: The Saxations at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido.

The San Diego-based, all-female saxophone quartet performs popular music, jazz, funk, soul and blues for a powerful, high-energy, entertaining show. At 4 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. artcenter.org

PERFORMANCE North County’s Got Talent at Sunshine Brooks Theater, 217 North Pacific Coast Hwy., Oceanside. Singers, dancers, jug-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

glers and talented people of all stripes will perform at this yearly competition with the hopes of impressing the judges and to walk away with a cash prize and bragging rights. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. $15. 760433-8900, oceansidetheatre.org

the Atari Lounge featuring artwork from Ryan Tannascoli, Natassia Nicolau, Tara Castro and more. At 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. $8. casbahmusic.com HTower After Hours: Mexico at San Diego Museum of Man, Balboa Park. Celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our neighbors to the south with colorful performances of Mexican music and dance, authentic cuisine, craft beers and tequila. From 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. $15-$30.

619-239-2001, museumofman.org

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD Poetry Ruckus at Ducky Waddle’s Emporium, 414 N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas.

Jon Wesick, the host of the Gelato Poetry Series and editor of the San Diego Poetry Annual, will read some of his poems. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27. 760-6320488, duckywaddles.com VAMP: Neighborhood Watch at Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. So Say We All’s monthly live storytelling show featuring stories about the Neighborhood Watch, whether its literal tales about the self-appointed protectors of the block, run-ins with wannabe cops or any other take on the theme. At 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. $5 suggested donation.

619-284-6784, sosayweallonline.com

POLITICS & COMMUNITY Project C Street: Light Up the Night at The Local, 1065 4th Ave., Downtown.

The Downtown San Diego Partnership and The Local hold a fundraising event for the Downtown tree-lighting program along C Street. Tickets include a free drink, free food and a raffle ticket. From 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27. $20. thelocalsandiego.com HSpeak Their Names at City Heights Performance Annex, 2745 Fairmount Ave., City Heights. Join others in remembering Michael Brown, as well as San Diegans who’ve lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement. There’ll be a march, rally and an open mic for community members interested in sharing their stories. At noon Saturday, Aug. 30. uaptsd.org HHomelessness in San Diego: What Makes Good Neighbors at Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace, 5998 Alcala Park, USD, Linda Vista. Father Joe’s Villages teams up with the USD’s Trans-Border Institute to present a panel of experts discussing the impacts of homelessness on the bi-national region. Moderated by KPBS’s Mark Sauer. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. 619-260-7509, my.neighbor. org/good-neighbor-month

SPECIAL EVENTS Fair Trade San Diego at Unity Center,

18 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

SPORTS HGlow in the Dark Golf at The Loma Club, 2960 Truxtun Road, Point Loma.

Play nine holes at this special nighttime event that includes golf, glow in the dark goodies and drink specials all night. At 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. $26. 619-2224653. facebook.com/thelomaclub

James Sullivan’s untitled piece will be on view in a solo show opening from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at La Jolla Art Space (7514 La Jolla Blvd.).

8999 Activity Road, Miramar. Enjoy fair trade tea, coffee and chocolate sampling as well as shopping at Partners, a boutique featuring unique fair trade items at the Center. From 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27. fairtradesd.blogspot.com HMOPA Remix Nights at Museum of Photographic Arts, Balboa Park. Each Thursday MOPA’s stayed open late and feature a mix of entertainment. This week will be the last one of the season and features a performance from local singersongwriter Lisa Campbell. From 5 to 9 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 28. $6-$8. mopa.org H2014 Festival of Sail at Maritime Museum, 1492 North Harbor Drive, Downtown. A nautical celebration featuring historical ships, real cannon fire (minus the ammunition) and sunset cruises. Kicks off at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, with a parade of tall ships and runs through Monday, Sept. 1. See website for schedule and ticket prices. sdmaritime.org Andaz MBA Salon Charity Event at Andaz Hotel, 600 F St., Downtown. Benefiting arts education at the Monarch Schools, this event will feature music from Ron Morabito, craft beer from Saint Archer and art from Grant Pecoff. A donation of unused art supplies is required for entrance. From 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. sandiego.andaz.hyatt.com HU.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition at B Street Cruise Ship Terminal Pier, Harbor Drive and B Street, Downtown. Sand sculptors from all over the world will create huge pieces

of art made from sand. There’ll also be live entertainment, a sand box and rides for kids, a dozen gourmet food trucks, tall ships, cannon battles and more. From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Sep. 1. $7$18. 619-980-6651, ussandsculpting.com Urban Mobile Market at The Headquarters at Seaport District, 789 West Harbor Drive, Downtown. Food trucks, fashion trucks and mobile businesses hanging out every Friday. There’ll also be outdoor games, musicians, and more. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. urbanmobilemarket.com HSan Diego Vintage Market at Mission Bay High School, 2475 Grand Ave., Pacific Beach. Celebrate the grand opening of the new market, held on the last Saturday of each month and feature an eclectic collection of vendors selling vintage, antique, recycled, repurposed and unusual things. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. sandiegovintagemarket.com Big SoCal Euro Gathering Autoshow at Qualcomm Stadium, 9449 Friars Road, Mission Valley. The West Coast’s largest all-European automotive enthusiasts gathering. Thousands of vehicles from VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. From 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. big.socaleuro.com/2014 HGrampadrew’s Flim Flam Revue and Art Show at The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Midtown. An all-star lineup of local musicians will perform solo sets and jam sessions. There’ll also be an art show in

HWeinerschnitzel Wiener Dog Nationals at Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. The fastest 16 wiener dogs in San Diego compete in races, with the Del Mar winner advancing to the national final, which determines the fastest wiener in the nation. At 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. $6. 858-755-1141, dmtc.com HBeer & Nine at The Loma Club, 2960 Truxtun Road, Point Loma. Play nine holes of golf while enjoying four beer tastings and two cocktail tastings featuring Ballast Point seasonal beers and Fugu Vodka. At 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. $30. 619-2224653, facebook.com/thelomaclub Battle Off The Saddle at Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. A special edition of the popular Ringside at Del Mar boxing series to be staged in the concert area following the last horse race. At 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. $6. 858-755-1141, ringsideatdelmar.com

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS HThe Political Arena at Women’s Museum of California, 2730 Historic Decatur Road, Barracks 16, Point Loma. Making change in the ’60s and ’70s took more than marching. Women had to enter the political arena to make change from within. Panelists Evonne Schulze, Brina-Rae Schuchman and more will discuss how this happened. At 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. 619-233-7963, womensmuseumca.org

For full listings,

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

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

in

Kinsee Morlan

Backwards El Cajon

Ray Lutz criticizes the El Cajon City Council’s decision to enter into negotiations with The Rock Church.

The Rock Church might move in to the East County Performing Arts Center, and critics say that would be a mistake

by Kinsee Morlan

D

ozens of supporters of The Rock Church—most clad in church T-shirts—filed into the Aug. 12 El Cajon City Council meeting. On the agenda was the church’s proposal to become a long-term, part-time tenant of the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC), a city-owned facility that’s been closed and in need of repair since 2010.

El Cajon City Manager Douglas Williford introduced the church’s proposal by calling it an excellent business opportunity that would finally provide long-term financial stability for ECPAC, a 1,145-seat theater that’s struggled for viability since opening in 1977.

The Rock, an evangelical megachurch with locations across the county, wants to lease the space for roughly 130 days a year—every Sunday and Tuesday and about 25 percent of Fridays and Saturdays—for an annual rent of $216,000. The Rock also wants to build a new, 20,000-square-foot Sundayschool headquarters and event space (which the city could use) on the lot between ECPAC and Main Street. They’d lease that land for $4,000 a month for 35 years, at which time the building would be turned over to the city.

“This is the single greatest proposal that we have ever seen for our downtown revitalization,” Williford said before being interrupted by a young man in the audience yelling, “Who’s the man?” and The Rock supporters immediately answering, “Jesus!”

After Williford’s endorsement and an abundance of public comments mostly in favor of the deal, the council voted 4-0 to enter into lease negotiations with The Rock— Councilmember Gary Kendrick abstained because his son is a summer counselor for Christian Youth Theater, the only other organization that responded to the city’s request for a long-term tenant or partnership deal for ECPAC. Before the vote, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells made it clear that The Rock would be just a tenant; the city, he said, would hire a theater-management company or booking agency to handle performances after the planned $2.5 million in renovations and before the official reopening of ECPAC in late 2015. ECPAC would still serve as a public performance space, he assured.

20 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

Among the few voices of dissent at the meeting was Ray Lutz, an engineer and political activist who’s become a fixture at El Cajon City Council meetings. Lutz is the chair of Save ECPAC, a group instrumental in preventing the demolition of the center in 2012, and founder of the watchdog group Citizens’ Oversight Projects.

“My prediction,” Lutz says, sitting in a coffee shop down the street from ECPAC: “The center is just going to permanently become The Rock Church, and all this talk about sharing it with the public is just a red herring. It’s just to try to pacify any objection.”

Lutz is looking into the constitutionality of the deal; he believes it’s a violation of the separation of church and state. While a local representative of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) says he might have a hard time making that case, because the city released an ostensibly unbiased, public call for tenants, Lutz is a squeaky wheel that’s not easily ignored. He successfully got the city to stop airing religious messages on its public cable channel and has enjoyed other small victories, including intervening early when the city met privately with The Rock about lease negotiations. His involvement resulted in the city releasing the public call for interested tenants and made the process more transparent.

A more common complaint among folks who oppose the deal is that the city should’ve hired a professional theater-management company before securing a long-term tenant, especially since the building won’t be ready for occupancy until late next year.

CityBeat talked to a handful of experienced theater managers who say the city’s approach is, indeed, backwards.

“I would’ve reversed the process,” says Wes Brustad, a former member of the ECPAC board of directors with decades of experience in performing-arts production.

“Anyone who’s going to be involved in managing the space should definitely be involved in any decisions on how the space is used.”

“It does seem odd to me that they may be moving forward with renting the building and then finding the management company afterwards,” agrees Don Telford, president and CEO of San Diego Theatres, which runs the Balboa and San Diego Civic theaters. “It would make sense to me that they might issue [a request for proposals] where respondents could apply as a management company or a renter or both.”

Mayor Wells says the city did seek input from theater managers. “Frankly, if it was a perfect world and we had

plenty of money, we wouldn’t have to lease out the theater for any days,” he says. “Unfortunately, that’s not the reality…. We’ve gotten quite a bit of advice from other small theaters who’ve really guided us on the process, and they recommended getting financials in order, undergoing renovations and then hiring the manager.”

He says that while The Rock Church proposal initially came in unsolicited, it quickly became clear that the deal would help secure long-term financial stability for ECPAC. One of the theater managers who Wells says helped guide the city’s process is Mitch Gershenfeld, president and CEO of McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert and the former director of the nonprofit that ran ECPAC for several years.

Yet when CityBeat contacted Gershenfeld, he, too, said he thinks the city should have hired a theater manager first.

“To give any tenant two or three days out of seven on a calendar is going to make it difficult for any organization to run an arts center,” Gershenfeld says. “If I were approached about running a performing-arts center in that scenario, it just wouldn’t interest me.”

Gershenfeld and other theater managers mention Sunday matinees as important dates for performing-arts groups, and even say that Tuesdays could present a problem due to rehearsal time and stage build-outs.

“We are already aware of the effect of The Rock’s tenancy on available dates for ECPAC bookings and already aware that any manager would prefer to have all dates of the year available, if possible,” wrote Brett Channing, assistant city manager of El Cajon, in a follow-up to the mayor’s response. “That type of utilization of ECPAC has never been successful in financially stabilizing the facility, and the city cannot afford to continue that practice into the future.”

Another argument from the city and its supporters is that The Rock Church deal is better than having ECPAC fail, and eventually be torn town.

For his part, Lutz says he’d rather see ECPAC close than become a church.

“The community put money into this building so it would be a performing arts center,” Lutz says. “The city didn’t even try to find a theater manager to run it that way. Williford is always saying we have one last shot to run this thing right, but he’s not giving it that shot. This is a give-up move.”

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

Kinsee Morlan

Seen Local City Gallery opens Longtime San Diego City College arts professor YC Kim remembers talking to school administrators almost two decades ago about the need for an art gallery. That was long before two ballot measures—2002’s Prop. S and 2006’s Prop.

N—provided the San Diego Community College District with more than $1 billion to pay for campus construction projects.

The money’s funded more than 100 new projects, including the recently completed Arts & Humanities building at City College, a striking, contemporary structure designed by local architecture firm Roesling Nakamura Terada.

Kim, who attended almost every school planning meeting since first bringing up the need for a gallery, says the nearly 20-year push for the space was well worth it. Walking through the new City Gallery, located in Room 314 of the Arts & Humanities building, she describes the 2,400-square-foot space as top-notch.

“We might be the best college gallery in town,” she says, “Even if we don’t have staff for it yet.”

Kim, who teaches ceramics, contemporary craft and 3-D design, and Terri Hughes-Oelrich, who also teaches ceramics and 3-D design, are two of the four City College faculty members who’ve stepped up to run the gallery until the school can find funding to hire staff. Rather than leave the new site empty, the professors will donate their time and even materials and money to get the space operating as quickly as possible.

“Right now, there’s just absolutely no budget,” Hughes-Oelrich notes. “We’re just putting in requests for anything we can get at this point.”

The team’s already booked the gallery through

Low gallery at large North Park’s Low Gallery is small, but Meegan Nolan, the artist and curator who runs the creative side of the business, isn’t letting size matter. She’s gearing up for a jam-packed next few weeks and, come September—somewhere in between her numerous upcoming events—celebrating the gallery’s first anniversary.

The first event on Nolan’s plate is Stir, an art-and-sound showcase happening from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at Planet Rooth Design Haus (3334 Fifth Ave. in Bankers Hill). The show will feature new works by San Diegans like Joshua Krause, Jason Sherry, Doris Bittar, Joe Yorty, Becky Guttin, Eric Wixon, Pamela Jaeger, Brian Dombrowsky, Anna Stump and Daphne Hill.

Gustaf Rooth—the guy behind Planet Rooth and Barrelly Made It, the handmade-furniture company that shares the space—has been trying to reactivate the gallery side of his building since he moved from North Park’s Ray Street to Bankers Hill almost five years ago. He’s gotten too busy with his

YC Kim (foreground) and Terri Hughes-Oelrich inside the new City Gallery the end of the year, and, this week, they’ll celebrate a private, VIP opening for their inaugural show, Centennial Alumni Exhibition, which features work by more than 50 alumni and faculty artists, including Victor Ochoa, James Watts and Vicki Walsh. A public opening will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11.

City Gallery includes an outdoor sculpture garden and an extra room that’ll serve as a gift shop. The plan is to showcase student and faculty work a few times a year, but mainly art by well-known working artists from San Diego and beyond.

While there were some unfortunate surprises in the ultimate layout of the new gallery, including a partially dropped ceiling to cover an air duct and a kitchen without walls that’ll eventually need to be closed to the public, Kim and Hughes-Oelrich say that, overall, they’re overjoyed.

“We had to fight for this gallery a lot and, finally, it’s here,” Kim says. “We’ll use it for our arts education….

But this is just so needed for the entire community.”

—Kinsee Morlan

furniture business, though, and, so far, hasn’t been able to find the right curator to help. But, he says, the new partnership with Low Gallery, which he hopes will be ongoing, is the best fit yet.

Nolan has two openings at Low Gallery in September—Tijuana artist Toni Larios on Sept.

5 and Minnesota artist Jennifer Davis on Sept. 20—and she’s also helping organize San Diego’s first-ever Monster Drawing Rally event at San Diego Art Institute in Balboa Park on Sept.

13. But she says that collaborating with outside venues is a way to expand her reach. She’s long wanted to show bigger, more diverse art, and she aims to help connect San Diego’s art scene by bringing together different audiences and artists.

“That’s why I kind of have my hands in every pot right now,” Nolan says. “I’m trying to knock all the things I want to do Meegan Nolan off my list.”

—Kinsee Morlan Write to kinseem@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 21

Time spent Ira Sachs talks respect, togetherness and friendship

by Glenn Heath Jr. In Ira Sachs’ quiet and true drama Love is Strange, people from different generations coexist without melodrama. Sure, there’s conflict, awkwardness and a dash of miscommunication, but these interpersonal divots stem from real-world problems.

“Relationships are defined by experience,” Sachs tells CityBeat in a phone interview. “They are determined by what happens when you’re with the people you love and how you spend time with them.”

Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Alfred Molina (left) and John Lithgow, together and apart Molina) have spent the last 40 years together living in out any pretense.

New York City. We see them finally tying the knot in Joey’s transformation in the film has to do with the opening scenes of Love is Strange, an experience the ongoing dichotomy between experience and they share with close friends and family. But making respect that interests Sachs. Ben and George’s relatheir marriage official produces a profound domino tionship provides a worthy center for the film in this effect: George is quickly fired from his position as a regard, creating a space where generational divides music teacher at a Catholic school, forcing the cou- are bridged by shared social interaction. ple to separate and stay with friends until they can “That sharing is really what makes history,” find an affordable new living situation together.

Sachs says. “In lots of ways, it’s the personal face For these two men, a life that felt cozy and warm of history.” George and Ben prove this point during together now feels alien apart. When asked how this a fascinating scene at a gay bar, where the film reinterest in displacement came about, Sachs said, “I set veals some of the cracks they’ve had to mend over out to make a love story, and in doing so, you need an the years. It’s a perfectly lived-in moment, one that obstacle. The structure is based on these two people gains resonance from Lithgow and Molina’s masterwho have an intimacy that is threatened, and I wanted fully reserved performances. to observe how they overcome that obstacle together.”

If Love is Strange—which opens Friday, Aug. 29, at Unlike most modern American independent films, Hillcrest Cinemas—becomes a symphony of human Love is Strange avoids handinteractions colliding against held-camera visuals. Most one another, its connective Love is Strange compositions are static, allowtissue comes in the form of Directed by Ira Sachs ing the actors to move freely musical interludes by Chopin.

Starring John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, through the frame in long takes.

The Polish composer’s works Marisa Tomei and Charlie Tahan “I guess my perspective on life define the film’s melancholic is more measured,” Sachs said. yet hopeful view of the world.

Rated R “I think the audience can get Sachs says it was a deliberate closer to the characters if you, aesthetic choice. as a filmmaker, step back a little bit and let the camera “I love in films when music is connected to the observe.” This approach invites the viewer to be more visuals, but it doesn’t control the visuals. It has its active, watching not only the actors’ mannerisms, but own integrity,” he says. Such is the case in an espealso how the environment around them functions as cially moving montage where George listens to one a mirror to their emotions. of his students plays Chopin, which incites a flood of One of the most striking moments in the film memories, both good and bad. comes during the final sequence, when Joey (CharSachs’ beautiful portrait of a marriage is full of lie Tehan), George’s teenage nephew, breaks down such surprisingly powerful moments that carefully in a stairwell after a flood of grief washes over him. measure how we spend time together, and that means He spends much of the film resenting his uncle and both in the moment and looking back from afar. parents (Marisa Tomei and Darren E. Burrows), but here we see this juvenile and often selfish boy begin Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com to understand the complex rigors of adulthood with- and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Hard-headed

Frank

22 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

“You’re just going to have to go with this.” Budding lyricist and young sad sack Jon (Domhall Gleeson) hears this disclaimer early in Frank, an aggressively eccentric and twee music film by director Lenny Abrahamson. After spending the first few scenes attempting to write a song inspired by the banality of his posh

suburban surroundings, Jon accidentally happens upon a misfit rock band whose leader (the titular character, played by Michael Fassbender) wears a gigantic papier-mâché head.

Swept up by their wild and extreme methods, Jon becomes a permanent fixture with the group, which decides to record its next album at a secluded cabin in the mountains. Here,

each character’s oddball identity comes into focus, creating a frenetic space where outbursts are a normal sight. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Clara stands out as a particularly simplistic and angry femme, all piercing eyes and definitive rage but very little humanity.

Through this hodgepodge of warring personalities and dysfunction, Frank considers the complexity of mental illness, how it takes shape over time and contorts one’s self from the inside out. Yet the lead character’s obvious coping mechanism, essentially living life behind a mask of his own making, comes across as a one-note joke that gets overplayed almost immediately.

The movie—which opens Friday, Aug. 29, and screens through Sept. 4 at the Ken Cinema—really turns offensive when the band becomes a YouTube phenomenon and gets invited to the South by Southwest music festival. Here, Jon’s out-of-leftfield lust for fame and Frank’s degenerating confidence create a maelstrom of melodrama for the world to see. This lame-duck finale outs the film as an awful fake, a desperate character study that self-importantly addresses a serious social issue by way of cloying irony and arrogance.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

Opening As Above, So Below: Note to self: Don’t venture into the underground catacombs of Paris. It’s bad for one’s health.

Frank: A fragile musician (Michael Fassbender) wearing a gigantic papier-mâché head leads an eccentric rock band all the way to the SXSW music festival, where all hell breaks loose. Screens through Sept.

4 at the Ken Cinema. See our review on Page 22.

Love is Strange: Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) have been a couple for nearly 40 years. But when George loses his job, the two are forced to separate and live with friends in cramped New York City apartments, forever altering their relationship. See our review on Page 22.

Manuscripts Don’t Burn: Subversively shot in Iran, this drama centers on a desperate father who makes his living as a contract killer and a group of aging writers being harassed by the government.

Screens through Sept. 4 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

The Dog: Documentary about John Wojtowicz, whose 1972 robbery of a Brooklyn bank inspired Sidney Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon. Screens through Sept. 3 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

The November Man: Pierce Brosnan returns to super-spy duty, this time as a top CIA assassin facing off against his best protégé. Opens Wednesday, Aug. 27.

The Trip to Italy: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon gallivant around Italy, eating and yapping wise in Michael Winterbottom’s new comedy.

War Story: Catherine Keener stars as a

mission to help the endangered lemurs of Madagascar.

Ken Cinema Classics: Pivotal films from the 1960s and ’70s. Ends Aug. 28, at the Ken Cinema.

Rich Hill: The real-life story of three boys growing up in impoverished Rich Hill, Missouri, trying to make ends meet on a daily basis. Ends Aug. 28, at the Ken Cinema.

Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For: Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller return with another noir mash-up about killers, corrupt politicians and gorgeous women.

The November Man war correspondent who risks everything to rescue a young refugee from a battlescarred country. Screens through Sept. 4 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

One Time Only

When the Game Stands Tall: Jim Caviezel plays high-school football coach Bob Ladouceur, who took the De La Salle Spartans from obscurity to an amazing 151-game winning streak.

Calvary: One day a troubled Irish priest (Brendan Gleeson) is threatened during confession, sending him into a downward spiral of sin and doubt.

The Wizard of Oz: Young Kansan Dorothy (Judy Garland) learns a valuable lesson about the importance of home thanks to a short vacation in the fantasy land of Oz. Screens at 2 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Arclight La Jolla.

Expendables 3: The 1980s have officially reassembled for the third time to blow explosions into your face.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Jimmy Stewart’s freshman senator storms the capitol and creates waves with the old-guard politicians. Screens at 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Lemon Grove Public Library.

The Giver: Lois Lowry’s classic youngadult novel about a not-so-utopian future gets the big-screen adaptation starring Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep.

Nowhere Boy: Biopic about John Lennon’s childhood and eventual partnership with Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Screens at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Mission Valley Library.

Blazing Saddles: Mel Brooks skewers the western in hilarious fashion, upending racial and social stereotypes through comedy. Screens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma.

The Thomas Crown Affair: Pierce Brosnan does his best Steve McQueen in this classy remake of the 1968 classic heist film. Screens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, on the outdoor patio at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla.

The Big Lebowski: The Dude abides.

Screens at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Aug. 31, at Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills.

Ghost in the Shell: Japanese anime doesn’t get trippier than this hyper-real sci-fi film by Mamoru Oshii. Screens at midnight on Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Ken Cinema.

Locke: Tom Hardy brooding in a car for 90 minutes? Who doesn’t want to see that?

Screens at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the Point Loma / Hervey Branch Library.

Rushmore: Max Fisher (Jason Schwartzman) is the president of every club at school, but he’s also the worst student.

What gives? Wes Anderson’s breakout comedy tries to find out. Screens at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 3, at The Pearl Hotel.

Now Playing 2nd Annual Exitos del Cine Latino: San Diego Latino Film Festival and Media Arts Center San Diego present a mini film festival with 12 new movies from Argentina, Chile, Mexico and elsewhere. Ends Aug. 28 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

If I Stay: After a car accident, a young woman has an out-of-body experience that leads her to a life far different than she ever imagined.

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar: Narrated by Morgan Freeman, this documentary follows Dr. Patricia C. Wright’s

Let’s Be Cops: Two goofball friends posing as cops for a costume party get sucked into a night of debauchery and danger.

What If: Young people sit around and talk about love and friendship and wonder why nothing makes sense. It stars Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan.

The Hundred-Foot Journey: The proprietor of a famous French restaurant (Helen Mirren) clashes with the family running a new Indian eatery down the street.

Into the Storm: An onslaught of unprecedented tornados touches down and causes havoc in the Midwest. Global warming is a real bitch.

Step Up: All In: Get your grove on, again.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Watch out for Raphael. He’s a party dude.

Get on Up: The James Brown biopic we’ve all been waiting for from the director of The Help.

Guardians of the Galaxy: American pilot Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and his rowdy alien crew become objects of a manhunt after stealing a valuable orb that belongs to a diabolical space villain.

Magic in the Moonlight: Woody Allen’s latest cinematic confection follows an English debunker (Colin Firth) brought in to unmask a possible swindle involving a wacky astrologist (Emma Stone).

Forces of Nature: See the Earth rumble, explode and spew in glorious IMAX. Screens at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.

Back to the Moon For Good: Watch as teams from around the world compete to win the Google Lunar XPRIZE, which challenges engineers to land a robot on the moon. Screens at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.

A Most Wanted Man: Director Anton Corbijn (The American) adapts John le Carré’s famous novel about a web of spies operating in the shadowy confines of Hamburg, Germany.

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

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

ryan

Well, That was awkward

Bradford Live-blogging 47 minutes spent at Winkie Con Saturday, Aug. 9, 3.45 p.m.: I pass the entrance and jab my elbow down in a celebratory fist pump. to the Town & Country Resort in Mission Valley 4:12 p.m.: I walk toward the “Ozpitality” suite. twice because the marquee says “Welcome NaSodas? Munchies? Hell yes, I think. Maybe I won’t tional Catholic Singles Convention.” I pull over to hate Winkie Con after all. check the confirmation email on my phone: Yes, 4:13 p.m.: I hate Winkie Con. Winkie Con—the annual convention dedicated to 4:13:01 p.m.: Shiny plastic covers the carpet of the L. Frank Baum and The Wizard of Oz—is being held Ozpitality suite, protecting it against blood, vomit or here. I don’t fault Town & Country for not wanting any other Ozian secretions. The room is dark. There “Winkie Con” on its marquee. are balloons; they are anything but festive. Styrofoam 3:55 p.m.: I park nearly a quarter of a mile away in bowls of Nerds candy litter all surfaces. A tired man an empty lot. My bank account has $2 in it. I can’t even in a green suit and top hat sitting in the corner informs me that sodas are in the “tub.” afford to pay for parking at Town & Country. You’d 4:13:02 p.m.: “The tub?” I ask. think I’d use this moment—walking along Hotel Cir4:13:03 p.m.: “Yeah, the bathtub in the bathcle North, broke and on my way to something called room,” he says. Tub, my mind repeats. Not a cooler, Winkie Con—as a moment of reflection, but nope. In not an ice bucket, but a tub. my mind, “National Catholic Singles Convention” has 4:13:03-4:13:06 p.m.: Approximately three secsomehow become “Hot Christian Singles Convenonds of shuddering. tion,” and I keep repeating that over in my head.

4:14 p.m.: Indeed, sodas rest in an iced tub; a 4:05 p.m.: Despite having driven by hundreds blue tarp flows over the sides and reminds me of of times, this is the first time I’ve stepped foot in every movie involving organ harvesting. The toilet the Town & Country, and I’m overcome with the next to the tub has tape securing the lid. Someone post-apocalyptic shittiness of it. It’s an oasis of rot, has also used the green tape to spell out “No Wiz” monitored by pseudo tycoons who rove through on on the toilet seat. I choose Cherry Pepsi. electric golf carts. Faded maps direct me through the 4:20 p.m.: I roam the vendor floor, where artists compound like it’s a dying theme park. However, this hock Ozian comic-book fan fiction and book collecfeels oddly appropriate for a Wizard of Oz conventors sell original L. Frank tion, and a twinge of sour Baum books for upwards of excitement enters my gut, a I see a large Cowardly Lion $300. It’s at this point that feeling similar to riding the I realize that I’ve probably ridge of a dream before it besitting in a corner with a seen The Wizard of Oz, in its comes a nightmare. scarily detailed costume. entirety, only three or four 4:10 p.m.: I arrive at the times in my life. I imagine registration office and two He’s eating gas-station nachos. the harassment that would con workers greet me. I tell come from approaching them I’m “press,” which someone at Winkie Con and asking, “So, what’s up immediately sounds self-important and snobby at with ‘The Wizard of Oz’?” I deem the chastisement Winkie Con. “From CityBeat,” I clarify, to which they not worth it. Surprisingly, this is the first time today respond with a jovial “Ahh, welcome!” This immediwhere I assess the trajectory, success and overall ately makes me uncomfortable because it brings me no quality of my decisions. pleasure hating on good people’s niche interests, but I 4:23 p.m.: I see a large Cowardly Lion sitting in already know that I’m going to hate Winkie Con. a corner with a scarily detailed costume. He’s eating 4:10:27 p.m.: “Ryan Craig Bradford? Yes, I lamigas-station nachos. nated your pass myself this morning.” He hands me 4:25 p.m.: I retreat to a courtyard. A lone cameramy pass, beaming. Great. man from KUSI interviews people about their Winkie 4:10:35 p.m.: I ask how the con’s been going so far.

Con experience. I pretend to text so he won’t talk to “Great!” he responds and then tells me about a horme. He stops a man in a black suit and top hat leading ror-author appearance that he’s helping to organize a Toto dog on a leash. The man picks the dog up and in October. “She was writing about vampires way beasks: “Do you know where the wicked witch is? Do fore Anne Rice,” he says. I don’t know how we’ve gotyou know where the witch is?” The dog does nothing. ten on this topic so fast, but I nod in agreement.

“He usually barks,” he says to the KUSI cameraman.

4:10:45 p.m.: Yeah, fuck Anne Rice, I think.

4:31 p.m.: I look for a receptacle for my Cherry 4:11 p.m.: The man hands me a yellow lanyard.

Pepsi can. I head back to the vendor floor and see “Yellow is the favored color of the Winkies, residents someone wiping nacho cheese off the Cowardly of the Western quadrant of Oz,” he says. I find it Lion’s mask—like, dab-dabbing it. Another shudder strange and a little endearing that so much thought passes through me. was put into the flimsy piece of fabric between my 4:32 p.m.: I’m out of here. There’s no place like fingers, but also feel that “Yellow for the yellow brick home, I think. I repeat: There’s no place like home. road,” would be a far more efficient explanation.

There’s no place like Hot Christian Singles.

4:11:37 p.m.: “And our Ozpitality suite is right across from the pool, where you’ll find sodas, coffee Write to ryanb@sdcitybeat.com and munchies.” and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

4:11:38 p.m.: I create a right angle with my arm

24 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

That’s pep!

Gina Clyne

Terry Malts’ punk is scuzzy and wonderfully weird

T

by

Ben Salmon

he promotional blurb that accompanies They don’t spend time appreciating stuff.”

Terry Malts’ new Insides EP floats the Which brings us back to the Insides idea that this might be the band’s most EP, Terry Malts’ alleged grab at pop glory, “pop” effort yet. That may be true, just as which will be released by venerable Slumit’s true that August is warmer than July berland Records next month. Its four songs in San Diego. Which is to say: not by much. were recorded by Monte Vallier, a Bay Area During the past three years, San Fran- studio vet who’s worked with artists like cisco’s Terry Malts—bassist Phil Benson, Weekend, Mark Eitzel and Young Prisms. guitarist Corey Cunningham, drummer Vallier also mixed the first two Terry Malts Nathan Sweatt and no one actually named albums, both self-recorded monuments to Terry—made a splash with their gritty DIY ideals and punk muck, not to mention take on pop, punk and new wave, first on budgetary constraints. their outstanding 2012 debut album, Kill“Originally, we were only [recording ouring Time, and then with a solid follow-up, selves] just out of economy, to save money,” 2013’s Nobody Realizes This is Nowhere.

Cunningham says. With Vallier, “we didn’t There was no massive leap between the know if it was going to come out too-protwo, no major stylistic shift. Killing Time is a duced-sounding or if it was going to be too sonic speedball of Devo-style weirdo-punk slick and not feel like Terry Malts. So we just and disaffected, Ramones-style scuzz-pop kind of went in as an experiment to see if cut with Benson’s smooth, deadpan croon. we could do the studio thing as opposed to It’s fast, fuzzy and, above all, catchier than a recording it ourselves. I think it turned out snaggle-toothed zipper, as is Nobody Realizes really good. It doesn’t sound that different This is Nowhere. The albums are a couple of from the stuff that we recorded on our own.” lo-fi peas in a pod, which is both a blessing— Benson chimes in: “That Monte, he has in that they established Terry Malts as up- such a refined ear that he can make a stuand-comers in modern dio recording sound like garage-rock—and a curse. it was recorded at home.

“That’s one of the He’s just that good.” frustrating things about Insides is proof that being in a band. You’ll get Vallier wasn’t the only reviews and it’ll be, like, person in the studio Aug. 30 ‘More of the same from who knew what he was The Hideout these guys.’” Cunningdoing. The first track, ham says, using his best Facebook.com/TerryMalts “Let Me In,” is clasnerdy-critic voice. “It’s, sic Terry Malts, with a like, we’ve barely put roller-coaster Benson out two albums! The Ramones had, like, 10 melody layered atop a simple, serrated riff. albums and nobody was, like, ‘More of the The airy tune of “Grumpiest Old Men” is same from these guys’ after the first two. Cunningham’s contribution to the record; People don’t sit with things like they use to. it provides a nice contrast to the band’s ev-

Terry Malts

From left: Nathan Sweatt, Corey Cunningham and Phil Benson er-present buzz. The third track, “Don’t,” sneers and slithers while the glistening, 90-second closer, “Hidden Bay,” sounds like a close cousin of Killing Time standout “Tumble Down” despite the fact that it’s a Chills cover; both songs would soundtrack Target commercials in an infinitely cooler alternate universe.

Terry Malts are putting out Insides because the songs have been ready for public consumption for a while, Benson says. But he and Cunningham are currently writing their third LP, which is tentatively planned for an early 2015 release. They won’t hesitate to work with Vallier again, Benson says, and they’re ready to follow the fidelity highway to at least somewhat clearer sounds.

“It’s definitely something we’re interested in doing. I think the first two albums that we did… we were just trying to discover ourselves a little bit, which any artist should do,” he says, recalling his Ramones rant. “I think you just want to grow within that mold a little bit. Now we’re trying to push a little bit in a more melodic direc-

tion, or at least evolving.”

As the music evolves, however, and expectations—of fans, of Slumberland Records or whomever—grow, the three men in Terry Malts will work to maintain their approach. This is, after all, a trio that, in a 2012 interview on the blog Delayed Gratification, acknowledged playing together in a bunch of bands over the years, “some rather serious and some jokey,” and declaring Terry Malts “a little bit of both.”

That balance has no doubt shifted in recent years, but perhaps not as much as you’d think.

“We try to keep it lighthearted, I guess, in our attitudes toward making the music, not necessarily in the song themes,” Benson says. “I guess what it all comes down to is [we’re] just making the music for ourselves anyway. Like, I’m not trying to fill any demands or anything.

“So as long as we’re having fun doing it, I’ll keep doing it.”

Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

notes from the smoking patio Locals Only For the first time in 19 years, San Diego post-hardcore legends Drive Like Jehu are returning to the stage. On Sunday, Aug. 31, the group will play a free show at Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park— featuring civic organist Carol Williams.

It’s an unconventional return for the band, whose abrasive final album, Yank Crime, turns 20 this year, which is exactly why the group’s members found the idea so appealing. Guitarist John Reis tells CityBeat that the idea first came about when Dang Nguyen—one of Reis’ business partners at Bar Pink and a board member of the Spreckels Organ Society—approached him about coming up with new, eclectic programming ideas for the Organ Pavilion.

“The next words out of my mouth were, ‘We have to do Drive Like Jehu with a pipe organ!’” Reis says. “I’ve always been so intrigued and captivated by the Spreckels pipe organ.”

Since 1995, Drive Like Jehu’s members have gone in different directions. Reis and vocalist Rick Froberg played together in Hot Snakes (and even incorporated some Jehu songs into their set lists) before Froberg moved to New York City and started Obits. Drummer Mark Trombino became a sought-after producer and opened a donut shop, Donut Friend, in Los Angeles.

Mike Kennedy became a chemist.

The band’s been approached in the past to reunite for festivals, Reis says, but this opportunity just sounded more enjoyable for everyone.

“We’d had lots of offers,” he says. “We’re four people at different places in their lives, with varying

Music review Desert Suns Desert Suns (Self-released) The term “desert rock” has a very specific connotation. It’s not a genre, per se; it’s a loosely defined scene that rose up in the late ’80s and early ’90s around Palm Desert, with Black Sabbath-inspired riff-slingers like Kyuss and Masters of Reality—and, later, Queens of the Stone Age— getting stoned, loud and heavy.

These bands were known for throwing generator parties out in the California desert, which may or may not have been totally legal, but they were almost a necessity in a hot, sparsely populated area with few rock clubs to speak of.

Desert Suns are from San Diego, not the desert, but on first listen to their self-titled debut, you might conclude that they’ve played a generator party or two in their day. The group’s noxiously dense distortion and swirling tendrils of riffs immediately recall the likes of Kyuss—or Sleep or Pentagram. They’ve

26 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

Drive Like Jehu will play their first show in 19 years in Balboa Park. interest in the idea at any given time. We didn’t really need an invitation to do it.

“Everyone was just, like, ‘This sounds fun!’” he adds.

Reis noted that the band hasn’t yet chosen the songs for their set, but he suggested that the best songs would be those with the most musical space, to allow for better use of the organ. While this is a very different type of show than one Drive Like Jehu might have played in 1994, Reis says it’s the only show they plan to play.

“People are hoping that maybe there’s a secret show, maybe something more conventional,” he says.

“But we have zero plans to do it.”

—Jeff Terich worshipped at the altar of doom and inhaled enough secondhand from the stoner rockers to deliver their own head-buzzing concoction.

The album starts off fairly slowly; “Burning Temples” is a molasses-speed journey through a galactic cruiser into vaguely ominous territory. At 2:30, the tempo doubles and the head-banging rhythms begin—as do the solos. Brother, Desert Suns are ready to rock. They dive deeper into psychedelic aesthetics in “Space Pussy” (extra points for the title), chill out with some acoustic blues on “Ten Feet Down,” and “Memories of My Home” has a hard-driving boogie to it that sets it apart as an extra-fun highlight.

Desert Suns have a tendency to be a bit over-the-top (one song contains the lyric “Mother, oh Mother / I sleep with the spiders!”). Most of the time, though, it’s all in good fun, and that’s just fine. The last thing we need is another rock band that takes itself too seriously.

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

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 27

if i were u

BY Jeff Terich

Wednesday, Aug. 27 PLAN A: Creedle, Montalban Quintet, Smoota @ The Casbah. Abrasive local indie rockers Creedle don’t play shows very often. In fact, the last time they did, it was for The Casbah’s 25th Anniversary seven months ago, and their last before that, I think, was in 2011. So, when I say you might not have the opportunity to see them again for a while, take the hint. Rock out while you have the opportunity. BACKUP PLAN: Batwings, Rancho Shampoo, Perros Cobardes, Vampire Slayer, Soft Cock @ Tin Can Ale House.

with lots of other fun groups. PLAN B: The Rosebuds, El May @ The Casbah. The exspouses in The Rosebuds have a dramatic personal backstory, but the music they make together—catchy, occasionally danceable and with a touch of surf-rock guitar— is strong enough to transcend it. BACKUP PLAN: Javier Escovedo and the City Lights, Tomten, Saint Shameless @ Tin Can Ale House.

Sunday, Aug. 31

PLAN A: Drive Like Jehu, Dr. Carol Williams @ Spreckels Organ Pavilion. This Thursday, Aug. 28 is your Plan A for the week, month, year— PLAN A: Nik Turner’s Hawkwind, Witch you get the idea. It’s been a little shy of 20 Mountain, Hedersleben @ The Casbah. years since Drive Like Jehu last performed Prepare yourself for some explosive cosmic on stage together, and they’re finally doing psychedelia, because Hawka show, and it’s going to be wind is in town. After more bonkers. It’s free, which is than 40 years, the space-rock a good start, and it includes titans are still going strong accompaniment with a huge(with their current lineup, ass pipe organ. I have no idea anyhow). But make sure to what to expect, but the idea of get there early to catch mehearing “Luau” with a monlodic doom-metal group strously large organ sounds Witch Mountain, who pack like the best show ever. a punch of their own. PLAN PLAN B: Dan Padilla, Slow B: Men Without Hats, BeDeath, Madison Bloodbath, tamaxx, DJ Steve West @ Stymie, Horror Squad, The Belly Up Tavern. So, Men Chill Dawgs, Beside Myself Without Hats are technically @ The Hideout. The Jehu a two-hit wonder, since “Pop show is early (7 p.m.), so that Goes the World” was also a gives you time to catch more Nik Turner Awesome Fest awesomeness, hit. But it seems pretty safe to say that the new-wave icons will play like this lineup of ultra-fun punk bands.

“The Safety Dance,” which is worth hearing live at least once, right? You can dance if you want to. BACKUP PLAN: Dropdead, Monday, Sept. 1 Full of Hell, Noisem, Bumbklaat, Crime PLAN A: Burgers, Beers, Nap @ Your House. It’s Labor Day, so you deserve a Desire @ The Che Café. break. Staying in sounds nice, doesn’t it?

Maybe having some cold ones, grilling up Friday, Aug. 29 some beef (or veggie patties, if that’s your PLAN A: Varsity Drag, French Exit, Vena thing), and watching whatever marathon Cava, Spokenest, Tom Grrrl, Dead Bars, is on TV—my guess is Law & Order: Special Your Pest Band @ Soda Bar. This week- Victims Unit. PLAN B: Whirr, Sad Actor, end marks the annual tradition of Awesome Northern Tigers, Witness 9 @ Soda Bar. Fest, which brings together lots of catchy, If you do decide to head out after sleeping fuzzy rock groups in a handful of venues, in, day-drinking and barbecuing, then make and this is one of the best showcases of the Whirr your top priority. The Bay Area shoebunch, headlined by the tuneful distortion gazers are loud, yet graceful, and back their dealers in Varsity Drag. BACKUP PLAN: noisy pop music with an elegant streak.

Bhorelorde, Weight of the Sun @ Tin Can Ale House.

Tuesday, Sept. 2

PLAN A: Hills Like Elephants, Ed Ghost Tucker, Amerikan Bear, DJ Man-Cat @ PLAN A: Terry Malts, Winter Break, Soda Bar. Support your local indie-pop White Murder, The Bloodtypes, Mod- bands! The good ones, anyway—and here el Talk, Peach Kelli Pop, Adder @ The are three of them, at an affordable $5 show.

Hideout. See Page 25 for Ben Salmon’s fea- If you break a $20, that leaves you with 60 ture on Bay Area punks Terry Malts. They quarters with which to play Soda Bar’s Batblend a quirky sense of melody with off- tletoads arcade game between sets. BACKkilter, Devo-style energy, and they’re head- UP PLAN: Nicky Venus, Island Boy, Baklining this Awesome Fest showcase, stacked kuda @ The Merrow.

Saturday, Aug. 30

28 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 29

HOT! NEW! FRESH! Junior Brown (BUT, 9/16), Arsis (Porter’s Pub, 9/21), Thievery Corporation (BUT, 9/29), Drowners (Soda Bar, 10/10), J. Roddy Walston and the Business (BUT, 10/14), Fujiya and Miyagi (Soda Bar, 10/16), Neon Hitch (Porter’s Pub, 10/19), Cut Copy (North Park Theatre, 10/31), Flatbush Zombies, Underachievers (SOMA, 11/8), Pulley (Brick by Brick, 11/8), The Presets (North Park Theatre, 11/14), AllahLas (Casbah, 12/12), Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (BUT, 1/4).

GET YER TICKETS John Mellencamp (Convention Center, 9/6), Hot Snakes (The Irenic, 9/10), Liars (North Park Theatre, 9/12), The Tree Ring (The Irenic, 9/17), Buzzcocks (HOB, 9/18), Andrew Bird (Humphreys, 9/19), Drake, Lil Wayne (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 9/20), Lykke Li (North Park Theatre, 9/22), Gov’t Mule (Balboa Theatre, 9/27), DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist (HOB, 10/1), Blue Man Group (Civic Theatre, 10/3), Pinback (HOB, 10/4), Chromeo (SOMA, 10/8), Twin Shadow (BUT, 10/9), The Horrors (BUT, 10/13), Yellowcard (North Park Theatre, 10/17), The New Pornographers (North Park Theatre, 10/18), Metronomy (BUT, 10/19), Charli XCX (HOB, 10/21), Tinariwen (BUT, 10/21), Carcass (Brick by Brick, 10/24), Warpaint (North Park Theatre, 10/25), Jenny Lewis (HOB, 10/25), Ab-Soul (SOMA, 10/26), New Politics (HOB, 10/30), Rhye (North Park Theatre, 11/6), Death From Above 1979 (HOB, 11/12), Hot Water Music (Irenic, 11/12),

Blonde Redhead (HOB, 11/15), The Misfits (HOB, 11/16), Minus the Bear (Casbah, 11/21), John Waters (North Park Theatre, 12/1), Judy Collins (BUT, 12/7), Dick Dale (BUT, 12/21), Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven (BUT, 12/30).

Strand of Oaks at The Casbah. Atmosphere at House of Blues (sold out).

The Baseball Project at Soda Bar.

August

Dave Matthews Band at Sleep Train Amphitheatre. Joey Cape at Soda Bar.

Wednesday, Aug. 27 BB King at Humphreys by the Bay. Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra at North Park Theatre. Creedle at The Casbah.

Thursday, Aug. 28 Dropdead at Che Café. Nik Turner’s Hawkwind at The Casbah. Men Without Hats at Belly Up Tavern. ‘Awesome Fest’ at Soda Bar.

Friday, Aug. 29 ‘Awesome Fest’ at Soda Bar. Marc Anthony at Sleep Train Amphitheatre. Steve Aoki at Del Mar Racetrack.

Thursday, Sept. 4

Friday, Sept. 12

Friday, Sept. 5

Saturday, Sept. 6 Blake Shelton at Sleep Train Amphitheatre. The Donkeys at The Casbah. The Burning of Rome at The Casbah. John Mellencamp at San Diego Convention Center.

Colin Hay at Belly Up Tavern.

Tuesday, Sept. 9 Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks at Belly Up Tavern. G.B.H. at The Casbah.

Saturday, Aug. 30 ‘Awesome Fest’ at Soda Bar. Jack Johnson at RIMAC Field.

Sunday, Aug. 31

September Monday, Sept. 1 Whirr at Soda Bar.

Wednesday, Sept. 3 Senses Fail at House of Blues.

Sunday, Sept. 14 Passenger at House of Blues. Owen Pallett at The Casbah.

Monday, Sept. 15 Chuck Ragan at The Casbah.

Tuesday, Sept. 16 Junior Brown at Belly Up Tavern.

Sunday, Sept. 7

Ziggy Marley at Del Mar Racetrack.

‘Awesome Fest’ at Soda Bar.

Metalachi at Belly Up Tavern. Chicago at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay. Slaughter and The Dogs at Til-Two Club. Deap Vally at The Casbah. Liars at The North Park Theatre.

Sean Hayes Wednesday, Sept. 10 Blockhead at Soda Bar. Sean Hayes at Belly Up Tavern. Hot Snakes at The Irenic.

Thursday, Sept. 11 Accept, Metal Church at Belly Up Tavern.

rCLUBSr 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach. 710bc.com. Wed: Open mic, open jam. Thu: Karaoke. Fri: Casey Turner (5 p.m.); Kid Wilderness, AJ Froman (9 p.m.). Sat: Pacific Dub, Sunny Rude. Sun: Karaoke. Mon: Battle of the Bands.

98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, Little Italy. 98bottlessd.com. Thu: Charlie Arbelaez Trio. Fri: The Benedetti Trio.

Sat: ‘Tribute to Freddie Hubbard’ w/ Gilbert Castellanos. Sun: The Matt Smith Neu Jazz Trio.

Altitude, 660 K St, Downtown. altitudeskybar.com. Sat: Masq Madness Masquerade Ball.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave, Downtown. americancomedyco. com. Wed: Live from the Gaslamp. Thu: Chris Franjola. Fri-Sat: Tom Green. Sun: Full Throttle Comedy. Tue: Open mic.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St, Downtown. facebook.com/BangBangSanDiego.

Fri: Burns, Charlie Tadman. Sat: Vanilla Ace. Bar Pink, 3829 30th St, North Park. barpink.com. Wed: ‘H.A.M.’ w/ DJ L. Fri: Barbarian, Buddy Banter.

Bassmnt, 919 Fourth Ave, Downtown. bassmntsd.com. Thu: EC Twins, Darrigo. Fri: Vice. Sat: Stafford Brothers.

Sun: Datsik.

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

Thu: Adam Block Duo. Fri: Scratch.

Sat: The Tilt. Sun: Sando.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. bellyup.com. Wed: Jenn Grinels, Austin Burns. Thu: Men Without Hats, Betamaxx, DJ Steve West.

Fri: Lukas Nelson and POTR, Insects vs Robots. Sat: Queen Nation, Space Oddity. Sun: Super Diamond, SHYC. Tue: J Boog, Hot Rain, Innavision.

Bluefoot Bar & Lounge, 3404 30th St, North Park. bluefootsd.com. Wed: DJ Donger. Thu: DJ Mike Face. Fri: DJs Julz, Kev Mighty. Sat: DJs Definition, Peso. Sun: Sorry Shark.

Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave, Carlsbad. boarcrossn.net. Thu: The Pictographs. Fri: ‘Club Musae’. Sat: Upfull Rising, Lions Roar.

Bourbon Street, 4612 Park Blvd, University Heights. bourbonstreetsd.com.

Wed: VJ K Swift. Thu: ‘Wet’. Fri: Abby Posner, Kristen Cook.

Brass Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave, Hillcrest. thebrassrailsd.com. Thu: ‘Muscle’. Sat: ‘Sabado en Fuego’ w/ DJs XP, KA. Sun: ‘Noche Romantica’ w/ Daisy Salinas, DJ Sebastian La Madrid. Mon: ‘Manic Monday’ w/ DJs Junior the Disco Punk, XP. Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave, Bay Park. brickbybrick.com. Fri: Stone Horse, Mojave Green, Amigo. Sat: Gunner Gunner, Dynamo Fixx, GlobaLies, The Woodsman, Faith in Flames, Pete Loague and The Rezsonation, DJ Chris 1979.

Cafe Sevilla, 353 Fifth Ave, Downtown. cafesevilla.com. Wed: Aro Di Santi. Thu: Malamana. Fri: Joeff and Co. Sat: Oscar Aragon. Tue: Noches Bohemia.

Comedy Palace, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, Clairemont. thecomedypalace. com. Wed: Humpday Happies. Thu: Rajan Dharni. Fri-Sat: Comedy Showcase.

Comedy Store, 916 Pearl St, La Jolla. lajolla.thecomedystore.com. Wed: Gordon Downs & Friends. Fri-Sat: Steve Trevino. Tue: Rocky Road Irish Comedy Tour.

Croce’s Park West, 2760 Fifth Ave., #100, Bankers Hill. crocesparkwest. com. Wed: Kate Sprague. Thu: Gilbert Castellanos and the Park West Ensemble. Fri: Sue Palmer. Sat: Yavaz. Sun: Choro Sotaque Trio.

Dirk’s Nightclub, 7662 Broadway, Lemon Grove. dirksniteclub.com. Fri: Wild Rumor. Sat: TNT. Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Mission Bay. dizzyssandiego.com. Thu: The North. Fri: The Nathan Collins Quartet.

Sun: Chase Jackson.

Elbow Room, 5225 Kearny Villa Road, Kearny Mesa. elbowroomsd.com. Fri: Shotgun House Blues. Sat: Stars on the Water.

Epicentre, 8450 Mira Mesa Blvd, Mira Mesa. epicentreconcerts.org. Sat: Offshore Impact, Hestya, Marielle, The Deep Blue.

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F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown, Downtown. f6ixsd.com. Fri: DJ Rell. Sat: DJ Fingaz.

Sun: Craig Smoove.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave, Downtown. fluxxsd.com. Thu: Snoop Dogg. Fri: DJ Shift.

Sat: DJ Ikon. Sun: Far East Movement.

Gallagher’s, 5040 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach. 619-222-5303. Wed: Eclectic Tuba, Captain Squeegee, DJ Kilbride.

Thu: So Cal Vibes, DJ Reefah. Fri: Deadly Birds, DJ Arox. Sat: Funk’s Most Wanted, DJ Chelu. Sun: Temple of Dad. Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave, Downtown. henryspub.com. Wed: Johnny Tarr, DJ Christopher London. Thu: Mark Fisher, DJ Yodah. Fri: ‘Good Times’. Sat: DJs E, Yodah. Mon: ‘Kinetic Soul’. Tue: Big City Dawgs.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave, Downtown. houseofblues.com/sandiego. Thu: Tijuana No!, Pastilla, El Sonido Callejero.

Sat: Strangelove. Tue: Jesse McCartney, Guinevere.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. kavalounge.com. Wed: ‘Jade’.

Thu: Cumbia Machin. Fri: Toombao. Sat: Trispy.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave, Kensington. 619-284-2848. Sat: The Downs Family, Duping the Public, Hobo Torch.

Legends Comedy Club, 9200 Inwood Dr, Santee. legendscomedyclub.com.

Fri-Sat: Adam Hunter.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave, Coronado. mcpspub.com. Wed: JG Duo. Thu: North Star. Fri: Ron’s Garage. Sat: In Midlife Crisis. Sun: Jackson and Jesus.

Onyx Room / Thin, 852 Fifth Ave, Downtown. onyxroom.com. Fri: ‘Rumba

Lounge’. Sat: ‘Play Saturday’. Tue: ‘Neo Soul’.

Patricks Gaslamp, 428 F St, Downtown. patricksii.com. Wed: The Rayford Brothers. Thu: Myron and the Kyniptionz. Fri: Trey Tosh. Sat: Mystique Element of Soul.

Sun: Trey Tosh.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave, Hillcrest. richssandiego.com. Wed: DJ John Joseph. Fri: DJs Dirty Kurty, Qoolee Kid. Sat: DJs Taj, Vaughn Avakian, Nikno.

Sun: DJs Casey Alva, Cros.

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

Wed: Westside Inflection. Thu: Trevor McSpadden. Fri: Little Kings. Sat: Jay Chu, Guy Aparicio, Mason Jame.

Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave, North Park. sevengrandbars.com/sd. Wed: Gilbert Castellanos jazz jam. Thu: Comedy night. Fri: Soul Organization. Sat: Jimmy Ruelas.

Shakedown Bar, 3048 Midway Drive, Point Loma. theshakedownsd.com. Thu: Hewhocannotbenamed. Sat: Punch Card, Just In Case, A New Ending.

Side Bar, 536 Market St, Downtown. sidebarsd.com. Fri: DJ Dynamiq. Sat: DJ Slowhand. Sun: ‘Five/Ten’.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. sodabarmusic.com. Thu: Too Many Daves, TV Microwave, Behind the Wagon, DFMK, Okerlands, Warm Soda, The Wolf, International Dipshit, Homeless Sexuals. Fri: Varsity Drag, French Exit, Vena Cava, Spokenest, Tom Grrrl, Dead Bars, Your Pest Band. Sat: Toys That Kill, The Brokedowns, Rumspringer, Murmurs, Pageripper, Drunk Dial, Acid Fast. Sun: Lipstick Homicide, Rational Anthem, Up for Nothing, Old Friends, The Turkletons, The Okerlunds, The Bertos. Mon: Whirr,

Sad Actor, Northern Tigers, Witness 9.

Tue: Hills Like Elephants, Ed Ghost Tucker, Amerikan Bear, DJ Man Cat. SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd, Midway. somasandiego.com. Sat: The Frights, Death Lens, Pilgrims, The Snykes, Grand Tarantula, Buddha Trixie.

Somewhere Loud, 3489 Noell St, Midtown. somewhereloud.com. Fri: K Theory. Sat: ‘Return to the Bass’. Sun: ‘Sweet n Loud’.

Fri: The Nobodys, The Maxies, Too Many Daves, The Raging Nathans, Sunnyside, The Haddonfields, Caskitt.

Sat: Terry Malts, Winter Break, White Murder, The Bloodtypes, Model Talk, Peach Kelli Pop, Adder. Sun: Dan Padilla, Slow Death, Madison Bloodbath, Stymie, Horror Squad, The Chill Dawgs, Beside Myself.

Spin, 2028 Hancock St, Midtown. spinnightclub.com. Fri: Bobby V, Johnn Hart, Natalie Nunn. Sat: Designer Drugs. Sun: ‘Reggae Sunday’.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave, Hillcrest. theMerrow.com. Wed: Open mic.

Fri: Rhythm and the Method, Mimi Zulu, Brothers Burns. Sat: Her Crimson Love, Quad IX, Sever the Century. Sun: Karaoke. Mon: Open mic. Tue: Nicky Venus, Island Boy, Bakkuda.

Stage Bar & Grill, 762 Fifth Ave, Downtown. stagesaloon.com. Wed: As Obscure As Enoch, Atris. Thu: Superbad.

Fri: Disco Pimps, DJ Slynkee. Sat: Hott Mess, DJ Miss Dust.

The Office, 3936 30th St, North Park. officebarinc.com. Wed: ‘Dub Dynamite’ w/ DJs Rashi, Eddie Turbo. Thu: ‘No Limits’ w/ DJ Myson King. Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ w/ Tribe of Kings.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., San Diego, Normal Heights. sycamoreden. com. Thu: The Citrus Band, Splavender.

Sun: Recycled Dolphin, Wretched Tween Fantasy, The Sound Grove.

The Tin Roof, 401 G Street, Gaslamp. tinroofbars.com/Home/SanDiego. Wed: Rock Out Karaoke. Thu: The Aggrolites, The Amalgamated. Fri: Crown Town, Matt Aukerman. Sat: Piano Joe and the Bootleggers, Johnny Tarr. Sun: Dane Drewis.

Mon: The Kracker Jax. Tue: ‘G Street Sessions’.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. casbahmusic.com. Wed: Creedle, Montalban Quintet, Smoota. Thu: Nik Turner’s Hawkwind, Witch Mountain, Hedersleben. Fri: Shake Before Us, The New Kinetics, Stereotypes, Schitzophonics.

Sat: The Rosebuds, El MaySun: Grampadrew’s Flim Flam Revue. Tue: DJ Artistic, Tramlife, DJ Pokey, DJ Artform.

The Che Cafe, UCSD campus, La Jolla. thechecafe.blogspot.com. Wed: Taco Control, Ugly Lovers, Retainers. Thu: DROPDEAD, Full of Hell, Noisem.

The Hideout, 3519 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. thehideoutsd.com. Thu: The Natives, The Swift Beats, Moonshine.

Club’ w/ Clint Davis.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St, Bay Park. tioleos.com. Thu: Nathan James. Fri: Detroit Underground. Sat: Rising Star.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave, City Heights. thetowerbar.com. Wed: ‘The Ratt’s Revenge’ w/ DJ Mikey Ratt. Thu: DJs Diana Death, Heather Hardcore. Fri: DJs Skatemaster Tate, The Filf. Sat: Sultan Bathory, The Stalins of Sound, Sleeping Ghost.

Turquoise, 873 Turquoise St, Pacific Beach. theturquoise.com/wordpress.

Wed: Vera Cruz Blues (4 p.m.); Tomcat Courtney (7 p.m.). Thu: Talia (4 p.m.); The Jade Visions Jazz Trio (7 p.m.). Fri: Gabriela Aparicio (4 p.m.); Tomcat Courtney (7 p.m.); Afro Jazziacs (9 p.m.). Sat: Vera Cruz Blues (4 p.m.); Tomcat Courtney (7 p.m.); Doug Hartley Trio (9 p.m.).

Sun: Sounds Like Four.

Ux31, 3112 University Ave, North Park. u31bar.com. Wed: Bondurant, Deadly Birds, Christian Taylor, Saint Diego. Thu: Work Drugs, Swim Team, Idyll Wild. Fri: Kid Wonder.

West Coast Tavern, 2895 University Ave, North Park. westcoatstavern.com.

Wed: DJ Qenoe. Thu: DJ Coltron. Fri: DJ V-Tec. Sat: DJ Decon.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. tiltwoclub.com. Fri: American Dreamers. Fri: Ugly Duckling, Joint Response, Apex Realm, Peace Apartments, Destructo Bunny. Sat: DJs Erny Earthquake, King Dutty. Mon: Karaoke.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. whistlestopbar.com. Thu: VAMP: Neighborhood Watch. Fri: Beehive and the Barracudas. Sat: ‘Booty Bassment’.

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

Wed: Batwings, Rancho Shampoo, Perros Cobardes, Vampire Slayer, Soft Cock.

Thu: Throne, Strange Creature. Fri: Bhorelorde, Weight of the Sun. Sat: Javier Escovedo and The City Lights, Tomten, Saint Shameless. Mon: ‘Tin Can Country

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St, Ocean Beach. winstonsob.com. Wed: ‘Club Kingston’ w/ P-Knuckel, Upfull Rising, DJ Carlos Culture. Thu: Brothers Gow, Shaky Feelin. Fri: The Devastators, Piracy Conspiracy. Sat: Revival, Project Out of Bounds, Simmer Down Riddim Section. Sun: Karaoke. Mon: Electric Waste Band.

August 27, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 33

Brendan Emmett Quigley

Across

BBs

1. “Stop right there, I don’t wanna hear it” 4. Graphic file format 10. Back in the olden days 13. Towing org.

14. Brazilian fad dance of the ‘90s 15. It may be full of lemons 16. LSD with Babe Ruth’s face on it?

18. Completely suitable 19. Excessive flattery 20. The NCAA’s Sun Devils 21. Zooey Deschanel’s band ___ & Him 22. Duck who serves as a hitman?

27. “The Apple Cart” playwright 29. Line in algebra 30. Crew gear 31. “The Fault in ___ Stars” 32. ___ Stacy (Peter Parker’s true love in “Spider Man”) 33. E = IR formulator 35. Debris touched by Midas?

41. Muscle group targeted in planks 42. Rush hour rarity 43. Tank container 44. Swiss city on the Aare 47. “At Sunset” comic Mort 48. “30 for 30” channel 49. Fishing corks made of pasta?

53. Sugar substitute?

54. ___ spree (rolling) 55. Extra Value Meal, e.g.

58. Nat. whose capital is Luanda 59. What Elmer Fudd said after getting the thing he’s always wanted?

63. Deli bread 64. Cream-filled treats Last week’s answers

34 · San Diego CityBeat · August 27, 2014

65. Mia, in “Pulp Fiction” 66. Condition that involves mood swings and chocolate binges 67. Stump 68. “U ___ bro?”

Down 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

File folder extensions Folksy address “You didn’t have to tell me that” Secret competitor “Just speaking frankly,” in IMs [We don’t know who’s opening the show, but trust us, they’re going to be AWESOME, we hope] 7. Bright parrots 8. “Revenge is ___ best served cold” 9. “Taming of the Shrew” city 10. Wasilla’s state 11. “Caddyshack” villain 12. Whiskered river animals 14. Life partner?

17. Batch of homemade beer 23. Tears up but good 24. Crossed out 25. Is a patron of, as a restaurant 26. Afro pick, e.g.

27. Bad juicer 28. “Whazzat?”

32. Sloppy lump 33. Big name in toothbrushes 34. Lean-to 36. Group with colors and signs 37. Soft drink brand with fruity flavors 38. It might have a band’s name written on it 39. Attitude 40. Coastal flying bird 44. C 45. Saxophone or sandwich 46. Cooking spots 47. In a rock-solid fashion 48. Spain’s longest river 50. Yes guitarist Steve and NHL legend Gordie 51. Make a law of 52. Punch lines?

56. Actress Stone who played 32-Across 57. Fire up a Kindle 60. Emeril’s exclamation 61. Jr.’s jr.

62. Italian crowd

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