San Diego CityBeat • Aug 30, 2017

UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR

What is this thing? week, as I sat down to write that issue’s “From the Editor” column, the word came out that The Village Voice— long the exemplar of alternative news weeklies—was So read a tweet from Medley of Junk who, from what ceasing print operations and going digital only.

To be honest, the news hit me pretty hard. At the I can decipher, is big on fringe-right conspiracies and defending Confederate imagery. They (not sure as to time the story broke, I was working out of the office Medley’s gender, nor do I care enough to ask TBH) of the City Weekly in Salt Lake City. The editor there, were responding to last week’s cover, which featured a Enrique Limón, is a CityBeat alumnus (longtime readers may remember him from his hilarious nightlife burning Confederate flag.

I only point it out here because it’s not the first column, “The Enrique Experience”), and he was with time someone has used the ol’ CityBeat’s never gonna me when his arts editor broke the news that we’d no longer be able to pick up a copy last or CityBeat’s days are numof The Village Voice from one of bered chestnut to respond to us. its signature red newsstands. We Hell, it’s pretty much Carl Deboth kind of looked at each other Maio’s only comeback whenever silently and sighed. Nothing really we call him out on his nonsense. needed to be said. It’s as if we were Then again, he’s never been the both thinking the same thing: most logical or savvy debater.

This is what we signed up for. We But here we are, 15 years in know we might be next. and still going strong. Sure, our When it comes to print mepage count has fluctuated over dia, it seems nothing is forever the years and, just like any newsanymore. However, I think I can print publication, we’ve had to speak for both my friend and mylearn how to do more with less, self when I say that we’ll continue but our mission has been consisto do this for as long as we can. So tent: “to produce a weekly newsI’d like to take this opportunity to paper so cool it’ll be difficult to thank all the writers and editors forgive yourself for missing it… over the years who helped shape it’ll be smart, bold and fun to read. this paper into what it is today.

It will cater to thoughtful people who care about the issues. It will The first issue of San Diego CityBeat I’d also like to thank the ad reps who bust their asses every week report, analyze and, at times, call to keep us afloat, as well as CityBeat’s parent comfor activism to solve important problems.”

The quote above was from this column (titled, pany, Southland Publishing, for continuing to keep “What is this thing?”) in the very first issue of San Di- our (physical) paper in readers’ hands.

But most of all, I’d like to thank our loyal readers. ego CityBeat on August 21, 2002. It was written by one of my mentors, David Rolland, and 15 years later, the We’ll be having a proper celebration of our 15th anniversary in October with the release of our annual mission statement remains the same.

However, when it comes to contributors and con- “Best Of” issue. Leading up to that and continuing tent, there are very few holdovers from that first issue. into 2018, we will begin to unveil some new features Ed Decker’s acerbic “Sordid Tales” column made its and content. Starting next week, we will begin with first appearance and Tom Tomorrow’s “The Modern some early coverage of the candidates and issues that World” brilliantly roasted the grossly inept, post-9/11 readers will need to know about leading up to the Bush administration. There was also an appearance 2018 election. We will also be doing some smaller, from a spry music writer named Jeffrey Terich, who is reader service-type roundups of local news and issues (it’s going to look amazing). now CityBeat’s music editor.

So rest in peace, Village Voice (well, kind of), but So yeah, sure, a lot has changed at CityBeat over the years, but that “smart, bold and fun” attitude remains. to our local haters, I only have this to say: Sorry, but I’m not writing all this in attempt to self-aggrandize we’re not going anywhere anytime soon. or fluff our own feathers, but rather to point out just

—Seth Combs how much CityBeat is the exception to the rule. Just last Write to seth.combs@sdcitybeat.com “14 pages, 19 articles, 67 ads. What should I wear to the #CityBeatIsOver party?”

This issue of CityBeat is dedicated to the woman rescuing bats from the Houston floods. Don’t listen to Molly. Rescue those bats.

Volume 16 • Issue 3 EDITOR Seth Combs MUSIC EDITOR Jeff Terich WEB EDITOR Ryan Bradford ART DIRECTOR Carolyn Ramos ASSOCIATE EDITOR Torrey Bailey STAFF WRITER Jamie Ballard COLUMNISTS Aaryn Belfer, Edwin Decker Minda Honey, John R. Lamb Alex Zaragoza

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AUGUST 30, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 3

UP FRONT | LETTERS

NOT ENOUGH FUCKS GIVEN

UP FRONT

Earlier this month, you published a letter from a guy in the College Area complaining that Ryan Bradford uses the word “Fuck” too much [Clean it up a bit,” Aug. 9]. Well, in my opinion, CityBeat does not give enough fucks. Since when did the cool alternative media turn into a prudish rag who caters to the people that probably use correct grammar in text messages and wish stop signs had punctuation. There should be a profanity quota per issue. I say Free the Fucks!

The real problem with CityBeat is you don’t have enough stories about cats. I want to read a weekly column about cats from different neighborhoods and the mischief they get into. And it needs to have a picture of the cat. Now that would be fucking cool.

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

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

News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Backwards & In High Heels. . . . . .

Well, That Was Awkward. . . . . . .

FOOD & DRINK World Fare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Anatomy of a Cocktail Scene. . . . 9 Final Draught. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Bottle Rocket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

THINGS TO DO The Short List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Calendar of Events. . . . . . . . . . 11-14

Whitney Roux South Park

ARTS & CULTURE After Hours: About Last Night . . . 12 Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 FEATURE: Photo Contest. . . . . 16-17 Seen Local. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Film. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-22

TOO MANY FUCKS I am writing to you in complaint of the foul language your columnist Edwin Decker habitually employs. His inability to get his point across without resorting to coarse Anglo-Saxon four-letter words in the midst of a plethora of rich English possibilities is indicative of a lower level of intelligence.

It is also indicative of low editorial standards on your part. Joseph Pulitzer would have fired you both in a nano-second. Which means the two of you would end-up standing at window 5 since Pravda is no longer hiring.

Marshall Mallory North Park

4 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

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MUSIC

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

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

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

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JAMIE BALLARD

UP FRONT | NEWS

A true test Homeless college students in San Diego find few resources

By Jamie Ballard

A

s San Diego’s homelessness crisis continues, there’s one vulnerable group that’s often overlooked: college students. Although they may not necessarily be sleeping on the streets or panhandling at busy intersections, homeless college students do exist.

What’s worse, they often find that there are very few resources to help them.

A study released last year showed that nearly one in 10 students enrolled in a California State University face housing insecurity, and about one in 5 face food insecurity.

The problem is even worse at California community colleges, where more than 30 percent of students face housing insecurity. That means that throughout California, there are thousands of students who don’t know where they’ll sleep or where their next meal will come from.

Agape House is an off-campus center near San Diego State University that, among other pursuits, helps students navigate issues around food and housing insecurity.

Rev. Darin Johnson, the minister and leader of Agape House, said that homeless students are often overlooked because they don’t always fit stereotypes of homelessness.

“Most people see homelessness as people who sleep on the sidewalk, and we have seen some of that, but it’s a more diverse reality than that,” he explained.

Many homeless students aren’t sleeping on the street, but instead sleeping in their cars or on friends’ couches. In one case Johnson referenced, he says a student was sleeping in a cabinet in an apartment building.

Many of these students are fleeing abusive home situations, or families who have ostra-

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Rev. Darin Johnson in front of the Agape House cized them because of their gender or sexual identity. Though less common, Johnson also said he encounters students who are struggling with mental health or addiction issues that make finding stable housing difficult.

“We do know students who have been assaulted physically because they were sleeping in their car, or had their belongings stolen from their car while they were at class. That kind of thing, or any unsecured living situation, really puts you on the edge and impacts your education.”

Johnson goes on to say that none of the students he’s met who deal with food and housing insecurity fulfill the stereotypes of the “broke” college student.

“It’s not the typical ‘starving college student’ who’s eating ramen because money is tight,” he said. “Money being tight is different from missing meals or not being safe where you sleep, and those are the issues we are starting to see more of the last five years.”

But those issues he refers to can be harder to solve for college students. Many are still considered legal dependents of their family, even if their family can’t or won’t support them. And if they’re a legal dependent, that means they can’t access many government food or housing resources.

Of the resources that are somewhat accessible, many just aren’t feasible for students. Johnson said he’s spoken with students who tried to live in shelters, but found that it was nearly impossible to get a good night’s sleep, which made taking exams and staying on top of schoolwork extremely difficult. He says there’s also the element that many students fear being judged by their peers. Additionally, college students might

have difficulty even getting a spot in San Diego’s already-overcrowded shelters. Most young adults are considered some of the less vulnerable members of the homeless population, so they would likely be placed low on shelter waitlists and end up waiting several weeks for a bed to become available.

In recent years, local colleges have begun to address student food and housing insecurity. Student governments at SDSU and UC San Diego have both created on-campus food pantries for students in need. With help from Agape House, SDSU also created the Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT), which is a collective of different campus resources that work together to refer students to appropriate services. Students fill out an online form detailing their situation and are directed to resources both on and offcampus depending on their needs.

Last year, UCSD’s student government created a similar program, the Office of Food and Housing Resources.

“We look at food and housing insecurity from a social justice perspective,” said Kiara Gomez, the associate vice president of the office. “The office assists in coordinating campus-wide efforts to provide accessible, affordable and sustainable food and housing for all university students.”

She also referred to future plans for a Basic Needs Resource Center on the UCSD campus, a physical location where a coordinator will personally assess student needs and assist students. Over at SDSU, Johnson is hoping the school will follow suit and create an in-person facility where students can get help.

“It would be beneficial to have some-

one like a social worker, who can take a more holistic approach and take a look at all the cluster of issues that have made college challenging, and provide that personal support rather than just an online form like you have with the current ECRT,” he said.

While these initiatives are a good start, Johnson said there’s still work to be done.

Housing on and around SDSU and UCSD campuses continues to be too expensive for many students. The cost of on-campus living at SDSU is roughly between $970 and $1,959 per month, depending on the room type and meal plan. At UCSD, the approximate cost of living on-campus works out to $1,393 per month.

“There is a lack of sufficient housing available on our campus and many students struggle to pay rent in the costly La Jolla area,” said Gomez. “As a first-generation college student myself who comes from a low-income household, I understand the challenges of finances at the college level and the struggle of feeling the need to skip meals in order to be able to pay for a bill.”

Johnson said Agape House has plans to build affordable student housing in the area, though they’re still in the very early stages of the process. So far, they’ve raised about $2 million and are beginning to lay out designs and scout locations.

“It’s important that this story keeps getting told,” he said. “Because students flow through and they aren’t here anymore to tell their story, it’s always new students coming up and living under the same problems and challenges.”

Write to jamieb@sdcitybeat.com

AUGUST 30, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 5

UP FRONT | OPINION

AARYN BELFER

BACKWARDS & IN

HIGH HEELS

Taylor Swift and raping to Mozart

S

he’s perfectly exemplified by the snake imagery she’s attached to herself. She’s the high school mean girl who pretended to be your friend, smiled to your face and talked shit behind your back. The girl is an opportunistic victim-playing whiner with a wonky perm, red lipstick and contrived innocence.

She’s a backstabber, a chameleon and an appropriator extraordinaire. She’s a Becky to the nth degree; the Abigail Fisher of music awards; the Carolyn Bryant of pop culture.

I can’t fucking stand Taylor Swift.

So it was strange for me when, in the wake of the Charlottesville horror show, I found myself vaguely, if reluctantly, cheering Swift on, as I saw the news of her countersuit against former country radio DJ David Mueller.

Recap: Swift accused Mueller of grabbing her “bare ass” during a photo-op at a meet-andgreet event in June 2013. Mueller was subsequently fired from his $150,000-a-year job after Swift’s mother reported the incident to his bosses. The country bumpkin then sued the singer for $3 million in damages, claiming he only touched her ribs and her elbow.

Now, anyone who’s taken basic anatomy, or had sex with anyone ever, knows where the ribs are with respect to the gluteal region. And if we look at the photo that backs up Swift’s claim of assault, we’ll notice that the bare ass in question is right about where Muller’s hand is located.

Unless we’re dealing with alternative facts, this man was not only not reaching for the singer’s elbow or waist, but was more likely reaching for her pussy. It’s a thing, you know?

The prosecutor tried to undermine reality on behalf of his skeevy client when he asked Ms. Swift on the stand why her skirt was not lifted in the front.

“Because my ass is located on the back of my body,” she said.

As a woman who has survived sexual assault, I admit to being a little bit in love with her defiance (note, not with her). Suddenly, this scourge who once went out of her way to distance herself from feminism, was being all, well, feminist-y. I couldn’t help but fist pump in that moment as this duplicitous viper refused to be shamed or blamed. In the process, she prompted an outpouring of stories from survivors of sexual assault, which is pretty much all women in the galaxy.

Male bosses, boyfriends, strangers, construction workers, tech geniuses, grocery baggers, and pretty much all other men read these first-hand accounts with slack jaws. They didn’t say anything, but instead listened intently.

This lasted about 17 seconds before they started

to weigh in with their deep thoughts and intellectual ponderings on what really causes men to do the vile shit they do.

“This is just an honest question,” wrote one ignant gent on a Facebook thread I was following. “How much of this behavior is due to society saying it’s OK to refer to women as ‘bitches’ and ‘hoes’ in music...?

I didn’t see so much of this when I was growing up.”

Another responded: “Apparently you didn’t listen to slow jams, hip-hop or rap…‘I won’t ask and sure won’t beg, reach right over and rub your leg.””

“Urban music has objectified women for about a generation,” said the first dude, fully derailing what had otherwise been a women-centric discussion of the shared rape-and-assault experience. “And we wonder why some guys think its ok to just reach in the cookie jar without asking for a cookie.”

Our bodies are cookies, huh?

Women clapped back: “Have they never listened to the lyrics of the Rolling Stones?” wrote one.

“What about Grease? ‘Did she put up a fight?’” offered another.

“COUNTRY MUSIC IS MISOGYNIST AF!” wrote yet another.

“Rape and sexual assault and violence against women have existed LOOOOOONG before rap music ever came into the cultural landscape. Motherfuckers were raping to Mozart. Please.”

Motherfuckers were raping to Mozart. That could be a t-shirt.

Here I was, pissed off from the unadorned racist glee in Charlottesville—aghast at the continued abhorrent behavior of the potato chip who calls himself president, agitated by the slightly-less-disturbing reality of me being in favor of anything Taylor Swift says or does, and then heartened by a meaningful dialogue with other women—only to have stupid fucking white men butt in to add bullshit racist commentary. Ah, the circle of life.

Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris didn’t murder 13 people at their high school in Colorado because of Marilyn Manson’s “Kill Kill Kill,” just like Mueller didn’t grab Taylor Swift’s derrière because of Too Short’s “Don’t Fight the Feelin.’” No. Simply put, parents need just raise their sons to not be predators.

As for Taylor Swift, she won her case. But make no mistake: She is out for herself. Yay for her for using her privilege to fight the man, but she’s not reaching back to bring anyone along. Ever. The only reason Swift reaches back is to steal from what others—particularly black artists—have already done before her.

Look for her to claim her new Beyonce-esque video as her own creation, and for the general public to give her an A+ on it.

The only reason Swift reaches back is to steal from what others— particularly black artists— have already done before her.

6 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

Backwards & In High Heels appears every other week.

Write to aarynb@sdcitybeat.com.

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UP FRONT | OPINION VOICES

RYAN BRADFORD

WELL THAT WAS

AWKWARD

Drunkenness, diplomacy and dick pics

I

wake up in a dark room, in a strange bed. I know two things: 1.) I’ve spent the evening drinking with Lewis, my future brother-in-law, and; 2.) I’m going to die.

This is it. I’m going to die in Boston, I think.

Bahhhhstan.

Lewis and I had been doing put-upon Beantown accents all night, so it’s ingrained in my speech. Now, my swan song sounds like a townie from Southie.

Images from before the blackout come to me in flashes. I know there were Irish Car Bombs. And a philosophical conversation about political morality. And a horrible karaoke rendition of “Kiss from a Rose.” And a dick pic. If this were Memento, my tattoos would be wicked awesome.

The hangover is like if God had a hangover.

Out of nowhere, a phrase Lewis said comes back to me: “The lads are going out tonight.”

That moment, I think, that’s how it all started.

And if his use of the word “lads” doesn’t convey his Britishness, then surely the faraway

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twinkle I get in my eye as I type this will.

And Lewis is eye-twinkle-inducing charming. He’s a quote-unquote “man’s man,” the type of person whose approval I’ve craved my whole life, even though we’re cut from dissimilar cloths—him, military; me, weirdo.

But I can drink, and even though my imbibing skills have decreased significantly since my college days, I can still tie one on if the situation sits right. What’s a better occasion to unleash those dark powers than when the approval of a fellow lad is on the line?

Lewis is part of the British Army, and it was during his tour of the Middle East where he met Karen, who was stationed at the American Embassy in Jordan. As far as “how did you meet?” stories go, it’s a hell of a lot better than Tinder.

Lewis’ invite echoes in my aching head.

“The lads are going out tonight.” It wasn’t an invite, technically, more of command. A command that I practically pissed myself to follow.

Yes, I think, that’s the moment it all went wrong. Wrahhng.

I arrived at Harvard Gardens (Hahhhvard Gahhhdens, we had said, much to everyone’s amusement [read: nobody’s amusement]) right when the Irish Car Bombs showed up. Let me tell you: enjoying a drink called an “Irish Car Bomb” with people who live close to the reality of that violence is definitely a little awkward. In fact, it’s hard not to constantly feel awkward while partying with Brits in Boston, a city that’s basically a monument to how the U.K. sucks and America rules. However, the lads had already been drinking for a couple hours—which is usually the case when anyone over the age of 21 orders an Irish Car Bomb—so nobody seemed to mind.

A handful of Karen’s friends from the FBI were partying, too. In the past, I’ve felt onedge about hanging out with law enforcement, who usually swing conservative, but if anyone hates Trump and the current political climate more than I do, it’s the FBI. “All right,” said the agent who ordered the Car Bombs. “You drop the shot glass in the beer and you slam it, but don’t let the glass come back and hit your teeth.” Only while drinking with law enforcement do you get a safety protocol.

We drank more, obviously, because soon Lewis’ friend was showing me a photo of his older brother’s penis. In the photo, the brother’s back was to the camera, but his entire package was tucked between his legs and hanging out behind him. If they gave Pulitzers for dick pics, that would’ve taken the prize. Staring at that momentous cock

and balls, I couldn’t help but feel a kinship with this fellow. #Lads4lyf.

“That photo is worse than some of the dead bodies I’ve seen,” Lewis said. We all laughed. Just a bunch of lads laughing at dick pics. Jolly good.

On our way to the next bar, another lad asked my opinion on the morality of democracy and whether the last election is really as bad as we expected. I said that the Trump presidency has galvanized a resistance, and without it, maybe our priorities wouldn’t be so clear. Then I thought about how we’re all just two groups of people, Brits and Americans, stumbling around a strange city, all far away from home, all simultaneously angry at our respective governments and the state of the world, but also in love with it. And then, in a bigger sense: We’re all just wanting a place in the world. We’re all wanting to fit in.

All of us, seeking companionship.

After the events of the night have calcified in my memory, I fall back to sleep.

In the morning, I’m somehow on the couch with no recollection of how I got here. I’m not dead, but not quite alive. The hangover still pounds a steady beat. I find the Ibuprofen, and then the last memory from the previous night comes back: me and Lewis, dueting the sexiest song in existence, Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose,” in an empty karaoke bar. It was us who butchered that song. And we did it together.

Togethaahh.

Well, That Was Awkward appears every other week. Write to ryanb@sdcitybeat.com

AUGUST 30, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 7

UP FRONT | FOOD

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER MICHAEL GARDINER

economics. These types of conditions resulted in similar types of foods that similar conditions lead to in Northern Europe: hearty dumplings, pork and cabbage instead of fresh seafood and pristine vegetables.

Take, for example, Village North’s Pork with Pickled Cabbage Hot Pot. It’s a hardy and heady stew of pork belly and cabbage in a broth that perfectly marries the savory taste of the pork to the sweetness of the cabbage. It might as well be Polish cuisine filtered through a Chinese lens: the same ingredients and same comfort food feel, albeit in a different milieu.

The pork and cabbage jiaozi—Northern-style dumplings—offered another take on the same theme. Take a Polish Rainbow rice noodle salad cabbage and pork roll (gołąbki), stuff its flavors inside a pierogi and the result would be a whole lot like these jiaozi. Again, comfort dialed up to 10 with a dip in the Chinese black vinegar boosting the flavor to a Spinal Tap-like 11.

The prettiest dish on the menu, Rainbow Noodles is a completely different northern dish: a salad of julienned vegetables and omelette topped Go North, young man with rice noodles, wood ear mushrooms and pork with a sesame paste and black vinegar dressing. hina is a big place. Like, really big: nearly Tasty and fresh, it was a bit of a break from the 1.4 billion people spread over 3.7 million heavier dishes. square miles. A spate of regional Chinese In addition to its northern dishes, Village restaurants in San Diego has shown that Chinese North also has a southern chef doing Sichuancuisine is more varied than once perceived. From style dishes (and a rather ordinary skeweredthe fresh seafood and vegetables of Canton and meat grill program that’s not worth exploring). the numbing heat (mala) of Sichuan, to the handOne of the best is the pig’s ear cold appetizer feamade noodles of Shaanxi Province, we actually do turing not only the characteristic numbing heat have lots to choose from. of mala but also a riot of textures from the softer But the food of China’s cold, largely impoverflesh to cartilaginous crunch. The sautéed pork ished Northeastern reaches had yet to hit San Dikidney is another standout: savory and spicy, ego’s radar. Village North (4428 Convoy St., Suite but with peppers that retain their freshness and 330) aims to change that. crunch and wood ear mushrooms that amp up the Steven Ji, Village North’s owner, grew up in umami.

Northeast China, the son of a professor (and In the end, though, the reason to go to Village grandson of a superb Northern cook) and expeNorth is in the name. That is, the dishes that Ji rienced the region’s geography and economic reprepares that were influenced by his childhood vilalities. But when his dad took a job at UCSD, what lage in China’s north. There aren’t a lot of opporhe experienced was life without the cuisine he’d tunities go taste those sorts of dishes in San Diego. grown up with.

This fact alone is reason enough to try them.

It was that geography and economics that

largely shaped the food of China’s Northeast.

The World Fare appears weekly.

Think bleak winter weather and relatively bleak Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

THE WORLD

FARE C

8 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

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UP FRONT | DRINK

ANATOMY OF A

BY IAN WARD

COCKTAIL SCENE #13: Happiness is a cold gun

C

old brew, cold brew, cold brew. The stuff is everywhere these days.

It’s seemingly unavoidable, and I’m not really sure why. Although my life has been plagued by other predilections and addictions, I guess I’m somewhat fortunate not to count coffee among them. It also probably doesn’t help that my first experience with cold brew was at one of the Dark Horse coffee locations, which is the equivalent of a child learning to ride a bicycle on a Harley Davidson heading downhill in the rain. I knew after the first few sips that I was in way over my head and spent the following hours in a twitchy, blurred haze.

Still, I do find coffee to be one of the more powerful ingredients in a bartender’s arsenal. For years, I have used it as one of my default ingredients whenever a guest would order a “dealer’s choice.”

There are several reasons for this: First, coffee seems to pair romantically with most spirits that have spent time in wood. The most common combination would most likely be Irish or American whisky, but I have also found that reposado and anejo tequilas can also be fantastic companions to a shot of espresso.

Secondly, coffee not only offers an unexpected richness that might pleasantly surprise a guest, it also contributes a bitter component that many cocktails need to balance out other sweet or sour elements. Coffee also works incredibly well with citrus. Look to the recent Cold Brew lemonade craze happening in New York. My go-to with lemon and coffee is usually Luxardo Maraschino, but, Fernet Branca works really well too.

My biggest flaw when working with coffee in the past is that I have always used decaf. I thought that people, like me, didn’t really want the caffeine aspect. However, as usual, I was wrong.

“We started using Dark Horse cold brew in our cocktails when I was at Sycamore Den, which we

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found the guests really loved, as we did, because it was a local substitute for vodka and Red Bulls,” says Eric Johnson, partner at The Smoking Gun (555 Market St.).

After he said this, I realized that I had been looking at coffee cocktails all wrong. Johnson proceeded to make me one of his signature cocktails at The Smoking Gun, The Revolver. The Revolver only contains one half-ounce of IAN WARD Dark Horse cold brew, which comes from the taps of Smoking Gun’s adjacent breakfast and coffee component, Spill the Beans. One halfounce does not sound like a lot, especially when being mixed with two ounces of Old Forester, a hot (86 proof) and honey heavy bourbon, but even with this ratio, the notes of strong roasted coffee are the dominant constituent.

It was a subtle and unassuming take on an old fashioned with cold brew. It was an amazing combination of citrus, sweet and bitter. A perfect example of The Revolver all the things that make a great coffee cocktail, well, great, and I spent the following hours in a much more pleasant sort of haze.

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

THE REVOLVER

As prepared at The Smoking Gun 1/2 oz. of Cold Brew (from Dark Horse Roasters) 2 oz. Old Forester Bourbon Dash of Reagans orange bitters Dash of Fee Brothers barrel aged bitters Spoon of cane syrup

Combine all ingredients together in a rocks glass, add ice and stir. Express an orange twist over the top and garnish.

AUGUST 30, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 9

UP FRONT | DRINK

FINAL

BY BETH DEMMON

DRAUGHT Beer media for the masses

U

format mixes sketch comedy with beer tastings and features guests such as Coronado Brewing Company brewmaster Ryan Brooks, North Park Beer Company founder/brewmaster Kelsey McNair and many others.

“Brewing helped me have context when I’m sitting across from these brewing rockstars,” says Keliinoi.

The show’s focus has always been “to inform and entertain simultaneously,” according to the trio. Keliinoi writes out preliminary scripts, while Kostka, Mayer and Addison Poth—who also brews at Culture and Liberty Call Distilling—finesse the dialogue to keep industry insiders interested without discouraging viewers unfamiliar with heady terminology.

nlikely as it may seem, beer journalism does occasionally present unexpected hurdles. For instance, meeting brewers to talk about their beer show at a brewery where one of them is the head brewer may turn out to be a somewhat fruitless venture, as I recently discovered. (I know, I’m shocked too.)

Aaron Mayer (former head brewer at Acoustic Ales), Aleks Kostka (head brewer of Culture Brewing Company Solana Beach) and executive producer Tom Keliinoi were certainly eager to discuss the syndication details for What’s on Draft, their craft beer web series. However, popping open crowlers of Culture beer soon began BETH DEMMON to overshadow shop talk. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, we were all burnt to a crisp by the end of our “interview.”

Despite our meeting-turned-drinkingsession, Keliinoi—ever the professional— managed to fill in the fuzzy gaps regarding the deal over (far fewer) beers at Thunderhawk Alements. This fall (exact date TBD), the Los Angeles-based media company TV4 Entertainment will release a new drinksbased network called “DrnkTV” and feature What’s on Draft as its premier original beer show. Other media on the new channel— Tom Keliinoi and Aaron Mayer of What’s on Draft which will be available for purchase on Roku “People who aren’t industry can feel like they and Apple TV—will focus on spirits, wine and are,” promises Keliinoi. other niche content. In the meantime, former While Keliinoi confirms that syndication seasons of What’s on Draft are available to view on was “definitely a goal” in terms of financial its site and Amazon. sustainability, he’s hopeful that aligning the “I felt that [craft brewing] wasn’t really show with a network won’t alter the fundamental captured in its reality,” explains Keliinoi in regards format of What’s on Draft and will help them to why he launched What’s on Draft in 2016 after continue to expand into other beer media two years of prep work and his now-defunct first projects, such as a feature film. beer series Crafty. He cites the lack of quality in Whatever they release, I recommend enjoying beer media, as well as the burgeoning local beer it without their presence. Otherwise, I can’t scene, as clear reasons why he ditched the “rat guarantee the ability to remain uninebriated race” of Hollywood filmmaking and returned to his enough to remember it. hometown of San Diego to brew at Acoustic Ales.

What’s on Draft retains the same comedic Write to bethd@sdcitybeat.com, check her out on irreverence as Crafty, but with a more polished Instagram at @thedelightedbite, or via Twitter at look, thanks to Keliinoi’s filmmaking experience @iheartcontent. as well as Mayer and Kostka’s brewing chops. The

10 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

@SDCITYBEAT

EVENTS

SHORTlist

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

POINT LOMA

SU CASA

It’s not a new story by any means: Arts organizations move into an otherwise untapped and unimpressive neighborhood, build it up and then the people start flocking. Unfortunately, what almost always happens is that rents go up and those same businesses that helped to transform the neighborhood have to move out. It’s a vicious cycle.

And while we don’t usually reserve this space for commentary like this, it seems only fitting that on this Labor Day weekend, we’d want to recognize an institution that has put in a lot of work over the years. In the case of Casa Valencia Galería (2730 Historic Decatur Road, Barracks 16, valenciagallery.com)—a quaint gallery inside the Liberty Station art district dedicated to showcasing emerging Baja artists—it’ll be holding its final exhibition opening on Friday, Sept. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. during Liberty Station’s monthly “Friday Night Liberty” art walk.

“It’s bittersweet,” says Casa Valencia Assistant Director Danya Ramos. “We’ve been there for over five years and we’ve done our best to promote the artists and keep the gallery open, but it’s difficult… We’re just putting in more that we’re getting out.”

The last exhibition, Fragmentada, will feature the work of Nuria Bac, a pop-artist and painter from

DOWNTOWN

Mexico, as well as the sculpture and mosaic works from the gallery’s namesake Aida Valencia.

“The great thing about this exhibit is how it hits close to what is happening in the gallery,” Ramos says. “It deals in the personal journeys of both artists, portraying vulnerability and transparency as an artist and individual, as well as a gallery and community.”

COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

Touring around old ships is cool and all, but getting to fire cannons on those ancient vessels is a hell of a lot more fun. The Maritime Museum, partnered with Port of San Diego’s Tidelands Activation Program, brings Festival of Sail to Embarcadero Marina Park North (400 Kettner Blvd.), where attendees get to play pirate for the weekend. More than 20 ships from around the world will be available for tours, but there will also be a petting zoo, sunset cruises, food and drink (hopefully rum) from dozens of restaurant booths and, best of all, cannon battles on the bay. The festival takes place at various times Friday, Sept. 1, Saturday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 3. There will be an opening parade at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31. Tickets for the festival are $9-$11. For more info, visit sdmaritime.org

BOOKS HJean Twenge at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The author of The Narcissmism Epidemic and Generation Me will sign and discuss her latest takedown of millennials, iGen. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30. Free. 858454-0347, warwicks.com

Mixer for the Arts at THE NEST on Third, 260 1/2 Third Ave., Chula Vista. Hosted by ChicanaLilly Studio, this networking event invites artists, organizers and everyone in the creative industry to mingle and get connected. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 31. Free. facebook.com/ events/113500465981212 Parallel Universe at Boehm Gallery, 1140 W Mission Rd, San Marcos. From being born a twin to the possibility of extraterrestrial life, this conceptual art exhibition is inspired by four artists and their explorations of alternative planes of existence. Opening from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31. Free. facebook.com/events/867619773386799 HMillennial Pink at San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. Last chance to see this exhibition dedicated to the evolution of queer aesthetics. Includes works by Erica Cho, Zackary Drucker and more. Closing from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1. Free-$5.

619-236-0011, sandiego-art.org

“El Caminante” by Aida Valencia As for Casa Valencia itself, Ramos says she and Valencia will work to keep the name alive stateside via pop-up shows and the staff will continue to work on the Latin American Arts Festival, which happens March 17 and 18 at Liberty Station.

“This is not the end,” Ramos says. “This is just another chapter that we’re opening up.”

POINT LOMA

COME SAIL AWAY

ART ArtXChange at Blank Slate Creative Studio, 2110 Hancock St. #201, Mission Hills.

Known for depicting the complex relationship between nature and humanity, artist Aaron Ishaeik hosts a pop-up show with printmaking demos, drinks and music from DJ Sage Maestro. Opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31. Free. facebook.com/events/884333791718663

GO PIG OR GO HOME Vegans will find absolutely nothing to like at the San Diego Bacon Fest, the fifth annual tasting event that celebrates all things cured pork. Attendees can choose from bacon samplers from dozens of San Diego restaurants such as El Chingon, Toronado and, naturally, Soda & Swine, just to name a few. There will also be live music from local bands, as well as unlimited beer and cocktail tastings from places like Abnormal Beer Co., Belching Beaver and Cutwater Spirits. What’s more, it’s for a good cause, as proceeds from the event benefit local nonprofit It’s All About the Kids Foundation. It happens Saturday, Sept. 2 at Preble Field at NTC Park from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $55 at sdbaconfest.com.

COURTESY OF SAN DIEGO BACON FEST

MAX HERMAN / SHUTTERSTOCK

Muses of the Old Globe at the Women’s Museum in Liberty Station, 2730 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma. Explore the stories of extraordinary women who make up the history of the Old Globe Theater.

Opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1.

Free-$5. womensmuseumca.org Friday Night LIberty at NTC at Liberty Station, 2640 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma. This monthly gallery and studio walk features open artist studios, galleries, live performances, shopping and entertainment throughout NTC’s Arts and Culture District. From 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1.

Free. 619-573-9300, libertystation.com Oceanside Art Walk at Downtown Oceanside, Pier View Way and Tremont St., Oceanside. Over 20 businesses throughout downtown Oceanside transform into galleries to showcase local art.

From 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1. Free. oceansideartwalk.org HNuvia Crisol Guerra at Project Reo Collective 2335 Reo Drive #6, Paradise Hills. The local artist will showcase new paintings. Opening from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. Free. facebook.com/ events/1934071266880879 Transition Lines at The Nest on Third, 260 1/2 Third Ave., Chula Vista. A closing reception for Melody De Los Cobos’ solo exhibition, which draws on her Mexican heritage and her experiences as a firstgeneration American. From 5 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 2. Free. facebook.com/ events/1051271388348415 Youth Art Exhibition at Gelato Vero Caffe, 3753 India St., Mission Hills. Hosted

by Art Unites, the exhibit features work by kid artists ages eight through 12. Art will be on display for sale and guests must also purchase an item from the cafe in lieu of an admission fee. From 4 to 6 p.m.

Sunday Sept. 3. Free. facebook.com/ events/211210626075979 Frequencies at Keller Gallery, Point Loma Nazarene Uniersity, 3900 Lomaland Drive, Point Loma. A solo exhibition of new paintings and drawings by artist Stephen P. Curry that deal in geometric patterns.

Features an artist talk. Opening from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6. Free. 619849-2396.

Festival of Sail @SDCITYBEAT

San Diego Bacon Fest

H = CityBeat picks

HVictor Milán at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The bestselling fantasy writer will discuss and sign his latest, The Dinosaur Princess. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30. Free. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Alex Segura and Duane Swierczynski at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The two mystery authors will sign and discuss their latest novels, Dangerous Ends (Segura) and The Black Hood, Volume 1: The Bullet’s Kiss (Swierczynski). At 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 31. Free. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Thor Wier at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. As part of Warwick’s ongoing Weekend with Locals program, Wier will sign and discuss his book, Space Cowboy Odyssey, a document about his horse trek across America. At noon. Sunday, Sept. 3. Free. 858-4540347, warwicks.com Edith Eger at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The acclaimed psychologist will sign and discuss her memoir, The Choice: Embrace the Possible. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5. Free. 858454-0347, warwicks.com

COMEDY Stand-Up Comedy at Whistle Stop Bar, 2236 Fern St., South Park. Riff City Comedy will be hosting the event, which is headlined by Tom Clark and features Brad Wenzel, Trenton Davis, Chelsea Skidmore and several others. From 8 to 11 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 30. $5. facebook.com/ Riff-City-Comedy

DANCE Salsa/Bachata/Zoúk Festival at Sheraton Hotel & Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Drive, Harbor Island. The 11th annual dance festival features five dance shows, live music, workshops and pool parties.

Featuring Charlie Chavez y su Afrotruko, The Franklin Diaz Experience and more. At various times. Thursday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 4. $15-$165. 619-4021031, sandiegosalsabachatafestival.com

FILM HWomen Direct at Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park. A viewing of Dorothy Arzner’s Merrily We Go To Hell and Ida Lupino’s The Hitch-Hiker, two rarely shown, female-directed films. Plus food trucks. From 7:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1. $5-$10. 619-238-7559, mopa.org PSL Sept. Fundraiser at Donut Panic, 6171 Mission Gorge Road, Allied Gardens. San Diego Party for Socialism and Liberation hosts a fundraising film screening. Movie to be announced. From 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. Free. facebook. com/SanDiegoPSL

FOOD & DRINK AAZK Fundraiser at Kindred, 1503 30th St., South Park. Fifteen percent of craft cocktail and vegan cuisine purchases at Kindred will benefit AAZK-SD, which supports local and global wildlife and conservation projects. At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30. Free. sdaazk.com

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

AUGUST 30, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 11

EVENTS

AFTER HOURS: ABOUT LAST NIGHT Off the beaten path

O

n any given night, the music coming out of bars and clubs along Pacific Beach’s Garnet Avenue is mostly radio-friendly edits of popular songs. When passing from one watering hole to the next, original music is often hard to find and, until recently, PB Avenue (1060 Garnet Ave.) bumped the same kind of formulaic setlist on Thursday nights.

“It was Top 40, kind of the basic night that any other bar would do at the beach,” says Travis Kincaid, a managing partner at PB Avenue, which has been open since 2013.

Then, local house and techno crews Staybad, Tribe Out West, Crowd Control and Detached Sounds created Switching Lanes, a weekly Thursday night event dedicated to the respective genres. Since Switching Lanes’ first soft opening in late July, the house community has been buzzing about these crews hosting parties at such an unexpected location.

“There’s a lot of people out there now who are like ‘What the hell? All of a sudden Staybad are doing a show there, and then it’s Crowd Control, and then it’s Tribe?’” says Staybad co-founder Jake Latif, who’s also known as Johnny Badd. “Everyone’s like, ‘What the fuck? Somethings going on. Something is brewing.’”

Latif says the music will be true house and tech-

EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 HMad Men Goes to Hawaii at The Pearl Hotel, 1410 Rosecrans St., Point Loma.

The Pearl Hotel celebrates its 10th anniversary with a Mad Men-themed dinner and cocktail party. Features a costume contest, soundscapes from the 60s and Mad Men episodes playing on the DiveIn Screen. At 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1.

Free-$60. 619-226-6100, facebook.com/ events/117820735541261 Tacos, Tequila and Beer Festival at Lane Field Park, 1009 N. Harbor Drive, Downtown. The third annual event celebrates the best local tacos, tequila and craft beer from 15 restaurants, 50 breweries and 8 tequila brands. Plus an after party with Shwayze and LMFAO. From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. $40-$50. tacostequilafestival.com HBaja vs Cali Ceviche Challenge at Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa, 2000 2nd St., Coronado. Chefs from both sides of the border compete for the best ceviche as voted by attendees.

Plus wine, beer, live music and local artists. From 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept.

3. $45. 619-435-3000, facebook.com/ events/839998062834905/ Eat for a Cause at Carnitas Snack Shack, 2632 University Ave., North Park.

A fundraiser where 15 percent of meal prices are donated to SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes, a local nonprofit sports program serving athletes with developmental disabilities. From 5 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 6. facebook.com/ events/291468794661361

MUSIC H1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular at Embarcadero Marina Park South, 206 Marina

12 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

no, and that it will be hosted by the four crews on a rotating basis, plus others they may add on later.

He also warned Kincaid that the atmosphere would be unrecognizable by Pacific Beach bar standards.

Latif told him, “If we’re going to do this... we’re going to decorate the way we want. People are going TORREY BAILEY to dress up. It’s going to look weird in here. We’re going to have things that you wouldn’t normally have in here.

If I want a unicorn in the corner, we’ll have one there.”

That also meant better sound and less flashing lights. Kincaid didn’t stop them, sensing that there was a market in PB for what they were offering.

“It’s hard to go around PB these days and go somewhere and be like, ‘Oh my god, this crowd is amazing in here,’” Kincaid says. “[At Switching Lanes] you definitely get a different crowd. Everyone has good energy PB Avenue and is feeling good.”

The test runs for the night have gone well enough to where they’re officially launching Switching Lanes on Thursday, Sept. 14.

The opening will be hosted by Staybad, but Latif and Kincaid both say they dream of bigger names and more changes in store for the venue.

Says Kincaid, “I want [PB Avenue] to be the entertainment spot at the beach.”

Park Way, Downtown. San Diego Symphony will perform Tchaikovsky’s inimitable “1812 Overture” and attendees will have a full view of fireworks exploding over the bay. At 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, Saturday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 3. $20-$85.

619-686-6200, sandiegosymphony.com The Revivalists at Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. The New Orleans rock band will perform as part of the 4 O’Clock Friday Summer Concert Series. At 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1. $6$20. 858-755-1141, dmtc.com

—Torrey Bailey

space, and lunch will be provided for all volunteers. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. 619-228-8101, unionyes.org HAmerica Needs Unions March at San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd., Downtown. The local leg of a nationwide strike and march led by Fight for 15 fastfood workers to support unions and fair pay. From 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday, Sept. 4. Free. fightfor15.org

SPECIAL EVENTS

Reggae Splash Boat Party at 1800 N Harbor Drive, Downtown. Billed as the largest reggae boat party on the west coast, this three-hour cruise along San Diego Bay will feature live acts including Arise Roots, DJ Unite, DJ Rags and 3Wise.

From 9 p.m. to midnight. Saturday, Sept.

2. $70-$100. reggaesplashsd.com

HPeacock Alley at The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., Hillcrest. A one-night event to fundraise for the upcoming KPBS documentary San Diego Gay Bar History. There will be comedy, ‘80s-inspired drag, go-go boys and more. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30. Free. 619-299-7372, themerrow. com

Steve Aoki at Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. The iconic EDM DJ will perform as part of the Del Mar Summer Concert Series. 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. $6-$20. 858-755-1141, dmtc.com

HFestival of Sail at North Embarcadero, 1492 N. Harbor Drive, Downtown. The annual waterfront celebration will let visitors tour vintage ships and offer food and drink from dozens of restaurants. Also includes a parade, pirates and cannon battles on the bay. At various times. Thursday, Aug. 31, through Monday, Sept. 4. Free-$120.

619-234-9153,sdmaritime.org

Julio de la Huerta at Westgate Hotel, 1055 2nd Ave., Downtown. A night of Latin music in the Plaza Bar, plus cocktails and bites prepared by Executive Chef Fabrice Hardel. From 8 to 11 p.m. Monday, Sept.

4. $20. 619-238-1818, westgatehotel.com

POLITICS & COMMUNITY Day of Service, Labor and Community Unite at 6443 Imperial Ave., Encanto. The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council and Pillars of the Community are inviting locals to participate in a day of service in southeast San Diego. Participants will help paint and clean a community

HBarona Powwow at Barona Indian Reservation, 1000 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside. More than 300 Native Americans from across the country will showcase traditional tribal dancing and spectators will also be able to enjoy Hand Drum contests, singing, music, authentic Native American cuisine and handcrafted jewelry. At 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1 and 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 3. Free. 619-443-6612, facebook.com/BaronaPowwow

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 @SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

August 30, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

EVENTS EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. Free. sdvintagefleamarket.com

HFestiarte at Avienda Parque Mexico Norte 464, Playas de Tijuana Secc Monumental, Tijuana. The 12th annual Festiarte celebration will feature food, performances, and unique visual art, along with special offerings from local fashion line Fakap.

Various times. Friday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Sept. 3. Free. festiarte.com.mx

Pier Pressure Yacht Party at Grape Street Pier, 1800 N. Harbor Drive, Downtown. A Labor Day party aboard the Inspiration Hornblower Cruise ship with three decks and six DJs, including headliner Donald Glaude. At 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. $27-$175. hornblower.com

HU.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge at Broadway Pier, 1000 North Harbor Drive, Downtown. Come watch some of the world’s top sand artists create sculptural masterpieces out of 300 tons of sand.

Proceeds benefit local charities. From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Sep. 1 through Monday, Sep. 4. $7-$31. 415-318-4094, ussandsculpting.com 2017 Hawaiian Plumeria Festival at Casa Del Prado, 1650 El Prado, Balboa Park. A flower show and plant sale, featuring live entertainment by local Hawaiian dancers and musicians including Tipanie o Patitifa and The Cool Breeze. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 3. Free. socalplumeriasociety.com Big SoCal Euro at Qualcomm Stadium, 9449 Friars Road, Mission Valley. An event for European car enthusiasts, featuring drag racing, raffle prizes, music and food trucks. Drivers can pre-register on the website to participate in the drag race.

From noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3.

Free. big-euro.com HSan Diego Vintage Flea Market at The Observatory North Park, 2891 University Ave, North Park. 100 vendors will be selling vintage pieces, true to the era of turn of the century to mid-century modern. Vintage wares, clothing, furniture, pin-up/rockabilly style accessories and more will be available for purchase. From

SPORTS Little Italy’s Labor Day Stickball Tournament at Little Italy. Players from all over will indulge in some olde-timey fun and compete to see who will be crowned “King of the Block.” Games will be held on India Street from W. Ash to W. A Streets and Columbia Street from W. Beach and W. Cedar Streets, From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 3.

Free. littleitalysd.com

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS HJudit Hersko and Ruth Wallen at San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., East Village. The two artists featured in Weather on Steroids: The Art of Climate Change Science will give lectures based on their installations. Followed by a Q&A session. From 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31. Free. 619-236-5800, sandiego. librarymarket.com Flying Wild! at San Diego Humane Society, 5500 Gaines St., Mission Valley. Human and animal connections organization, Zovargo, hosts an interactive talk on birds and their biology to educate attendees on what makes these animals unique. From 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 2. $10. facebook.com/ events/349932648761832

14 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

WINE: BOTTLE ROCKET Temecula wines find home in the Gaslamp

O

ne of the oldest wineries in Temecula Valley making technique is common in Napa Valley where now has one of the newest tasting rooms in Butters previously worked, but a rare find in Temecula where wines are known to have an over-proSan Diego.

Callaway Vineyard and Winery’s sleek new space duced taste.

Callaway’s Wild Yeast viognier had far from on Fourth Avenue fits in nicely with its Gaslamp Quarter neighbors. The long bar practically invites manufactured flavors and won me over with its guests to saunter up for a tasting and the large win- sumptuous tropical and stone fruit notes—on par dows provide some great peopleJENNIFER LOTHSPEICH with what is expected from viognier but with a pleasant muskiwatching to go with the sips. ness. Next, we moved to reds The menu presents California where the mourvèdre got my atstandards such as chardonnay, tention with its subtle tart berry zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon and dried herb flavors. On the along with varietals like mourvèheartier side, the zinfandel baldre and viognier, which are well anced dark cherries with a spicy known around the world but not finish. as common on local lineups. With While I enjoyed the reds, lots to dive into, I started with the when it came time to take some“it girl” of the moment: the rosé. thing home I went back to the Callaway’s offering to the world complexity of the viognier and of blushing wines is made from snatched it up.

Sangiovese grapes giving it more Callaway’s tasting room is character than others. Full of a welcome addition to the San berry flavors and just a touch of Diego tasting room scene with sweetness that finished dry.

Tasting room manager Rich- Callaway Vineyard and Winery its varied lineup ready to satisfy typical wine drinkers along with ard Butters next guided my tasting to an interesting white on the list. He spoke more adventurous palates. Plus its home among excitedly about the Wild Yeast line by Callaway, restaurants and nightclubs make it a prime spot to which uses naturally occurring yeast from vine- have a drink to start a night out. yards versus the type created in a lab. The wine-

—Jennifer Lothspeich

@SDCITYBEAT

THEATER ION THEATRE

Daren Scott and Samantha Ginn in The North Plan

An unlikely revolutionary is born

J

ason Wells’ The North Plan, making its San Diego debut courtesy of ion theatre, clearly aspires to pungent political satire. Its hyperphysicality and broadly drawn characters, however, render it closer to political farce.

The thriller-brand premise is smartly conceived: A thuggish splinter group has taken over the federal government, martial law has been declared, and a fugitive State Department bureaucrat (Daren Scott), armed with a stolen “enemies list,” finds himself under arrest in a tiny Ozarks town.

But the threatened outside world feels like fantasy beyond the walls of the town’s one-cell police station. There, the antics of Tanya Shepke (Samantha Ginn) and how they become co-conspirators with everyone else in the story (bureaucrat Carlton Berg, a police chief and his assistant, and two Department of Homeland Security suits) outdo and out-shout anything that might be happening on the martial-lawed streets of America.

Behind bars apparently after a drunken driving bust, Tanya is one notch above hillbilly, the �������� victim of a life offering few breaks and of a no-good husband who tried to drown her in a bathtub. But she is fearless, impetuous and prone to firing fusillades of f-bombs at anyone who pisses her off, which, naturally, is everybody. Ginn, a talented comedienne, has unfettered fun with the character, who finds herself pulled into fellow arrestee Berg’s plan to get his enemies list into the hands of someone who can help save the country. The first act is set behind bars where the conspiracy between Berg and Tanya is frantic and frankly hysterical. Kudos here go to Scott, Ginn and director Isaac Fowler.

When the Homeland Security wonks (Jake Rosko and Fred Hunting) arrive in Act Two, The North Plan’s action inside the little police station ramps up, culminating with deadly gunplay, but all of it played as if accompanied with a laugh track.

There’s no telling how what happened will impact the bad guys in charge of the country or the emergence of an organized opposition, but audiences won’t care. Especially not after they’ve watched Ginn’s Tanya Shepke strut her stuff.

@SDCITYBEAT

The North Plan runs through Sept. 9 at ion theatre’s BLKBOX space in Hillcrest. $18-$35; iontheatre.com

—David L. Coddon

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

OPENING: The Kiss of the Spider Woman: John Kander and Fred Ebb’s acclaimed musical centers on two inmates who share stories and fantasies in a Latin American prison in order to get through the hardships of incarceration. Directed by Ray Limon, it opens Sept. 1 at the Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido. welkresorts.com An American in Paris: The Tony-winning musical about an American soldier who finds romance with a French woman in the days after World War II. Presented by Broadway San Diego, it opens Sept. 5 at the Civic Theatre in Downtown. broadwaysd.com Wild Goose Dreams: A world premiere musical about a South Korean immigrant who falls into an unexpected online romance while supporting his family back home. Written by Hansol Jung, it opens Sept. 5 at the La Jolla Playhouse. lajollaplayhouse.org

NOW PLAYING: Sunset Boulevard: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical about a former silent film actress and a struggling writer attempting to make it in an ever-changing Hollywood scene. Presented by Moonlight Stage Productions, it runs through Sept. 2 at AVO Playhouse in Vista. moonlightstage.com Robin Hood!: A world premiere from playwright Ken Ludwig that gives a comic spin on the legendary British outlaw.

Directed by Jessica Stone, it runs through Sept. 3 at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park. theoldglobe.org The North Plan: A former State Department official runs for his life after stealing classified info from a ruthless faction that’s now in charge of Washington. Presented by ion Theatre, it runs through Sept. 9 at the BLKBOX Theatre in Hillcrest. iontheatre.com

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

AUGUST 30, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 15

CULTURE

The winners of CityBeat’s annual photo contest It seems like everyone is an amateur “photographer” these days. With the ubiquity of camera phones—not to mention all the filters, apps and tools at our disposal—it can often be difficult to judge the hundreds of submissions we receive for our annual photo contest. We do, however, take the judging very seriously and look for photos that not only capture a moment in time, but something that could not be easily replicated. Photos that are not simply aesthetically pleasing, but also speak to us on an internal level as well. The selection process is often difficult and full of intra-staff disagreements, but we all agree that the photos on this page are representative of some of the amazing shutterbugs we have in this city. Special thanks as always to George’s Camera in North Park for providing the winner with a new camera.

S E CO N D P L AC E

“Welcome to San Diego”

by Marina Molodets

F I R S T P L AC E

T H I R D P L AC E

“Laundromat”

“Entry to Exposition”

by Jake Rose

by Stray Dog

16 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

@SDCITYBEAT

HONORABLE MENTIONS

“Deadpool Texting Your Mom” by Sean Dejecacion “Happy Dog and Pink Car” by Tony Gidlund

“Cactus Gloom” by Lauren Williams

“First Flight” by Noel Cepeda

“Flyin’ High” by Jason Bang

“Del Mar, Seaside” by Jessica Rae Cortez

@SDCITYBEAT

“The Pillars at the Park” by Phillip Silverstein

“Bunnylabra” by Trish Amante

AUGUST 30, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 17

CULTURE | ART

SEEN LOCAL GOLDEN YEARS

F

or years, photographer Alanna Airitam was stares into the distance as if contemplating his own tired of not seeing people who looked like her place in the kingdom.

“Halfway through the series, I began to underin fine art. Whether it was in classical and even more modern paintings or portraiALANNA AIRITAM stand what the story was,” Airitam says. “The more I shot, the more it ture, the New York-via-Texas nasort of revealed itself to me. It felt tive says that it was rare that she’d like I was being driven somewhere. see Black representations in art, I was not in control of any of this. much less any people of color.

This was coming from a place that “I wanted to see us in art. I alwas just somewhere else.” ways loved art and it’s always been Airitam’s other projects inpart of my life, but I never saw us clude Being Heard: Between the in there,” says Airitam, who moved to San Diego four years ago. “So Margins, a series of portraits and for me, it was a way of inserting us stories from women of color docuinto a history that I have so much mented shortly after Trump’s viclove for. It’s not meant to take tory. She’s also equally adept at away what’s already there. It’s to landscape and commercial phoadd to it and build on it.” tography, but she seems to realize Airitam is speaking about The that portraiture is something she Golden Age, a series of photographs would like to continue. She says she completed in May. In the phoher next project will likely deal in tos, she took portraits of Black San the three historical Black female Diegans dressed and posed as restereotypes (Mammy, Jezebel and gality. Inspired by the paintings of “Queen Mary” by Alanna Airitam Sapphire), and while it’s tempting the Dutch Realist movement, the to see this as an expansion of The self-taught Airitam says the idea came to her while Golden Age series, Airitam says she wants to continue working at a cubicle job that she hated. When she to expand her work rather than become pigeonholed quit, she devoted herself full-time to photography into one type of portraiture. and completed The Golden Age series in a month. The “I think Golden Age will fit in under an umbrella resulting portraits are gorgeously striking and majes- of a bigger series, but I have other things that I’ll be tic. In “Saint Sugar Hill,” a reclining, coronated wom- working on,” says Airitam “They are similar, but ceran stares at a pear as if she’s straight out of Ancient tainly not the same.”

Rome. In “Saint Apollo,” a young archer in a keffiyeh

—Seth Combs

PICTURES IN THE PARK

A

s the San Diego Padres wind down another sub-par season, the fact that the team hasn’t been to the playoffs in over a decade is reason alone for many fans to stay home.

But Kevin Gossett isn’t interested in those fans.

A die-hard Padres fan himself who goes to as many games as possible, he says there’s something to be said for a fan who sticks with a team through the ups and the downs.

“It’s a bit masochistic,” says Gossett, who has been a Padres fan all his life, but only recently rediscovered his adoration for the game.

“Baseball is a fun sport and it’s a good story. It’s got a long history with good stories and good characters.

Baseball is the same sort of thing that got me into studying literature.”

This love of good stories led Gossett to start bringing his camera to games in order to snap photos of “the characters” at the park. He started posting them on Instagram under the handle People of Petco Park (instagram.com/peopleofpetcopark). Taken in and around the ballpark, the pictures range from casual to posed, young and old, but what mainly stands out is how Gossett manages to capture the essence of

18 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

fandom without coming across as cheesy or as if he’s pandering to the Padres. After all, he isn’t doing this in hopes of selling the pictures (he often gives his info to his subjects in order to email them the pictures for free). He’s doing it for, well, the love of the game.

“People will say, ‘man, you should be getting paid for this! You’re doing the Padres a service,’” says Gossett. “But what I don’t like is ABIGAIL BARNETT feeling like I have a job, like I have to take pictures. I go to games as an escape just like everybody else.”

The other thing that stands out since the Instagram page started last year is how it has evolved into a storytelling platform as well. This year, he started asking people about themselves and using their Kevin Gossett quotes and stories as the captions for the pictures.

“At first, I would just hashtag it, because I didn’t want people to perceive me as making fun of anybody,” says Gossett, who even takes pictures of fans rooting for the visiting team. “Even when showing Dodgers fans or Giants fans, it would be a fun, playful way of representing them. That’s one thing I’m learning more and more: baseball fans are baseball fans.”

—Seth Combs @SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

August 30, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

20 · San Diego CityBeat · August 30, 2017

@SDCityBeat

CULTURE | FILM

Blade Runner 2049

Anticipation game Looking ahead with our Fall Movie Preview

by Glenn Heath Jr.

M

ost “Fall Movie Previews” attempt to cover in detail every upcoming film release under the sun. But truthfully, not all of these movies are worth the attention (or reader’s time), especially since many have ballooned budgets for invasive public relations strategies.

Despite what most believe, the fall season can be bad for quality films. So the merit of these features boils down to the writer’s sensibility (it’s all about trust), and what CityBeat readers are looking for in the first place. If they’re hoping that the following words will confirm that yes, indeed, Pixar’s Coco gets released on Nov. 22, then I’m glad we got that out of the way.

This particular Fall Movie Preview will hone in on upcoming San Diego releases that are hopefully going to buck marketing trends and carve out their own unique identity. These are the films made by artists with a vision that supersedes box office expectations and test screenings, i.e. the ones who evoke conversation and help foster our local cinephile community (apparently, we need help!).

SEPTEMBER After going biblically epic with Noah, Darren Aronofsky returns to the realm of cramped psychological terror. mother! (Sept. 15) stars Jennifer Lawrence as a young woman whose life is upended when her husband (Javier Bardem) starts welcoming random houseguests. From the early trailers, this looks like evil Roman Polanski territory.

Eliza Hittman’s Beach Rats (Sept. 15), about a Brooklyn delinquent caught between perception and reality, premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and has garnered much acclaim.

American Made (Sept. 29) reteams Tom Cruise with Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow), one of the best mainstream action filmmakers working today. The story revolves around a talented pilot who works double duty for the CIA and drug runners during the 1980s.

Finally, there’s word that the new film from master documentarian Frederick Wiseman will open at the Digital Gym Cinema. Ex Libris: The New York Public Library (Sept. 29) examines one of America’s most esteemed institutions of learning in meticulous detail.

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OCTOBER Hype has been swirling around Blade Runner 2049 (Oct. 6) since it was announced. Director Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi sequel stars Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford as robot-hunting cops, but from early stills it looks like cinematographer Roger Deakins is going to steal the show.

It’s unclear if Tomas Alfredson’s serial killer yarn The Snowman (Oct. 20) will be serious, salacious or both. But that cast (Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, Val Kilmer) and director Tomas Alfredson’s previous genre track record in the cold (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Let the Right One In) makes this one of the season’s most anticipated.

A new Todd Haynes film is always an event, and his ambitious dual children’s fable Wonderstruck (Oct. 20) starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams looks to be no different. George Clooney also returns to the director’s chair with Suburbicon (Oct. 27), a wacky and violent black comedy starring Matt Damon.

Rumor has it that three other Cannes Film Festival entries will open locally during the month, but no word on exact dates for Sean Baker’s The Florida Project, Ruben Östlund’s The Square, and Robin Campillo’s BPM (Beats Per Minute).

NOVEMBER Always the provocateur, Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos puts Nicole Kidman, Colin Farrell and Alicia Silverstone through the proverbial ringer with The Killing of a Sacred Deer (Nov. 3), an ice-cold morality tale about a charismatic surgeon with a dark secret.

For a certain frontrunner in the Best Actor race, look no further than Roman Israel, Esq (Nov. 3) from writer/director Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler). In it, Denzel Washington plays an idealistic defense attorney forced to take extreme action.

Richard Linklater’s Last Flag Flying (Nov. 3) is apparently a sequel to Hal Ashby’s masterpiece The Last Detail. It stars Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston and Laurence Fishburne as three former marines on a road trip to bury Carell’s son, who died in combat.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Nov. 10) gives Frances McDormand the starring role she

FILM CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 AUGUST 30, 2017· SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 21

CULTURE | FILM

FILM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 has so long deserved. The great actor stars as a grieving mother who avenges her daughter’s murder in Martin McDonagh’s bleak comedy.

Two major talents make their directorial debuts, Greta Gerwig with Lady Bird (Nov. 10) and Aaron Sorkin with Molly’s Game (Nov. 22). Still without local release dates are Joachim Trier’s Thelma, Dee Rees’ Mudbound, and Ron Shelton’s Villa Capri, a Midnight Run-style action comedy that teams up Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones (hell yeah).

DECEMBER The Disaster Artist (Dec. 1) finds James Franco, Seth Rogen and their troupe of comic miscreants portraying the incredible behind-the-scenes saga that unfolds as Tommy Wiseau makes his midnight crapsterpiece The Room.

Guillermo del Toro returns to personal filmmaking with his fantasy horror film The Shape of Water (Dec 8) about a woman (Sally Hawkins) who becomes enthralled with the beastly subject of her Cold War-era company’s experiments.

Ridley Scott and Steven Spielberg will duke it out for Oscar supremacy with All the Money in the World (Dec. 8) and The Papers (Dec. 22) respectively. The former is based on the 1970s Italian kidnapping plot involving the grandson of John Paul Getty (Kevin Spacey). The latter teams up Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep for the first time ever in a journalism film about the publishing of The Panama Papers.

Alexander Payne’s latest satire Downsizing (Dec. 22) and Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Dec. 15) don’t have much in common, but the trailers for both look very promising.

But at least those films have titles. The same can’t be said of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Untitled Project (Dec. 25) with Daniel Day-Lewis set in the 1950s London fashion world. Supposedly Anderson’s final project,

22 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

Last Flag Flying

this will inevitably be the most anticipated film of the season.

Film reviews run weekly.

Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com

OPENING I Do…Until I Don’t: In writer/director Lake Bell’s latest comedy, a jaded filmmaker tries to convince three couples that marriage should be limited to a sevenyear contract with the option to renew. Opens Friday, Sept. 1 at Angelika Film Center—Carmel Mountain and Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas.

Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World: This documentary looks back at the instrumental track recording by singer Link Wray that was banned from the airwaves for being accused of inciting rebellion. Opens Friday, Sept. 1 at the Ken Cinema.

Tulip Fever: An artist (Dane DeHaan) falls for a married woman (Alicia Vikander) after he’s commissioned to paint her portrait. Opens Friday, Sept. 1 at Angelika Film Centers—Carmel Mountain.

ONE TIME ONLY Dr. No: The first ever feature film about James Bond stars Sean Connery as the suave British secret agent who must go up against a super villain with nefarious plans. Screens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30 at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma.

Silver Linings Playbook: An emotionally disturbed man (Bradley Cooper) tries to heal by entering a dance competition with a recently widowed woman (Jennifer Lawrence) who is harboring her own anger.

Screens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 at the Athenaeum Outdoor Patio in La Jolla.

Casablanca: Forlorn lovers Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman battle Nazis in this classic wartime romance from director Michael Curtiz. Screens Thursday, Aug. 31 through Sunday, Sept. 3 at Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills.

Mean Girls: Lindsay Lohan has never been better than in this great teen comedy about the highs and lows of being popular. Screens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma.

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

@SDCITYBEAT

ASHLEY MAILE

MUSIC

Stiff Little Fingers keep on raging at 40

By Scott McDonald From left: Ian McCallum, Jake Burns, Steve Grantley and Ali McMordie s part of the iconic punk rock class of ’77, first-wavers Stiff Little Fingers didn’t emerge in a scene where bands were expected to last long. Starting as a quartet of schoolmates playing cover tunes, Stiff Little Fingers’ only actual rebellion was against the sprawling excesses of ‘70s bands such as Genesis and Yes. After hearing the likes of The Clash’s politically charged self-titled debut, the band began drawing inspiration from the reality of life during the Troubles conflict between unionist and nationalist paramilitary groups in their hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland. BBC Radio 1’s John Peel, who repeatedly played Stiff Little Fingers’ debut single “Suspect Device,” prompted a distribution deal through then-fledgling Rough Trade Records. The rest is punk rock history.

As Stiff Little Fingers kick off the North American leg of their 40th(!) Anniversary tour, singer/guitarist Jake Burns is looking back at punk’s most important year—some-

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thing the band’s founder and only continuous member knows is an inevitable part of hitting such a significant milestone.

“It was certainly an exciting time,” Burns says. “Something was happening. I don’t think I was aware of it as the start of the big cultural impact it became, but it’s the closest anybody in my generation was going to get to that initial Little Richard, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis revolution of rock ‘n’ roll. And there hasn’t been another galvanizing movement that could have a year ascribed to it like that.”

While Burns reflects positively on the origins of both his band and the genre, this isn’t a farewell tour for Stiff Little Fingers.

Likewise, the bandleader isn’t merely content to look backward. In the time between the European and North American dates of the band’s anniversary tour, Burns took on a short solo acoustic run opening for the Dropkick Murphys and Rancid.

“I’ve got some friends who own clubs, so I thought I’d see if they’ll let me have a go in

the back and play in front of 30 or 40 people on a Sunday night—you know, see if I could get my feet,” Burns says. “ What I wasn’t expecting was to get a call asking if I wanted to do it in front of up to 9,000 people!”

Although he was only on stage for 25 minutes and playing six or so songs, a funny thing happened when Burns suddenly needed to get reunited with an acoustic guitar.

“When you’ve done it for this length of time, you fall a little bit out of love with playing,” he says. “But taking a different approach to it, and having to pick up a guitar to practice every day, I found myself just playing for fun—even in spare moments when I would have been reading or watching television or something. And it’s great to have that kind of enthusiasm back.”

It’s that newfound enthusiasm that has Burns and the rest of his bandmates working on their 11th album, a follow-up to 2014’s No Going Back. And while that album was the band’s first to hit the top spot on the UK Top 40 Rock Charts, it still easily could’ve been their last.

No Going Back was officially announced in 2007 and took a full seven years to materialize. As part of a band that has survived four decades and no longer face the pressure of the album/tour cycle, Burns says one thing they’ve definitely learned is to “up the quality control.” Stiff Little Fingers are more than content these days to wait until they have a collection of songs they can all stand behind.

One aspect that’s continued to drive Stiff Little Fingers’ music is their potent mixture of personal and political songs. In fact, it’s a major part of their new material. Of the two tracks Burns has already penned for the new album, one is aimed at the new U.S. commander-in-chief, and one laments the fact that he’s still “having to get angry about this crap.” Burns is acutely aware of the parallels between the world’s political climate today and that which first inspired the band.

“It almost seems like we’ve gone into free-fall over the last year,” he says. “And I’m not just referring to the change in government here. People are reacting. It’s impossible to avoid it. And it’s very similar to growing up in Northern Ireland. It’s right there in your face. It’s on the news every night. And you can’t just switch your life off. It’s happening all the time.

“The problems I face in my everyday life are the same problems that our audience faces,” he continues.

“And I’ll never stand on a stage and sing anything that I don’t believe.”

As Burns “stares down the barrel of [his] 60th birthday” while contemplating a future on stage, he knows that if Stiff Little Fingers does return to touring after this particular cycle, it will be on their own specific terms.

“While we’re writing new material, we’re trying very hard not to put any pressure on ourselves,” he says. “Once we’ve got 12 or 14 songs that we absolutely believe in, and, as always, have something to say, that’s when we’ll make a record.”

AUGUST 30, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 23

MUSIC

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO LOCALS ONLY

D

irty Sweet have announced their first new album in seven years. The hard-rock outfit has been mostly inactive since 2014, but plan to release Once More Unto the Breach in October, coinciding with a record-release show at The Casbah on Oct. 21. Though guitarist Mark Murino says that there was no long-term plan to record something new, he booked some studio time once he realized they had enough material for an album.

“We kind of recorded this by accident,” he says. “We never really broke up. We continued to play together when we could, and all of a sudden our schedules just kind of aligned, and we had skeletons of 10 songs already.”

Dirty Sweet’s last album was 2010’s American Spiritual, but things began to slow down for the group shortly after. They continued to play occasional shows, and Murino, bassist Christian Schinelli and vocalist Ryan Koontz also played together in Crash and the Burns. Yet other commitments with family and work became a higher priority for the band’s members.

“Life just kind of took over,” he says. “We were playing 200 shows a year, and it was kind of just like, ‘we can’t keep going on like this.’ So now life comes first.”

Murino says that since recording the new batch

of songs, they’ve already written more, and there are plans to line up more shows after the Oct. 21 performance. However, the release of Once More Unto the Breach doesn’t signal a return to the hectic tour schedANDREW MCKEAG

Dirty Sweet ule they once had. Murino says they’re putting less pressure on themselves, but that the fun of playing together again is motivating them to do it more often.

“It truly is about the music,” he says. “We’re not going to make a lot of money from this. It’s something we have to do, because it’s what we do.”

—Jeff Terich

ALBUM REVIEW The Paragraphs It’s Always Never (Self-released)

F

or a while, The Paragraphs were one of the more visible, more active rock bands in San Diego, though following the release of their “Oh So Low/Rich Boys” 7-inch in 2014, it seemed that things were a bit quiet. As it turns out they had another album in them after all, as evidenced by the release of It’s Always Never, their first new music in three years.

Immediately, It’s Always Never feels a little bit different. The group’s 2012 album +/- was more of a rowdy rock ‘n’ roll record, infused with classic rock flamboyance and garage fuzz. It was schlocky and fun, but also the kind of sound best experienced in a live setting. The beginning of It’s Always Never finds the band sounding a bit more atmospheric and melancholy, as if they underwent an identity transformation in the past few years. “Warm Bodies” sounds a bit like The National playing “Pretty In Pink,” its open spaces and clean guitar tones offering a refreshingly subdued approach.

Though it would appear the band has embraced subtlety in a way they hadn’t before. not all of It’s Always Never is so low-key. Though its title is silly, “High As Pie” is a gorgeous standout, with layers of

24 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

dreamy guitars and an infectious chorus, while “The Wheel” feels dusty and desolate, like a long, latenight drive through the desert.

When the band does turn up the volume, the results still sound a bit less explosive. “Something That Yr Made Of” is more heavily distorted than the songs that surround it, yet it’s still ultimately about riding a mid-tempo groove than rocking the fuck out.

And “Sister” finds the band doing their best Rolling Stones impersonation, with guitar licks that would be right at home on Sticky Fingers.

Time and space just might be the best gifts that The Paragraphs have given themselves.

Their music has matured in a way that feels natural but shows a lot of growth. These are some of the best songs the band have released to date, and that has a lot to do with the fact that they rarely feel overproduced or forced. These are simply good rock ‘n’ roll songs, often played for darker, after-hours moods, and it’s a promising step for a band with quite a few years under their belts.

—Jeff Terich @SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

August 30, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

MUSIC

JEFF TERICH

IF I WERE U A music insider’s weekly agenda WEDNESDAY, AUG. 30

PLAN A: Blu & Exile, Dag Savage, Choosey, Cashus King @ Observatory North Park. First of all, this show is only $5, which nullifies one excuse for not going. Second, Blu & Exile have been making some excellent, laid-back West Coast hip-hop for more than a decade so we’ll all definitely get more than our money’s worth. PLAN B: The Strawberry Moons, Miss Jupiter, Belladon @ Soda Bar. The Strawberry Moons are kind of an interesting group. They’re ostensibly a shoegaze/dream pop band, but there’s more than a little bit of good, old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll in what they do. Whatever it is, I like it. BACKUP PLAN: Dark Thirty, Modern Me, Sweet Myths @ The Casbah.

THURSDAY, AUG. 31

PLAN A: The Fresh & Onlys, US Underground, Keepers @ SPACE. Bay Area psychedelic rockers The Fresh & Onlys have that perfect balance between throwback jangle, fiery garage rock and effects-laden weirdness.

And better yet, their songs are much stronger than most of the current crop of garage rockers, with just the right amount of weird.

PLAN B: Mrs. Henry, Bad Vibes, Le Ra, Dream Burglar, DJ Lexicon Devil @ The Casbah. Four great local bands on a Thursday night? Kind of hard to pass up if you ask me, and make sure to catch Dream Burglar in the Atari Lounge between sets. BACKUP PLAN: The Pharcyde @ Observatory North Park.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 1

PLAN A: Thundercat, PBDY @ Observatory North Park. First and foremost, Thundercat is a monstrous bass player, with the kind of technical skill and playful abilities that make all of his songs seem impossible to replicate. Plus, they’re super catchy and have a good sense of humor at that. PLAN B: Todd Rundgren, Gary Wilson and the Blind Dates @ Music Box. Todd Rundgren’s had a hell of a career, from power pop to strange conceptual prog on up to a new album that harshly critiques our president. He’s a bit

26 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

EDDIE ALCAZAR

of a musical changeling so this should be a memorable show. BACKUP PLAN: Drab Majesty, Second Still, The Victoriana, DJ Jon Blaj @ SPACE.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 2

PLAN A: Frankie Cosmos, iji, Nancy Sin @ The Irenic. My favorite factoid about Frankie Cosmos is that they released an album called Jared Leto Can’t Read. Since then, however, they’ve graduated to sweetly melodic, albeit sophisticated indie pop that was good enough to get them a Sub Pop record deal. PLAN B: The Heavy Guilt, The Paragraphs, Cardinal Moon, Al Howard (spoken word) @ Soda Bar. The Heavy Guilt is officially back and with a new album on the way, there’s a good chance you’ll hear a good chunk of it at this show. Bonus: There will also be some poetry from Guilt percussionist/songwriter Al Howard. BACKUP PLAN: Warren G @ Observatory North Park.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 3

PLAN A: Spotlights, The Anomaly, Micelves @ Soda Bar. Spotlights are a heavy, heavy band. Whether or not they’re a metal band is up for debate (they prefer “doomgaze”), but what I do know is that

Thundercat they balance their crushing intensity with dreamy vocals and unforgettable melodies.

MONDAY, SEPT. 4

PLAN A: Netflix, Aspirin, Water @ Your House. It’s Labor Day, which means we’ve all earned some time on the couch, in front of the grill, or whatever. Basically, we’ve been partying all weekend and get an extra day to recover. Use it well. Or waste it. That’s fine too.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 5

PLAN A: Minus the Bear, Deap Vally @ Observatory North Park. I’ll admit I haven’t actually listened closely to the last couple Minus the Bear records, but they have a lot of good ones. They’re an excellent live band and sometimes that’s all the reason I need to see a show.

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MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Prince Paul (SPACE, 9/15), Perfume Genius (HOB, 9/28), Lawrence Rothman (SPACE, 10/11), Red Fang (Casbah, 10/23), Nekromantix (Brick by Brick, 11/1), Battalion of Saints (Soda Bar, 11/12), Syd (Observatory, 12/2), Wayne Hancock (Soda Bar, 12/13), Hundredth (Soda Bar, 12/15), Ozomatli (Music Box, 12/22-23).

GET YER TICKETS Quicksand (BUT, 9/11), Manchester Orchestra (Observatory, 9/13), Kaaboo Festival w/ Tom Petty, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers (Del Mar Fairgrounds, 9/15-17), Against Me! (Observatory, 9/16), The Church (Music Box, 9/16), Future Islands (Open Air Theatre, 9/17), Zola Jesus (Casbah, 9/21), U2 (Qualcomm Stadium, 9/22), Tycho (Observatory, 9/22), Swervedriver (Casbah, 9/22), Ben Folds (HOB, 9/23), WAND (Soda Bar, 9/24), Rakim (HOB, 9/24), Bonobo (Observatory, 9/24), Foxygen (Music Box, 9/28), The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Loft, 9/30), The Shins, Spoon (Open Air Theatre, 10/1), Algiers (Soda Bar, 10/1), Chelsea Wolfe (BUT, 10/2), Ms. Lauryn Hill, Nas (OAT, 10/3), Irma Thomas, Blind Boys of Alabama (BUT, 10/5), Depeche Mode (Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, 10/6), Pinegrove (Irenic, 10/6), Coldplay (Qualcomm Stadium, 10/8), Shooter Jennings (BUT, 10/8), Obituary, Exodus (Observatory, 10/8), Courtney

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Barnett and Kurt Vile (HOB, 10/11), The Afghan Whigs (BUT, 10/12), The National (Open Air Theatre, 10/12), Bob Dylan (Harrah’s Resort, 10/13), Torres (Casbah, 10/17), Mason Jennings (BUT, 10/17), Café Tacuba (Observatory, 10/17-18), Arcade Fire (Viejas Arena, 10/18), The Bronx (Casbah, 10/19), Gojira (Observatory, 10/19), Mastodon (HOB, 10/19), City of Caterpillar, Thou (Soda Bar, 10/19), Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie (Humphreys, 10/19), KMFDM (HOB, 10/20), Tegan and Sara (Balboa Theatre, 10/20), Carla Morrison (Humphreys, 10/22), M. Ward (BUT, 10/24), Real Estate (Music Box, 10/24), Thievery Corporation (BUT, 10/26), Turnover (Irenic, 10/27), Flying Lotus in 3-D (Observatory, 10/27), Roky Erickson (Casbah, 10/27), Iron and Wine (Balboa Theatre, 10/28), The Drums (Observatory, 11/1), Black Heart Procession (Casbah, 11/4), ‘Live Wire 25th Anniversary’ w/ Rocket from the Crypt (Observatory, 11/4), Cults (Irenic, 11/5), Hamilton Leithauser (BUT, 11/9), D.R.I. (Brick by Brick, 11/10), Fall Out Boy (Viejas Arena, 11/15), Gary Numan (Observatory, 11/15), Ariel Pink (BUT, 11/16), Tera Melos, Speedy Ortiz (Casbah, 11/16), Mayhem (Observatory, 11/17), Boris, Torche (Casbah, 11/17), Blues Traveler (HOB, 11/19), Mogwai (Observatory, 11/20), New Found Glory (HOB, 11/25), METZ (Casbah, 12/13), Julien Baker (Irenic, 12/15), Jay-Z (Viejas Arena, 12/19), The English Beat (BUT, 12/22-23), Donavon Frankenreiter (BUT, 12/28), Josh Ritter (BUT, 1/16).

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

Cisco at The Irenic. AJ Froman at Belly Up Tavern.

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

Mrs. Henry at The Casbah. J. Hofstee at Soda Bar. David Cook at Belly Up Tavern.

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

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

SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 Frankie Cosmos at The Irenic. Warren G at Observatory North Park. Inquisition at Brick by Brick. The Heavy Guilt at Soda Bar. Grateful Shred at The Casbah. Pato Banton at Belly Up Tavern.

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

MONDAY, SEPT. 4 Stickup Kid at Soda Bar.

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

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

Springtime Carnivore at The Casbah.

Boychick at Soda Bar.

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

FRIDAY, SEPT. 8 Wyo at Music Box. Symbolic at Brick by Brick. The Shivas at Soda Bar. Marshall Crenshaw y Los Straitjackets at The Casbah. Vaud and the Villains at Belly Up Tavern.

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

Humphreys by the Bay. Green Day at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre. Manchester Orchestra at Observatory North Park. Asgeir at Belly Up Tavern.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 14 Greensky Bluegrass at Observatory North Park. Steve Winwood at Humphreys by the Bay. Leo Kottke at Belly Up Tavern. Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers at Music Box. James Supercave at The Casbah. Together Pangea at Soda Bar.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 15 Perturbator at Brick by Brick. Cigarettes After Sex at The Irenic (sold out). Black Uhuru at Belly Up Tavern. Hanni el Khatib at The Casbah. Scott H. Biram at Soda Bar. Prince Paul at SPACE.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 16

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

MONDAY, SEPT. 11 Quicksand at Belly Up Tavern. Danielle Nicole at Soda Bar. Saint Mesa at The Casbah. Arkaik at Brick by Brick.

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 13 MC Lars at Soda Bar. Indigo Girls at

Against Me! at Observatory North Park.

The Church at Music Box. Punk Rock Karaoke at Soda Bar.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 17 Future Islands at Open Air Theatre. Little Dove at Belly Up Tavern. Face To Face, Reverend Horton Heat at House of Blues.

Jesika von Rabit at The Casbah. SNAFU at Soda Bar.

MONDAY, SEPT. 18 Lil Yachty at Observatory North Park. Underground Lounge at Soda Bar.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

AUGUST 30, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 27

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 TUESDAY, SEPT. 19 Glass Animals at Humphreys by the Bay (sold out). Sean Paul at Observatory North Park. Samantha Fish at SPACE. This Will Destroy You at The Casbah.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 20 Z Etc. at Belly Up Tavern. My Foolish Idealism at Soda Bar. Easy Wind at Music Box. Venom Inc. at Brick by Brick.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 21 Zola Jesus at The Casbah. Fleet Foxes at Observatory North Park (sold out). The Wailers at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). Andrew Belle at SPACE. INVSN at Soda Bar. RAC at Music Box.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 22 Tycho at Observatory North Park. Atlas Genius at House of Blues. Swervedriver at The Casbah. Moses Sumney at The Irenic. Los Amigos Invisibles at Music Box. U2 at Qualcomm Stadium. Sloppy Seconds at Soda Bar.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 23 Hundred Waters at The Casbah. The xx at Observatory North Park (sold out).

Frankie Rose at Soda Bar. The Toadies, Local H at Belly Up Tavern. The Beach Boys at Humphreys by the Bay. Ben Folds at House of Blues.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 24 Rakim at House of Blues. Bonobo at Observatory North Park. Bill Maher at Hum-

phreys by the Bay. WAND at Soda Bar. Dan Croll at The Irenic.

MONDAY, SEPT. 25 Cameron Esposito, Rhea Butcher at Observatory North Park. Gov’t Mule at Humphreys by the Bay. Moon Honey at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 26 Public Service Broadcasting at Soda Bar. Love Theme at SPACE. Sublime With Rome, The Offspring at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre. Alison Moyet at Music Box. Morgan Heritage at Belly Up Tavern.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. Fri: Leilani Wolfgramm, CitySide, Swells. Sat: Boostive, Mango Habanero.

Tue: Melapelus.

Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St., Normal Heights. Wed: ‘Interconnected’ w/ DJs Impera,Yaser Aly (Bala), Brian Scanell. Thu: ‘Libertine’ w/ DJ Jon Wesley.

Sat: ‘Juicy’ w/ Mike Czech. Sun: ‘Chvrch’ w/ DJs Karma, Alice.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Thu: Billy Bonnell. Fri: Billy Bonnell. Sat: Billy Bonnell.

SPOTLIGHT

The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Thu: DPI, NOK, Reckless Disregard.

Was Shaggy the first person to use the #fakenews accusation? In his 2002 hit “It Wasn’t Me,” the Jamaican-American singer is so flagrantly and willfully dismissive of the factual evidence regarding his adultery, he just sounds delusional. Shaggy, just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not true.

She caught you on the counter! And the sofa! You were both butt-naked! It was definitely you, Shaggy.

Shaggy plays Tuesday, September 5 at Music Box.

—Ryan Bradford

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., Downtown.

Fri: Honey Soundsystem. Sat: Chris Malinchak. Sun: Branchez.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

28 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

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MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

Atlas. Tue: Carbon Leaf, Kat Myers and the Buzzards.

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

Wed: DJs Dunekat, Beatnick. Sun: Vacation, Lenguas Largas, Murderburgers, Citymouse. Mon: Micah Schnabel, Jonny Wagon, Michael Kelly, Vanessa Jean Speckman, Lauren Grant, Aubree Miller.

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Bay Park. Sat: Irving Flores Latin Jazz Quintet.

Beaumont’s, 5665 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Fri: Modern Day Moonshine. Sat: Aquile Band. Sun: Aquile.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Wed: AJ Froman, Imagery Machine, Boostive. Thu: David Cook, Kathryn Dean. Fri: Led Zepagain, Santanaways. Sat: Pato Banton, Hazmatt. Sun: Betamaxx, Paging the 90s. Tue: Anthony B, Maka Roots, DJ Carlos Culture.

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington St., Mission Hills. Wed: ‘Dance Klassique’. Thu: ‘Five Hours of Funk’. Fri: ‘TB Electro Jams’. Sun: White Guilt, Retra, Good Time Girl. Mon: ‘Britney vs. Justin Dance Party’. Tue: Ramonda Hammer, Little Heroine, Of Ennui.

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

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., Bay Park. Fri: Tony Macalpine, Felix Martin, Taz Taylor, ElectroMagnetic. Sat: Inquisition, Uada, Volahn, Highland, ​ Impure Consecration. Tue: Blaze Bayley, Up The Irons, Wes. The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Wed: Dark Thirty, Modern Me, Sweet Myths. Thu: Mrs. Henry, Bad Vibes, Le Ra, Dream Burglar, DJ Lexicon Devil. Fri: Aesthetic Perfection, Night Club, NYXX, DJ Robin Roth. Sat: Grateful Shred, Mapache. Sun: Grieves, Dem

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The Field Irish Pub, 544 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Wed: BJ Jezbera. Thu: Smoky Hoof. Fri: Blue Jean Simmons. Sat: Midnight Ride. Mon: Gary Flick. Tue: Chris del Priore.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., Downtown.

Fri: Don Cannon. Sat: Reflex. Sun: Ty Dolla$ign.

Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Thu: DJ Yodah. Fri: ‘Good Times’. Sat: ‘Rock Star Saturday’. Tue: The Stilettos.

The Holding Company, 5046 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach. Wed: Rhythm Turner, Color You. Thu: Nick Gray & OMZ. Fri: YYZed, DJ Ofier. Sat: DJ Mancat, KYS. Sun: Quel Bordel, DJ Mancat. Tue: Zaboomba, Bum Lucky.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Thu: Jerry ‘Hot Rod’ DeMink. Fri: Lies N Roses. Sat: Pyromania. Tue: Robin Henkel.

Humphreys Backstage, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. Wed: 52nd Street. Thu: Kim Jackson. Fri: Rising Star, Sue Palmer. Sat: Liquid Blue, Shades of Blue. Sun: Ray Bell and the Feel Good Band. Mon: Michele Lundeen.

Tue: Backwater Blues.

The Irenic, 3090 Polk Ave., North Park.

Sat: Frankie Cosmos, iji, Nancy Sin. Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Wed: ‘Thump’. Thu: ‘Therapy’.

Fri: ‘Archetype’. Sat: ‘Ascension’. Sun: Paul M. Lopez.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave., Kensington. Sat: Melvus, Mezzanine, The Game Rivalry.

Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Fri: Lindsey White and Golden Hour. Sat: Fashion Jackson, Sahara Grim.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave., Coronado. Wed: JG Trio.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., Hillcrest. Wed: ‘Peacock Alley’. Thu: The Amalgamated, SoCal Shocks of Mighty.

Fri: Sisster, Darlene and Jasmine, Sin Color, DJ Gato Negro. Sat: The Rough, Skipjack, Nights Like Thieves, No Skill Required. Sun: ‘The Playground’. Mon: Second Cousins, Dwight Smith, Aquarium.

Mr. Peabody’s, 136 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas. Thu: Rosas Cantina. Fri: Roadog.

Sat: It’s Never 2 Late. Sun: Tony Ortega Jazz Jam. Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy.

Wed: Josh Heinrichs, Preston Lee, Janelle Phillips. Fri: Todd Rundgren, Gary Wilson and the Blind Dates. Sat: Clinton Fearon, Droop Lion, Gladiators.

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd., Hillcrest.

Thu: ‘Uncut’. Tue: Karaoke Latino.

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

Wed: ‘One, Two, Three’ w/ DJ EdRoc. Thu: ‘No Limits’ w/ DJ Myson King. Fri: ‘Nite Moves’ w/ DJ Beatnick. Sat: ‘Strictly Business’ w/ DJs EdRoc, Kanye Asada.

Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’.

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 Sixth Ave., Downtown. Fri: Armin Van Buren. Sat: Vice. Sun: Dada Life.

Panama 66, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park.

Thu: Lex and the Jewels. Fri: G & the

New Orleans Swinging Gypsies. Sat: Besos de Coco. Sun: Tap Jam. Parq, 615 Broadway, Downtown. Fri: Chuckie. Sat: Stafford Brothers. Sun: Rick Ross.

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

Sat: Allison Adams Tucker. Mon: Julio de la Huerta.

Rich›s, 1051 University Ave., Hillcrest.

Wed: DJs John Joseph, Kinky Loops.

Thu: DJ Kinky Loops. Fri: DJs Kinky Loops, Moody Rudy. Sat: DJs Hektik, Taj, Nikno.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’ w/ Jason Hanna. Thu: Alvino and the Dwells.

Fri: Blue Largo. Sat: Baja Bugs.

Rosie O’Gradys, 3402 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Fri: The Beatjackers. Sat: The Upshots.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: The Strawberry Moons, Miss Jupiter, Belladon. Thu: J. Hofstee, Inspired & The Sleep, Jason Andrew.

Fri: Throw Rag, Behind the Wagon, Fink Bombs. Sat: The Heavy Guilt, The Paragraphs, Cardinal Moon, Alfred Howard (spoken word performance). Sun: Spotlights, The Anomaly, Micelves. Mon: Stickup Kid, Crooked Teeth, Alive & Well.

Tue: See Through Dresses, Runs Deep, Dream Haze.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway. Thu: HUNNY, Hot Flash Heat Wave, The Hynas, Alex Lievanos. Fri: GROVE, Sitting On Stacy, Atomic 99, Be All End All, Buddha Trixie, Ryan and Jake. Sat: Sleeping With Sirens, The White Noise, Palaye Royale, Chase Atlantic.

SPACE, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: ‘Cemetery Lipstick’. Thu: The Fresh & Onlys, US Underground, Keepers. Fri: Drab Majesty, Second Still, The Victoriana. Sat: ‘Boogie Down’ w/ Cookie Crew, DJ Inform. Sun: Rollin Wit Tha Funk’.

Spin, 2028 Hancock St., Midtown. Fri: ‘R.A.D. Vol. 2’. Sun: ‘Night Bass’.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Wed: ‘Dreams’ w/ DJ Gabe Vega. Thu: ‘Burlesque Boogie Nights’.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Fri: DJs Julian V, Chrissy Tompkins. Sat: Gentlemen Prefer Blood. Sun: Pants Karaoke.

Tin Roof, 401 G St., Downtown. Wed: The Void Nation. Thu: Manic Fanatic.

Sat: Coriander. Sun: Coriander. Tue: Kenny and Deez.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., City Heights. Wed: Rushmore, Corre Diablo, Ninja Night Race. Fri: ‘Hip Hop vs. Punk Rock’ w/ Slaughter Boys, Orko Eloheim, Stalins of Sound, Mannyphesto. Sat: Twinfins, King Flamingo, Stray Monroe.

Sun: Walk Proud, The Yucks, Calles, Too Much Beer, Roman Watchdogs.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park.

Wed: Riff City Comedy. Thu: ‘Vamp’. Fri: The Amandas.

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

Fri: Wise Monkey Orchestra, Finnegan Blue. Sat: Melvin Seals and JGB. Sun: Melvin Seals and JGB. Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Mark Lettieri Trio.

AUGUST 30, 2017 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 29

LAST WORDS | ADVICE

AMY ALKON

ADVICE

Yawn Juan

GODDESS

My friend and I are debating why it is that men don’t want you when you want them yet they’re all gung-ho when you aren’t interested. She believes that we just want what we can’t have. Could it be that simple?

—Pondering In looking for love, a number of people confuse “the chase” with something closer to criminal stalking. In their defense, these ideas don’t come out of nowhere. For example, consider how creepy the Cupid dude with the little bow and arrow actually is. Basically, he’s the chubby baby version of the maniac hunting people down with a crossbow.

The reality is, nobody pines for what’s easy to get or, worse, what’s chasing madly after them. It’s about value. Being easy to get or seeming desperate suggests one has what anthropologists call “low mate value.” Social psychologist Robert Cialdini explains this

with “the scarcity principle,” which describes how the less available something is the more valuable it seems and the more we want it.

Being scarce doesn’t necessarily equate to being more valuable; however, because of how psychologically painful we find regret—feeling that we screwed up and thus missed out—scarcity kicks us into a motivational state, making us all hot for whatever’s in short supply.

This is the sales principle behind those chichi boutiques with just one item on a rack, as if they were a mini museum of the little black dress. There’s a good chance they have 20 more in the back. But putting out 20 sends a different message—like one of those shops with a big yellow sign, “Everything in the store, $15, including the dog.”

Still, the scarcity principle sometimes gets falsely accused of causing a burgeoning relationship to tank when other factors are actually to blame. Consider whether you’re choosing wisely—going for someone who’s ready to be in a relationship. Some people who think they’re ready may not be. (Time— along with wanting to know instead of just

30 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · AUGUST 30, 2017

wanting to believe—will tell). Others will admit that they aren’t ready. Believe them—or at least tread cautiously—and recognize the propensity many women have for Svengaliette-alism: “I’ll be the one to change him!”

(Kleenex has succeeded as a brand in no small part thanks to these women.)

With someone who is a real possibility, you’ll have your best shot by coming off appropriately interested instead of stalkerishly so. If you tend to go from zero to texting a guy 36 times in a row while sitting in your car with binoculars trained on his house, figure out proactive ways to avoid that and other crazypants stuff you do. (Perhaps, for example, give your next-door neighbor custody of your phone and car keys upon coming home.) Sure, love is said to be “a journey,” but it shouldn’t be one that has something in common with being chased by feral hogs down a lonely country road.

The things we do fur love My sweet boyfriend always leaves his nose hair and beard trimmings in the sink. He claims he forgets to wipe up afterward and asks, “Is it that big of a deal?” Am I being petty, or is this disrespectful when you share a space with somebody?

—Annoyed Surely, your boyfriend eventually notices dropped bits of beard hair—about when the sink starts panting and pawing in response to “Here, boy!”

However, chances are he’s leaving you a furry sink not out of disrespect but because he goes into a behavioral coma. This comes out of how our brain conserves energy by creating stored strings of behavior. The first time you ride a bike or eat with a spoon, you have to put conscious thought into each step.

But with time and practice, the sequence becomes automatic and unconscious. Eventually, when you get a bowl of oatmeal, you just eat; you don’t need to figure out how to load up the spoon and manage that “Bzzzz, here comes Mr. Airplane…” thing that transports the oatmeal to Mr. Tummy.

Research on habit change by psychologist Wendy Wood and her colleagues suggests that “disrupting” the usual physical sequence of a stored behavior can jolt a person out of autopilot, triggering their conscious mind to take over. You can disrupt your boyfriend’s beard-snipping routine simply by changing where the scissors get stored. Maybe put them in a kitchen cabinet for a while—and of course, clue him in and explain why.

Yes, this could actually work to get him to remember your “Yoo-hoo…sinkiepoo!”

However, what ultimately matters is how you treat each other. If your sink continues to have a five o’clock shadow, maybe decide to just laugh about your sweet daydreamy slob instead of going all toxic-ragey “I’ll show him!” and throwing out the beard clippings yourself—by dragging the sink to the curb. (c)2017, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.

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August 30, 2017 · San Diego CityBeat · 31