San Diego CityBeat • Nov 11, 2016

2 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

#SDCityBeat

UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR LINDA CABALLERO SOTELO

Anti-immigrant defacement at the New Americans Museum

Real. Alternative. News.

W

hen it comes to CityBeat, the headline above says it all. For years, it’s been emblazoned on the paper’s tshirts and promotional material, but for the people who have written or worked at the paper over the years, “Real. Alternative. News.” has been more of a mantra than a clever slogan.

Speaking for myself, I’ve always taken this saying very seriously. Way back in 2004, I approached then CityBeat music editor Troy Johnson at a Casbah show and told him that I wanted to write for the paper. I explained to him that the city’s other weekly just didn’t speak to me and that I had been following CityBeat since its early days as SLAMM. Perhaps he was impressed with my knowledge of the paper or just my persistence, but he gave me my first shot at writing for a weekly paper.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I thought a lot about how thankful I am that he didn’t write me off as some overzealous fanboy.

One of the first news stories I ever wrote for the paper was a day-by-day synopsis of the protests at the 2004 Republican National Convention. Back then, it seemed it couldn’t get any worse than George W. Bush. Boy, were we naïve.

And now here I am, over 10 years later, writing my first official editor’s note for the paper. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I visited some family up in the Pacific Northwest and while I was there, I found myself attempting to explain what San Diego CityBeat is many times over.

It’s the only alt-weekly in the city.

It’s a fantastic mix of local music, arts and news coverage.

It’s the weekly in San Diego that people actually read.

Subtle jabs at the competition aside, none of the above descriptions seemed to fully encapsulate all that we do at the paper. In fact, the “alt” prefix has gotten a bit of a bad rep lately thanks to the rise of the alt-right and the seemingly endless stream of alt-news sites (read: fake news sites) that now flood our social media pages.

But make no mistake: While this paper is decidedly left-of-center, there’s nothing fake nor is there anything remotely resembling conjecture in the news reporting in CityBeat. Over the years, our little paper has

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won a wall’s worth of journalism awards for our arts and news coverage. We broke stories that otherwise would have gone unreported. We’ve championed issues like homelessness and government accountability. We’ve prided ourselves on having the best local arts coverage in town, including having an iconic and respected voice when it comes to music. Our columnists are a multi-cultural assortment of brilliant voices with something important, and often humorous, to say on a range of topics.

None of that will change under my watch. There will be changes made in the next few months and into the new year, but I want to assure readers of our commitment to investigate and report stories that might have slipped through the proverbial cracks.

For example, I recently learned that one of my favorite museums in town, the New Americans Museum, was the victim of a hate crime over the weekend. On Saturday morning, someone walked into the museum and decided to write antiimmigrant messages on pieces within the museum’s new Cultural Memory and Immigration exhibition.

“I just, I should’ve seen it coming in many ways, given that we are the New Americans Museum, but I can’t help but be shocked by it,” said the museum’s Executive Director Linda Caballero-Sotelo when I spoke to her just before this issue went to print.

I’ll be reporting more on this story in next week’s issue, but it was worth pointing out here in the regard that while Caballero-Sotelo was shocked that it happened in the first place, I was more shocked that only a few small news outlets were reporting on it.

In this strange and scary political epoch that we now live in, this city needs an altweekly more than ever. A paper that will seek out the types of stories that other papers might not cover, because, well, they’re more worried about the bottom line.

That’s not me. That’s not us. The next few years are going to be hard on everyone, but readers can depend on us to be true to our roots. To be real. To be alternative. To be newsy. It’s who we are. It’s who we’ve always been. Editors come and go, but that will never change.

—Seth Combs November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

VsTHAT THISWINNERS The results are in! Here are the winners (in blue) from our “This vs. That” Best Of Issue.

BEST INSUFFERABLE PIZZA JOINT Chuck E. Cheese’s vs.

Shakey’s Pizza Parlor BEST EASY HIKE Torrey Pines vs.

Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve BEST VET VCA Angel Animal Hospital vs.

Bodhi Animal Hospital BEST BAY San Diego Bay vs. Mission Bay BEST RECORD TRADE Vinyl Junkies Record Swap vs.

San Diego Metal Swap Meet: Tie* BEST MALL Mission Valley Mall vs.

Fashion Valley Mall BEST OPENING DAY San Diego Padres Opening Day vs.

Opening Day at Del Mar Racetrack BEST MASCOT The San Diego Chicken vs.

The Swinging Friar** BEST INDIE ART Ice Gallery vs. A Ship in the Woods BEST TOURIST TRAP Old Town vs. Seaport Village BEST BALBOA PARK ART SPACE San Diego Museum of Art vs.

San Diego Art Institute BEST RESTAURANT BATHROOM El Camino vs. Kindred BEST OUTDOOR MOVIE EXPERIENCE Dive-In Theatre at The Pearl vs.

Cinema Under the Stars

UP FRONT | LETTERS

FREE HUGS

Dear Minda Honey, I am a 65-year-old white guy born in San Diego and raised in East County, and I would just love to give you a hug. You wrote a wonderfully perceptive article that truly did evoke some sadness over what has happened politically in our country [“Did you ever think your country could break your heart?” Nov. 16]. There is an awful disbelief, some sadness and yes, some fear in regard to what may lie ahead for us. As I noted to your also perceptive writer/ comrade Aaryn Belfer, we must not give up and must carry on the good fight.

Nicholas Kennelly, La Mesa

MORAL INSANITY

Aaryn Belfer is a role model. Thanks to her, once again, for another timely, well-written, gut-wrenching column [“Police had no reason to dismantle Olango memorial,” Oct. 12] that crystallizes and shines light on the race issue (although “issue” does not seem a powerful enough word. National tragedy?

Collective unconsciousness? Moral insanity?) I have found myself remembering her columns and sharing them with friends for weeks after they run. I have had discussions about white privilege with people I’d never discussed such things with. I’ve been able to own the fact of my white privilege with the

BEST FISH TACO Brigantine vs. Mariscos

BEST IPA West Coast IPA vs. New England IPA BEST ASIAN SOUP Tajima Ramen vs. Pho Hoa BEST FANCY DONUTS Donut Bar vs. Nomad Donuts BEST DECADE-THEMED DANCE NIGHT Whistle Stop vs. Bar Pink *we suspect this particular poll was hacked so we’re calling it a wash, as both events are great. **for shame! The chicken rules!!

Suzy Perkins, La Mesa

MEMORIAL RULES

Thank you for [“Police had no reason to dismantle Olango memorial,” Oct. 12]. It reminds me of a quote from Archbishop Fulton Sheen (a Catholic Archbishop that had a regular TV show in the 1950s).

He said, “It is not enough merely to have an intellectual understanding of another man’s difficulty; we need to go a little further to feel it as our own burden.”

I hope, in time, our communities of all races can see each other’s pain as their own and be more respectful. I have a black great nephew, and if he were shot by anyone, God forbid, I would want any community memorial for him to stay up a while so that we could have time to mourn.

Maybe we should have a city ordinance that says that any memorial for any person, white or black, should be allowed to stay up for a certain period of time.

UP FRONT From the Editor. . . . . . . . .

Letters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spin Cycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

There She Goz. . . . . . . . . .

Sordid Tales. . . . . . . . . . . .

3 4 5 6 7

FOOD & DRINK The World Fare. . . . . . . . . 8 Dishing It Out . . . . . . . . . . 9 The Beerdist. . . . . . . . . . . 10

THINGS TO DO The Short List . . . . . . . . . . 11 Calendar of Events. . . 11-12

ARTS & CULTURE FEATURE: Fiction 101. . . . . . . . . . . 15-18 Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Seen Local . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Films. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-22

MUSIC FEATURE: Protest Songs.23 Notes from the Smoking Patio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 If I Were U . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Concerts & Clubs. . . 28-29

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

ON THE

COVER

We’ve been a huge fan of Laurie Nasica since first seeing her work at the weekly Sketch Party night at Whistle Stop. In fact, the French-born artist (who also goes by the name Los Freedom Fries) was the first name mentioned when it came time to find someone to illustrate the three best stories for our annual Fiction 101 issue. “I think of an illustration

Dorothy Kwiat, as a creative collaboration with someone you’ve

Talmadge never met,” says Nasica, who also teaches art to children. “You have the option to create something based on your own interpreThis issue of CityBeat is fully dedicated to the only recount that counts: The one for the 49th District. tation of the story. You can decide what details to focus on.” Follow Nasica on InstaVolume 15 • Issue 18 gram at @losfreedomfries.

BEST PRETENTIOUS COFFEE HOUSE Holsem Coffee vs. Dark Horse Coffee

BEST CAMPUS BAR Oggi’s Pizza Express vs.

Zanzibar Café at The Loft

(relatively few) black people I know.

Thanks for continuing to educate me and for keeping it real in a community that doesn’t always want to hear it. I appreciate Belfer, and CityBeat, for giving her a forum.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Baldwin, David L. Coddon, Beth Demmon, Andrew Dyer, Tiffany Fox, Michael A. Gardiner, Glenn Heath Jr., Peter Holslin, Lara McCaffrey, Scott McDonald, Sebastian Montes, Jenny Montgomery, Jim Ruland, Ben Salmon, Tom Siebert, Jen Van Tieghem, Amy Wallen

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jason Noble ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Beau Odom Mark Schreiber Jenny Tormey ACCOUNTING Kacie Cobian, Sharon Huie Linda Lam HUMAN RESOURCES Andrea Baker

EDITORIAL INTERNS Sofia Mejias-Pascoe Jordan Packer

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE Kacie Sturek

PRODUCTION MANAGER Tristan Whitehouse

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS David Comden

MULTIMEDIA ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paulina Porter-Tapia

PUBLISHER Kevin Hellman

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Interested in advertising?

Call 619-281-7526 or e-mail advertising@sdcitybeat.com. The advertising deadline is 5 p.m. every Friday for the following week’s issue.

EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING OFFICE 3047 University Ave., Suite 202 San Diego, CA 92104 Phone: 619-281-7526 Fax: 619-281-5273 www.sdcitybeat.com

San Diego CityBeat is published and distributed every Wednesday by Southland Publishing Inc., free of charge but limited to one per reader. Reproduction of any material in this or any other issue is prohibited without written permission from the publisher and the author. Contents copyright 2016.

4 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

#SDCityBeat

JOHN R. LAMB

UP FRONT | OPINION

SPIN

CYCLE

JOHN R. LAMB

Pitying Mayor Bromide alongside L.A.’s Garcetti Envy is as persistent as memory, as intractable as a head cold. ­

A

—Harry Stein

s President-elect Donald Trump continues to thumb his way into the digital ashbin of hair-brained folly, let’s give a lusty Hooorah to all those local politicians twisting themselves into pretzels as they adapt to the coming unreality of a goon in the White House.

Post-election analyses are often fraught with a nauseating mixture of we-saw-that-coming swagger and what-the-hell-wasthat stagger. Without both, the punditry industry would dry up like a NyQuil-ed sinus cold and cable-news programming would implode like the Poltergeist house, leaving wide swaths of dead air.

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A couple weeks ago, the Los Angeles Times put on one such post-election hand-wringing session and invited San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a Republican, and Eric Garcetti, the Democratic mayor of Los Angeles, to talk governance in the new Orange Era. Garcetti came to the gathering with a plate of freshly won ballot measures that will fund homeless housing, boost park space, spruce up community-college campuses and expand transit options at record levels. Faulconer, meanwhile, arrived with little to show for his election efforts—he opposed the local transit measure and got his helmet handed to him on his late push for the Chargers downtown stadium measure.

Garcetti, a visible campaigner for Hillary Clinton, readily admitted he’d voted for her. Faul-

coner said he wound up voting for House Speaker Paul Ryan, who was not an official write-in candidate in California. Ergo, the mayor’s vote might as well have gone to Popeye, for the good it served.

Spin reached out to the mayor’s office for an explanation of the vote. Perhaps Faulconer was simply trying to butter up the influential Republican from Wisconsin when San Diego comes knocking for federal funding. As is becoming all too familiar now, the mayor’s peeps were not forthcoming.

“He’s our president. We have to come together now as Republicans, as Democrats,” Faulconer boilerplated about Trump, even after the mayor refused to endorse Trump after his comments about women and Latinos.

Garcetti took a more defiant tone. “This is a moment where I think we need to stand up for values and stand up for action.

Both things,” he said. “One can’t overwhelm the other….The things that were said by Donald Trump needed to be—should always be— condemned no matter who says them.

“But values can’t be the end of the conversation because economic conditions for a lot of people, or economic feelings,

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has his town rolling in new revenue. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, not so much. trumped their value beliefs. They went against even their own … value beliefs…They didn’t feel that we were speaking to their economic insecurity, and I think that’s going to be the most important lesson as we debrief.”

Faulconer said he hopes he can show Trump around the border of Mexico. “We are building bridges down at the border.

Literally,” said Faulconer, who won re-election in June. He also touted new jobs sprouting up on both sides of the border in the burgeoning medical-device field.

The day before the symposium, Garcetti returned on a 16hour flight from Qatar, where Los Angeles had presented its bid for the 2024 Olympics. Faulconer didn’t mention any similar lengthy travels, and it’s just as likely that he’d recently hopped off a barstool at the San Diego Yacht Club to attend.

A while back, Spin reviewed the calendars of Garcetti and Faulconer. Garcetti’s, from a casual observance, seemed packed while Faulconer’s was more, shall we say, open. This could be simply a management style. Or it could show that hard work and long hours pay off dividends.

Faulconer said he traveled up and down the state meeting with editorial boards in an effort to stoke opposition to Proposition 57, the parole-system-reform measure aggressively backed by Gov. Jerry Brown. The mayor was asked if this would lead to more appearances statewide and possibly a run for governor in 2018, which Faulconer has consistently denied in careful fashion.

“To see those violent crime rates creeping up now, that’s not where we want to go. So I will continue to be vocal on that issue,” he said. But on governor’s race, “No plans to run for governor. I just got re-elected as mayor of San Diego, so I’m taking my oath of office in a couple

of weeks…I’m looking forward to the term.”

A recent Field Poll on potential 2018 gubernatorial candidates placed Faulconer in second place behind Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, 23 percent to 16 percent.

While such polling has more to do with name recognition at this point than actual voter enthusiasm, it must be quite flattering for the moderate Republican.

But it also must be quite irksome to watch a mayor to the north gain convincing voter approval for a rash of new spending that will bring thousands of new housing units for the city’s most vulnerable while San Diego’s homeless woes continue to rise with few big-ticket solutions on the horizon.

Garcetti knows he has a sales pitch to make to neighborhoods that should want this new housing. “The choice of keeping somebody on the street or taking them off the street should be a no-brainer, not something to be feared but something to be embraced,” he said.

Faulconer, with nothing as bold, boasted of the ongoing efforts to update community plans citywide.

“Housing affordability is something that, again, it’s not a partisan issue,” he said. “It’s a quality-of-life issue and what are we doing to prepare for the future?”

So what will this all mean in Mayor Faulconer’s second term?

A spike in pension payments has the mayor sounding the bell for pending budget cuts, the first in years. New revenues seem like a unicorn that will never come, as voters’ appetite for a boost in things like the city hotel tax go lacking.

It leaves a sickening, familiar feeling in the pit of the stomach, particularly when our neighbor to the north seems to be flying high.

Spin Cycle appears every week.

Write to johnl@sdcitybeat.com.

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

UP FRONT | VOICES

THERE SHE

ALEX ZARAGOZA

GOZ

Trump is President, and escaping to Mexico did not help

T

he nightmare has come true. America seems to be in full regression mode, electing a bigmouthed bigot, racist, misogynist and allaround terrible human being as President of the United States.

Watching the numbers come in at my local watering hole, it looked as if someone had stabbed America right in the heart and blood was seeping everywhere. The red. Dear God. So. Much. Red. I walked back to my apartment, shocked and appalled. Once I was there, I packed a bag. It wasn’t some veiled threat to leave the country for having spit in the faces of women, people of color, Muslims, the poor, the disabled and every other discriminated community in America. I had a holiday planned, but at that moment, concern for having to answer for America weighed on me. What could I possibly say? “I’m sorry” isn’t going to cut it. The following morning and still in shock, I boarded a flight to Mexico City.

While I hoped to escape the election for a few days so I could process my thoughts on what the fuck was going to happen now, it wasn’t possible.

The news was everywhere. In the Uber ride to my friend’s apartment in Mexico City, vendors at stoplights held up newspapers with Trump’s smug face on the cover. A headline by El Gráfico particularly echoed my sentiments.

It simply read, “FUUUCK!!!”

FUUUCK indeed, El Gráfico.

Our driver spoke to us about leaving the U.S. for Mexico City, and worrying about his family still living in the states. He and my friend spoke about the awfulness that is likely to come and how rampant racism exists in the U.S. I jumped in and added a comment here and there, but mostly just sat in silence. For the first time in a long time, I was at a loss for words while bubbling with anxiety, grief and anger.

I thought avoiding Facebook would suffice. Even without opening my Facebook app however, the barrage of posts blaming everything and everyone under the sun for what happened in America on election night still found their way out of the internet and into my consciousness. That is, you can’t stop others from opening their apps. In this case, my best friend was traveling with me and was constantly and understandingly upset at things she read online. Particularly when it came to the onslaught of hate crimes and overtly racist victory posts showing people in blackface or doing the Heil Hitler salute.

Friends of hers had been physically attacked outside of a gay bar.

The spray-painted swastikas popping up on walls around the country sliced through her heart, and all I could say was, “I know. It’s really bad. It sucks. Just try not to look. It will only upset you. Let’s try to just

enjoy this time before we have to go back home.”

You’d think our mothers died while we were on a cruise, and all I could do to console her was offer more soft serve from the buffet until we had to plan the funeral.

Trump infiltrated almost every conversation. He was inescapable, especially in a country that has been attacked by him on countless occasions and will be greatly affected by his presidency. Mexicans are worried. They were and are scared of what it will mean for their work, their livelihood, their families and almost every other aspect of their lives.

At dinner with friends that live in Mexico City, they discussed their fears as business owners. Michelle, a successful jewelry designer originally from Tijuana, showed us an email that began circulating among Mexican business owners, restaurateurs, chefs and anyone else that relies on imported American goods for their business. The email implored people to stop buying American, even providing serial numbers that can be found on stickers on produce that would indicate it comes from the U.S. “We can’t rely on the U.S. anymore. We have almost everything we need here in Mexico,” Michelle said, echoing the sentiment of the email. “We just don’t know what’s going to happen, and we have to learn to cut ourselves off from America.”

The ties would have to begin to be severed. Like breaking up with boyfriend before they can get around to brutally dumping you (the dumping in this analogy is deportation).

When I boarded my flight home, I quietly prepared for everything to come. My stomach ached, and the only thing I could do was keep filling my mouth with non-THC cannabis oil so I could attempt to remain calm.

Since I’ve been back, another friend was threatened at her place of business by a drunk Trump supporter. He told her she was an ugly fat bitch and that no one was there to stand up for her. He could do whatever he wants to her. This is the America we live in now.

Now we have to decide, in the face of Trump’s America, what are we going to do to fight back?

I left my silence in Mexico City. It will stay there.

I’m done mourning. As I wrote in my own Facebook post, to all those who chose to diminish or even attempt to disprove the existence of rampant racism, misogyny, everyday aggressions and pure hate in this country, you’re awake now. Do something about it. To those who’ve been fighting tirelessly, it’s time to fight harder.

I left my silence in Mexico City.

It will stay there. I’m done mourning.

6 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

There She Goz appears every third week.

Write to alexz@sdcitybeat.com.

#SDCityBeat

UP FRONT | OPINION

EDWIN DECKER

SORDID

TALES

Let’s understand the Electoral College before we hate on it

F

irst of all, let’s get something straight. Complaining that Hillary Clinton should be president because she won the popular vote is like saying George Foreman won the Rumble in the Jungle because he connected more blows before Ali knocked him out.

Sorry Clintophiles, but the rule of the game is to win electoral votes and that rule has been in place long before Mephistopheles swallowed Donald Trump’s soul in exchange for the presidency. This is not to say that we shouldn’t eliminate the United States Electoral College (USEC), but shouldn’t we understand it first? I hear so many people bitching about it, but they don’t seem to understand it. I too have protested its existence despite not knowing three things about it. So if that’s you too, what say we take this moment to learn about it, together, so that our opinion is informed, whatever that may be?

For starters—spoiler alert—the Framers couldn’t agree on how a president should be chosen.

Aside from a popular vote, some wanted Congress to choose, others preferred the governors and/or State Legislature, and a few thought Punxsutawney Phil should decide—until it was learned that Phil made derogatory comments about beavers and wanted to build a dam to keep the muskrats out.

In their defense, the Framers couldn’t agree because none of their options were ideal. Letting Congress decide would undermine its independence from the Executive Branch. Ditto the states, which they did not want beholden to a president or vice versa. They couldn’t let Punxsutawney Phil pick because he was a rodentia supremacist. As for a straight-up popular vote, well, it’s worth remembering that these guys were aristocrats. To them, some hippy-dippy, Kumba-Yo Are You Crazy? concept of letting the masses decide was a horrifying proposition.

For one reason, a single, centralized national election is easier to rig than multiple statewide ones.

They also understood that smaller states would struggle for a voice. Then there was the concern about the “tyranny of the majority.” As someone (possibly Ben Franklin) said, “A democracy is three wolves and a lamb voting on what’s for dinner. . .”

In fact, that’s why they already had decided on what type of government to apply. It was called a “Representative Democracy”—a kind of Democracy-light in which the citizens vote, not for laws, but for officials who vote for laws in their consideration.

It was James Madison who had the brilliant idea of applying this concept to the selection of a president.

He believed a body of “electors” with the ability to overturn an errant popular vote would create an adequate buffer between the presidency and mob rule.

Or, as I call it, three wolves and a lamb voting on dinner with an orangutan making sure the lamb doesn’t end up in the broiler.

So, what’s the problem with having electors? For starters, a candidate can lose the majority vote and still win the election. Secondly, because of the winner-take-all aspect of the USEC, it disenfranchises voters who support their state’s losing candidate.

For instance, since all of California’s 55 electoral votes went to Clinton, every Trump vote was effectively tossed in the can.

Then there’s the woefully inadequate qualifications of an elector. According to Article II of The Constitution, anyone is eligible who isn’t a “Senator or [U.S.] Representative” and has not engaged in any “acts of insurrection or rebellion,” which means my goldfish can be an elector so long as it hasn’t taken an inordinate amount of trips to Moscow recently.

And last, it flies in the face of the one man/one vote concept. Because, yes, it is true that the USEC gives the smaller states a competitive voice to the larger states. But it diminishes the voting power of a whole shitload of individuals at the same time!

Here’s the gist: In every state, a single electoral vote represents a certain amount of individual votes.

Historically, the smaller states have fewer individual votes per electoral vote, meaning each person’s vote in a small state weighs more than those in a large state.

This may be how small states compete for a voice, but it sure isn’t fair to individual voters in big states. Besides, what does it matter if some states don’t have a voice? States are just imaginary lines that surround real, actual human beings, and what matters is that the humans get equal say—to each other—regardless of the size of the state in which they reside.

That said, given my newfound understanding of the Electoral College, I do not believe it is as useless and archaic as many say. We have good reason to be weary of its unintended consequences, but for me, the desire to keep it boils down to contempt for mob rule.

We have seen how undignified majority groups— with their mottos and their tomes and their temples and their websites and their uniforms—have fucked countless minorities right in their collective assholes. We have seen how they shove their agendas through like a son pushing his grumpy mother’s wheelchair over anyone standing between them and The Lion King box office. The USEC sure isn’t perfect, but the fact that a straight up popular vote is like three Satanists and a virgin voting on who to sacrifice is a great reason to keep it.

…a straight up popular vote is like three Satanists and a virgin voting on who to sacrifice.

#SDCityBeat

Sordid Tales appears every other week.

Write to edwin@sdcitybeat.com.

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

UP FRONT | FOOD

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER

THE WORLD

FARE

Hot pot’s “drier” cousin

H

The numbing and spicy flavor bullfrog was, perhaps, my favorite dry pot. This Sichuan ma la flavor is the most classic of dry pot styles. And yes, frog does taste somewhat like chicken. Of course, the Chinese are less averse to serving little pieces of protein with bones (that must come out) and, while this was a bit annoying, the tasty morsels of the frog were delicious. As that sterno burned down and the numbing spicy sauce headed toward nuclear, the result was almost a capsicum high.

Not everything worked quite as well. The catfish seemed to be more pin bones than flesh, the brisket was tough and the duck was just characterless. The “Spicy” flavor—apparently intended to be Hunan-style—was just spicy without a lot more to recommend it. It was monochromatic to start and only got more so as the ingredients boiled down in the oil. By the end of the sterno it was strictly adventure eating land.

ot pot is having its moment. It’s a moment that was, perhaps, crowned when Anthony Bourdain sang its praises and wielded it like a weapon in Eric Ripert’s direction on the Sichuan episode of Bourdain’s No Reservations Travel Channel show. But the brothy, dip-it-yourself stuff depicted in that episode is not the only style of hot pot. The “Chinese Dry Pot” offered at Sizzling Pot King (8058 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.) in the Convoy District deserves its moment too.

The main knock on hot pot is that ingredients lose individuality as they cook in the broth, giving up their distinctive flavors to the liquid resulting MICHAEL A. GARDINER in a sameness to the dish. Dry pot is designed to address this shortcoming: Everything is cooked in a wok without broth.

A bit of the fun and communality of classic hot pot is lost, but with a purpose in mind.

At Sizzling Pot King every dry pot dish starts with four vegetables: potato, cauliflower, celery and bean sprouts.

It comes with four “flavors” (spicy, sour and spicy, numbing and spicy, and garlic) and spice levels ranging from mild to four alarm. Sizzling Pot King offers over 30 different protein options ranging from chicken or shrimp to bullfrog, duck head, pig stomach and beef tripe.

Griddle-cooked bullfrog with numbing and spicy flavor There’s nothing wrong with sticking to the chicken nor with choosing to avoid There are other dishes at Sizzling Pot King. the spicier options. Chicken with the garlic flavor The house special bean curd sticks are a terrific is a tasty if not particularly adventurous choice. Sichuan-style cold appetizer and the wonton in The cauliflower is a highlight in all Sizzling Pot spicy sauce are excellent as well. Still, as a whole, King’s dry pots, especially at the start. The garlic the promise of dry pot was perhaps more than Sizsauce captures the sweetness of the garlic itself as zling Pot King could deliver. It is certainly worth a much as its pungency. However, if the purpose of try, but perhaps not more than once. dry pot is to avoid sameness, it didn’t work. The oil in the wok performed the same function as the The World Fare appears weekly. hot pot’s broth resulting in a monotone dish.

Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

8 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

#SDCityBeat

UP FRONT | FOOD

BY JAMES VERNETTE

DISHING IT

porterhouse for two at Carne Prima, a $110 a la carte hunk o’ meat that looks like something you’d see on The Flintstones.

Carne Prima is class all the way: There’s a great wine list featuring vino I can’t afford, knowledgeable waiters and high-quality ingredients preThis steak is too good for you pared simply. This giant porterhouse is cooked with just salt and pepper and the chef, Aliano never thought I’d wish my 10-year-old son Decka, personally comes out to cut up this meaty could drink wine until we ate at Carne Pri- masterpiece. My son, father-in-law and I were in ma Italian Steakhouse (314 5th Ave.) in the awe when it came out in all its glory.

Gaslamp.

Dry aging brings out a different, more complex I’d never let him of course, but I think he would flavor than what you’ll get at a typical steakhouse, have better appreciated the 40-ounce porterhouse and it’s not something everyone can handle. The steak we shared if he’d been able to sip the Brunello Carne Prima porterhouse has an earthy flavor althat the waiter recommended I have with it. The most like a rind of parmesan cheese. My fatherdry yet fruity Italian wine was a perfect match and, in-law got into it right away. I needed to adjust without it, I think my son wasn’t able to fully ap- because I had never had meat like this. Once I did, I loved it—especially with the JAMES VERNETTE Brunello.

My son, who is very openminded, never got the handle of it, preferring the seasonal veggies and garlic mashed potatoes we ordered as side dishes (the steak is a la carte). I think he felt like he wasn’t “man enough” to appreciate this porterhouse.

I explained, “Hey, I understand why this might not appeal to you. Some flavors you need to grow into. I sure do wish you could try this wine.”

With 40 ounces of anything, there are always leftovers. Although my vegetarian wife didn’t enjoy the pungent smell of the steak (“Can you put it in two zipCarne Prima Italian Steakhouse locs, please?” she asked), I sure did. The next day, it spread like preciate the nuances of what happens when a great butter on a piece of sourdough. That and a little cut of beef is dry aged for 28 days. bit of Dijon was heaven.

Honestly, a lot of people won’t. In fact, I can So, here’s the deal: People who really, really honestly say this steak is probably too good for you. like steak and want some depth and complexity First, a little back story: My son and I took my (and are willing to pay for it) should go to Carne father-in-law out for “a man’s night out.” I thought Prima. If you just want a piece of meat that tastes Carne Prima was a good bet because my dad-in- like the sauce it was cooked in, perhaps Carne law once said that the best steak he had was dry- Prima is not for you. aged for 28 days.

My son has agreed to try the porterhouse when “They just let the mold grow on it and then cut he can legally drink. that off before cooking,” he said wistfully.

That’s basically the formula for the 40-ounce Dishing It Out appears every other week.

OUT I

#SDCityBeat

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

UP FRONT | DRINK

THE

BY ANDREW DYER

BEERDIST and Zwickelbier were absolute stand-outs, as was the Glitz and Glam Berlinerweiss.

Eppig is the latest in business operating under the Brewery Igniter concept. The first itppig Brewing (eppigbrewing.com) is eration in Miramar includes Pure Project and the first of three breweries to occupy the Amplified Ale Works. Jacqueline Olivier, projCRAFT by Brewery Igniter space in ect manager for Brewery Igniter, said the North North Park (3052 El Cajon Blvd.), which has fi- Park concept was a bit different than what they nally opened its doors to the public. Two veteran have in Miramar.

Ballast Point brewers, Nate Stephens and Clay“Miramar is located in a business park and ton LeBlanc, have launched their new brewery CRAFT is its own building right in the middle of with an impressive North Park,” Olivier ANDREW DYER and diverse array of said. “We wanted beers after two years to give it its own in development. Two identity (and) cremore breweries, Pariate more of a sense ah Brewing and San of destination.”

Diego Brewing ComThe Brewery pany, will soon open Igniter concept is adjacent to Eppig in simple: Igniter owns a consortium that’s the buildings, breunique in San Diego’s whouse and tasting crowded craft market. room equipment and Eppig is a new the brewery owner brewery with an old leases the space. history.

Breweries would “My business part- Eppig co-founders Clayton Leblan and Nate Stephens need to eventually ner is Stephanie Eppig,” co-founder Clayton LeB- move on to a larger space in order to grow, but lanc said. “Her family owned breweries in Brook- with the high cost of entry into the industry lyn, New York from 1866 through prohibition.”

Brewery Igniter offers an alternative to raising The original Eppig Brewing specialized in millions of dollars in start-up funds.

German lagers as did most 19th century brewer“It gets you open without having to write a ies. The new iteration is not straying far from check for $2-3 million for all the equipment that those roots. goes into construction,” LeBlanc said. “The basic “Right now we’ve got a Festbier, a Zwickelbier floorplan is already decided for you, but it gets and a Schwarzbier,” LeBlanc said. “There’s a lot you open.” of styles consumers don’t know about. Put it in a The CRAFT space will be worth watching over glass—it’s craft beer just like anything else.” the next few months. The next brewery to open Eppig is not all about Old World lagers, how- there, Pariah Brewing Company, should be open ever. early next year, with San Diego Brewing Compa“Both Nate and I come from a larger brewery ny to follow. The parking situation is better than that made a bunch of different styles under the denser parts of North Park and with three options guidance of smart guys that know how to make re- in one space, CRAFT could potentially become ally good beer,” LeBlanc said. “We’re going to have the destination that finally gets beer trekkers to a line of hoppy beers and kettle sours as well.” cross the Boulevard.

I tried five Eppig beers at its grand opening and came away impressed. Lagers might not get The Beerdist appears every other week. the hype IPAs and stouts enjoy, but the Festbier Write to andrewd@sdcitybeat.com

Eppig first to open at CRAFT

by Brewery Igniter

E

10 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

#SDCityBeat

SHORTlist

EVENTS

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

LOGAN HEIGHTS

1

GUITAR GODDESS

Women have made huge strides in what has historically been a male-dominated music scene. No matter the genre—from punk and country to rock and pop—females don’t have much left to prove. Still, jazz remains a bit of a boy’s club, and while there are certainly legendary women within the genre, casual fans would be hard-pressed to name one that wasn’t a singer.

This may change with Camila Meza.

The Chilean-born, New York City-based artist certainly has a beautiful voice, as evidenced on her new album Traces, but it’s her experimental and nuanced style of jazz guitar that make her a standout within the genre.

“I think in general, the first years it was like I was destructing the myths,” says Meza, when asked about her early years in the music scene.

“They see a woman that sings and plays guitar, and they immediately just box you into this very particular genre. I had to go through a lot of, ‘Okay, but let me show you.’”

What she’s shown them is a refreshing style

BALBOA PARK

of improvisational guitar playing that manages to combine both classical and contemporary methods. While jazz-heads have been won over by Meza’s playing, Traces attempts to appeal to new fans with her bilingual vocals. The album includes covers of BrazilCOURTESY OF THE ARTIST ian pop star Djavan, Chilean artist Victor Jara and legendary American songwriter Stephen Sondheim, but it’s her original material that she says makes Traces a musical leap forward.

“There’s something that kind of opened up in myself,” Meza says. “A lot of Camila Meza the songs actually talk about this idea of letting go, of reconnecting with yourself and just letting go of all the preconceptions that we’re sort of pushed into. In that sense, it was pretty liberating to make this album.”

Camila Meza will play an intimate concert with a three-piece band at the Athenaeum Art Center inside the Bread & Salt building (1955 Julian Ave.) on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 ($10 for students) and can be purchased at ljathenaeum.org.

BALBOA PARK

2 IN THE MARKET

Looking for unique holiday presents can be exhausting, but at the right place, the process can be streamlined. At the Mingei Holiday Market (1439 El Prado) handmade meets local, with a variety of items ranging from jewelry to home furnishings. On Thursday, Dec. 8 from 5 to 8 p.m., the Collector’s Gallery at the Mingei International Museum transforms into a crafty heaven with handmade goods, light appetizers, and cocktails. Featured merchants include Cambodian Silk Designs, Chelsea Ruwe Ceramics, Mr. Blueskye textiles and Wax Apothecary candles. Additionally, craft cocktail company Nostrum will be providing drinks with unusual flavor combinations such as grapefruit, piloncillo and chipotle shrub, and strawberry, hibiscus, and jalapeno. This event is free for all window shoppers, though bringing home an item will cost money. mingei.org

KATIE GARDNER

3 A NIGHT’S TALE

For 39 years, the annual December Nights has been one of the go-to holiday events that manages to be fun for both adults and kids. Taking place in the heart of Balboa Park on the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 2 (from 3 to 11 p.m.) and going all day on Saturday, Dec. 3 (noon to 11 p.m.), the celebration features some new attractions this year. There’s the Artisan Marketplace, a whimsically decorated photobooth, and performances ranging from the Santa Lucia procession to excerpts from The Nutcracker.

Readers can also expect the usual festivities to take place: teriyaki bowls and miso soup at the Japanese Friendship Garden, a miniature train running throughout the park, and special hours and pricings at participating museums. And of course, there’s the twinkling lights and holiday embellishments. The event is free and there’s free shuttle service from several points in Downtown. visitdecembernights.org ISAIAH LEGGETT

ART

COMEDY

HAn Evening with Alexander Arshansky at Sparks Gallery, 530 6th Ave., Gaslamp. The artist will perform a live painting demonstration and patrons will be able to talk with the artist and ask questions about his technique and style as well as his current exhibition, Stories Within. From 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. Free. 619-696-1416, sparksgallery.com

Green Flash Comedy Night at Green Flash Cellar 3, 12260 Crosthwaite Circle, Poway. Enjoy a beer and an evening of improv comedy with some of Finest City Improv’s top comedians. From 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. $15. 858-622-0085, c3live.eventbrite.com

HClothing Store at SDAI Project Space, 141 Horton Plaza, Gaslamp. A solo project by San Diego-based installation artist Melissa Beck, who has created a hybrid of both a closet and a public store. Opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. Free.

619-236-0011, sandiego-art.org Let there be Peace on Earth at Ladybug Art Studio, 4685 Biona Drive, Kensington. An exhibit featuring the diverse artwork and paintings of Ladybug Art gallery owner, Susan Mae Hull. Opening from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. Free.

619-563-0082, ladybugartstudio.com HSan Diego Mesa College Fall 2016 Student Art Exhibit and Sale at Mesa College Art Gallery, 7250 Mesa College Drive, Clairemont. View over one hundred works of art created by students in their studio art classes including paintings, ceramics and jewelry. Opening from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. Free. 619-3882829, sdmesa.edu/art-gallery Bravo School of Art Member and Faculty Holiday Show and Sale at Bravo School of Art, 2690 Decatur Rd., Point Loma. The eighth annual showcase includes original, handmade art like paintings, textiles, jewelry, photography, and more. From 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2.

Free. 619-223-0058, bravoschoolofart.com HThree Year Anniversary of Chicano Art Gallery at Don Diego VFW Post 7420, 2100 Logan Ave., Barrio Logan. Celebrate the third anniversary of the gallery with art, DJs, performances and more. From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, Dec. 2. Free. 619-2395373, facebook.com/ChicanoArtGallery Young Adult Photography Exhibit at National City Public Library, 1401 National City Blvd., National City. Student photographers and artist Rebecca Goldschmidt, from the library’s Young Adult Photography Workshop, will have their works on display and will be on hand to discuss their photos and techniques. Opening from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5. Free.

619-470-5800, nationalcitylibrary.org

BOOKS Joyce Maynard at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The bestselling author of Labor Day and After Her will sign and discuss her new novel, Under the Influence. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30. Free. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com RH Gutierrez at Upstart Crow, 835 West Harbor Drive, Seaport Village. The local author will be signing and reading from his new book, Off the Rails, about his study of and exposure to different forms of material arts. At 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. Free. 619232-4855, upstartcrowtrading.com HWriters 2 Watch: Mehrnoosh Mazarei at Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., East Village. Author and speaker Mehrnoosh Mazarei’s books have been banned in Iran due to the feminist and political content of them. From 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. Free. 619-236-5800, sdfocl.org Matt Coyle at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The best-selling author will discuss and sign his new book, Dark Fissures, the third novel in his Rick Cahill crime series. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6. Free. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com

Chelsea Ruwe ceramic planters

#SDCityBeat

December Nights

H = CityBeat picks

Finest City Improv’s Lip Sync Battle at Finest City Improv, 4250 Louisiana St., North Park. Watch people do on stage what you were doing as a teenager, in front of a mirror while using a comb as a mic. From 10:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. $10.

619-306-6047, finestcityimprov.com HJimmy Callaway: Adios, Amigos at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. ACC house MC Jimmy Callaway is having a final farewell show before he moves to L.A. to pursue comic obscurity.

From 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. Free.

619-795-3858, americancomedyco.com

DANCE HOne Hundred Giving Way at Potiker Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Dr., La Jolla.

A week-long event that explores communal organization with one hundred dancers who generate and navigate a high stakes environment to push physical and emotional limits. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec 2 through Sunday, Dec. 11. $10-$20. theatre.ucsd.edu

FOOD & DRINK HCarols and Barrels: A Holiday Beer and Wine Festival at Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, 1000 North Harbor Dr., Downtown. Sample and learn about over 200 beers and wines and sample holiday treats. The event will also feature caroling, ugly sweaters and, of course, Buddy the Elf. From 2 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. $45-$115. carolsandbarrels.com HTijuana Craft Beer Hop at Turista Libre Meeting Spot, 727 E. San Ysidro Blvd, Tijuana. Explore Baja California’s artisan beer scene with a visit to three of Tijuana’s more than 40 craft brewers, as well as a taco stop or two. From 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. $65. 858-754-9406, turistalibre.com

HOLIDAY EVENTS HFantasy on Ice at NTC at Liberty Station, 2640 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma. The annual skating rink and park features holiday-related activities and performances, as well as handmade goods and artwork for sale. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30. $10-$14.

619-573-9300, fantasyonicesd.com HHoliday Tree Lighting at NTC Plaza Liberty Station, 2816 Historic Decatur Rd., Point Loma. Enjoy a display of thousands of twinkling lights and colorful ornaments, along with live musical performances and a European-style popup market featuring local eateries and shops. From 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30. Free. libertystation.com Holiday Gift Shop at Brokers Building, 402 Market St., Downtown. Peruse art and handmade holiday gifts at this monthlong, pop-up boutique event. From 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. Free-$20. facebook.com/thebrokersbuildinggallery HTree of Life Tree Lighting Ceremony at Hillcrest , Fifth and University Avenues, Hillcrest. Mama’’s Kitchen hosts San Diego’s premiere event to commemorate World AIDS Day. There’’ll be a candlelight vigil, songs and the tree lighting. At 6 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 1. Free. mamaskitchen.org Friday Night Liberty: Salute the Season at NTC at Liberty Station, 2640 His-

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

BOOKS: THE FLOATING LIBRARY Something Icky This Way Comes

S

of psychological torment and so on. While the tales in Gross and Unlikeable are considerably more nuanced than the formula of blood, breasts and beasties that has been the staple of B-movie horror films for decades, many are as vile as advertised.

In Danielle Renino’s “I’m Better Now,” a young professional makes a grisly discovery in the bathroom at her corporate office job. “There is a fly inside her mouth. It walks over her two front teeth and down over her tongue. She holds a pair of scissors to her chest.”

Some stories, like Christine Hamm’s “Notes on Wolves and Ruin, III,” make the grotesque more palatable with a dash of humor: “The first time I kill my husband, I stab him in the chest thirty-four times and wrap his body in our Ikea comforter.” While others, such as Colleen Burner’s “Murmuration: A Confusion,” are epically gorgeous: “I am the savage giant in the cave; I am the bald child with claw feet appearing where you don’t expect.”

The stories collected in Gross and Unlikeable are as arresting as they are disturbing, and will leave readers anxiously wondering if they remembered to lock the door.

an Diego is an unlikely place for stories about mysterious forces and gruesome crimes, but somehow America’s Finest City has become a hotbed of horror.

The latest installment of Black Candies, an annual anthology of literary horror and dark fiction published here in San Diego by the literary nonprofit So Say We All, is titled Gross and Unlikeable and features 28 stories written and illustrated by women. (Full disclosure: CityBeat columnist Ryan Bradford founded the series, and I’ve contributed to previous editions.)

For this edition, Black Candies turned to guest editor Natanya Ann Pulley who writes in the foreword, “I believe writing stories (like all art) is a political act. Whose story we tell, whose we share, and how we expect them to be handed to us is an engagement with truths… This collection doesn’t just give women a space to tell vile stories, it grapples with notions of story and reality handed to women through things dark and dangerous.”

Written and illustrated by writers and artists from all over the world, Gross and Unlikeable features local writers such as Rachel Lee Taylor,

—Jim Ruland Jennifer D. Corley and Hanna Tawater, and artists Black Candies “Gross and Unlikeable” release party such as Carrie Ann Hudson and Vanessa Martinez, will go down on Thursday, December 8 at Whistle Stop. among others.

The stories are arranged in loose categories. Write to jimr@sdcitybeat.com.

There’s disturbing fairy tales, body horror, stories

12 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

EVENTS EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Monday, Dec. 5. Free-$37. 858-5343448, musicweb.ucsd.edu

scapes provided by an expansive orchestra. At 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. $25-$72. 619-2350804, sandiegosymphony.org

HChamber Works of Beethoven at The Auditorium at TSRI, 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, La Jolla. Pianist Jon Kimura Parker and musicians of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra perform chamber works by Ludwig van Beethoven. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6. $35. 858-7842666, sandiegosymphony.org

HCamila Meza Quartet at Athenaeum Art Center, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights. A San Diego debut by Chilean jazz guitarist and vocalist Camila Meza, whom National Public Radio called “one of the best-kept secrets in New York City.”

From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. $10-$25. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org Pink Martini at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. The American band, made up of more than a dozen musicians, will perform holiday classics as well as globally-inspired repertoire. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. $30-$85. 760-839-4190, artcenter.org HSteph Johnson Holiday Show at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights.

The award-winning band will perform original music and traditional holiday songs, as well as feature the Voices of Our City Choir.

Preceded by an art exhibit, a live DJ, and interactive performances. At 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. $8-$65. stephjohnsonband.com Vienna Boys Choir at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. The internationally-renowned young choristers perform classics from the European tradition plus some holiday additions.

Includes music from Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Britten and more. At 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 4. $20-$65. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org Camera Lucida at Conrad Prebys Music Center, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla.

The group of four local instrumentalists perform chamber music masterpieces by Ives, Kodaly and Schumann. At 7:30 p.m.

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD HUCSD New Writing Series: Vi Khi Nao at UCSD SME Performance Space Room, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. A reading from Vi Khi Nao, whose work includes poetry, fiction, film and crossgenre collaboration. From 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 30. Free. 858-5342230, hh-literature.ucsd.edu HNon-Standard Lit: Brian Blanchfield, Vi Khi Nao and Hari Alluri at Gym Standard, 2903 El Cajon Blvd. #2, North Park. The third and final reading for Fall 2016 features Brian Blanchfield (author of Proxies: Essays Near Knowing), Vi Khi Nao (Fish in Exile) and local Hari Alluri (The Promise of Rust and The Flayed City).

From 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. Free.

619-501-4996, gymstandard.com

SPECIAL EVENTS HSouth Park Winter Walkabout at South Park Neighborhood, 30th and Beech St., South Park. A quarterly evening festival that showcases the neighborhood’s independent businesses with complimentary treats, live entertainment and special offers. From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.

Free. 619-233-6679, southparksd.com

#SDCityBeat

#SDCityBeat

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

THEATER

The Kid Thing comically ponders serious questions

COURTESY OF MOXIE THEATRE

Moxie Theatre in Rolando. $20 and up. moxietheatre.com

W

ith a flip title like The Kid Thing, you’d expect Sarah Gubbins’ Chicago-situated play to take a cavalier, even disdainful, look at the decision of whether to have a child. Quite the opposite is true. Everyone in The Kid Thing treats the possibility of parenthood seriously, very seriously. That succeeds in wringing the cleverness out of the light half of this dramedy, which ultimately turns angry and confrontational. If, on the other hand, one regards The Kid Thing as a reflective treatise on both whether or not to parent but on lesbian relationship dynamics, then its undertone of glibness can be seen as a means to better humanize its characters. Either way, The Kid Thing, receiving its San Diego premiere at Moxie Theatre, is ruminative and, under the direction of Kym Pappas, swiftly paced entertainment.

The play begins with lesbian couple Margot (Anna Rebek) and the more-butch Nate (Katharine Harroff ) announcing “their” pregnancy by donor insemination to their close friends Leigh (Sarah Karpicus) and the “manly”-to-the-max Darcy (Jo Anne Glover). Complications quickly arise when Leigh decides that she

—David L. Coddon

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

OPENING: Miracle on 34th Street: The holiday classic about a department store Santa who claims he’s the real deal. Presented by San Diego Musical Theatre, it opens Dec. 1 at the Horton Grand Theatre in the Gaslamp. sdmt.org A Nice Family Christmas: The San Diego premiere of a new comedy by playwright Phil Olson about a family holiday gathering that goes awry.

It opens Dec. 1 at the Broadway Theatre in Vista. broadwayvista.biz

Jo Anne Glover (left) and Sarah Karpicus in The Kid Thing and reluctant Darcy, whose blatant anger and repressed self-loathing seem to imperil their relationship, should go the same “kid thing” route. That brings us to good-natured and prodigiously potent Jacob (Connor Sullivan), Margot and Nate’s donor and an ex-school chum of Leigh’s, whom she recruits to “double down,” as you might say.

More than half of The Kid Thing addresses this provocative scenario with a sharp appreciation for gender politics and the complex fabric of friendship. One personal betrayal revealed after another,

14 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

however, transforms the mood of the play, which may very well be Gubbins’ intention. Her focal character is Darcy, the one among the five who is truly complex and about whom it is a challenge to be sympathetic. But it’s a crisis of identity that’s at the heart of Darcy’s temperament, and Glover’s performance to that end is an uncompromising one.

The Kid Thing asks all of us—no matter our sense of identity, our gender or our preference—what bringing a child into an uneasy world might mean.

The Kid Thing runs through Dec. 11 at

Lamb’s Players Festival of Christmas: The annual musical theater performance features classic songs and is set in an 1860s inn. It opens Dec. 2 at the Lamb’s Players Theatre in Coronado. lambsplayers.org Rented Christmas: In this musical, a rich bachelor attempts to rent actors to play out something he’s always desired: a family Christmas. Directed by Robin Pollock, it opens Dec. 2 at Lamplighters Community Theatre in La Mesa. lamplighterslamesa.com A Snow White Christmas: The classic fairytale reimagined with music from Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson and more. Presented by San Diego Theatres and San Diego Repertory Theatre, it opens Dec. 2 at the Lyceum Stage in the Gaslamp. sdrep.org For full theater listings, visit “Theater”at sdcitybeat.com

#SDCityBeat

CULTURE | FICTION

Our annual fiction challenge where size matters

FICTION 101 CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 #SDCityBeat

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

CULTURE | FICTION

“The peanut butter ones or the chocolate chip?” she asked.

I opened my eyes wide.

“Peanut butter?”

She grabbed my arm firmly.

“You put out the special cookies?”

We jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs.

Embers still crackled in the fireplace.

A large man in a red and white coat was snoring on our couch with an empty plate on his belly.

The milk was gone.

FICTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

A man on my bus shouted out poems that I fervently wrote down.

The other passengers stared at their own feet while absorbing his every word.

I moved closer to examine his eyes and the texture of his grungy hair. Brown and wiry.

He noticed me and said, “Read books to lovers to hear the words for the first time as they actually are. Then I warn you, you’ll want to keep eating books until your mind is full.”

He laughed and turned saying, “We are all on film.”

I closed my notebook and got off on 14th.

Lori DuPont Golden Hill

I was in a supermarket checkout line where silvery Mylar balloons in the shape of dolphins were tethered to the registers, some pink, some blue.

A toddler, sitting in a cart behind me pointed upward. “Fishies!” she squealed.

“Dolphins.” her older brother said.

The tot’s finger wavered between the differently colored objects.

“Why those blue?”

The boy replied, “That’s how they look before you cook them.”

A subtle smile appeared on the face of the clerk as she zapped my items—a jar of mayo, a loaf of bread, some celery, four cans of tuna.

Alex Bosworth

“I’ll just jump in and out,” Sue said, walking towards the bathroom.

At her age jumping was not an option, especially once she saw the slick marble tile that lined the shower. She placed each foot carefully, clutching the shower opening.

“Not even a mat,” she thought.

“Were they trying to kill us in this

16 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

ritzy hotel?”

Then she heard Jessie mumbling. “What,” she said. The response was muffled.

Again wondering why the hotel would want her dead, she cautiously retreated all the way back out the bathroom doorway.

“What,” Sue said.

“Be careful,” said Jessie, “it’s very slippery in there.”

Michele Garb Clairemont

“Get me another, Boris,” I said The poor fool. He was a monster and I don’t mean the abusive, ravenous male type. I mean he had tentacles for arms and sprouts of hair at the tips of his crude appendages. Bulging eyes with quite the bulging package, he had a strange fixation with the underside of my bed and I quite liked him there.

But darling, he was a man, or at least more of a man than these other sappy fools. Boris was gregarious, kind and he never spilled a drop of my gin martini. That’s how I loved him.

Aubree Miller South Park

Even though I can’t see anything through the closed bathroom door, Pappy’s definitely on the crapper whackin’ horse-flies with newsprint again, his lip curled on the bourbon flask. Listening in, I can hear him swat, stomp and cuss.

Suddenly, Mammy’s pale, speckled frock brushes my cheek and her shrink-wrapped knuckle hurts my ear as we clop down the hallway. Back at the kitchen table, she makes sure my hearing’s intact by cranking the TV volume all the way up and yelling at me to finish my vocabulary homework.

She sounds serious, so I practice spelling Pappy’s favorite words with my peas.

Mark Abel Point Loma

My wife turned to me in bed.

Quietly and sleepily she whispered, “Did you leave out the milk and cookies?”

I smiled thinking of our two children.

“Yes.” I closed my eyes.

Matt Lane Chula Vista

She turns the wire hanger, reshaping it. The corkscrew end twirls; the hook gouges her gripping palm. She imagines it’s long enough to spell his name, that she will not need to start over.

She’s done that before—destroyed what was just begun. He was not yet teething when they took him away. Momma’s his momma, for now.

She must remember what’s important, why she stays this time. Keep her hands busy. Make them create.

She finishes and presses it to her bosom. See—I can hold and not harm. See—Nathan. And some left over.

Jeff Curtiss Welch University Heights

I walk down this street often.

I am not sure where I am. Don’t worry I am walking on the sidewalk. There are so many trees and flowers. They smell good and they are quiet. I like to feel flat surfaces. Fences. Brick walls.

Grass. I like to dig in the dirt. It is very relaxing. There are the cats. I say hello with my hands. They are soft and they purr. I smile when they purr. I am not sure where my

FICTION CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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#SDCityBeat

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

CULTURE | FICTION FICTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 house is. I do know to follow the cats. At home, I give them milk.

Then eat them.

Greg Cusick City Heights

It’s been a long time since I drank champagne.

It was the night we said goodbye. We danced a long, embracing dance. We cried.

I took her home and held her for the last time. We kissed. She

slipped from my arms. Our fingers lingered together, then she was through the door and gone.

I walked into the darkness alone.

It’s been a long time since I told someone I loved her.

Tonight, I will try both again.

Martin Roy Hill La Jolla

One morning while doing dishes, the clangy rattle of the Can Man’s shopping cart dis-

18 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

tracts me. He’s in the alleyway searching bottomless dumpsters for middle-class deposits abandoned for nobler compensation.

Shutting the water off, I grab the plastic bag filled with plastic bottles from my plastic life.

Opening the backdoor, I approach, looking him in the eyes.

I extend my humble contribution, his calloused hands accepting my returns. Under a weathered ball cap, an unkempt beard masks his sunburned face. His gaze drops as hidden lips mumble, “Thanks, Boss.”

Replying, “You’re welcome,”

I head back, thinking I’m a paycheck away.

Gerald Vanderpot North Park

“Yes, yes!” He bellowed. Doctor Stein roared around his laboratory, cackling at all his inventions. I pretended to be inside his mind to peek into the bottled emotions Dr. Stein must have felt.

These were raw emotions bubbling up from the champagne bottle of life... Dr. Stein ignored

my presence; and I wouldn’t dare interrupt his passionate air. The confines of the room, however, did box in Dr. Stein’s frothing.

His arms were strapped close to his chest, a jacket. Dr. Stein’s small asylum room allowed this brief excursion with knowledge while his body was trapped here, for safety reasons.

Lucas Denton Chula Vista

Want more? Check out more entries at sdcitybeat.com.

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November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

CULTURE | ART

SEEN LOCAL BLOCK PARTY

I

t’s tough for Cesar Castañeda to hold a conversation, but not through any fault of his own.

Spend any amount of time with the owner of Chicano Art Gallery in Barrio Logan, and it quickly becomes apparent that he’s a man that everyone wants to greet. Conversations often have to be cut short so that someone can pay their respects to Castañeda via daps, hugs or just inquiring about his next art show.

“Yeah, I grew up here so I’m always going to know somebody walking down the street,” Castañeda says.

While new galleries come and go and Barrio Logan itself continues to go through rapid changes, the fact that Castañeda is a local to the neighborhood has likely helped Chicano Art Gallery (www.facebook.com/ChicanoArtGallery) thrive in an already popular arts district. The quaint space right down the street from Chicano Park, known for showcasing chicanx-themed art and merchandise, has always been somewhat of a dream for Castañeda, who grew up in an artistic household loving comic books and illustration. He says he always knew he wanted to be involved in the Barrio art scene, but just wasn’t sure how that involvement would manifest.

“I’ve always wanted to have an art space.” Castañeda says. “It’s always been a dream to be involved somehow doing art, but I never narrowed it down to opening a gallery. It kind of just happened. It’s been an amazing dream come true.”

Chicano Art Gallery is set to celebrate its third anniversary on Friday, Dec. 2. Castañeda is renting out the VFW space across the street, usually reserved for wedding receptions and quinceañeras, to throw a massive art and music celebration.

“When we made it through the first year, a lot of people were asking me if I was going to do a one year

20 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

anniversary, and I was like, ‘I don’t know, I don’t know if I’m ready,’” says Castañeda. “Then the second year, I felt the same way, but this year I feel a lot different. A lot of things have been happening in my life, and I feel reenergized.”

And while he seems more than excited to talk about it now, it wasn’t too long ago that he was thinking about closing up shop. A break-up and financial troubles really began to weigh heavily on him, and he confesses that there did come a point where he thought he just couldn’t do it anymore.

“That kind of brought stuff down and affected the mood a little bit of the shows,” Castañeda says.

“I felt like at a few of the shows, my heart wasn’t in it.”

SETH COMBS

Cesar Castañeda Talking to him now though, Castañeda seems genuinely excited by the prospect of keeping the gallery going another three years and beyond. He recently changed the name of the space to Chicana Art Gallery and while the change was temporary, he says he eventually wants to change the name permanently to Chican@ Art Gallery. As he greets friends, neighbors and tourists in front of the space, he’s much more optimistic about the future.

“I feel like if I were to throw in the towel for some reason, It would be like we were barely coming up. Like we are only half way there,” Castañeda says. “The fight has got to keep going on.”

—Seth Combs

#SDCityBeat

CULTURE | FILM

The grief of others

Manchester by the Sea

Kenneth Lonergan’s restless, forceful drama examines the persistence of pain

by Glenn Heath Jr.

G

ive them space. Respect their privacy. Let getting where you parked the car or having your cell them mourn. phone vibrate during a funeral become unexpected Such common responses to tragedy are reminders of life’s disheveled forward momentum. consistently challenged by Kenneth Lonergan’s harLonergan has dealt with similarly difficult rowing new drama Manchester by the Sea. Instead themes before in previous films such as You Can of illuminating therapeutic ways for individuals Count on Me and Margaret. But Manchester by the to cope with trauma, the film propels heartbroken Sea feels slightly more optimistic by comparison. characters together, carving out a messy vision of Affleck and Williams deliver nuanced performances collective reconciliation. Many frustrations and in- that continue to evolve during multiple emotional terruptions appear along the way, but life itself isn’t revolutions. Hedges’ Patrick is a gangly force of so clean, so why should the grieving process be? competing hormones and desperation that consisLee Chandler (Casey Affleck) has spent years tently demands more of the adults around him. avoiding the past. At the beginning of Manchester Manchester by the Sea, which opens Friday, Dec. by the Sea, he lives in self-imposed exile on the out- 2, isn’t about the road to redemption, or whatever skirts of Boston, working at an apartment complex that means. Nearly all of its action pushes characunclogging drains and shoveling snow. His hidden ters to be more present with those who need them rage and deep resentment toward most, in both times of happiness other people becomes apparent and extreme sadness. To wallow, during a series of interactions avoid and deny is to decompose in MANCHESTER with various tenants. a purgatory of one’s own making.

BY THE SEA Upon receiving a phone call that Lonergan’s fidgety, often riotous Directed by Kenneth Lonergan his older brother Joe (Kyle Chanfilm refuses to sit still and afford Starring Casey Affleck, Lucas dler) has passed away from consuch a fate. It demands movement Hedges, Michelle Williams, gestive heart failure, Lee returns and conversation, no matter how and Kyle Chandler home to the eponymous coastal uncomfortable or ill advised the Rated R city to take care of necessary famprocess may be. ily matters. These include general Lee, Patrick and Randi expefuneral arrangements and hospital bills, but also the rience this furious current of change in different care of his teenage nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges). ways, but they are all inexplicably linked by time The resurgence of parental responsibility conjures up spent together. Absence from each other stings the swirling flashbacks that pin Lee between memories most. Lonergan attempts to show why people were of a guilt-ridden past and an uncertain future. born to look after one another. Words such as parWith each new scene, Lonergan carefully perfo- ent, guardian and trustee are simply synonyms for rates our expectations of Lee’s previous life, which the same complicated human investment that we all includes a failed marriage to Randi (Michelle Wil- long for in some way. liams). Small moments add up over time, their inManchester by the Sea feels like a comprehensive creasing magnitude measured by Lesley Barber’s recollection of moments these characters have chosoulful score. Slowly, a rich tapestry of conflicting sen to forget, or perhaps misremember. This would emotions and experiences fuse together. Lee’s per- explain all of the half-heard conversations, and flood spective acts as a starting point to examine how un- of memories swirling around them like a foamy addressed pain can define the very fabric of family. wake left by the family fishing boat. Each person beSurprisingly, Manchester by the Sea is also very gins slightly more confortable with inevitability of funny, almost uncomfortably so at times. Its awk- change, and embracing such ambiguity means unward and honest sense of humor comes from a derstanding the difference between moving forward place of stress, and it alleviates the simmering ten- and saying “so long.” sion shared between relatives and close friends who don’t know what to say, or have never been that good Film reviews run weekly. at communicating in the first place. Mishaps like for- Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com.

#SDCityBeat

November 30, 2016 • San Diego CityBeat · 21

CULTURE | FILM

Being 17

Sensitive souls

L

ike a hormonal teenager, André Techiné’s Being 17 fluctuates between elation and melancholy. Sometimes the camera races at a furious clip, as it does during the frantic opening credits. More sobering moments are dominated by silence, with characters catching a glance of each other and then looking away.

22 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

Melodrama operates at different speeds depending on the mood, and the tenuous relationship between a pair of French high school boys offers plenty of opportunities for volatility.

Damien (Kacey Mottet Klein) and his doctor mother Marianne (Sandrine Kiberlain) live comfortably in the town of HautesPyrénées, Skyping regularly with patriarch Nathan (Alexis Loret),

a helicopter pilot for the French Army fighting in the Middle East.

Thomas (Corentin Fila) is the biracial adopted son of modest dairy farmers whose land is located deep in the mountains.

Thomas and Damien are both outcasts at school and eventually become bitter enemies to avoid being lowest on the social totem pole. But their disdain for each other is just a façade for confused feelings of interest and attraction, a fact that is revealed after Marianne offers to house Thomas until his sickly pregnant mother is cleared from bed rest.

Living in such close proximity affords Thomas and Damien the opportunity to spend time with each other. Fisticuffs and challenges of masculinity give way to smiles and easy conversations.

Both are thoughtful, talented and smart, but equally perplexed by the repressed desires swirling inside of them.

Even when words fail them, these two young men can’t take their eyes off each other. Being 17, which opens Friday, Dec. 2 at the Ken Cinema, is a celebration of their connection as a series of discoveries and hard truths. Becoming attuned to one’s intellectual and sexual identity takes time, and Techiné gives them both

the necessary space. “I’m proud you’re sensitive,” Marianne tells Damien, hitting the preverbal nail on the head.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

OPENING Club Frontera: Local documentarian Chris Cashman provides a portrait of the soccer team Xolos and its impact on the identity of Tijuana. Opens Friday, Dec. 2, and screens through Thursday, Dec. 8, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Man Down: A U.S. Marine (Shia LeBeouf) returns from Afghanistan and begins a desperate search for his estranged wife and son who have disappeared.

Manchester by the Sea: Casey Affleck plays a sullen janitor who returns home to bury his older brother (Kyle Chandler) and in the process, confronts his traumatic memories of the past.

The Similars (Los Parecidos): Eight strangers waiting at a bus station in Mexico City experience a supernatural phenomenon that brings their true personalities to light. Opens Friday, Dec. 2, and screens through Thursday, Dec. 8, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

For a complete

listing of movies, visit “F ilm” on

sdcitybeat.com.

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WIKI COMMONS/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

HEATHER HUNTER

MUSIC

Woody Guthrie

“

unk’s gonna get really good in the next four years.”

On the evening of Nov. 8, around 11 p.m., I saw about a half-dozen variations of this tweet. I favorited a few of them and retweeted one or two, taking solace in a brief chuckle and the promise of some good, angry anthems while watching, in real time, the slow motion wreck of an election that resulted in a rise of hate crimes before the final state totals were in.

That number has since only gone up.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Donald Trump will be prime fodder for protest music in the next four years. Hell, I’m fairly certain that Donald Trump will be prime fodder for protest music in the next four months. It didn’t even take an electoral victory for Compton rapper YG to release “Fuck Donald Trump,” a relentless slam on then-candidate Trump that YG himself claimed resulted in a call from the Secret Service to Universal Music. Now that Trump is president-elect, however, it’s likely we’ll be hearing this song a lot for the foreseeable future.

Yet, for as powerful a catalyst as Donald Trump—as well as his base of newly empowered neo-Nazi supporters (and advisors), mounting conflicts of interest, hostility toward a free press and breaches of international diplomacy—will be for protest music, those who have been paying attention for the past few years would recognize that we’re already in the midst of one of the strongest periods of politically charged mu-

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sic in at least a decade, and arguably much longer than that.

Some of the most poignant political commentary in recent years has come from hip-hop and R&B artists. D’Angelo’s 2014 album Black Messiah was released earlier than scheduled in response to the court decisions in the police shootings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, and its standout song “The Charade” directly addresses the killings of unarmed black men and women: “All we wanted was a chance to talk/’stead we only got outlined in chalk.” Blood Orange’s “Hands Up” from earlier this year had a similar message, referencing the slogan that arose during protests in Ferguson, Missouri. And Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright,” released last year, became an unofficial anthem of the Black Lives Matter movement.

There’s been plenty more where that came from, be it G.L.O.S.S.’s hardcore anthems about queer and transgender rights or Anohni’s “4 Degrees,” which is perhaps the best song to date written about climate change. And as President-elect Trump’s increasingly horrifying transition period finally culminates in actual governance, acts of creative protest will only become more common and, for that matter, more pointed.

It probably goes without saying that music, alone—a form of entertainment— isn’t going to stem the tide of bullshit.

Social and political change doesn’t come about from simply strapping on a guitar and criticizing an administration. It takes real organization and will to do the hard work to actually enact change and stand

up to oppression. That doesn’t mean, however, that music doesn’t play a role.

In fact, it’s often argued that the simple act of making art is a political act in itself.

The late poet August Wilson once said in an interview with The Argotist, “Even an artist or work that claims not to have any politics is making a political statement by that act.”

So, how does music translate to social change? That’s a tricky question to answer, and one that doesn’t come without a heaping spoonful of introspection. Ultimately, it comes down to the message and the platform. A punk band like G.L.O.S.S. arguably wouldn’t have grown into the phenomenon that they were before breaking up if not for their trans-rights activism. Their punk songs were good, but wouldn’t have been half as powerful if they hadn’t given voice to a marginalized community.

On the other end of the spectrum, Beyonce, one of the biggest artists on the planet, has used her fame as a platform for activism. Her recent song “Formation” is a celebration of black identity and statement of solidarity, complete with references to the Civil Rights Era. And she doesn’t constrain her message to music itself. “We all have the power to channel our anger and frustration into action,” she posted on Instagram in June, with a call to action to contact elected officials about the wrongful deaths of black citizens and police brutality.

And if someone like Beyonce, with millions of fans, can inspire her listeners to become involved and engaged, that’s significant.

If history is any guide, music can be as intimidating to oppression as investigative journalism or protest demonstrations. In the 1960s in Brazil, the avant garde Tropicalia movement rose up in response to the country’s then-ruling military junta. Artists such as Os Mutantes, Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil used a backdrop of joyful, colorful, psychedelic sounds as a medium for political critique. This didn’t sit well with the country’s military leadership, and as a result both Veloso and Gil were briefly imprisoned and later exiled to the UK, banned from performing in Brazil for four years. Maybe that doesn’t sound encouraging in context, but it’s hard to reach any other conclusion than that Veloso and Gil were punished because their words were powerful. Because their art, and by extension freedom of expression, were a threat to authoritarianism.

In 1941, Woody Guthrie—the patron saint of protest music—wrote the song “Talking Hitler’s Head Off Blues” and painted the phrase “This machine kills fascists” on his guitar. As far as I know, Woody never bagged a brownshirt in his day, but he gave a voice to an ideology, and handed down a legacy of opposition through art. Music alone won’t clobber the next administration’s oppressive policies in 2016, but if it can inspire more people to stand up, get involved and do something, then it can be something more than mere entertainment.

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

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

MUSIC

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO LOCALS ONLY

S

inger/songwriter Pall Jenkins, of Black Heart Procession and Three Mile Pilot, has launched a new non-profit campaign called Basic Rules. The campaign is centered around a logo that Jenkins designed, featuring an equal sign (for equal rights) juxtaposed with a large A. The A stands for “anti”: Anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-homophobia, anticlass and anti-xenophobia, all of which are printed on a series of shirts, hoodies, hats and stickers.

Jenkins launched the campaign after the presidential election, but the motivation to do it started well before Trump’s victory, as the U.S. has seen an alarming rise in hate crimes and hate speech along lines of class, gender, race and sexuality.

“Everything that’s going on at this time—it feels like we’re going backward,” Jenkins says in a phone interview. “I thought it’d be cool to have a logo that tied a bunch of things together. So I did this one

real quick. It isn’t a political party, just a message.

Either you get it or you don’t. These, to me, are just basic rules.”

Part of what worries Jenkins about the acrimony in the U.S. today is how it affects future generations. Jenkins has a son, and he’s worried about how the actions of parents will trickle down into their children’s behavior and worldviews.

“I have a kid, and I see him and his friends talking about things,” he says. “Kids don’t start off hating other kids. It’s adults that bring all that crap into it. It’s kind of sad.”

All of the Basic Rules merchandise can be found at basicrules.org. Jenkins says that the campaign is intended to fund itself, and that the intent is to spread the message rather than make any money out of it.

“Any money made through the campaign goes right back into it,” he says.

—Jeff Terich

ALBUM REVIEW The Lulls Island of Daughters (Self-released)

T

he Lulls began life as Ed Ghost Tucker, one of the best new local bands in recent years, with a dreamy and diverse indie rock sound that recalled the likes of Grizzly Bear and Dirty Projectors while offering a versatile instrumental approach of their own. Since then, the group underwent some changes, with vocalist/keyboardist Michaela Wilson leaving the group in early 2015. With the dynamic of the group slightly altered, the three remaining members changed their name and, in the process, their stylistic approach as well.

Island of Daughters, The Lulls’ debut full-length, is a more immediate and accessible effort than Ed Ghost Tucker’s abbreviated output. In short, it’s a pop record with other elements blended in, rather than vice versa. The hooks are noticeable, the melodies are intoxicating, and The Lulls sound fully formed just a little over a year after making their transformation official. The plinking piano chords underneath the jangly riff of “Bruise” adds up to these musicians’ catchiest track to date, with a layer of vocal harmonies recalling those of Local Natives. Similarly, “Answers” has a playfully funky strut that feels radio friendly, even though it subtly builds up into an intoxicating series of sonic layers much more complex than its intro suggests.

24 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

The Lulls’ greatest strength is in the progression of their songs. Their hooks are strong, and a first listen to any track should prove at the very least interesting within the first 30 seconds. But it’s often where the band goes after that initial impression that leads to the greatest reward. “Calafia,” for instance, leads off with a Foals-like haunted alt-funk sound. Yet, from there, it descends into an eerie ambient middle section and eventually an extended coda loaded with reverb and a heavy synth bassline. Other surprises are in store on “Morocco,” which begins as a stark, strummed dirge before escalating into a timesignature-shifting psychedelic section with one of the coolest riffs on the album.

Though The Lulls’ previous incarnation only had a handful of releases, this debut effort should effectively set them apart as an entirely separate and arguably stronger band. That’s to be expected; any group of musicians that continues to play together and doesn’t get better should probably break up. Instead, The Lulls continue to strengthen their songwriting, offering an album that’s intricate, mature and unexpectedly catchy.

—Jeff Terich #SDCityBeat

#SDCityBeat

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

MUSIC

JEFF TERICH

IF I WERE U

ing jangle pop melodies with a streamlined post-punk danceability.

SATURDAY, DEC. 3

PLAN A: Agent Orange, Love Canal, Sculpins @ The Casbah. It’s rare that a Saturday night ends up being a little less stacked than the rest of the week, but that’s fine. This is an easy one: Tap into A music insider’s weekly agenda some old-school anarchy with Southern California punk legends Agent Orange, into multiple-track suites and go into some who’ve been known to wreck The Casbah WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30 PLAN A: Lee Fields and the Expressions weird, psychedelic places. Should be a on a regular basis. @ Belly Up Tavern. Lee Fields earned the hell of an experience, regardless. PLAN nickname “Little JB” early on in his career B: Daughter, Alexandra Savior @ Ob- SUNDAY, DEC. 4 because of his performance style, which servatory North Park. UK group Daugh- PLAN A: ‘SonoFest’ w/ resembled none other than James Brown. ter makes music that’s sad, atmospheric, The Creepy Creeps, Bit If that doesn’t tell you everything you need dreamy and beautiful. If you need to spend Maps, Le Chateau @ 32nd to know about this badass, consummate a night with your feelings, this is the show and Thorn streets. If showman, then let him prove it to you first- that’ll help you do it. BACKUP PLAN: The you’re not too bruised from hand. PLAN B: Seu Jorge presents The Widows, Tightwads, Death Eyes, The the night before, make sure Life Aquatic @ Balboa Theatre. Brazilian Grids @ The Casbah. to make it to North Park singer Seu Jorge became famous in the U.S. FRIDAY, DEC. 2 in time for the annual Sofor his samba-style covers of David Bowie PLAN A: Helmet, Local H, Records noFest and chili cookoff, songs in Wes Anderson’s 2004 film The Life With Roger @ The Casbah. I don’t al- which pairs live music with Aquatic. He’s performing those songs live, ways get the opportunity to wax poetic a chili competition. Sounds which seems like a weirdly fitting, com- about Helmet, but let me tell you, my love delicious! PLAN B: Haley forting way to close out the year. for all things heavy pretty much starts Bonar, Night Moves @ The

THURSDAY, DEC. 1

PLAN A: The Besnard Lakes, Nightjacket @ Soda Bar. Canadian indie rock outfit The Besnard Lakes are a dense and heavy group that takes a little time to fully appreciate. Their songs are long, often stretch

MONDAY, DEC. 5

PLAN A: Kristin Hersh @ Brick 15. I was a little surprised when I saw this crop up on the calendar, but sometimes a drive to Del Mar is worth it. Kristin Hersh is best known for being the frontwoman of indie rock outfit Throwing Muses, as well as a singer/songwriter with an impressive catalog of solo records. I’d say that’s worth the North County commute. PLAN B: Tasseomancy @ Soda Bar. It’s pretty clear from listening to Tasseomancy’s new album that they’ve spent some time with the Kate Bush catalog.

Their style of art pop is big on drama and grandiose atmosphere. But unlike, say, Florence and the Machine, their songs are actually really good. BACKUP PLAN: INUS, Mystery Cave, Fivepaw @ Blonde.

TUESDAY, DEC. 6

PLAN A: Alex Cameron @ Soda Bar. Australian musician Alex Cameron makes pop music that’s heavy on here. Their album Meantime is essen- Casbah. Singer/songwriter synths and overall weirdtial listening for anyone who likes loud, Haley Bonar maintains an ness. Heard without conKristin Hersh text, you might assume it’s guitar-based music. It’ll change your life. excellent balance between PLAN B: Terry Malts, Heavy Hawaii, gorgeous, ethereal melodies and harder a relic from the early ‘80s underground, Keepers @ The Hideout. Terry Malts edged layers of effects and distortion. It’s but it’s actually modern and arty in all the isn’t a person, it’s a band. And it’s a really not quite shoegaze, but it’s definitely easy right ways. good band, whose songs blend glimmer- to get lost in her elegantly crafted songs.

26 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

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MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

The Schizophonics (BUT, 1/12), Sublime With Rome (HOB, 1/13-14), David Lindley (BUT, 1/17), Rick Astley (HOB, 1/26), Powerman 5000 (Brick by Brick, 1/26), Lilys (Soda Bar, 2/6), ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ (Observatory, 2/13), Billy Crystal (Copley Symphony Hall, 2/16), ‘You Are Going to Hate This Fest’ w/ The Frights, The Garden, Antwon (SOMA, 2/18), Isaiah Rashad (Observatory, 3/5), Red Hot Chili Peppers (Valley View Casino Center, 3/5), Jake Miller (Observatory, 3/25), Leftover Salmon (BUT, 4/1), Aaron Neville Duo (BUT, 4/9).

CANCELED Merchandise (The Hideout, 12/9).

GET YER TICKETS The Album Leaf (Irenic, 12/9), Pylon Reenactment Society (Hideout, 12/10), Mr. Carmack (Observatory, 12/10), Pere Ubu (Casbah, 12/10), Jonathan Richman (BUT, 12/12), X (Casbah, 12/17-18), Gucci Mane (Observatory, 12/23), Henry Rollins (Observatory, 12/27), Citizen Cope (Observatory, 12/28), Mannheim Steamroller (Civic Theatre, 12/28), OFF! (Casbah, 12/28), Donovon Frankenreiter (BUT, 12/2829), Kaytranada (Observatory, 12/29), Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven (Music Box, 12/29), Brian Setzer Orchestra (BUT, 12/31), The Donkeys (Soda Bar, 12/31), The Devil Makes Three (Observatory, 1/4-5), Warren G (Music Box, 1/6), Pepe Aguilar (Civic Theatre, 1/6), Beat Farmers Hootenanny (BUT, 1/7), Dawes (BUT, 1/10), Ozomatli (Music Box, 1/13), Marching Church (The Hideout, 1/20), Pepper, Less Than Jake (Observatory, 1/25), Lemuria (Hideout, 1/26), Lydia Loveless (Soda Bar, 1/27), Hamilton Leithauser (Casbah, 1/28), Devendra Banhart (Observatory, 1/28), Blind Boys of Alabama (BUT, 1/29), Run the Jewels (Observatory, 1/30), Mike Doughty (BUT, 2/1), Alcest (Brick by Brick, 2/8), Austra, The Range (Casbah, 2/8), Juicy J (HOB, 2/8), D.R.A.M. (Music Box, 2/9), You Blew It! (Che Cafe, 2/9), David Duchovny (Music Box, 2/12), Reel Big Fish, Anti Flag (HOB, 2/17), Slim Cessna’s Auto Club (Soda Bar, 2/17), Adam Ant (Observatory, 2/18), Circa Survive (HOB,

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2/21-2/22), Priests (Che Café, 2/22), Tennis (The Irenic, 2/22), Moon Duo (Casbah, 2/25), Steve Poltz (BUT, 2/2425), Senses Fail (Observatory, 3/3), Bon Jovi (Viejas Arena, 3/5), Shiner (Casbah, 3/5), Sinkane (Soda Bar, 3/5), Japandroids (Music Box, 3/11), Menzingers (Irenic, 3/12), James Chance and the Contortions (Hideout, 3/18), Passenger (HOB, 4/2), The Damned (HOB, 4/7), Green Day (Valley View Casino Center, 4/8), Reverend Horton Heat (BUT, 4/20), The Wedding Present (Casbah, 4/30), Robin Trower (HOB, 5/19), Brian Wilson (Civic Theatre, 5/24), The Primitives (Hideout, 6/6), Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Civic Theatre, 6/26), Coldplay (Qualcomm Stadium, 10/8).

NOVEMBER WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30 Lee Fields at Belly Up Tavern. Seu Jorge at Balboa Theatre (sold out).

Doyle Bramhall II at The Casbah.

DECEMBER THURSDAY, DEC. 1 The Widows at The Casbah. Besnard Lakes at Soda Bar. Daughter at Observatory North Park. Rata Blanca at Music Box.

FRIDAY, DEC. 2 Living Legends at Observatory North Park. Terry Malts at The Hideout.

Queen Latifah at Harrah’s Resort. Guttermouth at Soda Bar. Helmet at The Casbah. Lil Durk at House of Blues.

SATURDAY, DEC. 3 Home Free at Poway OnStage. Rufus Du Sol at Music Box (sold out). Amy Schumer at Valley View Casino Center.

Pink Martini at California Center for the Arts. Two Door Cinema Club at Harrah’s Resort. Agent Orange at The Casbah. Gonn at The Hideout.

SUNDAY, DEC. 4 Haley Bonar at The Casbah.

MONDAY, DEC. 5 Miike Snow at Observatory North Park.

TUESDAY, DEC. 6 The Slackers at The Casbah. Alex Cameron at Soda Bar.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7 Muuy Biien at Soda Bar. CRX at The Casbah. The Cherries Jubilee at California Center for the Arts.

THURSDAY, DEC. 8 Anthony Raneri at Soda Bar. Creature and the Woods at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9 The Album Leaf at The Irenic. Jackie Greene at Belly Up Tavern. Tijuana Panthers at Soda Bar. Barrington Levy at Observatory North Park. Elektric Voodoo at The Casbah.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10 Benjamin Francis Leftwich at Soda Bar. Jonny Lang at Belly Up Tavern.

Pylon Reenactment Society at The Hideout. Pere Ubu at The Casbah. Mr. Carmack at Observatory North Park.

‘91X Wrex the Halls’ w/ Beck, Band of Horses, Local Natives at Valley View Casino Center.

SUNDAY, DEC. 11 SIMS at The Casbah. Chasms at The Hideout. Sorority Noise at Che Café.

Jonny Lang at Belly Up Tavern. ‘91X Wrex the Halls’ w/ Blink 182, Pierce the Veil, Jimmy Eat World at Valley View Casino Center.

MONDAY, DEC. 12 Jonathan Richman at Belly Up Tavern.

Exasperation at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, DEC. 13 The Shelters at The Casbah. Sara Watkins at Belly Up Tavern.

THURSDAY, DEC. 15 Royal Teeth at Soda Bar. Sego at The Hideout. X at The Casbah. Dandy Warhols at Belly Up Tavern. Incantation at Brick by Brick.

FRIDAY, DEC. 16 X at The Casbah (sold out). Eukaryst at Soda Bar. Chris Robinson Brotherhood at Observatory North Park. Red Not Chili Peppers at Belly Up Tavern.

SATURDAY, DEC. 17 X at The Casbah.

SUNDAY, DEC. 18 X at The Casbah. ‘For the Sender’ Holiday Show at Belly Up Tavern.

Dave Koz at Balboa Theatre. Unwritten Law at House of Blues.

MONDAY, DEC. 19 Anuhea at Belly Up Tavern. The Lulls, Gary Wilson at The Casbah.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 27

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 THURSDAY, DEC. 22 Barb Wire Dolls at Soda Bar.

FRIDAY, DEC. 23 Hideout at Soda Bar. Gucci Mane at Observatory North Park.

MONDAY, DEC. 26 Amigo at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, DEC. 27 Henry Rollins at Observatory North Park.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28 Citizen Cope at Observatory North Park.

Mannheim Steamroller at Civic Theatre. Donovon Frankenreiter at Belly Up Tavern. OFF! at The Casbah.

THURSDAY, DEC. 29 Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven at Music Box. Kaytranada at Observatory North Park. Donovon Frankenreiter at Belly Up Tavern. The Downs Family at Soda Bar.

FRIDAY, DEC. 30 Jim Brickman at Balboa Theatre. Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). Big Sandy and His Flyrite Boys at The Casbah. Cherry Glazerr at The Irenic. Mrs. Magician at Soda Bar.

SATURDAY, DEC. 31 Cash’d Out at The Casbah. The Donkeys at Soda Bar. Rebelution at Obser-

vatory North Park. Brian Setzer Orchestra at Belly Up Tavern.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., San Diego. Pacific Beach. Fri: The Bassics, Jed’s A Millionaire. Sat: Sonic Moonshine, Rage Again. Tue: Crucial Blend.

Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St. (Normal Heights), San Diego. Normal Heights. Thu: ‘Libertine’ w/ DJs Jon Wesley, 1979. Sat: ‘Juicy’ w/ Mike Czech. Sun: ‘Chvrch’ w/ DJ Karma.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Thu: Bobby Lee. Fri: Bobby Lee. Sat: Bobby Lee. Sun: Jimmy Callaway: Adios, Amigos.

The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Rd., Spring Valley. Sun: Gimme Gimme Gimme.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., San Diego.

Downtown. Fri: Amine Edge. Sat: Rufus Del Sol (DJ set).

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St., San Diego.

North Park. Sun: ‘Holiday Hoedown’ w/ The Goldettes.

Beaumont’s, 5662 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Thu: Nate Barcalow. Fri: Rare Form.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Solana Beach. Wed: Lee Fields & the Expressions, Lady Wray, Holy Hive. Thu: Dave Mason. Fri: The Expendables, The Expanders, Law. Sat: Rising Appalachia, Arouna Diarra, Dustin Thomas. Sun: ‘A John Waters Christmas’.

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington Street,

28 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

San Diego. Wed: ‘Dance Klassique’ w/ Kinohou. Thu: Tele Novella, Sol Orchid, Summer Knowledge. Sun: ‘DJ LIKE FEMALE’ w/ DJs Miss Lady D, DJ Hairjob.

Mon: INUS, Mystery Cave, Fivepaw.

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

Brass Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave., San Diego.

Hillcrest. Sat: ‘Sabado en Fuego’ w/ DJs XP, KA, K-Swift. Mon: ‘Manic Monday’ w/ DJ Junior the Disco Punk.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., San Diego. Bay Park. Thu: Dark Tranquility, Swallow The Sun, Enforcer, Starkill, Lurid Memory, Warpath. Fri: ‘Shred For Dime Tribute Show’. Sat: Sonata Arctica, Leaves Eyes, Omnium Gatherum, Helsott, And Ever. Sun: Seeker, Hollow Earth, Cave Bastard. Mon: The Well, Beastmaker, Owain.

Cafe Sevilla, 353 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Sat: Flamenco Dinner Show. Sun: Buena Vista Sundays.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. Midtown. Wed: Doyle Bramhall II, The Andrew McKeag Band. Thu: The Widows, Death Eyes, Tightwads, The Grids. Fri: Helmet, Local H, Records with Roger. Sat: Agent Orange, Love Canal, Sculpins. Sun: Haley Bonar, Night Moves. Mon: Imagery Machine, Sweet Myths, Sights and Sages. Tue: The Slackers, The Amalgamated.

The Che Cafe, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla.

Thu: Diners, Roar, First Move. Sun: Refuse, Bonebreaker, Castaway, Regardless. Tue: Lysol, Crime Desire, HEAT. Chico Club, 7366 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa. Wed: DJ Harvest Karaoke. Thu: DJ Harvest Karaoke. Fri: DJ Harvest Karaoke. Sat: Kalamity Wayne and the City Slickers

SPOTLIGHT God bless bands like Crazy Town for making a music critic’s job so easy. Their 2000 single “Butterfly” is so reductive and sleazy that one can judge the band’s entire catalog based on the lyrics: “Come, come my lady/You’re my butterfly/Sugar, baby/Come my lady, you’re my pretty baby/I’ll make your legs shake/You make me go crazy.” Suffice it to say, this is probably not the most intellectually stimulating concert you could go to, but as long as you survive the night without contracting an STD, ‘sall good. Crazy Town plays Thursday, Dec. 1 at The Holding Company.

#SDCityBeat

MUSIC Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, San Diego. Mission Bay. Thu: Mesa College Concert Jazz Band.

Santana, Reflectors. Sun: Cerissa McQueen, Mercedes Moore. Mon: Mercedes Moore. Tue: Michele Lundeen.

The Field, 544 Fifth Ave., San Diego.

Downtown. Wed: Chris Del Priore. Thu: Coral Bells. Fri: Chrome Domes. Sat: The Get Down Party. Sun: J. Liberio.

Mon: Stacy Antonel. Tue: Stephanie Love.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. Midtown. Wed: Seeking Alpha, Kill C Rey, Snailmate, Ob Mic. Thu: DMN SLYR. Fri: ‘Left/Right’. Sat: ‘Purps and Turqs’. Sun: ‘Electro Cute’.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., San Diego.

Downtown. Fri: DJ Kaos. Sat: Reflex.

Green Flash Cellar 3, 12260 Crosthwaite Circle, Poway. Fri: Green Flash Comedy Night.

Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Wed: Ride the Mule.

Thu: ‘Night Skool’. Fri: ‘Good Times’, ‘50s/60s Dance Party.

The Hideout, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Thu: The Pendletons. Fri: Terry Malts, Heavy Hawaii, Keepers. Sat: Gonn, The Ugly Beats, The Loons.

The Holding Company, 5040 Newport Ave., San Diego. Ocean Beach. Wed: Modern Me, Ethan Rounds. Thu: Crazy Town, Shell Shock, DJ R1ckone. Fri: Jonathan Lee Band, Audrey Snow, DJ Nicholas Crates. Sat: The Verigolds, DJ Mancat. Sun: Digital Daze, Abandoned Stereo, Flower Child. Mon: Kerry-Oke. Tue: Stephanie Love.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Fri: Lil Durk. Mon: The Japanese House (Voodoo Room).

Tue: Robin Henkel.

Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego. Point Loma. Wed: Francois Sims and Groove Squad. Thu: Kimberly Jackson. Fri: Pop Vinyl, Trade Winds. Sat: Viva

#SDCityBeat

Kona Kai Resort & Spa, 1551 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego. Shelter Island.

Sat: Robin Henkel & Whitney Shay.

Lestat’s West, 3341 Adams Ave., San Diego. Normal Heights. Wed: Madison, Amanda Adams, Raena Jade. Thu: The Iridescents, Anais. Fri: Jon A and Stephanie Love. Sat: Dat Phan.

The Loft @ UCSD, Price Center East, La Jolla. La Jolla. Wed: Chaos Magic, Teethers.

Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave., San Diego. Hillcrest. Wed: Steve Grand: All American Boy. Thu: Steve Grand: All American Boy. Tue: ‘Oy Vey in a Manger’ w/ The Kinsey Sicks.

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

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., San Diego. Hillcrest. Wed: The Focke Wolves, Reason To Rebel, The New Addiction, Latex Grenade. Fri: Greenskull, Ruines Ov Abbaddon, Sergulath, Derthror. Sat: A Dozen Letters, SoundSlave, Moxie. Mon: Mos Generator, The Great Electric Quest, Desert Suns, Space Wax. Tue: Sundrop Electric, The Slashes, Some Kind of Lizard, One I Red. Mother’s Saloon, 2228 Bacon Street, San Diego. Wed: Black Levee. Thu: Maka Roots.

Mr. Peabody’s Encinitas, 136 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas. Thu: Nitro Express.

Fri: Custard Pie. Sat: Padre Wisdom.

Sun: Tony Ortega jazz jam.

Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego. Little Italy. Thu: Rata Blanca. Fri: ‘Dance Yourself Clean’. Sat: Rufus Du Sol (sold out).

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd., San Diego.

Hillcrest. Thu: ‘Tagged’. Fri: ‘Uncut’.

The Office, 3936 30th St., San Diego.

North Park. Wed: ‘Metallica Under Cover’. Thu: ‘No Limits’ w/ DJ Myson King.

Fri: ‘Nite Moves’ w/ DJ Beatnick. Sun: Mr. Williamz. Tue: ‘Trapped’.

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 6th Ave, San Diego. Thu: Hook N Sling. Fri: Lookas.

Sat: Fergie DJ. Parq, 615 Broadway, San Diego. Fri: Jerzy. Sat: The Chainsmokers (sold out).

Patricks Gaslamp, 428 F St., San Diego. Downtown. Wed: The Upshots.

Proud Mary’s @ The Ramada Hotel, 5550 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego.

Kearny Mesa. Fri: Robin Henkel & Whitney Shay.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’ w/ Jason Hanna. Thu: Swing Thing. Fri: Electric Mud. Sat: Baja Bugs.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Wed: Whitehorse, Chris Kasper. Thu: The Besnard Lakes, Nightjacket. Fri: Guttermouth, Get Dead, The Cryptics, Skipjack. Sat: Body Language, Rafter, Nite Lapse.

Sun: Mr. Little Jeans, Trace, 9 Theory.

Mon: Tasseomancy, Vakoum. Tue: Alex Cameron, Dani Bell and the Tarantist, Fivepaw.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego. Midway. Fri: Asking Alexandria, Born of Osiris, I See Stars, After the Burial, Upon A Burning Body, Bad Omens. Sat: Against The Current, Cruisr, Beach Weather.

Tango Del Rey, 3567 Del Rey St., San Diego. Mission Bay. Sun: Tappy Holidays.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Fri: Pissed Regardless, Systematic Abuse, Captain Howdy, Dethsurf. Sat: Castoff, Infidelz, Damnit Jims, Ash Williams.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., San Diego.

Bay Park. Wed: Chet Cannon’s B Day Blues. Thu: Blue Largo. Fri: Suspicious Minds. Sat: Full Strength Funk Band.

Tue: Sue Palmer.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., San Diego. City Heights. Wed: Perfect People, Rim Job, Ash Williams, All Beat Up. Fri: ‘Hip Hop vs. Punk Rock’. Sat: Systematic Abuse, Underground Alliance, Nein Lives, Remain in Vain.

Ux31, 3112 University Ave., San Diego.

North Park. Thu: ‘Thursdaze’. Fri: DJ Kid Wonder. Sat: DJ Junior.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, San Diego.

South Park. Wed: ‘Modern Boogie and Future Funk’ w/ Perfect Strangers DJs. Fri: Systems Officer, Aa, Bit Maps.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., San Diego. Ocean Beach. Wed: Skank Roots Project, DJ Carlos Culture. Thu: Easy Wind. Fri: SM Familia, La Sucusal De La Cumbia, Mkol Orthodox. Sat: AM Gold, Ocean Boogie DJs. Mon: Electric Waste Band.

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 29

LAST WORDS | ADVICE

AMY ALKON

ADVICE

GODDESS Tulle Time A female friend of mine wanted to get married, but her boyfriend was resistant. He’d been married before, with disastrous results. He eventually married her—not because he wanted to be married but because it meant so much to her. Initially, she felt bad about this. She had to give up her romantic dream of getting married because somebody would want to be tied to her forever.

Do men just marry women to make us happy?

—Wondering Woman

Picture a zookeeper coming in in the morning and going, “Crap—we’ve got a new giraffe. How did he get in here?”

On one level, a man pining for a life in sexual captivity makes about as much sense as a wild animal breaking in to a zoo. Evolutionary psychologists David Buss and David Schmitt note that we humans evolved to choose between two different sexual strategies—short-term and long-term.

Women typically benefit more from a “long-term sexual strategy”—a commitment model, i.e., getting men to stick around to invest in their children.

Men often benefit more from a “short-term sexual strategy”—a lack-ofcommitment model, i.e., sticking it into a long line of sexfriends. That’s because a man can have sex with thousands of women and never end up pregnant with something that needs to be fed, clothed and sent to hipster day care.

Though a man gets more shots to pass on his genes with the short-term “I love a parade!” approach, it’s sometimes more advantageous for him to opt for a long-term strategy. It’s a huge time-, energy- and resource-suck to perpetually be on the hunt. Also, Buss explains, because “highly desirable women” can hold out for commitment, men can get a much better woman if they’re willing to go for a long-term thing (buying the relationship stroganoff instead of living off the free samples in the supermarket).

Whether to commit generally doesn’t play out in men’s heads in such clear cost-benefit terms—like calculations on whether to go all in on pork futures.

It’s emotion that pushes them toward commitment— loving a woman who happens to insist on a commitment and wanting to make her happy. Economist Robert H. Frank calls love “a solution to the commitment problem.” Mushywushy feelings are what keep you with that special someone—instead of running off the moment somebody who’s objectively a better deal moves in next door or your beloved is tossing their cookies on the side of the road: “Bye, hon…hope somebody nice comes along to hold your hair back!”

So a man’s being willing to officially take his penis off the market—even if he isn’t particularly hot on the idea of marriage—is a really big deal. There are two major reasons you spend the rest of your life with one person: Either you realize you love them more than you love your freedom or you’re serving a sentence for a string of really bad felonies.

In Thickness and Health My wife isn’t smart. She also doesn’t read books or newspapers or know anything about current events or politics. I knew that when I married her, but we were both kids, and I thought it was kinda sweet and funny. Fifteen years later, it bothers and embarrasses me. I still love her, but I’m depressed by the idea of spending the rest of my life with someone who can’t share some of what I see as life’s basic pleasures.

—Hating Myself For Sounding Snobby

It’s something of an attraction killer when you look deep into a woman’s eyes—and feel pretty sure you can see clear out the back of her head.

Yes, 15 years ago, you pledged to spend forever with this woman—surely intending to follow through, despite how she probably makes major life decisions by consulting fortune cookies. The truth is, we can lack foresight when we’re younger. (As late as eighth grade, I announced to my parents with great gravitas: “Roller-skating is my life!”)

Though you care about her, what you’re missing— being similar in essential areas—is called “assortative mating.” Psychologist Michelle Shiota notes that “studies have repeatedly found that similarity between romantic partners in domains such as socioeconomic status, educational background, age, ethnicity, religion, physical attractiveness, intelligence, attitudes, and values predicts higher levels of marital satisfaction and lower likelihood of separation and divorce.”

Sure, you could focus on what you love about her and try to get your intellectual needs met elsewhere. However, if what makes you feel alive and connected to somebody is engaging intellectually, this might just be a bridge too far—being with someone who believes the Electoral College is where your 18-year-old niece is going next fall to study bioengineering.

Women typically benefit more from a ‘long-term sexual strategy.’

30 · San Diego CityBeat · November 30, 2016

Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@ aol.com (advicegoddess.com). (c)2016, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.

#SDCityBeat

#SDCityBeat

November 30, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 31