Downtown Crowd, April 2019

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DOWNTOWN CROWD APRIL 2019

Editor’s Letter

Publisher Malcolm Ballinger Owners Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger Executive Editor Kelly Oden Editor Will Isern Art Director Guy Stevens Graphic Designer Bara’ah Jaraiseh Editorial Assistant Kaitlyn Peacock Contributing Writer Matt Hanimov Advertising Account Executives Paula Rode Paula@ballingerpublishing.com Geneva Strange Geneva@ballingerpublishing.com For advertising rates or news tips contact Phone: 433-1166 · Fax: 435-9174 DOWNTOWN CROWD is published by Ballinger Publishing.

Offices located at 314 N Spring St., Ste. A, Pensacola Florida 32501 Published by Ballinger Publishing

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WILL ISERN EDITOR Occasionally this job affords me the opportunity to do something pretty cool.

Such was the case when I talked to Kevin Barnes for this month’s cover story. I tried to play it cool, but Barnes’ is something of a musical hero of mine. His 2007 album Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? (great name, right?) was part of the soundtrack of my teenage years.

6 As you’ll read, Kevin and I talked about politics and being addicted to our phones. Those are things I think we can all relate to these days. It’s a good interview and I hope you check it out.

At the end of our interview I asked Kevin about something that didn’t make the final edit. I’d read that had he not done music he thought he might be a sports journalist. Turns out he’s a big Cleveland fan. We lamented about the Browns and agreed that the Cavs had a good run despite their current woes.

Having been a sports journalist though, I told Kevin I think he made the right career choice.

I reached out to Barnes’ agent as a long shot, not expecting a reply.

When they got back and said Kevin had agreed to it, I was pleasantly surprised. After all, we’re a small publication in a small market. Our interview (as great as it is) isn’t going to help his album sales.

My point here is not to say, “Celebrities, they’re just like us!” but that Kevin was great to talk to. For a people are more nuanced than we guy that once played a show in give them credit for these days.

Paris (mostly) naked on a white You see one crazy Facebook post horse, he was surprisingly down to from somebody and you turn them earth. It’s easy to mythologize your into a caricature in your mind, foridols, to build them up in your mind getting the complicated person as something more than human. behind the keyboard. We’re all Because they have an unusual job, just people out here, even the rock it’s easy to imagine that their lives stars. We’d do well to remember it are wholly different from our own. from time to time.

They’re not, of course, but you think surely the guy who wrote “The Past is a Grotesque Animal” doesn’t stand in line at the post office.

Turns out, he does.

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10

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CONTENTS

6 The Local Push for Safer Streets 9 Sweets & Beats 10 Wahoos Return 12 Kevin Barnes Wakes Up

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Peel back a bit of history

BY KAITLYN PEACOCK / PHOTO BY BARA’AH JARAISEH

Orange Marmalade Recipe

Even the oranges in Pensacola are steeped in history.

If you’ve walked through downtown for any length of time, chances are you’ve passed a big, green tree with long leaves and, if you’re lucky, beautiful white flowers. Don’t be fooled, those are orange trees, and don’t be fooled into thinking the oranges are like the ones you can get at the grocery store.

The Seville oranges that row throughout downtown Pensacola are extremely bitter, so unless you are particularly brave, we don’t recommend taking a bite. Native to Seville, Spain, some of these trees are relics from when Pensacola flew under just one flag.

Many of the sailors that came to the area were thought to have been from Seville, and some of the trees growing today are from those sailors. Others were brought into Pensacola as a celebration of the city’s history.

In 1992, the Pensacola Chapter of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America Society of Florida brought new seedlings to Pensacola from Jacksonville and planted the trees throughout downtown in celebration of the grand opening of the Dorr House.

Along with being a bit of history, the oranges continue to be a part of Pensacola’s modern culture. The Pensacola Bay Brewery Co-Owner and Brew Master Mark Robertson said he uses the zest of the oranges in two of the beers sold at the brewery. The oranges are the only locally farmed ingredient they use in their beers. The Quina House Museum, site of the oldest house on its original site in Pensacola, uses the oranges to make marmalade available for purchase after good crop seasons.

Only two years ago, there was a re-dedication of the trees for the 25th anniversary of those planted by the Dames of America. It’s a sign that the oranges are going to be a small part of Pensacola for many years to come, providing their beauty for locals and tourists alike and fruit for local vendors, and also a nice challenge if you really think you can handle their bitterness. But, it may be better just to enjoy their little slice of history.

The Quina House Museum offers a chance to try some of Pensacola’s Seville oranges in their delicious marmalade, but you can try your hand at it as well. Here’s what you will need for the recipe: 4 cups prepared fruit, typically 4 oranges and 2 lemons 2 ½ cups water 1 box sure-jell fruit pectin ½ tsp butter or margarine 5 ½ cups sugar canning jars and lids

. Prepare and clean your jars, . .

keeping them hot until they are ready to be used Wash oranges and lemons, cut off the ends. Remove white membrane from the middle and deseed the fruit.

Thinly slice and put into medium saucepan with water and bring to boil

. Reduce heat to medium. . . . . . . .

low and cover. Let simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Measure out exactly four cups of prepared fruit in saucepan. Add fruit pectin and butter Bring to rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly Add sugar and bring to full boil again. Stir constantly for one minute.

Remove from heat Marmalade should be in a jelly state. If not, boil a little longer.

Fill jars, add lids and flats and screw tightly.

Put jars in hot water bath and bring to boil. Let boil for 10 minutes Save your marmalade on the counter or in the fridge if you are not preserving in jars.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 5

In-Complete Streets

The local push for safer roadways

“

BY WILL ISERN

The real complete street is not just built for cars, it’s built for every other use we do there. We want to encourage a lot more walking and biking. If we encourage more mass transit, walking or biking, we put fewer cars on the road.”

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For a city with miles of beautiful waterfront, dozens of public parks, clusters of eclectic shops and restaurants and a wealth of historic sites, Pensacola is difficult to get around. That is, unless you’re in a car.

Like cities everywhere, Pensacola (at least its modern incarnation) was designed for the automobile. Our streets are wide and fast. The places we want to visit are isolated, if not by distance then by a patchy and disjointed network of sidewalks, crosswalks and the rare bike lane. In a car, these limitations are hardly

noticed. Getting around is as simple as zipping from one parking lot to the next.

Maneuvering around the city by any other means, however, can be a daunting and outright dangerous endeavor. With more than 250 miles of road, Pensacola has less than five miles of bike lanes. Crosswalks across major roadways are few and far between. Sidewalks run out mid-block.

The result is a system that discourages alternative forms of transportation and disproportionately endangers the poor. Florida is the worst state in the U.S. for cyclist and pedestrian safety, and Pensacola is among the worst cities in

the state. The city has more pedestrian and bicyclist injuries, per capita, than New York City and Chicago combined.

Pedestrian and bicyclist deaths in Pensacola are the highest they’ve been in 30 years. In 2018, 10 pedestrians were struck and killed by automobiles in Escambia County. The deaths of Nephateria Williams and her 8-month-old daughter Neariaah at the border of the city limits on Cervantes Street in June 2018 sparked a renewed push for safer streets.

It is for all these reasons that Mayor Grover Robinson, as one of his first major policy directives, announced in February that the city would commit to implementing a “Complete Streets” program and hire a position at City Hall responsible for improving street safety and walkability. Robinson also made traffic and walkability one of the 11 pillars of his mayoral transition report.

Complete Streets are streets that are designed to be safe and effective for all users, be they pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, public transportation riders or disabled.

Complete Streets often feature wide sidewalks, bike lanes, skinnier roadways and medians. A local example can be seen on West Main Street between Spring and A Streets. The road features bike lanes, a median and narrows to one lane in front of Maritime Park.

The goal of Complete Streets is to reach Vision Zero, or zero traffic-related injuries and fatalities. The Florida Department of Transportation adopted Complete Streets in 2015. The plan requires state projects to ensure walkability by including sidewalks and crosswalks incorporate traffic calming features like medians. The new Pensacola Bay Bridge, for example is being built with a bicycle and pedestrian path separated from the roadway.

Robinson has committed the city to following the same standards going forward, but virtually all of our current infrastructure is lacking.

“The real complete street is not just built for cars, it’s built for every other use we do there,” Robinson said. “We want to en-

Complete Streets incorporate traffic calming elements like medians and skinny roads, and provide bike lanes and sidewalks for alternative forms of transportation.

courage a lot more walking and biking. If we encourage more mass transit, walking or biking, we put fewer cars on the road.”

Getting to Vision Zero will require coordination between the city, county, state and local organizations. Several initiatives are currently underway. Robinson has hired city planners and architects from New York City to devise a walkability plan for the city’s waterfront. The state has devised traffic calming plans for both the east and western portions of Cervantes Street. The city council is in the process of revamping its Bicycle Advisory Committee into a Complete Streets committee with the goal of codifying language that will commit the city to the Complete Streets.

As part of Robinson’s Mayoral Transition Report, former mayoral candidate and walkability advocate Drew Buchanan probed the current state of the city’s walkability infrastructure and made suggestions for improvement.

Buchanan found that the city lacks consistent policy and baseline metrics for measuring success. His suggestions, which Robinson has committed to implementing, include adopting Complete Streets, creating a connected network of bikeways, making walkability a regional effort among public and private stakeholders, simplifying downtown parking, improving lighting and more.

“My recommendations are a little bit more than that, they’re almost demands,” Buchanan said. “The citizens of Pensacola demand these recommendations.”

The work of actually implementing Complete Streets will fall to the city’s new Transportation Planner and the City Council. The council is already proposing an estimated $6 million project to rebuild sidewalks and streetscapes along DeVilliers, Reus and A Streets between Main Street and Cervantes. They’re scheduled to host a Complete Streets workshop in the coming weeks.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 7

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& Beats

BUSINESS OWNERS TEAM UP IN EAST HILL BY WILL ISERN Elvis is back in the hood.

Eric Jones, known to friends and customers by his king-ofrock nickname, is taking Revolver Records to the heart of East Hill.

Jones is teaming up with longtime friend and public-defender-turned-gelato-maker Brenda Mader, owner of Dolce & Gelato. The two have taken over and completely remodeled the former City Grocery at 2050 N. 12th Ave., splitting the space between them.

Revolver Records has been a mainstay in the Pensacola music scene since opening in 2010. Jones focuses his business mainly on new vinyl releases, but always has a stock of old tapes and CDs for the adventurous listener. Mader sells a range of hand-crafted gelatos, as well coffee, beer, wine and appetizers.

The two small business owners hope that their marriage of sweets and beats will bring back some of the funky fun that first made East Hill attractive to so many.

“

People like coffee, people like beer and wine and hopefully people still like records.” - Eric “Elvis” Jones “People like coffee, people like beer and wine and hopefully people still like records,” said Jones.

Their shop will be split roughly down the middle, with Dolce & Gelato on the right, and Revolver on the left. They’ll have a shared, café-style lounge area where folks can hang out or the occasional live band can play.

Before opening Revolver Records downtown in 2010, Jones owned and operated the East Hill CD Exchange out of a bright green building on 12th Avenue from 1995 to 2007, not far from where the new Revolver will soon open its doors. Jones said he’s excited to back in East Hill.

“I love it,” he said. “Downtown is great, but East Hill is home.

Plus East Hill, I think, is lacking in really cool local business locations. I think there’s still a lot of untapped potential.”

Mader opened Dolce & Gelato inside a historic home on Zaragoza Street in 2015, but began looking for more space earlier this year. Jones too was looking to move, as the rent on his Gregory Street location was being raised. Mader got into the former City Grocery space, but realized it was going to be more than she needed. She’d heard Jones was looking for a new location and reached out.

“It was kind of serendipitous the way it all happened,” she said.

“It’s just kind of fell into place, and I’ve known Eric for 30 years.”

Jones and Mader are shooting to open in mid to late April. You can find Revolver Records on Facebook and Dolce & Gelato at DolceGelatoPensacola.com.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 9

w o h S t a e r G Same

BY MATT HANIMOV

As the Blue Wahoos prepare to take the field for their eighth season, fans can look forward to the same game day experience they’ve come to expect since 2012, and to cheering on the home team in its new era under the Minnesota Twins. Similar to last year, fans of the Blue Wahoos should expect new amenities and promotions at the stadium. The biggest on-the-field change comes from the new coaching staff and a new affiliation with the Twins.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BLUE WAHOOS

systems in baseball,” and that, “they’re amazing both on the field and from a business perspective.”

The Blue Wahoos put the pen that signed the affiliation contract into the hands of the fans. Fans voted whether to sign with the Twins or the Padres through a poll. This allocation of control concerning the future of the franchise was a demonstration of the Wahoos’ commitment to the fan experience, Venn said.

“Obviously, any baseball team wants to win games,” Venn said. “But we, as a minor league team, don’t get to choose our players, so we don’t get to choose whether we win or not. What we do conLast year, the Blue Wahoos chose not trol is the fan experience.” to renew their contract with the Cincinnati Reds instead signed a two-year af- On the field, the 2019 coaching staff filiation deal with the Minnesota Twins. has been announced. This season will Twins’ spokesman Daniel Venn said, see the addition of pitching coaches “the Twins have one of the best farm

10 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

Justin Willard and Cibney Bello, trainer Davey Lacroix, hitting coach Steve Singleton, strength coach Travis Koon and Manager Ramon Borrego.

Of the new coaching staff, Borrego is the most experienced and perhaps the best asset to the Wahoos’ arsenal this season.

Borrego comes to the Wahoos with fourteen seasons of coaching experience and a seven-season playing career in which he attained AAA status. Borrego coached the Ft. Myers Miracle, Single-A affiliate that won the league championship in 2018.

“He’s been in the Minnesota Twins organization for pretty much forever, around fifteen years or so,” Venn said.

As they’ve done every year, the Wahoos have made other changes at the stadium to enhance the fan experience. The entire infield and home plate foul territory portions of Admiral Fetterman Field have been re-sodded. The traditional concession stands have been replaced with four new concession storefronts within the stadium

and a 20-foot LED video and scoreboard has been installed behind home plate.

This season also sees the return of the promotional schedule. The regular promotions are comprised of Military Mondays and Giveback Mondays, Fat Tuesdays, Social Media Wednesdays, and sees the return of Thirsty Thursdays, Giveaway Fridays, Firework Saturdays and Family Sundays from last season. Every home game will feature a promotion of some sort.

The Blue Wahoos begin the season April 4 in Mobile against the BayBears and will return to Pensacola for their first home game against the Chattanooga Lookouts April 11.

For more information on the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 2019 season, follow the Wahoos on social media or visit BlueWahoos.com.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 11

Kevin Barnes wakes up of Montreal’s frontman Kevin Barnes on Music, Social Media, and becoming Woke

BY WILL ISERN

Kevin Barnes is not a conventional front man. But then his band, of Montreal, is not a conventional band.

Barnes is both the face and the creative force behind the Athens, Georgia-based psychedelic rock outfit, of which he has been the only continuous member since 1996. Over the years of Montreal has put out more than 20 albums and EPs and toured the world several times over.

Through his music Barnes has explored love, loss, anxiety, depression, sexuality, religion and more, all set to the soundtrack of a psychedelic dance party. Barnes’ latest album White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood was inspired by the writings of James Baldwin and the extended dance mixes of the 1980s.

The band returns to Pensacola to play at Vinyl Music Hall on April 25. Barnes talked to Downtown Crowd ahead of the show about working on his new album, staying sane in the era of divisive politics and setting down his smartphone to live in the moment.

12 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

PHOTO BY EBRU YILDIZ

“

I was sort of living in a bubble of white privilege and I didn’t want to be that person so I started to educate myself and tried to unmask the lies that I was told as a child.”

Hi Kevin, I appreciate you taking some time to talk to us.

My pleasure.

do you find the endless possibilities daunting or liberating?

It’s definitely a challenge because you have to be careful not to use the same So you’re going to be here on the palette over and over again because 25th. I know I’ve seen you here at you’ll get kind of similar results. For least three times already, so it seems me, since I’m working by myself, I try like your tours frequently come to bring in some new instruments. through Pensacola. Is that some- Like I just got a Korg Prologue synthething you have a hand in? sizer which I’ve been using a lot on the We like to play Florida at least once a new record. So little things like that, year. I used to live in Florida so I know like adding new drum samples. it fairly well. Pensacola is like one of the cooler spots in the state, and it’s Well one of things I want to ask you such a huge state so it’s cool to be is about your live sets. You’ve got able to break up the drives and play something like 15 albums now, so as many shows as possible. Basically how do you decide on a set list with whenever we find a city that’s friendly that much material to pull from? to us we remember it and try to hit it Basically I just go through the catalog as often as possible. and see what songs jump out at me as songs that I would have fun playWell we love having you. I know the ing on that tour and just kind of work last album was over two years ago that way and just say, OK we’re going now, have you been pretty much to need 18 to 22 songs and just sort touring that whole time or what’s of scroll through them all and say that been up? one might be fun and that one might No, I’ve been working on a new album be fun. It’s kind of a mix between and I’ve been working on a couple oth- songs that I would have fun playing er projects. and songs that I think an audience would enjoy hearing.

I was reading on your website that you worked mostly solo on the last Do you get tired of playing the hits? album. Has that still been your ap- No, I just feel happy to have songs proach with this next one? that people are familiar with, because So far, yeah. I’ve worked at home and it could be much worse. just did everything myself. So kind of a similar approach to the last record. Another thing about your live shows is that they’re very theatrical. I wonI watched a video on YouTube where der how that’s evolved over the years you were in the studio and talked and why that’s important for you? through the creation of some of the It’s funny you ask that because I was songs on your last album. With all thinking about that today. I was thinkthe studio magic that can be done, ing why we do it or why I ever thought

it was a thing to incorporate.

I don’t really know the answer.

I think coming up in the Elephant 6 scene in Athens there was a theatrical element to most bands and it was just kind of in way influenced by like Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, kind of like old showmen, not just the punk rock thing of getting on stage in your street clothes, but making a bit more of an effort. That was basically the impetus of it for us was wanting to put on a show that was kind of extravagant and glamorous and exciting for people to look at visually, and then hopefully the music does its part.

Your shows here have been a lot of fun.

Thank you.

Going back to the last record, I was reading some of the stuff you wrote about it and your inspiration from (James) Baldwin’s writings about the idea of American whiteness as an identity that was propagated to turn the lower class against itself, and just some of the kind of political stuff that I guess you became interested in. I’m just curious how you became interested in that kind of stuff and why you wanted to explore those ideas on the last record.

I guess it just hit me that I was sort of living in a bubble of white privilege

PHOTO BY EBRU YILDIZ

>

because I know it’s just part of the one percent’s strategy to divide and conquer and make us feel like there’s two sides and we have to choose a side when in reality it’s us verse them, it’s really class warfare more than anything else.

Well how are you feeling about 2020?

Are you looking forward to it or are you dreading it?

I feel sort of ambivalent about it, because it’s obviously not a ton of fun to think about. You know, with Trump, he’s like a cancer. I spent the first couple years of his presidency seething with anger and eventually I reached this point where I was like, I don’t need to invest all this daily energy on this person that is just a total dipshit. I’m slowly kind of coming around now where I’m kind of realizing, like, obviously politics are important but it doesn’t have to be my obsession. I can definitely do my part and be on the side of inclusiveness and positivity and love.

Kevin Barnes explores ideas of gender fluidity through cross-dressing in of Montreal’s live shows.

Shows often feature psycadelic visuals, costumed characters and intereactions with the audience.

and I didn’t want to be that person so I started to educate myself and tried to unmask the lies that I was told as a child – and not even in a malicious way, I don’t think my parents were trying to keep me delusional or anything – I think it’s just sort of an organic thing that happens in white America if you’re not forced to actually absorb anything else, you just live in this protective bubble.

It’s pretty easy to cruise through life as a white guy.

Yeah, totally. So basically I just kind of became woke in a sense and wanted to educate myself and understand what Black Lives Matter was all about and just understand how other people live and become a better person.

14 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

And sort of along those lines you supported Stacey Abrams in her run for the governor’s office and stepped into politics a little bit. What prompted you to get involved in that way, and with the way that race turned out with her not winning what was your reaction then?

It’s hard to stay positive when you see something like that, especially since it seems pretty obvious the Republicans were cheating.

There were some shenanigans going on, for sure.

Yeah, so you really just have to have some balance there in your mind and not get too upset. It’s obvious to me also that the country is sort of getting hijacked by conservatives and Republicans in general, but I don’t want to have this sense of us verse them either

“

PHOTO BY AUSTEN MADDOX

That’s one of the coolest things about this time period is how it’s become super mainstream to question gender roles and question sexuality and allowing it to be something more fluid. Of all the things that are bad, I think that’s one of the really positive things that happening right now.”

Yeah, why doesn’t that side win?

Well, it’s been hanging around. (laughs) Well let me try to ask you a bit more about the music. One of the things that’s always stuck out to me about your songs is the lyrics. They’re very complex and you reference a lot of literature and film. When you’re writing a new song do you think of the lyrics first or do you write the lyrics to fit the music?

Typically I write them separately. I have note pads filled with lyrics and a note pad filled chord progressions and things like that. So usually if I have the music I’ll go through and look at some lyrics that might work for it, or even just a line or two that could inspire something more.

It’s always kind of different how it works.

And with the last album – and really for a long time – you’ve explored ideas of gender fluidity, especially with the live shows and the cross-dressing. I think some of those ideas have become more mainstream over the years. Has that been encouraging to you?

Yeah, absolutely. That’s one of the coolest things about this time period is how it’s become super mainstream to ques-

PHOTO BY EBRU YILDIZ

tion gender roles and question sexuality and allowing it to be something more fluid. Of all the things that are bad, I think that’s one of the really positive things that happening right now.

For sure. I was also thinking about how the band sort of came up alongside social media. The timelines overlap. How has that influenced you?

I go off and on. Sometimes I’ll be really into sharing music and my personal life through social media. I’ve actually gone through a period of the last four or five months where I’ve unplugged.

I followed you on Instagram today.

Oh, cool. I used to be deep into Instagram for many years and it kind of became an obsession for me and it was like really distracting. It started warping my sense of reality, so I decide to unplug from Facebook and from Instagram.

I pulled the plug on my Facebook this year, just because of what it became. It was draining.

Totally. I think that’s the one bizarre function about the internet is it makes people feel like they need to comment on what’s going on and have an opinion on everything. Like they need to be personally involved with everything anybody experiences or says or does or feels. It’s not natural to do that.

So do you put your phone away when you’re writing?

Yeah, I’ve kind of just made rules for myself where I can’t surf the web on my phone and can’t do anything other than basically communicate with friends and family. It’s basically just for text and phone calls and I try not to use it for entertainment.

It can definitely be a big time suck, I know that.

I feel like in a weird way it warps your perception of time. Years can go by so fast. But since I’ve unplugged from some of those apps, strangely it feel like time is moving at a normal pace.

of Montreal’s latest album, “White is Relic/ Irrealis Mood” was released in 2018.

Maybe I need to try that.

Well, it makes sense. You’re never alone with your thoughts. If you have the phone and there’s a quiet moment or you’re standing in line at the post office or whatever it is, you’re always distracting yourself.

You’re never in the present moment because you’re always plugged into the hivemind.

•

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 15

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Catering by The Wine Bar on Palafox Wines by The Bottle Shop Desserts by Blue Jay's Bakery MC/Auctioneer: Mr. Marty Stanovich Cigars by The Cigar Factory, Pensacola

S W PA x o f a l a p on

BY MATT HANIMOV

Every year, the Pensacola Humane Society brings fourlegged, furry-friended goodness downtown. Paws on Palafox returns April 27!

Paws on Palafox is one of the best events for pet-lovers in the greater-Pensacola area. Participants can spend time with their four-legged friends downtown, spread awareness and raise money for a good cause.

The event lasts from 9 am to 1 pm. The first half of the day features a 3K fundraising dog walk that starts at Plaza de Luna and circles around Palafox. Register as part of a pack with friends, family or coworkers or as a lone wolf.

The second part of the event is the After PAWty with music, prizes, vendors and more, which will be held at Plaza de Luna.

This year Plaza de Luna will be blanketed in shade by a large canopy, which will serve to reduce the stress induced by tonguepanting heat and increase the overall enjoyment of the event.

This year, Scott Novota of Strong Street Studios has donated pieces of hand-blown glass that he’s crafted to be used as prizes in a Paws on Palafox scavenger hunt. Organizers have “hidden six of these beautiful works of art, and three have been given to vendors to hand out at their discretion.”

Additionally, Paws on Palafox will be hosting a costume contest this year as well.

As for the heat, Darra Flanagan, the event coordinator for Paws on Palafox, assures that steps have been taken to ensure

that Paws on Palafox is “the most dog-friendly event” in Pensacola.

The goal for this event is to raise $40,000 for the Barbara Grice Memorial Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic.

“The end of April can be very warm in Pensacola,” Flanagan said. “Keeping in mind that asphalt gets very hot for paws, we try very hard to pick a route that keeps the asphalt cool for doggy paws and make sure that we go through the shady areas of downtown.”

“In order to be able to provide low-cost spay and neuter services to our area, it is necessary to raise funds from our community to cover the inherent expenses that we incur,” Flanagan said.

Additionally, five cooling, or “spirit,” stations along with smaller canopies will be dispersed along the course of the dog walk and will provide water in bottled or pool form for humans and dogs alike.

Each cooling station will be customized and decorated and sponsored by different businesses.

For those concerned with their downtown commute, Flanagan said streets will be closed only as long as it takes for the walkers to get by.

“We will implement rolling road closures so that the roads along our route will only be closed as the walkers pass through, allowing businesses to continue their normal Saturday business operations as well as benefit from any additional revenue that Paws on Palafox can bring,” she said.

The Humane Society is not funded by any governmental entity but solely by the community.

For those interested in contributing to the PHS by participating in the Paws on Palafox dog walk, registration costs $30 and includes a bandana for your furry friend. For an additional $20 to the registration fee participants will receive a Paws on Palafox t-shirt.

Online registration prior to the event will remain open until 5 pm on April 26, and check-in for preregistered participants and registration for new participants will start at 9 am on the day of the event. If, however, you can’t attend Paws on Palafox or do not want to participate in the walk, the PHS accepts individual donations as well.

For more information regarding the event, registration or donations, find the Pensacola Humane Society on Facebook.

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Jams

What we’re listening to this month

Mint

Novageist

Mom + Pop Records

Self-Released

Alice Merton

BY KAITLYN PEACOCK Let’s just say forget the world, but also let’s be classy about it. This album is delightfully like what Adele would be if she had an attitude problem, and there’s absolutely nothing better to get you moving and grooving. From debut English-German artist Alice Merton, just the dozen songs under her belt makes me excited for what’s going to come next from this fresh face. From the funky beats to the soulful lyrics, with a bit of taking the world by storm feel, this album is fresh and fun, with a bit of an 80s disco vibe. From the story of childhood in “2 Kids” to the addictive beat of “No Roots,” this album will satisfy your inner rebel without a cause.

Lucky I’m the Hunter

Standout Tracks No Roots 2 Kids Homesick

Egowerk

rhythms and bass tracks. Overall, the combination of these two tight-knit musician results in a set of songs that despite its refined composure and level of musicianship is able to evoke an unprecedented degree of raw energy and emotion.

Standout Tracks Here in the Shadows Saigon Cyborg/Cyclops

American Football (LP3)

The Faint

Saddle Creek Records

BY WILL ISERN A pessimist might say The Faint haven’t put out a good album in 15 years. The retorting optimist might reply that the band hasn’t been afraid to experiment and evolve. Whatever your disposition, there’s no denying that the Omaha punks are survivors. For 20 years the band have been putting out a new record roughly every half decade. Their latest, Egowerk, is perhaps their hardest-sitting collection of songs yet, which is saying a lot for a band that came up on Saddle Creek in the 2000s.

For a band that’s always favored synths to guitars, The Faint seem to have fully embraced electronica on this go around.

Wheras the bands previous records provided the soundtrack for skinny-jean-wearing kids to mosh in dive bars, Egowerk is suited for a 90s warehouse rave. Fans of Depeche Mode should check this one out.

BY MATT HANIMOV Novageist is the first full-length album release by Luckily I’m the Hunter (LITH), and I’m starting off with that bit of trivia because LITH is currently working on their second album! It only seems fitting to go back and listen to their first album again.

Actually, any time is a good time to go and listen to this album, regardless of occasion. LITH’s style on this record is a seamless blend of post-hardcore and math rock; no lyrics pervade the tracks, resulting in an album that feels like a jolt of pure electricity. This power-duo (yes, that’s right, there are only two members of the band) pull out all of the stops. Will Pitts’ drumming is precise, groovy and powerful. It’s almost like he’s playing a set comprised of cannons (see Cyborg/Cyclops circa 2:30). Jollan Aurelio’s guitar work on these tracks is magnificient. Among other effects, Jollan utilizes a looper pedal to both create poly-

American Football Polyvinyl

Standout Tracks Child Asleep Egowerk Quench the Flame

BY WILL ISERN Emo is having a resurgent moment. Millennials now in their late 20s and early 30s are feeling nostalgic for bands like Blink 182, Dashboard Confessional and My Chemical Romance that got them through puberty. It’s fitting, then, that the godfathers of Midwestern emo should make comeback. The first American Football album, released in 1999, has transcended its cult status to become a certified classic. When the band reunited after 17 years to release a second album in 2016, fans were just happy for any new material, even if it never could live up to the vaunted original. Now, back after a much shorter hiatus, American Football return with a third LP that genuinely pushes their sound forward. These are not the same college kids

that made the first album. They’re older.

They’ve held down desk jobs. They’re dads. They’re not interested in mining the nostalgia of their past. They’re pushing forward, and beckoning us to come along.

Standout Tracks Silhouettes Uncomfortably Numb Life Support DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 19

Don’t miss the biggest golf party of the year...

The Golf Ball Friday, April 12, 2019 6 –11 p.m.

The Grand Ballroom Skopelos at New World 600 S. Palafox Street, Pensacola $5,000 Indoor Putting Contest!

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Da te line D ow n t own

Short Attention Span Theatre

April 12, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20

The Pensacola Little Theatre will be hosting productions of “Short Attention Span Theatre,” throughout April. Show times are 7:30 pm, with a special showing April 14 at 3 pm. A Studio 400 Production, this is an evening of one-act plays. Six short stories about people we love and people we love to hate. Directed by Jason Crum, Stephanie Lash, Courtney Moseley. Note, adult content, themes and language included.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.pensacolalittletheatre.com.

Blue Angel Practices

April 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 30

A hometown favorite, the Blue Angels will be hosting practice sessions at the National Naval Aviation Museum throughout the month. Come see the jaw dropping aerial display up close and personal. Don’t forget the bring ear protection! Most practices will begin, wheels up, at 11:30 am. Following most Wednesday practices, members of the Blue Angels visit the Museum to meet fans and sign autographs in the Atrium. For more information, visit www.navalaviationmuseum.org. For show weather updates, visit the Blue Angels Facebook or Twitter before show time.

Pensacola JazzFest April 6 and 7

Jazz Pensacola’s Pensacola JazzFest, now in its 36th year, will be April 6 and 7, 9 am to 8 pm, at Seville Square in downtown Pensacola. This free festival celebrates America’s unique musical art form with a stunning lineup of top talent, from local jazz standouts to world-renowned acts.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit jazzpensacola.com.

The Golf Ball Gala April 6

PHOTO BY KAITLYN PEACOCK

Gulf Coast Half Marathon April 7

Check out the Gulf Coast Half Marathon April 7, race time at 7 am. All distances (half, 10 miles and 5K) will be awarded a finishers medal. We know it’s all about the bling. Cross that finish line and get “America’s Most Useful Finisher Medal,” a bottle opener first, a medal second. You don’t just hang this medal, our medals are meant to be used. Hang those other medals on the wall, you’ll use this one behind the bar/on the boat/ in the cooler. It’s great to bring to parties. For more information, visit www. runpensacolabeach.com.

John Appleyard Talk: Pensacola History

April 9 Dress up in your sharpest golf attire and come party Caddyshack style April 6, 6 pm to 10 pm at the Grand Ballroom Skopelos at New World. The party will include Masters-inspired cocktail buffet, a top-shelf bar, live music, live coverage of the 2018 Masters Tournament and more. Tickets are $75 per person with group discounts available.

All net proceeds from The Golf Ball will directly benefit our mission! Golf is more than a game at The First Tee of Northwest Florida. To purchase tickets, call 456-7010 or visit TheFirstTeeNWFlorida.org.

John Appleyard will have a history presentation April 9 at 9 am at the Pensacola Visitor Information Center. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear famed historian, John Appleyard share his knowledge of Pensacola’s history with one of his famous storytelling sessions. The event is free to the public but seating is limited. For more information, call 434-1234.

Pensacola Civic Band: A Night of Gershwin April 13

The Pensacola Civic Band will take over the Saenger Thratre April 13 at 7:30 pm with A Night of Gershwin. The Pensacola Civic Band presents “A Night of Gershwin” featuring some of the most beloved music from George and Ira Gershwin. We welcome to Pensacola famed saxophonist and former US Navy Band soloist, Dale Underwood.

Ticket prices start at $13. For more information, visit www.pensacolasaenger.com or contact the Saenger Theatre Box office at 595-3880.

Earth Day Pensacola April 20

Pensacola will celebrate Earth Day April 20 from 10 am to 4 pm this year with a green-friendly party. The theme for Earth Day 2019 is Energy, Transportation, and Sustainability. We will have vendors that will support the theme including share riding, public transportation, hybrid vehicles, wind energy, solar energy, and more. We will have gardening, plants, and water education vendors as well. There will be a designated kids activity area too. Food, music, and yoga are also part of the line up. For more information, visit www.earthdaypensacola.org.

FemFest 2019 April 25 to 28

FemFest has announced its official 2019 lineup featuring new events and old favorites. Dates are set for April 25 to 28. Once again, FemFest will be partnering with Lakeview Victim Services, the Black Women Empower Collective and STRIVE to raise funds for each organization. Events will be hosted all over Pensacola. To learn more about FemFest and how to get involved, please visit www.facebook.com/femfestpcola or e-mail femfestpensacola@gmail.com

Pensacola Crawfish Festival April 26 to 28

Join the crowd April 26 to 28 in downtown Pensacola at one of the largest crawfish boils in the Southeast, located in Community Maritime Park. The 35th annual Pensacola Crawfish Festival will bring a taste of Louisiana right to Pensacola Bay. The festival features 16,000 pounds of boiled crawfish, fresh from Louisiana, brought to you by Pensacola locals, Cordova Crawfish Company. The festival will also feature crab cakes, gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp, etouffee, boudin, po’boys, crawfish bread, red beans and rice, chicken tenders, bloomin’ onions, funnel cakes, shaved ice, gelato and so much more. Admission is $6 per day with children 12 and under getting in free and active-duty military with an ID free entry April 26. For more information, visit www. fiestapensacola.org.

PSO Presents: Concerto for Orchestra April 27

Come join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra at the Saenger Theatre for one last musical night April 27 at 7:30 pm. The 93rd season comes to close with a program inspired by folk music from around the world.

Ticket prices start at $23. For more information, visit www.pensacolasaenger.com or contact the Saenger Theatre Box office at 595-3880.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 21

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