Coachella Valley Weekly - December 5 to December 11, 2019 Vol. 8 No. 38

coachellavalleyweekly.com • December 5 to December 11, 2019 Vol. 8 No. 38

Photo by Iris Hall

Metalachi CV Music Showcase Mike Cancino Instigator/Pescaterritory/Silver Sky Brenda Lynn Martin pg7

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December 5 to December 11, 2019

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JESIKA VON RABBIT – HELLO AND HAPPY HOLIDAZE! PERFORMING 12/13 AT THE REEF & 12/20 AT TAYLOR JUNCTION

BY NOE GUTIERREZ

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly twitter.com/cvweekly1 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Kirby, Samantha Wright Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Head Music Writer Noe Gutierrez Head Feature Writer Crystal Harrell Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Tricia Witkower, Jason Hall, Esther Sanchez Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Craig Michaels, Janet McAfee, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Sam DiGiovanna, Dale Gribow, Denise Ortuno Neil, Rob Brezny, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dee Jae Cox, Angela Romeo, Aaron Ramson, Lynne Tucker, Aimee Mosco, Michelle Anne Rizzio, Ruth Hill, Madeline Zuckerman Photographers Robert Chance, Laura Hunt Little, Chris Miller, Iris Hall, Esther Sanchez Videographer Kurt Schawacker Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS

Jesika von Rabbit .......................................3 Breaking The 4th Wall - Stage Review of 'The King & I'........................................ 5 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' Live On Stage at Fantasy Springs ....................... 5 Metalachi at 28th Tamale Festival........... 7 5th CV Music Showcase - Round 1 ........... 8 Mike Cancino ............................................. 8 Instigator/Pescaterritory/Silver Sky ....... 9 Consider This - Mavis Staples................. 10 Business Profile- Brenda Lynn Martin .. 11 Pet Place ................................................... 12 The Vino Voice ......................................... 13 Club Crawler Nightlife ...................... 14-15 Good Grub - The Hood Bar & Pizza..........16 Brewtality .................................................17 Screeners ................................................. 18 Book Review............................................. 19 Safety Tips ................................................19 Haddon Libby ........................................... 21 Dale Gribow.............................................. 21 DON'T BE CLUELESS IN THE CV....... 22-23 Mind, Body & Spirit.................................. 24 Free Will Astrology ................................. 24 Cannabis Corner ...................................... 26 Cannabis Corner ...................................... 27

SCREENSHOT FROM “JOSHUA TREE” MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTED BY JESSICA JANOS

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here are enigmatic artists and then there are paradoxical ones. The ultimate of the outliers is Jesika von Rabbit.

JvR is the desert’s kaleidoscopic mortal. Look through her lens and you will fall through the rabbit hole of artistic expression; the writing and performance of her music and the presentation of her visual concepts will mobilize you to join the ‘Jesikult’.

JvR recently performed two stimulating shows with ‘Retro Psychedelic Quality Boogie’ rockers Black Magic Flower Power at The Alibi in Palm Springs, CA and at Pour House in Oceanside, CA. If you missed her this year, you have two more opportunities before 2020.

With two special Coachella Valley and High Desert Christmas shows scheduled, JvR is ushering in the holiday season like only she can.

First is Friday 12/13 at The Reef in Palm Springs, California with Jason Nutter and friends and one week later on Friday 12/20 at Taylor Junction in Joshua Tree for ‘A Very Deserty Christmas’ with JvR and friends.

Coachella Valley Weekly spoke with JvR to give us the holiday rundown.

CVW: You are celebrated for your visual concepts as well as your music and you seem to continuously stretch out of your artistic comfort zone. What are the next videos you’ll be releasing?

JvR: “I’m also sitting on a couple of other videos/singles. One is a duet with singersongwriter Kirkpatrick Thomas of Los Angelesbased Psychedelic Rock group, Spindrift.

We’re performing “Don’t Fence Me In” for a documentary that’s being produced about the life of Cole Porter.”

CVW: You’re also doing a fundraiser through your website jesikavonrabbit.com. Tell us about that.

JvR: “The fundraiser is called ‘Fund-a-bunny’ and it is meant to raise money to make a video

for my popular and fun-loving dance anthem, “Dog at a Human Party.” People lose their minds when I play this song and I am itching to get it out there. There’s plenty of fun perks for people that contribute, such as advanced download, t-shirt, a chance to be in the music video and a performance at your private party!”

CVW: You’ve cultivated so much success in your career. How have you been able to actualize your goals since you started this JvR journey?

JvR: “Goals? Goals are a bit of a trap. I work hard when I’m inspired and follow the ‘white rabbit’. I feel like Americans put a lot of pressure on themselves to always be accomplishing something, which I am guilty of, and yes, it does make you feel good but when something doesn’t pan out it can also make you feel like a failure.

As I get older, I see the importance of stopping to smell the roses and enjoying life. Life is meant to be enjoyed! I love performing, writing and shooting videos and will continue to, but also let myself off-the-hook for not meeting certain expectations put on myself in the past.”

CVW: Looking beyond, what’s more in store for JvR in 2020? Do you even plan that far ahead?

JvR: “More shows, more videos, more hijinks!”

CVW: You and Jason Nutter recently released a great ‘wide open space’ Americana song called “Joshua Tree” that was written, recorded, mixed and mastered at Melrose Music Palm Springs and Hollywood. The video is mysteriously conceptive too. Tell us about your musical bond with Jason?

JvR: “Jason is a really great human and our voices harmonize beautifully together. I helped arrange “Joshua Tree.” Jessica Janos shot the video and it just won ‘Best Music Video’ at the Yucca Valley Film Festival. When Jason asked me to collaborate, of course, I said yes without any

JASON NUTTER

SCREENSHOT FROM “JOSHUA TREE” MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTED BY JESSICA JANOS

SCREENSHOT FROM “BLUE CHRISTMAS” MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTED BY JESSICA JANOS

grand expectations, but magic happened, and the song came out like a ‘Deserty Velvet Cake’!”

CVW: Will we see more joint efforts from you two?

JvR: “You can expect to see more collaborations from us in the future and we have two upcoming shows. We will be singing some Christmas songs, other covers and originals on Friday, Dec. 13th at The Reef in Palm Springs and on Friday, Dec. 20th at Taylor Junction in Joshua Tree.”

CVW: You have a new holiday video being released next week.

JvR: “I just shot a Christmas video by multiaward-winning director, writer producer Jessica Janos (Prettyface, Suburban Swingers Club, Seduced) for my cover of Elvis's “Blue Christmas.” This is a trippy one with a psychedelic dreamscape, adorned with hand-selected and authentic Joshua Tree weirdos. I haven’t released a Christmas song/video since Gram Rabbit's “California Christmas” in 2009 and it feels great to finally follow that up.”

This is no doubt an Elvis-approved, hipshaking, hip-grinding version of “Blue Christmas.”

Beginning with JvR’s seductive vocals then, like a magnet, the pulsating synths emanate, and after the first verse the beat kicks in with a clear-cut high-hat, snare and bass drum rhythm.

The optic scenery of blue hues exaggerates the mood of the title and the contrasting red and green laser lights behind the stunning JvR seem to symbolize the decorations on a Christmas tree. The bending “blue notes” constitute a musical play on words while JvR’s heavy-hearted vocals give a facelift to the Yuletide season as she sings about a tale of unrequited love during the holidays.

The Queen of the High Desert’s mid-song “Christmas Rap” seamlessly punctuates the Rock and Roll holiday classic made famous by The King.

Keep up to date on JvR at her website: www. jesikavonrabbit.com Upcoming Shows: Fri. 12/13 – Jesika von Rabbit w/ Jason Nutter & Friends - The Reef – Palm Springs, CA Friday, 12/20 – ‘A Very Deserty Christmas’ Jesika von Rabbit & Friends - Taylor Junction Joshua Tree, CA

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A STAGE REVIEW OF ‘THE KING AND I’

n 1861 King Monghut of Siam, (Thailand), who spoke many Western languages, set about modernizing his country in an effort to keep Western countries from attempting to gain control. He hired an English Governess, Anna Leonowens, to educate his 39 wives and 82 children. Leonowens, spent nearly 6 years in the King’s court. She was a progressive educator and a world traveler. Her impact on the King and his family resonated through subsequent generations.

In 1944, Margaret Landon wrote a fictionalized account of Anna’s experiences.

Her novel was Titled, “Anna and the King of Siam.” In 1946 the book was adapted into a screenplay by the same name. In 1951 renowned authors, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein adapted the novel into a stage musical titled, “The King and I.” The King and I, was the fifth musical written by the super duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein and went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1952, Best revival of a Broadway musical in 1996 and 2015.

In a trivia side-note, Coachella Valley resident, actress/singer Patricia Welch, portrayed the role of Tuptim in the 1985 revival and was the last Tuptim to perform on Broadway with Yul Brynner, prior to his death on October 10, 1985. (Brynner originated the role of the King in 1951 and performed 4,625 shows before his death.)

BY DEE JAE COX

The most recent production of this inspiring and classic musical is currently on stage at the Palm Canyon Theatre. The PCT has a wellestablished history of presenting Broadway classics, but their current production of “The King and I,” is by far one of their best to date. Some classics begin to feel dated and others, such as this musical, age like fine wine, providing historical and cultural insights long after they are written.

The King and I, tells the story of Anna, a widowed British governoress brought to Siam to tutor the King’s many children. When she arrives, though she enjoys an instant connection to the students, she struggles with cultural differences and with the headstrong King. Through her kindness and persistence, Anna eventually connects with the King and they develop a friendship of sorts. She helps him and his heirs to understand that women are people, that respect does not require groveling and that love comes in many shapes.

Se Layne, gives one of her most engaging and riveting performances as the British governess, Anna. She is elegant and flawless in her singing, her movements and overall presentation. I was literally spellbound watching her glide across the stage as if it were made of glass.

Willian Stetz, is the King. Stetz is bold and captivating in his role as a man who recognizes the need for change, yet struggles against it.

BREAKING THE4TH WALL

Anna and the King develop an affection for each other, though current customs would never allow anything other than a platonic relationship. Star-crossed lovers, Tuptim, (Allegra Angelo,) and Lun Tha (Rob Rota,) face their own barriers in love. Tuptim is the new junior wife of the King, though in love with Lun Tha, a scholar, the two are destined to be denied their love.

One of my absolute favorite parts of this show was the Siamese ballet, a play within a play. Based on a contemporary novel of the time, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Tuptim writes a stage adaptation of the book titled, “Small House

‘A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS’ LEAD ACTOR TALKS ABOUT THE TRUE MEANING OF THE SEASON AHEAD OF FANTASY SPRINGS SHOW

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Charlie Brown Christmas debuted on CBS on December 9th, 1965, featuring Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip characters set to pianist Vince Guaraldi’s jazz soundtrack. More than five decades later, the Emmy and Peabody award-winning special remains a beloved holiday tradition passed on from one generation to the next.

This timeless classic comes to life on Saturday, December 14th at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage features Charlie, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts gang played by stage actors as they discover the true meaning of the season.

We spoke with Thomas Netter, who plays the shy-but-determined Charlie Brown, ahead of the national touring production’s stop at Fantasy Springs.

FELCI: You grew up in upstate New York. Was your house filled with music and a love of the theatre?

NETTER: “Yes! I first fell in love with musical theater watching classic movie musicals like

“Singin’ In The Rain” and “White Christmas” with my mom and grandma. Luckily, living only two from New York City, we had a lot of great local theatre run by industry professionals, which made for so many great learning opportunities.

Once I started performing, I was hooked!”

FELCI: Prior to joining the production, how aware were you of the Peanuts characters? Did you watch the holiday special as a kid?

NETTER: “Who doesn’t love Peanuts? It seems like they’re the one constant for each and every holiday. I remember watching the Christmas special almost every year, whether it was on VHS in the school classroom on a rolling cart or on TV at home with my family.”

FELCI: He may be from a comic strip, but Charlie Brown is an iconic character. Did you have any trepidation about taking on the role?

NETTER: “There was definitely some apprehension with taking on such a beloved character like Charlie Brown. But everyone has such a connection with Peanuts, and Charlie Brown is the everyman! It’s such a gift to bring

December 5 to December 11, 2019

him to life on stage and share him with a new generation, because there is a little Charlie Brown in all of us.”

FELCI: Vince Guaraldi’s score is a key component of both the TV special and stage show — it’s practically a character in itself.

What’s your favorite song?

NETTER: “The opening number, “Christmas Time Is Here,” is one of my favorite songs to perform. Recreating the iconic ice-skating scene with some fantastical theatre magic excites the cast, crew and audiences alike!”

FELCI: Speaking of audiences, there’s a big difference between performing for adults and for children…

NETTER: “Kids respond so positively to our show, and I think so much of that has to do with seeing “kids” up onstage! It’s so fun as actors to be able to heighten our sense of play and revisit the feeling of curiosity that all kids have. What also makes this show so special is the adults who grew up with these characters are now bringing their kids and grandkids to the show, and these

of Uncle Thomas.” And within the story of the play, we catch a glimpse of Tuptim’s own life as a slave who longs to be free. Angelo is beautifully tragic in this role of love and loss.

Derik Shopinski’s incredible talent with costume design seriously takes wings and flies with the nineteenth century English dresses and Asian attire. His designs take you to the heart of this story. Yet in addition to costumes, Shopinski lends his creative ability to directing and choreographing this production. His staging and dance had me traveling back in time to a period of much more restriction, yet boundless elegance. Shopinski, Layne and Stetz are the dynamic trio that make this show one not to be missed.

Led by Musical Director Jaci Davis, PCT’s live music is no doubt a major part of what makes this musical production such a success.

The King and I, is running through December 22nd. Anyone who enjoys the magic of theatre will appreciate this show.

The Palm Canyon Theatre, is located at 538 North Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.

For Reservations: Box Office: (760) 323-5123 www.palmcanyontheatre.org Dee Jae Cox is a playwright, director and producer. She is the Cofounder and Artistic Director of The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project. losangeleswomenstheatreproject.org palmspringstheatre.com

BY MICHAEL FELCI

EVENTS

families get to experience the magic of the Christmas special in a whole new way.”

FELCI: Speaking of adults, do they really sound like the way they do when they talk in the Peanuts specials?

NETTER: “Well, we all know a few who do…”

FELCI: Fantasy Springs is in the Palm Springs area. Are you looking forward to a little sunshine?

NETTER: “Oh, very much so! This will be my first sunny and warm Christmas.”

FELCI: Has performing in this show made you appreciate the true meaning of the holidays?

NETTER: “It’s hard not to get a little emotional hearing Linus’ speech about the true meaning of Christmas. ‘Peace on earth, and good will toward men’ is universal! With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s a wonderful reminder to focus on giving, treating one another with kindness, and appreciating what we have. Peace is the collective wish that we all share together.”

Tickets for A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage starting at $39 are now available at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, via phone (800) 8272946 and at FantasySpringsResort.com.

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MUSIC

METALACHI

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December 5 to December 11, 2019

HEADLINING THE FINAL DAY OF THE 2019 INDIO INTERNATIONAL TAMALE FESTIVAL

BY NOE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 AT 3 P.M. ON THE AMIGO STAGE GUTIERREZ

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he Coachella Valley chapter of Metalachi Nation will be in full assembly at 3 p.m. this Sunday at the Indio International Tamale Festival in Oldtown Indio. Performing at the annual event for the first time, Metalachi, The World’s First and Only Heavy Metal Mariachi Band, have been pillaging the desert since 2013 when they conquered The Hood Bar & Pizza and have ravaged a yearly residency at The Date Shed with their unique acoustic approach to Heavy Metal using time-honored mariachi instruments.

Festival gates open at 10 a.m. each day and admission is FREE! The event is located between Highway 111 and Indio Boulevard and fills-in Miles and Requa Avenues and Towne and Smurr Streets.

Metalachi, Vega De La Rockha (Vocals), El Cucuy (Trumpet), Paco Halen (Guitar), Nacho Picante (Guitarron), Queen Kyla Vera (Violin), Pancho Rockafeller (Guitarron) and Maximilian “Dirty” Sanchez (Violin), are ready to rock in a sea of masa!

Coachella Valley Weekly spoke with Paco as he trained for the consumption of a ‘grande’ amount of tamales.

CVW: ¡Hola Paco! How was your Thanksgiving?

Paco: “¡Orale! Fattening! It was good!”

CVW: Is Metalachi ready for the Tamale Festival?

Paco: “We like to please the people and we like eating tamales. It’s a win-win situation. It’s never a bad time for tamales. It’s the original Mexican ‘Power Bar’!”

CVW: (laughing still) What’s your favorite tamale?

Paco: “Are you guys gonna have strawberry tamales? Those pink tamales look so gross but they are so good. Some of the best tamales I’ve had.”

CVW: For those who still don’t know, you are a Mariachi band who plays Metal.

Paco: “We all played Mariachi at some point in our lives. To us, Metal and Mariachi are similar in that they have a lot of similarities in the way the songs are structured and the intricacies of both styles tend to lend to

PHOTO COURTESY OF @FOTOFIASCO

each other nicely, it feels natural, because Metal and Rock are percussive like Mariachi.

You have to hit the instruments to make it happen.”

CVW: Metalachi does a lot of press and are a promoting machine.

Paco: “It’s part of the job. You have to perform and you have to promote yourself.

It’s also cool to reach out on different platforms to see what people think. It’s not hard to shoot the shit. For us, the reason we get to do this is because people come out to watch us perform. We want to get to know our audience, have a few drinks, sign a couple of ‘chichis’ and have fun!”

CVW: What’s your favorite part of performing live?

Paco: “It’s kinda cool because we start playing a song and I look out in the audience to see if people recognize the tune and once in a while I’ll see someone lose their shit and say, ‘Oh my God! They’re doing Slayer!’ or

‘Wow, that’s Guns N’ Roses!’ to me that’s pretty cool. Even though it’s a different style they recognize the tune being played, to me that’s fun. Growing up playing Mariachi and being a Metal Head, the merging of two of my favorite sounds of music. It’s a dream come true.”

CVW: The comedy aspect of your show is enough to keep people coming back.

Paco: “It’s kind of hard to take yourself serious when you’re wearing stretchy pants.

It wouldn’t make sense if we’re standing up there in leopard pants and crotch-pumping and then talk about politics. It just comes natural to bullshit on stage and share some dick jokes.”

CVW: What is Metalachi looking forward to in 2020?

Paco: “At this point we’re just musical prostitutes. Wherever they want us, we’ll go.

We just played Heavy Montreal in Canada with bands like Slayer, Anthrax and Quiet Riot.

It was a crazy line-up. When I was a kid I would look up to all these bands. Holy shit! We’re on the same bill with Slayer! We had to step it up and really put out for this performance.

We put a little extra Tapatio on our show to make it extra spicy. We just did our thing. We had fun. It was awesome to be in a different country and perform. It was our first time in Canada. I would also really like to go to South America and Russia, anywhere really. We’re shooting for the stars and furthering ourselves by pushing what we’re doing and trying to keep people having a good time. We can play a backyard somewhere or a huge venue, we come to entertain.”

CVW: The audience at the Tamale Festival is multi-generational. How does Metalachi approach different audiences?

Paco: “I think we appeal to all audiences because some of the older people are familiar with music from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, the

type of music that we play and the little kids are gonna see us having fun on stage moving around and they can relate to it in that way.

Some people see us and say, ‘What the hell is this?” and then they hear us and say, “What the hell is this?’ Ha ha! It’s a cool vibe.

Everyone comes out to have fun. It’s a huge party and then tamales are involved too!”

CVW: What’s the difference between a daytime and nighttime Metalachi show?

Paco: “We have to ‘chub-up’ beforehand for the daytime show so all the ‘rucas’ can see our ‘huevos’ hanging out and we can be extra pendulant. Plus we can see more of the audience and have more time to interact.”

CVW: Can the Metalachi show get better?

Paco: “It can always get better. We’re ‘MexiCAN’ not ‘MexiCANT’! You can always make something better. We’re planning on expanding and growing the show, doing different songs and using different visuals.”

CVW: Metalachi is going through some changes at the end of the year.

Paco: “We announced the departure of Vega and El Cucuy at the end of the year.

It’s been an amazing 10 years with these amazing musicians and we can’t thank them enough for the contributions they made, the long trips, the late nights and in general, the heart and energy they put into help making Metalachi what it is today, they will be sorely missed. We wish them nothing but the best moving forward. People have to move on just like every other aspect of life sometimes. We have to move on and do other stuff. We’ll take a break for the holidays and look forward to hitting the road again in February 2020. This version of the group with the current players has been together two years. In total, we’ve been going for about ten years. I’ve been with the band for seven years.”

Metalachi have gone through several band member changes in its ten years but have maintained a focus on sending you home with a smile on your face. You are guaranteed to leave the Tamale Festival on Sunday stuffed with tamales and good times. metalachi.com

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5 ANNUAL CV MUSIC SHOWCASE KICKS OFF AT THE HOOD TH

ROUND 1 WINNER: DEREK JORDAN GREGG

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Derek Jordan Gregg, looping notes and belting out powerful lyrics with deep personal stories.

What would seem like a sound between Keller Williams and Zach Deputy morphed from fun coffee house rock into sonic seriousness that forced the audience to notice more than lovely melodies. Farm Trout, a trio from the high desert laid down an impressive rhythm section with ridiculous bass lines that recalled a Seattle era gone by. Silver Sky, products of AMP, or more officially the Academy of Musical Performance, a music education program whose goal is to enrich the lives of young musicians throughout the Coachella Valley, definitely proved graduation ready with straight-up, no effects pedal needed, direct through the Marshall amp and in your face rock and roll. The closer for the night, Instigator, another band of young bucks blasted their metal through the venue like an army of tanks hellbent on making a statement that metal has a secure future in these long hairs of future past!

Full disclosure: I was a judge last night and had a front-row seat to the musical mayhem on full display and felt bad judging these incredible talent machines while I nibbled on delicious

FARM TROUT CVMAS WINNER MIKE CANCINO 2019 FOR ‘BEST DRUMMER’

ike Cancino has a drumstick in every pot imaginable. As drummer for House of Broken Promises and Unida, Cancino has toured the world and brought the deserved attention to himself, his family and community.

In 2018, he and his multi-generational family of musicians received the CVMA Pioneer Award.

At eight years old he was taught how to play drums by his eldest brother Benny. At ten years old Cancino was asked by his stepfather Hilario if he wanted to play drums or guitar. Cancino had recently listened to Rush’s Moving Pictures and fittingly chose the drums. His stepfather promptly purchased him a four-piece Ludwig drum kit at Dean’s Music in Indio. Cancino listened and played along to music from AC/

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CV MUSIC SHOWCASE

DEREK JORDAN GREGG

he Fifth Edition of the CV Music Showcase kicked off at The Hood last Sunday night with four bands going head to head for $200 cash prize money and the chance to compete in the final CV Music Showcase grand finale in May. Tracy Dietlin, the publisher of CV Weekly and founder of the Showcase, says she created the Showcase to give local bands the opportunity to share their talent in front of industry professionals and win cash, studio recording time and a photo package to further their musical careers. Judge Chelsea Sugarbritches, a former Showcase winner, says her band 5th Town won the second showcase but it wasn’t easy to convince her band to compete. “A lot of bands don’t want to compete but it’s a great way to see all the talent that is out there and gain opportunities, exposure and maybe even money to record an album. It’s fun.

I love it!”

The four local bands faced off to claim top honors and walk away with a little money and some advice from the judges that should help propel their musical careers just a little bit closer to stardom. The night started with a solo act,

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BY RICH HENRICH

PHOTOS BY ROBERT CHANCE

chicken fingers and sipping a Stella.

In the end, two bands tied for second and Derek Jordan Gregg stood in shock as the sole winner of the 5th edition of the CV Music Showcase. “I’m just really surprised. You have kids with incredible talent that I don’t even have at my age,” said Derek Jordan Gregg. “It’s bittersweet. I might have more to write about at my age but you want the kids to win because they are so f*&$ing talented!”

He says the prize money will help him with his goal of being able to produce a debut solo

album. “I play music for a living and want to leave something behind I’m proud of. I’ve slept on couches and outside but I’ve never given up on music. He ponders on a Tom Waits quote: The world is a hellish place, and bad writing is destroying the quality of our suffering. It cheapens and degrades the human experience when it should inspire and elevate. “I have suffered for a long time. So, a win feels really f*&$ing good tonight. Especially, when this is one I would have been ok losing!” He smiles, masking a sea of deep emotion.

SILVER SKY

INSTIGATOR

BY NOE GUTIERREZ DC to Billy Squier. He subsequently met HOBP and Unida guitarist Arthur Seay at Westside Elementary School in Thermal, CA. He also gives his brother Chad significant credit and points to him for perpetual inspiration.

He then played marching quads and snare drum in the Indio High School drum line. He was also involved in symphonic and concert bands.

He and the drum line were one of the first lines to implement a full drum set into a show.

Coachella Valley Weekly congratulates Mike Cancino as winner of the 2019 CVMA for ‘Best Drummer’.

On Winning the CVMA for Best Drummer - “It’s fun to win it. I was so excited, I fucked up my acceptance speech. I forgot everybody.

I always thank Phil Lacombe and Tracy Dietlin.

I’ve known them for over 20 years because

CVMAS

of the scene out here. Thanks to everybody who went online and took the time. If I didn’t disappear already, I’m not sure I’m going to disappear at this point. I had this conversation with Arthur about ten years ago. At that time we were about 65 haha, at that time we said, ’We haven’t stopped, so at this point, I don’t know who’s stopping us.’ It’s such struggle because we’ve never been part of the ‘cool kids club.’ We practice hard to be good. There was a purpose for us, lazy didn’t exist. Easy practice and no etiquette didn’t exist. It was ingrained in us to practice our asses off. I took that from being in school bands.”

On House Of Broken Promises - “We have a bunch of music and video stuff that will be released in the near future. We’re finishing mixing and mastering songs and editing videos.

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Photo by Steven Young Photography

Everything is in its final process. Hopefully we can have everything out by next summer because we’re going to have all kinds of good things coming out. Once it gets rolling, HOBP is on a great trajectory. Joe Mora (vocals/bass) really kicked ass with his lyrics and direction. It refined us. Arthur Seay (guitar) did a killer job recording us. Everything was stepped up.”

On the Return of Unida - “Yeah, that’s going to be coming up next summer for me, John Garcia and Arthur, some HOBP and Unida stuff in Europe. There’s going to be a tribute to the legacy of Unida. It’s been too long. It’s peaking now too. I’m looking forward to getting out and

LOCAL MUSIC

INDISPENSABLE YOUTH

T

he Best Youth Band category at the Coachella Valley Music Awards can be a slippery slope for younger bands. Introduced in 2017, the category has accelerated the success of victorious bands such as The Brosquitos, FrankEatsTheFloor and Pescaterritory into award-winning artists with promising futures. Past nominees include Yip Yops, CMFs, Traveler and UU. The category requires that all members be under 20 years old and as these musicians develop and progress, there is an easier said than done emancipation from the ‘youth band’ moniker. Despite this challenge, we are in good standing when it comes to the burgeoning of heavy music from our “younger” bands in the Coachella Valley.

Coachella Valley recently sat down with

playing all those tunes for more than just once.

We’re going to hit it hard. We’re going to go out big on this one. We’re going to plan for this to finally be released. The point of it is to have the record out. The record we recorded will not get released unless this band is busy doing something. The record label will not waste their time on you. We are going to get our asses out and support it. Playing it live is a different kind of energy than when we recorded it. It’s a medium steady. Arthur and I have compared it to when we have gone out to play in HOBP on past European tours opening for Unida. HOBP goes out there with a super-high performance and big ending. John is in the wings clapping and laughing at me. Then Unida goes out there and it’s like a welterweight champion fight, it’s just ‘boom, boom, boom’ with the stamina and the energy of it, it’s a little different.”

On Soul Sign - “Earlier this year we played a festival called Shredfest in Pennsylvania. It had been six years since we played together.

I found out, our singer, Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen), performs in his church choir too!

Dave Bates (Edge of Paradise) is the guitarist, he’s an old friend Bjorn Englen (Yngwie, Dio Disciples), we have plans on getting together again and getting a whole new set list together.

We have new songs in the chamber that we haven’t released. We have a whole new album.

Bjorn and I jammed out just the other day.

That’s how we write.”

On Death In Pretty Wrapping - “Michael Keeth (vocals), Derek Wade Timmons (bass), Arthur and I have new material to be released.

We’ll have a release party for the four-song selftitled EP. We have a lyric video that has yet to be released also. You can find the EP on cdbaby.

You can also purchase physical copies at our shows.”

On Bohemio - “I play with my brothers in their cover band and I have been for around three years. It’s been one of the best experiences.

The highest highs and the lowest lows, I love it.

Sometimes it’s heavenly and sometimes it’s ‘are we done yet’? I love playing with my brothers because it’s schooled me further in ways that I could never think of. I grew up watching my brothers since I was eight. I remember telling myself, ‘I think I can do this.’ It was fucking rad growing up with them going from Los Cancinos to Invacion to Mr. Moto and getting their record deal. I was always there watching them practice but never was I in those bands. I really nailed down how to play cumbias and rancheras.”

On Barflys - “I’ve been playing with Randy Caserta (vocals/guitar) and Rob Pickett (bass) since 2004. They just came over to jam out with me at my house to play covers for fun then they took me out to the clubs with them. It’s been fun.”

On Performing in Sacred Heart’s Music Ministry - “The contemporary ensemble is a small group of volunteer musicians and vocalists. I have gone the last 3-4 years to Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert. There’s a really cool vocal and piano duo and they do the whole mass and it’s really bluesy. By the time they get to the closer they’re laying it down. You would think you’re listening to Aretha Franklin

December 5 to December 11, 2019 at a Baptist church. I went over a couple of times after they brought the house down to congratulate them. They finally said, ‘what’s going on?’. Who’s this guy?’

They asked me if I played. I said I played a little haha. This was a year ago. They were starting an ensemble so I auditioned. It was just like being back in school band, just watch the director. I watched his right hand, that’s the tempo, I see him tapping his toe and I stick with him. He told me I had impeccable tempo. I played the whole season from November to June. I really got creative. It’s your traditional song list that I got to put drums to. I just put a drum beat to every song and they wanted to cater to the younger crowd. It’s been cool to blend in with this entire choir and stay in context with the music. It feels cool to accomplish something on the softer lighter side and get creative in a new setting. I’m back for my second season now.”

On Staying In Shape - “I eat a lot of pizza and double cheeseburgers! Make sure you exercise and try not to be a couch potato because it’s not good for anyone. On any instrument it’s cool if you’re in shape. It’s good to practice. I think if you do anything for a long time and your body can’t hang you’re gonna get tired. There’s ‘live playing shape’ and there’s ‘not live playing shape’. Drink your water and eat your bananas.”

On His Drums and Gear - “I use Regal Tip Drumsticks, Paiste Cymbals and Remo Drumheads. I want to thank Pro Drum Shop in Hollywood, CA and Uli Salazar, Marketing and Artist Relations Manager at Ludwig Drums.”

INSTIGATOR // PESCATERRITORY // SILVER SKY

a focus group of sorts that included Mark Wadlund (guitar/vocals) and Garrison Calkins (bass) of Heavy Metal forerunners INSTIGATOR, Gavin Lopez (bass) of melodious rockers PESCATERRITORY and Noah Arujo (vocals/guitar) and Jake Sonderman (bass) of Heavy Rock trio SILVER SKY. CVW: Why is it important to you to play Hard Rock?

Mark (Instigator): “Hard Rock/Heavy Metal is my life, it’s what drives me. I feel as if other people deserve to witness the power and inspiration of Heavy Metal, just as I do.”

Garrison (Instigator): “For me, it’s important to play Metal because it’s such a rejuvenating kind of feeling. It’s so chaotic and insane but in it is something so raw and it just pulls you into the sonic onslaught.”

Gavin (Pescaterritory): “It’s important to play Hard Rock because it shows a sense

of freedom. The genre is very versatile and always lets me play what I want. It allows me to play heavy to more dynamic music.”

Jake (Silver Sky): “Why? Because that’s the good shit! It’s our common ground too.”

Noah (Silver Sky): ”It’s what we’ve grown up with and what we see as the future of the music industry. It’s a circle. And we’re here to fuck shit up.”

CVW: Why do you feel we should no longer view your groups as “youth bands”?

Garrison (Instigator): “Well, for starters, we’re all over 18 in Instigator, hahaha! But besides that, I don’t think we should be considered a ‘youth band’ because we’ve been playing and building our reputation for almost three years, and it’s time to let that tag go and be a band that doesn’t ride off our age.”

Mark (Instigator): “Instigator is not a

BY NOE GUTIERREZ youth band because we don’t play like one anymore, haha! Also, we’ve really outgrown the prime youthfulness that we had when we started this band.”

Gavin (Pescaterritory): “We shouldn’t be viewed as a ‘youth band’ anymore because we want to take this seriously. We want to take our band to the next level. We are not doing this just to do it. We were all born to play music and are achieving our goal. I feel the word ‘youth’ kind of lowers others’ expectations of us because we are labeled as the ‘kid band’. But when people hear us play, they think we sound advanced.” continue to page 11

9

December 5 to December 11, 2019

CONSIDER THIS

M

avis Staples is a force of nature, that’s an indisputable fact. She’s lived a thousand lives to your one. She turned 80 in July and celebrated that milestone with a new live set entitled Live In London.

Music was a family affair for Mavis, who began performing professionally in 1950 as part of The Staple Singers. Initially, they played churches and on local radio. A true family affair, the group included sisters Cleotha and Yvonne, her brother Pervis, and their dad, Robuck “Pops” Staples on guitar.

Gospel was The Staple Singers’ original lingua franca, but throughout the years, they embraced Soul, R&B, Folk and Rock N’ Roll, putting their imprimatur on Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall,” Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” and The Band’s “The Weight.” They quickly recognized there was a spiritual quality embedded in these most secular songs that mirrored the struggles of the Civil Rights movement.

From the beginning they cycled through a series of small, independent labels, but in 1968 they signed with Stax/Volt. The Memphis, Tennessee label began life in 1957 as a movie theatre converted into a recording studio. Although it wasn’t as nationally recognized as Motown and Atlantic, their roster included an impressive array of talent including Booker T. & The MGs, Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Johnny Taylor, Eddie Floyd and Sam & Dave.

At Stax, The Staple Singers achieved critical and commercial success, crossing over to mainstream radio. Between 1971 and 1975 they had eight songs reach the Top 40, including “Respect Yourself,” “I’ll Take You There,” and “If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me).” Their spiritual sound wed themes of self-empowerment to an infectious, sanctified Soul-Funk groove. Their momentum stalled during the Disco era, and this is when Mavis first struck out on her own. Her solo output during the ‘70s and ‘80s was sporadic, but in 1989, her most famous fan, Prince, signed her to his Paisley Park label.

Prince produced two albums for Mavis, Time Waits For No One in 1989 and The Voice in 1993. A couple of years later she returned to her roots with Spirituals & Gospels. It would be eight years before she would make another album. At the end of the 20th century The Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, less than a year later, Pops Staples passed away, following complications from a concussion.

Mavis made a stunning return in 2004 with Have A Little Faith, a collection of Blues, Folk and Gospel songs released through the Alligator label. Three years later she signed with Anti-, an offshoot of the venerable indie label Epitaph. Anti- boasts a disparate stable of artists including Neko Case, Marianne Faithfull, Merle Haggard, Beth Orton and Tom Waits.

Released in 2007, her first Anti- effort paired Mavis with musician/producer Ry Cooder for We’ll Never Turn Back a collection of Civil Rights era protest songs. Three years later she partnered with her musical soul-mate Jeff Tweedy. He is best known for establishing the alt.country style that originated in the

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MAVIS STAPLES

late ‘80s, with Jay Farrar in Uncle Tupelo, and more lastingly as the front-man for Wilco. As Illinois natives Mavis and Tweedy connected on myriad levels, and their first collaboration, You Are Not Alone arrived in 2010 and won a Grammy for Best Americana Album. They have worked together two more times for 2013’s One True Vine and 2017’s If All I Was Was Black. In between she enlisted musician M. Ward to produce her Livin’ On A High Note album, which was released in 2016.

Three songs from Livin’ On A High Note crop up on the new live set, “Love And Trust,” “Take Us Back” and “Dedicated.” The record kicks into gear with “Love And Trust.” Mavis finds the sweet spot between Blues and Gospel as guitars sting and squall beneath her authoritative rasp. The quicksilver call and response on the consecrated chorus walks the line; “Do all you can, do what you must/ Oh Lord! We want some love and trust.”

Both “Take Us Back” and “Dedicated” offer tart tributes to her dad, Pops, her siblings and her hometown of Chicago. The former blends slinky guitar, sidewinding bass lines and a rattle-trap rhythm. Mavis is playful and goodnatured as she notes “Sometimes people take all they can get from you, but they don’t call me Bubbles for nothing now, people ask my Pops he’ll tell them now, She gets it from me baby, she gets it from me darling/Chicago wasn’t always easy, but love made the Windy City breezy.”

A rippling guitar intro opens the latter, shadowed by brawny bass and a thwoking beat. Mavis’ vocals are hushed and intimate as she confides “There was a time I thought half the friends you got were counterfeit at best, and you thought it wasn’t right how I lived my life, but time put those thoughts to rest/And if it’s us against the world, well I would be on us to come out on top, but if you go your way and I go mine, all bets are off.”

Mavis and Jeff Tweedy’s musical symbiosis is on full display with two cuts from One True Vine, and two from If All I Was Was Black.

Somehow, he has managed to channel her voice into his songs. Take “You Are Not Alone,” a study in compassion, the song is powered by flange-y guitar, rumbling bass and a tick-tock beat. Mavis’ vocals are warm and empathetic as she gently asserts “You are not alone, I’m with you, I’m lonely too/What’s that song, can it be sung by two?”

Her mien is frisky and assured on “We’re Going To Make It,” bolstered by shang-a-lang guitars, tensile bass and a loping rhythm.

Lyrics promise that even as times are tough, love, to quote the Captain and Tenille, will keep them together; “…If a job is hard to find, and we have to stand in the welfare line/I’ve got your love and know you’ve got mine, and we’re going to make it.” The song takes on a tent-revival fervor as the audience joins in.

The political gets personal on “Who Told You That,” which directly addresses a racial divide that has only widened since a certain spray-tanned espot has taken up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Blistering guitar riffs are bookended by walking bass lines and a ricochet rhythm. Emotions are on a knife’s edge, Mavis is elegantly defiant when told “Now hold back, my, my, don’t explode, we

“LIVE IN LONDON” (ANTI- RECORDS)

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

don’t want to rock the boat” He incredulous reply; “Who told you that?” A gritty guitar solo on the break underscores her urgency.

Finally, “No Time For Crying” is an powerful cri de couer. A greasy Soul-Funk boogaloo, it builds off a powerful four-onthe-floor beat, slithery guitars and sinewy bass runs. Guitars crackle and fuzz ratcheting up the tension, mirroring the urgency behind the Black Lives Matter movement. Mavis has no time to explicate or equivocate when lives hang in the balance; “People are dyin’ bullets are flyin/No time for tears, no time for tears, we got work to do.”

As usual, Mavis offers a couple of trenchant cover songs. First, she puts her stamp on a particularly Funkified Talking Heads song, “Slippery People.” The Staple Singers originally recorded a version of the song in 1984, but it kind of slipped (get it?) through the cracks. This arrangement is more fluid, anchored by roiling bass lines, a crushing backbeat and guitars that wah-wah, chicken scratch and glide. The scorching guitar solo on the break is positively incendiary.

Meanwhile, her rendition of the George Clinton/Funkadelic classic “Can You Get To That” jettisons the sing-a-long quality of the original, locking into a swampy groove. Razorsharp guitar notes cascade over angular bass and a thumpy beat. There’s a measure of authenticity to Mavis’ vocals as she confronts past betrayals; “I recollect with mixed emotions all the good times we used to have/ But you were making preparations for the coming separation, and you blew everything you had..” but then she sorta turns the other cheek with this cutting observation; “When

you base your love on credit, and your loving days are done/Checks you signed with love and kisses later come back ‘insufficient funds,’ can you get to that?”

As is her tradition, Mavis includes a Pops Staples song on all of her records. This time, she resurrects “What You Gonna Do,” which the Staple Singers originally recorded in the mid ‘60s. She also offers a sly and slippery take of the Staple Singers’ 1975 hit “Let’s Do It Again,” impishly tipping her hat to the song’s writer and producer at the end; “Curtis Mayfield, Y’all!”

The album closes with band intros and a faithful reading of the Staple Singers’ #3 hit, “Touch A Hand.” But just before, the audience joins in on an impromptu chorus of “Happy Birthday” to Mavis. She playfully chimes in, noting “Yes, I tell you, I’m thankful and I’m grateful to make another year. Yes indeed, I tell you, it just ain’t no stoppin’ me, is it?” followed by a wry chuckle. That about sums it up.

Mavis is ably supported here by her long-time touring band, which includes guitarist Rick Holmstrom, bassist Jeff Turmes, drummer Stephen Hodges and backing vocalists Donny Gerrard and Vicki Randle. The record is dedicated “To my loving sister and best friend, Yvonne Staples, we will love you always, Yvonne.” Her older sister, who had toured with her as a back-up singer and road manager, passed a way in 2018 after losing her battle with colon cancer.

Nearly 70 years after she began singing professionally, and over 50 years after the Staple Singers signed with Stax, Mavis is still here. She’s railed against social injustice for over half a century; she has performed for Presidents (Obama) and Kings (Martin Luther). She actually turned down a marriage proposal from Bob Dylan back in the ‘60s.

She’s fought the good fight and she’s persevered. The case can be made that she’s created her most vital and enduring body of work over the last 15 years.

Live In London is a celebration, an evocation and a benediction.

BUSINESS PROFILE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

CHEERS FOR BRENDA LYNN MARTIN’S ELITE BEVERAGE INTERNATIONAL

December 5 to December 11, 2019

BY CRYSTAL HARRELL

in various countries worldwide. Martin was recruited to invest in the company on a local scale because of her status as a public figure in the desert.

"I was introduced by a friend about investing in the company, so I became an investor as well as getting involved in sales because I know a lot of people in the Valley, so I said I would take over the whole Coachella Valley," said Martin.

Elite Beverage International’s flagship item, Comisario Tequila, is one of the highest-awarded tequilas, winning U.S.A. and international competitions, including being ranked #2 Blanco and #3 Añejo in the "World Spirits Competition."

"I love Elite Beverage International because the team is incredible. They are all very sweet. Steve Rice, Luis Cota, and Rick Darnell are the main guys and we have made so much progress in just eight months," stated Martin.

The Elite Beverage International portfolio also includes Sensi Italian Tuscany wines, DeRibas sparkling wines, and an association with Henebery Rye Whiskey, but Martin reveals that although it is a luxury boutique brand, the company is expanding with other alcohols.

"We are present in 35 states, and we just

did a deal with Sysco foods. There are a lot of locations in Las Vegas, including the T-Mobile arena, where we have representation, and I’m currently working on launching Elite Beverage International here in the Coachella Valley," explained Martin.

Despite her business savvy nature, Martin did not always come from such a background.

She is originally from Sebastopol, California, having moved to the Coachella Valley only eight years ago. Martin practiced nursing for 20 years in Marin County, attributing it to her caring nature.

Since then, Martin has worked as the Publicist for Rob Carter of "The Temptations Revue" and "The Lon Michaels Fine Art Gallery". She has been involved in organizing special charity events for "Child Help" with John O Hurley and Cheryl Ladd, "Loving All Animals," "Jam Session" and "Rafael's Hair Salon."

Outside of charity work, Martin is also a three-time Cover Girl, having graced the issues of EMAGE Magazine and LIVE Magazine and is working on a third cover with Ochea Fashion. She is currently the Publicist for Unity Foundation and a Correspondent for the "Positive Spin" Television Program produced by the Unity Foundation, which focuses on promoting positive, innovative

and solution-oriented news from around the world.

"My role model is Pinki Kearbey, a friend of mine from Northern California, who is an outstanding businesswoman. I really don’t have much free time right now, but I love living in the Coachella Valley. The weather makes me feel like I’m on vacation every day," said Martin.

While Martin may be lacking in free time between her business ventures and charity work, she makes sure to spare some moments to bond with her four rescue dogs Bella, Ginger, Charlie, and Charlotte.

Always ready to lend a helping hand, Martin currently volunteers her time at the American Cancer Society, Thermal Boxing Club, Childhelp, and Lee Espinoza Coachella Valley Boxing Club. She even received a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama in 2016.

"I’m a very down-to-earth, hard-working, caring person. I wake up every day and see who I can help. I’m actually going to retire here soon due to tequila, and thank God for that, but I will continue to help people succeed!" exclaimed Martin.

INSTIGATOR/PESCATERRITORY/SLIVER SKY continued from page 9

We just have to hope and know that there are some people out there who were raised learning the right music! And that’s who we play to.”

Noah (Silver Sky): “We keep doing what we’re doing. Spread this shit like a disease and play all over the damn place. I feel you gotta accept the changes, it’s not always gonna be just like Slayer or just like this or that. A new era means it’s gonna change at least a little. You just gotta be open to it.”

Jake (Silver Sky): “And listen to new Hard Rock bands not just your favorites. And see them live because that’s how genres stay alive.”

CVW: Give us a quick update on each of your bands.

Garrison (Instigator): “Mixing is in progress for our first full-length album and should be done very soon. Other than that we’ve got a couple of big gigs coming up in December and January. We’ve been working hard for you guys and can’t wait to show you

more Metal madness!”

Mark (Instigator): “I could not be more stoked. The album captures Instigator’s musicianship and original creativity, and sounds heavy at the same time! I’m gonna be really proud to show it to all our good friends in this desert.”

Noah (Silver Sky): “We’re just working on our album and booking shows. We also have merch available to purchase to help promote our first single, ‘Brain Blind.’”

Jake (Silver Sky): “We don’t have a date yet for release. We’re gonna go back to Arthur Seay’s Bitter Sand Studios soon.

We’re just really trying to get shows right now. We have a gig 12/14 at Gadi’s Bar & Grill in Yucca Valley. Our music video for “Brain Blind” is out now too!”

Find out more info on each band below: Find Pescaterritory's Channel on YouTube. instigatorlead.wixsite.com/instigator silverskyband.com

M

aking it big in any business is an accomplishment in itself, but taking the initiative to invest in an idea while wearing different hats brings it to the next level. Brenda Lynn Martin has done just that with her role in Elite Beverage International—a sales and importing company with a focus on the Spirits and Wine business.

The company is based in the U.S.A. but has offices, personnel, and joint ventures

Jake (Silver Sky): “Plus youth implies we aren’t as good as an adult band.”

CVW: What are your thoughts on each other’s bands? How do you or can you help each other further the genre?

Mark (Instigator): “Pescaterritory and Silver Sky rock! We love playing shows with those guys, it’s ALWAYS a blast! And of course, both bands feature Nick Willman on the drums! Nick is a good friend and a true bad-ass behind the kit haha!”

Garrison (Instigator): “I love both Silver Sky and Pescaterritory and what they’re doing. They have passion and it shows. I think these three bands can further the Rock genre by getting their music to the teens because they have so much influence that it can spread like a virus.”

Noah (Silver Sky): “We learn from each other and support one another because we’re all in this together. We all have the same goal.”

Gavin (Pescaterritory): “I think Instigator and Silver Sky are great. They do a lot for the music community and really get the word out.

They bring out crowds to their performances and have loyal fans. We can each help each other by playing shows together and help with exposure and experience. We all want to do the same thing, to ‘make it big’. And we accept that we are the next music generation in the valley.”

CVW: How do we keep Heavy Metal/ Hard Rock alive?

Mark (Instigator): “Keeping it alive is a goal of ours, and I think these other bands can agree. I think we need to put Heavy Metal shows back in the mainstream of today’s generation. We need to show our peers how incredibly fun and outstanding it is. The kids need Marshall stacks and double-bass drum sets pounding their faces and hearts.”

Gavin (Pescaterritory): “There is no sure way to keep the music that we love going.

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December 5 to December 11, 2019

D

PET PLACE

uring Thanksgiving, the Coachella Valley experienced heavy rain, frigid temperatures, and even snow in some locations. As freezing temperatures grip out nation, countless dogs and cats suffer when kept outdoors 24 hours a day. Imagine your dog trying to drink from a water bowl full of frozen ice as he shivers from the cold.

Vulnerable animals such as seniors and young puppies may even perish.

Veterinarian Rob Proietto admonishes pet owners, “As pup parents, it’s important to know when they need to join their families and seek shelter inside. Dogs can overheat very quickly in warm weather climates and get hypothermia in cold, wet conditions.”

Patrick Evans, local animal lover and meteorologist with KESQ news Channel 3, reports, “While it’s not the coldest season we’ve ever had, it’s been consistently colder and wetter than our average winter. We’ve had periods of overnight lows in the 30’s and low 40’s. Just like us, our pets aren’t used to these colder conditions. It’s hard on their system as it is on ours.” Please bring your pets indoors for shelter when extreme weather hits. There are many compelling reasons to include your pets as inside family members.

Most Coachella Valley residents are wonderful pet owners, and their pets are kept safely indoors. However, I recently spoke with a young woman who keeps her dogs

MEET KING This fellow hopes for a Home for the Holidays. All the more to love with a large size dog like King, a 3-yr-old Pit Bull/Mastiff mix. King is dog ID#A1554648.

He waits to meet you at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus shelter, 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, www.rcdas.org, (760) 343-3644

MEET VEGAS This adorable 9-week-old fellow is cute, cuddly and curious! Found abandoned by the side of road when only 4 days old, Loving All Animals rescued Vegas and found a wonderful foster home for him. Contact (760) 834-7000 or www.lovingallanimals.org to meet precious Vegas.

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KEEP BENJI INDOORS!

outside 24 hours a day. She believes they are “unclean”. Why do people have such beliefs?

What information do they need to change those beliefs? I provided information about how having dogs around people actually improves their immune system, emotional well-being, and physical health. It was unclear if she changed her mind.

Some people were raised by parents whose admonition, “Dogs belong outside!” still rings in their subconscious. Some people grew up on farms or in countries where dogs are often kept as outdoor-only animals.

However, we live in a geographical area of extreme weather where keeping a dog outdoors can jeopardize his health and even

cost him his life.

Over 10,000 years ago, dogs were domesticated to live with people. They were and still are social pack animals, wanting nothing more than to be by your side. Most outdoor-only dogs suffer physically and psychologically when deprived of social contact. Keeping them outdoors all the time consigns them to a life of frustration and loneliness.

Some of these animals become a neighborhood nuisance with their barking.

If you decide to approach offending friends and neighbors, do so in a nonjudgmental way, trying to educate them about the hazards of keeping their dog outdoors. Ask them, “Why do you leave your dog outside all the time?”

Ironically, keeping an outdoor dog for home security doesn’t do much good when the burglars break into the dwelling where the valuables are kept. Outdoor dogs are indiscriminate barkers, and no one can tell if they are barking at a prowler or a child riding a bicycle down the street. An inside dog is a true deterrent to thieves.

Small animals are subject to prey when outdoors unsupervised. Small dogs and cats may be seized by coyotes and birds of prey such as hawks and owls. An acquaintance experienced the horror of hearing her Yorkshire Terrier cry out amidst the flutter of wings, and the dog disappeared in a matter

BY JANET McAFEE of seconds.

Bored and lonely, outdoor-only dogs develop bad habits. They dig holes in the yard. They chew on various objects out of boredom, including patio furniture, which can lead to expensive vet bills and even death.

Lonely dogs bark day and night, disturbing the neighborhood. Lacking socialization, they may fail to bond with their humans.

Here is the best reason for keeping your dog in the house with you. He will become your loving companion, amaze you with his unique personality, comfort you when you are sick, and communicate without speaking in ways you could never imagine.

PS – Please send me an email if this article changed your mind, and you brought your dog indoors.

Janetmcafee8@gmail.com

THE VINO VOICE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

December 5 to December 11, 2019

BY RICK RIOZZA

NEW GUARD SHINES AT PALM SPRINGS WINE FEST

T

he full name of this now annual wine celebration is the Golden Grapes Palm Springs Wine Festival. It is being held this week at the Ace Hotel Palm Springs on Sunday December 8th from 1-4pm. That’s the essential stuff you really need to know. And, we valley vino enthusiasts not only support this happy event, but we wish to cheer on the new guard of wine makers who are producing organic, biodynamic, or “natural” wines for our healthy consumption.

Quoting from the palmspringswineblog. com, “Over 50 participating wineries will be pouring their wines, talking about the process of wine-making and providing behind the scenes of California’s forward thinking viniculture and viticulture. This new guard of winemakers is making a radical shift in the wine

Persimmon Bistro & Wine Bar's First Annual

holiday craft beer social Thursday, December 12 th 4–7pm · $19 .95 per person

Come enjoy rare and Holiday beers with your craft beer brethren!

Located at Palm Springs Art Museum persimmonbistro

industry in California, preserving varietals from the Sierra Foothills to Mendocino; wines that use biodynamic and organic farming practices.

All of this with a poolside soundscape to boot.”

As I wrote last year, wine festival founder, Christine Soto, is the owner of the popular Dead or Alive wine bar, who continues to showcase smaller wine producers who make a great bottle of wine but often do not get the fanfare they deserve. Her savvy wine list always features a selection of wines that are “more natural and fresh.” She continues to comment “that the wines are made with love and reflect their dedication to California terroir.”

This column for some time now has discussed the “organic” wine topics, and as well, covered particular folks who are producing and are in the business of distributing the “new” artisan wave of vino. Unfortunately, the terms of art in the business vs. consumers are still hazy for many.

Rachel Monroe, author of “Savage Appetites: Four True Stories of Women, Crime and Obsession, recently wrote: “To label a wine “organic” or “biodynamic” requires following a long list of rules and paying for certification; however, to call it “natural” is merely to make a general claim of virtue. ‘Stasis, purity, unchanging essence—these are the heart of the natural myth. Natural means the original version.’

“But turning grape juice into wine means intervening in the course of nature. What people mean when they declare a wine to be natural, then, depends on a constellation of factors: the soil, the grapes, irrigation or its absence, the harvest methods, the amount of sulfur, what machines were or were not involved—even, perhaps the winemaker’s personality and politics ...There are many ways to be virtuous, or to fail at it.”

Lots of wine lovers use the more hip word “artisanal” in their reference, as the Europeans do, as opposed to the mega-wine producers out and about in the market today with their high-tech methods. Monroe again comments, “Artisanal wines are typically made with organic grapes, using no added yeast, no filtration, no chemical additives, no new oak barrels, and no mechanical manipulations. The wines were variously described as low-intervention, naked, or raw; the term that eventually stuck was “natural.”

When I’ve spoken to Christine Soto at her wine bar, it’s pretty clear that she sees the brave new world of wine as being either national brands or natural wines. It’s funny—as the wine

steward at Ralphs Market, where we sell over one thousand national brand wines, I absolutely enjoy her comments, and, am thrilled with her endeavors at her bar and with the annual Palm Springs Wine Festival to promote the new wave of natural wine makers in California.

A list of the participating wineries at this week’s Golden Grapes wine fest can be found around town, deadoralivebar.com/events, and especially on the Ace Hotel website, acehotel.com/palmsprings/events. It’s one of the most exciting arrays of new and inventive winemakers ever to be convened! What a great opportunity to meet and chat with them while tasting their wines. I urge you wine folk to be a part of the once a year event and experience the new wave in wine.

With over 50 wineries participating, who can pick the favorites! Below are some wineries and winemakers to look for: Sandlands is the personal project of Tegan and Olivia Passalacqua. The line-up encompasses the forgotten classic California varieties, primarily grown in decomposed granite (sand), from regions and vineyards that have been farmed for many generations but have remained the outliers of California viticulture. Primarily head-trained, dry-farmed and own rooted, the vineyards harken back to California’s roots of exploration, wonder, and hard work.

Minus Tide is focused on making coolclimate, balanced wines that showcase the distinct, coastal, and rustic vineyards of Mendocino, California. Shrouded in towering old-growth redwood trees, this winegrowing region is influenced by the fog and cool air that drifts inland from the Pacific Ocean. Working with sustainable and organic vineyards, in the cellar, they use minimal intervention practices and currently produce Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Carignan, Malbec, and Syrah. Their goal is to make delicious wine that pairs well with food—high in acidity and low in alcohol.

Scar of the Sea strives to shift the pendulum to focus on what is in the glass. The most important part of our wines and cider is where they are grown; location, climate, and soils matter. These wines and ciders are crafted with minimal manipulation. All the vineyards and orchards are influenced by the sea, with maritime soils, and climates, producing wines and ciders that are unique to the Central Coast of California.

Jolie Laide is a one-man operation based in a Sebastopol winery where winemaker Scott Schultz makes only 500 cases of wine a year under his own label. The name Jolie-Laide translates loosely to “Pretty-Ugly”, a French term of endearment to describe something that is unconventionally beautiful. Scott makes some of the most unique and highly soughtafter wines in California that are true to their name.

Golden Grapes Wine Fest: Sips, small bites & music—General admission $85. $99 VIP (which includes early access to the festival at 12 noon and a free bottle of wine). Cheers! See you there!

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December 5 to December 11, 2019

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

THUR DECEMBER 5

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bobby Furgo & Co 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Desert Daze Nights 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Bill and Doug Duo 6:30pm ALIBI; PS; 760-656-1525 DJ Lee Joseph 8:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Horace Miller, Brian Dennigan and Leon Bisquera 6:3010pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm THE CASCADE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-999-1995 Ladies Night w/ Bianca from 92.7 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian 6-9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Michael D’Angelo 6:309:30pm, DJ 9:30pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 MOD Squad Variety Show w/ Francesca Amari, Jeff Stewart and Wayne Abravanel 5:30-7:30pm, Lipstick hosted by Bella Da Ball 8pm, DJs Banks and Ax 10pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 Live Music 8-10pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6534 Barry Baughn Blues Band 5:30-8:30pm HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760-656-3444 DJ 10pm

THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Chris Lomeli 7pm HOTEL PASEO; PD; TBA 4-7pm LA QUINTA RESORT; LQ; 760-564-4111 Steppin Out 6-9pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Roxx 6:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Guerrero Fireside Lounge, Scott Carter Patio 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Country Night w/ Nitro Express 7pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 Live Music 6:30-10:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Patrolled by Radar and Living More 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Joe Plaid, Switcharoo and Farm Trout 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Keisha D 6:30-9:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 7:30pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 VooDoo Hustlers 7pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Matt Coleman 7pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke 8pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Lisa and the Gents 6:30-10pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Yve Evans and Rick E. Taylor 6:30pm

CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Michael D’Angelo 6:309:30pm, DJ 9:30pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 Viva Friday’s w/ DJ Banks 9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DESERT BEER CO.; 760-360-5320 TBA 7-9pm DESERT FOX; PD; The Sieve and the Saddle 10pm DRINGK; RM; 760-888-0111 DJ 9pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6534 Gina Carey 5:30-8:30pm GADI’S BAR & GRILL; YV; 760-820-1213 TBA 8pm HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760-656-3444 Karaoke w/ KJ Marjovi 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Gateway Comedy Show and DJ RowLow 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Keisha D 7pm HOTEL PASEO; PD; Michael Keeth 6-9pm HOT SPOT@SPOTLIGHT 29; Coachella; 760775-5566 Fresh Band 8:30pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Bob Allen 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Karaoke w/ Troy Michaels 7pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LANDMARK LOUNGE; LQ; 760-289-6736 Barflys 8:30-11pm LA QUINTA BREWERY; PD; 760-200-2597 Randy Caserta 7pm LA QUINTA RESORT; LQ; 760-564-4111 Steppin Out 6-9pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Roxx 7:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Guerrero Fireside Lounge, Scott Carter Patio 5:30pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 TBA 8pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bill LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Muzicali 9pm and Bob Duo 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Desert Daze MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 TBA 6:3011pm Nights 10pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm IW; 760-674-4080 Avenida 7-11pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 Eevaan Tre AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 6-9pm, DJ Pedro Le Bass 9:30pm Live Music 6:30pm ALIBI; PS; 760-656-1525 Quitapenas 8:30pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry Noa James, Sunnymead Slim, G.O.O.N.S., 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm Willdabeast and more 7pm O’CAINES; RM; 760-202-3311 DJ Tone 10pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Parick Morris, Brian Dennigan & Leon Bisquera 6:30-10pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 The Refills 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Long Duk Dong Christmas Party 8:30pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; pd; 760BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley 345-0222 RoadRunners 6:30pm Butler Trio 6-10pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Black Mountain and Ryley Walker 8pm THE CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Chase PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Martinez 9pm Karaoke 7:30pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND Tuzzolino 5:30pm COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm CASUELAS CAFÉ; PD; 760-568-0011 The Myx 7pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Levi Kreis 8pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian 6-9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 TBA 9pm

FRI DECEMBER 6

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RENAISSANCE; PS; 760-322-6000 Live Music 6-9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Keeth 8-11pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Derek Jordan Gregg 12-4pm, Evaro Brothers 8:30pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues Band 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Smooth Brothers 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SONOMA GRILLE@EMBASSY SUITES; PD; 760-340-6600 Denny Pezzin 6-9pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Krystofer Do 4:30-7pm, Mark Lee 8pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Off Da Cuff 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm TWELVE ACOUSTIC UNPLUGGED; IND; 760-345-2450 Mark Gregg and Misty Howell 7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Meet the Corwins 5:30-7:30pm, John Stanley King Show 8pm THE VINE WINE BAR; PD; 760-341-9463 Vinny Berry 7-10pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 DJ Galaxy 5pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Cynthia Thomas 6:30pm

COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 DJ Banks and Mr. Miami 9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DRINGK; RM; 760-888-0111 DJ 9pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EN VIVO@SPOTLIGHT 29; Coachella; 760775-5566 Banda Sin Nombre 9:30pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6534 Jack Ruvio and Tony Bolivar 5:30-8:30pm GADI’S BAR & GRILL; YV; 760-820-1213 TBA 8pm HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760-656-3444 DJ Ray 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Dali’s Llama, Throw the Goat and Mega Sun 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 The Carmens 7pm HOT SPOT@SPOTLIGHT 29; Coachella; 760775-5566 Fresh Band 8:30pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Bob Allen 6pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LANDMARK LOUNGE; LQ; 760-289-6736 JB and Rob Martinez 8:30-11pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 PS Sound Company 1pm, Hot Roxx 8pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Abie Perkins Fireside Lounge, Mark Guerrero Patio 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Muzicali 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MIRAMONTE; IW; 760-341-2200 Trio Envy 6-10pm TH 19 HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 TBA 8pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 Derek Jordan 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev Gregg 6-9pm, DJ Pedro Le Bass 9:30pm and Bill 6:30pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Dublab Karaoke 8pm Presents: Dayclubbing w/ Liz and Clark THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry Warner noon poolside, Highlife w/ DJ Day 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm 10pm O’CAINES; RM; 760-202-3311 DJ Tone 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-327IW; 760-674-4080 Steppin’ Out 7-11pm 4080 That 80’s Band 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760Cabaret on the Green Open Mic 7:30pm ALIBI; PS; 760-656-1525 Jet Dread Stone and 345-0222 On the Rocks 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Kelly McFarling 8:30pm Kolars 9pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Im4kulate Th3ory (Vol. 3) w/ The Odd Advantage, Ben and Spliffdini and more 7pm Karaoke 7:30pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Horace Miller, PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND Brian Denigan and Leon Basquera 6:30-10pm COCKTAILS; TP; 760-3432115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Jagerbombs 8:30pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Scot Bruce, Elvis the Early Years 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey 6-10pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 TBA 9pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Derek Jordan PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9pm Gregg 12-4pm, Evaro Brothers 8:30pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S Tuzzolino 5:30pm MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues Band 8-11pm CASUELAS CAFÉ; PD; 760-568-0011 The Myx 7pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Smooth CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Brothers 8-11pm Christian 6-9pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby 760-200-1768 Abie and Natasha 6:30Furgo 9pm 9:30pm, DJ 9:30pm SONOMA GRILLE@EMBASSY SUITES; PD; COACHELLA VALLEY BREWING CO; TP; 760-343-5973 Stand Up Comedy 7pm 760-340-6600 Denny Pezzin 6-9pm

December 5 to December 11, 2019

SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Jessica Bridgeman 8pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Delgado Blues Band 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm TWELVE ACOUSTIC UNPLUGGED; IND; 760-345-2450 Mark Gregg and Misty Howell 7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Rose Mallett 5-7pm, Kal David, Lauri Bono and the Real Deal 7:30-11pm THE VINE WINE BAR; PD; 760-341-9463 The Desert Crows 7-10pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Live Music 6:30pm WESTIN; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 The Stanley Butler Band 6:30pm

SUN DECEMBER 8

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Dublab Presents: Dayclubbing w/ Daddy Differently noon poolside AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Sunday Brunch w/ Live Music 11am BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Noche Latino w/ DJ LF 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Patrice Morris 6:30-10pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Michael Keeth 5-9pm continue to page 20

SAT DECEMBER 7

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December 5 to December 11, 2019

S

PUBLISHER’S PICK – THE HOOD BAR & PIZZA

o Phil and I recently had lunch at The Hood Bar and Pizza. Because it was so surprisingly good we’ve gone back a few times. Let me tell you why.

First, let me say that if a “dive bar” can offer the freshest house salad in town with crisp romaine lettuce, cut on the spot and not from a bag, and tomatoes that actually taste like a tomato, red onions and fresh

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mozzarella, then why can’t some of the fancy restaurants be able to deliver that.

They also make their ranch dressing in house and it’s delish.

Now let’s talk about dipping the consistently best chicken tenders in town in that tasty ranch dressing. And I am all about consistency.

Other highlights for us are the Jalapeño

BY TRACY DIETLIN

poppers (you never know which one is going to break you into a sweat) and of course, their pizza, which seems to have gotten even better recently. I get mine customized with mushroom, green pepper, onion, black olives and garlic. And their slices are huge!!

Phil is in love with the Zed Calzone, (pesto chicken), which he cannot stop talking about.

GOOD GRUB

They have several other items on the menu so don’t just think of them as a nighttime bar you go to hear music. Check them out for lunch or dinner. And if Casey is working that day tell her to make you her signature Manhattan and that Tracy from CV Weekly sent you!

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

December 5 to December 11, 2019

ON TAP Award-Winning micro-brews VOTED Best of the Best Bar-B-Que SMOKIN’ Baby back ribs, pulled-pork, cornbread, made from scratch pies, premium steaks & fresh fish

babesbbqbrewery.com

BREWTALITY

F

@babesbbqbrewery

TOP 10 INAPPROPRIATE, TONE DEAF, AND JUST BAD BEER NAMES: PART I

irst of all, I’m not uptight. I’m the bassist in a band called Cakes and the Assholes for crying out loud. But when my friend Darla told me about the time she was in a bar that had Dogfish Head’s Golden Shower Imperial Pilsner on tap, even I was a little taken back. “There was no shortage of guys approaching women and asking if they could give them a golden shower,” blinked Darla. “Yeah, being offered golden showers in a bar was pretty rank.” Dogfish Head eventually realized the problematic nature of their product, and changed the name to Golden Era around 2007, yet small craft breweries keep churning out cringe inducing titles even past the #metoo era of our cultural zeitgeist. As illustrated by Darla’s story, our society is filled with all sorts of mouth breathing cretins; including goobers, dorks, chads, dipshits and other misogynistic knuckle draggers.

Let’s face it folks, there are a lot of people around us who make up the lowest common denominator, and they simply don’t know how to act. You give them a name as seemingly innocuous as Nine Locks “Dirty Blonde” ale, and next thing you know, douchey bros are saying shit to blonde haired servers like “Are you served up in the glass?” and “I’d really like a dirty blonde, if you know what I mean,” according to fed up server Catherine Murray, who stated that she sometimes felt uncomfortable taking orders for the beer because of the soliciting and objectifying comments that men would sometimes make.

Imagine being that guy, the one who thinks it’s a hilarious thing to demean someone you don’t know because of a crassly named beer on the tap menu.

Yet, the hits just keep on coming as small brewery owners somehow think they’re being daring or edgy by giving their beers sexually themed titles with label artwork to match. Some are relatively tame while others are borderline pornographic, but here’s a list of the top ten most sexually inappropriate, tone deaf, and just bad beer names in no particular order.

Hazel’s Nuts – Odd Side Ales. American Imperial Stout, 11%ABV - A Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with coffee and hazelnut, this beer is appealing as long as you ignore the label on the bottle. Featuring a bearded lady complete with duck lips, we can only assume that the transgendered woman in question is supposed to be Hazel (otherwise what’s the connection between the name and the image?) and the obvious joke is that she has nuts. Hazelnuts?

In a world where dead-naming someone on twitter will get you banned, the Grand Haven, MI based brewery is still living like it’s 1994 and Ace Ventura’s “Finkle/Einhorn” transgender jokes were the peak of comedy.

Abbie’s Black Eye P.A. - Loose Shoe Brewing.

IPA – Black/Cascadian Dark Ale, 6.8% ABV - In a since-deleted social media post, the Amherst, VA brewery posted a photo of a woman sporting a bruised and purple, blackened eye, and encouraged patrons to show up replicating the black eye for $1 off pints of the brew. Turns out, people were offended by the connection to domestic violence that’s made by a woman with contusions on her face. Ssssssssshocking. But not everyone gets so up in arms about physical abuse, one Instagram commentator quipped, “I’m more concerned that people are still brewing black IPAs.” Cotton Field – Checa Cerveza, Argentina.

Porter, 5.2% ABV - This South American nanobrewery named this beer in a “tribute to the black workers of the Mississippi cotton fields”, and gave it a label featuring a laughing African-American couple, dressed in dandy, mid-1800’s period garb. Who else doubts that cotton field workers, presumably slaves, ever dressed or smiled that way? Did slaves drink porter beer? I don’t get

BY AARON RAMSON

the connection. Not surprisingly, there was a backlash, and the social media post promoting the beer has since been taken down. Oof. Rocktopussy – Brasserie de Sulauze, France.

IPA, 4% - Is that…are those...what the f*ck is even going on here? Sporting an army of tentacled creatures with labia for faces, and sunglasses perched on what appears to be a clitoris, the label for this beer has spurred many social media comments, all of them expressing the same sentiment. “Very distasteful branding!” “Terrible branding!” “Very poor taste indeed!” and “I’m sorry but this branding is in really poor taste!” make up the overwhelmingly negative comments left by viewers of the image. The brewery responded to the criticism, saying that “the label was designed by the rock festival that ordered the beer from us.” There’s so much to unpack here, like where do they get off calling a 4% beer an IPA!?

More deliciously offensive beers coming next week!

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December 5 to December 11, 2019

SCREENERS

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

No. 398

FAR FROM HOME

NOW SHOWING: AWAY

After a mysterious crash landing, a young boy wakes up alone on an exotic island.

A monstrous dark spirit is chasing him, although it’s unclear whether the spirit mans to help or harm the boy.

A motorcycle appears providing safe travel for the boy, and he makes friends with a local songbird who provides guidance.

Soon they are off on their own adventure,

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trying to escape the dark spirit, learn more about the mysterious crash landing, and uncover the truth of the exotic island.

This stunning first feature was written, produced, directed, scored, and animated entirely by award winning Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis. Beautifully crafted over a period of more than three years from a previous short Zilbalodis had been working on. The story, told without dialogue over a series of breathtaking backgrounds, is equally inspired by reality, dreams and waking fantasies.

Minimalist and meditative, the film has no spoken dialogue but features an effective and evocative other worldly score blended with natural sounds.

This film, in tone and style, reminds of Michaël Dudok de Wit’s beautifully animated “The Red Turtle” and would make a nice double feature. Recommended.

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

NEW BLU FOR THE HOME THEATER: IT CHAPTER TWO

mansion with a myriad of secret passages.

20th Century Fox.

Evil resurfaces in Derry as director AndyMuschietti reunites the Losers Club in in a return to where it all began with this conclusion to the highest grossing horror film of all time. Twenty-Seven years after the Losers Club defeated Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), he has returned to terrorize the town once more. Now adults, the Losers have long since gone their separate ways.

However, people are disappearing again, so Mike (Isaiah Mustafa) is the only one of the group to remain in their hometown, calls the others home. Damages by the experiences of their past, they must each conquer their deepest fears to destroy Pennywise once and for all – putting them in the direct path of the shape-shifting clown that is now more deadly than ever.

This is a long film, (nearly three hours) that can’t decide if it wants to be a character study, a thrill ride or an outright horror story.

The generous extras are on a separate disc.

4K UHD. Warner Bros. Home Ent. READY OR NOT Not sure how to categorize this oddity.

Is it a satirical take on the horror comedy genre or something more substantial?

Samara Weaving stars as a newly wed who gets involved with her wealthy in-laws in their weird traditional wedding night game of hide-and-seek not aware that they (her in-laws) want her dead!

This sly movie is a fun chase thriller that offers a peek at the lengths some rich people (one-percenters?) will go to preserve their elite, privileged status.

Weaving is terrific as a smart and witty young woman who battles a bunch of buffoonish aristocrats in an ornate old

THE GOLDFINCH Director John Crowley’s adaptation of Donna Tartt’s massive (700 page) Pulitzer Prize winning novel is a beautifully wrought coming-of-age story that’s as intimate in its sustained emotion as it is in its sweeping design. The film features a multigenerational cast led by Ansel Elgort (“Baby Driver”) and Nicole Kidman.

The last time 13-year-old Theo Decker saw his mom; she was gliding away from him into another gallery of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Seconds later, a terrorist bomb exploded destroying priceless pieces or art – and shattering Theo’s life forever.

The tragedy changes the course of his life, sending him on a stirring odyssey of grief and guilt, reinvention and redemption, friendship and eventually love.

Throughout the turbulent years, as he grows into adulehood, Theo (Elgort) secretly clings to a single, precious object – his one tangible connection to the mother he lost on that terrible day – a priceless painting of a tiny bird chained to its perch. The Goldfinch.

Extras include: “The Goldfinch Unbound,” “The Real Goldfinch,” and or 16 minutes of deleted scenes with commentary from director Crowley. Recommended. Warner Bros. Home Ent.

I like hearing from readers and fellow movie lovers. robin@coachellavalleyweekly.com

BOOK REVIEW

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"BLACK LEOPARD RED WOLF"

BY MARLON JAMES FANTASY FICTION

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W

hen is the truth the truth? Is it possible that each person has his or her own perspective of the truth? In Marlon James’ Black Leopard Red Wolf (Riverhead, 621 pages), a young man comes of age and discovers a world where reality is constantly shifting.

The story follows Tracker, a hunter with an exceptional sense of smell, who is hired to find a missing child. Somewhat reluctantly, Tracker heads out to find the boy who mysteriously disappeared three years prior from the North Kingdom.

Accustomed to working alone, he is challenged by rogue men, women and shapeshifting characters who also seek the truth about the boy’s vanishing.

Tracker finds himself collaborating with a strange assortment of bazaar folks whose agendas to find the child may not be the same as his own. Along the way, he travels through new worlds, forests and rivers meeting creatures and powerful figures who all seem to have an interest in the boy.

As the journey moves between worlds,

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December 5 to December 11, 2019

OUT OF AFRICA

kingdoms and doors, Tracker comes to better understand that reality is not always what it seems, and the quest for power and control will ultimately shape it’s own narrative truth.

At the start of the story, I thought I was reading the third installment of author James’ “Dark Star Trilogy,” with Tracker finding the child. The opening sentence is: “The child is dead. There is nothing more to know.” But as it turns out, Black Leopard Red Wolf is the first book of the trilogy!

The story is narrated by Tracker as he looks back at the events, his commission and his quests as he sets out to find the child. The narration is episodic and jumps in time as the reader is introduced to Tracker’s colorful existence, upbringing and ancient world, which is filled with unique cultural traditions.

I quickly engaged with the protagonist Tracker. I found him likeable and believable in his world. The setting is an amazingly creative environment that evokes Tolkien’s “Middle Earth.”

Once beyond part One, I was absorbed into this new worldview. However, to fully engage I had to consciously stop seeking allegories and just let this unfamiliar world unfold with all its spectacular, shameful and supernatural characters.

The author is kind enough to open his tale with a map of “The North Lands” and a who’s who in Tracker’s “account” of this telling. This is very helpful and I found myself checking it often, as non-chronological telling can be

BY HEIDI SIMMONS

hard to follow.

Black Leopard Red Wolf is fantasy genre, but it resonates as dramatic literature. I don’t often read fantasy, but I could feel the author’s passion and command for the story and the world he has created. It exists!

There is a great deal of horrific violence, graphic sex and suffering in the book. This is not Young Adult fantasy. Females are mostly objectified, but the women that matter to the story have their own power, ambition and impact.

Author James exposes the reader to African mythology, customs, stories and

SAFETY TIPS

legends that break with traditional Western thought and ideas. This is eye-opening and refreshing if you let go of self-righteous, western judgment.

Finally, James also cracks open the chronological trilogy model by dropping us into the thick of the hunt and The North Kingdom’s political order. Like starting with episode four of “Star Wars,” the reader is thrust into Tracker’s world and is taken on the journey through his point of view. No doubt, the next in the series will come from one of the members of those in Tracker’s group.

When the trilogy is done, what will be the truth? What will the narrative finally say about the world Tracker inhabits? How will that truth change his reality? This is the beauty and timelessness of literature no matter the genre. We now live in an age that has made “truth” questionable.

FROM THE CHIEFS CORNER

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

AWWW RATS!

A

nother storm system is passing through this week and people aren’t the only ones who value a dry, cozy home in cold weather. Rodents do, too. As it gets colder, everything that was out tends to want to find some sort of harbor inside.

They scurry in our walls and above our heads during the night, they raid our food and ruin it with their feces, and they reproduce wildly, creating more and more inhabitants for us to worry about.

Ask anyone in California and most will tell you “the rat population is on the rise,” according to Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Rats, mice and squirrels also do a lot of damage to your home’s structure, insulation, pipes and even electrical wiring. While you can repair obvious damage, it’s all too easy to miss a gnawed piece of wire when confronted with larger scale issues like insulation used as nesting, excrement contaminated floorboards and gnawed on support beams.

Rodents’ teeth are constantly growing, which forces them to have to gnaw on anything they can get their paws on to file their teeth down. Plastic insulation surrounding electrical wiring exists because electricity is quite hot when it goes through wires. The insulation protects nearby objects from getting overheated. However, when a rat or other rodent has been going after your wires, they leave nothing left but the hot, exposed metal.

It’s only a matter of time before the wire either short circuits, causing a spark, or heats up and causes something nearby to ignite.

Because mice can enter holes of even 1/4 inch, you need to seal any exposed openings to ensure that rodents cannot enter your home.

Your home should be free of exposed elements where rodents can gain entry.

Avoid storing firewood, equipment, supplies, etc. next to your house. Rodents find refuge in these first and then can move into the home.

Keep tree branches away from rooflines as Norway roof rats can gain access through these and heavy vegetation next to the home.

If you already have rodents, you should call a professional pest control expert immediately.

Ask your pest control expert about ways to check for and repair rodent-created damages.

If possible, park your car in the garage.

Cars make nice homes for rats and mice and can chew through your cars electrical and fuel systems causing damage.

As always, install and frequently test a smoke detector in your house whether you have rodents or not. If a fire does occur, a smoke detector can save your life and the lives of your family.

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

19

December 5 to December 11, 2019 CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 15

CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888-999-1995 Latin Night w/ Nacho Bustillos and Quinto Menguante 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Paul Douglas 6-9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Comedy Night 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 PS Sound Company noon, Hot Roxx 6:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Abie Perkins Fireside Lounge, Scott Carter Patio 5:30pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 TBA 6:3010:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 3:30-7:30pm, Mikael Healy 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Sunday Jam Session 2-5pm, Finesse 7-11pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Sunday Jam Session 7pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 7:30pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 The Judy Show 7pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Derek Jordan Gregg 12-4pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Jack Ruvio and Tony Bolivar 5:30-8:30pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Ron Pass 2pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 John Stanley King Trio 6-9:30pm

WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Gina Carey 5-10pm WESTIN; RM; 760-328-5955 Lance Riebsomer 12-4pm poolside WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-2300188 Hannans and Company 6:30pm

MON DECEMBER 9

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Luminators 6pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Bill Marx 6:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Music

by Touchtunes 7pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 DJ Banks and Mr. Miami 8pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 PS Sound Company 6:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg Fireside Lounge, Mark Guerrero Patio 5:30pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 TBA 6:3010:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healey 8pm MORGAN’S; LQ; 760-564-4111 Michael Keeth 6-9pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Finesse 7-11pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Open Mic 7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 John Stanley King 6:30-10pm

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-2300188 Motown Mondays 6:30pm

TUE DECEMBER 10

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bill and Bob Duo 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 TBA 8pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 House Party Tuesdays w/ DJS LF, Ax and Tanner 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Chris Lomeli 6:30-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Lizann Warner 6:30-9:30pm, DJ 9:30pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760-656-3444 Karaoke w/ KJ Danny 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Drag Queen Bingo 9pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke 9pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic 7pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 PS Sound Company 6:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Abie Perkins Fireside Lounge, Mark Guerrero Patio 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Brad’s Pad 7pm

MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 Finesse 6:30-10:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healey 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Acoustic Music Lounge 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-3432115 Game Night w/ Luke O 8pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Rose Mallett 6:30-9:30pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Country Night w/ Cinch 6-9pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 John McCormick Band 6:30-10pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-2300188 Yve Evans and David Ring 6:30pm

WED DECEMBER 11

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Jam w/ Doug MacDonald & Friends 7pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Gamer Night w/ DJs 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Chris Lomeli 6:30-10pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 The Myx 7-10pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Michael Keeth 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Barry Minniefield 6:309:30pm, DJ 9:30pm

COACHELLA VALLEY BREWING CO; TP; 760-343-5973 Uncle Ben’s Open Mic 6-8pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 Issa Wednesday Humpday w/ DJ Ax 9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 Karaoke 7:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Open Mic 8pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Karaoke 7:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Open Mic 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Roxx 6:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Guerrero Fireside Lounge, Scott Carter Patio 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Latin Night 7pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 Finesse 6:30-10:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healey 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Roger & Friends 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Michael Holmes and Keisha D 6:30-9:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Slim Man Band 6:30-10pm THE VINE WINE BAR; PD; 760-341-9463 DJ Guy Worden 8pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-2300188 Demetrius Trio 6:30pm

S and G

PUMPING SERVICE

Septic Tank & Grease Trap Pumping Sewer & Drain Cleaning Odor Control

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760-404-6325

HADDON LIBBY

A

ccording to Hotwire.com, Americans spend approximately $58 billion on year-end travel. As many of us get ready to visits family and friends near and far this holiday season, consider a few of the more unique and unusual places to go or things to do.

A Chinese Café If you are in southwestern China, consider a visit to the Candy Planet Pet Café in Chendu, China. What makes this café so unique is that they will turn man’s best friend into a Kung Fu Panda through dog hair dyes for only $200.

This publicity stunt has helped with sales at this café with one patron having his six chow chows painted to resemble the Chinese equivalent to the American Bald Eagle.

Many people view this business gimmickry as animal cruelty.

“Coating dogs with chemical dyes are stressful and can even cause allergic reactions on their skin, nose, and eyes,” said Jason Baker,

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UNIQUE & UNUSUAL

PETAs VP for operations in Asia.

A Japanese Hotel Travelers on a budget in Japan often stay at ryokan hotels. These hotels typically have shared bathrooms and common areas but separate sleeping quarters. Each bedroom is quite small with a bamboo floor mat, futon, short table and dresser. The One Dollar Hotel in Fukuoka, Japan lets visitors stay for only one dollar in room #8…but with a catch. Your stay in the room is broadcast 24/7 on YouTube.

When Tetsuya Inoue took over the Asahi Ryokan Hotel from his grandmother, he was looking for ways to generate publicity and breathe some new life into their ryokan. “This is a very old ryokan. Our hotel is on the cheaper side, so we need(ed) something special that everyone would talk about.”

While room #8 is livestreamed, content is kept tasteful as the video feeds are pointed away from the bathroom and changing area.

Staycation Want a staycation like no other, that is a lot less ‘tasteful’ than the One Dollar Hotel? The Sea Mountain Inn and Lifestyle Resort Spa is considered one of the top alternative lifestyle hotels in the United States. What makes this Inn/Spa so unique is that it is a nudist hotel for women and couples that also holds private parties for those into alternative lifestyles like swinging, partner swapping and other public or private displays of…well, whatever you want to display.

DALE GRIBOW ON THE LAW

‘TIS THE SEASON.. SCAMS ARE THE REASON

Y

ou better watch out, you better not cry because SCAMS are here and that is WHY. We often read about the generous things people do for complete strangers during the Christmas Season. But the opposite is also true. This is the time of the year when crooks come out of the woodwork and Robo Calls are aplenty. However our local merchants are most at risk. With holiday crowds, it is easier to steal and not be noticed.

Booster Box/Bag: A larger hollow box or bag is placed down over a slightly smaller shopping bag, purse or product placed on the ground while looking in a showcase.

The spring loaded bottom secures the item about to be stolen. The thief then walks away without anyone seeing what happened.

RFID: Unfortunately your credit card information can also be stolen without taking the physical credit card. Thieves have an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) which is half the size of a laptop. When they walk by you in a restaurant, airport or department store the card reading device, costing less than $100, automatically steals your personal info off your credit card. The Radio Frequency Identification is a tiny chip in our credit and debit cards. If your card has the symbol of 4 waves )))) or says Pay Pass, Pay Wave or Blink it has RFID. Your personal information from the RFID can be instantaneously transferred onto a hotel credit card sized room key. That room key is now “a credit card” which can be used

December 5 to December 11, 2019

A South Korean Healing Center Over the last seven years, more than 25,000 have visited the Hyowon Healing Center in Seoul for a different type of spiritual awakening – the simulation of their own deaths. Participants do things like posing for funeral portraits, writing their last will and testament and resting in a closed casket for ten minutes. “Once you become conscious of death, and experience it, you undertake a new approach to life,” said 75-year-old participant Cho Jae Hee. The Road of Death If you find yourself in La Paz, Bolivia, consider a bike ride on the Road of Death.

Yungas Road earned the nickname Road of Death for a section of this cycling road that is a single tract with no guard rails. Approximately one person a year dies while cycling here.

Rising from the lowland jungles of La Paz to

the snow-capped Andes Mountain peaks that reach 11,000 feet, many consider this one of the most challenging cycling trails around the world due to the heights that this 37 mile road reaches.

Roadtrip on a Motorcycle While Sturgis, South Dakota serves as host to the largest motorcycle rally each August with some 700,000 visitors spending nearly $800 million during the nine-day gathering, the Guinness Book of Records does not recognize that as the largest motorcycle ‘parade’. That honor goes to Paris, Texas which set the record in October when 3,497 bikers gathered, breaking the old record set in Greece in 2010 by more than 300 choppers.

Haddon Libby is the Founder and Managing Partner of Winslow Drake Investment Management, a Fiduciary-Only firm. To find out more or reach us, please visit www.

WinslowDrake.com or email Hlibby@ WinslowDrake.com.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

to swipe and charge things against your real card account. To avoid this you can put your credit cards into a protective sleeve that has an aluminum lining. This type of theft can occur with your passport at an airport too, so you should buy protective sleeves for both.

Fake Shipping: For the last 4 months, I have received emails notifying me my package is on its way. Be careful and don’t click when you get this notice, as it may contain a link or attachment that will take you to a site that installs malware. If you didn’t order anything, don’t click on it.

Gift Cards: They can be the perfect gift...

IF not already opened. However, crooks go to stores and write down the numbers and pin on the back of the card. When they see someone purchase one they go online and use up the amount on the card. Thus you must be sure the wrapping on the card has not been disturbed, or the pin revealed.

Fraudulent Charities: During the holidays, catastrophic fires, hurricanes or earthquakes we have had, we are all more inclined to help our fellow man and may fall for one of dozens of phony charities. If you don’t recognize the charity don’t donate to them.

E-Cards: Many people now send holiday and birthday cards via email rather than through the mail. Be careful before you click on them if you don’t recognize the name of the sender. These are often phishing scams, aimed at getting you to provide more personal information.

IF your credit card is stolen or compromised, report it to the major reporting agencies below.

Equifax 1-800 525 6285: to place a fraud alert 888 766 0008. To order a credit report call 800 685 1111 Experian (formerly TRW 1-888 397 3742 to place fraud alert. To order a credit report call 888 397 3742 Trans Union 1-800 680 7289 to place a Fraud alert. To order a credit report call 800 888 4213 Social Security Administration (fraud line) 1-800 269 0271 SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ARTICLE? CONTACT DALE GRIBOW 760-837-7500 / dale@dalegribowlaw.com.

DALE GRIBOW Representing The Injured and Criminally Accused “TOP LAWYER” - California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-20 “TOP LAWYER” - Inland Empire Magazine 2016-19 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating “DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT... CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER....THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME”

21

December 5 to December 11, 2019

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY STEPHANIE GREEN

CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER 5 – 11, 2019 CASINOS

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino Old Dominion Friday, Dec. 6 8pm Tickets 49.00, 69.00, 89.00, 129.00 800-827-2946 fantasyspringsresort.com The acclaimed country band brings their “Make It Sweet Tour” to the Special Events Center. With special guest Ryan Hurd. Each ticket includes $10 in FREE Slot Play!

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa The Charlie Daniels Band Saturday, Dec. 7 9pm Tickets 49.00, 59.00 800-252-4499 morongoresortcasino.com With a career spanning 50 years and more than 20 million in sales, Grand Ole Opry inductee and Grammy Award winner, Charlie Daniels is coming to Morongo to sing some of his greatest hits including, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia,” “The South’s Gonna Do It,” and “Uneasy Rider.”

The music is a unique combination of southern rock, country, blues and folk.

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THEATRE

Palm Canyon Theatre The King & I Thursday, Dec. 5 7pm * Friday, Dec. 6 8pm * Sunday, Dec. 8 2pm Tickets 32.00, 36.00 760-323-5123 palmcanyontheatre.org East versus West makes for a dramatic, richly textured and ultimately uplifting tale of enormous fascination. It is 1862 in Siam when an English widow, Anna Leonowens, and her young son arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, having been summoned by the King to serve as tutor to his many children and wives. With both keeping a firm grip on their respective traditions and values, Anna and the King grow to understand and, eventually, respect one another, in a truly unique love story.

Purple Room Supper Club Levi Kreis – 5th Annual Home For The Holidays Friday, Dec. 6 6pm Dinner, 8pm Show Tickets 40.00, 45.00 760-322-4422 purpleroompalmsprings.com Infuses gospel, country, rockabilly and jazz into a fresh and flawless collection of Christmas classics and holiday favorites.

22

Desert Theatreworks Disney’s Mary Poppins The Broadway Musical Friday, Dec. 6 7:30pm * Saturday, Dec. 7 7:30pm * Sunday, Dec. 8 2pm Tickets 25.00, 30.00, 32.00 760-980-1455 – dtworks.org This holiday musical, winner of 44 major theatre awards from around the globe, has captivated audiences for generations, and now the enchanting story, unforgettable songs and breathtaking production numbers will dazzle and delight theatergoers of all ages. Believe in the magic and discover a world where anything can happen if you let it! Rated G. McCallum Theatre Waitress Fri, Dec. 6 8pm * Sat, Dec 7 2pm & 8pm * Sun, Dec. 8 2pm & 7:30pm Tickets 65.00, 95.00, 135.00 760-340-2787 – mccallumtheatre.com Inspired by the beloved film, WAITRESS tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker who dreams of a way out of her small town.

A baking contest and the town’s new doctor may offer her a fresh start, but Jenna must summon the strength to rebuild her own life. Don’t miss this uplifting celebration of friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.

Purple Room Supper Club Elvis: Blue Suede Christmas – Scot Bruce Saturday, Dec. 7 6pm Dinner, 8pm Show Tickets 30.00, 35.00 760-322-4422 purpleroompalmsprings.com As Elvis, Scot Bruce has appeared in music videos with Faith Hill and Sheryl Crow, and has been heard as the Resident Elvis with his pals Mark and Brian on their highly rated Los Angeles morning radio show. Scot has also appeared in recurring roles on the hit soap operas “Days of Our Lives” and “The Bold and the Beautiful,” a Pizza Hut commercial, the California Lottery Elvis ad campaign, and in several successful productions of “Idols of the King,” including the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the Barter Theatre in Virginia and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery. Recently, he had the honor of performing with the legendary Jordanaires (Elvis’ original backup singers).

If you saw the “True Hollywood Story: Elvis in Hollywood” on E! Entertainment Network, that was Scot playing Elvis in the recreation scenes.

Annenberg Theatre at Palm Springs Art Museum Spencer Day Saturday, Dec. 7 8pm Tickets 75.00 760-322-4800 – psmuseum.org Spencer Day is a singer/songwriter and piano player whose work references numerous sources, including jazz, musical theater, cabaret, soul, folk, traditional and contemporary pop. He is best known for his hit single “Till You Come Back To Me,” and will be debuting his sixth album, “Broadway By Day,” for the Annenberg audience!

McCallum Theatre Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel Monday, Dec. 9 7pm Tickets 23.00, 33.00, 43.00 760-340-2787 – mccallumtheatre.com You will be captivated by this smorgasbord of musical delights.

Hear music by Grieg, Sibelius, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Nielsen and Stenhammar.

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COMEDY

Spotlight 29 Casino The Dan Band Saturday, Dec. 7 8pm Tickets 20.00, 25.00, 30.00 760-775-5566 – spotlight29.com The comedy band, created by actor and comedian Dan Finnerty, is known for hilarious covers of pop songs predominately performed by females.

Finnerty adds his own spin to the songs with bonus obscenities and swearing.

Purple Room Supper Club Judy’s Old Fashioned Christmas!

Sunday, Dec. 8 5pm Dinner 7pm Show Tickets 25.00, 30.00 760-322-4422 purpleroompalmsprings.com One of Palm Springs’ original Rat Pack hangouts. Join star Michael Holmes for an outrageously funny parody of the 1963 CBS television show, “The Judy Garland Show.”

The award-winning “The Judy Show” is one of the longest-running and most popular cabaret shows in Southern California – and regularly plays to sold-out houses throughout the US, Mexico and Europe.

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ART/MUSEUMS

Coachella Valley History Museum Flight Plan: The Birds of Sunnylands Thu, Dec. 5 10am – 4pm * Sat, Dec. 7 10am – 4pm * Sun Dec. 8 1pm – 4pm Tickets FREE 760-342-6651 – cvhm.org This exhibition features birds that reside throughout the valley — or touch down along their migratory route. Over 145 species have been identified at Sunnylands. Photographed by Tim Laman (National Geographic).

Palm Springs Art Museum Free Thursday Nights Thursday, Dec. 5 4pm – 8pm Tickets FREE 760-322-4800 – psmuseum.org Lectures, conversations, collections and more! Thursday Nights feature a series of events and activities. This program is supported by the Palm Springs Public Arts Commission.

Lecture Hall at Palm Springs Art Museum STILL BEGINNING: The 30th Annual Day With(out) Art Thursday, Dec. 5 6pm Tickets FREE 760-322-4800 – psmuseum.org Palm Springs Art Museum is proud to partner with Visual AIDS for the thirtieth annual Day With(out) Art by presenting STILL BEGINNING, a program of seven newly commissioned videos responding to the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic by Shanti Avirgan, Nguyen Tan Hoang, Carl George, Viva Ruiz, Iman Shervington, Jack Waters/ Victor F.M. Torres, and Derrick WoodsMorrow.

Palm Springs Art Museum The Architects and Visionaries Who Built Palm Springs Friday, Dec. 6 9:30am – 11am Tickets 25.00 760-322-4800 – psmuseum.org Join us for a half-mile stroll between two of Palm Springs’ most iconic Desert Modern destinations: the Palm Springs Art Museum and the Architecture and Design Center, both envisioned by E. Stewart Williams, one of the desert’s most prolific and well-known architects.

This tour captures the essence of Palm Springs, starting with its early roots in the late 1800s, to the midcentury modern craze and the 21st century-vibe that’s part of our culture today. From our fabled pioneers, imaginative architects and three powerful women who helped start it all, you’ll be fascinated by our ever-changing glamorous resort that continues to be populated by artists, movie stars, wealthy business titans, the Aqua Caliente Indians, and LA hipsters.

Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert Galen First Fridays Friday, Dec. 6 4pm – 8pm Tickets FREE 760-346-5600 – psmuseum.org In conjunction with the First Weekend in Palm Desert, the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert continues their Galen First Friday event every first Friday of the month (November – May) by staying open with free admission until 8pm.

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Palm Springs Art Museum Midcentury Modern Icons & Their Architects Saturday, Dec. 7 9:30am – 11am Tickets 25.00 760-322-4800 – psmuseum.org See the very best examples of midcentury modern architecture as we walk along the town’s main thoroughfare for banking and retail businesses. Learn how this stark yet beautiful landscape captured the imagination of a young and talented group of Desert Modern architects—the movers and shakers who shaped Palm Springs during the post-World War II boom and who created a body of internationallyrecognized work during the heyday of the 1950s and ‘60s. These buildings continue to draw people to Palm Springs from all over the world to admire and appreciate their innovative designs in our unique desert setting.

Palm Springs Art Museum Free 2nd Sundays Sunday, Dec. 8 10am – 5pm Tickets FREE 760-322-4800 – psmuseum.org Join us on the second Sunday of each month for a closer look at artworks from the permanent collection or special exhibitions, and participate in art-making, artist demonstrations, or activities. Free 2nd Sundays are presented with the generous support from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation.

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HEALTH/FITNESS

Yoga on the Great Lawn Sunnylands Friday, Dec. 6 10am Tickets FREE 760-202-2222 – sunnylands.org The 60-minute session is open to all ages and experience levels. All participants should bring yoga mats and dress comfortably. Sun protection and water are suggested. No reservations are required.

IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon Indian Wells–La Quinta Sunday, Dec. 8 Tickets 275.00, 300.00, 330.00, 350.00, 405.00, 455.00 More info: ironman.com The race starts at Lake Cahuilla with a 1.2-mile swim. Then riders hop on their bikes for a 56-mile ride on a new bike course that takes them through the beautiful city of La Quinta to Indian Wells.

The triathletes will then start and finish their 13.1-mile run at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. This year’s IRONMAN triathlon will truly be a spectacular event for athletes and spectators alike.

Free Outdoor Yoga Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert Wednesday, Dec. 11 9am – 10am

Tickets FREE 760-346-5600 – psmuseum.org Experience the unique combination of art and yoga. Participants will be able to rejuvenate their soul in the serene setting of the museum’s Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden during the complimentary onehour class by certified instructor Fernando Alvarez from Pranin Yoga. All skill levels are welcome. Afterward, guests are invited to visit the Farmer’s Market in the museum’s parking lot featuring fresh produce from local growers (8am - 12:30pm), a docent tour of the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden at 11am., or stop inside The Galen building to view the current art exhibition.

Presented in collaboration with the Farmer’s Market of Palm Desert and Pranin Yoga.

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COMMUNITY

Palm Springs VillageFest Palm Canyon Drive – Downtown Palm Springs Thursday, Dec. 5 6pm – 10pm 760-320-3781 – villagefest.org Street fair featuring arts, crafts, food and entertainment!

9th Annual Desert Living Home Show Fall Palm Springs Convention Center Friday, Dec. 6 10am – 5pm * Saturday, Dec. 7 10am – 5pm * Sunday, Dec. 8 10am – 4pm Tickets FREE More info: desertlivinghomeshow.com Discover all the new products, inspiring designs, and expert knowledge that will turn any house or condo into YOUR BEST HOME EVER! City of La Quinta Tree Lighting La Quinta Civic Center Friday, Dec. 6 6pm – 9pm Tickets FREE 760-777-7000 – playinlaquinta.com Everyone is invited to celebrate the holiday season in La Quinta’s very own winter wonderland. The Tree Lighting Ceremony will include live performances, crafts, cookies, hot cocoa, pictures with Santa, and complimentary rides around Civic Center Park on a holiday train! All ages are welcome.

Walk of the Stars Palm Springs Mary Hart – Star Dedication Saturday, Dec. 7 3pm Tickets FREE More info: walkofthestars.com The legendary entertainment journalist, TV icon and longtime Mistress of Ceremonies of the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s glamorous Film Awards Gala, will be honored with a star on the City’s world famous Walk of the Stars Palm Springs. The Star Dedication is organized by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade Palm Canyon Drive Saturday, Dec. 7 5:45pm – 7pm Tickets FREE More info: psfestivaloflights.com The Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade kicked off in the early 1990s along Palm Canyon Drive and has been held every year since on the first Saturday in December. The 27th annual parade will feature a host of marching bands, performing groups as well as the Budweiser Clydesdales, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Snoopy and the Gang — and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Desert Ice Castle Winter Ice Show 2019 Sunday, Dec. 8 5pm Tickets 8.00 760-324-0400 – deserticecastle.com Talented figure skaters performing their holiday programs.

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FOOD/WINE/BEER

Coachella Valley Brewing Co. Brewery Tours Friday, Dec. 6 6:30pm * Saturday, Dec. 7 2pm, 4pm & 6pm Tickets FREE 760-343-5973 – cvbco.com Locally Crafted. With an emphasis on farm-to-table brewing, Coachella Valley Brewing Co. uses the vast diversity of the Coachella Valley as inspiration. They combine the luxury of the Palm Springs west valley with the agricultural excellence of the east valley to produce truly unique and flavorful beer. Using local citrus, herbs, honey, and spices, the brewery supports local farms and flavors. CVB believes sustainability, creativity, and passion are the key ingredients in the best craft beer.

Catalan Restaurant Sunday Brunch Sunday, Dec. 8 10:30am – 1:30pm 760-770-9508 – catalanrestaurant.com Begins this weekend and thereafter, every Sunday of the month. View the menu online.

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SPORTS

Indian Wells Tennis Garden Pickleball Clinic Thursday, Dec. 5 10am – 11am Tickets 25.00, 35.00 760-200-8200 indianwellstennisgarden.com Pickleball is a fast-paced game that combines tennis, ping pong and badminton.

Hone your skills and refine your technique at this clinic.

Indian Wells Tennis Garden Mixers Thursday, Dec. 5 6pm – 8pm Tickets FREE Members, 10.00 NonMembers

December 5 to December 11, 2019

760-200-8200 indianwellstennisgarden.com Mix it up ‘Tennis Paradise’ style! Share the court with your desert companions and ace the competition in this weekly adult mixer.

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CHARITY EVENTS

McCallum Theatre Annual Gala – Starring Seal Thursday, Dec. 5 8pm Tickets 100.00, 125.00 760-340-2787 – mccallumtheatre.com Become a sponsor and attend this exclusive evening honoring well known Valley philanthropist, Jan Salta. Enjoy fine dining at a local participating restaurant and then a performance by Grammy Award-winning artist, Seal, with a 29-piece orchestra performing standards

by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Charlie Chaplin, and more! Seal is a British singer-songwriter who has sold over 20 million records worldwide including major hits, “Crazy,” “Kiss from a Rose” and his critically-acclaimed “Standards” album. He is the recipient of four Grammy Awards. Proceeds from the McCallum Theatre Annual Gala help fund Theatre operations as well as arts education programs that annually bring training in theater, dance, music and visual arts to 40,000 schoolchildren and educators at no cost to them. These funds also make it possible to continue to bring world-class performances to Coachella Valley residents. You’re invited to play an important role in supporting the McCallum by becoming a sponsor of this wonderful Gala celebration.

A Contemplative Life of Meditation with Alan Arkin and Friends Insight Community of the Desert (Buddhist Meditation Center) Saturday, Dec. 7 3pm – 6pm Tickets 125.00, 250.00, 500.00, 750.00, 1,000.00 888-280-6777 – desertinsight.org Join Academy Award winning actor, Alan Arkin for an intimate afternoon to discuss his 50+ years of meditation practice and dedication to a spiritual way of life.

Tickets for this tax-deductable fundraising event will provide a unique opportunity to hear about Mr. Arkin’s contemplative life of meditation. We ask and encourage everyone attending to offer donations at the highest level that they are able. All donations will be used to support Insight Community of the Desert.

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To have your event listed in our Don’t Be Clueless in the Coachella Valley column email: Stephanie@coachellavalleyweekly. com.

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December 5 to December 11, 2019

MIND,BODY & SPIRIT

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BY BRONWYN ISON

MEDITATION: WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

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uieting the mind, resting your body, calming the breath and thinking of nothing sounds to most— near impossible. Prior to accepting and adopting a meditation practice of my own, I knew it would challenging.

Did you know more than 60,000 thoughts run through your head every single day? What busy minds we have. Are you always clear on what you’re thinking? It may be you don’t even know what you’re thinking about during given times throughout your day. Meditation draws us closer to clarity.

Each morning, I commence with quiet and alone time. No distractions. I read my devotional and this allows me to set the precedence for my day. I focus on all things positive. I create a positive flow of thoughts that will benefit my professional and personal day.

It comes without saying that meditation can help improve your lifestyle in a plethora of ways. It’s important to keep in mind that there isn’t a perfect way to meditate. It’s your personal time. However, the goal is to help you achieve the following.

• Reduce stress • Improve your concentration • Encourage a healthy lifestyle • Encourage and improve greater selfawareness • Increase your happiness

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• Meditation encourages self-acceptance • It slows aging • Meditation benefits the cardiovascular system and immune health Consistency of anything and one will reap the rewards. Even you feel as though you don’t know what you’re doing… it’s ok. Start with five minutes a day. Solitude and free from devices.

Find a slow and steady breath and relax.

Curious to learn more? Would you like to be guided through a meditation? Join Rebekah Emerson at Evolve Yoga, Friday, March 30, 10:30am-11:30am, $20 per person. Reserve your mat space at, www.e-volveyoga.com Bronwyn Ison is the owner of Evolve Yoga and the founder of Better For It Now, a 7-Principle Program to improved Self-Care & bronwynison.com (Online Yoga Classes ON DEMAND). 760-564-YOGA(9642)

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

Week of December 5

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In composing this oracle, I have called on the unruly wisdom of Vivienne Westwood. She’s the fashion designer who incorporated the punk esthetic into mainstream styles. Here are four quotes by her that will be especially suitable for your use in the coming weeks. 1. “I disagree with everything I used to say.” 2. “The only possible effect one can have on the world is through unpopular ideas.” 3.

“Intelligence is composed mostly of imagination, insight, and things that have nothing to do with reason.” 4. “I’m attracted to people who are really true to themselves and who are always trying to do something that makes their life more interesting.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “I’m drowning in the things I never told you.” Famous make-up artist Alexandra Joseph wrote that message to a companion with whom she had a complicated relationship. Are you experiencing a similar sensation, Taurus? If so, I invite you to do something about it! The coming weeks will be a good time to stop drowning. One option is to blurt out to your ally all the feelings and thoughts you’ve been withholding and hiding. A second option is to divulge just some of the feelings and thoughts you’ve been withholding and hiding—and then monitor the results of your partial revelation. A third option is to analyze why you’ve been withholding and hiding.

Is it because your ally hasn’t been receptive, or because you’re afraid of being honest? Here’s what I suggest: Start with the third option, then move on to the second.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I’ve got some borderline sentimental poetry to offer you in this horoscope. It may be too mushy for a mentally crisp person like you. You may worry that I’ve fallen under the sway of sappy versions of love rather than the snappy versions I usually favor. But there is a method in my madness: I suspect you need an emotionally suggestive nudge to fully activate your urge to merge; you require a jolt of sweetness to inspire you to go in quest of the love mojo that’s potentially available to you in abundance. So please allow your heart to be moved by the following passage from poet Rabindranath Tagore: “My soul is alight with your infinitude of stars. Your world has broken upon me like a flood. The flowers of your garden blossom in my body.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Try saying this, and notice how it feels: “For the next 17 days, I will make ingenious efforts to interpret my problems as interesting opportunities that offer me the chance to liberate myself from my suffering and transform myself into the person I aspire to become.” Now speak the following words and see what thoughts and sensations get triggered: “For the next 17 days, I will have fun imagining that my so-called flaws are signs of potential strengths and talents that I have not yet developed.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): An interviewer asked singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen if he needed to feel bothered and agitated in order to stimulate his creativity. Cohen said no. “When I get up in the morning,” he testified, “my real concern is to discover whether I’m in a state of grace.” Surprised, the interviewer asked, “What do you mean by a state of grace?” Cohen described it as a knack for balance that he called on to ride the chaos around him. He knew he couldn’t fix or banish the chaos— and it would be arrogant to try. His state of grace was more like skiing skillfully down a hill, gliding along the contours of unpredictable terrain. I’m telling you about Cohen’s definition, Leo, because I think that’s the state of grace you should cultivate right now. I bet it will stimulate your creativity in ways that surprise and delight you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Poet Juan Felipe Herrera praises the value of making regular efforts to detox our cluttered minds. He says that one of the best methods for accomplishing this cleansing is to daydream. You give yourself permission to indulge in uncensored, unabashed fantasies. You feel no inhibition about envisioning scenes that you may or may not ever carry out in real life. You

© Copyright 2019 Rob Brezsny

understand that this free-form play of images is a healing joy, a gift you give yourself. It’s a crafty strategy to make sure you’re not hiding any secrets from yourself. Now is a favorable time to practice this art, Virgo.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In accordance with current astrological omens, here’s your meditation, as articulated by the blogger named Riverselkie: “Let your life be guided by the things that produce the purest secret happiness, with no thought to what that may look like from the outside. Feed the absurd whims of your soul and create with no audience in mind but yourself. What is poignant to you is what others will be moved by, too. Embrace what you love about yourself and the right people will come.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I swear I became a saint from waiting,” wrote Scorpio poet Odysseus Elytis in his poem “Three Times the Truth.”

According to my reading of the astrological omens, you may be in a similar situation. And you’ll be wise to welcome the break in the action and abide calmly in the motionless lull. You’ll experiment with the hypothesis that temporary postponement is best not just for you, but for all concerned.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “My greatest asset is that I am constantly changing,” says Sagittarian actress and activist Jane Fonda. This description may not always be applicable to you, but I think it should be during the coming weeks.

You’re primed to thrive on a robust commitment to self-transformation. As you proceed in your holy task, keep in mind this other advice from Fonda.

1. “One part of wisdom is knowing what you don’t need anymore and letting it go.” 2. “It is never too late to master your weaknesses.” 3. “If you allow yourself, you can become stronger in the very places that you’ve been broken.” 4. “The challenge is not to be perfect. It’s to be whole.” P.S. And what does it mean to be whole? Be respectful toward all your multiple facets, and welcome them into the conversation you have about how to live.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You can’t escape your past completely. You can’t loosen its hold on you so thoroughly that it will forever allow you to move with limitless freedom into the future. But you definitely have the power to release yourself from at least a part of your past’s grip. And the coming weeks will be an excellent time to do just that: to pay off a portion of your karmic debt and shed worn-out emotional baggage.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian playwright August Strindberg didn’t have much interest in people who “regurgitate what they have learned from books.” He was bored by stories that have been told over and over again; was impatient with propaganda disguised as information and by sentimental platitudes masquerading as sage insights. He craved to hear about the unprecedented secrets of each person’s life: the things they know and feel that no one else knows and feels. He was a student of “the natural history of the human heart.”

I bring Strindberg’s perspective to your attention, my dear one-of-a-kind Aquarius, because now is a perfect time for you to fully embody it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “It’s no fun being in love with a shadow,” wrote Piscean poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. And yet she indulged profusely in that no-fun activity, and even capitalized on it to create a number of decent, if morose, poems. But in alignment with your astrological omens, Pisces, I’m going to encourage you to fall out of love with shadows. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to channel your passions into solid realities: to focus your ardor and adoration on earthly pleasures and practical concerns and imperfect but interesting people.

Homework: Evil is boring. Rousing fear is a hackneyed shtick. More: bit.ly/EvilisBoring ---------------------------------------Rob Brezsny - Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

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December 5 to December 11, 2019

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December 5 to December 11, 2019

CANNABIS CORNER

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BY MICHELLE ANN RIZZIO

CANNABIS & PAIN RELIEF

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fter our first storm of the season on Thanksgiving, I am finally feeling the aches and pains in my body— and I’m sure you are too! For those of us who struggle with chronic pain the desert is the perfect place for us to seek relief until the chill fills the air and the snow capped landscape locks up our bodies!

Cannabis to the rescue!

During these cold winter weeks I love infusing CBD into my daily life in order to keep my pain scale low and my mood chipper. A luxurious way to escape the pain is a weekly therapeutic bath with a CBD bath bomb, your favorite 20:1 or 18:1 tincture to add to the water, and a CBD 20:1 or 2:1 joint for those of us that smoke. Aside from adding tinctures to your bath water, try adding your preferred amount of drops to your favorite warm beverage. Make sure the temperature isn’t hot, as the heat could make the tincture ineffective.

Massaging your body with a CBD rich salve daily can also assist in easing any kinks or tightness from the lowering temperatures. CBD works together with our intrinsic endocannabinoid system in order to offer systemic relief of inflammation. It’s the perfect solution for wellness during the cold weather we are experiencing.

If you love THC, one of my favorite cold

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weather solutions for pain is a hash joint.

That’s right! A nice purple indica flower rolled with a snake of hash is the perfect combo to release tension. Yoga has always been my go to after a hash joint. I find that it allows me to be able to stretch deeper into my tight areas and flow. Other options are to stretch on a medicine ball, put your legs up in the air against a wall, or massage with tennis balls!

I hope the suggestions help you get through the coming weeks of cold. If it gets unbearable, give yourself a day off with your favorite edible and enjoy.

CANNABIS CORNER

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

December 5 to December 11, 2019

BY RUTH HILL R.N.

DOES HEMP OIL CBD AS A FOOD LIVE UP TO THE HYPE?

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o meet the surging demand for cannabidiol, or CBD, a derivative of hemp, farmers have invested heavily in replacing the low profit soybeans hay or tobacco with high yield hemp. Hemp became legal to cultivate in the US last year after the passage of the farm bill. Many farmers have secured contracts with buyers before the growing season while others rolled the dice.

According to Brightfield Group growers in 36 states planted hemp to a tune of 285,000 acres from 78,000 in 2018. This increased cultivation contributed to a 42%53% decline in prices. A huge learning curve caused many farmers to miss turning a profit. Regulatory uncertainty with licensing, record-keeping, testing, the normal learning curve of soil conditions, cultivation and extraction has left farmers unable to unload their product.

This past year has seen an explosion of infused CBD in creams teas coffee candy beer soda vitamins and tinctures advertised for medicinal use. Local stores like Albertson’s, Walgreens, smoke shops, online websites, naturalist, chiropractors, dermatologists and acupuncturist are advertising/selling the medical benefits of CBD. The U.S. Department of Agriculture who is responsible for regulating hemp products federally has stepped up enforcement in hemp advertising. The FDA has approved only one drug containing CBD, Epidiolex, for medical use.

The conundrum for the public is discerning medical grade cannabis sold in the dispensaries from medical grade cannabis sold as an FDA hemp food product.

Cannabaceae is the plant nomenclature for the hemp family of plants. The Genus Cannabis L or hemp is the spindly leaves plant. The Species Cannabis Sativa L. is the broad leaf plant with the slang label marijuana. There are over 2000 Variety Cannabis sativa L. species. The scientific descriptions sativa and indica are no longer used due to the breeding of the THC and/ or change of CBD:THC ratios. Currently cannabis nomenclature is described as Cultivar 1 (high THC low CBD), Cultivar 2 (balanced THC: CBD) and Cultivar 3 (low THC high CBD).

Hemp is being cultivated to remove the THC moving it out of the dispensaries into drug stores, gas stations, online websites and more as a food supplement. Hemp free THC is yet to be regulated like hemp marijuana. Learning to discern a medical grade product can be daunting. It’s all in the compliance with regulations and labeling. The label should state potency, 10mg/ml. The dropper should be scored for milligrams/milliliters (mg/ml). It should be tested for metal, pesticides, mold, bacteria.

The label should also state the various cannabinoids by percentage and how to dose. The validity of and medical benefits derived from creams, tea, coffee, beer, soda is not researched. CBD is not a panacea.

Treat hemp oil CBD from a smoke shop with the same jaundiced eye as marijuana from the dispensary. First ask for the test results. Do not take a tincture from a hemp product to use with a vape pen. The ingredients in the tincture may not be safely smoked. This practice is exactly what started the vape pen crisis. CA has a history of regulating marijuana safely since 1996. The U.S. Agriculture Department is only starting this process this year. State level agriculture departments are new to this oversight.

Because of the plethora of products on November 25, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to 15 companies for illegally selling products containing cannabidiol (CBD) in ways that violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The FDA also published a revised Consumer Update detailing safety concerns about CBD products more broadly.

Based on the lack of scientific information supporting the safety of CBD in food, the FDA is indicating in their Nov. 25th announcement that it cannot conclude that CBD is generally recognized as safe among qualified experts for its use in human or animal food. While the science of the plant demonstrates it is safe to ingest the hyperbole in advertising these hemp infused products is overblown.

Go to the FDA press release website for more information.

For reliable safe tested hemp oil CBD go to truefarmacbd.com.

Ruth Hill consults, and lectures on medical cannabis hilruth@gmail.com

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December 5 to December 11, 2019

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