s-2016-04-07 by News & Review

FREE A look at why so few black youth in Sacramento play baseball

Police surveillance and your privacy

by Graham Womack • Page 12

Co-opting Black Lives Matter

The karate kids grow up Sacramento’S newS & entertainment weekly

Volume 27, iSSue 51

thurSday, aPril

7, 2016

newSreView.com

building a

HealtHy S a c r a m e n t o

New Program Gives Undocumented Residents access to Care by E d g a r S a n c h E z

Marcos, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, dreams of getting a green card that would identify him as a legal U.S. resident. He knows the process may take years. In the meantime, he has obtained a different card, one that identifies the 29-year-old Sacramento landscaper as a client of Healthy Partners, Sacramento County’s new primary care program for undocumented county residents. “This card represents a lot to me, because it represents my health,” says Marcos, who asked that his full name not be printed. “If I need a checkup, I can go see my doctor at Healthy Partners.” Citing fiscal constraints, the county discontinued primary health services to undocumented immigrants in 2009 in a bid to save $2.4 million a year. But last summer, amid a rebounding economy, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors re-established primary health care through the Healthy Partners Program. The board’s unanimous vote sent a powerful message: Denying basic health care to “people without papers” endangers the public health. The program opened Jan. 4 at the Sacramento County Health Center on Broadway, with an initial commitment to provide free primary and preventive health care to 3,000 low-income undocumented clients ages 19 to 64. Services are delivered by Health Center staff who also serve MediCal enrollees. Services include primary health care, medication services, flu shots, women’s health, and treatment of chronic conditions.

Enrollment assistance and outreach for Healthy Partners is provided by, among others, Sacramento Covered and La Familia Counseling Center. Both nonprofits receive support from The California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities initiative. The clinic has had no shortage of clients.

Denying basic health care to “people without papers” enDangers the public health. “We’ve experienced a steady enrollment flow since our opening,” says Jodi Nerell, a licensed clinical social worker who directs the Healthy Partners Program for the county’s Department of Health and Human Services, Primary Health Services Division. As of late February, about 1,000 people had received medical services through Healthy Partners. About 95 percent identified Spanish as their preferred language, with the rest citing Russian and Mien as their primary tongues. When county supervisors voted to fund the primary care program, they said they expected local hospitals to contribute at least $1 million worth of services, according to The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento

At right, Jodi Nerell, LCSW, Program Coordinator for the new Healthy Partners Program, works with John Onate, MD, Medical Director at the Sacramento County Health Center in Sacramento, which began seeing undocumented adult residents on Jan. 4. Photo by Melissa Uroff

Physicians Initiative to Reach Out, Innovate and Teach (SPIRIT) program will also donate specialty services valued at an estimated $1.5 million to the program. Besides The Endowment, other partners include the Mexican Consulate in Sacramento. With so many partners — clients being No. 1 — it was only natural the program be christened Healthy Partners. The name “embodies (our) partnership… with our patients and with our stakeholders,” says Nerell, who expects services in the program to continue into next year.

your zIP code shouldn’t predict how long you’ll live – but it does. Staying healthy requires much more than doctors and diets. Every day, our surroundings and activities affect how long – and how well – we’ll live. Health Happens in neighborhoods. Health Happens in Schools. Health Happens with Prevention.

In 2010, The California Endowment launched a 10-year, $1 billion plan to improve the health of 14 challenged communities across the state. Over the 10 years, residents, community-based organizations and public institutions will work together to address the socioeconomic and environmental challenges contributing to the poor health of their communities.

#health4all aLL californians should have access to health coverage, regardless of their immigration status. Find out more at calendow.org/prevention/health4all/

paid with a grant from the california endowment 2 | SN&R | 04.07.16

BuIldIng HEalTHy COmmunITIES

www.SacBHC.org

EditoR’S NotE

APRiL 7, 2016 | VoL. 27, iSSuE 51

04 06 10 12 16 19 23 25 29 30 32 40 43 59

STREETALK

Writes of passage

NEwS GREENLIGHT FEATuRE SToRy ARTS&CuLTuRE SECoNd SATuRdAy NIGHT&dAy

The other day a friend mentioned it would soon be time for prom. Not for us, of course—she and I are light years away from that high school rite of passage—but for her friend’s daughter. As she talked, I couldn’t help but think of all it entailed. Formal dance finery comprising snappy suits with gleaming, spit-shined shoes and elegant dresses paired with sky-high heels. An overpriced dinner, probably, and for some a lifetime’s worth of anticipation. It made me think, too, about SN&R’s annual College Essay Contest and the anticipation and expectations that it, too, signals. Consider it another ritual of sorts. Each year SN&R asks high school area seniors to submit essays on the topic of their choice. The contest, which follows most students’ college application process, is a chance for aspiring college freshmen to share their histories and hopes for the future, their dreams, fears, struggles and accomplishments. Those carefully crafted words can lead to cold, hard cash, too. The contest is sponsored by local businesses and there’s a $2,000 prize for the first-place winner, $1,000 for the second-place winner and $500 for a runner-up. Tuitions may be sky-high but those prizes can fund textbooks and supplies, rent and food, etc. Each year we receive numerous entries; picking the top entries is among the hardest and most rewarding tasks we get to undertake. The contest closes at 5 p.m. Friday, April 22, and the winning essays, along with honorable mentions, will be featured in an upcoming issue. Visit www.newsreview.com/collegessay to find out more.

dISH + off menu STAGE FILm muSIC + sound Advice ASK JoEy THE 420 15 mINuTES

CoVER dESIGN By BRIAN BRENEmAN CoVER PHoTo By ISToCK/EJGRuBBS

Our Mission: To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages employees to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Co-editors Rachel Leibrock, Nick Miller Staff Writer Raheem F. Hosseini Arts & Culture Editor Janelle Bitker Assistant Editor Anthony Siino Editorial Coordinator Becca Costello Editor-at-large Melinda Welsh Contributors Daniel Barnes, Ngaio Bealum, Amy Bee, Alastair Bland, Rob Brezsny, Jim Carnes, Willie Clark, Deena Drewis, Joey Garcia, Cosmo Garvin, Blake Gillespie, Lovelle Harris, Jeff Hudson, Jim Lane, Kel Munger, Kate Paloy, Patti Roberts, Ann Martin Rolke, Shoka, Bev Sykes, Graham Womack Editorial Intern Kris Hooks

Design Manager Lindsay Trop Art Director Brian Breneman Production Coordinator Skyler Smith Designer Kyle Shine Marketing/Publications Design Manager Serene Lusano Marketing/Publications Designer Sarah Hansel Contributing Photographers Lisa Baetz, Darin Bradford, Kevin Cortopassi, Wes Davis, Evan Duran, Luke Fitz, Jon Hermison, Shoka, Lauran Fayne Worthy Director of Sales and Advertising Corey Gerhard Sales Coordinators Anne Lesemann, Joanna Graves Senior Advertising Consultants Rosemarie Messina, Olla Swanson, Joy Webber, Kelsi White Advertising Consultants Meghan Bingen, Angel De La O, Stephanie Johnson, Lee Roberts Sales Assistant Matt Kjar Director of First Impressions David Lindsay Distribution Director Greg Erwin Distribution Services Assistant Larry Schubert Distribution Drivers Mansour Aghdam, Daniel Bowen, Heather Brinkley, Allen Brown, Mike Cleary, Jack Clifford, Lydia Comer, John Cunningham, Rob Dunnica, Chris Fong, Ron Forsberg, Garry Foster, Joanna Gonzalez-Brown, Greg Meyers, Aswad Morland,

Kenneth Powell, Gilbert Quilatan, Lloyd Rongley, Lolu Sholotan, Jonathan Taea N&R Publications Editor Michelle Carl N&R Publications Managing Editor Shannon Springmeyer N&R Publications Writers Kate Gonzales, Anne Stokes Senior N&R Publications Consultant Dave Nettles N&R Publications Consultants Elena Ruiz, Julie Sherry President/CEO Jeff VonKaenel Director of Nuts & Bolts Deborah Redmond Marketing/Promotions/Facilities Manager Will Niespodzinski Executive Coordinator Jessica Takehara Business Manager Nicole Jackson Payroll/AP Wizard Miranda Dargitz Accounts Receivable Specialist Kortnee Angel Sweetdeals Specialist/HR Coordinator Courtney DeShields Nuts & Bolts Ninja Christina Wukmir Senior Support Tech Joe Kakacek Developer John Bisignano System Support Specialist Kalin Jenkins 1124 Del Paso Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95815 Phone (916) 498-1234 Fax (916) 498-7910 Website www.newsreview.com

Got a News Tip? sactonewstips@newsreview.com Calendar Events www.newsreview.com/calendar Want to Advertise? Fax (916) 498-7910 or snradinfo@newsreview.com Classifieds (916) 498-1234, ext. 5 or classifieds@newsreview.com Job Opportunities jobs@newsreview.com Want to Subscribe to SN&R? sactosubs@newsreview.com Editorial Policies: opinions expressed in sn&R are those of the authors and not of chico community Publishing, inc. contact the editor for permissions to reprint articles, cartoons or other portions of the paper. sn&R is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or review materials. email letters to snrletters@newsreview.com. All letters received become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to print letters in condensed form and to edit them for libel. Advertising Policies: All advertising is subject to the newspaper’s standards of Acceptance. The advertiser and not the newspaper assumes the responsibility for the truthful content of their advertising message.

—RAchel leibRock r a c h e ll@ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m

sn&R is printed at bay Area news Group on recycled newsprint. circulation of sn&R is verified by the circulation verification council. sn&R is a member of sacramento metro chamber of commerce, bbb, cnPA, AAn and AWn.

9 JUNE 1 – 3 1 M A RCH 216 O Street • Downtown Sacramento @crockerart fti • crockerartmuseum.org

04.07.16 | SN&R | 3

“They jusT have no place To go. They need a place Too.”

ASked AT GreenbAck And VAn mAren LAneS in ciTruS heiGhTS:

Should we legalize camping for the homeless?

Terri SmiTh

doc PooLe

k yLe bAT TLeS

IT analyst

concrete finisher

My husband and I personally feed the homeless every weekend, so we have built some really wonderful relationships. Bathroom facilities are a big thing that we run across, and the need for mobile showers. As long as it is well-maintained and we have funding for mental health, so that those who can will get back out.

Ger ALd WiLLiAmS

retired

We already have a pretty big population of homeless in Sacramento from the trains that come through. We do have a lot of programs that help, but I think a little bit more support will be moving in a better direction. I don’t know where [to put a campsite] with all of the expansion happening around Sacramento.

battery delivery

Sure, yes. I think they really need it. What they really need is a building they can come to. It’s better than running them off. They need a helping hand. If they’ve been given a chance, they will do better for themselves; as long they are not into that dope or drinking too much and whooping and hollering.

Actually, I don’t think that is a good idea at all. I just have bad issues with homeless people. We need to help them and get them into homes and not give them a homeless site, temporarily. If we are going to help, we should help all the way.

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Judy kremer grandma

I think so, yes. There are a lot of homeless people. I live right down by CVS. It would be good. They are out on the streets, just sitting with no place to go. They just have no place to go. They need a place, too.

kirin benneWiTz stay-at-home mom

I do. I think [we need] safety for everyone all around, because sometimes they get hostile. I bike a lot on the bike trail and I see them roaming around there, too. They need somewhere to go. I sometimes feel unsafe. It is a concern for them, too, security and safety.

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License-plate readers are used to rescue people and stolen property, but they can also track the public’s whereabouts. ILLUSTRATION BY HANS BENNEWITZ

Follow that car Automated license-plate readers help find stolen vehicles in Sacramento, but they also record other personal data in unprecedented amounts by Raheem F. hosseini

Read a longer version of this story at www.nrewsreview.com.

6 | SN&R

As sherrif’s Sgt. Kyle Hoertsch eases his white, unmarked SUV past a diagonal bank of parked cars on Del Paso Boulevard, his onboard laptop pings like a row of winning slot machines. A black contraption the size of a CD player points six plastic orbs through the rear passenger window, scanning one license plate after another. The device transmits alphanumeric code to a database that is recording the public’s movement on an unprecedented scale. Ping. Ping. Ping. In a relatively short span of years, automated license-plate readers like the one in Hoertsch’s car have gone from | 04.07.16

luxury items to must-haves for cops, thanks to the likes of Vigilant Solutions, a Livermore-based company that outfits thousands of law-enforcement agencies with its tracking technology, including every agency in Sacramento County. Vigilant’s servers hold upward of 2 billion time- and location-stamped license-plate images, and add approximately 50 million each month, it says. In Sacramento County, the two biggest law-enforcement agencies more than tripled their number of detections between 2014 and 2015—to 37 million last year. Cops swear by the technology and say it’s become essential to doing everything

r a h e e mh @ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m

from recovering stolen vehicles to finding kidnapped children. “We’ve got numerous cases where this is used as an investigative resource,” Hoertsch told SN&R. “We use it in every aspect of the job.” Civil-liberties advocates, meanwhile, point out that ALPRs, as they’re known, largely inventory the whereabouts of innocent motorists, information that can be easily abused in the absence of formal regulatory oversight. “More and more cameras, longer retention periods and widespread sharing allow law-enforcement agents to assemble the individual puzzle pieces of where we have been over time into a

single, high-speed-resolution image of our lives,” the American Civil Liberties Union warned in a July 2013 report on the expanding use of ALPR technology. “The knowledge that one is subject to constant monitoring can chill the exercise of our cherished rights to free speech and association.” Or, as Berry Accius, founder of the local mentorship program Voice of the Youth, put it: “It’s like the ex-girlfriend that you know has dirty pictures of you. She may not do anything with it, but wait until you piss her off.” But ALPRs are no laughing matter to Accius and his fellow organizers in the African-American community. To him, they sound like an extension of the surveillance authorities have historically performed on anti-establishment groups. But now they can be applied to everyone. “You may as well just stay home or take the bus,” he said. Hoertsch says he understands the privacy concerns, but believes the upsides far outweigh the downs. And he says the sheriff’s department has imposed strict restrictions on the extent of the data dragnet and how long it can be stored.

BLACK LIVES MATTER CO-OPTED See NEWS

Sheriff Scott Jones, he says, made it clear that the agency is not in the business of collecting plate numbers. “That’s kind of the fine line,” he said. But not all agencies are created equally. In the city of Sacramento, the police department is collecting a lot more data and keeping it for much longer. And a nationwide shift toward what’s called “intelligence-led policing” has both the sheriff’s and police departments embracing facial-recognition software that is being deployed in public spaces without our knowledge. Ping. Each license-plate scan captures an infrared image of the plate, a color-image of the vehicle and its GPS coordinates, and a date and time stamp, among other information. Both the sheriff’s department, which patrols the unincorporated county and city of Rancho Cordova, and the Sacramento Police Department have greatly increased their ability to collect this information, public records show. In 2015, ALPRs employed by the sheriff’s department uploaded north of 4.9 million unique license plate reads to Vigilant’s servers, a 40 percent increase over the previous year, when 2.9 million plates were scanned. But those figures pale in comparison to what the police department is gathering. The sheriff’s department has a total of 20 plate-reading devices—18 mobile, mostly installed in patrol vehicles, and two fixed-location devices. The police department, which started its program earlier, has 43 total devices, 30 of which are attached to police observation devices, or PODs, at traffic intersections throughout the city. These PODs inhale a much larger amount of data, but also make that data less exact. For instance, in its response to an SN&R public-information request, the department said it couldn’t provide the exact number of unique license-plate reads, as the sheriff’s department had, because “the system has no automated means of differentiating the detection of a license plate from detections of other strings of characters in the everyday environment (street signs, phone numbers displayed on vehicles, etc.).” So, with that caveat, the police department reported the total number of detections per year, which showed astounding growth in 2015. That year, the department recorded 32.1 million detections, more

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than four times the 7.8 million detections made in 2014. Asked to explain the increase, police spokeswoman Officer Traci Trapani said it was due to more digital eyes going up at intersections. “The simple answer is the addition of more PODs. It’s like adding more officers on patrol,” she told SN&R. “That’s why we’re getting a lot more detections.” Similarly, Hoertsch said a second fixed unit at an undisclosed location explains the jump in his agency’s reads. “It basically doubled the amount of scans,” he said. The police department has already recorded 8.5 million detections through February 21 this year. Through April 5, the PODs have recorded at least 38 stolen-vehicle hits, resulting in those vehicles being recovered and 50 individuals being arrested on theft and other charges. “We primarily use it for stolen vehicles,” Trapani said of the program’s focus. That’s fine, said Tessa D’Arcangelew, an ACLU of Northern California organizer who specializes in technology and personal liberties. But ALPRs and technologies like it are like huge nets that catch thousands of dolphins for every one shark. “These technologies are evolving so quickly that the laws and the best practices and the understanding of how to use them hasn’t caught up,” she told SN&R. The PODs are mounted high and capture data other than license plates— including images of the motorists themselves through closed-circuit cameras. The department now has the equipment to do something with those headshots. In April 2015, the Sacramento City Council authorized the police department to apply $550,000 in state grant funding to reduce vehicular thefts by purchasing more Vigilant equipment. This added 20 more cameras at intersections and installed ALPR systems in three undercover vehicles. The contract also provided access to Vigilant’s FaceSearch software program, with a gallery of up to 50,000 images. Police spokesman Sgt. Bryce Heinlein explained that the facial-recognition program isn’t connected to ALPRs, but is equipped to the police observation devices that are erected around the city. For instance, Heinlein said, if a POD records a suspect leaving an armed robbery, police can use facial-recognition software in an attempt to identify him. “This system is nationwide, basically,” he said. “Our goal is to utilize it more, but not every department uses it.”

10 In other words, it’s a new technology that’s still being adopted. And, like ALPRs, it could soon be considered essential. In a 2013 purchase request, the sheriff’s department called a software system that could apply facial recognition to mugshots “a mission critical program.” The police purchase item was on the council’s consent agenda, so there was no discussion about it. Accius hadn’t heard of ALPR technology prior to being contacted by SN&R, which he says is part of the problem. “You can’t make decisions without having the community be part of the process,” he said. “There’s still issues of trust.” D’Arcangelew said municipalities can address this trust gap by having a robust public discussion before new technologies are deployed, and by ensuring proper safeguards are in place to protect people’s privacy. The city’s Office of Public Safety Accountability, which monitors complaints against the police and fire departments, is attempting to broker a meeting between the ACLU and police department to discuss some of these issues later this month. D’Arcangelew said the ACLU was initially contacted by community members who were concerned about the police department’s ShotSpotter detection system, which alerts police to possible gunshots. Depending on the model, she said the sensors could be picking up not just gunfire and sounds that resemble gunfire, but could also be recording conversations of people who think they’re speaking privately when the sensors are triggered. “When you layer all these technologies—ShotSpotter and voicerecognition software, ALPRs and facialrecognition—they start to become really invasive,” she said. OPSA Director Francine Tournour reached out to the ACLU after it contacted a city council member, she explained via text messages. “I thought it would be good for PD to hear their concerns,” she wrote. A spokeswoman for the ACLU of Northern California said the group is still waiting on a confirmation date for the meeting. Cruising northeast along the boulevard, digital images of rear-facing license plates flash across Hoertsch’s monitor, showing no criminal alerts.

CONGRATS, KINGS! See SCOREKEEPER

In the old days—we’re talking President Barack Obama’s first term— a patrol officer would manually punch in the license plate information into a computer-aided dispatch, or CAD, and wait to see what came up. Prior offenses, open warrants, last-known address, the whole jacket. Before that, cops were reading the military alphabet into their walkies. And before that, cops were walking up on vehicles in total ignorance. Now, they do less and know more. Hoertsch started researching the technology in 2009, while he was doing hot-spot patrols at low-rent motels with the K-9 unit. Back then, he was running 300 plates by 10 a.m.—manually. In less than four years, he says the plate-readers have become as ubiquitous—and indispensable—as computers. Hoertsch has since become the supervisor of his agency’s program, and a sought-after expert on the subject, telling agencies of the inventive applications that go far beyond the initial appeal: finding stolen vehicles. “I don’t even talk about stolen cars,” he said. “The departments that are focusing on stolen vehicles are missing the other aspects.” The license-plate scans perform what Hoertsch refers to as pre-records checks. By culling federal, state and local databases, the automated scans can notify officers within seconds of the location of a vehicle that has been reported stolen or is registered to someone who is a validated gang member, is prohibited from owning firearms, has a restraining order against them or any number of status identifiers that are either illegal or of concern to law enforcement. All agencies that use ALPRs are subscribed to “premier” lists, curated by the California Department of Justice and FBI National Crime Information Center, which itself has 21 subsections regarding prohibited people and property. Aside from those master lists, which feed alerts to patrol officers, the sheriff’s department has developed more than 20 of its own “hot lists” that it shares with surrounding police departments in the cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Galt and Woodland. Some of these custom hot lists have been developed for vehicles registered to sex offenders, state parolees, local probationers, people with outstanding warrants

“FOLLOW THAT CAR” continued on page 8

04.07.16 | SN&R | 7

“Follow that car” continued from page 7

ENTER SN&R’S

College Essay CONTEST THE PRIZES: First place

will receive a $2,000 award, plus $1,000 for second place and $500 for third place.

THE RULES: High-school seniors graduating in 2016 are eligible. Only one entry allowed per student, and you must live in the Sacramento region to apply. No SN&R employees or their relatives may enter. THE DETAILS: Essays must be no longer than 650 words. Email essays as a Word document or PDF attachment to collegeessay@newsreview.com, with the subject line “College Essay Contest.” Deadline is Friday, April 22, at 5 p.m.

and those on house arrest. The sheriff’s department is also beta-testing a hot list that will alert officers about registered vehicle owners with five or more DUIs. These lists are automatically generated by cross-referencing known persons and criminal records databases. Wirelessly uploaded every morning, notification alerts are sent to any officer who’s signed up to receive them. An ALPR scan can trigger one of these hits within seconds, firing off an email or text to a parking-enforcement officer that a vehicle registered to someone on the “scofflaw list,” which is anyone with five or more unpaid citations, was scanned at a specific location in Fair Oaks, for example. Back when Hoertsch was with the department’s sex-offender task force, he would receive approximately 80 to 100 emails a day. The ACLU says it wouldn’t have an issue if the technology was only about hot lists. “License-plate readers would pose few civil liberties risks if they only checked plates against hot lists and these hot lists were implemented soundly,” its report stated. “But these systems are configured to store the photograph, the license plate number, and the date, time and location where all vehicles are seen—not just the data of vehicles that generate hits.” Hoertsch says such information can lead to crucial investigative breaks. He recalled an armed robbery at a MetroPCS shop, one involving a suspect reportedly equipped with an AK-47, “obviously a pucker factor for law enforcement.” The victim recorded the license plate and a description of the fleeing vehicle. Authorities ran the information through their database, finding two hits: The visual scan recorded three days earlier showed the license plate on a car that didn’t match the suspect vehicle’s description. The image recorded one day earlier did. That told officers the plate had likely been stolen. The suspect was ultimately apprehended. In another case, the license plate scans helped prosecute a child molester. A 12-year-old boy had been molested by a family friend over a period of a year, Hoertsch says. The victim told authorities that one of the attacks occurred in a bathroom at Cal Expo during a soccer game. Investigators ran the defendant’s plate and discovered that it was scanned in the Cal Expo parking lot on that date, strengthening the prosecution’s case.

State and federal law are mum on how long license-plate information can be retained, leading it to wide disparities between agencies. According to its public-records response, the police department stores information for five years, which is on the longer side of what the ACLU found in its own research—and longer than the city’s two-year limit for saving emails. The sheriff’s department retains license-plate data for two years, then flushes everything, Hoertsch said. That wasn’t an easy decision. “The things we did wrestle with in our retention period was how long we should hold onto the information,” he said. “The photos are worth their weight in gold.” The ACLU believes agencies should discard all vehicle information that doesn’t appear on a hot list and has called for other regulations. Last year, 32 states considered ALPR-related legislation. California adopted Senate Bill 34 last year, which restricts who has access to ALPR data and gives the public some recourse if the information is misused, but doesn’t address retention. Along with Stingray cellphone tracking technology and the expanded use of biometric data in jails and on the street, the ubiquitous technology is a testament to the speed at which technological innovations outpace legal interpretations and limitations. “Everything plays catch-up,” Hoertsch acknowledged. “Being a cop for 20 years, I’m not saying stuff hasn’t been abused,” he added. But, he contended, “This is so noninvasive … compared to what’s available. Even on Google searches.” The Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office isn’t so sure. Supervising Assistant Public Defender Steven M. Garrett says there is still much his office doesn’t know about how ALPRs are used to build cases or justify arrests. “We’re seeing it more and we’re looking at it with a critical eye,” he said. Accius says he finds it ironic that law enforcement keeps gathering more detailed information about the public without sharing in return. Local agencies have resisted public calls for random drug testing, the widespread adoption of body cameras and empowered police commissions. “Why are we giving them all this access and they haven’t given us any access to them?” Accius said. “No reciprocation at all.” Ω

04.07.16 | SN&R | 8

In their name

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CARNEROS

Black Lives Matter Sacramento stands up to locals co-opting its message by Raheem F. hosseini

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As an official chapter of a grassroots civil rights movement, Black Lives Matter Sacramento doesn’t have a name-recognition problem so much as a messaging one. Over the past several months, chapter leader Tanya Faison says outside individuals have evoked the powerful phrase to market themselves or causes that don’t always align with the movement’s values. And she’d like it to stop. “There’s a lot of confusion,” she said. “We want to build. And we’re spending a lot of time explaining that we’re valid.” The most recent misstatement occurred during a March 30 candidates’ forum at Sol Collective, which Faison didn’t attend but heard about after the fact. Three attendees told SN&R that Councilwoman Angelique Ashby, a mayoral candidate, tried to strengthen her appeal among black voters by saying she had the support of the president of Black Lives Matter Sacramento, whom she identified as Christina Arechiga, a local community activist. According to BLM Sacramento’s website, Arechiga isn’t a member of the 12-member chapter, which doesn’t have a president. Challenged at the forum, the attendees said Ashby stuck to her answer. “I remember it specifically, because she was responding to my question,” said Teresa Sale. “And everybody went, ‘Hmm,’ like, ‘No, that’s not correct.’” “That’s a problem, because we don’t support her,” Faison said. “We don’t support any candidate. We’re all individuals.” Ashby said she wasn’t sure where she first heard it, but referred SN&R to one of its stories from last year, concerning a city council meeting in which Arechiga identified herself as the local chapter’s founder. Also problematic for the chapter was the marketing material that a Sierra Health Foundation steering committee disseminated in September 2015, to raise support for a plan to curb the high death rates among African-American children. Under a heading that read, “Is it Black Lives Matter Sacramento?” the promo answered, in part, “If it is about police brutality it is not Black Lives Matter Sacramento.” Exposing police brutality is one of the movement’s central goals, which started as a hashtag following the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer and evolved as the country began paying attention to the fatal police killings of unarmed blacks. Faison says she worked things out with the Sierra Health Foundation, which changed its steering committee’s name to Black Children’s Lives Matter Sacramento. She says Ashby has yet to return her calls seeking an explanation. But Faison stressed that she isn’t looking to create conflict so much as allies. “We want to love each other first,” she said. “Even the people that are using our name, we want to meet with and mend things without beefing.” Ω

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Thousands of companies would go out California’s minimum wage will be of business. There would be massive job going up. And going up a lot. losses. There would be an increase in Supported only by the Democrats, a poverty. bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last The chamber’s dire predictions never week will give minimum-wage workcome true. What did happen is that ers a pay hike, to $10.50 in 2017, $11 lower-income workers made a little more in 2018, and $1 more each year through money, and richer people tended to make 2022, when they will be making 15 a little less. bucks an hour across the state. And this is exactly what the Small companies with less than 25 UC Berkeley Labor Center predicts employees will get a one-year delay. will happen again. They estimate that And, if the economy tanks or unemthe minimum-wage increase, and its ployment goes up, the governor can ripple effect, will impact 5.6 million delay the hikes. Californians, raising their wages an I am a newspaper publisher and a average of 24 percent. small business owner with an annual The Labor Center also predicts payroll of around $4 million, and that this increase will have often little to no profit margin. almost no impact on net We have employees jobs. Businesses will who are currently have to raise their paid less than $15 an This will have a prices, which will hour, and we have cost them some sales, exempt employees big, positive impact but the workers who in California whose on working people in make more money salaries are also tied to California. will spend and put the minimum wage. that money back in the With our current business economy. revenues and current But there are winners costs, and no other changes, and losers. A manufacturing the increase in California’s plant competing with lower-paid minimum wage would make us workers in Mississippi or China will unprofitable. be hurt. Retailers and restaurants, who And yet I support increasing the employ one-third of all minimum-wage minimum wage: Not because I have a workers, will have to raise their prices. death wish, but because, over the years, But businesses with a high percentage of our business has survived 12 increases in working-class customers may see their the California minimum wage. sales go up. And I can see the bigger picture. I know my labor costs will go up. I When I took over the Chico News & may have to raise prices. But so will my Review in 1980, the California minimum competitors. I expect that my bottom wage was $3.10, having just been line will remain about the same. But I increased from $2.90 earlier that year. understand that this change will have a Since, the minimum wage has gone up in big positive impact on working people in small jumps and big ones, like in 1988, California. That’s why I support it. Ω when it went up almost 27 percent, from $3.35 to $4.25. Every time an increase was suggested, the business community and chambers of commerce make the arguJeff vonKaenel is the president, CEO and majority ment that a minimum-wage hike would owner of the News & Review. lead California to an economic disaster.

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Gloves are sort-of off in the mayoral race, as Councilwoman Angelique Ashby unsuccessfully attempted to muzzle Darrell Steinberg’s $1.4 million campaign fund originally intended for a lieutenant governor’s race. As Raheem F. Hosseini reported last week, two city residents with “Vote for Ashby” signatures in their emails claimed that Steinberg could only use $165,000 of his coffers. Nice try.

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Scorekeeper says hook filmmaker Greta Gerwig up! Her in-development ode to Sacramento, titled Lady Bird, has come up short in tax credits. So, as of now, no indie darling Hollywood in Sacramento; looks like she’ll have to settle for only shooting exteriors. Who’s got a blank check?

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Strikeout From expensive gear to Oak Park Little League drama, a look at why so few black youth in Sacramento choose to play baseball—and how local legends are working to change this

by Graham Womack • photos by Evan Duran

Graham Womack is a Sacramentobased freelance writer and baseball historian. His work has appeared in Sporting News, the San Francisco Chronicle and Sports On Earth. Email him at thewomack@ gmail.com.

ne of the country’s most important people in the fight to get more African-Americans playing baseball can be found sitting in a dugout in Elverta. Jerry Manuel watches seven high-school students take infield practice on a baseball diamond in this tiny, rural community 10 miles north of Sacramento. The kids have come from all over the region to take part in a free program that Major League Baseball is considering replicating around the country in order to address its glaring diversity problem. Manuel and his son Anthony, a former minor leaguer, drill the kids: fielding ground balls, shagging flies, hitting and more. But the 62-year-old Manuel, a former MLB player and manager, worries about the future of baseball with fewer African-American players. “If you eliminate a culture from the game that has given you Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron … then you know that the level of play is not where it should be,” he explains. All 30 MLB teams will honor Robinson next week on April 15, the day he broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947. But this time of year also brings renewed focus on some sobering stats. Black players comprised 15 to 20 percent of MLB rosters from 1971 to 1997, peaking at 18.7 percent in 1981, according to Mark Armour of the Society for American Baseball Research. Today, that number’s closer to 7 percent.

Baseball officials and politicians talk a good game about making baseball more diverse. Mayor Kevin Johnson stood with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in San Francisco last June to support “Play Ball,” an initiative to get more children swinging bats. But, away from the cameras, representatives of Oak Park Little League accuse others of trying to push it off of its hometown field. Numerous other factors make it difficult for African-Americans and others to play baseball, from an expensive traveltournament system and fewer scholarships

12 | SN&R | 04.07.16

to limited funds from MLB or local governments for purchasing equipment and maintaining fields. People like Manuel wind up being crucial, because, really, not many others can do this work. In 2014, Manuel became the day-to-day leader of the MLB’s On-Field Diversity Task Force. Today, he and his son run a free baseball academy connected with Elverta schools. On the field, on this sunny, spring day, freshman shortstop Kemet Brown confidently scoops ground balls and rifles throws home. Later, he’ll hit from both

sides of the plate in the batting cage. Brown’s too young for college coaches to talk to him, per NCAA restrictions. But Manuel said he might be the best shortstop in Sacramento. “He is kind of the reason that we’re here,” Manuel said.

A tradition fizzles

In a sense, Sacramento reflects what’s happened with baseball around the country. African-American baseball players still come from the region, such as recent minor leaguers Cory Vaughn, Ryan Royster and Derek Hill. But it’s not like the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, when a renaissance of black players such as Dusty Baker and Derrek Lee went from Sacramento-area high schools to the majors. Manuel himself was an All-American in football and All-City in basketball at Cordova High School before playing parts of five seasons in MLB. Later, he’d become one of the most respected managers in baseball, earning Manager of the Year honors with the Chicago White Sox in 2000. Leon and his brother Leron Lee starred for Grant High School in Del Paso Heights and then became two of the first Americans to star in Japanese baseball in the late 1970s and early ’80s. Many other African-American baseball players came from Sacramento during the 1960s and ’70s, such as Jerry Royster, Rowland Office, Bob Oliver, R.J. Reynolds, and brothers Curtis and Leon Brown. A second wave followed in the 1980s and ’90s, such as Bob Oliver’s

son Darren, who attended Rio Linda High School and pitched for 20 years in the majors. John F. Kennedy High School product Greg Vaughn became one of MLB’s most feared sluggers in the 1990s. Leon Lee’s son Derrek went from attending Baker’s local youth baseball camps to playing for him on the Chicago Cubs. But while Derrek was coming of age in the late 1980s, something else was starting to emerge that’s changed baseball dramatically: travel ball. Now, parents spend thousands to register their teens in travel tournaments in hopes of catching a scout’s eye. That’s fine for parents who can afford it. “They’ll mortgage their houses to send their kids to a tournament,” Leon Lee said. Yet it also speaks to a broader theme pushing African-Americans out of baseball: The sport’s gotten too expensive. “If my mom had to pay $250, $300 for me and my brother and sister to play, being a single parent, it wouldn’t have happened,” Vaughn told this writer last year in an interview for BaseballPastAndPresent.com. “The bats are $400. The shoes, the spikes, the travel—it’s just really an expensive sport.” Limited finances can affect any race, but it’s a disproportionate problem for African-Americans. According to census data, the median black household in America earned $35,398 in 2014, compared to $60,256 for whites and $53,657 for all households. Other factors limit the amount of African-Americans playing baseball, too.

Leon Lee, shown here pitching to his grandkid, chose baseball as a kid at Grant High School. His son, Derrek, was a two-time All-Star for the Chicago Cubs. Lee’s put his own money on the line to fix up Harry Renfree Field in Del Paso Heights. “The amount of African-American players who played at Renfree, it’s unprecedented,” he said of the field’s historical significance.

The number of people of color in baseball “has enlarged dramatically,” MLB Official Historian John Thorn noted. This is because most MLB teams have invested heavily in development academies in Latin America, where players can be signed at age 16, more cheaply and without going through baseball’s draft. “It’s really been a strategy of offsetting the cost of paying for U.S. prospects,” said Adrian Burgos Jr., a University of Illinois history professor and author of the 2007 book Playing America’s Game: Baseball, Latinos and the Color Line. An unintended consequence was a narrowing of baseball’s demographics. “There aren’t as many working-class white kids that are playing anymore, either,” baseball researcher Armour said. “You have poor Dominicans and Venezuelans and whatnot, and you have middle-class white kids. That’s who plays baseball.” Manuel, who welcomes students of all races for free to his academy, speaks of baseball’s “socioeconomic depravity.”

“We’re not getting those people whether they’re white kids, black kids, Hispanic, whatever, we’re not getting those kids, because the price to play this youth game is astronomical,” Manuel said. In April 2013, then-MLB Commissioner Bud Selig created the On-Field Diversity Task Force to address why the game isn’t more diverse, particularly with African-Americans. Manuel and 17 other coaches, academics and MLB staffers were selected for the task force. A year later, Manuel became its day-to-day leader. “We came up with more answers than I wanted to see, but I knew that we could make a difference if we put some resources and funding behind even the small grassroots programs,” Manuel said. Therein might lie a problem. MLB generates around $9 billion in annual revenues, but doesn’t fully fund its most well-known youth program, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, or RBI. “That is an unsustainable model,” program director David James told SN&R.

Black players comprised 15 to 20 percent of Major League Baseball from 1971 to 1997, peaking at 18.7 percent in 1981. Today, that number’s closer to 7 percent. Don’t expect local governments to fill the gap. The city of Sacramento spends just 1 percent of its general fund on youth services, with a variety of youth sports competing for dollars. Financial concerns also might be keeping African-Americans out of college baseball, where each NCAA team is allocated just 11.7 scholarships. Former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent remembered a conversation he had during a long car ride with good friend Larry Doby, a Hall of Famer, the American League’s first black player in 1947, and a product of Newark, N.J.

“He was a very good basketball and football player,” Vincent told SN&R. “He said, ‘If I wanted to get an education, it would be much harder to get a scholarship in New Jersey to a baseball school. There’s a lot more football and basketball scholarships.’ And Larry Doby knew what he was talking about.”

Little League drama

Fifteen miles and a world away from Manuel’s academy in Elverta, one of the oldest Little Leagues in the country prepares for opening day.

“Strikeout” continued on page 14 04.07.16 | SN&R | 13

Local baseball legend Jerry Manuel became the day-to-day leader of MLB’s On-Field Diversity Task Force in 2014. He works tirelessly so that more black kids have the opportunity to play baseball.

“Strikeout” continued from page 13 There’s no Jerry or Anthony Manuel here drilling the kids of Oak Park Little League on the fundamentals of baseball. Some have played before, some haven’t. The adult volunteer coaches do the best they can—but forces beyond their control threaten the league. A number of programs help underprivileged kids learn baseball. Oak Park belongs to the Urban Initiative, Little League’s version of RBI. Incidentally, James led the Urban Initiative before going to work for RBI. Programs like these are generally benign and comprised of people who, bottom line, simply want to help kids play baseball. But sometimes the programs clash. For decades, Harrison Crump served as president of Oak Park Little League. In 1999, the city named the baseball diamonds at McClatchy Park the CrumpBlackwell Field in honor of him and another former league president, Norman Blackwell. Sometime around 2009, people from the league say Crump was forced to step down due to age. His son Kirk also departed, whereupon he took over Sacramento’s RBI chapter. Sacramento’s RBI program hasn’t been affiliated with MLB since 2011 or 2012, RBI director James told SN&R. He’s reached out to Manuel, however, and they’re looking at solutions. Manuel doesn’t know if he wants to help. “RBI kind of got away from what it was initially for,” he said, adding that it became more about marketing and less about underserved communities. What remains of RBI in Sacramento is, some say, keeping kids from playing baseball. On Mondays, Fridays and every other Saturday, Oak Park Little League can’t use Crump-Blackwell Field because Kirk Crump gets it for RBI. Longtime Oak Park Little League coach Robert Bennett said the RBI

14 | SN&R | 04.07.16

practices are for show. “They come out here, and they strategically place people so it looks like they’re using the diamond,” Bennett said. But they’re not really practicing. Kirk has also been the point person for repairs on Crump-Blackwell Field in his job as a park supervisor for the city, with TransparentCalifornia.com listing him in this role as recently as 2014. Kirk told SN&R he’s currently employed in this job, though prior to this conversation, a city spokesperson said he was no longer. The city resurfaced the diamonds in March, but Oak Park Little League reps say that was the first substantial work the city’s done on the playing field in some time. “I’m going to be so honest,” Oak Park Little League president Tomi Gomez said. “I feel like they’re trying to push [us] out.” Bennett said Kirk’s gotten special treatment since the mayor is a friend of the family. For one thing, Kirk and Johnson graduated from Sacramento High School a year apart. “He’s getting preferential treatment,” Bennett said of Kirk. “Anybody else would have had this done before.”

Bennett would welcome Kirk Crump back. “He’s more than welcome to be a part of Oak Park Little League and build it up like it should be,” Bennett said. Johnson didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment. Kirk told SN&R he has a verbal agreement to share the field with former league president Blackwell, who serves as a volunteer groundskeeper. “Anything we do out there, we try to make sure Mr. Blackwell knows about it,” Kirk said. He wouldn’t elaborate about his father’s ouster from Oak Park Little League, though he defended his baseball work. “If you’ve been to that park, you can see the surroundings,” Kirk said. “It’s all drug-infested, gangs everywhere, and you just try to keep these kids off the street. It’s work. The more kids you save, the better.” Even beyond the drama with Oak Park Little League, the city can only do so much at the moment to encourage baseball in Sacramento. Johnson and Councilman Allen Warren, a former minor league baseball

player, each approached Leon Lee two years ago about renovating Harry Renfree Field, a one-time marquee ballpark in Del Paso Heights, vacant and fallen into disrepair for almost a decade. Lee remembered playing in high school tournaments at Renfree. “If you go back through the history and look at actual competitive baseball venues there, and the amount of African-American players who played at Renfree, it’s unprecedented,” he said. But aside from offering Renfree for a $0-per-year lease, Lee said the city contributed just $30,000 for a well, irrigation and transformers. That’s left Lee and a group he assembled to come up with roughly $4 million for, among other expenses, resurfacing the field, renovating the parking lot and putting in 3,500 seats. Construction is underway, with Renfree set to reopen in July. It will host a collegiate summer team that Lee’s operating in the Great West League, set to begin its inaugural season. “Right now, I’m just scared half to death, because if it doesn’t work, I’m the one sitting there holding the [bag],” Lee said.

More city money could be available in the future for baseball, if voters pass an unconventional measure on the June ballot. On February 2, city council voted 8-0 to approve cultivation of medical marijuana in Sacramento. The following week, Councilman Jay Schenirer introduced Measure Y, a tax on cultivation that could potentially provide $5 million a year for youth services. That’s more than enough to get a well-financed RBI program going in Sacramento or help with another project Lee envisions: resurfacing the baseball diamonds at William Land Park.

Hope on the diamond

Former MLB commissioner Vincent told SN&R that it’s critical that baseball stays diligent in its efforts to fix its diversity problem. “Any effort by baseball has to be a major, long-term commitment,” Vincent said. “This is not a problem that’s gonna get solved in 10 years.” He also said it’s critical to address the perception in the African-American community that baseball is dominated by whites.

Nearly 60 percent of MLB players are white. There aren’t many blacks in front offices or on coaching staffs either, with Dusty Baker and Dave Roberts the only two black managers in the majors currently. “The integration of baseball took place in 1947,” Vincent said. “But if you look around baseball today, how many general managers are black, how many third base coaches are black, how many managers? We’ve made progress, but it’s sporadic.” RBI director James is optimistic that African-Americans will become more involved in baseball again. “I’m a glass half-full guy,” he said. “There is work to be done, but we are making progress.” At the MLB Diversity Business Summit on March 8 in Phoenix, Commissioner Manfred touted one hopeful figure: One-quarter of first round draft picks in 2015 were African-American. Progress can also be seen in places like Elverta, where Manuel helped open Alpha Technology Middle School in 2011 and a high school, Alpha Charter School, in 2013. Thirty-two of the 38 high school students take part in the Jerry Manuel Foundation, finishing classes at 1:30 p.m. each day and getting an hour-and-a-half of baseball drills with Manuel and his son. Half of the 100 or so seventh and eighth graders are involved in the foundation and play baseball immediately after school on the academy’s diamonds. A girls’ softball program is in its first year at the school as well. Ballplayers at the school, which is still in the process of accreditation, get a homeroom and physical education classes with a baseball focus and a mix of otherwise standard school courses. Manuel would like more emphasis on baseball. “When this is truly a baseball institution, it’s when you can go in a physics class and talk about mass vs. speed vs. power, and it’d be baseball-related,”

“If you look around baseball today, how many general managers are black, how many third base coaches are black, how many managers? We’ve made progress, but it’s sporadic.” Fay Vincent former MLB commissioner Manuel said. “That’s when this becomes what we’d like it to become.” There’s also no cost to attend or play in travel tournaments, just a request that players be available for community service. The banner for Manuel’s foundation quotes Bible verse Matthew 20:26, which reads in part, “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.” Manuel’s on staff for MLB as a contractor in its youth services division, bringing friends like Baker and Leon Lee to development camps around the country. But his academy doesn’t get any funding from MLB. He relies largely on fundraising and donations from players like Derrek Lee, who gave money to build a baseball field and renovate the school’s locker room and batting cages.

Manuel laughed when asked if he’s contributing any of his MLB pension to his academy, telling SN&R, “I can’t say that ’cause my wife would get mad.” He said he hasn’t approached the mayor or Councilman Warren, both friends, for help. Warren’s aware of Manuel’s efforts “Jerry’s a fantastic human being, doing some great work,” Warren said. “I think that his program and others like it will help make an impact in reintroducing urban America, which largely consists of African-Americans and Hispanics, back to the game.” Manuel and his boss at MLB, Reagins, talk a few times a week. He’s brought the idea of replicating the academy to Reagins. There could be opportunity. While MLB doesn’t always financially back its youth programs, it is expanding them. Six MLB Urban Youth Academies operate currently with another three in development. “Hopefully, we can find venues such as this that could give kids the opportunity to play,” Manuel said. For Manuel, it all comes back to players like Kemet Brown, his standout freshman shortstop. After Manuel’s latest managerial job with the New York Mets ended in 2010, Kemet’s father, Wayne Brown, came to Manuel for help running a travel team. It’s what led Manuel to create his foundation. Like many of the kids at the academy, Brown travels a great distance to Elverta, leaving Elk Grove at 7 each morning. On a bad day, the ride can take an hour and 10 minutes. But he doesn’t seem to mind the sacrifices. Asked if he ever tired of playing baseball, Brown responded with a quick no. How far does he want to go? “As far as I can take it,” Brown said. “Hopefully, I can go to the major league level.” Ω

04.07.16 | SN&R | 15

Move over, karate kids: More adults are taking up the Martial arts practice to explore its Mind-body connection by Willie clark

Marcus Hinschberger (center) leads an adult class at Takon Martial Arts.

16 | SN&R | 04.07.16

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Hi-yah! It’s a familiar sound. The scene is common, too: White robes. Bare feet. Colored belts. A room full of people yelling. Arms and legs dance in set patterns, the fast audible swishes and swashes of uniforms as a punch followed by a kick flies by, and then a brief stillness before settling into a pose. It’s something one might expect to see in dojos across America where senseis teaches kids the ancient Japanese art of karate. But, guess what—despite the things that iconic flicks such as The Karate Kid have taught us, the sport isn’t just for kids. Around Sacramento, in fact, there are several opportunities for adults to get involved with the martial arts practice— and no, not just by dropping their children off for lessons. In fact, karate wasn’t always so kid-centric. Rather, the martial art as we know it was originally developed at the turn of the 20th century as a Japanese military art designed for adults. Over time, as it was culturally appropriated in the United States, it evolved into a popular after-school activity. Now that thinking is shifting as adults realize that what they think of “child’s play” could actually offer myriad grown-up physical and mental benefits. If they can get off the couch first, that is. “Even as an adult, you actually need not only discipline, but also something and someone that might [keep] you disciplined,” says Sensei Marcus Hinschberger, an instructor at Tokon Martial Arts, where instructors teach Shotokan karate— one of the sport’s most practiced forms. For adults looking for a health-conscious activity, karate offers a unique alternative to cardio and lifting weights, Hinschberger says. And, besides, it just looks cool. “It’s very good for old people … to stay mentally sharp,” Hinschberger said. “They are forced to constantly remember themselves—‘Where am I in space? Where am I supposed to go?’—and then, of course, [there are] the technical aspects, too.” Better yet, karate works the entire body. During a recent class at Tokon Martial Arts, the routines started—and ended— with a bow. Students and instructors yelled in Japanese as the class moved between poses, all in sync. To an outsider, it looked exhausting; people out of breath after practicing for nearly two hours. At the end, the class clapped for a member who was there for the first time; later, they sat on the floor for cultural lessons about Japan, its etiquette and communication. Hinschberger says that karate offers its devotees benefits— whatever the age. “Timing and distance, these things are very important to keep your brain young,” Hinschberger said. “One sign of aging is that you lose agility and speed, and martial arts force you to maintain that and polish that.” Tokon Martial Arts offers several options for adults, including classes for parents who want to train with their kids. Gene Dumpit, 46, says he started lessons at Tokon two years ago when his son expressed an interest. Now, he says, the gains have proven to be both physical and mental. “When I come into the dojo, it’s kind of another mindset,” Dumpit says. Since the start of his lessons, Dumpit adds, he’s lost 40 pounds, and his health is better, too. Victoria Favorito, 52, tried karate once, then quit. But she’s back now, and has noticed similar benefits. “I dropped weight,” Favorito said. “I used to be a size 12 and now I’m a size 2.”

For Kristin Walton, a personal trainer certified with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, karate isn’t just about weight loss—she’s seen it help people improve on overall health. “I have adult clients who do karate on the side as a way to strengthen their legs, improve their cardiovascular health and feel more confident mentally about protecting themselves,” she says. Still, despite such pluses, getting the grown-up to actually try it isn’t always an easy sell. In short, Hinschberger says, many lack self-discipline. “They say they are too busy, but it’s lazy. Laziness,” he says. It’s true that some first-timers take on the sport and then quit, most likely due to its complexity. This isn’t just about simple eye-hand-foot coordination. Karate uses nerve pathways that most people don’t have a need to access throughout their normal daily routines. Karate requires the body to move in challenging ways—curling one’s toes while kicking, for example.

“i found confidence i never knew i had. i think the level … was due largely to the change in my attitude from karate practice.” Patrick Brownfield student, Zen Martial Arts Center

“You’ll never be forced out there in real life to lift your foot up that high and then do something with your foot and your toes,” Hinschberger says. “That requires … tremendous body control. And that is actually the real value for people [as they] get older: to challenge their brain and keep their brain young.” Karate can also be mentally frustrating in the way that it forces people to face their own egos and physical limitations— which is almost counter-culture to today’s immediate-result ideology. “Constantly being reminded that you need to practice more is very, very difficult,” Hinschberger says. But that’s part of the reward. The results may not be instant, but being able to look back and realize what the body can accomplish—things it couldn’t do months ago—can feel rewarding at any age. Karate isn’t just a purely physical practice. At Zen Martial Arts Center, Sensei Mike Oliver takes an adults-orientated approach to the studio’s practice of Isshin-ryu karate. During a recent class, four guys and two women took to the mat, shoes off. The thwomping of feet and the echo of people

falling to the ground resounded. Participants snapped into poses and then balanced as groups worked together on form and stance. Throughout, Oliver gave pointers: Shield the other way. Point your thumb down. Thumbs on top. Squeeze down like a joystick button. The studio hosts classes six nights a week and, unlike other dojos, Oliver doesn’t put children and adults in the same classes. While kids may be eager to come out to try karate—it’s easy to blame (or thank) those pizza-eating turtles for that—Oliver says he’s found that it can still be a tough sell for adults. “Usually the biggest hindrance for adults is fear of embarrassment, or fear of getting hurt, or both,” Oliver says. “We try to take care of that by making the classes really welcoming and warm and nonjudgmental.” For many, karate isn’t just about being physically prepared—it has mental benefits, too. Patrick Brownfield, 30, started taking karate almost three years ago, after a close friend was beaten to death. “To be honest, when I first got back into it I wasn’t totally sold on that idea of, oh you know, self-discipline, confidence. I thought it was really just rooted in the physical and that was it,” Brownfield says. But then, he says, came the tangible improvements in his work life, including a new promotion. “I found confidence I never knew I had,” Brownfield said. “I think the level that I went to was due largely to the change in my attitude from karate practice.” For Claudia Espinoza, 30, karate offers a holistic energy—a quality that was important to her when she took up the sport as a method of self-defense. “I enjoy it because it helps you with your body, mind and soul,” she says. Whatever the motivation, Oliver says, practitioners should be patient and realistic. “Many adults, they come in wanting maybe to lose weight, or they come in wanting to learn how to defend themselves,” he says. “And then a couple months in they usually realize that ‘I need the confidence that comes with the martial arts, the focus, or the mindfulness or the self-discipline.’ And that’s what they’re using to improve their lives, more so than the self-defense.” And, he adds that “self-defense” doesn’t just mean being able to block or shield an attacker. Not eating at McDonald’s every day? Self-defense. Not vegging in front of the TV every night? Also self-defense. “We have this big picture view of self-defense here that we think is so much more than punching and kicking,” Oliver says. And while karate teaches these same things to kids, too, it also provides answers to questions adults typically face—because most people aren’t going to need to worry about blocking a roundhouse kick. Unless they’re Chuck Norris, of course. “We’re going to die of things like heart disease and cancer, not being punched in the face,” Oliver says. “If we really want to defend ourselves against something real, [we need] to be defending ourselves against those things.” That’s something that karate offers. While the common perception is of a very physical art, there’s a deeper applicability to all areas of well-being. “Most people think they might get a healthier, more flexible body,” Oliver says “But some people might not realize they’ll [also] get a very strong, resolute spirit.” Ω

04.07.16 | SN&R | 17

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18 | SN&R | 04.07.16 2967_T3_10x10.5_Ad_SacramentoNews_V1.indd 1

3/21/16 11:23 AM

APRIL PIckS by ShokA

Artful vortex Aida Gamez had solo shows at B. Sakata Garo in 2013 and 2010— both warranting a DrAWingS trip to 20th Street to see. Her solo exhibition this month follows suit, with an alluring pull of softness, darkness and sharp edges that is easy for a viewer to slip into, like an artful vortex.

Where: B. Sakata Garo, 923 20th Street; (916) 447-4276; www.bsakatagaro.com.

Second Saturday reception: April 9, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Through April 30.

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.

“Heavy Metal” by Aida Gamez, graphite, 2014.

Family tree of photography Kim Weston didn’t get an opportunity to get to really know his grandfather Edward Weston, since the famous photographer died when Kim was only 5 years old. He did, however, get to know him by helping his father, Cole Weston, print Grandpa Weston’s PHotogrAPHy negatives in the darkroom. And in the darkness of that room, watching images, as he says, magically appear on blank sheets of photo paper, is where Kim’s love for photography developed. The Weston family tree yields several more branches of camera-wielding artists, including Brett Weston, another of Edward’s sons, and Zach Weston, Kim’s son. At age 25, Zach has been shooting for only four years, according to dad, but must have photographic fixer in his blood to be this good already. Four Generations of Weston: Black and White— Edward, Brett, Kim, Zach at Viewpoint Photographic Art Center, exhibits the black-and-white works of this family—all shot with film and printed on silver gelatin paper. Classic.

Where: Viewpoint Photographic Art Center, 2015 J Street, Suite 101; (916) 441-2341; www.viewpointgallery.org. Second Saturday reception: April 9, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Through June 4. Hours: Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.

“Omissions” by Patricia Wood, graphite and chalkboard paint, 2015.

Class is in session The sketched desks and chairs and ghostly chalk on the boards of Sacramento-based artist Patricia Wood’s paintings in Person, Place or Thing are equivalent to PAintingS the memories of time spent in the classroom: The structure is there, but the details are fuzzy. Sorry, teachers. Interestingly, Wood is an adjunct professor at American River and Sierra colleges. She says this series is nostalgic to whatever may have happened in those rooms, “some happy, some horrific”—a universal experience.

Where: Union Hall Gallery, 2126 K Street; (916) 448-2452; www.facebook.com/LrcftUnionHallGallery.

Second Saturday reception: April 9, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. “Cat in the Hat” by Kim Weston, silver gelatin print, 2008.

Hours: By appointment.

04.07.16 | SN&R | 19

22ND ST.

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3036

Ste. B; (916) 207-3787; www.capital-artworks.com

7 CUFFS 2523 J St., (916) 443-2881, www.shopcuffs.com

8 ELLIOTT FOUTS GALLERY 1831 P St., (916) 446-1786, www.efgallery.com

9 EN EM ART SPACE 1714 Broadway, (916) 905-4368, www.enemspace.com

10 FLOPPY’S DIGITAL COPIES AND PRINTING 2031 J St., (916) 446-3475, www.floppysdigital.com

Midtown 1 ART OF TOYS 1126 18th St., (916) 446-0673, www.artoftoys.com

2 ART STUDIOS 1727 I St., behind Easy on I; (916) 444-2233 (916) 835-1718; www.artfox.us

4 ATELIER 20 915 20th St., (209) 988-3630, www.facebook.com/Atelier20

SN&R

04.07.16

11 THE INSIDEOUT 2100 I St., www.the-insideout.org

12 INTEGRATE SACRAMENTO 2220 J St., (916) 541-4294, http://integrateservices sacramento.blogspot.com

13 THE IRON MONKEY TATTOO STUDIO AND FINE ART GALLERY 1723 I St., (916) 476-5701, www.facebook.com/ theironmonkeytattooandartgallery

14 KENNEDY GALLERY 1931 L St., (916) 716-7050, www.kennedygallerysac.com

15 LITTLE RELICS 908 21st St., (916) 716-2319, www.littlerelics.com

16 MIDTOWN FRAMING & GALLERY 1005 22nd St., (916) 447-7558, www.midtownframing.com

17 MY STUDIO 2325 J St., (916) 476-4121, www.mystudiosacramento.com

18 RED DOT GALLERY 2231 J St., Ste. 101; www.reddotgalleryonj.com

19 SACRAMENTO ART COMPLEX 2110 K St., Ste. 4; (916) 476-5500; www.sacramentoartcomplex.com

20 SACRAMENTO GAY & LESBIAN CENTER 1927 L St., (916) 442-0185, http://saccenter.org

21 SHIMO CENTER FOR THE ARTS 2117 28th St., (916) 706-1162, www.shimogallery.com

22 SPARROW GALLERY 2418 K St., (916) 382-4894, www.sparrowgallery. squarespace.com

23 TIM COLLOM GALLERY 915 20th St., (916) 247-8048, www.timcollomgallery.com

24 UNION HALL GALLERY 2126 K St., (916) 448-2452

25 THE URBAN HIVE 1931 H St., (916) 585-4483, www.theurbanhive.com

FREEPORT BLVD.

6 CAPITAL ARTWORKS 1215 21st St.,

3 ARTFOX GALLERY 2213 N St., Ste. B;

THE SN&R NEWSSTAND ART PROJECT

21ST ST.

BROADWAY

(916) 447-4276, www.bsakatagaro.com

To see how you can be a part of this project, please contact grege@newsreview.com

19TH ST.

5 B. SAKATA GARO 923 20th St.,

SN&R is seeking artists to transform our newsstands into functional art.

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27 WKI 2 STUDIO GALLERY 1614 K St., Ste. 2; (916) 955-6986; www.weskosimages.com

. BLVD

2015 J St., (916) 441-2341, www.viewpointgallery.org

37 WAL PUBLIC MARKET 1108 R St., (916) 498-9033, www.rstreetwal.com

EaSt Sac

Downtown/olD Sac

38 ARCHIVAL FRAMING 3223 Folsom Blvd.,

28 ARTHOUSE ON R 1021 R St., second floor;

(916) 278-8900, www.capradio.org

(916) 455-4988; www.arthouseonr.com

29 ARTISTS’ COLLABORATIVE GALLERY 129 K St., (916) 444-7125, www.artcollab.com

30 AXIS GALLERY 625 S St., (916) 443-9900, www.axisgallery.org

31 CROCKER ART MUSEUM 216 O St., (916) 808-7000, www.crockerartmuseum.org

32 E STREET GALLERY AND STUDIOS 1115 E St., (916) 505-7264

33 LATINO CENTER OF ART AND CULTURE 2700 Front St., (916) 446-5133, www.lrpg.org

34 NIDO 1409 R St., Ste. 102; (916) 668-7594; www.hellonido.com

35 SMITH GALLERY 1020 11th St., Ste. 100; (916) 446-4444; www.smithgallery.com

36 VERGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS 625 S St., (916) 448-2985, www.vergeart.com

If it’s creative... it’s here! art supplies

journals

custom framing

canvas & brushes

photo frames

oils & acrylics

ready-made

decorative papers

frames

kidstuff

greeting cards

classes & demos

unique gifts

workshops

stationery

...and more!

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26 VIEWPOINT PHOTOGRAPHIC ART CENTER

free stuff?

SN&R IS OFFERING FREE STUFF, CONTESTS AND GIVEAWAYS

O ST. P ST.

want

(916) 923-6204, www.archivalframe.com

39 CAPITAL PUBLIC RADIO 7055 Folsom Blvd., 40 CAPITOL FOLK GALLERY 887 57th St., Ste. 1; (916) 996-8411

41 FE GALLERY & IRON ART STUDIO 1100 65th St., (916) 456-4455, www.fegallery.com

42 GALLERY 14 3960 60th St., (916) 456-1058, www.gallery14.net

43 JAYJAY 5520 Elvas Ave., (916) 453-2999, www.jayjayart.com

44 WHITE BUFFALO GALLERY 3671 J St., (916) 752-3014, www.white-buffalo-gallery.com

II ARTSPACE1616 1616 Del Paso Blvd.,(916) 849-1127, www.facebook.com/artspace1616

III BLUE LINE GALLERY 405 Vernon St., Ste. 100 in Roseville; (916) 783-4117; www.bluelinearts.org

IV BON VIDA ART GALLERY 4429 Franklin Blvd., (916) 400-3008

V THE BRICKHOUSE ART GALLERY 2837 36th St., (916) 457-1240, www.thebrickhouseartgallery.com

VI CG GALLERY 2900 Franklin Blvd., (916) 912-5058, www.facebook.com/CgGallery

VII DEL PASO WORKS BUILDING GALLERIES 1001 Del Paso Blvd.

VIII DELTA WORKSHOP 2598 21st St., (916) 455-1125, www.deltaworkshopsac.com

IX GALLERY 625 625 Court St. in Woodland, (530) 406-4844, www.yoloarts.org

X GALLERY 2110 1023 Del Paso Blvd., (916) 476-5500, www.gallery2110.com

off map

XI PATRIS STUDIO AND FINE ART GALLERY

I ACAI GALLERY & STUDIOS 7425 Winding

XII SACRAMENTO FINE ARTS CENTER

Way in Fair Oaks; (916) 966-2453, www.acaistudios.com

3460 Second Avenue, (916) 397-8958, www.artist-patris.com. 5330 Gibbons Blvd., Ste. B, in Carmichael; (916) 971-3713; www.sacfinearts.org

UArt Sacramento 2601 J Street 916-443-5721

UniversityArt.com

04.07.16

sN&R

SHARP DRESSED M e n ’s S p r i n g F a s h i o n trends brings a relaxed yet refined look. The looks are seemless, showing versatility with a wide range of style. Our local boutiques and labels d e l i v e r m e n ’s f a s h i o n in our warming weeks for outdoor brunches to pub crawls, music festivals to ballgames.

1) The Front Room 324 3RD ST. WEST SACRAMENTO FACEBOOK.COM/THEFRONTROOM.AT.THESTUDY IG: THEFRONTROOM_916 Black Lurk Hard Windbreaker, Black Locals Only T-shirt, Taylord Sox, Blue Cap by Lurk Hard

2) Second Hand Hustle 3226 A BROADWAY • 408-364-5567 WWW.SECONDHANDHUSTLE.COM IG: SECONDHANDHUSTLE Men’s Vintage Fashion.

22 | SN&R | 04.07.16

3) 80s Born 90s Raised WWW.80SBABIEZ.COM • IG: THE80SBABIEZ Local men’s & women’s lifestyle label.

4) Freestyle Clothing Exchange CITRUS HEIGHTS – DOWNTOWN SAC – ROSEVILLE – FOLSOM Brown Steve Madden Boots $25, Chambray Button-Up $9, Black Jeans $15, Grey Pink Tag T-Shirt $14

5) Article Consignment Boutique 706 56TH ST #100 • 916-316-5772 Banana Republic Heritage Leather Satchel, 1773 Woven Straw Fedora Hat, AJ Morgan Sunglasses, Salvatore Ferragamo leather loafers, Fred Perry short sleeved button up, 7 For All Mankind Jeans

FoR ThE wEEk oF APRil 7

Stop Making Sense Friday, april 8 Talking Heads were ’80s hit-makers, but they were also a really artsy-fartsy bunch, which makes itself apparent in this brilliant 1984 concert FilM documentary. They open the show with David Byrne playing a song solo, and slowly the band builds until it’s a giant musical ensemble. The film captures them at their peak, with five albums under their belt at that point. $8-$10; 7:30 p.m. at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street; (916) 476-3356; www.crestsacramento.com.

—aaron Carnes

2016 Sacramento indie Arcade Gaming Expo saturday, april 9 For the third year in a row, indie game developers from around the region are gathering under one roof to show off their latest projects. Spend time in the developer hall playing working GAMiNG titles, or sit in on a panel with guest speakers in the industry. This year, board and card games have been added to the roster, as well as a video game tournament. $7-$15; 10 a.m. at the West Sacramento Community Center, 1075 West Capitol Ave in West Sacramento; www.indiearcade.org.

—lory Gil

UC Davis Powwow saturday, april 9

Voorhies Hall on campus (1 Shields Avenue in Davis). Greenwell’s debut novel, what Belongs to You, released in January of this year, has been called “a rich, important debut, an instant classic” by the New York Times Book Review and “brilliantly self-aware” by the New Yorker. More information can be found at http://ls.ucdavis. edu/news-events/harcs-news/writersreading.html. For those looking to dig in on a more local level, the Sacramento Public Library (828 I Street) is hosting the local Author Festival on Sunday, April 10, from noon to 3 p.m. The gathering will include more than 40 local authors, book-art demos and a keynote speech from Hugo Awardwinning author Kim Stanley Robinson. His 1,000-page novel Green Earth, which came out in November of last year, is a sci-fi portrayal of a world grappling with the dire consequences of global warming. Admission is free, but registration is required to attend the keynote event; register at www.saclibrary.org or call (916) 264-2920 for more info.

—deena drewis

—aaron Carnes

Art Mix: Studio 54 thursday, april 14 Two things we know for sure about the 1970s: Studio 54 was where it was at, and Farrah Fawcette’s hair will be coveted until the end of time. Art Mix brings the hustle and flow this month with disco, PARTY a ’70s-attire contest and hair-blowout battle, all in homage to one of the original club’s most colorful patrons, Andy Warhol. $8-$10; 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street; (916) 808-7000; www.crockerartmuseum.org.

—deena drewis

U-Create! street fair thursday, april 14 ILLUSTRATION BY PRISCILLA GARCIA

acto has some serious bookish street cred to its name, historically speaking (Joan Didion and William T. Vollmann go a long way), and the scene is getting better all the time. But this is especially true this week, with celebrations of new releases from much-buzzed-about literary figures and a festival bringing together local writers and readers across a wide range of subjects: On Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m., Rob Spillman, editor of the influential literary magazine Tin House, joins local author Jodi Angel in discussion about his new memoir, All Tomorrow’s Parties, at Time Tested Books (1114 21st Street). The book follows Spillman’s upbringing in a divided Berlin and his pursuit of culture and a sense of place as he eventually moves to New York City and then back to Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Check out http://timetestedbooks.blogspot.com or call (916) 447-5696 for details. Keep feeding your literary fix with author Garth Greenwell as part of the UC Davis Creative Writing Program’s reading series on Tuesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. at

Native American cultures encompass rich traditions of art, music and dance. For the 44th year in a row, the UC Davis Powwow will honor these customs with speakers, workshops, seminars, exhibits, performers, films and much more in this celFESTiVAl ebration of indigenous people and their heritage. Free; 10 a.m. at East and West Quads on UC Davis, 1 Shield Ave in Davis; (530) 752-4057; http://ccc.ucdavis.edu/nativeAmerican.html.

Experience the artistic talents of both the students and faculty of Sacramento State’s College of Arts and Letters with an evening of readings, live music, food vendors and local coffee, all set among Axis Gallery, Beatnik Studios, Insight STREET FAiRE Coffee Roasters and Verge Center for the Arts, where the festivities will kick off with a keynote speech. Free; 5 p.m. at Verge Center for the Arts, 625 S Street; (916) 448-2985; www.csus.edu/ al/festival/U-Create.html.

—eddie JorGensen

04.07.16 | SN&R | 23

SANDS REGENCY CASINO IN RENO, NV The ofﬁcial pre-party for Night in the Country wants to give one country band their big break. The winner of the Battle for the Full Moon Saloon will perform at Night in the Country 2016 on Thursday, July 21, 2016 and have the honor of being the closing act for the Reno River Festival on May 8, 2016. Plus, Night in the Country will provide the following:

Winner | VIP tickets to NITC 2016, a $2,550 value 2nd Place | Superfan tickets to NITC 2016, a $1,200 value 3rd Place | General Admission to NITC 2016, a $690 value *Up to six band members per prize For more information or to enter the battle, visit NightintheCountry.org

MUCH OBLIGED TO OUR SPONSORS:

24 | SN&R | 04.07.16

IllustratIons by serene lusano

Pile of good sucio Fries, AdAMo’s kitchen Sometimes you need a heap feast. No decorum, just a pile. It’s easy to go for the nachos, but so few chefs put any thought into their platters. How are you going to get a burly stack of foodstuffs that’s actually crafted with care? Adamo’s Kitchen, which is somewhere between upscale and a place I can afford to eat at, comes through hard with a sophisticated touch on the Sucio Fries ($9). Crispy, thick fries are slathered in a mild poblano sauce and sour cream, then smothered with cheddar, bacon, roasted peppers and caramelized onions. It’s as sophisticated as you’re going to get with a mound like this. 2107 P Street, www.adamoskitchen.com.

—Anthony siino

A gentler sip cAscArA teA, teMple coFFee roAsters IllustratIon by Mark stIvers

Mobile pizzeria by Janelle Bitker

Bigger and bigger: The shippingcontainer-as-restaurant concept is still going strong in Sacramento, kicked off by the likes of Der Biergarten and Federalist Public House. But what about a shipping container as a food truck? Bella Familia Wood Fired Pizza plans to be the first food truck of its kind in town, modeled off of the stately Del Popolo in San Francisco. Google it. “When I mention food trucks, most people get the Drewski’s or Bacon Mania image in their head,” Bella Familia’s Scott Thorson says. “I’ve been calling this a mobile behemoth—more of a restaurant on

jan el l e b @ne w s re v i e w . c o m

wheels than a food truck. It’s all open. You can see everything. It’s food and a show.” Patrons will be able to see the Bella team making organic pizza dough and pulling pies out of its Forno Bravo wood-fired oven. Thorson hopes to have it on the streets—and parked outside local breweries—in May. Unfamiliar with Rocklin-based Bella Familia? It’s actually already a mobile company, but it operates out of a tent. Currently, it serves whole, blistery pies with a variety of toppings for about $10, and it’s tinkering with a vegan option using cashew cheese.

Sail on: The Shady Lady Saloon team finally opened Sail Inn Grotto & Bar (1522 Jefferson Boulevard in West Sacramento), its redesigned version of the longtime dive. It boasts a sailor-themed aesthetic and a short seafood-centric menu, offering fish and chips ($12), shrimp po’boy sliders ($13) and steamed littleneck clams ($14). Bartenders will serve a mix of classic and rum-focused tropical cocktails, including pina coladas ($10) and mai tais ($8). River season: Crawdads on the River (1375 Garden Highway) reopened last month, and it’s named a new executive chef for the floating restaurant’s 30th year. Former sous chef Bryce Palmer received the bump up to head chef—he’s also the executive chef at the upcoming downtown restaurant El Rey—and unveiled a revamped menu. In addition to standbys like jambalaya and gumbo, Crawdads now offers more California-style fare, such as roasted trout with burnt butter and veggies ($28) and a skirt steak with whipped blue cheese and asparagus ($28). Ω

If you’re constantly meeting people for “coffee” but don’t actually like the stuff, the pickings can be slim. However, Temple Coffee Roasters offers a unique cascara tea ($3.40), served on tap. It’s at the new K Street Temple as well as Davis. Cascara are the coffee cherries that produce coffee beans, and Temple uses their husks to brew the surprisingly fruity and slightly sweet beverage. With an injection of nitro, it’s creamy without as much caffeine as coffee. Win-win! 2200 K Street, http://templecoffee.com.

—Ann MArtin rolke

Baby dairy Fresh cheese Most milk-producing animals step up their production in spring to prepare for babies. That extra milk also gets used to make cheese and butter—yum. Unaged chevre and mascarpone are some of the first to use this year’s milk. Look for Spring Hill Jersey Cheese from Sonoma and Nicasio Valley Cheese from Marin at local farmers markets. In particular, grab Spring Hill’s squeaky-snacky cheese curds or Nicasio’s Foggy Morning, a fresh organic cow’s milk cheese sometimes flavored with basil and garlic.

—Ann MArtin rolke

04.07.16 | SN&R | 25

Spring has ! g n u r p S Join us for our Seasonal Kraft Menu

Beautiful Outdoor Patio now open Now taking Mother’s Day Reservations Check out our new Upstairs Bar

916.440.0401 • 1217 21st st Sacramento, ca www.kuproscrafthouse.com

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More than kabobs By JanEllE BitkER

East Market & Restaurant

HHH 3405 El Camino Avenue, (916) 373-9951 Dinner for one: $10 - $15 Good for: exploring Afghan cuisine Notable dishes: aashak, qabili palaw, bolani

Wander into East Market & Restaurant and gaze at its aisles of dried fruit, sumac, ornate tableware and halvah. It smells divine, like toasted cumin, cinnamon and coriander. And freshly baked bread. Follow the wafting scent—or the paper signs— through the market, down a barren aisle and into what looks more like a banquet hall or rehabbed conference room than a restaurant. It’s a weird setup, but you may remember this place once housed the Farmer’s Daughter, a health foods cafe that, in 2012, got busted for illegally operating a cannabis dispensary in the backroom. Yes, this very backroom. The furniture looks cheap. The patterned turquoise carpet, tacky. The huge chandeliers, gaudy. It sounds unfortunate, but the atmosphere feels completely charming in its own way. The eclectic soundtrack switches between smooth jazz, Iranian pop and electro-Punjabi mixes. There’s a corner stocked with mats in case diners want to pray. And the people working are so sweet and calming. There aren’t many Afghan restaurants in the Sacramento region, and the ones that do exist focus on kabobs and gyro-style sandwiches. The food at East Market & Restaurant, which opened last summer, feels distinctly homey. The dishes are simple, but the cooking is usually spot on. Regardless of whether you order in or to go, you will receive a little bowl of shor nakhod, a traditional street snack of chickpeas and boiled potato slivers in a bright green cilantro chutney. It’s refreshing, with a subtle burn.

j a ne l l e b @ne w s re v i e w . c o m

If you’re with a group, definitely order the bolani ($9.99), described on the menu as an “Afghan calzone.” It’s more like a thin, crispy, stuffed flatbread—imagine two Chinese scallion pancakes and spiced potatoes forming a pan-fried sandwich, with chutney and yogurt for dipping. The portion is large, meant for sharing. Same with the manto ($10.99) and aashak ($9.99), two versions of Afghan dumplings. I much prefer the aashak, delicate half-moons filled with scallions and topped with ground beef and garlic yogurt. Yellow split peas weigh down the beeffilled manto. Most options, however, feature perfectly fluffy basmati rice, such as Afghanistan’s national dish qabili palaw ($11.99). Though the basmati looks brown, it’s actually white rice cooked in broth, then heaped over a sizable braised lamb shank. The meat is rich and tender, and plump raisins and sweetened carrots add dimension. The kofta challow ($9.99) is less successful, solely because its two hockey puck-sized meatballs are too dry. You can get a similar flavor from the borani badejan ($6.99), though. I know, eggplant isn’t really a substitute for ground beef, but it’s stewed in a similar combo of tomatoes, onions and spices. The resulting puree works well spooned over rice or spread across bread, and it serves as a decent vegetarian main course on a menu severely lacking in vegetarian options, especially considering how much of Afghanistan’s population is vegetarian. Then, there are the kabobs ($9.99-$13.99), which come with grilled chicken, beef or lamb beside a mountain of rice, a cucumber-tomato salad and endless rectangles of chewy, warm Afghan flatbread. Sure, other Afghan restaurants in the area focus on kabobs, but East Market’s boast a seasoned, charred crust on tender, juicy meats. In other words, totally up to snuff. You may have to wait a bit for your meal. You may have to ask for things that may seem obvious, like plates for sharing or utensils. And you may be utterly confused at times, like when you have walk to the market to pay your restaurant bill. Smile. Be patient. The chutney will beckon you back. Ω

Imagine two Chinese scallion pancakes and spiced potatoes forming a pan-fried sandwich.

Sakura, two ways Cherry blossom season passes without much notice here in Sacramento, probably because we’re all too busy sneezing. But in Japan, the emergence of pink petals causes mass celebration. I like to swing by Osaka-Ya (2215 10th Street) at least once each spring to pick up some of its seasonal sakura mochi. Look for the pale pink, bulbous rice cakes wrapped in cherry blossom—in Japanese, sakura—leaves. They’re lightly sweet, slightly floral and, like all of Osaka-Ya’s mochi, so satisfyingly chewy. But act quickly, as Osaka-Ya only sells them on Saturdays through mid-April, and they tend to sell out early. If sweets aren’t your thing, check out the Davis Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday, April 9. Sudwerk Brewery will serve a special sakura beer while taiko drumming groups perform at the Sudwerk Dock Store (2001 Second Street) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit http://sudwerkbrew.com.

—Janelle Bitker

Looks like a party By Shoka The Jackfruit Lotus Vegetarian Salad looks like the innards of 15 party poppers detonated on a plate. The taste is comparable— in the best, not-papery way possible. This confetti-looking dish from Coriander, the Vietnamese restaurant at 1899 Alhambra Boulevard, is shredded cabbage; slivers of onion, lotus root, banana blossom, tofu and jackfruit; leaves of mint; sesame seeds; and crushed peanuts dressed generously in a pleasant, slightly astringent

tamarind sauce. It is certainly not a plain-Jane salad, and it is totally worth repeat visits. Although, take heed that the generous amount of raw onion may linger on one’s tongue until the next day. Nothing wrong with a little onion breath! The menu also has a baby-greens salad topped with fried tofu and cranberries, tofu noodle soup, plus a handful of dishes—including Saigon Crepes and Spicy Coriander Fried Rice—that come with meat, but are offered as vegetarian options.

04.07.16 | SN&R | 27

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 - 6:00PM WORLDONEPRESENTS.COM GET TICKETS AT THE THUNDER VALLEY BOX OFFICE, TICKETMASTER.COM, WORLDONEPRESENTS.COM OR BY PHONE AT 800.745.3000 28 | SN&R | 04.07.16

ReviewS

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Blackberry Winter

The wars at home by Jim CarneS

PhOTO cOURTESy OF ThREE PENNy STAGE

and wonders a bit about today’s visit from her mother, who has just had another “PS”—plastic surgery. And she thinks about Jerry, about pictures he has sent, about the horrible conditions he’s endured and the terrible acts he’s been a part of. It’s these thoughts that bring her to disturbing realizations about the devastation of war that are almost too much to bear. Arlington is smartly directed by Bob Irvin, known for his work with the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival, where he has previously worked with both Langford-Clark and Blum. Ω

Arlington

Arlington ; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; $15-$20. Three Penny Stage in the R25 Arts complex, 1723 25th Street; (916) 451-5822; www.calstage.org. Through May 1.

Arlington, a so-called “chamber musical” now running at Three Penny Stage, is an impressive piece of drama that starts off cheerfully enough but darkens as its hour progresses. It’s a musical for solo voice and piano, a one-woman opera of sorts with all lyrics spoken or sung to musical accompaniment. Analise Langford-Clark—she of an open visage and sweet soprano—stars in this story of young military wife Sara Jane trying to keep spirits up while her husband Jerry (Jonathan Blum, seen only through a scrim that is one wall of the three-sided stage) serves somewhere “over there.” Sara Jane immediately breaks the fourth wall, conversationally addressing the audience, reminiscing and ruminating about her life, past and present. She especially remembers a powerful visit with her father to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the national cemetery of the title. She frets

Sa 2pm and 8pm; Su 2pm; W 7pm. Through 4/17. $23-$35.

Capital Stage, 2215 J Street; (916) 995-5464; http://cap stage.org. P.R.

Women of Will

“Wait, i thought you were ‘over there’?”

It can be a heartbreaking privilege to help a parent along the last part of his or her life journey. The experience includes the blessing and burden of push-and-pull emotions, daily life and impending death decisions, fractures in family structures and the unsettling role reversals. Actress Amy Resnick gives a tour de force performance as the always-in-control daughter who’s trying to keep sane as her mom’s sanity fades. She’s aided by the show’s beautiful, tragic and humorous dialogue, courtesy of playwright Steve Yockey, and under the thoughtful direction of Capital Stage co-founder Jonathan Williams. Th, F 8pm;

Women in Shakespeare’s plays will be the focus at the Mondavi Center this weekend, April 9-10, as celebrated British actress Tina Packer does her Women of Will program with veteran Shakespearean actor Nigel Gore. Packer will play such characters as the 13-year-old Juliet (in love for the first time); the coolly bloodthirsty Lady Macbeth and the powerful Cleopatra, licentious Queen of the Nile. Women of Will is part performance and part commentary—a gallery of famous females, illustrating how they became more complex as Shakespeare’s career evolved. The show, which Packer developed after decades of doing Shakespeare and has also published in book version, has earned high praise from The New York Times and others. The Mondavi staging will be intimate, with the audience seated onstage, very close to the actors. Please note: Saturday’s performance will be divided into two parts, with a dinner break in between, and extend into the evening. —Jeff Hudson

Women of Will, 3 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $20-$60. Mondavi center, 1 Shield Avenue in Davis; (530) 754-5000; www.mondaviarts. org.

FOUL

The Fantasticks

The world’s longest running musical is a captivating show that will win your heart. This is the simple story of a boy, a girl, two meddling parents and the long journey that will ultimately unite the young lovers. Outstanding performances make this a must-see production.

Th 6:30pm; F 8pm; Sa, Su 2pm and 8pm; W 6:30pm. Through 5/1. $15-$38. Sacramento Theatre Company; 1419 H Street; (916) 443-6722; www.sactheatre.org. B.S.

A Masterpiece of Comic … Timing

How do you write a comic masterpiece when your writer is chronically depressed? That’s the subject of this very funny comedy starring some of Sacramento’s funniest actors. Question: If you duct tape a writer to a wheelchair

2 FAIR

with his typewriter, can you force him to be funny?

Th, F 8pm; Sa 5pm and 9pm; Su 2pm; Tu 6:30pm; W 2pm and 6:30pm. Through 4/17. $25-$35. B Street Theatre, 2711 B Street; (916) 443-5300; www.bstreettheatre.org. B.S.

[Title of Show]

[Title of Show], which is about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical, may have audience members feeling as though they’re trapped in a Möbius strip from time to time, but with 17 hummable tunes and four engaging actors, it’s an enjoyable one-act that most will enjoy. F, Sa 8pm; Su 7pm. Through 4/10. $18. Green Valley Theatre Company, 3825 V Street; (916) 736-2664; http://green valleytheatre.com. B.S.

Short reviews by Patti Roberts and Bev Sykes.

3 4 5 GOOD

WELL-DONE

SUBLIME– DON’T MISS

Smooth move, cholo. PhOTO cOURTESy OF EL TEATRO ESPEjO

Welcome to Cholo-landia Greek cholos—that’s the mashup El Teatro Espejo presents with Luis Alfaro’s Electricidad, a modern adaptation of Euripides’ Greek classic Electra. According to the company’s press materials, Alfaro’s twist takes audience members to “cholo-landia” where the East Los Locos gang members are mourning the loss of their leader, El Auggie, while daughter Electricida deals with the fallout. El Teatro Espejo, under the direction of retired Sac State theater professor Manuel Pickett, celebrates its 40th year of staging culturally relevant Chicano and Latino plays. According to Pickett, Electricidad keeps the classic Greek story of how violence destroys a family and community, and adds in how misplaced loyalties and revenge perpetuate this violence over generations. $15-$20, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday at El Teatro Espejo at California Stage, 2509 T Street. Contact teatroespejo@hotmail.com for reservations.

—Patti RobeRts

04.07.16 | SN&R | 29

arlington california stage presents:

book and lyrics by Victor lodato music by polly pen

Rest in pieces

“an intimate and haunting chamber opera” - sJ Mercury tickets: calstage@gmail.com 916-451-5822

Demolition “I just wanted some M&M’s.”

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by JIM Lane

draws in Karen’s son Chris (Judah Lewis), a smart but troubled teenager questioning his own sexuality and searching for a father figure. In Demolition, Jake Gyllenhaal plays Davis Mitchell, a Meanwhile, Davis takes a bit of advice from Wall Street banker working for his father-in-law Phil his father-in-law Phil (“Repairing a human heart (Chris Cooper), even though he never thought he’d be is like repairing an automobile; you have to take the kind of guy who carries a briefcase. everything apart, examine everything, then you can Davis shares this insight into his diffident personality put it all back together.”) quite literally. He begins in a letter to a vending machine company. He’s writdismantling things—his refrigerator, the restroom ing to complain about losing $1.25 when one of their stalls at the office. He graduates to destroying things, machines failed to dispense the M&M’s he’d paid for. as if by smashing his own house to smithereens he The machine was in a hospital, Davis writes, and he was can somehow reconstruct his own life. very hungry. And, oh yes, his wife had just died. Grief makes people do strange things, Davis’ wife Julia (Heather Lind) was I suppose. In filmmakers, so does killed in one of those scenes beloved pretentiousness. Generally, it’s good of moviemakers, the sudden, out-ofto grant artists their working nowhere automobile accident. These premise; from that can come vehicular jump-scares are a cliché insight, epiphany, revelation. Grief makes people do so hallowed and hoary that it’s But somewhere along the line hard to remember the last one we strange things, I suppose. Demolition simply leaves saw that didn’t make us roll our planet Earth, and even these In filmmakers, so does eyes and think, “Jeez, not again!” earnest and estimable actors pretentiousness. But neither writer Brian Sipe nor can’t lure us into the flying director Jean-Marc Vallée are above saucer with them. slamming us with it one more time. Maybe it comes when Davis Demolition follows this cliché with takes Chris out playing with a a development so quirky and off the wall handgun, then dons a Kevlar jacket that for a while it passes for a peculiar kind and invites this clearly slightly-messed-up of insight into Davis’ psyche. He fixates on that elusive kid to shoot him. Or maybe it’s when Davis buys bag of M&M’s to the point of writing to the vending a bulldozer on eBay to help with demolishing his machine company—then using the letter, and several house, something nobody seems to notice, ask about that follow, to explore his relationship with Julia, still or object to. formless and developing when she died. Whenever it comes, we begin at last to suspect Then comes another off-the-wall turn: His letters that Sipe and Vallée are selling us a big, fat, pipingtouch the heart of Karen Moreno (Naomi Watts), the hot load of art-house malarkey. And that suspicion, company’s “customer service representative”—a diploonce entertained, will not go away. Ω matic way of saying she’s a warehouse office worker in a dead-end job. Karen is so moved that, rather than just saying “Oh, what the hell” and sending Davis his damn buck-and-a-quarter, she calls him at 2 a.m. to ask if he Poor Fair Good Very excellent needs someone to talk to. A friendship develops that Good

1 2 3 4 5

fiLm CLiPS

Allegiant

The dauntless heroine of Divergent and Insurgent (Shailene Woodley) continues her fight against whatever she was fighting against in the first two movies (and the trilogy of novels by Veronica Roth). Fans of the books will probably find this chapter satisfactory (though it follows the annoying practice of covering only about half of Roth’s final book in the series; the rest, renamed Ascendant, is due out next year). For nonfans, it’s like a set of illustrations for a book they haven’t read and don’t care about; characters are too paperthin for even major talents like Jeff Daniels, Naomi Watts, Miles Teller and Octavia Spencer to breathe life into, and Roth’s insanely complicated plot fails to hold the attention of a disinterested observer. The cheesy visual effects look state-of-the-art for 1968. J.L.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Director Zack Snyder—foully aided and abetted by writers Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer—continues the heedless trashing of Superman (Henry Cavill) that Man of Steel had thus far so ignobly advanced. This time Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) go down the craphole along with the Kryptonian hero. The result is ugly in every sense of the word—grimy, incoherent and a stupefying bore; everybody looks like they need a bath and the movie is as drained of fun as it is of light and color. This gobbling turkey may be critic-proof, but the DC universe isn’t Snyder-proof. While he goes killing the golden goose, we can only wonder about the mentality of people who take the comic books they loved as kids and turn them into movies unsuitable for children to see; the PG-13 rating should be an R. J.L.

The Bronze

A once-promising gymnast (Melissa Rauch), whose career stalled 12 years ago after a bronze medal and a career-ending injury, is now a foul-mouthed has-been lording it over her doting father (Gary Cole) and other citizens of her small Ohio town. Her local status is threatened when she is forced to coach a new kid (Haley Lu Richardson) who just might win the gold. The script by Melissa Rauch and Winston Rauch is profane, raunchy and dirty-funny, not for kids nor easily offended adults. But it’s also sweet and warm (under its surface crust), and the actress, aided by first-time director Bryan Buckley, manages against all odds to make this horrid person human—even likeable. J.L.

The Brothers Grimsby

The Brothers Grimsby will almost undoubtedly end up as the best film of 2016 in which the heroes are attacked by giant penises while hiding in an elephant’s vagina, although Terrence Malick still has a couple more movies due out this year. Directed by Louis Leterrier but guided by the nothing-sacred body humor of star and co-screenwriter Sacha Baron Cohen, The Brothers Grimsby is too infantile and mean to recommend, but too embarrassingly funny to dismiss. Cohen stars as a sculpted-by-Liam-Gallagher-and-Guinness soccer hooligan who reconnects with his

free dry when you wash

10 Cloverfield Lane

A young woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) awakens after an auto accident to find herself chained in an underground shelter presided over by a paranoid survivalist (John Goodman) who claims to have rescued her from a worldwide cataclysm. Written by Josh Campbell, Matthew Steucken and Damien Chazelle and directed by Dan Trachtenberg, this is a horror movie with a difference: It’s genuinely horrifying, not just “scary.” In fact, cheap scares are few, replaced by a mounting sense of dread and foreboding that gnaws at the pit of the stomach. Acting is excellent, including John Gallagher Jr. as Winstead’s fellow inmate. Depending on your perspective, the resolution is either a brilliant twist or a monumental howler. J.L.

BY DANIEL BARNES & JIM LANE

Again, cue the drones.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

In real life it’s only been 14 years since writer and star Nia Vardalos’ surprise hit had her and John Corbett tying the knot, but in this sequel they have a 17-year-old daughter (Elena Kampouris). Yet that’s not who’s getting married now—it’s the grandparents (Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine), who learn that thanks to a clerical error 50 years ago in Greece, they were never legally married. Once again Vardalos recycles the kind of cornball family gags that have been a staple of such movies. But under Kirk Jones’ laissez faire direction, the reunited cast shows such gusto that as before, resistance is futile. Besides, there’s the manifest pleasure of everyone getting together again after all these years. J.L.

long-lost brother (Mark Strong), a deep-cover superspy in the middle of a dangerous mission. There are the expected fish-out-of-water beats and over-the-top gross-out gags, and the peripheral characters in this world feel like thinly sketched afterthoughts, but the film works when it focuses on Cohen and Strong. They do more with elephant semen than most actors do with Shakespeare. D.B.

Eye in the Sky

A British colonel (Helen Mirren), two American surveillance-drone specialists (Aaron Paul, Phoebe Fox), the colonel’s commanding general (Alan Rickman) and the United Kingdom’s defense minister (Jeremy Northam) all communicate on an operation to capture a radicalized British woman in Nairobi—until the woman and her cohorts are seen preparing a suicide bombing. Then the objective changes from capture to kill, with all the attendant military and political implications. Writer Guy Hibbert’s tense, complex script and Gavin Hood’s razor-sharp direction make this one of the best movies of the year so far—a riveting, white-knuckle thriller to rank with the best of Hitchcock, and an examination of the morality of drone warfare to rank with the polemical plays of George Bernard Shaw, where every side gets its fair say. J.L.

Hello, My Name is Doris

Sally Field outclasses some pretty waxy and unfocused material in Hello, My Name is Doris, playing a shy office slave who develops an overwhelming crush on her much younger coworker. Following the death of her fellow hoarder mother, Fields’ meek Doris Miller comes under pressure to evacuate the family home and part with her stacks of junk. Instead, she focuses all of her attention on new employee John Fremont (Max Greenfield), creating a fake Facebook account to stalk him, and using the information she finds to insinuate herself into his life. Adapting a short film from co-screenwriter Laura Terruso, writer-director Michael Showalter turns potentially dark and thorny material into something polite and blandly therapeutic. We’re expected to simultaneously root for Doris to reject and seek help, all the while chuckling at moth-worn Williamsburg hipster stereotypes. Only a meekly towering performance from Field keeps the film centered during its many digressions. D.B.

I Saw the Light

Tom Hiddleston Sings the Greatest Hits of Hank Williams Sr. If it were an album, no one would buy it, but that unappealing package is precisely what moviegoers are getting offered via Marc Abraham’s laborious biopic. Relegated to awards season backwash after lackluster festival screenings late last year, I Saw the Light slinks into theaters sheepishly and pointlessly, like a contender without a fight. Red flags are flown from the opening frames, as clunky fakedoc footage gives way to Hiddleston’s posterready pose in front of a mystical audience. It’s a big buildup to a big nothing. While Williams’ music still sounds great, and his influence on country and rock are immeasurable (he was the protorock avatar for living fast, dying young and leaving an emaciated, booze-soaked corpse), there’s not much meat on his life story. But that doesn’t stop Abraham from bathing the film in thudding portent and empty significance. D.B.

Miracles from Heaven

Texas mother Christy Beam (Jennifer Garner) is first distraught at the lifethreatening illness of her daughter (Kylie Rogers), then amazed at her miraculous recovery after falling from a tree—especially when the girl says she visited heaven while unconscious. This adaptation of Beam’s memoir has strong performances, particularly by Garner and Rogers, to compensate for what might have been a slew of fatal drawbacks: a too-chipper atmosphere of sun-splashed wholesomeness, a leaden pace from director Patricia Riggen, an irrelevant timewasting cameo by Queen Latifah and a kitschykoo Candy Land vision of heaven. J.L.

The Perfect Match

A commitment-averse playboy (Terrence Jenkins) begins a casual affair with a mysterious young woman (Cassie Ventura); they agree there are no strings and no questions— but before long he finds himself falling in love. There’s enough talent in front of the camera to make this romantic dramedy work: Jenkins, Ventura, Donald Faison, Paula Patton, Joe Pantoliano. But others are amateurish, and the talent behind the camera doesn’t serve anybody well— the script is trite and stilted, Bille Woodruff’s direction awkward and ill-framed, and Tommy Maddox-Upshaw’s garish cinematography fails to impart the intended romantic glow. J.L.

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04.07.16 | SN&R | 31

Preach to the punks Thy Saviors deliver irreverent sermons and songs by AAron CArnes

7:30 pm • Tickets $25/$35

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Photo BY ShoKA

Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento

SATURDAY APRIL 9

to a good pro wrestler, they do it. You listen to a good preacher, they do it. All of that is practice,” Sweetie says. His teachings are completely improvised, and different every time. Besides speaking of the sins of masturbation, he’s also gone off on current events and gun control. The music, on the other hand, is completely worked out It’s fun, catchy punk rock steeped in blues, soul and garage rock. And of course, it uses some traditional gospel chords. Who’s your savior? At their first show, Thy Saviors were the headlining act, with a nearly hour-long set. That may seem like a lot of material for a new band, but it’s nothing for Wil Sweetie has a very deep, very real love for 38-year-old Sweetie. He estimates having recorded gospel music. That might not be immediately appar98 solo albums, plus more with bands. ent, though, as his band Thy Saviors’ whole act A majority of that hour-long set was material seems to be poking fun at classic gospel. specifically for Thy Saviors, which formed in For one, they wear matching outfits that resemble October of last year—and he’s already written more. choir robes. And in between songs, they preach the It isn’t just him spitting out music, either. He good news of “Big Jesus,” who they describe as attributes it to the group’s friendship. Sweetie a bigger and better Jesus. At their debut show in has been playing with Derek Johnson (bass) and February, they passed out their own Thy Saviors religious pamphlets. Sweetie even gives sermons. During Big Jack Traction (keys, sax, tambourine, bugle) for two decades. that first show, he delivered a very passionate “You need to be in a band with and irreverent anti-masturbation lecture, your fucking friends,” Sweetie which stirred up laughter from the says. “You can just knock out crowd. Even though it’s certainly material because everyone’s funny, the band insists they’re into it.” not actually making fun of Sweetie says most religion. Sacramento crowds “It’s not like we hate never cared about his Christians or are insulting bands—he’s Citrus people who are Christians,” Heights proud—and that drummer Aaron Reeds says. he doesn’t care, either. According to Sweetie, His most well-known this is how he shows his love prior band is Positraction, and respect for old gospel. which he says no one liked Aaron Reeds Gospel, along with old blues because they “drank too drummer, Thy Saviors and soul, has always influenced much and didn’t make friends his bands, but that influence is with other bands.” But the first much more prominent for Thy Saviors. Thy Saviors crowd of 30 people He’s even let it pervade every thematic seemed to like it, which Sweetie can’t help aspect of the punk-garage act, from the outfits to the but relish a little bit. band’s name itself, though he claims it’s actually a “I didn’t hear anything negative,” Sweetie says. reference to their mission to “save the world from “If I did hear something negative, I would continue to bad punk rock.” do the same shit. Fuck them.” Ω And he takes his whole performance seriously.

“It’s not like we hate Christians or are insulting people who are Christian.”

He’s listened to many old gospel sermons—research, essentially—and respects the craft. “It’s an art … to actually be able to talk, to keep your shit together, to not repeat yourself. If you listen

Check out thy Saviors at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, at Press Club, 2030 P Street. tickets are $7. Learn more at www.facebook.com/ thy-Saviors-1705943756301654.

Classic Mondavi Percussion and guitar: The Mondavi Center hosted two rare, exciting and challenging performances last week—but that isn’t anything new. Still, it can be easy to forget about all the cool stuff lurking across the causeway. One night, I saw Third Coast Percussion in Mondavi’s more intimate cabaret theater, a lovely spot to see just about anything. In this case, it was a four-piece percussion ensemble that performed rhythmically lyrical works with layering speeds. Choreography took them back and forth across a stage crowded with drum kits, marimbas, a gong and more. They even played singing bowls—something I had previously only experienced in yoga classes—with precise touches that switched between delicate and fervent. Everything about Third Coast Percussion felt precise, but not so technical that it overwhelmed you. Particularly with the main piece of the night, David Little’s “Haunt of Last Nightfall,” there were enough crashing symbols and loud builds to make it feel like a rock show. The distorted guitar track in the background helped, along with the clear heavy metal influence. Some ladies even covered their ears. A couple of days later, I returned to the main concert hall to see super-famous classical guitar player Sharon Isbin with the New York Chamber Soloists Orchestra. It was a packed

though not sold-out house, and it felt like an important thing to be experiencing for two reasons: it’s pretty unusual to catch a guitarist with a 28-piece orchestra, and it’s even more unusual to catch a female classical guitarist at all. Isbin is often praised as one of the greatest guitar players of our time, as well as a trailblazer for both female guitarists and the role of the guitar in classical music. Her career is studded with huge achievements, including winning multiple Grammy awards as well as international guitar competitions. At Mondavi, she was clearly the star, with multiple lengthy standing ovations and an elevated placement front and center. The orchestra performed some compositions on its own, with Isbin joining for two works

by Joaquín Rodrigo. During 1954’s “Fantasia para un Gentilhombre,” she wowed with technicality, but I much preferred her performance of 1939’s “Concierto de Aranjuez.” It’s a piece she’s recorded before and knows by heart, and her passion for it showed through masterful dynamics and lyricism. There were moments of haunting beauty, classic flamenco sounds and pure, bittersweet soul. On both, though, there was a lovely echoing effect between her and the orchestra, with no part overpowering the other. After a warm solo encore from Isbin, fans rushed out to the lobby and lined up to meet her. Of course, classical music is a staple at Mondavi. Last week, the UC Davis performing arts center also released its programming for the 2016-17 season. In addition to lots of classical and jazz, it carries a distinct global focus, with artists flying in from China, Australia, India, Brazil and elsewhere. Some highlights: spoken word artist and YouTube celebrity Shane Koyczan from Canada will perform March 16-18 in Mondavi’s smaller cabaret theater; Joey Alexander, a 12-year-old jazz piano prodigy from Indonesia, will perform with his trio October 19-22, also in the cabaret theater; and Bassem Youssef, often called “the Jon Stewart of Egypt,” will speak February 1. Mondavi’s Speakers Series is always strong, and next year will feature actor and activist George Takei on October 15, writer David Sedaris on November 11 and, opening the season, Ira Flatow recording a live version of his popular NPR show Science Friday on September 24. As for some more unusual events? Young, dancey roots band Bumper Jacksons will take over the cabaret theater October 5-8; Cécile McLorin Salvant, “the finest jazz singer to emerge in the last decade,” according to The New York Times, returns to the stage March 14; and Paul Dresher’s Sound Maze, an interactive exhibit of enormous instruments, will probably be super cool for kids and adults alike March 8-9. Check out the full schedule at www.mondaviarts.org.

spend less, get more.

SouNd advice

—Janelle Bitker jan el l e b @ne w s re v i e w . c o m

04.07.16 | SN&R | 33

08 FRI

09 SAT

Ratt

The Ghost Town Rebellion

Miss Mouthpeace

Death Angel

Ace of SpAdeS, 6:30 p.m., $20

Shine, 8 p.m., $6

Fans of ’80s heavy metal will reminisce about the days of feathered bangs, Aqua Net, leather jackets, tight pants and the music of Ratt during its Re-Invasion Tour. Expect to hear classic songs from albums like Out of the Cellar and Dancing Undercover, all of which launched the Los Angeles-based glam band over international radio waves. Although singer and founding member Stephen Pearcy won’t be the one singing the original music, METAL songs like “Round and Round” and “Slip of the Lip” will still fill the stage. 1417 R Street, www.rattwebsite.com.

—Steph RodRiguez

gRAciAno’S, 9 p.m., $15

On one song, the Ghost Town Rebellion tells the story of a great storm in a golden city and the poor searching for higher ground to escape the rising flood. Rock That city is Sacramento. That higher ground is Poverty Ridge, around T and 21st streets. And I don’t need to tell you about the levees. Anyway, that’s the Ghost Town Rebellion’s whole thing: It’s a local history lesson and a rock show all at once. Credentials? Frontman Shawn Peter developed a historical walking tour for Sacramento. Now, that Wild West knowledge gets thrown into bluesy rock ’n’ roll. 1400 E Street, www.reverbnation.com/ theghosttownrebellion.

cAl expo, noon, $25

Why should hip-hop be the style best known for vocal freestyling? Local artist Miss Mouthpeace is gifted freestyler, but she is a soul singer through and through. Her band provides cool, smooth, jazzy soul grooves, and she sings over them as they come to her head; it’s not only impressive, it’s intensely emotional as well. She SouL does have some songs that are written and rehearsed beforehand, and they are equally dynamic. All of which is to say that this Sacramento native’s uplifting and entertaining act is not to be missed. 1023 Front Street in Old Sacramento, www.missmouthpeacemusic.com.

What started with the listing of a couple of well-known acts at the NorCal Tattoo & Music Festival has turned into three solid days of local, regional and national acts. The event’s biggest draw is THRASH METAL Saturday night’s headliner, Death Angel. The Bay Area band will be releasing its eighth studio album on Nuclear Blast records, titled The Evil Divide, in late May and will more than likely be debuting a couple of tunes. For the self-proclaimed metalheads who don’t own any DA albums, start with The Ultra Violence (1987) and Frolic Through The Park (1988). 1600 Exposition Boulevard, www.deathangel.us.

—AARon cARneS

—eddie JoRgenSen

—JAnelle BitkeR

LIVE MUSIC VOTED BEST BAR IN ROSEVILLE! 2015 -PRESS TRIBUNE

APR 08 BRIAN ROGERS APR 09 ADRIAN BELLUE APR 10 CHAD WILKINS APR 15 HANS APR 17 ERICK TYLER * APR 22 WHITE GLOVE SERVICE APR 23 BILLY MANZIK APR 29 BRIAN ROGERS *SUNDAY ACOUSTIC SESSIONS 2-5PM 27 BEERS ON DRAFT TRIVIA MONDAYS @ 6:30PM OPEN MIC WEDNESDAYS SIGN-UPS @ 7:30PM

COMEDY OPEN MIC’S EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT 7:30PM PINT NIGHT MONDAYS 5-8PM

101 MAIN STREET, ROSEVILLE 916-774-0505 · LUNCH/DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK FRI & SAT 9:30PM - CLOSE 21+

34 | SN&R | 04.07.16

/BAR101ROSEVILLE

IT’S A locAl HISToRy lESSoN ANd A Rock SHow All AT oNcE.

09 SAT

08 FRI

10 S UN

Slaves

The English Beat

Fever Feel

Grim Reaper

The Boardwalk, 6 p.m., $13-$15

Blue lamp, 8 p.m., $8

ace of spades, 7 p.m., $20-$24

Even if you don’t know Slaves’ music, you know Slaves’ music; the band is Sacto’s very own supergroup, comprised of vocalist Jonny Craig of Dance Gavin Dance and bassist Colin Viera of Musical Charis, plus members of some post-hardcore bands of note like Four Letter Lie. Fans of Craig’s soaring vocals will continue to find Rock much to enjoy, and the band is gaining traction in a serious way from the success of tracks like “My Soul is Empty and Full of White Girls.” The band is currently headlining its national “Us Against the World” tour. 9426 Greenback Lane, www.facebook.com/officialslaves.

—deena drewis

Is Dave Wakeling the King of Ska? I dunno. But he sure is Two-Tone royalty. His current English Beat touring line up is a great all-star cast, too, including guest stars from the Specials and the Selecter. SkA Wakeling’s smooth, distinctive low voice has that new-wave, seductive croon that playfully skips along, touching upon all the high points of ska, reggae, soul and punk. A bossy saxophone interjects itself as often as possible, while keys, drums and bass catch the beat and hold it steady. There’s no hanging out at the bar counter during an English Beat show. Everyone. Must. Skank. 1417 R Street, www.englishbeat.net.

—amy Bee

sTarliTe lounge, 7:30 p.m., $12-$15

Top to bottom, this will be a totally rad and unusual show for Blue Lamp. To start out, there’s dancey electro-pop group the Good Fortune. Then, psych- and soul-influenced indie rock band Epsilona. Guest of honor Fever Feel comes from Calgary, Canada, with a sound that merges raw, fuzzy garage rock with synth INdIE Rock and organ into something groovy, dynamic and soulful. In other words, get ready to feel the fever. The trio is currently working on a full-length to follow up its dreamy debut EP Days of Daze, which you should definitely peep on Bandcamp. 1400 Alhambra Boulevard, http://feverfeel.com.

Want to hear a bunch of old-school British heavy-metal dudes try their damnedest to shriek a strained “YEAH-EAEAEAEAEAEAEH” through their thinning, long hair? Hell yeah, you do. Grim Reaper’s been around forever with a bunch of ups and HEAvy METAl downs, and while it may not have been the best at just about anything, that hasn’t stopped a rather large block of metalheads from drunkenly screaming “see you in hell, my friend” at each other for decades. Do you have that song stuck in your head now? The lifers among you do. You can’t not go now. 1517 21st Street, http://grimreaperofficial.co.uk.

—anThony siino

—Janelle BiTker

★ 40 beers on tap ★ ★

events

★

Cornhole Tourney Every Tuesday 6pm Blind Draw Cash & Gift Card Prizes Friday April 8th 9pm: Country Double Header Art Mulcahy and Matt Gage

KNCI HOT COUNTRY WEDENESDAYS $2/$3/$4 DRINKS TIL 11

THURSDAYS

LIVE BAND KARAOKE CONTEST AND BEER PONG CONTEST LADIES BULL RIDING CONTEST!

FRIDAYS

B 92.5 COUNTRY

SATURDAYS

ULTIMATE COUNTRY DANCE NIGHT

No Cover Charge

SUNDAY FUN DAY 18 & OVER COLLEGE NIGHT

Saturday April 9th 9pm:

KARAOKE NIGHTLY

Sacramento Reggae Sensation "Simple Creation" No Cover Charge

21+ Venue 4007 Taylor Road Loomis, CA {EXIT I-80 TO SIERRA COLLEGE}

916-652-4007 countryclubsaloon.com

FREE DANCE LESSONS NIGHTLY LIVE BAND KARAOKE THURSDAYS

TERRY SHEETS BAND APRIL 14TH OH! THE BAND APRIL 15TH MADISON HUDSON APRIL 22ND 2 STEPS DOWN APRIL 28TH STONEYINN.COM FOR MORE INFO

GO TO EXO

ATTOO T / M O C . Y D TICBO

JOB

1320 DEL PASO BLVD

STONEYINN.COM | 916.927.6023

04.07.16 | SN&R | 35

THURSDAY 4/7

FRIDAY 4/8

SATURDAY 4/9

BADLANDS

#TBT and 5 Card Stud, 8pm, call for cover

Fabulous and Gay Fridays, 9pm, call for cover

Spectacular Saturdays, 10pm, call for cover

Sunday Tea Dance and Beer Bust, 4pm, call for cover

Big Mondays happy hour all night, M; Karaoke, Tu; Trapicana, W

BAR 101

Thursday Comedy Open Mic, 7:30pm, call for cover

ADRIAN BELLUE, 9pm, call for cover

SCOTTY VOX, 2pm, call for cover

Trivia, 6:30pm M; Open-mic, 7:30pm W, no cover

BLUE LAMP

7 SECONDS, THE KNOCKOFFS; 8pm, $15

EPSILONA, FEVER FEEL, THE GOOD FORTUNE; 8pm, $12

BANJO BONES, COMMUNITY CENTER, KENNY REGO BAND; 8pm, call for cover

IMPLANTS, THE O’MULLIGANS, AT BOTH ENDS; 8pm, $10

CREEPY LITTLE LEGS, THE ROLLIN’ BLACKOUTS, ABSOLUTELY YES; 8pm W

SICK OF IT ALL, THE OLD FIRM CASUALS, HOODS; 6:30pm, $16-$18

SLAVES, CAPTURE THE CROWN, MYKA RELOCATE; 6pm, $13-$15

BASEMENT, TUMSTILE, DEFEATER; 6pm, $15-$18

ABK, BONEZ; 7pm M, $15-$17; OTEP, LACEY STURM; 6pm Tu, $18-$20

MAKANA, 8pm, $20-$24

Slack Key Guitar Workshop, 11am, $20-$25

2003 K St., (916) 448-8790

List your event!

Post your free online listing (up to 15 months early), and our editors will consider your submission for the printed calendar as well. Print listings are also free, but subject to space limitations. Online, you can include a full description of your event, a photo, and a link to your website. Go to www.newsreview.com/calendar and start posting events. Deadline for print listings is 10 days prior to the issue in which you wish the listing to appear.

101 Main St., Roseville; (916) 774-0505 1400 Alhambra, (916) 455-3400

THE BOARDWALK

9426 Greenback Ln., Orangevale; (916) 988-9247

CENTER FOR THE ARTS

314 W. Main St., Grass Valley; (530) 274-8384

COUNTRY CLUB SALOON

4007 Taylor Rd., Loomis; (916) 652-4007

Corn Hole Tourney, 6pm Tu, no cover

Vicetone, 10pm, $5

DJ Khalasic, 10pm, call for cover

Billy Lane, 10pm, call for cover

FACES

Everything Happens dancing and karaoke, 9pm, call for cover

Absolut Fridays dance party, 9pm, $5-$10

Party Time dance party with Sequin Saturdays drag show at 9:30pm, $5-$12

FOX & GOOSE

MARTY COHEN AND THE SIDEKICKS, 8pm, no cover

C.F.R., THOUGHT SQUAD; 9pm, $5

ANTIQUE NAKED SOUL, 9pm, $5

Open-mic, 7:30pm M; Pub quiz, 7pm Tu; All Vinyl Wednesdays, 6pm W, no cover

GOLDFIELD TRADING POST

CASEY DONAHEW, 8pm, $13-$15

Country DJ dancing, 9pm, no cover

Open-mic night, M, call for time and cover

HALFTIME BAR & GRILL

Karaoke happy hour, 7pm, no cover

FUNK ROCKERS, 9pm, $5

SKID ROSES, 9pm, $5

Trivia night, 7pm Tu; Bingo, 1pm W

HARLOW’S

The Everly Brother Experience, 7pm, $20-$25

BEER DRINKERS AND HELL RAISERS ZZ Top Tribute, 6:30pm, $10-$15

THE PURPLE ONES Prince Tribute, 9pm, $15-$18

THE HIDEAWAY BAR & GRILL

Punk and glam night with DJ Annimal, 9pm, no cover

LUNA’S CAFE & JUICE BAR

Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged, 8pm, $2

ROCCO AND STEVE MCLANE, NANCY NORTHRUP; 8:30pm, $5

Nebraska Mondays, 7:30pm M; Open-mic comedy, Tu

MIDTOWN BARFLY

The Boombox: Daft Punk Tribute, 9pm, $5

Midtown Moxies Burlesque: Salute to Sacramento, 8pm, $15-$20

Salsa Wednesday, 7:30pm W, $5

NAKED LOUNGE DOWNTOWN

JONAH’S ONELINEDRAWING, 7pm, $10

DESTROY BOYS, URD-OM, NIKKI NELSON, JO JO MINICK; 8:30pm, $5

NAKED LOUNGE QUINTET, 8:30pm M; REBECCA PETERS, 8:30pm W, $5

1016 K St., (916) 737-5770

1001 R St., (916) 443-8825

Hey local bands!

SIMPLE CREATION, 9pm, no cover

1603 J St., (916) 476-5076

5681 Lonetree Blvd., Rocklin; (916) 626-6366 2708 J St., (916) 441-4693 2565 Franklin Blvd., (916) 455-1331 1414 16th St., (916) 441-3931 1119 21st St., (916) 549-2779 1111 H St., (916) 443-1927

FRIDAY, APRIL 8

RATT NO SYMPATHY

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

Sunday Mass with heated pool, drag show, 2pm, no cover

LARRY JUNE, 6:30pm, $15-$18

SQUISHY CHICKEN, HALFWAY NOBLE, VEINS TO WIRES; 8:30pm, $5

ALL AGES WELCOME!

SATURDAY, APRIL 16

DOKKEN

EVOLUTION EDEN - NOVA SUTRO - ANARCHY LACE

ENTER SHIKARI

HANDS LIKE HOUSES - THE WHITE NOISE - COLOSSAL DREAM

BASTARD SONS - LA NOCHE OSKURA

SUNDAY, APRIL 10 PRESENTED BY VIVE 92.1

VILMA PALMA E. VAMPIROS THURSDAY, APRIL 14

SAGE THE GEMINI NEF THE PHAROAH

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 CALIFESTO PRE PARTY

THE LUNIZ ROACH GIGZ – EZALE - LIL DEBBIE - SMOOV E

MONDAY, APRIL 18

PARACHUTE JON MCLAUGHLIN - BOH DURAN

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

THE EXPENDABLES

SEEDLESS - TRIBAL THEORY

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

JERROD NIEMAN BRODIE STEWART BAND

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL DIMPLE RECORDS LOCATIONS AND ARMADILLO RECORDS 36

04.07.16

GANGSTAGRASS, 7pm Tu, $12-$15; HAYSEED DIXIE, 7pm W, $17.50-$20

1417 R Street, Sacramento, 95814 www.aceofspadessac.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 17

THE ENGLISH BEAT

EDM and karaoke, 9pm M, no cover; Latin night, 9pm Tu, $5

Cactus Pete’s 78 RPM Record Roundup, 8pm Tu; Twisted Trivia, W

ACE OF SPADES

SN&R

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 4/11-4/13

DISTRICT 30

2000 K St., (916) 448-7798

Want to be a hot show? Mail photos to Calendar Editor, SN&R, 1124 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815 or email it to sactocalendar@ newsreview.com. Be sure to include date, time, location and cost of upcoming shows.

ART MULCAHY, MATT GAGE; 9pm, no cover

SUNDAY 4/10

COMING

SOON

04/24 04/28 05/01 05/06 05/07 05/08 05/12 05/18 05/20 05/27 05/28 05/30 06/03 06/08 06/10 06/11 06/25 07/23 08/18 08/22 08/22 12/16

Aer Murs, Kool Keith, DJ Abilities, Mac Lethal Apocalyptica Moonshine Bandits Blaqk Audio Motion City Soundtrack Tech N9ne Somo Hatebreed / Devil Driver Frightened Rabbit Katchafire Insane Clown Posse Josh Thompson A$AP Ferg & Tory Lanez The Growlers Morgan Heritage Birdy Julieta Venegas Fitz & The Tantrums Digitour Spring Break Explosions In The Sky Kidz Bop Kids

THURSDAY 4/7

FRIDAY 4/8

SATURDAY 4/9

OLD IRONSIDES

Karaoke, 9pm, no cover

ADAM ROTH, THE ERICK TYLER BAND, EBB TIDE; 9pm, $6

50 WATT HEAVY, VOODOO DOLLS; 9pm, $5

HEATH WILLIAMSON AND FRIENDS, 5:30pm M; Karaoke, Tu; Open-mic, W

ON THE Y

Open-mic stand-up comedy and karaoke, 8pm, no cover

CRIMSON EYE, SLUDGEBUCKET, TVSK, CURA COCHINO; 9pm, $6

Karaoke, 9pm, no cover

Pool tournament and karaoke, 7:30pm M; Music jam, 7pm Tu

1901 10th St., (916) 442-3504 670 Fulton Ave., (916) 487-3731

SUNDAY 4/10

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 4/11-4/13

THE PALMS PLAYHOUSE

13 Main St., Winters; (530) 795-1825

PISTOL PETE’S

SUPER MEGA EVERTYHING, OUTLINED, CHICK HABIT; 8pm, call for cover

POUR HOUSE

Midtown Spring Formal “Enchantment Under the Sea,” 9pm, no cover

140 Harrison Ave., Auburn; (530) 885-5093 1910 Q St., (916) 706-2465

POWERHOUSE PUB

BIG IRON, call for time and cover

NIBBLERS, call for time and cover

DISCO REVOLUTION, call for time and cover

KAREN LOVELY, 3pm, call for cover

Live band karaoke, 8pm Tu, call for cover; 98 Rock Local Licks, 8pm W

THE PRESS CLUB

SNEEZE ATTACK, THE GLOBS, FOSTER BODY; 8pm, $7

Press Club Fridays with DJ Rue, call for time and cover

Pop 40 Dance Party, 9pm, $5

DJ Larry’s Sunday Night Dance Party, 9pm, no cover

INSPIRED AND THE SLEEP; 8pm M, $7; THY SAVIORS, PIERCED; 8pm W, $7

SHADY LADY SALOON

TESSIE MARIE, 9pm, no cover

ZORELLI, 9pm, no cover

ELEMENTAL BRASS BAND, 9pm, no cover

EMILY KOLLARS, 9pm, no cover

STARLITE LOUNGE

ABSU, MINENWERFER, MORDKULT, BARREN ALTAR; call for time, $15

PROSPECT CASTLES, ASL, NOT, LAURA LAVIN; 8pm, $7

THE CRETIN’S CATTLE, MATT W. GAGE, THE HAZY VALLEY BOYS; 7pm, $5

GRIM REAPER, TRAUMA, CRYPTIC RUINS; 7:30pm, $12-$15

WITCHAVEN, IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT, UADA, OHM; W, call for time, $8

STONEY’S ROCKIN RODEO

Country DJ dancing and live band karaoke, 9pm, no cover

Country DJ dancing and karaoke, 8pm, $5-$7

Country DJ dancing and karaoke, 8pm, $5

Country DJ dancing and karaoke, 9pm, call for cover

Country DJ dancing, 8:30pm W, $5-$10

TORCH CLUB

Acoustic open-mic X-TRIO, 5pm; RANELL CARPENTER, 9pm, $5

PAILER & FRATIS, 5:30pm, no cover; EARLS OF NEWTOWN, 9pm, $8

THE HUCKLEBUCKS, 5:30pm, no cover; JELLYBREAD, 9pm, $10

Blues Jam, 4pm, no cover; Front the Band karaoke, 8pm, no cover

MICHAEL RAY, 8pm Tu; JESSICA MALONE, BRANDY ROBINSON; 9pm W, $5

614 Sutter St., Folsom; (916) 355-8586 2030 P St., (916) 444-7914 1409 R St., (916) 231-9121

1517 21st St., (916) 704-0711 1320 Del Paso Blvd., (916) 927-6023 904 15th St., (916) 443-2797

Adrian Bellue Saturday, 9pm. Call for cover. Bar 101 Modern acoustic guitar

All ages, all the time ACE OF SPADES

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, MEMPHIS MAYFIRE, 36 CRAZY FISTS; 5:30pm, $29.50

1417 R St., (916) 448-3300

CAFE COLONIAL THE COLONY

RICHARD STRATER, TYLER DAVIN, URD-OM, CHRIS CARLSON; 8pm, $7

SHINE

Sac’s Coolest Jazz Jam, 8pm, no cover

1400 E St., (916) 551-1400

THE ENGLISH BEAT, BASTARD SONS, LA NOCHE OSKURA; 7pm, $20-$24

CASSETTE IDOLS, BOBBY MEADER MUSIC, CRESCA; 8pm, $6-$10

3520 Stockton Blvd., (916) 736-3520 3512 Stockton Blvd., (916) 718-7055

RATT, NO SYMPATHY; 6:30pm, $20-$25

VILMA PALMA E VAMPIROS, 7pm, $25-$30 POWER FROM HELL, INFERNAL DAMNATION, DEFECRATOR; 8pm, call for cover

Tvsk with Crimson Eye, Sludgebucket and Cura Cochino Friday, 9pm, $6. On The Y Stoner metal

MYSTIC CIRCUS, 8:30pm M, $8; Consolcade retro console gaming, 6pm Tu DESTROY BOYS, W, call for time, $6

GHOST TOWN REBELLION, DANNY MOR- URBAN SHERPAS, THE SIGNIFIERS; RIS & THE CALIFORNIA STARS; 8pm, $6 8pm, $6

2708 J Street Sacramento, CA 916.441.4693 www.harlows.com

2708 J Street Sacramento, CA 916.441.4693 www.momosacramento.com

4/7 5:30pm $20adv

The BirD DOgs PresenT The everly BrOThers exPerience (all aGeS)

4/12 7pm $12adv

gangsTagrass

(meeT and GreeT TiX available)

4/8 5:30pm $10adv

Beer Drinkers & hell raisers

4/13 7pm $17.50

hayseeD Dixie

(TribuTe To ZZ Top)

4/9 9pm $15adv

4/14 7pm $30adv

(10 piece TribuTe To prince)

SiSTer crayon

BuilT TO sPill

larry June (all aGeS)

4/15 8pm

rOck fOr a reasOn

FeaT. paT marTin’S all STarS (Sold ouT)

04/22 chronixx 4/23 Xochitl 4/24 beatles 66 04/28 crystal bowersox 04/29 micky and The motorcars 04/30 The dustbowl revival 05/05 Whitey morgan / cody Jinks 05/07 Sizzling Sirens 05/13 portland cello project 05/13 This charming band (late) 05/14 chris pureka 05/14 Saved by the 90s

4/15

4/8

DJ JB

Matt Cali & Oasis

(Hip-Hop/R&B)

4/16

4/9

Garland Jeffreys

The PurPle Ones

4/10 6:30pm $15adv

Coming Soon 04/16 anthony coleman 04/16 midnight players 04/17 bilal 04/17 Jay electronica 04/18 Fat White Family 04/19 imarhan 04/20 roger clyne & the peacemakers 04/21 chuck prophet & the mission express

DJ serafin (los aNgeles) (opeN foRmat)

KiD neMesis (miami) (opeN foRmat)

4/21

uBer thursDay (fRee BefoRe 11 w/ College iD)

4/10 6:30pm $10

COMeDy Burger feat. Ngaio Bealum (18+)

4/22

lOuie giOvanni (Hip Hop/R&B)

04.07.16

SN&R

Print ads start at $6/wk. www.newsreview.com or (916) 498-1234 ext. 5 Phone hours: M-F 9am-5pm. All ads post online same day. Deadlines for print: Line ad deadline: Monday 4pm Adult line ad deadline: Monday 4pm Display ad deadline: Friday 2pm

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*Nominal fee for adult entertainment. All advertising is subject to the newspaper’s Standards of Acceptance. Further, the News & Review specifically reserves the right to edit, decline or properly classify any ad. Errors will be rectified by re-publication upon notification. The N&R is not responsible for error after the first publication. The N&R assumes no financial liability for errors or omission of copy. In any event, liability shall not exceed the cost of the space occupied by such an error or omission. The advertiser and not the newspaper assumes full responsibility for the truthful content of their advertising message.

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Holidays are a disaster in my extended family because of conflicting political and religious beliefs. My husband conveniently forgets how awful the arguments are and always wants to go to family functions. Later, he laughs about the truly sick and insane things my relatives say or shrugs it off. On Easter, I flipped out at my uncle, a fan of that idiot Donald Trump. My uncle, aunt and cousins left before dinner. My husband wants me to apologize this time. I refuse. If my uncle can spout nonsense, I can correct it. Trump’s a Nazi and if he’s elected, I’m leaving the country. Relatives have called to support me but no one stood up with me during the argument. I’m not sure why I’m writing you except I guess I needed to vent. Thanks.

the Protestant pastor and activist Martin Niemoller is still timely: “When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent: I was not a communist. When they locked up the Social Democrats, I remained silent; I was not a Social Democrat … When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I wasn’t a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.” Over the decades, Niemoller’s poem has been edited so that “communist” is replaced with Catholic and “Social Democrat” with Protestants. Today, we could replace “Jews” or “communists” with “young black men” or “transgender people.” One last thing: If Donald Trump is elected president, please don’t leave the U.S. We’ll need people who have the backbone and cojones to confront tyranny, denial and prejudice. You’re one of those people. Besides, lots of people said the same thing when George W. Bush was elected, but it was an empty threat. Good thing, too, as Dr. David Hawkins, psychiatrist and author, commented at that time: “In other words, you’re so self-indulgent that when things don’t go your way, you take all your marbles and go home. That’s kindergarten level. Talk about egocentricity.” Yes, I know that’s what your uncle did. And, no, you don’t want to be that way, too. Ω

The position neither of you considered: peaceful.

Now that you’ve released some steam, let’s examine your conundrum. You defended your values and beliefs, and your uncle defended his. A passionate argument among people who respect each other can be a beautiful thing, but that’s not what happened. You both defended your respective stories about the right way to live. The position neither of you considered: peaceful. There’s a spiritual practice called witnessing which invites an individual to observe what is unfolding in front of them without any comment or resistance. There’s no stress, just awareness of what is. It’s helpful to practice this skill regularly, so that in a crisis it rolls into place. Witnessing feels like there’s no barrier between the interior world of thoughts, emotions or motivations and the exterior world of other people, the environment or situations. This awareness of being one transforms everything. When you are in union with all (even your Trump-loving uncle), something holy arises to speak and act through you. This is deep stuff we’re talking about, and not easy to do or live. But it is our human work to get out of the way and let the Divine work through us. Witnessing is not about staying silent regarding tyranny or denial or prejudice, though. Rather, it inspires incisive questions to be spoken and challenging realities to be raised. A famous quote by

MEDITaTION Of THE WEEk “The function of the creative spirit consists of making laws, not following laws already made,” said Ferruccio Busoni, pianist and composer. Are you still trying to fit in? Why not stand out?

Write, email or leave a message for Joey at the News & Review. Give your name, telephone number (for verification purposes only) and question—all correspondence will be kept strictly confidential. Write Joey, 1124 Del Paso Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95815; call (916) 498-1234, ext. 3206; or email askjoey@newsreview.com.

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When to say no Before we start: Rest in peace, Ryan Landers. Ryan, a.k.a. “Mr. Compassion,” was a driving force in the Sacramento medical marijuana movement for 20 years. He was a strong and passionate presence at protests, council meetings, benefits and anything to do with providing safe access for people helped by cannabis use. He was as selfless and compassionate as a human being could be. Ryan Landers is the reason Sacramento has good cannabis laws. We are all better for having known him, and poorer in his absence. I used to smoke a lot of weed, but I quit because it was making me feel weird. I had auditory hallucinations, all kinds of things. My brother also had to quit when he got back from the armed forces, pretty much for the same reasons, but he has mental health issues anyway. My question: Are there strains I can try that won’t give me these problems? —Noam Oar Bud Dude. Weed isn’t for everybody. I know pot activists are fanatically gung-ho about how medical marijuana can help just about anyone with just about anything, but there are people who shouldn’t use cannabis at all. Quick disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Moving on. For every study you can find saying that marijuana is no good for people with There are mental-health issues (PTSD, bipolar disorder, people who schizoaffective disorder, et cetera), you can shouldn’t use find one stating that marijuana is beneficial. The brain is tricky and powerful, so if you use cannabis at all. cannabis and you feel like you are overly paranoid or super-anxious or having hallucinations, you should probably stop using cannabis. It’s really that simple. I have autism and I can’t smoke for medical reasons. Although, I did smoke this one strain one time when I was on the East Coast. It was great. I wish I knew what it was. —Forest Getful Yeah, that happens too. I know some people who only like Blue Dream or Granddaddy Purple, or maybe they don’t smoke any Afghan variants or they hate Romulan, or whatever. There are more than 1,000 different marijuana strains in the world today and the breeders are making new kinds of weed even as you read this column. It is problematic that, as of now, the only way for you to find a cannabis strain that suits you is good old-fashioned trial and error. (Although, I feel it would not be in your best interests to continue to believe that cannabis is helping you, despite the obvious deleterious effects it is having on your mental health.) There are some sites where folks have uploaded all kinds of information about how certain strains made them feel. Leafly.com is a good one. You could always keep a weed diary and make a record of your feelings and reactions to the strains you have tried. Or: Just don’t smoke pot! I know it sounds weird for me to say that, but it’s true. Marijuana use isn’t mandatory. Good luck on your journey. Ω Ngaio Bealum is a Sacramento comedian, activist and marijuana expert. Email him questions at ask420@newsreview.com.

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melon in the Train Wreck Hybrid, maybe a touch of pine in the Sky Walker Indica. However, the indica strains put me right to bed, while the sativa strains kept me up making lists on Letterboxd. Based in California and Colorado, Eureka Vapor’s motto is “The Way Medicine Should Be,” and they pride themselves on providing a “100% Organic,” additive-free product. The flavor and strength of the vape cartridges are very consistent, and you can refill them with a pre-loaded syringe. Just twist off the mouthpiece, pull out the little plastic stopper, and squeeze some oil into the empty cartridge. In addition to their vape oils, Eureka also produces a line of discreet, buttonfree vape pens, as well as bulkier, old-school batteries. My general policy is that the fewer buttons for me to press the better, but I actually enjoyed the flavor coming out of the old-school battery a little bit better. Maybe someday I’ll get better at supplying tasting notes for vape oil strains.

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Free will astrology

by Dean Haakenson

by Rob bRezsny

FOR THE WEEk OF APRIL 7, 2016 ARIES (March 21-April 19): French artist Henri

Matisse (1869-1954) is regarded as one of the greats, in the same league as Picasso and Kandinsky. Even in his 80s, he was still creating marvels that one critic said seemed “to come from the springtime of the world.” As unique as his work was, he was happy to acknowledge the fact that he thrived on the influence of other artists. And yet he also treasured the primal power of his innocence. He trusted his childlike wonder. “You study, you learn, but you guard the original naiveté,” he said. “It has to be within you, as desire for drink is within the drunkard or love is within the lover.” These are good, sweet thoughts for you to keep in mind right now, Aries.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus-born Kurt

Gödel (1906-1978) was among history’s greatest logicians. His mastery of rational thought enabled him to exert a major influence on scientific thinking in the 20th century. Yet he also had an irrational fear of being poisoned, which made him avoid food unless his wife cooked it. One of the morals of his story is that reason and delusion may get all mixed up in the same location. Sound analysis and crazy superstition can get so tangled they’re hard to unravel. The coming week will be an excellent time to meditate on how this phenomenon might be at work in you. You now have an extraordinary power to figure out which is which, and then take steps to banish the crazy, superstitious, fearful stuff.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): For a time, pioneer

physicist Albert Einstein served as a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J. On one occasion, a student complained to him, “The questions on this year’s exam are the same as last year’s.” Einstein agreed that they were, then added, “But this year all the answers are different.” I’m seeing a similar situation in your life, Gemini. For you, too, the questions on this year’s final exam are virtually identical to last year’s final exam—and yet every one of the answers has changed. Enjoy the riddle.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your personal oracle

for the coming weeks is a fable from 2,600 years ago. It was originally written by the Greek storyteller Aesop, and later translated by Joseph Jacobs. As the tale begins, a dog has discovered a hunk of raw meat lying on the ground. He’s clenching his treasure in his mouth as he scurries home to enjoy it in peace. On the way, he trots along a wooden plank that crosses a rapidly flowing stream. Gazing down, he sees his reflection in the water below. What? He imagines it’s another dog with another slab of meat. He tries to snatch away this bonus treat, but in doing so, drops his own meat. It falls into the stream and is whisked away. The moral of the fable: “Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “I never get lost because I

don’t know where I am going,” said the Japanese poet known as Ikkyu. I stop short of endorsing this perspective for full-time, long-term use, but I think it suits you fine for right now. According to my astrological projections, you can gather the exact lessons you need simply by wandering around playfully, driven by cheerful curiosity about the sparkly sights—and not too concerned with what they mean. P.S. Don’t worry if the map you’re consulting doesn’t seem to match the territory you’re exploring.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “If literally every action

a human can perform was an Olympic sport,” Reddit.com asked its users, “which events would you win medals in?” A man named Hajimotto said his champion-level skill was daydreaming. “I can zone out and fantasize for hours at a time,” he testified. “This is helpful when I am waiting in line.” You Virgos are not typically Olympic-class daydreamers, but I encourage you to increase your skills in the coming weeks. It’ll be a favorable time for your imagination to run wild and free. How exuberantly can you fantasize? Find out!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In his book Strange

Medicine, Nathan Belofsky tells us about unusual healing practices of the past. In ancient Egypt, for example, the solution for a toothache was to have a dead mouse shoved down one’s throat.

If someone had cataracts, the physician might dribble hot broken glass into their eyes. I think these strategies qualify as being antidotes that were worse than the conditions they were supposed to treat. I caution you against getting sucked into “cures” like those in the coming days. The near future will be a favorable time for you to seek healing, but you must be very discerning as you evaluate the healing agents.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In his poem “The

Snowmass Cycle,” Stephen Dunn declares that everyone “should experience the double fire of what he wants and shouldn’t have.” I foresee a rich opportunity coming up for you to do just that, Scorpio. And yes, I do regard it as rich, even marvelous, despite the fact that it may initially evoke some intense poignancy. Be glad for this crisp revelation about a strong longing whose fulfillment would be no damn good for you!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “When I look

at my life I realize that the mistakes I have made, the things I really regret, were not errors of judgment but failures of feeling.” Writer Jeanette Winterson said that, and I’m passing it on to you at the exact moment you need to hear it. Right now, you are brave enough and strong enough to deal with the possibility that maybe you’re not doing all you can to cultivate maximum emotional intelligence. You are primed to take action and make big changes if you discover that you’re not feeling as much as you can about the important things in your life.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Psychotherapist Jennifer Welwood says that sadness is often at the root of anger. Feelings of loss and disappointment and heartache are the more primary emotions, and rage is a reflexive response to them. But sadness often makes us feel vulnerable, while rage gives us at least the illusion of being strong, and so most of us prefer the latter. But Welwood suggests that tuning in to the sadness almost always leads to a more expansive understanding of your predicament; and it often provides the opportunity for a more profound self-transformation. I invite you to apply these meditations to your own life, Capricorn. The time is right.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “The causes

of human actions are usually immeasurably more complex and varied than our subsequent explanations of them.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky said that in his novel The Idiot, and now I’m passing it on to you just in the nick of time. In the coming weeks, it’s especially important for you to not oversimplify your assessments of what motivates people—both those you respect and those you don’t fully trust. For your own sake, you can’t afford to naively assume either the best or the worst about anyone. If you hope to further your own agendas, your nuanced empathy must be turned up all the way.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “Believing love

is work is certainly better than believing it’s effortless, ceaseless bliss,” says author Eric LeMay. That’s advice I hope you’ll keep close at hand in the coming weeks, Pisces. The time will be right for you to exert tremendous effort in behalf of everything you love dearly—to sweat and struggle and strain as you create higher, deeper versions of your most essential relationships. Please remember this, though: The hard labor you engage in should be fueled by your ingenuity and your creative imagination. Play and experiment and enjoy yourself as you sweat and struggle and strain!

You can call Rob Brezsny for your Expanded Weekly Horoscope: (900) 950-7700. $1.99 per minute. Must be 18+. Touchtone phone required. Customer service (612) 373-9785. And don’t forget to check out Rob’s website at www.realastrology.com.

PHOTO BY LUKE FITZ

A view with a room When you meet Mehran Mesbah, mostly known as Mehr, he’s all open arms and open dialogue. He exudes friendly energy and is one with his neighborhood and greater community. After traveling extensively, he has settled into a life here in Sacramento, and lectures on art at Sacramento State. He lives in a three-story, six-unit Victorian apartment building on the southeast corner of 21st and I streets lovingly referred to as the Flop Haus, where he has recently turned the part of the building near the sidewalk into a window art gallery called The InsideOut, viewable by all on the street. Stroll on by any time.

When did you start living in Sacramento? Since maybe 2008? I had been living in Portland prior and was backpacking in Europe for about four months. On the plane, I remembered a cafe in Sacramento that a friend introduced me to years before. I decided I would work there. From the airport, I went straight downtown not knowing the name of the cafe or the neighborhood it was located in. Block by block, I eventually found the iconic [Old Soul at the] Weatherstone. After 10 minutes of chatting with the owner, he hired me on the spot. I asked, “Where’s a good place to live around here?” A customer directed me toward a “for rent” sign across the street. I moved in the next day.

When did you start living at the Flop Haus down the street? Knowing zero people in town, the Weatherstone connected me to Midtown

and all the good folks at the Flop Haus. I moved in with a friend and co-worker one year later, about 2009.

How have you seen this place change? When I moved in, it wasn’t even called the Flop Haus. It was the Lesbian Mansion. Being situated on the edge of Lavender Heights and Boulevard Park, the Haus has been a standing sanctuary for the LGBT community. [A couple I worked with] invited us to move in. Since then, Beaumont Cornell took over the degenerate task of shepherding the Haus, branding it the Flop Haus. He’s also responsible for the lavish lights and sounds coming from the second-floor balcony, which has become the main shared living space of the Haus. Still the best people-watching porch on the grid, hands down! Don’t believe me, come by one evening and give it a try.

I like that you’re down the block from the Eye Street Co-op.

and experimentation across a large spectrum of the Sacramento community. Consisting of three bay windows, the space is an extension of my ground floor apartment on the 21st side of the Flop. Since the entire space is viewed from the street, site-specific installations and projects have the potential to be viewed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I hope the space becomes an eclectic niche in the community, engaging passersby and art enthusiasts alike. Our official opening was March 12 and will continue till April 30. Come by on Second Saturday and see “Alter,” a kinetic installation by Terry Peterson.

Do you miss being able to see out of that window? In a weird way, yes. We’ve always had interesting interactions with the public via our windows. They were natural voyeuristic portals into our lives and activities, but I prefer the impact that InsideOut has already had on the community.

I love that house! There is constant support between houses for events, yard sales and music shows. If I were to make a family metaphor, we would be the obvious black sheep. You know, that cool cousin that you love hanging out with but kinda has a drinking problem. We’re different in the way that the co-op is actually cooperative living, whereas we’re just seemingly much more social than other apartment buildings I’ve seen.

What do you think of the Sacramento arts community?

And now you’ve set up an art gallery at the Flop Haus?

Learn more about Mehr’s gallery at www.the-insideout.org or just walk on by. See Mehr’s paintings at www.mehranmesbah.com.

Yes! The InsideOut. The project aims to promote artistic collaboration, exploration

I think it’s much larger and diverse than the city’s capacity to represent it. I feel the more interplay, connections and opportunities between the full spectrum of creative people in Sacramento, the more vibrant the arts community will be. This is one reason why Art Hotel was such a success. Ω

04.07.16

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