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ADVENTURES IN THE MALL | THE BARN | BUCKEYE GATHERING
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Volume 20 Issue 39 May 19, 2014
For 20 years The Synthesis’ goal has remained to provide a forum for entertainment, music, humor, community awareness, opinions, and change.
Columns
This Week...
The Rugs
Letter From the Editor
Rugs are great, aren’t they? All plush and cozy on your little toes, softening your footfalls as you prance around your house stark naked… Sometimes they play music too! Get to know The Rugs, and how their new album Make Yourself at Home will really tie the room together. (I am absolutely the first person to ever make that joke.)
Publisher/Managing Editor
by Amy Olson
amy@synthesis.net
PAGE 4
Immaculate Infection PAGE 5
Exotic Adventures in Smalltown, USA
PAGE 7
Preview
Supertime!
Deliveries
logankruidenier.tumblr.com
PAGE 16
by Mona Treme
Nerd
Accounting
PAGE 17
Ben Kirby
Director of Operations Karen Potter
Scene Report
Owner
Buckeye Gathering May Art Report
Bill Fishkin bill@synthesis.net
PAGES 19 & 20
Old Crock
by Jaime O'Neill jaimeandkarenoneill@gmail.com
PAGE 21
Kozmik Debris by Koz McKev
Cover Photo: Jessica Sid
Jessica Sid Vincent Latham
Dain Sandoval dain@synthesis.net
Consider the Platypus
kozmckev@sunset.net
Arielle Mullen, Bob Howard, Howl, Jaime O’Neill, Koz McKev, Tommy Diestel, Jayme Washburn, Eli Schwartz, Mona Treme, Emiliano Garcia-Sarnoff, Jon Williams
Photography
by Logan Kruidenier
PAGE 18
Colin Leiker, Mike Valdez graphics@synthesis.net
Contributing Writers PAGE 10
If you’re feeling short on excitement re: the future, let us introduce you to the grand dream that is The Barn. There will be no shortage of words like “amazing,” remarkable,” “spectacular,” and “viable.” You’ll be on the edge of your seat, the edge of your sanity, the edge of your ability to resist grabbing the person nearest you, shaking them violently, and screaming “THE BARN IS COMING!!!”
Alex Light Alex@synthesis.net SynthesisWeekly.com/submit-yourevent/
Joey Murphy, Jennifer Foti
Joy & Madness
The Barn
Entertainment Editor
Designers
by Emiliano Garcia-Sarnoff
PAGE 8
Creative Director Tanner Ulsh graphics@synthesis.net
by Bob Howard
Madbob@madbob.com
Amy Olson amy@synthesis.net
PAGE 22
The Synthesis is both owned and published by Apartment 8 Productions. All things published in these pages are the property of Apartment 8 Productions and may not be reproduced, copied or used in any other way, shape or form without the written consent of Apartment 8 Productions. One copy (maybe two) of the Synthesis is available free to residents in Butte, Tehama and Shasta counties. Anyone caught removing papers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All opinions expressed throughout the Synthesis are those of the author and are not necessarily the same opinions as Apartment 8 Productions and the Synthesis. The Synthesis welcomes, wants, and will even desperately beg for letters because we care what you think. We can be reached via snail mail at the Synthesis, 210 W. 6th St., Chico, California, 95928. Email letters@ synthesis.net. Please sign all of your letters with your real name, address and preferably a phone number. We may also edit your submission for content and space.
210 West 6th Street Chico Ca 95928 530.899.7708 editorial@synthesis.net
FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 3
PET OF THE WEEK
Cool Under Pressure Ohhh, what a week. I feel like I’ve been pulled in every direction imaginable.
Sarge
First of all, I found out in the worst possible way—through a sickeningly gleeful facebook post—that we’re losing SynMedia designer Colin Leiker to the slutty clutches of some company in San Francisco. I was crushed. Who else would give me backhanded compliments about the “cool poem” I wrote about Isabel Dressler? Who else would beg me for Duffy’s Bucks, making me feel omnipotent and cruel when I denied him for no good reason? Who else could possibly pull off that combination of a well groomed beard with horn-rimmed glasses, a nice button-up shirt, and a fixie bike… who, WHO?
Hi, I’m Sarge! I am a bit of a pampered pup and I love to be groomed! I am also VERY good at playing fetch, NO ONE is better at it than me-I’ll even wash and dry the ball before handing it back to you! 2579 Fair Street Chico, CA 95928 (530) 343-7917 • buttehumane.org
Now Hear This SYNTHESIS WEEKLY PLAYLIST Milo
I tried desperately to guilt him into staying, but the most I could get was a vague promise that he’ll still do some things for us from afar—which I take as a solemn vow that he’ll be back in six months and then stay forever. Cool, no problem. Losing Colin for a while, but he’ll totally get his heart crushed and everything will be fine. Then I had this amazing 40 minute interview with Craig Blamer that got me super excited about the future of arts, and got my wheels turning on all the crap I could get out of my garage and “donate.”
Tanner
Milo - “Almond Milk Paradise”
Mike
Diplo - “Eparrel”
Colin
Radiohead - “Let Down”
Tara
Iggy Azalea - “Fancy”
Amy
Elvis Presley - “I Beg of You”
Alex
Animals as Leaders - “Tooth and Claw”
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SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM MAY 19 2014
Like a genius, I recorded this whole thing on my phone rather than finding replacement batteries for my official interview-recording device, and then like a super genius with giant sausage fingers, I promptly touched delete instead of the naming field when I went to save it. It was like I had some kind of handTourettes. I literally screamed “Nooooooooo!” and spent the next two hours with my actual genius boyfriend trying to find a way to recover the data, but to no avail; it had never been saved, and without that crucial step, there was nothing.
OK, fine, deep breath... I’ll just write it by memory instead of transcribing it. Q & A articles are boring anyway (except for all the times we’ve ever done them and probably will in the future). THEN I realized I’d written three quarters of my column without even mentioning the thing I initially wanted to devote it to: There’s this really cool event coming up on Saturday morning, from 9am to noon, called the Veterans Garden Project Plant Giveaway. It’s at the Humboldt Community Garden, 2253 Humboldt Rd, across the street from Marsh Junior High. If you’re a veteran of the US military (stay away, mooching Canucks), they’ll give you and your family free plants— tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, eggplant, flowers, and more. FREE. You might be thinking that this is some kind of weird trap set by a bunch of hippies, but no. Although the project is led by several self-described left wing pacifists, including Michael Cannon, Michelle Angela, and Rosemary Febbo, rest assured there are also many Veterans working on the farm. Also, it’s just a small gesture to thank you for your service, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. The Veterans Garden Project is partially funded by the California Department of Agriculture, but they can always do more when they get donations from the public. Check out veteransgardenproject.com, get confused by the fact that it redirects to the Pub Scouts website, and then just find them on facebook for more information.
Letter From the Editor by Amy Olson
amy@synthesis.net
Future Wine and the Way it Never Was The wild plums look like they are about a week of warm weather away from turning golden yellow and sweet. The elderberries are a few more weeks off. Eventually the bountiful fruits from these trees and bushes, that were here long before we ever made the scene, will become wine. In the mean-time we are guzzling gallon bottles of Carlos Rossi, because I need the jars for secondary fermentation vessels, and because the wine is nine dollars for four liters at Food Maxx. I’ve been picking up a lot of work lately—odd jobs and regular gigs. It’s good; it’s hard to turn away work when it comes. But it has waylaid some of my plans and killed off momentum on others out here at the farm. Grass needs cutting, vegetables need planting, ground needs turning. It’s been months since I’ve made any progress on the carport project, which will eventually be a sort of mud room with cabinets and bookshelves, and a ledge for cats. A lot of horrible things are going on across the world in Nigeria. A group of fundamentalist Islamic followers of a crazed leader has kidnapped schoolgirls and plans to sell them to sex traffickers. It’s awful stuff, and people are outraged. I’m outraged too, but I’m really not sure what I can do about it. I
guess I could write my Senator. I don’t see the point in posting an outraged facebook status update—I mean, who in their right mind isn’t terribly upset and angered by this kind of thing? I guess I could tweet something about it.
The government isn’t distracting us, we distract ourselves. Hey, wait, I got a new complaint... People entertain wild theories about the government using the 24 hour news cycle to distract attention from their nefarious dealings. This is silly. The televised national newscasts are never going to take the time to dissect policy and report on the daily votes in Congress. For one thing there isn’t time. They have something like 17 minutes to report the news. For another, viewers wouldn’t watch, not when there are stories about sports, celebrities, and tragedies, natural and humanmade, to tune into. The government isn’t distracting us, we distract ourselves. If we as a people collectively stopped demanding the gossip and the spectacular, then the news
wouldn’t report it. Of course, any time we want, any one of us can tune into C-Span or log onto the internet and see exactly which bills are being proposed, amended, and voted on. Of course we don’t have access to the behind the scenes stuff, but we never did before we got so “distracted.” The Purpose of Government There’s a lot of nostalgia on both sides of the aisle about a state of government and a moral idealism that never existed. The government wasn’t established to protect freedom, as Doug LaMalfa and the Tea Party would like you to believe. If so, then how the hell did slavery legally extend for nearly 90 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence? For better or for worse, our government is in place to protect property.
Immaculate Infection by Bob Howard Madbob@madbob.com
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Malled WRITER HANGS OUT AT DICK’S (AND OTHER MALL STORES), WHERE HE SURELY BELONGS On either end of the Chico Mall, the employees of Verizon and AT&T are inside their respective stores, quietly signing people up. But in the Mall’s middle, the T-Mobile guys take a different approach. “How much you payin’ for your cellular contract, sir?” one of them asks me as I walk by. They ask something like that to almost every passerby. T-Mobile has some deal going right now where they’ll buy you out of your contract—or, as one of the T-Mobile guys calls it, a “contrap”—with the other carriers. At one point I see one of them try to talk a guy carrying an AT&T bag out of the contrap he just signed like five minutes earlier. I admire their hustle skills. I tell the T-Mobile guy—who I’ll call Zeb because he talks a lot of shit and I don’t want to get him in trouble—that I’m writing a story about the Mall. “The Mall shouldn’t be this dead,” Zeb says, gesticulating with his prosthetic arm (“Zeb” doesn’t really have a prosthetic arm, but I figure if I’m going to disguise his identity, I might as well take a liberty or two). “There’s no excitement. Usually you hear echoes of laughter and talking in a Mall; here it’s like…” Zeb goes quiet, indicating that we should take a moment of silence. It’s true. There are just the faint echoes of footsteps and the muted rustling of Mall employees straightening their already perfectly straight displays. The Mall is dead as fuck. Why is that? I ask Zeb, looking into his eye (one of his eyes was disfigured, and he wears a Pirate patch over it). He points around the Mall with his hook. “It’s these stores. What the hell is ‘Christopher Banks?’ Never heard of it. I mean…’Buckle?’ Seriously?” Zeb asks rhetorically/disparagingly in his robotic voice, speaking through the electrolarynx machine he has attached to his throat. I keep walking. “You wan’ massage?” one of the employees of Aaron’s Massage asks me as a walk by. “Free sample, you try,” he suggests. “No thanks,” I say. This conversation is repeated literally every single time I pass Aaron’s Massage (at least like seven times). The masseuse tells me he’s from China. “So’s all the stuff sold in this Mall!” I point out, excitedly.
As I leave Aaron’s Massage, the Security Director, Roy, asks what exactly it is I’m doing. I tell him. “The guy who set fire to the Roseville Mall was doing the same thing,” Roy explains. “He was writing stuff down, too. So that’s why this looks like a ‘not right moment.’” Roy thinks it would be best if I talked to Lynette Myers, the Marketing Manager. So I turn around and head toward her office.
Angel! She gave me $20 before I came here. And my dad drinks, but he’s an awesome dad. The best dad ever. Always respect your parents, bro,” he tells me. Omar is a sweet kid. I get up and head toward Spencers, but before I get ten paces, Ms. Myers manifests at my side as if through teleportation. “So… what sorts of questions, for instance, did you ask that guy?” she asks. I give vague answers and continue on.
“You wan’ massage?” asks the masseuse.
“You wan’ massage?” asks the masseuse.
“No thanks,” I say.
“No thanks,” I say.
I find Lynette Myers’ office. Ms. Myers seems highly conflicted/ deeply anxious about letting me wander around the Mall asking questions (I should point out that, like Roy, she’s a super nice person just doing her job). She keeps asking me what my “angle” is. I keep telling her I go in tabula rasa. I watch her try to read my notes upside down. She gives me permission. But she adds, almost to herself, “I probably shouldn’t.” From here on out, the moment I finish talking to someone, Ms. Myers pops up out of nowhere, wringing her hands and asking me nervous questions about my “angle.”
Spencers has a beer bong/pong section, which has shirts that read, “Drunkest Bitch at the Bar” and “Let’s Get Red, White, and Wasted.” There’s also a dildo display. Did you know you could get dildos and guns (“Dick’s Sporting Goods”) at the mall? Me neither!
Back in the mall, I kick it on a bench with 18-year-old Omar, who is waiting to meet some friends. Omar wears a backwards baseball cap over his mullet/rat-tail, and a t-shirt that reads “Sex, Drugs, and Rap,” in bold letters. Omar tells me that the girls usually come out after three. “[The girls] are why they made this Mall,” Omar explains. “That and to sell stuff. You feel me, bro?”
I head back toward my car. I understand Ms. Myers’ skittishness. She doesn’t want some dick wannabe writer coming in and talking about how this place is filled with corporate propaganda and sweatshop-made crap all contributing to the looming environmental apocalypse. (I would never do that, personally, but I could see how she’d worry.)
We go over his t-shirt, point by point, but in reverse order. Omar freestyle raps “his feelings,” he tells me. And he does drugs (“But not illegal drugs, cuz I got my 215”). And sex? “I’m not the type of guy who meets girls and has sex, bro,” Omar says. “I’m the type of guy who meets a girl and gets to know them. And then has sex. You feel me?” he clarifies. But Omar has a girlfriend now, so he just meets girls “as friends.”
“You wan’ massage?” asks the masseuse.
Our conversation turns toward family. “Oh, my mom is an
Out in the hall, Ms. Myers is pacing around reading my column from the previous week (which opens with a philosophical rumination on the bravery of strippers baring their buttholes), looking very agitated, or perhaps caffeinated.
“No thanks,” I say. The doors, the obliterating sun, the end.
Exotic Adventures in Smalltown, USA
by Emiliano Garcia-Sarnoff FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 7
The Cozy Feeling Of Really Well-Made Rugs by Howl photography by Jessica Sid The Rugs are comprised of Nolan Ford, Jeremy Gerrard, Austin King, Katrina Rodriguez, and Andrew Alvarez (playing keyboards, guitars and vocals, drums, ukulele and vocals, and bass, respectively). Three rugs join them onstage at all times: one hanging from the keys, one hanging over the kick drum, and one formed to Jeremy’s guitar (it’s a rug-guitar. Get over it). Jeremy’s voice is abrasive and almost Dylan-esque, contrasting beautifully with Katrina’s sometimes lilting, sometimes powerful, always striking vocal prowess. Their music is like tubing the Sac River while sipping a glass of wine and wearing your favorite songwriting sweater. They’re releasing an excellent 14-song debut album this week, May 24th, at Duffy’s.
I asked them if they could come up with a sentence that evokes the essence of their new album. “I hope it’s the kind of album you couldn’t put in a sentence,” said Jeremy.
“The inside joke of the Make Yourself At Home title of the album is that it has a cozy vibe to it…” Nolan said, “and also the double meaning of literally tracking it at somebody’s home.”
Andrew chimed in, “It’s the thinking person’s getting away. That’s mine.”
Andrew continued, “My parents were in the process of moving out of their house in Forest Ranch. It was pretty much vacant for a couple months. It was really isolated, big ol’ hardwood floors, open space, beautiful view, vaulted ceilings… A nice, comfortable, fun place for everyone to meet, so we had a few sessions up there… We recorded drums, guitars… as much as we could, I think…”
Jeremy had been assuming an expression of hard thinking, and he finally added, “A familiar road with new scenery, how about that.”
“We tracked everything there except the violin and some electric guitar overdubs,” Nolan finished, “So almost all of it was exclusively recorded at The Eagle’s Nest.” 8
“Affectionately dubbed,” Jeremy said. “It doesn’t sound like a lot of other bands. It’s not an in-your-face party album… It’s something you have to warm up to. We didn’t wanna write songs that people already knew they liked. That’s what cover bands are for. So we hope people will branch out and go, ‘This is familiar enough, and this is new enough, and I’m okay with liking it, even though it’s different.’”
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM MAY 19 2014
“You’d need at least a stanza to contain it,” Nolan replied.
“Yeah, that’s cool,” I agreed. Jeremy continued, “Musically and thematically, it’s close enough [to other music] to be accessible, kinda like [listeners] have been here before, but they’ll notice some new things. Like, ‘Oh, that’s an interesting way of saying that,’ or, ‘I wouldn’t have expected a 7th chord there,’ or, ‘How about that key change,’ or whatever it is. Little things that make the familiar road a little more interesting.”
With a steady, plodding tempo, Make Yourself At Home takes the listener through 14 tracks full of great guitar solos, threepart harmonies, and striking lyrics. I found the songs to be excellent examples of what Jeremy had been aiming for: it was deceptively similar to a lot of rock music, but I couldn’t at any point name a specific moment as reminding me of anything except The Rugs. “It’s songwriter rock,” Nolan told me. “The lyrics are a valued part. You want to clearly hear each word in each song, you know? That’s something that’s harder to find these days; you’re always like, ‘What did they say again? “Haughty?” “Hottie?” What was that?’ That’s a cool goal of our music: to put the vocals and lyrics in the front.” I ask Nolan if he could pinpoint some lyrics of Jeremy’s that he likes the most. I know I like the line, “if you can’t see through the fog/go meet Dr. Dog/they know,” for obvious reasons. “A lot of Jeremy’s lyrics do similar things that Dr. Dog’s lyrics do,” he replies, “Like in their double meanings… In the way they’re crafted; there’s almost a sense of humor about them that makes you think; they’re said in a clever way that’s interesting to hear. Like, ‘I’ve shrunk down the more I’ve grown.’ Contradictory things.” Jeremy took up the narrative here. “I’ve always been a huge Bob Dylan fan; listened to Dylan over and over again for a long time. I REALLY like James Mercer of The Shins; I think he’s a great lyricist, for a more contemporary band. He has a lot of obtuse imagery… He doesn’t let the melody dictate what he wants to say. You can tell he’s being genuine, without letting the music dictate it. Good word-play without having to say very much.”
From left to right: Austin King (drums), Jeremy Gerrard (guitar, vocals), Katrina Rodriguez (ukelele, vocals), Andrew Alvarez (bass, vocals), Nolan Ford (keys, vocals)
Between Mercer and Dylan, I feel that Jeremy’s execution leans very much toward the Dylan, albeit the slight abrasiveness to his vocal tone is very uniquely Jeremy’s… It’s almost TOO abrasive at first, like when I first heard Joanna Newsom’s “The Book Of Right-On,” where she sounds kind of like a cat dying (don’t worry Jeremy, you sound a bit better than that). As I listen to the music of The Rugs, sometimes the lyrics catch me, and sometimes they don’t. Every song feels slow, solid, and honey-sweet, so that the first few songs lulled me into a sleepy, contented daze and had to be re-examined later. I haven’t seen The Rugs perform live in about a year, so I watched their performance from The Big Room on YouTube (search “rugs sierra” and it’s the first hit) for some fresh perspective. When actually performing the songs, everything is heightened. The chilled-back, honey-sweet feeling is more apparent, but so is the clarity; the emotions. Jeremy’s awesome lead guitar tone cuts through the live mix with a lyricism as sharp as his words were obtuse. Everything he tries to say with words somehow finds full expression when he settles into his shred, sometimes solo-ing for a minute or more, with my mind hanging on every effortlessly executed note. This is where he shines.
KATRINA’S GOT CHOPS Katrina’s positively radiant when put on the stage with four guys in subdued outfits (no offense, guys), both in her appearance and her vocal performance. The songs that put her voice in the forefront help greatly in breaking up the pace of the album, offering a different way to listen to the same smooth rock songs. The final track “Dandelion” oozes a relaxed happiness, with Katrina exhibiting her impressive range and obvious optimism, before breaking into a great three-part harmony, and a final guitar solo. Actually, I think all the tracks end with guitar solos. “I think [Katrina’s growth] is obvious to anyone who’s been to our first shows, and goes to the shows we play now,” Austin said. “She’s grown a thousand times as a performer. The first show I played with you guys, I know we were all a little scared, you included.” “Yeah,” Katrina said with a smile. Austin continued, “Now, when we get to songs like ‘The Loom’, or ‘Let’s Get It On’—when we cover that, you can tell she’s comfortable, and those [performances of hers] can be the most intense parts of the show. She’s really rocking it out, and that wasn’t happening the first few shows.” “‘The Loom’ was definitely the hardest song for me to be comfortable with,” Katrina said. “Before this, I’d done choir, but I’d never done this ‘deep down, reach somewhere far, hit that note and turn it around’ kind of thing…” “That’s the most ‘Katrina-Showcase’ song,” Austin added. “Like, ‘You gotta do it, or it’s not gonna get done.” “It was so hard to figure out at first,” Katrina admitted. “I’m so grateful. I don’t know what it is that took away my nervousness… just feeling more comfortable around these guys makes all the difference in the world. And I feel like I’ve gotten more confidence from doing the dances in the Everybody In Outer Space show. Dancing in front of people? I’d never done that before. Or playing with Aubrey Debauchery and Lisa Valentine in Duffy’s Sirens, or just playing my own stuff around town, along with being in a play recently. My confidence has been boosted ten-fold, and now I feel like I can really go for it without holding back. It’s just having fun now; I’m not so much worried about being embarrassed, it’s more about having a good time.” “This is my first band ever,” she said. “Joining them was partly curiousity, and partly just wanting to be around musicians that could teach me something. Along the way I’ve discovered so much about myself, about ukulele, about guitars. A real love for music in general; all this has really opened my eyes.”
THE HARMONIES “It sounds like Nolan’s the one who orchestrates the harmonies…?” I asked. “Yeah. We try to break up the practices,” Nolan replies, “Have some of them be acoustic ones, where we hash out what each FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 9
Joy & Madness also featuring Ideateam FRIDAY MAY 23RD, 9PM LOST ON MAIN
person is individually singing. The biggest part is just trial and error, finding out what’s a comfortable range for each person; our four voices (Jeremy, Katrina, Nolan, and Andrew’s) tend to fall into natural pockets, so just observing that…” “We’re blessed with these kinds of voices that we have; they’re so different,” Jeremy said. “But they blend well when you orchestrate them in the right way.” Nolan continued, “It started out as, ‘Let’s all just blast it. Here it comes, just do it!’ and then, as we started recording, we began isolating things, and figuring out where we’re doubling each other and it could actually benefit from finding a new note, or figuring out where it makes sense to double notes, stuff like that. It was all discovered through the recording process, which is why we took our time with [recording].” They took about a year to record the album, with the invaluable help of Matt Franklin.
THE SONGS WE KNOW I asked the two less vocal members of the evening, Andrew and Austin, what they enjoy most about the songs Jeremy writes. “I appreciate their unique quality…” Andrew began, “I think that, if I were to write this music, my songs would be ten minutes long, with a lot of fluff, and he’s able to get them just like that: (snaps his fingers) only three and a half minutes. They’re structured in a really nice way, but with room for improv. They’re big enough, but still succinct enough to be on the radio or something. Not that people listen to the radio, but you know what I mean. There’s room for everybody, in a small amount of time. Even the short songs are complete; they don’t feel short.” 10
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM MAY 19 2014
“I like the feel of the songs,” Austin said. “Every time Jeremy showed me a song for the first time, I’d just start playing about 30 seconds in. It felt really natural, and there’s a lot of dynamics built into the song. I’m not a fast, technical drummer… but I think my strengths fit in with the strengths of the band. They’re well-written songs; well-crafted. They’re thoughtful. He cares about what he writes, and it really shows. “The songs have a good balance,” Nolan added. “Really engaging; you can listen to it in your car and really analyze it, and it’s not too abrasive; it could also be music you listen to at a dinner party or something, while people are having conversation and it’s in the background. It’s just fun to play also, and that’s the number one important thing: Every show’s been fun.” “You know how you have a CD, and it’s your summer CD?” Nolan continued. “For me, one of those was Guero by Beck; that came out in the summer… albums that just stamp a time period for you. Even some Ambler’s CDs (Jeremy’s previous band) have that nostalgic feeling for me. That would be cool if there were a few people out there who do that with Make Yourself At Home. “We know ONE person who will buy it…” Katrina said. “Thomas Almond! He drives from Red Bluff to all our shows.” “Right!” Nolan said. “He’s not just a friend. He’s a fan. He would love it if he got a shoutout in this article.” Come see The Rugs perform live at their CD Release Party on Saturday, May 24th at Duffy’s, alongside Aubrey Debauchery & The Broken Bones and Lisa Valentine & The Unloveables. $5, 9pm.
What better way to celebrate the end of the school year than by shaking your ass to some really good funk? No better way, I tells ya! It’s the perfect music for people who don’t normally dance: the bass pretty much does all the work for you. Sacramento has been kind enough to lend us not one but TWO of these groups of bootymovers this week: Joy & Madness, fronted by the sexy-in-a-really-weird-way singer Hans Eberbach, joined by creative up-and-comers Ideateam. Joy & Madness features an impressive collection of talent, and are guaranteed to drive audiences insane with happiness.* Six of the eight members were formerly in The Nibblers, a widely known funk band that dissolved in 2012 after a bunch of drama ensued, resulting in the firing of aforementioned sexy-in-a-really-weird-way singer Hans Eberbach, and the realization that pretty
much nobody in that band actually wanted him to get fired and they all left with him— essentially meaning that the people who fired him were the ones who ended up getting fired. Adding to their already high caliber cadre, they brought in pocket bassist Miss Nyxi (who I don’t actually think would fit in my pocket, but that’s not important right now), and guitarist Bobby G (who has played with Earth Wind and Fire, Sheila E, and Lionel Ritchie). *this claim not evaluated by the FDA Ideateam likes to let the brass speak for itself, pushing mainly (but not only) instrumental renditions that blend influences into something unique. Featuring two saxophones and a trombone, two guitars and a singer, and two sets of drums and a bass, this nine piece is perfectly formulated for splitting songs into jammable sections that showcase every element of funk. They’re a lot of fun, if you like fun.
CHICO CANNABIS CLUB THUR. MAY 22
LIVE MUSIC:
WOMEN’S CLUB 1-9PM POTLUCK
FOOD BY SIPHO’S JAMAICAN RESTAURANT ALCOHOL-FREE EVENT | ADMISSION FREE TO ALL AGES
Get Ready for Summer Special! As Low As $35/Mo* $35/Single, $54/Double, $62/Family. 1 Year Pre-Pay. Call membership for details at 343-5678
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Drink Closed
We need to drink, too!
Mon-Fri Happy Hour 12-4PM $3 Sierra & Domestic
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday!
Pints 6PM - close $1 Off Pitchers
Closed
$3 Sierra and Domestic Pints $ 3.50 Ka mis ALL DAY!
Angry Mondays!
$6.50 Pulled pork sand w/
Angry Orchard specials
fries or salad 25 cent wings from halftime 'til they're gone!
$6 angry hot wings Happy Hour2-6pm M-F $1.00 off Sierra and Dom
Pitchers $1.00 off PBR & Olympia Pool Rates Cut in 1/2!
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday!
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Pitchers $1.00 off PBR and Olympia Cans Pool Rates Cut in 1/2 ! Closwed
Come see our beautiful Patio! Happy Hour 4-6: Menu cocktails $1 off.
344 WEST BTH ST I CHICO . CA I 530-343-2790
Sierra Nevada Draft $3
$3 20oz Siu shies $212oz Siu shies $2 Wells, Drafts and
Bartender Specials
WING WEDNESDAY! $2 for 3 Wings
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM
Chicken Waffle Wed.! 8 ball Tourney 6pm
Full Bar in Back Room
sign-up
8PM-Close $2.50 Fire Eater Shots $6 DBL Bacardi Cocktails
Weds, Fri & Sat Nights! PBR $2.25 Everyday!
Happy Hour 2-6pm M-F $1.00 off Sierra and Dom Pitchers $1.00 off PBR and Olympia Pool Rates Cut in 1/2!
Mon-Fri
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday!
Happy Hour 12-4PM $3 Sierra & Domestic
Pints
Pitchers
$5 Vodka Red Bull
$3.50 Soccer moms Open 9PM NO COVER!
pizza's made to order on
$1.00 off PBR and Olympia Pool Rates Cut in 1/2!
$6 Dbl Roaring Vodka
Bartender Specials
Mon-Fri
$314oz Siu shies $4 20oz Siu shies
Happy Hour 12-4PM $3 Sierra & Domestic
Pints
the patio, all night! Happy Hour from 4-6.
Chico Jazz Collective 8-midnight Happy Hour2-6pm M-F $1.00 off Sierra & Dom
Grad Prizes & Giveaways!
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM
Full Bar in Back Room Weds, Fri & Sat Nights! PBR $2.25 Everyday!
Weekend Blast Off!! 8-close $5 Blasters
Rock Out atThe DL!
Enjoy Live Music, Great Grub, and 10 9' foottables Open@llam All ages untill lOpm
MONSTER MONDAY SPECIALS 6PM-CLOSE BEER $3/4/5/6 $1 SHOTS FREE Pool after lOPM
Chicken Strip Sand only $6.50 before 6 PM DOLLAR DAZE 6-9pm $1 Beer $1 Wells $2 Doubles FREE Pool after lOPM
Reuben Sand
w/ fries or
salad $6.50 5pm-Close 1/2 off kids
items Spm-Close Pitcher Specials $6/$9/$12 FREE Pool after lOPM
Baby Back Ribs $10.99 Philly Cheesesteak $7.50 6pm-Close $4 Grad teas $3 All beer pints FREE Pool after lOPM
10 oz. Tri-Tip Steak w/ Fries or Salad & Garlic Bread $8.99 8pm-Close $4 Jager $5 DBL Vodka Red Bull $6 Jager Red Bull
$2 Kamikaze shots FREE Pool after lOPM
Bartender Specials
We open at 12:00pm. Kentucky Bucks are $5
$314oz Siu shies $4 20oz Siu shies
untilSpm! Food TnuckSaturday Night
Annie's Asian Grill on the
WE OPEN AT 12:00PM MIMOSAS WITH FRESH
Open at llAM $4.50 Bloody Mary $5.50 Absolut Pep par Bloody Marys Noon- 6PM $8 / $9 SN Dom Pitchers 8PM -Close $6.50 DBL Calls lOAM -2PM $5 Bottles of Champagne
with entree $4.50 Bloody Mary $5.50 Absolut Pep par Bloody Marys
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MAY 19 2014
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM
Full Bar in Back Room Weds, Fri & Sat Nights! PBR $2.25 Everyday!
Rock Out atThe DL!
Enjoy Live Music, Great Grub, and 10 9' foot tables Open@llam All ages untill lOpm
Baby Back Ribs w/Sa lad , Fries & garlic bread $10.99 8pm-Close $4 Single/$6 Double
Jack or Captain $2 Sierra Nevada FREE Pool after lOPM
Daily Happy Hour from 4-7PM PBR $2.25 Everyday!
Super Bowl Sunday:
Bronco Burgers and Sea
$5.19 Grad/Garden/ Turkey Burger w/fries
Chicken Tuna melts $8
or salad
1.00 off Sierra and Dom Pitchers
Bloodies $3 Well, $4 Ca II, $5 Top, $6 Goose Mimosas $2/flute, $5/pint $6 Beer Pitchers
$1.00 off PBR and Olympia Cans
J.OES cf ~) ~~~r-.9 ~~!I
Lounge
V1pu1tra
C H I CO C A
Go Down Lo
BEAR-E-OKE BURGER MADNESS! Bear Burger with fries or salad for $5.49. llam-10pm.
90's Night! $6 Pitchers $3 Jameson and Skyy Specials $2 Ka mis
Go DownLo
Metal Night in the Whiskey Room! $1Jim Beam $2 cans of beer
Go Down Lo
College "House Party" Ladies Night! $5 Pabst pitchers 1/2 off Rocksta r cocktails $2.50 Pink Lemonades $3 Jamo and Ginger
LIVE JAZZ Drink Specials
Happy Hour ll-6PM select bottles & drafts $2.7S
CLOSED
BEAR WEAR! 1/2 offwhilewearing Bear Wea r. MUG CLUB 4-10PM
$2All Day $2 Select Sierra Neva da or Dom Drafts $2 Kamis-any fla vo r
$3.50 Tea of the Day Bartender Specials Happy Hour 4-Spm
TRIKE RACES! Post time @ lOpm. Win T-shirts and Bear Bucks. MUG CLUB 4-10PM
All 16 oz Teas or AMF $3 All Day
PATIO DJ & DACE PARTY 9-PM-Close
BURGER MADNESS! Bear Burger with fries or salad for $5.49. llam-10pm.
Happy Hour ll-6PM $2.75 select bottles & drafts
2FOR1 BURGERS ALL DAY!! MINORS WELCOME!
SPM-Close $2 Margaritas $3 Cuervo Marqis $2.50 Corona Bottles & Sierra Drafts $3 Corona Lite Drafts Mon-Sat 3-6PM $1 Dom draft, $2 SN draft, $2 wells
CLOSED
Happy Hour4- 7pm
Progressive Night! 8-10PM $1 Sierra Pale Ale, Domestics, Rolling Rock & we ll cocktails up 10PM-close 25¢ per hour-close Mon-Sat free pool 6-SPM
Closed
1/2 OFF EVERYTHING!!!
Buck Night 8-Close $1 we ll cocktails, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Rolling Rock, dom draft $3 Black Butte $4 Vodka Red bull
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Happy Hour4- 7pm
Spm-Close $3 Hot Licks $4151 Party Punch 22oz 8-9PM $1 pale ale and dom draft up 25¢ per hour until
Closed
$1.50 sliders and other cheap eats!
$3.50 Sky Vodka Cocktails $3.50 Tea of the Day Bartender Specials Happy Hour 4-Spm
$216oz Wells
9pm-Close $212ozTeas $3 20ozTeas $2 Well, Dom Bottles & bartender Specials $5 Voci ka Red Bu II
$1.50 sliders and other cheap eats!!
GIANTS vs.ROCKIES TUES@ 5:40PM
I GIANTS vs. ROCKIES I GIANTS VS. BRAVES WEDS@ 5:40PM
THURS@ 5:40PM
134 BROADWAY ST. I 530.893.5253
close
Buck Hour 10:30 -11:30!!
$6.50 Apple Cinnamon Cider FIREBALL FRIDAYS!!!!
LIVE MUSIC DrinkSpecials
LATE NIGHT EATS! kitchen open until 1 AM
Happy Hour4-8pm $6 pitchers $2 refills after 1st purchase so's NIGHT!!!
LIVE MUSIC Drink Specials
LATE NIGHT EATS! kitchen open until 1 AM
Happy Hour4-8pm $6 pitchers $2 refills after 1st purchase KARAOKE "INDUSTRY NIGHT" HALF OFF ALMOST EVERYTHING!(Except Red Bull and Premium Liquors)
Call To Rent For Private Party Go Downlo
BURGER MADNESS! Bear Burger with fries or salad for $5.49. llam-10pm.
Free Happy Hour Food 4PM until it's gone
$3.50 Tea of the Day Bartender Specials
Happy Hour ll-6PM select wells, bottles and pints $2.75
Happy Hour 4-Spm
$4 Sex On The Beach $4 Sierra Neva da Knightro ON TAP $1 Jello Shots 7-10PM $3 Fireball
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$4 Wo rld Famous Bloody Joe $5 Premium bloodys your choice of vodka
Happy Hour-4-7pm $5 Fridays 4-Spm Most food items and pitchers of beer a re $5
Power Hour 8-9PM 1/2 off Liquor & Drafts (excludes pitchers) 9PM-Close $3 Pale Ale Drafts $9.75 Pale Pitchers
POWER 102 VIP NIGHT Open at 9PM
Hot "Dawgs" ALL DAY!
Mon-Sat 3PM-6PM $1 Dom draft, $2 SN draft, $2wells Powe r Hour 8-9 PM 1/2 off Liquor & Drafts (excludes pitchers) 9-Close Pale Ale Drafts $9.75 Pale Pitchers
BOTTLE SERVICE Now Available! Call for reservation 898-9898
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13
This Week Only...
BEST BETS IN ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, May 24th
Tuesday, May 20th
NAKED WORD 1: I AM HIP HOP
THE LOLOS, KAROLINA ROSES
Naked Word is a new spoken word series. The first one, entitled “I am hip hop: a biography,” will feature Mazi Noble and Reed Rickmers telling the story of their personal journeys through spoken word, and, no doubt, some sick rapping. Come get some caffeine and get thoughtful with us. $1 suggested donation, 7pm.
I’ve said it before, and I might say it a few more times, and I’m saying it again now: The Lolos are pretty cool. Their drummer Kenzie Warner (pictured) could actually be the greatest female drummer in town... Anyone want to prove me wrong? Go to this show and challenge her to a duel. Also featuring Karoline Farris and Sasha Rose, collectively dubbed “Karolina Roses.” $5, 9pm.
Wednesday, May 21st
Sunday, May 25th
LASALLES
It’s all in the title. Get your drank on and show everyone how much smarter you get when the pressure’s on! There are some rules and stuff, more or less focused on making sure you keep drinking the whole time, and drink extra much when you’re at the podium spelling a word. Hosted by local spelling bee champion Reba Gray. Show up by 9pm to enter, words will start getting spelled at 9:30pm.
NAKED LOUNGE
THE MALTESE
SMASHED SPELLING BEE
METAL NIGHT FT. BANE & GAIN TOUR 2014
There will be metal, there will be pop, there will be beer, there will be mosh pits. Headliners Assuming We Survive (pictured) really like New Found Glory, I think. Also featuring local badasses of loudness Gigantes, and touring acts Behind The Fallen and When Earth Awakes. Lots of pop choruses, lots of awesome breakdowns. Get into it. $5, 9pm.
229 BROADWAY ST, CHICO, CA
t h g i N e e i d La own the night
thursdays
buck11h:3o0upr m 10:30-
Other new and exciting things! 20 Tuesday
Sierra Nevada Big Room: Mother Hips. $32, 7:30pm
21 Wednesday
Maltese: Sofa King, Big Sticky Mess (Davis). $3, 9pm Sierra Nevada Big Room: Mother Hips. $32, 7:30pm
22 Thursday
Blue Room: God’s Country. $10, 7:30pm Cafe Coda: Western Divide, Pat
Hull, Class M Planets (OR). $5, 8pm LaSalles: Swamp Zen on the patio. 6-9pm
23 Friday
Blue Room: God’s Country. $12/$15, 7:30pm Cafe Coda: Socorro, Banned From Earth, UFO vs NASA, Witness To Society. $5, 8pm Chico City Plaza: Swamp Zen. 7-8:30pm Chico Women’s Club: Piano with John Trenalone. $12, 6pm
EAT. DRINK. PLAY. 229 BROADWAY ST, CHICO, CA 14
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM MAY 19 2014
THE MALTESE
Find Out How you Can Play Pool for Only $1/Day!
LaSalles: Emvee presents Avion, Daniel Dow, and Star-Nes. 9pm Lost On Main: Joy & Madness (Sac), Ideateam (also Sac). 9pm Maltese: Danny Cohen, The Entertainment. $5, 9pm
24 Saturday
Blue Room: God’s Country. $12/$15, 7:30pm Cafe Coda: Space Monkey Gangstas, Bay Born Cali Grown, Knight & Grae, Joe Skandalaris. $5, 8pm Humboldt Community Garden:
2nd Annual Veterans Garden Project Plant Giveaway. Free starts for veterans. 9am-12pm Lost On Main: G-Thizz CD Release party. 9pm Monstros: Badger, Chemical Burn, Aberrance. $5, 8pm
25 Sunday
LaSalles: Beach Party! Dancing and Karaoke.
LESSONS, LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS! GREAT FOOD! LIVE MUSIC! 319 Main Street (530) 892-2473
Ongoing Events 19 Monday
The Bear: Bear-E-oke! 9pm Word Play: Poetry Open Mic. 7pm Chico Art Center: “Contemporary Woman” Juried Art Show. 10am4pm Chico Womens Club: Prenatal Yoga. 5:30-6:30pm DownLo: Pool League. 3 player teams, signup with bartender. 7pm. All ages until 10pm Maltese: Open Mic Comedy or Music, alternates every week. Signups at 8pm, starts at 9pm. Mug Night 7-11:30pm The Tackle Box: Latin Dance Classes. Free, 7-9pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm Yoga Center Of Chico: Sound Healing w. Emiliano. Breathwork, Meditation, Healing.
20 Tuesday
100th Monkey: Fusion Belly Dance mixed-level class, with BellySutra. $8/class or $32/month. 7pm Cafe Flo: Open Mic with Aaron Jaqua. 7-9pm Chico Art Center: “Contemporary Woman” Juried Art Show. 10am4pm Chico Women’s Club: Yoga. 9-10am. Afro Carribean Dance. $10/class or $35/mo. 5:50-7pm. Followed by Capoeira, $3-$10. 7:30-8:30pm Crazy Horse Saloon: All Request Karaoke. 21+ DownLo: Game night. All ages until 10pm Farm Star Pizza: Live Jazz with Shigemi and Friends. 7-9pm Holiday Inn Bar: Salsa Lessons, 7-10pm LaSalles: ’90s night. 21+ Maltese: Karaoke. 9pm-Close Studio Inn Lounge: Karaoke. 8:30pm-1am The Tackle Box: Karaoke, 9pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm Woodstocks: Trivia Challenge. Call
at 4pm to reserve a table. Starts 6:30pm
21 Wednesday
Avenue 9 Gallery: Art Guild’s exhibit “Delbert Rupp: Enigma” 12-5pm The Bear: Trike Races. Post time 10pm Cafe Flo: Live Jazz, 5-7pm Chico Art Center: “Contemporary Woman” Juried Art Show. 10am4pm Chico Women’s Club: Afro Brazilian Dance. 5:30-7pm DownLo: Wednesday night jazz. 8 Ball Tournament, signups 6pm, starts 7pm Duffys: Dance Night! DJ Spenny and Jeff Howse. $1, 9pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm Jesus Center: Derelict Voice Writing Group, everyone welcome. 9-10:30am Panamas: Bar Swag Bingo/Trivia Night. 9-11pm The Maltese: Friends With Vinyl! Bring your vinyl and share up to 3 songs/12 minutes on the turntable. 9pm-1am The Tackle Box: Line Dance classes. Free, 5:30-7:30pm. Swing Dance classes. Free, 7:30-9:30pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm VIP Ultra Lounge: Laurie Dana. 7-9pm Woodstocks: Trivia Night plus Happy Hour. call at 4pm to reserve a table. Starts at 8pm
22 Thursday
Avenue 9 Gallery: Art Guild’s exhibit “Delbert Rupp: Enigma” 12-5pm The Beach: DJ Mack Morris. 10:30pm The Bear: DJ Dancing. Free, 9pm Cafe Flo: Delta Blues Project w. Porkchop Holder. 7-10pm Chico Art Center: “Contemporary Woman” Juried Art Show. 10am-
LIFE IN CHICO
4pm DownLo: Live Jazz. 8-11pm. All ages until 10pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm Has Beans: Open Mic Night. 7-10pm. Signups start at 6pm Holiday Inn Bar: Karaoke. 8pm-midnight LaSalles: Free live music on the patio. 6-9pm Maltese: Karaoke. 9pm-close Panamas: Buck night and DJ Eclectic & guests on the patio. 9pm Quackers: Karaoke night with Andy. 9pm-1am University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm VIP Ultra Lounge: Acoustic performance with Bradley Relf. 7-9pm. No Cover. Woodstocks: Open Mic Night Yoga Center Of Chico: Ecstatic Dance with Clay Olson. 7:309:30pm
23 Friday
Avenue 9 Gallery: Art Guild’s exhibit “Delbert Rupp: Enigma” 12-5pm The Beach: DJ2k & Mack Morris. 9pm The Bear: DJ Dancing. Free, 9pm Cafe Coda: Friday Morning Jazz with Bogg. 11am Chico Art Center: “Contemporary Woman” Juried Art Show. 10am4pm Crazy Horse Saloon: Fusion Fridays, the best country, rock, oldies, 80s & top 40. Country dance lessons 9-10:30pm DownLo: ½ off pool. All ages until 10pm. Live Music, 8pm Duffys: Pub Scouts - Happy Hour. 4-7pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm Holiday Inn Bar: DJ Dance Party. 8pm-midnight LaSalles: Open Mic night on the patio. 6-9pm
Maltese: Happy hour with live jazz by Bogg. 5-7pm. LGBTQ+ Dance Party. 9pm Panamas: Jigga Julee, DJ Mah on the patio. 9pm Peeking: BassMint. Weekly electronic dance party. $3. 9:30pm Quackers: Live DJ. 9pm Sultan’s Bistro: Bellydance Performance. 6:30-7:30pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm
24 Saturday
SICILIAN CAFÉ
Avenue 9 Gallery: Art Guild’s exhibit “Delbert Rupp: Enigma” 12-5pm The Beach: DJ Mah. 9pm The Bear: DJ Dancing. No Cover. 9pm Chico Art Center: “Contemporary Woman” Juried Art Show. 10am4pm Crazy Horse Saloon: Ladies Night Dancing. 10pm-1:30am DownLo: 9 Ball tournament. Signups at noon, starts at 1pm. Live Music 8pm. All ages until 10pm The Graduate: Free Pool after 10pm Holiday Inn Bar: DJ Dancing. 70s and 80s music. The Molly Gunn’s Revival! 8pm-midnight LaSalles: 80’s Night. 8pm-close Panamas: DJ Eclectic on the patio. 9pm University Bar: Free Pool 6-8pm
25 Sunday
Chico Art Center: “Contemporary Woman” Juried Art Show. 10am4pm Dorothy Johnson Center: Soul Shake Dance Church. Free-style dance wave, $8-$15 sliding scale. 10am-12:30pm DownLo: Free Pool, 1 hour with every $8 purchase. All ages until 10pm LaSalles: Karaoke. 9pm Maltese: Live Jazz 4-7pm. Trivia 8pm Tackle Box: Karaoke, 8pm
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On The Town 16
PHOTOS BY VINCE LATHAM FACEBOOK.COM/VANGUARD.PHOTOGRAPHY
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM MAY 19 2014
by logan kruidenier - logankruidenier.tumblr.com
Salty/Sweet BET YOU CAN’T EAT JUST ONE.
When a girl is just starting out in the world, she often tends to have the sensibility of a concussed spaniel when it comes to guys. There’s something exciting about the distancing, fuck-you attitude of the stereotypical bad boy—which is usually augmented by some degree of raw sexiness (otherwise he’s merely an idiot). So he’s already got a record and a kid or two— whatever. You’re a magical, golden PYT, the One who can tame this stallion. Anyone who doesn’t agree with you is just jealous and bitter. So after a few trainwrecks like this, you do some growing up. Even if the bad-boy type still has a twinkle of base allure at this point, you’re experienced enough now to know that he’s just not worth the drama, abuse and general BS. So what, then, might toast the taco of such an evolved woman? May I suggest a personal favorite: The Grumpy Hero. Under a crust of sarcastic (but often humorous) world-weariness that you can now relate to, there beats a battered heart of gold. That’s his redemption, and it makes all the difference. Here are a few random examples to illustrate what I mean: Mal Reynolds: If you haven’t beheld the truncated glory that is Firefly, get yourself acquainted with a quickness. One of the many reasons to do so is Captain Malcolm Reynolds—a burned-out veteran-turnedpirate who has exactly zero love for the Establishment, but will go to the wall for anyone on his crew. Dr. McCoy: Okay, sometimes a Grumpy Hero can overdo the crankiness, I grant you. But
this doctor’s first concern is for his shipmates, and mere rank or danger to himself doesn’t faze him in his ministrations. DeForest Kelley (the first and best McCoy) wore a pinkie ring; Google the story on that, if that’s your thing. It’s a d’awww. Hellboy: Bear down—I’m about to say something extra-non-PC: Some people just look fuckin’ cool when they smoke. Hellboy is one of them. Hey, it’s not like it’s gonna kill him. Besides, a good cigar goes well with beer after a day of kicking in para-dimensional heads and making sardonic remarks. On the other hand (inside joke there), he loves cats and has a tender touch with babies… the big red galoot. Thaddeus Stevens in Lincoln: Tommy Lee Jones (accompanied by an unfortunate wig) fights the good fight in Civil War-era Congress. He doesn’t go about it in a gentle or even gentlemanly manner, but his heart’s in the right place—for a reason I won’t divulge here. Honorable Mention: Agent K. What a tightass, amirite? Yet he takes Agent J under his wing, more than once. Argh, the feels… Alan Shore: I haven’t watched Boston Legal in forever, but seeing James Spader joyously disappear into his role in Lincoln brought my love for this quirky misanthrope back to the surface. Shore is unethical, kinda slimy… and will brilliantly defend good people who otherwise wouldn’t stand a chance in our so-called justice system. Besides, you can’t not smile whenever he and Denny Crane put heads together. Good times!
Consider the Platypus by Mona Treme
PHOTOS BY VINCE LATHAM FACEBOOK.COM/VANGUARD.PHOTOGRAPHY
On The Town
FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 17
I
magine a world (also imagine I’m speaking in that awesome movie trailer voice) overrun by starving artists, their idle hands the devil’s playthings. They stumble around like zombies, their inspirations slowly decomposing (also like zombies). One man has the courage to fight the vacuum of boredom, the vision to formulate a plan, and the free time to put the wheels in motion. That man is CRAIG BLAMER. Cue the theme music! Montage of images that whip by so fast you only absorb the impression of excitement—something about kids and hammers and iced tea and an old rundown building getting pumped full of art and music and whatthefuckWASthat?!?
THIS IS YOUR OFFICIAL PREVIEW: something huge is
about to happen—the ultimate summertime blockbuster—and it’s going to be happening LIVE, 100 percent improv, in real time, on location, starting now, and starring you (possibly). That something is The Barn.
18
By Amy Olson
THE BARN
A HAVEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST
But first, this flashback: Six months ago, Craig Blamer had the first sparks of inspiration that would become a full blown beacon for the arts community.
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM MAY 19 2014
At first he considered creating a business, perhaps some kind of cafe that also hosted artists of all sorts. But as an artist himself—a writer and director—he was bothered by the capitalist nature of that approach. That’s the way every venue in town operates, which is fine in and of itself, but it often means that the creative people end up as commodities; making money for the business people, getting a minimal cut (if any) of the proceeds, sometimes even being asked to “pay-to-play.” The other downside to that is that if you’re less marketable or not very polished, there are very few opportunities to cultivate your talents in front of an audience. He looked at the crop of amazing talent coming out of the Inspire school, and then noted how few performances take place at all-ages venues. The idea that they might have their creativity stifled right out of the gate was unacceptable.
The idea that they might have their creativity stifled right out of the gate was unacceptable
A picture began to form: What Chico needs is a place for artists to get together and create, something focused solely on the spirit of art itself. A community center, a co-op; a clubhouse. He started to imagine something remarkable, and then…
THE STROKE CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD. One day
he was fine, maybe a little cranky about how shitty the selection of movies he had slated to review were, but that was nothing new. The next day he was in the hospital, derailed, a whole new set of challenges in front of him. But facing his mortality only firmed his resolve. When you’re lying there, considering your life and what really matters, the grand ideals glow so much brighter.
Luckily—for him, and for all of us—Craig’s recovery has come along very well, and he’s making strides toward making his dream a reality. He started looking for a place large enough to facilitate a big community, and cheap enough that contributions toward rent and utilities would be minimal. Walking past the dilapidated Auto Upholstery building at 164 E 11th st, part of that swath of blight just over the bridge from downtown on Park Ave, his wheels started turning. If anything could go in this building, caught between commercial and residential zoning, between the sins of business past and the budget woes of governments present, it was The Barn.
ENTHUSIASM FOR THE BARN CAUGHT LIKE WILDFIRE. Within days of creating a facebook group (search facebook for THE BARN to join), the flood of ideas and contributions have proven that this is not only a viable concept, but that people are hungry for it.
At the time this article is being written, fundraising is already over a third of the way to the initial goal of $2500—the amount needed to cover the initial move-in, rent, and utilities for June and July. Beyond that, it should take only $1000 a month to keep it going (just $10 each if 100 people take part). There will also be ample talent involved to supplement that with performance fundraisers, in fact, Jason Cassidy is already organizing one—We Know The Score: A Movie-Music Cover Night, slated for June 22 at 1078 Gallery. The one principle Blamer wants to stick to with this project is keeping it grassroots; away from dependence on government grants. It’s not that he’s a Libertarian, but he sees beauty in keeping every aspect of fundraising and oversight in the hands of Barn members; it can exist as an organically growing concept, thriving on the enthusiasm and sense of ownership that come from building it as a community. Speaking of community, the residents of E 11th street have long been plagued by that cluster of boarded up buildings. The hope is that improving this building will improve the whole neighborhood, potentially inspiring new uses for the other structures in the complex. And, as a gesture of goodwill, there will be no amplified music to keep them up at night—which is more than I can say for half the neighbors I’ve ever had.
IF ALL COMES TOGETHER AS IT SEEMS LIKE IT’S GOING TO, The Barn will be a place where people can drop
in and grab a cold glass of iced tea, watch Blamer’s vast collection of public domain films, try out new material in front of an honest audience, make movies, meet other artists, and collaborate. There’s enough space for it to become anything members can imagine—and considering the level of creativity in the people involved here, I’m guessing it’s going to be spectacular. You can contribute to The Barn by volunteering your skills, donating tools, furniture, appliances or art supplies (follow the evolving list on the facebook page), or giving monetarily through Pay Pal (recipient: cmblamer@gmail.com, subject: The Barn).
Buckeye Gathering
Chicoans spend a week learning primitive skills WRITTEN BY PIPER JOSEPHINE PHOTOS BY JAHNIA MITCHELL Dirt is of the earth. Dirt is not dirty; rather, dirt is the reminder of life’s open invitation to grow. By planting seeds, by collecting food, and by using earthbound skills to acquire the objects we need to survive, we commune with the earth and all earth dwellers. The Buckeye Gathering answers Nature’s call with gratitude. The crew moved the location of their annual gathering to Lake Concow this year. I’m personally grateful for the new location, being closer to home. Attracting folks from far and wide and high and low, the Buckeye Gathering shared the knowledge and skills of being a steward of the land. Instructors brought natural materials for their workshops, and goods for the trade blanket. The Barter Faire was rich in homemade tonics and buckskins, knives and textiles, amongst a host of other crafts and foodstuffs. Everything was imbued with wild airs, the promise of durability, and the encouragement to be resourceful. Classes and workshops included varied styles of weaving branches into baskets, rope, and macramé. Tracking and Foraging encouraged deep listening and exploration of the site, identifying local plants and animals, and learning to understand and remember communications with nature. The workshops offered covered an incredible range of skills. The Awareness courses included bird language, wildlife tracking, orienteering games and primal posture clinics. The Hunting and Gathering courses were at the center of it all, and included instruction and open practice at the archery range, survival bowmaking, hunting education and certificates, and advanced osage bows. There were the Fire courses; learning to use and make a bow drill or hand drill to make fire by friction; forged flint and steel kits, kid’s fire making, and finding wild tinder. The set of goals in survival are shelter, water, fire, and food, in that order. Foremost, however, is the connection to surrounding events. One must gather their wits and develop a dynamic meditation: they must do things in a meditative state. Awareness is tracking, knowing the animals in the area, and sensing the presence of water. Fear is loss of
awareness. Hypothermia is the number one cause of death in the wilderness because, rather than scout for water and a safe site to build a debris hut, those stranded in fear sit on a stump and think about things. Doing things to stay warm and building a fire by friction will ease the mind and activate the brain’s alpha waves, increasing the determined rate of survival.
Colin Elliot practices archery in the range.
Doing things with our hands deepens respect for the product. Weaving and tanning and pottery all take time and patience. The process is a beautiful transformation of nature’s gifts. People worked together and shared songs. Strangers felt like family, and no question went unanswered. Help was given readily to struggling students, from either the instructor or able and willing students. Skills were honed throughout the week, and many people made bows or moccasins, or tanned a hide. Many attendees had multiple interests, and there were a variety of tracks to follow; testimony to how fully our environment provides. Everyone was working to create harmonious relationships. Doug Simons was the foraging instructor; he brought messages of how to interact with “plant people” specifically; how to interact with nature, and all peoples generally. How often plants are treated as a substance, yet they are living! How often plants pass through our hands, yet we rarely do the collecting. Simons said we must work through our resistance and fears, and relearn the concept that everything is alive. For so long we’ve been non-responsive to these “plant people,” and a relationship must be engaged. He stated multiple times that “relationship with the unseen world facilitates movement in the seen (world.)” Move in a deliberate way; give offerings and thanks to everything. An offering acknowledges an exchange of energy. The unseen world gives us strength and powerful guidance, and at Buckeye we learned to relate to these “plant people.” So speak back to the flower when she calls you, and say “Thank you!”
Pottery ready to be fired.
Boat constructed of tule reeds.
FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 19
May Art Report 1078 GALLERY, MONCA, UPPER CRUST BY MICHELE FRENCH
If you want to see cutting edge in Chico, the 1078 Gallery is the place to go. The current show there is John Baca’s Need Need Not Repeat, a series of small installations. On the evening of May 1, he opened his artist talk by quoting Pablo Picasso: “Explain the art and you’ll understand the explanation, but not the art.” Baca may not have explained his art, but he did go on to elucidate it. The show will run until May 24, and the hours for the gallery are Thursday through Saturday 12:30–5:30pm. His artist’s statement cryptically remarks: “John Baca grew up in a place that barely ever existed and doesn’t at all anymore...” Several members of the audience objected to this saying it does still exist and that they still live there. It might be said, though, Baca is playing with what is real and what is memory. He seems to be reflecting on the hardscrabble circumstances of his youth and the direction his life has taken now that he’s facing his 40th birthday. “I Am a Ghost, You Are a Ghost, We Are All Ghosts” is an installation that covers most of the south wall of the gallery, a series of four battered hoods of old cars in various stages of deterioration and oxidation. Interspersed between these objects are black and white photos with, yes, ghostly images that suggest movement. Each of the hoods have squares of bright of color painted on them, from left to right: yellow, metallic gold, bright red, and dark turquoise. This, more than the other works, seems to suggest that all things eventually decay.
On The Town 20
PHOTOS BY JESSICA SID
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM MAY 19 2014
The Museum of Northern California Art (MONCA) is having another pop-up exhibition at 215 Main Street, which will be on display until May 24. The hours are Tuesday through
Friday 10–6pm, and Saturday 10–5pm. A closing reception will be held May 23, 6–8 pm, with music by The Survivors. The works, which will be displayed at MONCA, will be taken solely from Reed Applegate’s vast collection of Northern California art, and will eventually be housed in the old Veteran’s Memorial Hall on the Esplanade. This current pop-up show honors veterans and their personal art. The work in this show includes that of veterans from WWII, Vietnam, and the Gulf and Afghanistan wars. “Combat Veteran,” an oil by Walton Walker, is the searing image of a man obviously scarred by combat experiences, as much psychologically as physically. The face is a purplish brown mask of a mummy with the suggestion of a skull beneath. The title of David I. Tamori’s etched metal work is a Chinese curse, “May You Live in Interesting Times,” and, I assume, refers to his father’s experiences in WWII. Shoji I. Tamori was involved in heavy combat in France, eventually fighting under General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. At home, his parents were in a Japanese internment camp. If you want something a little lighter, there’s a charming display of longtime Chico educator Bernie Vigallon’s birdhouses at the Upper Crust. This started as a hobby for him, but eventually turned into a way to fund scholarships for the CUSD. The birdhouses range in price from about $35 to over $100. There’s a large one that resembles a church, one that has a CA license plate cut out in the shape of heart on the front and one with a Laurel Burch kitty in purple, white, pink, green and scarlet. This display will be on the walls until the first of June.
Congrats Grads, Welcome to the Club That time of year has come when American colleges and universities flush out a new flood of graduates, young men and women who have garnered the skills of binge drinking, casual sex, procrastination, and hit-and-miss obeisance to arbitrary deadlines and the performance of often meaningless tasks. If you took full advantage of the college experience, and if your need to belong was strong enough, you degraded yourself in a fraternity or sorority ritual intended to strip you of all human dignity, a night of selfmortification designed to ensure that you were an unquestioning team player no matter what might be asked of you. Academically, you’ve created a paper trail that does little to describe your intelligence or the work you’ve done, though it does indicate you did it to the satisfaction of professors paid to report on that work, and on your willingness to do it punctually and with due deference to authority. And now you’re about to join the wonderful world of adults, a world structured in such a way that you’re leaving college with a massive debt, a world in which those at the top have all the money, pull all the strings, control most of the politicians, and are even now determining how many of you will have jobs, and how much those jobs will pay. There aren’t a lot of jobs out there, as is nearly always the case at this time of year. It works best for powerful people when jobs are scarce and workers are willing to fight amongst themselves over work, so job surpluses only come along when the wealthy haven’t planned ahead properly. Welcome to the doggy buffet, where all the dogs eat other dogs, and god help you if you’re a Chihuahua. If you graduated from a state university with a pedestrian degree, you may not be a Chihuahua, exactly, but you’re still a pretty small mutt. From here on out, how you’ll fare is largely a matter of who you know. Or luck. Once your
...now you’re about to join the wonderful world of adults... ass kissing skills have been turned up to 10, and your willingness to move to wherever the jobs might be has been exhausted, you’re pretty much at the mercy of the fates. And the oligarchs, and the politicians who are directed by the oligarchs to ensure that things never get too easy for the likes of pups like you. Party hearty, young dudes and dudettes, cuz PlaySkool is out and real life is now knocking at your door carrying a big bill. You’ve got the start on a drinking problem, a big student loan, and a slip of paper signed by a college president who makes more money than you’re ever likely to see. The corporate culture owns your ass, the world is warming up faster than right wingers can deny that man-made climate change is real, the U.S. Supreme Court says money is speech, and the gap between rich and poor is larger than ever. No need to thank us. Onward to meet your destiny. Good luck to you all; you’re going to need it.
Old Crock
by Jaime O'Neill jaimeandkarenoneill@gmail.com
PHOTOS BY JESSICA SID
On The Town
FACEBOOK.COM/SYNTHESISCHICO 21
MAY 19, 2014 BY KOZ MCKEV
Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
The wind is at your back with Mars going direct Monday evening. Problem relationships will be eliminated. Good relationships will be strengthened. The sun transits you third house beginning Tuesday night. Get more in touch with your local environment and the things you’re passionate about. Focus more on communication, poetry, storytelling, and song writing. Be aware of the needs of your siblings, friends, and neighbors. The moon will be in Aries Friday morning through the early afternoon Sunday. It’s time for adventure.
Love brings karma. You’ve had Venus transiting your twelfth house the last few weeks. Your imagination is brilliant, your need for sleep is greater, and you realize that not all your female colleagues are trustworthy. The sun moving through your second house emphasizes money, values, food, and voice. You’re conscious of needing to improve your image with others. The moon goes into Taurus Sunday midafternoon, bringing a sense of security and a validation of your feelings. Physical health is restored.
A remarkable improvement of your current situation could occur this week. The sun moves into Gemini at 7:59pm PDT Tuesday. For the next several weeks it will be safer to show your wild side. Creative blocks are being lifted as Mars goes direct through your fifth house. It becomes easier to be giving. Finish off the loose ends of projects that have been hanging over your head. Monday and Tuesday are your better days this week. The weekend looks good for socializing and hanging out with good people.
Your rich social life begins to wind down. This week begins a cycle of working on your spiritual life and personal karma. What we do to ourselves as humans effects others whether we know it to be true or not. Unselfish giving to others will create good karma for you. Seek out those who may be isolated and need help. Wednesday and Thursday are good days for learning advanced material, as well as for seeking higher ground. A spiritual blessing can be found on these days. The weekend is good for developing your talents, as well as for your career.
Appreciation of your friends and many blessings is your focus this week. It’s time to give yourself a little bit of leisure time to check in with yourself and to prepare for the future. Romance and partnerships flourish this week. Negotiations and being diplomatic will go according to plan. The weekend offers many opportunities to learn more as well as be of help to others. Mars going direct helps you to regain your social life, and to act on situations that will need attention in the future.
You have mastered many different tasks. It’s time to put your learning into practice. Begin the week by being of more service to others. It becomes easier to cook, play music, and to make money. Your prospects for romance look best Wednesday and Thursday. The weekend may turn into something you didn’t expect. Remain calm and ask for help when you need it. You will get it. Your real focus is to move forward with your career, as well as your talents and skills. Your form of creativity will be appreciated by others.
Libra
Scorpio
Saggitarius
Capricorn
Aquarius
Pisces
There will be a little less crazy love this week. But there will still be good love. Your motivation is strong. Your sense of independence comes back to you. Your negotiation skills are still intact. Make plans to dream bigger dreams as well as to take bigger risks. You begin the week feeling open hearted as well as creative. The work load gets heavier as the week progresses. The weekend looks perfect for a romantic getaway, or for engaging others in oneto-one conversations. Be confident that you can risk something and still land on your feet.
At one time I heard that Scorpio and Gemini were the least trusted signs of the zodiac. With Scorpio it’s mainly because of secretive behavior. With Gemini it’s because of a reputation of being two faced. The sun is transiting your eighth house, and Mars is moving direct in your twelfth house. This is a time when secrets are activated. Sex, birth, death, and other people’s property figure prominently. By going through things prayerfully, and by helping others who are less fortunate, you will make good karma and come out of this unscathed.
You become more conscious this week in terms of how you come across to others. The vibration of being a protector or a defender is present. Gemini is your partnership sign, thus you are more aware of your relationships beginning Tuesday evening. Focus more on family and your personal environment this week. View challenges as opportunities. Use your memory to see patterns as well to be able to identify solutions. The weekend looks great for creative expression, love affairs, or working with your children.
You’ve heard the expression “there’s no free ride.” This week may prove to be something like that. You move from creative bliss to cleaning up a mess. Stay focused and organized. You have good friends and advisers when you need them. Pay attention to personal health issues, as this is a time of year when you are more or less vulnerable. Being happy with your family and home life is key. Your career life could pick up with Mars moving direct. Monday and Tuesday are good days to manifest something of value.
This week you move from introspection to honoring matters of the heart. You may see yourself as a reluctant leader. It’s alright to be a little hesitant, but be aware that the iron is hot and now is the time to strike. You begin the week with a sense of power with the moon in Aquarius. Social activities go better than planned. Your sense of direction is good. By the weekend you’ll be hanging out with friends and/ or making new connections. This is your creative project or your baby (so to speak); guide it like an experienced navigator.
Dream fulfillment comes when we are able to see good in any situation. Family and domestic life is your focus for the next several weeks. Creative projects will continue to thrive. Wednesday and Thursday are particularly auspicious with the moon in Pisces. You are conscious of your potential. Get to the roots of things. Honor the elders in your family. Know that everything has a history, and most likely it’s been played out before. The weekend looks good for economic expansion as well as music, cooking, and speaking your mind.
Koz McKev is on YouTube, on cable 11 BCTV and is heard on 90.1FM KZFR Chico. Also available by appointment for personal horoscopes call (530)891-5147 or e-mail kozmickev@sunset.net
22
SYNTHESISWEEKLY.COM MAY 19 2014
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