Coachella Valley Independent June 2015

GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN

INNOCENTVOL. 3 | ISSUE 6

Kimberly Long’s prison mugshot. She is serving a sentence of 15 years to life in prison for second-degree murder.

Kimberly Long Is in Prison for Killing Her Boyfriend. She Says She Didn’t Do It—and the Evidence Is on Her Side.By Brian Blueskye

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2 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT JUNE 2015

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Mailing address: 31855 Date Palm Drive, No. 3-263Cathedral City, CA 92234(760) 904-4208www.cvindependent.com

Editor/PublisherJimmy Boegle

Assistant EditorBrian Blueskye

Editorial LayoutWayne Acree

Advertising DesignBetty Jo Boegle

ContributorsGustavo Arellano, Victor Barocas, Max Cannon, Kevin Fitzgerald, Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, Bob Grimm, Alex Harrington, Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume, Keith Knight, Robin Linn, Marylee Pangman, Erin Peters, Deidre Pike, Dan Perkins, Guillermo Prieto, Tom Ribe, Anita Rufus, Jen Sorenson, Robert Victor

The Coachella Valley Independent print edition is published every month. All content is ©2015 and may not be published or reprinted in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The Independent is available free of charge throughout the Coachella Valley, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 by calling (760) 904-4208. The Independent may be distributed only by the Independent’s authorized distributors.

The Independent is a proud member and/or supporter of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, the Local Independent Online News Publishers, the Desert Business Association, the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, artsOasis and the American Advertising Federation/Palm Springs-Desert Cities.

A Note From the EditorOur country’s justice system is broken—and this month’s cover story illustrates that painful fact.

Turn to Page 8 to read Brian Blueskye’s story on Kimberly Long. The Corona resident was convicted of murdering her boyfriend after a day of drinking back in 2003—even though all the available evidence seems to exonerate her. Her case is one of the 18 that the San Diego-based California Innocence Project has taken up; here’s hoping the project’s attorneys can achieve justice for Kimberly Long and her family very soon.

Another example: My good friend Brian Burghart continues his work on Fatal Encounters (www.fatalencounters.org), a crowd-sourced database of people killed during interactions with law enforcement. As we explained in an article in our January issue—and as Brian himself has explained during TV interviews on everything from Al Jazeera to The Daily Show—he is trying to fill a void: There is no national database of people killed by law-enforcement officers, even though there is a semi-epidemic of such killings happening around the country, especially in the West. Therefore, he set out to create a database going back to the start of the year 2000. If you have time and expertise, please consider helping him out.

(As a side note: Brian, who is the editor of the Reno News & Review, and Fatal Encounters were just announced as finalists in the 2015 Association of Alternative Media Awards. Now, a little bragging: So were the Independent and writer Brian Blueskye, for his coverage of the Palm Springs mural ordinance. Congrats!)

Of course, there are also the examples of the unrest-catalyzing police-related deaths in Baltimore and Ferguson, Mo.

However, I am optimistic that our justice system can be fixed, at least partially. It’s a good sign that the Fatal Encounters site exists and is getting so much attention. It’s great to see that people are taking actions to make their voices heard in Baltimore and Ferguson and fight against police brutality and racism. It’s fantastic that groups like the California Innocence Project exist to help those wrongly imprisoned—and 11 of the project’s clients are now free, as we hope Kimberly Long will be soon.

You’ll learn a lot from Brian’s piece on Kimberly Long, on Page 8—and you’ll get a lot out of the rest of this month’s issue as well, I think.

Welcome to the June 2015 print edition of the Coachella Valley Independent.

—Jimmy Boegle, [email protected]

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JUNE 2015 COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 3

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something important to say.I had a good life—great education—wonderful

wife and three children. And to my surprise one day, I had a stroke. It was a bad stroke with no warning. I ate right. I exercised. I loved my life. And I had a very bad stroke.

Now here I am in a hospital bed with no movement of my body.

I can see and hear. But no one knows I’m here inside this wasted body.

Nurses change me, feed me, clean me, talk nice to me. I have a lot of words inside me, and I can’t speak. I saved all my words for a long life. What am I going to do with them now?

My wife came to visit and talked and talked and talked. I wanted her to STOP. I heard all about her activities. The children visited to tell me what vacations they were taking and were planning. I want to go. I want to tell them the plans I have.

My nurse will bring flowers and read cards to me. They don’t show them to me. They just read who they are from and put them on the door for others to see. Visitors laugh and tell jokes about world affairs. I want to read a paper. Please turn on the TV for me to hear and see news. …

I wish there was a plug I could pull. If God takes this much of a body and leaves these senses, it’s not fair. This is too painful.

I can still pray for others. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll do it the rest of my life. Pray for the world, for

peace. And pray for others, especially those who come to visit. They need to appreciate their life more. And be considerate of others’ ears when they talk. Smile more.

I still have my life. I’m just a little short of some things, but I will give it my all till I die.

The idea of being unable to communicate may be the condition people dread most. I still remember the fear I felt. However, Patty Stevens’ “Old Man Silenced by Stroke,” albeit fictional, communicates the fact that there is still somebody in there.

Maybe my concept of personhood needs some adjusting. I think of that aforementioned man’s attempt to define what it means to be a person, and how easily I agreed with his need to be able to communicate. I think of those who find a way, through sheer will, to connect through eye blinks or artificial intelligence or because a devoted spouse can read their thoughts.

If I were trapped inside my own mind, unable to communicate in any way, I would no longer define myself as a person, although I might still be alive. What defines it for you?

ANITA RUFUS IS ALSO KNOWN AS “THE LOVABLE LIBERAL,” AND HER RADIO SHOW AIRS SUNDAYS FROM 11 A.M. TO 1 P.M. ON KNEWS RADIO 94.3 FM. EMAIL HER AT [email protected]. KNOW YO UR NEIGHBORS APPEARS EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY AT CVINDEPENDENT.COM.

OPINION

After Someone Has a Stroke, There’s Still Somebody in There

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

request of his loved ones: “If ever anyone is in my presence discussing me or my condition, I want them to talk as if I were present.”

Reading that made me realize how often we inadvertently ignore someone’s presence. Nurse’s aides may be so focused on emptying waste or washing floors that they seem unaware of the person in the bed. Doctors sometimes consult with their associates about one’s condition and treatment while seemingly forgetting the patient can hear them. Family members will talk in the third person about something funny that Dad did when they were younger—although Dad is right there, even if he seems asleep or oblivious.

I once suffered from temporary aphasia after coming out of a surgical anesthetic—I was able to think clearly, but unable to speak or be understood. I was terrified. I was reminded of that scare at a recent recitation by the writers in the “You Don’t Have to Be Hemingway” group in Palm Desert.

One writer’s piece in particular really touched me. Patty Stevens is a dynamic

personality who is about to turn 80. She’s been in the desert 11 years from Indiana, and is the mother of six, with 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

“I’m not a writer,” she says. “I just thought this was a good time for me to try, and all of a sudden, these stories started coming out. Now, I just love it.”

Stevens ran a day-care center for 38 years and entertained the children with song and dance, “but I couldn’t read in front of other people. Now I can’t wait to read out loud what I’ve written.”

Her contribution was in response to the suggestion to write from the perspective of something inanimate. She decided to take a broader view of what “inanimate” means, and created “Old Man Silenced by Stroke”:

When I was a little boy in grade school, my teacher told us to stop talking so much. … Miss Jackson told us about an old man sitting on a park bench all alone, not talking because he had used up all his words when he was young. That scared me. So I was careful to only talk when I felt I had

By Anita Rufus

egular readers know that I do a lot of work regarding end-of-life decision-making. I once discovered an advance directive written by a man who went to great lengths to define the things he believed made him “a person”:

• The ability to understand what is happening around me.• Awareness of the consequences of medical decisions related to my

condition.• Knowing who I love and care about, and being able to recognize and

communicate with them. He said that if ever he were no longer a person, based on this

definition, he didn’t want his life prolonged. He also made a special

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OPINION

lot of us living in the desert did not grow up here. We came from up North, back East or elsewhere on the West Coast. We may have gardened easily in those regions thanks to ample rain, plenty of moderate sun and simple

conditions. Many transplanted gardeners yearn for

their gardens from back home. But now, faced with the challenges of the desert, we might give up and not even bother, once we see the thermometer hitting the 95 degree mark.

I have been sharing tips on not only surviving the desert summer, but having gardens that thrive, for almost two decades now. Today, I want to give you permission to try something different: Go ahead and plant something that you loved back home.

The photo below shows a bed of coleus. These wonderful, colorful, leafy plants are being hybridized to handle increasingly hot climates. Some even can take a moderate amount of sun. I suggest you plant them while it is still slightly cool at night (in other words … now!), and be sure to choose a location that has only morning sun. Provide them with ample water.

The first picture above shows coleus in the full sun. Imagine how this mound of plants shades the soil, keeping it cooler. The pot is about 28 inches in diameter and holds a volume of soil that will insulate the roots. In the low desert, I would advise you to place this pot in afternoon shade. It is amazing that even in this instance, it thrived!

Using these principles, tempt fate with plants that you would love to try planting again. Don’t spend your entire savings, though: Work with only a few plants at a time. For instance, it can be tough to grow marigolds all summer in the desert—unless

the conditions are perfect. I once planted a bed with transplants in the early spring. As the sun made its northern journey across the horizon, the bed was positioned so it was tucked into shade from a short wall behind it. With plenty of water and good air circulation, the marigolds thrived.

Another surprise might occur when you let some of your herbs or veggies flower. Check the artichoke pictured here. Planted in a pot, the vegetable produces a flower bud which, when picked, is a delightful delicacy. However, if you leave this flower bud on the stem and allow it to open, you are rewarded with a beautiful purple flower. Now I plant some artichokes to eat—and some to flower! Why not?!

Tips to Allow Your “Back Home” Plants to Grow in the Desert:1. Choose some of your most resilient favorites.

2. Plant in morning-sun locations early in the summer season. It’s best to plant in pots before the nighttime temperatures consistently reach the 70s.

3. Provide consistent and abundant water. 4. Start small, and gain experience. It takes

the right spot with the right conditions, a lot of love—and a little luck.

MARYLEE PANGMAN IS THE FOUNDER AND FORMER OWNER OF THE CONTAINED GARDENER IN TUCSON, ARIZ. SHE HAS BECOME KNOWN AS THE DESERT’S POTTED GARDEN EXPERT. SHE IS AVAILABLE FOR DIGITAL CONSULTATIONS, AND YOU CAN EMAIL HER WITH COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AT [email protected]. FOLLOW THE POTTED DESERT AT FACEBOOK.COM/POTTEDDESERT. GET A FREE COPY OF TEN TOP TIPS TO DESERT POTTED GARDEN SUCCESS BY VISITING WWW.POTTEDDESERT.COM/M. THE POTTED DESERT GARDEN APPEARS EVERY TUESDAY AT CVINDEPENDENT.COM.

Plants From ‘Back Home’ Can Turn Into Desert Surprises

THE POTTED DESERT GARDEN ASK A MEXICAN!

By Gustavo Arellano

EAR MEXICAN: My beloved niece married a boy of Mexican extraction. I am very fond of him, but he and his family hold us all at arm’s length. My niece has told me that his mother “doesn’t like white people.”

Isn’t her attitude racist?I’ll never forget walking into their wedding

with big smiles, because my niece was getting married, and she is a major sweetheart. We were greeted with stony faces and no responses to our greetings; I felt like a character from West Side Story. Looking back, maybe I should have clicked my fingers and sang “When You’re a Jet.”

Is there something I can do, or should I just continue to be courteous when we meet, and try to find something to talk to them about? It is hell to hold a conversation with his family, and they always make me feel like I’m in the way. (Actually, his father is nice, and he makes great burritos.)

Wondering Whitey

DEAR GABACHA: Stop being so gabacha. Believe it or not, not all Mexicans like white people. Your nephew-in-law obviously does, and it seems his papi goes gaga for the gaba as well. But your niece’s suegra? Not so much.

I can offer advice—take the woman out to a spa day, treat her to a nice lunch, smuggle over the last of her sisters from Puebla—but the sad reality is that Mexican moms keep pointless vendettas FOR LIFE. Whatever! You’re upset about one pendeja making family reunions uncomfortable; I should detail which of my cousins don’t talk to the other cousin over something said by uncles 45 years ago … but I still need to show my face at family quinceañeras, you know? Man, are our family funerals fun!

DEAR MEXICAN: I am in Big Brothers Big Sisters, and my little sister is a smart, kind, beautiful 12-year-old Mexican girl. Since we became sisters three years ago, she has been telling me all about what she wants for her quince (a beautiful blue dress, a stretch Hummer, a mariachi band, etc.). Although

her parents don’t have much money, they try very hard to do special things for their kids. Today, her mother told me they are not going to have the money to throw my little sister a quinceañera party. Instead, they want to take an inexpensive trip to the beach (she LOVES the beach), and save the rest of the money for her education. Her mother wants me to help her discuss the situation. Her parents have decided to tell her now so that she doesn’t spend three years planning a party that isn’t going to happen.

I would like to do something special for my sister which captures the spirit of a quinceañera, but without the traditional party. However, I have no idea what that might be. I love her so much, and I want to make her feel happy.

Happy to Be a Güera Hermana

DEAR GABACHA: Primeramente, can you throw the chingones parents a party for breaking the chains of quinceañera nonsense? Not spending tens of thousands of dollars on one day of a teenager’s life in order to save for their daughter’s educational future? What a novelty!

That said, a beach party quinceañera is not only feasible, but would be more memorable than any rented VFW hall or community center; watch how happy your hermanita will be. Just don’t be surprised when all the Mexicans go into the ocean with their clothes on …

CATCH THE MEXICAN EVERY WEDNESDAY AT CVINDEPENDENT.COM. ASK THE MEXICAN AT [email protected]; BE HIS FAN ON FACEBOOK; FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @GUSTAVOARELLANO; OR FOLLOW HIM ON INSTAGRAM @GUSTAVO_ARELLANO!

Why Doesn’t My Niece’s Mexican Mother-in-Law Like Me?

By MARYLEE PANGMAN

A bed of coleus.

A bed of coleus. A lovely artichoke.

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residential community, the SWB decided to allow agencies statewide to present revised estimates and supporting data on actual per-capita population totals.

“We’ve been making the comment since 2010, when we did our urban water-management plans, that it was just not accurate for us to use (federal) Census data,” Ruark said. “Other population projections have to be incorporated in this area, because our seasonal population is so significant.”

If the revised and lower per capita numbers are accepted by the State Water Board, that could lessen the target water-usage reduction total.

“This is huge for all the agencies in the Coachella Valley, and we’re very excited that we’ll be able to do that,” Engel said. “Right now, we’re trying to figure out and back up a population number which we think is more accurate. But we’re still confirming our data

with as many experts as we can to make sure we can defend it.”

No matter which Coachella Valley water agency provides you with the valuable natural resource, you should visit the appropriate website and study up on the restrictions from and behaviors allowed by your agency. If you hope to avoid financial repercussions, such as higher-tier rates and/or potential fines—the CVWD has had fines in place for a year now, and the DWA is looking into them—you need to be proactive in observing and managing your water usage.

“We’re not a policing agency,” Engel said. “We’re not going to go crazy with these restrictions and fines. Our goal is to educate people and to assist people.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.CVWD.ORG, WWW.DWA.ORG OR WWW.INDIOWATER.ORG.

• The irrigation of ornamental turf on public street medians is no longer allowed.

• The use of water in decorative fountains is prohibited unless there is a recirculation system.

• Restaurants must serve water only on request.

• Runoff flows from outdoor watering are now a no-no.

However, the CVWD did not follow the lead of the west-side Desert Water Agency (DWA) or the Indio Water Authority (IWA) and place mandatory restrictions on the watering of ornamental landscapes.

Rather, it was “recommended” that CVWD customers continue to water only between sunset and 10 a.m., any day, if they so choose. That’s quite a contrast to the restrictions issued by the other water agencies. The IWA limits landscape irrigation to the hours between 6 p.m., and 6 a.m., on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The DWA mandated that residential customers can only water Monday, Wednesday and Friday, between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., while commercial, industrial and institutional customers can water on alternate days—but only after they submit a plan approved by agency personnel.

Katie Ruark, the DWA’s public information officer, explained how the DWA board of directors came to the three-days-per-week, mandatory restriction.

“Math,” Ruark said. “We ran some calculations internally to see what we would have to do to reduce overall usage by 36 percent, and knowing that landscape watering accounts for the majority of water use … we knew that we had to cut down to that many days to get where we needed.”

Almost all of the CVWD board’s “restrictions” aren’t restrictions at all, but “recommended activities” in which actions are either “strongly encouraged” or “strongly discouraged.”

“I think the board decided that people need to have flexibility in determining what works best for them,” said CVWD spokeswoman Heather Engel after the meeting. “They set a goal at 36 percent below your budgeted water use amount, and you know we’re not asking every single person or customer to reduce. Some people have already done their part, and they don’t need to do any more. But for the people who are above that threshold, they are saying, ‘You do what you need to do to get your number down.’ So if that means you need to limit your watering, then fine, but maybe there’s somebody else who can get to their number without reducing their watering.”

That flexibility was not offered to DWA and IWA customers.

“Our strategy has been to achieve a community-wide reduction,” said Ruark of the DWA. “And the reason for that is that we know there are people in our community who have put in desertscapes; they’ve taken out their old washer and dryer and put in water-efficient ones; they’ve redone their irrigation systems, and they don’t have a lot of room left to save. We also know that there are people who do have a lot of room to save. So we implemented 13 water-use restrictions, and we’re essentially controlling the way you use water, and not necessarily how much you use.”

There is some hope for all valley residents: The onerous 36 percent total reduction mandated by the state may be rolled back to some lesser amount, thanks to the efforts of the DWA.

The DWA was the only one of the Coachella Valley’s three major water agencies that put in the time and effort to argue for the reduction of the valley’s per-capita water-usage calculation as adopted by the State Water Board (SWB). Partly as a result of the agency’s explanation as to how the valley’s seasonal and tourist population inflates the water usage that is attributed to the smaller full-time

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

The East Side’s Coachella Valley Water District Largely Issues Recommendations Rather Than Restrictions

WATER, WATER, NOT EVERYWHERE

NEWS

Some 120 people packed the May 12 meeting of the Coachella Valley Water District board. KEVIN FITZGERALBy Kevin Fitzgeraldhe board of directors of the Coachella Valley Water District—the agency that provides water to much of the east end of the Coachella Valley—met on Tuesday, May 12, to issue a final set of emergency water usage restrictions.

When it was all over, CVWD customers were facing a much less onerous set of restrictions than residents elsewhere in the valley.

After more than an hour of public comments from an audience of roughly 120 residents and business owners, the CVWD issued mandates including:

• The watering of outdoor landscapes within 48 hours of measurable rainfall is prohibited.


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NEWS

6, Venus reaches greatest elongation, 45 degrees to the upper left of the setting sun; as seen through a telescope around that date, the planet appears as a tiny “half moon.” In the next 10 weeks, as Venus draws closer to Earth, it displays an ever thinner, more backlit crescent.

Jupiter appears close to Venus in June and July, during the final weeks of their joint appearance in the evening sky. First, Jupiter appears to the upper left of Venus, within 20 degrees on June 1, narrowing to 10 degrees on June 14. From June 22 through July 13, Venus and Jupiter will appear no more than 5 degrees apart, both easily fitting together within the field of view of binoculars magnifying no more than about 10-power.

Venus and Jupiter will form a spectacular close pair on June 30, just 0.3 degrees apart. A telescopic view of the planet pair that evening will be a memorable sight, not to be missed:

Venus as a brilliant crescent, one-third full, matching the dim, fully lit disk of Jupiter in apparent size! This coincidence occurs because Jupiter, with a diameter 12 times that of Venus, will then be 12 times as far away! On five consecutive evenings, June 28-July 2, the planet duo will be no more than 1.2 degrees apart, easily fitting within a telescope’s low-power field.

The crescent phase of Venus can be resolved with just a pair of binoculars, by avoiding the planet’s glare against a darkened sky: One of the best occasions in 2015 is in the late afternoon or around sunset, from mid-June until late July/early August.

Saturn, at opposition to the sun on May 22 as the Earth overtook that planet, was visible all night. In the months following opposition, Saturn will remain in the evening sky, reaching its high point in the south about a half-hour

earlier each week, until crossing due south at dusk in July.

The moon can be followed as it waxes from a thin crescent, through first quarter phase (half full and 90 degrees east of the sun), to full, and about a day beyond—through June 3; and June 18-July 2. Folks new to sky-watching may enjoy keeping a diary or logbook of their observations, recording the date, time, observer’s location, direction in which the objects were seen, and comments.

Note the final gatherings of the moon with Venus and Jupiter in the evening sky will occur at dusk on June 19-20, and again on July 18, when the moon will appear very close to Venus! On June 17, 30 minutes after sunset from Southern California, a thin moon is about 4 degrees up in the west-northwest, 27 degrees to the lower right of Venus. On June 18, one hour after sunset, get a first easy view of the young crescent moon, 16 degrees to the lower right of Venus and 13 degrees to the lower left of Pollux. Jupiter is just more than 7 degrees to the upper left of Venus. On June 19, the moon is 7 degrees below and a little left of Venus; Jupiter is 6.5 degrees to the upper left of Venus. On June 20, the moon is within 6 degrees of the lower left of Jupiter. Venus is within 6 degrees of the lower right of Jupiter. On June 21, Regulus is 6 degrees to the right of the moon. On June 23, the moon, approaching first quarter phase, is just more than halfway from Regulus toward Spica. On June 25, Spica is 3 degrees to the lower left of the waxing gibbous moon. On June 28, Saturn is just 2 degrees to the right of the moon; Antares is 13 degrees to the lower left of Saturn. On June 29, Antares is 9 degrees to the lower right of the moon. On June 30,

don’t miss the spectacular conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, just 0.3 degrees apart.

By the way: Events of this kind are illustrated on the Abrams Planetarium Sky Calendar. Subscriptions are appreciated; get details at www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/skycalendar.

Another enjoyable pastime is to watch the western sky within an hour after sunset to try to follow the planets and bright stars until their latest possible dates. By the end of May, Rigel, Aldebaran, Sirius and Betelgeuse had already disappeared into the western evening twilight glow. In early June, Procyon sinks from view, and later in June or in earliest days of July (depending on the observer’s latitude), Capella, Pollux and Castor depart. All these disappearances of stars occur annually, at the same times of the year, as a result of the Earth’s revolution around the sun.

Mornings: During the summer and fall of 2015, mornings will also be very interesting for sky-watchers. Those who check the eastern sky regularly about an hour before sunrise can watch for the first appearances of planets and first-magnitude stars. Aldebaran, follower of the Pleiades and rising 14 degrees below that pretty star cluster, will return by the end of June; Betelgeuse, Rigel, Pollux, Castor and Mars do so before the end of July; Procyon and Sirius appear by mid-August; Venus before the end of August; Regulus and Jupiter before mid-September; and Spica by the end of October.

ROBERT C. VICTOR WAS A STAFF ASTRONOMER AT ABRAMS PLANETARIUM AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY. HE IS NOW RETIRED AND ENJOYS PROVIDING SKYWATCHING OPPORTUNI-TIES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN IN AND AROUND PALM SPRINGS.

Venus and Jupiter Are the Planetary Stars (Pun Intended) in This Month’s Skies

JUNE ASTRONOMY

by Robert Victor

Evening visibility map at mid-twilight. ROBERT D. MILLER


enus and Jupiter in the west are closing toward a spectacular close pairing on June 30, while Saturn climbs in the southeast in the early evening. These

three naked-eye planets, all showpieces for telescopic observation, should make a star party in June an exciting affair—so we hope you can arrange to

attend one!Evenings: Venus and Jupiter are easy to spot until late July 2015, because

they far outshine all nighttime stars. In June and July, Venus sinks lower in the evening sky while increasing in

brightness and getting ever more interesting for telescopic observation: On June


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recently visited the North Coast of California, where spring usually means green hills with deep grass, strewn with lupine and bright orange poppies bobbing in sea breezes.

This year, we found stunted grass, browning hills and the local news obsessing over the worst drought in California’s recorded history. Water shortages are threatening all aspects of life, from the economy, to our food supply, to the very livability of our homes.

Holed up in Bodega Bay, I heard Gov. Jerry Brown on the radio talking about mandatory water-use restrictions for California’s 39 million people. Brown usually can be counted on to take on issues realistically, yet when asked if he would restrict the amount of water that goes to agriculture, he demurred. Agriculture had suffered enough already, he said.

While we are all grateful to farmers and farm workers—including those in the eastern Coachella Valley—for producing the food we crave, the tough reality of severe drought should compel us to take a closer look at agricultural water use. In America’s entrepreneurial environment, we’re not used to asking hard questions about legal private-sector activity, but this severe and lingering drought—not only in California, but also throughout the West—could, and should, force a serious debate about private-sector use of public water supplies. It is long overdue.

Here are the cold facts: Cities in California use between 10 to 20 percent of the state’s developed water, producing 98 percent of its gross domestic product, while agriculture uses 80 percent of the water supply—and produces only 2 percent of the state’s GDP. And of the 80 percent that agriculture uses, only a portion is used for crops that directly feed people.

We could drill down deeper and see who is using water and for what, but this is where politicians start squirming, given that farmers produce both crops and campaign contributions. The majority of Colorado River water and agricultural water in California goes to producing feed for cattle—low-value crops like alfalfa and hay. Those crops use 14 million acre-feet of water a year, which is far more than what is used by water-intensive crops like rice, cotton or wine grapes.

Alfalfa is a huge water-waster largely because

of its high rates of evapotranspiration, as well as the overall inefficiency of flood irrigation, the main means of watering the crops. Seventy percent of California’s alfalfa goes to dairies, which use more than 700 gallons of water per cow, per day, in facilities that have hundreds of cows, usually located in arid parts of the state. The 500,000 beef cattle in California require between 400 and 2,500 gallons of water for each pound of meat, depending on who supplies your statistics.

How do we handle a commercial interest that disproportionately burdens the public water supply? The dairy and beef industries, and forage growers, provide some jobs, but their high water consumption threatens many other crops and businesses—employing far more people—as well as domestic water-users who depend on water for survival.

In 1983, the California Supreme Court, in the case National Audubon Society v. Superior Court, ruled that water falls under the public-trust doctrine, which says that important public resources are so fundamental to society that courts can impose restrictions when private development threatens public use. The court applied the public-trust doctrine to water that had been appropriated under state law, ruling that those appropriations were contrary to the public interest.

If politicians remain unwilling to confront wasteful use of our public water supplies, it might be time to bring a case to the courts.

Tom Ribe is a contributor to Writers on the Range, a service of High Country News, where this story originally appeared.

NEWS

News Analysis: It’s Time to Restrict Alfalfa, Hay Production in California

COWS ARE WATER HOGS

By Tom Ribe



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KIMBERLY LONG SPENT THE DAY OF Oct. 5, 2003, bar-hopping around the Corona area with her boyfriend, Oswaldo “Ozzy” Conde, and their

friend, Jeff Dills.The three ended the day at a bar called

Maverick’s and then went to the home she shared with Long, around 11 p.m. There, she and Conde got into a fight, after which Long left with Dills to cool off.

She returned home around 2 a.m. on Oct. 6. During a recent phone interview from the California Institution for Women in Corona, about 65 miles from Palm Springs, Long choked back tears while talking about that night.

“I remember walking through the door, and it was unlocked when I came in. I saw a light on in the back. I kicked off my shoes, and I saw Ozzy on the couch, and I called his name,” said Long, who was an emergency-room nurse at the time. “I walked over to the light to turn it on, and when I did that, I turned around, and I saw a big blood stain on the couch. I saw him and I realized that something went wrong.

“I thought maybe he had gotten into a fight. I don’t remember what I did first, to be honest. I think I ran outside and tried to get Jeff. I ran through the house, and I can’t really remember. I do remember that I got real close and I looked at him, and I realized with what I saw, there was nothing I could do to help him.

“I didn’t know if he was still breathing or not. In my head, he should be breathing, and there’s no reason someone should be dead on my couch. At that point, I got the phone, and I called 911. I forgot what they had asked me. I put down the phone. I ran back outside and

waited for the cops, and they couldn’t come quick enough. I came back in, and I called again, and the lady on the phone asked me if I could help him. I said, ‘I’m a nurse, yes, I’m going to help him.’ I went over to him. I grabbed his hand, and I tried to pull him off the couch. He didn’t wake up. I knew what that meant, and I ran outside screaming, and then the cops came.”

What caused the argument between Long and Conde?

“I was drinking all day long,” Long said. “I think Ozzy said I was running around at the bar we were at; I wasn’t paying attention to him, and I was talking to everybody else, and I think that’s what the argument started out as. By the time we got home, I was really agitated and just wanted him out of the house. I said a bunch of horrible things and told him to get out. I think the argument was about me being drunk and a flirt.”

Long said she loved Conde dearly. “I had known Ozzy since I was 11 or 12 years old. Ozzy didn’t have an enemy in the whole world. He was a great guy—he was funny, and he had his own sense of humor. He loved his kids so much. He loved his mom, and he loved life. I wouldn’t have thought there was a person in this world who wanted to harm him. I would have spent the rest of my life with him.”

While there was reportedly blood on every wall of the living room, there was no blood on Long or her clothing. The drains inside and outside of the house were dry, indicating there wasn’t an attempted cleanup.

Despite the fact that there were other possible suspects, Long was charged with murder. The prosecutor alleged that Long killed Conde and then changed her clothes

before dialing 911. Also, Dills made a statement saying that he dropped Long off at 1:30 a.m., not 2 a.m., as Long had claimed—which gave police a reason to suspect her.

Unfortunately, Dills was not given a chance to clear up that discrepancy: He was killed in a motorcycle accident before the trial took place.

Long’s first trial ended in a hung jury, with nine of the 12 jurors voting to acquit. In 2009, her second trial ended in a guilty verdict for second-degree murder—even though the judge himself stated he would have acquitted her. Two alternate jurors also reportedly said later that something must have gone wrong during deliberations, because the evidence against Long was very thin.

She was given a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.

ALISSA BJERKHOEL IS PART OF THE California Innocence Project, which is part of the California Western School of Law in San Diego; she has been

working on Long’s appeal. The United States has the largest population of incarcerated people in the world, with an estimated 2.3 million people behind bars.

“About 1,500 to 2,000 cases per year come through our office,” Bjerkhoel said during a phone interview. “We’re staffed with a lot of attorneys, and a lot of volunteers read through these cases and find cases where someone is really innocent. It’s a really long process, and we’ve had cases in our office for about 10 years before we finally find that magic bullet that says they didn’t commit this crime.

“A lot of investigation goes into it. We have volunteers such as retired law-enforcement officers, and it’s just years of digging through documents, the case, talking to witnesses, and getting forensic tests if we can.”

Bjerkhoel said Long’s case shares common traits with other California Innocence Project cases.

“It’s a classic case of whoever finds the body did it,” she said. “I think in the beginning of the investigation, the cops really weren’t suspecting Kim, but you do have to think the significant other can be a suspect. That’s typical cop protocol.

GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN

INNOCENTKimberly Long Is in Prison for Killing Her Boyfriend. She Says She

Didn’t Do It—and the Evidence Is on Her Side.By Brian Blueskye

California Innocence Project attorney Alissa Bjerk-hoel, on Kimberly Long’s case: “It’s a classic case of whoever finds the body did it.”


CVIndependent.com

“For Kim, the entire case is problematic, because it rests entirely on a single witness. She was gone with Jeff Dills, and Jeff dropped her off at home. Kim says, ‘He dropped me off at 2 a.m.,’ but Jeff says, ‘I dropped her off around 1:30 a.m.’ The 911 call doesn’t come in until around 2:09 a.m. So if you’re a cop, and you believe Jeff, all of a sudden, you have a huge time gap that Kim can’t account for. All of a sudden, you stop believing her story.

“Jeff ran a red light on his motorcycle, and a semi actually T-boned him in Riverside, so he ends up dying before the trial happens. So there’s not a real opportunity to ask whether Jeff was confused on this timeline.”

Bjerkhoel also mentioned another potential reason for the discrepancy.

“He talked to the cops, and he told them that he knew he was a suspect,” she said. “The cops told him he was, and apparently the media back then had played some news clips (saying) that the suspects were motorcycle people, because neighbors heard motorcycles driving away from the crime scene. Guess who owns a motorcycle? It’s Jeff. Now you have a motive to place himself far away from Kim. He’s going to say, ‘I have to distance myself from that, so I’m going to say I dropped her off at 1:30 a.m.’

“Had it not been for that time gap, there’s no possibility this case would have went in front of a jury. The entire case hangs on that time frame.”

Bjerkhoel cited evidence that she says proves Long did not commit this murder.

“I’ve had two doctors look at the medical aspects of this case—looking at the autopsy reports, the crime scene, the reports from the responding firefighters and paramedics,” she said. “We needed a time of death, because the time of death is critical. The statement of the paramedics is, ‘When we got there, the body was cold to the touch.’ Rigor mortis had set in. When you die, your blood stops circulating, and it starts pooling. It usually takes about an hour. … Rigidity had set in. That doesn’t happen until an hour after someone is dead. That proves Kim didn’t commit this crime.”

Bjerkhoel said Long’s original defense attorney also made some major errors.

“I really do think her original defense attorney blew it by not calling a time-of-death expert,” she said. “… The only detail in the case is, ‘What time did this guy die?’ The experts I’ve talked to say that Ozzy died around midnight, not 1:30 in the morning. It’s a complete failure of the original defense.”

KIM’S PARENTS, ROGER AND DARLEEN Long, said it’s been a nightmare to watch what their daughter has gone through. However, it’s catalyzed

them to take action: They have taken part in California Innocence Project marches and

now work to spread awareness about not only their daughter’s case, but others as well.

“We never really had a cause, and we went about our normal routine,” Darleen Long said. “When the California Innocence Project came around, it opened our eyes that things don’t always go right in a courtroom. You’re supposed to punish the guilty, and the innocent should go home. This is not what happened in our case. As we went along through the years, and Kim went to prison, there was a fire inside, and it really opened our eyes. That’s when we said, ‘We have to do something, and we have to help.’ We never thought we could do the things we’re doing today.”

In an effort to make the best of a terrible situation, Kimberly Long said she has found ways to be productive.

“I’ve been here for about six years,” she said. “I am a fire-camp trainer, so I train the girls to become firefighters. I do that about five or six hours a day. After that, I run aerobics two days a week. I’m a mentor and a sponsor to a lot of girls.

“I play a lot of dominoes and drink a lot of coffee,” she said with a laugh. “I try to spend my time as positively as possible. I don’t have any write-ups. I’m very quiet, and I don’t have any problems.”

However, she’s missing a lot of key moments that she should be enjoying with her family.

“I do have two children, and I’m missing graduations, birthdays and holidays,” she said. “That does stress me out.

“How do I deal with it? I just do. … I just get out there, move around and stay busy. My job helps me so much because I go out there and help other girls who have so many issues and so many problems. Dealing with them six hours a day keeps my mind off my stressful moments. By the time I get back, it’s not as bad as it could be.”

There are some encouraging signs regarding Long’s appeal. In May, the California Supreme Court requested more information on the case. There is also additional evidence: A cigarette butt was found in an incense burner at the crime scene. It was tested for DNA, but has not yet been run against the state database.

Long said she’s optimistic. “I know I’m going home,” she said. “It’s just

a matter of time. … I know I’m coming home, and I have the utmost faith in the California Innocence Project—and faith in God.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CALIFORNIA INNOCENCE PROJECT, VISIT CALIFORNIAINNOCENCEPROJECT.ORG.

California Innocence Project attorney Alissa Bjerkhoel (front left) participates in a march to increase awareness of Kimberly Long’s case. COURTESY OF THE CALIFORNIA INNOCENCE PROJECT

Roger and Darleen Long became involved with the California Innocence Project after watching what happened to their daughter. “When the California Innocence Project came around, it opened our eyes that things don’t always go right in a courtroom,” Darleen said. BRIAN BLUESKYE


CVIndependent.com


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CVI SPOTLIGHT: JUNE 2015

VANILLA ACE WAS ONCE A MODEL AND presenter on a show called The Mag. However, he’s now found his true calling: The London-based producer

and DJ is coming to the United States for a summer tour for the second year in a row—and just like last year, he’ll be making a stop at Splash House.

During a recent Skype chat from London, he talked about his entry into the music business.

“It started a long time ago, when I was 14,” Vanilla Ace said. “My brother said one day, ‘We’re going to buy turntables for Christmas.’ I was like, ‘Um, why?’ and he said, ‘We could buy records that we like,’ and all this other stuff. At the time, I didn’t believe him, and a lot of the music I liked at the time, you could only buy on 12-inch promo vinyl from the USA. I started building up a little record collection.”

Vanilla Ace originally had a lot of hip-hop and R&B influences, he said. “I also liked drum and bass and rave music like the Ratpack. In the late ’90s, I got into house music when I was in my college years, and I really started to get into that sound.”

He’s well-known as a house DJ, but he’s also known for nu-disco, inspired by the original artists of the ’70s and ’80s.

“Nu-disco isn’t really a new thing, and it’s been around for a while now,” he said. “It’s a cool genre of music, and it’s always evolving. Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers and all these guys are making disco music that is massive globally; it doesn’t hurt the genre at all. … A lot of the stuff I made in the early part of my career was nu-disco. But the more I DJ’d out at clubs and festivals, I realized nu-disco is a bit too laid-back for a party, club and festival vibe.”

Vanilla Ace said he doesn’t see a lot of current differences between the European and American electronic-music scenes.

“I just came back from Los Angeles, and I played at the Exchange in downtown Los Angeles,” he said. “The United States is becoming similar to playing in London: They like the heavy bass, deep house and tech house, and you can play different sounds as long as it flows, which is cool.”

A recent prominent article posited that many DJs lack production skills. Vanilla Ace said he feels that’s backward: He thinks too many producers lack DJ skills.

“You’ll find guys who have been producing in their bedroom or studio for years, and someday they get big, and they think, ‘Oh shit, I have to learn to DJ,’” he said. “Then you go and hear them, and it’s like a car crash, because they’ve never played to a crowd before. Or they are using Ableton or some other crappy program to do it all for them. There are a lot of young guys making garage house music where the production value is pretty bad, and they’re just making it because it’s a fad, and they think, ‘I’m going to jump on that bandwagon.’”

Vanilla Ace said he’s now more prepared for Splash House than he was last year.

“It was incredibly hot,” he said. “That was like proper desert heat, but it was fun. It’s just a crazy pool party … but it’s a lot of fun. I know what to expect now.”

Splash House’s June edition takes place Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14, at the Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club, The Saguaro and the Hilton Palm Springs. Tickets start at $115. For tickets or more information, visit splashhouse.com.—Brian Blueskye

A LONDONER MAKES A SPLASH

Vanilla Ace


CVIndependent.com

he minority residents of Section 14 … homes were destroyed by a city-engineered holocaust,” wrote Loren Miller Jr. in a 1968 report to the state Attorney General.

Bordered by Alejo and Ramon roads, Indian Canyon Drive and Sunrise Way, Section 14 is one square mile. Today, it’s one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in all of the Coachella Valley.

The current exhibit at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, Section 14: The Other Palm Springs, offers a compelling account of how one Native American tribe produced its future despite its past. Featuring a series of oversized maps, the front room chronicles the origins of Section 14. The U.S. government created a grid consisting of townships that were further reduced to square-mile pieces of land. After the railroad purchased what it wanted and/or needed, the remaining sections were numbered. The government retained all of the odd-numbered plots, and leased most of the even-numbered parcels in the Palm Springs area, including Section 14, to the tribe.

It is the second room that offers insights into the human experience of the Agua Caliente who lived in Section 14. This part of the exhibit focuses upon the journey of these Native Americans during a period roughly beginning in the 1930s. The east side of Section 14 was pretty much desolate, save a stable and a couple of other structures. While there were some shops along Indian Canyon, the balance of the west side was taken up by housing—mainly shacks constructed from wood, tar paper and other materials.

Newspaper articles and government reports document actions and events that redefined Section 14. First, in about 1956, the Agua Caliente elected five women who lived in Section 14 to be their tribal leaders. These women commissioned a master plan for the

section and presented it to the Palm Springs government; however, the local government never signed off.

A second force that led to the rethinking of Section 14 was a growing number of dissatisfied residents and visitors. The group, appalled by the “blighted” area in the center of the city, pushed for radical change.

Most likely responding more to the tourism-industry protests than the activist tribal council, the Palm Springs city government began to push for the demolition of Section 14. Through a series of dubious maneuvers, the city tried to have the lease revoked. When those efforts failed, the city refused to provide utilities. Concurrently, city officials required Section 14 residents to bring their homes up to code. Finally, the city moved to raze the entire square mile. Residents would leave their homes to go to work and return to find rubble.

One realization and legal change—perhaps a bit understated in the exhibit—all but guaranteed a better future for the Agua Caliente. As Ray Patencino, an Agua Caliente oral historian, stated: “We had something that everybody else wanted. It’s called real estate.”

Another big change occurred when the Agua Caliente lobbied for and received rights to establish gambling facilities on Indian property. These rights later extended beyond the Agua Caliente to include all Native American tribes.

This is a powerful exhibit that tells the tale of a largely unknown chapter of our valley’s history.

READ AN EXPANDED VERSION OF THIS STORY AT CVINDEPENDENT.COM. SECTION 14: THE OTHER PALM SPRINGS IS ON DISPLAY THROUGH NOV. 8 AT THE AGUA CALI-ENTE CULTURAL MUSEUM, 219 S. PALM CANYON DRIVE, IN PALM SPRINGS. SUMMER HOURS (JUNE THROUGH AUGUST) ARE 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M., FRIDAY AND SATURDAY; AND NOON TO 5 P.M., SUNDAY. ADMISSION IS FREE. FOR MORE INFORMA-TION, CALL 760-778-1079, OR VISIT WWW.ACCMUSEUM.ORG.

The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Documents the Life of Poor Palm Springs Residents in ‘Section 14’

BEFORE THE TRIBE FOUND ITS POWER

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/ARTS-AND-CULTURE

ARTS & CULTURE

By Victor Barocas

Members of the Agua Caliente tribe helped build the railroad through the Coachella Valley.


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FilmKids’ Summer Movie Series at the Mary Pickford TheatreEnjoy a different kid-friendly movie every week, at 9:30 a.m. weekdays. All films presented in 2-D. June 15-19: Dolphin Tale. June 22-26: Dolphin Tale 2. June 29-July 3: The LEGO Movie. 50 cents per film; $5 for all 10. Mary Pickford Theatre, 36850 Pickfair St., Cathedral City. 760-328-0484; www.ultrastarmovies.com/forms/Summer-Series-2015-Pickford.jpg.

Palm Springs International ShortfestThe Palm Springs International ShortFest is renowned worldwide for the extraordinary community of filmmakers it attracts, and for the quality and scope of its programming. Short films join an exciting lineup of seminars, special presentations and receptions at the largest event of its kind in the country. Various times Tuesday, June 16, through Monday, June 22. Prices, times and locations vary. 760-322-2930; www.psfilmfest.org/festival/prelaunch.aspx?FID=77.

MusicFantasy Springs Rock Yard Concert SeriesAt 7:30 p.m., full-throttle rock music fires up, and the live music continues until midnight, every Saturday. Free. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio. 888-331-5645; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Lee Dewyze and Friends in ConcertAmerican Idol winner Lee DeWyze will headline a concert featuring several of his American Idol friends, all in an effort to raise funds for a good cause. Union Bank is the event sponsor, and proceeds benefit Jewish Family Service of the Desert. Performers include Blake Lewis, Elliott Yamin and Didi Benami. All ages. 7 p.m., Saturday, June 6. $15 to $55. Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs, 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. Eventbrite.com.

Peter Frampton and Cheap TrickGrammy Award-winning artist Peter Frampton is joining forces for a summer tour with 1970s rock power-pop band Cheap Trick. 8 p.m., Saturday, June 13. $49 to $89. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio. 888-331-5645;www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Special EventsDeath Valley National Park: A HistoryPart of the Old School House Lecture Series, which started in 1999 and is run in partnership with the Twentynine Palms Historical Society. The lecture is by Char Miller, of Pomona College. 7 p.m., Friday, June 12. $5 at the door. Old Schoolhouse Museum, 6760 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms. 760-367-5535.

Juneteenth in the Coachella ValleyEnjoy an evening of fun, entertainment and empowering presentations acknowledging the resilience of our youth and young adults—our

future! The event promises good food, exciting entertainment and an atmosphere that inspires community unity and support. All proceeds directly benefit the Family Health and Support Network foster-care program. 6 p.m., Saturday, June 20. $55 to $75. La Quinta Resort and Club, 49499 Eisenhower Drive, La Quinta. 760-340-2442; www.juneteenthcv.com.

Splash House A pool and music weekend in Palm Springs with some of the biggest names within the dance music scene, each presenting onstage at three separate pools. Splash House will encompass some of the most exciting, innovative and engaging names from across a variety of genres while providing a unique pool-hopping experience. Pool parties located at The Saguaro, Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club, and Hilton Hotel Palm Springs. Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14. $115. Splashhouse.com.

Visual ArtsEye on Design: Andrea Zittel’s Aggregated Stacks and the Collection of the MuseumThe second exhibit of the inaugural year of the Architecture and Design Center. This exhibition combines commissioned pieces with original works by Joshua Tree artist Andrea Zittel and pieces from the museum’s collection. Zittel’s purpose in the works is to make the audience experience vertical and horizontal planes, space and orientation from a different point of view. On display 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; and noon to 8 p.m., Thursday, through Sunday, July 26. $5, with various discounts and free periods. Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, 300 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. 760-423-5260; www.psmuseum.org.

Taking Shape: Modern Works From the Permanent CollectionThis installation of works from the foundation collection gives the history of international modern art equal weight to the museum’s contemporary collection. It includes works donated by Palm Springs area collectors such as Joseph H. Hirshhorn, Lenore and Walter Annenberg, Walter N. Marks, Seymour Oppenheimer and Ted Weiner. Works are by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Milton Avery, Alexander Calder, Willem de Kooning, Lorser Feitelson and Hans Burkhardt. On display 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; and noon to 8 p.m., Thursday, through Friday, July 31. $12.50, with various discounts and free periods. Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs. 760-322-4800; www.psmuseum.org.

SUBMIT YOUR FREE ARTS LISTINGS AT CALENDAR.ARTSOASIS.ORG. THE LISTINGS PRESENTED ABOVE WERE ALL POSTED ON THE ARTSOASIS CALENDAR, AND FORMATTED/EDITED BY COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT STAFF. THE INDEPENDENT RECOMMENDS CALLING TO CONFIRM ALL EVENTS INFORMATION PRESENTED HERE.

JUNE ARTS JUNE THEATER

CV Rep Writers’ Drop-In GroupAndy Harmon facilitates this group for all writers who are interested in becoming better storytellers, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, June 13 and 27. $15 at the class. At the Atrium, 69930 Highway 111, No. 116, Rancho Mirage. 760-296-2966; www.cvrep.org.

Doris and Me!—From CV Rep’s Cabaret SeriesBack by popular demand, this tribute to Doris Day features Scott Dreier singing from the Doris Day songbook, at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20; and 2 p.m., Sunday, June 21. $25. At the Atrium, 69930 Highway 111, No. 116, Rancho Mirage. 760-296-2966; www.cvrep.org.

A Funny Little Thing Called Love—From Desert TheatreworksThis Jones Hope Wooten comedy, featuring four tales, is all about that four letter word: L-O-V-E; at 7 p.m., Friday; and 2 and 7 p.m., Saturday, from Friday, June 19, through Saturday, June 27. $26 regular; $24 seniors; $16 students with ID. At the Arthur Newman Theatre in the Joslyn Center, 73750 Catalina Way, Palm Desert. 760-980-1455; www.dtworks.org.

McCallum Theatre Institute’s 2015 Summer Session FestivalDuring the SHUFFLE Concert, a genre-bending chamber-music celebration, the audience chooses what pieces will be performed, at 3 p.m., Monday, June 15. $10 to $15. Argentine twin brothers Martin and Facundo Lombard are joined by five tango musicians for a concert experience based on Astor Piazzolla’s spirited Nuevo Tango in Lombard Plays Piazzolla, at 3 p.m., Wednesday, June 17. $10 to $15. David Gonzalez conjures up jazz-infused narratives in Mytholo-Jazz, at 3 p.m., Friday, June 19. $10 to $15. Three-performance pass $20 to $35. At the McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood— From Theatre 29This musical ends differently every night, depending on what the audience decides. A rowdy ensemble of actors mounts a staging of Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel, and everyone is a suspect in the murder of young Edwin Drood; at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, through Saturday, June 27; there are also 2:30 p.m. matinees on Sunday, June 7 and 21. $12 regular; $10 seniors and military; $8 children and students. At 73637 Sullivan Road, Twentynine Palms. 760-361-4151; theatre29.org.

Nicky as Carol—From Desert Rose PlayhouseCarol Channing impersonator Nicky Ciampoli performs a tribute show at 8 p.m., Saturday, June 6; and 2 p.m., Sunday, June 7. $25. At 69620 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage. 760-202-3000; www.desertroseplayhouse.org.

Sundays in Summer SeriesTish Oney performs in Divas and Masters of Jazz at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 7. Keisha D sings Keep Calm, It’s Just Love at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 14. We’re Still Here is a cabaret revue featuring Noni Lambertson, Marge Harris, Pat McCann, Patti Gallagher and Jean Sorf, at 2 p.m., June 21. Jeanne Page reworks the Great American Songbook in Reboot Live at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 28. Each show is $11; cash only at the box office. At the Arthur Newman Theatre in the Joslyn Center, 73750 Catalina Way, Palm Desert. 760-325-2731.


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FOOD & DRINK

In Its Second Year, La Quinta Brewing Company Is Growing and Becoming a Bigger Part of the Community

coming in at 4.9 percent alcohol by volume. Also coming in July is one of my favorites,

the Sand Storm Double IPA, in 22-ounce bottles. Until then, enjoy it at the taproom on draft.

Session IPAs are all the rage. In fact, the name of this IPA subcategory has an interesting history: World War I workers in England were allotted two drinking periods (or “sessions”) of four hours each workday. This practice, of course, called for a lower-alcohol beer. Some define the style as meaning that no beer is higher than 3 or 4 percent alcohol, but most in the States categorize any IPA with 5 percent ABV or less as a “session.”

La Quinta’s Sundaze Session IPA is brewed with Citra, Cascade, Ahtanum and Chinook hops and comes in at 4.6 percent alcohol. Expect awesome citrus (grapefruit) and floral aromas—perfect for summer. It’s been such a popular brew among locals and tourists that La Quinta is canning it mid-June for availability at the end of the month.

La Quinta is also releasing a second batch of the barrel-aged Koffi Porter any time now. Also, keep a look out around November for an Imperial Stout aged in barrels, for the brewery’s second anniversary ale.

As for events, La Quinta Brewing has some great things in the works.

“Every month, we have our Desert Cancer Foundation fundraiser,” Stokes explained. “…We are talking about having another golf tournament in early-to-mid June. It will be an 18-hole golf tournament … and we’ll probably bring our beer truck.”

Wednesday, June 10, is Ladies’ Night, featuring Koffi Porter ice cream floats. Saturday, June 20, is the brewery’s popular Acoustic Night with local music and barbecue. On Wednesday, June 24, help the community with a canned food drive. Keep a look out at www.facebook.com/LaQuintaBrewingCo for more upcoming events.

Want to stay up to date on everything that’s happening with La Quinta Brewing, for less? The brewery’s Inner Circle will be opening back up on Sept. 1. Members receive a 20-ounce personalized mug, stored at the brewery. Members also can purchase gallon growlers for the same price as a half-gallon growler, and are first to receive specialty growler fills. Every draft beer that members purchase in the brewery is 50 percent off, while cans, bottles and kegs are 25 percent off. The annual fee will be $165.

It’s exciting to see La Quinta and our valley’s other breweries thrive! Visit www.laquintabrewing.com for more information.

However, it looks mighty crowded at the brewery’s current location.

“Well, we would have to modify some of the ceiling, and (the new fermenters) would be taller. There are a couple places. Some people say there’s no room, but I say there is,” he said, smiling.

The quality of the beers at La Quinta—one of the valley’s three microbreweries—has been verified by several awards. Brewmaster Ryan Pearson and the La Quinta team won a bronze

medal for the Indian Canyon IPA at the 2014 San Diego International Beer Festival—and they just took home silver for the Tan Line Brown Ale at this year’s festival. The brown ale also brought home a gold medal in this year’s World Beer Championships.

Pearson and his crew recently canned more than 100 cases of the popular Indian Canyon IPA, and 200 cases of the Poolside Blonde. The brewery will be releasing more Windy Point Wheat in June—a great warm-weather brew,

the

By Erin Peters

a Quinta Brewing Co. has been busy making beer for Coachella Valley locals and visitors since late 2013. Last year, the brewery delivered 1,000 barrels from its Wildcat Drive location in Palm Desert. This year, the brewery is on pace to brew 2,000 barrels.

Owner Scott Stokes said La Quinta may be expanding even more in the near future.“We’re gonna have to get a couple more fermenters, probably a couple of 60-barrel

fermenters. These are 30s,” he said, pointing to brewery’s fermenters.

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/FOOD-DRINK

La Quinta Brewing Co. will produce twice as much beer in 2015 as it did in 2014. ERIN PETERS


CVIndependent.com

WHAT The Peanut Butter and Banana ShakeWHERE Great Shakes, 160 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite A, Palm SpringsHOW MUCH $5.50 to $7.50CONTACT 760-327-5300; greatshakesps.comWHY Fresh ingredients make for … well, great shakes.In April 2013, the walk down Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs became all the more dangerous for people’s waistlines—and all the more enthralling for people’s taste buds.

That’s when Great Shakes opened, in a little storefront just north of Arenas Road.

Inside, you’ll be greeted by a chalkboard menu offering more than two-dozen milkshake concoctions, all made with premium vanilla ice cream or a lactose-free option; floats and Dole Whip are available as well.

On a recent visit there, I quizzed the young woman working behind the counter on customer favorites. She recommended the date shake, the salted caramel shake, “anything with Oreos” and the shake with peanut butter and bananas. In a nod to The King himself, thank you very much, I went with the peanut butter and banana shake. Boy, was that a good call on my part.

The flavors melded perfectly, and the inclusion of both some unblended peanut butter (smeared somewhat artistically around the inside perimeter of the plastic cup) and several banana slices gave each bite/slurp variety in flavor and texture. (The shakes come with both a large straw and a spoon. You’ll need them both.) Of course, all shakes come with a little mini donut—a nice touch.

I got a small-sized shake (pictured here), and that was more than enough to make my taste buds happy—and to add at least an extra half-hour to my next trip to the gym. But it was sooo worth it; you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better shake anywhere in the Coachella Valley.

WHAT The Italian Soda at RistrettoWHERE Ristretto, 500 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm SpringsHOW MUCH $2.50 medium, $2.95 largeCONTACT 760-656-7352; ristrettops.comWHY It’s a refreshing drink in a relaxing spot.We often praise the virtues of simple food in this space—we are fans of quality ingredients, properly combined and lovingly prepared.

However, I doubt we’ll ever tout a simpler item than this, the Italian soda at Ristretto. Why, you may ask, are we bestowing the extreme honor of an Indy Endorsement on a drink that consists of soda water, Torani syrup, ice and nothing else? After all, anybody can make an Italian soda at home in less than 30 seconds, right?

The key here is the venue, not the soda itself.Ristretto is a delightful spot that’s quickly

become the de facto coffee-shop meeting place for many people in downtown Palm Springs. It’s clean; it’s comfortable; and there’s a charming patio where one can watch the goings-on at the intersection of Ramon Road and Palm Canyon Drive.

Plus, the food (including burritos, quiches, bagels, wraps and salads) and drinks at Ristretto are quite good—and the service is always fantastic. Finally, Ristretto is endorsement-worthy for its community involvement: It recently became one of the first two restaurants (along with Pho 533) to donate 100 percent of its Dining Out for Life day proceeds to the Desert AIDS Project.

You may also ask: If the coffee and food at Ristretto are all so groovy, why endorse an Italian freaking soda? Well, summer arrives this month, and in our heat-addled minds, there is no non-alcoholic beverage that’s more refreshing on a 100-degree day than a nice, cold soda.

So, join us at Ristretto; pick your syrup flavor (we’re partial to peach or watermelon in terms of refreshing-ness); and cool off with us, will ya?

Summer Arrives in June—and Our Mind Is on Cool, Refreshing Drinks

INDY ENDORSEMENTthe

FOOD & DRINK

By Jimmy Boegle



CVIndependent.com

TOP CHEF COMES TO PALM SPRINGSDuring its 12 seasons, Bravo’s Top Chef has spent time in great food cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas and, most recently, Boston.

Now we can add Palm Springs to the list … sort of.For the show’s 13th season, producers decided to mix things up by returning to California—but hopping around,

with stops in L.A., San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, Santa Barbara and the Coachella Valley.While not a lot of details on the Palm Springs stop have been released, here’s what we do know: On Wednesday,

May 20, the chef-testants were tasked with cooking for a mass same-sex wedding/renewal-of-vows ceremony. We also know that Over the Rainbow’s Roman Blas was asked to make a wedding cake for the show. (He shared that tidbit on Facebook.)

If any more Top Chef news makes its way to our desk, we’ll be sure to pass it along.

JOHANNES STOPS OFFERING TAP WATER IN FAVOR OF BOTTLES … TO ‘PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT’?OK, we’re confused here.

Johannes Restaurant—for my money, one of the top restaurants in the valley—has announced that as of June 15, it will no longer serve tap water, and will instead offer bottled water from New Zealand.

Why, you ask? It’s being done in an effort to “preserve the environment.” Yeah, we don’t get it, either.Here’s the scoop, straight from the news release: “The restaurant will offer Waiwera Organic Artesian Still Water, a New Zealand treasure for centuries, for $1.

Waiwera water is carbon neutral and bottled at the source in BPA-free PET bottles. If a guest doesn’t finish the bottle of water, they can take it with them.

“Serving tap water with ice has become wasteful, and in order to conserve water, Johannes has made this decision to convert to a new concept. Restaurants in other cities are adopting this same concept. During the course of a year, the restaurant uses over 150,000 to 200,000 pounds of ice and 15,000 gallons of water, which converts to an average of over 75,000 glasses of water and ice per year.”

The news release goes on to say: “We hope more restaurants in the Coachella Valley will consider doing the same and that our guests will understand and support our concept.”

OK. We understand that less water will be coming out of California’s aquifers as a result of this move, perhaps … but shipping water all the way in from New Zealand!?

If we figure out how that works, we’ll let you know. For more information, visit www.johannesrestaurants.com.

BABE’S JOINS FORCES WITH THE VENUE FOR A SPECIAL DINNERIt’s being touted as “the desert’s first five-course sushi and craft beer pairing dinner.”

It is taking place at The Venue Sushi Bar and Sake Lounge, 73111 El Paseo, in Palm Desert, at 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 3. The Venue’s sushi will be combined with the great beer—and a little bit of the barbecue—from Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse, in Rancho Mirage. The dinner starts with tempura-style stuffed zucchini blossoms (with spicy tuna!) being paired with Babe’s Honey Blond Ale—and it goes from there. As for the third course: We’re dying to find out what hickory-smoked tri-tip sashimi is! It’s being paired with Babe’s Bin 1214 Imperial Red Ale.

The dinner is $65 per person. For reservations or more details, call 760-346-1500.

IN BRIEFTwin Palms Bistro and Lounge is closed—again. After getting back on its figurative feet after two recent fires, the restaurant, at 1201 E. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, quite suddenly shut its doors on May 17. We’re told that serious maintenance issues within the building could not wait any longer to be fixed, so management decided to bite the bullet and address them, all while keeping fingers crossed for an Aug. 1 reopening. Here’s hoping that’s the case, as we’re already hankering for a bowl of Twin Palms’ amazing gumbo. Watch www.facebook.com/twinpalmsbistro for updates. ... Jersey Mike’s Subs is now open at 79174 Highway 111, in La Quinta. It’s the second Jersey Mike’s in the valley; there’s already one on Highway 111 in Palm Desert, and a third is supposedly coming to Palm Springs. … Wasabi, a Japanese/sushi joint that had for years been located at 333 S. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, has closed, and an Italian restaurant is taking its place. More details to come. … The Ace Hotel and Swim Club has again tweaked its menus with help from Five Leaves restaurant out of Brooklyn, N.Y. We recently joined other media folks at a tasting of the new fare at the Ace’s King’s Highway, and found the food to be quite tasty. In particular, we were blown away by the shepherd’s pie! We’re also intrigued by the fact that the Ace is now serving some special cocktails out of taps and bottles. We’ll share more boozy details when we get ’em; in the meantime, head to www.acehotel.com/palmsprings to check out the new menus.

By Jimmy Boegle


Restaurant NEWS BITES

FOOD & DRINK


CVIndependent.com


CVIndependent.com

Summer is upon us as of this month—but fantastic acts continue to come through our toasty little valley, and there is some entertainment you definitely won’t want to miss in June.

Splash House is returning for two 2015 weekends, and the June version of the festival

will be held on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, at The Saguaro, the Hilton Palm Springs and the Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club. Shuttles will run between the three venues. Performers include Bakermat, Cashmere Cat, Gigamesh and Wave Racer, just to name a few. Tickets start at $115. For

more information, visit www.splashhouse.com.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino’s month is highlighted by Cheap Trick and Peter Frampton at 8 p.m., Saturday, June 13. Peter Frampton was a staple of ’70s rock, and

they joked in Wayne’s World that his album Frampton Comes Alive! came in the mail with samples of Tide. He continues to record to this day—and he’s a brilliant performer. Cheap Trick is a big name in rock music that won over young fans through the ’90s. Don’t miss this one. Tickets are $49 to $89. At 8 p.m.,

Friday, June 26, Latin music icon Marco Antonio Solís will be stopping by. After 30 years and 50 million albums sold, he’s one of Latin music’s most successful performers. Tickets are $59 to $129. Fantasy Springs Resort

Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa has busy June schedule. At 7 p.m., Saturday, June 6, Art Laboe will be returning with his Summer Love Jam IV. The “Oldies but Goodies” radio show is popular, and I love it when listeners call in to declare their adoration for their loved ones in lockup. Tickets are $40 to $60. At 9 p.m., Friday, June 12, the Doobie Brothers will be returning to the Coachella Valley. While many members have come and gone over the years, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons keep it going, and they have a devoted following. Tickets are $55 to $75. The Show at Agua Caliente Casino

www.cvindependent.com/music

⓳ Charlie Daniels brings his fiddle to Spotlight 29⓴ Pedro Le Bass and his never-ending search for ear boners•• The Lucky 13: All-Women Edition!•• The Debut of Alex Harrington's DuneCast

IN A VAN DOWN BY THE JOSHUA TREE

JUNE 2015By Brian Blueskye

The Blueskye REPORT

continued on Page 20

Internet Music Program'Jam in the Van' Shows

Off the High Desert's Best

21

Marco Antonio SolísBakermat

Sundrug Experiment


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MUSIC

The Charlie Daniels Band Brings Its Legendary Music to Spotlight 29

A FIDDLIN’ DEVIL

harlie Daniels was already an accomplished musician before he became a legend in 1979 by releasing “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” In fact, he played on some of Bob Dylan’s recordings.

The Charlie Daniels Band is back with a tribute album to Bob Dylan, titled Off the Grid: Doin’ It Dylan. The group will be performing at Spotlight 29 on Friday, June 12.

Charlie Daniels’ story begins in the tiny town of Gulf, N.C.

“In my point of view, it was great,” Daniels, 78, said about his small-town upbringing. “I never had anything else to do. At the time, in the days before television, we had very little idea about what the rest of the world was like except for what we saw on the movie screens, in books, or in pictures in magazines and newspapers.”

Daniels is an extremely talented guitar-player; he’s also quite the fiddler.

“I started playing guitar first and learned a little on it, and then I started playing the mandolin,” he explained. “The keyboard on the mandolin and the fiddle is about the same, so I had a little bit of a leg up when I started playing fiddle. … I didn’t have a teacher, and I didn’t know anybody to teach me how to play.

It was all about sticking to it and getting it done.”

He’s known for his aggressive, bow-busting fiddle-playing during live shows.

“I don’t go through as many as it looks like I do, because when I break the bow hairs in the spotlight, it makes them look a lot more broken then they are,” he said. “I get rid of the bows as I break the hair on them and hand them to my road guy, because if I don’t, sometimes the loose hairs will catch under my fingers that I chord with. It’s not as many as it looks like it is—but I’d say I’m a little tough on bows.”

Daniels said he’s not completely sure what inspired him to create his group’s biggest hit, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

“I don’t really know where it came from,” he said, “possibly from a poem I read in high school called ‘The Mountain Whippoorwill.’ It was about a fiddle contest and the devil being in it, but I just got this thought in my head, ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia,’ and I don’t know where it came from. We just went in the studio, sat down with the band and wrote it.”

Through the years, Daniels’ political beliefs have evolved. He supported Jimmy Carter and performed at Carter’s inauguration in 1977, but his views have shifted to the right over the years, and he expresses a lot of opinions on his website in the area known as “Soap Box.”

“I certainly think we can have civil disagreements, and I think that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” he said. “I have friends who have an entirely different idea of things than I do, and we still get along fine.”

Daniels has faced some serious health issues. He’s dealt with prostate cancer and a mild stroke; he also had a pacemaker installed shortly before playing at Stagecoach in 2013. What keeps him going?

“The grace of God, the love for what I’m doing—and really enjoying myself,” he said. “The high point of my day is walking across the stage at night. I truly love it, and I thank God I can make a living doing what I really enjoy.”

THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND WILL PERFORM AT 8 P.M., FRIDAY, JUNE 12, AT SPOTLIGHT 29, 46200 HARRISON PLACE, IN COACHELLA. TICKETS ARE $25 TO $45. FOR TICKETS OR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 760-775-5566, OR VISIT WWW.SPOTLIGHT29.COM.

By Brian Blueskye

WWW.CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC

Charlie Daniels


CVIndependent.com

Mixmaster Mike and D-Styles. … I was like, ‘This is crazy, what these people are doing.’ I saw Skratch Bastid do ‘The Imperial March’ from Star Wars, but he flips this orchestra beat into the ‘Imperial March’ as a scribble jam, and that just blew my mind.”

Pedro said he always had one goal in mind as a DJ—having fun.

“I didn’t know what I was doing at all,” he said of his DJ beginnings. “A friend of mine was more of a battle DJ, and I actually wanted to learn how to blend. I wish I had recorded something when I first started, because it had to have sounded atrocious. But it was fun, the whole spirit of it. I would have the parties just so people could dance. That was the main thing: I wanted to make people dance and have a good time.”

After moving to the desert and improving his skill set, Pedro found himself with his first regular gig.

“My first residency was in 2001, behind where Bananaz used to be at a place called The Old Prospector,” he said. “… I had that Eminem moment in the bathroom, because I was freaking out: I had never played something like that before, that was more official, on a legit sound system, and at a real venue, on a weekly basis.”

Pedro said he’s learned everything he knows about DJing by being a hands-on learner.

“I’ve learned mostly through being in the trenches with my friends and DJing at parties, bars and clubs,” he said. “That’s where the real schooling comes in. No amount of practice will ever prepare you for that feeling of when there are people in front of you. That’s when things appear, and people can start choking.”

One skill every DJ needs to know is “beatmatching”—matching the tempo from song to song. He said he gets what he calls an “ear boner” when it’s done right.

“Remember when you were a little kid, and you got what you wanted for Christmas? It’s like that every two to three minutes when you throw another song on,” he said. “It’s great, because you’re creating something out of two pieces of music. It’s not yours, but you’re manipulating it and making people dance, or whatever they’re into.”

Pedro said that no track is off-limits as far as he’s concerned. He offered up Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler” as an example of an off-the-wall track he’s played.

“If it makes you want to dance, I’ll play it,” he said. “… There’s nothing off-limits. It might be off-limits because you’re scared to try it—but people might dig it and freak out.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.PEDROLEBASS.COM.

Resort Spa, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.hotwatercasino.com.

Spotlight 29 Casino has a great lineup this month. While Magic Mike XXL doesn’t come out until July 1, you’ll be happy to know that at 8 p.m., Saturday, June 6, Hunks: The Show will be at Spotlight 29. The Las Vegas-style show is similar to the performances by the Chippendales and Thunder From Down Under. Tickets are only $20, which means you’ll have more dollar bills to “tip” the

performers. At 8 p.m., Friday, June 19, Gregg Allman will be following up on his Stagecoach performance. Allman is a true survivor who has managed to return spectacularly after a liver transplant a few years ago.

Tickets are $35 to $55. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.

Morongo Casino Resort Spa is filling up the summer schedule. At 9 p.m., Friday, June 19, Tim Allen will be performing. The star of Home Improvement and the voice of Buzz Lightyear can breathe a little easier now that his current sitcom, Last Man Standing, has been picked up for another season. Tickets are $65 to $85. At 9 p.m., Saturday, June 20, Wynonna and the Big Noise will be stopping by. This is a new project for country star Wynonna Judd, and it’s been well-received by her fans. Tickets are $49 to $69. Partridge Family fans will be thrilled to know that at 9 p.m., Friday, June 26, David Cassidy will be performing. Cassidy has admitted to problems with alcohol and received another DUI in January 2014. Let’s hope that’s behind him now. Tickets are $29 to $39. Morongo Casino

Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.

Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace recently announced some great new shows. At 7 p.m., Thursday, June 4, indie-folk band The Mountain Goats will be appearing. The North Carolina trio has put out 15 records since forming in 1991 and has performed around the world. Tickets are $20. At 7 p.m., Saturday, June 13, country singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard will take the stage. Hubbard has been considered a traditional country musician while also getting tagged with “cowpunk” and “folk” labels. Whatever you want to call him, the man is a brilliant songwriter, and this is indeed one of those June shows you don’t want to miss. Tickets are $20. At 8 p.m., Friday, June 26, the Paul Chesne Band will be playing. Chesne played at the Campout last year and has brought in the New Year at Pappy’s. This regular puts on a great show. Admission is free. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-365-5956; www.pappyandharriets.com.

The Copa in Palm Springs has one event worth noting in June. At 8 p.m., Friday, June

12, and Saturday, June 13, well-known dragapella beautyshop quartet The Kinsey Sicks will be stopping by. The name is a play on words referring to the Kinsey scale, of course, with six being the number on the scale that

defines “exclusively homosexual.” The group sings parodies of various songs a cappella and has remained a crowd-pleaser in the LGBT community despite lineup changes. If you want to mix things up, take your dad as a Father’s Day gift! Tickets are $30 to $50. Copa, 244 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 760-866-0021; www.copapalmsprings.com.

MUSIC

SEEKING EAR BONERS

By Brian Blueskye

continued from Page 18

The Blueskye REPORT

Pedro Le Bass: “I would have the parties just so people could dance. That was the main thing: I wanted to make people dance and have a good time.” BRIAN BLUESKYE

Ray Wylie Hubbard

Pedro Le Bass Prides Himself on Being a Hands-On Learner—and on His Beatmatching Skills

f you’ve ever heard a set by local DJ Pedro Le Bass, you know his name is appropriate: There’s a lot of bass involved in his sound.

The fierce but friendly DJ is a transplant from Seattle and has been part of the local music scene for a while now. You can catch him in action Tuesday nights at the Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club.

“Pedro is my real first name. Le Bass—well, I like bass music, and house,” he said. “Anything with bass in it catches my ear, as long as you can dance to it. I used to go by DJ Pac Man, but I had to give that up, because I wanted to do something different.”

Pedro said he was inspired to take up DJing after watching a video. “I was at my friend’s house in high school, and he played a Thud Rumble VHS tape. It was DJ Qbert, Gregg Allman

Wynonna

The Kinsey Sicks



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MUSIC


‘Jam in the Van’ Makes a Two-Day Stop to Chronicle the High Desert’s Musical Best

DESERT ROCK CHRONICLES

am in the Van is an Internet music program that’s taking the music world by storm. What MTV was to music videos in the early ’80s, Jam in the Van is to music festivals and independent artists today.

The van is a moving piece of art, covered with colorful portraits of rock legends and wallpapered in memorabilia from shows gone by. It is also a solar-powered recording studio that travels to the hottest music festivals.

The concept was born in 2011 in the expanded consciousness of Jake Cotler. In a psychedelic haze at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn., beneath the starry sky on top of their rented RV, Jake and his and partners, Dave Bell and Louis Peek, thought, “What if we could bring the music to us?” They began contemplating what would happen if they bought an old RV, loaded it with recording gear, and got the bands they were traveling to see to record live sets inside the van. They bought the first jam-van off craigslist for $800.

Cotler remembers the first time they were invited to park the van backstage at Bonnaroo in 2012.

“Everything but the engine is powered by the sun,” he said. “The studio is fully solar-powered, amps and all. We use four-domestic sized solar panels on the roof of the van to run everything. That’s why we can pull up literally anywhere and film our sessions.

“… The first Bonnaroo we worked at was pretty surreal for us. That was probably the last year that Bonnaroo was really awesome, 2012. Just three months prior, we’d been on the side of the road in Fort Stockton, Texas, broken down in a 1984 Jam Van that died on us on the way back from SXSW. … We packed everything up in a U-Haul and drove back to L.A. with two choices on our minds: Throw in the towel and say it was fun while it lasted, or crowd-fund a new van, and make shit happen. We went with option B, because we don’t quit shit, and we succeeded.

“In the midst of our crowd-funding venture, we signed a deal with Bonnaroo to be part of the festival and film bands backstage.”

In April, the crew visited our high desert for a two-day shoot before making their way down

to Coachella to record some of this year’s best acts, wrapping things up with desert-based War Drum.

Day one took place outside the van at desert rock icon Brant Bjork’s Low Desert Punk studio in Joshua Tree. The shoot started off with several songs by Brant’s Low Desert Punk, fresh off this year’s Coachella stage. Next up was DRUG, a surf-punk trio featuring Jamie Hafler on guitar and bass, and the dramatic impassioned vocals of frontwoman Cristie Carter. A last-minute addition was Gram Rabbit songstress Jesika von Rabbit, who took the intimate route with her vocals and guitar. The grand finale featured The Atomic Sherpas.

Day two occurred inside the van at the world renowned Rancho de la Luna Recording Studio in Joshua Tree. Guitarist Bobby Nichols (Inner Planetary Monks), drummer Rob Peterson (The Pedestrians) and bassist Armando Flores (The Pedestrians, Blasting Echo) recorded as Sundrug Experiment. Next up was Americana indie-band Gene Jr. and The Family, making Joshua Tree proud with its polished pop-infused rock. Waxy delivered an authentic set of desert stoner rock; Fatso Jetson made the trek from L.A. for a flawless set of pounding compositions. The evening ended with punk-laden power pop by desert bad-boys Eagles of Death Metal. Dave Catching and Bingo Richey were going over new tunes that are part of their latest project, the Mojave Lords, predicted to be the desert’s new supergroup.

VISIT JAM IN THE VAN AT WWW.JAMINTHEVAN.COM. READ MORE FROM ROBIN LINN, INCLUDING AN EXPANDED VERSION OF THIS STORY WITH VIDEO IMBEDS, AT WWW.DESERTROCKCHRONICLES.COM.

By Robin Linn

Fatso Jetson


CVIndependent.com

I Ruled the World” for my druthers. Both by Harry Secombe.Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time? Nuggets—a fat compilation of great pre-psych garage music from a variety of artists and bands. What song should everyone listen to right now? “Havin’ a Beer” by Throw the Goat.

NAME Jennifer Corday MORE INFO The Long Beach native has called Palm Springs home for about six months now. Catch her regularly at Oscar’s Café and Bar in Palm Springs. More info at jennifercorday.com. What was the first concert you attended? A Flock of Seagulls at Bogart’s in Long Beach. But Howard Jones and Bon Jovi at Irvine Meadows were the first big ones!What was the first album you owned? Rick Springfield—oh, how I wanted to be Jessie’s Girl. I had a mad crush on Andy Gibb. And AC/DC’s Back in Black, played LOUD.What bands are you listening to right now? I’m digging a few songs from the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack right now. And Maroon 5; I can never get enough of Adam’s sweet hooks!What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get? I get irritated when a song is on the radio with ridiculously shallow lyrics and no melody to speak of.What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live? Zeppelin, Joplin and Gaga.What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure? Old Madonna albums. Or new Taylor Swift.What’s your favorite music venue? I always dig House of Blues’ sound and lights, but the Rock Yard at Fantasy Springs is a blast. Let’s not forget Oscar’s, my new favorite Palm Springs local spot which I play regularly.What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head? “Your sugar, yes, please. Won’t you come and

put it down on me?” Maroon 5, “Sugar.”What band or artist changed your life? How? Melissa Etheridge. Gay girl with guitar gets famous, discovered at the local bar! Hey, maybe that could happen to me?You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking? Kurt Cobain: “Tell me everything.”What song would you like played at your funeral? “At Last” by Etta James, because love is really all there is. And then I want to blast something ridiculously fun, like “Rock and Roll All Nite” by Kiss.Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time? Oh, don’t make me pick one. Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet. The Best of Led Zeppelin Disc 2. And more off the radar: Poe’s Haunted is another all-time favorite.What song should everyone listen to right now? My new album: Tastiest Licks, a greatest hits collection.

NAME Molly Katelbach MORE INFO Molly the K presents a lot of unique music on her Radio Free Joshua Tree show, ranging from oldies to stoner rock. More info at www.radiofreejoshuatree.org. What was the first concert you attended? Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones at the Starwood Club in 1977. Peter Tork joined them onstage. Michael Nesmith could not be reached for comment. What was the first album you owned? I had two older sisters. Technically, they owned the albums. Lucky for me, my sisters had good taste. The first album I bought for myself was The Rutles back in 1978.What bands are you listening to right now? I’m setting up a birthday broadcast for my dad, my brother-in-law and one of my oldest buddies, so I’m picking through Jo Stafford, Meredith Willson, The Rolling Stones, Social Distortion, and Ross Bagdasarian (David Seville) for that weird spectrum of vintage variety I like to believe my show represents.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get? There’s a lot of adult contemporary out there with heavy electronic backbeats and tracks—and vocalized non-singing, and that registers more as cookie-cutter than music to me. What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live? Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Paul Revere and The Raiders, and Zappa and The Mothers of Invention in their heyday.What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure? I tend to present “safe for work” music, but there are some tunes I’ve heard during my work with High Desert Underground that I’ve really enjoyed … but I won’t be playing them in front of Mom and Dad or my more sensitive friends!What’s your favorite music venue? Hands down, The Palms in Wonder Valley. It’s a venue where an audience goes to hang out with other music lovers to see, not necessarily to be seen.What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head? “Dave Gets the Drill” by Crash Kills Four.What band or artist changed your life? How? Wolfman Jack, the Real Don Steele, Bobb Lynes (“Old Time Radio”) and Brian Clewer (“Cynic’s Choice”) are the reasons I wanted to become a radio presenter. You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: “In your mind, what separates ‘crazy’ from ‘genius,’ if anything does?”What song would you like played at your funeral? “How Great Thou Art” for spiritual reasons. “If

Meet Two Musical Women—a Rocker and a DJLUCKY 13th

eMUSIC


By Jimmy Boegle and Brian Blueskye

Alex Harrington’s DuneCast: June 2015

I would like to start off by thanking all of the Coachella Valley Independent readers who have taken the time to check out my little column here. For almost two years, I’ve been allowed to fill this space with my mixes and minor rants.

I have recently been inspired by our music scene to the point where I truly want to develop something within it: I have started a record label and music collective called DuneDisco. The idea is to connect the Coachella Valley’s music fans, from listeners to DJs, with each other—and the broader music world. Our desert is unique and a perfect place to grow a wonderful music scene. Every month, we will feature a DuneCast mix and offer insights into our local scene. This may include spotlights on local artists, musicians or writers—anyone with a connection to the growing scene. Musically, the idea is to bring you the best in house and dance music, with an emphasis on the unknown and upcoming.

Head to CVIndependent.com to listen to the first DuneCast. Enjoy!

• Billon, “Dive In”• Thee Cool Cats + Lika Morgan, “Thee Worst”

(Club Mix) • Digitalism, “Second Chance” (David Vrong

Remix) • Le Youth, “Touch” (jackLNDN Remix) • Phil Collins, “In the Air Tonight” (’Panski and

John Skyfield Remix) • Tommy Vercetti, “I Miss You”• Ne-Yo, “Coming With You” (Blonde Remix)• NVOY, “Girl”• Helsloot featuring Freya, “Rain”• Alex Harrington, “Don’t Stop”• Mogul, “Can’t Hold On”

Molly Katelbach

Jennifer Corday


CVIndependent.com

COMICS & JONESIN’CROSSWORD

Across1 Adjust accordingly6 The Many Loves of ___ Gillis11 Consumed14 “Against the Wind” singer Bob15 It’s not what you’d expect16 Shins genre17 V-shaped fabric pattern19 Smith or Taylor20 Chapter in history21 “Disco Duck” singer Rick22 Renaissance Faire title24 Curly treatment25 Molly formerly of SNL27 Show up30 Deli turnover31 Kazakh character who’s been retired32 Muscular jocks, stereotypically36 South Park character Cartman37 Wild hogs38 Anti-piracy org.39 Adult contemporary radio fare41 Like Old King Cole42 Band with a Ben and Jerry’s flavor named for it43 Endowment recipients44 Person on a pension47 Dad’s sister48 Big name in violins49 Killer whale of a 1977 film50 Hotel amenity53 Instrument for Stan Getz

54 Lines seen outside the club?58 50-50, for instance59 Dasani rival60 Blackboard stuff61 Ice Bucket Challenge cause, for short62 Touched by an Angel actress Reese63 Sharpens

Down1 Tennis Hall of Famer Arthur2 “Caught in the headlights” animal3 Taj Mahal’s locale4 Part of MPH5 Neptune prop6 Mascot of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks7 Odist’s spheres8 Haunted house greeting9 Canterbury Tales locale10 Hair that’s wished upon11 Reddy or Hunt12 Chum13 Amount of eggs18 One short on social skills23 Occurring naturally24 It’s surrounded by the fuzz?25 Sarcastic comments26 Compilation album tracks, often27 His mother raised Cain, too

28 90210 actress Spelling29 Advanced math course30 Stacy of “Prison Break”32 Bullwinkle, e.g.33 Frigid follower?34 Bold challenge35 “Survey ___ ...” (Family Feud phrase)37 Soft white cheese40 Flourished41 Black-and-orange butterfly43 Air conditioning conduit44 One who uses cannabis spiritually45 Letter with an attachment, maybe46 Perennial presidential debate issue47 Venue for some football games49 Toyota logo’s shape50 C-___51 Brazilian hero52 Makes inquiries55 Night before56 Rapper ___ Wayne57 “So that’s your game!”

©2015 Jonesin’ Crosswords ([email protected])

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Shop at CVIndependent.com.Look for more deals to be added during the month!

Want your business in the Independent Market? Call 760-904-4208, or email [email protected].

Deals available in the Independent Market as of June 1:

Get a $20 gift certificate to Pho 533 for $10—a savings of 50 percent!

Get a $25 gift certificate to La Quinta Brewing Co. Microbrewery and Taproom for $12.50—a savings of 50 percent!

Get a $40 gift certificate to Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill for $20, or a $20 gift certificate for $10—a savings of 50 percent!

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Get a $20 gift certificate to Bart Lounge for $10—a savings of 50 percent!

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