The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music needs a new name.
I’m not talking about the “Cabrillo” part, which could be dropped in light of the recent strong political sentiment against the conquistador. I’m talking about the “Contemporary Music” part.
It just sounds…boring. And this festival is anything but.
This ain’t your father’s classical music. The Cabrillo fest is to classical music what prog rock is to rock or avant garde jazz is to smooth jazz.
It’s music to take you to a new and unexplored place, to maybe make you a bit uncomfortable, with the intention of blowing your mind and expanding your musical horizons.
Started 61 years ago, it’s the longest-running contemporary music festival dedicated to new music for orchestras.
I almost missed my first one because the name was so bland. But then I heard music by John Cage, John Adams, Philip Glass and Aaron Copland and there it was…head exploded. It reminded me of the first time I saw Pink Floyd, before I knew such things existed.
The unusual thing is that this festival is known worldwide and attracts far-away music lovers. I wonder sometimes if they appreciate it more than the locals do. The New York Times called it a “mecca for new music lovers” and I’m proud to have it on the cover of Good Times and hope if you haven’t checked it out, this might encourage you to give it a shot.
Historical note: the festival had its birth in 1961 in an Aptos coffee shop called Sticky Wicket, where an Italian composer named Robert Hughes came to study with composer Lou Harrison and they produced a small festival outside the shop. When Cabrillo College opened, the festival moved there and put on its first show on Aug. 21, 1963. It lasted for 15 years before Prop 13 devastated public arts at the school.
The performances moved to churches and a tent on the UCSC campus before arriving at the Santa Cruz Civic in 1991.
So what do we call it now to show how exciting it is and to show lovers of the rave, EDM or jam band cultures that this is something they can totally relate to? Send your ideas to ed****@*******es.sc.
Speaking of music: we have an article by Bill Kopp about a brilliant indie songwriter called The Philharmonik playing this week and one by Mat Weir about notable local country band Kentucky Mule.
And for food, you must check out Andrew Steingrube’s intro to Lago di Como, a glorious taste of Italy.
Thanks for reading.
Brad Kava, Editor
PHOTO CONTEST
CHILLIN’ Taken on Cowell’s Beach, dude on lounge chair surfboard, with a front-row seat watching the surfers at Lighthouse Point. Photograph by Craig Ferguson
GOOD IDEA
Registration for Kids2Parks will open July 29. Kids2Parks is an equity program to bring students from Title 1 schools to state parks. The registration period for field trips planned for the 2023-24 academic year will run until Aug. 18.
Kids2Parks offers funding for field trips to most local state parks to elementary schools in Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties for schools with a high percentage of low-income families.
It includes Castle Rock State Park, Castro Adobe State Historic Park,Seacliff State Beach, and Wilder Ranch State Park, to name a few.
Apply at thatsmypark.org/k2p.
GOOD WORK
The Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust will hold its 10th Anniversary Seafood Celebration on Sunday, Sept. 29 at the Monterey State Historic Park Memory Garden to celebrate 10 years in support of sustainable Monterey Bay seafood and honor local fisheries champions.
This milestone event serves as an important fundraiser and community-building opportunity that celebrates hardworking fishermen, dedicated local seafood businesses, sustainability-driven chefs, partner food relief organizations, and supporters of the Monterey Bay fishing community.
There will be seafood tasting stations with locally inspired culinary delights featuring seasonal Monterey Bay seafood. The fundraiser includes a silent auction, as well as live music and guest speakers. INFO:montereybayfisheriestrust.org/
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent.” —Isaac Asimov
In the July 10 edition, the article “Wages of Aging” concerning the 2024 State of the Workforce report said that “Mid-wage jobs, with an average salary between $50,000 and $74,000, were mostly concentrated in the healthcare industry.” To clarify, those jobs are primarily concentrated in that industry, but are also found in the education, building and design and logistics industries.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
There is not now, nor will there ever be “Affordable Housing” in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is the most expensive rental market in the country. A family of four with both parents working requires an income of around $180,000 to live here. The vast majority of employment in Santa Cruz is in ”service” work. None of these jobs pays enough to rent, much less buy a home.
According to the county Civil Grand Jury, Santa Cruz City government has no idea who is living in so-called “affordable” housing. However, proponents of the massive build-in of these expensive high-rises claim that the condo debacle as well as the proposed garage/ library are designed to help provide “low income and affordable” housing. Anyone who claims that these projects will alleviate the crushing costs of living in Santa Cruz is lying.
–John Morris, Santa Cruz
IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE, AGAIN?
In response to Steve Kettmann’s Opinion (fear mongering article) on “A Democratic Moment” he spoon feeds the reader with inflamed opinionated accusations DJT will be a dictator and an authoritarian based on what? His dislike of Trump’s personality? His tweets? His policies, that he actually never addresses and that Trump is rising in popularity with THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?
Yes, there are Americans across the country who like, agree and want Trump’s policies implemented. Are those people wrong or bad? Simply stated, they want different policies than Biden’s. They don’t like what they got with Biden and are begging for a better life with the leadership they felt safer with and prospered under when Trump was in office.
Let’s face it, life under Biden has been one disaster for the American People after another. People are living in uncertainty for what tomorrow will bring, being on the edge of WWIII.
Has Steve considered all Americans’ right to vote for who he doesn’t agree with? Do they have a right to choose and vote for who they want? Or do we all have to agree with Steve Kettmann?
Steve, the real threat Trump presents is to the Democrat Party’s power and control over the nation.
The Philharmonik, a musician currently based in Sacramento, believes that in today’s music world, there are only two paths to success. “You either have to have a plethora of talents that you .can use, a very wide skill set,” he suggests, or you have to have a lot of money so you can bring in people who have that skill set. “And let me tell you,” he says with a smile, “I do not have the money.”
Having a wide skill set no doubt helped The Philharmonik become the 2024 winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest. And he’ll be in Santa Cruz showing off those skills at a concert at Woodhouse Blending & Brews. The event is cosponsored by Soul Good Entertainment and Creative Minds.
Even before he first picked up an instrument, The Philharmonik (born Christian Gates) was a serious music lover. “I was listening to a lot of ’70s music, he says. “But I wasn’t allowed to listen to hip hop; it was the thing I listened to in secret, to rebel.”
And he went deeper than merely listening. “I’d read all the credits, see who was producing,” he recalls. That was especially true when he immersed himself into hip hop. “I’d find out where the samples were coming from,” he says. “And then I’d listen to those songs. So hip hop played a huge role in my returning back to the classics.”
Those classics include an eclectic assortment of the very best: Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix and even Elton John. Listening to The Philharmonik’s music, keen listeners may hear the influence of Donny Hathaway. “When I was a child, one of the first CDs I got was a compilation,” he recalls. “So I grew up on a lot of Bobby Caldwell, Christopher Cross, Prince … all of those are right down my alley.”
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, The Philharmonik was also immersed in other musical forms; he learned piano and studied classical music, and he sang in a choir. “Those things gave me a foundation,” he says. “They gave me a head start when I wanted to create. When I started making my own music, I already knew how to play piano and sing, so all I had to do was write.” He believes that his musical self-sufficiency developed in large part thanks to those formative years of study.
In high school, The Philharmonik enrolled in a MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) class. MIDI is a technical standard that allows multiple digital instruments to communicate, synchronize and work together. For a self-sufficient, multi-instrumentalist in the tradition of Stevie Wonder, Todd Rundgren, Prince and Paul McCartney, MIDI opens up a world that allows a solo musician to create and render fully arranged music.
Combining his keyboard and MIDI skills, The Philharmonik began working as a producer while still in high school. He was still involved in the sorts of musical activities his fellow students enjoyed—“having rap battles, beating on desks,” he says—but he took everything several steps beyond. By graduation in 2011, he was “messing around” with a demo copy of Fruity Loops, a computer-based digital audio workstation.
The Philharmonik released his self-titled debut album in 2018 on Sacramento-based Sol Collective. The following year, he toured as the opening act on Hobo Johnson’s first national tour. Sidelined (like everyone else) during the worst of the Covid era, The Philharmonik dove into the creation and development of his second long player.
MASTERFUL FUNK Now is the time to catch soul man, the Philharmonik, because he seems perched to blow up.
Released in 2022, Kironic expands his artistry in many directions. Across its ten tracks, the album moves seamlessly between styles— funk, R&B, pop, rock, psychedelia and hip hop—in a way that effectively erases the divisions between those styles.
The album’s opening track “Am I Dreaming?” asks the musical question: What is the meaning of life? In addition to a rich and soulful musical foundation, The Philharmonik’s music features thoughtful lyrics that probe such big questions. “I like to observe a lot,” he explains. “And I like to reflect that in my music.” He says that he endeavors to put a philosophy class into his music. But there’s still room for ruminations on love. “I study a lot of musicians,” he says. “But I also study a lot of poets.” And that emphasis makes itself known in a real, organic form on Kironic.
Considering such a directed, together artist as The Philharmonik, it might come as a surprise to learn that as recently as a few years ago, he considered giving up his musical pursuits. “When the second album got released, we were still coming off the pandemic,” he explains. “When it was released, I feel like it flopped.” Dealing with the aftermath of an auto accident, The Philharmonik hit what he describes as a dip, a dark moment. He recalls thinking, “I’m creating my best work, but I don’t know why I’m doing this any more. And I don’t know how much more I have in me.”
Back in 2019—“just as a feeler,” he says—The Philharmonik submitted an audition to NPR’s Tiny Desk program. He wasn’t chosen, but he tried again a few years later. “The second time, I knew exactly what to do,” he says. “I trusted myself.” He told himself, “This is the last thing I’m throwing at the wall. If this doesn’t make it, I’m done.” He won the 2024 competition, and performed on the popular program in May.
But it wasn’t the accolades that came with the Tiny Desk win that got The Philharmonik back on track. “It was the win itself,” he says. “I needed proof [to] myself: ‘This is worth it to me.’” He says that if he encounters another difficult point in his career, he can look back to Tiny Desk and remind himself: “Remember what you did when you saw nothing ahead? You kept going.”
The Philharmonik plays at 7pm July 28 at Woodhouse Blending & Brews, 119 Madrone St, Santa Cruz; 831-313-9461. $15 adv/$20 door. Tickets through Eventbrite. And check out his Tiny Desk video.
‘That’s the thing about country music over other genres,” Coleton Joe Tidwell says, before pausing and taking a final drag from his cigarette. As he exhales he adds the butt to a small pile he’s been building in the form of a log cabin.
“People love country music because it tells stories. When we began I wrote more abstract lyrics that were out there and creative. As we progressed I wanted to tap into the concept of songwriting instead of concept albums.”
It’s exactly the sort of thing one would expect from the singer and primary songwriter of five-piece country outfit Kentucky Mule. That’s because while other bands might say that statement to sound deep and introspective while being basic and clichéd, Kentucky Mule breathes a sun-soaked, scent of fresh grass life into their songs.
This Saturday they’re bringing their blend of working-class, American folk tunes, mountain string music and honky tonk to Moe’s Alley when they open for San Francisco’s The Sam Chase & The Untraditional.
Though barely two years together, Kentucky Mule has already made a name for themselves in the Santa Cruz music scene, country and beyond.
“When we first started playing we found ourselves in front of audiences who were not there to have a country music experience,” laughs drummer Troy Nadeau. “But it was cool because a lot of people would come up to us afterwards and say, ‘I never thought I’d like country!’”
“That was always my favorite sentence,” Tidwell agrees.
“And we heard it a lot,” guitarist Scott Willis says.
The base for Kentucky Mule was poured when Tidwell and Willis met as the pandemic lockdowns began to lift. Willis already had bass player Will Lermini in his back pocket.
“He’s my first pick for bassist, always,” Willis says.
They knew Nadeau from the local scene and had played with him in other projects so he was quickly added to make Kentucky Mule a quartet.
Nadeau just so happens to also be a sound engineer by trade and has a self-built home studio where he records all of the band’s music. It’s a tradition that dates back to Kentucky Mule’s very first practice.
“The first time we ever played together we recorded our first song,” Lermini says.
That track is the harmonica-driven, soul-searching “Hounds,” still available online.
Because of Tidwell’s prolific writing from playing solo gigs over the years prior to the band forming, Kentucky Mule already had a couple dozen original tunes right out of the gate.
“Because of all that work we had the opportunity to hit the ground running with a full set of originals,” Nadeau recalls.
“Our first set was like 80% originals, which was pretty amazing,” Tidwell says.
Soon after, the boys were joined by fiddle player Lizzy Smith, the lime juice and garnish that completes the Kentucky Mule recipe. Tidwell tells GT that Smith “really makes the sound” of the band and that everyone knew she had to join after meeting her and seeing her play.
The feeling was quite mutual.
“I’m so excited to be a part of this band,” Smith writes in a text message.
Last year they released their debut EP, Beginner’s Luck, a four-track collection of songs about questioning traditional values, working hard for minimum pay while capitalists get rich and driving fast down Highway 17. Tidwell’s voice flows from silky smooth to whiskey grizzled depending on what the song—and sometimes chorus—calls for. In only 12 minutes and 48 seconds, Beginner’s Luck throws down the gauntlet and harvests a gamut of Americana styles from outlaw and country rock to folk and western ballads complete with a slide guitar.
Then there’s the freshly released Deep Roots Ranch Live Sessions EP that just dropped on July 15. As the name implies, it was recorded live at Deep Roots Ranch outside of Corralitos, surrounded by the local mountains, fields of wild plants and that California sun sinking down just right at the golden hour.
A monster of an EP, Deep RootsRanch captures the band’s best side. It’s built with boot-scootin’ honky tonk and beer-swiggin’ stories about finding one’s place in this life. There’s even a 1960s-style string ballad that sounds like something Robert Hunter would’ve written. Which is on brand because, ultimately, Kentucky Mule is a live experience, as anyone who’s seen them play can attest.
With skill and ease they follow one another through the songs, sometimes running one tune into another, à la jam band style. Part of that stems from all members having backgrounds in punk and heavier music, with local psychedelic metal bands like Supernaut and Knuckledragger represented.
Then there’s also their grateful side.
“Being a Deadhead [helps],” Lermini says. “I try not to turn my nose up at anything and be as open as possible to all of it.”
It’s a very democratic take on music, which makes sense considering the band’s punk rock background. Someone not familiar with the genres might not think country and punk (or metal) have much in common, but they’d be wrong. All began as music “of the people, by the people and for the people,” with songs about everyday life and struggles.
It’s a connection not lost on Kentucky Mule and they’ll continue to sing their true stories whether they make it in Nashville or not.
“Country music is supposed to be the voice of the average person,” Tidwell says. “But the popular option for country today isn’t giving people that voice. The more you move away from that and corporatize what was supposed to be the music of the masses, something’s definitely off.”
Kentucky Mule opens for The Sam Chase & The Untraditional July 27 at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854.
Aries singer-songwriter Lady Gaga has written many songs, both for herself and other artists. She has famously declared that some of her most successful songs took her just 10 minutes to compose. They include “Just Dance,” “Poker Face” and “Born This Way.” According to my interpretation of the astrological omens, you could be rising to Lady Gaga levels of creativity in your own sphere during the coming weeks. And I won’t be surprised if your imaginative innovations flow with expeditious clarity, like Gaga at her most efficient.
TAURUS April 20-May 20
During the winter, some animals hibernate. They enter a state of dormancy, slowing their metabolism, breathing and heart rate. Other animals enter a similar state during the summer, conserving energy when the weather is hot and dry. It’s called estivation. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, many of you Tauruses would benefit from a modified version of estivation in the next couple of weeks. You’re in prime time to recharge your energy through deep relaxation and rest.
GEMINI May 21-June 20
The English word “amphibian” is derived from the Greek term amphibios, which means “living a double life.” The original meaning of the English word was “combining two qualities; having two modes of life,” though eventually it came to be used primarily to describe animals that function well on both land and in water. You Geminis are of course the most amphibious of all the astrological tribes. You can feel at home in a variety of situations. This may sometimes stir up confusion, but I see it as one of your greatest potential strengths. In the coming weeks, I hope you enjoy it to the maximum. It should serve you well. Wield it to take advantage of the sweet perks of versatility.
CANCER June 21-July 22
I dreamed that a young elephant appeared on the back deck of my house and stuck its trunk through the open sliding glass door. I got up from my chair and gently pushed the animal away, then closed the door. But after I woke up, I was sorry I had done that in my dream. What was I afraid of? The elephant posed no danger—and may have been a good omen. In some cultures, elephants in dreams and visions are symbols of good luck, vitality, long life and the removal of obstacles. So here’s what I did. I dropped into a deep meditative state and reimagined the dream. This time, I welcomed the creature into my home. I gave her the name Beatrice. We wrestled playfully and had fun playing with a red rubber ball. Amazingly, later that day, a certain obstacle in my actual waking life magically disappeared. The moral of the story, my fellow Cancerian: Welcome the elephant.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
Some bamboo species grow very quickly—as much as 36 inches per day. I suspect your capacity to burgeon and blossom will display a similar vigor in the coming weeks. You may be surprised at how dramatic your development is. I’m hoping, of course, that you will be acutely focused on channeling your fertility in positive ways. Don’t feed an urge to recklessly gamble, for instance. Don’t pursue connections with influences that are no damn good for you. Instead, decide right now what areas of your life you want to be the beneficiaries of your growth spurt. Choose the beauty and power you will encourage to ripen.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
For months, we heard and saw crows pecking on the roof of our rental house. Why? Were they grubbing for food? It was mildly annoying, but seemingly no big deal. Then one night, their small, regular acts of mayhem climaxed in an unexpected event. Rain began to fall around 8pm. It was constant, though not heavy. At 9, the ceilings in five rooms began to leak. By 10:30, our house was flooded. We managed to rescue most of our precious items, but the house was damaged. We had to find a new place to live. I don’t expect anything nearly this drastic to befall you, dear Virgo. But I do encourage you to check to see if any small problem is gradually growing bigger. Now is a favorable time to intervene and forestall an unfavorable development.
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Two Scottish veterinarians researched the health of rhesus monkeys that are compelled by human handlers to dance on the streets of Islamabad, Pakistan. When I first learned about this, my response was, “Wow! Don’t those doctors have anything better to do? That is the most obscure research I have ever heard of.” But later, I decided I admired the doctors because they were motivated primarily by compassion. They found the monkeys were under severe stress, and they publicized the fact as a public service. Their work will ultimately lead to better treatment of the monkeys. In accordance with astrological omens, Libra, I advise you to seek out comparable ways to express altruism in the coming weeks. By engaging in noble and idealistic acts, you will attract good fortune into your sphere both for yourself and others.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Do you place any limits on how deep and expansive you allow your yearnings to be? Are you ever worried that maybe you desire too much and are at risk of asking for too much? If you answered yes to those questions, Scorpio, I will give you a temporary license to rebel against your wariness. In accordance with astrological rhythms, I authorize you to experiment with feeling the biggest, strongest, wildest longings you have ever felt. Please note that I am not advising you to immediately go out and actually express those longings to the hilt. For now, I’d like you to simply have the experience of entertaining their full intensity. This will be a healing experience.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
You will never guess the identity of the strongest animal on the planet. It’s not the gorilla, tiger or elephant. It’s the dung beetle, which can lug loads that weigh 1,141 times as much as it does. The equivalent for you would be to pull six double-decker buses crammed with people. I’m happy to inform you that although you won’t be able to accomplish that feat in the coming weeks, your emotional and spiritual strength will be formidable. You may be surprised at how robust and mighty you are. What do you plan to do with all that power?
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
By age 35, you have already shed over 50 pounds of skin. The flesh that covers you is in a constant state of renewal. In the coming weeks, I expect your rate of regeneration to be even higher than usual—not only in regard to your skin, but everything else in your life, as well. Here’s a proviso: Renewal and regeneration are always preceded by withering or dwindling. To enjoy the thrill of revitalization, you must allow the loss of what was once vital but is no longer.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Among people who go hiking a lot, “death march” is a term that refers to a long trudge through boring scenery in bad weather. Let’s use this as a metaphor for your life. I believe you have recently finished your own metaphorical version of a “death march.” Any minute now, you will begin a far more enjoyable series of experiences. Get ready for an entertaining meander through interesting terrains in fine weather. Be alert for unpredictable encounters with inspiration and education.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
Alex Larenty gives massages to lions at the Lion Park near Johannesburg, South Africa. They especially love foot rubs. Even Jamu, king of the local beasts, rolls onto his back so Larenty can get a good angle while caressing and kneading his paws. I bring this to your attention, Pisces, because it’s a good metaphor for the unique power you will have in the coming days: a knack for dealing successfully with wild influences and elemental powers through the magic of kindness, affection and service.
Ask hardcore fans about the Big Four, and they’ll list Dr. Know, Agression, Ill Repute and Stäläg 13—bands from Oxnard that popularized the “nardcore” (a combination of hardcore and Oxnard) sound of the ’80s. Yet, despite their 1984 debut album, In Control, being a modern genre classic, Stäläg 13 broke up only a year later when their tour fell through. They reunited in 2003 for several years and even got a new singer (with original vocalist Ron Baird’s blessing) when the latter decided to stop touring. Now, Baird is back with the boys, making Holding On Vol. 1—a brand-new banger of an album dropped last March like Danny Way from a helicopter. MAT WEIR
INFO: 7pm, Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $13/adv, $17/door. 423-7117.
SALSA
MERIDIAN BROTHERS
Launched in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1998, Meridian Brothers are known for their brand of psychedelia-tinged tropicália. In some ways, Meridian Brothers is as much a sociological project as a dance music outfit. The prolific group has released 11 albums since its inception. Meridian Brothers’ latest release (available digitally, on vinyl and even on cassette) is presented as a self-titled collaboration with El Grupo Renacimiento, a legendary (in the literal sense of that word) salsa dura group from the ’70s. The album features lyrics that explore and address real-life, street-level concerns: addiction, social marginalization, police brutality and class struggles. BILL KOPP
Americana, rock ’n’ roll and the blues walk into a bar . . . and Paul Thorn and Band are there waiting to play all three. Country music might have been taking a quick whiz in the bathroom, but it’ll also be a part of the fun. Songs like “It’s a Great Day to Whup Somebody’s Ass” and “I Don’t Like Half the Folks I Love” have a certain down-home country twang. Thorn’s band is made up of guys who really know their stuff, and their music is made for rocking out with a cold one in one hand and a hot date in the other. JESSICA IRISH
INFO: 7:30pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $32. 423-1854.
SATURDAY 7/27
HARDCORE
Death Lens plays the Catalyst
DEATH LENS
Death Lens combines the best of punk rock and shoegaze as their foundation, then adds the chaos of hardcore shows to their performances. Once the band revs up, nothing can stop them. To see them live is to be embraced into turmoil, energy and community, and attendees can now expect a broader range of sounds as they incorporate songs from their latest album into their setlist. The shows make space to experience an emotional release from a world that constantly pushes people down, encouraging hope for a better future. Death Lens is unapologetically themselves, expressive punk rockers who keep evolving and speaking on the reality of the world while highlighting community and inspiring positive change. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter Mason Jennings is full of surprises. The folk rocker has played in the synth-pop band Painted Shield and released an album of heavy metal covers, exploring the music he grew up on—all while writing and recording over a dozen albums of the storytelling folk songs he is most known and loved for. On Saturday, Jennings brings his folk band and probably a few surprises to Felton. Another artist known to spin tales in his songs, acoustic balladeer Jack Symes, will be opening the show. KEITH LOWELL JENSEN
Jan Harwood spent her career years as a psychiatric social worker. Since retiring, she has turned her energies toward writing. Her sharply satirical songs are written for the Raging Grannies, a troupe of vocalists dressed in old-timey “granny” gear. (They’re also part of the pioneering, century-old Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.) Harwood has also written poetry books, children’s books and two mystery novels. Her seemingly unending wellspring of creativity is celebrated with a signing for her latest, Patchwork: True Stories from My Life, a richly varied memoir of tales from the 93-year-old’s fascinating journey. BK
INFO: 2pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. 423-0900.
MONDAY 7/29
JAZZ
CLÁUDIA VILLELA QUINTET
JazzTimes magazine described Cláudia Villela as a “Brazilian-born genius with a blistering voice.” Now based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the singer, pianist and composer with a five-octave voice that has made her one of the most in-demand guest artists in jazz circles will perform her signature mix of samba, jazz and blues covers and original compositions. The Cláudia Villela Quintet also features saxophonist Gary Meek, guitarist Jeff Buenz, bassist Gary Brown and drummer Celso Alberti. KLJ
INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $36.75/adv, $42/door. 427-2227.
TUESDAY 7/30
PSYCHEDELIC
Gary Wilson plays Moe’s Alley
GARY WILSON
Before the Flaming Lips danced around in rainbow and mushroom costumes while singing about fighting robots, Gary Wilson was onstage hanging out with blow-up dolls and bandmates in monkey costumes. Wilson is freaky, wearing wigs of every color, shape and quality (read: some of them are pretty ratty), using duct tape and fake blood, and singing songs that would make Ariel Pink jealous. He’s been doing his thing since the ’70s and is pretty open about how LSD has informed his creative approach. He’s a rebel in his industry, pushing the boundaries of performance while making music that’s, put simply, very good. JI
Before The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, there was Hamlet. After 424 years, it still stands as the ultimate—nay, the archetype—of political dramas with murder, betrayal, revenge, madness and humanity’s struggle. “To be, or not to be,” “to thine own self be true,” and “there are more things in heaven and earth” all took root in the Western vernacular and continue to flourish today. Indeed, no drama is more timeless than that of the Prince of Denmark. The show, directed by Susan Dalian, runs through August 31, so there’s time to realize something is rotten in the state of Denmark. But don’t worry, though this be madness, yet there is method in it. MW
INFO: 2pm, Audrey Stanley Grove, 501 Upper Park Rd., Santa Cruz. $5-$50. 460-6399.
Watching the Biden announcement on social media in real time, followed by the ascension of Kamala Harris to the top of the ticket, was a rather dizzying affair.
First came the despair: everybody took it as a major defeat. But then, within minutes, came the flood of endorsements by Democratic leaders from across the spectrum: the Clintons, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and on and on.
On top of that, the Republicans, led by Donald Trump, were flailing, clearly caught by surprise even though people had been talking about this possibility for weeks. And within an hour, it was already clear that the campaign had been re-energized. Hope was restored. Some measure of it, anyway.
Given the vice president’s pedigree and background, this might seem somewhat surprising. Harris is a middle-of-the-road Democrat, and such people are supposedly politically toxic these days. And, like most middle-of-the-road Democrats, she has throughout her political career tended to equivocate and “flip-flop.” That’s as true of her stance(s) on cannabis as it is of any other topic.
But “flip-flopping” isn’t always a bad thing. We want politicians to have principles, but we also want them to be flexible and to change with the times. This is an inherent tension in democratic politics, but it’s a needed one.
Within that tension, the work of governing gets done. It’s where compromise happens, and compromise is needed in a democracy, or it’s not a democracy. But it’s not easy: flip-flop too much, especially on core principles, and you’re ineffective. Stick to your principles regardless of social change or your constituents’ desires, and you’re even more so.
Cannabis policy, as important as it is (especially to people it directly affects) most often isn’t a core principle. “Not throwing people in jail for possessing weed” is a core principle, but beyond that, everything about cannabis is open to debate.
Harris has, in the past, shown signs that this wasn’t a principle for her. But as with Joe Biden and the Democratic Party as a whole, she has evolved on the issue, as on other issues. Meanwhile, the Trump administration did nothing on weed and in fact (likely at the behest of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell) rolled back and blocked some reforms.
Recall that Biden was once one of the most stalwart drug warriors in Congress. He spent most of his career opposing any kind of reform. He repeatedly referred to weed as a “gateway drug,” and he did that even after the theory had been roundly debunked. (Pot doesn’t “lead to” the use of stronger drugs like heroin for most people. Or, when it does, it’s just because pot is the most widely available and safest illegal substance.) Now, Biden seems at least open to decriminalization at the federal level and maybe even full legalization.
Harris’s evolution is at least equally pronounced. As a prosecutor in California at both the state and local levels, she got just short of 2,000 people convicted for cannabis crimes (it was, after all, her job; yet she seemed to go at it with vigor). But Harris is now fully on board with Biden’s stances, and she was instrumental in getting pot reclassified so that it will become Schedule III drug rather than a Schedule I drug.
Harris hasn’t weighed in on full legalization, but at least some observers are saying that she’ll likely come out in favor during the campaign. She’s no fool, and she realizes that she’ll gain a lot of votes for it, and lose very few if any at all.
“No one should be in prison simply for smoking weed,” she has recently said, echoing Biden. The implication of this, of course, is that it shouldn’t be illegal, or at least shouldn’t be a criminal offense. As rescheduling was being worked on, she repeatedly called pot’s Schedule I classification “absurd” and “unfair,” most auspiciously at a White House event on the subject in March, which she hosted along with rapper Fat Joe.
The important thing for cannabis advocates to remember, even if they think of Harris as a “cop” (which many do), is that she, like Biden, would be way better on this issue—and all issues—than Donald Trump would be. Authoritarian governments don’t tend to be reformers.
Authentically Italian, from the vibes and welcoming service to the food and décor, Lago Di Como seeks to transport guests straight to Italy upon walking through its doors. Co-owner Lindsay Rodriguez and her husband, Matteo, partnered with executive chef and founder Giovanni a year ago, and she says their complementary skill sets make a perfect match.
Rodriguez’s industry career is extensive and international; she was a server during college in San Francisco before studying and serving/bartending abroad in France and Spain. She then returned to Santa Cruz and managed several local spots before taking the ownership dive with Lago Di Como.
The menu blends northern and southern Italian cuisines with a nod to Sardinia, best begun with appetizers like the fritto misto, with local calamari and large head-on white shrimp, and the smoked beef carpaccio, with caperberries, shaved parmesan and balsamic reduction.
A flagship entrée is the branzino, a whole Mediterranean sea bass marinated in fresh herbs and baked in a wood-fired oven. A ruffled-edge macaroni served with sautéed guanciale and fresh local artichokes is another favorite, as is the bone-in, dry-aged porterhouse steak.
The menu’s authenticity ends with the seada, a classic not-too-sweet Sardinian dessert of pastry dough filled with soft, fresh pecorino then flash-fried and drizzled with honey.
How would you compare service here and abroad?
LINDSAY RODRIGUEZ: I think the difference is that in Europe, service is more customer-driven. It’s not as much about fostering a personal relationship; it’s more about creating an experience and facilitating an amazing time. It’s really not about the server, and can be very humbling in that sense. Being an American abroad in the service industry, I found people really responded to my kindness, warmth and American-driven sense of personal customer service.
Tell me about your concept.
What we’re going for here is bringing a genuine Italian experience to Santa Cruz that most people wouldn’t find outside of Italy. Our menu changes frequently, but we always feature scratch-made in-house pasta as well as traditional, popular dishes in Italy that aren’t often found in the U.S. We have nightly diverse and seasonal specials, as well as an extensive and eclectic Italian-focused wine list that is unrivaled locally.
Dark on Tuesdays, hours are 5-9:30pm. 21490 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, 831-454-8257; lagodicomoristorante.com
The upcoming Strawberry Festival isn’t the only thing zinging in Watsonville
Some berry fun facts for your consideration. Strawberries aren’t technically berries—they’re what’s called an aggregate fruit.
Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside. Each strawberry has about 200.
Strawberries are the largest and most valuable crop in the Pajaro Valley.
Then there’s perhaps the funnest strawberry fact of the summer: The Watsonville Strawberry Festival takes over the heart of the Dubville’s downtown Aug. 2-4.
That means strawberry tacos and strawberry tamales, strawberry pizza and strawberry paletas, strawberry shortcake and strawberry churros, plus strawberry twinkies, strawberry waffles and strawberry smoothies.
Oh, and live music, dance performances, carnival rides, fun runs and zero admission.
The weekend originally came about in 1994 to help fund recovery from the Loma Prieta earthquake. The event continues to provide a swath of nonprofit organizations like Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services and the Rotary Club of Freedom the opportunity to raise funds for—and public awareness of—their work.
So the Romans were onto something when they assigned medicinal powers to the singular strawberry.
WHILE WE’RE HERE
By working with the city and the Chamber of Commerce, Watsonville Public House (625 Main St.) helped create a local beer and cider showcase in the Strawberry Festival’s adult beverage area. The Public House, Santa Cruz Cider, Fruition Brewing and Buena Vista will all pour, helping raise money for the nonprofit CoC.
WPH will also be featured at “Beer with Friends” this Friday, July 26, at Lupulo (233 Cathcart St., Santa Cruz), when WPH pointman Robby Olsen will be there talking beer, and Lupolo will have three of Public House beers on tap.
Meanwhile, back in Watsonville, Olsen et al. are building out their events calendar with bands, karaoke, salsa dancing (with a live band) and line dancing nights. watsonville.pub
PROOF POSITIVE
Venus Spirits could rest on its laurels, including Best of Class, Double Gold and Best Other Agave Spirits at the Sunset International Spirits Competition for its El Ladrón Yolo. Instead it keeps swirling a brisk calendar. This week presents a biggie, as Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen Westside (400 High Road, Santa Cruz) celebrates 10 years of craft distilling with five hours of block party programming noon-5pm on July 27: A special anniversary menu lines up smash burgers, lobster rolls, and oysters; the Frans Lanting Studio and Gallery hosts a mid-summer open house with celebrated nature photographer Lanting and his partner Chris Eckstrom; two stages present live music from Rodeo Gulch and DJ sets by Techno Tony, with further music curated by Redwood Records; Independent, Mob Grip, Bronson and Slime Balls present a five-obstacle skate contest with free entry and cash prizes; a Vendor Village brims with unique local finds; and Group Open Air Training leads a free cycling class. Bonus note: Venus Beachside (131 Esplanade) is now open additional hours—5-9pm Monday-Tuesday—in Aptos. venusspirits.com
TURBO TASTES
Farmers market coffee roaster Hidden Fortress has opened a new outpost in Santa Cruz, inside Cruzio coworking space (877 Cedar St.), hiddenfortresscoffee.com…Now until Aug. 8, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk does special summer promotions on the daily: Mondays and Tuesdays mean free live music; Wednesdays and Thursdays welcome in magicians and acrobats; Fridays roll out free movies on the beach; and Saturdays and Sundays drop a DJ dance party, beachboardwalk.com…Unfun fact: Bottled water is the best selling beverage on Earth, which is wack…Ground us, please, legendary oceanographer/anti-plastic pollution advocate Sylvia Earle: “It is the worst of times, but it is the best of times, because we still have a chance.”
I wasn’t looking for a new way to spend time and money, but then this link crossed my laptop: “Discover the benefits of red light therapy in helping to preserve youthfulness.”
They had me at youthfulness, and since the email came from a trusted source, I clicked.
The article described a laundry list of conditions said to improve through red light exposure, ranging from mending torn muscles and wrinkled skin to reducing depression and inflammation.
It sounded too good to be true, yet the news was compelling. In July of last year, a study published by the National Library of Medicine was headlined “Reverse skin aging signs by red light photobiomodulation”—aka red light therapy.
So I did a local search for red light therapy in Santa Cruz, and up came the only result: Santa Cruz Light Therapy, with a special for new clients. I signed up for three sessions.
I arrived at an inconspicuous building across from the Shopper’s Corner parking lot. One of the co-owners, Julie Bettencourt, asked what I knew about red light therapy. She was eager to fill me in, sharing her personal story of healing. She says it started with a trip to the vet when her dog tore an Achilles tendon—which, thanks to the use of red light therapy, healed quickly.
Bettencourt remembered the therapy when she tore her meniscus, prompting her to invest in a hand-held device. In a string of coincidences, she learned her friend Donna Cherie was dealing with a similar tear. Cherie, a licensed aesthetician, had recently seen LightStim red light therapy beds on display at a trade show. After they compared notes, they formed a partnership and set up shop.
And now here I was ready to lie face down on the clear acrylic panel resembling a red-hued tanning bed with a massage-style face cradle extending from the top.
Forty very warm minutes later, I sat up and noticed right away that my right mousing arm no longer hurt. It was a pleasant surprise.
The next day another shopper at New Leaf remarked on my healthy glow, nodding at the bunch of kale I was holding.
Duly encouraged, I wondered whether other people were on to the red light approach. I began asking around, and eventually I connected with Adora Deva, the former partner of Mellen Thomas Benedict, whom she calls the inventor of red light therapy.
Adora first met Mellen in Los Gatos in 2006, when she agreed to participate in a research trial on wrinkle reduction. The technology wasn’t all she was interested in, and the two began dating in 2007. For the next ten years Deva worked closely with Mellen, assisting him as he traveled the world sharing the findings, lecturing on the mechanics and developing more prototypes.
Eventually a larger company bought the prototype, now named Dreamspa, and added two features to the original design: a sound option for brain balance, and gamma wave. And the research continues.
This same machine was just tested by Dr. Peter Newsom’s team at Stanford to study the healing effects of gamma waves on brain fog and long Covid. Meanwhile one prominent LA aesthetician, Dr. Michael Galitzer, relies on it for celebrity wrinkle reduction.
Since Mellen’s passing in 2019, Adora has stayed true to the work. Today she uses several of the machines in her business, Life Spirit Healing. Along with the original light chair, Deva combines treatments using near infrared technology and red and blue light therapy. Depending on the client’s needs, she uses different lights to treat a range of issues from anxiety and depression to acne and joint pain.
Deva explains that light “bathes our connective tissue. It’s fiber optic so it carries the light to the mitochondrial level, producing ATP, the life source. Mellen was 20 to 25 years ahead of his time.”
Although the technology is now gaining traction for not only anti-aging but also a whole host of inflammation-related issues, it has decades-old roots in Santa Cruz.
The light therapy practitioners I spoke with are more than proponents of the technology. It’s not a stretch to use the word enamored. And with good reason: They and their clients find it works. How often, for how long? Those questions seem based on the individual, but for now, I’m looking forward to my next session.
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Meridian Brothers are known for their brand of psychedelia-tinged tropicália. In some ways, Meridian Brothers is as much a sociological project as a dance music outfit. Friday at Woodhouse Brewing
Authentically Italian, from the vibes and welcoming service to the food and décor, Lago Di Como seeks to transport guests straight to Italy upon walking through its doors.
Along with the original light chair, Deva combines treatments using near infrared technology and red and blue light therapy. Depending on the client’s needs, she uses different lights to treat a range of issues from anxiety and depression to acne and joint pain.
The Editor’s Desk
The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music needs a new name.
I’m not talking about the “Cabrillo” part, which could be dropped in light of the recent strong political sentiment against the conquistador. I’m talking about the “Contemporary Music” part.
It just sounds…boring. And this festival is anything but.
This ain’t your father’s classical music. The Cabrillo fest is to classical music what prog rock is to rock or avant garde jazz is to smooth jazz.
It’s music to take you to a new and unexplored place, to maybe make you a bit uncomfortable, with the intention of blowing your mind and expanding your musical horizons.
Started 61 years ago, it’s the longest-running contemporary music festival dedicated to new music for orchestras.
I almost missed my first one because the name was so bland. But then I heard music by John Cage, John Adams, Philip Glass and Aaron Copland and there it was…head exploded. It reminded me of the first time I saw Pink Floyd, before I knew such things existed.
The unusual thing is that this festival is known worldwide and attracts far-away music lovers. I wonder sometimes if they appreciate it more than the locals do. The New York Times called it a “mecca for new music lovers” and I’m proud to have it on the cover of Good Times and hope if you haven’t checked it out, this might encourage you to give it a shot.
Historical note: the festival had its birth in 1961 in an Aptos coffee shop called Sticky Wicket, where an Italian composer named Robert Hughes came to study with composer Lou Harrison and they produced a small festival outside the shop. When Cabrillo College opened, the festival moved there and put on its first show on Aug. 21, 1963. It lasted for 15 years before Prop 13 devastated public arts at the school.
The performances moved to churches and a tent on the UCSC campus before arriving at the Santa Cruz Civic in 1991.
So what do we call it now to show how exciting it is and to show lovers of the rave, EDM or jam band cultures that this is something they can totally relate to? Send your ideas to ed****@*******es.sc.
Speaking of music: we have an article by Bill Kopp about a brilliant indie songwriter called The Philharmonik playing this week and one by Mat Weir about notable local country band Kentucky Mule.
And for food, you must check out Andrew Steingrube’s intro to Lago di Como, a glorious taste of Italy.
Thanks for reading.
Brad Kava, Editor
PHOTO CONTEST
CHILLIN’ Taken on Cowell’s Beach, dude on lounge chair surfboard, with a front-row seat watching the surfers at Lighthouse Point. Photograph by Craig Ferguson
GOOD IDEA
Registration for Kids2Parks will open July 29. Kids2Parks is an equity program to bring students from Title 1 schools to state parks. The registration period for field trips planned for the 2023-24 academic year will run until Aug. 18.
Kids2Parks offers funding for field trips to most local state parks to elementary schools in Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties for schools with a high percentage of low-income families.
It includes Castle Rock State Park, Castro Adobe State Historic Park,Seacliff State Beach, and Wilder Ranch State Park, to name a few.
Apply at thatsmypark.org/k2p.
GOOD WORK
The Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust will hold its 10th Anniversary Seafood Celebration on Sunday, Sept. 29 at the Monterey State Historic Park Memory Garden to celebrate 10 years in support of sustainable Monterey Bay seafood and honor local fisheries champions.
This milestone event serves as an important fundraiser and community-building opportunity that celebrates hardworking fishermen, dedicated local seafood businesses, sustainability-driven chefs, partner food relief organizations, and supporters of the Monterey Bay fishing community.
There will be seafood tasting stations with locally inspired culinary delights featuring seasonal Monterey Bay seafood. The fundraiser includes a silent auction, as well as live music and guest speakers. INFO:montereybayfisheriestrust.org/
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent.” —Isaac Asimov