Cameron Hughes Wine Inc. (CAM) is a “wine négociant.” In other words, it specializes in re-blending and selling fine wines under its own label at considerably less cost. It’s an absolute steal to buy a case (free shipping included). CAM offers really good prices on a variety of mostly excellent wines.
The CAM Lot 28 2023 Gewürztraminer, for example, runs at $99 for a case, which would normally cost about $330.
This Anderson Valley gewürztraminer is a “crystalline, palate-tingling beauty” that delivers a refreshing and harmonious experience of pure fruit and an abundance of acidity. The winemaker suggests this very dry wine is perfect to pair with spicy food or for the Thanksgiving table.
I really like this well-made gewürz and think it’s worth the price of a case.
CAM also produces chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, petite sirah, malbec and others. Check their website for current releases: camxwine.com.
Toast Autumn at Windy Oaks
Windy Oaks proprietors Judy and Jim Schultze are excited to host their first Fall Festival, a delightful way to welcome in autumnal weather. Join them on the vineyard ridge for an afternoon of live music, local vendors, delicious freshly shucked oysters from Parker’s Picks, and local favorite S&B Food Truck (with veggie options)—or pack your own picnic to enjoy alongside wine available by the glass.
The event is noon to 5pm, Saturday, Sept. 27. Admission is $10 for wine club members and a guest, and $15 for nonmembers. Children free. Admission includes a glass of wine. The Windy Oaks estate is at 550 Hazel Dell Road, Corralitos (windyoaksestate.com); call Judy at 831-724-9562 with any questions. Or try these excellent wines at the Windy Oaks tasting rooms in Carmel and Carmel Valley.
Inflammation has become the wellness buzzword of the decade. It’s blamed for everything from brain fog to belly bloat and linked to chronic conditions ranging from arthritis to anxiety. But here’s the catch: inflammation itself isn’t the enemy. In fact, it’s your body’s built-in defense system, a way of repairing damage and fighting off invaders.
The real problem comes when this fiery defense never shuts off. Instead of healing and moving on, your body simmers in a constant state of slow burn, quietly fueling disease over time. And in today’s culture of stress, processed food and too little sleep, it’s no wonder so many of us are stuck in this cycle.
To better understand inflammation—and what we can actually do about it—I spoke with three local experts: Dr. Michelle Bean, Dr. John Grady and wellness practitioner Samantha Matthews.
What precisely is inflammation?
Dr. Grady invites you to “think of it as your body’s ‘repair crew.’ If you cut your finger, immune cells rush in to protect and heal. That’s short-term inflammation, and it’s essential. But when the system stays switched on long after the job is done, the same repair crew begins to cause damage.” Dr. Bean confirms that over time, chronic inflammation raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and autoimmune conditions.
Why is it such a big deal right now?
According to Dr. Bean, most people don’t realize inflammation is the silent driver of disease. Instead, it shows up disguised as diabetes, cognitive decline, or autoimmune disorders. Doctors often treat the symptoms without addressing the underlying fire. Matthews and Dr. Grady add that stress, poor sleep, processed foods and even social isolation all keep the immune system on high alert. The good news? Healthy habits can calm the flames—if we start addressing them early.
How do you know if inflammation is affecting you?
It’s not always obvious. Joint pain, back or neck stiffness, brain fog, fatigue, digestive issues and even feeling unusually tired after eating can all be signs. “If you’re dragging through the day or achy for no reason, your body may be waving the inflammation flag,” Matthews says.
What role does food play?
Here’s where things get both straightforward and surprising. The usual culprits—sugar, refined carbs, alcohol, and fried or processed foods—absolutely stoke inflammation. But Dr. Bean points out another trigger: stress. Chronic stress can weaken the gut barrier, leading to what’s often called “leaky gut.” When this happens, even healthy foods can cause inflammatory responses in the body.
On the flip side, a Mediterranean-style diet is one of the best natural ways to fight inflammation. That means colorful produce, omega-3 rich fish like salmon, extra-virgin olive oil, nuts, beans, and anti-inflammatory herbs like turmeric and garlic. As Matthews says, “If it can sit on a shelf for months, it probably fuels inflammation. If it’s fresh and colorful, it likely cools it down.”
Beyond food: movement, sleep and stress relief.
Food is powerful, but it’s only part of the puzzle. Movement—even simple walking, stretching or light strength training—signals your body to relax and repair. Sleep is equally non-negotiable: when we shortchange rest, our body can’t heal, and inflammation builds. Stress management may be the most important factor of all.
“Stress drives inflammation, and inflammation drives disease,” Dr. Bean says. Breaking the cycle means finding daily ways to calm your nervous system. Yoga, journaling, learning something new, playing with your dog or spending time with friends all help. Matthews agrees: “Move your body, protect your sleep, and find ways to quiet stress. Those three together are just as powerful as food.”
So what’s the first step?
Dr. Bean recommends getting tested. Specific blood markers can show if your body is running systemic inflammation, yet most doctors don’t routinely check for them. Matthews and Dr. Grady suggest starting with something simple, like a daily walk in the redwoods or along the coast. Fresh air, gentle movement and a calmer mind can go a long way.
For those looking for deeper support, local options abound. Harbor Health Center offers advanced therapies like Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields and red-light treatments to lower systemic inflammation. Dr. Bean recommends joining a structured program such as the October Challenge at SoulCare Studios, which combines yoga, anti-inflammatory meal planning and functional medicine support.
In the end, taming inflammation isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about steady, sustainable practices that lower stress, fuel your body with real food and help you restore balance. The fire may be part of our natural defense system, but learning how to keep it in check just might be one of the most important health moves you can make.
The October Challenge begins Oct. 1, with orientation on Sept. 28 at SoulCare Studios (soulcarestudios.com).
In Tonglen, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation, you visualize yourself breathing in the suffering, pain or negativity of other people, then imagine breathing out relief, healing or compassion toward them. The practice can also be done on your own behalf. The goal is to transform tension and stress into courage, vitality and healing. I recommend this practice, Aries. Can you turn your scars into interesting tattoos? Can you find mysterious opportunities lurking in the dilemmas? Can you provide grace for others as you feed your own fire?
TAURUS April 20-May 20
In a YouTube video, I watched Korean artisans make hanji paper in the same way their predecessors have for 1,300 years. It was complicated and meditative. They peeled off the inner bark of mulberry trees, then soaked it, cooked it and pounded it into pulp. After mixing the mash with the aibika plant, they spread it out on screens and let it dry. I learned that this gorgeous, luminous paper can endure for a thousand years. I hope you draw inspiration from this process, Taurus. Experiment with softening what has felt unyielding. Treat what’s tough or inflexible with steady, artful effort. Be imaginative and persistent as you shape raw materials into beautiful things you can use for a long time.
GEMINI May 21-June 20
Legendary jazz musician Sun Ra was a Gemini who claimed to be from the planet Saturn. He aspired to live in a state of “cosmic discipline”—not just in his musical training but in his devotion to self-improvement, aesthetic exploration and a connection to transcendent realities. He fused outrageous style with sacred order, chaos with clarity. I invite you to draw inspiration from him. Put your personal flair in service to noble ideas. Align your exuberant self-expression with your higher purpose. Show off if it helps wake people up.
CANCER June 21-July 22
In Inuit tradition, qarrtsiluni means “waiting in the darkness for something to burst forth.” It refers to the sacred pause before creativity erupts, before the quest begins, before the light returns. This is an apt description of your current state, Cancerian. Tend your inner stillness like a fire about to ignite. Don’t rush it. Honor the hush. The energies you store up will find their proper shape in a few weeks. Trust that the silence is not absence but incubation. Luminosity will bloom from this pregnant pause.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
You’re feeling the stirrings of a desire that’s at least half-wild. A surprising vision or opportunity has begun to roar softly within you. But here’s key advice: Don’t chase it recklessly. Practice strategic boldness. Choose where and how you shine. Your radiance is potent, but it will be most effective when offered deliberately, with conscious artistry. You’re being asked to embody the kind of leadership that inspires, not dominates. Be the sun that warms but doesn’t scorch! PS: People are observing you to learn how to shine.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
If humans ever perfect time-travel, I’m going to the Library of Alexandria in ancient Egypt. It was crammed with papyrus scrolls by authors from all over the world. It was also a gathering point for smart people who loved to compare notes across disciplines. Poets argued amiably with mathematicians. Astronomers discussed inspirations with physicians. Breakthroughs flowed freely because ideas were allowed to migrate, hybridize and be challenged without rancor. Consider emulating that rich mélange, Virgo. Convene unlike minds, cross-pollinate and entertain unprecedented questions. The influences you need next will arrive via unexpected connections.
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
The ancient Mesopotamians believed each person had a personal god called an ilu who acted as a protector, guide and intercessor with the greater gods. You’re in a phase when your own ilu is extra active and ready to undergo an evolutionary transformation. So assume that you will be able to call on potent help, Libra. Be alert for how your instincts and intuitions are becoming more acute and specific. If you feel an odd nudge or a dream insists on being remembered, take it seriously. You’re being steered toward deeper nourishment.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
In Venice, Italy, floods periodically damage books at libraries and bookstores. Trained volunteers restore them with meticulous, hands-on methods. They use absorbent paper and towels to separate and dry the pages, working page by page. I offer this vignette as a useful metaphor, Scorpio. Why? Because I suspect that a rich part of your story needs repair. It’s at risk of becoming irrelevant, even irretrievable. Your assignment is to nurse it back to full health and coherence. Give it your tender attention as you rehabilitate its meaning. Rediscover and revive its lessons and wisdom.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
In classical Indian music, a raga is not a fixed composition but a flexible framework. It’s defined by a specific scale, characteristic melodic phrases, and a traditional time of day for performance. Musicians improvise and express emotion within that expansive set of constraints. Unlike Western compositions, which are written out and repeated verbatim, a raga has different notes each time it’s played. I think this beautiful art form can be inspirational for you, Sagittarius. Choose the right time and tone for what you’re creating. Dedicate yourself to a high-minded intention and then play around with flair and delight. Define three non-negotiable elements and let everything else breathe.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
In medieval European monasteries, scribes left blank pages in certain texts. This was not done by accident, but to allow for future revelations. Later readers and scribes might fill these spaces with additional text, marginalia and personal notes. Books were seen as living documents. I recommend a metaphorical version of this practice to you, Capricorn. You will thrive by keeping spaces empty and allowing for the unknown to ripen. You may sometimes feel an urge to define, control and fortify, but acting on that impulse could interfere with the gifts that life wants to bring you. Honor what is as-yet unwritten.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
In West African Vodún cosmology, the deity named Lêgba guards the crossroads. He is the mediator and gatekeeper between the human world and spirit realm. He speaks all languages and serves as the first point of contact for communication with other spirits. In the weeks ahead, Aquarius, you may find yourself in Lêgba’s domain: between past and future, fact and fantasy, solitude and communion. You may also become a channel for others, intuiting or translating what they can’t articulate. I won’t be surprised if you know things your rational mind doesn’t fully understand. I bet a long-locked door will swing open and a long-denied connection will finally coalesce. You’re not just passing through the crossroads. You are the crossroads.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
In 1977, NASA launched two Voyager spacecraft into the abyss. Both carried a message in the form of a golden record to any extraterrestrial who might find it. There were greetings in 55 languages, natural sounds like whale songs and thunderstorms, music by Chuck Berry and others, plus over 100 images and diagrams explaining how to find Earth. It was science as a love letter, realism with a dash of audacity. I invite you to craft your own version of a golden record, Pisces. Distill a message that says who you are and what you are seeking: clear enough to be decoded by strangers, warm enough to be welcomed by friends you haven’t met. Put it where the desired audience can hear it: portfolio, outreach note, manifesto, demo. Send signals that will make the right replies inevitable.
A massive load of fresh produce updates, from Wild Roots to New Leaf to a big peach and the Big Apple
Wild Roots Market, whose meaning to the Santa Cruz Mountains community proves hard to overstate, celebrates a major milestone by, surprise, involving its community.
In honor of WRM’s 25th anniversary as a certified organic retailer through California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)—making it the first retailer in the country to earn that—Wild Roots will 1) continue in-store giveaways from CCOF throughout the month, along with round-up donations to the CCOF Foundation; and 2) host movie night featuring fresh documentary Organic Rising 5:30pm Thursday, Sept. 25, at Felton Community Hall (free; $5 donation CCOFs welcome).
CCOF CEO Kelly Damewood notes the heart of her nonprofit doesn’t beat without operators like the Felton fan fave.
“Industry champions like Wild Roots are critical to advancing organic agriculture and ensuring that when a shopper purchases a certified organic product, they can be confident that it was traced from farm to store,” Damewood says, “and produced with sustainable methods that support healthy communities.” wildrootsmarket.com, ccof.org
NEW NEW LEAF
Speaking of bright green grocers, New Leaf Markets debuts its new Santa Cruz store (650 River St., Santa Cruz) on Saturday, Sept. 27, loaded with a rainbow of grab-and-go fresh-pressed juices, hand-rolled sushi, California barbecue and a new peanut butter flavor of The Cookie. The 10am–2pm Sept. 27 soiree involves free local samples, giveaways, family programming and a chance to win a $250 New Leaf gift card, newleaf.com.
FRUITFUL BREAKTHROUGHS
Last week Chiles Peach Orchard in Crozet, Virginia, earned the Guinness World Record title for heaviest peach with a 1.83-pound stone fruit, five times a standard medium-sized peach. Big peach news comes ahead of a Big Apple update: This week I’m heading to New York for Climate Week and a session called “Regenerative Food Systems: Scaling Impact—Soil to Shelf” in particular. One outstanding element of the Food Tank portion of the week, which bursts with great speakers like Dan Barber (chef and heirloom seed superstar), J.J. Johnson (American chef and author), Paul Lightfoot (Patagonia Provisions), Suzanne Sengelmann (Lundberg Family Farms) and a bunch more: Interested minds can tune in from anywhere via foodtank.com, or by searching “Food Tank NY Climate Week” on YouTube, or typing in youtube.com/live/Hq_z5IR3oO8.
VAMOS AMIGAS
El Pájaro Community Development Corporation (“El Pájaro CDC”) hosts the third annual Mujer al Mando Business & Leadership Conference this 9am-2:30pm Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Civic Plaza Community Room (6th floor, 275 Main St., Watsonville). Conducted in Spanish—with translation in English and Mixteco—and dedicated to empowering women who are driving change in business (and their communities) this year’s theme focuses on professional and personal well-being. The agenda features workshops, a panel of women entrepreneurs, networking opportunities and Monarch Services CEO Leeann Luna on keynote, $30 in advance (includes light breakfast and lunch), $40 day of, elpajarocdc.org.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Back on the hopeful organic produce front: Esperanza Community Farms (275 Lee Road, Watsonville) hosts the free Día de Esperanza Organic Agriculture Festival Oct. 18-19, featuring local organic food, farm tours, family activities and live music, esperanzacommunityfarms.org…Less hopeful: Oblò Cocktails & Kitchen (740 Front St., Suite 100, Santa Cruz) has closed, but some uplift persists, per the team’s Instagram announcement: “We’ve decided to take a little break to breathe, recharge, and put together new ideas for the future,” it reads. “Your support, your smiles, and the moments we’ve shared at our tables have meant so much.”…I’m digging a new newsletter called “The Spill: Your daily drop of wine news”…Late author and radio/TV personality Clifton Fadiman, toast us out: “A bottle of wine begs to be shared; I have never met a miserly wine lover.”
Chef Guillermo Alvarez has lived in Santa Cruz his entire adult life, seeing his dreams come true here after moving from his hometown of Leon in Guanajuato, Mexico, at age 18. His culinary career developed while working at several local restaurants, observing and slowly learning how to cook better and better food. He then became a produce manager at an upscale grocery store, further aggrandizing his industry prowess.
Guillermo and his wife, Veronica, had long desired to open their own food business and found themselves inspired by the food trucks they saw doing well in town. Saving their money, they actualized their vision five years ago and opened The Real Taco, now two trucks with permanent locations.
Guillermo says the menu is traditional Mexican food, the recipes created by him and Veronica through testing, eating and improving with family and friends. The oft-complimented quesabirria is the menu’s superstar, dancing with tasty flavors and textures. The Baja-style fish and shrimp tacos are also a hit, as are the classic street tacos on handmade tortillas and the crispy ground beef tacos. Another crowd-pleaser is the grilled Anaheim pepper taco with a choice of protein and melted cheese. Housemade horchata with an ideal creamy, sweet blend headlines the beverage offerings.
What do your guests say about the birria?
GUILLERMO ALVAREZ: Our customers believe and often tell me that we have the best in town; many of them try it elsewhere and often say ours is better, and I agree with them. I think it’s the way we cook the meat, always for seven hours and with many special ingredients. The shell is always crispy and crunchy, and the meat and melted mozzarella inside combine to make it just delicious. The consommé has classic bold flavor and the touch of lime finishes it perfectly.
How did your background set you up for success?
Working around town at both restaurants and grocery stores gave me the opportunity to watch and learn how the businesses were run. Being a produce manager taught me a lot, like how to interact with customers and provide exceptional customer service, which I found I really enjoyed and is part of what inspired me to open The Real Taco. And working in restaurants taught me the culinary side of the business and how to make really good food.
Grammy-nominated musical artist Jai Uttal returns after two decades to the Rio Theatre, playing Saturday, Sept. 27 with his band, The Pagan Love Orchestra.
This rare showing comes at a time when Uttal is getting his house in order, literally.
“The Santa Cruz show is kind of a one-off, because we, my wife and I, just moved from the Bay Area to Grass Valley,” Uttal says from his new home. “I’m going to be doing a small tour at the end of October. But this is more like a return to Santa Cruz. I used to live there, and I haven’t played in Santa Cruz [without The Pagan Love Orchestra] since before the pandemic.”
In 1997, Uttal brought forth his vision of The Pagan Love Orchestra. It was/is a mash-up of myriad styles of music, including Indian music, rock, jazz, reggae, ska, samba and jazz. The band has had up to a dozen members—and Uttal, who is himself classically trained on the piano, only works with the best.
“My idea, you could call it a vision, came out of places that I’ve been to in India,” says Uttal, who has traveled the world sharing his music.
“In the villages, in the mountains particularly, there would be gatherings, and all these people would come together. I also saw it in Bengal, in West Bengal, where people, all these people, would get together and they all knew the same songs. But they all knew them slightly differently, and they just didn’t care and would play all these beautiful songs together. That was kind of the original vision for The Pagan Love Orchestra,” Uttal reflects.
THE WEAVE Uttal absorbs the influences around him and spins them into a new fabric. PHOTO: Contributed
The now silver-haired composer took the concepts and structures of devotional songs, and spiritual songs, and to ensure that his band kept things loose, they would only rehearse once. Since the first album with The Pagan Love Orchestra, Shiva Station in 1997, the band has evolved.
“I think I was a little too controlling at first,” Uttal admits. “As we evolved, I became less controlling and more honoring and respectful, and grateful, of the incredible musical talents working with me.”
When questioned about what the goal is in his music, Uttal is quick to answer, “It’s about having more spaciousness, more love and more compassion.”
At the Santa Cruz show, the arrangements are like a “loose sarong,” Uttal explains. “A loose shirt over a skeleton. The arrangement is the skeleton, but everything else is very fluid. And the songs themselves are all Kirtan call-and-response, chanting songs. They’re mantra songs. But there’s nothing monotonous about it.”
Kirtan is the thousands-of-years-old style of devotional call-and-response. Listening to Uttal, whose voice sounds like a Middle Eastern Bob Dylan, it’s easy to get swept up in the music, and find that one’s mind quiets. It’s like yoga for the brain. An antidote to the million miles a second constant rush we find ourselves in.
Uttal is an artist who absorbs the influences around him and spins them into a new fabric. Like a weaver whose loom contains yarn of all the different genres of music, The Pagan Love Orchestra is a psychedelic dashiki.
The music also acts as a vehicle to another space. “Whether it’s a solo concert or a concert with a full band, I’m inviting that transporting energy for myself and for the audience. I invite the audience to respond to my singing, to sing back to me. So it’s very interactional,” says the musical time traveler.
It’s truly the magic of music that it is able to transport you to another place—but so much depends on the intention of the band. In the case of Jai Uttal, the intention is transcendence.
“It’s like a wave comes over us and transports us to someplace that’s not like someplace we’ve ever been,” Uttal tries to explain. “It’s not someplace we’re ever going to be at again. It’s not nostalgic. It’s not recreating a previous experience. It’s a wave of unity.”
Once the dust settles from the uprooting and replanting, and with over 20 albums in his catalogue, there is a new live album on the horizon. “I’m just kind of still figuring it all out. like, okay, where’s the silverware?” Uttal laughs.
Jai Uttal and The Pagan Love Orchestra will play at 8pm on Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $30. Find more information at riotheatre.com.
Salt might be the new album by Santa Cruz four-piece psychedelic surf outfit, Trestles, but don’t let that fool you. Some of these songs hail from the time of their 2022 debut, Halfway Up the Hill.
“There are songs as old as that,” confirms lead singer and guitar player Hunter Kelly. “And then there are songs that were written a week before they were recorded. It was an ongoing project. Not all the songs were written in the studio and a lot were scrapped along the way.”
To celebrate their long-awaited sophomore full-length, Trestles is throwing a record release show at the Catalyst on Saturday, Sept. 27 with friends Career Woman and Ladders. For the latter of the two bands, this will be a reunion show since Ladders’ indefinite hiatus in 2023.
“We desperately begged them,” laughs Trestles drummer Malena Clark. She says that, coincidentally, all of the members of Ladders were planning to be in town the weekend of the show. The two bands essentially “grew up” in the local scene together and often played shows with one another around town.
“It only felt right,” she says. “This is one of our biggest shows in town so it feels right doing it with the people we started with.”
On the day of the show, Collective Santa Cruz is hosting a pre-listening party at Humble Sea—where patrons can also purchase one of four different vinyl record variants of Salt—along with an after party (details on Collective’s Instagram).
Formed in 2020, Trestles fits into a Santa Cruz music scene dubbed “Santa Cruz surf punk” by Grammy-winning music producer Jim Wirt of Santa Cruz Recording Studios, who recorded and produced Salt. Along with Trestles and Ladders, other bands include Sluttony (now located in Los Angeles), Career Woman, Hearsing and several others that hit the ground running playing live shows shortly after the Covid-19 lockdowns lifted.
Earlier this year, Sean Rusev wrote a cover story for GT about the frantic nature of survival for these bands in a rapidly changing, ever-expensive beach town that heavily featured Trestles and their back story. So for those who haven’t read it, bookmark this article, go check it out, then come back. … OK, got the history? Good. And we continue…
After the release of Halfway Up the Hill, Trestles wanted to keep the momentum going, knowing they would be back in the studio to record another full-length. So last February they dropped the Postcard EP as a way to remind fans they aren’t going anywhere.
However, it also served as a great segue between Halfway and Salt, maintaining the fun, upbeat feeling of the former while introducing fans to a bit of the band’s darker side with songs like “The Beach Betrayed Me.”
“[Salt] is a darker album than before,” Kelly says. “Think of it like a book: the plot and setting have stayed the same—we get to live in California and beach town life is good—but it’s a little more cynical lyrically and takes a look at the negative side of having fun all the time.”
The newest single, “Babylon,” or the unreleased “Get a Grip” are examples of these more mature, darker songs in the band’s repertoire. Don’t get it twisted: Salt is still a fast-paced, catchy album from start to finish that’s as infectiously addicting as a fresh bag of chips. It’s impossible to just listen to one track, or even the album in its entirety, only one time.
“Hunter did a really good job on the lyrics for ‘Babylon,’” says bassist Sophia Wall. “It’s groovy but I also think it’s in the direction we’re going toward.”
“Defintely,” agrees Clark. “We also have more punk songs. ‘Get A Grip’ is really fast, hard and fun to play live. I have a great time with that one!”
But for rhythm guitar player Jackson Jones, it’s with the older songs that he finds more satisfaction. Like the album’s third single, “Esplanade.”
“Hunter had that riff and I thought, ‘Oh, we have to do something with that,’” he explains. “But It took years to finish and every couple of months we wrote new parts for it. We were going to debut it at a Catalyst show years ago but it had a weird jam at the end we ended up scrapping.”
For now, Trestles is gearing up to complete the end of their album release tour with a few select dates after they rock the Catalyst. They say they’ll most likely announce a few more sprinkled in, and after a nice holiday break, they’ll be ready to roll up their sleeves once more.
“It’s time to start working again,” Clark says.
Trestles is playing three shows Saturday, Sept. 27: 11am–5pm at Humble Sea Brewing Co. (820 Swift St.); 8–11pm at the Catalyst with openers Ladders and Career Woman (1011 Pacific Ave.; $28.88); and 11pm at Santa Cruz Recording (1305 Fair Ave.).
Shortly after waiting out the pandemic, the Lone Bellow found new life and inspiration by commandeering Roy Orbison’s former home at Old Hickory Lake just outside of Nashville for eight weeks during which the quintet recorded Love Songs for Losers, the band’s fifth full-length album.
Recording in Orbison’s former abode provided for its share of surreal moments, especially for Elmquist, who stayed overnight after members of his family contracted COVID-19. (They’re fine now.)
“There was one morning at about 4 o’clock in the morning where I swore that Roy Orbison touched me on the hand,” Elmquist recalled. “It was really spooky, living in this 6,000-square-foot cabin. Even with friends there, it was spooky.”
And while the specter of the late rock and roll icon may have provided some paranormal nuance to the proceedings, it was the self-described “band camp at Orbison’s house” vibe that made for a singular recording experience. It all stemmed from Elmquist rhetorically asking, “Wouldn’t it be nice to write a whole record of love songs?” shortly after the band was done with Half Moon Light. Although it’s not to say that living on top of each other for two months didn’t create some sparks.
“There has to be friction or you can’t make good things—the friction is what makes the good stuff,” Elmquist explained. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. There were some throw-down moments. We’ve had worse—let’s just say that. I really think everybody knew what their role was and just set their mind to it. When we first started talking about this, I was talking to the manager and I didn’t know if it was going to be good or bad because it could go both ways. It was honestly the easiest and most inspiring time to make the record because we got in that space. We moved the studio there and it was free. It was incredible to be able to do that.”
Don’t expect to hear ditties about chasing women, tooling around in a tricked-out pick-up truck or knocking back six-packs. For this go-round, songs like “Gold,” “Cost of Living” and “Wherever Your Heart Is” deal with grown-up topics like opioid addiction, loss and devotion respectively. The complex subject matter for which The Lone Bellow has become known is something Williams proudly affirms as being the key to his band’s persona.
“I have a really hard time defining myself or my band,” he said. “The songs that we write are usually not great for pop radio—I know that.”
While prior albums found the band working with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (2017’s Walk Into a Storm) and Aaron Dessner of The National (2015’s Then Came the Morning and 2020’s Half Moon Light), The Lone Bellow chose to have Elmquist and Jacob Sooter collaborate on the lion’s share of production work. Williams was also grateful to bring Pipkin and Dorio into the recording process.
“Just using our actual band and drummer—it was just a really inspiring and great time,” he said. “Whenever we would use another producer, there’d always be this conversation where the producer would say, ‘You know, I have this drummer that I really like.’ And we’d be like, ‘Okay.’ We’ve had the same band on the road, especially our drummer, for several years now, so we wanted to feel that mojo in the studio.”
For TLB, a major part of the secret sauce in the group’s success is playing live and connecting with their audience. That exchange will happen plenty of times as The Lone Bellow tours the United States this year.
“I can tell you what’s most important to us at live shows is trying to be in the moment,” Elmquist said. “And feeling the energy of what’s going on in the room and what’s not going on and just trying to be aware of that. We find it an honor that people get babysitters, pay for tickets and make a real night out of coming out to see us play our songs and we hope that they become their songs.
“I don’t think it’s weird to say that we have to protect what we do because we get into a room with people and it’s such a privilege to be able to do it,” he said. “People take the time to see us play and sit for a few hours and we don’t take that lightly. It’s kind of the deal we made with them—if they keep coming, we keep coming. It’s always new. You play a song 1,000 times, but it’s always new because of the people that have made it their songs now.”
And as much as any group, the Lone Bellow are appreciating their ability to tour as normal again after the COVID 19 pandemic.
Like many of their peers, the Nashville-by-way-of-Brooklyn outfit did some streaming to connect with fans before deciding to kick it up a notch by booking a number of Northeast drive-in dates in late 2021, where fans traveled by car to a drive-in and TLB played on stages where movie screen would normally be. And while the initial thought would be that this would be the next best thing to a regular concert experience, for Williams and Elmquist, it turned out to be quite the peculiar and unpleasant experience.
“It sucked real bad and I’d love to never have to play to car windows again for sure,” Williams said. “You’re not allowed to honk so when a song finished, it was just headlights flashing.”
Elmquist added, “People clap with their lights—it’s really weird.”
The Lone Bellow plays at 8pm on Sept. 25 at the Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $35. feltonmusichall.com
Havana-born pianist Dayramir Gonzales boasts a sterling pedigree. He began his musical journey at age 16 as a member of Diákara, the Afro-Cuban jazz outfit led by Oscar Valdés. Gonzales released his debut Dayramir & Habana enTRANCe in 2007, winning several awards. Attending Berklee on a Presidential Scholarship, he graduated summa cum laude in 2013. A veteran of high profile performances at venues including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, he continues to return to Cuba to play the annual Jazz Plaza Festival. Gonzales is at the forefront of contemporary artists infusing today’s jazz with the lively musical traditions of his native country. BILL KOPP
INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $40-$42. 427-2227.
AMERICANA
THE LONE BELLOW
The word vulnerable gets tossed around a lot these days. The Lone Bellow earn the descriptor. Founded when Zach Williams took the journal he was keeping while caring for his wife who was recovering from a serious horse-riding accident. He learned to play the guitar so that he could add music to his words. The core trio, often joined by additional musicians, trades off on vocal duties, harmonizing beautifully over three guitars strumming for an emotionally rich, sincere and vulnerable example of Americana. KEITH LOWELL JENSEN
The Prince is giving a ball! Finish sweeping the floors and find the most elegant gowns because the show is about to start. The lovely Cinderella must leave by midnight. The Scotts Valley Performing Arts presents the Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. This timeless fairy tale has been told countless times. Even so, the contemporary twist and iconic, original music added to this version breathe new life into the story. This musical continues to fill audiences with magic, love, and hope as they watch Cinderella and the Prince fall for each other. Goes until Oct 12th. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
INFO: 7pm, The Landing, 251B Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley. $33.42. 566-9411.
REGGAE
BIG MOUNTAIN
Radiating with love and gratitude, reggae band Big Mountain brings their melodic, bubbly melodies and uplifting words to the stage with renowned releases like “Baby Touch my Light,” and their cover of Peter Frampton’s “Baby, I Love Your Way.” Though the lineup has been through a series of changes, frontman, Joaquin “Quino” McWhinney, has kept a passion for reggae and a joyful stage presence since the band’s creation in 1991. Big Mountain boasts international reputation, having performed at Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica, Hornbill Festival in India, and Pol’and’Rock in Poland. SHELLY NOVO
Clem Snide sounds like a stage moniker, but so does the given name of the artist, born Eef Barzelay. His songcraft has variously been characterized as indie rock and alt-country, but at his core, Snide is a singer-songwriter. He’s a prolific one as well, with 17 albums and five EPs to his credit. Snide’s lyrics—as showcased on the newest album, Oh Smokey (released September 2024)—explore themes such as God and death. It’s a slow burn of a record, one designed for close, contemplative listening. And that approach is well applied to Clem Snide’s live shows as well. Rye Valley opens. BK
Rick Walker is a drummer, percussionist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who was a major player in the world music/fusion scene that blew up in the ’80s and ’90s, but perhaps his biggest cultural contribution has been his early adoption of live looping. He founded the International Live Looping Festival, now in its 25th year, and himself been performing and recording with loops generated and layered on the spot, for over 30 years. He has created new hardware and software for himself and fellow loopers to utilize as they chase the ultimate collaboration of electronic music and improvisational ingenuity. KLJ
INFO: 8:30pm, Indexical, 1050 River St. #119, Santa Cruz. $16. (509) 627-9491.
SUNDAY 9/28
ROCK
FREAK FEST
Dubbed “An Evening of Strange, Wonderful Music” (with a really killer psychedelic poster to boot), Freak Fest features five of Santa Cruz’s most eclectic young bands: Carabeza, Mutt, Kook and Rio and the Soup. The headliners, Red 40, are the newest on the scene and have already made huge waves for themselves playing house shows around town. They’ve even already played the main stage at the Catalyst earlier this year, a feat that takes most bands years to accomplish. And it’s no wonder, their heavy, metal infused psych sound is like if Mr. Bungle, Primus and Black Flag had a baby then left it to “go get cigarettes” and never returned. MAT WEIR
INFO: 7pm, Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $19-$24. 713-5492.
DARK FOLK
WAUL OF THE WEALD
One of the more unexpected metal subgenres is what can only be described as forest folk. Think a medieval bard strumming his lyre, while smoking a pipe underneath a canopy deep within the woods of time. Yeah, it’s like that. It’s the type of music that can be enjoyed by the elderly, Renaissance Faire enthusiasts and metalheads clad in black leather jackets with armored plating. Turn to The Jury Room this Sunday to see what all the clamor is about when local drone flutist Dean Fraser, Portland’s “darky hypnotic psych folk” Catal Huyuk and Whitehorn, California’s Waul of the Weald play mystic ballads. MW
Paying tribute to traditional mariachi music, while celebrating and creating its future, Mariachi Herencia De Mexico has made its mark with five chart-topping albums and two Latin Grammy nominations. Beginning in Chicago and performing across North America, this band performs with vibrance and technical poise. Fourteen musicians aged 18 to 32 electrify audiences with their sharp percussion, piercing and rich vocals, and singing strings. Mariachi has deep roots in Guadalajara and Mexico City, and many of these young talents have studied under and played with grandparents and relatives who passed the tradition down to them. SN
INFO: 7:30pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $47. 423-8209.
For almost one hundred years, La Bahia Apartments was ground zero for the most legendary parties, soirees and quinceañeras. Legends persist of the dubious bell tower encryptions, hauntings and the “vibe.” Ask just about anyone who grew up in Santa Cruz, and they have a La Bahia story.
The original La Bahia Apartments, that 1926 plaster of Paris, architecturally Spanish/Italian, secret Bohemian enclave (that many thought was a mission) was a rare sanctuary for students, families, dogs, artists, refugees and the socially maladjusted. As well as a home to thousands and thousands of young people from around the world, including lucky Santa Cruzans.
For those in the know, La Bahia, even in the 1980s, was already undergoing hard times. The constant saltwater mist of the bay had eroded the facade over the decades and anything that was metal became corroded with a fluorescent green oxidation. Also, an odd black mycelium inhabited the framework. I thought wires were sticking out of my ceiling in room 302. Nope. It was mushrooms.
VINTAGE B&W train from a photo in the hallway at the Boardwalk. Photo: Beach Boardwalk archives
Some days are diamonds
When I got hired by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in 2008, it was obvious La Bahia’s “best days” were behind it. And yet it was exactly that decomposition, with winding pathways through pungent blooming magnolias, that imbued the physical space with magical charm. Early in the morning, when all was quiet, the courtyard filled with tapered fog and the echoing sound of seals bounced off the mosaic tiles. That courtyard had an ability to transport and lift up the spirits.
I worked out of the SCBB Human Resources Department for a decade. I was specifically involved with the legion of workers who were there under the J1 International Student Visa. Every year, upwards of 300,000 international students descend on the United States to work. Most have to choose between work at state parks, resorts or amusement parks, with the Boardwalk being a highly valued, and talked about, summer workplace.
For six months a year, La Bahia was filled to the brim with students from around the world, ages 19 to 24. Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Jamaica, Singapore, Romania, Mongolia—you name it. Every summer was like an episode of International Big Brother.
REHAB The long teardown begins pre-COVID in 2020. Photo: DNA
Some days are rocks
Tudor George Croitor came from Romania to work at the SCBB, and lived in La Bahia during the summer of 2014. “I was sitting in front of La Bahia on a bench, with my friend from Poland,” says new dad Croitor, from his home in Romania.
“We were enjoying the ocean breeze, and talking about how the corner market raised its price of a can of beer, 30 cents, in one day. All of a sudden, a naked guy is in front of La Bahia and starts talking gobbledygook. We locked his arms behind his back until the police came. Later, DNA came out and told us not to touch crazy naked people. Good advice, I suppose,” Croitor laughs. He called the entire experience living at La Bahia a “fever dream.”
Some doors are open
Joanne Purdy Guzman, co-owner of Bruno’s Restaurant in Scotts Valley (with husband Rogelio), grew up in La Bahia. “My mom, Lois, was the property manager since the early ’90s and lived in that iconic three-story unit with the giant picture windows [aka the command center]. I lived right across the deck with a built-in TV screen—also known as an unobstructed view of the ocean, the beach, and endless people-watching gold. Honestly, the deck was better than anything Netflix has ever produced,” Guzman says.
From Romania to Scotts Valley, there’s a certain tone of voice when people reminisce about La Bahia. It was more than just a building. It was a safe gated space where young people, just off back-to-back, all day/night shifts, at SCBB, could let their hair down. Which could only mean one thing.
La Bahia was ground zero for parties.
And my job was to shut down parties.
CAMP BAHIA The reluctant party-pooper, dead center, surrounded by guest workers from 23 countries. Photo: DNA
Some roads are blocked
I lived with 100 different international students, each year, in La Bahia. The other 100 were scattered amongst Beach Flats, and would drift to La Bahia at night. Everyone in the program was part of my roster. We co-existed, we mingled and we looked out for each other (at least that’s what I tried to teach them).
I worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week, sometimes. And every day was different. My ADHD brain was in heaven.
The first two years, I worked solo-ish (my immediate supervisor, Q, was my lifeline when things got unhinged—she was on speed dial).
My job included weekly trips to Safeway (for all 200), getting their rooms ready with beds and accoutrements, making sure they arrived safely, finding them when they were lost en route, orientation to their new life, waking them up if they were late for work, mail, taking them to the hospital, fixing whatever was broken (if possible), bedside pep talks when depression was noticed, ombudsman when apartments got tense, and the aforementioned shutting down of parties.
My back bedroom window faced what was constructed as a vecindad. A place to gather. During my first weekend, the noise coming from the courtyard was more than a din; it was approaching a roar. I had been told to “shut down parties” but without an instruction manual. I had heard horror stories of other people who held my position. The first night, I closed all my windows, turned up my stereo, and made believe I lived alone.
Second night, 1am, I balled up and headed out into the courtyard. A good 150 people made up of local boardwalk employees, new friends and international students were mingling. Jamaicans were dancing in the gigantic banyan tree. A Macedonian was on the tiled roof of the apartments and yelling, “DNA. In my country, parties do not start until one!”
A frosty keg was on the interior steps and was pumping out full red cups at a high velocity. I will not degrade this article with the vulgarity that came out of my mouth—nor do I relish that it was directed at somebody who was only trying to have a good time—but was it effective? Yes. It was like I poured a ton of sand on a raging bonfire.
I have been called a “party-pooper” in almost every language.
Sundowns are golden
Santa Cruz’s Psychedelic Laureate, David Jay Brown, recalls his times at the infamous party place. “The La Bahia was where legendary writer Peter Stafford—author of the classic Psychedelics Encyclopedia—used to live,” Brown says. “I used to hang out there regularly when I first moved to Santa Cruz during the 1980s. When Peter was low on cash to pay his rent he used to post posters for his lectures on “How to Use Psychedelics Intelligently” (that he held in his home) all over Santa Cruz. Dozens of people used to show up, donating money, turning his apartment into a wild party each time,” Brown laughs.
In 1987 you might have found legendary writer R.U. Sirius, or Robert Forte, author of Entheogens and the Future of Religion, or Bruce Eisner, author of Ecstasy: The MDMA Story, or even David Jay Brown talking to the fish in the koi pond. It was a genuine cluster of literate psychedelia. Which explains why La Bahia sometimes acted as a strange attractor, and a non-locational time-phasing TARDIS.
BALLIN’ Work and Travel assistants Doug and Luke Haight showing the La Bahia b-ball team their new ‘uniforms.’ Photo: DNA
Then fade away
Tourists would always come in and ask what La Bahia was. I was more than happy to show them room 412. The Clint Eastwood room, where Dirty Harry stayed in the movie Sudden Impact—spurring his most famous catch phrase, “Go ahead, make my day.” But mostly I looked after the two thousand J1-ers who walked the alabaster hallways.
My techniques evolved from yelling to weekly newsletters that spelled out where parties should be held (the beach). For the ten years I was living there, a palpable electricity ran through that building. It might have been faulty wiring. But everyone will tell you it was more than that. La Bahia was special.
And if I never do nothing
The cultural differences made acceptable workplace behavior challenging at times. Because HR tended to be almost all women, I was often brought in to advocate for male employees who were under investigation for improper sexual comments.
Vlad swore to me that the only thing he said to his manager at the Boardwalk was “balls.”
“I said balls, she said balls. Balls, balls, balls. Big deal,” said Vlad.
Surrounded by the entire HR team, Vlad and I awaited the accounting of this ball talk. “You have several complaints against you,” the top HR boss said.
This didn’t bode well for Team Ball. “Vlad, Your manager says you crept up behind her, and whispered in her ear, that you, I quote, ‘have a large penis and would like to put it on her back,’ end quote.”
We lost that case and Vlad went back to Ballgaria.
GOOD OL’ DAZE Summer 1984, David Jay Brown and author Peter Stafford (author of the Psychedelics Encyclopedia) in La Bahia. Photo: DNA
And if I never do nothing
Other times were more transcendent. Ileana from Romania was lithe, almost ethereal and feeling very sick. In the waiting room at Dominican Hospital, it was obvious that her English was only good enough to just get by. She was tense. I pulled out my phone and started showing her pictures of Romania. Her face lit up, and the knot in her chest subsided. We looked at digital pictures and laughed. She was 6,000 miles from home, but for a little while it felt like she was with family.
I’m coming back some day
“Every third weekend in July, we’d wake up to the sounds of slamming porta-potties (an underrated alarm clock) as the Wharf to Wharf crowds, thousands of people, assembled right outside our windows. From that perch, we witnessed epic storms, rogue waves, police chases, wandering musicians, dramatic tourists, lost UCSC students, and the full spectrum of humanity—fanny packs and all. It was live theater, and we had front-row seats every day,” Guzman recalls with pride.
Even walls fall down
Whatever original firmament that still might exist of La Bahia, held together with mycelium spores and seaweed, no longer holds the tales, the journeys, the epic parties and transformed lives that inhabited its sacred walls, for decades.
La Bahia is dead, long live La Bahia.
DNA is an author, comedian, and filmmaker. Find out more at votedna.com
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When I got hired by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in 2008, it was obvious La Bahia’s “best days” were behind it. And yet it was exactly that decomposition, with winding pathways through pungent blooming magnolias, that imbued the physical space with magical charm.
