Page 635 – Good Times

Love Your Local Band: Rob Ramo Y CaliGente

Aaron Carnes

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April 30, 2019

Love Your Local Band: Rob Ramo Y CaliGente

Santa Cruz rapper Rab Ramo was in New York when his father, Tom Ehrlich, connected him with salsa singer Frankie Vazquez to sing a hook on one of his songs.

Vasquez suggested he get some live instruments and work with producer Dave Feliciano. Ramo had been making more standard hip-hop beats but was anxious to incorporate some of the salsa, jazz, funk, and Puerto Rican music his parents raised him on. Feliciano was the perfect producer to guide him in that direction.

“He was raised in the salsa era, but also as hip-hop was being created,” Ramo says. “He was a couple generations behind me, but he had similar influences.”

They were calling the music they were making sancocho, which is a Puerto Rican stew that has every kind of meat—kind of a Puerto Rican gumbo. “I feel like my music is like that. A salsa-Puerto Rican base and hip-hop. But we use all the different kinds of music.”

Things went so well that the one-song recording session turned into an entire album, Two Coasts, Un Sol, which Ramo released in September of 2017.

He was back in Santa Cruz when he released the album, and as he was picking players for a live band, he focused on keeping it grounded in Puerto Rican music. He calls the band CaliGente, and it’s now a big part of his sound.

“It’s always going to have a fusion, but with the main roots being Puerto Rican music and hip-hop,” Ramo says.

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $8 adv/$12 door. 479-1854.

Staff of Life Celebrates 50 Years

Christina Waters

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April 30, 2019

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Hardly possible, I said to myself as I read the banner stretched across the front of the Soquel Avenue Staff of Life Natural Food Market. Fifty years! To celebrate this milestone in organic foods, authentic pastries and right livelihood, Staff of Life is throwing itself an anniversary party on May 18.

Come join the fun, which will include live music, BBQ, beer and wine tastings, raffles, free samples, and all things Santa Cruz. Congratulations to organic pioneers Richard Josephson and Gary Bascou, who started it all back when the words “vegan” and “gluten-free” had little relevance, if any. I can still taste those incomparable and huge sunflower seed cookies that often served as breakfast.

In the early days, the idea of a full butcher and seafood counter was unthinkable, and now it’s bountiful and state-of-the-art. There was no alt-makeup section, but there has always been plenty of bulk grains, nuts and flours, along with boundless incense offerings. Think of the changes Staff has seen in its half-century from 1969 (a year when everybody was a hippie, or at least pretended to be) to 2019!

Staff of Life’s 50th anniversary party will happen 12:30-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. Staff of Life Natural Food Market, 1266 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. 423-8632, staffoflifemarket.com.

Playin’ Chicken

Kickin’ Chicken does some outrageous cooking—and perhaps, given the kim chee-BBQ chicken and waffles—the ultimate fusion food. At least that was my take away last week, when the al fresco chefs set up shop at the entrance of Birichino’s wine tasting room. The aromas, the flavors, the crunchy textures—it was all good. And the scent was seductive. I caved for an impromptu order of Chicken Rillettes, served with a lavish side of hot-and-crispy chicken skin ($12). (Anyone who’s spent even an hour at a train station cafe in France knows about rillettes, the French version of high-octane, country-style paté.)

Paired with a glass of the very newly released methode champenoise sparkling Chenin Blanc by Birichino, it made for a memorable sensory delight. My compliments to KC chef and entrepreneur Daniel Mendoza, whose watchword is “from the fryer to your couch.” Currently cookin’ out of Motiv, these folks cater, deliver and pop up at some of the smartest places in the greater Santa Cruz area.

kickinchickensc.com.

Walkin’ the Walk

A moveable feast, or at least a walkable sip, can be yours at the Downtown Santa Cruz Wine Walk on Sunday, May 12, from 3-6 p.m. Some of the top oeno-flavors from the Santa Cruz Mountains can be sampled during this strollfest among the shops and sidewalks of downtown Santa Cruz. The concept is simple. Those who want to visit the various pouring locations first stop in at Soif Wine Bar & Merchants at 105 Walnut Ave. That’s the registration point where you can purchase your $40 pass, pick up your tasting glass and a map of the pouring sites. Registration check-in opens at 2:30 p.m. (and closes at 4:30 p.m.). If you purchase tickets online, the advance price is $35. And yes, you must be 21+ to take part. eventbrite.com.

Pastry of the Week

The ethereal GF Carrot Cake from Manresa Bread, available at Verve locations throughout Santa Cruz ($4). The word “tumescent” was invented for this light, addictively flavorful, buttery little tea cake, shaped into a miniature round cake and studded with spices and walnuts. Large enough that it can serve as a midday second breakfast, even if you share it with someone else. Truly an inspired partner to a cup of coffee, this is a glorious morning pastry, moist and light with a gossamer crumb.

Film Review: ‘The Chaperone’

Lisa Jensen

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April 30, 2019

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She’s not much remembered these days, but Louise Brooks was one of the brightest stars in Hollywood’s silent movie era.

Back when the ’20s first began to roar, Brooks—with her shiny black, bobbed hair and insouciant attitude—became the onscreen icon of the bold new post-World War I woman. Her look and style were copied by a generation of fans, and when her studio declined to increase her salary to keep pace with her popularity, she was snapped up by German filmmaker G. W. Pabst for career-defining roles in Pandora’s Box and Diary of a Lost Girl.

There is only a hint of Louse Brooks, the movie star-to-be, in The Chaperone. But her presence animates this fond, fact-based, yet lightly fictionalized tale of the teenaged Brooks creating her showbiz persona during a summer in New York City. The film’s title refers to the more conservative matron charged with shepherding her to the big city from their Midwestern home. She’s the one ripe for epiphany, but it’s the portrait of the coltish Brooks eager for life that gives the movie its moments of dazzle.

The Chaperone’s pedigree is impressive: scriptwriter Julian Fellowes and director Michael Engler have worked together on TV’s Downton Abbey, and the upcoming movie version. (The story is adapted from the 2012 novel by Laura Moriarty.) Star Elizabeth McGovern, another Downton veteran, also co-produced. It’s the first feature film production from PBS Masterpiece.

In the spring of 1922, in Wichita, Kansas, Norma Carlisle (McGovern) joins other society matrons for a piano recital by one of their own, Mrs. Brooks (Victoria Hill), featuring a dance by her daughter, Louise (Haley Lu Richardson). The girl has just been accepted into the summer dance program of the renowned Denishawn modern dance troupe in New York City, and her mother is looking for a chaperone to accompany her. Although she doesn’t know the family well, Norma volunteers; she’s eager to get out of Wichita for awhile, for reasons that gradually become clear.

Norma and Louise gush that they’re sure to become great friends. But on the train, Norma finds herself taken aback by the teenager’s frank talk and carelessly flirty ways. When Norma tries to impart worldly advice — “Men don’t like candy that’s been unwrapped”— Louise bursts out laughing. “Really?” she chortles. She’s not being catty; she finds Norma’s provincialism sort of precious.

Still, Norma provides support and encouragement as Louise learns the ropes at Denishawn—and learns to navigate the friction her presence causes between its co-founders, the imperious Ruth St. Denis (Miranda Otto) and her partner, Ted Shawn (Robert Fairchild). Meanwhile, Norma has her own agenda; adopted off an orphan train to the Midwest as a young child, she’s searching for her birth mother at the Catholic church where her records are kept.

The real-life Brooks did intern at the Denishawn school (with a chaperone in tow) before joining the company for two years en route to Hollywood. But Norma is a fictional character whose story can be problematic. (The resolution of a conflict with her husband (Campbell Scott), also involving a soulful German handyman she meets at the church (Géza Rohrig), is both a charming exercise in wish-fulfillment and utterly ridiculous.)

McGovern’s flat Midwestern accent is also a bit strident at times, but her Norma engages us with her adventurous spirit and determination to grow and adapt. That she’s just pliable enough in her sense of what’s proper behavior makes her an interesting foil for the ever-questing, boundary-pushing Louise. Richardson manages to strike a credible note between sassy, assumed worldliness and youthful vulnerability as Louise. She’s so much fun, you might wish the movie spent less time on Norma’s subplots and more on the relationship between Norma and Louise.

Still, it’s an entertaining look at a culture in transition (complete with gorgeous period costumes by Candice Donnelly). And it captures some of the reckless spirit that Louise Brooks would hone onscreen during the next decade of her brief but memorable career.

THE CHAPERONE

*** (out of four)

With Elizabeth McGovern and Haley Lu Richardson. Written by Julian Fellowes. Directed by Michael Engler. From the book by Laura Moriarty. A PBS release. Not rated. 103 minutes.

Be Our Guest: Chromeo

Aaron Carnes

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April 30, 2019

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Canadians Dave 1 and P-Thugg have made a career out of getting funky.

Their duo Chromeo draws from synth-pop, disco and blue-eyed soul. All their songs ride a weird line of being feel good, dance-pop, silly, self-aware, and upbeat music. Nothing wrong with that.

The duo are clearly having fun on stage every time they groove for the audience. They come to Catalyst this time around, leaving their instruments at home and bringing a DJ set. It’s sure to be just as groove-tastic. The new king of ’80s electro-funk, Dam Funk, opens with his own DJ set.

INFO: 9 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25 adv/$28 door. Information: catalystclub.com.

WANT TO GO?

Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

Overheard at Santa Cruz’s Biggest Homeless Camp

Lauren Hepler

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April 26, 2019

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Overheard at Santa Cruz’s Biggest Homeless Camp

On the afternoon before the fate of her adopted home will be decided by a judge, Desieire Quintero takes a break to slice open an M&M candy bar with the buck knife she keeps on her hip.

It’s been five months since Quintero and a small band of others moved to the sliver of public land between Highway 1 and the Ross discount store on the fringe of downtown Santa Cruz. She and some other homeless residents say that law enforcement told them to move there last fall, after a wildfire broke out in the area where they used to live in the Pogonip forest near UCSC.

LIFE OUTSIDE Residents estimate that up to 250 people have called the Ross Camp home, creating a need for cleaning shifts and organization. — **LIFE OUTSIDE** Residents estimate that up to 250 people have called the Ross Camp home, creating a need for cleaning shifts and organization. PHOTO: LAUREN HEPLER

In recent weeks, residents estimate that the Ross Camp has peaked at around 250 people, plus tents, tarps, pets, and a wide array of other belongings. The group won an unexpected legal victory earlier this week, when a court granted a restraining order barring the city from shutting the camp down and moving residents to the familiar “benchlands” of San Lorenzo Park.

Ahead of a Friday court hearing to decide the fate of the Ross camp, GT spoke to residents about how they got there, what the space means to them and where they may go from here.

TROOP MOM Desiere Quintero, or "Mama Desi," says she worked as a firefighter and housekeeper before she and her son lost their home in Live Oak. PHOTO: LAUREN HEPLER — **CAMP MOM** Desieire Quintero, or “Mama Desi,” says she worked as a firefighter and housekeeper before she lost her home in Live Oak. PHOTO: LAUREN HEPLER

“I worked my butt off, you know, to raise my children, to put a roof over their heads, without no support from anybody except for my friends and my colleagues. Now I’m by myself, and I can’t afford to pay $3,000 a month for rent. It’s like maybe this is the purpose I was put here for. I don’t know. It’s better than being out there by yourself as far as I’m concerned. They fear us, but there’s nothing to fear.”

— Desieire Quintero

“It’s progress. Slowly but surely. Like I said, it’s a 24/7 job. You have individuals that do the midnight shift. You have individuals on the morning shift that are cleaning light debris, making paths through the tents or whatever. I was amazed how they did it.”

— Sonny Lopez

“I grew up without a family, really. The dysfunctional family I had, I was the grown up from a young age, like 7. I never really had a childhood, and I still haven’t had one. It doesn’t bother me, but I hate when grown ups act like kids and I can’t. You know what I’m sayin? That makes me jealous. It’s like you guys can sit on city council and argue with each other about what so-and-so said at lunch like little kids, but as soon as I start actin like one, everybody wants to call the police.”

— Michael Sweatt

“People have been very friendly. Can you please put that down? In the week that I’ve been here, people have been warm and welcoming. Supportive, I guess. People have really tried to make me feel—not accepted, but welcome. I was born here, but I don’t have a place to live here.”

— Michelle Parker

WHAT NEXT? A restraining order against the city of Santa Cruz granted to residents of the Ross homeless camp is posted throughout the camp site. — **WHAT NEXT?** A restraining order against the city of Santa Cruz granted to residents of the Ross homeless camp is posted on trash cans, portable toilets and other available space. PHOTO: LAUREN HEPLER

“There’s no out-of-the box thinking. This is Santa Cruz. Aren’t we artisans and shit? I was born in California, raised in L.A. My son was born here, at Dominican, and went to Scotts Valley High. If another person who’s been here for five years tells me that I can’t afford to live here, I’m gonna scream. Don’t tell me to move because you wanna live here and raise the rent.”

— Shannan Vudmaska

“You know, history is pretty cool. In like the 1900s, they had a tent city across from the Boardwalk. They had like 200 tents. Everybody living in a little tent with a little bed, a little nightstand, water, and a toilet. I dunno, I guess there wasn’t as much, like, drug abuse then, but if it worked back then, why wouldn’t it work now? Just let us do our job. It seems to me like people don’t really care.”

— Jeremy Barker

“I used to be a general contractor. Right now I’m trying to do some gardening with a high school buddy. It’s hard when you don’t have a truck and you don’t have the tools and stuff. We all have our stories of why we’re out here … It’s not so much the space as it is standing our ground, you know, and not being pushed around anymore. Feeling like an invisible entity that (the city) is getting money to deal with, and then they don’t want to deal with us. I’ve lived here almost all my life, at least 54 years of it.”

— Dan Moreno

“I mean I understand there’s no such thing as bad publicity, but this is no way to attract tourism.”

— Anonymous

Integrity Wines’ 2018 Pinot Grigio

Josie Cowden

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April 24, 2019

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Now here’s a just-released Pinot Grigio with some spunk. There’s nothing flabby or mundane about Integrity Wines’ 2018 Pinot Grigio from Monterey. Quite the opposite. This full-bodied, pale yellow wine has delightful notes of lemon rind and grapefruit, with a hint of white peach.

“It has refreshing salinity and delicate herbaceous aromas,” says Integrity winemaker and owner Mark Hoover. And on the palate, “bright and balanced acidity leads, along with tart Granny Smith apple skin, chalky minerality and a suggestion of almond skin.”

The spiciness in this Pinot Grigio makes it a good pairing with fresh seafood, chicken and capers in a light cream sauce, or a caprese salad. The mineral elements and dry finish also make this a great aperitif to enjoy on its own, Hoover says.

Integrity excels at making aromatic Pinot Grigio—and the price is right, too. I found this wine at Deer Park Wine & Spirits for $18. Situated in Deer Park Shopping Center near Deluxe Foods, this well-stocked liquor store has an impressive inventory of local wines.

Pinot Grigio is also called Pinot Gris, meaning “grey Pinot,” since the grapes are a pinkish-grey color, but the wine is actually white. There’s a lot of cheap Pinot Grigio out there, so beware of the mouth-puckering stuff and buy a well-made version such as Hoover’s. His modus operandi is all about integrity: “Integrity is not just about the wine itself,” he says on his label. “It’s about everyone who helped create this wine experience. It’s complete when we add you.”

Tasting room open noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Monday-Friday by appointment. Integrity Wines, 135 Aviation Way Suite 16, Watsonville. 322-4200, integrity.wine.com.

Pinot and Paella at Bargetto Winery

Bargetto Winery in Soquel will be serving up some tasty paella from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, and serving it with their delicious Pinot. The authentic Spanish paella will be prepared by Chef Fernando of Hola Paella, with a flawless execution that promise to be captivating.

Tickets $60. Contact 475-2258 ext. 10 for reservations, or email re**********@******to.com.

Tour Food History at Wilder Ranch

Jacob Pierce

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April 24, 2019

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This weekend, Wilder Ranch State Park will travel back to the early 1900s with Garden Planting and Wool Day on Saturday, plus ranch tours on both Saturday and Sunday.

Guests will help with garden planting and watch sheep shearing demonstrations on Saturday. On the tours, volunteer docents will demonstrate how the Wilder family lived 100-plus years ago, and what they may have eaten.

Wilder Ranch Interpreter Sky Biblin says that during cooking demonstrations, volunteers will serve tastes of old-fashioned fare, including baked goodies and fresh tortillas.

Did the Wilders eat tortillas?

SKY BIBLIN: There’s a diverse history here. When the California mission system was dismantled, we entered the Mexican period. The Castro family had a land grant here. There was a Russian citizen who jumped ship in Monterey and changed his name and converted to Catholicism. He married into the Castro family. This was the 1830s, and their adobe still stands. The tortilla making is done right next to that.

What goes into the heirloom garden?

We replicate things that would have been here back 100 years ago and use what’s available to us via donations, while also incorporating plants that have resilience to pests. We have some serious ground squirrels.

People sounded busy. When did they have time to catch up on Netflix?

Working on the ranch was a hard life—making a living here in this harsh environment. This really was the frontier. There was electricity only because they harnessed the power here. This was on the fringe of society. But when you go home at night, you’re a totally different person. It was the same thing here. Because they were successful and hard-working, they had luxuries that were not common in the day. If you go on a tour, you’ll see there’s a phonograph, and a player piano. They’ve got all these pictures of them playing around and dressing up their dog.

Garden Planting and Wool Day will run 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at Wilder Ranch, 1401 Coast Rd. Tours will be offered both Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28, at 1 p.m. The events are free. Parking is $10.

5 Things To Do This Week in Santa Cruz: April 24-30

GT Staff

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April 24, 2019

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5 Things To Do This Week in Santa Cruz: April 24-30

A weekly guide to what’s happening

Green Fix

Envision831 Spring Fest

This fundraiser for local nonprofit Save Our Shores will include food and drinks from local businesses like Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery, Primal Santa Cruz and Tacos El Chuy, plus live music by Bay Area-based Crawdad Republic and local talent like Eric Morrison and the Mysteries.

INFO: Noon-5 p.m. Sunday, April 28. Wrigley Building USGS Parking Lot, 2801 Mission St., Santa Cruz. envision831.com. $15 admission. Photo: Lilianne de la Espirella.

Art Seen

‘Naretoi’ Film Premier

Local filmmaker Kelsey Doyle is behind the magic of Naretoi, a film following a group of Maasai women’s expedition to the summit of Mt. Kenya at more than 16,300 feet. The Maasai tribe, located in parts of Kenya and Tanzania, is deeply rooted in patriarchal, polygamous culture. With that in mind, the film focuses on self-empowerment and sufficiency for women specifically. Naretoi means “women helping women” in Maasai, and the mountain symbolizes the challenges that women face in fighting an uphill battle to gain equality.

INFO: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25. Patagonia Santa Cruz, 415 River St. #C, Santa Cruz. 423-1776, naretoikenya.org. Free. Photo: Katie Sugarman.

Sunday 4/28

Pie for the People

Sure, Thanksgiving may be a ways away, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start testing and tasting pies for the holidays. Join the Homeless Garden Project in a community pie potluck that benefits the TransFamilies nonprofit. A great opportunity to try out new recipes or break out the ol’ faithful family pie, the community pie potluck welcomes all vegetarian sweet or savory pies. Don’t forget your own plate, utensils, napkins, and a cup.

INFO: 1-3 p.m. The Homeless Garden Project Farm, Shaffer Road at Delaware Avenue, Santa Cruz. pieforthepeople-santacruz.org. $5 donation suggested, plus a pie.

Saturday 4/27

Free Swim Lessons

Learning to swim is a critical part of every child’s life. Drowning is one of the main causes of accidental death—an average of 10 children drown every day, according to the Center for Disease Control. But many parents don’t put their kids in swimming lessons because they are often time-consuming and expensive. In light of this, Seahorse Swim School is offering free swimming lessons for anyone and everyone this spring. The lessons happen rain or shine.

INFO: 1-2 p.m. Seascape Sports Club, 1505 Seascape Blvd., Aptos. 476-7946, seahorseswimschool.com. Free.

Tuesday 4/23-Sunday 4/28

Earth Week at the Seymour Center

Earth Day has already passed, but the Seymour Center is stretching the day across a week. Learn more about our big, blue planet during the Seymour Center’s 2019 Earth Week celebration with special pop-up exhibits and arts and crafts. The celebration also includes free admission for anyone arriving via people power (bicycle, walking, etc.) or via public transportation.

INFO: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Seymour Marine Discovery Center, 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz. 459-3800, seymourcenter.ucsc.edu. $9 general admission.

Opinion: April 24, 2019

Steve Palopoli

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April 24, 2019

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EDITOR’S NOTE

A little while ago, I saw that Shane Mauss, a nationally known comedian whose stuff I’ve enjoyed for a long time, was coming to Santa Cruz with a psychedelics-themed stand-up show. Considering that we are home to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, I thought, “Oh, man, Santa Cruz is the perfect place for him to do that! I wonder if he knows about MAPS?”

In hindsight, I might not have looked like such a moron if I’d done a little research before I asked Mauss, “Hey, you’re coming to Santa Cruz with a psychedelics-themed stand-up show, do you know MAPS?”

Now, Mauss is a really nice guy, so he didn’t say what he was probably thinking, which might have been something like, “Hey, I’m coming to Santa Cruz with a psychedelics-themed stand-up show, of course I know about MAPS, ya dumbass!” Instead, he enthusiastically and not at all snarkily told me how MAPS had actually sponsored his 111-city tour of the show in 2016 and 2017, and how it played a big part in his new documentary on the subject, Psychonautics.

Mauss is a real rarity in today’s entertainment culture—a very funny guy who’s also an analytical thinker. Both his “Good Trip” drug-themed show and his “Stand-Up Science” show—which tackles a lot of the other scientific topics he’s interested in—at DNA’s Comedy Lab this weekend should be a blast. In the course of doing this week’s cover story, I discovered just how wild Mauss’ own experiences with psychedelics got, and his story is truly a trip. Hope you enjoy it!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

Re: “Well Enough” (GT, 3/27):

Great article by Jacob Pierce. It’s been quite difficult to find out what is going on with the Santa Cruz City Water Department in terms of infrastructure and water storage issues and how they’re being addressed. The Santa Cruz City Water Dept. publishes precious little in their occasional updates to consumers on such important issues. It’s especially disconcerting for the Santa Cruz County residents who don’t even get to vote on any of their decisions, yet need to live with their consequences. Mr. Pierce’s article was an excellent update.

Robert Malbon
Live Oak

How’s That Working Out?

Since the ’80s, politicians have told us that a “pure capitalism” economy will solve every problem we have economically. An unregulated free market became more important than democracy to many politicians. During those years, Dr. James Hansen testified before Congress, and the public heard that global warming is real and we’d better take actions to prevent it from getting worse. Bill McKibben, former New York Times science writer and founder of the climate change organization 350.org, recently said that it “was unfortunate that political point of view developed” just when we needed a response to climate change.

Unfortunate or deliberate, how is that working out for us? Fossil fuel companies are the obvious companies that—had they been mildly regulated or taxed for their carbon footprint—we would be far better off today. This is really true of most, if not all big businesses. The more we consume what they produce, the more carbon is released into the atmosphere. Our worldwide ecosystem is breaking down, and now we are faced with needing to take drastic measures to prevent going over 2 degrees Celsius. So far the interpretation that “a completely free market solves everything” is still our religious type of belief and appears to be elevated even above the ideal of democracy.

Monday was Earth Day, and this year’s theme was extinction. Species are going extinct at a rapid rate—plants, animals, birds, insects, coral reefs, ocean life. We humans depend on all of those species for our own survival.

How’s that theory of unregulated growth of production resulting in more and more consumption working out for us?

We’ve witnessed other species overpopulate when food is plentiful and die off when it’s not. We could learn something from observing that. In theory, we are smarter than that.

Diane Warren
Boulder Creek

Re: Earth Day

On a sunny day, viewed from the hills above Watsonville, that shimmering ocean below is not Monterey Bay. Rather it’s a sea of plastic covering farmland and crops, especially strawberries.

Estimated at dozens of square miles in the South County and Salinas Valley, this farmland plastic increases profitability, but causes unseen harm. Not only does the plastic release greenhouse gasses as the sun heats and reflects, but causes erosion and sediment in estuarine watersheds. Most telling of all, little of this plastic is recycled, less than 25%. Coated with residual chemicals that kill insects, weeds, and fungi, this single use plastic sea is ultimately buried in landfills, unloaded by farm workers infrequently wearing protection, sometimes not even gloves. Next time, when buying berries from local berry farms for that summer treat, consider the amount of plastic and chemicals it took to deliver those delicious red berries. Buying organic, IMO, is worth the extra cost.

Skip Allan
Capitola

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

Submit to ph****@*******es.sc. Include information (location, etc.) and your name. Photos may be cropped. Preferably, photos should be 4 inches by 4 inches and minimum 250dpi.

GOOD IDEA

It’s Mosquito Awareness Week, and Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control is advising residents of the need to dump and drain all standing water. Rainfall from the past year’s big winter left behind stagnant water—and if left to sit in containers, flower pots and empty pools, that water could create mosquito breeding sites. West Nile virus, which is carried by mosquitoes, was detected in 41 counties in California in 2018, with 217 human cases reported.

GOOD WORK

The Homeless Service Center’s Soupline fundraiser at Cocoanut Grove on Thursday was a big success, with more than 40 restaurants donating soups to the packed event, and celebrity ladlers from Santa Cruz Mayor Martine Watkins to SCPD Chief Andy Mills to every other corner of local government and law enforcement (and everywhere else) serving them up to the crowd. HSC staffers also talked movingly about some of the organization’s success stories getting people off the streets in Santa Cruz.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The universe is an intelligence test.”
-Timothy Leary

Music Picks: April 24-30

Aaron Carnes

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April 23, 2019

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Santa Cruz live music highlights for the week of April 23, 2019

WEDNESDAY 4/24

REGGAE

CONKARAH + ROSIE DELMAH

If you’ve been wondering to yourself whether Adele’s “Hello” would make a banger of a reggae song, I can answer that for you right now: yes, very much so. At least that’s the case with Kingston singers Conkarah and Rosie Delmah, who turn the song into reggae gold. It’s already surpassed 97 million views on YouTube. The duo has also covered “Shallow” from A Star Is Born. And Conkarah has a whole slew of reggaefied jams in his catalog from Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” to Shawn Mullins’ “Lullaby.” AARON CARNES

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $10 adv/$15 door. 479-1854.

INDIE

DOUSE

Canadian indie trio Douse will inspire your wanderlust with moody textures and expansive soundscapes. It’s the kind of gleaming guitar tones and indie flourishing that inspire impromptu road trips and smartly titled mixtapes to that one someone who almost gets you. Almost. Douse frequently gets dreamy without getting lost, keeping their musical meanderings exploratory, but focused on a goal. It’s a nice balance of sonic adventure, like a backpacking trip in the desert armed with a trusty map. AMY BEE

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $6. 429-6994.

THURSDAY 4/25

R&B

BURNIN’ VERNON

Burnin’ Vernon rips. He likes to refer to his latest project Aftermath as “From A to Z,” meaning from Al Green to Led Zeppelin. Does that sound like he’s overstating his abilities a bit? He’s not. The originally-from-Texas guitarist has been tearing up Bay Area stages for the last 30 years. He’s shared the stage with bands from every genre: Peter Tosh, Etta James, War. He brings it all. He’s got the funk chops, the rock riffs and the R&B soul. But the real treat is checking out his lead guitar abilities. Some say you can see his finger literally smoking after he’s done soloing. AC

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Flynn’s Cabaret & Steakhouse, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $10 adv/$12 door. 335-2800.

FOLK

PAT HULL

Armed with a quiver of melodies, Pat Hull’s voice is a weapon. Alright, so it might be a weapon of peace, but it’s still just as deadly. Combined with his insightful and reflective lyrics, it’s easy to catch yourself plucking at the ole heart strings. Born in Connecticut, this singer/songwriter now resides in Chico and seemingly draws inspiration from the two, drifting between sounds that capture the cold, history-worn cobblestones of New England to the dusty skies of a California summer. MAT WEIR

INFO: 8 p.m. Lille Aeske, 13160 Hwy. 9, Boulder Creek. $10-$20. 703-4183.

FRIDAY 4/26

PUNK

DOUG & THE SLUGZ

Oi! Oi! Oi! Dust off the boots, break out the braces and fill up the scooter’s tank because the original L.A. skins, Doug & The Slugz, are coming to Santa Cruz! They are kicking off the Boss Weekender (a weekend for punks and skins: music, a scooter rally, lots of drinking). Band leader and namesake Doug Dagger is notoriously known as the singer from Schleprock and the Generators. But way back in the fledgling days of 1983, Doug and the Slugz was Dagger’s original group, belting out singalongs about short hair, street honor and lifestyles of the broke and working class. MW

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $15 adv/$20 door. 429-6994.

SATURDAY 4/27

HIP-HOP

ALLBLACK

Oakland’s Allblack connects two long-standing threads in Bay Area hip-hop. On the one hand, the bounce in his beats and his bike-riding swagger are an outgrowth of hyphy, the sound and image of Oakland at the turn of the millennium. But where hyphy artists were all about the party, for Allblack, the trap is never far away. Not the ATL trap of Migos and Gucci, but the modern East Bay trap of artists like SOB x RBE. Allblack is still on the rise, but he won’t be playing rooms the size of the Atrium for long. MIKE HUGUENOR

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. $15 adv/$18 door. 429-4135.

AMERICANA

THE VANDOLIERS

The Vandoliers, a six-piece band from Texas, features the kind of gravelly, raspy vocals that remind one of mid-’80s hard rock, so it’s surprising when the fiddles and strings come in and undulate through the crowd in pure Southern rock glory. Songs veer from jubilant punk anthems to folk-rock diddies, all coated in a thick sheen of country pride and Texas twang. It’s probably that Texas audacity that compels the Vandoliers to add horns to several songs, a kind of special middle finger to the world’s expectations of what a dirty, grimy, down-home country rock band ought to be. AB

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $12 adv/$15 door. 479-1854.

MONDAY 4/29

ACOUSTIC

KAKI KING

Included in Rolling Stone’s list of “New Guitar Gods,” Kaki King is a mercurial force for creative good. Impossible to pigeonhole, her emotionally bare instrumental music is guided only by her virtuoso guitar skills. Jumping between finger picking, acoustic percussion, lap steel, and some full on shredding, King’s discography is lyrical without lyrics, a kind of poetry written outside of language. In 2007, she collaborated with Eddie Vedder and Michael Brook for the Emmy-nominated Into the Wild soundtrack, only one of many high points in a career defined by them. MH

INFO: 8 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $20 adv/$25 door. 429-4135.

JAZZ

CLAUDIA VILLELA

Claudia Villela’s new album Encantada Live offers a sensational reminder that whether she’s composing at her piano or spontaneously generating new songs on stage, the Rio de Janeiro-born vocalist, percussionist and bandleader is a sonic conjurer who can summon an infinite array of moods, textures and settings. She’s celebrating the release of the album, which focuses on original material, as well as the beloved songbook of Antonio Carlos Jobim. She’s joined by a world-class cast including saxophonist Gary Meek, bassist Gary Brown, drummer Celso Alberti and guitarist Carlos Oliveira. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $28.35 adv/$33.60 door. 427-2227.

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Earth Week at the Seymour Center

EDITOR’S NOTE

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

GOOD IDEA

GOOD WORK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

WEDNESDAY 4/24

CONKARAH + ROSIE DELMAH

DOUSE

THURSDAY 4/25

BURNIN’ VERNON

PAT HULL

FRIDAY 4/26

DOUG & THE SLUGZ

SATURDAY 4/27

ALLBLACK

THE VANDOLIERS

MONDAY 4/29

KAKI KING

CLAUDIA VILLELA