Arts &Culture
Sunday, Feb. 17
Return
to
Paradise
Theatre on the
Ridge reopens after
fire with musical
love letter to its
community
Nin Paradise
eal Road is eerily dark after the sun
goes down. As with many areas
post-Camp Fire, there are
few buildings, let alone lights, that
remain along the road, and as soon as
the Skyway is out of sight, it feels as
though one is driving into nothing.
However, about three-quarters of a
mile down Neal is a literal sign of hope.
The lighted marquee of Theatre on the
Ridge seems to float like a single guid-
ing star on the horizon,
and it’s hard to not
story and
photo by get a little emotional
Jason Cassidy upon reading the words
j aso nc@
“Return to Paradise”
newsrev i ew.c om and “#paradisestrong”
Preview:
in the welcoming glow.
Radioland’s Return Theatre on the
to Paradise shows Ridge (TOTR) is still
Thursday-Saturday, standing. And tonight
7:30 p.m. and Sunday, (Feb. 14), the play-
2 p.m., through March
3. Tickets: $16-$20 ers will be back on
its stage to open the
Theatre on the first show at the venue
Ridge since the Camp Fire,
3735 Neal Road
877-5760 Radioland’s Return
totr.org to Paradise, a radio-
show-style musical
curated specially for the stricken commu-
nity as a “love letter to Paradise.”
Founded in 1975—and at the Neal
Road location since 1979—TOTR is the
longest-running community theater in
Butte County. Executive Director Judy
Clemens has been with the company for
42 years, and she is among the dozen
or so from the theater’s core who lost
everything in the fire. (Only three of
the homes of TOTR’s board and staff
of volunteers who lived on the Ridge
survived.)
“Everybody’s so happy and hopeful
that the theater survived,” Clemens said.
32 CN&R FEBRUARY 14, 2019
It took two weeks for crews to clean
and repair the smoke damage at the the-
ater before the actors could come back
in. And Clemens and Jerry Miller, the
theater’s artistic director (whose Magalia
home was spared), agreed that launching
the Radioland production—and doing so
this soon—was the right thing to do.
“Let’s go up there and they will
come,” was Miller’s response.
Even though there are still so many
displaced residents, some even forced to
move from the area—including a portion
of the theater’s season-ticket holders—
the hope is to bring people together to
heal through theater.
“I think we are really going to serve a
purpose,” Clemens said.
Since Radioland’s debut more than
a decade ago, the radio-show format of
Miller’s musical revue—featuring a vari-
ety of vocalists taking on both popular
songs and spoofs of familiar tunes—has
proven malleable. It’s met different
themes for many subsequent productions.
This time, Miller—who is also direct-
ing—has assembled a playlist with
Paradise in mind, and watching the cast
rehearse the mix of broken-hearted and
celebratory tunes, it’s easy to imagine
that the audience—and the performers—
will experience a much-needed release.
John Mellencamp’s “Small Town”
is transformed by Steve and Kelly
Oberlander (performing as the Mount
Joys duet) from a nostalgic roots-rocker
into a quietly beautiful and achingly
poignant tear-jerker: “Well I was born in
a small town/And I live in a small town/
Probably die in a small town/Oh, those
small communities.”
And guitar-and-gut-bucket duo Jeff
Hohimer and Patrick Allen Brown (aka
the GarFinkles) have some fun with John
Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country
Roads” and Miller’s updated lyrics:
“Take me home, Butte County roads.”
In addition to an impressive roster
of lead vocalists—including a rotating
list of special guest stars, such as The
Bidwells, Loki Miller and members of
The Railflowers—the show is powered
by a four-piece band of local acoustic
ringers, Rich Reiner (mandolin, guitar),
Rebecca Herring Reiner (bass), Ken
Lawson (guitar) and David Bilinksi
(banjo, Dobro).
Clemens gets into the act as well,
singing her hand-chosen song, the rous-
ing “Home,” by Phillip Phillips. “I
picked that specifically because it’s just
what I want to say,” she explained.
The song’s theme of finding comfort
during crisis is a perfect fit, and Clemens
sticks to the original lyrics almost all the
way through, only deviating right at the
end to sing with a lump in her throat:
“Paradise is still our home.”
Theatre on the Ridge’s Judy Clemens
(executive director) and Jerry Miller
(artistic director) and a smat-
tering of the cast and crew from
Radioland’s Return to Paradise.
THIS
Music
DARK STAR ORCHESTRA: “Turn on Your Love Light”
with one of the world’s premier Grateful
WEEK
Dead tribute bands. The septet’s extensive
catalog will stagger even the most die-hard
deadhead. DSO is donating their proceeds to
Camp Fire relief funds. Thu, 2/14, 6:30pm. $30
- $35. Durham Memorial Hall, 9319 Midway,
Durham. chicotickets.com
JOHN MCEUEN & THE STRING WIZARDS: Founding
14
member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and
consummate performer. Will the Circle be
Unbroken opens the show. Thu, 2/14, 7pm.
THU
Red Bluff State Theater, 333 Oak St., Red
Bluff. statetheatreredbluff.com
Special Events VALENTINE DUETS: Dinner concert featuring musi-
cal performances by Peter & Tricia Berkow,
CALWATER RATE INCREASE PUBLIC FORUM: CalWater is seeking a rate Vera Bridges, David Bilinski & Dana Hanson,
increase for Oroville of 7.6 percent in 2020, an additional 4.4 Stevie Cook & Diane Garner, Willow & Ron
in 2021, and further 4.4 in 2021. Voice your opinion to help the Dejesus and more. Thu, 2/14, 7pm. $15 - $25.
California Public Utilities Commission. Thu, 2/14, 6pm. Oroville Chico Guild Hall, 2775 Nord Ave. eventbrite.com
Council chambers, 1735 Montgomery St., Oroville. cpuc.ca.gov
IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT: Frank Capra’s acclaimed romantic
comedy starring Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly and
Theater
THE ADDAMS FAMILY: Just try saying the words
Clark Gable. This special Valentine’s Day movie event includes
popcorn, wine, champagne, chocolates and roses available “Addams Family” without breaking into
for purchase in the lobby. Thu, 2/14, 7pm. $15. Oroville State the TV show’s snappy theme song. Enjoy
Theatre, 1489 Myers St., Oroville. orovillestatetheatre.com the demented adventures of this wickedly
witty family with Inspire School of Arts &
POTTERY & CERAMICS SALE: Handmade crafts created by Chico Sciences’ production of the raucous musi-
State students. Thu, 2/14, 9am. Across from Glenn Hall, Chico cal comedy. Thu, 2/14, 7pm. $10-$20. CUSD
State. Center for the Arts, 1475 East Ave.
inspirecusd.org
FRESH INK 2019: Four writers are each given one
week to write a one-act play and four crews
split up the plays and bring the creations
to life—while the ink is still fresh! Thu, 2/14,
7:30pm. $10. Blue Room Theatre, 139 W. First
St. 895-3749. blueroomtheatre.com
EVENING OF WONDER
Wednesday, Feb. 20
Unwined Kitchen & Bar
SEE WEDNESDAY, SPECIAL EVENTS
ROCKING FOR
PARADISE:
STEALING NICKS
& PETTY LUV
Saturday, Feb. 16
El Rey Theater
SEE SATURDAY, MUSIC
Ω one week prior to the issue in which you wish the
MAMMA MIA!: The story of a mother, a daughter,
three possible dads and one unforgettable
trip down the aisle. Bride-to-be Sophie
wants nothing more than to have her father
at her wedding, but she has no idea which of
mom’s three former boyfriends might be the
guy. So Sophie invites them all to the festivi-
ties at her mother’s Greek isle taverna, and
mayhem ensues. Featuring beloved hit songs
of ABBA. Thu, 2/14, 7:30pm. $16-$22. Chico
Theater Company, 166 Eaton Road, Ste. F.
chicotheatercompany.com
RADIOLAND’S RETURN TO PARADISE: A miracle
among the total devastation of the Camp
Fire, TOTR remains! Their season kicks off
with a special edition of the ever-popular
local radio-show musical. Celebrate hopes
and dreams of Paradise with this theatrical
love letter to the city. Thu, 2/14, 7:30pm. $16-
$20. Theatre on the Ridge, 3735 Neal Road,
Paradise. totr.org
SHAKESPEARE’S LOVERS: Slow Theatre presents
scenes from Cymbeline, As You Like It and
The Tempest. Thu, 2/14, 7:30pm. $30. Chico
Women’s Club, 592 E. Third St..
15
FRI
Special Events
BUSINESS SUMMIT & STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS:
Official State of the City address from
Mayor Randall Stone, plus the 2019 economic
and business climate outlook, downtown
report, and a Q&A session with your civic
leaders. Seating is limited, please RSVP at
891-5556 or info@chicochamber.com Fri, 2/15,
8:30am. CARD Center, 545 Vallombrosa Ave.
ARGUS QUARTET
Zingg Recital Hall
SEE SUNDAY, MUSIC
CRAB FEED: Annual event hosted by the Valley
Contractors Exchange. Sold out! Fri, 2/15,
6pm. Chico Masonic Family Center, 1110 W.
East Ave. vceonline.com
THE PRINCESS BRIDE: “Life isn’t fair, it’s just
fairer than death, that’s all.” Screening of
the swashbuckling classic, plus popcorn
from the Boy Scouts. Fri, 2/15, 7pm. Free.
Chico Mall, 1950 E. 20th St.
Music
CELEBRATION GOSPEL CHOIR: A signature event
from Chico State’s Black History Month
lineup; a uniting gospel concert from
this diverse community choir. Fri, 2/15,
3:30pm. Free. Performing Arts Center, room
144, Chico State.
Theater
THE ADDAMS FAMILY: See Thursday. Fri, 2/15,
7pm. $10-$20. CUSD Center for the Arts, 1475
East Ave. inspirecusd.org
FRESH INK 2019: See Thursday. Fri, 2/15,
7:30pm. $10. Blue Room Theatre, 139 W. First
St. 895-3749. blueroomtheatre.com
MAMMA MIA!: See Thursday. Fri, 2/15,
7:30pm. $16-$22. Chico Theater Company, 166
Eaton Road, Ste. F. chicotheatercompany.
com
MURDER IN VEGAS: Murder-mystery dinner the-
ater set in ’50s Sin City. Sold out! Fri, 2/15,
6:30pm. Gold Country Casino & Hotel, 4020
Olive Highway, Oroville.
RADIOLAND’S RETURN TO PARADISE: See
Thursday. Fri, 2/15, 7:30pm. $16-$20. Theatre
on the Ridge, 3735 Neal Road, Paradise.
totr.org
16
SAT
Special Events
CFOL BOOK SALE: Chico Friends of the Library
weekly book sale. Sat 2/16, 9am. Chico
Branch Library, 1108 Sherman Ave.
buttecounty.net
HISTORY OF THE SUTTER BUTTES: Mike Hubbartt,
author, historian and head interpreter for
the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, talks about
the history of the Sutter Buttes mountain
FREE LISTINGS!
Post your event for free online at www.
newsreview.com/calendar, or email the CN&R
calendar editor at cnrcalendar@newsreview.com.
Deadline for print listings is Wednesday, 5 p.m.,
listing to appear.
FINE ARTS ON NEXT PAGE
range and some of the “old” tools that were ROMANTIC SHAKESPEARE: Slow Theatre performs
used in those times. Sat 2/16, 10am. $3. scenes and songs highlighting the romantic
Bolt’s Antique Tool Museum, 1650 Broderick side of Shakespeare to build excitement
St., Oroville. boltsantiquetools.com (and funds) to bring back full productions of
the Bard in Chico. Sat, 2/16, 2pm. $15. 1078
SOILS 101: Natural Resource Conservation Gallery, 1710 Park Ave..
Service class covers the basics of healthy
17
soils as well as soils that your plants find
just plain dirty! Sat 2/16, 10am. Free. Butte
SUN
County Farm Bureau, 2580 Feather River
Blvd., Oroville. 951-453-2651.
Music Special Events
STEALING NICKS & PETTY LUV: Tribute acts play DRAG STORYBOOK HOUR: Stonewall Alliance hosts
the music of Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac and
Tom Petty during this Rocking for Paradise
this family event featuring drag perform-
ers reading stories about self expression,
session to benefit survivors of the Camp
Fire. Sat, 2/16, 7pm. $15-$20. El Rey Theater,
diversity and being yourself. Most books
will have a focus on LGBTQ characters.
230 W. Second St.. elreychico.com Free, all ages and kids are invited to bring
pillows and stuffed animals. Sun, 2/17,
STEVE JOHNSON: Fingerstyle guitarist plays light 10:30am. Blackbird, 1431 Park Ave.
rock, country and more for brunch. Sat,
2/16, 11am. La Salles, 229 Broadway St. 530- MUCH ADO ABOUT IMPROV: Live and unscripted
Shakespeare. Sun, 2/17, 7pm. $5. Chico Live
345-4128. lasalleschico.com
Improv Comedy, 561 East Lindo Ave.
Theater
THE ADDAMS FAMILY: See Thursday. Sat, 2/16,
Music
7pm. $10-$20. CUSD Center for the Arts, 1475 ARGUS QUARTET: Praised for playing with
East Ave. inspirecusd.org “supreme melodic control and total author-
ity” and “decided dramatic impact” (Calgary
FRESH INK 2019: See Thursday. Sat, 2/16, Herald), this stunning chamber group is one
7:30pm. $10. Blue Room Theatre, 139 W. First of today’s most dynamic and versatile young
St. 895-3749. blueroomtheatre.com ensembles. Sun, 2/17, 2pm. $15-$36. Zingg
Recital Hall, Chico State, ARTS 279. 898-6333.
MAMMA MIA!: See Thursday. Sat, 2/16, csuchico.edu
7:30pm. $16-$22. Chico Theater Company,
TAJAC: Featuring Chico State Jazz X-press
166 Eaton Road, Ste. F. chicotheater
company.com alums, this jazz combo busts out the Bossa
nova, funk and swing for brunch. Sun, 2/17,
RADIOLAND’S RETURN TO PARADISE: See 11am. Tender Loving Coffee, 365 E. Sixth St.
Thursday. Sat, 2/16, 7:30pm. $16-$20.
Theatre on the Ridge, 3735 Neal Road,
Paradise. totr.org
THIS WEEK CONTINUED ON PAGE 34
EDITOR’S PICK
SKILLED STUDENTS
On Sunday, (Feb. 17), at Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall, savor the talents of Nor Cal’s
best young musicians when they audition to perform with the North State Sym-
phony. Sponsored by the Chico Guild, the League of Redding and the NSS, these
Young Artist Auditions feature high school and university divisions. Students from
throughout Northern California will perform stunning and emotive pieces during
this free event, with the best of the competition taking home cash prizes and
first-place winners soloing at an upcoming NSS concert.
FEBRUARY 14, 2019 CN&R 33
 THIS WEEK continued from page 33
YOUNG ARTIST AUDITIONS: The North State
Symphony hosts this annual event where
high school and college-aged musicians
compete for cash awards and the chance to
perform with the symphony. Free and open
to the public.  Sun, 2/17, 12pm.  Free. Rowland-
Taylor Recital Hall, Chico State, Performing
Arts Center 134.
Theater
FRESH INK 2019: See Thursday.  Sun, 2/17,
2pm.  $10. Blue Room Theatre, 139 W. First St.
895-3749. blueroomtheatre.com
MAMMA MIA!: See Thursday.  Sun, 2/17, 2pm.  $16-
$22. Chico Theater Company, 166 Eaton
Road, Ste. F. chicotheatercompany.com
RADIOLAND’S RETURN TO PARADISE: See
Thursday.  Sun, 2/17, 2pm.  $16-$20. Theatre
on the Ridge, 3735 Neal Road, Paradise.
totr.org
TUE 19
Special Events
MY FATHER’S WARS: City University of New
York Professor Alisse Waterston presents
a dramatic personal story, part memoir
and part social history, about the dramatic
forces of history, the experience of exile
and immigration, the legacies of culture, and
the enduring power of memory.  Tue, 2/19,
7:30pm.  Free. Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall,
Chico State, Performing Arts Center 134.
Music
JOHN MEDESKI’S MAD SKILLET: Avant-jazz
keyboardist John Medeski and Grammy-
nominated guitarist Will Bernard (Medicine
Hat, Party Hats) team up with Dirty Dozen
Brass Band’s legendary rhythm sec-
tion, sousaphone player Kirk Joseph and
drummer Terence Higgins. Eclectic and
far-reaching, the unconventional combo
produces some trailblazing music.  Tue, 2/19,
7:30pm.  $25. Sierra Nevada Big Room, 1075 E.
20th St. sierranevada.com
20
WED
Special Events
ADULT CRAFT CLUB: Bring your latest project
and connect with other crafters.  Wed, 2/20,
10am.  Butte County Library, 1820 Mitchell
Ave., Oroville. buttecounty.net
AN EVENING OF WONDER: Magicians Dean Waters
and Stephen Chollet entertain, confound
and astonish.  Wed, 2/20, 7pm.  $15. Unwined
Kitchen & Bar, 980 Mangrove Ave.
eventbrite.com
HYPERTEXT BEYOND NARRATIVE: Hypertext is
often associated with “choose your own
adventure” narratives, in which a reader
makes choices that affect the path a narra-
tive takes. This talk includes a workshop and
audience members are encouraged to bring
an electronic device with them.  Wed, 2/20,
6pm.  Free. Meriam Library, Chico State.
for more Music, see NIGHTLIFE on page 36
34   CN&R  February 14, 2019
FINE ARTS
CRUCIAL TIMES
Shows through Feb. 28
Blackbird
SEE ART
Art
B-SO GALLERY: Print Club Miniprint Exhibition
& Sale, Chico State Print Club hosts
annual sale to help fund a trip to the SGC
International Print Conference in Texas.
Works are available for $10 and up. Through
2/15. Chico State, Ayres Hall, room 105.
BLACKBIRD: Crucial Times Photography
Collective, photo exhibit explores the
manual, physical and chemical process.
Featuring the artwork from six members
of the collective, the display reflects the
contents of their latest book, Volume 2.
Through 2/28. 1431 Park Ave.
CHICO ART CENTER: Renew, Rebuild, Reimagine,
featuring work by artists affected by the
Camp Fire. In the spirit of renewal and
regenerative ideas, CAC presents this
latest exhibit. Through 3/1. 450 Orange St.
ENLOE CANCER CENTER: Beth Bjorklund, oil
paintings in our Healing Art Gallery by
Northern California artist. The Enloe
Cancer Center, Healing Art Gallery
features artists whose lives have been
touched by cancer. Through 4/19. Free.
265 Cohasset Road, 530-332-3856.
JACKI HEADLEY UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY:
Aksum Belle – Afterwards, artist and
printmaker Jacob Meders is a member of
the Mechoopda Indian Tribe. Using book
forms, prints, and sculpture, Meder’s
work challenges perceptions of place,
culture and identity built on the assimila-
tion and homogenization of Indigenous
peoples. Through 2/22. Chico State.
MUSEUM OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ART: Dennis
Leon I am here, the sculptor’s work
has been exhibited at the San Francisco
Museum of Modern Art, the Oakland
Museum, the Corcoran Gallery and
beyond. Opening Reception Friday, Feb. 15,
6-8pm. Through 3/24. $5. 900 Esplanade.
ORLAND ART CENTER: Perfection in Pencil and
Paint, showcasing works by Peter Piatt,
Steve Crane, Sharon Crabill and Eve Berg-
Pugh. Through 3/23. 732 Fourth St., Orland.
orlandartcenter.com
THE TURNER: Mǝǝmento – Before, curated
from the Turner Collection by Jacob
Meders, a member of the Mechoopda
Indian Tribe, whose own work is
photo by John Simcox
concurrently exhibited at the Jacki
Headley University Art Gallery. Meders
explains that the linked exhibitions func-
tion “as a before and after” that suggests
ways to “see, share and learn — to open
a dialogue that allows a healing process.”
Through 2/22. Chico State. janetturner.org
Museums
BOLT’S ANTIQUE TOOL MUSEUM: Bolt’s Antique
Tool Museum, this fascinating, unique
museum has over 12,000 hand tools on
display, charting cataloging the evolution
and history of tools. Through 6/15. $3.
1650 Broderick St., Oroville.
CHICO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: Chico Children’s
Museum, featuring tons of cool stuff for
kids to explore including a miniature city,
complete with a junior vet clinic, dentist,
cafe and farmer’s market, a giant fish
tank, multi-sensory room, imagination
playground and much more. Check the
website for hours and admission infor-
mation. Through 8/3. $7-$9. 325 Main St.
chicochildrensmuseum.org
CHICO CREEK NATURE CENTER: Living Animal
Museum & Nature Play Room, learn all
about local critters, plants and wildlife.
Through 5/25. $2-$4. 1968 E. Eigth St..
chicorec.com
GATEWAY SCIENCE MUSEUM: From Here to
There, explore the science of how things
move by land, sea and air. Also on display
are The Foothills, and America’s Wolves:
From Tragedy to Inspiration. Through
5/12. $5-$7. 625 Esplanade. csuchico.edu
PATRICK RANCH MUSEUM: Patrick Ranch
Museum, working farm and museum with
rotating exhibits open every Saturday
and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Through
5/26. 10381 Midway, Durham. patrick-
ranchmuseum.org
VALENE L. SMITH MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY:
Remarkable Lives, exploring the inter-
twined worlds of birds and human, in
partnership with the Altacal Audubon
Society and Snow Goose Festival. Exhibits
include bird songs and behaviors, local
photography and a robotic recreation of
the late Jurassic Archaeopteryx. Through
7/31. Chico State.
MUSIC
Chicago emcee Serengeti is as much
performance artist as rapper
Imuch
dentifying hip-hop artists as
“underground” doesn’t make as
sense as it used to, not since
music-streaming platforms have
made even the
most obscure rap-
by
Howard Hardee pers easily accessi-
ble—provided that
you know who
Preview: they are in the
Serengeti performs first place. That is
Sunday, Feb. 17, unless it’s an artist
6 p.m., with Redfield
Clipper, Similar
like Serengeti, a
Alien, Esquire Ali, truly underground
Calex, Uncle Pill and MC in the sense
Worldcoast. that he has record-
Cost: $7 ed dozens of full-
1078 Gallery length albums and
1710 Park Ave. EPs since 2003,
433-1043 but most of them
1078gallery.org remain difficult—
or in some cases,
impossible—to find.
The Chicago-based artist has
never been big on self-promotion,
and only recently found out that
people can “just upload songs and
stuff” to Spotify.
“This whole time I’ve just been
making music, not really concerned
with branding and all of that,” he
said. “But as time passes, I think
maybe that’s not the way to go.
Maybe I do need to step it up a bit.
… If you don’t do it, you just stay
in the netherworld, under the under-
ground.”
Ahead of his performance at
1078 Gallery on Sunday (Feb. 17),
‘Under the
underground’
Serengeti (real name David Cohn)
told the CN&R he started rapping
strictly for himself, “in lieu of
therapy” for lifelong depression. “I
was like, ‘I’ll write my way out of
these feelings.’” But that changed
when he “put out that one song that
people actually liked.” He’s refer-
ring to 2006 single “Dennehy” off
an album of the same title, now
considered a classic example of
underground rap out of the upper
Midwest. Catch the Chicago refer-
ences in his flow: “I’ll buy a little
lager like I ate a piece of Big Red/
Grow a mustache the size of Mike
Ditka’s forehead.”
Not only did the song gain
Serengeti an audience, it was the
world’s introduction to the white,
middle-class, middle-aged character
of Cohn’s creation, Kenny Dennis.
A true alter ego, Dennis was the
opposite of Cohn in every way; he
rocked a comically oversized mus-
tache and drank O’Doul’s because
he actually liked the taste. And
perhaps most significantly, he didn’t
struggle with feelings of anxiety and
self doubt, but rather was “some-
body who had a lot of friends and
got invited to the barbecue.
“I had the opportunity to rap
from somebody else’s perspective
and live in someone else’s brain,”
he said. “This whole world sort of
appeared in front of me. People
liked the ‘Dennehy’ song, but then
[I] was like, ‘Why does this guy
David “Serengeti” Cohn’s
other alter ego, Kenny Dennis.
PHOTO BY KELLY
MICHAEL ANDERSON
rap?’ I kept asking all these ques-
tions, and I just filled it in.”
In fact, Cohn has filled in
Dennis’ backstory across nine
Serengeti albums, diving deep into
the imaginary man’s psyche to
understand his every motivation.
And after spending so much time
in someone else’s shoes, the lines
between his alter ego and true self
gradually dissolved. He often falls
into the character when he’s with
his friends, walking down the street
alone, or standing outside of a party,
frozen from anxiety.
“If I’m questioning myself,
Kenny will come in and set it
straight,” he said. “He’ll be like,
‘No, just open the door and go in.’
… His voice pops in my head when
I get indecision, like, ‘OK, Dave,
just calm it down.’”
Cohn stopped performing as
Dennis last year because he believes
the story is complete, but now
he’s working with a visual artist to
create a graphic novel following
Dennis’ narrative arc from start to
finish. In the meantime, he’s posting
old songs and EPs on Spotify and
Bandcamp, giving many listeners
their first opportunity to hear the
most obscure parts of his enormous
catalog. Though he figures it’s well
past time to emerge from the neth-
erworld, he still feels weird about
promoting himself because he’s not
a brand, but a person—OK, maybe
two people sharing a mustache. Ω
FEBRUARY 14, 2019 CN&R 35
NIGHTLIFE
DEVIN THE DUDE, BLAZE1
& DJ LIL 50
Friday, Feb. 15
Tackle Box
SEE FRIDAY
donating their proceeds to Camp
Fire relief.  Thu, 2/14, 6:30pm.  $30-
$35. Durham Memorial Hall, 9319
Midway, Durham. chicotickets.com
ERIC PETERS & LEANNE COOLEY:
Duo performs an eclectic mix of
music.  Thu, 2/14, 6:30pm.  La Salles,
229 Broadway St.
SCOUT & MICHAEL BONE: Local
songwriters tug at your heart
strings.  Thu, 2/14, 6pm.  Free. Tender
Loving Coffee, 365 E. Sixth St.
SHIGEMI MINETAKA & FRIENDS: Live
jazz.  Thu, 2/14, 6:30pm.  Diamond
Steakhouse, 220 W. Fourth St.
VALENTINE DUETS: Dinner concert
14THURSDAY
CHICO UNPLUGGED: Acoustic music from
with by Peter & Tricia Berkow,
Vera Bridges, David Bilinski & Dana
Hanson, Stevie Cook & Diane Garner,
Willow & Ron Dejesus and more.  Thu,
local singers and songwriters.  Thu,
2/14, 7pm.  $15-$25. Chico Guild Hall,
2/14, 7pm.  Madison Bear Garden, 316 2775 Nord Ave. eventbrite.com
W. Second St., 916-873-3194.
DARK STAR ORCHESTRA: One of the
world’s premier Grateful Dead
tribute bands. The septet’s exten-
sive catalog will stagger even the
15FRIDAY
DEVIN THE DUDE: Underground Houston
most die-hard deadhead. DSO is hip-hop hero, beer brewer and dope
36   CN&R  February 14, 2019
THURSDAY 2/14—WEDNESDAY 2/20
aficionado known for his laid-back
flow and oddball beats, plus Blaze1,
DJ Lil 50 and more local openers
TBA.  Fri, 2/15, 9pm.  $20-$25. Tackle
Box, 379 E. Park Ave.
HABSTRAKT: French producer, beat-
maker and remixer drops the bass.
Subfer and Dustycloud open the
show.  Fri, 2/15, 8pm.  $15-$25.
El Rey Theater, 230 W. Second St.
eventbrite.com
JOHN SEID, LARRY PETERSON & BOB
LITTELL: An eclectic mix of dinner
tunes.  Fri, 2/15, 6:30pm.  Diamond
Steakhouse, 220 W. Fourth St.
JOSH BUDRO BAND: Nor-Cal outlaw
country.  Fri, 2/15, 9:30pm.  $5.
Feather Falls Casino & Lodge, 3
Alverda Drive, Oroville.
LOCALS ONLY: Angry Son, Citysick and
Little Black Cloud rock it out to raise
money for Camp Fire survivors.  La Salles, 229 Broadway St.
Fri, 2/15, 7:30pm.  Ike’s Place, 648 W.
Fifth St.
METAL NIGHT FEATURING BLOODY ROOTS:
Big fistful of metal with Sepultura
tribute Bloody Roots, Red Handed,
Burial Grounds, Atomic Flounder,
Banger.  Fri, 2/15, 7pm.  $10. The
Spirit, 2360 Oro Quincy Highway,
Oroville. 530-864-5525.
NEW WAVE PROM: Synthpop, post-punk,
goth, EuroBeat and hella hairspray
with DJ J-ho and DJ Jeff Spincoli
on the decks and an opening set by
Iver. Prom king and queen crowned
at midnight!  Fri, 2/15, 8pm.  $10-$13.
Chico Women’s Club, 592 E. Third St.
brownpapertickets.com
OBE & LOKI: Guitarists Steven
Oberlander and Loki Miller perform,
plus wine and pizza available for
purchase.  Fri, 2/15, 6pm.  Almendra
Winery & Distillery, 9275 Midway
Road, Durham.
SKIP CULTON PROJECT: Rock ’n’ soul
outfit plays soul, reggae, pop and
much more in the lounge.  Fri, 2/15,
8:30pm.  Feather Falls Casino &
Lodge, 3 Alverda Drive, Oroville.
SOUL POSSE: Fun and funky quin-
tet plays a wide variety of party
favorites at this family-friendly
venue. Food truck, bocce and wine
available.  Fri, 2/15, 6pm.  Purple
Line Urban Winery, 760 Safford St.,
Oroville, 530-828-8040.
TYLER DEVOLL: Live tunes.  Fri, 2/15, 4pm. 
TYLER DEVOLL: Singer/songwriter
breaks out the pop hooks.  Fri,
2/15, 7pm.  The Exchange, 1975
Montgomery St., Oroville.
theexchangeoroville.com
16SATURDAY
AFROLILCIOUS AND WORDSAUCE: A
Lost on Main favorite, Afrolicious,
returns, plus groovy S.F. party
band  Sat, 2/16, 9pm.  $10. Lost on
Main, 319 Main St., 892-2445.
M&M
Two Oregon artists grace
1078 Gallery this Tuesday (Feb.
19) when MAITA (pictured)
and Misé perform with local
songwriter Fera and dream-
rock duo Valleys. Maria
Maita-Keppeler’s brand-new
single, “Japanese Waitress,”
describes the Portland folk
singer’s dark experiences in
the service industry—some-
thing many musicians can
relate to. From Astoria, experi-
mental outfit Misé gets both
folky and funky with a set of
eclectic tunes.
AMANDA & DIEGO: Argentine heart
throbs perform to cap off a week a
CLEMENTINE WAS RIGHT: Gritty Santa Fe
rock act Clementine Was Right, plus
love.  Sat, 2/16, 7pm.  $60-$90. Gold Fearless Frequencies and Travis &
Country Casino & Hotel, 4020 Olive Glisel.  Sat, 2/16, 7pm.  1078 Gallery,
Highway, Oroville. eventbrite.com 1710 Park Ave. 1078gallery.com
AMANDA GRAY: Singer/songwriter
gets soulful.  Sat, 2/16, 7pm.  The
Exchange, 1975 Montgomery St.,
Oroville.
DARKMYSTICWOODS: Washington bong
wizards melt faces, plus Mr. Bang,
Redding’s Ghost Town Atlas and
garage punkers Bill Nihilist.  Sat, 2/16,
8pm.  $5. Ike’s Place, 648 W. Fifth St.

DECADES: Local cover band celebrates
their third album, packed full of
hits from the 1970s. Sat, 2/16,
7:30pm. $10. Tackle Box, 379 E. Park
Ave. tackleboxchico.com
DRAG SHOW: Drag queens and kings
bring hot fire. Sat, 2/16, 10:30pm. $7.
The Maltese, 1600 Park Ave.
DRIVER: Rock ’n’ roll trio Sat, 2/16, 9pm.
JAX Bar, at Berry Patch Restaurant,
900 Newville Road, Orland.
JOHN SEID, LARRY PETERSON & BOB
LITTELL: An eclectic mix of dinner
tunes. Sat, 2/16, 6:30pm. Diamond
Steakhouse, 220 W. Fourth St.
KELLY TWINS DUELING PIANOS: Jon
and Chris play your requests all
MAD SKILLET
Tuesday, Feb. 19
Sierra Nevada Big Room
SEE TUESDAY
night long in the lounge. Sat, 2/16,
9pm. Feather Falls Casino & Lodge, 3
Alverda Drive, Oroville.
LED ZEPAGAIN: Big Ludwigs, double-
necked guitars and maybe a gong in
this spot-on tribute act. Sat, 2/16,
9:30pm. $5. Feather Falls Casino &
Lodge, 3 Alverda Drive, Oroville.
MAX MINARDI: Indie rock singer/
songwriter with a country-tinged
voice. Sat, 2/16, 9:30pm. La Salles,
229 Broadway St. lasalleschico.com
SOUL POSSE: Super fun party band
rocks it out. Sat, 2/16. Wine Time,
26 Lost Dutchman Drive.
STEALING NICKS & PETTY LUV: Tribute
acts play the music of Stevie Nicks/
THIS WEEK: FIND MORE ENTERTAINMENT AND SPECIAL EVENTS ON PAGE 32
Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty during
this Rocking for Paradise session to
benefit victims of the Camp Fire. Sat,
2/16, 7pm. $15-$20. El Rey Theater,
230 W. Second St. elreychico.com
17SUNDAY
JOHN SEID & LARRY PETERSON: Eclectic
mix for dinner. Sun, 2/17. 5th Street
Steakhouse, 345 W. Fifth St.
MUCH ADO ABOUT IMPROV: Live and
unscripted Shakespeare. Sun, 2/17,
7pm. $5. Chico Live Improv Comedy,
561 East Lindo Ave.
PARADISE BIG BAND: Come out and
dance to big band music on a
Sunday evening. Sun, 2/17, 7pm. $8.
Studio One Ballroom, 707 Wall St.,
530-906-0441.
SERENGETI: Chicago rapper Serengeti,
post-punk indie rock band Similar
Alien, jazzy hip-hop Redfield Clipper,
plus Calex, Uncle Pill and Esquire
Ali. Sun, 2/17, 7pm. $7. 1078 Gallery,
820 Broadway St. 1078gallery.org
18MONDAY
ACOUSTIC CAMP FIRE BENEFIT: Singer/
THUMPASAURUS: L.A. punk/funk outfit
songwriter duos The Bidwells and
Sunday Iris are joined by Caitlin
Jemme & the Goodness for a night
of restorative vibes and good
20WEDNESDAY
tunes to raise money for Camp Fire
relief. Mon, 2/18, 6pm. Unwined
Kitchen & Bar, 980 Mangrove Ave.
AN EVENING OF WONDER: Magicians
19TUESDAY
HARDCORE SHOW: Dying for It, With War
and The Choice get heavy. Tue, 2/19,
7pm. Ike’s Place, 648 W. Fifth St.
JOHN MEDESKI’S MAD SKILLET: Avant-
jazz keyboardist John Medeski and
Grammy-nominated guitarist Will
Bernard (Medicine Hat, Party Hats)
team up with Dirty Dozen Brass
Band’s legendary rhythm section,
sousaphone player Kirk Joseph and
drummer Terence Higgins. Eclectic
and far-reaching, the unconventional
combo produces some trailblazing
music. Tue, 2/19, 7:30pm. $25. Sierra
Nevada Big Room, 1075 E. 20th St.
sierranevada.com
MAITA & MISÉ: Fun, freaky and
experimental folk musicians from
Oregon perform with local act Fera,
plus dreamy duo Valleys. Tue, 2/19,
7:30pm. $5. 1078 Gallery, 1710 Park
Ave. 1078gallery.org
mixes heavy metal, free jazz and
musical theater for a wild stage
astonish. Wed, 2/20, 7pm. $15.
Unwined Kitchen & Bar, 980
Mangrove Ave. eventbrite.com
show. Funk band Big Sticky Mess
opens the show. Tue, 2/19, 8pm. $8. THE BIDWELLS: Local duo performs in
Lost on Main, 319 Main St. the lounge. Wed, 2/20, 6pm. Diamond
Steakhouse, 220 W. Fourth St.
hoteldiamondchico.com
FIREFLY: Gifted storyteller Erin Haley
sings originals and covers in the
vein of Emmylou Harris and Sheryl
Dean Waters and Stephen Crow. Wed, 2/20, 6pm. Red Tavern,
Chollet entertain, confound and 1250 Esplanade.
HELP ON THE WAY
One of the premier tribute
acts carrying on the legacy
of the Grateful Dead, Dark
Star Orchestra, will jam one
out for Paradise tonight
(Feb. 14) at the Durham
Memorial Hall. Praised for
its dead-on performances,
the band is a Butte County
favorite, bringing waves of
energy as well as relief to
those affected by the Camp
Fire.
FEBRUARY 14, 2019 CN&R 37
 REEL WORLD
Everyday
chaos
A gritty look at the lives of young refugees
in Oscar-nominated film
TNadine
his richly engaging Lebanese movie (nominated for
Best Foreign Language Film) from writer-director
Labaki (Caramel, Where Do We Go From
Here?) is in some ways a very mixed and uneven
accomplishment, but its generous
assortment of rewards and plea-
by sures make it into an especially
Juan-Carlos
Selznick memorable experience.
The main setting is a poverty-
stricken area of contemporary
Beirut, and the chief characters
4
are a 12-year-old named Zain
(played by Syrian refugee Zain
Al Rafeea), an undocumented
Capernaum Ethiopian and single mom named
Opens Friday, Feb. Rahil (Yordanos Shiferaw), Zain’s
15. Starring Zain Al brutally conflicted parents, and
Rafeea and Yordanos
Shiferaw. Directed by several of his variously at-risk
Nadine Labaki. Pageant younger siblings.
Theatre. Rated R. The production is shaped as a
latter-day version of classic neo-
realism—nonprofessional actors,
stories of the everyday struggles of ordinary people,
passionate social protest, documentary-style filming
on actual locations, etc. And in this case, the ensu-
ing trials and tribulations touch on a volatile set of
contemporary issues—grinding urban poverty, racial
prejudice, child abuse, immigration, the shadow
economies of sex, drugs, petty theft and child pros-
titution.
Ultimately, the central dramas in Capernaum
revolve around Zain’s rebellion against his parents
and his subsequent involvement with Rahil, who
gives him shelter in her back-alley hovel and later
38   CN&R  February 14, 2019
puts him to work as a live-in babysitter for the
infant son that she keeps hidden from her employers
and the authorities. Zain is a resourceful rascal and a
team player in a desperate family of petty criminals,
but he is also endowed with a fierce sense of empa-
thy. And it is the latter that emerges full-force when
his parents cravenly sell his beloved sister Sahar,
age 11, into a marriage with their sleazy landlord.
Most of this comes to light in intriguingly round-
about fashion. At the outset, Zain is already doing
a five-year prison term for stabbing someone, and
when we first meet him he’s back in court and filing
suit against his own parents. The courtroom testimo-
nies serve as a kind of framing device for most of
the film, but it’s the extended flashbacks that those
courtroom moments give rise to that dominate the
overall action.
The precocious charisma of young Al Rafeea in
the central role is a thing of wonder all by itself.
He exudes an almost casual gravitas that’s well
beyond his years, and that proves convincing with
the character’s rages as well as his boldly sympa-
thetic actions. Shiferaw’s Rahil is excellent as well,
while Zain’s extravagantly feckless parents (Kawsar
Al Haddad and Fadi Kamel Youssef) probably need
(and deserve) fuller development than Labaki is able
to give them here.  Ω
1 2 3 4 5
Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
FILM SHORTS
Reviewers: Bob Grimm and
Juan-Carlos Selznick.
Opening this week
Alita: Battle Angel
Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) directs this film
adaptation of Yukito Kishiro’s Japanese
cyberpunk manga series, Gunnm, featuring
a cyborg heroine named Alita (Rosa Salazar)
who was rendered for the big screen using
CGI technologies developed for James Cam-
eron’s Avatar. Cinemark 14, Feather River
Cinemas. Rated PG-13.
4
Capernaum
See review this issue. Pageant Theatre.
Rated R —J.C.S.
Happy Death Day 2U
The sequel picks up where the 2017 original
left off, but this time multiple people are be-
ing murdered and reliving the same day over
and over as a slasher in a baby-face mask
hunts them down. Cinemark 14, Feather River
Cinemas. Rated PG-13.
Isn’t It Romantic
A fantasy-satire starring Rebel Wilson as an
unlucky-in-love woman who finds herself stuck
in a stereotypical rom-com universe. Cinemark
14, Feather River Cinemas. Rated PG-13.
Reopening this week
4 The Favourite
Tragedy intertwines with farce in the
portrait of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), who
is simultaneously a figure of obvious pathos
and surprising resilience. And that portrait
is further intensified via her attachments
to Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) and the no
longer well-to-do Abigail (Emma Stone), two
resourceful strivers who find themselves in
increasingly fierce competition for status as
the Queen’s “favourite.” Each of the three
is a kind of flawed heroine, at one point or
another. Colman is superb as Queen Anne, but
Weisz and Stone also deliver exceptional work
in strikingly nuanced roles. Directed by Yorgos
Lanthimos (The Lobster, Dogtooth, etc.), the
film is challenging yet richly rewarding experi-
ence. Pageant Theatre. Rated R —J.C.S.
Now playing
Aquaman
Jason Momoa takes his superhuman
physique from Game of Thrones to the title
character in this film adaptation of DC Com-
ics’ half-human/half-Atlantean heir to the
underwater kingdom of Atlantis. Cinemark 14.
Rated PG-13.
A Dog’s Way Home
Will faithful dog Bella find her way 400 miles
back to her owner? Probably. Cinemark 14.
Rated PG.
Cold Pursuit
Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland does
an American remake of his own 2014 film,
In Order of Disappearance. This one stars
Liam Neeson as a snowplow driver-turned-
vengeful vigilante as he hunts down the drug
dealers and crime boss responsible for his
son’s death. Cinemark 14, Feather River
Cinemas. Rated R.
Glass
The third film in writer/director M. Night
Shyamalan’s Unbreakable trilogy (which
includes previous entries Unbreakable and
Split) pits a hero with superhuman strength
(Bruce Willis) against two “supervillains”—
a dangerously unstable man with 24
personalities (James McAvoy) and a genius
mass-murderer with brittle bones (Samuel L.
Jackson). Cinemark 14. Rated PG-13.
3 The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part
Another healthy dose of family-friendly
fun at which both kids and parents should
laugh heartily. The Second Part picks up five
years after the end of the first movie, and
our hero Emmet (Chris Pratt) is happily buy-
ing coffee in Apocalypseburg, a devastated
LEGO-land of sullen tones and broken dreams
where master builder Wyldstyle (Elizabeth
Banks) has taken to dramatic narration at
all times as things in their world have turned
from awesome to bleak. The culprits are
aliens called Duplos, invading forces that are
at once undeniably adorable and unabash-
edly destructive. It’s a crazed world where
Batman (Will Arnett) gets engaged to Queen
Waterva Wa’Nabi (Tiffany Haddish), leader
of the Duplo, and Emmett winds up running
with a Kurt Russell-type antihero named Rex
Dangervest, who is suspiciously like him (and
who is also voiced by Pratt). The movie feels
a bit repetitive in places, and some of the ac-
tion is too fast to be fully taken in, but flaws
aside, it’s still a lot of fun. There’s a slightly
dark underbelly at play here, and it’s fun to
see a kid’s flick that doesn’t totally play it
safe. Cinemark 14, Feather River Cinemas.
Rated PG —B.G.
Miss Bala
Gina Rodriguez plays an American who, while
trying to survive and save a friend in trouble,
has to work with both sides in a dangerous
fight between a Mexican drug cartel and the
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Cinemark 14.
Rated PG-13.
The Prodigy
Is a boy’s behavior a sign of genius or some-
thing far more sinister? Cinemark 14, Feather
River Cinemas. Rated R.
Ralph Breaks the Internet
In this sequel to the 2012 animated feature
Wreck-It Ralph, the soft-hearted giant (voice
of John C. Reilly) and the cast of video-game
characters have broken free of their arcade
machine and head for new adventures
across the internet-gaming world. Cinemark
14. Rated PG.
5
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
No movie adaptation has captured the
rush of reading an exciting comic book like
this blast of energy from directors Bob Per-
sichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman.
They go for broke with a seamless mixture
of visual styles—hand-drawn and computer
animated—and the story is pretty great, to
boot. Teenager Miles Morales (voiced by Sha-
meik Moore) is bitten by a strange spider and
then, with his new-found powers in effect,
crosses paths with the original Spider-Man,
Peter Parker (Chris Pine). Turns out a portal
from a parallel universe has opened up, al-
lowing a whole fleet of different Spider-Verse
characters to come into his orbit—the older
Peter B. Parker (the invaluable Jake John-
son), Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), Spider-
Ham (a mishmash of Spidey and Porky Pig
voiced by John Mulaney), Peni Parker (Kimiko
Glenn) and her robot and, best of all, Nicolas
Cage as the black-and-white Spider-Man
Noir. So, Miles is one of many heroes with Spi-
der powers tasked with battling bad dudes.
Spider-Verse is surely one of the best movies
of the year and the best Spider-Man movie to
date. Cinemark 14. Rated PG —B.G.
The Upside
A buddy dramedy about the relationship that
develops between a wealthy quadriplegic
(Bryan Cranston) and the ex-con (Kevin
Hart) hired to take care of him. Cinemark 14,
Feather River Cinemas. Rated PG-13.
What Men Want
A decades-old Mel Gibson flick gets the
gender-flip treatment here, when Taraji P.
Henson stars as a sports agent who finally
gets a leg up on the boy’s club of her profes-
sion when she somehow gains the ability to
hear men’s private thoughts. Cinemark 14,
Feather River Cinemas. Rated R.
February 14, 2019   CN&R  39
 CHOW
Like a
warm hug
Big beers for
the cold days
of winter
Loverflowing
ocal temperatures dip into the
30s at night. The creeks are
with rainwater. And
the trees of Bidwell Park are
brown and bare.
by Winter has beset
Alastair Butte County. In
Bland such cold, hard
times, our bodies
work overtime, burning calories
just to stay warm—and we crave
strong beers.
Well, that’s the traditional lore
of wintertime brews, anyway,
which holds that people drink
bigger beers to fight the winter
elements, downsizing to more
summery lagers and IPAs as the
weather warms. Despite a recent
dusting of morning snow (that
melted by lunchtime), winter’s
impact on the lifestyle of those in
Chico—or anywhere else between
here and the Bay Area—hardly
compares to those states in the path
of the polar vortex.
Still, Nor Cal beer drinkers like
to play along with the rest of the
world, and each winter, the brew-
ers celebrate the short days and
gray skies with strong beers like
barleywines, super-sized Belgian
styles and imperial, well, every-
thing—stouts, porters, IPAs, reds,
browns and lagers. (“Imperial,”
if you haven’t figured it out, just
means “high-alcohol.”)
At Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.,
it’s clear wintertime is here as
40   CN&R  February 14, 2019
Bigfoot—the popular barleywine
(9.6 percent alcohol-by-volume)—
has been sighted in six-packs
in local beer coolers. And up in
Redding, another creature, Fall
River Brewing’s appropriately
named Colossus (a 13 percent
ABV imperial stout), was just
released into the wild.
Over in Petaluma, Lagunitas
Brewing Co. releases high-alcohol
beers most of the year. Still,
the seasonal appearance of its
Cappuccino Stout, a 9.1 percent
ABV beer brewed with coffee, and
its 9.6 percent ABV Undercover
Investigation Shut-Down Ale, mark
the winter strong-beer pattern. The
brewery also releases its 11 percent
ABV Olde GnarlyWine barleywine
about this time each year. The beer
is a personal favorite—about as
rich and delicious as barleywines
get.
In Santa Rosa, Russian River
Brewing Co. has been serving its
highly anticipated annual release
Pliny the Younger—a 10-plus
percent ABV triple IPA—for the
first two weeks of February, while
in San Francisco, Magnolia Pub
and Brewery and 21st Amendment
Brewery are getting directly to the
point with their annual Strong Beer
Month celebration, which they
recognize throughout February.
This year—the 18th rendition—
the two breweries are each featur-
ing six beers containing at least
8 percent ABV. 21st Amendment’s
February beer list includes Triple
Crisis, an 11 percent ABV triple
IPA; the Red Giant, an imperial red
ale tipping the scales at 13.0 ABV;
Two Lane Blacktop, an imperial
black IPA of 9.8 percent ABV; and
three other bigguns. At Magnolia,
the Haight Street brewery will
be featuring Old Thunderpussy,
a barleywine measuring just shy
of 12 percent ABV; the Promised
Land imperial IPA, which goes
11.9 percent ABV; two more beers
in the 10 percent range; and a
couple between 8 and 9. Strong
Beer Month’s website suggests
drinking “responsibly” during
times like these.
Whether or not strong beers
are falling out of favor isn’t clear.
Over the past few years, session
beers—those low in alcohol—have
become the nexus of beer-nerd
excitement.
Strong beers, by comparison
to these other, more nuanced
styles, can sometimes seem just
a tad crude or even vulgar. Made
well, though, they can be beautiful
things, whether consumed fresh
from the tank or after years of
aging.
And anyway, nothing but
a parka takes the edge off the
February chill as swiftly a giant
stout or barleywine, whether it’s
40-below in Omaha or 40-above in
Hamilton City. Ω
 ARTS DEVO
by JASON CASSIDY • jasonc@newsreview.com

THE BARD IS BACK? The deliberate thespians of Slow Theatre are creeping
their way toward bringing Shakespeare in the Park back to Chico. The most
recent development is the Romantic Shakespeare event at the 1078 Gallery this
Saturday (Feb. 16), at 2 p.m., “a matinee of scenes and songs highlighting the
romantic side of Shakespeare.” It’s a fundraiser and a means for building
excitement for future full-scale productions of Shakespeare in the great
outdoors, and Arts DEVO thinks it might make for a pretty badass date for
you and your Valentine.
Speaking of Shakespeare, in a sister event the following day (Sunday, Feb.
17, at 7 p.m.), the new kids on the block over at Chico Live Improv Comedy (561
E. Lindo Ave.) are hosting Much Ado About Improv, a night of “Shakespeare-
inspired improv games and long-form sets.”
Our revels are neverending!

WAIT A SECOND! That’s not the biggest Slow Theatre news to come out this
week. The announcement for Garage Fest 2019 has been officially transmit-
ted, and I have a feeling that we might be on the cusp of a new community
tradition. In the spirit of the backyard beginnings of the Butcher Shop theater
fest, Slow Theatre is organizing five different backyard/garage/house shows
at five different locations over two days, March 8-9. Each show will be
presented three times each day and will feature collaborations with various
local performance organizations, including Butte College Drama Club, Chico
State Theatre Club, Chico Live Improv Comedy and the Chico Dance Lab. Tick-
ets go on sale (for $30) on Feb. 18. Venues will be disclosed upon purchase.
Visit slowtheatre.com for info and updates.

REST IN PEACE, RENAISSANCE MAN Butte County lost one of its most
prolific and interesting performers last week. After a brief battle with
cancer, Mikkel McDow died last Thursday (Feb. 7). He was 63. McDow was best
known around these parts as a
member of Beltain, purveyors of
a wide range of early music and
folk styles—both traditional
tunes and original songs that
sometimes blended the old styles
with rock music—and regulars
at Renaissance faires and other
period-specific events. There
was also a Bay Area version of
Beltain, with different players,
that McDow described as “metal
fusion!”
But Beltain was just one of
his musical hats. Back in the day,
McDow was a founding member
of Berkeley punk/garage-rock/
RIP Mikkel McDow early new wave crew The Jars.
And, in between recording and
releasing several Beltain albums, he worked as a soundman, put out a hand-
ful of solo rock albums of varying styles as Mik Dow, and performed shows in
duet with his wife and fellow Beltain member, Morgan McDow.
A memorial concert is in the works, but no date has been set. To contrib-
ute to Morgan’s efforts to compile and share the music she and Mikkel made
together, visit patreon.com/MorganMcDow.

DEVOTIONS:
• Pop Muzik: Do the Safety Dance or just Wang Chung all night long at the
Chico New Wave Prom this Friday (Feb. 15), 8 p.m., at Chico Women’s Club. Get
tix for only $10 at Bootleg or Ultra Beautician ($13 at the door).
• Funk monster: If you’ve grown tired of funk that slips into the jam groove,
Lost on Main has something completely different coming this Tuesday
(Feb. 19), 7:30 p.m. Super-high-energy L.A. crew Thumpasaurus rocks a
seriously weird brand of spazz-funk that is as infectious as it is funny.

FEBRUARY 14, 2019 CN&R 41