Coachella Valley Independent April 2026

Coa·chel·la

/ˌkoʊəˈtʃɛlə/ koh-CHEL-uh

The word ‘Coachella’ refers to a city, our valley and that big music festival—but where did it originate?

/Hint: Somebody made a mistake./

By Greg Niemann

Page 12

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

Editor/Publisher

Jimmy Boegle

staff writer

Kevin Fitzgerald

coveR and feature design

Maria Ratinova

Contributors

Haleemon Anderson, Melissa Daniels, Charles Drabkin, Katie Finn, Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, Bob Grimm, Terry Huber, Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume, Clay Jones, Matt Jones, Matt King, Keith Knight, Cat Makino, Brett Newton, Greg Niemann, Jeffrey Norman, Dan Perkins, Theresa Sama, Jen Sorensen, Robert Victor, Eleanor Whitney

The Coachella Valley Independent print edition is published every month. All content is2026 and may not be published or reprinted in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The Independent is available free of charge throughout the Coachella Valley, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $5 by calling (760) 904-4208. The Independent may be distributed only by the Independent’s authorized distributors.

The Independent is a proud member and/ or supporter of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, CalMatters, DAP Health, the Local Independent Online News Publishers, the Desert Business Association, and the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert.

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

The Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation’s Media Hall of Fame lunch took place on Feb. 24—and it was an excellent day for journalism in the Coachella Valley, and for the Independent in particular.

About 300 people attended the fundraising lunch at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas, where CVJF board president Randy Lovely said the nonprofit had raised about a quarter-million dollars over the last year. After the awards and the fundraising pitch, former Desert Sun executive editor Julie Makinen interviewed special guest Tonya Mosley, the co-host of NPR’s Fresh Air.

The lunch was especially excellent for the Independent for several reasons. First (chronologically), I was inducted into the Coachella Valley Media Hall of Fame—a tremendous honor that, as I mentioned during my speech, doesn’t make sense to me, because I still think of the Independent as a startup. I guess I need to get over that, since we’re now in our 14th year of existence, and have published 153 print editions and about 10,000 articles at this point.

Another reason the lunch was so special: Kevin Fitzgerald, our staff writer, was named the CVJF’s Journalist of the Year. When his win was announced, Kevin was stunned—and I was delighted. It was an acknowledgement that many of the longform journalism pieces he does are complex, difficult and important.

Thanks to Randy, Julie and CVJF co-founder Ricardo Loretta for all of their work to support local journalism. Congratulations to my fellow Hall of Fame inductees: Larry Bohannan of The Desert Sun; Lina Robles of La Poderosa 96.7 (and extra congrats on your retirement!); the family of Ric and Rozene Supple (who were inducted posthumously); and Ricardo Loretta, who was a surprise inductee.

Also, congrats to KESQ’s Shay Lawson, winner of the Rising Star award (for journalists younger than 30 or with less than five years of experience), and the Rising Star finalists: KESQ’s Luis Avila, El Informador del Valle’s Xochitl Diaz, and Univision’s Antonio Marquez. Finally, congrats to Kevin’s fellow finalists for Journalist of the Year: Tom Coulter and Ema Sasic of The Desert Sun; Peter Daut of KESQ; and Thalia Hayden of NBC Palm Springs.

Finally … thanks to all of you, dear readers, who have supported the Independent over these last 13-plus years. You’re why we do what we do.

Oh, I have one more piece of good news to report: Independent contributor Melissa Daniels (who writes, among other things, our semiregular Civic Solutions pieces) is one of 14 journalists selected this year for the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism’s annual California Health Equity Fellowship, to do reporting on important health issues across the state. The Independent joins other California news outlets including EdSource, The Mercury News, the Los Angeles Times, the Southern California News Group and others in having fellows participating program. I am so happy for Melissa—and I can’t wait to see the reporting she’s going to be able to do for the Independent as a California Health Equity Fellow.

Welcome to the April 2026 print edition of the Coachella Valley Independent. Thanks, as always, for reading.

—Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com

HIKING WITH T

BY THERESA SAMA

Hiking in the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas is about far more than simply putting one foot in front of the other. It’s about moving through a living desert—where palm oases appear unexpectedly in dry canyons, sweeping ridgelines reveal the immense beauty of the valley below, and flora and fauna tell a powerful story of survival.

Each trail—from the gentle walks in the preserves to demanding mountain ascents—brings its own rewards: solitude, scenery, challenges, possible wildlife sightings, and the chance to truly connect with the desert landscape.

This is usually one of the best times of year to lace up your hiking shoes (or boots) and hit the trails. (I say “usually,” given the record-breaking heat that arrived in mid-March.) The Old Farmer’s

Almanac predicted a moderately hot spring, with low temperatures running in the mid-50s at night, and average daytime highs in the mid-70s to high 80s.

Whether you’re seeking a gentle nature walk or a strenuous bucket list climb, you’re sure to find it here in the Coachella Valley. Here are a few you should know about, if you don’t already.

Tucked within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, just off Highway 74 as you leave Palm Desert and start up the mountain road (about four miles from Highway 111, across from the Visitor Center), the Art Smith Trail delivers one of the most visually rewarding hikes in the valley. It’s especially magical in spring with all the colorful blooms—the surrounding hillsides come alive with blooming brittlebush, budding barrel cactus and bright beavertail cactus flowers. It’s not uncommon to see a herd of the endangered peninsular bighorn sheep. As the U.S. Forest Service states, it is “truly one of the signature trails in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.”

I couldn’t agree more. A friend and I recently did an 8-mile out-and-back on the Art Smith Trail. It was amazing! It was my longest trek since my knee surgery, and I couldn’t feel better. We started at 6:30 a.m. and were off the trail by 11:30 a.m. (I would recommend an earlier start time—there’s not much shade on this trail.)

We parked in the first parking area (on the right along Highway 74) at the end of BIGHORN Golf Club. We took a shortcut up and over the concrete levee, following the fenceline for about a half-mile to the official trailhead. From there, it’s all uphill, with an elevation gain of about 2,000 feet, but it didn’t seem so bad after the first mile or so, because the trail has subtle dips and gains as you meander along the hillsides. Around the 1.5-mile mark, you’ll go through the first of four small oasis groves. At the next mile, you’ll pass a larger oasis, with two more in the distance—a breathtaking sight against the rugged mountain backdrop. It’s worth the

climb. We’re already planning our next trek on this trail to make it the full 8-plus miles to Dunn Road. From there, we’ll continue another 2-3 miles to Cathedral City Cove and make our way down to East Palm Canyon and Cathedral Canyon drives, where we’ll enjoy a welldeserved breakfast or lunch at Sunshine Café.

AllTrails lists the Art Smith Trail as 15.6 hard miles with a 3,300-foot elevation gain, but I’d say it’s moderately hard due to the gradual climb. Dogs are not allowed in this area due to the sensitive desert terrain and concerns about wildlife disturbance.

For a hike that’s more moderately flat with a shorter distance—just more than 2.5 miles with an elevation gain of 692 feet—try the nearby Art Smith Loop. This trail runs along the base of the hills with varied terrain and offers beautiful views. For parking, continue up Highway 74, past the small parking area and the driveway for the Visitor Center to the larger paved parking lot further south on the right, just before the curve as the road heads up the mountain. Look for the big rock that displays Art Smith Trail.

Another great hike (and personal favorite) in the same area on the other side of Highway 74, is the Randall Henderson Canyon Loop Trail. This trail is also a moderate 2.5 miles with about 450 feet of elevation gain. For parking and trailhead access, turn left off Highway 74 into the Visitor Center, across from the larger paved Art Smith lot (the south lot), and park at the bottom of the hill. The trailhead is right there. Go past the kiosk; turn left; go up the steps; and stay to the left. You’ll see beautiful blooming cacti along with other flowers this time of year, as well as sweeping scenic views.

Across the valley—to the west and just north of Coachella Valley, about 11 miles on Highway 62 from Interstate 10—is another must visit for this time of year: the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, where the newly repaired boardwalk is now open. This preserve offers an entirely different desert experience, with easy and accessible shaded walkways, as

Four hikes with amazing scenery, wildlife and spring blooms

well as flowing water and dense vegetation that attract a remarkable variety of wildlife. I recently had the pleasure of seeing a great horned owl in a tree at the preserve as I was walking along the boardwalk. April is peak season for birdwatching here, as migratory species pass through, and resident birds become more active. The contrast between the cool, green canyon floor and the surrounding high desert makes Big Morongo an excellent option for warmer days or for hikers looking for a more relaxed, nature focused outing.

Thanks to milder temperatures, seasonal rains, breeding cycles and food availability, spring is the most active time of year for desert wildlife in and around the Coachella Valley. Reptiles emerge to bask in the sun; birds are nesting or migrating; and mammals are more visible during cooler daylight hours. While hiking, you may spot roadrunners darting across the trail, jackrabbits bounding through creosote flats, or desert iguanas warming themselves on rocks. Bighorn sheep are occasionally seen on higher elevation routes, especially in rugged terrain near mountain foothills.

weather also means increased snake activity. Hikers should stay alert; watch where you step; and keep dogs on a short leash. Snakes are most commonly spotted along trails at sunrise and just before sunset. Keep in mind that they, too, seek shade when you’re looking for a cool spot to rest, so be sure to carry a hiking pole and tap it against rocks to make your presence known before getting too close; always look closely around rocks before climbing. Awareness and respect for wildlife go a long way in keeping both hikers and animals safe.

April brings special significance as it aligns with Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22. Remember to show your appreciation for Mother Earth!

As always, start early; carry plenty of water (at least a liter per hour); have sun protection; and wear a brimmed hat. Remember to respect the desert and leave no trace. It’s especially beneficial this time of year to know the 10 desert hiking essentials and always have them with you when you’re out on the trails. Learn more at the Friends of the Desert Mountains’ hiking page: www.desertmountains.org/hiking.

OPINION KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

BY BONNIE GILGALLON

Sue Townsley was born in North Hollywood, and grew up surrounded by brothers—two older and one younger. Her father was a businessman, but Townsley took a different route: Her life has always revolved around art, music and writing.

Though she had no specific career goal in mind as a young person, Townsley said she was always the helper. “Whenever there was a birthday party down the street, I was always the one helping the mom,” she said. “I was always ‘that’ person—assisting behind the scenes.”

Townsley married young, at age 20. She spent three decades working for UCLA; for the last 15, she was in the chancellor’s office.

“It was a lot of fun,” she said. “One day, info about ‘Friends of Jazz at UCLA’ with Kenny Burrell

came across my desk.” She decided she wanted to get involved.

“It was part of ethnomusicology. It was a small concept, and not highly thought of at the beginning, because it was ‘just’ jazz,” Townsley said. “There was a large classical music department at the school at the time, so this idea was pushing against the grain a little bit. The other music departments were very structured. We were using musicians from many places, so we weren’t following accepted protocol. But we did it, and it became very popular.”

Friends of Jazz at UCLA put on numerous musical events, showcasing visiting jazz artists. The group functioned as a nonprofit within a large university, and while the college did help a bit financially early on, ticket sales kept them afloat. The majority of the artists involved were minorities, and Townsley basically ran the program, which she called ‘a lot of fun.’”

Townsley retired from UCLA in 2007—and was then asked to be the executive director of the California Jazz Foundation. Two years later, she and her husband moved to the desert, and she opened a chapter of the California Jazz Foundation here.

“Its goal is only to help musicians in need,” she said. “When I came out here, I learned that there were house parties raising money for musicians who were in the hospital, etc. I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, they don’t know that this organization fulfills that need.’ So I opened the local chapter and put on lots of musical events, mostly at Woody’s in Palm Springs.” That chapter of Townsley’s life closed when COVID-19 arrived, but she still keeps in touch with people within the organization.

In 2008, Townsley had helped organize “A Great Day in L.A.” to commemorate an iconic photo of a large crowd of jazz musicians taken in New York, titled “A Great Day in Harlem,” in 1958. Some 250 musicians showed up to the L.A. event, and participated in a jam session afterward.

“After moving to the desert, I learned that a similar photo had never been taken out here,

so I said, ‘OK, let’s do that,’” she said. “I called it ‘A Great Day in the Coachella Valley,’ rather than ‘in Cathedral City,’ even though it was taken on the steps of the Cathedral City City Hall. I would like to do it again sometime and include even more musicians.”

Today, Townsley is quite involved with the Cathedral City Senior Center. She is the board secretary, and she started an Arts, Culture and Humanities Committee which she co-chairs with Tom Rudolph. They produce monthly events there.

Though she’s a huge supporter of the arts, Townsley said she has no musical or artistic ability at all: “I draw stickmen!” she said.

Her son, Brian, teaches business courses online, runs his own small publishing company, and has written several novels and short stories. Her husband, Tim, who passed away in 2018 after 50 years of marriage, earned a master’s degree in art. He painted scenic and matte work for the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, including both commercial and commissioned pieces.

“When he passed away, (Cathedral City) put toppers on top of the street signs where we live that now say ‘Tim Townsley Way,’ because he brought a lot of attention from the art world to Cathedral City,” she said. “He loved painting jazz artists and philosophers. In fact, UC Riverside has his series of philosophy paintings in their philosophy department.”

Though Townsley appreciates the music scene in the valley, she’d like to see more venues offer either free or low-cost music events, so even folks without deep pockets can attend. “Not every musician is famous, but many are really good, and it would be nice to see every valley city expose these artists more to the public,” she said.

In 2020, Townsley was named the Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer by the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Desert Communities Chapter. On Friday, April 17, Townsley will be honored as the “heart of the community” at the Cathedral City Senior Center’s “A Night to Remember” gala.

Meet Sue Townsley, whose love of music and community activism have made an indelible mark on the Coachella Valley

Helping other people and watching them become successful seems to be Townsley’s mission in life—but what does Townsley like to do when not volunteering or promoting local musical events?

“Happy hour with the girls!” she said.

Bonnie Gilgallon has written theater reviews for the Independent since 2013. She hosts a digital interview show, The Desert Scene, which can be heard on www.thedesertscene.com and viewed on Mutual Broadcasting’s YouTube channel. Learn more at bonnie-g.com.

GIVING GROCERIES

by Haleemon Anderson

Monday is shopping day at the Cathedral City Senior Center food bank. Clients arrive early, and from 9 to 11 a.m., they get to choose from a cornucopia of dairy, breads, meats and produce.

Some days, there are fresh flowers or bundles of aromatics plucked from the center’s on-site

herb garden. Swordfish and shrimp were available when Jan Gelgood visited the food bank one recent Monday. She was pleasantly surprised; the mild, slightly sweet fish is one of her favorites.

Gelgood said the groceries she gets there help stretch her budget. “I got four huge swordfish steaks,” said Gelgood. “I love seafood, but it’s expensive. I can’t afford to buy it.”

Senior centers around the Coachella Valley provide an array of nutrition programs, from food banks to dine-in and delivery options, all with the goal of ensuring vulnerable seniors and their families never go without food—and today, local senior centers are busier than ever.

When the Trump administration threatened to suspend SNAP and WIC benefits during the federal government shutdown late in 2025, local food programs responded with more outreach and information. Donors and corporate sponsors also stepped up.

Victor Ide is chief operating officer at the Cathedral City Senior Center. He said any confusion about federal policies was abated by the community rallying to the mission.

“With the announcements that the SNAP benefits were going to be halted in November, we received phone calls from several members, many of them in tears, saying, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do. I rely on that money to buy food every month,’” said Ide.

The center immediately sent out emails to donors and members, making sure it was known that anyone with food needs could get help at the center. Ide said the food bank saw a spike of more than 150 people that very next Monday. Dedicated donors, in turn, answered the call with more donations of food and money.

“We had people stepping up,” said Ide. “The community really, really came together. And you know what we realized? When the government does these things that are confusing to people or that are actually harming people, our community really does step up.”

The Mizell Center in Palm Springs provides several dining programs. Each weekday, seniors can buy lunch for $5 at five regional senior centers, including Mizell, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs and Indio; seniors can enroll in the program with a photo ID. Mizell’s Meals on Wheels program delivers

more than 600 meals a day, throughout the entire Coachella Valley. Seniors 60 and older who live alone and are homebound can apply.

The Joslyn Center in Palm Desert operates a weekly food bank on Fridays from 8 to 10 a.m. that, like the food bank in Cathedral City, is open to the public. Interim executive director Jack Newby is currently steering the senior center he directed previously for seven years. He said the hardest thing to handle is the uncertainty of not knowing what changes will have to be faced next.

“We had additional people come into our nutrition program and our farmers’ market (after the suspension of SNAP in November), and that’s continued to grow,” he said.

He said food insecurity has trickled down to people who have not previously experienced food insecurity.

“We hear inflation is under control,” said Newby. “But with respect to food, it isn’t. And I frequently hear people saying, ‘It’s costing me $100 just for a single bag of groceries.’ I’ve experienced that myself. So, people are turning

Despite the government shutdown, expiring insurance tax credits and inflation, local senior centers have stepped up to keep providing food

to community organizations to help supplement basically their food budget.”

Alex Garcia is program director at Joslyn Center, where he oversees food operations. He said they serve 85 to 100 people every Friday—but because each individual may be getting food for additional household members, the true total is closer to 170 people, according to Garcia.

He said local donors and community support have kept food programs at the Joslyn Center stable despite challenges caused by the federal government—including the expiration of health-insurance tax credits at the end of 2025.

“Any changes or anything like that, I know we try to keep up with all the information on how certain things are happening, what’s being shut down or put on hold, etc.,” Garcia said. “We’ve had the pleasure, the honor, of working with multiple organizations, from local farmers, FIND Food Bank and some local stores, and asking for donations. … We’ve still been able to put food out there for our people.”

Back at the Cathedral City Senior Center, Ide said these philanthropic heroes fall into two categories: local grocery stores who provide the bulk of fresh produce and sundry goods, and donors who give cash donations.

“It’s pretty much every major grocery store in the valley,” said Ide. “Whether it’s Vons, Alb-

ertsons, Stater Bros., Grocery Outlet—every weekend, we get loads and loads of fresh vegetables. That’s what they can’t keep on the shelf anymore, but it’s all perfectly good food. So those are definitely heroes.

“But the other heroes that I want to spotlight are the people who support senior centers in terms of money—our donors. I can tell you, when we sent that memo out about the CalFresh benefit (being suspended during the federal government shutdown) and how much we needed their support, we literally had one donor call and say, ‘I want to give you $10,000 right now. I want you to buy as much food as you need to for next Monday.’ I mean, it’s that kind of support that we’re given. That’s incredible.”

Gelgood makes a point to support the stores that donate to the food banks, by shopping at them when she can. She also said the herbalist who tends the gardening plot at the Cathedral City Senior Center doesn’t get enough kudos. “He funds all the seeds and does all this gardening,” she said. “He harvests the herb garden, lettuce, vegetables, figs and donates it all to the food bank.”

She said she once called attorney Walter Clark to thank him after he sponsored an extravagant spread of holiday fixings at the food bank.

“We are so blessed here,” Gelgood said.

COVERAGE OR RIDERSHIP?

by Kevin Fitzgerald

The Coachella Valley’s lone mass-transit option for its roughly 450,000 residents is the SunLine Transit Agency (STA), based in Thousand Palms. With its fleet of 88 fixed-route buses and other vehicles, the STA is tasked with providing daily reliable, efficient and comfortable transportation.

In 2026, vehicles are more expensive to purchase or lease—and when you add in taxes, licensing, registration fees and the skyrocketing price of gasoline, paying $1 for a SunLine bus trip (or just 50 cents for seniors) may sound appealing. But when many people take into consideration the distance they must walk to get to a bus stop from home or work—often in triple-digit heat—one tends to think again.

Such are the questions and challenges facing SunLine CEO and general manager Mona Babauta. She’s been on the job since August 2023, and with her 26 years of experience in the public transit sphere, Babauta is spearheading an ambitious strategic planning effort, introduced by a community-outreach program (aka phase one) over the last two months. This data-gathering and planning project has been dubbed “SunLine: Rides Reimagined.”

“What we want to do is understand better the needs of the community,” Babauta told the Independent during a recent interview. “That’s our No. 1 priority, and that’s what we’re doing. We haven’t done any extensive work to go out into the community and get their feedback on why they don’t take the bus, and also why they do take the bus, (in some time). If they do take the bus, what more can we do to improve their ability to move throughout the valley as efficiently, as quickly and as comfortably as possible? The last time we did this was before COVID … so it’s high time we do it again.”

Is the “Rides Reimagined” effort intended to improve revenues, or to satisfy passenger concerns and needs?

“Of course, every time we do something that results in ridership increases, we are going to see increases in revenue,” Babauta said. “That’s an important goal of ours, because we want to, of course, collect more fare revenues. And then, we also want to look at ways to improve funding from the state and federal governments. Our ability to demonstrate that we’re doing things that increase ridership, and take cars off the road as well, those are two valuable metrics when we compete for funding at the state and federal levels.”

The public survey concluded in early March, but interested members of the public still have opportunities to submit their input in the coming weeks.

“All of the public meetings that we have

scheduled moving forward, and that we know of at this point in time, can be found (at www. sunline.org),” Babauta said. “We also have our scheduled board meetings, and (residents are) always welcome to come to our board meetings and share their feedback.” (The April board meeting is scheduled for April 22, at SunLine’s Thousand Palms headquarters.)

Babauta pointed to some interesting survey results.

“The response rate has been incredible,” Babauta said. “We’ve gotten over 1,700 surveys, which is fantastic, because normally when we go out and do public outreach and ask folks to complete surveys, we don’t usually get such an overwhelming response. … We’re still trying to synthesize the data, and we’ll do cross tabulations also to help us learn more about each individual city and community, but what we heard from the public was: One, they’re willing to walk a little bit farther to be able to get to their destinations faster. We thought that was interesting, especially here in the desert.”

Now in phase two of “Rides Reimagined,” Babauta said SunLine is working to find a proper balance between “two service scenarios.”

“One service scenario is focused on maximizing ridership, and a second scenario is focused on maximizing coverage. There are trade-offs between the two, right?” she said. “When we look for data, we’re looking at where all the ridership is happening, and where all the density is. So, if we want to maximize ridership, we’re really focusing service along those corridors where the most jobs are, where there’s the most high-density housing, and where there’s the most shopping going on. … The coverage scenario entails the buses touching almost every part of the valley. When that happens, people won’t have to walk as far to grab a bus—but that bus is not going to get you from point A to point B as fast as you would like. So, there are trade-offs. … We’re providing two scenarios that reflect both of those interests that we oftentimes hear from customers and folks in the community, and when we develop those two scenarios, we’re going to go back and do another round of public engagement. That will likely start around May.”

SunLine will request feedback on those two scenarios, and present the findings at the July 22 board meeting, Babauta said.

SunLine is planning for the future by asking valley residents for input on preferred bus-service options

“The board will be asked to give us feedback on these scenarios, and they’ll do that armed with the community feedback that we’ve got … already,” she said. “They might say, ‘We do not like either one of those scenarios, staff, so we want you to go back to the drawing board and come up with a map that maybe reflects both, or maybe leans more toward ridership … or something that leans more towards coverage.”

Once the SunLine team has determined their preferred service scenario, phase three of “Rides Reimagined” will begin.

“We’ll ask the public what they think through another survey process, and possibly other community meetings. We still need to figure all that out,” Babauta said. “Then we’ll go back to the board later this calendar year and present all of the findings that we got from the community … and share a proposed final scenario. Once the board takes action at the end, that (final scenario) is what my staff is going to use to inform our service changes— until this process is done again in another five to six years, possibly.”

Babauta said she knows that not all riders will be happy with that final scenario.

“I’ve been going to all the city councils, and other council meetings in the unincorporated areas of the county, (and) I’ve been telling folks that in the end, there are probably going to be

folks who won’t be happy with what they see, because the bus won’t go exactly where they want it to go,” she said. “However, we’re going to do our best. We’re going to do our best to get bus stops as close as possible to them, so that we can minimize walks. We (already) offer other mobility options to minimize the gaps, to minimize how far people might need to walk, and to minimize (having) no access to mobility. Those other options include SunRide, which is our micro-transit offering: You call us and tell us where you are, and we will offer you a pickup point. The pickup point may not exactly be at your house, but it will be a short distance from where you’re at, and we will do our best to get you as close as possible to where you want to go.

“… To jump on SunRide is a $3 (trip), because it’s more of a premium service. … We also provide subsidized taxi service. Basically, we subsidize taxi rides for individuals who are over the age of 60 (or have) qualifying disabilities. … We will match every dollar that a rider puts into a taxi ride with another dollar, up to $75 (per month). So, individuals who qualify for the subsidized taxi program could take $150 worth of rides in a month, and we will subsidize half of that.”

Learn more at www.sunline.org/rides-reimagined.

MISTREATED BEHIND BARS

by KEVIN FITZGERALD

Last July 29, a contingent of community members, advocates and families affected by the mistreatment of relatives incarcerated at Riverside County jails converged on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting. Their goal: for the county to take steps to better oversee the goings-on at county jails.

One witness after another brought up serious concerns about the unusually high number of in-custody deaths (about 250 inmates have died while detained by the county since 2011), allegations of prisoners’ civil rights being ignored, multimillion-dollar legal settlements that drain public funds—and the lack of transparency by Chad Bianco’s sheriff’s department.

District 1 Supervisor Jose Medina made a motion calling for the establishment of a committee to consider creating a body to oversee Riverside County Sheriff’s Department job performance, transparency and accountability—but the effort died when none of his fellow supervisors seconded the motion.

On Nov. 11, a group of concerned citizens— made up of groups including Riverside All of Us or None, Starting Over Strong (SOS) and others—announced a plan to place an independent sheriff’s oversight committee initiative on the 2026 ballot. To accomplish that goal, the group would need to obtain 35,000plus verified signatures of registered Riverside County voters, and deliver them to the county by April 3.

With that deadline approaching, the Independent reached out recently to Nathan Kempe, a founding member of SOS, to find out if the effort had been successful.

It had not.

In reply, Kempe provided a statement which reads, in part: “Over the past four months, the petition effort has seen tremendous support from aligned community groups, a network of more than 100 volunteers, and many community partners across Riverside County, helping to circulate the initiative and engage residents. However, as we approached the 2026 deadline, it became clear that the tight timeline for qualifying for the 2026 ballot was not our only constraint.”

Kempe’s statement said several proposals have been introduced in the California Legislature that could affect the initiative effort— including Assembly Bill 2257, which would change how counties structure jail governance.

“Our coalition decided it was more responsible to pause and reassess rather than rush something onto the ballot that might need revision shortly afterward,” Kempe’s statement said.

Now, the coalition is planning an initiative

campaign for the 2028 ballot cycle.

“Although we paused the qualification effort for this cycle,” the statement said, “the petition campaign significantly expanded public awareness of independent sheriff oversight. It strengthened a vibrant volunteer network and coalition of community partners across Riverside County. That groundwork positions the effort to move forward in the next ballot cycle with a clearer policy landscape and the strongest possible oversight structure.”

Activists postpone a ballotinitiative effort to require more oversight of Riverside County’s jails

Kempe’s statement explained the coalition’s plan moving forward.

“Over the next 18 months,” Kempe wrote, “coalition partners will build on the volunteer network and community partnerships formed during the initial petition effort—expanding organizing across all five supervisorial districts, hosting listening sessions in each district, and working alongside immigrant and other historically marginalized communities across Riverside County. The coalition will continue advocating for independent sheriff oversight at every opportunity as the groundwork for the next ballot cycle continues.”

Kempe added that the “need for (county jail) oversight has never been starker,” and pointed to new information about the 2020 death

of Jamall Brown, who was in jail following a parole violation, as an example.

“For years, families, advocates and community leaders have raised alarms about deaths in custody, (the use of) excessive force, and the lack of transparency surrounding (such incidents) in Riverside County,” the statement said. “The Desert Sun recently reported that Jamall Brown’s death—initially classified as an overdose—is now the subject of a lawsuit alleging he died from untreated diabetic complications after pleading for medical help while deputies and medical staff ignored him. Cases like this continue to underscore why independent sheriff oversight is necessary.”

To learn more or volunteer, visit oversightnow.org.

EXCESSIVE PENALTIES

AA case involving a $5,000 Cathedral City short-term rental fine could lead to a statewide precedent regarding exorbitant fees

pair of related cases currently before the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of Riverside County may set a statewide legal precedent regarding the ability of cities to set high penalty fees for code violations.

The city of Cathedral City is appealing a decision by Riverside County Superior Court Judge by Kevin Fitzgerald

Manuel Bustamante Jr., which ordered a $5,000 penalty levied by the city against resident Richard Levik for a short-term rental (STR) code violation to be reduced to $750.

David Koslow is a Cathedral City resident who has supported Levik’s legal defense. He graduated from the New York University School of Law in 1974 and worked as an entertainment and constitutional-law attorney until the mid-1980s in Los Angeles. He’s now acting as a citizens’ legal-defense resource here in Coachella Valley and said he’s determined to help valley residents defend themselves against high-cost punishments for seemingly minor offenses of local ordinances or resolutions.

In 2022, Koslow assisted another Cathedral City resident, Alessandra Montanaro, who ran advertisements for her short-term rental property even though her city-issued permit had expired. The city, through its third-party vendor Data Ticket, issued a $5,000 citation to Montanaro, which she appealed. She acted as her own attorney at her city hearing and her subsequent case in Riverside County Superior Court, losing in both proceedings. She eventually argued in front of the Appellate Division that the $5,000 fine for a first offense was draconian in nature, and created an undue financial burden. While the Appellate Division

agreed that the excessive fine violated both the California and United States constitutions, her case was eventually scuttled because she did not initially raise that argument.

Two years later, Cathedral City cited Levik for a similar violation—and again, the initial penalty was $5,000.

“On Feb. 27, 2024 … I got a letter in the mail from the city,” Levik told the Independent. “I had just installed solar panels, so I assumed it had something to do with that— and then I see a fine. ‘First violation $100’ was crossed out. ‘Second (violation) $250,’ ‘third $500’—all that was crossed out, and written in was $5,000. I’m like, ‘This is ridiculous. This is a mistake, I assume.’”

He filed an appeal and wrote a post on NextDoor—where he made contact with Koslow.

Fortunately, when Levik represented himself during his initial trial in Superior Court, he raised the issue regarding the unfair fee amount. Judge Bustamante agreed, reducing the fine from $5,000 to $750. As of our interview, Levik was searching for an attorney to represent him during the appeals process.

Any attorney who agrees to represent Levik will have an established legal argument to present. Attorney Brian Sutherland, who eventually represented Montanaro as she unsuccessfully filed an appeal with the California Supreme Court, stated: “Review is warranted. As the city (of Cathedral City) has conceded, numerous municipalities are exploiting an interpretation of the law that purportedly enables them to impose unlimited fines in administrative proceedings. Thus, as the city further conceded (in a court filing), the issue is one of ‘sweeping statewide importance for local governments.’”

The Alliance Against Local Agency

Injustices submitted a letter in support of Alessandra Montanaro’s appeal, in which attorney Daniel O. Ajeigbe wrote, in part: “The question of whether (California) Government Code section 36901 limits to $1,000 the administrative fine for a non-infraction violation of a city ordinance is a matter of statewide concern affecting the rights of over 34 million people who reside within the jurisdiction of the state’s 483 incorporated cities, and of the approximately 271.6 million people who visit California in a year. (Our

organization) seeks to protect this large class of people from the harm that administrative municipal fines cause when they exceed the limits provided by law.”

In the Coachella Valley, the cities of Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Desert Hot Springs and Coachella all join Cathedral City in having STR penalty-fee structures that exceed $1,000. The cities of Palm Springs and Indio’s fee structures max out at $1,000, although the Indio City Council recently opened discussion of creating a STR excessive-noise violation penalty of $5,000 as a response to problems during April’s music-festival season. In Indian Wells, the city’s penalty fees straddle $1,000 by creating two classes of violations: For general code violations, the structure is below $1,000, unless there are three or more violations in a 12-month period, which carries a $1,500 fine per violation. Indian Wells also created another category for threats to health and safety violations which begin at $1,500 and rise to $5,000 for three or more violations in a year. (These higher fines for health/safety violations were made legal as part of Senate Bill 60, passed in 2022.)

“The reason the (Cathedral City) has been fighting this,” Koslow said, “and delaying

what I think is inevitable, is there is going to be about a half-million dollars in refunds that the city will need to make to all of the people who paid $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000 fines to the city.”

Koslow said he will provide any support he can to any valley residents looking for pro-bono legal assistance in these sorts of matters, and urged anyone in need of such support to contact him at koslowfineart@gmail.com or 760-202-6838.

“At the trial court, (Montanaro) was representing herself,” Koslow said. “And the reason why is she checked around, and attorneys were asking $20,000 to $25,000 to handle her case at the trial court, and the amount in controversy was only $5,000, so it would not make any sense for her to hire an attorney.”

Or, as Sutherland, Montanaro’s eventual pro-bono attorney, stated in his petition for review: “Unlike in criminal proceedings, in which the right to counsel is guaranteed, Californians facing administrative proceedings or subsequent civil proceedings are not currently afforded any right to representation. The process therefore disproportionately harms low-income people, who are forced to contend with the power of the state while provided with ‘decreased procedural protections.’”

APRIL ASTRONOMY

By Robert Victor

During evenings in April, skywatchers can enjoy two brilliant planets—and lots of bright stars! In predawn darkness of April 15-26, the Milky Way excels. Very low in brightening morning twilight, a trio of planets will present a challenge for sky-watchers with binoculars. Opposing old and young very thin crescent moons—low in bright twilight on April 16 at dawn and April 17 at dusk—will be even more difficult. I’ve seen opposing crescents on consecutive days only once in my life: on Dec. 31, 2013, and Jan. 1, 2014, from the Coachella Valley!

On April 1, the full moon rises near the time of sunset. How soon after sunset can you find Venus, nearly 21° to the upper left of the sun? About 75 minutes after sunset that evening, look for Spica 10° to the moon’s lower left. At about that same time, Venus and Spica are 4° above opposite

horizons, 171° apart.

Note how the three brightest objects in the sky—from west to east, Venus, Jupiter and the moon—lie in a nearly straight line across the sky. On or within a few degrees of that line, you’ll find a collection of zodiac markers. In order from west to east, they are: Venus; Uranus and the Pleiades; Hyades and Aldebaran; Beta and Zeta Tauri, tips of the horns of the Bull; Eta and Mu in Gemini, third-magnitude stars in Castor’s foot; Jupiter, Castor and Pollux; the Beehive cluster and the Aselli, Delta and Gamma in Cancer; Regulus; tonight’s full moon; and Spica. On April 2, the moon will rise within 3° to the south (lower right) of Spica. Spica will be at opposition on April 13, as our planet Earth passes between the sun and Spica.

The moon, in its next run through the evening sky, April 17-May 1, is passing all these objects, plus Zubenelgenubi, or Alpha in Libra. A very young moon on April 17 is possible from Western U.S. within about 30 minutes after sunset. Find the hairline crescent with optical aid first, looking just above the west-northwest horizon 17° to the lower right of Venus, and then try with the unaided eye. The moon’s age at the time of your possible sighting from the Coachella Valley will be only about 15 hours after the new moon of April 17 at 4:52 a.m. You’ll need clear skies and an unobstructed view of the horizon!

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At dusk on the next evening, April 18, the 39-hour moon, 5° to the lower right of Venus, will be an easy, spectacular sight! On the following two evenings, the moon climbs through Taurus past the Pleiades and Hyades clusters and Aldebaran, and ending near Elnath, the star marking the Bull’s northern horn, on April 20. At dusk on April 29, the star Spica, spike of grain in the hand of Virgo, will appear about 2 degrees to the lower left of the 98 percent moon. Use binoculars to follow the closest approach of moon and star during the 10 p.m. hour. On the next evening at dusk, the nearly full moon will appear 11° to the lower left of Spica.

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and Beta in Aries early in the month; 3/4 of a degree north of Uranus on April 23; 3.5° south of Alcyone, brightest member of the Pleiades, on April 23 and 24; and 6.4° north of Aldebaran on May 1. Jupiter, of magnitude -2.2 to -2, moves 3° east in April, ending 34’ (nearly 0.6°) north of 3.5-magnitude Delta in Gemini. The Venus-Jupiter separation is 73° on April 1; narrowing to 60° on April 12; 45° on April 26; and 41° on April 30.

There are bright stars galore in the evenings! After Vega rises in the northeast and before Rigel sets in the west-southwest, 11 of the 16 stars of first magnitude or brighter ever visible from our area can be viewed simultaneously. Morning planets: Mercury glows at magnitude +0.2 at greatest elongation 28° west of the sun on April 3-4, but it’s only 4°-5° up in mid-twilight from the Coachella Valley. It brightens slowly in the course of April, but sinks into an even brighter twilight glow. Use binoculars! Mercury is joined by two fainter planets, first by Mars of magnitude +1.2, and finally by Saturn of magnitude +0.9. The most compact arrangement of these three morning planets occurs as Mercury, at magnitude -0.2, passes within 0.5° south of Saturn on April 20. Mars is then 1.3° to the upper left of Saturn, with the entire trio fitting into a 1.7° field.

On April 15 in bright morning twilight, the 5 percent waning crescent moon will be just south of east. When it climbs to 6° up, Mercury is 3.7° to the moon’s lower right, and Mars is 4.2° to the lower left of Mercury, and 5.2° to the lower left of the moon.

On April 16 is a challenging sight, very low in the east in bright twilight: four solar system bodies, in order from upper right to lower left, span 13°. Mercury is the brightest one, 2°-3° up, with Mars 3.6° to Mercury’s lower left. Saturn will be just rising, 2.5° to Mars’ lower left. Three planets fit into a 5.5° field. Try for a very thin, 1 percent crescent old moon, about 23 hours before new, just risen, within 8° to the left of Saturn.

left of Mars.

Planets and Bright Stars in Evening Mid-Twilight For April, 2026

This sky chart is drawn for latitude 34 degrees north, but may be used in southern U.S. and northern Mexico.

The month offers excellent views of the Milky Way, the three brightest objects in a nearly straight line, and more!

Evening mid-twilight occurs when the Sun is 9° below the horizon. Apr.1: 40 minutes after sunset. 15: 41 " " " 30: 42 " " "

April 18: Three planets fit into 2.8°. Mercury is the brightest, still 2°-3° up, but slightly lower each morning at the same stage of twilight. Mars is 2.5° to its upper left, with Saturn 2.8° to the lower left of Mercury, and 1.5° below Mars.

April 19: Three planets fit into 2°. Mercury is the brightest, 1.6° up. Mars is 2° to its upper left, with Saturn within 1.5° of the lower left of Mercury, and 1.2° of the lower right of Mars.

April 20: Three planets fit into a 1.7° field, their most compact arrangement. Mercury is still the brightest member of the trio, but is now the lowest. Mars, the highest member, is 1.7° to the upper left of Mercury. Saturn is within 0.5° to Mercury’s upper left and within 1.3° to the lower right of Mars.

April 22, to 5° on April 26. Meanwhile, Mars and Saturn rise higher each morning and get easier to see. Look for Mars 2° to the left of Saturn on April 22, and then to its lower left thereafter, by 5° on April 27, and 7° on April 30.

The Astronomical Society of the Desert will host a star party on Saturday, April 11, at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center; and on Saturday, April 18, at Sawmill Trailhead, a site in the Santa Rosa Mountains at elevation 4,000 feet. For more information, visit astrorx.org.

The Abrams Planetarium Sky Calendar includes illustrations of many of the events described in this column. To subscribe for $12 per year, visit www.abramsplanetarium.org/ skycalendar.

Brilliant evening planets: Venus, shining at magnitude -3.9 all month, shifts east just more than 1.2° daily, passing widely south of Alpha

April 17: The moon is gone. Three planets fit into 4.2°. Mercury is the brightest, 2°-3° up. Mars is 3° to its left, with Saturn 2° to the lower

April 21: Three planets are in an almost equilateral triangle configuration, fitting into a field 1.9° across. On following mornings, Mercury drops lower into bright twilight, increasing its distance to the lower left of Mars from 2° on

Robert C. Victor was staff astronomer at Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University. He is now retired and enjoys promoting sky watching to folks of all ages in and around Palm Springs.

Coa·chel·la

The word ‘Coachella’ refers to a city, our valley and that big music festival—but where did it originate?

By Greg Niemann

Coachella is a term well-known to music-lovers.

The annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, which started in 1999, has become a top global music attraction—but what does the word Coachella mean, anyhow? Where did it come from?

The festival’s name comes from the Coachella Valley, which was named after the city of Coachella, one of the nine cities in the area between the Salton Sea to the southeast, and the San Gorgonio Pass about 45 miles northwest. The valley’s easternmost city of Coachella was established thanks to a railhead that became a major shipping point for much of the valley’s produce.

Some people speculate that the word is a mispronunciation of Cahuilla, the name of the local indigenous people who have

occupied the area for more than 3,000 years. In the mid-1800s, 22 desert Cahuilla villages were recorded with a population estimated in the thousands. In 1856, United States Land Office surveyors indicated there was Cahuilla village in what is now the city of Coachella. However, that’s not where the word originated. Instead, documents show that Coachella is a misspelling of the word conchilla, which is Spanish for “little shell.”

Early Spanish settlers had found numerous fossilized shells in the region’s dry lakebed (well before a catastrophic flood created the Salton Sea in 1905).

The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1876 is a significant milestone for what became the Coachella Valley, linking it to the expanding network of U.S. railways. A three-car side spur (a short track off the main line used for loading and repairs, among other things) was built a few miles south of

Coachella’s City Hall was built in 1949 on some of the land Jason Rector had set aside for a park.

Photo courtesy of the city of Coachella

A well in what is now the city of Coachella, in 1903. Photo by C.C. Pierce, Strand Magazine, London, January 1905 to settle the area.

Indio. That siding initially became known as Woodspur due to the abundance of mesquite and greasewood (creosote) in the area.

The Southern Pacific Railroad Co. and the estate of Alban N. Towne (a railroad vice president) decided to get this wood to market for woodstoves. They hired Jason L. Rector— who had arrived from Iowa and pitched his tent nearby—to harvest and load this wood onto boxcars. Rector’s wood terminal on the siding did a thriving business, and he began to buy real estate in the area.

He successfully dug a well on his desert tract four miles east of Indio, at what is now the intersection of Grapefruit Boulevard and Fifth Street in Coachella; the well descended 550 feet and took eight months to dig. It was completed in November 1900 and tapped into pure water. With imminent and abundant water, Rector quit his job and was encouraged by managers of the Southern Pacific Railway

While there were “traqueros” (track workers, mostly of Mexican descent) who had camped nearby, and there was a small town in Indio, Rector became the first permanent resident of Woodspur. With the railroad in place to efficiently get produce to market, Rector and others hoped settlers could be interested in the area’s vast agricultural possibilities. At a small gathering which included railroad people, Rector and A.G. Tingman (who owned a small store in Indio), as well as a few prospectors and homesteaders, they decided a name change from Woodspur was in order. Someone suggested naming the town “Rector,” but he declined the honor.

Tingman proposed the name Conchilla, that Spanish word for those little shells abundant throughout the area. They voted and agreed on the name. Anxious to announce the new town to potential settlers, they ordered a prospectus/map.

However, a mistake made by the printers on the prospectus gave birth to the unusual name of Coachella, according to the city of Coachella’s historical records. The printers apparently misread a couple of the letters (an “a” for an “n,” and an “e” for an “i”), and the prospectus read “Coachella” instead of ‘Conchilla.” Rather than delay their announcement, which had been already slated for January 1901, they decided to just accept the misspelled name and later voted to adopt the name Coachella.

COMPASS ROSE

Years later Rector, recalled, “I well remember how badly put out Mr. Tingman was when the maps arrived and it was found that the engineer’s longhand was so unreadable that the name had been interpreted ‘Coachella.’”

Rector built an adobe house and advertised land for interested settlers, charging them $10 per filing. He laid out a township on his land, even setting aside two blocks for a park. Settlers were indeed attracted to the new agricultural area, and the community began to grow.

In 1902, Rector organized the Coachella Valley Produce Association, which shipped the first car of fruit ever raised in the valley. A packing house was later built in the town, followed by an ice and pre-cooling plant. The railroad was a lifeline for the city, facilitating the export of fresh produce such as dates, citrus fruits and vegetables, which contributed greatly to the local economy. The goods produced and shipped from Coachella attracted buyers from major U.S. cities, and they were advertised throughout the world. As the desert’s climate allowed crops to be grown year-round, the town’s development continued. Rector (1853-1919) made the original hand-drawn map of the valley and served as unofficial mayor of Coachella for years.

Coachella was incorporated as a 2.5-squaremile city on Dec. 13, 1946. The city has since expanded to 30 square miles. The Coachella City Hall was built in 1949 on half of that parkland that was set aside by Rector and officially donated in 1905. The City Hall originally also housed the courthouse, the police department, and the U.S. Post Office.

The other half of the parkland became Veterans’ Memorial Park.

As Coachella grew, a multi-generational Mexican-American culture took root in the town, and the city is officially bilingual in English and Spanish. Recent U.S. Census data shows that 97 percent of residents are Hispanic or Latino.

While still an agricultural center, the city of Coachella has diversified its economy with the addition of various small businesses and two casinos. In January 1995, the TwentyNine Palms Band of Mission Indians opened what is now the Spotlight 29 Casino. It was expanded in April 2002 to a 130,000-squarefoot, full-service casino with restaurants and entertainment. In July 2002, the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians opened the Augustine Casino on their small reservation in the south part of the city. It has become popular as a neighborhood casino. Today, Coachella has population of about 45,000.

To most people, the word “Coachella” doesn’t refer to a city or a valley. Instead, it refers to one of the world’s most iconic music festivals—and if that lousy printing error hadn’t happened, a quarter-million attendees might be enjoying Conchilla instead of Coachella every April.

Sources for this article include the Coachella City Clerk; History of Riverside County by Elmer Wallace Holmes and others (Historic Record Company, 1912); Coachella Valley’s Golden Years (Desert Printing Co., 1968); and the Bureau of Land Management’s California Land Patents Database.

Call us today to schedule a complimentary consultation and get acquainted with an independent, Fee-Only financial planning & investment management firm located here in the Coachella Valley.

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ARTS & CULTURE

PUNK OVER POSH

By Matt King

Alocal punk clothing store is celebrating its one-year anniversary with great art—and heavy music!

Damaged Goods Punk Shop in Palm Desert has been providing threads, jewelry and more for the local alternative scene since late March 2025, and to commemorate the anniversary, the shop will host Damaged Fest, an event intertwining an art gallery experience with sets from energetic rockers. You can view and purchase artwork by music legends like Monkey (The Adicts),

Exene Cervenka (X), Jill Emery (Hole/Mazzy Star), Gitane Demone (Christian Death), Fur Dixon (The Cramps) and A.J. Ransdell (Das Klown), and catch sets from bands including S.O.H., SOOT and Greasetrap.

Damaged Fest will take place at 5 p.m., Friday, April 3.

During a recent interview with owner Veronika Vitsaras, she explained how Damaged Fest stemmed from a Valentine’s Day art show.

“It went really well, and the community was really thankful for the opportunity,” Vitsaras said about that show. “I just saw that it was so needed to keep doing things like this. I had my one-year anniversary coming up, our first year in business, so I was like, ‘Let’s do this again.’”

Damaged Fest is a collaboration with The Artlands Creative, a nonprofit that provides opportunities for art and artists throughout the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, and has a gallery space in Redlands.

“Daniel Gohman from Artlands reached out to me,” Vitsaras said. “He came for the Valentine’s show and was like, ‘Hey, I have some of these artists who show in our space, and they love to show in different spaces, especially female-owned punk businesses.’ I worked together with him to put this together.”

Thanks to that connection, some huge names in punk music will showcase their artwork at Damaged Goods. The event then grew from an all-star exhibit into a full-fledged community celebration highlighting art of all forms.

“I wanted to make it even bigger, so I started reaching out to bands I knew, posting and asking for local bands—and now we’ve got music,” Vitsaras said. “Then food vendors hit me up, and artist vendors hit me up, so now it’s a full-on thing, and I just kept rolling with it. I was like, ‘Maybe I could do this every year,’ so I called it Damaged Fest. I think it’s a good time of year, too. It’s the weekend before Coachella starts, and there are a lot of people in town who have to set up Coachella, so they don’t have much to do other than work. I think it’ll be a good turnout. The art show will be inside, and we’re doing the music in the back, in the parking lot.”

You can catch local female-fronted punk

energy from Greasetrap, as well as sets from two out-of-town acts—S.O.H. and SOOT.

“S.O.H., System of Hate, are from L.A., have female lead vocals, and they’re awesome,” Vitsaras said. “They’re just a powerhouse, and they’re so rad. I’m excited that they were down for this. SOOT, State of Offensive Tactics, I’ve known those guys for a while, and they’re just super-supportive. They’re always helping everyone in the punk scene, so he hit me up, and I was like, ‘Yes.’”

When setting up Damaged Fest, Vitsaras posted on social media that she was in search of BIPOC or femme-fronted bands. She said she’s insistent on providing opportunities to bands who aren’t always offered a spotlight.

“We see less from them (BIPOC or femme-fronted bands), because people don’t give them the stage,” she said. “I think the art world and the punk scene have always been very male-dominated, so I’m all for helping the sisters out and the people who don’t get those opportunities.”

The goal of Damaged Fest is to combine music and art seamlessly, as Vitsaras has always valued the connection between punk music and physical art.

“I’ve always combined the two, because that’s just been my lifestyle,” she said. “I’ve always been an artist and a painter and a creative person, and I’ve just been drawn to the punk scene, because I feel like there’s more freedom to be who you are there. In my mind, they’ve always mingled.”

In its first year, Damaged Goods Punk Shop has become a hub for alternative subculture, and has allowed people to post fliers for local punk, hardcore and goth shows.

“I’m down to help everybody, and (others) are the same way,” she said. “We all just want to support each other and make fun things happen. We need more of that out here; that’s why I wanted to do this store. I grew up out here, and there was nothing like this when I was a teen, and I would’ve loved to go to a shop like this. It’s always been a dream of mine to have a shop, so I moved back here a few years ago and was like, ‘Maybe this is the place to do it.’ It all came together.”

Palm Desert’s Damaged Goods Punk Shop celebrates a year in business with a party featuring, art, music and more

That said, owning a business in 2026 is a struggle. Vitsaras said that thanks to word of mouth, Damaged Goods has been able to stay afloat.

“I think the hard part is getting the word out that I’m here,” she said. “Instagram is helpful, but it really helps that people come in and share that they’ve come here and send (those shares) to their friends. Word of mouth is the best. People are coming in and going, ‘How long have you been here?’ … For the first year, it’s been pretty good, and I’ve had a lot of good feedback.”

Every event at Damaged Goods, including Damaged Fest, prioritizes punk over posh.

“With the last art show … people who came

were like, ‘This is the way I want to see art— not so stuffy, and on the walls of a punk shop,’” Vitsaras said. “I’m going do more local art shows after this, too. I want to showcase more local people and affordable art, so we’ll keep doing that. In the shop, I make all the T-shirts. I do all the artwork and screen printing, and then I’ve got other vendors in here, too, who make jewelry and leather goods.”

Damaged Fest will take place at 5 p.m., Friday, April 3, at Damaged Goods Punk Shop, at 73540 Highway 111, No. 2, in Palm Desert. The event is free. For more information, visit instagram.com/ damagedgoodspunkshop.

FILM & TV

GLAMOUR AND EMPATHY

By Cat Makino

The Palm Springs Cultural Center is celebrating Elizabeth Taylor with a cinema retrospective of the actress’ work—from her breakthrough as a child actress to her later roles.

The Elizabeth Taylor Retrospective will include one Saturday-evening film per month, starting on April 11 with National Velvet. The series will continue on May 16 with The Mirror Crack’d, June 20 with Father of the Bride, July 18 with The Last Time I Saw Paris, and Aug. 15 with A Place in the Sun, plus additional screenings through June 2027.

“When we screened a few Elizabeth Taylor films last summer, audiences immediately asked for more,” said Tim Rains, marketing director of the Palm Springs Cultural Center. “Taylor wasn’t just one of Hollywood’s greatest stars; she was also a beloved Palm Springs resident and philanthropist. This series celebrates both her remarkable film legacy and her deep connection to our community, while giving audiences the rare chance to see these films the way they were meant to be seen: on the big screen.”

Film historian and author Matthew Kennedy will host each screening, offering commentary and historical context. He authored On Elizabeth Taylor: An Opinionated Guide and Roadshow! The Fall of Film Musicals in the 1960s, along with several biographies.

National Velvet, which Taylor made at the age of 12 in 1944, secured her stardom.

“It is exciting to see a star being created before our eyes—and 82 years later, it is still a popular film and beloved family classic,” Kennedy said about National Velvet.

Taylor often chose to play moral characters who were being wronged, without being preachy or self-serving, Kennedy said. The

ultimate film in which moral fiber is reflected in her character is Giant, a 1956 film co-starring Rock Hudson and James Dean. She plays a virtuous character, the wife of Hudson’s character, and she’s the centerpiece of the film.

“The character has flaws,” Kennedy said. “She’s multidimensional. But she’s also doing the right thing. … She is a character who’s fighting for racial justice. She’s protective of her children and their well-being, and she calls out her husband’s racism in the film. She seeks medical care for people who are suffering, the Mexican laborers on her husband’s ranch. It’s politically progressive in a film that’s 70 years old.”

Kennedy said Taylor was known for her empathy. He shared an anecdote from the filing of Suddenly, Last Summer (1959).

“There’s a scene at the end where she does an extended monologue; it’s difficult, and her emotions are absolutely raw,” Kennedy said.

“And it goes on for quite a long time.” At the end of the first day’s shooting, she found a corner of the set, all by herself, and started sobbing. The director asked her if she was OK.

All Taylor could say was “that poor girl,” referring to her character.

The Palm Springs Cultural Center celebrates Elizabeth Taylor with a monthly film retrospective

She was also a consummate professional.

“Two weeks into filming Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, her third husband, Mike Todd, died in a plane crash,” Kennedy said. “She went into deep, deep grief and could barely function— but she actually delivered this fantastic performance. It was the height of professionalism and strength that she was able to do that.”

Taylor reportedly said, “When the camera was rolling, and I was Maggie the Cat, I was on fire. When the camera stopped rolling, I could barely speak.”

Kennedy said he finds Taylor “fascinating” in part because she was privileged throughout her life. Her parents were well-off; she lived in Beverly Hills, and since she was “so profoundly beautiful as a child, the movies seemed almost inevitable.” She never needed money, and she didn’t apologize for being wealthy. She loved opulence and luxury, but she never lost her humanity.

“She found a way to cope with the throngs of people who were constantly buzzing around her whenever she went out,” Kennedy said. “She never shut herself off, either as an actress or as a compassionate person. She continued to take bold chances as an actress. And then later on, she chose a great deal of visibility around AIDS activism.”

Even after her film career went into decline, she remained popular and sought after.

“It was due to her inherent magnetism; she had a long and highly decorated career with two Academy Awards and great box office suc-

cesses,” Kennedy said. “And then when acting and film stardom didn’t really work for her, she used her fame to better people’s lives.”

In the 1980s, there was an extraordinary amount of ignorance and cruelty toward people who were living with HIV/AIDS. That fact hit close to home when Taylor’s good friend Rock Hudson contracted AIDS, and she saw the public indifference and fear—so she spoke out and got involved. The American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, both founded or co-founded by Taylor, raised more than $270 million for HIV/AIDS research and support— and are still going today.

“This was the last chapter of her life,” Kennedy said. “It’s what has endeared her and given her basically the sainthood among quite a few people, including a lot of residents of Palm Springs and gay men who are extraordinarily grateful for all the work and efforts she did. The series is about celebrating that, and her as an artist—and what made her immortal as a screen star.”

The Elizabeth Taylor Retrospective begins at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 11, with a screening of National Velvet, and will continue one Saturday a month through June 2027. A pre-show featuring vintage film materials from the year of the film’s release will start at 5 p.m., before each screening. Tickets are $16.81. For tickets or more information, find the series on Eventbrite, or visit www. psculturalcenter.org.

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CAESAR CERVISIA

By brett newton

Last autumn, I took a quick ride up to Murrieta to see what’s brewing. While I wasn’t able to get to some breweries I would’ve liked (namely, 8 Bit Brewing and Oscar’s Brewing), it was a fun overnight trip whose zenith was reached at Solaris Beer and Blending.

Chad Marshman and Skyler Irish are partners in brewing at Solaris and graciously took time out of their day recently to host me at the taproom. It is at times like these when I am very grateful for the access I get due to the Independent, because—and I don’t think this will come as a shock to Chad and Skyler—I was honestly just looking for another excuse to go to Solaris and have some more of their excellent beer.

I arrived in the early afternoon after a lovely drive over the mountain, and Chad greeted me at the brewhouse entrance. We chatted and walked into the taproom before it was open for business. As we got started, he asked my favorite question: “What do you want to drink?” My answer was to ask what lagers are on tap. He recommended their Mexican-style pale lager made with masa (corn dough), called Masa o Menos. Mexican lagers are something I always like when done well, but I’ve sipped a few too many bad examples and have become a bit leery of them. But since I’ve tried many of Solaris’ beers, I knew I was in good hands. It was delicious—crisp and slightly fruity, which Chad said was a property of brewing with the masa. As we settled in, I asked Chad where he grew up. The answer delighted and surprised me: Chad was born and raised in Murrieta. Skyler joined us, and I asked him the same question. His answer: a little further up the road in

Menifee. In other words, Solaris is a product of the Temecula Valley.

My next question came from my background in homebrewing with the Coachella Valley Homebrew Club and going to events where the Temecula Valley Homebrewers Association would usually be right next to us: Where they members of the club? “No,” Chad said. “We had a small, tight-knit group of friends that we brewed and learned with.”

Some of those friends went on to success in the industry, at places including the aforementioned Oscar’s Brewing, and Brujos Brewing in Portland, Ore. It is clear that something special was going on with that group.

Some of the secret of the sauce is that they are just following their bliss. (Yes, that’s a reference the great Joseph Campbell, randomly in a beer column.) On my first visit, I noticed some screens tuned to disc golf, and a small stage with a hi-fi system and cabinets of vinyl

Murietta’s Solaris Beer and Blending is making some of Southern California’s best brews

records. Chad and I chatted about music, as he is a singer and fellow guitar player, which compels them to host live music as well; Black Flag has played a show there! They do an open-mic comedy night, a trivia night, a disc-golf-putting league night, and a bring-your-own-vinyl night. Hell, they even hosted a wrestling event by the Westcoast Wrestling Company in November. (Have any of our local breweries ever hosted wrestling? I think not.)

Then I was asked a question: “Do you like smoked beers?” I had already seen Glass Mountain on the taplist and was hoping to try their Polish-style smoked lager with oak- and cherrywood-smoked wheat. If you’ve never had a smoked lager (or have only had bad ones), you should know that a truly great version is an incredibly drinkable and intensely flavorful experience, and Solaris’ beer was indeed truly great. A collaboration with Brujos, this 3.2% alcohol by volume lager went down very easily and would make a delightful pairing with an extra-sharp cheddar. To make something so light but pack such a punch flavor-wise is no small feat, and I hope to see more beers like this (even unsmoked ones) in the future.

Chad later handed me a sample of Dawn of Man. We were discussing pastry stouts, and I mentioned that I’ve pretty much had enough of them for a lifetime, and would like big, interesting, unladen-with-adjunct-barrel-aged beers to make a little comeback (along with

the saison, of course). Well, Dawn of Man is an imperial rye wine (an ale with a significant amount of rye in its grain bill), aged for 32 months in Weller Reserve barrels, in collaboration with Horus Aged Ales out of Oceanside. My notes: “This rye wine is a complete flavor experience: caramel, toffee, butterscotch, bourbon and vanilla from the wood.” The beer had it all without having to add extra ingredients, while the carbonation balanced things out so that it was never cloying.

As the interview was wrapping up, the boys started going back to the tanks to get samples of upcoming beers. First was a tiki-inspired ale with pineapple, lime and homemade amaro bitters. The lime supported the pineapple; there was a little tartness, but the amaro and the carbonation helped lift everything off the palate. Then came a Czech pale lager that was light, clean, crisp and flavorful, which finished with a firm bitterness.

Chad and Skyler had mentioned to me earlier that one of the keys to their success so far is that they endeavor to stay humble and learn.

“Honesty is never a bad idea. We’re honest about beer to a fault,” Skyler said.

They have become what they are through high standards and not settling. Folks, Solaris Beer and Blending might be my new favorite brewery in Southern California.

Learn more at solarisbeer.com.

VINE SOCIAL

By Katie finn

April is when the Coachella Valley reminds the rest of the country why we live here.

The weather is generally flawless—OK, it can be a little windy and a bit hot—but the pools are sparkling, and the valley fills up with music, art and people determined to enjoy every minute of it outdoors. From the two-weekend spectacle of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to the boot-scooting fun of Stagecoach and myriad other events, April is essentially one long excuse to be outside.

Add in a healthy dose of pool time and spontaneous sunset picnics, and suddenly the logistics

of wine consumption become … complicated.

Here’s the problem: Many pools and venues have a strict no-glass policy. And even if they didn’t, let’s be honest—are you really going to lug around a wine opener, a set of glasses and a tote bag big enough to hold it all?

Exactly. This is where canned wine enters the chat.

I can practically hear the collective gasp and see the pearls being clutched across the Coachella Valley. Canned wine? How gauche! Isn’t that something we were supposed to be suspicious of?

Yes … once upon a time. But canned wine has come a long way. And I mean a long way. The category has evolved from novelty to genuinely excellent—and in many cases, crafted by serious winemakers who treat the wine inside the can with exactly the same care as the wine that goes into a bottle.

Let’s talk about the technology for a moment, because it’s actually pretty fascinating.

Early canned wines struggled with a couple of issues. Wine is acidic, and aluminum cans didn’t always play nicely with that chemistry. The result could be metallic flavors or wines that simply didn’t taste the way the winemaker intended.

Modern cans, however, are lined with sophisticated polymer coatings that create a neutral barrier between the wine and the aluminum. That means the wine stays exactly as it was meant to taste—fresh, vibrant and free of any metallic interference.

Equally important, the wine itself is made in the same way as bottled wine. It’s fermented, aged and finished exactly as the winemaker intends. The only difference is the packaging step at the end. The cans are filled using specialized equipment that minimizes oxygen exposure—one of the biggest enemies of wine. In fact, some producers argue that cans protect wine better than bottles, since each can is a perfectly sealed single serving.

Which brings me to one of the greatest advantages of canned wine: portion control.

A standard wine bottle contains about five glasses. That’s lovely if you’re hosting a dinner

party, but less lovely if you’re sitting poolside by yourself on a Tuesday afternoon and only want one glass before your afternoon nap.

Most premium canned wines come in 250-milliliter cans, equal roughly a generous glass and a half of wine—enough to enjoy, but not enough to accidentally turn your afternoon into a “how long have I been asleep?” moment.

But portion control has become about more than just avoiding an overly enthusiastic happy hour. Increasingly, people are consciously cutting back on alcohol consumption—not necessarily eliminating it, but being more thoughtful about how much and how often they drink.

Canned wine fits beautifully into this shift. For many people, cans offer the sweet spot: enough to enjoy the flavors and the ritual of wine, but in a format that naturally encourages moderation. One can, nicely chilled, is often just right for a poolside afternoon, a pre-concert picnic, or a sunset moment in the desert. And if you decide you’d like another? Great. But the decision is intentional, not automatic.

Another bonus? They chill quickly. Toss a few cans in a cooler, and they’ll be ready to go in no time—perfect for a spontaneous festival tailgate or an afternoon by the pool.

Of course, the most important question remains: Are they actually good? Happily, the answer is yes—and I have a few favorites that prove the point.

First up is Maker Wine, which might be the most exciting canned-wine project on the market right now. Their concept is brilliantly simple: Partner with respected winemakers from well-known wineries, and put their small-batch wines into beautifully designed cans.

These are not anonymous bulk wines. You’ll find everything from elegant pinot noir to crisp sauvignon blanc, each crafted by talented winemakers who normally produce wines you’d happily buy by the bottle. The 250-milliliter format makes them ideal for sampling different styles, which is perfect for the wine-curious among us.

Then there’s Nomadica, founded by sommelier Kristin Olszewski. Her goal was to create wines that reflect a more modern, low-interven-

Canned wine is perfect for April events—and it can be really good!

tion philosophy while still being approachable and delicious. Nomadica wines lean toward the “natural” side of winemaking, with minimal additives and thoughtful sourcing, and the results are bright, balanced wines that feel right at home in a chilled can on a sunny desert afternoon. They’re also refreshingly unfussy—which feels exactly right for festival season.

Finally, I have a soft spot for Ah-So Wines Rosé, made from fruit grown by Lopez de Lacalle, a vineyard with deep roots in Spain and a long commitment to organic farming. This rosé is fresh, crisp and exactly the kind of wine you want when the desert sun is doing its thing. It’s light enough to sip casually but flavorful enough to remind you that, yes, this is still real wine—not some watered-down approximation of it.

The truth is that canned wine has quietly become one of the most practical—and surprisingly delicious—innovations in the wine

world. It’s portable, recyclable, quick to chill and perfectly suited for the kinds of adventures that make April in the desert so special. And perhaps most importantly, it allows us to bring good wine into places where bottles simply aren’t welcome.

So the next time you’re heading out to a pool party or a venue where you can bring your own drinks, consider slipping a few cans into your cooler. Your future self—sitting comfortably in the sunshine with a perfectly chilled glass-and-a-half of wine—will thank you.

And if anyone nearby reacts with a dramatic gasp and a “canned wine?” moment, simply smile, pop the tab, and let them clutch their pearls while you enjoy the view.

Katie Finn is a certified sommelier and certified specialist of wine with two decades in the wine industry. She can be reached at katiefinnwine@ gmail.com.

FOOD & DRINK INDY ENDORSEMENT

This month’s treats: a beautiful appetizer, and a delicious croissant sandwich

By Jimmy Boegle

WHAT Arancini

WHERE Enzo’s Bistro and Bar, 70030 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage

HOW MUCH $11.90 (bar menu)

CONTACT 760-321-7635; enzosbistroandbarranchomirage.com

WHY The beauty, then the taste. Eating encompasses all of the traditional five senses. Sounds, textures, visuals, odors and flavors all help determine whether we enjoy our food— but I’ve always personally put visuals near the bottom of that list. A dish can look ugly, but if it tastes and smells good, I’ll be happy. If a great-looking dish tastes, smells or feels wrong … no thanks, not interested.

Still, when a plate of food comes out looking as wonderful as the arancini did during our recent visit to Enzo’s Rancho Mirage, I am going to take notice.

The picture here—taken with an iPhone in poor lighting—does not do this plate of food justice. The yellow/orange breaded and fried three-cheese blend (fontina, Parmigiano Reggiano and mozzarella), swimming in a mixture of red marinara, green pesto and white bits of cheese, then topped with fresh greens … it was wonderful to look at—and it tasted as good as it looked. By 2026 standards, the price was better than reasonable.

Enzo’s offers two dining areas: the dining room, and the bar/patio area. Pro tip: Go with the bar, which is more fun, with better deals— and you can order anything on both the bar and regular menus there.

While the arancini in the two wonderful sauces was our favorite dish during our visit, we also enjoyed the smaller portion of lasagna ($14.90) and the pizza with homemade sausage, pepperoni, salami and Italian ham ($19.90). The dirty Tanqueray martini ($16) was damned good, too, as was the service. Pretty, tasty and affordable food, served with a smile … can it get any better?

WHAT Ham and cheese croissant

WHERE Cravings Coffee and Pastries, 102 E. Amado Road, Suite A, Palm Springs

HOW MUCH $8.95

CONTACT 760-282-2494; cravingspalmsprings.com

WHY Three perfect ingredients.

I first learned about the existence of Cravings Coffee and Pastries thanks to an app called Too Good to Go.

I learned about the app by seeing it featured on a YouTube show. Here’s how it works: Restaurants and stores offer “bags” of food or goods leftover at day’s end, at a steep discount; while you’ll know the basic genre of the bag (bakery, prepared food, flowers, etc.) and how previous purchasers have rated the store’s bags, you won’t know the specifics until you buy the bag via the app, and show up at the store/restaurant during the designated time window.

In places like Los Angeles and San Diego, you’ll find quite a few places on Too Good to Go. Here? Not so much … but that’s slowly changing. When I first downloaded the app a while back, Whole Foods showed up almost every day, along with some central/east valley Circle K stores and Krispy Kreme … and that was basically it. But in recent months, a few independent places have started popping up— including Cravings.

I have not yet gotten a Too Good to Go bag from Cravings, but the rating of their bags is good (4.7 out of 5)—so I decided to go get lunch, pastries and coffee one recent weekday.

On that visit, I learned that Cravings is attached to Raphael Salon; the place is tiny (only a couple tables); the pastries are made-in house daily; and those pastries are quite good. While the sweeter pastries we had (including the cherry turnover, $6, and the pain au chocolat, $6) were great, I LOVED the ham and cheese croissant. While the menu says the sandwich includes Dijon mustard, I didn’t taste any—but the ham, gruyere and oh-so-flaky croissant were so perfect that I didn’t miss it.

I’m now definitely watching for Cravings on Too Good to Go—and more importantly, they’re top of mind when I’m in the mood for coffee and tasty pastry.

Restaurant NEWS BITES

By charles drabkin

APRIL BRINGS DINING OUT FOR LIFE—AND THE BIG GAY BBQ!

Mark your calendar for Thursday, April 23, when DAP Health will host one of its biggest annual fundraisers: Dining Out for Life

The concept is simple: Go out and enjoy a meal at a participating restaurant, and the Coachella Valley’s incredible culinary community will handle the rest. These restaurants generally pledge to donate at least 33% of their sales from the day to support DAP Health’s work. Many go even further, contributing 50%, 60% or even more than their total sales. (Townie Bagels notably gives 110%! THANK YOU!)

Last year, 65 local restaurants participated in Coachella Valley’s Dining Out for Life, raising more than $240,000, according to DAP Health. So on April 23, make plans to dine out. Your meal will help make a difference. To find participating restaurants, visit daphealth.org/dofl.

Later that same week: Enjoy the Big Gay BBQ (which is just like a regular barbecue, only way more fun), which has moved from June to a weekend that’s hopefully less toasty: Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26. This free-to-attend event, sponsored by Palm Springs Pride, is a massive party on Arenas Road, in Palm Springs, with food trucks, live entertainment and an outdoor beverage lounge! For more information, visit pspride.org/biggaybbq.

IN BRIEF

The owners of the Copper Room and Red Dog Saloon in Pioneertown are in the process of renovating Lord Fletcher’s, the very old-school English pub at 70385 Highway 111, in Rancho Mirage, that was a favorite haunt of Frank Sinatra. They haven’t announced a reopening date, but since the restaurant has been closed since the pandemic—and a car crashed into the building in 2023—I am sure there is a lot to do. Keep an eye on this space for updates.

Nearly two years after closing due to a devastating fire, beloved Palm Desert pizza place Papa Dan’s has finally reopened. For those who have been to Papa Dan’s before, be aware that they are now in a new, larger location in the same shopping center, at 73011 Country Club Drive. Welcome back to this valley favorite!

Perhaps the most asked food question in the Coachella Valley is where to get good Chinese food. It is, I admit, in short supply, especially in the western and central portions of the valley. However, help may be on the way: One More Bite Dumpling House is coming to 73547 Highway 111, Palm Desert, in the Jensen’s shopping center. This mini chain has the fingers on both of my hands crossed. You can see their menu at ombdumpling.com, and I will let you know as soon as I have more information.

The Coachella Valley now has a permanent food truck pod open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 5 to 10 p.m.: Food Trucks on Requa, at 83197 Requa Ave., in Indio. Check out instagram.com/foodtrucksonrequa to learn more.

If you like fancy doughnuts, head to La Quinta, where 1/2Sies Co. is serving artisanal delights and premium ice cream, at 50921 Washington St., Suite C-1. Find out more at instagram. com/1_2sies.

Gabino’s Creperie, the Coachella Valley spot known for handheld crepes featuring treats like Buffalo chicken and Philly cheesesteak, is opening a third location in Old Town La Quinta, at 78015 Main St., Suite 108, the space that had been the home of the short-lived gourmet grilledcheese spot Disco Rabbit. Learn more at www.facebook.com/gabinoscreperie. Also: Rhere are rumors that Disco Rabbit plans to continue with special events and pop-up locations, although I have not been able to confirm that.

La Quinta tea and smoothie shop Bunny Teahouse, at 79680 Highway 111, is adding a second location at 43430 Monroe St., Suite K, in Indio; follow instagram.com/bunnyteahouse for updates.

Desert Hot Springs has a new Mexican joint: Taqueria Rancho 6, at 14201 Palm Drive. We couldn’t find a website or social media account for this place, so head to Yelp to learn more.

Finally, congratulations to El Mexicali Café, at 82720 Indio Blvd., in Indio, which is celebrating 45 years in business. This is an incredible feat! Get details at www.elmexicalicafe.com.

Have a restaurant news tip? Email foodnews@cvindependent.com!

MUSIC

PUPPETS AMONG US

By matt king

Coachella 2026 boasts an impressive lineup filled with the hottest pop stars, musicians on the rise, legacy punk acts and … puppets?

Yes!

Between chart-dominating artists and the next generation of music greats, a group of puppets and puppeteers from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Los Angeles will head to the Empire

Polo Club to divulge in some marionette mayhem! Since the 1960s, the Bob Baker Marionette Theater has been enchanting audiences across the City of Angels and beyond with wildly entertaining lip-sync performances and impressive song-and-dance numbers.

You catch the Bob Baker Marionettes—the first group of puppets and puppeteers to play Coachella!—on Friday, April 10 and April 17.

“We’re super-excited to be on such a big stage and be able to join the show,” shared MJ Thompson, director of communications at Bob Baker Marionette Theater, during a recent phone interview.

While the idea of marionettes at Coachella may seem odd, this isn’t the BBMT’s first foray into the musical world. Throughout their history, the theater has contributed props to a number of great musicians, opened for Beck, and even had a slot at Desert Daze in 2022.

“We have done festivals like Desert Daze and things like that in the past, so this kind of felt like a natural progression—but it was super-delightful to get that email (from Coachella), for sure,” Thompson said.

Music is at the core of every performance by the Bob Baker Marionettes.

“We’ve worked with music, and we have regular concerts all the time,” Thompson said. “We have a concert series called School House Rocks at the theater, where musicians come perform, and we puppeteer alongside them. It’s super-fun.”

Although the stage at Coachella may be bigger than what the puppets are used to, Thompson promised that the performances would be maximized.

“We want to get as many puppets as we can onstage, as many puppeteers, and bring all the surprises and just the overall spectacle to the stage, and bring our specific brand of joy, as we like to say, to this huge weekend,” she said.

Per the BBMT website: “Our puppet family consists of 3,000 members with many old timers dating back to Bob Baker’s earliest puppetry days in the 1940s.” Thompson said both Coachella weekends will feature some of the theater’s most memorable marionettes, as well as some new ones.

“Our whole guiding principle is ‘joy for

everyone,’ so when you come see the show, no matter your age, no matter if you know our puppets or not, you get this joyful experience,” Thompson said.

Even after six-plus decades, the BBMT continues to seek new avenues where their puppets can amplify the importance of artistic expression.

“It’s really at the heart of our mission,” Thompson said. “We’re a nonprofit theater, and our mission is to preserve, educate and innovate at the intersection of puppetry and allied arts. For us, the allied arts means all of these different types of artistic disciplines that we interact with all the time. Our shows heavily involve music, and we love to be able to share how puppetry and music are linked, and explore new, innovative ways that we can combine the two: ‘How can we partner with musicians for something that’s truly innovative to see? How can we showcase how music and puppetry are related?’ That’s definitely at the heart of our mission, showcasing these different kinds of arts with puppetry.”

Coachella attendees may see the placement of the Bob Baker Marionettes on the lineup as the latest in a series of “fun band” bookings, as the past few years have featured sets from the kid-friendly television band Yo Gabba Gabba! and the costumed, pizza-loving Aquabats.

Thompson said she hopes the marionettes open Coachella goers’ minds, on top of offering fun festival vibes.

“We obviously are for all ages, but I think sometimes people think puppets are for kids,” she said. “Hopefully the show will be eye-opening for some folks, and show that puppetry is for everyone. It is a way to engage in wonder and imagination and joy for all ages, and I think people will see that at our show.”

Playing Coachella is one of a few highlights for the BBMT this year—because in May, the theater will put on its first new show in 40 years.

“We’re over 60 years old, but our theater is incredibly active,” Thompson said. “It’s a huge year for us filled with milestones, from Coachella to our first new show in 40 years, which is Choo Choo Revue. It’s a really exciting time.”

Of course, the BBMT is consistently adding

After more than 60 decades of performances, the Bob Baker Marionettes make their Coachella debut

to their impressive roster of over 3,000 puppets.

“We have an active workshop that not just preserves our puppets that are 60 to 70 years old and perform every day, but is also making new puppets,” she said. “The new show will have hundreds of new puppets. We call ourselves a living theater, and every time you see a show, even if it is a show like our Halloween show that we do every year, there’s always something a little different. We’re always updating, always changing, and always making something new.”

The BBMT wants more collaborations between the theater and artists from all genres.

“We’ve collaborated with so many other musicians and artists, from Brandy and Monica on their recent tour, to Lil Nas X, to Tyler Childers,” Thompson said. “We really do see that it goes across genres. The theater is a little nostalgic, but we’re always doing stuff with new artists and new genres.”

For more information, visit www. bobbakermarionettetheater.com.

MUSIC

COACHELLA COMPARISONS

By matt king

Coachella season is upon us!

Every year, musicians from around the globe descend upon our desert to perform at one of the biggest music festivals in the world—and every year, people complain about the lineup.

Recent Facebook comments include:

So basically you are appealing to one audience and saying f**k everyone else?

Such random lineups. Have fun being brainwashed, guys and gals.

In reality … this year’s lineup has a lot to like—even if some of the names aren’t quite as recognizable. Across genres and generations, newer acts echo, reinterpret and revive the sounds pioneered by their predecessors, making the music offerings more congruent than often observed.

At a festival often defined by contrast, it’s interesting to note how many artists share sonic similarities. Here are a few of my Coachella comparisons.

Iggy Pop <—> Turnstile

Iggy Pop is, without question, a pioneer of punk rock. In the late ’60s, his band the Stooges burst onto the scene with rough, crunchy guitar riffs leading loud rock anthems. Frontman Iggy Pop’s wild energy and screaming vocals brilliantly captured a raw, real and rowdy sound, and the band’s ability to pack albums with one fuzz-filled rager after another inspired an entire generation of frantic rockers.

Largely with his solo career, Iggy Pop also showed the ability to carry a punk-rock attitude into softer and groovier music. He went from ferocious and fast tunes like “Search and Destroy” and “I Wanna Be Your Dog” to danceable odes such as “The Passenger” and “Lust for Life.”

Iggy Pop’s punk to semi-pretty pipeline is similar to the trajectory of Turnstile. In the beginning, Turnstile was bona fide hardcore punk, with scream-filled vocals, fast and heavy guitars, and quick tunes that were all loud, all the time. As the years went on, the band began embracing pop, disco and other genres that brightened up their heavy sound. Frontman Brendan Yates’ vocals shifted from chanting and screaming to emphatic, hooky lines that are still as powerful as before, yet now embrace more melodics.

Today, Turnstile is the face of modern punk and hardcore. With songs like “NEVER ENOUGH” and “HOLIDAY,” they have shown how heavy and pretty sounds can co-exist within a single piece of music.

Kaskade <—> Duke Dumont

Kaskade is a true house music force—a dance-anthem deliverer throughout the 2000s and 2010s.

Thanks to the glitchy-synth bop “Move for Me,” a collaboration with electronica icon Deadmau5, the world tuned into Kaskade’s body-moving music. The ’00s and ’10s saw more collabs with Deadmau5, and plenty of pulsating hit songs. Tracks like “Atmosphere” and “Disarm You” came at a crucial time for electronic music, and his signature blend of trippy vocal effects, booming bass, endless grooves and pounding rhythms propelled house and EDM in the 2010s.

Thanks to Kaskade, artists like Duke Dumont have come along—and flipped house music on its head.

Emerging during the ’10s surge of infectious, electronic jams, Duke Dumont followed in Kaskade’s footsteps by crafting his own blend of hypnotic sounds—that are funk-tastic! Dumont detours from the boomy EDM tinges of Kaskade, and dives head-first into house sounds that move and groove. Tracks like “Won’t Look Back” and “I Got U” established his name, but 2020 hit “Ocean Drive” catapulted Duke Dumont into deep-house star status. Don’t miss the bouncy beats reverberating across the polo grounds!

Suicidal Tendencies <—> Die Spitz Representing the SoCal punk scene at Coachella is Suicidal Tendencies.

Suicidal Tendencies emerged onto the scene in the ’80s with a maniacal mix of punk and metal. Outrageous and thrashy guitar shreds over outspoken vocal performances cycled through themes of struggling to conform with society and growing frustration with the world. The band created speedy metal ragers like “You Can’t Bring Me Down” and “Trip at the Brain,” and pulverizing punk selections including “Subliminal” and “Cyco Vision.” Their most notable hit, “Institutionalized,” developed and certified a signature crossover sound bridging the sonic worlds of thrash and punk.

Die Spitz emerged in 2022, and in a few short years, have established themselves as one badass band, gaining fans in both the

If you like these big-name performers, you’ll like these other not-as-big-name performers

punk and metal spheres thanks to a mix of loud sounds. Their top two streaming songs— “Throw Yourself to the Sword” and “Hair of Dog”—showcase the diverse, but still heavy, sonic offerings of Die Spitz, which is German for “the pointed” or “the sharp.” They’re not afraid to push boundaries, carrying loud and loaded guitars into shoegaze sounds on “Punishers” and the pop-infused rock ballad “Voir Dire.” The all-girl four-piece trades instruments and vocal duties from song to song, and uses lyrics to empower women—and degrade obsessive men. Their set at Coachella will welcome a new generation of moshers!

The Strokes <—> Royel Otis Indie rock as we know it today would not exist without The Strokes.

Debut album Is This It and follow-up Room on Fire set the 2000s ablaze with a signature rock edge that would define a genre and an era of music. Crunchy and dreamy guitars led fun, scorching rock bangers to the top of the charts, reviving guitar-driven rock and ushering in a new era of garage rock. Frontman Julian Casablancas, often with a treble boost on his vocals, paired relaxed singing and shouting over guitarist Albert Hammond Jr.’s complex mix of grunge, twang and bright tones—and in the process, The Strokes became rock legends. In the 2020s, the band is still uber-popular; the streaming and TikTok success of their latest album, 2020’s The New Abnormal, just might match the radio and MTV success of earlier hits “Reptilia,” “Last Nite” and “Someday.”

The duo of Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic

craft interesting indie as Royel Otis, as they push guitar tunes into popular music spheres. Reverb-soaked guitar tones guide each track, as bright production and poppy vocals lend head-bopping qualities to the sonic mix. Selections like “Kool Aid” and “Sofa King” mix jangly guitar with edgy chords, and unite the stringed sonics with melancholy, laid-back vocal deliveries akin to Casablanca’s nonchalant vibe. Their online hits and captivating covers (check out “Murder on the Dancefloor” and “Linger”—the latter is trending on TikTok) show there is still hope for guitar music in the pop world.

Clipse <—> fakemink

Clipse are bringing nostalgic rap to Coachella. Rappers/brothers Pusha T and Malice constitute the two-piece historical hip-hop outfit. In the 2000s, their hit “Grindin’” established the duo as a gangsta-rap force, with a repertoire of heavy beats, impressive flows and lyrical genius. They put out hits like the funky and fiery “When the Last Time” and enjoyed collaborations with Pharrell Williams, Faith Evans, Jermaine Dupri and others, constantly adding more to the gritty, intense musical vibe. After a hiatus and successful solo careers, the siblings have teamed up again, and their newest album, Let God Sort Em Out, carries the aggressive beats and ferocious flow into the modern era, complete with features from Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator, and others.

Continuing the boom-bap vibe in the 2020s is fakemink, whose endless flows on top of loud bass and crashing drums offer similar vibes

MUSIC

to Clipse—albeit with more beats. A viral rapper from the United Kingdon, fakemink (aka Vincenzo Camille) has filled streaming charts with decibel-crushing beats and bar after bar of stream-of-consciousness lyrics about love, loneliness and drugs. While tracks like “Music and Me” and “Easter Pink” will surely energize Indio, his most notable tracks are features on the raucous rap rager “LV Sandals” from EsDeeKid, and his contribution to the boomy, electro anthem “Fever” from Buckshot.

David Byrne <—> Geese

David Byrne is the king of weird pop. He is the frontman and multi-instrumentalist of Talking Heads, a group that began in the mid-’70s and went on to be extremely successful without a clearly definable genre.

Through spacey-funk vibes on “Once in a Lifetime,” dramatic post-punk on “Psycho Killer” and electronic bliss on “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody),” the band’s weird mix of sounds and styles cemented their status as one of the most unique bands in music history. The band’s stage show—featuring Byrne’s eccentric outfits and abstract dance moves—were often criticized for being overtly artsy, and some people claim the band is extremely overrated. Byrne now tours and releases music as a solo act—carrying that musical weirdness into the modern era.

Another band that has been criticized for being overly artsy is Geese. As with Talking Heads, every Geese song seems to stem from an entirely different sonic world.

Despite online hate, Geese are on their way to being the next great rock band. Vocalist/ guitarist Cameron Winter parallels Bob Dylan, pairing a raspy, accent-heavy drawl with a sultry, serenading style, as the band traverses through jangly rock on “Taxes,” somber folk on “Au Pays du Cocaine” and the jazz-inspired avant-garde “Trinidad.”

Their hard-to-pin-down sonic mix has helped the band gain notoriety—and intense criticism. Geese performed on Saturday Night Live in January—a performance some critics said made them the “worst musical guest of all time”.

Whether you love them or hate them, it’s worth catching the band at Coachella; their set may just catapult them into weirdo-rock stardom.

Black Flag <—> The Chats

Black Flag may just be the most famous punkrock band. Their abrasive rock stylings defined hardcore punk as they picked up the torch from bands like The Stooges—and burned it even brighter.

Ear-piercing guitar, unrelenting bass guitar and cracking drums laid down a musical bed, and whether they were from original singer Keith Morris, or most notable Flag vocalist Henry Rollins, the loud and powerful vocals

rounded the punk experience into punchy, catchy and mosh-pit-inducing fits of sonic insanity. Fast and frenetic tunes like “Rise Above” and “My War” raged with anti-establishment themes, while other barnburners such as “Six Pack” and “TV Party” infused the heavy with humor.

The Chats are a modern band accelerating down the figurative roads paved by Black Flag.

The Australian trio pack punch and power into memorable punk anthems. In “6L GTR,” the band members are “fangin’ down the highway,” carrying with them a propulsive sound that ignites, sparks, accelerates … and a few other car metaphors. Thanks to intense musical energy and irresistible Aussie charm, they crank out wild yet comical rock bangers about bar food (“Pub Feed”), the importance of a smoke break (“Smoko”) and getting “Struck by Lightning.” That said, The Chats honor punk’s anti-establishment roots, calling for the death of Parliament members on “The Price of Smokes” and critiquing America’s obsession with firearms on “The Kids Need Guns.”

Foster the People <—> sombr

In the 2010s, Foster the People earned fans thanks to irresistibly catchy jams. Upbeat tempos, earworm synths and crisp drums combined to create happy, harmonious tunes like “Houdini” and “Call It What You Want.” Landmark song “Pumped Up Kicks,” an unmistakably groovy psych/electronic jam, not only became the biggest song of their career, but one of biggest songs in the world for the time. It currently sits at more than 2.4 billion streams on Spotify alone—and the desert will soon be singing and dancing along to the indie epic.

Sombr is the 2020s’ torchbearer of a trademark ’10s sound. Navigating both electronic-dance and dreamy-indie worlds, sombr produces a modern version of Foster the People’s moving and soothing sound. Tracks like “12 to 12” offer fun, high-tempo grooves, while “We Never Dated” dives deep into delay, reverb and other psychedelically spacey sounds. The voice of sombr (aka Shane Michael Boose) is bright and poppy, carrying an upbeat vibe even through morose lyrical subject matter— much like Foster the People made a dance-y song, some speculate, about a school shooting (“Pumped Up Kicks”).

Devo <—> Model/Actriz

Whether they wore red “energy domes” on their heads or donned yellow jumpsuits, Devo were the strange-music mavens of the ’70s and ’80s. With the help of an offbeat and quirky reworking of a Rolling Stones song that turned the signature guitar sound of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” into an electronic, effects-heavy head-turner, Devo became known for their abstract sound. While punk ragers like “Uncon-

trollable Urge” and synthy bops like “Girl U Want” earned the band fans across the newwave scene, mega-hit “Whip It” established the band as true innovators.

Model/Actriz have been operating in a similar fashion with their fusion. In a similar monotone vocal style to that of Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh, Model/Actriz vocalist Cole Haden plays the role of a creepy narrator, using few notes and an often-emotionless vocal delivery. Musically, punk-rock elements intertwine with synths and electronic drums, resulting in experimental noise jams. Boppy songs like “Mosquito” and more danceable gems like “Cinderella” showcase the Devo-esque intersection of electronic and punk—with a hint of quirk.

Interpol <—> Wet Leg

While Interpol is often grouped with other indie heavyweights of the era such as The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys and The White Stripes, the band sticks out for a variety of good reasons. Off-rhythm bass and drum lines on “Evil” and “Obstacle 1” could make for shaky and unstable rhythms, but masterful guitarwork and powerful vocals perfectly accentuate and color the spaces around these potentially off-putting jabs and pauses. The band excels in showcasing strong rock sounds with a tender alternative edge—allowing Interpol to exist perfectly between beauty and badass.

Wet Leg have perpetuated the charm of weird rock over the past few years. Through breakout hits like “Wet Dream” and “Chaise Longue,” the U.K. group sprinkles sporadic guitar lines and unconventional vocal noises

onto hype, guitar-driven jams. Those two songs became festival anthems (like at Coachella in 2023) despite a dash of musical departures. The band’s latest LP has showcased Wet Leg’s ability to turn bold choices into bangers. “Catch These Fists” perfectly encapsulates that Interpol-style vibe of heavy indie jams mixed with unique sonic choices that raise eyebrows at first—before becoming your favorite part of the song.

The Rapture <—> Ecca Vandal Existing somewhere between post-punk and dance rock, The Rapture’s music features rhythmic and raging tracks that always warrant body movement. Echoes, their 2003 LP, birthed hits like “Echoes” and “House of Jealous Lovers,” writing the next page of new wave by invoking the edgy and exciting sounds of bands like B-52’s and Gang of Four. The songs clash loud, frenzied guitars with never-ending, groove-tastic drums, with help from frontman Luke Jenner’s high-pitched and intense vocals. As the years went on, The Rapture explored more synth-driven jams like “How Deep Is Your Love?” and less-intense rock tracks such as “Pieces of the People We Love.” Ecca Vandal rolls between heavy and hip-shaking material. While driving-rock anthem “Cruising to Self Soothe” is her biggest hit, her other songs showcase more moving musical moments. “Molly” infuses 808 bass with down-tuned guitar; “Bleed but Never Die” keeps the energy up with the help of emphatic, vocal exclamations; and the musical insanity of “Broke Days, Party Nights” manages to match the raucous rock and dubious disco vibes of The Rapture.

MUSIC

JUST SAYING NO

By matt king

The members of one of the newest Coachella Valley bands reflect their decision to remain substance-free in their music.

XrecoilX identifies as a straight-edge band. Straight edge is a subsection of punk culture that advocates abstinence from alcohol and drugs, expressed through X’s drawn on hands, and music that hits hard—while uplifting the choice to live a life free from substances.

The band recently released their debut EP, Demonstration, a four-song, nearly 10-minute rager. Lyrically, the songs shout out straightedge pride and Coachella Valley pride between moments of deeply descriptive emotion surrounding addiction, suffering and trauma.

XrecoilX will host a release show for Demonstration on Sunday, April 26, at the Dune Room.

Killfloor vocalist Jack Harris is the primary songwriter for XrecoilX. During a recent phone interview, he explained how writing on guitar for one project led to the creation of another.

“I’ve been doing vocals for the last 2 1/2 years, which has been fun, but there were a lot of times when I would write songs on the guitar for Killfloor or certain things, and it never really came out the way that I wanted it to,” Harris said. “I always said that I don’t want to play guitar in a band, but I kept writing, and one day, I went through this spur where I just wrote those four songs (on Demonstration), and I was like, ‘These are actually really sick.’”

The decision to form a straight-edge band came from a deep love for early ’00s straightedge punk that Harris shared with XrecoilX vocalist Hector Martinez.

“That type of hardcore—the early 2000s straight edge stuff and beatdown—was our favorite stuff,” Harris said. “We both really, really like that type of hardcore and wanted to make a band like that, so we got the guys together, went through those songs, and threw them out pretty quick. I wanted to start a straight edge band, because there hadn’t been a straight-edge band here in a long time— shout out All Your Might,” a Coachella Valley straight-edge band circa 2010.

Comparisons to Killfloor are inevitable, so Harris detailed the differences between the projects. Apart from the lyrical contrasts, XrecoilX has a clear musical direction from the jump, whereas Killfloor has navigated through various genres and influences throughout the first few releases.

“My worry at first was I don’t want people to be like, ‘Oh, this just sounds like Killfloor, but straight edge,’” Harris said. “In Killfloor, I always tried to go for the earlier 2000s stuff, but I’ve also been very confused throughout the band so far, so there wasn’t a clear, defin-

itive sound. You can hear a lot of different influences in Killfloor, where this (in XrecoilX) is more cut and dry. We’re pulling from a lot of different influences, but we’re basically setting off the vibe straight away. … I feel like it came out pretty well. It sounds a lot different than Killfloor, but you can hear similarities.”

Some standout lyrics from the EP include straight-edge mantras such as, “Immersed in poison / Designed to confine / Save yourself (Save yourself) / And don’t be left behind,” from the intro track, and more poetic lines like “I live in the shadow / Of a memory not my own / Of an unsung victim / To this unforgiving world,” on EP-closer “Eulogy.”

“I’ve kind of let Hector just do his thing with lyrics, because I’ve been writing my own lyrics for the last few years, and I just want to handle guitar,” Harris said. “I’m letting him handle the vocals, and in some of those demo songs that we just put out, he’s very clear and to the point about being straight edge—but on the last song, he has some deeper meaning in that, and I think that he’s going to lean a lot more into not just talking about being straight edge, but other things going on and stuff that he wants to get off his chest, which we all stand behind. He’s really good with words—maybe even better than I am—and has a lot to talk about.”

Harris’ deep adoration for straight-edge bands lies in the messaging.

“One thing that always spoke to me was that every straight-edge band has something to say—and not that other bands don’t, but it was something that I feel like I utmost related to more than anything,” Harris said. “It feels a little bit different playing these songs. I believe in being straight edge more than anything, so to be able to play songs that represent that, it feels a little more personal. We all have something to say, and we are all straight edge for a reason. It’s emotional sometimes when we play the songs, and it doesn’t matter to how many people. It means so much to everyone in the band, where it just kind of has a different spark.”

Harris hopes the themes of the music will offer a gateway into the straight-edge lifestyle.

“There are kids out here who don’t really understand straight edge that much. The hopes of these songs, and just in the band in

Straight-edge punk band XrecoilX offers emotional lyrics regarding addiction and trauma

general, is to inspire kids,” Harris said. “Not everyone has to be straight edge, but if we could even inspire one person to maybe just try to do better in their life if they’re struggling in areas, that’s the goal.”

Harris said some people have expressed an interest in learning more about substance-free living thanks to XrecoilX.

“There have been a couple people who have come to us, or to me, and they were more interested in straight edge, and they ended up finding it through what we’re doing, but also through what me and some of the other kids in the Coachella Valley who are straight edge are representing,” Harris said. “Some people have realized that they identify with that, and have decided to go that route, which is really cool.”

Heavy punk and hardcore music often carries profound messaging within its brash sound.

“In most hardcore music, there’s always something to say about what that they believe in, or what they’ve gone through,” Harris said.

“There are multiple things that can be accomplished through hardcore music. There are so many bands that have helped me through hard times, and it’s not even straight-edge bands. The band can simply just talk about them feeling like shit, and it’s like, ‘Yep, I relate to that,’ and it could make you feel a little bit better.”

The release show for Demonstration will double as a fundraiser for Harris’ father’s extended hospital stay, and it will also be the first show by Hot Stuff Booking (run by Sage Jackson, with help from Harris and others) since January.

“There hasn’t been a show in the Coachella Valley in some months through Hot Stuff, and I don’t know when there’ll be another one after this,” he said. “It would just be really cool to see some people I haven’t seen in a while.”

XrecoilX is set to perform on Sunday, April 26, at the Dune Room, at 82707 Miles Ave., in Indio. The time and cost are TBA. For more information, visit instagram.com/recoilstraightedge.

Thousands of Coachella Valley Independent readers and News Channel 3 viewers voted in this year’s Best of Coachella Valley readers’ poll—and they selected the Purple Room as the winner of Best Bar Ambiance and finalist in four categories:

WEDNESDAYS

MUSIC

BACK, AND BETTER

By Matt King

It’s not uncommon for bands to emerge with great music and play some fun shows—only to soon disappear.

But some musicians are too dedicated to their craft to remain gone forever. Saving Slytherin crept onto the local scene in 2022, adding to the desert’s creative force with a unique mix of hip hop and heavy rock. The duo of Noel Oliva (vocalist and guitar player) and

Ricky Valadez (cajon) appeared on local news sites and on Angel Chavez’s YouTube podcast, and played a few shows to support their debut EP, Chicano Wizard … then disappeared.

“We took a hiatus, because the songs we originally had put out were awesome, and we loved them—but we learned that we all collectively thought they could be way better,” Oliva said during a recent phone interview.

In 2026, Saving Slytherin is back. The group, with the addition of Alexis Guzman on bass guitar and Ruben Garcia on keys, released their debut album, Saving Slytherin Vol. 1, in late February, adding to their established genre blend with a mix of folky tunes that navigate feel-good reggae-pop vibes on “Ride or die,” and melancholy, introspective rap on “Dank red shoes.” The album is a result of a long, dedicated process to record music with effort and quality.

“We recorded (Chicano Wizard) on a smart-

phone, which is cool, but we thought, ‘Hey, we should actually record this,’” Oliva said. “‘It deserves better; the fans deserve better; and the songs deserve better. Let’s hire a producer with professional programs and equipment and give these songs justice.’”

Some musicians don’t have the patience required to record quality material. In Saving Slytherin’s case, it took more than a year to wrap up their debut album.

“When I came up with the idea, I told myself that I was going to give ourselves a year to finish this album,” Oliva said. “I’ve learned to be more patient when wanting a project finished. I knew it was going to take a while, so I was ready for the time. I was ready to put the work in, and willing to wait.”

Now that Saving Slytherin Vol. 1 has been released into the world, and the band is gearing up for shows, Oliva said the wait was well worth it.

their debut album

After releasing an EP, Saving Slytherin disappeared—but the band has returned with

“During the process, even midway through and toward the end, it felt like this was never going to happen,” he said. “I was just stuck in a working loop. Eventually, we hit that point where finally it’s released, and it’s getting good traction. Our friends and some of our fans love it, so it’s worth it. I knew this day would come, but in the process of writing the album and recording it, it seems so far away.”

Working on music for lengthy periods of time can result in frustration and even the dissolution of projects all together, but Oliva’s sincere love of music helped him keep his focus throughout the writing and recording time.

“It’s just a passion, and it’s my calling,” he said.

Oliva said he realized music was his life’s goal thanks, in part, to his relationship with Saving Slytherin’s cajon player, Ricky Valadez.

“We’ve known each other since we were middle school-aged,” Oliva said. “I’d never played the guitar, but he bought a guitar from the pawn shop, and he would play it. I would use it sometimes, and I realized, ‘Dang, this is cool.’ A few years later, I played more songs, and once I discovered legendary bands like Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and Metallica, it just lit a fire in me. After that, I knew that this is what I have to do, and I dedicated my life to music.

“Growing up here in the Coachella Valley is different, because you’re not in L.A., where it’s ‘ideal’ to be part of music. There are so many opportunities there, and out here, there are also a lot of opportunities. With Coachella fest, sometimes local bands get chosen to play, and that’s inspiring, even if you don’t get chosen. It kind of lingers over you, like, ‘Hey, maybe you will one day.’ Besides Coachella fest and Stagecoach, there’s a lot of talent here in the valley that’s becoming known now, especially with social media. I feel like we have our own ecosystem.”

Saving Slytherin are scheduled to perform their first live show since the hiatus on Saturday, March 28, at Music House Indio. While Oliva insists he isn’t nervous about his return to the stage, he is making a conscious effort to provide a good show for his friends and fans.

“I asked myself, too, ‘Am I nervous?’ And I tell my inside voice that I’m in it for the entertainment,” he said. “I want to make sure people get a good show, that all of our volumes are in sync, and we just play well. I just want to bring a good show to people. I’m not really nervous anymore, but I used to be.”

For more information, visit instagram.com/ saving_slytherin_/.

April 2026

By matt king

Happy April! While Coachella and Stagecoach will create a lot of music buzz this month, there are plenty of great events happening beyond the confines of the Empire Polo Club.

Acrisure Arena is hosting one concert alongside plenty of hockey. At 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 24, your favorite Mexican groups from three decades ago will unite for the ’90s Banda Tour. Legendary acts in the regional-Mexican genre including Banda El Recodo, Banda Los Recoditos, Mi Banda El Mexicano and Vaqueros Musical will all play their hits. Tickets start at $104.40. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www. acrisurearena.com.

Fantasy Springs has one headliner concert that isn’t already being covered elsewhere by the Independent. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 17, two maestros of the mariachi space team up for Mariachazo. Don’t miss the string-andtrumpet styles of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán during a night of rich heritage and emotional music. Tickets start at $72.50. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Here are some highlights from a busy month at the Plaza Theatre. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4, the New York Philharmonic String Quartet, featuring four key members of the orchestra, will share world-class symphonic skills on strings! Tickets start at $86.20. At 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, Men at Work vocalist Colin Hay and his acoustic band will perform stripped-down versions of songs from across his career. Tickets start at $49.05. At 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 12, drag queen Alyssa Edwards tips a hat to RuPaul on the “Thanks for Everything” tour, celebrating the stories, songs and dance-mania of Edwards’ career. Tickets start at $52.90. At 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, Beverly Hills, 90210 star Jennie Garth joins the Palm Springs Speaks series to discuss acting, podcasting, designing and more. Tickets start at $40.90. Plaza Theatre, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-593-5818; www.palmspringsplazatheatre.com.

Here are some highlights from an equally busy month at the McCallum Theatre. Take a journey to the underworld and experience Hadestown, the critically acclaimed musical that mixes folk music with folklore, at 8 p.m., Friday, April 3; 2 and 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4, and 1 and 6:30 p.m., Sunday, April 5. Tickets start at $72.99. At 7 p.m., Thursday, April 9, and 8 p.m., Friday, April 10, tremendous trumpet player Chris Botti brings his brass and beauty to town! Tickets start at $73. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, piano wizard Yuja Wang will showcase pure emotion and tremendous skill during an unforgettable recital. Tickets start at $73. At 3 p.m., Sunday, April 26, enjoy the harmonious musical intersection between cellist Alisa Weilerstein and pianist Inon Barnatan. Tickets start at $48. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.

Morongo Casino offers music and comedy. At 9 p.m., Friday, April 3, country star Jackson Dean brings his twangy tunes, which you may have heard on Yellowstone, to Cabazon. Tickets are $26. At 9 p.m., Saturday, April 4, Everclear celebrates nearly 3 1/2 decades of rock hits. Tickets start at $78.50. Comedian Eddie Griffin, known for his standup and roles in 2000s comedy films, will serve up the laughs during this trying time, at 9 p.m., Friday, April 17. Tickets start at $68.50. At 9 p.m., Saturday, April 18, Los Horóscopos de Durango will fire through their drum-driven and synth-heavy Spanish hits. Tickets start at $68.75. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www. morongocasinoresort.com.

Spotlight 29 is hosting one headliner concert. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4, get ready to

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dance as cumbia sensation Grupo Cañaveral celebrate their Latin legacy and musical gems. Tickets start at $43.95. Honest Goodness Comedy Fridays continue with a Los Digits Roast Battle (April 3), Tania Estrada (April 10), Kat Bird (April 17) and Carlos Santos (April 24). Tickets start at $17.85, and you must be 18+ to attend. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www. spotlight29.com.

Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage welcomes rock shows and hilarious comics. At 8 p.m., Thursday, April 2, Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band will rock—and roll!—through hits from the hit musical in a concert setting. Tickets start at $33.75. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4, don’t miss ’80s legend Rick Springfield as he shreds through his long list of Top 40 hits. Tickets start at $49.23. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 11, comedian Ron White will send the desert into fits of laughter, thanks in part to his Southern charm. Tickets start at $85.35. Get your earplugs ready, because at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 30, ’90s rock and metal acts Warrant and Firehouse will bring the riffs. Tickets start at $55.39. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.

Another month, another list of residency shows at Agua Caliente Palm Springs. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays feature a nod to Marvin Gaye from The Gand Band (April 8), a choir performance from Coachella Acapella (April 15), R&B and jazz songs from Lynda Kay (April 22) and bona fide blue-eyed soul from Funk Monks (April 29). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets range from $17.85 to $22.11, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Carousel

Thursdays showcase the vintage-yet-modern sounds of Saudia Young (April 2), swing sensations Jive Aces (April 9), a tribute to jazz legend Charles Mingus (April 16), classic-jazz connoisseur Patrick Barnitt (April 23) and a tribute to vocal icon Billie Holiday (April 30). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $17.85, available at eventspalmsprings. com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.

Pappy and Harriet’s is pulling out all the stops for festival month; here are some highlights. At 8:30 p.m., Friday, April 3, it’s a punk-rock affair at the Pioneertown Palace, as Warped Tour faves Guttermouth headline an evening of raucous, riff-tastic energy. White Kaps, River Rats and Noise Agents will open the show. Tickets are $26.68. At 9 p.m., Tuesday, April 7, ’90s rockers Sponge head to the desert for an unforgettable evening. Tickets are $31.86. High desert creatives Q. Varo and Gene Evaro Jr. team up to share their unique sonic concoctions at 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 15. Tickets are $31.86. At 6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 18, ska-punk stars Less Than Jake will fill the desert air with upbeat vibes … and dust from all the dancing. Tickets start at $41.71. At 9 p.m., Sunday, April 26, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol will fire through quick and heavy riffs that are as fun as their band name. Tickets are $27.72. Local groovy tastemakers Desert Friends celebrate their album release at 9 p.m., Thursday, April 30. Tickets are $15.80. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www. pappyandharriets.com.

Mojave Gold has some rock shows worth seein’! At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4, rock ’n’ rollers Whiskerman head to the high desert to blast through a set of genre-bending bliss. Local favorite Gene Evaro will open the show. Advance tickets are $17.41. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, enjoy a one-two punk-rock blast from femme fatales Kate Clover and Jenny Don’t. Early-bird tickets are $19.52. At

8 p.m., Saturday, April 25, beam up to Yucca Valley for intergalactic sets from strange-pop sensation Jesika Von Rabbit and psychedelic, alien-centered rock band ALiEN PROBE. Space outfits are encouraged! Tickets are $17.41. At 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 30, ambient country act SUSS heads to the desert. If the YouTube comment “if Brian Eno and Merle Haggard had a baby …” sounds interesting to you, don’t miss this show! Tickets are $19.52 in advance. Mojave Gold, 56193 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley; 442-205-0192; mojavegolddesert.com.

Oscar’s in Palm Springs has a couple of non-residency events. At 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, Broadway star, singer and actress Jennifer Holliday heads to the desert for clips, conversation, stories and songs! Tickets start at $59.95. At 7 p.m., Saturday, April 25, dance the night away to groovy pop act Bright Light Bright Light. Tickets start at $19.95. Shows include a food/drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com.

Pop out to the Purple Room for weekends of ticketed-show fun! At 8 p.m., Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, powerhouse jazz vocalist Meghan Murphy will showcase her divine skills. Tickets start at $50.85. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, Golden Globe-winning artist Amanda McBroom flips through the Great American Songbook. Tickets start at $50.85. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, Broadway breakout star Julie Benko will make her Purple Room debut, bringing with her musical classics and personal favorites from the jazz world. Tickets start at $61.15. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie shares tracks from throughout her long and illustrious career in theater arts. Tickets start at $61.15. All shows include dinner reservations two hours before show time. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.

MUSIC

LUCKY 13 the

This month’s question-answerers: a local garage-punk performer, and a literal legend (in multiple ways)

by matt king

NAME John Legend

MORE INFO What’s left to be said about music maven John Legend? His soulful voice has lent itself to pop and hip-hop favorites by other artists; he’s produced bangers for everyone from Kanye and Jay-Z to Alicia Keys and Estelle; and his own songwriting, including the massive success of “All of Me,” has made John Legend a versatile hit-making machine. He’s still creating and collaborating; last year, Legend did everything from jazzing it up with Norah Jones to providing gospel vibes for rap duo Clipse. John Legend is set to perform at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4, at Fantasy Springs. For tickets and more information, visit www. fantasyspringsresort.com.

What was the first concert you attended? I grew up in the church, so a lot of the early music exposure I had was just going to church and then going to gospel concerts that were at my church or in the larger church community that I grew up in, so all of my early concerts were in the Pentecostal church.

What was the first album you owned?

I’ve always had a hard time with that question, because I’m not exactly sure. Remember those Columbia/BMG services where, if you tape a penny to the form, they would send you eight CDs and then sign you up for a club? It was cassettes at that time, so my first ones were Whitney Houston, Anita Baker and Luther Vandross, and then we had some gospel recordings like BeBe and CeCe Winans.

What bands are you listening to right now?

In the streaming era, it’s interesting, because there’s a lot of stuff that’s old. I make a lot of playlists, and so I listen to stuff from the ’60s and ’70s; I listen to stuff from now; I listen to hip-hop from the ’90s and early 2000s. It’s quite

a range of things. The current artists I really like are Leon Thomas III and Olivia Dean, and I listen to a lot of hip hop—Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, The Creator I listen to. The new Clipse album is probably my favorite album of the last year or so.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?

AutoTune. I’m not a fan. I’m more into the idea of having grit in your voice and having humanity in your voice. I’m not a big fan of the use of AutoTune, except when it kind of makes sense artistically for a purpose, but as for the overall sound of a person’s voice, I’d rather hear more texture and humanity.

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?

I wish I had been able to see Nina Simone live. That’s probably my biggest, “Man, I missed my chance.”

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

I don’t believe in guilty pleasures. I have gotten that question before, and I truly don’t believe in them. I feel like I don’t have to feel guilty about liking anything.

What’s your favorite music venue?

There are a few. I love the Royal Albert Hall in London. There’s something special and kind of majestic about playing there. I love the Hollywood Bowl here in L.A.; I love the Rady Shell down in San Diego. I love Red Rocks, and I love Carnegie Hall in New York. Probably the coolest place to play in my life was St. Peter’s Square at that concert at the Vatican we did last year. It’s pretty much the first ever big concert they’ve ever had there, so it’s not a normal venue, but they made it work for that.

What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?

It’ll sound vain if I answer this question, but it’s always my song, because I’m always writing in my head all the time. Right now, I’m writing a musical, and I’m always hearing ideas that I’m batting around in my head all day, and humming them and going back to my notes and writing more ideas down.

What band or artist changed your life?

I would say Stevie Wonder, more than any other artist, has influenced me, and his body of work has lived with me the most. Marvin Gaye’s probably a close second.

You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?

I feel like talking to Quincy Jones would be cool. I was friends with him, but I didn’t get to pick his brain all the time, and just hearing him tell more stories about those early days with Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles and all the artists he was producing way back in the ’50s and ’60s would be fun.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

My father-in-law has always wanted for us to play at his funeral, and he says he wants “What a Wonderful World.” That’s a good answer.

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which I happen to be on, but that’s not why. It was so influential to me at a very pivotal time in my life musically. I was, like, 19 or 20 when it came out, and it was really just a guide post for the kind of music I wanted to make at that time.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

I just heard this song the other day called “Jesus and John Wayne,” and it just stuck with me. I didn’t even know if it was a big song, or if it was that new, or if it had been around for a while, but somehow it came up in my algorithm on Spotify, and I was just like, “I feel like not enough people are talking about it,” because it’s so good.

NAME Josh Grelock

GROUP Ideal Body

MORE INFO Ideal Body is a band from Twentynine Palms. Few bands in the 760 have tackled garage punk, and even less have added melodic synths on top of the rockin’ roughness—so the addition of Ideal Body’s synth-led ragers to the Coachella Valley music space is a welcome surprise! Songs like “Preppers” evoke the classic guttural and goofy tropes of ’70s punk, with singing about “space lizards on the moon” among chord-burning energy, while jams like “Hologram Garbage Can” hone sonic qualities similar to those of modern garage-rock rippers like Surfbort and FIDLAR. For more information, visit www.instagram. com/idealbodyband. Vocalist/guitarist Josh Grelock is the latest to take The Lucky 13.

What was the first concert you attended? Strife, at a biker church in Anaheim in the early ’90s.

What was the first album you owned? Dead Milkmen, Big Lizard in My Backyard, on cassette.

What bands are you listening to right now? Artificial Go, Workers Comp, Geo, and I just found out about William Onyeabor.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get? Pop-punk.

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live? I missed the Snõõper show at Pappy’s, because I got the flu. I hope they come back up to the high desert and play again!

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

It’s not really a guilty pleasure, but I like to listen to Dirty Art Club in my studio when I’m working.

What’s your favorite music venue?

My favorite music venue was this short-lived club in East L.A. called The Bollocks. I would go there every weekend when I was a teenager. I saw the craziest shit there.

What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head? “You don’t know me and you don’t know my style,” “Method Man,” Wu-Tang Clan.

What band or artist changed your life?

When I first heard the Count Five’s song “Psychotic Reaction,” I was blown away how punk it sounded for the ’60s. Then I found the Back From the Grave comps, and I haven’t stopped looking for cool ’60s garage bands.

You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?

It’s always best to not meet your heroes.

What song would you like played at your funeral? “Rockin Bones” by Ronnie Dawson, because I want to be bones, not dust.

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time? Talking Heads, Fear of Music

What song should everyone listen to right now? William Onyeabor, “Fantastic Man.”

OPINION COMICS & JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

“Rows and Columns”— really, more of the latter. By Matt Jones

Halloween mo.

Sauce on some pizzas

Eyelid nuisance

Avatar language

Drink, cat-style

Henchman

Ticklish Muppet

Assigned duty

Croatian currency

Not together

“I did perfectly!” (even if not) 24. City southeast of Los Angeles

Traffic jam ingredient

Band of schemers

Calculator component 33. “It’s ___ vu all over again”

Decorative

Racetrack shape 40. Renaissance Faire title 41. ___, Interrupted (1999 drama)

42. 1991 Red Hot Chili Peppers hit

44. Out on the briny

45. ___SmithKline (pharmaceutical company now known by its initials)

46. “Bed” or “home” ending

48. Cute animal reaction

50. Andes dweller, maybe

54. Undeveloped expanse

58. In a suitable way

59. Bugs Bunny antagonist Elmer

60. Energetically excited

63. Reach by phone

64. Compulsion

65. Michelangelo work in St. Peter’s Basilica

66. 2025 Pixar film

67. One with a crystal ball

68. Rescue shelter resident

69. Japanese bread? Down

1. Shaq’s surname

2. Lily variety

3. Lois Griffin or Marge Simpson

4. “Thx” preceder

5. Grab a bite

6. Publication with a lot of backbone?

7. Fish in a flat can

8. Concerning sight

9. “Keep your hands at ten and two,” say?

10. Dull sound from a weight

11. Space pioneer Gagarin

12. Elton John achievement

14. Hamilton, when focused on molecular particles?

21. Time period for Taylor Swift

23. Put cargo on

25. Like ___ from the blue

26. Cartoon spun off from Beavis and Butthead

30. Elevator company

31. Challenge

32. Jazz singer Fitzgerald

33. Rap’s Snoop ___

34. Wicked (and not for good)

35. Coffee

37. Marbled stone

38. Twilight author Stephenie

43. State home to Blank Park Zoo

47. “___ Wiedersehen!”

49. Tortilla-based sandwiches

51. “Boot” of Europe

52. Hyperbole and a Half writer/illustrator Brosh

53. 1930s DuPont fabric invention

54. The Last ___

55. Unadulterated

56. Jigsaw starting point, maybe

57. Release

61. Incoming train stat

62. When it’s light out

© 2026 Matt Jones

Find the answers in the “About” section at CVIndependent.com!

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