I don’t watch much TV, certainly not the news. This isn’t a pretentious flex, but more of a generational effect: The TV I grew up with either doesn’t exist anymore or I have grown out of it, as on-the-ground social media reporting and alternative news sources are far more reliable than what the cable companies and what’s left of the broadcast channels can offer. But there’s still the opportunity for engagement from time to time, especially since I take care of an elderly family member who lives with me and has found a way to watch the news in my living room. And holy shit, while not a lot shocks me these days, the “reporting” from the frontline of the resistance actions in Los Angeles against ICE and the police was horrendous. It reminded me of the Iraq War, with all the journalists embedded in the Green Zone with the U.S. military, where they were spoon-fed State Department nuggets of sugary flavor pops to coat the imperial lies in the bloody wet center of each bite. In this case, the broadcaster was behind police lines, towing the official position and marveling at the tactics of the cops, while feigning ignorance of what the protestors were demanding, why they were there, or even more absurdly, what they were saying (I could clearly hear people yelling, “Fuck ICE,” and “Get out of our neighborhood,” in the background). This sort of TV is a lot of things, but it isn’t useful information, or journalism, beyond the offshoot of the entertainment industry that the general mainstream practice has become.
It’s obvious to anyone with eyes attached to a brain and a soul what’s going on, and it takes a fading, multibillion dollar industry to try to convince us otherwise. This is people versus oppression and it isn’t a partisan issue. Gruesome Newsom is repeating what he did with the homeless sweeps, using the abuses of the far-right — whether the anti-democratic Supreme Court in the former case or the current administration of brainless ghouls in this one — to clamp down on a population of conscience and righteous anger with a “kinder and gentler” anti-human junta of armed bozos. I’ve said it before and here I go again: We aren’t voting our way out of this mess.
What you can do is hold onto your moral compass, not listen to the badge-shiners and lickspittles, and always remember your place in the shared humanity that has before, and will again, overcome the waves of pain and violence squeezed out by the greedy ruling minority that wants everything on its nihilistic path to reduce human life to nothing.
Look out for your neighbors and have a great week.
Thursday
Denver, Colorado’s The Motet has been slinging its own brand of funk and soul musical hash since 1998, and is known for its artist-themed Halloween shows, featuring full sets covering the works of musicians like The Talking Heads or Madonna, as well as growing its sound into a larger world music and jam-influenced machine. Tonight isn’t Halloween — although it is the eve of the only Friday the 13th in 2025 — but the band will doubtless deliver a high energy set of danceable jams for the gathered crew at the Arcata Theatre Lounge. Doors at 7 p.m., tickets are available online for $34.61.
Friday the 13th
Lucky, ominous or otherwise, the only agreed-upon spooky day before Halloween this year is here. Superstitions aside, I am going to act as though this is any other Friday as far as my beat is concerned. Here are two gigs to kickstart your weekend. The Outer Space opens its doors at 5:30 p.m. for snacks and mingling, but the music gets underway at 7 p.m., with experimental folk trio Mighty Violets playing a set buttressed by the support of highly talented musical everyman Daniel Nickerson. As ever, money isn’t required to enter this sober, all-ages venue, but a $5-$10 donation is appreciated.
Over at the Miniplex at 8:30 p.m., you will find the chamber pop stylings of Bay Area classically trained vocalist and self-taught instrumentalist Asha Wells, along with slowcore indie group Glacier Dorm and local DJs Crop Circles, Maehem and CryBB. Tickets are $15 at the door, $12 advance.
Saturday
Sonoma-based power trio The Beer Scouts returns to its former headwaters of Humboldt County to play a couple of shows at — appropriately — two of our local breweries. If you missed yesterday’s 6 p.m. gig at the Paskenta Mad River Brewing tasting room, you can still catch the bluesy rock setlist of covers and originals at the Lost Coast Brewery at 1 p.m. today. No cover; bring some change for the taps and tips. Speaking of free shows and missing out, if you weren’t at the Outer Space last evening, you can still catch Daniel Nickerson at the Logger Bar tonight at 9 p.m. where he will be picking, singing and trading tunes with Turtle Goodwater in the style of traditional Americana, folk and country.
Sunday
Mike Bynum, Aleister Paige and Darren Weiss are three talented local musicians who lend their instrumental prowess to several local old jazz, folk and country acts, but today join forces to play some acoustic jams as The Deck Hands. The hour is high noon and while there’s no cover for the music, the venue is the Fieldbrook Winery, a food and beverage venue on Father’s Day, so you may want to consider reservations for a table.
Monday
Savage Henry Comedy Club presents Movie Party Tonight, with doors at 6 p.m., movie at 7 p.m., and a free raffle that comes with the $10 ticket. Tonight’s offering is 1994’s direct-to-video flick Moonchild, where writer/director Todd Sheets creates a dark future where a man fuses his DNA with a wolf to become a super soldier. Good enough for the backend week after the big Strawberry Moon from last Wednesday.
Tuesday
A mostly quiet night, on which I’ve previously covered what’s going on regularly, with the exception of the following. It isn’t music, but if you are in the mood to go out, try the free Trivia Night at the Logger Bar at 6 p.m.
Wednesday
If you have a hankering for clubbing vampires bathing in an indoor shower rave of blood, along with peak performances by Wesley Snipes in the titular role and Kris Kristoffersson as his armorer and grizzled court wizard, plus tons of gore and martial arts action, come and check out Blade, the only Marvel movie that gets better with age, at the Arcata Theatre Lounge tonight at 7 p.m., a little earlier if you want to participate on the raffle. As ever, $6 to get in the doors, $10 to leave with a poster.
Collin Yeo (he/him) would like to thank Sly Stone for being one of the greatest to ever do it, in any era or dimension. May he rest in funk.
This article appears in Wide Open.