heART on Center
Comedy
Don’t answer the phone
’Canes Bar & Grill is getting into the stand-up comedy scene with a bang by hosting two shows with Jim Florentine and the Killers of Comedy tour at 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Probably most well-known as the voice of “Special Ed” on the cult phony-phone-call show, Crank Yankers on Comedy Central, Florentine is also the host of That Metal Show on VH1 and just got his big break in movies with a scene-stealing role in A Little Help, in which he plays Jenna Fisher’s goofy boyfriend. For his stand-up, expect rants about such things as growing up Catholic, masturbation and, naturally, messing with telemarketers. ’Canes is at 3105 Ocean Front Walk, in Mission Beach. $25. www.canesbarandgrill.com.
Music
Bluegrassy knoll
Folks in the bluegrass community probably had mixed feelings when the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? caused a surge in the genre’s popularity—happy for the new audiences, but likely also thinking, Where have y’all been? The seventh annual Summergrass San Diego Bluegrass Festival, happening Friday, Aug. 21, through Sunday, Aug. 23, at the 40-acre Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum site in Vista (2040 N. Santa Fe Ave.), is your chance to see and hear a ton of the stuff all in one place. The fest features headliners The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band and Newfound Road, plus others such as Sawmill Road, The Brombies and Bluegrass Patriots. www.summergrass.net.
Go fishing: It’s not too often you get to see some of the best local bands and DJs at The Casbah while also raising money for an awesome cause, but you can do just that at the Goin’ Fishin’ Fundraiser staring at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23. The benefit is for Mark Johnson, a good friend of The Casbah, avid fisherman and huge local music supporter who was stricken with a debilitating illness last February that left him without the use of his legs. A who’s-who list of musician friends are coming out to support him, including Steve Poltz (playing with The Cynics), MEX, Midnight Rivals, a.m. Vibe, Black Hondo and Bartender’s Bible, plus DJs like Gary Shuffler and El Torito in between bands. The Casbah’s at 2501 Kettner Blvd. in Middletown. $15. www.casbahmusic.com.
Art
Pulp addiction
Pulp artist David Russell Talbott is no stranger to us here at CityBeat (and shouldn’t be to our readers, either) Why’s that? Because his provocative “pulpcore” brand of art has occupied our cover more than once. It’s instantly recognizable: part comic-book illustration, part propaganda art and part film noir. His work beckons you into the sordid worlds of gangsters, pin-up queens, vintage Tinseltown and the 1950s American family. Help Talbott celebrate the release of his new book, Potboiler Summer, from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Tractor Room (3687 Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest). The one-night-only show will feature a new collection of pulpcore paintings, and while you’re there, you can get your copy of the book signed. www.davidrusselltalbott.com.
Make sexy time: Thumbprint Gallery in North Park (3925 Ohio St.) has held some family-friendly shows since opening earlier this year, but you’ll want to leave the kiddies at home for Sex and Violence, a showcase of some not-so-subtle works by local artists. Also on display will be works by the artist collective MONK, who’ll show five 4-by-5-foot paintings composed of 150 smaller paintings, all created live during the recent North Park Music Thing. Singer-songwriter Brenda Xu will play acoustic music, and DJs Coco and Johnny Tran will spin. Both shows start at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Ages 21 and up. www.myspace.com/thumbprintgallery.
Special Events
Star chamber
If you rarely make it out of the city, you’ve undoubtedly forgotten what a sky full of stars looks like. Do yourself a favor and head out to the Julian Starfest. You can make a long weekend of it by camping from Thursday, Aug. 20, through Saturday night, Aug. 22, or you can participate in a full day and evening of activities on Saturday, including tours, exhibits and lectures at the Palomar Observatory (some events on Friday, as well). The main event is the free star party on Saturday (arrive between 6 and 8 p.m.) in a large field adjacent to the Menghini Winery. Telescopes will be provided, but bring your own if you have one. Camping and some of the observatory activities require registration, so go to www.julianstarfest.com for details or call 858-876-0620.
Nightlife
Night-time stylin’
We’ve pimped a Mimi + Red fashion show on this page before, but only ’cause we dig what they’ve got going on: two best pals who dreamed up a plan to open their own boutique—one that caters both to women with money and those of us who struggle to find a few bucks to buy a new get-up. All of their offerings (found at 3032 University Ave. in North Park) are cute and cutting-edge. At 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, Michelle “Mimi” Knudsen and Rhondda “Red” Begley will pick the clothes while their neighbors from The Lab (located next door to Mimi + Red) will do hair and makeup for a fashion show at Voyeur (755 Fifth Ave., Downtown). The evening, which starts at 9 p.m., includes music by DJs Posso, Gabe Vega, Adam Salter and Erick Diaz. www.mimiandred.com.
Film
On the border
It’s only natural that an English-language film about drug wars in Tijuana would hold its premiere in the city’s closest American counterpart. That may be why we’re getting a screening of James Cotten’s latest feature, La Linea (or The Line for gringos), with an impressive cast featuring Ray Liotta, Andy Garcia and Esai Morales. One of eight Latino films screening in major markets across the country as part of the Maya Inaugural Indie Film Series, it’s inarguably the highest-profile of the bunch, but whether it attains the heights of Traffic is another matter altogether. See for yourself at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Hillcrest Cinemas (3965 Fifth Ave.). www.mayaindieseries.com.
