John Doyle and Duncan Wickel
Renowned Irish guitarist and songwriter John Doyle has long written Irish-style tunes inspired by history. In his latest CD, Shadow and Light, Doyle, who plays at Pima College West Saturday night with fiddler Duncan Wickel, zeroes in on the great Irish immigration to America in the 19th century.

Echoing the travails of today’s beleaguered immigrants, his song “Liberty’s Sweet Shore” laments the immigrant’s fate, telling of a journey in a coffin ship, sailing “on an ocean of tears.” The chorus evokes the loss of home: “We left all we know/to this new life we’ll go.”

Another tune, “Clear the Way,” recounts the true-life Civil War exploits of the Irish Brigade, led by the legendary Thomas Francis Maher.

Born in Dublin, Doyle is familiar with contemporary immigrant life—he’s spent many years living in the U.S., in Asheville, home of southern traditional music. But he hasn’t lost his Irish charm. In his frequent stops in Tucson (this is his fifth local concert), he’s showed off his gift of gab, spinning hilarious yarns about Ireland, including a memorable one about his aged grandparents riding a motor scooter through their village.

Doyle is also an extraordinary guitarist. A founding member of the Irish-American band Solas, he’s now a solo artist who’s played with most of the greats of today’s Irish music scene, including Eileen Ivers, Liz Carroll and Mick Moloney. On his last stop in Tucson, he was joined by singer Karan Casey. This time he shares the stage with Wickel, a Boston multi-genre fiddler who is as comfortable in jazz and classical music as he is on old Irish ballads.

He and Doyle will perform many of those traditional songs. Doyle grew up in the music, going to pubs with his father and brothers to hear his grandfather on the accordion.

As Doyle once said, “I was a folk nerd from way back.”

Danú: Féile Na Nollag: A Christmas Gathering
The Irish still practice some of their old Christmas customs, even in its post-Celtic Tiger, high-tech era. The Wren Boys still go around from house to house on Wren’s Day, the day after Christmas, and community choirs still sing in the squares.

Originating in Centennial Hall on the UA campus, The Sound of Music is spreading across the valley and echoing through our own hills, although they are quite different from the alpine ranges featured in Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's beloved musical.

Presenting group Broadway in Tucson has brought a really fine touring production of the musical our way, and its tale of children and their governess and their emotionally distant father take us on a trip with which many of us who were first introduced to its cinematic version in the mid-'60's are familiar. We revisit anew the growing attraction between the children's father, Captain Georg von Trapp, and their new nursemaid, who quite gently but persistently frees the children of the lifeless consequences of being left with a well-meaning but misguided father. And we are reminded of the alarming undercurrent of the tale: the growing menace in the form of Adolph Hitler, whose spreading power not only claims Austria for his empire, but espouses a dangerous nationalism in which many are deemed unfit and are targeted for destruction.

This version is full of fine performances. Anna Mintzer, who was subbing in the role of Maria opening night, was quite fine and almost avoided the overly optimistic, goody two-shoes nature of her character, especially after she marries the Captain, here capably played by Ben Davis. He sympathetically portrays a widower who clings to his late wife's memory, dooming his children to an unhappy childhood and depriving himself of their great affection.

All of the large cast exhibits great skill and convincing characterizations. Particularly outstanding are Merwin Foard as Max Detweiler and Melody Betts as the Mother Abbess. Her “Climb Every Mountain” would encourage the most shy and downcast among us to identify our dreams and put legs under them.

You can't have a Sound of Music without those cherubic children injecting youthful energy into the proceedings. Here we find a well-behaved and talented group including Paige Sylvester (Liesl); Ashley Brook (Louisa); Kyla Carter (Marta); Iris Davies (Brigitta); Roy Gantz (Friedrich); Austin Levine (Kurt); and Arizona native Anika Lore Hatch as Gretl. The tour must be an excellent kid wrangler, because although so often children tend to steal the show, this group is perfectly integrated.

If you’re a fan of flamenco music and dance, you won’t want to miss this Saturday’s show by a crew of international artists who are performing at the Sea of Glass Center for the Arts.
Lluvia Flamenca will feature Tucson flamenco dancer Mele Martinez, French singer Jose Cortes, Cuban guitarist Andres Vadin and two Venezuelan artists, percussionist Diego “El Nego” Alvarez and pianist Gonzalo Grua.

The show, choreographed by Fanny Ara, is titled "Luz" and is a celebration of motherhood and artistry, according to organizer Angelina Ramirez, who writes:

In Spanish, dar a luz means to give birth. This definition symbolizes the heart of Luz— a flamenco project honoring mothers who live and work as artists. Luz will explore the labors and joys found in balancing a life as caregiver and creator. It will feature choreography by award-winning artist, Fanny Ara, introduce world-class flamenco musicians from across the globe, and present American flamenco dancer and mother Mele Martinez. Luz seeks to inspire, to embolden, and to enlighten those who recognize the synergy between motherhood and artistry.

The show is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Sea of Glass Center for the Arts, 330 E. Seventh St. Tickets are $26. Find more information here.

You might’ve heard of—and hopefully tasted something made by—Tumerico, a local catering, food-cart and farmers-market business owned and run by Chef owner and chef Wendy Garcia (See this week’s Chow feature for more about eatery).

Now you can taste Garcia’s delicious, healthy dishes on a whim, without browsing markets, hunting down food carts or hosting a dinner party (yeah, like that wouldn’t be a hassle…). Just head over to East Sixth Street, where Tumerico has materialized as a brick-and-mortar café.

The venue, which opened Nov. 12, offers some prepackaged meals for those in a hurry, but it also has tables for sit-down diners who want their meals cooked from scratch. Tumerico will continue to focus on gluten-free, vegetarian and/or vegan options, also serving local coffee from Exo Roast Co., Yellow Brick Coffee, and Presta Coffee Roasters.

"I never in a million years thought I would be up here on stage appealing for the freedom and safety of American journalists at home."

That's how Christiane Amanpour began her acceptance speech for the International Press Freedom Award given to her by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Amanpour is one of those strong, steady, fearless journalistic voices. She's a respected international correspondent who has spent time the world's hot spots. She understands what attacks on the press look like. She hosts persecuted journalists on her program. She knows whereof she speaks.

Her entire speech talks about freedom of the press around the world, but she keeps returning to her fears, which she hopes won't turn into reality, of a cowed and cooperative media in this country. Here are a few excerpts.

I was chilled when [Trump's] first tweet after the election was about "professional protesters incited by the media." He walked back the part about the protesters but not the part about the media. We are not there but, postcard from the world: this is how it goes with authoritarians like Sisi, Erdoğan, Putin, the Ayatollahs, Duterte, et al.

As all the international journalists we honor in this room tonight and every year know only too well:

First the media is accused of inciting, then sympathizing, then associating—until they suddenly find themselves accused of being full-fledged terrorists and subversives. Then they end up in handcuffs, in cages, in kangaroo courts, in prison—and then who knows?

. . .

A great America requires a great and free and safe press. So this above all is an appeal to protect journalism itself. Recommit to robust fact-based reporting without fear or favor—on the issues. Don't stand for being labelled crooked or lying or failing. Do stand up together—for divided we will all fall.

. . .

Tucson hip-hop artist Lando Chill says "I make music and talk to people. Do a lot of inspiration on the side." Chill released his debut album For Mark, Your Son earlier this year and can be seen making inspirational speeches and talks with Tucson youth.

What was the first concert you attended?
Geez Louise. I think it was Ella Jenkins. She’s a very famous old folk singer. She sings in many different languages. That was the first concert I think I went to as a kid. She used to go to my church back in Chicago.

What was the first album you owned?
I listened to my mom’s music. It was either between Luther Vandross, Nat King Cole, James Taylor. She was really into Marvin Gaye.

What are you listening to these days?

Can I check my Spotify?... A lot of Anderson .Paak, a lot of Bon Iver. I’ve been going back and listening to a lot of Joey Bada$$. I listen to a lot of my old music, which is weird, but most of the time I listen to it in a critique or in a way in which I can learn something from it so I can
use for upcoming music.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone seem to love, but you just don't get?

Simple artist or simple music. I don’t get simple shit. That can fall under a EDM track that just has
someone pressing play to Lil Yachty singing nursery rhymes over some trap beats that his friend gave him to just like some dude hooking up his acoustic guitar to some pedals and thinking that its psych rock. I wanna hear the complexity. I wanna hear the artistry. I wanna hear some showmanship and I feel like that’s lost in music nowadays. 

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

Oh man! Anderson .Paak! That dude is the fuckin’ shit! Him or Bon Iver or Moses Sumney or The Internet too. The Internet would be really sick to see live and it be cool to go on tour with those cats.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

I’m not really ashamed of anything I listen to honesty and I don’t think I have a guilty pleasure.

What song would you like to have played at your funeral?

Aww, shit! I was just talking about this with somebody and I already know what it is, “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor! Yep! 'I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend... But I always thought that I'd see you baby, one more time again, now!'

What artist changed your life and how?

Me, honestly. I realized it after I went to Coachella. It was my first music festival and I went because Kid Cudi and watching him on stage was like... it wasn't like I was disappointed but it was like I can do that shit.

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

Best album of all time is probably Food & Liquor. Yeah, [Lupe Fiasco's] debut album. 

On the corner of Fifth Ave. and 31 St., stands a building. It’s not elaborate, it doesn't draw much attention, and it could easily be overlooked. But, despite the unadorned physical appearance, Preloved Chica Clothing has made a name for itself for what happens on the inside.

The mission of Preloved Chica Clothing is to create a positive impact in the lives of women through reselling used clothing.

It was created by four women who care deeply about women issues and the wellbeing of women in the South Tucson community: Maritza Broce, a union organizer and administrative manager; Lorena Howard, a domestic violence counselor; Leatanya Koppa, a high school counselor; and Rosalva Fuentes, a human and civil-rights advocate for immigrant communities founded Preloved Chica Clothing in 2011.

The boutique was built upon the principle to stray away from a typical non-profit model, but still have the ability to make a difference in the South Tucson community. Most non-profit organizations are built by using the grant method, but with this method if the grant is lost or if the supporters shift their focus, the organization is put at risk. Preloved Chica Clothing is founded upon the product sales model, meaning that the product that they are giving back is donated to them. With this model, the organization is able to be self sufficient.

Preloved Chica Clothing is a local resale boutique that not only provides a clothing outlet for the community, it makes a conscious effort to touch the lives of women in the South Tucson community in a positive way. The boutique is using clothing as a common ground to foster community and improves the lives of women in South Tucson.

The original idea for the clothing store was to provide gently used clothing to women who are re-entering the workforce. The idea was to provide these women with low cost, but quality professional attire. Since then it has grown to affordable clothing for all different aspects of a woman’s life, including clothing for children.

This documentary about the 1966 tower shooting at the University of Texas takes a unique approach in using rotoscope-type animation and performers, combined with archival footage and interviews.

The words being said by the performers are actual words taken from interviews with real survivors, who are also featured in the movie, non-animated. It’s a unique approach by director Keith Maitland, and it’s very effective.

The lone Texas gunman took the lives of 16 people, injuring many others. The film goes into great detail about the events of that day, and their aftermath. In the fifty years since this happened, many more mass shootings have occurred on American campuses. Unfortunately, the University of Texas proved to be just the start of a horrible, continuing trend. The movie is one of the year’s best documentaries.

The Loft will be presenting the film on Monday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. There will be an onstage discussion of the film and the events of that day with film subject and shooting survivor Claire Wilson James, Lucy Wilson, Ph. D. (a Tucson psychologist and Claire’s sister), and producer Hillary Pierce.

I'm taking a side trip to Iraq, 2004, to create a—Full disclosure: not entirely fair—linkage between events during the Iraq War and Betsy DeVos, Trump's pick for Secretary of Education.

I'm a few days late to the DeVos story, but there's still lots to be said. You can sum up her philosophy of education in three words: Privatize, Privatize, Privatize. ("Do you want to supersize monetize that order of privatization, Ms. DeVos?" "Oh, absolutely!") But first, the Iraq War, and Fallujah.

For a number of reasons, the U.S. turned the Iraq War into a highly privatized mission. We needed more boots on the ground than our armed forces could provide, and besides that, the Bush administration believed that anything a government worker or soldier can do, an employee of a for-profit private company can do better. The private forces totaled about a third of the military presence in Iraq.

In 2004, four private security contractors working for Blackwater USA were escorting a convoy of trucks near Fallujah when they were ambushed and killed. The four men's bodies were burned, mutilated and dragged through the streets. The outrage in the U.S. over the brutal killing was partly responsible for the first Battle of Fallujah, which was the largest military operation since the U.S. took control of Iraq. It did not go well. Civilians fled the city, the U.S. attacked from the air and from the ground with little success. The battle ended with the U.S. withdrawing from the city and turning the operation over to a Sunni security force, which soon turned its weapons over to the insurgency and faded away.

Hi, I'm Cleopatra!

I'm 1-year-old little mama cat and I need a new home! My kittens and I were brought into the shelter, but now I am spayed, fully vaccinated and ready to find my forever home!

I love to play and be pet, but on my own terms only. You know what people say about torti cats, right?

If you're interested in a cute, little cat to join your home I might be the perfect fit! Contact HSSA at 520-324-6088 ext. 173 to check on my availability. Or just stop by HSSA Main Campus at 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd.!

Lots of love,
Cleopatra (827417)