A colorful lucha libre mask hanging for sale somewhere may provoke thoughts of wrestling—but the truth is that lucha libre is much more than just wrestling. Yes, there are still body slams, but the form of Mexican wrestling has roots going back to the 1860s—and its impact on Latino culture goes far beyond the ring. For more than a year, Agua Caliente Cathedral City has been hosting Viva La Lucha events, during which a ring is set up in the Agave Caliente Terraza. The next event is happening at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 4—and it may be the last local Viva La Lucha event for a while. The lucha even ..read more

With ever-increasing difficulty, it’s my job to bring you a monthly column regarding craft beer in the desert and throughout Southern California. The last part of that last sentence makes my job much easier than it would be if I were limited to discussing the Coachella Valley. Another trip to the Los Angeles Beer Festival it is then! If you’ve read my previous installments regarding this festival, you know my attendance is largely motivated by getting to see various friends I don’t often get to see in one place—but that is a bit unfair to the festival itself. It’s pretty damn good. Does it ha ..read more

On this week’s Independent comics page, which did not release a surprise double-album this week: This Modern World is very concerned about free speech on campus; The K Chronicles strongly recommends reading a certain book before it is banned; Claytoonz browses through the Maga Enquirer; and Jen Sorensen endures the noise of a leaf blower. The Weekly Independent Comics Page for April 25, 2024! is a story from Coachella Valley Independent, the Coachella Valley's alternative news source ..read more

Two Palm Desert Favorites Close Due to a Devastating Fire We are deeply saddened to report that a massive fire in Palm Desert destroyed a building at the intersection of Country Club Drive and Monterey Avenue that housed four businesses, including Papa Dan’s Pizza and Pasta and D’Coffee Bouteaque. These were not just businesses, but cherished parts of our community. Papa Dan’s is a longtime favorite of mine, and D’Coffee Bouteaque is a charming relative newcomer; they’ll both be greatly missed—but we’re happy that owners of both restaurants have said they plan to re-build. We are grateful that ..read more

Country artist Megan Moroney burst onto the music scene in 2021—and three short years later, the singer is a bona fide star. Her single “Tennessee Orange” exploded on streaming services, and as of this writing, is nearing 200 million streams on Spotify alone, thanks to catchy, narrative vocals about finding love. Moroney’s music explores anthemic (“Sleep on My Side”), party (“Lucky”) and heartbreak vibes (“Girl in the Mirror”) through twangy instrumentation, all while her voice navigates between country grit and pop melody. You can catch Megan Moroney’s set at Stagecoach on Sunday, April 28 ..read more

After more than two decades of being a band, Duluth, Minn.-based folk-rockers Trampled by Turtles still don’t feel like they fit in anywhere … and that’s a good thing. Mixing bluegrass with rock, the band has crafted a sound that is as narrative, rootsy and Americana as it is fast and indie/alternative. Songs like “Whiskey,” “Codeine” and “Wait So Long” have roots in old-school mountain fiddling—but reverb and soulful vocal performances transport the classic genre into modern times. Trampled by Turtles is set to perform at Stagecoach on Saturday, April 27, returning for a third time after ap ..read more

Are you feeling the sting of Curb Your Enthusiasm coming to an end on HBO? Never fear: Conan O’Brien has come to the rescue—and his new show might be his best show yet. In Conan O’Brien Must Go, the legend travels to four foreign lands, with each trip inspired by a call into his podcast. Somebody from Norway called and said he was a fan? What the hell! Let’s get on a plane and go surprise the guy! We’ve got the budget for that sort of thing! We’re HBO! It’s a great premise, and while Conan became a fine interviewer over the years, it was the behind-the-scenes stuff and street skits that reall ..read more

The local businesses that get invited to be vendors at Coachella, like Everboom Coffee and TKB Bakery and Deli, usually have brick-and-mortar locations—but this year, a local food-truck-based business has joined them with a booth on the festival grounds. Valley Fusion is a mobile sushi truck that pops up at events all over the desert—and during Coachella and Stagecoach weekends, attendees can find them in the 12 Peaks VIP section, across from the Aperol booth. During an onsite interview with owner Alexis Jimenez, he said the business landed a spot at Coachella after vending at another Goldenv ..read more

Alphabetically speaking, Revolution Stage Company’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a hit from A to Z! The show is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by William Finn, with a book by Rachel Sheinkin. Its Broadway stint garnered six Tony Award nominations and two wins in 2005, for Best Book of a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical. Through hilarious, touching and catchy songs, we follow the journey of the spellers as they navigate the ups and downs of the competition, revealing their hopes, struggles and passions along the way. Six quirky adolescents compete ..read more

Every year, Goldenvoice and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival select some local businesses to offer a slice of the desert. For example, Indio’s Everbloom Coffee was at the festivals last year, and is back for 2024. Joining Everbloom this year is Indio sandwich shop TKB Bakery and Deli. The restaurant has garnered national attention: In 2018, TKB 2018 was No. 1 on the Yelp Top 100 Places To Eat List—the fourth year in a row TKB finished in Yelp’s Top 5. TKB—aka The Kid’s Business—can be found on the festival grounds near Spectra (the colorful tower), right next to the Pies & Low ..read more