Salinas Underground

For the last year, Indie Basement cinema has been a monthly showcase of local short films. It is a place where local filmmakers can screen their films in front of their hometown crowd for free. Once a month the basement of XL Public House is turned into a cozy cinema where you can relax and have some popcorn and a beer while watching locally made films. I sat down with the two filmmakers who were having their movies screened for the anniversary. Jesus Cruz (@jxcruz510) is a filmmaker from Newark who came down to show two of his films: "Peanut Butter and Zombie" and "La Cobija". Julie Ruiz (@julieruizcinema) is a young director from Salinas who screened a music video she directed as well as her short film "Louie's Scary Movies." Sergio (@the_essence_music) can be heard spinning records multiple times a month. He sat down with us to talk about his time watching Indie Basement grow. Joey (@sinistaselecta) is one of the two people along with Rob (@masa_831_), who came up with the idea, and it is their hard work t

On September 7, 1963, the worst road accident in American history happened on a railroad crossing just outside of Chualar. This set off a battle for the 32 bodies of the victims that ended up uniting the Mexican community against the bracero program that had been giving low-wage workers to American farmers since WWII. It also helped unite a Mexican-American civil rights movement that had been divided between "urban" and "rural" Mexicans, setting off a larger struggle for the representation of all Mexicans in the United States.

Gin Fragonard is a Monterey-based singer and all-around talented artist. She is releasing an album in several chapters that is an ode to the place she currently calls home. This was a fun conversation that covered a range of topics, from musical inspirations to French cows and ferret cults and her music. The first part of the album comes out on October 20, but make sure to follow her on social media so you can watch one of her live shows. 

The governor of Florida is paying a visit to Salinas to raise money from a group of people he says is ruining this country. That is just one of a mountain of reasons why this is a terrible idea. Oz has a couple of more on this episode.

SEA.LVL are the tracksuit-wearing bad boys of instrumental R&B and they are in the studio to tell us all about the band! We also have the magician behind the tracksuits, Ari from Hella Dandy Apparel, on the mic. This fun conversation takes us from the bands origins to why we have a bunch of bananas on the desk and the reason for the tracksuits. You can catch them playing shows around the area or follow them on Spotify to get their new music as it comes out.

Genevieve Armendariz is a lifelong Salinas resident who dreams about stars in more ways than one. She represents her home region as Miss Central Coast in the Miss California Organization. She is also the founder of the non-profit Women Are Limitless, which supports Monterey County girls and women pursuing careers in a male-dominated industry. She sits with us to discuss her journey in the Miss California pageant. We talk about housing insecurity, greek philosophy, beauty peagants, and so much more. You may want to have some tissues around when you listen to this episode because we get deep!!

The Prancing Ponies Women's Car Show is one of the largest gatherings of women car owners and it happens in the middle of car week in Downtown Carmel. We set up our equipment in a corner of Devendorf Park and got some really great interviews. First off we talk to the guys from SEA.LVL who brought the party on stage with their instrumental R&B sounds. We also talked to the founder of the whole event, Chanterria McGilbra, who first got the idea to gather other women who owned Ferraris when a group of high school girls could not believe the one that she was driving was actually owned by her. Finally, we interview Miss Ferrari, whose 2013 Ferrari California won the best exotic award. 

Caro Perez is a writer, performer, and all around great human being. She has turned a lifelong passion for storytelling and honed it into a unique style that will have you laughing at some of her harrowing life events. She sits down with us to tell us her story from crossing the border to working at a factory so she could buy her first camera and her escape into womanhood. There are not enough episodes to tell her complete story, but this is an excellent introduction to a great local writer and actor.

During WWII, Japan controlled 90% of the world's rubber production, and the United States knew it needed to do something to protect itself in case the supply was cut off. On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan attacked the U.S., and the fear became a reality. With the country quickly using its reserves, the nation turned to an obscure desert plant called Guayule that had the potential to end our dependence on foreign rubber. Salinas was selected as the center of this massive undertaking, and overnight, millions of dollars and thousands of workers descended on the city. Then the war ended, and the project ended as quickly as it began. Plants and machines were destroyed, but the stories they made live on in the short but fascinating story of our city's history.

El Kallpa's story starts in Lima, Peru. Somehow he found himself in Monterey County playing music that tells his story and soothes the soul. In this talk, we learn how he ended up here and why music is such an important part of his life. He has an amazing story with stops everywhere, starting in Miami. His current projects are Sensory Tribe and BarKings, which you can find on Spotify or any music app you use. After listening to this one, you'll want to pull out your record player.

The Rudians have been together for less than 10 years, but they already have a whole career's worth of stories and experiences to tell. Recently they played at the Cali Roots Festival, where they jammed out on the legendary "Bowl" stage. Gio, Terrance, Anthony, and Neal are in the studio to tell us their experiences and how it felt to play at such a renowned venue in front of a hometown crowd. We also talk about a new member and new music in this great conversation.

Anthony Barrera and Jennah Montemayor host the 1st and the 15th Podcast. A show that interviews creative types and asks them about their journey in pursuing their art form. It is now on its third season and available anywhere you listen to podcasts. Even better, it is currently being recorded in our Salad Bytes Media studio. Oz also brings up some Salinas news, including the cruising ban being repealed and corporate coffeeshops popping up like lettuce in April. He also recites a poem that was written in Salinas' Chinatown in 1925 by a member of a group called the Juan Steinbeck Poetry Society of Salinas.

Even though Salinas is in California, it does not have the movie-making history of its bigger neighbor down south. Ivan Ramirez is a lifelong Salinas resident that thinks that by using his hometown as a backdrop, he can do something that seems impossible. He is trying to make a name for himself in a crowded industry by jumping off the deep end. His first film clocks in at just under 30 minutes, and it is both an ode to Salinas and a story of someone dealing with an existential crisis. 

The Rumba Madre is a group that was formed in Nashville by an eclectic group of guys that had a passion for music and another very important quality. They all spoke Spanish. David is one of the founding members and a teacher who has traveled worldwide playing music. He was born in Spain and now lives here in Monterey County. In between, he has taught and played music from El Paso to London and now open mics in Oldtown Salinas.

Artist Alley started two years ago as a way to gather the work of several artists in one place and give people a chance to buy directly from the artists themselves. Starting at the offices of Artists Ink, the alley features up to several dozen local artists showcasing their work. Oz set up shop inside the Co-Lab Studio and interviewed several people involved in keeping this fantastic event going!

In 1936 Salinas was the center of a strike led by mostly Filipino field workers. Over six weeks, battles happened in Oldtown. On one side, the striking workers were trying to prevent the lettuce trucks from reaching the packing sheds filled with "scab" workers from other parts of the country. On the other side was a motley crew of law enforcement afraid of a "red wave" descending down on the picturesque little town of Salinas. 90 years later the neighborhood is very different but if you look closely you can still find reminders of our interesting past.

If you want to taste the flavors of the Salinas Valley go out and buy a salad. If you want to listen to the sounds of the valley then you need to check out The Rudians. They take global music sounds and inject personal experiences for a unique sound that will have you dancing for hours. They give us a little of their musical history and talk about their epic performance at Cali Roots.

Christie Cromeenes took over district 5 at an interesting time in Salinas' history. Now that her first term is coming to an end, she feels there is still more work to be done not only in district 5 but in all of Salinas. Listen as she tells us her Salinas story and plans for her district if she manages to keep her seat on the council.

Andrew Sandoval is a Salinas native running for city council in district 5. He sits down with Oz and the Comadres to discuss his plan and how he differs from the incumbent. He talks about his experience on the Measure G Citizens Oversight Committee and how he will use that knowledge to help the people of his district.

Steve McShane is the incumbent city council member in Salinas's 3rd district. He has represented his district for several years but still feels like he has work to do. Listen as he sits down to answer our questions and talks about his plans for his district. Oldtown Salinas is experiencing a renaissance, but how can the area help with the lack of affordable housing in the city? Listen as he sits down with the Comadres and Oz in the Salad Bytes hot seat.