Oct. 9 Weekly Briefing: Spooky music, housing report, police host night out, and more

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🎶 Setting the mood: “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett

LEADING OFF

*From left to right, Miguel Arballo, Jasyn Smith, Matt King, Alyssa Mendoza* *of the band Salton City Surf Club, one of the groups featured on the first iteration of “It Came From the Desert!” (Photo: Ken Larmon)*

Local musicians unleash spooky Halloween compilation album

A new Halloween-themed record featuring Coachella Valley artists is bewitching the desert with 34 original tracks. Several bands will haunt Center Stage in Downtown Indio this weekend for a release party.

Driving the news: “It Came From the Desert!, Vol. 3” — created by local music journalist and musician Matt King — more than doubles the length of the first volume released in 2022.

How it works: The album is structured around a fictional radio broadcast on 106.6 KILL, with hosts breaking between songs to grapple with desert-themed horrors and cryptids.

Why it matters: King hopes the compilation will inspire local bands to record their music before they disband and their songs are lost forever.

“So many local bands come and go, and it’s like, I loved those songs so much, and I can never hear them ever again because they’re not playing or they never recorded [them],” King said.

Dive deeper: In Volume 3, Jasyn Smith and his father Jason Smith broadcast live as they hunt for the Yucca Man, with instrumental music from King’s brother, Chris M. King, setting the mood.

The album features punk, metal, hardcore, alternative rock, desert rock, electronic, reggae and acoustic tracks.

The release parties: Fifteen bands will perform Oct. 10 at Coachella Valley Brewing Co. in Thousand Palms, featuring heavier punk and metal acts. A family-friendly show happens Oct. 11 at Center Stage in downtown Indio.

The bottom line: King prints all the CDs himself out of pocket. “It’s a labor of love for all the bands that participate and I want to get people to tune into these bands.”

Dive deeper with our complete story

BRIEFLY

⚡️ IID prepares for Tropical Storm Priscilla

We’re seeing a chance of rain in the forecast today and tomorrow, remnants of a Tropical Storm if you can believe it.

Priscilla weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm after it approached Mexico’s western Pacific coast earlier this week, but it still packed a punch, bringing gusty winds and high surf to Baja California Sur.
The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) said it is preparing personnel and equipment to respond to potential service interruptions from the storm. Crews are working to alleviate possible flooding and coordinating staff and equipment in the event that strong winds affect service.
Bottom line: IID recommends customers charge mobile devices, prepare emergency kits with flashlights, batteries, bottled water and medications, trim trees near power lines, and avoid approaching downed power lines.

🏘️ Home prices drop as inventory climbs

The median price of a detached home in the valley dropped to $625,000 in September 2025, down 2% from the previous year, as the seasonal price downturn continues and inventory increases.

In Indio, detached homes sold for a median price of $618,000, down 2% year-over-year, while attached homes averaged $280,000, down nearly 3%.
Homes are taking longer to sell, averaging 59 days on the market valleywide and 65 days in Indio. Inventory surged 16% across the valley to 2,799 units, while Indio saw an 18% increase with 415 homes available. Supply is beginning to exceed demand in almost all price brackets, according to the months of sales ratio.
Details: Detached homes sold at an average discount of 2.7% below asking price, up from 2.1% last year, as fewer homes selling above asking.

YOUR WEEKEND

“The Cottage: Broadway’s Killer Comedy”
All weekend | Desert Theatreworks
Fresh from its hit Broadway run, “The Cottage” is an “outrageous tale of sex, betrayal, and desire” set in the 1920s. Runs through Nov. 2 ($47)

Movie Night: “Wicked”
Today | 6 p.m. | Center Stage
Warm up those vocal chords and head downtown tonight to watch “Wicked” on the big screen. You know you’ve got to refresh your memory before the second half, “Wicked: For Good” comes out on Nov. 20!

Food Truck Fridays
Friday | 5 p.m. | Towne Street and Bliss Avenue
This Friday’s delicious food lineup includes Tacoshop 760, Elowitos, Candy pupusas, El Reaper Chicken, Nick’s Pizza, and more!

5K Run/Walk
Saturday | 7 a.m. | Everbloom Coffee Downtown
Get ready to bloom! Head to Everbloom Coffee’s brand new Downtown location for a chill 3.1-mile run or walk followed by yoga at 8 a.m.

“It Came From the Desert!, Vol. 3 Release Party
Saturday | 6 p.m. | Center Stage
Get ready for debut live performances from Mushroom People, Jayce Levi (Secret Secret Dino Club), The Royal Chicano Underground, SpaceinSound, and Yóves to celebrate the release of the Halloween album, “It Came From the Desert!, Vol. 3.” Did we mention there’s free candy, tasty food, and a chance to win something special if you come in costume?

38th Annual Indio High School Band Spectacular
Saturday | 6 p.m. | Indio High School, Ed White Stadium
If your musical taste requires a bit more brass and some marching, come on down to Ed White Stadium for Indio High School’s Band Spectacular featuring performances from their marching band and students from Colonel Mitchell Paige middle school. ($10)

Check out more events in our community calendar

AND FINALLY …

*Families gather to watch the Shadow Hills High School Marching Band.*

Indio Police Department’s National Night Out drew hundreds of community members Tuesday evening for an event that blended public safety education with neighborhood celebration along Miles Avenue and Towne Street.

Driving the news: More like a block party than an informational seminar, the annual gathering featured food trucks, performances by Shadow Hills and Indio High School bands, and more than a dozen informational tables where residents could connect with law enforcement and community organizations.

Beyond the basics: Attendees encountered public safety demonstrations alongside the festivities, including a wrecked vehicle from a DUI crash with officers explaining the dangers of impaired driving, and Desert Regional SWAT’s armored BearCat vehicle.

The bigger picture: The event highlighted partnerships between Indio PD and community resources, from Riverside County firefighters and probation officers to mental health volunteers, immigration legal services from TODEC, and local organizations like the Coachella Valley History Museum.

Dive deeper with our complete story