L.A. times Crossword June 9, 2021 Julian Lim

Theme. SURRENDER[S.]  The second word of each two word theme fill is a synonym for capitulation. There's a flaw in the unifier though, as we shall soon see.  

17. *"Rockin' the Suburbs" alt-rocker: BEN FOLDS.  A person's proper name becomes a verb. 

Moderately amusing, but Cf 33D

To FOLD is to capitulate.

24. *"Anything wrong?": WHAT GIVES?  You OK!  Inquiry into someone's general well being.

To GIVE [up or in] is to capitulate.  A different sense of the verb GIVE.

36. *Not much interest: LOW YIELDS. Not much return on investment, like T-bonds and money markets these days.

To YIELD is to capitulate. The noun YIELD becomes a verb, just like magic!.

52. *Ursine dens: BEAR CAVES. Where they spend the winter.

To CAVE is to capitulate. Another noun to verb transition.  Lots of grammatical alchemy going on here.

60. Concede ... or a hint to the last words of the answers to starred clues: CRY UNCLE.

Another way to capitulate.

 

But, you'll notice that the theme fill all end in "S," while the corresponding verb in the unifier does not. The latter represents the base form of the verb in present tense, as used in first and second person.  The added "S" indicates third person.  For example, I sleep and you sleep, vs he/she/it sleeps.  This may be a niggling little quibble, but I find the inconsistency to be troubling, and am issuing a citation.

Hi gang.  Jazzbumpa here, evidently in critical mode.  Let's see what else gives. I will not capitulate!