Monday, November 28, 2016
As valuable as crowd-funding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have become for independent musicians, the online campaigns lack face-to-face interaction between musicians and their fans.
Based on a successful event last fall, Thunder Canyon Brewery’s downtown location is launching a series of monthly events to help local musicians raise funds for upcoming projects.
The idea is to pair a short, acoustic performance with an extended meet-and-greet, to give musicians a better chance to explain their upcoming projects and mingle with fans, friends, family and potential donors.
Last August, hip-hop group Jivin’ Scientists held a Kickstarter event at Thunder Canyon, with a unique, stripped-down performance to showcase songs from the band’s in-progress album Thirsty.
To make the events a win-win, Thunder Canyon will name four beers specifically for the band’s event (for example, for Jivin’ Scientists’ Thirsty, the beers were Thirsty Blonde, Thirsty Red, Thirsty IPA and Thirsty Stout). The beers will be priced at $6 each, with $5 from every beer purchased going to the band as a donation to the crowd-funding project.
“The Jivin’ Scientists event seemed to go perfectly and we want to replicate that,” says Thunder Canyon General Manager Jason Schneider. “People got to talk to the band and interact and the band raised the money for their project.”
Thunder Canyon has done similar fundraising events for animal rescue groups like Pima Paws for Life. The Kickstarter parties would be once a month on Thursday evenings, with beers tapped at 5 p.m. and short performances at 6:30 p.m. Since the brewery isn’t great for sound, the event will be geared more for the opportunity for the band or musicians to introduce and describe the project.
“One thing to drive home is it’s not a performance-based event,” Schneider says. “Playing a few songs acoustically is the idea, but it’s more of a meet-and-greet and mingling event and we encourage bands to create a unique experience with features such as live art, videos of past performances. It’s great for people to be creative and weird and do different stuff and we’re open to all that.”
Bands must have an established crowd-funding campaign and are encouraged to set up a computer for people to contribute on the spot. For more information or to schedule an event, contact Schneider at [email protected] or 520-396-3480.
Based on a successful event last fall, Thunder Canyon Brewery’s downtown location is launching a series of monthly events to help local musicians raise funds for upcoming projects.
The idea is to pair a short, acoustic performance with an extended meet-and-greet, to give musicians a better chance to explain their upcoming projects and mingle with fans, friends, family and potential donors.
Last August, hip-hop group Jivin’ Scientists held a Kickstarter event at Thunder Canyon, with a unique, stripped-down performance to showcase songs from the band’s in-progress album Thirsty.
To make the events a win-win, Thunder Canyon will name four beers specifically for the band’s event (for example, for Jivin’ Scientists’ Thirsty, the beers were Thirsty Blonde, Thirsty Red, Thirsty IPA and Thirsty Stout). The beers will be priced at $6 each, with $5 from every beer purchased going to the band as a donation to the crowd-funding project.
“The Jivin’ Scientists event seemed to go perfectly and we want to replicate that,” says Thunder Canyon General Manager Jason Schneider. “People got to talk to the band and interact and the band raised the money for their project.”
Thunder Canyon has done similar fundraising events for animal rescue groups like Pima Paws for Life. The Kickstarter parties would be once a month on Thursday evenings, with beers tapped at 5 p.m. and short performances at 6:30 p.m. Since the brewery isn’t great for sound, the event will be geared more for the opportunity for the band or musicians to introduce and describe the project.
“One thing to drive home is it’s not a performance-based event,” Schneider says. “Playing a few songs acoustically is the idea, but it’s more of a meet-and-greet and mingling event and we encourage bands to create a unique experience with features such as live art, videos of past performances. It’s great for people to be creative and weird and do different stuff and we’re open to all that.”
Bands must have an established crowd-funding campaign and are encouraged to set up a computer for people to contribute on the spot. For more information or to schedule an event, contact Schneider at [email protected] or 520-396-3480.
Tags: Thunder Canyon Brewery , Jivin' Scientists , Kickstarter , Video
I opened my copy of the Star this morning and found this misleading headline:
[Full disclosure: Since I've lived in Tucson, I've begun the morning with the Star spread on my lap and a cup of coffee in my hand. It's how I open my eyes. I support the Star. I read it cover to cover. I recommend everyone who can afford to subscribe should do so. We need our local dailies. That makes me a loyal critic of the paper who wants it to be as accurate and credible as possible.]
I looked at other paper's headlines for the same story. Most of them use the "claim without evidence" construction. The Star headline is the outlier. Another headline that includes the word "citing" uses it correctly: "Donald Trump, Citing No Evidence, Claims 'Millions' Of People Voted Illegally In The 2016 Election." [boldface added for emphasis] Interestingly, the headline is a revision of an earlier version which received heavy criticism, as you'll read below.
This isn't nit picking. It's about the role of the media to cover the news accurately and to be acutely aware of the fact that many readers don't read further than the headline and the first paragraph. Get either of those wrong in a news item and readers get it wrong.
Jay Rosen, an Associate Professor of Journalism at New York University, has a terrific Facebook post on this point. He believes the media is being tested by the Trump regime to see how it will respond to misstatements and outright lies. According to Rosen, the real news in this story is "the fact that [Trump] feels entitled to say this without a shred of evidence— THAT is the news, not the fact that he said it." Media outlets that normalize false statements from Trump help blur the line between fact and falsehood, a line Trump spent the campaign trying to erase.
Here is Rosen's post.
Trump assails recount, cites illegal votingThen I read the first paragraph of the Associated Press story:
President-elect Donald Trump claimed without evidence Sunday that “millions” voted illegally in the national election, scoffing at Hillary Clinton’s nearly 2 million edge in the popular vote and returning to his campaign mantra of a rigged race even as he prepares to enter the White House.The AP got it right: Trump "claimed without evidence" that people voted illegally. The Star headline got it wrong by writing that Trump "cites illegal voting." "Cites" implies that Trump was referring to evidence or proof. In fact, he threw out a wild, unsubstantiated, debunked claim of voter fraud.
[Full disclosure: Since I've lived in Tucson, I've begun the morning with the Star spread on my lap and a cup of coffee in my hand. It's how I open my eyes. I support the Star. I read it cover to cover. I recommend everyone who can afford to subscribe should do so. We need our local dailies. That makes me a loyal critic of the paper who wants it to be as accurate and credible as possible.]
I looked at other paper's headlines for the same story. Most of them use the "claim without evidence" construction. The Star headline is the outlier. Another headline that includes the word "citing" uses it correctly: "Donald Trump, Citing No Evidence, Claims 'Millions' Of People Voted Illegally In The 2016 Election." [boldface added for emphasis] Interestingly, the headline is a revision of an earlier version which received heavy criticism, as you'll read below.
This isn't nit picking. It's about the role of the media to cover the news accurately and to be acutely aware of the fact that many readers don't read further than the headline and the first paragraph. Get either of those wrong in a news item and readers get it wrong.
Jay Rosen, an Associate Professor of Journalism at New York University, has a terrific Facebook post on this point. He believes the media is being tested by the Trump regime to see how it will respond to misstatements and outright lies. According to Rosen, the real news in this story is "the fact that [Trump] feels entitled to say this without a shred of evidence— THAT is the news, not the fact that he said it." Media outlets that normalize false statements from Trump help blur the line between fact and falsehood, a line Trump spent the campaign trying to erase.
Here is Rosen's post.
Tags: Donald Trump , Illegal voting , Arizona Daily Star
Saturday, November 26, 2016
There's plenty of Christmas on Tucson theater stages. You may know some of the more obvious choices, but there might be one you're not familiar with. Let's get you up to speed.
Possibly flying under your radar is the St. Francis Theatre. It operates as part of the St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church, but its purpose is not just to do church-y shows heavy on religious content. The congregation believes that being creative artistically is actually a connection with the divine, so they encourage and nurture music, visual arts and theater.
How 'bout that? They've been around for years and they don't shy away from doing challenging shows. That would include their current show, A Christmas Survival Guide, a musical revue written by James Hindman and Ray Roderick, with musical arrangements by John Glaudini.
Featuring singers Matthew Holter, Jodi Darling, Carson Wright, Julee Gell and Sue Bishop, the revue combines some familiar Christmas tunes, often with a twist, with some unusual ones. Jose "Chach" Snook directs, and with the help of an impressive five-piece band, these guys rock.
The piece uses a fairly silly convention to build the show around: There's a book, "A Christmas Survival Guide," that provides insights and gives helpful instructions about helping folks negotiate the very stressful holiday season, and maybe even have some fun along the way. Then the songs are offered as examples of what the book refers to. Sort of.
There are songs about dreading going to Christmas parties, and about being alone and blue, and even about the need for a wish list for adults. There's a take-off on the addicts' bible called The Twelve Steps of Christmas, and, yes, there's also a medley of songs we've learned from TV Christmas shows, such as Frosty the Snowman, as well as a couple of traditional Christmas carols.
There are some really impressive voices on display. Interestingly, several in the group are involved with teaching theater arts and music in our public schools, and those kids are in very capable hands. They'll likely glean a lifelong love of the performing arts from these capable teachers.
One of the best features of the show is the band. Not content to have just one pianist accompanying the songs, the group has invested in some fine musicians, and this gives the show a richness that a lone pianist could never provide. Dean Moore on drums, Catherine Gale on flute, Jacob Landi on guitar and Lisa Brown on bass comprise the ensemble, with music director Geoffrey Gale on piano.
The group is limited in terms of set design and lighting, so the performances are what matter most, and by and large they don't disappoint. I would suggest that they not treat the readings from the book as sort of a throwaway. Yes, it's a convention, but it's the convention that allows the show to have a context and thus possibly some impact.
Check it out. It's a different sort of Christmas show delivered quite capably.
A Christmas Survival Guide. Presented by St. Francis Theatre 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 4 4625 E. River Rd. $18-$25 Running time: 2 hours with intermission. 775-2390; artmeetsheart.com
Possibly flying under your radar is the St. Francis Theatre. It operates as part of the St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church, but its purpose is not just to do church-y shows heavy on religious content. The congregation believes that being creative artistically is actually a connection with the divine, so they encourage and nurture music, visual arts and theater.
How 'bout that? They've been around for years and they don't shy away from doing challenging shows. That would include their current show, A Christmas Survival Guide, a musical revue written by James Hindman and Ray Roderick, with musical arrangements by John Glaudini.
Featuring singers Matthew Holter, Jodi Darling, Carson Wright, Julee Gell and Sue Bishop, the revue combines some familiar Christmas tunes, often with a twist, with some unusual ones. Jose "Chach" Snook directs, and with the help of an impressive five-piece band, these guys rock.
The piece uses a fairly silly convention to build the show around: There's a book, "A Christmas Survival Guide," that provides insights and gives helpful instructions about helping folks negotiate the very stressful holiday season, and maybe even have some fun along the way. Then the songs are offered as examples of what the book refers to. Sort of.
There are songs about dreading going to Christmas parties, and about being alone and blue, and even about the need for a wish list for adults. There's a take-off on the addicts' bible called The Twelve Steps of Christmas, and, yes, there's also a medley of songs we've learned from TV Christmas shows, such as Frosty the Snowman, as well as a couple of traditional Christmas carols.
There are some really impressive voices on display. Interestingly, several in the group are involved with teaching theater arts and music in our public schools, and those kids are in very capable hands. They'll likely glean a lifelong love of the performing arts from these capable teachers.
One of the best features of the show is the band. Not content to have just one pianist accompanying the songs, the group has invested in some fine musicians, and this gives the show a richness that a lone pianist could never provide. Dean Moore on drums, Catherine Gale on flute, Jacob Landi on guitar and Lisa Brown on bass comprise the ensemble, with music director Geoffrey Gale on piano.
The group is limited in terms of set design and lighting, so the performances are what matter most, and by and large they don't disappoint. I would suggest that they not treat the readings from the book as sort of a throwaway. Yes, it's a convention, but it's the convention that allows the show to have a context and thus possibly some impact.
Check it out. It's a different sort of Christmas show delivered quite capably.
A Christmas Survival Guide. Presented by St. Francis Theatre 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 4 4625 E. River Rd. $18-$25 Running time: 2 hours with intermission. 775-2390; artmeetsheart.com
Friday, November 25, 2016
Hello, dear TW readers! Most of our staff is spending the day eating leftover stuffing and mashed potatoes, so things will probably be a little slow on the blog today. You can entertain yourself until we're back with this list of Casa Video's most popular movies from last week (or, if you're really adventures, you could go rent the films themselves!)
1. Sausage Party
2. Finding Dory
3. Bad Moms
1. Sausage Party
2. Finding Dory
3. Bad Moms
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Your Weekly guide to keeping busy in the Old Pueblo.
Pick of the Week: Local Black Friday & Holiday Shopping
Somehow, it happened. Despite months of intending to get holiday shopping done early, Thanksgiving has arrived and there are still gifts left to buy. Well, you might as well save some money. Ditch the mall this weekend and shop local this Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
The annual Fourth Avenue Black Friday (and Small Business Saturday) deals look pretty good this year, including discounts and double stamps at Antigone, free admission to future Jellywink sexuality workshop facilitated by Ally Booker with any purchase from our favorite sex toy store, dollar drafts at Mr. Head's, discounted improv classes at Tucson Improv Movement and 20 percent off at How Sweet It Was, the Book Stop, Rustic Candle Company and some items at Pop Cycle. Check out the Facebook page for more details on when and where these discounts are going down.
Other small business to check out for holiday deals include: Wooden Tooth Records, Fantasy Comics and Heroes and Villains. Need someone to watch the kids while you're fighting over discounted television sets? Register the kiddos for a day at Heart and Soul Kids Activity Center. Just need a drink? Casa Video's Film Bar is pouring black beers all day long.
But wait, more options await you throughout the weekend!
Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair: Holiday shopping is quickly approaching! Check out the Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair to find unique items from more than 100 vendors from all over the Southwest ranging from artists, crafters, photographers, painters, potters, jewelers and more at one of Tucson's most popular craft shows. Be sure to stop for food and refreshments from local vendors along the way. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 26 - 27. Reid Park, 3400 E. Zoo Court. Free.
Native American Month Social & Indian Craft Market: Learn about the heritage, culture and art of different Native American tribal nations at this special event held every year on Thanksgiving weekend. There will be works by artisans, demonstrations of dance and song, and activities for children. There will also be a cultural presentation from award-winning hoop dancer Cecil Manuel, Tohono O'odham and Apache nations. Noon to 5p.m. Nov. 26-Nov. 28. Sheraton Hotel & Suites, 5151 E. Grant Road. Free admission & parking.
The Big Lebowski at the Fox: Watch the Dude get into all kinds of shenanigans in this Coen brothers' 1998 dramatic comedy featuring Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi more of Hollywood's finest. You can catch this flick at the Fox for one days only. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27 Fox TucsonTheatre, 17 W. Congress. General Admission: $7, Students, military and kids under 12: $5 movies.
John Hughes Movie Night: Watch your favorite stories of high school angst and longing at Casa Video and Casa Film Bar. The new hang out at the old move stop will play a loop of John Hughes classics all Black Friday night long. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25 Casa Video and Casa Film Bar, 2905 E. Speedway Blvd. Free, bring money for food and drinks.
Breaking Away: Chosen by the staff members of Tucson's movie theater gem, this Academy Award-winning comedy covers the frightening transition into real life from high school, chronicling the lives of teen recently-graduated teens. 7:30 - 9:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20. The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. General Admission: $6, Members: $5.
Friends Trivia: Friends has been on Netflix for about two years now, which means you’ve had ample time to memorize every moment from the television show that dictated our hair cuts and helped us name our kids in the late ’90s. Stop singing to your neighborhood smelly cat and leave your ugly, naked neighbor alone on Tuesday, Nov. 29 a 7 p.m. and show off your Central Perk knowledge. Make sure you know who “Ms. Chenandler Bong” is. The fun takes place at Casa Video’s Film Bar (2905 E. Speedway Blvd).
The Sound of Music comes to Tucson: This musical classic will take to the UA's Centennial Hall for six days only presented by Broadway in Tucson in conjunction with UA Presents. The musical is under the direction of Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. times vary Nov. 29 - Dec. 4 Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. $19 - $100.
Caffinated Comedy: Enjoy a night of stand-up comedy at Cafe Passe's back patio hosted by Mo Urban and guest host Rory Monserat. Grab a cup of coffee, a pastry or some alcohol at the patio bar and make sure to get some laughs in at this open mic night. Sign-up: 6 p.m., Starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30 Cafe Passe, 415 N. Fourth Ave. Free, bring money for food and drinks.
Lightwire Theatre, A Very Electric Christmas: "Brighten up your holidays" with Lightwire Theaters A Very Electric Christmas, a magical tale of family, friendship and hope set to timeless holiday hits including Nat King Cole, Mariah Carey and Tchai. This show is open to people of all ages and will be a night to remember for the whole family! 6pm, doors 5pm Friday, November 25 Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street $17 - $32.
An Evening with Garrison Keillor: Spend an evening with Garrison Keillor, one of Americas most renowned radio hosts and humorists, and learn about his life and success along the way. He is the host of the daily program The Writer’s Almanac and the editor of several anthologies of poetry. Keillor has also been awarded with a Grammy, ACE, and George Foster Peabody awards, the National Humanities Medal, and election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29. Fox Tuscon Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street. $37-$84.
23rd Waila Festival at Old Tucson: Old Tucson is hosting their annual celebration of southern Arizona heritage and culture, with O'odham dancers and performances by the Waila Festival Band. In addition, there will be polkas, schottisches, and mazurkas as well as booths serving native desert food dishes and a barbeque. 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road. $10 per person.
Holiday Special, Home Alone in Concert: Are we in the part of the year where it is socially acceptable to start watching holiday movies yet? The Tucson Symphony Orchestra is featuring the famous Christmas comedy classic Home Alone on the big screen. But wait, there’s more: The screening will feature composer John Williams’ charming score performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vinay Parameswaran. Add some hot cocoa and it sounds like the perfect start to holiday madness. Saturday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m., Sunday Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.
Music
Bubba Sparxx: This son of a school bus driver has overcome lots of things to become Bubba Sparxx the rapper. For one thing, he was a high school football star, and he’s white, tubby, and he grew up in impoverished rural Georgia along a dirt road and his closest neighbor was a half mile away. Not exactly prerequisites to rap stardom. As a kid he discovered 2 Live Crew and then West Coast gangsta, and that, ultimately, connected him to world that was far more exciting than his own. It saved him, you could say. His 2001 debut album came out from absolutely nowhere, with Timbaland at the helm, went gold, and he became the go-to slinger of the white poor south, which made him a star. He’s also a master at country rap too. A real American story. With Yelawolf and Jelly Roll on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress. $26-$29. All ages.
Tele Novella: Hurl a Timothy Leary tome in any direction and you’ll knock an indie psych band in the head. Yeah, we’d wager there are more so-called “psych” bands today than at any time in the mid to late 1960s. Many of them are just detached and self-indulgent, retro-vaudvillians who forget that part of their job is to entertain an audience while mistaking droning sounds for actual songwriting. Worse, many have never ingested hallucinogenics! But this Austin-based band, led by the ferociously skilled guitarist/singer Natalie Ribbons, has the show, the songwriting—the thought and the passion—that allows them to use the “psych” label without embarrassment. And the band is so much more than that too. The hook-filled songs move in welcome unpredictable ways, can flip from sunny to melancholy in an instant (sometimes with eerie Lynchian sonic turns). It’s the same sort of literate, song-y mindset that possessed everyone from Sky Saxon to Burt Bacharach to Jackie DeShannon to Ruthann Friedmann to ’60s-era Paul Williams … so it’s beautifully baroque, filled with sculpted twang and singsong choruses. But never does it sound like they’re lifting wholesale from the greats. Ribbons has a glorious lilt in her voice too, kinda like Mama Cass, and you can imagine her one day singing standards. No shit. We can’t recommend this band highly enough. With Tucson’s mighty nihilistic bubblegummers The Resonars at 8 p.m., Wednesday Nov. 30, Club Congress, 311 E. Congress. Free. 21+
Capitán Koala: Straight out of Hermosillo, Sonora, this monster power-chording, Spanish-singing, roust-the-dead rock ’n’ roll outfit play as if their lives depend on it. They back up songs about eternal indifference and pawnshops with a kind of fist-pumping verve we’ve not heard out of a so-called “rock band” in ages. (It’s only more kickass that they’re Mexican.) Cross our hearts, this young quartet (one EP out, the punchy “Luciana”) make contemporary combos like the Foo Fighters sound even more bland and mediocre than they already are. They’re huge in Tijuana too. See them twice in Tucson: Saturday, Dec. 3 at Brodies Tavern, 2449 N. Stone. 7 p.m. 21+, and Sunday, Dec. 4 with Snailmate, at The Loudhouse, 915 W Prince Rd., 7 p.m. 21+.
Too $hort: Raised in South-Central L.A., Too $hort was an original West Coast gangsta rapper, slinging rhymes of porno-like schtupps and murderous suckerpunches that millions of white kids in middle America were eating up by 1990. $hort is infamous for many other things too, like collaborating with both The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac when they were huge. Now he’s one of the rare rappers who’s entered an age of his own nostalgia, where his fanbase is still strong but aging. And that says a lot about how his words and mad rapping skills have evolved with audience. He’s can be considered classic rap now, sort of like the Paul Simon of hip-hop. With Mistah F.A.B. on Saturday, Dec. 3 at The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress. $25-$30. 7 p.m. All ages.
Seu Jorge: This badass-haired singer/songwriter helped to popularize samba beyond South American borders. You may have seen him too: He was Knockout Ned in 2002’s Oscar-nominated City of God, and he co-starred in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steven Zissou, in which he beautifully covered David Bowie songs in Portuguese. (Bowie himself was moved by Seu Jorge’s versions). Over the years he has also covered the likes of Leiber & Stoller, Tim Maia, Serge Gainsbourg and others to incredible effect. As evidenced on his many albums, the madly charismatic Jorge is blessed with one of those voices that can seemingly tackle anything—he’s equally at home lilting over dancefloor-slamming South American rhythms as he is crooning over beds of soul or funk. It’s no surprise that his tours do great business—his sets move effortlessly between somber acoustic-guitar strummed beauties and sweat-soaked, horn-drenched sambas. And he’s doing the David Bowie stuff on this tour. Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress. 7 p.m. $38-$59. All ages.
House of Stairs: This quartet’s comely and effortless-seeming blend of fusion jazz, pop and soul mixes well with J. Dilla-inspired beats, varied electronics and loops. It doesn’t hurt that singer Holly Pyle has a graceful, liquid-like voice, sort of like Rickie Lee Jones, or that band member Shea Marshall plays a multitude of instruments, including bass clarinet, saxophone, harmonica, accordion and synth. Their song “Zoloft”—a blend of fusion, horns and unpredictable time signatures—manages to sound like how you feel when you actually “want to feel again,” but in the best possible way. With Katie Haverly on Friday, Dec. 2, at the Flycatcher, 340 E. 6th St. 9 p.m. 21+
Henry Rollins: The author, actor, columnist, book publisher, songwriter, podcast host, political activist, radio voice, forever punk rocker, and one-time Black Flag frontman is still kicking ass and taking names, despite the gray hair. (And no, we still would never go anywhere near his protein drink.) This protean wonder, whose finely wrought opinions are as sculpted as his gym-assisted torso, is bringing his angry/funny/enlightened spoken-word riot to these parts, and from what we understand the show is one sidesplitting anecdote to another. It’s also filled with charged screeds directed at mouthbreathing practitioners of sexism, racism and homophobia. He’s a man of the people, a poet of the proletariat, and if you don’t believe us, just go up and try telling him he’s not. Then see what happens. Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress. $27-$36 All ages.
Pick of the Week: Local Black Friday & Holiday Shopping
Somehow, it happened. Despite months of intending to get holiday shopping done early, Thanksgiving has arrived and there are still gifts left to buy. Well, you might as well save some money. Ditch the mall this weekend and shop local this Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. The annual Fourth Avenue Black Friday (and Small Business Saturday) deals look pretty good this year, including discounts and double stamps at Antigone, free admission to future Jellywink sexuality workshop facilitated by Ally Booker with any purchase from our favorite sex toy store, dollar drafts at Mr. Head's, discounted improv classes at Tucson Improv Movement and 20 percent off at How Sweet It Was, the Book Stop, Rustic Candle Company and some items at Pop Cycle. Check out the Facebook page for more details on when and where these discounts are going down.
Other small business to check out for holiday deals include: Wooden Tooth Records, Fantasy Comics and Heroes and Villains. Need someone to watch the kids while you're fighting over discounted television sets? Register the kiddos for a day at Heart and Soul Kids Activity Center. Just need a drink? Casa Video's Film Bar is pouring black beers all day long.
But wait, more options await you throughout the weekend!
Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair: Holiday shopping is quickly approaching! Check out the Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair to find unique items from more than 100 vendors from all over the Southwest ranging from artists, crafters, photographers, painters, potters, jewelers and more at one of Tucson's most popular craft shows. Be sure to stop for food and refreshments from local vendors along the way. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 26 - 27. Reid Park, 3400 E. Zoo Court. Free.
Native American Month Social & Indian Craft Market: Learn about the heritage, culture and art of different Native American tribal nations at this special event held every year on Thanksgiving weekend. There will be works by artisans, demonstrations of dance and song, and activities for children. There will also be a cultural presentation from award-winning hoop dancer Cecil Manuel, Tohono O'odham and Apache nations. Noon to 5p.m. Nov. 26-Nov. 28. Sheraton Hotel & Suites, 5151 E. Grant Road. Free admission & parking.
Cinema
The Big Lebowski at the Fox: Watch the Dude get into all kinds of shenanigans in this Coen brothers' 1998 dramatic comedy featuring Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi more of Hollywood's finest. You can catch this flick at the Fox for one days only. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27 Fox TucsonTheatre, 17 W. Congress. General Admission: $7, Students, military and kids under 12: $5 movies.John Hughes Movie Night: Watch your favorite stories of high school angst and longing at Casa Video and Casa Film Bar. The new hang out at the old move stop will play a loop of John Hughes classics all Black Friday night long. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25 Casa Video and Casa Film Bar, 2905 E. Speedway Blvd. Free, bring money for food and drinks.
Breaking Away: Chosen by the staff members of Tucson's movie theater gem, this Academy Award-winning comedy covers the frightening transition into real life from high school, chronicling the lives of teen recently-graduated teens. 7:30 - 9:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20. The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. General Admission: $6, Members: $5.
Friends Trivia: Friends has been on Netflix for about two years now, which means you’ve had ample time to memorize every moment from the television show that dictated our hair cuts and helped us name our kids in the late ’90s. Stop singing to your neighborhood smelly cat and leave your ugly, naked neighbor alone on Tuesday, Nov. 29 a 7 p.m. and show off your Central Perk knowledge. Make sure you know who “Ms. Chenandler Bong” is. The fun takes place at Casa Video’s Film Bar (2905 E. Speedway Blvd).
Performance
The Sound of Music comes to Tucson: This musical classic will take to the UA's Centennial Hall for six days only presented by Broadway in Tucson in conjunction with UA Presents. The musical is under the direction of Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. times vary Nov. 29 - Dec. 4 Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. $19 - $100.Caffinated Comedy: Enjoy a night of stand-up comedy at Cafe Passe's back patio hosted by Mo Urban and guest host Rory Monserat. Grab a cup of coffee, a pastry or some alcohol at the patio bar and make sure to get some laughs in at this open mic night. Sign-up: 6 p.m., Starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30 Cafe Passe, 415 N. Fourth Ave. Free, bring money for food and drinks.
Lightwire Theatre, A Very Electric Christmas: "Brighten up your holidays" with Lightwire Theaters A Very Electric Christmas, a magical tale of family, friendship and hope set to timeless holiday hits including Nat King Cole, Mariah Carey and Tchai. This show is open to people of all ages and will be a night to remember for the whole family! 6pm, doors 5pm Friday, November 25 Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street $17 - $32.
An Evening with Garrison Keillor: Spend an evening with Garrison Keillor, one of Americas most renowned radio hosts and humorists, and learn about his life and success along the way. He is the host of the daily program The Writer’s Almanac and the editor of several anthologies of poetry. Keillor has also been awarded with a Grammy, ACE, and George Foster Peabody awards, the National Humanities Medal, and election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29. Fox Tuscon Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street. $37-$84.
23rd Waila Festival at Old Tucson: Old Tucson is hosting their annual celebration of southern Arizona heritage and culture, with O'odham dancers and performances by the Waila Festival Band. In addition, there will be polkas, schottisches, and mazurkas as well as booths serving native desert food dishes and a barbeque. 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road. $10 per person.
Holiday Special, Home Alone in Concert: Are we in the part of the year where it is socially acceptable to start watching holiday movies yet? The Tucson Symphony Orchestra is featuring the famous Christmas comedy classic Home Alone on the big screen. But wait, there’s more: The screening will feature composer John Williams’ charming score performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vinay Parameswaran. Add some hot cocoa and it sounds like the perfect start to holiday madness. Saturday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m., Sunday Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.
Music
Bubba Sparxx: This son of a school bus driver has overcome lots of things to become Bubba Sparxx the rapper. For one thing, he was a high school football star, and he’s white, tubby, and he grew up in impoverished rural Georgia along a dirt road and his closest neighbor was a half mile away. Not exactly prerequisites to rap stardom. As a kid he discovered 2 Live Crew and then West Coast gangsta, and that, ultimately, connected him to world that was far more exciting than his own. It saved him, you could say. His 2001 debut album came out from absolutely nowhere, with Timbaland at the helm, went gold, and he became the go-to slinger of the white poor south, which made him a star. He’s also a master at country rap too. A real American story. With Yelawolf and Jelly Roll on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress. $26-$29. All ages.Tele Novella: Hurl a Timothy Leary tome in any direction and you’ll knock an indie psych band in the head. Yeah, we’d wager there are more so-called “psych” bands today than at any time in the mid to late 1960s. Many of them are just detached and self-indulgent, retro-vaudvillians who forget that part of their job is to entertain an audience while mistaking droning sounds for actual songwriting. Worse, many have never ingested hallucinogenics! But this Austin-based band, led by the ferociously skilled guitarist/singer Natalie Ribbons, has the show, the songwriting—the thought and the passion—that allows them to use the “psych” label without embarrassment. And the band is so much more than that too. The hook-filled songs move in welcome unpredictable ways, can flip from sunny to melancholy in an instant (sometimes with eerie Lynchian sonic turns). It’s the same sort of literate, song-y mindset that possessed everyone from Sky Saxon to Burt Bacharach to Jackie DeShannon to Ruthann Friedmann to ’60s-era Paul Williams … so it’s beautifully baroque, filled with sculpted twang and singsong choruses. But never does it sound like they’re lifting wholesale from the greats. Ribbons has a glorious lilt in her voice too, kinda like Mama Cass, and you can imagine her one day singing standards. No shit. We can’t recommend this band highly enough. With Tucson’s mighty nihilistic bubblegummers The Resonars at 8 p.m., Wednesday Nov. 30, Club Congress, 311 E. Congress. Free. 21+
Capitán Koala: Straight out of Hermosillo, Sonora, this monster power-chording, Spanish-singing, roust-the-dead rock ’n’ roll outfit play as if their lives depend on it. They back up songs about eternal indifference and pawnshops with a kind of fist-pumping verve we’ve not heard out of a so-called “rock band” in ages. (It’s only more kickass that they’re Mexican.) Cross our hearts, this young quartet (one EP out, the punchy “Luciana”) make contemporary combos like the Foo Fighters sound even more bland and mediocre than they already are. They’re huge in Tijuana too. See them twice in Tucson: Saturday, Dec. 3 at Brodies Tavern, 2449 N. Stone. 7 p.m. 21+, and Sunday, Dec. 4 with Snailmate, at The Loudhouse, 915 W Prince Rd., 7 p.m. 21+.
Too $hort: Raised in South-Central L.A., Too $hort was an original West Coast gangsta rapper, slinging rhymes of porno-like schtupps and murderous suckerpunches that millions of white kids in middle America were eating up by 1990. $hort is infamous for many other things too, like collaborating with both The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac when they were huge. Now he’s one of the rare rappers who’s entered an age of his own nostalgia, where his fanbase is still strong but aging. And that says a lot about how his words and mad rapping skills have evolved with audience. He’s can be considered classic rap now, sort of like the Paul Simon of hip-hop. With Mistah F.A.B. on Saturday, Dec. 3 at The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress. $25-$30. 7 p.m. All ages.
Seu Jorge: This badass-haired singer/songwriter helped to popularize samba beyond South American borders. You may have seen him too: He was Knockout Ned in 2002’s Oscar-nominated City of God, and he co-starred in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steven Zissou, in which he beautifully covered David Bowie songs in Portuguese. (Bowie himself was moved by Seu Jorge’s versions). Over the years he has also covered the likes of Leiber & Stoller, Tim Maia, Serge Gainsbourg and others to incredible effect. As evidenced on his many albums, the madly charismatic Jorge is blessed with one of those voices that can seemingly tackle anything—he’s equally at home lilting over dancefloor-slamming South American rhythms as he is crooning over beds of soul or funk. It’s no surprise that his tours do great business—his sets move effortlessly between somber acoustic-guitar strummed beauties and sweat-soaked, horn-drenched sambas. And he’s doing the David Bowie stuff on this tour. Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress. 7 p.m. $38-$59. All ages.
House of Stairs: This quartet’s comely and effortless-seeming blend of fusion jazz, pop and soul mixes well with J. Dilla-inspired beats, varied electronics and loops. It doesn’t hurt that singer Holly Pyle has a graceful, liquid-like voice, sort of like Rickie Lee Jones, or that band member Shea Marshall plays a multitude of instruments, including bass clarinet, saxophone, harmonica, accordion and synth. Their song “Zoloft”—a blend of fusion, horns and unpredictable time signatures—manages to sound like how you feel when you actually “want to feel again,” but in the best possible way. With Katie Haverly on Friday, Dec. 2, at the Flycatcher, 340 E. 6th St. 9 p.m. 21+
Henry Rollins: The author, actor, columnist, book publisher, songwriter, podcast host, political activist, radio voice, forever punk rocker, and one-time Black Flag frontman is still kicking ass and taking names, despite the gray hair. (And no, we still would never go anywhere near his protein drink.) This protean wonder, whose finely wrought opinions are as sculpted as his gym-assisted torso, is bringing his angry/funny/enlightened spoken-word riot to these parts, and from what we understand the show is one sidesplitting anecdote to another. It’s also filled with charged screeds directed at mouthbreathing practitioners of sexism, racism and homophobia. He’s a man of the people, a poet of the proletariat, and if you don’t believe us, just go up and try telling him he’s not. Then see what happens. Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress. $27-$36 All ages.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
ALL IN THE FAMILY (BUT USE THE INSIDE VOICE FOR PENISES)
“You want to teach your kids about heartache and loss, buy a hamster,” Eddie Pence says. The line comes near the end of a series of laughs about how we think about our pets. For example, we panic when a dog “gets lost,” whereas cats just leave. “It’ll be back in a week with something dead,” he says.
Pence fashions laugh lines out of the familiar flotsam of 21st century dad life, and sometimes steals them directly from his toddler son. He’s performed at the HBO Aspen Comedy Arts Festival and HBOs The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas, and has appeared on Comedy Central and the Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
Pence comes to Laff’s Comedy Caffé, this weekend, with shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26. Laff’s is at 2900 E. Broadway Blvd. Admission is $10 to $15 with a two-item minimum. Make reservations at laffstucson.com. Artist information is at eddiepence.com
RIFFING ON A LIFE
Public Defender Abby Louise Jensen is featured in the T.I.M. Soap Box performance at 9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 25. The Soap Box improv team spins scenes from true stories shared by each week’s guest. An attorney with the Pima County Public Defender, Jensen is vice president and general counsel at Southern Arizona Gender Alliance and co-chairs the Tucson Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues. Before all that she parachuted into wildfires for a living. The show is $5 at T.I.M. (Tucson Improv Movement), 329 E. Seventh St., tucsonimprov.com.
HAVE YOUR IMPROV AND STANDUP, TOO
Comedy impresario Matt Ziemak’s mind = blown. “This is my baby,” he said in announcing the event. “I thought of this idea when I was really lonely in L.A.“ Tucson Improv Movement debuts a comedy show he invented that melds improv and stand-up into a new format called “Set - Unlisted." In the performance, comedians do their routines and then improv teams, who have been kept out of the room, create scenes from fragments of the comic’s notes. Guest comedians for the premise’s debut are Mo Urban, Ali Musa, Rory Montserrat, Pauly Casillas and Ziemak’s co-host T.I.M. company member Leland Long. The show is $5
RETURN OF THE WILDCAT
Wildcat Comedy, formerly on Mondays at Illegal Pete’s, returns on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St. The show will benefit from fewer frat boys daring companions to take the mic. Opening comics are hosts Rich Gary and Matt Ziemak plus Dom Ditolla, Randy Ford, Charles Ludwig, Leland Long and yours truly. The Screening room serves beers, movie snacks and Empire pizza. tsrdowntown.com.
Director Denis Villeneuve has made one of the year’s best science fiction films.
Amy Adams stars as Dr. Louise Banks, a linguistics teacher crippled by visions of a daughter who died of a rare illness. She lives a life of seclusion, where the only thing she really does is teach her class and mope around her lakefront home. (Man, that must be one abnormally high paying teacher’s gig.)
During class, a bunch of phones go off, a student instructs her to turn on the TV, and, bam, that’s how she discovers the planet seems to be getting a visit from an alien force. Strange giant pods have parked themselves all over the planet, and nobody knows their intent. A solemn military man (Forest Whitaker) shows up in Louise’s office and informs her the world needs her. She has a sense of purpose again. It isn’t long before she’s inside an alien ship trying to talk to the “Heptapods,” large elephant looking aliens with seven legs. She’s joined by a science officer played by a surprisingly low-key Jeremy Renner.
The movie is drawing comparisons to Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It’s a very different type of film from that one. If you are looking for some sort of action pic, you will not find that here. This is a sci-fi movie that gives itself time to breathe, and while it does have a few action scenes, for the most part, it’s intellectual fare.
Next up for Villeneuve is Blade Runner 2049, a sequel to the Ridley Scott classic and another sci-fi effort. Based on his work with Arrival, I have to say that the Blade Runner sequel stands as one of my most anticipated movies.
A neo-Nazi group met in Washington D.C. over the weekend celebrating Trump's victory. The keynote speaker proclaimed the superiority of whites (though he preferred the word "Europeans"), referenced Nazi Germany and ended his speech by shouting "Hail Trump! Hail Our People!" which was greeted with cheers and Nazi salutes from the crowd.
Since the election, Trump has unleashed Twitter storms against the media, anti-Trump protesters and the cast of Hamilton, but the only comment about the neo-Nazi event and similar outpourings of racist and antisemitic hate around the country came from someone in his transition team who wrote, "President-elect Trump has continued to denounce racism of any kind." Weak tea from a man whose revels in full-throated condemnations of everything and everyone he's against. Trump's racist supporters know a mild statement like that is the equivalent of calling a naughty dog over for a hug. "Come here, you bad dog. Who's a bad dog? Who's my bad dog?"
At a meeting with the New York Times Tuesday, Trump went a bit farther and decided to "disavow and condemn" the white nationalists, though he acted like he didn't know much about them and denied he had anything to do with their current prominence. At the same meeting, he said maybe there's something to climate change and maybe waterboarding isn't such a good idea after all. Oh, and after bashing the New York Times at every opportunity, he called it a "great, great American jewel." That places his comment about the white nationalists as part of a temporary reversal while he was in the room with the Times guys. Someone accused his racist dog of crapping all over their lawn, and Trump gave the dog a light whack across the nose with a rolled-up newspaper.
A few different terms are used to describe the most racist and antisemitic of Trump's supporters—alt-right, white supremacists, white nationalists. Shades of meaning differentiate the three terms, but they're all in the same ballpark. Whites should rule the country. Non-whites should be kept in their place, and their numbers should be kept as low as possible. All three terms have well-deserved negative connotations, which is why Steve Bannon, Trump's chief strategist and the man who brags he created "the platform for the alt-right" at Breibart News, wants to normalize the term "White Nationalism" to a more neutral, even patriotic-sounding "Nationalism."
Since the election, Trump has unleashed Twitter storms against the media, anti-Trump protesters and the cast of Hamilton, but the only comment about the neo-Nazi event and similar outpourings of racist and antisemitic hate around the country came from someone in his transition team who wrote, "President-elect Trump has continued to denounce racism of any kind." Weak tea from a man whose revels in full-throated condemnations of everything and everyone he's against. Trump's racist supporters know a mild statement like that is the equivalent of calling a naughty dog over for a hug. "Come here, you bad dog. Who's a bad dog? Who's my bad dog?"
At a meeting with the New York Times Tuesday, Trump went a bit farther and decided to "disavow and condemn" the white nationalists, though he acted like he didn't know much about them and denied he had anything to do with their current prominence. At the same meeting, he said maybe there's something to climate change and maybe waterboarding isn't such a good idea after all. Oh, and after bashing the New York Times at every opportunity, he called it a "great, great American jewel." That places his comment about the white nationalists as part of a temporary reversal while he was in the room with the Times guys. Someone accused his racist dog of crapping all over their lawn, and Trump gave the dog a light whack across the nose with a rolled-up newspaper.
A few different terms are used to describe the most racist and antisemitic of Trump's supporters—alt-right, white supremacists, white nationalists. Shades of meaning differentiate the three terms, but they're all in the same ballpark. Whites should rule the country. Non-whites should be kept in their place, and their numbers should be kept as low as possible. All three terms have well-deserved negative connotations, which is why Steve Bannon, Trump's chief strategist and the man who brags he created "the platform for the alt-right" at Breibart News, wants to normalize the term "White Nationalism" to a more neutral, even patriotic-sounding "Nationalism."
Tags: Donald Trump , Steve Bannon , Neo-Nazis , Alt-right , White Supremacy , White Nationalists , Nationalism
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Last Saturday night an army of bassheads sporting tutus and kandi bras, armed with homemade totems, turned out to see our favorite artists and rage the night away with 10,000 of our best friends. Global Dance Festival: Wild West Edition was hosted by its namesake and Relentless Beats at the incredible Rawhide Western Town and Event Center in Chandler, Arizona.
As a veteran of the scene, I was impressed by the level of production and lack of mishaps. There were an appropriate amount of well-maintained water stations. We were immersed in the Wild West theme as soon as we entered the gates; it was like we had stepped into a Clint Eastwood film.
Wild West featured a diverse lineup, including a DJ group from Japan. Addressing the lack of female DJ's, Global Dance Fest booked Alison Wonderland. Her set was incredibly intimate and emotional as we explored the darker depths of her soul. As legions of Bassnectar fans rocked their bodies to the low frequencies, I finally understood the depth of their loyalty. Unlike most DJs,
Bassnectar doesn't just press play. He does a live set and uses a private collection of underground remixes.
Many critics claim dubstep is repetitive; Datsik sampled this as a joke and nod to the humility that our scene offers: “Same old crap over and over again” (*cue bass drop).
At California events, it's easy to take for granted how accepted everyone is, inside and outside the venue. In Arizona I felt I was stepping into a sacred gathering for people who have no other safe place to express their true selves. In the wake of this Election, performers and ravers alike appreciated this chance to embrace a culture of acceptance.
Zion Crosby is a Waldorf teacher in training and a native Hawaiian. He also happens to be Bing Crosby's great grandson.
As a veteran of the scene, I was impressed by the level of production and lack of mishaps. There were an appropriate amount of well-maintained water stations. We were immersed in the Wild West theme as soon as we entered the gates; it was like we had stepped into a Clint Eastwood film.
Wild West featured a diverse lineup, including a DJ group from Japan. Addressing the lack of female DJ's, Global Dance Fest booked Alison Wonderland. Her set was incredibly intimate and emotional as we explored the darker depths of her soul. As legions of Bassnectar fans rocked their bodies to the low frequencies, I finally understood the depth of their loyalty. Unlike most DJs,
Bassnectar doesn't just press play. He does a live set and uses a private collection of underground remixes.
Many critics claim dubstep is repetitive; Datsik sampled this as a joke and nod to the humility that our scene offers: “Same old crap over and over again” (*cue bass drop).
At California events, it's easy to take for granted how accepted everyone is, inside and outside the venue. In Arizona I felt I was stepping into a sacred gathering for people who have no other safe place to express their true selves. In the wake of this Election, performers and ravers alike appreciated this chance to embrace a culture of acceptance.
Zion Crosby is a Waldorf teacher in training and a native Hawaiian. He also happens to be Bing Crosby's great grandson.
Tags: Alison Wonderland , Datsik , Alison Wonderland , Video
Calling all UA Wildcat fans—that's probably most of you: The Downtown Tucson Partnership, Playground Bar & Lounge and ZonaZoo have joined together to honor the fact that… well, the fact that most of you are Wildcat fans.
More specifically—and excitingly—the groups are celebrating with “Bear Down Downtown at Playground,” dubbing Playground Bar and Lounge the official new ZonaZoo Watch Party Headquarters. From now on, Playground and its host of bigscreens will be hosting road game watch events with ZonaZoo throughout the entire 2016–2017 Arizona men’s basketball and baseball seasons (and hopefully post-seasons, according to the Downtown Tucson Partnership’s press release).
What does this have to do with food? (Besides the obvious traditional inhaling of beer and snacks while game-watching, me mean?)
We’re glad we made you ask: In addition to Playground now hosting the game-watching events, there’s a brand new ZonaZoo app that’ll lead Wildcat fans to special deals and discounts (on game days) offered by a variety of downtown merchants, including Hotel Congress, Maynards Market & Kitchen, Ike’s Coffee & Tea, and Hub Restaurant & Ice Creamery—with more joints jumping on board every day.
The first “Bear Down Downtown” event happened Fri., Nov. 11—when the Cats beat Michigan State in basketball, 65–63—and according to the Downtown Tucson Partnership’s Marketing and PR Manager James Jeffries, “That party was pretty darned packed.”
Playground Bar & Lounge, 278 E. Congress St., will host a watch event for every televised road game; visit the website for a schedule. Meanwhile, download the ZonaZoo app anytime—it’s free and available now at the iOS and Android app stores.
