Looking for a night of soul music? This upcoming Saturday, May 25, check out "Saturday Night Soul" at Sky Bar Tucson.

Starting at 9 p.m., enjoy the rhythmic sounds of local Tucson artists such as rapper Chakara Blu, and singers Shekinah and Just Najima. 

The show is 21 and up unless accompanied by a guardian up until 10 p.m. After 10 p.m., only 21 and up are permitted entrance. The show is free! 536 N 4th Ave. 

Andy Andrist: Not So Unbookable

Keep an eye out for any rickety vans stalled along State Route 80 to Bisbee. It could be some Unbookables comedians en route to a gig. Help them out and they might share their weed or coke or whatever.

Andy Andrist is the latest of that notorious klatch of ne’er do well comedians to hit Southern Arizona stages. He performs his Nature Jack Tour on May 31 as part of The Oracle 2000’s knockout opening series repurposing the old Gus & Andy’s Steakhouse as a jazz and comedy club.  Showtime is 8 p.m. Admission is $5 via Eventbrite and $8 at the door.

Andrist performs earlier in the week at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, at The Mint Cocktails, to close out Joey G Comedy’s current season there. Admission is $8 at the door.

Andrist gained some notoriety for a video, made at Stanhope’s urging, in which he interviewed a man who allegedly had abused him. A lawsuit ensued. With Stanhope and Joe Rogan, he wrote and performed for Comedy Central’s The Man Show after Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla left the franchise. He also performed a set in the HBO series Down and Dirty with Jim Norton and is featured on the Unbookables CD, Morbid Obscenity.

Both The Mint and The O shows also feature Unbookables cast member Kristine Levine. She’s best known locally for The World Famous Frank Show on KLPX, but was also a 10-episode regular on Portlandia. Nashville comedian Brett Brock and eight-year local comedy veteran Joey G round out both bills.

Expect a Doug Stanhope sighting at either or both of these shows. Stanhope, whose singular characteristic is the absence of boundaries either in comedy or in life, is always listed in any given top X-number of contemporary comedians, frequently in the top ten. Now living in Bisbee, he recently turned up at the Surly Wench’s Monday open mic, and on a handful of Tuesdays at Joey G Comedy’s regular open mic at The Mint. Levine often drops in for that mic.

Stanhope conceived and produced the Unbookables movie with comedy promoter and agent Ron Reid. Reid moved from Portland to Oro Valley a couple years ago with his wife and his business, Artists West Management.

So the gang’s all here, pretty much, or passing through. Watch for more Unbookables now that they’ve found us.

Incidentally, the movie, The Unbookables, was released on DVD last year and is also available on Netflix. It follows the mishaps of a van full of reprobate comedians and the dives that enable them.

One Bad Comic and a Polar Bear

In the continuing story of The Screening Room’s drive to bring more comedy to downtown, budding impresarios Marcus Raymond Gallegos and Tony Chavira present Israel “One Bad Comic” Garcia and Jon “Polar Bear” Gonzales to the theater at 9 p.m. Friday, May 24.

Garcia delivers high energy comedy in what he calls a “goofball style.” He’s toured with the Latin Comedy Jam and the Prende la vela” tour with YouTube star and comedian Raymond Orta. He’s also toured widely with Los Angeles-based comedy troupe Refried Comedy, was showcased at the L.A Improv in Hollywood and performed several shows for service members. He was a finalist in El Paso’s Funniest competition.

The rest of the lineup is headed by Garcia’s frequent feature act, Jon “Polar Bear” Gonzalez, who describes himself as a “Random, weird, unpredictable, fluffy, man boob slapping guy.”
Gallegos, Nicole M. Riesgo of Tucson Improv Movement and Roxy Merrari of Comedy at the Wench round out the bill. Admission is $10 or two for $15 at the door, or you can skip the line with no service fee viapaypal.me/tonyccomedy.

Last Friday, Last Laugh

Organizers say Hotel McCoy’s free monthly comedy series, Last Friday, Last Laugh, has been a success out of the box. Hotel McCoy distinguishes itself by featuring all things local, and, so far, the shows have featured local stand-up comedians almost exclusively. The hotel’s bar also features local brews.

The next show is from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 31. T-Town laugh-makers this month with places they’ve performed include Ali Musa, Tempe Improv; Charles Ludwig, Battle at the Roast Room winner; Nicole Riesgo, cast member of Tucson Improv Movement; Tim Maggard, Laffs Comedy Caffe; Danny Keaton, New Orleans Comedy Festival; Thomas Eppolito, Stand Up Live; and David Ross, AZ House of Comedy. 

FST! Presents: Borders & Boundaries. Have you ever made it out to see a Female Storytellers show here in the Old Pueblo? This group of hilarious, insightful women come together to make you laugh and raise money for local charities. ASL interpreters are provided. This week is sure to be a good show, because we all have thoughts and opinions about borders and boundaries, but this group of women have thoughts, opinions and a real knack for sharing them in an eloquent, funny way. 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday, May 23. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. $8 GA. Details here.

Megan Craft at REVEL. REVEL, our local European-styled bar with wines from all over, hand-selected beers, and gorgeous meat and cheese boards, is a place where people come to celebrate life, and a place where artists come to showcase their work. Local artist Megan Craft is showing off some of her stuff at this special event. Come see her gorgeous, colorful figure drawings—and her smiling face—at REVEL, for this “Meet the Artist” event. 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 23. REVEL, 416 E. Ninth St. Free. Details here. 

Ask For Jane. The Screening Room is showing a film that is just as relevant today as it was when it was made. Based on a true story, this film shows a world where abortion is punishable by prison and getting birth control is nearly impossible. As a result, women form a secret network to help other women obtain safe but illegal abortions. But the police are always searching. 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 23, and Friday, May 24. 127 E. Congress Street. $7. Details here.

Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

A technicolor musical experience awaits when Silver Cloud Express, United Snakes and Hey Bucko take to the stage at Sky Bar. Details here.

The Blues Review features Tom Walbank, Austin Counts and Christopher T. Stevens. At Tap + Bottle Downtown. Details here.

Guided by unseen voices, they are able to leap across the stage in a single bound. Piñata Protest, Pigmy Death-Ray and The Demons run amok. At the Surly Wench Pub. Details here.


Performing transcendental music of the world, Khalid el Boujami on oud/voice will join Balkan Spirit on the patio at Agustin Kitchen. Details here. 

Deeper: DJs Atom Energy and Lunarfox spin house at Passé. Details here.

For her 16th birthday, Tucson City High School student Isabella Parisi did not ask for presents. Instead, she said any money that would be spent on her should instead be given to children in need.

Parisi and her family worked with Pay It Forward Tucson, a local nonprofit, to host an event to benefit children in need. In total, the May 18 event raised $1675.81 for Raising Special Kids, an Arizona nonprofit dedicated to helping children with disabilities. The fundraiser included an art show from multiple local painters, performances by folk musician Peter Dalton Ronstadt, and more.

“Since she was young she has given back to the community, however, this year was one of the most special events,” said Isabella’s mother Rebecca.

Reid Park will host a series of free outdoor movie showings this summer. These family-friendly events start May 31 with the showing of The Incredibles 2 from 7:45 to 9 p.m. Bring a blanket to sit on and some popcorn, or enjoy snacks from the food trucks stationed at the park. There will be live music, arts and crafts, and other activities too, starting at 6 p.m. It's another way to make your Tucson summer memorable!

Future screenings include:

• Kung Fu Panda 3 – Friday, June 14
• Lego Movie 2 – Friday, June 28
• How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – Friday, July 12
• Aquaman – Friday, July 26

At Reid Park, DeMeester Outdoor Performance Theater 900 S. Randolph Way. Enter the park off South Country Club Road.

“Hi there! I’m Phoebe and I’m a 3-year-old girl who is still searching for my perfect family after finding myself back at HSSA for the 3rd time. I would prefer to have you all to myself, and cannot live in a home with cats, but if you have other dogs, please bring them by to meet me!"

- Phoebe

You can visit Phoebe at the HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd. or give an adoption counselor a call at 520-327-6088 ext 173.

Find more Claytoonz here.

Dirty Details. You know Jake “The Snake” Roberts, the professional wresting icon and WWE Hall of Famer that says stuff like, “When I step into the ring and I look at that man across the ring from me, I say ‘well, that’s my dinner.’” Now, Jake is on tour with his comedy storytelling show, sharing road stories and tales of pranks he’s played on his opponents. Step behind the scenes of some of your favorite matches, like with Macho Man, Andre the Giant and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, all from Jake’s perspective. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22. Unscrewed Theater, 4500 E. Speedway Blvd. $20 GA, or $40 for a VIP ticket that includes a private meet & greet, a seat in the first two rows and one signed item. Details here.

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. Forced to run from the Texas Rangers after the death of a lawman, Mexican American farmer Gregorio Cortez sets off in desperate flight. This revisionist Western, featuring a good amount of the cast of Blade Runner, is thrilling and (allegedly) historically accurate. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22. The Loft. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Free. Details here.


It's Babytime! Storytime and Playgroup. For all those moms and dads out there that can't make it to a late night concert or movie because of their rugrats, this is an event for you! Head on over to the Dusenberry-River Library for stories and songs sure to entertain your little one. The group is designed for babies up to 18 months old. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 5605 E. River Rd. Details here.

[THIS SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELED! REFUNDS AVAILABLE FROM POINT OF PURCHASE] After two decades in the band, Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden looks back: “When we first started there was this unconscious feeling. It’s like we were running our own race. I think we’ve been trying to find the doorway back for a long time.” Generation Rx, their seventh studio album, has helped these pop punk purveyors find their home. At the Rialto Theatre. Being As An Ocean opens the show. Details here.
New York via El Paso, René Kladzyk is a performance artist, musician, perfumer and cultural geographer. Her nom de guerre: Ziemba. She performs infectiously fragrant synth-pop at Club Congress. Groove Domestic Product and The Gem Show lend their support. Details here.

They will drill holes in your cerebellum and eat your brain. NOISEM, Warmonger and Earacher induce pain at Wooden Tooth Records. Details here. 

Lav Andula and Asymptote’s Summer Seance Tour kickoffs at Blacklidge Community Collective, a new DIY venue/community space. Details here.