A decision by the Pima County Board of Supervisors on whether to move forward with a Mixed-Used Permit for The Bike Ranch may be continued until early July.

Kelley Matthews, who designed the bike-centered property with her husband, Peter Lasher, said on Friday that the Board will convene on the permit on Tuesday, July 2.

Mark Evans, who is the Board's communications director, said Matthews' assessment is not entirely true, as their motion will have to be voted on at the next BOS meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, May 21.

Evans in a text message said the Board may very well table the measure, but that such an action will depend upon the length of the public hearing on May 21.

"We're expecting a lot of interest in this agenda item and if a lot of people come to the meeting, the Board may hear the item in order to allow the people to address the Board if they wish," Evans said in a text message to The Weekly. "Whether the Board will take action or grant the continuance after the public hearing is at the discretion of the Board. Usually, the Board grants the continuance."

The Weekly discussed the resort development, which is slated to be built across from the main entrance to Saguaro National Park-East, earlier this week.

Update: The original post stated that Matthew's motion had officially been tabled to Tuesday, July 2. The post has since been edited to clarify that the motion will be up for a vote on May 21, with a decision to table the measure coming from the Board's vote.

Find more Claytoonz here.

Rosé All Day. Maynards Market & Kitchen is hosting an event for all of you who aren’t sure if you like white or red wine more. This event features tastings of multiple different wines, as well as some insider information about making rosé wines. Ah rosé, the neutral wine. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 17. 400 N. Toole Ave. Tastings are $12. Free entry to wine tastings for Wine Club members. Details here.

Fish Fry Friday at Arizona Beer House. It’s a fish fry, you know what that means: Beer! The Arizona Beer House is teaming up with the West Coast Trolley II food truck. You’ve heard of fish and chips, now get ready for fish and sips! And if fish isn’t your thing, West Coast Trolley is also offering chicken. 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 17. 150 S. Kolb Road. Kid friendly. Details here. 
Tiger’s Eye Art Reception. If you can count on any city to have local art hanging on the walls of a locally owned pole dancing and acrobatics studio, it’s Tucson, right? So you shouldn’t be surprised to hear that Kinetic Arts Tucson is continuing their quarterly art showcase by featuring three artists: Marcus Robiason, Denny Fridkin and Jason Hull. All three self-trained artists will be at the reception, with their art for sale, as well as prints, magnets and coasters for the budget-conscious and budget-constrained among us. Barefoot on Bumblebees will be playing live music as well. And last, but not least, there are light refreshments. 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 17. Kinetic Arts Tucson, 17 E. Toole Ave. Details here.

Young Composers Festival. Ever wondered exactly what goes into composing music? This is your chance to go behind the scenes and learn more about it with lectures, Q&A sessions and TSO performances. But the real highlight will be the premiere of 25 brand-new compositions by young composers ages 8 to 18. The participants have spent the last nine months meeting with Ilona Vukovic-Gay, TSO assistant principal viola, attending TSO dress rehearsals and working with TSO musicians. Past grads of the program have gone on to prestigious conservatories, been featured on NPR and won awards. If you’re looking to have your faith in our future renewed, look no further than these shining stars. 6 p.m. Friday, May 17, at the Tucson Symphony Center, 2175 N. Sixth Ave. and 6 p.m. Saturday, May 18, and 1 p.m. Sunday, May 19 at Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. Free. Details here.

Loving Vincent. Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is screening a serious cinematic achievement: The first fully painted feature film. This wonderful movie brings Vincent van Gogh’s artwork to life, while telling the story of his death. The film is made up of more than 65,000 frames of oil paintings on canvas, created by a team of more than 100 painters. Recommended for any fans of van Gogh’s artwork, painting in general or those who want a movie truly unlike any other. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 17. 2331 E. Adams Street. Free.  Details here.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. The Loft Cinema is hosting a free outdoor screening as part of their Loft Jr. series. This movie picks up—big surprise here—where the previous two left off: Still in Africa, the animals are trying to make it back home to New York’s Central Park Zoo. Featuring the voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and more. This screening will take place outdoors on “Hippie Hill” at Himmel Park. You Sly Dog food truck will be on site selling hot dogs and more. 7 to 8:45 p.m. Friday, May 17. 1000 N. Tucson Blvd. Free. Please bring your own seating. Details here.
Robot Jox. The Screening Room is getting cheesy and culty, but not in the literal ways. Sponsored by Zia Records, Tucson Comic-Con and Cobra Arcade, this screening of a nearly-forgotten sci-fi classic features giant robots battling it out in a future dystopia. What more do you need to know? 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 17. 127 E. Congress Street. $5. Details here.

The Undesirables: Reception and Program With Laurie McKenna. On July 12, 1917, the Bisbee Sheriff and several Arizona mining companies rounded up more than a thousand striking miners and their supporters and banished them from their homes. As part of the Arizona History Museum’s new “Stories of Resilience” exhibit, artist Laurie McKenna created 1,200 rubbings of a 1917 penny to commemorate each of these men. At this reception, McKenna will share stories about her process and motivation and play some of her video vignettes, where she imagines scenarios of the deportation with metal toys. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 17. Arizona History Museum, 949 E. Second St. Free with admission, which is $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 for adult students, $4 for student youth ages 7 to 17. Free for veterans, museum members and kids 6 and under. RSVP to Nicola Brownlee at [email protected] or 617-1141. Details here.

Third Annual Waila Celebration at Desert Diamond. Have you ever seen Waila, the social dance the Tohono O’odham adopted from the Spanish, in action? Set to the music of accordion, saxophone, electric and bass guitars, and drums, it’s a fantastic time. Come enjoy great
music, food and dancing—and learn a little bit about traditional tribal celebrations and arts and crafts—at this free event. The lineup includes T.O. Mumsigo and Valenzuela & Company on Friday and the Intertribal Waila Band and Southern Scratch on Saturday. 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 17, and 4 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. Desert Diamond Casino Sahuarita, 1100 W. Pima Mine Road, Sahuarita. Free (and the first 150 people on Friday, and 200 on Saturday, get $10 in free play). Details here.


Guided Tasting at Tap & Bottle. If you feel like joining a special beer society, Tap & Bottle Downtown is teaming up with The Bruery Tasting Room to host a private guided beer tasting before their public beer release. The guided tasting includes 5 oz pours of: Oude Tart 2019, Sour in the Rye 2019, This is Mrs. Ridiculous and more. Stick around for their public beer releases immediately afterward. 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 18. 403 N. Sixth Ave. $40.  Details here.

Cider Days at Craft. Multiple months in the making, Craft, A Modern Drinkery, is celebrating “CiderDays: A Celebration to the Core.” This event features a varied assortment of ciders, as well as keynote speaker Jeff Mickel discussing Texas’s first hard cidery and their passion for old world ciders. There will also be raffles, giveaways, food trucks, cider representatives and more. 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 18. 4603 E. Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Black Renaissance: Visual Arts. This weekly event through the month of May to celebrate the contributions of black artists to popular culture is back, this week with a focus on visual arts. Local musician seanloui created this series to help the community learn about and enjoy more contributions by local black artists. They’re calling this night “Black Museum,” and featuring original pieces by artists like Sandra Taylor, FlawlessViktory, Roland Brooks, Che Wilson and Elizabeth Denneau. Plus plenty, plenty more! 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Hotel McCoy, 720 W. Silverlake Road. Free. Details here. 
Travelogue: Grand Destinations and Personal Journeys. Summertime is on its way, which means lots of people are going on vacation. Lucky for those of us who aren’t, the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block is bringing in a group of paintings, drawings, photographs and graphics all inspired by travel. More than 80 artists are displaying pieces they created based on almost 250 years of travel all over the world. As co-curator Julie Sasse says, “This exhibition reminds us of the joy of observation and celebrates creativity inspired by place.” So hey, maybe this travel-inspired art will lead you to do some art-inspired travel! Saturday, May 18, through Sunday, Sept. 29, at TMA, 140 N. Main Ave. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, or 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. the first Thursday of each month. $12 GA, $10 seniors 65+, $7 college students and youth ages 13 to 17, free for veterans/active military/museum members/kids 12 and under. Details here.

Making Molten History. Glassblown art almost always looks neat. But watching the glassblowing process? Even more neat. The Sonoran Glass School is hosting this full day of demonstrations where artists will spend two hours showcasing a style inspired by a celebrated period in art history, all while a host provides educational commentary. In order, you’ve got Jason Marstall doing surrealism, Paul Anders Stout doing minimalism, Jordan Ford and Austin Littenberg doing Venetian Renaissance and Andrew Schultz doing Dada circa 1916 to 1930. Then there’s a reception for the final pieces (with refreshments), a presentation, and some bidding and mingling. YAS GLASS. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Sonoran Glass School, 633 W. 18th St. $10 GA or $5 for Sonoran Glass School members. Details here.

Bless Our Show(tunes). Oh, Reveille Men’s Chorus. You had us at “showtunes.” This local group—committed to promoting the acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals and changing lives through music—is closing out their 24th season with an evening full of Broadway renditions of songs about spirituality and religion. So get ready to have your heart soar and your throat sore, from all the singing along you won’t be able to resist. Bring your ears for listening and your amazing technicolor dreamcoat to help you get in the spirit. 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. $20 GA.  Details here.

Keep Tucson Sketchy. Get ready to get laughin’! Because this night full of comedy, music and funny videos is designed to be a comedy experience that will have you coming back for more. Matt Ziemak hosts, Jaca Zulu is the musical guest and DJ Bob Really is on the sounds. Keep Tucson Sketchy is produced by a collective of local comedians, writers and videographers, so you get to support local funny folks while you’re enjoying your Saturday night out. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 18. The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St. $10. Details here.

San Ysidro Festival. You’ve probably enjoyed wheat. If you’ve ever returned to wheat after a low-carb or wheat-free diet, you may have even had a religious experience with wheat. But have you ever really celebrated wheat? This traditional and historic wheat harvest festival is your chance. Sample pozole! Help harvest, thresh, minnow and mill white Sonora wheat! Watch Lion Dancers from the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center and the Santa Rosa Basket Dancers perform! And enjoy live music, a procession, presentations and a Tohono O’odham four directions blessing. Can’t wheat to see you there! 8 a.m. to noon. Saturday, May 18. Mission Garden, 946 W. Mission Lane. Free. Details here.

Cool Summer Nights. One of the best way to keep track of the changing seasons in Tucson is to take note of when annual series, like the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum’s Cool Summer Nights program, return. It’s back, which means it’s hot again! Tonight’s theme is “Creatures of the Night,” featuring presentations about nocturnal creatures, docents teaching you about animals and nature and an art exhibit by Chris Maynard—a man who carves feathers into beautiful, intricate art. Plus, check out the stingray touch exhibit and the Packrat Playhouse in the cool of the night! 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road. $21.95 GA, $19.95 seniors 65+, $8.95 for kids 3 to 12, free for kids under 3, $17.95 for active or retired military, $16.95 for Arizona/Sonora residents. Details here.

Family Fiesta Summer Reading Kick-Off! There oughta be a word for the special kind of joy that comes from picking up an armful of books from the library as a kid, then heading home to read them with the entire summer stretched out before you. The Pima County Library and the Tanque Verde Swap Meet are hosting this event to get the party started. Pick out a free book, meet Curious George and Clifford, and visit the Bookmobile to check out some library selections. You can also do a craft project, pick up some free seeds from the Seed Library and even enjoy some live stories from Make Way for Books. Let’s get ready to reeeeeead! 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Tanque Verde Swap Meet, 4100 S. Palo Verde Road. Details here.

Learn to Play Dungeons & Dragons. Maybe you’ve heard your friends talk about it. Maybe you’ve seen a meme about it. And maybe you’re interested in dipping your toes into the big, beautiful world of D&D, but aren’t sure where to start. This is your opportunity! Heroes and Villains Comic Book Store is hosting this event to teach people how to play, walking you through step-by-step in how to make your own character so you’ll be all ready for your first short adventure. All new players get a free dice set, while supplies last! Get ready for the next chapter of your life to begin. 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Heroes and Villains Comic Book Store, 4533 E. Broadway Blvd. Free.  Details here.

Meet the Chefs. Peak behind the kitchen curtain at this event, where you get to meet the chefs competing to battle in the 2019 Iron Chef Tucson competition. Sample beer as well as food from chefs from: Dante’s Fire, Chef Chic, Maynards, Prep & Pastry, Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery and more. Hosted by Iron Chef Tucson and Culinary Experience. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19. At Casino del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road. $10. 21+ Details here.

Tails & Ales. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona is celebrating pets, and beer! This fundraiser/dog wash at Barrio Brewing means you can enjoy a beer and get your pet cleaned at the same time, all while supporting a great local nonprofit. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 19. 800 E. 16th St. $15 for a regular wash, or $40 for VIP which includes a VIP bandana, custom pint glass, line-cutting privileges, and doggie goodies. All ages.  Details here.

Tucson Pops—the Arizona Balalaika Orchestra. One of only about a dozen Russian folk orchestras in the United States, this nonprofit ensemble was founded back in 1980, and has played all over the state and in Mexico. Instruments include the balalaika, which looks like a triangular guitar, and the domra, which looks like a bulbous guitar. At this event, you’ll hear pieces ranging from the Tucson March to Lara’s Theme from Dr. Zhivago to C. Saint-Säens; Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah to Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2. We’re lucky to live in a place where we can hear music like this, and even luckier to have a chance to see it for free this weekend! 7 p.m. Sunday, May 19. DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center at Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph. Free. Details here.
True Colors Writing & Art Workshop. Lee Balan, an artist/curator/mental health professional, started hosting this series back in January through the Colby Olsen Foundation, created to help people express themselves through art and poetry. Interested in art but nervous about dipping your toes in? This workshop is full of all sorts of exercises for writing, self-esteem and art. Loving yourself feels really good, and expressing yourself gives you a chance to make something tangible you can be proud of. Worth a shot, no? Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19. Gallery 2SUN, 100 E. Sixth St. Details here.

Signs. Aliens arrive, and things get spooky. For many, this was the point where audiences fell off the M. Night Shyamalan hype train. But I never viewed him as more than a fun B-movie director anyhow, so his films didn’t disappoint until a few years later. I say bring on the tin foil hats! Part of their “Staff Selects” series, The Loft is screening this sci-fi thriller on a 35mm print! 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $8. Details here.

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

Friday, May 17

Often twinning, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig present themselves aesthetically as mirror images but it is the uncanny pairing of their dazzling voices where the true symbiosis refracts. Their latest, Nudes (Mom + Pop Records), an acoustic compilation, presents reworked songs from their back catalog and new material along with folk standard “Goodnight, Irene” featuring Roger Waters. A song recorded in a 1947 Voice-O-Graph. “Which is basically a telephone-booth recording studio, direct to vinyl. It’s a crackling, sizzling, warm, beautiful sound. It was really fun,” says Wolfe. Lucius defrock the Live Nudes Tour at the Rialto Theatre. With Pure Bathing Culture.

“We guarantee we’ll make you sweat, but we promise you’ll love it.” These are the luring words of Lola Torch, producer and featured burlesque performer. Conjuring up images of twirling ribbons and the promise of summery days ahead Tucson Libertine League presents May Day. At 191 Toole.

Courtesy

Pearl Earl

Want to “Meet Your Maker?” “Cosmic Queens” Pearl Earl—an all-female, psych/pop/prog/garage rock outfit from Denton, Texas—will lead the way. At Club Congress. The Rifle add their own unique color to the paisley palette.

Out on the plaza at Hotel Congress, Blues Friday continues with The Atmosphere.

Learn to increase sight from the third eye: Still Life Telescope and Peppermint Hippo expand consciousness at Saint Charles Tavern.

Tracing back the roots of country music, from the Appalachian Mountains to the flats of Bakersfield, Freddy Parish’s monthly residency continues. Dry ’n’ Dusty at Exo Roast Co.

Alt ’90s Dance Party finds DJs Plastic Disease, Black Flagg and KNILLZ spinning round, round. At the Surly Wench Pub.

Easy Money, Beg For Life, No Right, Victim to None and Hellhook rage. At WARD6 - AZ.

Blues vocalist/violinist Heather Hardy performs at Monterey Court.

The sweet folk of Natalie Pohanic is what you’ll uncover in the fine powder at The Dusty Monk Pub.

Their music was played on the Space Shuttle Discovery. Not many can make that claim. Guitar duo Reno del Mar featuring violinist Beth Daunis are in the tasting room at Sand-Reckoner.

Saturday, May 18

Courtesy 191 Toole

This extreme weather condition occurs when a system of high atmospheric pressure moves in and air is pulled toward the ground rapidly increasing in temperature. Heat Wave Vol. 2 features Manny Sosa, Aske, Natho & Sinclair the Masked Zombie, Tommy Will, Cash Lansky, Jae Tilt and more. At 191 Toole.

Singer Emelie Marchand leads her red hot musical flames—Thøger Lund, Ben Nisbet and Dimitri Manos—through a repertoire that spans from “The Devil’s Music” of 1920s to the wicked soul jams of the 1960s. Lola & The Torchbearers cast sparks at Exo Roast Co.

FebboFuentes entertain at Sand-Reckoner.

Traditional bluegrass will waft through the balmy night air. Cadillac Mountain perform as part of the Spring Concert Series. On the plaza at Hotel Congress.

The soulful wail of Miss Olivia and the Interlopers can be heard at Crooked Tooth Brewing.

Once tagged a “cowpunk goddess,” a nod of acknowledgement is in order. Musician/actor Jean Caffeine jolts through town. Perhaps best known for her film work in Art Linklater’s Slacker (1991) and Waking Life (2001), Caffeine is on the road—one woman, one guitar—in support of Sadie Saturday Nite (Joe Records). Part spoken word, part garage country concept album, she candidly recalls her adventures coming of age during the first wave of punk in San Francisco. At Saint Charles Tavern. With BreakingGlass and J. Matzek.

Two stages. 18 bands. What could possibly happen next? Summer of Man, Calling Upon a Theory, Better on The Inside, Liquid Space Atmosphere, Desert Kings, The Doubted, Interfate, Fatal Malady, While She Waits, Mission G, Ciphered Existence, Pyrotechnica, A Liar Like You, Bury Me Alive, Dedwin, Fire Glass, Fire By Rank and Minutes To Midnight. Yes, it’s Metal In May Fest at House of Bards.

Sunday, May 19

One of this classically trained pianist’s early gigs was tickling ivories at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Although it has seemingly taken eons, on 15,000 Days this musician/actress finds her true voice. Alicia Witt turns a new page at 191 Toole.

Rhythm & Roots presents the “bare-knuckle lowdown blues” of Roy Book Binder. Acoustic fingerstyle blues wunderkind Roman Barten-Sherman invigorates the lineup.

Music Under The Stars features music by the Tucson Pops Orchestra. Al fresco, at DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center.

The memorial service for longtime Arizona football coach Dick Tomey will be held at McKale Center on Friday, May 31.

The service, which is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. local time, will honor the winningest coach in Wildcats history.

Tomey, who passed away last Friday, May 10 from lung cancer, coached in Tucson from 1987-2000, posting a career win-loss record of 183-145-7 during his coaching career.

Tomey came to Tucson in 1987, after coaching at the University of Hawaii from 1977 to 1986. He finished his career at San Jose State, coaching the Spartans from 2005 to 2009.

Tomey's family asks that in lieu of flowers, that fans and supporters donate money to the Dick Tomey Legacy Fund.

Looking for something fun to do at your library? Mark your calendars for three author events at Dusenberry-River and Joel D. Valdez Main Libraries.


Linda Strader
Saturday, May 18, noon to 1 p.m.
Joel D. Valdez Main Library

Author Linda Strader will discuss and sign copies of Summers of Fire: A Memoir of Adventure, Love, and Courage. The book follows the personal and physical challenges she had to overcome as one of the first women to work on a fire crew for the U.S. Forest Service, a career where women were generally not welcome in 1976.



Kate Stewart
Thursday, May 30, 6–7 pm
Dusenberry-River Library

Book launch of Kate Stewart's A Well-Read Woman: The Life, Loves, and Legacy of Ruth Rappaport. Stewart's captivating tale tells the unconventional story of librarian Ruth Rappaport. Inspired by her childhood in Nazi Germany, where books were burned and banned, Rappaport spent the rest of her long life devoted to liberating books for the readers of the world.

Marge Pellegrino and Kay Sather
Saturday, June 8, 3–4:30 pm
Dusenberry-River Library

Former Library Writer in Residence and longtime customer favorite, Marge Pellegrino returns with local author Kay Sather to launch their new book Neon Words: 10 Brilliant Ways to Light Up Your Writing. Enjoy readings, a raffle, a short film, and a fun make-and-take activity from the book. Customers will also be treated to mesquite cookies and prickly pear lemonade while they last.

Books will be available for sale at all three events. Call the info line at (520) 791-4010 for more information. 

They are the progeny of the late Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts. Accomplished musicians in their own right, Devon Allman and Duane Betts just can’t help it; They have guitar playing in the double-helix of their DNA. The Allman Betts Band slides into The Fox Theatre. Details here.

Washington, D.C.’s Dead Meadow light up their Lovecraftian psychedelia infused stoner rock at 191 Toole. Strange Lot and La Cerca are part of the soft parade. Details here. 

“Every song is a reflection of how I’m actually feeling,” says this Canadian pop singer. “I’m telling people about me.” Johnny Orlando is at the Rialto Theatre. With Hayden Summerall. Details here.

From Austin, dreamy psychedelic synth poppers Night Glitter (featuring LouLou Ghelichkhani from Thievery Corporation) bring sultry, French-pop inspired electronica to Club Congress. With chanteuse Louise Le Hir. Details here.

Filled with necromancy and lore, like the Arthur Burks novel of the same name, cross the imaginary “Desert of the Dead” with garage/psych rock ’n’ rollers Black Medicine. At Tap + Bottle + Downtown. Details here.

Powerhouse gospel and jazz vocalist Ada Redd Austin belts at Jazz Night at the Westward Look. Details here.

Sullying the sacred, The Demons and Then When will melt the granulated sugar off the malasadas. At Irene’s Holy Donuts. Details here.

Nashville music mogul Virginia Cannon presents Thursday Night Live: A singer-songwriter showcase. Six performers, four original songs, taking turns round robin. At Monterey Court. Details here.
Folk harp and viola delicately commingle to arrive at a mysterious landing. Mariah McCammond and Deanna Cross are The Hatpin Duo. At Agustin Kitchen. Details here.

The Gabrielle Pietrangelo Trio perform timeless romantic songs to soothe your feral soul. Date Night on the patio of The Coronet. Details here.

Keep Tucson Sketchy has it all

Let’s Keep Tucson Sketchy roars back at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at The Screening Room. Its 42-person ensemble of actors, writers and crew includes amateurs, students, pros and several well-known local stand-up comedians. It will illuminate the venue’s movie screen with almost a dozen original video sketches. They’ll alternate with as many live scenes with projected sets, plus musical guest rapper Jaca Zuluby, interludes by DJ Bob Really and hosting riffs by comedian Matt Ziemak, co-host of Brew Ha Ha and The Switch.

Let’s Keep Tucson Sketchy debuted on March 2 to a standing room only crowd in the 99-seat venue. Rich Gary (aka Rich Aguirre) describes how the KTS concept began. “Tom (Kracower) and Joel (Foster) and I were doing a parody news show called the Scorcher Report for Creative Tucson. All the episodes are still on the Creative Tucson YouTube Channel, but (the show ended) when Creative Tucson ended their volunteer (content production) program.

“Tom still wanted to do something, and (his idea) was to do a sketch show in a parody of the Saturday Night Live format. There’s a cold open live sketch and a video intro announcing the performers just like Saturday Night Live. Matt Ziemak does 10 minutes just like the opening monolog. At some point we’ll do a Scorcher Report parody news sketch, just like Weekend Update, and so on.”

Gary is a high-energy guy who seems always to be smiling. A devoted Saturday Night Live fan from childhood, he began following live standup in high school. In college, he became a regular weekend audience member at Laffs Comedy Café.

Then, he says, “I started going to Thursday open mic just to watch. I thought, ‘These guys aren’t that good. I could do that.’ So I went home and wrote two pages of material and went back the next week and bombed. Totally. But I loved it.”

As he began going to more open mics, he found that the standup comedians he admired most also did improv. Inspired, he joined the cast of Tucson Improv Movement (TIM). Eventually he was performing on four teams, including TIM’s own nascent sketch team. At some point he started using his phone to create a vlog, The Real Rich Gary, and then began learning production as crew for the Creative Tucson show that eventually became The Scorcher Report.

Now he co-produces and performs in not only Keep Tucson Sketchy but also the popular Battle at the Roast Room, both co-produced with sidekick Colin Chomiak, and the Too Many Mics in the Screening Room a standup and panel show.

Gary credits the commitment and ambitions of actors, comedians, writers and crew members for helping him keep all these productions afloat while he pursues his own dream of a standup career.

“Everyone wants to do something! I knew that because I remember when I wanted to do everything! And I’m taking all the things I learned from improv. You need to listen you need to be flexible you’ve got to be a team player. You have to be there to make things work.”

Reservations for Let’s Keep Tucson Sketchy are $10 via keep-tucson-sketchy.ticketleap.com. Follow Keep Tucson Sketchy on Facebook.

Happy Birthday Comedy at the Wench!

Host and producer Roxy Merrari has a party lined for her popular Monday night comedy series at the Surly Wench Pub, celebrating its third birthday this month. Headlined by top Phoenix comedian Kristopher Royer in his first visit to Tucson, the lineup includes Phoenician Leslie Barton, and local favorites Joe Tullar, Bridgitte Thum, Tim Maggard and Mo Urban, Merrari’s original co-host of the open mic. Admission is a $5 donation, collected during the show. Visit Wench Comedy Presents: 3rd Anniversary Showcase on Facebook for electronic payment options.

That time he wrestled Andre the Giant, tho!

Professional wrestling icon Jake “The Snake” Roberts takes over Unscrewed Theatre on Wednesday, May 22, for an evening of comedy-style tales from the road and the mat. The WWE Hall of Famer and notorious prankster calls it his Dirty Details Tour; content is for ages 18 and over. Tickets are $20 for the 7 p.m. show. For $40, VIPs get one signed item, seating in the first two rows and a private meet and greet starting at 6 p.m. Visit bit.ly/JakeTheSnake5-22-19 for reservations.

Rebekah Rolland, a local singer/songwriter who combines multiple pastoral genres, recently released a new music video ahead of her summer tour, and the Weekly has the first look! The video is for "Hole in the Earth," the first track off her 2018 album Seed & Silo, which landed on Tucson Weekly's list of best local albums of the year. 

Rolland's summer tour dates:

May 16 - Silver City, NM @ Little Toad Creek
June 19 - Lincoln, NE @ Crescent Moon
June 20 - Columbia, MO @ Rose Music Hall
June 21 - Hutchinson, KS
June 22 - Beatrice, NE @ Homestead Days Festival
June 26 - 28 - Flagstaff, AZ @ Roots and Boots Music Camp
June 29 - Flagstaff, AZ @ Coconino Center for the Arts / Flagstaff Folk Festival
July 20 - Denver, CO @ The Walnut Room
July 21 - Boulder, CO @ The Laughing Goat

Music video filmed by Nick Murray of Southern Arizona Video Productions and choreographed by Madi Scavarda.

Performers:
Rebekah Rolland (vocals)
Matt Rolland (octave mandolin, mandolin, fiddle)
Madi Scavarda (dancing)
Amelia Swan (dancing)

Musicians not featured in video:
Ryan Green (harmony vocals)
Andrew Ryan (upright bass)
Seth Vietti (percussion)

Members of The Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona are aghast by a recent scam targeting Arizona consumers.

The scam phone calls, which pretend to be fundraising endeavors for charities benefitting those that fight fires, have targeted locals, according to the organization.

"These scam phone calls happen frequently and recently we have had reports of an uptick in fake charity solicitations,” PFFA President Bryan Jeffries said in the release. “No reputable fire fighters organization in the state is using phone solicitors to raise money. If you get a phone call asking for a donation on behalf of an Arizona fire fighters’ group, it’s a fraud.”

Anyone that's received these scam calls is encouraged to call the Arizona Attorney General's Office, either by phone or online and can file a complaint, at www.azag.gov/complaints/consumer, regarding the calls, which allegedly come from a group called "Fire Fighter Support Association," which doesn't exist.

“To my knowledge, that group has done nothing to support fire fighters in Arizona, nor do they have any affiliation with our organizations either at the state or local level." said Jeffries. "Every dollar donated to a fake group like this is a dollar siphoned away from legitimate charitable causes. That’s an absolute shame.”