Calexico's Joey Burns and  John Convertino (along with trumpet player Jacob Valenzuela) made a trek to Nashville just before Christmas last year to spend a few days in the studio with Sam Beam of Iron & Wine.

The result is Years to Burn, which will drop next Friday, June 14. But if you want an advance listen, NPR is streaming it right now. NPR correspondent Stephen Thompson's take:

The new set finds Sam Beam, John Convertino, Joey Burns and members of the extended Calexico and Iron & Wine casts at their loose-limbed best. Beam, now an old hand at lavish and soulful arrangements, performs here with maximum smoothness, while Burns and Convertino lean hard into Beam's mix of warmth and melancholy. They all sound comfortable, collaborating deep in the pocket, but they're still exploring.

On Tuesday, June 4, Natural Velvet headlined a show at Club Congress. The Baltimore, Maryland based rock band consists of Corynne Ostermann on lead vocals and bass, Kim Te on guitar, Spike Arreaga on guitar and Greg Hatem on drums. The Club Congress performance was the 9th stop on their Daydreamer Tour.

Ostermann noted during the show how beautiful the Arizona sunsets were while miming with her finger a tear falling down her cheek. The edgy four closed off the show with a raunchy cover of Britney Spears' "Gimme More". 

Tucson indie singer-songwriter Adam Townsend releases his debut record, “All My Fires,” today, June 7 at Hotel Congress.

Townsend drifts from neo soul through Motown, blues, and folk music, the bit of grit in his voice resounds as he howls to the anthem of enduring love. From the edge of gospel in “Whiskey,” to his soulful collaboration with 16-year-old Nashville native Lindsey Lomis in “Hurricane,” his new record carries dreams of bonfires, feverish aching love, summer nights driving around in an old truck and easy southern living. 

"I get a lot of inspirations from older music and older musicians," Townsend says. "Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, and Aretha Franklin...I learned to cut my teeth learning to play guitar listening to Jimi Hendrix."

The release of Townsend’s debut record marks his return home to Tucson from six years in San Diego, spent songwriting, performing, and producing music.

"Writing music comes from a place of just needing to get it out," he says. "I have melodies and lyrics in my head all day long."

He recorded and produced his album in the Bomb Shelter Studio in Nashville, Tennessee and brings all the soulful flavor to share with you tonight with his band at Hotel Congress. “All My Fires” Record Release, doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5.

XOXO caught up with this up-and-comer for a brief Q&A. Let’s find out what keeps Adam Townsend afloat.

What is the spice in life that keeps Adam Townsend going?

My family is what keeps me going. I have an incredible support system between my amazing wife, my son and my parents. I couldn’t do any of this without them. I’d also say that music helps keep me going. At every dark moment of my life, my family and my music have been there to keep me afloat.

You capture a certain vibe, one of hope and resiliency, on “Beautiful Life.” What was it like capturing that energy in the recording studio?

So much about this song, and even my upcoming record, is an expression of where I’ve been as a musician for the last ten years. There were moments when I thought I’d never be able to make this record. And getting to do it in such an iconic city like Nashville, with the help of incredibly talented musicians, who themselves have known a similar hope and resilience, gave me the energy I needed on all my songs...Especially “Beautiful Life.”

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from? Why do you call Tucson home? What is your musical background?

I’m a Tucson native. I spent some time in San Diego after college, but came back to my roots a few years ago. Tucson has always been a special place to me and even though I grew up here, it’s been nice to carve out a place of my own with my wife and son. I couldn’t imagine calling anywhere else home. Growing up, music was always a big part of my life. Both my parents were very musical; My dad played extensively around Tucson in the 1970s and ‘80s. My parents tell me I was a musical kid, but I really started honing my skills in high school. By the time I got to the U of A, I knew music was more than just a hobby. Since then I’ve been continuing to develop my music and am looking forward to what the next few years will bring.

What is next for Adam Townsend?

I’m really looking forward to releasing my full length album in June and doing a fun album release show.  (Tonight!)

Adam Townsend’s All My Fires dropped Friday, June 7. Available everywhere.

You don't want to miss this one!

• 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
  One-on-One Coaching
  Register for your 20-minute consultation in the library on the day of the event. Consultations will be offered in English and Spanish.

In addition to one-on-one coaching four workshops will be offered. Reserve your spot in your preferred sessions with Google online. Space is limited.

• 9:30–10:30 a.m.
  Discover Digital Resources to Empower Your Community
  
  
• 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
  Get Your Business Online

• 1:30–2:30 p.m.
  Using Data to Drive Business Growth

• 3:30–4:30 p.m.
  Power Your Job Search with Google Tools

Questions? Visit library.pima.gov or call Infoline at (520) 791-4010.

Find more Claytoonz here. 

National Donut Day at 1912 Brewing. In celebration of this definitely real holiday, 1912 Brewing is teaming up with Irene’s Holy Donuts to deliver you some super-sweet food and drink pairings. Irene’s is making a specialty type of donut for this event, and 1912 is pairing it with a craft beer. This is a limited supply pairing, first come, first served! 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 7. 2045 N. Forbes Blvd. Details here.

Family Funday at the Farmers Market at Trail Dust Town. To kick off the summer season, Trail Dust Town is hosting their First Friday Family Fundays. The morning features 15 local food vendors and family access to the Trail Dust Town carnival. This first event includes live music, a petting zoo and plenty of local foods. 8 a.m. to noon Friday June 7. 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road. Details here.

June Blind Wine Tasting. Maynards Market & Kitchen are kicking off each month of their Summer Wine Tasting series with a blind wine tasting. Contestants get to blindly try five wines and guess the varietals. If their choices are correct, they may win a bottle to take home. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 7. 400 N. Toole Ave. $12. Free entry to wine tastings for Maynards Wine Club members. Details here.

Tócalo Tucson–“On the Precipice.” The UA’s Fred Fox School of Music is putting on its second annual chamber percussion seminar, featuring guest artists like Bob Becker of the Steve Reich Ensemble, virtuoso vibraphonist Anders Åstrand and award-winning composer Matthew Burtner. Just some of the highlights? Four world premieres of brand-new chamber works for percussion from resident student composers, as well as solo keyboard percussion works by Becker and Åstrand. What a treat that you have a chance to see something like this in the Old Pueblo. What an even bigger treat that it’s free! 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 7. UA Crowder Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road. Free. Details here.

The Pima County Home & Garden Show. There’s no place like home. Especially when you get your home all decked out and beautified after attending a home show. And boy, is this home show going to deliver. Your landscaping, contracting, design, entertainment and remodeling dreams will all come true. Get new, energy-efficient windows and doors! Win a barbecue island! Look into solar panels, like you’ve been meaning to for years! Take a “how-to” seminar on anything from cooking to construction to finance. You’ll go home inspired. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 9. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. $8, or free for kids 16 and under. Details here.

Fantastic Planet. You might hear quite a few movies described as drug trips, but none do it quite so effectively as this bizarre French animation. The Loft Cinema is screening Fantastic Planet, a surreal storybook romp telling of a future where tiny humans battle against enormous blue aliens. Part Yellow Submarine, part War of the Worlds, this might just prove contact highs can transfer from celluloid to audience. 10 to 11:15 p.m. Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $8. Details here.


Mead Tasting at Arizona Beer House. Featuring drinks from Superstition Meadery and food from Culinary Graduate Food Truck, Arizona Beer House is hosting an evening of complimentary mead samples. Come on down and get your samples of honey wine! 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8. 150 S. Kolb Road. Details here.

2nd Saturdays Downtown. This monthly family-friendly event celebrates all things uniquely Tucson, and gathers them in a big downtown extravaganza. It features booths from local businesses and restaurants, as well as local musicians on stage and multiple food vendors. 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 8. 125 E. Congress Street. Details here.

Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures. Your favorite museum of all things tiny has two special exhibits this summer. On display from June 4 to Sept. 15 is “Borrowed Time/Borrowed Books,” featuring six miniature libraries inspired by the libraries in All the Presidents Men, Fahrenheit 451, Wings of Desire, The Time Machine, The Breakfast Club and “Time Enough at Last” (that heartbreaking Twilight Zone episode about the guy with the glasses who works at a bank). And on display from June 4 all the way to May 31, 2020 is “Miniature Silver,” a collection of pieces that belonged to Helen Goodman Luria that date to as early as the 1600s. There are 150 pieces on display, some with specific functions, most just designed to delight. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive. $10.50 GA, $8.50 senior 65+/military, $7 student/youth 4 to 17, free for kids 3 and under. Details here.

Neon Words: 10 Brilliant Ways to Light Up Your Writing. Mage Pellegrino used to be a writer-in-residence at the Pima County Library. Now, she’s the author—along with Kay Sather—of this book, which the two wrote by getting together for coffee once a week for a decade and talking about the most effective writing tools they’ve used over the past 30 years. So if you’re looking for ways to improve your writing, this curated list is sure to be of some use! At this event, enjoy readings, a raffle, a short film, a make-and-take activity from the book and refreshments. (We’re talking mesquite cookies and prickly pear lemonade, so get there early!) 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 8. Dusenberry-River Library, 5605 E. River Road. Free. Details here.

Tai Chi in the Garden. You’ve probably heard of Tai Chi, but you might not be totally clear on what exactly it is. It translates literally to “supreme ultimate boxing,” which, you gotta admit, is objectively cool as hell. It’s a form of internal Chinese martial art, which means it’s occupied with the spiritual and the mental more than the physical. Anyway, there’s your Tai Chi primer. Come try it out in the gorgeous setting of Mission Garden. Scott Risano leads classes, and beginners are welcome. Why not give it a shot? 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday, June 8. Mission Garden: Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace, 946 W. Mission Lane. $10. Details here.

Cool Summer Nights at the Desert Museum: World Oceans Night. We sure don’t think of the Sonoran Desert as a place with lots of water. But technically, the Sea of Cortez is part of the Sonoran Desert. So an ocean-themed activity is warranted, right? Head to the Desert Museum to celebrate the sea with free sustainable seafood, kid-friendly activities from the Marine Awareness and Conservation Society and the Fin Foundation, and presentations from folks like Joellen Russell of the UA. You’ll learn about sharks, about how desert animals and ocean animals aren’t as different as you think and about climate change. And you’ll have fun the whole time! 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 8. 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.

Summer Safari Saturday Nights. Tucson is a great city, but it’s pretty disappointing when summer rolls around and there’s no beach to go to. But wait! The Reid Park Zoo’s Saturday night program is offering the next-best thing, with sand, water, music by Shrimp Chaperone (there are shrimp at the beach sometimes, right? Festive!) and food from Rubio’s. While you cool down under the cover of evening, you can learn about how different animals, like otters, grizzly bear, alligator, tapir, elephants and ferrets enjoy water and mini-beaches in their habitats. Food and drink specials, games and keeper chats are there just like they are every week, too. Saturday, June 8. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Ct. $10.50 adults, $8.50 seniors, $6.50 kids ages 2 to 14 and free for zoo members. Details here.

FC Tucson vs. Richmond Kickers. Let’s play some futbol! Or, as we Americans like to call it, for some reason, soccer! Actually, let’s just watch our local soccer club do it, because they’ll probably do a better job. Our home team is currently ranked fifth out of 10 among the teams in the United Soccer League (USL) League 1, with the Richmond Kickers at fourth, so this is a perfect opportunity for our players to work their way to the top. Win or lose, though, the team will be excited to see how many Tucsonans show up to cheer them on at this home game! 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 8. Kino North Stadium, 2500 E. Ajo Way. $16. Details here.

Second Saturdays at Steam Pump Ranch. It’s time for the farmer’s market! Heirloom Farmers Market hangs out up in Oro Valley on Saturdays along the shared use path, and the first 20 people to roll up (or walk up) via the path get a $1 coupon to use at the market. What better form of motivation to get some exercise than free stuff? While you peruse the rows of vendors, the kids can hang out at the craft section, where they’ll be making a Fathers’ Day photo frame. 8 a.m. to noon. Saturday, June 8. Steam Pump Ranch, 1901 N. Oracle Road. Details here.

Tucson Cars and Coffee. There’s nothing like the hot weather to make you appreciate the air conditioning of your car. But hey, there’s lots more to appreciate about cars than that they keep you cool in Tucson. Some of them are real works of art! Obsessions Car Club’s event at La Encantada is the group’s Second Saturdays car show, held in the morning so we can beat the heat (and with coffee, so you can beat the sleep). This month’s featured cars are rat rods, roadsters, hot rods and T-buckets. Be there or be somewhere not as fun. 6 to 9 a.m. Saturday, June 8. La Encantada, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. Free. Details here.

Astronomy & Wine at Flying Leap Vineyards. If you’re looking to get out of town, or to a place where the stargazing is especially good, head about an hour southwest to the city of Elgin, where Flying Leap Vineyards is hosting a guided tour of the summer night sky. Chuck Dugan, a local astronomer and former Kitt Peak guide, will be leading the event and the gazing through 8- and 11-inch telescopes. Your ticket includes a glass of wine from the vineyard’s tasting bar as well as a dinner of fried chicken biscuits and potato salad/slaw provided by Chef Adam Puckle. Come see the Omega Centaurus, Jupiter and its moons, the Sombrero Galaxy, the Ring Nebula and more! 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 8. Flying Leap Estate Winery, 342 Elgin Road. $54.95. Details here.

The Fifth Element. Casa Video Film Bar is screening this Bruce Willis spectacular, back by popular demand! This goofy and imaginative sci-fi adventure features more memorable gags and quips than it has any right to, which is probably one of the reasons it’s managed to stay in our cultural memory. Multipasses ahoy! 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8. 2905 E. Speedway Blvd. Free. Details here.

Wild Relatives. When the Syrian Revolution turned Aleppo into a warzone, an international agricultural research center was forced to relocate to Lebanon. Part of this process included gathering seeds from the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a secure facility deep in the arctic which holds millions of seeds in case of a global catastrophe. The Tucson Museum of Contemporary Art is screening this documentary about the power of preservation. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 8. 265 S. Church Ave. Free. Details here.


Bite Me. The Screening Room hosts the one-night-only Tucson premiere of an independent feature film about a real-life vampire and the IRS agent who audits her. Part of the “Joyful Vampire Tour of America,” this screening includes a Q&A with the film’s writer and star. The Joyful Vampire Tour of America is a “three-month, 40+ city, RV-fueled event and screening tour” based around this film. 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 9. 127 E. Congress Street. $7. Details here.

Sayonara Day Party at La Cocina. While La Cocina is enchanting in the evenings, it can also be quite lively during the days. This party includes food by Desert Island Eatery, drinks by La Cocina and live music. Desert Island Eatery is celebrating the closing of their Campbell location and opening new doors in Phoenix. 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 9. 201 N. Court Ave. Family friendly.
Geronimo’s Revenge and Shifty’s Pop-Up Dinner. Chef Jeronimo Madril of Geronimo’s Revenge and Chef Matty Parsons of Shifty’s are getting together for a four-course night of food and drinks. Dishes include pork chop, roasted apricot, Forbes Al Pastor sausage, plus two special cocktails made to pair with the food. 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 11. 220 E. Broadway Blvd. $60. Details here.

Celebrating the Spectrum. Desert Voices, Arizona’s premier LGBTQ+ chorus (which celebrated 30 years last year!) is putting on their annual show to celebrate people and sexualities all across the spectrum. And they’ve invited some of their friends from other choruses, like the Reveille Men’s Chorus, the Phoenix Women’s Chorus, the Phoenix Men’s Chorus at the Youth Ensemble. Come hear some beautiful music (that couldn’t be made without a whole “spectrum” of notes) and watch these choruses raise their voices higher than ever in both solidarity and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. 3 p.m. Sunday, June 9. Arizona Theatre Company, 330 S. Scott Ave. $20 in advance/$25 at the door. Details here.
BT2 Performance. Ballet Tucson’s youth company (and Tucson’s premier youth ballet) is closing out the season with this concert, featuring the pieces Paquita and Patchwork, as well as the premiere of Mozart Melange. They’ll plie, jete and pique across the stage, and you’ll be saying “hooray, hooray, hooray!” from the audience. Support local art, especially a kind that takes so much discipline to look so effortless. 2 p.m. Sunday, June 9. Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, 1737 E. University Blvd. $25 GA. Details here.

Celebrating the Spectrum. Desert Voices, Arizona’s premier LGBTQ+ chorus (which celebrated 30 years last year!) is putting on their annual show to celebrate people and sexualities all across the spectrum. And they’ve invited some of their friends from other choruses, like the Reveille Men’s Chorus, the Phoenix Women’s Chorus, the Phoenix Men’s Chorus at the Youth Ensemble. Come hear some beautiful music (that couldn’t be made without a whole “spectrum” of notes) and watch these choruses raise their voices higher than ever in both solidarity and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. 3 p.m. Sunday, June 9. Arizona Theatre Company, 330 S. Scott Ave. $20 in advance/$25 at the door. Details here.

Second SundAZe Family Day at TMA. Are you familiar with Josef Albers? He was a designer, photographer, typographer and poet, but was probably best known for his geometric art pieces, like “Homage to the Square.” Take some inspiration from Albers at this event and explore ideas of color, minimalism and geometric abstraction through printmaking with recycled materials and making collages using squares. You’ll also have a chance to learn more about the man behind the work and take a family-focused tour of TMA’s exhibit “Learning to See: Josef Albers” at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 9. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 N. Main Ave. Free. Details here.

Tucson Pops! This outdoor summer music event continues, this week with guest conductor Toru Tagawa, the artistic director and conductor of the Sierra Vista Symphony and the current president of the American String Teachers Association of Arizona. He joined his fist philharmonic orchestra at age 9, so he knows what he’s doing. Mariachi Aztlán de Pueblo, a 17-piece band made up of high school students from Pueblo Magnet High School and specializing in authentic mariachi, is also performing songs like 'El son de la negra' and 'La Virgen de la Macarena.' Also on the schedule: The Barber of Seville Overture, selections from West Side Story and music from Pirates of the Caribbean. 7 p.m. Sunday, June 9. DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center at Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way. Free. Details here.

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

Gingerly alluding to trying circumstances—battling breast cancer and reflecting upon the degradation of political and social affairs—this acclaimed singer-songwriter’s latest self-titled release, her 10th studio album, is filled with an earthy open-heartedness and dreamy poetic imagery. Patty Griffin explores universal themes that bind us inextricably together. At the Rialto Theatre. With English folk singer/guitarist John Smith.

A testament to the darkly weird, Goth/country punks Slim Cessna’s Auto Club along with Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds summon the Mexican muse of The Great Goddess of Teotihuacan, who cultural lore holds benevolently sprouts hallucinogenic morning glories and protects the underworld. The Mission Creeps lead the siege. At 191 Toole.

Following in the tradition of Lee “Scratch” Perry and King Tubby, Tucson’s dub/reggae masters Dub Society skank at the Chicago Bar.

Featuring Heroes Reunion, Critical Miss and Creeper Van, Women Rock Tucson rejoices in the splendor of just that. At Brodie’s Tavern.

Hosted by Stephka Von Snatch, Burlesque in Wonderland will lure you down through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world. At the Surly Wench Pub.

Psychedelic funk/jam band The Bennu shoot through the night at Sky Bar.

Natty & The Sunset serenade with original dreamy folk compositions (and a few covers) at Westbound.

Hailing from the heart of Creole country in Louisiana, this singer/accordionist/drummer is the son of a zydeco legend. Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble flirt with temptation at Monterey Court.

And, in the twilight, as part of the Friday Night Live Free Concert Series, Haboob perform original compositions that elicit feelings of “ennui and hubris” while enveloped in a thick cloud of dust. At Main Gate Square.

From how upbeat Adam Townsend’s music initially sounds, you might underestimate the emotional depths it can reach. On his debut album, All My Fires, releasing June 7, this local songwriter examines his loves and dreams without sounding cloying. Alongside rustic strings, soulful vocal ensembles and mournful horns, Townsend combines the passionate with the poetic. This new album, described as “the culmination of 10 years of writing and never letting go of a dream to pursue a music career” certainly contains a decade’s worth of observations, cravings and inertia. Even the album’s title seems to hint at a list of burning desires waiting to be extolled. For Townsend, this pleasant storybook is a long time coming. Catch Adam Townsend’s album release show at Club Congress. 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 7. 311 East Congress Street. $5. 21+

Saturday, June 8

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Courtesy Photo

“Holy Shit,” Latina hip hop artist Claudia Alexandra Feliciano aka Snow Tha Product unleashes her rapid-fire delivery and take no shit ’tude at the Rialto Theatre. The Goin’ Off Tour showcases up-and-comers Castro Escobar, Jandro and James Elizabeth.

KFMA’s night-time radio personality Avery hosts Local Noize Night on the plaza at Hotel Congress. This evening of all-ages bedlam—featuring Alien Atmosphere and Pyrotechnica—carries a distinct alt-rock/metallic edge.

Brash young turks Rough Draft are taking their brand of indie/emo/punk/”whatever” on tour. They are kicking things off with a shindig at Club Congress. The Exbats, Pelt and Carnaval add to the rabble rousing.

Fueled by two acoustic guitars—a 12- and six-string—with a tuba holding down the low end, Sierreño is a regional Mexican sub-genre different from Norteño. Experience los Perdidos de Sinaloa at Club 4th Avenue. Be prepared to scoot boots.

Jae “Motherfuckin” Tilt presents the first ever Rap & Tap. Featuring pop-up shops, mad booze and hip hop, of course. At Thunder Canyon Brewstillery–Downtown.

Then Roch Mirabeau hosts Pushing Buttons: A Monthly Producer Getdown. With beat sets by: DVOID, MetricTones, Nick Arcade, B3NBI, RND1, Jamaal Tha RX, TOP NAX and RaajMahal. Also at Thunder Canyon Brewstillery–Downtown.

Ouros and Hussie behave like tarts at Irene’s Holy Donuts.

Featuring violin, acoustic guitar and cello this instrumental trio—while backpacking through many regions like musical genres—are on their way to becoming something else. The Missing Parts search for their phantom limbs at Solar Culture.

And, The Jack, Armed At Night, Chance Romance and Live & Let Die (a tribute to Paul McCartney) gather to Rock For Paws: A Benefit for Hard Luck HoundsAZ. At House of Bards…

Sunday, June 9

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Courtesy Photo

After bidding “Farewell to the Good Times,” on Burn Something Beautiful (Concord, 2016)—a rumination on mortality, the healing power of love and a paean to the rock ’n’ roll life, renowned singer-songwriter, true believer Alejandro Escovedo chronicles the immigrant experience on his latest: The Crossing. At 191 Toole.

The sound of these kids from Rockford, Illinois, marries western-influenced rock ’n’ roll and classic ’60s soul. Frontman Miles Nielsen also proclaims a love for Cheap Trick. He may be biased, though; He is, after all, Rick Nielsen’s progeny. Miles Nielsen & the Rusted Hearts. At Club Congress. Bluesy indie rocker Lydian Osman shares “Slow Sighs”.

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

Hungry? Like a side of funk with your scrambled eggs? Mik & The Funky Brunch are at La Cocina.

Alternative folk singer-songwriter, Katie Haverly & The Aviary perform on the patio at Che’s Lounge.

Stewart Copeland, of The Police, first filmed these siblings performing on the Santa Monica Pier; Since then, they have gone viral on YouTube with more than 8 million views. Their name means “vampire bat” in Romanian to honor their parents’ Transylvania heritage. “The First Family of Rock,” Liliac perform at House of Bards.

The University of Arizona has been named one of the best places in the state to work, according to Forbes Magazine.

The university was ranked No. 2 among employers headquartered in Arizona, No.1 in the education category and No. 11 out of 72 employers across the state.

"I am thrilled that the University of Arizona has earned this recognition as one of the state's best workplaces," said UA President Robert C. Robbins, in a statement. "With more than 16,000 people in our workforce, we take immense pride in providing an outstanding professional environment where employees can expand their own potential while helping our students pursue success."

According to Forbes and Statista, a German online statistics engine, “America’s Best-in-State Employers” are selected based on an “independent survey from a sample of more than 80,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 500 people in their U.S. operations.” The surveys were conducted via online, anonymous panels between October 2018 and February.

Employees were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family. Participants were also prompted to evaluate other employers in their respective industries that stood out either positively or negatively.

Last month, the UA was ranked No. 62 in Forbes' fourth annual “Best Value Colleges list,” including a 46-spot jump from the university's 2018 ranking. The UA's overall score placed it at No. 34 among public universities and No. 41 among research institutions.

Disgraced assistant coach Emanuel 'Book' Richardson was sentenced to three months of jail time on Thursday.

The former Arizona assistant coach, who was one of four assistants implicated in the college basketball bribery scandal in 2017, pled guilty to a single federal bribery charge earlier this year.

Richardson is the first college basketball coach to serve prison time for involvement in NCAA violations, according to CBS Sports.

The federal government was seeking a sentence of 18-24 months for the former assistant to Sean Miller, according to the article.

Lead prosecutor Noah Solowiejczyk told presiding judge Edgardo Ramos that Richardson's conduct deserves the strictest penalty possible, given his association with aspiring athletes, according to CBS Sports.

"The conduct was serious and has serious consequences," government prosecutor Noah Solowiejczyk said to Judge Ramos, citing the players and prospects whose eligibility was put into jeopardy because of Richardson's actions. "His job was to look out for them — he was doing the opposite." 

Say Hello To My Little Friends!

Tony’s New York Style Deli may not be the least likely place for a comedy show. More than half a dozen local comics live nearby. Roy Lee Reynolds, for instance, says he eats there all the time. He has in fact eaten the whole menu.

And Reynolds has a penchant for putting comedy in unlikely places. With fellow comedian Julian “Jules” Moreno, he’s taken Tucson comedy to Benson and Douglas. With a handful of other comedians, he’s run an eastside open mic at a favorite Tucson dive, The Music Box.

Still, the tables with their red-checkered cloths are smallish and separated by almost squeeze-by spaces. Shelving overruns the walls with imported sauces, the color of tomatoes only grown in Italy, and glassine-sealed pastas with names ending in -ini, -ella, -ette. Cold cases hold rough-edged cheeses and hard-cured meats. Jars of olives and stuffed peppers stand in rows with Italian-village charm on their blue labels. Where would they even put a mic stand?

Unlike its namesakes on nearly half the corners of apartment-building-lined streets throughout New York’s five boroughs, Tony’s New York Deli has a Tucson-sized patio. It’s there that, six months ago, Reynolds, and his colleague in comedy Dom DiTolla, first tried to out-Al-Pacino each other. No doubt they were inspired by their surroundings, but if your first thought was that DiTolla should have an advantage, you could be a racist.

Gimmick in hand, Reynolds booked a comedy show for 8 p.m. Saturday, June 8. What followed was a stream of memes about the Al Pacino challenge, ranging from the sublime to the ludicrous. A favorite features a photo of “Junior” Soprano with the caption, “Dom DiTolla doesn’t have the makings of a varsity athlete.” The line is copped from a Sopranos scene over a family pasta feast.

It could have been a nod to the Italian dinner included in the $15 ticket price for the show.

The audience will decide whether Reynolds or DiTolla does the best Al Pacino impersonation. But gimmicks aside, the comedy show is packed with varsity comedians. Bill-topper Ali Musa opened last week for Bruce Jingles at The O. He’s also a finalist in the Phoenix House of Comedy’s Funniest Person With A Day Job contest and will shortly take off on a tour of his own. Energy-packed Steena Salido has co-produced several Tucson shows, including the notorious Cunts Being Cunts Talking About Cunts. Tony Kanani Bruhn has opened for Doug Stanhope at Bisbee’s new Chuckleheads Comedy Club. Dom DiTolla and Kev Lee appear regularly on comedy stages all over town. Reynolds hosts.

There are no advance reservations, so you’ll want to get there well before the 7 p.m. dinnertime.

Local Laughs at The O

We can look forward to a deep-dish slice of local talent to get us over the hump day next week. Local comedy veteran Joey Giron, AKA Joey G, hosts 25 Tucson favorites onstage June 12 starting at 8. It’s The O’s first night of all-local comedy and it’s free. The regular menu is available and there is no cover or minimum.

Heading the lineup is Kristine Levine of The World Famous Frank Show on KLPX. Some also may remember her from 10 episodes of Portlandia.

Among other popular locals on the bill are Comedy at the Wench honcho Roxy Merrari, Tucson Poetry Festival Co-Director Em Bowen, Let’s Talk About Sex Baby producer Rebecca Tingley, Brew Ha Ha co-producer Rory Monserat,  Ali Musa, Paul Fox, Roy Lee Reynolds, Autumn Horvat, Glendon Slack McGee, Tony Kanani Bruhn and Eden Nault. And you never know who might show up at the O—last week, Doug Stanhope dropped in to guest host a show.

An eight-year veteran of both the Tucson and Phoenix comedy scenes, Giron has for two years run a popular open mic at The Mint Bar. That project is on hiatus for the summer.

Not that Kabir Singh

“I hope that movie flops!” says comedian Kabir Singh of the much-hyped Bollywood film that shares his name. The film’s promotion includes renaming movie theaters and sending cosplay-like movie characters to roam the streets of Mumbai. “It has absolutely destroyed me in search engines and I’m super annoyed by it,” Singh continues, laughing.

He makes it clear the movie’s publicity is no threat. Most people know him as “Kabeezy” anyway. “That came from playing basketball in high school,” Singh says. “The whole team was African-American and we all had nicknames that ended with eezy.” That court scored Kabeezy some culture-clash comedy gold.

He recently debuted on Comedy Central with the hit show Gabriel Iglesias’s Stand-Up Revolution. He won the 2015 SF International Comedy Competition by winning all five shows in the final round—a first.

Singh performs at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, at Laffs Comedy Caffe. Tickets are $12.50 and $17.50 in advance via Laffstucson.com.

Opening for him is sometimes-Tucsonan Chris Thayer, a laconic but keen observer of the ridiculous in everyday life. He’s written for Comedy Central and worked with Patton Oswalt, Maria Bamford and Pete Holmes, among others.

Now, where are the mics?

So you shouldn’t go more than a couple of days without a chance to critique comedians’ new jokes, here’s the latest in mic movements. Comedy at the Wench and Casa Marana are still going strong at 7 p.m. on Monday, but the mic at Pitney’s Pit Stop has closed. The Tuesday mic at The Mint is on hiatus for the Summer, but the monthly mic at The Music Box has moved from a Sunday to the last Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Caffe Passe mic has closed and the Corbett Brewery mic has moved up to 8 p.m. Thursday is the mother of all Tucson open mics at Laff’s comedy Caffe at 8 p.m., but a new mic has started at 6 p.m. Thursdays at Rockabilly Grill on Oracle Road.