Friday, October 4, 2019
What’s so funny about 10/12?
You have tough choices for Saturday, October 12. At 8 p.m., Tig Notaro performs an all-ages show at the Rialto Theatre. Tickets are $30 o $42 at Eventbrite.com. Her CD, Live, was the number one selling comedy album the year it was released. A cancer survivor, she’s been nominated for an Emmy and a Grammy for her HBO special, Boyish Girl Interrupted, and her memoir was a New York Times Best-seller.
You can test your stamina with 24 hours of comedy at TENWEST’s 86,400 Second Tucson Comedy Marathon from 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12 until 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13 at Hotel McCoy. Produced by the Tucson Comedy Alliance, it’s free, live and live streamed on Facebook at tucsoncomedy.com. Bring the kids for six hours of family comedy from 6 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Oct. 13. Watch for more details in Tucson Weekly’s coverage of TENWEST.
Finally, Tucson expat and current New York City comic Lorrie Brownstone features for headliner Jason Cheny at Laffs Comedy Caffe at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, October 11 and 12. Tickets are $12.50 and $17.50 via laffstucson.com.
Titters
If there weren’t already a word combining boobs and laughs, rascally cartoonist, satirist and raconteur David Fitzsimmons would have to invent one. His annual Titters comedy show, featuring an all-female lineup, has a serious heart, though. It benefits Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, a program that funds breast cancer research. Fitzsimmons lost both his mother and sister to breast cancer. Two of the show’s comedians are survivors.
Brownstone extends her stay to head up the bill. The lineup includes Nancy Stanley, founder of The Estrogen Hour; Priscilla Fernandez of the Retro Game Show, attorney Stacy Scheff and Laughing Stock’s own Linda Ray. Fitzsimmons hosts.
The show is at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16. Tickets are $16 via freshtix.com.
The Estrogen Hour celebrates its “Wood” anniversary.
While we all know about those fancy anniversaries in double digits – gold, silver, maybe crystal — leave it to those randy Estrogen Hour girls, at least the straight ones, to celebrate the wood for their fifth anniversary. In its five years, the show has raised more than $40,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The lineup has not yet been confirmed, but The Estrogen Hour typically features female comedians, including a few comedy “virgins” and, occasionally a “guestosterone.” Follow The Estrogen Hour on Facebook for updates.
The Estrogen Hour: 5th Anniversary Show starts at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 20 at Laff’s Comedy Caffe. Reservations are $15 via pages.lls.org/tnt/az/ashvle20/MSteed
Even More Laughs
Friday, Oct. 4: Standup with Michael Turner at 7:30 p.m at The O ($5 and $10). Standup with Mike Merryfield at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Laffs Comedy Caffe ($12.50 and $17.50) Improv with Constable and 301 Showcase at 7:30 p.m. and The Soapbox at 9 p.m. at Tucson Improv Movement ($5).
Saturday, Oct. 5: Standup with Mike Merryfield at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Laffs Comedy Caffe ($12.50 and $17.50). Improv with The Match Game at 7:30 p.m. with Seasons Readings and 3rd Beats at 9 p.m. at Tucson Improv Movement ($5).
Sunday, Oct. 6 and 13: Free Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Chuckleheads in Bisbee.
Monday, Oct. 7 and 14: Free Open Mic at 7 p.m. at The Surly Wench. Oct. 14: Free improvised standup show with audience participation at The Switch at 9 p.m. at The Hut.
Tuesday, Oct. 8: Free open mic and Oct. 15 Roast of Roy Lee Reynolds at Neighborhood Comedy at 6:45 p.m. at The Music Box Lounge.
Wednesday, Oct. 9 and 16: Free open mics at 7 p.m. at The Screening Room and 8:30 p.m. at The Mint.
Thursday, Oct. 10 and 17: Free open mics at 8 p.m. at Laffs Comedy Caffe and 8:30 p.m. at Rockabilly Grill.
Tags: Tig Notaro , Andry Andrist , Kristine Levine , TENWEST , 86 , 400 Second Tucson Comedy Telethon , Hotel McCoy , Doug Stanhope , Lorrie Brownstone , Tucson Improv Movement , The Match Game , Demetri Martin , Rockabilly Grill , Laffs Comedy Caffe , The Screening Roo , The Mint , The Music Box Lounge , Roy Lee Reynolds , Neighborhood Comedy , The Music Box Lounge , The Surly Wench , Chuckleheads , Mike Merryield , Tuson Improv Movement , The Soapbox , Michael Turner , The Estrogen Hour , Leukemia and Lymphoma Society , Nancy Stanley , Stacy Sheff , Linda Ray , David Fitzsimmons , Priscilla Fernandez , Making Strides Against Breast Cancer , Lorrie Brownstone , Jason Cheny , Comedy Virgins , TENWEST , TENWEST;s 86 , 400 Second Comedy Telethon , marathon , Hotel McCoy , Image
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Harper, who works as vice president for a software company by day, has found his calling in carving intricate designs into pumpkins and other gourds in his spare time.
That hobby has blown up over the last few years, with Harper’s art growing more and more detailed.
A quick glance at Harper’s Instagram page shows the extent in which Harper delves for his carvings, featuring everything from a Medusa-like snake-wrapped skull to a man with a cigarette in his mouth.
Harper, who studied art in college, said the hobby took on a life of its own after he found interest in creating 3D designs in the Halloween mainstays.
“This is a full-on hobby. It's turned into something cool because it is a unique thing to carve, a neat thing to do. But yeah, the origin was just like anybody else: carving jack-o-lanterns at Halloween,” Harper said. “And then I have an art background from way back in college and I had to put it aside and I had a family and all that stuff. And about four or five years ago, I picked it back up.”
Harper’s exploits caught the attention of Food Network, which will feature Harper on the Sunday, Sept. 29, episode of "Halloween Wars."
The show, which pits contestants against each other to create the most unique Halloween-themed items possible, was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for Harper and his family.
“What was really fun was getting to know a lot of the other artists,” Harper said. “Tucson is jam-packed with artists. I mean, just loaded. And to even be in the same breath as some of the local Tucson artists is just an honor. And to me, being around some of these hand-selected national artists was really inspiring.”
Harper’s wife, Mindy, made the trip to Los Angeles with him for the show’s taping. She said watching her husband’s television debut in person was a great experience.
“It was great. We would watch the show — and we have three daughters — because we would watch Halloween with them, like, ‘Oh my gosh you are so much better than these people,’ or at least as good,” Mindy said. “Our daughter is the one to really push him over the top to send pictures. He is very humble about his work.”
Harper wouldn’t spill any state secrets about how his debut on the Food Network program fared but said he’s proud of what he accomplished.
He’s hopeful that the exposure will help his artistic career to flourish, as his talents run beyond mere gourds and assorted other vegetable-related carvings.
“The highlight of the show, for me, was getting a little bit more attention or notoriety through the pumpkin carving. It's a really fun thing that I think more and more people should try,” Harper said. “It's a strange way to build your art portfolio, to be on a competitive show like this. But if it ends up getting me a little bit more notoriety, then that's great. But just to be a part of the Tucson art community is probably the most exciting thing.”
Mindy said Matt’s latest exploits are no surprise to the family, as he is constantly on the move, either doing artwork, playing music or helping with local causes.
“First of all, I'll say he's a man of many, many talents,” she said. “I'd say he's kind of like a modern renaissance man, because he will not only be sculpting pumpkins, he's also a drummer in a band in Tucson. He's a swimmer. He's a member of a few philanthropic groups around town. Plus, I don't know, he's just always been very creative ever since I first met him. He does have a lot of creative outlets, which I think is fantastic.”
Tags: Halloween Wars , Food Network , pumpkins , pumpkin carving , art , Matt Harper , Image
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Lisa Landry at the Wench
Comedy at the Wench steps up its game with its first booked national act, Lisa Landry, at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 23. The show is also the series’ first for which advance tickets are available. They are $10 on Eventbrite.
Tucson comedy regulars know Landry from her headlining sets at Laffs Comedy Caffe. At the Wench she’ll top the bill of the club’s annual Cat Show, featuring cat-themed outfits and laughs in tribute to the next best pet to a dog.
It seems impossible that the life of a popular comedian with cover-girl looks could be anything like ours, but apparently it is. She nails the nexus of daughterhood, motherhood, the grind in general and the mixed legacy of her Louisiana birthplace with line after line of laugh-makers. It’s pretty much exactly what’s in our own 21st-century-afflicted brains, if we were that funny.
Landry uses swear words like a first language, which is to say deftly and where nothing else will do. She won her stripes at the crucible of New York comedy clubs, but her comedy is as grounded as a Costco. She’s had a Comedy Central special, headlined shows in Las Vegas, appeared on a dozen TV shows and released four CDs.
Comedy at the Wench is now in its fourth year with host Roxy Merrari at the helm. The Cat Show is a favorite in the series of special shows that take place on the fourth or last Monday every month. The club’s weekly Monday open mics are free, and past special shows, featured on the fourth or last Monday of the month, have been funded by audience donations.
Kristine Levine and Friends
Tucson’s most famous comedian Kristine Levine opens a new venue for greater Tucson comedy at 10 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21. She’ll headline and host a show at Circle S Saloon in Marana. Tickets are $10 at the door or $5 in advance at (520) 682-5377.
Levine is best-known locally as Frank Brinsley’s partner on KLPX’s popular World -Famous Frank Show. She performed on several episodes of Portlandia and has guested at comedy festivals all over the U.S.
Last Friday, Last Laughs
This popular free monthly comedy series continues at Hotel McCoy on Friday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. In recent months the crowd has regularly overflowed into the patio and an adjacent room so we recommend arriving by 7:30. This month’s lineup includes, among others, Ashley Tappan, Tony Bruhn, Jerry Robin, Leo Skrzypczak, Mo Urban and Jarrod Martin.
Polo Ceniseros and Ryan Talmo at The Screening Room
Los Angeles comedy scene regulars Polo Ceniseros headlines a show at The Screening room with fellow angeleno Ryan Talmo at 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27. Tickets are $10 via Eventbrite.com. Rich Gary (Battle at the Roast Room, Keep Tucson Sketchy) hosts the show, which also features Chris Quinn (Open Mic Night at The Screening Room) and Dom DiTolla.
Hot Ticket: Keep Tucson Sketchy
If you were shut out of the first two, standing room only Keep Tucson Sketchy shows, they’ve heard you. The Saturday, Sept. 28 edition offers two showtimes: 7 and 10 p.m. Tickets are $15, but $10 in advance via keep-tucson-sketchy.ticketleap.com/ktsep3/.
Tucson Improv Movement (TIM) cast member Amanda Tennyson hosts the event with includes funny videos as well as hilarious sketches, written, produced and performed by a cast of more than 40 talented Tucsonans. Local musician Amanda Rochelle, also a TIM member, provides a musical break and DJ Sonario plays music for dancing in the aisles.
More Laughs
Friday, Sept. 20: Standup with Ben Roy, feat. Monica Nevi, at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Laffs Comedy Caffe ($12.50 and $17.50). Improv with Constable, Three’s Company and Chocolate Wheatie Things at 7:30 p.m. and The Soapbox at 9 p.m. at Tucson Improv Movement (TIM) ($5). Family-friendly improv with Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed (NBOJU) at 7:30 p.m. at Unscrewed Theatre ($5 and $7).
Saturday, Sept. 21: Comedia standup en español with Franco Escamilla at Fox Tucson Theatre ($42 to $128). Standup with Joe Koy at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. at Tucson Music Hall ($40 to $55). Standup with Ben Roy, feat. Monica Nevi, at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Laffs Comedy Caffe ($12.50 and $17.50). Improv with The Openers and Spanish language team Como Se Dice at 7:30 p.m., followed by Round 2 of the 3 v 3 Tournament at 9 p.m. at TIM, ($5). Family-friendly improv with NBOJU at 7:30 p.m. followed by House Team Double Feature at 9 p.m. at Unscrewed Theater ($5 and $8).
Sunday, Sept. 22: Free open mic at 8 p.m. at Chuckleheads in Bisbee.
Tuesday, Sept. 24: Free open mic at 6 p.m. at The Music Box
Wednesday, Sept. 25: Free open mics at 7 p.m. at The Screening Room and 8:30 p.m. at The Mint.
Thursday, Sept. 26: Standup with Tom Segura at The Fox Tucson Theatre ($43 to $79). Free open mics at 8 p.m. at Laffs Comedy Caffe and 8:30 p.m. at Rockabilly Grill.
Tags: Lisa Landry , Fox Tucson Theatre , The Music Box , The Screening Room , Laffs Comedy Caffe , Rockabilly Grill , Chuckleheads , Tucson Improv Movement , TIM comedy Theatre , Unscrewed Theatre , NBOJU , Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed , The Openers , Cómo Se Dice , Tom Segura , Monica Nevi , Ben Roy , Joe Koy , Franco Escamilla , Tucson Music Hall , Constable , Three’s Company , Chocolate Wheatie Things , Amanda Rochelle , Amanda Tennyson , DJ Sonario , Ashley Tappan , Tony Bruhn , Jerry Robin , Leo Skrzypczak , Mo Urban , Jarrod Martin , Keep Tucson Sketchy , Rich Gary , Polo Ceniseros , Ryan Talmo , Chris Quinn , Dom DiTolla , Kristine Levine , Frank Brinsley , KLPX , Circle S Saloon , Roxy Merrari , The Cat Show , Comedy at the Wench , Surly Wench , Image
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Were you one of the thousands of Pima County residents that checked out Black Russian Sunflower seeds as part of the Library's 2019 One Seed program? For many of you, now could be the time to start harvesting and saving your seeds! If you planted Black Russian Sunflowers back in April or May, your sunflowers are probably ready for harvest.
Our wonderful Seed Librarians have put together a helpful guide on how to tell if your seeds are ready for harvest or what to do if they're not quite ready.
We'll be wrapping up this year's program at our Weigh-Off Party on Saturday, September 21 at Martha Cooper Library from 8 to 11 am. Bring your saved Black Russian Sunflower seeds and your donation will join the donations of other gardeners to ensure we have seeds to plant for seasons to come.
Tags: Pima County Public Library , One Seed Pima County , sunflowers , seed saving , Martha Cooper Library , Image
Have you read Jacob Tobia's (pronouns: they/them) national bestseller, Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story?
You really should!
Then join us on October 6 at Murphy-Wilmot Library (530 N. Wilmot Rd.) from 6 to 8 pm for an open and honest discussion about how we can build a world free from gender-based trauma and bursting with trans-inclusive feminism.
"A story of audacity and courage," (Billie Jean King), Sissy explores gender, stereotypes, and growing up not sure if you're (a) a boy, (b) a girl, (c) something in between, or (d) all of the above.
Among their many remarkable achievements, Jacob is a member of the Forbes 30 Under 30 and the Out 100. They served as the Social Media Producer on the Emmy Award-winning series, Transparent and collaborated with Instagram and GLAAD to produce #KindComments, a campaign for Trans Day of Visibility that was viewed over 14 million times.
This event is brought to you by the Library's LGBTQ+ Services Team, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018. It is generously funded by the Friends of the Pima County Public Library.
Tags: Pima County Public Library , author event , Murphy-Wilmot Library , Image
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
At each University of Arizona home football game, starting this Saturday, Sept. 7 against Northern Arizona University, Casino Del Sol Executive Chef Ryan Clark will search for the best tailgate dishes. His goal? To crown one cook as the “Sol Bowl Tailgate Champion of the Week.”
“As a Tucson native, I’m a huge Wildcats fan so tailgating has always been something I look forward to,” said Clark in a release. “I thought it’d be a fun way to show our support for the home team and let local chefs and foodies boast their game day specialties.”
The weekly competition will take place at each of the six Saturday home games at Arizona Stadium: Sept. 7 vs. NAU, Sept. 14 vs. Texas Tech, Sept. 28 vs. UCLA, Oct. 12 vs. Washington, Nov. 2 vs. Oregon State and Nov. 23 vs. Utah.
Starting three hours before kick-off, Clark will be at the tailgate section of the UA Main Campus Mall looking for tailgaters with the best tailgate masterpieces. He will taste one dish from each contestant and select one winner.
Each week’s winner will join Clark on the field during the game, where they will be presented with an official Sol Bowl chef’s apron from Chef Works, and $500 in gift cards.
Tailgate cooks are encouraged to register online prior to each game at casinodelsol.com/solbowl. Entrants must be 21 or older, have tickets to the game and an official tailgating location at the tailgate section of the UA Main Campus Mall.
May the best chef win!
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Oh, that Tennessee Tramp!
National touring comedian Janet Williams has brightened some of my favorite holiday weekends at Laff’s Comedy Caffe. Last year her set tickled me so that I bought an extra LeCave’s donut the next morning.
Like me, Williams is up there in years. But so is Dolly Parton! Their boss attitudes and wicked sense of humor are alike enough they could be cousins. Dolly would wear Williams’ handle, the Tennessee Tramp, with pride, but Williams would laugh at the idea of all of Parton’s cosmetic surgery.
Williams’ comedy is as natural as daily life, spun by a force of nature. Her subject matter encompasses all ages, genders, and ethnic groups, and she’s a USO favorite. She’s performed for dozens of fundraisers and appeared on two seasons of BET Comic View.
She’ll be at Laffs Comedy Caffe at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and at 8 p.m., Sunday. Reservations are $12.50 and $17.50 at laffstucson.com. There’s also a two-item minimum.
Because connections are what Tucson is all about . . .
Tucson downtown’s biggest night of the month will include a sampler of Tucson’s amazing indie comedy scene at The Screening Room starting in November. Producer Chris Quinn says his new Second Saturday series will feature two-hour, booked events with all local comedians. Admission will be $5.
In the way of so many Tucson things, the opportunity arose from serendipitous connection of people and inspiration.
Quinn’s best friend, Tyron Engle is a sound engineer and business partner in Cquinn-Ty. Engle owns an eponymous recording studio and handles sound for The Strada Company’s Reel Tucson show at The Screening Room. Reel Tucson, featuring shorts by local filmmakers, is run by drag queens Rew Bee Renard (Andrew Baughman) and Mary Jane (Alexander Robinson). Quinn knows Baughman as his wife’s former co-worker at Bookman’s.
In May, Reel Tucson featured comedy shorts and included a standup comedy show. It was such a success that The Strada Company began looking for other ways to bring comedy into the organization’s orbit. Engle encouraged the leadership to talk to Quinn, who had been thinking along the same lines.
“I've known (Baughman and Robinson) for almost five years,” Quinn says, “and they're like, ‘Hey, we're putting on a comedy show!’ And I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I do comedy.’ And they're like, ‘We know! You're the first name on the list.’ I was like, ‘Perfect’.
In June, Quinn, a relative newcomer in Tucson’s comedy scene, launched Open Mic Comedy Wednesdays at The Screening Room. “The first few mics had 12 to 15 people, which we were anticipating because it was brand new,” Quinn Says. “The last three shows we’ve had 20. We’ve gotten the numbers we were hoping for and we've been getting a bunch of great comics out.”
He and Engle believe there will be plenty to keep the Second Saturday crowds laughing between the bands and food trucks.
Let’s do this again! Comedy at Tony’s Deli
This party was so good in July, they ran out of beer. But there was still plenty of all kinds of pasta for the crowd jammed under the striped tent out back. A great time was had by all, like a family reunion with no kids, where everybody’s laughing, and you all get along.
Organizer and host Roy Lee Reynolds promises another big helping of the same at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 31. The lineup will comprise Andrew Scott, Rebecca Tingley, Paul Fox and local superstar Pauly Casillas.
A $15 ticket includes dinner and the show. Tickets are at outlaw-comedy.ticketleap.com/comedy-at-tonys. Reynolds posted on Facebook, “If 25 people pre-order tickets . . . then Rebecca Tingley, Paul Fox, Andrew Scott and I will post a video of us telling our favorite street jokes while eating wings doused in The Last Dab (hot sauce).” You may still get in under the wire.
Last Friday, Last Laughs
Hotel McCoy’s free monthly comedy series continues at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30. The line-up includes Andrea Salazar, Joel Martin, Drake Horner, Chinna Garza, Em Bowen, Mariah Dickson, Jacob Breckenridge, Linda Ray (me) and Pauly Casillas. There’s usually a food truck
More Laughs
Thursday: Free open mics at 8 p.m. at Laffs Comedy Caffe and 8:30 p.m. at Rockabilly Grill.
Friday: Sebastian Maniscalco,(sold out) at Desert Diamond Casino. Improv with The Riveters and Shatfan at 7:30 p.m. and The Soapbox featuring Kristel Foster at 9 p.m. at Tucson Improv Movement ($5). Improv with NBOJU (Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed) at 7:30 p.m. at Unscrewed Theater ($8 adults, $5 children).
Saturday: Improv with The Game Show Show and Laugh Tracks at 7:30 p.m. and the Dating Scene and The Family of Things at 9 p.m. at Tucson Improv Movement($5). Improv with family friendly NBOJU at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Unscrewed Theater ($8 adults, $5 children).
Sunday: Free Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Chuckleheads in Bisbee.
Monday: Free Open Mic at 7 p.m. at The Surly Wench.
Wednesday: Free open mic at 7 p.m. at The Screening Room.
Tags: Janet Williams , Chris Quinn , The Strada Company , The Screening Room , Second Saturday , Le Cave's All Vegetable Donuts , Kristel Foster , Laffs Comedy Caffe , Rockabilly Grill , Desert Diamond Casino , The Riveters , Shatfan , The Soapbox , NBOJU , Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed , Unscrewed Theater , TIM Comedy Theatre , The Game Show Show , Laugh Tacks , the Dating Scene , The Family of Things , Chuckleheads , The Surly Wench , Andrea Salazar , Joel Martin , Drake Horner , Chinna Garza , Em Bowen , Mariah Dickson , Jacob Breckenridge , Linda Ray , Pauly Casillas , Hotel McCoy , Last Friday Last Laugh , Rebecca Tingley , Paul Fox , Andrew Scott , Roy Lee Reynolds , Tony's Deli , Ty Engle , Open Mic Comedy Wednesdays at The Screening Room , Cquinn-Ty , Zoey Ruby Renard , Mary Jane , Reel Tucson , Image
Thursday, August 22, 2019
WHY RESEARCH HISTORY WHEN YOU CAN MAKE IT UP?
In collaboration with Not Those Wright Brothers and Unscrewed Theater, this hit two-man musical spoof is back by popular demand after being nominated for a MAC Award in 2018.
Two desperate songwriters perform a backers’ audition for their new musical about Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press. With an unending supply of enthusiasm, Bud Davenport and Doug Simon (portrayed by real-life brothers Carson and Tyler Wright) sing all the songs and play all the parts in their hilarious historical epic!
Who: Some adult content, PG-13 recommended
When: Thursday, August 22 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 24 – 2 p.m.
Sunday, August 25 – 2 p.m.
Where: Unscrewed Theater
4500 E. Speedway #39
How Much: $25 General
$20 Military, Student, Teacher
$75 for season tickets (4 shows)
All seating is reserved
Tickets: Website: www.sapactucson.org
Call: 520-780-6119
Email: [email protected]
David Shack, Box Office Manager
GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!
CAST
Bud Davenport – Carson Wright
Doug Simon – Tyler Wright
Charles the Pianist – Khris Dodge
Originally Directed and Designed by
Carson and Tyler Wright
Original Production was presented in August 2018 at Catalina Foothills High School by Not Those Wright Brothers
Tags: Taming of the Review , plays , theatre , Gutenberg , Unscrewed Theater , Image
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
The one-time Tucsonan now lives in Wilmington, North Carolina, and the aptly titled new record The Carolinas reflects the years since she returned from the Southwest to the Southeast. The record is another evolution in Shedd’s style, which has ranged from quiet and acoustic on her last album, Arizona, to piano-driven songs to the melodic shoegaze of her earlier work.
“Holding On” is the album’s second single, following “Kissing and Romancing.”
“I love how living in different states can slowly seep into your music and subtly influence you,” Shedd said. “Arizona was an acoustic, introspective album, whereas The Carolinas has more of a fun, lighter feel. Another difference is the change of instrumentation, adding synthesizers and drums.”
In their seven years in Tucson, Shedd and husband/guitarist James Tritten became a major part of the local music scene. Tritten’s Fort Lowell Records released vinyl albums and singles by the likes of Howe Gelb, Shedd, Young Mothers, La Cerca, Naïm Amor, Andrew Collberg, …music video?, Saint Maybe, and the Luz de Vida compilation.
Since moving to North Carolina, Shedd and Tritten have been playing in a synth-pop project Band & The Beat, with a drum machine and analog synthesizers. That experimentation carried over to Shedd’s new record, recorded with drummer Nicolas Jenkins from South Carolina.
“That opened my mind to the possibility of rearranging songs and not being attached just because you initially wrote something one way,” Shedd sais. “The Carolinas was a blast to create.”
The album will be released Sept. 20, on vinyl by Science Project Records, and digitally via Fort Lowell Records.
Tags: Tracy Shedd , music , new releases , albums , records , The Carolinas , music video , exclusives , Image
Monday, August 5, 2019
Tucson will be hosting its own sky lantern festival this August in a magical night of music, games and the sky lantern event.
There will be a challenge course, lawn games, face painting and food vendors. Cozy up to the fire pits and listen to live music until dusk, then get ready to set your lantern off into the night sky.
When: Saturday, August 31
5 – 10 p.m.
Where: 4600 N Silverbell Road
Tickets: General admission $55
Kids 4-11 $15
Kids 0-3 Free
*Sky lanterns are 100% biodegradable and are tracked for easy cleanup. Sky lanterns will not be released if bad weather is expected. They are designed to descend only when low on fuel and run no risk of causing a fire.
Tags: Sky Lanterns , Sky Lantern Festival , Image
