Friday, March 30, 2018
Electric Six Frontman Dick Valentine: "“We have to play ‘Danger! High Voltage,’ ‘Gay Bar,’ and ‘Dance Commander.' We’ll play a couple of new ones. It’ll be a great time in Tucson, as ever.”
Electric Six frontman Tyler Spencer, aka Dick Valentine, will be the first to tell you that this wild and wacky experiment was never supposed to last. When the Detroit disco-rock troupe formed in 1996 as the Wildbunch, they were seen by many as a novelty at worst, a party band at best.
Many, many members and 22 years later, the band is arguably going stronger than ever. They have 16 albums in the arsenal, with a 17th on the way this year. And sure, the days of international hits singles such as “Danger! High Voltage” and “Gay Bar” might be behind them, but mainstream global adoration has been replaced with the sort of cool factor that comes with rock & roll longevity.
That they’ve never gone away, that artistically they’ve developed into a tight-knit, truly unique hard rock unit, speaks volumes for the under-appreciated talent behind Spencer’s deceptively sleepy eyes. The man has had his demons in the past, but in 2018 he’s a force of nature. In fact, for the past few years the Electric Six has been putting out two albums per year.
“The whole idea of spending many months on one album doesn’t work for us,” Spencer says. “With the first few records, we didn’t have access to the sort of home recording technology that we do now.”
That’s quite a thing to consider: The only thing stopping the Electric Six’s prolific nature in the early days was the fact that the technology wasn’t keeping up with them. Now that they can turn out one album after another, they do.
Here’s the thing though—an E6 album is always good and usually great. This isn’t some conveyor belt of garbage, churned out at regular intervals to keep their modest but still enviable fanbase happy and spending. Rather, this is an artist, working with a group of great musicians, creating awesome rock ‘n‘ roll.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Our boss, Jim Nintzel, wasn’t wrong when he wrote in his last blog entry that the there’s lots of good girl power vibes at this year’s SXSW. Today, we saw Luna Lee, in all the way from Korea with her traditional (and insane looking) Korean string instrument, the Gayaegum. She started her set with a traditional Korean tune, but was really in her element playing pieces by the likes of Nirvana and The White Stripes. Between watching her fingers fly across the strings and hearing her announce cheerily “Let’s go!” before every song, it was hard not to love her.
But the guys came through today as well. Two of my favorites? Chihuahua, Mexico’s Coma Pony and Hawthorne, CA’s Cuco.
Coma Pony has been around since 2011, if you include a hiatus of about two years in the middle. Their 2016 breakout hit was “En Doming Las Niñas Van A Jugar al Parque.” If you don’t speak Spanish, no worries—they’re an instrumental band that somehow makes dreamy math rock that’s completely groovy. Audience members were dancing throughout the set, and the guitarist—a guy named Marco with an enviable afro—was rocking out so hard that his glasses flew off at least five times. (He said afterwards that, despite his rocking out with wild abandon, he’s never broken them because he’s very, very careful.)
Cuco, or Omar Banos, is 19, and he’s on the rise. It’s hard to write about him without using the word “heartthrob.” Girls in the front row are losing their minds as he sings “Baby don’t trip, I’m coming home. Kick it with me—I don’t care if the sun is gone.” But he had more to offer than boy band-esque lyricism and charm. His show was fun. There were colorful projections on the wall behind him, he joked around with the audience and he even pulled out a trumpet few times. (What's more fun than a trumpet?) Perhaps his fun, mildly self deprecating humor is best summed up by his Twitter handle: @Icryduringsex
But the guys came through today as well. Two of my favorites? Chihuahua, Mexico’s Coma Pony and Hawthorne, CA’s Cuco.
Coma Pony has been around since 2011, if you include a hiatus of about two years in the middle. Their 2016 breakout hit was “En Doming Las Niñas Van A Jugar al Parque.” If you don’t speak Spanish, no worries—they’re an instrumental band that somehow makes dreamy math rock that’s completely groovy. Audience members were dancing throughout the set, and the guitarist—a guy named Marco with an enviable afro—was rocking out so hard that his glasses flew off at least five times. (He said afterwards that, despite his rocking out with wild abandon, he’s never broken them because he’s very, very careful.)
Cuco, or Omar Banos, is 19, and he’s on the rise. It’s hard to write about him without using the word “heartthrob.” Girls in the front row are losing their minds as he sings “Baby don’t trip, I’m coming home. Kick it with me—I don’t care if the sun is gone.” But he had more to offer than boy band-esque lyricism and charm. His show was fun. There were colorful projections on the wall behind him, he joked around with the audience and he even pulled out a trumpet few times. (What's more fun than a trumpet?) Perhaps his fun, mildly self deprecating humor is best summed up by his Twitter handle: @Icryduringsex
Tags: Cuco , Luna Lee , Coma Pony , SXSW , South by Southwest , Image
Whereas many outdoor concerts go for being as frantic and in-your-face and attention-grabbing as possible, indie rock outfit Low takes it slow and steady. This was especially clear when they followed-up the electropop freak-out of Superorganism at SXSW.
Since 1993, Low has reacted to noisy rock shows and rambunctious audiences by turning their volume down. As purveyors of “slowcore,” the three members hardly move on set and their instrumentation progresses minimally, methodically and hypnotically. Sure, it might be melancholy, but this style can also result in powerful jams.
Awash in reds and purples, Low’s music offered tired festival-goers an auditory break—at least some of the time. Many of their songs started subdued and sad, but grew into greatly layered behemoths of fuzzy guitar, bass and kettle drums.
Hailing from Duluth, Minnesota, their music is often as bleak and cold as their surroundings. But in a hot, manic Austin night, this could be just what the (witch) doctor ordered.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Nothing should have worked with Josh T. Pearson’s set at SXSW: He lost his voice the previous night, there were some technical difficulties, he revealed he was working on probably an hour of sleep, and to top it off, his four-piece band was only about three days old. Despite all of these setbacks, Pearson delivered an enrapturing performance. Perhaps it was simple luck, but for anyone who knows the indie-rock-gone-country-singer’s music, Pearson works well in the midst of disaster.
Pearson and his band played some select singles from his upcoming album, The Straight Hits!, as well as some reworked songs from his critically-acclaimed The Last of the Country Gentlemen.
His once sparse and depressive acoustic dirges received a second life. The keyboard player added lush and delicate layers, the drummer added a surprisingly effective beat to the experimental songs, and the bassist added a slick core to bring them all together. For a band that just, and I mean just, formed, they played tight and with a great amount of chemistry.
You’ve heard honest, twangy country rock like Neil Young, and you’ve heard the lengthy, epic (occasionally ambient) instrumental movements of post-rock—well Josh T. Pearson and his band somehow combined the two to make some bonafide country post-rock, if that can be called a thing.
And although the set was rife with apologies by the singer, it was also filled with great one-liners between the songs and a cheering, mesmerized crowd.
The Straight Hits! releases April 13.
Los Lobos guitarist Cesár Rosas shouted his thanks across SXSW outdoor stage in downtown Austin: “Thank you, music lovers!”
It’s a city full of music lovers. You can see it in the way that people play their music: During country artist Josh T. Pearson's set (which pretty much broke all of our hearts and put them back together again with every song), every member of the four-person band blurred the lines between human and instrument with their passion. When I tell Pearson’s bassist—a guy named Noah who met Pearson for the first time four days earlier—that I could tell how much he loves music just by watching him, he bubbles over with thanks.
“I need music in my life,” he says. “Sometimes, when I talk about some of my favorite bassists, I just get goosebumps.”
Or there’s Australian artist Gordi, an indie pop songwriter whose voice rings with relatable honesty (“every fiber of my being’s agreed that what you want can become something you need”), whether she’s belting with abandon or slipping into a sweet falsetto. Gordi introduces herself as Sophie Payten afterwards and mentions she finished medical school recently, and has an internship next year. She tries to keep it on “the back burner,” though, because music is her priority.
You can see it in the way people watch their music. When R&B/indie pop/soaring voice-coming-from-a-slight-frame musician Joey Dosik performs at The Barracuda, people are singing along, dancing, sometimes closing their eyes the way you do when you want to make sure you remember something for a long, long time.
Or, during a set by violinist, vocalist, and all-around performance artist Sudan Archives, one woman mouths along the words to nearly every song. She’s so enraptured that I don’t see her pull out her phone one time during the whole set… and what’s a more serious demonstration of love than not looking at your phone for a solid 20 minutes to pay attention to another person?
It’s a city full of music lovers. You can see it in the way that people play their music: During country artist Josh T. Pearson's set (which pretty much broke all of our hearts and put them back together again with every song), every member of the four-person band blurred the lines between human and instrument with their passion. When I tell Pearson’s bassist—a guy named Noah who met Pearson for the first time four days earlier—that I could tell how much he loves music just by watching him, he bubbles over with thanks.
“I need music in my life,” he says. “Sometimes, when I talk about some of my favorite bassists, I just get goosebumps.”
Or there’s Australian artist Gordi, an indie pop songwriter whose voice rings with relatable honesty (“every fiber of my being’s agreed that what you want can become something you need”), whether she’s belting with abandon or slipping into a sweet falsetto. Gordi introduces herself as Sophie Payten afterwards and mentions she finished medical school recently, and has an internship next year. She tries to keep it on “the back burner,” though, because music is her priority.
You can see it in the way people watch their music. When R&B/indie pop/soaring voice-coming-from-a-slight-frame musician Joey Dosik performs at The Barracuda, people are singing along, dancing, sometimes closing their eyes the way you do when you want to make sure you remember something for a long, long time.
Or, during a set by violinist, vocalist, and all-around performance artist Sudan Archives, one woman mouths along the words to nearly every song. She’s so enraptured that I don’t see her pull out her phone one time during the whole set… and what’s a more serious demonstration of love than not looking at your phone for a solid 20 minutes to pay attention to another person?
Tags: Josh T. Pearson , SXSW , Gordi , Sudan Archives , Joey Dosik , Los Lobos , music , love of music , SXSW , South by Southwest , Image
Thursday, March 15, 2018
I don't know if it's just another sign of the political climate or my own poor luck in scouting bands, but I heard a lot of sad and depressing music Wednesday at SXSW. It wasn't necessarily bad music, but it sure as heck wasn't uplifting: Acclaimed bands like Low (at a surprisingly underwhelming NPR showcase at Stubbs) and SYML were just pretty downbeat. And check out the description of Lo Country: "Lo Country is the recording project of Carlton Bostock, Vince Delgado, Robert Cherry, and Jason Butler. It is based on the mutual love of country, blues, and sad, sad songs. Lo Country celebrates the pain of existence with a voice that has obviously lived it. Silver tongued balladeers, their songs plumb the depths of despair and loss." Hey, there's a place for all that, but I was looking for something a little more upbeat.
Leave it to the girls to kick some ass: London's 19-year-old Jade Bird, who was named a country artist to watch by Rolling Stone last year, delivered a rousing set that concluded with a jangly cover of Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere." And Lucy Dacus, who will be playing Club Congress on Tuesday, March 20, delivered a sweet set to kick out the NPR showcase. As Eric Swedlund explains in this week's Tucson Weekly, Dacus is just 22 years old but she's got serious songwriting chops. Check out her show next week if you're free on Tuesday.
But the highlight of my night came from two Austin bands that share members: Brownout and Chicha Money. Brownout is a funk band heavy on horns and percussion that spun out of Austin's legendary Grupo Fantasmo, and Chicha Money is a new spinoff of both bands that loses the horns of Brownout in exchange for the surf guitar of chicha that will be familiar to fans of Tucson's own superband XIXA.
Oh, and not all the boys were sad: Field Report did upbeat alt-country Americana act that kept the crowd happy at the Swan Dive.
Should I tell you all about the BBQ? Another time.
Leave it to the girls to kick some ass: London's 19-year-old Jade Bird, who was named a country artist to watch by Rolling Stone last year, delivered a rousing set that concluded with a jangly cover of Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere." And Lucy Dacus, who will be playing Club Congress on Tuesday, March 20, delivered a sweet set to kick out the NPR showcase. As Eric Swedlund explains in this week's Tucson Weekly, Dacus is just 22 years old but she's got serious songwriting chops. Check out her show next week if you're free on Tuesday.
But the highlight of my night came from two Austin bands that share members: Brownout and Chicha Money. Brownout is a funk band heavy on horns and percussion that spun out of Austin's legendary Grupo Fantasmo, and Chicha Money is a new spinoff of both bands that loses the horns of Brownout in exchange for the surf guitar of chicha that will be familiar to fans of Tucson's own superband XIXA.
Oh, and not all the boys were sad: Field Report did upbeat alt-country Americana act that kept the crowd happy at the Swan Dive.
Should I tell you all about the BBQ? Another time.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
SXSW is an all-you-can-hear sonic buffet—and as with any buffet, you might try something only to realize you don't really have an appetite for it. So it was tonight, as I bounced from a club featuring a droning band with sad songs that lacked the crucial "rock" ingredient of rock ’n’ roll to Empire Garage's outdoor venue, where Austin's own Big By's Big Brass Brand helped cleanse my audio palette. Inside the Empire Control Room, Austin's Vapor Caves were doing a mellow electronic thing that was worth a nibble. But across the street, at Barracuda Backyard, the Wedding Present—all the way from Leeds, England—finally got my SX party started with an in-your-face set of screeching guitar, pounding drums and feedback that soaked the packed crowd in sweaty rock ’n’ roll. After giving up on getting in to see Lukas Nelson (Willie's kid!) and Nathaniel Rateliff at a Pandora showcase, I wandered through the Sixth Street crowds to BD Riley's to see Belle Adair, an Arkansas band that recorded the recently released Tuscumbia at Mussel Shoals' legendary FAME studios with the help of Wilco engineer/producer Tom Schick. After that set of rough-edged Americana, I stuck around for a set from Thunderpussy, who showed that girls can rock just as hard as boys. It was well past midnight so I split before the end of the set, but when I popped into the convenience mart across the street for a few provisions, it felt like the whole store was reverberating from Thunderpussy's licks. Those girls bring the noise.
For those of you who can't get to Austin this year: You can still enjoy a dynamite sampler of 100 of the best bands here. NPR Music has once again assembled The Austin 100. Check it out and/or download it here.
Tags: SXSW 2018 , Thunderpussy , Belle Adair , the Wedding Present , Image
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
In 1969, at the ripe young age of 17, I first head The Chieftains. It was their second album and the tune was called “Banish Misfortune.” Until then, my general concept of Irish music was Bing Crosby singing “McNamara’s Band.” I had never heard an Irish Uilleann (elbow) pipe or a or a bodhrán drum or even a penny whistle. It blew my mind much more significantly than the various recreational drugs I was experimenting with at the time, and it endeared me to Irish cultural tradition as an indescribable enrichment in my life. Their recent performance at the Fox Theatre has not diminished my esteem for their incredible talents or their infectious inclusivity in all they do.
Their 56th Anniversary tour reveals many ol' members who have passed on, including some of Ireland’s stand-alone greatest traditional musicians, but they came to Tucson with three original members: leader Paddy Moloney, flutist Matt Molloy and singer/bodhrán player Kevin Conneff. They not only brought with them a treasure house of great young Celtic performers to share with us, but they seamlessly incorporated local artists with them on stage. I have seen them in many parts of the world and they always bring a surprisingly fresh offering each time.
Triona Marshall on harp proves to be an honorable replacement for the lovably wacky Derek Bell (Van Morrison’s one-time spiritual advisor and fellow Belfast man). Tara Breen on fiddle jolted us by jumping to her step-dancing feet (only later to play Irish music on a saxophone. Really, a sax?). Jon Pilatzke (where’d ya get them bloomers, lad?) embarked on his own fiddle-frenzy before leaping into wild steps with his brother Nathan, along with more singing and dancing with Alyth McCormack and others. With the Chieftains it is wise to expect the unexpected.
Friday, March 2, 2018
If you like listening to some bellicose British dudes convey their aggression through their music, you won't want to miss Shame. These raw, rhythmic post-punks are just starting off, but have already garnered a fair amount of praise from their hard rock throwback sound mixed with indie rock. They're a band that's clearly listened to the great punk classics, and that shows via their favorite albums. Catch them playing with Protomartyr at Club Congress on Tuesday, March 6.
Eddy Current Suppression Ring
Primary Colours
This album has an immediate identity to it, sounding effortless and confident throughout. The simplicity is what I find most powerful, in the music as well as the vocals, it feels timeless and will always be an album I can go back to and draw something different from it.
—Charlie Steen (Vocals)
Modern Lovers
s/t
I absolutely love how painfully awkward Jonathan Richman’s lyrics are throughout most of this album, and the instrumental being so simple yet so brilliant at the same time. This was also a fairly recent discovery for me but i was hooked almost instantly, haven't been able to stop listening since.
—Sean Coyle-Smith (Guitar)
Fun House
Stooges’ Funhouse was an album I was obsessed with when we started the band, and one I rarely tire of. The driving rhythm of songs like TV eye and Loose were a big influence on our early sound, and the sleaze of "Dirt" was a something I tried to capture with the bassline of the "Lick."
—Josh Finerty (bass)
Pavement
Slanted and Enchanted
It’s just unlike anything I’d heard before or heard since. So painfully dorky yet so effortlessly cool. Most of the time this isn't even my favourite Pavement record but it’s the album that introduced me to them so it holds a special place in my heart.
—Charles Forbes (Drums)
Television
Marquee Moon
Marquee Moon is my favourite album of all time because it introduced me to an entirely different way of playing guitar. It heavily influenced me in songs like concrete and tasteless, as I began to focus more on single note playing rather than generic chord progressions. The impact it’s had on me as a musician is invaluable.
—Eddie Green (Guitar)
Friday, February 16, 2018
Wyatt Earp: Tombstone Brewing Company is pairing up with Casa Video Film Bar to give an authentic feel of the Wild West. See? Even films can get involved in Arizona Beer Week. Watch Kevin Costner play perhaps the most famous sheriff of Cochise County, and battle it out at the O.K. Corral. Or as the cool kids call it, the Okie Dokie Corral. 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. 2905 E. Speedway Blvd.
Sans Soleil: Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church is opening up your mind with one of the most acclaimed documentaries of all time: Sans Soleil (or "Sunless"). This experimental documentary is part stock footage, part travelogue, part essay film, all combined to examine memory and what it means to be human. 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. 2331 E. Adams St. Details here.
The Art of Truffles: No, not the thousand-dollar mushrooms people hunt for in the Black Forest. You'll learn how to make some awesome chocolatey treats, courtesy of Tamara from Chantilly Tea Shoppe. And all the while you're learning, you get to sip some wine! 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. 7090 N. Oracle Road.
Chinese New Year Dinner: The Carriage House is kicking off the Chinese new year with a five-course meal made specially by chef Devon Sanner. Included with the massive meal is a welcome cocktail and wine. And if all of that isn't enough, there is also a special performance by the Jade Lion. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. 125 S. Arizona Ave. For reservations, email [email protected].
TEDxUofA: Uncharted. The first annual TEDxUofA conference is here! You'll hear from geologist, educator and writer Jess Kapp in her talk "Say Yes," about taking risks for the sake of self discovery. Shepard Robbins will talk about the dark side of comics in his talk "Under the Page." Biosystems engineering professor Joel Cuello talk about using amplified intelligence to achieve more sustainable methods of food development in "AI Does Food." Marketing assistant professor Caleb Warren will talk about why we love the products we do in "What Makes Things Cool." Jonathan Bean will talk about the shifting nature of markets in "Demand Less." Hester Oberman, Ph.D, will talk about religion and philosophy in "Belief Out of the Closet." And Nolan Cabrera, a scholar of race and racism, will talk about the pitfalls of privilege in "White Immunity." 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. Crowder Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road. $20 GA, $20 VIP, $10 student, $15 student VIP.
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody: Vadym Kholodenko, a Ukrainian pianist who won the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, is making his TSO debut with Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. TSO Music Director José Luis Gomez commissioned a piece by former Young Composers Project student Anthony Constantino, and the piece, Luminosity's Witness, will make its world premiere at TSO. Also on the docket: Selections from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet and Ginastera's Dances from Estancia ballet. 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18. Details here.
Quilt Fiesta! Are you ready for the most wholesome festival this world has ever seen? Well, you'd better get ready. With vendors, quilt appraisals, a vintage quilt turning and a special kids section, it's a show with something for everyone. (Even if you're not INTO quilts, you're into being warm, right? And seeing people love what they do?) Plus, there's demonstrations on the modern quilt movement and crafting the perfect border. Guest speaker Dixie McBride will be giving two talks: "Garage Sale Heirlooms" and "Quilt Judges and Jurors: Who Are They?" Admission comes with a raffle ticket to win the award-winning quilt Star Light, Star Bright. Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. $10 for one day, $20 for all three days (only available on Friday). Free for kids 14 and under. Details here.
TMA Annual Spring Artisans Market: More than 100 juried artists are coming together so that you can buy tons of beautiful things in one place. Pottery! Glass! Jewelry! Textiles! Fine art! You name it! This is also your last opportunity to see the museum's feature exhibition, Dress Matters: Clothing as Metaphor. Live performances by Andy Hersey and Shelly Hawkins Dance on Friday, Solidarity Sympa and Lisa O'Neill Saturday and Jazz Pyramid Scheme, ft. tidypaws, Dimitri Manos and Thøger Lund on Sunday. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 N. Main Ave. Free. The museum is free and open to the public during all three days of the market as well. Details here.
24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. This team relay and solo rider mountain bike event is one of the largest 24-hour events in the world. Yes, it literally lasts from noon on Saturday to noon on Sunday. While these maniacs are riding their bikes for longer than most of us have ever done anything continuously, we mere mortals can enjoy fun stuff too, like a Four Peaks Brewing beer garden, hot cocoa in the In-N-Out Burger Exchange Tent and a Maxis Tire Toss. 24 Hour Town is a tiny utopia that gets erected for the weekend (utopias can't last forever, you know) and that's where it's all going down. Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. Starts at noon on Friday, 6 a.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. on Sunday. Camping sites vary in cost, but most include a requirement that you bring some canned goods for a food drive.
Wizards. From the man who brought you the world's first X-rated animated film comes a psychedelic and fantastical vision of the future. Ralph Bakshi's animation certainly is unique, and so is this movie. Elves, Orcs, laser guns and all the bizarre pre-digital animation you could ask for. This movie was made just one year before he released the 1978 animated version of the Lord of the Rings, but rivals it in scope and scale. Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway. 10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17. $6.
Battle of the Beers. Huss Brewing Company is heading over to Tap & Bottle for the second annual Ro Sham Beaux competition. It's a tough competition between the Barrel Aged Koffee Stout and the Imperial Chocolate Porter, and many more. Who will survive? You'll just have to show up to find out. 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17. 403 N. Sixth Ave, suite 135. Details here.
Off the Vine Wine Festival. Wine takes over Steam Pump Ranch for a day. Not only will there be dozens of local wine tastings, but you get to talk with local winemakers and enjoy live music. Price of admission includes a commemorative glass and six tasting tickets. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17. 10901 N. Oracle Road. Details here.
When Immigration Hits a Wall: Life in the Borderlands Location. In case the issue of immigration ever feels like it's getting too abstract for you, hear from three locals about what the changing landscape of immigration policy means for them. Mo Goldman, a Tucson immigration attorney, will talk about what's changed and what to expect going forward on the legal side of things. Loreno Verdugo, a community health adviser and coordinator for El Rio Health Center and coordinator of Ventanilla de Salud in the Mexican Consulate, will share stories about immigrants she's seen make their way to Tucson. Alejandro Ursua, a UA grad and DACA recipient who now works for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, will share his own story of how the uncertain future affects his family. Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson. 9:30 a.m. to noon. Saturday, Feb. 17. Joel D. Valdez Library, 101 N. Stone, Lower Level 1 Meeting Room. Free.
Ansel Adams Public Celebration. On some level, aren't we all, always, celebrating the work of Ansel Adams? Here's a chance for us to do it all together, in the same place and at the same time. The Center for Creative Photography's new exhibit, Ansel Adams: Performing the Print, will open, and there will also be archival object tours (self guided-the best kind), vintage camera display and a presentation from Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist and pal of Ansel Adams, David Hume Kennerly. Plus, cake! Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. Center for Creative Photography, 1030 N. Olive Road. Free.
Tucson Take Back the Night. Singer songwriter Charlie King is playing at this event to raise funds for Take Back The Night, which will in turn raise awareness of sexual violence and provide support to survivors. You'll enjoy a free concert with Charlie, performances by musical guests including the Tucson Women's Chorus and a FREE mean Mexican meal catered by Maria Garcia of La Indita Restaurant. A raffle gives you the chance to donate to a good cause, and possibly take home some good stuff, like TBTN T-shirts, some local art, free tickets to shows or gift certificates to area businesses. 6 p.m. meal, 7 p.m. concert. Saturday, Feb. 17. Unitarian Universalist Church, 4831 E 22nd St. Free. Call Ted at 623-1688 or email [email protected] for more info. Details here.
Happy Birthday, Arizona! The ol' girl is 106, but we all know she doesn't look a day over 25. To celebrate our sweet state, Old Tucson is offering buy one, get one free admission, living history presentations, and some classic Old West entertainment to remind you that 106 is actually pretty old. A special flag ceremony at noon both Saturday and Sunday will be held to make sure Arizona's feeling extra loved. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road.
Vigilante Days in Tombstone. Okay, yeah, this is a skip, hop and a jump outside of Tucson, but it'll be cool. There'll be tons of historical reenactments, the famous "Hanging Tree," a Geo Coin for geocaching and a chili cook. You can visit the Courthouse Museum, tour the Goodenough mine and ride a stagecoach around town. Plus, a fashion show by the Tucson Vigilettes, and the chance to enter a raffle to win a ROSSI Model 92, .45 caliber long colt lever action rifle and handmade case (just don't shoot your eye out). 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18. Allen Street in Tombstone, Arizona. Free entry. Details here.
Winter Meet at Rillito Park Racetrack. Everyone's favorite historic racetrack just started its Winter Meet last weekend, and there's five more weekends to go, including 12 live race days! This week on the docket, we have Military and First Responder Day on Saturday, Feb. 17 and Arizona VIP Day (government and civic leaders appreciation) on Sunday, Feb. 18. (Call them at 745-5486 to learn more about reserved seating). May the best horse and jockey win! The gates open at 10 a.m. on race days, with a post time of 1 p.m. 4502 N. First Ave. $5 GA, $10 Clubhouse admission.
Cruise, BBQ & Blues Festival and Car Show. If you're not into cars, this is a great chance to finally understand what all the hype is about. Over at SAACA, they're firm believers that automobiles are art - blending mechanics, design and science to produce beautiful, functional machines that have, in many ways, made the world feel like a smaller place. The event also features live blues music, barbecue and 20 different awards given in categories including Best Interior, Best Engine and People's Choice. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road. $5. $1 discount for military and veterans, free for kids 10 and under. Tickets available at the door. Details here.
Cornelio Vega y Su Dinastia ain't your papa's norteña. His colorful accordion and mariachi-inspired guitar show he's a genre scholar, but his lyrics offer modern twists. In "El Problema," Vega's cooing the blues of a Sonoran kid with a hankering for guns and fast cars and not his family in el norte. The usual romantic viewpoint is love trumps all but Vega sings, "Se que nada es para siempre" (I know that nothing is forever). This kid-jaded take on traditional values, while paying tribute to the genre's roots, is subtly revolutionary. Vega made a name for himself on YouTube, where he's earned more than 58 million hits. And it's no wonder; he offers relatable, well-executed Mexican music, from the perspective of a boy who grew up witnessing heartaches and limitations of older, honest workingmen's lives lived along the problematic frontera. With Adriel Favela, Omar Ruiz, Jonatan Sanchez and Helen Ochoa. Tucson Expo Center, 3750 E. Irvington Road. Doors at 9 p.m. $50. General admission. All ages.
Dent May. Mayer Hawthorne most recently proved how smooth saxes, disco beats and pitch-corrected blue-eyed soul can make for intricately arranged sugar-pop. Dent May fell in line. But just as you're swept up by May's well-crafted, lounge-y creepers, the lyrics bum out: "Caviar days, plastic surgery nights/90210 with you by my side." Originally from Mississippi, Dent May mecca'd to L.A., where his gifted melodic sensibility (Silverlake's love affair with Brian Wilson, natch) got packaged in hipster cat T's and Spencer's hippie bling. Too bad 'cause songs like "Best Friend" and "Meet Me in the Garden" are gorgeous, yet ultimately insincere. It's music for folks too embarrassed to let themselves feel. Unlike, say, Frank Zappa, May doesn't lift a corner on his schtick to let listeners in on the joke. His cynicism feels unearned, the irony too poker-faced. Yes, Congress will be packed. With Moon King and Liquid Summer on Saturday, Feb. 17. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress. 7 p.m. $10. 16+. Details here.
Tucson Roadrunners. Our beloved hockey team has two home games this week against the Bakersfield Condors. Though both teams are avian, the roadrunners have the advantage of being more accustomed to doing battle on the ground, rather than in flight. At 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, you'll like $1 food night and the youth jersey giveaway, and at 4:05 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, you won't want to miss the fidget spinner giveaway. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. $10 to $56+. Details here.
National Wine Day with Cheese Pairing. It seems like there's a national day for everything now. Who's making this stuff up? But a National Wine Day is perfectly alright by me. Certainly better than a National Left Sock Day, or whatever is coming up next. 1912 Brewing is celebrating the occasion with some of the best wine and cheese this side of Napa Valley. 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18. 2045 N Forbes Blvd, suite 105. Details here.
TMC Sunrise at Old Tucson Trail Run. If you have to run on the dusty trails of Tucson, you might as well go big with it, and run a race that goes through Old Tucson Studios, a slice of the Old West. There's a men's 4-mile, a women's 4-mile and a family 1-mile, and everyone who registers gets a fee cowboy breakfast, and admission to Old Tucson for the day! (Your guests get special discounted pricing as well). And everyone registered gets free admission to the International Wildlife Museum for the day too. So honestly, you could just run a mile and wind up with a free breakfast and a free day at some of the coolest places in Tucson, which almost sounds too good to be true. Registration begins at 7 a.m. in the Old Tucson Parking lot. Women's start at 8 a.m. and men and family runs start at 9 a.m. Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road. $40 4-mile trail run and $25 1-mile run. Details here.
Kimya Dawson. Since Kimya Dawson left Moldy Peaches and blew up with "Loose Lips" (from the Juno soundtrack), she has quietly toured and recorded her quirksome folk-pop (and even made a smart, lovely album for toddlers). Gentle, basic guitars accompany her dense, multi-syllabic words, which are as earnestly unadonrned as they are funny and melancholy ("If you want to kill yourself/Remember that I love you/Call me up before you're dead/We'll make up some plans instead"). Her forlorn nursery rhymes are mostly open-hearted, and brave ones at that. When she veers whimsical ("I like my new bunny suit/It makes me feel cute"), it's the unwavering vocal sincerity that keeps her music from faltering. One gets the feeling that Dawson's best friends are still all imaginary and that a blanket tent in her bedroom (with a portable record player inside) is the only place she feels at home. With AJJ and Cesar Ruiz. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress. 7 p.m. $8-$10. All ages. Details here.
Sans Soleil: Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church is opening up your mind with one of the most acclaimed documentaries of all time: Sans Soleil (or "Sunless"). This experimental documentary is part stock footage, part travelogue, part essay film, all combined to examine memory and what it means to be human. 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. 2331 E. Adams St. Details here.
The Art of Truffles: No, not the thousand-dollar mushrooms people hunt for in the Black Forest. You'll learn how to make some awesome chocolatey treats, courtesy of Tamara from Chantilly Tea Shoppe. And all the while you're learning, you get to sip some wine! 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. 7090 N. Oracle Road.
Chinese New Year Dinner: The Carriage House is kicking off the Chinese new year with a five-course meal made specially by chef Devon Sanner. Included with the massive meal is a welcome cocktail and wine. And if all of that isn't enough, there is also a special performance by the Jade Lion. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. 125 S. Arizona Ave. For reservations, email [email protected].
TEDxUofA: Uncharted. The first annual TEDxUofA conference is here! You'll hear from geologist, educator and writer Jess Kapp in her talk "Say Yes," about taking risks for the sake of self discovery. Shepard Robbins will talk about the dark side of comics in his talk "Under the Page." Biosystems engineering professor Joel Cuello talk about using amplified intelligence to achieve more sustainable methods of food development in "AI Does Food." Marketing assistant professor Caleb Warren will talk about why we love the products we do in "What Makes Things Cool." Jonathan Bean will talk about the shifting nature of markets in "Demand Less." Hester Oberman, Ph.D, will talk about religion and philosophy in "Belief Out of the Closet." And Nolan Cabrera, a scholar of race and racism, will talk about the pitfalls of privilege in "White Immunity." 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. Crowder Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road. $20 GA, $20 VIP, $10 student, $15 student VIP.
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody: Vadym Kholodenko, a Ukrainian pianist who won the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, is making his TSO debut with Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. TSO Music Director José Luis Gomez commissioned a piece by former Young Composers Project student Anthony Constantino, and the piece, Luminosity's Witness, will make its world premiere at TSO. Also on the docket: Selections from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet and Ginastera's Dances from Estancia ballet. 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18. Details here.
Quilt Fiesta! Are you ready for the most wholesome festival this world has ever seen? Well, you'd better get ready. With vendors, quilt appraisals, a vintage quilt turning and a special kids section, it's a show with something for everyone. (Even if you're not INTO quilts, you're into being warm, right? And seeing people love what they do?) Plus, there's demonstrations on the modern quilt movement and crafting the perfect border. Guest speaker Dixie McBride will be giving two talks: "Garage Sale Heirlooms" and "Quilt Judges and Jurors: Who Are They?" Admission comes with a raffle ticket to win the award-winning quilt Star Light, Star Bright. Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. $10 for one day, $20 for all three days (only available on Friday). Free for kids 14 and under. Details here.
TMA Annual Spring Artisans Market: More than 100 juried artists are coming together so that you can buy tons of beautiful things in one place. Pottery! Glass! Jewelry! Textiles! Fine art! You name it! This is also your last opportunity to see the museum's feature exhibition, Dress Matters: Clothing as Metaphor. Live performances by Andy Hersey and Shelly Hawkins Dance on Friday, Solidarity Sympa and Lisa O'Neill Saturday and Jazz Pyramid Scheme, ft. tidypaws, Dimitri Manos and Thøger Lund on Sunday. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 N. Main Ave. Free. The museum is free and open to the public during all three days of the market as well. Details here.
24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. This team relay and solo rider mountain bike event is one of the largest 24-hour events in the world. Yes, it literally lasts from noon on Saturday to noon on Sunday. While these maniacs are riding their bikes for longer than most of us have ever done anything continuously, we mere mortals can enjoy fun stuff too, like a Four Peaks Brewing beer garden, hot cocoa in the In-N-Out Burger Exchange Tent and a Maxis Tire Toss. 24 Hour Town is a tiny utopia that gets erected for the weekend (utopias can't last forever, you know) and that's where it's all going down. Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. Starts at noon on Friday, 6 a.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. on Sunday. Camping sites vary in cost, but most include a requirement that you bring some canned goods for a food drive.
Wizards. From the man who brought you the world's first X-rated animated film comes a psychedelic and fantastical vision of the future. Ralph Bakshi's animation certainly is unique, and so is this movie. Elves, Orcs, laser guns and all the bizarre pre-digital animation you could ask for. This movie was made just one year before he released the 1978 animated version of the Lord of the Rings, but rivals it in scope and scale. Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway. 10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17. $6.
Battle of the Beers. Huss Brewing Company is heading over to Tap & Bottle for the second annual Ro Sham Beaux competition. It's a tough competition between the Barrel Aged Koffee Stout and the Imperial Chocolate Porter, and many more. Who will survive? You'll just have to show up to find out. 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17. 403 N. Sixth Ave, suite 135. Details here.
Off the Vine Wine Festival. Wine takes over Steam Pump Ranch for a day. Not only will there be dozens of local wine tastings, but you get to talk with local winemakers and enjoy live music. Price of admission includes a commemorative glass and six tasting tickets. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17. 10901 N. Oracle Road. Details here.
When Immigration Hits a Wall: Life in the Borderlands Location. In case the issue of immigration ever feels like it's getting too abstract for you, hear from three locals about what the changing landscape of immigration policy means for them. Mo Goldman, a Tucson immigration attorney, will talk about what's changed and what to expect going forward on the legal side of things. Loreno Verdugo, a community health adviser and coordinator for El Rio Health Center and coordinator of Ventanilla de Salud in the Mexican Consulate, will share stories about immigrants she's seen make their way to Tucson. Alejandro Ursua, a UA grad and DACA recipient who now works for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, will share his own story of how the uncertain future affects his family. Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson. 9:30 a.m. to noon. Saturday, Feb. 17. Joel D. Valdez Library, 101 N. Stone, Lower Level 1 Meeting Room. Free.
Ansel Adams Public Celebration. On some level, aren't we all, always, celebrating the work of Ansel Adams? Here's a chance for us to do it all together, in the same place and at the same time. The Center for Creative Photography's new exhibit, Ansel Adams: Performing the Print, will open, and there will also be archival object tours (self guided-the best kind), vintage camera display and a presentation from Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist and pal of Ansel Adams, David Hume Kennerly. Plus, cake! Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. Center for Creative Photography, 1030 N. Olive Road. Free.
Tucson Take Back the Night. Singer songwriter Charlie King is playing at this event to raise funds for Take Back The Night, which will in turn raise awareness of sexual violence and provide support to survivors. You'll enjoy a free concert with Charlie, performances by musical guests including the Tucson Women's Chorus and a FREE mean Mexican meal catered by Maria Garcia of La Indita Restaurant. A raffle gives you the chance to donate to a good cause, and possibly take home some good stuff, like TBTN T-shirts, some local art, free tickets to shows or gift certificates to area businesses. 6 p.m. meal, 7 p.m. concert. Saturday, Feb. 17. Unitarian Universalist Church, 4831 E 22nd St. Free. Call Ted at 623-1688 or email [email protected] for more info. Details here.
Happy Birthday, Arizona! The ol' girl is 106, but we all know she doesn't look a day over 25. To celebrate our sweet state, Old Tucson is offering buy one, get one free admission, living history presentations, and some classic Old West entertainment to remind you that 106 is actually pretty old. A special flag ceremony at noon both Saturday and Sunday will be held to make sure Arizona's feeling extra loved. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road.
Vigilante Days in Tombstone. Okay, yeah, this is a skip, hop and a jump outside of Tucson, but it'll be cool. There'll be tons of historical reenactments, the famous "Hanging Tree," a Geo Coin for geocaching and a chili cook. You can visit the Courthouse Museum, tour the Goodenough mine and ride a stagecoach around town. Plus, a fashion show by the Tucson Vigilettes, and the chance to enter a raffle to win a ROSSI Model 92, .45 caliber long colt lever action rifle and handmade case (just don't shoot your eye out). 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18. Allen Street in Tombstone, Arizona. Free entry. Details here.
Winter Meet at Rillito Park Racetrack. Everyone's favorite historic racetrack just started its Winter Meet last weekend, and there's five more weekends to go, including 12 live race days! This week on the docket, we have Military and First Responder Day on Saturday, Feb. 17 and Arizona VIP Day (government and civic leaders appreciation) on Sunday, Feb. 18. (Call them at 745-5486 to learn more about reserved seating). May the best horse and jockey win! The gates open at 10 a.m. on race days, with a post time of 1 p.m. 4502 N. First Ave. $5 GA, $10 Clubhouse admission.
Cruise, BBQ & Blues Festival and Car Show. If you're not into cars, this is a great chance to finally understand what all the hype is about. Over at SAACA, they're firm believers that automobiles are art - blending mechanics, design and science to produce beautiful, functional machines that have, in many ways, made the world feel like a smaller place. The event also features live blues music, barbecue and 20 different awards given in categories including Best Interior, Best Engine and People's Choice. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road. $5. $1 discount for military and veterans, free for kids 10 and under. Tickets available at the door. Details here.
Cornelio Vega y Su Dinastia ain't your papa's norteña. His colorful accordion and mariachi-inspired guitar show he's a genre scholar, but his lyrics offer modern twists. In "El Problema," Vega's cooing the blues of a Sonoran kid with a hankering for guns and fast cars and not his family in el norte. The usual romantic viewpoint is love trumps all but Vega sings, "Se que nada es para siempre" (I know that nothing is forever). This kid-jaded take on traditional values, while paying tribute to the genre's roots, is subtly revolutionary. Vega made a name for himself on YouTube, where he's earned more than 58 million hits. And it's no wonder; he offers relatable, well-executed Mexican music, from the perspective of a boy who grew up witnessing heartaches and limitations of older, honest workingmen's lives lived along the problematic frontera. With Adriel Favela, Omar Ruiz, Jonatan Sanchez and Helen Ochoa. Tucson Expo Center, 3750 E. Irvington Road. Doors at 9 p.m. $50. General admission. All ages.
Dent May. Mayer Hawthorne most recently proved how smooth saxes, disco beats and pitch-corrected blue-eyed soul can make for intricately arranged sugar-pop. Dent May fell in line. But just as you're swept up by May's well-crafted, lounge-y creepers, the lyrics bum out: "Caviar days, plastic surgery nights/90210 with you by my side." Originally from Mississippi, Dent May mecca'd to L.A., where his gifted melodic sensibility (Silverlake's love affair with Brian Wilson, natch) got packaged in hipster cat T's and Spencer's hippie bling. Too bad 'cause songs like "Best Friend" and "Meet Me in the Garden" are gorgeous, yet ultimately insincere. It's music for folks too embarrassed to let themselves feel. Unlike, say, Frank Zappa, May doesn't lift a corner on his schtick to let listeners in on the joke. His cynicism feels unearned, the irony too poker-faced. Yes, Congress will be packed. With Moon King and Liquid Summer on Saturday, Feb. 17. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress. 7 p.m. $10. 16+. Details here.
Tucson Roadrunners. Our beloved hockey team has two home games this week against the Bakersfield Condors. Though both teams are avian, the roadrunners have the advantage of being more accustomed to doing battle on the ground, rather than in flight. At 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, you'll like $1 food night and the youth jersey giveaway, and at 4:05 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, you won't want to miss the fidget spinner giveaway. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. $10 to $56+. Details here.
National Wine Day with Cheese Pairing. It seems like there's a national day for everything now. Who's making this stuff up? But a National Wine Day is perfectly alright by me. Certainly better than a National Left Sock Day, or whatever is coming up next. 1912 Brewing is celebrating the occasion with some of the best wine and cheese this side of Napa Valley. 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18. 2045 N Forbes Blvd, suite 105. Details here.
TMC Sunrise at Old Tucson Trail Run. If you have to run on the dusty trails of Tucson, you might as well go big with it, and run a race that goes through Old Tucson Studios, a slice of the Old West. There's a men's 4-mile, a women's 4-mile and a family 1-mile, and everyone who registers gets a fee cowboy breakfast, and admission to Old Tucson for the day! (Your guests get special discounted pricing as well). And everyone registered gets free admission to the International Wildlife Museum for the day too. So honestly, you could just run a mile and wind up with a free breakfast and a free day at some of the coolest places in Tucson, which almost sounds too good to be true. Registration begins at 7 a.m. in the Old Tucson Parking lot. Women's start at 8 a.m. and men and family runs start at 9 a.m. Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road. $40 4-mile trail run and $25 1-mile run. Details here.
Kimya Dawson. Since Kimya Dawson left Moldy Peaches and blew up with "Loose Lips" (from the Juno soundtrack), she has quietly toured and recorded her quirksome folk-pop (and even made a smart, lovely album for toddlers). Gentle, basic guitars accompany her dense, multi-syllabic words, which are as earnestly unadonrned as they are funny and melancholy ("If you want to kill yourself/Remember that I love you/Call me up before you're dead/We'll make up some plans instead"). Her forlorn nursery rhymes are mostly open-hearted, and brave ones at that. When she veers whimsical ("I like my new bunny suit/It makes me feel cute"), it's the unwavering vocal sincerity that keeps her music from faltering. One gets the feeling that Dawson's best friends are still all imaginary and that a blanket tent in her bedroom (with a portable record player inside) is the only place she feels at home. With AJJ and Cesar Ruiz. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress. 7 p.m. $8-$10. All ages. Details here.
