Although Cafe Passe has hosted some great concerts in the last couple years, the time to see live music at the Fourth Avenue cafe is nearly over. In the past, the spot has given everyone from jazz acts to country crooners to local indie bands a place to play, but now, according to a Facebook post on Friday, Feb. 13, Cafe Passe has decided to step out of the live music game to focus on their food and drink offerings.

"We've been wearing many hats over the last number of years and i [sic] feel it's time to focus on one, nice, well fitted hat instead," the post said.

It continued by saying that Cafe Passe will go back to fulfilling the spot's original mission: "make good food and good coffee." To that point, it says to expect a new menu, with beer, wine and, of course, coffee still included. Baked goods, breakfast, brunch and lunch will be served during the updated hours, which will cut out late nights and change to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 

The last night for live music at Cafe Passe will be on Friday, Feb. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. with Celeste Amadee performing. The post said that with all of the venues in Tucson promoting local music, the owners feel confident that the cafe no longer needs to operate in that capacity.

"There are so many awesome new venues with local music and they're doing a fantastic job," it said. "We want to do a fantastic job doing what we've set out to do 9 years ago."

To stay up to date with Cafe Passe's changes, follow the restaurant and coffee shop's Facebook page.

UPDATE: Cafe Passe will have some live music at their monthly Words on the Avenue event on the last Sunday of every month from 7 until 10 p.m.

Editor's Note: This post has been updated to reflect the new date for Celeste Amadee's performance.

Although the advent of modern technology means new bands have more opportunities than ever to record their music on the cheap, Abril Castillo and Tucson People Magazine are looking to help local musicians record their music professionally while promoting the state's music for the world. 

The T-Town Sessions is a partnership between locally-made Cloud Microphones, St. Cecilia Studios and the newly-developed Tucson People Magazine. Every three months four musicians will be given the chance to use professional recording equipment to make audio and video recordings that will be published on the Tucson People Magazine website as well as their Soundcloud page. Castillo, who will be the videographer for the project, says it will be something like NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series but for Arizona specifically.

"The idea is to expose and show everyone around the world what Tucson is doing," Castillo says. "We want to have a documentary about what is happening in the music scene in Tucson and in Arizona."

The first round of T-Town Sessions will be recorded at St. Cecilia Studios on Feb. 24 and 25. This session's line-up includes Tucson bands The Mission Creeps, Steff and The Articles and the Gabriel Ayala quintet as well as Prescott's Dutch Holly.

"The first session has punk and pop and flamenco and indie rock, but I hope to include hip hop and more in the future," Castillo says. "I don’t want to discriminate or exclude anyone—I want to touch on everything."


The T-Town Sessions are just one part of what Castillo and the magazine will be doing. She says to expect new videos every week showcasing the projects and voices of the Old Pueblo. She also hopes that the sessions will soon be filmed at live events at venues around town like La Cocina and Club Congress.

If you're a local musician looking to participate in the next T-Town Sessions, e-mail your demos to [email protected].

The Flycatcher is hosting a night of live local music on Thursday, Feb. 12 and Sorry About the Garden are the headliners. You can expect some out-of-the-world visuals paired with the trio's self-proclaimed "weird" piano rock.

Sorry About the Garden will be joined by Deschtuco and Demonymns. The show is $6 at the door and the music starts at 9 p.m.

Check out this video of the band performing live if you need any further convincing:

For those of you who look at festival line-ups and think "there just isn't enough stoner rock on the bill for me," Borderland Fuzz Fiesta will be just the event you've always dreamt of. 

To kick off the fest's inaugural event, you can expect bands with totally sick names like Skulldron, Yeti Ender, Conqueror Worm and Methra. Fireball Ministry, Wo Fat and Mos Generator will be headlining this year's fiesta, as well. 


Ran by Wayne Rudell, frontman of both Powered Wig Machine and Fuzz Evil, the musician and booker said in a statement that putting on a festival dedicated to the genre that he both loves to play and listen to has always been a dream for him. He plans on many Fuzz Fiestas to come.

"We really feel that fans of this music would appreciate this event and will hopefully get behind it in the time to come, we’re going to be striving to make the Borderland Fuzz Fiesta bigger and better every year,”  Rudell said.

You can catch all of that muddy, droney, sludgy and, yes, fuzzy action as part of the Borderland Fuzz Fiesta at The Rock, located at 136 North Park. Tickets for the event, which begins on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m., are $20 the day of the show and $15 in advance through Ticket Leap.

Logan Phillips—widely known in the Old Pueblo, the Arizona-Mexico borderlands and beyond as DJ Dirtyverbs—got hooked on cumbia in the early 2000s while living in the central Mexican state of Querétaro. 

Particularly Cumbia sonidera (which has humble beginnings in the poorer barrios of Mexico City) became the unofficial soundtrack of Phillips' Querétaro life and the many other years he orbited through Latin America (including my homeland, Guatemala).

"Playing on the buses in Querétaro, there is something about the guacharaca (a fundamental percussion instrument in cumbia) that just pierces through the noise of the bus and the engine," he says. "It became part of who I was, but when I moved back to Arizona in 2011, I didn't find a space that felt like where I had been."

So he created one.

And for two years now, El Tambó pops up every couple of months or so at Club Congress to celebrate old school cumbia and to be a magnet for the culturally diverse minds that inhabit these desert grounds. But it hasn't been about, "Hey, it's Latin night, everyone else fuck off." It's been a space where Phillips gets to share music that has emotional meaning to his soul with us, no matter where we come from, regardless whether we have heard cumbia before or not, he wants people to visit, get to know each other, have a good time and expand their interests even if that takes us through routes we thought we'd never cross paths with.

"Also, I wanted to create a platform to connect Tucson into this national alternative Latino movement that is happening. There are amazing events in LA, San Francisco...(groups like) Quitapenas...young alternative Latinos with a strong sense of identity," Phillips says over some afternoon coffee at Café Passé. "I really wanted to put Tucson on the map as far as taking advantage of that. Why is the sound of Tucson dusty twang, when we have this huge Mexican population and Chicano population or people like myself who just grew up around that."

What went on to become El Tambó started out with Phillips DJing every Thursday at the then-recently-opened La Cocina. (DJ Herm took on Saturday nights.) That lasted for about three months, then Phillips left town and El Tambó went to sleep for some time. Upon Phillips' return to this land, Congress approached him about bringing some of his flavor there.

"I feel lucky that Hotel Congress would be open to have cumbia sonidera on a Friday night in the middle of downtown, that is a very strong cultural message, especially in the way downtown is changing so fast," he says. "I give credit to Congress and now the Rialto as well, who brought amazing acts like Ana Tijoux, Café Tacuba, Calle 13, amazing, huge acts. Those two spaces are really working hard to advocate for inclusion."

He calls cumbia a genre without borders. Cumbia is created from Canada to the southern-most tip of Argentina, he says.  "Arizona is also part of that experience. Arizona is part of Latin American regardless of the geopolitical borders that there are, through cumbia we can kind of find our heart in that as well...for me it is about a lot more than just a party."

On Friday, Feb. 6, at El Tambó, Phillips is dedicating a set to '90s cumbia sonidera. During our chat, he remembers the first time he scavenged for a cumbia album in the markets, mercados, of Querétaro. He said, "I want cumbia," and they gave him a '90s cumbia CD that featured artists like Los Ángeles Azules, "and I just listened to it over and over again."

"I'm going to play a set of those songs, some of it is pretty heavy cheese, the '90s were a hell of a time for cumbia," he says.

El Tambó is still growing, but Phillips is pretty satisfied with what's been happening. He'd like to keep that "it happens when it happens" vibe, too.

"We need dance floors that really represent who we are as a community in all of our shades and linguistic varieties, it is really important," he says. "A lot of music has taken a very aggressive turn, very misogynistic and materialistic turn. (Although he is a fan of a lot of hip hop, these days) some hip hop has become a de facto pop culture instead of being a niche. Boiled down to its lowest common denominator of message, and I don't feel good dancing to misogynistic lyrics."

It's refreshing to walk into a place and hear songs that are like poems, celebrating life, people close to the land, "to me that is something that resonates a lot more than making money or whatever the theme is."

His long-time friend DJ Herm (an El Tambó virgin) will be joining, as well as the Los Angeles-based, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latin band Cuicani (also El Tambó virgins). 

After this, Phillips is off to the Phoenix Feb. 11 release of his book, Sonoran Strange, and then going on a short tour.

El Tambó starts at 9 p.m. and is $6. For more info, visit the event's Facebook page. 

If you've ever been accused of being a crazy cat lady, no worries. Brush that dirt off your shoulders, put on some cat ears, and saunter over to Club Congress on Thursday for a very special cat-themed dance party. The Girl Party crew is taking over Opti Club, giving you the opportunity to put on your best cat costume and dance around with like-minded feline fanatics. 

Entry is $3 (or free if you're an Opti Club member). Since the event is a benefit for Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter, so you can feel good about dropping that three spot. Plus, DJs ENTYCE, Mother Tierra, Plastic Disease and B-RAD will be pumping out the jams from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. so you're basically paying less than a dollar per DJ—what a deal!

Facepainting will be done on-site by donation and a photo booth will be there so you can snap some sweet pics of you all meowed up. 

No one is encouraging anyone to do drugs here, but putting a bunch of sparkly, colorful stones in front of folks who are fans of a music that is pretty much synonymous with taking ecstasy sounds a little like a recipe for rolling to me, but what do I know?

If you're really just in it for the sweet electronic beats and you haven't started backstocking glow sticks and Ring Pops, Tucson's Gem & Jam festival is coming to town and bringing over 40 different performers to 1102 W. Grant Road as well as vendors and workshops from the gem and mineral world.

Now in its ninth year, the celebration of trippy visuals, hypnotic music, and rocks that coincides with the Gem and Mineral Show each year is bringing a bunch of acts from all over the world. Oregon-based trip-hop act Emancipator, U.K.'s LTJ Bukem and Little People, and the psych-funk Michal Menert Trio of Colorado are just some of the many performers booked for this year's event.

Music and gem stones aren't the only things to feast your eyes on at the event, though, as there will also be live painting performances courtesy of Alex and Allyson Grey, Sam Flores, J. Garcia and more.

The Gem & Jam Festival runs from Friday, Feb. 6 until Sunday, Feb. 8. Doors open at 4 p.m. each day with music until 1 a.m. and the silent disco on site until 4 a.m. After parties will be held at Solar Culture from 2 a.m. until 5 a.m. as well. You can buy tickets for the whole weekend for $129 or $45 for a single day by visiting the Gem & Jam Festival website. There you can find more information on different ticket pricing packages as well as festival line-up information.

However, here are some of the many acts you can expect to see this year:

It's been a busy couple weeks for video premiers popping up in the Old Pueblo, but hey—I'm not complaining. That just means there's more great local stuff to watch. 

This time Gabriel Sullivan's solo work is up to the new video plate with a video for "Hollow Hunter" off of his most recent release "JVPITER." The sultry, smoky song is accompanied by some surreal Southwestern imagery that will keep you guessing.

According to Blurt magazine who premiered the video, the song "Hollow Hunter" was recorded part in Tucson and part in Denmark and "embodies the cold and somewhat alien feeling of the record while maintaining its earthy roots."

Here's Sullivan's new video:

Yesterday, I said there was a rumor going around that rapper and activist KRS-One planned on visiting Cholla High Magnet School today, since he was in town for a concert last night at the Rialto Theatre.

Well, that came true. KRS-One was at Cholla today and spoke at an assembly.

Here's what TUSD said about it in an article on their website:

Several dozen students walked into Cholla Magnet High School's Little Theatre Wednesday afternoon eager to meet a legend of Hip Hop music. What they didn't know is that they'd get a lesson not just about music but life-changing lessons in self esteem, knowing themselves and advice on how to live a successful life.

How the internationally known star ended up lecturing to them in Tucson starts with a teacher in one of Tucson Unified School District's Culturally Relevant Curriculum courses. Mr. Andrew Walanski used KRS-One's "Introduction to Hip Hop" in his classroom at Cholla. Former State Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal singled the lesson out as one his department felt violated a state law.

Media coverage of the letter sent by Huppenthal on his last day in office reached across the country to KRS-One and his team.

KRS-One just happened to be coming to Tucson a few weeks later. He invited the students and teachers to be his guests at his concert at the Rialto, and conversations there led to an impromptu lecture at the school the following day.

If you Google KRS-One and his background you'll find he gives lectures on college campuses across the country including Harvard and Yale. He's often referred to as the conscience of Hip Hop and a master teacher.

At Cholla, while KRS-One gave a lecture on the origins of Hip Hop and how it connected to his life and his success, it was more about philosophy of self worth. KRS-One encouraged the students to know themselves and "chisel out who you are."
The 50-year-old also told the students to build each other up along with everyone else they know. "When you feel great, you see others as great and you add value. Lift them up and show other cultures how great your culture is," he said.

The students were on the edges of their seats, paying attention to every word for the nearly three-hour session. Lorenzo Lopez Jr., TUSD's Coordinator for Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Instruction, says that's what ethnic studies courses bring to the classroom.

"His presence sums up what CRC [Culturally Relevant Courses] are all about. The educational experience adjusts itself to the needs of the students," he said. "The relevancy of having this internationally known artist in their school brings the educational experience to life. These students are life long learners engaged in the process of learning through thought and analysis."

KRS-One told the audience, "You should be proud of your school for doing this."

Tucson Unified School District Superintendent, Dr. H.T. Sánchez has expressed his support for using music in the classroom since the letter from Mr. Huppenthal was issued in December. "Music bridges generational gaps and is able to show students that certain struggles aren't new to this generation but transcend generations. Any media that does that is appropriate as long as it is suitable for the age of our students."

At the end of the lecture and Q&A session, the artist posed for pictures and selfies with the students and teachers. He also shook every hand, telling the students he was honored to meet them and be there.

An impromptu Hip Hop session and break dancing party also broke out while the students pulled out their cell phones to record the personal concert in the Little Theatre in their little part of the world.

A young man named Dyre said he is an aspiring rapper. He said hearing from KRS-One and how he became who he is was inspiring. "It was great to learn to be confident in myself," Dyre said.

Another student, Haley, says the experience will stick with her. "This school has given me so many amazing opportunities."

What does Mr. Walanski want his students to take away from the visit? "I hope they all heard the message. Hopefully it means be confident in who you are. You choose how you move in the world. You can choose it."

Cholla Magnet High School Principal Frank Armenta says, "This is what teaching is all about. Now their job is to take it from here and move it on. It's a global community, and it can start here and go worldwide."

And it will. KRS-One was set to play for a sold out crowd in Barcelona, Spain, on Thursday.

Rapper and producer KRS-One is performing tonight at the Rialto Theatre (doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are between $18 and $20).

If you haven't heard his music (you should check it out), then you might remember him as one of the artists mentioned in the notice of noncompliance former superintendent of public instruction John Huppenthal sent to Tucson Unified School District earlier this month, on his last day as schools chief—on the notice, he said some of TUSD's culturally relevant courses were in violation of the law that banned the Mexican American studies program, A.R.S. 15-112. With that, the state once again threatened to cut TUSD's funding if they didn't fix whatever the state thinks is wrong (the way teachers have been implementing content in the classrooms, according to Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas) by March 4.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I visited one of the classes at Cholla High Magnet School that Huppenthal pointed out was in violation of the state law—U.S. history from the Mexican American perspective, taught by Corey Jones. Huppenthal didn't like that class and said the use of Rage Against the Machine's "Take the Power Back" was one of the reasons why.

This guy, who shall we mention was caught posting rather racially hateful blogs and comments under the pseudonyms Falcon9 and Thucydides (he called people in government assistance programs "lazy pigs") last year, also pointed fingers at two other Cholla classes (as well as a few at Tucson High and Pueblo High), among them Andrew Walanski's culturally relevant English from an African American perspective class for using An Introduction to Hip Hop Presented by Master Teacher, KRS-One.

There is a rumor going around, according to a TUSD official, that KRS-One plans to visit that class tomorrow. 

I guess we'll find out soon.