Thanks very much to Gene Armstrong for filling in for me here the last two weeks and, as always, doing a bang-up job.
Second, consider this a gentle reminder to all local bands and musicians that submissions are currently being accepted for the 15th annual Great Cover-Up, for which local acts perform brief sets of covers by a particular artist, all in the name of charity. The three-day event takes place this year at three different venues from Thursday, Dec. 12, through Saturday, Dec. 14. If you're interested in participating, head to greatcoveruptucson.com and read through what's there before filling out the submission form and sending it along, which you should do before 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, since that's the deadline and all. We look forward to hearing all your fantastic ideas.
ROCK & ROLL SOUL
As we mentioned a few weeks back, it's finally cooling off a bit outside, which means local festivals are in full swing; and this week brings us two beloved ones.
By now you've no doubt read our feature article this week on Demon Lung, who are performing at The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave., as part of Southwest Terror Fest (SWTF). The Las Vegas band will take the stage next Thursday, Oct. 10, which is merely the first day of the ambitious, well-curated four-day festival. That same night includes performances by Kylesa, Pinkish Black, Godhunter, Anakim, Vanish Twin and others. Doors open at 6 p.m. on Thursday, and tickets are $15 in advance.
On Friday, Oct. 11, doors open at 3 p.m. and the lineup features Phoenix legends Sacred Reich, Landmine Marathon, Transient, Angelic to Ashes, Cave Dweller and others. Tickets for Friday are $20 in advance.
If you missed the mighty Red Fang when they played at Plush last Halloween, you're in luck. They'll be headlining the action at SWTF on Saturday, Oct. 12, on a bill that also includes Helms Alee, Salt Lake City's Subrosa, Dog Shredder and many more. Doors open at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and advance tickets are $20.
The festival wraps up on Sunday, Oct. 13, with a lineup that features Early Graves, Theories, Children of God, Gat-Rot, Inoculara and lots more. Doors open at 1 p.m. and tickets are $15 in advance.
Those planning on spending a good amount of time at Southwest Terror Fest can purchase a four-day pass for $55 in advance, and it's worth noting that the entire festival is open to all ages (bar with I.D.). Find lots more information at http://swterrorfest.tumblr.com, where you'll also find a link to purchase advance tickets. The Rock's number is 629-9211.
SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL
The other festival starting this week is the 9th Annual Tucson Film and Music Festival (TFMF), which runs at various venues from next Thursday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Oct. 13.
The festival began in 1995, with a screening of the Tucson-music documentary High and Dry, directed by Michael Toubassi, the primary organizer of the TFMF, which was held in conjunction with Club Congress' 20th Anniversary Party. Just as that event has morphed into the annual Hoco Fest, the screening of High and Dry begat the Tucson Film and Music Festival, which each year brings a slew of music-oriented and/or Southwest-centric films that wouldn't otherwise be shown here. Toubassi puts on a great lineup of films each year, as well as live music events to go along with some of them, and the 2013 incarnation is no exception.
Highlights this year include the French documentary DIY ("Three bands from Nantes, of different styles and generations, cross paths as they find themselves in the forefront of the DIY movement in France. Showcasing the music and personalities of Smooth, Hocus Pocus and French Cowboy," the latter of which will be familiar to Tucson audiences.), which will be shown at La Cocina, 201 N. Court Ave., at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday, Oct. 10; the acclaimed local documentary Zoom! Tucson's Late '50s Rock 'n' Roll Record Label, which will screen at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Century El Con 20; rock 'n' roll horror film All Together Now, starring Lou Taylor Pucci, which shows at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, also at Century El Con 20. Additionally, there's a Narrative Shorts Program, a Local Documentary Shorts Program, and full-length documentaries about Grant Hart (Hüsker Dü), the Black Lips, and Bobby Bare Jr.
All films on Saturday, Oct. 12, and Sunday, Oct. 13, will be held at Century El Con 20, 3601 E. Broadway Blvd. The official opening night film, We Always Lie to Strangers, a doc about performing families in Branson, Mo., will be shown at The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd., at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11.
As if all that weren't enough, there's also the live music portion of the event: Jazz Telephone and the 5,6,7 Wax! dance night, starting at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, at La Cocina ($3 donation); Kaia Chesney performing at the official Opening Night Party at 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, at Red Garter Bar & Grill, 3143 E. Speedway Blvd. (free); Holy Rolling Empire, Of the Painted Choir, and Kid Puto at Plush starting at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12; and a Closing Night Party starting at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, at Tap & Bottle, 403 N. Sixth Ave. #135, featuring performances by Gabriel Sullivan and Billy Sedlmayr, Joe Novelli & Marvin and the Cloud Wall, and Dave & Sabina (free).
There are tons more details at tucsonfilmandmusicfestival.com.
FOOTSTOMPIN' MUSIC
After taking the summer months off (like all of us really should), the friendly folks at Topaz, the all-ages warehouse space-y music venue that resides at 657 S. St. Marys Rd., Unit C1A, will kick off its fall season with a very special show.
After getting its feet wet by releasing a Tucson compilation, Dune Drift, earlier this year (CD copies are available at the venue, or it's available for free download at topazintucson.bandcamp.com), this week the venue/label releases its first dedicated album, Prom Body's debut Creep the Strange.
The album is a stunner. Recorded entirely by Sleep Like Trees drummer Michael Fay, the album was quietly released in August, when our own Joshua Levine called it "possibly the greatest document yet to sum up the disparate cliques of underground rock music circa 2013." They backed it up with a stellar full-band performance at this year's Hoco Fest, for which all male members wore prom dresses (natch) and the sole female member dressed as a drag king.
The all-ages release party for Creep the Strange begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Topaz. Also on the bill are Womb Tomb, Algae & Tentacles, and AZ77. Admission is $2, or $7 with your choice of a CD or cassette copy of Creep the Strange. Check out more info at topaz-tundra.com.
I'M YOUR CAPTAIN/CLOSER TO HOME
As usual during these busy music months, we've barely scratched the surface of what's going on in our fair burg this week, so be sure to check out our listings sections. In the meantime, here are some highlights: Houndmouth and Andrew Combs at Club Congress on Tuesday, Oct. 8; Radiation City at Solar Culture Gallery on Tuesday, Oct. 8; Pure X and Silent Land Time Machine at Club Congress on Wednesday, Oct. 9; Margaret Cho at the Rialto Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 9; Jim Messina and Friends Benefit Festival for the family of William Warnecke, Southern Arizona's lost Granite Mountain Hot Shot, at the Fox Tucson Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 6; Austin Lucas, Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires, and Ronstadt Generations at Plush on Tuesday, Oct. 8; Grand Funk Railroad at Desert Diamond Casino in Sahuarita on Saturday, Oct. 5; Rey Murphy album release party with members of Holy Rolling Empire, Cash Lansky, and Big Meridox at Club Congress on Saturday, Oct. 5; Message to the Masses album release party at The Rock on Saturday, Oct. 5; Honor Roll Gang at Plush next Thursday, Oct. 10; Key Ingredients of African Soul followed by DJ Herm at La Cocina on Saturday, Oct. 5; Burn, Burn, Burn at Tucson Live Music Space on Saturday, Oct. 5; Titan Valley Warheads at Booondocks Lounge on Wednesday, Oct. 9; Texas Trash and the Trainwrecks, Justin Valdez y Los Guapos, and The Sterling 202s at Plush on Saturday, Oct. 5; Black Cherry Burlesque at Surly Wench Pub on Friday, Oct. 4; First Contact: Cosplay + Cocktails party at La Cocina on Friday, Oct. 4.
