Saturday, Oct. 6. Get $8 wristbands ($15 VIP) in advance at Zia Records; $10 advance ($20 VIP) night of.
Rialto Theatre/KRQ Stage
8 p.m.: Wolf Larsen
9 p.m.: Andrew Collberg
10 p.m.: Dry River Yacht Club (Phoenix)
11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.: DeVotchKa (Denver)
The Rialto and KRQ have teamed up to bring us what will amount to a gorgeously evolving buildup over the course of the night. Wolf Larsen's voice has been described as "quietly operatic," and she employs it against a sparse acoustic backdrop. She's on at 8 p.m., prior to the exceptional Lennon-influenced singer-songwriter Andrew Collberg, who sounds even better with a full band, at 9 p.m. Phoenix's nine-piece Dry River Yacht Club, which, according to our own Gene Armstrong, "plays a combination of rock, blues, folk and chamber pop, seasoned with pinches of Middle Eastern and Eastern European styles, pumped up with a vigorous gypsy stomp and showcasing the jazz-inflected vocals and fablelike songs of one-name singer and accordionist Garnet," take the stage at 10 p.m. At 11:30 p.m., it's the Main Event: the finest romantic-gypsy-epic-purveying band in America, Denver's DeVotchKa.
Bud Light Main Stage
8 p.m.: Triple Double Band
9 p.m.: Skitn
10 p.m.: LeeAnne Savage
11 p.m.: Black Carl (Phoenix)
Midnight: The Living Breathing
Where would Club Crawl® be without Bud Light's sponsorship lo these many years? This year, it is sponsoring the Main Stage, which sees its first action at 8 p.m. courtesy of Triple Double Band, a delightful jazz-pop combo that released >IV, a six-song EP, earlier this year. Skitn, five local dudes who dish out that whole beach-reggae ("Hey, we rock, too") thing, are on at 9 p.m. After about a decade removed from the music scene, and after a stint as Tucson's dance-pop queen, LeeAnne Savage decided she was a country girl, and climbed back onto the stage armed with a band that believes in her almost as much as she believes in herself. (She cleaned up at this year's TAMMIES.) Savage takes it to the stage at 10 p.m. Phoenix's Black Carl brings their sultry desert soul at 11 p.m. The Living Breathing, who blend together everything from Arcade Fire-ish anthems and a familiar Tears for Fears cover to the yearning of emo and the ambition of Bowie, are on at midnight.
My 92.9 Stage
8 p.m.: Kristen Chandler
9 p.m.: Bryan Dean
10 p.m.: Mike Hebert and the Prison Band
11 p.m.: Mad Max and the Wild Ones (Utah)
Midnight: The Far West (Los Angeles)
My 92.9 FM brings us the following quality entertainment: Kristen Chandler's subtly soul- and jazz-filled coffeehouse grooves at 8 p.m. will make for a lovely segue into the masterful blues guitarist Bryan Dean, who's up at 9 p.m. Mike Hebert and the Prison Band, fronted by the titular guitarist, a longtime fixture in Tucson perhaps best remembered for fronting the Kings of Pleasure, are on at 10 p.m. Three young 'uns and their upright-bassist daddy, from Springville, Utah, constitute the family surf-rockabilly outfit Mad Max and the Wild Ones, on at 11 p.m. At midnight, it's rollicking L.A. country-rockers The Far West, who should be due for a follow-up to their 2011 self-titled debut album any day now.
Tejano/La Preciosa Stage
8:30 p.m.: XS Band (Phoenix)
9:30 p.m.: XS Band (Phoenix)
10:30 p.m.: Hollywood Knights
11:30 p.m.: Hollywood Knights
If you're looking to kick up your heels to a little Tejano tonight, find your way to the Tejano/La Preciosa Stage, where the XS Band will hold court for two sets—one at 8:30 p.m., and one at 9:30 p.m.—and pick up right where you left off with the high-energy Tejano of TAMMIES winners Hollywood Knights from 10:30 on.
Hotel Congress Outdoor: Wavelab Studio Showcase
8 p.m.: Talk2Strangers
9 p.m.: Copper and Congress
10 p.m.: Ferrodyne
11 p.m.: Greyhound Soul
Midnight: Saint Maybe
The Outdoor Stage at Hotel Congress tonight is curated by the mighty Craig Schumacher, owner and operator of the downtown, Tucson-based, world-famous Wavelab Studio. He's recently been working with the Lori LeChien-fronted lo-fi pop act Talk2Strangers, who kick off the night at 8 p.m. Copper and Congress, whose singer-songwriter Katie Haverly moved to Tucson about a year ago, already has a Schumacher-produced album, The Leap Year, released in July. It recalls everyone from Suzanne Vega to Bonnie Raitt. They're on at 9 p.m., right before the understated dusty (and dusky) Americana of Ferrodyne, who take the stage at 10 p.m. Greyhound Soul, the pyramid of Arizona soul-influenced rock 'n' roll, demonstrate why at 11 p.m. At midnight, it's Saint Maybe, consisting of a frontman who was once the guitarist for, and a collaborator with, Patti Smith (Oliver Ray); a drummer who just may have been Dylan's best (Winston Watson); and a loose coalition of collaborators of utmost professionalism. Their debut album is due out any day now on Fort Lowell Records.
Club Congress
9 p.m.: Oscillator Bug
9:40 p.m.: Kid Static (Chicago)
10:30 p.m.: Body Language (Brooklyn)
11:30 to 1 a.m.: The Hood Internet (Chicago)
Club Congress has a reputation for hosting acts of all sorts, and tonight, there's a national lineup of electronic dance music performers, starting at 9 p.m. with Oscillator Bug, whose herky-jerky rhythms have new wave's DNA etched into them. Kid Static, formerly of the Chicago-based rap duo Yea Big + Kid Static, which has opened for acts like the Mae Shi and Bark Bark Bark, has gone solo. See what he's up to at 9:40 p.m. Since the release of last year's Social Studies LP, Brooklyn's Body Language have collaborated with Passion Pit and Theophilus London, and just dropped a new EP, Grammar. It's '60s funk and disco as translated by machines and ethereal vocals. They take the stage at 10:30 p.m., just before the night's headliners, Chicago's The Hood Internet, take over at 11:30 p.m. The duo has garnered a reputation largely for rap and indie mash-ups, but it's recently begun spinning out original dance tunes, too.
The District
8:30 p.m.: DJ Buttafly
9:30 p.m.: Bradford Trojan
10:30 p.m.: Chariots of Failure
11:30 p.m.: Al Foul
12:30 a.m.: The Pork Torta
The night at this downtown watering hole gets started at 8:30 p.m. with a funk- and soul-heavy set from DJ Buttafly, followed at 9:30 p.m. by the quirky pop tunes of Bradford Trojan, who once fronted the Galactic Federation of Love, a much-missed band that included current members of Golden Boots. Chariots of Failure—you may have seen them before as Kamikaze Autopilot—perform at 10:30 p.m. If you're not acquainted with the next two acts, how can you possibly call yourself a Tucsonan? At 11:30 p.m., it's Al Foul, the undisputed king of Tucson rockabilly, followed at 12:30 a.m. by the mighty garage funk of The Pork Torta.
The Screening Room
8 p.m. Short blues film
8:30 p.m.: Roman Barten-Sherman
9:30 p.m.: Stefan George
10:30 p.m.: Film program
11 p.m.: Billy Sedlmayr
Midnight: Al Perry
The Screening Room is more of a listening room than a bar, which suits its lineup tonight just fine. A short film about the blues will be screened at 8 p.m., prior to a couple of blues performers: Just because Roman Barten-Sherman is 9 years old, that does not make him a novelty act. He sings and plays mostly traditional blues, but he's even begun writing some songs. He will make your jaw drop at 8:30 p.m. At 9:30 p.m., Stefan George brings a lifetime's worth of experience and the country blues songs he's written along the way. At 10:30, there will be another short film, followed at 11 p.m. by the songs of Billy Sedlmayr, which are alternately fragile and beautiful, and righteously angry. He's a survivor, and he's got the songs to prove it. At midnight, Al Perry, "the mayor of downtown Tucson," plays his immaculately written country songs and whatever the hell else he feels like.
Playground
8 to 11 p.m.: DJ Table Manners
This relatively new downtown lounge is partial to DJs spinning all varieties of dance music, and tonight is no different, as DJ Table Matters spins from 8 to 11 p.m.
Playground Rooftop
11 p.m. to 2 a.m. DJ Nature
The Playground Rooftop will provide the best view of the Crawl activities, along with dance music spun by DJ Nature from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.
O'Malley's
8 to 10 p.m.: DJ MGM
10 p.m. to 2 a.m.: Powerhouse DJs Knoccout and Soo
This year's Crawl has no shortage of dance music and DJs, and tonight, O'Malley's follows that path. DJ MGM will spin from 8 to 10 p.m., and from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., it's Powerhouse DJs Knoccout and Soo on the ones and twos.
The Hut Outdoor Stage
8:30 p.m.: Two Lane Blacktop
9:30 p.m.: Funky Bonz
10:30 p.m.: Fayuca (Phoenix)
11:30 p.m.: 8 Minutes to Burn
The Hut (just look for the giant tiki head) will have both of its stages open for business tonight. Things get started outside at 8:30 p.m. with a set of surf instrumentals courtesy of Two Lane Blacktop. At 9:30 p.m., the longtime local funk-rock outfit Funky Bonz takes over, followed at 10:30 p.m., by Phoenix's Fayuca. At 11:30 p.m., the funky-ass jam band 8 Minutes to Burn caps off the night.
The Hut Indoor Stage
8 p.m.: Deceptively Innocent
9 p.m.: Salacious
10 p.m.: Grite-Leon
11 p.m.: Cosmic Slop
Midnight: Sugar Stains
1 a.m.: Despondency Denied
Meanwhile, the indoor stage at The Hut will see its first action at 8 p.m. with a set by Deceptively Innocent, a trio of teenagers schooled in infectious punky pop. Salacious performs a smooth blend of roots reggae, hip-hop and pop at 9 p.m. Influenced equally by Santana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Latin progressive rockers Grite-Leon take over at 10 p.m., just before the P-Funk acolytes Cosmic Slop tear the roof of the sucker at 11 p.m. At midnight, the ladies of Sugar Stains crank out short, sharp punk tunes. And at 1 a.m., Despondency Denied sticks a fork in the night with a set of blues rock.
Zen Rock Main Floor
8 p.m.: DJ White Shadow
9 p.m.: DJ Super Mario
10 p.m.: DJ Phatal
11 p.m. to 2 a.m.: Kidd Kutz
Zen Rock Downstairs
10 p.m. to 2 a.m.: DJs Super Mario and Phatal
On his Facebook page, DJ White Shadow recently noted that "a good DJ is like the conductor of a symphony." See what kind of conducting he does on the main floor of this fantastic downtown dance club at 8 p.m. On Twitter, DJ Super Mario recently cited dancing as a "shortcut to happiness"; he'll help you find the joy at 9 p.m. At 10 p.m., DJ Phatal, aka David Villarreal, keeps the beats going, before handing the reins to Hot 98.3's Kidd Kutz at 11 p.m. When they're not spinning on the main floor, you can find Super Mario and Phatal downstairs from 10 p.m. on.
Martin's Comida Chingona
7 to 9 p.m.: Salvador Duran
The authentic Fourth Avenue Mexican eatery hosts world-renowned Mexican balladeer Salvador Duran and his trusty stomp-box from 7 to 9 p.m.
Café Passe
7 p.m.: Catfish and Weezie
8 p.m.: Hank Topless
9 p.m.: Andy Hersey
This delightful Fourth Avenue café has been hosting live country music each Saturday for months now, and as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Tonight, it hosts a killer triple bill: The duo of Louise Le Hir and Connor Gallaher are Catfish and Weezie, who play a dreamy, lovely take on country at 7 p.m. Hank Topless, one of Tucson's finest songwriters, is also blessed with a gorgeous baritone. He's up at 8 p.m., just before the cowboy rock 'n' roll (with a serious twang) of Andy Hersey, at 9 p.m.
Sacred Machine Museum
9 p.m.: d[foRm]
10:30 p.m.: Blind Divine
The Congress Street art gallery, owned and operated by Daniel Martin Diaz and Paula Catherine Valencia, is currently in the midst of a monthlong celebration called the Santa Muerte Music and Arts Festival, which includes works by 27 world-renowned artists. The art will provide a lovely backdrop for the musical performance by, at 9 p.m., d[foRm], whose sound is an ambitious blend of ambient electronic textures and aural manipulations. At 10:30 p.m., Diaz and Valencia's own band, the moody, gothic Blind Divine, close out the night.
Iguana Café
8 p.m. to 1 a.m.: The Benjamins
At this downtown café and tavern, it's all about The Benjamins, who play classic-rock covers tonight from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Cushing Street Bar and Restaurant
7:30 to 10 p.m.: Jeff Lewis and Friends
Jeff Lewis, onetime president of the Tucson Jazz Society's board of directors, performs with friends at this downtown mainstay tonight from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Casa Vicente
7 to 9 p.m.: Misael Barraza on guitar and Macarena Giraldez and Esther Sánchez-Gomez dancing
This downtown Spanish restaurant transforms into a flamenco club from 7 to 9 p.m. with music by guitarist Misael Barraza and dancing from Macarena Giraldez and Esther Sánchez-Gomez.
Delectables
7 p.m.: Wally Lawder
10 p.m.: The Procell
11 p.m.: The Funky Fresh DJ
The longstanding Fourth Avenue eatery tonight features musical storyteller Wally Lawder from 7 to 10 p.m. He's followed by the quirky, soulful rock from The Procell from 10 p.m., followed by spun grooves courtesy of the Funky Fresh DJ at 11 p.m.
Magpies Gourmet Pizza
8 to 10 p.m.: Annon and the Late Show
Grab a slice of pizza and enjoy the jazzy, Latin-influences soul of Annon and the Late Show from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Fourth Avenue pizzeria tonight.
Chocolate Iguana
8 to 10 p.m. Tres
Enjoy the blues and R&B of Tres from 8 to 10 p.m. as you watch the chaos at Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street unfold.
