XOXO

Thursday, Sept. 19

"If you ain't first, you're last," a wise man once said. And those words may best summarize this fire-breathing truth-tellers' life. His robust baritone has earned this Texas troubadour the nickname "Big Velvet," as evidenced on tracks like "Holy Ghost Fire" and "Cocaine Country Dancing." Paul Cauthen preaches at 191 Toole. Pop rock singer Anna Rose sets the tone... Whether it's funk, disco, rock or early new wave, DJ Carl Hanni drops the needle on '70s timebombs. At The Libertine... Lookout Tucson Jazz Concert Series sees Parisian guitarist Gabriel Naim Amor and jazz vocalist Katherine Byrnes performing a mix of standards, French classics and original compositions. In the Lookout Bar & Grille at Westward Look Resort... Boots & Balls Thursday [use your imagination] sees this award-winning fiddler transform from a mild-mannered Clark Kent into a Southwestern country rock Superman. Billy Shaw Jr. Band perform at The Maverick... Playing bossa novas, ballads and blues, The Jed Paradies Trio swing at The Coronet... Heavy metallists Sea of Treachery and Decayer wreak havoc at the House of Bards... Nashville music crusader Virginia Cannon presentsa Thursday Night Singer-Songwriter Showcase. Six performers, four original songs, taking turns round robin. At Monterey Court... Taking you Deeper, DJs Atom Energy and LunarFluxx drop a motherlode of house. At Bar Passé... Drawing from a repertoire of acoustic originals and Americana covers, Mark Insley with guitarist Damon Barnaby are Arizona's Most Wanted. At Iron John's Brewing Company–Congress... Cameron Hood, one half of award-winning alt-folk duo Ryanhood, performs at Tap + Bottle–Downtown. Songwriter Paul Opocensky opens the show... Hark! The Queens are Coming: A drag extravaganza. At The Dusty Monk Pub... "Surf rock at its most offensive." These kaiju-themed surf rock revivalists bring music, chaos and fire, literally, wherever they may roam. Daikaiju blitz Sky Bar...

Friday, Sept. 20

In 1966, this New Orleans legend scored his first gold record with the R&B classic "Tell It Like It Is" (the single reached #2 on the Billboard charts, behind "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees), launching a storied musical career. Aaron Neville has withstood the test of time. At the Fox Theatre. Neville will perform a set of doo-wop-inspired R&B, pop music and new songs as a duo with his longtime pianist Michael Goods... Residing in the sweet spot somewhere between melancholic and sunshiny—quirky guitar riffs and vintage synths float atop sparse drum machine beats—this Monterey, Nuevo León, pop duo have spurred a wave of '80s-indebted nostalgia. Guitarist/vocalist Coco Santos explains: "New bands inspire us, and older bands do too. It's a mix. We take some things, but it's not stealing. It's the art of stealing. It's research." Clubz and Girl Ultra are ready to burst with effervescence. At 191 Toole... Dress to impress. DJ NoirTech presides over the Risky Business '80s Dance Party: A night of nostalgia and the decade's best music videos. At Surly Wench Pub... "Tucson's answer to Chicago-style electric blues." Whose Blues are in the tasting room at Sand-Reckoner... The Amber Norgaard Band performs original pop-rock. At Monterey Court... With "Nowhere To Run," Atlanta rockers Fozzy will have you "Drinkin' with Jesus." At EncoreTucson... Brodie's Tavern offers three bands—Habitual Resonance, Phoenix's Killing Sunday and Amateur Palm Trees—along with "ice cold beer and no cover..." The Jacob Acosta Band smokes at The Elder Hookah Lounge... Raid Area 51 Party at Sky Bar finds DJs Plastic Disease and Mijito, like agents Scully and Mulder, setting on a course to explore the underground in search of the truth... Tracing back the roots of country music from the verdant trails of Appalachia to the gritty streets of Bakersfield, Freddy Parish hosts Dry 'n' Dusty at Exo Roast Co... Featuring pianist Yekwon Sunwoo, The mighty Tucson Symphony Orchestra returns with a program that highlights Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and Piano Concerto No. 3. José Luis Gomez is at the podium. At the Tucson Convention Center... The R&B/soul will surely shake

Saturday, Sept. 21

Frontman Brian Hurd describes “Mornin’, Noon & Nite” as “a Hoodoo Stomper in the vein of John Lee Hooker. And is about one’s pure, savage lust for his or her lover.” Maniacally preaching the gospel, New York blues bashers Daddy Long Legs display their Lowdown Ways (Yep Roc Records) when they motor the “Death Train Blues” straight towards 191 Toole. Shooda Shook It warm up hearts and the audience… Eight years deep, The Annual Tucson Hip-Hop Unity BBQ—with performances by Da Sleepers Elite, ZCO, Benny Loc, Ill V, Jae Tilt, Yaqui B, Soul Point, Pariah Pete, Mastermind, Rey, Jalopy Bungus, Sinclair The Masked Zombie, DJ smashlames y mas—goes off at Rudy Garcia Park… Virtuoso violinist Beth Daunis, nylon string master Mark Wilsey and steel string psychobilly slinger Phil Lipman may provide “the link between the Old Pueblo and galaxies far, far away.” Reno del Mar fill the evening air with something other. At Sand-Reckoner… What better way to celebrate The Buffet’s 85 birthday than with the infamous Texas Trash and the Trainwrecks providing the tunes? A whiskey-fueled bacchanal filled with cowpunk and blazing rock ’n’ roll awaits. With Lost in the Sauce… Led by vocalist (retired Command Sergeant Major) Connie Brannock, Little House of Funk will take charge, filling the night air with R&B. At Monterey Court… “Committed to kicking ass and drinking beer,” Phoenix trash metallists Scattered Guts celebrate the release of The Wake, their latest contribution. At The Rock. Guardians, Stubborn Old Bastard, Total Failure, Blacklidge and Scar Eater provide the party favors… Paying homage to the music and culture, These Walls: A hip-hop art show. At and gallery. Jaca Zulu is behind the turntables… Like a summer monsoon, English bluesman Tom Walbank will leave you shaking your head in bewilderment wondering what just hit you. In the courtyard at Mercado San Agustin… The timelessly modern sound of The Paper Airplanes Project floats through the air. At Saint Charles Tavern… “The Grand Leveler,” rapper Apathy and Celph Titled roll the Paragraphs of Murder Tour into Thunder Canyon Brewstillery. With N.M.E. The Illest… Bifurcated, Half Full is an eight-piece band comprised of a string quartet and a rhythm section. They cherry-pick songs from a wide reserve—pop, jazz, and classical music—and various eras. At Exo Bar… Club Sanctuary resident DJs Plastic Disease and Black Flagg spin industrial/goth/electro/EBM. At the Surly Wench Pub… Boot stompin’ Tejano is what is in store at the AVA Amphitheater with Ramon Ayala Y Sus Bravos del Norte y otros… Spanning decades. With a catalog that includes hits like “Listen to the Music,” “Black Water” and “What a Fool Believes” these four-time Grammy Award winners have sold more than 48 million records worldwide. The Doobie Brothers are at the Desert Diamond Casino…

Sunday, Sept. 22

Following Bob Marley’s untimely passing in 1981, bassist/founder Aston “Familyman” Barrett vowed to hold the band together and to keep Marley alive through music. Reggae legends The Wailers will do just that performing their classic album Survival on its 40th anniversary. At the Rialto Theatre. DJ Jamar International spins… Five voices strong, this a capella country group met tenor Austin Brown, in 2012, on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship where he was working as a featured singer. After scoring a win on NBC's The Sing-Off, in 2013, the spoils they carried away—a recording contract with Sony Music—fueled their major label debut, Crazy Life. Home Free bring their latest Dive Bar Saints to the Fox Theatre... The Tucson Pops Orchestra performs Music Under the Stars. At Demeester Outdoor Performance Center... Electronically looping together snippets of funk, rap, jazz and R&B with humor, Mik and the Funky Brunch perform at La Cocina... Vocalist Diane Van Deurzen and pianist Lisa Otey perform boogie woogie, blues and torch songs. At Monterey Court... Like a horror flick spilling off the movie screen, The Bring Out The Dead Tour herds industrial metallists Dead Animal Assembly Plant and Requiem Rust into The Rock for a zombie walk. With Sons of Providence... Golden BooTs' Ryen Eggleston and Dimitri Manos accompanied by percussionist Tommy Larkins perform lovely instrumental background music. At The Coronet... As the low-watt drone of swamp coolers wears on for a bit longer, acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter/storyteller Kevin Pakulis and his Band offer relief. At Borderlands Brewing Company... These first-generation New Yorkers were weaned on a diet rich in heavy metal, psychedelic funk and soul. Combo Chimbita bring Afro-Caribbean percussion laden "tropical futurism" to Club Congress. With Vox Urbana and SadGalNina... The Tucson Musicians Museum's Celebration of Music and Induction Ceremony 2019 takes place at the Tucson Convention Center, North Exhibit Hall. This year's inductees: Musician/recording engineer Craig Schumaker, guitarist Mike "Johnny Guitar" Blommer, music mogul/jazz vocalist Gary LeMel and jazz vocalist Julie Anne. Proceeds to benefit Tucson Musicians Museum Community Youth Music Outreach and Mentorship Programs...

Monday, Sept. 24

Drawing from traditional jazz, swing and the American songbook, Tucson Jazz Institute hosts JAZZ JAMbalaya. At The Glowbal... Wanna jam? Tucson Eclectic Jazz Jam continues at Solar Culture. Trumpeter Glen Gross, saxophonist Malik Alkabir, bassist Michael Grigsby and pianist Gehrig Burnett comprise the core band...

Tuesday, Sept. 24

As frontman for Matchbox Twenty, this alt-rock vocalist lead the quintet to multiplatinum success with chart toppers "Push," "3AM," "Bent," "If You're Gone" and "Smooth," a collaboration with Santana, that Billboard ranks as the second most successful song of all time. Rob Thomas brings his Chip Tooth Smile to the Tucson Music Hall. With Michael Land... Her story is compelling. A life that includes being trampled by a horse and a car accident that paralyzed her right vocal cord. As a child Mary James practiced guitar, banjo and fiddle five hours a day. A wunderkind, she started performing on a daily Alabama TV show while in the second grade. Americana/bluegrass/folk artist Mean Mary returns to Monterey Court... As part of the Plaza Live! Concert Series Diane Van Deurzen & Lisa Otey entertain and boogie-woogie a tad. At St. Philip's Plaza... A tiny spark can turn into a blaze. Heeding A Distant Call, Philadelphia indie rockers Sheer Mag "Fan the Flames" with trash poppers Tweens at Club Congress. Backed by The Trees...

Wednesday, Sept. 25

Rhythms thump with dynamism while their smooth vocal melodies entice like a siren call. This reggae band's sound simmers with enough Jamaican and Hawaiian spices to propel Marching Orders (Easy Star Records), their fourth studio album, to the top of the Billboard Reggae Charts for over 18 consecutive weeks. From Oahu, Hawaii, The Green will transport you to the "Land Of Love." At the Rialto Theatre... It is rumored that "The Sandman" Howe Gelb may show up and play the piano. At The Coronet... This installment of Ladytowne: A Tucson feminist talk/variety show features the comedy of Nicole M. Riesgo. The music of Mudpuppy. Interviews with Em Bowen, Joanna Lynne Smith (Tucson Benefest), Zaira Emiliana Livier (People's Defense Initiative), and Tara & Odalys of Mudpuppy and more. At Club Congress...

Thursday, Sept. 26

With the breeze of Ella Fitzgerald at her back, this Mexican singer/actress' debut album Mediocre (Warner Music, 2008) was anything but; it garnered a Grammy nomination, critical acclaim and a cult following. Her latest release ¿Dónde Bailarán Las Niñas? (translation: Where Will the Girls Dance?) is a deeply personal collection of songs that embrace themes of femininity and independence. "It's why I chose the title, because there's still a stigma attached to girls." Ximena Sariñana expands, "I want this record to be a soundtrack to that expression of freedom—which I also feel extends to the mystery of the nocturnal—when women can become goddesses of the night." Ximena Sariñana steps into the penumbra at the Rialto Theatre... Raconteur Billy Sedlmayr accompanied by slide guitarist Joe Novelli bring stories to life. At Tap + Bottle-Downtown... Americana singer-songwriter Nancy McCallion & The Scarlet Lettermen play the House of Bards... "The Dirty Old One Man Band," aka Scott H. Biram, is a blues-punk, country-metal musician, record producer, and ordained minister among other things. He shares a bill with punk-metal/bluegrass outfit Urban Pioneers and hillbilly swing act The Goddamn Gallows. At The Rock...

Until next week, XOXO...