LUNACY AT THE LUNA LOCA: We all sadly and fondly remember the Downtown Performance Center and the outdoor concerts at the Hotel Congress. Now at risk is the Luna Loca Café. A singular West University neighborhood curmudgeon has been instrumental in the closing of the D.P.C., partly responsible for ending those fabulous outdoor summer events at the Hotel Congress and a principal proponent of a campaign launched against the Outback. So what's going on? Opened in April of 1994, the Luna Loca, just as the D.P.C. before it, is located in the West University Historic District, and is part of the commercial properties that were acquired by the Arizona Department of Transportation for the Aviation Highway project. When plans to run a highway through downtown were wisely nixed, the Arts District Partnership began working to acquire these properties in the hopes of establishing an arts district adjacent to downtown, with not only the revitalization of the area in mind, but also the creation of an awareness of and a market for the arts within our community. Providing a supportive environment for the city's youth to create and experience live music would seem to be in agreement with some basic tenets of the Arts District Partnership. Largely at his own expense, Bruce Momich, co-founder of the D.P.C. and creator of the Luna Loca, has made it his mission to foster youth culture in our community by supporting the local music scene. In this mission, Momich continues to make every effort to be responsive to and sensitive of his neighbors. Dropping from five shows per week to only one, ending performances by 11 p.m., monitoring decibel levels outside of the building, and working with the generously donated time and materials of volunteers to further soundproof the structure are just a few examples of his dedication to the Luna Loca and his awareness of its place in the community. But Momich has been forced to defend his right to operate his business in the courts. The powers that be would have us believe the issue here is noise. Despite his flexibility and attempts to accommodate his neighbors, certain priggish parties are persistent in the pursuit of their agenda to eliminate his venue, officially on the basis of excessive noise. This despite the fact that neighbors in closer proximity have failed even to notice that the Luna Loca, capacity 39, is a music venue, much less find it a disturbance worthy of any level of attention. Perhaps the real issue is not the music, but the young, colorful, tattooed, pierced audience that comes to hear and play the music. The hearing for the Public Nuisance Citation initiated by said party has essentially closed the doors of the Luna Loca, excepting recording sessions. The hearing has been rescheduled for 2:30 p.m. January 23, in Courtroom 401 of the Tucson City Court Building, 103 E. Alameda St. Supporters are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Unfortunately, even a victory will not remove the threat to the Luna Loca--or any other venue for that matter. There are no standards for noise output in the Luna Loca's commercial zoning, meaning another complaint even by the same party could set the process back to square one. Strong, unified and continued support is essential. The Hotel Congress, in association with Duke Productions, is staging a benefit for Momich and the Southern Arizona People's Law Center on Friday, December 20. Chick Cashman hosts a line-up including Forklift, Bubba Grubbz, Spillblanket and Bluescrusher. Tattoos will be raffled off by the Tattoo Shops of Tucson at this 18-and-over event. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. at 311 E. Congress St., and cover is $4. HOT TICKET: Unsung blues great Philip Walker takes the stage at the Rialto Cabaret at 9 p.m. Saturday, December 21. Walker created the original version of "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," a platinum cover recording for Robert Cray, who cites Walker as one of his primary influences. Former lead guitarist for Little Richard, Clifton Chenier and Fats Domino, Walker's new release, Working Girl Blues, features (in addition to his own stellar band) guests from The Harry Connick, Jr. Band, The Hollywood Fats Band, The Kim Wilson Band and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Don't miss this show at the Rialto Cabaret, 201 E. Broadway. Tickets are $5 at the door, free to Friends of the Rialto. LAST NOTES: There's primo local music at the 3rd Stone this week, 500 N. Fourth Ave. On Friday, December 20, is Blackmoon Graffiti, followed by the recently reunited Sand Rubies on Saturday, December 21. Mazzy Star currently has a Top 40 song in the U.K. by the name of "Hair and Skin." This is not at all unusual--except for the fact that she's assuming writing credit, and it's not her song. "Hair and Skin" was written by low-key local Danny Stuart back in 1982, and recorded by the defunct band Green on Red on Down There Records. Star's recording was released in the U.K. on EMI U.K., stateside she records through Capital. One would hope this is an oversight and not a sneaky maneuver. Either way, tsk, tsk. --Lisa Weeks

		© 1995-97 Tucson Weekly . Info Booth