FEATURING FILTH
Depending on who you ask, G.G. Allin was either one completely fucked-up dude, one of punk rock's greatest rebels, or both. He straddled the line between musical performer and performance artist--if you can call it that--with some of his stand-by routines including pissing on, puking on or throwing his own shit at his audiences; eating his own shit; having audience members fellate him on stage; and cutting himself up with broken glass--or whatever happened to be handy and sharp. His shows were routinely shut down only minutes in, and he was arrested countless times for his antics. His ultimate goal was to commit suicide on stage on Halloween, but he ended up saving an awful lot of people from the psychological damage of bearing witness to his plan when he accidentally died from an overdose in 1993.Oh, and he also sang songs. With his band, the Murder Junkies, backing him up, Allin screamed anguished tales of every sort of debauchery known to man--deviant sex, drug abuse and senseless violence, to name but a few.
Eleven years later, Allin's brother and longtime bassist, Merle, is keeping G.G.'s music alive by touring the country as the leader of the G.G.-less Murder Junkies, who will spread the filth in Tucson this week.
Also on the bill are the newly formed, local, all-star punk band The Sophistifucks, who count among their ranks current members of Whiskey Bitch and the Last Call Brawlers, and a former member of UPS; and Texas Trash and the Hangovers.
Taste the scum at 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 26 at Vaudeville Cabaret, 110 E. Congress St. For further details, call 622-3535.
WOODSTOCK MEETS MEXICO
With her soaring but delicate soprano in tow, Tucson favorite Tish Hinojosa returns to town this week to perform at a fund-raiser for the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association. Proceeds will go toward next year's Tucson Folk Festival (its 20th anniversary!), which Hinojosa headlined back in 2002. The 13th child of Mexican immigrants, Hinojosa is as much a product of the Woodstock Nation as she is her cultural upbringing. Her folky narratives--sung in both Spanish and English--incorporate elements of traditional Mexican folk songs, country music and pop singer-songwriter fare. At this week's show, where she'll be accompanied by guitarist/mandolinist Marvin Dykhouis, Hinojosa will perform seasonal songs in addition to longtime favorites.Tish Hinojosa performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 27 at the Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway Blvd. Advance tickets are available for $16 ($14 for members of TKMA, KXCI, and TFTM) at Antigone Books, CD City, Green Fire Bookshop, The Folk Shop, or online at www.tkma.org. They'll be $2 more at the door. For more information, call 792-6481.
A COMING FROST
San Antonio native and current Chicago resident Edith Frost did her time in bands that performed variations of roots music--rockabilly, Western swing, traditional country--before she discovered Will Oldham's twisted take on the backwoods country-folk of the Appalachians. Emboldened by his songwriting, she took a chance and sent a tape to the folks at his label, Chicago's Drag City, who were duly impressed. Beginning with 1997's Calling Over Time, the label has released her albums, which have veered progressively into indie-pop territory, ever since. Though it's been a full 3 1/2 years since her last album, 2001's Wonder Wonder, Frost finally hit the road earlier this month for her first tour in over two years, which will bring her to town this week.Edith Frost performs at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., on Tuesday, Nov. 30. The show begins at 9:30 p.m. with sets from openers Manishevitz and Two Gallants. Cover is $7. Call 798-1298 for more info.
TAKING SHAPE
Hot on the heels of a stop at Solar Culture earlier this month, rapper Awol One brings his L.A.-based underground hip-hop collective The Shapeshifters back to town this week for a performance at Club Congress. The group recently released a new album, The Shapeshifters Was Here (2004, Cornerstone R.A.S.), which is a willfully goofy, sprawling collection of styles that echoes everything from the early work of The Pharcyde to straight-up soul-funk jams, and still finds room for a guest appearance by Atmosphere's Slug and a Homer Simpson sample.The Shapeshifters perform an early show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2, along with an opening act not yet announced at press time. Club Congress is located at 311 E. Congress St. Call 622-8848 for more 411.
'80s FIXX
Just in case the Tears for Fears show didn't quench that thirst for '80s alterna-pop, get a second fix at Plush, where The Fixx will trot out the hits. Expect to hear Night Tracks favorites "Saved by Zero," "Red Skies at Night," "One Thing Leads to Another," and "Stand or Fall," as well as the obligatory "songs from the new album."The Fixx perform an earlier-than-usual show at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., on Wednesday, Nov. 1. Lagoon opens at 9:15 p.m. Admission is $15. Questions? Ring 'em up at 798-1298.
HOLIDAY FOR THE AGES
Those of you who believe that there just aren't enough new-age versions of traditional Christmas songs will be rather pleased to learn that pianist Jim Brickman will be performing just that--songs from his 2003 album, Peace (Windham Hill)--as part of a show being billed as Jim Brickman & Friends--The Holiday Concert at Centennial Hall this week. (Trust us, he's no George Winston.) Brickman's "Friends" include 98 Degrees' Jeff Timmons (trust us, he's no Nick Lachey), Kristy Starling, Anne Cochran and Tracy Silverman (who, we're guessing, will be the only one performing Hanukkah songs).The madness begins at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 29. Centennial Hall is located at 1020 E. University Blvd., on the UA campus. Advance tickets may be purchased at the venue's box office, online at www.uapresents.org, or by calling 621-3341.
