Soundbites

AVETTS AGAIN!

If you've seen the Avett Brothers perform live before, you might as well skip to the next item, as you've likely already bought your tickets for Friday night's show at the Rialto Theatre.

If you haven't, listen up real quick: Go. Buy your tickets now. They're not cheap, but they're worth it—and the show just may sell out.

If all you know about the Avetts—essentially, a folk-rock band that uses banjo, cello and piano, in addition to guitar, as primary instruments—is their latest album, I and Love and You (which ended up on an awful lot of year-end Top 10 lists), you might be surprised by the band's live shows. That album was more ballad-heavy than the band's previous releases, and the group's live performances tend to reflect the rough-hewn, bluegrass-tinged acoustic rock that led up to it. At times, they perform more like a punk band that accidentally brought the wrong instruments to the gig. Oh, and the harmonies: They've got 'em in spades—the type of harmonies that seem to come so naturally to siblings, in this case singer-songwriters Seth and Scott Avett, but to hardly anyone else who doesn't share a bloodline.

Although they're not doing it this time around, the Rialto's management offered a money-back guarantee for the last two Avetts shows. They had a total of three takers. The Avett Brothers really are that good.

The Avett Brothers return to the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., on Friday, April 23. Fellow North Carolinians Truth and Salvage Co. open the all-ages show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 for general admission, or $33 for reserved balcony seats. Call 740-1000 to order or ask questions.


GOOD CAUSES, GREAT MUSIC

If you're feeling charitable this week, there are two worthwhile benefit shows to choose from, both on Sunday, April 25.

The Fourth Annual JusticePalooza concert benefits the American Friends Service Committee, a nonprofit social-justice organization that focuses on criminal justice reform and immigrant rights in Arizona. Caroline Isaacs, new mother (congrats!) and a member of the Silver Thread Trio, just happens to spend her days working at the AFSC, and she enlisted her bandmates and others to perform this time around. The Trio starts the evening off at 6 p.m., followed by The El Camino Royales (7 p.m.), The Modeens (8 p.m.), and The Tryst (9 p.m.).

JusticePalooza takes place at The Hut, 305 N. Fourth Ave. Admission is a suggested donation of $8. For more info on the AFSC, head to www.afsc.org/tucson. For more info about the show, call 623-3200.

The other benefit show takes place at the very same time, just up the street. Spurred by budget cuts to the arts in schools, some local musicians and teachers are putting together a new music education program. MyTown Music School is planned to debut this summer as a music camp for kids ages 8 to 18, at SkyView High School, which has donated its facilities.

According to an e-mail, MyTown is spearheaded by drum and guitar teacher Corey Ferrugia, who also performs in Rescue Lights, and drum teacher Jim Howell, who performs in The Wyatts and The Ghost Dove, among other bands. Rescue Lights will perform at the benefit on Sunday, along with the Quandria Quintet, which includes Powell and guitarist Nate Jasensky. Crystal Stark, who will be a choir instructor at the camp, will also perform.

The MyTown Music School Benefit Concert begins at 6 p.m., Sunday, April 25, at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. All ages are welcome, and there is a suggested donation of $5. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of instruments (if you have old ones you're not using, you can donate them) and teaching materials. For further details, call 798-1298.


A NON-ENDORSEMENT OF SPIT

The sprawling funk ensemble Cosmic Slop will celebrate the release of its Spit Don't Make No Babies CD with a performance at 9 p.m., Saturday, April 24, at the Rhythm Industry Performance Factory, 1013 S. Tyndall Ave. The event will also include a set by Key Ingredients of African Soul, a performance by Brazilian martial arts/dance ensemble Capoeira and several other surprises. The event is open to all ages, and admission is $5.


ARENA MARIACHI!

The 28th Annual La Frontera Tucson International Mariachi Conference culminates at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 23, with its 2010 Espectacular Concert, featuring Los Camperos de Nati Cano (which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year), Lila Downs, Tucson's own Mariachi Cobre and El Paso's Los Arrieros. The concert takes place at the Tucson Convention Center Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. Tickets are $49 to $89 and may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or by calling 838-3908.


SERIES' STARTS

Two beloved annual concert series kick off this weekend.

The Plaza Palomino Courtyard Concert Series gets rolling on Saturday, April 24, with a performance from the Domingo DeGrazia Flamenco Ensemble. (See the complete series schedule at rhythmandroots.org.) Tickets for this Saturday's show are $20 in advance, or $23 at the door, and are available at Bookmans, the Folk Shop and rhythmandroots.org, or by calling (800) 594-8499. For more info, call 319-9966. Plaza Palomino is located at 2970 N. Swan Road.

Tucson Jazz Society's Jazz Under the Stars series commences on Sunday, April 25, when vocalist Nancy Kelly teams up with Hammond B3 organ player Dino Losito for a 7 p.m. performance. Tickets are $20 for the general public; $15 for TJS members and active duty military with ID; or $10 for students with ID. Order them and see the complete series schedule at tucsonjazz.tix.com. All shows take place at St. Philip's Plaza, at the corner of River Road and Campbell Avenue. For more information, call 903-1265.


SHORT TAKES

After a brief cancellation scare, the Rogue Wave show at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., is back on for Saturday, April 24. The band is touring to support its latest album, Permalight, an upbeat, uplifting return to form that was released last month on Brushfire. Also on the bill: Man/Miracle and JBM. 8 p.m.; all ages; $12; 622-8848.

The Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour returns to UA Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd., at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 27. This year's band features pianist Kenny Barron, vocalists Regina Carter and Kurt Elling, guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Johnathan Blake. Tickets run $15 to $52, and are available at uapresents.org, at the Centennial box office, or by calling 621-3341, the same number to call with questions.

On last year's The Mountain (Fat Possum), the Austin-via-Ohio trio Heartless Bastards traded in their hard-rockin' past for a little more roots and introspection—and a new rhythm section, a big deal for a trio. The critics' darlings will perform at Club Congress on Monday, April 26. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and Hacienda and Amy Cook open. $13 advance; $14 day of; 622-8848.

The Starlight Lounge, upstairs at Bisbee's Café Roka, 35 Main St., continues to book fantastic shows in as intimate a setting as you're likely to find anywhere. That 90-seat capacity will be awfully nice on Sunday, April 25, when L.A. punk pioneer/singer-songwriter John Doe stops in for a 7 p.m. performance. Tickets are $30, available by calling 432-5153.


ON THE BANDWAGON

Devin the Dude at Club Congress on Sunday, April 25; Mr. Gnome, Dead Western Plains and Young Mothers at Plush on Friday, April 23; Overkill's 25th anniversary tour with Vader, God Dethroned, Warbringer and others at The Rock on Friday, April 23; R. Carlos Nakai, Will Clipman and William Eaton performing as The Wilde Boys at the Vail Theatre of the Arts on Saturday, April 24; Powhaus presents Taboo: A Tribute to Leigh Bowery at the Rialto Theatre on Saturday, April 24; The Shondes, Seashell Radio and Monster Pussy at Plush next Thursday, April 29; Lisa Otey's Jazz Meets Blues on Friday, April 23, at SaddleBrooke's Desert View Theatre, and Saturday, April 24, at Green Valley's Community Performing Arts Center; HAIRSPRAYFIREANDGIRLS vs. The Swim (the bands will alternate songs) with La Cerca at Plush on Saturday, April 24; Awesome Color and Hair Police at the Red Room at Grill on Sunday, April 25; The Missing Parts at Solar Culture Gallery on Friday, April 23; La Cerca, Spindrift and the Guy Gershoni Trio at the Red Room at Grill on Thursday, April 22; As I Lay Dying at the Rialto Theatre next Thursday, April 29; Nathan Hamilton at Plush on Wednesday, April 28; Mount Righteous, Boogie Nazis, AIDS Free, Reservado and Greater Bird of Paradise at The HangArt on Monday, April 26; Swedefest with The Swim, Big Meridox, Good Little Thieves, Madame Zero and many others at Sky Bar on Sunday, April 25.