Soundbites

START PREPPING THOSE COVERS!

Calling all local bands and musicians: Although details are still being ironed out, preparations have officially begun for the 15th Annual Great Cover-Up, which will take place at three venues over three nights—Thursday, Dec. 13, through Saturday, Dec. 15. The event's organizers (of which I'm one) are currently accepting submissions from bands and performers who want to participate.

Here's the gist of the Great Cover-Up from a previous column: "Local bands that normally perform original material gather to perform a 20-minute set of songs by another band or artist. Simple enough, right? And best of all, every penny of the proceeds from the event (will be donated to charity). Of course, that means that no band will receive any compensation for slaving away at practice for a month or two, only to learn a set of songs they'll probably never play again. But look at it this way: It's probably about the most fun you'll ever have doing charity volunteer work."

If you're interested in participating, email greatcoveruptucson@gmail.com with the following information: your band name; what type of music you normally play; your top three picks for bands/artists you'd like to cover; and a contact name, phone number and/or email address. We'll get around to the deadline for submissions in an upcoming column, but for now, we want to hear the best damn ideas you've got to make this thing awesome. Thanks in advance, and we'll be waiting patiently by our computers to hear from you.


TIKI TIME

It's been three years since The Hut acquired, from the former wonderland that was Magic Carpet Golf, the giant tiki head that welcomes patrons at the bar's entrance. And that means that once again, the club will be celebrating its relocation with a big-ass party.

The third annual March of the Moai will feature a dozen bands on two stages—one indoors and one outdoors—including a reunion of defunct local-band Stop Tyler.

Here's the full lineup: Outdoor stage: Tommy Tucker (6 p.m.), One Heartbeat (7 p.m.), Funky Bonz (9 p.m.), Top Dead Center (10 p.m.), Cosmic Slop (11:30 p.m.).

Indoor stage: Moss Orion (6:30 p.m.), The Jits (7:30 p.m.), Twin Suns (8:30 p.m.), Haley Jane (9:30 p.m.), Turchi (10:30 p.m.), Stop Tyler (11:30 p.m.), Ben Hyatt Band (12:45 a.m.).

The action starts at 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, and will also include barbecue available for purchase. Cover is $10. The Hut is at 305 N. Fourth Ave. Check out www.huttucson.com, or call 623-3200 for more information.


GUITAR HEROES

Do you enjoy hearing very talented people playing guitar? You're reading this, so I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume your answer is yes.

Well, the folks at Club Congress have assembled a slew of Tucson's best guitarists for a big-ass showcase this week. The Tucson Guitar Rumble will be hosted by Michael P. Nordberg, who has put together a rhythm section to accompany all the talent. Guitarists on the bill are Al Perry, Naim Amor, Mike Blommer, Chris Callahan, Clif Taylor, Mike Hebert, Loren Dircks and Gene Ruley, who will be performing for the first time since a recent serious medical issue. (Welcome back, Gene!) There will be two sets of music—in addition to an opening old-school blues performance by Iowans Joe and Vicki Price—and each guitarist will get up and play a few tunes. At the end of the night, don't be surprised to find all the guitarists engaging in a massive jam.

Doors open at 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 24, and the cover is $5. Club Congress is at 311 E. Congress St. For more info, head to hotelcongress.com/club, or call 622-8848.


GET MOD AT THE COCINA

The folks at MEOWmeow Productions have a slew of events planned for the next few months, including one this weekend.

Teenage Wasteland: The Mod Fashion Party should be pretty self-explanatory: mod music and mod fashions constitute the theme, and the night will feature go-go dancers, music spun by Andy Depew of Satyr Entertainment, and a live set by La Cerca, who will play both original songs and mod cover tunes.

Throw on your finest mod duds and head to La Cocina, 201 N. Court Ave., at 10 p.m., Friday, Aug. 24. Cover charge is $3. For more information, go to lacocinatucson.com, or call 622-0351.


CHAMBER PLEASURES

This week brings us the third installment of Chris Black's ChamberLab series.

In case you're unfamiliar, here's the concept: Local musicians who normally perform in a variety of different genres are asked to compose a piece of chamber music, and then perform it for your listening pleasure. Participants at this week's event are Chris Black, Benjamin Degain, Chris Halvorsen, Dante Rosano, Marco Rosano and Tony Rosano.

Catch a bunch of great local musicians stretching their wings on Sunday, Aug. 26, at Café Desta, the relatively new Ethiopian restaurant at 758 S. Stone Ave. The all-ages show runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m., and the restaurant is BYOB. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., which is around the time you should arrive if you're planning on having dinner. Tickets are $15, available in advance at chrisblackmusic.com. Head there for more information, or call the restaurant at 370-7000.


GET IN THE SWING OF THINGS

One of the pre-eminent acts of the '90s swing revival, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, has experimented with other genres in the last several years. While the band's upcoming album, Rattle Them Bones (which will be released Sept. 6), pulls from a variety of styles—press materials claim the album was inspired by Don Draper and Mark Twain—other recent albums include a tribute to Cab Calloway (2009's How Big Can You Get?: The Music of Cab Calloway) and a celebration of the music of New Orleans (2003's Save My Soul).

Expect to hear tunes from all of those albums when Big Bad Voodoo Daddy take the stage at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., on Friday, Aug. 24. The Outlaw Rebels open the all-ages show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22 and are available at rialtotheatre.com, or by calling 740-1000.


ON THE BANDWAGON

Eric Johnson at the Rialto Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 25; Kishi Bashi, The Last Bison and Dream Sick at Club Congress on Tuesday, Aug. 28; miRthkon and Black Jackalope Ensemble at Solar Culture Gallery on Friday, Aug. 24; The Resonars, Apache Dropout and Discos at The District Tavern on Sunday, Aug. 26; Blank Tapes, Catfish and Weezie and Rory O'Rear at La Cocina on Wednesday, Aug. 29; Colleen Green and Plateaus at Plush on Saturday, Aug. 25; Something Fierce, Occult Detective Club and Pop Gestapo at The District Tavern on Wednesday, Aug. 29; Kristen Chandler Band, Spirit Familia and The Vases at Plush on Friday, Aug. 24; Kaia Chesney, Logan Greene and Clinton Rice at Club Congress on Wednesday, Aug. 29; Church of Rock Revelations presents Evasion, Hell Follows and Skinkfinger at Surly Wench Pub on Saturday, Aug. 25; Between the Buried and Me, Periphery, Job for a Cowboy and Crowdkill at The Rock on Monday, Aug. 27; Bricktop, Drizzle and Muskhog at The Bashful Bandit on Friday, Aug. 24; SuchaMC, Vine St. and Omega Jackson at Sky Bar on Saturday, Aug. 25.