From Montreal, aggressive electronic trio Black Tiger Sex Machine mashes together dubstep beats with atmospheric visuals to create a dark sci-fi aesthetic. Explore "New Worlds" at Rialto Theatre. DJ/producer Blanke and the otherworldly bass of Vampa set the tone... Emerging from the City of Brotherly Love's punk scene in 2011, Grayscale quickly left the grit and anti-authoritarian ethos behind. These "Philly coffee shop rockers" bring the Nella Vita Tour to 191 Toole. From the near permafrost of Michigan, emo-punks Hot Mulligan heat things up first... A "Rock 'Em Sock 'Em" indie rock double header unfolds when Weekend Lovers and Moontrax square off. At Tap + Bottle Downtown... Riding the "Lost Highway" down from Phoenix, Tags (rock) and Celebration Guns (noise pop) join Tucson's Noise Field (rock) for a dust up. At Club Congress... Savitur leads an evening of Kirtan (spiritual chanting developed in sixth-century India). At Solar Culture... Elliot Jones hosts Piano Bar Thursdays. All are encouraged to sing along. At The Dusty Monk Pub... Known for the beauty and richness of her voice, soprano Renée Fleming joins the Tucson Symphony Orchestra for a grand finale to bring the 2020 Tucson Desert Song Festival to a close. At Tucson Music Hall... This acclaimed Yaqui guitarist has performed for a U.S. president and he pope. As part of the Lookout Tucson Jazz Concert Series, Gabriel Ayala performs flamenco, classical and jazz influenced compositions. At Westward Look Resort...
Friday, Feb. 7
Not unlike a Castaneda novel, in pursuit of A Separate Reality—while under the direct influence of a potent cumbia infused psychedelic that arose from the Peruvian highlands—Tucson cumbiancheros Chicha Dust talk to coyotes. On the plaza at Hotel Congress... Straddling the fence, with one dusty Converse sneaker smeared with the grime of rock 'n' roll while the other remains stuck on the sharp leaf-tip spines of an agave plant, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers are at Rialto Theatre. With The Cole Trains... In Advice Column, Chicago hardcore punks 88 Fingers Louie ask listeners, "What's the fun in living in the past?" They play with middle finger extended at 191 Toole. Playboy Manbaby bringing the sexy back to the genre of polka... Super Gay Party Machine stands proud. At Club Congress... Like corridos? Los Cuates de Sinaloa and Jesus Ojeda y sus Parientes engage in battle: Guerra de Requintos plays out at Club 4th Avenue... Dan Stokes performs blues and other love songs. At Sand-Reckoner... After hiatus, The Coolers bring their horn-propelled blues/soul to Monterey Court... Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas perform Scottish music on fiddle and cello. At Berger Performing Arts Center... This North Carolina singer-songwriter adheres to the country music axiom "Three chords and the truth"—popularized by Harlan Howard. Juan Holladay shares the stage with local songstress Leila Lopez. At El Crisol... DJ Nic hosts Beatz & Sweetz: A night of house music. At Batch... They are "raw and colorful, bathed in electro-sensual alien lullabies and drunken sailor beats." Loki Moon experiment at Saint Charles Tavern... Tourmaline Dreams II: A gem show afterparty features DJ sets by Dexx, Jeremy Sarcoz, Man Maze and Shelby Athouguia. At Solar Culture... Stormy Leigh presents The British Are Coming: A burlesque British Invasion with live music by The Furys. At Surly Wench Pub... Club Z sees resident DJs Low AudiO and ZAW dropping techno house. At Zen Rock...
Saturday, Feb. 8
L.A. indie rockers flor went from recording their debut EP, sounds, in a bedroom to having their latest, ley lines, receive millions of streams. The band brings bold pop ambition to the Rialto Theatre. With the sunny indie rock of Winnetka Bowling League... Resonance Monthly finds Canadian dubstep DJ/producer Phiso making apocalyptic robotic noise. At Gentle Ben's... This celebrated pianist's newest release is a portrayal of his place in a chaotic world. George Winston presents Restless Wind at the Berger Performing Arts Center... Reggae warriors General Tchefary & The Soldiers, with Jah on their side, bring light to the main stage (Scott & Broadway) during 2nd Saturdays Downtown... In a jump-off from the THHF20, The Dusty Tour sees rapper Homeboy Sandman, Quelle Chris, Psypiritual x The Lasso smash into Thunder Canyon Brewstillery... In a rad cosmic mashup that only a universe rife with chaos could align, The Exbats and Golden Boots perform together at Owls Club... Death Bells (post-punks from Sydney, Australia) lead A Benefit For Australia. At Club Congress. Separate Ways, Hikikomori and Rough Draft contribute to the cause. Proceeds to benefit the Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities... In a pre-Valentine's Celebration, vocalist Ada Redd Austin sets the mood for love. At The Dunbar Pavillion... The Arnold/Klingenfus Ensemble perform acoustic-driven music. At Borderlands Brewing Co... West Coast rave scene veteran—and resident DJ presiding over legendary full-moon desert gatherings—Brad Moontribe takes you on a techno dance journey. With OVRLP (DJ Hart b2b Nic). At Solar Culture... The third annual Beads, Blues and Beer Festival features Roman Barten-Sherman, Whose Blues Band and Brokedown Palace. At The Metal Arts Village... Contemporary country artist Donnie Lee Strickland along with Jay Faircloth, Chris Graeber Band and Vegas McGraw are set to perform at Country Fest Tucson 2020. At The Rock... Released in 1977, this Eagles classic sold over 32 million copies. Classic Albums Live performs Hotel California. At Fox Theatre... The indie folk stylings of Big Grin fill John Henry's... The Jacob Acosta Duo captures the sound of the desert. At Black Rock Brewers... Out on tour alt/indie rockers Past Life team up with Sad Dance Party. At Blacklidge Community Collective... The Other Troublemakers raise hell at La Cocina... Oppressed Logic, Besmirchers and Bleach Party USA rage at Spark Project Collective... Ultra '80s Dance Party at Passé... Performing world soul music to soothe you, Porangui are at Solar Culture... A night of bluegrass and Western music awaits. Phoenix's Pick & Holler and Freddy Parish are at El Crisol... Micky Dolenz and Tucson Symphony Orchestra performing the music of The Monkees will make you a believer. At Tucson Convention Center...
Sunday, Feb. 9
From Rialto, California—"an arid wasteland of boredom and empty lots"—this trio of free-spirited soul musicians, in their youth found liberation through skateboarding. Brainstory are at Club Congress. Backed by the piquant garage rock of Taco Sauce...
Monday, Feb. 10
"We're all about love," proclaims this band of Hawaiian Islanders. Iration's deep-rooted reggae will fill the Rialto Theatre with the Aloha spirit. With special guests Ballyhoo, Iya Terra and The Ries Brothers... Relive the magic of the highschool dance with your crush. DJ Humphouse spins vinyl nostalgia for Prom Night. At Club Congress...
Tuesday, Feb. 11
Can you "Feel The Volume?" At 26 years old, this San Francisco DJ/EDM producer has stayed true to his creed: "Music has no boundaries." Gnashing teeth, Jauz wades into Dangerous Waters. From the South of France, Habstrakt and TYNAN help to "Fuck It Up." At Rialto Theatre... Serving up some swampy zydeco-esque dishes to accompany your hooch, The Carnivaleros Trio are at the Tucson Hop Shop...
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Having traversed "The Rocky Road to Dublin" and returned with a fresh take on traditional Irish ballads, The High Kings perform at Rialto Theatre... Artists working at the fringe. Golden Saguaro: Experiments In Sound & Music provides a platform for tomorrow's pioneers to explore. Vicki Brown, Steev Hise, Skincage and Lavender Lattice are slated to perform. At Golden Saguaro... "Stretched myself until I fit you/All my threads pulled wire thin." Emo/indie rockers Floral Guilt learn to cope in the aftermath. At Club Congress. Associations, Nocturnal Theory and Hussie lend support...
Thursday, Feb. 13
Imagine the brainchild of Dr. Seuss, Frank Zappa and Stanley Kubrick? Performing on an instrument, made out of steel pipes and a single bass string, That 1 Guy brings "earthshaking future funk" to Club Congress...
Shout Out
Comprised of folk harpist Mariah McCammond and violist Deanna Cross, The Hatpin Duo celebrate the release of Orange with a soirée. On Saturday, Feb. 8. The event features a dance performance by Kinetic Arts and an art exhibition by Liz Weibler. At Kinetic Arts Tucson...
Until next week, XOXO...
