Pic Hits for the week

thursday
july 11
Nico-Icon: Director Susanne Ofteringer's documentary tells tales on the late, Berlin-born Nico (real name: Christa Paffgen), model, actress, Teutonic chanteuse, Andy Warhol cohort, short-lived Velvet Undergrounder and, in the bitter end, a star-crossed junkie who embodied the Velvets' tune "Black Angel's Death Song." The unrated film's run has been extended; it continues daily, through Thursday, July 18, at Valley Art Theatre, 509 South Mill in Tempe. Call 829-6668.

Jawbox: Forget "Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)"; the theme song of this election year, bannered by November's clash of nontitans Clinton and Dole, should be "Livid," from this pretty-great hard-core group's latest TAG/Atlantic disc, Jawbox. Or, perhaps, "Mirrorful," with its anthemic, "I don't believe" chorus. The Washington, D.C.-based 'box, led by former Government Issue member J. Robbins, performs on Thursday, July 11, at the Mason Jar, 2303 East Indian School. Shiner shares the all-ages bill. Showtime is 9 p.m. Tickets are $7, available at the club and Ticketmaster. Call 956-6271 or 784-4444.

"Summer Spectacular" Art Walk: Various premieres and related events are planned during this 18th annual midsummer-night dream for art aficionados, a special edition of Scottsdale Gallery Association's weekly art-walk series. Highlights include the fourth annual "Night of 1,000 Fetishes" at Leona King Gallery; the sixth annual "Nude in Fine Art" show at Vanier & Roberts, Ltd. Fine Art; and openings at the Lisa Sette, Mind's Eye, Horwitch Newman and Wilde-Meyer galleries. The event is scheduled for 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, July 11, along Main Street and Marshall Way in Scottsdale's downtown arts district. Admission is free. For details see the individual Art Exhibits listings or call 990-3939.

The Verve Pipe: Jerry Harrison (Live, Crash Test Dummies) produced Villains (RCA), this East Lansing, Michigan, quintet's well-received major-label debut. The disc follows the band's remarkably successful indie releases I've Suffered a Head Injury and Pop Smear. Howlin' Maggie shares the bill on Thursday, July 11, at Gibson's, 410 South Mill in Tempe. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, available at the scene and Ticketmaster. For details call 967-1234 or 784-4444.

Here in America: Performance artist Robert Post, a deft physical comedian, sends up philosophy, politics, the media, basketball, ballet school and a bunch of other frankly indescribable stuff in his solo touring show, billed as "an evening of illegitimate theatre." This week's performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 11; 8 p.m. Friday, July 12; 8 p.m. Saturday, July 13; and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 14, in Stage West at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The production continues through Sunday, July 21. Call 252-8497.

Peter Cetera: You'll have to sift through several layers of saccharine to find 'em, but a few genuine pop gems sparkle beneath the overproduced MOR sheen the former Chicago lead singer has specialized in during his decadelong solo career. Cetera performs on Thursday, July 11, at Celebrity Theatre, 440 North 32nd Street. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $23.75 and $50, available at the scene and Dillard's. For details call 267-9373 or 678-2222.

friday
july 12
Perfect featuring Tommy Stinson: To date, Stinson's claim to fame was being one quarter of the Replacements, the Minneapolis group that Musician termed "the last great band of the '80s," though the description would have been more accurate had the mag simply stopped at the word "band." The 'Mats, of course, were Paul Westerberg's domain. This quartet is guitarist/vocalist Stinson's second attempt at establishing his own artistic turf (the first was Bash & Pop), and if Perfect's debut, the Medium Cool/Restless EP When Squirrels Play Chicken, is any indication of things to come, this one should take. The group's scheduled on Friday, July 12, at the Mason Jar, 2303 East Indian School. Jesus Chrysler shares the all-ages bill. Showtime is 9 p.m. Tickets are $5, available at Ticketmaster. For details call 956-6271 or 784-4444.

"La Phoeniquera XVI": MARS Artspace, located at 126 South Central, in Luhrs Office Center, celebrates the art and artists of Arizona with its annual summer-season blowout. This year's exhibition, juried by Phoenix Art Museum's curator of 20th-century art, David Rubin, features works by Tina Sotis, Frank Ybarra, Nancy Scheer, Linda K. Foss-Asakawa, Brent Bond and many others. It opens with a reception from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 12, and continues through Friday, August 9. Viewing hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free. For details call 253-3541.

New York Chamber Soloists: Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street, kicks off its "Summer Classical Series" at 8 p.m. Friday, July 12, with a concert of Mozart works by this worthy septet. The program includes Quartet in F major for Oboe and Strings, K. 370; Sonata in B-flat for Bassoon and Cello, K. 292; Trio in E-flat major for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, K. 498; Divertimento No. 4 in B-flat major for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon, K. 496b; and Duo in G major for Violin and Viola, K. 423. Tickets are $20 and $24, available at the center and Ticketmaster. For details call 994-2787 or 784-4444.

Adam Sandler and His Band: Like so many recent Saturday Night Live alums, Sandler has a rogue stupidity gene, but his baby-talk routines and bawdy-nursery-rhyme tunes occasionally attain the level of low farce. Touring in support of Adam's latest comedy album for Warner Bros., What the Hell Happened to Me?, the Happy Gilmore star and his live crew perform on Friday, July 12, at Mesa Amphitheatre, Center and University. Allen Covert opens at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, $26.75 the day of the show, available at the scene and Dillard's. For details call 644-2560 or 678-2222.