There is a place for those who yearn for blue-collar intellectualism, pale-skinned nymphs, and the melancholic moodiness of Morrissey. And it isn't 6,000 miles across the Atlantic, thanks to "Trash!", a new monthly event at The Clubhouse, 1320 East Broadway in Tempe. To kick off its homage to all things Manchester, U.K., "Trash!" debuts on Saturday, May 8, with a listening party at 8 p.m. for the new Morrissey CD, You Are the Quarry, before the album's release on May 18.
"Trash!" also features live performances and music by DJ Manchester (natch), who'll be spinning Britpop, indie, New Wave, and '60s mod and soul. Local band The Reflection kicks off the live music at 9 p.m., followed by L.A.'s Tsar. For more information, see www.trashaz.com. -- Joe Watson
Beefcake Walk
Exotic art show heats up the canvas
5/8-5/9
Celebrate Mother's Day the right way: Take her to see sketchings of well-endowed beefcakes in various stages of undress. "Bringing Mom to see naked men would be just a lot of fun," says Bobby Cook, organizer of the seventh annual International Erotic Art Show, Saturday, May 8, and Sunday, May 9, at the Sunshine Hotel & Resort, 3600 North Second Avenue. The event, aimed primarily at gay men (but the het crowd is also invited), is a stimulating showcase of 18 different artists across several mediums, ranging from pulp art to paintings. Admission is $6, and no one under 18 will be admitted (sorry, chickenhawks). See www.bobbycookstudio.com/art_show.html. -- Benjamin Leatherman
Spit It Out
Slam poets step up to the mike
5/7-5/8
Coffee-shop poets put down their lattes and extinguish their cloves when Essenza Coffeehouse and the Anthology Caf host Mesa National Poetry Slam Weekend on Friday, May 7, and Saturday, May 8. Essenza, 1350 South Longmore, begins the two-day event with the Mesa Big Money Slam, starting at 8 p.m. The slam is open to the first 15 poets who lay down the $30 registration fee. Admission is free.
On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., nine hours of open-mike slamming take the stage at Anthology, 51 East Main, followed by the big show at 8 p.m., as 11 slam poets spit out the jams in hopes of making the Mesa National Slam Poetry Team. Tickets are $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Call 480-827-0999. -- Joe Watson
Sparks Will Fly
Metal casting students show off latest works in Tempe
Sat 5/8
ReZurrection Gallery in Tempe heats up on Saturday, May 8, when ASU metal casting students show off their "Collective Inferno" of artwork, beginning with a free reception at 7 p.m. The bronze, aluminum, and iron sculptures will be shown through June 9. ReZurrection is located at 601 West University. Call 480-377-9080. - Joe Watson
Dork Victory
C'mon, they wanna Lea
Sat 5/8
Pop some fresh Duracells into your light saber and straighten your Jedi robes, young Padawan: The Phoenix Fan Force (the local cadre of Star Wars enthusiasts) screens 20-some fan-made films Saturday, May 8, at Atomic Comics, 1120 South Country Club in Mesa. While one can't swing a dead Ewok this time of year without hitting some sort of film festival, this retrospective is a force of a different color. The lineup of fan films -- short videos either lampooning or paying homage to George Lucas' oeuvre -- ranges from the locally produced Spirits of the Force to Troops (think Cops, with Stormtroopers). While these videos are available on the Internet, watching them alone is only half the fun. "You could download these films yourself, but then you'd miss sharing a common interest and hanging out," says PFF member Joel Cranson. Demented and sad, but social. The saga begins at 2 p.m.; admission is free. See www.phxff.net for more info. -- Benjamin Leatherman
Take Your Bass
Enroll for some bass education
5/6-5/9
Bassists from Boston to Honolulu break it down in Tempe at a four-day workshop by the California-based School of Bass, Thursday, May 6, through Sunday, May 9, at the Hampton Inn, 1429 Scottsdale Road. Dave Ellefson (Megadeth) and Harvey Brooks are among the pro instructors. Tuition is $425 ($175 for single days). Call 1-866-825-8277. -- Joe Watson
