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.
Here in America: See Thursday.
Nico-Icon: See Thursday.
saturday
july 13
Laurie Anderson: Along with Spalding Gray, with whom she's collaborated on a couple of occasions, Anderson is the most famous regular at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. The long relationship between the performance artist and the arts center continues to pay dividends for both parties, as Anderson unveils a new work-in-progress this weekend; see the story on page 89. Shows are scheduled at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 13; and 7 p.m. Sunday, July 14. Tickets are $24 and $26, available at the scene and Ticketmaster. Call 994-2787 or 784-4444.
Arizona Rattlers: Coach Danny White's minigridiron squad hosts its final regular-season home game at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 13, versus the Connecticut Coyotes at the "Snake Pit": America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. A free party on the Grand Staircase at Arizona Center, Third Street and Van Buren, precedes at 5:30 (call 949-4353). Game tickets range from $8 to $36, available at the arena and Dillard's. For details call 514-8383, 379-7800 or 678-2222.
Phillip Walker: The Louisiana-born guitarist is a big fan of Long John Hunter, who visited the Valley last week, and Walker has repaid the debt via his influence on Robert Cray and on Cray's generation of bluesmen. Phillip, a cousin of both T-Bone Walker and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and a former sideman for Clifton Chenier, Fats Domino and Little Richard, performs at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $5. For details call 265-4842.
Here in America: See Thursday.
"La Phoeniquera XVI": See Friday.
Nico-Icon: See Thursday.
sunday
july 14
John Stewart: Because of his multiple annual pit stops at Anderson's Fifth Estate in Scottsdale, it's easy to take Stewart for granted. But we shouldn't; he's one of pop's great songsmiths, from his Kingston Trio days to "Daydream Believer" to "Bad Rats" to "Gold" (with Stevie Nicks) to "Runaway Trains" to "Sweet Dreams Will Come" (with Nanci Griffith). Stewart returns to the Estate, 6820 East Fifth Avenue, for a show at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 14. For details call 994-4168.
Matinee at the Bijou: The mission of this yearlong series is to re-create the ambiance of those silver-screen family matinees of the '30s and '40s. Each installment features vintage programming comprising a cartoon, a short subject, a newsreel, a serial segment and a feature film. This week's installment, which starts at noon Sunday, July 14, on KAET-TV, Channel 8, includes part two of the serial Zorro Rides Again and the Roy Rogers vehicle Under the California Stars. For more information, call 965-2308.
Jale: This band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, was formed by four female art students, and its name is a combination of the first letters of each of their given names, though original drummer Alyson MacLeod has been replaced by Mike Belitsky. Jale's second album for Sub Pop, So Wound, is like an explosion in a jangle factory. The band performs on Sunday, July 14, at Hollywood Alley, 2610 West Baseline in Mesa. Andherson shares the bill. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. The cover is $6. For details call 820-7117.
Laurie Anderson: See Saturday.
Here in America: See Thursday.
Nico-Icon: See Thursday.
monday
july 15
Dishwalla: The resume of this good--not great--young band from Santa Monica includes two notable entries thus far: 1) a rockin' but earnest cover of Karen and Richard's "It's Going to Take Some Time" on the If I Were a Carpenter tribute disc; and 2) the minor hit "Counting Blue Cars" (from the A&M disc Pet Your Friends), which features the lines "Tell me all your thoughts on God/I'd really like to meet Her." Dishwalla performs on Monday, July 15, at Gibson's, 410 South Mill in Tempe. The Mustard Seeds share the all-ages bill. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 the day of the show, available at Ticketmaster. Call 967-1234 or 784-4444.
Rapoon: The one-man band comprises former Zoviet France member Storey, a somber master of dense, obsessional, home-recorded trance sounds. According to the press kit, the British artist's music draws on "Indian ragas, Arabic prayer calls and African rhythmic whispers"; the kit adds the redundant kicker that Storey "has not listened to contemporary music for the last ten years." Rapoon/Storey performs at 8 p.m. Monday, July 15, at Metropophobobia, 621 North Third Street. Admission is a requested donation of $5. Call 252-9851.
Nico-Icon: See Thursday.
tuesday
july 16
The Kelley Deal 6000: It's hard to keep up with those busy Deal twins, which is one of the best things about 'em. Former Pixie/Breeder Kim, the better known of the siblings, is still occupied with her Ohio-based Amps; Kelley, the trouble-plagued sister, is now doing it for herself with this Minnesota group, a direct offshoot of her heroin-induced stay at a halfway house, where she met Jesse Colin Roff, her partner in KD6000's original incarnation, Solid State. The 6000, minus the departed Roff, is touring behind Go to the Sugar Altar, the premiere disc for Nice Records, Kelley's own label; see the album review on page 94. Cake Like shares the stage on Tuesday, July 16, at Hollywood Alley, 2610 West Baseline in Mesa. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 the day of the show, available at Alternatix. Call 820-7117 or 244-8444.
"La Phoeniquera XVI": See Friday.
Nico-Icon: See Thursday.
wednesday
july 17
The Man Who Drew Bug-Eyed Monsters: Eli Wallach narrated this documentary about the life and work of illustrator Reynold Brown, who created the poster art for Hollywood classics like Creature From the Black Lagoon, This Island Earth, The Incredible Shrinking Man, How the West Was Won and many others. The program airs at 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, on KAET-TV, Channel 8; another showing is scheduled at 5 a.m. Sunday, July 21. Call 965-2308.
"La Phoeniquera XVI": See Friday.
Nico-Icon: See Thursday.
