We don't think rock 'n' roll ever died in the first place, but for the past two years, there's been nonstop buzz about its revival. Whether you believe the hype, you only need to believe in the beat and it's alive and well with the next generation of sonic hell-raisers featured in CMJ/MTV2's Advance Warning Tour on Thursday, April 3. Headliners The Mooney Suzuki, a New York City four-piece, just rereleased its second album, Electric Sweat, on Columbia Records, giving the masses a chance to get down to '60s-inspired R&B/garage rock hysteria. Danish guy/gal duo The Ravonettes lend dark harmonies and distorted guitar fuzz to lo-fi surf beats, and Longwave plays atmospheric, early-'80s-style mope rock. Opening the gig is White Light Motorcade, another New York band that convincingly performs glam-tinged Britpop. Doors open at 7 p.m. at the Marquee Theatre, formerly the Red River Music Hall, 730 North Mill in Tempe. Tickets for the all-ages show are $5, and can be purchased through Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.com or 480-784-4444.
Friday, April 4
Theater Works' newest production, A Delicate Balance, is the 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by celebrated American playwright Edward Albee, who's perhaps best known for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Set in a seemingly tranquil suburbia, the drama explores the tensions that arise when a retired couple's life is overwhelmed by houseguests and the return of their daughter, whose four marriages have failed. Performances at Theater Works, 9850 West Peoria Avenue in Peoria, are at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, from Friday, April 4, through April 27. Admission is $17.50 for adults, $15.50 for seniors and military personnel, and $14 for students. To purchase, contact the box office at 623-815-7930. Visit www.theaterworks.org for more information.
Saturday, April 5
We can't explain why we're drawn to an event described as "an evening of puppetry and mayhem!" perhaps it's fond memories of The Muppet Show's weirder moments, such as the episode when Alice Cooper was a guest star. In any case, our grown-up tastes can only be satisfied by the kind of offbeat, unexpected performances hosted by the Great Arizona Puppet Theater in Puppet Slam! at 8 p.m. Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5. Guest puppeteers in this adults-only show include Elastic Theater, Tucson Puppet Works and Omnipresent Theater. Advance tickets are $7; admission is $10 at the door. The theater is located at 302 West Latham. To find out more, visit www.azpuppets.org or call 602-262-2050.
Sunday, April 6
The Phoenix Symphony gets groovy on Sunday, April 6, when it performs with soul singer extraordinaire Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave fame) for "Symphony and the Soul Man." The free afternoon concert wraps up this season's People's Pops Concert Series, presented by the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. Take your friends, family and a big blanket to Steele Indian School Park, located at Third Street and Indian School, for the 3 p.m. outdoor show. To find out more, call 602-262-4627.
Monday, April 7
At long last, we've finally found proof that going to a bar can actually make you look better. On Monday, April 7, Amsterdam's Martinis and Manicures event, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., combines beauty and booze for only five bucks each a bargain no matter how you look at it. Pedicures, scalp massages and henna tattoos are sometimes available, too; the pampering happens every Monday night. Sounds like a habit we won't be able to break. Amsterdam is located at 718 North Central. For details call 602-258-6122.
Tuesday, April 8
Arizona State University's Department of Dance hosts two special evenings of modern dance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, and Thursday, April 10: Graduate Showings, a concert featuring performances by top grad students. A total of 17 pieces will be split between the two nights, and renowned choreographer Yvonne Rainer's cutting-edge 1969 work "Chair/Pillow" will be presented on both occasions. Besides giving credit to the department's current pool of talent, the show also supports the next wave of kinetically gifted students; proceeds help fund undergraduate and graduate-level dance scholarships. Admission is $10, $5 for students, at Dance Studio Theatre, located on the ASU Main Campus in the Physical Education Building East, Room 132, 551 East Orange in Tempe. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 480-965-6447.
There's nothing quite like experiencing Chinese culture firsthand historic sites, exotic foods, bustling cities and scenic countrysides. But right now, in the midst of war and recession, crossing the International Date Line isn't an easy option for most folks. Heading out to Sun City, however, is a trip that anyone can make. Take a visual tour of this booming Asian nation on Tuesday, April 8, at a special screening of China, A Journey Through Time. The film starts at 7 p.m. at Sundome Center for the Performing Arts, 19403 R.H. Johnson Boulevard in Sun City West. Tickets, $8, can be purchased through Ticketmaster, 480-784-4444.
Wednesday, April 9
Author Jake Page's new book, In the Hands of the Great Spirit: The 20,000-Year History of American Indians, presents the drama of Native cultures with astonishing scope, from tribes' varied origins to their modern resurgence. As the former editor of Smithsonian and Natural History magazines, Page brings scholarly detail as well as literary flair to this epic account that integrates current research with traditional myths and oral histories. He'll discuss and sign copies of his tome between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at the Heard Museum Shop, 2301 North Central. Call 602-252-8848 for more information.
