january 16
Smokin' Joe Kubek Band featuring Bnois King: A rock-solid blues band; these guys cook. Dual guitarists Kubek and King are the heart and soul, respectively, of the Dallas act, which has been on a steady rise since its 1991 debut for Bullseye/Rounder, Steppin' Out Texas Style. The group's latest disc for Bullseye, Got My Mind Back, encapsulates the band's appeal: finger-lickin' lead work by Smokin' Joe and sumptuous, fall-off-the-bone vocals by Bnois on originals like "Can't See for Lookin'" and the title track. Showtime is 9 p.m. Thursday, January 16, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $7. Call 265-4842.
"Native Voices: Reflecting Forward": Heard Museum Guild's annual lecture series continues through Thursday, February 13. Gerard Baker, superintendent of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, hosts a program titled "Little Bighorn Battlefield: A Change in Interpretation" at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 16, at the museum, 22 East Monte Vista. It's repeated at 7:30 that evening at Carefree Inn, 37220 Mule Train Road in Carefree. Next up is Tewa-Hopi artist Dan Namingha, who discusses his work at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 22, at the Heard. Tickets to each lecture are $11, $9 for members. Call 252-8840.
Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction: The 26th annual display and sale of classic autos--including the world's first Ferrari and comedian/Porsche nut Jerry Seinfeld's 1954, mint-condition 356 Speedster--is scheduled Thursday, January 16; Friday, January 17; Saturday, January 18; and Sunday, January 19, at WestWorld, 16601 North Pima Road in Scottsdale. Daily hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $12, $6 for teens and seniors, $3 for kids ages 6 to 12, free for those younger. Call 273-0791.
Birmingham 6: Fans of Front 242 likely also will be drawn to this Danish act, not only because B6 plows the same industrial/ideological patch of ground, but because F242's Jean-Luc De Meyer provided the vocals for the group's latest Cleopatra disc, Error of Judgement. Kim Lohde Petersen and Michael Hillerup named their duo (De Meyer isn't a full-time member) after a case in which the British government falsely accused six Irish men of being IRA terrorists, then imprisoned them for 17 years--a situation evocative of the one in the movie In the Name of the Father. Numb, and Rorschach Test share the bill on Thursday, January 16, at the Mason Jar, 2303 East Indian School. Call 956-6271.
Stars on Ice: Many of the biggest names in figure skating--Kristi Yamaguchi, Paul Wylie, Katarina Witt, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, Scott Hamilton and others--perform in this 11th annual touring show. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 16, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Tickets are $27.50 and $37.50, available at the arena and Dillard's; proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Southern Arizona. Call 379-7800 or 503-5555.
Swinging on a Star: The Johnny Burke Musical: The late Burke wrote the words to some of our most memorable popular songs, and most of his career high notes are hit in this Tony-nominated homage by writer/director Michael Leeds; see the review on page 57. Arizona Theatre Company continues its 30th-anniversary season with the Southwestern premiere of the work. Final performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, January 16; 8 p.m. Friday, January 17; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, January 18; and 7 p.m. Sunday, January 19, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe; a discussion follows Thursday's show. Tickets range from $30 to $37, available at Herberger and Dillard's; call 252-8497 or 503-5555.
friday
january 17
MLK Breakfast: The theme of the 11th annual homage to late social activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is "PLAY for Peace" ("PLAY" stands for "Playfully Linking Adults and Youth"). Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza opens the event with an address at 7 a.m. Friday, January 17, at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. An awards ceremony and a performance of Al C. Eaton's MLK--We Are the Dream follow. Breakfast is served at 8:30 on the Phoenix Civic Plaza deck, which will be transformed into a playground featuring 17 "play zones." Breakfast tickets, which include playground access, are available at Civic Plaza and Dillard's box offices (call 262-7272 or 503-5555); open admission to the playground is from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and costs $2, $1 for seniors, 50 cents for kids 12 and under. Proceeds benefit the City of Phoenix's MLK Fine Arts and Education program. For general information, call 495-0573. For details about other activities scheduled in conjunction with this year's MLK Day observation on Monday, January 20, see the Events listing or "Dream Time" in Kid Pics.
Big Band Alumni Orchestra featuring Frank DeVol, Rex Allen, Irv Kluger, Harry Babbitt, Beryl Davis and Bob Grabeau: The above-mentioned celebs of yesteryear join other musicians from the swing era for the vintage hit parade "Battle of the Big Bands, Round 2." The highly accomplished DeVol is probably best known for his role as musically challenged bandleader Happy Kyne on the late, great TV satire Fernwood 2-Night; Davis sang with Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Orchestra, and she still dedicates her version of "I'll Be Seeing You" to the memory of Major Miller. Performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday, January 17, at Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 North Arizona Avenue; and the same time Saturday, January 18, at the Sundome, 19403 R.H. Johnson Boulevard in Sun City West. Tickets range from $14 to $28 for the Chandler show, available at the center and Ticketmaster (call 786-2680 or 784-4444); they're $10 to $19 out west, available at the 'dome and Dillard's (call 975-1900 or 503-5555).
Arizona Contemporary Dance Festival: Southwest Dance presents the third annual showcase of Arizona troupes at 8 p.m. Friday, January 17; 8 p.m. Saturday, January 18; and 2 p.m. Sunday, January 19, in Stage West at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. Scheduled to perform: Desert Dance Theatre, Center Dance Ensemble, A. Ludwig Dance Theatre, Opendance, Tenth Street Danceworks, Canyon Movement Company, Orts Theatre of Dance, and the Movement Source Dance Company. Tickets range from $5 to $15, available at Herberger and Dillard's; call 252-8497 or 503-5555.
Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction: See Thursday.
Swinging on a Star: The Johnny Burke Musical: See Thursday.
saturday
january 18
Forest of Uco Grand Opening: The 2.5-acre exhibit at Phoenix Zoo, 455 North Galvin Parkway, in Papago Park, re-creates a tropical-rainforest habitat for a variety of creatures, but the marquee inhabitants are two endangered spectacled bears, both females. (While you're oohing and aahing over the cute, ring-eyed bruins, keep a close watch for the considerably less charming Brazilian bird-eating spider.) The Forest opens for general viewing on Saturday, January 18; and Sunday, January 19. For details call 273-1341 or 273-7771.
"Cynthia Connolly Photoshow": The rock photographer's work was compiled in the recent book Banned in D.C. A touring exhibit of her vehicular-themed pics of indie stalwarts like Fugazi, Mercurochrome, and Bratmobile opens with a reception at 9 p.m. Saturday, January 18, and continues through Friday, February 28, at Tempe's Stinkweeds Record Exchange, 1250 East Apache, Suite 109. Live shots by Pat Graham are also displayed. Seven Storey Mountain performs at the reception. Viewing is free; hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m. Sundays. For details call 968-9490.
High Noon Wild West Collectors Show and Auction: About 150 dealers display one of the widest assortments of Western Americana and cowpoke collectibles ever to be crammed 'neath one roof at the seventh annual show, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, January 18; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, January 19, at Mesa Centennial Hall, 201 North Center. The auction, featuring pricey rarities like Buffalo Bill Cody's cartridge belt and Tom Mix's white Stetson, starts at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $5, which covers both days. Call 644-2178.
"Voices of the People": Valley-based Canyon Records concludes its 45th-anniversary concert series with this performance of traditional Native American song and dance by artists including Sharon Burch, Kay "Kaibah" Bennett, the Black Lodge Singers, and Robert Tree Cody. An abbreviated family matinee is scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 18; a full-length evening show follows at 8. The scene is Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Tickets range from $8 to $15, available at the center and Ticketmaster; call 994-2787 or 784-4444.
Arizona Contemporary Dance Festival: See Friday.
Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction: See Thursday.
Big Band Alumni Orchestra: See Friday.
Swinging on a Star: The Johnny Burke Musical: See Thursday.
sunday
january 19
Nas: The 22-year-old Long Island native (real name: Nasir Jones) stands on the cusp of superstardom, and his imminent success has everything to do with skill--Nas is making a solid play for the role of hip-hop's hard-edged poet laureate--and nothing to do with violence but a condemnation of it. In fact, he cut the usual bicoastal crap by making a pilgrimage to L.A. to record the rap "Nas Is Coming" with Dr. Dre; the track's included on Nas' new Columbia disc, It Was Written. See the story on page 90. Nas headlines an MLK Day Eve celebration on Sunday, January 19, at Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. Know Qwestion, Underground Empire, and Negro League share the all-ages bill. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster. For details call 894-0707 or 784-4444.
Arizona Contemporary Dance Festival: See Friday.
Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction: See Thursday.
"Cynthia Connolly Photoshow": See Saturday.
Forest of Uco Grand Opening: See Saturday.
High Noon Wild West Collectors Show: See Saturday.
Swinging on a Star: The Johnny Burke Musical: See Thursday.
monday
january 20
Phoenix Open Preliminaries: Events related to the 62nd annual golf tourney begin Monday, January 20, at Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Road and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. Phil Mickelson defends his title in the Open, a 72-hole PGA Tour stop scheduled to tee off Thursday, January 23, and continue through Sunday, January 26, on TPC's Stadium Course. Call 870-0163.
"Cynthia Connolly Photoshow": See Saturday.
tuesday
january 21
Reverend Billy C. Wirtz: The South Carolina-born barrelhouse honky-tonker and self-anointed leader of the First House of Polyester Worship falls somewhere between Screaming Jay Hawkins and Robin Williams. The Rev's ribald humor comes naturally; he learned his piano licks from mentor Sunnyland Slim. Wirtz brings his bad self and his crooning potbellied pig--no joke--to the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School, on Tuesday, January 21. Showtime is 9 p.m. The cover is $5. For details call 265-4842.
Supersuckers: Eddie Spaghetti and his goofy hard-core crew return to the Valley for a gig on Tuesday, January 21, at Nita's Hideaway, 1816 East Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe. Showtime is 9:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $8, available at Eastside Records. For details call 967-9531 or 968-2011.
"Cynthia Connolly Photoshow": See Saturday.
Phoenix Open Preliminaries: See Monday.
wednesday
january 22
Bob Margolin Blues Band: "Steady Rollin'" Margolin is a fine, fierce bluesman; he'd have to be to play guitar alongside Muddy Waters, as he did from '73 to '80. But his unblinking devotion to Waters' legacy is also one of the biggest knocks on Bob. Margolin's Muddy homage is not even close to being in the same simpering league as those Mason Jar acts that mimic Alice Cooper and the Doors--the light's still on and somebody's still home up in Bob's skull--but 17 years of artistic indebtedness seems enough, already. Showtime is 9 p.m. Wednesday, January 22, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $6. Call 265-4842.
"Cynthia Connolly Photoshow": See Saturday.
"Native Voices: Reflecting Forward": See Thursday.
Phoenix Open Preliminaries: See Monday.
