5 Best Concerts to See in Phoenix This Week, 6/30 - 7/3

The national acts are abandoning Phoenix en masse, but never fear, brave, sun-proof Phoenicians: You don't have to look very hard to find some quality tunes. Here are our favorite picks for the week.

For more options, check out our comprehensive concert listings for many more options.

Deafheaven/Destruction Unit/Wreck and Reference/Christopher Norby - Monday, June 30 - Crescent Ballroom

See also: Is Deafheaven Bigger than Yeezus?

Someone who compiles these things (Metacritic, apparently) averaged all the reviews for all the records released last year, and Deafheaven's Sunbather came in at number one. In fact, the album with the starkly pink cover is the seventh-highest-scoring record in Metacritic's entire database, dating back to 1999. That means it beat Kanye West's Yeezus and Daft Punk's Random Access Memories.

That's a feat in and of itself, given how heavily most albums are marketed compared to this -- what's more weird about a relatively unknown upstart taking such accolades is how the band is labeled post-metal, black metal, and shoegaze all in one.

In reality, Sunbather transcends genre in an era when it means less and less to associate yourself with a particular category, anyway. The best descriptor for Deafheaven might be "texture-heavy," as nothing remains static: moments of intense, hand-wringing beauty amid pop and shoegaze influences are accented by engulfing tones of violence, despair, and a "sober restlessness," on songs that routinely last more than 10 minutes. --Troy Farah

Phoenix band Destruction Unit's 2013 album Deep Trip was among the finest of the year, a scary mess of nightmarish psych-punk that played out as body music, because each of the band's members share two roles: making noise and conjuring rhythms.

See also: Destruction Unit on Playing to Spaniards High on Bad Speed

The band was formed 14 years ago by Ryan Rousseau and the late Jay Reatard, but in the last few years now features Rousseau (vocals/guitar), N. Nappa and J. Aurelius (guitars), Rousseau's brother Rusty (bass), and A. Flores (drums), though additional noisemakers do tend appear often. --Joshua Levine

PHOX, Trails and Ways, Rob Kroehler - Monday, June 30 - Rhythm Room

There are two particularly striking elements about the Madison, Wisconsin-based PHOX. Musically, the band combines a disparate group of styles and genre that comes across with a seemingly simple complexity. Layered instrumentation generates heady soundscapes that float past in airy delight. Fronted by chanteuse Monica Martin, whose voice rises and falls across the octaves in a kind of mixture of Billie Holiday and Madeline Peyroux, PHOX casually slides though vintage French cafe explorations and Appalachian folk, lush atmospheric pop, and gritty indie underground, classical wanderings, and New Orleans jazz. Magically, the six members keep the music from feeling cluttered -- even as banjo and horn blasts compete for space. This unselfish interplay allows a blissful feeling and flow on every track off their self-titled debut. Visually, all eyes turn to Martin, hailed as "drop-dead gorgeous" by the band's own bio. Lush lips, sharp cheekbones, and devilishly piercing eyes belie the fact that, despite the sometimes deeply personal lyrics, she's actually shy and reserved. Yet there's no denying who's the focus of every video. Does that make the music better? Actually, close one's eyes and the music's just as good -- and, with a little imagination, perhaps even better. --Glenn BurnSilver

Pale, Run-On Sunshine, Saba-Oats, Chemical X - Tuesday, July 1 - Trunk Space

We're not sure what Pale's angle is -- the L.A.-based musician's sound varies anywhere from '80s-quirk to '00s-odd -- but all know for sure is that we can't get the chorus to his catchy, short song "Witch Doctor" out of our heads. --Phoenix New Times

The Donkeys, Cherie Cherie, Makeshift Skyline, DJ Babynose - Wednesday, July 2 - Yucca Tap Room

When you arrive to see San Diego-based The Donkeys, don't be concerned by the wardrobe or behavior of some attendees. They might be wearing T-shirts printed with a string of cryptic numbers or the likeness of actor Josh Holloway. There may even be a few discussions about black smoke monsters, a stranger named Locke, and the band Geronimo Jackson's hit single "Dharma Lady." Though several claim that the band was real, true fans of the TV show Lost know it actually was The Donkeys performing the song (which originally was released in 2008 as "Excelsior Lady."). Those who've delved deeper into the band's music have discovered the quartet's penchant for breezy tunes inspired by the likes of Stephen Stills, The Beach Boys, and Pavement. The band is touring for its latest release, the aptly titled Ride the Black Wave, which gives an edge to the California pop sound with the single "Blues in the Afternoon." The Donkeys' show will, he hope, be more satisfying than the Lost finale, so those still upset over the show's controversial bow are better off saving their frustrations for another night. --Jason Keil

Paul Oakenfold - Thursday, July 3 - Monarch Theatre

Amid the manic hype of the so-called "EDM explosion," it is reassuring that DJs like Paul Oakenfold are still around.

As one of the founding fathers of trance, Oakenfold has proven to be a dance innovator for over 20 years, influencing the masses' conception of electronic music and contributing to the popular acceptance of the DJ as a legitimate artist. --Steve Brennan

Find any show in Metro Phoenix via our extensive online concert calendar.

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