august 28
"Art of the Matter: Seven Collaborations in Paper Art": Organized by the Dieu Donne Papermill of New York City's Soho district, this installation makes a case that the meticulous, hands-on pursuit of papermaking remains relevant in the Cyberspace Age. Including pieces by artists working in pairs (some of those represented include William Weege, Gail Deery, John Nava, Paul Wong, Virginia Jaramillo, Robbin Ami Silverberg, Margaret Prentice, and John Risseeuw of Arizona State University's Pyracantha Press), the exhibit continues through Friday, September 5, at the Harry Wood Gallery, located in the School of Art Building on the ASU campus in Tempe. Viewing is free; regular hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays (the gallery's closed Monday, September 1). Call 965-3468.
Elvis Herselvis and Her Straight White Males, and the Red Elvises: A double dip of Pelvis-shaking perversity for those who didn't get their fill during the recent commemoration of the King's death. San Francisco's Elvis Herselvis is fronted by impersonatrix and self-proclaimed "atomic-powered lesbian singer" Leigh Crow. Says one Bay Area critic of Crow and her SWMs: "This is queer and it's rock 'n' roll. . . ." The Red Elvi hail from the former Soviet Union and bill themselves as "the legendary legends of Siberian surf music." The L.A.-based act plays tunes like "Elvis and Bears," "Ballad of Elvis and Priscilla" and "Shooba-Doobah (Elvis' Vacation)." Showtime is 9 p.m. Thursday, August 28, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $9. For details call 265-4842.
Phoenix Mercury Playoffs: The WNBA franchise hosts the New York Liberty in a semifinal at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 28, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. If the Mercury wins, it goes on to the championship game, scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, August 30, at a site TBA. For details call 252-9622, 379-7800 or 503-5555.
"Places of Peace and Power": Sedona-based mystic/photographer and magical mystery tour guide Martin Gray takes us to a number of the world's "sacred sites"--including Mount Fuji, Machu Pichu, Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza--in this combination slide show and discussion. The latter includes comments about Gray's "extraordinary mystical experiences" at some of the sites, and "a radical interpretation of the miraculous phenomena that occurs [sic] at them." Just FYI. Showtime is 7 p.m. Thursday, August 28, in the Performing Arts Center at Scottsdale Community College, 9000 East Chaparral. Admission is $15. For details call 423-6359.
Phoenix Firebirds' "Final Flight": The Triple A team ends its 34-year affiliation with the Valley on Thursday, August 28, with a game against the Tucson Toros. Fittingly, it's at the squad's longtime home: Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 5999 East Van Buren. The first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Call 275-0500 or 503-5555.
friday
august 29
Junior Wells and His Big Band: The Memphis-born, Chicago-based harmonica great (real name: Amos Blackmore) is best known for his collaborations with Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy and his spate of fine solo platters for Delmark in the '60s, but Wells can still rock any roadhouse you can name in these late '90s. The 63-year-old and his eight-piece group are scheduled Friday, August 29, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. Hans Olson opens at 9 p.m. The cover is $12. For details call 265-4842.
"Art of the Matter: Seven Collaborations in Paper Art": See Thursday.
saturday
august 30
John Fogerty: Fogerty's lionized for his days with Creedence Clearwater Revival, noted for the conviction and accessibility of his roots/pop sound, and notorious for his habit of releasing a solo album per decade--a habit that would throttle the career of a lesser mortal. (The unexceptional Eye of the Zombie, John's 1986 follow-up to his triumphant '85 return to form, Centerfield, was the exception that proved the merit of the rule.) Fogerty began preparations for his latest disc, Blue Moon Swamp, way back in 1990 with a series of pilgrimages to his musical Mecca, Mississippi. Though recording began in '92, the album was just released in April; see the story on page 93. Touring for the first time since Zombie, and incorporating Creedence tunes into his live show for the first time since CCR disbanded, Fogerty's scheduled Saturday, August 30, at Union Hall, Sixth Street and Van Buren. Sharing the stage is Missouri's Bottle Rockets, an alt-Americana band par excellence. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $27 in advance, $29 the day of the show, available at the hall and Dillard's; call 253-7100 or 503-5555.
Open Season: "Drawing Distinctions"; "Virgil Hancock: New Ruins, Old Boneyards"; "From Cairo to Carefree": The fall exhibition season makes its informal debut, along with these installations, on Saturday, August 30. "Drawing Distinctions," at the Arizona State University Art Museum at Nelson Fine Arts Center, 10th Street and Mill in Tempe, is subtitled "Twentieth-Century Drawings and Watercolours From the British Council Collection" and hangs through Sunday, November 30, in conjunction with the upcoming UK/AZ Festival. It includes works by David Hockney, Barbara Hepworth, Michael Craig-Martin, Bridget Riley and others, and explores the evolutionary move of English artists "away from their . . . refined, polite image." Viewing is free; hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays (call 965-2787). "New Ruins, Old Boneyards" features works by Tucson photographer/psychologist Hancock, who puts the dual vocation to good use in metaphorical, Walker Evans-inspired shots of the developed Southwest. "New Ruins" continues through Sunday, November 2, in the New Directions Gallery at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Viewing is free; this week's hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday (call 994-2787). "From Cairo to Carefree," subtitled "Building the Heard Museum," examines the history of the Phoenix institution and its globetrotting, art- and artifact-hoarding founders, Dwight and Maie Heard; the show's up through July '98 at the Heard Museum North, located at el Pedregal at the Boulders, 34505 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. This week's viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Admission is $2, $1 for those ages 4 to 12, free for younger kids and Heard members (call 488-9817).
sunday
august 31
"U-Fest '97" featuring Megadeth: Dave Mustaine's Phoenix-based metal crew headlines another big gig in its adopted home base on Sunday, August 31, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson (the band hosted the national coming-out party for its new disc, Cryptic Writings, at Mesa Amphitheatre in June). The show, sponsored by KUPD-FM 97.9, also includes scheduled performances by the Misfits, Gravity Kills, and the Nixons. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $25 in advance, $15 and $27 the day of the show, available at the arena and Dillard's; call 379-7800 or 503-5555.
"Drawing Distinctions": See Saturday.
"From Cairo to Carefree": See Saturday.
"Virgil Hancock: New Ruins, Old Boneyards": See Saturday.
monday
september 1
The Kelley Deal 6000: Kelley, the historically trouble-plagued twin sister of more successful Deal kid Kim (the Pixies, the Breeders, the Amps), continues to do it for herself--and do it well--with this group, an offshoot of Kelley's heroin-induced '95 stay at a Minnesota halfway house, where she found the impetus to strike out on her own with the first incarnation of her namesake act. Touring behind its second disc, Boom! Boom! Boom!, TKD6K is scheduled Monday, September 1, in the Fender Showcase Room at the Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. The cover is $7. For details call 894-0707.
Charlie Musselwhite: The elegant, Mississippi-born, San Francisco-based bluesman, a.k.a. the "ace of harps," has long been one of the top contemporary performers hoeing the deep-blues field. His new disc, Rough News, includes a terrific take on the old Farina/Santo instrumental "Sleepwalk," and could be a crossover contender. Showtime is 8 p.m. Monday, September 1, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 the day of the show, available at the club and Ticketmaster; call 265-4842 or 784-4444.
tuesday
september 2
Yo La Tengo: Tengo vocalist/guitarist and former music critic Ira Kaplan disproves the old saw that those who can't rock 'n' roll write for rock periodicals. Kaplan and his longtime bandmates from Hoboken, New Jersey--drummer Georgia Hubley and bassist James McNew--play old-school alt at its smartest, but they're best known for their memorable deconstructions of tunes by other folks--from Sonic Youth to Fleetwood Mac. Case in point: Yo La Tengo's new double CD, I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One, includes a cover of the Beach Boys' "Little Honda." See the story on page 94. The Les Payne Product shares the bill on Tuesday, September 2, at Nita's Hideaway, 1816 East Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe. Showtime is 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 the day of the show, available at Dillard's; call 503-5555. For general info, call 967-9531.
"Art of the Matter: Seven Collaborations in Paper Art": See Thursday.
"Drawing Distinctions": See Saturday.
"From Cairo to Carefree": See Saturday.
"Virgil Hancock: New Ruins, Old Boneyards": See Saturday.
wednesday
september 3
Proposals: The world-premiere tour of Neil Simon's latest work for the stage--his 30th--plays the Orpheum Theatre following an L.A. run and in advance of productions in New Haven, Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; and, this November, on Broadway. Terrific actor Ron Rifkin (the recent movie The Substance of Fire) tops a cast that also includes Suzanne Cryer and L. Scott Caldwell in Simon's romantic comedy about a family reunion in the Poconos. Joe Mantello, who helmed both the off-Broadway and Hollywood versions of Terrence McNally's Love! Valour! Compassion!, directed. An opening performance is slated for 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 3, at the theater, 203 West Adams. More shows are scheduled Thursday, September 4, through Thursday, September 11. Tickets range from $32.50 to $45; if available, they're at Phoenix Civic Plaza and Dillard's box offices (call 262-7272 or 503-5555).
Shawn Colvin: Postfolkie Colvin, a well-traveled wisp of a woman with a big, clear voice and a tall talent for penning lyrical, ironic pop tunes (like "Round of Blues," from her '92 album Fat City), returns in support of her latest disc, A Few Small Repairs. Duncan Sheik opens at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 3, at the Celebrity Theatre, 440 North 32nd Street. Tickets are $18 and $23 in advance, $21 and $26 the day of the show, available at the scene and Dillard's; call 267-1600 or 503-5555.
Luther Vandross, and Vanessa Williams: Vandross had a hand in writing David Bowie's '70s hit "Fame" with Bowie and John Lennon, and Luther's spent most of the time since making the credit seem improbable. He's got that super tenor, and he's popular with the ladies (to whom he's sold millions and millions of albums jam-packed with moist urban power ballads), but, in the end, Vandross is really just a B-team Barry White--if basso profundo Barry were a castrato. (Luther's new disc is titled Your Secret Love--surprise, surprise.) "Vocalist" Vanessa--attempted actress (Hoodlum, Eraser) and momentary Miss America before being stripped of her title (pun definitely intended)--is big among those with tin ears. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 3, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Tickets range from $21.50 to $53.50, available at the arena and Dillard's; call 379-7800 or 503-5555.
"Art of the Matter: Seven Collaborations in Paper Art": See Thursday.
"Drawing Distinctions": See Saturday.
"From Cairo to Carefree": See Saturday.
"Virgil Hancock: New Ruins, Old Boneyards": See Saturday.
