august 7
"Crossing the Frontier" and "Canyonland Visions": The former exhibit, sponsored by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, is subtitled "Photographs of the Developing West, 1849 to the Present," though "Photographs of the Despoiling West" might be more accurate. The show comprises more than 200 shots, vintage and contemporary, detailing the taming/raping of the land, from clear-cutting to nuclear dumping; artists represented include William Henry Jackson, Timothy O'Sullivan, A.J. Russell, Robert Adams and Frank Gohlke. "Canyonland Visions," a palate-cleansing companion installation organized by Fort Worth, Texas' fine Amon Carter Museum, includes 117 paintings and photos of still-pristine places on the Colorado Plateau, and features 46 recently rediscovered and never-before-displayed watercolors by Prussia-born adventurer/naturalist Heinrich Balduin Msllhausen. The exhibitions continue through Sunday, September 28, in the Steele Gallery at Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 North Central; PAM director Jim Ballinger hosts gallery talks titled "'Canyonland Visions': The Watercolors of Balduin Msllhausen" at 12:15 and 7 p.m. Thursday, August 7. Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays (to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays). Admission, to the Steele Gallery only, is $5, $4 for seniors, $2 for students and children age 6 and up, free for younger kids and members; entry is free to all from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, call 257-1880 or 257-1222.
Pageant: In Mixed Company brought us Alan Ball's frothy Five Women Wearing the Same Dress; the froth quotient's also high in the troupe's production of this interactive musical by Albert Evans, Bill Russell and Frank Kelly, which might be subtitled Six Guys Wearing the Same Gown. The dudes in question don pumps and sashes in pursuit of the "Miss Glamouresse" title and accompanying tiara. This week's performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, August 7; 8 p.m. Friday, August 8; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, August 9; and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, August 10, in Stage West at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The run continues through Sunday, August 17. Tickets are $19.50, $17.50 for students and seniors, available at Herberger and Dillard's; call 252-8497 or 503-5555.
"The Great Dinosaur Extinction": The installation focuses on various theories about why the great beasts perished, and features the remains of a number of rare ones--including the large predator Acrocanthosaurus; the only complete skeleton of a Pachycephalosaurus ever found; and, naturally, a T. rex or two. The exhibit, making its inaugural pit stop on a planned two-year national tour, continues through Sunday, September 7, at Mesa Southwest Museum, 53 North Macdonald. The museum's hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $4, $3.50 for students and seniors, $2 for kids ages 3 to 12, free for those younger. For details call 644-2230.
The Drifters: The group's original leader, Clyde McPhatter, died a quarter-century ago, but his band plays on, and many of its songs--"Under the Boardwalk," "Save the Last Dance for Me," "Up on the Roof," "This Magic Moment"--are for the ages. The doo-woppers perform 'neath the stars on Thursday, August 7, at el Pedregal Festival Marketplace at the Boulders, 34505 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale, continuing the facility's "Music by Moonlight" series. Showtime is 7 p.m. Admission is $10; space is limited. For details call 488-1072.
friday
august 8
13 featuring Lester Butler: The youngblood blues band from the City of the Angels smokes like Tabasco. The lineup includes ex-Red Devils vocalist/harpist Butler, guitarist Alex Schultz (Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers), drummer James Intveld (the Blasters, Rosie Flores' band) and bassist Mark Goldberg (Screamin' Jay Hawkins' group). Shows are scheduled at 9 p.m. Friday, August 8; and the same time Saturday, August 9, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $5. For details call 265-4842.
The Twins: The Unlikely Theater Company continues its commendable commitment to the standards (via its "classic wing," the Mercury Theater) with Michael Fenlason's contemporary update of Roman playwright Plautus' comedy about a bad case of mistaken identity engendered by the at-birth separation, and eventual reunion, of the title brothers. This week's performances--at the troupe's new home: Mesa Arts Center, 155 North Center--are at 8 p.m. Friday, August 8; and the same time Saturday, August 9. The run continues through Saturday, August 16. Tickets are $12, $10 for students and seniors. For details call 952-1955.
Phoenix Firebirds: The Triple A baseball squad hosts the Edmonton Trappers at 7:05 p.m. Friday, August 8; 7:05 p.m. Saturday, August 9; 6:05 p.m. Sunday, August 10; and 7:05 p.m. Monday, August 11, at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 East Osborn. Home games against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox start at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, August 12; and the same time Wednesday, August 13. Tickets range from $4 to $8, available at the scene and Dillard's. Call 275-0500 or 503-5555.
"Crossing the Frontier" and "Canyonland Visions": See Thursday.
"The Great Dinosaur Extinction": See Thursday.
Pageant: See Thursday.
saturday
august 9
"Token City": The virtual subway station Big Apple-born digital artist Muriel Magenta assembled out of whole cybercloth for this installation is likely the closest the Valley will come to mass transit for a significant span of years. The multimedia creation features images back-projected onto three screens (two of them 10 feet by 14 feet, the third 10 feet by eight feet) and underscored by multiple soundtracks to create the illusion of a 3-D depot "with platforms, trains, billboards, bluetiled walls and passengers." John Spiak curated "Token City," which was developed at Arizona State University's Institute for Studies in the Arts with support from composer Michael Udow and animator Gene Cooper. It opens Saturday, August 9; and continues through Tuesday, September 30, at the ASU Art Museum at Nelson Fine Arts Center, 10th Street and Mill in Tempe. Viewing is free; hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. For details call 965-2787.
Arizona Toy and Advertising Roundup: Youngsters will get a kick out of this array of vintage advertising/brand-name memorabilia and collectible playthings from the turn of the century to tomorrow--with emphasis on the Star Wars, Star Trek, Mattel and Barbie universes--but the nostalgia fest is really targeted at big kids. The Roundup is slated for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 9, at Mesa Centennial Hall, 201 North Center. Admission is $3; proceeds benefit the Mesa ARC Auxiliary. For details call 943-1766 or 644-2560.
The Grateful Dead--Anthem to Beauty: This homage to the early Dead utilizes archival performance footage and home movies to examine the group's creative process and lifestyle, or what late bandleader Jerry Garcia called "the form that follows chaos." The program, directed by Jeremy Marre, imposes its own sense of order, using the 1968 album Anthem to the Sun and 1970's American Beauty as "chronological bookends." The show airs at 9 p.m. Saturday, August 9 (the second anniversary of Garcia's death) on KAET-TV, Channel 8. For details call 965-2308.
Downtown Spoken Word Series: The series continues Saturday, August 9, with a "performance"/reading by Barry Graham, New Times columnist and author of The Book of Man and Before. Series facilitator Jack Evans is also scheduled to read. The event starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, August 9, at the Hub Gallery, 130 North Central, Suite B-100; a book signing follows. Admission is free. Call 264-6266.
Arizona Rattlers Playoffs: The arena-football team hosts a first-round playoff against the Milwaukee Mustangs at 5 p.m. Saturday, August 9, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Tickets range from $10 to $38, available at the arena and Dillard's. Call 514-8383, 379-7800 or 503-5555.
"Crossing the Frontier" and "Canyonland Visions": See Thursday.
"The Great Dinosaur Extinction": See Thursday.
Pageant: See Thursday.
Phoenix Firebirds: See Friday.
13 featuring Lester Butler: See Friday.
The Twins: See Friday.
sunday
august 10
John Lydon: Taking a cue from David Bowie's Berlin period of the late '70s--which, ironically, drove one of the final nails into the coffin of first-wave punk by ushering in those nasty synths of New Wave--punk pioneer Lydon has gone continental on us with the electronic, discotheque-friendly strains of Psycho's Path. At first blush, the release of such a disc by the former Johnny Rotten, ex-Sex Pistol and leader of one of the New Wave era's better acts, Public Image Ltd., seems odd, but it fits Lydon's typical mode of being aggressively atypical. You might not agree with John's direction du jour, but, like Bowie, you have to give Lydon credit for refusing to gather moss. Valley remix whiz Markus Schulz opens; the all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. Sunday, August 10, at the Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. Tickets are $16.50 in advance, $18 the day of the show, available at Ticketmaster. Call 894-0707 or 784-4444.
"Crossing the Frontier" and "Canyonland Visions": See Thursday.
"The Great Dinosaur Extinction": See Thursday.
Pageant: See Thursday.
Phoenix Firebirds: See Friday.
"Token City": See Saturday.
monday
august 11
Duke Draper Memorial: Valley bluesman Draper died attempting to cross a street on July 26; the Rhythm Room pays tribute to the Duke with a fund raiser featuring Roadside Attraction (which includes former members of Draper's band), Duke's son Gary Jordan, Rena Haus, Big Pete Pearson, Chico Chism, Mario Moreno and many others. Showtime is 8 p.m. Monday, August 11, at the club, 1019 East Indian School. Admission is a minimum donation of $5; all proceeds go to Draper's family. For more information, call 265-4842.
Phoenix Firebirds: See Friday.
tuesday
august 12
Phoenix Mercury: The WNBA franchise plays the New York Liberty at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 12, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. The team's next home game is at the same time Thursday, August 14, against the Cleveland Rockers. Tickets range from $8 to $25, available at the arena and Dillard's. For details call 252-9622, 379-7800 or 503-5555.
"Crossing the Frontier" and "Canyonland Visions": See Thursday.
"The Great Dinosaur Extinction": See Thursday.
Phoenix Firebirds: See Friday.
"Token City": See Saturday.
wednesday
august 13
Galactic: Acid jazz, swamp funk, old school--call it what you will, but the music of this excellent New Orleans ensemble drips with a groove-heavy humidity native to the Big Easy, and calls to mind a mating of the Meters and Medeski, Martin & Wood. Supporting its debut, Coolin' Off, Galactic performs at 9 p.m. Wednesday, August 13, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $5. For details call 265-4842.
Goldfinger, and the Voodoo Glow Skulls: Goldfinger's been roundly panned by ska purists--and not without cause--but for nonpurists who like their ska-informed punk/pop raw, rude and catchy, it's hard to top John Feldmann's 'finger. The Glow Skulls play "nerd-core," which they define as a galloping fusion of punk, ska and Latino beats. The Southern California acts double up on Wednesday, August 13, at the Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. Shelter opens the all-ages show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $13 in advance, $15 the day of the show, available at Ticketmaster. For details call 894-0707 or 784-4444.
"Crossing the Frontier" and "Canyonland Visions": See Thursday.
"The Great Dinosaur Extinction": See Thursday.
Phoenix Firebirds: See Friday.
"Token City": See Saturday.
