june 5
Royal Palms Grand Reopening: The Camelback Corridor resort, a formerly funky if somewhat faded dowager that's had a Phoenix-style face-lift, gets back in circulation with a fund-raising bash featuring grounds tours, entertainment, a "culinary show house" and more. The party's scheduled for 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 5, at the Palms, 5200 East Camelback. Tickets are $65, available at the Phoenix Symphony's box office and Dillard's; proceeds are divvied up between the symphony and the American Society of Interior Designers. Call 495-1999 or 503-5555.
Gene: Those who yet mourn the passing of the Smiths tandem of Morrissey and Marr might try fellow British act Gene, which features a similar passion-pop interplay between vocalist Martin Rossiter and guitarist Steve Mason. Those who think that such a sound is dated, circa 1997, well, you're not dead wrong. On the upside, Rossiter and company display as much devotion to glam as they do to Morrissey-brand gloom. Touring behind its second disc, Drawn to the Deep End, Gene performs Thursday, June 5, at Gibson's, 410 South Mill in Tempe. Star 69 shares the all-ages bill. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $8, available at the club and Ticketmaster; call 967-1234 or 784-4444.
"Cesar Chavez Tribute Exhibit": The installation at Alwun House commemorates the late United Farm Workers of America founder, a native Arizonan, via photos, artwork and memorabilia. It continues through Friday, June 27, at the gallery, 1204 East Roosevelt. Viewing is free; hours are noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Call 253-7887.
"Preview Nites": The series features screenings of independently made works by Southwest and West Coast filmmakers, plus music and round-table discussions. The inaugural edition starts with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5, at Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. Tickets are $15, available at the center and Dillard's; call 965-5377 or 503-5555.
Phoenix Firebirds: The Triple A/Pacific Coast League affiliate of baseball's San Francisco Giants continues its 34th--and final--season in the Valley. The squad plays the Edmonton Trappers at 7:05 p.m. Thursday, June 5; 7:05 p.m. Friday, June 6; 7:05 p.m. Saturday, June 7; and 6:05 p.m. Sunday, June 8. The 'birds take on the Albuquerque Dukes at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, June 10; and the same time Wednesday, June 11. The scene is Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 East Osborn. Tickets range from $4 to $8, available at the scene and Dillard's; call 275-0500 or 503-5555.
"Our Future in the Desert: Architectural Explorations": The Arizona VisionWeavers organization sponsors this exhibit of conceptual works about desert habitation and conservation by architects from around the state, including Marlene Imirzian, Todd Bogatay, Don Grieb, Anne Marie Nequette and William Harold Kurtz. The show continues through Sunday, August 31, in the Mezzanine and Lower galleries at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Viewing is free; hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays. Call 994-2787 or 949-5860.
friday
june 6
"Fiestas de la Vida: Devotion and Ritual in Mexican Folk Art": The exhibition includes ceremonial, decorative and political/historical objects related to the liturgical calendar of Mexican holy days: los Dias de los Muertos (the Days of the Dead), the Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Carnival, Christmas and Easter/Holy Week; the pieces were drawn from the permanent collection of the Arizona State University Art Museum and from various private holdings. The show opens with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 6, and continues through Sunday, September 7, at the ASU Art Museum at Nelson Fine Arts Center, 10th Street and Mill in Tempe; artist Lisza Jaurigue is scheduled to work on her altar installation at the reception. Admission and viewing are free; regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Call 965-2787.
13 featuring Lester Butler: Promising, youngblood blues from this L.A.-based band, which includes former Red Devils vocalist/harpist Butler and refugees from the Blasters, Canned Heat and Rod Piazza's Mighty Flyers. Showtime's 9 p.m. Friday, June 6, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $5. For details call 265-4842.
Phoenix Art Museum First Friday Jazz Series: Santa Fe-based Latin-jazz group Yobosó continues the popular series at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 6, in the Great Hall at PAM, 1625 North Central. Tickets are $7.50, $5 for members. For details call 257-1880 or 257-1222.
"Cesar Chavez Tribute Exhibit": See Thursday.
"Our Future in the Desert: Architectural Explorations": See Thursday.
Phoenix Firebirds: See Thursday.
saturday
june 7
Bruce Cockburn: The great Canadian songsmith and owner of one of rock's most politicized voices has mellowed a bit this decade, though the cooling-off is relative. Recent discs by the author of hacked-off anthems like "Call It Democracy" and "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" have tended toward the politics of the heart that defined Bruce's more introspective '70s albums, but Cockburn's conscience remains a presence in the '90s. The musician, whose last name is pronounced "Coe-burn," performs Saturday, June 7, at Gibson's, 410 South Mill in Tempe. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $20, available at Ticketmaster. For details call 967-1234 or 784-4444.
National Trails Day: Numerous events celebrating America's trails system, including construction and maintenance, interpretive hikes and horseback rides, are scheduled at locations around the Valley and the state on Saturday, June 7. For a calendar, call 542-7116; also see the On the Road listing.
Mainly Mozart Festival: Jeffrey Siegel, noted for his "Keyboard Conversations" series, is artistic director of the 12th annual tribute to Wolfgang and friends. The fest continues with orchestra concerts titled "Mozart and Brahms" at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at Paul V. Galvin Playhouse at Arizona State University's Nelson Fine Arts Center, 10th Street and Mill in Tempe; and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at La Sala, located in the University Center Building on the Arizona State University West campus, 4701 West Thunderbird in Glendale. Also on this week's agenda: a family concert titled "Music for the Young and the Young at Heart" at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at La Sala; a lecture by Robert Taylor titled "Theater/Performance, 18th Century" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Kiva Hall, also on the ASU West campus; and a chamber concert at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at La Sala. Events continue through Saturday, June 14. Tickets are $20 and $23 for the orchestra performances, $18 and $21 for the chamber concert, $10 for the family show and $5 for the lecture, available at Dillard's; call 503-5555. For general information, call 543-6057.
"Gas, Grub & Grammar Spoken Word Roadshow": The touring congregation of literary troubadours includes Albuquerque-based "urban feminist" poet Juliette Torrez and Bay Area author/sexual satirist Hank Hyena. Also scheduled to read-slash-perform: poets Victor Infante and Lisa Verlo. Showtime is 8 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at Tempe's Higher Ground Cafe, 1032 South Terrace. For details call 829-8687.
"Fiestas de la Vida: Devotion and Ritual in Mexican Folk Art": See Friday.
"Our Future in the Desert: Architectural Explorations": See Thursday.
Phoenix Firebirds: See Thursday.
sunday
june 8
Vince Gill: One of Nashville's best (and best-selling) stylists, country traditionalist Gill has long been lauded for his high-lonesome tenor and nice-guy ways, from the lean early days opening for the likes of KISS (!) to his stint as lead singer for Pure Prairie League and on to his hypersuccessful solo career. Bryan White shares the stage on Sunday, June 8, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $50, available at the arena and Dillard's; call 379-7800 or 503-5555.
"Fiestas de la Vida: Devotion and Ritual in Mexican Folk Art": See Friday.
Mainly Mozart Festival: See Saturday.
"Our Future in the Desert: Architectural Explorations": See Thursday.
Phoenix Firebirds: See Thursday.
tuesday
june 10
The Rollins Band: Last time through, Henry Rollins hosted a solo spoken-word performance. This time, hard-core Hank returns to what he does--and has always done--best: being hard-core Hank, postpunk avatar supreme. The Rollins crew is touring in support of its new disc, Come In and Burn. Metal/funk/world group Skunk Anansie shares the bill. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Club Rio, 430 North Scottsdale Road in Tempe. Tickets are $17.50, available at Ticketmaster. For details call 894-0533 or 784-4444.
Grease!: Tommy Tune's touring production of the '50s musical is back. This incarnation stars Adrian Zmed of the '82 movie Grease 2 as Danny Zuko, former One Day at a Time co-star Mackenzie Phillips as tough chick Rizzo and All in the Family's Sally Struthers as Miss Lynch. Opening performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 10; and the same time Wednesday, June 11, at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. More shows are scheduled Thursday, June 12, through Sunday, June 15. Tickets range from $29.50 to $43.50, available at Phoenix Civic Plaza and Dillard's box offices; call 262-7272 or 503-5555.
Road Trip: Charles Bowden in Tucson: The Old Pueblo-based author (Blue Desert, Mezcal) hosts a gallery talk/reading at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at the University of Arizona Center for Creative Photography, located north of Second Street on Olive Road. The program's held in conjunction with the Lee Friedlander exhibit "An Excess of Fact: The Sonoran Desert" that's currently displayed at the center (see the On the Road listing). Admission is free. For details call 1-520-621-7968.
"Cesar Chavez Tribute Exhibit": See Thursday.
"Fiestas de la Vida: Devotion and Ritual in Mexican Folk Art": See Friday.
Mainly Mozart Festival: See Saturday.
"Our Future in the Desert: Architectural Explorations": See Thursday.
Phoenix Firebirds: See Thursday.
wednesday
june 11
Chris Whitley: The hard-bitten, Houston-born blues-rocker specializes in dank, earthy tales of alienation and angst. Woe is he, but in a good way; Whitley's wonderful song "Kick the Stones" was included on the soundtrack to Ridley Scott's movie Thelma & Louise. Touring in support of his third disc, Terra Incognita, Chris is scheduled Wednesday, June 11, at Gibson's, 410 South Mill in Tempe. Sweet Vine shares the stage. The all-ages show starts at 7 p.m. The first 100 tickets sold will go for 93 cents apiece; regular tickets are $10. They're available at Ticketmaster. For details call 967-1234 or 784-4444.
Edd "Kookie" Byrnes: Byrnes played jive-spouting hipster Gerald Lloyd Kookson III (a.k.a. "Kookie") and third fiddle to judo-savvy private eyes Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and Roger Smith on the vintage TV series 77 Sunset Strip. Edd signs copies of his telltale tome Edd Byrnes: "Kookie" No More at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Borders Books & Music at 1361 South Alma School in Mesa; Marshall Terrill, the gossipy book's co-author, is also scheduled to appear. For details call 833-2244.
Hillbilly Soul Surfers: The inventive instrumental trio from L.A. summed up its musical mission with the adapted cover "Hillbilly Pipeline," from the band's debut, Hot Damn BoBo!!. (The disc also contains covers of Dick Dale and the Del-Tones' "Miserlou," Buck Owens' "Country Polka" and the theme from TV's The Munsters.) The Ramblers featuring Mario Moreno open at 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $3. For details call 265-4842.
"Cesar Chavez Tribute Exhibit": See Thursday.
"Fiestas de la Vida: Devotion and Ritual in Mexican Folk Art": See Friday.
Grease!: See Tuesday.
Mainly Mozart Festival: See Saturday.
"Our Future in the Desert: Architectural Explorations": See Thursday.
Phoenix Firebirds: See Thursday.
