october 10
Ween: Nervy New Jersey alt. rockers Dean and Gene Ween traveled to enemy territory, Nashville, to record their skewering of Music City, the faux tribute album 12 Golden Country Greats (Elektra), which includes titles like "Help Me Scrape the Mucus Off My Brain" and "Piss Up a Rope," as well as vocal support from Elvis' Jordanaires. It's all highly offensive, and as fun as a roll in the muck with a pack of porkers. Tucson's Doo Rag shares the bill. Showtime is 8 p.m. Thursday, October 10, at Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. Tickets are $12, available at the club and Ticketmaster. Call 894-0707 or 784-4444.
Phoenix Coyotes: The Valley's new professional hockey franchise opens the regular home season, its first in Arizona, with a game against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, October 10. Also this week: The Coyotes battle the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on Saturday, October 12; and the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, October 14. All games face off at 7 p.m. at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Tickets are $8.75 and $26.75, available at the arena and Dillard's. For details call 379-7825, 379-7800 or 678-2222.
Rage Against the Machine: The radical metal band--that tag seems oddly oxymoronic, though some of the most rad of recent notions have exited metal heads--is exactly as billed: a balled fist of anger directed at corporate greed meisters. The group's album deal with one of the cogs in the corporate machine, Epic Records, simply adds ironic spice. Rage is scheduled to perform a rescheduled/relocated show on Thursday, October 10, at Compton Terrace, I-10 and Queen Creek Road in Chandler. Stanford Prison Experiment opens at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $14, available at Dillard's; those already sold for the original show on September 26 at Mesa Amphitheatre will be honored. Call 678-2222.
Feld Ballets/NY: Eliot Feld's excellent troupe performs at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 10, at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Tickets are $24 and $28, available at the center and Ticketmaster. For details call 994-2787 or 784-4444.
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult: Strap on your neon platforms, fish that Throbbing Gristle tee shirt from the bottom of the hamper and head down to Gibson's, 410 South Mill in Tempe, for a night of brainpan-rattling industrial disco, courtesy of Kult members Buzz McCoy, Groovie Mann, Jacky Blacque, Kitty Killdare and Levi Levi. Death Ride 69 shares the all-ages bill. Showtime is 9 Thursday, October 10. Tickets are $12, available at the club and Ticketmaster. For details call 967-1234 or 784-4444.
Arizona Fall League: Top pro-baseball prospects get some extra polish in this league, which includes the defending-champion Mesa Saguaros, the Tempe Rafters, the Peoria Javelinas, the Phoenix Desert Dogs, the Scottsdale Scorpions and the Sun Cities Solar Sox. Regular-season play begins Thursday, October 10, and continues through Thursday, December 5. The "Say Hey Kid," Willie Mays, is slated to make a special appearance at Thursday night's game between the Rafters and the Scorpions at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 East Osborn; for this week's complete schedule, see the Sports listing. Tickets are $4, $3 for seniors and kids, available at Dillard's; some tickets are also available via Ticketmaster. For details call 496-6700, 678-2222 or 784-4444.
West Side Alan Johnson "reproduced" the stage directions and choreography of Jerome Robbins' original Broadway version of 1957 for this touring show. Scott Carollo and Marcy Harriell portray star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria in Johnson's take on the musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, penned by the dream team of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents. Final performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 10; 8 p.m. Friday, October 11; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, October 12; and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, October 13, at Gammage Auditorium, Mill and Apache in Tempe. Tickets range from $28 to $42, available at Gammage and Dillard's. For details call 965-3434 or 678-2222.
Dale Watson and the Lone Stars: Texas-based honky-tonk growler Watson was just about to take the stage at the old Rockin' Horse on June 22 when the club flamed on, deep-frying his band's equipment along with the venue proper and a bunch of spuds. Dale and the Stars return for a make-good gig on Thursday, October 10, at the new Horse, 7316 East Stetson in Scottsdale. Flathead, and the Suicide Kings share the stage. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the scene and Ticketmaster. Call 949-0992 or 784-4444.
friday
october 11
All in the Timing: Actors Theatre of Phoenix inaugurates its new season with this compilation of edgy, comic one-acts by David Ives, including "Variations on the Death of Trotsky," in which the late revolutionary muses on the afterlife and the mountaineer's ax embedded in his skull; and "Words, Words, Words," which centers on three chimps (Milton, Kafka and Swift) who are issued typewriters and ordered to pound the keys until they re-create Hamlet. Timing opens with a preview at 8 p.m. Friday, October 11, in Stage West at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The official opening is at the same time Saturday, October 12; more shows are scheduled at 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, October 13. The production continues through Sunday, November 3. Tickets range from $16 to $26, available at Herberger and Dillard's. For details call 252-8497 or 678-2222.
Phoenix Suns: The Suns host preseason contests versus the Vancouver Grizzlies on Friday, October 11; the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, October 13; and the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, October 16. All tip off at 7 p.m. at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. The team opens regular-season home play with a match against Charles Barkley and the Houston Rockets at the same time Saturday, November 2. If tickets are available, they're at the arena and Dillard's. For details call 379-7867, 379-7800 or 678-2222.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Benjamin Livingston and Sheffield Chastain star as, respectively, Valentine and Proteus, the title gentlemen in the Bard's comedy/adventure about wanderlust and other forms of youthful passion, which could be subtitled Road to Milan. Arizona Theatre Company has kicked off its 30th-anniversary season with the show. The Valley run opens with a preview at 8 p.m. Friday, October 11, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The press opening is at the same time Saturday, October 12. The remainder of this week's performances are at 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, October 13; and 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 16. A discussion follows Sunday's matinee. The production continues through Saturday, October 26. Tickets range from $19 to $32, available at Herberger and Dillard's. For reservations and details, call 252-8497 or 678-2222.
Way Out West Oktoberfest: Old Town Tempe's schizophrenic celebration of cowboy culture and Teutonia returns for its 24th year. Highlights include country and polka music, a silent auction, a parade and more. Hours are 5 p.m. Friday, October 11, to midnight; 10 a.m. Saturday, October 12, to midnight; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, October 13, in the area surrounding Hayden Square, Fourth Street and Mill. Admission is free. Call 491-3378.
West Side See Thursday.
saturday
october 12
"Personal Passion, Profitable Pursuit": Flagstaff's Museum of Northern Arizona developed this exhibit of Southwestern paintings collected over three decades by Katherine Harvey, the granddaughter of the "Civilizer of the West," Fred Harvey. The installation opens Saturday, October 12, and continues through March 24, 1997, at the Heard Museum, 22 East Monte Vista. Viewing hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays (to 8 p.m. Wednesdays), noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. For details call 252-8840.
Jay Leno: It'll cost you $22, plus tax, but here's a chance to exchange pleasantries with the wide-profile host of The Tonight Show. On a book-signing tour in support of his autobiography, Leading With My Chin, Leno signs copies (but only those purchased at Waldenbooks or Brentano's and accompanied by a receipt) at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, October 12, at the Waldenbooks store at 302 East Bell. For details call 863-2424.
All in the Timing: See Friday.
Phoenix Coyotes: See Thursday.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona: See Friday.
Way Out West Oktoberfest: See Friday.
West Side See Thursday.
sunday
october 13
Orli Shaham: The pianist's 1995 concert at Scottsdale Center for the Arts with her violinist brother, Gil, was a highlight of the season--any season. The gifted Shahams brought down the house with a spare but smashing display of technical and emotional virtuosity. Twenty-one-year-old Orli returns to SCA, 7380 East Second Street, for a solo, "Evenings With Steinway" recital of works by J.S. Bach, Schumann, Beethoven, Chopin and Scriabin. Showtime is 7 p.m. Sunday, October 13. Tickets are $10, available at the center and Ticketmaster. Call 994-2787 or 784-4444.
All in the Timing: See Friday.
"Personal Passion, Profitable Pursuit": See Saturday.
Phoenix Suns: See Friday.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona: See Friday.
Way Out West Oktoberfest: See Friday.
West Side See Thursday.
monday
october 14
Alan Parsons: The former recording engineer for the Beatles and Pink Floyd is something of a recluse with a studio tan, so his live, outdoor show on Monday, October 14, at Mesa Amphitheatre, Center and University, comes as a pleasant surprise. Expect some of Alan Parsons Project's old faves, like "Time," "Eye in the Sky" and "Games People Play," and stuff from Parsons' new album/CD-ROM set, On Air. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $21 in advance, $22 the day of the show, available at Mesa Community Center and Dillard's box offices. Call 644-2560 or 678-2222.
"Personal Passion, Profitable Pursuit": See Saturday.
Phoenix Coyotes: See Thursday.
tuesday
october 15
Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai: Three of the guitar gods of the universe have joined forces under the touring designation "G3." Beware of leather jeans, swooning rock babes, flailing joy sticks, windmills and related rock-head shrapnel. British cult favorite Adrian Legg--a drop-dead player, but an odd-duck choice for this bill--shares the stage. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 15, at Mesa Amphitheatre, Center and University. Tickets are $24 in advance, $26 the day of the show, available at Mesa Community Center and Dillard's box offices. Call 644-2560 or 678-2222.
Robert Rahway Zakanitch: The abstract expressionist, known for his massive, ripe depictions of flora and fruit, speaks at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 15, at Arizona State University Art Museum at Nelson Fine Arts Center, by way of introducing his installation "Paintings From the Big Bungalow Suite." The exhibit opens Wednesday, October 16, and continues through Sunday, January 12, 1997, at the Nelson, Tenth Street and Mill, on the ASU campus in Tempe. Admission is free. For viewing hours, see the Art Exhibits listing or call 965-2787.
"Personal Passion, Profitable Pursuit": See Saturday.
wednesday
october 16
Tap Dogs: Billed as "a rough, tough . . . reinvention of tap for the '90s," this highly rhythmic and occasionally inventive show features six male hoofers from Australia who attempt to fill the void that exists between the click-heeled grace of Fred Astaire and those rock-'em/sock-'em roustabouts in Stomp. An opening performance is scheduled at 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 16, at Union Hall, Sixth Street and Van Buren. More shows are scheduled Thursday, October 17, through Sunday, October 20. Tickets range from $23.50 to $33.50, available at the hall and Dillard's. Call 253-7100 or 678-2222.
"Personal Passion, Profitable Pursuit": See Saturday.
Phoenix Suns: See Friday.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona: See Friday.
