august 29
Ronnie Dawson: The Texas hellbilly, self-proclaimed "Blond Bomber of the Monkey Beat," has been cutting sizzlin' sides since 1958--starting with "Action Packed" and "Rockin' Bones," both recorded under the alias Ronnie Dee. The latest disc from Dallas-born Dawson, Just Rockin' & Rollin', kicks pretty hard, too. Definitively action-packed, the Upstart album includes 16 hilarious and seriously planet-shakin' tracks, from "Fish Out of Water" to "Club Wig Wam" to "Sucker for a Cheap Guitar." Dawson performs on Thursday, August 29, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. Elgin shares the bill. Showtime is 9 p.m. The cover is $6.50. Call 265-4842.
"Traps": The wonderful installation by light heavyweight Al Price, a former Arizona State University instructor, comprises a series of kinetic sculpture that create changing patterns of shadow and movement. It comes down this week; check it out before it's gone. Viewing hours are noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, August 29; noon to 8 p.m. Friday, August 30; noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, August 31; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, September 1, in Lower Gallery at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Admission is free. Call 994-2787.
BR5-49: The hard-core contemporary honky-tonk group has created a soft buzz among the alternative in crowd with its take-no-prisoners traditionalism. The house band at Robert's Western World in Nashville--a pedal-steel factory turned smoky nightspot--is on the road in support of its Arista debut, Live at Robert's. Flathead opens the shows at 8 p.m. Thursday, August 29; and the same time Friday, August 30, at the Rockin' Horse, 7316 East Stetson in Scottsdale. Tickets are available at the scene and Ticketmaster. Call 949-0992 or 784-4444.
Six Women With Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know: Theater League presents a tenth-anniversary revival of the oft-revived all-woman musical, a parody of soap operas, tabloid journalism and other by-products of pop culture's ascension. The long-running reincarnation wraps this week. Final performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, August 29; 8 p.m. Friday, August 30; 8 p.m. Saturday, August 31; and 2 p.m. Sunday, September 1, at the Scottsdale Playhouse, 7219 East Main. Tickets are $19.50, available at Dillard's. For details call 952-2881 or 678-2222.
friday
august 30
Linda Ronstadt: Believe it or not, Tucson's favorite daughter just turned 50, and pigeonhole-defying Linda's done more in her first five decades than most musicians who make it to the century mark. She's applied her bell-tone vocals to incarnations as varied as coffee-house folkie, neocountry singer, pop star, rocker, big-band chanteuse, Broadway balladeer and crooner of Spanish canciones. Her 29th album, Dedicated to the One I Love (Elektra), is a collection of--of all things--nontraditional lullabies, including the Beatles' "Good Night" and Queen's "We Will Rock You." Ronstadt performs with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra on Friday, August 30, at Desert Sky Pavilion, 2121 North 83rd Avenue. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $50, available at Ticketmaster. For details call 254-7599 or 784-4444.
Phoenix Firebirds: The Valley's Triple A affiliate of baseball's San Francisco Giants wraps up its regular Pacific Coast League season with games against the Salt Lake Buzz at 7:05 p.m. Friday, August 30; 7:05 p.m. Saturday, August 31; 6:05 p.m. Sunday, September 1; and 6:05 p.m. Monday, September 2. All games are at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 East Osborn, except for Saturday's, which is at Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 North 83rd Avenue. The 'birds, first-half champs of the PCL's Southern Division, kick off the playoffs with matches against the second-half Southern Division winner at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, September 4; and the same time Thursday, September 5, at Scottsdale Stadium. Tickets range from $3 to $7. Call 275-0500.
The Lady's Not for Burning: Ethington Theatre at Grand Canyon University, 3300 West Camelback, has opened its new season with British "blank verse" playwright Christopher Fry's offbeat, Middle Ages comedy about a disillusioned soldier and a woman bound for the stake on a charge of witchcraft. Final performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, August 30; and the same time Saturday, August 31. Tickets are $8, $6.50 for seniors and children. For reservations and details, call 589-2871.
WestWorld of Scottsdale 1996 Summer Rodeo Series: The finals of the Southwest Professional Rodeo Association-sanctioned series are scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday, August 30, in Equidome Arena at WestWorld, 16601 North Pima Road. Tickets are $7, $3 for kids 6 and up, available at the scene and Dillard's. Call 483-8800 or 678-2222.
Road Trip: "Navajo Code Talkers" in Tucson: Arizona Commission on the Arts is the sponsor of this traveling exhibit, a collection of black-and-white portraits of the Code Talkers by Japan-born, Fort Defiance-based freelance photographer Kenji Kawano. Some of World War II's most unsung heroes, the Talkers concocted a code, using the Navajo language, that confounded Japanese intelligence and helped to turn the tide of the Pacific war in favor of the Americans. The installation opens Friday, August 30, and continues through Sunday, September 29, at Tohono Chul Park, located at 7366 North Paseo del Norte, west of the intersection of Oracle and Ina roads. Viewing hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is a suggested donation of $2. Call 1-520-742-6455.
