september 26
"William Lesch: Painting With Light": Scottsdale Center for the Arts, in conjunction with its pricey opening-night gala featuring Gregory Hines on Saturday, September 28 (see the Dance listing), presents this exhibit of lovely, hyperrealistic, manipulated desert landscapes by Tucson photographer Lesch, whose forte is using "colored lights as a painter uses pigment." (Note: If you can't make the show, check out the artist's published collection, Expansions.) The exhibit continues through Sunday, October 6, on SCA's Atrium West Wall. The center is located at 7380 East Second Street. Viewing is free; hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays (to 8 p.m. Thursdays), noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. For details call 994-2787.
Phoenix Coyotes: The Valley's new professional hockey franchise continues its inaugural season in Arizona with a preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, September 26. Face-off is at 7 p.m. at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. The team's next home match is the regular-season opener, scheduled for the same time Thursday, October 10, versus the San Jose Sharks. Tickets are $8.75 and $26.75, available at the arena and Dillard's. For details call 379-7800, 379-7825 or 678-2222.
Damon Wayans: The former member of the In Living Color cast is a funny guy, but he's in need of a new script consultant. His Hollywood resume includes dogs with fleas like Blankman, Major Payne and Celtic Pride. His latest woofer is named Bulletproof. Wayans performs on Thursday, September 26; Friday, September 27; Saturday, September 28; and Sunday, September 29, at the Improvisation, Rural and University (at Cornerstone mall) in Tempe. For details call 921-9877.
Phoenix Symphony: Guest conductor Hermann Michael leads the orchestra in its first "Classics" performances of the season at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 26; and 8 p.m. Friday, September 27, at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. The program includes Brahms' Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Opus 68; Wagner's Overture to Tannhauser; and Lutoslawski's Symphony No. 3. "Musically Speaking" discussions start an hour before each concert. Tickets range from $13 to $37, available at the symphony box office and Dillard's. Call 264-6363 or 678-2222.
friday
september 27
Coppelia: Ballet Arizona has opened its season with a revival of E.T.A. Hoffmann's Frankenstein-style work about mad Dr. Coppelius and the strange bond he forms with his mechanical creations, especially the beautiful title automaton. The score is by Delibes, and the set is great. This week's performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 27; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 28; and 2 p.m. Sunday, September 29, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. More performances are planned Thursday, October 3, through Sunday, October 6. Discussions begin an hour before each show. Tickets range from $17.25 to $29.25, available at the ballet box office and Dillard's. Call 381-1096 or 678-2222.
Henry Gray: The Louisiana-born and -based bluesman is best known for his Windy City days with Howlin' Wolf. The barrelhouse pianist, backed by Chico Chism's Chicago Blues Band, presides over a live, two-night recording session at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The shows start at 9 Friday, September 27; and the same time Saturday, September 28. The cover is $5. For details call 265-4842.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Arizona State University's theatre department kicks off its season with the work about a deadly game of sexual cat and mouse in the court of France's King Louis XVI, finely adapted by Christopher Hampton from the novel by Choderlos de Laclos. Opening performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 27; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 28; 3 p.m. Sunday, September 29; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 1; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, at Lyceum Theatre, located at the north end of Forest Mall on the west side of the ASU campus in Tempe. More shows are planned Thursday, October 3, through Saturday, October 5. Tickets are $12, $7.50 for ASU faculty and staff, $6 for students and seniors, available at ASU Fine Arts and Dillard's box offices; call 965-6447 or 678-2222.
"William Lesch: Painting With Light": See Thursday.
Phoenix Symphony: See Thursday.
Damon Wayans: See Thursday.
saturday
september 28
"That Damn Show!" featuring 311, the Butthole Surfers, and the Phunk Junkeez: The Edge, KEDJ-FM 106.3, assembled this package deal of alterna/metallic acts, including raucous Midwestern groups 311 (born in Nebraska, it's now based in California) and the Surfers, the Valley's Junkeez (minus the recently ousted Kirk Reznik), the Voodoo Glow Skulls, Goldfinger, Cake, Schleprock, the Smoking Popes, and the Figgs. Showtime is 1 p.m. Saturday, September 28, at Compton Terrace, I-10 and Queen Creek Road in Chandler. Tickets are $17, available at Dillard's; call 678-2222.
Hoop-It-Up: This year's three-on-three street-ball shoot-out, open to players age 10 and up, is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, September 28; and the same hours Sunday, September 29, in the area surrounding Patriots Square, Central and Washington. Proceeds benefit the Grand Canyon State Games. For details call 280-9241.
Marty Robbins Memorial Concert: The Friends of Marty Robbins host this fifth annual tribute to the late "Mr. Teardrop," Glendale's favorite son, at 7 p.m. Saturday, September 28, at Glendale Amphitheatre, 58th Avenue and Glendale in Robbins' hometown. Expect plenty of songs in the key of Marty, as well as covers of the late country singer's "El Paso," "I Walk Alone" and "A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation)." Admission is a donation of $4 in advance, $5 the day of the show; proceeds are earmarked for the Marty Robbins Glendale Exhibit. Call 841-2881 or 937-6756.
ASU Football: Arizona State University's nationally ranked Sun Devils, coached by Bruce Snyder and led by quarterback Jake "The Snake" Plummer, continue this year's home schedule with a match against the University of Oregon Ducks at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, September 28, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The team's next home game is at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 5, versus Boise State University. For tickets and details, call the Sun Devil Sports Box Office at 965-2381. Tickets are also available at Dillard's; call 678-2222.
Road Trip: Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Festival featuring T.S. Monk, and Maynard Ferguson and His Big-Bop Nouveau Band: Thelonious Monk's son, T.S., and trumpet master Ferguson's crew co-headline the 15th annual--and always highly recommended--concert 'neath the red rocks. Mark DuFresne, Diana Krall, Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band, and Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Youth Band share the bill. The music starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, September 28, at Hamilton Warren Amphitheatre at the Verde Valley School in the Village of Oak Creek. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 the day of the show, available at Dillard's. Call 1-520-282-1985 or 678-2222.
Coppelia: See Friday.
Henry Gray: See Friday.
"William Lesch: Painting With Light": See Thursday.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses: See Friday.
Damon Wayans: See Thursday.
sunday
september 29
Sue Foley, and Teddy Morgan: Foley's sound falls somewhere between the stone blues and Bonnie Raitt's stylish R&B; Morgan's a rowdy swinger of impeccable taste. The sublime guitarists/songwriters are touring behind Walk in the Sun and Louisiana Rain, their new, respective discs for Austin, Texas-based Antone's Records, and in celebration of that label's recently inked distribution deal with Warner Music subsidiary Discovery Records, which promises to raise the profile of both Antone's and the artists in its stable. Good news, all around. Showtime is 9 p.m. Sunday, September 29, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $6. Call 265-4842.
Arizona Cardinals: Head coach Vince Tobin and his NFL redbirds play the St. Louis Rams at 1 p.m. Sunday, September 29, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The squad's next home game is at the same time Sunday, October 20, versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tickets range from $20 to $50, available at Dillard's. For details call 379-0102 or 678-2222.
Coppelia: See Friday.
Hoop-It-Up: See Saturday.
"William Lesch: Painting With Light": See Thursday.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses: See Friday.
Damon Wayans: See Thursday.
monday
september 30
Bad Livers: The late father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe, would have disavowed this psychotic 'grass trio--or would he have? Actually, the Texas threesome occasionally strikes a note that sounds as if it were shot right out of the Monroe canon, but, in spirit, former Killbilly members Danny Barnes and Mark Rubin and their compatriot Ralph White come across like the Holy Modal Rounders with, well, three Rounders instead of two. The Livers also seem to have inherited the Rounders' gift for inspired headings. Our favorite album by the '60s duo is Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders; check out these song titles from Bad Livers' latest disc, Horses in the Mines: "Shot at a Bird, Hit Me a Stump," "Clawhammer Fish," "Puke Grub" and "High, Lonesome, Dead and Gone." Flathead shares the bill. Showtime is 9 p.m. Monday, September 30, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $5. For details call 265-4842.
"William Lesch: Painting With Light": See Thursday.
tuesday
october 1
James Magee: The El Paso-based artist, phantom of the town dump in nearby Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, creates "somber, high reliefs" and "evolutionary" sculpture out of found urban detritus and "substances like crankcase oil, rust and paprika." Chef Magee then crowns his concoctions with titles that are, in essence, lengthy, freeform poems that skew history in sometimes alarming, sometimes charming ways; on the charming side, check out Magee's funny, touching "Duchess of Alba" correspondence. Redefining the term "interactive art," Magee presents a free reading of his nom de plumage at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 1, at Arizona State University Art Museum at Nelson Fine Arts Center, Tenth Street and Mill, on the ASU campus in Tempe. The event is held in conjunction with the museum's display of the installation "James Magee: Books, Boxes, Texts, Videos," which includes the aforementioned "Duchess" letters and which continues through Sunday, January 5, 1997. For viewing hours and other information, see the Art Exhibits listing or call 965-2787.
"William Lesch: Painting With Light": See Thursday.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses: See Friday.
wednesday
october 2
The Melvins: The band from Washington state is probably best known for being born in Kurt Cobain's hometown of Aberdeen and for providing a young, pre-Nirvana Kurt with gainful employment as a roadie. As deeply as the Melvins influenced Cobain and other area musicians--like, pointedly, those in Mudhoney--they remain almost completely unknown outside the Seattle orbit. Still, if you're a fan of grungy sludge--or the reverse--you're in for a slime-covered treat. Showtime is 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, at the Mason Jar, 2303 East Indian School. Tickets are $7 in advance, $8 the day of the show, available at Ticketmaster. For details call 956-6271 or 784-4444.
Samaritan Wheelchair Suns: The National Wheelchair Basketball Association franchise takes on a team comprising chair-bound Arizona celebrities in the 13th annual "Big Wigs Versus Big Wheels" exhibition match. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, in the gymnasium at Mesa High School, 1630 East Southern. Tickets are $3, $1.50 for students and kids; proceeds benefit students with disabilities. Call 644-2396.
"William Lesch: Painting With Light": See Thursday.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses: See Friday.
