Best Blues Bar 2024 | Westside Blues, Jazz & More | Nightlife | Phoenix
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Best Blues Bar

Westside Blues, Jazz & More

Losing a music venue is always a bummer, but it's even sadder when it involves a beloved spot from Phoenix's already tiny blues bar scene. Case in point: The closure of the iconic Chars Live earlier this year. Westside Blues, Jazz & More in Glendale was spared this fate, though, thanks to the intervention of general manager Channing Pickett. After co-founders Paul Vincent Perez and Cindi Jackson decided to step away from their nightclub and venue last year, Pickett bought the place and prevented things from ending on a sour note. Wisely, she also kept everything that makes Westside the best blues joint in town. The 3,500-square-foot establishment still offers Chicago-style speakeasy vibes, fantastic acoustics and plush seating. Pickett also upgraded the exterior patio to allow outdoor alcohol consumption — "Now you can sit outside and listen to music and drink," she told Phoenix New Times in April — and added shows on Thursdays. The best local blues/R&B artists hit Westside's stage regularly, including such talents as guitarist Johnny DeFrancesco and ensembles such as Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns and Big Daddy D and the Dynamites. Like many of Westside's patrons, we hope to sing its praises for years to come.

Best Rock Bar

Chopper John's

New Times Archives

There are local rock bars, and then there's Chopper John's. Sloppy, rowdy and a whole lot of fun, the Indian School Road biker dive and live music haven embodies the rock 'n' roll spirit more than other joints with its gritty authenticity, rip-roaring vibes, cheap drinks and even cheaper thrills (almost every show is free). Thunderous tunes reverberate from the low-slung rafters on Friday and Saturday nights, courtesy of one the most consistently diverse lineups of local rock bands around. One weekend, it's take-no-prisoners punk or face-shredding metal; the next, it's gleeful power pop or twangy rockabilly. Chopper John's grungy little heart also beats for the Phoenix music scene by adorning its red-and-black walls with framed shirts from local groups and occasionally hosting album release parties. From its ample smoking patio outside to its stripper pole and year-round Christmas lights inside, Chopper John's is always conducive to a good time.

Best Place to See a Punk Show

Yucca Tap Room

Jennifer Goldberg

When local Reddit users were asked to name the Valley's grimiest bars earlier this year, several mentioned long-running Tempe joint Yucca Tap Room. "That is what I consider a true dive bar," one Redditor commented. "A bar whose smell perfectly captures its vibe." Sounds like the kind of scuzzy-but-lovable place punks would frequent — and they have, for decades now. Yucca Tap's come-as-you-are-vibes, cheap drinks, sticker-laden restrooms and spacious main room have helped make it a preferred destination for generations of local punks. Its bookers frequently bring in such legendary touring bands as Dwarves and Agent Orange or allow local promoters to put on memorable and wild shows and event like the burlesque-friendly Titties, Ass and Punk Rock nights. Best of all, many shows are free to attend, which is the most punk thing of all.

Best Place to See a Metal Show

The 44 Sports Grill & Nightlife

If you hark back to the days when Vince Fournier (a.k.a. Alice Cooper) attended Cactus High School in northwest Phoenix in the late 1960s, it can be said that the best fans of heavier rock 'n' roll came from the north Valley. It's only fitting, then, that the best place to catch a metal show in Phoenix right now is The 44 in Glendale. The venue is the home to a killer stage with some of the best sound gear in town and also has a pretty tasty menu of reasonably priced bar food and drinks to boot. Talk about an excellent place to catch a band like The Dead Boys, Green Jelly or locals Go Ahead and Die with 300 or so of your best new friends. If a little (or a lot of) headbanging is your cup of tea, get over to The 44 and find out what all the shouting is about, but don't forget some ear protection.

Best Reggae Venue

Marquee Theatre

The Marquee Theatre, originally the Red River Opry, debuted in 1993 and transitioned into the renowned concert venue in 2003. Located one mile north of Arizona State University in Tempe, the Marquee Theatre has hosted over 1,500 national touring artists since its 2003 rebranding. Part of the rebranding was to attract reggae acts to metro Phoenix, and recently, Marquee has hosted reggae sensations such as Steel Pulse, Alborosie, FYAH, JWADI, Hyer Tide and local favorite Dobra Sound, packing the house with reggae fans from as far away as Tucson. The auditorium-style venue, which can accommodate more than 1,000 fans, features a vast balcony, a full bar in the concert hall and an additional bar outside in the mezzanine. The venue has a booming sound system, perfect for the covers of Bob Marley and the Wailers' one-drop rhythm covers. With ample parking available, it continues to offer unforgettable live music experiences, solidifying its status as a staple for reggae lovers in the Valley.

Best Country Bar

The Dirty Drummer

Lauren Cusimano

Believe it or not, pardner, but the Valley's best country bar can be found within spitting distance of the city slickers of Arcadia. Sure, there might be bigger, fancier or more rustic cowboy-friendly joints around the Valley, but The Dirty Drummer gallops ahead the herd by embracing its vintage roots and delivering country comforts done right. Just ask local Twitter personality, raconteur and barfly Clue Heywood, who loves the place because "they capture the late-'70s Phoenix vibe to a T." Opened in 1980 by Frank "Drummer" Armstrong and "Dirty Dave" Werner, this "eatin' and drinkin' place" feels like the sort of old-school Phoenix bar where one-time Arizona resident Waylon Jennings would tip one back. Retro beer mirrors, wrought-iron fixtures and a kitschy Kenny Rogers painting adorn the wood-paneled walls, adding to the charm. The Dirty Drummer also boasts great grilled wings, Jack Daniel's cocktails, canned brews such as Montucky and an unrivaled country and western jukebox loaded with twangy tunes by George Jones and other legends. Weekends feature the most varied lineup of local and touring country artists in town, including Americana, old-timey folk, bluegrass and roots musicians. In a herd of look-alike local honky-tonks, The Dirty Drummer is a real outlaw.

Best EDM Venue

Walter Where?House

These guys can do it weird, man. The spirit of Burning Man is alive and well at this not-quite-underground but certainly not mainstream venue hidden away in Phoenix's industrial district, where a variety of big and emerging names in electronic music stop by for sets. The Where?House is not for people looking for a "normal" time. The space is unlike anything around — a playground of art where things get bumping and personal expression is highly encouraged. Walter Productions' dazzling fleet of art cars, from an enormous Volkswagen bus to a repurposed fire truck that shoots flames, dominate the expansive room. A high-powered lighting system and a gallery of paintings made by local artists make for a very stimulating environment. At any show, you'll see a number of people showcasing their flow with hula hoops or other glittering objects. This is where the party's at, making it the crown jewel of Phoenix EDM venues.

Best After-Hours Dance Spot

Karamba Nightclub

Karamba

We've all run into the problem: It's 2 a.m., the bars are closing, but you're still looking to stay out and have fun. Enter Karamba Nightclub on the stretch of McDowell Road in east Phoenix known as Miracle Mile. The DJs at Karamba are basically scientists, measuring the perfect BPM against a catchy melody perfect for getting you on your feet. They find a way to mix 2000s Shakira (the Spanish versions, of course, as it is a Latin club) with new music trending on TikTok. And it somehow sounds good. With a dance floor open till 4 a.m., the crowd is here to sweat, not awkwardly hold a drink while listening to a "Mr. Brightside" mix like in other Phoenix bars.

Best Jukebox

Gracie's Tax Bar

Charles Barth

Gracie's Tax Bar regulars probably couldn't believe their bloodshot eyes. Earlier this year, the popular Seventh Avenue hangout announced on social media it had ditched its beloved Rock-Ola CD jukebox for a TouchTunes system. Turns out it was just an April Fools' Day joke, one that earned plenty of responses from patrons. Some were bummed. Others didn't buy it. Both reactions speak to the jukebox's revered status as the best in the Valley and how integral it's become to the vibe at the bar. After all, it wouldn't be Gracie's without a soundtrack of indie rock gems, '90s hip-hop bangers or outlaw country classics hewn from a vast and varied rotating selection of CDs hand-picked by owner Grace Perry. There's also French psych-punk, groovy soul standards, funky acid jazz, Southern rock anthems and synth-pop favorites to choose from, and they can be had on the cheap (three songs for a buck or 20 spins for $5). Whatever the mood or moment happening at Gracie's, the perfect song is always waiting in its jukebox.

Best Large Music Venue

Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Maybe you know it as Desert Sky Pavilion, Cricket Pavilion or a handful of other names. Regardless, Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre is the crown jewel of local music. From Lollapalooza and Billy Joel (who played the debut show in November 1990) to the Mayhem Festival and Green Day and countless other artists, Talking Stick's hosted the biggest names to ever grace the Valley. Now, some folks out there might think that an open-air amphitheater in Phoenix is a bad call. (Some 8,000 seats of the space's 20,000 total are under a roof, FYI.) But there's true a magic that transcends the weather — it's such a magnificent party in a surprisingly inviting setting that you hardly notice the 108-degree temps. But even if it got to be 1,000 degrees, Talking Stick has been an important presence in Phoenix's continued evolution as a big-time music spot, a venue that has helped birth and extend a robust scene around its confines. It's no hyperbole to say the Valley wouldn't be what it is without Talking Stick, and the place has captured all the joys and significance of our home with every new show. Call it whatever you want, just never insignificant.

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