For instance, DJ Jared Alan's turning another year old and is throwing himself a rather potent party, legendary indie rock icon Walter Salas-Humara is visiting town, and top-shelf turntablist Star Eyes is spinning up some sounds at Bar Smith.
And that's just tonight.
The seven other event contained within this week's version of "10 Things" are just as fly, which you'll learn for yourself after the break.
Walter Salas-Humara at Rhythm Room (Friday):
Indie rock icon Walter Salas-Humara, renowned for his stints with both the Boatmen in the early '80s and the equally venerated Silos, will spends a Friday night at the Rhythm Room performing in solo fashion. Funky singer-songwriter (and Ben Harper BFF) Tom Freund will open. 5 p.m., $8. (1019 E. Indian School Rd., 602-265-4842)
NIGHTswim at Hotel Theodore (Friday):
"Every summer, the Phoenix metro area turns into the "Valley of the Hotel Pool Party." But as great an excuse as it is to get drunk, half-naked, in the middle of the afternoon, one problem remains: it's a hundred and fifteen friggin' degrees. Since 50 percent of attendees don't step foot into the pool anyway, it's a pretty major buzz kill. Lucky for all you fabulous potential heatstroke victims, there is a solution. On Friday, Jen Deveroux presents Nightswim, the only pool party where the bodies and beats (courtesy of DJs Tricky T and Bigie) are hotter than the temperature..." (click here to read more) 8 p.m., free. (7353 E. Indian School Rd., Scottsdale, 480-308-1100) -- Adriane Goetz
Cheap Thrills at the Matador (Friday):
Jared Alan's got man-candy looks, substantial DJ skills, and one of the hottest DJ nights in the Valley. So what does one do for the man who has everything on his birthday? Hang out at tomorrow night's special edition of Cheap Thrills, that's what. Alan and his pals Sean Watson, BC/AD, Joshie, and Don Ricardo will be in the house at the Matador all night and admission is a mere $5. 9 p.m. (125 E. Adams St., 602-254-7563)
Star Eyes at Bar Smith (Friday):
"Back in the day, Star Eyes brought hip sounds from across the pond way before statesiders had even heard the stuff. More than fifteen years later, one of the first female drum and bass DJs in the lower 48 is still bringing the ruckus. Star Eyes, aka Vivian Host, originally made noise in L.A.'s underground scene before moving to Brooklyn, where she's been tearing up the clubs as a member of the Trouble & Bass emcee quartet. Now, the "haunted house" (in her words) DJ, who's influenced by vintage Mac and Nintendo game music, is out on her own during a US tour that will hit Bar Smith..." (click here to read more) 9 p.m., free before 10:30 p.m. (130 E. Washington St., 480-229-1265) -- Steve Jansen
Lion of Judah Birthday Bash at Clubhouse Music Venue (Friday):
Reggae and dancehall artists from across the Valley converge on the Clubhouse for an evening of irie music in celebration of Rastafarian icon Emperor Haile Selassie. The lineup includes Purple Kush, King Roach 777, Gabriel of Fayuca, Latino Rebel Band, Dee Dread, Motherland Soul, DJ Mark Mello, and DJ Naajee Fiyah. 7 p.m., $9-$15. (1320 E. Broadway Rd., Tempe)
Black Cactus CD Release Show at Yucca Tap Room (Friday):
It's generated tee shirts, inspired a firestorm of angry comments online, fierce debate, and a few bruised egos. Needless to say, if you haven't read this week's music feature on Black Cactus Records by Sarah Ventre, you're missing out on some five-alarm drama. Oh yeah, and it also promotes the label's CD release party later tonight at the Yucca Tap Room, which is almost guaranteed to have as much backbiting and name-calling as the article, if not more so (especially if those ne'er-do-wells from Hooves show up). the lineup of Black Cactus artists performing include Former Friends of Young Americans, Lisa Savidge, The Necronauts, The Premiere, and Tremulants. 9 p.m., free. (29 W. Southern Ave., Tempe)
Grand Re-opening at Joe's Grotto (Saturday):
As the old business school chestnut goes, you gotta spend money to make money. Joe Grotto did just that, dropping some serious scrilla to install an expansive (and expensive) new stage at this NoPho rock bar. Now that's he's built it, hopefully the music fans will come, particularly during Saturday night's celebration, which features Back From Ashes, Autumn's End, Truth About Lies, Age of Evil, and Dangerous Haven. 8 p.m., $8. (13825 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, 602-992-1007).
Sleepwalk, A Robot at Rogue Bar (Sunday):
"The members of Sleepwalk, A Robot may not take themselves seriously as people (they once made a music video called 'Eff Practice, We're Doing Cannonballs' where -- indeed -- the duo did simply jump butt-first into a pool over and over again) but as musicians, the band's electro-pop sound has no problem making audiences dance and sing along..." (click here to read more) 8 p.m., $6. (423 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-947-3580) -- Nicki Escudero
Angel Taylor at Zia Record Exchange (Sunday):
Prior to her appearance at Dodge Theatre in support of the Barenaked Ladies, the SoCal cutie-pie popster will be hanging out at the local music chain's Indian School Road location signing autographs and staging an in-store performance. 2 p.m., free. (1940 W. Indian School Rd., 602-241-0313)
