Crescent Ballroom wasted no time becoming a downtown Phoenix staple putting on shows almost every day of the year, and serving delicious food and drinks in the lounge. The venue expanded its horizons last year with Los Dias de la Crescent, where local bands performed both inside and outside for two days of fun. Crescent set up an outdoor stage twice more for Cold War Kids, Hanni El Khatib and more at Carnaval Electrico, and once again for Modest Mouse a few weeks ago.
The venue returns to its two stage format next week for Du Hot Club de Bizarre, a two-day festival featuring a bevy of local and touring bands that could be qualified as strange and bizarre. Find out more about the lineup after the jump.
Wednesday's headliner is of Montreal. Songs like "Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games" play out as cute love songs, but vocalist Kevin Barnes has written his share of dark material; Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? was inspired by a breakup and remains some of the group's best work.
Folkster Devendra Banhart could be the poster child for the New Weird America movement, with Joanna Newsom as the first lady of freak folk. He canceled a show in Phoenix in 2010 because he broke his leg while skateboarding hours before the show.
Turquoise Jeep, the hip-hop/R&B duo of Flynt Flossy and Whatchyamcallit, will bring their fun and campy songs on Friday as well. They're best known for their YouTube videos; check out "Stretchy Pants" if you want to get the idea.
Lo-fi indie-poppers Wild Moccasins are touring with of Montreal. If YouTube footage are indication, their live performance should be upbeat and energetic.
Friday's local support is gypsy rockers Dry River Yacht Club and Spector-y pop-rockers ROAR.
The baroque pop shenanigans continue Thursday night, with a headlining performance by Ra Ra Riot, who lost their cellist prior to the release of this year's synthy Beta Love but retain their violinist. Surf/sci-fi rockers Man or Astro-man? are the second billing, and Speak and Audacity will open.
Tickets to Wednesday's show are $24 in advance, $27 day of show. The outdoor segment is all ages, but the indoor show is 21-and-over. The all ages Thursday show costs $19.50 in advance, $23 day of show.
