2011 is the year that music geeks finally beat the jocks.

When it comes to Valley bars, live music fans seem to be gaining the upper hand.

The Red Owl announced its sports grill to music venue conversion earlier this week and now the Canyon Club, formerly Fox Sports Grill in the Scottsdale Promenade, has unleashed a lineup of respectable old school acts.

Canyon Club's 2011 and early 2012 schedule includes Leon Russell, Poco, Missing Persons, John Waite, Uriah Heep, Berlin, The Misfits and Pat Travers, as well as your typical list of punny cover and tribute bands. Who's up for some Dread Zeppelin?

Judging by the lineup, Canyon Club caters to an upscale, older classic rock crowd -- perhaps a more appropriate clientele for the North Scottsdale location than what you'd typically see at a rowdy sports bar.

Citing slumping sales, rather than closing its doors, Fox Sports Grill decided to take the location in another direction, according to AZ Central. Canyon Club first opened its doors in late May, switching the upscale sports bar feel into a loungey, dimly-lit blues and rock spot.

Scottsdale edition makes it the second in the Canyon Club franchise, right behind an Agoura Hills, California location.

To prepare for seeing The Misfits in 2011, here's a 2010 interview Eric Blair did with Jerry Only of the band, where he talks about Jesus being God, Danzig needing to repent, how The Misfits are a family band, and keeping "the American dream nice and solid and real."

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