Best Phoenix Concerts This Weekend: MisterWives, Slow Pulp, Everclear

This weekend will see bands like indie rockers Slow Pulp, ‘90s alt-radio favorites Everclear, and colorful indie pop band MisterWives performing at music venues around metro Phoenix. Other notable concerts happening from Friday, November 19, to Sunday, November 21, include jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum, singer-songwriter Paul Thorn, and electronic dance music legend Paul Van Dyk.

Punk stalwarts Lagwagon are also stopping at The Rebel Lounge for a two-night stint and will play two of their biggest fan-favorite albums in their entirety.

Details about each of these gigs can be found below. For more live music taking place in the Valley this weekend, check out Phoenix New Times' online concert listings. Keep in mind, though, that Arizona is in the midst of a Covid-19 surge right now and multiple venues are requiring proof of vaccinations or a recent negative test result to attend shows. More info can be found on the ticketing sites for each concert.

Kirk Whalum at Chandler Center for the Arts

Kirk Whalum is a son of the Civil Rights era. He was just 9 years old when Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated, only blocks away from the Whalum family home in Memphis. His legendary and prolific career, which began in Houston more than four decades ago, has allowed him to see the world and know its people. He’s personally experienced King’s vision of “The Beloved Community” and expressed that vision through his 2019 album, Humanité. Whalum is scheduled to perform at Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 North Arizona Avenue, on Friday, November 19. He’ll be playing songs from a career that launched at local haunts in his hometown and went on to include more than two dozen albums, a Grammy, and session and touring gigs with artists like Barbra Streisand, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, and, most notably, Whitney Houston. Tickets for the 8 p.m. concert are $48 to $68. Jesse Sendejas Jr.

Paul Van Dyk at Sunbar

Few DJs are as accomplished as Paul van Dyk. Or as legendary. Over the span of his 38-year career, the German-born artist helped lay the groundwork for electronic dance music’s modern era, produced several influential albums, and redefined the genre of trance. He’s also won a slew of awards (including a Grammy), played enough gigs around the world to be considered one of the most traveled DJs of all time, and even survived personal tragedy (specifically, a 20-foot fall in 2016 that nearly claimed his life). In other words, simply calling him a “superstar” only scratches the surface. Some DJs might be content to rest on their laurels, but Van Dyk has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. He continues to play numerous festivals and club gigs around the world, including a performance at Tempe’s Sunbar, 24 West Fifth Street, on Friday, November 19. Openers like Sean + Xander, Pharm.G., and Joseph Harding get going at 9 p.m. Tickets are $27. Benjamin Leatherman

Everclear at Celebrity Theatre

Lace up your Etnies, put on your JNCOs, and get ready to fall through a music time warp. If you're looking for a little '90s nostalgia this weekend, look no further than the Celebrity Theatre. On Friday, November 19, '90s hitmakers Everclear (“Father of Mine,” “Santa Monica,” “Everything to Everyone”) and 2000s radio favorites Wheatus ("Teenage Dirtbag") are both scheduled to perform at the historic venue. The show is at 8 p.m. and tickets are $30 to $40. David Fletcher

Slow Pulp at Valley Bar

After releasing its debut album Moveys in late 2020, Slow Pulp seems to be on a mission to prove itself the most eclectic indie band going. The band’s discography has it all: acoustic ballads, indie electro-pop, a one-minute instrumental nod to former NFL quarterback Brett Favre, even a newly released cover of Sum 41’s ’90s classic “In Too Deep.” Considering Slow Pulp’s exponential rise in the last calendar year and the coveted Phoebe Bridgers co-sign the band received this fall, Valley Bar, 130 North Central Avenue, almost seems too small a venue for their show on Saturday, November 20. But with tickets at just $14 before fees, it’s also a great opportunity for local indie fans to get in on the ground floor of the next big thing. Mamalarky opens the 8 p.m. show. Gannon Hanevold

Postmodern Jukebox at Mesa Arts Center

Postmodern Jukebox started in founder and composer Scott Bradlee’s living room in Queens. As a kid, he was drawn to older styles of music like jazz, swing, and Motown, but he didn’t have many peers sharing his interest. Since they were all listening to the pop tracks on the radio, he thought it'd be interesting to join that conversation by taking the contemporary songs they played on repeat and transforming them into older styles to sound like the kind of music he loved. The result is a large ensemble that takes modern-day pop hits, puts them in a time machine, and sends them back to the present from the Golden Age of swing, jazz, and soul. You’ll recognize the lyrics, but the song itself is a whole new tune. Whether you've stumbled across Postmodern Jukebox’s addictive YouTube videos or are intrigued by the twists put on your favorite radio hits, their unique sets are worth checking out at 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 20, at Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main Street. Tickets are $35 to $75. Michelle de Carion

MisterWives at The Van Buren

In a music culture where the single most respected musician on the planet might well be Beyoncé, pop sensibilities are valuable currency. These are exciting times to be a fan of a well-crafted hook and an indelible melody, even if the majority of bands trying to create those things can’t manage anything truly worthwhile. That’s because we occasionally wind up with a band like New York’s MisterWives: a trio equally capable of bombast and precision, one that earns its clap-along choruses with inventive, soul-inflected grooves and unexpected rhythms. The act released their EP Reflections in early 2014 to hype from many a media outlet, and have followed up with performances around the country. Their most recent album, Superbloom, dropped in 2020 and the band is scheduled to perform on Saturday, November 20, at The Van Buren, 401 West Van Buren Street. Frances Forever will provide support for the 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $29 to $104. Kiernan Maletsky

Paul Thorn Band at Musical Instrument Museum

In Paul Thorn's life he's been the son of a preacher, a worker in a furniture factory, was discovered by Miles Copeland and opened for Sting before becoming an independent artist who also creates visual art. The latest release by the Southern rock, country, Americana, and blues singer-songwriter, Never Too Late to Call, came out over the summer and is his 12th studio album and first release of original music in six years. It shows listeners where Thorn is at now and his recent journey that brought him here. The songs range from Thorn losing his sister — the inspiration for the title track — the ups and downs of marriage, the mesmerizing wildness of James Brown, and drinking to name a few. He’ll perform selections from the album, as well as other songs from his lengthy discography, during his concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 20, at the Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 East Mayo Boulevard. Tickets are sold out but are available through resellers. Gladys Fuentes

Los Angeles Azules at Arizona Federal Theatre

Legendary cumbia sonidera group Los Angeles Azules revolves around the Mejia Avante family, who are proud natives of Iztapalapa, one of the boroughs of Mexico City. Founded in 1983, their legacy includes 30 albums and spans multiple generations. The current rotation consists of more than a dozen band members, which include multiple singers, horn players, keyboard players, percussionists, and more. A majority of their songs involve matters of the heart, such as love, longing, and heartbreak. But even the saddest songs in their repertoire sound lively and upbeat. "Como Te Voy A Olvidar," "Nunca Es Suficiente," "Niña Mujer," "El Liston De Tu Pelo" and "17 Años" are just a few of the litany of hits played during their concerts. Los Ángeles Azules have performed innumerable shows around the world, including sets at Coachella in 2018 (they’re the only cumbia band to have played the festival). LAA’s travels will bring them to Arizona Federal Theatre, 400 West Washington Street, on Saturday, November 20. Their performance begins at 8 p.m. and admission is $48.50 to $125. Marco Torres

Lagwagon at The Rebel Lounge

Two of the Lagwagon's best-loved albums from the legendary punk band's ample back catalog, 1997’s Double Plaidinum and 2003’s Blaze, are being celebrated during their latest tour, which visits The Rebel Lounge, 2303 East Indian School Road, for a two-night stint this weekend. They’ll perform one album in its entirety each evening, playing everything from Blaze on Saturday, November 20, followed by Double Plaidinum on Friday, November 21. Doors open at 7 p.m. both nights and Oklahoma's Red City Radio and local all-female punk act The Venomous Pinks will provide support. Tickets for Saturday are $32 while Sunday’s show is sold out (unless you want to hit up the secondary market). Benjamin Leatherman