Music-loving Phoneicans have been basking in Coachella's sunshine all week, and this weekend is no different. High-profile acts from the California festival will continue swooping into the Valley of the Sun. It's a great time to be a fan with disposable income.
Local music festivals abound too, from the Under the Bridge Folk Fest to Phochella to the Arizona 420 Festival (Update: now cancelled). There's something for every fan, on every budget.
Pet Shop Boys - Tonight - Comerica Theatre
Throughout their 30-plus years of activity, Pet Shop Boys have sold an impressive 50 million records worldwide and collaborated with heavyweights including David Bowie, Elton John, Liza Minnelli and Madonna, among an array of talented others. After 28 years with the label Parlophone, the U.K.-based pop mega duo released its 12th studio LP, Electric, on Kobalt Records in July. Of this album, the Boys -- Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe -- explained: "Our latest album often evolves as a response to our previous album and, whereas Elysium had a reflective mood, Electric is pretty banging!" --Jacqueline Michael Whatley
RPM Orchestra - Tonight - FilmBar
We'll pardon your confusion -- this isn't so much a concert as it is a film screening. But what a film screening it will be. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari holds a special place in film history. It's a German silent film, filled with tortured, twisted set design that serves as one of the best cinematic examples of German Expressionism. It's also completely silent, but don't let that deter you. Dr. Caligari is straight-up creepy, albeit in an old-timey sort of way. There's a reason why critics consider the film, made in 1920, one of the best horror flicks of the silent era.
Guiseppe Becce composed the original score for the film's musical accompaniment, but the sheet music has purportedly been lost to time. Many others, though, have stepped into Becce's shoes and written original music for the film. In that tradition, local noise ensemble RPM Orchestra is providing the soundtrack for the April 18 screening of Caligari at FilmBar, and we can't wait to hear what they have planned. --David Accomazzo
Chromeo - Saturday, April 19 - Marquee Theatre
The funk-filled rhythms of Chromeo have made many a booty shake, and if you haven't caught one of the duo's shows yet, get over to the Marquee on Saturday night. The group will drop its fourth studio album, White Women in May. The album cover features the two producers, David Macklovitch and Patrick Gemayel, flanking a veiled bride. Gemayel recently told Up on the Sun the cover partially symbolized his and his partner's commitment to the group.
"We always saw Chromeo as a Plan B or a side project. When it became really serious, we were like, 'Let's do this for real,'" Gemayel said. "I moved to New York; we used to write from different cities. I lived in Montreal and Dave lived in New York. We used to just send each other samples back and forth. On this record, we were like, let's focus 100 percent. I moved to New York, we were in the studio every day, 12 hours a day. That's dedication. It's like getting married." --David Accomazzo
Arizona 420 Festival - Sunday, April 20 - Crowne Plaza "Open to all patients and non-patients 18 and older," reads the website for the Arizona 420 Festival. How very welcoming of them. Another thing organizers are inclusive of as well is entertainment -- there's comedy (local radio host/comedian Kevin Gassman, Shang, Shell E. Bachus and more) as well as all different genres of music. Pioneering underground ska band Fishbone is headlining; also on the bill is local metal band Pelvic Meatloaf and local stoner Supa Joint, along with many, many more. --David Accomazzo
Update: The Arizona 420 Festival has been canceled.
Future Islands - Sunday, April 20 - Crescent Ballroom Heartbroken synth-pop heroes Future Islands' fourth album, Singles, is a document worthy of their high-drama live presence. Single "Seasons (Waiting on You)" shall lead the emotionally raw and unflinching collection into the hearts of America this year. Frontman Samuel T. Herring's outsized stage personality has been keeping audiences rapt in tiny clubs for the past five years with unhinged vocals surging atop minimalist mechanical drum machines, rubbery bass lines, and delightfully sprightly keyboard textures. Now signed to indie-label heavyweight 4AD and with a David Letterman endorsement, they have the goods to make the inevitable leap to headlining larger clubs in the very near future. --Rob Van Alstyne
