MUSIC

“A Little Sand Box” of Howe Gelb

January 3, 2014 |
One of Tucson’s landmark songwriters – guitarist and pianist Howe Gelb – has had an astoundingly strong and quirky musical career with a prolific output that is near impossible to categorize.
Howe Gelb photo courtesy Fire Records

Howe Gelb
photo courtesy Fire Records

Gelb is a musical sound creator with a hand in crafting over fifty albums. “Little Sand Box” only covers eight of his solo releases that span the stylistic gamut from eerie desolation to soul lifting hope to piano jazzy.

Through most of his work, Gelb has a steady, wry song–talkin’ lyrical approach, and a passion to collaborate with varied musicians of the first water, with whom, in his words, “I would get sparked when we’d jam.”

Much of Howe’s prodigious productivity has been as a solo act. His solo material, like the acclaimed 2006 release, “Sno Angel like You,” puts Howe’s Americana in juxtaposition with a gospel choir; years later finds Gelb collaborating with Spanish flamenco virtuosos on 2011’s “Alegrias” release. And then it’s his burning passion for piano instrumentals that lulls listeners into a reverie with the disk “Some Piano.”

This month, British music label Fire Records releases a massive eight volume box-set, appropriately named “Little Sand Box,” containing previously released albums, re-mastered by Tucson’s Jim Blackwood and augmented with bonus tracks that may have been overlooked in the sheer volume of Gelb’s career output.

Howe’s intimate, elucidating and in-depth liner notes/booklet guides the listener and reader through two decades, 1991 through 2011, with styles ranging from indie rock, Western weird and slow-core to European blues, soul, and flamenco played and produced in Denmark and Spain; and many, many life changes.

Herein, described in song, are moments of the songwriter’s life, from wooing a wife – in 1991’s release “Dreaded Brown Recluse,” Actually Faxing Sophia, to his child’s voice, about to be told in Blue Marble Girl, on 2001’s release “Confluence” and the break-up of Giant Sand and its aftermath on two versions of the song Vex on that same release.

For Gelb, music comes from life. The “Listener,” a 2003 release, is full of tremendous work with talented Danes, began from pre-life – as he writes in the liner notes: “It started out by going to Denmark to have our third child… about fourteen musicians showed up when I went in to record… by the time we finished the album, three were left standing when the dust settled … and these three would accompany me on the road to support the album…I would soon realize that this was becoming Giant Sand again.”

Or taking a chance late in the evening to chat up a choir in Ottawa, Canada, to see if a collaboration could be at hand.“I was so tormented that I didn’t make a connection with any of the choir people.”

Gelb had been invited to the Ottawa Blues Festival, as Gelb puts it, “for some reason.

“I just had to do something, so I went out into the beautiful July rain. I went in and sat down and caught the last couple songs and got dizzy again… transfixed… stunned with joy. I finally worked up the guts to find the director of that specific church… and approached him with my idea.”

The resulting 2006 release “Sno Angel Like You,” re-released on this box set with two bonus tracks and accompanied by the 2009 formerly limited release of the live Ottawa show “Sno Angel Wingin It,” are, for this listener, the most powerful materials in the set.

The collaborating choir – Voices of Praise Gospel Choir – soar and growl in perfect contra punt to the songwriters’ sung and spoken words. This album feels good like gospel should, and the live release, with five cuts not on “Sno Angel” proper, is by itself, worth the price of admission.

As Gelb says, “the result is a fine audio postcard of the excitement that a gospel choir can radiate on stage and on the road… a real blessing.”

Howe Gelb's box set spans over two decades of his music. photo courtesy Fire Records, FireRecords.com

Howe Gelb’s box set spans over two decades of his music.
photo courtesy Fire Records, FireRecords.com

In order, the box set is comprised of “Deadly Brown Recluse,” “Hisser,” “Confluence,” “The Listener,” “Sno Angel Like You,” “Sno Angel Wingin’ It,” “Allegrias” and “Some Piano.”

“Some Piano” especially caught my ear. Gelb spent mucho time as an evolving pre-adult listening to quality piano blues and jazz, and it is – despite Howe’s self-deprecation in his liner notes, “the black notes had me stumped,” and “my ear was tin” – performances shining gorgeously in these evolved tracks, culled from Howe’s previous piano releases “Lull,” “Ogle,” “Spun” and “Snarl.”

All in all, the mostly re-mastered eight disc box set is a feast for either a dedicated Howe Gelb fan or one perhaps not yet in the fold. Music made in Canada, Spain, Denmark, but most of all, in Tucson, from a Tucsonan.

The box-set is set for release on Jan. 14, at local record stores or from Fire Records. More information is available at FireRecords.com or HoweGelb.com.

Music Jan 2014

January 3, 2014 |

Information available as of press time. Visit the websites for more details/shows.

2ND SATURDAYS DOWNTOWN
Congress Street, 2ndSaturdaysDowntown.com
Sat 11: K-Bass, Andy See & His Swinging Jamboree, The Tangelos

K-Bass

K-Bass

BORDERLANDS BREWING
119 E. Toole Ave. 261-8773, BorderlandsBrewing.com
Thu 2: The Swigs
Fri 3: Tortolita Gutpluckers
Sat 4: Mustang Corners
Thu 16: The Determined Luddites
Fri 17: Mitzi Cowell
Sat 18: Bob Einweck & Amos Hopkins
Fri 24: Aztral Folk
Sat 25: Tommy Tucker
Fri 31: Holmes-Levinson Group

BOONDOCKS LOUNGE
3306 N. 1st Ave. 690-0991, BoondocksLounge.com
Sundays: Lonny’s Lucky Poker Night
Mondays: The Bryan Dean Trio
Tuesdays: Lonny’s Lucky Poker Night
Wednesdays: The Titan Valley Warheads
Fridays: Neon Prophet
Sat 4: Equinox
Sun 5: Heather Hardy & Lil’ Mama Band
Thu 9: Kathy & The Groovetones
Sat 11: KXCI presents a CD Release Party for ‘Blues Singles’ featuring Mike Herbert of Kings of Pleasure
Thu 16: Kathy & The Groovetones
Sat 18: Whole Lotta Zep
Fri 24: Bad News Blues Band
Sun 26: Ned Sutton & Last Dance

CAFE DESTA
758 S. Stone Ave. 370-7000, CafeDesta.com
Sat 4: Maranga
Sun 5: Live Tango and Dancing
Sun 13: Live Tango and Dancing

CAFE PASSE
415 N. 4th Ave. 624-4411, CafePasse.com
Wednesdays: Jazz Wednesday
Thursdays: Songwriter Thursdays
Fridays: Blues Fridays
Saturdays: Country Saturdays

Music- Charlie Faye Congress

Charlie Faye performs at Congress on Jan. 4.

CLUB CONGRESS
311 E. Congress St. 622-8848, HotelCongress.com/club
Mondays: Nineties House Party (dance)
Tuesdays: Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz
Saturdays: SATURDAZE Dance Party – DJ Bob Felix, Sid the Kid, & DJ LadiesNight
Thu 2: Opti Club
Fri 3: North Tour Kickoff
Sat 4: Charlie Faye, Billy Sedlmayr
Tue 7: Moodie Black & Oddateee with Jivin’ Scientist & Big Meridox
Wed 8: Human Behavior, Aroma, Havarti Orchestra
Thu 9: Opti Club – Denim Party
Fri 10: Mean Beans, Vine St., Rey Murph
Sat 11: Retro Game Show Night
Wed 15: Thy Odd Birds, Jazz Telephone
Thu 16: Gungor, Opti Club
Fri 17: Speaking In Volume: Benefit for the Legal Fund of Pamela Williams with Anakim, Great American Tragedy, Vanish Twin, & Giant Destroyer
Sun 19: 2014 Concert for Civility Feat. Joey Burns of Calexico & more! (1:30pm, $15, All Ages); Laser Dad, Eclectic Tuba (7pm)
Tue 21: Dent May
Wed 22: Steff & The Articles
Thu 23: Opti Club
Fri 24: 3rd annual Dillinger Days Speakeasy (7pm, $25, 21+), Young Hunter & Ohioan Split Release Party (10pm, free, 21+)
Sat 25: Gabriel Sullivan, Lonna Kelley (7pm, $7/$9, 21+)
Tue 28: The Menzingers
Thu 30: Opti Club
Fri 31: Cate Le Bon

DELECTABLES RESTAURANT & CATERING
533 N. 4th Ave. 884-9289, Delectables.com
Fridays & Saturdays: Live Music 7pm.

FIVE POINTS MARKET AND RESTAURANT
756 S. Stone Ave. 977-6272.
Wed 11: Five Points Philharmonic

FOX TUCSON THEATRE
17 W. Congress St. 624-1515, FoxTucsonTheatre.org
Sun 19: Pink Martini
Thu 23: Outlaw Country
Fri 24: Colin Quinn
Wed 29: Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys

Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys

Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys

Fri 31: Tucson Chamber Artists 10th Anniversary Signature Event

HACIENDA DEL SOL
5501 N. Hacienda Del Sol. 299-1501, HaciendaDelSol.com
Sun 5: The Bryan Dean Trio
Sun 12: Grams & Krieger
Sun 19: The Van Dykes
Sun 26: Johnny Strasser & Fiends

PLAYGROUND BAR AND LOUNGE
278 E. Congress. 396-3691. PlaygroundTucson.com
See the website.

RIALTO THEATRE
318 E. Congress St. 740-1000, RialtoTheatre.com
Tue 8: Jonny Lang
Fri 10: AFI
Wed 16: Karla Bonoff

Music- Karla Bonoff

Karla Bonoff

Fri 17: Young Dubliners
Sat 18: The Fab Four
Thu 23: The Battle For Summer Slaughter Tour
Sat 25: Hot Tuna & Leon Russell
Tue 28: The Music of Abba
Wed 29: Parmalee
Fri 31: Black Sun Ensemble

SKY BAR
536 N. 4th Ave. 622-4300, SkyBarTucson.com
Mondays: Team Trivia
Tuesdays: Jazz
Wednesdays: Open Mic
Thursdays: Live Music

SOLAR CULTURE
31 E. Toole Ave. 884-0874, SolarCulture.org
Fri 17: JD Wilkes and the Dirt Daubers

SURLY WENCH PUB
424 N. 4th Ave., 882-0009, SurlyWenchPub.com
Fri 3: Black Cherry Burlesque
Tue 7: Artphag
Sat 11: Fineline Revisited
Fri 17: Andalusia Rose/ Musk Hog
Sat 18: Club Sanctuary 5 Year Anniversary
Fri 24: Tucsonics
Sat 25: Fineline Revisited

 

 

Lead Guitar Brings Music Back to Tucson Classrooms

December 3, 2013 |

Brad Richter teaching at the Aspen Music Festival.
photo: Deborah Barnekow/courtesy Brad Richter

It’s no secret that children who study music at a young age receive significant advantages that help them excel in the classroom and in life thanks to the cerebral gifts music education provides. Studies have proven that kids who are taught music have larger vocabularies, enhanced problem solving skills, boosted critical thinking, are better at math, English and science, have less of a chance of falling into drugs and alcohol abuse, have higher graduation rates and achieve better social development, among many other things.

The problem with severe government budget cuts to schools over the past decade is the arts and music departments seem to be the first to go, leaving music programs near extinction for this generation. Luckily, one group is taking a stand in Southern Arizona to bring music back to the classrooms. Thanks to Brad Richter and his non-profit program Lead Guitar, Tucson’s children are getting a chance to reap the abounding benefits of music education.

“What we do is provide guitar programs for public schools with a focus on districts that have a lot of at-risk kids from areas of disadvantaged neighborhoods,” says Richter. “We are the worst state in the nation as far as per capita spending on public schools. The principals and teachers that we work with really believe in the arts and its ability to enhance the lives of the students and help them in their other subjects, but their hands are tied due to constant budget cuts. Part of our mission is to sneak arts back into the school through the back door.”

Richter’s curriculum includes the principles of classical guitar technique, fundamentals of reading music and notation, performing ensemble music, following a conductor and working as a team, to name just a few. And to help Richter’s mission of bringing music back into Tucson’s classrooms, Lead Guitar recently merged with UApresents in an effort to reinforce the program. Richter now holds the title of director of arts education where he will train teachers on how to execute the four-year progressive curriculum that is currently being carried out in classrooms for more than 10,000 students.

Brad Richter on stage at the World Youth Guitar Festival in England. Photo: Joe P. Smith

“Teaming with UApresents does a lot of great things for this program and is really helping to expand it. It gets our students onto the university campus over and over again,” says Richter. “We have a program called Lead Guitar All Stars that meet every Monday night, and they meet at the university and they go to all of the concerts for free and can take master classes at the university. A lot of kids in our program don’t have parents who have attended a university, so it’s a way to let them know that they’re welcomed and encouraged there.”

The results of the program have been astounding for the participating students, some of which have already gone on to accomplish amazing things post-high school. One example is 20-year-old Jose Espinoza who was a freshman at Amphitheatre High School in 2008. His grades were poor and he often skipped class until he entered the Lead Guitar program where he excelled at classical guitar. His grades immediately improved and as he neared graduation he received scholarship offers (including the Presidential Scholarship to Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music) for his skill at performance. He now plans to attend college to pursue a career in music therapy.

“Lead Guitar instilled in me the discipline of studying and practicing in order to get better at something. I started to figure out that if I applied myself to other things like I was applying myself to music that I would see the same effects,” says Espinoza. “I was never good at reading textbooks or studying, but after having to read pages and pages of music and memorizing and reacting to it, it started making my classes seem easy. Becoming a better musician, by following the disciplined classical guitar approach, made me realize that I could do a lot of things after high school and then doors started opening up for me.”

Richter himself found music as a calling at a young age when he taught himself how to play guitar as a boy and began to see how powerful of an influence it had on his life. He started to take his studies seriously, which led him to receive the Presidential Scholarship to the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. From there he was granted a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London where he became the first guitarist in the college’s history to receive the Thomas Morherr Prize. He toured the world gaining high acclaim for his talents as a master guitarist and decided to make Tucson his home in 1997.

“I was a bright enough kid, but I was really unmotivated in school and was a bad student. I loved music at a young age but I didn’t have access to any guitar teachers or classes, so I taught myself the guitar. Something about studying guitar so intensely spread into the rest of my academic life. I could feel my brain changing,” says Richter. “I could remember numbers and formulas better, I could add and subtract better. Because I was spending so much time memorizing music, my memory was also better and sharper. There were many tangible changes in my life that only came from learning music and it is my goal now to spread that to the next generation.”

For more information on Lead Guitar’s programs, and how to support it, visit LeadGuitar.org and follow them on Facebook by searching “Lead Guitar.”

Eight Stars a-Shopping

December 2, 2013 |

The Holiday Everything Guide

What will your true love give to you in this month of holiday everything? These suggestions from local taste makers help expand definitions of holiday and get everyone in the zone.

Here’s the deal: Because style is so individual, what matters most in holiday gifting is staying mindful of your own flair, at the same time thinking outside the box for that special something.

So it is with these eight local notables from a long list who have climbed into the ranks of Tucson taste makers without trying. It takes a little digging to unearth treasures, but these masters of local style have done the hard work for us, curating a delectable collection of good stuff that goes to the edge of what’s on fire now. Because savoring tradition is one of the best gifts to give this season, our taste makers also share tidbits about creating their own traditions and personal sense of holiday meaning.

From locally-distilled whiskey to hand-sewn leather bags, you can totally feel the love that went into this tasty list. It will be hard to decide which you prefer — the joy of starting a tradition, receiving a locally-sourced curio, or giving one of these fabulous finds.

Anne-Marie Russell

Anne-Marie Russell
Executive Director, Museum of Contemporary Art-Tucson

Russell’s list is plucked from a mix of high style sleek to lushly traditional.

  • Russell likes gifts that support local endeavors and also have value year-round – thus she suggests a membership to Tucson Community Supported Agriculture (TucsonCSA.org) or any of our local museums.
  • Desert-folk rocker Howe Gelb (HoweGelb.com) has just released “The Coincidentalist” album, and Russell recommends a vinyl version of this low-key indie Americana classic. Order it from Gelb’s website.
  •  Shelve the sangria….for winter imbibing, Russell suggests that you shake up the season’s alchemy with a Tucson-distilled Whiskey del Bac from Hamilton Distillery (HamiltonDistillers.com). It seems everyone is talking about the latest project of Arroyo Design furniture maker Stephen Paul, who is crafting mesquite-smoked whiskey and un-aged raw whiskey from his micro-distillery on North Hoff Avenue.  The whiskey will be offered soon at downtown hot spots, so the suggestion is to get on the website’s mailing list to learn about availability before the holidays.
  • Perfect Picks from MOCA: If pressed for a MOCA gift shop (MOCA-Tucson.com) gem she suggests a piece of Nick Tranmer’s celadon pottery, Dave Sayre artist t-shirts, Nicki Adler jewelry and Alexander Girard dolls. Call the museum if you want a heads up on what’s in stock at the gift shop before you visit (520) 624-5019.

Old Timey Traditions to Treasure
Growing up, holidays for Russell were spent in the woods in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. But now she associates this time of the year with the desert, and most of the fun and pleasure revolves around cooking and eating: “My fiancé and I have a new holiday tradition that we’ve established over the last few years. We make a country pate with pork shoulder and chicken thigh, tons of garlic, sage and thyme. We bought a hand-turn meat grinder at a junk store and we make enough to give to all of our favorite people… our favorite vegans get wine.” Playing pool at The District also is part of Russell’s tradition, as is celebrating the solstice by pulling out the telescope for what she calls “perspective and grandeur.” 

Patricia Schwabe

Patricia Schwabe
Owner, Penca

The holiday visions that dance in Patricia Schwabe’s head are definitely of the family kind – rich with tradition and filled with the spice of local and handmade goods.

  • Like other taste makers, Schwabe heads to Bon, MAST and MOCA for favorite gifting. But she also recommends University Avenue’s Ooo! Outside of Ordinary (OooOutsideofOrdinary.com) for its eclectic and stylish collection of gifts, fashion, home décor and jewelry.
  • If you have not shopped at the utilitarian and awesome Too Strong (TooStrongUSA.com), Schwabe says you should. The guys with the sewing studio downtown on South Sixth Avenue make jeans, shirts and jackets sourced with Pima cotton and Arizona copper rivets, but Schwabe’s most favorite item is the Too Strong chunky leather messenger bag.
  • Perfect Pick from Penca: Since food is a gift that always delights, Penca (PencaRestaurante.com) creates a chef’s dinner as a holiday food gift above-the-ordinary, with good wishes folded into every course.

Old Timey Traditions to Treasure
With five children, Schwabe and her husband Ron still follow the tradition of a family shopping night the evening before Christmas Eve: “Each kid suggests something they would like to receive for Christmas… the others have to listen! Later we divide ourselves in groups. It’s big yet fun logistics. When we get home, each kids gets a chance to wrap their gifts and each year they look forward to surprising each other.” And of course they cook, affirms Schwabe, who also recommends families hear the Boys Chorus at Sabino Canyon. “My mom and I try to cook everything possible, from Bacalao a la Vizcaina, bunuelos, tamales de mole and capirotada (Mexican bread pudding, kind of).  We then celebrate Christmas Eve, following my Mexican tradition and on Christmas Day.”

Kristen E. Nelson. Photo: Sarah Dalby.

Kristen E. Nelson
Executive Director, Casa Libre en la Solana

This Tucson poetess and Casa Libre founder channels her literati instincts into a few suggestions for the book lovers among us. 

  • At least one of Nelson’s picks may be hard to come by, but she suggests anyone searching for rare, out-of-print books head to The Book Stop (BookStopTucson.com) or Bookman’s (Bookmans.com). Nelson’s spent years hunting for an affordable copy of Sophie Calle’s “Exquisite Pain.”
  • To anyone who likes to read, Nelson recommends “Troubling the Line,” a transgender and genderqueer poetry anthology co-edited by TC Tolbert, and “The Sin Eater,” a short story collection by Elizabeth Frankie Rollins. Both of these books should grace everyone’s bookshelves and you can find copies at Antigone Books (AntigoneBooks.com).
  • Because Casa Libre, CasaLibre.org, is on Fourth Avenue, Nelson says she is surrounded by the best local places to find unique holiday gifts. Beyond longing for a bottle of Stephen Paul’s mesquite-smoked Whiskey Del Bac  her favorite shop these days is Pop-Cycle (PopCycleShop.com), with its assortment of recycled artwork from local artists. Nelson particularly likes the vintage leather cuffs they carry and the succulents planted in dinosaur toys.

Old Timey Traditions to Treasure
This is the first time in about a decade Nelson will be in Tucson for the winter holidays, and she’s looking forward to spending time with her partner and some good friends to start new Tucson traditions: “Perhaps a trip to the trampoline park Get Air (GetAirTucson.com), sitting on the beautiful new outdoor patio at Che’s Lounge (ChesLounge.com) on a Sunday and listening to their acoustic musicians, or hiking Pima Canyon early in the morning on New Year’s Day.” Nelson also is looking forward to spoiling her brand new honorary niece, Vivian Charlotte Saterstrom, will piles and piles of presents. Don’t tell, but Vivian will be getting books, clothes and toy trains.

Ben Johnson
Filmmaker and Tohono Chul Park’s Curator of Exhibitions

Ben Johnson is just as adept at selecting gifts as he is at curating the Tohono Chul’s exhibitions. His deep appreciation for nature mixes happily with modern urban style in these selections.

  • A favorite go-to gift haunt is the Native Seeds SEARCH (NativeSeeds.org) retail store on Campbell Avenue, with its wonderful selection of beans, teas and chiles as well as artisan crafts by native peoples of the region. This time of year is great to think about soups and chili, and in that direction, during a recent visit Johnson sampled the shop’s chiltepin water, which he recommends.
  • Sarnoff Art Supply (SarnoffArt.com) and Summit Hut (SummitHut.com) are two additional shops for spot-on local gifting. Johnson is eying Sarnoff’s drawing pens and sketchbooks, while the day packs at Summit Hut also have caught his eye.
  • Perfect Pick from Tohono Chul (TohonoChulPark.org): The new Small Works Exhibition features works by over 130 local artists, all smaller than 12 inches in size and less than $250. Stepping outside of Tohono Chul Park, Johnson is a huge fan of the museum shop at the Tucson Museum of Art (TucsonMuseumofArt.org) and its selection of artwork and crafts by local artists.

Old Timey Traditions to Treasure
Although Holiday Nights at Tohono Chul is a favorite tradition, Johnson and his wife Frankie also make a point of spending the holidays outdoors, hiking: “When we lived on the East Coast that always meant a shivery huddled hike under grey skies, but we were dedicated! Since moving to Tucson, it’s been ever more our calling to go for as many hikes and picnics as we can manage during the holiday season. Hiking up into the Tucson Mountains or Santa Catalinas, and finding a rocky outcropping with a vista to have a picnic lunch while talking over our year is a perfect way to celebrate.”

Patricia Katchur. photo: Valerie Gallowa


Patricia Katchur
Proprietress, Yikes Toys & Gift-O-Rama

As expected, the Yikes proprietress’ brand of gifting runs on the curious side, and Tucson certainly offers her a banquet of the unusual for her shopping.

  • Katchur encountered an intriguing, mysterious animal treasure last year from Broadway Village’s Bon Boutique (Bon-Boutique.com) and has been dreaming of it ever since. Not necessarily a holiday decoration, the Wolf Head ornament can grace a corner or shelf year-round as an object of conversation. Of course, everything at Bon is exquisitely beautiful for gifting, says Katchur.
  • Katchur also recommends a visit to Etherton Gallery (EthertonGallery.com) for amazing works of art. Her favorites: Mayme Kratz (of Phoenix) or Kate Breakey (of Tucson)
  • Memberships to Loft Cinema (LoftCinema.com), MOCA or Tucson Museum of Art also make much appreciated gifts.
  • Perfect Picks from Yikes (YikesToys.com): For some endearing, pop culture gifting, the shop offers hand-tooled and painted wallets by Tucson artisan Allegiant Brand Leather/Tony Pickup. There’s also the super-cute and French Neko Wood Pull Along Toy, Watercolor Collages by Tucson artist Valerie Galloway, and Vegetable Candy (in a tin, in carrot, green bean and corn flavors) for stocking stuffers.

Old Timey Traditions to Treasure
Hanging out with her family of friends is Katchur’s most treasured tradition. “Friends are the best gift in the world, and I am so lucky to have such wonderful and embracing beings in my life. My friend Sharon Holnback invites me every season to her Triangle L Ranch in Oracle. It is wintery and cold, and the main house is heated by an old, adobe fireplace. We play Yahtzee and Scrabble; tell tall tales and true tales; and merry-make among our group of oddball friends. I stay for a few days and commune in the high desert. A fantastic way to end the year and kick start the new one.”


Erin Cox

Erin Cox
Master seamstress, Southwestern Belle Alterations and Design

Re-purpose, restore is the mantra of Tucson seamstress Erin Cox, formerly of Preen and now proprietress of her own alterations shop. Food is on her mind for memorable, one-of-a-kind gifting.

  • With so many delicious restaurants popping up all over downtown, Cox believes anyone (including herself) would be thrilled to receive a gift certificate to any of these establishments. New favorites at the moment are Proper (ProperTucson.com), Reilly’s (ReillyPizza.com), and Penca (PencaRestaurante.com), although her long-standing darlings are Little Poca Cosa (LittlePocaCosa.com) and 47 Scott (47Scott.com).
  • One gift that that she never tires of is a good candle, and Cox recommends the naturally-scented, 100 percent vegetable wax candles made by Izola and found at MAST (iLoveMAST.com)
  • Vintage-loving Cox also recommends a trip to Desert Vintage (ShopDesertVintage.com), particularly to source a lovely selection of Native American jewelry. Cox recommends the collection of Fred Harvey sterling and turquoise cuffs at the Fourth Avenue shop.
  • Perfect Picks from Southwestern Belle (Facebook.com/SouthwesternBelle76): If a friend has out-dated garments that deserve remaking into new fashion, Cox is offering gift certificates. For ornaments or bookcase baubles, Cox also hand-beads old horseshoes with Czech and vintage glass, mixed with sterling and African beads. Call (520) 955-3719 for an appointment.

Old Timey Tradition to Treasure
Erin’s holiday ritual involves preparing three or more dishes that she and her husband have never cooked before. “We wake up in the morning and start prepping immediately. Once the dishes have been completed we graze throughout the evening while opening up a gift or two in between courses. Last year’s dinner was perfectly roasted lamb ribs with rosemary, French mussel bisque with lavender baguette, and an asparagus salad.”

Joe Pagac, right.
Photo: Wendy Van Leuveren

Joe Pagac
Muralist, portrait and performance artist

Much acclaimed muralist Joe Pagac shows fans a series of personas via his large-scale art – it’s  no wonder that there’s a bit of freestyle funk and local love thrown into his holiday gift-giving.

  • For one-of-a-kind booty Pagac says there is great gift fodder in Fourth Avenue’s Pop-Cycle. “My friend Ashley recently gave me a glittered-up photo of a child holding a chicken and smoking a cigarette mounted on a tiny cabinet door. Perfect!”
  • Although not a man who craves many material things (Pagac says he has all the fur pillows he needs), Pagac has had his eye on a “Keep Tucson Shitty” shirt for a while now. You may have heard of the KTS movement (with origins of the phrase traced per Tucson Weekly reporting to 1990s graffiti in the Fourth Avenue tunnel.) Local artist Donovan White (Facebook.com/Donovan.White.75) has most recently pressed the phrase on oh-so-Tucson t-shirts he sells around town and direct from his Facebook page.

Old Timey Traditions to Treasure
You’ll often chance upon a Pagac mural by just wandering downtown, and a similar meander is what Pagac says is his holiday tradition: “I really enjoy filling a thermos with spiked apple cider and wandering Winterhaven, or running it when they do the organized runs through it. I also always ‘plant’ my dead tree in an empty lot at the end of the season. A lone pine really spices things up when driving around town. More people should do this.”

Gabriel Ayala

Gabriel Ayala
Musician

This is the time of year when wish lists magically appear. If there’s a Kris Kringle out there, Native American Artist-of-the -Year and local guitarist Gabriel Ayala wants you to buy him a saxophone. In return he has some suggestions for your holiday gifting.

  • Finding worthwhile holiday gifts is easy, says Ayala, and you skip the malls and give Fourth Avenue love instead. Ayala, without wanting to single out one shop, feels the avenue is the city’s best option for holiday bazaar in terms of artisan eats, home decor and vintage threads. You’ll find your perfect functional pieces of art and worthy gift options here, where Ayala shops often: “I’ve bought small, random home decor inexpensively. Nothing like supporting our own entrepreneurs…buy local and make sure our community is thriving.”
  • Perfect Pick from Gabriel Ayala: Ayala (AyalaGuitarist.com) is offering a boxed gift set of five CDs at a special discount. His “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” was released in 2007 and can be purchased via the website or directly through Ayala (ayalaguitarist@yahoo.com).

Old Timey Traditions to Treasure
If you’re looking to stroll among thousands of holiday lights with your hot cocoa and sugar cookie, Tohono Chul Park offers one of Ayala’s favorite traditions. Holiday Nights at the Park are held the weekends of Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14, from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Ayala loves the holiday season for the mood that it puts people in: “I’m very fortunate to perform at Tohono Chul Park for the past 5 years now, and this year I’ll be performing there on Dec. 6 and 7. Seems like people just tend to be a little nicer around the holidays ‘cause of the holiday spirit.”

 

 

 

Events Dec. 2013

November 29, 2013 |

Fri 6

TEDX TUCSON Chuk Shon To Tucson will feature TED videos, artists, live music and seven speakers. $21. Rialto Theater, 318 E. Congress St. 740-0071, TedXTucson.com

TUCSON FESTIVAL OF TREES A celebration for the holiday season and benefit for the Arizona Oncology Foundation. Twelve elegantly designed holiday trees, wreaths and arrangements will be displayed. 6:15pm. $75. Savory Opera House, 6541 E. Tanque Verde Rd. 870-6060, ArizonaOncologyFoundation.org

Fri 6-Sat 7

BICAS ART AUCTION Art, music, bikes, libations, food trucks, kids activities and more. Fri, 6pm-10pm. Sat, 11am-5pm & 6pm-9pm. Whistle Stop Depot, 127 W. 5th St. 628-7950, Bicas.org

Sat 7

TAMAL & HERITAGE FESTIVAL Experience the rich flavors of the tamale in a fun-filled day of art, culture and entertainment. Free. 10am-5pm. Ava Amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Rd. CasinoDelSol.com

ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY FESTIVAL Musical performances by The Tucson Junior Strings, The Tucson Boys Chorus, a magic show by Chris Wright, Story Telling and crafts by Ben’s Bells. $5. 10am-4pm. AHS Arizona History Museum, 949 E. 2nd Street. 628-5774, ArizonaHistoricalSociety.org

1ST SATURDAY ART WALK Walking tour of Central Tucson Gallery Association’s participation galleries and museums. 6pm-9pm. Downtown art galleries along  6th Street, 6th Avenue, Congress Street, Toole Avenue and 4th Avenue. FirstSaturdayArtWalks.com

ART ON TAP Craft beer festival presenting sixteen Arizona craft breweries, food trucks and musical performances by Carlos Arzate and the Kind Souls and Saint Maybe. $20-$65. Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave. 624-2333, TucsonMuseumOfArt.org

Sun 8

13TH ANNUAL SUGAR PLUM TEA Features a festive holiday boutique, silent auction and a narration of the Nutcracker story with characters from the ballet. 11am and 3pm. $75 per person. Marriott Tucson University Park, 880 E. 2nd St. 745-3000, BalletTucson.org

Ballet Tucson holds its 13th annual Sugar Plum Tea on Sun, Dec 8.
Photo by Ed Flores

Tue 10

CHAMPAGNE & MISTLETOE: A VICTORIAN HOLIDAY AUCTION Annual holiday celebration featuring live and silent auctions and food to benefit the National Association of Women Business Owners. 3:30pm-6:30pm. The Historic Scottish Rite Cathedral, 160 S. Scott Ave. 326-3926, NawboTucson.org

Fri, Dec 13-Sun, Dec 15

4TH AVENUE STREET FAIR 400 arts and crafts booths, 35 food vendors, performance stages, street musicians, food, jugglers, kids entertainment, face painting, balloons, more. 10am-6pm. Free. 624-5004, FourthAvenue.org

Sat 14

SANTA LANDING Breakfast buffet, crafts for kids, and Santa flying in by helicopter! Adults;$12.25-$15.50. Children, $9. Under 6, free. 8:30am-2pm. Pima Air & Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Rd. 618-4850, PimaAir.org

STUFF THE HUMMERS FOR CHILDREN IN TUCSON Toy Drive and Car Show being put on by Sullivan’s Steakhouse. 9:30am-noon. Sullivan’s Steakhouse,1785 E. River Rd. StuffTheHummers.com

PRESIDIO LUMINARIA FESTIVAL A living history celebration to welcome the holiday season. Free. 5pm-9pm. Presidio San Agustín del Tucson, 133 W. Washington St. 837-8119, TucsonPresidioTrust.org

2ND SATURDAYS A monthly downtown festival with live music, performers, and vendors! 3pm-8pm. Free. Scott Avenue Stage: Payphone Mafia, Tesoro, The Long Wait. Santa at MEB Management, 120 E. Congress St., 4pm-7pm. Kids Area with Cinema La Placita & Southern AZ Transportation Museum at 414 N. Toole Ave., 4pm-8pm – interactive magic, art & train activities; 5:30pm, screening of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (1966). 2ndSaturdays.com

Tesoro performs at 2nd Saturdays Dec. 14, 4:15pm-5:30pm. Photo courtesy Tesoro

Sun 15

LA FIESTA DE GUADALUPE The annual family festival celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe with spirited outdoor performances by youthful mariachi and ballet folklorico groups. 10am-4pm. Free Degrazia Gallery in the Sun, 6300 N. Swan Rd. 299-9191, Degrazia.org

BOHEMIAN HOLIDAY: AN ARTISAN’S SHOWCASE Over 25 artists are selling unique items for your special gift-giving needs (and also offering raffle prizes). Includes live performances by some of Tucson’s best musicians. Noon-6pm. YWCA Tucson, 525 N. Bonita Ave. More info here or call 884-7810.

Sat 21

9TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXPRESS Write letters to the North Pole, listen to a reading of The Polar Express, watch a screening of The Polar Express, and take a photo with Santa in front of Locomotive 1673. Bring a can of food for the community food bank. Free. 2pm-4pm. 414 N. Toole Ave. 623-2223, TucsonHistoricDepot.org

19TH ANNUAL PARADE OF LIGHTS Young and old bask in the warmth of shimmering, lighted floats, vehicles and musical groups winding through Downtown, includes Santa Claus himself! Free. 6:30pm-8pm. Armory Park, 221 S. 6th Ave. 837-6504, DowntownTucson.org

Santa at the 2013 Parade of Lights.
Photo: Scott Griessel. Courtesy Downtown Tucson Partnership

Tue 31

TUCSON JAZZ SOCIETY 8TH ANNUAL NEW YEARS EVE GALA Join The Tucson Jazz Orchestra, The Jim McCullum Jazz Band and George Howard’s Motown and Rhythm & Blues Show to celebrate the Tucson Jazz Society’s 8th Annual New Year’s Eve Spectacular. 6:30pm. Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa, 3800 E. Sunrise Dr. 903-1265, TucsonJazz.org

RESOLUTION 2014: A GLAMOUR & GLITZ NEW YEARS EVE Enjoy a state of the art light and multimedia show, and participate in a champagne toast at Aloft! Hosted by Tucson Young Professionals. $75 pre-sale (available here), $85 at door. 9pm-2am. aLoft, 1900 E. Speedway Blvd. MeetUp.com/tucson-young-professionals

ONGOING

TUCSON FOOD TOURS Tucson’s only walking food tour. Combination of foods and a little history of downtown Tucson. Takes you through the historic downtown and 4th Avenue districts of Tucson. See website for dates. 477-7986, FoodToursTucson.com

WILDCAT HOCKEY Wildcats take to the ice on Fri, Dec 6 and Sat, Dec 7 against Arizona State. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. 7:30pm. Prices vary. ArizonaWildcatHockey.org

Sat, Dec 14-Sat, Dec 28

WINTERHAVEN FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 63rd Annual Festival of Lights. Central Tucson neighborhood adorned with holiday decorations, using LED lights. Walk through every night. Drive-through on Dec 17, 27, 28. Free. 6pm-10pm. Winterhaven Neighborhood, in between Fort Lowell Road, Prince Road, Country Club, Tucson Boulevard. 881-4483, WinterhavenFestival.org

Mondays

MEET ME AT MAYNARDS (@Hotel Congress) Southern Arizona Roadrunners’ Monday evening, non-competitive, social 3-mile run/walk, that begins and ends downtown at Hotel Congress, rain/shine/holidays included. 311 E. Congress St. 991-0733, MeetMeAtMaynards.com

 

KXCI Turns Up the Wattage

November 29, 2013 |

In 2002, with Tom Petty’s searing stab at corporate radio (“The Last DJ”) ringing in my ears, I was super glad that I had recently become a member of KXCI, Tucson’s community radio station.

I liked that KXCI had live, mostly volunteer DJs Left of the Dial (‘Mats, anyone?) at 91.3FM, playing local music and national independent artists; living, breathing humans that made mistakes, laughed about it, turned vinyl – oh the warm hiss and pop – and seemed to really care about this community.

Sometimes it was unpolished, but it was much better than listening to the super slick commercial radio stations spinning the same scheisse – could you even call in a request? – and, ah geez, the screaming car sales ads.

I was impressed that KXCI had in-studio DJs 24/7, still does, with a schedule of shows that offer tunes for seemingly every demographic. Not to mention that the station keeps its lights on via grants, underwriters and memberships while still providing prime air time to non-profits via public service announcements.

In 2009, I was appointed to the board of directors and served for three years. Zócalo’s publisher David Olsen served on the board for five years previous to me joining it. All of this is to say, with full disclosure, I’ve had a relationship with the station for over a decade, and I’ve broken bread and clinked glasses with the staff.

The station has had major issues and there were many tumultuous years. But it has persevered and is only getting stronger. As KXCI enters its third decade of broadcasting this month, it is hosting a series of events to celebrate its 30th (pearl!) anniversary, along with pushing its capital campaign, “Amplify KXCI.” The fund-raising effort focuses on four components with the first priority on funding the northwest booster transmitter.

As any regular listener knows, the signal breaks up as one moves north and west of the town’s center. Talking with The Home Stretch Host and Special Projects Director Cathy Rivers, the broadcast starts to get lost around River Road, she says, “and there’s nothing by the time you reach Orange Grove.”

It’s been a complaint for years, but there were so many regulatory, engineering and geologic issues – Pusch Ridge blocks the signal emanating from the Santa Catalinas’ Mt. Bigelow – that had to be sorted through; details that have taken a lot of time and energy to figure out.

“Anecdotally, it was what most people brought up with us at events, ‘We’d listen more if we could get the station.’,'” Community Engagement Director Amanda Shauger shares. “It took a ground swell of will to analyze the problem and find solutions.

“There was a time when it seemed no amount of money could solve the broadcast problem,” Shauger adds.

Finding a solution to the broadcasting issue began in earnest in 2011 when Shauger, Mary Beth Haralovich, board president, and General Manager Randy Peterson sat down with an engineer from Oregon at the National Federation of Community Broadcasters conference in San Francisco.

“He showed us our FCC (Federal Communications Commission) file and looked at the various things KXCI tried before. Some of it was not having the capacity or will. It is a testament to our ability and financial stability to have the time to figure it out,” explains Schauger.

As the quest to find FCC and engineering broadcast solutions to provide a signal to the foothills and northwest Tucson carried on, a capital campaign feasibility study for the station was being undertaken by Smith & Dale, a local development consulting firm.

“They conducted more than 50 in-person interviews and hundreds more in an online survey. It determined the priorities of the campaign and the financial goals,” Shauger says.

The Smith & Dale study ended up setting the fundraising bar for Amplify KXCI at $900,000: $350,000 to fund the northwest booster transmitter, $225,000 to rehabilitate the station’s century-old Downtown headquarters, $175,000 to upgrade technology and $150,000 as an endowment.

The $350,000 will cover purchasing and installing the booster transmitter equipment on the Good News Radio Broadcasting tower at First Avenue and Grant Road, along with three years of tower rental and utility costs. Beyond the first three years of funding, the hope is that new memberships from the expanded signal reach will come in and carry the costs of the station’s booster.

Peterson, known for his dry wit, jokes when asked if there is a back-up plan if new membership projections do not come to fruition to sustain the added equipment costs at the mid-town tower.

Harakiri?”

The staff has done its research, so there shan’t be a need for ritual suicide.

“Annual rent and utilities should fall in the $18,000 to $20,000 range. The first three years are included in the campaign so that we are not increasing operational expenses. Based on our own experience and public radio and television research, the average listener takes about three years to become a member. At the high end of $20,000, the increased operating costs require only about 200 more members; we’re expecting to have won the support of closer to 1,000 new members in the next three years.” Current membership is at 2,705, according to Membership Director Michelle Boulet-Stephenson.

“The station is on solid ground in our regular operating expenses,” Peterson adds.

KXCI is well on its way to reaching the campaign’s first tier goal of meeting the $350,000 benchmark for the booster. As of late November, the capital campaign was already at $290,000. The success of Amplify KXCI will determine when the transmitter is installed.

“We are putting ‘first dollars’ to the transmitter, so we don’t need to get all the way to [the goal], just far enough to feel confident in executing the equipment purchase,” says Peterson. “From that day (purchase) through installation and testing we are probably looking at four to six months. We have already done all necessary engineering, surveying and legal work, and we have the authorization from the FCC.”

Beyond filling out its signal coverage, increasing the number of potential listeners “will help our underwriters and the non-profits we serve through the public service announcements,” says Rivers. She is passionate about the fact KXCI leads the pack when it comes to offering PSAs. Each week, four PSAs are chosen and they run eight times a day in both prime- and off-times. “No one else is doing that volume, or during those times,” Rivers states.

In fact, according to Peterson, KXCI runs 12,000 PSAs a year, “at a value of almost $125,000 split between approximately 150 non-profit groups.”

Mainly a music station, KXCI supports local musicians in a way that no other Tucson station does. Annually, hundreds of  local and regional bands receive airplay thanks to the tireless work of Music Director Duncan Hudson. To continue to connect listeners with these musicians, and the national independents the station spins, the $175,000 for technology upgrades is imperative.

“The era of CDs as our predominant medium for playing music is coming to an end, and KXCI is not currently equipped to do a sufficient job with digital media. Right now digital downloads are burned to CD, which is inefficient and expensive. Other technological improvements will include the ability to have multiple web streams and an archive of programs, so if you miss your favorite show live, you can listen to it at your convenience later. We already have the mechanism to do that, we just don’t have the staff and volunteer resources to make it a reality,” explains Peterson.

While the $225,000 number to rehabilitate the station’s historic Armory Park property may seem steep, the fact is that figure includes retiring the building’s mortgage (which is approximately $45,000), along with crucial upgrades.

“Most pressing needs are energy efficiency – attic insulation, better windows – and the roof, which has developed a few small leaks,” Peterson details. “We’d like to be pro-active on the roof now rather than spend more money later… [it will] become a more expensive albatross down the road.”

To keep the capital campaign donations manageable for donors, there are several levels (ranging from $600 to $100,000, but no amount will be turned away) that can be spread out over three years via installment payments. The current effort runs through February 2014, at which point, Peterson says, they will reassess strategies.

In further disclosure, I personally gave to this campaign as did my husband’s bankruptcy law firm. It is the love the staff and the volunteers put into crafting a most excellent station that wins our support. It really is about the people.

As Rivers says with genuine affection, “I’m really grateful to the people who started this radio station and I’m constantly amazed that we are on the air 24/7, and it’s due to the stellar job our volunteers do.”

Information on the capital campaign is at KXCI.org or by calling (520) 623-1000 x13. Find complete details on the 30th anniversary celebrations via the website or by tuning in to 91.3FM.

 

A Solstice Celebration

November 25, 2013 |

Kate Becker, organizer of Christmas Carnivale, also performs the event with her band.
photo: Puspa Lohmeyer

“I think of that time of the year, the solstice, as a time to celebrate the year and send it off,” says songstress Kate Becker.

We’re sitting on the back porch of Kate’s Magik, Becker’s essential oils – blended with intent – business in Iron Horse Neighborhood, talking about Christmas Carnivále. Between bites of delectable roasted veggies and soul-infusing honey-sweetened hot tea, Becker shares some background along with the vision of the event and the musicians she has brought together for the Wednesday, Dec. 18 show at Club Congress.

“The format is based on shows I did in New York at Collective: Unconscious on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. I was just starting out, and I started putting together monthly shows with other artists – poets, dancers, performance artists… but mainly musicians, songwriters, cowboy poets.”

Becker, who hosted those shows from 1999-2001, further explains that the goal was to attract more audience members and share the audience, as “there is only so many people any one band or performer can bring out.

“I did that for a couple of years until I moved out here and then I did a listening series at The Hut every second Wednesday of the month. I did (a series) in Bisbee too, at Elmo’s and Hot Licks, so, it became a tradition.”

When the singer/lyricist moved to Tucson in 2002 (“after 9/11,” Becker explains), she was seeing a lot of live music, “hoping to share the stage with some of them someday.”

That time has come. When Becker approached Hotel Congress’ entertainment director David Slutes with the idea, he was supportive and had a date open. “And it came together – whoosh – like nothing,” she shares, smiling.

Becker chose the bands and musicians by inviting “people who meant a lot to me, and most of them said yes.” Along with The Kate Becker Band, the line-up includes: Al Perry, Annie Hawkins, Leila Lopez, Joe Peña, Stuart Oliver & The Desert Angels, Combo Westside, and Mariachi Luz De Luna with Salvador Duran.

A pared down version of Mariachi Luz De Luna performs at Christmas Carnivale.
photo: Dov Frazier/courtesy Mariachi Luz De Luna

With her warm brown eyes as bright as the afternoon sun, Kate shines as she recalls seeing Mariachi Luz de Luna performing with Calexico in the past at Club Congress, and recounts her pleasure of the group joining the show.

“When he (Ruben) said yes, it was exciting for me because they are the best mariachi group. To see Mariachi Luz de Luna in a club is rare these days.”

Becker does a brief roundup of a few of the artists she picked and why: “Al Perry represented the desert to me, I had never heard music like that before I came here. That’s going to be special; he will be playing the oud. Also really special is Annie Hawkins playing with a band, something she hasn’t done in a long time. And Joe Peña, of course, he’s the bomb.”

And swapping the slots in-between the 25 minute sets are performers Donna Khil and hip-hop beat poet, Brian Haskins (aka Suchamc). “Donna is going to be playing the accordion. That will add to the carnival feel!

“Every artist is doing at least one holiday song of their understanding, whatever that means for them. It should be very festive and celebratory!”

For a mere $5, fans of live local music really can’t go wrong with this Wednesday, Dec. 18 show. It runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. with, in order of appearance: Al Perry, Annie Hawkins, Joe Peña, Leila Lopez, Stuart Oliver & The Desert Angels, The Kate Becker Band, Combo Westside, and Mariachi Luz de Luna with Salvador Duran. Visit HotelCongress.com/club for more info.

Covering The Greats

November 25, 2013 |

Big Star will be performed during The Great Cover Up.
photo: bigstarstory.com/press.html

This month, local musicians are paying homage to an array of legendary musical acts by recreating their music for the 15th annual Great Cover Up.

The wildly popular charitable event will feature 30 bands performing selections from famous groups, and maybe dressing the part, from all generations and genres. It spans three nights and three locales: Thursday, Dec. 12 at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., Friday, Dec. 13 at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., and Saturday, Dec. 14 at Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.

“I love the sense of community fostered by the event,” says event co-organizer and KXCI’s Locals Only! DJ Matt Milner. “The collective effort of the bands requires literally thousands of hours of time, but no one is paid. From the organizing committee to the performers, everyone involved is willing to donate their time in service of a memorable weekend and much-needed financial assistance for our charitable beneficiary. There are very few events on the annual cultural calendar that bring together so many local artists.”

The hardworking committee of Milner, Mel Mason (Tucson Weekly contributor), Kris Kerry (Rialto Theatre), Curtis McCrary (Rialto Theatre), Stephen Seigel (Tucson Weekly Music Editor) and David Slutes (Hotel Congress) spent countless hours organizing the event and all of the proceeds of the Great Cover Up go to the Southern Arizona Artists and Musicians Healthcare Alliance. The non-profit organization (better known as S.A.A.M.H.A., and originally established as Tucson Artists and Musicians Healthcare Alliance/TAMHA) is an alliance of artists and art advocates who are dedicated to the sustainability and vitality of the local arts community by helping to provide them with affordable healthcare. And while the event only lasts one weekend a year, the work for the Great Cover Up spans many months for the organizers.

“It’s a lengthy process, but we don’t need to reinvent the wheel because we have a long history with this event and we have an established structure in place,” says Milner. “We always have some tough decisions to make when sorting through the applications, but our past experience informs the process. As a result, we take into consideration the popularity of the band being covered, the skill/professionalism of the applicant band, and any other x-factors that excite us.”

Hank Topless

While the lineups and list of who’s covering who is typically kept a secret until show time, it has been revealed that this year local bands will be performing the music of The Clash, The Killers, Foo Fighters, Spy Songs, Quincy Jones, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Joni Mitchell, Jethro Tull, Tears For Fears, The Pixies, Led Zeppelin, Hall & Oats, Blondie, Prince, Nick Cave, Bjork, Old School Hip-Hop, The Bird and the Bee, Big Star, Beastie Boys, The Beach Boys, No Doubt, Heart, Aerosmith, The Cars, Bruce Springsteen, Prisencolinensinainciusol, Velvet Underground, and Joe Walsh.

“The bands are given a tall order, and every year the audience (as well as the organizers) are blown away by the creativity and passion shown by Tucson’s incredible musical talent,” says co-organizer Mel Mason. “People talk about what happens at this event years later. Personally, some of my favorite local music moments take place at the Great Cover Up, which is why I wanted to get involved with it behind the scenes in the first place.”

The local bands are encouraged to dress the part of these iconic bands, which typically leads to some outlandish attire that makes the performances all the more memorable. Each performance will last approximately 20 minutes and the sets will run from 8 p.m. to midnight on Thursday and 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Among the local bands who are participating this year are The Cordials, Garboski, Sugar Stains, The David Clark Band, Hank Topless, Spacefish, Chris Black, Gat Rot, The Tryst, Cathy Rivers, LeeAnne Savage and many more. Tickets will be available at the venues for $8 for one night, $12 for a two days pass and $15 for a three day pass.

“There’s so much musical talent in Tucson and it’s really impressive to see bands take on this challenge of covering a wide scope of artists and a lot of the music can be really technically difficult,” says local musician and 2013 Great Cover Up participant Mark Williamson of The David Clark Band. “More than anything it’s a great weekend to come out and celebrate Tucson’s local music scene while observing more than a few tight jump suits, gratuitous wigs and musical debauchery.”

“The Great Cover Up combines everything I love; music, a huge amount of local talent, loads of creativity, hard work, and fundraising for a stellar cause,” says Mason. “The results always astound me, and it’s worth every second of organizing behind the scenes to facilitate making the magic happen.”

For more information on the Great Cover Up visit GreatCoverUpTucson.com.

KXCI’s 5: November 2013

November 11, 2013 |

Selections from the following new albums spin on KXCI, 91.3FM and online at KXCI.org, this month.

The Devil Makes Three
I’m A Stranger Here
(New West)
Like a good community radio station, The Devil Makes Three mixes up a lot of genres (country, rockabilly, blues, ragtime and more). This new album finds them working with Buddy Miller and The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach.

Los Campesinos!
No Blues
(Wichita)
The Welsh indie-pop-punkers fifth album is more of the same – and that’s a good thing for fans of their high-energy sound that will have you chanting along.

Tennis
Small Sound (Communion)
The married duo follows up the smash Young And Old with this 5-song EP, a teaser for their third full album expected next spring.

Various Artists
Divided & United: The Songs of the Civil War (ATO)
This 32-song collection marks the 150th anniversary of the war with a roster of talent ranging from Loretta Lynn and Ralph Stanley to Old Crow Medicine Show and John Doe.

Mason Jennings
Always Been
(Stats and Brackets)
A long-time favorite releasing his 10th album, Mason seems to move in new directions with each album. This newest direction comes with the help of producer Bo Ramsey, the folk/blues musician.


Music November 2013

October 30, 2013 |

2ND SATURDAYS DOWNTOWN Congress Street, 2ndSaturdaysDowntown.com
Sat 9: The LoBros Band, The Jonestown Band, Funky Bonz

AVA AMPHITHEATER at Casino Del Sol
5655 W. Valencia Rd. CasinoDelSol.com
Sat 9: Heart
Sat 16: Battle of the Badges

BORDERLANDS BREWING
119 E. Toole Ave. 261-8773, BorderlandsBrewing.com
Fri 1: Tortolita Gutpluckers
Sat 2: Mustang Corners
Sun 3: Jazz Telephone
Thu 7: Hank Topless
Fri 8: Leila Lopez
Sat 9: Shrimp Chaperone
Wed 13: David Rose
Thu 14: Chris Jamison
Fri 15: The Determined Luddites
Thu 21: Joe Stevens of Coyote Grace
Fri 22: Tommy Tucker
Sat 23: Buffelgrass Band
Wed 27: Stefan George
Fri 29: The Introverts
Sat 30: Widow’s Hill

BOONDOCKS LOUNGE
3306 N. 1st Ave. 690-0991, BoondocksLounge.com
Mondays: The Bryan Dean Trio
Tuesdays: Lonny’s Lucky Poker Night
Thursdays: Ed Delucia Trio
Sundays: Lonny’s Lucky Poker Night
Fri 1: Live Music with Neon Prophet
Sat 2: Equinox
Sun 3: Heather Hardy & Lil’ Mama Band
Fri 15: Live Music with Neon Prophet
Sun 17: Last Call Girls
Fri 29: The Amazing Anna Warr & The Giant Blue Band

CAFE PASSE
415 N. 4th Ave. 624-4411, CafePasse.com
Wednesdays: Jazz Wednesday
Thursdays: Songwriter Thursdays feat. Sweet Ghosts
Fridays: Blues Fridays feat. Tom Walbank & Roman Barton Sherman
Saturdays: Country Saturdays feat. Hank Topless
Sundays: Sunday Brunch feat. Salvador Duran

CLUB CONGRESS
311 E. Congress St. 622-8848, HotelCongress.com/club
Fri 1: All Souls Procession Party
Sat 2: Copper and Congress, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
Sun 3: Face Paint Town
Mon 4: The 1975
Thu 7: Jonathan Batiste & The Stay Human Band
Fri 8: 26th Annual Scooter Rally Kickoff Party
Sat 9: Jonathan Batiste & The Stay Human Band
Sun 10: Blitzen Trapper
Tue 12: Of Montreal & Big Freedia
Wed 13: Tera Melos
Mon 18: John Vanderslice

John Vanderslice performs at Congress on Nov. 18.

Mon 25: Built to Spill

LA COCINA
201 N. Court Ave. 622-0351, LaCocinaTucson.com
Sat 2: Oscar Fuentes
Sun 3: Santa Pachita
Sat 23: The Sonoran Dogs

FOX TUCSON THEATRE
17 W. Congress St. 624-1515, FoxTucsonTheatre.org
Fri 1: An Evening with Mandy Barnett and Classic American Music
Sat 2: Twist and Shout: The Definitive Beatles Experience
Sun 3: Vince Gill: Chasing Rainbows Gala
Tue 5: Pacific Mambo Orchestra feat Tito Puente, Jr
Thu 7: Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt
Fri 8: Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey
Sat 9: The Piano Man: Celebrating the Music of Billy Joel and Elton John
Sun 10: How Great Thou Art: The Gospel Music of Elvis
Fri 15: TPOA Battle of the Bands
Sat 16: Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Wed 20: Eddie Money
Thu 21: Jim Breuer

HACIENDA DEL SOL
5501 N. Hacienda Del Sol. 299-1501, HaciendaDelSol.com
Sun 3: Hans Olson
Sun 10: Bacon Patrol
Sun 17: Black Skillet Revue
Sun 24: Grams & Krieger

MONTEREY COURT
505 W. Miracle Mile. 207-2429, MontereyCourtAZ.com
Fri 1: Those Beatles Guys
Sat 2: Kevin Pakulis Band
Sun 3: Heather Lil Mama Band with Tony & the Torpedoes and Jerome Kinsey
Wed 6: Peter McLaughlin and Alvin Blaine
Fri 8: Snowapple Quintet
Sat 9: Gabriel Ayala Quintet
Thu 21: Peter Case
Fri 22: Bob Corritore & Dave Riley CD Release Party
Sat 23: The Coolers
Fri 29: Kiko Jacome & Stone Avenue Band

PLUSH
340 E. 6th St. 798-1298,  PlushTucson.com
Fri 1: Logan Greene Electric, River Man, Wallpaper Prison
Sat 2: Ashbury, Another Lost Year, Elisium
Tue 12: Downtown Brown, Laser Dad

PLAYGROUND BAR AND LOUNGE
278 E. Congress. 396-3691. PlaygroundTucson.com
Tuesdays: Dinner & A Movie
Wednesdays: REWIND: Old School Hip Hop
Fridays: Merry Go Round :: 4 rotating DJs

RIALTO THEATRE
318 E. Congress St. 740-1000, RialtoTheatre.com
Fri 1: Paul Oakenfold
Sat 2: An Evening With Ryanhood
Sun 3: Dance of the Dead: The Official After Party for the 24th Annual All Souls Procession
Tue 5: Riff Raff
Wed 6: Gramatik: Age of Reason Fall Tour 2013
Thu 7: Baauer
Fri 8: Clutch
Sat 9: Robert Cray Band
Sun 10: Lupe Fiasco: Tutsuo and Youth Preview Tour
Mon 11: Misfits
Tue 12: KMFDM
Thu 14: Chance the Rapper
Fri 15: Relient K & Motion City Soundtrack
Sat 16: Gaelic Storm
Sun 17: Hopsin and Yelawolf
Mon 18: John Vanderslice
Fri 22: Lluvia Flamenca
Mon 25: Alkaline Trio & New Found Glory
Wed 27: Groundation
Fri 29: Thirty Seconds to Mars
Sat 30: X & The Blasters

SKY BAR
536 N. 4th Ave. 622-4300, SkyBarTucson.com
Mondays: Team Trivia
Tuesdays: Jazz
Wednesdays: Open Mic
Thursdays: Live Music

SOLAR CULTURE
31 E. Toole Ave. 884-0874, SolarCulture.org
Thu 7: Geographer with Royal Bangs
Wed 13: Dean Moore
Thu 14: Portland Cello Project
Fri 22: Andrew Jackson Jihad
Tue 26: Sera Cahoone

SURLY WENCH PUB
424 N. 4th Ave., 882-0009, SurlyWenchPub.com
Fri 1: Black Cherry Burlesque
Tue 5: Artphag
Fri 8: Blackout
Sat 9: Fineline Revisited
Fri 15: Muskhog CD Release
Sat 16: Club Sanctuary
Fri 22: Tucson Roller Derby Party
Sat 23: Cleric, Brazz Tax
Sat 30: Fineline Revisited

TOPAZ
657 W. St. Mary’s Rd. TopazTundra.com
Thu 14: Weed, Otherly Love, Hellshovel, Prom Body, AZ77
Fri 22: Night Beats, The Resonars, Dream Sick
Sat 23: Mr. Elevator and the Brain Hotel, The Freezing Hands, Katterwaul, Union Pacific