Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (2024)

Futuristic headlines the Van Burenin a month that also features a homecoming show by the formerly local Injury Reserve.

Here's a look at those and other highlights of the month in local music.

3/30: Onus Records Presents...

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (2)

If you haven't seen Serene Dominic's latest project, San Jacinto Death Row Prison Band, you're missing out. Go for the prison garb, stay for the showmanship. OK, those are probably linked. Like a chain gang.

So go for the prison garb, stay for pop hooks, which are golden.

This is also the Eleven Forties' first show with new drummer Brian Skinpounder, which tells me one of two things: He was born to drum or that is not his real name.

Who names a kid Brian?

Bassist PJ Heartgrave says, "It's true what they say about new blood being a good thing.We feel like with a new record and a revitalized lineup we can keep the band going for weeks! Just kidding... months!"

The other Onus artists on the bill are Broken Poets, led by Tim McDonald. Their"Forever Once Already" was recorded with producer Curtis Grippe of Dead Hot Workshop. McDonald's songs are heartfelt, introspective stuff, with heart and soul.

Details: 9 p.m. Friday, March 30. Rips Bar, 3045 N. 16th St., Phoenix. Free. 602-266-0015,www.facebook.com/rips.bar.7/

3/30: Moonlight Magic

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (3)

Moonlight Magic are a Phoenix-based lounge combo playing instrumental '60s-style exotica, bossa nova, samba and lounge music.

And these are some excellent players – Jaime Paul Lamb (guitar), Andrew Jemsek (organ and accordion), Ruth Wilson (bass) Eddy Detroit (drums and percussion) andSteve Asetta (tenor saxophone and percussion).

A quick scan of their "artists we like" on Facebook offers handy frames of reference:Martin Denny, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Burt Bacharach, Les Baxter. And the tracks I've heard on Bandcampmore than live up to the promise I assumed was there.

Plus, the rooftop of the Clarendon Hotel is a pretty swanky complement to what they're serving. And they're there most Friday evenings through mid-June.

Details:6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, March 30. Clarendon Hotel, 401 W. Clarendon Ave., Phoenix. Free. 602-252-7363, goclarendon.com.

3/31: Injury Reserve homecoming show

The formerly local hip-hop trio are playing a homecoming date on their Arena Tour, billed as a Traveling Party/Art Installation, with Tony Velour and Lil Qwerty.

It’s been more than two years since they rolled out of Phoenix with “Live From the Dentist Office,” named in honor of the fact that they'd recorded in an actualdentist office when producer Parker Corey’s grandpawas done seeing patients.

Anthony Fantano – “the internet’s busiest music nerd,” as he’s been known to call himself –hyped the album on the Needle Drop as “a really cool modern spin on an old classic” and “one of the most impressive hip-hop debuts I've heard.

And the trio – which also features MCs Ritchie With a T and Stepa J Groggs –delivered on that promise, producinga string of increasingly impressive music videos, directed by Corey,and an even better second album titled “Floss,” another reference to their base of operations.

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (4)

Eightof their videos have earned more than 100,000 views on YouTube,with “Oh S—t!!!” surpassing half a million. Last year, the trio moved to California, where they cut an EP to build on that momentum.

RELATED:Injury Reserve on life beyond the dentist office

Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 31.Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $16-$19. 602-716-2222,crescentphx.com.

3/31: Sugar Skull Explosion release show

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (5)

The father-daughter duo are releasing a raucous collection of punk songs called "The Wolves of Space Awaken" that should have you shouting along to such obvious highlights as "Graveyards in Space," "You Won't Win" and "Child Model."

There's also a brilliantly punkified version of the Bjork song, "Declare Independence," that somehow like it was written just for them.

J-Skull, the bass-playing father, says, " 'The Wolves of Space Awaken' is a reflection of our experiences as sorcerers, space travelers, freelance surgeons and undead messiahs. It's not so much an album as it is a sacred manual to live by."

E-Skull, the drumming lead singer/daughter,adds, "'The Wolves of Space Awaken' is the best album ever made. Magnet, New York Times, Spin, Rolling Stone and more all agree that this sonic achievement of humanity is the greatest one yet."

And you can definitely add us to that list.

They're joined at the release show by the Slow Poisoner, Sturdy Ladies, Dinosaur Love and Diners.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 31.Trunk Space, 1124 N. Third St., Phoenix.Thetrunkspace.com.

3/31: Riot/Gear release show

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (6)

Their sound is a blend of hard rock and alternative metal with a taste of prog, the lyrics snarled with conviction by Ken Darling, who advises you to "Kill your anger, cut your loss and let your email go" on "Run," a headbanging highlight of "Attrition."

It's their first release and bassist Michael Myers says making the album was "a totally new experience for us,from the basics of 'How are we going to do this?' to all the intricate details of actually recording and getting the sound we all wanted."

The goal going into the sessions with Joshua Rozenboom, he says, was "to make an album that had a lot of dynamics and showed the listener our diverse musical influences."

On "Suicide," for instance, they explore a brooding post-grunge vibe with an ominous sludge-metal riff, which definitely suits the subject matter.

"We wanted to keep the listener interested," Myers says. "And wondering 'What's going to happen next?' Take them on a musical journey,so to speak."

Details: 6 p.m. Saturday, March 31.Club Red, 1306 W. University Drive, Mesa. $10-$13. 480-258-2733,clubredrocks.com.

PAST EVENTS

3/9: Autumn's End release show

As the sessions for theirnew EP approached, these metal veterans decided they really just wanted to "capture the vibe of the band," says singer-guitarist Chris Cannella.

"Too many albums," he says, "are too perfect and processed, so we wanted to bring out the raw metal roots in us. Feedback, that live feel, no drum triggers, etc. We wanted it to sound like us. Too many bands overdo their albums and can't pull it off live. Then they are forced into playing to tracks."

And that, he says, "is everything that metal is NOT about."

Their release show also features Strip the Soul, Through the Earth and Sounds Like Murder.

And once these tracks are out there?

"We cant wait," Cannella says, "to start the next one on the next month or so."

Details: 7 p.m. Friday, March 9.Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $8-$10.602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.

3/9: Suicide Kings release show

There’s a lot of Arizona History involved in this Suicide Kings release.

Bruce Connolle, Vince Ramirez and company returned to semi-active duty after getting together with John Rauhouse to perform at John P. Dixon’s 70th Birthday Ballroom in May of 2016.

“They played my birthday party,” Dixon says. “I thought ‘Man, this is great!” So I said, “Well, I might as well record them.” And I’m always into Arizona music so I said, ‘Let’s do some covers of some Arizona songs.’ So that was kind of the genesis of it.”

Those songs include “Still as the Night,” a Sanford Clark recording written by Lee Hazelwood, “It’s Nothing to Me” by Loy Klingman, “Mental Revenge,” a song Waylon Jennings recorded at Phoenix’s Audio Recorders, and a bonus track written by Bud Isaacs.

“There’s four songs on the record and then there’s a download card for a fifth song, which I can’t believe being as old and as analog as I am,” Dixon says with a laugh. “But the kid’s seem to enjoy it, so there’s a download card with a bonus track of ‘Bud’s Bounce,’ an homage Bud Isaacs, who up until he passed away lived in Yuma and was a good friend of Jon Rauhouse.”

The recordings also feature Mike Wolfe playing a 1961 Gretsch owned by the late Mike Condello of Hub Kapp and the Wheels from “The Wallace and Ladmo Show.”

And it’s the first release of new material in 40 years on Ramco Records, Floyd Ramsey’s old imprint, which Dixon now owns.

"They had Sanford Clark and Waylon Jennings, a tremendous roster of acts who, at the time, all recorded at Audio Recorders,"Dixon says. "And Floyd would press their vinyl. None of them ever really became a hit but it's a great sound, a very identifiable sound."

They're joined at the release show by the SunPunchers and DJ Dana.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday, March 9.Last Exit Live, 717 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. $10. 602-271-7000,lastexitlive.com.

3/10: Singles Going Steady

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (7)

William F--king Reed is hosting a rock-and-roll dance party in Phoenix for the first time since he pulled up stakes in 2013, moving to L.A., where he was named best DJ of 2017 in an LA Weekly readers poll.

Singles Going Steady, which takes its name from a classic Buzzocks greatest-hits collection, promises a mix of indie dance music, rock and roll, glam rock and post-punk, with three DJs– Reed,MyKill (from San Francisco) and Briannin Gross (from Phoenix).

In addition to Buzzcocks, the artists you're likely to hear include the Clash, LCD Soundsystem, Iggy Pop, Blur, Rolling Stones, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Sex Pistols, Tame Impala, Shocking Blue, Arctic Monkeys, Queen, the Kinks and David Bowie.

It feels great to be back in the Valley hosting a dance party, Reed says. "It’s long overdue. And I can’t wait to reconnect with everyone from the Sticky Fingers, Shake! and Adult Swim days."

The rock-and-roll formula works, he says, "because it’s timeless. It’s not a trend. We all grew up listening to the sounds of rock and roll as kids whether through our parents, friends, or idolizing rock stars from film and TV."

Details: 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Linger Longer Lounge,6522 N. 16th St., Phoenix.FREE with RSVP athttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/singles-going-steady-a-rock-roll-dance-party-for-boys-girls-tickets-43409231179.602-264-4549, lingerlongeraz.com.

3/10: Malo de Dentro release show

Led by singer-guitarist Stone Martin, these Phoenix-based groove-metal veterans are celebrating the release of an album called "From Darkened Skies," their first effort in more than eight years.

Their sound is brooding and heavy yet also extremely melodic while incorporating elements of several different schools of heavy music, fromthrash to groove metal.

After setting the tone with an eerie instrumental called "The Dark," they make their way through such headbanging highlights as "We Will Rise" and "Mandingo," which opens on their lead guitarist shredding and never lets up.

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (8)

Martin says, "Malo has been around since 2005, but the goal with this album was to change the sound - the same heavy guitars and drums, but more clean, melodic vocals and even some harmonies."

Lead guitarist Steve Miller is "new to the family," Martin says, "but there are some really screaming guitar solos in there. He's pretty phenomenal."

Agreed.

Also playing: Sick Black Automatic, Volatile Minds, Crowning Thieves and Zherra.

Details: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10.Club Red, 1306 W. University Drive, Mesa. $10-$13. 480-258-2733,clubredrocks.com.

3/11: Gabe Kubanda birthday show

Gabe Kubanda is a touring solo artist, playing acoustic indie pop music, who takes bands on the road with him on his very own Epic Proportions Tour.Kubanda was also a featured cast member on VH1 Classic's Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp reality TV show.

His birthday party also features live performancesby Naked Walrus, People Who Could Fly, Bristol to Memory and Jam Austin Murray.

"This show is kind of our tour kickoff before we head off on the rest of the spring tour,"Kubanda says. "And it's special since this is my birthday as well.

Kubanda is currently working on new music and his upcoming dates include a spot on the Vans Warped Tour in June. His latest release is an album called "Flow Fail Prevail," which hit the streets in 2015.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 11.Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $8-$10.602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.

3/15: Harrison Fjord release show

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (9)

This show is celebrating the release of "Polychrome," a breathtaking gem of an album produced by Houston's Joshua Luke Diazon a 32-channel API custom-built for the Doobie Brothers in 1970 and formerly owned by Billy Corgan.

Diaz reached out to the Harrison Fjord camp after seeing"Approximately 906 Miles," which captured the musicians playing live on the edge of a cliff at the Mogollon Rim.

The album "marks a move in the direction of our jazz/fusion-influenced roots, and a lot of the vocal arrangements are inspired by barbershop," says Taylor Morriss. "It's also worth noting that almost all the members met while singing barbershop at Chandler High."

The album features sax from Chris Hoskins (Captain Squeegee) on"Viewmaster,"for which they filmed a video way back in early 2016, and back-up vocals from Cassidy Hilgers (Hyperbella) on "Ace's Wounds."

The album is already streaming on Spotify, where they've been "completely blown away" by the response(over 50,000streams).

"It's been very rewarding to share it with everyone," they say, "after keeping it secret for two years."

Vinyl and CDs are available for pre-order on hellomerch.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15.Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $10. 602-716-2222,crescentphx.com.

3/16: Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra release show

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (10)

Earlier this month at Margaret T. Hance Park, they proved that they could more than hold their own against the strongest of the touring acts at the 15th annual McDowell Mountain Music Festival.

As I wrote at the time, "Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra have always struck me as musicians striving for some sort of spiritual transcendence. And I'm pretty sure they got there in the course of Saturday's performance, the 16 musicians who make up the collective grooving hard to the Afrobeat rhythms while making their way through such PAO staples as 'Push' and 'Blossom.'"

And that was just a warmup gig, of sorts, for this– a party celebrating the release of "Laugh to Keep From Crying" with support from the Stakes, Vox Urbana, Jerusafunk, Arouna Diarra, the Ital Plate, Tony Culture, DJentrification and more.

WHY "LAUGH TO KEEP FROM CRYING?"

"In this current day and age (and political administration)," they explained on Facebook, "sometimes you just have to#laughtokeepfromcryingin order to keep a sane mind and continue on a positive, productive path through life."

The album getsoff to a powerful start with "I Can't Die," which grooves its way to a chilling conclusion as a mother tries to keep her daughter safe by urging herto go to church, the "safe place... to be," instead of the nightclub, where she might get shot.

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (11)

All four songs manage to capture the life-affirming energy they bring to live performance, from "Catchu" and "Love Never Let Me" to "Payaso," their "inauguration release," as leader of rituals Camille Sledge has been know to introduce it.

Promising a night of love, dancing and solidarity while bringing together the funkier parts of the Phoenix community, they're urging fans to "leave the heaviness online, or bring it with you and add it to the energy," adding "either way, we want to see you there!!"

MORE:Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra fights for justice using music

Details: 7 p.m. Friday, March 16.The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $17-$32.thevanburenphx.com.

3/16: Sleepwar / Nothing on the Moon release show

This is a dual release show.

Sleepwar's goal going into the sessions was for "When We Were" to be "alittle bit different than the norm and had messages that were closely related to issues that we have experienced in our personal lives," says keyboardist Tim Woodbridge.

"We wanted to make something real, you know?" he adds. "Something that would stand out and would reflect part of The Human Experience."

In the process, he says,they're hopingto "let people know that they are not alone in their struggles. There is always someone to reach out to in time of need."

Nothing on the Moon are releasing a three-songfollowup to“Till the Sun Comes Up."

The new songs are contagious guitar-pop whose radio-friendly hooks are delivered for maximum impact by guitarist Brandon Simoes, who sounds like he was born to make the most of a line as riddled with bittersweet feelings as"Stack of photos you left on the bed / Picture every city you visited / When you come back and tell me that I can hardly stand to wait for you."

Details: 6:45 p.m. Friday, March 16.Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $10-$12.602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.

3/17: 3Nations release show

Led by singerLelea Fonua, this trio's music is a blend ofblues, funk, soul, jazz, rock, pop, folk, gospel and reggae.

3Nations initially came together for a benefit concert held by Teen Lifeline and guest of honor Jordin Sparks. Fonua held auditions at Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Center, where almost 30 teenagers showed upto try out.

Two singles – the suitably outer-spacey "Outer Space," complete with Space Invaders-type arcade-game noises, and "All Eyes on Me"– are streaming now on Spotify.

Keyboard player Aidan Smith says, "Part of the cool thing about the album is that it doesn't really have one defining genre. It's definitely a pop record, but in the same way that The Beatles made pop records."

There are two songs with a lot of reggae influence, he says, but also songs that have more a Phil Collins rock vibe."The glue that holds the album together," he says, "is really the way we play off of each other and the way we sound as a group."

They self-produced the album, recording everything except the acoustic drums at Smith's house.

"In some ways, this was difficult, as we had to develop some creative techniques to capture the sound," he says. "However, it also provided us a lot of opportunities. We weren’t limited by studio time, so we could spend hours doing overdubs or just making sure that a vocal take was perfect."

They're joined at the release show by Sugar Skulls and Fire Dancers.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 17.BLK Live, 7301 E. Butherus Dr., Scottsdale. Free. 480-494-5069, blkliveaz.com.

3/17: Time Out Lounge 30th Anniversary Party

Time Out Lounge is turning 30 with a party on St. Patrick's Day. The celebration kicks off at 8:30 with a set by Paparazzi Gurlz, followed (in order) by Death By Shamrock, Exohmusic, magician Brian Black (!), Archalien, Superunknown and One Cup of Joe.

There's also a side stage with Buddy Guthrie and Justus Villalba playing between bands.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 17. Time Out Lounge, 3129 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. 480-968-6491,www.facebook.com/timeoutlounge/

3/18: Remembering Jim Glass

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (12)

The local blues scene will gather to honor the memory of the late Jim Glass, the Arizona Blues of Famer who died on Feb. 26 after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 70.

Michele Robins, a jazz announcer at KJZZ, met Glass in 1984.

"When I first heard Jim play,” she says, “I thought he sounded like a cross between Eric Clapton and the Allman Brothers, such a pure, sweet tone. He always told me that the sign of a great blues guitarist was less notes, not more. His passion was playing the blues and I'm so happy he was able to share this love with Arizona for such a long time. He truly was the best blues guitarist to have ever graced the Arizona music scene."

RELATED:Arizona Blues Hall of Fame guitarist Jim Glass dies at 70

Born in Canada, Glass first moved to Arizona in 1977, joiningPrescott’s Down Home Band. Through the years, he played with Drivin' Wheel, Big Pete Pearson & The Blues Sevilles, Tommy Dukes (off and on since the ‘70s), HoneyBoy Dupree & the Smokehouse Players, Jimmy Peyton's Midnite Blues, Rena Haus in the Glass-Haus Band and Tina Bailey in the Bailey Glass Band.

The show will features Gypsy! Wild at Harp, Shan Jam Crane and many more.

Details: 2 p.m. Sunday, March 18.Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. FREE. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.

3/22: Sarah Chapman release show

The leader of Ghost Cat Attack is releasing a solo EP of acoustic material called "Let Love Shine" at a show that also features Holly Pyle, Jordan White, Tessa Karrys, Raquel Willand, I.Am.Hologram, Patrick Hershey and, perhaps not surprisingly, an unplugged edition of Ghost Cat Attack.

In addition to performing their own music, those guest vocalists will lend their harmonies to Chapman's songs.

After setting the tone for the EP with the jazzy phrasing of a song that wonders "What's a girl to do with a distraction like you?," she approaches the bittersweet "Drama Tree" with the vulnerability the words demand and signs off three songs later with an achingballad called "Dear Dylan."

"Distraction," she says, is "a thank you to anyone who has ever left me, because in hindsight I was usually just wasting time on them."

“Drama Tree” was written about "growing up an artsy freak who found comfort in the company of weirdos by a tree outside the performing arts building both in high school and later college."

And yes, "Dear Dylan" is referring to Bob Dylan, having been inspired by a documentary on the Nobel Laureate most likely to ask you repeatedly, "How does it feel?"

Chapman says, "I really admire his artistic integrity and the fact that he staped true to himself."

Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (13)

Chapman recorded the EP at Lava Lake Studios with Ari Leopold.

"I wanted to start simple with just me and my guitar and maybe a shaker or two," she says. "I started out as a solo singer-songwriter for years and despite forming a full band in the last few years and writing new songs to fit that scenario, I had never taken the leap of bringing some of those early songs into the studio."

Ghost Cat Attack, she says, "is a lot of rockin’ fun, but for those who enjoy my solo acoustic sets I wanted to have a CD for fans to take home from that experience. So Ari and I set out to record a solo album, and after finishing the skeleton tracks decided that a few of them could stand on their own without bringing in any other musicians and that was how we formed the acoustic EP adding harmonies and shakers to most of the tracks."

Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, March 22.Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. FREE. 602-716-2222,crescentphx.com.

3/23: Kings for the People release show

Kings for the People are celebrating two releases– their first EP and a 17-song live recording– at a Smells Like the '90s theme party where fans are encouraged to dress like the decade of grunge.

Matt Marcus says the twin releases are "really the culmination for me of the last five years of work."

It's been "an emotionally Rich time in my life," he says. "I have two young children that are now 10 and 7 years old, and watching them grow up has been an inspiration."

On "Passenger," hetalks "about the feeling of doing a lot of stuff with my kids that my parents did with me growing up here in Arizona, particularly driving around Northern Arizona."

Marcus credits this music with keeping him going.

"These last five years have been very tough," he says. "And we've had a few band members come and go and we've changed band names a few times. But I I really have to thank Sean Paulson and Mike Brown for sticking with me through the whole thing and have been so excited to add Phil Keiser from Black Bottom Lighters and the incredible Jacob Morales who really came out of nowhere."

Morales has his own project Exohmusic and Marcus talks about him with clear admiration.

"I've really just watched his work ethic and his passion and I see this kid's going to be a star," he says. "He also wrote the fifth song and our new single from the EP, 'Emotional.'I think this is maybe our best song. It's a combination of the acoustic guitar, the Wurlitzer played by special guest Jenny Jarnagin, and Jacob has numerous vocal tracks and harmonies. Obviously the rest of the guys are doing their thing most noticeably Phil Keiser's 90-second guitar solo which seems way too short when you listen to it."

They're joined at the release show by Ghetto Cowgirl, whose Curtis Grippe produced the new EP, and Kevin Michael Prier and Led Chains, a tribute to the music of Led Zeppelin and Alice in Chains.

"This really really just puts a bow on the last five years for me," Marcus says. "It'sexciting, it's relieving and it's a little bit sad but I think we've done great work."

Details: 7 p.m. Friday, March 23. Rockbar, 4245 N. Craftsman Court, Scottsdale. 480-331-9190, rockbarscottsdale.com.

3/23: The Vinnie Espinosa Benefit

Wrath Upon Eden drummer Vinnie Espinosa was involved in a really bad motorcycle accident in January, two weeks after playing a show in memory of their former bassist, Bobby Bryant.

As guitarist Jerry Bryant sums it up, "We've all had it rough over the past couple of years. In January of 2017, our bassist Bobby who is my brother and our singers brother passed away. We got back together to continue to play in his honor."

Espinosa's accident "hit all of us very hard," Bryant says. "And we’re all dealing with it the best we can in one way or another. This show means a lot to us and the Espinosa family. Every single penny from this show is being donated to him. We can’t thank the people involved enough for making this show happen."

In addition to Wrath Upon Eden, the show will feature sets by While She Waits, A Deadly Awakening and Forming Stories (whose drummer has agreed to sit in with Wrath Upon Eden until Espinosa's return).

"I can’t wait to get on that stage with my brothers David, Mosesand Marc and put on a great show for Vinnie," Bryant says. "It’s going to be a great show!"

Details: 6 p.m. Friday, March 23.Club Red, 1306 W. University Drive, Mesa. $10. 480-258-2733,clubredrocks.com.

3/24: Futuristic

What more could you ask for?

That's the title of the tour that brings the local hip-hop star home for a headlining show at the Van Buren with Ishdarr and Token.

He was among the highlights of the Lost Lake Festival last fall. As I wrote at the time, he had the undisputed rock-star moment of the final day when he walked through the crowd on outstretched hands like Iggy Pop gone hip-hop while rocking a Phoenix Suns basketball jersey.

He's a talented and charismatic rapper whose speed is undeniable (as he displayed on"King Speech"), as are the pop sensibilities he flashes on a cut like "Too Easy," which had the audience singing along with a chorus hook that finds him boasting, "I make it look easy."

Which he does.

His latest album, "Blessings," hit the streets on Christmas day with guest features by Tech N9ne, NF and Devvon Terrell, and was quickly followed on Valentines Day by an EP called "Songs About Girls."

Among the many accessiblehighlights of "Songs About Girls" are the bass-driven funk groove of "You Know," in which he memorably tells her,"You the definition of whoa," and the soulful slow jam "Wave," in which he vows to "let you change the station even when they play my favorite song" and "take you out for sushi, I don't even like it."

Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 24. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $17-$32.thevanburenphx.com.

3/24: International Pop Overthrow

In the interest of full disclosure, one of the 12 acts featured in this touring festival's 10th annual stop here in the Valley happens to include the author of this column.

It also features several of said author's favorite bands in town, including but not limited to Carol Pacey & the Honey Shakers, New Chums and Cait Brennan, whose latest album, "Third," made several album of the year lists, including Goldmine, whose critic hailed it as "one of the finest, most twisted (that’s a good thing) and most original albums of 2017."

"This will be our 10th consecutive year doing the International Pop Overthrow festival in Phoenix, and I definitely consider that a landmark," says David Bash, the founder/CEO of IPO.

"I enjoy coming down to the desert each year because Phoenix is a lovely city, Cactus Jack's (where we've been for the past three years) is a class venue with great sound, and the pop scene there always has something new to offer."

The mission statement of the festival since Bash launched itin L.A. "back in the 'Old Millennium'of 1998"has been "to showcase the best pop and rock bands from all over the world and put them in front of crowds who would dig what they do."

The music starts at 3 p.m. with Sundaifollowed by Aimless Ambition, the Glides, Cheap Hotels, Sleepwar, Brennan, New Chums, Fuqua, the Breakup Society, Brian Jones was Murdered (our vote for best band name), Carol Pacey and The Honey Shakers and Serious Play.

The event is all-ages until 8:45 p.m. and 21 and over after that.

Details: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24.Cactus Jack’s Ahwatukee Tavern, 4747 E. ElliotRoad, Phoenix. $10. 480-753-4733,cactusjacksbar.co.

3/24: Dylan Pratt release show

The singer-songwriter is celebrating the release of analbum called "Limbo."

It started with Pratt and longtime collaborator Trevor Orriss approaching the recording with a question: What could three people pull off live?

"We put that limitation on the performances and arrangements," Pratt says, "kind of stripping out all unnecessary things. We demoed the record extensively and played the songs live a ton to hone in the arrangements. Then Thom Monahan (Vetiver, Fruit Bats, Devendra Banhart) came on to produce and mix the record. He further honed in what that initial idea was and came from a totally different angle which was extremely helpful and awesome."

All that honing in paid off in an album that puts the focus squarely on the songs and Pratt's vocal performance in arrangements that feel intimate yet fully realized, including such obvious highlights as "Honest Kind of Luck," "Houses / Holes" and "Wading."

This was Pratt's first time recording a whole album in a proper studio environmentwith a producer.

"I am extremely thankful to have been able to work with those guys," he says. "And I’m really proud of the end product. It’s kind of a sparse album, but has a lot of little secrets throughout."

Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 24.Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $7-$10. 602-368-3121,valleybarphx.com.

3/24: Silent Film Score with RPM Orchestra

RPM Orchestra provide a live score to the 1920 silent film "The Penalty,"an American crime thrillerstarring Lon Chaney,in which a criminal mastermind plots to loot San Francisco as well as revenge himself on the doctor who mistakenly amputated his legs.Based on the pulp novel by Gouverneur Morris, it's reportedly a tour de force for Chaney, who plays the legless kingpin of the Barbary Coast underworld.

Pete Petrisko explained the process back when he and his bandmates scored the 1916 version of "Snow White" at FilmBar.

“Film scores are tailored to fit the tone of each movie," he said, "composed over a four- to-six-week period, providing a written musical foundation (melodies, scene transitions, foley effects, etc.) that serves as the starting point for improvisation during a performance.”

In other RPM Orchestra news, they recently released a second video from their "Stepwise" album, "Willie the Weeper," brought to you in RotorVision, which we've embedded for your viewing pleasure.

Details: 10 p.m. Saturday, March 24th. FilmBar PHX, 815 N. Second St.602-595-9187,thefilmbarphx.com.

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Local music picks for Phoenix: Injury Reserve, Riot/Gear, Moonlight Magic, Sugar Skull Explosion (2024)
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