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January has stunk for live music, but things are looking up for some cool concerts in February and March!

January 21st, 2009 Posted by: Dust Devil

Hello all,

Things are busy, we’re in a New Year, the Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl (YEA!) and Spring Training is right around the corner. This hasn’t been too good a year thus far for live music in the Valley of the Sun, but things are finally picking up. Here is the latest report of must-see concerts from the Dust Devil (in my humble and correct opinion of course).

February 4; TSOL at The Sets, Tempe, AZ.

These guys were supposed to come here last year, didn’t, I was severely bummed, but thankfully the show is a go this time.

What a great band! I am one of those guys that will always believe old-school punk is far superior to a lot of the sissy-punk that is released today. TSOL does a heck of a job proving my theory to be correct. The fact they are still playing live and releasing new material is simply wonderful news.

I don’t make a point of going to many punk shows today. As I get older (heck, I’ll be 40 in three months!), I have less patience for the idiots that attend these shows. Sorry people, there is a difference between slam-dancing and moshing, the term “punk” does not mean you have to engage in behavior totally lacking of any semblance of character, and there are people who attend shows that actually prefer to hear and watch the band instead of dealing with your pathetic behavior, especially when having an opportunity to see a legend tear it up.

The original, Jack Grisham led line-up of the True Sounds of Liberty released some amazing material in their heyday, from the blistering thrash of the T.S.O.L. EP, to the horror-punk of Dance With Me, one of my favorite punk discs of all time, to the phenomenal and too-often misunderstood Beneath the Shadows. If you are too core for Beneath the Shadows, then you are too close-minded to like great music. T.S.O.L. just released Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Free Downloads, available for free by clicking on the link I just gave you. 3/4 of the original line-up. plus keyboardist/pianist Greg Kuehn, who also played on Beneath the Shadows and Divided We Stand, unleash 10 tracks of psychedelic punk on the masses. Download the music, then support this great band by coming to this show and buying their new DVD, The Early Years. The Flipside material is a lot of fun to watch!

Are these guys really celebrating thirty years?!

February 7; Ghostland Observatory at the Rialto Theatre; Tucson, AZ.

I almost did not catch this show before doing this post, what am I thinking? One of the best live acts around today, Ghostland Observatory bring their powerful mix of dance, rock, funk and punk to Tucson. This show is part of the Tucson Gem and Jam 2009. I have to admit, I probably won’t make much of that event. No, I think I will camp out across the street at Hotel Congress, have some java at the Cup Cafe there, wander into Club Congress and see who is playing there until it is time to head across the street to the Rialto Theatre.

I have been fortunate enough to see this duo twice now. I was blown away seeing them at the Monolith Festival in 2007 and witnessed an even more dynamic performance at the Bluebird Theatre in 2008. Could they raise the bar even higher? I cannot wait to find out!

March 4; The Pretenders at Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ.

Legends, absolute legends. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, this band has entertained audiences since 1978. Their debut, self-titled disc is still considered to be one the all-time great debuts. Their second disc, Pretenders II, is my personal fave from the band, with an amazing three song opening to the album, The Adultress, Bad Boys Get Spanked, and my favorite song of theirs, Message of Love.

I cannot remember the year, but the one time I saw the Pretenders was a show at Cricket Pavilion when they opened for the B-52’s. They delivered all their classic hits with such energy and precision, it was like stepping back to the late seventies and early eighties. The band is touring in support of their latest offering, Break Up the Concrete. This should prove to be an evening of great, classic rock and roll!

March 6; James Galway at the Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ.

I had the pleasure of seeing Sir James Galway back in September 2006 at the Phoenix Symphony Hall. What a performer and showman! He delivers a stellar performance, combining his precise and beautiful playing of the flute with a grace onstage that I have seen few match.

Sir James dances around the stage like a pied piper, and his banter with the audience in between pieces was a pleasant surprise. I left Symphony Hall with the full realization I had just witnessed a true master of his craft at work.

I jumped on the Galway bandwagon late. The first time I heard him, or at least knew at that time that it was indeed him, was when he appeared on the soundtrack to The Return of the King. I have made a point of purchasing a lot of his music since. This should be one of the concerts of the year!

March 7; Jimmy Eat World AND No Knife at the Marquee Theatre, Tempe, AZ.

What a show this should be, what an event, and what-No Knife is back together?!

Jimmy Eat World are celebrating the ten year anniversary of their watershed album Clarity with a ten date tour that ends in Tempe. These local heroes plan to play Clarity in its entirety during these shows.

Clarity was a phenomenal disc, channeling the aesthetics of punk and emo into a solid blend of power pop. This was the first disc that Jim Adkins really asserted himself as the lead vocalist of the group. Two years later their next disc Bleed American was released and the band became media darlings with their single The Middle. As always, the media is way behind when it comes to music. It is too bad people waited for the band to become a trendy thing, because their career is full of great music. If you do not already own Clarity, I highly suggest picking up this disc.

As good as Jimmy Eat World is, the fact San Diego’s No Knife is opening for part of this tour is HUGE! I still remember a friend of mine walking into my work one day, handing me Fire in the City of Automatons and demanding I play it right then. Academy Flight Song opened the disc and I was instantly hooked.

No Knife delivers a unique and complex brand of indie-rock. I was always bummed they had broken up before I was a fan and kicked myself for not knowing of them earlier. Well, now I get a chance to see them live. They could very easily end up blowing Jimmy Eat World away, they are that good!

Here are some other shows that will probably be interesting, but have not yet found a place on the Dust Devil’s Must-See List:

February 5; DeVotchKa at the Clubhouse, Tempe, AZ.
February 9; Eagles of Death Metal at Martini Ranch, Scottsdale, AZ.

A lot of good shows folks, pick one or some out and support the local scene here!

Cheers,
The Dust Devil

Filed under: Concert Tour Announcements