HARK!
I hear ….microphones, speakers, guitars, drums, comedy, fire shows...stuff!!!
Latest (though probably not last) round of COVID over, check.
Weather still in why-can’t-it-stay-this-way? mode, check.
No wonder there’s a whole lot of stuff going down this weekend, from music to weird/trippy shows to a “Class Clowns” comedy show…
Two great things about the Soul Power Band’s show Friday, March 18, in Glendale:
“Vintage soul, funk, and R&B”--what’s not to like?
It’s free!
It’s a big week for the SPB. In addition to the free, outdoor show starting at 7 p.m. Friday Live at Murphy Park (5850 W Glendale Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301), the band jams at its regular Saturday night spot, The Duce.
Then, the Soul Power Band is back in action Thursday, March 24, at the Westside Blues Club.
After that, they stack on another free, park show at Peoria’s Paloma Park (29799 N Lake Pleasant Parkway, Peoria, AZ 85383) at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 27.
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A very hot show, literally: “IGNiGHT–Burning Man Art in Arizona” Lights up at 6 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Alwun House Foundation, 1204 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85006.
Say what?
“This is an interactive art experience and celebration of the 10 principles of Burning Man that invites members of the Arizona community to come together to learn more about how Burning Man's mission shapes everyday experiences.”
Aka: We’re gonna light some sh*t on fire!
Advance tickets are just $10 here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ignight-tickets-254096869577
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And if that’s not trippy enough for you, how about…
“B—The Underwater Bubble Show,” starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at the Scottsdale Center For The Performing Arts, 7380 E 2nd St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251.
This is a two-hour show, billed as “a modern fairy tale. B—The Underwater Bubble Show blends drama, mime, dance, puppetry, juggling, contortionism, sand art, and magic with the amazing beauty of soap bubbles for a visual spectacle.
“Inspired by Cirque du Soleil, B utilizes the laser technology, snow cannons, soap bubble tornadoes, theatrical fog, gigantic smoke rings, smoke-filled soap bubble machines, optical illusions, and many other surprises.”
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Who wants to get lit?
Literary, that is.
Phoenix writer Peng Shepherd talks about her hot new mystery The Cartographers at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Changing Hands Bookstore, 300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013.
Born and raised in the Valley, Shepherd has lived in Beijing, Kuala Lumpur and London. Her first novel, The Book of M, won the 2019 Neukom Institute for Literary Arts Award for Debut Speculative Fiction and was chosen as a best book of the year by Amazon, Elle, Refinery29, and The Verge.
On her Facebook page, Shepherd calls her new book “the hardest thing I've ever written. So many years of writing and deleting. So many messy, confusing drafts. There were so many times I almost quit.”
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For those who want to rock…
Paper Foxes, Animal Sun, Turn Zero and Faun Flora are on a big, fat bill Saturday night at Last Exit Live, 717 S. Central Ave Phoenix, AZ 85004.
Tickets are $15 at the door, $12 in advance here.
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If you’re on a budget–can’t beat free.
That’s the cover for this one:
Rock Legends Tribute Fest, a tribute band all-you-can-hear featuring Led Zeppelied, AZ-Z TOP, AZ/DZ and Surrender.
The show starts at 3 p.m. with no cover until 8 at the Monastery Bar and Grill, 4810 East McKellips Road, Mesa, AZ 85215.
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If you don’t need a laugh…you haven’t been paying attention!
Get a few chuckles and support the next wave of comedians:
The 21st “Class Clowns”--a student showcase from Tony Vicich’s Comedy School–happens at 7 p.m., Sunday, March 20, at JP’s Comedy Club, 860 E. Warner Road, Gilbert.
Admission is $17, which is less than a dollar a comic. Click here for tickets.
This year’s class, with descriptions from Liz Frisius (one of the clowns)::
Allie (age 15): Erudite and engaging, Allie’s take on life will keep you in stitches.
Andrew Erwin: Arizona native comic, telling jokes across the Valley for the last nine years.
Arizona Lou (age 80): America’s favorite old man is back from his national tour…
Dan Hanson: Arizona’s No. 1 prop comic–because he is Arizona’s only prop comic.
David Sanchez: Comedian, satirist, and social critic who examines human behavior, religion, philosophy, and contemporary life through a lens of absurdism, e.g how to put that philosophy degree to good use.
Deon Doughty: Guitar comic, fine artist, filmmaker, poet, philosopher, photographer, software engineer, father.
Devante Brown: Captivating and Arizona-native commands the stage with a uniquely politically incorrect POV.
DJ Payne: A self-described sarcastic asshole who enjoys getting paid to say humorous words into a microphone.
Frederick Scott: Movie buff with a maniacal wit, get ready for a side-splitting good time.
Haley Kobylko: When Haley is not on stage, you can find her listening to early 2000's pop-punk music and watching Marvel movies.
Hannah Al Ghareeb: When Kuwaiti/American comic Hannal Al Ghareeb takes the stage, you get a hilarious take on the clash of civilizations.
John Cowan: Draws on his life experiences as a father, grandfather and unsuccessful dieter to give his audiences a fun view of life.
Laura Growth: Married to a cop…mother of four…let the comedy begin!
Liz Frisius: A veteran of the Nashville and Phoenix comedy scenes and the military. Hostile work environment? Hold my beer….
LD Newsom: A fresh face to the comedy scene. He has a personal take on family, kids and his beard that will have you laughing out of your seat.
Paul Whitney: Along with his dummy friend, Slappy, this creepy comedy duo will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Randy Aoyama: Self-described as short, chubby and generally NOT attractive, Randy has plenty of comedic material which he selflessly uses to entertain others.
Ryan Heilman: An Arizona native whose comedy is full of witty, intelligent, and irreverent observations.
Shale Brenner: From her unique name to the single life to being Jewish, Shale brings obscure thoughts and incidents to the stage in a way you can’t forget.
TerriJean Byers: Pursuing a life dream of comedy after turning 51, she proves an old dog can tell new jokes!