Every week, we present a curated list of live music in a wide range of genres around the Valley. This week features legendary acts from both the industrial-synth and soul spheres.
March 3
Bad Bad Hats
In 2015, just as indie pop’s “blog era” – powered by Pitchfork, Hipster Runoff and other sites that ennobled the DIY aesthetic – was beginning to end, the Minneapolis-based band Bad Bad Hats came out with its debut album, Psychic Reader. Its dreamy title track should have been a bigger hit, but the album’s release probably couldn’t have come at a worse time. Its intended audience was probably still obsessed with Taylor Swift’s 1989 or turned on by Tame Impala’s synthy sounds. The album eventually found its intended audience. But if you missed Psychic Reader the first time around, or just want to shower yourself in some nostalgia, Bad Bad Hats will be performing the album in its entirety to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Local favorite Sydney Sprague opens. 7:30 p.m., $27.83, Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-368-3121, valleybarphx.com
March 6-7
M3F
Dance the weekend away at this year’s (mostly EDM-driven) edition of the popular non-profit indie music festival. La Roux, Neil Frances and Mau P will set the soundtrack for the 22nd edition of the 23-year-old event (organizers skipped 2021 due to the pendemic), which will feature a cutting-edge, DJ-friendly stage set-up (see photo). Check website for set times. Weekend ticket packages start at $160. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, m3ffest.com
March 6
Nine Inch Nails
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are taking a break from scoring the next David Fincher flick to perform under their more popular moniker, Nine Inch Nails. After playing Downtown Phoenix last year, the provocative industrial music group is returning to the Valley for the next leg of its Peel It Back tour. 8 p.m. Check website for prices. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale, desertdiamondarena.com
March 7
Gladys Knight
No word if she’s taking the midnight train from Georgia, but the Empress of Soul is returning to Phoenix to perform her hits. 7:30 p.m., $57.39 -$141.79, Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com
March 8
Filter and Finger Eleven
The “Hey Man Nice Shot” band, fronted by Richard Patrick, the brother of Terminator 2: Judgement Day actor Robert, made an appearance on Finger Eleven’s “Blue Sky Mystery” single last year. After that well-received collaboration, the alt-rock bands are coming to the Valley to perform in-the-round. 7 p.m., $46.84 -$89.04, Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com
