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MusicFive Must-See Tribute Bands Playing in Phoenix Soon

Niki D'AndreaAugust 31, 2016

The appeal of tribute bands is an illusion: the illusion that you’re watching one of the biggest music acts in the world perform some of your favorite songs live. In some cases, it’s not possible to see the real deal anymore because the bands are broken up or the players are dead; in other cases, the originals are still touring and the bands are like guitars crossing in the night (Def Leppard plays the Valley the same week as DL tribute band Pyromania), and in some cases, the originals take issue with their tributes -- like litigious Metallica, whose lawyers sent a 41-page cease-and-desist-or-we-will-sue-you letter to one of their tribute bands, called Sandman, for using the band’s name and lettering style in their logo.

Not every tribute band is good. Some could be considered downright insulting to the object of their homages. But maybe that just makes the truly terrific tribute bands worth seeing even more. Here are five very fine tribute bands playing Phoenix in the coming months.

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Openings/ClosingsFirst Dish: Market Street Kitchen

Niki D'AndreaAugust 29, 2016

There’s a new chef in the kitchen at Market Street. After honing his culinary skills in Chicago at the original Weber Grill and the Four Seasons (and following Phoenix stints in the kitchens of Sam Fox’s Bloom Restaurant and Roy’s at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge), Michael Hunn took the helm of Market Street Kitchen last month. The Chi-town native nudges the restaurant’s rustic American cuisine (pastas, soups, salads, slow-cooked and wood-fired meats) up a notch with his focus on farm-to-table fare; according to a press release, “Chef Hunn’s favorite part of each day is talking shop with his fishmongers, produce farmers and his meat dude.”

Every chef should have a “meat dude.” And if the thick and smoky bacon in my grilled cheese sandwich was any indication, Hunn’s got a pretty keen one.

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ListsFive Best U.S. Foods that Were Accidents

Niki D'AndreaAugust 26, 2016

 

Americans have a knack for “happy accidents,” especially when it comes to junk and novelty foods. While Europeans try to build a better beet salad, many Yanks yearn for all manner of deviant dishes. Hot dog-hamburgers. Taco pizza. Deep-fried Twinkies. Triple-stacked and double-wrapped everything with two sides of ranch dressing. And all of that on purpose. But accidents happen, too, and sometimes, delightful dishes like the five below result, proving that it pays off to drop things on occasion.

#1. The chimichanga: Arizona’s own contribution to the world of glorious culinary mishaps, this deep-fried burrito has disputed origins. One source says the chimichanga was born at El Charro restaurant in Tucson in 1922 when the owner accidentally dropped a pastry in the deep fryer, but the founder of the Macayo’s chain claims he came up with it in 1946 after experimenting. Whatever the case, the taste of this happy accident lasts almost as long as the invention debate.

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ListsTop 5 Arts Events for Aug. 29-Sept. 4: Will Goble at Musical Instrument Museum, Southwest Shakespeare Company’s “Or,” Get Lit at Valley Bar & More

Niki D'AndreaAugust 25, 2016

#1: Will Goble Quartet at Musical Instrument Museum, August 29

Here’s a great equation: Jazz bassist and bandleader Will Goble’s talented quintet + the impeccable acoustics at the Musical Instrument Museum Music Theater = an amazing night of live music. Goble has performed with Grammy-winning pianist Marcus Roberts and drummer and vibraphonist Jason Marsalis, but as we recently observed at an intimate club show, the Valley resident has his own swinging swagger. Presented by MIM and The Nash. $19.50-$23.50. 7 p.m. August 29 at Musical Instrument Museum. mim.org

#2: “Abstract to Absurd” – Carlos Rausch and Cindy Schnackel Art Exhibit at Olney Gallery, September 2

A former PHOENIX magazine Artist of the Month, Cindy Schnackel has a fondness for the absurd, which she colorfully paints on canvases in the form of coffee-drinking chickens and surreal (and sometimes cute) blobby monsters. Argentina-born Carlos Rausch creates large-scale non-representational paintings that combine various shapes and colors into eye-catching but seamless abstract amalgamations. Free. 6 p.m. September 2 at Olney Gallery at Trinity Cathedral. Exhibit open through September 28. azcathedral.org

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MusicMood-Swinging Jazz: The Music of Thelonious Monk by the Will Goble Quartet at Valley Bar

Niki D'AndreaAugust 25, 2016

Sitting between two couples in the music hall at Valley Bar, I observed the polarity of stages of romance. The couple in front of me argued for ten minutes about spending more holidays with one person’s family than the other and talked about a lot of stuff – as in, “I can’t get to my Nordic Track because all your stuff is in the way” and “I’ll come get my stuff next week.” They were wearing wedding rings. Maybe not for much longer. The couple sitting behind me was much younger, and it sounded like they were on a first date from all their slightly awkward, get-to-know-you Q&A (“So, um, I like peas. Do you like peas?”).

This eavesdrop sandwich was a lot like the jazz music of Thelonious Monk, which we were there to hear Wednesday night. The late, great pianist’s compositions ranged from wobbly, borderline-raucous bebop and hard bop (infused with gospel and blues) to mellow, swooning cool jazz so cool you’d swear the C notes were winking at you from behind sunglasses. Monk’s jazz scale tipped two directions – percussive piano-pounding peppered with melodic pretzels, and then sudden slides into dramatic silences. His best-known songs to a casual jazz fan are probably “Round Midnight” and “Straight, No Chaser,” but Monk is the second-most recorded jazz composer, behind Duke Ellington. So it’s little wonder that a show at Valley Bar featuring the Will Goble Quartet (actually, a quintet that night) performing the music of Thelonious Monk was sold out.

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Dinners & PromotionsChef Mel Mecinas’ Monthly Mashup Dinner Series Returns to Talavera at the Four Seasons Scottsdale

Niki D'AndreaAugust 15, 2016

Chef Mel Mecinas is working his communal culinary magic again this year. The executive chef of Talavera at the Four Seasons Scottsdale first cooked up his “Monthly Mashup” dinner series last year, bringing fellow notable chefs like Silvana Salcido Esparza into his kitchen to collaborate on four-course epicurean adventures. This year, Mecinas brought a whole new crew into his kitchen to share the duties of producing deliciousness.

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MusicTop Five S-words to Describe Madeleine Peyroux’s Performance at Musical Instrument Museum

Niki D'AndreaJuly 27, 2016

Madeleine Peyroux played two shows at the Musical Instrument Museum on Tuesday, July 26, and prior to the first show, I described her as “smoky” to an older gentleman who had joined us at our table, and he got this look on his face like he was imagining the jazz chanteuse on fire and emitting clouds of smoke on stage. Of course “smoky” was in reference to Peyroux's vaunted voice, but after the show, my companion and I decided that wasn't accurate. And “sultry” wasn't totally apropos, either, because Peyroux has such a wide vocal range – she may hit a smoky note or go into a sultry slide, but her singing covers a wide range of styles, and octaves. And “sullen” was way off, because while Peyroux does sing some sad songs, her sense of humor and between-song banter was beyond entertaining. If she ever tires of being one of the most celebrated singers in modern jazz, she could totally kill it in comedy as a second career. So after some discussion of which s-words best described the stellar show Peyroux and her players (upright bass player Barak Mori and guitarist Jon Herington) put on, here are our top five:

#1 Sassy: “Saucy” or “silly” might work here, too. Going back to the between-song banter, Peyroux's intro to the song “Guilty” was: “Most of the songs I sing are love songs, blues, or drinking songs. This one is all three, thanks to [the songwriter] Randy Newman.” After the applause subsided from her stunning rendition (complete with pseudo-slurred words to bolster the I've-been-drinking effect), Peyroux said, “That song reminds me of my dad. I remember when I was a kid, we were driving and he saw this big sign that said DRINK CANADA DRY. So we moved there.”

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MusicTrinity of Jazz: Jane Monheit, Madeleine Peyroux, and Cécile McLorin Salvant each perform at Musical Instrument Museum this summer.

Niki D'AndreaJune 20, 2016

Three superb chanteuses from the jazz world will perform at the Musical Instrument Museum this summer.

On Thursday, June 23, sultry singer Jane Monheit takes the stage. Monheit is equally at ease crooning Brazilian music and pop as she is standards from the American Songbook. She's collaborated with everybody from Michael Bublé to John Pizzarelli, and has been nominated for a Grammy twice. Her new album, “The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald” (Emerald City Records, 2016), is an homage to the legendary Fitzgerald. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $45.50-$50.50.

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Performing ArtsTop 5 Arts Events for June 20-26: Circus Xtreme, Green Day’s “American Idiot,” George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic & more

Niki D'AndreaJune 16, 2016

#1: Circus Xtreme at Talking Stick Resort Arena, June 23-26
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey goes to new extremes with this high-energy show featuring traditional elements of the circus combined with fast-paced performances and hilarious moments. Tigers, camels, dogs, acrobats, strongmen, bungee skydivers, BMX freestyle riders and clowns are among the stars. (text by Judy Harper) Tickets start at $20. Call for times. June 23-26 at Talking Stick Resort Arena. ringling.com/shows/circus-xtreme

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