WHAT'S NEW, PUSSYCAT?
What we not-so-cleverly titled "Tucson's Music Month" is now over, with the last bit of post-Coachella concert traffic leaving us behind, but there's still a lot to see this week, without even getting into the Christian rock extravaganza at Congress Thursday, featuring RED, Disciple, Spoken and others. Elsewhere in the music section this week, check out features on the Old 97's, Pink Mountaintops, the Tucson Folk Festival and a review of the new Gardens & Villa record. Also, City Week has a preview of the March Fourth Marching Band show. Just go ahead and take my money, Tucson!
I (WHO HAVE NOTHING)
I suppose this space isn't supposed to preview comedy shows, but hey, they're still concerts and on the same stages as the music performances that normally fill this space, so why not? Tucson is thankfully getting more on the comedy tour radar lately and this week there are two likely great shows, Anthony Jeselnik at the Rialto on Saturday, May 3 and Brian Posehn at Congress on Thursday, May 8. Jeselnik is one of the hottest comedians working today, despite Comedy Central's strange decision to cancel his show The Jeselnik Offensive late last year, rising to fame mostly due to the network's roasts, where he ritually destroyed the fragile egos of everyone else on the stage. Jeselnik's stand-up routine, full of one-liners, isn't for everyone, considering he generally seems to aim to deeply offend everyone in the room, but even if you're shaking your head in disapproval of one joke, the next one will have you roaring with laughter. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show are $29.50 and you can find whatever relevant you might need at rialtotheatre.com or by calling 740-1000.
Brian Posehn's done a little of everything in recent years, from acting in film and on TV, doing voicework for animated stuff or video games, hosting podcasts or co-writing a series of Deadpool comics. Still, stand-up comedy is still at the core of what he does. His comedy album last year, The Fartist, covered topics from parenting, the music of Weird Al Yankovic, and what Vegas strippers breasts smell like. The show next Thursday the 8th is at 7 p.m. and tickets are $25 for the all ages show. More info at hotelcongress.com and 622-8848.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL
In shows in interesting/weird places news, this weekend you can hang out at Cowtown Keeylocko, a working ranch 40 miles southwest of Tucson off Highway 86, complete with (as the website says) "a wooden saloon with sawdust floor, cows and horses, old-timers and rascals in the open air." The event is intended to celebrate the release of a cassette/journal called Lightning Quarterly, which raised funds via Kickstarter earlier this year and features Vox Urbana, Burning Palms, Algae & Tentacles, OHIOAN and a few other acts. Unlike most shows, there's a camping element, with the music starting Saturday the 3rd at 4 p.m. and continuing until Sunday the 4th at noon. For more information on what will likely be an unforgettable experience, head to infinitefront.com/keeylocko.
GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME
Fresh off receiving the Morrissey Seal of Approval by opening two shows this summer with the preening former Smiths frontman, Welsh singer Tom Jones is coming to the Rialto Theatre on May 7.
Over the course of his seemingly infinite career, Jones has taken on all of the genres of music, from Bacharach/David pop hits to a blissfully strange take on Prince's "Kiss" with Art of Noise and a late '90s Britpop-inspired collaboration album, Reload, which included a cover of "Are You Gonna Go My Way" with Robbie Williams, because that's what people did back then.
Recently, to keep up his generally unpredictable career path in effect, Jones has worked with Jack White (on a track called "Evil") and put out a Ethan Johns produced sort of Americana-ish album in 2012, Spirit in the Room, where he took on songs by Richard Thompson and the Low Anthem. And no joke, his version of Leonard Cohen's "Tower of Song" is pretty great, if only because the opening line of "I was born with the gift of a golden voice" is actually true.
From my understanding, the show will focus on Jones' more recent material, but having listened to Spirit in the Room and its predecessor, 2010's Praise and Blame, a stripped-down gospel record, this will be a great opportunity to hear an under-rated singer singing great songs. What more could you ask for? Tickets are $46 to $66 at rialtotheatre.com or 740-1000.
WITHOUT LOVE
Here's your sellout warning of the week: Tickets for Iron & Wine go on sale this Friday, May 2 for the Aug. 12 show. Don't be like the flood of social media users begging for someone to make it possible for them to see Beck this week. Plan ahead, buy tickets now and you'll spare yourself the trouble of wondering why the show sold out. Tickets range from $28 to $40 for the all-reserved seating show.
