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HOW MUCH WOOD: While it has come to be known as an acoustic
showcase for local bands--an event to prove talent doesn't depend
on your distortion pedals--the impetus for the annual Wooden
Ball was actually about something else: attempting to promote
a sense of community in Tucson's music scene.
So in an effort to provide a sense of cohesion amidst the chaos, Holiman endeavored to get as many bands as possible under one roof, for one night, with everyone getting the same amount of time to show their stuff. In order to expedite changes between sets, the format would be acoustic. And so the tradition began. While the first Ball was held at the hub of everything "alternative" back in the '80s, Nino's Steakhouse, when Holiman got around to putting the second event together (some seven years later in 1994), the event moved to Club Congress, which has hosted it ever since. The '90s-era Wooden Balls have been documented by two compilation albums: Could You Wood? (San Jacinto), which is a highlights disc of the 1994 and '95 shows; and Wood for Rainer (Epiphany), which includes one song from each of 1996's participants. The latter doubled as a fundraiser for one of Tucson's most beloved and now departed talents, Rainer Ptácek. While the tragic Rainer saga has suffered no shortage of ink since, at the time, the announcement of his cancer spurred an energy and unity untouched by any local festival before or since. There's a lesson to be learned, there...and carried forward. But we digress.... The recorded documents of Balls past read like a who's-who in local music from the mid-to-late '90s, and the roster of talent appearing at this year's incarnation upholds that fine tradition. Packing 12 acts into six hours, in order of appearance, here goes: Stud Drifters, Agave, Bremen Town Musicians, 9 Days Wonder, Simplistics, Annie Hawkins, Creosote, Chris Holiman, Greyhound Soul, Chris Cacavas, Howe Gelb, and Al Perry. As if that weren't enough to get your ass in the door, all patrons will be eligible to win an autographed guitar played by Al himself. It all goes down on Friday, January 15, at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and cover is $6. Call 622-8848 for more info.
Hailing from the unlikely locale of Minneapolis/St. Paul, bluesman Percy Strother makes a return appearance this week. He'll hit the stage early, at 9 p.m. Thursday, January 14, at the Boondocks Lounge, 3306 N. First Ave. Advance tickets are available at the club for $5; they'll cost $7 at the door. Call 690-0991 for more info. The highly acclaimed East L.A. quartet The Blazers also strut their stuff this week to promote their newest release, Just for You, on Rounder Records. While they've been compared to the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Al Green, and the Sir Douglas Quintet, perhaps the most accurate comparison is to their spiritual brethren and hometown mates, Los Lobos, whose Cesar Rosas produced their first two albums. Both bands share a love for blending '60s roots rock, R&B, and Latin rhythms into an eclectic and diverse sonic palette that enthuses fans and critics alike. Check out what the hype's all about on Friday, January 15, at The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave. Tickets are $7, $5 for Tucson Blues Society members. Call 629-9211 for additional information.
Sure you've seen them in every position possible (and perhaps some positions you previously thought impossible), but have you ever wondered if your favorite porn stars could actually carry a tune? Okay, probably not; but just in case you have, the independent label Callner Music is set to answer that question on January 26 with the release of Porn to Rock, a collection of 13 adult film stars performing original material for your listening pleasure (or displeasure--we'll just have to wait and see). The CD-only release will feature such luminaries as Ginger Lynn, Johnny Toxic, Hypatia Lee, Nina Whett, and Vinnie Spit with Mistress Jacqueline.
And last but certainly not least, the end of the week brings a mean feat to local reggae fans: The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave., will be home base for the weekly Tucson Reggae Sundays, hosted by DJ Papa Ranger. The series kicks off in style this week with an appearance by international reggae superstar Sugar Minott, best known for his incorporation of Motown-style R&B and traditional reggae. He's a pioneer of the style that has come to be known as "lovers rock" (a brand of reggae to which The Clash paid tribute on their landmark 1980 album, London Calling).
Come see the master on Sunday, January 17. Doors open at 5 p.m.,
with openers Neon Prophet hitting the stage at 8 p.m. Advance
tickets are $15, available at Twelve Tribes Reggae Shop and PDQ
Records. They'll be $17 at the door. For further details, call
571-9560.
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© 1995-99 Tucson Weekly . Info Booth |
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Founder and longtime organizer of the fandango, 35 Summers'
Chris Holiman, put the first ball togethethe classic Tucson
"desert rock" scene was in full effect, and it seemed
like all this town needed was for some label to come along and
discover the scene, and then a half-dozen bands would get the
opportunity to sign on the dotted line and the rest would be history.
Ahem, well...And then bitterness and competition reared its ugly
head.
BAND WAGON: Maybe the promoters-that-be are feeling sympathetic
toward college students in search of a last holiday hurrah before
getting back to hitting the books in earnest. Whatever the explanation,
there's a bevy of shows hitting town this week, and the schedule
is a regular course in diversity studies.
Two of Houston's finest hard-rock bands will be kickin' out the
jams in the Old Pueblo this week in support of their newest release,
Tape Head (Metal Blade). Groove-metal trio King's X
will headline this show, with riff masters the Galactic Cowboys
opening in support of their recent At the End of the Day
(also on Metal Blade). This all-ages show also features openers
17 Poles, Xenosapien, and Dumpster Boy. It
all happens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 15, at the Rialto
Theatre, 318 E Congress St. Advance tickets are $12, and may
be purchased at CD Depot, Chicago Store, Strictly CDs, Sticks
and Strings, and Zia on Oracle. Call 740-0126 for additional information.
One of the performers included on the comp makes appearance in
town this week. Probably the only bona-fide vocalist on the disc,
Sire Records recording artist Candye Kane makes her semi-annual
stop in Tucson in support of last year's release, Swango.
The buxom chanteuse performs on Saturday, January 16, as part
of the ongoing Swingin' Saturday Night series at the Rialto
Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. Show time is 9 p.m., but you'll
probably want to get there early for the free dance lessons (swing,
of course) at 8 p.m. Advance tickets are $5, available at the
Congress Street Store, Hear's Music, Guitars, Etc., and Zip's
University. For details, call 740-0126.
