Apr 18-24, 2019

Apr 18-24, 2019 / Vol. 36 / No. 10

Cover Stories

27 Great Things to Do in Tucson This Weekend: April 26-28

El Tambó Fest. A night-long party of cumbia bands and DJs from across the borderlands region. 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, April 26. Hotel Congress. 311 E. Congress St. $12 in advance, $15 day of. Details here. Ignite Agave. As part of the Agave Heritage Festival, the Fox Theatre is hosting a “presentation” about food,…

TW Fun & Games Desk

XOXO: Where to Rock This Weekend, April 26 to 28

On their latest Cheers—an album that winks at mid-century folk and ‘70s glam with tinges of R&B and hip-hop—the three frontwomen of the band leaned into their differences and gave each other unprecedented freedom in the studio. “It was a scary thing for us,” said Mackenzie Howe, “because when you have three writers, you often…

Briannon Wilfong and Xavier Omar Otero

Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Thursday, April 25

36th Annual Tucson Poetry Festival. There’s something about Tucson that makes you want to write poetry about it. Maybe the city attracts poets, or maybe it creates them. It’s probably a little bit of both. Here’s a line from Ofelia Zepada’s “Proclamation”: “Citizens gravitate to Sabino Canyon. / The humming, buzzing, clicking of water life,…

TW Fun & Games Desk

XOXO: Where to Rock Thursday, April 25

During the 1990s, despite numerous well publicized spats with the law, their management and with each other, this girl group scored four No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100: “Creep,” “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs” and “Unpretty.” TLC get CrazySexyCool at the Pima County Fair. Details here. The Tucson International Mariachi Conference 2019 kicks off with…

Xavier Omar Otero and Briannon Wilfong

Poetry Galore! Tucson Celebrates Poetry Fellowship and Festival

Tucson’s thriving poetry scene adds another accolade as TC Tolbert, the town’s poet laureate, receives the Academy of American Poets $100,000 Laureate Fellowship. Tolbert is a lecturer at the University of Arizona and is one of 13 poets nationwide to be honored with this fellowship. “I’m absolutely humbled by this award and deeply grateful that…

Tirion Morris

Laughing Stock: Robert Mac and Other Smarties

A Couple of Smarties “Clean or dirty?” The challenge itself was a joke. Gary “Hoodie” Hood, a cult leader of sorts for Laffs open mic-ers, used it often. He gave the impression he could do an hour of either. Now it’s a common topic throughout the comedy industry. Fans follow both ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ comedy,…

Linda Ray

Bisbee Label 2182 Debuts with ‘Beyond All Defects’

The first moments of 2182 Recording Company’s vinyl career begin with a single metallic chime building a dark ambience. Soon other alien sounds drift in: off-kilter strings, distant throat singing, sourceless noises skittering on the periphery. This is the landscape of Beyond All Defects, the new collaborative album by Sir Richard Bishop and W. David…

Jeff Gardner

Five Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Wednesday, April 24

Agave Heritage Festival. Back again, this festival is taking over downtown Tucson and exploring the “cultural, commercial, and culinary significance of the agave across borders.” There are plenty food and drink oriented events based around this spiny plant, such as Mezcal Crawl, the Marana Agave Farm Tour, the Agave Heritage Dinner, live demonstrations of agave…

TW Fun & Games Desk

XOXO: Where to Rock Wednesday, April 24

“Extra, extra, read all about it.” Australian contemporary Christian artists the Newsboys spread the word about the “Greatness Of Our God” at the Pima County Fair. Details here. Award-winning western singer-songwriter Carolyn Markstrom is joined by much lauded Texas singer-songwriter Jim Jones at Monterey Court. Details here. In a touring songwriter showcase, Jude Valentine, Jarod…

Briannon Wilfong and Xavier Omar Otero

Cash For the Koch’s University Outposts: Watch This Budget Item

It’s a classic quid pro quo. The Koch brothers’ network of donors helped fund then-Treasurer Doug Ducey’s 2012 campaign against a one cent sales tax for schools, then it contributed big bucks to his gubernatorial campaigns. In return, Ducey made sure state funds go to the latest additions to the Koch’s nationwide network of think…

David Safier

XOXO: Where to Rock Tuesday, April 23

Their latest release boldly declares that Love Is Dead. Indietronica sensation CHVRCHES are at The Rialto Theatre. Rockers Cherry Glazerr smear on their Apocalipstick before opening the show. Details here. He co-authored the group’s biggest hits: “I’ve Seen All Good People,” “Roundabout” and “Owner Of A Lonely Heart.” One of the most recognizable voices in…

Briannon Wilfong and Xavier Omar Otero

Gov. Ducey Signs Texting and Driving Ban

Texting while driving will soon be against the law in Arizona after Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation banning the use of handheld mobile devices throughout the state. “Too many lives have been lost because of texting and driving,” said Governor Ducey. “Too many families have needlessly grieved the loss of a loved one due to…

Tucson Weekly Staff

Charges Dropped for the Arizona Three

On Friday, April 19 motions to dismiss the charges against three students who protested the presence of Border Patrol on the University of Arizona campus last month were granted by two Pima County Consolidated Court judges. On March 19, Border Patrol agents were on campus in the Modern Languages building as guests of an event…

Kathleen B. Kunz

Arizona Softball Sweeps Stanford, Remains Undefeated in Pac-12 Play

The University of Arizona softball team is in the midst of a historic winning streak, with the Stanford Cardinal serving as its latest victim. The Wildcats (38-7, 15-0) have won 20 games in a row after sweeping the Cardinal over the weekend. The Wildcats’ latest victories came in convincing fashion, beating the Cardinal by 7-0,…

Christopher Boan

Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Monday, April 22

Pima County Fair. From carnival games to a beer fest to an exhibit on the pharaohs of Egypt, you’ll find there’s something for everyone at the fair—there always is. Thursday, April 18 through Sunday, April 28. Gates open at 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The carnival starts at 3…

TW Fun & Games Desk

XOXO: Where to Rock Monday, April 22

Propelled by his commanding voice, this hard rocker was the engine that pulled 1970s stalwarts Grand Funk Railroad to the top of the charts with hits like “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “I’m Your Captain” and “The Loco-Motion.” Mark Farner’s American Band keeps the train rollin’ at the Pima County Fair. Details here. From a small…

Briannon Wilfong and Xavier Omar Otero

Send in the Clowns

They say the circus arrives without warning, but what happens when the circus blows its top? That’s exactly what happens in Quirkus Circus & the Missing Ringmaster, a new addition to the family series at Live Theatre Workshop. The show attempts the impossible, seeking to create a storyline that can be enjoyed by the youngest…

Taming of the Review

Results-Based Funding: Watch This Budget Item

It’s coming up on state budget time, which means it’s time to start looking at budget numbers while they’re still in flux. For me, that means looking at education numbers. Right now, what we have is Ducey’s budget proposal, so that’s the place to begin. I’m starting with Ducey’s Results-Based Funding proposal. That’s the extra…

David Safier

Rialto Hotel Deal Dead

A proposed $88 million hotel project that would have incorporated the downtown’s historic Rialto Theatre is dead. Developer Scott Stiteler, who announced the plans last October, told the Weekly that he couldn’t find a way to make the project work, saying that urban development involves many challenges. “It’s very different than buying a piece of…

Jim Nintzel

Ducey Signs Revised Anti-Boycott Law

On Tuesday Gov. Doug Ducey signed SB 1167 into law. It’s an amendment of a previous law that required all government contractors to certify they are not participating in the boycott, divest and sanction movement (BDS) against Israel or Israeli settlements in the West Bank. That law, passed in 2016, was quickly challenged by the American…

Kathleen B. Kunz

So Many Kittens! PACC Needs Foster Families

Spring time brings bunnies and ducklings and, you guessed it, kittens! Kitten season is here at Pima Animal Care Center and they need foster families. The shelter has taken in 338 kittens since the New Year, and springtime means more are on their way. PACC is looking for foster families to take individual kittens or…

Tirion Morris

Tichumaren in Tucson: Mdou Moctar

These days, Mdou Moctar travels the world performing his fusion of psychedelic guitar and the music of West Africa. But the first guitar he ever played was made from pieces of wood and the brakes of a bicycle.

Jeff Gardner

Vintage Vinyl

All across America, a huge percentage of the best hidden local gem 45s were cut by teenagers.

Lee Joseph

Creative Power

The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance has partnered with many creative leaders and educators to bring the communities of Oro Valley and Tucson an interactive summit.

Briannon Wilfong

Danger Street

According to the most recent 2017 study by the Arizona Department of Transportation, a person was killed every 8 hours and 46 minutes in a traffic collision on our roads.

Brendan Lyons

Danehy

Tom has some thoughts about making Donald Trump a one-term president—and he’s worried the Democrats are gonna blow it

Tom Danehy

Editor’s Note

We’ve got the results of this year’s Cannabis Bowl and reviews of some of the finer medicinals in our local dispensaries.

Jim Nintzel

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