Cover Story
Reversed, Retraced, Realized
“Mercury in Retrograde,” the opening track on Brian Lopez’ new “Static Noise,” is at once a universal story and a microcosm, a model of both creation and evolution. Its sonic space-field opening, and the art and science of its composition, introduce a collection of songs representing a surge of creative motion over a particularly energy-charged…
It’s Monty Python Month at The Loft
This week’s preview of Gone Girl and the upcoming Loft Film Fest seems like plenty at the Loft this month, but the programming staff over there has more fun on tap with “And Now for Something Completely Python,” a Monty Python tribute in October. It kicks off tonight with Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life…
AG Debate: Brnovich and Rotellini Do Battle in Heated TV Forum
Last night’s Clean Elections debate between Democrat Felecia Rotellini and Republican Mark Brnovich was a heated affair, with Rotellini sparring with Brnovich over abortion rights, private prisons and the Obama administration’s regulations in Arizona.
Facebook Mea Culpa: Real Name Apology
Well, just as we reported this morning, that Facebook apology drag queens and the Transgender Law Center were fighting for, well, it happened. According to The Advocate, this happened: After several meetings with drag queens and others concerned about Facebook’s policy requiring users to be listed under their “real name,” an officer with the social…
Part of PTSD/Medical Marijuana Study May Have Home at UNLV
Sue Sisley While no announcement has been made by Arizona State University on if it plans to make a home for part of terminated UA researcher Sue Sisley’s study on treating PTSD-suffering veterans with marijuana, over the weekend a story in The Las Vegas Review-Journal said University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is a possible destination.…
The Abbey Is Closed Again (This Time for Good?)
The Abbey, the foothills restaurant that had a locked-doors scare earlier this year, is now seemingly closed for good. You might remember that in May, then-owner Brian Metzger had an issue with a lender which led to the property being seized, but eventually took care of things to reopen. However, as part of Metzger’s divorce…
Kirkpatrick Raises a Staggering $800,000 in Third Quarter
It’s that time again: Our congressional candidates are going to start releasing their quarterly fundraising totals. The first one we’ve seen comes from Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, who has raised more than $800,000 in her race against Republican Speaker of the Arizona House Andy Tobin. That’s a staggering figure and sets a new quarterly record for…
Is Facebook Getting Ready to Kinda Change its Mind on Real Name Policy?
In last week’s Tucson Weekly, we talked to our fave Tucson drag queen Tempest DuJour about the possible consequences of how Facebook was enforcing it’s real name policy, a move that seemed to be targeting drag queens across the country. We also brought up how other communities could be affected by the policy, such as…
Here’s a Story About Who’s Getting Rich off Prisoners
The Center for Public Integrity’s new series on the finance industry that’s milking dollars from the families of prisoners, then the prisoners after they’ve been released from prison is a must read, and one that will make you wonder why our correctional facilities are punishing those left behind on the outside as well: Pat Taylor…
Loss Is at the Center of Cymbals Eat Guitars’ Sound
Cymbals Eat Guitars Loss is universal. So even though Cymbals Eat Guitars created their third album with some very specific losses in mind, the intention was for listeners to find their own meaning in the songs, to connect the emotionally driven indie rock with their own lives. In August, the New Jersey to New York…
You Can Watch Last Night’s Gubernational Debate (If You’d Like)
Strangely, you have to fast-forward to the 29 minute mark to actually watch it, but last night’s debate on Phoenix’s KAET between Doug Ducey, Fred DuVal and two guys who are just happy to be there is now online. Watch as Doug Ducey says he has no intent to fund Arizona’s schools in accordance to…
The Community Food Bank Offers Gardening Tips Via YouTube
I feel like I threaten to start a garden every week or so, generally right after spending more than I care to on produce at Sprouts, but hey…where do you even start such a venture here in the desert? Thankfully, the fine folks at the Community Food Bank have a new helpful video on gardening…
Arizona To Teachers: You’ll Find Greener ($$$) Pastures Elsewhere
Don’t read any further. Just go to Howard Fischer’s article, Arizona 6th worst in the U.S. for teachers. It’s all there. However, if you want my take on his story and a quick summary of some of the facts and figures, read on. Teachers don’t go into the profession for the money. I’ve never heard…
Haunting Images of Homelessness on Display at Hotel Congress
The Hotel Congress lobby is hosting a powerful exhibition of photos by Jon Linton who aims to bring a bit of humanity to how we perceive those living on the streets: From the press release: In 2007, Jon Linton volunteered at a shelter to better understand the plight of those without a door to walk…
Nicolas Cage’s “Left Behind” Remake Gets Recommendation-of-Sorts From Satan
As any regular reader of The Range knows, I am quite the fan of Christian film, so clearly I’m super psyched for the Nicolas Cage-fronted remake of Left Behind, opening this Thursday at several local theaters. Not super-psyched enough to actually pay for a ticket to the film which will likely offend both my cinematic…
Narco News TV: Gary Webb Tells His Own Story
Please grab this week’s Tucson Weekly when it lands in our stands Thursday. The cover, a story that recently ran in our sister alt-weekly, the Sacramento News and Review, is on the late journalist Gary Webb. Narcos News has been steadfast in writing about Webb, his work, his association with Narco News’ School of Authentic…
The ‘Inherent Vice’ Trailer Is Amazing
Inherent Vice, the new film from Paul Thomas Anderson, isn’t coming out until Dec. 12 (although it may not get to Tucson until the wide release date on January 9, 2015), but the hype is starting to kick into top gear, mostly because it’s directed by one of American film’s greatest artists and based on…
Seriously, What Does Tucson Have to Do to Get a Giant Slip-and-Slide to Come to Town?
Due to a drought and people being told to cut down on the number of times they’re flushing their toilet, a giant water slide event that was scheduled for this weekend in Los Angeles was postponed, even though the organizers had managed to sell 4,000 tickets ranging in price from $15 to $50 for the…
Mapping Q: New Museum-Based Program Asks Tucson Queer Youth What Kind of Community They Want and Need
ALLY (Arizona Life Links for Youth), Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation and the University of Arizona Museum of Art have come together to create a community and museum-based program called Mapping Q, for queer youth. The program will work with youth to investigate how symbols, signs and art can be used to express ideas of oppression…
Black Cat Vintage Pays Tribute to Jacome’s for Modernism Week
Black Cat Vintage pays tribute to Tucson Modernism Week Black Cat Vintage at 41 N. Tucson Blvd. has done some great/fun window displays in the past, but store owner Claudine Villardito has gone above and beyond this time, recreating the look from the grand opening of Jacome’s downtown department store in 1951 as part of…
Penultimate Gubernatorial Debate Tonight
Last night, Republican Doug Ducey and Democrat Fred DuVal met for a debate on education. The Arizona Republic rounds up the basic differences between the candidates here (and there are a lot of differences). One key split between the candidates: Ducey wants to allow more state tax dollars to fund private schools: Ducey said he…
Let’s Listen to a Disco Mix by Saint Pepsi
Saint Pepsi, a.k.a. songwriter/producer Ryan DeRobertis, is coming to Congress’ Thursday night cool-kids fest Opti Club on November 13 (a while away, but mark your calendars) with his upbeat, light funk take on summery pop sounds, but while you wait, why not listen to his 35 minute disco mix for The Fader? A little Klique…
TUSD School Board Candidate Forum Tonight
Still figuring out who you are going to vote for in the upcoming Tucson Unified School District governing board election? There’s a second candidates forum tonight, Monday, Sept. 29, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Palo Verde High School in the auditorium, 1302 S. Avenida Vega. The forum is sponsored by the Dietz Neighborhood Association…
The Loft Film Fest Looks Amazing
The Loft Cinema is back with the fifth annual Loft Film Fest in just a few weeks. In additional to dozens of films over four days—you can find a complete program for the festival here—the Loft will bring a lot of filmmakers to discuss their work between Thursday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 19. This…
You Can See ‘Gone Girl’ a Day Early at the Loft
David Fincher’s Gone Girl looks pretty great, mostly because David Fincher is generally awesome, and opens this Friday nationwide, but if you don’t mind coughing up a few extra bucks, you can see the film Thursday night at the Loft and enjoy a few extra bonuses in the process: Acclaimed filmmaker David Fincher’s highly-anticipated new…
Brewer’s Endorsement Of Ethan Orr Is Fading From Tucson’s Streets
When Ethan Orr supported Governor Brewer’s Medicaid plan, she promised to help him win reelection in Legislative District 9. Early in the primary season, her independent expenditure committee, Arizona’s Legacy, bought a bunch of Ethan Orr for State Representative signs and stuck them around the Tucson area. At the top, they read, “Supported by Governor…
Canstruction/Kidstruction: Hunger Action Month and Architecture Week 2014 Tomorrow at Park Mall
</div Five teams of architects, designers and engineers go “food can to food can” in the fifth annual Canstruction event as part of Architecture Week 2014 and Hunger Action Month. All the cans used in the building competition at Park Mall, tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 27, will go to the Community Food Bank. The can-tivity takes…
Team McSally Demands More Debates After Refusing To Commit to KVOA/League of Women Voters Forum
A debate over debates has broken out in the race between Democratic Congressman Ron Barber and his Republican challenger, Martha McSally. On Sept. 4, Team Barber challenged McSally to two debates. Later that day, Team McSally responded with a demand for four debates. Team Barber eventually agreed to three debates and Team McSally has continued…
Tucsonan in Midst of Greatest/Worst Kickstarter Ever
There are quite a few Tucson-based Kickstarter projects you can support right now, but clearly, the most promising option is Nick Shelby’s Johann Sebastian Nickelbach project, which is entirely what it sounds like: The reality is that Nickelback makes big, bombastic, accessible music and, whether you like it or not, that means they have something…
Get Into a Cold Sweat Tonight at Flycatcher
Herm, who clearly doesn’t have enough going on, is launching a new night of dancing and frolic at Flycatcher tonight: “COLD SWEAT, a funk and soul getdown.” To get a sense of what sort of soul jams you might hear tonight starting at 10 p.m., we asked Herm for his Cold Sweat top five: •…
They Announced the MLS Teams Coming to Town in 2015
You remember how excited you were about the World Cup? Went to a bar in the middle of the day to watch matches, pretended that you understood the offside rules? A bunch of the members of the US National Team (Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi, Matt Besler, Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando) are coming…
Black Girls Dangerous’ Mia McKenzie Has An Important Take on #HeForShe
The Twitter-sphere was alive this week with the sound of celebrities taking marker to poster board for #HeForShe selfies shortly after Emma Watson’s United Nation’s speech on Saturday on gender equality. But maybe a simple hash tag campaign and that Hermione was put one some feminist pedestal didn’t sit right with you either?Mia McKenzie of…
The All Souls Guitar Looks Amazing
This is the second year that some smart and creative folks have designed and built a guitar to support the All Souls Procession – remember that the Procession happens entirely from donations, no sponsors or government support – and considering the work (by DJ Odious, Doc Hudson Guitars and Moises Orozco) that went into this…
Corrugated Community: Cardboard Ball This Weekend
Tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 26, is the final deadline to submit three-dimensional art work for the Cardboard Ball, which takes place, Saturday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m. To submit your art work, from noon to 8 p.m., go to Maker House, 283 N. Stone Ave. Tucson artist Mykl Wells will be there to take your beautiful work.…
Some Local Bands You Like Are on a New Cassette Tape
I’ve clearly reached that age where one finds young people and many of their interests confusing, so the idea that I would choose to listen to music on cassette is wildly befuddling to me (Hey, do you miss when you couldn’t really skip songs without a significant hassle? Me neither!), but hey, if you enjoy…
Go See the Odd Zydeco/Reggae/Dub/Jamband Amalgamate Concert at the Rialto Tonight
One thing I really appreciate about the Rialto is that you get some strange back-to-back-nights show combos there…one night it might be a flamenco-inspired guitar act, the next, the Insane Clown Posse. They just book acts people might want to see and people in Tucson tend to want to see interesting stuff. Tonight, you get…
Narco News’ Conroy Interviews Gary Webb’s Family
Narco News, which has been loyally persistent in getting word out about their friend Gary Webb, his work and the upcoming movie starring Jeremy Renner as Webb, Kill the Messenger, has a new story by Bill Conroy out today, which allows his family to explain what happened and how they feel about the movie. It’s…
You Can Start Drinking Borderlands Beer in Cans This Weekend
Congrats to the gentlemen at Borderlands Brewing Company, as they’re the latest Tucson brewery to go the route of retail, canning about 400 cases or so of their Noche Dulce vanilla porter in 16 ounce cans to be sent around town. Look for it in stores starting this weekend, but in full force next week…
Veterans and Other Sisley Supporters Allowed to Speak at ABOR Meeting
Based on past experiences speaking in front of the Arizona Board of Regents, a group of military veterans looking to protest the firing of Sue Sisley were worried they’d be turned away or not allowed to speak during the call to audience at today’s ABOR meeting. We talked to Sean Kiernan, founder of Veterans for…
Help Out With a Childhood Cancer Month Blood Drive
Barbara Anderson got just about the worst news imaginable last year when her 18-month-old son was diagnosed with a form of leukemia. While Jude’s prognosis is positive after some incredibly tough months of chemotherapy and other treatments, Barbara is doing what she can to help other people who are going through similar tough times. Chris…
Adam Sandler on a Quest to Ruin “Real Genius”
It’s possible that the number of people who believe that the Val Kilmer film Real Genius is one of the great movies of the 1980’s is fewer than I would hope or suspect, however, I would imagine that most people might agree that a TV show reboot of the film by Adam Sandler’s production company…
Let’s Learn About Near-Earth Objects
The UA’s OSIRIS-REx mission—which will be sending a robot into space to capture a sample from an asteroid and returning it to earth in a few years—is educating us about why they’re embarking on this project. Here’s the latest YouTube video about Near Earth Objects, or NEOs. More on OSISIS-REx here.
We Finally Heard Back from Facebook on Their Real Name Policy
In this week’s Tucson Weekly, we talked to Patrick Holt about the challenges he faces dealing with a new policy Facebook began enforcing on identities, which seemed to specifically target drag queens who use personal pages to connect with the public on their work. For Holt that’s Tempest DuJour. We also talked with Tucson activist…
PechaKucha Tucson 3rd Annual 20X20
AIGA Arizona is hosting the Third Annual 20X20 at The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd., on Thursday, Sept. 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. The event provides attendees with a glimpse into some of the most creative minds in the city. Featured guests include the Weekly’s own Mari Herreras, local photographer Tom Willet, master…
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: One of the things I have found enjoyable and profound is the use of language by Chicanos, mexicanos, and Mexican-Americans. Humor and a sardonic sense of history, in my view, are encapsulated in many everyday expressions. Two examples I can think of are the use of huey (or perhaps buey), and rollo. In…
Tucson Flamenco Festival VI
Heating up Tucson for the sixth year in a row, Casa Vicente on 375 S. Stone Ave. is bringing back the annual Tucson Flamenco Festival. Going back to owner’s Marita and Vicente Gomez’s Spanish roots, the event will feature Flamenco guitarists, singers, and dancers from Seville, Jerez, Cordoba and Barcelona along with Flamenco artists based…
Sunday Funday Vinyl Swap-Meet
The 4th Avenue Delicatessen on 425 N. Fourth Ave. and Che’s Lounge on 350 N. Fourth Ave. are hosting The Sunday Funday Vinyl Swap-Meet on Sunday, Sept. 28 from 4 to 8 p.m. Featuring beer, booze and hot dogs from 4th Avenue Delicatessen, attendees can dig through crates searching for LPs in an outdoor swap…
2014 Greek Festival
After St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church was forced to cancel the Greek Festival last year due to a fire that broke out in May, they were anxious to host the event again this year. This will be its 38th year and organizers hope to offer more to attendees this year over any other. The event…
Tucson Porch Fest
On Sunday, Sept. 28, homes in the Broadway-Broadmoor Village neighborhood will take place in the Tucson Porch Fest featuring music, community and food. The goal of the Porch Fest is to mimic the day-long festival held in Somerville, Massachusetts, while creating a fun, family environment for Tucsonans. Each porch will feature different musicians ranging from…
Bumps on the Road
Did you ever see the film “Make Way for Tomorrow?” It was directed by Leo McCarey, usually left out of the discussion of great directors despite the fact that he won three Oscars and made “Duck Soup,” “An Affair to Remember,” and “Going My Way.” “Make Way for Tomorrow” was released in 1937 and focused…
Cinema Showdown
YOU KNOW I CAN’T STAND TO BE TICKLED The biggest news of the film week that doesn’t involve actually seeing movies right now is most likely the announcement of the schedule for the Loft Film Fest, running from Oct. 16 to Oct. 19. We’ll have a lot more on the festival as it approaches, but…
Editor’s Note
Every time we win an award, I write the same thing in this space: it’s not smart to put too much stock in these things (after all, they let me vote in the Washington Newspaper Awards), but they’re nice to win. However, I think when you win a bunch of them or a really important…
Contracts and Consumption
Ari Folman, the director behind the stunning “Waltz with Bashir,” has delivered something altogether different with his latest, “The Congress.” The movie is basically two movies in one that are sort of connected. On one hand, it’s a very effective satire of the current and future state of the movies and the acting profession. On…
Police Dispatch
A CONVOLUTED GESTURE TO GENESIS? RINCON BEAT AUG. 26, 11:15 A.M. A housewife’s acquaintance turned a peaceful, Eden-like garden into a hellish scene with some blatantly bizarre behavior—involving proselytizing, debating gender roles, and an attempt to bare-handedly heal a dead snake—according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report. After hiding from the subject in a…
Beautiful Bhel Poori
Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel, “The Namesake” opens with a pregnant Bengali women who lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts trying to create a street food from Calcutta that she, in her last weeks of pregnancy, craves. She mixes rice cereal, peanuts, red onions, green pepper slices, lemon juice and salt but is missing a key ingredient, mustard oil.…
Profile Problems
By day Patrick Holt is an associate professor at the UA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television, and by night he’s popular Tucson drag queen Tempest DuJour. Facebook has helped the teacher-entertainer define his two worlds—a regular page for Holt, UA associate professor of costume and make-up design, husband and the father of two young…
Noshing Around
Football season is now in full swing. UA is doing well, and even if your favorite NFL team is 0-3, there is still some hope for you. Football is huge in this country and so often game day is treated like a holiday, complete with mighty fine vittles and libations as a huge part of…
The Skinny
The tight race between Congressman Ron Barber (D-CD2) and Republican challenger Martha McSally took another turn last week, when McSally objected to a TV ad being run by Americans for Responsible Solutions, the political action committee formed by former congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Giffords, who survived being shot through the head in a Tucson mass shooting…
Nine on the Line
Lindon “Lindy” Reilly is the man down on 4th Avenue. Lindy’s on 4th has been serving the most creative and exciting burgers in Tucson going on nine years. Lindy’s should be credited with (at least a big part of) putting Tucson on the national foodie map, appearing in at least three national shows on the…
Danehy
In the classic (yes, classic!) teen movie “Mean Girls,” high-schooler Cady Heron is asked why she likes math so much. Her reply: “Because math is the same in every language.” Granted, those were probably the last intelligent words ever to come out of the mouth of Lindsay Lohan, who played Cady Heron. Plus, they were…
Rock & Roll Sexperience
There’s a lot of rock ‘n’ roll voodoo at work on King Tuff’s Black Moon Spell. For the latest collection of demented, euphoric, guitar-heavy rock tunes, King Tuff and his band, Magic Jake on bass and Old Gary on drums, felt the guidance of some invisible hand. It might’ve been God, but, let’s be honest…
Media Watch
KOLD ADDS GIMINO TO BOOST UA SPORTS COVERAGE Long-time UA sports writer Anthony Gimino has joined KOLD TV 13, but not in a capacity related to the TV product. Gimino is providing content for the station’s web site, KOLD.com. As such, it’s the first effort by one of the market’s television outlets to attempt to…
Soundbites
LIVING PROOF Good luck trying to figure out what to do this Friday night. First, there’s the electric full-band Brian Lopez show at Congress (more on that in our cover story by Linda Ray), although you do have another opportunity to see him the next night in an intimate Copper Room show. However, even if…
Nine Questions
Jhon Sanders moved to Tucson from Seattle in 2003. Since then, he’s found himself dedicated to creative and community-building pursuits around town, including a seven-year-and-counting stint with festal culture enthusiasts Many Mouths One Stomach, facilitators of the All Souls Procession. A reverse snow bird of sorts, Sanders leaves us every summer for Ketchikan, Alaska where…
Chekov and Stripteases
Go, for the reverse striptease conducted by a magnificent young male showcasing his spectacularly ripped body. Go, for the rant, eight minutes long, about how the world has changed for the worse since the introduction of personal electronic devices and the disastrous domination of multi-tasking. Go for the earnest effort of a young would-be actress…
Live
Last Saturday afternoon, I got into the car to make the long trek from my place on the far westside to visit some old friends—a married couple—close to the edge of Tucson’s city limits on the east. The last time I’d visited them was at their baby shower, about 18 months ago. They had a…
Engaging the Elements
Jennifer Day and Joshua Olivera conjure up the land in strikingly different ways. Day paints recognizable trees and skies and hills in her northerly landscapes but she simplifies them into geometries. In “Strike Anywhere,” the biggest of her acrylics on canvas in the “Four to Watch” exhibition at Davis Dominguez, her pines are scrappy green…
A Natural Choice
Medical marijuana patients have a lot of choices when it comes to selecting a dispensary in town, but not many dispensaries can offer what Nature Med can when it comes to healthcare industry experience. As a family-owned and operated business, Nature Med is backed by owner Mike Schmidt, a healthcare professional with more than 25…
Borderlands’ “They Call Me a Hero” Debuts Tomorrow
Borderlands Theater’s “They Call Me A Hero,” debuts tomorrow evening, Thursday, Sept. 25. It’s the 29th season for the historical theater organization and the last play as producing director for Borderlands founder, Barclay Goldsmith. The play, by Guillermo Reyes, is based on Daniel Hernandez’s memoir of the same title. Hernandez, a Sunnyside School District governing…
Tucson Representing at NYC People’s Climate March Along With a Polar Bear
Taking center stage at the NYC People’s Climate March was Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity. Executive Director Kieran Suckling accompanied a charming polar bear (Center for Biological Diversity’s Peter Galvin dressed for the occasion), who seemed to enchant everyone before and after his arrest. Suckling was also arrested during the Flood Wall Street event on…
