Soundbites

UNDERPASS-PALOOZA!

Has it really been only two years and change that the Fourth
Avenue underpass has been closed for reconstruction? Because for
those of us who used it regularly, it seems like an eternity.

But there it is, in black and white: The reconstruction began in
June 2007. Even more remarkable than time playing tricks on us is the
fact that the project is actually being completed on time. Considerably
over budget, of course, but on time.

The underpass is unique in downtown’s landscape, a corridor linking
the two most entertainment-rich streets in the area, Fourth Avenue and
Congress Street. And its closure has been frustrating for all involved:
Businesses in the area hated it, because it tinkered with their
operations and patronage; patrons hated it, because there was no easy
way to get from one side of it to the other. But this week, that all
changes, as the new, improved underpass finally opens up.

It’s something worth celebrating, so celebrate, we will.

This Thursday, Aug. 20, following a ribbon-cutting and
dedication, the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., will open
its doors around 7 p.m. for a free, all-ages performance by local
singer-songwriter Salvador Duran. Meanwhile, across the street
at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., a special Optimist
Club dance night featuring São Paolo, Brazil’s
Database, French Horn Rebellion and O/W/L/S will
follow the early Los Campesinos! show. Admission is $3, or pick
up a lifetime-pass card for $6.

Then, on Friday, Aug. 21, the festivities kick into high
gear. The Create Your City Art Party begins at 6:30 p.m. at the
Winsett Park Stage (next to Bison Witches) with puppets, clowns,
stilt-walkers and dancers. At 7:30 p.m., a parade with performers will
lead revelers from Winsett Park to the Rialto, where there will be
“performance installations, interactive arts, vending and so much
more,” according to a press release. Additionally, there will be lots
of live music from the likes of Mata Leão, Combo
Westside, Michelle Blades, Batucaxé, Tom
Walbank and the Ambassadors, Ensphere, PLOY,
Flagrante Delicto and Mr. Free and the Satellite
Freakout. In other words, a little something for everyone. Advance
tickets are available at the Rialto for $10; they’ll be on a sliding
scale from $10 to $25 at the door. The event is being co-produced by
Creative City and Parasol Project, though a slew of other
people and organizations will be representin’. For more information,
head to creativecity.org,
or call the Rialto at 740-1000.

That same evening, the festivities at Hotel Congress begin at 6 p.m.
with a new installment of Jeff “Mr. Tidypaws” Grubic‘s ongoing
musical performance art project, the Ad Nauseum Project. Each
ANP project—and they’ve gone down in Tucson, Los Angeles, San
Francisco and France—is unique, taking an unusual idea and
playing it out in front of a live audience. Friday’s event is titled
“Grubic’s Cube,” and here’s the deal: A live band, which will
include Grubic, Arthur Vint, Sean Rodgers and Kevin
Stultz, will perform while encased in a large cube. While the band
is playing, audience members will inflate balloons and place them
inside the cube. The band will only stop playing once it’s physically
impossible to do so because of all the balloons. Admission is free.

Later that night, starting at around 8 p.m., the club will also host
a free dance party to celebrate the underpass opening, featuring
Stockholm DJ Style of Eye.

The folks at Hotel Congress are also hoping to have a bit of
construction done in time for these events. The club and Tap Room are
getting a new floor installed, and the much-anticipated opening of the
expanded patio, dubbed the Hotel Congress plaza, should be
completed as well, since “Grubic’s Cube” is scheduled to happen
there.

Call Congress with questions at 622-8848.

BEWARE OF LIVE BEARS

Local trio Mostly Bears will release a stopgap live album
this week called Team of Spirits: Live at Club Congress (Funzalo), which is just that—a nine-song document of the live
Mostly Bears experience. For those who have complained that the band’s
studio material can’t quite match the power of its live show, the album
may not be essential, but it’s definitely a worthwhile purchase.

Plus, in addition to seven Mostly Bears originals, the set includes
two great covers: A faithful version of the Hollies’ “Bus Stop” and an
only slightly less-so take on Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good.”
For a band known for its proggy rock, the covers go a long way in
demonstrating its versatility.

Mostly Bears celebrate the release of Team of Spirits with an
all-ages performance at—where else?—Club Congress,
311 E. Congress St., on Saturday, Aug. 22. Opening at 7 p.m. is
The Fade. Admission to the all-ages show is $6. Call
622-8848 for more information.

SPEAKING OF ANIMALS …

Host of The Road Show on KXCI FM 91.3, Tucson Weekly contributor and tireless voice of voiceless animals Mel Mason has organized another animal-centric show. No More Homeless Animals
Day will feature eight local bands on two stages at The Hut,
305 N. Fourth Ave. The event starts at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug.
23, and here’s what the schedule looks like:

Outdoor stage: Space Over Desert (6 p.m.), Courtney
Robbins (7 p.m.), Leila Lopez (8 p.m.), Tom Walbank (9 p.m.). Indoor stage: Seashell Radio (6:30 p.m.), the
Hounds (7:30 p.m.), Young Mothers (8:30 p.m.), the El
Camino Royales (9:30 p.m.).

The event is free and open to anyone 21 and older; leashed pets are
welcome at the outdoor stage. For further details, call
623-3200, and check out City Week in this issue.

A BETTER NAME THAN ‘GREENCAMERON’

The perpetually touring machine known as Ryanhood makes its
first local appearance this week since the April release party for
The World Awaits, its fine new album. Since then, the band, led
by Cameron Hood and Ryan Green, has performed at UA’s Arizona Stadium
opening for Jay-Z and Kelly Clarkson, and received a shout-out via
Twitter from Ellen DeGeneres. The earnest, acoustic-based pop act will
perform at a show they’re calling “Ryanhood’s Last Night of
Summer” at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., on
Saturday, Aug. 22, with Flagstaff-based Telescope opening
at 8 p.m. Admission to the all-ages show is $10. Questions? Ring ’em up
at 740-1000.

FROM BILLIARDS TO BORN-AGAINS

In case you haven’t heard, the former Main Street Billiards, at 8640
E. Broadway Blvd., is now the Main Street Concert and Event
Center. There are still pool tables and other bar games, but the
space now doubles as a performance venue as well. This week, Main
Street hosts a pair of back-to-back shows.

First up, on Wednesday, Aug. 26, the Summer Rock Fest
Tour, featuring Bang Tango, Faster Pussycat,
Bulletboys and Sister Sin pulls in for a night of ’80s
hair metal.

Then, next Thursday, Aug. 27, former Korn guitarist and
born-again Christian Brian “Head” Welch will perform a show in
support of his debut solo album, Save Me From Myself (Driven/Ryko/Warner Bros.), released nearly a year ago. The album, a
’90s-style throwback to the nu-rock of his former band, documents
Welch’s battle with drug addiction, his departure from Korn and his
newfound faith.

Calls to obtain specifics went unanswered at press time, but if
you’d like to give it a try yourself, the number is
546-3464.

ON THE BANDWAGON

New York Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain is performing two
rare solo shows this month, one of which happens to be going down at
O’Malley’s, 247 N Fourth Ave., on Saturday, Aug. 22.
Snakes in Love and Broken Romeo open the 10 p.m. show,
and admission is $11 in advance, or $13 on the day of the show;
623-8600.

Other good stuff this week includes: George Clinton at the
Rialto on Tuesday, Aug. 25; the Warlocks, the
Morning After Girls and Gliss at Club Congress on
Wednesday, Aug. 26; Randy Travis at UA’s Centennial
Hall on Saturday, Aug. 22; Davila 666 and Lenguas
Largas at Club Congress on Tuesday, Aug. 25; and
Arizona Voodoo Kittens‘ “Tiki-Exotica” show at Kon Tiki on Saturday, Aug. 22.

This article appears in Aug 20-26, 2009.