BACK IN THE SADDLE
It seems like ages since I've sat down to write this column, even though it's only been a few weeks. I'd like to give a huge thanks to Gene Armstrong for stepping in to take over for me at the last minute (and making me look bad, as his Soundbites columns for the last couple of weeks have been fantastic). Similarly, I'd like to thank all of the friends who have sent me nice notes, or called, or posted sweet messages on my Facebook page. It's all made a very difficult time a bit easier.
My father, Douglas L. Seigel, passed away on Monday, Oct. 18. I debated being self-indulgent and writing this whole column about him, and I may do so at some point in the future. But I decided not to for two reasons: The wound is still a little too raw to have any real perspective right now, and there's an awful lot of music stuff happening this week.
Briefly, I will reaffirm a cliché: It was less than a month between the time my dad was diagnosed with cancer and time he passed, and prior to that, he was as healthy as any 76-year-old around. Love 'em while they're here, folks, because you really do never know what's around the corner.
Sweet dreams, Dad. I hope you're finally getting some good sleep.
POST-PROCESSION
For the above reason and many more, you can bet I'll be attending the Dia de los Muertos All Souls Procession this Sunday, Nov. 7. The Day of the Dead parade itself leaves Epic Café, at the corner of Fourth Avenue and University Boulevard, about 6 p.m. The grand finale will conclude somewhere in the neighborhood of 9 or 9:30 p.m.—and then it's time to decide what to do afterward. Here are some music-related post-procession possibilities.
The place to be following last year's procession was the Rialto Theatre, 318 E Congress St., which hosted an extravagant performance by Calexico and their many friends, which was filmed for an upcoming performance movie called Flor de Muertos. While they may not be pulling out as many stops as they did at last year's celebration, the dynamic duo of Joey Burns and John Convertino will again gather their bandmates and friends to put on what should be another hell of a show. This is Calexico we're talking about, after all. And Dia de los Muertos. At the Rialto.
I think I smell a new tradition.
Calexico begins performing following the burning of the urn at the All Souls Procession—again, somewhere around 9 or 9:30 p.m. General-admission floor tickets are $25 in advance, or $27 on the day of the show. Reserved balcony seats are $31 in advance, or $33 on the day of the show. All ages are welcome, and you can get more information at rialtotheatre.com or by calling 740-1000.
Meanwhile, over at the Citizens Warehouse, home to BICAS and Tucson Puppet Works, Parasol Project presents After Souls: A Circus Soul Celebration, which is exactly what its name suggests: a circus-themed All Souls after-party. The event will feature local marching band The Fiestacles; Oregon-based surreal circus art troupe The Button Wagon; Santa Fe's Ricochet circus; local vaudevillians The Wonderfools; soul music spun by DJ Carl Hanni (a Weekly contributor); Dan Stein's photography booth; and Parasol performers, interactive art installations, parade floats and more.
Parasol's After Souls begins when the urn becomes ashes, around 9 or 9:30 p.m. Citizens Warehouse is located at 520 N. Ninth Ave. You are welcome to bring your own spirits. Admission is a suggested donation of $7 to $20, with a portion of the proceeds going to Many Mouths One Stomach and the All Souls Procession. For more info, head to parasolproject.com.
If you spent all of your money on your Halloween costume last week, The Hut offers a nice alternative for the budget-minded. The club's outdoor stage will be put to use as an all-local lineup of Tom Walbank, Brian Lopez, Molehill Orkestrah and Mostly Bears performs until the wee hours. According to Molehill cellist Mona Chambers, "The idea was to showcase a broad spectrum of music to celebrate both the diversity and strong community that the All Souls event always highlights." Done.
Music at The Hut, 305 N. Fourth Ave., begins at 9 p.m., and cover is $5. Call 623-3200 for further details.
If even $5 is out of your price range, here are two swell free options for your post-procession revelry.
Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., will feature a performance by local instrumental acoustic act Reno del Mar, whose original songs have soaked up everything from jazz to Western swing, with a particular emphasis on Latin influences. They'll perform in the club's lounge starting at 9:30 p.m. Call 798-1298 for more info.
And over at Sky Bar, 536 N. Fourth Ave., the Rosano Brothers Virtual Quartet—a jazz instrumental duo, despite the name—will perform. A call to the venue to establish what time the bros will be playing went unanswered, but you can try yourself at 622-4300.
However you decide to spend your night following the parade, please do it safely.
UNDER THE LOCAL COVERS
The Great Cover-Up may still be a month away, but the folks at Plush are celebrating the club's 10th anniversary with a similar-minded special event this weekend. Sort of a mishmash of the Cover-Up and Plush's tribute nights—during which a slew of local bands perform the music of one famous artist (The Smiths/Morrissey, Prince, etc.)—the anniversary celebration will feature five local bands each covering the songs of another local band or artist.
The awesome lineup for Locals Covering Locals: Plush 10 Year Anniversary Show looks a li'l somethin' like this: Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl cover Rainer (9:30 p.m.); The Dusty Buskers cover Al Perry (10 p.m.); Silver Thread Trio covers Neko Case (10:30 p.m.); ... music video? covers the Meat Puppets (11 p.m.); Love Mound covers The Knockout Pills (11:30 p.m.). Plush is planning on making this an annual event, and we couldn't be more excited for the inaugural edition.
Locals Covering Locals: Plush 10 Year Anniversary Show takes place on Saturday, Nov. 6. Plush is located at 340 E. Sixth St. Doors open at 9:15 p.m., and cover is only $5. Need more info? Point your browser to plushtucson.com, or call 798-1298.
ON THE BANDWAGON
The KIIM-FM Country Music Festival featuring Rodney Atkins, Steve Holy, Steve Azar and Sunny Sweeney at the Tucson Electric Park Practice Field on Saturday, Nov. 6; Tucson Celtic Festival and Scottish Highland Games featuring headliner Tempest on Saturday, Nov. 6 (festival runs from Friday, Nov. 5, through Sunday, Nov. 7); The Hillwilliams reunion show at Che's Lounge on Saturday, Nov. 6; Our Cure the Rocketship reunion show with Scrilla Gorilla and Princess Eater at Plush on Friday, Nov. 5; Bad Religion, the Bouncing Souls and Off With Their Heads at the Rialto Theatre on Monday, Nov. 8; The Aggrolites, Kool Shades and Three Point Turn at Plush next Thursday, Nov. 11; Gov't Mule at the Rialto Theatre tonight, Thursday, Nov. 4; Bear in Heaven, Sun Airway and Lower Dens at Club Congress on Wednesday, Nov. 10; Charlie Musselwhite and Tom Walbank at the Rialto Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 10; Voodoo Glow Skulls, Skitn, Mandorico and The El Camino Royales at The Hut next Thursday, Nov. 11; Ambient Core 2010 featuring Timas 23 and many others at Solar Culture on Friday, Nov. 5; Brootal Sun Show featuring Doctor Dinosaur, Dogbreath, The Runaway Five, Run-On Sunshine and others at Skrappy's on Saturday, Nov. 6; The White Buffalo at Club Congress on Monday, Nov. 8; the John Coinman Band featuring Peter McLaughlin at ZUZI's Theater on Saturday, Nov. 6; A Skylit Drive, Motionless in White, For All Those Sleeping and others at The Rock on Sunday, Nov. 7; Andre Nickatina, Smoove-E and Pigeon John at DV8 next Thursday, Nov. 11; Soriah at Solar Culture next Thursday, Nov. 11; Automatic Loveletter, The Graduate and others at The Rock on Tuesday, Nov. 9; Cruddy and Sabertooth Snatch at Red Room at Grill on Saturday, Nov. 6; the Last Call Girls at Chicago Bar on Friday, Nov. 5; Funky Bonz, Larry and His Flask and The Pork Torta at Vaudeville next Thursday, Nov. 11.
