THE COVER-UP IS HERE! THE COVER-UP IS HERE!
I'm pretty darn sure the Mayans are wrong about this whole world-ending-next-week thing, but in case they're not, you wanna have as much fun as possible until Dec. 21, right? We've got you, ahem, covered.
Tonight, Thursday, Dec. 13, marks Night One of The Great Cover-Up, the best music-charity event of the year, at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. But you read last week's Soundbites, so you already know that, right? Right?
If not, go back and read last week's column, where you'll find tonight's lineup of local acts, who will be performing 20-minute sets by national and international acts more well-known than themselves. Basically, it's a way for local acts to indulge their subconscious desire to be a tribute band for a night. And it's also a way for the event's beneficiary, TAMHA (Tucson Artists and Musicians Healthcare Alliance), which provides informational and monetary health-care assistance to people in the local arts community, to put some much-needed money in its coffers.
So, now that we know all about what's happening tonight, let's look at what's to come over the next couple of nights and a day.
The Cover-Up continues on Friday, Dec. 14, at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St.; resumes on the patio at Hotel Congress on the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 15; and finishes up that night at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.
A total of 50 local acts will be performing over the course of the weekend. Keep in mind that we're telling you only what time you'll hear the bands being covered (I'm one of the event's organizers), along with a random list of who will be covering them. Call us crazy, but we enjoy a little mystery in our lives. That said, here's a schedule:
Acts being covered on Night Two, Friday, Dec. 14, at Club Congress: The Lovin' Spoonful (7 p.m.), Rod Stewart (7:30 p.m.), Black Sabbath (8 p.m.), Grizzly Bear (8:30 p.m.), heavy-metal gods (9 p.m.), Dr. John (9:30 p.m.), Mulatu Astatke (10 p.m.), Rick Diculous (10:30 p.m.), Fleetwood Mac (11 p.m.), Weezer (11:30 p.m.), The Pretenders (midnight), Tool (12:30 a.m.), Rage Against the Machine (1 a.m.) and Alice Cooper (1:30 a.m.).
In no particular order, the acts doing the covering: The Cordials, Spacefish, The Modeens, Texas Trash and the Trainwrecks, Chicha Dust (featuring Gabriel Sullivan and Brian Lopez), Leila Lopez, the Wayback Machine, 8 Minutes to Burn, American Android, Bulls on Parade, Acoustic Metal, Sunday Drivers and Cheepness.
Acts being covered during the day on Saturday, Dec. 15, on the patio at Hotel Congress: Evan Dando and the Lemonheads (12:30 p.m.), Robert Johnson (1 p.m.), Supertramp (1:30 p.m.), The Doors (2 p.m.), '80s one-hit wonders (2:30 p.m.), Cake (3 p.m.), James Brown (3:30 p.m.) and Tom Waits (4 p.m.).
The local acts doing the covering, in no particular order: Roll Acosta, Sinphonics, Roman Barten-Sherman, Smallvox, Kyle Brondson, Jumper, The Tangelos and Jeremy Michael Cashman.
Acts being covered on Night Three, Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Rialto Theatre: Joe Walsh (6 p.m.), Quiet Riot (6:30 p.m.), Flogging Molly (7 p.m.), Leonard Cohen (7:30 p.m.), Stevie Wonder (8 p.m.), Dixie Chicks (8:30 p.m.), The Kinks (9 p.m.), Violent Femmes (9:30 p.m.), The Smiths (10 p.m.), LCD Soundsystem (10:30 p.m.), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (11 p.m.), OutKast (11:30 p.m.), Paul Simon (midnight), Hall and Oates (12:30 a.m.) and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (1 a.m.).
The local acts doing the covering, in no particular order: Electric Blankets, LeeAnne Savage, ... music video?, The Tryst, Some of Them Are Old, Holy Rolling Empire, Wolf Larsen, The Gallery, The Distortionists, Rich Girl and the Private Eyes, Hank Topless, the David Clark Band, Skinkfinger, The Gunrunners and The Gallery.
If you plan on attending, please try to arrive early. These acts, no matter their time slot, have been slaving away to ensure your good time, and it would be a shame to miss something awesome, doncha think?
Although the action at Club Congress on Friday night is 21-and-older, the daytime portion of the event, on Congress' patio, on Saturday, is free for all ages to attend (though if you care to cough up a few bucks for TAMHA, you'll get admiration from your peers, and possibly a high five). The Rialto portion that night is also all-ages, but you'll have to make a donation to attend. How much? Tickets are $8 for one night; $12 for two nights; and $15 for the whole shebang.
Bear in mind that the schedule may be altered slightly as the need arises. For the most-current schedule, head to the Weekly's music blog, We Got Cactus; GreatCoverUpTucson.com; or the Great Cover-Up Facebook event page. The phone number for Hotel Congress is 622-8848, and you can contact the Rialto Theatre at 740-1000.
Get excited, people! See you there!
YOUR SECOND CHANCE TO SEE A GREAT BAND
The last time Austin's My Jerusalem played in town, in July at Plush, they were a largely unknown entity. Because I had seen them perform live a few years ago in Austin, at South by Southwest, I knew just how amazing they are. In other words, I had something of a leg up on a band that had never before played in Tucson. And since part of my job is to clue you in to great bands you might not know about, I urged you all to check them out. Here's what I wrote:
"Since (seeing them perform in Austin), I've repeatedly spun the band's 2010 debut album, Gone for Good (One Little Indian), as well as a couple of EPs, to the point of addiction. My Jerusalem's music contains instantly familiar (though surprisingly nonderivative) melodies, elements of fervent gospel, and a fire-and-brimstone urgency. (Bandleader Jeff) Klein's obviously been influenced by his time performing with (Greg) Dulli, but his songs are far from sound-alikes. There's a certain uplifting grandiosity to them, but they never stray into the overblown. ... Though My Jerusalem is far from a household name (yet), they've become critics' darlings, earning praise from the BBC and NPR, as well as being named one of Daytrotter's Best of 2011."
I attended that Plush show, which blew away the 20 or so people who were there with me (and at the same time, I learned just how much sway I have over my readers). As soon as the band finished playing, I walked over to a Weekly music contributor who was there to find out what s/he thought. Before I could ask, this person said, through a wide grin, "Holy shit! What the hell was that?!" Exactly. (Full disclosure: I consider Jeff Klein a friend.)
Since then, My Jerusalem has released a fantastic second album, the aptly named Preachers (The End Records), a study in despair and redemption which has racked up a slew of new accolades including great reviews (a 9/10 on PopMatters, for example) and being selected as KXCI FM 91.3's National Pick of the Week. They've also toured with The Psychedelic Furs and The Wallflowers, and the reason they're playing in Tucson this week is because they're on their way to California to serve as the opening act for roots-punks X, on their annual X-mas Tour.
So, Tucson music fans, I urge you not to make the same mistake again. Go see My Jerusalem at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., at 10 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 18, and feel free to thank me later. Admission is $7. If you need more info head to plushtucson.com, or call 798-1298.
ON THE BANDWAGON
Here are some more noteworthy shows happening this week: Bootsy Collins, Spirit Familia and Funky Bonz at the Rialto Theatre on Tuesday, Dec. 18; Blood on the Dance Floor, Jeffree Star and others at The Rock on Saturday, Dec. 15; Kinky and Mexican Dubwiser at the Rialto Theatre, next Thursday, Dec. 20; The Faceless, Revocation and others at The Rock on Friday, Dec. 14; Dry River Yacht Club, Sweet Ghosts and Andrew Collberg at Club Congress on Wednesday, Dec. 19; Bebe McPhereson and Smallvox at La Cocina on Wednesday, Dec. 19; The Coolers CD-release party for Listen Here at Boondocks Lounge on Saturday, Dec. 15; The Bennu Holiday Show with DJ Joshua Pocalips at Mr. Head's on Saturday, Dec. 15; Texas Trash and the Trainwrecks at La Cocina, tonight, Thursday, Dec. 13; Last Call Girls at Boondocks Lounge on Sunday, Dec. 16; Festival Navidad: A Christmas Celebration at the Fox Tucson Theatre on Friday, Dec. 14; The Wyatts and Laches at The JunXion Bar on Friday, Dec. 14; The Furys and Sons of Providence at Surly Wench Pub on Saturday, Dec. 15; Volks and the Mud Howlers at Plush on Wednesday, Dec. 19.
