THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 30, 2022
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Wage War aims to give a break from stress BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Staff
Music has always been an escape for Wage War guitarist/vocalist Cody Quistad. Even when Quistad is not on stage, he said he blasts music – no matter the setting. “I think that music does things that words can’t and I personally connect with it a lot,” he said. Because of this, Quistad admits he connects deeply with his own music as it is primarily based on his or his bandmates’ experiences. “Every song that we’ve put out as a band has been about something that has happened to me or a member of the band,” he said. “As twisted and dark as it sounds, the more twisted and messed up things get the faster our content comes.” That was the case with the band’s latest album “Manic,” which was released in October. “Our music is very mental-health driven,” he said. “I try to write therapeutic lyrics for myself, but I know there are a lot of people who have connected with our music. Especially
said. “After the last couple of years, I want to create a safe space for people to escape reality. “There are a lot of issues covered on the record and it’s important for me that people come to a Wage War show and feel that as a release or a place where they can forget about whatever is going on in their life.” Quistad is proud of all of his songs, but one in particular, is his favorite. “My personal favorite is the title track, ‘Manic,’ because it is a live song with Wage War says its music is very “mental-health driven.” several moments for crowd participation and contains a (Special to GetOut) nice groove,” he said. While Quistad is excited with ‘Manic’ and how it walks through the hardships of the last couple of years to exhibit Wage War’s newer music, older tunes like “Who I Am,” “Stitch” like losing loved ones, learning how to and “The River” offer Quistad different be alone or dealing with anxiety and opportunities. depression.” “A lot of times, the songs that go Because of this, Quistad has changed off are the songs that we’ve played so his motives for performances. much that we go into autopilot while “For a while, I wanted to create a playing them,” he said. “Those songs show for people to have fun at,” he
are really fun to play and give me the chance to look out into the crowd instead of at the neck of my guitar the whole song.” During the song, he pulls out his in-ear monitor just to hear the crowd sing. It’s in these moments that Quistad realizes the gravity Wage War’s lyrics hold with its fans. “When the audience interacts with us, I know it’s a good show,” Quistad said. “We have never been about the mosh pits and people beating each other up. I love seeing people put their hands in the air, jump up and down and sing the words.”
Falling In Reverse with Wage War, Hawthorne Heights and Jeris Johnson WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1 WHERE: The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St. Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $39.50; ages 13 and older INFO: thevanburenphx.com
Chandler artist creates radiation mask art custom-mesh masks were then embellished by area artists. “There is a Wonder Woman mask, a Harvest Warrior mask and masks which honor the path of healing,” explained CSCAZ’s Expressive Arts Coordinator Joy Kockerbeck. “Each mask honors an individual’s great effort to heal their body and every mask also honors the challenges faced by all cancer patients.” Fagen embellished a mask used by a man with skin cancer caused by the sun
SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
Chandler artist Laurie Fagen will have a piece of art included in “From Darkness to Light,” an exhibit of cancer treatment radiation masks transformed into artistic sculptures that will be exhibited through Feb. 18 at Walter Art Gallery, 6425 E. Thomas Road, Scottsdale. The display is organized by the Cancer Support Community of Arizona, a local nonprofit that provides free services to cancer patients, their families and caregivers. After being molded to faces of cancer patients for use during radiation treatment of the head and neck, the 15
Chandler artist Laurie Fagen created this piece for an exhibit of cancer treatment radiation masks. She titled it “Intense Arizona Sun.” (Special to GetOut)
to create “Intense Arizona Sun” using fabric, polymer clay and charms. “I was honored to be invited to take part in this project,” Fagen said. “It was a humbling experience, and made me more dedicated to using sunscreen for myself.” CSCAZ services include support groups, social activities, mind/body therapies, nutritional counseling, and educational seminars among others. Photos of the masks and information about the artists and patients who inspired them can be found at buff. ly/2LMM7XV. For details about CSCAZ, cscaz.org and for more about Walter Art Gallery, go to walter-art.com.
2 exhibits ending this month at Chandler Museum SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
Chandler Museum, 300 S. Chandler Village Drive, Chandler is offering a variety of free programs this month. The museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. It is closed Mondays. Information: 480-782-2717 or chandlermuseum.org. Exhibits
Bigger than Boxing: Zora Folley and the 1967 Heavyweight Title, through Feb. 13, 2022
On March 22, 1967, at Madison Square Garden, New York City, two men face off in the ring for the Heavyweight Championship of the World – Muhammad Ali and the challenger from Chandler, Zora Folley.
Greatest Photographs of the American West Through Feb. 27
Drawn from the significant holdings of the National Geographic Archive, “Greatest Photographs of the American West” chronicles the history and
grandeur of the people and places that define the American West. It offers a broad understanding of a region that has long captivated photographers. Each image captures a different aspect of the West including interactions among the people, visitors, and wildlife, as well as landscapes with endless skies, boundless plains, and dramatic mountains. Greatest Photographs of the American West is organized by the National Geographic Society.
Public Objects: Artwork from the city’s permanent collection Feb. 8-March 27
Since the public art ordinance was established in 1983, the City of Chandler has steadily collected or commissioned artwork from local, regional, and national artists. This exhibition aims to highlight the gallery pieces the City of Chandler has acquired through the years. From paintings and photography to ceramSee
MUSEUM on page 42
