The Entertainer! Magazine - February 2022 by Times Media Group

PHX METRO » FEBRUARY 2022

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FROM THE

OZARKS TO TEMPE The Black Moods’ road is paved with hard work

300+MPH RACING IS BACK

FEBRUARY 25-27

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

CONTENTS

The Black Moods’ road is paved with hard work

FROM THE

OZARKS TO TEMPE

10 ON THE COVER

MEDIEVAL TIPS

Renaissance Festival cast suggests going early, often

‘WE’RE PROTECTING OUR WAY OF LIFE’

Indigenous artist combats systemic genocide on the cover: The Black Moods Cover photo courtesy Jim Louvau

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

Times Media Group 1900 W. Broadway Rd. Tempe, AZ 85282 Phone 480.348.0343 Fax 480.348.2109 entertainermag.com

publisher

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ExecutiveEditor

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designer

Shannon Mead

production manager Courtney Oldham

production@timespublications.com

‘TRUE, AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE’ Little pieces of Italy to pepper Heritage Square in Phoenix

circulation director Aaron Kolodny

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writers

CONTENTS

UPFRONT

Top 25 • The Black Moods • Carol Pacey • “The Friends Experience” • Peter Asher

CITY

Renaissance Festival • Storm Large

ARTS

Dustin Lopez

DINING

Italian Festival • Dining Calendar

BREWS & SPIRITS

‘PRETTY SURREAL MOMENT’

22 24

Waste Management Phoenix Open • Matthew Knies • NHRA

FAMILY

Disney Princess

MUSIC

Live Music Calendar • Volbeat • Bruce Dickinson • Elle King • Fitz and the Tantrums • Tenille Townes • Dirty Honey and Mammoth WVH

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Pyromania • Casino Calendar

SPORTS

Photographers

Danny Clinch, Lauren Dunn, Ross Halfin, Nathan Johnson, Corey Kelly/Tour Bus Productions, Adan Madrigal, David Minton, Dennis Murphy, John McMurtrie, Chris Mortenson, University of Minnesota Athletics

Valley’s Matthew Knies skates to the Olympics

Strong Beer Festival • Sippin’ Series

CASINOS

Allison Brown, Alex Gallagher, Jordan Houston, Joe McHugh, Geri Koeppel, Laura Latzko, Ashlyn Robinette, Alan Sculley, Annika Tomlin

A MESSAGE OF KINDNESS

For calendar and news items, the deadline for submission is the 15th of the month prior to publication. Submissions are included based on available space and are used at the discretion of the editor. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations will not be returned unless it is specifically requested and submission is accompanied by a properly addressed envelope and sufficient postage. The Entertainer! makes every effort to authenticate claims and accurate times and event locations. We encourage readers to verify information prior to attending events or purchasing tickets. DISTRIBUTION SERVICES PROVIDED BY:

Syndee Winters brings Disney magic to the stage

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TOP25 By Connor Dziawura

“Singin’ in the Rain”

FEBRUARY 2 TO APRIL 3 Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s 1952 screen classic “Singin’ in the Rain” has been performed on stages all across the world. Set in 1927, it harks back to Hollywood’s evolution from the silent film era to the “talkies.” The Phoenix Theatre Company’s Mainstage Theatre, 1825 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.254.2151, phoenixtheatre. com/the-season/singin’-rain, dates and times vary, see website for ticket prices

“Drive My Car”

OPENS FEBRUARY 4 Heralded as one of the best films of 2021, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car,” an adaptation of a short story by Haruki Murakami, is expanding its presence in theaters. The multi-award-winning drama — Japan’s contender for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards — is about a renowned stage actor and director who is forced to confront his and his late wife’s past with the support of a young woman who chauffeurs him to a tension-riddled theater production he’s staging. Not rated. In theaters, drivemycar.film

“Jackass Forever”

OPENS FEBRUARY 4 The boys are back! Franchise creators and producers Jeff Tremaine, Spike Jonze and Johnny Knoxville have reunited the crew to perform their beloved, dumb stunts and pranks in this fourth installment of the “Jackass” franchise. Expect to see Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Wee Man, Danger Ehren and Preston Lacy, plus a variety of younger newcomers and guest appearances. Rated R for strong crude material and dangerous stunts, graphic nudity and language throughout. In theaters, jackassmovie.com

The Arizona Goth Festival

FEBRUARY 5 Put on your darkest attire and head on down to the Arizona Goth Society’s first festival of all-things goth. Melding culture, music, arts and crafts, the event will feature a variety of DJ sets; live performances from Audra, PyG and The Limit Club; and plenty of local vendors — lest we forget a charity raffle to benefit The Trevor Project, which offers suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for LGBTQ youth. This event is for ages 21 and older. The Nile, 105 W. Main Street, Suite 7309, https://bit. ly/3GB973a, 4 p.m., $20

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show”

FEBRUARY 5 TO MARCH 13 Recommended for ages 3 and older, this production features a cast of 75 puppets adapting author/ illustrator Eric Carle’s “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” “10 Little Rubber Ducks,” “The Very Busy Spider” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” A couple dates will offer backstage tours, and February 20 will include an ASL performance. Herberger Theater Center’s Stage West, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix, 602.252.8497, herbergertheater.org, dates and times vary, $13-$35

Tyler, the Creator

FEBRUARY 8 After releasing the mixtapeinfluenced “Call Me If You Get Lost” to much acclaim last year, Tyler, the Creator is returning to the Valley with a supporting roster of Kali Uchis, Vince Staples and Teezo Touchdown. The show was bumped up from the previously scheduled date of February 11 to February 8, but tickets for the previous date will be honored. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.7800, footprintcenter. com, 7 p.m., $160-$273.50

UPFRONT

PHX » CITY » LOCAL » PRIDE » DO » SEE Waste Management Phoenix Open

FEBRUARY 7 TO FEBRUARY 13 It’s “The People’s Open”! The PGA Tour is returning to Scottsdale, with pro golfers competing for a large sum of prize money. Admission is free Monday and Tuesday, courtesy of Ford Free Days, while youth ages 15 and younger will be admitted free all week if accompanied by an adult; general admission tickets and other prices are available online. TPC Scottsdale, 17020 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, wmphoenixopen.com, tee times will be posted on website, see website for ticket options

“The Worst Person in the World”

FEBRUARY 8 Ahead of the release of Joachim Treer’s highly acclaimed new film, see it as part of a Talk Cinema presentation at the Chandler Center for the Arts. After the film, which is about a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, there are discussions with film scholars and special guests. And if you miss it, you can always catch it in theaters beginning February 11. Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and some language. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480.499.8587, scottsdaleperformingarts. org, 7 p.m., $14

Coors Lights Birds Nest

FEBRUARY 9 TO FEBRUARY 12 Every year, when Waste Management brings the PGA Tour to town for the Phoenix Open, along comes the Birds Nest, four days of games, entertainment, food and drinks with a party atmosphere. Performers this year are Diplo and Cole Swindell on Wednesday; Sam Hunt and Russell Dickerson on Thursday; Macklemore, Quinn XCII and Ayokay on Friday; and Kygo, Sam Feldt and Forester on Saturday. This event is for ages 21 and older. Located directly across from the main WM Phoenix Open Tournament Entrance at 82nd Street and Bell Road, coorslightbirdsnest. com, 3 p.m., $75-$185

“The Office” Trivia

FEBRUARY 9 Return to Pennsylvania to answer trivia questions about Michael, Dwight, Jim, Pam and the other employees of Scranton’s Dunder Mifflin branch from the beloved NBC series. Trivia will span all nine seasons and take place in the Rose Room. Signup is at 6 p.m. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.368.3121, valleybarphx.com/theoffice-trivia, 7 p.m., free

“Romeo & Juliet”

FEBRUARY 10 TO FEBRUARY 13 “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” At Symphony Hall, of course. Choreographed by Ib Andersen with music by Sergei Prokofiev, this adaptation of the classic William Shakespeare tragedy sees Ballet Arizona and Phoenix Symphony pairing up. Symphony Hall, 2835 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.381.1096, balletaz.org, dates and times vary, $35-$174

“Women in Jeopardy!”

FEBRUARY 10 TO FEBRUARY 27 Presented by Arizona Theatre Company, this comedy is described as a mixture of “Nancy Drew,” “Murder She Wrote” and “Sex and the City.” Written by playwright Wendy MacLeod, “Women in Jeopardy!” tells the story of Liz, a woman smitten with a dentist — whose creepy vibes and link to a disappearance lead her friends to question whether or not he’s a serial killer. Herberger Theater Center’s Center Stage, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix, 602.252.8497, herbergertheater.org, dates and times vary, $25-$78

Crush Arizona 2022

FEBRUARY 12 Crystal Skies, Deorro, Herobust, Lucii, Taiki Nulight and Valentino Khan perform at this year’s Crush music festival hosted by Relentless Beats and Insomniac. Celebrate the pre-Valentine’s Day weekend with this rave from Saturday evening into the early hours of Sunday. Cafe Caderas provides support. This show is for ages 18 and older. Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler, 1.855.235.2867, https://bit. ly/3I5VMjS, 6 p.m., $50-$125

China Before Communism EXPERIENCE the brilliance and majesty of China’s civilization before communism. Exquisite beauty from the heavens, profound wisdom from dynasties past, timeless legends and ethnic traditions all spring to life through classical Chinese dance, enchanting live orchestral music, authentic costumes, and patented interactive backdrops. It is an immersive experience that will uplift your spirit and transport you to another world. Join us for a night filled with courage and wisdom, light and hope... Experience Shen Yun!

“A fascinating insight into what China’s culture used to be and what I hope one day will be restored to China.”

“It is breathtaking! I am walking away deeply inspired and profoundly moved!”

—Edward McMillan-Scott, former Vice-President of the European Parliament

—Rita Cosby, Emmy Award-winning journalist

“There is massive power in this. It brings great hope...”

“I encourage everyone to see and all of us to learn from.”

—Daniel Herman, former Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic

FEB 26–27

MAR 2–6

MAR 10–13

Tucson Music Hall

Orpheum Theatre

Mesa Arts Center

TUCSON

PHOENIX

MESA

—Donna Karan, creator of DKNY

ShenYun.com/AZ 800-880-0188

Galentine’s Day

Foo Fighters at Innings Festival

FEBRUARY 12 With Valentine’s Day approaching, this daylong excursion to the Catlin Court and Old Towne shopping districts is a celebration of female friendships. There will be make-andtake activities, Kindness Rock painting, photo ops, shopping and sweets, plus a trail to collect charms for a bracelet. Pick up an activity list and walking map at the Arizona Information Center at Memory Lane Trinkets and Treasures, 5836 W. Palmaire Avenue. Historic Downtown Glendale, 623.299.2060, visitdowntownglendale.com, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free admission

Scottsdale Philharmonic

FEBRUARY 13 Scottsdale Philharmonic’s spring slate has been announced, and it kicks off this month. Award-winning Russian symphonic and operatic conductor Dmitry Polyakov will serve as guest conductor. This date will feature “O Sole Mio” by Eduardo di Capua, with soloist Johnny Huerta; “1812 Overture” and “Piano Concerto No. 1 Movement 1” by Pyotr llyich Tchaikovsky; a duet sung by Melissa Solomon and Johnny Huerta; and a piano solo by Vitaly Serebriakov. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Virginia G. Piper Theater, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480.499.TKTS (8587), scottsdaleperformingarts. org, 4 p.m., $15

Arizona Black Heritage Music Experience 2022

FEBRUARY 18 AND FEBRUARY 19 Hosted by actor/comedian Evan Lionel, this two-day Black History Month celebration brings together a host of live music with food and games in the outdoor lawn area at Copper Sky. Tommy Dukes, Harlan Jefferson, Willie Clayton, Enchantment and the Intruders are slated for Friday, with Larry Bailey, Willie Rogers, Neamen Lyles, Clayton (in a tribute to Al Green), Raydio, Chico DeBarge and Adina Howard performing on Saturday. Copper Sky, 44345 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Maricopa, https://bit.ly/ 3FvEivG, 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, $35-$200

Worldwide Women’s Film Festival

FEBRUARY 18 TO FEBRUARY 20 After skipping 2020-21 due to the pandemic, this usually annual film festival is back for its fourth year and spotlights 89 shorts, documentaries, features, web series and music videos, with awards presented. To qualify for the festival, ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

submissions feature a woman in at least one key creative role of writer, producer, director, cinematographer, editor and composer. Harkins Theatres Shea 14, 7354 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, 602.525.3012, filmfreeway.com, various dates and times, $15-$230

Zuzu African Acrobats

FEBRUARY 18 TO FEBRUARY 20 This Tanzanian troupe is bringing 2,000 years of history to the Valley! These exciting performers blend acrobatics, live music, dancing, dish spinning, the cyr wheel, the gumboot dance, unicycle/bicycle tricks, chair balancing, hand balancing, the human pyramid, contortionism and animal puppets to showcase Dar es-Salaam culture. The Madison Center for the Arts, 5601 N. 16th Street, Phoenix, 602.664.7777, https://bit. ly/3IapbcQ, 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday, $19-$49

Ignite Our Next Act 2022

FEBRUARY 19 Celebrate Theater Works’ return to performing at this benefit, which begins with the program in the Gyder Mainstage Theater at 6 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. party under the stars on the Osuna Park Plaza. The latter features dinner, dancing and entertainment, such as House of Cirque and Lee Perreira. Attire is red; complimentary valet parking will be provided. Theater Works, 10580 N. 83rd Drive, Peoria, 623.815.1791 x707, https://bit.ly/3IbFZ36, 6 p.m., $150-$10,000

Justin Bieber

FEBRUARY 22 Does the Biebs really need an introduction? Like many shows over the past couple years, this West

Valley concert was rescheduled in light of the ongoing pandemic. Previously set for June of last year in support of the singer’s sixth studio album, “Justice,” the show has been rescheduled — but don’t worry, tickets will still be honored. Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 602.772.3800, https://bit. ly/3rmVhev, 7:30 p.m., sold out, resale tickets available

Arizona Coyotes vs. Los Angeles Kings

Comedian. Actor. Writer. Chances are you’ve heard of or seen Patton Oswalt, as the multi-talented funnyman has done everything from TV series like “King of Queens” and “A.P. Bio” to voice work in “Ratatouille.” He appears regularly in movies and TV, with a long resume, and is also a wellknown stand-up comedian. Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams Street, Phoenix, 602.262.6225, https://bit. ly/33Gy3Yr, 7 p.m., $42-$62

FEBRUARY 23 It’s White Claw Wednesday again, and the Coyotes are taking on the Kings! The special pack — available for every Wednesday home game — comes with two tickets, two 19.2-ounce White Claws, and a $20 food and beverage credit. TNT and TVAS will also broadcast the game. More info on the White Claw Wednesday Pack is available online. Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 480.563.PUCK (7825), nhl.com/ coyotes, 8 p.m., $21-$322

Cactus League Spring Training

“Little Women”

Innings Festival

FEBRUARY 25 TO MARCH 6 The beloved 1868-69 Louisa May Alcott novel comes to the stage in this youth play adapted by Kristin Lawrence. Translated to film many times — most recently by writer-director Greta Gerwig in 2019 — “Little Women” is a classic story of the trials and tribulations of sisters Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth. Fountain Hills Youth Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Boulevard, Fountain Hills, 480.837.9661 x3, fhtaz.org, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, $18

Patton Oswalt FEBRUARY 25

OPENS FEBRUARY 26 As the MLB lockout continues, Spring Training seems a little shaky. But if all goes as planned, see your favorite baseball teams practice for the upcoming MLB season at venues all around the Valley. With the weather warming and the sun shining, there’s sure to be many beautiful days to catch America’s pastime on the diamond. Multiple venues, cactusleague. com, dates and times vary, see website for ticket prices

FEBRUARY 26 AND FEBRUARY 27 This annual festival is for baseball and music lovers alike! Foo Fighters and Tame Impala headline, with St. Vincent, Dashboard Confessional, the War on Drugs and Matt & Kim also among a stacked roster of bands and artists performing across the event’s two days. Not only does it combine live music with appearances from MLB legends, but Innings Festival is also a culinary celebration with a variety of food vendors. Tempe Beach Park & Arts Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, inningsfestival.com/arizona, noon each day, tickets start at $105

LIVE. IN-PERSON. TOGETHER.

Storm Large

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo | FEB 20

FEB 18

Accompanied by a 15-piece Orchestra!

The Greatest Love of All | FEB 26

Marie Osmond MAR 11

The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra | MAR 6

Buddy Guy

Wonderful Crazy Night: A New Elton John Tribute | MAR 13

MAR 16

2021 GRAMMY® winner

That Golden Girls Show A Puppet Parody | MAR 17-20

Ben Folds ~ In Actual Person

Scotty McCreery

chandlercenter.org

ON SALE NOW!

480-782-2680

Live For Real Tour | MAR 11

APR 3

The Black Moods’ road was paved with hard work By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

osh Kennedy sits backstage at the Crescent Ballroom waiting to hit the stage for a “surprise” appearance by his band The Black Moods. His mood is jovial as his curly blond locks hang from under his black hat. When the Moods — which also includes bassist Jordan Hoffman and drummer Chico Diaz — arrive on stage, it’s clear that years of touring with the likes of Whitesnake and the Dead Daisies have perfected the Tempe act’s craft. “We work harder than any other band out there,” Kennedy says. “I look back at our career trajectory and I like that we’re still on the upslope. We haven’t hit the top and gone down the other side yet. The roller coaster is still clicking up. I’m OK with that right now.” Things are about to change for The Black Moods. They’re playing their biggest show yet in the Valley, 8 p.m. Saturday, February 19, at Talking Stick Resort, and tickets are selling briskly. VIP packages were available, but they sold half of them in two hours. “It’s pretty amazing,” Kennedy says via telephone from Missouri, where he’s visiting family. “Talking Stick is really happy.” The show advances the February 25 release of the new single “Saturday Night” and its video. VIPs can watch the video with the trio backstage at the Talking Stick show. The song’s success will dictate a new album’s release date “VIPs get to see it first,” Kennedy says. “We’re going to go to radio, push that song and see how it goes.”

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Kennedy was bred in the most unlikely of spots for a rock singer — Wheaton, Missouri, in the Ozarks, where his head was filled with Southern rock and country music. Wheaton has a population of only 700. He found his calling when his dad summoned him to the living room to see a band that he liked. “They didn’t have MTV,” he says. “This one day I was in my room playing and my dad says, ‘Hey, bub’ — he calls me ‘bub’ — ‘come check out this band.’ It was the Gin Blossoms playing ‘Hey Jealousy’ on an awards show.” Kennedy’s dad told him he could write music like that because it wasn’t virtuosic. “I decided when I was 13 that I was going to play guitar for the Gin Blossoms,” he says. “On my 21st birthday, I was on tour with the Gin Blossoms. They invited me onstage, and ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

I got to play guitar.” Flashback to when he was a teen, when he met the Gin Blossoms’ Robin Wilson, after a show with his side project Gas Giants. “I was a super fan,” Kennedy says with a laugh. “I talked to him after the show. His advice? Go to college. He was playing 200-seaters to 50 people. Of course, I didn’t listen. I came out here. I found him playing Long Wong’s and I hit him up for a job. I worked at his studio.” The Gin Blossoms have proven to be a huge influence on Kennedy’s songs like “Someone to Save Us” from The Black Moods’ 2016 album “Medicine.” “‘Someone to Save Us’ is an example of a song that has the Gin Blossoms kind of feel,” he says. “It also has a harder rock sound than those guys have. “We take elements of stuff I grew up on — Bad Company, Led Zeppelin. I listen to them just as much as I did the Gin Blossoms.” Now he has the jangly alterna-pop musicians’ phone numbers on speed dial. “The 13-year-old me would be freaking out,” he muses. Music is all the trio does. When they return from touring, they get right back into their Tempe studio. Their breakthrough album, “Bella Donna,” was recorded with Johnny Karkazis, to whom he was introduced by Adelitas Way’s Rick DeJesus. “He’s definitely pushed us,” Kennedy says. “He called us names and stuff. He’s turned into a member of the family. It’s shocking when you meet him. He’s a bigtime producer who has all these hits. It’s a little intimidating.” Diaz, who grew up in Tolleson and Phoenix, says Karkazis brought the music out of them. “He pulled the pieces out of each one of us,” Diaz says. “He turns over every stone. We get it and it pays off.” “Nothing’s pedestrian,” Kennedy adds. “He doesn’t let things slide by. If it’s not cool, he’s not doing it.” Hoffman is the newest member of The Black Moods. Raised in Toledo, Ohio, Hoffman was living in Los Angeles working as a musician and server when he auditioned for The Black Moods. He joined September 2017. Hoffman also lends background vocals to the songs. Then, it was something new to The Black Moods. In a previous interview, Karkazis called this version of The Black Moods the best. “They’re so talented and dedicated — all the good stuff you can say about a band,” Karkazis says. “It’s a really special band. It makes you wonder why they’re

not hugely successful. They’re well known in their hometown, but I don’t know how well known they are outside of there. Maybe they just haven’t been in the right situation. They would meet any challenge I threw at them. They’re the kind of band a producer would love to be working with. “It’s encouraging to see a band so hungry and so talented. We seem to have a good rapport with each other. It all seemed to fall in place. We don’t know what the future holds, but I love the songs we’ve recorded.” Karkazis is also working on the forthcoming record, along with Phoenix native Jim Kaufman in LA. “This is the second record we’ve done with Johnny K,” Kennedy says. “This one, when we recorded it, we had moved the studio to the Ozarks. We packed our whole studio up in Tempe when everything was shut down and nobody could go to a restaurant or bar. “There was no live music or anything happening. Coming from the Ozarks, I grew up on lakes, creeks, backroads. You can always do that. We could go out on the lake, down to the creek and crawdad, or cruise the backroads.” Kennedy says he, Hoffman and Diaz had great ideas for songs but they were built from the ground up in the Ozarks,

give or take a song or two. “You can definitely hear the surroundings melded into the record,” Kennedy says. “When I hear it, I can hear the creek. We would be working and get frustrated and hit a wall, so we’d say, ‘Let’s go to the creek.’ We’d jump in the creek and work on vocals and lyrics down with Mother Nature.” “Saturday Night” and another new track, “Junkie Excuses,” may be previewed at the Talking Stick Resort show. “We’ll do three or four off the new record,” Kennedy says. “It gets weird when you do new stuff with people who aren’t super familiar with it. Everyone likes to get down and sing along. On the Dead Daisies tour, we did ‘Saturday Night’ and two or three others. Everyone loved it.”

An Evening with The Black Moods WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, February 19 WHERE: The Showroom at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale COST: Tickets start at $25; 21 and older INFO: 480.850.7777, talkingstickeresort.com

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STILL ROCKIN’

Carol Pacey and the Honey Shakers bring energy to the stage By Laura Latzko

alley-based Carol Pacey and the Honey Shakers are known for playing upbeat music and lyrics that energize audiences and make them want to dance. They’ll do it again at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix on Friday, February 11. A week later, Saturday, February 19, Carol Pacey and the Honey Shakers will hit the stage at AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Run. Singer/acoustic guitarist Pacey founded the group in 2011 with electric guitarist Andy Borunda. The lineup now also includes drummer Ben DeLuca and bass player Will Gantry. In 11 years, the band has released three full-length albums, the most recent of which is 2019’s “Bliss.” The group released the singles “If Romance is Dead Then I Want to Be Dead Too” and “Love Does” in 2020. The following year, they sent to stores a cover of Freddy Fender’s “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.” Videos are available for “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” and “Love Does.” Pacey says she feels “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” has an angst-riddled tone. “Andy is from Yuma,” Pacey says. “They would get together at family parties and cookouts and play a lot of ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

the Tex-Mex music and some of that old-school country. That song was one of the ones that he would hear a lot. I grew up listening to country music as well. I really dug into the lyrics. I liked that song from a female perspective.” Recently, the band has been working on new songs, like “Sit There and Look Pretty,” “In Your Face” and “Arizona Monsoon Breakup Song.” Pacey says the tone of the band’s music has gone from playful to dark due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I like to be more positive-minded when I write. The times are not so positive, so my songs have been leaning not so positive. … It did affect some of the songs that I’ve been writing since this all started,” Pacey says.

MEETING OF THE MINDS Pacey says the band has strong chemistry onstage because its members work together well. “I think everybody in the band loves doing what we do,” she says. “We each love playing our own particular instruments, and I would say everybody enjoys playing this music, being together and performing.” Pacey says that although the group’s sound has evolved, especially as they have been doing more ballads, it has tried to stay true to its original sound. “We’re still in your face, rocking, upbeat and good-timing,” Pacey says. Pacey grew up listening to a variety of

styles, but her family’s love of country music inspired her. “I’m from Maryland, and my family is from Pennsylvania and Texas,” she says. “Back then, it was whatever was on the radio dial. My family at the time wasn’t big record purchasers. We had a few eight-tracks. It was more country. I know my mom got into Motown, but it was mostly country. I just leaned toward really good singing and not necessarily any particular genre growing up. If somebody’s voice catches my attention, then I’m going to find out what they are and listen to them.” In Maryland and Arizona, Pacey sang in cover bands. Eventually, she wanted to helm a band. At 35, she picked up a guitar and five years later she started the Honey Shakers. “I never got past just picking it up and putting it back down,” she says about her experience with the guitar. “I never had any lessons growing up. I didn’t do it in school either,” Pacey says. “A college catalog from South Mountain Community College came in the mail one day, and I was like, ‘They teach guitar?’ I borrowed a guitar from a friend, and I walked into guitar class.” These days, she prefers performing as a duo, trio or band because of richer sound. “It just brings a certain magic. That full band just fills out the sound, and it brings it more to what I have in my head,” she says.

Pacey says starting her own band later in life gave her more freedom as an artist, but it posed challenges. “You get to the point where you don’t care what other people think. I’d like them to like it, but if they don’t, that’s alright,” she says. “That was easier, but then it’s harder because I’m starting out later in life. Not everyone is going for that. They want young, hip bands. In my age demographic, there’s some who go out, but a lot of people don’t. They don’t necessarily buy new music. They are still listening to the music they grew up on. So, it’s challenging to get them to try us out. Younger folks are like, ‘What is this?’ I’m like, ‘Give me a chance. You might be surprised.’” The 53-year-old Pacey continues to bring a lot of energy to the stage. “I will rock a lot of younger people under the table,” Pacey says. “Not with the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle, I can’t do that. But I can perform and have a good time. I’m proud of starting off later.”

Carol Pacey and the Honey Shakers WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday, February 11 WHERE: The Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix COST: $5 cover INFO: 602.612.4981, rhythmroom.com

THEY’RE THERE FOR YOU THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

‘The Friends Experience’ peeks through the purple door By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

ans of the TV show “Friends” will soon have the chance to recreate their favorite moments at a new event coming to Phoenix. “The Friends Experience” encompasses 12 nostalgia-packed rooms that house Monica’s kitchen, the fountain, Rachel and Monica’s purple door, Chandler and Joey’s recliner, and the Central Perk legendary orange couch. “The Friends Experience” opens Thursday, February 24, at Paradise Valley Gateway, 10845 N. Tatum Boulevard. “We’re really excited to go to Phoenix,” says Stacy Moscatelli, co-president and chief strategy officer of Superfly X, which was also behind the Lost Lake Festival. “‘The Friends Experience’ started in 2019 when we partnered with Warner Bros. in celebration of ‘Friends’ 25th anniversary. So, we created a pop-up in Soho in New York. It sold out within hours. From there, we went to Boston with the same experience, and it sold out there. We really just got excited to learn more about the fandom and the property and the love that people have for it.” Moscatelli says fans adore the experience because there are “so many amazing anecdotes of relationships bonded by that show.” “There are people who learned how to speak English from the show,” she says. “We saw an opportunity to grow. We took it from a pop-up to a full

experience.” Sprinkled throughout the attraction are original items, while others are recreations. “Once you visit the experience, the simplest way to figure it out is anything behind the glass is original and is not a recreation,” she says. “Warner Bros. has an amazing archives team and worked closely with what we could put on display. The attraction is scaled to keep it safe and clean — “Monica Clean” — to ease the fears of anyone with COVID-19

concerns. “It was such a great line to lead into Monica’s personality, while we’re all feeling the need to sanitize and clean everything,” Moscatelli says with a laugh. “Throughout the space, there are ‘Monica Clean’ stickers that we created that are on our hand sanitizers and other areas, to show fans that we’re keeping it

safe and clean.” It doesn’t moot the outing, however. “Fans can go into Monica and Rachel’s apartment and sit at the kitchen table,” Moscatelli says. “They can look at the things on the shelf. It offers that cool opportunity of stepping on the set and feeling like you’re really in set.”

“The Friends Experience” WHEN: Various hours, Thursday, February 24, to Sunday, May 8 WHERE: Paradise Valley Gateway, 10845 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix COST: Timed entry tickets start at $30.50, plus taxes and fees. Private access tickets are also available for groups of up to six or 10 guests. These tickets allow fans to visit the space in the morning before general ticket holders arrive as well as ensure maximum social distancing between groups for a more private experience. INFO: friendstheexperience.com/phoenix

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A MUSICAL MEMOIR

Peter Asher recalls classic rock and pop in show By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

eter Asher has a simple formula for his show, “Peter Asher: A Musical Memoir of the ’60s and Beyond.” “We just pick songs people will enjoy,” says Asher, who hosts “From Me to You” on the SiriusXM Beatles Channel. “We throw in Peter & Gordon songs. We have stories and songs, bits of videos, cool musicians. I’ve done different shows at different times.” “A Musical Memoir” comes to the Musical Instrument Museum in North Phoenix for two shows on Saturday, February 12. Memoir brings photos and film footage from Asher’s personal archive to life, transporting audiences back to the heart of ’60s popular culture. Icons such as Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Marianne Faithful, Yoko Ono and Carole King are among the cast of characters, along with his partner, Gordon Waller, who died in July 2009. The show covers the music of Peter & Gordon, including “I Go to Pieces,” “True Love Ways” and “Lady Godiva.” The songs given to Peter & Gordon by McCartney —“Woman,” “I Don’t Want to See You Again,” “Nobody I Know” and “A World Without Love” — are also front and center. “There are a couple new bits of video we haven’t used before,” he says. “We’ve been running over the whole thing several times. It’s always fun to

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incorporate a new story or two into each show. I have a lot of ideas.” A two-time producer of the year Grammy winner, Asher took a break from a recording session with the Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs for an interview. “I’ve always loved her singing. I was a Bangles fan,” he says. “We actually worked on a couple of songs for CNN’s Fourth of July special. We rearranged a couple of Bangles songs. We loved doing it, so we decided to make a record together. “The new album is going to be a mixture of songs, all rethought using some of my favorite musicians who I worked with before.” He’s also a longtime fan and friend of Tucson native Linda Ronstadt. Asher calls her “one of my very favorite singers in the whole world.” “We remain very close,” he adds. “I visit her in San Francisco whenever I’m there. “I was very lucky in the early part of my career to have worked with truly extraordinary artists. A lot of the songs Linda did back in the day were songs that people had heard before, ‘You’re No Good.’ We were doing a song people knew, in many cases. It was an interesting, new way to do it. I love doing that.” Asher is still on the hunt for musicians to produce or write with. He discovers them similarly to others. He was excited to see Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz at the Walt Disney Concert Hall later that day. “When I’m driving in the car,

like everybody, I listen to SiriusXM jazz or Hits One. I love hit records. Occasionally, I listen to the ’60s channel and I hear myself,” he says with a laugh. “There are some great new singers — Holly Humberstone is one. She has some great songs. Ed Sheeran is brilliant. He is a great friend. We share being redheads. We’re a little tribe.”

Peter Asher WHEN: 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 12 WHERE: Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $44.50 INFO: 480.478.6000, mim.org, peterandgordonthesingles.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

CITY

STYLE » ENVY » PASSION » FASHION » BEAUTY » DESIGN

MEDIEVAL TIPS

Renaissance Festival cast suggests going early, often By Geri Koeppel

fter a hiatus last year due to the pandemic, the 34th annual Arizona Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace returns to Gold Canyon this year with so many attractions, it’s impossible to pack them all into one visit. That’s why insiders say to go early and go often to get as much as possible out of the event. “Personally, I think many people miss out on only going for one hour or two and then they leave,” says Killian Davis of Phoenix, who portrays Sir Walter Raleigh on the grounds. Davis urges visitors to arrive early and go multiple times to see numerous shows, experience various theme weekends and truly soak up the ambiance. “Don’t be afraid to sit down for a couple minutes and just take it all in,” he advises. This year’s festival runs 10 a.m. to 6

p.m. weekends from February 5 to April 3 as well as Presidents’ Day, February 21 — rain or shine. The 50-acre village is home to 16 stages, more than 200 arts and crafts shops and, of course, a jousting arena. Games, rides, feasts and live entertainment abound, and visitors are urged to don period attire and become part of the show if they wish. A costume rental shop is next to the box office, and guests can create a complete outfit from the on-site vendors. One of the most popular weekends for dressing up is Pirates Weekend March 5 and March 6, says William Cussins of Huachuca City, who served as the Lord Mayor of the festival for the past seven years. (This year, he says he is “lost at sea” and can’t serve in his official capacity.) “It’s a very fun weekend because there are pirate contests for adults and children,” he notes. “There’s also a contest of: Give me your best ‘Aaargh!’” Cussins and Davis offered more savvy insider tips for getting the most out of the festival. On the topic of clothing, they implore guests in modern-day garb to use common sense, keep an eye on the weather, and wear sturdy walking shoes instead of flipflops. On that note, both encourage people to visit on gloomy or rainy days, as long as they dress appropriately for it. “You have children splashing in puddles, the drinks feel so much warmer and pleasant, the food gives you more joy, people huddle with family and friends,” Davis says. In terms of food, Davis remarks while most people look forward to the turkey legs, his favorite is the medium-rare steak on a stake. “They’re very juicy and flavorful,” he says, adding he highly recommends the fudge. Cussins, meanwhile, raves about anything from Cottage Bakery. “I always tell people, ‘When you say no to pastry, you say no to life. Don’t say no

to life.’” He also sings the praises of the vegetable crepes. No matter what the guest’s palate, Cussins urges visitors to grab lunch early before the lines begin to stretch. Also, they both strongly advise bringing paper currency, because the food vendors, games and rides only accept cash, and lines can get long at the ATMs. As for entertainment, popular attractions like the Ded Bob Show and the jousting arena fill up early, so make sure you arrive well in advance — particularly for the 5 p.m. joust, which

Davis hints is extra special. And be aware you might not want to be right up front for some acts such as the Washing Well Wenches, unless you have that rain jacket with you. Other entertainment ranges from live “mermaids” to musicians, dancers, falconers and even “Cirque de Sewer,” with trained rats and cats. That said, you don’t need to attend a formal show to enjoy the performers — all the world’s a stage here. “We’re not a museum; we’re an experience,” Davis says. “Feel free to approach us.”

The Arizona Renaissance Festival WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays — Saturday, February 5, to Sunday, April 3 — and Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 21 WHERE: Gold Canyon, 7 miles east of Apache Junction on U.S. Highway 60 COST: Online and advance tickets are $29 for adults, $19 for ages 5 to 12, and free for age 4 and younger; tickets are $1 more at the gate. Group rates, season passes and other discounts are available; parking is free. INFO: arizona.renfestinfo.com

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

LIVING LARGE S 16

Multitalented entertainer is the perform storm of talent By Laura Latzko

torm Large is known for her dynamic vocals and personality. The rock singer, author and playwright, who has appeared on “America’s Got Talent” and “Rock Star: Supernova,” hopes through her music to bring audiences together. Large will perform with her band Le Bonheur at Fox Tucson Theatre on Thursday, February 17, and the Chandler Center for the Arts on Friday, February 18. During the shows in Tucson and Phoenix, Large and her band will perform a mélange of music — rock, Great American Songbook, Broadway and original music. “We do American Songbook, but it’s my interpretation of the American Songbook, which includes people who haven’t been inducted yet into the great book,” Large says. “I do a little Cole Porter. I do familiar standards — jazz and whatnot. I also will do some Brandi Carlile. I’ll do my own music. I put the songs together in order of a narrative that I’m trying to convey, which is we don’t know if it’s going to be OK, but that’s OK. We’re human, and what we are experiencing now is an enormous human experience that it’s not just happening to you, it’s happening to all of us.” Recently, Large has injected more emotion into original songs like “Stand Up for Me.” Hailing from Massachusetts, Large now resides in Portland, Oregon. For the last 30 years, Large has been a musician. She loved the art form since she was 5 but didn’t start singing with bands until she was 22. Along with Le Bonheur, Large performs and tours nationally and internationally with the group Pink Martini. She has been singing with the group since around 2011, when she was a guest vocalist with it during concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. She made her debut at Carnegie Hall in 2013, performing Weill’s “Seven Deadly Sins” with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra during the Sounds of Spring Festival. She has also joined Liza Minnelli, K.D. Lang, Michael Feinstein, George Clinton and Rufus Wainwright on stage. During her appearance on “America’s Got Talent” in 2021, Large made it to the quarterfinals, singing A-ha’s “Take On Me,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want

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Me.” Large says that her experience on “America’s Got Talent” was different than her time on “Rock Star: Supernova,” which she did in 2006. “‘America’s Got Talent’ is a machine,” she says. “You are clay, and they are the hands. ‘Rock Star: Supernova’ was more of a traditional reality show, where they are filming you all of the time and just catching you at your worst, catching you at your best. Even though that was exhausting and really weird, I liked that. I actually preferred it because you got into a groove. With ‘America’s Got Talent,’ it’s so fast. You just get whipsawed through the process. You can’t find the ground. I don’t regret either one. I enjoyed both,” Large says. For Large, it has been important to write and perform music that is meaningful to her. Sometimes, it can take her 15 years to get a song right. “That’s the beauty of not being a pop star,” Large says. “I’m not a slave to my hits, to my history, to be the expectation of what people have decided that I must be. I can be whatever I want to be. I have to work a lot harder, and I have to tour a lot more. I don’t make as much money as a pop star, but that’s fine.” In April 2021, Large released an audio version of her book “Crazy Enough,” featuring a foreword from Patton Oswalt. Out in November 2012, “Crazy

Enough: A Memoir” tells her story of growing up with a mentally ill parent, her fear of similar issues, and her problems with drugs and sex addiction. The memoir was an Oprah Book of the Week and won the 2013 Oregon Book Award for Creative Nonfiction. In Portland, she presented a onewoman autobiographical musical called “Crazy Enough,” which ran for 21 weeks in 2009 and was reprised in 2019. Large shares that it is acceptable to experience fear, instability, uncertainty and stress — especially now. She says artists aren’t immune to these same emotions, but they share them onstage in an open and raw way. “The person being vulnerable is a very brave person to just be like, ‘Yeah, I am (expletive) up,’” Large says. “I have my weakness. I have my frailties. I have my victories. I have my defeats. But so do you, and that’s fine. So does the person that you admire the most.” While music is her focus, Large has showcased her acting talents. Large starred in 2007 in a Portland Center Stage production of “Cabaret,” in which she played Sally Bowles. She has also appeared in Jerry Zaks’ musical “Harps and Angels” in 2010 and in the 2011 films “Rid of Me” and “Bucksville.” After quarantining like everyone else during the pandemic lockdown, Large started doing shows again starting in October. She says playing live is draining because she is “mentally and emotionally

out of shape.” To de-stress, she exercises, meditates, reads, and listens to podcasts. She says in a time where there is so much social and political division, artists like herself bring people together and share a common experience. “My whole job as a performer is to collect a bunch of strangers in the dark, in red states and blue states, and get everybody to feel better, to relax, to celebrate, to feel, to be connected, to feel reconnected,” she says. “The artist’s job is to make people feel more connected. That’s why I’m an artist anyway, because I want to feel connected. I want to feel less alone.”

Storm Large and Le Bonheur WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 17 WHERE: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson COST: Tickets start at $25 INFO: 520.547.3040, foxtucson.com, stormlarge.com

Storm Large

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 18 WHERE: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler COST: Tickets start at $38 INFO: 480.782.2680, chandlercenter.org

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

ARTS

CULTURE » THEATER » DANCE » GALLERY » DRAMA » VISION

‘WE’RE PROTECTING OUR WAY OF LIFE’ Indigenous artist combats systemic genocide By Ashlyn Robinette

eet Dustin Lopez, a Navajo, Yaqui and Laguna Pueblo artist based in Phoenix who aims to combat systemic genocide by preserving Indigenous identity through his designs. “It’s really just about me plastering who I am, that I exist, that my ancestors existed, they were here, we’re here now and my kids will be here in the future,” Lopez says. The 38-year-old recently retired firefighter is now pursuing art and design full time. Lopez’s creativity stems from his childhood. In the fourth grade, a friend introduced him to graffiti and he immediately fell in love with the movement of letters and its thoughtprovoking nature. He recalls growing up and watching his grandmother, a Navajo weaver, draw with yarn. “She was one of those people who was beaten, had her hair cut, wasn’t allowed to speak her language, and was ripped from her home,” he says. “So, hearing those stories and her not

teaching me the Navajo way of life or even the Pueblo way was really crucial, because I started to understand why she didn’t teach it. It was because it was beaten out of her from all those years.” Lopez hopes to make his grandmother proud by embracing his intertribal heritage and producing work inspired by their cultures. He is a speaker on identity and decolonization as well, helping others navigate the world and find success on and off the reservation. “Part of the work that I do and my collaboration with other artists is reclaiming our identity, reclaiming our language, reclaiming our culture and reclaiming who we are prior to colonization,” Lopez says. Aside from being a muralist, Lopez is the creator of Dopez Design and Mixt Blood Streetwear, which is dedicated to anyone who struggles to embrace their multiple backgrounds. “The government tells us that we’re only allowed to identify as one,” he says. “So Mixt Blood and my artwork is kind of a ‘(expletive) you’ to the government system. They do that because they want to see the numbers go down. “If the numbers go down, then they don’t have to facilitate monetary investments anymore, according to the treaties. That’s why they only allow us to identify as one, even if we’re intertribal.” Historically, many Indigenous people have been pressured into assimilation and suppression of tribal identity. From federal boarding schools that forbade or removed children’s native names, language, clothing, hair, traditions, items and more to today’s societal discrimination, efforts to strip away Native American identity has not stopped. “That’s the reality we face here as Indigenous people,” Lopez adds. “It’s something that we’ve faced ever since the Europeans came over and tried to eradicate us. It’s a different kind of genocide.” Lopez is a contributing member of Cahokia, an Indigenous-led platform for

creative peacekeeping that is organized through Indigenous Community Collaborative, IndigeDesign Collab and Roosevelt Row. “A lot of people don’t know who they are, where they come from or what they represent,” Lopez says. “We as Indigenous people are protecting that. We’re protecting our way of life, what’s left of our language and ceremonial ways.” When COVID-19 hit the Navajo Nation last year, Lopez and other IndigeDesign Collab volunteers manufactured and delivered more than 1,000 3D-printed face shields to protect Navajo and Hopi people on the front lines. Lopez is creating a ceramic mural, “Water is Life,” for Paradise Valley Community College dedicated to honoring the Indigenous people who lived near the campus — the Piipaash, also known as the Maricopa people, along with the Salt River Authm people. “You have people putting pipelines through Indigenous lands,” Lopez says. “Recently, the pipeline spill poisoned the water, which poisons our women, which poisons our kids, which is another way of eradicating us. Again,

it’s a systemic genocide, it’s just not as apparent.” The collaborative art project is designed to show how precious water is to not just Indigenous people but the rest of the world, Lopez says. PVCC is important to Lopez, who earned his medical certificates for his firefighting position there. Returning there in a different way is enjoyable for him. He has been in the ceramics studio every Friday during the fall semester as a collaborator, guiding all who wish to participate in the art project. Lopez said he wants to educate people about their identity and how they belong to the communities they represent. He hopes that his artwork will raise awareness on Indigenous issues and create meaningful conversations. “A lot of people have forgotten who they are, where they come from, and they’re OK with being a part of this equation of a melting pot when really they’ve been stripped of their own identity,” he says.

Dustin Lopez Instagram: @dus10lopezart ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

DINING

EAT » EXPERIENCE » INDULGE » SAVOR » DEVOUR » NOSH

‘TRUE, AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE’ Little pieces of Italy to pepper Heritage Square in Phoenix By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

he cobblestone streets of Heritage Square will be peppered with art, food and musicians when the Italian Festival moves from Scottsdale to Downtown Phoenix Saturday, February 26, and Sunday, February 27. “We really look for ways to make it a true, authentic Italian experience,” says Francesco Guzzo, Italian Association of Arizona’s executive director. “We want you to feel like you’re walking into a little piece of Italy with the vendors, entertainment, the food and art displays. Those are all things meant to share the Italian tradition, but we also want to give people a sense of how much Italians contribute to the fabric of Arizona.” This year’s festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday with a parade and opening ceremonies. The day continues with live entertainment and food — gelato, pizza, sausages, pasta, cannoli, wine and other delicacies. “The food is the standard part of the festival,” Guzzo says. “We call it ‘the authentic true Italian food.’ We don’t even allow fettuccine alfredo. It’s not an Italian dish. A lot of people don’t know that. “We have vendors — pasta and pizza

vendors and Romolo D’Amico will make his famous carbonara. It’s an amazing dish to demonstrate onstage. We’ll have vendors selling traditional pasta sauces, clothing and olive oil.” Live performances will include Sbandieratori del Palio di Asti (flag wavers) from the city of Asti in Piemonte, and an art gallery with local and international Italian art. Margherita Fray, a 94-year-old artist, will show off her talents in the gallery. “She’s bringing some of her pieces of art and her books,” Guzzo says. “Her books have been translated in English and in Italian. That’ll be incredible just to have her there and be part of the community and sign books.” Blue Door Ceramics’ Christiane Barbato will display her artwork, while Paolo Cosanti pieces will be available, too. Sunday, the flag wavers and vendors return and, like Saturday, they are sponsored by Galbani, Peroni, PepsiCo, Acqua Panna, San Pellegrino, Chelly, DTPHX, Desert Rose Worldwide Transportation and Great Value Vacations. “The flag wavers are excited about this,” he says. “They’re the traditional group that represents the city of Asti in world competitions in flag waving. They’ve been doing it for 60 years in Asti.

“All the colors they wear are representative of the different boroughs. It’s quite significant.” This year, Guzzo says, antique restored Italian vehicles will drive into Heritage Square. Vespas and Italian bicycles from Scottsdale’s Cyclologic will be on display. “Everything coming out of Italy has an artistic flair to it,” Guzzo says. “Ferraris, Lamborghinis or Bugattis are all pieces of art, even though they’re automobiles. “It’s a well-choreographed event. There’s always something interesting or exciting happening. Throughout the day, when people come in, they’ll see something of interest. There’s never a dull moment.”

ENTERTAINMENT GALORE Galbani will host a demonstration stage, and mixologists will teach patrons to make creative drinks with limoncello and Pellegrino. Many of the sponsors are sending their national representatives to check out the festival. “We’re working on making it as interesting as possible for everyone,” Guzzo says. “We want to attract families and people of all ages. For the kids, we have balloon artists and the face painter. “For the grown-ups, we have the demonstrations, the entertainment by The Sicilian Band from LA. They will play traditional Italian songs on Saturday and Sunday. We have Steve Ansel & the Jackson Street Band, a full eight-piece orchestra to play traditional jazz that people love.” Saturday night is for eating and dancing to the band Element. The opera singers D Gala will perform on both days, closing out the festival on Sunday. Organizers are mindful of the

COVID-19 pandemic and deem Heritage Square safe, with its outdoor seating. Cleaning crews will be working diligently to sanitize the area. Face masks will be available at the entrance. “We’re doing what we can to make sure everything is comfortable,” Guzzo says. “We want people to enjoy the entire day without feeling like there’s a concern in any way. It’ll be fun. The whole thing is catered to make sure everyone has fun and enjoys themselves.” Heritage Square is new to the Italian Festival. Previously, the festivities were held at the Scottsdale Waterfront. “It’s a beautiful part of Scottsdale, but we ran out of space,” he says. “There was only room for 5,000 people a day to come through there. “Phoenix had been courting us about hosting the festival there. This year, we decided to host it at Heritage Square in Downtown Phoenix. The space allows for typically three times the number of people we would normally get. It has the greenery — grass and trees — cobblestone roads and courtyards. It lends itself to creating a cozy space for a beautiful event like the Italian Festival.”

The Italian Association’s Seventh Italian Festival WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, February 26, and 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, February 27 WHERE: Heritage Square, corner of East Adams and North Seventh streets, Phoenix COST: $15; free for children ages 12 and younger INFO: italianfestivalaz.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

DINING

CALENDAR By Annika Tomlin Lunar New Year

TO FEBRUARY 16 In honor of the Year of the Tiger, Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill and Ling’s Wok Shop will celebrate with food specials and Lion and Dragon Dance performances from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, February 4 (Ling’s Wok Shop) and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 5 (Ling & Louie’s). The offerings at Ling & Louie’s are Cheers to You for two people ($60) and Tiger Feast for four ($150). Each offers three courses with food that represents traditional Lunar New Year foods. Ling’s Wok Shop will have Good Fortune Noodz for $21.

Ling’s Wok Shop, 20511 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, Ling & Louie’s, 9397 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, various times, lingswok.shop, lingandlouies.com, $21-$150 Bao and Dumpling Festival

FEBRUARY 5 AND FEBRUARY 6 The Arizona Bao and Dumpling Festival returns to Downtown Chandler for its third year. Explore local businesses’ varieties of baos and dumplings from traditional to creative interpretations. Participating vendors include Hot Bamboo, Happy Buns, Jasperz Island Fusion, WokSticks and Eis Café with ice cream. Boba, desserts and other Asian dishes will be available as well. Ticket prices do not include food and drink.

Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Avenue, Chandler, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, bit.ly/3HQezQ6, $12

AZ Donut and Ice Cream Festival

FEBRUARY 5 AND FEBRUARY 6 The Arizona Donut and Ice Cream Festival is held in tandem with the Bao and Dumpling Festival. Take a bite into a fluffy doughnut paired with cool, creamy ice cream from local vendors. Tickets do not include food and drink.

Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Avenue, Chandler, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, bit.ly/3HQezQ6, $12 Roaring Fork Dinner on Us

FEBRUARY 13 Watch the Super Bowl at the Roaring Fork with “Dinner on Us”; buy one entrée, get one free. Signature wood-fired entrees include braised pork shoulder carnitas, fish tacos, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, cedar planked salmon, double-cut pork shop and boneless buttermilk

fried chicken served with mashed potato and peppercorn gravy.

Chandler, 2 to 9 p.m., southwestcajunfest.com, $12-$20 Phoenix Seltzerland

FEBRUARY 26 State Farm Stadium’s Sportsman’s Park will be a hard seltzer paradise that offers 100-plus types of the alcohol beverage. Indulge in mouthwatering munchies, tons of

seltzer swag, and an Instagram-worthy photoshoot. Timed tickets: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 3 to 5:30 p.m. for general admission; and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2:30 to 5 p.m. for VIP sessions.

State Farm Stadium, Sportsman’s Park, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, various times, eventbrite.com, $35-$55

Roaring Fork, 4800 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 4 p.m., roaringfork.com, $20-$28 Agave’s Restaurant Valentine’s Day

FEBRUARY 14 Agave’s Restaurant at Harrah’s AkChin Casino will offer its own romantic meal with a house salad, grilled tritip, mac and cheese, and Brussels sprouts. Wrap it up with turtle cheesecake with macerated raspberries. Reservations are not required.

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, 15406 Maricopa Road, Maricopa, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., caesars.com/harrahs-ak-chin/ restaurants, $70 per couple Cruise, BBQ & Blues Festival

FEBRUARY 19 This Oro Valley festival features the region’s best pit and smoked barbecue from local chefs, as well as a rockin’ blues music performances lineup, kids activities and entertainment. The “cruise” is the more than 120 classic cars on display. Thirty classes of auto awards are given, including best of show, best interior, best paint, best engine and people’s choice.

Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., saaca.org, $5, 10 and younger free Devour at Home

FEBRUARY 26 For 13 years and counting, Devour Phoenix has been inviting local restaurants to dish out delectable meals. Returning as a take-home family-style meal for two or four people, Devour at Home packages include a three-course dinner, chef bios, a 2022 Devour at Home thermal tote and additional swag. Preorders are available through Friday, February 18. Participating restaurants include Chilté Phoenix, Gertrude’s Restaurant, Lom Wong and Southern Rail.

Various restaurant locations, devourphoenix.com, $95-$200 Southwest Cajun Fest

FEBRUARY 26 The Southwest Cajun Fest celebrates Cajun culture, cuisine and handcrafted cocktails. Nosh on southeastern Louisiana dishes like seafood boil, jambalaya, gumbo and gator bites while listening to music by C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band. The festival includes family-friendly activities like eating competitions, kids zones and street performers.

Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Avenue,

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BREWS & SPIRITS

SIP » BREW » RELAX » EXPERIMENT » REFRESH » TOAST

BEER BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER

Festival is a never-ending keg of samples and fun By Allison Brown

rom lagers and IPAs to seltzers, there’s a lot of beer to try at the Arizona Strong Beer Festival. Complete beginners and connoisseurs will find what they’re looking for, whether it’s a starting place or a new go-to ale. The festival will boast 300 to 450 samples. The festival returns for its 21st year on Saturday, Feb.19, after a pandemic break. Rob Fullmer, executive director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, who sponsors and produces the event, says the Arizona Strong Beer Festival is coming back strong and he, vendors and customers are excited to get back to it. “We can’t wait to get back to beer fests,” Fullmer says. “It’s been a long two years for everyone, and we are thrilled to be hosting the Arizona Strong Beer Festival at a new, state-of-the-art location.” Tickets to the festival start at $60 and can be purchased online. A ticket includes 30 tasting tickets and a commemorative glass. The festival spans 24 acres of the Mesa’s new Bell Bank Park, the largest sports complex in North America. Part of it will be transformed into a miniature city of breweries and other vendors to

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make up the state’s most comprehensive beer festival. There will also be live music, games and food trucks. The festival got its name for promoting beers 8.5% and above, with a strong alcohol content. However, now that the beer industry and technology has advanced, Fullmer says there are ways to get a bolder flavor without having to add more alcohol. Now, they keep the name and characterize it as beers “strong in flavor, strong in character and strong in tradition.” According to Fullmer, the Arizona Strong Beer Festival started with 25 vendors in a parking lot and has now grown to have as many as 10,000 people attend. “I think it’s one of the most fun beer festivals,” says Nicholas Rana, owner of State 48 Brewery, who will attend the festival for the sixth year. “It is the Strong Beer Fest, so a lot of people get pretty intoxicated, and it’s definitely one of the busiest festivals. It’s about as central as can be in Arizona, so you get to see people from all over the state that go to it. You get to meet everybody, it’s good advertising and it’s just a fun festival to be at.” Because it is the premier beer event in the state, the festival will host product and brand launches. Drew Pool, co-founder

of Wren House Brewing Company, says it has been part of the festival since it opened in 2015. Pool wants to show off its new barrel-aged projects they have been working on. Strong Beer Festival allows his staff to see what’s trending or what drinkers seek. Fullmer says beer and breweries have a way of bringing people together. Breweries often serve as a comfortable, laid-back third space for people to gather. He says it’s different than a coffee shop or restaurant in that it’s more acceptable to walk up to a stranger and strike up a friendly conversation, whether it’s asking what they’re drinking or where the best pizza place is nearby. With about 60% of the vendors being from within Arizona, Rana says instead of a feeling of competition between the breweries, it’s more of a feeling of community and togetherness. Laura Hansen, owner of Saddle Mountain Brewing Company, says her company has been involved for the past seven years and, while it’s fun to be recognized, the best part is the people. “We’ve won a few different metals over the years for different beers, which is always a fun thing, but the most enjoyable part is honestly the people, both the other breweries and the customer base,” Hansen says. “Getting to talk to them about craft beer and just enjoying a lovely sunny afternoon with some outstanding craft beers.” In the spirit of community, Fullmer says the event is family friendly, and patrons even have picnics there. For those who don’t really like beer, there will also be mead, cider, seltzers and nonalcoholic drinks available. Those under 21 or serving as a designated driver are still welcome to enter the

festival for a reduced cost but will not be permitted to drink. When it comes to the 30 tasting tickets, Fullmer says there are a couple different strategies to maximize the experience without ending up with a killer headache the next day. “Do what everyone else is not doing,” he suggests. “I don’t stand in the lines, but I do ask people why they’re standing in line to understand what’s there. Definitely hydrate and take opportunities to check out the food trucks.” Guests wanting to analyze the differences in the breweries to find a favorite should stick with one category, like sours, to better compare and contrast. Most likely, there will be brewers there who can discuss their particular version. The Arizona Craft Brewers Guild represents nearly 100 operating breweries, breweries in the planning stage, craft beer bars and distributors across Arizona. Fullmer says Arizona breweries have won world-class medals and competed in some of the most prestigious competitions in the world. He says people frequently ask him when Arizona will catch up to other states leading the beer industry, but says maybe the state won’t “catch up,” it will just do something different and be unique.

Arizona Strong Beer Festival WHEN: 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, February 19 WHERE: Bell Bank Park, 1 Legacy Drive, Mesa COST: $60 for general admission INFO: strongbeerfest.com

PRETTY IN PINK THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

Scottsdale Sippin’ Series returns for Valentine’s-themed event By Jordan Houston

ith Valentine’s Day around the corner, the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will celebrate all-things romance with a selection of themed cocktails made to share the love. The center will host its Sippin’ Series: Pretty in Pink at 7 p.m. in the center’s mezzanine on Saturday, February 12. In its fourth season, the monthly Sippin’ Series provides a “deep dive” into “the world of cocktails, wines and spirits.” February attendees will taste and create an array of “cocktails in all shades of pink” crafted by a team of experts from the Republic National Distributing Company, a national wholesale beverage alcohol distributor specializing in wine and spirits. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Events Director Jamie Prins says the fuchsia elixirs are guaranteed to satisfy palates of all tastes, as it is “not all sweet.” A Republic mixologist will provide an evening full of tips and tricks for those looking to advance their own mixology, as well as “pull out surprise products to let guests taste and compare during the discussion.” Prins, also the Scottsdale Arts Festival director with a background in food and beverage, says the Valentine’s-inspired event is a great occasion to socialize and connect with the community. “Because it is a smaller and intimate group, it’s a good opportunity to have some one-on-ones from the mixologist from the Republic, or from me walking about and talking to our patrons and getting to know them and understand their interests,” she says. “It’s really a great opportunity for people to get to learn more.” A mixture of history, regional information, creative recipes and fun new products, each Sippin’ Series event highlights a central beverage and “seeks to further develop knowledge on the topic through an in-person experience.” “We keep it very intimate and very rare,” Prins shares. “We get a lot of repeat customers, but we also get a lot of new people. “I would say it has been received very well. We typically sell out and do have a limited amount of attendance — anywhere from 30 to 40, depending on the space we are

able to book it in.” The Sippin’ Series is a spin-off of two other center events — The Catwalk Lounge, a season feature for five years, and the Discovery Series, a tasting series that explored France, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Japan. “The events would sell out very quickly, and I determined that there was a taste from our patrons for these types of events,” the director says. After realizing the patrons were “thirsty” for more information on the previous offerings, she dove in headfirst with the Sippin’ Series in partnership with the Republic. “I’m always learning. My history and experience have been in food and beverage and events my entire career — but I am still learning,” Prins states. “There are constantly new products, new liquors, new spirits and new specialty items that are constantly coming out and being presented to the public, and it’s impossible to stay on top of that nowadays.” Prins continues to satisfy her curiosity through the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ mission statement: the dedication to provide “traditional and contemporary arts of interest to worldwide audiences, to create opportunities for audiences to have thought-provoking experiences with artists and speakers, and to foster creative expression, diversity in thought, and awareness of cultural heritage.”

“The Scottsdale Arts has a variety of things to offer to folks in the community,” Prins says. “Take the opportunity to attend a performance, or show, or a museum, or one of these Sippin’ Series if you haven’t already began experiencing some of the things we have to offer.”

Sippin’ Series: Pretty in Pink WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, February 12 WHERE: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale COST: $50; 21 and older INFO: scottsdaleperformingarts.org

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CASINOS

PLAY » SPIN » LAUGH » GROOVE » UNWIND » WIN

THEY’RE ON FIRE

Pyromania celebrates Def Leppard hits and B-sides By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

he Def Leppard tribute band Pyromania knows how to promote itself. Two years after Pyromania was founded in 2002, the musicians hosted a Def Leppard fan convention in Las Vegas to pique the interest of media and fans. It worked. Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen came by, hosted a drum circle and signed autographs at the Hard Rock Café. Pyromania earned mentions on VH1 and MTV, and the event raised $10,000 for Allen’s Raven Drum Foundation, which serves to educate and empower veterans, first responders and trauma survivors to prevent suicide through wellness support programs. “That was a little bit of a boost for us,” Pyromania lead guitarist Neal Shelton says. Notable gigs followed, like Summerfest in Milwaukee, for which Pyromania played songs like “Pour Some

Sugar on Me,” “Love Bites,” “Animal” and “Photograph” in front of 10,000 fans. “It was the largest audience I ever played in front of,” Shelton says. “The entire audience was singing along. I had goosebumps on my arms. I couldn’t believe I was playing in front of so many people.” Pyromania is spending 2022 celebrating its 20th anniversary. Gigs this year include a two-night stint at Casino Arizona Friday, February 18, and Saturday, February 19. “We’re going to recreate Def Leppard from the ’80s,” Shelton says. “You’re going to get all the big hits. We’ll throw in a few of the B-side-type songs, just a couple for the hardcore Def Leppard fans. We dress the part. One thing about our tribute band is everyone has real long hair — no wigs. All of us are experienced players who have been in national acts in the past. There’s a lot of talent on stage. Everybody in the band sings. You’ll hear all the big Def Leppard harmonies, like you hear on the albums.” The Torrance, California-born Shelton

performs in the Aerosmith tribute band Aeromyth, which also frequents Casino Arizona. Drummer James Schultz is a member of Sunflower Dead, who has toured with Hellyeah, Hed PE and Korn. Michael O’Mara, who fronts Pyromania, sang with Tracii Guns and leads the K-Tel All-Stars. Pyromania bassist Patrick McGrath plays guitars and keyboards and sings for the Foreigner tribute 4NR. Finally, John Kulczyk rounds out Pyromania. Spending two decades in Pyromania hasn’t been difficult, Shelton says. “They have so many hit songs. The music is so melodic,” he says. “But also, it can lean toward a heavier rock sound. They have a lot of big radio hits. At this state, they would be considered family friendly. We play concerts in the park. They have a big female following, and when the females show up, the guys come, too. It’s fun music and great songwriting.” When Shelton — who spent his teens opening for the likes of Ratt — isn’t onstage, he’s running his Neal Shelton

Entertainment and Neal’s Music Store based in Huntington Beach, California. He specializes in used and vintage equipment, while his wife, Cathy, is the expert in new pieces. Pyromania, Neal Shelton Entertainment and Neal’s Music Store all intertwine. He manages 100 tribute bands, including ABBA LA and Aeromyth. “I definitely keep myself busy,” he says. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Pyromania WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 18, and Saturday, February 19 WHERE: Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale COST: $15 INFO: 480.850.7777, casinoarizona.com, ticketmaster.com Neal’s Music Store nealshelton.com/nealsmusic

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

CALENDAR By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

DSB: An American Journey

7:30 P.M. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, AND SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale, tickets start at $15, 480.850.7777, casinoarizona.com

The Black Moods

8 P.M. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, tickets start at $25, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort.com

Jake Owen

8 P.M. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, tickets start at $35, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort.com

Tyler Henry: The Hollywood Medium

8 P.M. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, tickets start at $35, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort.com

Johnny Mathis

8 P.M. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, tickets start at $70, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort.com

Pyromania: No. 1 Def Leppard Tribute

7:30 P.M. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, AND SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale, tickets start at $10, 480.850.7777, casinoarizona.com

Led Zepagain: Tribute to Led Zeppelin

7:30 P.M. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, AND SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale, tickets start at $10, 480.850.7777, casinoarizona.com

The Clairvoyants

8 P.M. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, tickets start at $35, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort.com

Conjunto Primavera

8 P.M. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, tickets start at $45, 1.800.946.4452, playatgila.com

The Insider’s Guide to Arizona Entertainment

PHX METRO » JANUARY 2020

PHX METRO

2019 » AUGUST PHX METRO

PHX METRO

2019 » MAY

» FEBRUA RY

2020

PHX METRO

Harlem rs Globetrotte e bounc into town

entertainermag.com

Summer

nce Let's Da . Ç gh goes Derek Hou tour solo on new

MERRILL KELLY

SPOOKY’S SWIRLS

Handcrafted e for meats mak treats delectable

BIG DREAMS

‘Americano!’ is the show of the year

» MARC H

2020

A Inside

Supermod Erin Naas el can't live without her Arabians

D-BACKS FAN FEST

slides into Chase Field

Dave Kindig is selling his ‘bitchin’ rides’ at Barrett-Jackson JULIANA HATFIELD

‘BONAFIDE

Star ’

Jammin’ Lee runs for Perreira charity SPRING TRAIN NOTHING ING BUT SCHEDULES GOOD NEW S The Black Moods crack the chart s

LA DOL CE

VITA The Italia n comes to Festival Phoenix

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SPORTS

CHEER » HIT » HIKE » LEAD » ROOT » COMPETE

‘FORE’ THE FANS The People’s Open returns with new features By Joe McHugh

ith a competitive field and a multitude of golf and charity experiences, the Waste Management Phoenix Open is returning to the TPC Scottsdale. “It is going to be great to have everybody back out on the course and experience the Waste Management Open the way we all know and love it,” tournament Chairman Michael Golding says. One of Arizona’s premier golf tournaments, “The Greatest Show on Grass” surrounds a 162-yard par 3. The 2022 Waste Management Phoenix Open hits the greens from Monday, February 7, to Sunday, February 13. “The People’s Open” has been named the Tournament of the Year by the PGA Tour four times in the past seven years (2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019). The 2022 edition will mark the 87th playing of the event (one of the five oldest events on the PGA Tour) and the 13th with Waste Management as title sponsor. The field, as of January 21, has 20 players ranked in the Top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings, led by Jon Rahm, who sits first in the standings and followed closely by Justin Thomas at fifth. The other top-ranked players include Hideki Matsuyama (10), Sam Burns (13), Scottie Scheffler (14), Jordan Spieth (15), Tony Finau (17), Brooks Koepka (18), Abraham Ancer (20), Jason Kokrak (21), Horschel (23), Matt Fitzpatrick (24), Webb Simpson (29), Talor Gooch (31), Max Homa (34), Kevin Kisner (36), Corey Conners (38), Russell Henley (40), Lucas Herbert (43) and Seamus Power (49). The 132 players will vie for the $8.2 million purse, the $1.476 million firstplace check, and 500 FedExCup points. PGA Tour members have until 5 p.m. on Friday, February 4, to commit to play in the WM Phoenix Open. Eligible players are assigned one of 34 PGA Tour priority ranking categories based on their past performance on Tour. The field will continue to change as players with higher priority rankings commit to

play in the open. “We are expecting one of, if not the best, fields in the history of our tournament, with our field getting stronger with each announcement we make,” Golding says. The 2022 tournament will also include ASU freshman Preston Summerhays, who received the first sponsor exemption for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. “I first started standard bearing at the Waste Management Phoenix Open when I was 10 years old, so this event is like a major championship to me,” Summerhays says. “To be able to compete against the very best players in the world, in this amazing atmosphere, in my own backyard, is a dream come true.” The Thunderbirds have five exemptions to award for the 2022 WM Phoenix Open. The remaining four exemptions will be announced leading up to the tournament.

IN THE RUNNING James Hahn is expected to make a great showing at the open, as he has performed well since 2017 with three top-25 finishes. Shooting an 11th place-worthy -12 in 2018, a 25th place-worthy -9 in 2020, and a 10th place-worthy -15 in 2021, Hahn could be in prime striking distance for this year’s title. “Any opportunity where I can play a home game, sleep in my own bed and have the support of a hometown crowd, it’s really exciting for me as a PGA Tour professional,” Hahn says. Hahn is also coming into the Waste Management Phoenix Open with another plus — his health. In 2019, Hahn was sidelined for eight months with a partial tear in his elbow. Healthy, he returned in 2021, when he had one of the best years of his career, scoring five top 10 finishes. Hahn carried that momentum into the 202122 season, where he has a top 15 finish at the ZOZO Championship in Japan and a 27th-place bid at the World Wide Technology Championship. “It was one of those stretches where my putter got hot,” Hahn says about 2021.

“I was making a lot of puts and I was feeling good, and I was fresh.”

FULL-THROTTLE EVENT Although it is primarily a golf tournament, the Waste Management Phoenix Open has plenty of peripheral events. This year features a 16th hole, 16,000-person-capacity coliseum so country’s Thomas Rhett and Old Dominion can kick off the festivities. “It is going to be a spectacular night and certainly a tradition that I think will have a stable place as a part of our week for years to come,” Golding says. The 2021 iteration has a new presenting sponsor, Taylor Morrison, which leads to the Fairway House, a 36,000-square-foot structure for general admission attendees. Marked with a large American flag, the Fairway House is parallel to the 12th hole fairway at the highest point of the golf course. “You could spend a day watching four holes of golf from the highest point on our golf course,” Golding says. “It is a great example of how important it is for the Thunderbirds to have a place for the

general admission population to have a great experience at a hospitality venue like no other on our golf course.” The week’s worth of events caters to golfers and nongolfers. On Monday, February 7, practice rounds are free for attendees. The pro-am follows with evening concert experiences at the Coors Light Birds Nest with Diplo and Cole Swindell on Wednesday, February 9; Sam Hunt and Russell Dickerson on Thursday, February 10; Macklemore, Quinn XCII and Ayokay on Friday, February 11; and Kygo, Sam Feldt and Forester on Saturday, February 12. “We are ‘The People’s Open,’” Golding says. “We are dedicated to our fans coming out, having a great day, and being able to watch some great golf.”

The Waste Management Phoenix Open WHEN: Monday, February 7, to Sunday, February 13 WHERE: TPC Scottsdale-Stadium Course, 17020 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale COST: Tickets start at $50 INFO: wmphoenixopen.com

‘PRETTY SURREAL MOMENT’ THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

Valley’s Matthew Knies skates to the Olympics By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

alley native Matthew Knies was sitting alone in a restaurant when he received a call that changed his life. He was chosen for the U.S. Olympic hockey team. “I got a call from a random number and had a pretty exciting phone call asking if I wanted to go,” Knies says. “It was a pretty surreal moment I’ll never forget.” The Olympic Games Beijing 2022 runs from Friday, February 4, to Sunday, February 20, with hockey starting Wednesday, February 9. Knies says his parents, Miro and Michaela Knies, were thrilled about the opportunity. “They couldn’t believe it,” says Knies, who played for Team USA in the World Juniors. “They were in awe for a while until it set in with them, too. They were extremely happy for me. I could hear the emotion through the phone. To have another shot playing for Team USA and playing for a medal is amazing. “It’s pretty special to play something that’s much bigger than myself. Playing for those colors, it’s pretty surreal. It’s definitely a wonderful feeling.” Knies grew up in the Valley, attending the Deer Valley Unified School District

facilities Las Brisas Elementary and Hillcrest Middle schools in Glendale and Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Phoenix. Due to his U.S. Hockey League career, he graduated from an online high school in Nebraska. From there, Knies was the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 25th pick in the 2021 draft, joining the team that also boasts Scottsdale’s Auston Matthews. After ASU showed interest in him, Knies headed east to the University of Minnesota, where he’s a freshman forward turned Olympic qualifier. He’s joining fellow Gophers Brock Faber and Ben Meyers in the Olympics. “I’m really excited,” Knies says. “It’s going to be a wonderful time and a really good experience. I’m super excited. I kept (the opportunity) in the back of my head. I wasn’t thinking too much about it. I was focusing on hockey here. Once I got that call, it didn’t sink in for a while. I still

don’t think it has.” Knies is well aware of the coronavirus situation in Beijing, but he’s not worried. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he says. “Not many kids get this chance. I’m definitely going to take it, no matter the consequences. “But this is the biggest competition in the world. They’re going to do everything in their power to make sure everyone stays healthy.”

YOUTH HOCKEY IN ARIZONA The 6-foot-2, 210-pound forward started his career in 2015 with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes and continued with the likes of the Tri-City Storm in Kearney, Nebraska. During that time, he watched the sport grow in the Grand Canyon State. “It’s still growing,” he adds. “It’s only gotten better, and it’s rapid. Everyone’s picking up hockey sticks. The Coyotes had a huge impact on me, and this opportunity for me to represent Arizona hockey at the Olympics is going to be huge. “I want everyone to know in Arizona hockey that I’m representing them. I want to do it in the best way possible.” His mentors have included former Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan, who now serves as chief development officer. Knies says he feels fortunate to have “all those guys in my corner.” “I know the coaches I had in Arizona and here in college are huge parts of why I’m having success,” he says. “They’re involved in my career. Those guys have been a huge impact on me.

“Having these guys around the rink when I was younger — Steve Sullivan, Shane Doan and Mike D’Angelo — had a huge impact on me. They supported me through it and taught me the game the right way. I can’t thank them enough for how much they’ve given me.” Longtime friend and Doan’s son, Josh, congratulated Knies on his Olympic nod. “He’s been my best friend since I can remember,” he says. “He’s really happy for me, and I think he’s going to have a shot at it at the next Olympics.” Knies sees the Olympics as a learning experience, as some of the other players have NHL experience. Current pro players are not allowed to participate in the games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have older guys with experience in NHL or experience in Europe,” he says. “That’s the most exciting thing for me as a younger player. I can pick their brains and be around pro athletes. “That’s going to help me a lot — how they live their life, how well they eat, how they sleep. That’s going to be huge for me later in my career. Having those veterans who have that experience is something I’m looking forward to seeing and taking note on.” In the meantime, Knies is ready for the Olympics and the University of Minnesota Gophers. “I’m a Gopher, and I want to do as much as I can for this program,” he says. “There are a lot of guys who deserve to win and be at the highest level. I’m just trying to savor the moment.” ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

A FAN FAVORITE

NHRA’s Leah Pruett loves racing in the Valley By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

op Fuel driver Leah Pruett and the Valley have a mutual love. She has won the NHRA Chandler event twice and recently joined Tony Stewart Racing’s new drag racing team. “Phoenix is in my top three racetracks and races,” says Pruett, who married Tony Stewart in 2021. “There’s always an extra amount of excitement. Phoenix fans have always made me feel like I was their champion. “A lot of it has to do with winning. I won in 2016. When you go to a track only one time a year, that’s why they remember. If you have a repeat winner, it creates a big buzz. The next year, when I go back there, it’s like I never left. That’s a really cool feeling they definitely instill.” The NHRA Arizona Nationals are set for February 25 to February 27 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. The NHRA Arizona Nationals traditionally serve as the second event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series tour. The facility has seen recordbreaking performances and is a fanfavorite of the circuit. “With over 35 years of NHRA racing history at the Motorsports Park, we are eager for the Arizona Nationals to return to Wild Horse Pass and the Gila River Indian Community,” general manager Henry Moreno says. “We are dedicated to making the event the best possible experience for the fans and racers alike.” “We missed the NHRA Arizona Nationals in 2021,” adds Glen Cromwell, NHRA president. “We are

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thrilled to return to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park and put on a great show for the Phoenix fans.” Updates for 2022 include free event parking at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park with the purchase of an NHRA Arizona Nationals ticket. The Redlands, California, native, started racing when she was 8. Her father, Ron, who died in early 2021, was a land street racer and a street racer but, she’s quick to add, not a drag racer.

He wanted Pruett and her sister to start something “safe.” So, Pruett ventured out on her own and built cars. “It was my father who put the mechanical aptitude within me,” she says. From there, she sat behind the wheel to drag race. She says she enjoys her career because her job description changes. Previously it was “just,” she says, a racecar driver. Now she’s a team manager and in business development. “The hardest thing about my job right now is making sure that I haven’t dropped any balls,” she says. “We want to hit the scene running as a new team while not looking like a new team. We want to look like veterans, experience championship caliber team. “For me as a ‘professional racecar driver,’ I want to be the best in the world. That’s what I think is the most challenging.” To maintain levity, she’s living in a motor home in the parking lot of the race shop. Pruett, who otherwise resides in Lake Havasu, Arizona, works with her team daily to order parts and take care of other maintenance and organizational issues. Pruett says she’s ready for “a fresh breath of Phoenix air” and hanging out at the Sandbar in Chandler and Radford

Racing School, formerly known as Bondurant. She “keys up” there to form a road course perspective and get a feel for the high-horsepower car. “It’s usually what I do on Thursday,” she says. “I get some horsepower time in there. It puts me in the zone.” The same goes for a little gift she sees along the I-10 and Loop 202. “For the second or third year, they’ve had billboards along the freeway with my car and I on it,” she says with a laugh. “I think that really helps drive the fanbase. It’s seen for two months, and they get to see me until I get there. There’s extra enthusiasm by the fans because I’ve been in their face for two months. It’s totally weird. At least I’m not up there pimping attorneys at law. I’m trying to help people know about drag races.”

NHRA Arizona Nationals WHEN: 7:30 a.m. Friday, February 25, to Sunday, February 27 WHERE: Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, 20000 S. Maricopa Road, Chandler COST: Tickets start at $44 for adults; $20 for juniors ages 12 and younger INFO: nhra.com/schedule/2022

FAMILY

FROLIC » DISCOVER » IMAGINE » FAMILY » FUN » CONNECT

A MESSAGE OF KINDNESS

Syndee Winters brings Disney magic to the stage By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

yndee Winters is in the business of inducing joy. She has made a living starring as royalty — as future queen Nala in Disney’s “The Lion King” on Broadway. Now she’s thrilling children and their families with “Disney Princess — The Concert,” which comes to the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix on February 12 and Centennial Hall in Tucson on February 13. Besides Winters, who lives in Culver City, the cast features Susan Egan, Broadway’s original Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” and Meg in Disney’s animated feature “Hercules”; Arielle Jacobs, Broadway’s Jasmine in “Aladdin” and of “In the Heights”; and Disney Channel icon Anneliese van der Pol of “That’s So Raven” and “Raven’s Home” and Broadway’s final Belle in “Beauty and the Beast.” They’re joined by musical director Benjamin Rauhala and an enchanting prince, Adam J. Levy of “Waitress.” The 90-minute concert features a new

arrangement of “Frozen” favorites “All is Found/Into the Unknown.” The medley, performed in four-part harmony by Egan, Jacobs, van der Pol and Winters and arranged by Rauhala, will be available for streaming and download. Concertgoers — who are encouraged to dress up in their best royal attire — will also hear more than 30 favorite Disney Princess and “Frozen” songs, including like “Part of Your World,” “Let It Go,” “A Whole New World,” “Colors of the Wind” and “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.” “We had our world premiere in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it was the first Disney concert to ever play Saudi Arabia,” she says. “It was setting a precedent.” To the backdrop of a 40-foot LED screen, the princesses share stories and songs. Winters is looking forward to performing “Shadowland” from “The Lion King.” “It is my favorite Disney song,” she says. “‘Shadowland’ is what got me to my Broadway debut, and it’s a very special song in my heart. I’m so glad that I get to

perform this song. Benjamin Rauhala’s arrangements are iconic and beautiful. He’s very much part of the show.” “Disney Princess — The Concert” has had a profound effect on its fans and Winters. “I get to see all the little girls dressed like their favorite princesses, moms singing along to the songs they grew up on,” she says. “A lot of the Disney Princess songs are pretty much the soundtrack to our lives. When they sing the songs back to us makes me feel really good. I get to be the vehicle for these lyrics and this message of encouragement and kindness.”

ARTS AFICIONADO Winters’ Broadway experience is vast, with spots in “Hamilton,” “The Lion King,” “Pippin,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Motown the Musical.” On television, she’s been featured on NBC’s live “Jesus Christ Superstar” with John Legend and as Ms. Smiley on “Law & Order SVU,” where she interrogated Lt. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) on her parenting methods. “The joke is you’re not a real New York actor until you land a spot on ‘Law & Order’ as a dead person,” she says with a laugh. “It was a very meek opportunity in the

show to play that. Mariska is a legendary actress and a queen of a person.” Inspired by the art of storytelling, Winters’ latest writing project celebrates the life of Lena Horne in a one-woman play with music titled “Lena: A Moment with a Lady.” As a recording artist, she has written and released several singles and EPs, as well as her debut Horne-influenced jazz album “Lessons: From a Lady.” She also lent her vocals to recordings by Snoop Dogg, Big Daddy Kane and Grandmaster Flash. Winters’ dreams of teaching were realized when she founded ROAR School, which equips students to be resourceful, optimistic, authentic and reliant.

BEAUTY INDUSTRY Beauty is in Winters’ blood. As a child, Winters visited her mom’s beauty shop in Brooklyn. She entertained the customers with her singing. “They asked me, ‘Syndee, what do you want to be when you grow up?’ My mother, while she was curling someone’s hair, said, ‘Don’t you want to be a pediatrician?’ I didn’t even know how to spell that.” Winters quickly fell in love with Disney World. “I feel like every chapter of my life since age 3 has had an element of Disney in it,” she says. “On my Instagram, I did a little flashback of my visits to Disney World. Now to be able to say I’m a part of the Disney legacy as a princess makes me feel just in awe of life. “Now, I get called Nala all the time. When I was on ‘The Lion King’ tour, I was in New Orleans and I visited my costar Jelani Remy,” she recalls. “His little niece heard my voice and said, ‘Nala.’ It was so cute, and then we sat and watched ‘The Princess and the Frog.’ I thought, ‘This is awesome,’ and now I get to sing a song from ‘The Princess and the Frog’ in Disney Princess — The Concert.”

Disney Princess — The Concert WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 12 WHERE: Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams Street, Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $37.50 INFO: phoenixconventioncenter. com, etix.com

MUSIC

LISTEN » JAM » INNOVATE » EVOLVE » ROCK » SING

LIVE MUSIC

CALENDAR

FEBRUARY 6 Bumpin Uglies

Last Exit Live, 7:30 p.m., $15-$20

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Virginia G. Piper Theater, 7:30 p.m., $45-$75

Dropout Kings

Mac Lethal

The Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $16-$20

Eagles and Friends

Connor Dziawura

FEBRUARY 4

The Rhythm Room, 4 p.m., $15

FEBRUARY 1

Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns

Crescent Ballroom, 7 p.m., $18-$20

Falling in Reverse

The Van Buren, 7 p.m., $39.50-$45

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., tickets available at the door

Ian Sweet

Damien Escobar

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15-$18

Neil Frances

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20-$23

FEBRUARY 2 Don Flemons

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $33.50-$38.50

Dream Theater

Mesa Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $42-$128

Jesse Cook

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Virginia G. Piper Theater, 7:30 p.m., $45-$65

John Clifton Band

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., tickets available at the door

Lisa Heller

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$69.50

The Gilmour Project

Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $30-$75

Hunny

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out

Juice

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15

Steve Tyrell

FEBRUARY 5

Otep

The Blasters

The Nile Theater, 6 p.m., $20

FEBRUARY 3 Anthony Mazzella and Jennifer Batten

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $35.50-$41.50

The Decibel Magazine Tour w/Gatecreeper, Enforced and Spiritworld

Lucia Micarelli

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $38.50-$49.50

Polo & Pan

Marquee Theatre, 8:30 p.m., $29.50-$62

You’ve Got a Friend: Songs of Carole King and James Taylor

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$64.50

Peter Welker and the A Team featuring Sandra Bassett The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $14.80-$45

Sports

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $20

Tenille Townes

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $22-$35

Willi Carlisle

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $13-$15

Faye Webster

FEBRUARY 11

The Lucky Devils

The Atomic Punks: The Tribute to Early Van Halen

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., tickets available at the door

Silvana Estrada

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $20-$35

Beach Bums

Born Dirty

Django Jazz Duets

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $17

Dom Moio/Jeff Libman Tribute to Bill Evans/Jim Hall The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $10.80-$35

Keys N Krates

Sunbar Tempe, 9 p.m., $22

Strawberry Girls

The Nash, 4 p.m., free

The Van Buren, 9 p.m., $27-$37

Diamante

Tropidelic w/Mike Pinto and the Conveyors

Fish Narc

Last Exit Live, 8:30 p.m., $15-$18

Kane Brown

Chandler Center for the Arts’ Mainstage, 7:30 p.m., $15-$38 (postponed)

The Underground, 8 p.m., $15

Karrin Allyson

Higley Center for the Performing Arts, 7 p.m., $28-$48

FEBRUARY 8

Sullivan King

Teenage Wrist

Folk Legacy Trio

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $30

Delphine Cortez and Joel Robin

Footprint Center, 7 p.m., $100.25-$779.75

The Nash, 6 p.m., $5-$10, or free for instrumentalists and vocalists who sit in

Azizi Gibson

The Rebel Lounge, 5:30 p.m., $16-$18

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $17-$20

Drive-By Truckers

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15-$17

The Nile Theater, 5:30 p.m., $25-$30

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $15-$50

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $30-$34

FEBRUARY 7

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $13-$15

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $18-$20

Jam Session: Stan Sorenson

The SunPunchers

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $12-$15

Zachary Williams

FEBRUARY 10

Chandler Center for the Arts’ Mainstage, 3 p.m., $24-$38

The Woodworks, Chrome Rhino and Fairy Bones

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $15-$20

Everything is Terrible

Highlands Church, 7:30 p.m., $49-$84 Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Virginia G. Piper Theater, 8 p.m., $15-$28, or $10 for the livestream

Gregory Porter

We Banjo 3

Yonder Mountain String Band Marquee Theatre, 8:30 p.m., $25.50-$45.50

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Stage 2, 7:30 p.m., $30-$34

Earthless

The Rebel Lounge, 9 p.m., $20-$22

Sharon Isbin

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $24-$50 The Underground, 7 p.m., $10-$15

Carol Pacey & the Shakers

The Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., tickets available at the door

Kandace Springs

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $38.50-$49.50

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $44.50-$64.50

Los Esplifs

Smallpools

Tyler, the Creator

Mardi Gras Mambo featuring Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas

FEBRUARY 9

The Stakes

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $20 Footprint Center, 7 p.m., $74.50-$342

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $12-$15

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Virginia G. Piper Theater, 8 p.m., $36-$46

ASU Jazz Faculty Showcase

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $10.80-$35

Brian Fallon

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $24

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $5-$15

Crescent Ballroom, 7:30 p.m., $32-$45

Tommy Trash

FEBRUARY 12 Aminé

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $32.50-$42.50

Aurelio Voltaire

Music City Hit-Makers Samia

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $20

FEBRUARY 15

Banda Cuisillos

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., sold out

The Beths

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., sold out

Chris Lane

Arizona Federal Theatre, 8 p.m., $32.50-$108.50

Cosmic Gate

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $27

Crush Arizona 2022

Dirty Honey

Highlands Church, 7:30 p.m., $35-$72

The Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $16-$20 Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $40-$100

Briston Maroney Joshua Radin

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $27.50

Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators Arizona Federal Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $55-$144

Steve Gadd Band

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $28.50-$49.50

Rawhide Event Center, 6 p.m., $50-$125

Tommy Cash

Iliza

Hart Fund Annual Valentine’s Show

FEBRUARY 16

John Primer and Bob Corritore

Hope Fiend

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out

Houston Person

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15-$17

Inner Wave

Johnny Mathis

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $20 Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., $10 The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $65-$70 Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $19-$30 Salt River Grand Ballroom at Talking Stick Resort, 8 p.m., $70

Nile

The Nile Theater, 6 p.m., $25-$30

Peter Asher

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $44.50-$59.50

Sofia Rei

Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $18

TobyMac

Gila River Arena, 7 p.m., $19.75-$69.75

FEBRUARY 13 Hoodcelebrityy & Friends

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15

Arizona Federal Theatre, 8 p.m., $43.50-$48.50

Elle King

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $20

iamnotshane

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $15-$17

Leo Kottke and Dave King

The Van Buren, 7 p.m., $30-$35

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $49.50-$54.50

The Oak Ridge Boys

Reptaliens and Yot Club

Sara Robinson Band, Indigo Kidd and The Bittersweet Way

The Nash, 6 p.m., $5-$10, or free for instrumentalists and vocalists who sit in

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $18-$20

FEBRUARY 17 Allman Family Revival

Arizona Federal Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $38.50-$200

Banana Gun

Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $5-$15

Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $52-$92

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $10-$15

Storm Large

Chandler Center for the Arts’ Mainstage, 7:30 p.m., $38-$58

The Thieves About

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Yousef

The Nash, 3 p.m., $12.80-$40

Suzanne Santo

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $20-$22

Killswitch Engage

Andrea Bocelli

Marquee Theatre, 7 p.m., $37

Leo Kottke and Dave King

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $49.50-$54.50 Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $12

Footprint Center, 8 p.m., $80-$1,800

The Black Moods

The Showroom at Talking Stick Resort, 8 p.m., $25-$45

BoDeans

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $44.50-$54.50

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $16-$20

Wale and Guapdad 4000

Live from Laurel Canyon

FEBRUARY 14

FEBRUARY 18

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $23

Mel Brown & Friends

David Wilcox

Celebrity Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $27-$67

Hiss Golden Messenger

Mesa Arts Center’s Piper Repertory Theater, 1 p.m., $16-$23, or free for lap children 2 and younger

FEBRUARY 19

Highlands Church, 7:30 p.m., $49-$102

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $26

Koo Koo Kanga Roo

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $20

The Ten Tenors

Caribou w/Ela Minus

Jam Session: Pam Morita

FEBRUARY 21

The Joeys

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $29.50-$49.50

Chris Stussy

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $20

G.B. Leighton

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Virginia G. Piper Theater, 11 a.m., $6

AFI

Chamber

Shady Park, 3 p.m., $18

Small Island Big Song

Pacific Dub

FEBRUARY 20

Mayday Parade

Josh Wink

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $33.50-$44.50

Sunbar Tempe, 9 p.m., $17.50

The Underground, 6:30 p.m., $12

Meet the Sun

Kaki King

Virtual Riot

Koffin Kats

Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $22.50-$65

Shady Park, 3 p.m., $18.25

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

The Van Buren, 9 p.m., $27-$79

BoDeans

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $44.50-$54.50

Cults

Crescent Ballroom, 9 p.m., $24

David Berry Quintet

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $10.80-$35

The Rebel Lounge, 6:30 p.m., $12-$15

Kenny G

Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $34-$44

Los Temerarios

Arizona Federal Theatre, 8 p.m., $49-$403.50

Sander Van Doorn

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $25

Sandra Bassett

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $25-$39

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $33.50-$44.50

The Greeting Committee

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $18-$20

FEBRUARY 22 Davy Knowles

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $20

Deafheaven

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $25

John Smith

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $28.50-$38.50

Justin Bieber

Gila River Arena, 7:30 p.m., $343-$366.75

Magic City Hippies

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20

Naked Giants

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15-$17

The Other Favorites w/Reina del Cid

Last Exit Live, 8:30 p.m., $20-$25

continued on pg. 32 ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

continued from pg. 31

FEBRUARY 26

FEBRUARY 23

Chicago Showcase w/Jimi Primetime Smith and Bob Corritore

Dinosaur Jr.

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out

Dorian Electra

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., sold out

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

By Alex Gallagher

olbeat drummer Jon Larsen says it felt good to return to the road and shake off the cobwebs. So gratifying that the Danish band is hitting stages again — this time with Ghost — to support its latest album, “Servant of the Mind.” “It’s kind of a relief now when we get the call that it’s an hour until showtime,” Larsen says. “We have a lot of energy we need to get rid of for those 90 minutes after a day of being told to hurry up and wait. “We always have a feeling that every song that we create has to be played live. We’ve never made a song with the idea of it never being played live otherwise it’s no fun.” Larsen says he feels Volbeat injected more energy into this batch of songs. “This is one of the best albums we’ve ever done,” he says. “When we made this, it was really smooth and we found a lot of newfound energy. When we started working on the songs, it went really fast. “When I listen to the songs on this album, it feels very spontaneous, and they have a primal energy to them.” Because of this, Volbeat teased plans to play each song off of “Servant of the Mind” at least once during the tour. “We’re definitely most excited about playing the new songs live and we have the idea, if it’s possible, of playing every song off the album at least once live just to see if it works,” Larsen says. “There are definitely certain songs that we think will ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

go down well, and that is not the case.” However, the set list has no restrictions. “The only rule we have on tour is that if we don’t remember what we did two days ago, then it wasn’t good anyway,” Larsen says. While Larsen hopes to curate a set list that rocks fans from the moment he sits at his kit to the last beat he plays, he feels that Volbeat is in good company on this tour. “On paper this may look like a strange bill, but we have been on some very strange bills in the past that have worked out, so I don’t see why this shouldn’t work out,” he says. “Ghost has a lot of great songs with a lot of big choruses, hook lines and melodies, and so do we. Ghost is just a very visual band, and we are not.” Like his fans, Larsen is excited to get back to doing what he loves — entertaining fans. “Fans can expect a few jokes, a few bum notes but a fun regular rock ’n’ roll show in general,” Larsen says. “It’s an old cliché and it goes, ‘If we can get the audience to forget their everyday troubles for those 90 minutes we are up onstage, then we have done our job.’”

Ghost and Volbeat w/ Twin Temple WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 1 WHERE: The Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $34.50 INFO: footprintcenter.com, volbeat.dk

Gila River Resorts & Casinos Wild Horse Pass, 8 p.m., $45-$85

Duel

Monsta X

Flip Side featuring Anita Benavidez

Underoath

Danish rockers Volbeat play ‘mind’ games on tour

Conjunto Primavera

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $54.50-$74.50 Arizona Federal Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $99.50 (postponed)

SERVING ITS FANS

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $15

The Van Buren, 7:30 p.m., $34.50-$40

The Wood Brothers

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Virginia G. Piper Theater, 7:30 p.m., $31-$51

FEBRUARY 24 Igor and the Red Elvises

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $54.50-$74.50

Motherfolk and Wheelwright Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15-$18

Nazim Rashid and the New Renaissance

Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $5-$15

North by North, New Chums and Japhy’s Descent Last Exit Live, 8:30 p.m., $10

FEBRUARY 25

Yucca Tap Room, 7 p.m., $10

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $10.80-$35

The Greatest Love of All

Chandler Center for the Arts’ Mainstage, 7:30 p.m., $36-$56

The Green

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $18-$38

Innings Festival

Tempe Beach Park & Arts Park, times vary, $105-$1,450

Jazmine Sullivan

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., sold out

Jerry’s Middle Finger

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $20-$25

Jeffrey Sutorius

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $26

Michael Martin Murphey + The Everly Brothers Experience featuring the Zmed Brothers Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $38.50-$80.50

Tilian

The Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $20

FEBRUARY 27 Chris Renzema

Black Music History Concert Tribute to Miles Davis

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $25-$30

Chandler Center for the Arts’ Hal Bogle Theatre, 7 p.m., $45-$65

The Nash, 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., $20.80-$60

Jake Owen

Marmalade Skies: A Musical Tribute to the Beatles

The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 8 p.m., $35-$125

Joey DeFrancesco

The Rhythm Room, 4 p.m., $20

Jerry’s Middle Finger

Mihalis Safras + Eskuche

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $20-$25

Shady Park, 3 p.m., $20

Kenny Barron Trio

Paul Cherry

No Mana

Tina Tina with Roger’s Tom Jones plus the Motown Blossoms

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $44.50-$59.50 Shady Park, 9 p.m., $20

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $16-$18

Power Trio

Chandler Center for the Arts’ Hal Bogle Theatre, 2 p.m., $34

Sierra Ferrell

United We Swing

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $12.80-$40 Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $18-$20

The Sugar Thieves

Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 3 p.m., $16-$25

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., tickets available at the door

FEBRUARY 28

Vampires Everywhere

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out

The Underground, 7:30 p.m., $15

The Warning

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $20-$99

Gary Numan Immolation

The Nile, 7 p.m., $20-$23

Mitski

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., sold out

‘Q&A WITH A TWIST’

Bruce Dickinson takes to the stage to talk, this time By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

ruce Dickinson smiles when he pops on Zoom at the beginning of an interview. The Iron Maiden frontman sits in a Florida hotel room, preparing for his “An Evening with Bruce Dickinson” tour, which comes to the Mesa Arts Center on Saturday, February 26. This isn’t a concert but a discussion with fans about his list of accomplishments, all told with humorous stories. A true polymath, his accomplishments include pilot and airline captain, aviation entrepreneur, beer brewer, motivational speaker, podcaster, film scriptwriter, twice-published novelist and New York Times Top 10 best-selling author, radio presenter, TV actor, sports commentator and international fencer. “It’s a show that has been developed over several years, really — since I wrote an autobiography and started road testing the show,” Dickinson says. “People thought they were getting ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

a promotional event about a book. Actually, what they were getting was a tryout for a one-man show, which is how I evolved it into where it is now.” Now, he says, was the perfect time to bring it to theaters. “An Evening with Bruce Dickinson” is easy to adapt to these pandemic times. “As soon as things looked like it was opening up, we thought we would bring it to theaters, with the help of Live Nation promoters, who do the theatrical side of things, not the music side of things,” he says. The 90-minute show is in two “unequal halves.” It starts with how a “spotty kid from a town’s nobody’s ever heard of in the world gets from wearing the world’s most ridiculous trousers to the world’s biggest heavy metal band,” he says. “How does that happen? A lot of it is about first experiences. Birth is one of them. So, I start with something that’s common to everybody and it goes from there: adolescence, being in an English boarding school, a place where you might bump into Boris Johnson, if it was

a few years later.” Fans understand, he says, because it’s something that they have in common. “They’re going to recognize their own goofy things,” Dickinson says. “What mistakes did you make, audience? How come you’re not standing here, you know? That’s it. It’s a slightly semisatirical look at how we ended up where we ended up.” Dickinson says the show’s second half is written by the audience, based on comments they write on index cards. “They can write whatever the hell they want,” he says. “They can write questions. They can make any comment they want about anything at all. I collect them all up. I basically arrange them into a kind of improv script in the intermission.” While he’s doing that, audiences watch the video for “The Writing on the Wall,” Iron Maiden’s 2021 single, on a large screen. “I wanted to premiere it at actual movie theaters,” he says. “Because of COVID, we never got around to it, so people have to watch it on YouTube,

which is nice but rubbish. “When you have something that’s really cool looking,” you want to show it the right way. “I thought, what the hell, I’m going to America, let me just take it with me,” he adds. “It’s the Dolby version with the big sound system with the sound effects. You can hear the motorbikes. You can hear the boots on the ground. People have never seen it on the big screen. So, during the intermission, I go off and arrange the cards and, in the meantime, here’s what I made earlier. “When I come back, it’s a Q&A with a twist.”

“An Evening with Bruce Dickinson” WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 26 WHERE: Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa COST: Tickets start at $24.50 INFO: 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com

A ‘MASSIVE RELEASE’ THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

Elle King says she was made to tour By Annika Tomlin

musician’s touring lifestyle is not suited for everyone. But singer Elle King says she was born to do it. “It is such a massive release for me,” the four-time Grammynominated singer says about touring. “I feel like that is what I was put on this earth to do: perform, create and make music, and bring joy.” King is preparing to “bring joy” to Phoenix when she plays the Crescent Ballroom on Wednesday, February 16, with opener Lola Kirke, the daughter of Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke. The “Ex’s and Oh’s” singer is excited to return to the Grand Canyon State so she can see her father, actor-comedian Rob Schneider. “My dad lives in Arizona, so it’s an added bonus that I’ll get to see family and my little sisters and play a show there,” King says. “Arizona is so beautiful. “I will never forget the last time I was in Arizona. I was there to play a private show for someone, and it was a really fun show, and it was the last time I saw my grandmother.” Her grandmother was staying with Schneider for several months. “The last night I spent with her we were staying at the Four Seasons, and it was beautiful, and we ordered a bunch of food,” King recalls. “We sat with my grandma, and we just played music with her while she sat and danced while I sang. That was the last

time I got to be with my grandma, so I will never forget that.” Entertainment is in King’s blood, so she was attracted to the lifestyle from a young age. “I had an interesting childhood,” King says. “I knew that I had the bug, and I knew that I wanted to perform. “I did a lot of musical theater. I had taken lessons with different musical instruments, and I just love being onstage. I didn’t do well in school. So, the only times I was celebrated was when I was in a play or musical or a music or arts class.” At age 15, King used a fake ID — with her mother’s blessing — to “stay out late and play in bars.” “I knew that I loved doing it, but I didn’t know that when I started performing that it would end up being my whole life and create this beautiful career that I have now,” King says. “I just knew I wanted to perform, and music was the best way that I could express myself and be myself. It’s beautiful.”

PANDEMIC BREAK With the world on lockdown, King took the time to focus on other things. “It was very interesting to see my kind of routine waking up in a new city every day and just my whole routine of touring (go away),” King says. “I didn’t know how to be in one place or how to make my house nice and keep a house. Now it’s been a beautiful blessing because I was able to have a pregnancy and have a baby and I’ve had time to be a mother.” Her son, Lucky, will join her on the tour.

“It’s hard to be away from your family, your friends and your home,” King says. “That’s why the people that you tour with, your band and crew, it’s so important that you have a good attitude and that you get along together, because they become family. “Most times, you live on mobile bunk beds with these people in very close quarters and it can be tough. Now I am a new mom, and my baby will be coming on tour with us. “I know that there are difficult things about touring but you kind of have to be made for it or not. If you’re not made for it, you’re going to be miserable and you’re probably not going to be touring

very long. I definitely was made to do this, so I genuinely love and enjoy being on the road.”

‘DRUNK (AND I DON’T WANNA GO HOME)’ The jaunt — dubbed the “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” — is named after her Grammy-nominated duet with country star Miranda Lambert. To say she didn’t expect the nod is an understatement. “I feel like kind of an (expletive) for saying this, but I didn’t even know that the Grammy nominations were coming out that day,” King admits. “I couldn’t have thought that I was further away from being in the running.” She found out about the nomination when her friend sent a congratulations text message. “I was knee deep into changing diapers and cleaning up frickin’ baby puke, it just wasn’t even on my radar,” she says. “I just sat in disbelief for probably 45 minutes on the floor just staring at the wall because I couldn’t believe it. It was a beautiful thing to come out of an insane and very intense couple of years. “When you get nominated for a Grammy, it’s like winning. It’s so cool just to be nominated and to have your peers in music. It makes you feel really seen. Win or lose, it’s such an incredible experience.”

Elle King w/Lola Kirke WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday, February 16 WHERE: Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Avenue, Phoenix COST: Sold out INFO: crescentphx.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

TAKING A STAND

Noelle Scaggs wants diversity in the music industry By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

itz and the Tantrums singer Noelle Scaggs says it’s a joy to return to the road, and she’s looking forward to catching up with friends when the neosoul band visits the Valley for the second day of Innings Festival, Sunday, February 27. “We just do really random things. There’s no set agenda,” Scaggs says. “We have our soundchecks because there’s a work element involved. Then my friends and I get together for dinner, they come to the show, and we hang out afterward.” As for that work element, Fitz and the Tantrums are known for their energetic stage presence. Fans can expect just that at Innings Festival. “The audience feels like the seventh member,” she says. “It’s a show that is joyful and allows people to let go of their world.” Led by Michael Fitzpatrick, the LAbased band has been working on the follow up to 2019’s “All the Feels,” which spawned the hit “I Just Wanna Shine.” ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Last year, Fitzpatrick released his first solo album, “Head Up High,” under the moniker Fitz. “Fitz and I are getting back into writing,” she says. “It felt like a really long break with COVID. We’re taking our time.” Scaggs has also been pushing her nonprofit Diversify the Stage, a network of industry professionals and community engagement organizations collectively working to build a culture of accountability to establish more inclusive hiring practices and greater access to equitable opportunities in live music, events and touring industries. “I started to focus on the lack of diversity in the behind-the-scenes careers — think tour personnel, production, stagehands, technical career paths, promotions and marketing, the companies that are booking talent and presenting concert events,” she says. “We really want them to understand the obstacles or to really reanalyze how things happen in that space when they’re looking at hiring people. Word of mouth has worked for the music industry as a whole.”

Scaggs wants to introduce new ways of recruitment to widen the net of opportunity for people of all shades — “not just looking at men in general, but the underrepresented communities as a whole.” The industry needs to make it a more inclusive space so everyone feels welcome and part of the team, she explains. “I’ve been a touring artist since I was 19, prior to Fitz,” Scaggs adds. “I shouldn’t be the only woman on tour, the only woman of color on the road. “It’s been really awesome to communicate with folks who recognize this and have been working toward a small change within their organization

Fitz and the Tantrums WHEN: Various times Saturday, February 26, and Sunday, February 27 WHERE: Tempe Beach Park and Arts Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe COST: Tickets start at $105 INFO: inningsfestival.com/ arizona

or business practices. I want to bring all these entities together for a more united front, instead of splintered and duplicated efforts.”

THE LINEUP • At bat on Saturday, February 26, are Foo Fighters, St. Vincent, Billy Strings, Caamp, Dashboard Confessional, Black Pistol Fire, The Dip, Del Water Gap, Girlhouse and Almost Monday. • The lineup for Sunday is Tame Impala, The War on Drugs, Black Pumas, Fitz and the Tantrums, Matt & Kim, Petey, Jade Bird, Low Cut Connie, Briscoe and Sydney Sprague. • Scheduled to appear are MLB legends Ryan Dempster, Roger Clemens, Dave Stewart, Rick Sutcliffe, Tim Raines, Kenny Lofton, Eric Gagne, Jonny Gomes, Jim Abbott, Sean Casey, Keith Foulke, Tim Salmon and Russ Ortiz.

SWEET SUCCESS I THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022

Tenille Townes’ ‘The Lemonade Stand’ resonates By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

f there’s anything to be learned from the pandemic, it’s to ease up. Canadian country star Tenille Townes encourages her fans to do just that when she plays the Crescent Ballroom on Thursday, February 10. “I want my shows to be a place where people can show up and be exactly who they are,” she says. “The show takes fans on a whole ride of emotions. “We’re going to sing some of the more intimate personal things together so we know we’re not alone in anything. But we’re going to have a real good time — dance and party. I’m looking forward to the whole emotional ride. The “ride” has been thrilling for Townes. She recently took home two trophies at the Canadian Country Music Awards, including her third consecutive female artist of the year title. In addition to that, Townes won Ford F-150 album of the year for debut release “The Lemonade Stand,” which features her gold-certified debut single “Somebody’s Daughter” and follow-up “Jersey on the Wall (I’m Just Asking),” which both topped Canadian country airplay charts. The LP was also named Country Album of the Year at the 2021 Juno

Awards, Canada’s version of the Grammys. “It was so wonderful to get to do the awards in person and see the whole community of artists I grew up with,” she says. Recently, she released her new single, “When It’s Gonna Happen.” “I wrote this song because it’s a real and true window into my life right now and how I feel sometimes about being single,” she says. “I know that if it’s something I’m feeling, then there must be others who feel the same way I do. I wanted to create something that would speak to them, too. I’ve shared a few pieces of the song on socials, and it has been the most encouraging and exciting thing seeing people comment and say that they feel the same way. I’m really so excited to share the rest of this song with everybody and can’t wait to sing it at the top of our lungs together on the road.” All her music is personal to her. She got particularly personal on “Villain in Me.” “This song terrifies me, but I feel hungrier for honesty than I ever have in my life before, and that hunger is carrying me to a much more personal anchor in my songwriting,” Townes says. “I’ve come to know the villain in my head very well over this past year and

a bit. The lonely time at home forced me to sit in the uncomfortable and vulnerable emotions, and this song is a safe place for me to be open about it. It’s not something I like to talk about, but writing and singing about it makes it easier.” Continuing that thread, “Jersey on the Wall” talks about someone dying too soon. “It seems to evoke emotion in the audience,” she says. “Whether it’s a brother, friend from high school, cousin or friend, whoever they think of in that song, it’s an honor to me that they think

of them. To feel like we can all come together through song is amazing. I don’t take any of those comments lightly. It gives me courage.”

Tenille Townes WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, February 10 WHERE: Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Avenue, Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $22 in advance; vaccination card or negative test required INFO: crescentphx.com

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YOUNG GUNS

Wolfgang Van Halen, Dirty Honey team up for tour By Alan Sculley

ammoth WVH and Dirty Honey each had a summer to remember in 2021. For Mammoth WVH, Wolfgang Van Halen and his bandmates jumped right out of the pandemic shutdown into stadiums, opening for the reunited Guns N’ Roses. “It was unbelievable,” Wolfgang says. “It was a lot to handle, but it was a very rewarding experience. I was grateful to be a part of it.” For Marc LaBelle, singer/guitarist of Dirty Honey, he got to spend his summer opening for one of his all-time favorite bands, the Black Crowes. “I was definitely a huge Black Crowes fan growing up,” says LaBelle, who joined Wolfgang for the interview. “That was one of the bands that my brother and I specifically really bonded over. When you get that call, it’s extremely exciting. It was their first tour in almost eight years. It was really cool. I have nothing but nice things to say about Chris and Rich (Robinson, founding members of the Black Crowes) both and their relationship and their relationship with us. So yeah, it was a dream come true for me.” The fact that Mammoth WVH and Dirty Honey were selected for two of summer 2021’s biggest rock tours is a good indication of the momentum the two bands have been seeing with their respective careers. Now Mammoth WVH and Dirty Honey have joined forces to start 2022 as co-headliners on the “Young Guns” tour, a further nod to their status as two of the leading acts that are at the forefront of what appears to be a bubbling up of guitar-based rock on today’s music scene. Each band has a new album to promote. Dirty Honey followed up a popular 2019 self-titled EP with a selftitled debut full-length album last April, and the group’s set figures to spotlight songs from both releases, including “When I’m Gone,” the single from the EP that in 2019 made Dirty Honey the first unsigned independent band to have a No. 1 single on Billboard magazine’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart. Mammoth WVH, meanwhile, released its self-titled debut album in June, and the Young Guns co-headlining outing will mark Wolfgang’s first opportunity to showcase the album in something close to a headlining set length. But Wolfgang — yes, he’s the son of Van Halen’s late guitar player Eddie Van Halen

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and actress Valerie Bertinelli — has some other plans for Mammoth WVH’s shows. “I’m looking forward to maybe experimenting a bit with the set list and maybe trying out some songs that I plan on having on the next album,” he says. “I think it would be fun to expose some new material to the audience to really show them what’s in store and honestly to maybe in a way audition and shop around the idea on what gets a better response and stuff.” Indeed the “Mammoth WVH” album was essentially finished in 2017. But Wolfgang put his music career on hold to spend time with his father, who had been in declining health and passed away in October 2020 from cancer. By that time, Eddie’s son was already familiar to the legion of Van Halen fans because he served as bassist (replacing Michael Anthony) for that band’s arena tours in 2007-08, 2012-13 and 2015. Wolfgang thoroughly enjoyed being able to tour with his father, but he also weathered a wave of sniping from Van Halen fans who were disappointed Anthony wasn’t invited back into the band for the tours. “I think for me, for the cynical sort of detractors, of me not needing to be there, I wouldn’t have been a part of it if I couldn’t do it,” Wolfgang says of his tours with Van Halen. “And I think that’s what gave me the confidence. I’m related to Al (Alex Van Halen, drummer and brother of Eddie) and my pop, but it’s like they wouldn’t sacrifice their credibility if they didn’t believe I could do it.” As it turns out, Wolfgang was not only fully capable of playing bass, but he also learned to play guitar and drums. And while Mammoth WVH has a touring lineup with Wolfgang joined by guitarists Frank Sidoris and Jon Jourdan, bassist Ronnie Ficarro and drummer Garrett Whitlock, Wolfgang made the debut album himself, playing all of the instruments and handling the vocals. It was a challenge he welcomed, and he plans to continue being a one-man band in the studio on future albums. “I knew I could play the instruments, but I wanted to see if I could actually pull it off and make a cohesive (album) and something that sounds like it’s a band,” Wolfgang says. “I think I achieved what I was trying to do, so it was a fun experiment.” For Dirty Honey, the pandemic came at an inconvenient point, as the band was on the road building momentum off of “When I’m Gone” and the success of the self-titled EP. “Touring is obviously our bread and

butter, especially being a relatively unknown artist,” LaBelle observes. “You want to get out there and make the effort to make new fans. So, when COVID happened, it was obviously deflating for everybody. But we knew we’d get back.” The pandemic also changed Dirty Honey’s plans for recording the fulllength debut album — in both good and less-good ways. Initially, the band planned to record the album in Australia during a short break between tours, but the pandemic scuttled that idea. Delaying recording, though, gave the group more time to work on songs, and LaBelle feels the self-titled album is better as a result. “That definitely was the one shining light out of COVID, that we got to make the record and take the time to make it as good as it could be,” LaBelle says. Of course, the pandemic also meant LaBelle and his bandmates, guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian and drummer Corey Coverstone, couldn’t get together in a studio with producer Nick DiDia. Instead, they had to work with DiDia over Zoom video calls. “It was a challenge. None of us wanted to do it like with our producer, obviously, being in Australia and coming

in over Zoom to the studio,” LaBelle says. “But the way we had it set up was really flawless. The fluidity of the workflow really surprised all of us. We were really happy with it. But I would never want to do it that way again.” It seems as if both bands have come out of the forced hiatus of the pandemic in good shape. LaBelle notes that Dirty Honey’s first headlining show following the break was sold out. And the full-length album debuted at No. 2, while the current single, “The Wire,” has cracked the top 20 on Billboard magazine’s Mainstream Rock chart. Wolfgang, meanwhile, has seen the “Mammoth WVH” album receive positive press and make a strong impact, notching two No. 1 singles so far on the active radio chart in “Distance” and “Don’t Back Down.” And LaBelle feels that the success of Dirty Honey and Mammoth WVH — and the ability of the two bands to do a tour like Young Guns — is a sign that a resurgence in guitar rock is underway. “It really feels like now it’s happening, and I’m feeling good about the future and the state of rock ’n’ roll, actually, for once,” LaBelle says

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The Entertainer! Magazine - February 2022

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