The Entertainer! Magazine - April 2022

PHX METRO » APRIL 2022

Inside

THE

COCKTAIL ISSUE Scotchdale whisky makes waves in Arizona market

NOÉ RAMIREZ OF THE D-BACKS

CONTENTS

8

ON THE COVER

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

publisher

Steve T. Strickbine

steve@entertainermag.com

Vice President

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ExecutiveEditor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

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Assistant Editor Connor Dziawura

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designer

Shannon Mead

production manager

MOVE OVER, MARGARITAVILLE

Courtney Oldham

production@timespublications.com

Scotchdale whisky makes waves in Arizona market

19

circulation director Aaron Kolodny

26

aaron@entertainermag.com

writers

Bliss Bowen, Allison Brown, Matthew Elitz, Alex Gallagher, Jordan Houston, Annika Tomlin, Noah Velasco

Photographers

John Ficenec, Pat Martin, Christ Mortenson, Dennis Murphy, Tiki Oasis, Jason Siegel, Chanelle Sinclair of The Fates Co., Spidey Smith, Cassandra Tomei, Katalin Vermes/Lionsgate, Matt Winkelmeyer

ONE COPY PER READER

WINE & SONG PHOENIX

Laura Joy and Brad Colerick team for music series

KINDNESS MATTERS

Leila’s founder says being nice is the key to success

CONTENTS UPFRONT

4

Top 25 • Scotchdale • American Premium Vodka • “Immersive Klimt: Revolution” • Tipsy Moon Events • Arizona Tiki Oasis • Mick Foley • Arizona Bike Week

CITY

15

KWSS 93.9 FM’s Dani Cutler • Country Thunder • Dbait • Maricopa County Fair

ARTS

19

Wine & Song • “Emotions in Art” • Jazz Appreciation Month • Bash for the Nash

DINING

23

La Canasta Mexican Foods • Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii • Babbo • Dining Calendar

BREWS & SPIRITS

26

Leila’s Empanadas • Verde Valley Wine Festival • Brews & Spirits Calendar

CASINOS

SPORTS

D-backs’ Noé Ramirez • Sabrina Greenlee

FAMILY

RagDolls • Casino Entertainment Calendar

33

Bunny Balloon Blast

MUSIC 29

31

34

Live Music Calendar • UFest • Wheelwright • The Health & Rifle Club

The Entertainer! is circulated throughout the Phoenix Metro area, especially concentrated in entertainment districts. ©2022 Affluent Publishing, LLC. A free online subscription is available to all readers simply by going to entertainermag.com/subscribe.

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.

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4

TOP25

By Connor Dziawura

“Memoria”

OPENS APRIL 1 A Jury Prize winner at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, “Memoria” is the English-language debut of acclaimed Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

Starring Tilda Swinton, “Memoria” is described as “a bewildering drama about a Scottish woman, who, after hearing a loud ‘bang’ at daybreak, begins experiencing a mysterious sensory syndrome while traversing the jungles of Colombia.”

Distributor Neon has chosen an interesting release strategy, unveiling a lineup of “special engagements in multiple cities each week as it travels around North America through the rest of the year.” Rated PG for some thematic elements and brief language.

Harkins Theatres Camelview at Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, 480.947.8778, memoria.film, various dates and times, $8-$14

Billie Eilish

APRIL 2 AND APRIL 4 Billie Eilish is “happier than ever.”

As part of the tour by that name, in support of last year’s album of the same name, the “Bad Guy” singer is coming to Glendale for not one but two shows supported by rapper Duckwrth. The world tour marks Eilish’s first arena gig in the Valley, as well as her first show here since 2018. Worth noting for ticket holders, the second performance, on April 4, was moved back from its original date of April 3 due to the Grammys.

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, gilariverarena.com, 7:30 p.m. each night, $95.50-$450

Arizona Bike Week

APRIL 6 TO APRIL 10 As part of its 25th anniversary, Bike Week is being revamped.

While motorcycles still meet concerts at the annual Scottsdale event, the two will now take more

of a separate approach, with the RockYard hosting concerts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and the new PowerYard featuring all the vendors, stunt shows, exhibitions, bike shows, local bands, demos, HandleBar Saloon and Rally Girls. Social Distortion, Rob Zombie and Lynyrd Skynyrd headline the RockYard.

WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, 480.644.8191, azbikeweek. com, gates open at noon Wednesday and Thursday, gates open at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday, $12-$102

Maricopa County Fair

APRIL 6 TO APRIL 10 A fun experience for the whole family, the county fair is back — with an array of stages featuring all sorts of entertainment. Across the Main, County Fair and Community stages, as well as throughout the fairgrounds, adults and youngsters alike can partake in all sorts of fun, from bands, dancers, martial artists and monster trucks to mouthwatering barbecue, a petting zoo and even a hypnotist.

Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix, 602.252.0717, maricopacountyfair.org, various dates and times, $4.50-$35, or free for kids 8 and younger

Country Thunder

APRIL 7 TO APRIL 10 A four-day experience with camping and some of the most popular acts in country music, Country Thunder is a highly anticipated event for many people each year. Riley Greene, Blake Shelton, Morgan Wallen and Florida Georgia Line are among the featured acts at the Florence date of the 2022 festival, which happens across multiple states.

Country Thunder, 20585 E. Water Way, Florence, 1.866.388.0007, countrythunder.com/az, see website for schedule, $150-$245

UPFRONT

PHX » CITY » LOCAL » PRIDE » DO » SEE Art on the Boardwalk

APRIL 8 TO APRIL 10 Celebrate spring with this all-ages festival featuring local and regional artisans exhibiting fine arts, crafts, home décor and specialty gift items.

Kids can enter a coloring contest, and there will be live music from the Chacons — a brother-sister duo that lends its soulful, jazzy vibe to pop and classic rock songs — from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Afterward, traverse the Boardwalk and stop in one of the numerous restaurants to grab a bite to eat.

Arizona Boardwalk, 9500 E. Via de Ventura Boulevard, Scottsdale, 480.297.1179, sundancecreekpromotions. com, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, free admission

“Everything Everywhere All at Once”

OPENS APRIL 8 From the brilliantly confounding minds of Daniels (writer-director duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) comes “a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can’t seem to finish her taxes,” revealed in its trailers to be a martial arts epic spanning the multiverse. Also starring Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis. Rated R for some violence, sexual material and language.

In theaters, a24films. com/films/everythingeverywhere-all-at-once

Fried French Fry & Music Festival

APRIL 9 The side dish becomes the main course at Fried, which highlights gourmet French fry creations from more than 20 creative purveyors charging affordable prices. Along the way, sip on some beer or wine while perusing vendors, playing lawn games and checking out musical performances. Phoenix Spokes People will valet bikes. The festival supports Downtown Phoenix Inc. Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third Street, Phoenix, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., friedfestival.com, $12-$17, or free for kids ages 3 and younger

I Love the ’90s Bash Bar Crawl APRIL 9 This ’90s-inspired bar crawl is all

that and a bag of chips, with music and outfits that are sure to be a blast from the past. Participating bars include Riot House, Bevvy, Boondocks, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, The District, El Hefe, Giligin’s, Goodwood Tavern and Wasted Grain. Ticket holders will get a 16-ounce color-changing stadium cup, slap bracelet, and discounts on food and drinks — plus, bars will toss aside cover charges and photographers will capture the memories along the way. This event is 21 and older.

Scottsdale, ilove90sbash.com, 3 to 10 p.m., see website for tickets

Suns vs. Sacramento Kings

APRIL 10 ESPN’s Basketball Power Index is predicting an 89.6% chance this game goes to the Suns, a fitting end for the regular season for the team, which has already snagged a playoff spot. Official tickets have already sold out for this one, though you may be able to snag some verified resales.

Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.7800, nba.com/suns, time TBD, sold out

Phoebe Bridgers

APRIL 13 The indie singer-songwriter kicks off the next leg of her Reunion Tour with this stop in Phoenix. Phoebe Bridgers has had a crazy couple of years, from the release of the highly acclaimed “Punisher” in 2020 to the multiple Grammy nominations and late-show performances that album earned her. This show — and tour — is the next stop on that journey.

Arizona Federal Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2800, https://livemu.sc/3qgSmnQ, 7:30 p.m., $39.50-$292.50

Buds-A-Palooza

APRIL 15 This counterculture celebration is coming to Fifth and Garfield streets in Downtown Phoenix. Check out the main stage for music from reggae rock band Passafire and other acts, or traverse through the vendor village to meet and shop from local artisans. You can also spend some time in Zen Leaf cannabis dispensary’s comedy lounge to

continued on pg. 6

2021-22

ROCK • COUNTRY • OLDIES • BIG BAND GET TICKETS

480-288-0300

LIVE SHOW & DINNER APRIL 2022

OUR SHOWS Solid Gold Rock n’ Roll Malt Shop Memories True Country Super Show Finale

Look forward to our Summer Schedule

CALL 480-288-0300 or VISIT SilverStarTheater.com 5247 E Brown Road • Mesa, AZ 85205

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see some stand-up. Meanwhile, Arizona Organix will present stoner movies all night long, from Cheech & Chong’s “Up in Smoke” to “Half Baked,” “Super Troopers” and “Dazed and Confused.” With four city blocks featuring all that plus glass blowing, art, food and drink, there’s much to see and do at this 420-themed event. This event is 21 and older.

Roosevelt Row, budsapalooza. com, 4:20 to 11:59 p.m., $20-$25

Easter-Eggsperience

APRIL 16 Egg hunts, crafts, a petting zoo, the Easter Bunny — it’s a whole experience! There will be slides, mazes, jump pads and more for kids to play, while minigolf, pingpong and cornhole will provide other entertainment. Attendees can peruse specialty vendors and concessionaires, too — and don’t forget the pancake breakfast (for an extra fee).

Vertuccio Farms, 4011 S. Power Road, Mesa, 480.882.1482, vertucciofarms.com/events/ easter-eggsperience-lghfk, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., $13 per child 16 and younger, or free for adults with paid child admission

Freddie Gibbs

APRIL 20 Gangsta Gibbs has been on a roll.

From his two highly acclaimed collaborations with Madlib to his projects with The Alchemist and his trap-leaning albums, Gibbs has juggled his popularity across several different sounds of hip-hop. Now on the Space Rabbit Tour, the Gary, Indiana, rapper is coming to Phoenix with support from New York’s MIKE. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, https://bit. ly/3JfnhbH, 8:30 p.m., $25-$125

Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market

APRIL 22 TO APRIL 24 The semi-annual market is back for the 11th time. Peruse 12,000 square feet of vendor space with more than 130 vintage curators and handmade artisans. Live music, food and more ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

open on Saturday and Sunday for general admission — plus a special Friday night experience. There are also early bird tickets that admit guests two hours early Saturday.

WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, junkinthetrunkvintagemarket. com, 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, $8-$60, or free for kids 12 and younger

“The Northman”

OPENS APRIL 22 Robert Eggers, writer-director of “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse,” is back with this epic Viking revenge saga co-written by Icelandic poet Sjón and starring Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Björk and Willem Dafoe.

Skarsgård stars as a prince on a quest to avenge his father’s murder.

Rated R for strong bloody violence, some sexual content and nudity.

In theaters, focusfeatures. com/the-northman

Barinholtz, Alessandra Mastronardi, Jacob Scipio and Lily Sheen, with Neil Patrick Harris. Not yet rated.

In theaters, nickcage.movie

Ignite the Night

APRIL 23 The party’s back and bigger than ever! Tempe Diablos is resuming this party under the stars at a new location, Rawhide, with live entertainment, food and drinks, silent and live auctions, a special VIP area with added benefits, and more — all in the name of Tempe Diablos Charities.

Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler, ignitethenight.org, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m., $200-$2,600

“Petite Maman”

OPENS APRIL 22 After 2019’s highly acclaimed “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” French writer-director Céline Sciamma helmed this “tender tale of childhood grief, memory and connection,” as it’s described by distributor Neon. At a lean 72 minutes, “Petite Maman” is the story of an 8-year-old girl who, after the death of her grandmother, accompanies her parents to clean out her mother’s childhood home. While exploring the house and woods, the synopsis states, she encounters a neighbor of the same age building a treehouse. Rated PG for some thematic elements and brief smoking.

In theaters, neonrated.com/ films/petite-maman

HAIM

APRIL 25 On the heels of HAIM’s 2020 album “Women in Music Pt. III” and younger sister Alana Haim starring in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza,” the familial pop rock music trio is returning to the Valley for its first headlining gig here in almost nine years. Buzzy Lee opens on this stop of the One More HAIM Tour.

Arizona Federal Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2800, https://livemu. sc/3N0j0Lv, 8 p.m., $39.50-$399

Arizona Coyotes vs.

Nashville Predators

“The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”

OPENS APRIL 22 Nicolas Cage stars as a fictional version of himself in this meta actioncomedy. According to the synopsis, a creatively unfulfilled Cage who is facing financial ruin accepts a $1 million offer to attend the birthday party of a dangerous superfan played

by Pedro Pascal — only to be recruited by a CIA operative played by Tiffany Haddish. Need we say more? The

APRIL 29 It’s the final game of the season — and it’s also Fan Appreciation Night. That means the ’Yotes will show appreciation for the best NHL fans this season. It’s also a Pepsi Family Pack night, which includes three tickets, three Pepsis or three bottled waters, and a $30 food and beverage credit. The game will be broadcast on BSAZX and BSSO. Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 480.563.PUCK (7825), nhl. com/coyotes, 7:30 p.m., $54.50-$444.50

Arizona Women’s Expo

APRIL 30 AND MAY 1 Hear knowledgeable speakers on

subjects like finance, health and wellness, careers, building a business, home design, fashion, community service, travel and leisure, and browse exhibitors spanning fields like beauty, food and beverages, unique handmade items and more. There’s boutique shopping, DIY make-and-take workshops, complimentary wine tastings and so much more on the convention floor.

Phoenix Convention Center, 33 S. Third Street, Phoenix, 1-866.618.3434, azwomensexpo. com, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, see website for tickets

Cannaval Festival

APRIL 30 This expo and music festival puts a twist on cannabis, with a theme modeled after the South American party Carnival. With live music and DJs, circus entertainment, luchador wrestling, samba dancers, food and drink, vendors and more, Cannaval is an elaborate celebration of both Arizona’s budding cannabis community and Carnival tradition. There’s much to see and do, not least of all a performance from The Black Moods.

Phoenix Events and Entertainment Complex, 2209 N. 99th Avenue, Phoenix, cannaval.live, noon to midnight, $40-$90

Rainbows Festival

APRIL 30 AND MAY 1 Celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community with the return of this two-day Phoenix Pride-produced street fair, which features more than 150 exhibitors and sponsors, and two stages of entertainment. Pet and family friendly, the event will host a variety of local food trucks, craft cocktails and fun.

Heritage Square Park, 113 N. Sixth Street, Phoenix, 602.27.PRIDE (7433), phoenixpride.org/events/ rainbows-festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, free admission

Yum Food-Fest

APRIL 30 Patrons will walk away from this festival saying, “Yum!” With an array of food trucks, Yum FoodFest aims to create a familyfriendly environment that pairs good eats and drinks with vendors, live music, games and more. VIF (very important foodie) tickets include two drink tickets, early admission, a lanyard, and access to a designated bar and shaded seating.

Bell Bank Park, 1 Legacy Drive, Mesa, yumfoodfest.com/mesa, 3 to 10 p.m., $5-$70, or free for children 5 and younger, first responders, veterans and seniors

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DBACKS.COM LOSDBACKS.COM 602.462.4600 The Insider’s Guide to Arizona Entertainment

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Scotchdale whisky makes waves in Arizona market

By Jordan Houston

S

ince its inception in 2019, a local whisky brand is making a name for itself across the state as the “whisky of the West.”

Scotchdale, an 80-proof blended malt Scotch whisky, was created by Scottsdale residents Travis Ranville and John McDonnell several years ago. It stems from Angus Dundee Distillers’ two pure malt distilleries in the Highland and Speyside regions of Scotland.

One day, the entrepreneurs were watching football and drinking scotch when Ranville asked, “Why isn’t there a brand named Scotchdale? I want to live in Scotchdale.”

McDonnell immediately trademarked the name online — and the rest was history.

“John and myself have been longtime friends and passionate whisky lovers.

We enjoy all things whisky,” Ranville explains. “We asked ourselves, ‘Why isn’t there a Scotchdale, and why not create a whisky we can tailor to our specific palate?’”

Scotchdale is now found in 43 cities and towns throughout Arizona at restaurants, bars and liquor and grocery locations. The spirit has been distributed

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Valleywide, including on the shelves of Liquor Vault, Tops Liquors, Bitters, Lookout Tavern and Total Wine & More.

“With scotch whisky, we want to make it exciting again,” Ranville tells The Entertainer! Magazine. “A lot of your normal craft cocktails that involve scotch whisky, a lot of bars out there, they’ll throw bourbon in cocktails. So, we are reinventing the craft cocktail and making scotch whisky exciting again.”

Scotchdale, priced around $50 per bottle, is aged for a minimum of eight years in charred American oak bourbon barrels. The silky-smooth product boasts notes of honey, caramel, chocolate, oak and coffee.

With less bite than a 100-proof bourbon, it is designed to be enjoyed neat or folded into a craft cocktail, according to McDonnell.

“We blended two regions, which is unorthodox in nature,” McDonnell discloses. “We came up with what we liked the best, and as two entrepreneurs, we set out to do something that one, satisfied us, but also satisfied others. We sort of have a broad-ranged palette right down the middle. It’s not too overly complex but not overly offensive.”

McDonnell and Ranville designed the label for the bottles, adorned with an

outline of Arizona with a cowboy smack in the middle.

Scotchdale’s foundation is built around local support and Arizona pride, McDonnell says.

“We pride ourselves on local support.

We go into the bars and restaurants that carry us, and we introduce ourselves as the owners. We order a drink, and we assist with offering up craft cocktail suggestions,” he explains. “That sets us apart from almost any other whisky company. We will sell the product for the bar. We go above and beyond.

“That is one of the hallmarks of why we have been successful,” McDonnell continues. “We have taken the time to introduce ourselves and talk to customers and get them to sample our whisky.”

Neither McDonnell nor Ranville has an extensive food and beverage background, although McDonnell bartended at Hotel Indigo.

Ranville, boasting degrees from Western Michigan University and University of Phoenix, has experience in finance, while McDonnell stems from commercial real estate and renewable energy.

The whisky aficionados recall conducting their own “research” during Scotchdale’s beginning stages in order

to get a better handle on how whisky is made.

The pair bought an illegal still and made their own batches, tinkering with videos and test recipes.

“I’m sure anyone going into business for themselves runs into a lot of naysayers,” Ranville laughs. “We jokingly told one another, ‘Well, if the company goes under, at least we have a lifetime supply of whisky.’”

While Ranville and McDonnell intended to acquire bourbon from Kentucky and barrel-age it here, they ran into issues with the Scotch Whisky Association. According to the Association, anything with the name “scotch” in it has to originate in Scotland.

Scotchdale also has to be spelled as “whisky,” which originates from Scotland, Canada and Japan, as opposed to “whiskey,” made from Ireland and the United States.

They contacted several Scottish distilleries, who sent them samples of three-year, eight-year and 12-year blends, before settling on Angus Dundee as its distillery.

Since then, Scotchdale has expanded into Nevada — and Ranville and McDonnell have no intentions of slowing down anytime soon.

“As a small and growing brand, we are hyper-focused on grabbing more on to the grocery market,” McDonnell says.

“Long term, I think we have a wonderful product that will spread well nationally, and that is our goal.

“There are a lot of steps to get there, but we’re boots on the ground and we set a mission to go and help bars and restaurants by digital marketing, foot traffic and craft cocktails,” he continues.

Ranville says the pair is also looking to add bourbon in the near future into the mix.

“We are working on a bourbon. It looks like we might be blending or producing out of North Dakota, but it’s still up in the air. It’s almost confirmed,” Ranville adds. “Our future is to create our own bourbon with our own mash bill. That means the ingredients are unique to Scotchdale.”

For more information about Scotchdale, visit scotchdale.net.

CELEBRATING AMERICA

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

9

Phoenix vodka company wants to close divide

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

M

ark Gus Scott was walking the aisles of a local drugstore looking for vodka, when he realized the United States was underrepresented.

“I saw Smirnoff Ice, Stoli,” he says. “I did not see one American brand.

“I wondered how the hell is it that no American brand came to prominence in CVS shelves in the middle of the Southwest. That is inexcusable.”

So, the Phoenix resident founded American Premium vodka to celebrate the “greatness of America.”

“When I was a kid, I took my flag to the Memorial Day parade and whipped it around,” says Scott, who played drums for the rock band Trixter.

“That sentiment, that pageantry of America has been beaten away. That is a crime. That’s why I started the brand: out of disgust. I literally started the brand out of disgust of that idea, and I’m the guy who’s going to put America on the shelf.”

He vows to bring America back together, in light of the ever-growing divide between Democrats and

Republicans. Scott created a nationwide fundraising campaign initiative to donate $1 from every bottle sold to support American Legion Veteran Charities. American Premium vodka sells for $16 per bottle.

Scott, who took delivery of the vodka on March 29, will host launch parties at American Legion posts across the nation. The move started with a party at American Legion Pat Tillman Post No. 117.

“American Premium vodka is an ally in our relentless pursuit of fostering Americanism,” says Steve Lackey, that post’s commander.

“The efforts we all make as members of the legion breed something special throughout our communities and pay special tribute to our real American heroes — our veterans.”

The vodka, which is gluten free, will be sold first on military bases — including Luke Air Force Base — and at American Legions and VFW halls.

“That’s my goal,” he says. “Everyone else waits. We’re doing it completely backward. There are 12,000 posts for the American Legion and 6,000 posts for the VFW. It’s a salute to our people.

They’re the people who gave everything

for us. The least I can do is give a little something to them.”

Scott traveled the country looking at distilleries. Little did he know, the company to produce it was in his backyard — Desert Rock Winery in the Scottsdale Airpark.

“They did a great job over there,” Scott adds. “They are very knowledgeable. I wasn’t a vodka expert.

He gave me a lot of insight. But they’re rock ’n’ rollers.”

One of Scott’s slogans is “The America we need right now.” That reflects Scott’s belief that there hasn’t been a greater divide in the country since slavery.

“When I was 15 or 16, I was the hotshot trumpet player,” adds Scott, a New Jersey native. “I was the guy who played taps at the memorial cemetery.

When I did that, I looked around and there was no one else there. They send me, a 16-year-old kid, to recognize our veterans in the ground. Nobody else was going to carry the weight of this thing.

There’s something wrong with that, so I’m here to fix it.”

American Premium Vodka americanpremiumvodka.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

IMMERSIVE ADVENTURE Famed Austrian artist’s works come alive

By Alex Gallagher

W

hen Massimiliano Siccardi began developing the idea for immersive art experiences beginning with Vincent Van Gogh, he had two other artists in mind to follow the famed painter.

Siccardi felt the best way to captivate the next generation of art enthusiasts was to feature the world of Gustav Klimt and Frida Kahlo.

While some markets have gotten to immerse themselves in the works of all three artists, Scottsdale opened “Immersive Klimt: Revolution” in late March.

“The idea comes from Massimiliano Siccardi,” says Richard Ouzounian, a creative consultant at Lighthouse Immersive. “For him, the trilogy was Vincent Van Gogh, Gustav Klimt and Frida Kahlo because he felt they were all revolutionary artists in totally different ways.”

The revolution surrounding the works of Klimt was so noteworthy that the show had to be named “Immersive Klimt: Revolution.”

The show begins with patrons walking through a tunnel where interesting facts penned by Ouzounian meet historic photographs of Vienna, Austria, the setting for Klimt’s story.

In 1897, there was a stirring of revolution coming through music, literature, architecture and psychology.

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“What I found fascinating about the revolution, or the Vienna Secession as it’s referred to, happened through the artists,” Ouzounian says. “That to me is strange since most revolutions come from political movements, social movements, writers or even theater.

“In this case, Klimt and his colleagues decided the old ways had and they wanted a new way of thinking, feeling and a new way of expressing, which wound up leading a whole movement that changed everything.”

As Arnold Schoenberg was writing the first 12-zone music and Sigmund Freud was doing the first psychoanalysis, Klimt developed a new way of looking at art and architecture.

Klimt’s works were somewhat controversial at the time, and he fought a considerable number of censorship battles throughout his life.

Siccardi also wanted to display the cultural struggle that occurred during Klimt’s career, which is why he decided to feature the works of Klimt’s protege.

“Massimiliano wanted to show part of the cultural struggle that was going on, so he added one other painter, Egon Schiele,” Ouzounian says. “When Klimt and Schiele started out, one was perceived as the angel of light and the other was the angel of darkness. Klimt was perceived as being this wonderful, warm, loving man and Schiele was a very dark, troubled young man who came from a horrible background and painted twisted self-portraits of himself.”

“Klimt kept working with him, and as we get near the end, Schiele is painting more like Klimt and Klimt is painting a bit more like Schiele,” Ouzounian says.

“One of the things I say is ‘If you parse any one of Klimt’s works in detail, you get a crash course in 20th century art. You’ll find Picasso, Matisse, Monet, Pollock, Kandinsky and Rothko.’”

Klimt’s works help people understand the time he lived through. He lived through a cultural revolution, World War I and the influenza epidemic of 1918 prior to his death of a stroke in 1918.

“There’s a recurring cycle of political struggle, pandemic, excess, and it keeps going,” Ouzounian says. “You can see that it’s a mega world where there are images that are possibly unsettling and distorted, but the overall effect is that Klimt believed in beauty and art was something you cling to.”

For Siccardi, the musical score for the show had to aid in telling Klimt’s story.

“Luca Longobardi — who did the score for ‘Immersive Van Gogh’ — uses a lot of Arnold Schoenberg since he was the artist of the time, but he also has a David Bowie recording of ‘Helden’ — a powerful song with the lyric ‘we can all be heroes for just one day,’ which is what Klimt believed,” Ouzounian says.

The show concludes with techno music constructed by Siccardi himself and titled “MMXXI,” or 2021.

The show runs at just around 40 minutes, and Ouzounian says “it’s kind of a liberation.”

“You follow Klimt through most of Klimt’s life like you did with Van Gogh, but at the end, it’s a sense of, ‘Where did this all come from?’” Ouzounian says.

Because of this, he encourages patrons to gain the full experience through revisiting the show, which they are allowed to do during their visit to Lighthouse Immersive Artspace in Scottsdale.

“I encourage people to view the show, go out to the lobby and look at the books and exhibits, then go back in so they’ll see something new,” he says.

Ouzounian also hopes the show sparks an interest in Klimt’s life and the history surrounding it.

“People who have not been weaned on Van Gogh or don’t really know who Klimt was will say, ‘This guy is fascinating. I want to see more, and I want to learn more.’ That’s what we would like to see happen,” he says.

“If there’s anything people should learn, it’s that you shouldn’t pigeonhole an artist,” Ouzounian says.

“Immersive Klimt: Revolution” WHEN: Various times, openended WHERE: Lighthouse Artspace, 4301 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale COST: Visit website for information INFO: immersiveklimt.com

A LUXURY BAR EXPERIENCE

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

Tipsy Moon Events offers more than just drinks

By Allison Brown

T

he East Valley’s Luna Kemp and Mika Testa are reinventing the way people think of event bar service.

Kemp founded Tipsy Moon Events, which aims to give customers a stress-free, one-of-a kind experience with its luxury bar and event services, and is aided by Testa.

“The majority of events I do, people are looking for a specific aesthetic,” Kemp says.

“It’s not just about having someone to serve drinks for their guests because, quite frankly if it was, who can’t pour themselves a Jack and Coke? So, we bring an entire experience. Our bars are beautifully set up, and we try to fit them in with the theme colors. I always go through a consultation with all of my clients to find out what sort of vibe they’re looking for.”

Kemp is the founder and handles the creative side, from concocting a drink menu to coordinating decorations. Testa has the business mind. Between the two of them, they’re reinventing the way people think of event bar service.

Tipsy Moon hosts a variety of events, including birthdays, weddings, holiday parties, corporate events, graduation celebrations and backyard parties. Tipsy

Moon travels around the Valley and will throw events as far as Prescott and Sedona with an associated mileage fee.

He says their services are worth it.

“It’s called ‘the experience’; you want them to have a memorable moment,” Testa says. “I think if people look at the other companies that are out there and they look at what we offer, it’s a more unique experience. It’s not just pouring drinks; it’s the whole experience.”

The company’s staff handles every aspect of the event planning, from balloons to music to snacks. This way, the hosts can enjoy their party and not stress over details.

“We still operate a bar service, craft cocktails and that experience, but we’re really trying to expand on the other parts of the events as well, too,” Kemp says.

“So, I find them a venue. We’ve really been working hard to partner with other vendors. So, DJs, food services, even event rental companies, because they carry a lot of the things that we don’t.

It really helps everybody’s business at that point, and that’s one of my favorite things about this industry.”

Kemp has been bartending for years.

Yearning a flexible schedule, Kemp started event bartending after her son was born. She then moved to catering companies and running their beverage programs. When a company closure left

her without a job, she was left wanting to do more.

“I found myself not knowing what to do. I decided to put a profile on Thumbtack to see what happened, and it took off immediately,” she says.

“There is just such a huge need for this, and I think that it might not be as well known, but a lot more people are starting to realize the benefit of doing it.”

Within weeks, she received calls from people looking to hire a private bartender for backyard barbecues, graduation or bachelorette parties and weddings.

She realized that to really be successful with the business, she needed to commit 100%, and that’s when Tipsy Moon Events was officially founded in 2019.

Testa and Kemp met years ago and brainstormed about something like Tipsy. When Kemp said she was ready, Testa says he was completely on board.

“I definitely knew it had potential and just needed a little marketing. I don’t really want to be the upfront person; I like to be behind the scenes promoting it,” Testa says. “I’ve gone to a few events, which are a lot of fun. It’s definitely a fun business, but there’s a lot of work to it and a lot of competition. We’re trying to get our name out there and market as much as we can and brand ourselves.”

Tipsy Moon has three basic packages — a soft bar, cocktail and full bar. Everything is customized to the customer’s needs

11

and preferences.

Therefore, each event is unique.

Testa says the most popular drink is the Tipsy jalapeno, with handmade infused agave syrup with rosemary and fresh jalapenos, fresh squeezed lime juice, and tequila or Mezcal. Not a fan of tequila or jalapenos, Testa was skeptical of blending rosemary and jalapeno. He admits he was blown away by the drink.

These daring creations and bold flavors are another part of what makes Tipsy stand out.

“It’s amazing how many people don’t want just the regular vodka soda drinks anymore,” Testa says. “It’s a lot of crafty cocktails. That’s the age we’re in right now as people want these old fashions and these drinks that aren’t new. They’re old drinks that have been researched and are popular again.”

More than that, though, Kemp is dedicated to using fresh, quality ingredients and says it makes a big difference in the flavor profile. She infuses her own syrups by hand and buys organic products, taking the extra time and money to elevate the taste in her drinks.

“Our juices are freshly squeezed, and I’m super passionate about his part of it,” Kemp says. “It makes a huge difference. I could make the exact same cocktail and not use fresh ingredients, and it wouldn’t be the same. It wouldn’t taste as good.”

Prospective customers can create their own quote through the Tipsy website or fill out a submission form.

Kemp schedules a consultation to create a package tailored to the client. The process is quick, easy and only takes about 30 minutes, according to Kemp.

Tipsy Moon Events letsgetipsy.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

‘UNIVERSITY OF TIKI’ Hotel Valley Ho becomes an island oasis for event

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

By Connor Dziawura

T

iki Oasis producer Baby Doe von Stroheim calls the Arizona version of the long-running San Diego event a “university of Tiki.”

Seminars on a variety of topics are a staple at the annual Arizona Tiki Oasis, which returns to Hotel Valley Ho from Thursday, April 28, to Sunday, May 1.

“What’s so fun about our event is that we curate the experience to allow people to kind of dip their toes into a little bit of history with a modern twist to it,” she explains, calling education on everything from cocktails to architecture, fashion and design a popular aspect of the weekend.

But the celebration of Tiki and midcentury style goes beyond simply being like a convention or conference, her husband Otto von Stroheim says, as the pair has “activated every part of the hotel.”

Arizona Tiki Oasis also features an art show, marketplace and even a luau, among other activities to do and sights to see at the historic hotel. From the pool to spa and nightclub, attendees donning island attire can wander the hotel grounds throughout the weekend, checking out scheduled events or just lounging around, sipping cocktails in a sort of island oasis.

“And so you can go to our events all around the hotel and be able to experience every corner of the Hotel Valley Ho, because we love them,” Otto says. “We think they’ve done a great job.”

The Evening Resort Pass, for ages 21 and older from Thursday to Saturday, costs $99 and provides access to a Meet & Mingle event from 7 to 11 p.m.

Thursday, evening entry to resort pools with poolside entertainment, entry to curated evening events, and intimate tropical tastings in various locations

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

throughout the weekend.

A Deluxe Evening Resort Pass, priced at $200 for ages 21 and older from Thursday to Saturday, provides all the benefits of the previous tier, plus a limited-edition commemorative shopping bag stuffed with items from sponsors, a limited-edition mug designed by Eekum Bookum, and an invitation to a VIP cocktail kickoff party from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

A marketplace, featuring more than 60 crafters, artists, tinkerers and traders, will be free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. During the same hours, the hotel will host an art show featuring more than 25 international Tiki artists; the Meet & Mingle event Thursday serves as the art show’s opening night for Evening Resort Pass holders only.

Admission to the seminars from Friday to Sunday are not included with resort passes. Some are free, while others vary in price up to $50 per seminar.

Similarly, $139 provides admission to a luau from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. It will feature a traditional pig roast, fresh poke

bowl station, grilled options, Hawaiianthemed desserts and cocktails — all while enjoying live music.

Bands who have been tapped to play throughout the weekend include the Surfbroads, Par Avion and Moonlight Magic. Other entertainers will include DJs, cabaret performers, and MeduSirena the Fire Eating Mermaid.

The weekend will conclude with a bartender battle from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Sunday. Four bartenders will compete, narrowed down from a larger talent pool during the preliminaries in early April.

Judging will be based on presentation, taste and creativity.

“The crowd will get an opportunity to sample all four of their cocktails, and then two of them get to go to the final round,” Baby Doe says. “And the judges will give them a secret ingredient and they have to, on the spot, come up with a cocktail.”

More information on vendors, artists and seminars is available online, as is a full menu for the luau and a schedule for the weekend’s happenings.

“I would say overall, the concept of Arizona Oasis is sort of to make your own experience or your own adventure, so we put out lots of different options for people,” Baby Doe explains. “So you could go to a seminar and learn something or be entertained, or you could just hang out at the pool all day.

Or during Saturday and Sunday, you can go shopping in our marketplace. … Or at night we have many different things going on — we have a rooftop party, we have a pool party, we have a little cabaret that we set up, we have suite soirees.”

Aside from providing an experience for guests, architectural preservation is near and dear to the von Stroheims. Tiki Oasis was founded in 2001 to support the Caliente Tropics resort in Palm

Springs. In 2006, growth pushed the event to San Diego to support the Bali Hai Restaurant and Hanalei Hotel, now the Crowne Plaza — before eventually adding this second event at Scottsdale’s Hotel Valley Ho in 2019.

“We want people to go to these historic places so that they can love them and enjoy them and that they’ll be around for the next generation,” Baby Doe says.

Arizona Tiki Oasis also supports the Arizona Preservation Foundation.

“Since about year three or four, we’ve had beneficiaries — nonprofits and people that shared our views of, like, cleaning up the beach or — I don’t know, who have we had — The Beat Museum (in San Francisco), people that shared our worldview of benefiting people,” Otto adds.

“When we were looking for a partner for Arizona, many people told us about the Arizona Preservation Foundation and the work that they’re doing to secure these places, mostly architectural places, for future generations,” Baby Doe chimes in. “So they work hard to educate people on the historic relevance of locations and properties around Arizona, not just Phoenix and Scottsdale. So their mission statement really speaks to us and is something that’s really important for us with preservation.”

Arizona Tiki Oasis WHEN: Thursday, April 28, to Sunday, May 1 WHERE: Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main Street, Scottsdale COST: $99-$200 for evening resort passes, $139 for the luau, and various prices for seminars; hotel reservation not included INFO: aztikioasis.com

‘HARDCORE LEGEND’ TURNS ‘NICE’

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

13

Mick Foley keeps audiences entertained

By Noah Velasco

M

ick Foley experienced concussions, the loss of multiple teeth and a piece of his ear, a surgically repaired knee four times, 351 stitches and broken bones.

He truly earned the name “Hardcore Legend.”

A World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Famer, Foley is returning to Arizona to share anecdotes from his storied career as part of his Nice Day Tour at Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy on Wednesday, April 20.

Foley stops by the state where he defeated Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson back in 1999 in Tucson.

The two brawled throughout the Tucson Convention Center for the championship belt. Foley won the match and defeated Johnson for the second time and cites it as one of his cherished memories from Arizona.

The Nice Day Tour was created to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Foley’s 1999 autobiography “Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks” before the COVID-19 pandemic derailed his plans.

With the current climate improving, Foley returned to the road.

“I just thought it’d be a nice way to let people know I’d be bringing those stories that they read in their childhood to life on stage,” Foley says. “It’s been great to see so many happy faces. It’s really nice to be out there. The crowds have been really responsive.”

Growing up, Foley was inspired to become a professional grappler after watching Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka wrestle at Madison Square Garden.

Gaining notoriety in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he wrestled under the persona Cactus Jack, a brutish and vicious fighter who often used dangerous items like thumbtacks, barbed wire and other weapons in the ring. He continued with Cactus Jack throughout various professional wrestling organizations in the United States and Japan.

Foley eventually made his way to the

WWE, even though Chairman Vince McMahon wasn’t a big fan. That led to the Mankind moniker and his dark, creepy and deranged personality who performed extreme stunts. His third character, Dude Love, was workshopped

by Foley as a teenager. The character was a laidback and groovy hippie with breezy lingo. Together the three formed the “Three Faces of Foley.”

Foley is infamous for a moment in a Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker. The Hell in a Cell match remains one of professional wrestling’s most dangerous matches, as the two combatants fought inside a 16-foot, five-sided steel cage surrounding the ring with no disqualifications.

The 1998 match between Mankind and The Undertaker began with the two climbing to the top of the cage. On top of the cage’s roof, they threw punches and swung steel chairs before creating one of WWE’s most iconic moments.

After getting pummeled by The Undertaker, Mankind stumbled toward the edge of the cage. The Undertaker then glanced at the announcer’s table below before throwing the 300-pound Mankind through the table and onto the concrete floor.

Backstage staff pleaded with Foley to stop the match as he was getting carried off on a stretcher. To the audience, commentators and staff members’ surprise, within 5 minutes of the fall, Mankind stepped off the stretcher and quickly climbed back on top of the cage to meet his opponent.

Again the two brawled and again Undertaker threw Mankind through the roof of the cell and slammed hard onto the mat. The Undertaker won the match.

“I was lucky I had really good chemistry with all the top stars in the attitude era worked,” Foley says. “I worked really well with Undertaker.”

By the end of the match, Foley sported missing teeth, multiple stitches under his lip, a dislocated jaw and shoulder, a concussion and a bruised kidney.

This was one of many stunts Foley performed throughout his time as a professional wrestler.

“I was drawn to that theatrical element and the idea of taking people for a little

emotional ride,” Foley says.

He also recalls a stop at Wrestlemania 22 when Cactus Jack competed against fellow Hall of Famer Edge in a hardcore match that featured barbed wire, thumbtacks and a flaming table.

Insane stunts defined Foley’s career.

Because he wasn’t the strongest or most athletic grappler, he turned to wicked acts to make up for it. Foley adopted and embraced it.

Foley feels he deserved more recognition for a 1996 boiler room brawl against The Undertaker. The match highlighted Foley’s unorthodox style of using props and the surrounding environment to methodically attack his opponent.

“That would have been great if it was shot as a cinematic match. So, I consider that my unloved stepchild of matches,” Foley says.

The Nice Day Tour includes tales such as these and other in-depth behind-thescenes stories from his time in the ring.

Foley said he believes his appearances generally attract those families with his career. Those not in the know enjoy it as much — if not more.

“Well, if they’re not familiar with me, chances are they’d only be seeing the show and buying a ticket for their significant other, but I do try to make it a lot of fun for the nonfans. They almost always have a much better time because they’re expecting wrestling stories,” Foley says. “But I think I tell interesting stories that are you know, wrestling stories, but also little stories about life.”

Mick Foley WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 20 WHERE: Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, 5350 E. High Street, Phoenix COST: Tickets are $30 and $75 INFO: az.houseofcomedy.net ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

SILVER ANNIVERSARY

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Arizona Bike Week returns for 25th year to Scottsdale

By Alex Gallagher

M

otorcycle enthusiasts love anniversaries, so Arizona Bike Week is revving its engines for its 25th birthday with performances by Social Distortion, Rob Zombie and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The party is set for Wednesday, April 6, to Sunday, April 10, at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

“It’s a really big deal for us, probably even more so than it would be for another event because everybody wants to be there for those big anniversary years,” says Lisa Cyr, Arizona Bike Week spokesperson.

Additionally, the festival provides a getaway for bikers from around the world.

“Our attendees come from all around the world and look forward to getting away for a week,” Cyr says. “Riding isn’t just a leisure activity for the people who come to this; it’s a lifestyle. This is very much a lifestyle event.”

Besides the concerts, attendees can celebrate their lifestyle with bike and stunt shows and vendors with biker apparel, parts and accessories.

On the first night of the Arizona Bike Week, the Handlebar Saloon will also feature live music courtesy of Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Foundation.

Fourteen bands will hit the stage for seven hours of rock.

After the teens end their sets, the headline acts will hit the stage.

“The bands represent the classic old-

school biker demographic, and then bands like Rob Zombie and Social Distortion get the next generation introduced to the lifestyle of the biking community,” Cyr says.

While each of these performances are noteworthy, this will be a rare sighting for Rob Zombie fans, as his appearance at Arizona Bike Week will mark his first performance of the year.

“(Zombie) has been so busy making movies lately that he hasn’t had time to tour,” Cyr says. “If you’re a fan and you want to see him, this is your opportunity to see him anywhere in the western states.”

Zombie’s version of “The Munsters” is slated for release later this year with Sheri Moon Zombie, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Daniel Roebuck, Richard Brake and Sylvester McCoy.

Lynyrd Skynyrd takes the stage on Saturday, April 9.

“We all said goodbye to Lynyrd Skynyrd for about a decade before Ronnie Van Zant stepped up and decided to do a tribute tour and recreated the music that we all fell in love with in the ’70s,” Cyr says.

“That band is fraught with so many stories of tragedy that you’ve got to root for them. It’s reassuring to see that they’ve kept going and kept music alive.

They are definitely a big biker favorite.”

Whether fans attend for music, action sports or to enjoy the biker lifestyle, they will likely be surprised to see philanthropy at an event like this.

Arizona Bike Week will feature charity rides across the state to benefit various causes.

“The biker community is extremely philanthropic, and charity rides are a big part of our event,” Cyr says. “The bikers are very soft-hearted people who will dig deeper into their pockets than any group you’ll ever meet.”

Arizona Bike Week WHEN: Times vary Wednesday, April 6, to Sunday, April 10 WHERE: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale.

COST: Tickets start at $12 INFO: azbikeweek.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

CITY

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STYLE » ENVY » PASSION » FASHION » BEAUTY » DESIGN

KEEPING RADIO ALIVE

KWSS’ Dani Cutler celebrates 15 years at indie station

By Connor Dziawura

K

WSS 93.9 FM host Dani Cutler recently celebrated her 15th year at the independent radio station.

Cutler can be heard as host of “The Dani Cutler Show” from 6 to 10 a.m. MST weekdays and the “Dani’s Diner” retro music hour at noon weekdays, and she’s also the noncommercial low-power terrestrial broadcast station’s promotions and marketing manager and co-manages daily operations.

But even before making a name for herself at the station, which is streamed online and broadcast in Scottsdale, Phoenix and the surrounding West Valley cities, Cutler was an early adopter of the now-booming podcast industry.

Beginning with what she calls the “first wave of podcasting” in the mid2000s, Cutler wrote, produced and hosted “Truth Seekers” from 2006 to 2012.

Though George W. Bush’s presidency and the Iraq War inspired her to create the long-running current events podcast, the idea was not to spread her own opinions, she explains, but to talk to others about theirs.

At the same time, she used the podcast as an opportunity to spotlight indie artists with “podsafe” music, or songs intended for use on podcasts.

She calls the combination her “springboard into radio and music.”

“I’ve always wanted to just learn and challenge myself to discover new things, and always (had) a love of music and audio. … I love to create in that space,” says Cutler, who calls herself “a child of the ’80s” who grew up listening to radio, while also being classically trained on the viola. Her experiences gave her a “deep love of all kinds of music.”

With the hopes of “Truth Seekers” receiving syndication, she says she reached out to the independent radio station KQCX. “And they came back and they didn’t want another talk show on their station, but they said they liked my voice and asked if I wanted to join them and do some announcing music,” Cutler recalls.

So, with no prior radio experience,

she parlayed the podcast into a stint “doing some voice tracking and basic announcing of songs” with KQCX. That station then merged with KWSS in 2007, she recalls, and she was given an opportunity to continue there as a midday announcer.

“That’s the funny thing, is that most people when they started radio, well, they went to school and they did broadcasting or they jumped in and started interning at a radio station — and I did exactly the opposite. I was a podcaster first, and then I found my foot in radio.”

The long-running “Dani’s Diner,” a lunchtime music hour that spans tunes from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, played an early role in Cutler’s start in the midday shift. The program remains an outlet for interests like Depeche Mode, David Bowie, Blondie and, her favorite, Duran Duran, as she has “a deep love for those type of bands.”

But a void opened at KWSS when the former morning show host moved in late 2016, Cutler recalls. So, after some time doing behind-the-scenes work at the station, like being programming director and other busywork, she asked to take over the morning slot.

“So, I just kind of put myself in the position,” she admits with a laugh.

Billed as “The Dani Cutler Show,” she calls the morning show a “pretty good mix” of everything from mainstream alt-rock to independent artists both local and international.

“So you’ll hear Weezer or you’ll hear alt-J and then you’ll hear, like, Paper Foxes or The Black Moods, so we do a good mix of that in our rotation,” she says, clarifying, “That’s not just the morning show, but that’s our daily music lineup.”

Within the show’s four hours, she also programs various segments.

“I have my ‘9:39 Local Spotlight,’ which I feature a specific artist, whether it’s new music or there’s a show coming up or something like that, and then I also have a little ‘Morning Good’ segment, because especially in the past few years … it’s just been a tirade of bad news and sadness and just all this negative stuff, even currently, unfortunately, what’s going on right now

in the Ukraine,” she says.

It can be anything from a fluff piece to a business showcase.

“I try and put a twist on it, where it’s like, I always want to support,” she explains. “So any way that I can look to support the local community, I do.”

Cutler has branched beyond just hosting, working up the ladder to serve as the station’s promotions and marketing manager and co-manager of daily operations. An independent, locally owned nonprofit, KWSS, which was founded in 2005, is operated on an entirely volunteer basis by people like Cutler. And it only made sense to Cutler, as she runs a marketing business.

But beyond even KWSS, Cutler’s work in podcasting has helped her get work in voice acting and editing of audio dramas.

“It’s funny, because when I look back on my audio career as a whole, growing up I just was a regular kid. I just loved

listening to music. I just loved being a part of things that way, and I never had any great ambitions that I was going to use my voice in this capacity,” she says.

“And it’s funny, because I never considered my voice something that would be good for those kinds of things, but when the opportunities came up, I can thank technology and the internet for that, because I’ve made so many connections — and that’s what piqued the interest in me on doing these types of things.

“I love to produce audio. I love to edit.

I love to talk, obviously,” she adds with a laugh. “And I just never thought that my voice could be used in this capacity.

And, it’s just a wonderful thing to have it happen.”

KWSS 93.9 FM kwss.org ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

A ‘PICK-ME-UP’

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Country Thunder returns to springtime festival

By Annika Tomlin

create the atmosphere before the buses even get there,” Ray says. “The party rizona’s biggest country starts when people get there and set music festival returns to its camp up. springtime slot in Florence “It’s a place where memories are made, with headliners Riley and families come together. Strangers Green, Blake Shelton, become friends, strangers become family, Morgan Wallen and Florida Georgia and it starts when the campers get set Line. up. The energy is already there when the Opening acts and additional buses get there.” performers include Randy Houser, Ray says that isn’t always the case Gabby Barrett, Hardy, Chase Rice, when he’s on the road.

Michael Ray and Tracy Lawrence.

“Makes you excited inside. No matter Opening for Blake Shelton on Friday, what time slot you go on stage, it’s a great April 8, “American Idol” alumna Barrett crowd,” Ray says about performing at is excited to finally make her Country Country Thunder. “It’s a fun place and Thunder debut. Her set was scheduled it’s a good energy, and I think coming off for 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic the last couple of years that we’ve had it’s delayed it. going to be bigger than it normally has “It is awesome now getting to come been because people are finally back.” back after being off the road for a good Barrett does not know what to expect amount of time and get to open up right at Country Thunder. before Blake Shelton comes out, which is “There was such a gift in taking that pretty amazing,” Barrett says. “I am still large break through the pandemic I very humbled to be part of this show. think for everybody, especially myself, “I know it is a big event and there are because I got to spend time with my some other amazing big names apart of daughter and just really got to dive into it, so I am just excited to be a part of it.” her little first year,” the new mom says.

Ray is returning for his second stint “And pregnancy and all of those things, with the longtime festival. but there was a lot of wonderful gifts in “You know what I love about shows the break for me. like Country Thunder is the fans who “But getting to be back on stage, it’s a great feeling. I really missed the live energy from the live shows.”

Ray and Barrett are promoting new material.

Barrett released her debut, “Goldmine,” in 2020 followed by a deluxe version that came out this year. Ray released his seven-song EP “Higher Education” August 2021.

“I don’t want to give anything away specifically, but, of course, I am excited to do ‘I Hope,’” she says.

“That is a fun one to do, because we have a really cool transition into that song that makes it feel special,” Barrett says. She also plans on performing her 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awardnominated song “The Good Ones” as well as other tracks off “Goldmine.”

“We are working on adding new songs, new originals into the set,” she says.

Gabby Barrett “We have some really fun

Michael Ray

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covers that everybody knows. They get everybody hyped up and just makes sure everybody is smiling and having a good time.”

One of her newer songs includes “Pick Me Up” from the “Goldmine” deluxe version. She says she wrote the song to add a laidback, classic country song to her repertoire.

“Half the time my husband and I actually live in east Texas on dirt roads, driving around in the truck listening to George Strait,” Barrett says.

“I always like to write songs that are genuine to my life. I thought I needed it, and I liked how it came together. I was excited to release it as part of the deluxe version of my album ‘Goldmine,’ and just really excited to see where the song goes and what it does. I’m just glad to have a very realistic country song out in the world.”

Ray is anticipating the crowd’s reaction to his “Higher Education” songs.

“When you are gone for a year in anything that you do, you should never come back the same way,” Ray says about returning to the stage. “You should always be elevated. Our biggest goal, me and my band here, we are making sure that set in the show, the fans feel like, ‘Oh, (expletive), this isn’t the same people we saw in 2019,’ and really give that to them.”

He plans on playing “Whiskey and Rain” because the pandemic hindered his ability to perform the 2020 song live.

Ray’s latest single “Holy Water” and its accompanying video came out last month.

Both performers thrive on connecting with fans on a personal level.

“I think, as artists, you want to write music that moves people, that makes

somebody want to ask the girl out, makes somebody want to go out on a Friday or makes somebody want to stay in and just cry through it,” Ray says. “It’s incredible to be part of something that is bigger than us.”

It is not lost on him that people are choosing to spend money to see him, in light of COVID-19 and increasing gas prices.

“You are working for your hard-earned money and then you are choosing to go to a show that is just something to do.

It’s not a necessity,” Ray says. “I think, for me at least, when I look out and see people there the last four shows (of this tour) that we have just been playing back, I feel like, ‘Wow, these people really had to jump through some hurdles to get here,’ like just buying a ticket and coming out. That means a lot.”

After Ray’s first Country Thunder gig, UFC legend Dan Henderson tagged him in a photo saying he and his wife saw him perform.

“I was like, ‘I watched you knock out dudes since I was a kid,’” Ray recalls. “I go to my tour manager, and I said, ‘How do I get a hold of him?’”

Since then, Ray and Henderson have been friends who duck hunt together.

“I FaceTimed my dad immediately and fanned out for a little,” he says with a laugh.

Country Thunder WHEN: Various times Thursday, April 7, to Sunday, April 10 WHERE: Country Thunder Arizona, 20585 E. Water Way, Florence COST: $150-$245 INFO: countrythunder.com

DBAIT TEAM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

17

Rapper trades vocals with Young Buck on new single

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

E

ddie Morra wants to blaze a path in rap, and he’s willing to put in the work to do that.

Rapping under the name Dbait, Morra has recorded with established peers, features, promoted his music at First Friday, battled in Los Angeles and New York, and released a slew of singles.

“My songs are already in a couple of playlists,” he says.

“I’m aiming my efforts in marketing and Spotify, playlists and networking.

That’s been my biggest success, I guess you could say, so far. That’s where I’m trying to fit myself into the scenes.”

This latest effort is “Pop Up,” in which Dbait trades verses with former G-Unit rapper Young Buck. Morra says it was a “surreal” process.

“When the verse was delivered to me and I downloaded it, I couldn’t believe it when I heard his voice singing in my software. It was just a blessing from God. “They were his lyrics. So, on the first verse that’s all him. I produced the music, and then I did the rest of the chorus and the lyrics. He recorded his first verse, and I just structured the sound around that.”

Morra is hoping “Pop Up” will give his career traction. Immersing himself in the Phoenix rap scene has been challenging.

Morra received a positive response at Centennial High School, from which he graduated.

“Then the real world hit, and I’ve been fighting for that recognition,” he says. “I’ve had personal experiences where I thought it was a friendly competition among friends and even that turned nasty.”

Recently, he founded Street Mogul Records and its associated line of merchandise. As an independent artist, Morra does everything himself, from merchandise to recording and videos to marketing.

“It’s extremely hard,” contends Morra, who also creates video games.

“Lucky for me, we live in the 21st century and there is just so much technology that it makes it much more user friendly. As soon as I record a song, I could release it.”

Morra feels blessed that he has the experience to “crank and churn out music and music videos” quickly.

“I do the beats. I do the recording. I do the music videos,” he adds. “I’m selfcontained pretty much, so why not? Just writing and recording a song alone are a lot of work. It’s second nature for me.

So I’m blessed where I don’t have to mess

with a lot of people.”

MUSIC IS IN HIS BLOOD Morra has been a musician most of his life. His father is a jazz pianist and his mom is a singer, while his grandparents are mariachis. Morra began his career at age 8 as a Christian rapper and continued his musical pursuits with jazz band and drumline.

“Music is what brought my family together,” Morra says. “We were part of the worship group in church. My mom is a nurse, and my dad started a business.

My sister does gigs. Music is nostalgic for me. That feeling is a good memory that I cherish. That’s what brought me into it in the first place.”

Morra subscribes to the “1,000 True Fans Theory,” proposed in 2008 by Wired magazine’s Kevin Kelly, who said an artist needs 1,000 true fans to maintain a fruitful career.

“You see someone like Ryan Leslie, who has worked with celebrities, and they have been huge for them,” he says.

“He flies in private jets. He’s set for life, but he doesn’t have TMZ chasing him everywhere. That’s my dream. I don’t want to be like Jay-Z or Eminem, where you have crazy people breaking into my home. John Lennon was killed by a fan.

“You don’t have to have a multimillion-dollar marketing budget, but if you have 1,000 true fans who buy one T-shirt every year, you’re set.

A T-shirt is $30, and a concert ticket is $20 and up. It’s exponential in a compounding effect.”

Morra hopes to leave a mark on fans by giving them a memorable experience, whether it’s from the music or his Street Mogul Records’ logo.

“I’m pretty proud of everything I’ve accomplished so far,” he says. “I actually directed my first two music videos

recently. I edited it myself. I’m pretty pleased with the results.

“I think 2021 made me realize what is possible, what I can accomplish. I think 2022 is going to be successful, too, when I can continue to brand and market myself.”

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MAKING MEMORIES

18

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Maricopa County Fair is a great value

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

A

fter a COVID-19 hiatus, the Maricopa County Fair is set to return Wednesday, April 6, to Sunday, April 10, with carnival rides, competitive livestock shows, family entertainment and fair food.

Of the five days, three days will feature monster trucks and demo cross, along with the Superhero Bicycle Stunt Show, Kent Family Circus and Roberto the Magnificent.

“We have some new things and some of the same,” says Karen Searle, with the fair.

“We brought back Demo Cross, which is a cross between a demo derby and a race. They race around and end up hitting each other. We have a freestyle motocross where they do flips and things like that. We have the Superhero Bicycle Stunt Show, and everybody loves that.”

Returning to the nonprofit Maricopa County Fair is a hypnotist, who was last there 12 years ago. Unlimited ride wristbands are back, too. Discounts are available on the website before April 6.

The fair continues to have one of the

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largest youth livestock shows in the state. In total, more than 800 animals will be on display in livestock barns.

Among them are pigs, sheep, cattle, meat goats, dairy goats, chickens, turkeys and rabbits.

“We’re very proud of that of the youth livestock shows,” Searle says. “We also have wonderful fair food from deep-fried coffee to shawarma. For the deep-fried coffee, they freeze the coffee, batter it and fry it. It’s sort of like a doughnut. It’s a little fried dough ball but it has coffee in the center. It’s amazing, and it’s very addictive — in a good way.”

Searle calls the fair the “best deal” out there.

“It’s $9 to get in for those 8 and older,” she says. “That includes everything but the rides and food — all the entertainment, monster trucks, hypnotist, juggler, circus shows, the visit with the animals. Here, you’re creating memories with your family or your friends that you can’t do in a movie theater.”

Maricopa County Fair WHEN: Various times Wednesday, April 6, to Sunday, April 10 WHERE: 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix COST: $9 INFO: 602.252.0717 maricopacountyfair.org

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

ARTS

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CULTURE » THEATER » DANCE » GALLERY » DRAMA » VISION

WINE & SONG PHOENIX

Laura Joy and Brad Colerick team for music series

By Bliss Bowen

I

n 2018, Phoenix-raised singersongwriter Laura Joy decided to return home from lengthy sojourns in New York and Chicago. She had just started getting back into her musical groove with shows when the pandemic turned the world upside down.

“Everything was just getting started for me,” she recalls with a laugh. “My relationships were gone, and I had regular income set up and it shut down. I am only getting started again right now.”

So, she was delighted when singersongwriter Brad Colerick approached her about expanding his longstanding Wine & Song series from Southern California to Phoenix.

Colerick launched the weekly showcase in 2009 in South Pasadena, California, where it has since become an essential hub for the area’s acoustic music scene. Their hope is that Wine & Song Phoenix, with Joy as the primary host, will similarly foster community and camaraderie for artists and audiences convening on the back patio of Short Leash in the Melrose District.

Longtime fans of the South Pasadena Wine & Song series are drawn to its intimacy, as is Joy. While many other showcase series present four to six artists in a night performing only a few songs apiece, Joy says she prefers Wine & Song’s “more focused” listening-room atmosphere, with two featured artists performing seven songs each and sharing background stories between numbers.

“There’s time to get to know the artists,” she says. “I know there is interest in this.”

That interest was evidenced at Wine & Song Phoenix’s March 10 launch, when over 80 people — more than could squeeze inside the restaurant — braved the winter cold to warm themselves by heartfelt tunes from Colerick and fellow featured guest Nathan McEuen. Joy says turnout on St. Patrick’s Day was also good and shows have continued weekly, with artists such as accordionist Tatiana Crespo, bluesy folk-rocker Eric Ramsey and Americana duo JC & Laney filling out the March calendar.

“I hope to run the series up until Memorial Day and then pick it up again

in the fall” after taking a summer break, she says. Lineups for April will be posted at wineandsong.com/phoenix as she confirms them.

“Short Leash has actually been hosting music for almost a year on FridaySaturday-Sunday,” she observes. “Still, a lot of people don’t realize they have live music.

They’re specifically opening for this event on Thursdays (and offering) a specialized pub menu,” although the venue’s website does not advertise those nights.

Joy, who played on one of Colerick’s virtual Wine & Song shows via Zoom during the pandemic shutdown, says it is exciting to create a welcoming haven in Phoenix where local and touring artists can meet up and perform.

Local artists generally play all covers at area gigs, but the Wine & Song format enables them to perform their own music and share audiences with better-known touring acts.

“They are pro-original songs, so a lot of people want to play there,” she says, adding that audiences might be surprised by “the variety and level of talent available” in Phoenix’s diverse community.

At Joy’s own shows, “tips are better than ever” as the club scene continues to open up and people venture out again.

As she speaks over the phone, a man’s voice can be heard singing behind her; she’s at an open mic night, and he’s playing to a full house.

“It is packed. It is crazy. And I went to one on Monday and it was also crazy, so everyone’s very happy to be out and about and sharing music. So that’s good news. I feel that’s key in starting up Wine & Song here now, because there are still a lot of places that aren’t doing music like they used to locally. There’s room for new projects to start up.”

Wine & Song Phoenix with Laura Joy WHEN: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays WHERE: Short Leash Hot Dogs and Rollover Doughnuts, 4221 N. Seventh Avenue, Phoenix COST: No cover; suggested donation of $15 INFO: 518.312.6031, wineandsong.com/phoenix, laurajoymusic.com.

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EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

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Artists express emotions through their work

By Allison Brown

E

veryone has their own way of showing their emotions, but for artists, that expression turns into a visual representation that viewers can feel as well.

Longtime Mesa artist Susan Paige sponsored, curated and installed the “Emotions in Art” show to highlight the depth of feeling that art can bring.

The show is on display through April 30 at the Downtown Mesa gallery, 101 W. Main Street.

“As human beings, we have tons of emotions flowing through us, but as artists, we have the opportunity to express those emotions in our art,” Paige says.

“I also find that art is really in the eye of the beholder because, say a viewer looks at a piece of artwork, I’m always amazed how they react to it.

They often have an emotional response to what they’re looking at, and sometimes it’s not even what I intended as an artist, it just affects them in a personal way. The viewer gets something out of it emotionally, and the artist gets to express themselves emotionally.”

“Emotions in Art” is one of the largest shows Paige has done, with 12 local artists bringing a wide range of pieces in different mediums, subject matters, styles and sizes.

Artists in the show include Agustin Vargas, Matt Smith, Joy Bezanis, Ludmila Demich, Paige, Dorata Lagida-Ostling, Barry Rosenblatt, Elvie Becker, Joni Anderson, Aveen Toma, Diane Black and Chris Brewer. Among those are two veterans (one of whom is Paige’s husband), a recent graduate from the art department at Benedictine University in Chicago, the lead sculptor teacher at the Mesa Art Center, a teacher at the Xico Latin and Indigenous Artists culture center, and more.

“These are all accomplished artists, and these are people who have been doing art for many, many years,” Paige says. “It’s a real gamut of artists.

I tried to select people from all walks of life because they all have emotional experiences through life and express things differently in the art. So, it’s ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

going to be very eclectic, kind of an allencompassing show.”

In fact, Paige’s husband, retired Lt. Col. Barry Rosenblatt, is also in the show. He, along with the other veteran artist in “Emotions in Art” started painting seven years ago with the Mesa Art League under the Arizona Art Alliance free classes for veterans program. Paige says the Art Alliance found that translating their emotions into art helps veterans on an emotional and psychological levels. She says her husband paints landscapes with bright colors that are uplifting to the viewer.

“Through my 20-year military career and my 35-year career in the medical field, I know that by keeping positive, one can scale through anything,” Rosenblatt says about relating his emotions to art.

With the theme of emotion, Paige says she chose artists who are clear in their intentions and the feelings they express through their work. They are all

artists she has followed over the years and that she has personally had a strong emotional response to their work.”

The show will include portraits, landscapes, abstract, printmaking and sculptures. Paige adds that the show has as wide a range of emotions as it has styles, and it’s not all just somber and sad.

“There’s actually a lot of happy pieces in it. When you say you’re going to do a show on emotion, people right away assume it’s going to be a show that’s going to have a lot of intensity. But there’s actually a lot of playfulness and happiness,” Paige says.

One of the sculptors has flowers and

dragons in his pieces. Another artist creates paintings from her emotional, spiritual and psychological interpretation of phrases from famous Catholic saints. Then the portraits portray “the whole gamut” of emotions, from happy to sad, according to Paige, and relay a more intense emotional feeling.

Paige says more people are turning to art during the extremely emotional past few years and have seen a change in people who come to the gallery.

“What I’ve seen in the people coming to the gallery, people are really looking to have hope and positivity, and so they see that in the art and the art inspires them and makes them feel good,” she explains. “They talk to us. They spend more time there talking about the art when they come into our studio. I think people are responding in a way that is uplifting.”

Paige usually greets people and talks about the art, but she is also the driving force behind the scenes to make the show happen. She pays rent for the space, comes up with a theme, selects the artists, curates the pieces and installs

them all herself.

While her own work is in the show, Paige says she enjoys creating a space for other artists to display their work. One of her passions is helping other artists get their work out there and, throughout her 20-year career in art, she has always made it a point to save a spot for the little guy.

“I actually managed an avant garde gallery in Downtown Phoenix from 1979 to ’83, and all the artists I had were emerging artists in the Phoenix area that couldn’t get into the Scottsdale galleries because they were so competitive,” Paige says. “So, I gave them opportunities to show and, as a result, I got huge turnouts to my shows because I think the public is looking for something different. They want to see what the local artists do.”

“Emotions in Art” Show WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through April 30 WHERE: OneOhOne Gallery/ Paige Artists Studio, 101 W. Main Street, Mesa COST: Free INFO: oneohone101.com

ALL THAT

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

21

JAZZ

Downtown, East Valley celebrates with dancing, festivities

By Alex Gallagher

I

t’s hard for William “Doc” Jones to believe it has been half a decade since he began his efforts to have his state recognize April as Jazz Appreciation Month and April 30 as International Jazz Day. When Jones began his efforts to have the genre recognized, he quickly realized it would be challenging to receive bipartisan support in a time when there seemed to be a growing divide between people of contrasting political opinions.

He then realized the perfect way to get members of the state’s House of Representatives and senators to congregate around his cause.

“Five years ago, I began to lobby with legislators to create an event called Jazz at Lunch Time where we shut down the streets between Washington and Jefferson,” Jones says.

Two years later, Jones rolled out his idea — at the perfect time.

“In 2019, there was fighting in the house to get this bill passed,” he says. “But when the music started and the food came out, I saw Republicans and Democrats sit down at the same tables, enjoying the food and enjoying this music.”

The bill unanimously declared April 30 as International Jazz Day in Arizona.

“I was honored to know that we crossed aisles with jazz,” Jones says.

“We had Republicans, Democrats and independents enjoying an hour of music and some good food.”

This year, the support of Jazz Appreciation Month and International Jazz Day has stretched outside of Downtown Phoenix as mayors from across the Valley have banded together to share the swinging sounds of jazz with their residents.

“Our state is the first state where I have been able

to get the governor, 10 mayors, the full Senate and the full House behind us, and I am humbled by the support we’ve gotten,” Jones says.

There has been support from Gov. Doug Ducey and Mayors David Ortega of Scottsdale, Corey Woods of Tempe and Jerry Bien-Willner of Paradise Valley to produce events across the Valley throughout the month.

“This is a dream come true for not just me but for jazz and blues lovers, because jazz is the roots for so many other genres of music,” Jones says. “For us to be able to have the state recognizing Jazz Appreciation Month and to have all the cities produce some type of event to promote jazz.”

Festivities will begin in Tempe on Friday, April 8, when the Nayo Jones Experience from New Orleans brings the sounds of Louisiana to the Tempe Center for the Arts and reminds concertgoers of where the genre established its roots.

“This music was born here in America in New Orleans and exported all over the world,” Jones says. “Our music moved from the ’50s, where you could dance to it, to the ’60s, when it became avant garde, and then shifted to bebop, where it became so fast that you had to

put your seatbelt on to keep up with it.”

A week and a half later, on Wednesday, April 20, the festivities continue with Jazz at Lunch Time, which returns for a fifth year. This year, veterans will toot their horns for dining and dancing guests.

As exciting as Jazz at Lunch Time is this year, the month of music and festivities will conclude on International Jazz Day in Scottsdale.

The Saturday, April 30, festival, held at the Scottsdale Civic Center, will feature performances by Cold Shott & the Hurricane Horns, Carlos Riuas & Su Orquesta Mehsal, the Nayo Jones Experience, Jesse McGuire Trio, Jaleo Latin Band, and Grammy award winners Richard Elliott and Rick Braun.

Although the lineup touts accomplished acts, Jones is motivated by the event’s fundraising efforts.

“I’m humbled by the attention we’re getting this year, because I’ve heard from several people, ‘If you’re not making money, why are doing this over these years?’” he says. “To which I reply, ‘It’s bigger than just an event, it’s bigger than the artists we put on the stage,’ and I have been acknowledged by Herbie Hancock and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for my due diligence.”

Proceeds from the festival will also be donated to sponsor music programs for at-risk youth in organizations such as Next Student Academy for the Arts, Molina School of Jazz — which has a

program that allows 50 students to have their music lessons and instruments covered for a year — and Jones’ summer music program.

“I’ve been in music education for many years, and I realized once you put an instrument in a kid’s hand it helps with their creativity and how they approach life,” Jones says. “The reason that we do this festival is to raise funds for scholarships for young people that want to play this music.”

Whether jazz fans flock to Tempe, Downtown Phoenix or Scottsdale, Jones encourages all fans to do one thing.

“Put on your partying shoes, because we’re going to be dancing and playing all different styles of this music,” he says. “This is not going to be a sit-down concert where you sit down and have to be quiet like you do at the symphony. It’s going to be a party where we’re bringing the flavor of New Orleans.”

Jazz Appreciation Month April 8 Tempe Jazz Day featuring the Nayo Jones Experience and Mayor Corey Woods at the Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, 7:30 p.m. $45/$75 April 20 Jazz at Lunch Time at 1700 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 11 a.m., charge TBA April 30 Scottsdale Jazz Festival/ International Jazz Day at the Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Boulevard, Scottsdale, 3 p.m., tickets start at $25 ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

BASH FOR THE NASH

22

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Jazz in America raises funds for education

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

J

azz in Arizona has been keeping the genre alive in Phoenix since 1977. But this month, the nonprofit behind The Nash is hosting its first gala to raise funds for education and performance programs.

“This is a momentous occasion for us,” says Joel Goldenthal, The Nash’s executive director.

The Bash for the Nash is an evening of cocktails, a live auction, music and dinner at The Heard Museum on Saturday, April 23.

The evening will feature the sound of saxman Houston Person in an all-star quartet with Eric Gunnison on piano, Chuck Berghofer on bass and namesake Lewis Nash on drums, plus Italian-born jazz vocalist Roberta Gambarini.

The evening will include additional performances by students of The Nash’s education programs, including Phoenix Jazz Girls Rising and The Nash Legacy Ensembles.

Person is known for his longtime association with legendary vocalist Etta James, as well as collaborations with dozens of jazz luminaries and more than 75 albums as bandleader.

“Houston Person and Lewis Nash are leading the group,” he says. “Houston is world-renowned tenor saxophonist, who plays at jazz parties and cruises around the world.

“He played for 30 years for Etta James.

Lewis Nash is the gentleman whose name is on the building. He’s had 500 CDs and performed with every jazz luminary.”

Gambarini was introduced to jazz during her youth in Italy and moved to the United States, where she received a scholarship to The New England Conservatory of Music. She has a stellar career, forming musical associations with jazz giants including James Moody, Hank Jones, Jimmy Heath and Roy Hargrove.

TEACHING YOUTH Youth in Phoenix have an extraordinary opportunity to take classes in jazz helmed by college-level educators, thanks to Jazz in Arizona.

“Our education programs are unique in that they are offered at no other institution,” Goldenthal says.

“Our niche is ensemble programs.

If you are a high school student who wants to play as an ensemble, there are few options. There is no opportunity in the system for ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

musicians to get together and play in small ensembles, which is, in fact, what a musician does in the bulk of his career, typically.”

The ensemble programs are 14 weeks of meetings. The product of their work is performances, but, during COVID-19, it pivoted to recordings.

“They were able to put together first-rate, studio-quality recordings,” Goldenthal says.

“This added experience for the students. They all became their own recording engineers and developed communication skills that might not have happened in the other setting.”

Phoenix Jazz Girls Rising another program, this time geared toward girls 10 to 17 years old.

“It’s no secret that the jazz world is a good old boys network,” he says. “From the get-go, young girls are in a very nurturing, all-female environment. It’s so successful that we have two different programs and the music they produce is astounding.”

The Bash for the Nash WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23 WHERE: Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix COST: $350 INFO: 602.321.1459, thenash.org/event/ the-bash-for-the-nash-gala

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

DINING

23

EAT » EXPERIENCE » INDULGE » SAVOR » DEVOUR » NOSH

CARRYING ON TRADITION

La Canasta celebrates 60 years of family recipes

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

W

hen Richard Abril died at age 47, leaving his wife, Carmen, with six girls and one boy, she rolled up her sleeves and went to work with their company, La Canasta Mexican Foods.

They provided tortillas to Garcia’s, Manuel’s and Macayo’s, among other Mexican restaurants. This year, the organization — which now includes a sister company, My Nana’s Best Tasting products — is celebrating its 60th year with its sights set high on growth, expansion and new product development.

“I can’t believe how time flies,” says Josie Ippolito, their daughter and current president of La Canasta Mexican Foods.

The Abrils opened La Canasta Mexican Foods in Phoenix in 1962.

Their goal was to supply the Valley’s Hispanic community with fresh flour and corn tortillas.

As word of mouth grew about La Canasta’s authentic tortillas, so did the business, expanding into tortilla chips, salsas and buñuelos. Today, fans of My Nana’s Best Tasting products can find them in most retail grocery stores across Arizona and into the western states, including Texas.

Now, La Canasta makes 2.5 million tortillas daily in its Phoenix-based

manufacturing facility. Thousands of pounds of whole kernel corn and flour are processed every hour, then they are made into dough that is pressed and sheeted into tortillas. Next, the tortillas are cooked, cooled, and packaged up to ship out. The whole process has been perfected with an intricate system of high-tech automated conveyors, ovens and cooling belts that make it possible to produce nearly 100,000 tortillas per hour.

It wasn’t always this way.

“We were doing a lot of it by hand,” Ippolito says. “She was very intuitive and a very astute businessperson. She said, ‘How can we do this better and faster?’ She was unbelievable.

“My mother was just amazing in her efforts to explore those opportunities while maintaining the best product quality that we had to begin with.”

The growth and modernization weren’t enough for Ippolito, who left the company, but her family said she was welcome to return, which she did. She founded My Nana’s Best Tasting products.

“The reason I started that company is I remember us, as kids, we would visit my grandmother, my nana, and she would make tortillas on a black cast iron stove for the grandkids,” she says.

“We would be running around eating hot tortillas with butter. She could never keep up. When I started thinking about what the brand name would be, I thought what better name than My Nana’s tortilla chips. She would fry tortillas and make chips out of them. We couldn’t get enough. That’s how My Nana’s was founded.”

My Nana’s Best Tasting products wasn’t a competitor to La Canasta Mexican Foods, as it didn’t offer chips.

“This tortilla chip is unique and different; they’re the same ones used in Garcia’s and Macayo’s,” says Ippolito, a Glendale resident. “It’s in a bag, and now customers can buy them. That’s when the restaurant-style tortilla chips came about.”

Ippolito contends that the chips aren’t the least expensive, but they’re “the best.”

“We make the tortilla first, chill it, and then we cut it and fry it,” she says.

“That’s the only reason why they’re more expensive, because of the process. We

know the quality is there when we do it that way. Otherwise, you’re a chip like everybody else.

“We don’t want to be that. You can put it in the microwave, warm it up and heat it, put some cheese on it and it will be just like what you taste in a restaurant.”

Recently, Ippolito unveiled a flour tortilla chip that is deep fried and dusted with cinnamon and sugar. She says the buñuelos have been incredibly popular.

“It took us a while to develop the recipe, but it was well worth it,” she says.

“Little did we know it was going to hit like it did. The buñuelos are considered a Mexican dessert that are typically sold during the holidays — Christmas and New Year’s. We eat them for good luck for the coming year.”

Looking back over the years, Ippolito considers her mother her hero.

“Sorry if I get emotional,” she says before crying. “Supporting six girls and one boy, she still gave us all opportunities to grow within the company.

“At the age of 75, she started losing her memory, so we donate 1% of our sales to the Alzheimer’s Association.

We hope that research will find some kind of cure. There are so many people with Alzheimer’s. She lived 12 years with Alzheimer’s. We took care of her at home. The seven of us would each spend one night with her every week until we couldn’t anymore. She was amazing.”

La Canasta and My Nana’s Best Tasting products la-canasta.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

‘ALOHA’ AROMAS 24

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii opens first Phoenix location

By Jordan Houston

T

ap into your inner “badass” with a cup o’ joe from Downtown Phoenix’s newest Hawaiian-inspired coffee shop.

Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, in the midst of a major national expansion, opened its 22nd location earlier this year at CityScape, 50 W. Jefferson, Suite 170.

The shop, specializing in 100% Kona coffee, brings the tropical tastes, sights and aromas of island living here to the desert heat.

The Phoenix franchise, owned by local business owner Aaron Rutter, celebrated its market entry in January with a grand opening. Guests indulged in samples of various menu items. Merchandise, such as Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii mugs, shirts, lanyards and tote bags, were also distributed as prizes.

The company’s allure extends even beyond its tasty products, according to Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii CEO Scott Snyder. It’s all about the brand experience as a whole.

“I think it’s really kind of an experiential brand, so when you walk in the door it doesn’t look like your typical coffee shop,” Snyder tells The Entertainer!

Magazine. “It looks laid-back because you’ve got some pretty cool music playing.

It’s a little Hawaii, and it’s a little surfer beach. It’s relaxing, and I think that it appeals to a really broad audience.

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

“If you’ve never been to Hawaii, it’s a nice little escape,” he adds. “It’s a great place to chill out and relax. It’s a warm and colorful environment.”

Bad Ass Coffee offers other international premium coffees and teas — but 100% Kona coffee is the name of its game.

Grown on the mountain slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa volcanoes, coffee from the Kona Region of Hawaii “develops its signature taste from tropical sun-drenched mornings and misty afternoons,” the Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii website reads. The final product, known as the “King of Hawaiian Coffee,”

is a delicate, medium-bodied and slightly acidic beverage with a rich aroma.

The shop’s full beverage menu, in addition to the premium coffees, spans signature lattes, cold brew, blended espresso drinks and teas.

Its tropical fusion is as equally prevalent throughout its food menu.

Bad Ass Coffee serves Hawaiianthemed breakfast, lunch and an all-day menu. Popular dishes include “The Aloha Sandwich,” which is crafted with ham, egg, Swiss, pineapple and sweet barbecue sauce served on King’s Hawaiian Bread.

“We have a lot of other people that come in and say, ‘Wow, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen or experienced,’ I think that’s what we’re really going for,” Snyder shares. “I think in the world of coffee the space is kind of crowded.

There are a lot of players. What we bring to the party is, No. 1, a great name that gets you in the door. Everybody says they have quality coffee, but I think ours is quality you can taste.”

Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii was born in 1989 on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The name was inspired by the donkeys of Kona, according to its website, which carried loads of coffee beans down the island’s mountains.

“The people of Kona named these hard-working donkeys the ‘Bad Ass Ones’ because of their reliably strong, but stubborn nature in carrying their precious cargo,” the site reads.

Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii became a franchise brand in 1995 and was acquired in 2019 by Colorado-based Royal Aloha Coffee Company.

Snyder, who first worked with the brand as a consultant, attributes its burgeoning success to three elements: a

unique in-store experience, disruptive brand identity and quality coffee products.

“What struck me was this brand is so memorable. I was shocked to see what kind of brand recognition it had with people who had either experienced the brand once in their lives, or saw the store on their honeymoon in Hawaii, or had a family vacation destination in Florida,” he recalls.

“It was funny, because even when I was asked to consult, I was like, ‘I know this brand,’ and it struck me,” Snyder continues. “It was about 25 years prior I had gotten a cup of Badass Coffee at a kiosk at a resort in Hawaii.”

The company has since re-launched the national brand with a new logo, packaging and restaurant design.

It has added more franchisees, opened new markets, expanded online sales and established a wholesale operation as part of an aggressive five-year expansion plan — including the blueprints for more Phoenix and Scottsdale locations.

“We didn’t really pick Phoenix; Phoenix picked us,” Snyder explains.

“During my time as a consultant for this brand, Arizona has had one of the higher per capita numbers of tourists to Hawaii.

So, there is a connection there between Arizona and Hawaii. We knew we had good brand recognition, and we were looking for a good partner.”

Bad Ass Coffees are available in franchise stores and online. Coffee connoisseurs will also soon be able to purchase the goods through grocery, hospitality and specialty retail channels, Snyder adds.

For more information about Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii and its products, visit badasscoffee.com.

SPREADING AWARENESS THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

25

Babbo eatery supporting pancreatic research

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

B

abbo Italian Eatery is supporting pancreatic cancer research while celebrating the official grand opening of its Goodyear location.

On Saturday, April 7, it will donate 100% of profits to the Seena Magowitz Foundation. Additionally, the familyowned business will match the donations earned dollar for dollar. Donations will also be matched by Roger Magowitz, founder and chief executive officer of The Seena Magowitz Foundation.

“The Seena Magowitz Foundation is an incredible organization that seeks to spread awareness about pancreatic cancer and helps extend the quality of life for those inflicted with this disease by investing in research and amplifying its message,” says Ken Pollack, owner of Babbo Italian Eatery.

“Their mission is important to our entire family, and we are very proud to partner

with them on April 7 — and beyond.”

The work of The Seena Magowitz Foundation is focused on empowering the public with knowledge on how to reduce the risk of contracting pancreatic cancer, as well as raising funds for innovative scientific medical research, with the ultimate hope of eradicating the disease.

This Babbo location, the company’s eighth, had a soft opening in November, but April 7 is the grand opening.

“We’re a modern take on Italian cuisine,” says Taylor Schultz, a Babbo Italian Eatery spokesperson. “We have traditional recipes, but always adding new things to our menu. Over the last four years, we’ve changed a few things, added protein bowls and different menu items.”

Other new items include zoodles, a “healthier take on pasta noodle”; the Babbo simple salad with romaine lettuce, red onions, pomodoro tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, croutons and balsamic vinaigrette; and lemon garlic spaghettini with lemon, garlic, garlic butter, basil,

DINING

CALENDAR

By Annika Tomlin

Brews, Views and BBQs Rooftop Series

SATURDAYS Skysill Rooftop Lounge will serve barbecue — smoked pork carnitas, street tacos, grilled cheeseburger and smoked elote — and Arizona brews to the backdrop of panoramic views and lively music.

The Westin Tempe, 11 E. Seventh Street, Tempe, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., prices vary, skysillrooftop.com

The Bounty from the Seven Seas

THROUGH APRIL 14 For Lent, STK features a slew of seafood options. The Bounty from the Seven Seas celebrates all seafood dishes, along with an oyster and champagne pairing. Highlights include maple rubbed salmon, miso glazed Chilean sea bass, Maine lobster linguini, lobster mac and cheese, and a seafood tower.

STK Steakhouse, 7134 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., prices vary, stksteakhouse.com

Fried, French Fry & Music Festival

APRIL 9 The world’s favorite side dish takes center stage for the second time for the Fried, French Fry & Music Festival at Margaret T. Hance Park in Downtown Phoenix. The Valley’s most creative culinary talent showcase their versions of gourmet French fries. Sample and larger portions will be available.

Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third Street, Phoenix, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., $12, friedfestival.com

Eat by Stacey Weber Easter Menu

APRIL 16 Eat by Stacey Weber is offering a catered Easter menu that is ready to serve, family sized, and feeds four with all the staple dishes. Highlighted Easter menu items include Eat’s signature truffle deviled eggs $20 (gluten free, dairy free); herbed potato salad with bacon, eggs and pickled red onions $30 (dairy free); orange, herb, honey roasted chicken with citrus beurre blanc sauce $65 (gluten free); and citrus ricotta cakes with

red pepper flakes and topped with shaved Parmesan and basil.

The 6,000-square-foot eatery in Goodyear is located at 15705 W. McDowell Road and accommodates 236 guests.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted with an outdoor fireplace with comfortable seating. Inside you see emerald green booths, a mix of intimate and family seating, as well as a full bar. Circular light chandeliers hang from the ceiling,

and the walls are whitewashed brick and abstract tiles, creating a warm and inviting interior. The restaurant also has a private dining room for parties of 20 to 74 for business events or family gatherings.

house-made whipped cream $35 (gluten free). Preorders will be available through 8 p.m. Thursday, April 14, for pickup on Saturday, April 16.

Eat by Stacey Weber, 4740 E. Shea Boulevard, Suite 109, Phoenix, $20-$65, eatbystaceyweber.com

and noce made with chef’s potato/ flour/Parmigiana pasta orbs in creamy gorgonzola and toasted walnut sauce.

Marcellino Ristorante, 7114 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, 1 to 3 p.m., $70, marcellinoristorante.com

Easter Brunch at The Princess

Tiki-Tiki-Ho-Ho Luau

Learn & Lunch Cooking Class

Taste of the Garden Fundraiser

APRIL 17 The Princess’ Palomino Ballroom will welcome families to an Easter brunch featuring selections from its signature restaurants: Bourbon Steak, La Hacienda, Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar and Ironwood American Kitchen. End on a sweet note with desserts from the pastry team. Reservations are required.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., prices vary, scottsdaleprincess. com, $59-$124

APRIL 23 To learn of Chef Marcellino’s secrets, secure a coveted spot at his Learn & Lunch Cooking Class. This intimate, watch-and-learn-style class is held at the Chef’s Island, where he demonstrates the preparation of his signature dish and tells stories of his childhood growing up on a farm in Italy. Following class, patrons enjoy a lunch with the featured dish plus an organic green salad and a sweet treat of handmade biscotti. This month’s featured dish is gnocchi con gorgonzola

Babbo Italian Eatery 15705 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear babboitalian.com

APRIL 29 Don island attire and enjoy live music, fire dancers and hula dancers who will get guests in the aloha spirit during the Tiki-Tiki-Ho-Ho Luau in the Hotel Valley Ho’s lush Palm Courtyard. Savor a traditional pig roast and drink colorful tiki cocktails.

Tickets include chef-prepared food, three featured cocktails or glasses of beer, and a festive lei.

Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main Street, Scottsdale, 7 to 10 p.m., eventbrite.com, $139

APRIL 30 The nonprofit Project Roots AZ is hosting its first fundraiser. The culinary experience will feature esteemed Phoenix-area chefs from Local First Arizona and foods grown and harvested by Project Roots AZ volunteers. The organization provides access to nutritious food and a more sustainable way of living for urban neighborhoods.

Space of Opportunity, 1200 W. Vineyard Road, Phoenix, 6 p.m., projectrootsaz.org, $100 ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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BREWS & SPIRITS

SIP » BREW » RELAX » EXPERIMENT » REFRESH » TOAST

KINDNESS MATTERS Leila’s founder says being nice is the key to success

By Jordan Rogers

L

eila’s Empanadas is celebrating National Empanada Day in style by hosting tastings at two of its partnered pickup locations.

Tasting events will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, April 8, at Sam’s Frozen Yogurt in Anthem, and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 9, at Lil Miss Butcher in Cave Creek.

Leila Beltrame, the owner and chef of Leila’s Empanadas, is looking forward to marketing her empanadas.

“I think when people try it, they will see that it’s a nice product,” she says. “It’s not expensive, and it’s easy to keep in your freezer. We can better explain what it is. We want to build our brand because we’re new here.”

Beef, chicken and olive, and apple créme brûlée will be available to purchase at the tastings. In addition to empanadas, Leila’s Empanadas makes gluten-free cheese rolls.

“Nowadays, a lot of people are allergic to gluten, and we want to help with that,” Beltrame says. “We try to use the better ingredients that are around.”

Born in Brazil 52 years ago, Beltrame watched her mother and grandmother cook. Constantly being around that birthed a passion and a dream to start a food business.

“They always cooked, and I learned to cook how they did when I was a kid,” she says. “It was my dream to have a business in food. My inspiration was my family,

because they always cooked.

“It’s my passion. I don’t want to do another kind of job. My mind is always cooking, cooking, cooking. Everything is hard for me; cooking is easy.”

Beltrame moved to the Valley of the Sun seven years ago. She knew she wanted to start the business but recognized the need to learn English.

She spent two years dedicated to learning the language.

“It was hard for me to (learn English),” she says. “I wanted to start my business, but I didn’t know English.”

Though Beltrame’s husband occasionally assists, she has just one fulltime employee cooking with her. She says empanadas can be difficult to make, but for her it is a “pleasure.” She doesn’t view her work as a job, but rather a passion.

Leila’s Empanadas is partnered with Homeless Engagement Lift Partnership in benefiting their H.E.L.P. Snackz Program. A portion of every order placed at the tasting events or online at leilasempanadas.com will go toward battling local child hunger.

The program is close to her heart, as she grew up in a poor farming family.

“I understand what these kids feel when they come home from school and don’t have much to eat,” Beltrame says.

“How are they going to learn? How are they going to have a good life when they don’t have food? It’s impossible. It is a ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

pleasure to me to help these kids, because I believe in good food having a nice treatment. They will grow and be nice people and be different.”

While Beltrame is proud to give back locally, she also takes pride in her product. Her empanadas and cheese rolls are low calorie and are made with organic ingredients that do not contain any artificial preservatives or hormones.

“Let’s eat well, together!” is her and the company’s mantra.

“Sometimes food has a lot of those bad things inside, and you don’t need that,” she says. “You can do a lot of good

with good ingredients. ‘Let’s eat well, together!’ means we can eat well and help other people. Together, we can help each other.”

To sell her product, Leila’s Empanadas partnered with Sam’s Frozen Yogurt, Lil Miss Butcher, and her latest partner, BUTI MVMNT Studio in Scottsdale.

Under Beltrame’s model, she provides a freezer and her product, while her partners make commission based off what they sell.

Leila’s Empanadas’ products are available through the company’s website for local pickup or regional delivery via DoorDash and Grubhub and run $33 per dozen.

Leila’s Empanadas leilasempanadas.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

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TOASTING TO LOCAL WINE

Verde Valley Festival fetes the region’s best

By Allison Brown

T

he Verde Valley Wine Festival returns for its fifth year on Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30, in Cottonwood, promoting and celebrating the region’s wine production.

The festival had a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 but is now returning, in part, to celebrate the Verde Valley recently being declared an American Viticultural Area, an official designation identifying it as a grape-growing region by the federal government.

This year’s event marks the debut of the party at Old Town Activity Park in Cottonwood, says Debbie Hunseder, festival director. As Northern Arizona’s foremost wine and culinary event, the festival will have more than 20 wineries, two breweries and two distilleries. All the vendors are based in Arizona.

“We are looking forward to welcoming everybody to the Verde Valley and to enjoy the fabulous wines that our winemakers are creating for this state,” Hunseder says.

Each general admission ticket ($35) comes with eight tastings. Hunseder says they try to make it easy for guests and use wristbands to keep track of the tastings. There are eight wine glasses on the wristband that are marked by the various wineries as guests get their samples. Tastings are a 1-ounce pour that guests can choose out of a few different options from each of the wineries.

Calvin Arnold, national sales director of Caduceus Cellars & Merkin Vineyards, which has participated in every Verde Valley Wine Festival, says he recommends sampling its Puscifer Queen B Sparkling Malvasia. It comes in a can and pairs well with the warmer weather. He says they will also be sampling a sweeter option as well as its perennial favorite.

“We are absolutely looking forward to it,” Arnold says. “We enjoy taking every opportunity to showcase Arizona wines.

Now, we have the pleasure of celebrating Arizona’s newest AVA, the Verde Valley.”

Hunseder says there will be much more than just drinks, though. The festival will also have dozens of food and artisan vendors. Food vendors include Malta Joe’s, a bakery that does meat pies; Emerson Fry Bread; Farm A GoGo, which specializes in farm-to-table foods; and Sally’s BBQ. There will also be gelato, crepes, kebabs and other treats.

In keeping with the festival’s theme, Hunseder says most of the other vendors are also wine or culinary themed.

For example, she says one vendor makes furniture out of wine barrels or reclaimed wood and another creates candles with recycled wine bottles. There will also be a few jewelry vendors.

Another popular part of the festival is the photo booth, done by Set Apart Photography. The “booth” is a teardrop trailer where people can pick out accessories and props and get a free filmstrip of pictures, according to Hunseder.

In addition to the vendors, there will be live music throughout the day from local bands to keep guests entertained.

“Our bands are the Guitar Brothers, What’s the Big Idea and Paulo Bravo,” Hunseder says. “All three of them are kind of light, contemporary jazz. They’re not loud and overpowering, and have

been really popular at previous festivals that we’ve had.”

Hunseder says guests are free to go in and out of the event with their wristband, which gives people an opportunity to experience Old Town Cottonwood. For people who may be visiting to attend the festival from out of town, the area has tons of restaurants, shops and wineries within walking distance from the festival, according to Hunseder.

“We’re considering it kind of an extension of the festival, those tasting rooms that are right there in Old Town as well,” Hunseder says. “People will have the opportunity to come and go from the festival. They’ll be wearing a wristband, so they can leave and go to a tasting room in Old Town or go grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants there and then come back to the festival.”

Chateau Tumbleweed Winery is one of the wineries that are just down the road from the festival and open to guests.

“We do the Verde Valley Wine Festival every year. It is in our hometown, and we like to be there,” says Kris Pothier, coowner of Chateau Tumbleweed Winery.

“The turnout is great, there is wonderful music and food, and it is just a great environment to show our wines.”

Pothier adds she would recommend sampling its 2020 rosé at the festival. It is a blend of sangiovese, grenache and graciano, which she says will fit the warm April weather.

The festivities will kick off with a Platinum VIP winemaker dinner held Friday, April 29, at the Old Town Cottonwood Clubhouse. The event will include premium wine and culinary options as well as music.

Hunseder says they will be auctioning travel and experience packages, such as a winemaker pairing with a boutique lodging experience and a kayak trip

or a sporting event paired with a wine tasting. Proceeds will go toward the Arizona Vignerons Alliance and the Arizona Wine Growers Association, nonprofit organizations that advocate for winemaking in Arizona.

“It will be catered by chef Chris Smith, who is the master chef at the Merkin Osteria,” Hunseder says. “We’ll have some winemakers on hand that will be pairing their wines specifically with chef Smith’s food offerings that he will have that night. … It’s a great bargain and just a great way to kick off the festival and have a lot of fun.”

Tickets are limited and selling quickly, Hunseder adds. A Platinum VIP ticket includes the dinner and auction Friday as well as a VIP pass for the festival Saturday. VIP ticket holders can enter the festival an hour earlier than general admission, allowing them to skip some of the lines and have a more exclusive experience.

Hunseder says based on previous years and current ticket sales, she is expecting over 3,000 people to attend.

Therefore, it’s best to plan and get tickets beforehand, which can be purchased online.

“It’s just a great opportunity to bring people together to enjoy all aspects of the winery — the growing, the making, the selling and, of course, the drinking,” Hunseder says.

Verde Valley Wine Festival WHEN: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 30 WHERE: Old Town Activity Park, 187 E. Pima Street, Cottonwood COST: $35 for general admission, $125 for VIP and $199 for Platinum VIP INFO: verdevalleywinefestival.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Tiki Dan and Captain David

BREWS & SPIRITS

CALENDAR

By Annika Tomlin

Peace, Love & Bubbles

SUNDAYS Sundays got a little bubblier at The Hot Chick. The neighborhood bar with throwback vibes recently launched its Peace, Love & Bubbles promotion. Every Sunday, guests can get a bottle of champagne for just $1 with the purchase of an entrée.

The Hot Chick, 4363 N. 75th Street, Scottsdale, noon to 3 p.m., thehotchickaz.com

National Beer Day

APRIL 7 Patent 139 Brewery will feature “The Taste of BBQ and Beer” tray that includes pulled pork, smoked salmon, a double smoked bacon slab and smoked tri-tip. Each barbecue meat will be paired with one of the brewery’s local Arizona beers and includes sides of potato salad, charro beans and house-pickled avocado.

Patent 139 Brewery, 1949 W. Ray Road, Chandler, 480.597.7138, call for charge, patent139brewingco.com

Match Market WhiskeyPairing Dinner

APRIL 8 Match Market & Bar will host a four-course Garrison Brothers Pairing Dinner. First course is a watermelon salad paired with singlebarrel whiskey. Second course is a crab cake along with small-

batch bourbon. Guests will have Balmorhea bourbon with the third course, crispy pork belly. Dessert course is honeydew bourbon pecan pie with honeydew bourbon.

Match Market & Bar, 1100 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 7 p.m., matchphx.com, $125

’90s Bar Crawl

APRIL 9 Enjoy ’90s music as well as drinks in Old Town. Tickets include admission to all bars, three 1-cent drink vouchers to use on the crawl, drink specials at each location, and giveaways.

Participating bars include Maya, Casa Amigos and Wasted Grain.

Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale, 2 to 8 p.m., eventbrite.com, $20

Canal Club Rum Society

APRIL 13 Take a deep dive into the world of rum at The Canal Club. Experience history and fermentation process of the notable liquor while enjoying samplings of the rum of the month, Plantation Rum. Tickets include Plantation Rum samplings, light bites and a specialty cocktail.

The Canal Club, 4925 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 6:30 to 8 p.m., eventbrite.com, $35

Scottsdale Wine Fest

APRIL 23 Scottsdale Wine Fest tickets include 20 wine tastings.

Wasted Grain, 7295 E. Stetson

Drive, Scottsdale, 2 to 6 p.m., eventbrite.com, $25-$35

AZ Sangria, Craft Beer and Food Truck Festival APRIL 23 Returning for the seventh time,

the AZ Sangria, Craft Beer and Food Truck Festival will be held at Riverview Park in Mesa. Tickets are an all-inclusive tasting pass of sangrias, craft beers and Mexican lagers. Food trucks will sell bites with a Latin flare. This is a petfriendly festival and allows children younger than 18 in for free.

Riverview Park, 2100 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa, 4 to 10 p.m., eventbrite.com, $40

Tiki Takeover

The Hot Chick

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

APRIL 27 The annual Tiki Takeover at Luckys Indoor Outdoor is back. Join the legendary Tiki Dan and Captain David as they take over the trailer bar with an assortment of tropical libations including Tanduay Rum while MozzArepas cooks carne asada, pork and pineapple, chicken and veggie arepas. DJ OH Allen will spin island-inspired songs. Guests are encouraged to don their best tiki wear. This is a 21-and-over event.

Luckys Indoor Outdoor, 817 N. Second Street, Phoenix, 6 to 10 p.m., 602.975.8156, luckysphx.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

CASINOS

29

PLAY » SPIN » LAUGH » GROOVE » UNWIND » WIN

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

RagDolls want to be taken seriously

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

W

hen the Aerosmith tribute act RagDolls hits the stage, the six musicians want the audience to focus on the music.

Never mind that RagDolls are an allfemale band.

“We want the audience to feel it and enjoy it,” says founder/lead singer Susie Major. “Let’s get past that. We’re there to rock you and entertain you — not for the audience to say, ‘Oh, look. There are

girlies on stage.’”

RagDolls return to Arizona on Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30, at Casino Arizona.

Before they made their Arizona debut at Casino Arizona in fall 2021, the noteworthy RagDolls played fewer than 10 gigs since forming in 2019, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. But their musicianship defied that. The chemistry is tangible between Major, lead guitarist Ali Handal, guitarist Masha McSorley, bassist Lex Wolfe, drummer Marisa Testa and keyboardist Julie Dolan.

“We found what we feel are the best of the best musicians,” Major says about the group’s formation. “Our first gig was at the end of March 2020 at the Whisky, then boom, COVID. Everything was either canceled or was rescheduled. The year 2020 was a complete wash.

“We used it to our advantage. We got

down to practicing more and putting more time into details.”

For Major, an Aerosmith tribute band was a logical step. She was told she should cover Heart or Pat Benatar, but Major wanted to challenge herself.

“I want to do things that you wouldn’t feel a woman’s place would be,” she says. “Aerosmith is a lot tougher than it sounds or looks. There’s just so much to do musically. It’s something I respect and get fully behind.”

Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler inspired Major to sing, after going through Partridge Family and Broadway phases.

She “needed” to be Tyler mixed with guitarist Joe Perry.

“I took a wad of my hair and tried to dye it blond in junior high,” she says with a laugh, referencing Perry’s streak in his hair. “I used bleach that you use on your arms and lost a big chunk of it.”

Major is proud of what RagDolls have accomplished.

“It feels like if this band can do an honorable homage, we can do anything,” she says. “It’s actually freeing to know that these girls play the (expletive) out of Aerosmith songs. It blows my mind every time we play together. They are so good.

I’ve never known musicians who can play note for note with their own spin.”

RagDolls: A Tribute to Aerosmith WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30 WHERE: Casino Arizona’s Showroom, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale COST: Tickets start at $10 INFO: 480.850.7777, casinoarizona.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINO | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

CALENDAR

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Brett Young

8 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 1 Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, sold out, 1.800.946.4452, playatgila.com

Rock ’n’ Roll Band: The Music of Boston

7:30 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 1, AND SATURDAY, APRIL 2 Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale, tickets start at $10, 480.850.7777, casinoarizona.com

Hollywood Yates

8 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 1 WKP Sports & Entertainment, 10438 Wekopa Way, Fort McDowell, free, 480.789.4957, wekopacasinoresort.com

Priminition

8 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 2 WKP Sports & Entertainment, 10438 Wekopa Way, Fort McDowell, free, 480.789.4957, wekopacasinoresort.com

Will Smith Trivia

7 P.M. TUESDAY, APRIL 5 Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale, free admission, registration is from 6 to 7 p.m., 480.850.7777, casinoarizona.com

Calumet

8 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 8 WKP Sports & Entertainment, 10438 Wekopa Way, Fort McDowell, free, 480.789.4957, wekopacasinoresort.com

George Lopez

7 P.M. AND 10 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 9, Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, tickets start at $48, 1.800.946.4452, playatgila.com

Quantum

8 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 9 WKP Sports & Entertainment, 10438 Wekopa Way, Fort McDowell, free, 480.789.4957, wekopacasinoresort.com

Bruno and the Hooligans

7:30 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 15, AND SATURDAY, APRIL 16 Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd Street, ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Scottsdale, tickets start at $10, 480.850.7777, casinoarizona.com

Duane Moore & Mogollon 8 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 15 WKP Sports & Entertainment, 10438 Wekopa Way, Fort McDowell, free, 480.789.4957, wekopacasinoresort.com

Mick Adams and the Stones: Rolling Stones Tribute

9 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 16 WKP Sports & Entertainment, 10438 Wekopa Way, Fort McDowell, tickets start at $25, 480.789.4957, wekopacasinoresort.com

Da Vu Mua Xuan Tinh Yeu: Dancing in the Springtime

8 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 16 Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard,

Chandler, tickets start at $30, 1.800.946.4452, playatgila.com

Ana Barbara y Banda Machos 8 P.M. THURSDAY, APRIL 21 Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, tickets start at $40, 1.800.946.4452, playatgila.com

The Long Run: Eagles Tribute

7:30 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, AND SATURDAY, APRIL 23 Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale, tickets start at $10, 480.850.7777, casinoarizona.com

The Walkens

8 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 22 WKP Sports & Entertainment, 10438 Wekopa Way, Fort McDowell, free, 480.789.4957, wekopacasinoresort.com

Rhythm Edition

8 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 23 WKP Sports & Entertainment, 10438 Wekopa Way, Fort McDowell, free, 480.789.4957, wekopacasinoresort.com

Native American All-Star Comedy

8 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 22 Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, tickets start at $20, 1.800.946.4452, playatgila.com

RagDolls: A Tribute to Aerosmith

7:30 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 29, AND SATURDAY, APRIL 30 Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale, tickets start at $10, 480.850.7777, casinoarizona.com

Brea Burns and the Boleros 8 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 29 WKP Sports & Entertainment, 10438 Wekopa Way, Fort McDowell, free, 480.789.4957, wekopacasinoresort.com

OneGunn One Love: The Bob Marley Experience 9 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 30 WKP Sports & Entertainment, 10438 Wekopa Way, Fort McDowell, $20, 480.789.4957, wekopacasinoresort.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

SPORTS

31

CHEER » HIT » HIKE » LEAD » ROOT » COMPETE

BIG HITS

Vinyl shopping trips on deck for pitcher Noé Ramirez

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

S

itting near his Salt River Fields locker, D-backs reliever Noé Ramirez is chill. His legs are stretched out and his head down as he looks at his phone.

It’s a stark contrast to the Noé Ramirez who punches his mitt and shouts when he gets the third out.

His off-the-mound demeanor aligns with his love of music — in particular, laidback reggae/roots reggae. He is also an avid vinyl collector who’s so obsessed that he’s heading to San Francisco on an off day to pick the brain — and collection — of a longtime enthusiast.

“Old reggae has always been No. 1,” he says with a smile. “I love collecting original vinyl. So, I’m trying to make connections in that scene, too. Older DJs are really helping me with my collection.”

Ramirez recently purchased rarities by the reggae singer Rising Son. He says he

could feel the vibes of previous listeners on the record, which was made in 1978.

He and his friends scour music calendars to see who’s performing a particular night.

“We find someone who looks interesting and listen to their music,” Ramirez says. “It could be any genre. We just go.”

Music is in Ramirez’s blood. His father is a drummer who plays classic rock covers ranging from Led Zeppelin to the Bee Gees. Ramirez’s dad taught him to have a good ear for music.

“I’ve always been a sound guy,” he says. “I was just talking to one of our strength coaches about earbuds. I lost my AirPods. I think it’s a good thing. I want good quality-sounding earbuds.”

CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS Charity work is equally as important to Ramirez, who was born in East Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents.

He, his two brothers and three sisters were raised in the Ramona Gardens

public housing development in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California.

An alumnus of Alhambra High School and Cal State Fullerton, Ramirez was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2011 draft. He made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2015 and was claimed by the Angels on waivers in 2017. Three years later, on December 7, 2020, he was traded to the Reds for Raisel Iglesias, and was released on March 27, 2021.

The following day, he joined the Angels again. On May 22, 2021, he signed a minor league contract with the D-backs, and was called up on June 18.

During his first stint with the Angels, Ramirez was honored with a Los Angeles City Council resolution for his accomplishments on and off the field.

Earlier this year, he started the foundation BRICKS, a reflection of the bricks in the projects. Ramirez further aids his hometown with baseball clinics for the Ramona Gardens Boys & Girls Club during the off season.

“I’m just going back to my roots and helping as many kids in the area as I possibly can,” says Ramirez, who donned a Boyle Heights shirt during an interview with Bally Sports while on the Angels. “Boyle Heights will always be in my heart for sure.

“I remember as a kid, good people would come out to us. The Dodgers were constantly coming in town. The Lakers would help out. I remember that feeling

when I was a kid, and I know how important it was.”

He tries to impart to children and fans that being in the big leagues is tough — not everyone can make it.

“The message we send is if you don’t make it in baseball, there are so many other fields you could be successful in.

“It’s all about mentality and seeking help when you need it. Some of these kids are hardheaded, and they don’t want to ask for help. We say it’s OK to ask for help.”

STEPPING FOOT IN THE DESERT A former Downtown LA resident, Ramirez wasn’t “a big desert guy” before he joined the D-backs. Spending Spring Training in Tempe with the Angels changed his tune.

“I was out here a bunch, and I just started to really appreciate Arizona and I started to like it more,” he says. “Being here with these guys is great. The team takes care of us well. It’s definitely a good vibe. I like it.”

Ramirez, who recently took up golf, is looking forward to exploring the Valley’s restaurants.

“I don’t consider myself a foodie,” he says. “But Los Angeles has so many gems and I’m constantly going out there. I’m hoping to do the same out here. I just got here late last season. I’m sure there are some restaurants and gems out here. I’ll have to start asking around.”

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN

32

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

WR DeAndre Hopkins’ mom steps up

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

W

hen Arizona Cardinals fans watch DeAndre Hopkins, they see a talented, spirited athlete who maintains a tough exterior.

His mother, Sabrina Greenlee, witnesses something a little different.

“He’s always been a momma’s boy — although he might not admit it,” the South Carolina resident says with a laugh. “I’m definitely proud of him — not only on the football field, but the businessman he’s become as well.”

Life wasn’t always so playful for their family. Greenlee’s story is filled with cycles of abuse, teen pregnancy, and a violent attempt on her life that ultimately left her completely blind.

Although her life has been “no crystal stair,” she credits her faith as the fuel that equips her with the confidence and tenacity to inspire others to repair, recreate and restore their purpose and infinite potential.

Greenlee will soon share her story through her memoir and is preparing for BRON Studios to make a movie about her life.

“It’s a little surreal that they would make a depiction about my life,” she says. “I’m embracing it each day. I’m even thinking about who’s going to portray me. When they asked, I said Taraji P. Henson. She’s the same age as me and has an amazing personality. I am excited, but now I can’t believe this is really happening.”

Working on the memoir and film has been trying for Greenlee. They unveiled a lot of darkness, but it led to healing.

“Between the two, I did a lot of meditation and a lot of floating in the water to relieve stress,” she says.

“Definitely, between writing the book proposal and the movie script, a lot of self-reflection and a lot of healing came about.”

S.M.O.O.O.T.H. OPERATOR Greenlee is the founder and CEO of S.M.O.O.O.T.H. Inc. — Speaking Mentally, Outwardly Opening Opportunities Toward Healing.

Through this platform, she and her team aim to educate and empower as many women and children as possible through mentorship, counseling and outreach. She intends to continue ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

raising awareness year-round by unmasking the myth and unveiling the many different shades of purple surrounding domestic abuse.

S.M.O.O.O.T.H. has started operating in Arizona, which marks its third state.

“I’m really ecstatic, with DeAndre having this amazing year coming up,” she says.

“We take women who are in shelters, as they’re transitioning into their own dwelling — whether it be a home, a condo, it doesn’t matter. My philosophy is if you have a key, we can help you.”

Greenlee and two S.M.O.O.O.T.H. members are certified life coaches who set the women up for success.

“Most of the members of S.M.O.O.O.T.H. haven’t gone through domestic violence themselves, which is pretty amazing,” Greenlee explained.

“I get to teach them and take them into shelters. It’s really great that they haven’t been through it, but they’re prepared and they did the training to understand what the ladies need to go through to heal.”

Greenlee is a recipient of the 2020 Houston Humanitarian Awards. She has been featured on ESPN, USA Today and “Living in Fear: Chronicles I and II,” which won an Emmy, and regularly appears on local media outlets from South Carolina to Texas. Sabrina appeared on ABC news with the CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

“The ESPN article was definitely amazing,” she says. “It got so much exposure. We had an outpouring of support from the NFL and NBA. People knew who I was then. While we’re sitting in the airport, I get, ‘Is that…?’

My daughter just starts shaking her head like, ‘That’s her.’”

She is the mother of four children — Kesha Smith, who is a Houston-area Realtor; musician Marcus Greenlee; Hopkins and model Shanterria Cobb.

Cobb was named after Greenlee’s brother, Terry Smith, who died in 1997.

Besides her family, faith has helped Greenlee through her turbulent life.

“Nine, 10 years ago, there was no way I could have thought about faith,” she says. “I was just so broken and really in a hurtful place. Over the years, I did a lot of reflecting, a lot of self-healing, realizing my faith played a big part of who I am now.

“Had I not had faith, I would have crumbled a long time ago. I would say my faith is stronger now than it ever has been.”

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

FAMILY

33

FROLIC » DISCOVER » IMAGINE » FAMILY » FUN » CONNECT

CELEBRATING EASTER

Bunny Balloon Blast takes off at Salt River Fields

By Matthew Elitz

T

o mark the coming of Easter, Salt River Fields is holding its first Bunny Balloon Blast, an aerial celebration of the season.

Chris Bonnell, director of marketing at Salt River Fields, said there will be a variety of family activities.

“We’re going to have about 10 to 15 hot air balloons, plus free candy for kids,” Bonnell says.

“We’ll have a mobile petting zoo with bunnies, ducks, baby lambs and more.

We’ll have drinks, music, bounce houses and rides for the kids to enjoy. We’ll also have tethered balloon rides that will give people a good view of the event at about 50 to 75 feet off the ground.”

Most importantly for kids, the Easter Bunny will arrive by helicopter to

spend time with the kids and enjoy the celebration.

After the pandemic quarantine, Bonnell says it’s nice to get fresh air and enjoy the world again. The event will give everyone an opportunity to spend time with friends and family out in the open, and give their kids something to look forward to.

“It’s a first-time event, so we’re really excited to get this one off the ground,” Bonnell says.

“It’s kind of a sister event to our fall Spooktacular event. That event gets thousands of kids and parents out there. There’s not really a large-scale event on Easter yet, so this could be a great event for kids and parents to have some fun, get some candy, and enjoy a nice atmosphere. With all that’s been going out in the world, it’s good to have everyone get back out there.”

Bunny Balloon Blast WHEN; 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16 WHERE: Salt River Fields, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale COST: $15 for adults; $10 for kids who are 3 to 12; free children 2 and younger INFO: saltriverfields.com

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ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

34

MUSIC

LISTEN » JAM » INNOVATE » EVOLVE » ROCK » SING Mo Lowda & the Humble

Cornelio Vega y su Dinastia

Porches

Dean Nelson

Powerman 5000

Ed Schrader’s Music Beat

Wayfarer

Greet Death

By Connor Dziawura

High Pulp and Jared Mattson

APRIL 7

Harmonica Band Showcase

APRIL 1

Jan Sandwich: Tribute to Doris Day

Beartooth

The Rhythm Room, 7 p.m., tickets available at the door

Banana Gun w/American Mile and Mississippi Nova

Kevin Eubanks and Orrin Evans

Cavetown

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $15-$17

LIVE MUSIC

CALENDAR Last Exit Live, 8:30 p.m., $10-$15

Marco Antonio Solís

Footprint Center, 8 p.m., $54.50-$944.50

The Out of the Woods Tour w/Rav, Kill Bill: The Rapper, Airospace and Scuare

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

PHXLIGHTS: Altered Orbit

Phoenix Raceway, 7 p.m., $65-$289

Soul Power Band

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

Stevie Stone

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $20-$25

Last Exit Live, 8:30 p.m., $10-$15 The Nash, 3 p.m., $10.80-$35

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

Scotty McCreery

Chandler Center for the Arts’ Mainstage, 7 p.m., $48-$88

Summer of Love: A Tribute to the Music of 1967 The Rhythm Room, 4 p.m., $15

APRIL 4

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $15-$18 Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $18-$20 Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $20-$25 The Underground, 7 p.m., $15-$17

The Van Buren, 7 p.m., $37-$40 Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $50-$60

Choir Boy

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

The Health and Rifle Club

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

Meat Loaf Presents: Bat featuring The Neverland Express and Caleb Johnson

Bandaid Brigade

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

Billie Eilish

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

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $12-$15 Gila River Arena, 7:30 p.m., $125.50-$167.25

The Lucky Devils

SCC and CGCC Jazz Bands

The McCartney Years

Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $29-$75

Watkins Family Hour

Pinegrove

Yächtley Crew

APRIL 5

Marquee Theatre, 9 p.m., $30-$60

APRIL 2 Billie Eilish

Gila River Arena, 7:30 p.m., $350

Ghost Funk Orchestra

Yucca Tap Room, 9 p.m., free

Gully Boys and niiice.

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

Jermaine Lockhart

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $12.80-$40

The Nile, 8 p.m., $23.50-$28

Clairo w/Arlo Parks

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $45-$95

Dayseeker

The Underground, 6:30 p.m., $15

Joe Vann

Last Exit Live, 8:30 p.m., $12-$15

Sarah Shook & the Disarmers

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $13-$15

Sepultura

The Nile, 6 p.m., $25

Zero 9:36

The British Invasion

Enamour and Simon Doty Shady Park, 9 p.m., $18.75

Epik High and Woosung The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $49.50-$149.50

Jeff Hamilton Trio

The Nash, 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., $18.80-$60

Lil Durk

Reaper and Kumarion Sunbar, 9 p.m., $15

Johnny and Jaalene w/Kid Ramos

10 Years

MxPx

Crescent Ballroom, 7:30 p.m., $18-$20

The Tony Bennett Songbook

PHXLIGHTS: Altered Orbit

Carolyn Wonderland

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

Delta Sleep

VR Sex and Drab Majesty

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

Valley Bar, 7 p.m., $16-$18

Destroyer of Light

APRIL 9

Drowning Pool and Ill Niño

Angélique Kidjo: “Remain in Light”

Phoenix Raceway, 7 p.m., $65-$289

Sickick

Sunbar, 9 p.m., $30

Stephen Ashbrook

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $20

Teddy Swims

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out

APRIL 3 The Dead Rabbits

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $15-$18

Yucca Tap Room, 7:30 p.m., $10 Marquee Theatre, 7 p.m., $35-$60

Meat Loaf Presents: Bat featuring The Neverland Express and Caleb Johnson

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

Sunbar, 9 p.m., $23

Lights

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., tickets unavailable

Los Tigres Del Norte La Reunion Arizona Federal Theatre, 8 p.m., $62.50-$383.50

Marauda

Marquee Theatre, 9 p.m., $23-$38 The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $10.80-$35 Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $18-$20

Tom Rush

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $44.50-$54.50

APRIL 10 The Band Camino

Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $29.50-$62

Big D and the Kids Table

Yucca Tap Room, 7:30 p.m., $18-$22

Clementine Was Right

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $28.50-$38.50

Tempe Jazz Day Concert featuring Nayo Jones

Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $29.50

Krewella

Lips Turn Blue

APRIL 6

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

Gila River Arena, 7:30 p.m., see website for ticket prices

Cadillac Angels

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $18-$22

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $20

Journey and Toto

Arizona Federal Theatre, 8 p.m., $39.50-$204.50

Tell All Your Friends

Jody Wisternoff

Jeffrey Martin

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band w/Zach Person

The Texas Tenors

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

The Underground, 7 p.m., $10-$13

Baby Keem

Yucca Tap Room, 9 p.m., free

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

Yucca Tap Room, 9 p.m., $12

Max Beckman

Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $52

Highlands Church, 7:30 p.m., $49-$84

Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $10

APRIL 8

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

Terminally Ill

Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $50-$120

Yucca Tap Room, 9 p.m., free Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $45-$75 Highlands Church, 7:30 p.m., $49-$84

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Virginia G. Piper Theater, 8 p.m., $36-$60

Bardz

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $15

The Rhythm Room, 1 p.m., $10 The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., tickets available at the door

Francine Reed

The Nash, 3 p.m., $14.80-$45

Joy Oladokun

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $18-$20

Plosivs

The Rebel Lounge, 8:30 p.m., $20-$24

Point North

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $16-$19

Trace Bundy

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

Wallows

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $35-$125

APRIL 11 Babehoven

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $10-$13

Deserta

The Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $12-$15

Saba

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $27-$30

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

APRIL 12

APRIL 16

ASU Jazz Combos

Alan Parsons Live Project

Cannons

Behemoth and Arch Enemy

Drug Church

Beth Hart

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $5-$10 Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $18-$50 The Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $18-$20

Earthless

Yucca Tap Room, 7 p.m., $20

Ministry w/the Melvins and Corrosion of Conformity

Celebrity Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $35-$125 Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $34-$54

Hippo Campus and Ginger Root The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $27-$30,

Ken Peplowski and Diego Figueiredo

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

Phoebe Bridgers

Arizona Federal Theatre, 7:30 p.m., see website for ticket prices

Poppy

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $27-$227

Vacations

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

APRIL 14 AJ Odneal

Rosie Flores & the Talismen The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $20

Ultra Q

APRIL 24

Freddie Gibbs

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$59.50

Mesa Amphitheatre, 6 p.m., $75-$95 Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $16-$18

Halocene

The Rebel Lounge, 6 p.m., $15-$55

Haunt

Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $16-$18

Las Calakas

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $25-$30

Nattali Rize

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

Pup

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $25-$28

Ron Pope

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $35.50-$46.50

Will Anderson plays Benny Goodman

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $14.80-$45

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

APRIL 17

Ashe

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., sold out

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $25.50-$100.50

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $50

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $25-$75

Cold

Sunbar, 9 p.m., $20

Geographer

The Nile, 8 p.m., $25-$30

Billy Bob Thornton & the Boxmasters

CID

APRIL 13 Beach Bunny

The Record Company

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $5-$10

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $20-$25

Chelsea Cutler

The Underground, 7 p.m., $13-$15

Twin Tribes

ASU Jazz Combos

Alan Doyle Iya Terra

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $29.50-$59.50 Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $25 The Pressroom, 8:30 p.m., $25-$125

The Underground, 8 p.m., $14-$17

Booker T. Jones

Girl Talk and Hugh Augustine

Dan Andriano & the Bygones

Jack Symes

Grateful Shred

Kate Clover

Hot Chip and LA Priest

Pound

Joel Corry

APRIL 21

Martha Redbone

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $27-$30 Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $14-$16 Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $15

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $12-$15

The Nile, 7 p.m., $18

Marquee Theatre, 9 p.m., $25-$60 The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $35-$38 Shady Park, 3 p.m., $21.25

Animals as Leaders

Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $25-$35

Ho99o9

The Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $12-$15

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $25-$45 Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $18-$20

The Hu

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $30-$129

Mingus Centennial Celebration The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $14.80-$45

Scott H. Biram

Yucca Tap Room, 7:30 p.m., $15-$20

Tommy Castro and the Painkillers The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $26

Viagra Boys

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out

APRIL 22

Pop Icons

UFEST 2022 w/Rise Against, and Coheed and Cambria Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2:35 p.m., $25-$159

APRIL 25 Haim

Arizona Federal Theatre, 8 p.m., $39.50-$399

Hot Flash Heat Wave

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $15-$18

The Menzingers

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $28-$30

Noroth

Alix Perez

The Underground, 7 p.m., $10

Ben Hedquist

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $12-$15

Boston Manor

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $18-$22

The Nile, 6 p.m., $16

Built to Spill

Ace Frehley

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

APRIL 18

Electric Six

Kim Weston Jazz Quartet

The Underground, 6 p.m., $20-$23

ASU Jazz Night at the Nash!

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $5-$10

Beast in Black

The Nile, 7 p.m., $25-$28

The Chats

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $22.50-$35

Jeff Dayton: Songs from Glen Campbell and the Legends

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $25-$40

Koffee

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $30-$60

Mono

The Rebel Lounge, 8:30 p.m., $17

Traitors

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $18 The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $10.80-$35 The Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $23-$25 Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $30-$35

Archspire

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

Code Orange

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

Conan Gray

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

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $40-$70

Spiritualized

Molchat Doma

The Nile, 8 p.m., $22-$25

APRIL 15

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $37-$50

Willis

APRIL 23

Chandler Center for the Arts (livestream), 7:30 p.m., free

Realize and Black Magnet

The Underground, 7 p.m., $12-$14

Tech N9ne

Apocalyptica

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $36-$60

Baba B

The Nile, 9 p.m., $20

Bruce Forman

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $14.80-$45

Gangstagrass

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20

Sons of Kemet

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $30.50-$44.50

Terror Reid

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

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Sunbar, 9 p.m., $19.25

The Veer Union

Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $15

35

Orpheum Theatre - Phoenix, 8 p.m., $150-$199

Country Music Legends w/Michelle Wright, Darryl Worley, Ty Herndon and Gavin Torel

The Van Buren, 7 p.m., $39.50-$42.50

APRIL 20

Ms Nina

The Nile, 6:30 p.m., $20 The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $35-$149

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $16-$18

APRIL 19 Dragonforce

The Nile, 6:30 p.m., $30-$35

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $42.50-$72.50

girl in red

John Scofield

Bernadette Peters

Highlands Church, 7:30 p.m., $49-$111

Booker T. Jones

Together Pangea

APRIL 26 Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $32.50-$65

Andy McKee and Yasmin Williams Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $33.50-$44.50

Michael Seyer

The Underground, 7 p.m., $13

Ringo Deathstarr

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $13

Slow Crush

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

APRIL 27 Amethyst Kiah

Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $25-$35

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$59.50

Great Good Fine OK

Carole Pellatt Quartet

Igor & the Red Elvises

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

Meute

Collie Buddz

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

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $23-$48

Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita Suba Trio

Deftones

Arizona Federal Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $328

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

Sarah Darling w/Kassi Jayde

Hoodcelebrityy & Friends

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

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $18-$20 The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10

Jordan Davis

Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $29.50-$59.50

The Offspring

Arizona Federal Theatre, 8 p.m., $49.50-$109.50

Orville Peck

Le Youth

Pom Pom Squad

The Stone Foxes

LP & the Vinyl

Spaceface

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $35-$38 The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $20-$23

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $17 Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $20-$25

The Underground, 8 p.m., $15-$18 Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $13-$15

continued on pg. 37 ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

ARE U READY?

36

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

UFest bands offer an eclectic mix

By Alex Gallagher

F

or the first time since 2019, 98KUPD’s signature festival UFest is set to return to its biggest stage and with its most expansive lineup, ranging from Coheed and Cambria to DED. “We’re going to bring the energy and the heavy, but the festival offers an eclectic mix,” says DED vocalist Joe Cotela, who grew up listening to “The Big Red Radio.”

“I’ve always been a fan of that at festivals. I don’t like watching the same band 10 times, and I think it’s cool that there’s a nice mix.”

Although the lineup’s genres vary, it is cohesive.

“We have a lot of friends in metal bands and, while we’re not as metal as the others, we love that genre of music and we get along with most of those guys,” Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge says. “No matter who we’re playing with, we do our own thing and we go up there and try to throw a party.”

DED and Dropout Kings have aided one another in its ascent into rock stardom, while Pennywise served as “older brothers” to Rise Against.

Pennywise

“Rise Against is a perfect pairing, in my opinion, for Pennywise,” Dragge says. “They grew up listening to us, and we were their big brothers for a minute, if you will.”

UFest will be special to Rise Against and Pennywise, as it comes at the tail end of their North American tour. The festival gives them the chance to tinker with an already established and practiced set list.

“It’s interesting, because when you’re locked into headline mode, usually

you get a longer set time,” Rise Against bassist Joe Principe says. “With a festival, the set is usually cut down so it’s like the econo version of the headlining set and it’s always a bit difficult to pick and choose what songs we’re going to play for a shortened set.”

Rise Against

For Dragge, however, closing the tour with the festival is the cherry on top.

“When you go to the festival, you see a bunch of people you knew, some crew guys, and some friends who have been absent for the past few years that

we’ve missed, so it’ll be a big party and a good way to wrap up the tour,” Dragge says.

The set list will look familiar to Principe’s fans.

“I can say, without a doubt, that there are going to be the staples like ‘Prayer of the Refugee’ and ‘Savior,’” Principe says.

“But we will also have faster songs that are great for the live setting, like ‘Collapse,’ ‘Chamber of the Cartridge’ or even ‘Survive.’ There will definitely be a good mix of Rise Against songs in the set.”

Prior to hitting the road, Pennywise played its first five albums in its entirety.

That provided the band with a refresher on songs that had been pushed to the back burner.

“We have a lot of songs at our disposal right now that I would be stoked to throw the ones that are fun and doable that we haven’t played in a long time into that set,” Dragge says.

However, fans seeking to hear more contemporary works will likely be enthralled by Rise Against’s set list. “‘Nowhere Generation’ and ‘Talking to Ourselves’ are on their way to becoming more ingrained in people’s heads,” Principe says. “But there are also some staple Rise Against songs on the record, like ‘The Numbers’ — which is a great live track and tackles our punk rock roots — and ‘Broken Dreams Inc.’ are mainstays.”

No matter what band, genre or songs ticket holders come to hear at UFest, Principe aims to walk off the stage knowing he made fans happy.

“I hope the fans experience a sense of joy and walk away from the show feeling better than they walked into it,” he says.

98KUPD’s UFest w/Rise Against, Coheed and Cambria, Pennywise, Highly Suspect, Atreyu, DED, Plush and Dropout Kings!

WHEN: 2:30 p.m. Sunday April 25 WHERE: Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Avenue, Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $25 INFO: 98kupd.com

tertainment

n ide to Arizona E u G s r’ e id s In e Th

.com

entertainermag ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

FINDING HIS VOICE THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

37

Jared Kolesar is perfecting Wheelwright

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

W

heelwright’s Jared Kolesar believes he’s written his perfect song.

Premiering April 6, “3 Dots” is that track.

“The song is, honestly, one of those times where the song comes out exactly like you had imagined it would,” says Kolesar, who formerly helmed Jared and the Mill.

“I am so thrilled about it.”

Described as “this crazy futuristic Western,” “3 Dots” shares the anxiety of seeing someone typing a text, stopping and then never sending.

“It could be a dramatic state of mind from a breakup or fear of a breakup that causes a lot of anxiety,” he says. “You don’t know what to say.”

Expanding on the “crazy futuristic Western” theme, Kolesar says the song has a 2049 vibe.

“Imagine a cowboy ‘Blade Runner,’” he says with a laugh. “It’s a little bit Western and pretty futuristic. I got to toy around and make all the synth textures. It was just me and the producer (Mike Pepe) in the room working on it for a week in LA. It felt like a fairytale. I always wanted a song to sound like this — and it feels amazing.”

As of March 30, Kolesar counts 944 presaves of the single, the most he’s gathered. Fans can do so by visiting https://linktr.ee/wheelwright.

“I’m stoked about it,” he says. “The song has been getting good attention on TikTok. It’s gearing up to be a very special song.”

Kolesar has seven additional songs in the can, and they’ll be released one at a time, instead of as an album. The trend, he says,

continued from pg. 35

APRIL 28

encourages fans to keep returning.

“That’s the way things are going right now, unless there’s a lot of label support,” Kolesar says. “Musicians release one chunk of seven songs and then (listeners) move on to the next release.

“For now, I’m releasing singles and keeping on formulating the vision of what Wheelwright is as a character,” he says.

“This year will show a lot of growth.”

He says the songs will define his career as an artist. His previous songs as Wheelwright didn’t accurately represent his project.

“They were not genuinely Wheelwright, but they were made in the stage where the world was still in a stage of stasis where everything shut down,” Kolesar says. “I hadn’t been touring or anything. I was still trying to find my voice as Wheelwright. Now I’m fully realized in this life, being a solo artist, creating this character as Wheelwright.”

The sounds make sense, and the visuals are coming together, he says.

“They’re working all in concert like it wasn’t before,” he adds. “I feel like it’s me now. I’m Wheelwright, and I am what you see in front of you. I’m dialing in this vision of a modern Western hero who’s traversing this futuristic landscape in the West. It’s steeped in tradition. My roots are in folk and Western music. I think it’s really unique, and I’m really settling into it.”

Motherfolk w/Wheelwright WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, May 19 WHERE: Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix COST: $15 in advance; $18 day of show; 21 and older INFO: valleybarphx.com

APRIL 29 Allan Rayman

Bob Log III

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $22.50-$35

Cody Johnson & Friends

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $18

Crescent Ballroom, 7:30 p.m., $12-$15 Mesa Amphitheatre, 6 p.m., $45-$75

Au5 and Chime Ilan Bluestone

Sunbar, 9 p.m., $21

DakhaBrakha

Joanne Shaw Taylor

Dizzy Wright

Lady Lamb and The Ballroom Thieves

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $44.50-$54.50 The Rebel Lounge, 8:30 p.m., $20$170

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $38.50-$49.50 Valley Bar, 7 p.m., $22-$25

Interpol

Official Blues Brothers Revue

We3

Snail Mail

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $50-$70 Chandler Center for the Arts (livestream), 7:30 p.m., free

Highlands Church, 7:30 p.m., $35-$72 The Nile, 7 p.m., $22

Soul Power Band

available at the door

APRIL 30 Bad Luck and Dollar Signs The Underground, 6 p.m., $12

Jacques Greene

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $22

The Jimi Primetime Smith / Bob Corritore Blues Band

BTSM

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

Carin Leon

Valley Bar, 7 p.m., $20-$23

Gila River Arena, 7 p.m., $59-$634.25

Kenny Endo

Dani Cutler’s 50th Birthday Bash w/Fire by Night, Turn Zero, the Woodworks and Let Alone

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

Lisa Fischer

Phoenix Raceway, 8 p.m., $45-$125

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $12-$15

The Funky Latina Presents: A Night of Paz, Love, Funk w/ Chrisol, The Brown Boyz, The Voxes, Secret Attraction, Bella and DJ Awdre

Jon Spencer & the HITmakers

Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $35-$45

Lust

Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., $10

Omar Apollo

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $25-$28

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20-$53

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., tickets ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

38

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

AN ARTISTIC SOUNDWAVE

The Health & Rifle Club find its home away from home

By Alex Gallagher

F

or a band that practices in a rehearsal studio that doubles as an art studio, the chance to paint the walls with sound at any venue is exciting for the budding shoegazers The Health & Rifle Club.

Additionally, playing at a more intimate venue also provides The Health & Rifle Club the bandwidth to project its sonically soothing sounds to an engaged audience. On Thursday, April 7, they’ll do so at The Rhythm Room with Faun Flora, The Lonesome Wilderness and Lou. “Because we all have an equal voice in the songs, it comes out,” drummer Palmer Saylor says.

“It feels like it’s an equal investment, which makes it easy for us to put our hearts and souls into the live show.”

The Health & Rifle Club recently injected new energy with the addition ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

of guitarist Andrew Saks. He was a fan of the music before joining, and he’s still smitten every time he takes the stage with them.

“For me — with fresh ears — every time I get into and dive deeper into the songs, I like it more and more,” Saks says. “Personally, I always love to play.

There’s an element of playing in front of people that takes a song and gives it new life.”

The Health & Rifle Club songs “Gold in the Throes of Summer” and “If You Need This” remain his top tracks to play live.

Saks uses his fandom to enthrall audiences and strategize how to grow the band. To plot its ascension, The Health & Rifle Club plays gigs with similarsounding bands.

“It’s surprising to us because the music scene has been an up-and-down, love/hate thing for the past 20 years,” Saylor says. “We’ve found some bands who are very complementary to our

sound. We’ve made fast friends with a lot of these people that we’re sharing bills with.”

Still, Saylor hopes to display the band’s originality.

“We’re hoping people find us original,” Saylor says.

“Much like a lot of new bands in Phoenix, we are ultimately striving and navigating our way through the current new music scene. We’re hoping that our listeners hear some unique music, ultimately helping us emerge as some of the new sounds of Phoenix.”

Saks feels that venues like The Rhythm Room offer a better way to appeal to fans and reach the band’s target audience.

“We’re always trying to find an audience,” Saks says. “So, we’re looking for places that make sense and we can reach people. Sometimes, as a band, you’re always looking for opportunities.

You can play at the most reputable place

in town to four people, whereas you can play at a coffeehouse for 30 to 40 people.”

Following the show, the band plans to hibernate in the studio to record another EP. “Our battle plan is to put out a series of EPs just to get out as much as we can,” Saks says. “As we mature as a band, especially with the new lineup, the sound will evolve to a certain extent to be more representative of what we have going at the moment.”

The Health & Rifle Club w/Faun Flora, The Lonesome Wilderness and Lou WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday April 7 WHERE: The Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix COST: $8; 21 and older INFO: healthandrifleclub.com and rhythmroom.com

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