The Entertainer! - May 2021

PHX METRO » MAY 2021

‘RISING’

STAR Solomon Asante is living an adventure in the Valley

UP IN SMOKE

Leo Chavez follows his father’s dream

ROYAL BLOOD

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

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CONTENTS

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‘RISING’

STAR

PIVOTING FOR POTSTICKERS

Pizza chain partners with popular bao concept

24 UP IN SMOKE

Leo Chavez follows father’s dream with barbecue

Solomon Asante is living an adventure in the Valley

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ON THE COVER

on the cover: Phoenix Rising star Solomon Asante Cover photo courtesy of Tim Sealy

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

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Times Media Group 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282 Phone 480.348.0343 Fax 480.348.2109 entertainermag.com

publisher

Steve T. Strickbine

steve@entertainermag.com

Vice President

Michael Hiatt mhiatt@timespublications.com

NEW LEADER IN TOWN

Testaverde Jr. hopes to make his mark on the Rattlers

ExecutiveEditor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

christina@timespublications.com

Assistant Editor Connor Dziawura

cdziawura@timespublications.com

designer

Shannon Mead

production manager

CONTENTS A SPECIAL

UPFRONT

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Phoenix Rising star Solomon Asante • Venues Reopen • The Sugar Thieves • Sports reporter Jody Jackson • Royal Blood • Arizona Black Rodeo

CITY

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Juliana Hatfield • Funniest Person with a Day Job competition • Janelle Loes • Fired Pie and Wow Bao

ARTS

TREAT OF AFRICA

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Zuzu acrobats bring tradition to Phoenix

Chuck Brueckmann, Nicole Busch, David Doobinin, Lisa Johnson, Kaelyn Loes, Tim Sealy, Raina Virginia, Natasha Wilson

21 ONE COPY PER READER

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Mad Mixologist • Grand Canyon Brewing and Distillery • Great Beer Pairings • Parking Lot Wine Event

The Entertainer! is circulated throughout the Phoenix Metro area, especially concentrated in entertainment districts. ©2020 Affluent Publishing, LLC. A free online subscription is available to all readers simply by going to entertainermag.com/subscribe.

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Arizona Rattlers sign Vincent Testaverde Jr.

FAMILY

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Zuzu African Acrobats • Lego Trolls World Tour

MUSIC

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Mighty Mighty Bosstones • LiL MiK_e • Myles Kennedy • The Venomous Pinks • Scarypoolparty • Electric Sol • Punk in the Park Arizona

IN CLOSING Numbers

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contributing writers

Allison Bailin Batz, Zakkary Brog, Kristine Cannon, Kristen Castillo, Oliva Dow, Alex Gallagher, Ethan Greni, Laura Latzko, Claire Spinner, Annika Tomlin, Ron Wade

Contributing Photographers

Novel Ice Cream • Eat by Stacey Weber • U.S. Egg • Herb ’n’ Smoke

SPORTS

Aaron Kolodny

aaron@entertainermag.com

Pablo Robles

Scottsdale Philharmonic • Erin McLoughlin • “Best of Broadway: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber”

BEER AND WINE

circulation director

Staff Photographer

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DINING

Courtney Oldham

production@timespublications.com

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PUNK IN THE PARK

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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Live music returns to Big Surf Waterpark 480.348.0343

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ROAD TRIPPIN’ WITH MY FRIEND Find 5 Great Day Trips From the Valley

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UPFRONT

PHX » CITY » LOCAL » PRIDE » DO » SEE

‘EVERYTHING IS PERFECT’ Solomon Asante is living an adventure in the Valley

By Ethan Greni

B

y all accounts, soccer, or football, is the world’s most popular sport. “The beautiful game” is played in nearly every country around the world and garners global audiences during events like the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics and the UEFA Champions League.

The United States is another matter, however.

In the United States, the four sports traditionally considered to be the “Big Four” are American football, baseball, basketball and hockey. Soccer is on the rise, with the country’s top professional league, Major League Soccer, continuously growing and expanding.

But it still has a way to go before it turns the Big Four into the Big Five.

Still, even if soccer remains an afterthought for the casual American sports fan, the United States has funds and resources devoted to the sport that some countries can’t compete with, so there are plenty of incentive for players from those countries to make their way here.

Enter Solomon Asante, the 31-year-old captain of Phoenix Rising FC. He says growing up in the West African nation of Ghana made it difficult to advance to higher levels in soccer.

“It wasn’t easy, because the infrastructure is not like here,” Asante says. “We were lacking a lot of things, (like) pitches, so it was a bit challenging.”

Despite the obstacles in his way, he says he knew early on that he was a gifted player. He couldn’t have reached this point without help.

“When I was a kid, I knew I had the talent, and I started working toward that talent because that was the only thing I knew how to do best,” Asante says.

“I realized my talent, and I started working toward it, and then when I was going (through different levels), I came

across so many people, with the coaches and top-class players, and now I’m here with a family. So, yeah, everyone has helped me.”

He says it was his former coach at Tout Puissant Mazembe, a professional club in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who persuaded him to come to the United States after he led Phoenix Rising.

“I think 2014, ’15, ’16, I had a coach back home, one of the French-speaking countries, Congo DR, Patrice Carteron, he came here in 2017,” Asante says about the former Phoenix Rising coach.

“So, he spoke to me. He told me to join him, and I think it was good opportunity. There was nothing more I could do there. I had to come here and get a new adventure.”

Adventure is certainly a good way of describing Asante’s time in the Valley. In just three seasons, he has won two USL Championship MVP awards and reached the USL Championship Final twice.

“Everything is perfect; everything is good so far,” Asante says. “They’ve taken me as one of their family. Everything is OK. They’ve taken very good care of me. The only thing I can do is pay them back, to try and get trophies and try and get awards for them.”

He’s far from his family, so the opportunities to communicate with them are limited to late at night Phoenix time, when it is early morning in Ghana.

“After practice now, when I go back to the apartment, I have to get some rest. Then, maybe around 10 p.m., I have to wake up and speak to the family back home,” Asante says. “So, I speak like four or five hours before I go back to sleep again.”

While that may sound like a nightmare schedule for some, Asante says it doesn’t bother him.

“No, I’m used to it, I’ve been doing this for a long time, so I’m used to it,” Asante says.

After defeating El Paso Locomotive

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

FC in last year’s Western Conference Final, the team traveled to Tampa Bay in late October for the Final match on November 1.

On Halloween, the day before the Final, the match was canceled after multiple Tampa Bay Rowdies players tested positive for COVID-19. In lieu of a USL Championship title, both clubs were named champions of their respective conferences.

It was an ending nobody wanted to see, but Asante says he doesn’t dwell on things he can’t control.

“It was frustrating,” Asante says. “We had an ambition. We were ready. We wanted to get the cup because we’ve worked for it and we’ve waited for it for a long time. So, for it to be canceled, it was so bad for us, but as players, what can we do? We just have to let it go and keep going.”

Phoenix won’t have to wait long to get back to Tampa Bay, as the club will return to Florida to take on the Rowdies on May 15, in its third match of the season.

That match could be seen by some as a sort of unofficial Final for last season, but Asante says Phoenix Rising won’t see it that way.

“No, for us, every game is a game — if it’s quarterfinals, semifinals, Finals, regular game,” Asante says. “Every game, we approach it like a normal game, and we are going to do our best. We are going to do what we know how to do best to win.”

Still, it is a game he says he’s looking forward to.

“It’s going to be amazing, a place that we wanted to be last year, and then here we come now,” Asante says. “It’s going

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to be one of the good games, one of the nice environments. We will be happy to be there.”

Rising fans, however, can look forward to the team’s newest venue at Wild Horse Pass, part of the Gila River Indian Community. The stadium seats 10,000 spectators and will be open at 50% capacity when the season begins April 30 against San Diego Loyal SC. “I think every club wants to get everything for its own,” Asante says.

“For Phoenix Rising to get its own stadium is amazing. It’s going to change a lot for us because we have two training pitches, and everything is nice here.

We know that this is our stadium. We cannot let the fans down. As the players, we are going to do everything possible to keep going, to keep winning for the club, but I think it’s an amazing place.”

While he knows winning a USL Championship title is the most important goal, he admits winning a third consecutive MVP award is another objective he has in his sights.

“For sure, I want to get the third one,” he says. “I have had the MVP twice.

Going for a third one isn’t going to be easy. It’s going to be very difficult, and I know that. I’m planning on trying to work extra hard.

“And then to achieve the MVP, and then overall the cup, the Final cup, that’s the most important, because we’ve got the Western Conference (title) twice, but we don’t have the Final cup. We’re going to work very hard for this cup.”

Phoenix Rising phxrisingfc.com

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UPFRONT | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | IN CLOSING

Venues stretch after an 18-month forced hibernation

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

W

ith steady vaccine rollout and falling cases, Arizona’s long-shuttered museums, sports venues, art galleries, stores, restaurants and more may finally welcome the public back inside.

Around Arizona, residents are returning to their favorite attractions as businesses plan safe openings. Many high-profile community and cultural hubs are already open for business.

The Entertainer! Magazine brings readers examples of what is happening around the state.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS/ CHASE FIELD Finally, baseball, in person. Chase Field is allowing fans in the ballpark, but unoccupied seats are zip-tied and cash transactions aren’t permitted. Let’s go cheer on the boys.

Info: dbacks.com

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF PHOENIX After being shuttered for more than 14 months, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix will reopen its interior spaces on May 29. The museum closed its doors on March 13, 2020, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic and has remained closed since then.

During its closure, the museum continued to fulfill its mission of engaging the minds, muscles and imaginations of children and the grownups who care about them with daily activities posted in English and Spanish on social media platforms; the creation of a virtual summer camp program

called Camp-In-A-Box; Thinker Player Creator Boxes aimed to give kids hands-on activities that they can do at home; and the 100% Outside, 100% Fun Adventure Play experience, which opened in late October.

On May 10, the museum will close to the general public for 19 days to dismantle its outdoor Adventure Play experience and prepare the museum’s interior exhibit spaces for visitors.

The museum will be open seven days a week, May 29 to Labor Day, September 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thereafter, operating hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays. COVID-19 precautions will remain in place upon reopening, including limited-capacity and timed ticketing. Mask requirements and social distancing will be enforced.

Admission price is $14.95. Members and children younger than the age of 1 are free.

In addition to reopening its indoor spaces, the museum will once again offer in-person summer camps with reduced number of campers per week. CMoP Camps begin May 31. CMoP Camps are $235 for members and $280 for nonmembers.

COVID-19 precautions, including mask requirements and social distancing, will be enforced.

Info: childrensmuseumofphoenix.org

HEARD MUSEUM The Heard Museum continues to celebrate its reopening with “Small Wonders,” which displays a range of intricately made small-format works including jewelry (rings, brooches, earrings and buckles) and specialty items such as silver seed pots and fetishes or stone carvings. It runs through the fall.

Each work of art is shaped in silver,

Children's Museum of Phoenix

gold or from a variety of gemstones, and all are from the Heard Museum’s permanent collection.

Highlights in the exhibition include the miniatures fabricated in silver, such as a treehouse made by Shawn Bluejacket (Shawnee), which has a removable roof and is fully equipped with a slide and a table with a hinged tabletop that, when opened, reveals a bundle of carrots that Bluejacket painted on the interior.

Other silver highlights include a yo-yo

by Daniel Sunshine Reeves (Navajo), a teapot with coral inlay by Darrell Jumbo (Navajo), and a tray and teapot set by Elizabeth Martha Whitman (Navajo).

For those who enjoy jewelry, there is an assortment of brooches, many in animal and insect forms, as well as complex figurative works by Denise Wallace (Chugach Sugpiaq/Alutiiq) and more traditional works in silver with inset turquoise. The exhibition is curated by Chief Curator Diana Pardue and Assistant Curator Velma Kee Craig (Diné).

Info: heard.org

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM

Musical Instrument Museum

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The MIM in North Phoenix has been open for a bit, and even concerts are happening here.

May shows include Marilyn Clark Silva (May 2); Arouna and Zaza Diarra (May 8); Giovanni Kiyingi (May 15); “NOLAZ: The Music of New Orleans” (May 21); Davina and the Vagabonds (May 22 and May 23); “MusicaNova Orchestra Presents: Centuries of Brass” (May 27); and “Blues in the Round”

featuring Hans Olson, Eric Ramsey and Mike Eldred (May 30).

May will see the MIM’s “Experience Central Africa” on Saturday, May 15, and Sunday, May 16. It’s included with paid admission; free for members.

Experience diverse music and dance traditions of Central Africa with live performances, curator talks and other family-friendly activities.

To support social distancing, the MIM is limiting the number of guests at each activity. Participation will be on a firstcome, first-served basis.

Info: mim.org

PHOENIX ART MUSEUM Phoenix Art Museum has many virtual and outdoor events to provide socially distanced art-engagement opportunities for the community, including a special screening of “Great Art on Screen” on Mother’s Day, May 9.

Discounted admission days for designated front-line workers and medical first responders will be treated to reduced admission from May 5 to May 16. Designated workers must present a work badge, ID, business card or pay stub at the museum’s visitor services desk upon check-in. The offer is not available online.

Info: phxart.org/art/exhibitions

PHOENIX RISING Phoenix Rising FC, Arizona’s highestlevel professional soccer team, recently moved its facilities and venue from South Scottsdale to Wild Horse Pass.

It increased seating capacity; improved VIP luxury suites, speed entry and exit

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

from the stadium complex; and added training fields.

“Since the launch of Phoenix Rising FC in 2016, fan support has been consistently increasing,” said Phoenix Rising FC Governor Berke Bakay. “Prior to COVID-19, 23 consecutive matches at Casino Arizona Field were sold out due to our amazing supporters. This move will immediately increase stadium seating by more than 35% and also provide room for future expansion.”

The new training facility and stadium made its debut on April 30 for the home opener.

Info: phxrisingfc.com

and disinfecting will occur frequently.

Seating will not be socially distanced.

As vaccines become more available and accessible, safety protocols will be updated to ensure patron and staff comfort and wellbeing.

Indoor performances resume June 2 with a summer series featuring “Becoming Dr. Ruth,” “Daddy Long Legs” and “Pump Boys and Dinettes.”

The 2021-22 season starts August 18 with “Steel Magnolias.”

Tickets to the summer series are on sale.

Info: phoenixtheatre.com

PHOENIX THEATRE COMPANY

TEMPE HISTORY MUSEUM, GALLERY AT TCA

The Phoenix Theatre Company is returning to indoor performance, just in time for its 102nd season. After a pivot to virtual and outdoor programming, The Phoenix Theatre Company welcomes audiences back to its three-stage complex starting in June to kick off a season highlighting stories of extraordinary everyday heroes and beloved characters that inspire hope and unity.

“We are unbelievably grateful to welcome back audiences to our home,” says Michael Barnard, producing artistic director. “Our stages may have been darkened, but our spirits are undimmed.

Over the last year, we’ve faced creative and financial challenges, and what’s lifted us up is our community. Now I am beyond grateful to announce our 102nd season, filled with stories of resilience and tenacity.”

As the theater company moves performances indoors, it will continue to monitor local health trends and work closely with public health agencies and Actors’ Equity Association to keep artist and community safety a priority.

When the theater company opens in June, face masks and temperature checks will be required for all staff and patrons. The indoor theater’s ventilation systems exceed recommendations by public health officials, and cleaning

The city of Tempe officials safely opened the Tempe History Museum and the Gallery at TCA in April.

Additionally, Tempe Public Library expanded its in-person services beginning April 5.

Tempe History Museum reopened for passive visitation of indoor exhibits.

Visit the webpage for hours and exhibit information, tempe.gov.

The museum’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays.

The Gallery at TCA, located within Tempe Center for the Arts, is open for indoor exhibitions. Other areas within the TCA remain closed. Visit the website for hours and exhibition information.

The gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mondays and Tuesdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays.

Safety protocols remain in place at all city facilities. Face coverings are always required, physical distancing must be in place, and capacity will be limited. Anyone who feels sick should stay home.

Remaining closed until further notice are Westside Multi-Generational Center, Tempe City Hall, Edna Vihel Arts Center, Tempe Center for the Arts (all areas except the gallery), Pyle Adult Recreation Center and all city senior centers.

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A REAL LIVE WIRE The Sugar Thieves are getting back to the stage

By Kristen Castillo

T

he Sugar Thieves, like most bands, watched their shows succumb to COVID-19 pandemic cancellations.

Now, as restrictions are being lifted, the Phoenix roots rock band is making a comeback.

Its latest show is 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at Murphy Park Amphitheater in Glendale. The concert is free, and all guests are required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

“We’re looking forward to the inperson experience,” says lead vocalist Meridith Moore. “We love seeing people in real life and being able to exchange energy and conversation.

Even with masks on, you’re still able to have that energy exchange, so that’s nice.

Moore said the band took a break from rehearsals to observe CDC guidelines for the coronavirus. Just before the pandemic, the Sugar Thieves laid down tracks for albums and took the quarantine to mix and master them. The ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

results are “Anytown USA” and the vinyl release “Driftin’ Away.” There’s also a CD called “Dreamin’.” Unfortunately, the band couldn’t promote them through concerts.

“We did a very unofficial release,” Moore says. “We had folks messaging us on Facebook and via email to order them, and we physically mailed them out. We never had a big CD release party. Hopefully we’ll do that in the fall.”

The new music doesn’t stop there. The Sugar Thieves will release an EP, “Good Old Time Tonight,” on Fervor Records toward the end of May. “Fervor Records mostly works with song placement, so our music will go into their catalog and they will shop it to TV shows and movies,” she says.

“Hopefully one or more of our tunes will be picked up for a popular TV series.

“It’s just nice to have another iron on the fire. We worked with their producer, Will Prinzi, who wrote a couple of brand-new songs with us. Some of the music on the EP are renditions of songs we already released, while others are

new. They’re fresh.”

Throughout the pandemic, the Sugar Thieves have made adjustments to stay connected with fans. The band held live, acoustic performances online broadcasted from its home. It was a new experience for the group.

“It’s very weird to perform a concert in your living room to a device,” Moore says. “It’s not natural for artists. We work together with our audience to make a show successful. We use their energy and they use ours, and we share that.”

Despite it being a foreign performing environment, Moore says the band’s fans could connect personally and intimately — more so than prior to the pandemic.

“If anything, it might be kind of fun for them to see our living room,” Moore says. “It’s intimate. They get to see our kids running around in the background while we’re performing. We’ve brought our fans into our home on many occasions to produce these shows, so that’s been kind of neat. But again, it’s never going to be like that in-person experience. But I definitely think it was better than nothing for sure.”

Though not the same experience as live music before the pandemic, the band is looking forward to seeing music lovers in person.

“We’re certainly missing everybody’s faces, so even though it’s an in-person show, everybody’s masked up,” Moore says. “We certainly missed that, and hopefully in the next year, we can get back to some normalcy where we don’t have to all have masks on.

“It means a lot to us that our fans are still there. We miss that concert environment. We feel very lucky and very blessed that we have a stage to come back to. This is such an important time for artists to have the support of their fans.”

The Sugar Thieves WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 8 WHERE: Murphy Park, Downtown Glendale COST: Free admission INFO: visitglendale.com/events or sugarthieves.com

GRATEFUL FOR HER JOB THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

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Jody Jackson exudes grace as a sports reporter

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

J

ody Jackson is in the midst of a hectic couple days.

The Diamondbacks’ game was postponed in the eighth inning, due to inclement weather, and it created a double header the following afternoon.

It added even more work to Jackson, who keeps a busy schedule as an anchor and reporter for Bally Sports.

She handles it all with grace and professionalism.

“It’s been kind of hectic with all the games,” says Jackson, a Tempe resident.

“I’m just grateful to be working.”

May 15 will be Jackson’s 21st anniversary with Fox Sports Arizona/ Bally Sports. Prior to that, she was a reporter/anchor with WIVB-TV in Buffalo and a reporter/update anchor with WQAM radio Miami/Fort Lauderdale.

Her career has been filled with highlights. While in Florida, she reported on the Marlins vs. Cleveland Indians World Series in 1997. In 1999, she covered the Stanley Cup between the Buffalo Sabres and the Dallas Stars.

“It ended up with Buffalo fans feeling dejected again,” she says. “I came here, and here the Diamondbacks go to the World Series. I had only been here a year and a half. That was just a thrill to be able to see a team go out and beat the Yankees in the World Series. A lot of people have memories of that series.

Arizona, for a long time, wanted to have a championship of any sort.”

Recently, she’s had a little fun with the Diamondbacks during post-game interviews. Newbie outfielder Nick Heath blew kisses to his mother after having a multi-hit game. Madison

Bumgarner, after his no-hitter, made two statements and dropped his headset. David Peralta shared he was disappointed in his performance and that led to a stellar game.

“That’s what I love about the live interviews,” she says. “You never know what’s going to happen. I look forward to the day when we can do in-person interviews for the post-game show.

“The guys are always on the headset anyway. Wrapping up with Nick when he said hi to his mom, Kimberly, was so adorable. It was so honest and raw.

David took his anger and channeled it into something positive. We didn’t know he was mad until after the game. He’s always looking joyful. I think that’s what people love about him.”

Sports is in Jackson’s blood. When she drove in a car with her mom, they would listen to news and sports on the radio.

Other times, she pretended to be a news anchor.

“I watched a lot of sports growing up,” she says. “I thought I would go into print journalism so I could tell stories. I love media.

“It’s pretty special being a reporter and covering all the different sports. I don’t cover quite as much football. I was covering everything and going out and doing stories on every different team in town. It evolved over the years.”

Upon moving to Arizona, she worked as a beat reporter, but it evolved, as she says, into live hosting and reporting.

“We’re not really a talk show. We’re a sports program,” she says. “I think we’re entertaining. We’re not exactly ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan.’ We frame it with life events.”

Sports is also a big part of her family’s lives. Her husband is Chad Ackerley, a football player at Arizona State (1990-

93), who works in real estate. Their children are involved in Little League sports, too.

Recently, Fox Sports evolved into Bally Sports. She calls the transition easy — for her.

“With my job, it didn’t change so much,” she says. “But there are so many people in our company — from the

leadership to management and everyone in production, the trucks — had a lot more work than I have. There’s a lot behind it with the graphics and the music that was created. It looks great.

“For me, it’s been great. It re-energizes everyone to have a new look, a new name, but the same coverages that we’ve always had.”

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Royal Blood’s Ben Thatcher talks playing music with his best friend

By Claire Spinner

B

en Thatcher sits in his home studio, talking thoughtfully about getting his start in music.

The 33-year-old drummer of two-piece rock act Royal Blood says he began drumming in church, thanks to his minister father, in Rustington, a small village in West Sussex, England.

His brothers followed a similar track, playing in the Christian rock band Delirious.

“I loved playing drums at church, and it would be in front of like 500 people every week, so you really do cut your teeth playing and performing there,” Thatcher says.

“I don’t really get nervous playing shows or anything now because I’ve done it from such a young age.”

Thatcher met the other half of Royal Blood, singer/bass player Mike Kerr, when they were teenagers. Kerr was from the nearby town of Worthing, West Sussex. Briefly, they played in another group, before deciding to start hitting the stage on their own. Nearly 10 years later, the duo has released its third record, “Typhoons.” The album was one of the most anticipated of the year, but Royal Blood’s start was not as meteoric as its rise.

Thatcher laughs and says the band was created because they were bored with their small towns.

“We both love music and we’ve lived in very sleepy towns,” he says. “We honestly couldn’t even get a gig at the start, so we ended up playing open-mic nights. We’d normally get through about two songs before they’d tell us to get off the stage.”

Despite the early struggles, Thatcher and Kerr were picked up by Warner Bros. in 2013. Before the release of their self-titled album, the duo was already garnering attention from industry veterans. Thatcher and Kerr have been compared to some of the most highly respected two-piece acts, like the Black Keys and the White Stripes.

They have received praise from many of the most iconic modern rock bands.

Matt Helders, drummer for the Arctic Monkeys, even wore Royal Blood merchandise during one of his band’s shows, and Queens of the Stone Age, one of Thatcher’s personal influences, took the band on tour in 2017.

“It’s a real comfort knowing that people like our music and champion us,” Thatcher says. “I think that we’ve been lucky to become part of this really great music community. There’s a lot of hate ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

in the world, so to have these people that you really respect and even grew up kind of idolizing is amazing.

“That being said, it brings a lot of pressure, but we’ve never done anything to please anyone apart from ourselves.

So, it’s just great having those people love what we do.”

Royal Blood received national recognition following the release of its debut single “Out of the Black,” which allowed the band to tour the world. The touring experiences inspired the duo.

“Travel really broadens the mind and, as I said, we are from very small villages, and a lot of our friends haven’t even left that area,” Thatcher says.

“So, for us to go out and see the world and play to so many people and so many different cultures, it was really eye opening. It’s crazy because it does change you. It’s something that I would never take for granted. I’m really grateful for it. Being able to play music with my best mate all around the world, especially with music we’ve written, it’s like living the dream. It’s unheard of.”

Between 2013 and 2017, Royal Blood released two critically acclaimed albums, 2014’s “Royal Blood” and 2017’s “How

Did We Get So Dark.”

The third record, “Typhoons,” was released in late April. Royal Blood took on a dance feel with the heavy, distorted bass assuming a keyboard or synth role.

Inspired by Daft Punk and Justice, this change is something Thatcher and Kerr have wanted to do for a while.

“I guess it was always in us,” Thatcher says. “Whenever we’d get off stage, we’d always want to carry the part on after the show. We’d blast disco and pop and R&B — all music you could dance and party to. So, we thought, why not start that dance party from the stage?”

Royal Blood’s fanbase is into rock music, and the duo doesn’t want to abandon that.

“It’s something we love doing and pride ourselves on,” Thatcher says. “This was us evolving and trying something different. We took a few risks. And it was fun to make.”

The album’s upbeat sounds are juxtaposed with Kerr’s deeply personal lyrics, which reflect his sober lifestyle.

“I actually think it’s quite an uplifting album, even if the lyrics sometimes say differently,” Thatcher says. “But I think, for me, a lot of the songs are

about getting from a bad place to a good place.”

The album represents Royal Blood’s willingness to change and to produce music that’s unlike commercial radio.

Thatcher says “Typhoons” was a victory for the band, and a project that felt cathartic.

“I think we’ve found writing fun again,” Thatcher says.

“We’ve found that spark of why we are in a band and making music together.

The first album wasn’t originally meant to be heard by anyone, so we didn’t care about the response, but when it came to writing the second album, we almost lost that spark because there was just so much pressure.

“But with the third album, we’ve felt like we had proven ourselves already. We thought we would take risks and have fun with it. What it came down to was that as long as we were buzzing off of it, we were going to put it out there, and maybe other people will buzz from it, too.”

Royal Blood royalbloodband.com

KEEPING THE TRADITION ALIVE

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

13

Black Rodeo recalls the history and culture of West

By Laura Latzko

T

he Arizona Black Rodeo is about more than entertainment. The event gives contestants a place to compete and spread awareness about African American contributions to Southwestern heritage.

“African Americans played a huge part in the history and culture here,” says Lanette Campbell, the rodeo’s founder and director.

“If we don’t preserve that heritage and that information, it’s going to get lost.”

Now in its 10th year, the Arizona Black Rodeo is at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 15, at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

Before the Arizona Black Rodeo was established, the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo visited Arizona until it cut back on its events. It was then the local rodeo was founded. It’s co-sanctioned with the Bill Pickett circuit, so qualifying times can be used in the traveling rodeo.

During the rodeo, cowboys compete in bull riding, steer wrestling and calf roping, with cowgirls in steer undecorating and barrel racing.

Riders can also participate in the Pony Express relay races, in which they race around barrels on horseback, passing off batons to their teammates.

The Arizona rodeo draws between 50 and 110 contestants annually. In May, Campbell expects at least 90 contestants, vying for more than $21,000 in prize

money.

Like previous years, the rodeo will have contestants from around the country, including Arizona, California, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

The Compton Cowboys, a group dedicated to promoting equestrian and farming heritage in the inner city, will take part in this year’s rodeo.

The Arizona rodeo attracts cowboys and cowgirls at different levels and ages.

“When you have a love for it and a passion for it, it is something you want to continue to do,” Campbell says.

Although many contestants are skilled

in their events, going professional can be challenging because of the expenses like entry and travel fees and costs associated with horses.

Campbell says many of the contestants have regular jobs and rodeo in their spare time. After taking time off during COVID, many of the contestants are eager to get back to doing rodeos.

“Most of these guys haven’t rodeoed in a while, so they are biting at the bit to get here,” Campbell says.

The Arizona rodeo begins with the Black National Anthem; grand entry festivities; and a salute to the Buffalo Soldiers, a group of African American

soldiers who served in the West following the Civil War. Local Buffalo Soldiers re-enactment groups will arrive on motorcycles and horseback.

Grand marshal duties will be shared by Chandler Councilmember OD Harris and civil rights activist and National Newspaper Publishers Association President and CEO Benjamin Chavis.

This year, medical front-line workers will be honored, and the reigning Miss Tucson, Abby Charles, will be highlighted.

During the rodeo, line dancers from a local American Legion chapter in South Phoenix will perform.

Growing up, Campbell spent the summers in Safford, where she helped feed and clean up after her family’s horses, cows and chickens.

Like Campbell, many attendees have a connection to farm animals and agriculture. Heading to rodeos helps them reminisce.

“You find a lot of people have come from that background,” Campbell says.

“They grew up on a farm, and then they moved to the city and they didn’t stick close to their roots. Then, you see a rodeo and remember it, and it stimulates something in you.”

Getting young people involved is important to organizers like Campbell.

They need to keep the tradition alive and develop homegrown talent. She noticed it’s worked. The Arizona Black Rodeo Kids Round Up gives children the chance to get close to and ask questions about horses and learn more about rodeo events.

The association gives back to high school kids who participate in rodeos or are interested in animal-related careers through scholarships. They also have scholarships to help young kids to pay for rodeo fees.

The day before the main rodeo, the association will put on a children’s rodeo.

“It’s just a great family event,” she says.

Arizona Black Rodeo WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, azblackrodeo.wixsite.com/azbr, 1 and 7 p.m., Saturday, May 15, $20 general admission, $40 for VIP tickets, free for children 3 and younger.

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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CITY

STYLE » ENVY » PASSION » FASHION » BEAUTY » DESIGN

PANDEMIC PROJECT

Juliana Hatfield emerges with powerful ‘Blood’

By Ron Wade

J

uliana Hatfield toured the United States in support of “Juliana Hatfield Sings The Police” while contemplating her next project.

Working through a pandemic, Hatfield is getting ready to release “Blood,” a 10-song collection that echoes

her classic ’90s indie rock sound that made her a household name.

For “Blood,” she honed her technology skills to give it a different sound.

“I finally learned how to use GarageBand and how to record into my laptop, which was something that I had been putting off and putting off,” she says. “When everything shut down, I finally forced myself to figure it out. And

I made this album.”

As a result, “Blood,” which is due May 14, is a tightly arranged rock therapy session. While the songs are upbeat, the lyrics are a dark reflection of the last year.

“I like bouncy melodies and pretty chords, but then I have this dark view of society, so they intermingle,” Hatfield says.

An example of this duality is the bouncy, upbeat “Suck It Up,” which includes the ominous line, “We creatives/ We always find a way/ When a door closes/ We just open a vein.”

Hatfield explains, “If I sang a song about stabbing someone in the neck (‘Had a Dream’) and it sounded too serious musically, then I’d just be like Marilyn Manson or Nine Inch Nails, and that’s not who I am. I have this outlet which is songwriting and playing music.

“And so I’m able to explore those hard feelings. It’s been a tough period for everyone — except for maybe Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. It’s been tough for everyone else. I am exploring the darkness on this album, but I think it’s a good outlet for me, so I can get it out of my system and share it with other people rather than going and storming the palace or something. I don’t need to do stuff like that, because I have an outlet in my music.”

To say “Blood” is a “subtle” protest album would not entirely be true. It’s hard to be subtle with lyrics like “I’m living in a nightmare and I can’t wake up” or “The wells of greed have no bottoms,” but it is subtler, in Hatfield’s opinion, than 2017’s “Pussycat.”

“It’s really a protest against humanity — including my own self,” she says.

“There are songs that are just talking about my own faults and failings as a person. The album does not take a very forgiving view of people. I think what’s happened over the past four years is people’s worst qualities have been put under a spotlight, or a big rock has been turned over and all the ugliness is exposed now.”

Like most people, the pandemic has changed how Hatfield will work going forward.

“I think I’m going to try to keep doing stuff at home,” she explains. “I do like going to the studio at some point, because I like to add real drums on my

songs. I don’t have a drum set at home, nor would I want to make that noise in my apartment.

“I would like to end up at the studio for some overdubs and mixing, but it’s great to be able to get a lot of it done at home. It cuts down costs like 50% — or at least it did this time, which is great. There’s less pressure because I’m not on the clock in the studio, When I’m at home, I can work for an hour and then I can stop. I can just go at whatever pace I want to go rather than working 12-hour days without stopping.”

Hatfield’s talents go beyond her music. She pained the image on the cover of “Blood.” It’s a person jumping — presumably into a body of water — with arms extended in a seemingly exhilarating moment, but with hands that are freshly severed with streams of blood coming out.

“That drawing existed before the album existed,” Hatfield says.

“I was drawing from an old photograph of a woman. You couldn’t see below her, but she was diving and she was up in the air and in the middle of the city. I don’t know if she was a daredevil or if it was a circus or something. I was drawing from that but without any background. It was just in air. I think of it as maybe she was diving.

“So, one of her hands burned off and the other one is chopped off. When I decided to use it as the album cover image, (the designer) added the color and the background and he added blood bubbles coming off of the hands. I think of the drawing as this girl has been through some really heavy (crap), right?

And she’s been battered, but she came through it, she came out of it and now she’s flying free.”

Even though “Blood” hasn’t hit the shelves yet, Hatfield is already writing songs for her next project, of which she’s unsure of the direction.

“I don’t know, I’m thinking of both covers and originials,” she says. “I guess it just depends on which one I get the most excited about when I start working.

Maybe I’ll do one original album and then a covers album, go back and forth like that.”

Juliana Hatfield julianahatfield.con

JUST FOR LAUGHS Comedy competition gives comics a place to start THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

15

By Laura Latzko

M

any comedians spend years performing at comedy clubs and open mics to establish their career. While doing this, they often have to hold a day job and perform at night.

Rick Bronson of Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy in North Phoenix is giving fledgling comedians a break they need with his Funniest Person with a Day Job competition. The event started April 13 and will conclude May 25.

Past winners include Anthony Desamito, Iesha Renee, Jonathan Gregory, Charles Engle and Anwar Newton.

Broken into three rounds, the competition sees a handful of comedians from four preliminary rounds go on to two semifinals, from which the finalists are chosen.

Hosted by Fox 10’s Cory McCloskey, the contest winner receives $1,000, and the first-, second- and third-place finishers may open for comedians on the weekends at the House of Comedy.

Bronson likens it to NCAA March Madness tournament.

He says the competition often inspires comedians.

“What’s really nice is when some of these comics compete and they end up finding new careers,” Bronson says.

“A lot of them don’t necessarily depart from their day jobs, but many of them find a new love, a new passion, and many have gone on to pursue careers in comedy.”

The contest also allows the “proverbial class clowns” and the “lampshade wearer at a party” to try comedy for the first time.

“From our perspective it’s wonderful because we get to do a few things,” Bronson says. “We get to help comics develop, and we love developing talent.

Second of all, it allows us, in a matter of speaking, to fulfill a few dreams.”

The competition is open to veterans and newbies. They must be ready to get on stage with their funniest material — and be scored.

“There are no qualifications other than the guts and audacity to get onstage in front of a room full of strangers and be judged,” Bronson says.

“There’s always something a little off in us — and I say ‘us’ because I am a standup comedian as well — when we want to be viewed by a room full of strangers and judged by them.”

About 60 comedians were selected to participate in the competition this year, with about 20 on a waiting list.

Although this is the Phoenix club’s sixth year, Bronson hosts a similar competition at other clubs he owns. One Canadian location has been doing the competition for 20 years.

The Phoenix contest has a similar structure as the others.

Bronson says although there are differences because of regional humor and audiences, they all highlight comedians who understand how to write and deliver jokes.

“At the end of the day, funny is funny,” Bronson says. “There is humor in every topic and every subject, and a good comedian knows how to pull humor out of everything.

“The difficulty in standup comedy is having a room of hundreds and hundreds of strangers who come from all different walks of life, all different ethnic backgrounds, all different socioeconomic backgrounds, different religions, different races, and making them come together and laugh at what you have to say. That’s what separates someone who is just funny and someone who is just a comedian.”

The contestants are judged by media personalities, comedy event producers and comedy club owners or managers, who look at originality, overall performance, “x-factor” or star quality, and audience reaction.

During each round, comedians go onstage in random order.

Wolf Brown, a comedian who has been doing standup for five years, stands out because of his signature bowties.

Brown made it to the finals two years ago. Along with comedy, Brown works as a night auditor. The comedian grew up on the Gila River Indian Community, where he would often joke around with his family.

“Just talking (crap) around the dinner table, that’s how it started,” Brown says.

Fellow returning comedian Rob Maebe has participated every year but 2019, making it to the finals each time.

An eight-year comic, Maebe formerly worked in sales.

He returns to the competition because he is determined to win. The contest is more challenging each year because of the level of talent.

“The competition has gotten harder.

Phoenix comedy has grown to where there are a lot of killers,” Maebe says.

One of the new comedians in the competition, Tristan Bowling works at Trader Joe’s during the day.

The comedian, who started doing comedy six years ago at the age of 16,

Funniest Person with a Day Job Semi Final WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 11 WHERE: Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, 5350 E. High Street, Suite 105, Phoenix COST: $10 general admission with a two-drink minimum

made it to the top four during his first preliminary.

He says the first competition was nerve-wracking. He calls his signature mohawk “all party,” and that may have helped his cause.

“I’m excited that I can breathe for the first time today,” he says, just finishing the preliminary.

Although comedy is a tough industry, nights like the preliminary round make it worth it.

“Many times, I wonder why I even do this. Victories like tonight put a log in the fireplace. I think maybe I’m not a piece of (crap),” Bowling joked.

Funniest Person with a Day Job Final WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 25 WHERE: Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, 5350 E. High Street, Suite 105, Phoenix COST: $10 general admission with a two-drink minimum INFO: 480.420.3553, az.houseofcomedy.net

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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UPFRONT | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | IN CLOSING

SONIC SOUNDSCAPE

Janelle Loes dabbles in a variety of genres on ‘Stranger’

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

J

anelle Loes didn’t worry about the time it would take to release her sophomore effort, “Stranger.”

She wanted to make sure it was perfect.

“There was no rush,” she says. “I was in college for a large part of the record. It was fun to just not have to rush. When I found out I was expecting my son, I pushed back the album release, too.”

Loes began working on “Stranger,” which hit streaming services in April, in 2014, with Andy Thompson in Minneapolis, and Sean Cooney (Blaine Long and Jim Bachmann).

Thompson is best known for his work with Taylor Swift on “Red,” along with “The Hamilton Mixtape” and Jason Mraz.

Loes’ album serves as a striking followup to her 2011 debut album, “Here and ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Now,” and features an impassioned collection of songs. “Stranger” brings together elements of pop, alt-rock, folk and Americana to create a musical landscape for the listener.

With hints of cello and pedal steel, alongside bursts of electric guitars and cinematic strings, the album soars, soothes and surprises. Loes collected a talented cast of musicians for the album, including drummer Elliot Jacobson (Ingrid Michaelson, Elle King), bassist Ian Allison (Eric Hutchinson, Jeremy Messersmith), cellist Dan Lawonn (Motion City Soundtrack, Belle and Sebastian) and others.

The album also includes international collaboration with a guest vocal appearance by singer-songwriter Kevin Steinman of Norway. Steinman’s distinctive crooner-pop vocals join Loes on the playfully coy duet “The One You Call Your Love.”

On “Stranger,” Loes covers heartbreak and cathartic self-discoveries. Loes’ songwriting speaks to the listener with the earnestness of a close confidante.

Loes delivers lyrics similar to Eva Cassidy and Norah Jones.

“Overwhelmingly, it’s a consoling record,” she says. “As a songwriter, I like to deconstruct hard times and try to find some sort of lesson or a light within them. I think they help uncover lessons within yourself.”

In the album’s title track, “Stranger,” Loes unpacks the mixture of emotions that surface when trust is broken. The song is a poignant exploration of the difficult balancing act of learning from the past and grieving the memory of the person you once knew. The acoustic-driven and organic-sounding “In the Meantime” brings empathy and understanding to moments of turmoil and uncertainty. “There Are Things” earned Loes a spot as a

semifinalist in the Americana category of this year’s International Songwriting Competition.

Loes says she feels “Stranger” is the perfect entryway to the album.

“It’s really hard when you’ve had a really high opinion of someone to let go of that when you realize that’s not the case. I think the title ‘Stranger’ is ambiguous, but it reintroduces people to my music and songwriting.”

Janelle Loes WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 7; 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, May 9; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 22; and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 30 WHERE: Queen Creek Olive Mill, 25062 S. Meridian Road, Queen Creek COST: Free admission INFO: janelleloes.com. Visit for a complete list of shows.

17

PIVOTING FOR POTSTICKERS THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

Pizza chain partners with popular bao concept

By Kristine Cannon

F

ired Pie has joined the ranks of local restaurants with their own ghost kitchen.

The fast-casual pizza concept launched a ghost kitchen out of two of its locations, both of which are located in Scottsdale: at Fashion Square and at Northsight.

But the ghost kitchens won’t be serving pizza.

They will be used by Chicago-based Asian street food concept Wow Bao, which serves steamed bao as well as potstickers, steamed dumplings, rice and noodle bowls, and more.

“The quality of this product is amazing,” says Fred Morgan, co-founder of Fired Pie. “At Fired Pie, we offer our guests the highest-quality ingredients possible, and Wow Bao’s menu aligned with our mission to continue to do that,” coowner Doug Doyle adds.

Wow Bao’s signature item, its bao, is a soft, fluffy dough filled with savory or sweet flavors and steamed to perfection.

There are four flavors from which to choose, including whole wheat vegetable, barbecue Berkshire pork, teriyaki chicken and spicy Mongolian beef.

Since Fired Pie brought on the fast Asian concept, customers have raved about the BBQ pork baos and the chicken dumplings.

“The rice bowls are also starting to take off, and the Kung Pao chicken is the most popular,” Morgan says.

Morgan calls customers’ response to Wow Bao “amazing” — so much so it nearly sold out of all of its Wow Bao products the weekend of March 20.

“It has been better than we had projected, with little advertisement or promotions,” he adds.

Thus, the biggest challenge since the launch of Wow Bao in the Valley has been keeping up with demand and keeping the kitchens stocked with enough product.

“The other issue we had early on was the delivery drivers trying to find Wow Bao, not understanding they needed to pick it up inside of Fired Pie,” Morgan says.

Morgan and Doyle searched for seven months for the perfect concept for their

ghost kitchen.

They initially gave a Grubhub-created concept called Tyga Bites a shot, but it didn’t work out because it was only available to Grubhub customers.

“We then started doing a lot of research on ghost and virtual kitchens and found out Wow Bao was operating as a ghost kitchen,” Morgan explains. “As soon as I received more information from them, I knew this was the one for us.”

“Our customers have been turning to online ordering, takeout and third-party

delivery during the pandemic, so we felt this was the perfect time to launch our ghost kitchen,” Doyle adds.

Wow Bao was founded in 2003, but it wasn’t until last spring that it launched a pioneering business model to increase restaurant partner’s revenue while also expanding the company’s footprint throughout the U.S. As part of its business model, restaurant partners, like Fired Pie, serve Wow Bao staples while third-party delivery providers, like Postmates, DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub, deliver the goods.

Since launching the partner kitchen program in April, Wow Bao will reach 1,000 locations by the end of this year — up from 150 locations in January and only six at the beginning of 2020.

“We didn’t conceive this for the pandemic, but as soon as it started, we realized these partner kitchens were perfect for the critical situation restaurants are facing right now and will face for some time,” says Wow Bao CEO Geoff Alexander.

“This is a lifeline that quite literally can mean the difference between profitability and extinction to restaurants.”

Any restaurant can join the Wow

Bao program for less than $1,000; and according to Wow Bao, most partners have been surpassing the expected sales mark of $2,500 or more in six weeks.

“I like the idea that this is an established brand, many people know it, and they have a loyal customer base,” Morgan says, adding that it was a “nobrainer” to partner with Wow Bao. “We are excited to align ourselves with a concept that has seen explosive new growth in the past year,” Morgan continues. “As the ghost restaurant trend continues to grow, we expect to continue to add virtual concepts to our local storefronts.”

Currently, Wow Bao operates out of two Fired Pie locations in Scottsdale, but Fired Pie has plans to add Wow Bao to 12 more locations within the next three months — four of which are slated to launch within the next 30 days.

They include Fired Pie’s SanTan Village store; its Tempe store; the Ahwatukee location; and its Phoenix location on 19th Avenue and Northern Avenue, Fired Pie’s newest concept.

Unlike other Fired Pie locations, the 19th Avenue and Northern store is a fast-casual rapid online and carryout location, meaning it specifically caters to those on the go.

“Carryout and delivery stores are in demand, especially those with customizable options, and we have something for everyone, including gluten-free, vegan and plant-based options,” Morgan says. “We’ve chosen a great location for this store, where our customers can easily have their meal made fresh in under 10 minutes.”

In addition to increasing the number of Wow Bao kitchens in the Valley, Fired Pie also has plans to expand its Wow Bao menu.

“We have a new bao coming out in a few weeks: a cheeseburger,” Morgan teases.

To order Wow Bao, visit wowbao. com or order directly on the Postmates, DoorDash, Uber Eats or Grubhub apps.

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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ARTS

CULTURE » THEATER » DANCE » GALLERY » DRAMA » VISION

ORCHESTRATING A RETURN

Scottsdale Philharmonic ready to hit the stage

By Kristine Cannon

A

fter more than one year of silence, live classical music makes its triumphant return to Scottsdale this May And none are more excited than the musicians themselves.

“You can’t believe the excitement,” says Joy Partridge, Scottsdale Philharmonic co-founder. “The musicians are all pumped up to play again. It’s like going back to school.”

The Scottsdale Philharmonic returns to the stage on May 2 at the Virginia G. Piper Theater at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

Attendees will be treated to a 60-minute concert that will feature selections from four composers: Adagio in G Minor by Albinoni, The Simple Symphony Op 4 by Britten, Adagio for Strings by Barber, and Eine kleine Nachfmusik by Mozart.

Due to limited seating and to encourage social distancing, patrons are encouraged to get their tickets and reserve their seats early, as the concert is expected to sell out.

Tickets are available for a small donation of $15.

“It’s all for everybody’s health and safety, so we’re totally behind it,”

Partridge says.

The May 2 concert marks not only the Philharmonic’s first concert since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 but also the group’s return to its first venue.

“When we formed the orchestra 10 years ago, our first two concerts were at the Scottsdale Center for the (Performing) Arts,” Partridge says.

The concerts were so popular, though, the group quickly outgrew the Virginia G. Piper Theater; and by its second concert, the ensemble had more than 1,100 people show up to the venue that holds just over 850.

“It was packed,” Partridge says. “I was out there having to apologize to the 300 people that, unfortunately, we filled up.”

So, the Philharmonic took its concerts to the Scottsdale Bible Church and then, finally, to La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, where the group has attracted anywhere from 1,700 to 2,400 attendees.

“It just shows you how much people love classical music,” Partridge says.

“That was one of the greatest moments in my lifetime, to hear this beautiful music and see this packed audience so appreciative of it.”

Response to the Scottsdale Philharmonic return concert has been overwhelmingly positive, too, as about a quarter of the approximately 250 socially

distanced seats have already been reserved.

In addition to welcoming a much smaller audience, the usually 100-plus ensemble will be cut down to an ensemble of about 30.

“What you’re going to see is what we call an ensemble group, which is the string section of the orchestra,” Partridge explained, adding that the decision to feature a smaller ensemble is in direct response to the arts center’s safety and health protocols.

Additionally, the performance will follow a timed-entry protocol and forgo intermission.

“The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts has protocol we have to follow: where we stand, what we do, where we congregate when we’re off stage,” Partridge says.

“We still believe in respecting the health of everyone, and whatever we have to do, we will.”

The Scottsdale Philharmonic kicked off rehearsals on April 1 — the first time the group has congregated since the start of the pandemic.

“It was like coming together for a reunion, like family coming together,” Partridge says. “We played some beautiful pieces for this coming-up concert, and it was just so much fun. I

couldn’t believe it.”

Partridge says they decided on an early May return out of “desperation.”

“Musicians just want to perform,” Partridge explained. “We don’t care about anything but the beauty of making a wonderful music.”

Following the May 2 concert, the Scottsdale Philharmonic will return to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on June 27 for its Fourth of July concert.

“The city (of Scottsdale) is sponsoring that concert, and that’s to be a full orchestra,” Partridge says. “You’re going to see the full-blown symphonies — all the winds and everything.”

Tickets for the June concerts are also on sale for $15.

The city also just hired on the Philharmonic to perform a Christmas concert later this year.

“We’re really thankful to not only city of Scottsdale for working with us to get to this position of partnering but also all of our musicians; they’re just so committed,” Partridge says.

“We’re looking forward to a great season at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.”

Scottsdale Philharmonic scottsdalephilharmonic.com, scottsdaleperformingarts.org

A STROKE OF REALISM THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

Social media keeps Erin McLoughlin inspired

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

E

rin McLoughlin was a little girl, growing up in Anthem, when she saw Norman Rockwell paintings for the first time.

She admired his portraits with exaggerated emotions, she says.

McLoughlin did her best to replicate his works, and now the 2017 Boulder Creek High School graduate is a highly soughtafter artist.

“My mom and grandmother had a book by him laying around,” she says.

“It was a gallery of all his work. I went through all the pages and tried to replicate them. It’s crazy. I can’t believe how it’s gone from there.”

McLoughlin’s subjects have included Devin Booker, Tom Brady and golfer Rickie Fowler for the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children, New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, Golden State Warriors and ex-Phoenix Suns baller Kelly Oubre Jr., Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

“Julian Edelman was a commissioned piece,” she says. “He saw it on Twitter, which was pretty cool. Kelly Oubre Jr.’s

was auctioned for the Suns. He saw it and signed the painting. I’ve done a few Kobe paintings, too.”

She painted Booker after her high school friend referred the basketball player’s personal chef to her.

“He was looking for a Christmas present for him,” she says. “He had this photo of him, and he commissioned me to do a painting for him. I never met him personally, but he has one of my paintings.”

Since the day she was introduced to Rockwell’s paintings, she has been interested in realism.

“I’ve always loved drawing portraits and people. I guess it’s just because everybody’s different. Every single painting I do is different. It keeps it entertaining for me. I never get bored of it. That’s why I paint people. I enjoy the realism, and I add little impressionism in it. That’s why you can see some brush strokes in there.”

If Instagram says anything, McLoughlin has 43,300 followers on her artwork page and 11,100 on her personal one.

“I’m inspired by a lot of different people I see on social media,” she says.

“I got on TikTok a lot and see artists on there. I started using these gold pieces in the background after seeing it on TikTok.” McLoughlin was born on Staten Island and moved to Arizona at 6 years old. She is a senior at the University of Arizona, where she is studying psychological science and public health.

McLoughlin’s goal is to work as a

physician’s assistant.

“I’ve been drawn to art, though, since I was in the second grade,” she says. “I just started drawing, and I’ve been doing it ever since. My senior year in high school I got into painting. I didn’t really take it seriously until college. I’ve been doing it on the side, all through college.”

McLoughlin is approached so frequently for commissioned work that she can pick and choose what she wants to do. She charges “a few thousand,” depending on the size of the canvas and the image.

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“I charge a lot now that the demand’s kind of higher,” McLoughlin says.

McLoughlin is getting ready to graduate from UA. She’s hoping to move to Scottsdale and further her studies in the Valley.

“I hope I can get a place big enough to have a studio so I can take it more seriously,” she says. “I want a room dedicated to art.”

Erin McLoughlin erinmcloughlinart.com

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT

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UPFRONT | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | IN CLOSING

Theater company strikes gold with cabaret revues

By Kristine Cannon

L

ife is a cabaret.

At least, it has been for the small cast of Scottsdale Musical Theater Company’s (SMTC) cabaret-style series, which has taken place every Saturday evening at Scottsdale Plaza Resort since March.

It’s a live theater series that has been so popular that SMTC has extended the revue another month.

“We knew this was going to be an experiment, and I certainly didn’t expect to be sold out every night,” says SMTC Executive Producer David Hock. “It’s truly been amazing.”

SMTC’s cabaret-style musical revue continues this month at Scottsdale Plaza Resort with a new show, “Best of Broadway: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.”

Guests will be treated to songs from Webber’s most popular musicals, including “Evita,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

“Rodgers & Hammerstein is by far the most nostalgic of Broadway musicals.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is by far the most popular,” Hock says of choosing Webber’s music for the next set of shows.

“I think people will be surprised to hear so many songs that they didn’t realize were Andrew Lloyd Webber, or even that some of the songs even existed.”

Shows are scheduled for every Saturday this month, and tickets are

$25. The revue will feature Elizabeth Blair, Nicki Bond, Hector Coris, Christopher Gonzalez, Taylor Hogan, Matt Newhard, Estrella Paloma Parra and Zack Wells, with musical direction and keyboards handled by Josh Hontz and percussion by Shawn Jordan.

“We’re just hoping to really expand everyone’s appreciation of the impact of his music,” Hock says.

Since March, SMTC has transformed the resort’s La Valencia space into a “cabaret/nightclub feel” with cocktail tables, full-service bar, and a raised stage with full lighting and sound.

And it’ll continue to do so for May’s shows.

“It follows a long-held tradition for stage performers that removes the confines of being in a large theater on stage as a character in costume to allow moments between singer-and-song and singer-and-audience that creates a more intimate connection to the music and the audience, providing a uniquely wonderful and entertaining experience,” Hock says.

Seating will be spread out, and up to four people will remain at their own cocktail table.

“Audiences have been very receptive to the format and have appreciated our attention in providing as safe of an environment with socially distanced seating, etc.,” Hock says.

“We can see people’s head swaying to the music, and we can hear people singing along. I think audience members are really enjoying the ability to just

sit and have a drink and relax while enjoying hearing all of this great music.”

May’s revue follows two months of sold-out shows at the resort. Both months featured songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein, the duo behind “Oklahoma!” “The King & I” and “The Sound of Music.”

“I was hopeful, but yes, I’m very pleasantly surprised,” Hock says.

“The response has been in part due to people feeling a little more comfortable venturing out now that they’ve had both vaccine shots. There is no doubt that people are so eager to get out and do something.”

SMTC is no stranger to Scottsdale Plaza Resort. Hock partnered with the resort in 2017 and sends his celebrity guest stars to stay there.

SMTC has also held rehearsals for a number of its shows at the resort and its Christmas party for its “A Christmas Carol” cast.

“After a year of not being able to do shows, I approached Travis Giles, the resort vice president, about doing cabaret-style shows. We had discussed

this idea a couple of years ago, and it just didn’t happen then,” Hock says.

Hosting them a year into a pandemic felt like “the perfect time to get live performing happening again.”

And they were — and still are — a hit.

“I really wasn’t sure how popular it would be,” Hock says. “There hasn’t really been this type of cabaret-style musical theater revue here in Phoenix.

“Audiences are really embracing this format and thoroughly enjoying their evening out.”

Now, with the success of the cabaretstyle shows, SMTC plans to continue to host the Saturday night revues, as scheduling allows.

“The Plaza Resort has been a great partner,” Hock says. “My hope is there is a strong enough response that we’ll need to extend (the Webber shows) for an additional month. Beyond that, we will plan the next revue and just keep on going for as long as our audiences keep coming back and enjoying themselves.”

Other possible shows include an evening of Stephen Sondheim, an evening of Irving Berlin, and an evening of Cole Porter.

“It is quite gratifying,” Hock says of bringing live musical theater back to Scottsdale. “And I think my performers have been just as excited as the audiences.”

Hock calls this cabaret-style format a “baby step” to getting back to “normal” after nearly one year and a half of silent, shuttered stages and theaters.

“And no one still knows when largescale musicals will be back up and running,” he says. “So, until that time arrives, I’m glad that we’re able to offer audiences a chance to hear their favorite Broadway songs in a live setting.”

“Best of Broadway: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” WHEN: 7:30 p.m. (doors) and 8 p.m. (showtime) Saturdays in May WHERE: The Scottsdale Plaza Resort, 7200 N. Scottsdale Road COST: $25 INFO: scottsdalemusicaltheater.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

DINING

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EAT » EXPERIENCE » INDULGE » SAVOR » DEVOUR » NOSH

CHILLING OUT

Novel Ice Cream takes its doughnut treats seriously

By Olivia Dow

K

ailey Foxcroft and Brandon Douglas may not agree on the best ice cream-doughnut sandwich flavor, but they agree that customers are the best part of co-owning Mesa’s Novel Ice Cream.

“Honestly, we make an amazing product, don’t get me wrong,” Foxcroft says.

“But what keeps me going is truly our customers, to be able to make a small connection with them and give them some type of joy and part of their day.

As easy as it is to say, the customers are honestly what keeps me going and are my favorite part of working and now co-owning an ice cream shop with Brandon.”

Located in Mesa and Phoenix, Novel Ice Cream blends nostalgia, warm doughnut buns and artisan ice cream. It offers two flavors, crispy European waffle sandwiches, glass bottle sodas and cereal sprinkles.

“The idea for an ice cream-stuffed

doughnut has been done in other cultures quite a bit,” Douglas says.

“The version in Italy is what drew my attention to it. They were taking brioche buns and stuffing gelato, and then that idea made it over to the U.S.” Novel has specialized in ice creamstuffed doughnuts since the Phoenix store opened in March 2017. But, he says, they “take it more serious than anybody else.”

Douglas has tried the treats in other states, but they were “underwhelming.”

“I felt like it could be done really, really well,” Douglas says. “For a couple of years, I just secretly hoped somebody else in Arizona would do it. But after nobody did else did, I decided it must be my calling.”

But there’s more to Novel Ice Cream than doughnuts and ice cream. Douglas says it’s been a place for “people who have been hurt by the world in some way.” People need a sweet escape from the world’s problems.

“Objectively speaking, we’re kind of inundated with bad news a lot, and we want it to really be a place where people

come in and just feel absolute joy,” Douglas says. “Food’s just a universal language. When you have something you look forward to for a long time, there are few things that will provide that type of escape from your worries.

We are probably like a place to eat your emotions, basically,” The Downtown Mesa store is the newest one, having opened in March.

For two years, the duo had been working on an putting together the East Valley location.

“When we were ready to open a second location, we knew that East Mesa was, or at least the East Valley is, where we

wanted to go,” Foxcroft says.

“I grew up out in East Mesa and I’ve always kind of had a heart for Downtown Mesa, and it just felt right.

One random hot summer day, I just started walking the streets of Main Street and landed at the spot that we’re in. One of our neighbors is actually a customer of ours, and so it just really sealed the deal that Mesa is where we needed to be.”

Foxcroft started as an employee for Novel and is now the co-owner of Novel Ice Cream in Mesa. Douglas says Foxcroft’s love for the customers is why they complement each other as owners.

“I don’t want to say ditto, but that’s why Kailey was the perfect fit for a business partner for me,” Douglas says.

“She shares that vision. A lot of stuff we talk about sounds really cheesy on a surface level because you can go to the corporate meeting and they’ll talk about family and how important customers are and all this.”

When Douglas and Foxcroft look for employees, they want people who are personable.

“What we do is we hire people who genuinely love people,” Douglas says. “We can teach you how to do everything at our shop, but we can’t teach you to like people. You come in a Novel and you get an experience that literally ruins all other ice cream shops for you, because we want to be that bar that we set for you.”

Novel Ice Cream 40 N. Macdonald, Suite 2, Mesa 602.784.4729 1028 NW Grand Avenue, Phoenix 602.373.2235 ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

EASY DINING

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UPFRONT | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | IN CLOSING

Eat by Stacey Weber takes the stress out of eating well

By Annika Tomlin

A

s a child, Stacey Weber cooked with her grandmother. Little did she know, her passion for cooking would spawn an almost 15-year culinary career. That includes her dining service, Eat, in Phoenix.

“I never went to culinary school. I always just had a passion for food,” Weber says. “My family was always very food-oriented.

“I just have the most vivid memories with my grandmother baking these elaborate desserts, making homemade dinner every night and making homemade pasta. It just resonated with me, unknowing at the time.”

Eat focuses on approachable comfort food with a healthy flare using local, organic and seasonal ingredients. Weber offers prepared meals, catering and personal chef services.

Weber’s deadline for prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner meals is 8 a.m. Thursdays for pickup or delivery Sundays or Mondays.

One of the top-selling items on the menu is “Stacey’s Famous” chicken and rice enchiladas ($15).

“I jokingly named them Stacey’s Famous chicken enchiladas,” Weber says. “I would never put my name on something and call something famous. It was literally a joke.”

Additional entrees include dairy-free/ gluten-free turkey veggie meatballs with

spaghetti ($13), carnitas keto bowl ($15) and vegan and gluten-free four-cheese ravioli ($12).

“We have these peanut butter power balls ($5) that are just the best snack,” Weber adds. “I know you see them all over the place, but somehow — you know, obviously, my opinion is slightly biased — but I think they are the best ones that I have ever had.”

Weber adds that some returning customers buy 10 to 12 boxes of peanut butter power balls at a time.

“Our chicken noodle soup is a second top seller,” Weber adds.

“We put gluten-free noodles in it, so I feel like people just love it. We make all of our stock from scratch. We save all of our vegetable scraps from the kitchen when we make other things, and we get chicken bones, so it’s a really nice broth.”

HOW IT ALL STARTED Weber majored in communications and marketing at Boise State University and worked in sales before realizing it didn’t fulfill her creative needs.

“Everyone was always telling me to get into sales because you know ‘your personality type would do so well,’” Weber says. “I did get a couple jobs in sales and hated it so much. Turns out I’m really bad at asking people to buy things.”

By late 2006, Weber created a business plan involving cooking. She became an ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

in-home chef for families “who needed healthy and accessible meals.”

“I worked in a really upscale boutique, and I had a feeling that, by working, I would get introduced to the clientele who would want a chef in their home,” Weber says. “It worked out and I found a couple clients just naturally, and I worked part time doing it.”

As her clientele list grew, she added catering. The next step was to find a building.

“Our catering was getting busy, and no longer did it make sense prepping and working out of our clients’ homes,” she says.

Eat opened as a grab-and-go for Weber’s healthy items, and it grew like “wildfire,” according to Weber.

“Two years ago, we were so busy catering on Christmas that I had to make the decision to transition from our grab-and-go to an online preorder because we were literally busting at the seams in the kitchen,” Weber says.

“Honestly, I was spending so much money on good, quality food to not know what people were going to buy day in and day out. It was just a waste and not in line with my sort of philosophies.

I would say I’m a granola or hippie at heart, and between the use of plastic and containers it just didn’t align. I decided to transition to this online preorder meal service. COVID happened and everything went to (takeout meals), so it

was perfect timing.”

She bolstered her business by connecting with the Arizona Cardinals and created their nutritional services department.

“I developed a culinary staff and menu for the team, the players and the corporate staff,” Weber says. “It was something I never would have expected at this point in time in my story. It was really rewarding to do that for them.”

For her preorder service, Weber adds weekly specials online and updates the menu with seasonal fruits and vegetables. In addition, Weber creates menus for holidays like Mother’s Day. “Obviously for mothers, it’s a really nice gift to either order the food or to create a beautiful spread that you don’t really have to work that hard for,” Weber says.

“I’ve had kids come in and buy meals for their mom. It’s just a fun and cool way to celebrate with family and friends without slaving away in the kitchen the whole time. Seriously, I’m just a girl who really likes to cook and works her butt off. I turned a hobby and a love for food into a really cool business.”

Eat by Stacey Weber 4740 E. Shea Boulevard, Suite 109, Phoenix 602.328.9344 eatbystaceyweber.com

FATHER KNOWS BEST The Gebrans say respect is key to U.S. Egg’s success THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

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By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

G

eorge Gebran has spent his life working for his family’s beloved breakfast and lunch restaurant, U.S. Egg. He didn’t consciously decide to do so.

It was assumed he would follow in his family’s footsteps. Gebran says, for him, there was a simple answer for jumping headfirst into the dining industry.

“Also, none of us wanted real jobs,” Gebran says with a laugh. “We all went to college, but when we graduated, none of us wanted to work without each other.”

Led by patriarch Oscar Gebran and his four sons, U.S. Egg recently celebrated its 35th anniversary. The eatery is known for its egg dishes and savory sandwiches.

Outside of its walls, U.S. Egg’s staff is known for working with foster children and veterans.

“We’re proud and we’re blessed and humbled to have such a strong family brother can do, and vice versa.

“Our family structure of ‘father knows best’ and then the oldest brother works out well. It doesn’t mean that my youngest brother isn’t the smartest. We just have different talents in different ways. We respect the hierarchy of the family business. It’s a lot of work, really, rolling up our sleeves and working hard.”

Gebran says he’s hoping the family business will continue, as there are 13 grandchildren, some of whom have shown an interest.

“This is a family legacy brand,” he says.

“We do want to continue expanding.

We want to grow. I have children who will hopefully be interested in 10 years.

There’s a big opportunity for them to step in.”

U.S. Egg business,” Gebran says. “We’re very, very happy with being in the Valley and working hard all these years.”

With locations in Scottsdale, Tempe, Phoenix and Chandler, U.S. Egg is best known for its protein pancakes — a dish that came to fruition before its time.

“We’re the home of the original protein pancake,” Gebran says.

“Ever since then, it’s seeped into other menus in the Valley. That is definitely our signature dish. People line up out the door for our protein pancakes.”

Labeled on the menu as a “must have!” the protein pancakes are filled with wild Maine blueberries, homemade

granola, cinnamon and slivered almonds ($13.89).

“We were way ahead of the curve to have protein anything,” he says. “That was definitely not the trend in the late ’80s and early ’90s. My brothers were into bodybuilding and working out and making protein shakes. That’s where it was born. We thought, ‘Why don’t we have a protein pancake?’ They started working on a recipe and developing it.”

Like the pancakes, the granola is made from scratch. U.S. Egg’s coffee is sold at retail as well.

Gebran entered the family business at age 17, just after graduating high

school in Iowa. He attended Scottsdale Community College and then ASU. “We all didn’t really see much beyond working together at the restaurant,” Gebran says with a laugh. It was fun to watch the brand expand.”

He attributes U.S. Egg’s success to the hierarchy of the family business and respect. Gebran and his siblings look up to their father, and that kindness trickles down throughout the family.

“We always worked really well together and always respected each other’s differences,” says Gebran, who lives in the Kierland area. “We really appreciate each other’s talents. What I can’t do, my

7119 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale 480.443.5558 3238 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480.947.7344 131 E. Bell Road, Tempe 480.831.0070 402 E. Greenway Parkway, Phoenix 602.993.2122 5840 W. Chandler Boulevard, Chandler 480.705.0868 2957 W. Bell Road, Phoenix 602.843.1249 useggrestaurant.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

UP IN SMOKE

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UPFRONT | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | IN CLOSING

Leo Chavez follows father’s dream with barbecue

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

L

eo Chavez was working in a university’s finance office when his father, Edward T. Chavez, fell ill. He leaned over from his chair and said he wished his son would do something he loved.

“I did not like the corporate world anymore,” Chavez says.

“I was unhappy, and he got sick and he’s like, ‘You’re passionate about your food, so why don’t you pursue it?’”

His father died in September 2017, and Chavez figured it was “now or never.”

The Tempe High School graduate went for it and opened the now-successful Herb ’n’ Smoke food trailer at the end of 2017.

“I went into the office one morning and called my wife. I said, ‘I am quitting this morning, and I gave my notice.’

Well, as you can imagine, there was no response on the other end. I thought I lost the call.

“Then I heard her say, ‘Well, what is your plan?’ I said I would just make it

work. She said she would stand by me.”

On February 6 of this year, he took another chance. Chavez unveiled the brick-and-mortar Herb ’n’ Smoke in Downtown Mesa.

“I’m hoping we become a staple here in Downtown Mesa,” Chavez says. “We would like to keep expanding. I don’t want to franchise it. I want to open other Herb ’n’ Smoke locations that family members can run. I want to help them out. I really want to keep it in the family.

“I’m hoping my kids will take it over for me at some point and just keep it going. It’s good food, comfort food, and I want customers to keep coming back.”

So far, guests have returned for his brisket fries ($14), slow-smoked brisket and cheddar cheese sauce served on fresh-cut fries, as well as the burgers ($8 to $14), brisket sandwiches ($12) and barbecue chicken sandwiches ($9).

“I absolutely love the brisket fries,” he says. “That’s my favorite, because I’m a potato and brisket guy. It’s just amazing.

I just love that. It’s mouthwatering.”

New to Herb ’n’ Smoke is the smoked gouda bites appetizer ($4.50), which

are gooey mac and cheese smoked bites.

They’re served with Sriracha cream and chipotle barbecue sauce for dipping.

He has vegetarians in mind, too, with smoked tofu ($9), which is washed with smoke and covered in barbecue sauce.

Then, there are the spiced cauliflower wings ($6.50), which are dipped in tabasco-inspired batter and served with Sriracha cream and chipotle barbecue sauce.

Chavez says Herb ’n’ Smoke sets itself apart by using proprietary spices and woods that are native to Arizona in the smoker. He takes his father’s recipes and throws it in the smoker.

“I literally copied every single recipe,” Chavez says. “His recipes were always in his head. We’d just walk it through, and I’d watch.

“That’s how I learned how to cook.

I still do it to this day. My wife keeps telling me I need to measure things. I

said, ‘Why? It works. This is what I do — here’s a pinch of this, here’s a pinch of that.’”

Chavez calls his style a diversion from typical barbecue. It’s not Kansas City or Tennessee style.

“It’s just me,” he says with a smile. “I try to put everything into this restaurant that we’ve done on the food trailer.”

Aesthetically, Herb ’n’ Smoke provides a comfortable setting for guests. Chavez says he decorated the small restaurant so it made him cozy as well.

Chavez’s tattoos are just as meaningful. He literally wears his loves on his sleeve — his father’s name and a cleaver, which symbolizes his passion for cooking.

“The knife is a symbol of my dad,” he says. “It was the cleaver that I can always remember that he always had and used.

It was the ‘everything’ knife. So, now he cooks with me.”

Herb ’n’ Smoke means so much to Chavez. He says he proved the naysayers wrong.

“When I opened the door to this building and I just looked at the inside of it, it was a moment in my life that really made me reflect on how good we have it now,” Chavez says. “I say that we’re truly blessed at this point.”

Herb ’n’ Smoke 123 W. Main Street, Mesa 480.359.5129, herbnsmokeaz.com

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

BEER AND WINE

25

SIP » BREW » RELAX » EXPERIMENT » REFRESH » TOAST

MAD MIXOLOGIST T

By Annika Tomlin

he Lola offers fresh, made-from-scratch foods including familystyle shareables, rustic salads, decadent desserts and always-fresh craft cocktails. Chris Simmons has been a bartender for nearly a decade and is currently at The Lola at Westgate Entertainment District.

We recently had the chance to sit down with Simmons and get the backstory on his career and what the cocktail lab and eatery have to offer.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER AS A BARTENDER. In high school, I was getting scouted to play baseball and I was actually drafted by the Angels. And then I tore my rotator cuff in half my last championship game I had with my club team. I didn’t know what to do then. I was kind of depressed. I was sitting in my friend’s pool — my best friend from high school — and he played college ball but never made it to the pros.

We were just sitting there, and I was like, “Guys, what am I going to do with my life?” I didn’t have any college scholarships.

I wasn’t the greatest in school, so I just didn’t know. He said, “You love talking to people. You love having fun.

Why don’t you just become a bartender?”

That’s literally why I’ve been doing it.

I’ve been at literally every nightclub in Arizona. I

looked over all of the pools and restaurants and everything over at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. I was just thinking of something part time to do, and that is when I landed at McFadden’s. Then, months ago, the Biltmore shut down, McFadden’s shut down, but because we were a full-sized restaurant, we were able to stay open, and that led me over to The Lola. Now I’ll be going to The Ainsworth (to) be the bar manager over there. I’ve been bartending for probably 10 years now.

I started working with the same company over at McFadden’s, and they realized they needed some help over here. I just transitioned over here. I’ve been here ever since.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO DRINK WHEN YOU ARE AT A BAR OTHER THAN YOUR OWN? Mine would just be an Old-Fashioned.

I love Old-Fashioneds. I love speakeasies and things of that sort. Other than that, if I’m at home I usually make a tequila Old-Fashioned, or we actually have a drink similar called the Old Amigo, which is one of my favorite things on the menu.

WHAT IS THE ODDEST INGREDIENT THAT YOU’VE EVER USED IN A COCKTAIL? That’s tough. Probably cotton candy — that’s the only thing we do here — or, like, chocolate bunnies and every other crazy drink they have us make here.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY WORKING BEHIND THE BAR? Just having fun with my friends, meeting new people, and making them smile and laugh and have a great time.

THE SENORITA 1 1/2 ounce 3 Amigos Blanco Tequila 1 ounce agave simple syrup 1 ounce fresh lime juice 4 to 5 jalapeno slices 1 small pineapple Cut off the top of the pineapple and remove insides — keep excess juice for drink. Muddle jalapeno slices, then add remaining ingredients. Garnish pineapple with salt and tajin and pour the drink in pineapple.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE SOMEONE LOOKING TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY? Work hard and keep grinding. You can never make enough money in this industry.

WHAT DOES ORDERING A VODKA TONIC SAY ABOUT A PERSON? Basic white girl. Someone who wants to look the part and not want to taste anything.

TELL US ABOUT THE BEVERAGE PROGRAM HERE AT THE LOLA. We strive to make craft cocktails but at a fast pace — a couple of ingredients simple, easy and just very good. We like to post on social media. We’re really big on social media and try to make everything look pretty and cute. The garnishes are crazy to make people want to post it. That is how we get our

advertisement. It’s about 99% of our advertisement here.

WHAT COCKTAIL WOULD YOU LOVE FOR US TO FEATURE? The Senorita

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE DRINK? Who doesn’t love a spicy margarita?

It’s very refreshing, very light and perfect for the summer. I always like spice. I love spicy margaritas, so that extra kick gives it a little flare in the end. We put it in an actual pineapple and pour it ourselves, and it just looks amazing. We bring the fruit in and do it here, so you’re getting something light and summery that is not made from a bottle somewhere.

The Lola 6770 N. Sunrise Boulevard, Suite G109, Glendale 623.877.5225 thelolaaz.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

RAISING SPIRITS A

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UPFRONT | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | IN CLOSING

Grand Canyon Brewing returns to form with two new beers

By Claire Spinner

fter a tough year of shutdowns and isolation, Grand Canyon Brewing and Distillery in Williams is hoping to raise Arizona’s spirits with new brews — Prickly Pear Wheat Ale and Deep in the Green Double IPA. A subtly sweet, crisp and flavorful wheat beer, Prickly Pear Wheat Ale was the first of the two beverages to be released.

“We were talking about how prickly pear was getting some national recognition, as far as flavor goes,” says Sales Director Alexander Phillips.

“As always, we love things that represent Arizona, and had done a few seasonal prickly pear beverages before, so it just hit us that we should make a prickly pear wheat. We wanted to add something brighter and sweeter that could really represent poolside culture. We didn’t really have anything like that in our portfolio, and we thought it would be perfect for summer.”

Deep in the Green Double IPA is described by Phillips as a bright, West Coast-inspired IPA that stays away from the current haziness trend.

“We wanted to get back to the basics of what got us into craft beer — something clean, floral, hoppy and bitter,” he says.

“The kind of West Coast-style IPA that you could sip in the summer, or really year-round.”

Grand Canyon Brewing and Distillery opened its first location in Williams in 2017. Phillips says the facility stands out

because it makes everything from scratch — even its ethanol and botanicals.

“We source everything we can from Arizona, and everything we make is from grain to glass,” Phillips says.

“We’re able to build our own flavor profiles in a way that a lot of other distilleries can’t.”

Phillips says the brewery staff is inspired by Arizona and folds that into its beverages, which range from bourbons to beers.

“What inspires us is our backyard,” Phillips says. “We’ve got inspiration on tap all around us. We’re personally obsessed with Arizona here, and it really drives a lot of what we do. From the giant hole in the ground, to the Sonoran Desert and the amazing forest ranges, it really is Arizona that keeps us inspired to want to keep creating fun liquids.”

The new brews are a triumph for the

distillery, after the pandemic threatened to put it out of business. To stay afloat amid lockdowns, the distillery turned to hand sanitizer.

“We were going to lose everything,” Phillips says.

“We decided to make sanitizer, and with the help of our beer distributor, we were able to sell enough to keep the lights on, keep our brewers paid, keep our materials paid for. Eventually, we were even able to donate 1,500 gallons up to the Navajo Nation.”

This summer, Grand Canyon Brewing and Distillery is planning to open a second location in Page.

The staff is hoping to come closer to the Valley to reach more Phoenixarea residents. Phillips describes the company as being “in aggressive acquisition mode.”

“Not a single restaurant or brewery ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

going out of business does me any good,” Phillips says. “However, there will be a lot of opportunities on the market right now, and to not take advantage of that would be a disservice to those who weren’t able to. So, we’re going to be keeping our eye on expansion for the future.”

Phillips says the brewery has spent the last several years rebranding, bringing in a full-time graphics designer and overhauling every aspect of the business.

“We’ve spent the last three years and nearly $1 million improving everything — our properties, our processes, our personnel,” Phillips says.

“We’ve invested to make everything as top notch as we could. We’ve got the quality on lock, the talent on lock, and now it’s time to start releasing new products.”

Phillips encourages beer lovers to come by the brewery.

“Unless you’ve had Grand Canyon in the last 24 months, you’ve really not had it,” Phillips says. “We’re a whole new brewery with better quality, better approach to market and brand-new branding. The last two years, we’ve become a whole different operation over here. So, if you haven’t tried us recently, come on over and give us a shot.”

Grand Canyon Brewing and Distillery 301 N. Seventh Street, Williams 1800 S. Milton Road, Flagstaff 1.800.513.2072 grandcanyonbrewery.com

GREAT BEER PAIRINGS

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

27

HAND CUT CHOPHOUSE

By Alison Bailin Batz

BEER

BEER: MOON JUICE GALACTIC IPA BREWERY: SANTAN BREWING COMPANY STYLE: INDIA PALE ALE Nicknamed because it tastes “out of this world,” SanTan Brewing’s Moon Juice Galactic IPA is made with Galaxy and Nelson-Sauvin hops. The result is notes of peach, apricot and tropical fruit.

DISH

DISH: CALIFORNIA BURGER COST OF DISH: $13 This mouthwatering burger was awarded third place in a local battle burger competition. The patty is 6 ounces of responsibly sourced beef cooked to the guest’s liking, in between a brioche bun with a housemade herb aioli spread. The burger is complemented with Swiss cheese, pickled red onions, shredded lettuce, avocado and sweet potato strings. It pairs with Hand Cut’s signature salt and vinegar fries and — of course — the Moon Juice IPA, which plays up the best of the beer’s tropical and fruit notes without overpowering the meaty goodness.

“The hidden gem of the Scottsdale Waterfront, Hand Cut Burgers & Chophouse is one of the city’s hippest culinary destinations focused on local, responsibly sourced ingredients and a stellar handcrafted cocktail menu.

Open daily for lunch and dinner, the chophouse also

CABER-YAY! Tarbell’s wine event

serves delicious pastas and salads that can be complemented with a savory side or appetizer.

Try combining one of our signature burgers with our crafted housemade cocktails, a glass of wine, or with one of Arizona’s local beers on tap. You will find some of your favorite beers

at Hand Cut from our local breweries such as Sonoran, Four Peaks and SanTan.”

tickets.

At the outdoor event, patrons can take advantage of culinary delights, wine tastings, beer tastings, and summer cocktails by Tarbell’s mixologists, as well as enjoy live music, playing yard games and participating in contests. On the live music stage, a coconut cream pie-eating contest will take place, and the winner will receive a free, premium wine bottle from The Wine Store.

As an added bonus contest, the guest

with the best hat at the event will also win a high-quality bottle of wine. Valet will be available on the day of the event.

- Sean Frantz, marketing director for Riot Hospitality Group

Hand Cut Chophouse 7135 E. Camelback Road, Suite 154, Scottsdale 480.494.2008 handcutchophouse.com

benefits single moms

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

T

arbell’s Hospitality, a brand run by awardwinning chef Mark Tarbell, is hosting the ultimate open-air event — a wine afternoon in the parking lot of his Camelback East Village restaurant.

Proceeds from the Parking Lot Wine Event will be donated to Helping Hands for Single Moms.

Tarbell’s and The Wine Store will be catering the event with wine and complementary food pairings such as mint watermelon salad, lobster rolls, pulled pork sandwiches, burgers and brats.

Premium sparkling, rosé, white and light summer red wines will be provided for wine tasting festivities.

Each guest will receive tasting tickets

with 15 2-ounce pours. Sodas, water and wine/beer by the glass will be available through food stations and a mini bar.

For all members of the Luxury Wine Club, an elite wine membership offered through Tarbell’s Wine Store, there will be exclusive wines available for tasting at this event. The Wine Store will feature a variety of select wines, including those offered for the tastings, with special case pricing for Wine Club members and retail customers — sale cards will be available for all those in attendance.

The VIP package includes exclusive wine tastings at the event, a five-course wine-paired meal, rosé snowcones and a Tarbell’s mystery swag bag. VIP tickets will be limited to 20, with Luxury Club and Wine Club members at The Wine Store offered first claim on the restricted

Parking Lot Wine Event WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 16 WHERE: Tarbell’s, 3213 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $49 INFO: https://bit.ly/3gJ4v0N ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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SPORTS

CHEER » HIT » HIKE » LEAD » ROOT » COMPETE

NEW LEADER IN TOWN

Testaverde Jr. hopes to make his mark on the Rattlers

By Zakkary Brog

F

or Vincent Testaverde Jr., football has been a long and winding road.

The son of NFL great Vinny Testaverde recently signed on as the Arizona Rattlers’ new quarterback.

“I’m really excited,” he says. “I heard the atmosphere there is great at all the games. Hopefully, despite COVID, there can be a good number of fans.”

Testaverde Jr. played organized football for the first time during his junior and senior years in high school.

He walked on to Texas Tech at the collegiate level and only played one game.

After one season, he transferred to his father’s alma mater, Miami. He redshirted for one season and spent a second on the practice squad. Testaverde Jr. then transferred to Albany and played well enough to earn time on the training camps for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Canadian Football League’s BC Lions.

With the Rattlers, he’s hoping to utilize his journeyman-esque experience and find success in the desert.

“Being on a bunch of different teams,

having to go in and meet all new guys for the first time and link with them, that’s one of the biggest things taken away from that experience,” says Testaverde Jr. It’s more than a change of scenery for Testaverde Jr., who is transitioning from the traditional game to the indoor game.

His stop in the Valley will be his first time in Arizona.

“Being from Florida, I’m used to the heat, just not the dry heat,” he says with a laugh.

All jokes aside, Testaverde Jr. has been taking his offseason preparation

seriously. Nothing is guaranteed, as he will likely compete for a starting spot against former IFL MVP Drew Powell.

“Week in and week out, I’m always working, trying to get better at what I do,” he says. “Whether it’s footwork stuff to stay quick in the pocket, throwing routes with guys, keeping my arm loose, making sure the accuracy is there, timing is there … I want to play. I didn’t sign to sit on the bench. Everyone wants to play. I’m going to go and compete, try to play, and then win as many games as possible.”

Testaverde Jr. says he believes if he builds a foundation with his teammates, he’ll succeed.

“The tighter the relationship with your teammates, the better you’ll play and the better you’ll just click on the field,” he says.

“That’s what I’m really looking forward to — going in, meeting the guys, making friends, getting to know everybody and just clicking right away.”

The Rattlers are slated to begin their season on Sunday, May 16, when they travel to Prescott Valley to take on the Northern Arizona Wranglers.

The Rattlers’ home opener against the Tucson Sugar Skulls is Saturday, June 12, at Phoenix Suns Arena.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

FAMILY

29

FROLIC » DISCOVER » IMAGINE » FAMILY » FUN » CONNECT

A SPECIAL TREAT OF AFRICA

The Zuzu African Acrobats bring high-energy tradition to Phoenix

By Annika Tomlin

T

he Zuzu African Acrobats have performed in more than 25 countries since the group was founded 15 years ago in Mombasa, Kenya.

Now they’ll take their blend of circus-style acrobatics and highenergy beats to the Madison Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, and Saturday, May 8. They have been featured on “America’s Got Talent,” “The Late Show with David Letterman” and three Super Bowls.

“We usually have a big company — up to 20 artists — but now, because of what is happening today with the pandemic and coronavirus, we only have six artists who are solo artists, but we also go together and do group shows,” says Amiri Koba, one of the six artists, over a Zoom call.

The current group hails from Tanzania and has been performing together for three years under the combined name Tanzanite African Acrobats/Zuzu African Acrobats so people “know we are from Tanzania,” Koba says. “(Our show) has changed a lot because we usually get to perform to a live audience,” says Koba, a native Swahili speaker. “We used to have up to 3,000 to 4,000 in the audience.

The vibes and the feeling are different.

“As we say, at the end of the day, it’s not just a show. It’s about the experience and letting the audience participate. We want them to feel like they are with us. We don’t want them to feel like they are just the audience and they are (supposed to) just sit there like you would to watch a movie. We want our audience to be involved and participate and experience where we are coming from — experience the beauty, the color of who we are.”

The show embodies the Bantu Culture of East Africa and includes teaching the audience Swahili terms. During the past year, the group has completed a limited amount of in-person performances and a slew of Zoom performances out of its Cleveland studio.

“We were lucky enough to be able to keep sharing with the people through

the internet,” Koba says. “We want to keep sharing and feel the energy between us and the audience … (but) it’s not a connection that you can feel through the screens.”

The name Zuzu is a Swahili word that means someone who is quiet but smart and intelligent, Koba says.

“In East Africa, people are very shy.

Even though they know a lot of things, it is hard for them to explain to someone when they ask them to do so,” Koba adds.

As a matter of fact, Zuzu African Acrobats’ first group was several shy,

talented local artists who performed on international stages.

“If we get a big audience of 4,000 to 5,000 people there will be a little tension, but as soon as we hit the stage we are happy and enjoying it and feel like this is what we deserve at this moment,” Koba says. “(The audiences) are to expect a lot, and the show is going to be amazing. We have all these solo acts: hand balance, chair artist, contortionist, unicycle, dishes and pyramid. It’s a lot, but it’s totally amazing.”

Koba admits that he loves his job, but

it’s hard to be away from home — especially during the holidays.

“Because we have been traveling in Europe and all over the world, I think the worst thing no matter where we are, the challenging things that we have is missing our family,” Koba says. “We have been here (in Ohio) for over two years, and we haven’t gone back to visit.

“Being away from your family — your mom, your dad, your sister, your brother — for such a long time and you still don’t know when you will have a chance to go visit,” he says.

“At some point, we feel like, ‘I am supposed to be home with my family,’ especially during Christmas times, New Year’s, those major holidays where people gather with their parents, but instead we gather here and cook.”

The six men in the group make sure to celebrate holidays and birthdays together while on the go and “communicate with family through Skype, WhatsApp and Facebook, but it’s not the same,” according to Koba.

When the group is not performing, it constantly practices within its Cleveland studio to maintain its acrobatic abilities.

“This is like a soccer player or mathematics — you have to do it every day,” Koba says. “I can be very talented in flipping and do all balancing stuff, but if I don’t exercise for over two weeks, I won’t be good.

“With what we do, we need to trust each other, and trust comes from practice, because we are doing dangerous things like when we do a pyramid. In order to trust me, we have to practice a lot, otherwise it’s hard.”

Koba is looking forward to coming to Phoenix.

“We can’t wait to face those audiences and let them experience it,” he says. “I believe they will take away a special treat of Africa.”

Zuzu African Acrobats WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, and Saturday, May 8 WHERE: Madison Center for the Arts, 5601 N. 16th Street, Phoenix COST: $30 INFO: themadison.org ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

HITTING THE ROAD Trolls build a fanbase at Legoland Discovery Center

30

UPFRONT | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | IN CLOSING

By Olivia Dow

T

he Trolls World Tour has set up a residency at the Legoland Discovery Center at Arizona Mills through May. Kids can look for trolls hidden in Lego City, get groovy in the disco room or help Master Builder Alec Posta build a Poppy out of Lego.

“Right now, we’re building a 5-foottall build of Poppy from the Trolls movie completely out of Lego, and the kids are helping me, the master builder, in creating it,” Posta says.

“It’s kind of a whole collaborative thing. We are at about not quite to the neck right now, so we still have quite a way to go.”

The scavenger hunt sees the characters hidden in Lego City, and those who complete the event can win annual passholders.

“It’s been a lot of fun, in particular because there are certain kids who might not be as into Lego as the brand, but they are very into Trolls right now,” Posta says.

“The trolls really helped get them excited about building, especially the Poppy big build that we’ve been doing.

It’s just really fun to see certain kids eyes light up like, ‘I can help build Poppy?’

It’s these kinds of partnerships that we do are really great for bringing new people to building Lego.”

The Trolls visit is the Legoland Discovery Center’s first event since it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s going very well,” Posta says about the event.

“For those people who are regular visitors who come once a week, twice, once every two weeks or once a month, it’s really great for them to have something new to experience. We have really fun new things to offer them.”

The Legoland Discovery Center is taking extra precautions to ensure it is a safe place for families to enjoy. These measures include limited attendance, mask requirements and increased sanitization.

“Right now, we are severely limiting the number of people who can come

in to 300 people a day,” Posta says.

“We do have reserved times slots. It is recommended that you get your tickets online ahead of time, and that’s just so that we can manage the number of people in the building and keep everyone who is here at a safe distance.

“We maintain social distancing within the attraction. Masks are still required to come in, of course, and must be worn at all times unless you’re eating at a designated table.”

Because it is such a hands-on experience, the sanitization efforts have increased at Legoland Discovery Center.

“We’ve really ramped up the brickwashing procedure, so we take all of the Lego bricks off the floor midday, wash, steam, sanitize them in an industrial dishwasher, and put out fresh brick,” Posta said. “We do that twice throughout the day to make sure that we are sanitizing all surfaces and everything that’s going to be touched as much as possible.”

Lego Trolls World Tour WHEN: Daily hours through May WHERE: Legoland Discovery Center, 5000 Arizona Mills Circle, Suite 135, Tempe COST: Tickets start at $24.99 INFO: legolanddiscoverycenter.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

MUSIC

31

LISTEN » JAM » INNOVATE » EVOLVE » ROCK » SING

A NOISE BRIGADE Boston’s favorite sons don’t want pity

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

S

ka music was founded in Jamaica in the 1950s, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones singer Dicky Barrett has an explanation for its longevity.

Concerts, like those by the Bosstones, are just flat-out fun.

“There are people who are into ska like I was in 1982,” Barrett says. “They’re saying, ‘I love the Specials and Madness.

I have to see the Skatallites.’ That was my music. If you’re a 16-year-old ska fan or rude boy or you love the Interruptors, you have to see the Bosstones. Then it’s up to us to deliver.

“Same goes for Mustard Plug or the Suicide Machines and many of the bands that were on the Third Wave along with us.”

The ska-punk pioneers will release

their 11th studio record, “When God Was Great,” on May 7 via Hellcat Records. The Mighty Mighty Bosstone members are Barrett, bassist Joe Gittleman, saxophonists Tim “Johnny Vegas” Burton and Leon Silva, Bosstone Ben Carr, drummer Joe Sirois, guitarists Nate Albert and Lawrence Katz, keyboardist John Goetchius and trombonist Chris Rhodes.

Since their formation in 1983, the Bosstones have been credited as one of the forefathers of ska-punk and the creators of its subgenre, ska-core.

With a career spanning over 30 years, Boston’s best-dressed band has built and continued to build a devoted following with its unique brass-infused brand of punk rock.

To date they have released 10 studio records — “Devil’s Night Out” (1989), “More Noise and Other Disturbances”

(1992), “Don’t Know How to Party” (1993), “Question the Answers” (1994), “Let’s Face It” (1997), “Pay Attention” (2000), “A Jackknife to a Swan” (2002), “Pin Points and Gin Joints” (2009), “The Magic of Youth” (2011) and “While We’re at It” (2018).

“When God Was Great” is different, though.

“How do you make a record with the world in the state that it’s currently in,” Barrett asked rhetorically. “In a lot of ways, it lent itself to making that record.

“We decided to capitalize on the home recording game. When we made (1989’s) ‘Devil’s Night Out,’ we had to be in the same room. I had to walk across town and hand the lyrics to Joe (Gittleman).

“As much as I can’t stand technology, it really came in handy this time. We became super prolific. It’s like the faucet was turned on and we were creating at a level that made it difficult to keep up with. It was air traffic controlling.”

Co-produced by longtime collaborator Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem, Dropkick Murphys) and Rancid

frontman Tim Armstrong (Transplants, Jimmy Cliff), “When God Was Great” sees the band bringing back friends, tourmates and bandmates from the past for a sonic celebration that stresses the power of perseverance and human connection during tumultuous times.

The album features 15 tracks that initially arose out of a collective sense of loss.

“Part of our income and part of our life was gone,” Barrett says. “To make that a ‘woe is me’ wouldn’t be appropriate.

There are a lot of people who truly suffered. As far as I’m concerned, we’re at the back of the line. “‘You poor dudes sit at home and write songs with your best friends and sit with your beautiful family.’ I don’t want to be negative. I lived for live music. Logging on and virtually watching things … it may be for some people but not for me.

It’s not what I signed on for. I can’t wait to hit the road.”

Mighty Mighty Bosstones bosstonesmusic.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

TREATING FANS

32

UPFRONT | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | IN CLOSING

Flagstaff rapper exudes honesty on new sound

By Alex Gallagher

L

iL MiK_e spent his childhood in Glendale listening to Blink-182 and admiring Tom DeLonge’s vocals.

In June, the NAU graduate, who earned a degree in music, will pay tribute to them with the single “Mikey182.” “‘Mikey182’ is about me growing up on Blink-182,” he says. “Tom DeLonge was a huge influence on me and my sound. I hope this song reaches Travis Barker, as I would love to work with him one day. This is the most Mikey I’ve ever sounded.”

To support “Mikey182,” he plans to create an animated video with Art

by Joseph, who has collaborated with Machine Gun Kelly, Modsun and Blackbear.

“Mikey182” will appear on LiL MiK_e’s forthcoming EP, “Sellout,” due in October. The longtime emo fan, who spent time in hardcore metal and poppunk bands, has switched genres once again to pop.

“I started writing the album in July, and it is a good representation of my new sound and where I am pushing to go,” LiL MiK_e says. “I’m going more into more of a poppy tone.”

Case in point: “The Emotional Vampire Wins Again,” his latest single, which is not slated for “Sellout.” It begins with a poppy guitar lick then escalates into a heavy bass beat with emotionally charged lyrics.

LiL MiK_e plans to release five of the seven songs on “Sellout.” The EP will kick off with the title track, a song that has “an emo undertone then switches to a hyper and happy sound.” Also included on “Sellout” will be “Goodtime,” “Bad for Me” and “My Heart Hates Me.” From there he plans to create an alternative/pop-punk song, which he has yet to title, before ending the collection with “Sellout Reprise.”

CREATING ‘MEMORIES’ LiL MiK_e began his music career

playing with the hardcore band Hitokiri before creating the pop-punk bands Wasting Away and Overplay, for which he played guitar and sang.

His debut solo EP, 2018’s “Memories,” came with help from fellow members of the underground music scene. JJ Catalyst, the longtime audio technician for the South Phoenix underground hardcore club The Studio, produced the release.

“Memories” begins with “Issues,” the first song he took to Catalyst. The track is MiK_e’s most-streamed song.

“When I would go to The Studio, there would always be this dude in this mysterious backroom recording all the bands,” he says of Catalyst. “I went home and listened to the recordings and I always wanted to be recorded by this guy.”

Catalyst not only tightened his sound, but he created the eclectic spelling of his stage name. He thinks it’s cool that he’s one of the few rappers to use an underscore in his name.

From there, they conceptualized LiL MiK_e’s image. The two posted Polaroids of LiL MiK_e on social media.

That led to his album cover concept on 2018’s “Memories.”

“When JJ started doing the Polaroids, it evolved into this concept of ‘Memories,’ which is basically a diary of my life,” LiL MiK_e says.

While the album offers a somber sound and heavy emotional lyrics, LiL MiK_e’s new sound ups the energy of his signature vocal sound.

Fans have compared him to fellow rappers like Lil Peep or pop artists like Blackbear. He feels most akin to someone else: Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, the solo rap project by Tigers Jaw’s Adam McIlwee.

“He had a similar upbringing in the music scene as me because he and I both went from hardcore metal to pop punk to solo,” LiL MiK_e says.

He opened for Wicca Phase Springs Eternal in April 2019 at The Rebel Lounge, and he picked McIlwee’s brain.

The punk rocker told him to stay true to himself. One way he remains genuine is to play guitar, which he used to express himself long before he started singing.

“I started taking what I did in Wasting

The Insider’s Guide to Arizona Entertainment

Away and Overplay and tried to bridge being commercial with honesty, which I feel my new stuff does pretty well,” LiL MiK_e says. “Overall, I’m just happier with my new sound.”

PHX METRO » JANUARY 2020

PHX METRO

2019 » AUGUST PHX METRO

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MAY 2019

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2020

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2020

REAL EMOTIONS THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

33

‘Strange times’ inspire Myles Kennedy

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

M

yles Kennedy didn’t want to just sit around during the pandemic.

So, he finished his sophomore solo record, “The Ides of March,” due May 14.

“The goal was to try to record a record the latter half of last year,” Kennedy says.

“Prior to everything locking down, that was the game plan. Little did I know, the world basically would shut down in March.

“That gave me plenty of time to be productive and get something done. In some ways, that was good. It definitely was a strange time. I hadn’t been home that much in 11 years.”

Kennedy says his album was his creative outlet and his therapy to deal with what was going on around him.

“It was time to make lemonade out of lemons,” he says.

To help him, he recruited longtime friend and drummer Zia Uddin and bassist/manager Tim Tournier. The three musicians drove to Florida to work with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette.

“He’s one of my dearest friends,” Kennedy says of the 20-year friendship.

“I trust him. I never have to worry about who’s on the other side of the glass pushing the recording button.

“He’s going to get the best. It’s like you’re turning over your baby. We spend a lot of work and time with the songs.

You want someone to capture it. He tells us like it is, which is good. That’s one of the reasons why I know I can trust him.”

“The Ides of March” is bookended by the slide guitar riffs of “Get Along” and the pensive blues style of closer “Worried Mind.” The album finds him strapping on his electric guitar and pushing himself as a guitarist/songwriter.

“I love so many different genres,” says Kennedy, who appeared in the 2001 movie “Rock Star.” “I’ve had a great run as a recording artist. When you make as many records as I’ve been a part of making, it’s good to push yourself and make music that you want to make. I wanted to spend time immersed in it and playing it.”

The epic song “The Ides of March” clocks in at over 7 minutes. “‘The Ides of March’ is the cornerstone of the album,” he says. “That’s why it’s the title track. It’s an epic journey sonically and lyrically.”

The first single, “In Stride,” opens with Myles showcasing his slide playing before delivering a lyrical message to “take it all in stride.”

Kennedy says “Get Along” was the perfect way to start “The Ides of March.”

“When you’re sequencing, you spend a lot of time trying to figure out what’s going to be the great introduction to the second, third song. What’s appropriate there. It’s an issue of dynamics in a lot of ways. It has a certain proclamation out of the gate. It’s a sonic puzzle.”

Kennedy has contributed to six chart-topping albums from goldselling rock juggernaut Alter Bridge; three records with Slash and the Conspirators; two albums from the Mayfield Four; his 2018 solo debut “Year of the Tiger”; and guest appearances for everyone from Disturbed and Halestorm to Gov’t Mule, Sevendust, Mark Morton and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels.

Kennedy was introduced into music in 1990, but it wasn’t until 1995, through his band the Mayfield Four, that he gained notoriety. The band opened for Creed, and it was there that Kennedy met guitarist Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips. Together, they formed Alter Bridge, named after a bridge in suburban Detroit.

Kennedy’s wide-ranging, almost operatic vocals caught the ear of Led Zeppelin, which invited him to jam with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham for a project that never materialized.

In 2009, Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash was working on a solo project and tapped Kennedy to do vocals on two songs on that release. That partnership would lead to Kennedy becoming the vocalist for his

other rock band, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators.

This relationship would also lead to Kennedy singing for the iconic Guns N’ Roses at their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2012 after band founder Axl Rose was unable to attend.

In 2018, Kennedy released his debut solo album, “Year of the Tiger,” to critical and commercial success. With “The Ides of March,” Kennedy showcases that well-documented voice.

The pandemic and the divisiveness among Americans and the world all

played a role in Kennedy’s lyrics on “The Ides of March.”

“There’s a lot of uncertainty and change and things I never saw in my lifetime,” he says. “As a lyricist, I prefer to have a well to draw from, as opposed to concocting something. These were very real emotions and a real set of circumstances that I would work into a narrative.”

Myles Kennedy myleskennedy.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

BASED ON A TRUE STORY The Venomous Pinks unleash powerful sound on first live album

34

UPFRONT | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | IN CLOSING

By Alex Gallagher

T

he Venomous Pinks vocalist/guitarist Drea Doll says her band’s fourtrack live EP, “Based on a True Story,” is an honest representation of their music.

“This EP, it’s just pure, raw, in-yourface Venomous Pinks,” Doll says. “It’s like what you’ll get in a show without going to a show.”

As per the title, the Venomous Pinks wanted to describe the whirlwind of a day endured while recording the four songs. “‘The Venomous Pinks Live’ just seemed too basic of a title for what happened that day,” Doll says. “I said this whole recording is this whole monstrous story. I asked the band what if we call it ‘Based on a True Story?’ And they were into it.”

The band’s story began on a jampacked Wednesday in October 2019 in Portland.

It was at Portland’s famous Bridge City Sessions where the band — which is frequently compared to Bikini Kill and T.S.O.L. — waited for three hours for a camera crew to show. The group had a call time of 6 p.m. at another venue called The Twilight Café, which was on the opposite side of town.

“By the time the camera guys got there, it was around 4:30, and by the time they set up their lights and angles, we had around half an hour to record this EP with two takes per song.”

From there, Doll describes the next hour of her life as being something out of the climax of a movie.

The band loaded its gear, rushed over two bridges to get to the other side of Portland to make it to The Twilight Café, just in time to run a 5-minute sound check and catch a 20-minute break before its set.

“We’d already been on tour for a week and a half, so we’d already had our set together, but it was still crazy getting from point A to point B in 10 to 15 minutes,” says Gaby Kaos, vocalist/ bassist.

Drummer Cassie Jalile adds, “I think that being on tour was what saved us.

We already sounded super tight. We didn’t think that we would pull off getting the tracks in two takes, but after one take of each song, we realized it wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be.”

The band was also reassured that its sound was fine when the Bridge City Sessions crew, which records several artists throughout the year, was impressed after one take.

Doll is proud of all the songs on the ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

EP, but there was one that stood out to her. It’s a fan favorite from the Venomous Pinks’ last tour.

“For that run, our EP ‘I Want You’ hadn’t been released yet, and none of the songs had been teased either,” says Doll, a Mesa Community College alumnus.

“We were getting a lot of feedback from our song called ‘Hold On’ live.

I always like playing that song live because I feel it resonates with a lot of listeners.”

When shows resume, the Venomous Pinks will likely have plenty of unreleased music to play, as the band is working on a new album. It’s still in the production stages, but it’ll be produced by fellow punk rocker Linh Le, the Bad Cop/Bad Cop bassist.

Though Le works well with the Venomous Pinks because of their similar sounds, the two have found comfort in the resurgence of the Riot Grrrl movement, which addresses gender inequalities within music and across the globe. It started in the Pacific Northwest in the early 1990s.

“I feel like punk rock’s come a long way,” Doll says. “There’s just this unity of women supporting women. Now, it seems like we’re on the same page.”

Kaos adds, “We can only try to change things one song at a time. Maybe, after quarantine, things will change, but there’s definitely more unity in the punk rock women community than there was 10 years ago when I started.

“It only takes one band or one member to be cool and speak to everybody and

create that community.”

Doll and Kaos, the latter a Scottsdale Community College alumnus, have a saying that’s frequently used on podcast Sound Sisters, which talks about the music industry and paranormal activity — “community before competition.”

Outside of collaborating on their forthcoming album, Le and Kaos run a merchandise line called Bassists Against Racists, which features a new bassist monthly.

Kaos also prints shirts through her screen-printing company, Kaos Merch, of the bassists with a message. All the proceeds go to Black Lives Matter.

Kaos’ 6-month-old line has artists booked through March 2022 and plans to feature big names.

Going forward, the Venomous Pinks are slated to make their return to the stage with legendary punkers Agent Orange at the Yucca Tap Room in Tempe on October 27.

In the meantime, the band hopes fans will stream the self-released “Based on a True Story.”

“We’re putting this out ourselves because we didn’t want to have to answer to anyone, because it’s a live EP,” Doll says. “We’re just running with the DIY ethic.”

The Venomous Pinks: thevenomouspinks.com Gaby Kaos Merch Site: kaosmerch.com/product/linhle

TOURING IS PARADISE THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

35

Alejandro Aranda says Tempe show will be ‘intimate’

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

music on his YouTube channel, releasing videos for tracks “Cellphones” and “The Darkness,” plus a 51-minute piano improv.

The EP “Los Angeles” was coproduced by SAWYR (Taylor Swift, Zayn, Nicki Minaj) and Aranda. With its alt-rock, R&B and jazz inflections, “Los Angeles” is honest and addictive.

The EP was inspired by Aranda’s time in Los Angeles.

“From the outside, a lot of people think of LA as this paradise,” Aranda explains “But living here, you see a lot of people hurting, a lot of people in pain that no one wants to talk about.”

On the song “Room Full of Cards,” it’s a “palatable” jazz/lounge song, according to Aranda. Like “Room Full of Cards,” Aranda’s pre-“Idol” tracks were introspective and thoughtful.

“Going on that show, I could only show little bits and pieces of myself,” he says.

“On tour, I can show everything that I like. With my music, I wear my heart on my sleeve, musically and lyrically. It feels awesome that I can express that, and I hope people understand I just like to make and love music.”

A

lejandro Aranda is at home, chilling with his cat. As one of the first acts to announce a 2021 tour, he needs to rest all he can to build up stamina for a U.S. tour.

“It’s definitely going to be an acoustic show,” says Arnada, who performs as Scarypoolparty. “I’m really trying to go back to the roots of how I originally played music. I want this acoustic tour to feel intimate.”

Aranda recently released the EP “Los Angeles,” and he will kick off his tour in promotion of it on June 4 at the Marquee in Tempe.

The “American Idol” runnerup to Laine Hardy, Aranda says the competition show was a “crazy experience” and a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience.

The pandemic lockdown spurred Aranda’s creativity for Scarypoolparty.

He gained artistic momentum and expanded his audience. In 2020, Aranda released the EP “Doom Hologram.”

“As a musician, your whole thing is putting music out and then you go on tour,” Aranda says. “I didn’t know what to do last year. I had to figure out what works.”

Last month, he released his single “Home,” a dark meditation on longing and loneliness blending organic acoustic elements with electronic samples. He’s also been surprising fans with new

Scarypoolparty (Alejandro Aranda) with Noah Martin WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 4 WHERE: Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe COST: Tickets start at $25 INFO: luckymanonline.com

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ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

36

UPFRONT | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | IN CLOSING

FINDING ITS SOUND

Phoenix’s Electric Sol calls new EP a ‘turning point’

By Alex Gallagher

E

lectric Sol recently released its second EP, but prior to the collection’s release, the act offered a sample of its future.

“This whole project is a turning point and has come to define who we are as a band and what we’re doing,” says singer Ed Sweet. “We’ve already released three singles from that EP, so there’s only two and a half new songs on the EP.” For the project, Sweet recruited Grammy Award-winning producer and musician Dapo Toromiro and fellow Phoenician Secret Attraction to help.

“After the pandemic hit last March, that’s when I started taking music a little more seriously,” Sweet says.

“So, I contacted Dapo, because I figured nothing ventured, nothing gained. At the same time, I reached out to Secret Attraction, who I had seen at the Trunk Space in February of 2020, and we made these projects in parallel.”

Sweet says working with the two helped him refine the band’s musical direction.

“Now that we’ve figured out what our

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

genre is and what kind of music we want to make, it’s opened up a lot of doors to meet a lot of people,” Sweet says.

The biggest change Sweet made was abandoning live instruments for synthesizers and an octstrack, a drum machine that can be used to create a song’s rhythm. It also records samples.

Sweet took to social media to interact with fans and immerse himself in a community of other synthpop artists.

“I’ve been doing a lot of engagement on social media,” says Sweet, a Phoenix resident and Brown University alumnus.

“We interact with a lot of people on Twitter and with artists who put on shows via Twitch, where we’ve had our music played.

“It’s been a great way to connect with people and become part of that community.

It’s a very welcoming community.”

While social media has proven to be beneficial for Electric Sol, it has also found ways to express its art visually through videos.

“Our video projects are very low budget, so we have to try to do a lot with as little as possible,” Sweet says. “We try to add a few embellishments that make it a little more interesting without

spending a lot of money.”

Its music video for “Your Divinity” did just that, as it was shot by Electric Sol’s octatrack player and Boulder Creek High School alumnus Cody Hazelle.

The video features a woman wearing a crown made of zip ties and was filmed in one of Sweet’s friend’s backyard.

“Your Divinity” was the first single from “City Tonight” and was released late last year.

“We were ready to do the album in November, so ‘Your Divinity’ seemed like it made sense in a loose way to being related to the divine things related to Christmastime,” Sweet says. “ As for the rest of the singles, Sweet wanted to tie them into the seasonality of the time in which they were released.

“We based our decisions on when songs came out based on the time of year,” Sweet says. However, “none of the lyrics are about a specific time of year.”

“I knew I wanted ‘Beauty Beauty’ to come out around Valentine’s Day, because that’s kind of an antilove love song, which I thought would be funny to do around that time.”

Entering the new year, Sweet wanted to get fans excited about Electric Sol’s

future, so he released another track. “‘Life Out Loud’ came out in February, and we felt it was a good way to start a new year, and we were hopeful that all the pandemic stuff would be over,” Sweet says. “Plus, people liked the song, and we wanted to start with one of the more fun and upbeat songs.”

However, the last released song is “City Tonight,” a “good summer/pool party” track.

“I like to describe the album as each song is a kind of sparkling wine, and it just depends on what your preference is,” Sweet says. “There’s something for everybody on the album, though.”

Looking forward, Electric Sol is back in the studio and has been working with Secret Attraction and Icelandic producer Thorisson. The band hopes to release new music in May or June. The “City Tonight” video is set for May. “Everyone’s eager to get back out there, and we’ve been practicing a lot,” Sweet says. “Things are changing and for the better, which is good.”

Electric Sol electricsolmusic.com

PUNK IN THE PARK THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2021

37

Live music returns to Big Surf Waterpark

By Alex Gallagher

A

fter more than a year without live shows, punk rock returns with some of the biggest names in the genre, like Strung Out, Pennywise, Good Riddance and the Bombpops, taking the stage.

The Saturday, May 29, show at Tempe’s Big Surf Waterpark will have strict COVID-19 restrictions in place. The concert has deep meaning for the acts, who are aligned with the regulations.

“It feels like our first show ever,” Strung Out guitarist Jake Kiley says.

“We’ve never had more than a month off since 1992, when I joined the band. We’re super ready to go, and now we have a date to look forward to.”

Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge was waiting with the rest of his band in Costa Rica to start a South American tour with the Offspring when the plug was pulled.

“Finally, we have something that looks like it’s going to happen,” Dragge said.

“To be able to get out there and play a show in front of actual fans is definitely going to be a welcome change of pace at this point.”

A 25-year Pennywise musician, Dragge said the pandemic humbled him

and made him appreciate touring.

“We’ve been touring for 25 years, and we’ve never seen anything like this ever,” Dragge says. “But it puts you in check with how vulnerable we are against Mother Nature.”

He mostly misses the community aspect of tour life, something he experienced best when Pennywise played its biggest songs.

“I just like playing live, period,” Dragge says. “But I really miss playing ‘Bro Hymn.’ I really miss having our friends come up on stage and join us or having fans join us during that song.”

Dragge isn’t the only one who wants to play live.

“Playing shows keeps us going and has always kept me young at heart,” Kiley says. “That’s been a challenge this year, not having an immediate connection with our fans and other artists and bands.”

It’s been difficult, too, for the musicians to be away from each other during the pandemic.

“Even with Strung Out, we’ve only been fully together two to three times since March of 2020. That, in itself, is a strange thing,” Kiley says.

Although they haven’t been able to perform, some of them have honed their craft during the forced time off.

“I’ve been able to play more guitar this past year than I have ever,” Kiley

Strung Out

says. “When I’m on tour, I don’t want to touch my instrument when I’m off stage, but now I’m looking up new music and playing all day long.”

Kiley is excited to show off the talents he picked up during quarantine, but he’s more excited to be a part of a potentially historic concert.

“I was hoping once shows started coming back around that we would be a part of something,” Kiley says. “I’m so excited to be there with Pennywise and Face to Face and all these other bands

that we love.” Kiley says.

The musicians are also hoping to provide a release for fans.

“This is going to be really a good return for people to come out, be entertained, let loose and have a good time,” Kiley says. “Concerts are always therapy, I felt, where you can go and get anything you need to exercise out of your system, and without that it’s been a struggle,” Kiley says.

Set lists haven’t been released yet, but Kiley and Drogge have similar expectations for their shows.

“I just expect a very energetic set and us to play like it’s both our first and last show,” Kiley says.

“We’re so lucky to have this show, and hopefully it’s not the last thing we do for a while. But if we don’t get another show booked until the end of the year, then I’m going to make this 30- to 45-minute set count.”

Punk in the Park Arizona w/ Pennywise, Face to Face, Strung Out, Good Riddance, H20, Voodoo Glow Skulls, the Bombpops and others

Pennywise

WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday, May 29 WHERE: Big Surf Waterpark, 1500 N. McClintock Drive, Tempe COST: Tickets start at $45 INFO: https://bit.ly/32uobgR OTHER: By purchasing a ticket/ attending this event, fans are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present.

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

38

IN CLOSING

FUN » FACTS » LEARN » SHARE » PLAY

NUMBERS

By Annika Tomlin

The fastest gust of wind recorded on Earth was 253 miles per hour.

There are 41 countries that recognize sign language as an official language.

The world’s population could fit shoulder to shoulder within the 500 square miles of Los Angeles.

With a background noise of -20.35 dBA, a lab room in Microsoft’s Washington headquarters is the quietest room.

Raindrops can fall as fast as 20 mph.

On July 9, 2011, South Sudan became the youngest country.

The Texas Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, stretching at 26.9 square miles, is larger than the island of Manhattan (22.8 square miles).

Porcupines can have more than 30,000 quills.

Since June 1, 1962, jousting has been the official state sport of Maryland.

A googol is a number and written out would be a 1 followed by 100 zeros.

In 1957, engineer Al Fielding and Swiss inventor Marc Chavannes invented bubble wrap as textured wallpaper.

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