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A NOISE BRIGADE

Boston’s favorite sons don’t want pity

(1992), “Don’t Know How to Party” frontman Tim Armstrong (Transplants, (1993), “Question the Answers” (1994), Jimmy Cliff), “When God Was Great” “Let’s Face It” (1997), “Pay Attention” sees the band bringing back friends, (2000), “A Jackknife to a Swan” (2002), tourmates and bandmates from the “Pin Points and Gin Joints” (2009), “The past for a sonic celebration that stresses Magic of Youth” (2011) and “While the power of perseverance and human By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski their 11th studio record, “When We’re at It” (2018). connection during tumultuous times. Ska music was founded in Jamaica in the 1950s, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones singer Dicky Barrett has an explanation for its longevity. 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, “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 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.

Concerts, like those by the Bosstones, guitarists Nate Albert and Lawrence record. There are a lot of people who truly are just flat-out fun. Katz, keyboardist John Goetchius and “We decided to capitalize on the home suffered. As far as I’m concerned, we’re at

“There are people who are into ska like trombonist Chris Rhodes. recording game. When we made (1989’s) the back of the line. I was in 1982,” Barrett says. “They’re Since their formation in 1983, the ‘Devil’s Night Out,’ we had to be in the “‘You poor dudes sit at home and write saying, ‘I love the Specials and Madness. Bosstones have been credited as one same room. I had to walk across town songs with your best friends and sit with I have to see the Skatallites.’ That was of the forefathers of ska-punk and the and hand the lyrics to Joe (Gittleman). your beautiful family.’ I don’t want to be my music. If you’re a 16-year-old ska fan creators of its subgenre, ska-core. “As much as I can’t stand technology, negative. I lived for live music. Logging or rude boy or you love the Interruptors, With a career spanning over 30 years, it really came in handy this time. We on and virtually watching things … it you have to see the Bosstones. Then it’s Boston’s best-dressed band has built and became super prolific. It’s like the faucet may be for some people but not for me. up to us to deliver. continued to build a devoted following was turned on and we were creating at It’s not what I signed on for. I can’t wait

“Same goes for Mustard Plug or the with its unique brass-infused brand of a level that made it difficult to keep up to hit the road.” Suicide Machines and many of the bands punk rock. with. It was air traffic controlling.” that were on the Third Wave along with To date they have released 10 studio Co-produced by longtime collaborator us.” records — “Devil’s Night Out” (1989), Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem,

The ska-punk pioneers will release “More Noise and Other Disturbances” Dropkick Murphys) and Rancid

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

TREATING FANS

Flagstaff rapper exudes honesty on new sound

By Alex Gallagher

LiL 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 infl uence on me and my sound. I hope this song reaches Travis Barker, as I would love to work with him one day. Th is 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. Th e 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: “Th e 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 fi ve of the seven songs on “Sellout.” Th e 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 Th e Studio, produced the release.

“Memories” begins with “Issues,” the fi rst song he took to Catalyst. Th e track is MiK_e’s most-streamed song.

“When I would go to Th e 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. Th e two posted Polaroids of LiL MiK_e on social media. Th at 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 off ers 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 Th e Rebel Lounge, and he picked McIlwee’s brain. Th e 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 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.”

The Insider’s Guide to Arizona Entertainment

PHX METRO » JANUARY 2020

PHX METRO » MAY 2019 PHX METRO » AUGUST 2019

Harlem Globetrotters bounce into town

Handcrafted meats make for delectable treats Summer

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‘Americano!’ is the show of the year A

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33 REAL EMOTIONS

‘Strange times’ inspire Myles Kennedy

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Myles 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.”

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

BASED ON A TRUE STORY

The Venomous Pinks unleash powerful sound on first live album

By Alex Gallagher

The 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 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

35 TOURING IS PARADISE

Alejandro Aranda says Tempe show will be ‘intimate’

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski music on his YouTube channel, releasing Alejandro 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 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 stamina for a U.S. tour. its alt-rock, R&B and jazz inflections,

“It’s definitely going to be an acoustic “Los Angeles” is honest and addictive. show,” says Arnada, who performs as The EP was inspired by Aranda’s time in Scarypoolparty. “I’m really trying to Los Angeles. go back to the roots of how I originally “From the outside, a lot of people played music. I want this acoustic tour to think of LA as this paradise,” Aranda feel intimate.” explains “But living here, you see a lot

Aranda recently released the EP “Los of people hurting, a lot of people in pain Angeles,” and he will kick off his tour in that no one wants to talk about.” promotion of it on June 4 at the Marquee On the song “Room Full of Cards,” in Tempe. it’s a “palatable” jazz/lounge song,

The “American Idol” runner- according to Aranda. Like “Room Full up to Laine Hardy, Aranda says of Cards,” Aranda’s pre-“Idol” tracks the competition show was a “crazy were introspective and thoughtful. experience” and a “once-in-a-lifetime” “Going on that show, I could only show experience. little bits and pieces of myself,” he says.

The pandemic lockdown spurred “On tour, I can show everything that I Aranda’s creativity for Scarypoolparty. like. With my music, I wear my heart He gained artistic momentum and on my sleeve, musically and lyrically. It expanded his audience. In 2020, Aranda feels awesome that I can express that, and released the EP “Doom Hologram.” I hope people understand I just like to

“As a musician, your whole thing is make and love music.” putting music out and then you go on tour,” Aranda says. “I didn’t know what Scarypoolparty (Alejandro to do last year. I had to figure out what Aranda) with Noah Martin 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 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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FINDING ITS SOUND

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

By Alex Gallagher

Electric 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 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.”

PUNK IN THE PARK

Live music returns to Big Surf Waterpark

By Alex Gallagher

After 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 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.”

Strung Out

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

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.

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