Tucson Weekly 12.01.22

ADMINISTRATION

Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher

Michael Hiatt, Vice President

Tyler Vondrak, Associate Publisher, tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Claudine Sowards, Accounting, claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, Executive Editor, christina@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Hope Peters, Staff Reporter, hpeter@timespublications.com

Katya Mendoza, Staff Reporter, kmendoza@timespublications.com

Karen Schaffner, Staff Reporter, kschaffner@timespublications.com

Contributors: Brian Box Brown, Rob Brezsny, Max Cannon, Rand Carlson, Clay Jones, Laura Latzko, Andy Mosier, Xavier Otero, Dan Perkins, Linda Ray, Brian Smith, Will Shortz, Jen Sorensen

PRODUCTION

Courtney Oldham, Production Manager, tucsonproduction@timespublications.com

Tonya Mildenberg, Graphic Designer, tmildenberg@timespublications.com

CIRCULATION

Aaron Kolodny, Circulation Director, aaron@phoenix.org

Brian Juhl, Distribution Manager, brian@timeslocalmedia.com

ADVERTISING

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Gary Tackett, Account Executive, gtackett@tucsonlocalmedia.com

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Candace Murray, Account Executive, candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com

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ADVERTISING

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SPECTRAL-VISION HOLIDAYS

THE SUN DESCENDS IN TEMPE, and an unseasonal cold wind gusts through the grassy park and into our bones. The western edges of nearby glassy high-rises on South Mill Avenue glow burnt orange, a rare, aching November sunset on otherwise hideous gentrification. That Tempe thoroughfare once, in a fleeting moment in time, connected hearts and minds with neighborhood bars, low-pitched mom-and-pops, and many best songs in Arizona history (consider among them Tempe soundtrack A-listers like Dead Hot Workshop’s hypnotic “A” or Gin Blossoms’ foretelling area anthem “Lost Horizons”). The stretch extended from the old towering silos of the Hayden Flour Mill to Arizona State University campus at University Drive.

The Natives understood how earth energy connects to living flesh, and songs

of a few decades ago here still link to beating hearts like the hundreds of miles of irrigation canals the ancient Hohokam (which translates to “all used up”) built, as early as AD 600, in what is now Tempe. Surely it teaches us only so much can be sucked out from an area before the nutrients are gone and the energy is dead.

Tempe has been wholly camouflaged from any generation, pushed to its end by conglomerate scheming, proliferating greed and a big ersatz lake in a city with an unsustainable water supply. It is a hostile song in a foreign language.

This evening light in the park sweetens the tragic nature of the world, edges softened, melancholic. We are here to meet the director of a film in pre-production, one I wrote with my wife Maggie about Douglas Owen Hopkins, the Gin Blossoms songwriter who died by suicide a few blocks from where we stand, this week

in 1993. She greets us, huddled in a nice winter coat, hair pulled back, big accommodating smile.

It is not easy for me to be in Tempe or Phoenix, an area so profoundly interlinked into my life for many years, even still, long after calling it home. Many landmarks and bars are gone but the ghosts of friends in song who died too young now begin to swirl in the waning sun on corners, under the trees, in lots where signposts, like the beat rock ’n’ roll venue Long Wong’s once stood, daring me to oblige and engage, to revive deserted reminiscences and decrypt their messages, which years ago offered a blueprint to living.

One such was “PC” Paul Cardone, a friend since around ’85, a jaded college student but mostly musician out of Colorado, whose house and heart were always open to me, and countless others. He died days ago, in his sleep, in his 50s. He’s been a savior, an angel, and an up-all-night-inan-early town demon armed with depression-busting powders and drink long after the afterparty faded. Big, charismatic presence, and tall, over six feet, and somewhat burly, the Italian in him showed in kind of toast-colored skin. He was forever a close friend, a source of mirth, despite

(SUBMITTED)

his early days love of Jäger and Clove smokes. He’d hilariously call me his “little ray of sunshine” because I was always down. Curiously, I never saw him eat a vegetable or fruit. He was a meat and potatoes man. Sometimes his existence defied logic, as if he survived on the energy of others, absorbed it, and repaid in generosity. It was a magic trick. It was noth-

SORENSEN

Story & photos by Brian Smith

Arizona luminary Paul Cardone died in November.

ing for him to, say, book, house and feed travelling bands and local musicians, organize festivals.

I communicated with him infrequently in recent years, yet watching the man from up close and afar I understood this: three generations of music in Phoenix-Tempe would sound and feel much different had PC not existed. His lifelines, his financial help, his roadie-ing, even his standing in on bass for misplaced comrades — all these irrigation trenches — reached far, to the Gin Blossoms, the Refreshments/Peacemakers, the Pistoleros/ Chimeras, Chuck Hall, One, Dead Hot Workshop, The Black Moods, Tucson’s Greyhound Soul, and we could go on and on. The venue-packing groups he played in over the decades, easy to rattle off for even a casual central Arizona music fan, Shadow Talk, B. Strange, Satellite, Los Guys, Dry River Yacht Club, and many others. I’ve never met a soul on this earth who had more friends, and so stuck his decades-long handle as the no-term-limit “Mayor of Tempe.”

He rarely took anything sitting down, his powerful fingers on thundering basslines reflected that in craft. In 1990, in the waning days of my old band Gentlemen Afterdark, Cardone was our bass player. I swore he was our biggest fan, and then he was in the band. We’d moved to Tucson from Los Angeles and fizzled, not because of him, but despite him. The

spark. He wanted it.

In the early aughts, PC enjoyed a spanking new liver; yes, he beat up his old liver good, but he also suffered a rare disorder, Budd-Chiari syndrome, which causes blood-flow blockage from the liver. After the transplant, he’d show up, fat grin, slight shrug, booming voice, toting his usual ice chest, this time filled of NA beer instead of Corona.

PC rarely revealed the sadnesses inside him. One time he told me he was on the phone with his dad the moment the old man committed suicide. He chose not to dwell in such places, any inward gazes swapped out with a “how can I be of help to others” mindset, and seemingly without effort. Nights with him would become celebratory, each an evolving memory. He was gifted this way, so there was little reason to question the genesis of his behaviors, and perhaps that’s selfish. The beautiful fucker would never leave any of us standing in the goddamned rain or blazing sun. He was a man of his word. Our dead mutual friends knew this too, from Doug Hopkins to Lawrence Zubia to Richard Flower to Brenda Netz.

The film director is smart and hungry, happy to be in Tempe in her winter coat. Her heart is open and familiar to its ruptures and tragedies. It is also open to decoding and transmitting a waning history of a universe, and the mighty tall order it is to create scripted characters no longer with us, Hopkins, Zubia, and now PC. From the signposts still clinging to the land to the tombstones and railroad tracks, the wind blowing on us almost like ice, the blueprint is palpable.

It is the holiday season and I say thank you to PC, my brother. Your death spooked and gutted me but your force of life is heady, and I remember the dry Salt River bottoms and the Tempe Butte highs.

I climb into to the seat of our mini-van, our little daughters in back, my wife beside me. I admit to myself the wonders, and sadnesses, of it all. Night comes down, the car rolls on, and Tempe and Phoenix recede from the interstate.

The holidays can be a hectic time. It’s easy to put your needs on the back burner while you’re thinking about everyone else. We just wanted you to know that our patients’ health and wellbeing is our top concern this holiday season — and all year round.

Dr. Marin | Dr. Talalaev | Rebekah Lewis, FNP-C

CURRENTS

FLEX RETAIL SPACE PROPER SHOPS OPENING DOWNTOWN

By Katya Mendoza Tucson Local Media

DOWNTOWN TUCSON WILL SEE A new flex retail space at Congress Street and Fifth Avenue on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Proper Shops has room for over 20 small businesses and boutiques, offering a community-minded and supportive workspace for emerging and established local retailers, vendors and artists. Local food, beverages and live music will be provided for the grand opening weekend at 300 E. Congress Street.

From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, the public is invited to celebrate and support local business. They can shop from the 13 boutiques and purchase artwork, prints, crystals, cosmetics and woodworking.

Food and drinks will be available on the outdoor patio with live music sched uled for Saturday: Touch of Grey from 2 to 5 p.m. and Little House of Funk from 7 to 9 p.m.

The location, which seeks to lower the barrier-to-entry into the Downtown mar ket, allows retailers flexibility with their lease agreements so they can focus on their respective brands, concepts and en trepreneurship. Of the 20 spaces, 13 will be occupied for the grand opening.

Friends, former co-workers at a net work marketing company and now co-owners of Proper Shop, Krystal Popov and Tracy Nicasio, recognized the need

for a Downtown flex workspace.

“Opening an office or a boutique is really tough for new business owners or people that are trying to get a physical space,” Popov said.

In May, the two became aware of the available space and pitched the concept to Rio Nuevo a couple of months later. The tax increment finance district (TIF) offered 80% of funding to the boutique owners to help “build out” their individ ual spaces, Popov said.

“We want it to be a mid- to high-end re tail space,” Popov said. The two business partners put out feelers within the com munity in search of finding retailers who would be a good fit in the space. Those who were interested jumped at the op portunity to have a presence Downtown, she said.

The two also hope to activate an exist ing patio behind the retail space, bring ing in live music, weekend markets and other events.

“Just helping these retailers also fulfill their dreams and maybe having a store front that they couldn’t have otherwise, I’m honored to be a part of that,” Nicasio said.

Flirté Beauty — a beauty brand that makes clean, vegan and cruelty-free lip and hair care products — is one of the re tailers. Founder Renae Franz started her

business in Decem ber 2019, just before the pandemic.

“The whole prem ise of the company is that we use an app that’s now patented technology to scan your nipple color and match you to your perfect lip color,” Franz said.

The app takes the initial photo and af ter finding the color match, it deletes the photo.

“We keep your nips on your lips,” Franz said.

Flirté Beauty products can also be found at the lo cal eastside lingerie store, The Bra Spa. A full-service bra fitting boutique that carries an extensive range of sizes and fitting specialists. The luxury experience will soon open a small location at the Proper Shops.

“It’s a great collaboration that really fits with bras because it’s all about the boobs,” owner Margo Hall said.

Hall said she was approached by Nica sio in October, and found the retail space to be fabulous and an exciting opportuni ty to collaborate. “I think it’s really great to have this second location that’s all af fordable and has a completely different

Proper Shop Grand Opening

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4

WHERE: Proper Shops, 300 E. Congress Street

INFO: @propershopstucson, propershoptucson.com

demographic,” she said.

Nicasio and Popov recently hosted a happy hour, Hall said, where they invited the retailers to meet each other. She said she feels like the space will allow the small busi nesses to feed off each other’s energy.

“I’m really looking for ward to connecting with the community (and) the vendors in that whole space,” Franz said. “This is going to be a fun place where people can walk through with a glass of wine and mix and mingle not just with the vendors but (with) each other.

The Bra Spa founder, Margo Hall, in her new microshop space

at Proper Shops.

(SWOON MEDIA/SUBMITTED)

Proper Shops founders Krystal Popov and Tracy Nicasio at 300 E. Congress Street, ahead of grand opening weekend. (SWOON MEDIA/SUBMITTED)

CURRENTS

SIMPLY HAVING, A WONDERFUL YULETIDE

By Katya Mendoza Tucson Local Media

EXPERIENCE THE “HOLIDAYS

the Old West Way” at Old Tucson Stu dios for “Yuletide” through Saturday, Dec. 24. After experiencing record turn out of “Nightfall’s” comeback, this equal ly immersive experience invites visitors to step into an illuminated 1882 Tucson. “It’s great to come and experience what a holiday looks like from an earlier time frame because there will be things that you recognize and things that you don’t,” said Erik Blair, the creative director of “Nightfall” and “Yuletide.”

The inaugural theme, which takes place during the early 1880s, celebrates the novelty of electricity, as it makes its way from the East Coast to the South west. “The ability to light the night and buildings is being called a revolution,” ac cording to a statement. The timed-entry experience will include a prompt 28-foot Christmas tree lighting in Town Square at 6:10 p.m. nightly that celebrates the in dustrial achievement.

The experience will also bring back a real-life former Tucsonan, the affluent Royal A. Johnson. Old Tucson will have an in-house historian located at Shelton Hall to talk about movies, said Kristine “Kiki” Keefner, Old Tucson Studios’ gen eral manager.

“We’re really creating something here that brings Old Tucson back and contin ues the history of this location and of its events in a way that people are going to recognize and appreciate,” Blair said.

The movie studio and theme park which was acquired by American Heri tage Railways (AHR) from Pima County back in April, and operates Old Tucson Studios under the subsidiary corporation Old Tucson Entertainment LLC and has since looked forward to more immersive initiatives that include seasonal produc tions such as Nightfall and Yuletide.

“We have about 16 different things going on inside the park for families, de pending on what you like,” Keefner said.

Holiday visitors can enjoy live produc tions, including a customized version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Yuletide carolers, a luminaria display, hayrides and train rides. Guests can also purchase Christmas trees from the tree lot. Children will have the opportunity to pen and mail their letters to Santa. Par ents can send their naughty kids through the Krampus Koal Mine while nice kids can visit Santa and his elves in the Christmas Cove.

“We’re starting a tradition,” Keefner said. “It’s time to come in and have a little bit of Christmas magic.

Yuletide at Old Tucson Studios

WHEN: Friday, Nov. 25, to Saturday, Dec. 24; timed entries run from 4 to 10 p.m.

WHERE: Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson

COST: Tickets start at $45 for adults ages 12 and older; $40 children ages 5 to 11; free for children through age 4. Parking is $5

INFO: yuletideaz.com

This historical reproduction of a classic American carousel provides a safe ride for bron co-busters of all ages. (SUBMITTED)

The Old Tucson Amateur Theatrical Society perform their own version of Mr. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This play is a comedic version of the tale as the society attempts to put on a show while its actors squabble, forget their lines, get stage fright, and even beg for the audience’s help. (SUBMITTED)

The Christmas Fantasy Train will be running throughout the event, bringing citizens and visitors alike through a fantasy of lights and sound as it travels through town and out into the desert. (SUBMITTED)

TAMAL AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Rich tastes and smells distinguish the myriad tamale recipes of communities throughout the Southwestern United States and Mexico. Selling tamales favored by generations of their own families, and new recipes inspired by contemporary influences, festival vendors raise funds for their community organizations.

The event also features native artisans, a farmers market, activities for kids and live entertainment reflecting a variety of Southwestern cultures. A tamale contest involves 50 judges awarding cash prizes in four categories.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, AVA Amphitheater, 5655 W Valencia Road, casinodelsol.com, free

REVEILLE MEN’S CHORUS: ‘THE GIFT’

The theme of Reveille’s 28th holiday show is “The season of giving is the art of living.” This much-anticipated annual chorale and revue reliably brings joy and laughs to its audiences along with uplifting music by its gifted and disciplined voices. The art of living is the greatest gift. The choir’s mission is to lift up and support those whose lives may be threatened by prejudice against the LGBTQA community, and by HIV-AIDS, the virus that finds more victims in that community than in any other.

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3, and 2 p.m., Sunday Dec. 4, Leo Rich Theatre, 260 S. Church Avenue, reveillemenschorus.org, $25

LIN WARD AND JERE MOSKOVITZ JEWELRY SALE

Madaras Gallery hosts a holiday jewelry sale featuring work by two of their specialized fine-jewelry artisans. The pair will be on hand to discuss their pieces, and the gallery is offering a 10% discount on their work for the weekend. Jere Moskovitz learned knitting and crocheting as a child. That inspired her to earn a BFA in apparel design. Combined with her travel, those influences led her to create textile-inspired jewelry techniques that give her jewelry a unique style.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 and noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 4, Madaras Gallery, 3035 N. Swan Road, madaras.com

A GIFT OF FREE FLIGHT

Looking for that extra special gift for

by Linda Ray

PCC DANCE ENSEMBLE PRESENTS ‘SIGNATURE SELECTIONS’

This compilation of student and faculty choreography includes three large group works by director Nolan Kubota, plus student and faculty works reflecting a variety of styles including contemporary, jazz, modern, and hip-hop. The Modern Dance class performs a work inspired by “The Lion King.” Solos, duets and small-group pieces range from light-hearted mid-century pop to contemporary blues and sultry jazz.

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3, Pima Community College, West Campus, Center for the Arts, Proscenium Theatre, 2202 W. Anklam Road, pima. universitytickets.com, $10, $8 students

‘ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE: A CHRISTMAS SING-A-LONG’

We always look forward to singing-along audiences and cast members joining in our holiday favorites as a classic narrative unfolds. We find “The Cheer Squad” preparing to bring the cheer with their “Christmas Extravaganza,” but, oh no! Most of them are getting sick from bad eggnog. It’s up to a band of misfit reindeer to save the day! Naturally, a villain steps in to try and thwart them. His aim is for every child to get coal in their stockings. Not to betray the ending, but kids should bring their letters to Santa. They can meet him after the show.

Various days and times, Friday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 18, Live Theatre Workshop, Children’s Theatre Stage, 3322 E. Fort Lowell Road, livetheatreworkshop.org, $12, $10 for children

‘INVISIBLE THEATRE’S FABULOUS FUNDRAISER: FOR THE LOVE OF IT’

With her musical director Michele Brourman, Amanda McBroom brings to the Invisible Theatre the show that inspired the New York Times to call her “the greatest cabaret performer of her generation, an urban poet who writes like an angel and has a voice to match,” Bette Midler launched McBroom’s career by recording her song “The Rose.” She’s since performed at The Golden Globes, The Emmys. “The Tonight Show,” Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center.

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, Invisible Theatre Cabaret, 1400 N. First Avenue, invisibletheatre. com, tickets start at $51, advance reservations are required.

someone who has everything? How about a private tête a tête with an elegant raptor? For $125 it will land on your giftee’s arm at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. If that’s more than you want to spend, just take them to see Raptor Free Flight. It’s only the cost of admission. Feel the brush of feathers as the birds fly by, completely untethered. Harris’s Hawks, Chihuahuan ravens, great horned owls, caracaras, red-tailed hawks, a gray hawk — you’ll learn the traits and habits of whichever raptors are out that day. 10 a.m. daily except Wednesdays, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road, desertmuseum.org, $29.95 general admission, discounts for Arizona/Sonora residents, children and military. Avian Experience, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, $125, advance registration is required.

ANNUAL TAGLIT FALL ART SALE

The Taglit Day Program at “The J” provides a small, supportive group for young adults with disabilities. The program is designed to help each participant achieve their potential. To that end they work on projects that strengthen fine motor skills, job skills and independent living. The result? Homemade gifts of their arts and crafts. Enter the north lobby and stock up on creative treasures. All proceeds help support the Taglit programs.

8 a.m. to noon, Friday, Dec. 2, Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road, tucsonjcc.org, free

ALEXANDER STRING QUARTET WITH KINDRA SCHARICH, MEZZO-SOPRANO

The Friends of Chamber Music present Kindra Scharich in a concert featuring two works by Gustav Mahler and one each by Johannes Brahms and Richard Strauss. Mezzo-Soprano Scharich has been lauded in the San Francisco Chronicle for her “noble, vocally assured singing, with stately grace and deep-rooted pathos.” She has sung more than 25 roles in the lyric mezzo repertoire.

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, Leo Rich Theater, 260 S. Church Avenue, arizonachambermusic.org, $32, $10 student

AGUA CALIENTE PARK REOPENS!

What a great gift to us all, just in time for

LAUGHING STOCK

HARI KONDABOLU: IF ONLY COMEDY COULD CHANGE THE WORLD

By Linda Ray

“INCLUSIVELY FUNNY AND formally adventurous.” So says The New York Times about comedian Hari Kond abolu. On Monday, Dec. 19, at 191 Toole (191toole.com), we’ll experience the hu mor and the demeanor that attracted such lofty praise.

Cooped up for the duration of COVID-19, and not having recorded a show since 2018’s “Warn Your Relatives,” Kondabolu is bringing an entirely new, hour-long set to be recorded early next year for a new Netflix special.

Based on his standup output to date, fans might expect more of the same smart, witty and remarkably sensitive treatment of our very human cultural and political — let’s call them “anomalies” — in the wake of two elections and a 21st century pestilence.

But lately a very sweet and humaniz ing thing has happened. Kondabolu has become a father.

“So, the new special,” he said, “about 20% of that is going to be about having a kid during the pandemic, and a lot of the issues that were happening during that time, in addition to larger issues about race and gender and sexuality and the things I’ve historically talked about.”

As much as it sometimes feels as though everything has changed since 2018, Kondabolu pointed out that the is sues he’s concerned with are “evergreen.”

“I’m talking about colonialism and racism and things that, even if you see incremental change, are so structural, . . .” His voice trailed off, and then he said, “If my goal (were) anything, it would be to no longer be necessary to not need to talk about the things I’m talking about. But they’re still relevant. They’re still happening.”

Kondabolu said that his passions around the human condition actually are a product of his comedy. As a teenager, he consumed a lot of Comedy Central programming. He said that when he first saw Margaret Cho, he realized that it was

possible for an Asian American to do standup. By the time he’d graduated high school in 2000, he was organizing come dy shows of his own.

“I was not politicized, then,” he said. “I grew up in the shelter of diversity that is New York City. But then I went to (Bow doin College) in Maine. That woke me up a little bit.”

He continued doing comedy in col lege, but his point of view was radically changed in the wake of 9/11. Beyond the anonymity of New York’s polyglot cul ture, Kondabolu’s coloring marked him as potentially Arabic. He experienced prejudice and judgement for the first time. He volunteered for an immigrants’ rights organization led by Congress woman Pramila Jayapal.

Then came the transformation. “All of a sudden,” Kondabolu said, “I real ized, ‘I have a stage and I’m not saying anything.’ So, I really started to use that space to talk about things I care about.”

Most recently, though, he’s observed a cultural shift. Passions run deeper. What we used to regard as caricatures have proven to be real. “It’s a very strange time,” he said, “and I haven’t lost sight of the fact that even when I’m performing in ‘liberal’ places, that doesn’t mean that (everyone) is thinking the same way. It’s a

lot more diverse than I ever realized.

“My goal has always been to try to reach as many people as possible. Some times that’s hard because the subject matter, as funny as it is or as open as you make it, it’ll be too much for some peo ple.

“But I’ve realized that having a kid has given me a common ground with a lot of people who might not agree with other things. It’s like when you’re friends with somebody, you’re more willing to listen to them even if you disagree.”

Kodabolu has found success in every medium. TruTV featured his documenta ry, “The Problem with Apu,” to generate

conversations about race and representa tion. It’s now used in high school, college and graduate school curricula. His two comedy albums found a home on legend ary indie rock label Kill Rock Stars.

He’s performed on “Conan,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” He’s a regular panelist on NPR’s “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me”, and was a writer and correspondent on the Chris-Rock-produced FX show “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.”

In December he debuts as host of the new Netflix series, “Snack vs. Chef.”

Hari Kondabolu makes us laugh at what we think. (HARI KONDABOLU/SUBMITTED)

Musical improv ensemble From the Top performs Friday. (JON SCANLON/CONTRIBUTOR)

CLAYTOONZ By Clay Jones

By Xavier Otero Tucson Local Media

MARK YOUR CALENDARS…

THURSDAY, DEC. 1

Considered one of the finest vocalists of all time, Karen Carpenter captured the attention of a generation with the depth of her forthright and infectious pop music. Singer and playwright Lisa Rock — backed by a six-piece band — has compiled a moving tribute based on the music of The Carpenters’ holiday albums and Christmas variety shows. A Carpenter’s Christmas at the Fox Tucson Theatre… With a love for vintage Wurlitzer organs, Megan Diana’s songwriting leans toward the dark side of Americana, at times. Then at other moments, she shapeshifts. Her lush, layered vocals rise to form uplifting melodies and harmonies, the end product of pop constructs. Recently, with the addition of a pedal steel player, Diana’s compositions have given rise to a new genre: Dream country disco. Portland-based singer-songwriter Megan Diana — with Tucson’s own Katie Haverly and Pineross — performs at Club Congress… “Tucson post-country weirdos,” Hank Topless & The Dead Horsemen play their signature brand of hardscrabble honkytonk/hard country-blues at Tap & Bottle Downtown…

FRIDAY, DEC. 2

Luis Navarro and Joel Niño Jr.’s latest offering “Altars” is a collection of remixes by some of the hottest names in darkwave. Reminiscent of something from the past — awash with glassy synthesizers, echoey guitars, and lyrics about the occult and undead — the new treatment still finds this Brownsville, Texas duo running from “Fantasmas,” laden with darker shadows. Twin Tribes — with fellow darkwavers Meldamor — travel through the “Portal to the Void” at 191 Toole… Recorded in the Catskill Mountains in Simone Felice’s old, converted barn studio, the band’s sophomore album, “Wild Wide Open,” blurring the line between organic instrumentation and synthesis, lays hold of the expansiveness of the desert Southwest they call home. Phoenician electric folksters The Senators — with special guests Birds and Arrows, Sharkk Heartt, and Grace Noelle — perform at Club Congress… Making his Tucson Symphony Orchestra debut, maestro Ankush Kumar Bahl — in a program featuring works by William

Grant Still, George Gershwin, and Antonín Dvořák — explores what it means for music to be “American.” In the first of two events, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra — with acclaimed pianist Kenny Broberg — present Voices of America at The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall… Ushering in a sleighful of holiday cheer, entertainer/pianist John Tesh hosts a Jazzy, Swingin’ Christmas at the Desert Diamond Casino… A voice of the Southwest, in 2021, troubadour John Coinman won the international music video category at the Procida International Film Festival in Italy for “Long Way Home.” A collaborative piece between Coinman, his wife Jo, and photographer Michael Hyatt, the music video portrays the plight of immigrants along the U.S.–Mexico border. Hailed as “a singer-songwriter of uncommon power,” John Coinman holds court on the plaza at Hotel Congress… From New York City, jazz drummer Ross Fruend & Friends swing in the lounge at Pastiche Modern Eatery… Performing a fiery mix of mambo, cha cha cha and Latin jazz, vibraphonist Homero Cerón and pianist Amilcar Guevara co-lead the Tucson Latin Jazz Nonet. Featuring trombonist Rob Boone, bass trombonist Jordan Robison, saxophonist Mike Moynihan, bassist Dylan DeRobertis, conguero Jake Ranson and trapsman Arthur Vint they make their Century Room debut…

SATURDAY, DEC. 3

Formed in 1989, this band’s name was “handed down” to them by guitarist Albert Collins, on a night when the mojo hung heavy in the air. Frontman Scotty Morris recalled his encounter with the blues legend after the show. “He signed my poster ‘To Scotty, the big bad voodoo daddy.’” Similar in ways to machinations of Manifest Destiny, an unstoppable seed was planted. “I thought it was the coolest name,” Morris enthused. “I didn’t really have a choice.” Taking musical cues from Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and Cab Calloway, these waggish hep cats credit their rise to stardom to “Swingers,” a 1996 indie film that launched the careers of Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau and placed Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on the crest of the swing revival of the 1990s. Since then, the band’s music has appeared in countless films and television shows. They’ve rocked throngs at Super Bowl XXXIII and for three U.S. presidents. Now, into their third decade, the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Holiday Party is sure to “Rattle Them Bones” at the Fox Tucson Theatre… From the streets of New Jer-

sey in the 1960s to being immortalized in the Tony Award winning musical “Jersey Boys,” Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons perform the hits at The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall… Airtight vocal harmonies and melodic hooks with big acoustic guitar riffs are the signature elements to a folk-rock sound that have made Ryan Green and Cameron Hood favorites on the touring circuit for over 15 years. An Evening with Ryanhood unfolds on the plaza stage at Hotel Congress… Raising a flask to the DIY spirit that sustains rock ‘n’ roll, The Exbats, Freezing Hands and Class form a phalanx at Che’s Lounge… Indie rockers La Cerca and Soda Sun soundtrack An Evening of Music and Visual Exploration at The Screening Room… Celebrating the music that changed their lives from New York funk to a miscellanea of Chicago Blues, R&B and jazz, Soul Essential After Hours — featuring vocalist Amy V., saxophonist Gary Love, guitarist Eric Charles, drummer Josh Carruthers, with Chris Peña on the organ — lead the descent into the dead of the Late Night at The Century Room… Vocalist/trumpeter Tony Frank & Friends play sets of jazz, blues, and Latin at Pastiche Modern Eatery… In celebration of the Tucson Museum of Contemporary Art’s 25th Anniversary, Spaghetti Club DJs NGHTFVR, Michelle Mae, Alice.km, Nada, Kid Congo Powers, Touchy Sounds, Violet and DJRX turn MOCA into an immersive multi-floor dance club for just one night. All proceeds directly support artists, new commissions, exhibitions and public programs…

SUNDAY, DEC. 4

G 59 recording artist Ramirez — laying down rapid-fire, seemingly drug-induced fits of rage, over faded beats — has fashioned a noteworthy blend of Memphis horrorcore and Bay Area rap that has catapulted the 24-year-old performer into stardom by a generation weaned on Soundcloud. “At the end of the day, the music speaks louder than me.” Influenced by ’90s hip-hop, G-Funk and gangster rap, Ramirez said, “It’s because these people are spitting about their neighborhoods. They’re not speaking about how much money they’ve got or how many diamonds they have. It’s real-life shit that they went through.” Ramirez added, “It’s still pulling me in. Every day I’m finding

new shit from that era, so it’s captivating to me.” Ramirez brings his latest album, “The Tragedy of a Clown,” to the Rialto Theatre. Rapper Germ and hip-hop artist Haarper take opening sets… Obsessed with horror and science fiction, the Koffin Kats’ early songs began to coalesce in the dankness of their parent’s basements. As with many bands that came before, their salad days were spent playing gigs for beer or gas money in local bars, dreaming of life on the road. Eventually, hard work paid dividends as they clawed their way out of the Midwest. Following “A Path to Wickedness,” Detroit psychobilly trio the Koffin Kats proclaim that it’s officially “Party Time in the End Times” at 191 Toole. Tucson psychobilly hellcats Demon City Wreckers open… Ryan Green and Cameron Hood’s acoustic guitar-driven folk-rock/pop songs and storytelling come together once again for A Winter’s Evening with Ryanhood

Based on the duo’s holiday album “On Christmas,” Green and Hood spread Yuletide cheer on the plaza stage at Hotel Congress… Saxophonist Mike Moynihan hosts a Sunday night jazz jam session at The Century Room… Expanding the definition of hardcore, this electro-punk duo’s unique sound has landed them on numerous year end lists — Noisey, The Needle Drop, and Eureka! — amassing a rabid online following in the process. With a reputation for destructive and rampantly unpredictable performances preceding them — full of animalistic rage and boundless energy — Machine Girl offers a peculiar form of catharsis at Club Congress. LustSickPuppy opens…

MONDAY, DEC. 5

Chasing the ever-fickle muse, DJs Bonus and PC Party return with Club Whutever at Club Congress…

TUESDAY, DEC. 6

Amassing three of the biggest acts in the metalcore/hard rock scene today — each sharing equal billing — The Trinity of Terror Tour: Part III features Black Veil Brides, Motionlessinwhite, and Ice Nine Kills. Along with openers Atreyu, this unstoppable juggernaut brings to life all of the terror, suspense and theatricality found on the reels of horror films to the Tucson Arena… Drawing significant national attention after their single “Holy Water” was placed in an Apple commercial that aired during Super Bowl LII, on

“It’s a Dream,” the Kansas City-based quintet’s second album, Hembree keep pushing upward. Frontman Isaac Flynn explains, “I want this record to lift people up, and for the music to be a positive experience in their own lives.” In early 2019, Colin Dieden aka Little Hurt had something to get off his chest. “I started writing about who I am and my life totally unfiltered. I can be my own worst enemy.” Dieden said, candidly, “I’ve battled anxiety and depression forever, so I built a place to deal with these heavier subjects.” The indie pop/rocker released his debut album “Every Second” in 2021. “When you hear the music, I want you to feel like you’re not the only crazy person in the world,” Dieden concluded. “We’re all a little hurt, and it’s okay.” Hembree and Little Hurt share the stage at 191 Toole… Founded on a front porch, on the outskirts of Richmond, Virginia, by two friends from college — creating a visual soundscape that evokes images of times gone by — blues-rockers The Bush League bring the swampy sting of the “Catfish Blues” to the stage at Club Congress. Special guests The Hawthorne Experience open the show… Playing selections from “Ramble Some Piano” — comprised of tracks that “can’t be considered an album, but can be considered a ‘record’ of whatever happened that day” — Howe Gelb & the Quantum Cowboys capture the moment at The Century Room…

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7

Known for fusing earthy material from a broad span of styles with top-tier musicianship, Little Feat combined California rock, funk, folk, jazz, country, rockabilly and New Orleans swamp boogie in a stock pot and stirred it into a distinctive gumbo, providing sustenance for the

faithful ever since. Although enshrouded in hazy mythology, it all began in 1969 when founder/guitarist Lowell George was fired from the Mothers of Invention after George showed Frank Zappa his song “Willin’.” Recognizing George’s talent as a songwriter, Zappa told him he ought to go start a band of his own. Or was it George’s unveiled references to “weed, whites and wine” that put a sober and disapproving Zappa off ? Perhaps some things are best left to reside in lore. George died of a cocaine-induced heart attack in 1979. On their newest song, “When All Boats Rise,” vocalist/ keyboardist Bill Payne sings, “We will find another pathway / When all boats rise we will shine like stars above / When all boats rise we can ride the silver skyway / That day is coming soon when all boats rise.” Little Feat offer a feast of remembrance and hope at the Rialto Theatre. Singer-songwriter Nicki Bluhm opens… Standing among the world’s premiere ensembles, Arizona Friends of Chamber Music present the Alexander String Quartet. Mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich accompanies the quartet through Mahler’s “Songs of a Wayfarer,” “Rückert-Lieder” and Strauss’ “Four Last Songs” at the Leo Rich Theater… Recounting tales of epic journeys, tainted love, the lure of shiny things, and hope, the Craig Green Band share the stage with Tammy West & the Culprits and Sunny & the Whiskey Machine at Hotel Congress… Local troubadour/acoustic guitarist José Martin Marquez — entertaining audiences with his commanding vocals and guitar work — continues a Wednesday evening residency at Pastiche Modern Eatery…

SAGUARO CITY’S INAUGURAL SHOW IS ‘WONDERFUL’

By Laura Latzko

BEFORE

STREAMING

AND podcasts, compelling stories were told over the radio.

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” captures a live radio broadcast while sharing a Christmas classic with audiences in different way.

Saguaro City Music Theatre will mark its first production with “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” from Friday, Dec. 9 to Saturday, Dec. 24 at the Berger Performing Arts Center.

Led by executive director Charlie Ingram, artistic director Drew Humphrey and director of outreach and education Dena DiGiacinto, Saguaro City Music Theatre boasts 60 years of combined professional theater experience.

The radio play is being directed by Humphrey, who grew up in Tucson and attended UA before moving to New York to pursue a career as a director, choreographer and performer.

The radio show takes place in New York in 1946 and tells the story of Bedford Falls savings and loan officer George, his wife Mary and their children.

The show, which draws from Frank

Capra’s 1946 film and Philip Van Doren Stern’s “The Greatest Gift,” was adapted by Joe Landry.

It shares a similar message as the film about the power of goodwill and community and the importance of human connections. DiGiacinto said the ideals in the show fit with Saguaro City’s mission.

Humphrey has a personal connection to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which is his favorite Christmas movie.

“I love watching it every year, go on that journey with George Bailey and find myself a blubbering mess at that end. I’m not ashamed of it. It’s exciting to work on this piece,” Humphrey said.

DiGiacinto said the radio broadcast has a similar format as “Live from Here,” a radio variety show once known as “A Prairie Home Companion.”

“You see the special guests come on and off, and they set up different things. There’s always so much going on,” DiGiacinto said. “It’s cool to see it in front of your eyes and visualize the chaos that goes on to get from one segment to another.”

“It’s designed to be performed for the

audience in the seats. It’s as if they are being whisked back to Christmas Eve 1946 to watch a live broadcast,” Humphrey said.

The production will have six actors voicing 51 roles. DiGiacinto said during rehearsals, it was important to find actors who could portray multiple characters. One actor has to jump between four voices in one scene.

“Those characters are having a conversation with each other. Finding the actor that is able to color all of those voices and switch between them effortlessly and instantly was a major part of finding an actor to play that role,” Humphrey said.

“The actor who plays Harry does such an incredible job making it clear who’s who with different accents and tones of his voice. It’s just really impressive,” DiGiacinto said.

Only two actors, who portray the George and Mary, will be voicing one character each.

George will be played by actor James Kelley Carroll from UA. Samantha Beemer, a Pima Community College student, is Mary. She was recently featured in SA-

PAC’s production of “Fun Home.”

The radio play has a show within a show feel.

This means that actors will be part of the radio show and the story of “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

Stewart Gregory, for example, will play radio host Freddie Filmore in the broadcast and Mr. Potter and Joseph in the play.

The show will also have a jingle singer, who will perform in a 1940s style.

Humphrey designed an original jingle for the show, which is used for the radio station.

Music has been added to the show, in the background during the radio play and during the “commercial breaks.” It is a combination of jazz standards and classic holiday songs.

Matt Marcus, a sound designer and live foley artist, will be creating sound effects during the broadcast.

“He is lending his expertise on how do you make a wind machine? How do you make wind out of props that they would

Saguaro City Music Theatre’s inaugural production will be “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” (GRAPHIC BY DAVID L. ARSENAULT)

have used in 1946? Or how would we break glass over and over again and not have glass shattered onstage? All of these things we have to figure out how to achieve with props you would find in 1946 and be able to produce these sounds live for the audience,” Humphrey said.

DiGiacinto said they tried to feature local actors and creatives as well as talented individuals from cities such as New York. This is the formula they plan to use going forward.

“Coming from our background in theater, we both spent a couple of decades in New York City, working professionally in the theater business. We had a lot of fortunate opportunities to perform with regional companies that belonged to the community. We like the idea of bringing something like that, a musical theater company in Tucson that the community can really be a part of and have ownership of,” DiGiacinto said.

The company will offer a space where graduates from the UA and local community colleges can apply their knowledge and skills.

Humphrey said it will also be important to bring in creatives from around the nation to expose local audiences to their talents.

“When I was a kid in Tucson, there was a company that brought in out-of-town talent from New York, LA and Chicago and out-of-town designers. That was what inspired me to go and pursue the career that I enjoy,” Humphrey said.

“That is the biggest part of our mission is to hire local and also find a way to outreach to professional actors or designers out of New York or LA and bring them into our community so that we can all benefit from it.”

The sets in the show were created by a designer from New York, and they are being built by local artisans.

The set incorporates a Bedford Falls billboard, which Humphrey said helps transport viewers to another time and place.

The creative team captured the time period with little details, such as the vintage Christmas bulbs used in the show.

“In order to allow the audience to be transported back to 1946, those details really matter,” Humphrey said. “The time period is just as special as the quality of the story.”

Although the theater component is new, the company has already been engaging the community as part of its educational branch, Saguaro City Studio Arts.

Through this program, they provide tuition-free, inclusive education to people of all ability levels, including young people and adults with special needs.

The company has offered theater education to 100 students so far.

The upcoming show will feature a children’s ensemble, which includes students from the educational program. They will be portraying youth choir members.

“They’ll be singing some Christmas songs and entertaining the audience during some of the commercial breaks,” DiGiacinto said.

The founders plan for the theater and educational components to work together.

“We are here to provide top-tier musical theater entertainment and create an environment and expectation where the kids from our educational arm can aspire and see that there is a space for them onstage,” Humphrey said.

The company plans to partner with local nonprofits and creative organizations. For the show, they are working with the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Tucson Jazz Festival and Kids Unlimited.

The organizations will receive a ticket code, which will get their supporters a discount, and $5 of these tickets’ value will be donated to the organizations.

“It’s

a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”

WHEN: Various times Friday, Dec. 9 to Saturday, Dec. 24

WHERE: Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway Boulevard, Tucson.

COST: Tickets start at $25.

INFO: saguarocity.org.

James Kelley Carroll and Samantha Beemer will star in Saguaro City Music Theatre’s production of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” (PHOTO BY RAY FRIEDERS)

the holiday season. With its miles easy, mostly shady pathways winding around three ponds, a spring and acres of natural habitat, the park sits on the site of a historic ranch. In recent decades, the ranch evolved into a guest ranch and citrus farm. Its restored structures now house a gift shop, gallery and classrooms. The old bunkhouse now houses offices. The park closed last April in the wake of a lightning storm that set fire to 40 of its hundred or so palm trees.

7 a.m. to sunset daily, Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Regional Park, 12325 E.

Roger

Road, friendsofaguacaliente.org, free

ARTISTS & MAKERS STUDIOS RESIDENT ARTISTS SHOWCASE

Meet the artists at this open-studio event showcasing their works of pottery, jewelry, painting, printing, photography and candle making. All works on display are for sale.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, Artists & Makers Studios – Oro Valley, Steam Pump Village, 11061 N. Oracle Road, Ste. 150

COMEDY THIS WEEK

El Jefe Cat Lounge, 3025 N. Campbell Avenue, Suite 141. 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, eljefecatlounge.com, $18, reservations only, hosted by Lady Ha Ha Comedy, 21+, BYOB and snacks. Lineup: Priscilla Fernandez, Mo Urban, Valerie Brown, Morgan Kuehn, Linda Ray, Kalei Rose, Kyle Verville

La ’s Comedy Ca e, 2900 E. Broadway Boulevard. 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, laffstucson.com, $15, $20 preferred seating. Corey Michaelis taught high school until he decided to do comedy, the other lowest paid job in America.

ALL YOU CARE TO EAT BUFFET

Spark Project Collective, 4433 E. Broadway Boulevard. 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, free, The Dead Improvisers Society

Tucson Improv Movement/TIM Comedy Theatre, 414 E. Ninth Street. tucsonimprov.com. $7 each show, $10 for both shows, same night, free jam and open mic Thursday, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m. Improv 501 Showcase. 8:30 p.m. Open Mic. Friday, Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m. Improv Jam; 7:30pm, “The Soapbox” with Eric Smith; 9 p.m. Stand Up Showcase. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, Team Como Se Dice presents Carcajadas: Una Noche De Comedia; 9 p.m. “The Ugly Sweater Show.”

Unscrewed Theater, 4500 E. Speedway Boulevard, unscrewedtheatre.org, $8, live or remote, $5 kids, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, From the Top musical improv; 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, Improv Basics Showcase; 7:30 p.m. Family-Friendly Improv; 6:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 4, free, Improv Drop-ins, in person or online.

OPEN MICS

WEDNESDAY

6:30 p.m. signup, 7 p.m. start. The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress Street, Chris Quinn hosts.

THURSDAY

• 6 p.m. writing workshop, 7 p.m. signup, 8 p.m. start, Laff ’s Comedy Caffe, 2900 E. Broadway Boulevard, rotating hosts.

• 8 p.m. signup, 8:30 p.m. start, Dec. 8 and every other Thursday, Tucson Improv Movement (TIM), 414 E. Ninth Street, Jen Blanco hosts.

FRIDAY

• 6:30 p.m. signup, 7 p.m. start, The Kava Bar, 4376 E. Speedway Boulevard, Connor Hannah hosts.

• 6:45 p.m. signup, 7 p.m. start, second Friday every month, Spark Project Collective, 4349 E. Broadway Boulevard, Ernie Celaya or guest hosts 10-minute sets.

• 9 p.m., start, second Friday of every month, signups a week ahead at unscrewedtheater.org, Unscrewed Theater, 4500 E. Speedway Boulevard, Suite 39, Allana Erickson-Lopez and Cynthia Barlow host all forms of comedy.

SATURDAY

• 5:30 p.m. signup, 6 p.m. start, The Music Box, 6951 E. 22nd Street., Tony Bruhn and Dom DiTolla host

MONDAY

• 8:30 p.m. signup, 9 p.m. start, On the Rocks, 7930 E. Speedway Boulevard., Joel Martin and Cati French host.

TUESDAY

• 6 p.m. signup, 7 p.m. start, Lady Ha Ha at Bumsted’s, 1003 N. Stone Avenue, Priscilla Fernandez, Mo Urban host all forms of comedy; priority given to marginalized folx.

• 6:30 p.m. signup, 7:15 p.m. start, House of Bards, 4915 E. Speedway Boulevard, Cory Lytle hosts.

MUSIC

MUSIC IS A LIFESTYLE FOR THE KOFFIN KATS

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Tucson Weekly Executive Editor

The Koffin Kats started its career playing simple punk songs. As time went on, they wrote more complex tunes. Now, according to upright bassist/vocalist Zac “Vic” Victor, it’s time to a return to form.

“We’ve really been actively trying to go back to our old sound,” he said. “Sometimes when bands hit a certain point in their career, they go in a weird direction. But we were looking back on the albums that made us popular and using them as inspiration for the music we write.”

That’s exactly what Victor did. He looked over The Koffin Kats’ 20 years of recording and considered the best bits of it.

“Some people say, ‘I like the new stuff better’ while others say they like the original stuff better,” Victor said.

The Koffin Kats are taking that into consideration and including their favorite elements into the new material. Victor explained it’s an easy move for The Koffin Kats.

“It’s fun because we don’t have to think as hard,” he said with a laugh. “It went from writing simple songs to, as we pro-

gressed and hit it big, we tried to get a little more intricate. That ship has sailed. We don’t worry about getting on MTV. I think that ship has sailed, too, for a lot of rock ‘n’ roll bands as it is.

“We’re just trying to write music that our fans will appreciate. Another reason we’re writing and releasing new material is to say we’re still out here. We’re constantly touring, but if you’re touring and not releasing music, things can get kind of stale.”

At The Koffin Kats’ live shows, they like to bring a good time—new music or not.

“Right now, we’re not touring on any new music, per se,” he said. “That’s going to be next year. But we’re definitely going to perform a different setlist than last time. We’re going to have a good time.”

Among the new material is a song called “Ride Like Hell,” which will be coupled with an animated video. Metallica collaborator Squindo is doing the artwork.

“He’s been a friend/fan of the band for a long time,” he said. “It’s cool that we get to work with him. Hopefully, it’ll be out

before the end of the year. We didn’t give him a hard deadline. I’m finishing up the rough mixes of the song now.”

The Koffin Kats are celebrating their 20th anniversary soon. Victor said he stays passionate because, frankly, he doesn’t have any other choice.

“It’s something that’s pretty much been a part of my life and my bandmates’ lives for two decades now,” Victor said.

“We’ve been so heavily into it and our lives have revolved around this band so much, it would be weird for it not to exist in our lives. We set up our lives when we were young to try to do this for a living. For a while we were paying the bills with rock ‘n’ roll.”

As they’ve aged and had families, real life took over. Now they work for an irrigation company in suburban Detroit owned by their merchandise manager.

“We have regular jobs, but we get out as much as we can,” he said.

“The merch guy owns the company we work for. We have a very good balance. It allows us to tour quite often. In the summertime, we don’t tour as extensively in

the summertime. That’s when the ground isn’t frozen here in Michigan. When the ground is frozen, it’s too cold to work outside, that’s when we start hitting the road. That’s one of the reasons we keep doing it and we’re able to keep doing it.”

The Ko n Kats w/ Belfry Bats, Stillnites and The Devillains

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3

WHERE: The Starlite Lounge, 4346 W. Olive Avenue, Glendale

COST: $15 in advance; $20 at the door; 21 and older show

INFO: starlitemusiclounge.com

The Ko n Kats w/ Demon City Wreckers

WHEN: 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4

WHERE: 191 Toole, 191 E. Toole Avenue, Tucson

COST: Tickets start at $15; 21 and older

INFO: 191toole.com

Michigan’s The Koffin Kats are playing two Arizona shows this week. (PICKS & SPOKES PHOTOGRAPHY)

TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART Holiday Art Camp

CHOW

The 17th annual Tucson Tamal & Heritage Festival will be held at Casino del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater on Saturday, Dec. 3. Tamal challengers will compete in the highly anticipated tamal contest in four categories, judged by over 50 judges.

(TAMAL & HERITAGE FESTIVAL/SUBMITTED)

TUCSON TAMAL & HERITAGE FESTIVAL RETURNS TO AVA

By Katya Mendoza Tucson Weekly Sta

THERE IS NO GREATER FEELING

than unwrapping the corn husk that carefully secures the warm and steamy masa of a tamale. There are options for everyone: red-chili pork, chicken, green chile and corn, and even cinnamon and raisins.

Try something new at the 17th annual Tucson Tamal & Heritage Festival at the Casino del Sol’s AVA Amphitheatre on Saturday, Dec. 3. The free event has become a Tucson tradition, kicking off the holidays in the Southwest.

Known for hosting over 10,000 attendees, the event presents participants with tamale taste tests, as well as other foods to try such as fry bread, tacos and burritos just to name a few. The festival will also have local entertainment including Mariachi music and Tejano acts, Pascua Yaqui Tribe cultural dancers, folklorico performances and Aztec dancers.

“It’s a good place to experience a lot of the things that make Tucson, Tucson,” said Jessica Savare, director of marketing at the Casino del Sol. Savare said this event is her second festival in a management position, but has worked at the venue for 10 years helping with the event.

“It seems to get more and more people every year,” Savare said.

The festival also provides the local organizations — like the Knights of Columbus and the Yoemem Tekia Cultural Center and Museum — the chance to fundraise through their sales. Close to 80 food and artisanal vendors will be at this year’s event.

Those who want to enter the tamal contest can sign up that day to try their luck of winning over 50 judges across four main categories of traditional red chili, green corn, gourmet and sweet. Winners will fight for cash prizes up to $750.

“There’s always good things to eat and you can never go wrong with just about any of the vendors,” Savare said. “It’s a whole lot of fun, you never know what to expect.”

17th Tucson Tamal and Heritage Festival at Casino del Sol

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3

WHERE: Casino del Sol AVA Amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Road, Tucson

COST: Free admission

INFO: casinodelsol.com

The Arc GTS hub kit includes Zeus Arc GTS, 15 ArcPods and 45 ArcPod Lids, Zeus Xtruder, carry case, micro-USB charging cable, Gold Flow Sink Tool and an instruction manual. It has “everything you need to start vaporizing quickly and conveniently in one tidy package,” the TVape website noted. (TVAPE/SUBMITTED)

SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON NEW, IMPROVED VAPE KIT

By Hope Peters Tucson Weekly Sta

AS RECREATIONAL USE TAKES OFF newer, cooler products are headed to the cannabis market. The TVape Zeus hub presents new vaporizing contraptions and products.

The Zeus Arc S Hub Kit is just one of those devices. A third generation of vaporizers, the Zeus Arc GTS Hub is an all-inclusive (save the flower) unit that provides a very pleasant smoking experience.

The company recommends watching the YouTube video, https://bit.ly/ZeusArc first for a tutorial. The Zeus Arc S features a built-in motion sensor, haptic feedback, 90 minutes of continuous use battery, three temperature cycles and a three-year limited warranty.

The dry flower vaping device arrives with a nice magnetic lid protective case. The kit includes Zeus Xtruder (grinder); Zeus ArcPods (pods for dry flower);

Zeus Arc S (vaping device), a water pipe adapter and poker for clearing pods. Also included are Zeus Xtruder, made specifically for ArcPods; an auto release when filled; direct filling devices; and a oneyear limited warranty as well as the Zeus ArcPods, which are convenient and help to optimize performance with the Zeus Arc S and is suitable for all Zeus Arc models.

Here’s the way it works. First put the

flower in the Xtruder and then put the pod at the bottom. It has some of the same effects of traditional bong and joint use for smoking. The Xtruder was extremely easy to use and once the pod has reached full capacity, it pops out. This feature makes the device very simple to use.

When the ArcPod is filled, place it in

the Zeus Arc S. The top is easily removed from the Arc S, so put the pod in there and replace the top. After turning it on, there are three temperature settings. Set the temperature and wait a few minutes for the device to cook, until the light turns from blue to green. At the lowest setting smokers will get a fair amount of the flower’s flavor, but not an overwhelming amount of vape. It is recommended to start on the lowest setting.

It does not disappoint. The higher setting brought, as expected, stronger effects where the lower setting was mild and euphoric. Using the device was extremely easy and is recommended for those who are looking for a controlled dosing method that is repeatable.

Overall, this is an extremely convenient and low-key device. It fits easily in a pocket.

Various flowers can be preloaded in the pods. The device is inconspicuous and fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. It travels well and comes with plenty of pods.

The device and kit’s main takeaway is the consistent dosing. With some products, the effects are a mystery. With the Zeus Arc S, all those questions are answered.

TVape

PURCHASE: https://tvape.com/ zeus-arc-s-hub.html

HUB: https://tvape.com/ zeus-arc-gts-hub.html

REVIEW: https://tvape.com/blog/ zeus-arc-s-hub-review

EDUCATION: https://tvape.com/ blog/what-are-cannabis-vaporizers

LEGALIZATION NATION By Brian Box Brown

1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700 $1.99 per minute. 18 and over. Touchtone phone required.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19)

Journalist Hadley Freeman interviewed Aries actor William Shatner when he was 90. She was surprised to find that the man who played Star Trek’s Captain Kirk looked 30 years younger than his actual age. “How do you account for your ro bustness?” she asked him. “I ride a lot of horses, and I’m into the bewilderment of the world,” said Shatner. “I open my heart and head into the curiosity of how things work.” I suggest you adopt Shatner’s ap proach in the coming weeks, Aries. Be intoxicated with the emotional richness of mysteries and perplexities. Feel the joy of how unknowable and unpredictable everything is. Bask in the blessings of the beautiful and bountiful questions that life sends your way.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20)

Of all the objects on earth, which is most likely to be carelessly cast away and turned into litter? Cigarette butts, of course. That’s why an Indian entrepre neur named Naman Guota is such a rev olutionary. Thus far, he has recycled and transformed over 300 million butts into mosquito repellant, toys, keyrings and compost, which he and his company have sold for over a million dollars. I predict that in the coming weeks, you will have a comparable genius for converting debris and scraps into useful, valuable stuff. You will be skilled at recycling dross. Meditate on how you might accomplish this meta phorically and psychologically.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20)

Tips on how to be the best Gemini you can be in the coming weeks: 1. Think lat erally or in spirals rather than straight lines. 2. Gleefully solve problems in your daydreams. 3. Try not to hurt anyone ac cidentally. Maybe go overboard in being sensitive and kind. 4. Cultivate even more variety than usual in the influences you surround yourself with. 5. Speak the dip lomatic truth to people who truly need to hear it. 6. Make creative use of your most ly hidden side. 7. Never let people figure you out completely.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22)

In my dream, I gathered with my five fa vorite astrologers to ruminate on your

immediate future. After much discussion, we decided the following advice would be helpful for you in December. 1. Make the most useful and inspirational errors you’ve dared in a long time. 2. Try exper iments that teach you interesting lessons even if they aren’t completely successful. 3. Identify and honor the blessings in every mess.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22)

“All possible feelings do not yet exist,” writes Leo novelist Nicole Krauss in her book *The History of Love*. “There are still those that lie beyond our capacity and our imagination. From time to time, when a piece of music no one has ever written, or something else impossible to predict, fathom, or yet describe takes place, a new feeling enters the world. And then, for the millionth time in the history of feeling, the heart surges and absorbs the impact.”

I suspect that some of these novel moods will soon be welling up in you, Leo. I’m confident your heart will absorb the influx with intelligence and fascination.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)

Virgo author Jeanette Winterson writes, “I have always tried to make a home for myself, but I have not felt at home in my self. I have worked hard at being the hero of my own life, but every time I checked the register of displaced persons, I was still on it. I didn’t know how to belong. Longing? Yes. Belonging? No.” Let’s un pack Winterson’s complex testimony as it relates to you right now. I think you are closer than ever before to feeling at home in yourself—maybe not perfectly so, but more than in the past. I also suspect you have a greater-than-usual capacity for be longing. That’s why I invite you to be clear about what or whom you want to belong to and what your belonging will feel like. One more thing: You now have extraor dinary power to learn more about what it means to be the hero of your own life.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22)

It’s tempting for you to entertain bal anced views about every subject. You might prefer to never come to definitive conclusions about anything, because it’s so much fun basking in the pretty glow of prismatic ambiguity. You love there being

five sides to every story. I’m not here to scold you about this predilection. As a person with three Libran planets in my chart, I understand the appeal of consid ering all options. But I will advise you to take a brief break from this tendency. If you avoid making decisions in the com ing weeks, they will be made for you by others. I don’t recommend that. Be proac tive.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21)

Scorpio poet David Whyte makes the surprising statement that “anger is the deepest form of compassion.” What does he mean? As long as it doesn’t result in vi olence, he says, “anger is the purest form of care. The internal living flame of anger always illuminates what we belong to, what we wish to protect, and what we are willing to hazard ourselves for.” Invoking Whyte’s definition, I will urge you to sa vor your anger in the coming days. I will invite you to honor and celebrate your an ger, and use it to guide your constructive efforts to fix some problem or ease some hurt. (Read more: tinyurl.com/Anger Compassion)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)

Sagittarian comedian Margaret Cho dealt with floods of ignorant criticism while growing up. She testifies, “Being called ugly and fat and disgusting from the time I could barely understand what the words meant has scarred me so deep inside that I have learned to hunt, stalk, claim, own, and defend my own loveliness.” You may not have ever experienced such extreme forms of disapproval, Sagittarius, but— like all of us—you have on some occasions been berated or undervalued simply for being who you are. The good news is that the coming months will be a favorable time to do what Cho has done: hunt, stalk, claim, own and defend your own loveli

ness. It’s time to intensify your efforts in this noble project.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)

The bad news: In 1998, Shon Hopwood was sentenced to 12 years in prison for committing bank robberies. The good news: While incarcerated, he studied law and helped a number of his fellow prison ers win their legal cases—including one heard by the US Supreme Court. After his release, he became a full-fledged lawyer, and is now a professor of law at George town University. Your current trouble isn’t anywhere as severe as Hopwood’s was, Capricorn, but I expect your current ker fuffle could motivate you to accomplish a very fine redemption.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18)

“I stopped going to therapy because I knew my therapist was right, and I want ed to keep being wrong,” writes poet Clementine von Radics. “I wanted to keep my bad habits like charms on a bracelet. I did not want to be brave.” Dear Aquari us, I hope you will do the opposite of her in the coming weeks. You are, I suspect, very near to a major healing. You’re on the verge of at least partially fixing a problem that has plagued you for a while. So please keep calling on whatever help you’ve been receiving. Maybe ask for even more support and inspiration from the influ ences that have been contributing to your slow, steady progress.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20)

As you have roused your personal power to defeat your fears in the past, what meth ods and approaches have worked best for you? Are there brave people who have in spired you? Are there stories and symbols that have taught you useful tricks? I urge you to survey all you have learned about the art of summoning extra courage. In the coming weeks, you will be glad you have this information to draw on. I don’t mean to imply that your challenges will be scarier or more daunting than usual. My point is that you will have unprece dented opportunities to create vigorous new trends in your life if you are as bold and audacious as you can be.

By Rob Brezsny. Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s EXPANDED WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

Edward Parfet(Deceased)

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the above named, late of 14008 N Honey Tree Place Oro Valley Pima 85755 Arizona United States of America, Who died on 18 December 2020, are required to send written particulars thereof to the under signed on or before two months from the date of this application, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to the claims and interests of which they have had notice

MACFARLANES LLP, 20 Cursitor St London EC4A 1LT England

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Abbr. in calculus PUZZLE BY JOHN HAWKSLEY Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay