November concerts in Phoenix: Adele, Lauryn Hill, Lindsey Stirling, Julion Alvarez and more
Remember when Adele got sick and couldn't do her second night in Phoenix? Well, she's back to make it up to you in a month that also features shows by Lauryn Hill and Lindsey Stirling.
Also, don't forget to check out what the local music scene has going on this month.
11/2: Mexrrissey
It's a beautiful thing when a premise as novel as this one -- a Mexican Morrissey tribute act -- is so brilliantly executed it manages to rise above mere novelty and hold its own as art. Uncut declared "No Manchester" a "delightful, horn-infused love letter to Morrissey's best solo work." The group is led by Mexican Institute of Sound's Camilo Lara and Tucson bandleader Sergio Mendoza (Orkesta Mendoza/Calexico).
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $20. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
11/2: Bob Moses
Mixmag call this duo's mesmerizing "Days Gone By" an "LP of grown-up electronica that – like John Grant's 'Pale Green Ghosts' – boasts songwriting with serious crossover potential." That certainly speaks to the pop sensibilities they flex in the Depeche Mode-worthy chorus hooks of "Talk" and/or "Too Much Is Never Enough." And if it feels more like the soundtrack to reflecting on what happened at the club than the song that was packing the dance floor just before you stop remembering all the details, is that such a bad thing?
Details: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $20-$55. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
11/2: Napalm Death
These British grindcore heavyweights are playing Mesa in support of last year's "Apex Predator – Easy Meat," which earned a perfect from a reviewer at Kerrang! who raved that "only one [band] could still sound this savage 15 albums in." The Guardian also weighed in with a perfect score while noting, "Untrained ears might shrivel in terror, but those who appreciate the joy of noise will recognise the sound of veteran masters on unassailable form."
Details: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2. Club Red, 1306 W. University Drive, Mesa. $25; $20 in advance. 480-258-2733, clubredrocks.com.
11/3: Bad Religion
They played their first gig, an opening spot on a Social Distortion show, in 1980, followed by a six-song, self-titled debut in 1981. But it was 1994 before these thinking-person's LA punk sensations hit the fringes of the mainstream with "Stranger Than Fiction." Their eighth full-length studio effort, "Fiction" sent three singles up the Billboard modern-rock-tracks chart, led by "21st Century (Digital Boy)," their biggest hit. The impassioned political manifesto "The Empire Strikes First," released a decade later, became their first of four consecutive Top 40 entries on the Billboard album charts. And "True North," the fourth of those albums, revives the sound and spirit of their greatest moments.
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $30-$45. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
11/3: Kris Kristofferson
Kristofferson is a bit of a Renaissance man -- a Country Music Hall of Famer, a Golden Gloves boxer, a Rhodes scholar, a college football player, an acclaimed actor, a military officer, a helicopter pilot and a three-time Grammy-winner. In recent years, he's been touring acoustically, explaining, "There's an honesty in the sparseness. It feels like direct communication to the listener. I still have more fun when I'm with the band, but being alone is freer, somehow. It's like being an old blues guy, just completely stripped away."
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3. Talking Stick Resort, 9800 W. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale. $25-$95. 480-850-7777, talkingstickresort.com.
11/3: The English Beat
These Brits (whose name is actually the Beat) rose to fame with the 2 Tone Ska revival on the strength of their ska-flavored remakes of "Tears of a Clown" and "Can't Get Used to Losing You" and the classic English Beat originals "Mirror in the Bathroom" and "Save It for Later." Dave Wakeling leads this version of the Beat, which will release their first studio album since the '80s, "Here We Go Love," some time next year (or so they tell us).
Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3. Livewire, 7320 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. $23. 480-361-9783, livewireaz.com.
11/3: Jonathan Richman
He may be best remembered in the mainstream as the quirky Greek chorus in the Farrelly brothers’ film “There’s Something About Mary,” but Richman is a hugely influential artist whose first album with the Modern Lovers is among the most enduring documents of American punk. And by the time that sound exploded in the ’70s, he'd turned his back on loud and fast to pave the way for twee-pop with the low-key eccentricities of his solo career.
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $20; $17 in advance. valleybarphx.com.
11/4: Sum 41
These Canadian pop-punk sensations topped the Billboard modern-rock charts with a breakthrough single titled "Fat Lip," which helped make their debut, "All Killer No Filler," the platinum triumph it became. Subsequent hits include "In Too Deep," "Still Waiting," "The Hell Song" and "We're All to Blame." They're touring in support of "13 Voices," a hard-rocking effort to which Kerrang! responded, "Its execution is what makes it Sum 41's finest offering to date."
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4. Livewire, 7320 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. $21. 480-361-9783, livewireaz.com.
11/4: James McMurtry
The son of Pulitzer-prize-winning novelist Larry McMurtry is back on the road in support of "Complicated Game," a typically brilliant collection of poetic narratives on which he memorably sets the tone with "Honey, don't ya be yellin' at me when I'm cleanin' my gun / I'll wash the blood off the tailgate when deer season's done."
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $20; $17 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
11/4: Stories and Songs – An Evening with Stephen Stills
Join the legendary guitarist for an intimate evening of songs and stories. He'll be interviewed on stage by Dick Boak of C. F. Martin & Co., a conversation interspersed with musical vignettes from his historic past. The man has been inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not once but twice — as a member of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash (occasionally joined by Young). In 2003, he was rated the 28th greatest guitarist of all time in Rolling Stone. As a writer, he's responsible for the Buffalo Springfield hit "For What It's Worth" and "Love The One You're With," his highest-charting single as a solo artist. No fewer than three albums featuring Stills were included in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time — "Buffalo Springfield Again," "Crosby, Stills & Nash" and "Déjà Vu" by CSN&Y.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. SOLD OUT. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
11/5: Yuridia
The Mesa High School alum has emerged as a major force on the Mexican-pop scene in the past decade, able to fill arenas south of the border with her big voice and a penchant for dramatic ballads. All six of her albums have gone platinum; her latest, 2015's "6," is her most mature outing, featuring such hits as "Ya Es Muy Tarde" and "Te Equivocaste."
Details: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $50-$95; $60-$105 week of show. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
— Randy Cordova
11/6: Desert Gathering Jewish Music Fest
The fourth edition of the Desert Gathering Jewish Music Fest is set to rock Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix with a free outdoor concert. This year’s lineup features Rick Recht, the founder and executive director of Jewish Rock Radio who was named to Time magazine’s list of 10 Stars of New Jewish Music, and Joe Buchanan, a Texas singer-songwriters whose music is a blend of country, roots-rock and folk.
Details: Noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Free general admission with online RSVP, $75 VIP. 480-425-0700, desertgatheringaz.org.
11/8: Death Grips
I once described a Death Grips single as "a claustrophobic, psychedelic mindmelt that sounds like something Crispin Glover might call 'makeout music.' " And the music on "Bottomless Pit" is every bit as inaccessible, no matter how tempting to sing along with "I keep giving bad people good ideas" on the otherwise impenetrable terror ride with which they set the tone. It's brilliant that way. The Pretty Much Amazing reviewer declared it "the best release from one of the most exciting artists of the 2010s," and that sounds about right.
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $27. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
11/9: The Wonder Years / Real Friends
The Wonder Years are touring "No Closer to Heaven," an impassioned explosion of infectious emo songcraft that sinks its teeth in early and rarely eases up. As the reviewer for Clash Music noted, "Musically, the pop-punk sound has been largely abandoned (save for, perhaps, recent single 'I Don't Like Who I Was Then') in favour of something more forceful and nuanced." They're touring with Real Friends, whose new album inspired Alternative Press to rave, " 'The Home Inside My Head' cements Real Friends' place as new-school pop punk's lead dogs."
Details: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $22.50. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
11/9: Steven Wilson
As frontman of prog rock band Porcupine Tree and art pop act No Man, Wilson is renowned for his prolific collaborations, but his solo work has been just as celebrated. Inspired by the real-life story of a London woman who died and remained undiscovered for two years, the multi-instrumentalist released “Hand. Cannot. Erase.” in 2015 and is embarking on a North American tour in support.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $39-$79. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.ticketforce.com.
– Anthony Sandoval
11/9: STRFKR
Their danceable electro-flavored indie-pop isn't half as in-your-face or anti-social as their band name, which is not a bad thing. And that name didn't stop them from placing a song called "Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second" in a Target ad. That same song turned up on an episode of "Weeds," where it's doubtful their name was as much of an issue. When "Miracle Mile," their latest album, arrived in 2013, Paste magazine praised it as "one of the prettiest party records you'll hear this year." And it was.
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $28; $25 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
11/9: Diarrhea Planet
These Nashville rockers are often labeled as garage-rock despite the fact that this year's raucous "Turn to Gold" is much closer in spirit to the earliest Replacements albums than anything you'd find on "Nuggets." In a good way. Paste magazine says, "When each of the four guitarists is soloing and head banging and falling on his knees, their collective performance is both entertaining and engaging. In fact, the lines between show and sincerity blur on 'Turn To Gold,' and that’s what makes the record a progressive step in the band’s career." Don't let the unfortunate if timely band name keep you from giving the music a chance.
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. valleybarphx.com.
11/10: Rufus Wainwright
The New York-born, Montreal-raised singer-songwriter has released seven studio albums, three DVDs, and three live albums, including the Grammy-nominated "Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall." His self-titled debut, released in 1998, earned Wainwright best-new-artist honors in the year-end critics' poll at Rolling Stone. He's the son of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle of the McGarrigle Sisters.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. $36-$42. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.
11/10: Car Seat Headrest
Will Toledo made the Top 10 on my albums of the year list with 2015's awe-inspiring "Teens of Style." As I noted: "By the second track, 'The Drum,' he’s established himself as something of a master of the psychedelic popcraft you’d expect from Robert Pollard. But he really hits his stride on 'Something Soon,' which feels a little like the Beach Boys raised on slacker-rock, 'Nuggets' and '70s bubblegum." And the new album, "Teens of Denial," finds Toledo fleshing out that vision with a full band and leaving the lo-fi recording behind without abandoning the qualities that made his earlier recordings matter in the first place. Paste magazine responded with a rave in which the writer noted, "Indie rock may not be dying, but it’ll be hard for people to make it sound as alive as Toledo does on 'Teens of Denial.' This is the sort of record where you wish like hell you could hear it again for the first time and that’ll keep rewarding return visits for years to come."
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $18; $15 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
11/10: Health
These L.A. noise-rockers more than likely came to many fans’ attention in 2007 thanks to Crystal Castles, who did a widely circulated remix of a track called “Crimewave” from their first self-titled album. They’re playing in support of their first album in six years, “Death Magic.” The A.V. Club reviewer proclaimed it “a monstrous album on which its electronic and industrial mystique has matured to represent an absorption of the band’s discography, injected with a serum of growth hormones.”
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $15; $12 in advance. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
11/10: Adam Torres
If the first thing you notice when listening to "Pearls to Swine" is something other that this gifted singer-songwriter's ethereal falsetto, you must listen to a playlist of castrato music on the daily. Torres puts the outer reaches of his upper register to brilliant use on "Pearls to Swine," a haunting collection of ballads that tend to occupy that cosmic frontier of the cosmic Americana spectrum. Mojo declared it "some of the purest, restorative, most unburdened music imaginable."
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $15; $12 in advance. valleybarphx.com.
11/11: Julión Álvarez
Álvarez, who won Best Banda Album at the 16th annual Latin Grammys, brings Norteño Banda to the Valley on his Mis Idolos...Hoy Mis Amigos Tour. Álvarez is well known in the industry, having earned the name "El rey de la taquilla" ("The King of the Box Office"). He earned his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart this year with "Mis Idolos, Hoy Mis Amigos."
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11. Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $46.25-$140.25. 602-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
11/11: Chance the Rapper
It’s been three years since Chance the Rapper took the blogosphere by storm with “Acid Rap,” an awe-inspiring mixtape boasting guest appearances from Twista, Action Bronson, Childish Gambino and Ab-Soul that wisely kept the spotlight where it should be — trained on Chance. And he retained that spotlight in the context of a new hip-hop collective, Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment, on “Surf,” among 2015's more inspired efforts, thanks in large part to such highlights as the gospel-flavored soul of “Sunday Candy” and “Wanna Be Cool.”
Now, he's touring a mixtape called "Coloring Book," his first release to crack the Billboard album charts, where it debuted at No. 8. I saw him at Summer Ends Festival last year and said he "brought one of the most distinctive voices in the game and live musicians, including a trumpet player, to the table in a set that would have stood out from the pack no matter who else happened to be on the bill. His sense of showmanship was undeniable, from his dance moves (think a loopier James Brown) to his banter."
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11. Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 North Center St., Mesa. $50. 480-644-2560, mesaamp.com.
11/12: Lindsey Stirling
The electronic violinist brings her Brave Enough Tour to town. And she's promised an all-new stage show. Stirling grew up in Gilbert and graduated from Mesquite High School, rising to fame in 2010 after making the quarter-finals on "America's Got Talent," where Piers Morgan sniffed, "You're not untalented, but you're not good enough to get away with flying through the air and trying to play the violin at the same time." Six years later, she's a viral video sensation whose "Crystallize" was the eighth most-watched YouTube video of 2012 and now has more than 152 million views.
Details: 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $29.50-$58.50. 800-745-3000, livenation.com.
11/12: Rae Sremmurd
Southern rappers Khalif "Swae Lee" Brown and Aaquil "Slim Jimmy" Brown are best known for the triple-platinum triumph that was "No Type," a 2014 smash that peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. But my favorite is “Come Get Her,” a platinum hit that stalled at No. 56. They topped the rap and R&B charts with their debut album, "SremmLife," which featured both songs and earned raves from Pitchfork, RapReviews and Paste, whose reviewer declared it "a lively surge of hedonism and recklessness." This tour is in support of "SremmLife 2," which hit the charts at No. 7 in mid-August.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $35-$95. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
11/12: PWR BTTM
Ben Hopkins and Liv Bruce.are touring a full-length debut, "Ugly Cherries," that's pulling in raves for a reason, drawing you in with a bittersweet indie-pop ballad that ends by asking "Am I queerer than the brightest day?" and following through with a post-punk postcard from the shower titled "Dairy Queen." I defer now to the wisdom of the writer at the 405: "It's fun, it's queer and your straight friends will like it too because, ultimately, it's about being less alone. Everyone can relate to that. And the world genuinely feels like a brighter place with PWR BTTM in it." As one of your straight friends, I couldn't agree more.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
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11/13: Christmas with Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith
Get into the holiday spirit with contemporary Christian pop/rockers Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. The Grammy-winning pair will co-headline a Christmas tour that features holiday favorites while accompanied by a full symphony orchestra. NBC’s “The Voice” season 9 winner Jordan Smith will also be on the bill.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13. Grand Canyon University Arena, 3300 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix. Tickets on Sale July 22. 877-552-7362, gcuarena.com.
— Anthony Sandoval
11/13: Lauryn Hill
Hill launched her post-Fugees solo career in 1998 with “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” an eight-times platinum debut on which her reputation may forever rest — in part because it’s so good and in part because she's yet to hit us with another full-length studio release. She did the “MTV Unplugged” thing in 2001. She's guested on some other people’s records and released a small handful of singles, including 2010's “Repercussions" and 2013's "Neurotic Society."
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $38-$98. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
11/13: Lupe Fiasco
This Chicago rapper hit the mainstream in 2007 with a platinum Top 10 hit called "Superstar" and followed through by going triple-platinum with a second Top 10 triumph called "The Show Goes On" in 2010. Other hits include "Out of My Head," "Battle Scars" and "Old School Love." He arrives in continued support of an acclaimed 2015 album called "Tetsuo & Youth." RapReviews.com says he "doesn't present tracks that are just a hot beat and some memorable bars — he's aiming for cinematic moments and drawing you into the atmosphere he seeks to create."
Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13. Livewire, 7320 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. $28. 480-361-9783, livewireaz.com.
11/14: Toro Y Moi
Toro Y Moi is Chaz Bundick, a chillwave sensation who's managed to rise above genre distinction by evolving as an artist to point that in reviewing this year's model, Spin wrote, "It’s hard to remember he was once known primarily as a co-founder of chillwave once you’ve emerged dripping from the warm bath of 'What For?'" And Drowned in Sound went further, writing: "A shimmering, optimistic record recalling Stevie Wonder and Brian Wilson, the LP makes for a comparative step back in time, with smooth yet fuzzy basslines, funk breakdowns, clever arrangements and soaring backing vocals." It still feels like today, though, in a way Mark Ronson records never seem to manage.
Details: 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $25; $22 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
11/15: Il Divo
The male quartet of singers known as Il Divo is known for their crossover vocals including classical and popular songs as well as their amazing operatic and powerful voices. The multinational vocal group has released several albums and boasts several gold and platinum hits.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $48-$125. 602-379-2800, comericatheatre.com.
— Alison Stanton
11/15: Gogol Bordello
These gypsy-punk sensations from the Lower East Side of Manhattan have a reputation for outrageously theatrical performances. Their latest album, "Pure Vida Conspiracy," hit the streets in 2013, inspiring PopMatters to rave, "If there ever was a Gogol Bordello album that deserves to launch them onto American radio waves, it’s 'Pura Vida Conspiracy.'" They had to know that wouldn't really happen, right? It didn't really happen. But it is surprisingly accessible for idiosyncratic gypsy-punk.
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $29. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
11/15: Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band
The legendary drummer brings his All Starr Band – featuring Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie, Steve Lukather, Richard Page, Warren Ham and Gregg Bissonette – to Phoenix. This is the former Beatle's longest-running All Starr lineup. "I joke that at the end of every tour I think it’s the last one and so I fire them," Starr says. "And then we keep finding places we can play and keep it going so I rehire them.”
Among the greatest drummers in the history of rock and roll, Starr assembled his first All Starr Band in 1989 and found consistent success as a live act with his revolving All Starrs touring the world with 12 different lineups to date. Among the songs you can expect to hear from Starr are "Photograph," "It Don't Come Easy," "With A Little Help From My Friends," "Boys" and "Yellow Submarine." The All Starrs also take turns in the spotlight singing songs from their back catalogs.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $67-$127. 602-267-1600 ext. 1, celebritytheatre.com.
11/15: Copeland
These Florida indie-rockers earned raves in 2014 for an album called "Ixora," their return to active duty after taking six years off. The Rock Sounds reviewer heard the album as "an impressive revival that shows there's life in these stalwarts yet" while Alternative Press summed it up as a "fairly strong, welcomed return from one of the decade's best bands of its kind."
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $25; $20 in advance. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
11/15: Mannequin Pussy
These Philly punks are playing Phoenix in support of one of this year's most attention-grabbing efforts, a 17-minute explosion of cathartic emotional turmoil titled "Romantic." And 17 minutes is all it takes to make their way through 11 songs whose highlights range from the reckless abandon and noise-rocking chaos of "Kiss" to the wounded restraint of the title track, where raging, distorted guitars are used to underscore the heartache when Marisa Dabice switches gears from a vulnerable whisper of "I get along with everyone I meet / I'm so sweet" to an even more vulnerable scream of "I'm in hell." They're joined at Rip's by three great local acts -- Man Hands, Shovel and Weird Radicals, for whom the night is also serving as an unofficial release celebration for a cassette-only singles collection conveniently gathering all the contagious garage-pop gems they've shared this year on Bandcamp in a little plastic case for those of us who still collect things.
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15. Rip's Bar, 3045 N. 16th St., Phoenix.
11/16: Mac Miller
This Pittsburgh rapper/Wiz Khalifa protege is best known in the mainstream for his featured rap on Ariana Grande’s hit, “The Way.” But he’s been ready for a mainstream moment for at least five years now, dropping would-be breakthroughs as eager to please as “Frick Park Market,” “Party on Fifth Ave.” and “Smile Back.” And his personality shines through on every one, especially “Party on Fifth Ave.,” which lives up to its title while sampling DJ Mark the 45 King’s 1987 breakthrough, “The 900 Number.” He's here in support of his just-released fourth album, "The Divine Feminine."
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $30.50. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
11/16: Ben and Matt's Million Can Concert
Join KNIX’s morning team – Ben and Matt – as they help feed hungry families across Arizona with this year’s Million Can Concert. Randy Houser, known for his hits “Anything Goes” and “Like a Cowboy,” headlines this event, which benefits St. Vincent de Paul. Rounding out the lineup are Chris Janson, Tucker Beathard and "American Idol" Season 15 winner Trent Harmon.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16. Grand Canyon University Arena, 3300 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix. $20-$35. 877-552-7362, gcuarena.com.
11/16: Tombs
These Brooklynites run their more experimental metal urges through obvious echoes of old-school metalgaze on "Savage Gold," a heavy yet hypnotic effort that manages to live up to its titles thanks it large part to the tortured yowling of guitarist Mike Hill. Pitchfork loved it, raving, "For the first five years of their existence, New York metal outfit Tombs sounded undecided about their sound, but their third album is one of the year’s absolute heavy metal masterstrokes. Working with American death metal demigod Erik Rutan, they've mustered the heaviest elements of their sound for a cohesive, propulsive, and definitive statement."
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16. Pub Rock, 8005 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. $13; $10 in advance. 480-945-4985, pubrocklive.com.
11/16: Karl Blau
The Line of Best Fit says, "The most impressive thing about 'Introducing Karl Blau' is how easily it could find itself slotted in the second-hand racks between Charlie Rich or Glen Campbell." That is true. But to that list, I'd like to add the great Joe South. Blau is an extraordinary talent with a soft spot for the countrypolitan approach. On "Introducing," he applies his striking vocal stylings to a songbook deep enough to take in Waylon Jennings and the Bee Gees. His "To Love Somebody" manages to feel essential, which is kind of crazy for a song as overdone as that.
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. valleybarphx.com.
11/17: Trash Talk
These political-hardcore veterans brought home raves in 2014 for "No Peace," an album that eases you into the throat-shredding hardcore aggression of "Jigsaw" and "The Hole" with a tension-building hip-hop-flavored soundscape by the Alchemist, whose current gig is DJing for Eminem. Also playing: the Shrine, Dirty Fences.
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $17; $15 in advance. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
11/18: The Boxer Rebellion
It’s easy enough to hear what attracted Tennessee-born front man Nathan Nicholson to London, where he relocated in 2000, forming the Boxer Rebellion a year later. The man was clearly drawn there by the sound of U.K. rock, if the echoes of U2 as filtered through Coldplay on “Ocean By Ocean” are any indication. The reviewer at All Music called it “arguably Boxer Rebellion’s most introspective and measured album to date -- this, from a band that has built a career on making deeply heartfelt, '80s-style post-punk anthems about loneliness, sadness, and betrayal.”
Details: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $20; $17 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
11/19: Third Annual Arizona Hip Hop Festival
This is the event that led to Mayor Greg Stanton declaring Hip Hop Day for Phoenix. Last year's event featured more than 100 local hip-hop artists in a single day. As the major explained his support to azcentral.com, "I love the fact that an ambitious guy like Justus (Samuel) has put this all together and he's starting to build more community support, more business support. It's a really positive thing for downtown Phoenix and the city.... And he really likes to help young up-and-coming artists, undiscovered artists, give them a shot. I love the fact that it's a hip-hop festival where there's gonna be an open mic. There's gonna be competitions at various local high schools, offering talented kids an opportunity to show their art. I want to see him and the festival succeed."
Details: 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $17. 602-379-2800, comericatheatre.com.
11/19: Barenaked Ladies
They topped the Hot 100 with their biggest hit, "One Week," in 1998. Their other hits include "Pinch Me" and "It's All Been Done." The theme songs to "The Big Bang Theory?" That's them, too. Lead singer Steven Page went solo in 2009, but they continued on without him, releasing three albums, including last year's "Silverball."
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 North Center St., Mesa. $20. 480-644-2560, mesaamp.com.
11/19: Omar Sosa-Joo Kraus Duo
Multiple Grammy nominee Sosa is a Cuban-born composer, bandleader and pianist. Multiple German music awars winner Kraus plays trumpet. They're combining the mastery of their instruments with highly skillful improvisation in a performance that we're told will range from meditative and emotional to exuberant and uplifting. The duo is said to exemplify Sosa's philosophy of jazz as freedom. The music is based in improvisation, with each player bringing an expression of his musical roots to the experience.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $35. 480-350-2822, tempe.gov/tca.
11/19: Journey
Fresh from rocking the masses at Ak-Chin Pavilion in Phoenix this summer, Journey will return Arizona for a concert at the Pool at Talking Stick Resort. This year marks the return of Journey drummer Steve Smith, rejoining lead guitarist/founding member Neal Schon, original bassist Ross Valory, longtime keyboardist Jonathan Cain, and the YouTube discovery whose vocals gave the band a second lease on life, Arnel Pineda.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale. $49-$250. 480- 850-7734, talkingstickresort.com.
11/19: Global Dance Festival
Relentless Beats will once again bring the Wild West Edition of this dance music festival to Rawhide. This year's 18-and-over event will feature genre giants Bassnectar, Galantis, Louis the Child, Louis Futon and JackLNDN.
Details: Doors open 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. General admission $69-89; VIP $149-179. Rawhide Western Town, 5700 W. North Loop, Chandler. relentlessbeats.com.
— Chelsey Heath
11/19: Jesse & Joy
These Mexican-American siblings have earned five Latin Grammys for their often-beguiling mix of jangly pop and smart, sometimes-witty lyrics: One of their signature tunes is the breakup anthem "¿Con Quién Se Queda El Perro?," or "Who Gets the Dog?" Their latest disc, "Un Besito Mas," finds them them recording in English ("More Than Amigos") and offering the blasting funk of "No Soy Una de Esas," a smashing collaboration with Spaniard Alejandro Sanz.
Details: 6:30 pm. Saturday, Nov. 19. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. MIll Ave., Tempe. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
— Randy Cordova
11/20: Switchfoot
These melodic Christian rockers hit the mainstream in 2002 after placing four songs in the Mandy Moore movie “A Walk to Remember,” going double platinum with the following year's "The Beautiful Letdown." In 2011, they took home best rock-gospel album from the Grammys for “Hello Hurricane,” their seventh album. Their latest album, "Where the Light Shines Through," debuted at No. 10 this year while spinning off the Christian rock hits "Live It Well" and "Float."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $33.50-$53.50. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
11/20: Night Beats
"Who Sold My Generation" is a very psychedelic trip through the garage, from a narrated opening track called "Celebration #1" through the psychedelic soul of "Power Child" to the album-closing "Egypt Berry," which sounds a little like some great lost outtake from the sessions that produced the Yardbirds classic, "Over Under Sideways Now." In fact, the whole thing sounds like it's been sitting on a shelf somewhere since 1966 or maybe 1967. As the Q magazine critic was moved to proclaim, it "pulsates in glorious obliviousness to all interim 'developments' in rock. Come along if you dare. And don't be late or you'll miss Snake! Snake! Snakes!
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
11/21: Adele
This is a make-up date for the concert Adele was forced to postpone after singing through a cold on her opening night in Phoenix. And how did she sound with a cold? “Adele was in brilliant voice throughout," I wrote. "She's like a soulful Barbra Streisand, belting out her songs in an amazing show of force that somehow seemed more powerful in concert than it does on her recordings, which have outsold any other superstar in recent memory. And it was all in service to the songs, conveying raw emotion while filling the venue with breathtaking vocal performances that never felt flashy or forced.”
Details: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21. Talking Stick Resort Arena, Second and Jefferson streets, Phoenix. $34.75-$144.75. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
11/23: Red Fang
If you're into stoner rock at all, you should already have your ticket bought for this one. Red Fang's "Only Ghost" is one of this year's most compelling arguments in favor of returning heavy metal to its roots, from the Sabbath-worthy psychedelic sludge of such obvious highlights as "No Air" and "The Smell of Sound" to the headbanging riffs of an opening track that filters the punkish intensity of Motorhead through a melodic sensibility placing it closer in spirit to Queens of the Stone Age. And any hard-rock band in history would be proud to have written the riff in "Cut It Short." Best of all, they're joined at Rebel Lounge by Torche and Whores, a stoner-rock trifecta brought to you by the local promoter most likely to put this kind of thing together, Psyko Steve.
Details: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $22. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
11/25: Sleeping With Sirens
The End the Madness! Tour is actually supposed to be promoting "Madness," their new album, in which case I'm thinking Give In to the Madness would have been a better tour name. As for the album itself, it's a fairly eclectic collection whose more contagious moments feel like they were swinging for the fences in terms of commercial-alternative radio play. Alternative Press responded: "If Sleeping With Sirens are guilty of anything on their fourth album, it’s trying to unite various musical tribes (polished pop, post-hardcore, acoustic whimsy) under one all-encompassing banner. They’ve attempted this before on 2013’s Feel, but on Madness, it’s obvious they’re all in and not making empty gestures."
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25. Livewire, 7320 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. $23. 480-361-9783, livewireaz.com.
11/25: Meat Puppets
Led by Curt and Cris Kirkwood, the Valley's own Meat Puppets were plucked from the ranks of respected cult icons in the early '90s by Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, who had them join him on the set of "MTV Unplugged" to dust off three songs from "Meat Puppets II." The Kirkwoods went their separate ways in 2002 but reunited in 2006 and have since released four albums, most recently "Rat Farm," on which they effortlessly live up to their legend. I have no idea where the Kirkwood brothers live at this point. Maybe Austin? Or did they move back? It doesn't matter, really. They're too much a part of the cultural fabric here to bother checking state IDs. And this time, they’re sharing the bill with Mike Watt of the Minutemen and Firehose, a towering legend of post-punk bass, with an opening set by the Exterminators.
Details: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $10; $8 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
11/25: Sam Outlaw
This California ad salesman turned country singer-songwriter is playing Phoenix in support of "Angelenos," a debut produced by Ry and Joachim Cooder that so perfectly captures the musical essence of old-school country, there is no way you will ever hear these songs on mainstream country radio, despite the cowboy hat he's wearing on the album cover. It's too country. In the best way possible. It gets off to a promising start with the Mariachi-flavored countrypolitan of an opening track titled "Who Do You Think We Are?" before making its way through such obvious highlights as the country-rocking title track and "Jesus Take the Wheel (And Drive Me to a Bar)."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $12. valleybarphx.com.
11/26: Young Thug
This Atlanta rapper first made a name for himself on the strength of his collaborations with Rich Homie Quan, Birdman, Waka Flocka Flame, T.I. and Gucci Mane. His best-known songs include "Stoner," "Best Friend,"With Them," "Digits" and "Pick Up the Phone." His latest mixtape, "Jeffrey," was praised in Pitchfork as "rangy and stunning, an exciting new curve in the fascinating Young Thug arc."
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $35. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
11/26: Yelawolf
This Alabama rapper is headed to town in continued support of an album called "Love Story,” on which his self-assurance, sense of humor and seamless blend of hip-hop, old-school funk and country slips into the trailer park to snatch the pimp-hat crown off Kid Rock’s head. And he wears it well. This album hit the charts at No. 3, his highest-charting entry by a country mile, while earning raves from DJ and XXL, whose critic wrote, “He’s fully aware of who exactly he wants to be in hip-hop: a proud, raw, unapologetically Southern MC, something the game’s been missing.” It’s also been missing a white guy who can sing as soulfully as Yelawolf does on highlights as strong as “American You.”
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. Club Red, 1306 W. University Drive, Mesa. $25-$99. 480-258-2733, clubredrocks.com.
11/28: The Naked and Famous
These New Zealand rockers were perhaps understandably written off as MGMT JR when "Young Blood" hit the airwaves in 2010, topping the charts in New Zealand while giving them a Top 10 alternative-rock hit in the States. But by the time they dropped "In Rolling Waves" in 2013, they'd grown into their own sound — brooding, female-fronted synth-pop. By the time they hit the Marquee stage, they'll have released a followup called "Simple Forms."
Details: 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $29.50. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
11/28: Mystery Lights
They set the tone for their self-titled album with power chords that slash like the Kinks’ “Till the End of the Day” and follow through with an album that should speak directly to anyone who’s ever used the term “garage-rock” to describe a band that rocks their world. By the second track, they’ve added a Farfisa and the singer is sneering with an attitude that says he cut his teeth on “Nuggets.” It’s the real deal, making its way through such obvious highlights as “Follow Me Home” and “Too Many Girls.”
Details: 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. valleybarphx.com.
11/30: Live 101.5 Jingle Bash with Diplo
Get in the holiday spirit with some percussive EDM music at the Live 101.5 Jingle Bash. Martin Garrix and Diplo will be on hand to ring in the season with great music.
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St. Phoenix. $37 and $57. comericatheatre.com.
— Alison Stanton
11/30: Gill Landry
A former busker who first made a name for himself as a member of Old Crow Medicine Show, Landry is headed to Phoenix in support of a self-titled solo release that really hits its stride on haunting ballads as timeless as the harmonica-driven folk of "Just Like You" and aching "Waiting For You Love." As PopMatters noted, "He carries a palpable world-weary lilt to his deep, emotion-ridden vocal, crafting a moody, brooding full-length composition that could hardly vary much more from the often breakneck picking and harmonies of the party-ready bluegrass sounds of Old Crow Medicine Show while remaining within the same overarching realm of Americana tunes."
Details: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $20; $17 in advance. valleybarphx.com.
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Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Twitter.com/EdMasley.