Brian Lopez | Photo by Puspa Lohmeyer For singer-songwriter Brian Lopez, the Sonoran Desert is palpable in all of his musical endeavors – from early indie rock ensembles like Mostly Bears and Calexico to his Southwestern-inflected band XIXA (pronounced chee-cha) and Latin-influenced solo projects. Since the early aughts, the Tucson native’s name has been synonymous with the Southwestern sound. The singer and guitarist refers to it as “indie chamber pop.” Born and raised in the Barrio Sobaco neighborhood near downtown Tucson, Lopez credits his career to a music class he took in sixth grade wh ..read more

After winning a competition to be the up and coming local band to play Lost Lake, The Ricky Fitts were one of the first acts to kick off the day. They faced some bright sun, but it’s nothing Arizona residents can’t handle and it surely did not slow them down. Frenship was the first “new” band for me to see on Saturday. There was easy band chemistry and they talked to the crowd every now and then. Strange enough, the most memorable part of this set wasn’t the performance, but two audience members who dressed in T-Rex costumes and started running around. Taylor Bennett was supposed to play an ..read more

Fish first carved a niche for herself in this music scene as a blues guitarist and vocalist in 2011. She’s performed mainly as part of a trio, but 2017 has been the year of big bands for Fish. “Chills & Fever” featured a variety of instruments from the punk blues group Detroit Cobras. Fish and the Detroit Cobras have been touring “Chills & Fever” around the country since April. Before her show in the Valley this weekend, PHOENIX caught up with Fish to talk about her next album, touring in Europe and being a woman in a male-dominated music genre.* Cat ..read more

Arizona natives The Sugar Thieves have been a band for a little over a decade since forming in a no longer of this world Tempe dive bar called the Big Fish Pub in 2006. It began as a duo between Moore and her now-husband, guitarist Mikel Lander. They met through their shared passion for music, and after opening the stage for jam sessions, bassist Jeff Naylor, drummer Todd Chuba and saxophone/piano player Shea Marshall joined in. After a year of playing together, the band entered the Arizona State Blues Showdown and placed second. The following year, they were first. Today they play as a ..read more

#2: Midori with the Festival Orchestra at La Casa de Cristo Church, February 23, 2017 Global violin superstar Midori will perform Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto,” and the Festival Orchestra – composed of professional players from orchestras nationwide — will tackle Shostakovich’s challenging “10th Symphony.” 7:30 p.m. February 23 at La Casa de Cristo Church. Tickets cost $45-$100. #3: Melissa Manchester at Highlands Church, October 28, 2016 Grammy Award-winning pop singer Melissa Manchester, known for hits including “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” “Through the Eyes of Love,” and “Midnight Blue,” kicks ..read more

The scene: Kraftwerk is four guys in matching outfits standing over synthesizers for two hours. They don’t dance, they don’t talk in between songs, and they don’t do costume changes (that’s what illusory tricks of lighting are for). They move so seldom they could be replaced with mannequins and nobody beyond the first five rows would know. But their show is incredibly visceral and visual. This concert was a 3D show, and audience members received 3D glasses to enhance the experience. There were almost as many neon and flashing lights in this show as the Vegas Strip. The screen behind the band ..read more

Pyromania (Def Leppard tribute): Sept. 2-3 at Casino Arizona This Huntington Beach-based band is so good, they count Def Leppard among their fans. From the songs to the stage clothes to the hairdos, Pyromania is a pretty picture-perfect picture (or “Photograph,” if you will) of the British hard rock band. Both of these shows are expected to sell out. (The real Def Leppard will roar through town on Sept. 9, rocking Ak-Chin Pavilion.) Expect to hear: “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Rock of Ages.” $10-$15. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2-3 at Casino Arizona. defleppardtribute.com Don’t Look Back (Boston tribute ..read more

  In the third episode of Deep Cuts, PHOENIX magazine’s music podcast, co-hosts Madison Rutherford and Ellie Willard sit down with Phoenix indie band ReRuns to discuss discovering new tunes at Tilly’s, consider how the pandemic transformed the local music scene and debate an array of pop culture phenomena – including but not limited to old spaghetti westerns, onstage breakups, new bands with ’90s vibes, parody albums, bowling alley playlists and the Skate 3 soundtrack. Plus, a preview of Reruns’ new single “Gone Away” from their forthcoming album Hindsight. To learn more ..read more

#2 Scatalicious: So what if I just made that word up. For the first of two encore songs, Herington played a pick-a-dilly (did I just make that up, too?) guitar solo and scatted along with every note, emulating the sounds of his six-string with aplomb. Mori did the same in his solo, growling and baritone-humming along with his bass strings. #3 Silvery: Speaking of guitars, the tone of Herington’s Gibson sounded so silvery. Every note resonated like a teardrop falling into the palm of a hand, and drifted through the air in the Musical Instrument Museum Theater like a feather. The acoustics in t ..read more

Every week, we present a curated list of live music in a wide range of genres all around the Valley. A diverse lineup this week includes African interpretations of bluegrass music, a celebration of Motown, psychedelic rock, regional Mexican music, and off-the-cuff country. Pascal Bokar Afro Blue Grazz BandMonday, August 9 at The NashWednesday, August 11 at Ottowa UniversityMusician Pascal Bokar, born in France and raised in Senegal, West Africa, leads eleven musicians playing instruments like fiddles, banjos, balafons (related to xylophones), and the West Africa sabar drum in a mesmerizing bl ..read more