A veteran poet rolls into Lawn Gnome Publishing with a new zine in hand, while a local hero debuts his new pet project. A local coffee shop celebrates its short history with a rocking party, and a venue known for its quirks presents a rising fuzzy-punk star alongside a celebration of one of our state’s most notorious icons. See how the local scene is fairing this week, and head out to the streets of downtown.
Michael C. Ford: Atonal Riff-Tunes to a Tone-Deaf Borderguard
- Thursday, Oct. 11
- 8:00 p.m. Doors
- Lawn Gnome Publishing & Bookstore: 905 N. Fifth St.
- Getting there: Walk — Fifth Street between Roosevelt and Garfield streets
- Price: Free, $5 donation accepted
Recommended if You Like: The Doors, William S. Burroughs, spoken style
Beginning with a reading at a political rally in 1969, Michael C. Ford has been blending the style and flow of jazz with the confrontation of poetry. In 1986, the poet’s debut album, Language Commando, was nominated for a Grammy award. Also among Ford’s greatest accomplishments is the publishing of his work by City Lights, the bookstore and publishing house. The work was made famous for its printing of Allen Ginsberg’s legendary Howl and Other Poems, which went before the Supreme Court on charges of obscenity. And with the expanding influence of local zine-rat Aaron Johnson’s Lawn Gnome Publishing, Ford sent in a manuscript for his latest work, Atonal Riff-Tunes to a Tone-Deaf Borderguard. This Thursday, Johnson will be joined by Ford and a small array of local poets to celebrate the book’s release. An event for the ages, all inside an unassuming house on Fifth Street.
President Gator Label Launch Party
- Saturday, Oct. 13
- 7:30 p.m. Doors, 8:30 p.m. Show
- Crescent Ballroom: 308 N. Second Ave.
- Getting there: Walk — Second Avenue and Van Buren Street
- Price: $10 in advance and at the door; Admission includes free 7 inch of your choice
Recommended if You Like: local folks made good, Modern Art Records, psych-pop
For nearly a decade, Jeremiah James Gratza, President Gator, has been bringing the best under-appreciated bands from around the country to Phoenix and pairing them with top local talent. For years, that meant supplementing his income from shows with odd jobs as a waiter until he hit the big time, being picked up by Charlie Levy and Stateside Presents to book shows of his own and act as the legendary promoter’s Director of Operations. He is now starting a record label. For his first two releases, Gratza is putting out a pair of split 7 inches, pairing Bogan Via with a Miniature Tigers remix, and a Roar song with a new tune from Gospel Claws. This all-local lineup also doubles as the bill for the label’s launch party, taking over Gratza’s home at the Crescent Ballroom this Saturday. Headlining the night will be the now-New York-centered Charlie Brand of Miniature Tigers, performing a rare solo set.
Showbot at Jobot: Two Years, Two Stages
- Tuesday, Oct. 16
- 6:00 p.m. Show
- Jobot Coffee Shop: 918 N. Fifth St.
- Getting there: Walk — Fifth Street between Roosevelt and Garfield streets
- Price: FREE
Recommended if You Like: local celebs, crepes, Andrew Jackson Jihad
Can you believe it’s only been two years? For those who haven’t been around downtown for long, it’s hard to imagine Roosevelt Row without its coffee institution, Jobot, sitting on the corner of Fifth and Roosevelt in the heart of the arts at all hours of the day and night. Since its inception, the shop has become ground zero for the local creative community, providing employment for dozens of the area’s up-and-coming artists and musicians. Each year on their anniversary, the shop offers a showcase of its employees’ many talents. For this year’s show, expect performances from local stars Liam & the Ladies, Empire of the Bear and many more.
MURDERESS! 2012, 81 Years and Counting
- Tuesday, Oct. 16
- 7:30 p.m. Doors, 8:00 p.m. Show
- The Trunk Space: 1506 NW. Grand Ave.
- Getting there: Bike — 15th and Grand avenues
- Price: $6 at the door
Recommended if You Like: puppets, a bit of the macabre, Lizzie Borden
Eighty years ago this Tuesday, Phoenix was put on the map for crime thanks to Winnie Ruth Judd. On that night, the well-regarded socialite (involved in a love triangle at the time) turned on her boyfriend and his lover. She shot them both, packed them into a trunk and sent them off at Union Station en route to Los Angeles. The infamous murder has remained a part of local lore for years, spurring all manner of unusual tributes, but perhaps none more so than the production of Murderess: The Winnie Ruth Judd Story. This feature film utilizes a cast of marionettes, puppets and dolls to tell the story of the legendary Phoenix murderess.This year, as a special treat, the film’s director Scott Coblio will be present to provide an introduction to the film along with a live Q&A following the screening.
Hop Along with Dogbreth, The Skinny Shamans, Where Are All the Buffalo?
- Wednesday, Oct. 17
- 7:30 p.m. Doors, 8:00 p.m. Show
- The Trunk Space: 1506 NW. Grand Ave.
- Getting there: Bike — 15th and Grand avenues
- Price: $6 at the door
Recommended if You Like: Fifth Hour Hero, the Microphones, gruff punk
Hailing from Philadelphia, Hop Along has only been in existence for a few years, but they possess a sound far beyond their years. This year, the group released its debut record Get Disowned, to minimal acclaim. But to those who heard it, the record was a true masterpiece. With searing female vocals, at-times-off-kilter rhythms and rollicking drums, the trio is beginning to pick up steam, all with minimal touring and no national distribution. Make sure to catch this band early, as comparisons to Rainer Maria, The Microphones and Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel are not to be taken lightly.
Events compiled by Connor Descheemaker
