July 2009
Here's the Ticket
Menu of this month's listings, stories and columns For event tickets sold through Ticketmaster, call 544-8444 or go to ticketmaster.com. The UTEP Ticket Center number is 747-5234. Pan Am Center Box Office is (575) 646-1420. Many clubs sell tickets through ticketbully.com.
3 Doors Down -- The alternative rock band performs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, at Abraham Chavez Theatre. Since their 2000 debut album, “The Better Life,” the band has sold more than 16 million albums world wide. Hits include “Kryptonite,” “Loser,” “When I’m Gone,” “Citizen/Soldier” and “Here Without You.” Tickets: $48, plus service charge (Ticketmaster).
Vans Warped Tour 2009 -- The 15th annual music and extreme sports event begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, at the NMSU Intramural Field (next to Aggie Memorial Stadium). This year’s event features one main stage with featuring Under oath, Bad Religion, Black Tide, Breathe Carolina, Gallows, Saosin and more. Several extreme sports and lifestyle events and displays also featured. Tickets: $33, plus service charge. (Ticketmaster) Information: (575) 646-1420. Web: warpedtour2009.com.
Also performing are 3OH!3, A Day To Remember, A Skylit Drive, Aiden, Alexisonfire, Anti-Flag, Attack Attack, Bayside, Big D and the Kids Table, brokeNCYDE, Chiodos, Dance Gavin Dance, Dear And The Headlights, emmure, Hit The Lights, I Set My Friends On Fire, In This Moment, InnerPartySystem, Ivy League, Jeffree Star, Less Than Jake, Lights, Longway, LoveHateHero, Madina Lake, Meg and Dia, Millionaires, NOFX, Outernational, P.O.S., Red Car Wire, Senses Fail, Shad, Shooter Jennings, Sing It Loud, Streetlight Manifesto, TAT, The A.K.A.s, The Architects, The Ataris, The Devil Wears Prada, The Heroine, The Maine, The White Tie Affair, There For Tomorrow, Therefore I Am, Thrice, TV/TV and VersaEmerge.
A stage dedicated to area bands will also feature Dynamite Kegs of Las Cruces.
Jack Ingram -- The country star performs at 8 p.m. Friday, July 3, at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino in Ruidoso Downs, N.M. as part of its Summer Concert Series. The Texas-based performer’s awards include Top New Male Vocalist of 2008 by the Academy of Country Music, and the CMT Music Award for Video of the Year for his single “Wide Open Country.” Hits include “Wherever You Are,” “Love You” and “Measure of a Man.” Tickets: $25, $35 and $50. Ticket information: (575) 378-4431 or (575) 378-4140.
Upcoming concerts in the series are the Randy Rogers Band with Mark McKinney (Aug. 15) and the Guess Who (Sept. 19).
Boney James -- The jazz saxophonist performs 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at The Plaza Theatre. James is one of the most respected and best-selling instrumental artists in the genres of Contemporary Jazz and R&B His latest album “Send One Your Love” reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts. All seats: $39 (Ticketmaster).
Akon -- The R&B star performs in supported of his new CD “Freedom” at 8 p.m. Friday, July 10, at UTEP’s Don Haskins Center, with special guest Pitbull. Tickets: $20.50, $30.50 $40.50 and $55.50, plus service charges; $5 military discount with valid ID (Ticketmaster).
Akon has been nominated for several Grammy and MTV Music Awards, and is won a 2007 American Music Award for Favorite Male Soul/R&B. He has sold more than 7 million records in more than 23 countries. Hits include “Locked Up” and “Smack That,” and he has been listed on the Billboard Hot 100 songs 23 times. His latest singles are “Right Now (Na Na Na)” and “Beautiful.”
He also serves as CEO of Konvict record label representing artists like T-Pain and Lady Gaga, and is proprietor of his own fashion line Konvict and Aliaune Clothing.
‘Altar Boyz’ – UTEP Dinner Theatre presents the hilarious account of a Christian boy-band July 10-26. The struggling band (with one nice Jewish boy) is looking for their big break in the Big Apple. After being a hit with the Ohio bingo-hall-and-pancake-breakfast circuit, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham take their hits like “Girl You Make Me Want to Wait” and “Jesus Called Me On My Cell Phone” to New York to take a bite out of the forbidden apple. Showtime is 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; dinner matinee performance is 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 12; non-dinner matinees are 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 19 and 26. Tickets $26-$38 dinner shows; $12-22 non-dinner matinee. Information: 747-6060.
Vicente Fernandez and Shaila Durcal -- “El Rey” of ranchera music Vicente Fernandez performs at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 12, at El Paso County Coliseum, 4100 E. Paisano, with Spanish singer and daughter of the legendary Rocio Durcal. Tickets: $57, $87 and $122, plus service charge. (Ticketmaster).
‘Dora the Explorer Live!’ -- The family theatrical show based on the Nickelodeon show 7 p.m. Tuesday, and 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 14-15, at the Plaza Theatre. Dora and her cast of supporting characters, Diego, Boots, Backpack, Map, Swiper the Fox, Tico and Benny, star in her new family-friendly musical adventure. Tickets: $15-$37, plus service charge. (Ticketmaster).
Caji and Salome -- No Strings Theatre Company will host the Brazilian and world music artists at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 15-16, in the Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Downtown Mall, in Las Cruces. Admission: $10 at the door. Information: (575) 523-1223 or no-strings.org.
Caji, a distinctive guitarist in the Brazilian style and unique singing interpretation redefines the grooves from his hometown, Salvador, Bahia. He released his first solo work (Caji da Bahia) in 2004 with Indie record company AmazRecords. Salomé, from the islands of Azores, joined him as a multilingual vocalist and percussion. Together they extended the musical language to a multi-cultural expression.
“Tejano Legends IV” -- Little Joe y la Familia headline the Tex-Mex music style tour at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, at the Plaza Theatre. Also performing is Jimmy Edward. Tickets: $35, $45 and $55, plus service charge. (Ticketmaster).
“Little Joe” -- Jose Maria DeLeon Hernandez -- is credited as one of the pioneers of "Tejano"music, a mix of traditional norteño music and country, blues and rock styles. He won the Grammy for “Diez y Seiz De Septiembre" for the Best Mexican-American Performance.
The Plaza show is part of Little Joe’s 50th anniversary celebration as a Texas singer-musician and entertainer. A live album and video will be recorded during the Plaza concert.
The Tejano Legends concerts benefit Sin Fronteras, which supports programs for migrant farmworkers in El Paso.
Dave Koz -- The Grammy-nominated saxophonist and El Paso favorite performs Sunday, July 26, at the Plaza Theatre, with guests Brian Culbertson and Peabo Bryson. Tickets: $40-$100, plus service charge. (Ticketmaster).
Koz, a multi-million-selling solo recording artist, four-time Grammy nominees and composer, is considered one of the most expressive voices in contemporary music. His past El Paso appearances have sold out.
Hollywood Undead -- The internationally-known hard rock band performs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at Club 101, 1148 Airway, with special guests Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Mest and The Sleeping. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. All ages show. Tickets: $20, plus service charge. Available at Club 101, All That Music and ticketbully.com. Information: 544-2101.
With their latest video “Young” now on MTV2’s Elite 8 chart, as well as No. 13 on its website’s current “most steamed videos,” Hollywood Undead’s “Swan Songs” is currently in the Top 50 of the Billbard Top 200 Chart and Digital Album, as well as in the Top 10 Hard Rock Album and Alternative Album.
Blue October and Switchfoot -- The alternative rock bands bring their “Crazy Making” Tour to El Paso at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at Abraham Chavez Theatre, with guests Ours and Longwave. Tickets: $31, plus service charge (Ticketmaster).
Blue October’s singles include “Hate Me,” “Into the Ocean,” “Dirt Room” and most recently “Say It” from their hit CD “Approaching Normal.”
Switchfoot, winner of several GMA Dove Award’s, hits include “Ammunition,” “Meant To Live,” “Dare You To Move,” “Stars” “Awakening” and more.
Jason Boland and The Stragglers -- The Oklahoma country band performs at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Whiskey Dick’s, 580 George Dieter. The band’s latest “Comal Country Blue,” was released in 2008 featuring the hit title track. Tickets: $12; available online through ticketbully.com. Information: 921-9900.
Charlie Murphy -- The well-known stand-up comic performs at 8:30 p.m. Thursday and 8:30 and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 13-15, at El Paso Comic Strip, 1201 Airway, with opening act Freeze Luv. General admission: $22.50 Thursday; $27.50 Friday and Saturday. Reserved seats: $25 Thursday; $30 Friday and Saturday. Reserved tickets at ticketweb.com. Information/reservations: 779-LAFF (5233) or laff2nite.com.
Marco Antonio & Pepe Aguilar -- The Latin music stars perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at El Paso County Coliseum. Tickets: $47, $67 and $87, plus service charge (Ticketmaster).
Latin Grammy Award-winner Marco Antonio Solis was born in Mexico and is one of the most influential singer-songwriters in the Latin music world. He has recorded more than 20 albums, written more than 300 songs and had numerous gold and platinum albums in the U.S., Mexico and Latin America, plus had a string of radio hits.
San Antonio native Pepe Aguilar is a Grammy-Award winning ranchera music performer, as well as a national charro champion, actor and composer. His latest CD is “Homenaje.”
Sun City Round Up -- The 2nd annual live music event is begins at noon, Saturday, Aug. 29, at Chic’s Bar & Billiards, 9809 Montana, featuring 12 bands including The Rocket Sharks, Low Down Dirty Creeps, Raw Deal, Nino Inferno, Viva Las Vegas, Hot Rod Boogie, The Doomsdayers, The Ravishing, The Ghost Storys, The Black Rose Phantoms and more. Tickets: $13. Information: 433-5340 or ticketbully.com.
Jeff Dunham -- The comedian/ventriloquist performs at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at NMSU’s Pan American Center in Las Cruces. Dunham often plays straight man to his edgy, usual puppets include a woozle named Peanut, a bitter retiree named Walter, Jose the talking jalapeño pepper, Sweet Daddy D, Bubba J., Melvin the Super Hero and Achmed the Dead Terrorist. Tickets: $30, $40 and $50, plus service charge. (Ticketmaster).
After a record breaking 2008 that saw Dunham become the best-selling live comedy attraction in the United States, he recently took his act to Europe.
Slate magazine called him “The Hardest-Working Hand in Show Business,” and his canny use of the Internet and grassroots marketing as well as dedicated roadwork that has taken him from comedy clubs to sold-out theaters and arenas and appearances. He has sold some 3.5 million DVDs of his three Comedy Central specials: “Arguing With Myself,” “Spark of Insanity” and “A Very Special Christmas Special.”
Dunham’s current tour began in 2008 and is considered one of the Top 50 tours on the road worldwide.
James Taylor -- The six-time Grammy winning musician performs at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Plaza Theatre Performing Arts, Tickets: $67-$87.50, plus service charge. (Ticketmaster).
Taylors’ countless singles include “Fire and Rain” “You’ve Got a Friend” “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” “Shower The People” “Handy Man” “ “Your Smiling Face,” “Only One” and many more.
He was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000 and was ranked 84th in Rolling Stone’s list of “The Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time” in 2004. His 2009 Grammy nominations include Best Male Pop Vocal and Best Pop Vocal Album.
Ricardo Arjona -- The Guatemalan singer/songwriter performs in concert at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at El Paso County Coliseum, promoting his latest album “5to Piso.” Tickets: $46.50-$96.50 (Ticketmaster).
Arjona is best known as a socially conscious singer, with such songs as “Jesus Verbo No Sustantivo,” a controversial song about his experiences as a Catholic schoolboy. His latest single is “Sin Ti, Sin Mi.”
Playhouse Disney Live! On Tour -- Disney Channel pals perform Sept. 18-20, at Abraham Chavez Theatre, featuring favorite characters from four shows in Disney Channel’s popular Playhouse Disney program block for preschoolers. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $18-$40, plus service charges. (Ticketmaster). Information: playhousedisneylive.com.
The interactive performance brings characters from “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Little Einsteins,” “Handy Manny” and “My Friends Tigger & Pooh” together on the same stage. The original storyline follows this colorful cast as they set off in their own unique ways to create and contribute songs and music for a musical party at Mickey’s Clubhouse.
At each performance, one family will be chosen to win a Zippity Full-Body Learning System from LeapFrog. Sign-up is free at feldentertainment.com/Signup/Zippity/.
‘The Circus’ starring Britney Spears -- Spears will host her first El Paso concert Monday, Sept. 21, at UTEP’s Don Haskins Center. With its cast of nearly 50 dancers, magicians, clowns and acrobats, and a traveling staff of more than 200, the $50 million extravaganza travels with an unprecedented 60 tons of equipment in 34 trucks. Tickets: $497 for center ring loveseats, $352 for ringside loveseats, $197 for center ring stools, $127 for Zone I and II seats, $97 reserved lower bowl, $47.50 reserved upper bowl, plus service charges. (Ticketmaster).
“The Circus Starring Britney Spears” kicked off in New Orleans March 3, and quickly became the highest grossing tour of 2009 in North America. Spears is one of the top-selling artists of the last decade, and has sold in excess of 63 million albums worldwide including “Baby One More Time,” “Oops!...I Did It Again,” “In The Zone” and “Blackout.” Her current album “Circus” debuted No. 1 in six countries.
Albert and Gage -- The Austin-based folk musicians perform a dinner show at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at La Tierra Cafe, 1731 Montana. Cost: $30; reservations required. Tip not included, BYOB. Information: 592-5122.
Venues & series
Inn of the Mountain Gods -- The Resort and Casino is in Mescalero, N.M. (near Ruidoso). Age 21 and older welcome. (Ticketmaster). Information: 1-877-277-5677 or innofthemountaingods.com.
-- Loverboy -- The arena rock superstars perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 16. Loverboy is best known for their string of hits in the 1980s including “Turn Me Loose,” “Hot Girls in Love,” “Working for the Weekend” “Heaven In Your Eyes” and more. Admission: $25.
-- Pat Benatar -- The four-time Grammy-winning singer/songwriter performs at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. Benatar, backed by her band featuring rocker husband Neil Giraldo, has also won three American Music Awards, and is ranked by Billboard Magazine as the most successful female rock vocalist of all time. Hits include “Love is A Battlefield,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Sex As A Weapon,” “Shadows of the Night” and more. Tickets: $25-$75.
-- 38 Special -- The Southern rock band performs Friday, Sept. 18. The band, which peaked in the mid-’80s, is known for their No. 1 hits “Caught Up In You” and “If I’d Been The One,” as well as singles “Hold On Loosely,” “Back Where You Belong,” “Second Change” and “Teacher, Teacher.” Times and ticket prices to be announced.
Spencer Theater for Performing Arts -- Airport Hwy 220 in Alto, N.M. (about 12 miles north of downtown Ruidoso). Free public guided tours are 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays (except show dates). Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872 or spencertheater.com.
Upcoming shows:
-- Rhonda Vincent & The Rage -- 8 p.m. Sunday, June 28. Vincent has earned an unprecedented seven consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association. Tickets: $66 and $69.
-- Missoula Children’s Theatre’s “The Little Mermaid” -- 7 p.m. Friday, July 10. The new version of the age-old tale offers lots of music, plot surprises and humor. The annual week-long residency teaches 50-to-60 children (ages 6-to-17) the joys of singing, dancing and acting on stage. Tickets: $15 ($7 children).
Free acting workshops are 9 a.m. Monday, July 6, following show auditions.
-- Hal Holbrook in “Mark Twain, Tonight!” -- 8 p.m. Friday, July 17. First staged by Holbrook in 1966, the show is considered the “granddaddy” of one-man shows. Holbrook (now age 84) portrays the 78-year-old Twain, weaving parables with moralistic twists while puffing on a stogie and delivering his gold mine of musings. Holbrook, a Tony, Oscar and Emmy winning artist, also includes reenactments of one or two poignant scenes from Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. Tickets: $86 and $89.
-- Sisters Morales -- 8 p.m. Saturday, July 25. Sisters Lisa and Roberta, and their longtime multi-guitar cohort David Spencer and a five-piece band blend alt-country with deep rhythm and blues and heart-rending Mexican folk ballads. Tickets: $36 and $39.
Free dance classes for ticketholders are 4 to 6 p.m. with a Mexican buffet 6 to 8 p.m. for $20.
-- High Mesa Beach Party with Frankie Avalon -- 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1. The legendary former teen idol, singer and actor presents old time rock ‘n’ roll with his six-piece band. The performance icon starred in numerous Beach Party films. Besides No. 1 songs “Venus, and “Why,” his hits include “Dede Dinah,” “Cupid,” “Gingerbread,” “A Boy Without A Girl,” “Just Ask Your Heart” and “I’ll Wait for You.” Tickets: $66 and $69 matinee; $76 and $79 evening show.
Club 101 -- 1148 Airway. Advance tickets for most events available at Club 101, All That Music, Psycha and online at ticketbully.com, unless otherwise listed.
Information: 544-2101 or club101.com.
-- Reverend Horton Heat -- The Texas punkabilly legend returns at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 2. Tickets: $15.
-- Real Men of Chippendales -- 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 22. General admission: $22. VIP: $100; front row: $150.
-- Hollywood Undead -- 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, with special guest Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Mest and The Sleeping. Tickets: $20.
Zeppelin’s Underground -- 111 E. Robinson. Information: 532-2003 or myspace.com/zeppelinsep.
-- Buckfast Superbee -- The California rock band performs at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 7. Having built a fan base in the California area for the past four years, the band has just released a full-length album, “Turn of the Radio Age.” All ages show. Tickets: $8.
A performance by The Steps follows at 9 p.m. Admission: $10.
-- Gabriel Sullivan of American Black Lung -- 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 8. The Tucson artist’s new album is “By The Dirt” and features several guest musicians such as Calexico’s Joey Burns. Admission: $5.
Sullivan also performs an all-ages show with Buckeye at 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, at No Man’s Land, 9580 North Loop Suite B. Information: myspace.com/nomanslandep.
El Paso Scene MONTHLY
This month's listings,
stories and columnsFeature story
Roundup
Music
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Here's the Ticket
Program Notes
On Stage
Sports
Southwest Art Scene
At the Museum
History Lessons
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Film Scene
Keep on Bookin'
Becoming Bicultural
Liner Notes
Stage Talk
Gallery Talk
Better ParentingCopyright 2009 by Cristo Rey Communications.