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Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Live Music Venues, Part 1
Sarah Ventre
Maybe you’re new to Phoenix. Maybe you’ve been here a while and you just don’t know. Maybe you’re dying to find other musicians to play with, or, better yet, open mic nights and jam sessions. Maybe you’re just looking for something to do on a Wednesday night. At any rate, you need to find live music, and you need it fast. And let’s face it - sometimes those massive calendars of events are overwhelming. So I present to you part one of Phoenix Art Space’s multi-part “best of” music venues, highlighting different genres of music and locations each time.
Best Places to Catch a Show Virtually Any Night of the Week:
Yucca Tap Room
As you may know, I, along with many other Tempe music fans, am quite fond of the Yucca. This little dive on the corner of Southern and Mill offers some of the best local music around, and we’ve seen many of our proudest exports such as The Refreshments and even the Gin Blossoms come up through this humble establishment. Monday nights are open mic nights hosted by Scotty Johnson of the Gin Blossoms, and Thursday nights are Rockaraoke and Karaoke. You’ll find little or no cover here but always good people and a good time.
29 W. Southern Ave.
Tempe
480-967-4777
[url]www.yuccatap.com[/url]
Rhythm Room
“Phoenix’s Roots, Blues & Concert Club,” located on Indian School and 10th St, offers blues music every weekend and a host of other acts during the week. Drawing crowds sometimes aged 16 to 80-something, the Rhythm Room shows local and national acts, and the intimate setting lends itself to meeting all kinds of interesting people. From Chicago blues, to country, to punk, to experimental, to bluegrass and more, you’re almost guaranteed to hear something you’ve never heard before. The venue also offers a “celebrity jam” hosted by Bill Tarsha & the Rocket 88s on select Mondays. The cover charge varies depending on who’s playing (free on jam nights), and the bar does offer all ages shows sometimes, so check the calendar in advance. Also, several nights a week the “Rack Shack” is open for some amazing barbeque at an affordable price. (I highly recommend the peach cobbler for dessert...) Special Addition: A few very noteworthy upcoming shows are: The Joe Strummer Memorial Benefit 12/21/06, Chicago Blues Reunion 1/6/07, Arizona’s King of the Blues - Big Pete Pearson’s CD Release Party 1/12-13/07, and legendary surf rock guitarist Dick Dale 2/23/07.
1019 E. Indian School Rd.
Phoenix
602-265-4842
[url]www.rhythmroom.com[/url]
[url]www.myspace.com[/url]/rhythmroom[/url]
Best Spots for Jazz:
Sacred Grounds Coffee House
Believe it or not, this café is located at the Scottsdale Congregational Church, but it hosts some of the biggest local jazz names around. For jazz of all different types by professional musicians with experience playing all over the country, check out what’s happening in the jazz scene right here in Phoenix. Noted artists such as Dom Moio, Chuck Mahronic, Fred Forney, Dwight Kilian, Armand Boatman, Mike Crotty, and Deater O’Neill are known to be regulars at this venue. The jazz café is open on Thursday nights from 7:30 - 9:30 and the suggested donation is a mere $5.
4425 N. Granite Reef Rd.
Scottsdale
[url]www.scucc.com[/url]/sacred_grounds.cfm[/url]
Jazz in the Hills
Another all-ages spot for great jazz music, Jazz in the Hills is located in the back room of The Appian Way, an upscale restaurant in Fountain Hills. Though in my experiences the crowd has tended to be quite a bit older, my younger brother and I made the trek every week for quite some time when we were 14 and 16 respectively, and it was well worth it. The acoustic jazz venue also offers top quality professional musicians in an intimate atmosphere. Enjoy a nice glass of wine, or, if you’re under-age like we were, a nice glass of coke and an evening of fantastic music. The cover charge is, again, a donation which goes towards paying the musicians and making these events possible. Jazz in the Hills only happens on Friday nights, and the music starts around 8:30.
The Appian Way
17149 E. Amhurst Drive
Fountain Hills
480-837-9771 -or- 480-837-9661
[url]www.fountainhillstheater.com[/url]/jazzinhillsschedule.htm[/url]
Though I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface, hopefully you have a good start. I’m including some other notable venues that fit these categories, and I encourage you to post any other venues that you know of to the site or comment if you’ve been to any of these places. Remember, music is a community effort, so let’s keep sharing with each other!
ASU
Constant jazz concerts throughout the fall and spring semesters. Most of them are free, including performances during jazz week in the spring. (Also check the community college calendars for great free concerts showcasing up and coming young musicians!)
[url]music.asu.edu/performance/jazz-calendar.php[/url]
Bobby C’s Bar and Lounge
Live jazz and blues on Sundays. Serves soul food.
1140 E. Washington St.
Phoenix
602-242-2273
Hornblowers
Jazz café.
6209 E. Main St.
Mesa
480-854-8194
Johnny’s Uptown Restaurant
Jazz music lounge. Live music seven nights a week. Piano jazz followed by an open mic night on Mondays.
40 E. Camelback, Suite 102
Phoenix
602-277-5999
[url]www.johnnysuptown.com[/url]/
Kazimierz World Wine Bar
Live music Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. $5 cover. Mondays are a jam session hosted by Margo Reed, but I highly suggest checking it out before bringing your instrument over. Also note that it’s a speakeasy, so it’s kind of hard to find and the entrance is in the back. Check the website for directions.
7137 East Stetson Drive
Scottsdale
480-946-3004
[url]www.kazbar.net[/url]
Please check [url]www.jazzinaz.org[/url] or [url]www.jazzinaz.org/venues.html[/url] for more info.
Best Places to Catch a Show Virtually Any Night of the Week:
Yucca Tap Room
As you may know, I, along with many other Tempe music fans, am quite fond of the Yucca. This little dive on the corner of Southern and Mill offers some of the best local music around, and we’ve seen many of our proudest exports such as The Refreshments and even the Gin Blossoms come up through this humble establishment. Monday nights are open mic nights hosted by Scotty Johnson of the Gin Blossoms, and Thursday nights are Rockaraoke and Karaoke. You’ll find little or no cover here but always good people and a good time.
29 W. Southern Ave.
Tempe
480-967-4777
[url]www.yuccatap.com[/url]
Rhythm Room
“Phoenix’s Roots, Blues & Concert Club,” located on Indian School and 10th St, offers blues music every weekend and a host of other acts during the week. Drawing crowds sometimes aged 16 to 80-something, the Rhythm Room shows local and national acts, and the intimate setting lends itself to meeting all kinds of interesting people. From Chicago blues, to country, to punk, to experimental, to bluegrass and more, you’re almost guaranteed to hear something you’ve never heard before. The venue also offers a “celebrity jam” hosted by Bill Tarsha & the Rocket 88s on select Mondays. The cover charge varies depending on who’s playing (free on jam nights), and the bar does offer all ages shows sometimes, so check the calendar in advance. Also, several nights a week the “Rack Shack” is open for some amazing barbeque at an affordable price. (I highly recommend the peach cobbler for dessert...) Special Addition: A few very noteworthy upcoming shows are: The Joe Strummer Memorial Benefit 12/21/06, Chicago Blues Reunion 1/6/07, Arizona’s King of the Blues - Big Pete Pearson’s CD Release Party 1/12-13/07, and legendary surf rock guitarist Dick Dale 2/23/07.
1019 E. Indian School Rd.
Phoenix
602-265-4842
[url]www.rhythmroom.com[/url]
[url]www.myspace.com[/url]/rhythmroom[/url]
Best Spots for Jazz:
Sacred Grounds Coffee House
Believe it or not, this café is located at the Scottsdale Congregational Church, but it hosts some of the biggest local jazz names around. For jazz of all different types by professional musicians with experience playing all over the country, check out what’s happening in the jazz scene right here in Phoenix. Noted artists such as Dom Moio, Chuck Mahronic, Fred Forney, Dwight Kilian, Armand Boatman, Mike Crotty, and Deater O’Neill are known to be regulars at this venue. The jazz café is open on Thursday nights from 7:30 - 9:30 and the suggested donation is a mere $5.
4425 N. Granite Reef Rd.
Scottsdale
[url]www.scucc.com[/url]/sacred_grounds.cfm[/url]
Jazz in the Hills
Another all-ages spot for great jazz music, Jazz in the Hills is located in the back room of The Appian Way, an upscale restaurant in Fountain Hills. Though in my experiences the crowd has tended to be quite a bit older, my younger brother and I made the trek every week for quite some time when we were 14 and 16 respectively, and it was well worth it. The acoustic jazz venue also offers top quality professional musicians in an intimate atmosphere. Enjoy a nice glass of wine, or, if you’re under-age like we were, a nice glass of coke and an evening of fantastic music. The cover charge is, again, a donation which goes towards paying the musicians and making these events possible. Jazz in the Hills only happens on Friday nights, and the music starts around 8:30.
The Appian Way
17149 E. Amhurst Drive
Fountain Hills
480-837-9771 -or- 480-837-9661
[url]www.fountainhillstheater.com[/url]/jazzinhillsschedule.htm[/url]
Though I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface, hopefully you have a good start. I’m including some other notable venues that fit these categories, and I encourage you to post any other venues that you know of to the site or comment if you’ve been to any of these places. Remember, music is a community effort, so let’s keep sharing with each other!
ASU
Constant jazz concerts throughout the fall and spring semesters. Most of them are free, including performances during jazz week in the spring. (Also check the community college calendars for great free concerts showcasing up and coming young musicians!)
[url]music.asu.edu/performance/jazz-calendar.php[/url]
Bobby C’s Bar and Lounge
Live jazz and blues on Sundays. Serves soul food.
1140 E. Washington St.
Phoenix
602-242-2273
Hornblowers
Jazz café.
6209 E. Main St.
Mesa
480-854-8194
Johnny’s Uptown Restaurant
Jazz music lounge. Live music seven nights a week. Piano jazz followed by an open mic night on Mondays.
40 E. Camelback, Suite 102
Phoenix
602-277-5999
[url]www.johnnysuptown.com[/url]/
Kazimierz World Wine Bar
Live music Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. $5 cover. Mondays are a jam session hosted by Margo Reed, but I highly suggest checking it out before bringing your instrument over. Also note that it’s a speakeasy, so it’s kind of hard to find and the entrance is in the back. Check the website for directions.
7137 East Stetson Drive
Scottsdale
480-946-3004
[url]www.kazbar.net[/url]
Please check [url]www.jazzinaz.org[/url] or [url]www.jazzinaz.org/venues.html[/url] for more info.
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