Top concerts playing Phoenix in September: Drake, Sam Smith … – The Arizona Republic
The year of stadium concerts continues with thrash-metal legends Metallica playing two completely different shows at State Farm Stadium a week after Beyonce made her way through that same venue as part of her Renaissance World Tour.
September also brings two huge Relentless Beats events to Phoenix Raceway — a two-day EDM fest headlined by superstar DJ Excision and the inaugural IYKYK Festival with Lil Uzi Vert and Metro Boomin.
The arenas are rocking too, with six tours hitting Footprint Center and seven, including two concerts by Drake, at Desert Diamond Arena.
Here’s a guide to the best and biggest metro Phoenix concerts for September 2023, from the Jonas Brothers dusting off five albums in one night at Footprint Center to Beth Orton playing the MIM Music Theatre.
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Blessthefall
The Phoenix metalcore veterans are on a tour celebrating the 10th anniversary of “Hollow Bodies,” their fourth release, which topped the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart. “Hollow Bodies” was hailed in Alternative Press as “an ambitious, impressive album” while HM called it “a blistering example of why many have come to love Blessthefall and shows that… this group is still the undisputed ruler of the post-hardcore scene.”
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $25. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
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Gemm
These Phoenix rockers have mastered the grungier side of the ’90s alternative-rock explosion with occasional echoes of shoegaze informing the wall of guitars. It’s a glorious racket topped by hooks that really sink their teeth in, especially by the time the chorus on their latest single, the beyond-contagious “World on Fire” arrives. It sounds like it was built to launch a million stage dives.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $12. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
Metallica
The thrash-metal icons are playing two nights in each city on this tour with two completely different setlists and support acts. They’re joined the first night by Pantera and Mammoth WVH. The second night features Five Finger Death Punch and Ice Nine Kills. Both concerts feature an in-the-round stage design that relocates the Metallica Snake Pit to center stage These are Metallica’s first Valley concerts since 2017, when the Worldwired Tour played that same venue.
Details: 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, and Sunday, Sept. 3. State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Way, Glendale. $49 and up. 800-745-3000, SeatGeek.com.
Metallica Weekend Takeover at the Van Buren
With Metallica taking over State Farm Stadium on Friday and Sunday, this completes the Weekend Takeover with two Metallica-themed shows on Saturday. The bill at the Van Buren will feature Damage Inc., Southern California’s foremost Metallica tribute act, selected by Metallica to perform in their 40th anniversary San Francisco Weekend Takeover in 2021. They’re joined by two other Metallica tribute acts, Motorbreath and Sandman.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $25. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
Metallica Weekend Takeover at Crescent Ballroom
This part of the Weekend Takeover is a thrash-metal family affair. Ottto features Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo’s son, Tye Trujillo, on bass. Juice Magazine says their debut album, “Life Is a Game,” “brings a fresh thrash metal skate sound from the streets of Venice to the unsuspecting masses of the world” while Metal Injection declared that they’re “destined for stardom.” Bastardane includes James Hetfield’s son, Castor Hetfield, on drums.
Details: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $4.85. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
Summer Block Party presents Jodeci and SWV
The Summer Block Party features Jodeci, SWV and Dru Hill. Hailed as the Bad Boys of R&B, Jodeci established themselves as a trendsetting force in with their signature style and soulful harmonies on such chart-topping R&B classics as “Forever My Lady,” “Stay” and “Come and Talk to Me.” SWV topped Billboard’s Hot 100 with their biggest hit, the triple-platinum “Weak.” Dru Hill’s hits include R&B chart-toppers “In My Bed” and “Never Make a Promise.”
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $25 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Gerardo Ortiz and El Yaki
Ortiz is a regional Mexican singer who earned a Best Norteño Album Grammy nomination in 2010 for his debut album, “Ni Hoy Ni Mañana.” Three years later, he earned four awards at the Mexican Billboard Music Awards: Male Artist of the Year, Norteño Album of the Year, Norteño Artist of the Year and Artist of the Year, Songs. He’s playing Glendale on the co-headlining Dijimos Tranquilito Tour with El Yaki.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $49 and up. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Kidz Bop
Kidz Bop is the brainchild of Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam, co-owners of the independent record label Razor & Tie. The first album featuring kids singing squeaky-clean versions of pop hits was released in 2001. “Kidz Bop 40” topped the US Kids charts in 2019, the series’ 38th release to do so. They were Billboard’s No. 1 Kids’ Album Artist for 11 consecutive years, from 2010-2020.
Details: 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $39.50 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Eslabon Armado
Last year, Eslabon Armado won Regional Mexican Album of the Year at the iHeart Radio Awards, Top Latin Duo/Group at the Billboard Music Awards and Top Latin Albums Artist and Top Regional Mexican Artist at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. They also became the first regional Mexican artist to land a record in the Top 10 on the Billboard album charts.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $49-$129. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
Rise Up Music Festival
This festival has been designed to showcase some of country music’s brightest young stars on the rise with Chase Matthew, Chayce Beckham, Spencer Crandall, Tyler Rich, Lindsay Ell and David Morris. Beckham won Season 19 of “American Idol” and Ell was a revelation at Country Thunder Arizona in 2018 before going on top to the Billboard country chart with Brantley Gilbert on “What Happens in a Small Town.” Don’t miss her set.
Details: 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. The Park at Wild Horse Pass, 19593 S. 48th St., on the Gila River Indian Community south of Phoenix. $25 and up. forty8live.com/rise-up-music-festival.
Hip Hop 50
Pop some bottles to toast to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a stellar assortment of multiplatinum artists. Migos rapper Offset, whose solo hits include the six-times-platinum “Ric Flair Drip,” will top the bill on Saturday, with Rick Ross and DaBaby. Sunday’s bill is topped by Ludacris, who thrilled the Janet Jackson fans at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre a few months back, with special guests Fat Joe and Lil Jon.
Details: 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, and Sunday, Sept. 3. Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Gila River Indian Community. $350 two-day VIP pass; $69 and up a day for general admission. 800-946-4452, playatgila.com.
Excision’s Basstrack festival
Excision will headline both nights of a two-day Basstrack festival at Phoenix Raceway with some of the top artists in the bass genre as support acts, promising exclusive audiovisual experience. Saturday’s lineup also features Wooli, PhaseOne b2b Funtcase, Layz, Emorfik b2b Muerte and Vastive. Sunday’s lineup also brings Adventure Club, Ray Volpe, YOOKiE, Drinkurwater b2b Hairitage, and Kliptic b2b RZRKT.
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2-3. Phoenix Raceway, 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive, Avondale. General admission $109 and up for a two-day pass; $64.50 and up per day. phxlightsfest.com.
Sam Smith
Gloria the Tour is in support of “Gloria,” an album praised in NME as “rich musically, thematically and above all, emotionally.” It includes the singer’s Grammy-winning hit “Unholy” featuring Kim Petras, which spent three weeks topping Billboard’s Hot 100 and four weeks in the top spot on the UK singles chart. The concert also features Jessie Reyez, who guests on the album.
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $44.50 and up. 602-379-7800, ticketmaster.com.
Metropolis with Mysterium Quartet
Phoenix’s Mysterium Quartet invite you to immerse yourself in the dystopian city of Metropolis as they provide a live score to Fritz Lang’s visionary tale of the struggle for equality, justice and human dignity in an ever-changing world, 1927’s silent masterpiece “Metropolis.” Note the parallels to 2023 as the Mysterium Quartet complete the mood with haunting soundscapes and cacophony. All proceeds will go toward providing historic, educational and fundraising support for the Orpheum Theatre.
Details: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix. $16; $11 for children. 800-282-4842, etix.com.
Drake
Drake’s It’s All a Blur Tour with 21 Savage had to add a second date at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale to meet the demand. The tour name is a celebration of the hip-hop superstar’s last decade. In the last five years, Drake has released four albums, including his most recent studio effort “Her Loss.” A collaboration with 21 Savage, “Her Loss” topped the Billboard album chart and had all 16 songs hit Billboard’s Hot 100.
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 5-6. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. Resale ticket prices vary. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Cold Cave
Wesley Eisold has the perfect voice to put across the brand of synth-pop exorcism he explored on the highlights of “Cherish the Light Years,” Cold Cave’s latest studio release, earning more than occasional references to Robert Smith. He started working on the followup 10 years ago, telling Pitchfork to expect a “mix between some of the bigger sounds on ‘Cherish’ and more minimal stuff I’m interested in now, like Suicide or 39 Clocks.”
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $20-$30. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
Jonas Brothers
Their new album is titled “The Album,” a naming convention mirrored in the naming of The Tour, on which they’re playing all five albums they’ve released since 2007, the year they broke through with a self-titled effort on Hollywood Records. As Rolling Stone said, “It’s their version of Eras Tour, with the boys and their massive E-Street-like band tackling over 60 songs.”
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $34.95 and up. 602-379-7800, ticketmaster.com.
Worship With Chris Tomlin, We the Kingdom and Tasha Layton
Tomlin is a Grammy-winning Christian music superstar and worship leader from Texas with record sales of more than 7 million. He’s been awarded 23 GMA Dove Awards, a Best Contemporary Christian Music Album Grammy (for 2012’s “And If Our God Is for Us” and two platinum albums. He’s been called the “most often sung artist in the world” by Time Magazine due to how often his songs are used in giant worship services.
Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $35 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Swans
Led by the elusive Michael Gira, the experimental rock legends are rolling through town on their first North American tour since 2017 in support of “The Beggar,” an astonishingly great new album Mojo called “44 minutes of scourging song broken up by ambient drone, terrifying din and choral interludes” that’s “both uncompromising and brilliant.”
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $35. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
Ghost
The Grammy-winning theatrical rockers from Sweden continue to bring the “euphoric spectacle,” as Rolling Stone once summed up their approach to live performance, in sold-out shows around the world. They’re here on the Imperatour with special guests Amon Amarth in support of an album that topped year-end lists in 2022 at Metal Hammer and Revolver.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $29.50 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Carin León
The Sonoran singer-songwriter is playing Glendale in support of “Colmillo de Leche,” the album that made him the first Regional Mexican act to reach the top 10 in global streams on Spotify. The 18-track record spans various musical genres, showcasing León’s maturity and versatility. NPR Music calls León “a game changer if there was one” while Billboard called him “one of the most prominent and influential figures in regional Mexican music today.”
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $99 and up. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Buddy Guy
The legendary blues guitarist brings his Damn Right Farewell Tour to Phoenix with special guest Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. A house guitarist at Chess Records in the ’60s, a decade when he also toured in Muddy Waters’ band, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer was recently voted the 30th best guitarist of all time in Rolling Stone. But Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton would’ve placed him higher.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $35-$125. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
Sylvan Esso
Nick Sanborn of Megafaun found a brilliant partner in Amelia Meath, whose captivating vocals elevate their synth-pop with a perfect mix of character and soul. She also has a talent for reeling you in with a lyric. AllMusic praised the haunted quality of last year’s “No Rule Sandy” as having “the feeling of listening to an old phone message from a loved one you might have forgotten, or watching grainy home movies — familiar, yet new.”
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $50. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
IYKYK Music Festival
Philly rapper Lil Uzi Vert will headline the inaugural IYKYK Music Festival at Phoenix Raceway. Co-produced by Relentless Beats and Universatile Music, the one-day event will also feature Metro Boomin, Denzel Curry, Rico Nasty and Jeleel. This is Lil Uzi Vert’s first headlining festival appearance in Arizona. His latest effort, “Pink Tape,” is his third consecutive release to top the Billboard album chart.
Details: 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. Phoenix Raceway, 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive, Avondale. General admission is $75 and up. phxlightsfest.com.
Pentatonix
Fresh from making history as the first a cappella group to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, three-time Grammy winners Pentatonix are headed to Phoenix with special guest Lauren Alaina. Formed in 2011, Pentatonix won $200,000 and a record deal with Sony Music on NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” going on to top the Billboard album chart with two consecutive releases, a self-titled effort and “A Pentatonix Christmas.”
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $29.50 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Banda MS
The name Banda MS is short for Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga. The regional Mexican outfit was formed in 2003 by brothers Sergio and Alberto Lizárraga in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, (hence the MS in their name) and features more than a dozen musicians. Their biggest stateside hit, “Sin Evidencias,” reached the Hot Latin Tracks chart in 2009.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $59 and up. 602-379-7800, ticketmaster.com.
City and Colour
Singer-songwriter Dallas Green of Canadian screamo sensations Alexisonfire, who famously described their music as the sound of two Catholic high-school girls in mid-knife fight, released his first album as City and Colour in 2005 as an outlet for a more subdued approach to self-expression. Eighteen years later, he’s here in support of an achingly beautiful “The Love Still Held Me Near,” his seventh album as City and Colour.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. Resale ticket prices vary. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
‘Hookworm Two’ release show
This is a release celebration for a great new Arizona music compilation from the folks at Hookworm Records, with performances by three bands featured on that new release: Fairy Bones, Birds and Arrows, and Daphne + the Glitches. All the songs on “Hookworm Two,” which also features Sliced Limes, Weekend Lovers and Chrome Rhino, were tracked at Flying Blanket Recording in Mesa with famed producer Bob Hoag.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. Last Exit Live, 717 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. $15; $12 in advance. 602-271-7000, lastexitlive.com.
Maluma
In June, the Colombian superstar’s 2020 hit “Hawái,” which spent nine weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Songs chart, topped 1 billion views on YouTube, his 10th release to do so. A remix of “Hawái” featuring the Weeknd peaked at No. 12 on Billboard’s Hot 100 to become his highest-charting mainstream crossover. The former teen sensation’s music is a blend of reggaeton, pop and Latin trap. He arrives in support of the just-released “Don Juan.”
Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $61 and up. 602-379-7800, ticketmaster.com.
Los Angeles Azules
The six-date Cumbia Para el Corazón Tour brings the Mejía-Avante siblings to Phoenix for a Mexican Independence Day celebration. The Azules are pioneers in the cumbia sonidera genre, a fusion of classic cumbia and synthesizer-driven electronic music also known as future cumbia. Their best-known songs include “Como Te Voy A Olvidar” and “El Liston de Tu Pelo,” which earned a Premio Lo Nuestro award for best cumbia song.
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $39.50 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Band of Horses
Led by the achingly soulful lead vocals of the great Ben Bridwell, these Seattle rockers tend to take a whisper-to-a-scream approach that punctuates moments of delicate grace with real urgency. There are times when they seem to be channeling the essence of Neil Young without actually cribbing his sound, just capturing that ache. It’s beautiful. They arrive in continued support of one of last year’s best rock albums, “Things Are Great.”
Details: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $35 and up. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
RBD
This Mexican pop group rose to fame on Televisa’s telenovela “Rebelde” from 2004-2006, achieving international success while selling more than 15 million records worldwide as one of the best-selling Latin artists of all time before disbanding in 2009. Five of the six original members have reunited for the Soy Rebelde Tour, a 26-date trek through the United States, Brazil and Mexico.
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 12-13. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. Resale ticket prices vary. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
5 Seconds of Summer
These Australian heartthrobs topped the U.S. charts with a self-titled album of spirited pop-punk songs in 2014, the same year they opened a One Direction tour. Hits include “She Looks So Perfect,” “Don’t Stop,” “Amnesia” and “Good Girls.” In its second cover story on the boys, Billboard called them “an anomaly in 2015: a Generation Z guitar band that sells records.” They’ve sold more than 10 million albums worldwide.
Details: 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $29.50 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Home is Where
If that band name had a question mark, the answer would Palm Coast, Florida. The emo sensations are touring the States in support of a full-length debut called “The Whaler” that landed them on midyear best-of lists at Brooklyn Vegan, Paste and Pitchfork, whose reviewer raved, “Good emo music makes you feel their feelings; great emo music makes you see the world through their eyes,” praising singer Brandon MacDonald’s vivid eye for unsettling detail.
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $18. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
Danna Paola
This Mexican pop sensation rose to fame as a child actress, starring in dozens of television shows throughout her early childhood and adolescence. In April, she released her newest hit “1Trago,” which gained the most plays on its first day for a song by a Mexican woman in Spotify history. She also made her first appearance at the prestigious Latin American Music Awards, performing her smash hit, “XT4S1S.”
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $49 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Cavalera
Max Cavalera rose to fame in the ’80s at the helm of Brazilian thrash-metal legends Sepultura with younger brother Igor playing drums. He moved to Phoenix in the early ’90s, forming Soulfly after parting ways with Sepultura. Earlier this year, the brothers re-recorded Sepultura’s first two records, the “Bestial Devastation” EP and their full-length debut, “Morbid Visions” as Cavalera Conspiracy. Now they’re doing it live on the Morbid Devastation Tour.
Details: 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $31.50 and up. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
Eric Church
The modern country maverick, hailed in Pollstar as “having already long established himself as one of the most successful touring country artists,” is joined on the Outsiders Revival Tour by Jelly Roll and Paul Cauthen. This is Church’s first summer tour of outdoor venues. A review of a recent tour stop at Splice Magazine said the show offered “a glimpse into an artist that’s never satisfied and always strives to give his fans what they want plus more.”
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. Verified resale prices vary. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Mana
This is the third of three Valley stops on Maná’s México Lindo Y Querido tour, a celebration of the rockers’ love and admiration for México and the Latino community. In a press release, they said fans can expect “a brand new production and all our hits,” adding, “This isn’t just a concert tour, it’s a celebration of life.” In 2016, the Mexican rockers were hailed in Billboard as “the most widely sold and heard Latin band in the world.”
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $64.50. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Hannah Jadagu
Jadagu was fresh out of high school when she inked a deal with Sub Pop on the strength of “What Is Going On?,” a collection of intimate bedroom pop recorded on an iPhone 7. Two years later, she’s headed to Phoenix in support of “Aperture,” an atmospheric daydream of an album that underscores her wistful melodies with breathtaking blankets of synth. NME calls it “a blossoming talent seizing her moment.” She’s joined by Veronica Everheart.
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $17. valleybarphx.com.
Alejandro Fernández
The Mexican music icon brings his Amor y Patria 2023 U.S. tour to Phoenix with special guest Alex Fernández, his son. The tour features an all new show celebrating Fernández’ love of music, family and his native Mexico. A portion of the proceeds from the two-time Latin Grammy winner’s tour will support Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino.
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $39.50 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Cut Worms
The innocuous pop charms of Brooklyn-based songwriter Max Clarke’s new self-titled effort as Cut Worms are steeped in a pop classicism that manages to channel Brian Wilson and the Brill Building while feeling utterly original. As Uncut noted, “Clarke is both perpetuating and recontextualising the music of the mid-20th century.” It makes perfect sense, then, that two of the songs were recorded by Brian and Michael D’Addario of The Lemon Twigs.
Details: 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $18. valleybarphx.com.
GA-20
These Chicago blues revivalists named for a Gibson guitar amp made from 1950 to 1961 debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s blues chart with their latest album, “Crackdown.” And it’s easy to hear what led so many people to run out and buy it. “Crackdown” is a gritty mix of raw authentic blues to the hopped-up R&B revival of the Dr. Feelgood-worthy “By My Lonesome” and a suitably soulful rendition of Lloyd Price’s classic ballad, “Just Because.”
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $15-$18. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.
Blue Oyster Cult
These Long Island rockers made the mainstream safe for existential ballads with more cowbell when “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper,” Rolling Stone magazine’s pick for 1976’s best rock single, ascended the pop charts. Other songs of note include “Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll,” “Godzilla” and “Burnin’ for You.” Their latest album, 2020’s “The Symbol Remains,” was a welcome late addition to their legacy. They’re joined by Head East.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $25-$105. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
Shakey Graves
By the time he gets to Phoenix, Alejandro Rose-Garcia will have dropped the long-awaiting sequel to “Can’t Wake Up,” a weirdly wonderful Wizard of Oz-themed album he hoped would make the listener uncomfortable the way “Pinocchio,”‘ “Fantasia,” “Snow White,” “Dumbo” and “Bambi” always made him feel. For this year’s model, “Movie of the Week,” he came up with the plot to an imaginary movie then wrote a soundtrack to that nonexistent film.
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $33. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
Bear Ghost
These locals occupied the more eccentric fringe of the new-millennial art-rock spectrum. And given the sound of their most recent single, “Rivers Is a Vampire,” that’s unlikely to change with the release of “Jiminy,” their first new album since 2016’s “Blasterpiece,” on which they often came off as Danny Elfman sitting down with Queen to write a Disney movie soundtrack. This release show also features Ali A & the Agency and Damn the Weather.
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $25; $20 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
Jimmie Vaughan
This Texas blues guitarist rose to fame at the helm of the Fabulous Thunderbirds and cut one classic album with his brother Stevie Ray just before the helicopter crash that claimed the young guitarist’s life. His latest album, “Baby, Please Come Home,” leaves a very soulful mark on classic songs from a variety of genres, including Memphis soul, country, blues and R&B. He’s also a crowd-pleasing bandleader and a brilliant blues guitarist.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $44.50-$59.50. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
The Wonder Years
Dan Campbell’s earnest rasp is just the vehicle to underscore the urgency and passion at the deeply wounded heart of the Wonder Years’ most satisfying moments, from the pop-punk triumph of “Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing” to “The Hum Goes on Forever,” the emo veterans’ latest effort. They’re joined by special guests Anxious, Sweet Pill and Action/Adventure.
Details: 6:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $29 and up. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
The Beach Boys
Wouldn’t it be nice if Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks had stuck around after the 50th anniversary tour to make this feel more like a Beach Boys concert? Yes, it would. But Mike Love has kept the Beach Boys on the road through thick and thin and he knows how to entertain a crowd that’s more concerned with hearing “Fun, Fun, Fun” than counting the number of people on stage who sang and/or played on the “Fun, Fun, Fun” session.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Gila River Indian Community. Sold out. 800-946-4452, playatgila.com.
Boots in the Park
Boots in the Park returns to Tempe Beach Park for a two-day country-music blowout on the lake with Sam Hunt and Blake Shelton topping the bill on their respective nights. Hunt anchors Friday’s bill, which also features Dustin Lynch, Scotty McCreery, Ingrid Andress, Leaving Austin and Luwiss Lux. Shelton headlines Saturday, with Brooks & Dunn, Tyler Hubbard, Rodney Atkins Ashland Craft and Lux.
Details: 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22-23. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $179 for a two-day pass; $99 Friday; $125 Saturday. tickets.bootsinthepark.com.
Playboi Carti
The Antagonist Tour is Carti’s first headlining tour since 2021, when he took several cities by storm in support of “Whole Lotta Red,” which had become his first release to top the Billboard album chart in 2020. That tour included a date at Mesa Amphitheatre. Since then, the hip-hop star has headlined major music festivals including Rolling Loud California in Los Angeles, Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash in Chicago and the Wireless Festival in London.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $49 and up. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Luis Miguel
Miguel’s previous tour, which played 116 shows from 2018 to 2019, was the highest-grossing Latin tour in Billboard Boxscore history, grossing $101.4 million, until last year, when Bad Bunny overtook him. It took just 24 hours to sell more than 400,000 tickets, including sold-out show in Argentina, Chile and the U.S., on the tour that brings him back to Phoenix. Only Enrique Iglesias has sent more songs to No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. Resale ticket prices vary. 602-379-7800, ticketmaster.com.
Miya Folick
Under the Radar hailed this LA singer-songwriter’s new album, “Roach,” as “a brutally honest and brave interrogation of self, a struggle powered by Folick’s towering vocals as she plunders the depths of her psyche in songs that confidently straddle taut indie rock and mainstream pop, illuminating both.” She’s an expressive singer, all but guaranteeing you won’t miss one single nuance of her richly detailed lyrics.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $18. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper
Guitarist Nita Strauss rejoined the shock-rock legend’s touring band just in time for this year’s tour dates, which include this co-headlining concert with Rob Zombie as part of the Freaks on Parade Tour with special guests Ministry and Filter. Cooper recently released his 22nd solo album, “Road.” Zombie was one of the musical guests at Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding, a benefit for Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock teen music foundation, in December 2022.
Details: 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $29.50 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
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Daniel Caesar
Released in April, the multiplatinum Grammy-winning singer’s latest critically acclaimed album “Never Enough” became his highest-charting album yet — debuting at No. 2 on the R&B chart with what Billboard called “the biggest sales debut for a male R&B artist this year.” Caesar’s hits include four songs that topped the Adult R&B charts — “Get You” (with Kali Uchis), “Best Her” (with H.E.R.) and “Love Again” (with Brandy).
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $79.50 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Jockstrap
This British duo earned raves for the experimental pop transcendence of “I Love You Jennifer B,” a 2022 full-length debut that musicOMH.com called “an intoxicating statement which announces one of Britain’s most exciting new bands.” They’re blessed with an expressive vocalist in Georgia Ellery, who also performs in the brilliant Black Country, New Road and often half-whispers her lines over Taylor Skye’s endearingly eccentric soundscape to deliriously breathtaking effect.
Details: 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $25. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
The Band Camino
The Nashville pop-rock trio bring their Screaming in the Dark Tour with support from Charlotte Sands and Bad Suns to downtown Phoenix in support of a sophomore album called “The Dark.” Billboard said the album finds them “diving deep into what a healing heart feels like, encompassed with sleek guitar riffs and swelling drum beats to help dance through the emotional rollercoaster of musical therapy.”
Details: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $39.50 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Samantha Fish
The award-winning blues guitar phenom is bringing her Love Letters tour to Phoenix. The tour name was inspired by a documentary short broadcast earlier this year on PBS, “Love Letters: Samantha Fish Live From New Orleans.” Eric Clapton hand-selected — or would that be Slowhand-selected — Fish to join him on the Crossroads tour in Los Angeles just before she gets to Phoenix.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $29-$69. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
YG & Tyga
YG, Tyga and Saweetie are bringing the STR8 to the Klub Tour to the Valley. This is YG’s second headlining tour of 2023, following his winter Red Cup tour. His latest album, “I Got Issues,” topped the Billboard Rap charts. In June, YG and Tyga released the single “West Coast Weekend” with Blxst, earning more than 4.3 million streams on Spotify. Saweetie is best known for the multi-platinum singles “My Type” and “Best Friend” (featuring Doja Cat).
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $49 and up. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Pat Benatar & Neil Geraldo
This is the legendary rocker’s first appearance on a Valley stage since her long-overdue induction last November to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The four-time Grammy winner broke through on the eve of the ’80s with “Heartbreaker,” the first of three hit singles from her platinum debut. And the hits kept coming, from “You Better Run” and “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” to “Treat Me Right,” “Shadows of the Night” and “We Belong.”
Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27. Mullett Arena, 411 S. Packard Drive, Tempe. $35 and up. mullettarena.com.
Motionless in White
The metalcore veterans from Scranton, Pennsylvania, are touring the States in support of an album called “Scoring the End of the World,” which topped the Hard Rock album charts in 2022. Distorted Sound magazine gave the album a 9 out 10, writing, “The phrase ‘album of their career’ isn’t one we here at Distorted Sound throw around lightly. With ‘Scoring The End Of The World,’ however, Motionless in White have earned that accolade.”
Details: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27. Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N. Center St. $54.50; $49.50 in advance. 480-644-2560, mesaamp.com.
Snarky Puppy
Snarky Puppy is a jazz collective with as many as 20 members. At its core, they represent the convergence of Black and white American music culture with various accents from around the world, including members hailing from Japan, Argentina, Canada and the U.K. The Guardian said fans would “be delighted by the band’s continued scale and grandeur” of last year’s epic live recording, “Empire Central,” calling it mass “as unclassifiable as it is virtuosic.”
Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $40-$72. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.
Beth Orton
The English folktronica legend won Best British Female at the Brit Awards for “Central Reservation.” More than 20 years later, she’s touring the States in support of last year’s breathtaking “Weather Alive,” a gem of an album whose songs were written in a garden shed on a second-hand upright piano she picked up for 300 pounds. The Line of Best Fit raved, “It isn’t just Orton’s best album, it’s also one that could have only come at this juncture in her life.”
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $44.50-$59.50. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
Renee Rapp
The singer-songwriter arrives in support of an emotionally raw debut called “Snow Angel,” which offers a dynamic blend of soulful ballads and undeniable pop hooks, culminating in an impressive showcase of her vocal versatility and songwriting ability. Rolling Stone responded with “The emotions are big and the pop pyrotechnics are shrewdly deployed” on an album it calls “a collection of emotional rollercoasters in miniature.”
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $45 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Corey Taylor
The lead singer for Slipknot and Stone Sour is touring in support of “CMF2,” the much-anticipated sequel to “CMFT,” a solo debut whose title is short for Corey Taylor with two rather obvious modifiers in the middle. Kerrang! responded to that first release with “Will such an eccentric listen be for everyone? Probably (k)not. But, right now, you’d be silly to not let yourself get caught up in it.” He’s joined by Wargasm and Luna Aura.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $35 and up. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
Maisie Peters
Billboard magazine has hailed this 23-year-old Brit whose Phoenix date follows a lengthy stint on the road with Ed Sheeran as having “the songwriting chops to rival Olivia Rodrigo as Gen Z’s answer to Taylor Swift.” She’s playing the Van Buren in support of “The Good Witch,” a breakup album Clash Music calls “a dazzling little record that is as entertaining to listen to as it sounds like it was for Peters to make.”
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. Resale ticket prices vary. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
Into It. Over It.
It’s been 10 years since Stereogum named these Chicago rockers to a list of 12 bands to know from the emo revival in 2013. And they sounded just as worthy of attention on their latest album, 2020’s “Figure,” largely due to Evan Weiss’ killer blend of indelible melodies and yearning vocals. As DIY Magazine wrote, “Although he doesn’t quite find the light at the end of the tunnel, he certainly knows it’s been switched on.”
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $18. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
The Mastersons
Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore are a married couple from Brooklyn who joined Steve Earle’s touring band, the Dukes and Duchesses in 2011, by which point they had both appeared on Son Volt’s “American Central Dust.” They’re playing the MIM in support of their latest collection of earnest alternative-country gems, “No Time for Love Songs,” which as American Songwriter wrote, “reflects the current times with a sober and measured approach.”
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $28.50-$38.50. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @EdMasley.
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