Article Written by John Mares

On Monday, October 8, 2012, Nightfall Ave. performed at the Rock in Tucson, Arizona. They were one of four bands opening for the the Michael Schenker Group show.  Also opening for the MSG were the Billy Moon Project, Newtronn 1 Project and Dirtnap.

Nightfall Ave. performed on a crowded stage, as the drum kit for MSG had been set up during a sound check earlier in the day. Despite the smaller space available for their equipment, Nightfall Ave. band members appeared untroubled, and made it work well.  Nightfall Ave.’s members are lead guitarist Brad Coletti, vocalist John Sunderman, drummer Sean “Keeper of Time” Mausert, bass guitarist Michael Bright and rhythm guitarist Robert Fletcher.

Nightfall Ave. – Brad Coletti

I had enjoyed seeing Nightfall Ave. several times before, and have always been impressed with the tightness of their sound. Brad Coletti is on top of his game, delivering quality craftsmanship on lead axe.  John Sunderman’s vocals are praiseworthy. The band’s timing and delivery are on target. This band has the goods to make any rock and roll lover smile with delight.

Their sound is a hard rock, metal-influenced genre with flavors of Aerosmith and KISS. They demonstrate excellent musical technique and a visible passion for the audience.  Lead singer, John Sunderman, is a tremendous front man as he moves about the stage hammering the notes to each song.

I talked with lead guitarist, Brad Coletti, after the performance, and asked him how the name of the band came about. He told me they named the band after a street sign they found, and they continue to use this sign as a stage prop during performances.  (I had hoped for something a bit juicier, like a “nightfall” story about a Halloween show at Old Tucson or something.)

The band has played together since September 1993.  Not many local Tucson bands have played together for this long.  They recorded a self-titled CD, “Nightfall Ave.” in 1995 at Desert Trax recording studios, and a six song demo “Nightfall Ave. II” in 1996.  They plan to record “Nightfall Ave. III” in November 2012.

Nightfall Ave. – John Sunderman and Brad Coletti

Nightfall Ave. have toured outside of Arizona. They did a huge benefit concert in Austin, TX, but the majority of their shows have been in Tucson and Phoenix.  They have opened for such bands as Gilby Clarke, Lynch Mob, Drain STH, Tony McAlpine, Flotsam and Jetsam, Sacred Reich, King Diamond, Gary Hoey, Queensryche, Black Diamond, The Crue, MSG, Faster Pussycat and Warrant.  Their biggest show to date was opening for Queensryche on the ‘Hear In The New Frontier Tour’ in 1997.

You can listen to their catalog of music online at their Facebook page: Nightfall Ave. and to view more photos of the band by jodi B. darling, click here!

Belly Dance Performance with dancers from Tucson, Phoenix, Colorado, and California AND THE AMAZING SADIE MARQUARDT, often recognized for her time on America’s Got Talent. You won’t want to miss this! Tickets are only $12! They can be purchased online atwww.bellydancetucson.com, at The Belly Dance Tucson Studio during class hours, and by calling 520-235-6712.

 Check out his song writing catalog here!

By Chris Virden

Photos by jodi B. darling

On Thursday, August 16^th, 2012, The Billy Moon Project performed live at the Rock in Tucson, Arizona. Chris Virden asked songwriter Chuck Fritts a few questions.

What is the Billy Moon project and who is Billy Moon?

Well the name is just an extension of my alter-ego. I’ve played under other names, but this one’s been with me for years, and sounds good.

You mentioned on stage that you “brought this back to Tucson.”  Are you originally from Tucson?  Where were you previously and what brought you back?

Yes, we moved the band to Tucson, where I was born. Although we originally put this together in San Manuel, AZ, this band grew lot faster than I had predicted. The move to Tucson made logical sense as it puts us in a better situation for getting to and from shows.

How long has this lineup been together?

We started this lineup in the middle of January 2012, when I first started practicing an acoustic set with Chad Wyatt (bass player) with the intent of playing some small gigs and parties to make a few bucks. We started playing my easy listening songs. We played at an Irish pub one night, and a drummer from another band sat in after we had started the set. This led us to want a drummer. In March 2012, a friend suggested Gavin Jackson as a drummer. Both (Chad and Gavin) have been an absolute blessing to me. The last 5 and half months have been a rush and a blur, and it’s getting faster.

You used the term, “Pit-bull Rock” to describe your sound.  Who else can claim the “pit-bull” moniker, and/or who else would you compare your sound to?

A fan of ours coined the phrase, “Pit Bull Rock.” He said it was because every song grabs you and won’t let go.  I’ve been told we sound like a combination of Buck Cherry, Quiet Riot with some Alice Cooper mixed in. I like the comparisons, but I don’t think we sound like anyone.

Who writes the music for the band?  Is it a collaborative effort, or is there one person who does it all?

I wrote all the music and songs we’ve played over the last 8 years. I have tons of material, some going back as far as 20 yrs. I show the guys what I want in a song, but then, I allow them freedom in achieving what I need. The guys and I communicate well. They know what sounds and feels right.

Can we expect a recording effort anytime soon?

I have been in contact with Jim Waters of “Waterworks West.” I’ve worked with him on other projects with other bands. I’m looking to put together a 6 song EP for release late this year. If I can secure some financial backing I have plenty of material for 2 albums.

Do you guys have any more shows lined up in the near future?

We’re on the slate to be one of the opening bands for ”Jack Russell’s Great White,” November 17th at the Rialto Theater. We should have a few more shows in the near future in Phoenix and Tucson.

For more information about The Billy Moon Project, see Charles Fritts’ Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/charles.fritts.14

A unique opportunity for history fans occured on August 12th at 1PM. You should have found yourself at the Ward 6 offices near Speedway and Country Club (3202 E. 1st Street) on that day. The Tucson Gay Historical Society opened up the society’s monthly meeting to the public in a rare occurrence. That might sound anti-climatic because most of you are scratching your heads and wondering what the TGHS actually is. The TGHS is one of Tucson’s best kept secrets. The Tucson Gay Historical Society is known for the virtual Tucson Gay Museum which has one of the largest collections of local LGBT history in the United States. The TGHS not only promotes the museum; it also produces the OutWest Tucson Show on public access television.

Screaming Queens

TGHS doesn’t just protect history, it also made it. In the heady summer days of 1967, a group of local boys planted the seeds of what would blossom into the Tucson Gay Historical Society and its all virtual museum. The museum has grown from its humble origins on a dusty Tucson neighborhood to include LGBT artifacts and exhibits from the present to the colonial period and beyond. Private for decades, the society is looking for enthusiastic members interested in local LGBT history. If you didn’t make the meeting, then check us out at Tucson Pride in Armory Park on October 13th. In addition to dressing up in period clothes for the parade, they will be setting up an exhibit booth wherein the public can provide their own oral histories to the museum’s cameras for their archives. Check out their website, TucsonGayHistoricalSociety.Org and email if you are interested in being involved. 

Tucson Gay Historical Society

At the Tucson Gay Historical Society, there are only members. There are no paid employees; there are no dues to pay. Everyone is welcome. Join us in saving Tucson’s Gay History!

Check out the songs below from Stop Tyler and make sure to come to the Hut tonight!

With all the bubble gum rock out at the time such as Blink 182,Sugar Ray,Third Eye Blind, Stop Tyler was right at home with there playful and entertaining sound that has a Green Day meets The Police feel to it. a new retro sound. Having opened up for such bands as Def Leppard,Nickelback, Fuel,and  (serving as one of the featuring bands for the Ernie Balls battle of the bands for the Vans Warped tour)it appeared Stop Tyler was going places. Atlantic Records had even showed interest in the band by giving them a development deal to record a demo with producer Jim Wirt (Incubus.SCIENCE, Hoobastank debut album) after only a few years of performing with Stop Tyler, Lead singer Michael Prince left the band to join the United States Navy to support his family and in support of the troops after 9/11 attacks. Stop Tyler continued to perform with a different line up after Prince’s departure and disbanded a couple of years later.

Tonight Tucson will get a special treat to see these guys perform live again right here in Tucson. Join us for the 3rd Annual March of Moai that includes 2 stages and 10 bands. The fun starts at 6 pm presented by Tucson Rock Alliance.

Dominick San Angelo, Executive Director of American Lung Association in Arizona states: “There are more than 140,000 people in Pima County alone who have lung ailments”. “We are ecstatic that Arizona Lotus Corp, 96.1 KLPX, have reached out to help us and the community for those who fight for air everyday”.

Tickets will be available to everyone through a special pre-sale, Friday August 24^th at 10am, tickets starting at just $10, for full details visit KLPX.com

For more information on the American Lung Association in Arizona visit lungarizona.org or contact Dominick San Angelo, Executive Director at 520-468-7455.

Arizona Lotus Corp.- Arizona Lotus is the home of 96.1 KLPX, 92.1 KFMA, 102.1 KCMT, and 990AM ESPN Deportes

Wingspan celebrates weathering the recession as a small nonprofit despite downsizing, shrinking funding, and dusty downtown construction. Hard working staff and volunteers have strove to serve Tucson with vital community building activities. In addition to their regular programs, Wingspan unveiled a newly organized welcome center and library on their premises this summer.

The center has come far from its beginnings at the Unitarian Universalist church on 22^nd Street in February of 1988. The name Wingspan “represents the spreading of our own wings, as each of us reach beyond our limits.” The young volunteers started out in the Tucson Women’s Commission Offices with weekly youth support groups while developing a library, info line, newsletter, a creative space, and political activism. The 1990s saw the center relocating to 4^th Avenue where the community had the space for new dances, art exhibits, an annual film festival, clubs, and other social events and groups. The new visibility on 4^th Avenue led the center to become more focused on service to the community, expanding the center hours, and building relationships with other organizations- LGBT or not. Along the way, their anti-violence program found itself honored by the Arizona State Attorney General’s office while they made history when they created the first comprehensive LGBT youth program in the city. As Wingspan approaches its twenty-fifth year, the many people that took up its cause can look back with pride even as they embrace the future.

Wingspan has developed into a mature organization yet the center can still let its hair down. And on September 29^th, Wingspan cordially invites the community to the Starr Pass Resort for their annual benefit dinner. They promise dinner, dancing, casino tables, and special guests Susan Stryker and Shann Carr.

Susan Stryker, currently the Director of the University of Arizona’s Institute for LGBT Studies and Associate Professor of Gender and Woman’s Studies and Family and Consumer Sciences, will give the keynote address. You may have heard of her from her Emmy-Award winning documentary, Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria. A strong voice in the realm of transgender and queer topics, she is the author of numerous articles and books. Her work has been recognized with a Lambda Literary Award and nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. In the early 2000s, she served as the executive director of the GLBT Historical Society. Susan Stryker’s next book project is theCross-Dressing for Empire: Gender and Performance at the Bohemian Grove.

Shann Carr is famous for her standup in a career that spans twenty-six years. She describes her stand up style as “an eccentric friend who has your whole dinner party in stitches.” After ten years afloat as a comedian for Atlantis Cruises, she washed up on the sands of Palm Springs, California to create The Moxie Studios. Her studio has produced the Gay TV Week in Palm Springs as well as Out for Laughs. Out for Laughs is composed of live stand up and scripted projects like Out for Laughs: With the Girlz and Out for Laughs: The Land Cruise. She has also published a book, You’re Going to be Gay.

Wingspan is hosting a great night of laughs, games, and fun which benefits a cause that gives directly back to the community. After a quarter of a century, Wingspan has grown from a puddle to an oasis that glitters in the desert. Come out to the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa to support a vital community center. Tickets are $125 apiece. The lucky fifty who buy their tickets first will be invited to a special reception before the dinner with the special guests. Buy tickets online at https://wingspan.org/events/wingspan-dinner-2012/, by phone at (520) 624-1779 ext 118, or at Wingspan, 430 East 7th St, Tucson AZ 85719. Wingspan is open to the public from eleven in the morning to two in the afternoon.

It is difficult to place the band’s sound under anything other than the large umbrella term- popular music. The ten tracks utilize everything from jazz, blues, country and rock to emote their story. They concurrently fit into many musical niches. When you combine the talent of these artists with the skillful work of Craig Schumacher at Wavelab Studios, you have a beautiful and memorable first album.

Their lyrics are refreshingly honest takes on love and they establish the desert as a setting early on. Vocalist and guitarist, Katie Haverly, excels in her ability to switch between musical styles to resonate emotions in the listener. In the first track, “Everything,” her dynamic voice blends well with Corey Cottrell’s lead guitar and backing vocals. The guitar work throughout is impressive with its diverse nods to various genres. I grasped the lyrics in complete understanding when Haverly sang:

Patrick Morris’s bass shines alongside the keyboard in the dreamy, “Be this.’ He aids the track’s haunting atmosphere. His beautiful bass line is a present strength during the album’s entirety. Drummer Kai Lindstedt proved to be critical to the edgier songs. Quickly pounding away on the catchy, “Jennifer,” and helping the building energy of, “Animal,” Lindstedt thunders his way through the music.

With the imagery of the desert in the lyrics, and their Tucson-inspired name, the band pays respects to our home town. The Leap Year’s homage to Tucson was made even clearer by the contributions of members from a most beloved band, Calexico. Skilled trumpeter Jacob Valenzuela adds his signature sound to tracks, “Out of the Blue,” “Strange and Unfamiliar,” and “Borderland.” The final track, “Towards the Sun,” features Joey Burns and his gorgeous cello.

Copper & Congress

It is almost impossible to pick one song off this album that sticks with me most. I found myself with almost every track stuck in my head at some point. Copper and Congress have created music that is relatable to all of us in its beautifully constructed truthfulness. The Leap Year is an album worthy of telling the tales of our lives out across the sun warmed desert. I can see the band becoming a prominent part of our music scene and taking their music to new places and genres. The Leap Year is available now at Itunes and on their website.

So of course I have been following the journey of a friend who is doing something remarkable and amazing, he’s walking for a cure. Christopher Prado left his home here in Tucson on July 16th, 2012 and is attempting to walk to Colorado Springs, CO. He too has been affected You see, 14 years ago he lost his wife to breast cancer and now today, a very close friend of his is facing a similar battle.  So, with only a camera in hand, backpacking gear, a destination and determination he will face the journey of his lifetime as he confronts the elements of nature while meeting and filming in documentary format, those people affected directly or indirectly .

HIS GOAL: 

• To raise HOPE that those affected are not alone
• To raise AWARENESS that it is happening everywhere
• To raise $1,000,000 so that we can open a scholarship

The scholarship will assist those who need help monetarily for bills and basic expenses while going through therapy.  The eventual opening ofThe H.O.P.E Ranch (Healing Oasis Provided for Everyone). This facility will house those affected and their spouses and children while going through thier therapy.  It is a hotel for healing.

Please help Christopher in completing his “A Mile A Cure’s” goal by donating. His journey so far has been tough, two broken toes and blisters so let’s show him love and support by donating to this very special cause.

DONATE NOW!

Biography:

In 2010 Ben Michaels was barely making his way onto the scene when he was picked up by The Mane Group. After paying some dues in the local scene Ben was able to open for acts like Trevor Hall and Mike Pinto, he was quick to be noticed and gain respect in his hometown of Tucson. Now working with RAH Entertainment Ben has found his own sound to set him apart from the rest. Stayed tuned for more from this young inspiring artist and his new band mates.

The band has not been out playing live lately, but a little birdie told me that there is more to come including maybe a new mix to the band. Looking forward to what these talented individuals have in store us!

the beginning of mankind, we have shared the oral histories of the world and its many layers of mortality with one another. The mysteries of life have often played out over songs around the fire. Our tradition of storytelling is still relevant today, facilitated by songwriters and their talented fingers. Local band, Ferrodyne, draws us in to hear the stories of southwest Americana. The country/alt rock band builds up an emotional swell on its brushed drums and strings, all the while singing vivid poetry flecked with metaphors. Their music is not for the lazy listener but rather the curious and enlightened seeker who is drawn to the human spirit and its creative forces.

“We got together in Portland, Oregon probably right around 2007 or so. It was just myself, Doug and Chris Byrne. The winters in Portland are so dark and rainy and we started to talk about moving back to Tucson, as that is where we were raised. We really missed Tucson and the desert, so we started to write music that was an expression of our longing for the place. It was also, in way, self-medicating. Chris and I moved back here in 2008, and the goal was to get Doug down here as well so we could continue the band. It took a couple years but we got him down here.” Liza Byrne, the bassist, tells me of the band’s start.

It was in 2010 that Ferrodyne joined up with Craig Schumacher of Wavelab Studios to create their accomplished album, “St John’s Day”. Each of its ten tracks are a surprise with their assortment of skilled instruments and new poetry, painting a vivid image for each song. Its story telling in albums like this, that you not only hear, you see. Liza says of Craig, a staple of Tucson’s music scene,

“We just let him run with it. We had no preconceptions. He knows what he’s doing. We trusted him and let him do what he felt was best for the music.”

Vocalist Doug Smith’s lyrics are not for those blind to symbolism. The man uses no cliché in the tales he sings, creating strings of new descriptions. If it weren’t for the subtle thought-out humor in the lyrics, I would say it was a stream of conscious collection of poetry. Smith plays a soft, folky acoustic guitar while he sings in a deep voice, representative of his influences.

Smith tells me, “Generally, the category would be old country. I like to think we play some strain of Americana music.”

The band’s mastery of folk and an eclectic variety of other genres is established right away in the instruments. Chris Schultz , the engineer at Wavelab, utilizes brushes on his drums adding to the overall mood of the music. Lead guitarist Chris Byrne creates a lot of atmosphere as well with his echoing electric guitar, often adding vocals to the dreamy harmonies. Liza Byrne’s bass, prominent throughout the album, really shines as she flirts with funk in “Sold Out.”

Enhancing the album are Craig’s eloquent mixing and production as well as the collaborations of talented guest instrumentalists. Craig plays an instrument in almost every song, including organ and vibraphone. Also lending their talents to the project are Neil Harry, who subsequently joined the band, on pedal steel, Tom Hodgson on banjo, and Calexico’s trumpeter Jacob Valenzuela.

“We went into Wavelab and met Craig and Chris. They didn’t know us at all. We started playing music and I think that they liked it. They thought about other musicians that would work well with our music. Craig did a lot of recruiting for collaborators,” Doug says.

Ferrodyne’s music deserves to be seen live, as was made clear to me at Club Congress on June first. Though Craig and Neil Harry were unable to make this show, the band played a beautiful set. Each member spoke to the small audience between songs, thanking us for our support and urging the cowboys in front to waltz. Often, pausing to switch instruments and re-tune, the group puts their full heart into their performances. No matter the size of the crowd.

“We met a lot of friends through the music scene. It’s slightly difficult to get people out to hear our music which is a little despairing. Otherwise, it feels very community like,” Doug tells of Tucson’s music community.

The band is currently working on material for a new album, which they are hoping to bring to Wavelab around August.

Liza shares, “We’ve got a fair amount of new songs that are half written things that we have played around with and haven’t come back to in a while. We probably have another five songs we need before an album.”

I urge you to sit cross-legged on cool Spanish tiles and listen to the sounds the city makes on a hot summer day. There is music in every thorny plant and sun burn. Not all bands can paint such a vivid image of our sun-scorched lives, as our own Ferrodyne. It is imperative that we gather together before the stage as our ancestors did, and listen to the poems of our storytellers. “St. John’s Day,” is a picture book album, illustrated with thought provoking similes and instrumental talent. Open up their melodies like pages and let their story suck you in.

Album is available on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. Listen at ReverbNation.

Reverend Horton Heat is releasing a documentary concert film titled The Reverend Horton Heat: 25 to Life. The band’s legendary show was filmed and recorded live at the historic Fillmore Theater in San Francisco in 2010 and includes live concert footage, band interviews, crew interviews and more. This movie captures the sights, sounds and energy of The Reverend Horton Heat doing what they do best – performing live and killing it. In addition, the interviews, historical images and footage, provide background and a deeper appreciation for one of the hardest touring bands in the business.

The 25 To Life CD boxed set includes the full film on DVD plus 2 CDs featuring a live album of the recordings made at the Fillmore plus the first ever, career spanning “best of” compilation of the band’s studio recordings. In addition, the CD boxed set includes a 52 page booklet featuring images and stories from the band’s 25 year span all housed in a collectable box. The deluxe LP version of 25 To Life includes the DVD and full live recording on a double LP plus the 52 page booklet. Please note, the LP version does not include the “best of compilation” audio.

Click here to pre-order!

musical roots derive from the rhythm & blues that pumped from the boom box while building hot rods in the garage with his father growing up. He spent his adolescence on the baseball diamond and playing drums in various high school punk-rock bands. Now, ever since Micah traded in the wrenches and drumsticks for a guitar and a spiral notebook, his music has been spreading like wildfire, making fans of first-listeners all along the way.

The recognition has included “Best Folk Winner” and “Best Live Acoustic Winner” the past two years at the OC Music Awards in Anaheim, CA.

“Brown definitely has a deeply ingrained star quality that is evident to all of his loyal fans.” (Nadia Noir – KROQ.com)

On the heels of his debut EP release and two U.S. national tours, Micah has been in the studio all year working on a debut full-length album “The Isle of Her” that is due out August 2012.

Over the past year, Micah had the honor of sharing the stage with renowned artists such as Ben Harper, Weezer, Ziggy Marley, Dirty Heads, G. Love, Iration, Mishka, Anuhea, and many more.

Micah spends off time at home in Dana Point, or at 17th Street Recording Studios in Costa Mesa, working on various projects (Such as the Dirty Heads’ “Cabin by the Sea”) with producer Lewis Richards.

Micah’s music blends folk, soul, blues, reggae, and rock.

“Although Brown has a modern, almost-folksy vocal styling, he balances out the well-pitched cool of his voice with scorching-hot guitar riffs reminiscent of Delta Blues greats Robert Johnson or John Lee Hooker.” (Noir/KROQ)

Micah’s songwriting and the production help from Richards creates a fresh and classic twist, which they’ve dubbed “California soul-folk”. “The Isle of Her” available on iTunes everywhere August 28th, 2012 and find the latest news at www.micahbrownmusic.com.

Friday evening, a monstrous rainstorm consumed Tucson with flashes of lightning and booms of thunder. But even the rain did not stop fans emanating to Ava in order to celebrate KLPX‘s 33rd birthday with an almost sold out show at Ava Amphitheater on July 20th. Tempo Magazine was asked to be a part of this special night by taking photos of the meet and greet winners. And Tempo’s photographers, C. Elliot and Stacy Fortson, documented the evening that included photos of live performances by L.A. Guns, Warrant and Skid Row.

This was my first meet and greet that I have done for the KLPX and nothing more enjoyable than to be in the same room taking photos of individuals who I idolized growing up. Phil Lewis of L.A. Guns was by far the favorite of who I met that night. A photographer himself, approached me to not only admire my Nikon but also told me what a “good girl” I was for not shooting in automatic mode. Phil would be someone I would love to spend the day with shooting and I would be interested to see his style of photography. But I also think I would very much just like listening to him talk with his amazing English accent.

KLPX should be posting the pictures from the meet and greet to their website soon, but in the meantime check out all the photos of the live performances by Elliot and yours truly. Enjoy!

Phil Lewis of L.A. Guns

Warrant

Johnny Solinger of Skid Row

To view more photos, check out Tempo’s Flickr page.

A special

Thank You

to Cindy of KLPX for including Tempo in with the birthday celebration.

The first track, “Stone Hinged,” immediately launches the listener into the rhythmically charged energy of the entire album. Vocalist, Ray Smith aka Obey the Altar Native, brings with him all of his hip-hop expertise to crisply deliver the band’s driving lyrics. In his own admission on the track, “Sp33ch Impediment,”

“Sometimes I rhyme fast, sometimes I rhyme incredibly slow. Whichever I choose, I promise you will know.”

All the tempos that Obey choses to deploy are complemented by the musical talents of the rest of the band, including, Vocalist Dennis Bertty, Drummer Bob Peterson, Bassist Greg Lee and Guitarist Steve Parker. The truest accomplishment of this band is their ability to mix their heavy rock with their hip hop, without blurring out the big picture. Each of the album’s twelve tracks proved their potency as I found myself simultaneously swaying my hips, raising my flaming lighter up, and rhymically banging my head.

Dynamic Panic Device has a little bit of everything for fans of the hip hop/rock crossover genre. The title track stands as an accurate description of their entire sound, displaying its changing tempos and a driving enthusiastic force, which borders just close enough to insanity. This is music you throw on in your apartment on a hot summer day to get you out of your swamp cooler induced stupor. These are the kind of tunes that draw you out onto the hot streets and into an excitable dance. Though the album does not really break new ground, it has solid craftsmanship that holds up next to the artists that the influence is drawn from.

If you are a fan of Linkin Park, Incubus, Rage Against the Machine, or The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, check out The Rock on Friday for the album release show. Fatal Funnel will be joined by Tucson’s own, Funky Bonz, Broken Romeo, Contraband, and Brandon Jim Band. The album will be available for purchase after July 6th on iTunes, Rhapsody, & Amazon.

Rules:

1. Share this Facebook Event on your Facebook page – Authority Zero (Rhythm & Booze Set).

2. Tag both Pro-Motion/ Phenomenon Concerts and Tempo Magazine in the post.

Good Luck and see you there Zero Crew!

Note: Does not include entrance to the show and contest is only for Facebook users.

Photo by Adam Young

The Nest is a dream come true for ex-pro skater Albert Duarte. Albert envisioned owning an indoor skate park back in the 90’s when he was a competitive skater and was sponsored by Santa Cruz Skateboards and Vans Shoes.  His dream became a reality last year when he opened The Nest on South 6^th Ave.  The location was a bit small, so it was moved to its current site, which accommodates more ramps to skate and a stage for bands to perform on during the evening hours.

I had the opportunity to sit down with the master carpenter and designer of The Nest, Skylar Landergren.  Along with Potato and other volunteers, Skylar has been able to build various ramps and vert walls to carve and shred inside the new skate park.  The walls of the park will also become monthly canvases for spray paint artists to create murals and display their artwork.  All the people involved with the skate park are all volunteering their time and efforts.  This truly is a non-profit organization that is always seeking donations, volunteered hours or help from people that believe in their cause.  Gordon Bartel is the graphic designer for The Nest and helps promote the park via social media and other online tools.

I asked Skylar how he plans to operate the skate park on a regular basis. He replied, “The Nest will be a place where parents can feel confident that their kids will be in a safe environment that is well supervised and have staff available to even teach them how to ride the ramps and try new tricks.”  All skaters must sign a waiver before entering the facility and the younger kids that are dropped off by their parents will not be allowed to leave unless their parents agree to let them leave with their permission.  The indoor park also provides shade from the blistering sun and has coolers to keep the temperatures at a comfortable level.  “The Nest is basically a cool place where skaters don’t get harassed by cops out in the streets.  It provides challenging ramps and various obstacles for skaters of all levels to enjoy, learn and master different tricks,” says Skylar.

The Nest will be selling snacks, drinks, and has a small arcade to play video games.  They will also be selling skateboards, clothing and gear as well as having a full service board shop to service your deck with new trucks, wheels, bearings, grip tape and hardware needs.  A silkscreen shop to create new t-shirts, stickers and even customize new skateboard decks is in the works for future use.  The Nest is blessed in having friendly staff members like Jason Clayton who is always around to help anyone in need of assistance.

The musical spectrum of the park is run by Snoopy Fernie Lopez.  He does all the bookings for bands and plays bass guitar in Mad Styles hip hop band and punk rock band Straight Jacket.  All shows are during evening hours and are held bi-weekly on Saturdays.  The Nest hosts music of ALL musical genres as well as having DJ’s come spin music. If you play hip hop, funk, punk, psychobilly, metal, folk, blues, thrash, screamo, alternative or just plain old rock and roll, then contact Snoopy at 520-829-8015 or reach him on Facebook.

I have attended 3 shows in the past two months and the vibe here is very positive and underground.  The Nest has a small volunteer security staff and everyone inside seemed to always leave the venue with smiles on their faces.  The scene has lots of camaraderie and unity here.  It truly does bring me back to my youth of the mid to late 80’s when the skater scene and punk scene really made its presence here in Tucson.

Upcoming shows at The Nest are as follows:

July 13^th – Hip Hop / Metal Showcase

July 20^th – Nest Competitive Skate Competition with Prize Giveaways

July 28^th – Jeff Swiney 10 year Sobriety Celebration Punk / Metal

August 11^th – Vanish Twin & Other Musical Guest

August 17^th – Nest Competitive Skate Competition with Prize Giveaways

August 28^th – Santo Diablo / Mad Styles & Other Musical Guest