March concert guide: Fall Out Boy, Kendrick Lamar, Korn
The big-ticket show of the month for metro Phoenix is probably Luckyman's Pot of Gold Music Festival, featuring headliners Fall Out Boy, Kendrick Lamar, Korn and Bastille. And that's just one of three big festivals this month, the others being Viva Phx — with Best Coast! — and McDowell Mountain Music Festival with Passion Pit, Widespread Panic, Portugal. the Man and more.
Other big shows include Motionless in White, Buckcherry, the Devil Wears Prada, Bayside and Ricardo Arjona.
Here's a look at those artists and more.
3/1: Craft Spells
Justin Paul Vallesteros and his bandmates are touring an album called "Nausea," the highlights of which at times recall the dreamy psychedelic majesty of Flaming Lips' "Soft Bulletin" with a taste of Beck's "Mutations." PopMatters responded with, "Even in a crowded dreampop field, this is music to bask in, whatever you call it," while almost every review I've seen found a way to include the word summery. (Sounds more like early fall to me.)
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, March 1. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
3/4: Anvil
These Canadian metal veterans won a second lease on life in 2008 when "Anvil! The Story of Anvil," a documentary directed by a former Anvil roadie, Sacha Gervasi, hit the streets. And they've definitely made good on the profile boost with the release of two great old-school speed-metal albums, 2011's "Juggernaut of Justice" and 2013's "Hope in Hell," which was not well-reviewed but I'd have gone three-and-a-half out of five stars easy.
Details: 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4. Joe's Grotto, 13825 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $18. 602-992-1007, joesgrotto.com.
3/7: 24th Annual Blues Blast Music Festival
Presented by the Phoenix Blues Society, this year's fest features headlining sets by Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, the Plateros, the R.D. Olson Blues Band, the Blueshounds and Steve Rush. Rush will also provide entertainment between acts.
Details: 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7. Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix. $30; $25 in advance. phoenixblues.org.
3/7: Don Williams
Last year marked the 40th anniversary of this Country Music Hall of Famer's first chart-topping country hit, "I Wouldn't Want to Live If You Didn't Love Me." Williams' other hits include country chart-toppers "You're My Best Friend" (not the Queen song), "(Turn Out the Light and) Love Me Tonight," "Till the Rivers All Run Dry," "Say It Again," "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend" and "I Believe in You," his lone pop crossover.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $45-$55. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
3/8: Viet Cong
That "featuring former members of Women" angle is sure to help their indie street cred. But by the time you're halfway through their amazing self-titled debut, it wouldn't matter if I'd just said "featuring members of Nickelback and Starship." The prevailing mood here is shadowy post-punk with experimental tendencies, but there's some psychedelic seasoning as well, suggesting an affinity for Joy Division and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd. The year is young but rest assured: These guys will turn up on a lot of best of 2015 lists.
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, March 8. Pub Rock, 8005 E. Roosevelt St., Scottsdale. $12; $10 in advance. 480-945-4985, statesidepresents.com.
3/10: Bayside
These punk veterans are touring an album called "Cult," their second release in a row to go Top 40 on the Billboard album charts. Alternative Press responded with, " 'Cult' unleashes some of the band's tastiest riffs and strongest songs yet while broadening Bayside's musical palate." They're joined by Senses Fail, Man Overboard and Seaway.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10. Pressroom, 441 W. Madison St., Phoenix. $17-$20. 602-396-7136, thepressroomaz.com.
3/10: A Place to Bury Strangers
Their sound is classic feedback-laden noise-pop, at times reminiscent of Jesus and Mary Chain if noisier and more experimental on occasion (see the feedback-sculpting terror they unleash on "Deeper"). They're touring a brilliant new album called "Transfixiation," which inspired the following words of praise from Slant: "For a band so obsessed with death, and its erotic possibilities, they sound utterly alive on 'Transfixiation.' "
Details: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10. Pub Rock, 8005 E. Roosevelt St., Scottsdale. $18; $15 in advance. 480-945-4985, statesidepresents.com.
3/12: B. Dolan
This alternative rapper/spoken-word artist was featured on HBO's "Def Poetry Jam" in 2002 and won several poetry slams before distancing himself from that whole scene. He earned raves in 2010 for the album "Fallen House, Sunken City," Alternative Press finding Dolan "on the top of his game throughout the disc."
Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, March 12. Club Red, 1036 W. University Drive, Mesa. $10-$12. 480-258-2733, clubredrocks.com.
3/13: Pot of Gold Music Festival Day 1
The opening day of Luckyman Concerts' latest festival features British indie-pop heroes Bastille, whose U.S. breakthrough was fueled by 2013's triple-platinum "Pompeii" (which sounds like it is meant to be chanted along to in soccer stadiums). Also playing: Awolnation, Chromeo, Girl Talk, Bleacher, Future Islands and Joywave with a headlining set
Details: 3 p.m. Friday, March 13. Tempe Beach Park, 30 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $49. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
3/14: Pot of Gold Music Festival Day 2
Saturday's bill is topped by one of hip-hop's most acclaimed young stars, the great Kendrick Lamar. See? More acclaim. Also playing: Slightly Stoopid, Schoolboy Q, Dirty Heads, Hoodie Allen, the Expendable, Tribal Seeds, Grieves, AER and the Valley's own Kongos, who topped the alternative-songs chart with their breakthrough hit "Come With Me Now."
Details: 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Tempe Beach Park, 30 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $49. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
3/14: Viva Phx Festival
Downtown Phoenix will fill with music and partiers when more than 80 bands perform at 20 venues for this annual festival. This year's lineup includes such national stars as Coolio ("Gangsta's Paradise"), Andrew W.K. ("Party Hard") and Fishbone ("Bonin' in the Boneyard"), as well as local faves Andrew Jackson Jihad, Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World, Banana Gun and Playboy Manbaby. (Editor's note: see also -- Best Coast!!!)
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Various locations, downtown Phoenix. $18-$45. 602-716-2222, statesidepresents.com.
— Michael Senft
3/14: Ricardo Arjona
A Guatemalan singer-songwriter with a carefully cultivated bohemian image, Arjona blends socially conscious lyrics with radio-friendly melodies. The mix has worked, with Arjona earning a Grammy in 2007 and scoring such hits "Si El Norte Fuera El Sur," "El Problema" and "Apnea."
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $56-$126. 602-379-2800, ticketmaster.com.
— Randy Cordova
3/15: Pot of Gold Music Festival Day 3
Sunday's bill is topped by Fall Out Boy, who won best alternative band at last year's People's Choice Awards and topped the album charts early this year with "American Beauty/American Psycho." Also playing: Rebelution, Milky Chance, New Politics, Echosmith, Big Data, Knox Hamilton and Grizfolk.
Details: 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15. Tempe Beach Park, 30 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $49. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
3/16: Title Fight
They've done their share of emotional screaming, but I'd hesitate to call it screamo. The overall vibe of 2012 "Floral Green" put them closer in spirit to what the Replacements and Husker Du were throwing down in Minneapolis in the '80s — urgent yet melodic punk that rocks with passion. And the opening track on this year's "Hyperview" could almost pass for space-rock while other highlights venture into shoegaze territory.
Details: 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 16. Club Red, 1036 W. University Drive, Mesa. $15-$17. 480-258-2733, clubredrocks.com.
3/16: Motionless in White
These Pennsylvania industrial metalcore sensations are touring in support of last year's "Reincarnate." Like their previous effort, "Infamous," it earned raves from Kerrang! and Alternative Press, whose critic noted, "Motionless In White have not only distilled the essence of their influences into an even darker cohesion, they've reanimated the creatively bankrupt corpse of industrial rock, disrupted the by-numbers routine of electronic-tinged metalcore and delivered furious rock songs with a widescreen presence that makes an IMAX theater feel like an iPad screen."
Details: 6 p.m. Monday March 16. Nile Theater, 105 W. Main St., Mesa. $16. 480-559-5859, niletheater.com.
3/17: Pot of Gold Music Festival Day 4
The final day of Luckyman's festival (after a day off, one presumes, for good behavior), is topped by Korn and Godsmack with opening sets by Chevelle and Rite to Remain. Korn enjoyed a string of rock-radio hits in the nu-metal '90s and early 2000s, including "Freak on a Leash," "Falling Away From Me," "Make Me Bad" and "Here to Stay," a title they've made good on so far.
Details: 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. Tempe Beach Park, 30 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $49/day. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
3/17: The Chieftains
These Dubliners have been taking traditional Irish music to the masses since the early '60s. Sure, they've had some lineup changes through the years, but Paddy Moloney is still at the wheel, playing tin whistle, Uilleann pipes, button accordion and bodhran. And we actually managed to get them on St. Patrick's Day. How does that happen?
Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. $49-$79. 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org.
3/17: Set It Off
In the more inspired moments of Set It Off's most recent effort, last year's "Duality," it almost sounds like Adams Lambert and Levine have teamed up on a punk-rock cabaret show after getting stoned on My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade" and mistakenly thinking it was Queen. The vocals are more adenoidal than that but the spirit remains and the hooks are often fairly undeniable.
Details: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. Pub Rock, 8005 E. Roosevelt St., Scottsdale. $15; $13 in advance. 480-945-4985, statesidepresents.com.
3/17: Billy Joe Shaver
A songwriting legend in outlaw country circles, Shaver has had his songs recorded by Elvis Presley, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings, whose "Honky Tonk Heroes" is loaded with Shaver songs. He was famously name-checked by Bob Dylan in "I Feel a Change Comin' On" ("I'm listening to Billy Joe Shaver, And I'm reading James Joyce" -- which is kind of an odd combination).
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $28; $25 in advance. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.
3/18: This Will Destroy You
These post-rock Texans specialize in epic instrumental suites that tend to seep into your headphones and/or speakers like a soundtrack to a sleepy morning and inevitably work their way around to a dramatic climax. It's something they call doomgaze. Clash Music said of their latest release, "Another Language," "If this is post-rock, it's in the purest sense of that prefix: It's rock that goes beyond expectations for the genre, even while working within its confines, to somewhere that you sense its players aren't quite accustomed to yet."
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 18. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $16; $14 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
3/19: Destruction Unit
These local rockers set the tone for 2013's aptly titled "Deep Trip" with a hail of feedback and reverb-saturated noise guitar before following through on that promise with an album's worth of reckless rock and roll that effectively blurred the lines between Stooge-y garage punk and post-Sabbath stoner rock. And don't miss Numb Bats opening.
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, March 19. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
3/19: The Howlin' Brothers
This Nashville trio spent the bulk of "Howl," a 2013 effort that found them bringing in producer Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs, digging into their roots on the bluegrass side of the modern Americana experience. A review in Blurt magazine hailed it as "an unequivocal roots recording, an evocative combination of Bluegrass celebration, deep bottom Blues and total allegiance to authentic Americana."
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, March 19. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $8; $7 in advance. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.
3/21: Los Tigres Del Norte
Based in San Jose, these norteno sensations have been hailed as Latin music's "greatest statesmen" by the New York Times, selling millions of records, regularly topping Billboard's Latin music charts and packing stadiums. All Music Guide goes further, saying they "should be compared to Bob Dylan, U2, or the Clash." They've earned five Latin Grammys and done "MTV Unplugged," where they were joined by Calle 13, Zack de la Rocha, Juanes and Paulina Rubio.
Details: 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $56-$126. 602-379-2800, ticketmaster.com.
3/23: Lust for Youth
The synth-pop revival is in good hands with Lust for Youth, who arrive in continued support of last year's "International." The opening track, "Epoetin Alfa," could be some great lost MTV hit from the '80s with its pining lead vocal and haunting synth work. The album brought home raves from Q, Uncut and NME, whose critic noted, "These 10 electro-pop songs truly glisten."
Details: 8 p.m. Monday, March 23. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
3/23: La Luz
These Seattle rockers are touring a full-length debut, "It's Alive," that puts a brooding spy-rock spin on nearly every track, from those that feature Shana Cleveland's haunting vocals to the organ-driven instrumentals, using plenty of reverb to get the job done. And even on the tracks that don't play up the spy-rock and/or surf-rock sensibilities are unmistakably steeped in the sounds of the '60s. And if you're going, do not miss the Love Me Nots.
Details: 8 p.m. Monday, March 23. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.
3/24: River City Extension
Among the more inspired moments on 2012's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Your Anger" are a handful of bittersweet indie-folk ballads on which they've clearly made the most of atmosphere and understatement. But they're not afraid to rock out, either, as they proved on "If You Need My Back in Brooklyn," or relinquish the wheel to their inner pop classicist on the album's most infectious cut, "Welcome to Pittsburgh." A review of the album in Paste said, "Each song is filled with extremely personal yet intensely relatable lyrics as band leader Joe Michelini's rough voice sings about alcoholism or wanting what he can't have, creating a palpable emotional tie with the music."
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 24. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.
3/25: The Devil Wears Prada
These metalcore veterans topped the Christian charts with 2013's "8:18," to which a review in Alternative Press responded with, "There's no doubting the influence Linkin Park wield over a whole generation of mosh-pit enthusiasts, so when guitarist/vocalist Jeremy DePoyster pulls off a pretty convincing Chester Bennington impersonation on 'War' and 'Care More,' it doesn't feel phony (just kinda cheesy)."
Details: 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 25. Nile Theater, 105 W. Main St., Mesa. $25. 480-559-5859, niletheater.com.
3/25: Jeff the Brotherhood
These Nashville rockers filter heavy psychedelic rock through the reckless abandon of punk at times. But even then, the overall effect is sure to speak to stoner-rock enthusiasts through waves of thick distortion. Their singer couldn't sound more like he means it when he sings, "Don't kick me out/ I'm too wasted and I can't get up" on "Wastoid Girl," the final track on 2011's "We Are the Champions." And 2012's "Hypnotic Nights" was just as good.
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 25. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $15; $13 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
3/25: Hawthorne Heights: Stripped Down to the Bone
Released in 2013, their latest album, "Zero," was an effervescent pop-punk concept album about a group of teenagers fighting a totalitarian corporation with a few residual traces of their screamo heritage. But it's easy to see how the quieter moments will translate to the unplugged format of this tour. As for the rockers? Well, we're thinking they might rock less than the versions on the records.
Details: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 25. Club Red, 1036 W. University Drive, Mesa. $15-$17. 480-258-2733, clubredrocks.com.
3/25: Vijay Iyer Trio
This Grammy-nominated pianist/composer was hailed in Pitchfork as "one of the most interesting and vital young pianists in jazz today," with Los Angeles Weekly calling him "a boundless and deeply important young star." In the 2012 DownBeat International Critics Poll, he and/or his trio won jazz artist of the year, pianist of the year, album of the year, jazz group of the year and rising star composer. Among his many honors, he was also voted pianist of the year in 2012 and 2013 by the Jazz Journalists Association.
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 25. MIM Music Theatre, Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $29.50-$37.50. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
3/26: The Color Morale
Garret Rapp and his bandmates are heading to town in continued support of last year's "Hold on Pain Ends," their fourth and highest-charting album. Kerrang! called it one of the most hard-hitting records of the year, while Alternative Press said "Hold On" found the Illinois rockers "adding plenty of pop choruses to their post-hardcore palate" while "keeping their metalcore tendencies, too."
Details: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26. Nile Theater, 105 W. Main St., Mesa. $13-$15. 480-559-5859, niletheater.com.
3/27: Buckcherry
A cowbell-rocking celebration of rock and roll's sleaziest impulses, their best music swaggers through all the right echoes of everything from AC/DC to the Black Crowes, Motley Crue and Guns N' Roses, led by Josh Todd's gritty rasp. They topped the mainstream-rock charts their first time at bat, with the slashing up-with-cocaine anthem "Lit Up," back in 1999. Other hits include the double-platinum "Crazy B----" and the platinum "Sorry."
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, March 27. Livewire, 7320 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. $27. 480-970-6980, livewireaz.com.
3/27-29: McDowell Mountain Music Festival
Among the artists playing this year's festival are Widespread Panic, Passion Pit, Thievery Corporation, Phantogram, Trombone Shorty, Portugal. The Man, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Beats Antique, Trampled by Turtles, StrFkr, Robert DeLong and Break Science.
Details: March 27-29. 1 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. Saturday-Sunday; Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix. $55/day; $145 three-day pass. mmmf.com.
3/28: Amanda Miguel and Diego Verdaguer
This husband-and-wife duo have recorded together, but each has a healthy solo career. They both deal in a sweeping, soft-focus brand of melodramatic Latin pop. Her hits include "El Me Mintio" and "El Gato y Yo;" he scored with "La Ladrona" and "Voy a Conquistarte."
Details: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $35-$70 advance; $45-$80 week of show. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
— Randy Cordova
3/29: Trash Talk
These political-hardcore veterans are touring an album called "No Peace" that eases you into the throat-shredding hardcore aggression of "Jigsaw" and "The Hole" with a tension-building hip-hop-flavored soundscape by the Alchemist, whose current gig is DJing for Eminem. Also playing: the Shrine, Dirty Fences.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28. Pressroom, 441 W. Madison St., Phoenix. $10-$12. 602-396-7136, thepressroomaz.com.
3/29: Stars
These Canadian indie-pop veterans make good on the roller-boogie artwork on their new album, "No One Is Lost," with an opening track that features electronic handclaps and a chorus that perfectly captures the euphoric glow of classic disco. Magnet says: " 'No One Is Lost' features some of the band's richest melodies, not to mention some of its heaviest grooves."
Details: 8:30 p.m. Sunday, March 29. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $21; $18 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
3/29: Tobacco
The front man for Black Moth Super Rainbow (real name: Tom Fec) works the more experimental fringe of electronic pop on his solo recordings, from Maniac Meat," which featured, to last year's equally experimental "Ultima II Massage." Dusted magazine praised the effort as "a reason to keep you coming back 11 years into his career to witness him experiment with his inimitable aesthetic."
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, March 29. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $18; $15 in advance. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.
3/31: North Mississippi Allstars & Anders Osborne Present N.M.O.
These kindred spirits have apparently been kicking around the idea of joining forces on the road for years now, and much of the concert will find them jamming as one. As Osborne explained to the Patriot Ledger: "We've been looking at how to be respectful to the diehard North Mississippi Allstars fans and Anders Osborne fans, but also make it interesting. ... This is really going to be a two-and-a-half to three-hour journey."
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 31. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.