Vincent Perez opened Westside Blues & Jazz at the Glendale Market Square shop- ping center in April. The retired couple, both longtime worshippers of the blues, built the club as a temple to the art form, with great acoustics, plush seating, and speakeasy decor. Their faith in the project, which cost an estimated $500,000 to cre- ate, was shaken when COVID-19 delayed its debut for an entire year. Once opened, though, it became a hit. Local blues/R&B greats like Lucius Parr, Francine Reed, and Big Pete Pearson have frequented the stage, as have such jazz scene mainstays as Delphine Cortez, Sandra Bassett, and We3. It’s even gotten a thumbs-up from local blues guru and Rhythm Room owner Bob Corritore. High praise indeed. EEEEE Marquee Theatre 730 North Mill Avenue, Tempe 480-829-0607 marqueetheatreaz.com It’s just our opinion, but we like to listen to heavy metal in a spacious atmosphere, one where the raucous drum solos and guitar shredding can echo off the rafters. Marquee Theatre’s high ceilings and concrete floors make for an almost industrial atmosphere, one that pairs perfectly with the intensity and savagery of metal. English band Cradle of Filth plays here, as does Great White and Steel Panther. Marquee is also a frequent host of metal tribute bands such as Noise Pollution: The AC/DC Experience and The Iron Maidens. We recommend you get to Marquee early to carve out your own little space to head-bang at our local Metaldome. EEEEE Buffalo Chip Saloon 6823 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek 480-488-9118 buffalochipsaloon.com Every honky-tonk around these parts has tallboys, twangy tunes, and rustic kitsch, but nothing as truly cowboy or cowgirl as Buffalo Chip’s outdoor rodeo arena where amateur and pro riders can attempt on Wednesdays and Fridays to hang on for eight seconds. That’s one way this joint rises above the rest of the herd. Here are a few more: The sheer amount of features and distractions it boasts, some of which aren’t found elsewhere. The Chip’s sprawl- ing compound has fire pits, lawn games, and an outside stage area with live bands on weekends. Inside, you can hop atop the bar to dance (there’s an overhead rail to prevent accidental faceplants) or ride in a swing hanging from the ceiling. There’s a large dance floor if you’d rather stay closer to the ground when two-stepping, though. The menu has unrivaled barbecue and the bar has one of the biggest selections of beers and booze in Cave Creek. A small church is located on the premises with ser- vices every Sunday, should you need to atone for your indulgent acts earlier in the weekend, pardner. EEEEE Chopper John’s 2547 East Indian School Road 602-955-0881 facebook.com/chopperjohns There’s a lot to see at Chopper John’s, from the lineup of hogs outside (it is, of course, a biker bar at heart) to the dollar bills stapled all over the ceiling and the band memorabilia on the walls. But the main attraction is who- ever’s on stage, which is often one of Phoe- nix’s beloved punk bands. We’ve caught The Posters here, along with JJCnV, Some Jay- walkers, and plenty of others. Other genres are often on display here, too — most notably rockabilly, trash-a-billy, and the like. If you’re looking for cheap drinks and a lively crowd while listening to loud, fast, angry music, Chopper John’s is your spot. EEEEE Aura 411 South Mill Avenue, #201, Tempe 480-210-2872 auratempe.com Like other local music scenes, live hip-hop in the Valley took a hit last year when the pandemic forced gigs to go virtual or evapo- rate altogether. Once crowds could attend shows again, hip-hop promoters, artists, and fans flocked to Aura in Tempe. The 9,500-square-foot Mill Avenue club has be- come a go-to spot for the genre. Why? Its amenities are conducive to the needs of the scene: The large main room can host super- stars like Wifisfuneral one night or work in tandem with a side stage in Aura’s lounge for local mini-festivals the next. Its bookers work with promoters both small and large (Justus Samuel of Respect the Underground swears by the place). The top-notch sound system means you can hear every bar being 212 BEST OF PHOENIX 2021 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2021.C0M | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 B A HIP-H T PLA ES C E OP S T OO W SE H E ni ghtlif e B B E S T C O U NT RY B A R E S T B A R T O S EE A P U NK S H O W B ES A MET T PLAA C E H L S T O O W SE E
