concrete floors, and sticker-laden walls make it feel like some East Coast metal bar, while the smaller floor space allows you to get close enough to bands you can see their neck veins pop as they unleash some hella- cious vocals. And that’s totally metal. Best Country Bar ROMAN’S OASIS 16825 West Yuma Road, Goodyear 623-932-0922 instagram.com/theofficialromansoasis Picking the best country bar in these neck of the woods ain’t easy, pardner. There are any number of local saloons, nightclubs, or dance halls where the Wrangler-clad crowd can tipple and two-step, and every cowboy or cowgirl has their favorite. That said, Roman’s Oasis gallops ahead of other spots by a country mile, thanks to its size, history, and devotion to its patrons. Situated on the dusty edge of Goodyear, the 9,000-square-foot roadhouse is the largest and oldest honky-tonk in the west Valley, boasting multiple dance floors and bars, live music every weekend, and the biggest collection of kitschy ephemera this side of the Rio Grande. It’s largely unchanged since the late Roman Comer opened the place in 1986, and daughter Myra Curtis has kept things true to its old-school pedigree, including staying cash-only. Amble in to enjoy the country comforts of the original location while you can, since it’s moving 400 feet to the southwest sometime in the next year or two to accom- modate a widening of Yuma Road. As Curtis told Phoenix New Times in 2021, they’ll re-create Roman’s Oasis as best they can, right down to the giant rooster ornament outside. “We’re going to try to keep the same character, the same flavor of Roman’s so that our customers aren’t disappointed,” she said. See a Punk Show Best Place to YUCCA TAP ROOM 29 West Southern Avenue, Tempe 480-967-4777 yuccatap.com Tempe’s Danelle Plaza is steeped in local punk lore. In the late ’70s and early ’80s, the now-defunct bar The Star System (later Merlin’s) hosted gigs by The Jetzons, Meat Puppets, and other legendary locals, while a skate shop had an empty swimming pool on-site where punks could grind. And from the early 2000s onward, local punk history continued unfolding across the parking lot at Yucca Tap Room, as local and touring acts played the main room regularly. It’s still the case today, helping make the venue the best spot for punk shows. Renowned bands like Agent Orange and Mustard Plug frequent the place. Its checkered dance floor is wide enough for circle pits. PBR always seems to be on special during shows. And no matter how much spit and polish is done, there’s still enough of a scuzzy, lowbrow vibe. Even better, you can hit up The Ghost of Eastside Records a few doors down and browse for old Circle Jerks or Clash platters before a gig. Best Place to See a Hip-Hop Show AURA 411 South Mill Avenue, #201, Tempe 480-210-2872 auratempe.com Why is Aura getting the nod for the best hip-hop spot two years in a row? Not for any lack of options, as Valley’s rap scene has plenty of worthwhile joints. The Tempe club’s mix of talented bookers, frequent shows with great lineups, a huge stage, and other amenities have kept its status as the go-to spot for hip-hop secure. Until another spot steps up to take its crown, we’ll keep going to Aura. So will hip-hop fans, who fill its 5,000-square-foot main room for shows featuring local and touring artists. Prominent local promoter Respect the Underground throws its events here, including the daylong Tempe Hip-Hop Festival over the summer. Big-time performers like Wifisfuneral, King Lil G, Kamaiyah, Rucci, and Scarface have all brought their game to Aura over the past year. On other weekends, you can catch resident DJs dropping rap, trap, and R&B bangers during club nights and theme parties. See a Band You’ve Never Heard Of Best Place to THE TRUNK SPACE Grace Lutheran Church 1124 North Third Street thetrunkspace.com If you’ve never visited The Trunk Space 241 SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2022.C0M | BEST OF PHOENIX 2022
