256 NIGHTLIFE stock and knows how to move kids to hit the floor: cool events, eclectic DJs and a shame- lessly sexy space. Even the throngs of Gen Z good-time-seekers tend to keep their phones pocketed in the dark of the disco-infused dance hall. People are actually dancing. When the rhythm of the night eventually wears you down, booth seating calls. Plop down, adjust your sweaty wig and catch a breath. The cover charges here tend to be cheap, even if you can, in fact, lay out for VIP bottle service. Most nights, though, the baller move is simplicity itself: Just arrive early. No sense burning off your dancing energy waiting in line. i i i BEST PLACE FOR A SING-ALONG OFF THE RECORD 829 N. FIRST AVE. 602-869-0671 OFFTHERECORDPHX.COM Phoenix usually forces karaoke junkies to hopscotch among a few rotating nights: at Sazerac, at Stardust, at Rips. Nothing against these fine locations. They’re where a few sips of liquid courage inspire yet another rendition of “Mr. Brightside” or “Tennessee Whiskey” or “Creep” or whatever. We get it, you’re a machine that turns Hornitos into John Denver, and we love you for it. But hear me out, since you have a 70-minute wait till your next song. What if everyone in the bar were belting out the same track right now? And what if a DJ were spinning them rapid- fire, possibly around themes like Broadway anthems or boy band hits, so the bar felt more like a genuine party, or maybe a cock- tail-fueled music video, and less like the outtakes of an “American Idol” tryout? Oh, and what if you could bring a group, reserve a tricked-out jungle room or disco room and kick back together singing with, I dunno, silly hats and rave lights and shit? Thursday through Sunday, this is the scene at Off the Record. The only catch: Rather than floating around the room, you’ll mostly be anchored at your table, so do bring along at least a couple of buddies. i i i BEST PUNK BAR RIPS 3045 N. 16TH ST. 602-266-0015 INSTAGRAM.COM/RIPSBARPHX Over the decades, Rips has attracted its share of outlaws, oddities and the othered. Willie and Waylon played the place way back when. The property operated as a gay club called Paco Paco in the 2000s. More recently, it has become the preferred stomping ground for punk bands and the fans who love them, plus the wilder shows that erupt here multiple weekends a month. Excessively energetic local frontmen like Skeleton Army’s Daniel Starbuck have plenty of stage to unleash their animated theatrics. The dance floor accommodates mosh pits, so long as you steer clear of the high-top tables and that one column. Not every show is a balls-out rager. The monthly Punks Unplugged session ditches the distortion for acoustic sets by Arizona solo artists and duos. Weird Wednesday lets outsider artists display their works. The smoke-choked patio is always rife with the latest scene gossip. And annual events like the holiday Toys for Tots benefit draw crowds while helping those in need. Punk fucking rock. BEST BLUES CLUB THE RHYTHM ROOM 1019 E. INDIAN SCHOOL ROAD 602-612-4981 RHYTHMROOM.COM The Rhythm Room’s fans and regulars have been singing the blues lately. It’s not hard to figure out why. In July, owner Bob Corritore announced plans to pull the plug on the iconic club next May. Though the Rhythm Room’s astonishing 35-year run might be ending, there are still plenty of nights left to experience its unique showcase for blues artists. The club has served as hallowed ground for the genre. The setup is spartan — a stage, seating, a long bar, not much else. The focus is firmly on the music, allowing blues shows to just hit different here. Many nights have found Corritore, a longtime bluesman and harmonica player, jamming alongside such locals and visiting legends as Janiva Magness, Charlie Musselwhite and countless others, creating what the club owner calls “one piece of magic after another.” Local fans stay loyal to the artists, the music and a room built for intimate listening. You should join them over the next eight months to pay respects to the Valley’s unquestioned home of the blues.