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[email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) 2026 MAZDA CX-50 TURBO PREMIUM PLUS: REI ENERGY WITH NIGHTLIFE INTENTIONS 2026 MAZDA CX-50 TURBO PREMIUM PLUS The 2026 Mazda CX-50 The 2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus, starting Turbo Premium Plus, starting around $44,000 (give or take around $44,000 (give or take depending on options), is what depending on options), is what happens when a trail-ready happens when a trail-ready SUV goes to jazz school, SUV goes to jazz school, gets confident, and starts gets confident, and starts wearing better shoes. With wearing better shoes. With a turbocharged 2.5-liter four- a turbocharged 2.5-liter four- cylinder pumping out a lively cylinder pumping out a lively 277 horsepower and 310 277 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, it doesn’t just lb-ft of torque, it doesn’t just accelerate, it leans forward like accelerate, it leans forward like it’s about to spill tea. Hit the gas it’s about to spill tea. Hit the gas and suddenly you’re driving like and suddenly you’re driving like you’ve got somewhere urgent you’ve got somewhere urgent to be (you don’t, it’s Costco). to be (you don’t, it’s Costco). Step inside and you’re hit Step inside and you’re hit with “premium wilderness chic” with “premium wilderness chic” with quilted leather, Bose audio, with quilted leather, Bose audio, panoramic roof, and tech that panoramic roof, and tech that feels like it judges your playlist feels like it judges your playlist if it’s not fire. Mazda somehow if it’s not fire. Mazda somehow made a compact SUV that made a compact SUV that feels like a cozy mountain feels like a cozy mountain lodge with Wi-Fi and emotional lodge with Wi-Fi and emotional support. The steering is sharp, support. The steering is sharp, the suspension is playful, and the suspension is playful, and the whole package dances the whole package dances between “let’s climb a ridge trail” between “let’s climb a ridge trail” and “oops I parked in valet by and “oops I parked in valet by accident.” accident.” And here’s where the fun And here’s where the fun gets goofy: The CX-50 wants gets goofy: The CX-50 wants rugged boots and smoothie rugged boots and smoothie bowls….it wants camping gear bowls….it wants camping gear and craft cocktails. It’s rugged and craft cocktails. It’s rugged enough to take dirt roads enough to take dirt roads seriously, yet luxe enough to seriously, yet luxe enough to judge your friends for their judge your friends for their old SUVs. It’s fast enough to old SUVs. It’s fast enough to surprise you, refined enough surprise you, refined enough to impress your in-laws, and to impress your in-laws, and just unhinged enough to make just unhinged enough to make you take the scenic route home you take the scenic route home every time. This isn’t just a every time. This isn’t just a crossover, it’s a lifestyle on four crossover, it’s a lifestyle on four wheels, and honestly? We stan. wheels, and honestly? We stan. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles: THIS WEEK Davey Allen: Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., free. The Dirty Drummer, 2303 N. 44th St., Phoenix. Animal Shin: With Biiiuh, Dreamcast & Just Like June, Saturday, Feb. 28, 5 p.m., $17.53/$19.53. The Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. AYYBO: Saturday, Feb. 28, 9 p.m., $41.87. Sunbar, 24 W. 5th St., Tempe. Background Noise: With D.O.S. & Vices to the Grave, Sunday, March 1, 7 p.m., free. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Bad Bad Hats: With Margaux & Sydney Sprague, Tuesday, March 3, 7:30 p.m., $27.83. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. Bryant Barnes: Wednesday, March 4, 8 p.m., $36.33-$124.14. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. Black Pistol Fire: With Pink Fuzz, Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., $33.75. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. Britten’s Birthday Bash: With Asswipe Junkies, Sick in the Head, Standing at the Back, Birth of Monsters, Pinstock & more, Saturday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m., free. Yucca Tap Room, 29 W. Southern Ave., Tempe. Cardi B: Sunday, March 1, 7:30 p.m., $364.55-$636. Mortgage Matchup Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. Clover County: With Ethansroom, Wednesday, March 4, 8 p.m., $22.78. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. Hayden Coffman: Friday, Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m., $27.83. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns: Saturday, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m., $27.50-$37.50. Westside Blues, Jazz & More, 17045 N. 59th Ave., #104, Glendale. CupcakKe: Tuesday, March 3, 8 p.m., $46.40. Nile Theater, 105 W. Main St., Mesa. Jay de Lys: Saturday, Feb. 28, 10:15 p.m., free. Almost Famous, 7419 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. Indigo De Souza: With Mothé, Tuesday, March 3, 8 p.m., $34.78- $97.87. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. Desert Undertones: With Viva & Band of Fools, Thursday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Dirty Yachtin’ Scoundrels: Sunday, March 1, 3 p.m., $32.50- $47.50. Westside Blues, Jazz & More, 17045 N. 59th Ave., #104, Glendale. Dolly’s Birthday Bash: With The Jerk Officers, Okinawa Plane Crash, AG Session, The D-Gents & Scorpion vs. Tarantula, Sat- urday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m., free. Rips Bar, 3045 N. 16th St., Phoenix. Eidola: With Nerv Astronoid, Saturday, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m., $40.19. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. The Elovaters: With Shwayze & Jarv, Sunday, March 1, 8 p.m., $43.23. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. Emery: With The Classic Crime & As Cities Burn, Friday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m., $32.72. Nile Theater, 105 W. Main St., Mesa. Extra Innings Festival: With Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Muscadine Bloodline, Bret Michaels, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, The Brudi Brothers, Lola Kirke, Drew Baldridge & Ian Harrison (on Feb. 27); & Kane Brown, HARDY, Jessie Murph, Shaboozey, 49 Winchester, Chayce Beckham, Noeline Hofmann, Colby Acuff, Laci Kaye Booth & Cole Phillips (on Feb. 28), Friday, Feb. 27, noon; Saturday, Feb. 28, noon, $310-$1,975. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. Tigran Hamasyan: Monday, March 2, 7 p.m., $38.50-$49.50. MIM, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. Corcoran Holt Quintet: Saturday, Feb. 28, 7 & 9 p.m., $56-$61. The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. Igor and the Red Elvises: Wednesday, March 4, 8 p.m., $20. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Katatonia: With Rivers of Nihil, Sunday, March 1, 6:30 p.m., $35.43. Nile Theater, 105 W. Main St., Mesa. Magic City Hippies: With Supertaste, Saturday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m., $37.50-$120.95. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. Makeout Reef & Israel’s Arcade: With Practically People, Thurs- day, Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m., $22.94/$26.94. The Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Mariachi Herencia de México: Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., $33.70- $87.50. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. Melrose Street Fair: With DJ Jasperpunk, Lunes, AJ Odneal, Dirt Rhodes, Cameron Jeong & School of Rock Sugar Skulls, Saturday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m., free. Melrose District, 7th Ave. & Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Glenn Miller Orchestra: Sunday, March 1, 3 p.m., $32-$42. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Monolink: With Parallelle, Thursday, Feb. 26, 8 p.m., $42.50-$54. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. Moontour: With Wildflower Mind & Suntwist, Saturday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m., $16.91. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. Matthew & Gunnar Nelson: Saturday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m., $36-$74.50. Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale. 999999999: With Alex Chen & Cami, Friday, Feb. 27, 9 p.m., $37.20/$40.30. Walter Where?House, 702 N. 21st Ave., Phoenix. Matt Pryor: With Small Uncle & Ghost in the Willow, Thursday, Feb. 26, 8 p.m., $25.86. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. Psychostick: With Galactic Empire & Get to the Chopper, Friday, Feb. 27, 6 p.m., $28.15. The Rosetta Room, 104 E. 1st Ave., Mesa. Punks Unplugged: With Critical Miss, Tara Lynn Walrus, Jesse Yonkaz, Scott Gesser, Carson Miller, Oscar Rock & Rene Delgado, Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m., free. Rips Bar, 3045 N. 16th St., Phoenix. Francine Reed: Sunday, March 1, 3 p.m., $44-$49. The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. Sacha Robotti & Richi Savage: Saturday, Feb. 28, 9 p.m., $9.29/$21.70. Walter Where?House, 702 N. 21st Ave., Phoenix. Rosasharin: With Lost Not Found & My Pet Spider, Sunday, March 1, 6 p.m., $12.50/$17.75. The Underground, 105 W. Main St., Mesa. Stanley Serrano Trio: Thursday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m., $22.50-$27.50. Westside Blues, Jazz & More, 17045 N. 59th Ave., #104, Glendale. Sho Time Fest: With 2facedlon, Subiibabii, Vervain, luvfredo, Hazzieonthebeat, Neek, 17forever, Somani, Kennyfalls, Kifoh & S9Riker, Tuesday, March 3, 7 p.m., $23.97/$28.97. The Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Ben Sidran: Thursday, Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m., $38.50-$49.50. MIM, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 6 Guitars: Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m., $49-$69.50. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. Jimi Primetime Smith/Bob Corritore Blues Band: With Carla Denise, Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., $23.71. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Soul Power Band: Saturday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m., $20. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Soulitify: Friday, Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m., $22.50-$32.50. Westside Blues, Jazz & More, 17045 N. 59th Ave., #104, Glendale. Sticky Fingers: Wednesday, March 4, 8 p.m., $52.90. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. Strawberry Fuzz: With Fake Dad & Ring Finger No Pinky, Wednes- day, March 4, 8 p.m., $23.97/$25.97. The Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. The Strumbellas: With Sam Burchfield, Tuesday, March 3, 8 p.m., $42.50-$270.20. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. The Summer Set: With Senses & Good Boy Daisy, Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., $41-$82. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. Tony Suraci’s The Highwayman Show: Thursday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m., $36.29-$50. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. System Overload 2026: With Slander, Wooli, Liquid Stranger, NGHTMRE, Eptic, HOL!, Sqishi, Don Jamal, Badklaat, Samplifire, Akeos Blvnkspvce, Canabliss, MADVKTM, Sythyst, Bommer, Codd Dubz, M?stic, Richard Finger, Mile32, Sisto, 7L, Stoned to Death, Hexxa, Warlord & more, Friday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m., $109.01-$319. Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. N. Loop Rd., Chandler. Tribute to Mike Lewis: With Joe Robinson, Big Nick and the Gila Monster, The Vignatis & The Cartwrights, Sunday, March 1, 1 p.m., free. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Marshall Tucker Band: Saturday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m., $46.84-$115.41. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet: Tuesday, March 3, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m., $44.50-$69.50. MIM, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. Tom VandenAvond: Saturday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m., $10. The Dirty Drummer, 2303 N. 44th St., Phoenix. Vandoliers: Thursday, Feb. 26, 8 p.m., $30.92-$43.28. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. Toni Varga: Friday, Feb. 27, 10:15 p.m., free. Almost Famous, 7419 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. Jordan Ward: Sunday, March 1, 8 p.m., $35.81-$113.84. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. The Woodworks: Saturday, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m., $13.38/$19.51. Last Exit Live, 717 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. Yachtzilla: Friday, Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m., $18-$43. Showroom at Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd St., Scottsdale. Yellow Days: Monday, March 2, 7:30 p.m., $36.84-$48.43. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. JUST ANNOUNCED Cristian Castro: Friday, Nov. 6, 8 p.m., Price TBA. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. The Neighbourhood: Monday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m., Price TBA. Mortgage Matchup Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. Rx Bandits: With Maps & Atlases, Saturday, June 13, 8 p.m., $50.90. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. Freya Skye: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 8 p.m., Price TBA. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. | CONCERTS | t Music
