24 April 11th-April 17th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Get Geeky 7 nerdy things to do in Phoenix this month. BY BENJAMIN LEATHERMAN G eeks of the Valley, get ready for a busy month. A diverse lineup of nerdy events will be happening around metro Phoenix in April. In addition to events like Record Store Day and the Scottsdale Comic Book Show, you can also check out a reptile show or attend a pair of concerts by virtual J-pop star Hatsune Miku. Other highlights include a screening of the experimental animated film “Fantastic Planet” and a live version of the “Ancient Aliens” TV program. Here’s how to let your geek flag fly in April. Hatsune Miku Expo 2024 Sunday, April 14 and Monday, April 15 Mullett Arena, 411 S. Packard Drive, Tempe It’s a good time to be a J-pop fan in the Valley. Thanks to the rampant popularity of the Japanese music genre in recent years, locals have had the chance to see a variety of touring J-pop artists and acts performing live when they roll through metro Phoenix. In mid-April, Phoenix geeks will get the chance to experience some unique perfor- mances: A pair of concerts starring virtual Japanese pop star Hatsune Miku. This interactive animated character is a 3-D projection that sings and dances while a live band performs onstage. Created in 2007 using Vocaloid software voicebank developed by Japan-based music tech- nology company Crypton Future Media, Hatsune Miku has released albums, appeared on various merchandise, and performed for audiences worldwide. Her latest tour comes to Mullett Arena for two concerts that will serve as anime fandom events. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $75 to $150. Visit mikuexpo.com/na2024. Record Store Day 2024 Saturday, April 20 Valleywide Think the lines at local cons are long? It’s nothing compared to the number of people queuing up outside of music retailers on Record Store Day. Each year, vinyl junkies, crate-diggers and music nerds patiently wait for hours to snag exclusives during this annual celebration of independent record shops. Such will be the case at the 17 local stores across the Valley celebrating RSD 2024. This year’s haul includes plenty of rarities, gems and re-releases, all of which will be in limited supply. Highlights include Black Sabbath’s 1970 banger “Paranoid,” Joe Pesci’s 1968 album “Little Joe Sure Can Sing” and Elmer Bernstein’s “Airplane! The Soundtrac.” Participating retailers will offer a variety of giveaways and host special performances throughout the day. Hours vary by store. Visit recordstoreday.com. Phoenix Reptile Expo 2024 Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St., Mesa If you’ve got a passion for herpetology or just love lizards, slither on over to the Mesa Convention Center during the third weekend in April for the latest Phoenix Reptile Expo. The two-day event is the largest reptile show in Arizona and will offer a full-scale experience with dozens of vendors, a wealth of supplies and appearances by a variety of cold-blooded critters ranging from corn snakes to bearded dragons and turtles. Plus, you’ll have the chance to learn a thing or two about the reptile world from local educators. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 20 and 11 a.m to 5 p.m. on April 21. Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for kids. Visit phxreptileexpo.com. Scottsdale Comic Book Show Sunday, April 21 Scottsdale Plaza Resort, 7200 N. Scottsdale Road Organizers of this semiannual event might jokingly call it “Old Man Con,” but there will likely be more than just aging Comic Book Guys in attendance. Local geeks of every age, gender and level of cynicism are welcome to peruse the selection of vintage titles from the golden, silver and bronze ages of comics inside the Scottsdale Plaza Resort’s Grande Ballroom. More than a dozen dealers and retailers from Arizona and elsewhere will have tables, including local spots like Bubba’s Comics in Tempe and Scottsdale’s Fantastic Worlds Comics. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $20 for early-bird access. Visit scottsdalecomic- bookshow.com. ‘Fantastic Planet’ Wednesday, April 24 Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. Describing 1973’s “Fantastic Planet” ain’t an easy task. The French experimental animated science fiction film’s colorful and otherworldly visuals — which are like if Salvador Dali, Terry Gilliam and Alex Andreev took turns reinterpreting the works of Dr. Seuss — are only matched by the oddness of its plot. Here’s how Ernie Quiroz, Phoenix Art Museum’s curator of film, summed up the flick: “A trippy, sci-fi animation allegory taking place on the planet Ygam where the native Draags enslave humans they call Oms. Psychedelic jazz score compliments the surreal land- scapes in this counterculture classic.” See it for yourself when PAM screens “Fantastic Planet” at 6 p.m. on April 24. Tickets are $8 per person. Visit phxart.org/events/films. ‘Ancient Aliens’ Live: Project Earth Thursday, April 25 Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St. The History Channel series “Ancient Aliens” may never definitively prove that otherworldly astronauts visited Earth eons ago. But, much like its internet-famous ufologist Giorgio A. Tsoukalos and his gravity-defying hair, it’s always an enter- taining watch. We’re expecting the program’s touring live show, which comes to the Orpheum Theatre in April, will be much the same. The event will involve Tsoukalos, author David Childress, mythologist William Henry and UFO investigator Nick Pope discussing little green men and other out-of-this-world subject matter. Start time is 8 p.m. and tickets are $52 to $71. Visit ancient- alienslivetour.com. ‘She Kills Monsters’ Starting Friday, April 26 MCC Theatre, 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa Long before the world rediscovered the awesomeness of “Dungeons & Dragons,” playwright Qui Nguyen used the iconic fantasy tabletop role-playing game as a device in her 2011 comedy-drama “She Kills Monsters.” The critically acclaimed play follows the character of Agnes Evans as she delves into the “D&D” campaign of her recently deceased teenage LGBTQ sister to navigate her grief and understand her late sibling better. Alternating between the real world and the realm of swords and sorcery, the play delves into themes of loss, identity and the power of imagination. Mesa Community College will stage a two-weekend production of “She Kills Monsters” in late April. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on April 26 and 27 and May 2 and 3 with matinees at 2 p.m. on April 27 and May 4. Tickets start at $12. Visit mesacc.edu/arts/event/2024-04/ she-kills-monsters. Pick up some back issues at the Scottsdale Comic Book Show. (Photo by Waldemar/Unsplash) ▼ Arts & Culture
