22 Aug 6th - Aug 12th, 2026 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) THE LUXURY SEDAN THAT SHOULD KEEP BMW UP AT NIGHT 2026 GENESIS G80 3.5T SPORT PRESTIGE AWD Luxury sedans usually come Luxury sedans usually come with one of two things: a German with one of two things: a German badge or a monthly payment that badge or a monthly payment that makes your financial advisor start makes your financial advisor start asking uncomfortable questions. asking uncomfortable questions. Then there’s the 2026 Genesis Then there’s the 2026 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD. G80 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD. It slips into the conversation with It slips into the conversation with twin-turbo V6 power, an interior twin-turbo V6 power, an interior that looks like it belongs in a that looks like it belongs in a boutique hotel, and a price that boutique hotel, and a price that makes you wonder if someone makes you wonder if someone at Genesis forgot to carry a one. at Genesis forgot to carry a one. Starting around $78,350, it’s not Starting around $78,350, it’s not cheap, but compared to what the cheap, but compared to what the Germans are asking these days, Germans are asking these days, it feels like finding a filet mignon it feels like finding a filet mignon on the happy hour menu. on the happy hour menu. The 375-horsepower twin- The 375-horsepower twin- turbo V6 has more than enough turbo V6 has more than enough muscle to make freeway on- muscle to make freeway on- ramps entertaining, yet the ramps entertaining, yet the G80 never feels like it’s trying G80 never feels like it’s trying to prove anything. That’s what to prove anything. That’s what impressed me most. It doesn’t impressed me most. It doesn’t scream performance. It whispers scream performance. It whispers confidence. The cabin is whisper- confidence. The cabin is whisper- quiet, the ride is buttery smooth, quiet, the ride is buttery smooth, and every surface you touch and every surface you touch reminds you that Genesis spent reminds you that Genesis spent their money in all the right places. their money in all the right places. The seats are phenomenal, the The seats are phenomenal, the technology is intuitive, and for technology is intuitive, and for once, the designers remembered once, the designers remembered that real people still appreciate that real people still appreciate actual buttons. You climb out actual buttons. You climb out feeling like you just spent an hour feeling like you just spent an hour in first class instead of fighting in first class instead of fighting traffic. traffic. Here’s the thing about the Here’s the thing about the G80: it doesn’t carry 100 years G80: it doesn’t carry 100 years of prestige. It carries something of prestige. It carries something better—a chip on its shoulder. better—a chip on its shoulder. Genesis knows exactly who it’s Genesis knows exactly who it’s chasing, and instead of copying chasing, and instead of copying BMW or Mercedes, it simply BMW or Mercedes, it simply asks a dangerous question: asks a dangerous question: “What if we gave people more?” “What if we gave people more?” More luxury. More standard More luxury. More standard features. More refinement. More features. More refinement. More value. If you’re buying a luxury value. If you’re buying a luxury sedan because you genuinely sedan because you genuinely love driving one, the Genesis love driving one, the Genesis deserves a spot at the top of deserves a spot at the top of your list. If you’re buying one your list. If you’re buying one just so the neighbors recognize just so the neighbors recognize the logo... well, you’re probably the logo... well, you’re probably shopping for the wrong reasons shopping for the wrong reasons anyway. anyway. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles: the Rhythm Room, I have decided to retire the club and enter into the next chapter of my life,” Corritore said in a statement. Before the Rhythm Room closes next May, Corritore will celebrate its legacy with an eight-month run of concerts. He says it will give regulars a chance to say goodbye once the club reopens on Aug. 27 after its current summer hiatus. In his statement, Corritore says this will be The Rhythm Room’s “final season,” a stretch meant to be a proper sendoff for the club. “We will have numerous amazing shows and we hope that you will celebrate the Rhythm Room’s legacy in our last run,” Corritore says. It will mark the final chapter of a venue that’s been a beloved part of Phoenix’s music scene for decades. ‘One piece of magic after another’ The Rhythm Room debuted in 1991 inside the former home of Indian School Road bar the Purple Turtle. Corritore, a Chicago native and harmonica player, already knew the venue well. After moving to Arizona in 1981, he performed there alongside blues artists including Louisiana Red and Tommy Dukes. When Phoenix businessman Lenny Frankel asked him to help transform the bar into The Rhythm Room, Corritore jumped at the opportunity. Over the next 35 years, he booked and performed alongside hundreds of blues legends. “Being able to see my heroes perform on that stage, and sometimes play with them … (has) just been one piece of magic after another,” Corritore says. Some of Corritore’s most cherished memories of The Rhythm Room include playing alongside the late Chico Chism, onetime drummer for Howlin’ Wolf, who became a regular fixture at the venue. “Chico took great pride in the Rhythm Room and was really our ambassador. Every time a band came in from out of town, they all knew Chico and he was there to greet him,” Corritore told New Times in 2016. “And when Chico and I were traveling to Chicago or elsewhere, Chico always asked musicians, ‘When you gonna play my club?’ I wasn’t going to dispute that. It was Chico’s club.” While blues remained the Rhythm Room’s cornerstone, Corritore booked a wide variety of artists over the decades, including rock, country, jazz, reggae and roots artists. “There’s just been these moments I was able to put together that might never have happened otherwise,” Corritore says. “Doing a Rudy Ray Moore comedy show or a great country show with Dale Watson. Having rock legends like Leon Russell or Pat Travers come in. All of that’s been great.” Corritore also opened the club to Arizona independent concert promoters, including Charlie Levy. “It was the best place in Phoenix to see a show,” Levy told New Times in 2016. “Bob let us bring a lot of the bands that are Farewell Tour The Rhythm Room is closing, but you’ve still got some time to say goodbye. BY BENJAMIN LEATHERMAN W hen The Rhythm Room reopens in late August, it will mark the beginning of the end for the landmark Phoenix blues club and music venue. Bob Corritore, the club’s longtime owner, tells Phoenix New Times he’s closing The Rhythm Room on May 30, 2027, capping a 35-year run that includes hosting thousands of concerts. Corritore says the decision to close comes as he approaches his 70th birthday in September and wants a slower pace of life after decades of owning a club. “After 35-plus fantastic years of running Phoenix punk legends JFA performing at Rhythm Room in 2024. (Mike Bengoechea) >> p 24 ▼ Music
