31 Aug 10th–Aug 16th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | cONTeNTs | feeDBacK | OPiNiON | NeWs | feaTuRe | NighT+Day | culTuRe | film | cafe | music | Fri 8/11 Sat 8/12 SUN 8/13 WED 8/16 thU 8/10 MillENNial SUMMEr W/PUNk DaDDy, rockEt StEaDMaN, WholE GirlFriEND $10 • show time 7pm colD Shott aND thE hUrricaNE horNS $15 • show time 8pm JiMi “PriMEtiME” SMith & BoB corritorE BlUES BaND With BriaN FahEy, yahNi rilEy, JohNNy raPP $15 • show time 8pm coUNtry MUSic NiGht With EarlE DoUGalSS aND JENNiE J. $12-15 • show time 7pm JErEMiah JohNSoN $15 • show time 8pm “Sticta Alpinotropica.” Amid this cacophony of thudding drums, wailing sirens and other junk noise, there’s some- thing powerfully affective and strangely human. Thanks, IDS. ‘Song B’ THANKYOUMAXO There’s something rather charming but also a tad asinine about thankyoumaxo. The seemingly brand-new Phoenix outfit has a name that’s both cutesy and kind of annoying; their members are “maxo, bago, cam, and jordy”; and the “Alphabet” EP is filled with “Song A,” “Song B” and “Song C.” (And that’s not even mentioning the crime of asking listeners if they like their songs.) Yet all of that’s mostly worth it once you get to the heart of this delightfully lo-fi indie rock. Take, for instance, the afore- mentioned “Song B,” which manages to infuse the best (and maybe the worst?) parts of Superchunk, Guided by Voices and Pavement into something generally endearing and compelling. B+ effort, gang. ‘Body Hazard’ JADE HELM Jade Helm appear to be a decidedly young band in the ever-interesting Phoenix punk scene. But so far, they seem to be making all the right choices. That includes a primo aesthetic — very ’80s hardcore meets DIY arts and crafts — while playing primo spots like Linger Longer Lounge and The Beast. But the ultimate proof’s to be found in their four-track demo, which proves that the band’s struck on a solid post-punk sound so early into their career. Like “Body Hazard,” a blitzkrieg of frills-free, hardcore-adjacent noise that’s as cool and cunning as it is infectious and combative. Also, one of the members is apparently called Nitro, so that has to earn the band even more points. ‘Bad Place’ COMMON KID FLOWER You’ve got to give it up to Common Kid Flower. The Phoenix DIY punk duo recognize that even if folks don’t appre- ciate their unique brand of music, “you’ll love our cat!” So, is there anything to truly love and adore amid the three tracks of their newly-released “Sad Sessions” EP (great title, by the way), or are they going to have to tour the Valley with a kitty cat petting zoo? As it turns out, based solely on the back of “Bad Place,” CKF have heaps to offer musically. The track is a delightfully ramshackle amalgamation of ska and punk, something seemingly nihilistic but beaming forth a message of genuine posi- tivity. If that’s their music, how awesome is that cat though? ‘Can I Hold Yur Claw??’ DINOSAUR LOVE AND THE PANGAEA PALS If you don’t already know about Dinosaur Love, artist-musician Peter Kulikowski dresses up like a cartoon dino and makes songs with titles like “Leave Them Bones Alone.” The gimmick is worth its weight in gold, but Kulikowski has always supported the shtick with increasingly well-crafted, compelling songs. Still, does that hold true for his stage show? The answer for that query rests in “Live at The Rebel Lounge,” with the 15-track album recorded in early July alongside The Pangea Pals. It doesn’t take long into tracks like “Can I Hold Yur Claw??” before you realize that these heartfelt ballads are somehow even better than all the giant dino costumes in the world. There Is No Us Izzy Mahoubi Chase Warren Tony Aguilera Summer Sounds from p 28
