▼ Music Love Fest Here are the biggest concerts coming to Phoenix in February. BY BENJAMIN LEATHERMAN L ove checking out live music in Phoenix? Then consider February’s concert calendar a Valentine of sorts. And it’s addressed to you. The next few weeks are brimming with big shows and performances by famous names and living legends alike, including Slash, Gary Numan, Dinosaur Jr., Justin Bieber, Diplo, Sam Hunt, and Tyler, The Creator. February will also see the return of an- nual events like the Phoenix Rock Lottery and the weekend-long Innings Festival, which will be headlined by Foo Fighters. There’s also a lot more happening around the Valley when it comes to con- certs. Don’t believe us? Then check out the following list or click over to the Phoenix New Times online music listings. Sam Hunt at Coors Light Birds Nest In 2020, country music superstar Sam Hunt released his sophomore effort, Southside, and was scheduled to embark on a summer tour before it was scrapped by the pandemic. Fast forward almost two years later, and the Georgia native will finally get the opportunity to showcase his latest tunes to his fanbase in Arizona, including hits like “Kinfolks,” “Hard to Forget,” and “Breaking Up Was Easy in the ’90s.” The 12-track album won critical ac- claim, landing atop New York Times music Slash. critic Jon Caramanica’s “Best Albums of 2020” list. Hunt will perform on Thursday, February 10, inside the Coors Light Birds Nest during the Waste Management Phoe- nix Open at TPC Scottsdale, 17020 North Hayden Road. Doors open at 3 p.m. and Hunt will hit the stage at 9 p.m. Country pop singer-songwriter Russell Dickerson opens and tickets are only available through resellers like Seat Geek or Stubhub. JOSE D. DURAN 34 Aurelio Voltaire is one spooky dude. 13th Floor Entertainment Aurelio Voltaire at The Rebel Lounge Aurelio Voltaire’s music is described as “dark cabaret.” Leaning on strong folk ele- ments and combined with his powerful voice, this self-described Renaissance man (who has gone by the moniker Voltaire in the past) often focuses on the darker as- pects of existence. If this Cuban-born artist isn’t singing about death and destruction, he’s alluding to it on songs such as “When You’re Evil.” He could be crooning about the monsters under a young child’s bed or even what he would do if he could embody the Grim Reaper himself. His mischievous lyrics are mixed with his larger-than-life appearance (think The Cure’s Robert Smith with better hair and darker eye- liner), which is what brings people back for more. But to be clear, he’s not a “death metal” artist, but a folk artist who is thrilled by the stranger things in life. He’s due at the Rebel Lounge, 2303 East Indian School Road, on Saturday, February 12. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $16 in advance, $20 at the door. BARBARA SMITH TobyMac at Gila River Arena TobyMac has essentially cornered the market on Christian hip-hop. Sure, it’d be easy to say that might partially be due to lack of depth in the faith-based subgenre, but he’s still managed to win Grammys with his inspirational verses. Sure, some of his albums (like 2015’s This Is Not a Test) might have more of an electronic dance music influence, but even if tobyMac is a bit more, uh, traditional, he’s clearly intent on keeping up with music trends and adapting his sound accordingly. Catch him in concert on Saturday, February 12, at Gila River Arena, 9400 West Maryland Avenue in Glendale, with support from Crowder, Cochren and Co., CAIN, and Terrain. Tick- ets are $19.75 to $89.75. MATT WOOD TravisShinn/Red Light Management Slash feat. Myles Kennedy at Arizona Federal Theatre Why are there all of 12 songs on Slash’s new album? “Because that’s how many guitar solos he had written,” quipped a col- league. There may be something to that; it’s the famous top-hatted Les Paul enthu- siast’s name on the album, Living the Dream, so why wouldn’t the music come first? Slash’s third album with former Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy holding the microphone, Dream is a mix of both vin- tage Iron Maiden/Dokken speed-metal and Slash’s previous, bluesier endeavors, amounting to an hour and change of satis- fying, occasionally thrilling hard rock. There’s never any question about who’s steering this ship, that’s for sure. They’re due at Arizona Federal Theatre, 400 West Washington Street, on Tuesday, February 15. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $55 to $100. CHRIS GRAY Allman Family Revival at Arizona Federal Theatre The annual Allman Family Revival tribute tour is returning to the road in celebration of Gregg Allman’s birthday. Launched by Devon Allman in 2017 as a tribute to his dad, the 19-city tour rolls into Arizona Federal Theatre, 400 West Washington Street, on Thursday, February 17. What was initially began as a one-time family affair in honor of the elder Allman four years ago has become a fan favorite after word spread about the tour’s intense four- hour jam sessions and special ap- >> p 37 FEB 10TH– FEB 16TH, 2022 PHOENIX NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | NEWS | OPINION | FEEDBACK | CONTENTS | phoenixnewtimes.com
