Page 44 - the NOISE September 2013

The littlest Brids are performing at the Highlands Center FROM TOP: Gail Mangham is bringing Molly Ivins to September 14 as part of Folk Sessions. cOURTESy PHOTOS the Peregrine September 29. COURTESy PHOTOS
September is a time of transitions. The first find, but it’s basi- opened. The Bird ous and try more than one. All of the mon-
Cage has been up
and running since mid-summer and Co-Joe’s opened its doors – and its very popular patio dance space – in mid-August. It will probably take some time for the new management team at Co-Joe’s to get their music calendar fully up to speed. In the meantime, it’s pretty much a guarantee
that live and usually local music will be grac- ing the patio. Both of these venues are worth checking out over the next few months.
One of the more exciting visiting musi- cal shindigs this month has got to be Big Bad voodoo Daddy’s September 27th gig at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center. Whether you’re a fan of big band, Cab Callo- way style music or not, Big Bad Voodoo Dad- dy is just straight up fun. It’s almost too bad they’re playing at YCPAC, because this band was really meant for dance halls. But, in the absence of a more dance friendly venue, this should be a great show. Tickets will run be- tween $30 to $47 and you can get ‘em online at ycpac.com.
If you missed out on the Jazz Summit in August, don’t panic. The festival finished up another great year, but you still have one last chance to catch the Prescott Jazz Summit’s Howlin’ at the Highlands concert. This is the last show of the series, so don’t dawdle or you’ll be out of luck ‘til next year. Susannah Martin is making the drive up from Scott- sdale to perform with the ensemble. Tick- ets are $20 and can be purchased online at prescottjazz.com or just show up at the Highlands Center for Natural History at 1375 Walker Road and get ‘em at the door.
Empty Bowls is hands down one of the best combination arts events/fundraisers in Prescott. The idea is genius in its simplicity. Head over to the Courthouse Square on Sun- day, September 15 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., hand over $15 and choose a ceramic or wood bowl made by a local artist. Then, take that bowl and choose a soup made by one of fourteen local chefs. Oh, and don’t forget that you get two servings, so be a little adventur-
of the leaves are changing, the sunlight has taken on that mellow yellow hue and there is the faintest hint of a bite in the air. Yep. Summer is moving into fall and Prescott is gearing up for some autumnal arts ‘n cul- ture awesomeness.
Prescott is still in recovery mode from the losses of this summer, but the arts folks con- tinue to create music, art, theater and other cultural goodies. The month starts off a bit slow as folks shift gears, but as the kidlets head back to school and the weather turns cool, the theater scene really starts heating up.
The folks at lonely Street Productions (lSP) have been putting on shows at the Elks Opera House for years, but now that the theater is in the middle of renovations, they’ve had to find a new venue in Prescott. Fortunately, yavapai College Performing Arts Center will be providing a stage for the next LSP show, “Blues in the Night: A Torch Song Cabaret.” The September 21st show will feature Crystal Stark and Walter Belcher. Tickets are available at the door or online at ycpac.com.
In other theater news, the Prescott Center for the Arts (PCA) is debuting “Promises, Promises” on September 26. Based on Billy Wilder’s film “The Apartment,” this produc- tion should provide some serious fun. Al- though the original film was set in late 1950s New York City, the themes and tropes are still just as relevant (and funny!) now. For a full listing of show times and ticket prices, visit pfaa.net or stop by the box office. Several of PCA’s shows have been selling out, so plan ahead and get your tickets early.
After an awful lot of back and forth and multiple delays, PCA’s new black box theater space, Stage Too, is finally up and running. It took a whole lot of volunteer hours and donor action to get it going, but this latest addition to Prescott’s theater scene will hopefully pro- vide a venue for more adventurous theater fare in the future. “The Rabbi and the Shiksa” starts its run at Stage Too on September 12. Hit up pfaa.net for ticket info and show times and a map. The new space is a little tricky to
cally in the alley
behind Cortez
Street, in the building between Murphy’s Res- taurant and the Peregrine Book Co.
Speaking of Peregrine Book Co., local actress and director of The Artist’s Path, Gail Mangham will present “Raisin’ Hell with Molly Ivins” on Sunday, September 29 at 2 p.m. This talk and Q and A session will shed some light on Molly Ivins, one of the most spirited newspaper columnists, political com- mentators and humorists that the great state of Texas has ever produced. The life and work of Ivins inspired this year’s theme of for The Artist’s Path and will be brought to the stage next spring. For more info on Molly Ivins and other Artist’s Path activities and the festival, visit the website at theartistspath.org.
Film heads won’t want to miss the 4th An- nual Western Heritage Days event at Sharlot Hall Museum on September 14 and 15. In addition to the usual re-enactor shenanigans by the Prescott Regulators and their Shady ladies, this event will feature a pretty freakin’ awesome display of Tom Mix memorabilia and movies. Remember all those really old black and white westerns that featured lots of shoot ‘em up cowboys? Well, chances are, some of those flicks were made by Tom Mix and shot in the Prescott area.
The biggest news here is that the fully re- stored 1937 Cord Phaeton that belonged to Tom Mix will be on display. Besides the ba- sic ooh and ahh element, it also happens to be the car that Tom Mix crashed, which led to his death. The creepy cool factor is unde- niable and totally worth the price of admis- sion, just for the dang car. Plus, several of his cowboy flicks will be showing, making this a film buff’s dream. For tickets and more info, visit prescottwesternheritagedays.com or call Dennis Gallagher at 602-820-7472. Or, y’know, just stop by Sharlot Hall and see for yourself.
On the live music front, both the Bird Cage Saloon and Coyote Joe’s have re-
ies raised go to support Prescott’s local food banks. And those fab soup bowls? Well, if you don’t need more bowls, they make awesome gifts. Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement that hosts events across the U.S. Read more about it on their website emptybowls.net.
This brings us to the top don’t miss event of September. The ever-wonderful Tom Agostino and the Folk Sessions are bring littlest Birds back to Prescott. This Cali based duo will be hitting the stage at the Highlands Center on Saturday, September 14, with an opening performance by Prescott’s own Weatherglass.
With David Huebner on cello and Sharon Martinson on banjo, this well-traveled duo has truly earned the title “road dogs.” Littlest Birds have been touring dang near non-stop since 2010, criss-crossing the nation en route to a whole slew of festival and venues with a banjo and cello strapped to the roof of their car.
There are a couple of things that make this event special. First off, can I just say banjo and cello? Seriously. There are few instrumental duos as strange and lovely and incongru- ous as a banjo and a cello. Then throw in a healthy dose of musical sophistication and the gorgeous setting of the pavilion at the Highlands Center, and you’ve got a recipe for pure, chill bliss.
The last time they performed in Prescott, a freak electrical storm ended the show early as the Prescott Center for the Arts was plunged into darkness. The paying audience, however, was so entranced that they stayed put, hoping that the power would come back on and Littlest Birds could bring their close harmony and impeccable pickin’ and bowing back to life.
For folks who dig folk/Americana with a twist, this show is absolutely a don’t miss. Tick- ets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Get your tickets at the Highland Center the night of the show or online at folksessions.com.
| Angie Johnson Schmit is get- ting ready for her new hat closet. slackerwriter@gmail.com
44 • september 2013 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us