Live music is a big part of what makes Metro Phoenix such a vibrant and exciting place. Here are some places we’d love to go to a concert, as originally published in our Best of Phoenix 2021. Click to enlarge The biggest names in music perform in the Footprint Center. Benjamin Leatherman Best Large Music Venue Footprint Center Keeping up with the stadium’s name changes can be challenging, but whether it’s America West Arena, US Airways Center, Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix Suns Arena, or now Footprint Center, there is not a place we would rather see a big show. This year, downtown Phoenix’s largest indoor sports and concert venue has finally been redesigned to match its many name changes. Completed in early 2021, the $ 230 million renovation will include new suite levels, more comfortable and elegant black faux leather seats, a family-friendly dining hall in the upper hall, a state-of-the-art sound system and new video screens. With a capacity of more than 18,000, it’s the best place to see the biggest national and international touring acts, from The Eagles and Guns N ‘Roses to Twenty One Pilots and The Weeknd. click to enlarge The Van Buren is an integral part of the music scene in downtown Phoenix. Benjamin Leatherman Best Midsize Music Venue The Van Buren We fondly think back to the days when The Van Buren was a car dealership. Could the owners of the Phoenix Motor Company ever have imagined that decades later their building would be one of the best music venues in the pulsating metropolis of Phoenix? When you enter the building for a show there is no trace of The Van Buren’s earlier life, just chandeliers, desert paintings on the walls, and space for about 1,800 concert-goers to take in local acts like Playboy Manbaby and Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra, as well as national ones like Gogol Bordello , Lord Huron and Cold War Kids. We like the feeling of space in the Van Buren; Both the outdoor terrace and the indoor area near the bar are spacious and open, perfect places to see and be seen. In 2021, there are a dozen car dealerships. We are happy that The Van Buren received the concert hall upgrade. click to enlarge Yucca’s cozy concert room has hosted countless bands. Lauren Cusimano Best Small Music Venue Yucca Tap Room This is what we love about Yucca Tap Room, a fixture on the Tempe music scene since the 1970s: The bar attracts local and national acts of all genres – within a week, you could be a touring punk band, Catching nervous locals by an open microphone, a metal showcase, and some tempe desert rock. Stop by a couple of times, meet the staff and regulars, and make sure you have a friendly face or two every time. The drinks are cheap and strong and the bartenders keep them flowing. And when you need a break from the musical onslaught, you can head to the lounge side of Yucca for a breather and something to eat (we like the golden wings and the Bulgogi Bao). Similar Stories I Support Local Community Journalism Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of the New Times clear. Best Hidden Gem Music Venue Old Town Tavern We’re really #blessed to have so many places in the valley to go out and see live music, but one of our favorites is a bar that just doesn’t get enough love (in our opinion after). The Old Town Tavern is tucked away in the center of Scottsdale, and most nights of the week you can stroll in and enjoy an intimate set by some of the best musicians in town. Pistoleros alum Mark Zubia and Gin Blossoms guitarist Jesse Valenzuela make regular appearances, as do Wyves’ Corey Gloden and local music legend Shawn Johnson. The small interior of the Old Town Tavern brings you up close to the musicians, and the bar has a tight crowd that will make you feel like one of the gang. click to enlarge Heavy metal echoes through the rafters of the Marquee Theater in Tempe. Lucky Man Concerts Best Place to See a Metal Show Marquee Theater It’s just our opinion, but we love to listen to heavy metal in a sprawling atmosphere that echoes the rough drum solos and guitar shredding from the rafters. The high ceilings and concrete floors of the Marquee Theater create an almost industrial atmosphere that harmonizes perfectly with the intensity and ferocity of metal. The English band Cradle of Filth plays here as well as Great White and Steel Panther. Marquee is also a frequent host to metal tribute bands like Noise Pollution: The AC / DC Experience and The Iron Maidens. We recommend getting to the Marquee early to create your own little space for head banging in our local metal dome. Best Blues Bar Westside Blues & JazzWest Valley isn’t exactly known as a blues hotbed. In a few scattered locations in the area, jam sessions or the occasional one-off piece by musicians were held. But a venue dedicated to showcasing the genre and its artists on this side of town wasn’t tried until Cindi Jackson and Paul Vincent Perez opened Westside Blues & Jazz at Glendale Market Square in April. The retired couple, both longtime fans of the blues, built the club as a temple to the art form with great acoustics, comfy seating, and speakeasy decor. Their confidence in the project, which was estimated to cost $ 500,000 to build, was shaken when COVID-19 delayed its debut for a full year. However, once opened, it became a hit. Local blues / R&B greats like Lucius Parr, Francine Reed and Big Pete Pearson have taken the stage, as have jazz scenes like Delphine Cortez, Sandra Bassett and We3. It even got a thumbs up from local blues guru and rhythm room owner Bob Corritore. Kudos indeed. click to enlarge Punk rock never dies at Chopper John’s. New Times Archives Best Bar to See a Punk Show Chopper John’s There’s a lot to see at Chopper John’s, from the line up of pigs outside (it’s a biker bar at heart, of course) to the dollar bills that are all over the place Ceiling are pinned and the tape memorabilia on the walls. But the main attraction is whoever is on stage, often one of Phoenix’s beloved punk bands. We caught The Posters here along with JJCnV, Some Jaywalkers, and many others. Other genres can often be seen here too – especially rockabilly, trash-a-billy and the like. If you are looking for cheap drinks and a lively crowd while listening to loud, fast, and angry music, Chopper John’s is your place. Best place to see a hip hop show Aura, like other local music scenes, live hip hop in the Valley took a hit last year when the pandemic forced gigs to go virtual or go away entirely. After the crowds returned to shows, hip hop promoters, artists, and fans flocked to Aura in Tempe. The 9,500-square-foot club on Mill Avenue has become a focal point for the genre. Why? Its equipment is conducive to the needs of the scene: the large main room can accommodate superstars such as Wifisfuneral one evening or work with a side stage in Aura’s lounge for local mini-festivals the next day. His bookers work with small and large promoters (Justus Samuel from Respect the Underground swears by the place). Thanks to the first-class sound system, you can hear every beat spoken, even if it is a muttering SoundCloud rapper at the microphone. And unlike other local venues that want to maximize liquor sales, Aura sometimes hosts shows for all ages. Younger fans can get a taste of the fun while teenage performers get a chance to shine, such as when 17-year-old Phoenix rapper Xander (aka XaniMonsta) pulled down the store in August.
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