Well, howdy there

I hope that I am sounding authentically American. I am currently staying in Tempe, Az, for at least a month, and to be quite honest, for the moment anyhow, it's something of a lonely affair.

I'm just wondering if anyone knows of anywhere which is good to see maybe some decent local bands while I'm here, and some good places to go for drinks.

I have a few people who I will be hooking up with soon, but in the meantime, I'd quite like to rack up some info for those lonesome nights when I'm at a loose end. I'm staying close to ASU campus in Tempe, and (at least until my stipend comes good) I'm really in no position to hire a car - so the ability to bus it would be preferable, considering the sweltering, sweltering heat which my pallid British skin has already rejected in the form of burnation-infancy. Damn me.

So please, "y'all". Anything cool which the common tourist might otherwise miss? Thanking ye.

Also, I just got ID'd (I know this apostrophe seems wrong) for beer. I know they do it to everyone, but it made me feel good. Not half as good as drinking them, though.

PHX/TEMPE venues:

http://www.solarculture.org (edit: in TUCSON, NOT TEMPE/PHX--thanks Angus J!)

http://www.modified.org

http://www.robothouse.org (FLAGSTAFF---OOP!)

http://www.thetrunkspace.com

(Chicago's Spires that in the Sunset Rise are playing @ Trunkspace on Tuesday-they rule, if freakish folk music is your thing)


mattw'll know s'more.


hth.


Faiz

I feel very bad that you are by yourself, in Tempe, without a car, in July.

I fear you may have been sold a bum steer, as we in the States might say.

There aren't even any of the scores of laughably attractive, scantily clad co-eds around to marvel at.

I used to live there. It was pretty crappy when I lived there, and has gotten a lot worse since.

There are some record stores in Tempe that used to be very good. I hope for your sake that they still are:

Eastside

Stinkweeds (moved to Phoenix, apparently)

Kimber, who owns Stinkweeds, also runs a great club in Phoenix called Modified Arts. Looks like Weird War is playing there tonight and they're showing "We Jam Econo" later this month.

In downtown Phoenix, my friend Chris makes the best pizza in the United States at Pizzeria Bianco.

Sorry, this has become a Phoenix list.

Anyway- find a little swimming ground, stay with the beers, and hopefully it'll be over soon.

kerble wrote:PHX/TEMPE venues:

http://www.solarculture.org

Solar Culture is in Tucson. If you had a car, I'd suggest you make the trip up there (about a 90-minute drive).

kerble wrote:
(Chicago's Spires that in the Sunset Rise are playing @ Trunkspace on Tuesday-they rule, if freakish folk music is your thing)


mattw'll know s'more.


hth.


Faiz

Thanks - just had a listen and that's definitely one I'll try to get to. Definitely.

Angus Jung wrote:I feel very bad that you are by yourself, in Tempe, without a car, in July.

I fear you may have been sold a bum steer, as we in the States might say.

There aren't even any of the scores of laughably attractive, scantily clad co-eds around to marvel at.

I used to live there. It was pretty crappy when I lived there, and has gotten a lot worse since.

There are some record stores in Tempe that used to be very good. I hope for your sake that they still are:

Eastside

Stinkweeds (moved to Phoenix, apparently)

Kimber, who owns Stinkweeds, also runs a great club in Phoenix called Modified Arts. Looks like Weird War is playing there tonight and they're showing "We Jam Econo" later this month.

In downtown Phoenix, my friend Chris makes the best pizza in the United States at Pizzeria Bianco.

Sorry, this has become a Phoenix list.

Anyway- find a little swimming ground, stay with the beers, and hopefully it'll be over soon.

Thanks - it really isn't that bad actually. There are some people I'll be in touch with within a week, and there are some I already am in touch with on and off. Because I'm doing a student exchange, a lot of my day will be spent working in a pretty nice (and AIR CONDITIONED) building. But the evenings look potentially quite dull!

Hopefully I will have the €a$h soon to hire a car too.......

Thanks

Angus' suggestions are good/valid. I've only been to Tempe/surrounding area a handful of times, mostly to see shows. Modified is a decent place, I'd definitely check that out if you get a chance. The Mason Jar was cool (saw Mclusky there) but it is now closed.

Casey Moore's is alright for drinks and all that. I've heard the food is good as well. Just try not to end up here.

Make it down to Tucson if you can. I'd be more than happy to show you around!

(try to) have fun!

mw

Angus Jung wrote:There are some record stores in Tempe that used to be very good. I hope for your sake that they still are:

Stinkweeds (moved to Phoenix, apparently)

Stinkweeds is still open in Tempe (was just in there today, actually) and is doing well. The one in Phoenix is a brand new, separate store and is probably rules, though I haven't been there myself.

Marvin - on July 22, Modified Arts is screening We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen, and that's definitely worth going to.

For alcohol needs, I like going to the Hollywood Alley (2610 W Baseline Rd, Mesa). It's a cool place and they recently put on great shows by Nomeansno and Melt-Banana.

Thanks for all these suggestions. I've got a few plans based on these!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to AliceCooperstown.

I used to live in Tempe and I still go back to visit from time to time. Tempe itself has really gone to shit. I don't think there are any good music venues in Tempe any longer....RIP Nita's Hideway. Modified in Phx is OK though. For bars, Casey Moore's is pretty cool. The drummer from my band lives about a block from there and thinks it is the best bar in the world. There is also the Palo Verde, which is a pretty cool dive.