It might be named for the bars, but this Saturday’s Club Crawl is going to be all about the bands.
With so many groups it can be tough to plan your schedule for the night, so here are the Arizona Daily Wildcat’s picks for top artists at Club Crawl.
Salvador Duran — Martin’s at 7-9 p.m.
Salvador Duran’s perfect mix between flamenco and Spanish pop music is the perfect way to set off an evening dedicated to exploring Tucson’s nightlife. Duran’s powerful voice and live wire performances will be enough to convince you of why he’s become such a leading figure in the local scene.
You can find his music on the internet to check out before the show, but there’s nothing quite like the passion that Duran brings to a live performance. There’s also something to be said about starting a night of inevitable debauchery with an artist that embodies the more subtle side of the Tucson sound. In this regard, Duran won’t disappoint.
Hank Topless — Cafe Passe at 8 p.m.
If you’re in the mood for variety this early in the night, look no further than the inimitable Hank Topless. The best way to classify Hank’s sound is somewhere around hard outlaw country, but it’d be a disservice to leave it at that. Live performances from Hank Topless are always mixed bags, combining elements from the best of country and proto-country with his own dour originals to form what might be the best dive bar setlist in town.
His low-key sound may not be the most conducive to drunken sing-alongs. Rather, Hank Topless is there to sing away your troubles and set you right for the rockin’ night ahead. His set does overlap with Salvador Duran’s, but if you get a chance, give Hank as much time as you can. He’s worth it.
Copper & Congress — Club Congress (outdoor stage) at 9 p.m.
Fresh off its headlining gig at Plush last Friday, the unstoppable Copper & Congress is bringing its powerful live act to the Wavelab Studio Showcase outside Club Congress on Toole Avenue. C&C have been making waves since their formation in March, and the mind-boggling amount of shows they’ve been playing has only been refining the band’s already proficient performances.
A Copper & Congress set moves seamlessly from jazzy introspection to cathartic rock and roll. It’s no exaggeration to say there’s something for everyone. Snazzy acoustic/electric guitar interplay? Check. One of the tightest and most eccentric rhythm sections? Check. A throbbing electric piano? Check again. Not to mention that lead singer/songwriter Katie Haverly has been debuting new songs at almost every show the band has played recently.
So if you’re already a fan the show this Saturday will be a great opportunity to hear what the band’s been up to. Before you go, check out the album The Leap Year, available on Spotify.
Fayuca (Phoenix) — The Hut (outdoor stage) at 10:30 p.m.
After three hours of music and who knows how many hours of drinking, it’s hard to think of a better band to see than Phoenix’s Fayuca. The best way to characterize its sound would be a cross between punk and reggae, which in practice is as wild and great as it looks on paper. Fayuca will definitely bring the energy with its fast, distorted shorter songs to keep you up and at ‘em if your energy’s starting to fade. For those of you who might want to take things down a notch this late at night however, Fayuca also happens to specialize in a Sublime-like groove to chill you out and keep the night rolling by. No matter what it plays, Fayuca is a band to throw up your beer to — sure to be one of the highlights of the evening.
DeVotchKa (Denver) — The Rialto at 11:30 p.m.-1 a.m.
Possibly the most well-known band playing Club Crawl, the Grammy-nominated DeVotchKa has a unique brand of Gypsy balladry and symphonic melodrama that might just make it the show of the night. The band has ties to Tucson through its working relationship with WaveLab Studio’s Craig Schumacher, and every time it passes through, the band puts on a show for the ages.
A venue with the booming acoustics of The Rialto is a perfect fit for DeVotchKa’s larger-than-life instrumentation. In a town where Calexico reigns supreme, you can count on those world music influences sounding as colorful as possible indoors. If live strings and accordions tickle your fancy, don’t miss DeVotchKa.
The Hood Internet (Chicago) — Club Congress at 11:30 p.m.-1 a.m.
If by the end of the night you’re more in the mood for dancing be sure to head over to the indoor stage of Club Congress for a dance party with The Hood Internet. The group just released its new album FEAT this week, and its rising popularity in the mashup community will ensure that you’ll be in good company if you choose this show. Its simultaneous set time with DeVotchKa could complicate things if you’re in the mood to both drunkenly sob and dance your pants off. Which ever you choose, rest assured that Saturday’s Club Crawl will be one for the history books.
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