Mike Pinto

@ The Hut

TONIGHT

See the Video!!!

The Brothers Gow are going to take a break from their west coast tour and wing in and play Tucson. They are Tucson musicians, and are a pleasure to see. They play an eclectic mix of music ranging from rock to reggae, and they are not to be missed!

California's The Simpkin Projectmakes their Arizona debut this week! Thursday in Scottsdale, and Friday at The Rock in Tucson! Both shows are with Fortunate Youth.

Dancing barefoot through the aisles and strumming his guitar, Michael Franti knows how to make a show explode with rhythm and smiles. As the lead singer for the group known formally as Michael Franti & Spearhead, he has an exuberant demeanor that naturally flaunts itself at most shows, and he knows what people love to dance and celebrate to. After all, U2 made no mistake when they chose them to kick off their show at the ZOOTV tour. That was when U2 reinvented themselves, and what has been dubbed as one of the most memorable tours in rock history. Interaction from Michael Franti & Spearhead is a must experience show, complete with flying beach balls. There were giant, colorful, air-filled spheres flying through the AVA Amphitheater at the Casino Del Sol in Tucson, AZ, in what seemed to be a celebration of the last days of summer. 

Erik Truelove is a Tucson drummer who plays locally, and tours both nationally and internationally, and has won the World's Most Accurate Drummer Award four times. [The award is an open contest run by OnBoard Research Corporation -Ed].  Currently he plays with several bands, but he is usually associated with The Tryst, a 7 – 9 piece powerhouse combo that plays many genres of music. Over his career Erik says he has played with more than 75 bands. Erik moved to Tucson in 2001 and he is set to open a percussion school here, it will be the only drum school in southern Arizona.

Hailing from Sierra Vista, AZ, The Brandon Jim Band is like a blast from the past. A good blast from the past. Remember the laid-back ways and passive aggressive sounds of the 90s?? Yessir, these guys embraced it, and put out an awesome acoustic record entitled "Straight Up". The band consists of Brandon Jim (Vocals/Guitar), Brandon (Bass), Jrod (Drums and Percussion), Isaiah (Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals, Percussion), and Craig (Parsley Guitar). The songs on this album are full of passion and an earnestness that is almost palpable. The influence of Sublime's Bradley Nowell in Brandon Jim's vocals and musical styling is clearly heard and appreciated. Don't jump to conclusions and think,” ANOTHER wanna-be Sublime-like group?!" In no way are they one of THOSE bands. Are they influenced by Sublime and the punk-reggae sound? Yes, but the Brandon Jim Band has a sound of its own.

Have you ever heard of Texas Trash and the Trainwrecks? Of course you have!  Terry Trash is the guy that lost his right arm and right leg in a train accident four years ago.  That is how he got the name for his band, the Trainwrecks. This story isn’t about Terry’s well known accident though; it’s about his great band and the music they create and perform.

My first exposure to Authority Zero came to me during an awkward stage in my  musical evolution; a far cry from the rave scene which I was in the midst of  outgrowing, they offered what I didn't realize at the time would become the  future of my musical tastes. Authority Zero is seamless blend of Dropkick  Murphys meets... NOFX? Somewhere in the general vicinity of 2003 I was a  Phoenix resident for a brief (but memorable) time. I listened to The Edge 103.9 nonstop, and Craven Moorehead would play the heck out of Authority  Zero songs. It was love; Authority Zero from Mesa, Arizona, are our hometown  heroes! I don't care if I live in Tucson (hey, I decided to go back to  school and wasn't willing to jeopardize my K-12 education by spending even a  semester at ASU!), this band embodies the heart and soul that Arizona has to  offer!