BeatRoute Magazine AB Edition - November 2019

More documents

Recommendations

Info

TRAVEL TUCSON, ARIZONA EXPLORING THE VIBRANCY OF THE SUN-BAKED SONORAN DESERT By MELISSA VINCENT ALL PHOTOS: JEANINNE KAUFER I f you’ve never encountered the hyper-specific experience of inhaling Arizona’s infamous dry heat, it’s difficult to describe to Canadians accustomed to life on the periphery of great bodies of water. In short, it’s clear, oxidizing, and a blunt reminder you’re now in cowboy country, so buckle up. In so many ways Tucson is an example of a city in flux with unique interest in the weird and spectacular. Initially the ancestral home to many nations of indigenous people, including the Tohono O’Odham and Pascua Yaqui, the city experienced its first big boom in the early 20th century when, for a split second, it was larger than Phoenix. Due to its shape shifting identity, in <strong>2019</strong> Tucson is a bunch of things at once: It’s moderate climate finds it reaching to be an international conference hub; and its stunning landscape, vibrant art scene, and affordable housing makes it attractive for both new artists, and young locals who have made their way around the world before deciding to land back home. Each February, Tucson plays host to the Gem, Mineral, and Fossil showcase, one of the biggest in the world. And for the last several years, HOCO Festival has brought
How Sweet It Was 424 E 6th St. Founded in 1974, How Sweet It Was Vintage has curated its selection for around a single mission: imagine the way specifically found items can have “meaning, soul, and a story.” With racks organized by both era and style, expect a blend of timeless ready-to-wear finds, single-wear show-stoppers pulled from America’s sun-baked west, and matching sets with prints inspired from just south of the Mexican border. Owl’s Club 236 S Scott Ave. When this 86-year-old funeral home was remodelled to make way for the Owl’s Club, the idea was to retain the glamour of the early 20th century. Walking up the super lush, palm tree-lined corridor to the doorstep of Owl’s Club feels like an apt reflection of their menu of “complex original” cocktails and “Old world” wines. But don’t let Owl’s swanky interior fool you, one night during HOCO Festival this year saw Deaf Kids and Vancouver noise destroyers Minimal Violence take the stage at the location of the former pulpit and shake the venue to its core. ANDI BERLIN Taqueria Pico De Gallo 2618 S 6th Ave. Ordering from the takeout counter, the menu is concise and, with most tacos priced less than $2, the menu is equally cost-conscious. But what really makes these tacos stand out are the tortilla shells, thick and viscous rolled from a ball of corn masa flour, and the sweet and salty tamarind raspados. The Boxyard 238 N 4th Ave. Possibly one of Tucson’s most unique local dining spots, the 10 intentionally painted shipping containers feature four restaurants, two bars and a courtyard to connect everything together. From Bronx-inspired BBQ to Vietnamese fare, this dog-friendly new addition to the city’s downtown strip boasts dynamic open-air seating, capable of withstanding Arizona’s many changing climates. RECORD STORES Odds and Ends/ Don’t Forget This some of the most forward-thinking artists on the continent including Dean Blunt, S.H.I.T., Bbymutha, and Omar Apollo to the historic Hotel Congress. But Tucson is much more than a college town, or a sleepy place to retire. It’s a community with an underdog spirit, wrestling with its newest period of development while also making itself amenable to inviting guests from outside, squarely on their own terms. DESTINATIONS Hotel Congress 311 Congress St. The folklore around the Hotel Congress is largely derived from its proximity to a crucial part of American western history, and a tangled relationship with supernatural. Built in 1918, the Hotel Congress first rose to national attention when it became the site of capture for the infamous criminal John Dillinger, and almost 60 years later when it acquired an in-house ghost as a result of a death by suicide on the premises in the early 90s. Now named as a federally recognized historic building, the Hotel boasts an award-winning music venue, Club Congress; two dining spots, The Cup Cafe and Maynards; and an impressive roster of year-round programming including as home base for HOCO fest. Tucson Museum of Art 140 N Main Ave. Located in the city’s Presido district, the Tucson Museum of Art is more than an impressive showcase for Latin, Western, and Contemporary art, it’s become a crucial cultural epicenter of the ongoing redevelopment of Downtown Tucson. Comprised of an entire 74,000-square-feet historic block, what sets the museum apart is its clearly considered social mission reflected in both the programming and the structure of the space. Throughout the year they offer public lectures on the subject of border politics and indigeneity, and while the museum is undergoing construction, they’re offering a pay what you can model for all patrons. Gates Pass You can’t say you’ve been to Tucson if you haven’t visited the mountains that frame the Sonoran Desert. Featuring a unique blend of flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world, from a distance, the hills seem covered in grass until you move closer and realize that towering Saguaro cactus populate the mountain’s highest peaks. Walk, don’t run, or you’ll miss it. EATS AND DRINKS Boca’s Tacos 533 N 4th Ave. Recognizable by a puckering set of lips adorned on both outside the restaurant and on every menu, Boca’s Tacos have been celebrated by the New York Times and the Food Network. Both open late and conveniently located on the historic and artsy 4th Avenue, expect the usuals like pulled pork and camaron tacos executed at the highest level, their trademark tri-colour tortilla chips, and truly imaginative creations like the AM taco topped with a hash brown and fried egg. Exo Roast Co. 403 N 6th Ave. Bustling, laptop-ridden, co-working cafe space by day, and smoky, live music bar by night, Exo Roast. Co is housed in a repurposed warehouse with massive floor to ceiling windows and mismatched rustic furniture. But calling Exo a coffee shop would do a disservice to their ambitious event roster, which includes Wednesday hatha yoga classes on the patio, and Mezcal tastings followed by traditional cumbia and Mexican ballads on Thursday. NIGHTLIFE 191 Toole What was once Skrappy’s, a DIY-music scene devoted to uplifting Tucson’s at-risk youth, was renamed 191 Toole in 2013 with a renewed effort to exist as one of the few places in the city to regularly host all-ages shows. A weirdly angled venue, the stage is actually on a diagonal, providing fantastic sightlines for artists as diverse as Cass McCombs and Gatecreeper, to Chastity Belt and Maxo Kream. Che’s Lounge 350 N 4th Ave. Che’s states that they’ve been located in Tucson since “forever,” which seems hard to argue with since its open from 12 pm to 2 am every day of the year. From the well-stocked bar stationed in the centre of the room, to a gorgeous back patio featuring live music and the tallest and cheapest pour of whisky on ice, this is your spot to come early and stay late. Wooden Tooth Records 426 E 7th St. Depending on the night, Wooden Tooth might be the place where you stumble across a new Boris reissue, or bear witness to a wild and riotous in-store performance by any of the city’s impressive group of rising local artists. This year, the record store levels up its ambition as one of the city’s newest and best record stores by hosting the first annual Woodenstock, which is exactly what it sounds like. YOGA Annex 439 N 6th Ave. When it comes to taking a yoga class in a new city, comfort is key. Newly opened, YOGA Annex is the place where “the music goes up and the lights go down.” The vinyasa flow class we attended led by Gabriela Pintado, featured live electro-acoustic drumming by local multi-disciplinary artist Quiahuitl, and an intentionally malleable set of poses. Both heart-pumping, deliberately gentle and ultimately restorative, the class was a necessary reprieve from the hot desert sun. NOVEMBER <strong>2019</strong> BEATROUTE 37
Page 1 and 2: NOVEMBER 2019 • FREE VAGABON: LAE
Page 3 and 4: Contents BEATROUTE BEATROUTE BEAT R
Page 5 and 6: COME PLAY WITH US! DISCOVER THE ULT
Page 7 and 8: MUSiC It’s such a great moment fo
Page 10 and 11: VEGAN VOGS (GOODY GOODY TWO SHOES)
Page 12 and 13: MUSiC CONCERT PREVIEWS GET RICH QUI
Page 14 and 15: every week no cover SUNDAY THE YYSC
Page 16 and 17: BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR BR
Page 18 and 19: VAGABON k CONTINUED FROM PG. 17 ini
Page 20 and 21: Artist to Watch MANILA GREY'S FILIP
Page 23 and 24: Reviews ALBUM TR/ST The Destroyer -
Page 25 and 26: NOVEMBER 2019 BEATROUTE 25
Page 27 and 28: SUDAN ARCHIVES Athena Stones Throw
Page 29 and 30: Live MUSiC Calgary THRUSH HERMIT Oc
Page 31 and 32: BEATROUTE.CA Get even closer to the
Page 33 and 34: Music and Fashion Merge Explosively
Page 35: BOBBY DAZZLER Inspired by the strat
Page 40 and 41: 11.19YYCAGENDA NOV. 2 SKYDIGGERS QT
Page 42 and 43: TREVOR HATTER 11.19YYCMUSIC LOCAL A
Page 44 and 45: ad_HolidayRebate2019_BeatRoute_Quar
Page 46 and 47: Savage Love BY DAN SAVAGE Quickies
Page 48: CANADA’S LARGEST INDEPENDENT CONC

BeatRoute Magazine AB Edition - November 2019

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?