Classic summer blockbusters return to Harkins Theatres
Harkins Theatres will present Tuesday Night Classics at 7p.m. with special presentations of retro films. For $5, guests can relive their favorite films on the big screen at theaters throughout the Valley, including SanTan Village 16.
2015 lineup includes:
“Top Gun” Tuesday, July 7
“Saving Private Ryan” Tuesday, July 14
“The Karate Kid” Tuesday, July 21
“The Usual Suspects” Tuesday, July 28
“The Departed” Tuesday, Aug. 4
“Bad Boys” Tuesday, Aug. 11
“The Shawshank Redemption” Tuesday, Aug. 18
“Beverly Hills Cop” Tuesday, Aug. 25
“The Sound of Music” Tuesday, Sept. 1
“Fletch” Tuesday, Sept. 8
“North by Northwest” Tuesday, Sept. 15
“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” Tuesday, Sept. 22
“Raising Arizona” Tuesday, Sept. 29
“Gremlins” Tuesday, Oct. 6
“Alien” Tuesday, Oct. 13
“The Exorcist” Tuesday, Oct. 20
“Halloween” Tuesday, Oct. 27
“Three Amigos” Tuesday, Nov. 3
“The Jerk” Tuesday, Nov. 10
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” Tuesday, Nov. 17
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” Tuesday, Nov. 24
“Christmas Vacation” Tuesday, Dec. 1
“Elf” Tuesday, Dec. 8
“A Christmas Story” Tuesday, Dec. 15
“The Polar Express” Tuesday, Dec. 22. For more information, visit www. HarkinsTheatres.com/TNC.
The Pond—Moonlight, multiple gum bichromate print by Edward Steichen, 1904. Wikipedia
ON STAGE
Taylor Hicks, Saturday, July 4, HAC. Season Five American Idol winner, Hicks is bringing his take on southern soul, R&B, country and blues.
Daisy Train, Saturday, July 4, HAC. Come see some of Arizona’s best country talent that makes up Daisy Train as they perform hits from country music’s top artists of today including Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean and many more.
“Tarzan,” Thursday, July 9, through Saturday, Aug. 22, HCT. When a fatherdaughter team of scientists arrives to study the flora and fauna of the area, Tarzan learns for the first time that there are others like him in the world.
DSB Journey Tribute, Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, HAC. DSB has been called the “next best thing” to Journey and captures the essence and quality of the iconic rock band.
Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Friday, July 10, WHP. Creedence Clearwater Revival headlined the Saturday night slot at the legendary Woodstock Music Festival.
Boz Scaggs, Saturday, July 11, WHP. Scaggs is a musical seeker and a man of sizeable talent as a singer, songwriter and guitarist.
The English Beat, Saturday, July 11, LW. The English Beat is well known for its unique mix of ska, pop, reggae, soul and punk rock.
“An Evening of Old Time Radio,” Tuesday, July 14, through Saturday, July 18, SLCT. The theater’s summer show features “An Evening of Old Time Radio.”
Under the Sun Tour, Friday, July 17, WHP. Eve 6, Sugar Ray, Uncle Kracker and Better Than Ezra will perform.
Trejavu, Friday, July 17, HAC. These versatile musicians will keep the dance floor packed with a variety of Top 40
dance, rock, R&B, hop hop, Motown and more.
Aztex, Saturday, July 18, HAC. This fusion of R&B, Latin and rock is sure to impress as Aztex takes the stage.
One of These Nights, Sunday, July 19, WHP. One of These Nights is a tribute to the music of the Eagles.
The Walkens, Friday, July 24, HAC. Known for energy, professionalism and diversity, The Walkens are a go-to band for entertaining a crowd.
Quantrum, Saturday, July 25, HAC. Quantrum is an entertaining blend of R&B, funk, old school jazz and Top 40 music.
Shining Star, Friday, July 31, HAC. Shining Star brings experience paired with an extensive song list to make sure everyone has a good time.
Come Back Buddy, Friday, July 31, CCA. Come Back Buddy is a three-piece rock ‘n’ roll band inspired by the legendary Buddy Holly and the Crickets.
Rodney Carrington, Saturday, Aug. 8, WHP. Rodney Carrington is a comedian, actor, singer and songwriter.
Sugar Thieves, Friday, Aug. 14, CCA. The Sugar Thieves have a sultry blues roots foundation and powerhouse delta sound.
“American Idol Live!” Sunday, Aug. 16, MAC. The concert will give fans the opportunity to get up close and personal with the top five Idols from season 14.
Bowling for Soup, Monday, Sept. 21, LW. The Texas-based band Bowling for Soup is known for such hits as “Girl All the Bad Guys Want,” “Almost,” “High School Never Ends” and “1985.” It is touring with special guests Dolly Rots and Ivory Tribe.
VENUES
CCA—Chandler Center for the Arts
250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Tickets: (480) 782-2680, www. chandlercenter.org
HCT—Hale Center Theatre
50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert Tickets: (480) 497-1181, www. haletheatrearizona.com
HAC—Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino 15406 N. Maricopa Rd., Maricopa Tickets: (480) 802-5000, www. harrahsakchin.com
LW—Livewire
7320 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale Tickets: (480) 970-1112 or www. Livewireaz.com
MAC — Mesa Arts Center
One E. Main St., Mesa Tickets: (480) 644-6500, www. mesaartscenter.com
SLCT—Sun Lakes Community Theatre
25630 S. Brentwood Dr., Sun Lakes Tickets: (480) 382-6290 or www.slctinfo. com
WHP—Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino
5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler Tickets: (800) 946-4452 or www. wingilariver.com/wild-horse-pass
FIREFLY CROSSING
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
This year’s “American Idol” winner Nick Fradiani “randomly” auditioned for the Fox TV show after a little convincing by his friends, family and talent scouts. He had some hesitation, but he said he feels he made a “pretty good choice.”
“I didn’t think it was something for me,” said Fradiani, who previously appeared on “America’s Got Talent” with his band. “I just felt at the end, before I did it, that this was an opportunity where if I didn’t do it, I might really regret it. I thought, ‘Why not just do it.’
“I lucked out. I definitely lucked out.”
helped write his song.
“When you get Chris Carrabba to write a song for you, it’s incredible,” said Fradiani, calling from Nashville where he was meeting with Scott Borchetta, the CEO of the “Idol’s” label, Big Machine Records.
Borchetta and “American Idol,” Fradiani said, schooled him in music. The top stage hands, choreographers and vocal coaches helped improve his stage presence.
“That was my best improvement,” Fradiani explained. “I worked on the overall self-confidence of it all.”
That self-confidence will shine at the “Idol” show at the Mesa Arts Center.
Fradiani is pushing his coronation song “Beautiful Life,” a track co-penned by Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba.
The song—which he expects to be on his debut album set for release next year— will be included in his set when he and the other four finalists come to the Mesa Arts Center on Sunday, Aug 16.
The song is classic Carrabba, with a powerful chorus and strong melodies. Fradiani said he couldn’t believe Carrabba
“The tour’s going to be great,” he explained. “I’m so excited for it. It’s a little different than years past and an improvement than years past.”
“American Idol Live!” comes to the Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, One E. Main St., Mesa, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16. Tickets are $39 to $309. For more information, call (480) 644-6500 or visit www.mesaartscenter.com.
Uncle Kracker to play every single ‘Under the Sun’
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Uncle Kracker prefers not to sit around. He feels more comfortable on a consistent tour for six or seven weeks, instead of periodic shows.
“I like getting out on tour when it’s a tour that’s booked, so you start and then you end and then you go home and sit for a minute,” said Uncle Kracker, otherwise known as Michigan-bred Matt Shafer.
“I like it better than a continuous, all-year run where it never really stops. You just keep bouncing home. It gets monotonous and never ending.”
Calling from Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada, Uncle Kracker will soon travel with the “Under the Sun” tour, which also boasts performances by Sugar Ray, Eve 6 and Better Than Ezra. It kicks off Friday, July 17, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino’s Ovations Showroom.
“I love being able to play, drive to the next city and play again the next night,” he said. I love how action packed it will be. Just bam, bam, bam. Before you know it, after a couple weeks, you’ve hit 10 cities in two weeks. It feels good. It feels like you’ve done something.”
Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath, who founded the tour that differs yearly, said he admires Uncle Kracker.
“He’s such a gentleman and a great guy, his whole band,” McGrath explains. “They really exemplify what this tour’s about. Every band on here has to share the same spirit—a willingness to please the crowd. Instead of saying, ‘Here’s a new one.’ We’re saying, ‘Let’s play these short sets and hit them with all the hits.’ I can’t think of a better partner to drive around the country than Uncle Kracker.”
One thing Uncle Kracker likes about “Under the Sun” is that—literally—all four acts are playing all of their hits under the sun.
“Everybody just comes out, they play their hits and leave,” Uncle Kracker said.
“It’s a good blend of everybody and everything. If I find myself playing an hour and a half, I will play new songs to people who don’t want to hear them. It gets frustrating, but it’s the way it’s been done for years and that’s the way it’ll always be done.”
Speaking of which, Uncle Kracker is working on new songs for an album that’s “almost in the can.”
“I’ve been finding myself (writing music) that’s almost reminiscent of my very first album—rap stuff mixed with old, classic country—back to some poppy, vibe fun. It’s very all over the place,” said Uncle Kracker, who has three daughters ages 16, 15 and 11.
“I’m doing something that’s fun to me. I keep going back to what I like.”
His musical tastes these days are focused on rap, particularly focusing on Machine Gun Kelly and Mac Miller.
“I like the way these kids use their words and have fun,” said Uncle Kracker, who formerly served as Kid Rock’s DJ. “It reminds me of when I was a kid.”
Under the Sun with Sugar Ray, Better Than Ezra, Uncle Kracker and Eve 6 perform at 8 p.m. Friday, July 17, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Showroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler. Tickets are $63 to $99. For more information, call (800) 946-4452 or visit www.wingilariver.com.
