Weekend music
Remembering Bob Spasm, plus Tucson native Lisa Morales's border-tinged Americana
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Bob Spasm fronting Bloodspasm at the now defunct Vaudeville Cabaret -
courtesy of Lisa Morales MusicLisa Morales
Tucson native Lisa Morales grew up immersed in music and language. Her mother raised her on quotes from literary giants like Spanish poet Gabriel Garcia Lorca and taught her the beauty and flexibility of the Spanish language, while her brother gave her more of a rock and roll education, helping turn her on to bands like Buffalo Springfield and songwriting luminaries such as Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell.
Morales started performing with her siblings at a young age, singing in Spanish at Mexican restaurants around town including the now defunct institution La Fuente. She kept on performing through her middle school and high school years.
A few years later, Morales was a UA undergrad whose passion for music hadn't waned. She followed a friend and fellow student to Texas and pretty much never left, immersing herself in the blues rock scene in the early '80s during the heyday of such players as Charlie Sexton and the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Sexton is, in fact, one of the players on Morales' latest album, "Luna Negra," an work with a multi-textured fusion of border rock, Texas guitar blues, and Americana. Though Morales primarily writes in English, many of the lyrics on the new album are in Spanish, which Morales notes gives the songs more nuance and beauty due to the richness of the language in comparison to some of English's poetic limitations.
Lisa Morales returns to her hometown Friday night for a show at the Rialto in support of her latest album. Doors open at 7 p.m. with Los Lonely Boys opening the set. Learn more about her new album and check out her music at www.lisamoralesmusic.com.
Remembering Bob Spasm
Legendary Tucson hardcore band Bloodspasm had a number of supposed "last shows ever" but this time they really mean it.
When band leader Bob "Spasm" McKinley died last year, a final send-off performance and an underground scene reunion was inevitable. This weekend's memorial/concert/rock and roll wake will feature performances by Fang, Al Perry, Hank Topless, The Besmirchers, Al Foul, a reunion of Feast Upon Cactus Thorns and a Bob Spasmless version of Blood Spasm as well as stories, jokes, photos art and memories of one of the Tucson underground's most interesting characters and a truly surly punk rock gentleman.
The "Bob Spasm Ain't Gonna Come Back Special" takes place this Saturday at 191 Toole. Doors open at 6 p.m.
In other news, this weekend's lineup marks the tail end of Tucson's bounty of SXSW-fueled touring band richness but also marks a resurgence of some local bands and performers after a season of hibernation. Check them all out in the local listings below.
Check your local listings...
Friday, March 23
- El TambÓ Presents Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra, Santa Pachita, Sonido El TambÓ - 8 p.m. Hotel Congress (Downtown)
- Toxin, X-Method, Napalm Strike, The Sindicate, Broken - The Loudhouse (North)
- Los Lonely Boys, Lisa Morales - The Rialto 8p.m. (Downtown)
- Texas T Trash, Bordertown Devils, BTP & Friends, Daniel “Dang” Black - 9 p.m. Surly Wench (Downtown)
- Sundust Road - 9 p.m. The Parish (North)
- Raven Ashley, Dulcet Chimera, Deschtuco - 9 p.m. Brodie's Tavern (Central)
Saturday, March 24
- Bob Spasm Memorial w/ Al Foul and ahe Shakes, The Besmirchers, Al Perry and Hank Topless, Fang, Fuct, Sing Along with Blood Spasm - 6 p.m. 191 Toole (Downtown)
- Foxx Bodies, Lucille, Rabbit Snare - 7 p.m. Club Congress
- Rusty Green, Sigils Of Summoning, The Great Citizens, Guardians, The Mindless, Dead Man Dom, Minutes To Midnight - 7 p.m. The Rock
- The Adobe Collective - 8 p.m. Exo Bar (Downtown)
- Raza Ordinaria, Mosto (Nogalas), Nico Maleon - 8 pm. The Loudhouse (North)
- 8:00 PMThe Rialto Theatre
- Drezo, No Mana - 8 p.m. The Rialto (Downtown)
- Belinda Esquer Album Release - 9 p.m. The Flycatcher (Downtown)
- Diluvio with Special Guests - 9 p.m. SkyBar (Downtown)
Sunday, March 25
- Mik and the Funky Brunch - 12 p.m. La Cocina (Downtown)
- Double Trouble - 7 p.m. Royal Sun (Downtown)
- Ybn Nahmir - 8 p.m. 191 Toole (Downtown)
- John Jacob Magistery - 9 p.m. The Flycatcher (Downtown)
Monday, March 26
- Mary Ocher, Snackbirdy - 7 p.m. at Club Congress (Downtown)
- Brokedown Palace - 7 pm. Royal Sun (Downtown)
Wednesday, March 28
- High Up, Whispertown, Lydian Osman - 7 p.m. at Club Congress (Downtown)
