October concert guide: Eagles, Darius Rucker, Skrillex
October begins with the Eagles in Glendale and goes on to feature such high-profile artists as Luke Bryan, the Zac Brown Band, Darius Rucker and Skrillex. Here's a look at those concerts and more, including an outdoor performance by Belle & Sebastian at Civic Square Park.
10/1: The Eagles
Pivotal players on the country-rock scene of the early '70s, the Eagles expanded the scope of their sound to great effect on "Hotel California," which, after nearly 40 years, remains among the 20 biggest-selling albums in U.S. history. Their hits include five No.1 appearances on Billboard's Hot 100 — with "Best of My Love," "One of These Nights," "New Kid in Town," "Hotel California" and "Heartache Tonight."
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1. Gila River Arena, Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue, Glendale. $62.85-$211.95. 623-772-3800, livenation.com.
10/1: Blitzen Trapper
These indie-folk sensations finished fourth with the Dylan-esque "Furr" when Rolling Stone sized up the greatest singles of 2008. Six years later, they're touring on a seventh album aptly titled "VII," which frequently rocks like the Dead in "American Beauty" mode when it isn't recalling the Band or Bob Dylan's "New Morning."
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $27; $23 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
10/2: Ana Gabriel
A major star in the Spanish-speaking world for nearly 30 years, Mexican singer Gabriel has recorded both pop albums and traditionally flavored discs with mariachi accompaniment. Her hits include "Evidencias," "Ay Amor" and "Es Demasiado Tarde." "Cosas del Amor," a 1991 duet with Vikki Carr, spent 10 weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Latin pop charts
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $53-$158. 602-379-2800, livenation.com.
10/2: Bombay Bicycle Club
These British indie-rockers beat Mumford & the Sons to take home best-new-band honors at the NME Awards in 2010. And they've sent three albums to the UK Top 10 since then, topping the charts with this year's model. "So Long, See You Tomorrow" finds them stretching out a bit, incorporating elements of Bollywood, the Beach Boys and the atmospheric neo-psychedelic pop of Animal Collective.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $27; $23 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
10/3: Nils Lofgren
This Valley rocker may be best known in the mainstream as a member of Bruce Springsteen's legendary Hall of Fame-inducted E Street Band. And fair enough. But he launched his career as a teen in the '60s with a group called Grin and played piano and guitar on two classic Neil Young albums, "After the Gold Rush" and "Tonight's the Night" before starting a solo career in the '70s. A 10-disc Lofren box set, "Face the Music," was released to wide acclaim this summer.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Indian Bend Road, Salt River Reservation. $25-$45. 480-850-7734, talkingstickresort.com.
10/3: Peanut Butter Wolf
This California-based hip-hop DJ/producer is also the founder of Stones Throw Records. His 1999 release, "My Vinyl Weighs a Ton," was named in joking reference to Public Enemy's "Miuzi Weighs a Ton." All Music Guide hailed it as "one of the grooviest, funkiest underground records of the '90s." In 2009, he brought home some well-deserved buzz for an album called "45 Live," on which he made 7-inch edits of 18 different hip-hop tracks.
Details: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $15. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
10/5: New Found Glory
These pop-punk veterans have been called "the greatest pop-punk band in history" by Bad Religion's own Brett Gurewitz, who scooped them up for Epitaph after they walked out on Geffen. Their first album for the label, "Not without a Fight," debuted at no. 12 with Alternative Press declaring it "a reminder of why we fell in love with NFG in the first place." After two albums on Epitaph, they're about to drop their first release on Hopeless, "Resurrection."
Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $27. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
10/5: Joan Sebastian
Sebastian will bring his Gira La Ultima Maroma tour to Phoenix. The Mexican singer-songwriter, whose music is a blend of Latin pop, ranchera and grupera music, has won four Grammy Awards and seven Latin Grammys since launching his career in the late '70s. In 1996, he branched out into acting, making his debut in the Mexican soap opera "Tú y Yo."
Details: 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5. US Airways Center, Second and Jefferson streets, Jefferson St., Phoenix. $55-$125. 800-745-3000, livenation.com.
10/6: Anberlin
These earnest alternative rockers topped the Billboard modern-rock-tracks chart in 2009 with the anthemic "Feel Good Drag," the first of three songs from fourth album "New Surrender" to go Top 40 on that chart. Subsequent hits include "Impossible" and "Someone Anyone." Their latest album, "Lowborn," finds them moving in an artier direction while still coming through the anthemic chorus hooks.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6. The Pressroom, 441 W. Madison St., Phoenix. $22-$25. 602-396-7136, thepressroomaz.com.
10/7: Experience Hendrix
This year's version of the touring Jimi Hendrix tribute finds the legend's former bassist Billy Cox and drummer Chris Layton of Double Trouble joined by Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society), Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, Rich Robinson (Black Crowes), Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Johnson, Mato Nanji (Indigenous)and Ana Popovic. Expect guitar heroics.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $54-$89. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.
10/8: Little Dragon
These Swedish electro-pop sensations are touring a brilliant new album called "Nabuma Rubberband" on which they do a great job of setting the tone with an opening track called "Mirror" that kind of sneaks up and brushes your arm until you're suitably seduced. The key to their appeal is, as always, lead singer Yukimi Nagano, who's toured with Gorillaz.
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. 480-829-0607, statesidepresents.com.
10/8: Belle and Sebastian
Their brilliant second album, "If You're Feeling Sinister," turned up on best-of-the-'90s lists at Rolling Stone and Pitchfork in addition to earning a spot in the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die." Although they've never had a proper hit here in the States, these Glaswegian indie-pop icons are widely revered by music geeks and critics, prized for both their keen melodic sensibilities and Stuart Murdoch's richly scripted story songs.
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8. Civic Space Park, North of Van Buren on N. Central Avenue. Phoenix. $41; $32 in advance. statesidepresents.com.
10/8: Bishop Allen
You know those albums that start to sound like less-than-subtle variations on the same song? Not a problem here. These Brooklyn rockers rarely stay in one place long enough for you to get a handle on their "sound" on this year's "Lights Out." And there's something to be said for saddling your most infectious melody with lyrics as potentially depressing as "No answer from the doctor / No, not the one that you were after / Ever test could be wrong / Then again, every test could be right."
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $14; $12. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
10/9: Skrillex
This Grammy-winning EDM sensation tops a bill that also features A$AP Ferg, Branchez and David Heartbreak. A former hardcore singer for From First to Last, he reinvented himself as a DJ/producer with "My Name Is Skrillex," an electronic dance EP he released on MySpace. After two more EPs — "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" in late 2010 and "More Monsters and Sprites" in 2011 — he was nominated for five Grammys, including best new artist, winning three (best dance/electronica album, best dance recording and best remixed recording, non-classical) in 2012. He picked up three more Grammys in 2013. His most successful recording in the States is the double-platinum single "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites."
Details: 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9. Mesa Amphitheater, 263 N. Center St. $38.50; VIP $60. 480-644-2560, mesaamp.com.
10/9: Brother Ali
If you like your hip-hop served with righteous indignation and an old-school soul vibe, this White Minnesota rapper's "Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color" could be just your speed. He sets the tone with "Letter to My Countrymen," on which he memorably rhymes, "We don't really like to talk about this race thing" with "the whole grandparents used to own slaves thing." Okayplayer loved it, writing, "Ali touches on every heavy topic under the sun but it's the more personal anecdotes, like flying home from Europe to attend his Dad's funeral or coming off tour to find his son neglected and injured, that hit hardest and make 'Mourning in America' worth copping.
Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9. Club Red, 1308 W. University Dr., Mesa. $18-$21. 480-258-2733, clubredrocks.com.
10/9: Carolina Chocolate Drops
The Guardian has called these old-timey string-band revivalists, "An appealing grab-bag of antique country, blues, jug band hits and gospel hollers. . .The most electrifying acoustic act around." They won a best-traditional-folk-album Grammy for "Genuine Negro Jig," a 2010 release that topped the Billboard bluegrass albums chart (their first of two appearances at No. 1 on that chart).
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. SOLD OUT. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
10/10: Jerry Douglas & the Earls of Leicester
Resonator guitar hero Douglas has rounded up a stellar group of Earls: Shawn Camp on guitar and lead vocals, Tim O'Brien on mandolin, Barry Bales (who plays with Douglas in Alison Krauss & Union Station) on bass, Johnny Warren on fiddle and Charlie Cushman on banjo. They'll be saluting the music of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, specifically selections from the era of 1954 to 1965.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $52.50-$62.50. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
10/11: Justin Moore
This Arkansas native topped the country charts in 2009 with "Small Town USA," a wistful ballad on which he sets the scene with, "A lot of people called it prison when I was growin' up/But these are my roots and this is what I love." He returned to the top in 2011 with "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away," which won two awards at the Inspirational Country Music Awards. His latest album, last year's "Off the Beaten Path," was his second-straight chart-topper.
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $20 reserved; general admission free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/11: Bubba's Bash with Lecrae
PGA Tour golfer and two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson will bring his third annual Bubba's Bash to Phoenix with sets by Andy Mineo, Britt Nicole, Thi'sl, FEDEL and Lecrae in the headlining spot. A Grammy-winning Christian rapper, Lecrae debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's album chart in September with a new release titled "Anomaly." A track from the album, "Nuthin'," was nominated for a BET Hip Hop Award.
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Grand Canyon University Arena, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. $10-$28; $100 VIP. 602-639-8979, gcuarena.com.
10/12: Sublime with Rome
Best remembered for the single "What I Got," Sublime broke up in 1996 after the heroin overdose of singer Bradley Nowell, returning in 2010 with Rome Ramirez, in for Nowell, and a longer name. "Yours Truly," their first album together, was produced by Paul Leary of the Butthole Surfers. In one of the more positive reviews the album got, an Entertainment Weekly critic wrote, "The Long Beach ska punks have a new singer, a more melodic mellow bounce — and a lot less edge.
Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $20 reserved; general admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/12: Chick Corea
He played piano for Miles Davis in the '60s, moved on to Return to Forever in the '70s and is widely viewed to be one of major jazz piano voices to emerge in the post–John Coltrane era. This rare solo concert, in support of this year's "Portraits," promises plenty of improvisation, Corea classics, jazz standards, classical renderings and tracks from "Children's Songs."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. $39-$69. 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org.
10/13: New Pornographers
A.C. Newman has said of the indie-pop sensations' latest triumph, an album aptly titled "Brill Bruisers," "After periods of difficulty, I am at a place where nothing in my life is dragging me down and the music reflects that. We wanted 'Xanadu' and we wanted Sigue Sigue Sputnik, which translated into sparklier and faster." Newman's take on "Xanadu" is clearly artier and more cerebral than even the most ambitious ELO songs on that soundtrack, but the hooks are every bit as undeniable.
Details: 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $30. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
10/14: Kris Kristofferson
He's a bit of a Renaissance man — a Country Music Hall of Famer, a Golden Gloves boxer, a Rhodes scholar, a college football player, an acclaimed actor, a military officer, a helicopter pilot and a three-time Grammy-winner. He's touring in support of "Feeling Mortal," the third Don Was-produced album in a late-career trilogy following 2009's "Closer To the Bone" and 2006's "This Old Road." In recent years, he's been touring acoustically — because, as he explains it, "There's an honesty in the sparseness."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $32-$62. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
10/14: SBTRKT
Aaron Jerome, a London-based producer, has remixed songs by Drake, M.I.A, Radiohead, Basement Jaxx, Mark Ronson and Underworld, in addition to performing live with his frequent collaborator Sampha. He explained why he prefers the name SBTRKT in an interview with Clash magazine: "I'm not a social person, so having to talk to DJs to make them play a record is not something I want to do. It's more about giving them a record as an anonymous person and seeing whether they like it or not. If they play it, they play it." The "anonymous person" concept is reinforced live by the wearing of ceremonial masks.
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $32. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
10/14: Gramatik
This Slovenian EDM star plays an atmospheric blend of hip-hop, glitch, electro, old-school soul and dubstep. He started making beats at 13 and built a buzz through free file sharing. After signing to Pretty Lights Music, he moved to Brooklyn. Having launched his career in 2008 with an album of pure hip-hop beats that spent six months on Beatport.com's Top 100 chill out charts, he's managed to sell more than 100,000 tracks on Beatport, earning nominations for best chill out artist and best chill out track at the 2010 and 2012 Beatport Music Awards.
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $32. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
10/15: Darius Rucker
Rucker was the face of mainstream rock in his mid-'90s heyday, fronting Hootie & the Blowfish, whose first album, "Cracked Rear View," is No.15 on the list of all-time biggest-selling U.S. albums. But it's Rucker's unexpected rebirth as a country star that brings him to the Arizona State Fair, where he's sure to dust off several Hootie hits and all six songs he's taken to No.1 on Billboard's country charts.
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $25 reserved; general admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/15: Insane Clown Posse
Are you down with the Clown? The Detroit rap duo of Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope have amassed a large cult following with their Faygo-spraying horrorcore performances since dropping their first album, "Carnival of Carnage," back in 1992. In addition to Faygo, the spectacle that is their live show features dancing clowns, monsters and trampolines. They have no hits but they don't need them, either.
Details: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15. Mesa Amphitheater, 263 N. Center St. $38.50; VIP $60. 480-644-2560, mesaamp.com.
10/16: Weezer
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Weezer's self-titled debut, the unlikeliest modern-rock radio staple of the early '90s, fueled by Rivers Cuomo's cult of nerdy personality, sing-along hooks and a blanket of fuzz. The first of three self-titled Weezer albums, it sold more than 3million copies, largely on the strength of three great videos: "Undone – The Sweater Song," the "Happy Days"-themed "Buddy Holly" and "Say It Ain't So." "Pinkerton," a second album based in part on "Madame Butterfly," killed the momentum, but it's now remembered in some circles as the greatest Weezer album ever. And though they've yet to top those first two efforts, Weezer's catalog is packed with albums well worth warming up to, and they're always entertaining live.
Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $25 reserved; general admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/16: Zac Brown Band
Since breaking through in 2008, these multiplatinum, Grammy-winning superstars have topped the Billboard country charts with no fewer than eight songs — the four-times-platinum "Chicken Fried," "Toes," "Highway 20 Ride," "Free," "As She's Walking Away," "Colder Weather," "Knee Deep" and "Keep Me In Mind." Their latest effort is an EP titled "The Grohl Sessions, Vol. 1," named for producer Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame.
Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16. Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $29.50-$74.50. 800-745-3000, livenation.com.
10/17: Wiz Khalifa
When this chart-topping rapper rocked a sold-out show at Mesa Amphitheatre in 2011, he commanded the stage at 23 with the confidence of someone who'd been doing this for longer than this dude has been alive. Of course, it didn't hurt that he'd taken home a best-new-artist trophy from the BET Awards just two days earlier. His breakthrough single, "Black and Yellow," topped the Hot 100 in 2010 along the way to going triple-platinum. His biggest hits include the double-platinum "No Sleep" and triple-platinum soundtrack hit "Young, Wild & Free," which boasted guest appearances by Bruno Mars and kindred spirit Snoop Dogg. And by kindred spirit, let's just say Khalifa named his breakthrough album "Rolling Papers."
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $25 reserved; general admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/17: Lee Ann Womack
This Texas singer topped the country charts with the Y2K crossover hit "I Hope You Dance," which earned a Grammy for best country song and was certified platinum. Womack's other hits include "The Fool," "You've Got to Talk to Me," "A Little Past Little Rock" and "I'll Think of a Reason Later." She's here in support of "The Way I'm Livin'," an impressive new release whose most inspired moments are aching ballads.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. $49-$79. 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org.
10/18: Mastodon
It's not for nothing that an article in Rolling Stone once correctly proclaimed them "America's new kings of metal." That was in 2009, the year they hit the streets with "Crack the Skye," a towering accomplishment that somehow lived up to the promise of 2004's "Leviathan," a concept album loosely based on Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick." As they were touring "Crack the Skye," the website MetalSucks declared "Leviathan" the century's best metal album. Meanwhile, "Crack the Skye" topped year-end lists at Metal Hammer and Rock Sounds. And the love affair continued two years later when "The Hunter" finished No. 1 on year-end lists at Metal Hammer, Rock Sounds, Classic Rock and Kerrang! Don't be surprised when this year's "Once More 'Round the Sun" continues that tradition in a few months.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
10/18: John Fogerty
He fronted CCR (or Creedence Clearwater Revival), whose hits hits include such American classics as "Proud Mary," "Bad Moon Rising," "Green River," "Down on the Corner," "Travelin' Band," "Who'll Stop the Rain," "Up Around the Bend," "Run Through the Jungle," "Lookin' Out My Back Door," "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?," "Hey Tonight," "Sweet Hitch-hiker" and "Fortunate Son."
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $20 reserved; general admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/18: Metronomy
These U.K.-based indie-pop veterans are touring a soulful new gem of an album titled "Love Letters" on which their electronic beats are topped by atmospheric synths and melancholy vocals that frequently lapse into aching falsetto. It's haunting music with a pulse. Mojo called it a "charming, fat-free album" while Under the Radar noted: "Pushing away the froth and frivolity, they leave a darker, more satisfying, and ultimately superior record in their wake." And so you know, their live shows have been known to feature dance routines.
Details: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $18; $16 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
10/19: Fifth Harmony
The members of Fifth Harmony were assembled at the end of boot camp on "The X Factor" by Simon Cowell. They finished third but won MTV's artist to watch at the Video Music Awards this summer, so they may be doing better than Tate Stevens and Carly Rose Sonenclar, the contestants who finished ahead of them that season.
Details: 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $15 reserved; general admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/20: Charli XCX
At her best, on a "Nuclear Seasons" or a "You're the One," she appears to be channeling the moodier side of the techno-pop '80s in a way that should appeal to anyone who loves Marina and the Diamonds half as much as I do. But that's when she was hipster bait. More people know her now because that "Boom Clap" song -- which is a different kind of great -- was featured on the soundtrack to "The Fault in Our Stars" and went Top 10 here in the States.
Details: 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. SOLD OUT. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
10/21: Erasure
Produced by Richard X and due Sept. 23, "The Violet Flame" is the 16th studio release for the U.K. synth-pop duo of Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. Erasure sent a string of singles to the Top 10 on the U.S. dance charts, starting with their debut, "Who Needs Love Like That," and including the Top 5 entries "Sometimes," "Victim of Love," "Chains of Love," "A Little Respect," "Stop!," "Star," "In My Arms," "Don't Say Your Love is Killing Me" and "Breathe" (which topped the charts in 2005, a full two decades down the road from "Who Needs Love Like That").
Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $45-$50. 602-379-2800, livenation.com.
10/22: Ray LaMontagne
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter hits Phoenix in support of "Supernova," an album recorded in Nashville with Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach producing. NPR called the album "explosively creative" while Rolling Stone said the songwriter's "vision bursts into vivid Sixties-pop color." LaMontagne's Grammy was a best-folk-album win for 2010's "God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $35-$50. 602-379-2800, livenation.com.
10/22: Safe in Sound Festival
Relentless Beats presents the Safe In Sound Festival featuring Caked Up, Destroid, Flux Pavilion and Terravita. Caked Up is the Vegas-based DJ/producer duo of Oscar Wylde and Vegas Banger. Destroid is a collaboration between Canadian bass star Excision (one of several dubstep producers Korn brought in to reinvent their sound on "The Path of Totality"), Downlink and Pendulum drummer KJ Sawka. If you like the thought of live musicians doing bass and dubstep, you won't want to miss it. Flux Pavilion is a one-man electronic orchestra.
Details: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $58. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
10/22: Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies topped the Hot 100 with their biggest hit, "One Week," in 1998. Their other hits include "Pinch Me" and "It's All Been Done." More recently they supplied the theme song for "The Big Bang Theory" and released an 11th album, aptly titled "Grinning Streak."
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $25 reserved; general admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/23: Luke Bryan
Released last summer, Bryan's latest album, "Crash My Party," was his first release to top the Billboard album charts and second album in a row to top the country charts. His hits include country chart-toppers "Rain is a Good Thing," "Someone Else Calling You Baby," "I Don't Want This Night to End," "Drunk on You," "That's My Kind of Night," "Drink a Beer" and "Play It Again." He won top country artist and top country album (for "Crash My Party") at this year's Billboard Music Awards.
Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $29.50-$59.25. 800-745-3000, livenation.com.
10/24: Warpaint
Their latest self-titled release is a great-sounding record, with Flood (best known for working with U2) producing and Nigel Godrich (Beck, Radiohead and Paul McCartney) mixing. But they could have gone all lo-fi and achieved the same effect when those sultry lead vocals wrap themselves around a chorus hook as mesmerizing as "Love is to die/ Love is to not die" while taking an unexpected turn with both the melody and chord progression.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. The Pressroom, 441 W. Madison St., Phoenix. $18-$22. 602-396-7136, thepressroomaz.com.
10/24: OK Go
The fact that these power-pop veterans owe whatever name recognition they have in the mainstream to a string of quirky videos, not the power of their pop, would appear to suggest that the music is lacking. But it isn't, really. Their albums are strong enough to stand or fall on their own merits. But radio doesn't play this kind of music anymore. Hence, the need to reach out to the YouTube demographic with silly shenanigans, at which they're proven to be fairly brilliant. So go for the videos, stay for the hooks.
Details: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $20; $18. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
10/24: Arizona Jazz Festival
"Uncle" Charlie Wilson, Boyz II Men and New Edition members Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant, performing live as Heads of State, are among the headliners. Also playing: Boney James, Jaheim, Chrisette Michele, Fantasia, Brian McKnight, Mindi Abair in an interesting pairing with Stax great Booker T and "American Idol" semi-finalist Elliot Yamin, Eric Darius, Peter White and Euge Groove performing together, Mint Condition, jazz-funk Brian Culbertson, Kem and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.
Details: 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24; 1:15 Saturday, Oct. 25; 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. Arizona Grand Resort & Spa, 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway, Phoenix. $50-$750. 602-444-8444, arizonajazzfestival.com.
10/24: Colbie Caillat
This Grammy-winning, acoustic-guitar-toting singer has sold more than 6 million albums and 10 million singles worldwide. Her U.S. hits include four platinum singles — her 2007 breakthrough "Bubbly," "Realize," "Fallin' for You" and "Brighter than the Sun."
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $20 reserved; general admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/25: Dave Pratt's 1980 Something with Berlin, Tom Keifer and John Waite
This is an odd assortment of artists with only the '80s in common. Berlin are best remember for "You Take My Breath Away," the chart-topping love theme from "Top Gun." Keifer fronted Cinderella, the Stonesiest hair-metal band on the planet. And Waite was in the Babys and Bad English, topping Billboard's Hot 100 as a solo act with "Missing You," in which he swears he isn't missing you but we all know how that goes.
Details: 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $15 reserved; general admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/25: Arctic Monkeys
By the time they emerged with the reckless abandon and working-class heroics of "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not," the buzz was such that by week's end, it had become the fastest-selling debut by a British rock act ever. In the eight years since that landmark album hit the streets, they've made good on the hype with no fewer than four great albums — "Favourite Worst Nightmare," "Humbug," "Suck It and See" and last year's "AM," which has made them more popular here in the States than ever (hence the move from Tempe's Marquee Theatre to Comerica). The new album has spun off a number of crowd-pleasing U.S. rock-radio hits — "R U Mine?," "Do I Wanna Know?," "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?"
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $30-$45. 602-379-2800, livenation.com.
10/26: Josh Turner
This Nashville star has topped the country singles chart four times, with "Your Man," "Would You Go With Me," "Why Don't We Just Dance" and "All Over Me." He's also won six Inspirational Country Music Awards, including song of the year for breakthrough single "Long Black Train," and "Me and God."
Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $20 reserved; general admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/28: State Champs
The fact that they'd bring in a member of New Found Glory, Steve Klein, to producer "The Finer Things," their first full-length effort, should give you a pretty good idea what State Champs are all about — infectious pop-punk songcraft deliever with plenty of youthful abandon.
Details: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28. Nile Theater, 105 W. Main St., Mesa. $13-$15. 480-559-5859, niletheater.com.
10/29: Citizen Cope
The man's been known to shake up the set list with interesting covers, from Radiohead to Neil Young's "Out on the Weekend." And his latest album, 2012's "One Lovely Day" included a haunting reinvention of Glen Campbell's "Southern Nights." As for Cope's new originals, there are some definite standouts, starting with the wistful chamber-folk charms of the album's title track.
Details: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $40. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
10/29: Afrojack
This Dutch producer/DJ made the Top 10 in the last three years of DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list. He's been a featured artist on two giant pop hits — Pitbull's chart-topping "Give Me Everything" and Beyonce's "Run the World (Girls)." He also scored a minor U.S. pop hit of his own in 2010 with "Take Over Control," which featured Eva Simons.
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. General admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/30: Queens of the Stone Age
Last year, they launched "...Like Clockwork," their first album in six years, with the pulsating swagger of "Keep Your Eyes Peeled," combining sexy as Led Zeppelin would have done it with the drama of "OK Computer." "I Sat by the Ocean" brought some glam-rock boogie to the table while "The Vampyre of Time and Memory" lived up to the gothic promise of its title as it slowly rocked the blues with a really nice vocal from Josh Homme. And Homme was even more effective on "Kalopsia," a waltz-time gem that takes the whisper-to-a-scream approach Nirvana borrowed from the Pixies to infectious new extremes. "My God Is the Sun," a dark, dramatic goth-blues anthem with a million-dollar chorus hook, gave them their highest-charting rock hit since 2005's "Little Sister" for a reason. And "I Appear Missing," the album's most dramatic cut, could have been an even bigger hit if given half a chance.
Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. Arizona State Fair, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $20 reserved; general admission is free with fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/30: Jimmy Eat World
This is the Futures Tour, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Mesa-based rockers' fifth album, which hit the Billboard charts at No. 6 and spawned the Top 10 modern-rock hits "Pain" and "Work." Alternative Press declared it "a beautiful example of what 'heart-on-sleeve' music should be." And it's not just beautiful, either (although "Drugs or Me" is definitely that and then some). It rocks through those emotions with authority on such obvious highlights as the title track and "Pain."
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $34. 480-829-0607, statesidepresents.com.
10/30: Duke Dumont
A former protege of Switch, this British DJ/music producer first made a name for himself on the strength of remixes for Lily Allen ("The Fear"), Mystery Jets ("Two Doors Down") and Bat for Lashes ("Daniel"). He's best known for his single "Need U (100%)", which featured A*M*E and topped the U.K. singles chart in 2013. This year, the song was nominated for best dance recording at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
Details: 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. Maya Day + Night Club. 7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. $10. mayaclubaz.com.
10/31: Black Veil Brides
These glam-tastic Hollywood rockers broke through in 2010 with "Knives and Pens," which didn't chart on radio but attracted 30.8 million viewers on YouTube. The president of Lava Records told HitQuarters magazine what made him want to sign them: "They are bringing back what has been missing for over a decade: they are rock heroes that are truly larger than life. The makeup, the hair, the leather and most importantly they have great songs, great playing." Their second album, "Set the World on Fire," sent two singles to Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 2011. And last year's "Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones," spawned their biggest rock-radio hit yet, "In the End."
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $29. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
10/31: Ziggy Marley
Bob Marley's oldest son has won six Grammys since he and his siblings released their first Melody Makers album, "Children Playing," in 1979. They went Top 40 nine years later with their best-known song, "Tomorrow People." And Marley is currently touring an acclaimed fifth solo album called "Fly Rasta," which features guest appearance by former Melody Makers Sharon and Cedella Marley.
Details: Friday, Oct. 31. Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Gila River Reservation. $36-$90. 800-946-4452, wingilariver.com.