Best Phoenix Shows This Weekend: Snail Mail, Omar Apollo, Trill’s Anniversary

This weekend offers a selection of unique and memorable musical experiences. Over the next 72 hours, you can rage with bass music fans in an immersive EDM wonderland, witness the four elements of hip-hop culture in action, or check out grind artists performing on a tape- industrial rock sound.
Regular concert-style gigs will also take place in the valley from Friday April 29th to Sunday May 1st, including concerts by indie rock bands Snail Mail and Car Seat Headrest, pop-meets-soul singer Omar Apollo and the band of Finnish metal. Amorphis. KWSS radio host and “Scene Mom” Dani Cutler will also celebrate her 50th birthday with (what else?) a locals-only show and the annual Cinco de Mayo Phoenix festival returns after a two-year absence. .
Below are details on each of these shows and musical events. And for even more concerts in the Valley this weekend, go Phoenix New Times‘ online music lists.
Postal mail
friday april 29
The Nile Theater, 105 West Main Street, Mesa
Indie rocker Lindsay Jordan, 22, started recording under the name Snail Mail when she was just 15. His first self-produced EP, Stickywas enough to land the artist her first gig at Baltimore’s Unregistered Nurse, where she impressed one of the last bands, post-punk DC band Priests, so much that they recruited Jordan to their Sister Polygon label. Records and released their second EP, Habit. But it was Snail Mail’s first feature film, Lush, it changed everything for the young singer. Met with universal acclaim for his dreamy music and deeply complex vocals, Lush was hailed as an indie-rock masterpiece and landed on countless year-end best-of lists. Somehow, Jordan avoided the dreaded sophomore slump when 2021 saw the release of his second feature film, valentine, which flirted a little with pop synthesizers but showed that Snail Mail was as great a songwriter as ever. His tour in support of the album hits the Nile at Mesa on Friday night. The Goon Sax opens the 7 p.m. show. Admission is $22. David Flecher
Dani Cutler’s 50th birthday party
Saturday April 30
Last Live Exit, 717 South Central Avenue
KWSS radio host Dani Cutler lives and breathes local music, so much so that she has been nicknamed “Scene Mom” by a few artists. For proof, listen to Cutler’s namesake morning show any day of the week on the popular independent station, which plays local bands regularly. Its 50th anniversary party this weekend at Last Exit Live will offer the same, as its all-local lineup will include performances by rock bands such as Fire By Night, Turn Zero, The Woodworks and Let Alone. The party starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Benjamin Leatherman
Omar Apollo
Saturday April 30
The Van Buren, 401 West Van Buren Street
Pop-meets-soul singer Omar Apollo will perform at The Van Buren on Saturday, April 30, delivering his idiosyncratic sonic fusion to a packed crowd. Since his breakthrough single “Ugotme” in 2017, the Mexican-American artist, who honed his craft growing up in Indiana, has found himself touring the world, delivering a slam-dunk of a debut effort. . Apollo will be joined on the bill by singer-songwriter Deb Never. Doors are at 7 p.m. The show is officially sold out, according to The Van Buren’s website, but you can dig up tickets on the secondary market. Olivia McAuley
black tiger sex machine
Saturday April 30
Phoenix Raceway, 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive, Avondale
Canadian trio Black Tiger Sex Machine are known for playing dark and aggressive electronic music wearing illuminated tiger headphones. Their Once Upon A Time in Cyberworld tour, inspired by their recently released third album, is coming to the Valley this weekend and promises an “immersive experience” involving gigantic LED screens, plenty of special effects and plenty of bass that rocks the crowd. ears. The trio’s fan base, collectively known as BTSM Church, will flock to the festival-like event, which begins at 8 p.m. with opening sets from Lucii, Kai Wachi, Vampa, Hairitage and Swarm. General Admission is $50 to $80 and VIP tickets (which include express entry, a souvenir lanyard, and other perks) are $125. David Flecher and Benjamin Leatherman
Kevin Saunderson
Saturday April 30
Walter Where?House, 702 North 21st Avenue
This Saturday, Walter Where?House brings one of the original architects of Detroit techno to town. Kevin Saunderson was part of the first wave of techno artists in the late 80s. Alongside artists like Derrick May and Juan Atkins, Saunderson helped create the sound that would inspire a million subgenres and movements. music over the next four decades. Later tracks like “Good Life” and “Big Fun” helped make him a household name in club culture around the world. Although Saunderson has been in the game for over 40 years, his modern sets are far from retro. He mixes new takes on old techno classics from his massive discography of classics from some of the genre’s latest and greatest innovative underground artists. See a true trailblazer in action this weekend with local techno DJs like Disco Zombie and Pleasures. Doors are at 9 p.m. and tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the door. Wanz Dover
Lust: back to the end
Saturday April 30
Pub Rock Live, 8005 East Roosevelt Street, Scottsdale
When local fetish-focused performance troupe The Agents of Lust throws a party, it’s usually filled with messy, loud, and chaotic fun. Equal parts industrial rock concert, debauched dance party and fringe freakfest, the troupe’s events over the past decade have blended perverse theatrics, dark sounds, outrageous activities and libidinous thrills. If you have never attended before, theLust: back to the endat Pub Rock Live will be one of your last chances to do so. According to co-host Rance Granthrax Jorgensen, the agents plan to host one or two more parties before going their separate ways in late 2022. They’re pulling out all the stops for this weekend’s event, which will feature an electro- dark metal. Luna 13, punk/metal/electronic artist billy virus and “contrasting sound trash can” Acid Trash, as well as local bands SLUT and Chzbrgr Picnic. DJ Dru Tang will also perform and Agents of Lust will add to the cacophony by unleashing showers of sparks with metal grinders. The party starts at 8 p.m. and admission is $10. Benjamin Leatherman
Trill’s third birthday
Saturday April 30 and Monday May 1
Trill, 1817 East Indian School Road
Phoenix hip-hop store, Trill, celebrates its third year of operation in its current home with a two-day celebration, which will feature the four elements of hip-hop culture. A three-on-three b-boy battle for a $3,000 cash prize will take place on Saturday, a “controller-only” DJ battle will take place on Sunday, and appearances by graf-slingers and rapper sets are scheduled for all. throughout the weekend. Headliners include MURS, Statik Selektah, J’Da Wildchild, Termanology, DJ Dynamix, Jabee and DJ duo Shortkut and Lok (aka SHOK). The festivities will begin at noon on both days. Admission is $10 on Saturdays and free on Sundays. Benjamin Leatherman
Amorphis
Sunday May 1
The Nile Theater, 105 West Main Street, Mesa
Finnish metal band Amorphis just released Halo, his 14th album, and brings his melodic strain of death metal to the Nile Theater this weekend. With this show you get UADA, Pacific Northwest black metal; Sylvaine’s dark Norwegian gaze, Kathrine Shepard’s solo project; and Portland dark rock duo Hoaxed. The concert is at 6 p.m. and tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Jean Bear
car seat headrest
Sunday May 1
The Van Buren, 401 West Van Buren Street
Car Seat Headrest was Will Toledo’s DIY dorm project until his music was discovered by Matador Records in 2015; now he and his songs are on many year-end best-of lists. Toledo, who started recording at 17, has 20 albums to his name, all personal, complex and full of a certain stripped-down charm. He also has a tendency to experiment with genres, blending punk, psychedelia and pop with excellence, which is probably why he’s come so far in such a short time. The car seat headrest might not be what you expect, but it deserves all the buzz — and a trip to The Van Buren this weekend. The show for ages 13 and up begins at 8 p.m. The tickets are Only available in the secondary market. isa jones
Phoenix Cinco De Mayo Festival
Sunday May 1
Downtown Phoenix
Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s victory over the French army in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The rich history and cultural significance of America’s favorite Mexican holiday is celebrated downtown each year during the festival Cinco de Mayo Phoenix. The event, which returns after a two-year hiatus, will feature a plethora of traditional food and cold Mexican beers, as well as lucha libre wrestling, lowriders, mariachi sets and a children’s area. Live music begins at 12:30 p.m. and will be performed by Lisa Lisa, R&B group Color Me Badd and Chicano rock band Malo. The festival runs from noon to 10 p.m. at the intersection of Third Avenue and Washington Street. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $40 for VIP admission. Glenn BurnSilver