Top Five Must-See Shows This Weekend

By Jason P. Woodbury Fri., Aug. 17 2012 at 3:00 AM

Categories: This Weekend

King Tuff is scheduled to perform at Meat Market Garment Factory on Sunday, August 19.

Curious about what's going on around town this weekend? Need some suggestions where to rock, dance, or krump in the Valley of the Sun?

Don't fret: These are our Five Shows to See This Weekend.

Snow Songs

Friday, August 17 and Saturday, August 18: Los Dias de las Crescent @ Crescent Ballroom

Though its name has become nearly ubiquitous on concert flyers and Facebook invites, it's important to note that it hasn't quite been a year since Crescent Ballroom, the 400-capacity venue spearheaded by indie promoter Charlie Levy and his Stateside Presents company, opened in downtown Phoenix.

Why is it important to note? Because it's been a very good almost-year for the Crescent, which flung open the doors on Monday, October 4, 2011. Those doors have hardly closed since, as a lineup of powerfully varied musicians has shuffled through them, including St. Vincent, Iron and Wine, Destroyer, Jonathan Richman, Santigold, Miniature Tigers, Jonathan Davis of Korn (under his J. Devil moniker), and more.

What's more is that the venue has served as a hub of music action, with some shows -- Kongos, Mergence, The Technicolors, What Laura Says, The Through and Through Gospel Review, and more -- drawing fans and lines that wrap around Van Buren Street and leave some eager would-be attendees getting turned away. There's never been a lack of passion in the Valley music scene, but there's clearly an energy centered around the club.

And so, it's time to party. An extravaganza dubbed Los Dias de La Crescent, which features Black Carl, Dry River Yacht Club, Mergence, Ladylike, Factories, Source Victoria, Vinyl Station, Roar, Future Loves Past, DJ Seduce, and DJ Dana on Friday, August 17, and Sergio Mendoza y la Orkestra, Minibosses, Snake! Snake! Snakes!, Mariachi Luz De Luna, Bad Cactus Brass Band, Salvador Duran, Whisperlights, Stan Deveraux and The Funky Suns, Flamenco Por La Vida, Fatigo, Snow Songs, Djentrification, and Sean Watson on Saturday, August 18, is all about local love, Levy says. "A lot of people leave [Phoenix] during the summer," Levy says. "This is celebration for those who stay." -- Jason P. Woodbury