State Fair concert series adds Pitbull
The Arizona State Fair concert series runs the gamut, from the Latin-pop sounds of Paulina Rubio to the loopy country party vibe of Big & Rich to the psychedelic splendor of Jakob Dylan’s Wallflowers.
All shows are at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 19th Avenue and McDowell Road, Phoenix. General admission is free with fair admission. Reserved seats are $40-$60, including fair admission. All show times are 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
For more information, call 602-2526771 or visit azstatefair.com. Fiesta Friday features Baby Bash (whose hits include the double-platinum “Cyclone,” “Suga Suga” and “Baby I’m Back”), MC Magic, Lil Rob and Brown Boy.
Friday, Oct. 5: Gary Allan
He’s topped the country charts with four singles since hitting his stride in the early 2000s — “Man to Man,” “Tough Little Boys,” “Nothing On But the Radio” and the platinum “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” which hit the top in 2013.
He hasn’t had much luck with hits since then, despite releasing songs with names that should sound right at home at country radio (“It Ain’t the Whiskey” and “Hangover Tonight”).
Saturday, Oct. 6: The Flaming Lips
It takes a certain breed of entertainer to lead the members of an audience on an emotional journey from the smile-inducing spectacle of 'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1,' with Wayne Coyne surrounded by giant inflatables, including Santa Claus, to the existential majesty of 'Do You Realize??,' which will have you weeping.
Wednesday, Oct. 10: 38 Special
Back for a second consecutive year, these Southern rockers hit it big in 1981 with “Hold On Loosely,” following through with a string of rock-radio hits, including the chart-topping “Caught Up in You” and “If I’d Been the One.”
Thursday, Oct. 11: The Wallflowers
The Wallflowers had a good run of rock-radio hits in the ‘90s, including “6th Avenue Heartache,” “One Headlight,” “The Difference,” “Three Marlenas” and a cover of the David Bowie classic “Heroes,” as recorded for the soundtrack to “Godzilla.”
Led by Jakob Dylan, whose dad is also in the business, they picked up two Grammy Awards for “One Headlight.”
Friday, Oct. 12: Fiesta Friday
Fiesta Friday returns with the same exact lineup as last year — Baby Bash (whose hits include the double-platinum “Cyclone,” “Suga Suga” and “Baby I’m Back”), Lil Rob (”Bring Out the Freak in You” and “Summer Nights”), MC Magic and Brown Boy.
Wednesday, Oct. 17: Pitbull
Pitbull hit the mainstream in 2004 when “Culo,” his first single, went Top 40 on the Hot 100.
He went on to greater success with the Top 5 smash “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” in 2009, paving the way for future multi-platinum smashes “Don’t Stop the Party,” “Feel This Moment,” “Timber” and “Fireball.”
Thursday, Oct. 18: Anthrax
They’re part of the thrash-metal Big Four, alongside Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth. And says of that Big Four, “Anthrax have always been the most explicit in their love of hardcore, both its mosh-pit aggression and cartoonish political satire.”
Their 1987 masterpiece “Among the Living” was No. 20 on countdown of 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time and made the
Hall of Fame.
Friday, Oct. 19: Paulina Rubio
This Latin-pop singer launched her career with Timbiriche, going solo with 1992’s “La Chicha Dorada” album.
She’s topped the US Latin charts with three albums, 2000’s “Paulina,” 2004’s “Pau-Latina” and 2006’s “Ananda.” Her biggest US hits include Latin chart-toppers “Te Quise Tanto,” “Dame Otro Tequila,” “Ni Una Sola Palabra” and “Me Gustas Tanto.”
Saturday, Oct. 20: Big & Rich
It’s not for nothing that they named their latest album “Did It For the Party.” They’re the quintessential country party band, as they reminded us at Country Thunder earlier this year.
There were covers of “Cake by the Ocean,” “Tubthumping,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “American Pie” and the theme to the “Spider-Man” cartoon.
That last one seemed less random than the rest because by that point they’d been joined onstage by SpiderMan (and Cowboy Troy). And somehow, it got sillier from there.
Wednesday, Oct. 24: Casting Crowns
These contemporary-Christian rockers earned a Grammy for 2006’s “Lifesong,” picked up artist of the year in 2010 at the Dove Awards and won an American Music Award for best contemporary inspirational artist for “Casting Crowns: A Live Worship Experience.”
Thursday, Oct. 25: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
These guys are known for their crowd-pleasing blend of old-school soul and R&B, garage rock, jazz, folk and country. They’ve topped the AAA charts twice — with breakthrough single “S.O.B.” and this year’s “You Worry Me.”
Saturday and Sunday, Oct.27-28: Sesame Street Live!
Join Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and other characters from the beloved children’s show for a mix of comedy, education and music.