These are the best things to do in Phoenix this weekend
The summer of pop-punk nostalgia continues with Fall Out Boy bringing their tour to Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix. The concert comes just two weeks after Blink-182’s reunion tour hit Footprint Center for a sold-out journey through their greatest hits replete with all the goofy sex jokes you’d expect from Blink-182.
This also is a bit of a holiday weekend, although with the Fourth of July falling on a weekday, lots of us will be working on Monday and enjoying a oneday holiday on Tuesday.
That’s when most of the fireworks are happening, so you won’t find that sort of thing in our best weekend bets for Phoenix.
Didn’t want you to think we’re not into fireworks. We like to keep that to ourselves.
Speaking of Fall Out Boy ... here’s how to see their Phoenix concert
These guys haven’t been through Phoenix since 2017 when the Mania Tour played what we now call Footprint Center. They’re touring the States in support of an album called “So Much (for) Stardust,” which more than one reviewer praised as a return to form that manages to sound like classic Fall Out Boy, while still allowing for occasional surprises.
And if you’re in it more for the nostalgia factor, you’ll be fine (although you really have aged 18 years since Fall Out Boy first grabbed alternative radio by the collar with “Sugar, We’re Goin Down”). Recent setlists have been loaded with the early hits that made them heroes of the pop-punk world.
Details: 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 30. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $49.50 and up.
602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Sing and dance your broken heart out at Emo Pride
There’s a fairly decent chance you’ll hear some early Fall Out Boy at Emo Pride.
The Rebel Lounge has been hosting bimonthly EmoNightPhx events, where fans are free to sing and dance their broken hearts out to Jimmy Eat World, My Chemical Romance and more, for eight very emotional years.
This is their second Emo Pride event, a special edition EmoNightPhx benefiting one•n•ten. The first Emo Pride allowed the Rebel Lounge to donate more than $2,000 to the organization, celebrating 30 years of providing comprehensive services to LGBTQ+ and allied youth ages 11 to 24.
This Emo Pride night will feature guest DJ sets by Matthew Moody (Mr. Phoenix Leather 2022) and Benaddiction (Miss Kobalt Pride 2023). Both DJs will spin the biggest emo songs alongside resident EmoNightPhx DJ Sad and Boujee.
Details: 9 p.m. Saturday, July 1. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $10. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
Dress in Barbie pink, dance to ‘plastic pop star bops’ at this rave
This is exactly what the name suggests — not an actual rave but a dance night inspired by Barbie, the plastic fashion icon who began her march to world domination on March 9, 1959, in New York City at the American International Toy Fair.
She’s about to hit the big screen, given human form by Margot Robbie, in what promises to be a very entertaining comedy by Greta Gerwig, who directed and wrote the screenplay with Noah Baumbach.
In the meantime, Barbie fans and the Kens who love them are free to dance the night away to “all your favorite plastic pop star bops.” Those words are straight from the Van Buren website. We don’t say “bops” here.
Barbie-inspired outfits are, of course, encouraged. The event is presented by Candi Pop.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, June 30. The
Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $35. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
Cheers to the Red, White & Booze Bar Crawl in Scottsdale
You can celebrate the country’s independence Tuesday. This patriotic bar crawl is an opportunity to celebrate your own independence.
Or as the promoters put it so poetically in the event listing: “Our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence so that we could be free to do whatever we want. You don’t think these guys threw down a few brews after they signed?! Think again!”
(Insert chant of “U.S.A.” here). Participating bars include Wasted Grain, Casa Amigos and Bevvy. All venues are within walking distance of each other.
Tickets include admission to all participating bars and three one-cent drink vouchers to use on the crawl, drink specials and more.
Details: 4-9 p.m. Saturday, July 1. 7295 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. $20$30. eventbrite.com.
Gabby Barrett in concert at Santan Mountain Casino grand opening
Santan Mountain is the latest casino from Gila River Resorts and Casinos, promising “a bold departure from the typical casino.”
Floor-to-ceiling windows that automatically
adjust to allow for just the right amount of natural light provide a stunning view of the San Tan Mountains for which this venture has been named.
The gaming floor is filled with all the latest slots and tables including the first white roulette wheel in America.
There are four dining options, two lounges and a 7,000 square-foot ballroom.
The grand opening weekend bash includes two shows by Gabby Barrett, the country star who rose to fame on “American Idol,” where she finished third in 2018.
After the concert, step into the garden and take in the drone show as it lights up the night.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 30-July 1. Santan Mountain, 7101 S. Gilbert Road, on the Gila River Reservation south of Chandler. $20.23. 800WIN-GILA, playatgila.com/santanmountain.