Dennis Hamlin and Jade Howard, the pop-punk/alternative rock band 222, play a free homecoming concert Friday.
Rising star comes home, sets free concert
When Jade Howard left Tucson for Los Angeles in the early 2000s, she set out to find her artistic self.
She and Dennis Hamlin teamed up and formed a sound company in 2006 that did TV and film work including on music documentaries for “Troubadours,” “PJ20” and the Oscar Award Winning “Twenty Feet From Stardom.”
Fast-forward to 2014: Hamlin and Howard discover that in addition to working with other artists they had some musical chemistry of their own to mix and meld.
They formed the alternative rock/pop punk band 222 in 2014, wrote a few songs, headed into the studio in early summer and ripped off a demo. They released it as their debut album “Libretto.”
You may have heard their debut single “One Night Stand” payed on KXCI 91.3, which also has spun a few other tracks.
And they have been getting airplay and buzz traction from LA, where Deli Magazine named them band of the month and LA Buzz Bands has been gushing.
Howard and Hamlin, whose music mixes in a bit of 1980s-style techno pop, are heading home for the Thanksgiving holiday and will play a free homecoming show at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27.
Also at Club Congress this week:
- Prescott rockers Don Cheek and the Cheektones are on stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. $10 through ticketfly.com.
- Iconic LA rockers Martha Davis & the Motels check into the Hotel Congress at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29. $16 in advance, $18 day of show.
Brickman’s Christmas tour comes to Rialto
The Day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 27, the Christmas season begins in earnest.
And on Tuesday, Dec. 1, if all the weekend mad-dash Christmas shopping hasn’t quashed your inner Scrooge, head over to the Rialto Theatre and let Jim Brickman get you in the mood.
Brickman, one of the most successful pop pianists in 30 or more years, is bringing his “Comfort & Joy: The Sweet Sounds of Christmas” tour to the Rialto, 318 E. Congress St. We’re stop No. 4 on a tour that takes him to the end of the year — with a couple days off for Christmas, mind you.
“Comfort & Joy” is his latest Christmas album. He’s done a few, each one more beautiful than the last, dipping into classics like “First Noel” to originals like “Sending You A Little Christmas” and “Thanksgiving.”
Brickman goes on stage at 8 p.m. at the Rialto, 318 E. Congress St. Tickets for reserved seats are $35 to $49 through ticketfly.com
Also at the Rialto
this week:
- The Reverend Horton Heat brings his rocking rockabilly to town with the BellRays and Lords of Altamont at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2; $11 to $21.
- Country singer Neal McCoy headlines KIIM 99.5 FM’s Penny Pitch concert at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3. $26 to $30.
- (See interview with McCoy in the Dec. 3 Caliente.)
Ben Vereen moves
Fox show to Marc
h
Singer-dancer-actor Ben Vereen has rescheduled his Fox Tucson Theatre show from Saturday, Nov. 28, to March 20. Details: Call the Fox Tucson Theatre Box Office at 547-3040.
