Music briefs

Lopez and Co. bring XIXA to Congress

It’s springtime, perfect chance to get a fresh start.

Or, in the case of Tucson’s superstar band Chicha Dust, to roll out a name change.

The side project of Tucson singer-songwriter Brian Lopez and über music man Gabriel Sullivan is now called XIXA and they play a gig at 8 p.m. Friday, March 11, with fellow Tucsonan Fred Huang’s band Asian Fred.

XIXA also includes Winston Watson, Geoff Hidalgo, Jason Urman and Efren Cruz Chavez and the band plays an amalgam of high-energy classical Cumbia and psychedelic rock. Tickets are $13 in advance at ticketfly.com or $15 at the door. Sorry kids, this is a 21-and-older show.

Dead Kennedys bring punk to the Rialto

Hardcore punkers Dead Kennedys sans founding lead vocalist Jello Biafra brings its retro 1970s-80s punk to Rialto Theatre on Friday, March 11.

The band — with founding members East Bay Ray and Klaus Flouride joined by longtime drummer D.H. Peligro and vocalist Skip McSkipster — share the marquee with The Freeze, Doll Skin, The Besmirchers and Hotchicks.

Friday’s show starts at 8 p.m. at the Rialto, 318 E. Congress St. It’s $23 in advance at ticketfly.com or $27 day of show. This is an all-ages event.

Also this week at the Rialto:

• The venue teams up with 191 Toole — the former Skrappy’s all-ages venue — for a 16-and-older show with the Cali “Beach Goth” band the Growlers at 7 p.m. Friday, March 11, at 191 E. Toole Ave. $22.
• Territory Magazine hosts the SXSW Showcase featuring Acorn Bcorn, Katterwaul, B4 Skin, Lemon Drop Gang and Whoops at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 12. $5 in advance, $8 day of.
• Finland’s celebrated, best-selling rockers Nightwish are making a big trip to the U.S. and stopping in Tucson for a show at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 13. Sonata Arctica and Delain open the show. $36 and $170 (VIP).

The Socials heading to Gaslight concert series

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Thank goodness the Gaslight Theatre stage is pretty big because on Monday, March 14, Tucson’s 10-piece soul/R&B band The Socials will likely fill it from end to end.

The group is playing two shows as part of the Gaslight’s popular Monday family concert series at the theater, 7010 E. Broadway.

The Socials perform at 3 and 7 p.m. Monday. Tickets start at $19.95; call 886-9428 for reservations or at thegaslighttheatre.com

Kenny G coming to Tucson in April

Grammy winning jazz saxophonist Kenny G is playing a show at Desert Diamond Casino’s Diamond Center on April 2. Tickets ($30) are on sale now at the casino, 1100 W. Pima Mine Road, or online at startickets.com

Ben Vereen filming ‘Rocky Horror’ remake

Ben Vereen has been cast to appear in the TV remake of the cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Filming is getting underway, which has prompted Vereen to cancel his March 20 Fox Tucson Theatre Show.

It’s the second time he’s begged out of Fox engagement. He was set to come to Tucson over Thanksgiving weekend for his “Steppin’ Out Live” show but canceled just days beforehand. The actor/singer/dancer was to make up the date on March 20.

In the “Rocky Horror” reimagined film, Vereen will play Dr. Everett Scott, the ex-science teacher and uncle of Eddie — played by Adam Lambert — who is hunting UFOs when he stumbles into the castle of Dr. Frank-n-Furter.

Vereen’s manager said the entertainer is likely to reschedule his Tucson show in 2017.