20 Phoenix local music picks for May 2016

The Trunk Space is holding its final show at its current location in a month that also features a fifth-anniversary blowout from Japhy's Descent, a Girls Rock! Phoenix benefit and release shows from Nanami Ozone, Tree Season, Bob Corritore and Mimelight.

Here's a look at those and other local-music highlights.

MORE MUSIC:Top concerts this week | Latest concert announcements | May concert guide for Phoenix 

5/6: Nanami Ozone album release

I’ve only heard the title track, “Desire,” but it makes me want to hear the rest, which is kind of the point of releasing a song in advance of an album. “Desire” is a perfect introduction to their sound, with its haunting guitar (which reminds me of “Heroes” without necessarily sounding like “Heroes”) and a pining lead vocal that finds the singer wondering how this story got so bleak and wanting to “feel like I used to,” ending the chorus with “I want desire.” They’re joined by Femny (ex-Ricardos), Diners and Michelle Blades.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday, May 6. Trunk Space, 1506 N.W. Grand Ave., Phoenix. $7. 602-256-6006, thetrunkspace.com.

5/6: Paul’s Birthday Meltdown

I don’t know who Paul is necessarily, but his Birthday Meltdown show is topped by LightSpeedGo, whose members played in Off the Mark, Look Out Look, the Ultramatics, the Dead Irrelevants and No Gimmick before joining forces. Earlier this year, they dropped a new EP called “Just a Memory”, on which they effortless lived up to the promise of 2014’s “New Direction,” an infectious collection of effervescent pop-punk songs with indelible hooks and overcaffeinated drumming. They’re joined on the occasion by First or Last, Catch the Fire, Reason Unknown and, one imagines, someone answering to Paul.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday, May 6. Rogue Bar, 423 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale. $5. 480-947-3580, facebook.com/theroguebar.

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5/7: The Final 1506 Trunk Space Show

This show marks the end of an era for the Phoenix music scene. It's the final show ever at 1506 N.W. Grand Ave., home of the Trunk Space. Flagstaff's own I Hate You When You're Pregnant, a one-man show once mentioned in the New York Times as one of Arizona's most avant-garde performers, will be joined by Fathers Day, once mentioned here at azcentral.com as "a darkly comic, irreverent punk-rock party that could arguably teach a person everything there is to know about being a sexist, dysfunctional dad (but it's in-character and obviously very tongue-in-cheek)." Also playing: The Dietrichs, Jason Anderson and / F/G/G/T/FAILUR.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Trunk Space, 1506 N.W. Grand Ave., Phoenix. 602-256-6006, thetrunkspace.com.

5/7: Cold Shott & the Hurricane Horns

These Rhythm Room regulars are now in their 26th year of bringing funk, soul, R&B, blues and jazz together under one very dance-able roof. "Soulutions," their 20th anniversary album, sets the tone with the Stax-worthy, horn-driven pleading of "Stop" before working its way through such obvious highlights as "Diggin' on James Brown" and exemplary covers of "Turn Back the Hands of Time" and "Vehicle." Also, damn, the bassist on that album is amazing.

Details: 9 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $8. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.

5/7: Mimelight CD release

These indie-rockers are releasing a six-song EP titled “Deltas” on a bill that also features Something Like December, I Remember Burning, Holy Fawn and Lo-Fi-Hi. The two songs I’ve heard – “Blueprints” and “Hiroshima” – are soaring, emotional, indie-rock ballads that use a wide dynamic range to make sure the choruses kick in with maximum impact. This is their second EP, and they’ve had some lineup changes since the first one, which is why they’ve called the record “Deltas." As lead singer Clifton Peotter notes, “It’s the mathematical version of saying changes on a report.” The EP was recorded in drummer Jesse Palmer’s home studio. “Music can touch the hearts of anyone,” Peotter says. “You can feel something from music just the way you would feel something from a good movie or a good book. And the biggest thing we want to do with our music is we want people to be able to feel something. We want you realize that every moment is precious and to use those moments and memories to shape yourself. You don’t get a lot of time on this earth so you’ve make the most of it.”

Details: 6 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Club Red, 1306 W. University Dr., Mesa. $12; $10 in advance. 480-258-2733, clubredrocks.com.

5/7: The End is the Beginning festival

“So with the end looming over the Firehouse and narrowly avoiding shut down,” reads the Facebook event page, “we are a go to continue to be a part of the best community and weirdest place around!” Hence the optimistic title for a day fest meant to “empower” the gallery “to continue to prove its worth in this city of growth!” Among the artists scheduled to perform are decker., Hotrock Supajoint, Hank Topless, I Am Hologram, Sonny Morgan, Andy Warpigs, Hollowpoint Vigials, the Clouds, Galaxsea, USB, Amy Ouzzonian, Tribal Leader and Phantom Airship. They’ll also have comedy, poets, art and fire performances by, among others, Sheri Amourr, who I’ve witnessed firsthand and can tell you is amazing.

Details: 3 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Firehouse Gallery, 1015 N. First St., Phoenix. $7. 602-300-7575, facebook.com/firehousephoenix.

5/8 Tree Season album release

They’ve only shared one single from “The Blessed Curse,” a haunting yet hard-hitting anthem called “The Youth in Me” in which the singer laments the youth he’s doomed to leave behind. “I’m old enough to kill and be killed,” he sings. “Here’s to the void that I’ll never fill.” It's a concept album produced by Michael Magruder and Nino Lucarelli. The release show also features sets by Modern Royal, An Empty Orchestra and Good Grief.

Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, May 8. Pub Rock, 8005 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. $10. 480-945-4985, pubrocklive.com.

5/8: Valley Bar Jazz Series

Enjoy a night of Latin jazz with Café Jaleo, whose ranks included musicians from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Mexico, saluting the sounds of Buena Vista Social Club, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente and more.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 8. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $6-$30. valleybarphx.com.

5/11: The Rebel Set

From the reverb-heavy spy-rock instrumental that ushers you into the album to the lo-fi psychobilly swagger of a final track called "14th Floor," the Rebel Set's first full-length effort, "Poison Arrow," effortlessly lived up to the promise of the band name (a B-movie reference) and album art based on "The Man With the Golden Arm." And last year's "How to Make a Monster" followed suit, delivering a one-two punch of reverb-drenched surf rock and raw 1960's garage punk. They’re joined by Shovel, a garage-punk duo whose drummer is a force of nature, and the Apaches, whose sound is straight-up surf-rock.

Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 11. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.

5/11: Here’s to Merle!

This tribute to the legendary Merle Haggard is hosted by the folks at Valley Fever and features the talents of such local country all-stars as the August Manley Band, Barefoot & Pregnant, Steve Larson, Brea Burns of Trailer Queen and Jim Bachmann. Tucson’s own Hank Topless Band is also playing. And Dana and Johnny Volume will be spinning Haggard records during the breaks in the action. There’s also a really cool poster for this show, so you should check that out.

Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 11. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $8. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.

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5/13: Big Jon Atkinson / Bob Corritore release show

I should point out that Atkinson, a musician Kim Wilson has singled out as “truly the future of the blues,” is not a local artist. He’s from California. But the man who shares top billing on the album cover has a pretty undeniable connection to the Phoenix blues scene. Corritore not only owns the Rhythm Room, he hosts his own blues show on KJZZ-FM and fronts his own band on harmonica. He’s a damn fine harmonica player who won a Blues Music Award for “Harmonica Blues” in 2011. He and Atkinson are releasing an album called “House Party at Big Jon’s” at a party that also features the Rhythm Room All-Stars and Dave Riley.

Details: 9 p.m. Friday, May 13. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $8. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.

5/13: Field Tripp

If you haven't seen a Field Tripp show, you're missing out. Dan Tripp is a great lead guitarist who also plays in Snake! Snake! Snakes! And he's got the songs to back it up, as you can hear on any of the three self-recorded EPs they released in 2014. They're working on a new one as I type this, with sessions underway with producer Bob Hoag. And Tripp says things are going really well. “Just hearing back what we’ve done so far, it’s bigger and better than anything I’ve done before,” he says. “I like my recordings. They’re cool. But if you listen to that then see us live, you might not recognize it as the same band.” He’s pretty sure the end result will be self-titled. “We usually come up with something clever,” he says. “But this one, I want people to be like, ‘Hey, this is Field Tripp.’ I want it to embody what we’ve sounded like over these past few years. I want to capture that.” Also playing: Luau, Citrus Clouds and Aiyana.

Details: 9 p.m. Friday, May 13. Yucca Tap Room, 29 W. Southern Ave., Tempe. Free. 480-967-4777, yuccatap.com.

5/14: Girls Rock! Phoenix Benefit

This a great bill for a great cause. All proceeds from ticket sale will go toward funding the first-ever Girls Rock! Phoenix summer camp. But getting back to the great bill, you get Scorpion Vs. Tarantula and JJCnV, two awe-inspiring staples of the local punk-rock diet. You get Mrs. Howl, an all-girl lo-fi dance-punk group whose name should be not just applauded by revered. You get the indie-pop of Darling Sounds. AND you get a welcome new addition to the local punk scene, Sturdy Ladies, whose members are also in French Girls and JJCnV.

Details: 3-7 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. Suggested donation of $10; $8 in advance. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.

5/14: Slope Records Showcase

If you’re not familiar with Slope Records, they’ve been, as they put it, “marauding the catacombs of Phoenix punk, with vinyl-only reissues of classic releases by the likes Insurrection, the Red Squares and Our Neighbors Suck while also assembling a roster of 'living and breathing'" acts such as the three they’ve lined up for this night of rock-and-roll debauchery at Rip’s. I’ll go with their descriptions of the groups in question. Why? Because they’re funny, brief and fairly spot-on. The night starts with a set of “garage gospel for the End Times” by the Christian Family, follow by the Mission Creeps “raining death from below” and a headlining set of “dumb music for smart people” by Scorpion Vs. Tarantula. You should probably pick up a copy of Lowview magazine at the show, by the way, for a fairly extensive feature, written by yours truly, on the Mission Creeps.

Details: 9 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Rip’s Ales & Cocktails, 3045 N. 16th St., Phoenix. $5. 602-266-0015, facebook.com/rips.bar.7.

5/20: decker.

This is more of a regional pick. Sedona’s Brandon Decker, who cut his latest album, “Patsy,” at WaveLab Recording in Tucson, is returning to the Phoenix venue where he cut a great live album just three months ago. That live one did a brilliant job of capturing the essence of the decker. live experience on such obvious highlights as a tortured reading of "Bukowski" and the "Patsy" title track with guest appearances by Taylor Upsahl and Jayson James of the Haymarket Squares. And speaking of Haymarket Squares, they're also on this bill, as are the Copper States and Wyves.

Details: 9 p.m. Friday, May 20. Last Exit Live, 717 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. $10; $8 in advance. 602-271-7000, lastexitlive.com.

5/20: Love Me Nots

They’ve been on the shortlist of the Valley’s most exciting rock-and-roll attractions since pretty much the time they started, releasing a string of great albums that helped them build a strong international following on the garage-rock scene from here to Spain and back again. Fronted by the always-captivating, Farfisa-banging showmanship of the great Nicole Laurenne with Michael Johnny Walker supplying the guitar heroics, the Love Me Nots rock with the reckless abandon of classic garage-punk, driven by one of the more explosive rhythm sections in the Valley and/or universe. Also playing: The always-entertaining Captain Squeegee, who introduced a new guitarist at McDowell Mountain Music Festival, the Redemptions, Cole Joyce and, in the interest of full disclosure, I will be setting aside my cub reporter hat to play a set with my band, the Breakup Society.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday, May 20. Pho Cao, 7436 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale. $5. 480-947-2608, phocaoaz.com.

5/21: Japhy’s Descent 5th Anniversary Show

They’re celebrating their fifth anniversary with “some of the bands and artists who have helped make this journey so wonderful,” as they put it on the show’s event announcement. Those bands include Dry River Yacht Club, the Sugar Thieves, Sunset Voodoo, SweetGrass, Of the Earth, TripLip and Sinister 7 on the outdoor stage at Shady Park; and Josh Bierman, Kevin Loyd, Marc Norman, Page the Village Idiot and I am Hologram on the indoor stage. For those unfamiliar with Japhy’s Descent, their music is kind of all over the map, but in a way that most songs quality as rockers. On “Christopher Robin,” a concept album based in part on “The Tao of Pooh,” they set the tone with a wistful folk-rock instrumental that evolved into a soaring blues-guitar lead. From there, they made their way through the banjo-driven hard-rock swagger of a track called “Rabbit” to the horn-driven funk groove of “Bounce.” They released a new EP called “Senseless” in December.

Details: 4 p.m. Saturday, May 21. Shady Park, 26 E. University Dr., Tempe. $10. 480-474-4222, facebook.com/shadyparktempe.

5/21: New Chums

Last year, these guys released a five-song EP titled “Tuolumne,” which takes its name from the northern California County where frontman Seth Boyack grew up. Produced by Curtis Grippe of Dead Hot Workshop, "Tuolumne" is an infectious shot of indie-flavored power-pop, from the wistful verses of an opener called “For the Cause” to the chugging guitars and stuttered pop hooks of the effervescent “Come On, Come On,” a new pop classic in the making.

Details: 9 p.m. Saturday, May 21. ThirdSpace, 1028 Grand Ave., Phoenix. 602-258-1536, facebook.com/ThirdSpacePhx.

5/22: Brian Chartrand & the Voce Project

Chartrand also does a show called "Live From Laurel Canyon—Songs & Stories of American Folk Rock,” in which he and a handful of friends salute the songs of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, James Taylor, CSN&Y and the Eagles, to name a few. And hearing his original material, it’s easy to understand why he would gravitate to the Laurel Canyon vibe – a sensitive singer-songwriter whose soft-rock sensibilities would have sounded right at home in a late-night jam with Jackson Browne. He’s even got the perfect voice to pull it off.

Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, May 22. Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $10. 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com.

5/27: Barflies featuring the Senators

The MIM is promising “a night of poetic lyrics and uplifting harmonies” when the Senators provide the soundtrack to the monthly reading series. The local indie-folk heroes got off to a strong start with a promising debut titled "Harsher Than Whiskey / Sweeter Than Wine." Last year, they posted a video on their website of a song called "Salt & Water," recorded live at Paramount Recording Studios in Hollywood. And that was followed by the horn-fueled "Hummingbird," which found them expanding the scope of their sound in an intriguing new direction.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 27. MIM Music Theater, Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $18.50-$25.50. 480-478-6000, mim.org.

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Twitter.com/EdMasley