You can tell it’s fall because the summer concert tours have all but ended and you can buy pumpkin spice flavored just about anything. But October marks the beginning of the fall concert tours and the Arizona State Fair always brings a wide assortment of classic rock acts to Phoenix. Although it may be a big month for country acts with Rascal Flatts and the 6 shows by Garth Brooks, it’s also a busy slate for classic rock concerts as well. Here’s what the classic rock fan can see live in the Valley during October.
October 3, 2015 at 8 p.m. DON HENLEY with SHAWN COLVIN, at the Comerica Theatre in Phoenix. Now that the boys of summer are gone, wash your dirty laundry and take your girl to this show because all she wants to do is dance to the music of this co-founder of the Eagles. You’ll probably hear plenty of songs from Henley’s newest solo album, “Cass County.” Colvin is a Grammy Award winning artist whose hit “Sunny Came Home,” garnered her best song and record of the year honors in 1998. Tickets run from $51 to $131 plus fees and taxes.
October 4, 2015 at 8 p.m. ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA at the Talking Stick Resort Showroom in Scottsdale. Who better to play the music of Frank Zappa than his son Dweezil? As this is the 40th anniversary of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention album, “One Size Fits All,” Zappa has decided to play that album in its entirety. The show is sold out but ticket prices were listed as $30 to $85, plus fees.
October 10, 2015 at 8 p.m. LOST 80’S LIVE featuring WANG CHUNG, FLOCK OF SEAGULLS, ANIMOTION and others at the Wild Horse Pass Casino Ovations LIVE! Showroom in Chandler. Puff your hair up (sweatband is optional), put on something neon, break out the blue blush and recall music videos on MTV as multiple 1980’s pop and new wave bands (exact line up is unknown) will make you relive the Reagan years. Everyone will have fun that night. Everyone will Wang Chung that night. Tickets run from $39 to $99 plus fees and taxes.
October 17, 2015 at 6 p.m. SKID ROW, GREAT WHITE and AUTOGRAPH at the UltraStar Amphitheater next door to Harrahs Ak-Chin Casino in Maricopa. Turn up the radio, you’ll be once bitten, twice shy should you want to engage in monkey business this night. It’s three hair metal bands from the 1980’s in one show. Best of all, it’s free admission although it is lawn seating. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
October 17, 2015 at 7 p.m. BRET MICHAELS at the Arizona State Fair Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. If he’s poisoned your mind by asking you to talk dirty to him or maybe by winning the Celebrity Apprentice you know that every rose has its thorn. Although he’s heavily involved in charity work, he’s had time to record a new album, “True Grit,” which comes out later this year. As this show is at the Arizona State Fair, admission is free with fair admission. However, you can buy reserved seats for $20, plus fees, but you’ll still need to pay to get into the fair as well.
October 17, 2015 at 8 p.m. LOVERBOY at the Wild Horse Pass Casino Ovations LIVE! Showroom in Chandler. Hey kid, are you feeling hot tonight? Have you worked for the weekend? Should they turn you loose? You’ll be lovin’ every minute of it, especially if you can take a hot girl in love along with you to the show. Otherwise, it’s over. Tickets range from $27 to $77 with fees to be tacked on.
October 18, 2015 at 7 p.m. MEATLOAF at the Arizona State Fair Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. He burst onto the scene like a bat out of hell. He’ll do anything for you, but he won’t do that. He took you to paradise by the dashboard light. Not getting all of these song references? Well don’t be sad, cuz two out of three ain’t bad. Like all shows at the Arizona State Fair, admission is free with fair admission. However, you can buy reserved seats for $20, plus fees but remember, you’ll still need to pay to get into the fair as well.
October 19, 2015 at 7 p.m. JANET JACKSON, at the Comerica Theatre in Phoenix. This may not be pure classic rock, but she is a Jackson and part of the Rhythm Nation. What has she done for you lately? Released a new album this year, “Unbreakable.” This show is sold out but just so you have an idea of the profit resale ticket sellers are making, tickets originally ran from $45 to $125 plus fees and taxes.
October 20, 2015 at 8 p.m. SLASH featuring MYLES KENNEDY and the CONSPIRATORS at the Wild Horse Pass Casino Ovations LIVE! Showroom. Good ol’ Saul Hudson, aka Slash, ex guitarist for Guns and Roses and Velvet Revolver can be found these days touring along with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators in support of their recent album “World’s On Fire.” But sweet child o’ mine, you can probably welcome to the jungle some songs that will take you to paradise city as well. Tickets range from $49 to $89 with fees to be tacked on.
October 21, 2015 at 7 p.m. RICK SPRINGFIELD at the Arizona State Fair Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. Paging Doctor Noah Drake. Do you wish you were Jessie’s girl? Had an affair of the heart with this heartthrob? Has he done everything for you? If so, don’t talk to strangers and instead head for this show. This concert being at the Arizona State Fair, you know the drill by now. Admission is free with fair admission. You can buy reserved seats for $20, plus fees. You’ll also need to buy a fair admission as well.
October 21, 2015 at 7 p.m. BLUES TRAVELER at Livewire in Scottsdale. It took until their fourth album, “four,” before the public embraced harmonica player John Popper and company when their song “Run-Around” hit number 8 on the Billboard Music Top 100. This year the group released their twelfth studio album, “Blow Up the Moon,” so they’ve been busy for the last 20 years. Tickets are $33 plus fees.
October 22, 2015 at 7 p.m. SHERYL CROW at the Arizona State Fair Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. You might know that all she wants to do is have some fun. That every day is a winding road. That she’s strong enough to know that the first cut is the deepest. But if it makes you happy, did you also know she’s won nine Grammy Awards and has been nominated 32 times? By now, you should know the Arizona State Fair ticket mantra. Admission is free with fair admission. Reserved seats are available for $20, plus fees but you’ll still need to pay to get into the fair as well.
October 22, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. PETER ASHNER and ALBERT LEE at the Musical Instrument Museum in Scottsdale. As half of the duo, Peter and Gordon, Ashner made an impact singing tunes written by Paul McCartney, “A World Without Love,” “Nobody I Know” and “Woman.” The group also fared well with “Lady Godiva.” Albert Lee is a British guitarist, who has been named “Guitar Player” magazine’s best country guitarist five consecutive times and played with the Everly Brothers for 25 years. Tickets are $42.50 and $52.50 plus fees.
October 22, 2015, 8 p.m. MADONNA at the Gila River Arena, formally the Jobing.com Arena, in Glendale. She was a virgin and a material girl in the 1980’s, in vogue in the 90’s, made music in the 00’s and in 2015 has a rebel heart. She has sold more records than any female artist ever. Will her live show be over the top? Of course, she’s Madonna. Ticket prices run from $100 to $355, or even more if you’d like a VIP Package, plus fees of course.
October 27, 2015 at 7 p.m. JOHNNY LANG at Livewire in Scottsdale. This blues, gospel and rock artist, was a guitar wunderkind at age 14 when his first album was released. He’s played at the White House, the Minnesota Governor’s Inaugural Ball and toured with Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones and Sting, among others. Tickets for the show are $37 plus fees.
October 28, 2015 at 7 p.m. JACKSON BROWNE at the Arizona State Fair Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum. Take it easy. Despite playing to an enthusiastic sold out crowd in Mesa this summer, he’s not running on empty. He might be somebody’s baby though. Worried about being far away from the stage in a large venue? Just make sure you ask your doctor about your eyes. It’s an Arizona State Fair show, so, repeat after me, admission is free with fair admission. However, you can buy reserved seats for $20, plus fees but you’ll still need to pay to get into the fair as well.
October 30, 2015 at 7 p.m. JOHN FOGERTY, SANTANA and the TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND at the Monster Mash, Tempe Beach Park, Tempe. With days two and three of the three day Monster Mash festival being tailored towards the Millennials, opening night is a classic rock fan’s dream. You don’t have to change your evil ways or need any black magic, woman, to find this to be a winning show. So if you were born on a bayou, proudly dated Mary and wonder who’ll stop the rain, quit lookin’ out your back door and head out to this show. Reserved seats run $125 and $150 per ticket, standing room tickets can be had for $99 and if you buy a 4 pack of reserved seating tickets, you can save $25 per ticket. Fees and taxes are tacked on of course.
October 30, 2015 at 8 p.m. THE VILLAGE PEOPLE at the Wild Horse Pass Casino Ovations LIVE! Showroom. If Donna Summer can be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, then the Village People can be considered worthy of a classic rock article mention. Unless you’ve never listened to music in your life, you know the song “YMCA.” You might even have heard “Macho Man.” If you’ve seen the movie, “Can’t Stop the Music,” more than twice, you’ve probably dressed up as an Indian Chief, police officer, or construction worker at least once in your life. Tickets range from $28 to $69 with fees to be tacked on.
Tickets can be purchased at the following locations:
Talking Stick Resort: Tickets for shows at Talking Stick Resort can be purchased online through ticketmaster.com, in person at the Talking Stick Resort box office and by phone at (480)-850-7734. Further information can also be obtained from Danny Zelisko Presents.
Wild Horse Pass Casino: Tickets for shows at Wild Horse Pass Casino can be purchased online through the Wild Horse Pass Casino website, by phone at 1-800-WIN-GILA Ext. 7370, or in person at the box office. Players Club Card discounts are available for some shows when purchasing in person at the box office.
Comerica Theatre: Tickets for the Live Nation shows at this facility are available through ticketmaster.com, with information found on www.livenation.com
Gila River Arena: Tickets for shows at Gila River Arena can be purchased through ticketmaster.com.
Arizona State Fair: Tickets for concerts at the Arizona State Fair can be purchased through the Arizona State Fair website, azstatefair.com, or through Danny Zelisko Presents
Livewire: Tickets for shows at Livewire are available through livewireaz.com.
Musical Instrument Museum. Tickets for shows at the Musical Instrument Museum can be purchased by going online at mimmusictheater.themim.org, going in person to MIM, or calling the MIM Ticket Office at (480) 478-6000.
Monster Mash Festival: Tickets for the Monster Mash Festival are available through the Monster Mash website, www.monstermashaz.com or through Lucky Man concerts.
The Celebrity Theatre. Tickets for shows as the Celebrity Theatre can be purchased in person at the Celebrity Theatre box office or online at www.celebritytheatre.com. To charge by phone, call 602-267-1600 ext. 1.
For a less expensive way to enjoy live classic rock, check out October’s tribute band shows.
Casino Arizona has the following shows:
October 3: The Chicago Experience featuring Kenny Cetera
October 9: Evil Waze: The Ultimate Santana Experience
October 23: Pyromania-Def Leppard Tribute Act
October 30: Rock and Roll Over-The Kiss Tribute
Gila River Casino Wild Horse Pass presents:
October 18: Mick Adams and the Stones-A Rolling Stones Tribute
October 31: Abba Fab-A Tribute to the music of Abba on October 31
The Celebrity Theatre will host Lenon 75 a tribute to John Lennon which features Otto D from Working Class Hero and Marmalade Skies performing the works of John Lennon as well as photography and art exhibits, on October 9
