Top concerts playing Phoenix in January: The Eagles, Kevin Gates, Cody Johnson, Foreigner
The Eagles are bringing the Long Goodbye to downtown Phoenix for what may be the last two opportunities you’ll ever have to see them on a Valley stage (depending on how many legs their farewell tour ends up having).
Those concerts are by far the main attractions as we ease into 2024 with only four arena shows in January — two by the Eagles, one by Kevin Gates and one by Cody Johnson.
Other highlights of the month in metro Phoenix concerts range from Foreigner bringing a farewell tour brilliantly billed as the Feels Like the Last Time Tour to the Barrett-Jackson auto auction in Scottsdale to a 16-piece ensemble saluting the films of Wes Anderson by performing the soundtracks live at the Van Buren.
Here's a look at those and other January concerts.
Want more music news? Here's our roundup of all the music festivals coming to the Phoenix area in 2024 including Country Thunder and Innings Festival. And here's our frequently updated list of all the latest Phoenix concert announcements.
Wednesday Wednesday
Jesse Teer of the Senators launched this weekly singer-songwriter showcase in 2021, inspired by Joel Eckel’s Monday Monday show at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, where Teer has been a guest performer. In a press release, Teer said, “This kind of songwriters showcase should have happened in Phoenix years ago. But, it probably couldn’t have. There just wasn’t enough of a coalesced scene then. There is now.” Teer hosts the series, which is still going strong as it rolls into a third year.
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. Free. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
Brian Lopez release show
This Tucson rocker, who also fronts the psychedelic cumbia sensations XIXA and recently toured with Calexico, is celebrating the release of his most recent solo album. "Tidal" is a cinematic masterstroke of mesmerizing psychedelic chamber-pop whose roots are firmly planted in the desert sands along the Arizona border, occasionally drifting into old spaghetti Western territory. And don't miss the opening set by the great Jon Rauhouse, a celebrated steel guitarist whose multi-instrumental prowess has led to tours with Neko Case, Iron & Wine, Jakob Dylan and Billy Bob Thornton.
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $22; $18 in advance. valleybarphx.com.
The Charlatans U.K. and Ride
Forced to add a U.K. to their name, the better to avoid confusion with a U.S. band also known as the Charlatans, these soulful Britpop veterans came of age with the Madchester scene, known for its trippy blend of indie-rock and acid house with elements of ‘60s psychedelia. They’re joined by kindred spirits Ride on the Between Nowhere Tour, so named because the Charlatans will playing “Between 10th and 11th” in full while Ride’s performance will include the “Nowhere” album played in full.
Details: 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $36 and up. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
Al Stewart
Al Stewart brings his band, the Empty Pockets, to town for a concert Stewart says will offset old fan favorites, from hit singles “Year of the Cat” and “Time Passages” to “On the Border,” “Nostradamus” and “Roads to Moscow,” with deeper cuts. In a press release, Stewart said, “I'm just a folk singer that is interested in history and wine that got lucky with some hit records. It's as simple as that really."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $30-$60. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
The Temptations and the Four Tops
The Temptations are among the biggest-selling singing groups in history. They topped the Hot 100 with four Motown classics — “My Girl,” “I Can’t Get Next to You,” “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” — and placed 12 other singles in the Top 10. The Four Tops also bring a string of Motown classics to the table, from their breakthrough hit “Baby I Need Your Loving” and “It’s the Same Old Song” to the chart-topping “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”
Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $64.50-$99.50. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.
Electropop Night
This a great bill topped by Bogan Via, a local electropop duo whose latest effort, "Everything's OK," is a synth-driven treasure that plays to their melodic strengths in such highlights as "Starting a Nation" and the bittersweet title track, whose chorus ends with a resigned "Just want to hear you tell me everything's OK." They're joined by Forts, Elluna and MRCH, a long-running Valley-based duo whose latest EP, "TV Bliss," feels like a bold new chapter in their story, from the cinematic splendor of the song's arrangements to the breathtaking vulnerability of Mickey Pangburn's vocals.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $12. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
Groove Theory
ZeeDubb and Lord Kash of the Stakes will host what Crescent Ballroom's website promises should be no less than "an exciting night of music mastery, improv, collaboration and community." Groove Theory features a mixture of local musicians collaborating live on stage without a net. From instrumentalists to DJs and MCs, it's all completely improvised.
Details: 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $10; $7 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
The Southwest Gospel Music Festival
The Southwest Gospel Music Festival is a three-day, four-session event featuring several veterans of the tour, which shines a spotlight on Southern gospel, which originated in the days of gospel quartets. This year's lineup includes the Booth Brothers, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Legacy Five, the Inspirations, the Hoppers, Liberty Quartet and more.
Details: Times vary, Friday-Sunday, Jan. 12-14. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $99 and up for full event; $35 and up for single-day tickets. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.
Powerhouse with Kevin Gates
Power 98.3 and 96.1 join Lucky Man Concerts in presenting Powerhouse with Kevin Gates, Young Nudy, Tech N9ne, Joyner Lucas, Eric Bellinger, Twista and Richie Evans. Gates hit the charts at No. 2 with his first proper studio album, 2016's "Islah," which spawned his first Top 40 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, "2 Phones." Other hits include "I Don't Get Tired," "Really Really" and "Me Too."
Details: 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $69 and up. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Prefect release show
If the bio they shared on the Valley Bar website is current, the members of Prefect as still in high school. But you'd never have guessed that given how accomplished not only the guitar chops but the songwriting are on the singles they've released Spotify in advance of "California Button Up," a debut EP whose release they're celebrating with a show at Valley Bar with Flagstaff's WinterHaven and New Aesthetic.
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $15; $12 in advance. valleybarphx.com.
Arturo Sandoval
This protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, who helped him defect from Cuba while on tour with the United Nations Orchestra, is among the most acknowledged masters of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn. Sandoval has earned 10 Grammys, six Billboard Awards and an Emmy (for the music to an HBO movie based on his life, "For Love or Country," which starred Andy Garcia as Sandoval).
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. $52-$81. 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org.
A Casual Divorce
These local rockers, whose go-to sound is funky, jazz-inflected pop, are celebrating the release of an album, having previously shared two singles, "Baby" and the wonderfully eccentric "Pie," a twisted fairy tale clearly inspired by "Little Red Riding Hood" as told from the perspective of the Big Bad Wolf, making a chorus out of "Gonna eat you, little children." They're joined by Woodworks, Snailmate and Spicy Mayo.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14. Last Exit Live, 717 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. $12-$15. 602-271-7000, lastexitlive.com.
Cecile McLorin Salvant
The eclectic jazz singer is touring the States in support of "Mélusine," a Grammy-nominated concept album sung primarily in French and based on the folkloric tale of Melusine, a woman whose lower body transforms into a snake on Saturdays. It's a breathtaking affair that offsets five originals with songs that range from the 12th century to covers of songs by Kate Bush, Gregory Porter and Sting.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. $35-$65. 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org.
Foreigner
Foreigner's Feels Like the Last Time Farewell Tour is coming to Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction for a Rock the Block concert presented by the Arizona Lottery. Guitarist Mick Jones, who recruited singer Kelly Hansen to relaunch the band in 2005, told Billboard, "Foreigner is a completely revitalized band with a whole new energy that has won the hearts of our fans all over the world. And I want to go out while the band is still at the top of its game."
Details: Friday, Jan. 19. Westworld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road. $59-$249. barrett-jackson.com.
Darren Falkenburry Death Fest
Falkenburry was a heavy metal fan who died in October of injuries sustained in a car accident. He was 55. His obituary talks of Falkenburry's love of heavy metal, which "provided him something more valuable than anything money could buy: camaraderie, passion, a way to cope, a way to celebrate and a way to feel alive." Local metal bands SaintBreaker, Scattered Guts, Warhead, Sorrower, Atoll, Eternal, Bloodsaw, Misanthropic, Blood Loss and Gestation are playing a free show in his memory.
Details: 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19. The Nile, 105 W. Main St., Mesa. Free. 480-559-5859, niletheater.com.
Eagles
The legendary rockers had to add a second date at Footprint Center on the Long Goodbye Tour with fellow Hall of Famers Steely Dan in the opening slot. Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit are joined by country legend Vince Gill and Glenn Frey's kid Deacon. The Eagles last played Phoenix in March 2023 when the Hotel California Tour played Footprint Center.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19 and 20. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. Resale ticket prices vary. 602-379-7800, ticketmaster.com.
The Maine
The pop-punk heroes are making two hometown appearances in Phoenix on the Sweet Sixteen Tour celebrating 16 years of the Maine while supporting a self-titled effort Rock Sound hailed as one of 2023’s 50 Best Albums, singling out "the endless hooks" and the fact that "the Maine manage to encapsulate everything that has made them such an enduring presence over the last 16 years.”
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19-20. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $36 and up. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
Black Flag
The great Greg Ginn returns with something he feels comfortable promoting as Black Flag, the hardcore punk legends whose sound was defined in part by Ginn's guitar work, which sounded as brilliant as ever on 2013's "What The...," which remains their latest album. Black Flag will be playing two sets, one of which will feature their iconic second album, "My War," in its entirety.
Details: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $35-$89.48. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
Aaron Lewis
Long before he hit the pop charts as the voice of post-grunge heroes Staind, Lewis grew up on his grandparents’ country 8-tracks. Those roots inspired the seeming detour he took on 2011’s “Town Line,” an EP that included guest appearances by country legends Charlie Daniels and George Jones and topped the Billboard Country Album chart. Lewis is touring the States in continued support of “Frayed at Both Ends,” his fourth full-length country effort.
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21. Talking Stick Resort, Loop 101 and Pima Road, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Resale ticket prices vary. 480-850-7734, talkingstickresort.com.
deathdotgov
These experimental rockers from Phoenix have thrown themselves a party celebrating one year of existence. And judging from "Live @ the Rebel Lounge," available on Bandcamp, they've spent that year defying easy categorization while stirring up a proper racket with their No Wave saxophones and post-punk guitar lines colliding head-on with a vocalist whose tortured howls could just as easily have found a home on the heavier side of the screamo spectrum.
Details: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21. The Underground at the Nile, 105 W. Main St., Mesa. $12. 480-559-5859, niletheater.com.
Explosions in the Sky
The instrumental post-rock veterans are touring the States in support of an acclaimed eighth album titled "End," whose name is not to be mistaken for a sign that they're done making records. As they noted in a press release, the album's "starting point was the concept of an ending — death, or the end of a friendship or relationship." It's a suitably haunting instrumental meditation that Paste said "should be the playbook for any artist who wants to balance giving fans what they want while growing their creative craft almost three decades in."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $41.75. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
Isaiah Rashad
The Tennessee rapper arrives on a tour celebrating the 10th anniversary of “Cilvia Demo," a loose concept EP that, according to Rashad, sums up the emotional struggle of his teenage to adolescent years. The Source praised it as "overall a thoroughly introspective record featuring classic Southern yet modern hip-hop sound tagged with a relatable yet unique coming-of-age story.
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. Resale ticket prices vary. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
G3
Before hitting the road with Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani is celebrating his own legendary G3 Tour by reuniting the inaugural lineup he took out in 1996 with Eric Johnson and Steve Vai. That's a lot of guitar heroics on a single stage. That may be why Satriani is calling this "a dream come true for me." Each guitarist will play a full set followed by an epic jam featuring all three players.
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26. Talking Stick Resort, Loop 101 and Pima Road, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. $35 and up. 480-850-7734, talkingstickresort.com.
Cody Johnson
Johnson drew a huge response to his headlining set at Country Thunder Arizona, setting the tone for his performance with a hype man demanding to know, “Are you ready for real country music?” It’s an important distinction Johnson loves to make as a hard-twanging honky-tonk man who rode bulls on the rodeo circuit before giving "real country music" a try. He's joined by Justin Moore and Dillon Carmichael.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27. Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. Resale ticket prices vary 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Sonoran Dispatch
The 16-piece Kabaret Orchestra will play the soundtracks of Wes Anderson films featuring vocalists Mckaylee Todd and Mario Yniwuez, with music arranged by Christopher Norby. Enjoy a whimsical afternoon as they recreate classic soundtracks from the original scores of Alexandre Desplat and Mark Mothersbaugh to songs by Fran?oise Hardy, The Kinks, Seu Jorge and more.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $38. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
(Expletive) Up
Their name may be a bit too inappropriate to share, but that's no reason not to recommend these Canadian punks as they roll into town in support of an album titled "One Day" because that's how long the writing and recording of this 10-song triumph took. Or so they say. Kerrang! responded with a five-star rave, saying they "put in a sterling day’s work" and "punched the clock out cold."
Details: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30. The Underground at the Nile, 105 W. Main St., Mesa. $23. 480-559-5859, niletheater.com.
Militarie Gun
These LA punks led by Regional Justice Center's Ian Shelton are touring in support of "Life Under the Gun." Paste magazine called it "an absurdly strong debut, jumping between anchoring drum beats, jangly guitars and explosive choruses with ease." It may not be as hardcore as the racket he made at the helm of his previous band, but Shelton's gained more than he's lost here.
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $21. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
Sunny War & Chris Pierce
These singer-songwriters met through a mutual friend, Jared Faber, who invited them to make some music in his studio, resulting in an EP, War and Pierce’s self-titled debut EP. Two singles — “On and On” and “Amen” — have followed, with the group continuing to refine its blend of Americana, funk and soul, built on War’s prodigious guitar work and incisive songwriting and Pierce’s soulful energy and honest storytelling. Pierce also guests on War's excellent "Anarchist Gospel" album.
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $38.50-$49.50. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
Neck Deep
These Welsh pop-punk veterans will take the stage in Tempe shortly after the release of a self-titled album that marks their long-awaited followup to 2020's "All Distortions Are Intentional." Kerrang! praised that earlier effort for "moving the needle" while staying the course, noting "This is when most bands become boring, slow down and fiddle with winning formulas in the name of experimentation."
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $35-$89.48. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-4495. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EdMasley.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Biggest Phoenix concerts in January 2024: Eagles, Kevin Gates and more
