Brunch for dinner, glow-in-the-dark monster trucks: Best things to do in Phoenix this week
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The main event headed to metro Phoenix in the immediate future is undoubtedly Beyonce bringing the Renaissance World Tour to State Farm Stadium in Glendale. It's the superstar's first Valley concert since she swung through that same stadium with Jay-Z in 2018.
But Beyonce is next Thursday. What concerns us here are things to do this weekend.
Our picks range from Boy George and Culture Club topping the bill on an '80s nostalgia package tour with the great Howard Jones and Berlin to Hot Wheels Monster Trucks doing what monster trucks do in a Glendale arena to a screening of "Howard the Duck" with running commentary by a bunch of puppets (in case the movie wasn't weird enough for you).
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Boy George and Culture Club
Boy George and Culture Club are joined on the Letting It Go Show Tour by fellow New Wave veterans Howard Jones and Berlin. Culture Club will perform all the hits that made them such a cultural phenomenon, from “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" to "Karma Chameleon," "Time (Clock of the Heart)" and "Church of the Poisoned Mind."
Recent set lists have also included some interesting covers: "Sympathy for the Devil," "Everything I Own" and "Bang a Gong (Get It On)."
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $20 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
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Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party
This one's for the folks with families. See your favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks — Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Boneshaker, Bigfoot and the all-new Gunkster — light up the darkened arena in outrageous competitions and battles.
The performance will feature a dance party, laser light shows, Hot Wheels giveaways, a special appearance by the car-eating, fire-breathing, transforming robot Megasaurus and the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Freestyle Motocross. Discounted kids pricing is available for all shows.
A Crash Zone Pre-Show Party starts 2½ hours before each performance, providing fans access to the competition floor to see the outrageous designs and epic size of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks. Each preshow party pass includes an autograph card and souvenir pass and lanyard.
Details: 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $30 and up. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Cigarettes After Sex
Among the more alluring albums of 2017, their self-titled debut was a haunting collection of cinematic pop songs owing much of their appeal to Greg Gonzalez's wistful delivery, underscoring the intimacy of the lyrics as he drifts from one romantic ballad to the next. And they more than lived up to the promise on 2019's "Cry."
Although they haven't released a new album since then, their recent singles are enough to make you wish they would. This concert was moved from the Van Buren, a much smaller venue, to the 5,000-capacity Arizona Financial Theatre to meet demand for tickets.
That's always been the most exciting time to see a concert, when everything is blowing up so fast, they're moving shows to bigger venues on the fly.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. Resale ticket prices vary. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
'Howard the Duck' with the All Puppet Players
Released in 1986, this film adaptation of a Marvel comic book was Marvel's first attempt at a theatrical release since the 15-chapter Captain America serial of 1944. Clearly, it clearly took a minute for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to get its act together and become the modern ruler of the superhero multiplex.
Not only did "Howard the Duck" fail to find an audience, it's widely held to be as bad as moviemaking gets with a Rotten Tomato rating of 15%. It's so bad that it tied with that horrible Prince movie "Under the Cherry Moon" (amazing soundtrack, though) as Worst Picture at the Razzie Awards in 1987.
Of course, it's gone on to become a cult film because anything that bad has gotta be good. But have you ever watched "Howard the Duck" with irreverent puppets onstage, throwing shade, cracking jokes and questioning everyone’s involvement in this glorious debacle for the ages? No? Well, here's your chance. Don't blow it.
Details: 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix. $16. 800-282-4842, etix.com.
Come on Barbie Let’s Go Party Evening Brunch
Are we burned out on Barbie yet? I know a certain segment of the population — you know who you are — becomes enraged at the mere mention of her name. I meant the rest of us. There's always been a point past which the unabashed oversaturation of the zeitgeist gets to be a little much, you know? But I don't think we're there yet. Either that or I just like the thought of evening brunch.
The events page promises a "fabulous and fashionable Barbie evening brunch and pink carpet affair" combining "delicious food and the iconic charm of Barbie." There's even dancing. Barbie fans are invited to "immerse yourself in the world of Barbie as you step into a pink-filled Barbie world with vibrant decorations, different Barbie eras and charming details."
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. The Lola, 6770 N. Sunrise Boulevard, Glendale. $10. 623-877-5525, eventbrite.com.
Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best events in Phoenix this weekend: Boy George, Cigarettes After Sex
