All these restaurants have lounges, though, where, for the price of a drink (and perhaps valet parking), you can sit back and ogle a crimson sunset and the purple mountains’ majesty.
Unfortunately, most of them are from expensive restaurants. The Valley of the Sun has more than its fair share of spectacular views. Check his website ( to see where he’s playing.
The best country band in Phoenix is the Pat James Band James, a fine figure of a man in a ten-gallon hat, delivers country ballads, rollicking two-steps, and some unexpected covers with a crack band. However, much of the action revolves around sports events and concerts at US Airways Center and Chase Field, which of course are surrounded by sports bars for pre- and post-game drinking. It is also home to Symphony Hall and the Herberger Theater Center. 480/829-0607), a half-mile walk north over the Mill Avenue Bridge.ĭowntown Phoenix has a growing number of live music venues-the Van Buren, the Crescent, the Valley Bar-and some dance clubs. The best venue for touring acts is the Marquee, 730 N.
Because Tempe is a college town, the crowd tends to be young and occasionally rowdy. Mill Avenue in Tempe is a good place to wander around in search of your favorite type of music the bars and clubs here are mostly within walking distance of one another. 480/948-4433), on the southwest corner, where you can karaoke to your heart’s content with other cowpokes-for-the-night.
Five miles north, at the intersection of Scottsdale Road and Shea Blvd., you’ll find some slightly more authentic country joints, like Handlebar J on the northwest corner and Ernie’s (tel.