Meat Puppets play Crescent Ballroom in a month whose other local picks include a Drive, Bogan Via's release show, the Black Moods and Wyves at Fayuca RiZing and a Thanksgiving Eve tradition with Tempe legends Dead Hot Workshop and Pistoleros.

Here's a look at those and other local music picks for November in Phoenix.

11/19: Emby Alexander

This is not a release show but it follows the release of "Alphabet Superior," their latest album, by a mere eight days.

The sound is willfully eccentric psychedelic pop that makes the most of their experimental urges in a way that sounds like it was meant to be enjoyed on headphones, from an atmospheric opener called "Bathing in the Rain" to the chamber-pop-on-acid vibe of "Tongue / Glissando."

Michael Alexander says he went in "wanting to change the ultimate meaning and ultimate outcome of my songs by attempting to change my 'alphabet.'" That alphabet might be the language Alexander speaks, the instruments he plays or the way he goes about creating and/or capturing ideas.

"This is the most playful and lighthearted record we've made," he says. "This opened up the space for more complexity to shine through at times. The silliest songs and silliest approaches led the way to the darker and deeper areas."

They're joined by Painted Faces, Flower Cult and Good Samaritan.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $8; $5 in advance. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.

11/21: Dead Hot Workshop / Pistoleros

Since 1995, Dead Hot Workshop and the Pistoleros have come together on Thanksgiving eve for a 'family' rock show. The tradition continues as the Tempe legends welcome Banana Gun and Truckers on Speed to the table.

Roger Clyne once said of Dead Hot Workshop, "Music people in this city get as excited about what Brent Babb does as people did about what Dylan was doing in the '60s."

Last year, the Pistoleros celebrated their 25th anniversary with the release of an album that may be their best work yet, the aptly titled "Silver."

RELATED: How Pistoleros brothers found redemption on the road to 'Silver'

Lawrence Zubia, who shares the Pistoleros spotlight with his brother Mark, says, "We hoped we could make a sparse yet rockin' rock-and-roll record."

Last year also brought new music from Banana Gun, “Dance Monkey Down in Faux Town.” It's a willfully eclectic ride that works in elements of ska, blues, jazz and more.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $25; $20 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.

11/21: Fayuca RiZing: Festival De Beer y Musica

Is it odd that Fayuca, the local band for whom the beer and festival Fayuca RiZing take their name, do not appear to be performing? Yes, it is.

But it's a stellar lineup either way. There's a headlining set of cumbia and reggae from a touring act, Mercado Negro, an opening set by Jam Now and back-to-back performances by the two local artists most likely to satisfy a classic rocker's cravings for the way rock used to be, Wyves and the Black Moods.

Wyves should be tighter than ever, having just finished a tour that took them all the way to New York City in support of the excellent "R U OK?"

And the Black Moods are tearing it up on Billboard's mainstream rock chart, where their breakthrough single "Bella Donna" has now peaked at No. 29.

Details: 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21. Helio Basin Brewing Co., 3935 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix. $10.12-$12.24. 602-354-3525, heliobasinbrewing.com.

11/23: Meat Puppets

Led by Curt and Cris Kirkwood, these Tempe rock legends were plucked from the ranks of respected cult icons in the early '90s by Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, who had them join him on the set of "MTV Unplugged" to dust off three songs from "Meat Puppets II."

The Kirkwoods went their separate ways in 2002 but reunited in 2006 and have since released four albums on which they effortlessly live up to their legend.

The brothers unveiled a new lineup at Summerfest, sharing a video from the event on Facebook, where they wrote: "As you can see from this twenty five minute noodle-fest, we're keeping it real loose here, breaking it down, exploring the new creative space we've created. This is an exciting time for the five of us – the sky's the limit on what we can do! This band ain't no oldies act – we got some new tricks up our sleeve!"

Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $22; $20 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.

11/23: Triple single release show

El West, Broken Girls From Affluent Backgrounds and the Secret Destroyers are all releasing singles.

El West's Thomas Brenneman says, "We still aren’t quite ready to release our new EP, but wanted to put something out before end of year. This kind of was a challenge to ourselves to push us to get back into the creative process of writing after spending a lot of time recording our new EP and focusing on shows for a bit this year."

They booked studio time without having a song and had 30 days from start to finish to make something happen. The end result, "Sooner or Later," is an anthemic midtempo rocker that plays to the strengths their earlier material suggested while raising the stakes.

The Secret Destroyers are releasing a song called "Light Me Up,” recorded with Matt Keller.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $10; $8 in advance. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.

11/24: Bogan Via release show

Bret William Bender and Madeline Miller are celebrating the release of "Tough to Kill," a haunting collection of synth-driven ballads that draw on personal experiences.

"This last year was an exceptionally hard one on us for many reasons," Miller says. "I had one of the worst depressive episodes of my life and a lot of other (expletive) was going on and it was a strain on our relationship and our daily lives, really. But I came out of it knowing more about myself."

Although originally based in Phoenix, they've been living in L.A. for several years.

"L.A. is such a dominating place to live," Miller says. "It has really kicked the (expletive) out of us in many ways, but we are still here, growing and trying to be better everyday, and that’s the journey."

They're joined by kindred spirits MRCH, Palm Springs Eternal and LETRONZ.

Details: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $12. valleybarphx.com.

11/24: Lo Standard video release show

This show celebrates the premiere of Lo Standard's first video, for "No Fight Left," a chilling portrait of emotional abuse

"We chose this song because it has a very special place in our hearts and a powerful message," Alexa Graves explains. "We found that emotional and physical abuse was something that was becoming increasingly normalized in our society and we wanted to raise awareness on the subject. We hope to let victims of emotional and physical abuse know that they are not alone."

It's a powerful, well-acted video. And the song itself is every bit as raw, with Graves repeating "No fight left in me" with the vulnerability it takes to put that line across.

They're joined by Hostile Work Environment and Martin Danel.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. Pub Rock, 8005 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. FREE. 480-945-4985, pubrocklive.com.

11/29: Soft Deadlines release show

These Phoenix art-punks dove into the writing of their latest album as the only sane response to the 2016 election. “We had planned to give ourselves a rest," says Oliver Lemke. "We'd only just finished 'Go Dark.' But the world suddenly got a lot scarier, and I guess that's the kind of feeling that we draw on when writing.”

The result is an album called "People Are Evil," which Lemke says he actually believes.

“These couple years for me have been about learning what seemingly ordinary people are capable of,” he says.

The album begins with a rocker called "The Now," on which he sets the tone for much of what follows with "This is not a dance; this is a cry for help." To his credit, it feels like a cry for help with a palpable sense of anxiety that suits the times a bit too well.

Also playing: Celebration Guns, Paper Foxes, Weird Radicals and the Human Torch.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $10. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.

PAST EVENTS

11/3: BOYCOTT! release show

As a bisexual male, Kaleb Hargous of BOYCOTT! is on a mission to make music for those who know what it's like to be a member of the LGBTQ community while also weighing in on other pressing issues of the day.

The "Fruit Pie" EP takes its name, Hargous says, "from a moment in history where Anita Bryant, a pop singer, was speaking out against the LGBTQ+ community. During her speech, a homosexual male ran across the room and pied her in the face. Her response as she licked the cream frosting? 'At least it's a fruit pie.'"

BOYCOTT's music is an energetic blend of punk rock, funk and hip-hop, topped by lyrics that, as Hargous says, are "direct because we have a point to make .... We refuse to sit idly by while discrimination occurs – that's why our name is 'BOYCOTT!,' all caps with an exclamation point at the end."

They're joined at this house party by 2000 Foot Turtle, the Smiling Faces and Dadadoh.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. 4404 S. La Corta Drive, Tempe. facebook.com/boycott.tempe

11/5: Go Vote 2018

The idea behind this election eve concert is to get people excited about turning out to vote in the midterm elections the following morning.

As Joey Burns of Calexico explains, “It feels like we’ve been heading towards this age of extremes and so I’m interested in finding ways to bring people together. Maybe music can be part of that bridge.”

RELATED: Calexico's Joey Burns on offering light in an age of extremes

In addition to Calexico, the rally's organizers rounded up the Gin Blossoms, Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra and Mariachi Pasion.

Former U.S. Rep Gabrielle Giffords and astronaut Mark Kelly, her husband, will also appear at the rally, with Chris Bianco providing the pizza.

All proceeds benefit the non-profit organization Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence, which also presents the show.

RELATED: Robin Wilson on 'Mixed Reality' as the Gin Blossoms' best since 'Miserable'

Details: 8:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $15. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.

11/8: Psychostick

These guys aren't local anymore but they're bringing the Socks, Sandals & PJ Pants Tour through the Valley while celebrating the 15th anniversary of "We Couldn't Think of a Title," a humorcore debut recorded while they were still based in Tempe.

In a press release, they said, "We’re beyond excited that we’re still kickin’, making globs upon globs of comedy metal."

They topped the comedy charts in August with fifth album, "Do," whose highlights range from lead single "Adulting" to "Uncle Material."

This show also features Downtown Brown, Hellfire Club, Moons, Birds & Monsters and Zherra.

Details: 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8. Club Red, 1306 W. University Drive, Mesa. $18; $15 in advance. 480-258-2733, clubredrocks.com.

11/8: Mouse Powell

Captain Squeegee's Danny Torgersen, who guests on several tracks, calls Powell's first album in four years "the perfect balance of hip-hop, pop, poetry, and indie ... like a party that somehow becomes a philosophy discussion by 3 a.m."

It's a soulful, introspective album that Powell says began with him wanting to reinvent his writing process, adding "I was in a spot in my life personally where I really needed to make music and it had become a challenge, but I felt like I had a lot I wanted to say."

The result, he says, is "easily the most personal record" he's ever made.

He's joined at Rebel Lounge by Seanloui and New Heat.

Details: 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.

11/8-10: Mesa Music Festival

This free music and arts festival features indoor and outdoor performances by more than 300 artists from around the world in a variety of venues, both traditional and non-traditional.

A lot of those artists are local, including Christopher Shayne, Teammate Markus, Sunday at Noon, Danielle Durack, Wanderer, Future Exes, Luau, Ben Anderson, Snailmate, April Anne, Izzy Mahoubi, People Who Could Fly, New Chums and Talia Roya, Jam Now, Manic Monkeys, Sleepwar, American Longspurs and BOYCOTT!

A schedule is available at mesamusicfest.com/schedule/.

Details: 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8; noon Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9-10. Downtown Mesa. Free. 732-203-7787, mesamusicfest.com.

11/9: Lost in the Sun release show

"Searchin'" is Lost In the Sun's first album in 11 years.

"It’s been a long time coming," Kelly Ehley says. "I guess if you wait long enough to release a new album, life happens and that’s where these songs really draw inspiration from. The theme of the album definitely looks at loss and love."

The music came together organically, Ehley says. "I think we are just very fortunate to get play and write music together. We are close friends and we just have a great time with this."

They wrote the title track, Ehley says, "about the nostalgia you have about childhood and that longing to feel that togetherness again."

The release show also features Aunt B and Danielle Durack.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $15 with copy of album; $10 without. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.

11/10: Arizona Humane Society benefit

After the Calm top the bill as this benefit for the Arizona Humane Society, with Fairy Bones, Inept Hero, the Takeover and Those Kind of People rounding out the lineup.

After the Calm's approach to punk can range from the pop-punk side of the pit to the throat-shredding hardcore of a track as explosive as "Captive," the first of three singles they've released in 2018.

"Porcelain," the second single, is After the Calm at their poppiest while "Stuck on Repeat," their latest, splits the difference.

Fairy Bones started 2018 by dropping one of this year's most consistent rock releases, whose effortless pop sensibilities are offset by what lead singer Chelsey Louise calls “an upbeat and often wildly sarcastic take on one woman's journey through her 20s.”

Details: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Pub Rock, 8005 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. $10. 480-945-4985, pubrocklive.com.

11/10: Playboy Manbaby release show

"Boundless Vanity" is the second full-length effort of the year for Playboy Manbaby. And the party they're throwing to celebrate its birth is stacked with local heroes – Doll Skin, Mega Ran, Pro Teens and Instructions.

Much like "Lobotomobile," their first release of 2018, this latest chapter finds them effortlessly living up to every expectation raised by last year's masterful "Don't Let It Be."

After crashing the gate with the roiling guitars of a track that warns "They're watching you / They're watching me," they make their way with urgency through an unflinching portrait of the world gone mad outside their practice space.

There are songs about narcissists ("I Love Myself"), praying for the End Times ("Apocalypse Fetish"), gender identity ("People Making Assumptions"), the futility of politics as usual ("Compromise") and being "taught to reach for mediocrity" ("I'm Tired").

There's even a song called "Glory Days By Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band."

Details: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. The Trunk Space, 1124 N. Third St., Phoenix. $10; $8 in advance. thetrunkspace.com.

11/10: There is No Us release show

Their Facebook page describes them as "a social movement to expose the failure of the human race," a theme that carries over to the naming of their new EP, "Generation of Failure."

As front man Jim Louvau, a music photographer who often shoots for azcentral, explains the title, "It's a broad generalization of humanity as a whole."

The release was preceded by a video for "Kings and Queens," a hard-hitting portrait of homelessness in Phoenix, shot while temperatures were hovering above 110. As the singing kicks in, statistics about income inequality scroll across the screen, followed by quotes from the homeless, who share their often terrifying personal experiences.

"We really wanted to touch on what we were seeing going on around the world and how it was changing," Louvau says. "We started working on these songs before the country became divided but we saw it coming. In fact, we were mixing the record in Seattle with Terry Date on election day and we saw the instant effect it had on their city as things unfolded and fear was in the air. It was like an episode of 'The Twilight Zone' but this was real life."

Details: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Joe's Grotto, 13825 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $10. 602-992-1007, joesgrotto.com.

11/10: Alice Cooper's Proof is in the Pudding Finals

It's the final round of Alice Cooper's Proof Is In the Pudding contest.

Prizes include a slot for the top-rated band and solo act on Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding concert on Dec. 8, prizes from Bose and a custom Epiphone Les Paul guitar.

This year's finalists are Annie Mae, Between The Dark, Cedy Evens Jr., Chance McLaughlin, Ciara Cisneros, Conrad Varela, Fret Buzz, Homestretch, John Caufield, Mellow Psychedelic Culture, Paige June, Phoebe, Punji, Sammi Martinez, Sophia Marie Humbert, Sophie Dorsten, Sundai, SunKissed, Trey Vincent and Undecided Youth.

Last year's winners were Mariachi Juvenil de mi Tierra and Amelia, both of whom were great, so if you're looking to discover up-and-coming talent ahead of the curve, then this could be the show for you.

Details: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. Free. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.

11/10-11: Arizona Hip-Hop Festival

This is the biggest Arizona Hip-Hop Festival to date, a two-day blowout with hundreds of locals taking part, including headliners as big as Mega Ran and J. Rob the Chief.

It's also moved from its old home, Comerica Theatre, to a fenced-off area along Washington Street between First and Second streets with performances on the streets and in such venues as the Monarch Theatre, Bar Smith, Luxx, Cartel Coffee and Majerle’s Sports Grill. It's a format based on SXSW, a festival in Austin.

"We're very blessed," organizer Justus Samuel says. "We've grown tremendously, and this year is really focused on the new faces in the community. We've given a lot of the new artists an opportunity to show what they're really made of."

The key to expanding the festival year after year, Samuel says, is having allowed it to grow incrementally while learning on the job. "A hundreds artists five years ago terrified me," he says. This year, they anticipate more than 300 performers.

Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 and Sunday, Nov. 11. W. Washington St., Phoenix. $50 for a two-day pass. azhiphopfestival.com.

11/11: Blood Feud Family Singers release show

They've name their latest album "Adversary." As Daryl Scherrer, the band's primary songwriter-vocalist, put it, "for its dual connotation of enmity and diabolism."

All the songs, he says, "explore different forms of adversarial relationships, and 'the adversary' is a name for the devil, who gets a mention in a couple of the songs."

So yes, this album is as dark as you'd expect if you're at all familiar with their first release, "No Moon." This album marks their first release since adding the Haymarket Squares' Mark Allred on guitar.

They set the tone for the album with a somber bluegrass ballad, "Tall," which Scherrer says concerns a favorite theme of his – "manhood as an experience of desolation and defeat." Other highlights range from the raucous alternative-country of "I Didn't Come Here for Your Honesty" to the understated lament, "Already Over."

They're joined by Betsy Ganz and Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. Last Exit Live, 717 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. $8-$20. 602-271-7000, lastexitlive.com.

11/13: Ike Ndolo release show

The son of Nigerian immigrants, Ndolo grew up on a lot of different types of music, arriving at his distinctive brand of new-wave R&B in the process.

"Nigerian music like Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade and Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe," he recalls. "Reggae music like Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley. And of course all kinds of 90’s hip hop. These artists that I grew up with told stories through their music and I wanted to do the same."

That is exactly what he does on "Shine," a soulful collection produced by Chase Weber in Nashville whose highlights range from the vulnerability of "Follow Me" to the darker dubstep vibe of the speaker-rattling "Lost" and the majestic neosoul of the gospel-flavored final track, "Hold On."

He's joined at the release show by Wild Earth and Ryne Norman.

Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.

11/16: Archenaut release show

Guitarist Dan McCourt says the goal going into this EP was "making something as real and raw as possible to fully execute the passion and drive we have for our music and our fans."

The result, he says, is something they feel has been lacking in music in recent years.

"We felt like it was our time to start swinging back," he says. "It’s always been the legacy of our predecessors to light the way and pass the torch. Now we are here to take that torch, and pass down what that music has taught us. With this EP, you will feel that raw aggression behind the music and what it has done for us."

They're joined by Condemned Till Dawn, Throw The Switch, Kill Command, Absolute Adversary and Gnarcolepsy.

Details: 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16. Club Red, 1306 W. University Drive, Mesa. $13; $10 in advance. 480-258-2733, clubredrocks.com.

11/16: Exxxtra Crispy farewell/release show

These local punks, whose music draws on everything from stoner rock to MF Doom, are releasing one last album, "ONLY POSERS DIE!" before saying goodbye.

"I started the band with my ex-girlfriend," Austin Rickert says. "And there’s a lot of weird emotions for me in that regard. I wanted to write songs about how sad I was feeling at that chapter of my life and I finally feel like I’ve said all of the things that I wanted to say regarding my anger during that period. It feels like it’s time to move on."

Starting the band was cathartic, Rickert says, and he's proud he was able to express his feelings without compromise. "I still love all of the dudes in Crispy," he says. "And I look forward to making new music with new people very soon."

This album continues the story they've been telling all along, he says. "But it also represents change. I struggle with pretty severe depression and for a long time I felt like a bad guy, but lately I’ve been trying harder to be more positive."

The action starts with the Aquatic Hitchhiker, followed by Sad Dance Party, Hesperus, Dadadoh, TOSO, Fairy Bones and one last set by Exxxtra Crispy.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16. The Trunk Space, 1124 N. Third St., Phoenix. thetrunkspace.com.

11/16: Chopper John's Birthday Bash

The Bellwethers rock Chopper John's with Rockhead at birthday bash for Chopper John himself that doubles as a toy drive for the Esperanza Children's Home in Rocky Point.

Fans are encouraged to help bring the holidays to children in need by donating an unwrapped toy at the show. Cash donations are also accepted.

The Bellwethers recently celebrated the vinyl release of "Schizophrenic Zen,” whose highlights range from the swampy, slide-guitar-fueled swagger of the title track to the country-flavored power ballad "Born Red."

Details: 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16. Chopper John’s, 2547 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. Free. 602-955-0881, chopperjohns.com.

11/17: KWSS Fall Pledge Drive

KWSS (93.9 FM) is an independent non-profit supporting the arts in Phoenix. Everyone involved with the station is an unpaid volunteer. KWSS relies on listener support for operational costs, including music licensing, promotional materials, broadband connectivity, studio facilities, a transmitter and more.

DJ Dani Cutler says, "Having been with the station for almost 12 years, I can honestly say there is no other station in the Valley that can support the local music community the unique way we can. I love this scene so much, and I love introducing thousands of listeners to the wide range of talent Phoenix and the entire state has to offer."



This year's pledge drive features live performances by Jeff Bump of Mill's End, Travis Kenny of the Glides, Callie Young, Whstle, Sophie Dorsten, Sarah Chapman, Carol Pacey & the Honey Shakers and Ben Anderson.

If your business would like to sponsor the station, email Cutler at dani@kwss.org.

And stick around after the Pledge Drive for a second show headlined by the Honey Shakers with the Bellwethers and Labor Party.

Details: 12-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. Pho Cao, 7436 E McDowell Road. $10 donation. 480-947-2608, phocaoaz.com.

11/17: Unity Through Community Fall Fest

This year's Fall Fest doubles as promoter Fun Bobby's Birthday Hootenanny with performances by Bourbon Witch, Banana Gun, Scorpion vs. Tarantula, Creepsville666, Japhy's Descent, Future Exes, Pretty Years and the Noodles.

It's an eclectic mix and that was the idea.

"Unity Through Community founders Matthew James, Travis Japhy and I decided to bring Unity’s Fall Fest back to Shady Park and try to make this one appeal to even more diverse tastes," Fun Bobby says. "We’re beyond thrilled, not just about our latest art and live music event but we are overwhelmed by support that we are getting from all areas, but most importantly that our community is rooting for us."

Details: 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. Shady Park Tempe, 26 E. University Drive. $15 after 6 p.m.; $10 before 6 p.m. 480-474-4222, facebook.com/ShadyParkTempe.

READ MORE: