For comedians such as Sean Kent, performing is about so much more than just getting a laugh.

“I want catharsis,” Kent says in a phone interview while he is driving somewhere between Florida and Georgia. “The ultimate goal is exorcising everything that’s ****** up about today and the world.”

From jokes about relationships to the troubles of American politics, Kent says his performances serve almost as cleansing rituals.

“We’re like a family who keeps their skeletons in the closets,” says Kent, who performs at Laffs from Thursday through Saturday. “If we talk about things and open up about things, then the healing can begin. Humor is just one way to do that.”

A 32-year-old who has successfully battled cancer in the form of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Kent is now in a transitional period of his career and knows firsthand how influential laughter is in the healing process.

“I’m on a spirit quest this year, which is part of the reason I am driving across country and not flying,” he says. “I want to see this country and get in touch with the Earth again. I feel like my craft has rejuvenated and I’m trying to decide what my voice is and what my imprint on comedy will be.”

These days, it seems every performer or artist totes an entourage of managers, agents and the like. But Kent says he is more fulfilled by taking a different route in managing himself.

“I want to do as little with Hollywood as I can,” Kent says. “I just want people to come and listen to me and hear what I have to say.”

In the past four years, Kent has written two hours of new jokes and begun taking his career to the next level by headlining events at comedy clubs.

Woven into his new material is commentary about the many roles individuals play within relationships.

“I focus on things that people can relate to, including sex and relationships,” he says. “I give out relationship advice in a non-Dr.Phil kind of way,” he adds with a laugh.

But, in the big picture, he says, it’s all about understanding one another and finding meaning in the world we live in.

“It’s about big jokes and having so much fun that your sides hurt. Everyone’s worried about the afterlife, but damn it, we can have it here. This place is beautiful.”

———

IF YOU GO:

What: Comic Sean Kent

When: 8 Thursday, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Laffs Comedy Club, 2900 E. Broadway

Price: $7 Thursday, $10 Friday and Saturday

Info: 323-8669, www.laffscomedyclub.com

Don’t call Brother Ali a “white rapper.”

To be precise, he’s an albino, a Muslim and a recently divorced single father who is climbing the underground hip-hop ladder.

Too diverse to be lumped into one category, Ali has channeled his unique traits to make lyrical music that speaks volumes of his insight and spirit on his newest release, “The Undisputed Truth,” (Rhymesayers Entertainment).

“I think that the best music comes from the things that you feel passionate about and the things that really move you,” Ali says in a phone interview while traveling.

“For me to have the couple of years that I had, it didn’t really make sense for me to make music about anything else because I was going through these life-changing events.”

Ali’s album is at times highly political and speaks as much about the world as it does about his personal life.

“The songs that I consider political on there are just from my frustration with a lot of things that are going on,” says Ali, an emcee and high school dropout who comes from humble beginnings in Madison, Wis. “A lot of the people who built this country don’t have access to a lot of the resources of this country and they are in such a situation that their education system is a joke and the opportunities around them for jobs aren’t realistic and they are not able to support themselves.”

With lyrics such as “Welcome to the United Snakes, land of the thief, home of the slaves,” on the song “Uncle Sam Goddamn,” Ali shares his controversial views.

“I try to every day make my music really personal,” Ali says. “Rather than tell you what I think you should do, or what I think you should think, or try to come off like the teacher, I tell you how I feel about it.”

At the beginning of his career, Ali poured his energy into becoming a rapper, with little success. Now he gets to call the shots. Ali says he is proud and excited to have different performers with him on a tour that he crafted of his own accord.

“This was the first time since I’ve been on tour that me and my DJ got to choose the shows that we wanted to see,” he says.

“So, it’s an entire performance from the time it starts. It’s not like there is a band playing a set and a CD playing in between. We wanted to kind of give a basement party kind of vibe.”

With shows lined up across the country and a new marriage planned, Ali has a lot to look forward to in the coming months.

“I feel really fortunate and lucky to be in the position that I’m in,” he says. “I’ve wanted to do this tour for a long time and now we’re doing it and the people that we have with it are great and the responses have been really cool. There’s nothing to complain about.”

———

IF YOU GO

What: Brother Ali with Psalm 1, DJ BK ONE and Toki Wright

When: Doors open at 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.

Price: $10 advance, $12 day of show; all ages

Info: 622-8848, www.hotelcongress.com

Don’t call Brother Ali a “white rapper.”

To be precise, he’s an albino, a Muslim and a recently divorced single father who is climbing the underground hip-hop ladder.

Too diverse to be lumped into one category, Ali has channeled his unique traits to make lyrical music that speaks volumes of his insight and spirit on his newest release, “The Undisputed Truth,” (Rhymesayers Entertainment).

“I think that the best music comes from the things that you feel passionate about and the things that really move you,” Ali says in a phone interview while traveling.

“For me to have the couple of years that I had, it didn’t really make sense for me to make music about anything else because I was going through these life-changing events.”

Ali’s album is at times highly political and speaks as much about the world as it does about his personal life.

“The songs that I consider political on there are just from my frustration with a lot of things that are going on,” says Ali, an emcee and high school dropout who comes from humble beginnings in Madison, Wis. “A lot of the people who built this country don’t have access to a lot of the resources of this country and they are in such a situation that their education system is a joke and the opportunities around them for jobs aren’t realistic and they are not able to support themselves.”

With lyrics such as “Welcome to the United Snakes, land of the thief, home of the slaves,” on the song “Uncle Sam Goddamn,” Ali shares his controversial views.

“I try to every day make my music really personal,” Ali says. “Rather than tell you what I think you should do, or what I think you should think, or try to come off like the teacher, I tell you how I feel about it.”

At the beginning of his career, Ali poured his energy into becoming a rapper, with little success. Now he gets to call the shots. Ali says he is proud and excited to have different performers with him on a tour that he crafted of his own accord.

“This was the first time since I’ve been on tour that me and my DJ got to choose the shows that we wanted to see,” he says.

“So, it’s an entire performance from the time it starts. It’s not like there is a band playing a set and a CD playing in between. We wanted to kind of give a basement party kind of vibe.”

With shows lined up across the country and a new marriage planned, Ali has a lot to look forward to in the coming months.

“I feel really fortunate and lucky to be in the position that I’m in,” he says. “I’ve wanted to do this tour for a long time and now we’re doing it and the people that we have with it are great and the responses have been really cool. There’s nothing to complain about.”

———

IF YOU GO

What: Brother Ali with Psalm 1, DJ BK ONE and Toki Wright

When: Doors open at 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.

Price: $10 advance, $12 day of show; all ages

Info: 622-8848, www.hotelcongress.com

A two-day event filled with stuff for the whole family, the 22nd annual Tucson Folk Festival is helping keep alive the spirit of storytelling that helps define the genre.

From workshops that focus on some of Arizona’s stories and songs to craft booths and five stages of music, the festival provides the opportunity for attendees to learn something new and have a little bit of fun.

It seems fitting then, that Trout Fishing in America, a two-man band known for grabbing attention with silly but informative songs, should serve as one of the headliners at this weekend’s event.

“It would drive us crazy if we had to do one thing all the time,” bassist Keith Grimwood says in a phone interview from his home in Arkansas. “We play shows for kids, shows for adults, family concerts and everything in between.”

Together for more than 30 years, Grimwood and guitarist Ezra Idlet are known for their eclectic range of songs that cover such wacky topics as nose-picking and the dreads of bed-head.

“People ask me a lot of times, ‘What’s the difference between a kids’ show and an adults’ show?’ Grimwood says. “My quick answer is, ‘No love songs at the kids’ show.’ Kids hate that kissy stuff.”

For those who want to experience the difference for themselves, Trout Fishing in America will play two shows at the festival – one in the afternoon for children and one in the evening for adults.

“I think the evening show will rock a little harder with more soloing, love songs and stuff like that,” Grimwood says. “If you see both shows, you can tell me the difference.”

When they aren’t self-producing albums from their own label (Trout Records), or attending the Grammys for the three nominations they have received, Grimwood and Idlet are teaching songwriting workshops at local schools around the country.

“It’s surprisingly educational because creativity is so important in every aspect of our lives,” Grimwood says. “People ask at first, ‘How will you get the kids to respond and participate?’ Well, we did two songwriting workshops and I said, ‘How do you turn them off?’ ”

With a sound that appeals to a wide variety of people, it’s no surprise that Grimwood says his band has seen its audience expand with each decade.

“A lot of shows we are doing these days are family concerts where everyone shows up together,” Grimwood says. “I look out there in the audience and I see three, four generations of families out there who are enjoying our music. They may be there for different reasons, but they’re all doing something together and it’s really cool.”

In its first time performing at the Tucson Folk Festival, Trout Fishing in America will play from 1-2:15 p.m. Sunday for the children’s show, then hit the stage at 8 for the adult show.

TUCSON FOLK FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

SATURDAY

Plaza Stage at City Hall

noon – Gemini Duo with Don Gest

12:30 – Treehouse Fire

1 – Dean Station

1:30 – Bob Wilders

2 – Zephyr Strings

2:30 – Julia Dawn

3 – The Marks Brothers

3:30 – Pete Fine

4- Scotty Johnson and Native Seed

4:30 – Tiffany Jo

5 – Pete Steinberg

5:30 – Bwiya Toli

6 – Songwriter Contest Winner

6:30 – Titan Valley Warheads

7 – Kevin Pakulis

7:30 – Old Soul Sisters

8 – Jose Saavedra

8:30 – Tim Wiedenkeller

9 – Sisters Morales

Courtyard Stage at Pima County Courthouse

noon – Songwriting Contest, 10 entrants, 2 songs each

2:15 – 16th Place

2:45 – Christofer Erin

3:15 – Don Simpson and Rebecca Blaich

3:45 – Andy Hurlbut

4:15 – Mostly Harmless

4:45 – Privy Tippers

5:15 – Ice-9

5:45 – Larry Armstrong and Copper Moon

6:15 – Stefan and Lavinia

Museum Stage

noon – Aaron Jacobson

12:30 – Lois “Skin” Flinton

1 – Kathy and Larry

1:30 – Roon

2 – Kenny Voita

2:30 – Quincy

3 – Melanie Sue Mausser

3:30 – Tangled Strings

4 – Pablo

4:30 – The Bouncing Czechs

5 – Elise Grecco

5:30 – Los Hombres

6 – Leila Lopez

6:30 – Determined Luddites

Old Town Artisan Stage

noon – Brandi Miller

12:30 – Harvest

1 – John De Roo

1:30 – Anne English

2 – Shazang Away

2:30 – St. Clair, Gibbons and Kimmel

3 – Willow Creek

3:30 – Mandophilia

4 – Lance Swaim

4:30 – The Woolley Way

5 – Sabra Faulk

5:30 – Bright and Childers

6 – Hot Club of Sierra Vista

6:30 – Dambe Drum Ensemble

SUNDAY

Plaza Stage

11 a.m. – Wally Lawder

11:30 – Robber Roberson

noon – Kalimba Magic

12:30 – Jones Gang and Friends

1 – Melanie Morrison

1:30 – Dan Oved and Pete Fine

2 – Joyce Woodson

2:30 – Mzekela

3 – Anne James

3:30 – Circadian Rythms

4 – Arnold/ Klingenfus Ensemble

4:30 – Robyn Landis

5 – Desert Sons

5:30 – Roth D’Lux

6 – Greg Morton and the String Figures

6:30 – The Last Call Girls

7 – John Coinman

7:30 – BK Special

8 – Trout Fishing in America

Courtyard Stage

11 a.m. – Tom Richardson

11:30 – Sandy Hathaway

noon – Whistle Stop

12:30 – Artichoke Sisters

1 – Trout Fishing in America (children’s show)

2:15 – Emilie and Stefan George

2:45 – Water on the Rocks

3:15 – Ed Sloat

3:45 – 80 cents a day

4:15 – Phil Borzillo

4:45 – Linda Lou and The Desert Drifters

5:15 – Round the House

5:45 – Way Out West

6:15 – Late Rain

Museum Stage

noon – Without a Drought

12:30 – Matt Miller

1 – Sharla and Shorty

1:30 – Sanford and the Blooming Cereus

2 – Scott Hallock Group

2:30 – Sarah Sample

3 – Creosote

3:30 – Liz Stahler

4 – Arizona Balalaika Orchestra

4:30 – Sally withers and Her Latin Tios

5 – Too Much Information

5:30 – Poor Django’s Almanac

6 – None Too Soon

6:30 – Namoli Brennet

New Artists Stage

11:30 a.m. – Mirror Image

noon – Jon and Jeff

12:30 – Jeanne Ruff

1 – Julia and Heather

1:30 – Jesus Lopez

2 – Nicole Thomas

2:30 – Tiffany Jo

———

IF YOU GO

What: 22nd annual Tucson Folk Festival

Where: El Presidio Park, 115 N. Church Ave.

When: noon-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday

Price: free

Info: 792-6481, www.tkma.org

It’s May. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining and every punk rock or fast-paced music lover has one thing on his or her mind: the 2007 KFMA Day.

Past years have included performances from Billy Idol, Taking Back Sunday and AFI, this year’s set list is also geared toward rocking out. For $30, here’s who you’ll see:

1:15-1:45 p.m.
A ska-punk band from Mesa, Authority Zero’s music is a mixture of reggae, pop and rock. The group’s “A Passage in Time” (Lava Records) CD included the single, “One More Minute,” which helped them achieve success with its reggae undertones and danceable beats. Comparable to Pepper and Sublime, Authority Zero touts high energy in its performances and always manages to get someone dancing.

2:10-2:55
An indie rock band from Los Angeles, Silversun Pickups are perhaps the least-known band on the bill, though their talent and skill for songwriting rivals that of every act. Rumored to have been a bit shy in their initial live performances, Silversun Pickups are coming into their own since touring with OK Go and Snow Patrol up until last month.

3:20-4:05
The Bravery came together in 2003 with a sound similar to The Cure and Franz Ferdinand on its debut self-titled CD that boasted the single, “An Honest Mistake.” With its daft-punk vibe, The Bravery should provide an interesting mix to the line-up.

4:30-5:15
Ontario, Canada, punk rock band Sum 41 were on the radio continuously in 2001 with the release of “All Killer No Filler” (Island Records), with singles “Fat Lip,” and “In Too Deep.”

Since then, Sum 41 have created a name for themselves for a range of song topics that spans the funny to the political. In 2004, the band contributed to the “Rock Against Bush” compilation and their new album, “Underclass Heroes” (Island) is expected in July.

5:40-6:40
Chevelle broke out in 2002 with its debut album, “Wonder What’s Next” (Epic), which carried the singles “Send the Pain Below,” and “Closure” and went platinum.

Originally comprised of three brothers, Pete, Sam and Joe Loeffler, the band recently changed members by swapping Joe for Dean Bernardini, their brother-in-law. Still rocking with the pop-punk sound that made them famous, Chevelle released its fourth album, “Vena Sera,” (Epic) last month, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Top 200 charts.

7:05-8:05
Gorgeous and incredibly talented, Chris Cornell is the former frontman of Soundgarden and Audioslave. With the recent break-up of Audioslave, Cornell has once again gone solo, much to the delight of his fans, who supported his 1999 solo album, “Euphoria Morning,” (A&M).

His new album, “Carry On,” (A&M) is slated for a June 5 release. In the meantime, Cornell is on tour, giving us all something to scream for.

8:30-9:45
After forming in Utah in the mid-1990s, The Used exploded onto the scene with their self-titled 2002 album that featured singles “A Box Full of Sharp Objects” and “Buried Myself Alive.”

Since those days, the boys have tasted success via two platinum albums and an ever-growing fan base that spans the globe. The new “Lies for the Liars,” (Reprise Records) hits stores May 22.

IF YOU GO
What: 2007 KFMA DAY

When: Saturday; gates open at noon

Where: Pima County Fairgrounds

Price: $30 (tickets available at all area Catalina Marts and kfma.com)

Info: kfma.com

Local group the Tim Wiedenkeller Band will perform and provide an early release of its single “The New Old Pueblo” at the Tucson Folk Festival this weekend.

Filled with nostalgia for some of the traditions of Tucson’s past, the song addresses cultural changes that the Old Pueblo has undergone, singer-songwriter Tim Wiedenkeller says.

“This is one of my most widely requested songs,” the banjo player says. “It seems to resonate deeply with longtime Tucsonans especially.”

Heartfelt and catchy, the song was created out of a trip he took to southern Arizona 10 years ago.

“A friend of mine threw a party with various Tucson musicians,” Wiedenkeller says. “The Ronstadt family came and brought prickly pear cactus, or nopal. We peeled spines and told stories (while) getting to know each other, and it struck me as a privilege to be in a part of the country where they harvest different foods.”

A few years later, Wiedenkeller moved to Tucson and began harvesting a patch of prickly pear and started juicing tunas, the fruit that grows on the cactus.

“Quickly I realized no one that I knew knew what nopal or tunas were, and it struck me as tragic in witnessing another culture or tradition falling by the wayside,” he says.

“So, I wrote a song about the traditions of Tucson but I didn’t want it to be depressing, so its hook is catchy.”

The hook, which says, “We no peel nopal no mo’ ” serves as a cultural reminder of Tucson’s past.

“It’s interesting, when I perform it for an audience,” he says. “The locals are all crying and giggling, and the people that aren’t locals are just giggling because they don’t remember.”

Wiedenkeller will perform at 8:30 Saturday night. So bring your family – and maybe a box of tissues.

She made her mark as a conservative tell-it-like-it-is radio talk show host, who was often at the center of controversy due to her remarks on issues such as gay marriage and pre-marital sex.

With her new one-woman show, “Dr. Laura: In My Never To Be Humble Opinion,” Laura Schlessinger dishes out advice to some of America’s most relationship-challenged individuals but also incorporates more information about herself in an effort to become more personal with her viewers.

In a recent phone interview from Los Angeles, Schlessinger discusses her controversial past, the best advice she has ever received and discloses some of her little-known secrets.

Q: You are coming to Tucson for your new show, “In My Never To Be Humble Opinion.” What inspired you to create the show?

A: I enjoy being on a stage and using it as this vehicle for the preaching, teaching and nagging that I do. It’s a way for people to learn about me in a face-to-face way. I don’t spend time on my radio show talking about myself. People come in and they do their 4-by-6 cards with their personal questions, and I weave that into stories about my life, stories about my day or working on the radio. There’s a lot of drama, a lot of humor, and it’s really face-to-face, and I like that. It’s a way of connecting. I like the personal.

On your show you accept random questions. What are some of the wackiest questions you’ve ever received?

The questions are mostly things that people are struggling with in their life, so it tends not to be wacky, although some of the circumstances are . . . ‘I’m in my third marriage, I have five kids with six guys and he has three kids with two wives and we’re getting married, and we’re arguing over the dog.’

You’ve really made your mark in radio and your talk show. What keeps you wanting to do more to further your career?

I’m very content doing what I’m doing. I’m doing well with my shows. We’ve been doing it for a year and a half, and I like going from city to city and meeting folks. I love doing my radio program, because it’s a purposeful life I have, helping people. I am really happy doing what I’m doing.

What is something that people might be surprised to know about you?

I just bought a Harley Trike, three Harley jackets, two pairs of Harley boots and a Harley purse. I am a closet Harley mom, coming out of the closet (laughing).

I read somewhere that you are a huge ‘Star Trek’ fan. Is this true?

I am a huge Trekkie! (laughing). The original version, though. I have, don’t ask, how much ‘Star Trek’ memorabilia. It’s unbelievable. I don’t have it out. I have it all in storage and I don’t even know why I have it, but I will give it to my grandchildren someday.

You have been doing this for quite some time now. Is there anything that you would do differently if you could go back?

There are all kind of regrets, stupidities and things you can be embarrassed about. But ultimately, every journey goes over the ground that’s rocky, and they’ve all produced the understanding that I have about life and people that I use today to be helpful. You know the movie, ‘The Butterfly Effect,’ where you step on a butterfly and all of history will be changed? Well, gosh darnit, if I hadn’t done one or two stupid things, maybe all of history would be changed and maybe not in a good way.

With all of your years on the air, there have been many parodies made of you. Do you ever feel hurt or misrepresented?

Oh, all the time, but that’s people’s defensiveness, and I understand that. When people are mean about me, it’s because they are defensive. Because, if I’m right, then the way they are living their lives is wrong, so, the best thing to do is just attack me. You know, I’m 60 years old, and trust me, I’ve been through this for three decades. You can’t upset me anymore with that kind of crap. I laugh now, because I go, ‘Gosh darn, I’m on the air for three hours a day helping people and all they can say about me is this?’ I don’t get upset about it.

What’s the best advice that anyone has ever given to you?

To remember that the moon is not bothered by the baying of wolves.

———

IF YOU GO

What: “Dr. Laura: In My Never to be Humble Opinion” onstage

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St.

Price: $42 and $62

Info: 547-3040, foxtucsontheatre.org

In the largest student-run carnival in the nation, University of Arizona students are tapping into the fairs of their youth to bring white-knuckle rides and a whole lot of fun to Tucson.

An annual event for the past 33 years, Spring Fling turns the spotlight onto nearly 45 student clubs that volunteer their time and raise money for their organization in the process.

“This is the largest student fundraiser of the year,” says Alex Manuel, director of Spring Fling 2007. “We don’t really aim to raise a certain dollar amount, but the event has brought in close to $100,000 for student clubs in past years.”

Replete with classic and white-knuckle carnival rides, the event draws a crowd of more than 30,000 each year.

“We have 30 carnival rides that will be running over four days,” Manuel says. “Plus, we have 34 booths that have games, food and concessions.”

Spring Fling also features live music. This year, local ’80s cover band Metalhead will take carnivalgoers on a rocking stroll down memory lane when it takes to the stage Friday night at 7.

———

IF YOU GO

What: Spring Fling 2007

When: 4 p.m.-midnight today-Friday, noon-midnight Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday

Where: Rillito Park Race Track, 4502 N. First Ave.

Price: $5 general, free for children 6 and younger, students with UA Catcard ID and those with military IDs.

Parking: $1. Free shuttles from the Old Main building at the University of Arizona leave Thursday and Friday every half hour 3:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; Saturday 11:30-12:30 a.m.; Sunday 11:30 a.m-6:30 p.m.

Info: 621-5610, www.springfling.arizona.edu

Sea lions, science, freak show among this year’s highlights

The 97th annual Pima County Fair will make a splash in the Old Pueblo with the help of new and returning attractions, including sea lion shows and fishing lessons.

Kicking off April 19 and running until April 29, the fair will feature many cool attractions that can help take your mind off the rising temperatures.

“We have over 45 rides this year, so that there is something for everyone, from the young to the old,” says Tony Fiori, media marketing director for Ray Cammack Shows, which has brought carnival rides to the fair for more than 30 years.

“We’re also going to have 12 food vendors who will sell cotton candy, candy apples, corn dogs and typical fair food.”

New events this year include appearances by the Bengal Tigers of India and performances from an Elvis impersonator.

“This is a growing process and every year we learn more,” says Launa Rabago, the fair’s marketing director. “The Tucson market has changed so much. This year, we are bringing things for our snowbirds, seniors, teens and everyone in between.”

JUST FOR KIDS

The fish school: Learn the techniques of fishing and some new facts about our underwater friends. Fishing lessons and demonstrations run daily from 12:30-2:30 p.m., 3:30-5:30 and 6:30-7:30 in the Pima Hall.

Super Science Company: With mind bogglers and simple machines, kids can have “fun with physics,” and learn a thing or two about Newton’s laws; daily at 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1:30, 2:30 and 6 in the Old Pueblo Hall.

All Creatures Great and Small Petting Zoo: open during fair hours.

AN ARRAY OF ANIMALS

Sea lion splash: Take a break from the heat and spend some time near sea lions; daily at 2, 5 and 9:30 p.m.; in front of the Livestock Ramada and across from the Michelob Cantina

Marcan white tigers: Who needs the zoo? These friendly tigers show off their prowess and beauty in front of the Administration Building and across from Old Pueblo Hall; daily at 3:30, 6:30 and 8 p.m.

Nancy Kolbert’s Amazing World of Birds: Colorful parrots talk and sing as they fly through the crowd, landing on the shoulders of audience members; daily, 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. in Central Park; 8:30 p.m. April 19.

> In Tuesday’s Family Plus

See what families are doing to get their animals ready for the fair.

ODDITIES

Hypnotist extraordinare: Tammy Barton works her powers of hypnotism to bring out personality traits you never knew you had; nightly at 5, 7 and 9 at the Coors Central Park Stage.

The Freak Show: Watch as George the Giant, a 7-foot-3-inch man, does everything from swallowing swords to eating light bulbs. Ouch. Coupled with the magic tricks of John Shaw, the freak show is filled with electrifying illusions and slightly spooky stunts; nightly at 6, 8 and 10; Note: The 10 p.m. show is rated PG and parental guidance is recommended.

Elvis impersonator: Although not The King himself, this impersonator shakes his hips and sings like the real thing; daily, 3, 6 and 8:30 p.m.; in the Pima Hall at the Memphis Mobile Museum and Gift Shop.

CONCERTS

Free with fair admission

Rockers Tesla, 7 p.m. April 21, Budweiser Main Stage; also appearing, Jackyl.

Super Oldies Weekend with R&B acts Rose Royce, Sly Slick and Wicked, GQ and MC Boulevard, 7:30 p.m. April 22, Budweiser Main Stage

Country star Darryl Worley, 7:30 p.m. April 28, Budweiser Main Stage

Norteño legend Ramón Ayala, 7:30 p.m. April 29, Budweiser Main Stage

RIDES

Many classic rides will be at the fair in addition to nine new ones.

“Cliffhanger” – Soar through the air with the greatest of ease while lying on your stomach in this contraption.

The “Re-mix” – If you feel like shaking things up a bit, ride the “re-mix,” which is three-dimensional and spins sideways.

“Aladdin” – Kids can take a magic carpet ride on this new offering.

———

FOOD

Fried twinkies: Also known as a little piece of heaven.

Cotton candy: What’s a fair without it?

Candy apples: Messy, but part of the fair experience.

Buffalo burgers and brats: We hear they’re pretty tasty.

Prices range from $2-$6.

Contests: Scratch pie baking, home beer, salad making, table setting

> In Wednesday’s Taste Plus

More on fair food

———

IF YOU GO

What: 97th annual Pima County Fair

When: April 19-29. Gates open at 11 a.m. weekdays, 10 a.m weekends and Tuesday; Carnival: 2 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. weekends. The fair has no set closing time and stays open until at least 11 p.m. weekdays and midnight on a weekends.

Where: Pima County Fairgrounds, 11300 S. Houghton Road

Price: $7 general, $2 kids 2-10, free to kids 5 and younger; $5 for parking

Info: 762-9100, www.pimacountyfair.com

SWIPE CARDS

Rides are going ticketless at the fair.

Instead, fairgoers will be able to buy a “FunPass” – a swipe card that works like a debit card – at ticket booths. Card holders will present their cards to ride operators, and scanners will deduct the costs of the rides.

Empty cards can be reloaded at the ticket booths.

Using the passes will allow fair managers to collect minute-by-minute data on the popularity of rides and how and where fairgoers spend their time.

He’s a rapper. He’s an actor. He’s the head of his own record label.

He’s the multitalented Ice Cube.

The star of the recently released family film “Are We Done Yet?” is returning to his music roots with a tour and new CD (“Raw Footage”) in the works. He performs Wednesday at the Rialto.

In a recent interview from New York, the hip-hop mogul shares his views about politics, his relationship with fellow N.W.A member Dr. Dre and what he believes is his greatest accomplishment.

Q: The Iraq war seems to be a really big theme of “Cry Now, Laugh Later.” How do you think the war is affecting the hip-hop industry?

A: I don’t know if the music business knows how to deal with the war as far as talking about it. I think people are just kind of feeling it for the troops and the fact that they are just caught up in it. A lot of them are really young and a lot of them haven’t really had the chance to live their life and be independent because they are caught up in the war. I don’t think the hip-hop industry is dealing with the war. I don’t think they even want to touch it or deal with it.

You’ve been acting for the past few years. What made you feel like it was time to go back to rapping?

I love hip-hop, and hip-hop is the reason for why all of this other success has come my way. It will always be in me. It’s kind of a career and a hobby, so I always feel like I’ll do music. I did a lot of cameos between my last album and this new album, so I kind of feel like I never went away with it. We had issues with Priority Records and Capitol Records, and it was issues that kept me away for six years, but I always felt like I was down and ready to do a record.

You released your last albums on your own record label. Was that decision made to allow you more freedom?

With big labels, they have so many artists that sometimes you feel like you are on a conveyor belt and nobody does the little things to make the record successful. So being independent, I’m able to put the money into a real smart, grass-roots type of straight-to-the-street promotions, and it helped me to go gold in the time when major artists on major labels are having a hard time selling gold.

You worked on a couple of tracks with Snoop Dogg recently. Do you have any plans to work with Dr. Dre again?

I always like to work with Dre. He’s one of the best producers in hip-hop, so I always look forward to working with him. We don’t really have a set schedule right now but he’s always giving me a call at the last minute anyway.

One of the common themes in your music involves commenting on politicians and their influence in perpetuating poverty in southern California. Do you think there is anything that can be done to end the cycle?

That’s basically the theme of capitalism. We capitalize off of the next man, and somebody has to lose, somebody has to win. Unfortunately, places like south central L.A., south side Phoenix, wherever, are places kind of relegated to lose so that the rest of society can win.

In that regard, many of your albums have become really controversial. Do you anticipate that your new release, “Raw Footage,” will be as well, or did you take a different route on this record?

I deal with the things that affect me and the things that I feel are appropriate to rap about. So, I will continue to do that. That’s just who I am. I don’t know if I could make a record without having some kind of political undertones and overtones. To me, it wouldn’t be an interesting record.

Are you going back in the studio in the next year and create another record?

That’s what I do. I feel like I can rap with the best of them. It’s what I do. It’s what I was put here to do, and I am never going to stop.

You have done so much, from acting to rapping. When it’s all said and done, what do you feel is your greatest accomplishment?

My family. Everything else is a project – something that’s a piece of who I am that I wanted to share with the world – but nothing is real and nothing means as much to me as my family.

When you sit down to write or rap, what’s the kind of feeling that you want to portray?

I just want to be honest with what I’m saying. I want to speak for people who can’t speak for themselves and I want to have dope lyrics. To me that’s the essence of hip-hop. If you have dope lyrics, everything else falls into place no matter what you’re talking about.

Now that you have dabbled in so many different fields, where do you want to go from here?

I want to do better movies, better records and keep working hard to improve.

———

IF YOU GO

What: Ice Cube in concert, with WC of Westside Connection

When: 8 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Rialto Theatre, 318 W. Congress St.

Price: $35 advance, $36 day of show

Info: 740-1000, rialtotheatre.com

Jo Dee Messina enjoys showing off her own tunes County Thunder’s Star-studded LINEUP

They don’t call it Country Thunder for nothing.

An annual, four-day camp-out near Florence that brings nearly 60,000 music fans together in honky-tonk bliss, the event showcases more than 50 performances by country’s hottest stars and packs enough energy to rattle a few windows.

With so many country superstars (Reba McEntire, Gretchen Wilson, etc.) on the premises, don’t be surprised if you spot a few in the crowd during the fest April 12-15.

“I just love the whole festival environment,” says Jo Dee Messina, one of more than 30 acts performing at the event.

“I always swear that I’m gonna do that one day – go to a four-day festival and just camp out,” she says, laughing.

Performing among the ranks of Neal McCoy, Montgomery Gentry and Tanya Tucker, Messina says she is excited just to hang out and watch the show.

“You have 60,000 people out there,” she says. “There’s going to be a lot of energy in the crowd.”

A singer who has had her fair share of very public ups and downs in recent years, Messina’s latest album, “Delicious Surprise,” is an exploration of her personal struggles and the first record on which she tries her luck at songwriting.

“I have always been a writer, but I never had the chance to have my writing heard,” she says. “So ‘Delicious Surprise’ was kind of like, ‘I have nothing to lose, so let me put some stuff on the record,’ and it was really successful.”

After having to deal with the breakup of her engagement to road manager Don Muzquiz and a brief stint in an alcohol rehabilitation center the past couple of years, Messina says she welcomes the uplifting songs on “Delicious Surprise.”

The track “It Gets Better,” which was written entirely by Messina, especially resonates with her.

“It’s one of my sentimental favorites,” Messina says. “I love all of the songs on this record, but this one I can actually sing to myself every now and again.”

Although dear to Messina, the song’s slow pace could keep it from making the set list at Country Thunder.

“For these kinds of shows, we just keep it rockin’,” Messina says. “We bust on the stage rockin’ and we don’t stop.”

With a level of intensity that should rival that of the Country Thunder crowd, Messina will take to the stage April 12 with a new outlook on life.

“It’s all about the simple things,” she says. “Life is awesome. I love to sing. I love what I do and that’s a blessing in itself.”

Jo Dee Messina: Not Going Down

Jo Dee Messina: Someone Else’s Life

Jo Dee Messina: Delicious Surprise (I Believe It)

Jo Dee Messina: It Gets Better

———

MAIN STAGE
Thursday, April 12

3 p.m. – Jamie Lee Thurston

4:15 – Cowboy Crush

5:30 – Chris Young

7 – Lorrie Morgan

8:30 – Jo Dee Messina

10 – Trace Adkins

Friday, April 13

noon – Villebillies

1:15 – Rio Grand

2:30 – Western Underground

3:45 – Heartland

6:00 – Tanya Tucker

7:30 – Blake Shelton

9 – Randy Owens

10:30 – Reba McEntire

Saturday, April 14

1 p.m. – Sarah Buxton

3:15 – Poverty Neck Hillbillies

4:30 – Harry Luge

5:45 – Steve Holy

7 – Cross Canadian Ragweed

8:30 – Gretchen Wilson

10:30 – Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy

Sunday, April 15

noon – Chasin’ Mason

1 – Gary Nichols

2:15 – Williams and Ree

3:45 – Trick Pony

5 – Phil Vassar

6:30 – Neal McCoy

8:30 – Montgomery Gentry

GRAHAM CENTRAL SALOON
Thursday, April 12

7:30 p.m. – Chris Young

8:30 – Cowboy Crush

9:30 – Harry Luge

10:30 – Western Underground

11:30 – Harry Luge

12:30 – Western Underground

Friday, April 13

6:30 p.m. – Rio Grand

7:30 – Villebillies

8:30 – Western Underground

9:30 – Poverty Neck Hillbillies

10:30 – Harry Luge

11:30 – Poverty Neck Hillbillies

12:30 a.m. – Harry Luge

Saturday, April 14

6:30 p.m. – Villebillies

8:30 – Villebillies

10:30 – Poverty Neck Hillbillies

12:30 a.m. – Harry Luge

Sunday, April 15

5:30 p.m. – Chasin’ Mason

7:30 – Chasin’ Mason

8:30 – Harry Luge

9:30 – Gary Nichols

10:30 – Harry Luge

———

IF YOU GO

What: Country Thunder

When: April 12-15

Where: Florence (see map)

Directions: From Tucson, take Oracle Road to Pinal Pioneer Parkway (state Route 79) to Florence. Turn right on East Price Station Road and head 1.2 miles to 20585 E. Price Station Road.

Price:

VIP seating: $450

Reserved seating: $200

Reserved lawn: $149

Four-day general admission: $129 online, $159 at gate

One-day tickets: $35 online, $59 at gate

Kids tickets: $25 for ages 6-11, four-day-general admission only, available at gate

$10 one-day general admission for kids 6-11, available at gate

Camping tickets (three campgrounds):

Crazy Coyote: $100

Road Runner: $125

Starlight: $175

Info: (262) 279-6960, countrythunder.com

Old Pueblo postings on YouTube: Floods, Led Zeppelin, more

Are you ready for your close-up, Tucson?

Apparently so, as evidenced by the thousands of video clips depicting the aspects of life in the Old Pueblo on community-interactive Web site YouTube.com.

The hugely popular site is bringing Tucson attractions and locals to the forefront of the information superhighway.

From videos of Led Zeppelin concerts in the 1970s to minidocumentaries about the trials and tribulations of dating, YouTube makes it possible to explore all that the city has to offer without ever leaving your computer.

Here are some entertaining clips we came across recently. But, viewers, beware: Surfing YouTube can be extremely addictive!

MUSIC

Never fret over a missed concert again. YouTube is swarming with clips of Tucson performances.

“Valentin Elizalde en Tucson y Saluda a PortalTucson.com”

Valentin Elizalde, a 27-year-old Mexican singer who was killed by drug lords last year, performs at the Tucson Expo Center in a video clip that has generated nearly 30,000 views since it was posted three months ago.

“Led Zeppelin Tucson 1972″

A rare video of a 1972 Led Zeppelin performance in Tucson may be the coolest concert footage that YouTube has to offer. Captured by an 8mm camera, the quality of the clip is indicative of available technology in the early ’70s, but watching Zeppelin perform “Stairway to Heaven” more than compensates for the poor aesthetics.

“Kittie at Tucson”

Clearly filmed from the front row or side of the stage, all-girl metal band Kittie is rocking out so close to the camera that you can practically see up their noses. It’s splendid.

“Tucson Boys Chorus – Carol of the Bells”

Footage of the chorus’ holiday concert at San Xavier Mission has garnered 8,220 views – pretty impressive for a local group.

TOURISM

“View Near the Top of Mt. Lemmon, Tucson AZ”

Check out the view from near the top of beautiful Mount Lemmon, filmed at nearly 9,000 feet above sea level.

“Driving Gates Pass, Tucson, Az”

Now you can take a drive to Gates Pass without actually leaving your house. Filmed from the inside of a car as it winds its way to the scenic spot, the clip is a virtual tour of the area, cactuses and all.

“Snow in Tucson”

For many Tucsonans, nothing is more beautiful – or unusual – than seeing cactuses blanketed in snow. Some of the images (including those of Sabino Canyon) captured during our rare snowstorm earlier this year are breathtaking.

“Single Swizzle 2007 – Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, AZ”

This film, which follows a group of mountain bikers as they pedal through the desert near Agua Caliente Park, is loaded with beautiful photos of saguaros and Arizona sunsets.

SPORTS

“Tucson Roller Derby vs. Arizona Roller Derby”

It seems we have a soft spot for tough chicks on roller skates. This video, in which three teams from Tucson battle three teams from Phoenix, is just one of many found on YouTube. Some have been viewed more than 3,000 times.

“Tucson Dodgeball”

You won’t want to dodge this clip. Rubber balls come flying toward the camera during a local dodgeball match. And, ouch! – the moments when players get hit unexpectedly make you laugh out loud.

“Tucson Montage”

This clip shows what happens when local skateboarders rampage through schools, skate parks and downtown monuments with a camera. It also shows what happens when skateboarders try to move on snow. Don’t attempt it at home!

“BRL Skydiving in Tucson”

Get an adrenaline rush. This film shows what it’s like to skydive over Marana – from start to finish.

ODDITIES

“Police Pulling Over a Motorcycle in Tucson, Arizona”

Filmed from within a car on Interstate 10, a motorcyclist zips between lanes at nearly 100 mph to get away from the video camera following him, only to be pulled over by the cops. OK, everybody in your Nelson (from “The Simpsons”) voice: Ha Ha!

“The Fat and Furious – Tucson Racing”

Drag racing through Tucson at 2 a.m., shot entirely in night vision. Gives an insider’s view of the pros and cons of the activity. Scary.

“Kim’s Wedding Dress (Don’t Show, Jack!)

A bride-to-be goes shopping at David’s Bridal. With “The Way You Look Tonight,” as background music, she has one simple request: Whatever you do, don’t show Jack this video. Our lips are sealed, girlfriend.

“Playstation 3 Launch, Tucson Arizona”

Hundreds of Tucsonans gather outside a Target store for the chance to buy one of five newly-released PS3s. The comic relief comes courtesy of the narrator, who asks a worker such questions as “Why do people want this?”

NEWS

“Bill Clinton in Tucson (2006-11-1) Part 1

This clip of a speech delivered by Bill Clinton when he visited Tucson last year shows that the former prez still has many fans in the Old Pueblo.

“September 11 Protest in AZ. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”

Just one of many protest videos. This is a little different from most because it shows the conflicts that often happen on the frontlines of controversial protests.

“Clip 14 – The City of Tucson becomes the Nanny State”

A Tucsonan addresses the mayor in a City Council meeting to discuss the reasoning behind expenditures of Tucson tax money.

“Tucson Rillito River Flooding 7-31-06″

The 1-minute, 33-second clip shows onlookers at the Rillito near Dodge Boulevard taking in the view of the rushing water in July. “That’s impressive,” a woman says after a giant tree whizzes by.

———

RELATED

Producer says clip shows Tucson dating scene static

Road trip full of scenery, fun

From posting spoof videos online to depicting a running joke in their music videos, the boys of Gym Class Heroes work hard at staying humble.

“We don’t really take ourselves too seriously,” says lead singer Travis McCoy in a phone interview from Denver. “We just like to have fun.”

Take their most recent Valentine’s Day celebration, for example, when McCoy posted a video on YouTube that spoofed the laws of dating.

“I’ve got skills in the love game and I just share ‘em. You know what I’m saying?” McCoy says in a sultry voice before following with, “Just kidding.”

Their sense of fun is also present in the band’s videos, in which McCoy brushing his teeth is a recurring image.

“It started off as an inside joke,” McCoy says with a laugh. “We didn’t think that everyone would catch onto it, but they did, so we’re going to have to be more discreet.”

Formed in 1997, the New York band that started its career by performing at parties and selling paintings for food money has come far enough to poke fun at its beginnings.

“It’s funny because a lot of those paintings that we sold in the beginning are popping up today on eBay, and I don’t even remember painting them,” says McCoy, who performs with his bandmates Saturday at the Rialto.

After producing and releasing two albums on its own, Gym Class Heroes got its big break when Pete Wentz, the bassist from Fall Out Boy, invited the group to join his recording company, Decaydance Records.

“The new record was our first time working with producers,” McCoy says. “You definitely have to get outside of yourself, because you can’t be the stubborn artist that you used to be.”

One of the band’s most recent songs, “Cupid’s Chokehold,” incorporates the chorus of Supertramp’s “Breakfast In America” for the song, while the lyrics for each verse are written by Gym Class.

“My heart belongs to very ’80s R&B,” McCoy says. “We make sure that when we do a sample song, we do it with artists that we are inspired by and not just to make a catchy song.”

The headliner in The Daryl Hall for President Tour ’07, Gym Class Heroes is sharing the stage with ska-punk band RX Bandits and hip-hop act P.O.S.

The group enjoys performing and is always reaching out to fans through contests in which lucky winners can meet band members or have them perform at their school.

McCoy’s advice to aspiring musicians: “Take your vitamins, watch lots of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and just stay at it. I have definitely, over the years as a musician, questioned why I was getting into it at times, but we never gave up and that has gotten us to where we are now.”

———

IF YOU GO
What: Gym Class Heroes’ all-ages concert

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.

Price: $13 advance, $16 day of show

Info: 740-1000, www.rialtotheatre.com

The name conjures images of sweaty, red-faced heat, and anyone who has been to a Pepper concert understands the parallels between the spice and the band’s performances.

Blending ska, reggae and punk, Pepper’s playful style and catchy beats get fans of all ages dancing.

“Our fans are so great that I can’t even tell what the crowd favorites are anymore,” Pepper drummer Yesod Williams says in a phone interview from Cleveland. “The energy exchange between us and the fans is so off the hook, from start to finish they are singing their hearts out.”

With songs that stay true to its Hawaiian roots by frequently including interludes using island or “pigeon” slang, Pepper makes the kind of music that gets stuck in your head for days. Memorable lyrics are found in songs such as “Give It Up,” from the band’s second release, “Kona Town,” (2002, Volcom Entertainment):

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face/gotta say that I’m happy to see you come around my place/Now I think we’ve talked about it and I think I know what’s coming up next/let’s put our minds away and let our hormones do the rest.”

“We’re not here to take ourselves seriously,” Williams says. “Our music portrays feel-good vibes and we want fans to experience the party when they come to our shows.”

No stranger to Tucson, Williams says that Pepper is excited to return to the desert, which holds special value for the band.

“We have a lot of family near Tucson,” Williams says, “and Arizona was one of the first states that ever gave us love on the radio.”

Picked up by Volcom Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, in 1999, the band has come a long way from the days of recording in a studio that doubles as a coffee shop, as it did for its first official release, “Giv’n It” (2000, Law Records).

The group has covered geographic territory as well, relocating to southern California in 1999.

“If you listen to our albums from the first to the fourth, we have progressed in leaps and bounds,” Williams says. “To be doing this for a living is amazing and we love to do it.”

With both 2006′s “No Shame” and a new greatest hits album in tow, Pepper will take to the Rialto Theatre stage Tuesday. Opening are The Mad Caddies, The Supervillains and Splinta.

“We want people to have a release from their troubles at our shows,” Williams adds. “If nothing is troubling them, all the better. We just want them to have a good time.”

———

IF YOU GO

What: Pepper in concert, with The Mad Caddies, Splinta and The Supervillains

When: Doors open at 7 p.m. Tuesday, with show at 7:30

Where: Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.

Price: $16 advance, $18 day of show

Info: 740-1000

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum does not make your grandmother’s music. Unless, of course, your grandmother is a fan of screaming metal bands that emerge dressed as human puppets with a special knack for headbanging.

“We are out to destroy ourselves with rock and roll music,” says SGM drummer Matthias Bossi in a phone interview from Milwaukee. “We play in the form of rock which is called ‘rock against rock,’ which means we are destroying ourselves with the very thing that we advertise.”

A band too experimental to be confined to one category, SGM bridges metal and circus sounds, culminating in what comes across as a mixture of White Zombie and Slayer.

Songs are filled with the noise of everyday objects – trash cans, housewares. And SGM will go as far as inventing instruments to create particular sounds, as the band did with the Piano Log, which, at nearly 7 feet tall, is made with piano strings and played with two sticks.

“It’s all singularly Sleepytime,” Bossi says. “It has this fantastic sort of homemade aesthetic. . . . The backwoods, shanty town, bits and pieces of coil sort of sound, and it’s beautiful and shabby.”

Working with all of these different noises means that the recording process, entirely self-produced, is rather lengthy.

“History has said that it takes about four years for a record to come together because everyone within the band is such a perfectionist and things need to be a certain way,” Bossi says.

Yet, somehow, the band that has been more or less underground since its inception in 1999 has managed to record its most recent album in less than two years, since it signed with The End Records in 2006.

“The album will be out in May and it has been named ‘In Glorious Times,’ which is kind of an ironic title because it is kind of a dark and lonely record, for sure,” Bossi says. “It’s a very personal album and I can only touch the surface of what it’s about, but I would say that its overarching theme is that it is a tribute to a very close friend of ours who passed away last year.”

An ensemble that has made its mark through years of nonstop touring, SGM is once again gearing up for continent-hopping fun, sharing the stage with Secret Chiefs 3, whose members include Trey Spruance (formerly of Mr. Bungle).

“We took a year off to make this record, but all this band has ever known is touring,” Bossi says. “This is a big jump we are doing here, but our batteries are recharged and we are totally ready to get back on the road and get touring.”

———

IF YOU GO

What: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum in concert, with Secret Chiefs 3

When: 9 p.m. March 22

Where: Solar Culture, 31 E. Toole Ave.

Price: $15, all ages

Info: 884-0874, www.solarculture.org