It’s About Time

Mr. Buzz and I finally had cause to leave our bubble. Saturday night we took a trip to see one of our favorite musicians and discovered a very cool, very hidden, place in downtown Phoenix.

It’s been a long, long time since we’ve been out like this—getting a little gussied up for a night on the town. One of my favorite things about living here is the casual nature of life. We often catch a concert around town—we love live music—but it’s always so nonchalant, unfussy, and usually a last-minute decision.

Although this night wasn’t all that different, other than I wore pants and eyeliner. But rarely do Mr. Buzz and I plan an actual outing and, being the (very busy) homebodies that we are, we usually need a really good reason to go anywhere.

This Really Good Reason

When Mr. Buzz heard that one of our favorite musicians, Donovan Frankenreiter, was coming to Phoenix, he wanted to go without hesitation. When tickets were first released they were only $30!!! But, unfortunately, we didn’t know about it until tickets were nearly sold out (small venue), which caused us to pay significantly more—$189 with fees—from a 3rd party site. Mr. Buzz loves Donovan so much that it made no matter the cost (highly unlike him, I might add).

We did consider heading up to Flagstaff to see Donovan the following night (March 3rd), but I did not want to have to drive home on the 17 on a Sunday night. And, because Mr. Buzz works early, we couldn’t stay overnight in Flag, which is why we ultimately settled on the Phoenix show.

Not sure that was a good choice or not: Phoenix ended up selling out (tickets were going for $300 by showtime); Flag tickets were still $30! We half-considered going to the Sunday night show too—like our new friends, Angi & Terry, who we met Saturday night—but soon came to our senses. We were feeling pretty young again after Saturday’s show, but not that young. I mean 2 concerts in 24-hours, at my age, may land me in The Guinness Book of World Records.

The Venue

Saturday’s show was at Valley Bar in downtown Phoenix. And, like I always do about anything, I took to the internet to research it. I like to know what I’m getting myself into and, more importantly, what food will be available.

I also learned that it’s really hard to find, but luckily I knew that ahead of time. I posted a picture of the door above—which is in a back alley. The only reason we were even able to find it, was because we followed a smarty-dressed couple, make a quick left into this city alley, complete with alley cats & dumpsters. They looked like they knew where they were going, so my instincts were right. Turns out that couple were even bigger laggers than us, because they didn’t even have tickets but were feeling lucky by trying to see if they could by them at the door. Nope. Too bad. But thank you.

Underground?

So this place is an a basement. With low ceilings. And it’s very dark. And loud. At least that’s how people described it online and I have to admit, I was a little nervous about that as I have claustrophobia. Like, for reals. With the price of tickets though, I knew I was going to have to suck it up and endure it.

After being thoroughly searched and ID’d, we entered the steel door, and immediately down a very dark staircase. Reaching the landing, I was quite shocked how rad it was down there!

It’s surprisingly large—split into separate rooms, with a large bar area, named The Rose Room, after Arizona’s first female governor, Rose Mofford. Sidenote: Did you know that in 1999, Arizona established June 10th as “Rose Mofford Day”? Well, I didn’t either. I also missed this part of the Valley Bar story in my pre-arrival research, which is a bummer, otherwise I would have paid more attention to all those photos on the wall (see collage above). I thought they were just decoration, but they actually meant something!

The Rose Room has tables and couches—and a really cool bar with a very artistic awning above it with moving shadow figures. I don’t even know how to describe it and it was impossible to photograph in there (because of the low lighting and movement). Luckily, when I was looking at Google Maps as I’m writing this, someone posted a video of it, which I linked.

Around the corner of The Rose Room, they have a large game room with 2 pool tables, pinball, darts, boards games, and 2 skee-ball games.

Then there’s another separate room—the Music Hall—where the bands play, which has a few hi-top tables and another bar (not to sit at, to order drinks). It’s a small venue, holding only 250 people and is standing room only. The beauty of that is you get a really intimate concert experience. The downside, it gets a little crowded and hard to see, especially if you’re a shrimp like me. Even at full capacity though, I didn’t feel like I was getting squished.

Fed & Buzzin’

You can order and eat food in The Rose Room. They have a pretty small food menu, but man oh man, do they nail it!

I had my eyes on the Barbacoa Beef & Cheese Rolled Tacos but, I didn’t end up ordering. Mr. Buzz, however, ordered the Potato & Cheese Rolled Tacos and waited for them—while I grabbed us a place inside the Music Hall. He ultimately ended up bringing them in (which I didn’t know was an option and why I didn’t order). Of course, I had one. It was divine! So good, that I would go back specifically to have those!

As for the beverages, they have 8 beers on tap and over 50 wines and signature cocktails named after local politicians. Read all about them on the drink menu here. Mr. Buzz enjoyed some local beers on tap and I had several rounds of club soda with lime - and they were all refreshing & bubbly.

This is not typical dive-bar food or drink, which is what may be expected when you find yourself at a steel door in a dark alley.

The Show

We have seen Donovan numerous times, probably more than we’ve seen any other band. When we lived in Orange County, he played there often, year-round, and we went to every show. I have always loved him, because you can feel his love for his wife and his family in his music. He’s one-of-a kind.

It was a real treat to see him out here in the desert and Mr. Buzz was buzzing after that concert. He said it was one of the best nights of his life. And, Donovan, being the super cool cat he his, came out and took photos with the few of us still hanging out after the show. A really special treat that night too, was his son, Hendrix, playing (and touring with him). I missed Hendrix’s solo because I was too busy talking with the opening act at the merch booth.

The Opening Act

The opening act was “Iris and the Shade.” This girl’s voice will reach down and touch your very soul.

They are also from Orange County, so I knew I had to connect with them. Although, they are in a band, the band couldn’t fit on the tour bus (she told the story from the stage), so just she (“Iris”) and her husband (“The Shade”) are touring with Donovan. It’s a crazy story, too, how that came about—from what she said on stage, she was floating on a longboard (in Orange County) and met Donovan in the surf!

I’ve since communicated with them online and sent them a whole list of questions that I’d hoped to be able to share with you today, but they are too busy now, touring, to answer. They’ve asked me to follow up later and if I ever do hear back, I will share about them again because their story is magical & inspiring. And, they write a lot of songs about their dog, so that tells you all you need to know really.

In the meantime, you can read a little about their sweet story here.

Getting There

I love how easy it is to get to Phoenix, when the traffic’s moving. It only took us 30 minutes from our house in Verrado to get downtown.

We haven’t been downtown enough to really know our way around, and usually end up paying an arm and a leg for parking. This time we found a parking structure very close to the venue. It ended up being only $5/hour to park there, with the total being $25. That was a nice surprise, since we had not idea. The parking for the last concert we attended there was $60!

If you go to the Valley Bar, park in the structure at 110 N. Central (which isn’t showing as a parking structure on the map, otherwise I’d tag it).

Buzz Rating

This is a really fun, mellow place to go if you’re looking for something different and unexpected and if you want to take people and have them wondering “where in the world are you taking me?!” It also makes a great date night!!!

We had a great time! Met some great new friends. Didn’t find it too loud. Didn’t feel like we were the oldest people there—nice mix of college kids and older folk, like us. The temperature was perfect, if not even a little chilly in the Music Room, which I’ll take any day over sweating to death.¹ And, another major bonus, I never had to wait in line for the restroom. Ladies, you know what a big deal that is!

Food: 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 (5/5)

Service: 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 (5/5) **Efficient & Friendly!

Vibe: 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 (5/5) **Hip & laid back, but not pretentious.

If you go, tell them The Buzz sent ya!

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1  We saw Def Leppard at Chase Field in August, 2024 with NO AIR CONDITIONING! People were being taken out on stretchers. Will never attend another event at that venue. Well, unless it’s baseball, but that’s different. And still, only if they’ve fixed the air.