In the mood for some live entertainment this weekend? Here are The Desert Sun’s picks for the can’t-miss performances in the Coachella Valley and surrounding communities on June 11 to 13.
HOT PICK
Saturday: Gene Simmons Band at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Rock: When you think of Gene Simmons, you likely envision him in the demon makeup as the bassist of KISS, famous for performing “God of Thunder” while wearing platform boots, with fake blood dripping down his chin and also spewing fire from a sword at some point during shows.
Since KISS retired in 2023, he isn’t doing that anymore. But you can see him perform many of the band’s hits without makeup, fronting the Gene Simmons Band on Saturday at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
“It feels great,” Simmons told The Desert Sun during a recent interview about touring now. “You may as well ask a beauty queen when she’s going down the runway with her jewels and stuff, and then later that night when they go to a club and let their hair down. It’s different. KISS was a spectacle, you want to make a big deal out of yourself, and it’s all big and powerful. Doing this, I love being on stage, my band … they’re just killers. They’ve played with everybody — Billy Idol, Slash (of Guns ‘N Roses) — and every so often I can yell out ‘In the key of D,’ boom! They’re on it like crazy.”
If you go: 8 p.m. Saturday, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio. Tickets $62.50 to $132.50. fantasyspringsresort.com
BEST BETS
Thursday: Jennifer Leigh Warren at Coachella Valley Repertory
Cabaret: Jennifer Leigh Warren has appeared on Broadway in productions such as “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Big River,” as well as in TV features like “RENT: LIVE” and “Pretty Little Liars.” On Thursday, she’ll perform at Coachella Valley Repertory as part of the Summer Cabaret Series.
If you go: 7 p.m., Thursday, Coachella Valley Repertory, 68-510 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City. Tickets $65. cvrep.org
Friday: Three Bad Jacks at Pappy and Harriet’s
Rock: Since forming over 20 years ago, the Los Angeles rockabilly band Three Bad Jacks has toured worldwide and shared stages with the late Jerry Lee Lewis and Joe Strummer. Former Elvis Presley bassist Jerry Shef made a guest appearance on the band’s 1999 album “Made of Stone,” which features one of the band’s prominent songs, “It’s Forever.”
Three Bad Jacks will perform on Friday at Pappy and Harriet’s.
If you go: 9:30 p.m., Friday, Pappy and Harriet’s, 53-688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown. Tickets $21.24. pappyandharriets.com
Friday: WAXY at The Dune Room
Rock: The local rock bands WAXY, Elektric Lucie and 3rd Ear Experience will perform on Friday at The Dune Room. Founded in 2006 by frontman Robbie Waldman, WAXY has toured in the U.S. and Europe and released a new album in April.
Elektric Lucie blends Latin, desert, and psychedelic rock. The Coachella Valley band has toured heavily in Mexico and was a runner-up in three of the Tachevah Music Showcases put on by The Desert Sun, held from 2013 to 2018.
If you go: 8 p.m., Friday, The Dune Room, 82-707 Miles Avenue, Indio. $15 advance, $20 day of show. duneroomindio.com
Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment for the Desert Sun. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Gene Simmons Band and more Coachella Valley shows this weekend
Reporting by Brian Blueskye, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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By Brian Blueskye, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
