“Play ball!” Ever spring, baseball players head to America’s warmer climes for spring training, and music is coming with them in the Innings Festival at Tempe Beach Park & Arts Park in Arizona, Friday & Saturday, February 23rd & 24th:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd
|
Home Plate presented by Verizon |
|
|
Red Hot Chili Peppers, 9:15 PM – 11:00 PM How can you be into music and not know the Red Hot Chili Peppers (QRO photos at a ’22 festival)? RHCP (QRO photos) emerged from the same sweaty Los Angeles eighties music scene that gave birth to Jane’s Addiction & more, and the Peppers (QRO photos) mix alt-rock with the funkified bass of the one-and-only Flea plus the sexy energy of singular frontman Anthony Kiedis. Along with drummer/Will Ferrell-look-alike Chad Smith and guitarist John Frusciante, the band racked up awards and record sales with such classics as Mother’s Milk, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, “Higher Ground”, “Under the Bridge”, and much more. Frusciante left in 1992 to be replaced by Jane’s Addiction’s own Dave Navarro, before Frusciante returned in 1999 for the band’s biggest selling record ever, Californication. More recently, Frusciante has left again, to focus on his solo work (QRO review), replaced by upgraded touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffer for 2011’s I’m In You (QRO review) and 2017’s year’s strong The Getaway (QRO review). But of course, Frusciante came back, ‘cause ain’t nothin’ stoppin’ the Red Hot Chili Peppers (QRO photos), who come to Innings (QRO photos at a festival) to headline (QRO photos headlining a ’23 festival), touring (QRO ’22 live review) behind last year’s Ultimate Love and Return of the Dream Canteen (QRO photos headlining a ’23 festival). |
 |
|
Greta Van Fleet, 6:50 PM – 8:05 PM Michigan rock comes down to Innings in the form of the next generation of classic rock, Greta Van Fleet (QRO spotlight on). One of Robert Plant’s favorite young bands, they were touring behind 2017’s Grammy-winning Black Smoke Rising & From the Fires EPs (QRO reviews), before putting out 2018 full-length Anthem of the Peaceful Army (QRO review). They’ve only gotten bigger (QRO photos at a festival) with 2021’s The Battle at Garden’s Gate and last year’s Starcatcher (QRO ’23 live review), and bring their big show (QRO ’22 live review) to Innings (QRO photos at a festival). |
 |
|
311, 4:40 PM – 5:40 PM You know you want to get “Down” and enjoy 311 (QRO live review). The Omaha band (QRO photos in Middle America) is into their fourth decade of both rocking & chilling, even incorporating turntables well before it was cool (QRO photos at a festival). They come to back to Innings (QRO photos at Innings Tampa ’22 festival) behind 2019’s Voyager and are a great festival band (QRO photos at a ’23 festival). |
 |
|
Bully, 2:50 PM – 3:35 PM Nashville’s sad riot grrrls Bully (QRO photos at a festival) rock loudly and carry a big axe as they come to Innings behind last year’s Lucky For You (QRO review). |
 |
|
Also: Taipei Houston, 1:20 PM – 2:05 PM |
|
|
Right Field |
|
|
Jimmy Eat World, 8:10 PM – 9:10 PM Jimmy Eat World (QRO photos) set the standard for emo-rock in 2001 with Bleed American and “The Middle” (QRO video). Though have never lived up to that (but did play it & prior Clarity in full – QRO live review), 2010’s Invented (QRO review) and songs like “Movielike” (QRO video) and “Coffee and Cigarettes” (QRO video) still kept the band in the top tier of emo – though they’ve kept repeating themselves with 2013’s Damage (QRO review) and the subsequent tour (QRO live review). They come back to Innings (QRO photos at Innings Tampa ’22 festival) behind 2016’s Integrity Blues (QRO review) and 2019’s Surviving (QRO review), returning to the festival stage (QRO photos at a ’22 festival). |
 |
|
Phantogram, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM Saratoga Springs’ dancetronica act Phantogram (QRO photos at a festival) got notice less for their debut full-length Eyelid Movies (QRO review) than their enchanting live show (QRO photos at a festival) – which works outdoors (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), at least when in the evening (QRO photos at a festival). 2014’s Voices (QRO review) upped their game (QRO photos at a festival), after which they teamed up with Big Boi as ‘Big Grams’ (QRO photos at a festival). But now the Phanto is back (QRO photos), with 2016’s strong Three (QRO review) and 2020’s Ceremony, coming to Innings (QRO photos at a ’23 festival). |
 |
|
Matt & Kim, 3:35 PM – 4:35 PM Serious, long-time ‘Friends of the Q’ (QRO spotlight on), it’s been great watching Matt & Kim (QRO photos at a festival) blow up so seriously – without losing their infectious cheer (QRO live review). Singer/keyboardist Matt Johnson (QRO interview) and drummer Kim Schifino (QRO interview) bring a self-described ‘onstage pizza party’ with their sugar-filled hyper-pop/rock on stage (QRO live review). Known for spreading their giant, ever-present grins (QRO photos) to every crowd they play for (QRO live review), large, outdoor stages (QRO live review outdoors) don’t faze them, and neither do massive festivals (QRO photos at a festival), foreign crowds (QRO live review overseas), beer launch celebrations (QRO live review at brewing party), or playing on holidays like New Year’s Eve (QRO live review on New Year’s Eve) or Halloween (QRO live review on Halloween). They also stepped up their musical game on 2009’s Grand (QRO review – QRO live anniversary review), with Sidewalks (QRO review) the following year, 2012’s Lightning (QRO review), 2015’s New Glow (QRO review), 2016’s We Were the Weirdoes EP (QRO review), and 2018’s Almost Everyday (QRO review) . So expect them to rock the crowd (QRO photos), from old tracks like “Silver Tiles” (QRO video) and “Yea Yeah” (QRO video) to Grand ones like “Good Old-Fashioned Nightmare” (QRO video) and “Daylight” (QRO video) to Sidewalks’ “Good For Great” (QRO video), Lightning‘s “Let’s Go” (QRO video) and even a cover of Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend” (QRO video) – as the kids go nuts (QRO photos at a festival), and so do Matt & Kim (QRO live review). The hard-working duo (QRO live review) are coming from going offline & back online during the pandemic (QRO ’23 photos), and come to Tampa (QRO photos at a festival) to rock Innings (QRO live review at a festival). And those up front better be ready for when Matt (QRO interview) sends Kim out to do her ‘booty shakin’ crowd surf’ (QRO photos at a festival)… |
 |
|
The Beaches, 2:05 PM – 2:50 PM 2018’s Juno Award winner for Breakthrough Group of the Year, Toronto’s The Beaches (QRO photos in Canada) come down to Arizona for Innings (QRO photos at Innings Tampa ’22) behind last year’s excellent Blame My Ex (QRO review).
Also: Breakup Shoes, 12:50 PM – 1:20 PM |
 |
|
Left Field presented by Sloan |
|
|
Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster, 5:45 PM – 6:30 PM Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster, 3:35 PM – 4:20 PM |
 |
|
Speed Pitch |
|
|
Brandon Webb, 3:50 PM – 4:50 PM Eric Gagne, 1:50 PM – 2:50 PM |
 |
|
Batting Cage |
|
|
Matt Kemp, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Andre Ethier, 3:50 PM – 4:50 PM |
 |
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24th
|
Home Plate presented by Verizon |
|
|
Hozier, 9:20 PM – 11:00 PM Ireland’s Andrew Hozier-Byrne (QRO live review in England) comes to Innings (QRO photos at a ’23 festival) off of this year’s Unreal Unearth. The folk-pop star broke through in 2014 with the massive single “Take Me To the Church” – which had seen him being impersonated by Kate McKinnon on Saturday Night Live! |
 |
|
Macklemore, 7:10 PM – 8:10 PM In 2013, rapper Macklemore teamed up with DJ Ryan Lewis in a “Thrift Shop”, and the rest was history (QRO photos). They had one of the year’s biggest explosions, sweeping the Grammys and more. Since then, Macklemore has returned to the solo life (QRO solo ‘23 photos) behind this year’s Ben. |
 |
|
Young the Giant, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM These Irvine natives toiled for years as The Jakes, but when they changed their name to Young the Giant (QRO photos at a festival), things finally took off (QRO photos at a festival), with their self-(new) titled album & TV performances, including at MTV’s Video Music Awards. They’ve since been gracing bigger (QRO photos) and bigger (QRO photos) stages & shows (QRO live review), including festivals (QRO photos at a festival). YtG (QRO live review) come behind last year’s epic American Bollywood (QRO review), 2017’s Mirror Master (QRO review), 2016’s Home of the Strange (QRO review), and 2014’s Mind over Matter (QRO review), but they also play their classic (QRO livestream review of Young the Giant). |
 |
|
Also: Mac Saturn, 2:55 PM – 3:55 PM Finish Ticket, 1:25 PM – 2:10 PM |
 |
|
|
|
| Right Field | |
|
Third Eye Blind, 8:15 PM – 9:15 PM Old enough to be mocked by kids in the nineties, Third Eye Blind (QRO photos) are somehow still around and still leading their “Semi-Charmed Life”. Though they have been on a bit of an upswing in the last few years (QRO photos), from calling out homophobic attendees at a paid gig they did around the 2016 Republican Convention, to recruiting The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan to help write 2019’s Screamer. They come back to Innings (QRO photos at Innings Tampa ’23) behind 2021’s Our Bande Apart. |
 |
|
Cannons, 6:05 PM – 7:05 PM Innings, Los Angeles’ indie-pop Cannons has “Fire for You”. |
 |
|
Cautious Clay, 3:55 PM – 4:55 PM The breakout hip-hop/R&B star – with the greatest name since Nipsey Hussle – is Cautious Clay (QRO photos at a festival), who comes to Innings (QRO photos at a ’23 festival) behind last year’s Karpeh. |
 |
|
Miya Folick, 2:10 PM – 2:55 PM L.A. singer-songwriter Miya Folick (QRO ’23 photos) comes over to Arizona off of last year’s sophomore full-length, Roach.
Also: Nat & Alex Wolff, 12:55 PM – 1:25 PM |
 |
| Left Field presented by Sloan | |
|
Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster, 6:05 PM – 6:50 PM Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster, 4:10 PM – 4:55 PM All-Star Jam hosted by Jake Peavy, 2:30 PM |
|
|
Speed Pitch |
|
|
Bret Saberhagen, 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM Luis Gonzalez, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Dontrelle Willis, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
|
| Batting Cage | |
|
Jake Peavy, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Dave Stewart, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
 |
