Doors 7:30pm | Show 8pm | Advance $18 / Day of Show $20 + Dice Fees | 21+

W / Priscilla Priddy and the Pretty Boys

Tyler Halverson knows who he is, and sometimes he doesn’t like it. But all of the

mistakes he’s made and hearts he’s broken have led him to In Defense of Drinking, his

stone-cold honest country album that takes a stark look at a life lived on the road.

“It’s been a life spent falling in and out of love and finding something to write about, at

the expense of your heart and somebody’s else’s,” Halverson says. “I’m not proud of the

actions that that boy took to inspire these songs. But I’m very proud of how they turned

out. The Nashville scene today is all so pretty and polished, and some artists try to

come out looking a certain way, but how about you just show yourself exactly how you

are, the good and bad?”

Growing up in the tiny town of Canton, South Dakota, Halverson has never been afraid

to be himself. Before he answered the call of the road, playing bars and rodeo beer

gardens, he spent as much time on his skateboard as he did showing cattle at livestock

shows. “I grew up in sale barns and skate parks,” he says, and those two disparate

worlds inform the music he makes. There’s a decidedly alt-country edge to the songs on

In Defense of Drinking, including the thumping, unrepentant single “More Hearts Than

Horses.”

“If you come walking my way/I’ll send you running someday,” he sings over pedal steel

and acoustic guitar. It’s an admission as striking as that of Willie and Waylon, when they

sang “Take what you need from the ladies and leave them/with the words of a sad

country song” in “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.”

“That comes with the territory of being a troubadour,” Halverson says. “It’s a warning:

whatever you’ve heard about cowboys and cowboy singers is probably true, and

sometimes you best just leave it alone.”

Recorded at Amber Sound in Hermitage, Tennessee, and produced by Halverson, Ryan

Youmans, and Gary Stanton (of Muscadine Bloodline), In Defense of Drinking builds on

the foundation Halverson created with his 2024 Western Amerijuana project. There are

songs about self-induced heartbreak (the alt-rock/country stomper “Ft. Worth Losing”),

self-medication (the deceptively gentle title track), and the desperate search for

redemption (the hushed hymn “Son Brother Believer”), all of it shot through with a

decidedly Western vibe.

Halverson comes by that aesthetic naturally. He spent time not only in his native South

Dakota, but all throughout the American West, including playing cowboy on a Wyoming

ranch (which inspired the cult hit “Mac Miller”). “Beer Garden Baby,” his beloved fan

favorite, was born from those rodeo gigs, and he re-records it as a duet with Parker

McCollum for In Defense of Drinking. He’s also set to open a string of shows for the

Texas-turned-Nashville-star.

“Parker has always been good to us,” Halverson says. “The original version of that song

caught fire in Texas and to go back and put some Texas royalty on top of it isn’t a bad

recipe.”

Texas is in the DNA of the music Halverson writes and records. He’s been all over the

Lone Star state with his guitar and harmonica and came up with some of his best songs

there. In the tailgate jam “Like a Rodeo,” featuring Australian country star Wade Forster,

Halverson struggles to connect with another restless soul: an ambitious barrel racer.

“Could she ever love me like the rodeo?” he sings.

Halverson wrote the track after lighting out from Tennessee to Texas to find himself. “I

got pissed off with Nashville and ran away to Turkey, Texas,” he says. “I was crashing

with some buddies in a trailer, smoking it out, and writing songs. ‘Like a Rodeo’ is about

chasing somebody who is also chasing something, and wondering if those paths are

ever going to cross.”

More often than not, they don’t, Halverson has learned. But he’s still hoping that one

day he’ll find his settled down life. He even writes about having “Cowboy Babies” in one

of the album’s more sweet numbers and likes to imagine that’s in the cards for him. In

the gentle ballad “Son Brother Believer,” he all but prays for it.

“You can lose yourself in the troubadour lifestyle, where every night is a damn party and

you’re far from your family, your home, and your faith,” he says. “So, this album may be

a little bit of a personal battle: Who are you on the road vs. who are you at home. These

songs are often about me admitting that I can be reckless and impulsive, but that I’m

trying my best. Conflict isn’t always bad if you can make some good out of it.”

That’s one of Halverson’s goals for In Defense of Drinking. Does he have any others?

He shoots a shit-eating grin. “I hope I can buy some cows with this record.”

Doors 7pm | Show 7:30pm | Advance $12 / Day of Show $15 + Dice Fees | 16+

Thursday, Sept 17th, 7:30 PM — Join us at Club Congress for R&B Is Not Dead: Summer Isn’t Over, an intimate night celebrating the R&B and spoken word artists right here in Tucson in the last days of summer. Featuring a curated lineup of local artists and live music, we’re creating a space to experience, discover, and celebrate the talent keeping poetry and R&B alive in our city. Just by showing up, we can continue building the R&B community in Tucson, brick by brick. Why go out of town when we have the material right here?

9pm-1am | FREE | 21+

Come be yourself! TEMPO🗯️: the party every Thursday where DJs, vendors, and homies meet to put you on! Cheapest drinks all week👊🏼

Calling all creators: Inviting Dj’s, Beat Makers, Artists & Music Lovers to join us to play whatever makes you feel most. Rotating Genres, Creative Blends, Amateurs & Experts all welcome here.

Timing | Energy | Movement | Performance | Originality

Hosted by: @waltersthedon⚡️ | 🌝 @good.day.good.night 🌚

– Fridays at 6pm
– Run Time: 30 minutes

Adults $15 | Children $10

For over a century, the Hotel Congress has stood at the heart of Tucson, a living witness to the city’s history—and to those who refuse to leave it behind. Built in 1919, the hotel was designed for travelers stepping off the Southern Pacific line, with guest rooms, a café, a beauty shop, a barber, and the now-famous Tap Room bar. Yet beneath the grandeur of its architecture lies something far older: the land itself has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, making Tucson one of North America’s oldest, and most haunted, living communities.

On this 30-minute walking tour, you’ll be let in on the hotel’s best-kept secrets. Meet the lace-shrouded lady of the staircase, drifting through the lobby trailing the faint scent of roses; the Victorian Gentleman in Room 214, quietly surveying the plaza in seersucker and top hat; the Locksmith’s Apprentice, tinkering at unseen locks; Vince, the butter-knife handyman, still tending to his work decades after his passing; and the Lady in White, whose presence has startled more than a few male guests. You’ll even hear the story of infamous bank robber John Dillinger, who passed through Hotel Congress in 1934 before a fire exposed his gang’s presence and led to his capture—without a single shot fired.

The tour wraps up in the rarely seen séance room, a space of quiet reflection, lingering echoes, and centuries of footsteps—perfect for anyone curious enough to step just a little closer to the unexplained. It’s more than a ghost tour; it’s a backstage pass to a living portrait of Hotel Congress, where history, humanity, and spirits mingle in plain sight.

Please note: the elevator was destroyed in the famous 1934 fire—guests must climb one flight of stairs to reach the haunted rooms.

Doors 7pm | Show 7:30pm | Advance $20 / Day of Show $25 + Dice Fees | 21+

W/ Stone Levitation, ZÖLD

The Obsessed is a rock band. A FUKKING HARD rock band. Since their formation in 1978, they have become known around the world for their influential contribution to the origins and continued legacy of the doom metal and underground hard rock genres. The distinctive vocals and guitar wizardry of founder and driving force Scott “Wino” Weinrich has left a mark on the world of heavy music that continues to inspire.

The Obsessed gained momentum in the Baltimore/DC area of the USA in the early to mid 1980’s during the height of the hardcore punk movement. Often cited as the band that bridged heavy metal and punk together, the band gained the respect of punk heavy weight contemporaries Black Flag, The Bad Brains, and Minor Threat, to name a few. The attitude and spirit of The Obsessed has led many to regard them as “America’s Motorhead”.

Wino went on to join the doom metal giants Saint Vitus as lead singer on seminal albums including 1986’s ‘Born Too Late’‘. In 1990, The Obsessed came back with their eponymous debut album, “The Obsessed”. This album was quickly followed by 1991’s “Lunar Womb” and 1994’s “The Church Within”. All three of these albums shaped and paved the way for future heavy rock bands and the doom scene as it’s known today. Wino’s gift for prose and his never-ending search for truth and meaning allows his words to hit as heavy as the riffs he plays.

Although The Obsessed went on a hiatus after The Church Within’s release on Columbia records, Wino’s sheer passion and prolific nature led him to pursue many other critically acclaimed projects such as Spirit Caravan, The Hidden Hand, Shrinebuilder and various acoustic releases. Long time fan Dave Grohl (Nirvana/Foo Fighters) specifically asked Wino to perform on Dave’s all-star Probot album, released in 2004. In 2012 Wino rejoined Saint Vitus until the world wide cry for The Obsessed could be denied no longer and in 2016, Wino reunited The Obsessed, once and for all, and has been kicking ass and taking names ever since.

Drummer Brian “Dawg” Costantino joined the band at this time. The band signed to Relapse Records and recorded 2017’s “Sacred”, an album showing The Obsessed back with pure vengeance. Sacred brought the band to venues and festival stages around the world.

In 2022 the band became a four piece with the addition of Chris Angleberger on bass and Jason Taylor on guitar. The band has been touring heavily since and have been seen on USA and European festival stages such as HellFest, Freak Valley Festival, Snowblind Festival and Desert Fest.

The band’s forthcoming album, Gilded Sorrow, set to be released early 2024 on Ripple Music, marks a new chapter in their legacy. The album promises to capture the essence of the band’s classic sound while adding a fresh new atmosphere with a dual guitar attack.

The Obsessed are here to stay.

IF IT AIN’T HEAVY … IT AIN’T SHIT !!!

10pm-2am | FREE | 21+

Purr Fridays are for the party animals! High energy Tech House and Club Hits, each week with a rotating lineup of college and local DJs & drink specials!

– Saturdays at 12pm
– Run Time: 30 minutes

Adults $15 | Children $10

For over a century, the Hotel Congress has stood at the heart of Tucson, a living witness to the city’s history—and to those who refuse to leave it behind. Built in 1919, the hotel was designed for travelers stepping off the Southern Pacific line, with guest rooms, a café, a beauty shop, a barber, and the now-famous Tap Room bar. Yet beneath the grandeur of its architecture lies something far older: the land itself has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, making Tucson one of North America’s oldest, and most haunted, living communities.

On this 30-minute walking tour, you’ll be let in on the hotel’s best-kept secrets. Meet the lace-shrouded lady of the staircase, drifting through the lobby trailing the faint scent of roses; the Victorian Gentleman in Room 214, quietly surveying the plaza in seersucker and top hat; the Locksmith’s Apprentice, tinkering at unseen locks; Vince, the butter-knife handyman, still tending to his work decades after his passing; and the Lady in White, whose presence has startled more than a few male guests. You’ll even hear the story of infamous bank robber John Dillinger, who passed through Hotel Congress in 1934 before a fire exposed his gang’s presence and led to his capture—without a single shot fired.

The tour wraps up in the rarely seen séance room, a space of quiet reflection, lingering echoes, and centuries of footsteps—perfect for anyone curious enough to step just a little closer to the unexplained. It’s more than a ghost tour; it’s a backstage pass to a living portrait of Hotel Congress, where history, humanity, and spirits mingle in plain sight.

Please note: the elevator was destroyed in the famous 1934 fire—guests must climb one flight of stairs to reach the haunted rooms.

– Saturdays at 12pm
– Run Time: 30 minutes

Adults $15 | Children $10

For over a century, the Hotel Congress has stood at the heart of Tucson, a living witness to the city’s history—and to those who refuse to leave it behind. Built in 1919, the hotel was designed for travelers stepping off the Southern Pacific line, with guest rooms, a café, a beauty shop, a barber, and the now-famous Tap Room bar. Yet beneath the grandeur of its architecture lies something far older: the land itself has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, making Tucson one of North America’s oldest, and most haunted, living communities.

On this 30-minute walking tour, you’ll be let in on the hotel’s best-kept secrets. Meet the lace-shrouded lady of the staircase, drifting through the lobby trailing the faint scent of roses; the Victorian Gentleman in Room 214, quietly surveying the plaza in seersucker and top hat; the Locksmith’s Apprentice, tinkering at unseen locks; Vince, the butter-knife handyman, still tending to his work decades after his passing; and the Lady in White, whose presence has startled more than a few male guests. You’ll even hear the story of infamous bank robber John Dillinger, who passed through Hotel Congress in 1934 before a fire exposed his gang’s presence and led to his capture—without a single shot fired.

The tour wraps up in the rarely seen séance room, a space of quiet reflection, lingering echoes, and centuries of footsteps—perfect for anyone curious enough to step just a little closer to the unexplained. It’s more than a ghost tour; it’s a backstage pass to a living portrait of Hotel Congress, where history, humanity, and spirits mingle in plain sight.

Please note: the elevator was destroyed in the famous 1934 fire—guests must climb one flight of stairs to reach the haunted rooms.

Doors 8:30pm | Show 9pm | 21+

– General Admission: $20 + Dice Fees
– Day of Show: $23 + Dice Fees

House of Heavy is a night built for the fans who crave the pit, the riffs, the breakdowns, and the chaos, but are tired of waiting for the next tour to hit their city. We’re bringing the energy of a packed metal show to you all year long: the nu-metal nostalgia, the alt-metal anthems, the metal-core breakdowns. Come scream along, throw down with friends, and lose yourself in the heaviest night out your city has to offer

Saturdays | 10pm-2am | FREE | 21+

PHENOMENA

Intentionally crafted to pull you deeper into the night and onto the dance floor, Walters the Don crafts a diverse and immersive sonic experience for Saturdays nights in the club.

Expect a hypnotic selection from artists like Chris Lake, Cloonee, Max Styler, John Summit, PAWSA, Crankdat, Tape B, Subtronics, and ISOKNOCK blended with club anthems from Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Charli XCX, Lil Jon, Doechii, Sexyy Red, Bad Bunny, Los Tucanes, and more!

Photo galleries, themed parties, the occasional opportunity to dance on stage is what you can expect.

Walters The Don and Club Congress presents the next evolution for Electronic Music at Hotel Congress!

Doors 7pm | Show 7:30pm | Advance $12 / Day of Show $15 + Dice Fees | 16+

W/ Tuna Tuna, Desert Music Project

Alex Wilkerson is an indie/americana songwriter who has spent the past decade performing across America both solo and with his band, Them.

Wilkerson’s music is best described as atmospheric and honest, sunny indie rock with a darkside.

Alex got his start performing in his home state of Alabama, finding early success in Birmingham, before relocating to the American SouthWest and the eccentric artist community of Bisbee, Arizona.

Notable releases include the EP Up From Here (2021) and the full-length album Everything Underneath, released in 2024.

Doors 7pm | Show 8pm | Advance $12 / Day of Show $15 + Dice Fees | 16+

W/ Burial Mask and DJ True Drew playing from 7pm – 8pm

Blood Orchid is a Miami-based dark alternative project blending post-punk, industrial, and electronic influences into a visceral live experience. Driven by hypnotic grooves, atmospheric production, and a striking visual identity, Blood Orchid bridges the worlds of underground rock and electronic music, delivering a dark, immersive performance built for the outsider