This Wednesday is the big night for Phoenix music fans. New Year’s Eve, and that’s it.
Playboy Manbaby’s final hometown show.
“After a lot of thought we’ve decided that Playboy Manbaby will no longer be a band,” founder and front man Robbie Pfeffer said on the band’s social platforms in November. “We’ve enjoyed being a band. We’ve gotten to share so many cool experiences with all of you. It’s been a really great part of our lives honestly.”
They’re going out in style with their fourth New Year’s Eve show at Crescent Ballroom downtown this Wednesday night. The big show will feature two stages and nine other Arizona bands: THE COLOR 8, Mega Ran, Spicy Mayo, Maeby, BIGBREAKFAST, Troubled Minds, The Cause of Depression, and New Misphoria.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Anyone who knows and loves Playboy Manbaby has to approach an announcement like that with a side eye, a dose of playful skepticism, and bracing for a punchline.
After adding, “We’re trying to figure out what we’re going to do next so please be patient with us. We’ll keep you informed as we figure things out,” they explained a day later.
The ska-punk garage rock combo – going on 15 years as a Phoenix band in 2026 – took to their favorite place to entertain (next to a stage anyway): their always colorful social media sites, to come clean.
With tongue firmly planted in cheek, they’ll be shapeshifting into The Playboy Manbaby Corporation. Of course, they’ll still make music (they have a new album, “Violence,” due out Jan. 6) and they’ll still bring high energy to live shows (their Corporations are People Toour kicks off Feb. 10 in Chicago).
Basically it’s still everything you’ve always loved from Playboy Manbaby as their relentless satire takes corporate schilling – in the music business as well as in the United States as a whole – to even new frenzied levels.
It’s hard to say if the New Year’s Eve bonanza at Crescent Ballroom will be a last blowout in their current form, a sneak peek at what’s to come from them in 2026, a combination of both, or none of the above.
“Come see our last NYE as a band before our corporate takeover,” they say.
Click here for tickets.
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More: Playboy Manbaby appears here on our list of The 100 Greatest Songs Recorded in Arizona.
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2026 TOUR
SHOWS AS A BAND
Dec. 31: Phoenix
Jan. 23: Youngstown, Ohio
Jan. 24: Columbus, Ohio
Jan. 25: Louisville, Ky.
Jan. 27: Lexington, Ky.
Jan. 28: Nashville, Tenn.
Jan. 29: Atlanta, Ga.
Jan. 30: Savannah, Ga.
Jan. 31: Tampa, Fla.
Feb. 1: Orlando, Fla.
Feb. 3: Greenville, S.C.
Feb. 4: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Feb. 5: Washington, D.C.
Feb. 6: Winchester, Va.
Feb. 7: Millersville, Pa.
Feb. 8: Cleveland, Ohio
SHOWS AS A CORPORATION
Feb. 10: Chicago, Ill.
Feb. 12: Omaha, Neb.
Feb. 13: Oklahoma City, Okla.
Feb. 14: Dallas, Texas
Feb. 15: Austin, Texas
Feb. 19: Tucson
Feb. 20: San Diego, Calif.
Feb. 21: Los Angeles, Calif.
Feb. 24: San Francisco, Calif.
Feb. 25: Sacramento, Calif.
Feb. 27: Portland, Ore.
Feb. 28: Seattle, Wash.
Steve Stockmar can be reached at sstockmar@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@inusua.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Steve Stockmar
News Editor | Sun Life Magazine & Arts & Entertainment
YourValley.net
Meet Steve
Steve Stockmar joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, and has been an Arizona journalist for almost 30 years. He serves as editor of Sun Life Magazine and contributes to West Valley communities where he focuses mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference.
Community: Every season Steve serves as a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Arizona in Scottsdale, has volunteered his time with Family Promise in Glendale, and previously served on the Ghostlight Theatre board in Sun City West.
Education: Graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Journalism major and English minor.
Random Fact: Steve once won a 50-player live Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament.
Hobbies: Anguishing over his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears; listening to Beatles and Grateful Dead music.