If you happen to be a die-hard fan of Battlestar Galactica — well, the phenomenally popular 2004 reimagining of the classic sci-fi television series, that is — and live in Arizona, its safe to say you’re anxiously counting the hours until Memorial Day weekend rolls around. That’s no frakkin’ hyperbole,…
They certainly don’t make video games like they used to way back when. While modern-day blockbuster titles like Assassin’s Creed: Unity, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, and Grand Theft Auto V pack high-tech thrills, lifelike graphics, and sophisticated A.I., there’s a definite appeal to the games from the golden age…
Local concert guru Charlie Levy has something cool in the works for downtown Phoenix — and, no, its not an attention-grabbing festival à la Viva PHX or Los Dias de la Crescent. Instead, its a brand new music venue. Levy, who co-owns the Crescent Ballroom and runs concert promotions company…
Whenever DJ Akshen steps behind a pair of record decks, he tends to become a tempest of motion befitting his moniker. Such is the case on a recent morning in his Arcadia home, where the veteran turntablist is busy painting a small side room with a slew of scratching over…
For the last few weeks or so, Phoenix Comicon fans have probably been wondering if any other big-name special guests were going to be announced for this year’s event, especially since its organizers tend to do that sort of thing right around now. Like, for instance, the big guest they…
Maarten Hoogstraten has been through tumultuous times the last couple of years. In late 2013, Paul Bäumer, his fellow member of electro-house duo Bingo Players, passed away after a short battle with cancer, which was a devastating experience to say the least. Hoogstraten carried on, however, at the behest of…
The WWE superstar known as Stardust is what you’d call a colorful character, even by professional wrestling standards. Adorned in star-shaped face paint and his special “mevlar” bodysuit and gloves, he’s eccentric, enigmatic, and a bit other-worldly whenever he makes an appearance on such WWE television shows as Raw and…
Valley concert promoter Stephen Chilton (a.k.a. Psyko Steve) has been more than a little busy lately. Besides gearing up for a trip to South by Southwest and nailing down details on any number of upcoming local shows, he just got done helping out behind the scenes with Viva Phoenix this…
Right now, things are still nice outside as far as the weather goes. But if you’ve lived in the Valley for any stretch of time, however, you’re probably well aware by now that its not gonna last much longer. Like it or not, we’re on the cusp of warmer temperatures…
Downtown Phoenix is going to be more than a little busy this weekend, you might say. More specifically, its sidewalks and even an alley or two are going to be crowded with music fans on Saturday evening, as will 20 different venues scattered throughout a two-mile radius when the second…
We’re willing to wager a few pounds, boy-o, that your eyes, Irish or otherwise, will be smiling in the days leading up to this year’s celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and on the actual drinking holiday. Or, at the very least, they’re going to be a wee bit bloodshot. Given…
Tempe Beach Park has hosted major concert fests and outdoor gigs over the last decade — a lot of ’em, in fact. However, few are as high-profile and star-studded as this weekend’s four-day Pot of Gold Music Festival at the park. It’s definitely one the longest, as the springtime music…
While there are an estimated 2.2 million weddings held every year in the U.S., we’re pretty sure that few of these joyous affairs get as wild and weird as the Brides of March. After all, when the last wedding you attended that included a high-heel race, veils adorned with condoms,…
Tis’ the season for great festivals in the Valley — and we aren’t just referring to all those massive indoor and outdoor concert extravaganzas that are happening almost every weekend until the summertime. There are also events celebrating art, food, makers, and anything else of a creative nature. That includes…
So, have you heard anything recently about that alleged Banksy piece that suddenly appeared over at The Lost Leaf? Probably so, since news of the alleged creation by the enigmatic street artist has been all over social media and the talk of Roosevelt Row. If you’re not up on the…
When it comes to biggest cities in the U.S. for DJ culture, Phoenix has (sadly) played second fiddle to the likes of Las Vegas, NYC, Chicago, and L.A. That’s not to say that our town hasn’t produced loads of world-class artist or hosted some phenomenal gigs, its just that those…
We sincerely hope you’ve got loads of disposable income stocked up, because — like it or not — the music festival season is upon us. Over the next three months or so, an exhaustive number of indoor and outdoor mega-concerts and big-ticket music events are scheduled to take place both…
As you might have heard recently, Steve Aoki is cutting back on the cake. More specifically, the electronic dance music icon has stated that he’s ceasing his trademark stunt of throwing sheet cake at audience members during shows, at least at big EDM festivals where he’s a support act. “If…
Say what you will about the power of positive thinking, but it has helped some some folks people succeed now and again. e. For proof, look no further than DJ Akshen, the Valley turntablist who won the Red Bull Thre3style regional qualifier this past weekend at Monarch Theatre. Akshen bested…
If there’s one thing that’s become abundantly clear to us while covering geek culture in the Valley, it’s that everyone nerds out for something, no matter who they are. That’s especially true with members of the cosplay crowd, who put their particular passion on display for the world to see…
Call us crazy, but we’re starting to suspect that organizers of Phoenix Comicon might be fans of the Whedonverse. Okay, it’s not that big of a stretch, considering that they’re die-hard geeks and all, but if you look at some of the bigger guests they’ve lined up for the event…
Fans of the old Big Bang in Tempe, lend us your ears. In fact, if you’ve been mourning the loss of the beloved Mill Avenue basement bar and its dueling pianos, you’d should cheer up and get ready to rock out once more. That’s because RCK CTY, the glitzy nightclub…
