When it all boils down to it, comic book conventions are ultimately about just that: comic books. While it seems like most ‘cons both locally and nationally include every possible aspect of geekdom imaginable — ranging from science fiction and fantasy to video games, costuming, fan fiction, RPGs, and animation…
When it all comes down to it, DJs wield a certain degree of power — and we ain’t just referring to all the money, fame, and influence that comes with the job. Instead, we’re referencing their talents at controlling the energy and driving the dance floor at whatever gig they…
If you happened to be cruising through either central or midtown on Saturday, February 7, there’s a good chance you caught a glimpse of this year’s Idiotarod in progress. After all, its participants certainly made it easy enough to spot them. As with any of the previous versions of the…
Mick Foley lives for entertaining a crowd, and it’s something he’s been doing for most of his life. For almost three decades, the now-retired pro wrestler was a star of the ring in the WWE and other notable promotions. He also has been a best-selling author, made several appearances on…
Just as the last remnants of Super Bowl XLIX are leaving downtown Phoenix, something far more crazy, colorful, and chaotic is about to roll through this weekend. And just like the big game, it’s centered on competition, although nary any football is involved. We’re referring to the Phoenix Idiotarod, the…
As if you weren’t already aware by now, we’re currently hip deep in the utter madness of Super Bowl week as the showdown is less than 48 hours away. And even though the onslaught of parties and concerts associated with the game are already taking place, a high-profile event was…
Downtown Phoenix is a bit busy right now, you might say. Between all the people roaming Super Bowl Central, the football fans heading for NFL Experience, and the usual downtown crowd, its streets and sidewalks are a hive of activity and attractions. And one of the most curious Super Bowl-related…
Heard any good jokes lately about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his (allegedly) soft balls? We’re guessing that you have, since many a comedian (not to mention sports wags nationwide) have gotten a lot of mileage out of the whole hullabaloo surrounding Deflategate. And such cracks and quips…
The 1st and Ten Kickoff Concert and Party made a big splash in September, when it was one of the first local Super Bowl nightlife events to be announced, promising a huge selection of performers and enormous crowds. Turns out it was more of a belly flop, however. Earlier today,…
The biggest question about Super Bowl XLIX’s halftime show starring Katy Perry isn’t if the pop starlet will top Bruno Mars’ record-setting ratings from last year, what songs she’ll sing, or even if it will be any good. Instead, the world seems focused on how she’ll publicly diss Taylor Swift…
Pro wrestling fans of the Valley, better start planning your posters. The superstars of the WWE are heading back our way in the near future and are planning to rumble inside the Talking Stick Resort Arena (formerly known as US Airways Center) in downtown Phoenix once again. The WWE announced…
It isn’t any great secret that cats like Pickster One, M2, Chris Villa, and Liquid Stranger are some of the biggest and best DJs in the Valley, especially among those in the know. After this week, however, they’re also considered to be among the top DJs in the country, at…
If you’re a major fan of anime (a.k.a. Japanese animation), you probably were at Taiyou Con out in Mesa this past weekend. Ditto for anyone who happens to be into manga, shonen, imported video games, J-pop, or otaku culture, as such things are the focus of the annual convention out…
Michael Schwartz has boasted more than a few titles in his day. Over the last couple of decades, the venerated DJ has been referred to as a “serial wax killer,” a turntable guru, a three-time DMC world champ, and the (unofficial) fourth Beastie Boy. And if his legal name doesn’t…
And the Super Bowl concert announcements just keep on coming. Here’s the latest: chart-topping rap wunderkind G-Eazy, the artist behind the 2011 viral hit “Runaround Sue,” is set to perform at Livewire in Scottsdale on Saturday, January 31. Its one of many blockbuster concerts and club events that will be…
Good news for anyone who wasn’t lucky enough (or quick enough) to score tickets to the post-Super Bowl taping of the Tonight Show in Phoenix — or any local fans of the program’s house band, The Roots: they’re reportedly going to be putting on a free concert in downtown Phoenix…
If there’s one thing that Scottsdale is known for – other than high-style everything – is the sheer number of celebrities that visit the city every year. And during Super Bowl week later this month, that number will increase tenfold as hordes of the rich and famous (including many high-profile…
If you were one of those folks who wound up getting pairs of socks and underwear for Christmas, don’t be too bummed out about it. In fact, you can put some of ’em to good use this weekend. The latest No Pants Ride, which is organized by local branches of…
Charlie Levy has a simple philosophy when it comes to the Crescent Ballroom, his venue in downtown Phoenix. “We always try to do things at Crescent that are fun and different all the time,” he says. That’s why you’ll see such diverse events as comedy shows, movie screenings, spoken word…
If you happened to check out the entire list of nominees for this year’s Grammy Awards that were announced yesterday, you might have spotted a familiar name about halfway through — especially if you’re familiar with the old school DJ scene in the Valley. House music turntablist Eddie Amador, a…
The holidays might with over with and done, but its gonna take us a little while to fully decompress, sober up, and allow things to get back to normal. Admittedly, we’re not the only ones who are readjusting, and there’s no better way to illustrate that than the relative absence…
December was what you might call a busy month, and not just because of all the holiday hullabaloo. Granted, there was plenty of that happening, but it was just one of many things we had on our to-do list over the last 31 days or so. Between celebrating the season…
