Thrice Takes a Break

“Hiatus” is a tricky word. More often than not, when a band tosses the term out there, it’s shorthand for “we’re breaking up, guys.” Dustin Kensrue of influential post-hardcore, post-metalcore, post-pop punk, post-pretty much everything O.C. rock band Thrice insists this isn’t the case when it comes to the band’s…

Record Heat: The Hangover by Brad Dwyer

See also: Record Heat, “Meta Commentary” Like haiku, the classic comic strip is simple, direct, and brief. There’s not room for the kind of exposition or development found in full-size comics or graphic novels. It’s direct and to the point, a quick shot at a joke or a feeling. Like…

Amen Dunes on Living a Million Musical Lives

See also: Up on the Sun the Podcast, Featuring Amen Dunes and Our Levon Helm Tribute When New York-based songwriter Damon McMahon, the man behind the shadowy, warbly pysch-folk of Amen Dunes, says he’s lived a million musical lives, he’s exaggerating only a little. He spent his early 20s in…

Open Mike Eagle on Indie Rap’s Breakthrough Year

So there’s punk-rap, nerd-rap, avant-rap, and . . . oh, only about a gazillion other hyphenated hip-hop sub-genres. Open Mike Eagle describes his style as “art rap.” At least for now. “I’m unable to replace it,” he laughs, speaking with me via phone from his home in Los Angeles. “And…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our April 26 Issue

This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up on the Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. What is local rock luminary Jim Adkins working up with The Love Me Nots? What sounds…

The Glass Heroes Celebrate 20 Years of Street Rock

They say “old punks never die,” and though the statement lacks some factual validity, it bears repeating in regard to The Glass Heroes, who celebrate 20 years of punk and roll this Saturday at the George and Dragon Pub. “We have this joke that the last punk standing wins,” laughs…

Record Heat: Meta Commentary by Brad Dwyer

See also: Comic Approach I look forward to adding my little commentary to Brad Dwyer’s strip each week. It gives me a chance to stretch out, touch on strange topics, or share some goofy insight I think I have about something. Not saying it always works, but I really hope…

Five Must-See Shows This Weekend

Curious what’s going on around town this weekend? Need some suggestions as to how to rock, dance, or krump in the Valley of the Sun? Don’t fret: These are our Five Shows to See This Weekend. Hunx and His Punx @ Yucca Tap Room Ever since its genesis with Chuck…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our April 19 Issue

This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. What are our 10 favorite awkward dance moves at Coachella? How close does Dark Star Orchestra…

M. Ward, Crescent Ballroom, 4/17/12

See also: M. Ward Discusses A Wasteland Companion, and His Arizona Ties to The Meat Puppets and Howe Gelb M. Ward Crescent Ballroom Tuesday, April 17, 2012 Following fIREHOSE’s blistering set of punk jazz, I was almost worried that the hushed immediacy of Portland-based singer/songwriter/producer M. Ward would suffer by…

Cursive and Cymbals Eat Guitars Cover Gin Blossoms

See also: Cursive at Crescent Ballroom, 2/27/12 (VIDEO) See also: Cursive’s Ted Stevens on I Am Gemini, Duality, and Line Up Changes We’re big fans of AV Club’s Undercover Series, where the Chicago-based pop culture site invites bands into its little round room to cover songs from a list compiled…

Record Heat: Comic Approach by Brad Dwyer

See also: Record Heat: I Feel Like Puking by Brad Dwyer Collecting comics is a lot like collecting records, only they are a little less strenuous to move (just a little). They take up a lot of space, a lot of folks wonder what the hell you’re doing with them,…