The Hold Steady Opening for Dave Matthews Band?

Wait, what? The Hold Steady, beloved hipster bar band, sharing a stage with unrepentant frat-rock douches Dave Matthews Band? It’s happening in St. Louis, reports our sister paper, Riverfront Times. It’s too late to call Live Nation, and the listing for Dave at Cricket Wireless doesn’t say anything about The…

You Asked For It: Hogjaw

HogjawDevil in the Details(Self-released) As much as I generally prefer music that bears the stamp of the town that births it, there’s something to be said for a band that becomes so obsessed with another region’s music that they transform themselves, to the point they mimic it perfectly. The Love…

Pop Culture: Mountain Dew Voltage

I’m not sure when the last time I had a Mountain Dew was, but the last time I remember enjoying one was back when the brand’s Code Red flavor came out. I have vivid memories of using the stuff to wash down Flamin’ Hot Cheetos while listening to The Writing’s…

Jessica Lea Mayfield Impresses, Annuals Disappoint, at Rhythm Room

We don’t normally run two pieces previewing acts from a single concert in our print edition, but last week I made an exception for Jessica Lea Mayfield and Annuals at Rhythm Room. After tonight’s show I’m definitely glad I did.As the headliner, Annuals, a six-piece indie act from North Carolina,…

Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood Coming to Jobing.com

Fresh off a three-night stint at Madison Square Garden, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood have announced a 14-city U.S. tour beginning in June, which stops in Glendale on Friday, June 26. Tickets go on sale Monday, February 23 at 10 a.m. through LiveNation.The duo teamed up at the Chicago Crossroads…

Limp Bizkit Press Release: Discuss Snarkily Amongst Yourselves

We’ve been getting a lot of comments complaining we’re too snarky lately, so we’ll let you take care of this one yourselves. The following press release from Limp Bizkit begins with this sentence: “The original line-up of Limp Bizkit is back, do you believe in miracles?”Have at ‘er…

A Dan Auerbach Story, From Way Back

With The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach’s solo record, Keep It Hid, having come out last Tuesday and his protégé, Jessica Lea Mayfield coming to town tomorrow, I thought this would be a good time to share a story I wrote on Auerbach for my college paper back when his band…

NBA All-Star Game Swag: Eh, We’ve Seen Better

This is the sort of thing ordinary folks get mad about us Media Elites saying, but covering any event — even a basketball game where the league’s biggest stars take turns not playing defense — is a lot like any other day on the job. There is one exception, and…

Kinch Kills at Sold-Out EP Release Party

After hearing Kinch’s new EP, The Economic Chastisement (review here), I was a little worried the boys were going soft on us. Chastisment is a solid CD, but it’s so much softer than their previous effort, the album Advances, it was hard for me to get as excited about it…

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy Sends Us The Worst Promo CD Ever

Before today I really had nothing against Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Sure, his insistence on saying he plays “Appalachian post-punk solipsist” when he’s clearly a fairly run-of-the-mill folkie is a little pompous, and I’ve always been a little skeptical of failed actors trying their hand at music, but William Oldham’s always…

Off The Chain: Unsexy Songs About Sex

My good friend Albert Ching at our sister paper in Orange County penned a real gem this week: “Seven Unsexy Songs About Sex.” From Bruce Springsteen talking about anal sex with a hooker to the Liz Phair song that’s more lewd than “Flower” these songs are guaranteed to kill any…

Tempe Music Fest Boosts Lineup

Tempe Music Festival has bolstered their lineup with three acts that give the beachfront festival — headlined by Kid Rock and Three Doors Down — some indie cred. The Outlaws, Mutemath and Shiny Toy Guns pad a lineup that also includes Cowboy Mouth, Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers and The…

Off The Chain: San Francisco Porn vs. Phoenix Porn

One of the things I enjoy most about reading the other music, arts and culture blogs in the Village Voice chain is seeing how they reflect their respective scenes. Take, for example, today’s porn-related posts here in Phoenix and at our sister paper in San Francisco.Last night, Niki D’Andrea covered a…

Flier of the Week: Valencia

I’m not sure what I like so much about this flier for Philly pop-punk band Valencia, but it sure is eye-catching. I don’t have much to say about the band, which is playing Modified on Valentine’s Day, but I love the flier…

Arizona Invades Texas for SxSW

So, we don’t normally blog about shows outside the area, but our contributor Psyko Steve Chilton is putting a real dandy at SxSW in Austin next month. The “I Heart AZ” showcase features Dear and the Headlights, Miniature Tigers, What Laura Says, The Stiletto Formal, Kinch, Back Ted N-Ted and…

Pop Culture: Sparkling Pomegranate

Every week I bring a new soda in the break room to review for Pop Culture and every week I get the same complaints from our tasting panel: It’s too sweet… I need to brush my teeth… My cavities are aching… I’m slipping in to a diabetic coma.This week we’re…

You Asked For It: Kinch

So I’ve made a big deal out of the relentless first come-first served policy we have for You Asked For It, our weekly local CD review column, a few times before. This week, I’m breaking it. I’m only moving Kinch up one week, but I wanted to confess it up…

Eddie Vedder Sings Karaoke in Mesa Hotel

Turns out I should go to my neighborhood hotel bars more often! Yes, that’s Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder doing U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” at the Best Western Dobson Ranch Inn in Mesa. Vedder was in town for the Chicago Cubs 2009 Fantasy Camp, according to Stereogum.Two…