Hey, guess what? There’s a recession and it’s screwing up just about everything, including the NBA. Yep, that’s right, the professional sports world is taking it in the backside alongside us peons. The squad that hails from the banking nucleus of these here jacked-up United States, the Charlotte Bobcats, may…
Feel that? You don’t? Okay, then go outside when it’s dark and try again. Now do you feel it? Oh, my goodness. Isn’t it awesome? Yes, we think so, too. We are so much happier now. You are, too, huh? If you don’t know what in the name of Sam…
Some comics are about an onstage persona that isn’t far removed from their everyday outlook. Others present unadorned, well-thought-out material that speaks for itself. Then there’s Kathleen Madigan, whose feet are firmly planted in both worlds. She’s not blue collar by any means, but her Midwestern, religious upbringing has infused…
AmeriSuites, we’re sure you’re a fine hotel. Though bestselling humorist and National Public Radio darling David Sedaris name-checked you as a less-preferred accommodation, it was, no doubt, only because a 28-city/28-day book tour ranks second only to a Valley DUI sentence as substantial, grueling hotel time. As Sedaris told The…
Somewhere in the course of making his mark as a mastermind behind Cartoon Network’s smartass Adult Swim programs, Christopher Ward found time to concoct a junk culture/computer nerd rap persona that sounds like Eminem strung out on whip-its. On his 2002 debut (Life’s a Bitch and I’m Her Pimp, free…
By now, even if you’ve never seen the 2004 Metallica documentary Some Kind of Monster, you probably know that the band was rescued from the brink of its own creative and personal disintegration through a couple years of intensive group therapy sessions led by life coach Phil Towle. Granted, St…
Born Ruffians, a nascent Toronto trio, move with mesmerizing twitch, shouting with childish abandon, as if they were Hot Hot Heat stuck in an elevator with the Go! Team. Frontman Luke Lalonde’s guitar tone is thin and shrill, switching between jagged Pixies pulses, and more lugubrious indie noodling, like that…
The former executive editor of the Washington Post (pictured) is joined by Tim McGuire, former editor of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, for a discussion in conjunction with National Freedom of Speech Week. Whaddaya wanna bet a couple of guys named McCain and Obama come up in the conversation? Mon., Oct. 20,…
The New Times Best of Phoenix Award-winning group celebrates with a rooftop bash and a packed marquee including HBO Def Poets Georgia Me, Abyss, and M’Reld. Big Baby hosts, and live music will be provided by The Rising Kings, HomeJones, and The Unit with DJ Private. Sat., Oct. 18, 6…
Every Monday night, one of the Valley’s best jazz ensembles, Moseyhorse, nestle themselves in the exposed-brick corner of artsy beer/wine bar the Lost Leaf and play the hippest burning jazz in town. The Tempe-based ensemble focuses on straight-ahead takes on jazz originals and showcases guitarist Jeff Libman, John Chapman on…
Based out of Chicago, this groundbreaking Grammy-winning sextet presents an entertaining program of contemporary classical music entitled The Only Moving Thing, which features “provocative and engaging” performances, compositions, and instrumentation. Take a look at this video of the group in action, and I’m sure you’ll agree: Tue., Oct. 21, 7:30…
With Jaguar Love, & Black Gold. Tue., Oct. 21, 8:30 p.m., 2008…
When the young, petite sisters of death-metal band Hellen, Mindy and Desiree Duponte, first caught our attention two years ago, we were impressed with their raging brand of guttural metal and psycho-operatic vocals. But before the sisters could fully realize their potential as Hellen, Desiree passed away suddenly in April…
Fatigo has a cool factor that most people dont. Fri., Oct. 17, 8 p.m., 2008…
Ask anyone alive during our country’s 200th birthday in 1976, and they’ll tell you it was still the Me Decade, but filtered through Eisenhower eyes, since America had less past to reprocess. On TV, there was plenty of unapologetic jiggle alongside the Happy Days marathon. In music, the ’70s excesses…
BlackPoet Ventures presents the “all-male lyrical revue,” based on the 1983 Isley Brothers hit “Between the Sheets.” The show is part of the group’s fourth performance-poetry season. Sat., Oct. 18, 8 p.m., 2008…
The traveling shrine to Hormel’s mystery meat returns to pass out more free SPAMBURGERS to Arizona State Fairgoers. Fri., Oct. 17; Sat., Oct. 18; Sun., Oct. 19; Fri., Oct. 24; Sat., Oct. 25; Sun., Oct. 26, 2008…
Is Mary J. Blige still the reigning queen of hip-hop soul? It was looking iffy a few years ago, when she released her lukewarm Love & Life, an awkward attempt to reconcile her usual gritty themes of abusive relationships and ghetto drama with an increasingly happy personal life — newly…
Elizabeth Ferrer of Brooklyn’s BRIC Rotunda Gallery discusses the trailblazing photog and his work in conjunction with the “Pedro Meyer’s Heresies” exhibit. Tue., Oct. 21, 7 p.m., 2008…
We’ve said it before and we’ll gladly say it again: Andy Herrera (a.k.a. Big Latin) is one of the hardest-working cats in the P-town DJ and dance scene. He’s got gigs going down at some of the biggest Latin nightspots around the Valley. For instance, every Friday afternoon and evening,…
When you’re a new band, one of the biggest challenges can be describing the style of music you play to journalists, especially if it doesn’t fit into a neat and tidy category. Take the case of the Montreal trio Plants and Animals: Though their songs evoke several classic-rock styles (psych…
Sheryl Crow is back to her old self after the fiasco that was 2005’s Wildflower. By renewing her partnership with Bill Bottrell (who produced her first CD in 1993), she comes up with a selection of infectious pop tunes reminiscent of her earliest efforts. “Gasoline” and “Love Is Free?” have…
