Ted Nugent. Ted “Fucking” Nugent. He calls himself this frequently. During a 45-minute phone conversation, he must’ve said “Ted fucking Nugent” at least a dozen times. The man is mesmerizing and drunk on confidence, even if he never takes a drink. There really is no one else quite like him,…
Country music fans of the West Valley, better dust off your boots and get ready to cowboy up. The second Metro Phoenix location of Cowboys Saloon is set to make its debut next month in Peoria and will offer just as much country kitsch and dance floor action as its…
XIXA came to exist almost by accident. The Tucson sextet – formerly known as Chicha Dust – formed and began playing the Peruvian style of psychedelic cumbia as a way to get more gigs without overbooking the solo projects of its two co-founders, Brian Lopez and Gabriel Sullivan. With almost…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. Stephen Steinbrink – “Absent Mind” Before he was Olympia, Washington’s Stephen Steinbrink, he belonged to Phoenix, Arizona. I first became…
Punk rock is many things. It’s fun, it’s furious, it’s chock-full of rebellion, and for some, it’s a labor of love. With any luck, it’s all four of those things. Enter Brendan Kelly, singer/guitar player of the Falcon. Kelly’s a busy man. The Chicago-area native is married, a dad to…
There’s an urgency to New Madrid. It’s evident by the opening thrust of “Not In Me,” the lead track on the Athens, Georgia, band’s latest effort, magnetkingmagnetqueen. Sporting rapid, airy vocal overlays pushed by a frenetic drumbeat and prog-ish guitar licks, the song makes it clear New Madrid is not…
Fifty years ago, women’s role in heavy metal was mostly a lyrical focal point — a heartbreaking vixen, fantasy figure, groupie. Now, it’s commonplace that women not only frequent the stage, but work as tour managers, sound and light techs, promoters, publicists, booking agents, managers, and more — all in…
If you want the best rock ‘n’ roll concert in Arizona this summer, you’ll have to travel south. Rock legends Kiss kick off their ‘Freedom To Rock” tour at AVA Amphitheater in Tucson on the same day we celebrate America’s independence. Nothing says Fourth of July like a Kiss, right?…
2016 has been a banner year for local music and it’s only halfway through. This year feels like the year where a lot of the old guard bands from the scene have passed the torch to new, up-and-coming bands, with dazzling results. It’s refreshing to find all these new sounds…
The founding fathers really knew how to party. No, seriously. You won’t find it cataloged in any high school history books, but the patriots of yesteryear that helped form our nation – including John Adams, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson – definitely knew how to bend an elbow in their…
Late last year, before Wyves released their debut album, Spoils Of War, lead singer Corey Gloden asked me what song I would pick for their single other than “Bitch Has Got Problems.” I didn’t even have to think about it, because although I had been waiting for years for a recorded…
Comerica Theatre was almost full on Sunday, June 25, when Kenny Rogers said farewell to his Phoenix fans. The almost two-hour performance/retrospective was highly entertaining and, at times, bittersweet, as the 77-year-old singer sang a great many of the hits from his near-60-year career. For those who came to hear…
Few artists in Phoenix mix consciousness and music with more elegance than poet/rapper/educator Myrlin Hepworth. His lineage as the son of an English professor shines in his music, which effortlessly jumps between race relations, feminism, sexism, police brutality, and violence. He’s now looking to take his show on the road. Having…
See also: 10 Songs About Cocaine See also: 15 Songs to Light Up to on 4/20 Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. It’s in many ways the enduring holy trinity of pop music. Like it or not — we’re not advocating anything — drugs are responsible for lots of great…
Growth is good, and POWER 98.3’s Tino Cochino is looking to expand his footprint. The leader of the 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. show on one of the Valley’s leading hip-hop stations now has a program on KSAW CW6 called After The Show, and he’s looking to syndicate outside the…
Looking for a memorable concert to check out this week? You’ve got plenty of options, including the following “can’t miss” selections that comprise our weekly list of the best concerts happening over the next several nights. And its certainly an eclectic list, to say the least, as it features costumed…
Fishbone played 22 songs last night at the Rebel Lounge over what seemed like half a day. The 37-year-old Los Angeles-based group played one of the more perplexing sets I’ve ever seen them play. It was good, even really good at times, but maybe it’s me or maybe it’s them,…
Here are our concert picks for the weekend. If you’d like dozens of more options, check out our comprehensive concert calendar at www.phxconcerts.com. George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic – Friday, June 24 – Marquee Theatre There are those who believe there’s nothing left to say about funkmaster-general George Clinton and…
You’ve always wanted to experience “Onion Rings of Fire,” haven’t you? On Saturday, June 25, the Musical Instrument Museum in Scottsdale will honor Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash with a day long celebration of their musical legacy. If you decided to go and choose to get some food, “Onion…
It’s hard to explain the musical phenomena that was the Smiths at the height of their glory to anyone who wasn’t lost in their fandom at the time. No matter if you were there or not, you probably would agree that the band’s 1986 album The Queen Is Dead is…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. The Breaking Pattern – “Something/Anything” I was beginning to wonder if The Breaking Pattern were going to turn ever song…
“I know it’s late. I know you’re weary. I know your plans don’t include a shirtless Kenny Rogers on your sun porch. But there he is; the screen door was unlocked, and he was thirsty. Water would have been fine, but all he found was Chivas. So he’s drinking that…
