Damien Jurado Had a Dream That Inspired Two Records

Damien Jurado’s 2012 album Maraqopa — a dreamscape narrative that found the once-quiet singer-songwriter enmeshed in spacey psychedelic rock — is only half the story. After a stalled effort at a follow-up record, Jurado took the advice of a friend and revisited the album’s world — which came to him,…

Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace Makes a Brave, Vital New Album

Against Me!’s latest album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, may be one of the most important records of the decade. We’re deep in a cultural war for gay and women’s rights, but we’ve barely scratched the surface regarding transgender issues. The coming out of someone in the public eye still qualifies as…

Sister Lip @ The Sail Inn

Sister Lip is one of those bands on the Phoenix scene that can play just about any show. Since its inception in September 2012, the all-female act has found itself at touring authors’ book-signings, variety shows, the state fair, and just about anywhere that will give the band a stage…

Holly Golightly @ Rips

If there is any such thing as garage rock royalty, Holly Golightly certainly must be a member. Lo-fi before there was such a thing, and cool from the get-go, Ms. Golightly visits Phoenix for the very first time with her backing band, The Brokeoffs (which is really just one guy,…

Bill Frisell @ Musical Instrument Museum

In every musical idiom there are performers who transcend the genre and, at times, the music itself. Jazz guitarist Bill Frisell ranks among them. In fact, to call him a jazz musician is in itself limiting, as Frisell — who began playing surf music as a teen and later worked…

Seven Nights of EDM, DJs, and Dancing

Thursday 15 AZ/88: Black Out Thursdays with Josh 1 (soulful house, lounge) Baja Joe’s: Latin Live Thursdays with DJ Chop (Top 40, Latin) Bar Smith: Ladies Night with DJ AL3, & DJ Fantastico (hip-hop, EDM, trap, Latin) Bobby Q’s: All Star Thursdays with DJ Freshmaker, DJ Phlava, DJ Dark Vader,…

Transcendent Sundays @ Bar Smith

Whenever Sunday night rolls around, most cats are content to simply veg in front of the latest episodes of Game of Thrones or Once Upon a Time. They don’t know what they’re missing. Despite the fact that it’s the final night of the weekend (and your boss expects you to…

Brad Paisley June Concert at Ak-Chin Pavilion Canceled

For Brad Paisley fans hoping to beat this summer with some musical relief, bad news: LiveNation anounced today that the show has been canceled due to “scheduling conflicts.” Refunds will be available at the point of purchase. Find any show in Metro Phoenix via our extensive online concert calendar. 9…

Nervo, EDM’s Cool Girls, Come To Scottsdale

Australian sisters, producers and DJs, Nervo, are the embodiment of what so many others wish they were. They have it all. They work with their best friend, they’re accepted into dance music’s in-crowd, they’re talented songwriters and producers, they’re at the forefront of today’s fashion and music movements, and are…

Six Reasons Your Band Should Not Play Longer Than 20 Minutes

Tom Coates/Flickr Imagine you’re on a date and you’re telling a story. It’s a long one, but you know it’s a winner. Everyone always loves this story. Three quarters of the way to the punch line, you notice a shift in your date’s behavior. She’s glancing at the door, bouncing…

Elizabeth Banks Gets Down to Phoenix Music in Movie Trailer

A couple of locals are making music that’s Hollywood-bound. Local producer John Costello’s remix of “How U Girlz Git Down” by local rapper Marcus Latief Scott is featured in the official trailer of Walk of Shame. Walk of Shame is a romantic comedy that came out May 7. The movie…

Chicago Power Pop Trio The Safes Provide Anthemic Ass-Shakers

Chips off the block, The Safes — three brothers from Chicago — credit their dad, a working musician and record collector for laying down a rich musical foundation that inspired them to naturally progress from siblings into a power pop trio. Their new release, Record Heat, is loaded with muscle-y,…

9 Oddest Bands in Phoenix

Phoenix has a vast and eclectic music scene that encompasses bands of all genres. There is noise punk, metal, hip-hop, alternative hip-hop; hell, I once saw a band play a 15-pound chain at the Lost Leaf. Whatever sort of sound you may be looking for, I assure you someone in…

Ashanti, Ginuwine – Celebrity Theatre – 5/9/2014

The vibe of last night’s Celebrity Theatre concert was certainly “Grown and Sexy” — as the name of the tour suggests. It had handcuffs, leather, hip thrusts, sweaty towels, dozens of roses, and two R&B artists who’ve probably made your bedroom play list in some former life (even if it…

Eels’ E Still Looking Back and Inward

Music that leaves you with a sense of unease is often some of the most poignant work you will come across. Whether it’s a theme of loss, unrequited love or some common displacement, it’s the stark human relativity that makes the work of Eels’ frontman, E, that much more memorable…

13 Great Metal Albums Turning 30 This Year

When there were all those rumors about AC/DC retiring/breaking up a few weeks ago, a lot of people were panicking. Everyone from industry pros to famous musicians wondered if AC/DC was actually going to continue on without guitarist/founder Malcolm Young, or if they should just hang up their hats after…

Five Must-See Concerts This Week, 5/12 – 5/15

“School’s out for summer,” sang one of Phoenix’s proudest sons, Alice Cooper. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say that per-capita celebrations of summer are lower here than most places in the country. As Arizona State University students go back from whence they came and the…