Cibo Matto Is Still Strange After All These Years

Admit it: You’ve always longed for a music video that, in sum, features shots of bananas, pineapples, and other fruit; an explosively gaudy color scheme; several bizarre green-screen backgrounds seen at a rapid-fire pace; a rap interlude; a saxophone solo; lyrics about French bread and oysters; and the phrase “motherfucking…

Now Open: Cake Nightclub in Scottsdale

Scottsdale’s nightlife hotspot haven at the corner of Saddlebag Trail and Indian Plaza has been getting a bit hotter the past few weeks thanks to some new arrivals, including the recently opened Cake Nightclub. Located next door to the equally new Bottled Blond, the self-described “boutique nightclub” located in the…

Imagine Dragons – U.S. Airways Center – 2/17/14 (VIDEO)

Imagine Dragons U.S. Airways Center 2/17/14 Alternative rock hitmakers Imagine Dragons came to US Airways Center in Phoenix last night and were greeted by a lively Arizona crowd. The concert opened with “Fallen” as a faux moon rose above the stage. Lead singer Dan Reynolds told the near-sellout US Airways…

Top 5 Must-See Concerts in Phoenix This Week

Want to get in a show this week? There are plenty of concerts over the next five days around Metro Phoenix to choose from, as you can see for yourself by viewing our extensive online concert listings. And we’re fairly certain that there’s something for everyone, regardless of your particular…

The Most Metal Instruments at NAMM

A few weeks back, I wrote about the most metal moments at NAMM, but now I’d like to touch base on some of the amazing products at the one of the largest music trade shows in the world. Manufacturers seem to have found a way of creating affordable instruments that…

Jess Williamson to Bring Her Strange Folk to Phoenix and Arcosanti

There are names you might expect to read in a review of Jess Williamson’s Native State: Karen Dalton, Joanna Newsome, Devendra Banhart. But Pitchfork’s Lindsay Zoladz struck mighty close to the source when she compared Williamson’s voice to that of a coyote. Though it was clearly intended as an accolade,…

Crush Music Festival – Arizona Event Center – 2/15/14

Crush Music Festival Arizona Event Center 2/15/14 Like any good Valentine’s Day date, the crowd at Crush Music Festival on Saturday night was hot, wet, and ready for action. Young ravers, EDM fans, and party monsters packed themselves into a sold-out Arizona Event Center in Mesa for the sixth edition…

Fetish Revolution feat. The Genitorturers – Marquee Theatre – 2/15/14

Fetish Revolution feat. The Genitorturers Marquee Theatre 2/15/14 Last night, society’s outcasts, kink-cravers, pleather-wearing thrillseekers, and those looking to enjoy some pleasures of the flesh dressed in their finest and freakiest fetishistic wear made their way to the Marquee Theatre in Tempe for the 10th annual Fetish Revolution. This is…

Augustines – Crescent Ballroom – 2/15/14

Augustines Crescent Ballroom 2/15/14 You should never mess with a band’s encore. If you do, it might lead to some unexpected consequences, like with what happened at the end of last night’s Augustines show at the end of last night’s Augustines show. As midnight approached at the Crescent Ballroom on…

The Linecutters – Long Wong’s – 2/14/14

The Linecutters Long Wong’s 2/14/14 Although its always hard to tell how far any new band will go — and even harder when said band comprises high school juniors — local punkers The Linecutters seem to have it. The Gilbert-based thrash trio have been around only since September, but they…

Panic! at the Disco – Marquee Theatre – 2/14/14 (VIDEO)

Panic! at the Disco Marquee Theatre 2/14/14 Brendon Urie probably never thought he’d be the only original member standing from his band Panic! at the Disco, but being the sole survivor didn’t seem to bother him while performing in front of a sold-out crowd at Tempe’s Marquee Theatre Friday night…

St. Valentine’s Day Massacre – The Sail Inn – 2/14/14

St. Valentine’s Day Massacre The Sail Inn 2/14/14 There is a stark contrast between the playing styles of Field Tripp’s Dan Allmond and Brandon Decker. To wit: Decker appears to be a driven perfectionist looking to squeeze every bit of soul out of each note, while Allmond seems content as…

The Lawrence Arms – Pub Rock – 2/14/14

The Lawrence Arms Pub Rock 2/14/14 It’s safe to say that I had a better Valentine’s Day than the majority of the Valley. Unlike most of you, I didn’t have to deal with either setting sky-high expectations for a beau or sulking about being single — I just got to…

The 10 Best Love Songs by Phoenix Bands

Everyone loves a great love song. Passionate hyperbole about the glowing light of romance’s grand glory that can uplift and soothe an aching heart or nurture love’s first embrace. Really, love just wouldn’t be the same without great song to accompany it. There’s just nothing better than hearing hit those…