It’s a little too early to crown 2013 the “Year Of” anything in particular, but you might be able to make a strong case for 2013 as the “Year of the Musical Manifesto.” Observe Daft Punk’s calculated marketing buildup toward Random Access Memories, with tales of organic music-making on the…
If the food is bad backstage when Cheap Trick plays Wild Horse Pass on May 31, this reporter isn’t to blame. In any case, after criss-crossing the globe for 40 years and playing enough exotic locations that anything from sushi to fried cassava to bull testicles could appear on the…
Thursday 30 Afterlife: Touch Thursdays with DJ Tsunami, DJ Michael Ryan, & DJ Matt Fox (Top 40, EDM) AZ/88: Black Out Thursdays with Josh 1 (soulful house, lounge) Barney’s Boathouse: Thirsty Thursdays with DJ Pulse (Top 40, rock) Bikini Lounge: DJ Shane Kennedy (juke joint, R&B, French pop) Bobby Q’s:…
When the kind of band I usually go see plays the same setlist over and over, I get a little indignant. If Taylor Swift plays the same setlist Wednesday night that she did Tuesday at Jobing.com Arena, I’ll forgive her–when the grand finale involves a ticker tape parade, a bunch…
This week I’d like to talk about one of the hardest working, up-and-coming hip hop squads from the streets of Arizona: MOB FAM. This three-member group is made up of real-life brothers Arturo, Javier, and Steve Campos, better know as TS, Young Javi, and SC! These boys have been pounding…
Taylor Swift (See the complete slideshow here.)Jobing.com Arena, GlendaleMay 28, 2013 First, you’ll notice the makeup — you’ll notice, more generally, the feeling of being underdressed in the company of 9-year-olds. All around Westgate, which feels itself like a mock downtown, a big occasion to play-act at sophistication, you’ll notice…
At the beginning of May, the folks comprising the mysterious arts collective Ascetic House — responsible for releases by bands like Destruction Unit, Marshstepper, Body of Light, All Anal, and many more — issued an open letter on the group’s site stating that from that point on, cassettes, zines, and…
The last few punk fans staggered out of downtown Las Vegas Tuesday, marking the end of Punk Rock Bowling. It was a fun experience marked by four days of music (including the club shows), pool parties, and a bowling tournament. The weekend went by way too fast, though I’m sure…
Like the volumes of Edgar Allan Poe and Allen Ginsberg that inspire Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s dark lyrical oeuvre, Robert Levon Been’s music has often dealt directly with death. So it’s only natural that the band’s latest album, Specter at the Feast, fearlessly approaches the Dark Angel, but this time…
by K.C. Libman Taylor Swift is far from just a female-only icon at this point. The erstwhile country star’s crossover appeal has placed her firmly inside the pop pantheon, and it’s more apparent than ever that Swift’s infectious sound is the definition of radio-ready. Show me a red-blooded American male…
Taylor Swift is just hours away from Prince-ing Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, and people are — well, people are conflicted about it. It isn’t that individuals are conflicted — it’s just that the music fans of the Valley are, to a [wo]man, either incredibly excited or aggressively, vocally indifferent. Taylor…
“Just sit back and watch,” my friend tells me. “It’s hilarious.” What he’s referring to is the kind of collective hysteria that typically erupts among crowds of 16- to 19-year-olds at Joyce Manor shows. I had never seen the band live before Monday night, but I was told it was…
Punk Rock Bowling, Day Three FLAG, D.R.I., The Subhumans, and The Casualties Monday, May 27, 2013 Last night featured what was perhaps the most highly anticipated show of the entire festival — FLAG. Two reunited versions of Black Flag currently exist, and the lineup with original members Keith Morris, Dez…
Punk Rock Bowling, Day Two (view the full slideshow) Bad Religion, Turbonegro, Lagwagon, and Bouncing Souls Sunday, May 26 The second day of Punk Rock Bowling was full of some of the biggest names in punk, representing the past and present members of Epitaph and Fat Wreck Records like a…
As not-punk as the term sounds, Justin Pearson has an extensive curriculum vitae. He’s probably best known for his work in The Locust, the grindcore/noise rock group that had a tendency to attract those seeking the strange and elicit cries of “that’s not real music” from squares during a good…
Founded in 2007, Columbus, Ohio’s Rock on the Range has become one of heavy metal’s largest events, and every year, it just gets bigger and better. As Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach said in an interview: “As far as rock festivals in America go, Rock on the Range in No…
Limp BizkitMarquee Theatre (view the full slideshow.)May 26, 2013 There were plenty of terrible covers, outfits, and just an overall lack of effort as rap-rockers Limp Bizkit did their best to relive the ’90s Sunday night at the Marquee Theatre. The band hit the stage to begin its 90-minute set…
Devo, The DamnedPunk Rock Bowling, Las Vegas (View the full slideshow.)May 25, 2013 The Punk Rock Bowling Music Festival had a strong start, though some bands like Swingin’ Utters (who bowled today as “Swingin’ Gutters”) had to rush to the festival after the bowling tournament ended around 6 p.m. This…
Girl Talk may be a household name when it comes to mashups, but there are so many more talented DJs out there– 2manyDJs, DJ Earworm, Jaydiohead, among countless others. Most fans that criticize Gregg Gillis for changing songs too quick would appreciate something like Chicago mashup duo The Hood Internet,…
A white rental van pulled up into the parking lot at First Street and Adams, and a guy cleared the crowd to make way for it. “It’s them! They are here.” As the two tech guys were setting up the speakers and projector, someone else screamed, “Hey, where’s Kanye? Is…
Eventually, Kanye West is going to run out of progressively larger things to project himself onto. But he hasn’t yet: According to an update to his website Friday, he’s planning to do the whole “New Slaves” video reveal in several Phoenix locations Saturday night. That is, he plans on trying…
Review and Photos by Jonathan Alvira Big K.R.I.T.Club Red, TempeMay 24, 2013 The dim-lit venue suddenly became bright and the crowd awoke as the so-called “underground king” stormed on stage. With his southern hospitality accenting his country slang, Big K.R.I.T. expressed genuine love to his fans the moment he ran…
