I’ve never seen Morrissey in concert, and who knows if The Smiths will ever reunite (highly unlikely), so as a longtime fan, I was excited when I heard he would be playing a show in Tempe. First, he was scheduled to perform at the Marquee Theatre on November 21; then…
When Bad Religion, AWOLNATION, and the rest of That Damn Show comes to the Mesa Amphitheatre on Saturday, there will be 14 bands crammed onto the bill, split between two stages — which is to say It’s going to be a little hectic. You can still buy tickets online; to…
Downtown Phoenix’s Monarch Theatre is gonna take on old-school aura this weekend when more than a dozen local DJs and selectors showcase mad turntablism in what could be the first step toward superstardom. The Phoenix Regionals for the World DMC DJ Championships, one of the most esteemed competitions for the…
On Saturday, you’re going to have to make some very difficult choices. In one corner: the first That Damn Show in a decade, featuring Bad Religion and an impressive cast of local and touring bands. In another: The Real Coachella, featuring The Real Wu-Tang Clan and The Real Grimes. In…
The annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California is attended by thousands of music lovers who pilgrimage to the mountains each year for their fill of live performances from emerging and established acts, including Grimes, the Wu-Tang Clan, and Local Natives. The Real Coachella is a local music…
Record Store Day, the annual event in which stores put out their best inventory, dorks jostle for those elusive RSD exclusive releases, and everybody throws down a nice all-day party, is back again. There are plenty of festivities at all the Valley independent retailers, and, hey, maybe this year you’ll…
If you’re going to That Damn Show–tickets here; schedule here–on Saturday and you don’t already know a lot about Bad Religion, you might be in trouble by the time they hit the Main Stage at the Mesa Amphitheatre at 9 p.m. Luckily, our print feature this week is all about…
The roster of touring acts of That Damn Show gives the festival the appearance of something that happened a decade ago. I remember being stoked to see acts like Bad Religion, Face to Face, and Fenix Tx for the first time in the early Aughts — and, in some cases,…
When Portugal. The Man last came through town — just about a year ago — its Crescent Ballroom concert was the first after a lengthy break. The band had been touring almost nonstop for a year, so the idea was that some time off would renew the vigor they needed…
On Saturday That Damn Show is back for 2013 at the Mesa Amphitheatre, featuring national acts like Bad Religion and local favorites like the Veragroove. Check out the full schedule here. (Full disclosure: We’re co-promoting this show with KUKQ, because we just want you to be happy.) Bad Religion has…
Imagine taking a demonic ride through a girl’s mind, filled with fantastic illusions, haunting, heavy melodies, and vengeance against a world that has forgotten her. To get there, you could spend an evening with Otep, one of the most prolific female-fronted bands of the past decade — or have a…
This week’s New Times cover story examines the music industry’s only 21st-century success story: The incredible boom in live music in general and festivals in particular. Since you might still be in the throes of a Coachella hangover — or maybe you’re getting ready to camp out at That Damn…
Listen, man, guys don’t like talking with other hombres about emotions and feelings and self-doubt and all that. I read about it in a men’s magazine, in an article written by a male human solely for dude perusal, all right? J Mascis and Lou Barlow, the two songwriters behind legendary…
Tinariwen is the plural of ténéré, which simply means “desert” in the African language Tamashek. The name is fitting for these Sahara Desert musicians, and their music captures the beauty, hardships, longing, and isolation of their nomadic lifestyle. Tinariwen began in Libyan resistance camps in the 1980s when most members…
If you know someone who gets so excited about jewelry and new shoes that they write songs about them, is your acquaintance A) a Scottsdale princess with too much money and a digital recorder or B) a modern hip-hop star? Trick question! Either way, it’s a prima donna with daddy…
Nathan Williams always had a good thing going with Wavves, whose string of buzzy, snotty pop-punk records has thrilled certain members of the blogosphere since 2009. The formula is clear: scuzzy guitars, crunchy drums, and an abundance of California slacker cool. But there’s always been a nagging question lingering about…
“You might not think there’s any wisdom in a fucked-up punk rock song,” sings Greg Graffin in “Kyoto Now!” summarizing Bad Religion’s ethos in one fell swoop. Classic punk songs like Black Flag’s “TV Party” and The Misfits’ “Hybrid Moments” are fun and riotous but offer little substance. Bad Religion…
Excuse our local beat-juggler boosterism for a moment, but there are some turntablists in town whose skills are so unearthly we reckon they might just have brokered their everlastings soul to Lucifer in trade for prodigious abilities. And if they haven’t, they might want to consider the deal. Every extra…
Thursday 18 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, dance) Bikini Lounge: DJ Shane Kennedy (juke joint, R&B, French pop) Bobby…
It’s been a long time since the music industry had musicians’ best interests in mind. And it’s not just the greed of the industry; it’s the fans, too. I’m not talking about the multimillionaires in Metallica. I’m talking about the underground punk band whose album you downloaded for free last…
In the social media era, it seems unfathomable that an artist, no matter how trivial, could completely disappear off the radar. In the 1970s, it was a different story entirely. Sixto Rodriguez was one musician who not only fell through the cracks but was thought by many to have died…
It’s as though the lamentable death of recorded music was accompanied by a kick-ass wake. Sure, label executives have had to sell their fancy homes and put their kids in public schools, but the rest of us have feasted on a musical smorgasbord. Nothing better exemplifies this than this month’s…
