Incoming: The Black Keys, El-P, Sharon Van Etten

Blues-rock masters The Black Keys have been on top of the world lately. They’ve toured the globe, sold out Madison Square Garden twice, and headlined every music festival under the sun (including this year’s Coachella fest, where they teamed up with Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogerty during the second weekend).Lucky…

Metal Mondays: Phoenix Needs a Heavy Metal Strip Club

I’ve never been a fan of Texas, even though it’s the stomping ground for a wide range of heavy acts. From the Dallas Cowboys to the phrase “everything is bigger in Texas” to George Bush, everything about the state has always had a way of agitating the hell out of…

The Real Coachella at Trunk Space, 4/28/12

The Real Coachella Trunk Space Saturday, April 28 Having attended the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the blistering Calfornia desert last weekend, I can state with certainty that The Real Coachella held last night at the Trunk Space is absolutely nothing like event it riffs on. And…

Ross Rocks Benefit at Hollywood Alley, 4/28/12

Ross Rocks Hollywood Alley Saturday, April 28 Ross Wincek, the co-owner of Hollywood Alley is responsible for bringing countless great bands to Phoenix over the past 25 years, as well as giving local bands a place to grow. Wincek had a stroke in March, so local bands and fans of…

Marchfourth Marching Band at Crescent Ballroom, 4/27/12

I think I’m going to run away with the circus. If they can get out of Phoenix, that is. Last night marked the second time I’ve seen Marchfourth Marching Band live (And, admittedly, the first time I’ve seen them sober.) It’s an act that’s difficult to describe without raising a few…

Punk Rock Bowling: Now With Way More Broloaf

“Remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Except herpes. That shit’ll come back with you.”– Jeffrey Tambor in The Hangover. Las Vegas’ epic Memorial Day Weekend Punk Rock Bowling Festival just got a little more epic: Our favorite local party boys Broloaf have been added to the bill. And…

Tumblr of the Week: I Love the ’90s

See also: Should We Feel Bad About ’90s Nostalgia?We figured we’d keep our nostalgic ’90s kick going by bringing you some more of the best music you thought you had forgotten but will always remember. Let’s take a trip down memory lane, courtesy of >I Love the ’90s.As much as…

Five Must-See Shows This Weekend

Curious what’s going on around town this weekend? Need some suggestions as to how to rock, dance, or krump in the Valley of the Sun? Don’t fret: These are our Five Shows to See This Weekend. Saturday, April 28: Ross Rocks! @ Hollywood Alley Hollywood Alley owner Ross Wincek has…

Keize Montoya Explains “Mad At ‘Cha” (Video)

Don’t let yesterday’s drizzle fool you, it’s “summer, summer, summer, time”(To borrow a hook from DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince). With temperatures and gas prices rising, commuters and everyday working stiffs alike are gonna need an infectious, feel good jam to brighten the day. Local music producer and…

Rick Phillips, What Are You Listening To?

Rick PhillipsPhillips blogs on eateraz.com and owns the Tucson Taco Festival (Saturday, April 28) and the Arizona Barbecue Festival (Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20.) When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? I listen to satellite radio, and…

Phoenix Concert Calendar: New, Improved, Sometimes Tattooed

Timothy NorrisDrum roll, please… Individual results may vary.We’ve just rolled out a new and improved calendar of Phoenix concerts. Our online music listings are now sortable by artist, venue, and price. We’ve also got a raw, unadulterated, alphabetical list of upcoming shows in the drop-down menus on the right-hand side…

Do You Guys Remember Jamiroquai?

Jamiroquai is one of the quintessential ’90s pop acts. And if you close your eyes and listen, you’ll hear that its music sounds as though it could have been released any time between the ’70s and today. The band’s acid jazz/funk may sound timeless, but the classic music video for…

Open Mike Eagle on Indie Rap’s Breakthrough Year

So there’s punk-rap, nerd-rap, avant-rap, and . . . oh, only about a gazillion other hyphenated hip-hop sub-genres. Open Mike Eagle describes his style as “art rap.” At least for now. “I’m unable to replace it,” he laughs, speaking with me via phone from his home in Los Angeles. “And…

Lucinda Williams @ Harold’s Corral

There was a time when Lucinda Williams wasn’t a famous country rock star. True. Back in 1998, just a few weeks before her Grammy-winning Car Wheels on a Gravel Road was released, I found Williams sitting alone in a Boulder, Colorado, bar next door to the venue where she had…

UFest @ Quail Run Park

Local rockers can always count on KUPD to ring in the summer with UFest, coaxing thousands to spend one last day in the sun before temps (theoretically) hit triple digits. This year, the high-energy festival’s lineup is packed with hard-hitting acts that have new music in the mix, and a…