In 2008, New Times contributor Ben Westhoff hypothesized a worthy argument: R&B music is dead. Westhoff complained that R&B had surrendered its identity to the demands of urban radio. The genre’s faceless, plodding hip-hop beats were the antithesis of Teddy Riley, D’Angelo, and R. Kelly, creative songwriters who parented an…
The story of how hard it is to break into the national rap scene is an oft-told tale. Breaking into the Phoenix scene? That’s hard, too, says Tucson rapper Savant. “Tucson is Phoenix’s younger stepbrother,” he says. “You need a major co-signer. Someone from Tucson can’t just come to Phoenix…
Thursday 15 Afterlife: Thumpin’ Thursdays (various) Bar Smith: Ladies Night with DJ Idenaty, DJ EC Rock, & DJ Oh-Jezus (various) Capitol Sports Lounge: DJ Danny Peru (old school, Latin, Top 40) Crescent Ballroom: Boomstick! with Balam Acab, Jared Alan, BC/AD, President Gator, Fast Eddie, & more (various) Dollhouse Cocktail Lounge:…
Alice Cooper is a lot of things: Shock rock pioneer, radio personality, golfer, restauranteur, and advocate for at risk youth. This weekend’s 11th annual Welcome 2 My Christmas Pudding event is yet another instance of Alice Cooper atoning for his dark, dark past (you know, like the chicken thing, those…
Attention vinyl collectors, music geeks, and audiophiles of the Valley: One of your favorite record stores will finally be reborn on Friday. The Ghost of Eastside Records, the pop-up reincarnation of the now-defunct vinyl shop that was located at University Drive and Ash Avenue for more than 20 years, is…
Welcome to the latest installment of our weekly feature, Sound Off, in which Jason P. Woodbury is joined by a different guest each week to listen to and discuss three tracks from local Phoenix artists. If you would like your songs to be considered for future Sound Off columns, please…
Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun’s 2011 Review. Over the next week, we’ll be counting down our favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. Enjoy! I’m already regretting this one. I left so much off this list it hurts, deserving songs from the likes of…
It’s hard to believe that Joe Strummer, one of The Clash’s founding members, has been dead for almost a decade. George & Dragon continues to keep his memory alive with annual benefit shows. This year, local punk bands like Glass Heroes, Plainfield Butchers, and Dirty Hairy took the stage, while…
Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun’s 2011 Review. Over the next week, we’ll be counting down our favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. This installment comes from Mike Escoto, who contributes to Up on the Sun and is one of the main perpetrators over…
A year full of excellent local shows has come and gone, and like years past, we’re sad to see them go. We look forward to a fruitful future of local music in 2012. To ring in the New Year, a gracious amount of local bands have decided to play shows around…
What’s that you say? There’s a pajama jam a la House Party 2 coming up at the Sail Inn? Well by golly, I’ll be there. But I demand parachute pants and tall geometric hairstyles like that of Christopher “Kid” Reid.Quick Henry, Doctor Bones, Strange Young Things and Rudy Rudy Rudy…
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that “charity to help at-risk Valley youth” swing. Arizona’s premier Lindy Hoppers, The Savoy Hop Cats, are hosting their second annual holiday event at the Hotel San Carlos on Monday, December 19. The Moonlight and Mistletoe Holiday Gala will benefit the…
Alright, slacker. There’s no more denying it: the holidays are here, and you need to get on that shopping list. Luckily, Up on the Sun has caught gift guide-fever, and over the course of this week we’ll be offering you suggestions for the entire family. It’s hard to forget your…
Phoenix-based alt-country band Lonna Kelley and the Broken Hearted Lovers disbanded five years ago (on Valentine’s Day, no less), but not before cementing an intriguing legacy: The band recorded a lone album, credited to Lonna Kelley & the Reluctant Messiahs, and, changing their name along the way, opened up for…
When downtown Phoenix venue Foundry on First shut its doors in mid-November, most music fans assumed the worst. Rumors spread that the music venue was done for, in the wake of canceled shows, reported employee drama, and a strange media silence. Not so, says part-owner Tim Thomas. “We’re looking to…
Alright, slacker. There’s no more denying it: the holidays are here, and you need to get on that shopping list. Luckily, Up on the Sun has caught gift guide-fever, and over the course of this week we’ll be offering you suggestions for the entire family. Here’s some suggestions for the…
Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun’s 2011 Review. Over the next week, editor Jason P. Woodbury and the staff will countdown their favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. A lot of people imagine this job as nothing but us writers lounging around listening to…
Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun’s 2011 Review. Over the next week, we’ll be counting down our favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. This installment comes from Christina Caldwell, who came on board as a major contributor to Up on the Sun this year…
Those speculating about Coachella 2012 (I for one would love to see Refused, but a reunion would ruin the whole breakup, and if Tom Waits is indeed playing, I’ll probably soil myself) should take note of the little logo at the bottom of the advertisements for the Red Hot Chili…
Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun’s 2011 Review. Over the next week, editor Jason P. Woodbury and the staff will countdown their favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. Earlier this year, someone called me “an old soul.” A little earlier, someone joked that my…
X, The Love Me Nots, and more at Club Red Eight overlapping bands in four hours. Last night’s X show felt more like a music festival than a Friday night concert. Eager fans bounced back and forth between Club Red and Red Owl to see a bunch of bands that…
This weekend’s lunar eclipses was exciting, especially if you were able to catch that elusive red moon. If you were among those who got up early or stayed up late (it was a nice break after writing my X review) to check out the lunar eclipse early Saturday morning, you…
