Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” was unquestionably the “song of the summer” (ugh) so, really, your state is probably pretty shitty if you can’t scare up at least one parody YouTube video. This one is pretty great. Not, like, “LeBron James Is A Bitch,” great but definitely dead-on with the jokes…
Normally a story/video about Stone Temple Pilots’ singer and noted crackhead Scott Weiland falling off stage wouldn’t grab my attention. That’s not true: Watching him stumble off stage into the camera pit is a little scary but a lot funny. That’s not what grabbed me here, though. It really, really…
A lot of people started complaining when “the new Twitter” was unveiled. Now when you log on to the popular social networking website, you’re subject to a stream of random “popular” Tweets that often contain shout-outs to Justin Bieber and Demi Lovato or cliched inspirational quotes that no one really…
Artist: Ra Ra RiotTitle: The OrchardRelease date: August 24Label: BarsukIf you like Vampire Weekend, you’ll probably like Ra Ra Riot, a prim-and-proper chamber pop band that sounds more suited to a country club function than a night out at the rock club. These guys are vaguely danceable and indebted to…
It was bad enough when Weezer felt the need to insert Best Buy into their incredibly overplayed radio hit “I Want You To.” Now it seems that their record Hurley, scheduled to be released on Sept. 14, may not be a direct reference to the Lost character played by Jorge…
It’s OK, Sufjan Stevens fans, you can piss your pants about this one — The Age of Adz, Steven’s first album in nearly five years — will be released October 12.This is especially good news for Arizona fans of Stevens as he is set to play Mesa Arts Center on…
This week’s music feature is on The Maine’s rise to success, all the way from the networks of MySpace to their major label signing and $38 keepsake albums. Their adaptability has allowed them to chart and headline. And it doesn’t look like the power-pop force is gonna be on the…
For Soulfly frontman Max Cavalera, music has always been a family affair. Cavalera, along with older brother Iggor on drums, was a founding member of Brazilian thrash/death metal legends Sepultura in the mid ’80s before bolting the band to form Soulfly in 1997. After Iggor also left Sepultura in 2006,…
Ever wanted to play a freakin’ laser beam? Like, instead of an instrument? A Scottsdale company called Beamz Interactive gives you the chance with a device called the Beamz Player. It’s a cool little gadget: The $199 player is hooked to a computer and speakers and you coax pre-programmed tones…
Even though Miguel Valencia calls himself a “noob” when it comes to poster making and promoting, this flier totally manages to catch people’s attention. It doesn’t even look like it’s advertising a concert. Rather, the ecstatic-looking people on the poster look like they’re advertising the fiesta of the century–or just…
Song: The Philistines Jr., “The Bus Stop Song” Context: The Philistines Jr., a project from Peter Katis, the producer who makes The National and Interpol sound like they do (or at least how they did at their peaks) has a new record coming out in October — the first in…
The fact that the most onerous components of SB 1070 were blocked by a judge hasn’t done much to dull the rage of angry activists across the country. In the music world, the ink wasn’t yet dry on the judge’s ruling when Zack de la Rocha and his posse of…
Way back in 1990, before Nirvana came along and made “metal” a bad word, three of thrash metal’s biggest bands — Slayer, Megadeth, and Testament — joined forces for a European tour dubbed “Clash of the Titans.” Much has changed in the 20 years since that legendary tour, but in…
THURSDAY 26 27th Avenue Bar: R&B Thursdays (old-school R&B) Afterlife: Filthy Thursdays with Silent J, Casanova, Marc Elliot, Cris Castro, & more (dubstep, electro, breakbeats, drum ‘n’ bass, underground hip-hop) Airia Nightclub: Ladies Night with DJ Circle, & D-JR (hip-hop, Top 40, remixes, house, electro) AZ88: Josh One (rare groove,…
The long, hot summer has been particularly bumpy for nightclub owner Jon Harris. Since re-opening the doors to Phase 54 at its new location, 1020 North 54th Street in Chandler, in May, he’s endured a court challenge from neighboring businesses over the fact they don’t want a dance joint in…
Don’t look now, but there’s a revolution going on in the Valley music scene. No, not that kind of revolution — no dope, guns, and fucking in the streets. But, over the past few years, the Valley has quietly become a hotbed for young, Internet-savvy power-pop bands weaned on Jimmy…
Somewhere, down deep inside each one of us, a Tubes song is playing. Possibly it’s “White Punks on Dope” or it might be “What Do You Want from Life.” Unfortunately, it is probably “She’s a Beauty.” The pre-punk, post-glitter rock of this bright band with its long, sparkly roots here…
Listening to Green Day’s major label debut, Dookie, in 1994, who could have imagined that they’d be a video game in 2010? Not me, certainly. For one, the idea of a video game branded to a rock band was still pretty far-fetched, despite Midway’s Revolution X arcade game, a standard…
It’s seems unlikely that Valley residents are unfamiliar with Soulfly. After all, the band is fronted by a longtime Phoenix resident, Max Cavalera, and has been rocking out and destroying eardrums for 13 years. Just take a look at the track list on the band’s latest album Omen: “Bloodbath &…
Folks can’t help singing along to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” — even if they’re in a public place and can’t sing. What many people don’t know that the song’s composer, Charlie Daniels, played with the likes of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen and produced such bands as The…
At 56 years old, L.A.-based singer-songwriter (and founding member of Wall of Voodoo) Stan Ridgway will release his newest album, Neon Mirage, in September. In the process of writing and recording it, however, he had a string of losses. His uncle died, his father died, and a friend and contributor…
Slayer is known for having very dedicated fans. Turns out they’re dedicated enough to issue their own press releases.Hand-written on notebook paper, no less. So, yeah, check out this crazy letter from someone who says he’s Greg Valentino of Pleasant Hills, California. No idea who that is, but the bodybuilder…
