KWSS 106.7 may very well be the Valley’s best-kept secret. Operating as one of the area’s only truly independent radio stations (and perhaps the only one of the FM variety), it is not afraid to play the songs that you always thought should’ve been on the radio but never quite…
Being that we’re neck-deep in the era of indie-rock reunions, I’m shocked that singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant hasn’t yet gotten back together with 10,000 Maniacs. The New York band with whom she rose to fame nearly 30 years ago before exiting in 1993 to launch a solo career has continued in…
Familiar with Ladylike? No? Well, they’re local, yes, but don’t get dismissive, Mr. Phoenix Indie Rock Snob — they’re actually kind of awesome. These guys have a quirky, fun sing-along sound, the kind of music you should drink cheap beer and dance around to, with Stephen Malkmus-y vocals and guitars…
Artist: Snake! Snake! Snakes!Title: Snake! Snake! Snakes! EPRelease date: August 10Label: Common Wall Media/Modern ArtA friend e-mailed me a few days ago, hinting that I should write about more local bands in Nothing Not New. Though I’ve written about Authority Zero and Eyes Set to Kill (and I will be…
It’s still over a month until The Walkmen join Japandroids at Clubhouse for what will probably be one of autumn’s best club shows. Likewise, the band’s new album, Lisbon, isn’t due until September 14, a three days before the show in Tempe.Want a sneak peak so you know some of…
This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. What did Trace Adkins have to say about SB 1070 while opening for Toby Keith at…
Big news from last night/this morning — The Suburbs, the third album from Montreal indie rockers Arcade Fire, landed on the top of the Billboard 200 this week.The Suburbs sold 156,000 copies in its initial week, edging out Eminem’s Recovery by 4,000 units. Thanks to a lofty $3.99 pricetag at…
File this one under: ‘Way too arty for most readers but pretty cool anyway.’ Garage A Trois, a four-man improvisational jazz/funk/rock combo comes to The Compound Grill on Tuesday. The New Orleans group, which features the famous-if-you-follow-the-genre names of Skerik, Mike Dillon, Marco Benevento and Stanton Moore, just played San…
Song: Michael Bublé, “I Wanna Go Home” Context: I have to admit I never actually bothered to listen to Bublé until reading about his man-gagement ring. ‘Bout what I expected. This song doesn’t take much to sing but at least he doesn’t mess it up by going over-the-top, Idol-style. Michael…
I’m riding in an elevator up to the highest floors of Chicago’s Ritz Carlton with publicist Heidi Ellen Robinson-Fitzgerald. For a sweet lady, she represents some hard-hitting acts including Slayer, Anthrax, and even the legendary producer Rick Rubin. Today I will not be meeting any of them. No, instead she…
Artist: The Budos BandTitle: The Budos Band IIIRelease date: August 10Label: DaptoneIf you’re one of those folks who’s gotta hear singers — who needs words in their pop music — you’re forgiven if you don’t have much use for The Budos Band. The rest of you? Tune in to this…
The most important, wildly popular Arizona band in the last year — so says the always on top of things, meticulously up-to-date Arizona Republic — Jimmy Eat World announced via twitter today that the band was streaming a new song from their upcoming album Invented.The song, “My Best Theory,” picks…
Want undeniable proof that Millennials and their insufferable parents are ruining America?Check out two news stories that broke yesterday involving irresponsibly indulgent parents and the musician children they love.First, we have some band kids at Mesa’s Dobson High School who got suspended after being busted for drinking beer on a…
[jump] If the embedded video is acting up, go ahead and check out Menomena’s performance on Late Night’s website.My heart swells with pride to see that Blazers shirt — make no mistake, I grew up in Portland and am a huge Blazers fan. My Northwest bias doesn’t, however, get in…
Song: Hyetal, “Phoenix”Context: Drawn to Hyetal’s latest single because of the name. Pitchfork says this is car music. I’m not sure what they drive. Hyetal – Phoenix…
What happens when a previously instrumental band decides to add some vocals to the mix? The jury is still out on that — just ask RJD2 — although the reception is never quite as positive as it could be. Australia’s PVT (formerly Pivot) are going through these exact same vocal…
Artist: ToyboxTitle: Stay AliveBasics: High holy shit, Batman! It looks like YAFI finally got something that is neither countrified rock about make-believe bandits or pop punk from some plucky 17 year olds. What we have here is Toybox, a neat little three-piece that plays Japanese pop. The three members all…
As if Lady Gaga hasn’t saturated the music business enough already, last week, she released her latest album, The Remix, in the U.S. It’s a whole lotta Gaga (two albums and an EP) for less than 2 years, but she may as well milk her schtick while she’s hot, right?It’s…
Song: The National, “Bloodbuzz Ohio”Context: Reading Dan Gibson’s dispatches from Lollapalooza, The National’s set seems to have been one of the highlights of the weekend. 06 Bloodbuzz Ohio…
Is it possible that the rapping career of New Kids on the Block member/Funky Bunch leader-turned-actor Marky Mark Wahlberg could be resurrected? Perhaps. But only at the invitation of Justin Bieber. In a recent Q & A with Time magazine Wahlberg was asked, “Would you be willing to drop a…
Lollapalooza 2010 on Sunday was a little off from the other days from the start. At the begininng of the day, it looks like the elements were going to ruin the day with a nasty storm running through downtown Chicago. Thankfully, the sun came out in the midst of Switchfoot’s…
I know, I know — you’re looking at that headline and thinking to yourself, “Well how is he gonna shine this turd new show announcements?” I won’t lie — I can’t really. You Hang Up is finally playing a show, but all that jazz was taken care of last week…
