Any attempt on my part to play “rock critic” on this assignment would be complete bullshit. Few assignments have ever made me want to high five my inner fifteen-year-old more than a chance to interview Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids, a band that dominated my Walkman in early…
In a move that shocked no one, Kanye West once again bum-rushed the stage to interrupt an acceptance speech. At last night’s MTV Music Video Awards, the Late Graduator himself took to the stage to butt in on Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for winning the Best Female Video award. Upon…
One song into Richard Cheese’s Saturday show at Celebrity Theatre, I was ready to believe I’d been wrong. Sure, a guy who for nearly a decade has made a living performing sleazy lounge covers of popular songs might seem, at first glance, to be a novelty act with a short…
Glendale boys done good Job For A Cowboy are mobilizing for a massively metal tour this fall promoting JFAC’s sophomore album Ruination. The face-melters make two stops in their desert motherland: one in Tucson and the other in Tempe. Metal Blade label mates Gwar and The Red Chord open both…
If you missed Tony Culture spinning reggae and dancehall music during last weekend’s ultra-packed First Friday celebration, don’t worry. You can always catch the dreadlocked DJ working the turntables next month. Or the month after that. And then the month after that. In fact, the Jamaican-born musician and platter jock…
NME: Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O to soundtrack anti-fat advertsRolling Stone: Grohl, Novoselic Didn’t Approve Cobain’s “Guitar Hero” AvatarRolling Stone: Paula Abdul and “American Idol” Insiders React to Ellen NewsPitchfork: Weezer’s Raditude Cover RevealedIdolator: Someone Decided To Put Together A Gallery Of John Mayer’s Guitar FacesSpin: Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Eminem…
The Patriot Show at Rogue Bar (Friday)Despite the moniker that’s been affixed to this local artist showcase being put on at Scottsdale’s favorite hipster dive bar by Free Sushi Records, we somehow doubt that bands such as The Whisperlights and Beatnik Bombers will make the eighth anniversary of 9/11 with any…
We’re willing to bet that tickets for this show, which will run $30 to $34, are gonna get snatched up pretty quickly as well, so be sure to hit up the Mesa Arts Center’s site starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow to get ’em while the getting’s good. And just in…
Alan Palomo, the Brooklyn-based producer and one-man force behind Vega, has created yet another venture for his brilliant electronic music — Neon Indian. This time around, Palomo is keeping things super lo-fi, drenched with a eerily reminiscent sound that belongs from the cassette tape era. Neon Indian’s debut album, Psychic…
After The Sets in Tempe closed unexpectedly two weekends ago, local concert promoters like 13th Floor Entertainment and Psyko Steve have been mucho busy scrambling to find new venues for their shows. While a majority of the erstwhile Sets gigs have been relocated to such clubs as Chasers in Scottsdale…
As Craig Outhier wrote in this week’s paper Bob Corritore is a “self-contained synergistic event.” So, considering the guy owns a venue, it’s notable when he decides to elsewhere to stage something big, as he will with the Housrockin’ Blues Bash at Tempe Center For The Arts on Friday September…
The big Ellen DeGeneres announcement has American Idol fans abuzz well in advance of the show’s premiere. If you’re starting to get excited you may want to check out an upcoming benefit to help children who are victims of sexual abuse which American Idol Jordin Sparks hosts. Sounds like a…
Electric Mustache: Photos: The Thermals, Kinch & Sisterbrother at The Rhythm RoomIdolator: Because You Were Probably Wondering What Sanjaya Thought Of Ellen DeGeneres’ “Idol” GigNME: Jay-Z already working on follow up to The Blueprint 3Pitchfork: Billy Corgan Launches Spiritual WebsiteRolling Stone: “Guitar Hero 5 ” Giving Away Van Halen Game…
By Martin Cizmar and Brian Bardwell Sometimes one perspective on a show isn’t enough. So, like we did with Beck and Tool, Up on the Sun is bringing you a point/counterpoint style write-up on last night’s Lynyrd Skynyrd show. Brian Bardwell, who wrote last week’s music feature advancing last night’s…
Yes, The Surfside IV has already been named Flier of the Week twice before. In a way, I feel bad about that. But, to be honest, they’ve definitely had the best flier in this town at least three times. Actually, if other bands don’t step it up we might just…
There’s something of a debate going on in the comments section of our blog from a few weeks ago about the opening of new dance club Sanctum. Amongst the comments about whether or not the establishment is a benefit to the surrounding Melrose district, an Up on the Sun reader…
There’s an adage in the business world that goes something like this: You’ve got to spend money to make money. It’s a mantra Tempe metal band The Asylum has taken to heart, and so far, it appears to be working. “It’s dedication to quality product,” says guitarist and founding member…
When a white man writes and publishes a song with the N-word in the title, the racist label tends to, you know, stick. Tell it to David Allan Coe. For three decades, the 70-year-old country music bad boy has stubbornly disavowed any feelings of ill will toward blacks, despite authoring…
In the pantheon of Horrible Things That Can Happen to a Band — drug overdoses, plane crashes, getting shot by a crazed fan, marrying Courtney Love — a broken windshield wiper on the tour van probably ranks pretty low. Then again, what if a torrential downpour suddenly strikes during an…
The swanky and sinful Pussycat Lounge, 4426 North Saddlebag Trail in Scottsdale, underwent a big-time renovation in August, hitting the F5 button on its décor and design scheme while all the college kids were away for the long, hot summer. There’s a new DJ booth, dance floor, and video screens…
