various rock shows, the Rockabilly Showdown, fun theme nights, etc) – putting themselves on our radar. On Friday, Oct. 2, the Tempe dive bar, which is located conveniently off a lightrail stop on Apache and Dorsey and sits next to Club Tattoo, will host a White Trash Keg Bash in honor…
Let’s start with some context: The Mars Volta came to Phoenix’s Dodge Theater last October and played a show that was, for lack of a better term, lacking. They played for less than an hour and left many people underwhelmed. It’s unfortunate to judge the band to that precedent, but…
Night two of “When In AZ” celebrations continued at Modified on Saturday. Seven local outfits, featured on the locals-covering-locals comp, split the bill. Download cards for the compilation flowed freely, as the charge for admission guaranteed each attendee his own free copy.Highlights included performances from Harcuvar, whose engulfing harmonies were…
Between oddballs hocking light sabers, impenetrable Arizona temperatures and grown men playing accordions shirtless, First Fridays is always a little crazy. Friday was par for the course, with the exception of the release of a massive compilation of local bands covering each other. Modified Arts hosted night one of the…
If you’ve been dying to get a sneak peak at Sanctum, Steven Rogers’ newest dance club, tonight’s your chance. The nightlife entrepreneur is holding a “soft opening” of the establishment starting at 8 p.m. with DJs Kevin Brown and Chris Shannon on the record decks spinning tribal house music. Much…
First Friday has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the late 1980s. Just look at tonight’s edition for example, which will feature Roosevelt Street getting blocked off completely for the first time ever. As little as a year ago, both city of Phoenix officials and representatives from…
Its Labor Day weekend, which means three straight days and nights of fun, fetes, pool parties, and (best of all) no work. Appropriately, this edition of “10 Things Under $10” includes a few cheap thrills that are scheduled to take place on Monday, September 7. Have fun, y’all, and keep…
Prehab’s newest record impressed me back in April, so I’ve been disappointed not to see more dates from them scheduled. Turns out there was a good reason for that, and that reason is now over. The band’s guitarist Jason Kay says one member (we won’t pry about which one) spent…
Electric Mustache: mp3: Little Dragon “Feather”Idolator: Well, Slap Me Silly And Call Me A Lamestain: Gen X Radio DebutsPitchfork: The Stooges Reunite With Raw Power Guitarist James WilliamsonRolling Stone: Green Day Set Next “Breakdown” Video, More “Idiot” PerformancesSo Much Silence: Sept. 17: Jim Adkins + Source Victoria for LLSSpin: Michael…
Maybe it’s the 40th anniversary of Woodstock and the other big events of 1969, but it seems like 60s revivalism is everywhere these days. I mean, shit, even U.S. News and World Report is getting a little sentimental.On that note, I’m sure more than a few boomers out there will…
OK, we’re going to admit right off this week’s best poster was not determined by art alone. Truth be told, for a show by our good friend Psyko Steve, who usually does some great stuff, this Kinch flier is a little disappointing.Fact is, we know the flier isn’t super fancy…
As we’ve mentioned before, Fivespeed is back in action and stronger than ever. The AZ rock band will be one of eight bands performing for a good cause Saturday, Sept. 12 at Mesa Amiptheatre. The band will perform along with local groups Lyra the Harp, Shawn Johnson and the Foundation, Sound…
Nickelback’s ability to line-up high profile support is well-known — just look at the above video. Ear Candy’s Nate Anderson has proven he isn’t far behind though, lining up an impressive array of stars to help the charity he founded, which funds music education programs for children. Now the two…
Chicago-based four piece Pelican are busy readying their new LP, What We All Come to Need, and tuning up for their upcoming tour, including a date in Tempe. The instrumental post-metal band, who now reside in Los Angeles, played the now closed The Sets back in March, so their upcoming…
LA hardcore act The Bronx’s alter ego, Mariachi El Bronx, is definitely one of the coolest gimmicks a band has dreamed up in recent memory. So we’re stoked to see this side-project-of-sorts is getting a real release and tour. Sadly, their support slots for The Killers do not include the…
Electric Mustache: Videos: Miniature Tigers at The Ice HouseIdolator: Tokio Hotel’s Frontman Reveals That He’s Either A Robot Or A Real DollIdolator: Don’t Go Calling Roxanne Shanté A Doctor YetNME: Ryan Adams records hair metal song for blogNME: R Kelly to complete songs recorded with Michael JacksonPitchfork: Aesop Rock, Atmosphere’s…
If any local band deserves a day dedicated to them, we have to agree its Kinch, so we’re happy to report that, in honor of the Phoenix foursome’s excellent new EP Collars and Sleeves, ASU’s student radio station will be celebrating today starting at 2 p.m.You can listen in to…
New Orleans will always be best known for the annual debauchery of Mardi Gras, but underneath its “party hardy” façade lurks one of the country’s most vibrant metal scenes. Long before Hurricane Katrina laid waste to huge portions of the city and gave New Orleanians a reason to be seriously…
Not to get all up in your grill, William Safire-style, but there’s a real etymological crisis going with the word “keening.” It’s a noun that means “a wailing lament,” or the act of creating same, but many journalists — especially arts critics and the like — choose to brandish it…
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Phoenix surf-rock trio Thee Jaguar Sharks should change their name, like, yesterday. You can dick with the definitive article all you want — it doesn’t mitigate the fact that there are at least three other working American bands named after the…
Since Nickelback-bashing has become almost as clichéd as the band’s music, I decided to take a different approach. I registered at the band’s official message board, nickelbackforum.com, and asked some of Nickelback’s biggest fans why, exactly, they like Nickelback. Here are some of the replies: Russell, board moderator: “By incorporating…
It never hurts to have friends in high places — just ask The Thermals. The Portland, Oregon-based band got a career boost when Death Cab for Cutie lead singer Ben Gibbard got hold of their self-produced debut album, More Parts Per Million, and subsequently passed it along to Sub Pop…
