Acts like Cypress Hill and The Luniz (remember “I Got 5 on It”?) helped blow a big cloud of stoner rap into the ears of hip-hoppers back in the ’90s and early ’00s. And few did it with more bonhomie than Def Jam’s playful punk Redman and the Wu-Tang Clan’s…
Words are so over. Well, at least plenty of post-rockers think so, increasingly ditching the language in their spaced-out experimental music. But while bands like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Mogwai at least named their songs, Spencer Seim, the man behind sBACH, has no use for such extravagance; the track…
There are heroes among us. Some wear uniforms, some wear spandex, and some dress like you and me. And one of mine is a man named Nick Nelson. A few years ago at Seattle’s Sasquatch Music festival, Mr. Nelson noticed a horrifying sight. Twenty yards away from him was the…
Seeing is believing, particularly in Underoath’s case. Whatever your feeling about their thunderous, increasingly complex and dynamic metalcore tsunami, their performances are a sight to behold. Writhing and shaking as though in the midst of a full-body seizure, the Florida six-piece appears on the verge of physically vibrating apart as…
By Benjamin Leatherman Since the global retail industry has decided in it’s great wisdom that the day after Halloween is the official starting point for the annual Christmas season, we feel it’s our duty to inform the public of the following: You’ve only got 43 shopping days left to track…
By John Dickerson See more shots in our Ben Folds slide show. Ben Folds may be 42 years old, but his songs still bring out the white college kid/yuppie demographic like a liquidation sale at Urban Outfitters. Said white folk arrived at Gammage Theater in droves last night, donning fedoras,…
It’s always amazing to me how long a massively huge album can reverberate, even if it’s not terribly influential or the subject of any significant critical acclaim. Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill – the tenth biggest selling album of all time and either the biggest or second biggest selling album of the 90s, depending on which numbers you use – still has some sway with people of a certain age, as was on display at Dodge Theatre last night.
By Lilia Menconi These ladies REALLY want you to check the slideshow. Some weekends, we just want a little comfort. There’s been a lot of special event-oriented club candids that are always a good time, sure. But between the opening of the W Scottsdale Hotel and Halloween at Last Exit,…
Let it never be said that Evan Brightly lacks ambition. The Narrator, this week’s You Asked For It, not only comes with a novel, it’s also augmented by a web site featuring paintings. I only skimmed the first chapter of novel, but it wasn’t great, though the paintings showed a great touch and an ability to create a real mood. I’m especially fond of this one, even if it is a little emo.
By Martin Cizmar Electric Six singer Dick Valentine is your pathetic uncle, and last night he showed up at The Clubhouse in fine form: buzzed, doling out insults and begging for cash. For those of you interested in making a full accounting, Valentine does not like John McCain, Gin Blossoms,…
By Martin Cizmar
It’s arguably the most influential record ever released by an Arizona band, and next year Jimmy Eat World’s Clarity turns 10. To celebrate, the band has announced that they’ll be playing the album in its entirety on a slate of 10 shows, culminating at The Marquee on March 7. Tickets go on sale Thursday.
By John Dickerson Suburbanites unite. Grab your iPods, and sport your American Apparel/Urban Outfitter goodies, because Ben Folds is coming to town. Yes it’s true. And anyone who was ever anyone will be there on at Gammage in Tempe on Tuesday. Would you believe Ben Folds turned 42 this year?…
By Jonathan McNamara Star Wars invades MS Walk on the Wild Side Costumed storm troopers direct from Star Wars’ joined forces with the Ghostbusters in a charity walk to find a cure for MS on Saturday, November 8, 2008. Concert Review: Elf Power and Vic Chesnutt at Modified on Nov…
By Jonathan McNamara “When you go to a free show, you get what you pay for,” lead singer Tony Sly mumbled to a frenzied crowd of half-drunk punk enthusiasts at Yucca Tap Room, “a band that’s been drinking since five.” Sly was honest on all counts, but he neglected to…
By Jonathan McNamara It started with a montage of clips from every bit of her career. She hated on Jerry Seinfeld. She assured Marcellus Wallus that she would testify in court for him. She antagonized Brooke Shields before finally taking her place among these personalities as the star of her…
See more Elf Power shots in our slideshow. By Martin Cizmar There’s a shortage of music for the contented. Not the ecstatically happy or the introspective, mind you, but for those who are simply satisfied with life for a moment. That’s why it was such a joy to see Elf…
The Fell City Shouts are scheduled to perform tonight at the The Lost Leaf. Tonight’s the monthly First Friday art walk in downtown Phoenix, and — as always — we’ve put together a list of some of the musical and performers who’ll be doing their thing along Grand Avenue and…
By Martin Cizmar The Yucca Tap Room’s no cover policy has always served me well, usually by getting a bunch of cheap friends to see a cool local band without bitching about their $5. Occasionally, though, things really get interesting, as a national act comes in to play a free…
By Martin Cizmar
A few show announcements fans of alt-country are going to like this week, led by Cottonwood’s Junior Brown and California’s Limbeck.
By Benjamin Leatherman The Dirty Heads are scheduled to perform tonight at the Clubhouse Music Venue in Tempe. It’s been three days since President-elect Barack Obama made his historic ascension to the White House and we’re certain man of you still feel like celebrating (well, at least 44 percent of…
This week’s flier of the week is for a show that’s slightly out of town, but sounds really cool. As Chris Hansen Orf told you in this week’s paper, Mountain Mojo III is a hippie shindig up in Jerome, where Tempe’s Mojo Farmer play once a year. They’re also joined by Mossy Rocks, The Breadwinners, Bargrass Revival, Joy World Entertainment Co., The Overtones, and Nacho Jesus, so grab a tent and a lighter and head on up.
By Benjamin Leatherman The beat-spitting boys of Silver Medallion: Oren J. (left) and Carnegie. Oren J. and Carnegie have seen their fair share of excess going down in Scottsdale. Whether its chicas and dudes getting it on in the darkened corners of nightclubs or big ballas rolling around in their…
