Charity is the name of the game this weekend. Check out Fight Club Sadisco*, a brutal night involving fistfights and industrial music where proceeds will go to pay the cancer bills of one of the its founders, and Independents Bowl, a bowling tournament benefiting a local charity. If live music…
People that have never been to music festivals may think it’s an easy, thoughtless experience. You just show up and party. Well, that’s somewhat true. But it takes endurance. Eighty thousand people gathered across a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, this past weekend for the 13th annual Bonnaroo Music and…
I have loved the idea of the near monthly “Cover the Crescent” events at Crescent Ballroom since its inception and I have attended nearly all of them, but I have never seen a CTC sell out until Friday night. This particular edition of Cover the Crescent was beyond all others…
In the throes of a guitar solo, Failure guitarist Ken Andrews smacks his fist against his guitar, raises it over his head and shoves its neck into the Sunn Model 15 FRFR speaker behind him. He turns to face the audience, “Sergeant Politeness, caress my ego!” Like it or not,…
The flow of music coming into Phoenix is trickling to a summer-induced halt, so make sure you get out to see shows while you can. Check out these five recommendations, and if you don’t see anything you like, check out our comprehensive concert listings for many more options…
There were so many rad concerts going on this weekend we couldn’t just choose just five. Here are eight, ranging from hip-hop to metal to Americana to psych-rock. If you’re picky, you can always try our comprehensive concert listings. Stay cool this weekend, Phoenix…
James Taylor might be the marquee name in Phoenix this week, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other shows to see around the Valley of the Sun. Check out the following selections, which include a bass master, indie rock, alt-blues and more. And if those don’t tickle your…
Axl Rose and his new cast of gunners wrapped up their second residency at The Joint inside The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino over the weekend in Las Vegas with a bang. While their were no Izzy Stradlin or Duff McKagen surprise appearances on the final night this time around,…
Lionel Richie’s All the Hits, All Night Long Tour Ak-Chin Pavilion June 8 Lionel Richie is one of the best-selling artists of all time. He was a member of Motown’s The Commodores in the ’60s and went on to be a hit machine as a solo artist, with 10-plus albums…
It’s been one year since Epic Music opened its doors, and the store is looking to celebrate. The store is hosting an anniversary concert at Tempe Center for the Arts on Saturday, June 14. The night is set to feature local bands Tricus, St. Madness, Jerry Robison, and Death Awaits,…
Feeling warm? Don’t let it get to you…seriously. Look, we know you’re miserable now that the heat’s really kicking in, but just crank up the A/C, grab a ice-cold beverage, and think happy thoughts. You can’t stay inside all the time, especially there is many an excellent show to see…
Who says live music slows down during the summer? This weekend, catch anything from local pop music to weirdo rappers to top-notch EDM producers. You can always check our comprehensive concert listings for many more options as well…
Toes were tapping, bodies were swaying and there were mini standing ovations after almost every song Hugh Laurie and the Copper Bottom Band played for a sold out crowd Tuesday night at the Mesa Arts Center. If there was any doubt that the House M.D. star was a tried and…
I’ve been to maybe 100 shows at Crescent Ballroom, yet I’ve never seen the place so packed for an opener. Someone screamed, “We’re here for you,” so apparently Sylvan Esso has some fans in town. Their glockenspiel samples and soft, pitter-patter vocals made Esso feel like a modern version of…
There are scores of musicians from the ’90s who don’t get the chance to pull off a second act. Many of the one-hit wonders of the decade are coasting off the fumes of audiences craving nostalgia and play the grandstands of state fairs and the early afternoon schedule of your…
At the this this was written, it was 104 degrees in Phoenix, with a projected high of 110. Summer is coming. Since we all know that ignorance is bliss when it comes to Phoenix summers, here are five concerts, all in climate-controlled, air conditioned environments, that will make you forget…
OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder knows fans aren’t going to mouth every lyric to every song at their show, and he’s OK with that. The days of fans listening to entire albums are slowly dissipating, he says backstage before the group’s show in Phoenix on Sunday. Music is appreciated one single…
Billy Joel turned 65 years old on May 9. When you’re as old as he is, you retire, have a party, collect your pension, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. But when you’re the sixth best-selling recording artist of all time, you just keep on working. The audience at…
The sold-out audience talked back to sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg in Swedish accents, which caused the siblings, better known collectively as First Aid Kit, to blush and laugh. The duo, who are in their early 20s, stepped onto the stage of the Crescent Ballroom to a crowd that knew…
There are two words sum up the greatest concert going on this weekend in Phoenix. They are “Billy” and “Joel.” But if you can’t score a ticket or just can’t afford one, there are still plenty of other options this weekend, from noise-punk (Perfect Pussy) to stoner rock (Fu Manchu)…
If you had never laid eyes on singer-songwriter William Fitzsimmons, you’d never think that his wispy delicate voice came from the body that walked on stage. When he entered. his large tattooed arms carried his guitar while his worn-looking boots stomped across the Crescent Ballroom. He glanced at the audience…
Lindsey Stirling leaped and danced across the stage at The Marquee last night in Tempe. Stirling is known for her unique blend of classical and modern electronic music styles. She plays violin over original dubstep tracks and other remixes. Her live shows are a complete production, equipped with many costume…
