Converge, Nile Theater, 10/30/12

Converge @ Nile Theater| 10/30/12By Mike Bogumill When trying to describe to people unfamiliar with Converge what kind of event I went to last night, I was hesitant to use a phrase like “metal show” or “hardcore show”. While metal and hardcore certainly influence all the bands that performed, none…

Matthew Dear, The Rhythm Room, 10/29/12

Matthew Dear @ Rhythm RoomPart of the reason you see musicians live is to experience their craft firsthand. Like a zoo or the ocean, secondhand exposure just doesn’t cut it — you need to see it for yourself. I went into Matthew Dear’s show not knowing what to expect: he…

Tiger Army, Marquee Theatre, 10/28/12

Tiger Army @ Marquee Theatre | 10/28/12Tiger Army frontman Nick 13 promised something special when we spoke to him last week ahead of last night’s Halloween celebration, Octoberflame V. That could have meant a number of things in hindsight: outrageous outfits, an elaborate stage set up, pyrotechnics, and any number…

Top Five Must-See Shows This Week

Yeah, yeah, yeah…we get it. Mondays suck (we’ve read Garfield). But it means the start of a new week, which means a bunch of killer shows in and around Phoenix. And here are a few of the coolest — our top five must-see shows this week…

Korn at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 10/27/12

Korn @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 10/27/12 The Arizona State Fair got its yearly dose of metal when Korn paid a visit to the valley last night at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The nu metal pioneers treated fans of all ages to a career-spanning set consisting of hits, covers,…

Benny Benassi and Congorock, Marquee Theatre, 10/25/12

Benny Benassi and Congorock @ Marquee Theatre|10/25/12Last night was a late night — things didn’t kick off until 11 p.m., with Italian-born Congorock starting things off, and progressive house master Benny Benassi not taking the stage until well after midnight. Maybe it was the late hour, but despite a solid…

Yucca Tap Room’s Halloween Party Features All-Star Punk Lineup

We know there’s tons of Halloween parties happening this weekend, with a little something for everyone going down. If you’re spending the whole weekend at home noshing on Halloween candy and watching zombie movies, you’re doing it wrong. But for fans seeking punk thrills, the Yucca Tap Room is the…

10 Must-See Shows This Halloween Weekend

There’s plenty to be worried about these days. Just off the top of our heads, there’s the very real possibility of a Mitt Romney presidency, the horrors of the ever-lagging economy, and all that folderol about whether or not the world’s ending in a couple of months. Frankly, your brains…

Arc In Round, Yucca Tap Room 10/22/12

Arc In Round @ Yucca Tap Room|10/22/12 I’m a bloody sucker for shoegaze. Even if it sounds relatively crappy to a “veteran” shoegaze groups like Slowdive or My Bloody Valentine, I have trouble saying no. Luckily, getting turned on to Arc in Round turned out to be far above average…

Melvins Lite, Crescent Ballroom, 10/22/12

Melvins Lite @ Crescent BallroomMelvins Lite, the latest incarnation of the 30-year-old sludge/punk/metal band The Melvins, took the stage at The Crescent Ballroom last night, chalking up stop number 48 on their record-breaking 51-day tour of the country. They’re hitting every state…and Washington D.C. See also: New Times Talks to…

Top Five Must-See Shows This Week

Yeah, yeah, yeah…we get it. Mondays suck (we’ve read Garfield). But it means the start of a new week, which means a bunch of killer shows in and around Phoenix. And here are a few of the coolest — our top five must-see shows this week…

Dan Deacon, 10/18/12, Crescent Ballroom

Dan Deacon @ Crescent Ballroom|10/18/12Dan Deacon’s live shows are not only deafening, they’re legendary. I’ve heard of his infamous methods of crowd participation, playing on the floor, surrounded by his fans, even using coercion to get everyone to play along. Basically, he’ll unsympathetically point you out if you don’t have…

Bassnectar, Marquee Theatre, 10/17/12

Bassnectar @ Marquee Theatre|10/17/12Love for bass was in full supply for Wednesday night’s Bassnectar show at Marquee Theatre — not to mention the three semi trucks to supply the light set up as well the sound systems made for bass. Bassnectar (real name: Lorin Ashton) has made his mark as…

Madonna, US Airways Center, 10/16/12

Madonna @ US Airways Center| 10/16/12With a long history of being a proven provocateur, it makes sense that Madonna has managed to piss a lot of people off since kicking off her MDNA tour. There was that nip slip in Istanbul, and a reference to our current president as a…

Leon Russell: One True Rock ‘n’ Roll Badass

Leon Russell is the definition of the term “session man.” He’s played with Bob Dylan, Elton John, Ray Charles, Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker, The Beach Boys, George Harrison, and more. He’s a “musician’s musician,” admired by the guys you admire, and his solo albums have found him exploring the sounds…