Chromeo at Marquee Theatre, 10/18/11

Chromeo Marquee Theatre Tuesday, October 18, 2011 Often, weekends leave me plagued by choice. There’s always so much going on. Where do I go? What do I see? It’s not the sort of thing that normally happens on a Tuesday. But last night provided a few concert options. There was…

Celebrate Three Years of Radio Phoenix at The Bayou Blues Festival

​Three Halloweens ago, Radio Phoenix launched an alternative to corporate radio in the Valley. After three years of thriving online, the listener-supported station is celebrating its success with a little shindig. Phoenix might be far from the Bayou, but that doesn’t meant we don’t have our share respectable blues and Cajun-style…

Paul Simon at Comerica Theatre, 10/17/11

Paul Simon Comerica Theatre October 18, 2011 On October 13, Paul Simon celebrated his 70th birthday. Judging by Monday night’s performance at Comerica Theatre, the legendary singer-songwriter doesn’t appear to be letting his age slow him down. He was full of energy and put on a nearly two-hour performance that…

Foo Fighters at US Airways Center, 10/16/11

Foo FightersUS Airways CenterOctober 16, 2011 Last night I got my face melted off by one of the greatest acts in present-day rock ‘n’ roll. Everything about the band’s show, from the guitar showdown to their two hour and 45 minute set, proved why the Foos deserve their place on…

Washed Out at Crescent Ballroom, 10/15/11

Ade KassimErnest Greene of Washed OutWashed OutCrescent BallroomSaturday, October 15, 2011Exactly how much interaction that needs to occur between an artist and audience at a live show? “Chillwave” is generally associated with the idea of bedroom-created, computer pop, with the expectation being that the musician will basically perform straight from…

Lindsey Buckingham at Celebrity Theatre, 10/12/11

Linsdey Buckingham Celebrity Theatre Wednesday, October 12 “The small machine.” That’s how Lindsey Buckingham described his solo work, comparing it to the “big machine” that is Fleetwood Mac. Buckingham was about halfway through a kind of extended monologue about the differences between his massive, stadium-touring collaboration with Stevie Nicks, Mick…

Blitzen Trapper and Dawes at Crescent Ballroom, 10/10/11

Dawes and Blitzen Trapper Crescent Ballroom Monday, October 10, 2011 When you catch onto a band in its early stages, they become bigger in your head than they actually are in real life. For me, one of those bands has always been Blitzen Trapper. Their indie folk sound is exactly…

Frank Turner Discusses Touring, London Riots, and Drinking With Grandma

Frank Turner has been enjoying unexpected success as a solo folk/punk musician after the demise his hardcore band, Million Dead. Turner has garnered an international fanbase over the past few years, touring relentlessly with bands like Social Distortion, Flogging Molly, and The Gaslight Anthem. His hard work is paying off–most…

Gang Gang Dance at Crescent Ballroom, 10/5/2011

​​Gang Gang Dance, Prince RamaCrescent BallroomWednesday, October 5, 2011Last night was weird. Really weird — but it wasn’t a bum-pissing-on-the-light-rail kinda weird. It was an interesting sense of “exciting confusion” weird. On screen psychedelic videos accentuated by dim red and blue lighting set the tone for what was an evocative,…

Incubus at Comerica Theatre, 10/5/11

Incubus Comerica Theatre October 5, 2011 For some fans an Incubus show may be all about hearing their favorite band’s heavier tracks from back in the day, but for others it’s about enjoying the band’s entire collection. While the new album If Not Now, When? sounds sort of like a…

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Crescent Ballroom, 10/4/11

Unknown Mortal Orchestra, What Laura Says, and St. Ranger Crescent Ballroom Tuesday, October 4, 2011 It’s official: Crescent Ballroom is open, and people are excited about it. Last night was…well, really, kind of perfect. The rain mostly cleared, leaving a strange…what’s the word? Non-heat? Less hot? Oh yeah– coolness –in…

Tune and and Trip Out: Prince Rama to Open for Gang Gang Dance

Kids today, y’know? Thinking that all they need to figure out transcendental psychedelia is a tube of face paint, some Jodorowsky DVDs and a handful of funky -looking mushrooms. Pshaw! They should take a cue from their peers in Prince Rama, a Brooklyn-based act specializing in profoundly psychedelic tuneage. Sisters…