Linkin Park – Kino Sports Complex – 5/24/2014

Linkin Park headlined the 2014 edition of Tucson rock station KFMA’s annual radio show on Saturday at Electric Park in Tucson, where the band debuted new material from its forthcoming The Hunting Party record, due out next month, and played a lengthy number of mash-ups and medleys of their back…

Against Me! – Nile Theater – 5/21/2014

Against Me! has a somewhat embattled history. The group started its career as an anarcho-punk band, releasing Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose in 2002 and gaining the respect of punk rock kids in the band’s hometown of Gainesville, Florida, and beyond. But then the band signed to Fat Mike’s…

Black Flag – Pub Rock Live – 5/17/2014

There are reviews you wish would just write themselves. Peek behind the curtain, if you will, and see my struggle. I really wanted to write an über-positive review of the Black Flag show at Pub Rock on Saturday, May 17. I wanted to write that the punk rock fury I…

Nervo – Maya Day and Nightclub – 5/17/2014

Old Town was congested on Saturday night, what I assumed to be a combination of ASU graduation celebrations, the Mario Lopez appearance at International and Nervo’s performance at Maya Day and Nightclub. If you have a ticket or table, getting into Maya usually isn’t a problem. There is a normal…

Eels – Crescent Ballroom – 5/14/2014

Once upon a time, it was a motherfucker. The crowd sat in utter silence, except when prompted to clap or laugh, depending on what the magic man did. And, for all intents and purposes, he was magical. E., the man, the myth, the legend. Mark Oliver Everett (“E” to his…

Ashanti, Ginuwine – Celebrity Theatre – 5/9/2014

The vibe of last night’s Celebrity Theatre concert was certainly “Grown and Sexy” — as the name of the tour suggests. It had handcuffs, leather, hip thrusts, sweaty towels, dozens of roses, and two R&B artists who’ve probably made your bedroom play list in some former life (even if it…

Five Must-See Concerts This Week, 5/12 – 5/15

“School’s out for summer,” sang one of Phoenix’s proudest sons, Alice Cooper. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say that per-capita celebrations of summer are lower here than most places in the country. As Arizona State University students go back from whence they came and the…

Top Five Concerts To See This Weekend, 5/9 – 5/11

There are so many options for concerts this week. Diversity — that’s what Phoenix’s music scene is offering. Like hair metal? Catch Skid Row and Black Star Riders on Friday. Goth DJ nights? We got that, too. Punk? Indie rock? Stoner metal godfathers? Yup; yeah; and yes, please. Check out…

Boys Noize – Monarch Theatre – 5/7/2014

Boys Noize Monarch Theatre May 7, 2014 Wednesday night Boys Noize and L-Vis 1990 headlined at Monarch Theatre, bringing underground house and electro to a relentless crowd. By 11 the third opener, Bijou was wrapping up his set. The local DJ known for playing deep house and Chicago style house…

25 Must-See Metro Phoenix Concerts in May

With the summertime slipping into the Valley like some unwelcome guest that’s gonna wind up hanging around for the next five months (give or take), it would behoove you to start saving up your pennies. Not just to pay the ginormous electric bills you’re likely to accrue with running the…

NEEDTOBREATHE – Marquee Theatre – 5/5/14

NEEDTOBREATHE Marquee Theatre 5/5/14 NEEDTOBREATHE is a band of strong suits — that’s not to say that they don’t know how to put on a lively show (they do), that they can’t play their instruments (they can), or that they can’t draw a crowd (they did). Rather, they’re a band…

Jesse Clegg Tours a Frat Party and Wonders When Americans Study

Johannesburg, South Africa, is not immediately associated with rock music, at least in the United States. However, there is a 25-year-old rocker, born and raised in the African music scene, looking to change the way we view music in the African culture. Jesse Clegg is currently on his first North…

Top 5 Concerts in Phoenix This Week

So, it’s May. From the weary looks of Phoenix locals, it appears the desert hell that is a Valley of the Sun summer is about to fall. But fear not, heat-weary Phoenicians: Relief is as close as the bar at your favorite music venue. Here are five shows to check…

Goblin – Marquee Theatre – 5/1/2014

Goblin Marquee Theater 5/1/2014 A couple hundred — give or take a few dozen — folks gathered Thursday night at Tempe’s Marquee Theatre to check out Italy’s progressive rock legends, Goblin, whose notoriety skyrocketed via their soundtrack music for classic Italian horror flicks like Dario Argento’s Suspiria and his cut…

Top 5 Concerts in Metro Phoenix This Weekend

Hear that? It’s the clock counting down the hours until your weekend begins and it’s nearing the magic moment known as quitting time. To help the time pass more quickly, you might consider what it is you’ll actually be doing during the next couple days and nights of work-free bliss…