Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, and The Walkmen Comerica Theatre Thursday, September 15, 2011 It feels like I’ve been discussing the term “indie” with a lot of people lately. Last week’s Foster the People show spurred a lot of the conversation, which basically boils down to this: the term is bankrupt…
Cheap Time, Vegetable, and Ryan Rousseau and his Desert Children Yucca Tap Room Wednesday, September 14 There are those who like to think of punk as an idea as much as a sound. I like to think I’m one of them, and seeing Tennessee-based rockers Cheap Time, and local bands…
Power Hour. It’s a time-honored tradition that 20-year-old kids across the country look forward to with eagerness as they push the limits of blood-alcohol levels. In Tempe and Phoenix, most people target Mill Avenue as their destination for drunken debauchery, but when Tucson-based pianist/vocalist Steff Koeppen comes to town Saturday…
Hanson Marquee Theatre Tuesday, September 13 Hanson is way past “MMMBop.” The band of brothers has come a long way since their 1997 debut album Middle of Nowhere. The Hanson boys are all grown up, and their material has matured as both they and their fans did. Attendance was lacking,…
Foster the People The Venue Scottsdale Tuesday, September 13 Foster the People is the kind of band you hope to see when you shell out money for a concert. It’s just that seeing was the difficult part. The dance pop trio and creators behind the song of the summer, “Pumped…
The Rhythm Room opened in 1991, and this week the juke joint celebrates 20 years of operation by bringing in both the blues artists that have defined the place as well the local indie music that promoters like Psyko Steve bring to the room…
Red, White and U-Fest in Photos Firebird International Raceway was invaded over the weekend by some of the heaviest metal bands ever to grace the radio waves of KUPD. Five Finger Death Punch, Anthrax, Filter and more descended upon the stage to rock and rock hard…see photos. Hot Chicks and…
Down Marquee Theatre Sunday, September 11 You have to feel bad for opening acts. Upon arriving at the Down concert last night, Ponykiller had just ended its set and In Solitude was in full force, playing their hearts out on the stage for a half-full Marquee Theater. A handful of…
Cults became a buzz band without even trying. Last year, the ’60s pop-influenced group posted a couple songs on Bandcamp for friends to hear, not expecting bloggers to find and praise the demos. Content that the music spoke for itself, Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion decided against posting any additional…
Carla Bozulich, Badwater Bob, Where Dead Voices Gather, and Tobie Milford The Trunk Space Friday, September 9, 2011 “That’s a pretty song, right?” — Badwater Bob There’s only about twenty people in the Trunk Space, and we’re sitting on the floor. Badwater Bob is on stage, a spry, gray gentleman…
When I was young, I used to love Friday night because it meant TGIF (Thank Goodness It’s Funny) — the ABC block of programming that included Dinosaurs, Full House, Boy Meets World, Hanging With Mr. Cooper, Muppets Tonight, and Family Matters. I really liked those shows. I don’t love any…
Cold War KidsMarquee TheatreTuesday, September 6, 2011 Quality over quantity. That’s what it’s all about for Cold War Kids. Attendance at the band’s show at the Marquee last night could have been better, but the 600 cheering fans that did show made up for everyone who didn’t. The band aptly…
Get those heart strings in check Phoenix. Emotive modern-rockers Blue October are coming to town and they’ve got a new album full of heartache and pain in tow. It’s been 16 years since the Texas quintet first donned the eye-liner and started wearing their hearts on their sleeves and after…
Long ago — or earlier this year — I used to DJ Ten High Tuesdays at the Yucca Tap Room, spinning power-pop, soul, and whatever else I felt like. I liked to think of myself as pretty eclectic, but I generally tried to keep to things that people could dance…
Sade and John Legend U.S. Airways Center Friday, September 2, 2011 REVIEW BY DAN GIBSON Sade (the woman, not the band) doesn’t seem like she has to work very hard live. If there’s ever an audience willing to plunk down $149 for the good seats, load up on $25 glossy…
Oh, Labor Day weekend. Don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready for it. There’s plenty of stuff going on this weekend, and we’ve tried to cover the gamut. Tonight you can catch Sade at US Airwaves and Gucci Mane at Celebrity Theatre, tomorrow brings Neon Trees, Peachcake, and iamwe…
Traditionally, a foundry is a place where hardened metal castings are made. Last night I walked into the Foundry on First a wad of Play-Doh, and walked out a hardened rock ‘n’ roll concertgoer that my angry inner 19-year-old self would have been proud of. In short, Mexico’s volatile rock-rap…
Deadmau5 September 1, 2011 Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix Convention Center is usually home to conferences and expos, but last night one of the massive halls was turned into a giant glowstick-heavy dance party as Canadian producer deadmau5 (“dead mouse”) came to town.It seemed like an odd place to have a…
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live From the E-Werk Viewed at Cinemark 16Watching a rock concert from a seat in a Mesa movie theater is a strange experience. People in the theater clapped after every song as if they were really there, but nobody cheered or hooted or got rowdy and…
You know how every once in a while an album comes out and just throws a right cross to your jaw? That’s how I felt the first time I heard ¿Dónde Jugarán las Niñas? by Mexico’s hip-hop metal outfit Molotov. It was epic. The album, titled as a play off…
During all of the times I had seen Patrick Stump perform with Fall Out Boy, he never looked quite as comfortable, confident or happy as he did last night during his solo set at Martini Ranch.
It would be tacky to start an Atmosphere review with a description of the atmosphere, but in this case, I really don’t have a choice. Just know I do it while gritting my teeth. The sweaty, steamy, rain-hungry crowd at Mesa Amphitheatre last night was nothing short of magic. Sure, much…
