During my sophomore biology class in high school, a bubbly classmate pleaded for help getting Peachcake to play an upcoming dance. That feels like an eternity ago, but eight years later, the band is still going strong. I have no idea if they ended up playing since I didn’t have…
It’s looking to be another packed weekend of gigs here in the Valley of the Sun. Here’s a handy guide featuring some fresh, hand-picked recommendations to your rock, rap, soul, punk, or whatever on this weekend…
If you call yourself a fan of electronic music, then it’s safe to assume you’re familiar with Jimmy Tamborello of DNTEL. If not, you might want to visit Tamborello’s Wikipedia page then smack your head on the keyboard for nearly committing indietronica music geek social suicide. The contemporary electronic music…
BY DANIEL RAVEN Young Jeezy Celebrity Theatre Thursday, August 25, 2011 Young Jeezy may not know how to ride a beat or rap for more than ten seconds without losing his breath, but he was certainly able to keep it gangsta last night at Celebrity Theatre. Rapping to a half-empty…
Maxine Johnson is something of an RnB legend in Phoenix, and she’s got the resume to prove it, having worked with everyone from Wayne Newton and Diana Ross to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Johnson is known for her big voice, which can regularly be heard at juke joints around…
The last time I was invited to a Black and White Party, a buddy of mine convinced me it would be a great idea to cram into his Scion tC with a third dude, drive across the border around the time shit started getting sticky, and hit up this crazy…
She’s at the forefront of the “white folks saying the N-word debate,” been compared to Odd Future’s Tyler the Creator, and her big single “Gucci Gucci” possesses anti-commercialism undertones, but if you ignore all the implications of her music, Kreasyshawn makes party music. And that’s a handy thing, seeing as…
Update: This post has been edited to fix an error regarding the venue Lil Wayne is scheduled to perform at next week. Perma-stoned New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne has been hip-hop’s eccentric golden boy for five years now. On the heels of his magnificent breakthrough album Tha Carter II, Wayne…
In This Moment come off as intimidating to some people, and it’s easy to see why. Founders Chris Howorth (guitars) and Maria Brink (vocals) are a real sight, with Howorth’s crazy-long dreads, Brink’s Alice In Wonderland-inspired outfits, and the intricate tattoos and cobalt eyes of both. But the two are…
Brent Cowles, the man behind the You Me and Apollo moniker, has strong connections to Arizona in spite of being a Colorado resident. Cowles spent a year in Phoenix working on an audio engineering degree, writing music, and collaborating with the River Jones Music Label. Cowles is gearing up for…
Death Cab for Cutie Comerica Theatre Monday, August 15 There’s always been something I’ve resented about Death Cab for Cutie, but I could never really put a finger on it. Last night’s show at Comerica Theatre defined it perfectly. The band hasn’t been truly “underground” since its earliest days, but…
Cut Copy at Marquee Theatre It’s about time Cut Copy played in Phoenix. Sure, it would have been great to see them on the In Ghost Colours tour, but last night was a good time for the band to make their first appearance. Fans had plenty of time to memorize…
Cut Copy Marquee Theatre Friday, August 12 It’s about time Cut Copy played in Phoenix. Sure, it would have been great to see them on the In Ghost Colours tour, but last night was a good time for the band to make their first appearance. Fans had plenty of time…
Although he has been the driving force behind one of the more successful pop punk bands of the last 15 years, The Ataris’ Kris Roe seemed just like any other struggling musician last night at the Martini Ranch.
Holy moly, there’s SO many shows going on this weekend. But if The Tubes, Cut Copy, The Ataris, Colorstore, or Laconic aren’t your thing (what kind of music do you like, anyway?), Up on the Sun has you covered. Here are a few eccentric shows that may have not have…
For months, tomorrow’s show at FilmBar was supposed to be a local feast for the senses. Colorstore intended to host a night of local rock and rhythms, adding Gospel Claws to the lineup and a list of guest DJs. But then Gospel Claws dropped out. Something about prior engagements in California,…
Kris Roe’s relationship with Arizona has been a tumultuous one. His band, The Ataris, started touring 15 years ago, and Roe’s stops in Arizona have always been marked by some seriously bad luck. After a couple near-death experiences, he got a tattoo of the Arizona state flag as a good…
The DecemberistsMesa Arts CenterThursday, August 11I guess I had The Decemberists pegged wrong. Here’s this insanely popular indie-folk-Americana blended outfit with heavily starched clothing that comes from (where else?) Portland, Oregon. Yes, lead singer and songwriter Colin Meloy has a beard. Yes, they’re touring with a female musician with an…
Downtown platter-master DJentrification is plenty busy with his regular nights, 602’uesdays at Bikini Lounge and The Palace at FilmBar, but this Friday night will find him exploring a little passion project: Funky Oddway at The Lost Leaf.The evening will find DJentrification will spend the entire evening focusing exclusively on music…
Vans Warped Tour 2011 The heat. Yeah, that’s the first thing you expect when you start reading about the Vans Warped Tour. Yes, it was hot. Yes, most of the stages, merch booths, and product tents are set up on a parking lot, and of course, this is not helpful…
The heat. Yeah, that’s the first thing you expect when you start reading about the Vans Warped Tour. Yes, it was hot. Yes, most of the stages, merch booths, and product tents are set up on a parking lot, and of course, this is not helpful in regards to staying…
Kid Rock and Sheryl CrowAshley Furniture HomeStore PavilionFriday, August 5On paper, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow come off like a study in contrasts, some sort of “beauty and the beast” proposition. Crow has always been easy to like — or at least hard to actively dislike. Her ’90s hits “If…
