By Martin Cizmar
Depending on who you ask, Cat Power is either really good or really bad live. In her younger days, as a notoriously stage-frightened boozehound, Chan Marshall didn’t impress anyone. Now sober and enjoying life, the indie diva mostly gets great write-ups praising her energetic sets and mesmerizing stage presence.
By Jay Bennett
“As I walk through / This wicked world / Searching for light in the darkness of insanity.”
Knowing I’d soon hear those lyrics being sung by Nick Lowe buoyed me Tuesday night as I sat watching a 90-minute performance staged by two politicians who dodged questions, offered empty promises, took cheap shots and, in the case of Arizona’s dubiously favorite son, espoused “record over rhetoric.”
By Jonathan McNamara Friday Night Out Phoenix Fashion Week continued after the catwalk at Radius Lakeside while kids got funky in Downtown Phoenix on Friday, October 3, 2008. Project Runway Designer’s Line at Phoenix Fashion Week Project Runway participant Emily Brandle and Michelle Chaplin were on hand to show off…
By Jonathan McNamara Last Wednesday, Music Editor Martin Cizmar gave mention of Futurekind’s CD release party held at Last Exit this past Friday. Always on the look out for a new source of sonic sensation, I took his advice and checked them out for myself. Now you can too even…
By Martin Cizmar
Did you miss Edgefest only to read our comprehensive coverage (last time I’m pimping it, I swear!) and realize your life will not be complete until you see Mickey Avalon and Kottonmouth Kings? Turns out you get another bite at the apple, as both acts announced local shows this week.
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By Martin Cizmar
So I don’t normally write about shows I don’t see, but I’ve been hearing enough complaints about tonight’s Mars Volta show that I had to throw up a post, if only to give disappointed Phoenicians a place to leave comments bitching about Cedric Bixler Zavala.
By Martin Cizmar
We haven’t had a chance to do a formal review of FutureKind’s new disc, Surround, here, but thought we’d mention their CD release party this Friday at Last Exit since they’ve got a great sound.
By Steve Jansen I’ve had a private relationship with Sigur Rós for years now. You see, the mood-driven Icelandic post-rock foursome is one of those groups that I can only listen to alone, usually when I’m torn up about something. The band’s sweeping instrumentals, charged by the eerie falsetto of…
By Jonathan McNamara Edgefest 2008 Music Editor Martin Cizmar lead a journalistic team of photographers, writers and one, loan videographer to bring you up to the minute Edgefest 2008 coverage on Saturday. Check this Edgefest blog recap for the whole story and don’t miss this comprehensive collection of multimedia coverage…
By Jonathan McNamara Friday, September 26: Sangria Luxe Lounge Ah! Wine mixed with the fruity goodness of well, fruit. It’s a classic drink, but will this new Phoenix hot spot live it to the legacy of its namesake. Find out for yourself tonight. For more information, read “Wild, Wild West…
It hasn’t quite been 11 months since Vampire Weekend released their first single, “Mansard Roof.” In that time, they’ve gone from the buzziest band since Arcade Fire, to a cultural touchstone for New Yorker types, to last night’s show at the Marquee, where a dad in jean shorts lifted his towheaded son on to his shoulders for a better view during “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.”
By Martin Cizmar and Benjamin Leatherman Photos by Luke Holwerda Beck Hansen, live in Phoenix. See more shots in our Beck and MGMT slideshow. Music Editor Martin Cizmar and Clubs Editor Benjamin Leatherman both attended Beck’s show at the Dodge Theatre Monday night. Here’s their review, point/counterpoint style: Martin Cizmar:…
By Jonathan McNamara Saturday Music Sampler Missed your music fix Saturday night? Not to worry. Our camera crew (AKA Clubs Editor Benjamin Leatherman) has the highlights. Let’s roll the tape! The Hives at Marquee Theater Music Editor Martin Cizmar calls The Hives one of the best shows you can see…
The Hives and Eagles of Death Metal have a lot in common. Both play stripped-down, three-chord garage rock.
By Jonathan McNamara Shiny Toy Guns keyboardist Jeremy Dawson fiddles with a bit of plastic as he graciously subjects himself to a few questions courtesy of New Times. The band just finished their initial sound check and though they won’t hit the stage for a few hours, roadies and Martini…
By Jonathan McNamara The weekend is upon us once again. I know it will be hard to break away from the weekly tedium and (gasp) have some fun, but fear not! You won’t have to fret about what to do. Just take a look below, take a deep breath in…
By Jonathan McNamara Better than: any of the other shows I’ve witnessed at Tempe Marketplace See more shots in our Ataris slideshow. When New Times covered Carolina Liar in July, the crowd at Tempe Marketplace was less than half of what it was for The Ataris last night. Sure, Carolina…
The Black Crowes show at Mesa Arts Center, postponed yesterday, is now canceled. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.
Earth Dance 2008 Despite a last minute location change, Earth Dance 2008 blasted DJ-spun, raving goodness till early Sunday morning on September 13 and 14. Read: about Earth Dance 2008. See: a slideshow of photos from Earth Dance 2008. Common at the Marquee Theater Common is about as close to…
By Joseph Golfen It’s not often that you get to see a great band from their humble beginnings. But anyone who was at the Modified Arts on Sunday got that chance as local band Miniature Tigers took to the stage, sending wonderful indie rock echoing through the walls of the…
By Martin Cizmar Common is about as close to imageless as you can get in the rap game. He’s got the pretty boy thing going, but he’s not LL Cool J or Nelly. He’s known for smart rhymes, but he’s not Talib Kweli. He’s got live instrumentation, but it’s not…
By Martin Cizmar Some cool new shows announced this week, including Metallica with Austin’s The Sword and former Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo’s band Down, who will bustle the shit out of your hedgerow. Metallica Tuesday, Oct. 21 Metallica released a new album this week (see earlier blog item) so they’ll…
