If it’s true, as Billy Joel once famously said, that dying is the best career move a musician can make, then the same apparently rings doubly true for musicians who play black metal. Case in point: Norway’s infamous Mayhem, which still attracts just as much (if not more) attention for…
If you attend only one talent-swollen, multi-stage music festival this summer, make it . . . Well, that’s the perennial question, isn’t it? We live in a veritable golden age of Lollapaloozas, Bonnaroos, and otherwise funny-sounding alt-music orgies. How to pick the one that’s right for you? First, you may…
Guitar phenom Yayo Sanchez, 16, will play The Blooze Bar Saturday. The Austin, Texas native has been playing clubs since he was 14, and has opened for Quiet Riot, L.A. Guns and Dirty Penny. He tends to sound like a mix of all of them, with a little Slash thrown…
Total dickhead and social pariah Chris Brown has released a 37 second video blog post today in which he updates his fans — all 12 of them — on his new album as well as defending his name. It’s a noble effort by the R&B singer and almost-star of the…
The Dish: Queensrÿche singer to appear at Chandler Whole FoodsRolling Stone: “American Idol” ‘s Adam Lambert on Sexing Up Johnny Cash and Getting on His SoapboxPitchfork: Meg White Got Married in Jack White’s Backyard Last WeekendNME: Brody Dalle’s new band Spinnerette announce LA/NY datesRolling Stone: Phish Release Epic “Time Turns…
On this momentous last Tuesday in May, It’s safe to say that it’s been a pretty remarkable month for new releases. I have dedicated my entire month’s worth of Tuesday posts to new albums I felt necessary to share with those willing readers (I will recap after the jump for…
We thought enough of local Poison tribute band Unskinny Bop to give them a Best Of Phoenix award last year. John Cusack apparently thinks enough of them that they’re slated to appear in his new flick Hot Tub Time Machine, which is filming in Canada right now. The band’s drummer,…
NME: Scarlett Johansson, Pete Yorn album on the wayElectric Mustache: Video: Grizzly Bear Black Cab SessionSo Much Silence: Jay Bennett (1963-2009)Pitchfork: R.I.P. Jay BennettIdolator: The Jonas Brothers Are Looking Over Their Collective Shoulder…
Ever since I interviewed Darkness Dear Boy for a column I did back in March, I’ve liked those crazy kids. Heck, we called them up to do one of our very first Sun Sessions. Here they are on video again, this time for “Domino,” the single off their new album…
It always catches us off gaurd, but Arizona-based winemaker and film producer Maynard James Keenan occasionally still dabbles in his side project, making spooky prog metal with his band Tool. The band’s show at U.S. Airways is this week’s biggest show announcement, headlining a list of thin summer offerings that…
Electric Mustache: Breakfast at Sulimays 21Idolator: Fall Out Boy Bring Some Much-Needed Professionalism To “Today”NME: Nine Inch Nails fans raise thousands for heart transplantRolling Stone: “Twilight” Star Jackson Rathbone Signs On For Black Metal Flick…
Austin indie band The Wooden Birds start their tour at Modified Arts on May 27. The band — which plays a mellow, pretty brand of folk flavored by the vocals of Andrew Kenny, formerly of American Analog Set — just released their debut record, Magnolia, on Barsuk.You can check out…
Rolling Stone: Jay-Z Buys Out Def Jam Contract, “Blueprint 3″ Heads to Roc NationElectric Mustache: Photos: Miniature Tigers at The Phix 5/15/2009Rolling Stone: Allen and Lambert iTunes Hits May Be a Predictor of Future SuccessIdolator: Green Day Knows Its Enemy, And Its Name Is Wal-MartNME: Vampire Weekend to DJ ‘prom’…
In an unfortunate turn of events, New Orleans indie/soul singer Theresa Andersson has had to cancel her May tour due to a chest infection. News like this is never good, and it is especially saddening because of the nature of her infection. I just hope that she rests up and…
After conducting a thorough scientific evaluation (involving an array of test tubes and beakers, a Bunsen burner, and some heavy duty tongs) of Fleetwood Mac’s 17 studio albums, I’ve concluded that the veteran Anglo-American band’s music is 8 percent classic and 92 percent booooring. You may or may not agree,…
I’ve never understood the obsession with garage rock you’ll find in some corners of Phoenix. I like garage rock, sure, but I’m from Akron, Ohio, a Rust Belt town with strong ties to lo-fi punk and garage. Phoenix? Well, Phoenix was mostly ranchland and desert when “96 Tears” topped Billboard’s…
It’s a liberating feeling to break free from a commitment or relationship that was holding you back. From time to time in the life of an artist, a creative funk comes along with the people and surroundings he previously cherished: situations that had infused him with creativity and ingenuity turn…
Garage-rock gal pals Rachel Nagy and Mary Ramirez have gone through a lot of men in their day. Drummers. Guitarists. Bassists. All kinds. When an interviewer makes light of the fact, Ramirez playfully props her legs open, as if to receive yet another session-musician servicing. Nagy, her fellow creative principal…
Sunny pop music and summertime are made for each other like two soulmates holding hands on an oceanside stroll. With the weather heating up here in the Valley of the Sun, let’s take a look at some great summer music… Tinted Windows Tinted Windows (S-Curve Records) A power pop supergroup…
So Much Silence: Incoming: Gift of Gab, May 28, Blunt ClubRolling Stone: On the Charts: Green Day Sprint to Number One With “Breakdown”Idolator: Somehow, I Don’t Really Mind The Ubiquity Of “Don’t Stop Believing” All That MuchWaved Rumor: Pandora! Pandora! Profit!NME: Eminem makes live comeback in Detroit…
Summer has unceremoniously slapped us Valley residents in the face, making us long for those sub-100 degree days that October will eventually bring. Thank goodness there are bands like Passion Pit releasing albums that make for the perfect summer soundtrack. The quintet, based out of Cambridge, Massachusetts, have crafted a…
So Much Silence: The Walkmen on WOXY.com’s Lounge ActRolling Stone: Aerosmith’s Joe Perry Hints At Walmart Deal For New AlbumNME: ABBA-penned musical to get English language debut in NYCNME: Libertines reunion: Carl Barat speaks about more gigsIdolator: A Quick Guide To Your “American Idol” Pre-Finale ControversiesNME: Jennifer Love Hewitt to…
