Parquet Courts, Destruction Unit, Dogbreth Crescent Ballroom 1/20/2014 Those looking for the through line connecting Brooklyn-by-way-of-Texas post-punkers Parquet Courts to Dogbreth and Destruction Unit, the two Phoenix bands they shared the Crescent Ballroom stage with Monday night, might look to the impassioned yet cynical refrain of the Courts’ “Master of…
Talking to 3 Doors Down guitarist Chris Henderson you get the sense that he lives by the Keep It Simple, Stupid code of music life. When you are in a rock and roll band, you need to just enjoy the ride and not overthink things or worry about how long…
Oregon-based reggae five-piece Synrgy played Tempe’s Sail Inn on Friday night, along with locals Kush County and Vegas-based Lady Reiko and the Sin City Prophets. The entire show was played on the Sail Inn’s indoor stage, which generally would be a bad thing. (Even jovial Synrgy fron man Brian Zach…
The Freaks of Nature have It. Whether it is charisma, spunk, panache, chutzpah, or a mix of everything and more the Valley-based proto-punks are entertaining as hell. They play a fast-paced style of rock that is as easy to shake and shimmy to as it is to mosh. At their…
We’re just about three weeks into 2014 and it seems like the concert schedule has finally shaken off its post-holiday doldrums. Bands and musicians everywhere — especially those of the touring variety — have finally finished their month-long sabbaticals and returned to the grind of the road. And you, the…
So, how was your weekend? Perhaps you got all up in the club, got in as much revelry as possible, or got yourself into one of the big concerts going on around town. Then again, maybe you just sat around killing time before the big NFC or AFC championship games…
Phoenix blues guitarist Chuck Hall has signed on with local label Fervor Records, who specializes in licensing music, and the move has already paid off — the label has landed his songs in an episode of Justified. The record deal calls for his band to produce a CD, and for…
Nowadays, Phil Anselmo is mostly an open book. On one hand, he’s creating a “brand,” even though much of his time is dedicated to representing everything that doesn’t want to be branded. On the other, it’s an underground brand of being fucking hostile, and he finds a way to somehow…
Yellowcard Nile Theater 1/18/14 Attending Yellowcard’s show on Saturday night at the Nile made me realize just how old I’m getting — and I was one of the youngest persons there. Along with a crowd of 20-somethings, 30-somethings, and a few teens, I was celebrating the tenth anniversary of Yellowcard’s…
Volcano Choir Crescent Ballroom 1/17/14 Volcano Choir gave Phoenix a bit of a treat last night — the first stop on the band’s short west coast tour. Their Crescent Ballroom concert on Friday night was sold out well ahead of time and could have very well been moved to a…
Music gormandizers of Phoenix, better make sure you’ve got an open schedule on Friday, March 7. Oh, and a comfortable pair of walking shoes as well. Both are going to come in handy if you want to make the most of Viva PHX, a one-day music festival that New Times…
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…
Treasure Mammal is one of those bands that you have to see live to fully understand. Words can only go so far to describe the performance art, interpretive dance, and random nods to pop culture that make up a Treasure Mammal show. This is the type of band you want…
Kelly Steffey Maria Taylor first came to prominence as a member of Azure Ray. Her luminous and ethereal yet strong and warm vocals and skill in multiple instruments helped to make that band stand out and resulted in Taylor being invited to collaborate with a broad array of artists like…
For music journalists, there’s nothing better than when an artist or performer gives good quote. While musicians can be pretty hit or miss when it comes to interviews, when one gets garrulous and decides to dish or diss, there never seems to be enough tape or memory space available for…
The results are in, and there are a few quirky choices among the bunch — maybe even a snub or two. But regardless of who made the cut, you can be damn sure that much speculation and dissection will ensue. So we’re referring to the Oscar nominations, right? Nah. Actually,…
Everyone knows that Zia Records hooks up all the Valley music junkies. Big-time. The lure of that sharp red and yellow “Zia” sign brings in people from all walks of life seeking novelty toys, every possible music genre, and movies. Personally, it’s the smell of vinyl that calls my name…
For those who came of age after Y2K, we remember the heady days of heart-on-sleeve pop punk, defined by bands like Fall Out Boy, Cartel and Panic! at the Disco, radio-ready acts that were as relatable as they were kitschy. However, few records encapsulated this timeframe with the honesty of…
Photo by Ian WitlenHave you ever seen a gingerbread man with no arms do the shimmy? What about two sharks going at it in shallow water? Seriously, who doesn’t want to see a drunk dude having the time of his life, only to fall flat on his ass? It’s the…
Society is obsessed with culture clash. Stories of different countries making love and starting wars, cuisine fusions and foreign customs — people eat it up, day after day. But what else society is craving nowadays? A rowdy new democracy. And the music industry wants the same. Enter The Aristocrats, three…
The key to any band’s longevity is the ability to maintain a core sound while changing to lure new generations of fans. The Rolling Stones are the quintessential example, having survived 50 years on gritty rock ‘n’ roll licks that receive fresh infusions of timely sound forms (from country to…
Thursday 16 AZ/88: Black Out Thursdays with Josh 1 (soulful house, lounge) Bar Smith: Ladies Night with DJ AL3 (hip-hop, Latin) Bobby Q’s: All Star Thursdays with DJ Freshmaker, DJ Phlava, DJ Dark Vader, & DJ Skoolboi (hip-hop, Top 40, reggae) Dos Gringos (Scottsdale): DJ Switch (rock, Top 40, remixes)…
