Katy Perry’s Demanding, Specific Tour Rider Leaks

, according to the Amplifier.Six pages of Katy Perry’s long list of on-the-road requirements have leaked online, and she seems to be yet another big-headed celebrity who makes herself out to be a lot more important than she actually is. In fact, according to her 45 page-long tour rider, if you…

Friendly Fires: Pala

As the album sinks in more and more, I realize how thankful I am for a band like Friendly Fires. Their take on indie/dance rock is refreshing, like a revamped version of an early Cut Copy. Lead singer Ed MacFarlane is in a class all his own these days –…

Combichrist at the Nile Theater

REVIEW BY DANIEL RAVEN Combichrist Nile Theater Sunday, May 22  Industrial is a tough genre for newer artists to emerge from and become truly successful in, but the potty-mouthed misogynists in Combichrist found the secret for doing just that: Go metal.The towering brick walls of Nile Theater provided both excellent acoustics and a…

Five Comics by Rock Stars

Numerous rock stars have tried to cross over into other mediums, whether it’s acting (Henry Rollins, Meatloaf), painting (Marilyn Manson, John Mellencamp), or making their own liquor (Geoff Tate, Maynard James Keenan).One medium rich with rock stars is comic books. Over the years, many musicians have either penned their own…

What Laura Says at The Icehouse

What Laura SaysThe IcehouseMay 20, 2011I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of the folks who packed into The Icehouse last night to watch and listen to Tempe-based What Laura Says don’t own any Canned Heat or Allman Brothers Band LPs. “Boogie Rock” just isn’t a genre name that…

Kronos Quartet at the Musical Instrument Museum

Kronos QuartetMusical Instrument Museum May 20, 2011San Francisco-based Kronos Quartet occupies an interesting niche in classical music. All four are adept players, and make their instruments (some of which are more than 300 years old) sing. But they don’t play classical music from the canon. Instead of Bach, Mozart, and Rachmaninoff, Kronos…

What’s Selling? Top Ten Lists from Valley Record Stores

Want to know what new release discs and platters are moving across the Valley at local record stores? We’ve got you covered with another installment of What’s Selling. Looks like Fleet Foxes are doing pretty well this week, with their heady folk album Helplessness Blues. Foo Fighters are rocking solid,…

MTV Releases Trailer for Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside

Yesterday, MTV released the trailer for Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside, a documentary scheduled to premiere on MTV on Thursday, May 26. “While we all know the artist who has matured into a major force in music, fashion and pop culture, Lady Gaga has seldom discussed in detail the young…

Michelle Donovan, What Are You Listening To?

Michelle Donovan Donovan is the co-owner of The Nile Theater and The Mantooth Group. This Sunday, May 22, Combichrist performs at the Theater. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? 101.1-FM The Beat. I love old school hip-hop…

Disco in Scottsdale Closes

The place made a splash when it opened last summer, offering a flashy interactive LED dance floor that was like something out of Saturday Night Fever. Dubstep found a home there every Thursday when the cats from Subversion brought in major names like Jakwob and (most recently) 12th Planet. It…

Your Favorite New Band: Hooray For Earth

I know what you’re thinking: Oh great, another fucking indie band from New York. I know, I know — but hear me out on this one. Hooray For Earth are legit as legit can be. With its mix of tribal-esque drums, kitschy 80’s-inspired synths and subtle gloom overtones, True Loves — the…