Dry River Yacht Club The Ugliest Princess (self-released) GRADE: A- Dry River Yacht Club has made a name for themselves as a bold, unconventional band. Their instrumentation, which includes French horn, bassoon, and accordion would seem to make them an unlikely choice to play at places like the Yucca Tap…
Marathon Pub Crawl in Downtown Tempe Clad in corny and kitschy fitness wear, more than 50 Valley bar-hoppers engaged in a humorous running-themed pub crawl along Mill Avenue on Saturday, January 16, hitting up such downtown Tempe bars as Zuma Grill, Rula Bula, and Suite 301…see photos Kathy Griffin Talks…
Welcome to “Nothing Not New,” a yearlong project in which New Times editorial operations manager Jay Bennett, a 40-year-old music fan and musician, will listen only to music released in 2010. Each Monday through Friday, he will listen to one new record (no best ofs, reissues, or concert recordings) and write about…
Indie fusion/experimental band Leaf has announced an acoustic show at The Compound Grill, a Phoenix bar that hosts live music nightly (and gives free appetizers to new followers on Twitter.) The Tempe group, which claims influences including everything from Latin to death metal to electronica, has an eclectic sound and includes Spanish lyrics,…
“I’m a 12-year-old gay boy at heart” comedian Kathy Griffin confessed during her performance at the Dodge Theatre Saturday. The statement summed up the sassy petite redhead in a nutshell. And that’s what makes her so appealing. Like most kids, Griffin says what’s on her mind without any editing. During her nearly…
You know, the very same squad who yesterday battered about our beloved Arizona Cardinals and crushed the Valley’s dreams of returning to the Super Bowl mere hours before Cowboy Mouth’s show in Scottsdale. So does that mean their performance was marred by distressed Red Bird fans who were demanding the…
Less that three months remain until Vince McMahon brings his ginormous “Super Bowl of Wrestling” (a.k.a. Wrestlemania) to the Valley of the Sun in March, which is gonna be a major deal. In fact, the entire week before the big event happens at University of Phoenix Stadium will be filled…
So, are we talking about this year’s edition of the ultra-grueling P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll running fest coming up on Sunday? Not even in the slightest. What we’re referring to is the annual Marathon Pub Crawl in downtown Tempe, silly. Serving as a perfect foil to P.F. Chang’s –…
Here in Arizona, we’re used to being the butt of the rest of the country’s jokes — and now Arizona Theatre Company has invited some more by comissioning one of the best comedy troupes around to make fun of us this spring. We joined some other Phoenix types this morning at…
For the second year in a row, The Sugar Thieves have won the Arizona Blues Showdown, and will be traveling to Memphis to represent the state in the 26th International Blues Challenge. While they’ll be up against seasoned musicians, the young Thieves bring a whole new energy to the table…
Axl Rose’s latest incarnation of Guns N’ Roses, Chinese Democracy, took over 17 years to complete which quite possibly made it the most anticipated album of the past two decades. You may remember that the folks at Dr. Pepper were so excited and skeptical about its release that they agreed to give…
Welcome to “Nothing Not New,” a yearlong project in which New Times editorial operations manager Jay Bennett, a 40-year-old music fan and musician, will listen only to music released in 2010. Each Monday through Friday, he will listen to one new record (no best ofs, reissues, or concert recordings) and write about…
There ain’t any more drinks getting poured at Drinx in Scottsdale, as the Stetson Drive bar has apparently rolled up the welcome mat for good. Folks at few nearby businesses, who asked to remain anonymous, gave me the lowdown on the establishment’s demise, and it wasn’t a very happy story…
[jump] A host of local acts will also perform, including folksters Jake Dean and the Granting, acoustic pop artist Adam Shero, alt-rockers Sketching in Stereo, and the white boy reggae musicians of Another Day. Pre-sale tickets are available for $10 through this site, with admission at the door going for…
[jump] Parks and Recreation is the Wu-Tang of Comedy – watch more funny videosI saw this video yesterday and foolishly didn’t post it up on here until today. It’s music related — enough so that Pitchfork decided to dedicate a post to it. It’s really saying something when anyone, especially RZA,…
This opening of Long Wong’s on Apache and McClintock has certainly stirred up conversation. Its authenticity in regard to the original Long Wong’s is in question, and there’s even debate as to whether it should be referred to as a “re-opening” or a “grand opening.” No matter how one may…
While New Times is often the recipient of much criticism, it would be pretty difficult to claim that we, or the subjects of our stories, contain any sort of lack of creativity. This week, in particular, we get a look at unique artists scheduled to perform in the Valley. First,…
Welcome to “Nothing Not New,” a yearlong project in which New Times editorial operations manager Jay Bennett, a 40-year-old music fan and musician, will listen only to music released in 2010. Each Monday through Friday, he will listen to one new record (no best ofs, reissues, or concert recordings) and write about…
If you ever wondered what Devo would be like if they were born Japanese, Polysics is your answer. The Japan-born band cites the New Wave group as a major influence and, as such, dons jumpsuits and sunglasses reminiscent of the American group and even covers some of Devo’s tracks. And, of…
THURSDAY 14 27th Avenue Bar: DJ Moy, & DJ Jared Paul (Top 40, hip-hop, Latin) Bikini Lounge: DJ Shane Kennedy (jazz, blues, country, R&B, rarities) Bomberos: Rani G., dk.strickler, Deon Pearson, & Alkeme (house) Club Red: The Blunt Club (hip-hop) Hanny’s: William Fucking Reed (lounge, downtempo, house) Margarita Rocks: DJ…
Here’s a potentially fun idea: Find yourself a soccer mom or Dockers dad — maybe your own, or your neighbors down the street — and say to them, “I bet you’d like Between the Buried and Me, because they’re named after that Counting Crows song ‘Ghost Train.’ You should check…
Time hasn’t been kind to 1997’s parade of one-hit wonder artists. European imports like The Prodigy (“Firestarter”), Chumbawamba (“I Get Knocked Down”), or The Cardigans (“Lovefool”) haven’t released a hit album on these shores since their glory years. The Raybon Brothers (“Butterfly Kisses”) and She Moves (“Breaking All the Rules”)…
