Putting a cover song as the second track on your CD is ballsy. Either you’ve got ’em right there, or you’ve lost ’em forever. For a metal act to put a cover of an Ozzy song second on their record? That’s pretty much suicidal. Sure, Ozzy and Sabbath can be…
The all-star lineup for this year’s Real Coachella in downtown Phoenix begs the question: Why would anyone waste their precious time driving 3 1/2 hours to the desert wasteland of Indio, California, just to see a bunch of has-beens and never-will-bes performing at an overpriced festival when they can catch…
It’s a testament to the seemingly unflappable pomposity of rock stars the world over that This Is Spinal Tap is as relevant today as it was upon its theatrical release 25 years ago. Over the years, This Is Spinal Tap has become more than just a hilarious send-up of rock…
The sounds produced by Joy Electric range from kitschy, ’70s-style synth beats to video game-worthy blips — but with rigid song structures. The production on the band’s albums is extraordinary, marking a high point for experimental electronic music. The vocals on each track are sincere, with hints of boyish imagination…
If you’re into mash-ups, no doubt you’ve heard of the dope DJ duo A Plus D (a.k.a. Adrian and the Mysterious D. Over the past six years, the punky San Francisco couple have pimped the art form of smashing together songs, either through their own masterful mixes (merging Kanye and…
THURSDAY 23 Bomberos: DJ Rani “g,” dk.strickler, & guests (house, global soul) Bunkhouse: DJ Doom (dance) Cherry Lounge: Scandalous Thursday with DJ Juan Rocha (house, electronica) Club Red: The Blunt Club with X-Clan, 2Mex, Medusa, JiJi, DJ Leviathan, Pow Shadowz, Pickster Uno, DJ Element, Emerg McVay, & more (hip-hop) Copper…
If their only achievement ends up being hipsters’ awkwardly expressing an affinity for “black kids,” then be ready to hoist the victory banners in celebration. Auspiciously, though, Black Kids have a bit more mettle in their dance-pop mix. Lead singer/guitarist Reggie Youngblood, bassist Owen Holmes, drummer Kevin Show, and Dawn…
Two decades after Ozzy Osbourne liberated him from the mean streets of Bayonne, New Jersey, it’s still impossible to pinpoint exactly where Zakk Wylde the rock fan ends and Zakk Wylde the rock god begins. As the teen heir to longtime Osbourne guitarist and co-writer Randy Rhoads, Wylde so idolized…
You gotta love Britney Spears and her “ventilation issues.” If she’s not flashing her hairless pudenda at grateful paparazzi while spilling out of Paris Hilton’s sports car, she’s taking an unscheduled 30-minute breather in the middle of a recent concert in Canada because of lingering cigarette smoke. Don’t you see?…
Fresh off a weekend that found Paul McCartney, Leonard Cohen and Morrissey all play one of the biggest outdoor music festivals in the U.S. — in one day — we find ourselves, as a music-loving society, head over heels for live acts with a touch of gray. It doesn’t help…
A few weeks back I was blown away by local singer-songwriter Matthew Reveles’ new album We’ll Meet Halfway, so when we started the Sun Sessions I knew we’d have him stop by the New Times courtyard sometime soon, but I didn’t dream we’d have so perfect a chance to showcase…
Guadalupe’s streets were packed Saturday with Street Kings, Intruders, and Majestics — just a few of the car clubs represented at the greatest free lowrider car show in the Valley. Check out the hydraulics action, with rear bumpers kissing the ground, and headlights reaching for the sky. Even some of…
The Gaslight Anthem played their “’59 Sound” to a packed house last night at The Clubhouse. See shots of their performance in our slide show. Haven’t heard of The Gaslight Anthem? Here are a few links and their music video for “Great Expectaions” to get you started: The Gaslight Anthem…
In case you haven’t been following the comments on our previous post on the subject, it’s semi-official: Isle of Essence is the Best Band in Phoenix (according to the Arizona Republic).Now, I actually hate to pile on the Republic right now. They’re having a pretty rough week. First, The East…
Disco: It’s the musical genre that just won’t die. Along with cockroaches and Twinkies, I’m pretty sure it’s the only form of music that would survive a nuclear holocaust. It’s been the butt of many a joke since it fell out of vogue in the 80s, but somehow, it still…
So the boys over at Electric Mustache piqued my interest in the new Matt & Kim record yesterday by putting up this super cool new video for the first single “Lesson Learned.” Turns out the rest of the new record, Grand, is great top-to-bottom. Unlike the Brooklyn duo’s self-titled debut…
On Valentine’s Day, long-time New Times freelancer Serene Dominic had a heart attack after playing a show in Glendale. Don’t worry, folks, Dom recovered, and has found a little humor in the situation, as you can see from this video he filmed in the ICU at Arrowhead Hospital. Also check…
The PackageBest New Artist(Self-released)What sort of indie band is The Package? The kind of “indie” band that sends us a flier titled “AZ’s Biggest Indie Band Releases Debut Album” despite their only scheduled show being at a small club in Prescott next month. The kind of “indie” band who has…
Eminem utilized his Twitter account to release the cover art for Relapse, his forthcoming album, which he posted today. Relapse is Em’s first album in more than four years. The cover art features a head shot Eminem constructed of hundreds of pills, no doubt a nod to the rapper’s addiction…
Dear and Beloved Readers,It’s been a few months since we had one of these little blog update posts, so I’ve got all sorts of Up on the Sun news to share with you.PHXmusic.com: First, I’m happy to alert you to our new re-directing web address. Starting this afternoon PHXmusic.com takes…
The RIAA has tried to sue those who download music illegally. They have labeled them pirates and criminals, even when they’re only 13. A better label for these people might have been to call them the biggest consumers of LEGAL music.”A report from the BI Norwegian School of Management has…
Stand-up-comedian-turned-mediocre-movie-star Dane Cook blew up about 10 years ago with his brand of frat boy/locker room humor (I personally prefer Jason Sudeikis’ impression to the real thing, but that’s neither here nor there). But it’s no secret that Cook borrows bits and pieces every now and then from his predecessors,…
