Email Author Benjamin Leatherman

Awards

• 2009 - Arizona Press Club Awards, published July 24, 2008

  "Pedalphiles"

• 2006 - Arizona Press Club Awards

  "Beach in Heat"

• 2006 - Arizona Press Club Awards

  "Tech Mex"

• 2006 - Arizona Press Club Awards

  "Swat Team"

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2010 Stories by Benjamin Leatherman

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  FEATURED STORY

  Mantooth Group Re-Opening Nile Theatre Basement as The Underground

  published Jan 25, 2010

  The hardcore punks of Resort to Distort perform at the Nile Theatre back in the 2002. Earlier this month, it was Long Wong's. Last week, I wrote about how the old Boston's was being reincarnat... More >>

• The 7 Coolest Entries At This Weekend's Idiotarod Race

  published Jan 25, 2010

  As that old maudlin saying goes, it's not the destination but the journey that's important. Just ask the participants in the Idiotarod race from this past Saturday. The ultra-colorful annual event, w... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Science and Technology Expo at Trunk Space

  published Jan 24, 2010

  Gimmick bands. You either like 'em or hate 'em. I happen to fall in the former category. Groups like Man or Astroman, Mr. Pacman, or Captured! By Robots happen to be among some of my favorite acts. I... More >>

• 10 Things Under $10 This Weekend: Idiotarod, Love Me Nots, Jersey Shore, and More

  published Jan 22, 2010

  rThe security guards at the Safeway at Seventh Street and McDowell Road better be on high alert today. Ditto for the one's at Fry's, Trader Joe's, or any other grocery store in the CenPho area. Por... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Tempe's 910 Live Plans February Opening

  published Jan 21, 2010

  Looks like the second time's the charm for 910 Live. As I reported last year, the Tempe nightspot -- which served as renowned old school music venue Boston's in the '90s -- was scheduled to open bac... More >>

• Phoenix Suns Avoid Losing to Hapless New Jersey Nets. Up Next: Chicago Bulls on Friday

  published Jan 21, 2010

  rAs woeful as the Phoenix Suns' fortunes have been over the past few weeks -- losing four straight games, staging repeated scoring collapses, you name it -- the subpar squad has at least one sa... More >>

• The Sugar Thieves Carry Arizona’s Flag to the International Blues Challenge

  published January 21, 2010

  Mikel Lander has a certain contempt for female vocalists, particularly attractive ones who front all-male bands. Hayley Williams? Feh. Gwen... More >>

• 16bit

  published January 21, 2010

  God bless the United Kingdom and all the influential DJs, turntablists, beatmakers, and other EDM artists it's produced over the decades (Paul... More >>

• I Hate You When You're Pregnant

  published January 21, 2010

  It's been going on five years since Flagstaff musician Phil Buckman subjected Valley audiences to his outlandish alter ego I Hate You When You're... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Cowboy Mouth at the Compound Grill

  published Jan 17, 2010

  The musicians of Cowboy Mouth didn't exactly have a most enviable task last night. A majority of the band (including frontman Fred LeBlanc and guitarists John Thomas Griffith and Jonathan Pretus) are ... More >>

• WWE Hall of Fame Tickets On Sale Tomorrow

  published Jan 15, 2010

  rLess 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,... More >>

• 10 Things Under $10 This Weekend: Third Friday, Drinking Marathons, Everclear, and More

  published Jan 15, 2010

  We hope you've been training hard in anticipation for this weekend. Building up endurance, strengthening stamina, and basically preparing yourself for the long haul. So, are we talking about this yea... More >>

• Now Closed: Drinx in Scottsdale

  published Jan 14, 2010

  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 ano... More >>

• Sunday Funday

  published January 14, 2010

  How's this for a lazy Sunday-afternoon experience? Hang out with Power 98.3 personality Karlie Hustle and the hottie divas of the Fresh Fiends on... More >>

• Dirty Funk

  published January 14, 2010

  Blunt Club beat-juggler Pickster One is keeping things simple for his newest nightlife endeavor, Dirty Funk. "We're just gonna be drinking beer... More >>

• Cowboy Mouth/Junior Brown

  published January 14, 2010

  Time hasn't been kind to 1997's parade of one-hit wonder artists. European imports like The Prodigy ("Firestarter"), Chumbawamba ("I Get Knocked... More >>

• Coming Soon: Phase 54 in Chandler

  published Jan 08, 2010

  Is the somewhat sleepy burg of Chandler about to become the Nix's next hotspot for nightspotsr    Probably not, but the city certainly has its share of after-dark establishments. Jilly'... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  10 Things Under $10 This Weekend: No Pants Light Rail Rides, Elvis/David Bowie, Arizona Cardinals, and More

  published Jan 08, 2010

  "Grab your best underwear! No Pants AZ is coming!" This is the message emblazoned across the homepage of local urban prankster group Improv AZ by its organizer Jeff Moriarty announcing the impending ... More >>

• American Carnage Tour Postponed

  published Jan 08, 2010

  Hair metal fans of the Valley, take note: The superstar-studded American Carnage Tour (which featured the '80s triple-threat of Slayer, Megadeth, and Testatment) has been postponed indefinitely. The ... More >>

• Phoenix Suns Overcome Houston Rockets in See-Saw Shootout. Next Up: Miami on Friday

  published Jan 07, 2010

  Two nights, two hard-fought victories for the Suns. Approximately 24 hours after pulling out an exhausting road win over the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix returned home to US Airways Center to outla... More >>

• Hot Fudge Sundaze

  published January 7, 2010

  In case you aren't up on the latest scenester gossip, here's a juicy tidbit: William Fucking Reed is ditching the Valley for New York City in... More >>

• The Love Me Nots Welcome 2010 in Raucous Fashion at the Yucca Tap

  published Jan 01, 2010

  So how did your New Year's Eve go last nightr While I'm guessing it involved plenty of off-the-chain and alcohol-fueled action, it probably pales in comparison to the crowded and cacophonous celebrati... More >>