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

• DJ Manchester Talks Britpop, Shadowplay, Anderson's, The Smiths, Interpol, and More

  published Nov 19, 2010

  Eddie Lebario (a.k.a. DJ Manchester) is old school, just like his favorite musical genre.As you'll read in this week's version of DJ Dossier, the cat has been spinning up the hits inside local clubs s... More >>

• The Roots, Miniature Tigers, Johnny Rawls, Djentrification, and Other Weekend Events

  published Nov 18, 2010

  Who'd win in a fight between local legends Miniature Tigers and the hip-hop icons of The Rootsr Although its feels like we're making a Sophie's Choice between our two favorite children, here's our p... More >>

• Denim & Diamonds Opens This Weekend

  published Nov 17, 2010

  When the nightlife gods taketh away a country bar in Mesa, they ultimately giveth one as well.Mere weeks after AZ Country USA closed its doors, the good ol' folks behind Graham Central Station are ope... More >>

• DK Strickler Talks Retro Hi-Fi, Mondegreen, Lawnchair Generals, Boris Dlugosch, and More

  published Nov 12, 2010

  Name: David Kevin StricklerAKA: DK Strickler Current gigs: Retro Hi-Fi Sundays at SideBar, and private/public events on Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays. Genres spun: House and all it's varied sub-genre... More >>

• Glass Heroes, Sole and the Skyrider Band, Kurt Vile, Cris Kirkwood, and Other Weekend Events

  published Nov 11, 2010

  We're kicking it old school with our latest edition of "10 Things Under $10" by pimping a few unique shows by a handful of the Valley's more legendary musicians. Cris Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets is... More >>

• Left/Right

  published November 11, 2010

  If there’s any truth to the saying that DJs are only as good as the music that’s coming out of their speakers, then Chris Lund (a.k.a.... More >>

• Club Candids at Smashboxx

  published Nov 10, 2010

  Smashboxx in Old Town has been open for a couple weeks now, and the crowds couldn't be bigger. We paid a visit to the "sports bar by day/lounge by night" this past weekend and witnessed a throng of ... More >>

• Smashing Pumpkins Coming To Gila River Casino's Wild Horse Pass in December

  published Nov 10, 2010

  What's more humbling for an alt-rock band whose better days are behind themr Playing a free concert being put on by a radio station or performing at a casino. In a few weeks, Smashing Pumpkins will ha... More >>

• Bad Religion at Marquee Theatre Last Night

  published Nov 10, 2010

  Bad Religion Marquee Theatre 11/9/2010 Old age is Hell. Especially if you're punk rock icons who are looking as long in the tooth as Greg Graffin and the other members of Bad Religion did last night... More >>

• Billet Bar in Scottsdale Closes Down

  published Nov 09, 2010

  rScottsdale's bar and club scene is as volatile as ever. In the past week alone, we've reported on openings and closings, as well as the transformation of one particularly notorious dancehall. ... More >>

• AZ Country USA in Mesa Closes Its Doors

  published Nov 08, 2010

  It looks like AZ Country USA has ridden off into the sunset. The proprietors of the cowboy-themed bar and nightclub in Mesa posted a message on its Facebook page last week stating that the establishm... More >>

• DJ Sean Essex Talks Club Freedom, Tiesto, Paul Oakenfold, John Askew, Fei-Fei, and More

  published Nov 05, 2010

  Name: Sean Essex AKA: eSSicCS Current club gigs: Giant Wednesdays at 910 Live once or twice a month, and on Fridays at Cream Stereo Lounge and Afterlife in Scottsdale. How did you get started as a... More >>

• Old School Jam

  published November 4, 2010

  One of the best things about the annual state fair -- other than its menu of overly fried food -- is the event's free concert series at the... More >>

• Smashboxx Holds Its Launch Party Tonight

  published Nov 04, 2010

  If you're looking for something to do in and around Old Town tonight (or this weekend for that matter), be sure to pick up a copy of our annual Shine pocket guide to Scottsdale, which is helpfully ins... More >>

• Macy Gray, Third Eye Blind, Joe Sib, 2 Tone Lizard Kings, and Other Weekend Events

  published Nov 04, 2010

  Macy Gray and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon hanging out at the same partyr Such will be the case this weekend as the R&B star is scheduled to stage a free concert tomorrow night during this wee... More >>

• Club Trinity Debuts in Scottsdale

  published Nov 03, 2010

  Say adios to Club Rain, as the lascivious Latin dance den located in south Scottsdale has been replaced with an entirely new joint. Club Trinity now occupies the Papago Plaza space that formerly hou... More >>

• Club Candids: Seven Sexy Sins Bash at Afterlife

  published Nov 03, 2010

  There was plenty of after-hours activity taking place across the Valley over Halloween weekend, including plenty of freaky late-night fetes and fiestas that went down past the midnight hour. Over... More >>

• Shine 2010: Where to Party in Scottsdale

  published November 4, 2010

  Disco An illuminated dance floor consisting of thousands of multicolored and pressure-sensitive LEDs is the centerpiece of this... More >>

• Club Mardi Gras in Scottsdale Closes

  published Nov 02, 2010

  rThe phone number has been disconnected. The website hasn't been updated for months. And on a recent Friday night (usually when bars are the busiest) the place is locked up and deserted. Yup, f... More >>

• William Fucking Reed's Sticky Fingers Dance Night Moves to Bar Smith This Friday

  published Nov 02, 2010

  rWilliam Fucking Reed, and the other DJs behind Sticky Fingers have decided to wash their hands of Rips. They're leaving behind the vintage dive bar, which has served as the original home of the... More >>

• Phoenix Suns Provide Valiant Effort, But Lose to Los Angeles Lakers

  published Nov 01, 2010

  rThe Los Angeles Lakers both demonstrated their dominance over the NBA's Western Conference and proved why they're the Phoenix Suns' biggest rivals by defeating Steve Nash and his crew 114-106 on ... More >>

• Cheap Thrills' Daft Punk Tribute, The MadCaPs, Freakfests, and Other Halloweekend Events

  published Oct 30, 2010

  If you missed out on all the outrageous action of the first night of Halloweekend, fear not. (Better, yet, check out our pictures of one rather potent party that took place). Two more evening of exc... More >>

• Snoop Dogg at Arizona State Fair Last Night

  published Oct 30, 2010

  Snoop Dogg Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fair Friday, October 29, 2010 Snoop Dogg gave the audience at Veterans Memorial Coliseum everything they wanted to hear (and then some) ... More >>

• Last Meal: Local Artists and Scenesters Pick Out What They'd Eat For Their Final Feasts

  published Oct 25, 2010

  rIt's estimated that the average human will consume more than 85,000 meals in his or her lifetime. And some are inevitably more important or memorable than others (such as Thanksgiving or Chri... More >>

• Sufjan Stevens, Air Sex Championships, Independents Bowl, and Other Events Over the Weekend

  published Oct 25, 2010

  rIndependents Bowl at Let It Roll Bowl: The annual charity bowling event featuring Phoenix scenesters rolling for the benefit of Local First Arizona took place on Sunday, October 24, featuring a v... More >>