Email Author Melissa Fossum

2012 Stories by Melissa Fossum

• Church Lady

  published September 20, 2012

  Typically Sunday school students are impeccably dressed goody-two-shoes types who love sucking up to their teachers. At Bliss/reBAR’s... More >>

• Take Cover: Rough Tough Dynamite Covers Rod Stewart

  published Sep 28, 2012

  There are plenty of ways to show someone that you think they're sexy. Some methods are subtler than others, but Rod Stewart wants ladies to be direct and just reach out and touch him. Tempe rockers... More >>

• No Doubt's Push and Shove: Was it Worth the 11-Year Waitr

  published Sep 27, 2012

  The story behind No Doubt's sixth album, Push and Shove is oddly familiar. The band put out a record a few years ago, toured, and then fell off the radar for a bit. It took No Doubt seven years to fol... More >>

• Club Candids: Retro Hi-Fi at Sidebar

  published Sep 26, 2012

  What's one to do on a Sunday night in downtown Phoenixr Going to bed early and vegging out seems like an appealing option, but by staying in, you'd miss all the fun Retro Hi-Fi at Sidebar has to offer... More >>

• Rise Against Ends Its Boycott of Arizona

  published September 27, 2012

  The Sound Strike, the boycott of Arizona by popular musicians opposed to Arizona's controversial anti-immigration law SB 1070, has been a... More >>

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  Rise Against's Tim McIlrath on SB 1070 and MTV

  published Sep 24, 2012

  It's been three years since Rise Against last performed in Arizona thanks to the band's participation in The Sound Strike. The terms of the boycott have changed, so Rise Against is making its triumph... More >>

• Within These Walls at Nile Theater, 9/21/12

  published Sep 22, 2012

  H2O, Youth of Today, and Run With The Hunted Within These Walls @ Nile Theater| 9/21/12Last night marked the second year of local hardcore festival, Within These Walls. Last year was a success, with a... More >>

• Patriot Acts

  published September 13, 2012

  Holidays and celebrations vary greatly from culture to culture. For exampel, you might be surprised that America's favorite south-of-the-border... More >>

• H2O's Poppy Major Label Debut, Go, Has Aged Very Well

  published Sep 20, 2012

  I have a theory: The first album you listen to by one of your favorite musicians ends up being one of your favorite releases by said band, regardless of how it was received by critics or fans. Of cour... More >>

• Hot Water Music's Chris Wollard on Exister, The Band's First Record Without "Any Hang-Ups"

  published Sep 20, 2012

  When you're a hard touring band, it takes some adjusting to actually get off the road. Gritty Florida-based punk rockers Hot Water Music have nearly gotten the hang of this, taking a hiatus before r... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Gaslight Anthem's Benny Horowitz on Handwritten and SB 1070

  published Sep 19, 2012

  It's a pretty good time to be The Gaslight Anthem. The band, which at times sounds like a nostalgic punk rock version of Bruce Springsteen, recently signed to a major label to release its forth full l... More >>

• Take Cover: The Captives Cover The Cure

  published Sep 18, 2012

  See also: Take Cover: Fate of the Galaxies Cover The Cure Robert Smith is a weird dude-- his disheveled hair and smeared red lipstick make his appearance as recognizable as his vocal style. It was ... More >>

• Flavor of the Week

  published September 6, 2012

  Drag isn’t just about getting all dolled up and tucking away unmentionables -- though a fierce lip sync ability and throwing some shade... More >>

• Passion Pit's Fans Ditch School and Dates to Dance and Check Out Booty

  published Sep 12, 2012

  Last night's Passion Pit show was pretty fun, but don't take it from me. We browsed Twitter to get a sense of the crowds' response, which for the most part, was positive. The negative responses stem... More >>

• Club Candids: Sun Devils and Bachelorettes at Pattie's First Avenue Lounge

  published Sep 12, 2012

  Maybe I watch too much It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but when I heard that there's a bar in Scottsdale called Pattie's First Avenue Lounge, I assumed it would be just like Paddy's Pub. To my disa... More >>

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  Passion Pit at Marquee Theatre, 9/11/12

  published Sep 12, 2012

  See also: Passion Pit: The Electropop Band is Doing Just Fine These Days Passion Pit @ Marquee Theatre| 9/11/12Massachusetts electropoppers Passion Pit haven't performed in the Valley in almost three... More >>

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  Stan Devereaux & the Funky Suns Cover Marvin Gaye and Dyke and The Blazers

  published Sep 11, 2012

  We're getting funky with this week's Take Cover, as Stan Devereaux & the Funky Suns perform soulful jams two songs for your enjoyment. Devereaux asked me to film Marvin Gaye's hit from the Boogie Nigh... More >>

• The Adding Family

  published August 2, 2012

  Grade school teachers love to emphasize this concept to students, but it takes adult perspective to realize it’s true: Math is at the... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Passion Pit: The Electropop Band Is "Doing A Lot Better" After Drama Earlier This Year

  published Sep 07, 2012

  Massachusetts' electropop outfit Passion Pit got fans moving with its full-length debut, Manners, in 2009. The group followed it up this year, with Gossamer, full of the same catchy synth tones, but... More >>

• Strung Out and The Ataris at Nile Theater, 8/5/12 (VIDEO)

  published Sep 06, 2012

  See also: Strung Out's Jason Cruz: Twisted in a Suburban Teenage Wasteland See also: Strung Out at Clubhouse Music Venue, 1/28/12 (VIDEO) See also: Ataris' Kris Roe Explains the Meaning Behind His Ari... More >>

• Twin Shadow at Crescent Ballroom, 9/4/12

  published Sep 05, 2012

  See also: Twin Shadow: Songwriter Trades in Gauzy New Wave Honesty See also: Download: Bogan Via's Sparkling, Pulsing "Kanye" See also: Take Cover: Bogan Via Covers Department of EaglesTwin Shadow ... More >>

• Painted Desert

  published August 30, 2012

  From timeless paintings in the Louvre to creative bento boxes, art can be found just about anywhere. And the Valley of the Sun is no exception.... More >>

• Strung Out's Jason Cruz: Twisted in a Suburban Teenage Wasteland

  published Sep 04, 2012

  See also: Strung Out at Clubhouse Music Venue, 1/28/12 (VIDEO) See also: Top Five Must-See Shows This Week Strung Out has been generous about performing in Phoenix over the course of its two decade ca... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Yeasayer at Crescent Ballroom, 9/3/12

  published Sep 04, 2012

  See also: Rise Against Ends Boycott of Arizona; Sound Strike Changes Focus See also: Five Sound Strike Bands We'd Like to See Perform in ArizonaYeasayer @ Crescent Ballroom, 9/3/12 Last night had all... More >>

• Source Victoria Covers Built to Spill

  published Aug 31, 2012

  See also: Download: The World Record's Sublime Guitar Rock Hit "She's Not a Liar" See also: Take Cover: Bogan Via Covers Department of EaglesWishful thinking often leads to wishful drinking. The re... More >>