With few exceptions, pop lyrics have become dumber over time, even though lyricists think of themselves as having become smarter. Loudon Wainwright is modern pop's antithesis: a wryly cuttingly, often brilliant lyricist who has never taken himself too seriously -- even while tackling grave,... More >>

Plenty of former punk and hardcore icons have traded in their volume, crunch, and at least some of their onstage aggression in recent years for new directions as folk-leaning singer-songwriters. Look at 7 Seconds' Kevin Seconds, Hot Water Music's Chuck Ragan, Gorilla Biscuits' Walter... More >>

When the proprietors of the Monarch Theatre stated they wanted the downtown Phoenix venue to become one of the premier forums for electronic dance music in the Valley, they weren’t screwing around. In the four weeks since the joint debuted, it’s featured such top-shelf EDM... More >>

It's damned hard to watch any movie set in the swingin' '60s and not see hear Smokey Robinson & the Miracles on the soundtrack. As one of the last great vintage soul men standing, Robinson has seen and done plenty in his career, and is still creating music and touring. In 2010, he was SXSW's... More >>

Just like the rave scene way back in the ‘90s, today's brand of dubstep may very well be a flash in the pan. With fiercely devoted adherents who pride themselves on being contrarian and excessively counter culture, dubstep is already suffering from it's own impositions, a finely edited... More >>

05-29-2012 More >>

For better or worse, the sacred cows of punk are being gutted — for example, the now-antiquated concept of "selling out" has nearly vanished from the lexicon of underground music. Even hardcore — a genre that places a gigantic bounty on aesthetic purity and hard-nosed authenticity... More >>

Reggie Watts More >>

One of the most appealing things about the Queens rapper Action Bronson is that when he raps about cracked pepper--as he does on his terrific debut album, Dr. Lecter--he's not using the phrase as a metaphor for gunpowder or cocaine. Dude's talking about seasoning. A former professional chef,... More >>

As his nom de guerre portends, DJ Manchester is an avowed Anglophile. He’s visited the U.K. on more than one occasion, hangs out at the George & Dragon in his off hours, and (naturally) is a ginormous fan of English rock musicians. Ask this 30something music junkie whom his favorite acts... More >>

Sir Smeezy (a.k.a. DJ Smite) estimates that his ginormous music collection includes more than 8,000 different 45’s. And if he has his way, the 32-year-old will spin each and every one of ‘em during his new biweekly event The Hot Plate. On first and third Tuesday of every month, Smeezy... More >>

Downtown’s skyline is forever changing, and one of the best (and least known) places to check out the view is from Bar Smith’s rooftop perch. Especially on Wednesday nights during The Scenario, which features an urban soundtrack spun by resident DJs Pickster One, Ellery, and... More >>

If you’ve ever fancied yourself a dark kind of lovable weirdo – the type of person who wouldn’t think twice when a stranger tells you they drink blood to survive – there are few places in the Valley that suit your needs. Club Sanctum is one of those hangouts. The combo dance... More >>

Pete Salaz, Sean Badger, and the other proprietors of Bar Smith should make sure that all the windows at their hipster headquarters are secure, as the artists of SubConscious will cause the downstairs lounge to shake and quake with some serious bass every Wednesday. Heck, such DJs as Deepfreq,... More >>

As long as Tempe’s Yucca Tap Room, the Valley's most venerated dive bar, continues to meet the perfunctory requirements of a live music venue (a P.A. and an occasional sound man) it will continue to be a premier destination for diamond-in-the-rough rockers looking for a gig, and aural... More >>

Michael "M2" McDowell is old school to the very core, as illustrated by his love of crate-digging for classic hip-hop vinyl and his use of the original Phoenix Suns logo in his professional insignia. He's also got a serious penchant for the lost art of scratching, as does his pal Logan... More >>