You've got a lot of reading to do, guys: snuggled tightly in this week's massive Best of Phoenix 2012 issue is a regular issue of Phoenix New Times. In anticipation of the busiest musical weekend of the year, you'll find pieces about KUPD's two-day metal festival Desert Uprising, EDM waterpark party Sound Wave (headlined by native Phoenician Z-Trip), the triple threat bill of Rise Against (ending its commercial boycott of Arizona), Gaslight Anthem, and Hot Water Music, and previews of Valley Fever @ Crescent Ballroom, The Lumineers @ Marquee Theatre, Bark! Bark! Bark! @ Yucca Tap Room, and Mr. Justin Bieber @ Jobing.com Arena. Like we said -- that's a big issue, but that's not all.
Dust Off Your Flannel, our cover story this week from contributor Chris Parker asks a pertinent question: Are we headed for the underground to break through the way Nirvana did in the early '90s?
Parker reaches out to people with a lot to say on the subject, including Perry Farrell, who launched the Lallapalooza Festival in 1991 and is bringing his band Jane's Addiction to the Arizona State Fair on Wednesday, October 24, Greg Dulli of The Afghan Whigs, Jon Wurster of Superchunk/Bob Mould, Cris Kirkwood of The Meat Puppets, Mike Watt of The Minutemen and fIREHOSE (he's coming to town, too), Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, members of Lighting Bolt, He's My Brother, She's My Sister, and more.
Can artists manage to make money in the current musical climate? Will the upcoming revolution rock or will it sound like something else entirely? How rough of shape is Farrell in from weathering 30 years of rock 'n' roll?
Find out in this week's cover story.
