Against Me!

Top Five Must-See Shows This Week in Phoenix

The weekend is over, and it's back to the grind. You sit there despondent at your desk, visions of a wild weekend replaying your head, scenes from A Good Day to Die Hard -- which you caught a sick matinee showing of -- bouncing around your cranium. How can you get back to that blissful state? Go see ... More >>

New Times and KUKQ Present: That Damn Show 2013, with Bad Religion, Awolnation, Against Me!, The Faint, and More

Phoenix New Times and KUKQ has partnered to resurrect a Phoenix festival tradition, That Damn Show. On Saturday, April 20, at Mesa Ampitheatre, Bad Religion, AWOLNATION, Against Me!, The Faint, Face to Face, Fenix*TX, Katastro, Passafire, HB Surround Sound, The Veragroove, Bend Sinister, Nomada, a ... More >>

Top 5 Punk Albums of 2012

Happy New Year loyal punk fans. If you really tied one on and you're nursing your hangover by chugging some Pedialyte, punk music may be the last thing you want to listen to. But 2012 was a great year for punk releases, which made this list difficult to narrow down to a top five. See also: -10 ... More >>

13 Phoenix Bands You Need to Know in 2013: The Complete List

As 2012 draws to a close, we couldn't be more optimistic about the state of music in the Valley of the Sun. With new bands emerging from various scenes and subgenres, it can be hard to keep up with the latest in Phoenix music. What follows are our picks for 13 acts that will make an impact on the S ... More >>

I Was Told There'd Be Whiskey

As 2012 draws to a close, we'll be looking forward to the 2013 and spotlighting 13 Phoenix bands that will be making a mark on the Southwest throughout the new year. Lauren Wise brings us this look at I Was Told There'd Be Whiskey, a rootsy rock 'n' roll outfit that incorporates elements of punk, co ... More >>

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

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 releasing its eighth full-length record, Exister. Eight years after its last album, The New What Next ... More >>

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts at Talking Stick Resort, 7/6/12

Joan Jett Talking Stick Resort Friday, July 6, 2012 Joan Jett is one of those musicians whom everybody should see if they get the chance. She's an inspiration to every girl who ever picked up a guitar, pioneering the riot grrl movement before it had a name (she later produced a Bikini Kill album). ... More >>

Incoming: Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, The Walkmen

As usual, we're stoked for lots of upcoming concerts, but this week we're excited about a little extra hard-rockin' estrogen on the list.Nobody puts on a great performance quite like a strong female frontwoman. If you're a heartbreaker who loves rock 'n' roll, then you won't want to miss out on ... More >>

Ten Songs to Help Cope With Coachellaitis

Coachella was a lot of fun. I crossed a bunch of bands off my bucket list that I never thought I'd be able to see live--Refused, Pulp, Justice, At The Drive-In, 2pac...okay, 2pac wasn't actually on my bucket list, but it was cool to kind of see him. A major downside to the festival is you're prett ... More >>

Incoming: Jason Mraz, Pennywise, Jeff the Brotherhood

Guess who's looking a lot older and more strung out than last time anyone saw him? Good ol' Jason Mraz. You'd think that someone who has "the remedy" would easily be able to keep himself from looking like an aging schlub of a musician. Au contraire, mon frère. Simply observe -- he looks something l ... More >>

The Devil Wears Prada's Jeremy DePoyster on Dead Throne Hear an Unreleased Song

BY LAUREN WISE ​ The Vans Warped Tour blew through Phoenix this past Sunday, and one of the bands that concert-goers were itching to see was metalcore's rising star The Devil Wears Prada. These Warped Tour veterans have three released albums and have a fourth due next month, Dead Throne. Known ... More >>

The Black Keys Done With New Album

​Considering The Black Keys got booked for seemingly every major music festival in the last year or two, it's a mystery how they could have accomplished finishing another album. But somehow they actually did it, according to Consequence of Sound.Dan Auerbach says the next album "doesn't sound like ... More >>

Stephen "Psyko Steve" Chilton, What Are You Listening To?

Maria VassettStephen Chilton​Stephen "Psyko Steve" Chilton The Valley-based music promoter has more than 20 events he's producing, which may be found at www.psykosteve.com When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? When I am in the car, I ... More >>

Jason Alford, What Are You Listening To?

Jason Alford​Jason AlfordThe executive chef of Roka Akor hosts a Mother's Day brunch and dinner at the restaurant on Sunday, May 8. For more information, log on to www.rokaakor.com. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? KYOT ... More >>

Fake Problems' Chris Farren on Daytrotter, Radio City Music Hall, and Arrested Development

Fake Problems​Fake Problems doesn't have many problems, real or imagined. Instead of worrying, they focus on having a good time and touring often. Singer/guitarist Chris Farren taught the band how to play Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover" while lounging poolside before opening for Lucero in Phoenix a co ... More >>

Incoming: Alison Krauss, Bill Callahan, David Bazan, Dirty Beaches, Vans Warped Tour

Warped Tour 2011 - coming to a parking lot near you​Not a whole lot of new shows to announce this week, but at least there's a Warped Tour for that. The venerable punk rock tour is now in its 17th year, a rather impressive feat in this day and age. Bands such as NOFX, Poison The Well, Gym Class He ... More >>

South By Stateside: Day 2 Last Night at The Sail Inn

​It's a real shame that Mother Nature didn't see if fit to cooperate with Stateside Presents' plans for South By Stateside: Day 2, the annual Phoenix run off of indie-bands on their way to the West Coast from Austin's South by Southwest Festival. The nine band bill was divided pretty evenly betwee ... More >>

Flogging Molly at Tempe Beach Park Last Night

Flogging Molly performs at Tempe Beach Park last night.​Flogging MollyTempe Beach ParkThursday, March 17With all of indie folks invading Austin to schmooze and snap photos at SxSW, the rest of us were left with what's become a Tempe St. Patrick's Day tradition: watching Flogging Molly at Tempe ... More >>

Get Primed for Day 2 of South by Stateside

Info Leaked About Britney Spears' New Album

​An internal Jive Records memo that contains information about Britney Spears' upcoming album has been leaked, according to Rolling Stone.The memo stated that Britney's album will be released on March 15. It also revealed collaborations with Dr. Luke and Max Martin.The majority of the information ... More >>

Andrew Jackson Jihad on Downtown Phoenix

15 Good Songs You Might've Missed in 2010

Peter Storch​I listened to more than 3,000 songs in 2010, so I was asked to come up with a list of the best of the year. But you've probably heard "Swim" by Surfer Blood and "Boyfriend" by Best Coast and "Helicopter" by Deerhunter and "Hustle and Cuss" by the Dead Weather, so I came up with a ... More >>

Odds 'n' Sods: Helmet, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Charlatans, Small Black, and more

​It's amazing how much music is released in a year. I've listened to nearly 270 records in their entirety this year, yet I still have a huge stack of unlistened CDs on my desk, several unlistened digital downloads in my iTunes, and a lengthy list of high-profile stuff I never got a chance to h ... More >>

OFF!: First Four EPs

​Artist: OFF! Title: First Four EPs Release date: November 23 Label: Vice Records In 2010, few things seem more ridiculous than a punk supergroup anchored by two guys who made their most indelible marks on American punk rock nearly 30 years ago. But, damn, OFF! pulled off an unlikely feat, ma ... More >>

Matt & Kim: Sidewalks

​Artist: Matt & KimTitle: SidewalksRelease date: November 2Label: FaderI suppose I should mention up front that I didn't like Tears for Fears in 1985 and I still don't 25 years later, even in a nostalgic sense. So it stands to reason that I have little use for Matt & Kim in 2010.It's not t ... More >>

Elvis Costello: National Ransom

​Artist: Elvis Costello Title: National Ransom Release date: November 2 Label: Hear Music I really wish it weren't the case, but I'd have to file the new record by Elvis Costello under "For Completists Only" (of which I'm sure there many when it comes to Elvis Costello fans). If you heard hi ... More >>

The 88: The 88

​Artist: The 88Title: The 88 Release date: September 28 Label: Rocket ScienceWhat do you do if you're a band like The 88? You're top-flight songwriters and musicians, you get your songs placed in all kinds of big-name TV shows and high-profile TV commercials, you tour the country opening ... More >>

Warpaint: The Fool

​Artist: Warpaint Title: The Fool Release date: October 25 Label: Rough Trade The musical path taken by L.A. foursome Warpaint is well trodden -- but this kind of ultra-moody, sort of experimental, Joy Division-indebted music is usually plied by men. But Warpaint is a quartet of women, and in ... More >>

Screaming Females: Castle Talk

​Artist: Screaming Females Title: Castle Talk Release date: September 14 Label: Don Giovanni Back in the day, I'd hate to miss a good show (I'm still not happy that my parents wouldn't let me drive to Kalamazoo one Monday night to see Scratch Acid and Big Black play, ditto the time I couldn't ... More >>

Kings of Leon: Come Around Sundown

​Artist: Kings of LeonTitle: Come Around SundownRelease date: October 19Label: RCAI think it's funny that people are getting all bent out of shape over the supposed "selling out" of Kings of Leon, saying their new record sucks worse than that sucky one that sold a bajillion copies a few years ago. ... More >>

Sufjan Stevens: The Age of Adz

​Artist: Sufjan Stevens Title: The Age of Adz Release date: October 21 Label: Asthmatic Kitty The new record by indie-music deity Sufjan Stevens is an hour-and-12-minute endurance test, one who's raison d'etre is revealed in the closing seconds of the record's final song, "Impossible Soul." A ... More >>

The Corin Tucker Band: 1,000 Years

​Artist: The Corin Tucker BandTitle: 1,000 YearsRelease date: October 5Label: Kill Rock Stars Who else loves Sleater-Kinney and was disappointed to hear they'd gone on indefinite hiatus after the release of one of their best records, The Woods, in 2006? In my opinion, we're one of the finer bands ... More >>

Grinderman: Grinderman 2

​Artist: GrindermanTitle: Grinderman 2Release date: September 14Label: Anti-Most of the indie rock I've heard this year (well over 200 records and counting, with 11 weeks to go in this series) is really pretty toothless. Even the harder-rocking stuff, with its big drums or wall-of-sound guitars or ... More >>

Nothing Not New: Podcast #9

​Welcome to our latest podcast, in which Martin Cizmar and I play some new music and about it, too. On today's program, we discuss the merits of such bands as Wavves, Arcade Fire, The Budos Band, Jimmy Eat World, and local superstars Snake! Snake! Snakes!Here's the playlist:Jaill -- "The Stroller" ... More >>

Odds 'n' Sods: Cowboy Junkies, Winnie Cooper, Grieves, Shelby Lynne, and more

​Holy crap, only five-plus months left of Nothing Not New. I gotta get to a lot more new(-ish) releases. Let's roll . . .Cowboy Junkies -- Remnin Park: Who knew these dour Canadians were even still around? Remnin Park is a concept album inspired the Timmins' family month-long sojourn to China. Out ... More >>

Authority Zero: Stories of Survival

​Artist: Authority ZeroTitle: Stories of SurvivalRelease date: June 22Label: Suburban NoizeI have a friend who's a native Phoenician and longtime fixture in the Valley punk scene, both as fan and musician. He loves West Coast punk, thinks Southern California spawned the best of the best punk, espe ... More >>

13 Must-Hear Songs from the First Half of 2010

Dum Dum Girls​Today marks the halfway point of Nothing Not New. That means I've listen to nearly 140 records in their entirety in the first six months of 2010. Just another 140 or so to go before I can retreat to the familiarity of my record collection.To recognize the occasion, the Up on the Sun ... More >>

Patti Smith, Willie Nelson, Tupac and More Inducted into Library of Congress Registry

Punk rock icon Patti Smith is among the newest batch of inductees to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.​You may not necessarily associate popular music with the Library of Congress, but a few recent inductees have just made the catalog a little bit cooler. NME reports that the L ... More >>

Foals: Total Life Forever

​Artist: FoalsTitle: Total Life ForeverRelease date: June 22Label: Sub PopThough I disagree with a commenter on one of my posts this week (Shawn from excellent local music blog Electric Mustache) about the merits of electro-punk Sleigh Bells, I agree with him that S.B. are a band that you either l ... More >>

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Mojo

​Artist: Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersTitle: MojoRelease date: June 15Label: RepriseHow many of you have acts that you'd never call yourself a fan of, would never buy one of their records, or pay money to see in concert, yet recognize that the acts have been around for so long and written songs ... More >>

Odds 'n' Sods: Delta Spirit, Stereo Total, The Tallest Man on Earth, The Cringe, The Dig, and more

​Let's clear off the desk, shall we?Stereo Total: Baby Ouh! -- This band on the Kill Rock Stars label is a multi-lingual new-New Wave boy-girl band with songs sung in English, German, and French. It's quirky with a capital "Q" and not nearly as charming as it thinks it is. Still, most songs are un ... More >>

Twittenemies and Online Nemeses, New Record Releases, and More in This Week's Issue

Elycia Marie: Martin Cizmar's internet nemesis.​This week's music feature is an explanation of the strange series of events that made Elycia Marie, the girlfriend of Malcolm in the Middle child star Frankie Muniz, who plays drums for a Phoenix band, the Twitter nemesis of music editor Martin Cizma ... More >>

The Gaslight Anthem

The Gaslight Anthem

10 Things Under $10 This Weekend: Frat Games, Free Shows, and Freaky Movies

Kyle Cesmat Safe Haven is scheduled to perform tonight at Club Mardi Gras.Dear College Students of the Valley, Welcome back from your summertime hiatus. Your absence was particularly missed by local bar and club owners, as was your supply of disposable income. A few things are different sinc ... More >>

10 Things Under $10: Inglorious Bastards, Deadheads, Sugar Thieves, and Punks Aplenty

Calabrese is scheduled to haunt Atomic Comics during Fright Night on Sunday.​ Discount-priced distractions are in abundance this weekend, ranging from Faux Punks and real punks to fashionistas and freaks. Looking for some inexpensive adventure? Here's our weekly list of what's going on. Wes ... More >>

Lucero Live: Moshing to Pedal Steel

Martin CizmarLucero: Music to mosh to!Dear ex-hardcore kids,Please stop ruining roots music.Look, I get it, you're pretty much aged out of hardcore shows, but you're covered in tattoos and have plugs in your earlobes, and it's hard to find a scene. Every band you've ever liked seems to be starting a ... More >>

Lucero Live: Why Country Music Needs Some Punk Blood

I love discussing music with our new Music Editor, Martin. More often than not we basically agree on most things. But I could not disagree more with his review of the Lucero show last night at the Rhythm Room. The first of my complaints is when talking about how the crowd was reacting (or the fact t ... More >>

Under the Influence

There's method to Avail's anarchy