Benjamin Leatherman

Eight Must-See Concerts Over Saint Patrick's Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Local bands and musicians of a Celtic bent have plenty of reasons for their Irish eyes to be smiling right now, as this weekend is pretty much the biggest of the entire calendar year. Saint Pat's lands on a Sunday this year, which means three straight days of partying and performing for rowdy, drunk ... More >>

City of Madness @ Club 24

Top Phoenix Music Stories of the Week

The news waits for no one -- at least that's what we read somewhere -- so it's perfectly understandable that you, the reader, might have missed out on a musical tidbit, breaking news about your favorite venue, or one of our rants. So enjoy this digest-style sampling of some of our biggest stories f ... More >>

Top Five Phoenix Music Stories of the Week

The news waits for no one -- at least that's what we read somewhere -- so it's perfectly understandable that you, the reader, might have missed out on a musical tidbit, breaking news about your favorite venue, or one of our rants. So enjoy this digest-style sampling of some of our biggest stories f ... More >>

Shopping

Resolution Guide 2012

New Year's Eve at Crescent Ballroom, Scottsdale Clubs, and The Compound Over the Weekend

Welcome to 2012. Now that you've recovered from your hangover, check out some of the First Night craziness and more around the Valley.Photo by Melissa FossumNew Year's Eve Pahtay at Crescent Ballroom​Selecting the right spot to welcome the New Year can be a challenge since most bars are loud, pack ... More >>

Sister Cities, Doctor Bones, and the Return of Eastside Records' Michael Pawlicki Over the Weekend

​Busy giving thanks over your four-day weekend? Don't worry, here's what you missed at Up on the Sun: Sister Cities and Doctor Bones The Rogue Bar kicked off Saturday night with a charismatic and interactive performance by Doctor Bones followed by local charmers Sister Cities. Both bands wer ... More >>

Club Candids: Memorial Day Mayhem at Pussycat Lounge

Benjamin LeathermanOren J. from Silver Medallion (left) behind the decks with a few friends at PCL in Scottsdale.​When the dreaded hour of 2 a.m. approaches at most Scottsdale joints, clubgoers start sucking down the last few gulps of their drinks and start shuffling towards the door. At Pussycat ... More >>

Seven Places We're Dining At Before The Rapture

Benjamin LeathermanDurant's is where we'll be once Jesus comes calling.Not to be gloomy or gauche, but it might be time to start thinking about your last meal.  As those obnoxious billboards scattered around town are warning, The Rapture is prophesized to be happening two days from now. Mu ... More >>

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Hooves, and Gospel Claws Last Night At McDowell Mountain Music Fest

Melissa FossumEdward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros perform last night at the McDowell Mountain Music Festival.​Day 3, McDowell Mountain Music Fest Compound GrillSunday, May 1, 2011Last night I stood at the Compound Grill bar watching the president deliver a speech about the death of Osama Bin Lade ... More >>

Renetto-Mario Etsitty

Club Candids: El Hefe's Grand Opening Weekend

Benjamin LeathermanSome of the helpful hotties at El Hefe.If there's one thing that Scottsdale excels at, it's excess. To wit: Even though Old Town's nightlife district already is populated by plenty of Mexican-inspired drinkeries (Dos Gringos, Loco Patron, Salty Senorita, et al.), why not add one m ... More >>

Club Candids: Just Keep Raving IV at Stratus

Benjamin LeathermanAfter-hours outrageousness took place at Just Keep Raving IV on Friday, February 25, at Stratus.​Ravers are an ultra-colorful bunch, to say the least. For example, if you happened to hanging out at Stratus this past weekend, your eyeballs likely woulda exploded from the onslau ... More >>

Club Candids: Subversion at Disco Scottsdale

Benjamin LeathermanSmoking hot beats were unleashed by Jakwob (left) during Subversion on Thursday, January 20, at Disco in Scottsdale. ​The dance floor was glowing and the bass was flowing during the weekly Subversion session at Disco in Scottsdale last Thursday as boffo British beat-slinger Jakw ... More >>

Club Candids: Glow Friday at Vagabond Ballroom

Benjamin LeathermanDark and debaucherous deeds took place at the Vagabond Ballroom in Scottsdale on Friday, January 14.​Like the old saying goes: The more things change, the more they stay the same. Exemplifying this well-worn cliché axiom perfectly is the Vagabond Ballroom in Scottsdale. Back in ... More >>

Joe Strummer Benefit at George & Dragon

Benjamin LeathermanThe Glass Heroes get the crowd going at the George & Dragon. See more photos of the event in our slideshow.Joe Strummer Benefit  George & Dragon Pub & Restaurant January 15th, 2011Phoenix's punk community might not be the biggest or brightest music scene in the V ... More >>

D-JR, Hemoptysis and Landmine Marathon, and More in This Week's Issue

Benjamin LeathermanD-JR partying hard while celebrating his move to L.A.​J.R. Phillips, better known as D-JR, is on the move to Los Angeles in hopes of an even brighter future as a DJ. He's been spinning his way to the top spots of many notable DJ competitions, which have been landing him some big ... More >>

Club Candids: New Year's Eve at The Rogue Bar

Benjamin Leatherman Having a rocking New Year's Eve at the Rogue Bar in Scottsdale on Friday, December 31.​While the rest of Scottsdale were welcoming the dawn of 2011 with block parties, bizarre bonanzas, and beer-soaked bashes, the folks over at the Rogue were spending their New Year's Ev ... More >>

Rx Bandits at Scottsdale's Ultimate Block Party Last Night

Benjamin LeathermanThe Rx Bandits perform at Scottsdale's Ultimate Block Party last night.​Rx Bandits Scottsdale's Ultimate Block Party December 31, 2011 When Matt Embree, Steve Choi, and the other members of SoCal ska-punk reggae-rock band Rx Bandits signed up to headline Scottsdale's Ulti ... More >>

Nile Theatre, Long Wong's, Jugheads, PHiX, and Other Major Openings and Closings in 2010

Jonathan McNamara The Underground in Mesa, which opened in February.​Big changes took place in the Valley's nightlife landscape, to say the least. Music venues, nightspots, and dance clubs alike all entered and exited the scene. The loss of some (say like Jugheads, PHiX, or the Copper State ... More >>

Club Candids: Manic Mondays at the Crown Room

Benjamin LeathermanKicking it cool at the Crown Room in Scottsdale on Monday, September 6.​The three-day Labor Day weekend was filled with all manner of wild wingdings throughout the Valley. Some party monsters kept it going strong for four straight nights, including the dudes, dames, and dimes th ... More >>

Adult Swim Finds A Temporary Home For Memorial Day Weekend

Benjamin Leatherman Adult Swim's launch party from earlier this month, which pretty much turned into a one-off.​After a few weeks of searching for a new home, the promoters of Adult Swim have finally found a new location to host their popular hipster pool party this weekend. And in a huge ... More >>

Vikki Vaughn of Xplicit Showclub

Benjamin LeathermanClick "More" for an undistorted peek. ​Welcome to Stripper Songs, a weekly feature that proves not all Phoenix strippers bump and grind to Warrant's "Cherry Pie" of Flo Rida's "Low."This weeks ecdysiast (that word sounds extra dirty, right?) is diminiuative dame Vikki Vaughn, wh ... More >>

Red Brazilian at Olive & Ivy

Benjamin LeathermanChaz Anderson gabs with a Scottsdale socialite while whipping out a Red Brazilian at Olive & Ivy.Chaz Anderson is deeply involved with preparing a Red Brazilian behind the bar at Scottsdale's Olive & Ivy, muddling and mashing raspberries and fresh lime slices into a fragra ... More >>

Behind the Bar: Jamil Hyatt at AZ/88

Benjamin LeathermanJamil Hyatt strikes a pose behind the bar at AZ/88.No matter what he's doing -- whether it's serving up stylish martinis at Scottsdale's AZ 88 or spitting out dope rhymes within the Valley's hip-hop scene -- Jamil Hyatt is plenty smooth. As a former MC for mostly-defunct Valley h ... More >>

Royal Filth

Sanctum's Opening in Pictures

Benjamin Leatherman Check out more pics from Sanctum's opening weekend here.​There's something of a debate going on in the comments section of our blog from a few weeks ago about the opening of new dance club Sanctum. Amongst the comments about whether or not the establishment is a benefit ... More >>

Shizzfest Offers the Chance to Reunite With Old Friends and Make New Ones

Benjamin Leatherman Art for Starters rocks the outdoor stage at Shizzfest. My name is Benjamin Leatherman and I'm a former Shizzaholic. Back in 2004, local music message board The Shizz was practically the center of my universe. I used to regularly check the site several times a day to cat ... More >>

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies Take Over Harrah's Ak-Chin Tonight

Go, Daddies: Steve Perry (center, white tux) and the rest of CPDs swing through town tonight. The rumors are true: The Cherry Poppin' Daddies will be hitting the Valley tonight. The late-90s swing sensations will perform two separate shows at Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino, 15406 North Maricopa Road in ... More >>

Veggie Boy: Molly's Tamales

It's not really Christmas in Arizona without having a tamale or two.Wrapped in warm cornmeal dough and packed with such delicious fillings as cheese and chile peppers, tamales have long been the staple of many a Christmastime dinner table. Even for those who aren't of Hispanic origin, chances are th ... More >>

Fresh Mint, Flaming Kabob, The Firehouse, and Others Offer Vegetarian Dining Options On Christmas Day

Spend Christmas Day feasting on the golden chicken and other vegetarian Asian delights at Fresh Mint in Scottsdale. Christmas Day dining options can be quite slim, considering the fact most restaurateurs and food workers would rather toast the yuletide with their nearest and dearest than sling ... More >>

Vintage Lounge & Grill Debuts Tomorrow Night

The Mill Avenue scene is about to get another nightspot. Vintage Lounge & Grill, a slick new eatery and drinkery located at 411 South Mill Avenue in Tempe, opens to the public tomorrow night with a boffo grand opening fete. Occupying the second-floor space formerly occupied by the old Coconu ... More >>

Hang With The Arizona Cardinals' Defensive Line At The Clubs Tonight

  Defensive end Antonio Smith shows off the "raise the roof" gesture. Wanna high-five a few Arizona Cardinals players on their recent clinching of the NFC West crown? We've got info on where a few players will be kicking back tonight.

Edgefest: Hot Girls and Wild Hair

This Weekend: Brad B., Monster Commute and Kate Voegele

Benjamin Leatherman conjures local YouTube lore

It Came From YouTube: Nirvana at the old Mason Jar

Got Game?

Dodgeballs to the wall

Icon Game

reZurrection says to hell with it

Metal and Might

Copperstate Football likes its grass stains the old-fashioned way

Beer Run

Hashers get exercise, too!

Lick Them Beavers!

Notre Dame looks for payback in the Insight Bowl

Fable Bodied

The Fable Company does improv Aesop

Split Splash

Modified gets emotional

Balls Out!

The volleyball's in gay league's court at Steele Indian School Park

Ball Games

Feelin' blue? Go nuts at the Alwun House.

Non-Toxic Avengers

Swimmers brave the waters of Firebird Lake

Closet Case

Valentino and Rambova shared a passion -- for fashion

Thrilling Me

Not-so-softly with their songs