Billboard.com

Ironic Demonic

Why Is There So Much Indie Rock on Television?

By Dave Good It's hard not to notice: Indie bands seemingly soundtrack just about every sitcom, film and television commercial today. But why? Influential music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas swears it's not just about cheap labor. "It's far more of a creative decision than a monetary one," she say ... More >>

What's Better, Fifty Shades of Grey or Staind's 14 Shades of Grey?

[Editor's note: Deathmatch pairs two things that have something in common, and determines who is better. It's a concept we sort-of ripped off from MTV, except that instead of claymation it's the printed word!] By Paul T. Bradley Released in 2003, 14 Shades of Grey is the fourth studio album from a ... More >>

Cage the Elephant @ Marquee Theatre

Florence and the Machine Coming to Phoenix

Looks like the Coachella runoff just keeps on...uh...running off. Florence and the Machine, scheduled to play the Indio Festival on Sunday April 15 and 22, is making a side trip over to Comerica Theatre on Friday, April 20. 2011 was big for singer Florence Welsh -- her sophomore album, Ceremonia ... More >>

Thump Day

Katy Perry Nearing Michael Jackson's Singles Chart Record

​Katy Perry is on her way to matching Michael Jackson's singles record, according to NME.It looks like Katy Perry will hit the number one spot on the Billboard charts for the fifth time this album with her single "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)." If it actually takes the top spot, she will be the fi ... More >>

Odd Future To Play The Marquee Theatre in Tempe November 8

The Los Angeles rap collective is widely known for its unique, high-energy, punk-rock-style performance. Ski masks, stage diving and unpredictable antics are par for the course.

U2 to Sell 360 Tour Stages to Create New Venues

​U2 wants the stages used during their extensive 360 Tour to be recycled and become new permanent venues rather than going to waste, according to Billboard.The band is selling three of their four-legged structures that stand over the stage. They each take up 29,000 square feet.Plans are currently ... More >>

Train Makes 'Drops of Jupiter' Wine

​Pop music hit makers Train are making a "Drops of Jupiter" wine, according to Entertainment Weekly.Train's wine, which is a 2009 Petite Sirah, will be available for just $9.99 as of July 18. The proceeds from the sales will be donated to a charity called Family House.The idea for making the group ... More >>

The Maine to Wrap Up Tour with Augustana in Tempe

Valley indie rock band The Maine has been one of the city's success stories. The quintet toured with bands like Good Charlotte and Boys Like Girls before being signed to Warner Brothers Records in 2009, and their debut for the label, 2010's Black & White, debuted at #16 on the Billboard 200 cha ... More >>

Paul Thorn on Growing up with a Pimp and a Preacher, Dean Martin, and Boxing

Stephanie ReaPaul Thorn​ Paul Thorn, a native of Tupelo, Mississippi, learned most of what he needs to know in life from his preacher father and pimp uncle. Thorn's ninth album, Pimps and Preachers, is all about the light and dark parts of life he learned about from these individuals.After a brief ... More >>

Latest Cake Album Hits No. 1, Sets Dubious Record In The Process

Robert McKnightCakeThis year sure has been a fickle beast thus far -- treacherous weather, Jared Lee Loughner and now a slumping music industry.Showroom Of Compassion, the latest album from venerable rock band Cake, took the top spot on the Billboard charts for the week ending on January 1 ... More >>

'Whip My Hair' Songwriter Lashes Back at Soulja Boy With Diss Track

​What's the real deal: did Soulja Boy actually write Willow Smith's smash hit "Whip My Hair"? Hell no, but he did receive a bit of songwriting credit for a line that came from his own song, "Turn My Swag On."Ronald "Jukebox" Jackson is less than thrilled by the songwriting claim made by Soulja Boy ... More >>

Authority Zero

Locals Only: The Best Albums and EPs From Valley Bands in 2010

Authority Zero @ Marquee Theatre

Aretha Franklin Fighting Pancreatic Cancer

​Aretha Franklin's family has confirmed that the singer has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to Billboard.After being ordered by doctors to cancel six months of appearances and going through a very successful recovery from an unknown surgery last Thursday, we can only hope she'll b ... More >>

26 Miles for This?! Marathon Runners Suffer Through Horrible Headliners at P.F. Chang's "Rock 'N' Roll" Marathon

​You could argue that the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon is as big an annual event as the East Valley has.Especially for the formerly important town of Tempe, which saw Glendale steal away the city's BCS bowl game in 2007. Since then, the East Valley really hasn't had any other high-profile sporti ... More >>

Ozzy Osbourne to be the Dear Abby of Rolling Stone

​What publication in their right mind recruits Ozzy Osbourne to dish out advice to readers? Rolling Stone, that's who. According to Beat Crave, the Prince of Darkness is getting a health advice column in RS.He has already written a response to Adam in Brooklyn, some schmuck who isn't putting two a ... More >>

Celine Dion Gives Birth to Her 2nd, 3rd Children

Celine Dion gave birth to twin boys over the weekend, according to Billboard. Despite having just popped out more kids and, ahem, getting old, Dion is still booked for a three-year concert stint in Las Vegas. Oh, and her nine-year-old son will be a teenager soon. Actually, speaking of old peop ... More >>

Jimmy Eat World's Invented Hits Number 11 on Billboard Chart

​Internationally successful multi-platinum recording artists Local band Jimmy Eat World just missed a top ten hit on Billboard's album chart with their new record, Invented, which debuted at number 11 this week. Jimmy Eat World has toured the world for nearly 20 years and is signed to DGC/Intersc ... More >>

Arcade Fire Outduels Eminem, Lands Top Spot on Billboard Charts

​Big news from last night/this morning -- The Suburbs, the third album from Montreal indie rockers Arcade Fire, landed on the top of the Billboard 200 this week.The Suburbs sold 156,000 copies in its initial week, edging out Eminem's Recovery by 4,000 units. Thanks to a lofty $3.99 pricetag at Ama ... More >>

Glee Is Second Only to iTunes as Music Retail's Biggest Force

Music Retail’s Second Biggest Force

Fox’s Glee is Second Only To iTunes Nowadays

Sugarland

Sugarland

30 Strait Years: George Strait Has Had a Hit Every Year Since 1981

​A few weeks ago I went on The Blaze 1330, the student radio station operated by Arizona's Third Most Prestigious State University and played an hour of George Strait.Now, I'm sure there are a few people who will find fault with how I spent my hour-long Guest DJ Week slot, but you can't argue with ... More >>

DJ Train: What Happened After N.W.A. and the Posse?

​This is an installment in The Posse Project, a 12-day series in which www.PHXmusic.com catches up with all 12 guys pictured on the cover of N.W.A's first album, N.W.A. and the Posse. Today, we continue with DJ Train, one of two people in this photo who are now deceased. To read previous post ... More >>

Ke$ha Rips Off Lady Gaga

It's really sad that Ke$ha's single "TiK ToK" has reached number one on the Billboard charts and is refusing to go away. I actually liked the girl the first time I heard her in Flo Rida's song "Right Round," but now I'm getting drained listening to her on the radio singing about brushing her teeth w ... More >>

The Top-Selling Download of All-Time? You'll Never Guess...

​ What's the top selling digital download of the decade -- and, thus unsurprisingly, also the top selling digital download of all time? If you guessed Flo Rida's "Low" you're smarter than I am. After bursting onto the scene in late 2007, Poe Boy/Atlantic recording artist Flo Rida has claimed ... More >>

New Blessthefall Video

Phoenix metalcore act Blessthefall has a new video out. The kiddiecore act which is also featured on the cover of the Winter Issue of AMP Magazine (in stores now) has a new frontman, Beau Bokan, and is signed to Fearless Records. The new record, Witness, was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette (In ... More >>

Eyes Set to Kill

Former Ghosts

Job For A Cowboy Hits Billboard Charts

Ruination, the new record from Glendale metal act Job For A Cowboy, is officially a hit. The record, which we told you about last week when it came out, is number 42 on this week's Billboard chart. Their 11,000 units are also good enough to get them the number 4 spot on Billboard's Independent Albu ... More >>

Tempe's Eyes Set to Kill to Release New Album in June

Tempe hardcore act Eyes Set to Kill are back with a new disc. The band, who is signed with California-based BreakSilence recordings, will release their sophomore effort "The World Outside" on June 2. The group have spent a lot of time on the road since releasing their debut album last year and mad ... More >>

iTunes Price Hikes Hurt Some Track Rankings

The big music news today is a report from Billboard on iTunes price changes and their negatively affecting chart positions for the top 100 songs.Last week, iTunes introduced variable pricing, with some newer and more popular singles priced at $1.29 while other songs remaining at 99 cents and some ol ... More >>

Hail to the King

Bay Area hyphy pioneer E-40 hits Scottsdale

The Maine Achieved National Success Thanks to Twitter, MySpace, and Buzznet

The Maine Achieved National Success Thanks to Twitter, MySpace, and Buzznet

ZZ Top

Singer Josh Grier puts his spin on Tapes 'N Tapes' recent reviews

Boxin' the '90s

Collections set it up

New Found Glory

Frontman forced to focus

Bounce Back Blues

Survivalist discovers there's baller status to be found in a Yugo -- sorta

Thursday, and Thrice

Label-mates perform in Tempe

Run, Rasta, Run

A clever reggae remake of Dark Side of the Moon lovingly lampoons the album's hazy cult

Street Sweet

The three regular Jersey girls of 3LW look angelic. But the devil's in the details.

Magic Dragon

Phoenix Jazz Workshop brings the jam back to the East Valley