Billy Joel

Ladylike Approaches '70s Pop With Sharpened Tools

Seven Collaborations Mick Jagger, Arcade Fire, and Foo Fighters Could Take a Hint From

Saturday Night Live is ending its 37th season with a bang. Last week, classic alum Will Ferrell hosted the show, reprising his parody of George W. Bush, and the 100th SNL Digital Short was aired. Things look to get even bang-ier with this Saturday's season finale, featuring Mick Jagger taking the ... More >>

Treasure Mammal's Checkognize Is Seriously Funny

Saturday Night Live is ending its 37th season with a bang. Last week, classic alum Will Ferrell hosted the show, reprising his parody of George W. Bush, and the 100th SNL Digital Short was aired. Things look to get even bang-ier with this Saturday's season finale, featuring Mick Jagger taking the ... More >>

Nate Ruess Has Some Fun. At Zia Records

While the GOP presidential candidates debated in Mesa last night, folks at Zia Records in Chandler gathered for a different kind of spectacle: NYC-based pop band Fun. (featuring Nate Ruess formerly of Tempe rockers The Format) played an acoustic set and signed autographs for about 400 fans. The ba ... More >>

St. Ranger: "Ohnowoe"

Although they have not produced at a very prolific pace thus far, the members of Phoenix indie pop group St. Ranger are on the verge of unleashing some serious noise.

Joe Arpaio Jumps on John McCain's "Illegals Started Wildfires" Train; Will Question Captured Immigrants About Fires

Joe Arpaio plans to question illegal immigrants about Arizona wildfires.​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio will be more aggressive when it comes to questioning illegal immigrants about wildfires, echoing Senator John McCain's baseless claim that immigrants started fires currently burning in south ... More >>

Flogging Molly's The Speed of Darkness Comes Out Today

​Irish-American Celtic punk band Flogging Molly release their fifth full-length studio album, The Speed of Darkness, today. Like Flogging Molly's previous records, the new one's full of furious fiddles laid over backdrops of supercharged punk guitar riffs and fast-paced beats. Unlike the band's p ... More >>

The Premier Queensryche Tribute Band Lived the Dream but Is Ready to Put Its Baby to Bed

​Irish-American Celtic punk band Flogging Molly release their fifth full-length studio album, The Speed of Darkness, today. Like Flogging Molly's previous records, the new one's full of furious fiddles laid over backdrops of supercharged punk guitar riffs and fast-paced beats. Unlike the band's p ... More >>

Lax Phoenix Recordkeeping Allows City Officials to Enjoy Lavish Off-the-Book Perks

​Irish-American Celtic punk band Flogging Molly release their fifth full-length studio album, The Speed of Darkness, today. Like Flogging Molly's previous records, the new one's full of furious fiddles laid over backdrops of supercharged punk guitar riffs and fast-paced beats. Unlike the band's p ... More >>

The Strokes, Angles: Worth the Wait

'Angles' by The Strokes. Could this be the big comeback we've all been waiting for?​After listening to the Strokes' new single, "Under Cover of Darkness" when it dropped, I didn't set my hopes very high for the rest of the album.The single, which dropped a few days ago, was just ta little better t ... More >>

How Phoenix Almost Lost J.D. Stooks, Our Quintessential Hipster Singer-Songwriter

'Angles' by The Strokes. Could this be the big comeback we've all been waiting for?​After listening to the Strokes' new single, "Under Cover of Darkness" when it dropped, I didn't set my hopes very high for the rest of the album.The single, which dropped a few days ago, was just ta little better t ... More >>

Elton John and Leon Russell at US Airways Center Last Night

Maria Vassett​Elton John November 6, 2010 US Airways Center Elton John and Leon Russell let their fingers do the talking at last night's show at the US Airways Center. John was, of course, the main attraction and the singer's solo set was hit after hit, satisfying a crowd full of people who want ... More >>

Green Day Put on Epic 3-Hour Show at Cricket Wireless Pavilion

Luke Holwerda​It's probably safe to call the members of Green Day rock n' roll gods. Maybe it's because their concerts sets are more than 3 hours long, or maybe it's because they allow fans to come on-stage and play with them. The veteran trio performed for an adoring crowd last night at Cricket W ... More >>

Nicole Pesce at My Florist Cafe

Nicole Pesce.​This is part of a series of reviews of bands who play weekly at local bars. The show: Nicole Pesce at My Florist Cafe. The look: Sleek, chic, and trendy. The smell: Salmon and warm bread. The taste: Savory, sweet, and filling. Three words/phrases to describe the night: Neon light, d ... More >>

In Search of Real Honky-Tonk at the Arizona State Fair

Nicole Pesce.​This is part of a series of reviews of bands who play weekly at local bars. The show: Nicole Pesce at My Florist Cafe. The look: Sleek, chic, and trendy. The smell: Salmon and warm bread. The taste: Savory, sweet, and filling. Three words/phrases to describe the night: Neon light, d ... More >>

Concert Review: U2 Gets Intimate in Glendale

Luke Holwerda​There's something inherently incongruous about the serene, relentlessly thoughtful music U2 made at its creative peak and the stadium-sized spectacle that came to Glendale last night. Sure, the band has been one of the few extant rock acts capable of (nearly) selling-out football fie ... More >>

Sony Ruins eMusic's Indie Credibility, Raises Rates

eMusic adds Sony and pisses off its indie rock-savvy clienteleThese troubling financial times call for belt-tightening across American society. We all know what's going on with the auto industry, and the record industry is not safe from this recession. As announced Monday, online music retailer eMus ... More >>

Bruce Springsteen Makes Everyone a Little Nostalgic at Jobing

Victor PalaganoSee more shots from the show in our Bruce Springsteen slide show. Maybe it was the bouncing beach balls that reminded me of my first concert experiences (seeing the Kokomo-era Beach Boys) or maybe it was the inclusion of a relatively obscure song by glam- ... More >>

Just Announced: The Turtles, Insane Clown Posse, Forgive Durden, Propagandhi

Is it just me, or is anyone else feeling a little over-Boomered lately? Maybe it's that Billy Joel concert I saw last night, or maybe it's the "review" I just read in that other paper, written by someone who's probably a little too young to be a Boomer, but sure sounds like one, but I'm at my limit, ... More >>

March 26 In Blogs: Pickaxes, Elton John, Downtown Sushi and More

We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Valley Fever: Speed Camera Pickax Attacker Gets Probation and Fine Governor Brewer's ... More >>

Conner Cecil

Conner
(Old Dominion Records)

You Asked For It: Conner Cecil

Conner CecilConner(Old Dominion Records)There was a time when hearing a boyish and manicured voice like Conner Cecil's alongside a willowy pedal steel wasn't uncommon in country music. That time is long gone, though, and hearing Conner -- a Globe native whose voice matches his cherubic face -- on h ... More >>

American Idol: Scott MacIntyre, Other Phoenix Folks, Impressing

So we'll have more American Idol in Phoenix coverage for you later, but I couldn't resist putting up a quick post on Scott MacIntyre, the visually impaired singer from Scottsdale who's about to win America's heart. MacIntyre is, indeed, gifted, and he and his family are one of the most charming inte ... More >>

Sludge metal pioneers, The Melvins, are still doing things their own way on Nude with Boots

So we'll have more American Idol in Phoenix coverage for you later, but I couldn't resist putting up a quick post on Scott MacIntyre, the visually impaired singer from Scottsdale who's about to win America's heart. MacIntyre is, indeed, gifted, and he and his family are one of the most charming inte ... More >>

Cabaret on Crack: March Fourth Marching Band @ Alice Cooper'stown, Saturday, October 27

So we'll have more American Idol in Phoenix coverage for you later, but I couldn't resist putting up a quick post on Scott MacIntyre, the visually impaired singer from Scottsdale who's about to win America's heart. MacIntyre is, indeed, gifted, and he and his family are one of the most charming inte ... More >>

Bad Revues

For your commiseration

The Kid's All Right

Piano woman

BEST LOCAL RON BURGUNDY

Ron Hoon

Low Life

Arizona Super Show pimps its rides

Down With Love

The Best X-Rated Breakup Songs

A-Sharp Player

Pianist Nicole Pesce strikes a chord with artsy downtown audiences

Drive Away

The members of Sparta leave At the Drive-In, expectations and a so-called hiatus behind

Rock of Ages

Singer-songwriter strikes a chord with the perimenopausal set

Hunger Strike

Can a non-9/11 benefit album make any noise?

A New Tune

After September 11, some new songs just don't sound the same

Ben Folds

Rockin' The Suburbs (Epic)

Eccentricities

While they may not top the Billboard charts, this month's batch of jazz, blues and heritage releases is definitely worth hearing

Souled Out

Chris Rock's talents wasted in hellaciously unfunny Down to Earth

The Artist Formerly Known As Print

Our quarterly roundup of the latest in music books

Live From New York

Saturday Night Live and DreamWorks Records team up for two not-ready-for-prime-time compilations

Hearts Full of Napalm

Three decades after the fact, L.A.'s Streetwalkin' Cheetahs make good on that old Detroit Rock City promise

Grist From the Mill

Music Awards Showcase once again makes a virtue of excess

Recordings

Music Awards Showcase once again makes a virtue of excess

North Forks

Music Awards Showcase once again makes a virtue of excess

Beach Boys Vs. Guns N' Roses:

Who are the real bad boys of rock?

RECORDINGS

Who are the real bad boys of rock?

TAPES IN THE MAILSOUNDS OF THE LOCALS REVEALED

Who are the real bad boys of rock?

TAPES IN THE MAIL

Who are the real bad boys of rock?

Thin Icelanders

The world turns sour on the Sugarcubes' second album

Howlin' Globetrotter

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown sings the blues around the world