Frank Zappa

Study Concludes: Kids Today Are Musically Spoiled Rotten

When it comes to music, do kids today have it better or worse than the generations before them? I decided to do some research into the matter. By "research," I mean I asked my teenagers some questions, and then compared their answers to my opinions. Around here, we call that science. (What do yo ... More >>

A Record Store Geek (And Parent) on Exploring The Music Generation Gap

Finally, I get to write about music. I've been hanging out on the cultural side of the New Times site, Jackalope Ranch, writing a little column called Parent Hood. Not a "how to parent" column, more like a look at pop culture through the eyes of a parent (five kids aged 11 through 30) and a hoodlu ... More >>

Elizabeth Kennedy Bayer, What Are You Listening To?

Elizabeth Kennedy Bayer The composer hosts the podcast Trainwreck in Progress. Listen to it here. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? I drive a scooter! (You know, the orange one with the green, fuzzy seat.) So no driving stations for me. ... More >>

10 Meatless Songs in Honor of World Vegetarian Day

October is a fun month to start planning Halloween costumes and sip on pumpkin spice lattes or pumpkin flavored beers. The month of the gourd serves another purpose- vegetarianism. Today happens to be World Vegetarian Day, which kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month, so stock up on some hummus. If ... 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 >>

Robert "Frog" Camarena on Playing with Frank Zappa and His New Band, Forty-Seven 51

Not just anyone can say they used to jam with a highly acclaimed musician like Frank Zappa -- but Valley based Latin/funk rocker Robert "Frog" Camarena can -- he played in Ruben and the Jets, a group produced by Zappa, and backed the songwriter up. Camarena is 64-years-old now and has traded in hi ... More >>

Scottsdale Resident Jerry Lawson of The Persuasions To Perform on NBC's The Sing Off

The Persuasions in 1972​The idea of Scottsdale resident Jerry Lawson, onetime leader of The Persuasions, one of the most prominent a cappella group of '60s and '70s, competing on NBC's a cappella competition The Sing Off seems crazy. But that's exactly what happened last season, when the ... More >>

7 of Music's Most Beautiful Mustaches to Inspire Your Mustache Movember Growth

Private eyes, privater stache -- John Oates​You could say that during the month of October, there are some questionable, but well-intended benefits that sexualize breasts for the sake of raising money for breast cancer research.Well, two can play at that game, ladies. Move over, October. Think you ... More >>

Adrian Belew Concert Moves from Foundry to Crescent Ballroom

​Adrian Belew has an extensive résumé. The art-rocker has played with the avant-garde vanguard, clocking in time with King Crimson, Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, The Talking Heads, Frank Zappa, Brian Eno, as well as playing straight up power pop with his band The Bears. Lately Belew has been t ... More >>

Westley Allen (Erratic! Radio) on Yus, The Eastside Jets, and The Muddy Moneys

Clockwise from top left: The Eastside Jets, Muddy Moneys, Yus, and Westley Allen​If you're into scuzzy rock 'n' roll in this town, you know Westley Allen -- either from his time onstage with The Plainfield Butchers, his gig behind the bar at Time Out Lounge, or as the host of Erratic! Radio o ... More >>

Voices Lifted Brings Comfort to Valley Hospice Residents

The Tubes to Headline KDKB 40th Anniversary Concert

The Tubes circa 1977​ The Tubes have serious roots in Arizona. Formed after two Phoenix-based bands, The Beans and Red, White and Blues Band, moved to San Francisco and combined, The Tubes were remarkably ahead of their time. The group's mix of simulated sex and hard rock landed them some primo op ... More >>

Ten Strange Names Rock Stars Gave Their Kids

Wikimedia CommonsMama, don't let your babies grow up to be Bronxes -- or Diezels or Moon Units.​On Monday night, singer Jewel and her husband, Ty Murray, had their first child, a boy they named Kase Townes Murray. And while "Kase Townes" isn't that bizarre of a name, it's not as traditional as say ... More >>

Underground Cities @ The Duce and The Sail Inn

Black Bottom Lighters, Treasure Mammal, and Waytansea Point Play The Fixx this Weekend

www.reverbnation.com/blackbottomlightersBlack Bottom Lighters​This weekend, you can have your local funk and experimental art rock, too. Not only are Black Carl and Gospel Claws playing a free show at hip hot spot The Duce on Friday, but there's another killer music show of local acts lined u ... More >>

Zappa Plays Zappa at Comerica Theatre Last Night

Dweezil Zappa​Dweezil ZappaComerica TheatreMonday, December 6, 2010 Grey-haired dudes in tennis shoes, file in Co-mer-i-caThey throw back beers and let loose cheers, they scream 'woo-hoo, oh yeah!'Their past they seek sans acid peak, at the Zappa showLive it up, do it big, Just don't eat that yel ... More >>

The 10 Best Tribute Bands of All Time

Brew Review: Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout

​The Lagunitas Brewing Co. Web site states that the "Lagunitas Brewing Company is emerging as a battle-tested brewery capable of making great beer out of goat's milk, brambles, and asphalt on the surface of the Moon, if need be." Let's hope that it doesn't come to that. We're fairly sure that ... More >>

mewithoutYou

MewithoutYou

Zappa Plays Zappa Well Worth the Wait

Jonathan McNamara Considering Frank Zappa's vast catalog of music, I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only person at Dodge Theatre Thursday night who was surprised when Zappa Plays Zappa's set kicked off with a Van Halen cover. After a half-hour delay reportedly due to an exhaustive sound check, Dweezil Z ... More >>

Zappa Plays Zappa Stays True to Frank’s Vision

In The Heart Is a Drum Machine, Filmmakers Ryan Page and Christopher Pomerenke Ask the Ultimate Musical Question

Adrian Belew

Symphony in DIY

Symphony in DIY

Cellar Beware

They obviously should not have gone in the basement

Puscifer

"V" Is for Vagina
(Puscifer Entertainment)

Zappa Plays Zappa

The Zappa doesn't fall far from the tree

Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle

Have you ever really looked at your hand?

Freestyle Fellowship

Sometimes awesome live bands also make magic in the studio

Battle Acts

Which act deserves your entertainment dollar this week?

Sunrise Elementary CD release show

Strange but True Story

Great Persuader

After 40 years of street-corner symphonies, Jerry Lawson learns to sing with a band

Book 'Em

Taking a look at some of the best music literature from the past few months

'zine Buddha

Local artist Brian Brooks watches his work go from sticky barroom floors to flying off international clothing racks

Heavy Subjects, Light Feet

Centre Dance Ensemble

The Residents

Icky Flix DVD (The Cryptic Corporation)

Godspeed you black emperor!

Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (Kranky)

Brand New Year

Having averted a millennial apocalypse, it's time to catch up on the latest in heritage in roots music

Rock of Pages

Taking stock of the worst music books ever written

Trout Mask Original

New Captain Beefheart boxed set documents 17 stormy years of brilliant eccentricity

Recordings

New Radicals / Randy Newman

I Love a Band in a Uniform

The fashionable dos and duds of pop's greatest costume gimmick bands

Brand-Name Zappa

Is Rykodisc trying to (finally) get Frank Zappa's cruddy music on the radio?

Achtung, Baby!

The guiterrorists in Germany's KMFDM "rip the system" with gallows humor and high-tech aggression

GUMBO CHEFUSING JAZZ AS A BASE, GEORGE DUKE DISHES UP A SPICY, AUTHENTIC BLEND

MAPPING ZAPPAFROM TOILET TO TIMELESS, FRANK'S OEUVRE IS BACK IN THE STORES

TRUTH OF DARE

STREET-CORNER SERENADEAFTER THREE CONVINCING DECADES, THE PERSUASIONS ARE STILL VOICING THEIR OPINIONS-A CAPPELLA