George Strait

Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Jukeboxes

See also: Top 10 Songs for Jukebox Warfare In the hands of a capable coin-popper, an Internet jukebox can be a great thing. A little far out Tropicália? That sounds nice. Some classic funk from Parliament? Yes, please. The deep cuts cost more, but can really set the mood. So we're not putting dow ... More >>

Ashton Kutcher's Not the First Singer/Actor, and He Won't Be the Last

You don't need us to tell you that Ashton Kutcher is kind of a knucklehead, but country star Miranda Lambert apparently needs a reminder after the television goofballs on-stage attempt at country crooning. Kutcher presented Lambert with the Female Vocalist of the Year award at the Academy of Countr ... More >>

George Strait, Beatles Covers, and Social Distotion This Weekend

George Strait at US Airways Center Wow, I truly underestimated the amount of country fans in Arizona. Rising to their feet for the only and only "King of Country," George Strait walked onto the stage and the crowd went crazy. They whistled so loud that my ears continue to ring and women of all age ... More >>

George Strait at US Airways Center, 2/3/12

Taylor Moon​George Strait US Airways Center Friday, February 3, 2012 Wow, I truly underestimated the amount of country fans in Arizona. Rising to their feet for the only and only "King of Country," George Strait walked onto the stage and the crowd went crazy. They whistled so loud that m ... More >>

George Strait: The "King of Country" Takes the Stage Once Again

"All My Ex's Live in Texas." That's true for me. What about you? The one and only "King of Country", George Strait, will be in Phoenix performing live tomorrow night, Friday, February 3. Now maybe it's just the fact that I am originally from Texas that makes me excited to him live again. When I ... More >>

Incoming: G. Love & Special Sauce, Twin Sister, Wu-Tang Clan

​Garret Dutton and his band, more commonly known as G. Love & Special Sauce, are coming back for more love from their fans in the Valley.The Philly group will be bringing their alternative blues jams to Martini Ranch in support of their latest album, Fixin' To Die.G. Love & Special Sauce, ... More >>

Dawn Jameson Looks the Part -- But Can She Sing It?

No. 9 Merle Haggard - Countdown of the Best Concerts of 2010

​Over the last ten weekdays of 2010 Up On The Sun will be counting down the best live shows of 2010.Today we look at the #9 show of the year, outlaw country legend Merle Haggard at Mesa Arts Center.

Lane Dawson: Love Letters (1985)

If only the record came with a copy of the letter Lane Dawson's writing...​ Welcome of Obscuro, a new weekly feature where Up on the Sun dives deep into the world of vinyl oddities: private press jobs, major label cast-offs, and general thrift shop clutter that's thus far escaped anyone's attentio ... More >>

Josh Turner

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 >>

Attention, Phoenix: We Are About to Take Over Your Radio for 4 Hours

George Strait​Yes, a four-hour block of Phoenix New Times guest DJs is about to hit Arizona State University's student radio station, The Blaze.Tune in to hear clubs editor Benjamin Leatherman at 11 a.m., me (music editor Martin Cizmar) at high noon, Nothing Not New columnist Jay Bennett at 1 p.m. ... More >>

Day Drinker: Man-Mines, Trouble and Heartache at the Snap Lounge (Part 2: The Thrilling Conclusion)

Who says you have to wait until the sun goes down to have a good time? Stan's snap of the Snap​ In last week's Day Drinker at The Snap Lounge, we felt like spaceships traveling through a magnetic field of man-mines. In this week's thrilling conclusion, the man-mines turn up the heat, and force u ... More >>

Day Drinker: Man-Mines, Trouble and Heartache at the Snap Lounge (Part 1 of 2)

Who says you have to wait until the sun goes down to have a good time? ​"We can't go back in there." "I know. It's too much, even for the two of us." "You call it. I mean, I'll do it, but if we go back in, who knows what's going to happen." "Run. Run to the car." ------ Stan was there f ... More >>

George Strait Is Classy and Totally Underrated

George Strait, Rufio and More in This Week's Issue

George Strait​The music feature story in week's edition of Phoenix New Times is about George Strait.George Strait is underrated. Perhaps that statement sounds ridiculous: Strait has 34 albums that have sold over a million copies each, seemingly countless hit songs, and a string of sold-out concert ... More >>

Incoming: Alice In Chains, Henry Rollins, George Strait, Matt Hires

​Maybe I'm forgetting something, but I'm pretty sure a former American Idol contestant has never played The Rhythm Room. The Maricopa County fair? Sure. Even The Marquee. But, from what I've seen in local show listings over the past two years it's rare that anyone who gets the benefit of anIdol-st ... More >>

George Strait Plays U.S. Airways on February 5

​ This show may not appeal to all our readers, but it's definitely worth mentioning: George Strait comes to U.S. Airways on Friday, February 5. Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack open. Like I said, maybe it's not for you, in which case I feel sorry for you. I'll personally be thrilled to hear "All M ... More >>

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

Alan Jackson Keeps It Old School at Country Thunder

The annual Country Thunder festival at the dusty Canyon Moon Ranch just outside of Florence is country music's version of a cattle drive, where over four days some of the bigger names in country music are herded on stage to bleat their biggest hits, then lassoed off to make way for the next artist. ... More >>

Josh Turner

James Intveld

Top 10 Country Records of 2008

By Michael McCall Photo by Michael Alan GoldbergTwo young blondes with toothy smiles and hard-core work ethics, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, helped country expand its fan base in these years of shrinking music sales. Meanwhile, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Tim McGra ... More >>

A fake AC/DC and other bands we love that you’ll loathe

Swift Success

From farmer's daughter to hitmaker

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Ten reasons to tune in country radio in 2006

Top 10 selling CDs at Circles Records & Tapes (800 North Central Avenue)

Last week's chartbusters

Four of Clubs

Kreme rides the bull while Jett lusts after cowboys at Tempe's Graham Central Station.

Americana Pie

Grab a slice of 2004's best roots music while it's still hot.

Here Comes the Judge

Letters from the week of January 30, 2003

George Strait

Country king plays it strait

Alan Jackson

Drive (Arista)

The Musica Man

A valley junior college administrator is becoming an unlikely force in the national latin music movement

Candy Cane Mutiny

Consumers fight back! You have the power to make the ultimate Christmas album yourself. Use it!

Dwight Yoakam

Tomorrow's Sounds Today (Reprise)

Molten Wax

Still Swingin'

For the second time this decade, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel pay tribute to Bob Wills

Recordings

Closed Door Policy

A Chilean national's struggle against deportation raises fundamental questions about the constitutional rights of immigrants

History in the Faking

CD ROMP

NEW RELEASES: YOU'VE SEEN 'EM IN STORES, NOW READ ABOUT 'EM

A BOY OF STRUMMERRICK TREVINO PLAYS THE BARS INSTEAD OF THE OUTFIELD

NUMBER ONE, WITH BULLETSCUT DOWN BY GUNFIRE LAST SPRING, SINGER TRACY LAWRENCE IS CLIMBING THE COUNTRY CHARTS AGAIN

THE BEST OF NINETEEN NINETY TUNE

PAM I AM

FINALLY READY FOR THE COUNTRY, PAM TILLIS EMBRACES HER FATHER'S MUSIC WITHOUT HESITATION

LWGENDS IN THEIR OWN RHYMECOUNTRY MUSIC'S STARS ARE RISING HARD AND FALLING FAST

FULL HOUSE, FIVE-SONG STUD