Janelle Monae

Sam Means Steps Into the Spotlight with NONA

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 >>

fun. Stream New Record, Some Nights; Headed to Zia Records on February 22

Doesn't matter if you're like me and have been mostly indifferent to fun. in the past, the band's new single, "We are Young (featuring Janelle Monáe)" has been inescapable over the past few weeks. The song's huge, and sounds like it was custom built for a car commercial (and yeah -- that's why you' ... More >>

Bruno Mars at Comerica Theatre, 6/15/11 (VIDEO)

Photos by Maria VassettBruno Mars and his band at Comerica Theatre.​Bruno MarsJune 15, 2011Comerica TheatreWhat a long way Bruno Mars has come in the last 8 months since he's been to Arizona last. Back then, his single "Grenade" was just catching on, and he packed a sold-out Martini Ranch. Now, he ... More >>

David Barnes Turns of Montreal's Live Shows Into a Musical Menagerie

Photos by Maria VassettBruno Mars and his band at Comerica Theatre.​Bruno MarsJune 15, 2011Comerica TheatreWhat a long way Bruno Mars has come in the last 8 months since he's been to Arizona last. Back then, his single "Grenade" was just catching on, and he packed a sold-out Martini Ranch. Now, he ... More >>

Incoming: Arcade Fire, Talib Kweli, Bruno Mars, Janelle Monáe, John Vanderslice, Loudness

Loudness​There's lots of big name acts in this week's just announced shows as the always-busy spring slate of shows are finally being announced. The huge Arcade Fire show was gleefully announced last Friday by Martin Cizmar, so I really need not write about the recent Album of the Year Grammy winn ... More >>

Lil' Kim Beheads Nicki Minaj on New Mixtape Cover

​Nicki Minaj is dead to Lil' Kim, according to Idolator.When will these chicks stop ripping each other off? Nicki Minaj's whole character is partially modeled after and influenced by Lil' Kim. If Lil' Kim can't be the bad chick on the block then someone had to replace her, and Nicki Minaj came alo ... More >>

A Recap of the 2011 Grammy Awards: A Quick, Easy Guide to What Happened

Dan MacMedan, USA TodayNicki Minaj, doing what she does best: always trying to get attention.​The 2011 Grammy Awards kept things classy this year: There wasn't even a single mention of Ke$ha during the entire show!Good job, Grammy people! Thanks for taking out the trash this year. Aside from the l ... More >>

Steven Tyler Rejected For Led Zeppelin Position

​Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has revealed that lead singer Steven Tyler was turned down after he auditioned to replace Robert Plant in Led Zeppelin, according to NME.However, Jimmy Page invited Tyler to make a record together, which Tyler declined. Why the hell would anyone turn down the chance ... More >>

Top 25 Lists of 13 New Times Contributors

​Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has revealed that lead singer Steven Tyler was turned down after he auditioned to replace Robert Plant in Led Zeppelin, according to NME.However, Jimmy Page invited Tyler to make a record together, which Tyler declined. Why the hell would anyone turn down the chance ... More >>

Pitchfork's Top 10 Albums of 2010 Explained

Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig​The wonderful people over at Pitchfork just released their 10 best albums of 2010 today. In what should have came as no surprise, Kanye West took the top spot. His latest album had been given a notorious perfect 10 a month ago and, if Rolling Stone and Spin have anyth ... More >>

Janelle Monáe - Cold War

​Song: Janelle Monáe, "Cold War"Context: Getting caught up on best of 2010 albums. Paste put Monáe's The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) at #2. Feels like a reach to me so far. Janelle Monáe - Cold War

B.o.B. He's the Man of the Year For Doing Awesome Covers

​It pissed me off so much when MGMT didn't play their hit song "Kids" at Coachella this year, and I'm sure plenty of other people weren't too pleased either. Right before Coachella, MGMT released their album Congratulations, which a lot of music lovers weren't particularly crazy about. Most of MGM ... More >>

R&B Is “Rap & Bullshit”

​It pissed me off so much when MGMT didn't play their hit song "Kids" at Coachella this year, and I'm sure plenty of other people weren't too pleased either. Right before Coachella, MGMT released their album Congratulations, which a lot of music lovers weren't particularly crazy about. Most of MGM ... More >>