Leonard Cohen

decker., Sail Inn, 3/1/13

decker. @ Sail Inn|3/1/13Sedona-based songwriter Brandon Decker bounced around the Sail Inn like a pinball, shaking hands, raising drinks, and grooving intently to the lineup of bands dueling between two stages. Decker's a humble enough guy, but it was impossible to deny: Last night was his night. T ... More >>

Five Great Lost Albums

By Mark Keresman Brian Eno was quoted as saying, "The first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it formed a band." Rock history is filled with bands and albums that were somewhat unappreciated in their time yet occupy an enviable (by some people, at any rate) ... More >>

Nick Lowe on Crafting "Swinging" Pop in His 60s

Nick Lowe has worn more than a couple stylistic hats in his over 40 years as a songwriter, performer, and producer. He played ambling country rock with Brinsley Schwarz, ushered in pub rock, punk, and new wave with solo records and production for Stiff Records, and eased into a remarkable career as ... More >>

The Perks of Being a Wallflower(s Fan)

See also: No Seriously, Chumbawamba Has a Storied Anarchist Past See also: Our Throwback Thursday Archives Ladies and gentlemen, may I present The Wallflowers: The Only Band That Matters. Just kidding, but the Clash vibes from the band's new tune, "Reboot the Mission," are clearly intentional. It ... More >>

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 >>

The Best of SXSW Music: Wednesday 3/14/2012

​If you're familiar with chaos theory, which in its basic form is the attempt to find patterns in the random acts of shit on Earth, then you may understand the difficulty that comes with describing a full day at SXSW. To break down the bright, scintillating chaos, Village Voice Media's roving musi ... More >>

Hip-Hop's Buck 65 Looks to the Great White North for Inspiration

Psychedelic Legend Donovan Visits the MIM

​On Monday, October 10, British songwriter and psychedelic legend Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch) visited the Musical Instrument Museum, strolling around the exhibits and conducting interviews with writers about the history of music and education. Speaking with Donovan was really something ... More >>

Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, and The Walkmen at Comerica Theatre, 9-15-11 (With Video)

Maria VassettBon Iver​Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, and The Walkmen Comerica Theatre Thursday, September 15, 2011 It feels like I've been discussing the term "indie" with a lot of people lately. Last week's Foster the People show spurred a lot of the conversation, which basically boils down to this: ... More >>

The Decemberists at Mesa Arts Center With Video, 8/11/11

The DecemberistsMesa Arts CenterThursday, August 11I guess I had The Decemberists pegged wrong. Here's this insanely popular indie-folk-Americana blended outfit with heavily starched clothing that comes from (where else?) Portland, Oregon. Yes, lead singer and songwriter Colin Meloy has a beard. Yes ... More >>

Stephen "Psyko Steve" Chilton, What Are You Listening To?

Maria VassettStephen Chilton​Stephen "Psyko Steve" Chilton The Valley-based music promoter has more than 20 events he's producing, which may be found at www.psykosteve.com When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? When I am in the car, I ... More >>

Abri Van Straten Talks About the Function of Art, Being Married to Kristin Bauer, and His Upcoming Performance at Phoenix Comicon

Jasmin KuhnAbri Van Straten​If you've looked at the musical artists lined up to play at Phoenix Comicon next weekend, you may have noticed that one of these things is not like the others. That would be singer-songwriter Abri Van Straten, whose picturesque acoustic folk songs contrast starkly with ... More >>

Cass McCombs: Wit's End

Cass McCombs - Wit's End​Well it's finally here -- the last and final Tuesday of April. We've seen many a solid new release throughout the month, and the prospect of a promising May and June await the collective fancies of new music fans. Today's focus falls on venerable singer/songwriter Cass McC ... More >>

Lara Plecas, What Are You Listening To?

Lara Plecas​Lara Plecas The local artist has a show at Art Detour at her studio The Aviary from March 19 to 21. It is located at 1020 Grand Ave. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? I pretty much only listen to NPR radio. I like their tak ... More >>

'American Idol' Final Three Fight for the Finale

​This season of American Idol is almost over (thank gosh), and it's finally down to the Final Three--the clear frontrunner Crystal Bowersox, the frat-ish wannabe rocker Lee DeWyze and the lovable underdog Casey James.This time around, the contestants get to choose their own songs to perform in the ... More >>

Mike Watt + the Missingmen

Year in Music: Phoenix, Passion Pit, Neko Case, and the Rest of the Village Voice Music Editor's Rob Harvilla’s Records of the Year

The Sowing of The Bad Seeds: Nick Cave and band's early catalog gets deluxe reissues

Nick Cave is a bad-ass. Perhaps, the baddest ass around. Consider: in the last few years alone, he's released two of the best albums of his career -- Dig Lazarus Dig!!! with longtime backing band The Bad Seeds and the self-titled debut by side project Grinderman. He wrote the screenplay and sco ... More >>

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan

Sunday at Devil Dirt
(Vagrant)

Where Counting Crows’ August and Everything After was a touchstone, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings is only another tear in the bucket

Future Shock: Black Crowes, Flobots, and more

Beyond Blonde

Talking about the weather with Johnette Napolitano

Tori Amos

American Doll Posse
(Sony)

Willie Nelson

Songbird
(Lost Highway)

Dork King Du Bois

New Times' top DVD picks for the week of November 14

Adam Green

Jacket Full of Danger
(Rough Trade)

Mt. Egypt

Contact high

Richard Buckner

Dents and Shells
(Merge Records)

Tune In, Turn On

The Walkmen drop out of the New York rock revival

Original Soul

This time, it's personal: Our look back at an intimate year in music.

The French Conniption

Neil Jordan and Nick Nolte pull off a twitchy Gallic heist

Famous and Tired

Pop stars complain about their jobs like everyone else. Here's what's happened when some of their gripes have actually made it to tape.

Feel His Pain

Billy Bob has a simple plan: to sing about life and lovin' his wife

Under Ogre

Shrek offers an amusing, if empty, fractured fairy tale

Sweet Judy Blue Eyes

Send in the crowds for folk legend Judy Collins

Hale and Hardy

An English classic heads west in rewarding The Claim

Locals

Molten Wax

Everybody Knows Your Name

Karaoke fans the flame of friendship at Macgruders

Recordings

Local Folk

Recordings

Let Nothing You Dismay

Recordings

The Trashman

Where unit-shifting heroes of rock are exposed as the passionless poseurs they really are

Recordings

Recordings

DO LOOK BACK

THE YEAR IN MUSIC: IT JUST DIDN'T GET MUCH BETTER (OR WORSE) THAN THIS

GET DRUNK

VIC CHESNUTT COMES TO SERVE UP HIS LATEST ALBUM