Luke Holwerda

Police State: The Police at US Airways Arena last night

Seismic Fortitude/Tent City/Yellow Swans/Mouthus @ The Trunk Space October 6th

Black Moth Super Rainbow Aesop Rock @ The Clubhouse, October 13

You Asked For It: Smokescreen

Six-Inch Heels and $6 Beers: An Evening with O.A.R. in Scottsdale

Luke HolwerdaSee more shots from the gig in our O.A.R. slide showI have to admit, before New Times music editor Martin Cizmar asked me if I wanted to review O.A.R.'s show at the Birds Nest, I was only peripherally familiar with the band. "Aren't they a hippie jam band?" I asked. Fortunately, the chi ... More >>

Katy Perry Is One of the Girls Just as Much as Boys

Luke HolwerdaSee more shots from her concert in our Katy Perry slide show. Katy Perry is hot! Well, she's cute and she's hot. This seemed to be the general consensus from the sold-out audience at Tempe's Marquee Theatre on Tuesday. Perry, who wore a flashy gold dress and looked like she should be ... More >>

The Pretenders Bring Too Much Twang to Dodge

Luke HolwerdaYou'd be hard-pressed to find a better-preserved 57-year-old rock star than Chrissie Hynde. Onstage at Dodge Theatre Wednesday night, the Pretenders frontwoman looked incredible and sounded exactly as she did 30 years ago, when the band recorded their eponymous debut. Really. Her distin ... More >>

Slipknot Makes 'Em Mosh at Dodge

Luke HolwerdaI've been in my fair share of mosh pits, but I'm pretty thankful that I wasn't in any of the three or four that raged on all through Slipknot's show at Jobing.com Arena on Thursday night. Swirling like tornadoes full of teen angst and shirtless fat dudes, the pits dominated the already ... More >>

Jimmy Eat World's Clarity Anniversary Show Impressive

Luke Holwerda All week we've been sharing personal essays about Jimmy Eat World's Clarity, online and in print. Sadly, I don't have a Clarity story because I wasn't in to the Mesa emo/pop act until my college paper got an advance copy of Bleed American, the follow-up to Clarity, in July 2001. But ma ... More >>

Billy Joel and Elton John Show Lacks Special Moments

Luke Holwerda In 1994, when Billy Joel and Elton John first took the stage together in Philadelphia, it was quite a novelty. Two piano-playing singer-songwriters -- who've each sold more than 100 million records on their own -- together in concert! Wowza!Five tours and 15 years later, the newness is ... More >>

Calexico Classy at Heritage Square Concert

Luke HolwerdaCalexico's Joey Burns sings at the band's show Saturday at Heritage Square. See more shots in our Calexico slide show.There's one word that describes the Calexico concert at Heritage Square last night: Classy. From the tastefully-appointed stage, to the home-made tamales and high-end be ... More >>

Freebird & Monkey Sex: A Night With Flight of the Conchords

Luke HolwerdaFlight of the Conchords performing at Dodge Theatre in Phoenix. See more shots in our Flight of the Conchords slide show.Though music and comedy may seem suitable bedfellows, the marriage of the two is often a mangled mess of bad puns and crappy guitar playing. One concept is, more ofte ... More >>

Loretta Lynn Plays the Classics at Celebrity

Luke HolwerdaLoretta Lynn on the circular stage of Celebrity Theatre.It's been five years since Loretta Lynn's Grammy-winning collaboration with Jack White but it seemed even longer at last night's Celebrity Theatre show, where the Van Lear Rose era seemed long forgotten. Sure, a few curious hipste ... More >>

Aerosmith and ZZ Top Prove They're Real Guitar Heroes at Cricket Wireless Pavilion

Luke HolwerdaSteven Tyler of Aerosmith​ A funny thing has happened to the recording industry lately. Video games have begun to influence to music sales. Don't believe me? Consider that the re-release of the entire Beatle Catalogue is scheduled for the exact same day as the release of The Beatl ... More >>

Pat Benatar Goes Through the Motions, Blondie Rocked and The Donnas Backed Out at Dodge Theatre

Luke HolwerdaPat Benatar​ Picture this: teen girls in too much makeup channeling new wave goddesses with their overbearing, nacho-chowing mothers, wrinkled women in low-cut, studded halters exhibiting chests long past their perky prime, and grooving chicks with hair too long and pants too high ... More >>

Poison and Def Leppard in 140 Characters Or Less

Luke Holwerda​Who says old people can't twitter? There were plenty of tweets from last night's Poison/Def Leppard show at Cricket Pavilion though, admittedly, many appeared to be from younger people in the crowd (including one who tweeted about buying her first concert beer). Humorously, ... More >>

Concert Review: Dirty Heads and Dear and the Headlights at Red Bull Soundclash

Luke HolwerdaThe Dirty Heads. See more shots in our Red Bull Soundclash slide show.​I've said it before: With very few exceptions (well,  really one exception, The Aggrolites) white reggae is a pox upon America. So, believe me, it's not that I wanted to go see The Dirty Heads play last night's Re ... More >>

Fit For Rivals: "Damage" (Luke Holwerda's First Video)

We try not to get too homerish around here, but I've gotta share this new video produced by Up on the Sun's senior freelance photographer Luke Holwerda.The video is for a Jacksonville pop-punk band named Fit For Rivals but it was shot here in Phoenix. Aside form being shot here and directed by loca ... More >>

WTF? This Year's Phooson Is In Tucson Only

Luke Holwerda Fallout Boy from last year's Phooson. ​ One of the highlight's of last year's concert season undoubtedly was the superstar-studded Phooson put on by 104.7 KISS FM last December at Cricket Wireless Pavillion. (Relive the coverage by Martin Cizmar and Jonathan McNamara in all it ... More >>

KISS: You Wanted the Best, You Got Something Resembling the Best at Jobing.com Arena

Luke Holwerda​The scene: June 28, 1996. Detroit, Michigan. For the first time, in 13 years, Kiss is playing its first show in makeup with the original lineup of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. It's nearly midnight at the now-defunct Tiger Stadium, and despicable opening a ... More >>

Kiss Posts New Times Review of Their Glendale Concert on Their Web Site -- After Editing Out All the Criticism

Luke Holwerda​The official Web site for the band Kiss has re-printed my review of the band's show Tuesday night at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale. That's not a big deal; bands do it all the time. What is a little shady, however, is the way they edited it.Turns out they removed anything remotely n ... More >>

Jimmy Eat World Play Not-So-Secret Modified Show With Short, But Sweet Set

Luke HolwerdaJim Adkins singing at Modified Arts.​Christmas came early for the couple hundred die-hard Jimmy Eat World fans who came out to catch the Mesa rock band Wednesday at the intimate Modified Arts for a mere $5 cover. The lucky Jimmy fans in attendance - at one of Modified's last ... More >>

Jim Adkins on Modified Arts in Video

Luke HolwerdaJim Adkins before Wednesday's secret Jimmy Eat World show at Modified Arts.​ In this week's music feature, Clubs Editor Benjamin Leatherman asked local musicians and scenesters to share their memories and thoughts about Modified Arts, the downtown music venue that will soon close ... More >>

Metric at Martini Ranch

Luke HolwerdaMetric at Martini Ranch​Scarf-and-sweatered, I took my place at the very end of a very long line that wrapped around Martini Ranch and down Stetson Drive. For amusement, confused attendees waltzed up and down the line, asking with perplexity, "Is this the will call line?" I gathered t ... More >>

Concert Review: Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding

Luke HolwerdaAlice Cooper performs at the 2009 installment of his annual Christmas Pudding charity show.​ By Lindsey HolderFriday night was the ninth installment of Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding, though speaking in Christmas/culinary terms, it was really more of a fruitcake, with ingredients bo ... More >>

Mariah Carey at Dodge Theatre

Luke HolwerdaMariah Carey on stage at Dodge Theatre in Phoenix.​It's pretty much accepted fact that pop musicians have to switch identities every album or two to stay ahead of the curve. Everybody does it -- Justin Timberlake, P!nk, Madonna -- with varying degrees of success.Mariah Carey, who brou ... More >>

Green Day Announces Summer Tour, Phoenix Date in August

Luke HolwerdaGreen Day's Billie Joe Armstrong on stage at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix. See more shots of last year's Green Day concert in our slide show.Green Day announced a summer tour this morning, including a show that will bring the band to Phoenix for a second straight August.Last year the ... More >>

Hate Kings Of Leon? You're Going To End Up Wanting To Go To Their Show Anyway. Peep These Openers.

Luke Holwerda"Your favorite band wants to open for us and your girlfriend would probably love to hook up with us. Our Sex is on Fire, bitches."​Sure, Kings of Leon suck. Hard. Soooooo hard. But damn it if the only legitimate arena-ready act born of the early naughties garage rock revival doesn't k ... More >>

Brian Wilson at Talking Stick Resort

Luke HolwerdaBrian Wilson in Scottsdale.​Brian Wilson's last few high-profile tours have tended to be been big, classy affairs. You know, Pet Sounds in its entirety with a symphony at the Hollywood Bowl -- that sort of thing. Those shows promote the image so many of us like to have of the semi-ret ... More >>

Cake at Marquee Theatre: The Magic is Really Prolonged

Luke Holwerda​When "alternative rock" radio debuted in the early '90s -- displacing stations spinning hard rock, classic rock, hair metal, or '80s college rock -- it seemed to be a format designed to evolve. At least to a middle-school me, who imagined it to be fresh, vital, and destined to change ... More >>

Toby Keith at Cricket Wireless Ampitheatre Last Night

Luke HolwerdaToby Keith on stage at Cricket Wireles Pavilion.​Toby KeithAugust 8, 2010Cricket Wireless AmpitheatreI have to admit I went to Toby Keith's show at Cricket only partially to hear classics like "Should've Been A Cowboy" and "How Do You Like Me Now?!" Sure, it's always nice to hear Toby ... More >>

'American Idol' Live! at US Airways Center Last Night

Luke HolwerdaAmerican Idol Live​American Idol Live! August 12, 2010US Airways CenterFor Valley residents who always wanted to make it out to the American Idol studios but never did, last night at US Airways Center was their opportunity to see the top 10 contestants from 2010's season perform on th ... More >>

Meat Loaf at Celebrity Theatre Last Night

Meat Loaf. Before he was all revved up.Photo by Luke Holwerda.​Meat LoafCelebrity TheatreAugust 22, 2010 As I sat through Meat Loaf's concert full of epic songs, costume changes, rhinestone studded jackets, and women clad in pleather and lace, I couldn't help but laugh a little at over-the-top th ... More >>

Green Day at Cricket Wireless Pavilion Last Night

Luke HolwerdaGreen Day on stage at Cricket Wireless Pavilion in Phoenix.​Green Day August 30, 2010 Cricket Wireless Pavilion It's a mixed blessing when the band you see at your first real concert goes on to become one of the biggest and best bands of their generation. On one hand, you probably g ... More >>

Hanson at Mesa Arts Center Last Night

Luke Holwerda​ HansonSeptember 14, 2010Piper Theater at Mesa Arts CenterRight now, as I write this sentence, I'm listening to Middle of Nowhere, Hanson's major label debut from 1997. That record of course contains "MMMBop" but it's the first verse of "Thinking of You" that I'm spinning -- it's und ... More >>

Paramore at the Dodge Theatre Last Night

Luke HolwerdaParamore at Dodge Theatre​Paramore September 15, 2010 Dodge Theatre Hayley Williams is quite the little firecracker.Physically, the Paramore singer looks fiery with her bright red hair and ruler-straight body. Personality-wise, she's a dynamic burst of energy. At her show at the Dodg ... More >>

Paramore Fans Declare Last Night's Dodge Theatre Show "the Best They've Ever Been to"

Luke HolwerdaParamore at Dodge Theatre​It's no wonder Paramore's fans are so loyal to the emo pop band. Singer Hayley Williams talks directly to audience members during shows, and the band even brought up three lucky peeps to sing (and dance awkwadly during) their hit "Misery Business" for the sho ... More >>

Weezer at Fall Frenzy Last Night

Luke HolwerdaWeezer on stage at Arizona Fall Frenzy.​New York magazine put it best: "There are few things more terrifying to longtime Weezer fans these days than the prospect of a new Weezer album."That review of the band's latest album -- sarcastically headlined, "Is Hurley Weezer's Best Album Si ... More >>

Fall Frenzy in Photos

Victor PalaganoUproar on Sunday night. ​What a weekend! We've already written extensively about the three-day concert event known as Fall Frenzy, but part of the story can only truly be captured through a lens. Before we put our Fall Frenzy coverage to bed, check out the following slideshows d ... More >>

Jack Johnson at Cricket Wireless Pavilion Last Night

Luke Holwerda​Jack JohnsonOctober 10, 2010Cricket Wireless PavilionLast night's Jack Johnson show was like an episode of late night television where the host casually invites all his famous friends to chill on stage with him. The stage gradually got more crowded with the Brushfire Records family a ... More >>

The National at Marquee Theatre Last Night

Luke HolwerdaThe National live at Marquee Theatre in Tempe.​The NationalOctober 14, 2010Marquee Theatre in TempeThe National's singer, Matt Berninger, has a reputation for performing drunk. It hasn't been a huge problem -- never leading to a canceled tour or even ruining a high-profile show as far ... More >>

Gorillaz at Comerica Theatre Last Night

Luke Holwerda​ Gorillaz Comerica Theatre 10/26/2010 Twelve years ago Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett decided to create a cartoon band. The concept was to separate celebrity from pop music. This was the perfect vehicle for someone like Albarn, who is probably best known as the front man for B ... More >>

Roger Waters at US Airways Center Last Night

Luke HolwerdaRoger Waters​Roger Waters November 27, 2010 US Airways Center British rocker Roger Waters performed Pink Floyd's album The Wall with style at the US Airways Center last night. It was, indeed, a "show," as much a theatrical exercise as a musical one.Since it's safe to say that at least ... More >>

No. 10 50 Cent - Countdown of the Best Concerts of 2010

Luke Holwerda​Over the last days of 2010 Up On The Sun will be counting down the best live shows of 2010. Today we look at the No. 10 show of the year, 50 Cent at Celebrity Theatre.

No. 5 The National - Countdown of the Best Concerts of 2010

Luke Holwerda​Over the last days of the year Up On The Sun will be counting down the best live shows of 2010. Today we look at the No. 5 show of the year, The National at Marquee Theatre.

No. 2 Paul McCartney - Countdown of the Best Concerts of 2010

Luke Holwerda​Over the last days of 2010 Up On The Sun will be counting down the best live shows of 2010. Today we look at the No. 2 show of the year, Paul McCartney at Jobing.com Arena.

Ozzy Osbourne and Slash at Comerica Theatre Last Night

Luke HolwerdaOzzy Osbourne​Ozzy Osbourne and Slash Comerica Theatre January 26th, 2011 Have you ever wondered what happened to the people who appeared in the '80s rock documentary Heavy Metal Parking Lot? Well, from the looks of it they were all standing in a line that stretched around the Comer ... More >>

The Best Concert Photos of June 2011

Luke HolwerdaBritney Spears at Jobing.com Arena​Yeah, we know. It's a little late. Somehow all the mojitos we consumed during the fourth at the massive haboob from last week, have us a little behind. Be that as it may, we're confident that even a cursory glance at the below photos will have yo ... More >>

My Five Favorite Concerts During My Time at Up on the Sun

Luke HolwerdaJemaine Clement, of Flight of the Conchords, from their May 2009 show ​For those keeping track (read: me), I have been blogging for Up on the Sun for nigh on three years now. I have more than enjoyed my time writing for the blog, wading through the hills and valleys of You Asked For I ... More >>