Subject: Martin Cizmar

• Kinch Teaser Video Now Up

  Kinch, one of my favorite local bands (and you'll find out just how favorite when my column on the top 10 local CDs of the year drops next week) has posted a new video chronicling the recording of their upcoming record in Austin. You can click below to see the YouTube version below, or go to kinchband.com to check it out. I'm already to excited to hear what they came out of Texas with. Thanks to our man Psyko Steve for the tip. --Martin Cizmar

  December 23, 2008

• Point/Counterpoint: Beck and MGMT at Dodge Theatre on Monday, September 22

  September 23, 2008

• You Asked For It: Instant Hobo

  September 23, 2008

• Flier of the Week: AAWL Benefit Show

  September 25, 2008

• You Asked For It: Mr. Meeble

  October 8, 2008

• You Asked For It: Space Tourists

  October 14, 2008

• Haunted House Review: Twisted Big Top in Glendale

  October 15, 2008

• Flier of the Week: Sadisco*

  October 16, 2008

• Haunted House Review: Arizona’s Original Scream Park in Scottsdale

  October 17, 2008

• Haunted House Review: Fear Farm in Glendale

  October 20, 2008

• You Asked For It: Graceful Degradation

  October 21, 2008

• Haunted House Review: Shadowlands

  October 24, 2008

• Haunted House Review: Ghoulfland

  October 27, 2008

• Phoenix's Best Haunted Houses: Our rankings and reviews

  October 28, 2008

• Meatloaf Cancels State Fair Show, Flo Rida Out At Venue of Scottsdale

  October 29, 2008

• Concert Review: The Faint at Marquee Theatre on Nov. 1

  November 2, 2008

• No Use For A Name at Yucca Tap Room? For Free?

  November 7, 2008

• sBACH Geeks Out at Modified Arts on Nov. 15

  If you’re not attuned to such things, you might be surprised to know how big a niche there is for bands interested in playing covers of classic Nintendo game soundtracks in today’s geek-friendly world. At comic, gaming, and computing conventions bands like The Advantage and Phoenix’s own Minibosses can draw pretty well covering classic Castlevania songs. As any bar band will tell you though, doing originals is always harder, which is why sBACH played to a crowd of about 30 Saturday night at Modified Arts.

  November 16, 2008

• The Flaming Lips, The Cure, T-Pain, and Jedi Mind Tricks Are Some Of What's Selling at Zia Record Exchange In Tempe

  By Benjamin Leatherman Music editor Martin Cizmar totally digs the Flaming Lips funky new CD/DVD Christmas on Mars, and apparently so do the customers at Zia Record Exchange (105 West University Drive in Tempe). Here's the rest of the top 10 best sellers for the week of Nov. 10-Nov. 16.

  November 19, 2008

• Pop Culture: Java Pop

  By Martin Cizmar It’s 10:45 a.m. and you’re thirsty. Do you go for a cup of coffee or a bottle soda? Either you’re drinking coffee in the middle of the say like a cop with 30 years on the force or you’re drinking soda before noon like some punk kid who got up at 6:30 to catch his school bus. Java Pop could end this eternal dilemma with their organic, fair trade coffee soda. Unfortunately, while the idea seems good, the result is pretty unpleasant.

  November 24, 2008

• Night Train: Sycamore/Main Street (Stop #28)

  I'm on the nightrain, Bottoms up,I'm on the nightrain, Fill my cup,I'm on the nightrain, Ready to crash and burn, I never learn.-- W. Axl Rose, 1987 "Nightrain," the Guns N' Roses song, is actually about a brand of bum wine that'll get you pissy, punch-your-best-friend drunk after half a bottle. But it could also be about the project we're launching today: The Ultimate Phoenix Bar Roll. Up on the Sun is counting down the coming of light rail, which is opening on Dece

  November 30, 2008

• The Pretenders Coming To The Dodge

  "The British Rock band The Pretenders with original founder Chrissie Hynde will make a stop in Phoenix to perform at Dodge Theatre on Wednesday, March 4. The tour is the band's first extensive headlining tour since 2003. The show will begin at 7:30pm. Tickets will go on-sale Monday, December 8 at 10am."Or at least that's what the press release says. Maybe it's cuz I'm from Akron, Ohio, but I take great umbrege at labeling The Pretenders a "British Rock band" since Chrissie is from my hometown, w

  December 2, 2008

• Pop Culture: Sidral Mundet

  As a pop-head, I'm not exaggerating when I say that one my favorite things about living in Phoenix is the availability of Mexican sodas. Mexicans are the only people who drink more soda per capita than Americans, and they have a truly amazing array of flavors: usually fruity, a little sweeter and less carbonated. In The Valley of the Sun we've got great access to them - glass bottles are no novelty here - which is why I'll be reviewing them here frequently.Today I turn my attention to Sidral Mu

  December 3, 2008

• Billy Joel and Elton John Coming to U.S. Airways Together

  On Tuesday we told you about the big announcement we'd been summoned down to U.S. Airways Center for: free lunch, entertainment by The Big Bang as well as the Phoenix Suns dance team and their Gorilla mascot. Hell, they even brought us two little chocolate pianos and a flier to promote the press conference.And what was the big news? As predicted in the comments section, it's the Billy Joel and Elton John Face To Face 2009 tour, a reprisal of their team tours begun in 1995 and last on the roa

  December 4, 2008

• Paula Abdul Hosting Phooson Tonight

  So, if there's one thing I thought Phooson, tonight's popped up show at Cricket was missing, it was some B-list hosting talent. Luckily, Johnjay and Rich are bringing in the big guns: Paul Abdul. The American Idol hostess will join the disc jocks on stage at Cricket Pavillion to introduce Rihanna, Fall Out Boy, Katy Perry, Jesse McCartney, Varsity Fanclub, Tokio Hotel, and the Pussycat Dolls. Here's hoping she struggles to find a nice way to discuss the bad performances before just giving up, cl

  December 5, 2008

• Dear Teenage Girls, Do You Really Like These Tokio Hotel Dudes?

  So I've never pretended to be an expert on the mind of the adolescent female, and I hate to sound like an out-of-touch old man, but I really don't get this Tokio Hotel thing. Last night at Phooson, they prompted a wave of shrieks at almost every turn, being topped only by Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, who is, of course, a well-established heartthrob who's had naked pictures circulated online and knocked up a semi-starlet. Tokio Hotel, though? It's very odd, indeed. The lead singer of the band, Bi

  December 6, 2008

• Night Train: Mill Avenue/Third Street (Stop #21)

  Where: Anywhere. Drink: Anything. Scene: Where oh where can you get a drink on Mill Avenue? No, really, since Coconut Club closed we've been hard pressed to find a decent bar on Mill! Ahem. Chuckles aside, seriously, folks, getting a drink on Mill is obviously easy, so pick your poison. If you MUST have a suggestion from us, get a Strongbow on tap ($5) at Rula Bula (east side of the street, 401 S. Mill Ave). Actually, while you're on Mill you may want to grab two drinks, because the next sto

  December 7, 2008

• Night Train: Center Parkway/Washington (Stop #20)

  Where: Rolling Hills Golf Course (1415 N. Mill Ave.) is a 10 to 15 minute walk, uphill, from the station. Drink: A pitcher of Bud Light ($6.50) Scene: Our lofty goal with this bar crawl was to find someplace at every stop that was within walking distance and not actually closer to any other stop. We've done that here, barely. Since the Marquee - a concert club that is only open on show nights, and doesn't have a public bar anyway, meaning you'd have to buy a ticket and submit to a thorough fri

  December 8, 2008

• Country Thunder 2009: Now With Layaway

  Perhaps recognizing that the tanking economy has hit the blue-collar sorts you'll find at a massive multi-day country music festival especially hard, Country Thunder is introducing an installment purchase plan. Or, as we like to call it, "layaway." Now on countrythunder.com you can get your tickets at the early bird price while choosing the option of making a down payment and coming back twice more to pay off the balance. "Everyday we hear more and more people worried about the economy and how

  December 9, 2008

• Night Train: PHX Airport Shuttle (Stop #18)

  Where: The Crowne Plaza's Café Sha Longue (4300 E Washington St.) is directly across from the station, less than a minute walk from where the train stops. Drink: Whatever you can get them to serve your drunk ass before you get booted. Scene: We would not send you in to the tony Crowne Plaza hotel if there was any other option at this stop but, sadly, there isn't. On the downside, you have no business being here. On the upside, it's super close, Cafe Sha's longue is open until midnight and th

  December 10, 2008

• Ready, Set, Go! It's Time To... Move My Lips and Pretend I'm Singing

  So I've been getting raked over the coals by Tokio Hotel fans over the last few days because I wrote a blog pointing out that, well, it's kinda weird for teenage girls to be attracted to a guy who looks a lot like them. I asked why, I got a few thoughtful (and a lot of crazy) replies. Sample: YOU EAT SHIT. tokio hotel is cool, and you smell like smelly cattle. bill doesnt look like Boy George. you do! Martin Cizmar is GAY! (if that is you) your a Asshole. Children... so precious.ANYWAY, wi

  December 10, 2008

• Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding This Weekend

  It just wouldn't be Christmas in Arizona without Alice Cooper's annual event, Christmas Pudding, where the shock rocker turned radio jock assembles local and national talent to raise money for The Solid Rock Center, a Christian center aiming to keep teens out of trouble and teach them about the Way of Our Lord.This year's bill features Bob Welch of Fleetwood Mac, Robby Krieger of The Doors, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers and Whiskey Falls. The show is Saturday at Dodge Theatre, with tickets ava

  December 11, 2008

• Pop Culture: Peñafiel Strawberry

  As I've written before, here in Phoenix we have amazing access to Mexican sodas - not to mention a store that sells nothing but soda - making this a truly great place to explore unusual soft drinks. Peñafiel Strawberry isn't quite an obscure soft drink, but it's not widely available stateside. I got mine at my favorite Mexican Grocer, La Tolteca, for $1.80. Peñafiel is said to be the oldest mineral water bottling company in Mexico, at least according to Wikipedia, and they've been bottling t

  December 17, 2008

• YES! Prog-Rock Band Comes to Dodge... Without Original Singer

  Old-timey prog rock band Yes is coming to Phoenix on Wednesday, February 25. This according to a press release filled with proclamations that'd make The Beatles blush:"A dominant force in rock music for more than four decades, YES has created some of rock's most enduring and compelling hits and has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. The group has defined music history with their dynamic instrumental contrasts, extended song lengths and abstract lyrics. Their symphonic use of sound and i

  December 16, 2008

• Dear and the Headlights Goes Daytrotting

  Local indie act Dear and the Headlights is featured in a session with Daytrotter that was just offered up. Daytrotter's four-song postings are sort of Chicago's answer to The Peel Sessions, with up-and-coming acts doing a semi-live set recorded in the course of a couple hours and put up for download. Daytrotter has some cache in the indie scene, so this is big for DatH.Dear's singer Ian Metzger also got drawn up a nifty illustration (above) by their staff illustrator Johnnie Cluney. Pretty d

  December 17, 2008

• Concert of the Year Countdown: #1 Kanye West

  Show: Kanye West's Glow In The Dark Tour at Jobing.com Arena on June 8 The year was only half over, but I knew this was the best show I'd see back in June. Of course, I never knew how many shows I'd be seeing, employed as feature writer at The East Valley Tribune at the time. Still, Kanye, Lupe, Rihanna and N.E.R.D. kept the lead long after I started seeing three plus shows a week. The bill was great from top to bottom - N.E.R.D. was a disappointment, but not bad, per say - and Kanye's space op

  December 31, 2008

• Concert of the Year Countdown: #5 Metallica

  Show: Metallica at Jobing.com Arena on October 21Unlike Niki, I'm not much of a metalhead, but this should was truly brilliant. In fact, I found myself listening to Death Magnetic for weeks afterwards, and was fond of saying things like "I feel like I just discovered this new band... Metallica! They're awesome, if you haven't heard them, check them out!" It was an amazing three hours of thrashing, headbanging, firework-and-laser accented awesomeness, the only low-point coming, ironically, when

  December 27, 2008

• Concert of the Year Countdown: #6 Bloc Party

  Show: Bloc Party at The Marquee on Dec. 14After a terrible interview to advance the show, I wasn't expecting Bloc Party singer Kele Okereke to have much verve on stage. Boy, was I wrong. The front man carried his British indie band through an exciting set at a packed Marquee - on a Sunday night, nonetheless - even climbing off stage to get himself a drink at one point. I was more than just impressed, I was surprised. --Martin Cizmar This countdown was complied by Niki D'Andrea and Martin Cizmar

  December 26, 2008

• Concert of the Year Countdown: #7 The Hives

  Show: The Hives at The Marquee on Sept. 19.First, a correction on my review this evening. In panning Eagles of Death Metal - who truly were awful - I offhandedly dissed their new record, Heart On, which wasn't out at the time and sure seemed bad based on what they played opening for the mighty Hives. Turns out the record is really good - though I would not recommend seeing EoDM live. Then again, having your set followed by The Hives is a good way for anyone to look bad. The Swedish garage punk

  December 25, 2008

• Concert of the Year Countdown: #10 The Loveblisters

  It was a year of transition for the New Times music section, with Niki D'Andrea being promoted to staff writer and Martin Cizmar taking over as music editor. And so, for the rundown of the 10 best shows of the year appearing, we're teaming up to bring you five shows reviewed by both Niki and Martin. The list runs here over the next ten days.Show: The Loveblisters and William Fucking Reed play Kelly Wilson's Birthday Bash at The Yucca Tap Room on October 17.This is going to sound a little cli

  December 22, 2008

• Light Rail Riding? Steer Clear of Mesa Stop

  Not sure how many more folks are headed out to the train today, but if you are steer clear on the eastern most stop. There are several thousand people there, all waiting in a looong line for their chance to take a ride on the Valley Metro's first day of operation. Unless you're in to the scene drive a couple miles down to the Apache/Smith-Martin or Apache-101 stops, where you'll find no line and plenty of parking. --Martin Cizmar

  December 27, 2008

• Mini T's, What Laura Says Play SxSW Showcases

  Martin CizmarWhat Laura Says at SxSW Greetings from the outskirts of Austin, Texas, where we're holed up in a hotel after a long day of music at South by Southwest's opening day. What happened? Well, a few Phoenix bands played their showcases, hopefully making an impression on tastemakers and industry types at this massive festival, which ends up being make or break for a lot of indie acts. I saw sets by Miniature Tigers and What Laura Says tonight (Dear and the Headlights also played in a late

  March 19, 2009

• Adolf Hitler an Arizona Cardinals Fan? Check it Out.

  We've gotten our fair share of hate mail over the years, especially after our Super Bowl cover story about weak-kneed Cardinals fans and their coal-mining hillbilly counterparts (Steeler Nation) from Western Pennsylvania, but we've never received anything as hilarious/disturbing as this video. Yes, those are the words from one of our blog posts, put in Adolf Hitler's mouth. Martin Cizmar's post about Kurt Warner's "fumble" is linked from YouTube. Eeek. It's funny, yes, but also deeply, deeply

  April 15, 2009

• Yeah Yeah Yeahs Coming to Marquee Theatre on June 8

  The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Even though music editor Martin Cizmar already laid out the latest show announcements earlier today, we've got one last gig to tell y'all about. NYC alt-rock faves the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are gonna be hitting the Valley at next month for a gig at the Marquee Theatre on Monday, June 8. It's news that will definitely delight Up on the Sun contributor Michael Lopez, who previously posted about the band's recently-released album It's Blitz back in February, gushing about how the

  May 8, 2009

• Post 2K

  Yes, this is Up On The Sun's 2,000th post. Can you believe it?I realize I'm opening a can of words here, but anything you'd like to see change here on the music blog most easily reached by typing www.PHXmusic.com in to your preferred browser's address bar? More coverage of your friend's band? Less coverage of that band your girlfriend's ex is in? Shorter posts? Longer posts? More American Idol coverage? Feel free to comment, and we'll consider your suggestions...Appreciatively,Martin CizmarM

  June 6, 2009

• Lynyrd Skynyrd: Point/Counterpoint

  By Martin Cizmar and Brian BardwellUnfortunately we were unexpectedly barred from taking photos at last night's Lynyrd Skynyrd show at Celebrity Theatre.​Sometimes one perspective on a show isn't enough. So, like we did with Beck and Tool, Up on the Sun is bringing you a point/counterpoint style write-up on last night's Lynyrd Skynyrd show. Brian Bardwell, who wrote last week's music feature advancing last night's show at Celebrity Theatre is a huge fan of the Jacksonville-bred band. Music edi

  September 10, 2009

• Check Out the Schedule For Tomorrow's Shizzfest 2

  Peachcake is scheduled to perform at 9 p.m. on Saturday inside the Trunk Space.​ It's probably not the wisest move in the world to publically disagree with one's supervisor (hence that old chestnut, "Don't cross the boss"), but, hey, sometimes you gotta live dangerously. By now you've probably read music editor Martin Cizmar's contentious column from this week's issue regarding his opinion that "CenPho's Music Scene is So Over" with the impending change to Modified Arts later this year

  October 9, 2009

• Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, October 22, 2009

  October 22, 2009

• Phish Festival 8: Photos From The Ultimate Hippie Halloween

  ​ Martin CizmarSee more pics from Phish Festival 8 in our slideshow. ​​It's odd to think of Phish's massive Festival 8 in Indio, California as "intimate" but that's exactly what some of the band's long-time fans were saying this weekend. The 3-day fest held at the same Indio, California polo grounds where Coachella is staged every spring might not have been as big as, say, Coventry, but some might say it was nice to be on the West Coast, where torrential rains don't flood concert fields, c

  November 2, 2009

• Getting Ovah It: CenPho Scenesters on Why Downtown Phoenix Is Still the Hub for Valley Music

  November 12, 2009