Mike Watt

Mars Volta Fight: Who'd Win -- Bosnian Rainbows or Anywhere?

Have you had you're eyes glued to the psychedelic prog-rock message boards? If not, maybe you missed the news that The Mars Volta broke up, due in large part to lead guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's focus on his other band, Bosnian Rainbows. But you probably didn't miss the news, because The Mars Vo ... More >>

The Father Figures Dish on Phoenix's Punk Rock Glory Days

In this week's issue, we chat with with the members of Phoenix art punk band The Father Figures, discussing the band's phenomenal sophomore album, All About Everything. We ended up with quite a bit of information left over from our hour and a half interview, so in this installment of Outtakes, we'll ... More >>

Mike Watt: Avant-Garde Rocker Stays Real Busy

Mike Watt answers the phone the same way he plays music and jumps into creative endeavors: without hesitation. "Watt!" he bellows, and within a moment he's off, sharing details of his creative process, and detailing his multitude of projects. See also: Bassist Mike Watt Reps Blue-Collar Ethos Se ... More >>

Bassist Mike Watt Reps Blue-Collar Ethos

Is a Nirvana-Style Breakthrough Looming with '90s Revival?

Dust Off Your Flannel: Is the Underground Rising to the Mainstream?

You've got a lot of reading to do, guys: snuggled tightly in this week's massive Best of Phoenix 2012 issue is a regular issue of Phoenix New Times. In anticipation of the busiest musical weekend of the year, you'll find pieces about KUPD's two-day metal festival Desert Uprising, EDM waterpark party ... More >>

Daniel Johnston, Psychedelic Furs, Jason Aldean, Amanda Palmer, and More Just Announced Phoenix Shows

Legendary singer/songwriter Daniel Johnston is coming to Crescent Ballroom on Sunday, November 11. The mythic outsider artist and inspiration to Kurt Cobain (who famously wore a Johnston shirt), Beck, Bright Eyes, The Flaming Lips, more (see the tribute album The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discov ... More >>

fIREHOSE, Crescent Ballroom, 4/17/12

See also: fIREHOSE's Ed Crawford: "It Was Our Job. We Fuckin' Showed Up Every Day." fIREHOSE Crescent Ballroom Tuesday, April 17, 2012 I entered the Crescent Ballroom with a mix of anticipation and apprehension in my gut. Soon to be on stage was fIREHOSE, a band I frequented in the 1990s and despi ... More >>

M. Ward, Crescent Ballroom, 4/17/12

See also: M. Ward Discusses A Wasteland Companion, and His Arizona Ties to The Meat Puppets and Howe Gelb M. Ward Crescent Ballroom Tuesday, April 17, 2012 Following fIREHOSE's blistering set of punk jazz, I was almost worried that the hushed immediacy of Portland-based singer/songwriter/produce ... More >>

Jeff Mangnum, fIREHOSE, and More: The Best Of Coachella, Saturday, April 14

See also: Coachella: Radiohead's Weekend 1 Set Has No Alarms and No Surprises See also: Coachella: The Black Lips' Cole Alexander Goes Full Monty, Plays Guitar With His Ding-Dong See also: Best of Coachella Weekend One: Friday, April 13 Everyone was ready to shit their pants for Radiohead, but ther ... More >>

fIREHOSE's Ed Crawford: "...It Was Our Job. We F**kin' Showed Up Every Day."

It's always a questionable thing when a long-gone band suddenly reappears on the musical landscape. Too often the motive is obvious--money--and the performances laughable. Yet, there are those bands with the integrity to come back and do it right. More often than not, these are punk bands. (Remember ... More >>

Mavis Staples and Dr. John at Celebrity Theatre 6-16-11

Jason P. Woodbury​ Mavis Staples and Dr. JohnCelebrity TheatreThursday, June 16"Joyful noise." That's how Mavis Staples described what her and her band create onstage. It's an apt characterization, one that is appropriately loaded with gospel history, and one that connotes how the 71-year-old sing ... More >>

No Age: Dean Spunt on Skating, Multi-tasking & Being Vegan

​L.A. based noise-punk band No Age had the year in 2010. They had some nice tours and their third album, Everything in Between, wound up on plenty of year-end lists. The duo started 2011 even better, appearing on The Late Show With David Letterman, where they performed their single "Fever Dreaming ... More >>

Mike Watt + the Missingmen

The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne Talks Pee and Their Follow-Up to At War with the Mystics

Short Story

Original warped van tour

Yuppie Pricks; The Doers

Brokers Banquet
(Alternative Tentacles)

Ready Set . . . Do/I Can Enjoy Almost Anything
(Red Cat Records)

Watt, Me Worry?

Legendary bassist Mike Watt doesn't care what you think is punk rock

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Best Club For Rock

Nita's Hideaway

Brutally Frank

Fasten your safety belts for the world's worst interview with indie-rock legend Frank Black

Blowing Rufus' Mind

A roundup of the latest batch of eclectica that fell through the cracks

Best Club For Rock

Nita's Hideaway

Band Aid

Ronald Reagan was president, Michael Jackson and Phil Collins ruled the charts and a bunch of little rock bands were changing lives

Payne-Less

The artists currently known as Less Pain Forever reveal their greatest hoaxes. But will the last time be the charm?

Texas State of Mind

The South by Southwest music conference might've been a disappointment this year, but there are still plenty of questions left to be answered

Lightening Up

Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis is back with a new album, a new attitude and a mouthful of food

Relocation Blues

Venerable Valley roots club is on the move

Shout It Out

Three-chord heroes take the hokey out of karaoke

Easy Being Green

Fred Green explores new rhythmic permutations on its third album

Recordings

Auto Exhaustion

Video may have killed the radio star, but it pumped plenty of life into last week's Jesus Chrysler gig

When the Levy Breaks

The man who transformed Nita's Hideaway into a beloved music venue now focuses on full-time band management

High Wattage

Punk godfather Mike Watt contemplates the connections between his life and that of his father

Beauty and Sadness

Recently emancipated from Atlantic, Juliana Hatfield tests the waters with a new indie EP

Calendar for the week

Pyro-Gyra

Pic Hits for the week

BEAVERS AND PENGUINS AND PACHYDERMS, OH MY!PRIMUS PUTS THE BASS IN YOUR FACE--ALONG WITH DOSES OF INNOVATION AND CARTOON WEIRDNESS

LA-LA-LA-LA, LA-LA-LA-LARUMORS OF LOLLAPALOOZA'S DEATH ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDINGS

BASSIC INSTINCTFROM THE MINUTEMEN TO FIREHOSE AND NOW SOLO, MIKE WATT IS ALWAYS ON TRACK