Regina Spektor

Billy Bragg: With Tooth & Nail The British Folk Singer Continues to Evoke Woody Guthrie

Once again, it's a sort of apprenticeship with Woody Guthrie that's drawn Billy Bragg into a new realm. Thirty years since his debut, the seven-song Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy, Bragg is back with a new album, Tooth & Nail, which came out Tuesday, March 18, on Cooking Vinyl. Bragg calls the albu ... More >>

Top Five Must-See Shows in Phoenix This Week

First, a "dumb drummer" joke: How do you get a drummer off of your porch? Pay him 10 bucks for the pizza. Now, our Top Five Must-See Shows in Phoenix This Week.

Kishi Bashi @ Crescent Ballroom

Top Five Must-See Shows This Week

Yeah, yeah, yeah...we get it Mondays suck (we've read Garfield). But it means the start of a new week, which means a bunch of killer shows in and around Phoenix. And here are a few of the coolest, our top five must-see shows this week.

Sondre Lerche @ Musical Instrument Museum

Songwriter Michelle Blades Walks a Tightrope

Pop Isn't Dead: Here's Seven New Songs That Prove It

If you've ever felt like all music on the radio is the same, you're not alone. Your grandmother felt the same way once. It's an old complaint that has always bugged me, because sure, the latest Rhianna single is a pile of dogshit, but I hate blanketing all music with this strain of despair. There ... More >>

Tim and Willy Let Go From KMLE; Danny Zelisko Presents Dropped By KDKB

See also: Dave Pratt's Out, MasterChef Contestant Monti Carlo Is In at 103.9, Plus More Radio News It's been a strange week in Valley radio: On Sunday, July 22, KDKB-FM (93.3) personality and local concert promoter Danny Zelisko announced that his program, The Danny Zelisko Presents radio program ( ... More >>

Carrie Benton, What Are You Listening To?

Carrie Benton Benton is an improviser with The Torch Theatre and invites you to the Skewed News Hour, Friday nights at 7 p.m. at The Torch Theatre. She also performs with Chaos Comedy at Dearing Acting Studio at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday's. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the ... More >>

Michelle Blades @ The Trunk Space

Thao and Mirah at the Rhythm Room, 6/20/11

Kholood Eid Thao and Mirah at Rhythm Room​Thao & Mirah Rhythm Room Monday, June 20 Punctuality. Where I'm from (Miami), folks don't understand the concept that well. When doors open at 7:30, the masses show up at nine, often foregoing the opening set, and subsequently missing the opportu ... More >>

Grading The Strokes Side-Projects: Which Bandmate Did the Best During Their Long Hiatus?

The Strokes​ It's been five years since The Strokes released their last album, First Impressions Of Earth. For a while it looked as if we may not be getting another record. Reports of tensions and creative differences within the group led many to believe that First Impressions might be the band ... More >>

Ree Boado's Radio-Ready Tunes Come from Her Dreams

Ree Boado - You Got Something

Song: Ree Boado, "You Got Something"Context: This local singer-songwriter, who we featured in print this week, is probably the most radio-ready local act going right now. She reminds me a lot of Regina Spektor. Ree Boado - You Got Something by mmcizmar

River Jones & Friends Music Festival at The Paisley Violin Last Night

Melissa FossumMichelle Blades playing live at the River Jones Music & Friends Festival at Paisley Violin in Phoenix.​River Jones Music Festival The Paisley Violin Sunday, January 16, 2011 The first images that came to mind when I heard about a folk festival at The Paisley Violin? Tie-dyed col ... More >>

Jeff Arundel, Bomb

​Jeff ArundelBomb Purple RecordsJeff Arundel has been through the ringer. Since we last heard from the Midwestern singer-songwriter, on 2005's Ghost Party, he's gone through a painful divorce, the details of which are documented in the almost uncomfortably frank, and very raw, acoustic opener."Sh ... More >>

Fol Chen: Part II: The New December

​Nothing can save you from the dark reality of the Tuesday after a Monday holiday like being back at work knowing there is a interesting group of new releases out today -- not tomorrow. Sorry.Leading the way today is indie rock/pop outfit Fol Chen and their latest release/concept album contin ... More >>

Bonnaroo Video and Audio Footage

The Avett Brothers at Bonnaroo. Photo by NPR.​If you dared to log on to Twitter this weekend, you undoubtedly saw the onslaught of not only massive amounts of Tweets on the start of the World Cup, but also on the Bonnaroo Festival that you were not at.There's nothing like a constant influx of inst ... More >>

Regina Spektor Live With the Obamas: Watch It Now

Regardless of your politics, you have to admit that interesting things are happening musically at the White House. Since Barack took office, the First Family has hosted a number of notables in the music world. While last year included a "Jazz Studio", a country music celebration, and a classical mu ... More >>

Lady Gaga's Telephone as Spoofed by NPR Staffers

Even if you're not a regular listener of NPR's afternoon program All Things Considered, you may want to have a look at this. Found by Fishbowl LA and reprinted by our sister paper, the LA Weekly's music blog West Coast Sound, it seems that some young people on NPR's staff convinced some of the, um ... More >>

Bonnaroo 2010 Lineup Announced: Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Weezer, Stevie Wonder and More

​Tennessee's Bonnaroo music festival has announced a full line-up for this June. No real surprises here: Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Weezer, and the Flaming Lips are the top of the pile.The Dead Weather, Phoenix, John Fogerty, Jimmy Cliff, Tenacious D, Zac Brown Band, ... More >>

Final Folk Festival at Modified

​Sunday afternoon, Modified filled to capacity for River Jones Music Label's Final Folk Fest. Seventeen bands and solo artists played to eager audiences, mainly sitting pretzel-legged on the rickety floorboards, hot beverage in hand, while wintery winds sauntered through the old house. This ain't ... More >>

Courtney Marie Andrews: You Asked For It

​ Courtney Marie Andrews Painter's Hands and a Seventh Son (River Jones Music Label) Grade: B Legend has it that Courtney Marie Andrews first tried her hand at songwriting when only 13 years old. Now 18, under the tutelage of River Jones and his music label Andrews has released two full-length ... More >>

New Late Night TV Battles a Boon For Music Lovers

The Late Show, Tonight Show and Late Night all have impressive music acts this next weekFirst, let me just get it out there: I watch a bunch of TV. I love it, and though I know it deadens my intellectual abilities, I'm not quitting. So, take it from a junkie, late night TV -- with the recent additio ... More >>

Other People's Blogs: Wilco Lawsuit Part 2, Electric Mustache Likes DMB, New Green Day Songs

NME: Wilco's Jeff Tweedy responds to lawsuitElectric Mustache: 'I kinda like Dave Matthews'Spin: Hear 6 New Green Day Songs!So Much Silence: Win tickets to see Haiku D'EtatNME: Regina Spektor reveals new album details

Eric Wareheim: Awesome Videos, Great Job!

In anticipation of the upcoming live comedy show this Sunday at the Marquee Theatre featuring Adult Swim goofballs Tim & Eric, I feel I must bring to light the magnificent music video directing skills of Eric Wareheim (the nice young fellow on the right).  Wareheim is the more musically inc ... More >>

Geek God

Ben Folds' jive is better than ever

Ben Folds

Way to Normal
(Sony BMG)

Regina Spektor @ the Orpheum Theatre, Sunday, November 4

From Rag to Riches

"Sweater girl" sells out -- or does she?

From Russia With Love

Spektor can melt our pot any time

Regina Spektor

Begin to Hope
(Sire)