The Black Keys

Top Five Must-See Phoenix Shows This Weekend

June is here (basically.) All across the Valley, people are glancing nervously at the sun, aware that at some point in the next month rising temperatures are going to force them into a kind of ersatz air-conditioning hibernation until sometime just after Christmas. Or maybe that's just me. But hey: ... More >>

Top Five Must-See Phoenix Shows This Weekend

June is here (basically.) All across the Valley, people are glancing nervously at the sun, aware that at some point in the next month rising temperatures are going to force them into a kind of ersatz air-conditioning hibernation until sometime just after Christmas. Or maybe that's just me. But hey: ... More >>

Coachella's "Bloom" Video: WTF Does it Mean?

Yesterday afternoon, the home page of the Coachella website changed to a video called "Bloom," which shows plants and art exhibits sprouting from the ground. Some look pretty creepy--did those worm/slug things 30 seconds into the video really just form a structure? At least the rest are fairly cute ... More >>

Who Decides What Rock is "Classic Rock?"

Not everyone has the luxury of having an auxiliary jack in their car stereo. With the amount of leaks, holes, and weird noises coming from my engine, I'm lucky my beat up truck still runs period. I can't be asking for a decent stereo. So my commuting music consists entirely of FM radio, which is sti ... More >>

Top Five New Years Eve Parties in Metro Phoenix

If it ain't one apocalypse, it's another, right? First December 21 rolls on by with nary an earthquake or a giant dragon emerging from the sky and burning us all to death with his flaming volcano mouth, and now we're perched on the edge of the dreaded fiscal cliff. But chances are things will proba ... More >>

Top Five Must-See Shows This Weekend

Curious about what's going on around town this weekend? Need some suggestions where to rock, dance, or krump in the Valley of the Sun? Don't fret: These are our Five Shows to See This Weekend.

Your Music Guide to the Arizona State Fair

Matisyahu and The Dirty Heads Offer Non-Traditional Reggae

F*ck You, I Like Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band announced yesterday that they'll be dropping their new album, Away From the World, on September 11. Their highly anticipated follow-up to Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King will feature 11 new tracks.People aren't shy about hating on DMB, but the band's music isn't just for f ... 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 >>

Squeeze's Chris Difford on England, John Cale, and the Paul McCartney-Produced Record That Never Came to Be

Coachella is a weird beast: In addition to hotly tipped acts like Avicci and Justice, big name standard bearers like Radiohead and The Black Keys, and holy-hell-they're-reuniting bands like Refused and At the Drive In, there's always a few bands that have just kept soldiering on, whose break-ups and ... More >>

Brad Steinke, What Are You Listening To?

Brad Steinke​Steinke is a host and reporter for FOX Sports Arizona. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Sirius XMU. It features great new indie artists -- I've heard Lykke Li, Neon Indian, Chapel Club and Lana Del Rey on this station. W ... More >>

Mike Kennedy, What Are You Listening To?

​Mike KennedyKennedy is a comedian and producer at the Speakeasy Comedy Lounge. He co-headlines the Tempe Improv Thursday, April 19. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? I would've said X 103.9-FM a month ago, but now it's sports radio 91 ... More >>

Radio Moscow: Escaping to the Woods With Parker Griggs

Say what you will about the changing commercial landscape of the music industry, but record labels still matter. Anyone can upload some tunes to BandCamp, but the stamp of approval from a great record label can still inspire confidence in the heart of a record browser. Labels still serve as expert c ... More >>

What's Selling: Renfield Record Exchange Top 10 Selling Albums of the Week

Jerome may be America's highest and largest ghost town, but that doesn't mean you can't dip into one of the many storefronts to thumb through some vinyl. Renfield Record Exchange specializes in rare vinyl records and out-of-print CDs, but you can also replace your El Camino album if it somehow gets ... More >>

Top 10 Albums of 2011: Lenni Rosenblum

Hell no, this did not make my list.​I was fairly unimpressed by this year's new releases, which says a lot considering I'm not all that hard to impress, musically speaking. Although a lot of great albums came out, I don't think that 2011 was a very special year as far as new releases go, and frank ... More >>

Ewan Currie of the Sheepdogs on Rolling Stone, Their Next Album, and Crosby, Stills & Nash

Emma McIntyre​Earlier this year The Sheepdogs became the first unsigned band to land on the cover of Rolling Stone after they won the magazine's Choose the Cover contest. Although they toured extensively before they entered the contest, their world was turned somewhat upside down when they finally ... More >>

Matt Johnson of Matt & Kim Talks SB 1070, Fighting Kim, and Getting Naked in Times Square

​You'll never see another musical duo that's as energetic and excited about playing music as indie rockers Matt & Kim. There's just two of them, but they put on one hell of a great show. The first thing their concertgoers often notice is how happy they are when they perform: vocalist/keyboardi ... More >>

Mergence Keeps It Weird with Communes, Nomads, and Robots

Happy Birthday, MTV: 30 Videos to Celebrate 30 Years

I want my MTV back​Music Television turns 30 today, but the network doesn't look a day over 16 and Pregnant. Well before MTV started exploiting the incredibly difficult lives of irresponsible teens expecting a first child and balancing high school algebra, the Viacom-network played music vid ... More >>

Buffalo Killers @ The Compound Grill

Those Darlins at The Rhythm Room, 7-27-2011

Victor GonzalezKelley Darlin of Those Darlins​Those Darlins The Rhythm Room Wednesday, July 27 Better Than: a "Snaggle Tooth Mama" Ah, the South. Damn I miss it. Geographically speaking, the southern states have produced some of the best music this country's ever heard--Buddy Holly, Hank ... More >>

Best Cover Songs in Other Languages

Rave On Buddy Holly, a 19-track tribute album, was released on June 28, 2011.​Last week, Fantasy Records and Hear Music released Rave On Buddy Holly, a 19-track tribute album dedicated to the bespectacled rock and roll icon. Artists like Paul McCartney and Lou Reed cover Holly classics o ... More >>

Aaron May, What Are You Listening To?

Aaron May​Aaron MayThe chef owns Over Easy (additional location here), The Lodge, Mabel's on Main, Iruna and Vitamin T, as well as May's Counter in Tucson. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? The Grateful Dead channel on Sirius. The cla ... More >>

Crusher Sound System and Mr. Meeble Last Night at The Sail Inn

​Crusher Sound System, Mr. Meeble & more. Sail Inn Saturday, April 30 You know, the old substance over style debate can get a little old. Isn't it possible to have both? It sure seemed like it watching Mr. Meeble on the outdoor stage at Next Fest at Sail Inn last night. The band was premieri ... More >>

Cage The Elephant, "Aberdeen"

​Song: Cage The Elephant, "Aberdeen"Context: I really like this song from the new Cage The Elephant record. Looking forward to seeing the guys open for The Black Keys in Mesa this week. Aberdeen - Cage the Elephant by mssngpeces

Greeley Estates Cuts Out the Pop Vocals for New Record

Six New Times Contributors Name Their Top 10 Records of 2010

Pitchfork's Top 10 Albums of 2010 Explained

Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig​The wonderful people over at Pitchfork just released their 10 best albums of 2010 today. In what should have came as no surprise, Kanye West took the top spot. His latest album had been given a notorious perfect 10 a month ago and, if Rolling Stone and Spin have anyth ... More >>

The Parting Gifts: Strychnine Dandelions

​Artist: The Parting Gifts Title: Strychnine Dandelions Release date: November 9 Label: In the Red Last week, I didn't have many good things to say about the new record from Kanye West. This morning, a white co-worker walked into my office and said, "I read what you said about Kanye West. Whe ... More >>

Jessica Lea Mayfield - Our Hearts Are Wrong

​Song: Jessica Lea Mayfield, "Our Hearts Are Wrong" Context: Jessica Lea Mayfield's now album is due in February, produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and out on Nonesuch. This first single is pretty damn good. Jessica Lea Mayfield - Our Hearts Are Wrong

The 88: The 88

​Artist: The 88Title: The 88 Release date: September 28 Label: Rocket ScienceWhat do you do if you're a band like The 88? You're top-flight songwriters and musicians, you get your songs placed in all kinds of big-name TV shows and high-profile TV commercials, you tour the country opening ... More >>

Warpaint: The Fool

​Artist: Warpaint Title: The Fool Release date: October 25 Label: Rough Trade The musical path taken by L.A. foursome Warpaint is well trodden -- but this kind of ultra-moody, sort of experimental, Joy Division-indebted music is usually plied by men. But Warpaint is a quartet of women, and in ... More >>

What's Selling: Hoodlums Music and Movies

​Record store junkies at Hoodlums Music and Movies have a taste for alternative and blues funk sounds. This week, new records from folk men Ryan Bingham and Ray LaMontagne's were highly sought after. Local boys What Laura Says were quite popular as well. 1. Ryan Bingham, Junky Star See the entir ... 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 >>

What's Selling: Zia Records Chandler

Eminem, Recovery​This week we decided to report on a record store in the deep south. While typically our charts go to the indie shops rooted in CenPho and Tempe, we thought it important to note that people in Chandler buy records too. This week the folks that shop at Zia Records in Chandler are s ... More >>

Authority Zero: Stories of Survival

​Artist: Authority ZeroTitle: Stories of SurvivalRelease date: June 22Label: Suburban NoizeI have a friend who's a native Phoenician and longtime fixture in the Valley punk scene, both as fan and musician. He loves West Coast punk, thinks Southern California spawned the best of the best punk, espe ... More >>

13 Must-Hear Songs from the First Half of 2010

Dum Dum Girls​Today marks the halfway point of Nothing Not New. That means I've listen to nearly 140 records in their entirety in the first six months of 2010. Just another 140 or so to go before I can retreat to the familiarity of my record collection.To recognize the occasion, the Up on the Sun ... More >>

Foals: Total Life Forever

​Artist: FoalsTitle: Total Life ForeverRelease date: June 22Label: Sub PopThough I disagree with a commenter on one of my posts this week (Shawn from excellent local music blog Electric Mustache) about the merits of electro-punk Sleigh Bells, I agree with him that S.B. are a band that you either l ... More >>

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Mojo

​Artist: Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersTitle: MojoRelease date: June 15Label: RepriseHow many of you have acts that you'd never call yourself a fan of, would never buy one of their records, or pay money to see in concert, yet recognize that the acts have been around for so long and written songs ... More >>

Odds 'n' Sods: Delta Spirit, Stereo Total, The Tallest Man on Earth, The Cringe, The Dig, and more

​Let's clear off the desk, shall we?Stereo Total: Baby Ouh! -- This band on the Kill Rock Stars label is a multi-lingual new-New Wave boy-girl band with songs sung in English, German, and French. It's quirky with a capital "Q" and not nearly as charming as it thinks it is. Still, most songs are un ... More >>

Greeley Estates Cuts Out the Pop Vocals for New Record

The Scourge of Aesthetic Atrophy, and the Top 50 Albums of the Aughts

The Best Album of 2008? Sorry 'Science,' I Go With Girl Talk

Can an album comprised solely of samples really be an artistic achievement? Honestly, I'm a little bit torn about naming Girl Talk's Feed The Animals the best album of the year. After all, it is a record made up entirely of mashups, so, strictly speaking, there's not a note of new music in this ba ... More >>

Catch the Fever

Props to Oz

Wonder Twins

A scientific study of the two-piece indie-rock boom