Townes Van Zandt

Five More Reasons to Check Out That Damn Show on Saturday: Tiger Army, Face to Face, Awolnation, Fenix TX, and More

We're fairly certain that by now you're fully up to speed on That Damn Show's headliner Bad Religion, as well when they're playing, how they've been around longer than you think, and their best albums ever. So what about the rest of the rock, punk, and indie heavy-hitters filling out the bill at M ... More >>

Remembering Phoenix Bassist Kevin Pate

Joe Ely, Rhythm Room, 3/19/13

Joe Ely @

Kevin Pate, Phoenix Music Veteran, Dead at 54

On Monday night, Kevin Pate -- a valued member of the Phoenix music community -- was fighting for his life in a hospital in Yuma, where he was serving a four-year jail sentence for DUI and violating parole. Misinformation was spreading across online social networks that he'd passed on, but ever the ... More >>

Merle Haggard, Wild Horse Pass Casino, 9/21/12

Merle Haggard @ Wild Horse Pass Casino | Friday, September 21, 2012 We pity the grim reaper on the day he comes to collect the soul of Merle Haggard, because the iconic country musician won't be going anywhere without putting up a major fight. Without a speck of hyperbole, Haggard is a legitimate ... More >>

South Mountain Witness Gives Foster the People the Old-Timey Treatment

See also: Take Cover: Dry River Yacht Club Covers The Beatles See also: Take Cover: Field Tripp Covers Townes Van Zandt See also: Foster the People @ Comerica Theatre, 7/6/12 See also: South Mountain Witness/North Brother Island @ JobotIt's tough to turn on the TV or radio without hearing a Foster t ... More >>

Snail Quail Covers The Violent Femmes

See also: Snail Quail Learns to Love This Screwed-Up City See also: Field Tripp Covers Townes Van Zandt Snail Quail once combined covers of Rick Astley's legendary cheese anthem "Never Gonna Give You Up" with Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," so suffice to say: the band is quirky. So it's no su ... More >>

Take Cover: Field Tripp Covers Townes Van Zandt

See also: Avery Covers Damien Jurado Steve Earle famously opined: "Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that," so it stands to reason that Townes is a tough songwriter to do justice. Yet local psychedelic fo ... More >>

Andrew Bird, Mesa Arts Center, 4/18/12

Andrew Bird Mesa Arts Center Wednesday, April 18 When I opened the doors of Mesa Arts Center last night to see indie rock whistle-master Andrew Bird, I was greeted by an ocean of flannel shirts and beards. Folks were politely waiting in line for an overpriced beer and excited to see the show. The g ... More >>

Vintage Violence: TOAD's Rotten Tide Oozes Analog Menace

Decker: Love, God, and Sex in Sedona

decker.​The music of Brandon Decker, who records as decker. has proven to be a pleasant surprise. Primarily based in Sedona, an area known more for snoozy New Age, smooth jazz, and coffeehouse folk, Decker's third record, Broken Belts, Broken Bones doesn't sound unlike something you might hear ove ... More >>

Bad Lucy Release New Single, Set to Play Yucca Tap Room Tonight

​Phoenix alternative pop-rock trio Bad Lucy has been staying out of trouble by keeping a full schedule. After making an appearance on Channel 15 and performing at Downtown Phoenix Street Party last week, the band recently unveiled a new radio single and are gearing up for a free show tonight ... More >>

The Man Wore Black: Five Awesome Johnny Cash Covers

​Johnny Cash died eight years ago today. Do you remember the first time you saw the video for "Hurt," the Nine Inch Nails song brilliantly interpreted by Johnny Cash on this album, American IV: When the Man Comes Around? I do. The song and accompanying Mark Romanek film are beautiful. You may ... More >>

Tiger Army @ Marquee Theatre

Deer Tick Tonight At Modified Arts

We already told you a lot about Deer Tick in this week's paper, and we'll tell you a little more tomorrow, after tonight's show at Modified Arts but in the meantime we just wanted to give you a little reminder: DEER TICK IS TONIGHT.In case you're too lazy to click the above link:The group cranks out ... More >>

Deer Tick

Deer Tick

Folk You

You Asked for It: Matthew Reveles

Harmonic Hooks: The New Times Summer of Sound pop show recap

Country Club Dropout

Texas songwriter ain’t no Nashville cat

Jana Hunter

There's No Home
(Gnomonsong)

Unknown Legend

Somebody give Joe Ely the spotlight

New Times' top DVD picks for the week of March 14

James McMurtry

Stories, with guitar

Magnolia Electric Company

Good and miserable

Richard Buckner

Dents and Shells
(Merge Records)

Norah Jones

Jazz-pop pianist smolders at Cricket Pavilion

Road Worrier

Restless singer-songwriter David Dondero seeks out love and mourns the loves he's lost on The Transient

Various Artists

Heartworn Highways (Navarre)

Townes Van Zandt

The Best Of (Tomato)

A Gentle Evening With (Dualtone)

Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark

Sidetracks (Artemis), Together at the Bluebird Café (American Original Records)

Jon Dee Graham

Hooray for the Moon (New West)

Don't It Feel Good?

San Francisco's For Stars leave the sadness and sparseness behind on We Are All Beautiful People

The Coffee-House Kid

Stardom might be cool for Adam Carroll. But mainly he just wants to be your friend.

Doghouse Roses

By Steve Earle (Houghton Mifflin, $22)

Ode to Billy Joe

Billy Joe Shaver has a stunning new album in stores. But he can't enjoy it.

Alejandro Escovedo

A Man Under the Influence (Bloodshot)

Fair to Middlin'

State fair means music -- and the most toothless people you'll ever see

Truckers on Speed

No Sense in Runnin'
(self-released)

Brand New Year

Having averted a millennial apocalypse, it's time to catch up on the latest in heritage in roots music

True Believer

From punk to rock to country, Alejandro Escovedo has weathered the push and pull of family and music

Molten Wax

Duke of Earle

Steve Earle makes a brilliant detour into bluegrass with The Mountain

Gotta Lovett

SUGAR HILL HAS A SWEET ACOUSTICAL SOUND

THE NORTH CAROLINA LABEL IS SUCCESSFUL WITH EXPERIMENTAL BLUEGRASS

THE WORTHY DISCIPLENANCI GRIFFITH LEADS A FOLK RENAISSANCE BY HARKENING TO THE MASTER