“The things you own end up owning you,” as spouted by Fight Club’s Tyler Durden (portrayed by Brad Pitt), speaks to the dangers of consumerism infiltrating our identities. Those things that we actually let go of and discard may be just as rife with hints as to who we are…
“The things you own end up owning you,” as spouted by Fight Club’s Tyler Durden (portrayed by Brad Pitt), speaks to the dangers of consumerism infiltrating our identities. Those things that we actually let go of and discard may be just as rife with hints as to who we are…
Now that a sweltering summer has been put behind us, we’re up for anything that reminds us that seasons exist. We might still have sweaty days, but our night temps are dipping low, which means the Mid-Autumn Harvest Moon Festival will be the perfect occasion for fall to plant its…
It’s hard to imagine some of Phoenix metro’s most notable art and hip-hop events going down without some sweet live-art creation. Thank Adam Dumper for that; he’s one our town’s originators of the funky visual happenings. With ambition and street-honed graphic skills, Dumperfoo has been getting busy since the early…
“Epic” is so overused nowadays. Yes, that sandwich is big (no, it’s not epic.) Yes, FailBlog is funny (but not everything is an epic fail.) Want something truly epic? Then check out South Mountain Community College’s Storytelling Institute “Myth Informed”. For the past 30 years, fifth-generation Californian Cathryn Fairlee has…
Every college has its super-seniors: those students whose post-secondary studies exceed the bounds of the classic four-year plan. For some, the designation comes from partying too hard. For others, it’s a result of pursuing their varied interests, credits toward a major be damned. For The Necronauts, super-seniors of the Valley’s…
Last year, the Sci-Fi Channel dropped the “sci-fi” in favor of a rebranding as SyFy, putting fans at odds with the network (at least, briefly) over the seemingly graceless overhaul. CopperCon 30, the Valley’s premiere science fiction convention that’s in its 30th year, throws down the gauntlet by keeping the…
Tommy Wiseau might not be a rock star laying down a killer guitar riff or stage diving, but he has emitted a frontman-worthy primal scream of the line “YOU’RE TEARING ME APART, LISA!” in the 2003 film, The Room. The indie-drama-turned-cult-comedy-classic has put its lead actor, writer, director, and producer…
Forget history, and you’re doomed to repeat it. Luckily, we have Everything is Terrible! rifling obscure and random VHS tapes to seek out the inept, the ridiculous, and the straight-up awful. What started as a website in 2007 (EverythingIsTerrible.com) for a group of Chicago friends to share their gems from…
In its “King of Rock” video, RUN DMC are nonplussed at the staidness of the museum they encounter. We imagine Matthew Mosher might feel the same about the traditional art space, because his takeover of the Step Gallery bends the boundaries of art presentation. His “The Gallery is No Place…
The typical rockabilly gathering is rife with old-school cool, ranging from bitchin’ hot rods and vintage-tinged tunes to fellas dressed sharp and ladies dolled up in style. This Saturday’s Rockabilly Rules II at The Rhythm Room goes one step further and recalls the WWII-level of stateside support for our troops…
The Project Blowed open-mic series, created in 1994 at L.A.’s Good Life Café, became the hangout for the underground rap scene then and acted as an incubator for the many L.A. MCs who rock mics now. Lucky us, Project Blowed co-founder Abstract Rude shows and proves his mettle with a…
Instead of merely being a thuggish, dunderheaded megalomaniac, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has also been a harbinger of the future: At press time, SB 1070 was days from being enacted and has prompted other states to take similar measures. It’s a really dumb vision of the future that these…
Instead of merely being a thuggish, dunderheaded megalomaniac, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has also been a harbinger of the future: At press time, SB 1070 was days from being enacted and has prompted other states to take similar measures. It’s a really dumb vision of the future that these…
Twenty-two-year-old Tempe denizen Stephen Steinbrink is mostly known for his beautifully crafted, twangy pop woven from the tangled threads of love, insecurity, hope, and everyday despair. In addition to creating music and frequent touring, Steinbrink has poured himself into illustration. His drawings have appeared as the art for many of…
Instead of merely being a thuggish, dunderheaded megalomaniac, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has also been a harbinger of the future: At press time, SB 1070 was days from being enacted and has prompted other states to take similar measures. It’s a really dumb vision of the future that these…
Hollywood has tried everything to pull you into theaters for its summer fare: CGI explosions, schlocky comedies, and, sigh, trotting out the franchise flicks. The only sequel we’re interested in is the Marquez-Diaz II slugfest. Last year, the throwdown between Houston’s Juan Diaz and the elder Juan Manuel Marquez of…
When Chris Rock said “grand opening, grand closing,” he could have been talking about Phoenix, a place where plenty of business and artistic endeavors wilt within a year. In fact, we heard a rumor that this Thursday’s Black Pearl Poetry Slam might be the last. We went straight to BPP…
For Phoenix sticker artist and impresario Mike Neely (better known as Mad One), the streets don’t sleep. With the world at large as his canvas, Neely has created ridiculous amounts of art pieces over the last 10 years. Juggling works that range from guerilla-ready adhesive art and wheatpaste posters to…
To the lazy minds behind Anheuser-Busch’s marketing, weekends were made for Michelob. For small armies of Phoenix filmmakers, weekends were made for making movies. The Beat the Clock Summer 48 Hour Film Challenge Screening collects the works of those who braved searing temperatures and sweated out creating a short film…
One of our favorite signs of a great party is hearing the buzz of the hullabaloo as we’re approaching from a block or two away. Wherever we stroll through the PHX during the weekend, we’re ecstatic to hear the raucous sounds of people having a good time. What gave our…
Want some music? Just add weather. Sunny days sometimes lead to the breeziest of songs while being shut in by Minnesota snowfall, we imagine, yields the claustrophobia-in-a-blender noise of post-punk rockers Gay Beast. Led by the stabbing vocals and pulsing synths of Daniel Luedtke (whose retina-buzzing art also adorns the…
