As a frontman and songwriter, Chino Moreno tends to go all out — be it physically, emotionally, and especially vocally, whether it’s his tempestuous banshee-like screams and wails or his sultrier crooning. Deftones, the alt-metal band he’s most famous for fronting, has successfully created a brand of smoldering sound that…
When it comes to reggae festivals, the common thread among the bands is usually made out of hemp. However, the acts you’ll see performing Saturday, March 15, at sunny Tempe Beach Park extend far beyond reggae and hip-hop grassroots genre’s status quo. In fact, the four headliners — Rebelution, Atmosphere,…
For nearly 20 years, Pepper has been bringing their brand of dance-worthy rock-pop-reggae to fans all over the world. It’s a type of mellow yet vividly powerful music that, even though it can be categorized as reggae, is more scintillating and sexy than any Nag Champa-scented act I’ve ever heard…
When it comes to reggae festivals, the common thread among the bands is usually made out of hemp. However, the acts you’ll see performing Saturday, March 15, at sunny Tempe Beach Park extend far beyond reggae and hip-hop grassroots genre’s status quo. In fact, the four headliners — Rebelution, Atmosphere,…
It’s difficult not to like something called “sunshine reggae” — even for those who aren’t the biggest fans of Marley dreads, Nag Champa and barefoot romps. Iration embodies the description of sunshine reggae perfectly, a mix of dub, reggae and rock, and the band’s live shows pulse with an undeniable…
Minneapolis-bred Atmosphere aptly fits into that “old-school” indie rap category. Since 1989, the group has released six studio albums and 10 extended plays, touched base on some deep societal issues, and has kept a fanbase while consistently evolving; difficult to do during a time like the 90s when musical consistency…
The marriage of horror cinema and heavy metal — it’s a match made in heaven for me and probably hell for others, like my girlfriends who prefer pop music and romantic comedies. Either way, it’s one of my favorite topics and we’ve definitely got some fresh blood on the matter…
It can be easy to miss unless you’re looking for it, but there are a lot of metal (heavy or otherwise) getting slung in and around Metro Phoenix, thanks to concerts and gigs by locals and touring acts alike. As such, Up on the Sun’s resident metal scribe, Lauren Wise,…
It’s 2014 and high time you got some new music into your playlist — seriously. And that’s doubly true when it comes local music, of which there’s an abundance in metro Phoenix. The Valley’s music scene is gifted with burgeoning bands and emerging artists who will be making waves and…
Creating a virtual band that somehow became the highest-charting death metal band in history and posing in Playgirl magazine aren’t usually two things that go hand-in-hand. However, neither is directing a Soundgarden music video, then releasing a solo album, and co-headlining alongside Mastodon in said fictional metal band — just…
Millions of people know who the Pixies are. Since the ’80s, the band has found its songs incorporated into some of the most significant moments within pop culture’s most beloved films and shows — but only within the past 15 years or so. (Think Fight Club’s buildings tumbling, Zack and…
The name Damon Johnson may not ring a bell automatically, even if you are a hardcore rock ‘n’ roll fan. But this Alabama-bred guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter has been a part of rock’s favorite acts. His band, Brother Cane, released three albums and two number one singles on Billboard’s Mainstream…
It’s 2014 and high time you got some new music into your playlist — seriously. And that’s doubly true when it comes local music, of which there’s an abundance in metro Phoenix. The Valley’s music scene is gifted with burgeoning bands and emerging artists who will be making waves and…
A few weeks back, I wrote about the most metal moments at NAMM, but now I’d like to touch base on some of the amazing products at the one of the largest music trade shows in the world. Manufacturers seem to have found a way of creating affordable instruments that…
Fetish Revolution feat. The Genitorturers Marquee Theatre 2/15/14 Last night, society’s outcasts, kink-cravers, pleather-wearing thrillseekers, and those looking to enjoy some pleasures of the flesh dressed in their finest and freakiest fetishistic wear made their way to the Marquee Theatre in Tempe for the 10th annual Fetish Revolution. This is…
For bands that take the stage at any of the Fetish Revolution events, the term “tough crowd” can take on an entirely new meaning. The annual party is equal parts sexual dream (or nightmare, depending on who you ask), bondage carnival, alternative lifestyle symposium, and lingerie fashion show. It’s one…
Confession time: Alice in Wonderland was one of my favorite childhood films. In fact, I had an Alice in Wonderland tea set with cracked cups picturing the White Rabbit and Mad Hatter. Don’t judge me, but it’s one of the one things I’ve managed to keep over the years in…
Few bands can straddle the fine line between hard rock and heavy metal — or underground credibility and commercial viability — as well as Stone Sour. The band has released five studio albums, each of which has challenged and exceeded the band’s — and its fans — expectations. Stone Sour…
Few bands can straddle the fine line between hard rock and heavy metal — or underground credibility and commercial viability — as well as Stone Sour. The band has released five studio albums, each of which has challenged and exceeded the band’s — and its fans’ — expectations. Stone Sour…
It can be easy to miss unless you’re looking for it, but there are a lot of metal (heavy or otherwise) in and around Metro Phoenix, thanks to concerts and gigs by locals and touring acts alike. As such, Up on the Sun’s resident metal scribe Lauren Wise is always…
The last time I told people I was going to ‘Nam, I was actually heading off to backpack through Vietnam for a month with a stop off in Cambodia and Taiwan. And the general reply was, “Why the hell would you want to do that?” However, last week when I…
So, I know that as soon as the Grammys are over, there is typically an onslaught of heavy metal music journalists complaining about how the awards don’t respect the genre. We all know this, in fact. The heavy metal category hasn’t even been televised in more than a decade. While…
