This week’s New Times cover story is about Phoenix’s scrappy local low-power FM station KWSS 106.7 where unpaid hosts dedicate their own time to running a non-profit station that’s a lot more like college radio than a regular commercial format. While working on the story, we also got some video…
Brad Pfirrman slaps the snooze button for the third and final time. It’s just after 5:30 a.m., which means he needs to drag his ass down to the gas station around the corner from his Glendale home. On arrival, he buys a shot of Redline — an energy drink so…
This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week.Here are links to those posts… How does the newly named Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion stack up against the worst venue names in…
Song: Broken Bells, “The High Road” Context: This song from the duo of Danger Mouse and Shins singer James Mercer goes with this week’s cover story about local low-power station KWSS 106.7 FM. Broken Bells – The High Road by pcagx…
Song: Delta Spirit, “911”Context: What a great song from this Long Beach band. TOMS :: Delta Spirit :: 911…
We’ve written a lot about local metal band Hemoptysis. Mostly because they’re really, really good. But their backstory makes for interesting copy, too. The band is fronted by a guy named Masaki Murashita, a Japanese immigrant who once told us, candidly: “I would move back. That’s my honest opinion,” he…
Would you correctly identify Blessthefall as a Christian band? To me, it seems sorta obvious that the local post-hardcore band on Fearless Records with “bless” in the name is pro-religion.Yet this is the band that gave Noise Complaint cartoonist Robbie Pfeffer his “Freddie Mercury Moment.” Read on for the (hilarious and) sorted…
Bad news for people with working ears: Limp Bizkit, the rap-rock outfit that stained an entire generation by instigating a meathead riot at Woodstock 1999, is reassembling.Or so says singer/rapper/douchenozzle Fred Durst, who NME reports says his band is working on two new albums. Apparently he has some free time…
Local rock outfit Kinch got a lot attention from their three January residencies in LA, San Diego and Scottsdale. Now the newish Long Wong’s at the Firehouse in Tempe is running with the idea.Technically, the promo is called by the more modest-sounding title, “Featured Band of the Month,” but it’s…
Song: Joey Cape, “B Side” Context: Lagwagon singer Joey Cape will bring his acoustic solo act to Yucca Tap Room tomorrow. Should be a cool show — and we hear they have the last keg of Bell’s Hopslam on Tap, too, so look for that. B Side by joeycape…
Song: Lisa Savidge, “90 Pills”Context: This is my favorite old song from Lisa Savidge, the band featured in this week’s New Times. Listening to this new, much noisier version and the one from 2008 I’m struck by how drastically the band has evolved. Most local bands break up long before…
When it comes to corporate-sponsorship of venue names, Phoenix is blessed.Our basketball team plays in U.S. Airways Center, named for a successful local airline. Our hockey team plays in Jobing.com Arena — anything with a dot com at the end sounds so modern! Our football team plays in the University…
The outdoor amphitheater previously known as Desert Sky Pavilion, Cricket Pavilion, and Desert Sky Pavilion again now has a new name. It’s a doozie, too. How much are you going to love seeing shows at the Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion?Live Nation Entertainment announced a five-year name deal with Ashley Furniture HomeStore…
This week’s music feature is about local shoegazers Lisa Savidge. Ever wondered what sort of music soldiers in Iraq blast while patrolling the streets of Baghdad? Dan Somers, the band’s singer, did two tours of duty and shared his experience with writer Melissa Fossum.Another thing you may be wondering: Why the fuck…
Song: The Dodos, “Fables” Context: The Dodos will play The Duce — which is a super-cool venue in downtown Phoenix — on Sunday The Dodos // Fables by user1479531…
When it comes to South By Southwest, Phoenix’s fortunes are always changing. In recent years, as many as 20 local bands have played at the king-making music industry event in Austin, a half-dozen from Phoenix alone scoring official showcases. This year, there are only four Arizona acts showcasing, including one…
This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. Are The Refreshments really playing South By Southwest as reported?Which Strokes side project is the best…
SanTan Brewing is taking the beer festival band thing to a whole new level at their first Ameri”CAN” Canned Craft Beer Festival.The Chandler brewery cans instead of bottles, which probably seems like a trivial distinction (or a horrible mistake) to people who aren’t into craft beer.Trust me, it’s the sort…
Song: Family Of The Year, “Treehouse”Context: LA’s Family Of The Year will be playing the South By Stateside show on Monday at Sail Inn. This is a super cool song from the group. Treehouse by Family of the Year…
In this week’s Noise Complaint comic, Up On The Sun cartoonist Robbie Pfeffer riffs on the sorry state of the Valley’s bus system.Sure, they might have What Laura Says doing cute little commercials for them, but the Valley’s buses as seen through his eyes aren’t anywhere you’d happily be. Some…
Song: The Horde and the Harem, “Gold Rush”Context: This Pacific Northwest quintet plays part one of the annual South By Stateside showcase on Monday at Sail Inn in Tempe. Gold Rush by The Horde and the Harem…
Black Cactus Records does a little bit of everything — people associated with the local collective design merch, record albums and make web sites for members.Now they’re promoting shows, too. With touring bands, even.This Thursday, March 10th, the BC gang brings LA’s Goldenboy to Mesa’s Goathead Saloon, a venue which…
