John O’ Callaghan, lead singer for Tempe pop-rock act The Maine, released a poetry collection last week.Yeah, this is on the heels of a movie made by the band. And of course they do a little music, too. It’s enough to make anyone feel like a slug by comparison.The project…
Song: The Low Anthem, “Champion Angel”Context: It’s a folk explosion today as Mumford & Sons and The Low Anthem announce shows in the Valley of the Sun. Mumford’s show will be a totally unique event — they’re traveling by train to Chandler — but The Low Anthem’s show at Ice…
Do you know who Taboo is? Well, as is mentioned a few times in the video above, a sketch from this week’s Saturday Night Live, he’s a member of The Black Eyed Peas. Why do you care? Understandably, most people don’t. However, since Taboo (real name: Jaime Luis Gomez) has…
Song: Database Megamix Context: Hipster DJs Database will be at Bar Smith tonight. Drop by after First Friday if you’re looking for a big sweaty party. DATABASE MEGAMIX [DJ BORBY NORTON] by dbnmegamixes…
Song: The Olivia Tremor Control, “California Demise” Context: Most shows only get one shout-out in Today’s Soundtrack. I could have done Elephant 6 bands all week in anticipation of tonight’s show at The Duce. The Olivia Tremor Control – California Demise by The Tambourine…
The Sound Strike, the musical boycott of Arizona organized last year in the wake of a controversial immigration law, is crowing about its success. The boycott is lead by former Rage Against The Machine singer Zack de la Rocha. It persists even though SB 1070 — like an “eerily similar”…
In this week’s issue our new Clubs Editor Jason P. Woodbury writes about up and coming Tempe post-punk act Vegetable. The band has only been together about three months but already done a regional tour, pressed vinyl and had the honor of playing the last show held inside the now-shuttered…
Song: Neutral Milk Hotel, “Holland, 1945″Context: One of my favorite songs from an Elephant 6 act, in honor of tomorrow’s Holiday Surprise Tour at The Duce. Holland, 1945…
The Refreshments are playing South By Southwest. No, not those Refreshments. The famous Tempe act from the 90’s is still very much broken up. Not that you’d know it from a hilarious listing on a SXSW site which names a band called the Refreshments from Tempe, Arizona. The site shows the cover…
What Arizona acts are showcasing or playing parties at the South by Southwest music industry showcase in Austin? Glad you asked. Here’s a rundown of every show being played by Arizona acts during the week-long shindig.If you have any additions please hit me up on Twitter, @phxmusicdotcom…
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. Why did Kanye West’s new video get temporarily pulled from YouTube? What is Yoko One going to…
Phoenix New Times annual Big Brains contest is back.The contest is designed to reward and nurture up-and-coming talent in the Valley by giving ground-floor movers and/or shakers a grand.Straight cash, homie.There are categories for design/fashion, visual art, performing art, film/video, culinary art and a wild card so if you know…
The 20-year-old outdoor amphitheater on the west side of Phoenix which switched its name from Desert Sky Pavilion to Cricket Wireless Pavilion a few years ago is now back to square one.This is no victory over corporate America. The low-cost cell provider’s naming rights recently expired and concert promoter Live Nation, which…
Long Wong’s Firehouse in Tempe has made the world’s largest flier for their one-year anniversary show.The shows will be March 18 and 19 at the bar and venue on Apache Boulevard. Underground Cities, Future Loves Past, Kirkwood Dellinger and The Pubes headline the big bills.The flier, meanwhile is a 24…
Song: ROAR, “I Can’t Handle Change”Context: This is the title track from ROAR’s record which you can download for free here. ROAR – I Cant Handle Change…
In this week’s Noise Complaint comic, Up On The Sun cartoonist Robbie Pfeffer bemoans the fate of one of his favorite Scottsdale spots. The Chop and Wok in Scottsdale, which is a really cool place, recently had a devastating fire. The bar is still open, though, so do your part…
Wu-Tang Clan, Fishbone and Yelawolf will headline the annual Village Voice SXSW party, this year produced in tandem with with Frank 151.If that’s not enough to grab your attention, it’s worth mentioning that Erykah Badu will DJ the party on Thursday, March 17 at the Austin Music Hall.The event runs…
Song: Linkin Park, “The Catalyst” (Kannamix ‘Bday’ Remix)Context: Linkin Park comes to US Airways Center tonight. Should be an interesting show given their new sound which some fans might not totally appreciate. While they still sound a little too much like the old Linkin Park for my taste, this remix…
Daytrotter, the taste-making blog featuring performances by up-and-coming acts, is offering a leg up to another Phoenix act.ROAR, the new project by Asleep in the Sea singer Owen Evans, did four tracks for the site, scoring one of their signature portraits and a pleasantly verbose write-up largely concerned with the…
The Love Me Nots have a new album, The Demon and The Devotee, coming out tomorrow. Over the weekend, they put out a “Thringle” — a digital three song single — with some of the tracks.The new stuff is a little dirtier and harder than band’s other recent work. It’s…
Song: Canibus, “Patriots” (Feat. Free & Pras)Context: Queens-bred rapper Canibus will be at Tempe’s Club Red tomorrow night. He’s an interesting dude — a guy who joined the military after scoring a gold record and who is probably best known for his feuds with other rappers — but it’s hard for anyone…
San Francisco’s symphony famously backed Metallica for a two-disc epic called S&M, redefining how many people look at metal in the process. The Phoenix Symphony will back Canadian Christian singer Jim Witter, who has made his living doing knockoffs of popular tours like the Elton John/Billy Joel piano duel in…
