Being Human

We’re not sure if versatile is the best description of Rob Schneider’s body of work, but the dude sure has played a lot of roles. He got his big break on Saturday Night Live, starring as The Sensitive Naked Man and impersonating Billy Crystal. Then he had a series of…

Cursive @ Crescent Ballroom

Few bands can retain a dedicated following after throwing fans for stylistic loops the way Cursive has. Yet the long running Omaha-via-Los Angeles quartet pulls it off. The genre-defying group first turned heads with its post-hardcore-meets-cello masterpiece, The Ugly Organ, before jettisoning said stringed instrument for a horn section on…

Club Candids: Hello Nasty! at Pussycat Lounge

It seems like Old Town Scottsdale would be pretty busy on a holiday weekend, but against all odds, it wasn’t. For once parking was easy to find and Shoeman was eerily quiet, but once you turned the corner to Saddlebag Trail, it was the same ol’ loud and crowded Old…

The Darkness at Celebrity Theatre, 2/18/12

The Darkness Celebrity Theatre Saturday, February 18, 2012 The Darkness is doing pretty well for a band that could be a considered a one-hit wonder. After a five-year hiatus and some rehab visits, the band is back in full force with its original lineup. See the full slideshow of The…

Islands at Crescent Ballroom 2/15/12

Islands Crescent Ballroom Wednesday, February 15, 2012 It felt a lot like a high school dance: On stage, this cool Canadian indie pop band played a good mix of fast and slow tunes, perfectly suited for dancing, yet most of the crowd sat still. Apparently some sort of Footloose-esque “no…

Frame of Reference

As camera prices drop and YouTube continues making stars, the definition of filmmaker morphs and evolves. Sure, Ninja Cat isn’t held in the same critical esteem as Holly Golightly’s tabby in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, anyone with a camera phone and an eye for entertainment can create the next million-hit meme…

Club Candids: Obscura’s Hearts of Darkness Bash at Rip’s Ales and Cocktails

Both Valentine’s Day and Singles Awareness Day are overrated. Regardless of what you’re celebrating, with the exception of Arizona’s Centennial, you were probably setting yourself up for disappointment on the 14th. Obscura smartly hosted its Hearts of Darkness Anti-Valentine’s Bash a few days before the actual holiday. Couples could innocently…

Take Cover: The Bittersweet Way Covers The Jesus and Mary Chain

Admit it, you don’t know much about The Jesus and Mary Chain beyond puzzling over what Bill Murray whispered to Scarlett Johansson at the end of Lost in Translation. It’s okay, you’re not alone. Jedidiah Foster, the singer and guitarist of The Bittersweet Way introduced his bandmates to The Jesus…

Unwritten Law at Roxy Lounge, 2/9/12 (VIDEO)

Unwritten Law Roxy Lounge Thursday, February 9, 2012 Unwritten Law has had an interesting career. Lineup changes are to be expected with any band that’s been around for over 20 years, but most frontmen don’t have “physical arguments” with (soon-to-be-former) bandmates. That leaves Scott Russo, the only original member of…

Whatever Works

Though stylistically very different from each other, Stephen Spielberg, Woody Allen, Billy Wilder, and The Coen Brothers are all considered auteurs. But these gents have more in common than mere filmmaking prowess: They share a Jewish heritage. The Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival celebrates the life, culture, and humor of…

American Standards @ The Underground

Hardcore bands are kind of like the Tea Party: Both have strong opinions and are keen on shoving their righteous agendas down as many throats as possible. The genre can be off-putting, but local thrash-hardcore act American Standards proves that the preachy positivism isn’t always a bad thing. The band’s…

Club Candids: The Lost Leaf

The Roosevelt Row district sees some of its heaviest foot traffic during the First Friday artwalk. When the weather is nice, it can be next to impossible to get into some of the more packed galleries. Things slow down a little bit around 10 o’clock as galleries and exhibitors begin…

Take Cover: Sweetbleeders Cover PJ Harvey

PJ Harvey’s musical style suits Sweetbleeders well. These local rockers were spot on in reproducing her sound, even though a man was singing her songs. The idea to cover PJ Harvey arose when Stateside Presents’ Charlie Levy asked the band to play Cover the Crescent a few weeks ago. Vocalist…

Boys and Frogs Debut “Lay Your Wet Hair Down” Video

Any news of an upcoming Boys and Frogs music video is good. This Peoria indie pop group has an outstanding track record of starring in beautifully produced music videos. Boys and Frogs has once again struck gold with the carnival-themed video for its latest single, “Lay Your Wet Hair Down,”…

Social Distortion at Marquee Theatre, 2/3/12

Social Distortion Marquee Theatre Friday, February 3, 2012 Phoenix loves Social Distortion, and the band loves Phoenix, including not one but two stops on their most recent tour. Last night was business as usual: The band played a packed venue to a sea of drunk burly guys and tiny girls…

Ten Movies Kanye West Should Have Starred In

Kanye West is currently scouting locations for a short film in the vein of “Runaway” that will be filmed somewhere in the Middle East in March. Government officials based out of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha are in the middle of a bidding war to get Yeezy’s contract, The New…

The 19th Hole

Unless you closely follow Tiger Woods’ travails in balancing girlfriends, golf isn’t always the sexiest of sports. Movies like Caddyshack and Happy Gilmore make golf look fun, but, let’s face it, pulling a Happy and accusing a golf ball of being too good for its home would be in poor…

Frank Turner @ Marquee Theatre

The punk-goes-acoustic thing is fun, but let’s be honest: When you listen to a Chuck Regan solo folk LP, you’re secretly crossing your fingers that he’ll make a new Hot Water Music album. Such longing isn’t necessary with Frank Turner. After his post-hardcore band Million Dead called it quits, Turner…