TBS sitcom Sullivan and Son works because it is based on the life of stand up comic Steve Byrne. Like his character on the show, Byrne is half-Irish and half-Korean, and he really has a mom named Ok Cha. It’s best left to our imagination if she ever called her…
Walking 101 miles outside in the middle of the summer is borderline insane, but HERO does it every year for good reason. Equality walkers trek one mile for every year that Arizona has been a state without giving full rights to its LGBTQ community. The HERO walkers will travel all…
Glassjaw Rocky Point Cantina, Tempe Tuesday, July 23, 2013 Before Glassjaw took the stage, the atmosphere at Rocky Point Cantina was tense, punctuated by fans shouting things like “where the fuck have you been?” as they stared anxiously at the green room door. Watching the band perform a 90-minute set…
Getting up early to run a 5K is probably the last thing on average people’s minds in the middle of July. Granted, 3.1 miles isn’t that bad, but staying cool at home sounds much more appealing. Fortunately, Splash Mob isn’t your typical 5K. This family-friendly waterpark run keeps participants cool…
Rancid is the perfect starter punk band. The group has the punk image down pat — just look at frontman Tim Armstrong’s liberty spikes and numerous tattoos. The cover of . . . And Out Come the Wolves is enough to make any aspiring young punk pick up the record to find out more…
Black Flag Club Red Thursday, July 11, 2013 The idea of Black Flag coming to town works in principle. Seeing the remnants of an iconic punk band that hasn’t performed in Phoenix in decades sounds good in theory, but the reality is that Black Flag has gone through so many…
Watching Kanye West continue to boast about his opulent lifestyle makes some of us wish that the events which transpire in Trading Places could happen in real life. Who wouldn’t want to swap their foreclosed home for a Trump Tower penthouse for a few days? Although, returning to your less-than-glamorous…
Most people commemorate road trips with photos, kitschy T-shirts, and good stories, but how about a tattoo? Day trips are one of the best ways to beat the grueling summer months in Phoenix, and the Northern Arizona Tattoo Festival is a solid reason to head up to Prescott for the…
Fourth of July is all about tradition, whether you’re stuffing your face with barbeque or dressing up in your finest red, white, and blue garb. Fireworks are bound to be part of the equation, and though it may be tempting to watch the Boston display from the comfort of your…
The RAW Kaleidoscope Showcase had a little something for everyone, showing off the talents of local artists in various media. Both floors of Monarch Theatre were full of art displays, fashion, music, and mingling creative types. The event had such a big turnout that it was sometimes difficult to get…
Section three of the Defense of Marriage Act was ruled unconstitutional Wednesday, marking a huge step forward for marriage equality. Thursday is the 44th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, giving the LGBTQ community and its allies plenty of reasons to celebrate. No victory is complete without some music, so here…
Warped Tour returns to the valley in a few hours, officially kicking things off at Quail Run Park in Mesa at noon. There are a few familiar names on the line up, but the onslaught of bands with colors and violent subject matter in their names is a little overwhelming…
The old cliché about running away to join the circus has some appeal. You don’t have to deal with carnies, which makes it a more viable option than joining a traveling carnival. Life in the circus means befriending fire breathers, acrobats, and elephants. So, what’s not to love? Okay, cleaning…
It takes a certain dedication and naiveté to go to Warped Tour in Arizona. Standing outside in what’s predicted to be a 111-degree day with dozens of screaming bands isn’t for everyone, but some teens continue to show their dedication year after year. The glory days of $25 punk Warped…
Harry and the Potters The Trunk Space Saturday, June 22, 2013 Harry Potter fans are an intense bunch. Folks dressed up as their favorite Gryffindor heroes or Slytherin villains are standard fare, but wizard rock takes the adoration to a whole new level. The genre is exactly what it sounds…
Sneaking into a hotel or a residential pool in the middle of the summer is pretty much a rite of passage in Arizona. Scrambling over the fence in your underwear as security chases you down can prove risky yet exhilarating. The risk of getting caught is half the fun, but…
Friends and members of the local music community are remembering Daniel Somers, a producer and singer/guitarist of Phoenix rock band Lisa Savidge, as a hardworking, talented musician. Somers, 30, took his own life on Monday, June 10. The U.S. Army vet had been suffering from nightmares, flashbacks, and hallucinations related…
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Celebrity Theatre (View the full slideshow.) Thursday, June 6, 2013 Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are a band of many talents, combining songs that could have been ’70s rock anthems with Potter’s powerhouse vocals, exuding blues, country, and pop flair. The band’s musical variety attracted…
The Thermals Crescent Ballroom Wednesday, June 12, 2013 If you like The Ramones, you probably would have loved last night’s show. I know that’s a lofty comparison, but Portland DIY pop punk trio The Thermals performed relatively simple but uber-catchy songs that kept the crowd moving throughout its 20 song…
New relationships are full of all sorts of hurdles. There’s the first time you spend the night together, meeting your significant other’s friends, and, if there’s long-term potential, meeting the parents. It’s pretty nerve-wracking.And if you think the parentals in Meet the Fockers were bad, Cheaters makes you realize it…
Last night’s sold out Fall Out Boy show was full of girls singing their hearts out to the band’s hit songs. Some fans arrived early to get a coveted spot near the stage, extending the line to the Mill Avenue bridge. I overheard a guy say that Fall Out Boy…
I saw Fall Out Boy right before they got super popular and seemingly unavoidable–the last time they played the Marquee Theatre for an intentionally Intimate show. If my Google skills are correct, it was with New Found Glory at Marquee Theatre in 2007. What’s even stranger is that the band…
