Paradox: Metal has probably produced more legitimate sub-genre than any other branch of rock. Yet, for the most part, these offshoots have remained fairly true to the genres roots, especially visually: Grizzly looking dudes in black leather with long hair and playing brutal music. Then we have metalcore and bands…
When preparing for an interview with a band I Google the hell out of them beforehand. In the case of Columbus, Ohio band The Black Swans, this task was a little more difficult than normal thanks to the movie Black Swan. In fact, when trying to find a photo to…
Purple Reign Talking Stick Resort January 8th, 2011 When it comes to most musical acts there really isn’t any substitution for the original. Prince, for example, is a one of a kind musician, but the tribute act Purple Reign is probably as close to the real thing as you can…
Over the last days of 2010 Up On The Sun will be counting down the best live shows of 2010. Today we look at the #4 show of the year, Gorillaz at Comerica Theatre…
The Holiday season can be a stressful time. While it’s meant to be the one time in the whole year that everyone is a little bit nicer and a little bit happier, certain things can make you just the opposite. If you’re anything like me, you’ve procrastinated all year long…
Christmas came just a little bit early this year for Phoenix resident and original shock rocker Alice Cooper when it was announced that he would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.But induction into the Rock Hall of Fame isn’t just something anybody can pick up at…
Alice Cooper’s A Taste of Christmas Pudding Comerica Theatre December 18th, 2010 In a lot of ways Alice Cooper’s yearly Christmas Pudding charity concert is like most families Christmas gatherings. Everybody gathers together in one spot and you have to sit through a lot of boring, awkward and downright uncomfortable moments in…
So, it’s Saturday night and you are playing another show in front of an empty dive bar. You can’t figure out why your Linkin Park tribute band hasn’t become more successful. You’ve spent hours working on your bands MySpace page, you’ve worked hard to get your original stuff played on…
Yo Gabba GabbaComerica Theatre in PhoenixSunday December 5, 2010As I mentioned in my interview with Yo Gabba Gabba! co-creator Christian Jacobs, I have seen every episode of the popular kids TV show Yo Gabba Gabba! a minimum of six times. You may think that number is an exaggeration but…
As the parent of two toddlers, I’ve seen every episode of the popular kids TV show Yo Gabba Gabba! a minimum of five or six times. While being forced to sit through the same episodes of certain children’s television programs is torture that is on par with what they use…
Not a lot of old-school rappers would be a good fit on a children’s television show, but Biz Markie is definitely the exception to that rule. The popular rapper and beatboxer is probably best know for his hit “Just a Friend” as well as the song “Vapors” and his frequent…
The Summer Set Nile Theater November 27, 2010 As someone who reviews concerts fairly regularly I try and keep an open mind with every show I see. Being objective is part of the job. In general, giving negative reviews isn’t a lot of fun because in my opinion every band,…
The Roots & Miniature Tigers American Junkie November 20, 2010 Okay, let’s go ahead and get this out of the way first: In terms of who would win in a true, neutral-turf battle of the bands between The Roots and the Miniature Tigers, there is really little doubt that it…
In terms of pitting two bands to face off against each other in a battle of the bands it seems like a pretty uneven match up between the well established funk hip-hop group The Roots and Brooklyn’s Miniature Tigers.Of course, both groups have their advantages and disadvantages. Miniature Tigers are…
Joanna Newsom Orepheum Theatre 11/07/2010 If there is one word that best describes Joanna Newsom’s latest album, Have One On Me, it’s “ambitious.” Honestly, is there any other way to describe a triple album? In a lot of ways that ambition makes the record a tough listen. That’s not a…
Deerhunter Clubhouse Music Venue November 3, 2010 Since releasing their fourth album in September, Atlanta band Deerhunter has earned some high praise from a few folks here at Up on the Sun. And with good reason. To put it simply, the band’s latest album, Halcyon Digest, is really, really good…
A few weeks ago Kanye West announced on his Twitter page that the original artwork for his upcoming album My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy had been banned here in the US.Technically, the artwork wasn’t banned. Instead Kanye’s record label, strongly suggested that the album artwork be replaced for fear that…
It’s hard to believe that given as in demand as music producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are as the Neptunes that they can still find time to put out a new album for their N*E*R*D project. But somehow Pharell, Chad, and fellow band member Shae Haley have managed to…
Gorillaz Comerica Theatre 10/26/2010 Twelve years ago Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett decided to create a cartoon band. The concept was to separate celebrity from pop music. This was the perfect vehicle for someone like Albarn, who is probably best known as the front man for Brit pop legends Blur…
Pixies September 24th, 2010 Mesa Amphitheater Back in June, when Up on the Sun music editor Martin Cizmar put up a blog post announcing that the Pixies would be playing an upcoming show at the Mesa Amphitheater there was one point in the post that I kept coming back to…
Over the years Hollywood has produced a lot of great biopics of famous musicians. You know the names: Ray, What’s Love Got to Do with it, Walk the Line, The Doors, etc. Some bright young Hollywood screenwriter ought to start working up a script treatment on Sharon Jones. Sure, Sharon…
In terms of venues to have Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings play in Phoenix there probably isn’t a better choice than the Orpheum Theatre. When you combine the retro late ’60s/early ’70s funk and soul of Sharon Jones with the historic music venue it could be a little bit like…
