Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. Alien Atmosphere – “Believe” I was first introduced to Alien Atmosphere earlier this summer when they opened for Jane N’…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. decker. – “The Holy Ghost” This past winter Brandon Decker walked up to me in a parking lot and said…
It’s hard to believe that the Warped Tour is now trucking into its 21st year. What’s even more amazing is that a festival that is two decades old hasn’t become a variety show for aging punk and metalcore bands. Sure there are reunions and revivals, but the sheer amount of…
Injury Reserve — “Oh, Shit!!!” My only regret when compiling last year’s list of best local albums was that I accidentally overlooked Injury Reserve’s magnificent album Live From The Dentist Office, and it should have been toward the top. Injury Reserve has hinted to fans that the release for its second album, Floss, is…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. Dogbreth – “Steeping” The release of Dogbreth’s new album Second Home is getting close. The newest preview track off the…
Alan Vega died peacefully this weekend in his sleep. It was a sad end to a man who fronted the pioneering proto-punk combo Suicide. Alan Vega, along with the likes of Lou Reed and Iggy Pop, revolutionized what a lead singer could get away with, far beyond, say the affectation…
If I could pin down the year that Comerica Theatre time traveled to last night for the Taste of Chaos tour, I think it would be 2003. In 2003 Dashboard Confessional had its first top 10 album. Taking Back Sunday was still riding high on its critically acclaimed debut. Anthony Green…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. AJJ — “Goodbye, Oh Goodbye” It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than two years since AJJ (formerly known as Andrew…
It’s not difficult to hear why Pet Sounds, celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer, is considered to be one of the greatest albums in music history. It was a game changer upon its release in 1966, a marked departure point for The Beach Boys and a defining pinnacle of Brian…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. Emby Alexander – “Phoenix Sons” On the 4th of July Emby Alexander released their third full-length album with Sound of…
It’s hard to reconcile what a game changer Odelay was when it was released 20 years ago. Not to say that it changed modern music as we know it. It did not despite its critical and commercial success, but it was a transformative album for Beck himself. Two decades later…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. Stephen Steinbrink – “Absent Mind” Before he was Olympia, Washington’s Stephen Steinbrink, he belonged to Phoenix, Arizona. I first became…
2016 has been a banner year for local music and it’s only halfway through. This year feels like the year where a lot of the old guard bands from the scene have passed the torch to new, up-and-coming bands, with dazzling results. It’s refreshing to find all these new sounds…
Late last year, before Wyves released their debut album, Spoils Of War, lead singer Corey Gloden asked me what song I would pick for their single other than “Bitch Has Got Problems.” I didn’t even have to think about it, because although I had been waiting for years for a recorded…
It’s hard to explain the musical phenomena that was the Smiths at the height of their glory to anyone who wasn’t lost in their fandom at the time. No matter if you were there or not, you probably would agree that the band’s 1986 album The Queen Is Dead is…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. The Breaking Pattern – “Something/Anything” I was beginning to wonder if The Breaking Pattern were going to turn ever song…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. Sundressed – “Autopilot” Sundressed is one of the hardest working bands in Phoenix and in my opinion they are also one…
Today has been the day that KONGOS fans worldwide have been waiting for since the band rose to international fame and platinum success with the release of the 2012 album Lunatic. Today, KONGOS released third album and second major label release, Egomaniac. While the strong debut single “Take It From Me”…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. Merit – “My Favourite Chords” I wasn’t sure how soon we’d be hearing from Merit again after their magnificently ambitious three-EP…
Bear Ghost – “Let Us Vote” It was a complete surprise when Bear Ghost dropped a new single this week, so quick on the heels of releasing one of the best local albums of the year. It was even more of a surprise that Mario Yniguez, Dalin Gonzalez, and Matt…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. Foresteater – “Very Friendly People” At the start of the year Foresteater dropped its debut single “High and Bright” with a…
Paper Foxes – “Indica Feels” For the first time in my recollection, three local bands have come together to put out a three-way split single in anticipation of an upcoming tour together. Paper Foxes is releasing their first song in the year since the release of their debut EP Love…
