Bruno Mars at Martini Ranch Last Night (VIDEO)

Bruno Mars November 20, 2010 Martini Ranch Wow, what a showman Bruno Mars is.The young singer-songwriter made it clear he’s not just another pop star at his show Saturday night at Martini Ranch, launching his set with an extensive drum solo. While other musicians in his genre might hide behind…

The VeraGroove “Hand in Hand”: Exclusive Track

As Tempe self-described desert reggae rock n’ roll group The VeraGroove gears up for their Travlin’ Man EP release show Saturday, December 4 at Marquee Theatre, the guys graciously decided to share an exclusive track from the EP with Up on the Sun readers before anyone can get their hands…

This Century Gets Imprinted by The Maine

It helps to have friends in high places. Just ask This Century, a Phoenix pop-rock band that, thanks to its pals in another local pop-rock group, The Maine, recently scored a record deal with a Warner Bros. subsidiary. The Maine, which released its 2010 album, Black & White, on Sire…

This Century Gets Imprinted by The Maine

It helps to have friends in high places. Just ask This Century, a Phoenix pop-rock band that, thanks to its pals in another local pop-rock group, The Maine, recently scored a record deal with a Warner Bros. subsidiary. The Maine, which released its 2010 album, Black & White, on Sire…

Map Quest

Get ready for a literal head-trip. Starting on Friday, November 19, Saskia Jorda debuts “Cartograms of Memory.” The artist invites you into her world as she puts her own personal life experiences on display by using maps of places she’s traveled as models for new shapes and forms that show…

Irish Spring

Downtown Phoenix might be more of a concrete jungle than a land of green pastures, but when Michael Patterson shows off his paintings at Trunk Space this month and next, the urban setting gets infused with some Irish spirit. That’s because the artist, who will be showing 15 of his…

Raw Deal

As urban renewal takes over downtown Phoenix and its art galleries, mixed-media artist Lara Plecas (formerly Kupcikevicius) brings a little bit of nature and history into eye lounge with her new show “Territorial Nature.” This is the first solo show at the collective gallery for Plecas, who says she is…

Bruno Mars @ Martini Ranch

Bruno Mars sure has a way with the ladies. His song “Just the Way You Are” has become an anthem for females everywhere, as the number one hit implores women (and, well, anyone) to stay true to themselves and not give in to changing for the object of their affection…

Bruno Mars Sells Out Martini Ranch, Talks to Up on the Sun

You’re lucky if you already have Bruno Mars tickets for his show this Saturday, November 20 at Martini Ranch–the show quickly sold out, and it’s no wonder, considering you can’t turn on a Top 40 radio station without hearing one of his many hit tracks. Martini Ranch was probably a…

Flier of the Week: The Thermals (and Kinch) at Rhythm Room

Brian Coughlin, guitarist for local indie pop band Kinch, is famous.After The Thermals, whom Kinch play with Wednesday, November 17 at Rhythm Room, announced they were looking for fans to bring Furbies (those cute/creepy little toys) to shows, Coughlin decided to create a flier for the show based on his…

Andrew Levi Hiller, What Are You Eating?

Andrew Levi Hiller The singer/songwriter for Wizards of Time, who also loves to paint, is currently working on the band’s first 12-song album, called Will the Soft Curse Plague On?, to be released in early 2011. You can hear a teaser with three 15-second song clips here. He also plays in…

Kesha Parties, Not Advocates, on “We R Who We R”

Oh, Kesha.It’s difficult to decide whether to commend or shake your head in disbelief at the pop singer based on her song, “We R Who We R.” Horrible spelling aside, Kesha actually wrote the number one debut song in response to recent teen suicides among gay youth. She wanted a…

Zoe Boekbinder Brings Vaudeville-Style Music to The Trunk Space

The Trunk Space may be one of the best places in town to catch an intimate vaudevillian-type show. Just last week, the downtown Phoenix spot hosted the sideshow variety act the Squidling Bros. Circus Sideshow, and this Saturday, November 13, vaudeville music takes over The Trunk Space stage when Zoe…

Flier of the Week: Hung Dynasty at Ice House Tavern

It’s not often you get to watch ice hockey the same time a rocking band performs, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at the Ice House Tavern this Friday, November 12 when Hung Dynasty takes the stage.The bar’s live music stage is attached to the Arcadia Ice Arena, and appropriately,…

Zoe Boekbinder Brings Vaudeville-Style Music to The Trunk Space

​The Trunk Space may be one of the best places in town to catch an intimate vaudevillian-type show. Just last week, the downtown Phoenix spot hosted the sideshow variety act the Squidling Bros. Circus Sideshow, and this Saturday, November 13, vaudeville music takes over The Trunk Space stage when Zoe…

Mall Rats

Forget heading to the mall for your next jewelry fix. Instead, check out some trinkets with meaning at this weekend’s Spanish Market at the Heard Museum, where New Mexico-based artist Michelle Tapia shows off her culture-inspired designs. Tapia is one of many artists to be featured at the festival, which…

Bad Religion Gets Their Punk on at Marquee Theatre

For a punk band more than 30 years old, Bad Religion still knows how to rock out and put on a great show for fans. Appropriately, the band busted out their track “Ten in 2010,” along with a slew of hits. Audience members at the Marquee Theatre last night couldn’t…

Rachel Heath, What Are You Eating?

Rachel A. Heath The lead vocalist of Sonoran black metal band Doth is also a vegan baker for The Insane Cupcake Posse, a baking crew a friend and she started back in 2008 where they make vegan goodies and give them out at local shows on a donation basis What’d…

A Perfect Circle Stuns Sold-Out Crowd at Marquee Theatre

It was a special night at Marquee Theatre last night, as A Perfect Circle played their first show in 6 years to a sold-out audience. It was their first concert of three, in which they’ll be playing full albums each night. Last night, they played Mer de Noms in its…