It’s been over 20 years since “Love Shack” reached the Billboard Top 40. Since then, there hasn’t been one wedding, bar mitzvah, sweet 16, or retirement party that is safe from the song. Actually, though, the B-52s formed a dozen years before “Love Shack” hit the mainstream. Though they may…
It’s easy to write off an act that becomes famous because of its success on American Idol. That is to say that most Idol contestants’ careers have proved short and boring. Carrie Underwood, then, is one of the exceptions to the rule. The 27-year-old country superstar not only sold the…
Tucson-based musician/filmmaker/artist Marianne Dissard has a unique gift for marking connections among disparate places, mediums, and ideas. On the surface, the elements she uses appear to have only abstract links, but in her capable hands, they go together like peanut butter and jelly. So it’s not surprising that Dissard is…
Tucson-based musician/filmmaker/artist Marianne Dissard has a unique gift for marking connections among disparate places, mediums, and ideas. On the surface, the elements she uses appear to have only abstract links, but in her capable hands, they go together like peanut butter and jelly. So it’s not surprising that Dissard is…
The music industry is notorious for taking even the best, most down-to-earth people and chewing them up. Even if one is fortunate enough to “make it,” it’s almost impossible to not become a raging asshole-holic. That makes it all the more remarkable that Tom Petty became wildly successful while sticking…
You may not be a self-proclaimed fan of country music, but if you’ve lived in Arizona for more than a couple years, chances are you find at least some aspect of it endearing. Then again, maybe not. But, for a greenhorn aspiring to develop an appreciation for this part of…
You may not call yourself a fan of country music, but if you’ve lived in Arizona for more than a couple of years, chances are you find at least some aspect of it endearing. Then again, maybe not. But for a greenhorn aspiring to develop an appreciation for this part…
The members of Hair Raid look like they each aspire to be part of a desperate and different, yet very iconic and over-the-top ’80s band. Borrowing from the styles of Bret Michaels, and members of Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, Bon Jovi, and Def Leppard, their mocking name says it all…
Nothing says soft rock quite like Michael Bolton. This year marks the silver anniversary of the debut album from the notoriously cheesy adult-contemporary hunk. Yup, it’s been 25 years since Bolton started wooing the fairer sex with his vibrato-filled crooning. But the 57-year-old singer hasn’t always been into the smooth…
By now, loyal readers are probably familiar with the hullabaloo surrounding local band You Hang Up, which prominently features child actor Frankie Muniz (best known for his starring role in Malcolm in the Middle) on drums. You undoubtedly remember how You Hang Up scheduled a show, canceled it, and then…
Help from Alice Cooper, placement in People magazine’s “Stars of the Future” issue and a mountain of cocaine? It seemed Gentlemen Afterdark were headed for great things in the early ’80s Phoenix new wave scene. Nope. This Phoenix glam act, once referred to as the “West Coast answer to the…
Though a band’s description of themselves is not always the most accurate assessment to go by, East Valley rockers Red Letter Drive seem to have summed up their own sound pretty well. “Sounds like progressive rock meets alternative rock meets pop-hard rock meets you,” they say. And they nailed it…
Leave it to Revolver Records and their incredibly knowledgeable clientele to remind us of Je T’aime…Moi Non Plus.It’s a late ’60s album of French duets as sung by two lovers. The brand new re-issue of it is what must have put it all the way in the top slot. Arcade…
NASA has found a way to integrate the general public into their upcoming STS-133 mission.As NME reports, the task at hand is to decide what music should be used to wake up the astronauts while in orbit.Currently, there is a list of 40 potential songs that could be used as…
It was bad enough when Weezer felt the need to insert Best Buy into their incredibly overplayed radio hit “I Want You To.” Now it seems that their record Hurley, scheduled to be released on Sept. 14, may not be a direct reference to the Lost character played by Jorge…
This week’s music feature is on The Maine’s rise to success, all the way from the networks of MySpace to their major label signing and $38 keepsake albums. Their adaptability has allowed them to chart and headline. And it doesn’t look like the power-pop force is gonna be on the…
Folks can’t help singing along to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” — even if they’re in a public place and can’t sing. What many people don’t know that the song’s composer, Charlie Daniels, played with the likes of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen and produced such bands as The…
This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. Why did the drummer of a local band get stabbed in the neck outside a show?…
As Idolator points out, John Legend and The Roots are typically known for their socially conscious music. So it was a bit surprising to hear that Legend performed the music for the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant. The performance featured the skinny girls in heels performing choreography that was more like…
This is part of a series of reviews of bands who play weekly at local bars. The show: Nicole Pesce at My Florist Cafe. The look: Sleek, chic, and trendy. The smell: Salmon and warm bread. The taste: Savory, sweet, and filling. Three words/phrases to describe the night: Neon light,…
By now you’ve probably heard the news that Haitian presidential hopeful Wyclef Jean was disqualified from the race, as determined by the Haitian board of elections. The latest word on the blogosphere though is that Wyclef ain’t quite ready to give up yet. According to E! Online Jean plans to…
The music lovers who frequent Zia Records in Phoenix tend to favor heavier fare — typically metal and hip-hop. But they always pepper in a few surprises. While the latest from Bun B comes out on top this week, The Black Keys slide right in the middle. The newest Arcade…
