There have to be moments of existential angst for every worthwhile pursuit. There really does. If the universe is fair, everybody out there — working away at some job or profession, hobby, labor of love, whatever it might be — has to have some moment where you look within your…
Formed in the good old days (see: early ’90s and 1992, specifically), Tempe, Arizona band Alison’s Halo enjoyed a healthy run as a fully functional recording and live band for the majority of the decade. Founded by married couple Adam and Catherine Cooper (guitar and vocals/guitar respectively), and Lynn Anderson (bass,…
For music fans who are also inclined to delve into comics books from time to time, Coheed and Cambria are the perfect band. The name of the band itself comes from the writings of the New York-based band’s guitar playing lead singer, Claudio Sanchez, and his Evil Ink Comics series,…
Heavy metal is a fixture, almost like comfortable yet spike-laden easy chair you can always count on here in the desert. We are lucky to have a great mix of local, regional, national, and internationally acclaimed talent. During a recent conversation with Cannibal Corpse’s drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz, he mentioned he…
Kitten’s Chloe Chaidez is a killer interview. An old soul, for sure, especially for someone who can’t even by a legal beer yet, but something tells us she’s maybe had one or two alcoholic beverages. The Los Angeles, California singer/songwriter basically is the band she fronts, but to hear her…
For many local fans of death metal, the biggest show of the year is happening on Friday, March 11, at Club Red in Mesa. There will be lots and lots of growling vocals, double bass drums, and dual guitar attacks drowning out the bass lines. The legendary purveyors of the…
Robyn Hitchcock, who will turn 63 on March 3, the day he performs in Phoenix, formed the Soft Boys in 1976 and went on to front the Egyptians in the ’80s. He has been performing a vast amount of solo material in various incarnations ever since. Whether he is fronting…
Recently, there has been considerable effort to determine the best thrash metal albums of all time. There has been a list in the paper and the lists of some internationally famous dudes. In the course of our research for the story, we asked 17 people, of local, national, and international acclaim,…
Writing a top ten list vacillates between easy and hard faster than the questions in a typical Trivia Crack game. Sometimes, the lists flow right out and you nail it. Others, though, you stew on and cross things off, add them back, and cross them off again while the little…
Speed metal or thrash metal? The consensus seems to be that the terms are interchangeable and probably not even applicable in 2016, although the term “thrash” metal doesn’t elicit the groans that “speed” metal does when experts on the subject are asked. In fact, this list of the best speed/thrash…
What would it be like to move to another country and end up being called “Mr. Heavy Metal”? Marty Friedman knows. The gifted guitar player, initially known for his groundbreaking work in Cacophony, moved to Japan a decade ago after living in Phoenix from 1993 to 2003. Since his move,…
For those who want to “feel the Bern” with a veritable who’s who of local talent, Saturday, February 6, will be everything you could want and a little bit more as Sacred Reich and friends have a little fundraiser for the Presidential candidate from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, at the Rebel…
The idea of disruption is big these days. It seems everyone is trying to disrupt something: the mattress industry, healthcare, taxi services. You don’t have to look far to see advertisements talking about new, better, and different ways of looking at established products and services, especially when it comes to…
The new year means new beginnings, fresh ideas, and more chances to give birth to new projects. In such a populous area, we are privy to a tremendous amount of ambition and diversity when it comes to the local music scene. The area’s creative class constantly churns out new music…
During a conversation with singer/songwriter Mike Doughty, two things come to his delightfully twisted mind about playing music in Phoenix: “Shopping at Zia Records” and being here “when it was 125 degrees outside.” Luckily for Doughty, who is playing Crescent Ballroom in downtown Phoenix on Sunday, January 24, he can…
At first glance, it may seem trivial, but one of the things every city needs is a good record label. Sure, clean water is nice, a low crime rate is great, and affordable housing is key, but a good record label can make a city into something truly special. Just…
Looking for something to do this weekend? Look no further. Here are the best concerts happening this weekend. Check out our comprehensive concert calendar for more options. Kottonmouth Kings – Friday, December 18 – Joe’s Grotto Twenty-one years after Kottonmouth Kings’ humble beginnings in the Orange County town of Placentia, it’s…
If you frequented the Mason Jar in the mid- to late-’90s, you probably saw one of the three bands reuniting for Onus Records’ Night of a 1,000 Reunions (slight exaggeration) on Saturday, December 19. There were three things you could always count on at the Jar: The bands were always…
Dear Aunt Jean, I feel badly about not doing a better job of staying in touch this year. It’s been hectic, for sure, and I hope this letter finds you well and I do know how much you like a sip of sherry now and again, so have one for…
Cait Brennan and I met in 1983 while taking Journalism 1 at Deer Valley High School. We shared a love of both the news and sarcasm, which remains true to this day. To give you an example of her charm, she wrote in my yearbook in 1985, after our first…
Toadies are one of those bands that even if you don’t know them, you still know the music. Since the release of the group’s brilliant 1994 album, Rubberneck, Toadies have been on the rock ‘n’ roll radar of just about anyone who has listened to a radio, thanks to the…
Skate punk is something taken seriously in the desert. We’re always looking to finish an argument about what constitutes a good slab of skate punk wax. Phoenix has a long history with both skateboarding and the music most closely associated with it. Skate punk (or skate rock, which many see…
