It’s 1988. We’re 10 years old and Grandmother Ethel is visiting from Florida. The recall effort of Arizona Governor Evan Mecham is in full effect. Arizona hates him. Our folks hate him. Shut, even our grandma, who had no idea who this guy was until now, hates him. So we…
Hard-hitting, fast-paced women’s roller derby doubleheader will feature The Brutal Beauties versus The Schoolyard Scrappers, and the The Runaway Brides against The Coffin Draggers to determine the championship matchup. Sat., Sept. 20, 8 p.m., 2008…
The second annual show features 10-minutes-or-less works by Valley playwrights, as well as the world première of a new 10-minute play by Urinetown author Greg Kotis (pictured). Fri., Sept. 19, 8 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 20, 8 p.m.; Fri., Sept. 26, 8 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 27, 8 p.m., 2008…
An alcoholic paranormal investigative reporter named Victor, in the midst of an ugly divorce and custody battle, is following the story lead of his career. Yes, his career . . . as a paranormal investigative reporter . . . and his name is Victor. Sigh. His cop friend convinces him…
By Lilia Menconi A Katrina pool photo. People person or not, interaction with undesirable personalities is inevitable during the course of a life. Thankfully, we get to pick our friends. And now that I’m pushing 30, I’ve finally perfected my craft of surrounding myself with truly phenomenal folks. I prefer…
Stephen Strange and Mike Red look kinda tired. It’s only natural, given that the two have been working around the clock since May on Television Noir, their beyond-bizarre late-night TV series that’s debuting this weekend on local station KAZT. But despite his fatigued state, Red’s able to summarize the frenetic…
Masters of the carefully crafted cheap shot, Joel and Ethan Coen have built a career on flippancy. Given their refusal to take anything seriously — least of all the enthusiasm of their fans — the brothers surely got a chuckle from an upcoming academic tome, The Philosophy of the Coen…
“What do you think this is?” cries a lady who lunches in Diane English’s remake of George Cukor’s The Women. “Some kind of ’30s movie?” Even without the 14-year struggle to get the Murphy Brown writer’s pet project past studio doubters, it would be a tall order to remake George…
Well . . . I wish I could say I was surprised. Too Human, simply put, pretty much blows — probably not a great shock to anyone who follows gaming with even a passing interest. For years now, everything seen and heard about the beleaguered title seemed to reinforce the…
I had a subscription to TV Guide when I was a kid, and I remember looking forward each September to the magazine’s annual Fall Preview issue, in which the editors devoted a page to each of the new season’s network shows. Shows like Mr. T and Tina always sounded better…
“Emperors of Japan” sounds like something somebody would name their band while under the influence of psychedelic drugs. The Phoenix band sounds like it’s on a fabulous trip, too. Their latest album, Activator, opens with a song called “The Jesus Bee,” which is all woozy surf guitar with indecipherable, upper-register…
Tried watching prime time lately? Olympians. Democrats. Tennis pros. Republicans. It’s enough to drive us into the arms of a Great American Novelist – just in time for the release of Philip Roth’s Indignation, which Esquire calls the author’s “latest novel about Ohio, Newark, sex, war, and guilt. Always guilt.”…
Gone are the days when tattoos meant prison time or biker trash. Now, tats imply disposable income and a high threshold for pain – a sexy combo. Women swoon with one look at Corey Hart’s endless swirls of color on A&E’s Inked. And don’t forget that mega-hard-core babe Kat Von…
We don’t know about you, but there were times during the recent Beijing Olympics when we wanted to rain death blows on the Chinese party goons running things. A dark alley, some strategically placed mystery chops, and suddenly it’s our lady gymnasts dominating the medal podium instead of those teensy…
Don’t go clubbing today expecting to trip to the spins of your pet-fave DJ, ’cause odds are, he or she’ll be slamming in the sticks at Earthdance 2008. We exaggerate slightly, but the lineup of MCs and DJs at this year’s noisy fundraiser for Earthdance International and the Emaho Foundation…
You might reconsider scrawling “Become a better person” on your bathroom mirror, ’cause huge, amorphous goals leave you vulnerable to smooth operators with their own agenda. Such is the dilemma of Billy, the hero of the Phoenix-made indie film The Constant Epiphanies of Billy the Blood Donor. What could possibly…
You’re riding the bus to work again along with all of the regulars. There’s Katerina, the Ukrainian expatriate who can’t seem to keep her feet still. She speaks to you once in a while, but in brisk and incoherent sentences, as if quoting the headlines in the day’s paper. Then…
If you’ve ever been to a local hip-hop show (or to Hollywood Alley), chances are you’re already acquainted with the infamous Brad B., MC for long-time Valley favorites Drunken Immortals as well as his more recent endeavor, The Insects (a band that invites you to download its entire debut album…
It’s often said of Phoenicians – not unfairly – that we’re less than worldly wise. In fact, we at New Times were recently batting the issue around: Is it better to live in a place where life is permanently in yo face or one where the living is easy? Our…
Think Jesse Ventura and your mental image may very well be the emotionally traumatic sight of his jiggling crotch bulge, clad in purple iridescent fabric. Still, though ’80s wrestling spandex may have propelled the man’s career, he’s due some credit for his stints as a Navy SEAL and the former…
Juanito Garcia is on the rebound. Earlier this year, the 21-year-old Valley boxer (pictured) had a perfect 14-0 career record and the WBC’s super featherweight youth championship wrapped firmly around his waist. Then he fought Cornelius Lock. A fierce left hook by the Detroit pugilist KO’d our hometown hero during…
We Americans are inured to suffering, but given the history of our civilization, we come by it honestly. Now consider Mexico and her Aztec empire in the year 1521, when Spain’s Hernán Cortés initiated centuries of slave labor. Irish ex-pat Guillen Lombardo kick-started the freedom movement in the 1640s, and…
