Modest Mouse Concert Marred By Nauseating Sound Problems

If you came across the pairing of Modest Mouse and Brand New and thought to yourself, “What an odd bill,” you’re right. The two bands don’t have a lot in common, and their fan bases barely overlap. The only similarity is that they experienced their peak popularity at about the…

The Eight Best Concerts in Phoenix This Week

Suffering from a little cabin fever after spending all of your free time indoors lately? Can’t say we blame you, considering the average temperature outdoors is around 108 degrees these days. It might do you a bit of good to get out of the house, however, and we’ve got several…

A Night in the House of Korn and Rob Zombie

Korn pummeled a packed Ak-Chin Pavilion with hit after hit on Saturday night during a 14-song set that spanned their entire catalog. From opener “Right Now” the new metal pioneers reminded fans not only how important they have been to the metal scene over the years but that they haven’t lost…

The 10 Most Overplayed Hip-Hop Songs from the Late ’90s

​Inspiration comes from many different places, the radio being one of them. While carousing around town in my hooptie the other day, the Notorious B.I.G./Puff Daddy/Mase 1997 classic “Mo Money, Mo Problems” came on over my speakers, much to my odd delight. After I was done singing Biggie’s verse word-for-word…

The Best Things We Overheard at Gathering of the Juggalos

Juggalos are hilarious. All weekend long, if you could hear them over the boom of fireworks and horrorcore rap, Gathering attendees were dropping one-liners faster than a classic Simpsons episode. Not always intentionally, but still. So thanks for the laughs and the memories, ninjas. And here, without further ado, are…

Donald Trump and Juggalos Have More in Common Than You Might Think

I’ve been reading Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal, which was ghostwritten by Tony Schwartz, who channels Trump’s daily deal-making in what is basically a window into the life of a more charmingly juvenile version of Gordon Gekko. I like this book a lot, if only because it reads…

11 Best Concerts in Phoenix This Weekend

Rob Zombie and the metalheads of Korn are headed to the Valley this weekend. So’s blues legend Robert Cray, R&B/pop star Meghan Trainor, grunge-era refugees Soul Asylum, and hip-hop icons EPMD, for that matter. Meanwhile, Japanese avant-garde metal band Boris will be coming to Crescent Ballroom to perform their 2005…

Juggalos Are the New Ravers

Of all the ways I thought I would be describing my first Gathering of the Juggalos, “like my first rave” was not on the short list. But after less than 24 hours among the fans of Insane Clown Posse, that’s how I’m feeling. It’s like I’ve traveled back in time…

Steven Tyler Scarfs Down Newfound Solo Freedom at Comerica Theatre

Despite Steven Tyler’s own protestations that this is not a solo tour because he is performing with a fully integrated band called Loving Mary, it’s hard not to see his whole career trajectory of the last few years—from signing on to judge American Idol to writing a tell-all best-selling biography…

Schoolboy Q and Joey Bada$$ to Play Mesa Amphitheatre

Fresh off the release of his critically acclaimed Blank Face LP , Schoolboy Q announced tour dates this week, including a stop at Mesa Amphitheatre on Tuesday, October 11. Chicago rapper Joey Purp will join him on tour. Blank Face LP is Schoolboy Q’s second major label album and follows…

10 Overrated Albums Celebrating Milestone Anniversaries This Year

Before the torches are lit and the pitchforks are sharpened, read the next line. Most of the often over-rated records mentioned in this opinion-based blog/list do NOT completely suck. Admittedly, some do suck quite a bit, but some are really good and even ground-breaking but are often held in too…