Mike Doughty Is Doing Just Fine Without Soul Coughing, Thank You Very Much

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…

All Them Witches Bring the Rolling Thunder and Psychedelic Lightning

The quiet, almost Americana-ish intro to All Them Witches’ latest album, Dying Surfer Meets His Maker, is something of a false lead. Beginning with bassist/vocalist Michael Parks singing as sweetly as any folk troubadour, almost imperceptibly the song builds into a storm of rolling thunder and psychedelic lighting. It is…

10 Best Female-Fronted Bands in Phoenix Right Now

From styles that range from sweet, sad pop to in-your-face blistering punk rock, there are plenty of talented female musicians showing off their skills in bands all around the metro Phoenix area. We made you a list of ten local bands to check out that are fronted by women. Here…

Harper and the Moths to Release Limited-Edition Phoenix-Centric EP

Phoenix band Harper and the Moths’ throwback funk/soul blend not only matches their clean-cropped look perfectly. It makes their sound accessible to a wide variety of people, an attribute that has landed them some solid successes, including getting some radio play on KWSS. “We see people as young as 16…

5 Best Concerts in Phoenix This Week

Here are our picks for best concerts in Phoenix this week. Browse our comprehensive concert calendar for more options. The Maension – Joe’s Grotto – Monday, January 18 The Maension plays an intriguing combination of ’90s grunge and ’00s nu-metal, filled with slogging, heavy riffs and hard-hitting breakdowns that brings…

The Phoenix Rock Lottery Was an Impressive Showcase of Local Talent

Last Saturday, 25 local musicians met at Crescent Ballroom to become five randomly selected bands, each tasked with creating three new songs and tackling a cover by the time the evening’s show began. For the third year in a row, the Phoenix Rock Lottery was another rousing success, with pretty stunning results…

Weezer and Panic! at the Disco Announce Summer Concert

Say what you want about the quality of Weezer’s new material, you have to hand it to the band: They sure keep their nose to the grindstone. Weezer is set to release its 10th studio album in 2016, just two years after releasing its previous album, and has announced a…

Motown Legends The Temptations Still See Sunshine on Cloudy Days

The song has one of those universally recognizable intros that everyone who has ever listened to the radio or streaming music has heard. It opens with an iconic bass line, followed by echoing finger pops, and the opening vocals, “I got sunshine on a cloudy day.” Few songs more epitomize…

8 Best Concerts in Phoenix This Weekend

Looking for something to do this weekend? Look no further. Here are the best concerts happening in Metro Phoenix this weekend. Check out our comprehensive online concert calendar for even more live music options. Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour – Friday, January 15 – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts…

Lindsey Stirling Tells Her Life Story in New Autobiography

Like any good pirate, Lindsey Stirling has a reputation that precedes her. Most of America knows her story. It’s one that underdog-loving households can get behind. A young artist is told on national TV that there’s no way she can sell out a Vegas venue with her electric violin dance…

Dave Rawlings’ Voice Shines at the Forefront of the Machine

For years, Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch have worked as a team writing acclaimed and, at times, harrowing songs bridging the country music world and the back porches of Appalachia. In this context, almost exclusively, Welch has been the lead voice. It is a rare and blessed occasion when Rawlings…

David Bowie and the 15-Year-Old Girls

The surprise news of David Bowie passing Sunday night caught everyone off guard, and there has been a massive outpouring of emotion and support for a man whose music and art touched many (New Times has published two such pieces). Those tributes are well-deserved. Bowie leaves behind an incredibly diverse and…

The 2015 Phoenix Hip-Hop Power List

f One could argue that 2015 was one of the greatest years in Arizona hip-hop history. With a wide range of talent across the state, the beautiful culture simmering underground for years now bubbled up to the surface. The artists of this community are beginning to see fruits of the…

The Metro Phoenix Music Venue Openings and Closings of 2015

Change, as they say, is inevitable. And in Phoenix’s live music and nightlife scenes, it’s practically a fact of life. Every single year will always include any number of both arrivals and departures of venues and clubs as places open to much fanfare or regrettably close their doors. Such was…