I went to what a snarky YouTube commentator would probably call a “hip-pop” concert last night. Usually, this is a term of derision by purists who feel that hip-hop should be about social commentary or lyrical craft rather than just catchy hooks and songs about clubbing, but it definitely has…
The roots of Titus Andronicus’ new magnum opus, the 29-track, 93-minute, five-act punk rock opera The Most Lamentable Tragedy, came quietly and quickly. In two evenings, a week apart from one another, when the band was on the road in early summer of 2013, frontman Patrick Stickles wrote what would…
In the five years since Lizz Wright’s last album, the gospel-themed Fellowship, the jazz vocalist’s life veered in unexpected directions. Wright went through a divorce and a near-fatal car accident. She even started to question her chosen career. “I thought for a while that I really didn’t want to record…
Since its 1998 peak, the music industry has been tanking. Global revenue from recorded music has halved from nearly $30 billion before leveling off to about $15 billion in the past few years. In the United States, recorded-music revenue suffered a similar free fall, cratering in 2011 at $4.5 billion…
Most studio musicians pine for the kind of streak that bassist Stephen Bruner is on. In 2014, Bruner — best known by his alias “Thundercat” — contributed to Flying Lotus’ avant-garde electronic album You’re Dead!; in 2015, he’s an essential player on two of the most lauded albums of the year:…
It’s surprising how much attention a band can get for playing the music they love. Nashville’s Legendary Shack Shakers are no strangers to this. The southern gothic rockabilly act goes above and beyond much of those genres to throw down their captivating version of hillbilly blues-rock. Over the years, the…
Here are our concert picks for the week. As always, check out our comprehensive concert calendar for Metro Phoenix for more options. Carbon Leaf – Monday, September 14 – Musical Instrument Museum Theater After almost two decades together, Carbon Leaf (playing tonight at the Bluebird Theater with Chamberlin) has effectively…
Like Nickelback and John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band tends to make those listicles titled “Top 10 Most Hated Bands.” So, let’s just get this out of the way: The only thing that sucked at the Dave Matthews Band concert last night was the vacuum used between stage setups for DMB’s…
We all know that parent/grandparent/old person who’s convinced that music peaked decades ago (probably in the ‘70s) when classic rock was king. They’re not necessarily right, but there are certainly some classic rock songs that are as timeless as music itself. Here are 10 classic rock songs that would hold…
If there were a futuristic movie about a machine disguised as a human who could generate a new song every day, Billy Bob “Bud” Thornton would be the lead. In fact, the truth is probably stranger than fiction. Thornton, a real human from Arkansas, has written hundreds of songs, only…
Pinetop isn’t exactly known for being one of Arizona’s musical hotbeds, but it made a perfectly good launching point for young songbird Zella Day. The 20-year-old has a homecoming of sorts on Thursday, when she’ll be stopping by the Rebel Lounge to spread her brand of folky alternative pop across…
The Blunt Club – Thursday, September 10 – Valley Bar There’s typically plenty of swagger to be found at your average edition of The Blunt Club, probably because the renowned local hip-hop night boasts more than few claims to fame under its belt. Not only does it feature some of…
I’ve been to a lot of concerts in my life. I actually kept count in 2013, when I attended 126 shows. In all the concerts I’ve seen, I never once have fallen asleep. Until Wednesday night’s Lenny Kravitz concert at Comerica Theatre. I dozed for awhile at Bonnaroo 2011 during…
Sundressed- “Beck And Call” It seems that with every passing release Sundressed just gets better and better. Sundressed will release their second EP this year through Take This To Heart Records on October 23. The Same Condition is following quick on the heels of Dig Up A Miracle released last…
In 2012 I wrote a Phoenix New Times article about the perfect heavy metal soundtrack for football season—but it wasn’t focused on all the cliché songs that you hear over and over again on the field, from Drowning Pool’s “Bodies” to Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle.” Sure, heavy…
Every Wednesday is Heritage Hump Day! That’s because every Wednesday from now to the end of the year or before someone really big stops us, Heritage Hump Records (a temporary subsidiary of Onus Records) and New Times will be bringing you a limited edition collector’s item of a much beloved…
Don’t let the catchy melodies fool you — Wavves is anything but happy. Well, the California band is happier now than it has been since it began juicing — kind of. “I mean a little bit — I have a blender,” says Wavves bassist Stephen Pope about his NutriBullet. “I…
More than any particular era or style, the music of Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers sounds like pure California. The Bay Area band blends folk, rock, and country, and in the years between 2013’s self-titled debut and this spring’s Loved Wild Lost, has forged a timeless, unmistakable sound that places…
Talking after a long day of recording, Megafauna’s Dani Neff is upbeat about the progress her band is making on its untitled third album. Reflective and enthusiastic, Neff touches on the still difficult-to-define Megafauna sound, the new direction her songwriting is taking, and the challenges of keeping one foot rooted…
If you’re an electronic dance music fan with a ticket for Zedd’s performance on Saturday at Mesa Amphitheatre, there’s been a slight change in plans. Don’t worry, the show’s still going to happen as planned, only at a completely new venue. Live Nation, the co-promoter of this weekend’s gig by…
The man with the golden voice (though fragile) will sing the next title song for the franchise that once starred a villain with a golden fetish. Or something like that. Sam Smith, the British singer fresh off a batch of Grammy wins, will sing the theme song to the upcoming…
The Valley of the Sun didn’t always have skate parks. For many years, finding a good place to drop in and have some fun was both a challenge and a somewhat noble quest for riders of all ages. According to Rob Locker of local skateboard and record company AZPX, when…
