Some of the most legendary artists found inspiration from their favorite alcoholic spirits — and unfortunately for several, an untimely death. However, it wasn’t until the past decade or two when artists and the creators and distributors of said brands decided to put their (metal) heads together to create something…
If you’re of the opinion that downtown Phoenix not only needs more nightclubs but also more outlets for DJs to perform, both of those wishes are about to be fulfilled. Later this evening, a new downtown danceteria called EDM Phoenix will make its debut along Central Avenue and will offer…
The sold-out St. Lucia show at Crescent Ballroom last night definitely felt like being hit with a tidal wave of pop sensation. Arizona may be one of the only places where you can comfortable rock beachware in October: floral-printed button-up shirts, khaki shorts, flip flops and tans were displayed on…
No fucks were given at last night’s Combichrist show — but none were needed. The self-described “aggrotech” band Combichrist stopped in Mesa last night, performing at Club Red with opening acts Davey Suicide, William Control, and Darksiderz. About 300 black-shirted fans filled the venue’s east stage area…
Before Thursday night, I hadn’t been to the state fair in close to a decade. I spent most of the day there, frolicking through the bright, bursting animal smells and the tantalizing stench of grease. The whole day was an adventure, filled with overstimulation, unbridled joy, and thoughts of “Wow,…
It can often seem that country music has taken a turn for the worse in recent years. As the genre edges closer and closer to nothing more than Top 40 pop, one band stands out as the antithesis to the decay: Zac Brown Band. Like a lone blooming flower in…
Take a deep breath. Concert season is in full swing, and we have a full slate of shows to see this weekend. There is a massive local hip-hop festival, a show by a local hero, shows by rock legends, current rap stars. Everything you could want is happening this weekend…
So, how bummed were you when last week’s Belle & Sebastian concert got moved the outdoor from Civic Space Park to the indoor, seated Orpheum Theatre setup due to rain? Well, chin up, kids. We knew it wouldn’t be long before Stateside Presents’ Charlie Levy announced another Civic Space show,…
Heard a rumor lately about the Ice House Tavern and how it might be closing soon? Yeah, so have we. It turns out, however, that such gossip isn’t true, which we confirmed after speaking with owner Daryl Chester. Well, it used to be true, up until earlier this week, when…
Psychedelic soul and funk band Chicano Batman have been rocking the Dark Knight moniker since long before Ben Affleck received the nod to be the next Hollywood man to don the legendary cape and cowl. But the Los Angeles-based quartet comprised of singer, guitarist and organist Bardo Martinez, bassist Eduardo…
The Musical Instrument Museum gathers a vast collection of the world’s music under one roof. And when it throws a music festival, it brings musicians from all over the world and spreads the noise over multiple stages for a weekend that will expose Phoenix residents to an incredibly diverse range…
“Do you remember that Simpsons episode where Bart changes schools, and they put him in the ‘slow’ class? And they have the kid from Canada, saying ‘I’m from Canada, and they think I’m slow, ayyy.’ It’s like that, to sort of adopt that mentality, talk about our igloos and stuff.”…
The whole ‘Don’t Mess With Texas’ adage was actually an anti-littering campaign, but damn if that state don’t have attitude. And while not exactly weirder than many other American cities (including this one), Austin does breed a distinct kind of freak, Christian Bland being one of the most notable. The…
It’s noon on a Friday and I’m sitting in my living room. Laptop is on my lap, my phone is plugged in, and Garage Band is open as I begin to type the project’s title: Kevin Barnes. I’m not ready. It feels like my blood has been put through a…
When Joseph Mount of London-based Metronomy listened to Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, he realized he’d have to change the direction of “Boy Racers,” the most upbeat song on his band’s 2013 album, Love Letters. He had intended to have the song include a German narrator speaking about how fast…
As a drummer, Brann Dailor makes even the most complex songs seem simple. As the rhythm machine behind progressive metal titans Mastodon, however, it’s obvious the apparent ease is a product of enormous skill and loads of practice. But when singing is added to Dailor’s to-do list, things get much…
Valley of the Sun residents curious about how magnets work but unwilling to ask a scientist for an explanation will have to wait a little longer to satiate their curiousity — or at least go down to Tucson Thursday to find out. Insane Clown Posse has canceled their Mesa Amphiteatre…
Crescent Ballroom was packed to the gills Monday night. A whole lot of mega-fans (and some less rabid admirers) of Canadian indie-pop-rockers New Pornographers gathered to see the band play a hearty set of more than 20 songs. The set mixed tunes from all the band’s offerings from the past…
By Joseph Hess While Aerosmith still flails around in a body without bones, propped up by the hot air of its backward-cap-wearing fanbase, most sensible bands know when to call it quits. Sure, reunion tours are a thing, but those tend to happen on the stinking fumes of nostalgia, and…
Punk rock comes in all shapes, all sizes, all colors, and all genders. Originally, it was a badge of courage with the ability to supersede all of the aforementioned labels, but somewhere along the way, it has segmented itself like other aspects of society — probably because of the stupid…
Jean-Philip Grobler of the synth-pop band St. Lucia has traveled internationally since he began making music at 12 years old. It’s hard to believe that Arizona has not yet been a pit stop. “I have never been [to Arizona], but all the pictures I’ve seen are absolutely beautiful!” Grobler exclaims…
Last month, we announced a contest calling for photographers to nominate themselves for the title of best concert photographer in Phoenix. Now, 46 entries, later, our panel of five judges has narrowed the field down to 10 finalists…
