I have always said that everyone likes new, whether it’s a new car, new clothes, a new house, or even just new shoes. Becky G from Inglewood, California, is that “new” in today’s hip-hop game. Join me this week as I take you on a ride to discover some fresh…
Lots of artists stand out for designing some kick-ass metal covers — like the recently deceased Storm Thorgerson, for example, who lent his art to everyone from Led Zeppelin to Black Sabbath over the course of 30 years. But when it comes to weaving together the heavy metal standard of…
That Damn Show | Mesa Amphitheatre | April 20, 2013 The history of That Damn Show is full of fond memories. A decade or so ago, the festival combined punk bands with alt-radio favorites for a blistering day in the sun. Saturday, it was back with a vengeance, and hopefully…
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 17 months since the release of rapper Mouse Powell’s outstanding debut, Where It’s Cloudy. The Tempe-based artist has kept busy during that time, notching several tours on his belt and becoming the house hype-man at the Valley’s renowned weekly hip-hop night, Blunt Club…
We’re fairly certain that by now you’re fully up to speed on That Damn Show’s headliner Bad Religion, as well when they’re playing, how they’ve been around longer than you think, and their best albums ever. So what about the rest of the rock, punk, and indie heavy-hitters filling out…
The Postal Service’s reunion is still fresh. The band played its first live show on April 9, the day the Give Up reissue was released in honor of The Postal Service’s 10-year anniversary. The reunion news was sudden and raised some questions. First and foremost, would the reunited Postal Service…
I’ve never seen Morrissey in concert, and who knows if The Smiths will ever reunite (highly unlikely), so as a longtime fan, I was excited when I heard he would be playing a show in Tempe. First, he was scheduled to perform at the Marquee Theatre on November 21; then…
When Bad Religion, AWOLNATION, and the rest of That Damn Show comes to the Mesa Amphitheatre on Saturday, there will be 14 bands crammed onto the bill, split between two stages — which is to say It’s going to be a little hectic. You can still buy tickets online; to…
Downtown Phoenix’s Monarch Theatre is gonna take on old-school aura this weekend when more than a dozen local DJs and selectors showcase mad turntablism in what could be the first step toward superstardom. The Phoenix Regionals for the World DMC DJ Championships, one of the most esteemed competitions for the…
On Saturday, you’re going to have to make some very difficult choices. In one corner: the first That Damn Show in a decade, featuring Bad Religion and an impressive cast of local and touring bands. In another: The Real Coachella, featuring The Real Wu-Tang Clan and The Real Grimes. In…
The annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California is attended by thousands of music lovers who pilgrimage to the mountains each year for their fill of live performances from emerging and established acts, including Grimes, the Wu-Tang Clan, and Local Natives. The Real Coachella is a local music…
Record Store Day, the annual event in which stores put out their best inventory, dorks jostle for those elusive RSD exclusive releases, and everybody throws down a nice all-day party, is back again. There are plenty of festivities at all the Valley independent retailers, and, hey, maybe this year you’ll…
If you’re going to That Damn Show–tickets here; schedule here–on Saturday and you don’t already know a lot about Bad Religion, you might be in trouble by the time they hit the Main Stage at the Mesa Amphitheatre at 9 p.m. Luckily, our print feature this week is all about…
The roster of touring acts of That Damn Show gives the festival the appearance of something that happened a decade ago. I remember being stoked to see acts like Bad Religion, Face to Face, and Fenix Tx for the first time in the early Aughts — and, in some cases,…
When Portugal. The Man last came through town — just about a year ago — its Crescent Ballroom concert was the first after a lengthy break. The band had been touring almost nonstop for a year, so the idea was that some time off would renew the vigor they needed…
On Saturday That Damn Show is back for 2013 at the Mesa Amphitheatre, featuring national acts like Bad Religion and local favorites like the Veragroove. Check out the full schedule here. (Full disclosure: We’re co-promoting this show with KUKQ, because we just want you to be happy.) Bad Religion has…
Imagine taking a demonic ride through a girl’s mind, filled with fantastic illusions, haunting, heavy melodies, and vengeance against a world that has forgotten her. To get there, you could spend an evening with Otep, one of the most prolific female-fronted bands of the past decade — or have a…
This week’s New Times cover story examines the music industry’s only 21st-century success story: The incredible boom in live music in general and festivals in particular. Since you might still be in the throes of a Coachella hangover — or maybe you’re getting ready to camp out at That Damn…
Listen, man, guys don’t like talking with other hombres about emotions and feelings and self-doubt and all that. I read about it in a men’s magazine, in an article written by a male human solely for dude perusal, all right? J Mascis and Lou Barlow, the two songwriters behind legendary…
Tinariwen is the plural of ténéré, which simply means “desert” in the African language Tamashek. The name is fitting for these Sahara Desert musicians, and their music captures the beauty, hardships, longing, and isolation of their nomadic lifestyle. Tinariwen began in Libyan resistance camps in the 1980s when most members…
If you know someone who gets so excited about jewelry and new shoes that they write songs about them, is your acquaintance A) a Scottsdale princess with too much money and a digital recorder or B) a modern hip-hop star? Trick question! Either way, it’s a prima donna with daddy…
Nathan Williams always had a good thing going with Wavves, whose string of buzzy, snotty pop-punk records has thrilled certain members of the blogosphere since 2009. The formula is clear: scuzzy guitars, crunchy drums, and an abundance of California slacker cool. But there’s always been a nagging question lingering about…
