Country artist Shelby Lynne became something of a household name in 1999 when her album I Am Shelby Lynne dropped to immediate critical acclaim. That she had already released five albums seemed not matter to Grammy Award voters who gave her the Best New Artist award. At this stage in…
Electronic artist Bassnectar (Lorin Ashton) is back on the road for his Fall Tour 2012 in support of his recentthe album Vava Voom. Influenced equally by metal, ambient, psychedelic, and hip-hop, his music defies expectations, and his fanbase reacts passionately. I spoke with Bassnectar about both of our Electric Forest…
1999 was a weird year. That June, George W. Bush announced his candidacy for President, people were partying like it was the year in question, and a prevalent fear of the Y2K bug spread like Ebola fever. Muse also released their debut album, Showbiz, instantly drawing comparisons to their British…
Jason Hildebrandt Hildebrandt is the executive sous chef for Ocotillo Golf Resort. Meet him Thursday, October 18 at San Tan Brewery for a beer dinner at 6 p.m. For more information, go here. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play…
Curious about what’s going on around town this weekend? Need some suggestions where to rock, dance, or krump in the Valley of the Sun? Don’t fret: These are our Five Shows to See This Weekend. Unable to get out of town and head to the massive Apache Lake Music Festival…
Ah, politics; that time-honored tradition of finger-pointing, polls, debates, rallies and rock ‘n’ roll. Now in the home stretch of campaigning, politicians everywhere are making their final push towards election night. For Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Rich Carmona, having one rockstar on his bill wasn’t enough, so he called in…
Violinist Lindsey Stirling has a little something for everyone, primarily mixing classical and electronic music together. She became a YouTube sensation thanks to her innovative covers. She even wore elf ears in her Zelda suite. Her music videos are just as beautiful as her music, traveling to locales like New…
Father John Misty @ Rhythm Room”I want to do what a stripper does, and in another way do what a carnival barker does, or a shaman, some kind of Pentecostal preacher,” Josh Tillman, the singer/songwriter known by his alter ego Father John Misty, said when we spoke in advance of…
Metric @ Marquee Theatre| 10/10/12The moment the word “escape” crossed Emily Haines’ lips, it’s hard to go back. In concert Wednesday, as it is on the band’s latest release Synthetica, “escape” comes in the first verse of the first song. If there’s a time to think about what that means,…
Downtown Phoenix regulars know Jeremiah Gratza — he’s that dapper guy with white-rimmed glasses and usually a snazzy hat — as Director of Operations of local promotion house Stateside Presents. But Gratza is looking to expand his resume by launching a brand new vinyl imprint. Gratza is celebrating the birth…
By Shea Serrano 8:45 p.m.: So here’s what this is: More than 20 years ago, 2 Live Crew, one of rap’s most notoriously offensive acts, performed in Phoenix. The concert was recorded and released as a live show album called The 2 Live Crew Live In Concert. It came out…
Bassnectar is not your father’s hippie. His long hair and music are more Metallica than Grateful Dead, but in many ways, Lorin Ashton, the 33-year-old northern Californian DJ and producer, is as much an heir to John Lennon as he is DJ and producer. Listen to him speak and you’ll…
What does Madonna have that Katy Perry likely won’t? Staying power. Will Perry still be performing — and with such drive and determination — when she hits her 50s? Unlikely, as that pop bubble can burst quickly (remember Britney Spears once ruled the pop charts and now is a reality…
It’s not a simple binary, but someone like Kendrick Lamar — lyrically skilled yet decidedly un-preachy, quick-tongued but hook-driven — has what it takes to split the difference between unflinching gangster rap audiences and ponderous “conscious” hip-hop heads. Hailing from Compton and boasting the endorsement of West Coast vicelord/expensive-headphone impresario…
NYC songwriter Sean Hayes doesn’t bother with the very-much-in-vogue retro-soul affectations of the moment, but make no mistake about it, his new record, Before We Turn to Dust, has got spirit and groove in abundance. Remember how you’d see names like Carole King in the credits of Donnie Hathaway records?…
It’s a small, stripped-down EP, but Songs from the Stratton Sessions encapsulates just about everything Jon Rauhouse stands for musically. And oddly enough, there isn’t one lick of steel guitar, the instrument he’s made his name with. There’s the joy and spontaneity of creating: Rather than stick to the few…
We’re in the midst of Halloween season, which means those in the business of scaring the crap outta people are busier than a masked psychopath slaughtering teenyboppers in an ’80s slasher film. That includes the frightening freaks over at Monsterland, 18 West Main Street in Mesa, who are dishing out…
Thursday 11 AZ/88: Black Out Thursdays with Josh 1 (soulful house, lounge) Bar Smith: International Thursdays with DJ EC, DJ StarMarz, & DJ Clavo El Parientito (hip-hop, Latin) Bobby Q’s: DJ Phlava, MC Focus, DJ Dark Vader, & DJ Skoolboi (hip-hop, reggae, R&B) Cadillac Ranch: Thirsty Thursdays with DJ Chris…
The wheel’s come back around for doom-metal trailblazers Saint Vitus. It took some time, but what’s three decades among friends? “Like anybody, we were kind of surprised this hard-rock return was happening,” says Scott “Wino” Weinrich, who sang for Vitus on three albums during their ’86-’91 heyday and has fronted…
Apache Lake Music Festival has grown leaps and bounds since its launch in 2010. The festival now spans three days and features nearly twice as many bands as last year’s installment. The event’s roots may lie in the bygone Jeromeatherapy event, but now scores of music lovers will make the…
In the past, most of downtown Phoenix’s opportunities for fun were limited to concert venues or clubs on Washington. Cityscape changed all of that by adding an array of restaurant and shopping options, and plenty of features that make it a stand out location. Nestled in the same complex as…
The Black Keys @ US Airways|10/9/12The Black Keys have come a long way since their last performance in Phoenix a year and a half ago. They released a new album, El Camino, played prime time slots at Coachella two years in a row, and performed at a much larger venue…
