H2O, Youth of Today, and Run With The Hunted Within These Walls @ Nile Theater| 9/21/12Last night marked the second year of local hardcore festival, Within These Walls. Last year was a success, with a full day of music on both stages. Most Precious Blood and H2O were the headliners,…
The news waits for no one — at least that’s what we read somewhere — so it’s perfectly understandable that you, the reader, might have missed out on a musical tidbit, breaking news about your favorite venue, or one of our rants. So enjoy this digest-style sampling of some of…
RAW: Natural Born Artists Showcase with The Deer Leader, Francis Dean and Bad Lucy @ Martini Ranch | Thursday, September 20What’s an art showcase without a little live music at the helm? Underground art allies, RAW Phoenix, called on local acts The Deer Leader, Francis Dean and Bad Lucy to…
The New Familiar is more than just the name of the forthcoming album from L.A.-based Goldenboy. It’s an aesthetic, says songwriter Shon Sulllivan, whose resume includes work with Elliott Smith, Spain, The Eels, The Watson Twins, The Rentals, and more. “People always ask us, what do you sound like? The…
There must be something in the air. Everywhere we look, broken relationships seem to be mending. First Rihanna confessed to Oprah that her abusive ex-boyfriend Chris Brown is still the love of her life, then rumors swirled about a possible Kristen Stewart/Robert Pattinson reconciliation after the young starlet admitted to…
Ask DJ Brett Ortiz what the best part of his job is, and he doesn’t take long to answer: “Knowing [that] you alone can make a room full of people have the best night of their life,” he says. The 27-year-old does his damndest to fulfill that goal every Friday…
Suzanne Gwyn Gwyn is the owner of Bake Goods by Suzanne and sous chef of Culinary Mischief. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Either 101.5-FM or 108.0 KMLE-FM. What’s the first album you bought? Shaun Cassidy, Born…
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…
The Monarch in downtown Phoenix is going to be shaking and quaking with sonic booms of bass every Thump Day as long-running dubstep joint UK Thursdays has moved to the Washington Street club as of last week. Promoters behind the bass-heavy EDM night, which originally launched back in 2009 as…
I have a theory: The first album you listen to by one of your favorite musicians ends up being one of your favorite releases by said band, regardless of how it was received by critics or fans. Of course, this isn’t always the case, but who hasn’t ever had to…
So, songstress Fiona Apple played a set at Mesa Arts Center the other night. It was really very good, with Apple seeming quite happy in front of the crowd (bizarre rant about “small-titted girls” and her label aside). But anyway, that’s Tuesday night’s Apple news. Here’s today’s: Apple has been…
When you’re a hard touring band, it takes some adjusting to actually get off the road. Gritty Florida-based punk rockers Hot Water Music have nearly gotten the hang of this, taking a hiatus before releasing its eighth full-length record, Exister. Eight years after its last album, The New What Next,…
By Mark Keresman Jazz icon Duke Ellington had an expression for certain performers whose uniqueness and quality couldn’t be easily summarized: Beyond category. One such musician in the post-Ellington, post-punk, and post-rock continuum is guitarist Sir Richard Bishop. First in the now-legendary Sun City Girls — who emerged in the…
Take it from these non-failed musicians: Don’t put out that album. By Daniel Hopkins Ask a Failed Musician is a new column from our sister music blog at Dallas Observer, in which Daniel Hopkins helps struggling musicians make sense of their careers and offers advice. Whether or not it will…
If you jumped on the Sondre Lerche bandwagon after the 2004 release of Two Way Monologue, you no doubt dreaded the hype you thought he’d receive because of his collaboration with Regina Spektor on the Dan in Real Life soundtrack in 2007. But somehow Lerche avoided the level of obnoxious…
Sometimes, old dogs learn new tricks. Consider Tauheed Epps, the Atlanta MC who has taken two stage names — Tity Boi for a decade and 2 Chainz for a more successful three years. Epps got his start in the rap game when Ludacris, then a fellow underground Atlanta rapper and…
Ethereal and otherworldly, Lymbyc Systym has a knack for activating its purposely misspelled namesake, the little corner of your brain known for controlling emotions. Their instrumental waveforms also evoke Explosions in the Sky, Four Tet, or The Appleseed Cast, gaining them the attention of touring mates like The Album Leaf,…
That last Bon Iver record was all right, you know? I mean, it’s not going to blow the mind of anyone familiar with their mom’s record collection, as it simply recycles the best stuff from Phil Collins and Bruce Hornsby records and kind of makes it sound Radiohead-y. But there…
Over the summer, an online list of the world’s richest DJs featured the multimillion-dollar net worths of 30 superstar spinsters and demonstrated once again that EDM artists and DJs are the new rock stars. British-born house legend Paul Oakenfold was ranked second on the list, as he has an estimated…
I cannot stand the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And that’s why I love ’em. I should explain: These days, I think the band’s tepid blend of funk, punk, and alternative rock conveys none of the highlights of those forms. I think it’s pretty much bland porridge. I didn’t always think…
“I don’t know if it’s necessary, but I do know what feels right at the moment, and sometimes the song just calls for a bloodcurdling scream,” Amanda Palmer says by phone from Red Hook, New York, in reference to several sonic outbursts on her new album, Theatre Is Evil. “It…
Thursday 20 AZ/88: Black Out Thursdays with Josh 1 (soulful house, lounge) Bobby Q’s: DJ Phlava, MC Focus, DJ Dark Vader, & DJ Skoolboi (hip-hop, reggae, R&B) Cadillac Ranch: Thirsty Thursdays with DJ Chris Villa (Top 40, house) Crescent Ballroom: Discothèque Thursdays with Sean Watson, Hoodwink, & more (disco) Dollhouse:…
