You probably knew a kid like Steve Brooks in school. He was the rugrat in the Kiss T-shirt flipping the devil horns and flashing heavy metal attitude. He was in training for stoner-pop bruisers Torche from a tender age. “I had an early cousin who got me into Kiss in…
In Brian De Palma’s 1983 film Scarface — a touchstone film in the rap world — the title character, played by Al Pacino, lays out a simple path to domination as a ladies man: First you get the money, then you get the power, and then you get the women…
There just aren’t enough musical groups out there that allow grown women to cheer for barely legal eye candy. So thanks, One Direction, for filling that void. The British-Irish boy band has conducted a hysteria-inducing worldwide invasion that has won over fans of all ages, with Justin Bieber-esque good looks…
It’s a whole two minutes before the airy New Age flutes break the waves of ambient, billowy synth sounds and plucked nylon-string acoustic guitar that opens “Suicide Demo for Kara Walker” from Canadian art-rock crew Destroyer’s 2011 release, Kaputt. Then the drums — as canned and processed as the synth…
We wish we could tell you exactly what to expect when David Liebe Hart and his band take the stage at Trunk Space, but we don’t know. On second thought, it’s much better that way. An outsider artist more “outsider” than most (he claims he was abducted by Korendian aliens…
In an age when Henry Rollins does Acura commercials, what does “selling out” even mean any more? Tempe “futurepop” band Super Stereo knows a thing or two about product placement: Their ditties have been featured on The Real L Word, TNT’s Rizzoli and Isles, and E!’s Keeping Up with the…
El Hefe Super Macho Taqueria brings the classic taqueria environment to Old Town Scottsdale by making it a place to see and be seen. There was no shortage of that, patrons were dressed to the nines while sipping on beergaritas…
Although they possess a passion for Heavenly Father — not to mention the nutty belief that all disease can be healed solely through prayer — the folks at the Christian Science Monitor apparently don’t possess a sense of humor. To wit: The publication has brought down the thunder from the…
La Llegadora and Grupo Poderozzo La Casa del Mariachi Tuesday, June 5, 2012 Arizona’s banda scene really knows how to party. Decked-out dudes and chicas filled the music hall side of La Casa Del Mariachi last night and danced their asses off. It didn’t matter to anyone that it was…
The men of TwinGiant aren’t asking for a lot. They want some beers, and they wanna turn the amps up (way up), and tell a cosmic yarn about “the space hobo,” a character they created when imagining a theme that would conceptually link the band’s songs. Huddled around a table…
Southwest Arts and Music and Jackrabbit Lounge are up to a new collaboration: an original live music showcase — the only of its kind — held every Wednesday night in the Valley of the Sun. I know, I know, Jackrabbit Lounge, right? Well, after being completely refurbished, the managers are…
Multi-genre guitarist extraordinaire Buckethead is coming to Phoenix in August to show off his extreme shredding skills. Some of his work is quite lively while some of it is actually kind of soothing. Either way, give him six strings and a chicken bucket and he can do anything. Buckethead, The…
Like nearly everyone in Phoenix, songwriter Stephen Steinbrink (you may recognize his project named French Quarter, as well) has a love/hate relationship with the city. It’s easy to love the pockets of true community, the DIY art spaces, punk rock house shows, and the affordable, delicious Mexican food, but the…
With one of the catchiest songs of the summertime, “Anna Sun” has launched Walk the Moon to the top spot on millions of playlists. Between a series of stops at music festivals, the band currently is making its way across the country on a headlining tour. Once they conquer the United States,…
See also: Santigold Discusses Bjork, MySpace, and The Death of MCA Santigold Crescent Ballroom Monday, June 4, 2012 Better Than: Every show I’ve been to this year. Seriously. It’s hard to imagine a show living up to as much hype as Santigold’s Phoenix debut. The show sold out well in…
Some guy eats another guy’s face while sitting at a bus stop. A student killed his roommate and ate his heart and brain. A New Jerseyan stabbed himself 50 times and threw his guts at the police. If you haven’t noticed, we’re clearly living at the dawn of the zombie…
If you are excited about Destroyer coming to town — and we certainly are — you can thank the world of jazz. When songwriter/vocalist Dan Bejar, who essentially is Destroyer, set out for another round of touring behind the 18-month-old, critically adored Kaputt, he had a specific goal in mind…
Last week we announced that Justin Bieber is coming to town on September 29. Of course, he responded to our blog by beating up a paparazzo. But we’re still excited to see him at Jobing.com Arena. It seems like a big enough place to house all of the Beliebers, but…
See also: Record Heat: Comicon Blues I’m only a single listen in, but Heaven by The Walkmen is feeling like a pivotal 2012 listen. There’s plenty of musical reasons at work: the acoustic strums, the harmonies, the tempered drums. But my reason for listening so intently come more from the…
Annual Douchebag Party at Smashboxx Being called a douchebag is usually a bad thing, but patrons of Smashboxx were encouraged to sport spray tans, sunglasses, and Ed Hardy swag in honor of the 3rd Annual Douchebag Party. There was an abundance of duckface and blow outs at the packed bar…
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is one of those songs: no matter who you are or your circumstances, you feel something listening to it. For most, it’s the sound of childhood, a beautiful and hopeful song that conjures up images of wistfulness and memory. Plenty of musicians have offered soulful renditions…
Best of Phoenix winners, Banda La Llegadora, charge a pretty penny for their services: Something to the tune of $600 per hour the last time we checked. The whopping fee fetches you a Mexican musical menagerie that really know how to carry a puro pinche parii. Lucky for you, the…
