Florence + the Machine Friday, April 20, 2012 Comerica Theatre When I streamed the band’s Coachella performance last weekend so I could get an idea of what to expect when they came to Phoenix, I thought, “She’s great, but something about the performance is kind of weird.” To hell with…
Record Store Day is an exciting time for music geeks. What better way to celebrate than to get some free tunes? Local sci-fi electronic group Episodes is releasing Partir Kaylan as a cassette available at Stinkweeds and online at Bandcamp today. “Episodes is a science fiction comic group, so to…
There are a slew of reasons we dig Al Page. Not only does the cat have one of the most fly Afros in all of P-Town, he’s also one of the most laid-back and approachable DJs in this ‘berg. Every weekend, Page busts much ass on both the record decks…
Tempe bandmates Johnny Hayward, Andy Higgins, Graham Corrington, and John Wong know each other pretty well. The quartet presently known as rock group Neato, have played in bands in the local circuit over the past decade but before that, the four friends were actually roommates. “The coolest part about Neato,…
Tempe’s Japhy’s Descent have made their rounds in the Valley for years now, which means they have plenty of stories to go around. Stories they hope are represented on their new double disc album, Moon Noon. The double disc, deservedly will get a two-weekend blowout that starts tonight and finishes with an…
Over 40 years have gone by since the first Earth Day. During that time, the eco-conscious have planted trees, rescued oil-covered birds, and rocked out with their compost out. What Laura Says might not have been around for the first Earth Day, but Saturday, they’ll celebrating the anniversary in style at…
If you find yourself stomping the grounds of Old Town Scottsdale next Thursday night you might want to heed the haunting melodies dwindling from the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Inside you’ll find visual artist/vocalist Anna Vivette performing songs off of her debut album, Coloratura; a dark operatic take on…
Lady La Lady La is the morning show host for 101.5 JAMZ FM Monday-Friday from 6-10 a.m. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? KOOL 94.5 FM. What’s the first album you bought? Timbaland & Magoo. What’s the first…
Curious what’s going on around town this weekend? Need some suggestions as to how to rock, dance, or krump in the Valley of the Sun? Don’t fret: These are our Five Shows to See This Weekend. Hunx and His Punx @ Yucca Tap Room Ever since its genesis with Chuck…
Andrew Bird Mesa Arts Center Wednesday, April 18 When I opened the doors of Mesa Arts Center last night to see indie rock whistle-master Andrew Bird, I was greeted by an ocean of flannel shirts and beards. Folks were politely waiting in line for an overpriced beer and excited to…
Dfactor and friends will be throwing down for a night of punk covers. The flier looks like it could have come straight out of the mid-to-late ’70s, with kind of a New Wave meets punk rock vibe. And the flier isn’t the only awesome thing we’re expecting this Flashback Friday…
You never say an unkind word about the time. It’s that time of year again. We hope you’re stocked up on all of your supplies, namely munchies before you begin your 4/20 shenanigans. Whether you’re lighting up at home or going to a party, we’ve got you covered with 15…
It’s a classic scenario: Boy meets girl. Boy can’t have girl. Boy and girl build up a bunch of tension and hook up anyway, usually to some romantic acoustic song like “Save Tonight.” This song has been used to fit that scenario in shows like Daria, Felicity, and A Lot…
The Arizona music community lost a prominent figure and friend when Marco Holt from local rock group The Tremulants passed away this weekend following a bout with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Since 2003, Holt served as the indie rock band’s primary creative force and lone consistent member, doubling as guitarist and singer…
This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. What are our 10 favorite awkward dance moves at Coachella? How close does Dark Star Orchestra…
Brad Pfirrman listens to the radio. The gravel-voiced Pfirrman, better known to a loyal chunk of listeners in Tempe and Phoenix as Beef Vegan, host of KWSS 106.7’s The Morning Infidelity, is on the road en route to his day job, and he’s turned down the radio to answer my…
In a rather controversial concert review last December, New Times contributor Nicole Smith wrote of the indie sailor-pop band Tennis’ singer, Alaina Moore, “I generally hate chick singers who don’t have anything spectacular to offer.” Sure, it’s tough to paint 50 percent of the human population with one brush stroke,…
Anytime a huge band takes a hiatus, bands of a similar stripe get an opportunity to move in quickly and make Huge Band’s audience its own before Huge Band returns. It happened in the ’80s, when the Police took progressively longer to follow up their albums — we got all…
A few years ago, I worked as a hip-hop DJ at a nightclub in Illinois. I always tried to please the crowd, so when a girl came to my DJ booth and asked me to play some Feist, I did, though at that point in my life, I had no…
A day in the life of Florence Welch is a lot better than a day in yours: Her group, Florence + the Machine, taped the kickoff episode of MTV’s Unplugged in New York’s oldest synagogue, surrounded by dozens of candles, backed by a 10-person choir, and performing a version of…
It’s said that competitors are truly at their best when fighting with their closest rivals for the ultimate prize. Even the great Bob Marley knew this to be true when he sung “The hotter the battle / The sweeter the victory.” This weekend, the competition is guaranteed to be white…
It’s “Emo Night” at Idle Hands, a dimly lit bar in Manhattan’s East Village. I’ve stumbled in with a some friends for a drink, unaware that the stereo system would be blaring angsty emo hits from the early 2000s. As I grab a seat, I hear a familiar sound, the…
