Welcome to the latest installment of our weekly feature, Sound Off, in which Jason P. Woodbury is joined by a different guest each week to listen to and discuss three tracks from local Phoenix artists. If you would like your songs to be considered for future Sound Off columns, please…
Blessthefall is a true Phoenix success story. Since forming in high school, the group has kept at it, and gained a diehard fanbase along the way. The band released its third full length, Awakening, on Fearless Records this past October. This week we’re bringing you local metalcore in the form…
North Scottsdale houses some of the nicest bars in the valley, and Blue Martini is no exception. This swanky lounge attracts a posh Scottsdale clientele and serves delicious drinks at a reasonable price. It’s worth it to make an early trip to Blue Martini for the happy hour drink specials…
Over the years, it’s been hard to peg Portland solo project turned electro-pop trio Starfucker as any one thing. Known for wearing women’s clothing during live performances, having song titles like “Biggie Smalls” and “Queen Latifah,” and changing their band name more times than they’ve changed their performance panties, it’s…
Packrat The Rogue Bar January 10, 2012 In the build-up to last night’s show at The Rogue Bar in Scottsdale, Phoenix rockers Packrat bragged that they had assembled some of the noisiest local groups in town. Three hours later, the ringing in my ears (despite using ear protection) gave some…
If you think playing a show in a tiny corner of a dive bar is hard, try playing a set in a van driving down the road.That’s what you’ll see in local rock band Nomadic’s new video for their song “Hypocrite,” off their current three-song EP, TURN, the second in…
Phoenix music historian Johnny “D” Dixon has a way with words. He recently updated his Mostly Vinyl Facebook page (the official site of his Sunday evening anything-goes program on KWSS 106.7) with a cryptic message: “What can I say…..I can’t believe this has been sittin’ in the can for 40+…
This weekend sees two very different fitness events: Sunday’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon (with performances from a variety of bands, including The B-52s) and one day earlier at Mesa Proving Grounds, the Tough Mudder, described on the event’s official website as “a hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British…
After tweets yesterday from Dave Pratt Live co-host Kassi Jayde indicated yesterday that KEXX-FM (103.9) would be shifting to a “classic rock” format, a Facebook post by Gadger, a X103.9 jock, who hosts (or hosted) the station’s “Local Frequency” program, states that the format shift will be less “classic rock”…
Larkin Grimm’s infant son Otis is already more rock ‘n’ roll than you. From the safety of his car seat, the four-month-old interjected a couple times during my interview with Grimm. Larkin and Otis are on tour, headed in her Prius to Albuquerque, New Mexico for another gig. “I’m playing…
Ace-High Cutthroats, Weird Ladies and Hobo Bastard will be joining Big Eyes for this gig. Apparently this will be Hobo Bastard’s first show, so that’s all the more reason to put on your good ol’ Steve Martin funny man shoes and come on out for a good time.It’s all going down…
VektorNPR has a way of simplifying complicated ideas for the layman, be they the financial crisis or the intricate web of Republican frontrunner intrigue. When it comes to their profile about Tempe’s sci-fi thrash metal four piece Vektor, they kept things uncluttered and uncomplicated: “Vektor: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Fast.”…
Local rappers, Mathmadix unveiled the official video to their new single “Puff Pass” this past weekend. The video is the first look at the group’s long-awaited album, In a Class of Our Own. The song’s pretty self-explanatory, but the video debut marks the first time the outfit dabbles in video…
Update: Station DJ defines new format as “built for Gen-X , by Gen-X. Looks like big changes are headed to the Valley’s long-running X103.9 (those of us who have been around awhile still slip up and call it “The Edge” regularly). According to Kassi Jayde, the co-host of Dave Pratt…
The speculation is over. See the 2012 festival lineup. (Double weekend!)…
The nightclubs and bars of Washington Street were alive with music and packed with people this past weekend, save for one spot. Club Silver, the one-story dance joint that specializes in hip-hop and Latin nights, was darker than a moonless night as it recently has been closed down. According to…
NOFX at The Marquee Theatre, 1/7/12 Fat Mike painted a grim picture of Arizona a couple weeks ago. He was convinced that nobody goes to shows in Phoenix anymore because it’s on its way to becoming the next Detroit. Sure, we’ve got our issues, but NOFX fans surprised everyone (myself…
Though best known for her folk-pop ditty “Brand New Key,” (also known as “the roller skate song in Boogie Nights”) Melanie Safka hasn’t stopped making music over a four decade span. Her latest, Since You Never Heard of Me, is full of the wry, sturdy songs that have defined her…
We like to keep you updated on what’s moving off the shelves at Valley record stores with our weekly What’s Selling blog, but we’re also aware that after awhile, big stacks of records and CDs get to be a cumbersome haul. Seriously, moving with records is a special kind of…
Coachella’s full lineup should be announced sometime this week. Last Friday, the festival tweeted a picture that read “Next Week” with the hashtag #Coachella2012. There’s already been some speculation with fake fliers and what not, but the official lineup will be announced any day now. LA Times predicts January 22…
Want to know what new release discs and platters are moving across the Valley at local record stores? We’ve got you covered with another installment of What’s Selling. Contrary to popular belief, CD’s and vinyl are moving off of music store shelves just fine. According to a report in the…
Uber-American rock and sex icon Lenny Kravitz is going to rock Comerica Theatre patrons to their knees. Watching Lenny jam would sure beat seeing Scott Stapp any day of the week.Lenny Kravitz, Creed, The Ting Tings and other artists will be bringing their A-game to the Valley over the next few…
