Immoral rapper/lyrical genius R. Kelly is itching to keep his famous hip-hopera going. I don’t know what he spends his money on, how much he’s making these days, or how much it costs to produce an hour-plus music video. In any case, R. Kelly is seeking investors to fund 32…
There are plenty of signs that The White House in Scottsdale is no longer in operation: The doors are locked tight, the lights are switched off, the liquor’s all gone, and the sound system is silent. And here’s the biggest sign of all: A large “For Lease” placard hangs on…
A couple weeks ago I made a joke about Phoenix-based metal band Sorrower singing about puppies. According to comments, I wasn’t far off — band member Tim Callaway (sporting the Black Flag logo as his icon, natch) confirms that “the puppy comment was very funny considering our singer’s obssession with…
Every week on Wednesday morning, I call into 106.7 KWSS’ The Morning Infidelity program, and gab about local and national music with the TMI crew: Beef Vegan, Shorty, and Buddha. It’s been quite a year for the station — winning cash from their friendly competitors at X103.9, briefly going off…
Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun’s 2011 Review. We’ve been counting down our favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. This installment takes a look at 2011’s top cover songs. Enjoy! The idea of The Beatles, The Pixies, Tom Waits, and Elton John sharing a…
Clarence Greenwood and his band, more commonly known as Citizen Cope, are bringing their blues rock to the Marquee.Greenwood sings of sorrows and interesting characters, and his songs have been featured in commercials (you may have jammed out to one of his songs and not even realized it). Citizen Cope, Glen…
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. Christmas is officially d-u-n, done. If you’re like us you’re probably still sitting in a tamale coma, wrapped in you’re brand new…
Each year, we regretfully feel obligated to make this list. Musicians that touch our hearts and change our lives come and go. Some of these musicians had long, fruitful careers, while others seemed like they were just getting started. Gil Scott-Heron Poet-musician Gil Scott-Heron left a lasting impact on the…
NOFX has been a mainstay of punk rock for almost 30 years. The band has gained notoriety for its antics and activism, recently getting banned from Emo’s in Austin because frontman “Fat Mike” Burkett tricked the audience into believing he served free tequila shots mixed with his own urine. When…
We won’t be back in full force until Tuesday, but somethings are just too fun to wait. Brad Dwyer brings us a double dose of funny this week, pondering an age old question in this week’s installment of Record Heat: Coffee or beer? Then, Dwyer provides the soundtrack for a…
You excited to see hometown heroes Jimmy Eat World on the night before the night before Christmas?Well you better have grabbed tickets quick, because the Wooden Blue Records Reunion Show, featuring a classic Phoenix lineup of Haskel, Aquanaut Drinks Coffee, Halema’uma’a, and Jimmy Eat World, is officially sold out.For the…
Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun’s 2011 Review. We’ve been counting down our favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. This installment takes a look at 2011’s best videos. Enjoy! Quite a few bomb-ass videos have been released this year. Some of them were goofy…
You’ve got to admit, Up on the Sun has been doing a pretty kick ass job of making the holiday music season, dare we say it, bearable. From posts that include the Christmas Songs That Don’t Suck series, to “Un-Christmas” and Metal songs for Christmas lists, we’ve pretty much got…
Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun’s 2011 Review. We’ve been counting down our favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. Today’s list comes from contributor Melissa Fossum. Maybe I’m too indecisive for my own good, but year-end lists are always a challenge. Most Up on…
Folks, it’s just a few days more until that jolly old elf slides down your chimneys, so we at Up On the Sun have been loading you up with a ton o’ tunes to get you through the season. For instance: Are you in a grinchy mood? Check out our…
Bevin O’Neill O’Neill is a chef at The Grind and Chick Rotisserie Bar (opening soon). When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Arizona sports radio.What’s the first album you bought? The Clash, Combat Rock. What’s the first concert you saw?…
Do you miss the polyrhythmic guitars and glottal growls of Packrat? Well, the band misses you, too. So much that they’ve reformed after a brief hiatus to offer some math-rock cheer to the Trunk Space on Christmas Eve Eve. Boasting the divisive declaration that “Nirvana sucks” on their Facebook page,…
Everyone loves The Beatles. Anyone who says they don’t “get” The Beatles is simply saying it for the sake of playing devil’s advocate. Yeah, it’s annoying, but we tolerate those people because we’re open-minded folk who appreciate an opposing point of view. Even if it’s wrong. On Friday, November 4,…
The Compound Grill, the Phoenix venue and eatery has hosted its share of touring classic rock veterans like Mickey Hart and Timothy B. Schmit. “I’ve heard of them,” you say, “but this Paul Gurvitz and the New Army has me scratching my recognition meter.” Well, with his brother Adrian Gurvitz,…
So, they say the holidays are a time for family, for friends, for gratitude. Well, okay, then. Here’s something we’re grateful for: Our local bands who contribute to the ever-developing Valley culture. For example, there’s A Boy Named Sioux, Rob Toner’s lauded outlaw country band. The band’s celebrating local culture…
One of the more curious entries in last year’s Village Voice Pazz & Jop music critics’ poll was a fan-made (not commercially released) compilation of early Bob Seger material titled Never Mind the Bullets, Here’s Early Bob Seger. The album was ranked 111, beating out releases by Tom Petty, Elton…
Somewhere in America, Jeff Miller’s ears are burning. The towering vocalist of defunct Bay Area hardcore act Bad Posture, which used to hang with the likes of Dead Kennedys and Flipper during punk’s early-’80s glory days, is getting dissed something fierce by local record store owner Michael Pawlicki. The 49-year-old…
