Long ago — or earlier this year — I used to DJ Ten High Tuesdays at the Yucca Tap Room, spinning power-pop, soul, and whatever else I felt like. I liked to think of myself as pretty eclectic, but I generally tried to keep to things that people could dance…
Sade and John Legend U.S. Airways Center Friday, September 2, 2011 REVIEW BY DAN GIBSON Sade (the woman, not the band) doesn’t seem like she has to work very hard live. If there’s ever an audience willing to plunk down $149 for the good seats, load up on $25 glossy…
Oh, Labor Day weekend. Don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready for it. There’s plenty of stuff going on this weekend, and we’ve tried to cover the gamut. Tonight you can catch Sade at US Airwaves and Gucci Mane at Celebrity Theatre, tomorrow brings Neon Trees, Peachcake, and iamwe…
Today, electronic project Chemtrails released a conspiracy-theory addled dubstep jam called “Inside Job” on YouTube, featuring vocals from Captain Squeegee’s Danny Torgersen. Some people don’t like dubstep. Some people aren’t particularly fond of watching videos of the September 11 attacks. This video is not for those kinds of people…
Remember when April Ludgate-Dwyer (played by Aubrey Plaza) of NBC’s Parks and Recreation said that her favorite band was Neutral Milk Hotel in an episode last season? That ruled. It was surreal hearing that particular band name dropped on network television — NMH isn’t your garden variety hip reference. The…
Last night I went to see Deadmau5 (read our review here) and on multiple occasions I got to play one of my favorite games: Put Your Ass Away. The game is simple. When some chick’s booty is hanging out of her bottoms, you call out the phrase, “Put your ass…
For being an independent artist based in the Valley, electro pop musician Jonathan Sakas has built up one of the most professional-looking video repertoires of his peers. Every clip looks MTV-worthy, and the newest ones for his tracks, “Move” and “Home” are no exceptions.Plus, he always seems to have really…
Matty Steinkamp Steinkamp is the president and founder of Sundawg Records and Sundawg Media. He invites you to Gumptionfest in Sedona Friday, September 16 through Sunday, September 18. Sundawg labelmates and Valley bands A Life of Science and The Wiley One are playing. For more info, go here. When you…
Traditionally, a foundry is a place where hardened metal castings are made. Last night I walked into the Foundry on First a wad of Play-Doh, and walked out a hardened rock ‘n’ roll concertgoer that my angry inner 19-year-old self would have been proud of. In short, Mexico’s volatile rock-rap…
Deadmau5 September 1, 2011 Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix Convention Center is usually home to conferences and expos, but last night one of the massive halls was turned into a giant glowstick-heavy dance party as Canadian producer deadmau5 (“dead mouse”) came to town.It seemed like an odd place to have a…
DJ Kyko keeps it on the level. The Latin DJ holds two residencies at clubs in the Valley. Not that it’s going to his head. His down-to-Earth perspective makes him a man of few words, and maybe that’s a good thing. He’s all action, little talk.We talk beginnings, vintage vinyl…
Keeping Up with the Kardashians may be one of the most vapid, superficial, painfully annoying shows on television right now, but this Sunday night’s new episode on E! actually has one redeeming quality to the vomit-inducing drivel — local “future pop” band Super Stereo will have three songs featured on…
When Cactus Chainsaw’s singer said the band’s list of influences was possibly a higher number than his criminal record charges, I took it with a grain of salt (courtesy of a cheap tequila shot). But within the first 20 seconds of listening to their music, I could hear the band’s…
With August behind us, we are inching closer to the sold-out Foster the People show going down at The Venue Scottsdale on Tuesday, September 13. When the band’s single “Pumped Up Kicks” came out, the dreamy synth pop sound washed over us like a wave of euphoria, even if we…
It was only yesterday that I was sharing the news of Smiths-related activity in Phoenix, including former-Smiths bassist Andy Rourke’s DJ set at Bar Smith this Friday, and the upcoming performance by Los Esmiths, Calexico, California’s premier Smiths tribute band, at Rips Ales and Cocktails. But it looks like I…
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. Why did DMX get arrested last week? What underground hip-hop is Yaya Martinez bringing to Power…
Zog’s Tiki Lounge Party 5 so you can make Labor Day weekend plans that are way better than looking like a lobster after floating down the Salt River.The Rhythm Room will be transformed into a tropical paradise just for this event, which features Thee Swank Bastards, The Surfside IV, Bata…
In May, Oakland rapper Kreayshawn bubbled up from the underground with her smash single “Gucci Gucci.” Now she’s the talk of hipsterdom. With its propulsive, jackhammering beat, “Gucci Gucci” was skillfully produced, but the content left something to be desired. Kreayshawn rapped about dining at Arby’s and selling pills to…
Over the past 40 years, the term “supergroup” has taken a beating. Acts such as The Traveling Wilburys and The Highwaymen defined the term: a group of established music legends teaming up for kicks. Nowadays, the term gets applied to just about any combination of semi-notable songwriters. Mister Heavenly falls…
With hip-hop more mainstream and codified than ever, Gucci Mane represents a refreshing departure from the formulaic marketing and progressive emasculation of contemporary rap music. The Atlanta artist’s rhymes may suffer when it comes to depth, variety, intelligence, and delivery, yet his realness on and off the mic transcends his…
Once awash in blogosphere love, Cold War Kids have experienced a shift in buzz. The band’s third album, Mine Is Yours, was supposed to launch them into the big time, breaking them through the way Kings of Leon’s third album did for that band. Yet the record hasn’t quite taken,…
Bands whose names are also geographical locations: a tricky situation. More often than not, get ready to chart out a set list of lousiness. Chicago? Meh. Europe? No way. Asia, Boston, Kansas? No good. America? Okay, “A Horse with No Name” is good. Younger bands like Beirut and Defiance, Ohio,…
