The Ice House Tavern is a unique place. The bar, attached to the Arcadia Ice Arena, offers cheap beers and views of practicing skaters and hockey teams to patrons (plus totally sweet glimpses of that Zamboni).For the past two years, co-owner Daryl Chester has been offering music, too. On Saturday,…
It’s safe to say that just about everyone wants to be a little more like Patrick Swayze in 1989. Those playful eyes, those luscious long locks, that talent for making the tightest pair of pants look effortless, even when kicking ass — Yeah, that’s a real man…
You know, I’ve always been into Uriah Heep album covers a lot more than Uriah Heep albums. Don’t get me wrong — there are some killer jams in the discography, like “Lady in Black” and “Gypsy,” which skirts the line between prog and boogie, kind of an early example of…
Arizona music label River Jones Music is best known for its lineup of local indie acts however the company hasn’t limited itself to only the desert. Swedish/Danish singer Christine Owman is also a part of the family. Owman enjoyed the stateside release of her new album Throwing Knives last week…
Out of Reverie is finally back on the road.
We got off to a late start in the morning, so we ended up arriving a little late to the Shine Coffee Shop in Sacramento. Rena, the place’s proprietor, was very cool about it, though, and still had a spot for the band following the open mic.
Ryan Rousseau doesn’t sleep. At least that’s the only explanation I can come up with to describe his constant flurry of activity. The guitarist/vocalist has an extensive resume, having spent time in The Reatards, The Wongs, played solo as Yuma Territorial Prison Guard, and fronted Earthmen & Strangers and the…
You can see pop singer Katy Perry transformed into an actual cartoon in her current movie, The Smurfs, but often the in-your-face performer acts cartoonish enough in real life. In honor of her sold-out concert this Wednesday, August 3 at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, here are 10 of her most…
2011 is looking to be a pretty exciting year for Valley venue openings. First came the announcement of Crescent Ballroom, and now Tempe’s Venue 104. When non-profit Scottsdale art space Chyro Arts closed its doors in May 2010, co-owner Michael Peck wasn’t about to see his hopes for the Valley music…
I kind of feel like I’m the only person who isn’t completely blown away by Cults — but I’m willing to bet that seeing Cults at Club Congress on July 30 probably ruled. There are few places I like seeing shows more than Congress, and addition to the crazy-hyped Cults…
MTV just turned 30 years old yesterday! There are so many shows on MTV that I either wish would come back or are finally coming back. It’s a shame Daria isn’t still around, though Beavis and Butthead is returning on October 27.MTV2 has graciously brought back 120 Minutes for us…
But most of the day was spent trying to pass the time. Griffin and Teran spent most of the day at the mechanic while the rest of us tried to find last minute shows.
BY LAUREN WISE After a two-year break, The Mars Volta has wrapped up their sixth studio album, the follow-up to 2009’s Octahedron. Yet-to-be-titled, the album is slated for release in 2012. But don’t worry, we wouldn’t leave you hanging out there without a little taste. Songs from the album recently…
I hated Eastbound & Down when I first started watching it. The show’s protagonist, Kenny Powers, portrayed by Danny McBride, was just so utterly unlikable. I couldn’t get behind him, even as an anti-hero. He was just too racist, sexist, and shitty. I don’t know what exactly changed, but for…
Michael Rapaport. Not to be a dick, but when we think of the C-list star, shit films and even crappier television are the first things that pop into mind. However, after watching Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest, our opinion has totally shifted — Michael…
Icky Mettle stands the test of time incredibly well, due in large part to its massive influence — as well as the fact it was released in the also influential year of 1993. Sure, other bigger name bands like Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins had their own ground-breaking albums from that…
Destroy Nate Allen is a folk-punk duo, made up of married Christian rockers Nate and Tessa Allen. The pair’s music is a strange thing — acoustic guitar anchored and melodically reminiscent of Social Distortion as much as recalls groups like Dogbreth and Andrew Jackson Jihad (the band has played with…
You know, when you think about it, Morrissey is kind of like a comic book character already. Call him “Super Sad Man,” or “Captain Sexually Ambiguous.” Don’t expect Shawn Demumbrum’s Unite and Take Over: Comic Book Stories Inspired by The Smiths to be as stupid as those ideas, though. Demumbrum’s…
If you’ve got a subscription to Guitar World, you no doubt know who Mr. Big is. Comprised of some of the biggest names in the shred lexicon — guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Pat Torpey, and vocalist Eric Martin — the group issued hit rock records until the…
Update: Kings of Leon have called off the rest of the band’s tour, which was scheduled to hit Phoenix on September 6.Perhaps he started to really listen to what he was singing, perhaps he finally realized that he also sells fancy scarves for a living — whatever the case may…
The band and I had the chance to spend another day with the Dain Griffin’s very hospitable and friendly family. We also got to walk around the neighborhood for a bit and enjoy some nice (78 degrees) sunny weather.
Kurt Vile and the Violators The Rhythm Room July 31, 2011 I spent the day in Flagstaff on Saturday, and shortly after having lunch at Mountain Oasis International Restaurant, a woman approached me with a small flier which read: “Real Freedom is Closer Than You Think.” Turns out, she was…
Cable channel MTV turns the big 3-0 today. Maybe this would be a big deal to music fans if the station was actually dedicated to music, like it was back when it launched on August 1, 1981, but these days, MTV’s demographic keeps getting younger and the programming keeps moving…
