Though it’s been almost a decade since Zach Sciacca put the Valley in his rearview mirror, the artist known as Z-Trip (pictured) still casts a huge shadow over the local scene. There seem to be few DJs in town who aren’t connected to the turntable titan. We’ve lost count of…
Have you seen the episode of 30 Rock where Jane Krakowski’s character, Jenna Maroney, “goes country” by wearing Daisy Dukes and a cowboy hat, recording a Western-style theme for NBC’s off-season tennis coverage? Aside from being one more joke in a long series of jabs at the network that airs…
THURSDAY 7 Afterlife: Thumpin Thurzdays (various) AZ/88: Josh One (rare groove, urban funk) Bar Smith: Splash Thursday (reggae, dancehall, Top 40, house) Blue Martini: Rewind Thursday with DJ Mendez (various) Bobby Q’s: All-Star Thursdays (hip-hop, Top 40) Chilly Bombers: DJ Medik (Top 40, rock, old school) Cream Stereo Lounge: Bongo…
This week’s feature is on the very first recorded music made by someone from the state of Arizona. The music of Billie Maxwell and her family comes from eastern Arizona’s White Mountains and was put on wax in the late 1920s. Maxwell wasn’t only the first Arizonan to record music, but she…
The Grammy Awards committee has decided to eliminate 31 award categories. Apparently, 109 categories was finally thought to be a little excessive, according to Prefix.Not only have the categories been narrowed down, but some of them have also been combined. It’s very likely that this will lead to artists being…
Song: Toby Keith, “Stays In Mexico”Context: Hard to believe Country Thunder 2011 is already here. The festivities in Florence kick off tomorrow and continue through Sunday, when Toby Keith comes through. Toby Keith – Stays In Mexico by dawn.dewdrop…
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 Bright Eyes singer Conor Oberst diss Lady Gaga’s concert in Arizona? What are Phoenix’s…
The electro-house sensation known as Wolfgang Gartner stopped by The Marquee Theatre last Saturday for a non-stop party that lasted nearly two hours. Ladies in neon bikinis and fishnets were among the dancing masses. Check out this week’s Club Candids for a glimpse of the mischief…
Last month Pitchfork broke news that hardcore punk super-group OFF! were facing charges in Arizona for the alleged theft of vegetable oil from an unidentified restaurant in the state. The band’s eco-friendly tour van runs on vegetable waste, and the band were set to stand trial today for allegedly taking…
First came word that Exene Cervenka was unable to play Yucca Tap Room this weekend, now comes news that support acts Kevin Seconds and Flathead, who were scheduled to play despite Cervenka’s cancellation, are also dropping off the bill. So what’s that mean for a roots-rock loving beer drinker looking…
Boasting a collection of over 8,000 45’s, you never know exactly what Sir Smeezy, AKA DJ Smite is going to bring out for his Hot Plate night ever first Tuesday at The Lost Leaf. The man’s vast collection spans genres from funk, salsa, punk and gospel, and all are fair…
When I was growing up, my parents always told me that it’s impossible to please everybody. Boy, were they right. Unfortunately it’s impossible to please all of our readers, which means we occasionally receive some emails or comments that are really out there. I knew what I was getting into…
At the risk of getting the reputation as that guy who keeps claiming to genuinely like deeply un-hip music, I really dig the first couple Chicago albums. The band’s fusion of jazz, classical, soul, and rock & roll was very indicative of their time, the late ’60s, when rock music…
In the same spot where Drift brought a Polynesian sheen to Old Town, new club Spanish Fly Mexican Beach Club is set to attract club-goers with a different vibe. Out are the tikis and grass huts, and in their place Spanish Fly sports chic couches, cabanas and, oh yeah, that…
Chandler’s Arizona Railway Museum is apparently not equipped to handle the Railroad Revival Tour that will bring Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show to town this month.So the show has been moved to Tempe instead, according to Hayley Ringle of The Arizona Republic.The…
Are you going to Coachella?Woooooo! Awesome!Now shut up about it — at least if you’re talking to Up On The Sun’s cartoonist Robbie Pfeffer.Robbie is sick of hearing about how awesome the music festival in Indio, California is going to be, as shown with this week’s installment of his comic…
Kinch — the local band who is not waiting for Guffman any more — has been tapped by internationally known platinum-selling recording artists successful local band Jimmy Eat World to open a slate of dates on an upcoming tour of Western states.Jimmy Eat World will be touring Idaho, Utah, Portland,…
Song: The Flaming Lips with Neon Indian, “Is David Bowie Dying?”Context: The Flaming Lips are reportedly planning a Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots musical. It could be cool, but it could also suck. This song is to remind everyone that not everything the group does is both weird and awesome…..
Wayne Coyne and his psychedelic gang tend to go about doing things very differently from any other band. They’ve made posters for their shows with their own blood and they’ve recorded a song that has 12 parts that must be played on separate devices simultaneously. Well, they’re back at it…
2011 will mark the first time the Warped Tour will play the newly, rather unfortunately named Ashley HomeStore Pavilion. For those keeping track, that’s the Vans Warped Tour 2011 at Ashley HomeStore Pavilion. As well, the tour rolls through Phoenix in early August and will take place, most likely, atop…
Akron/FamilyRhythm RoomMonday April 4, 2011Akron/Family is not from Akron, Ohio.I just wanted to clear that up right up top since I am, in fact, from Akron, Ohio while the proggy/jammy/folky/experimental indie band that awed a crowd at Rhythm Room is from Brooklyn/Portland/an energy vortex near the North American continental pole…
It’s up to indie rock duo The Kills to kick things of with a bang, and bang they do on their latest album Blood Pressures. Back from her stint with The Dead Weather, Alison Mosshart once again teams up with Jamie “Hotel” Hince for 11 tracks of dingy, garage rock…
