Few DJs in the Valley pimp themselves as hard as Tranzit. Every time the award-winning house mixmaster has an event to promote, my cell phone, Facebook, and e-mail seem to blow up with announcements aplenty from the dude. This week was no exception, as the 29-year-old has been promoting tonight’s…
Looks like Stephen Steinbrink has decided to “get the band back together.” May 17 marks the release date of It’s Not Just Kissing and marks the full-length return of French Quarter, the “band name” under which Steinbrink recorded and toured for several years. Steinbrink, aided in concert by Chase Kamp, Preston…
This week, New Times ran a box 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. What do music editor Martin Cizmar and local promoter Stephen Chilton think is going to happen…
So if you haven’t listened to the new Dead Weather album Sea of Cowards yet, it’s pretty freggin’ awesome. But did you know that Jack White is a fan of none other than Lady Gaga? According to a blog written by wenn.com, White tried to channel the pop star on…
No one in Scottsdale was safe Friday night when WOW the Party took over Martini Ranch with three rooms of dancing and more than a dozen DJs. Check out the slideshow…
American Idol is really cracking me up lately.From the contestants’ cheesy head turn in the intro to the usage of Jamie Foxx, the king of Auto-Tune, as mentor, it’s clear this show is not about finding the best singer in America. It’s more about making even the most non-savvy music…
I love the new Hooves EP, Greater Aspirations, Lowered Expectations. Like, a lot. The Phoenix Rock and Roll Band (they seriously defy any genrefication beyond that), which is the subject of this week’s music feature in print, really, really outdid themselves. I won’t write any more about them — you…
Song: Urge Overkill/Gwen Stefani Mashup, “Hollaback Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon”Context: Happy birthday, Ving Rhames. Hollaback Girl, You’ll be a Woman Soon – GLORYHOLE VS. REMIX…
It’s always lovely to see local radio stations supporting local bands. Radio Phoenix always makes an effort, but this week in particular they’re spinning our local kids more than a little. Though MGMT’s record won’t be gotten over any time soon, Gospel Claws, Dakota Jeane, Harlem (originating from Tucson,) and…
Artist: The Dead WeatherTitle: Sea of CowardsRelease date: May 11Label: Third ManI’ve read more than a couple of references to The Dead Weather as Jack White’s third-best band. Hmm. Really? Granted, I’ve heard only bits and pieces of The Dead Weather’s debut record, Horehound, and White’s other side project (and,…
[jump] There has been a massive amount of hype placed on Sleigh Bells — a duo comprising Derek Miller (of Poison the Well fame) and Alexis Krauss — and Treats damn-near solidifies all of it. The band’s early demos had many (myself included) foaming at the mouth for new material…
As May starts to heat up here in the Valley, the new releases are following suit. Brooklyn rockers The National release their fifth album today, High Violet, to very lofty acclaim.Anything the band lays down these days seems to turn to gold. The National has indie rock by the balls,…
It’s finals week at Arizona State University, which means The State Press, the school’s student newspaper, is printing articles that appear to be term papers. Like, for example, this monster 1,800-word profile of Stinkweeds Records owner, former Modified owner, and all-around Phoenix indie booster/mascot Kimber Lanning.The piece is really, really…
This week marks 40 years since the release of Let It Be, the 12th and final studio album produced by The Beatles. A lot has happened in almost a half-century, but the music of the Fab Four is standing the test of time and John, Paul, George and Ringo are…
Song: Cypress Hill and Tom Morello, “Rise Up”Context: Cypress Hill becomes the latest group to punish Arizona for SB 1070. Cypress Hill feat. Tom Morello – Rise Up…
According to one of our favorite British music blogs, NME, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher have bought the rights to a graphic novel, titled Paul is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion. The book depicts the Beatles as zombies.The plot line roughly revolves around John Lennon killing the other three of…
Artist: The NationalTitle: High VioletRelease date: May 11Label: 4ADIf The Hold Steady’s Heaven Is Whenever is destined to be the party album of the summer, then The National’s new record, High Violet, is destined to be the party-is-over record of the summer. In fact, I couldn’t blame you if you decided…
Sorry, folks: There will be no hits from the bong in Tucson. Latino rappers Cypress Hill posted an announcement on their website saying they will cancel an upcoming show at Tucson’s Rialto Theatre because of the law, which requires Arizona law enforcement officers to ask suspected illegal immigrants for documentation.The…
Merle Haggard at Mesa Arts Center Merle Haggard’s Sunday show at Mesa Arts Center demonstrated the old outlaw to be an outlier. The California native didn’t play a long set — just a little over an hour, actually — but he looked and sounded great, despite songs like “Tonight, The…
I did not wake up this morning feeling like P. Diddy. No sir — but then I saw this video of Ke$ha (pronounced “Kay dollar sign ha”) claiming that she doesn’t use autotune, and I totally felt like P. Diddy. I am convinced that this Ke$ha person is now just…
Welcome to 21 Questions, a regular feature where PHXmusic.com goes to the favorite hangout of a notable Phoenix scene-maker/shaker and asks the “big” questions. This week we met up with concert promoter Jeremiah Gratza at La Grande Orange in Arcadia. Name: Jeremiah GratzaAge: 28Occupation: Director of Operations for Stateside Presents,…
Song: Hooves, “Giggles”Context: Editing this week’s feature story on the band. Their EP is pretty solid overall, but this song is by far the best. Really a nice piece of rock songwriting. Actually, it’s probably the best song I’ve heard from a Phoenix band yet this year. Hooves – Giggles…
