Go to see a few country legends in concert and you begin to notice a strong correlation between the number of drinkin’ songs in those artists’ catalogs and the condition of the specimens on stage. George “No Show” Jones, for example, looked about how you’d expect a man who first…
Local metal band American Gods has a thing for hamsters. That’s right–hamsters. The group has a song called “Hamster Stomp” on their current album, Ec-10, but don’t think the group is serious about crushing those cute little furry animals–a bad-arse pic of one of the rodents graces the album cover…
The details of this year’s Arizona Fall Frenzy were revealed last week, showcasing an impressive lineup for the event’s second year. Devo, Stone Temple Pilots, The Cult, Primus and Weezer round out a variegated lineup that shows much more promise than 2009’s version. Fall Frenzy helps lead the way for…
Even if you’re not a regular listener of NPR’s afternoon program All Things Considered, you may want to have a look at this. Found by Fishbowl LA and reprinted by our sister paper, the LA Weekly’s music blog West Coast Sound, it seems that some young people on NPR’s staff…
Artist: ShapiroTitle: ShapiroRelease date: Spring 2010Label: DweebMy editor, Martin Cizmar, has a theory: If Jerry Lee Lewis had not nailed his 13-year-old cousin in 1958 (which, of course, pretty much destroyed his burgeoning career in the United States), rock music today would be primarily a piano-driven discipline rather than a guitar-driven…
Digital Summer has been on a major roll lately. Their latest album (Counting the Hours) is about to drop, the single “Run Away” is seemingly being played hourly on KUPD, and lead singer Kyle Winterstein claims the band is about sign a contract with In De Goot Entertainment (the company…
There have been quite a few celebrities who have come out against SB 1070 recently. Ricky Martin, Shakira and, of course, Rev. Al Sharpton. The involvement of these people make sense given their ethnic and political backgrounds. How Damian Abraham, a.k.a. Pink Eyes, the frontman of Toronto hardcore outfit Fucked…
Phoenix MC Mav has been a fixture in the local hip-hop scene for the better part of the past decade, both as a solo performer and as a member of the on-again-off-again collective Sol Camp.Mav’s latest album, Independent Hustlin, was released on March 30 and features numerous collaborations with both…
It’s been a week since we asked Arizonans angry about SB 1070 — the law that essentially mandates law enforcement agents racially profile Hispanics and requires those Hispanics to prove their citizenship or risk deportation — to send us their protest songs.The response has been amazing. We’ve already recieved tracks…
Song: Kinch UK’s “Bad Dreams”Context: If you’ve ever Googled Phoenix indie band Kinch you’ve probably come across information about the British group of the same name, which called it quits back in January. Ever bothered to listen to The Other Kinch? They’re not bad, actually. I’m sure most locals are…
Band: Pride of the GarageTitle: Young Man’s GameBasics: Pride of the Garage is 46-year-old Dan Miles, a self-labeled procrastinator. What’s better than procrastination when it comes to releasing an album? I don’t know. Perhaps self-mutilation? That’s what it feels like to listen to the 10-song Young Man’s Game — a…
AKA: Casper…That Funky DJ Current club nights: Currently a resident DJ for Relentless Beats You can catch me at Cream Stereo Lounge on Giant Wednesdays and their one of parties. Thursday nights at Incognito for Beat Freq. I also have regular guest appearances at a variety of clubs through out…
So, you’re totally sick of Lady Gaga, and if you hear her version of “Telephone” one more time…Relax. Now you can still listen to what could be the catchiest pop song of 2010 without it coming from a Christina Aguilera-sound-a-like. That’s right, Britney fans–Ms. Spears’ version of the hit, which…
Every single one of these preening peacocks is hungry to be noticed or photographed, eager to grab onto to their 15 minutes of fame. So, yeah, there are a number of reality show casting calls staged every year in the ‘Dale. That includes the folks behind the ultra-popular sexploitation video…
While some of our writers are fans of Owl City, others are clearly not.Idolator reports that Owl City’s frontman Adam Young has started a side project titled Sky Sailing with an album due out on July 13. And guess what? People are already calling it “Owl City Unplugged.”If you just…
Artist: Gogol BordelloTitle: Trans-Continental HustleRelease date: April 27Label: AmericanHow many of you have listened to someone tell you, “Aw, you just gotta see ’em live to appreciate them”? I know I’ve said that before. And I think I’ve heard more than one person say it in regard to Gogol Bordello,…
This week’s music feature is a cold, hard look at why your cocktail waitress hates you, written from the perspective of a drink-slinging, cork-topped tray carrying, waitress.Martin Cizmar does an interview with none other than country music legend Merle Haggard where he asks him about SB 1070.Plus we’ve got show…
Former Phoenician Ryan Breen, a.k.a. Back Ted N-Ted, just finished a world tour with Imogen Heap, who is probably best known for singing “Hide and Seek,” the haunting song sampled on Jason DeRulo’s smash “Whatcha Say.”As the house producer for Modern Arts Records he moved to NYC with the rest…
It’s been a tumultuous year for Phoenix-area venues. Kicking off with Modified Arts’ move from indie rock venue to straight-up gallery, things have been shifting and sliding and opening and closing like gangbusters.Downtown all-ages venue Phix is the latest casualty, with Scottsdale’s Chyro Arts following in a matter of days…
Song: Megadeth’s Youthanasia (Condensed)Context: That video of W.A.S.P’s Chris Holmes drinking vodka in a pool makes me crave some metal. What fits the bill better than an album’s worth of searing Dave Mustaine riffs, condensed into seven minutes, with no Dave Mustaine vocals? …
The Surfside IV look like they’re ready for battle in this flier promoting their show tonight, May 6 at the Desert Botanical Garden. The fab foursome are veterans in the local music scene, rocking out since 2002 and looking like hip cats while doing so.Their show tonight is part of…
My name is Sarah and I am a cocktail waitress. For two years, I’ve been slinging drinks at a popular Phoenix music venue/bar that shall remain nameless. Armed with only a cork-topped plastic tray, I encounter the best and worst people on Earth. Every night. I’ve seen people who are…
