If there’s any sort of credo applicable to the one-two punch of tonight’s First Friday and this weekend’s Art Detour, it would be William Shakespeare’s well-worn aphorism that “all the world’s a stage.” That’s because local musicians, DJs, and bands by the dozens will play in every conceivable setting in…
Welcome to The Grand Tour, a regular feature where PHXmusic.com takes you inside practice spaces, tour vans and seedy apartments occupied by Phoenix-area bands. This week we give you a look inside the industrial strength rehearsal space of The Whisperlights. If you would like your band featured, tweet @PHXmusicdotcom. Think…
British electro musician Matthew Herbert’s latest artistic endeavor involves documenting the life cycle of a pig, and turning those sounds into music.The animal rights organization PETA condemned his efforts, Pitchfork reports, claiming that recording these sounds would mean recording the pig’s life in preparation to be killed, and ultimately recording…
Seriously, I’m about to e-mail Romenesko — the beloved chief of the journalism industry’s unofficial police department — about the Arizona Republic’s music section.When they’re not re-writing band biographies or naming DJs who haven’t lived in Arizona for eight years to their “Valley’s Most Intriguing People” list, they’re advancing their…
Title: A Cold Open, a 7-song EP.Basics: The debut EP from “epic indie rock” act The Other 49 has a sound akin to Explosions In The Sky and is one of the more professional sounding releases I’ve reviewed for You Asked For It. Its pretty standard fare, but at least the…
Satellite radio personality Howard Stern had a little fun with Phoenix pop-punkers The Heartless earlier this week.Lead singer Abe Schmidt and guitarist Jeff Tretta played the song “Just to Be” on Stern’s show to win a $5,000 prize. It wasn’t quite that simple, of course. Stern attached a microphone to…
Dressed in mod 60s garb — men in black suits with skinny pants and ties, women in leggings and polka-dot dresses — equipped with classic-looking instruments and metal vintage microphones, The Love Me Nots look like extras from a spy movie. At first glance, they look like a benign lounge…
Artist: LiarsTitle: SisterworldRelease date: March 9Label: MuteThe liner notes to Liars new album indicates the trio recorded these 11 songs at 11 different locations. Ten spots in the Los Angeles area, the remaining song set to wax in Prague. The concept is kinda contrived, but whatever: They got a good…
The answer to your question: Yes, Mike Watt and his new band, The Missingmen, reached back nearly 30 years to pull out of the musical vault a play a handful of songs by Minutemen, the band that secured Watt’s legend as one of the best bass players in punk rock…
Bonnaroo announced the addition of Ween, Galactic and Umphrey’s McGee, singer/songwriter Brandi Carlisle and The Gossip this morning. Tucson’s Calexico is still the only Arizona band in the four-day Tennessee festival’s full lineup, which can be found below…
While the boys of Hopeless Records-signed Phoenix band Anarbor compete this week for a spot on mtvU’s rotation, they’re also building anticipation for their debut full-length with a new track, “Gypsy Woman,” available for your listening pleasure on their website. The track will be found on the album The Words…
Ke$ha grills Ke$ha on the topic of the Hollywood sign, the Grammys, Ke$ha’s album Animal and some of her favorite artists, among them Bob Dylan, the Beastie Boys and Arizona’s own Alice Cooper. Prepare yourself for the video after the jump…
It seems Yoko Ono is allowing French automaker Citroën to use footage of John Lennon for the purposes of advertising a new “anti-retro” car. Needless to say, there’s a slew of people who are up in arms. The footage is of Lennon discussing the creative process, and nostalgia as a…
Artist: GorillazTitle: Plastic BeachRelease date: March 9Label: Parlophone/VirginThe cartoon band Gorillaz have a new record called Plastic Beach, and it’s pretty darn good. My only previous exposure to the band was the song “Feel Good Inc.,” which I really liked for its Ray Davies-esque chorus and cool bass line. Come…
In November, we wrote about an opulent party house in Chandler called Rasputin’s Equestrian Manor, where partygoers enjoyed an “anything goes” atmosphere. The unlicensed “private club” was operating out of a residential estate, and closed in December amidst accusations from the property owner that organizers of the Manor stiffed her…
This week’s music feature looks at the musical career of the Phoenix music blogger, Dfactor. A frequent contributor of comments to Up On The Sun, he’s also seeking a band to collaborate with.”Current solo artist seeks drummer, bassist, perhaps keyboard player. Must be into early-period Guided by Voices, adore Strummer,…
Glendale’s Independence High School has pulled the plug on this weekend’s Gospel Rap Extravaganza, which DMZ was set to perform at, says TMZ.Apparently a $1 million insurance policy wasn’t enough to allow DMX to lose his mind “Up In [T]here.” The show had been scheduled for Saturday and was hosted…
Kinch is planning to play four new songs during their set at Friday’s release party for the latest Flying Blanket compilation CD.The band goes on early, just before 8 p.m., so arrive at Martini Ranch early if you want to hear the new stuff.”All four new songs are guitar songs,…
Yeah, those “free hugs” campaigns are getting a little annoying, but you can’t help but feel the love when looking at the flier for Tempe band Kirkwood Dellinger’s CD release party this Saturday, March 6 at Yucca Tap Room. The message is definitely a loving one.The three-and-a-half-year-old band translates the…
Lil Wayne ain’t even in jail yet — his one year sentence has been postponed for a third time — but it’s definitely not too early to order your “Free Weezy” shirts.There’s an insane amount of “Free Weezy” merchandise out there, of course. With Mr. Carter likely headed to Arizona…
THURSDAY 4 27th Avenue Bar: Ladies Night with DJ Moy, & DJ Jared Paul (Top 40, hip-hop, Latin) AZ88: Mr. P-Body & Friends (classic and old-school grooves) Bikini Lounge: DJ Shane Kennedy (jazz, blues, country, R&B, rarities) Bobby Q’s: All-Star Thursdays (hip-hop, Top 40) Bomberos: Rani G., dk.strickler, Deon Pearson,…
The Valley’s nattiest garage-revival foursome has a pimpin’ little spring lined up for theyselves. After a smattering of local shows this month, the Nots are off to Spain, where they will spend the better part of April assaulting the Iberian peninsula with their incendiary brand of lusty, keyboard-drenched go-go rock…
