Around the back of Tempe’s Cartel Coffee Lab, just after 8 one night, the members of Chandler’s Draa sit in a perfectly lined formation along the farthest perimeter of the alley, looking like they just got shot down by their prom dates. That wouldn’t seem too farfetched considering the fact…
It’s hard not to think HEALTH is more mechanized than Kraftwerk ever could have dreamed. The Los Angeles quartet teethed itself on the abrasive thrash of New York noise rock bands but committed to harmonic balance with trademark melodic synth licks and singer Jake Duzsik’s distant, unaffected voice. With a…
The last band with pure exuberance and panache to hit the scene and remind everyone what rock and roll was about in the first place—raw edge and rebellion with a don’t give a shit attitude—was The Strokes. Now, The Struts invade the U.S., blending hard rock’s stomp, glam’s over the…
If Tool fans were upset by some of the statements Maynard James Keenan made in our cover story this week, they didn’t show it last weekend. Somewhere between 25,000 and 30,000 people packed into Tempe Beach Park Saturday night to hear Tool play its only concert of 2015. The fans ate…
Over the past century, no one musical style has entranced multiple cultures of fans quite like bossa nova. Influenced by the swing of American jazz and saunter of Brazilian Samba, the music has entranced fans worldwide with its seductive syncopation. And since the ground-swell of bossa nova began to take…
This week marked the 15-year anniversary of Linkin Park’s debut Hybrid Theory, which went on to sell more than 10 million records and changed the rap-rock game forever. Despite the record’s worldwide success, creating the record proved to be a challenge. New Times caught up with lead singer Chester Bennington…
People flee from the east coast to escape the gloomy seasons. Guitarist Cleo Tucker and bassist Harmony Tividad, the duo who make up the indie punk band Girlpool, left the perennially sunny streets of southern California to experience the unpredictable weather patterns of Philadelphia. It was a bold move when…
After we posted our story on Puscifer frontman and Arizona resident Maynard James Keenan Tuesday morning, it went viral. More than 20 blogs from all over the world, including, bizarrely, a K-pop website, wrote posts about a comment Keenan made, which many interpreted as disparaging Tool and its fans. In…
Actor Jeff Daniels is omnipresent right now, appearing in the sci-fi blockbuster The Martian as well as the biopic Steve Jobs. Dumb and Dumber To lingers in some second-run movie houses. When not fielding calls from his agent or conducting interviews about said films, Daniels can be found on stage…
Our story about the new Puscifer album took over the Internet yesterday, going so viral that yesterday evening it was trending on Facebook. While the story discusses Keenan’s relationship to wine, Puscifer, and Tool, many interpreted a comment he made about Tool fans to be inflammatory. “It’s lost. Insufferable people . …
The most legendary heavy metal band out there is coming to Phoenix next year. The band announced today that it would extend its 2016 tour into Phoenix. The tour finale is scheduled to take place on September 16 at Ak-Chin Pavilion. It’s not just the tour finale. If you believe…
No, Maynard James Keenan doesn’t want to talk about the next Tool album. Keenan is a bona fide rock star. He’s as undisputed as Floyd Mayweather. But that’s not to say he’s a diva. He arrives at a photo shoot at Four Eight Wineworks in Clarkdale 10 minutes early, pushing…
Urbane Manner A sinister sideshow spectacle awaits those who attend the Dead Carnival Block Party on Friday, October 30, at this Scottsdale spot, as does an enormous array of DJs, producers, and EDM artists that are scheduled to perform at the event. The lineup will include gigs by co-headliners Ookay,…
We present to you our concert picks for the week. Check out our comprehensive Phoenix concert calendar for more options. William Fitzsimmons – Monday, October 26 – Crescent Ballroom From the time we are thrust into the world and make an attempt to find our place in it, we have…
A good rule of thumb for music writers is to avoid referencing one band to describe the one you are writing about. The Brooklyn trio Sunflower Bean makes it easy to break that rule. They have a song titled “Tame Impala,” which they admit is meant a reference to the…
While we are close now, during my ’80s teenage years, my mom and I were not the mother/daughter to share soul-baring truths, whisper secrets, and confide in each other. We did not talk about boys or sex or much that felt real to me. Beyond her disapproval of my bulging…
Promoter Lucky Man Concerts has canceled the Friday, October 30, date of the upcoming Monster Mash festival, which featured Santana, John Fogerty, and Tedeschi Trucks Band as headliners. Refunds are available at point of purchase. The Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, concert dates will continue as planned. Tool,…
Not all dudes with acoustic guitars are created equal — just ask Frank Turner. Ever since rising from the ashes of post-hardcore outfit Million Dead, Turner has enjoyed a successful solo career spanning six studio albums, including the recent Positive Songs for Negative People. The English singer-songwriter has bounced all…
When the Salt River Project dammed the reservoir that would become Apache Lake, it probably didn’t predict the area would become host to one of the most unique music festivals in Arizona. While the Grand Canyon State is home to many giant rock and EDM fests, like Viva PHX and…
Chaz Budnick, better known in music circles as Toro y Moi, just released the upbeat funk-rock hybrid album What For? in April, but it’s the experimental turns he takes in his self-released mixtape Samantha that is getting all the attention from listeners and critics. “The main reason I [released Samantha]…
The music and vocals of renowned R&B, soul, and jazz artists was supposed to fill the air this weekend at Rawhide in Chandler, courtesy of the annual Arizona Jazz Festival. Unfortunately, all there will be is silence as the three-day concert event was unceremoniously cancelled by its promoter. And a…
Eagles of Death Metal – Tuesday, October 20 – Crescent Ballroom Dave Grohl may seem like the clear choice as the contemporary Rock God, but Josh Homme is the poor man’s candidate. Not only does he rule with a mighty strum in Queens of the Stone Age (as well as…
