First Aid Kit – Crescent Ballroom – 5/29/2014

The sold-out audience talked back to sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg in Swedish accents, which caused the siblings, better known collectively as First Aid Kit, to blush and laugh. The duo, who are in their early 20s, stepped onto the stage of the Crescent Ballroom to a crowd that knew…

William Fitzsimmons – Crescent Ballroom – 5/28/2014

If you had never laid eyes on singer-songwriter William Fitzsimmons, you’d never think that his wispy delicate voice came from the body that walked on stage. When he entered. his large tattooed arms carried his guitar while his worn-looking boots stomped across the Crescent Ballroom. He glanced at the audience…

Portraits of Lindsey Stirling Fans

Lindsey Stirling leaped and danced across the stage at The Marquee last night in Tempe. Stirling is known for her unique blend of classical and modern electronic music styles. She plays violin over original dubstep tracks and other remixes. Her live shows are a complete production, equipped with many costume…

Linkin Park – Kino Sports Complex – 5/24/2014

Linkin Park headlined the 2014 edition of Tucson rock station KFMA’s annual radio show on Saturday at Electric Park in Tucson, where the band debuted new material from its forthcoming The Hunting Party record, due out next month, and played a lengthy number of mash-ups and medleys of their back…

Against Me! – Nile Theater – 5/21/2014

Against Me! has a somewhat embattled history. The group started its career as an anarcho-punk band, releasing Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose in 2002 and gaining the respect of punk rock kids in the band’s hometown of Gainesville, Florida, and beyond. But then the band signed to Fat Mike’s…

Black Flag – Pub Rock Live – 5/17/2014

There are reviews you wish would just write themselves. Peek behind the curtain, if you will, and see my struggle. I really wanted to write an über-positive review of the Black Flag show at Pub Rock on Saturday, May 17. I wanted to write that the punk rock fury I…

Nervo – Maya Day and Nightclub – 5/17/2014

Old Town was congested on Saturday night, what I assumed to be a combination of ASU graduation celebrations, the Mario Lopez appearance at International and Nervo’s performance at Maya Day and Nightclub. If you have a ticket or table, getting into Maya usually isn’t a problem. There is a normal…

Eels – Crescent Ballroom – 5/14/2014

Once upon a time, it was a motherfucker. The crowd sat in utter silence, except when prompted to clap or laugh, depending on what the magic man did. And, for all intents and purposes, he was magical. E., the man, the myth, the legend. Mark Oliver Everett (“E” to his…

Ashanti, Ginuwine – Celebrity Theatre – 5/9/2014

The vibe of last night’s Celebrity Theatre concert was certainly “Grown and Sexy” — as the name of the tour suggests. It had handcuffs, leather, hip thrusts, sweaty towels, dozens of roses, and two R&B artists who’ve probably made your bedroom play list in some former life (even if it…

Five Must-See Concerts This Week, 5/12 – 5/15

“School’s out for summer,” sang one of Phoenix’s proudest sons, Alice Cooper. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say that per-capita celebrations of summer are lower here than most places in the country. As Arizona State University students go back from whence they came and the…

Top Five Concerts To See This Weekend, 5/9 – 5/11

There are so many options for concerts this week. Diversity — that’s what Phoenix’s music scene is offering. Like hair metal? Catch Skid Row and Black Star Riders on Friday. Goth DJ nights? We got that, too. Punk? Indie rock? Stoner metal godfathers? Yup; yeah; and yes, please. Check out…

Boys Noize – Monarch Theatre – 5/7/2014

Boys Noize Monarch Theatre May 7, 2014 Wednesday night Boys Noize and L-Vis 1990 headlined at Monarch Theatre, bringing underground house and electro to a relentless crowd. By 11 the third opener, Bijou was wrapping up his set. The local DJ known for playing deep house and Chicago style house…

25 Must-See Metro Phoenix Concerts in May

With the summertime slipping into the Valley like some unwelcome guest that’s gonna wind up hanging around for the next five months (give or take), it would behoove you to start saving up your pennies. Not just to pay the ginormous electric bills you’re likely to accrue with running the…

NEEDTOBREATHE – Marquee Theatre – 5/5/14

NEEDTOBREATHE Marquee Theatre 5/5/14 NEEDTOBREATHE is a band of strong suits — that’s not to say that they don’t know how to put on a lively show (they do), that they can’t play their instruments (they can), or that they can’t draw a crowd (they did). Rather, they’re a band…