I’m throwing myself under the bus here, but I’m going to do this anyway. These are my Chuck Taylor All Star tennis shoes. As of yesterday, my retired Chucks. They used to be black and white, but now they’ve got this brown hue — and holes to boot. I don’t…
Despite their tongue-in-cheek moniker, there’s nothing truly controversial about Good Old War. It would be tough to argue the negative sides of singable indie folk, after all. The Philadelphia-based trio makes pretty music. It’s accessible. They’re not looking to be the next hipster fad, but to have approachable melodies that…
Cults Rhythm Room Monday, March 19, 2012 Better Than: Sweating buckets or inhaling copious amounts of secondhand smoke at previous Cults shows. Being “Internet famous” can come as a mixed blessing, but Cults has now played three sold out Arizona shows thanks to hype from the blogosphere. The band’s career…
This poster by Nakatomi caused the kid behind me to say: “Dad, I want the giant squid poster. Now.” See also: The Worst Moments from SXSW 2012 By Nick Rallo Flatstock is a dangerous place to be with a credit card. This year, Flatstock 33 (presented by the American Poster…
Flogging Molly at Tempe Beach Park Owwwww… St. Patrick’s Day is the one day a year where we confuse the warm fuzzies we have for our fellow man for outright hostility. It’s also the one day a year we get to punish our bodies for being Irish. At least that’s…
You were a little flat at the end of your performance of “Happy Birthday” there, Wolf ViolinistThe last few days, Village Voice Media’s indefatigable music staff has been regaling you with stories of the best from SXSW 2012. In the midst of these discoveries, we’ve been culling another list: the…
Flogging Molly Tempe Beach Park Saturday, March 17, 2012 Owwwww… St. Patrick’s Day is the one day a year where we confuse the warm fuzzies we have for our fellow man for outright hostility. It’s also the one day a year we get to punish our bodies for being Irish…
Nick RalloJustin Townes Earle at Stubb’s BBQSo, we come to it: the end of all things. Four days of madness, Doritos, Skrillex and finally, St. Patrick’s Day. Before we bid SXSW 2012 farewell, allow us to share our favorite moments from SXSW day four. Later, we’ll let you know which…
The Ataris Yucca Tap Room Friday, March 16, 2012 Kris Roe’s had a few near-death experiences in Arizona, but he now calls the state home. The rest of the band relocated to Tempe in July and played its first official “local” show last night. Roe has played a couple solo…
Marco Torres50 Cent and Eminem at the Austin Music Hall. More photos below.If you’re familiar with chaos theory, which in its basic form is the attempt to find patterns in the random acts of shit on Earth, then you may understand the difficulty that comes with describing a full day…
Caspa School of Rock Thursday, March 15, 2012 UK DJ Caspa likes to brag that he’s the “dopest ghost in town,” and while plenty of folks were across town checking out a couple of other pale, English gents, he proudly shredded speakers in downtown Tempe and lived up to his…
Photos Courtesy of SXSW Editor’s note: We’re happy to bring you a special guest post by Houston Press/Rocks Off blogger Craig Hlavaty, who’s hanging tough at SXSW. Bruce Springsteen’s Thursday started with a keynote speech in one of the big ballrooms at the Austin Convention Center, and ended with a…
RadioheadJobing.com ArenaThursday, March 15See the full Radiohead slideshow here.Last week I made it public knowledge that I’m not a Radiohead fan. Call me crazy, but the songs of the critically adored, legendary art rockers just don’t speak to me. The sounds are distant and obtuse, and what can I say?…
Nick RalloOh nothing, just a guy in a wolf mask playing “Happy Birthday” on the violinIf you’re familiar with chaos theory, which in its basic form is the attempt to find patterns in the random acts of shit on Earth, then you may understand the difficulty that comes with describing…
Is it just me, or has it been a crazy week? Between all the SXSW craziness (I’m not there, but the sheer amount of reading I’ve done from people who are feels staggering), the sorta-but-not-really surprise closure of The Clubhouse in Tempe, and trying to stay on top of everything…
Nick RalloSharon Van Etten, at the NPR showcase, was a stunner. Plus, there was a box accordionIf you’re familiar with chaos theory, which in its basic form is the attempt to find patterns in the random acts of shit on Earth, then you may understand the difficulty that comes with…
See also: Paul Collins and Peter Case on the First Time They Heard the Ramones and The State of Power Pop Peter Case and Paul Collins Rhythm Room Tuesday, March 13 “I’m playing on the streets everyday…I lose my voice, get sunburned, my fingers bleed, and I never make much…
See also: Breaking News: Clubhouse Music Venue Closes Down Love ’em or hate ’em, Apple commercials have power — just ask The Ting Tings. The British duo has a 2008 iPod commercial to thank for making them popular here in the States, after silhouettes on a colorful background boogied to…
The last time I saw Dread Zeppelin — the band that performs Led Zeppelin songs in a reggae style sung by a 300 pound Las Vegas Elvis impersonation — was at an all-day Reggae on the Rocks concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver. This was in the early 1990s,…
Willie Nelson and Family Comerica Theatre Monday, March 12 See the full Willie Nelson slideshow here. It was a quarter after eight when the Red-Headed Stranger took the stage at Comerica Theatre last night. He hadn’t even played a note, but he crowd of retirees stood in applause beside younger…
Clubhouse Music Venue Owner Arrested Tempe Police Department dropped a major bombshell today when it announced the arrest of Eugenia L. Ruven, the owner of the Clubhouse Music Venue. As we reported earlier this afternoon, the 44-year-old (who also owns the adjacent Horse & Hound Sports Grill) was cited and…
Marco Torres”What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area.” — Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive You don’t have to spend much time at South By Southwest to know that all…
