As far as I know, my review of Miniature Tigers’ new record Fortress is the first professional piece printed on the formerly-of-Phoenix band’s sophomore effort.I would have waited a few weeks to run it, actually, but for the fact that singer Charlie Brand is playing a solo acoustic show at…
The name The Wailers conjures our best thoughts about reggae. As well it should: Not only was Bob Marley in the group, it also served as springboard for the arguably equal Peter Tosh.So, yeah, the Wailers name is strong enough to tour on 30 years after Marley’s death. The Original…
I’m not generally a fan of angular haircuts or leering, dramatic promo photos, but in the case of a band like Portland-via-Omaha-via-Saint Joseph band The Prids, it’s easy to push at that superficial stuff to the side and just focus on the goods: smart, guitar-driven pop music, with sexy boy-girl…
As the unofficial yacht-rock go-to guy at New Times, it was incumbent on me to attend the Doobie Brothers and Chicago show Tuesday night at Dodge Theatre.So I did my duty, despite the fact that I saw the Doobies play Tempe on New Years Eve (nobody needs to hear “China…
Guess who’s playing Rhythm Room tonight?!No, no…it’s not Justin Bieber. That’s Chase Coy, a guy whose music people who aren’t 16-year-old girls might like. Although the girls are probably still going crazy over Coy, as well.The 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Greenwood, Ind. sounds older than his years, playing acoustic guitar-driven music…
This is part of a series of reviews of bands who play weekly at local bars. The show: Nineball at CK’s Tavern and Grill.The look: Middle class sports bar.The smell: Tank tops and testosterone.The taste: Fried food.Three words/phrases to describe the night: Thoughtfully casual, flip-flops, straightened hair.Who to bring with…
Now some of you may say, “Slow down, friend, Loggins’ music knows no generational bounds.” To that I say yes. I am a huge Loggins fan myself and I just so happen to younger than 30. His November show at the Celebrity Theatre will reflect this phenomenon — fans who…
Ever see that movie Heavy Metal Parking Lot? It’s a good flick, but Juggalo Parking Lot would put it to shame.Why no one has made a serious documentary about Insane Clown Posse fans baffles me. The hooting and hollering, the facepaint, the cheap soda, the bullshit allegations of gang membership…
Since he was here, like, three months ago, and since we ran a big ol’ piece on him last time, New Times has sorta skimped on the coverage of the David Bazan show at Martini Ranch Sunday.That fact should in no way suggest you should skip the show. You shouldn’t…
I have to admit, I wasn’t really expecting much from 50 Cent’s show last night. Maybe it’s unfair to Fiddy, but the last few mainstream rap shows I’ve attended have led me to believe that commercial rap stars have at least one annoying trait in common with Los Angeles Dodgers…
Loren Dircks has been a fixture in Tucson’s music scene for more than two decades, first as a founding member of “country metal” stalwarts Gila Bend and currently as a solo performer and frequent collaborator with fellow Tucsonan Al Perry. Dircks recently attained a degree of notoriety thanks to the…
Miike Snow at The Clubhouse Miike Snow which is currently on tour in support of its self-titled debut album showed up Saturday night at a sold-out Clubhouse in Tempe. While the temperatures outside the Clubhouse were pretty bad it was nothing compared to the heat inside. Amazingly, the members of…
It seems like the ticket to quick success for a band these days is either getting your song on an iPod commercial or on a popular television show. The latter seems to have been the case for Swedish electro-pop outfit Miike Snow. Of course they didn’t just get their song…
This is part of a series of reviews on weekly events at local bars. Having lived in the Valley my whole life, I only recently realized that tons of bars offer weekly events featuring bands that are staples of the music community. The shows are nearly always free, and the…
This is part of a series of reviews on weekly events at local bars. Having lived in the Valley my whole life, I only recently realized that tons of bars offer weekly events featuring bands that are staples of the music community. The shows are nearly always free, and the…
But I digress. MC Hammer may have been too legit to quit in 1991, but the man is not too legit to play Fort McDowell Casino this July. He, along with KISS, Ted Nugent, Lil’ Kim, The Game and Ricky Skaggs round out a colorful week of show announcements.Oh, and…
Brian Wilson’s last few high-profile tours have tended to be been big, classy affairs. You know, Pet Sounds in its entirety with a symphony at the Hollywood Bowl — that sort of thing. Those shows promote the image so many of us like to have of the semi-retired genius: tanned…
When one thinks of Japanese punk, exotic locales like the hard-hitting streets of Osaka come to mind. Well think again, gaijin. Turns out the Valley’s got its own J-punk band called Toybox and they’re releasing a brand-spankin’ new album called Stay Alive tomorrow at Big Fish Pub…
Just when we thought that the only things to come out of the Garden State over the last few years were the Jersey Shore brats and corrupt politicians, DJ Italian Sensation goes and proves us wrong. The Newark native certainly knows his way around a pair of turntables, as evidenced…
Some big name bands are boycotting Arizona over SB 1070? Who needs ’em when you’ve got such big name acts as Toby Keith, Southern Culture on the Skids and, um, Wang Chung coming to town! Dammit, Arizona is screwed.While it’s nice that some bands still decide to play Arizona in spite…
The Big Event Clad in too many bracelets and sucking on pacifiers, raver chicas and chicos hit Firebird International Raceway on Friday, May 23, for some dance action courtesy of The Big Event. Check out all the beats and bass in these photos. Minus The Bear at Marquee Theatre To…
To be totally honest, I sorta figured the Suns playoff game and the Lost finale would upstage Minus The Bear’s Sunday night concert at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe. I mean, Sunday shows are sort of dicey proposition to begin with, let alone when there’s such stiff competition. Also, harsh…
