Candye Kane and Skip Heller: Fracas Among the Cactus

Candye Kane is a flamboyant, unabashed, over-the-top blues singer with bright costumes and a vibrant, extroverted personality.She’s well known among her fans not only for her voice, but also for her style. They love going to her shows for all sorts of different reasons, but they’ll all tell you that…

Tempe Apartment Complex Plans Huge Indie Music Fest to Promote Itself

Remember the good ol’ days, when area indie rock festivals were “Presented by Such-and-Such” or “The Such-and-Such Company’s Festival/Throwdown/Party/Show”?That’s apparently old and busted. The new hotness? Suitefest: Presented by Campus Suites.How’s that for branding, marketing majors?I won’t pretend to understand much about Tempe’s Campus Suites student-oriented housing. I imagine it…

16 Second Stare Head to Marquee Theatre

Hard rock/metal band 16 Second Stare just released a new record and are out on tour in support of it. The new album is way heavier than their debut, and the band promises to pack the punches live and in person. Guitarist and singer Angry Tim just got out of…

Black Eyed Peas at Jobing.com Arena

It’s hard to believe that the Black Eyed Peas who performed last night at Jobing.com Arena once started out as a little known hip-hop group out of Los Angeles.A lot has changed since the band released their first album Behind the Front back in 1998. The addition of Stacy Ferguson,…

Tom Green Gets Existential at the Tempe Improv

For those used to the Tom Green who puts his bum on things, orders naked statues for his parents’ front lawn and sings about his testicular cancer, his show at the Tempe Improv Friday, March 26 was no disappointment.But the original jackass (who hosted a robot walk earlier this week)…

Never Shout Never on The AP Tour at Marquee Theatre

One of the most disturbing moments in recent concert history came last night at the AP Tour at Marquee Theatre.Local boys The Summer Set asked the crowd how many ladies were sluts. The vast majority of the crowd cheered.The average age of these enthusiastic “sluts?” Probably about 15.So, yeah, just…

Miniature Tigers and The Morning Benders at Rhythm Room

It was difficult to tell who the crowd at the Rhythm Room were more interested in seeing last night, the opener or the headliner. Sure, the Berkeley based indie-pop outfit The Morning Benders had the top billing for the show, but this is Phoenix and the opener was Miniature Tigers.The…

Ray Davies at Dodge Theatre

Somehow Ray Davies, and his music, flew under the radar for a few too many.Sure, there was a decent crowd at the Dodge Theatre to see the former Kinks frontman play last night, but not nearly as many as one may expect for a rock legend on this level.Sadly, a…

Kerretta at The Underground

As we’ve all observed, and discussed, one of the benefits of living in Phoenix is our proximity to other cities and music festivals.Now that SXSW has officially come to a close, bands are making their way back home while playing a few gigs on the way. Not many have as…

Titus Andronicus at Chyro Arts

Scottsdale’s Chyro Arts doesn’t have many concerts to go, which is really a shame. As shoegazey New Jersey punks Titus Andronicus noted in their own way the sometimes music venue/sometimes theater has a distinct vibe.”We want you to feel free to sit on the couches while we play,” said singer…

New Zealand Prog-Metal Molten-Core Rockers Hit the Valley

One of the best, and worst, things about living in Phoenix is that we’re a pitstop on the way to and from loads of other more exciting places.Yes, we’re strategically located six hours from LA, four hours from Coachella, and a long day’s drive to Austin’s South By Southwest. While…