Let’s start with some context: The Mars Volta came to Phoenix’s Dodge Theater last October and played a show that was, for lack of a better term, lacking. They played for less than an hour and left many people underwhelmed. It’s unfortunate to judge the band to that precedent, but…
Night two of “When In AZ” celebrations continued at Modified on Saturday. Seven local outfits, featured on the locals-covering-locals comp, split the bill. Download cards for the compilation flowed freely, as the charge for admission guaranteed each attendee his own free copy.Highlights included performances from Harcuvar, whose engulfing harmonies were…
Between oddballs hocking light sabers, impenetrable Arizona temperatures and grown men playing accordions shirtless, First Fridays is always a little crazy. Friday was par for the course, with the exception of the release of a massive compilation of local bands covering each other. Modified Arts hosted night one of the…
Poison and Def Leppard at Cricket Wireless Pavilion After drawing some fire for making an unfavorable comparison between Green Day and Poison in my review of last Saturday’s show at U.S. Airways Center, I saw a rare chance to subject one of my statements to some scrutiny this Saturday as…
There are probably some people who’d question the credibility of any punk band playing a show staged by a carmaker, especially if that carmaker didn’t just stake out prime product placement, but actually paid for the whole shebang so it could give tickets only to people who test-drove a new…
After seeing both shows within seven days, the results are in: I feel pretty confident saying that, live, Green Day is the poor man’s Poison. (Read what fans had to say here.) Now, before anyone writes this statement off too easily let me point out that I’m on the record…
Football season is only two weeks away, which means you’re either super excited for, or desperately dreading, Frank Caliendo’s impressions. His Madden (above video) is of course the most famous, but the former MadTV personality certainly has plenty more.If you’d like a closer look at the Tempe native’s career will…
While this will undoubtedly cause a certain amount of disgust to our readership, World Wrestling Entertainment’s visit to the Valley last night had much in common with many of the concerts we’ve reviewed on this blog: blaring rock music, bad makeup jobs, spandex tights, and plenty of pyrotechnics. The U.S…
By Becky Bartkowski The most obvious realization when seeing Dungen at The Rhythm Room: These Swedes can kick out serious jams live. Sitting somewhere between pure-Kinks classic rock riffs, the gentle, beaming soundscapes of Sigur Rós and the most American of jazz quartets, this quartet marries some seemingly disparate ideas…
Green Day Brings Classic Rock Feel To U.S. Airways Show I can’t say for sure that Green Day are the only truly great DIY scene punk act to successfully transform themselves into respected classic rockers, though they’ve got to be on a short list…full story See: Green Day in photos…
a) vaguelyorb) obviously and irredeemably pathetic about a 37-year-old man in skinny black jeans. So, yes, Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong immediately looked a little silly strutting on stage at U.S. Airways Center as the piano-driven opening of “21st Century Breakdown,” the title track to his band’s latest record,…
By Adriane Goetz”We’re not just a band…we’re a social club!”Boots Riley repeated this phrase several times throughout Street Sweeper Social Club’s performance on Thursday night, and while the largely high school aged crowd didn’t seem to grasp the finer points of the political message, it didn’t stop them from cheering…
Suns Dancers Auditions With Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts So you think you can dance (for the Phoenix Suns, that is)? About 200 women from around the Valley thought so when they showed up at the US Airways Center in Phoenix on Saturday morning to audition for the 2009-2010 Suns Dancers…
Though it’s certainly arguable that society needed a self-appointed Director of Jingoistic Activities to rally around eight years ago — and that Toby, though a nominal “Democrat,” filled that role pretty well — his focus on patriotism in the years since has put his real talent in the back of the extended…
Doggass Productions August 28th Promotional Video from Ted Organ on Vimeo.Darkness Dear Boy’s Ted Organ and the guys over at Doggass Productions have put together a fun little video to promote their August 28 edition of the monthly “Best Fucking Live Show,” at Last Exit in Tempe. As always, the show…
In other Meat Puppets news, check out:This feature from Rolling Stone which hails their latest record as their best since Too High To Die, which came out in 1994.This Behind The Music style story on ABC Amplified.Their Daytrotter Session here…
Adult Swim: William Reed’s Birthday Pool-Side at the Wyndham Local DJ William Reed turned 32 this weekend and he did it with style. Sure, there was a cake, but there was also wicked DJ sessions, plenty of hot bods and pool-side dancing. Happy Birthday to you…see photos First Friday: August…
Solstice Saturdays at Bar Smith Some people (usually the ones who complain all the time and are absolutely zero fun to hang out with) are always trying to say there’s no nightlife in Downtown Phoenix. After cruising down to 2nd Avenue and Washington over the weekend to check out Bar…
[jump] He’s been compared to all three Hank Williamses, even recording a live duet of his song “Juke Joint Jumpin'” with Hank Williams The Third: Juke Joint Jumpin’ – Wayne Han… According to his website, Wayne Hancock is a walking musical contradiction: “Steeped in traditional but never ‘retro’; bare bones…
icture this: teen girls in too much makeup channeling new wave goddesses with their overbearing, nacho-chowing mothers, wrinkled women in low-cut, studded halters exhibiting chests long past their perky prime, and grooving chicks with hair too long and pants too high. All once- or to-be punks, plus their counterparts. Ladies…
By Stefan Shepherd Assumed similarities between last night’s Wiggles show at the Dodge Theatre and the Aerosmith show at Cricket Pavilion: – Overpriced parking – Coverage of the greatest hits – Fans that knew the words to every song Assumed differences: – Hair length (advantage: Aerosmith) – Audience age (even…
A funny thing has happened to the recording industry lately. Video games have begun to influence to music sales. Don’t believe me? Consider that the re-release of the entire Beatle Catalogue is scheduled for the exact same day as the release of The Beatles Rock Band, a music simulation game…
