The Mars Volta Erase Last Year’s Mistakes

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…

When In AZ: Part Two

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…

When In AZ Series Kicks Off at Modified Arts

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…

Against Me! Proves They’re Punk’s Best Band at Phoenix Show

​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…

WWE Smacks Down the U.S. Airways Center

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…

Dungen Kick Out The Jams In Phoenix

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

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,…

Toby Keith Talks About Him (and the Army) at Cricket

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…

Wayne “The Train” Hancock Will Plow Through The Rhythm Room Sunday

[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…