What Not To Say To Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke

Almost every slip of paper the publicist for Bloc Party sends out has some mention of how much Kele Okereke doesn’t like interviews. Without fail, the articles in their publicity packet have some bit about how shy the singer is, or how he hates to discuss his personal life, or…

Ours at Martini Ranch

It can’t be easy to forge your own musical identity when every music writer insists on reminding you and everyone else in every article they write about you that you were good friends with Jeff Buckley. And you sound an awful lot like him. And come to think of it,…

Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding This Weekend

It just wouldn’t be Christmas in Arizona without Alice Cooper’s annual event, Christmas Pudding, where the shock rocker turned radio jock assembles local and national talent to raise money for The Solid Rock Center, a Christian center aiming to keep teens out of trouble and teach them about the Way…

AC/DC Delivers The Hits at U.S. Airways Center

You may be wondering: Can a shirtless guy in his mid-50s who dresses in purple velour shorts still rock like he did in 1979? I know I asked myself the same question before AC/DC took the stage Wednesday night at U.S. Airways Center. But now I’m done doubting my aging heroes. Like…

Q&A With The Answer

Question: Who’s the straight ahead rock outfit playing with AC/DC tonight that you’ve never heard of? The Answer.But what’s The Answer? The Answer!hehehehe This foursome from Northern Ireland may not be on our radio charts…yet, but since their creation in 2000 they’ve racked up a few accolades including playing with…

Phooson, Tokio Hotel, Wu Tang Clan and More Over the Weekend

How’s everyone feeling after Phooson? Significantly rocked out? Did you get the chance to stop by First Friday before joining the legions of 15-year-old Fallout Boy fans? No? No worries, we’ve got you covered.  Phooson 2008 Check out our coverage of Katy Perry, Rihanna, Fallout Boy, Tokio Hotel, The Pussycat…

Wu Tang Clan Brings Da Rukus at Marquee Theatre on Dec. 7

The last time I saw Wu Tang Clan was possibly the most disappointing concert-going experience of my life. I was in high school when the boys from Staten Island stopped by Cleveland to open for Rage Against The Machine. It was awful. They were over an hour late — O.D.B. having gotten arrested…

Cheap Trick Live at… Surprise?

It may just be the concert that originated the phrase “Big in Japan,” and it’s coming to Surprise (as in: “Surprise! People live this far west!”) Thursday. Cheap Trick at Budokan, the movie, is showing at Ultrastar Surprise Pointe Cinema (as in: Surprise! We have movie theaters this far west!)…

Deerhunter Impresses Without Gimmicks at Modified on Nov. 29

See more shots of Deerhunter in our slide show.By Michael Brooks CryerWatching Deerhunter’s bassist, Josh Fauver, stare into the audience is like watching Donovan have a dream about bemusement. Of course, Deerhunter isn’t trying to confuse – they’re trying to transcend. Saturday’s show at Modified did exactly that. It didn’t…

Dir en Grey at Marquee Theater

See more shots in our Dir en Grey slide show.By Jonathan McNamaraMarquee Theater wasn’t at its most packed on Friday, November 28. Lines to the entrance were relatively short despite the routine bag checks. Inside, a crowd of fans clad in Dir en Grey shirts hung close to the barrier between them…

Girl In A Coma Coming to Mesa

By Martin Cizmar If you like Joan Jett – and judging by every karaoke night I’ve attended in the last year, you do – you might want to check out Girl in a Coma, coming to Hollywood Alley on December 3. Hailing from San Antonio (I’ll do it for you,…

Coldplay at Jobing Tonight

By Jonathan McNamara Headed out to Coldplay tonight? Before you drive out to Jobing.com arena, arm yourself with some Coldplay criticism courtesy of our sister paper OC Weekly. OC Weekly Music Editor Albert Ching says:”What might surprise the Coldplay haters is that, in concert, the band actually kind of rocks. Hits…

Charity Show: Bring A Sleeping Bag or $8

By Martin Cizmar Maybe it’s the holiday spirit, but I’ve had a lot of people pitching charity concerts to me in the last couple weeks. “Do you like beer? Do you like charity? Do you like bikes?” my friend Candace asked, not intentionally sounding like an Amway rep. Anyway, there’s…

Irwin Benefit Boasts Two Brash Female Voices

By Martin Cizmar st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } It was a bold move, putting Dry River Yacht Club on right before Black Carl. Here you have two of the biggest female voices in the Valley’s indie rock scene — Emma Pew of BC and DRYC’s Garnet — back to back. But, hey, when you’re talking…

Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Jobing.com Arena on Sunday, November 23

Sometimes, we do things we don’t want to do because the people we love want to do them. Such was the case with me attending the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert last night at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale. I hadn’t planned to attend the show, but I couldn’t refuse in the face of my girlfriend’s unbridled enthusiasm.

Café Tacuba Party Down at Celebrity on Nov. 19

By Michael Lopez Calling the crowd that made it out to the Celebrity Theatre Wednesday night receptive would be selling them short by a mile. Every song played by Mexican alt-rockers Café Tacuba whipped the crowd into an absolute frenzy that didn’t die until the house lights came on. I…

Q-Tip’s Do-Over Kills Momentum at Marquee

By Martin Cizmar

Q-Tip is a perfectionist. Or so he said Monday night as he derailed his show one song in, taking a five-minute interlude to adjust the sound. “Any of ya’ll bloggers out there? Any bloggers?” he asked. “So when you blog about this, just be a little gracious.”