If the George W. Bush presidency taught us anything, its that uppity rednecks are bad for America. Not that I want to compare last night’s Kings of Leon concert at Mesa Amphitheatre to the national nightmare that was Dubya’s reign — exactly. But the cockiness of these two Southern-bred powers…
Point/Counterpoint: Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction at Cricket Wireless Pavilion Nine Inch Nails should’ve headlined. Period. If Trent Reznor’s recent statements about how this is NIN’s “final” tour are to be believed, then a longer set was warranted for his Phoenix swan song. I’m glad for what I got, spending…
They stood speechless and unmoving, breaking their silence only in those brief moments when the performers had finished one song and moved on to another. There were few claps. There were few shouts. There were a few hundred people enthralled by the melodic incantations of L.A. art metal band Isis.Plenty…
New Times contributor Mike R. Meyer and clubs editor Benjamin Leatherman were both in attendance at Cricket Wireless Pavilion last night for the ’90s alt-rock doubleheader of Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction. They braved thick clouds of marijuana smoke and stage fog to bring us a review of the…
It’s been a few years since Amy Ray and Emily Saliers (a.k.a. the Indigo Girls) last did their thing collectively on a Valley stage. Sure, Ray came through town earlier this year for a solo gig at Martini Ranch, but we’re sure it wasn’t the same as seeing the noted folk…
Jimmy Buffet is a bizarre cultural force. His had-to-be-damn-close to sold out show at Cricket Wireless Pavilion was quite a spectacle to be seen. While it is hard not to be aware of the phenomenon that is Buffett and his Parrothead followers, it is another thing to see it. I…
For those of you living under a rock or just emerging from a coma, Jimmy Buffett will be playing tonight at Cricket Wireless Pavilion, much to the delight of seemingly tens of thousands of Valley Parrotheads. I must admit — the number of my friends attending tonight’s show is shockingly…
I love discussing music with our new Music Editor, Martin. More often than not we basically agree on most things. But I could not disagree more with his review of the Lucero show last night at the Rhythm Room. The first of my complaints is when talking about how the…
Dear ex-hardcore kids,Please stop ruining roots music.Look, I get it, you’re pretty much aged out of hardcore shows, but you’re covered in tattoos and have plugs in your earlobes, and it’s hard to find a scene. Every band you’ve ever liked seems to be starting a folkie side project so…
Spring Into Summer Fashion Show at Hotel Valley Ho Drinking cocktails while sitting pool side at the Valley Ho as beautiful models demonstrate the latest summer fashions is not such a bad thing. Knowing that proceeds from the event benefit the Junior Achievement Foundation makes the whole thing a bit…
[jump] FRIDAY, MAY 8: Above & BeyondWith DJ Soloman, Spencer Thomas, DJ Breez, & more[trance/electronica]9 p.m., $10-$20Myst, 7340 E. Shoeman Ln., Scottsdale, 480-970-5000. The Color TurningWith Yellow Red Sparks, Nobility Obliged, & Tugboat[rock/indie/folk]7 p.m., $10Modified Arts, 407 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, 602-462-5516. HemlockWith From Dark, FoulMouth, Hellen, Archaic Cessation, &…
A collection of observations from the Dave Matthews Bands’ performance at Cricket Wireless Pavilion, time-stamped by solo:Time: First violin solo (presumed)As DMB hit stage promptly at 8 p.m., the ticket line is not moving. The reason? A graying gentleman with a backwards Callaway ballcap, sunglasses perched on it even though…
It’s rare to see a fight at a Phoenix show. When that fight is between two girls standing outside a Scottsdale art gallery where they just witnessed a brilliant performance by a banjo-playing bluesman from Iowa? Well, that’s just weird.Yes, William Elliot Whitmore’s show at Chyro Arts was quite a…
First Friday in Photos Local music was the focus of First Friday on May 1, 2009. Back Ted N-Ted hit up Roosevelt Row for an outside gig, while local favs What Laura Says, and Dry River Yacht Club battled it out for band supremacy at Phoenix Art Museum. See more shots…
In the disorganized menagerie of music and art that you’ll find at a typical Phoenix First Friday, I’ve found that it’s usually best to show up without plans and let the muse lead you. Friday night I showed up with a mission, though: See Back Ted N-Ted at Lost Leaf…
[jump] FRIDAY, MAY 1: Tomcat Courtney[blues]8 p.m., $7Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, 602-265-4842. DJ Matt DareyWith Sean Essex, & Brook B[trance/house]9 p.m., $5-$20Myst, 7340 E. Shoeman Ln., Scottsdale, 480-970-5000. Bruce Fine[comedy]8 & 10 p.m., $10-$12The Comedy Spot, 7117 E. Third Ave., Scottsdale, 480-945-4422. Jim Florentine[comedy]8 p.m.., $20Club…
Before the Unwigged & Unplugged show even started last night, the official Spinal Tap moment had already happened. When the announcer came onstage at Dodge Theatre to do the customary plugging of upcoming shows, he looked over the half-full house and noted that the guys backstage had asked him if…
The Flaming Lips Dazzle at McDowell Mountain Music Festival Major labels get a lot of flack. Whether it’s because they supposedly put out nothing but overly-commercialized crap, or because they’re suing computer-using kids in a vain effort to salvage their busted business model, it’s rare to hear anyone say anything nice…
Major labels get a lot of flack. Whether it’s because they supposedly put out nothing but overly-commercialized crap, or because they’re suing computer-using kids in a vain effort to salvage their busted business model, it’s rare to hear anyone say anything nice about the Big Four. That’s why Flaming Lips…
So between New Times and my “day job” I get to go to more shows and festivals than anyone ever should. After a while you notice that most share a lot more in common than you might think after you look past line-ups. Sitting in the VIP area at MMMF…
The sun has set at McDowell Mountain Music Festival and the crazies have run to the parking lot to retrieve their pink robot costumes for the big Flaming Lips closer. As for the rest of us, we’ve run out to get our jackets as it’s about as cold a night…
This weekend marks a big occasion for fans of outdoor music festivals and jam-ish bands: the McDowell Mountain Music Festival. The lineup boasts The Flaming Lips, Matisyahu and Michael Franti — a pretty solid lineup for such a festival (and I didn’t even include Hot Tuna). Those artists all lend…
