An hour after talking with Brandon Flowers, his publicist called me back to ask me to take out part of my interview. First, she thanked me for conducting it so early in the morning and let me know that Flowers had enjoyed speaking with me, which surprised me as he…
Justin Townes Earle – Monday, September 21 – Musical Instrument Museum Justin Townes Earle can tell stories. It’s what the Nashville-raised singer-songwriter has done for six years, writing albums that have placed him at the forefront of rusty, soulful Americana. His records drip with imagery — muddy rivers, ghosts, “Memphis…
If ever there was a sign of summer’s impending conclusion, it might just be this weekend’s slate of live shows. After a long hiatus, it seems like things are picking back up again around these parts, especially when it comes to live music. The Phoenix Symphony is back in session,…
Jack Johnston and Josh Montag want to bring back the sentiment of what albums “should be” to the Arizona scene. They recruited nearly 30 vocalists and musicians to play on their sophomore album, Modern Repair, on which the bassist and drummer asked their guest singers what they’d like to see…
While he doesn’t possess neither a stovepipe hat nor a bullwhip, esteemed dance music king Diplo is most certainly a ringmaster of the highest order. After all, he’s spent the last few years overseeing one of the larger and more vibrant circuses in the EDM world – namely, the Mad…
For twenty years, Destroyer, led by Vancouver native Dan Bejar, quietly released seductive, critically acclaimed music with his band. Bejar is also known for collaborating with A.C. Newman’s Canadian indie supergroup The New Pornographers as well as other musicians. Albums like Destroyer’s Rubies have songs that are an inside joke…
I went to what a snarky YouTube commentator would probably call a “hip-pop” concert last night. Usually, this is a term of derision by purists who feel that hip-hop should be about social commentary or lyrical craft rather than just catchy hooks and songs about clubbing, but it definitely has…
Most studio musicians pine for the kind of streak that bassist Stephen Bruner is on. In 2014, Bruner — best known by his alias “Thundercat” — contributed to Flying Lotus’ avant-garde electronic album You’re Dead!; in 2015, he’s an essential player on two of the most lauded albums of the year:…
Here are our concert picks for the week. As always, check out our comprehensive concert calendar for Metro Phoenix for more options. Carbon Leaf – Monday, September 14 – Musical Instrument Museum Theater After almost two decades together, Carbon Leaf (playing tonight at the Bluebird Theater with Chamberlin) has effectively…
Like Nickelback and John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band tends to make those listicles titled “Top 10 Most Hated Bands.” So, let’s just get this out of the way: The only thing that sucked at the Dave Matthews Band concert last night was the vacuum used between stage setups for DMB’s…
If there were a futuristic movie about a machine disguised as a human who could generate a new song every day, Billy Bob “Bud” Thornton would be the lead. In fact, the truth is probably stranger than fiction. Thornton, a real human from Arkansas, has written hundreds of songs, only…
Pinetop isn’t exactly known for being one of Arizona’s musical hotbeds, but it made a perfectly good launching point for young songbird Zella Day. The 20-year-old has a homecoming of sorts on Thursday, when she’ll be stopping by the Rebel Lounge to spread her brand of folky alternative pop across…
The Blunt Club – Thursday, September 10 – Valley Bar There’s typically plenty of swagger to be found at your average edition of The Blunt Club, probably because the renowned local hip-hop night boasts more than few claims to fame under its belt. Not only does it feature some of…
I’ve been to a lot of concerts in my life. I actually kept count in 2013, when I attended 126 shows. In all the concerts I’ve seen, I never once have fallen asleep. Until Wednesday night’s Lenny Kravitz concert at Comerica Theatre. I dozed for awhile at Bonnaroo 2011 during…
Don’t let the catchy melodies fool you — Wavves is anything but happy. Well, the California band is happier now than it has been since it began juicing — kind of. “I mean a little bit — I have a blender,” says Wavves bassist Stephen Pope about his NutriBullet. “I…
More than any particular era or style, the music of Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers sounds like pure California. The Bay Area band blends folk, rock, and country, and in the years between 2013’s self-titled debut and this spring’s Loved Wild Lost, has forged a timeless, unmistakable sound that places…
Talking after a long day of recording, Megafauna’s Dani Neff is upbeat about the progress her band is making on its untitled third album. Reflective and enthusiastic, Neff touches on the still difficult-to-define Megafauna sound, the new direction her songwriting is taking, and the challenges of keeping one foot rooted…
If you’re an electronic dance music fan with a ticket for Zedd’s performance on Saturday at Mesa Amphitheatre, there’s been a slight change in plans. Don’t worry, the show’s still going to happen as planned, only at a completely new venue. Live Nation, the co-promoter of this weekend’s gig by…
It’s Labor Day, which means that basically all the concert promoters in town are giving their staffs the day off Monday. That means that while most everyone doesn’t have to work today, there’s not much to do tonight, at least not musically. That doesn’t mean the rest of the week…
I was trying to remember the last time the Trunk Space was this packed. Perhaps when Kimya Dawson played the Indie 500 in April, but probably not even then. At any rate, the very first show for Okilly Dokilly, the “metal” band themed after the bug-eyed neighbor from The Simpsons,…
Here are our co The Donkeys – Friday, September 4 – Valley Bar The Donkeys, not to be confused with the late-’70s power pop band from West Yorkshire or the Japanese noise rock outfit, have a solid fan base in Phoenix, prompting these Californians to visit about once a year…
For the first time in nearly two decades, Garth Brooks is playing a concert in Phoenix. The singer’s triumphant return to town will take place at US Airways Center (which by the time of the concert will be known as Talking Stick Resort Arena) on Friday, October 23, and Saturday,…
