The Fabulous Thunderbirds at Crescent Ballroom, 3/9/12

Fabulous Thunderbirds Crescent Ballroom Friday, March 9, 2012 Last night, Crescent Ballroom officially was broken in. Forget the too-cool-for-school crowd. Once a bunch of ladies exiting middle age get drunk and dance at the front of the room, you no longer have the shiniest new venue in town. And, yeah,…

Wanda Jackson at Compound Grill, 3/9/12

See also: Wanda Jackson on Jack White’s SNL Performance, Amy Winehouse, and Some Guy Named Elvis Wanda Jackson Compound Grill Friday, March 9, 2012 Wanda Jackson may be 74 years old, but one would hardly know it listening to her belt out classics from her long and storied career Friday…

The Green Lady Killers at Hollywood Alley, 3/9/12

The Green Lady Killers Hollywood Alley Friday, March 9 The only thing hotter than two badass rock ‘n’ roll chicks? Why, that would be three badass rock ‘n’ roll chicks. I think the packed crowd at Hollywood Alley in Mesa will vouch for me on this one. Los Angeles rockers…

Laidback Luke at Wild Knight, 3/8/12

See also: Laidback Luke on Remixing Madonna and EDM’s Mainstream Crossover Laidback Luke Wild Knight Thursday, March 8, 2012 As everyone sipped on gin n’ juice, Laidback Luke threw it down. Last night’s show was an interesting combination of EDM followers and a Scottsdale crowd. The difference was clear, too,…

Modern Art Records’ Ben Collins on Why Bands Skip Phoenix on Tour

In this week’s issue (on stands tomorrow and online later today) I spoke to Miniature Tigers frontman Charlie Brand about the new album, Mia Pharaoh. Call ’em a “Brooklyn band” if you must, but they’re showing Phoenix plenty of love: There’s that downtown mural, and they’re performing twice tomorrow, once…

Toro Y Moi at Crescent Ballroom, 3/5/12

Toro Y Moi Crescent Ballroom Monday, March 5, 2012 Chillwave/glo-fi/funk/[insert blogger-generated genre here] pioneers Toro Y Moi knows how to get people moving. At last year’s South by Stateside Festival, the band played a short, delayed set thanks to Foster the People’s lengthy set-up time. I wasn’t there, so I…

Miniature Tigers Performing at Stinkweeds This Thursday

Miniature Tigers’ brand new record, Dieyan Keytan, err, Mia Pharaoh, hits stores today, and in conjunction with the band’s complete takeover of Phoenix this week (see our sister blog Jackalope Ranch’s post about Joe Pagac’s advert-mural on Roosevelt Row, the band is performing a special acoustic gig at Stinkweeds this…

Laidback Luke on Remixing Madonna and EDM’s Mainstream Crossover

“Laidback” might fit the tone of Amsterdam-based Laidback Luke (born Lucas Cornelis van Scheppingen), but the tag might be doing a disservice to his work ethic: He’s worked with David Guetta, Diplo, Junior Sanchez, and more, and remixed pop acts like Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Chris Brown, and the…

Korn and Sluggo at Comerica Theatre, 3/1/12

​Korn and Sluggo Comerica Theatre Thursday, March 1 James Blake would’ve been in absolute hell watching Korn last night. The waifish English electronica producer, who’s loudly decried the overflowing machismo and thuggish aura of Americanized dubstep, would’ve seen his worst nightmare writ large and lit with high-tech spotlights. More than…