David BazanThe Sail Inn Thursday, July 7Last night was the sixth time I’ve seen David Bazan perform, and I am struck by how each concert has been a unique experience. There were different band-names some of the times: Pedro the Lion, the group he’s best known for, The Headphones, his…
The upbeat melodic pop songs of singer/songwriter Maren Parusel can turn someone with even the surliest reputation into a purveyor of positive vibes. Case in point: Pall Jenkins from Black Heart Procession, a band known for creating deep, dark, introspective songs. Jenkins produced Parusel’s debut album, Artificial Gardens, and when…
Cannonball Pool Party Kickoff The hipster pool party is officially back. The promoters of Sticky Fingers and Retro Hi-Fi have come together for the all new Cannonball Pool Party at the Lexington Hotel. The summer’s remaining Sunday afternoons are going to be all about looking hip, taking a dip and…
NightlandsThe Sail InnSunday, July 3, 2011My very first thought when Nightlands took the stage last night and began cranking out lush harmonies was “Oh man, this band needs to open up for Fleet Foxes,” and I couldn’t be any more sincere about that statement. It might seem a bit far-fetched…
Jeff Bridges Arizona BiltmoreSunday, June 3, 2011Jeff Bridges is a likable guy. He’s the kind of character you root for, even when he’s beating up Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man, even when he’s playing a cold-blooded killer in Jagged Edge. He’s got a quality that just endears people to him,…
Chants of “Let’s go Murphys” rang through the half-filled Marquee Theatre about 45 minutes before the opening band even took the stage. The mantra only grew louder throughout the night as the crowd grew to capacity and eventually beckoned the Dropkick Murphys out on stage for an encore performance three hours later.
Face to Face Nile TheaterFriday, July 1 The ’90s were a good time for punk rock. Fat Wreck Chords, Epitaph, Lookout, and Nitro were powerhouses of the upbeat catchy punk that dominated Warped Tour’s glory days. While many of the bands that defined the genre have faded away after year…
Did someone say $1 Pabst Blue Ribbons? And a “punk rock DJ night”? We are so there. This Tuesday, July 5, local punk purveyor Tim Neilson (better known by his DJ handle, Johnny Volume ), continues hosting his bi-weekly Delinquency event at the Yucca Tap Room in Tempe. In addition…
REVIEW BY MELISSA FOSSUM AND DANIEL RAVEN New Kids On the Block and Backstreet Boys have grown up a bit since their heydays on MTV and the music charts, and so have their fans. But that hasn’t stopped the bands from cashing in on nostalgia, or people from buying tickets for…
Former Friends of Young Americans, The Tremulants The Lost Leaf Thursday, June 30 There’s something to be said about Arizona’s music scene when you can slip into a local watering hole and find great local bands like The Tremulants and Former Friends of Young Americans just hanging out, playing a…
The CosmeticatorsThe Trunk Space Thursday, June 30, 2011After the loud ‘n’ proud punk rock show at Trunk Space last night, I’m starting to think there’s a new trend of garage rockers writing songs about their pets. As we mentioned in this week’s music feature on Phoenix trio The Cosmeticators, the band has songs…
The Young & Useless Tour may not be so aptly named. While the performers — Austin Gibbs, Carter Hulsey, and headliners This Century — are young, they’re not exactly useless. Locals This Century, in particular, has been generating buzz around their feelgood, melodic indie rock. Alternative Press named the band…
Underground Cities The Sail Inn Wednesday, June 29 No amount of preparation or wishful thinking guarantees a successful tour, but certain measures will improve a band’s odds. That old adage about “being in a band is like being married” is fitting, since petty arguments about snoring or stink cause more…
As a discerning music lover, you’ve no doubt been asking yourself, “Are any bands deemed “Best New Music” by the tastemakers at Pitchfork coming to Phoenix this summer?” Well yeah, a couple, including Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Kurt Vile, and Cut Copy. But if you were to ask yourself “Will…
There isn’t very much literature out on San Diego’s Tape Deck Mountain, but don’t let that detract you. When you’re releasing EPs and singles on cassette tape, that whole digital information trail tends to not be so effective. If you’re lucky, you might be able to get your hands on…
The Whisperlights The Duce Tuesday, June 28, 2011 The Whisperlights are now two-for-two for hosting fun and exciting CD release parties. Almost a year ago to the date, the band released their debut EP, Wake Up Dead, at the Yucca Tap Room. To celebrate their first full-length album, Surfaces, the…
Wiz KhalifaMesa Amphitheatre Tuesday, June 28, 2011The cloud of smoke that lingered over the crowd at last night’s sold-out Wiz Khalifa show was proof positive that the Pittsburgh rapper’s Rolling Papers tour had lived up to its name. Rail thin and covered in more ink than a newspaper, Khalifa kept the…
It’s logical for a band from the U.K. that’s been compared to Coldplay and Snow Patrol and received more than a thousand spins for their first single on Sirius-XM’s Alt Nation channel to move to the U.S. seeking stateside success. But Phoenix seems like an unlikely relocation choice compared with…
Abstinence, French Quarter, Tacocat, and ForeverYOBS in TempeMonday, June 27The cops who patrol the Farmer neighborhood handing out noise violations can rest a little easier at their posts. Last night, YOBS, a.k.a. Ye Olde Bike Saviours, a.k.a. Tempe’s noisiest punk rock house venue/art space/zine, record, CD and cassette tape factory,…
Blacklist RoyalsThe Trunk Space Monday, June 27 What did you do last night? If you are like most Phoenicians, you did not come out to see the Blacklist Royals rock out at The Trunk Space. Your loss. Despite the lack of a formidable crowd, the Tennessee four-piece put on an…
Peter CaseThe Rhythm RoomSunday, June 26As much as he’s a songwriter, Peter Case is a storyteller. All throughout his solo acoustic set at The Rhythm Room last night, Case peppered the space between songs with stories from his rock ‘n’ roll past: Scoring free records from Elektra when his band…
The QueersChasersJune 23, 2011Last night, I found myself in the dark doldrums of Chasers stage area with melodic blasting in my ears. Dim lights and camera flashes bounced off frantic faces and the smell of teenage angst wafted through the air. Yup, I was at a punk rock show, all…
