HansonSeptember 14, 2010Piper Theater at Mesa Arts CenterRight now, as I write this sentence, I’m listening to Middle of Nowhere, Hanson’s major label debut from 1997. That record of course contains “MMMBop” but it’s the first verse of “Thinking of You” that I’m spinning — it’s undeniable pop goodness.I got…
Mike Posner September 11, 2010 Marquee Theatre Hard-partying, fratty Duke musician Mike Posner played to an undersold crowd (probably due to the ASU football game) at the Marquee Theatre last night. The crowd — what there was of one — was pretty evenly split between high school and college kids,…
When Sea Wolf’s Alex Brown Church called last night’s audience at the Rhythm Room “rambunctious,” I just had to call bullshit.”Rambunctious?” In what world? And don’t give me the sarcasm thing; he’s too earnest. Church was basically singing acoustic lullabies to the crowd all night, so there really wasn’t anything…
!!! at The Clubhouse Last Night Now it is finally complete – the holy quadrilogy has taken form thanks to last night’s raucous !!! show. This is the final chapter in my own little !!! saga — one that started with the band’s latest album Strange Weather, Isn’t It? leaking…
Screaming FemalesSeptember 6, 2010Trunk SpaceMarissa Paternoster walked into Trunk Space with the pleasant comfort of returning to a sporadically visited home away from home. She carted in some equipment, cases emblazoned with the name “Screamales” in all caps. She really isn’t very tall at all, I thought to myself, maybe…
!!!September 5, 2010The ClubhouseNow it is finally complete – the holy quadrilogy has taken form thanks to last night’s raucous !!! show. This is the final chapter in my own little !!! saga — one that started with the band’s latest album Strange Weather, Isn’t It? leaking on the internet, the album…
When I received a phone call a few days ago from our esteemed music editor, Martin Cizmar, asking me to review the You Hang Up show at Martini Ranch in Scottsdale, I agreed almost immediately. As frequent New Times readers already know, Martin has a little bit of, ahem, history…
Titus AndronicusSeptember 3, 2010Trunk SpaceLast night was a perfect storm, of sorts, for an incredible show in downtown PHX. For starters, it was a First Friday, meaning tons of people would be milling around the downtown area for the bevy of displays and accompanying sights. Secondly, blogosphere idols Candy Claws…
Green Day August 30, 2010 Cricket Wireless Pavilion It’s a mixed blessing when the band you see at your first real concert goes on to become one of the biggest and best bands of their generation. On one hand, you probably get to relive the moment every couple years if…
Slayer, Megadeth and Testament at Dodge Theatre Last Night We actually won! By “we,” I mean thrash metal, of course – the bands, the fans and the music. After nearly three decades of playing the role of scrappy underdog, thrash metal finally seems to have turned the corner and become…
Artists For Action featuring Calexico w/ Miniature Tigers, Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta, Big Son featuring Sam Means of The Format and Jeff and Chris of Reubens Accomplice, Sand Rubies, Salvador Duran, Kinch, and more… August 27, 2010 Marquee Theatre About 1,500 people showed up at the Marquee Theatre to…
Slayer, Megadeth and TestamentAugust 27, 2010Dodge Theatre About halfway through Megadeth’s set last night at Dodge Theatre, it hit me like a ton of bricks: we won! We actually won! By “we,” I mean thrash metal, of course – the bands, the fans and the music. After nearly three decades…
The MaineAugust 27, 2010Nile TheaterIt was teenage girl heaven at the Nile Theater last night, when local pop rock band The Maine played the last night of their current headlining tour and made a young lady-filled crowd go wild. Singer John O’Callaghan told the crowd the band got to choose…
This is part of a series of reviews of bands who play weekly at local bars. The show: Nicole Pesce at My Florist Cafe. The look: Sleek, chic, and trendy. The smell: Salmon and warm bread. The taste: Savory, sweet, and filling. Three words/phrases to describe the night: Neon light,…
Meat LoafCelebrity TheatreAugust 22, 2010 As I sat through Meat Loaf’s concert full of epic songs, costume changes, rhinestone studded jackets, and women clad in pleather and lace, I couldn’t help but laugh a little at over-the-top theatrics of show. Since Meat Loaf’s legacy, built up on albums like Bat…
Lords of Acid and My Life With the Thrill Kill Cult at Fetish Heat 2010 There were public whippings. There were a range of interesting and, in some cases, revealing costumes. What really rounded out the fun at Fetish Heat 2010 was house-destroying performances by the Lords of Acid and…
American Idol Live! August 12, 2010US Airways CenterFor Valley residents who always wanted to make it out to the American Idol studios but never did, last night at US Airways Center was their opportunity to see the top 10 contestants from 2010’s season perform on the big stage. Like the…
Weird AlCelebrity Theatre, PhoenixAugust 12, 2010Last night, I went to a multimedia pop extravaganza: A virtual who’s who of past and present Top-40 artists was represented, from Michael Jackson to the Biebs to Lady Gaga!Except they weren’t the ones singing. Weird Al was. True to form, he opened his show…
This is part of a series of reviews of bands who play weekly at local bars. The show: RJ and Diane at the American Legion Post #44 in Old Town Scottsdale. The look: Classic southwestern Americana. The smell: Red meat and vegetables cooked with lots of butter. The taste: Home…
Lollapalooza 2010 on Sunday was a little off from the other days from the start. At the begininng of the day, it looks like the elements were going to ruin the day with a nasty storm running through downtown Chicago. Thankfully, the sun came out in the midst of Switchfoot’s…
Toby Keith at Cricket Wireless Ampitheatre on 8/8/2010 I have to admit I went to Toby Keith’s show at Cricket only partially to hear classics like “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” and “How Do You Like Me Now?!” Sure, it’s always nice to hear Toby belt out his Blue Collar anthems,…
Deceased, Rumplestiltskin Grinder, et al.UB’s Restaurant & BarAugust 8, 2010 In most Christian sects, Sunday is typically reserved as a day of rest, but last night at UB’s there was no rest for the wicked, as six bands converged on this Mesa club to provide a night of demonic delight…
