Concerts

By Martin Cizmar

OK, I admit it, I’ve been neglectful of my old friend Rivers Cuomo. I haven’t really paid much attention to Weezer since The Green Album and I haven’t seen him since 2002, when I went a couple shows to see The Strokes, who I was spending a lot of time with at the time, open for him. As far as I knew, though, Rivers was a little nutty, in a harmless sort of way, but seemed like a pretty cool dude. I wasn’t in touch much, but hearing the singles off the last three albums filter through the radio, it seemed like things were pretty normal. Rivers was doing his thing, I was doing mine, everything was cool. We weren’t close, like we had been back in my high school days, but I had no reason to suspect he’d fallen on hard times.

By Joseph Golfen Some say that punk is dead, but Streetlight Manifesto’s frenzied show at the Venue of Scottsdale proved that at the very least, Ska is still alive and kicking widely. Friday night’s show packed the house with manic kids flailing their limbs to horn-fueled mayhem. See more shots…

By Jonathan McNamara Saturday, October 18: Weezer at the State Fair Here at New Times we’re trouble makers. That’s right, we eat our candy with the pork and beans. Which is why we’ll be venturing off to see Weezer at the State Fair. We swear it’s true. Oh! You’re planning…

By Martin Cizmar

Maybe it’s that I recently read John Sellers’ Perfect From Now On, a memoir which ends up being all about indie outfit Guided By Voices, but I couldn’t help but think about the band who gave We Are Scientists their name Monday night.

By Martin Cizmar It’s nearing 3 p.m. Monday and I’m still recovering from an amazing weekend in Rocky Point, where web editor Jonathan McNamara a few friends and I traveled to see Roger Clyne and the Peacemaker’s Circus Mexicus extravaganza. See more photos in our Roger Clyne and the Peacemaker’s…

By Jonathan McNamara Friday, October 10: Circus Mexicus Anyone else tripping down to Rocky Point for the three-day jam fest that is Circus Mexicus? If not, be sure to keep checking back with Up on the Sun for updates featuring Roger Clyne and all the wacky mayhem. Saturday, October 11:…

By Martin Cizmar

There were a bunch of upcoming shows announced this week, but nothing super high profile. For my money, the top announcement was Flo Rida, which will come to the Venue of Scottsdale on Nov. 1.

By Niki D’Andrea
Photos by Benjamin Leatherman

Better than: The first two presidential debates.

Henry Rollins is a man of many words. The former singer of Black Flag and Rollins Band is currently out on his umpteenth spoken word tour (labeled “The Recountdown Tour”) and this time around, he’s got plenty to say about politics, his travels, and the more ridiculous aspects of American popular culture.

By Martin Cizmar

Depending on who you ask, Cat Power is either really good or really bad live. In her younger days, as a notoriously stage-frightened boozehound, Chan Marshall didn’t impress anyone. Now sober and enjoying life, the indie diva mostly gets great write-ups praising her energetic sets and mesmerizing stage presence.

By Jay Bennett

“As I walk through / This wicked world / Searching for light in the darkness of insanity.”

Knowing I’d soon hear those lyrics being sung by Nick Lowe buoyed me Tuesday night as I sat watching a 90-minute performance staged by two politicians who dodged questions, offered empty promises, took cheap shots and, in the case of Arizona’s dubiously favorite son, espoused “record over rhetoric.”

By Jonathan McNamara Friday Night Out Phoenix Fashion Week continued after the catwalk at Radius Lakeside while kids got funky in Downtown Phoenix on Friday, October 3, 2008. Project Runway Designer’s Line at Phoenix Fashion Week Project Runway participant Emily Brandle and Michelle Chaplin were on hand to show off…

By Jonathan McNamara Last Wednesday, Music Editor Martin Cizmar gave mention of Futurekind’s CD release party held at Last Exit this past Friday. Always on the look out for a new source of sonic sensation, I took his advice and checked them out for myself. Now you can too even…

By Martin Cizmar

Did you miss Edgefest only to read our comprehensive coverage (last time I’m pimping it, I swear!) and realize your life will not be complete until you see Mickey Avalon and Kottonmouth Kings? Turns out you get another bite at the apple, as both acts announced local shows this week.

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By Martin Cizmar

So I don’t normally write about shows I don’t see, but I’ve been hearing enough complaints about tonight’s Mars Volta show that I had to throw up a post, if only to give disappointed Phoenicians a place to leave comments bitching about Cedric Bixler Zavala.

By Martin Cizmar

We haven’t had a chance to do a formal review of FutureKind’s new disc, Surround, here, but thought we’d mention their CD release party this Friday at Last Exit since they’ve got a great sound.

By Steve Jansen I’ve had a private relationship with Sigur Rós for years now. You see, the mood-driven Icelandic post-rock foursome is one of those groups that I can only listen to alone, usually when I’m torn up about something. The band’s sweeping instrumentals, charged by the eerie falsetto of…

By Jonathan McNamara Edgefest 2008 Music Editor Martin Cizmar lead a journalistic team of photographers, writers and one, loan videographer to bring you up to the minute Edgefest 2008 coverage on Saturday. Check this Edgefest blog recap for the whole story and don’t miss this comprehensive collection of multimedia coverage…

By Jonathan McNamara Friday, September 26: Sangria Luxe Lounge Ah! Wine mixed with the fruity goodness of well, fruit. It’s a classic drink, but will this new Phoenix hot spot live it to the legacy of its namesake. Find out for yourself tonight. For more information, read “Wild, Wild West…

It hasn’t quite been 11 months since Vampire Weekend released their first single, “Mansard Roof.” In that time, they’ve gone from the buzziest band since Arcade Fire, to a cultural touchstone for New Yorker types, to last night’s show at the Marquee, where a dad in jean shorts lifted his towheaded son on to his shoulders for a better view during “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.”

By Martin Cizmar and Benjamin Leatherman Photos by Luke Holwerda Beck Hansen, live in Phoenix. See more shots in our Beck and MGMT slideshow. Music Editor Martin Cizmar and Clubs Editor Benjamin Leatherman both attended Beck’s show at the Dodge Theatre Monday night. Here’s their review, point/counterpoint style: Martin Cizmar:…

By Jonathan McNamara Saturday Music Sampler Missed your music fix Saturday night? Not to worry. Our camera crew (AKA Clubs Editor Benjamin Leatherman) has the highlights. Let’s roll the tape! The Hives at Marquee Theater Music Editor Martin Cizmar calls The Hives one of the best shows you can see…

The Hives and Eagles of Death Metal have a lot in common. Both play stripped-down, three-chord garage rock.