It’s hard not to read a little into the story behind Tucson, the new album from Howe Gelb’s Giant Giant Sand, which tells the story of a “semi-grizzled man with overt boyish naivete” who leaves his home, possessions, and girlfriend behind fearing the end of the world. Described as a…
Hailing from London, Caspa (Gary McCann) describes his sound as “the quiet storm.” Though McCann’s start in music was a precarious one (he got into electro music while laid up with a basketball injury), he quickly gained notoriety in the field. His breakout single, “Bassbins,” was on BBC Radio’s 1Xtra,…
Call it unfair, but former Phoenicians-turned-Washingtonians Hooves have always garnered more attention for their hotel trashing and indie-rock bowling debacles than for their music. Sure, this publication is probably the most to blame for the reputation, but when it comes down to it, we’ve always been fans of the music…
Simple but explosive juxtapositions are at the root of North’s compositions — emotionally driven metal that asks its audience to surrender. Not to surrender in any kind of spiritual way, but to literally surrender to the band’s aggressive vocals and post-metal bombardment. Songs such as “Eidolon” usually begin understated, as…
As tradition dictates, many a lad and lassie will be sporting the green this weekend for Saint Patrick’s Day. In Scottsdale, however, the ritual will take on a more fetishistic bent during the latest edition of Cupcake!, on Saturday, March 17. The macabre monthly will feature a “surgical green +…
The members of Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (or just Odd Future, if you prefer) staged an invasion of Tempe this past weekend, and every minute of it was pure fun. First, they took over Cowtown Skateboards and fooled around with fans at their pop-up “Sweatshop,” signing autographs,…
See also: Alert: SXSW Coverage Ahead Editor’s note: Tye Rabens, a contributor to both our sister blogs Chow Bella and Jackalope Ranch, is on tour with Phoenix agit-pop collective Treasure MammaL, heading to Austin for SXSW. He’ll be periodically checking in with us from the road. Fuck. This is a…
Ladies, we need to talk. You need to stop getting into fights at shows. I know lots of dudes like watching girl fights, but I’m going to speak on behalf of the gals: Getting punched in the boob sucks. Unlike guys, we fight dirty. We kick, punch, slap, and scratch…
If you’re looking for a good time on St. Patty’s Day, there are tons of local options. With all of the great shows that will be going on, seems like all of Tempe is turning Irish for a day!Flogging Molly’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Bash at Tempe Beach Park is…
Okay T-Birds fans, you’ve only got one day left to enter to win a pair of a passes and an exclusive meet-and-greet for tomorrow night’s tour stop, when the Texas blues-rock band plays the Crescent Ballroom. To win tickets and a chance to rap with original founder Kim Wilson and…
There are certain artists whose appeal and popularity I could never seem to justify. To no avail, I’ve tried to be open-minded and give them a chance time and time again.I’ll never know why the whole world thinks Arcade Fire is the bee’s knees. Nor do I think Lana Del…
Y’all know what time it is. Yeahh, boii, it’s concert season. A time when up-and-coming buzz bands hit the Southwest en route to South by Southwest, Coachella, or any number of other music fests. And for those of us too broke to afford a trip to Austin or a Bro-chella…
Jugg-Fest 2012 is almost upon us. But what does that mean? Has the Gathering of the Juggalos come to Arizona? Will thousands of Insane Clown Posse faithful descend upon our fair valley with their hybrid gang-like ways? Well, actually, no. You see, Jugg-Fest is a Polynesian reggae festival. Following the…
Editor’s note: This show has been canceled. It has been painful to watch once-treasured New York rap duo Mobb Deep become a tawdry, self-implosive caricature. The makeover began in 2005, when Prodigy and Havoc were lured under 50 Cent’s G-Unit umbrella with promises of Ferraris and huge album sales. They…
As the song titles “Tuff Enough” and “Wrap It Up” suggest, you know what you’re going to get from a Thunderbirds show: straight-ahead, bluesy rock ‘n’ roll. Having emerged from the Texas blues scene over 30 years go, the T-birds are a throwback to a simple form of rock. No…
Plush Old Town Scottsdale dance parlor Wild Knight will take on more of a European flair this coming week, which should mesh well with all the vaguely Medieval décor that fills its walls. A pair of the continent’s biggest electronic dance music pioneers will be in the house over the…
The hustle and bustle of Mill Avenue makes it a fun place to be on a Friday night. There are plenty of bars for folks that are dressed to the nines and drenched in perfume and cologne, and countless opportunities to people watch. Rula Bula is located in an interesting…
Long Wong’s is hosting Mikel Lander and Meridith Moore of local blues bosses The Sugar Thieves every Monday. Brad B of hip-hop trio The Insects and Geehaad will be following up on the turn tables.The beer is cheap and there is no cover, so feel free to knock back a…
Want to know what new release discs and platters are moving across the Valley at local record stores? We’ve got you covered with another installment of What’s Selling. Fun’s recent teaser set in Chandler resonated with Zia Records shoppers all over the Valley. Fans at the Thunderbird location made the…
Saul Williams’ credentials don’t hint at anyone you’d expect to associate with a genre as innocuous as pop music. After all, the outspoken wordplay wizard cut his teeth as the MC offspring of black activists, rose to prominence via the slam-poetry circuit, is a published and uncompromising poet, and gave…
In the unlikely event that Al Stewart can’t make his scheduled March 2 concert, Destroyer frontman Dan Bejar could definitely fill in. Maybe he’s Stewart’s illegitimate love child, because, seriously, what are the odds two unrelated people could have that high, nasally vocal timbre? Either way, check out Destroyer’s “Painter…
Three-chord alternative isn’t new, especially in Tempe. In the ’90s, bands like The Refreshments and Gin Blossoms rode the style all the way to the major-label bank. Unfortunately for Darkness Dear Boy, they seem to be running a couple of decades behind. But the Tempe-based band, which just celebrated its…
