David Bazan — who issued records under the Pedro the Lion banner before embarking on a “solo” career — is an artist who values connection with his listeners. That sounds flowery, sure, but it’s true. All of Bazan’s records, including this year’s excellent Strange Negotiations, have centered around big themes:…
Like your favorite comfort food, power pop music is familiar, tasty and satisfying… and, sometimes, it’s the only thing you want. If you consider The Raspberries’ 1972 self-titled debut album and its absolutely perfect single, “Go All The Way,” as the genesis of the genre (and I do, with apologies…
Normally we feature fliers that look cool, but this one is downright tasteless. Jeez, Prostyle Promotions, have some class.The second annual 911 Massive Goes Glow event will be held on Saturday at Stratus from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. It’s a 16-and-up rave. Tickets are $22 to $25 with $1…
Ever tried online dating? I have, and though it can be a remarkably rewarding endeavor, there’s a lot of chaff to sift through. Ultimately, any online peruser ends up developing an eye for profile red flags: girls who do that gross duck face, dudes who take pictures of themselves with…
Philip Anselmo joined Pantera after they put out three poof-metal LPs; his debut with them, Power Metal, introduced a new edge to the band (see “P*S*T*88,” a.k.a. “Pussy Tight”). After that, Pantera launched a grueling tour schedule and focused on being as lyrically and musically vicious as possible. Trouser Press…
The rise in popularity of Southern and Midwestern hip-hop has given otherwise overlooked American cities a voice. For example, the multitalented Big K.R.I.T. was raised in Meridian, Mississippi. Yelawolf, meanwhile, hails from Gadsden, Alabama. But rappers aren’t particularly thick on the ground in Bowling Green. Indeed, the tiny Kentucky town…
The music of Carla Bozulich’s voice is a knotty, twisted thing, weaving tense words around slinking melodies and discordant clangs of percussion and keys. Bozulich played in alt-country band The Geraldine Fibbers in the ’90s and scored a few near-hits with that group, but in recent years, she’s devoted herself…
Just over two minutes. That’s how long it takes Cheap Time’s song “People Talk” to embed itself firmly in your brain. It’s a scuzzy bit of candy pop, all buzzsaw guitars, incessant bass, crashing cymbals, and snotty vocals, recalling the band’s ’70s influences like Milk ‘n’ Cookies, The Quick, and…
DJ Kyko has been bringing Latin flavor to the Valley for years. But that doesn’t mean he’s afraid to experiment with other genres. As the double-dipping resident DJ at Privileged Fridays at Club DWNTWN and Latin Ladies Saturday Night at Sky Lounge, he keeps bodies moving with an eclectic mix…
Every Wednesday night, Glendale’s O2 Lounge hosts R-Rated trivia, allowing guests to test their wits with four rounds of questions focused on sex. Between rounds, the bar holds miscellaneous contests such as competitive stripping. We checked out R-Rated trivia on Wednesday, August 31, and posted pictures in this week’s Club…
Welcome to the latest installment of our weekly feature, Sound Off, where Jason P. Woodbury is joined by a different guest each week to listen to and discuss three tracks from local Phoenix artists. If you would like your songs to be considered for future Sound Off columns, please email…
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. Well the Red Hot Chili Peppers certainly didn’t waste any time jumping to the top of Hoodlums’ list of best sellers last…
Last night I went to see Deadmau5 (read our review here) and on multiple occasions I got to play one of my favorite games: Put Your Ass Away. The game is simple. When some chick’s booty is hanging out of her bottoms, you call out the phrase, “Put your ass…
Zog’s Tiki Lounge Party 5 so you can make Labor Day weekend plans that are way better than looking like a lobster after floating down the Salt River.The Rhythm Room will be transformed into a tropical paradise just for this event, which features Thee Swank Bastards, The Surfside IV, Bata…
In May, Oakland rapper Kreayshawn bubbled up from the underground with her smash single “Gucci Gucci.” Now she’s the talk of hipsterdom. With its propulsive, jackhammering beat, “Gucci Gucci” was skillfully produced, but the content left something to be desired. Kreayshawn rapped about dining at Arby’s and selling pills to…
Over the past 40 years, the term “supergroup” has taken a beating. Acts such as The Traveling Wilburys and The Highwaymen defined the term: a group of established music legends teaming up for kicks. Nowadays, the term gets applied to just about any combination of semi-notable songwriters. Mister Heavenly falls…
With hip-hop more mainstream and codified than ever, Gucci Mane represents a refreshing departure from the formulaic marketing and progressive emasculation of contemporary rap music. The Atlanta artist’s rhymes may suffer when it comes to depth, variety, intelligence, and delivery, yet his realness on and off the mic transcends his…
Once awash in blogosphere love, Cold War Kids have experienced a shift in buzz. The band’s third album, Mine Is Yours, was supposed to launch them into the big time, breaking them through the way Kings of Leon’s third album did for that band. Yet the record hasn’t quite taken,…
Bands whose names are also geographical locations: a tricky situation. More often than not, get ready to chart out a set list of lousiness. Chicago? Meh. Europe? No way. Asia, Boston, Kansas? No good. America? Okay, “A Horse with No Name” is good. Younger bands like Beirut and Defiance, Ohio,…
San Diegan DJ Scooter has built a reputation on the West Coast and beyond. His hometown consistently shows him love, like voting him San Diego’s best DJ four years in a row. Hey, what can he say? He’s a fun dude to have at a party. Always mixing up his…
On Thursday, August 25, Cue Bar celebrated their 16th birthday with a huge party. The bar’s signature long island iced teas and sexy clientele made it quite the sweet sixteen. Check out pictures in this week’s Club Candids slideshow…
Welcome to the first installment of our new weekly feature, Sound Off, where I will be joined by a different guest each week to listen to and discuss three tracks from local Phoenix artists. If you would like your songs to be considered for future Sound Off columns, please email…
