Face it, we never want to stop playing with our toys.Jason Kiningham, owner of Red Hot Robot, knows this well. And it was apparent at the opening of “The Resin Collective”, an art show featuring over 100 original small toys and figurines made of resin by 37 artists.On Saturday, April…
Prehab’s posters have caught my eye a few times before, whether it was this pretty funny one for an April Fool’s Day show, or this eye-catcher but it wasn’t until this week we’ve honored them with Flier of the Week. The Phoenix indie band has a pretty good sound too,…
Our friends from across the Atlantic have bestowed many a singer/songwriter upon us. There is a staggering number of skinny, charming Brits infiltrating U.S. radio airwaves with their sullen, heartfelt pop music. We usually reserve a soft spot for British singers, but their music is not something we are overly…
Rarely do metal fans have to complain that their favorite bands deviate from their preferred style too often, for an album or even a single song. That’s before Mastodon enters the conversation. From fantasy metal (perfect for mastering that new level on Dungeons & Dragons) to twangy, cock-stroking guitar lines…
It is often commonplace for a band to land a big festival gig that brings it to regions previously unknown and gives those fans in such uncharted territories a chance to see the band perform live. Spring is rife with festivals, and New Jersey’s The Gaslight Anthem have booked themselves…
DOOM, Kool Keith, and the various members of the Wu-Tang Clan switch up their aliases as often as their kicks. The members of Seattle’s Grayskul aren’t quite as antsy to quantum-leap into new personas, but they do see the value of rocking specific monikers for distinct purposes. Onry Ozzborn and…
It takes balls (not to mention boundless energy) to play a dozen shows in three days at SxSW, but that’s exactly what Black Lips did two years ago at the annual music showcase. Whether it was the ultimate display of DIY guts and determination, or just a carefully crafted publicity…
Oh, those crazy Brits. It seems every three or four months, a new band from across the pond is hyped as the greatest band in the history of recorded music (or at least since The Beatles). For every Coldplay that shows staying power, there are countless other Britpop bands (Travis,…
The Wednesday-night electro/hip-hop affair Pinky Ring has offered some choice guests during its six months of existence (including local legend Z-Trip and NYC/ATL funkmeister Treasure Fingers). Now, its organizers are about to top themselves with their latest coup: Afrika Bambaataa. The Bronx-born hip-hop pioneer (who’s considered by many to be…
Portland, Oregon-based singer-songwriter M. Ward has built a steadily growing cult following over the past decade, releasing six studio albums and collaborating with a diverse array of artists, including Cat Power, Beth Orton, My Morning Jacket, and actress Zooey Deschanel, with whom he records and performs as She & Him…
St. MadnessSaintanic(Evil Me Music)Putting a cover song as the second track on your CD is ballsy. Either you’ve got ’em right there, or you’ve lost ’em forever. For a metal act to put a cover of an Ozzy/Black Sabbath song second on their record? Well, that’s pretty much suicidal. Sure,…
Look, no one’s sadder about this than we are, but it’s time to face facts: The Loveblisters are breaking up, and this Saturday’s show at Last Exit is the last time you’ll ever see them. Ever. So try not to get too sad as you mourn the passing of the…
Maybe it’s because I don’t listen to a lot of it in my off hours, but I’m constantly surprised by the depth and quality of the Phoenix metal scene. I’ve yet to have a bad local metal record come across my desk, and this week didn’t change that. Hemoptysis isn’t…
If you find yourself asking who the Vivian Girls are, prepare to be answered on two fronts. In the literary/esoterica world, the Vivian Girls are heroines who lead a child slave rebellion in a 15,145-page fantasy written by janitor-turned-outsider-artist Henry Darger. In the music world, they’re still heroines, a three-piece…
Local favorites Andrew Jackson Jihad once asked, “Why doesn’t Mirah come to Phoenix?!” The singer-songwriter (born Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn) has spent the past decade with the Pacific Northwest indie fortress K Records. Whether over the backing of her own acoustic guitar or in collaboration with the likes of Phil…
We imagine you young ‘uns are sick of hearing how fab the 1960s were, but it was a time when assorted strains of roots music were literally in the air. Take Aurora “Rory” Block — as a teen in NYC’s Greenwich Village early in that decade, she heard folk and…
Ozomatli play the type of music one would expect from a band that takes its name from the Nahuatl word for an Aztec astrological sign. Their mix of Latin, hip-hop, funk, rock, jazz, and reggae comes from a group that stretches from seven to 10 members, playing both traditional rock…
With acts like Band of Horses, Grand Archives, and Fleet Foxes already on board, Seattle-based indie label Sub Pop seems to have firmly established itself as the leading purveyor of country-tinged folk-pop played by sensitive, bearded guys from the Pacific Northwest. Thus, it hardly seemed like a radical departure for…
Zach Sciacca (a.k.a. Z-Trip) may not look like the Easter Bunny, but just like ol’ Peter Cottontail, the renowned Phoenix-born turntablist is planning on delivering some treats this weekend. We ain’t talking about sugary peeps or gooey chocolate, however, as Sciacca will instead be serving up some sweet beats as…
We were a little hesitant about shooting at Saturday’s debut of the returning Hip Joint DJ night at the Paisley Violin. Not that we don’t adore the little eatery/coffee shop/art gallery/anything venue down on Grand Avenue…we just weren’t sure it could wrangle a real party crowd.But, holy crap, were we…
Generally, I write positive reviews about bands that are good at what they do. I like a little bit of everything, so it’s not that hard for me to appreciate either a delicate ballad or ear-shredding thrash. Shit, I genuinely love the first Britney Spears record, and think Toby Keith…
This weekend is probably the biggest three days of music I can remember in my time in the Valley, with two multi-day festivals (Country Thunder and Tempe Music Fest) along with Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Fall Out Boy, Leonard Cohen, Bonnie Prince Billy and Calexico all coming to town.Think you’ll…
