“There’s no doubt that Jeff Hardy is extreme; he is very extreme.” – Jim Ross, Former WWE Commentator on Monday Night Raw It’s July 1, 2002, and Jeff Nero Hardy, 24, is standing atop a 15-foot steel ladder. The WWE title belt is dangling near his fingertips, just above the…
Juggalos are hilarious. All weekend long, if you could hear them over the boom of fireworks and horrorcore rap, Gathering attendees were dropping one-liners faster than a classic Simpsons episode. Not always intentionally, but still. So thanks for the laughs and the memories, ninjas. And here, without further ado, are…
I’ve been reading Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal, which was ghostwritten by Tony Schwartz, who channels Trump’s daily deal-making in what is basically a window into the life of a more charmingly juvenile version of Gordon Gekko. I like this book a lot, if only because it reads…
Juggalos know how to hustle. At their annual Gathering, just about anything you could ever possibly need to have a good time, from drugs and booze to more, uh, creative fare, is available for purchase from wicked clowns advertising their wares via hand-lettered cardboard signs. Here’s a small sampling of…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. Dogbreth – “Steeping” The release of Dogbreth’s new album Second Home is getting close. The newest preview track off the…
Of all the ways I thought I would be describing my first Gathering of the Juggalos, “like my first rave” was not on the short list. But after less than 24 hours among the fans of Insane Clown Posse, that’s how I’m feeling. It’s like I’ve traveled back in time…
Reinvention is the mother of necessity for Puro Instinct. Centered around sisters Piper and Skylar Kaplan, Puro Instinct was once one of the buzz bands of the moment — 2011 saw the release of their heralded Headbangers In Ecstasy, a woozy, of-the-times record that brought the likes of Pitchfork knocking…
After a much-needed two-year hiatus from the madness that is Insane Clown Posse’s annual Gathering of the Juggalos festival, we’re happy to report that this year, we’re going back. We’re is off to Thornville, Ohio for the Gathering, which runs July 20-23, and will be reporting throughout the week on all…
Well, it seems like 50 Cent has been spending more time in Phoenix grocery stores than in clubs these days. Curtis James Jackson III, a.k.a. Fiddy, is back in the Valley to sign bottles of his Effen Vodka. He’ll be at the Fry’s on 1311 East Bell Road in Phoenix…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. AJJ — “Goodbye, Oh Goodbye” It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than two years since AJJ (formerly known as Andrew…
The wait is over for music lovers in the East Valley. Zia Records will open its brand-new Mesa superstore on Friday, July 15, at 9 a.m. The company first announced the store opening back in April. The Mesa location will be Zia’s fifth location in the Valley, and the second…
We’ve learned a few important lessons about Phoenix’s music scene in 2016 – and its only halfway done. A lot has happened locally during the first six months of the year, ranging from old venues saying farewell to new bands making a splash, and we’ve tried to take something from…
Here we are at the midway point of what has been the worst year for music having nothing to do with what was issued and everything to do with who was discontinued. “Sure,” you say. “We lost a lot of giants early in the year like Bowie and Prince, but…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. Emby Alexander – “Phoenix Sons” On the 4th of July Emby Alexander released their third full-length album with Sound of…
Dillon Francis is anything but boring. For proof of said statement, look no further than any of his social media outlets, all of which are filled with hilarious (and oftentimes bizarre) images and videos that illustrate the DJ and producer’s absurd and irreverent sense of humor. Over on his constantly…
The Valley’s longtime tradition of underground hip-hop is returning to its roots at a new monthly party, The Rhythm The Rebel, at Rebel Lounge. “There’s a lot of really good underground hip-hop out there that’s more just for listening, that sets a mood or a vibe so people can just…
Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. Stephen Steinbrink – “Absent Mind” Before he was Olympia, Washington’s Stephen Steinbrink, he belonged to Phoenix, Arizona. I first became…
Fifty years ago, women’s role in heavy metal was mostly a lyrical focal point — a heartbreaking vixen, fantasy figure, groupie. Now, it’s commonplace that women not only frequent the stage, but work as tour managers, sound and light techs, promoters, publicists, booking agents, managers, and more — all in…
Late last year, before Wyves released their debut album, Spoils Of War, lead singer Corey Gloden asked me what song I would pick for their single other than “Bitch Has Got Problems.” I didn’t even have to think about it, because although I had been waiting for years for a recorded…
Few artists in Phoenix mix consciousness and music with more elegance than poet/rapper/educator Myrlin Hepworth. His lineage as the son of an English professor shines in his music, which effortlessly jumps between race relations, feminism, sexism, police brutality, and violence. He’s now looking to take his show on the road. Having…
Growth is good, and POWER 98.3’s Tino Cochino is looking to expand his footprint. The leader of the 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. show on one of the Valley’s leading hip-hop stations now has a program on KSAW CW6 called After The Show, and he’s looking to syndicate outside the…
You’ve always wanted to experience “Onion Rings of Fire,” haven’t you? On Saturday, June 25, the Musical Instrument Museum in Scottsdale will honor Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash with a day long celebration of their musical legacy. If you decided to go and choose to get some food, “Onion…
