The Arizona Hip-Hop Festival really did absolutely everything right in regards to growing the second annual gathering of mostly Copper State-based rhymers. This year’s promotion seems more streamlined than last year’s including a sleek round of individual fliers for each act; the lineup was even bigger; and oh, it partnered…
Tobie Milford – “Fear of Music” For many years I have considered Tobie Milford to be one of the most talented musicians in Phoenix. This is not only when he has played with Whisperlights and There Is Danger, but especially when he pursues his solo work. It’s been five years…
For days now, Captain Squeegee has been promising concrete evidence of extraterrestrial life. Here it is, a direct communication from inter-planetary beings, in the form of a music video. It turns out it may be Captain Squeegee who are indeed the aliens. You might be thinking, “Another new video from…
Every Wednesday is Heritage Hump Day! That’s because every Wednesday from now to the end of the year or before someone really big stops us, Heritage Hump Records (a temporary subsidiary of Onus Records) and New Times will be bringing you a limited edition collector’s item of a much beloved…
I’ll never for the life of me understand how Blink-182 are considered a guilty pleasure band while people who are supposedly grownups listen to Green Day. Every time I see a picture of Green Day I’m so embarrassed for them. They look like the kind of teenagers I’m glad get…
Whether it is a testament to legacy or a ploy to make fans feel old, Tempe’s own heritage rockers of the ’90s, The Refreshments, will be reissuing its debut breakout album, 1996’s Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy, on vinyl record for its 20th anniversary celebration. It is scheduled for release this…
At one time or another, two worries cross every fan’s mind about their favorite musician: What if the artist gets bored (we’ve all seen that disconnected, smug expression on stage)? Even worse, what if they get burned out? Some of the world’s greatest have met their demise this way, channeling…
Every Wednesday is Heritage Hump Day! That’s because every Wednesday from now to the end of the year, Heritage Hump Records (a temporary subsidiary of Onus Records) and New Times will be bringing you a limited edition collector’s item of a much beloved Phoenix band that only sounds like it…
There is no arguing that Treasure MammaL is one of the strangest musical acts in the Valley of the Sun. When the group drops its next album I Will Cut You With My E.B.T. Card, it will enter the argument for being one of the biggest bands in the Valley of the…
Happy Fall, Arizona metalheads! The heat is officially over, people are looking forward to the holidays, and one of the best holidays of the year just passed: Halloween. While I love the holiday, I must say that the Best October metal shows list was a bitch to write; there were…
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. The Pleasure Victims – “Broken” The Pleasure Victims recently released a video for its forthcoming record’s (titled 7) debut single,…
Editor’s note: After this story was written and before it went to press, the Santana concert at Monster Mash festival in Tempe Beach Park was canceled by promoter Lucky Man Concerts. Here’s the piece in its entirety. Carlos Santana is a man at peace with his place in the musical universe. The…
Every Wednesday is Heritage Hump Day! That’s because every Wednesday from now to the end of the year or before someone really big stops us, Heritage Hump Records (a temporary subsidiary of Onus Records) and New Times will be bringing you a limited edition collector’s item of a much beloved…
Halloween starts early. It begins with a couple of odd Facebook posts, a meme or two, and by the first week of October it’s already looking like the nightmare before Christmas all over social media. Everyone seems to love Halloween time, whether they love the parties, bobbing for apples, or…
Earlier this year Bogan Via got to live every musicians dream when they got to shoot a video for their song “Kanye” overseas in Dubai, one of the coolest cities on the planet. They’ve relocated to Los Angeles, they get to tour far more often than the average band, and…
Suicide Silence is a loud, energetic, positive force to be reckoned with, which some find ironic considering the band’s moniker. But in 13 years of existence, the band has received a 2009 Golden God award for Best New Talent, has helped pioneer the deathcore genre, has produced four diverse yet…
Insane Clown Posse performed with P.O.D. at The Pressroom last night, and it was a hot, sticky mess, quite literally — the show felt like a Faygo-filled sauna. We met a variety of juggalos along the way, some looked like dead ringers for Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope, while…
Every Wednesday is Heritage Hump Day! That’s because every Wednesday from now to the end of the year or before someone really big stops us, Heritage Hump Records (a temporary subsidiary of Onus Records) and New Times will be bringing you a limited edition collector’s item of a much beloved…
The Counterfeit Party – “Wanting More” Apparently, the first song The Counterfeit Party ever recorded (“The Best Party Anywhere!”) was adopted as the official song of the “Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling” at the Sturgis rally at Legendary Buffalo Chip. I can’t find anything not to love about these guys. Their approach…
Every Wednesday is Heritage Hump Day! That’s because every Wednesday from now to the end of the year or before someone really big stops us, Heritage Hump Records (a temporary subsidiary of Onus Records) and New Times will be bringing you a limited edition collector’s item of a much beloved…
A few black metal bands scheduled a show for Saturday, October 24, at Palo Verde Lounge in Tempe. Soon, members of the local music community started calling them Nazis. The bands on the bill all had the same types of nearly illegible, scribbled black metal logos — the kind that…
It never fails. I write something, someone doesn’t like it, and they feel the need to seek me out and tell me about it. It’s never really surprising, even if I don’t understand it. I can barely muster the energy to tell people I know personally how much I disagree…
