Rock ‘n’ roll, to paraphrase punk icon Poison Ivy, is for misfits. A refuge for outsiders, oddballs, or anyone else even a little bit strange. The description is apt for the recently closed Hollywood Alley and much of its patronage. Over its 25-year lifespan, the Mesa rock joint and restaurant,…
In December 2012, Dagwood Reed was singing, playing keyboards, and writing songs for his sci-fi-inspired local band, Se7en of Nin9. His romantic partner of nearly 20 years had passed away a year earlier from Addison’s disease, but the self-proclaimed most positive person he knows stayed in high spirits. He loved…
Heavy metal and contact sports always seem to go hand-in-hand. Both share the same kind of aggression and unpredictability. Revolver’s Golden Gods Awards has a “most metal athlete” category. And in football, one of America’s favorite sports to get all amped up about, teams trot out onto the field to…
Lonnie Holley’s art begins with troubled times. The 63-year-old’s first artistic project was carving headstones for his sister’s two children, who died in a house fire in Alabama in 1979. Since then, his found-object assemblages, paintings, and collages have endeared him to the fine art world — they have even…
“It’s money” opens Doris, the way-way-way-too-much-anticipated album from Odd Future standout and internal rhyme genius Earl Sweatshirt. “It’s money,” the intro repeats, “It’s money.” If you bought a physical copy, you’re hearing that opening while thumbing through the artwork: an intoxicated-looking (though he kind of always is) Earl standing next…
Think you’re down with hip-hop culture? Okay, son, then which of its four elements — be it rapping, b-boying, graf artistry, and turntablism — is the most vital part of its mix? According to veteran local selector DJ Akshen, it’s the latter, since the beats dropped from the decks help…
Sundressed, Diners, Green Line Operator, and Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold are among the well-regarded local acts performing Saturday at the Rogue Bar, but the headline fact of The Grandest Night of The Season is just what it’s benefiting: the memory of Dan Somers, a local musician whose suicide in…
The Senators are aware that their acoustic sound and vest-friendly look create expectations they didn’t even two years ago. “Everyone is wearing vests and suspenders now,” Jesse Teer told us back in December. “That look is just vogue right now.” Their sound is vogue, too — “Cross of Gold,” the…
Love symphony music, but hate tuxedos? Skip the traditional classical music experience characterized by stuffy crowds and head to Tempe Center for the Arts for a more laid-back show where the musicians dress casually and where attendees get a chance to get up close and personal with the performers before…
Tucson’s Human Behavior is in the business of making you feel more uncomfortable while a banjo is playing than you’re typically accustomed to feeling. All the elements are there for a typical banjo experience — close harmonies, light drumming, restrained, quiet peaks. You could assemble a folk-pop crossover band with…
Yes, we know. Your fake ID is spectacular. Nobody cards you because your mustache is simultaneously full and rich and completely earnest-looking. Your friends buy cases of Natty Light from extremely vigilant chain stores for sport. But if you’re just getting back in town for the fall semester and not…
Last summer, local metal band City in the Sea was included in our list of 10 Bands You Need to See This Summer. Since then, the five-piece band has been scooped up by Sumerian Records, and toured the country incessantly, including a spot on the epic production that is known…
The only thing better than rocking out to great live metal is rocking out for a great cause. With that in mind, four upcoming metal shows are celebrating metal legends and local idols, and they should have a spot on your concert calendar. We’re talking Slash, the best of Arizona…
Nate “Igor” SmithFor five magical days in August, Cave in Rock, Illinois hosted one of our favorite events, The Gathering of the Juggalos. Our photographer, Nate “Igor” Smith, took thousands of pictures at the Gathering, but some of the folks he captured stood out more than others. There was the…
Touring can be a hellish experience for performers. There’s the nonstop travel, fitful sleeping on trains and planes, and night after night (after night) of gigs. Just ask DJ Soulman, a veteran road warrior who’s spent decades touring with local rap-rock act Phunk Junkeez and as a globetrotting selector. He’s…
Yeah Yeah Yeahs were among the earliest members of their particular indie cohort to earn mainstream fame, but they wore it well — aside from the unavoidable song-fatigue side effects of appearing in a version of Rock Band, “Maps” seems to have avoided every possible pitfall on its way to…
Earth Crisis is the epitome of obnoxious vegan straight-edge subculture. Not that there’s anything wrong with being vegan or straight-edge — both practices require discipline and are healthy if done correctly — but being preachy about it on this level rarely is cool. The title track of the hardcore band’s…
Rumor has it Poeina Suddarth canceled her June 27 Phoenix show because she couldn’t arrange transportation to the Valley, let alone the venue. Suddarth currently is supporting Poeina on her “Trains, Planes and Automobiles” tour, relying on the ride-sharing kindness of fans, strangers, and truckers to get her from gig…
It’s best not to confuse Billy Joe Shaver with Billy Ray Cyrus. It’s unlikely Shaver would ever sing anything as maudlin as “Achy Breaky Heart,” for one thing. He probably won’t sing anything as popular, either; Shaver falls in with that long line of acclaimed but underappreciated West Texas outlaw…
Nate “Igor” SmithCody Morin, juggalo and Make-A-Wish recipient.By Daniel Hill and Drew Ailes We first heard about 17-year old Cody Morin on our way in to Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, site of the 14th-annual Gathering of the Juggalos. After hours spent driving through southern Illinois, we stopped at a restaurant/visitor’s lodge in…
I’m quite curious to know what hardcore Korn fans think of the new single. Personally, I love Korn. It was one of the bands that set the stage for me to explore the realm of heavy metal, tracing it back decade by decade. But here’s the problem with the band’s…
One of the true hardships that we face as a nation is the omnipresent problem of being surrounded by booze and stimulating foods. In the comforts of your own home, you may be able to curb your pizza roll addiction into having just a civilized cup of tomato soup. At…
