School of Rock’s name is a little deceptive–Jack Black doesn’t hang out at the Tempe bar and legendary guitarists aren’t on hand to teach ASU students how to rock. On Saturday nights, the bar is only “rock” in name, though being located above Fascinations is pretty bangin’ (pun intended). See…
“The blues was like that problem child that you may have had in the family. You was a little bit ashamed to let anybody see him, but you loved him. You just didn’t know how other people would take it.” –B.B. King “Metal confronts what we’d rather ignore. It celebrates…
A successful long-term musical career is a rarity in any genre, but what does it take to be truly acknowledged as an elder statesman in heavy metal? In most rock circles, any popular musician over 40 is usually handed some token of longevity for remaining relevant (meaning young people are…
PDP is not the newest designer drug or texting acronym. No, it’s the hip way to name-drop Poi Dog Pondering, the cross-cultural band that flirted briefly with mainstream success in the 1990s and has managed to stick around without it. Why? Because there are never enough party bands on tour…
Twenty-three-year-old songwriter Winston Yellen didn’t attempt to “pull a Bon Iver” when he rented a pre-Civil War home — formerly occupied by Johnny Cash and June Carter — in the woods outside Nashville and recorded his debut LP, Country Sleep. It just sort of happened. “I wasn’t really conscious of…
Kanye West may be today’s “lyrical mastermind genius,” but he was still learning his way around a book report when legendary lyricist Rakim and DJ Eric B began writing hip-hop history. The East Coast rap duo dropped their debut single, “Eric B. Is President,” way back in 1986 and set…
Valentine’s Day isn’t all red roses, sweet treats, and sweet nothings. For those who’ve had their hearts pile-driven into the ground or become jaded about the onslaught of flowers, candy, and romantic treacle, the Hallmark-like hullabaloo surrounding the holiday is pure torture. We suspect that Friday, February 15, is one…
Local low-power alternative station KWSS has announced that it’s moving to a new home on the FM dial, shifting from 106.7 to 93.9 on Sunday, March 10. Home to shows like TMI (which I call into once a week to discuss music news and play selections), Mostly Vinyl with Johnny…
The Scottsdale nightlife crowd is a die-hard bunch indeed, fully dedicated to going wild out at their favorite after-dark emporiums of alcoholic fun no matter what weekend it happens to be, or whatever the weather’s like outside. The Old Town entertainment district’s raucous repast of bars and clubs are abuzz…
The Grammys are a huge night for music fans. While we tend to shake our head and wonder how some of these artists won (ie. “Album of the Year”), it’s entertaining to watch the live performances and keep fingers crossed for our favorite artists. fun. won big last night, sweeping…
I wasn’t raised on Anthrax or Zeppelin, or anything between in regards to the heavy metal alphabet. No, the soundtrack of my youth was classical music. I competed in classical piano competitions for the better part of a decade, and Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart…
UPDATE: The band also took home the award for “Best New Artist.” So maybe LL Cool J’s joke about “always getting back together” following Taylor Swift’s performance of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” fell a little flat, and maybe the Gotye win for Best Alternative felt a little…
Dear neighbors, I hate you. Your haircuts suck and your yard is ugly. To make matters worse, you called my landlord and then the cops on me because I was having a party you described as a “rave.”…
The night following Super Bowl is a weird time. A bunch of people are probably passed out at home, or on their new best friend’s floor. It’s not exactly a busy time for nightlife, believe it or not, a couple folks kept raging. Depending on who you were rooting for,…
When Rebel Disco czar Jake Goldsmith got the call, he practically lost his shit. Psychemagik would, indeed, be coming to Phoenix to pull a guest gig at the local hepcat DJ collective’s Wednesday night party Push Push at Bar Smith. The 30-year-old’s enthusiasm was to be expected, considering the esteemed…
Was Tito Puente the first Latin funk pioneer? The bandleader behind many driving albums blending Latin traditions with swinging jazz would have been hard-pressed to say yes — funk wasn’t yet invented. But by the 1970s, there were no doubt about the groundbreaking intentions of the Fania Allstars. Move forward…
The writer in charge of FutureKind’s Facebook biography has a lot to say. This is not standard press-kit chatter; this is three-syllable-plus words that could put your everyday thesaurus user to shame, terms like “artisanal,” “amalgam,” and “visceral.” We’re not talking about the most-mind blowing cheese to ever hit your…
Most EDM producers cut their teeth in the club, gauging crowd reaction to discern the heaters from the vibe-killing missteps. The recently formed Phoenix-based electronic duo Pastries with Teeth has honed their craft on a decidedly different dance floor. Andrew “Hoodwink” Hood was approached by the Phoenix Contemporary Dance Company…
Alecia Beth Moore — better known by her pop culture handle Pink — has got a real mouth on her. In addition to being a powerhouse vocalist, Pink delights in saying exactly what’s on her mind, portraying the quientessential “tough broad” role to a tee. She sings her songs like…
When Rebel Disco czar Jake Goldsmith got the call, he practically lost his shit. Psychemagik would, indeed, be coming to Phoenix to pull a guest gig at the local hepcat DJ collective’s Wednesday night party Push Push at Bar Smith, 130 East Washington Street. The 30-year-old’s enthusiasm was to be…
Besides being Black History Month, did you also know February as its much lesser known monthly monicker Heartworm Awareness Month? National Pet Dental Health Awareness Month? Termite Awareness Month? Sinus Pain Awareness Month? That last one was moved up from March, presumably because we needed those three less days to…
Local DJ and jack of all trades William Reed is a busy guy. When we spoke a couple months ago about the end of the weekly Sticky Fingers dance party, he revealed his plans to start Risky Business, a Thursday night dance party at Gypsy Bar, and his plans to…
