For the past two years, the artist-owned and -operated record label collective known as Black Cactus Records effectively has helped push Phoenix-based music to the masses. Comprising local bands the Necronauts, Tremulants, Former Friends of Young Americans, High Horse, and Midnight Vitals, the cooperative has helped facilitate a better creative…
The punk-goes-acoustic thing is fun, but let’s be honest: When you listen to a Chuck Regan solo folk LP, you’re secretly crossing your fingers that he’ll make a new Hot Water Music album. Such longing isn’t necessary with Frank Turner. After his post-hardcore band Million Dead called it quits, Turner…
It’s hard to make a comeback, but it helps if you went out on a high note. Ignoring a digital-only EP in 2005, The Jealous Sound’s last big blast of noise was Kill Them with Kindness (2003). And what a blast it was — the swaggering, confident sound of emo…
When Al Page and his friends started spending their Saturday nights at the Hidden House spinning up hip-hop and old-school cuts back in 2005, the DJ admits the operation was haphazard at first. “We used two CD players and my dad’s vinyl, and it was raggedy mixing,” he says. “Stopping…
Have you opened your chakras and found your power animals yet? Well, you should. Maybe then we wouldn’t have to write about all of these assholes that ruin our music-going experiences. If you’re having a hard time quieting your mind long enough to find that inner peace, you can always…
Wanna know what would happen if you’d mix ravers, clubbers, house-heads, and the usual Scottsdale crowd all in one place, all at the same time? You’d likely get the same scenario the ensued on Sunday night at Myst in Scottsdale…
There’s no getting around it: At raves, things can get weird. Awkward. Uncomfortable. Rave newbies often just don’t know what they’re getting into. True ravers — not frat boys looking to act nuts or the randoms who know one song by a certain DJ — follow a code of conduct,…
The Sara McAllister Duo serves up a sweet taste of mood-lifting acoustic ska/reggae that soothes the soul. It’s good stuff, but not the sort of thing I picture Barbie and Ken listening to while cruising to their playset mansion…anti-Barbie music, anyone?While two of the duo’s dates have already come and gone, you…
Heard the news? Jack White is coming out with a solo album. If first single “Love Interruption,” is any indication, Blunderbuss will be loaded with fluttering woodwinds, electric piano, and White in full-tilt gospel mode. It’s pretty good — I mean, not quite as daring as that ICP collab –…
Want to know what new release discs and platters are moving across the Valley at local record stores? We’ve got you covered with another installment of What’s Selling. North Phoenix music shoppers are satisfying their diverse palette by picking up a range of music genres last week at Zia Records…
Welcome to the latest installment of our weekly feature, Sound Off, in which Jason P. Woodbury is joined by a different guest each week to listen to and discuss three tracks from local Phoenix artists. If you would like your songs to be considered for future Sound Off columns, please…
Strange Young Things Don’t miss out on one of Strange Young Things’ biggest shows of the year. It’s Glodie’s birthday bash! Rook, Flamingo and AT7 will all be spreading the birthday love as well. “We’re currently recording an album that we’ll be releasing in early/mid summer, with the hope of also…
Let’s face it: Female artists are a distinct minority in the male-dominated electronic dance music biz. It’s even rarer to find female DJ duos, much less a talented twosome like South American siren Monica Farr and Minnesota beat mistress Lucy Luxe. The Twin City team, which performs as Dirty Talk,…
With song titles such as “Kodiak,” “Hunter,” “Wolves,” and “Between the Glacier and the Sea,” Turbid North’s connection to Alaska remains strong, even if the band currently resides in Texas. The “mountain metal” band started in North Pole, Alaska (yes, a Christmas theme is prominent), and quickly rose to the…
If E! were to develop a reality TV series called Keeping Up with the Chillwave Bands, the network might actually finally grab our attention. Let’s face it: Separating one indie buzz-band — armed with a token foxy frontwoman, breathy vocals, and spacey synth — from the next has proved difficult…
Given the strict observance of “punk rock rules” that define the genre now, it’s hard to believe that the original CBGB bands had more in common with hippies than anyone you might see on Epitaph’s roster. That’s right, punk used to all be about personal expression and fashion code, minor…
Even if you don’t go, it’s fun to read people’s bitchy reactions to each year’s Coachella lineup. Said lineup could feature a resurrected John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Ian Curtis, and Keith Moon jamming Leadbelly covers on the main stage and, still, someone would complain. (“It’s not as good as last…
Some nights are destined to be great. Above & Beyond had a fantastic evening in the cards on Friday, January 20 when the British trance trio performed at Axis/Radius in Scottsdale. The group was recently ranked #5 on DJ Magazine’s list of the top 100 DJs, falling behind the likes…
Jerome may be America’s highest and largest ghost town, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dip into one of the many storefronts to thumb through some vinyl. Renfield Record Exchange specializes in rare vinyl records and out-of-print CDs, but you can also replace your El Camino album if it somehow…
Hi, my name is Mike Escoto and I like music. In particular, I enjoy live music. As you might reasonably guess, my enjoyment of live music is why I contribute to Up on the Sun, in addition to co-running my own blog, Electric Mustache. It’s a little crazy, but I…
We’re a music blog, sure, but damn, if we don’t love our pro wrasslin’. The four-band F. Bom Smack Down lineup includes Japhy’s Descent, St Ranger, Tugboat and Instructions. Prepare for a rock ’em sock ’em good time.There’s no better way to spend a Friday night than checking out a…
The music industry in particular would experience some interesting changes. Artists would have a harder time reaching a maximally wide audience to whom they distribute music, for free or otherwise, and the expansion of their fan base would become more limited as well. Fans wouldn’t be legally able to share…
