Local Metal Standouts Make Good: Relapse Records Signs Gatecreeper

Relapse Records obviously knows a good band when it sees (and hears) one. The Pennsylvania-based label is home to an absolutely killer lineup of grind, death, and the heaviest of metal bands including household names (at least in cool households) like Cephalic Carnage, Exhumed, Obituary, and Iron Reagan. And as…

Charlie’s To Host Drag Show Fundraiser for Orlando Victims

The mass shooting that took place last weekend at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando has left us truly devastated. Luckily, people are coming out in droves to lend a hand; finding different ways to help affected parties and communities. Last night, at fundraiser at BS West in Scottsdale raised more…

Here’s Why 1986 Was The Most Important Year in Thrash History

Back in 1986, death was in the air. India’s Bhopal gas leak disaster exposed half a million people to toxic fumes, scorching lungs and killing thousands. The nuclear reactor meltdown at Russia’s Chernobyl power plant spewed radioactive fallout throughout Eastern Europe, an outbreak of cancer and birth defects riding the…

Growing Up in the LA Melting Pot Set the Tone for Fishbone

Classifying Fishbone is about as easy as explaining what makes Phoenix a desert environment. Some things just are what they are. So, while Fishbone is simultaneously labeled a funk punk ska soul alt-rock band, it’s important to look at how Fishbone got to this place. Though the band formed in…

The 9 Best Hip-Hop Projects By Phoenix Artists So Far in 2016

Phoenix hip-hop has come along way. Over the years the scene has risen from being non existent to having multiple artists operating on a national level. Internally, the talent continues to rise as the scene grows. With numerous artists trying to make their mark on Arizona hip-hop scene, we take…

New Music from PRO TEENS, Merit, Citrus Clouds, and More

Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now.  Merit – “My Favourite Chords” I wasn’t sure how soon we’d be hearing from Merit again after their magnificently ambitious three-EP…

The 10 Best Growlers in The Phoenix Heavy Metal Scene

Arizona has spawned and been home to some pretty influential acts in heavy metal, from Soulfly to Sacred Reich, Maynard James Keenan to Alice Cooper. But while the more renowned acts helped lay the groundwork for the local scene and style, every city has its key players that dominate the…

How a Jazz Group Became One of The Hardest-Working Bands in Phoenix

The day had begun dusty and dry — nothing a drink couldn’t fix — as night settled crisply over The Lost Leaf, while members of House of Stairs loaded  their gear inside. The stage was lit brothel-red and adorned with white Christmas lights, but the small, downtown bar was nearly empty…

Lil Wayne at Comerica Theatre: “F—- Birdman”

Lil Wayne did not hide his dirty laundry at Comerica Theatre this past weekend, according to a Youtube video posted by Youtube user HeavyIronRC. He dissed his former mentor and current boss Birdman, who founded Cash Money Records, the label that put out Wayne’s most significant albums, during a call-and-response portion…

The Record Room To Move From Old Town Scottsdale to North Phoenix

Hopefully, we are long past all of the silly chatter about vinyl being dead and no one caring about buying records anymore. At least around these parts, people can’t seem to get enough of the spinning platters. The massive crowds that flood local music stores on Record Store Day alone…

6 Dope New Phoenix Music Videos

It’s summer, which means a lot of bands are dropping new albums and with new albums come new music videos. Groups all over the scene are breaking out the video cameras to offer up the best multi media projects they can, and honestly a lot of them are quite good. …