Six Million Dead: Arizona Death Metal to Rattle Your Brain

Heavy metal has a rich and diverse history in Arizona. Our state has had a horde of notable residents: hard rock pioneer Alice Cooper, hair metal singer Bret Michaels of Poison, Judas Priest singer Rob Halford, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and Kerry King of Slayer (both ex-residents now), Sacred Reich,…

Five National Music Videos Shot in Arizona

Believe it or not, Arizona’s a hot spot for shooting music videos — and we don’t just mean literally hot, but conceptually, too. I mean, where else could a pre-slutty Britney Spears pontificate on her virginity from a cliff top overlooking green waters or Paul McCartney pretend to be an…

Country Funk (1970)

Welcome to Obscuro, a feature where Up on the Sun dives deep into the world of vinyl oddities: private press jobs, major label cast-offs, and general thrift shop clutter that’s thus far escaped anyone’s attention. These LPs have been hiding out, collecting dust, until we come along, investigate, probe and…

Mavis Staples and Dr. John To Play Phoenix in June

Two of R&B/soul’s most loved voices are headed for Celebrity Theater on June 16. Mavis Staples and Dr. John are set to take the rotating stage, and the show ought to be utterly fantastic. Staples’ last record, You Are Not Alone (2010) found the 71 year-old songstress teaming with Wilco…

In Which I Explain Why I Love the Music of Kenny Loggins

[jump] My love of all things Kenny Loggins started with The Essential Kenny Loggins. I purchased the two disc collection not too long after it was released in November of 2002 as a suggestion from a friend. I knew a few of Loggins’ songs — “I’m Alright” and “Danger Zone,”…

Jason Alford, What Are You Listening To?

​Jason AlfordThe executive chef of Roka Akor hosts a Mother’s Day brunch and dinner at the restaurant on Sunday, May 8. For more information, log on to www.rokaakor.com. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? KYOT (95.5-FM) smooth jazz. What’s the…

Deadmau5 Guest Stars on Epic Mealtime

“What’s Havarti again?” Deadmau5, Canadian-based DJ and producer known throughout the world for his tasty, electronic beats, asks the question standing in a super market with an oversized, metallic mouse head where his human one should be. “It’s Havarti if you want to party.” The reply comes from Harley, the…

Destruction Unit: Former Reatard Grows Up and Spaces Out

This month sees the release of two records featuring Ryan “Elvis Wong” Rousseau. The first is Sonoran, by Destruction Unit, seeing release via indie label Volar Records, and the second is a reissue of The Reatards’ debut Teenage Hate, an album Rousseau played drums on in 1998 with his friend…

Diddy’s Rise From Booger-Eater to Insurance Hawker to Superstar

The triumphs, scandals, and serial reinventions that comprise the official mythology of “Diddy” né “P. Diddy” né “Puff Daddy” né Sean Combs are compelling, indeed. But what of Diddy’s hidden history, the triumphs and mega-triumphs that he’s not yet disclosed for general consumption? We’ve meticulously compiled it here. 1969: Sean…

Noise Complaint: Trying Hard to Be Apathetic

To some people, being cool is all about not caring if you’re cool. This week, Up On the Sun cartoonist Robbie Pfeffer explores the idea that the less effort you put into being hip, the more hip you really are — and if you’re putting more effort into putting less…

The Cosmeticators Release Video for “Roboman”

In advance of their untitled debut full-length, local garage-pop trio The Cosmeticators released to the world Tuesday a nice-looking music video for “Roboman,” which features women in tight dresses, a dude in a robot costume, and the timeless kids game Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots. So, you’re probably gonna wanna…

Z-Trip Remixes Beastie Boys Entire Catalog for Megamix

The Beastie Boys have been pumping out some of the best promotional blitz I’ve ever seen for their new record, Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2, out yesterday in stores and online. In addition to the incredible Fight for Your Right Revisited short film, staring Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood, Danny McBride,…

Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

It wasn’t too hard a decision to christen Helplessness Blues as my favorite album of 2011. Robin Pecknold knows how to write a goddamn song and the band shows an amazing polish that many bands come across on their fourth or fifth albums — certainly not their second. Such is…

Listen to Smashing Pumpkins’ “Owata”

We at Up on the Sun woke up this morning thinking it would be absolutely smashing if, say, a brand new track from Smashing Pumpkins was waiting in our inboxes. As it turns out, dreams really do come true. ​”Owata” from Teargarden By Kaleidyscope, the Pumpkins’ 44-track opus being released…

Rick Springfield Arrested For DUI

The 1980s dreamboat that all the girls loved, Rick Springfield, has been arrested for a reported DUI in Malibu, according to Spinner.Springfield was pulled over for speeding on the Pacific Coast Highway Sunday night. Drunk driving was the cause for his fast and furious actions. He was driving with a…