Standout Phoenix alt-country act Tractor Pull Divas is doing a fundraiser for Helen’s Hope Chest, a charity affiliated with the Mesa United Way. The Hope Chest provides clothing and other basic items for foster children in the Valley. Band member Ryan Brown is himself a foster parent and says he’s…
, according to Pitchfork.Fight For Your Right Revisited is the Beastie Boys’ new star-studded 22-minute short film directed by the group’s own Adam Yauch. The film features the group’s new songs “Make Some Noise” and “Too Many Rappers,” which are both tracks from the upcoming album.The trailer is hilarious and…
Payton J. CurryThe chef recently launched a pop-up concept at the Welcome Diner. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Cat Power Radio. It’s been one of those weeks for me. I don’t do radio at all. What’s…
Song: Aaron Lewis, “Country Boy”Context: The insufferable fakeness of this terrible song is the focal point of a piece in this week’s issue. The Tea Party bullshit and the sample of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” at the end are only part of the reason why — picturing this…
Sarah Ventre went in search of the story of the oldest record ever made by an Arizona artist in this week’s issue. Those records were made by original cowgirl singer Billie Maxwell and her humble family band from Eastern Arizona in the 1920s.To do that, Sarah spoke to one of…
Came across the A-side of this fantastic reissue courtesy of stellar site TITTYSHAKERS (potentially NSFW depending on your job, the site features no nudity, though it’s obviously on the risque side). The site features the kind of sleazy cuts that would have been heard in the 50s and 60s, totally…
Billie Maxwell’s “Cowboy’s Wife” is one of those subtly powerful songs that leave you haunted and still. Recorded in 1929, the track depicts the day-to-day toils of its protagonist, a woman living a tough life in the mountains of eastern Arizona. Maxwell sings sorrowfully about a scene in which she…
Have you seen the episode of 30 Rock where Jane Krakowski’s character, Jenna Maroney, “goes country” by wearing Daisy Dukes and a cowboy hat, recording a Western-style theme for NBC’s off-season tennis coverage? Aside from being one more joke in a long series of jabs at the network that airs…
This week’s feature is on the very first recorded music made by someone from the state of Arizona. The music of Billie Maxwell and her family comes from eastern Arizona’s White Mountains and was put on wax in the late 1920s. Maxwell wasn’t only the first Arizonan to record music, but she…
The Grammy Awards committee has decided to eliminate 31 award categories. Apparently, 109 categories was finally thought to be a little excessive, according to Prefix.Not only have the categories been narrowed down, but some of them have also been combined. It’s very likely that this will lead to artists being…
Song: Toby Keith, “Stays In Mexico”Context: Hard to believe Country Thunder 2011 is already here. The festivities in Florence kick off tomorrow and continue through Sunday, when Toby Keith comes through. Toby Keith – Stays In Mexico by dawn.dewdrop…
This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts… Why did Bright Eyes singer Conor Oberst diss Lady Gaga’s concert in Arizona? What are Phoenix’s…
Last month Pitchfork broke news that hardcore punk super-group OFF! were facing charges in Arizona for the alleged theft of vegetable oil from an unidentified restaurant in the state. The band’s eco-friendly tour van runs on vegetable waste, and the band were set to stand trial today for allegedly taking…
First came word that Exene Cervenka was unable to play Yucca Tap Room this weekend, now comes news that support acts Kevin Seconds and Flathead, who were scheduled to play despite Cervenka’s cancellation, are also dropping off the bill. So what’s that mean for a roots-rock loving beer drinker looking…
Chandler’s Arizona Railway Museum is apparently not equipped to handle the Railroad Revival Tour that will bring Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show to town this month.So the show has been moved to Tempe instead, according to Hayley Ringle of The Arizona Republic.The…
Are you going to Coachella?Woooooo! Awesome!Now shut up about it — at least if you’re talking to Up On The Sun’s cartoonist Robbie Pfeffer.Robbie is sick of hearing about how awesome the music festival in Indio, California is going to be, as shown with this week’s installment of his comic…
Kinch — the local band who is not waiting for Guffman any more — has been tapped by internationally known platinum-selling recording artists successful local band Jimmy Eat World to open a slate of dates on an upcoming tour of Western states.Jimmy Eat World will be touring Idaho, Utah, Portland,…
Song: The Flaming Lips with Neon Indian, “Is David Bowie Dying?”Context: The Flaming Lips are reportedly planning a Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots musical. It could be cool, but it could also suck. This song is to remind everyone that not everything the group does is both weird and awesome…..
Wayne Coyne and his psychedelic gang tend to go about doing things very differently from any other band. They’ve made posters for their shows with their own blood and they’ve recorded a song that has 12 parts that must be played on separate devices simultaneously. Well, they’re back at it…
2011 will mark the first time the Warped Tour will play the newly, rather unfortunately named Ashley HomeStore Pavilion. For those keeping track, that’s the Vans Warped Tour 2011 at Ashley HomeStore Pavilion. As well, the tour rolls through Phoenix in early August and will take place, most likely, atop…
It’s up to indie rock duo The Kills to kick things of with a bang, and bang they do on their latest album Blood Pressures. Back from her stint with The Dead Weather, Alison Mosshart once again teams up with Jamie “Hotel” Hince for 11 tracks of dingy, garage rock…
It’s a shame that we have to report that Exene Cervenka, known for her role in X, The Knitters and the Original Sinners has canceled her Saturday night show at the Yucca Tap Room due to health concerns, according to a press release by her label, Bloodshot Records…
