Today marks the halfway point of Nothing Not New. That means I’ve listen to nearly 140 records in their entirety in the first six months of 2010. Just another 140 or so to go before I can retreat to the familiarity of my record collection.To recognize the occasion, the Up…
‘ve been meaning to compile a list of the PHX’s “Top 10 best DJs” for a while now; especially with all the record-spinning talent that are currently populating this ‘berg.Not to tip my hand too much, but when said ranking finally sees the light of day, Pickster One will likely…
Bolstering Part II is lead single/Sirius XMU stalwart “In Ruins,” a jingly little ditty featuring irresistible vocals from Karin Tatoyin that is multifarious as it is mystifyingly catchy. Pegging down Fol Chen isn’t the easiest thing to do, but what they do is something refreshingly unique and, thus, critically acclaimed in today’s…
Patti Smith has worked in nearly every medium. She is truly an artist in every sense of the word. Not only is she famous for her proto-punk music and poetry, but she’s had exhibitions of photgraphs as well as drawings and paintings, she’s modeled, been in film, and even chronicled…
Song: The Dan Band, “Total Eclipse of the Heart”Context: Conor Oberst SB 1070 boycott letter —> Bright Eyes —> Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” —–> Hilarious scene from Old School where The Dan Band plays the song. The Dan Band – Total Eclipse of the Heart…
Not ones to outdo themselves, P4K, as the kids call it, just listed Phoenix’s own What Laura Says in their newest edition of upcoming releases for summer 2010 (be sure to click “Continue Reading” at the bottom of the post). The indie/blues/folk quintet are readying their second full-length, Bloom Cheek,…
Welcome to Proof, a regular feature where PHXmusic.com grabs a drink with a local musician. This week we sat down with Dakota Jeane DiSanto at Time Out Lounge. Name: Dakota JeaneDrink: AmberBockBar: Time Out LoungeUltimate Drinking Song: Motley Crue’s “Kickstart My Heart”Live: Dakota performs at the Desert Botanical Garden on September 24…
Welcome to 21 Questions, a regular feature where PHXmusic.com goes to the favorite hangout of a notable Phoenician and ask the “big” questions. This week we met up with local concert promoter Psyko Steve at Carly’s Bistro.Name: Stephen “Psyko Steve” ChiltonAge: 27Occupation: Concert PromoterNew Times: In one sentence, what do…
Tracey Thorn Love And Its Opposite (Merge) Facing middle age is a daunting enough task, but making sense of it as a musical artist is trickier still. To even attempt as much is rare, especially when it’s so much easier to hit the nostalgia circuit to earn a living on…
Remember local promoter Charlie Levy’s open letter urging bands not to participate in the Sound Strike boycott of Arizona because of SB 1070?It was, as Chris Farley might say, awesome.Levy has received a response from Conor Oberst (a.k.a. That Guy Who Should Re-Assemble Bright Eyes).Link here.Oberst’s letter is actually very,…
Artist: KatzenjammerTitle: Le PopRelease date: June 29Label: NettwerkAny of you other old-timers following Nothing Not New read this yet? I know . . . interesting perspective, isn’t it: Cheap Trick posited as a band that almost-kinda-sorta hit the big time, that “phoned in it” and were “half-assed.” If you lived…
This week’s music feature is on The Summer Set, and their unapologetically unoriginal music that’s still worth a listen.The oft overlooked Leon Russell is working on a new collaboration with the likes of T-Bone Burnett, Elton John, and Bernie Taupin. Oh yeah — and he’s coming to town, too. Did…
Name: Mara Arrieta AKA: DJ Mara of the E.P.C.S.(one half of the group), the other member being Disko Da.Current club nights: Fuse Fridays all the way baby.Genres spun: Electro house, riddim, UK funky, tropical, disco. How did you get started as a DJ? Once upon a time in a land not…
[jump] Even if a band doesn’t have a Facebook page, there will still be a page dedicated to the band for the fans.This page will use a Wikipedia entry as its backbone, so you know it’s dedicated to bringing fans all the up-to-date, important news.Actually, eh, not so much. Want…
Song: Best Coast, “Boyfriend”Context: I’m really, really looking forward to Best Coast’s debut album. Best Coast – Boyfriend…
Are you a hard-working and responsible student at an Arizona college or university who fancies him or herself a music writer?You may just have a shot at being Phoenix New Times fall music intern.Be warned: This is not a job for someone who is looking for easy credits and to…
This week, New Times ran a box 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. What happened when New Times clubs editor Benjamin Leatherman joined a fight club? What does local…
Song: Against Me! “White Crosses”Context: I can’t stop listening to this record this week. In fact, I kinda wanna go to Flagstaff to see the band headline instead of open for Silversun Pickups at Marquee…
Every once in a while, a band comes along that breaks with so many conventions and pushes so many boundaries that music critics laud them with terms like “revolutionary,” “groundbreaking,” and “genre-defying.” The Summer Set is not one of those bands and, surprisingly, they’re not afraid to say so. Ask…
It’s safe to say that they don’t make them like Leon Russell anymore. An authority no less than T-Bone Burnett said about Russell, in an April interview with The Onion A.V. Club, “I haven’t been intimidated for a really long time, but Leon was scary-good. He understood Henry Mancini, he…
Games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero appeal to that part of us that not-so-secretly wishes we hadn’t quit practicing music in fourth grade so we could be selling out arenas instead of selling out our souls to make a little more money for our boss. Of course, we know…
We dig Nick Cave. A lot. We’ve documented as much previously here, here and here. With this second set of reissues of the Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds catalog — begun last year to mark the 25th anniversary of their recorded debut — we’ve now reached the halfway point…
