Looks like Stephen Steinbrink has decided to “get the band back together.” May 17 marks the release date of It’s Not Just Kissing and marks the full-length return of French Quarter, the “band name” under which Steinbrink recorded and toured for several years. Steinbrink, aided in concert by Chase Kamp, Preston…
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 do music editor Martin Cizmar and local promoter Stephen Chilton think is going to happen…
So if you haven’t listened to the new Dead Weather album Sea of Cowards yet, it’s pretty freggin’ awesome. But did you know that Jack White is a fan of none other than Lady Gaga? According to a blog written by wenn.com, White tried to channel the pop star on…
I love the new Hooves EP, Greater Aspirations, Lowered Expectations. Like, a lot. The Phoenix Rock and Roll Band (they seriously defy any genrefication beyond that), which is the subject of this week’s music feature in print, really, really outdid themselves. I won’t write any more about them — you…
Song: Urge Overkill/Gwen Stefani Mashup, “Hollaback Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon”Context: Happy birthday, Ving Rhames. Hollaback Girl, You’ll be a Woman Soon – GLORYHOLE VS. REMIX…
Artist: The Dead WeatherTitle: Sea of CowardsRelease date: May 11Label: Third ManI’ve read more than a couple of references to The Dead Weather as Jack White’s third-best band. Hmm. Really? Granted, I’ve heard only bits and pieces of The Dead Weather’s debut record, Horehound, and White’s other side project (and,…
[jump] There has been a massive amount of hype placed on Sleigh Bells — a duo comprising Derek Miller (of Poison the Well fame) and Alexis Krauss — and Treats damn-near solidifies all of it. The band’s early demos had many (myself included) foaming at the mouth for new material…
As May starts to heat up here in the Valley, the new releases are following suit. Brooklyn rockers The National release their fifth album today, High Violet, to very lofty acclaim.Anything the band lays down these days seems to turn to gold. The National has indie rock by the balls,…
It’s finals week at Arizona State University, which means The State Press, the school’s student newspaper, is printing articles that appear to be term papers. Like, for example, this monster 1,800-word profile of Stinkweeds Records owner, former Modified owner, and all-around Phoenix indie booster/mascot Kimber Lanning.The piece is really, really…
This week marks 40 years since the release of Let It Be, the 12th and final studio album produced by The Beatles. A lot has happened in almost a half-century, but the music of the Fab Four is standing the test of time and John, Paul, George and Ringo are…
Song: Cypress Hill and Tom Morello, “Rise Up”Context: Cypress Hill becomes the latest group to punish Arizona for SB 1070. Cypress Hill feat. Tom Morello – Rise Up…
According to one of our favorite British music blogs, NME, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher have bought the rights to a graphic novel, titled Paul is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion. The book depicts the Beatles as zombies.The plot line roughly revolves around John Lennon killing the other three of…
Artist: The NationalTitle: High VioletRelease date: May 11Label: 4ADIf The Hold Steady’s Heaven Is Whenever is destined to be the party album of the summer, then The National’s new record, High Violet, is destined to be the party-is-over record of the summer. In fact, I couldn’t blame you if you decided…
Sorry, folks: There will be no hits from the bong in Tucson. Latino rappers Cypress Hill posted an announcement on their website saying they will cancel an upcoming show at Tucson’s Rialto Theatre because of the law, which requires Arizona law enforcement officers to ask suspected illegal immigrants for documentation.The…
I did not wake up this morning feeling like P. Diddy. No sir — but then I saw this video of Ke$ha (pronounced “Kay dollar sign ha”) claiming that she doesn’t use autotune, and I totally felt like P. Diddy. I am convinced that this Ke$ha person is now just…
Song: Hooves, “Giggles”Context: Editing this week’s feature story on the band. Their EP is pretty solid overall, but this song is by far the best. Really a nice piece of rock songwriting. Actually, it’s probably the best song I’ve heard from a Phoenix band yet this year. Hooves – Giggles…
Local metal band American Gods has a thing for hamsters. That’s right–hamsters. The group has a song called “Hamster Stomp” on their current album, Ec-10, but don’t think the group is serious about crushing those cute little furry animals–a bad-arse pic of one of the rodents graces the album cover…
Even if you’re not a regular listener of NPR’s afternoon program All Things Considered, you may want to have a look at this. Found by Fishbowl LA and reprinted by our sister paper, the LA Weekly’s music blog West Coast Sound, it seems that some young people on NPR’s staff…
Artist: ShapiroTitle: ShapiroRelease date: Spring 2010Label: DweebMy editor, Martin Cizmar, has a theory: If Jerry Lee Lewis had not nailed his 13-year-old cousin in 1958 (which, of course, pretty much destroyed his burgeoning career in the United States), rock music today would be primarily a piano-driven discipline rather than a guitar-driven…
It’s been a week since we asked Arizonans angry about SB 1070 — the law that essentially mandates law enforcement agents racially profile Hispanics and requires those Hispanics to prove their citizenship or risk deportation — to send us their protest songs.The response has been amazing. We’ve already recieved tracks…
Song: Kinch UK’s “Bad Dreams”Context: If you’ve ever Googled Phoenix indie band Kinch you’ve probably come across information about the British group of the same name, which called it quits back in January. Ever bothered to listen to The Other Kinch? They’re not bad, actually. I’m sure most locals are…
AKA: Casper…That Funky DJ Current club nights: Currently a resident DJ for Relentless Beats You can catch me at Cream Stereo Lounge on Giant Wednesdays and their one of parties. Thursday nights at Incognito for Beat Freq. I also have regular guest appearances at a variety of clubs through out…
