Jenny, He’s Still Got Your Number

I’d be willing to bet exorbitant sums that most of you readers weren’t aware that California-based power poppers best known for the eternal torment of anyone cursed with the digits 867-530-NI-EE-I-INE, Tommy Tutone, still gig around. Don’t let their web site tour section, which hasn’t listed a show since late…

Stephen Steinbrink, a.k.a. French Quarter, Is Hyper-Productive

Valley singer-songwriter Stephen Steinbrink wears many caps. Not just in the obvious sense — though Steinbrink is rarely seen without his trademark trucker cap or feathered Peter-Pan style headgear — but in the sense that though many Phoenix artists are content to sit around bitching about the state of the…

The Killers Are Fun but Vapid, Like Their Hometown

No one’s sick of talking about Kanye West, right? Because if the Killers are going to keep it up, why shouldn’t I? After Kanye stole the mic and the spotlight from Taylor Swift at the VMAs in a publicity stunt — the blatant scripting of which has been addressed in…

The Get Up Kids Really Were Worth Writing Home About

For all its hazy definitions, there was a time when “emo,” maligned as the genre has always been, indicated the smart, melodic pop-punk of The Get Up Kids and their breakthrough 1999 sophomore record, Something to Write Home About, instead of conjuring up images of mopey girls in heavy eyeliner…

BOP Extra: Psych 101 Writes a Song for Phoenix

Pardon us as we take a moment to give Psych 101 a round of applause for being such good sports with their “Wonderland” submission. A few months back, New Times asked Jeff Miller of the local psych-rock ensemble to write a song based on this year’s Best of Phoenix theme…

Mackenzie Phillips Incest Allegations, Timberlake to Star in Fcebook Movie, Ted Leo Signs With New Label

NME: Justin Timberlake to star in ‘Facebook: The Movie’Idolator: The Music Industry Learns About Oprah’s StrengthElectric Mustache: MP3: KID SISTER “RIGHT HAND HI”Pitchfork: Ted Leo Signs to MatadorRolling Stone: Drake, Wayne, Kanye and Eminem Honor LeBron in “Forever” VideoSpin: Mamas & Papas’ Phillips Had Incestuous Relationship with DaughterState Press: Latino…

String Cheese Incident To Release Halloween Boxset

This Christmas album thing is really overdone — shit, even The Grinch himself, Bob Dylan is doing one — so it’s nice to see a jam band like String Cheese Incident taking their genre’s longstanding Halloween traditions to the next level. Like Phish, Colorado’s STI likes to play lots of…

Cotton Jones Comes To Modified Sunday

Baltimore indie folk duo Cotton Jones plays Modified Sunday. The band, made up of Michael Nau and Whitney McGraw along with their friends, are also playing Denver’s Monolith and Austin City Limits on their national tour. Nau, formerly of Page France, has been releasing solo work under the name The…

Shotfest 3 Coming to Yucca

I have to admit when I heard about Las Bandas Borrachas (slideshow here) back in May it seemed like quite a novelty to me. Turns out the guys from the Minibosses have been doing the every-bandmember-does-a-shot-between-songs thing for years. This year’s Shotfest (Las Bandas Borrachas is a better name, I…

Sam Means of The Format Surfaces with New Mp3

About a month after former Format singer Nate Ruess’ new band fun. released their debut, Aim and Ignite (review here), the other half the the Phoenix indie duo is making music. Sam Means will do six songs for the soundtrack of the upcoming film The Sinking of Santa Isabel, reports…

Starfucker To Change Their Name, Let Fans Decide

Portland’s hottest little electronic/dance/DIY band, Starfucker, is coming to The Valley soon — October 4, to be exact — but they may have a new name by then. The band has reconsidered their controversial moniker, deciding to take action and just get themselves a shiny (hopefully not shitty) new one…

PBR and Fishbone Throwdown for Cancer Benefit

In case you thought October would be a snoozer pre-Halloween, PBR’s got ya covered. On October 10, the booze purveyor is hosting a Tiki Throwdown in the Yucca Tap Room parking lot featuring Fishbone, backed by a local lineup including Liar’s Handshake, Matthew Reveles, What Laura Says and Black Carl…

Pearl Jam’s Backspacer, New Rihanna Soon, New Flaming Lips Video

NME: Carl Barat to act in ‘two plays in London’ in early 2010Idolator: T-Pain Celebrates His Re-Embrace Of AutoTune With Sound Effects, Demands For Mass ToplessnessElectric Mustache: NEW MUSIC TUESDAY: MONSTERS OF FOLK, WHY?, VOLCANO CHOIRPitchfork: Watch the Flaming Lips’ Latest Crazy Video: “I Can Be a Frog”Rolling Stone: Rihanna…

Chickenfoot Show in Phoenix To Be Recorded for DVD

Chickenfoot — the non-supergroup made up of Joe Satriani, Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith and Michael Anthony — will record their Phoenix show at Dodge Theatre this Wednesday for use in a possible DVD. The band’s first single, “Oh Yeah,” is the No. 1 single on the classic rock charts (who…

Incoming: Kanye West, Widespread Panic, John Prine and More

We already told you about a few of last week’s biggest concert announcements — including Fuck Buttons, Kanye West and Rob Zombie. There’s oh-so-much more though: Widespread Panic, John Prine and Dashboard Confessional. Prine, known for his sad songs, and Dashboard Confessional, known for their sad songs, are interesting, but…

Amy Winehouse Business News, T-Pain’s New Plan, Grand Ave. Fest

Electric Mustache: THE GRATES AT MODIFIED ARTS 9/18/09Idolator: T-Pain Dispenses With One Unfortunate 21st-Century Trend, Blindly Clutches To AnotherIdolator: Taylor Swift Is Sick Of Talking About The Video Music Awards, But Lil Mama Sure Isn’tNME: Green Day for ’21st Century Breakdown’ inspired art showSpin: Zooey Deschanel, Ben Gibbard Marry Near…

Fall Frenzy’s Final Day in 140 Characters or Less

The massive stage has been disassembled, the bands have moved on to their next tour stops, and the the $7 beers have all been, uh, recycled by now. Yep, Arizona Fall Frenzy is in the books after Flogging Molly and Social Distortion sent the three-day music festival out in style…

Fall Frenzy’s First Night in 140 Characters of Less

Steven_Rose: @AJMIX969 Had a great time, would’ve been better if the headliner Rob Thomas didn’t get cut short. Maybe don’t schedule till closing time anniebuentello: Picking up In-N-Out before I collapse @ home. Impressed by Jason Mraz. Rob Thomas was poured into his Levis. taramiller8: Rob Thomas rocked my face…

DJ Dossier: Noah Wylie

Besides his moniker, Wylie also shares something else with a boob tube star. Just like George Jefferson, he’s moved on up from his days at the Hidden House spinning alongside Al Page in favor of rocking the record decks at joints like the Stone Rose Lounge and Blue Martini. Name:…