Authority Zero Guitarist, Bassist Get R.A.D.

 It seems like almost everyone in Authority Zero have a side project or two going on these days. Case in point: Authority Zero guitarist Zach Vogel and bassist D.J. Farmer play in the party rock band R.A.D. According to the guys MySpace page, R.A.D. “has been around forever” and their goal…

Obama on Michael Jackson, New Bloc Party Video, Kanye Directs Video

Idolator: What Have You Done With Your CD Library? (If You’ve Done Anything With It?) NME: Obama: ‘I grew up on Michael Jackson’s music’ NME: Watch Bloc Party’s new video now – exclusive Pitchfork: Jesu + Isis = Greymachine Rolling Stone: Michael Jackson’s Neverland: What Should Happen to the Superstar’s…

The Pogues Visit Marquee Theatre on October 21

“Is Shane MacGowan still alive?” That’s the immediate reaction I got from a co-worker after informing them of the news that legendary Irish rock band the Pogues will be coming to Tempe’s Marquee Theatre on October 21. It’s not an unreasonable question, given MacGowan’s notorious penchant for drinkin’ and druggin’…

The Heartless Are Hitting Their Stride

Since their debut in 2004, The Heartless have gone through more members than Jay-Z goes through white sneakers, Girl Talk goes through samples, or Bret Michaels goes through groupies. They lost their singer and drummer and have used a steady rotation of bass players. Now with a solid lineup —…

Michael Jackson’s Sedona “Murderess” Revealed

Hell hath no fury like a New Age physician scorned. That’s what Sedona healer Reinalda de Souza wants the world to glean from the untimely demise of Michael Jackson. She especially wants the famous and wealthy individuals who beat a path to her door seeking a cure for their mental,…

An Open Letter to Jay-Z

Dear Jay, Can I call you Jay? Thanks. I heard you were coming to town and I just wanted to make a little public service announcement sharing my concerns about your latest high-profile celebrity feud. Up against NaS and The Game, you handled yourself well, and I think it’s fair…

Courtney Marie Andrews Offers Free Mp3 From New Album

Local folk standout Courtney Marie Andrews has made a song from her new album — which will be availible July 31. “The Buffalo and the Bird” is one of a few songs I really like on her sophomore effort, Painters Hand and Seventh Son, so be sure to check it…

New Release Tuesday: Spoon EP Got Nuffin

It’s a pretty slow new release schedule today, unless your name is Rob Thomas, Jeff Tweedy or Moby (or Mephistopheles, for that matter). What I do have to offer, however, is a new EP from Austin indie rockers Spoon. Got Nuffin contains only 4 tracks, yet it is their first new…

Jens Lekman Has Swine Flu

Jens Lekman, a Swedish indie pop singer-songwriter who writes sugary ballads about pretending to be the lover of a lesbian friend to fool her conservative father, playing bingo in the countryside and accidently chopping his finger off while trying cut up an avocado (they’re all amazing songs, I swear!) has…

Weird is the New Cool to Play Two Shows in July

 We told you about Weird is the New Cool back in April and now the guys have a couple shows booked for July. WINC are scheduled to perform Saturday, April 18 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Saturday, July 25 at Chyro Arts, according to the group’s MySpace page. The local band can…

A-Trak Coming To Club Red

I’ll be real with ya: I don’t often get excited about a DJ coming through town especially since Girl Talk (a) never comes through town and (b) is supposedly not a DJ.A-Trak is a different story. Since he’s Kanye’s tour DJ, you may well have seen him before. If you…

What Laura Says Does Daytrotter

What Laura Says has become the latest Phoenix band to get some love from influential blog series Daytrotter (check it out here). The band played “Dot Dot Dot,” “What’s Done Right,” I Suppose” and “Waves,” which are all available for download. The series also recently hosted Dear and the Headlights,…

BET Awards Joyously Honor Michael Jackson’s Legacy

Last night’s 2009 BET Awards were left scrambling and revamp their program to accommodate the sudden passing of the King of Pop Michael Jackson this past Thursday. It was the obvious choice to honor one of black music’s biggest — if not the biggest — icon in history. There was…

Yellow Minute Returns to Yucca on July 3

“Yellow Minute is the next big buzz band,” Rodney Hu, owner of Tempe’s Yucca Tap Room and one of my good friends, declared during a recent phone conversation of the AZ band. “Just watch. You’ll see.” After catching some of the band’s performance at Hu’s bar last week where they opened for…

The Maine Jump To Warner Brothers

Tempe pop-rockers The Maine have jumped from Fearless Records (a pretty decent label in it’s own right) to Warner, one of The Big Four, reports Absolute Punk and elbo.ws.The band already had pretty legit distribution, but they’re now making an even bigger push, re-releasing their 2008 debut, Cant’ Stop, Won’t…