Britney Spears Coming To Glendale on April 24

We honestly can’t imagine too many people care at this point, but we’ve been wrong before, so, in case you do, that chick who had Kevin Federline’s children is coming to Jobing.com Arena on April 24. Britney Spears is back with her “The Circus Starring Britney Spears 2009 Tour” -…

The Pretenders Coming To The Dodge

“The British Rock band The Pretenders with original founder Chrissie Hynde will make a stop in Phoenix to perform at Dodge Theatre on Wednesday, March 4. The tour is the band’s first extensive headlining tour since 2003. The show will begin at 7:30pm. Tickets will go on-sale Monday, December 8…

What’s The Big Announcement?

So we Phoenix media types have been summoned to the U.S. Airways Center Thursday for “a major 2009 concert announcement” at 11:30 a.m. And oh what a press conference it will be, with free lunch and entertainment by The Big Bang as well as the Phoenix Suns dance team and…

The Knux Back In Town on Dec. 8

We know we’re pimping The Knux a lot lately, but it’s hard to resist. The LA-based hip-hop duo (who recorded the rap album of the year, Remind Me In 3 days…) is coming back town town next weekYes, that’s right next week, a mere three weeks after they were here…

Tim and Eric From Adult Swim Coming to Tempe

Adult Swim fans — and we know there are a lot of you out there — are about to freak out. Tim and Eric of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! fame are coming to Tempe next month as part of a national tour. It’s a follow-up to this…

Coldplay at Jobing.com Arena

Just a day before Thanksgiving, Coldplay fans got a heaping helping of rock courtesy of these four boys from London.  See more shots in our Coldplay slide show…

Show Announcements: Slipknot, The Maine, Dark Star Orchestra

By Martin CizmarNot a huge week for show announcements, what with the holiday and all, but we have a few, including Slipknot (with Coheed and Cambria!), Dark Star Orchestra and The Maine.I’m most excited about The Maine, who will be at The Venue of Scottsdale the day after Christmas. Here’s…

Taylor Swift, Al Barr, and More Reflect on Songs to Be Thankful for

In honor of Thanksgiving, the most gastronomically satisfying of our holidays, some of our favorite musical artists reflect on what songs they’re most grateful for from the past year. Cary Brothers “Comes and Goes (In Waves)” by Greg Laswell It seems that it’s difficult for some musicians to be friends…

Deerhunter Knows How to Build Band Buzz, and You Can Too

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about a wacky band called Deerhunter. With a critically feted album, Microcastle, a national tour, and attention from every corner of the Internet, you might be wondering, “How do those Atlanta rascals do it?” You might even be in a band yourself, wondering how…

Get the Dir en grey Look

Tokyo rock quintet Dir en grey have been through a number of musical incarnations over their decade-long history, but none of them resemble the kind of Japanese music that typically catches on in the States: the power J-pop of Puffy AmiYumi, the doom-rock of Boris, or the experimental noise-rock of…

Local singer Lincis Makes Darfur Video

By Martin Cizmar Local photographer and musician Elliot Lincis is doing what he can for the people of Darfur, the region of Sudan that’s been the scene of bloody conflict since 2003. He’s recorded a song called “Never Again,” an old school “We Are The World” style anthem that features…

Backstreet Boys Canceled

By Martin Cizmar I sure would hate to be a bartender at the Chandler TGI Friday’s tonight: The Backstreet Boys show at Dodge Theatre this evening has been canceled – CANCELED – at the last minute. Due to illness. “The Backstreet Boys and Live Nation sincerely apologize for any inconvenience…

Knux Redux and Cool Kids Explain Why Q Tip Sucked

By Martin Cizmar It’s Friday of a loooong week and I’m still thinking about Monday’s show at the Marquee, The 2K Sports Bounce Tour with Q-Tip, The Knux and The Cool Kids. Sure, I panned it in my review, mostly because it was a six-hour slog that should’ve been an…

BBC Sessions chronicles early Belle and Sebastian

Belle and Sebastian The BBC Sessions (Matador) By Thomas Bond For a band that began life as a one-off final project for singer Stuart Murdoch’s university music business course, Scotland’s Belle and Sebastian have done pretty well for themselves, now seven studio albums into their career. As it’s been nearly…

Los Guys Take It Easy and Don’t Sweat the Mill Ave. Label

Most bands will tell you that being in a group is like being a polygamist. You’re married to three or four other people, each with a dizzying array of emotional needs, including either an inflated ego or a total lack of self-confidence. There’s the guitarist who’s jealous of the lead…

Insane Clown Posse’s Juggalos Aren’t a Gang — Just Punk Kids

Woop-woop. Walking around Metrocenter in an Insane Clown Posse shirt, I hear the sound every few minutes. Kids I don’t know, teenagers with tilted ballcaps, most of them not wearing ICP shirts but all greeting my 28-year-old ass with the universal call of the Juggalo, just for wearing something I…

Juggalos in Multimedia

By Jonathan McNamara For this week’s Sonic Truth, Music Editor Martin Cizmar got to know some of Phoenix’s Juggalos: dedicated fans of Insane Clown Posse. But the story doesn’t end there. Check out the following slide show and video for another look at this wicked subculture. Slide Show: What Is…

Robin Williams: Still Really Popular

By Martin Cizmar So, not only is cartoonish comedian and impressionist Robin Williams still popular enough to sell out Dodge Theatre once, apparently the old goat is too popular for a single show in Phoenix. “Due to the overwhelming demand to see the hysterical standup of Robin Williams, a second…