Rapper Parker King Asks You to “Pass the Parm”

​​Wisdom suggests that ASU students love pizza, and a little time spent on this blog proves that they love making videos. Local rapper Parker King is looking to take advantage of both. He’s shooting the video for his first single, “Pass the Parm” this weekend. The song was inspired by…

My103.9 Now On the Air

When the news broke that X103.9 would be “shifting formats from alternative rock to a “by Gen-X, for Gen-X playlist,” the natural question was, “Will any of the X103.9 DJs be staying on in the transition?” My103.9 launched today, and the site’s website, My Phoenix Radio, has an answer, in…

Our Guide to Buying Coachella 2012 Festival Passes

​ ​Last year buying Coachella passes got a little hellish, particularly for those who thought they’d be fine if they waited a while to buy them. This year looks to be…well…not that different. The ticket purchasing process has changed yet again. Despite two weekends to choose from, there are now…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our January 12 Issue

This week, New Times ran a list 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 albums sold the most copies at Hoodlums Music in 2011? What songs are easing our…

Snow Songs: Cool Music for the Valley of the Sun

The year 2011 may go down in history as the first year we paid more attention to where music will be stored and what delivery system it will stream from than we did to actual music (which continues its steadily declining devaluation in the marketplace, thank you). One hallowed time,…

Rick Ross Is Rap’s Opulent King

As Ricky Rozay can attest, it costs to be the boss. The redoubtable 35-year-old has encountered a few glitches en route to hip-hop celebrity. His gluttonous build, self-parodying image, and seemingly absent moral compass (the offensive language on 2010’s Teflon Don doesn’t stop with “If she died on my dick…

Cass McCombs Lets His Songs Do the Talking

In 1970, Elton John released his self-titled sophomore album and Tumbleweed Connection. In 1974, Kiss released their eponymous debut and its followup, Hotter Than Hell, nine months later. In 2003, alt-country songwriter Ryan Adams released his most flippant album, Rock N’ Roll, the same day he released his darkest, Love…

Tumblr of the Week: F*ck Yeah, Blessthefall

Blessthefall is a true Phoenix success story. Since forming in high school, the group has kept at it, and gained a diehard fanbase along the way. The band released its third full length, Awakening, on Fearless Records this past October. This week we’re bringing you local metalcore in the form…

Numero Group to Reissue George Bowman and Memphis Soul Single

Phoenix music historian Johnny “D” Dixon has a way with words. He recently updated his Mostly Vinyl Facebook page (the official site of his Sunday evening anything-goes program on KWSS 106.7) with a cryptic message: “What can I say…..I can’t believe this has been sittin’ in the can for 40+…

MY 103.9 Format Details Emerge

After tweets yesterday from Dave Pratt Live co-host Kassi Jayde indicated yesterday that KEXX-FM (103.9) would be shifting to a “classic rock” format, a Facebook post by Gadger, a X103.9 jock, who hosts (or hosted) the station’s “Local Frequency” program, states that the format shift will be less “classic rock”…

Tempe’s Vektor Gets Some Metal Loving From NPR

Vektor​NPR has a way of simplifying complicated ideas for the layman, be they the financial crisis or the intricate web of Republican frontrunner intrigue. When it comes to their profile about Tempe’s sci-fi thrash metal four piece Vektor, they kept things uncluttered and uncomplicated: “Vektor: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Fast.”…

X103.9 To Become MY 103.9 Classic Rock — UPDATED

Update: Station DJ defines new format as “built for Gen-X , by Gen-X. Looks like big changes are headed to the Valley’s long-running X103.9 (those of us who have been around awhile still slip up and call it “The Edge” regularly). According to Kassi Jayde, the co-host of Dave Pratt…

Record Heat By Brad Dywer

We like to keep you updated on what’s moving off the shelves at Valley record stores with our weekly What’s Selling blog, but we’re also aware that after awhile, big stacks of records and CDs get to be a cumbersome haul. Seriously, moving with records is a special kind of…

Incoming: Lenny Kravitz, Creed, The Ting Tings

Uber-American rock and sex icon ​Lenny Kravitz is going to rock Comerica Theatre patrons to their knees. Watching Lenny jam would sure beat seeing Scott Stapp any day of the week.Lenny Kravitz, Creed, The Ting Tings and other artists will be bringing their A-game to the Valley over the next few…

NOFX at The Marquee Theatre on Twitter

It was somewhat of a surprise that NOFX sold out last night’s Marquee Theatre show at the very last minute. In spite of Fat Mike’s poo problems and outspoken attitude toward our city, we welcomed the band with open arms and screamed along to the songs as if our lives…

Van Halen (With David Lee Roth) Headed to Phoenix in June

So, the Radiohead thing felt pretty big, and Gun N’ Roses was positively surreal. So try this one on for size: Van Halen, featuring David Lee Roth and the Van Halens: Eddie, Alex, and Wolfgang, are headed to US Airways Center on Saturday, June 16. That’s right. Saturday night. With…

Vinnie Iñiguez, What Are You Listening To?

Vinnie Iñiguez Iñiguez is a professional golfer. For more info on him, visit his website here. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Straight out the gate, it’s usually BackSpin on Sirius. Its got a solid mix of classics. What’s…