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. Want to rewind? We take a look at three local cassette tape labels. What famous album…
What happens when a promising young pop band’s album gets rejected by the major label they’ve signed a seven-album contract with? In the case of The Maine’s Pioneer, the band says “screw it,” and releases it anyway. Of course, the story is more complicated than that, which singer John O’Callaghan…
John O’Callaghan is beat. The 23-year-old singer has just returned from fronting his band, The Maine, on a quickie tour with Taking Back Sunday. O’Callaghan slinks into a molded plastic chair at Cartel Coffee Lab in Tempe. He has the rock-star look down pat: a frayed denim vest over a…
NOFX frontman “Fat” Mike Burkett has quite the reputation. In 2010, while performing at Austin’s South by Southwest Festival, Mike took the stage as “Cokie the Clown”: sad-face paint, oversize Chuck Taylors, and a flower that squirts out “cocaine.” He discussed his mother’s assisted suicide and a troubled relationship with…
Calling “Fire Ring b/w Weekend Habit,” the forthcoming release from Tempe psychedelic soul combo What Laura Says, a “single” is a little misleading. “Neither song is slated to appear on the next album,” says bassist Mitch Freedom, laughing. Nonetheless, the band plans on releasing the tunes “in the first quarter”…
If you were waiting to hear the members of Foreigner play “Waiting For A Girl Like You” unplugged, get ready for some disappointing news. The ’80s rock legends have canceled their upcoming “Acoustique” gig at Comerica Theatre.Live Nation sent out an e-mail blast yesterday afternoon stating that Foreigner was pulling…
When What Laura Says released Talk last May, I tried to categorize the band as “neo-boogie rock,” stating after their excellent gig at the Icehouse: “At its core, and perhaps at its best, the band gets down like something your weird-but-cool uncle might jam in his Astro Van.” My tag…
Not content to earn a few comparisons to Hall & Oates, a few listens, and a few laughs, Tempe-based folkies Bears of Manitou have wasted no time in following up their 1-866-25-BEARS hotline with another promotional stunt. That’s right, according to the band’s Fiverr page, for just $5, you can…
Shotgun Willie will be “on the road again” before we know it.You know what that means: it’s time to start shopping for a new cowboy hat.Willie Nelson, Jenny Owen Youngs, Tommy Trash and other artists will be bringing their shows to the Valley very soon.The rest of this week’s shows…
As a rule, I think band’s should rip off as much as they can from Hall and Oates. I’m not talking some goofy, ironic appreciation of the fashion or mustache, I’m talking musically — Hall and Oates are badass, and their string of hit singles is an enduring example of…
It would seem Jacob Adler likes “difficult” music. A member of experimental outfits Zeelab, Integers Are For Counting, and Taraf Degrief, as well as avant-garde instigator behind St. Augustine’s Otoacoustic Emissions Halloween droning church service, Adler also teaches Advanced Rhythm at ASU. This Saturday, January 7, Adler will be hosting…
Peoria-based indie popsters Boys and Frogs have a flair for the dramatic: witness the bands excellent and creepy videos. But the cover for the trio’s new mixtape, Sorry For the Weight (a pun regarding the wait for the band’s follow-up to their last LP, Rain Dance Snowed In) takes the…
First, a scene from NBC’s 30 Rock: Tracy Jordan: Do you mind if I google myself in your office? Liz Lemon: Sure, Tracy. Tracy: Can I use your computer? Liz: How else are you gonna do it? Today’s installment of Record Heat (Up on the Sun’s very first post of…
Todd Walsh Walsh is FOX Sports Arizona’s host for Phoenix Coyotes hockey and Arizona Diamondbacks baseball. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Depends. Sirius ’80s on 8, or Pearl Jam radio on Sirius. What’s the first album…
As we head into 2012, it’s worth stating: The Internet still hasn’t destroyed music. This year saw Napster, the vanguard of first-wave web piracy, officially meet its end and Spotify, a label-sanctioned and completely legal free site that sort of does the same thing, launch to great acclaim. MySpace continued…
In this week’s issue of New Times, I join our friends in café, art, and stage in a look back on 2011, observing trends and noting the good, the bad, and the ugly of the year in the review. I focused on the crowd-funding site Kickstarter. We featured a couple…
Now that you’ve checked out our photos and review of last night’s Guns N’ Roses gig at Comerica Theatre, we’ve taken to the Twittersphere to find out what you guys thought of the show. Remember to follow us @phxmusicdotcom and tweet at us to discuss. @musicloverchick: Well Phoenix? Any comments…
A couple weeks ago I made a joke about Phoenix-based metal band Sorrower singing about puppies. According to comments, I wasn’t far off — band member Tim Callaway (sporting the Black Flag logo as his icon, natch) confirms that “the puppy comment was very funny considering our singer’s obssession with…
Every week on Wednesday morning, I call into 106.7 KWSS’ The Morning Infidelity program, and gab about local and national music with the TMI crew: Beef Vegan, Shorty, and Buddha. It’s been quite a year for the station — winning cash from their friendly competitors at X103.9, briefly going off…
Clarence Greenwood and his band, more commonly known as Citizen Cope, are bringing their blues rock to the Marquee.Greenwood sings of sorrows and interesting characters, and his songs have been featured in commercials (you may have jammed out to one of his songs and not even realized it). Citizen Cope, Glen…
We won’t be back in full force until Tuesday, but somethings are just too fun to wait. Brad Dwyer brings us a double dose of funny this week, pondering an age old question in this week’s installment of Record Heat: Coffee or beer? Then, Dwyer provides the soundtrack for a…
Folks, it’s just a few days more until that jolly old elf slides down your chimneys, so we at Up On the Sun have been loading you up with a ton o’ tunes to get you through the season. For instance: Are you in a grinchy mood? Check out our…
