Cake or Death? California Funkers Cake Hit Number One

Most people remember Cake for the band’s quirky, funky novelty hits: “Never There,” “Short Skirt/Long Jacket,” “The Distance,” the profane take on Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” (Gaynor hated it). Achieving radio success with such a singular blend of mariachi, funk, rock, and hip-hop is weird, but Cake is even…

X’s Exene Cervenka Refuses to Get Cynical

Nineteen-eighty was a strange time for music. First-wave punk was finished; disco was on its way out, and practically every pop song on the air was sporting synthesizers. Despite the fact that its uncompromising rockabilly-meets-punk sound was never particularly in vogue, Los Angeles band X held the gaze of the burgeoning…

Will Anderson, X, Cake, and More in This Week’s Issue

When it comes to local music (and apparently, everything) all things must pass. So goes the reign of punk promoter Will Anderson, whose belly laugh, dirty Avail hat, and jovial smile have been a near-constant presence at punk shows in the Valley for 20 years. Benjamin Leatherman brings us the…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our December 8 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 songs have we picked to soundtrack your Festivus festivities? What will the upcoming local Jim…

A Brief Conversation With, Ahem, DJ Horsep*ssy

Neil Hamburger is not your typical comic, and DJ Horsepussy is not your typical DJ. Hamburger’s “anti-comedy” style has certainly inspired an entire crop of alt-comedians, and while Phoenix has a few DJs with “fucking” offensive names, none go as far to remain anonymous as the lucha libre-masked rocker. Both…

Phoenix Artists to Organize Jim Henson Covers Album

In the latest installment of “Wait, Fox said whaaat?” Eric Bolling, host of Fox Business’ Follow the Money had a conversation with Media Research Center guest Dan Gainor and Andrea Tantaros, co-host of The Five, where they discussed the staunch anti-corporate tone of The Muppets. Jason Richard Kron, of local…

Madonna Confirmed to Perform at Super Bowl XVLI Halftime Show

As the football weekend wrapped up Monday night, fans had plenty to cheer about. Cheeseheads everywhere breathed a sigh of relief as the Green Bay Packers survived the New York Giants 38-35 to preserve their undefeated season, while the Cardinals shocked the Dallas Cowboys in overtime. Although the Denver Broncos…

Haffo Announces Reunion Show

Most break-ups end horribly, and reunions are often just as rocky. Despite the original magic, it’s nearly impossible to recapture the love. But sometimes it’s not so dramatic. Haffo had one of those rare breakups where you actually can still be friends with your ex and it’s not that awkward…

Incoming: Flogging Molly, Dr. Dog, Steve Aoki

Lucky for us locals, we’re blessed with an annual celebration in Tempe Beach Park featuring a performance by Flogging Molly. It’s official: they’re back for some more luck o’ the Irish and another St. Patty’s bash.The rest of this week’s shows after the jump…..

Record Heat by Brad Dwyer

My favorite moment of Herman Cain’s “That’s it, I’m out of here” speech was when quoted Donna Summers’ “Power of One,” a favorite “poem” of us, and coincidentally, the theme from Pokémon 2000. Brad Dwyer features another kids show in this week’s installment of Record Heat, the much-loved Yo Gabba…

Lisa Whealy, What Are You Listening To?

Lisa Whealy Whealy is the CEO of Surface to Air Records and owner of Mountain Music Promotions.  When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Radio iPod. What’s the first album you bought? Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, Works Volume 2. What’s the…

Tumblr of the Week: The Maine Daily

The fans who run this Tumblr love the hell out of The Maine. How do I know? They’ve got nearly 950 pages worth of Maine-related material!Everyone seems to love The Maine, which is why we’re giving you more of them, courtesy of The Maine Daily.More on what’s awesome about this…

Grateful Dead Drummer Mickey Hart Taps the Cosmos

In 1972, free jazz pioneer Sun Ra proclaimed, “Space is place,” in a bizarre sci-fi/blaxploitation film of the same name. Space remains the focus of intense interest for astronomers, astronauts, moviemakers, and UFO hunters, and it also serves as the latest inspiration for former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, who…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our December 1 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 songs are we excited to spin this holiday season? What Back to Black Friday vinyl…

X103.9’s Bush/Mutemath Concert Cancelled

Local fans of ’90s alt-rock hitmakers Bush are in for some heartbreak and disappointment. The band’s upcoming concert at Celebrity Theatre next Wednesday, which was part of X103.9’s “No Snow Holiday Show” series, has been cancelled.An e-mail that was sent out by Celebrity Theatre’s staff (and reposted on Bush’s official…

Stellacutta Explains “Shadenfreude”

As finals wrap up and holidays consume every waking minute, some people still have work to do. That’s exactly what Stellacutta is doing: working on their debut album. Earlier this year, Michael Lopez broke down the Tempe rocker’s two-song self-titled EP in You Asked For It, and showed a lot…

Coachella Speculations Begin With First Fake Flier

Beware, West Coast festival lovers! The Coachella flier that has started circulating is a phony.Whoever made this flier is both ridiculous and awesome. This is one hell of a lineup but is typically “wishlist,” as these things tend to be. I’d really be pissed at Goldenvoice and other festival organizers…